I am blessed to know so many phenomenal people in the industry– awesome individuals that are creative, inspiring and genuinely care about their clients and their work.  Because of the wonderful blogosphere, brides have access to so many talented planners across the country.  We are hosting a virtual party to allow brides to get to know and gain advice from some of their favorite wedding bloggers  on an intimate level.

Look who’s coming to party with us on December 4th!

Liene from Blue Orchid Designs.  A passion for life and giving has taken Liene all across the world– and she uses her unique experiences to help brides create  beautiful, yet meaningful weddings.  In addition to the Blue Orchid Blog, Liene also splits her time to her other business, The Smart Planner.  The Smart Planner helps wedding planners hone and develop their skills so that they run a more effective and successful business. Her expertise has been sought out by such publications such as Phoenix Bride and Groom, Conde Nast Portfolio, Arizona Weddings and CNN.  Liene resides in Phoenix, Arizona and also has offices in DC and New York.

  Andria Lewis of Andria Lewis Events.  Andria’s love for life is showcased in every one of her events. Her no-nonsense style ensures that they are run with military precision, but her passion for clients is what brings out the beauty of their love.  When you meet Andria, you instantly feel like you are talking with an old friend and feel comfortable entrusting your event to her.  It is in good hands too– Andria’s eye for detail and color have been documented in issues of Midsouth Southern Bride and Commercial Appeal.  You can find Andria’s excitement and advice on her blog, The Planner Pages and in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.

Aletha Vandermaas of Pearls Events. Aletha’s fresh perspective and eye for design have made her one of this year’s best up and coming wedding planners in the industry.  She has completely infused her experience in the bridal, service and corporate business industries with her love for weddings and created a company that has excited brides all across Michigan and the United States.  Although, she has been featured in Brides Michigan and The Knot Michigan, nothing shines brighter than Aletha’s smile and her desire to make one couples wedding day the most beautiful day in their lives.  Aletha’s sound advice can be found at The Pearls Events Blog while she can be found in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Isis Petrie of Posh Events, LLC.  Isis combines two parts of her life to maintain one of New Jersey’s hottest event planning firms:  she’s a self-professed social butterfly and an accountant by trade.  Isis’ clients are assured that they will have the party that is the event of the year but also fiscally responsible.  Isis accentuates the luxury and personalities in all of her client’s events– making each a unique party experience.  She’s been a contributing expert for the Courier Post and also featured as one of Impulse Magazine’s “35 under 35″ successful young business persons making a difference in their community.  In addition to setting trends, Isis also sits on the board of the Southern New Jersey chapter’s networking group for the Association of Bridal Consultants.  Destination…Soiree is a virtual extension of Isis’ creativity and talent, while she, in reality, can be located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Want to join these fabulous ladies around the cocktail table and get help for your wedding?  You can still get invited!  Email us at blog {at} fabuluxeinc.com and we’ll get you on the guest list!

From the Catalogue line:

Browning– A beautiful damask invitation and wedding paper set.

Emerson– A lovely swirl invitation and wedding paper set.

I was so very impressed by their couture lines; I think you will be too!

From the Couture line:

Amy–  made from Thai silk with a “Chinese frog” door handle design

Jessica– a Save the Date made from a vintage postcard from Washington DC. 

Marissa– Wedding invitation set made from a gorgeous baroque design with papers of various luxurious colors and textures.

Nicole– Wedding invitation set made of Thai silk with a design that opens like french doors.  Rich in color, texture and embellishments.

The beauty world lost a true revolutionary when Kevyn Aucoin passed away years ago. If you don’t know his amazing story of love, perseverance and sheer talent, it is one that will leave you stronger and misty-eyed.  Having worked lovingly on the faces of such beauties as Julia Roberts (above), Tina Turner, Christy Turlington, and Vanessa Williams, learning his tips and tricks keep you fabulous.  With his books, Face Forward and Making Faces, which are staples in my library, he introduced a new type of beauty to the world and industry. 

I have had a lot of people ask me how I do my “smoky eye” look or facial highlighting and bronzing. I learned it all from Kevyn.  Luckily enough, after his passing, his site is still maintained and his line of cosmetic tools are for sale. 

Here are the instructions for the “smoky eye” from Kevyn’s site:

Eyes are an area where you can really have fun and be quite creative. Unlike the lips, which can be altered only slightly in shape before they start to look awkward, the eyes have no real set limitations. Each shape you create, whether with shadows, pencils, or liner, can take you into completely different realms. From “smoky” to “defining,” subtle to high-drama, depending on the face you chose, the eye area is integral for a successful look.

To create the “alluring” eyeshadow shape shown on Julia Roberts, you’ll need the following tools and products:

concealer and face powder
powder and sponge
black eyeliner pencil
neutral beige powder eyeshadow
sponge tip applicator
eyeshadow brush
eyelash curler and black mascara
apricot blush and blush brush
neutral lip color and lip brush

If possible, you should remove contact lenses before working on the eye area and put them back in when you’re done.

Use concealer sparingly, followed by loose powder applied with a powder sponge (not velour). (Optional: leave a little powder under the eye, to catch falling shadow.)

Apply black eyeliner pencil to upper and lower inner eye area. Smudge pencil gently into the lashes.

Using either a sponge-type applicator or shadow brush (your choice), blend pencil into smoky circle around eye.

First, using the eyeshadow applicator, softly retrace penciled area (from lashes outward) with black eyeshadow. The idea is to smoke up the area. Remember to use as little as possible to get the best results.

