Giveaways Galore

Just when you thought there couldn't be anymore giveaways!  We just discovered Giveaway Scout, a site that lists a ton of blog giveaways.  Cool, huh? Check it out and see what other fun blg giveaways are out there!

2 Brides, 1 Long-Awaited, Amazing Wedding! {Bess + Alex}

Oh happy day!  After 12 years of dating, my brides Bess and Alex were finally able to make their union official.  The venue…Bess’ Aunt Mildred and Uncle Jack’s Great Falls home.  The colors…black, white and cobalt blue.

Can you guess what we love most about the photo below?  Okay, aside from everything?  LOVING the shoes and the hair feather.  So sassy!

With the brides moving overseas in early September, they decided they would incorporate travel undertones for their June wedding.  Some of these details included a Passport-style wedding program, luggage tags as food labels, and an edible globe topping their amazing cupcake tower designed by the talented Lara of Fluffy Thoughts, just to name a few.

The 100+ guests were shuttled to the venue courtesy of Reston Limousine.  Upon arriving, they were treated to ice cold water, tea and lemonade on the front patio while waiting to enter the barn area, which served as our ceremony location.   Uncle Jack is a collector of extremely rare and ornate organs from all over the world, which lined the walls of the barn.  Touches of white draping were placed throughout the barn to add a whimsical touch.  Black chairs lined the aisle and two amazing arrangements sitting atop mirrored pedestals flanked the front of the room where the two brides said “I Do.”

The brides really made the ceremony their own.  A dear friend performed the ceremony and all of the songs played were from their favorite TV show, "Glee."  The bridal party entered the ceremony to the “Somebody to Love,” both brides walked in to “No Air” and the brides exited their ceremony to “My Life Would Suck Without You.”   Keeping with the color theme, we even had a local black snake try to sneak into the ceremony. Thank you to the gentleman at John Farr who captured it and released it about a mile away from the house!

Bess and Alex took some fabulous portraits with the talented Joe from (an Engaging Affairs favorite) Love Life Images.

  

Throughout cocktails and dinner, guests were able freely roam the property and were invited to sit wherever they wished.  There were several different seating areas, each having a different feel to it.  Under the trees in the front yard, amber uplights lit the tress, white whitewashed wooden tables were scattered around the front yard with black chairs and amazing sunken floral vignettes that included wheat grass, river rocks and lush, white flowers in cobalt blue vases.  

Under the tent, the black and white checkered dancefloor was surrounded by 2 lounge areas with black and white couches.  

The pool house, where two of the buffets (and bar) were located, was lit with bright blue lighting (provided by John Farr Lighting), littered with white benches along the walls and glowed from the candles that were placed around the pool.  The back patio, where the third buffet was set up, had traditional seating in a bit more quiet setting. The bride’s worked closely with the extremely creative Patrick at Capitol Décor (we love you, Patrick!) to come up with the flower design and furniture concepts throughout the venue.   

Chris Kopec, our MC and DJ, had everyone on the dance floor and spun everything from Thievery Corporation to Lady Gaga to Ke$ha to the Black Eyed Peas.   

Thanks to the amazing team of vendors who made this special day happened!  Sugarplum Tents provided the fabulous tent and dance floor and Party Rental provided the tables, linens, chairs and tableware.  It was such a privelage to be a part of this beautiful day for a beautiful couple.  Congratulations Alex and Bess! All the best wishes from all of us at Engaging Affairs!

Christine

ACKC Winner!

The lucky chocoholic (I hope) who won the $35 gift card to ACKC Cocoa Bar (and who will be sharing with us, yes?) is Kristin Williams.  Shoot us an email at weddings@engagingaffairs.com and we will hook you up.  Congrats!

Sneak Peek from My Gorgeous Hindu-American Wedding!

This isn't an "official" photo since it isn't from the wedding photographer but I think it captures the fun of the wedding I coordinated last Saturday.  Talk about a happy couple!

The colors were so rich and saturated, and Sachi from Partyland did an amazing job with the mandap (and all the decor).  I had such a great time at this wedding!  Between the awesome music and the fabulous food and the lovely families, it was worth being on my feet for close to 20 hours.  Stay tuned for more photos from this fun wedding!
Laura

Mignonne Handmade Giveaway!

I'm not going to mince words: I love the aesthetic of today's giveaway vendor. Love the styling, the restrained palette, varied textures, and the mix of handmade and vintage pieces. As Mignonne says at her Etsy shop, "I incorporate my own aesthetic when creating these flowers and as a result they are not "perfect" factory made looking pieces, they are all individual and have their own character and quirks." The results are lovely.

