Cake Love {Wedding Cake Pedestals}

We love cake.  We love cupcakes, cheesecake, upside down cake, coffee cake, . . . well, you get the picture.  But we really love beautiful wedding cakes.

We see a lot of cakes and, of course, we have our favorites.  But one thing that will ruin a perfect cake is a crappy display. Please don't let me see a cake on a tinfoil base ever again. I've had to hide plenty of those with flowers or ribbon or anything I could lay my hands on. So when we got wind of these gorgeous wedding cake pedestals, we felt like cheering! 

This is the perfect way to show off your designer cake with style.  I love that they come in different colors, shapes and designs. From tailored to shabby chic, there is one to fit almost any wedding.

You can also get a few to use on a dessert display if you have multiple cakes or treats to show off. One thing if for sure, you won't have to worry about hiding these bases with anything!

Laura

Engaging Affairs featured in Crave DC (plus a giveaway)!

We were thrilled to be included in the first issue of Crave DC, a fun guidebook full of profiles of successful women entrepreneurs in the Washington, D.C. area.  We were also excited to see some fellow industry buddies in the book: Dolce Video, Carla David Design, and The Dandelion Patch (and an even bigger surprise, one of our former brides who owns a custom needlepoint boutique, The Point of It All).

The book is jam-packed with profiles of businesses ranging from yoga studios to spas to cupcake bakeries (and you know how fond we are of cupcakes). Confession time: I sampled a cupcake from Frosting at the launch party and YUM!

It's worth checking out the guide to see what some of the most creative and innovative women in the city are doing.  I'm always inspired by other entrepreneurs! Visit www.thecravecompany.com/dc to find out where to pick up a book.  OR shoot us an email with Crave DC in the subject line for a chance to win a copy!

A Baltimore Blast

Adrienne and Daniel kicked off my Fall season in true party fashion.  I had been working with the couple for only about four months and what we pulled together was nothing short of the bride's "vision" as her groom so many times put it. 

Daniel was great.  His sense of humor was so sly, that many vendors we sat with weren't sure when he was kidding  and when he wasn't.

The setting for the ceremony and reception was the Frederick Douglass Myers Maritime House Museum in Fells Point.  The space was modern and had tons of character.  Like many of my brides, Adrienne was being pulled in two direction: towards the classic, traditional wedding day style, a la cake cutting and candelabras and modern, chic and fun- a la her peacock inspired color pallet of jewel tones, geometric tables and cupcakes. In the end, the fusion was just right. 

The ceremony took place just in front of a dock on the water.  Guests were struck by the fabulous vocal stylings of a close friend.  Tissues were passed around.  After cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were passed outside, guests were invited into the building for a feast of tastes.  We paid homage to the bride's Texas background and the Groom's Cali roots.  We also had a station that brought it all together featuring crab cakes and Old Bay fries.

After a dress change and some touching sorority serenading, the party let loose and guests danced off their ice cream sundaes way into the night of memorial day weekend.  Not a bad way to kick off the Fall--fabulous couple, amazing weather and a great team of vendors.  Thanks to all of you!

Venue: Frederick Douglass Myers Maritime Park Museum
Caterer  Design Cuisine, Sarah Tigner
Lighting- Digital Lightning
Decor- Capital Decor
Photography- Studio Diana, Jenni Green
Video- Blue Sky Films, Tonya Davis

Sara

A Couture Steal {Hitched Sample Sale}

Great news for all you ladies looking for a wedding gown.  Hitched has to make room for some beautiful new gowns-- and you know what that means! It’s time for the Hitched Sample Sale Soiree – Slip in and Slip out with a Steal, on Thursday, October 14th!

The sample sale is a great opportunity to find a couture wedding gown for a steal. Gowns from fabulous designers like Amsale, Ulla-Maija, Judd Waddell, and Oscar de la Renta (and more!) will be up to 60% off! And talk about instant gratification: once you purchase your dream gown, it’s yours to take home that night!

The sample sale will take place from 5-8pm on Thursday, October 14th. While Hitched is usually by appointment only, the sample sale event is first-come, first-served, and no appointment is necessary.  Most of the sample sale gowns are now pictured on their website, so feel free to take a sneak peek. Then grab the best decision makers in your life and join our favorite ladies at Hitched to have some fun and find “the one!”

What: Hitched Fall Sample Sale Soiree

When: Thursday, October 14th from 5pm-8pm

RSVP: Although no appointment is necessary, please RSVP to info@hitchedsalon.com.

Please note that all sample sale gowns are final sale, and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Because the sample sale gowns are stored off-site, the sample sale event is the only time they allow sample gown trials. To inquire about purchasing a sample sale gown over the phone, please contact us at 202.333.6162 or info@hitchedsalon.com.

Simply Elegant...and a PARTY!

I've said it to both colleagues and clients and it couldn't be closer to the truth.  I have the absolute BEST clients.  This fall is no exception.  I can't wait to share with you all of their special details.  Here is a sneak peak at my Sept. 25th wedding for Erin and Jon.  I worked with Jon's lovely mother Joan who really had the vision for the "tie optional" wedding they hosted in their backyard.  Enjoy!

http://www.michaelsegalweddings.com/slideshows/erinjondc/

Sara

Mad Flowers {Dublin, Ireland}

 As you may remember, I dashed off to Ireland a few weeks back to check out potential wedding venues and vendors. I was so lucky to meet the talented lads at Mad Flowers. Their work is gorgeous and they are also a whole lot of fun!

