International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers Competition

The ISPWP is a new organization for wedding photographers that recently announced the winners of their Winter 2008 Wedding Photography Contest. I had fun reviewing the results, as I think you might. The organization solicits entries internationally and domestically, and I was introduced to many new names from all over. Always great to see new talent! Here are some of my favorites; credits are on their posting.

Funny Flower Girl Gift

We love finding a good wedding-related gift for a flower girl; they are few and far between. This new book is perfect for the flower girl who can't wait to wear her dress. For more information, please visit the publisher, Tundra Books. The author, Georgia Graham, loosely based the story on her experience as a flower girl. Some things never change!

Chanteuse of the Lettered Word

Jane Labanz of the Delicate Pen brings lettering to an art form. Her work is instantly recognizable for its delicate lines and signature floral embellishments. Often emulated, Jane has made her mark with her distinctive style. She'll be at the Wedding Library this Sunday, March 1, from 12-3pm. She'll be available for consultations and will discuss invitation etiquette from 2-2:30pm. Answers to pressing etiquette questions and advice on topics such as how to submit a proper address list to your calligrapher, how to choose a calligrapher and why use hand lettering will be "addressed".

Please RSVP to Linda@theweddinglibrary.com or call us for a personal appointment with Jane. 212.327.0100

Museum of the City of New York

The Wedding Library is pleased to announce that we have formed a partnership with the Museum of the City of New York as their exclusive booking agent and event planner for weddings. We are delighted to help make one of the most elegant landmark buildings on Fifth Avenue more accessible to brides. Give us a call for a private tour and more information on the available party spaces. Claudia Hanlin: 212.327.0100

As guests enter the Museum from Fifth Avenue, they step into the newly restored marble rotunda, the highlight of the grand Georgian-style building. The front terrace can be tented for ceremonies, cocktails or dinner.View of the partially covered back terrace.The front terrace without a tent -- overlooking Fifth Avenue and across from Central Park's Conservatory Gardens.

A magical interior space. For weddings with seated dinner and dancing, up to 250 guests.The Marble Rotunda, available for dinner, cocktails or an intimate ceremony.

Dining in the Rotunda.

Dining in the galleries.
Photos courtesy of Julie Skarratt and Michael DiVito.

Wedding Photography Unveiled

I just received a copy of this new book by Photo District News Editor Jacqueline Tobin. It features 20 top wedding photographers and is equally insightful for brides and photographers. It can be pre-ordered on Amazon and will be released March 17. Photographers Liz Banfield, Philippe Cheng, Elizabeth Messina and Meg Smith number amongst my favorites and are all included.

Wedding Gowns Have Their Oscar Moment?

At the Oscars, Penelope Cruz couldn't have looked lovelier in her vintage (60 year-old) Pierre Balmain gown. But, pardon the suggestion, doesn't it look suspiciously like a wedding gown?

I suspect a few bridal gown designers will be incorporating the lavish detailing of this gown into next seasons designs. Red carpet or white aisle runner, she looked great.

Oheka Castle and WellWed

More to follow on the WellWed event, but I wanted to say that other than our Wedding Library vendors on hand, some of our favorite activities and ideas at the bridal event on Saturday were generated by WellWed! A henna tattoo station, a cute candy bar back drop, the overall Indian theme and a lovely potpourri bar were spot on. Kudos to the ladies at WellWed for an event well produced!

Henna tattoos on site. Very haute boho.

Candy will always help to keep you going at a bridal event! There was a cocoa bar too for that added sugar buzz -- marshmallows on the side.

This looked beautiful; little cloth sacks were provided as well as essential oil drops for a DIY favor. All photos courtesy of Stacey Ilyse Photography (a wonderful photographer exhibiting at the event and a new Wedding Library member).

Project Bridesmaids

Recycle, re-use. Clean out your closets and do a good thing. Created by actress Sharon Stone and her sister, Kelly, Planet Hope will distribute donated dresses for prom 2009 to students at several schools across the country, including New York City’s Frederick Douglass Academy and A. Philip Randolph Campus High School.