The pieces are so perfect for a bride, and yet I know I'd be tempted to wear them again and again (luckily, that's the bonus of flowers like these-- they last!) 

Check out Mignonne's etsy shop for lots of other beauties, including a boutonniere I want to build an entire wedding around. And then email us (weddings@engagingaffairs.com) with Mignonne Handmade in the subject line for a chance to win a $20 gift card! Thanks, Mignonne for sharing your gorgeous creations with us. 

How to contact Mignonne Handmade:

Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/mignonnehandmade

Blog: www.joliejourflowers.blogspot.com

Gilded Bee Winner!

Congratulations to Sharon Yep for winning the Gilded Bee gift certificate!  Hooray!!

A Steal on Fab Bags {Davie and Chiyo}

My friend J has a handbag problem. Addiction might be a better word. In a city where walk-in closets are the stuff of fantasy, Jules has one closet just for bags. Now as someone who struggles with a serious (cupcake) addiction herself, I'm not one to judge. But J's boyfriend might stage some sort of revolt if she comes home with another handbag. So for the sake of their relationship, I considered not even posting this next giveaway, a 30% discount at fabulous clutch designer Davie and Chiyo. But here's the thing.

The clutches are so. Freaking. Cute. I'm currently digging the Darling Tuxedo in creamy black, and Laura could design a whole wedding around this Chiffon Ruffle. 

Whatever your favorite, this giveaway is just too good to pass up (sorry, J's boyfriend-- maybe you can start keeping your clothes in the bathtub?). So read this fab interview with Fumi and Himi Bull, the sisters and creative minds behind Davie and Chiyo, and then head on over to the company's etsy store, where Bridal Bubbly readers get 30% off during the month of July. The discount code is BUBBLY30. Cheers!

-Alison 

What is your design background?

We don’t actually have any formal design training. We grew up sewing and have always been drawn to handmade designs. 

How would you define your style?

Our style is definitely very feminine but also clean and polished. We like our clutches to look effortless and not over-worked. We believe that simplicity speaks volumes, so although we have intricate designs like the Tiered Rose clutch, the smoothness of the silk charmeuse fabric balances the design to make the whole look effortless and elegant.

What inspires your work?

We are inspired by of-the-moment fashion trends but also classic designs. We draw a lot of inspiration from our customers as they often have great ideas for custom clutch designs.

What is your favorite (at the moment) product in your line?

We're loving the new Garden Party Bow clutch. It's a new addition to our line for the summer and plays off the feminine florals that we're seeing a lot of today. It's a really great piece because it's so versatile - it can go from a wedding to Sunday brunch. 

What trends do you see in color, pattern, or texture? 

Ultra-femme - florals, pastels, frills, bows, lace and ruffles. Delicate, airy fabrics also add a touch of whimsy. On the other hand, we've also seen dark, rich colours that will make a great transition into fall - navy, chocolate, eggplant, forest green and crimson. Nudes and neutrals are classic and add some dimension to an all white wedding. 

What would you consider must have items for a bride to tuck inside her clutch?

A good lipgloss or lipstick - a bride is constantly being photographed and a bright smile really makes for a great picture.

How to contact Davie and Chiyo: 

Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/DavieandChiyo 

Web site: http://davieandchiyo.com/shop/index.php

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Davie-Chiyo/110897153216

Twitter: twitter.com/davieandchiyo

MissNowMrs giveaway!

Whether a woman takes her spouse's last name upon marriage is a very personal decision. But for those brides who do opt to change their names, that personal decision is the start of a complicated process. Luckily, MissNowMrs is here to help. The online company estimates that it saves clients thirteen hours of paperwork stress-- and happily, those clients now include same-sex couples with certified marriage certificates. 

Here's how it works: after filling out a questionnaire that is specific to your state and situation, MissNowMrs automatically fills out all necessary forms with your information, and then allows you to print out those forms along with a handy dandy instruction sheet. It's that easy.

And now for one lucky Bridal Bubbly reader, it's that free. That's right-- today's giveaway is a gift card for one MissNowMrs premier name change package! To enter for a chance to win, email weddings@engagingaffairs.com with MissNowMrs in the subject line. The gift card itself can be made out to whoever the winner chooses, so if someone close to you is getting married, this makes a great gift. Good luck! 

