Bonzie bridal wrap giveaway!

Everyone at the Engaging Affairs office could not be more excited about this next giveaway, let me tell you. Excited, thrilled, and a wee bit envious for whoever the winner is, because the prize is just that good. 

There was a lot of drooling over keyboards the day we discovered Irish fashion label Bonzie's Etsy shop. Simply put, we're OBSESSED with Yvonne and Ger's "tattered chic neovictorian steampunk" aesthetic. It's just so cool. Behold:

I can keep going, you guys. Check out these boleros and wraps. Total eye candy:

And now the best part: Bonzie is giving away a bridal wrap to one very lucky Bridal Bubbly reader! The selection of wraps can be seen at this link to their Etsy store. They're all one size fits all, and all absolutely to die for. To enter the drawing, send an email with Bonzie in the title and a quick note to weddings@engagingaffairs.com.  We'll pick a winner on Friday so check back!

Thank you so much to the entire Bonzie team for this fabulous giveaway-- and a special thanks to Yvonne for sitting down for an interview!

How did you start your business?

Both Ger and I studied fashion and designs in University and we have always loved to create. However, it wasn't until we opened our wares to the International Online audience that things really took off. Coming from a small town in the South of Ireland had its limitations and we found that opening our world to a larger audience has really helped our brand establish over the last two years. We now run a busy etsy store where we sell our trademark wraps and boleros, as well as tattered couture accessories. We also keep a blog at www.designsbybonzie.blogspot.com where we share our world with our readers on a regular basis.

Where do you get your design inspiration?

We are both hopelessly romantic so we tend to look back to era's in fashion where romance, ruffles, decadent embellishments and elegant sensibilities were the order of the day! There is no finer period in time than the Victorian Era for this! Bonzie is particularly influenced by this time and create Victorian Inspired fashion with romantic, vintage appeal.

How would you define your style?

Hopelessly Romantic with an elegant edge!

What do you love about weddings?

The sheer excuse to dress up in finery! I love that a bridal party can totally indulge in whimsical nostalgia for the day and the overall fantasy of the elaborate ensembles. As designers it would be much like a child in a sweetshop!

What is one thing (equipment, tool, timesaver) you couldn't do without in your work?

This one might surprise you given that you might be expecting a sewing accoutrement, however I should think that the laptop and our accessibility to our clients worldwide via the web is one of our most indisposable items. We have enjoyed working with an online audience over the last few years and there is nothing quite like that feeling in the morning whereby you switch on your computer to find emails from brides all over the world introducing themselves and sharing their special day from afar. It's an incredible feeling that the world is so small and connected.

What is one piece of advice you'd give a bride?

Time and time again we would advise our brides to be totally ‘comfy’ with their choices in design/shade/style etc. Often brides get a lot of input from family and friends around them regarding what they should wear etc. However we would always recommend that a bride take a moment to ask herself if she is totally comfy in her choices as it is her special time and having confidence in her ensemble choices will go along way to feeling good on her big day! In a nutshell: try not to be influenced too much by those around you, take their advise on board but go with whatever makes you feel good about yourself overall!

How to contact Bonzie:

Etsy Store: www.etsy.com/shop/bonzie

Blog: www.designsbybonzie.blogspot.com 

Good luck!
Alison

Parker's Crazy Cookies Winner!

The winners keep coming!  Picking winner is seriously a lot of fun!  And in case you're wondering, we are super scientific over here. Okay, maybe not.  We have a bowls and tiny slips of paper and we all take turns grabbing names after being blindfolded and spun around a few (dozen) times.

Congratulations to Amy Wang for winning the 25 bags of wedding cookies.  Don't eat them all at once!

Introducing Seaside Collections!

Today we have a great deal for all the readers of Bridal Bubbly!  Any reader can get 20% off of any of the great products from Seaside Collections for the rest of the month of July.  Cool, huh?

Seaside Collections carries lovely Unity Sand Sets for your ceremony plus beautiful glass jars to be used for place "cards," centerpieces, favors or honeymoon memories.  Their products are perfect for beach weddings!

Plus, Seaside Collections is environmentally friendly.

• They use environmentally responsible materials and vendors to create, market, gift wrap, and ship their products (for example, recycled, natural, renewable, non-toxic, recyclable, reusable, biodegradable, FSC certified).
• They use the internet wherever possible for sales and marketing to limit the use of paper and reduce their carbon footprint.
• They reuse packaging wherever possible and recycle packaging and other waste that cannot be reused.
• They encourage clients to reuse or recycle everything they send them including packaging, gift wrap, ribbons, tags.
• They donate a portion of their profits to offset the carbon footprint they leave in creating and shipping their products and to charities that support beaches and oceans.

