Elisa's Elegant Events

Plantable wedding favors

I just ran in to these plantable seeded papers ( saw them on real simple) from Botanical Paperworks.  I have had a few weddings give them as favors and now I do think they may be really catching on wth the whole green movement. They offer a range of products and notecards with imprinted messages, that are embedded with wildflower seed.  I usually am not big on weddng favors but this is pretty cute.  Most of my brides if they do favors it''s either in a form of a donation to a favorite charity or a late night sweet, candy bar, milk and cookies, etc. 

Crate and Barrel-love this store and great place to register

Love this store and it has such a great wedding registry.  The closest store to Cincinnati I think is in Indy.  I love going to the one is Chicago.  Make a long weekend of it and go visist.  It's one of those stores you want to touch their stuff.  Of course there is always on-line too but it just isn't quite the same.  Love this wedding party event!

Bustling wedding gowns and broken bustles... big issue every wedding!

I just can't stand it!  I am so fed-up with what my brides have to go through wedding after wedding with their wedding gown busltes.  They are often just way to hard to bustle.  And they take forever to bustle and usually at the least opportune moment.  Nothing like standing in the bathroom trying to hurry and bustle knowing that everyone is waitnng for the bride to be introduced.  So frustrating!  Or even worse and at almost every wedding the bustle breaks.   The bride comes off the dance floor and we are trying our best to pin the dress in place and get her back to the party asap.  It's every wedding!  I encourage each bride to make sure you know how the bustle works and ask your alterations expert to but in a second bustle, one higher so when you take off your heals the dress is not too long or one so when the first one is ripped out that there is a second waiting.  Make them strong, make them to last, make them to keep the bride happy and lovely all night long...

sewnews

Bridal Mart- so worth the trip!

I love Bridalmart! What a great way to be inspired, to stay "in the know" and see the new fashions coming down the pipe!  I can't got this year but I recommend it to any wedding planner. And Chicago, well what a fun town! 

Traditonal Wedding Invitation or an Electronic Invite

    I recently had a MOB ask me my opinion about using wedding websites to list bridal registries and do send save the dates, shower invtations and even the wedding invitations itself.  I got to tell I know as we all are becoming more enviromemally aware and "green" weddings are all the buzz.  The wedding invitation is a time honored tradition I am not readly to give up.  I do agree that the wedding guests today may appreciate even expect instant information about the wedding...hotel accomatations, registry info, etc.  I can live with that, but for me personally I can not imagine sending an e-vite wedding invitation.  First the web is public.  Do you want all your guests seeing who you invited and who you did not, or guests looking to see who is coming and deciding whether they will attend or not.  Just TMI for me.  I love the true traditional wedding invitation.  I love feeling the paper and having that experience.  I love knowing from that invitation the tone of the wedding  I love the idea of green weddings and finding great ways to recycle or not waist.  I don't mind giving up a envelope liner or event the extra envelope but the invitation needs to be mailed and hand addressed.  There are too many things in the world today that are not personal.  A wedding invitation hand addressed is a very personal and special thing to me and something to be honored when received.  I do have a fe eco wedding friendly web sites listed in my favorites section. I do think it's important to be conscience of your carbon footprint. (donate your centerpieces at the end of the evening to a local eldercare or hospice,etc.) 

Slice of royal wedding cake sold

This cake was made for the Queen Mother's staff at Clarence House

A large slice of cake made to celebrate the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles has been sold for £1,000 at an auction house in Gloucestershire.

This is a great piece (pardon the pun) of history.  I have always been so captured by Lady Diana.  I still remember watching her royal wedding on TV and soaking in every moment of the pagentry.  I couldn't help but blog about this story I found on the BBC.

"The nine inch (23cm) square piece was given to Moyra Smith, a cleaner at Clarence House in London, by a royal chef in 1981.

The slice is decorated with the royal coat of arms in icing and was preserved in clingfilm.

It comes with a signed thank you letter to Mrs Smith from the royal couple.

Chris Albury, from the Dominic Winter Auction House in South Cerney, said: "We have seen numerous small pieces of official presentation cake slices from this wedding over the years but this piece is altogether on a different scale.

"The decorative icing of the royal coat of arms is very skilled and while there is some cracking and damage it is in remarkably good condition.

"We understand that 23 wedding cakes were officially made and this is most likely one from a single-tier cake sent to the staff at Clarence House.

"Whoever bought it is unlikely to eat it as it will undoubtedly taste stale and be an expensive experiment."

The slice of cake was bought by a private collector from the UK who wanted to remain anonymous."

Glamforless.com

I had someone share this website  with me today and I wanted to pass it alon. 