Supper Clubs

Jennifer and I were invited to a mysterious dinner Thursday night. Evidently we are the last people in New York to go to a Supper Club. For those of you who don't know about them, they're "underground" dinners in loft-like apartments, given by clever entrepreneurs, featuring creative and accomplished chefs. Our dinner was hosted by the ladies behind The Good Knife, a small organic catering company. Owner Andrea Lennon invited a group of 30 events professionals to her apartment for a five-course menu, coupled with Long Island's Wolffer Estate wines. Andrea's partner, Deborah Gorman, was our chef for the evening.
The concept is great. We had real conversations with our peers and had fun. We ate great food and drank local wine -- and best of all we all felt like guests in a friend's home. (Which we were.) I like the idea so much that I recommend it as a wedding gift (a Supper Club dinner for two), and an even better shower idea. Try to convince the ladies from The Good Knife to cater a tasting, a luncheon or a dinner. Make the location a surprise for your guests. I promise that even the most jaded restaurant-groupie will be delighted.

Gifts for the Good Life

Susan and Heather from Gifts for the Good Life sent me this beautiful collage of products that I omitted from our e-mail newsletter yesterday. So here's my opportunity to share with you a sampling of what they can produce. GFTGL will be at the Wedding Library on Sunday from 12-3. So if you are still contemplating favors or ruminating over in-room gift bags, come on by and see what they can do. If you're wondering, they can do it all -- from custom-printed cookies to totes with all the trimmings. Buzz Bonus: GFTGL will be providing their adorable totes to attendees of our event on Sunday while supplies last!

Destination Wedding Library

This Sunday we are delighted to host Heather and Susan, sisters and partners in Gifts for the Good Life. Their company provides innovative in-room gifts, favors, bridesmaid gifts and a great new idea, departure gifts. Send your guests off in style at the end of the weekend with carefully chosen and packaged gifts.

On Saturday we have Heather wearing her Arak Kanofsky hat and Liz Robinson from mia carta on hand to discuss the fabulous destination wedding stationery collection they've created together.

If you are a stationery aficionado, this week's Stationery Soiree is for you. There will be all of the fabulous vendors on hand from our Thread trunk show too, so there's a little bit for everyone... See you at the Wedding Library, your destination for wedding ideas. It's best if you can rsvp to linda@theweddinglibrary.com as we expect to have a full house.

Both days, events are from 12-3pm.

WellWed Hamptons Oheka Bridal Free Event Tickets

We have a limited number of free tickets for this Hamptons-oriented bridal event at Oheka Castle this weekend. Please email or comment and we'll hold on to one (or two) for you and a guest. Jennifer and I will be speaking and the Wedding Library will be in attendance -- we are looking forward to seeing all you Long Island brides on Saturday! For more information check out WellWed's web site. Email us at kristina@theweddinglibrary.com

Buzz Bonus: They're a $25 value, $35 for two! If you can't attend, pick up your free copy of WellWed's lovely magazine at the Wedding Library.

Stationery Soirees at the Wedding Library

Open up your calendar; this is your chance to meet the designers who make it all happen. All soirees are between 12-3pm and will be coupled with wine. Space is limited, so please reserve at 212.327.0100.

Saturday, February 21
Arak Kanofsky and Mia Carta share their destination collection (and some of their secrets)
Sunday, February 22
Heather and Susan Arak unveil Gifts for the Good Life, custom gifts for your wedding
Sunday, March 1
Dauphine Press is in the house to show off their custom letterpress designs
Sunday, March 15
Mr. Boddington's Studio moves uptown to help you pick your perfect stationery suite
Sunday, March 22
Bernard Maisner, master calligrapher and Protector of the Written Word does just that...

Barbados Bound

Join us at Saks on Thursday evening for the possibility of winning a honeymoon in Barbados. You'll receive 15% off all purchases at Saks, beauty makeovers, fragrance samples, giveaways and a runway fashion show. Our friends from Modern Bride, Elegant Bride and Valerie Wilson Travel will be on hand.