To take advantage of the great discount, use the code BB720 at checkout.  This offer can't be combined with other discounts or volume pricing.  Happy shopping!

A St. Regis Wedding with Heart

A couple of months ago, I had the distinct honor of working with Jennifer and Andres on their wedding.  I actually didn't meet the bride until about a month prior to the wedding and didn't lay eyes on the groom until the wedding weekend. Jennifer's mother and I did almost all of the planning together with the bride weighing in from overseas.  Very far overseas. You see, both the bride and groom were military doctors stationed in Afghanistan.

Luckily, the Mother of the Bride had exquisite taste and really worked hard to select things she thought her daughter would love.  Jennifer got home just a few weeks before the wedding and was able to come to the tasting and select linens and see the floral arrangement but the groom returned later so he missed all that fun.

After being pampered at the Andre Chreky Salon, the bride slipped into her gorgeous gown for some pre-wedding photos.  I love the Empire waist on this gown and the exquisite beading!

Then she was whisked off to the  ceremony at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

She was ready to start the ceremony even before the priest was!  I love a bride who is on time.  We were perfectly on schedule (and most of the time a bit ahead) the entire day!

After the ceremony, the couple returned to the St. Regis Hotel for the reception.  Guests were entertained by a Latin guitarist from MSE Productions (a tribute to the groom's Colombian heritage) while dining on hors d'oeuvres.

The St. Regis looked gorgeous with stunning flowers from the always fabulous John Duffy of Yellow Door Floral Design and lighting from the talented guys at Event EQ.

We chose dark blue pintuck linens from DC Rental to set off the white and cream flowers.

The menu cards (all invitations, programs and menus courtesy of Michelle's Memos) tucked into the napkins had coordinating dark blue ink and we included "wish cards" at each place so guests could give the couple some advice or a wish for the future.

The pastry chef at The St. Regis created this breathtaking Wedgewood blue wedding cake!

 The couple practices their first dance with the amazing band, Nightsong, before guests come into the ballroom. Love this sweet moment and the gorgeous lighting! Nightsong kept the guests dancing the entire night and was so much fun to work with!

This was a very happy couple! Don't you love the pretty beaded ribbon tied around her hair?

What I loved about this couple was their perspective.  After living in a war zone for 6 months (and the groom actually volunteered after the bride received orders so he could be closer to her--how's that for true love?), they simply didn't let little things bother them. They never lost sight of what was important on the wedding day: getting married!  I felt very privileged to be a part of such a special day.  I had such fun working with the mother of the bride and loved getting to know the couple a little!

Thanks to everyone who worked behind the scenes to make this wedding so wonderful.  Haydee Gamez from the St. Regis was phenomenal; the St. Regis staff from our amazing captain, Luis, to the front desk managers to the banquet servers were so amazing; Linda and Esther from Linder and Associates ensured flawless transportation; Bill Bowen from Suburban Video was the pinnacle of professional and unobtrusive (and we can't wait to see the video!); and my assistant, Alison, was invaluable.  Special thanks to Steve Canning for sharing the gorgeous images!

Congratulations to Jennifer and Andres!
Laura

Sneak Peek!

Our spring season has been a busy one here at Engaging Affairs and I know we all have a TON of great weddings that we are working to blog about over the next few weeks!  On July 3rd, I had a blast at the new APhA venue {right on the corner of 23rd and Constitution} and had to share a snapshot!  The fabulous Jenni Green, of Studio Diana, was so kind as to share a few photos with me and I will be posting more soon. 

Happy Planning!
xoxo,
Amy Lorraine

Lillipop Winner!

Drum roll please! The winner of the $50 gift certificate to Lillipop Designs is Vicki Wanielista!  Congrats Vicki!  Shoot us and email and we will hook you up. 

Thanks to everyone who entered. Keep reading and entering.  We have another giveaway coming later today!

Parker's Crazy Cookies Giveaway!

Today's giveaway is our most scrumptious yet: 25 bags of wedding cookies from Parker's Crazy Cookies! And since I can't win them myself, you know I want one of our fabulous readers to get them.

(Seriously though, drat that company rule about no employees participating in contests-- who cares about integrity when there are desserts involved?)

Each individual bag of deliciousness contains a bride, groom, wedding cake, and getaway car cookie. They're perfect for a wedding or shower favor or to put in your welcome bags-- almost too cute to eat, although of course that won't stop your guests!

Email us (weddings@engagingaffairs.com) with Parker's Crazy Cookies in the subject line for a chance to win the free sweets. And be sure to check out the company's website to see a sample of the crazily good custom cookies they do for brides and grooms all over the country.

My only question is why has no one ever given me a custom cookie portrait yet???