(Thanks Linda for the nice comments about my blog and for sharing this tip.) Check out glamforless.They have some great looking things on there.  I will have to remember this site when I am asked for a bling resource.

Final detail meeting with the Hilton Netherland Plaza

You know when you're the best in town there is a reason and the Hilton never disappoints!  I just came back from the best "tie-down" meeting with their catering director, the captain for the event, the person in charge of set and mom, and dad, and bride and groom.  It was a full house but what a productive meeting.  I will every venue in town did it this way.  We all reviewed the banquet event order, which in- cludes the menu, the bar and the timing for the event.  We then reviewed my time line to make sure that dinner and all the special events that are planned to happen, do happen in a timely fashion.  It's all about "flow" and we are all on the same page.  We know what the bride expects to happen and we can deliver.  It can be the tiniest things like bringing desserts to a specific table with senior guests so that if they they choose not to go to the dessert bar they do not have too.  How nice is that...the MOB came up with that one.  Anyway, I always leave there so confident and feeling like such a part of an amazing team.  My bride and her groom, and family are going to have the very best time!  Can't wait!

Barenecessities.com

I think just about everyone of my weddings at least someone is wearing a spanx.  I remember last year one of my mother of the brides who lost hers and refused to go down the aisle until she had a pair.  I ended up running out to find her one at one of the downtown department stores.  I think this looks like a good resource for them along with other little delicate items.  Maybe I should get a spanx to carry in my emergency kit, for just in case.  

Hey I found this on one of my favorite blogs, Something Blue.  Looks like a good deal.  Thought I'd share...

"Get a free issue of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine when you sign up at Wedding Window to create and host your own custom wedding website. Wedding Window offers you the greatest number of features available for a custom wedding website including 40 available web pages, custom page naming, planning tools and the option for multiple RSVP entries. No HTML experience is required to have your own personal wedding website. Visit Wedding Window for free magazine offer details and more."

Working with a New Band -Run Avril Run

Love it when I get the opportunity to work with out of town bands.  Not that I don't love many of ours right here in Cincy but...it's nice to continue to build your referral base.  I will be working with Run Avril Run very soon and I got to tell ya, lov'in them so far.  Easy, flexible, timily!  Can't wait to hear them.  Interested check out runavrilrun.com

Clothing of the American Mind

Just ran across this line.  Love it! Check out cotam.org for emviromemtal and political themed clothing...
"Clothing of the American Mind (COTAM) is a grassroots company deeply committed to creating apparel that is environmentally safe and responsible, politically and socially conscious, sweatshop free, American made and Fair Trade. A portion of all funds collected from our clothing sales is donated directly to progressive causes and candidates fighting for issues of social and political justice. In 2006, we launched our first full 100% organic line for women, men and children. These products are the most sustainable, responsible, high quality t-shirts on the market. Clothing of the American Mind promotes activism as a way of life, encouraging the notion that anyone can be a political activist; all you have to do is get dressed! With our stylish, eco-chic designs, you can look as good as you feel knowing you are creating a dialogue, spreading a progressive message and sporting gear that is manufactured fairly. Taking Corporate Social Responsibility to the next level, Clothing of the American Mind strives to leave the lightest footprint possible on the planet."

weddingpaperdivas.com

Here is an interesting company.  I recently had another client mention how much they love them.  I personally love paper but I love seeing it, touching it, etc.  I alos love having an expert face to face for all my paper (ettiquette) questions but for those who are happy to do it all on line, this looks like a great resource-weddingpaperdivas.com

The end of an elegant event...

Home from my Filopino wedding!  What wonderful people.  Everyone was so kind and gracious.  I will truly miss this family.  And even though I got brought into this wedding late in the planning process, we had a great vendor team and all came off just as the client wanted.  Loved the band too.  Clueless does such a great job!  I keep humming the "Piano Man" which they put on CD to play as they were breaking down.  I really like that they give you that little bit of extra time to wrap up the evening.  I hate it when bands play the last song and then turn up the house lights and begin breaking down.  It's too quick and harsh.  Clueless give you a bit of time to end the evening.  It's little touches like that, that make the difference between a nice wedding and an amazing wedding and why a band like Clueless is worth it. 
(Thanks Shawn and the rest of the group).  My bride ending the eveing with cookies (from Buskins) and milk served in shot glasses that had the couples name printed on them.  Just can't resist a big smily face cookie!!!

Deb's tips from Aug. Cosmo.

Deb (my lead assisant sent me some great little beauty and skin care tips she found in this month's issue of Cosmo.  Thought you might enjoy them too...

