The New Wedding Contest

Wedding Contest



Wedding Contest



Wedding Contest



Wedding Contest



Wedding Contest

Tulip Ikebana

Hello lovely blog. I have been away for a while on hiatus....but Ikebana always, always makes me feel better!

This was the first class I have attended since February something....
BUT! I am back with some pics. This lesson is called "Paying attention to the place in which the flowers go"....alright, alright...that's the rough translation. But I swear it's something like that!
I'll update the name of the lesson.

Look at these Tulips, my goodness! They are my favorite. : )

This is a wall arrangement that pays attention to the view from below.
Can you believe I bought that red glass container from a thrift store for $3?!?! score.

Wish Upon A Wedding!

Wish Upon A Wedding was founded in San Francisco, CA, in January of 2010, by a group of wedding and business entrepreneurs and is America’s FIRST nonprofit wedding wish granting organization, producing weddings and civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States for individuals facing terminal illness, regardless of sexual orientation.

Chapters:

Wish Upon A Wedding is now boasting twenty chapters nationwide, headed by some of the industry’s most renowned leaders with plans to expand to over 40 chapters worldwide.

Presidents:

Sasha Souza, National President & SF Bay Area President

Kevin Covey, LA/Orange County

Stella Inserra, New York

Ivy Robinson, The Carolinas

Eliana Baucicault, Atlanta

Mary Alice Sublett, Tennessee

Mark Kingsdorf, Philadelphia

Saundra Hadley, Indianapolis

Heather Hamilton Sims, Houston

Shelby Tuck Horton, DC

Elisa Delgardio, Orlando

Ali Phillips, Chicago

Daniela Isabella Ferdico Fagét, Seattle

Forming Additional Chapters:

Other chapters opening soon include Boston, Colorado, Arizona, Portland, Miami, St. Louis, Ohio and Nevada. We are also planning to open to chapters in other areas depending on need including international chapters. If you wish to start a chapter, please fill out the online form for consideration.

Who Is Behind Wish Upon A Wedding?

Many influential people in the industry are beginning to endorse Wish Upon A Wedding & you can find those endorsements on the website. There are also amazing people sitting on the Boards and Advisory Panel throughout the US such as Dana Larue Stiebel “Broke-Ass Bride” {LA Chapter PR Chair}, Leila Khalil {National PR Advisor}, Beth Helmstetter {National Outreach Director} just to name a few. They would love to have you join as well either as a board member or wish granter!

How We Grant Wishes:

To qualify for Wishes, applicants must be unmarried legal citizens of the United States, over the age of 18, who have been diagnosed with less than three years to live. Couples can be granted wishes either in the chapter where they live or in a chapter of their choosing as long as they are able to make the trip.

Couples can simply apply online to request one of three wedding types:

URGENT (Up to 10 guests, in hospital or at bedside);

BOUTIQUE (up to 25 guests, in home town of applicant);

ROMANTIC (Up to 50 guests, at any WUW destination)

How Can You Grant Wishes?

As the organization is building, Wish Granters are needed in all locations. Please apply online today to start helping Wedding Wishes come true. In two weeks, Wish Upon A Wedding will be granting the very first wish. To read more about that wish and the couple please visit the website.

Please use this info on your own blog and during the course of this week...if you have the time and the room on your blog this week.

It will help build a network of very important people in this industry whose main goal is to help these very deserving couples. After all, if you are in the business of creating lifetime memories, we are now asking you to help us create memories for those who are left behind because these couples do not have a lifetime together.

Funeral Flowers

Lots been going on lately...
Here is one of the many funeral flowers I have been working on lately. This is the most special because they let me express myself in flowers for a family friend. May he rest in peace.

There's a Glitch in the System

Hello lovely brides and grooms!

Many of you have met with me over the last few months and may remember that my husband bought me a Mac and I was hesitant(read: lazy)to transfer over my pictures and documents. The day came when he was avenged; sadly my computer died taking all my main contacts with it, the spreads and docs we have been working on, ect.

