Hi Guys....I wanted to drop by to tell you that if you haven't already...please check out The Wedding Planning Audiocast show.....I had the pleasure (and a lot of fun) to be interviewed by Ralph and the wonderful team over there. It was truly a blast! The segment is called "Meet the Wedding Bloggers" ..it really is a great feature....you get to hear the voices behind the wonderful blogs....thanks Ralph for inviting TBC to participate!
HAPPY FRIDAY GUYS...I know you all are excited and so am I...opening night for SEX AND THE CITY!!!! How exciting and so much fun...getting together with your friends and totally making a night out of it.....well...while you guys are checking out the movie tonight and over the weekend, you will see some of the most beautiful floral designs (and of course the gorgeous wedding florals) through out the movie...and if you are wondering who is the fabulous designer behind all the gorgeous flowers....wonder no more....Meet Tess Casey of Aisling Studio. Tess is an incredible floral designer/event producer and her resume is amazing! I had the pleasure to speak with Tess this week and guys, first I have to say that Tess is oh-so-nice and so down-to-earth...I totally want to come to the city and be her assistant...can you imagine..working with beautiful flowers all day and on the set of Sex and the City...oh my gosh!!
Tess also designs the beautiful floral arrangements for the soap opera...As The World Turns and her work can be seen in The Devil Wears Prada, Nanny Diaries and MTV...just to name a few. Tess told me that she had a "blast" on the set of Sex and the City....for Carrie's bouquet she used Garden Roses and a few Gardenia in muted tones with lavender and yellow hight-lights and all the ladies carried small "cocktail posies" bouquets. Tess specializes in camera-ready flowers and she works closely with Directors on the sets of films, television, print and commercials. Tess told me about one scene in the movie where one of the bouquets (that Carrie is carrying) will "come apart" and the petals will "fly" all over the place.....(I wonder if Carrie is going to hit "Big" with the bouquet)...but I don't want to spoil anything for you guys so will just have to wait to see it in the movie!!!
Tess was so sweet to share a few images from the movie with us today....thanks SO much Tess...we can't wait to see all of your beautiful florals on the Big Screen....Enjoy Guys!!
On the set with Charlotte...Carrie....and Tess...our featured guest! I know you are probably thinking...why am I not using the ladies "real names"......because it's all about Sex and the City...when I spoke with Tess I never called them by their "real names"....she totally understood!
Carrie and her wedding bouquet of Roses and Gardenia!
The Wedding Bouquet!
Sneak Peek at the girls in their gowns....how fun is this....
and another look....I know...I can't wait to see the movie! Thanks Tess for stopping by the cafe today...this was so much fun and we look forward to hearing about your next project. The flowers are all so gorgeous and it is great to know the beautiful person behind the beautiful floral...have a great weekend everyone and enjoy the movie!!!
We have a few more highlights from Namrita & Roman's wedding...if you are just joining us, please check out Part I and II....lots of beautiful "eye candy" and you will find the amazing vendors that make up the "Style Team" of Namrita & Roman's wedding. Elizabeth Messina and Lisa Vorce are definitely on the "Style Team" list....thanks ladies for stopping by today....Enjoy!
The parasols were used as decor and as guest favors...how charming!
The "Signature Drink" - dubbed the "Del Marco" after the hotel where Roman proposed...made of mango, passion fruit, mint, lime and sparkling water.....don't you wish you could taste it!!
I love all burst of all the colors...simply beautiful!
The focal piece..the wrought-iron canopy over the dance floor...how amazing this will look at night with all the lights!
I hope you all enjoyed Namrita & Roman's wedding as much as I have...it is truly beautiful and the colors are so inspiring! Thanks Elizabeth and Lisa....ladies you are AMAZING!
Welcome back to Part II of Namrita & Roman's beautiful wedding! Their wedding is so perfect for "Color Palette Thursday"....it is truly bursting with the most vibrant and "eye popping" colors! Elizabeth Messina captured their beautiful wedding story and as always...she did an amazing job. Lisa Vorce of Oh, How Charming! is the woman behind the event production and design....fabulous job Lisa.....check back later for Part 3....Enjoy!