Actually, we had other questions too, and company founder David Parker was nice enough to answer them for us. Read on for our chat with David, whose enthusiasm and excitement for what he does totally shines through in every word.

How did you start your business?

I started my business a few years ago with my savings and a loan. I had to work out of my parents' house for a little while until I had enough business to open my own Crazy Cookie Shop.

Describe the cookie making process. 

Well, people first send us a cute picture of the couple. From there, we sketch out a drawing and send it to the customer for approval. Once it's approved, we work our magic, design the people, and out comes the cookies!!! We have our own intellectual property on the production process and it is pretty flexible where we can do 100 cookies or 10,000. It really is pretty fun.

Why weddings?

Because the cookies are SOO cute in the bags together!! It is like a little team in there with 3 cookies of the bride and 3 cookies of the groom. Also the events are large enough to support our minimums and since the events are already so fun and full of love, the cookies fit perfectly.

What is one thing you can't do without in your business?

Our machines! We couldn't do anything without them; they are the infrastructure and we wouldn't have a business without them.

What is the funniest or strangest thing you've ever made a cookie of?

A one-foot tall Sarah Palin for a group down in the South Bay.

How to contact Parker's Crazy Cookies:

Website: www.parkerscrazycookies.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CrazyCookies

Thanks so much, David, for the interview and delicious giveaway! 

Alison

Honeymoon Islands Winner!

Congratulations to Elizabeth Molak who won the Honeymoon Islands giveaway! And thanks to everyone who entered. Keep reading and entering.  More deluxe giveaways coming (in about one hour, actually)!

Lillipop Designs Giveaway!

I have a theory that there are two types of people in the world: those who absolutely want kids in their wedding, and those who really don't. After seeing the charming, whimsical creations from today's giveaway sponsor, count me squarely in the former camp. 

Today's giveaway comes courtesy of the lovely Jayme Lillie, owner of the children's wear line Lillipop Designs. Each Lillipop design is handcrafted using reclaimed cotton and recycled fabrics. The results are as darling as they are eco-chic. 

Precious, right? And now one lucky Bridal Bubbly reader can win $50 towards a one-of-a-kind Lillipop Design! Just email us (weddings@engagingaffairs.com) with Lillipop Designs in the subject line and tell us you'd like to be entered in the drawing. We'll pick a winner on Tuesday!

And in the meantime, enjoy this quick interview with the creative force behind Lillipop, Jayme Lillie.

What inspires you?
As a children's wear designer, I'm constantly inspired by the world around me. I have three small children of my own, and I find when I try to see the world from their perspectives, an entirely new realm opens! Nature's bounty is an endless source of inspiration... the colors, the organic shapes, even a particular scent can provoke a memory that leads to a new design. I'm also particularly inspired by anything and everything vintage. I love the simplicity and whimsy of vintage textiles, and collect them every chance I get!


How would you define your style?
My hope is that others see my style as being timeless. I design pieces with clean, simple lines and natural fabrics that are appropriate today and will be relevant in the future. The whimsy is in the details, while the classic silhouettes let a child's personality and charm shine. Above all, my style reflects the eco-friendly nature of my product while still being refined and current.

What are your favorite colors for the coming season?
The next season of Lillipops formalwear will feature more contrast. I'm doing quite a bit with graphic black and white, which is always on trend. Clean white with pops of color, like turquoise and yellow are always popular. For fall, I'll be introducing a few dresses in darker colors like navy and chocolate brown that are more appropriate for cooler weather celebrations.


What do you like most about working with brides?
I absolutely love working with brides. Each bride has a very specific vision for their special day, and I am so honored to be a part of that vision! Custom work is the backbone of Lillipops, and children's formal wear  is a joy to design and construct. I love knowing that the dresses I design are unique to that wedding and I hope they become family heirlooms.


What would be one piece of advice you'd give a bride? 
Make sure to take time to recharge. I remember planning my wedding more than a decade ago, and making all the dresses (including mine) myself. I was so exhausted by the actual wedding day, that it was hard just to let go and enjoy the day. Perfection is just an illusion... the best moments are usually completely unplanned. Whether it's making regular "dates" with your future spouse or taking a quiet solo break, it is vital to give yourself a respite from everything wedding related on occasion.

How to contact Lillipop Designs:

Etsy Store: www.etsy.com/shop/lillipopsdesigns?ref=top_trail

Thanks to Jayme for this fabulous giveaway! 
Alison

Honeymoon Islands Giveaway!

Today we have a super-cool giveaway! We aren't giving away an island as the title might lead you to believe (although that would be one bad-ass giveaway) but we are getting one reader a little closer to visiting one!