Next, using the eyeshadow brush, arc into the crease of the eyelid, under and softly outward from the corner. (Concentrate the shadow on the outer half of the eye.)

Use beige powder eyeshadow to highlight browbone and eyelid. (You can even sweep a little bit slightly down the side of the nose and under the eye.)
Curl the lashes and apply black mascara.

Finally, fill in the mouth (using a lip brush) with neutral lip color (in Julia’s case, for this photo, no lip pencil outline was necessary), and dust the cheeks with apricot blush.

Julia’s brows were bleached. (This is always optional, but see how it, with the pale mouth, softens and affects the overall balance of the face.)

Rest in peace, Kevyn…you are missed, but not forgotten!

Oh yes, luxelings, in so many ways…

But in this particular instance, I am speaking of the AOL Living super sweet section called Lemondrop.  They were so awesome to actually feature me as one of the “Wedding Planners Who Blog About Their Jobs…And Clients“.  Not that I am biased or anything, but they ROCK!  I spent the past few days catching up on previous articles and found myself saying “OMG, yes!” or “WOW!” or “I know that’s right!”  The bloggers are awesome and their personalities make want to invite them all over for creme brulee and an individual martini luge. 

I love the fact that they say (on their facebook page): “Our goal is to get you talking: to your friends, to one another and to us.”  Everything from celebrity news to fashion to politics to tech goodness, it’s there and it’s fair game.  I’m always one for a spirited debate, thought-provoking read or swoonworthy fashion orgy.  Lemondrop basically gives me all basic luxe food groups in one spot.  Go on over to Lemondrop and indulge. 

Thanks again for the love, ladies!

The sweet sounds of a shamisen greatly complements this week’s theme:  our Japanese style cocktail hour.  The flavors have a component that appeal to everyone’s palates:  bold, light, spicy, sweet.

Daikon-Papaya Summer Rolls with Minted Yogurt Sauce from Food and Wine

This is the perfect signature hors d’oeuvres that is meatless, but still flavorful.  It is guaranteed to awaken the palate and prepare it for whatever savory dishes you will have to follow for dinner.  These light and sweet flavors pack a punch!  Serve in shot glasses so that guests can enjoy their own serving of the Yogurt Sauce.

Sakura (Cherry blossom)

?”Awamori” 40 ml
?Apricot brandy 10 ml
?Lemon juice 10 ml
?Creme de cassis tsp 1

Awamori is a Japanese liquor similar to Sake.  It is rich and full flavored, so it will surely leave an impression! 

Going generations back, this tradition goes back to the slave era when blacks were forbidden to marry.  To prove their matrimonial commitment to themselves and their community, the couple would physically jump over a broom to symbolize their leap in to married life.  African American couples frequently tie in the tradition of “jumping the broom” at the close of their ceremonies.

You can find custom brooms online at places like African-Weddings, Wedding Brooms by Alicia, or you can make one yourself.

.::Photo by Brian Dorsey::.

Designing your own broom is something you can ask your florist to do.  You can pick out a broom at a local craft store, or they can get one for you.  If your florist does your broom, you will find that it will be in consistent in design with the rest of your arrangements. S/he can use the same color and type of ribbon for the broom’s handle as used on your bouquets, right down to the braid pattern.  Flowers from your bouquet can be incorporated, too.  You can offer similar customizations such as adding lockets of those you wish to remember, or even lockets of your own parents’ wedding photos to symbolize the joining of your two families.  When your child or sibling gets married it can be passed along to them too.  Most couples save their brooms and put them on display in their homes.  If you choose to do this, make sure that you use sturdy materials when creating your broom. 

Depending on how ceremonial you would like to get with your broom jumping, you can have your officiant bring it out from a hidden area.  As an alternative, you can have an honored relative or even a young child bring forth the broom and place it before you. 

Above picture from Your Wedding Day

With all the talk of congressional bailouts to banks, auto and insurance companies– surely, by now you are hoping for a mandate that will extend to bridal couples for their weddings.

Well, while you are waiting on that, let me give you some tips that will help you in the meantime…

You can initiate your own bridal bailout by fully and realistically assessing the scale of your wedding. 

1. Can you cut your guest list?
2. Can you change the time or day of your wedding?
3. Can any orders or services be scaled back

These three starting points will seem really hard to do.  If you are serious about affording your wedding and not paying it off at your fifth anniversary, they will be necessary.  With the economy having everyone tightening their belts, more and more couples and their families will have to reconsider their contributions to the wedding budget.  Each person’s circumstances are different, and it will be up to them to decide how much they can oblige their finances too.  Nevertheless, it shouldn’t be held hostage to the idea of a “dream wedding” when the realities are harsher than ever. 

This week, we will debut Operation: Recessionista, a series of posts that will show you the how’s and why’s of having a wedding on a strict budget.  Part of the frustration of most couples is not knowing the cost of services when they start planning, so they enter into the process with an inflated and unrealistic view of weddings.  Frustration can turn into utter despair when it seems like nothing is affordable for them.  Operation: Recessionista will give you tips for an affordable and beautiful wedding without sacrificing feelings, decorum  or overall event vision. 

BOSS Black ‘Movie’ Suit in Beige :: Burberry Two Button Sportcoat in Grey/Tobacco ::  Theory ‘Proper’ Blazer in Black ::  two a.m. Velvet Blazer in Espresso ::

Andrew Fezza Tan Tic Three-Button Suit :: Pronto Uomo Couture Charcoal Two-Button Suit :: Joseph & Feiss Resort Three-Button, Non-Vent,Tan Silk Suit :: Versini Three-Button, Non-Vented Black Suit ::