Vibrant marigolds floating in the fountain...so charming!
Sandlewood fans to keep the guests cool!
The florals were simply breathtaking.....
The vases were wrapped in beautiful fabric.....
The florals...the linens....the fruits.....the votives....simply stunning!
The Style Team:
Lisa Vorce of Oh, How Charming! - Event Production & Design
Elizabeth Messina - Photography
R. Jack Balthazar - Floral Design
Lewis Barker of Barker Decor Services - Lighting & Set Design
Mailli Brocke of Maili Productions - Catering
Sylvia Weinstock - Cake
Carlos Novoa of Tabella Design - Linens
James Reid of Manifest Media - Videography
Roger Espinoza of Espi Music - Latin Guitars
Juan Jose Almaguer of Monumental de America- Mariachis
Curtis Markley of Classic Party Rentals - Rentals
Melissa Fausone of Adiana's Salon & Day Spa- Hair
Sheetal Menon - Henna
Tony Liebetrau of Red Shoe Productions - DJ
Hi Guys..Welcome to "Color Palette Thursday"...today we are featuring the gorgeous wedding of Namrita & Roman...I love everything about their wedding...the colors are amazing...so vibrant and delicious!!!! The details are truly unique and Namrita & Roman are such a beautiful couple. Their wedding story was captured by my wonderful friend and amazing photographer...Elizabeth Messina. For those of you who haven't heard...Elizabeth was just selected by Modern Bride magazine as one of The 25 Trendsetters of 2008....congrats Elizabeth!!! The oh-so-fabulous and talented Lisa Vorce of Oh How Charming brought Namrita & Roman's vision to fruition and as always....Lisa did a magnificent job....Let's get started with Part I....Enjoy!
Our beautiful couple....Namrita & Roman!
Mehndi was applied to Namrita's hands at a private event before the wedding.
Namrita gown is so beautiful...she brought a Renella De Fina dress and had it customized. She incorporated her mom's gold and fuchsia wedding sari into it by cinching part of the gown up and sewing pleated sari material so it peaked out the sides of the dress.
Namrita wore the beautiful traditional wedding jewelry that her mom wore 33 years earlier...such a beautiful tradition.
Namrita & Roman wanted to pay homage to both cultures...India and Mexico. They wanted to celebrate both cultures with the vibrant colors of India and Mexico. With Lisa's help, the couple selected the Hahn Estate, a 10-acre private property in Montecito, as their venue. The outdoor setting offered fountains, courtyards, and a tiered structured so the ceremony, cocktail reception and dinner were all in different locations on the grounds.
Lisa and her team did an amazing job....the wedding is best described as a "burst of color"! Each centerpiece was completely unique...they incorporated beautiful and vibrant color florals with citrus and vegetable arrangements incorporating the color-palettes of turquoise, ochre and fuchsia. Lisa worked with Rene Delacueva of R. Jack Balthazar to create all the beautiful floral decor. Lisa states that when she designs, she loves bringing in a central focal point....so over the dance floor they built a Mexican-inspired, custom wrought-iron canopy and decorated it with hundreds of tiny, turquoise glass lanterns containing LED lights.
Thanks to Elizabeth and Lisa...you both are wonderful and we love having you stop by TBC.....and a HUGE thanks to Namrita & Roman for having such a beautiful wedding....Guys..check back later for Part II...the reception decor....simply gorgeous!!
I am so excited about TBC's guest today...the amazing and incredibly talented Event Designer, Michelle Rago. I have to tell you guys when my phone rang a few weeks ago and the caller ID displayed...Michelle Rago....I had to do "My Happy Dance"! Michelle's events are truly inspiring!!Always beautiful...elegant...sophisticated...clean lines...."magazine worthy"....and always a reflection of her client! Michelle's book, Signature Weddings, is one of my favorite "go to" sources for inspiration and beautiful "eye candy". Michelle's work has been featured in countless number of wedding publications and she has made several television appearances...and guys...she is super sweet...such a wonderful lady!!!! Without further ado....I give you Michelle Rago...Enjoy!