E. Isabella Designs giveaway!

I considered naming today's post, "Delicious foods on beautiful plates."

                             

I mean, wow. Desserts should be served on pedestals all the time, don't you think? Especially when the pedestals are as gorgeous as those made by Elizabeth of E. Isabella Designs. I could gush more about how much I love her designs, and how E. Isabella was rightfully chosen as one of Martha Stewart's favorite things in the summer 2010 Martha Stewart Weddings issue, but in this case, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

                             

Cupcakes!!! 

Sorry, I got a little excited there. And you should be excited too, because E. Isabella is offering a $50 gift card to one fortunate Bridal Bubbly reader. To enter the drawing, email weddings@engagingaffairs.com with E. Isabella Designs in the subject line. 

                            

So pretty you should use it at your wedding and all the days ever after.  In fact, these pedestals may singlehandedly inspire me to start baking again, just so I can display this glass gorgeousness in my kitchen. 

Elizabeth was kind enough to take time out her busy designing day to answer a few questions for us:

How did you start your business?
I'd made several Dessert Pedestals for myself and friends in the past and just for the "heck of it " I decided to put several in a local consignment shop to see what would happen. Well, I haden't even finished un-wrapping them and one sold! I thought WOW! That was fun! So I began taking it a little more seriously and that's how my Etsy shop was born!

Describe your product line.
My Dessert Pedestals come in many styles. I use vintage as well as new materials to create each one. I never know what I may come across , I really enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Sometimes it may takes monthes before a top is " married " ( no pun intended!) to a base. Just like real life...they need to be compatable and compliment each other to live happily ever after.

What inspires you?
My customers enthusiasm is contagious and inspiring.  I get great satisfaction knowing that my Dessert Pedestals are being used on a bride's special day. A day where you want everything to be beautiful and perfect; there is no greater compliment than that. And, of course, being honored in Martha Stewart Weddings as an Etsy favorite find is reason to keep me on my toes as well!

What are some fun ways brides have used your dessert stands?
One June bride purchased several custom Dessert Pedestals to be given as gifts to people that she wanted to thank. She gave me a brief discription of each personaliy and their likes. With that I was able to create a personalized gift just for them!

What is your favorite (or most popular)product from your line?
I have so many favorites! They don't make it to " for sale " unless I really like them. But I will have to admit...my VERY favorites aren't for sale...I can't give them up!

What would be one piece of advice you'd give a bride?
You know, there is one piece of advice that I have. But I have it "saved " to tell to my daughter on her wedding day. Although a wedding is not yet in her immediate future....I'm sure she'll be reading this! So I'll have to keep quite for now!

Thanks to Elizabeth, and good luck to all our readers! 

To contact E. Isabella Designs:

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/elizalee17

Spring (and love) is in the Air {Leslie + Steve}

There were so many personal family moments that made the wedding of Leslie and Steve an amazing celebration for all who attended. 

The bride and groom chose to get ready at their reception venue, The Fairfax at Embassy Row.  While the groom hung out with his groomsmen, the bride and her bridal party were primped by the very talented hairstylist, Diane of Hair by Diane and makeup artist, Lisa Martindale.  

Once makeup and hair were done, the bride slipped into her beautiful dress and fun shoes that had “I Do” on the soles.  

After some pictures around the classic car, the groomsmen headed over to Georgetown Epiphany Catholic Church to get tucked away before the bride arrived.  All video of the emotional ceremony was taken by Dennise of Timeless Memories.

With a color palette of chocolate brown paired with green and shades of pink, none of the details were overlooked, including programs, bridesmaid dresses, favor boxes and menu cards.

The bride and groom left the church amid a cloud of bubbles (one of our favorite photo ops)!

Photos were taken in the garden outside of the church by the creative Rodney Bailey, and then everyone headed back to The Fairfax for cocktails, dinner and dancing.  Upon arriving, guests were treated to the bride’s favorite cocktail, a mojito.

The beautiful floral decor was created by Petal’s Edge.  Even before dinner was served, the guests had filled the dance floor and were even dancing next to their tables.  You could tell already this was going to be a partying crowd!  Philadelphia’s Tribeca Grand Band was so amazing the bride’s father decided to extend the party as late as they could go.      

When guests needed a little sugar rush get back out on the dance floor, they nibbled on wedding cake designed by Lara of Fluffy Thoughts and a large dessert buffet provided by The Fairfax.

Thank you to everyone who helped with this wedding to make it a success!

Congratulations Leslie and Steve!

Christine