Michael, Phillip and Maurice run the show together and they pull from both years in a family flower business and training in the law.  Maurice has won Irish florist of the year numerous times and has designed for the Chelsea and Hampton court flower shows in England. Plus, he often appears on television demonstrating his floral skills.  Michael and Phillip work directly with clients and are great at listening to what brides really want!

I love the mix of the classic English garden arrangements and the sleek, modern look.  I'm a sucker for lush flowers outside an old country church but also love these fabulous fuchsia flower balls!  They can do anything!

Mad Flowers is the go-to florist for the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, which is a huge endorsement because everything the Ritz does is spectacular. The boys put on quite a floral display for us when the Ritz hosted a private wedding show so we got to see their work firsthand (not to mention the stunning arrangements waiting for us in our hotel rooms designed by Mad Flowers).

If you're planning a wedding anywhere remotely near Dublin, look no further for flowers.  The team at Mad Flowers is amazing!  I know that I'll be using them when I take weddings to Ireland (hopefully soon).  Thanks to the lads at Mad Flowers for sharing their work with us and letting us share with you!
Laura

A Nantucket Engagement Shoot!

 It's my pleasure to share with you some really cool engagement pics that one of my 2011 couples (Janelle and Matt) passed along yesterday.  I'm a sucker for pictures that are less traditional and a bit more edgy.  I can’t lie, these are great!

The bride and groom met the photographer, Linda Crayton, at the Ride To Thrive Charity Polo event just about a year ago and fell in love with the images that they saw from the event so they decided to hire her to do both their engagement shoot and their June 2011 DC wedding.   They did their entire engagement shoot at the Groom’s quaint summer hometown of Siasconset in Nantucket.  

The couple initially met in Georgetown in July of 2008 but their first date wasn't until 2009 at Proof in DC.  Now, they'll be getting married in June of 2011 at St. Peter Catholic Church with a reception to follow at the Dumbarton House.  

Like all amazing engagements photos, these make me even more excited about the wedding day. Congratulations Janelle and Matt!  Thanks to Linda Crayton for letting us show off her work. Let the countdown begin…

Christine

Twiggy Inspiration Board

It's been such a fun week at Bridal Bubbly, getting inspired by some of our favorite style icons. We thought we'd wrap things up with a kicky tribute to the It Girl of mod fashion-- Twiggy! Just the name conjures up images of minidresses, boyish haircuts, and of course, those fabulous lashes. Take us into the weekend, Twiggy!

Photo credits: flowers (Nicole Pfeiffer Photography), dress (Brides.com), cake (Utterly Engaged), shag carpet and shoes and flowers (Amanda Rae Photography), shift dress (Brides.com), headband (Bando), Twiggy, bouquet (Nicole Pfeiffer Photography)

Josephine Baker Inspiration Board

Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy are all known for a certain simple chicness and restrained elegance in their style. There is nothing restrained about icon Josephine Baker, and we love her for it. This is a woman who had a pet cheetah named Chiquita, and often performed wearing only a skirt made of artificial bananas and a Tiffany's store worth of diamonds. She was glamorous, she was sultry, and she was absolutely dazzling-- even when she wasn't dripping with jewelry. Josephine's take on fashion was infused with a sexy playfulness that reflected both her time on the stage and her love of France. Ooh la la!

Photo credits: animal print lounge chairs (Taylor Jackson Photography), pink bridesmaid dress (Jason Wu), Josephine Baker, bride with feather boa (Brides.com), fur coat (Brides.com), necklaces (Brides.com), tablescape (Joseph Allen Photography), hat (Brides.com), purse and sparkly dress (Brides.com), Josephine Baker, bride with feathers (Brides.com), cake (Utterly Engaged), shoes (Brides.com), art deco reception (Brides.com)

Audrey Hepburn Inspiration Board

Audrey Hepburn is such a style icon that when it came time to do a board inspired by her, we couldn't pick just one iconic look. So this board includes a little bit of everything: the ballet flats from Sabrina, the Vespa from Roman Holiday, the Holly Golightly hair (and fancy cigarette holder!), and the gamine tea-length gown from Funny Face. She was one of the few stars whose personal style lived up to her movie wardrobe-- as evidenced by the divine elfin-like chiffon dress she wore at her real-life wedding to Mel Ferrer. Which Audrey look is your favorite?

Photo credits: First row: Breakfast at Tiffany's guestbook (Style Me Pretty), place setting (Martha Stewart Weddings), cigarette holder (Orange & Blossom), tea length gown (Brides.com), Tiffany's inspired favors (Martha Stewart Weddings)

Second row: invitation suite (Martha Stewart Weddings), Vespa (Straight Through the Heart of It), little navy dress (Simple Silhouettes), hairdo (Style Me Pretty)

Third row: Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face, cake (Martha Stewart Weddings), Audrey Hepburn's bridal gown, copy of gown (Johanna Hehir)

Fourth row: Gloves (Orange & Blossom, ballet flats (The Knot), dress details (Style Me Pretty)