I am trying to recuperate the files and pics, please bear with me at this time and if you can drop me an email, that would be fantastic!

Thanks!

Brenda

Real Wedding: Carla & Cian - The Details

Carla and Cian held their tented wedding at a private family residence in Glen Ridge, NJ. They wanted a personal, relaxed and fun fall wedding. We incorporated wheat throughout, the Christian symbol for prosperity. Check out some of the incredible details of their day:

All guests were greeted by trays of spiked Arnold Palmers in mason jars (which became a crowd favorite which flowed all night!).

The bride and groom wanted their guests to be comfortable, so Cian provided his close friends with matching Chuck Taylors!

The menu was upscale bbq cuisine including ribs and corn on the cob. We created custom wetnaps to keep the guests fingers clean!

The centerpieces were in mason jars to tie in with the signature drinks.

I had the perfect team behind me to make Carla and Cian's day flawless.

Hair & Makeup: I Do Hair & Make-Up
Flowers: Flowers by Connie Reimer
Photography: Tania Lezak Photography
Stationery: Designs By MK
Monogram and Favor Tags: Peekaboo Paperie
Wetnaps: As You Wish Wedding & Event Design
Catering: Culinary Creations
Candy Apples: Carol Weaver (email us for information)
Table Numbers, Mr. & Mrs. Signs, and Carla & Cian signs: The Back Porch Shoppe

Thank you Carla & Cian for being amazing clients! I was truly honored to be a part of your day!

If you have any questions about anything you have seen here, email us at stacey@asyouwishwed.biz! Photo Credit: Tania Lezak Photography

Real Wedding: Carla & Cian

Back in September, I had the privilege of working with Carla & Cian. They are hands down the most loving couple I have ever worked with. Their day was about them and nothing else. It was personal and filled with love. They hold a special place in my heart as one of my favorite couples. I want to share so much of their wedding that it won't fit in one post. Here are a few personal shots. Does it get more gorgeous than this?

Check back on Wednesday for detail shots of their big day!

Photo Credit: Tania Lezak Photography

Eco Chic~ The Great $50 Challenge

What have I been up to you wonder since I have been away so long? Loads of stuff! lol, one of them is the The Great $50 Challenge over at Sprout blog!

I originally entered an Ikebana Arrangement but wasn't too happy with it as a wedding centerpiece because I felt it was more of a guest check in table arrangement or a foyer entrance arrangement.
Here are the rules:

1. Centerpiece value must equal $50 retail, (US dollars) – including container and labor.
   
2. You must show your math. Retail price of all ingredients
   
3. You must show what percentage of the $50 price is for labor.
4. 1 centerpiece submission per designer.
5. Centerpiece must be appropriate for a wedding.
6. Submissions must be received by 6:00 pm Eastern Standard Time, January 31 2010.
   
7. Voting will run from February 1 - February 28 2010. Winner will be announced March 1, 2010.
8. Winner will be blog reader’s choice.

Cool huh?

So I decided that I would switch from this Ikebana arrangement which I really like. :)

To this eco chic arrangement, which I really love. :)

Let me start by saying that I love Green arrangements and anytime I can avoid floral foam I do.
Ikebana teaches you how to work without mechanics( sometimes you use a kenzan) but mostly I use techniques like Jumonji-dome and Soegi-dome, which are a crossbar technique and a split branch technique.

So this is a functional centerpiece that can be placed at any table that will give it height, won't obstruct the view or flow of conversation across the table, and gives it a modern element.
The branches can be any type that has maybe flower or fruits, brides now can take advantage of Quince and Cherry Blossoms, later it can be forsythia( sp?) or tomatoes, or pomegranates or kumquats, you get the idea. But the branch can be cut from anywhere.

I used Red Quince and one loooong piece of curly willow.