The beautiful Michelle Rago!
Signature Weddings...it is truly a "must have"!
TBC: What inspires you as a designer?
Michelle: I find inspiration in just about everything - movies, travel, antiquing, books, flea markets, food, buttons...you name it. I also depend on my clients for inspiration, listening to what excites and inspires them and taping into their creative vision.
TBC: What is the best part about your job?
Michelle: There are so many aspects about planning and design that draw me in over and over again. To be instrumental in the creation and completion of such a special day is always exhilarating. And I have always been carried away by the power of flowers and how they can transform a room. I would have to say that my first design love was flowers. One of my guilty pleasures is walking through the flower market with a cup of tea early in the morning and seeing what beautiful flowers have arrived that day.
TBC: What has been the highlight of your career to date?
Michelle: I think that the publication of my book, Signature Weddings would rank close to the top so far. It helped me further define my planning and philosophy and design technique and for the first time allowed me to see a number of my weddings together as a body of work.
TBC: What are the floral/decor wedding trends for 2008?
Michelle: In flowers, I see a throwback to an earlier time, very romantic and glamorous with cascading bridal bouquets, lush garlands and over-sized urns of plumose. Chinese influences will be prominent, and of course, we are seeing natural elements incorporated into wedding design - lots of wood and linen. The low centerpiece landscape is in!!
TBC: What are your favorite color palettes for weddings?
Michelle: I love to combine crisp white (linens, tablecloths, fitted seat coverings) with chartreuse and coral or pale yellow (flowers, papery, etc.). The combination is clean, warm, colorful and timeless.
TBC: What types of venues are the most fun to design?
Michelle: I love venues that are either a blank canvas or permit us to build on an existing look and take it to the next level. I also always prefer to have some aspect of the wedding outdoors.
TBC: What 3 (okay 4) adjectives describe your style?
Michelle: Clean, Warm, Lush, Organic!
TBC: Describe a Michelle Rago Signature Wedding.
Michelle: A wedding that captures the couple's personality and passion. A Michelle Rago Signature Wedding would be described as warm, lush, and organic with a bit of whimsy thrown in. I am presently designing a wedding in Sagaponek where we are framing out the entire interior of the tent in white washed wood from the floor to the peak. The floor is carpeted in sisal. The dance floor is hand painted in a wood grain pattern. The table cloths are the finest white linen. The chairs have a full linen cover. The centerpieces are low glass containers with mounds of peonies and as the crowning jewel, the ceiling is rigged with gorgeous hanging beaded shades. For a bit of whimsy, we have turned the father of the bride's pick-up truck he uses to drive to and from the beach into a lemonade stand.
TBC: Tell us a little about your personal life...we want to get to know you a little better.
Michelle: I live in New York City and find the city a continual source of energy and inspiration. I grew up in Princeton, New Jersey and moved to Manhattan in my late twenties. I love this city! I spent summers growing up at the Jersey Shore and still think West Point Island is one of the most special places on the planet.
I love to travel and will jump on a plane whenever possible. My mother nicknamed me "wanderlust" at age eight. My first foray into the world of travel was an attempt at running away on my tricycle at age six to my grandmother's house. My most recent get-a-way was Harbour Island in the Bahamas. Learning to balance a busy season and a bit of personal time is an ongoing battle.
I have a beautiful dog, a whippet named Lola. She is 17 years old and she rules the roost. She is my sweet little pal and doesn't care so much about weddings.
Now guys...let's check out some of Michelle's beautiful work...
One of my favorites...the pink peonies and green apples...love it!
Simply Stunning!
Michelle, thank you SO much for stopping by the cafe today...we all love your work and it was a pleasure chatting with you. We look forward to your next visit! Guys, make sure you visit Michelle's new blog..it's great and you get to see Michelle and her amazing team "behind the scenes"....truly fabulous!