Our favorite honeymoon travel specialist, Honeymoon Islands, is offering $100 towards a honeymoon package.  So if you're planning a honeymoon but haven't gotten around to actually booking it (or if this is on your fiance's "to do" list and it hasn't gotten done yet), this is the giveaway for you. Just email us (weddings@engagingaffairs.com) with Honeymoon Islands Giveaway in the subject line and tell us you'd like to be entered. We'll pick a winner on Monday!

We have been working with and recommending Teresa from Honeymoon Islands for nearly 15 years. I can't even count the number of my couples she has worked with over the years and they have always been thrilled. She really knows the resort market and, even more importantly, the honeymoon market. Although she traditionally specialized in island honeymoons (hence the name), she has expanded into luxury travel in all destinations and has sent couples to South Africa, the Far East and all over Europe.

We did a little Q and A with Teresa to find out more about her business:

How long have you been working in the travel industry?

30 years, Since 1982

Why honeymoons?

Passion is “my passion”.  It’s deep routed in my soul. I guess you can call my soul’s calling. I’ve spent the last 30 years of my life searching the world for the most romantic, most pampering places where you can lose yourself. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I have the best job in the world. 

What do you love about working with couples?

It’s the beginning of where dreams come true. It’s not only a happy celebration but we are creating day one of their vision of love.  I’m honored that people invite me into their lives to help them create a lifestyle that they not only wish to take as they start their new life together but will continue growing and evolving over the years as they explore the world together.

How long out should couples start planning their honeymoon?

About one year prior to the wedding, and have it all finalized 8-6 months prior to the wedding is standard. I have to add that Teresa has pulled it off for my couples in less time, though!

What is one piece of honeymoon advice you'd give couples? 

One important factor to consider is your expectation – budget ratio.  Does your budget match your expectations?  If not, you have decisions to make.  Should you lower your expectations to match your wallet or should you increase your budget to meet your expectations?   I think all couples want the “wow” factor experience for their honeymoon.  From the time you step off the plane at your destination, drive up to the hotel and open the key to your room you want to experience a lifestyle that dreams are made of.   Does your budget allow you to do that?  Like most couples the answer is NO, you have under budgeted.  This is what I call the “50% rule”.  You have most likely under estimated the cost of your dream trip by at least 50% and in some cases even more.  My number one advice I have is you can’t take a champagne honeymoon on a beer budget.  Let’s face it, weddings are not cheap, honeymoons are no different. Look beyond the price tag.   What will you remember 5, 10, 20 years from now? How much you paid or the experience and memories you created?   Life is full of experiences….What will you remember?

 
What are the newest trends in honeymoons? 

1)       Honeymoon Gift Registry - This is a brilliant idea if you need help paying for your honeymoon (who doesn’t?)  especially for those of you that have everything in place for your home already. The key to a successful Honeymoon Gift Registry is to “get the word out” and limit how many registries you have so you don’t dilute your money.

2)       Familymoons –  A destination wedding for the 2^nd timers to included the blended families as their wedding party.

What are the honeymoon hot spots? 

Caribbean, Hawaii, and Tahiti are timeless classics although Thailand and South Africa have seen a rise in popularity. Thailand is the up-and-coming luxury destination that offers a combination of adventure and culture along with pampering relaxation.  South Africa is on the horizon as a leading spot for wine excursions in Stellenbosch wine district in concert with a safari at Kruger National Park in search of the Big 5.

Any favorite destinations or resort?

I have many favorite resorts depending on the region of the world.  On the Maldives it is a toss up between  One & Only or Four Seasons both for their privacy and overwater bungalows. In Thailand I melt each time I visit Phulay Bay, a Ritz Carlton Reserve for the stunning views and the service.  In Prague I love visiting Prague Castle in the winter time when there are fewer crowds…The Four Seasons Hotel is a must.  I love each and every Caribbean Island for it’s own uniqueness, however, it’s hard to beat Curtain Bluff because it’s one of the few places around the world that you can have trouble falling asleep at night because the sounds of the waves crashing in front of your room can keep you up at night gazing at the stars from your bed…how great is that.  Also, Can’t miss the spa at Sandy Lane in Barbados voted by Conde Nast as the best island spa in the world. The list is endless.

What is one thing couples should definitely pack that they might otherwise forget?  

A Camera…you will never have this event just like it ever again.  Capture the moments.

How to contact Honeymoon Islands:

Web site: www.honeymoonislands.com

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/HNYMOONislands

Facebook: www.facebook.com/honeymoonislands

Make sure you log on to Honeymoon Islands’ web site in September as they launch a new and improved web site to offer more exciting destinations and resorts. 

Please note: The honeymoon package booked should be at least $5,000 to use the discount.

Thanks to Teresa for this great giveaway.  Good luck everyone!