Oh Baby!  A gender neutral baby shower...

Paper became a major element in the design of this baby shower. The challenge was that it all had to be gender neutral. The original idea focused on classic paper toys that children can easily make with the any piece of paper and the right amount of imagination... such as paper airplanes and cootie catchers. The paper element ended up spilling over into all aspects of the decor...

... the result was precious!

Table view with the favors that were placed on each chair for guests to take home.



Paper Toy # 1: Paper Butterflies

Paper Toy # 2: Paper Pinwheels
(served as centerpieces)

 



Custom cookies designed to match the invitations.... perfect match!

Paper Toy # 3: Cootie Catchers!
Guests hoping to guess the gender of baby could try their luck
with these cootie catchers.

Cupcake table with playful cupcake paper wrappers to match the theme.

Paper Toy # 4: Sailboats

Oh baby, what a success!

 

Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale Results!

I had the pleasure of volunteering in the Brides against Breast Cancer sale held in Deerfield, FL this week. It was my first time attending and so I wasn't sure what to expect.... it was wonderful!

How it works: Past brides donate their gowns, veils, and accessories to the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. The foundation then organizes sales throughout the year all over the country. They price the donated gowns at a fraction of what the gown originally retailed for... brides come in, choose various gowns to try on... hopefully find the perfect dress, you know, THE dress ... and walk away with a smile from ear to ear. It was wonderful!!!!

My experience: As I said, I wasn't sure what to expect... maybe a mad dash of brides running for dresses, not even sure what it was that they were grabbing.... well not at all. What I did find were thousands of dresses neatly hung on racks, sorted by size (from 2-24) and of all makes and models. I didn't think I would come across so many top label dresses... in fact, they had an entire section set to the side with the "Couture" line.... Monique Lhuillier, Amsale, Lazaro, Vera Wang, etc...
The volunteers (this is where I came in) were asked to pair up with a bride, help them go through the dresses and assist them in trying the dresses on.

The Result: Over $54,000 raised in just 2 days!

Meeting Colin Cowie

I recently attended an event where I got to meet Colin Cowie!

It was so exciting to hear him speak about lessons he's learned and events he's planned (galas for Oprah Winfrey, Alyssa Milano's wedding, Atlantis Dubai Grand Opening, etc., etc., etc., ... you know, just every day type of events.)

Wedding Trends 2010

Gowns: For years bridal magazines, designers, and bridal shops made it very difficult for brides to choose anything but strapless gowns. While still a very popular style, sleeves and intricate necklines are making a comeback. Most of the new styles are using the necklines and sleeves to create soft, beautiful, and romantic lines. A nice refreshing change indeed.

Oscar de la Renta (left); Amsale (right)

Accessories:
-French Net, Bird Cage Veils, Feathers, and Hair Jewelry with vintage vibe
-Shoes in any color but white. Have fun with your shoe selection!
(see September post for more on shoes)

Ceremony/Reception:
-Quality over quantity
-Making it personal…. introduce elements that mean something to you. It will make your day that much more meaningful.
-Multiple cakes… for a while we saw cupcake tiers as an alternative to the traditional tiered cake. If you want a cake but want to change up the look a little, consider a display of multiple cakes set on cakes stands for added interest.
-Green weddings

Photograph and Headpiece: Sara Gabriel Veiling & Headpieces

Not Just Weddings: SoBe Chic Cocktail 30th Birthday Bash!

Celebrating a milestone birthday in style...

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The Theme: SoBe Chic

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The Decor: White lounge furniture, white linens, white tent, and splashes of black and fuchsia

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The Guest of Honor: The Cotton Candy Cosmo.... oh yes, and the birthday girl!

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The Timeline: Only 2 weeks to plan!

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The Outcome: Fabulous and oh so much fun!!!!

Gown Sale sponsored by:

Miami, FL dates and location:
Fashion show on June 6 at the Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

VIP Cocktail Reception and Gown Sale – $30 Admission per Attendee

Friday, June 11 from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

General Sale – Free Admission

Saturday, June 12 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 13 from Noon – 4 p.m.

Barry UniversityThompson Hall & Andreas 111 and 112

11300 NE Second AvenueMiami Shores, FL 33161

For more information and a complete listing of the 2010 calendar please visit the

Brides Against Breast Cancer website.

Spring/Summer 2010 Palette

Not much variance from the Fall 2009 palette (see post dated July 15, 2009)… still popular are nudes and earthy tones. The biggest differences between the seasons: from a yellow-green to a DEEP EARTHY GREEN, a mid-night blue to more of a true blue, a brighter red and the biggest color of them all: TURQUOISE (coined the color of the year by Pantone)… good news for all of you that can’t get enough of “Tiffany Blue”.