"You can wear bronzer AND blush.  Here's how!  Sweep the bronzer across the top of your forehead, over your cheeks, and on the tip of your nose...all the places where the sun catches your face.  Swirl the blush on the apples of your cheeks (smile to find them).  You're done!
How to rock a better complexion for not too much coin?  Add a tablespoon of baking soda to a creamy face wash a couple of times a week.  Derms say that baking soda is a gentle exfoliant.  What can be better than that?
Don't have the time (or the extra dollars) to get a professional pedicure?  Here are some products that you can use to do one at home (in between the pros):  Johnson's Baby Cream...it works wonders for dry feet.   It has an updated formula that keeps your tootsies moisturized for a full 24 hours!  OPI Pedicures Scrub...it exfoliates with green tea extracts and sugar crystals...mmmm!  Soak in a spoonful of Esthederm Relaxing Bath Salts.  At $42 per bottle, it is a little pricey, but you only need a spoonful at a time, so it will last forever!  Sprinkle some sweet-smelling powder on those freshly soaked toes.  Try Crabtree & Evelyn Summer Hill Talc-Free Body Powder.
The newest beauty trick is to layer eye shadow colors!  Try rose & gold (rose on whole eye, gold right in center...find your pupil...and use your pinkie), brown & beige (beige first, then brown), navy & silver (silver on inner half of eye, navy on outer...don't forget to blend to really make it sexy), lilac & grey (lilac on entire eye, grey on browbone and along lash lines).
Try a homemade mask:  Mix 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon hot water, and 1/2 teaspoon of any kind of jam.  Apply evenly to face.  Leave on for 1 minute.  Wash off with warm water."

New Wedding Resource

Here a new wedding resource and looks just too cute.  Great bridesmaids idea!  

"Sandals 4 Events is the only personalized Sandal Company featuring full grain leather sandals.  Our shoes are comfortable and will be enjoyed long after your special occasion is over.  Your guests will be delighted with the quality and comfort of these event sandals.  We use top quality components including Swarovski Crystals, Patent Leather as well as Kid Suede. Our sandals are all packaged in a beautiful shoebox along with a satin drawstring bag. For an additional fee, the drawstring bags can also be personalized for your special event. We are sure you will love your sandals and we know your guests will remember your special event each time they slip on their sandals..."  sandals4events.com

Let Your Roots Show according to InStyle Magazine is the newest trend...brides beware of being too trendy for your wedding.  You can really date your photographys by doing so...

InStyle says, "A dark part used to mean you missed a salon visit. But imperfection can be cool, provided roots are only a few shades away from your highlights.z'
Picture: Gwyneth Paltrow ( of course she would look beautiful roots or no roots...)

Wedding Traditions-Rwanda

There's a cute little video post card in Morning Edition on NPR.com today.  I love the idea of keepiing traditions alive and this is a great example of doing just that.  I am thinking alot about traditions while I am in the midst of my Filipino wedding with it's special customs...
"August 12, 2008 · In Rwanda, marriage involves negotiations — sometimes an hours-long battle of wits before a wedding is approved. Anna Boiko-Weyrauch went to Kigali, Rwanda, for the wedding of two friends and sent this audio postcard".  npr.com

I ran across this article in Grace Ormonde latest issue.  I just love this magazine.  I was looking for ideas for a new Elegant Event's client that needs some help with finding "the style" of her weddding. Your wedding should represent you.  Your guests should be able to walk into your reception and say, this is _________(couples name)  They should see you, your style, not the same thing they experienced at the last dozen weddings they attended....

"Weddings are about creating a mood: casual or elegant, ornate or eclectic, subdued or boisterous. And when it comes to the décor for your reception, the same objective holds true.

Popular design styles for tabletops include square or rectangular tables with tall, linear centerpieces or snaking arrangements that run the length of the table. Also on the must list—layered, monochromatic linens and oodles of candles in various size and shape containers.

Don’t forget about other important details like lounge areas. Amidst cocktails, dinner and dancing, your guests will appreciate an area where they can take a break without having to go back to their place setting. To create a lounge type setting, elect ottomans and throw pillows, low-slung sofas and coffee tables, or high-top tables with bar stools.

Regardless of what your final decisions end up being, when you work together with your planner, you will surely find the harmonious balance between your taste and style and their experience and expertise."

The First Dance and The Perfect Song

I was just reading a BridalBar blog entry about first dance songs.  I love the first dance at a wedding! 
Listed below are the last 12 Elegant Event's first dance song choices..."At Last" was selected 3 out of 12 times (maybe my personal favorite too...so sexy!). 

• Amazed
• Let it be Me
• Fly me to the Moon
• At Last- 3 times
• True Companion-2
• Fathifully
• Crazy Love
• Better Together
• The Way You Look Tonight

I do remember a bride and groom dancing to Marvin Gay's "Let's Get It On"...the crowd went crazy.  It worked from them