Hi Guys...I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful "Party/Event Planning Tips"...you guys are amazing!!!! The winner of Maria McBride's Party Basics for New Nesters is Kate...This is what Kate had to say...."My tip is always ALWAYS have help. If you're throwing a party at home and you can afford it, get your house professionally cleaned. It's a HUGE weight off your shoulders and you can spend that time doing other things for the party. Also, invite a good, hopefully handy, friend over about 30-45 minutes early to finish up all the little things that are going on while you get dressed, etc. It's a lifesaver"!
Congrats Kate...you are going to love "New Nesters"! Please email me at janie @ jmflora dot com with your mailing information. Thanks again everyone....TBC will have another great giveaway soon!
Today we are all invited to a fabulous fashion shoot with the amazing Marie Labbancz. I love Marie...she is truly an incredible photographer and her images are "works of art"! Marie had the pleasure of photographing some of the most beautiful "bridal headgear" of milliner, Holly Slayton of Artikal. Holly's work is stunning and congrats to Holly....her beautiful designs were just picked up by Kleinfeld Bridal......Way To Go Holly!!!! The hair and make-up for the shoot was provided by Claudia Seyler...she is amazing......have fun at the fashion shoot guys and let me know which one is your favorite!!
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OMG...they are all so beautiful....Holly, you are FABULOUS!!! Claudia, the hair and make-up is STUNNING!!! Thanks Marie for sharing the "fashion shoot" with us today...as always...YOU ROCK!!!....I will announce our contest winner later today....thanks guys!
Hi Guys....Today TBC is featuring the beautiful and charming wedding of Louisa & Greg and how perfect to feature their wedding today, on Memorial Day...as you will see....Greg is in the military. Their wedding was sent to me by the amazing photographers Rob Garland and Meg Runion. Not only are Rob and Meg excellent at their craft (check out the borders around the images)...they are both two of the nicest people and I enjoy having them stop by the cafe to share their beautiful work with us......Enjoy!
Our featured couple....Louisa & Greg....isn't Louisa a beautiful bride!
I love the bouquets...so colorful!
One of my favorite shots!
Thanks Rob and Meg for stopping by the "cafe" today and a huge thanks to Louisa & Greg...we wish you both a lifetime of happiness!
Happy Friday Guys....I have been so busy with work...weddings....and TBC....that I totally missed TBC's 1,000th comment the other day....THANKS GUYS....YOU ALL ROCK!! I really mean this...you all keep me coming back to start a new and exciting feature at the cafe each morning and I just couldn't do it without you....so let's have a "Celebration" with a wonderful giveaway!!!
I received a lovely email from Abigail at HarperCollins Publishing....she introduced me to the wonderful new book, Party Basics For New Nesters by the oh-so-fabulous Maria McBride. I was so excited because I own a couple of Maria's publications....The Perfect Wedding Reception and The Perfect Wedding Details....great books by the way. Maria's books are so inspirational and always filled with beautiful images.....and she has truly kept it going with New Nesters! Guys I love this book....there are so many wonderful and fun ideas for "Holiday" and "Every Day" entertaining. Maria gives step-by-step instructions on each of the "Party Planning Details" and she has included some "mouth-watering" recipes that you don't want to miss.....and you will love all of the beautiful images ....trust me...Party Basics For New Nesters is definitely a "must have"! Check out Maria's site....it is full of beautiful "eye candy" and loads of inspiration!
Well in true "cafe style"...I am giving a copy to one of TBC's wonderful readers. All you have to do is......share a "tip" with us ...something that you have found that has helped you plan your wedding day, dinner party, bridal shower, birthday bash....etc. Let's just have "fun".....it's a "Celebration"! I will announce the "winner on Tuesday, May 27th...Thanks Guys and a HUGE thanks to Maria for sharing her wonderful book with us.....have a wonderful weekend everyone!
