Gianna's Picks of the Week

I am always on the hunt for cute flower girl dresses.  I usually dislike what I find and it seems like the designers are putting 10 year olds in dresses made for 18 year olds. One of my clients whose name is Gianna, found this dress at Neiman Marcus. The dress is simple, but pretty and this young girl looks age appropriate, plus the dress is under $85.

Bridesmaid dresses are another challenge for many of our clients.  Our brides want to find something that looks great, costs under $200 and something that their bridesmaids won't burn after the wedding. I came across a few styles by Eliza J (Nordstrom carries this line) and the dresses range from $77 to $158.

 

Love these cuff links below for the Groom and/or groomsmen by
Hugo Boss -called "Layden" Silver cuff links for $90.

or if you would like to spend a little less, these cool black cuff links are $55.00

Boss Black Camilo Cuff links.

Here are a few new clutch picks-

BCBGMAXAZRIA

feather clutch $138

(comes in apricot, white or black or black and white combo)
or this little number below

Tasha

Crystal Floral Clutch $198

Have a great Memorial weekend!

Tips from The Pros - Part VI - Do your body good.

If you are reading this blog, there is a good chance that you are gearing up for a big event or your big day. I thought it would be a great idea to share some tips that I learned from one of my instructors at Cal-a-Vie last month. I have kept these posted in my office and thought the blog would be a great place to share them. Please enjoy!

Walk six days a week for at least 20 minutes.

Do sit ups while the shower water is getting warm.

Stay in bed an extra five minutes and stretch with a strap and breathe.

Make your last bite by 7 PM, then herb tea after your last bite.

Take your last bite of carbs after 5 PM.

Focus on high density nutritional carbs for energy!

Begin a resistance training program slowly.

Check out Sparkspeaple.com

Consider getting a subscription to a fitness magazine.

Get a friend excited to get happy and fit.

Buy some new music to inspire you.

Get an Ipod!

Download books to walk and listen!

Try new classes at the gym.

Write a mantra on your bathroom mirror...I am beautiful!

Remember the body heals.

Choose fitness and wellness as a prevention over prescription drugs - but see your doctor first:)

Treat your body like a temple...moderation in all things..except loving yourself and others.

Start your next crave with a big glass of water.

Strive for 7 hours of sleep nightly.

Smile in the mirror, then pass one on when you pass someone in your day!

Think of 10 things you are grateful for while brushing your teeth every morning or evening.

Visualize yourself at the size you want to be - buy an outfit when you get there!

Try something totally new to you ..yoga, biking, belly dancing, etc.

Say one thing nice about YOU every morning and someone else you love!

Be 1% better everyday at something!

If you could take away ONE thing, one habit, one emotion of self depreciating thought pattern...what would it be...and are you willing to take it out of your daily life?

Have a great day! Gianna

Tips from The Pros - Part V - DIY Internet Invitations

Some of our clients are turning to the Internet to save money on save the dates and invitations.  We asked Oksana Lanis of Details by Oksana to give us her take on this process and how to avoid being disappointed.

Here are Oksana's thoughts:


1) Fine papers come in such a vast variety, that no computer monitor and/or best photography can reproduce its weight, shade and texture. Paper needs to be touched and felt, to understand fully if you like your selection.  

2) Be careful with those pearlescent or shimmery papers and envelopes. The ink will sit on top of the paper, without being absorbed if you print on your home printer. The heat of the digital professional printer that you find at a print shop will insure the ink has dried and does not smudge. 

3) Suggesting polygamy in your invitation is as easy as having an extra "and". When you say "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", the "and" tells the reader that the two people are married, so, the next time you see 

"Mr. and Mrs. Bridesparents

and 

Mr. and Mrs. Groomsparents"

on an invitation, basically, what the wording is suggesting is that all four of those people are married :-) There are great books on etiquette out there, but unless you have the time to read them, asking a professional is the next best thing that you can do.  

4) I am not sure if you have ever ordered a lipstick or eye shadow from a catalog, but if you have, the first thing you notice when it arrives is that the color(s) are not what you expected. Why? Well, the computer's screen is backlit, which makes the picture(s) on the screen appear lighter. A designer putting a layout together tries to adjust the color as much as possible, but we all see colors and shades differently, as our eye anatomy is slightly different from the next person's, and when the picture(s) prints on pages of catalog, it prints darker, which is why when you receive your order, the colors are almost never what they are in reality. Images are also uploaded at very low resolution, making it possible for the page to load rather quickly. When you add that to the limited Internet color range and different monitor settings what you might receive in the mail is really anybody's guess. 

5) Be sure to sign off on the proof of your invitation, just so there are no misunderstandings later. We recommend that you ask at least five trusted friends or family members to proofread the invite to see if they can catch any of the grammar mistakes.  Since you are close to the project, you might not be reading the text, but rather recalling it from your memory, making it harder to proofread it. 


6) Don't be surprised if you receive a black and white proof of your letterpress invitation, since it costs $35 to $40 to produce a plate which will be used to press into that fine paper you had selected for your invitations. Every time you make a correction to the layout, a new plate needs to be produced. I dont know of a letterpress shop that will spend that kind of money just for a proof, therefore, until you finalize your layout, expect to see black and white proofs, unless you are willing to pay for the plates yourself.  

Crafting a bespoke wedding invitation is more than just gathering information, it involves discussing fine papers and printing options, your likes and dislikes, etiquette, your sense of style and event theme before making a financial commitment.  The process should be a pleasant experience based on actual samples and expert advice. Once you've looked at the invitations on the screen of your computer and got a sense of the designer's style, set up a complimentary consultation to discuss the possibilities for your event's stationary. 


We welcome an opportunity to design your bespoke wedding stationary, custom guestbook and swarovsky crystal incrusted wedding pen, card box, bridal flip flops and anything else you might dream of for your event. Oksana Lanis 323-333-7897 http://www.detailsbyoksana.com/ 

photo by Ellice Boone of ES Photography