The bulbs are tulip bulbs that I bought at my local farmers market for about $2 each. The goal would be to replant them after wards in a garden for the guest or the couple to take home. The gifts that keeps giving(enter cheesiness, hehe!)


The river rocks came from, yep you guessed it.But you don't have to add this element, in this picture I took the rocks away and put some blooms on the bulbs inside.



The container has been reused about 5 times now, but it can come from a private collection or from a Goodwill or garage sale, and they can all be mismatched to add charm. There's no rule that says they have to match! So REUSE!




So all in all, I like it. All under $50!

VOTE FOR ME!!!!!
Starting FEB 1st here

Sprout Blog

Featured Friend: Creative Custom Card Boxes!

A few months ago I got the opportunity to have lunch with someone I had been tweeting with for quite some time. It's always nice to put a face to the name and gain a new friend. Here's a little inside dish on Marni, owner of Creative Custom Card Boxes!

Name: Marni Gold

Business: Creative Custom Card Boxes

Website: http://www.creativecustomcardboxes.com

Location: NJ, but we ship worldwide!

Type of Vendor: Decor, Gifts

How Long In Business: 2 years

Work Style: I'm creative and introspective. I like to take my clients ideas and bring them to life.

Training: Research in crafting, eco-friendly materials and creative arts.

Favorite Color: I'm a big fan of any shade of pink!

Sports Team: Go NY Giants! (well, not so much this year but I'm a big supporter anyway!)

Languages: I'm a classically trained singer so though I speak English fluently, I also have training in Italian, French and German diction.

Favorite Foods: Chocolate and cheese. I'm simple.

Hidden Talents or Favorite Hobbies: As I mentioned, I'm a singer. I have my master's degree in education as well! I teach private voice lessons to students of all ages.

Home Town: Ridgefield, NJ

Favorite Place: Anywhere my husband is, he is the love of my life. (too sappy? lol)

Pets: We have a Shih Tzu named Gizmo.

Favorite Holidays: I really enjoy Thanksgiving and Passover...the holidays when families get together and eat great food.

Favorite Quote: "Do or do not, there is no try." -Yoda, Star Wars

Best Part of the Job: I love creating items that help people to totally personalize their event. Whether it be a baby shower, Wedding, Sweet 16, etc., our card boxes are custom made to the colors and theme of the party. I love working with my clients to bring their exact vision to life!

Thanks, Marni for letting us get to know you better!

Bride's Choice Awards 2010 Winner!

I am excited and proud to share this news with you. As You Wish Wedding & Event Design was chosen to receive the Bride's Choice Award 2010 from Wedding Wire.

This award recognizes the top 5 perfect of local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, and professionalism. The Bride's Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds (brides and grooms) through extensive surveys and reviews, which means your past clients have spoken on our behalf and selected you to receive this honor.

I wouldn't be as successful as I am without some of the amazing other wedding pros that I work with on a weekly basis. Congratulations to some of our great friends who also received this award!

I Do Hair and Make-Up

Infinity Entertainment

Creative Custom Cardboxes

Chris Jorda Photography

Lela New York

Poppies and Posies

...and many others!

Congratulations to these awesome friends and to all of the other amazing people who received this award. We are truly honored to be in such great company.

I love love....Dorothy Hatchel style

Last month my family and I threw a big shindig for my grandfathers 80th birthday.
It was a surprise party and we had about 100 people there. The additional surprise was that my soon to be brother in law was planning to pop the question that night. Of course we all knew, but my sister was unaware and we were trying to figure out how to work it in without the help of my Grandfather and without her knowing since she was in on the planning.
Well, he got down on one knee and did it in front of everyone and she was shocked!
Too cute!

Dorothy captured all the moments beautifully and I am so thrilled she was able to shoot our event. I will post the party pics later this week, but in the meantime check out her amazing blog and the rest of the pictures of the engagement!

debbie + daniel
Dorothy Hatchel Photography


Congrats Deb and Dan!