RSVP to Tara_Walsh@S5A.com

Makeup Magic

Lily Rivera, our airbrush makeup specialist from Bridal Gal, turned her magic wand on two of our gorgeous Librarians at a recent trunk show. I can't resist showing them before and after as Lily is a magician. Find her at the Wedding Library or contact her directly. It's easy to see why professional make up is important for a wedding -- no matter how pretty you are!

Valentine's Treat

That Ron Ben-Israel, always making sweets for the sweet. We were at an event and saw this perfectly romantic cake shot by Erik Ekroth. When Erik sent me the photo I thought I'd share this lovely image with you.

Happy romance day!

Thread Social Trunk Show

Next weekend we'll have Thread's new bridesmaid lines, Social Collection and Bridal gowns in the store. The sought-after Social Collection (found at Berdorf's, Intermix, etc.) will be available for "cash and carry". We just had to make it a party, so we invited some of our friends.

We've invited Ruth Drennan to treat us with wedding cake tastes. Pour Wines will be pouring bubbly and Maison du Chocolat will be serving chocolat! Cheek to Chic will be providing her fab mini-makeovers while KEP Designs will have a specially curated sampling of jewelry to go with Thread's collection (bridesmaid gifts!). Elizabeth Ryan will have a floral tabletop sample and Manhattan Swing will entertain us via LCD screen.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 20-22. See you at the Wedding Library!

Buzz Bonus: Thread orders placed during the trunk show will enjoy a 15% discount!

Real Card Promotion

I was just doing a little research on Real Card Studio's web site in order to post about a promotion they are holding and came across a posting on their blog about the Wedding Party. We've been creating luscious, luxe, always complicated and bespoke invitations with Real Card for years. And finally we got to meet Heather in person at our event. She flew cross-country to present, and her table looked beautiful. My only regret is that we didn't get to spend any "real" time together. Heather posted a few shots from the event, and I recommend checking out her web site and blog, Exceptionally Inviting, for more.

Real Card Studio's Table, assembled with help from Heather's cute husband.

All available at the Wedding Library, of course.

Oh, and the promotion? It's free return address printing or 50% off coordinating stationery with your invitation order. Some restrictions apply.

Chic Chicks at the Wedding Library

Here's some new creative for business post-cards we are producing. Hope all you chic chicks like it!

Destination Mexico!

Our friends at Casa Natalia are making a special offer just for Wedding Library brides. If you book their gorgeous hotel (14 rooms) for your wedding night, and have the wedding reception on property, you will receive four honeymoon nights in their luxurious spa suite.

Set in historic San Jose del Cabo, this Baja Peninsula hotel is in the tradition of a European boutique luxury properties, with 14 deluxe rooms and two special Spa Suites.

Conde Nast Traveler Reader's Choice Awards named Casa Natalia "Best Hotel in Mexico 2008". Not bad. Reason enough to fly away for a destination knot tying.

Buzz Bonus: Book the hotel for two nights, and you'll receive an 8-night honeymoon in the Spa Suite! Some restriction apply. Email nathalie@casanatalia.com for more information.

Wear a Little Black Dress...

...and check out the little white dresses at Amsale. Thursday, February 12, 6:30-9:30pm. 625 Madison Avenue, Amsale's Flagship Salon. RSVP 212.583.1700.

Buzz Bonus: Receive 10% off your purchase!

Love

This Valentine's I feel like I have a lot of affirmations of love to send: to my husband, my boys, siblings, my parents, business partner, etc. So I love these signature cards with its simple sentiment. I received this lovely pack from our Wedding Party where Real Card Studio offered a few to VIPs. But I just realized that you can purchase a pack of 5 from Etsy. Spread the love.

Sweet Thanks

I've received thank you notes (lovely), bottles of champagne (great!), gift certificates (practical), but I must say there's something special about a thank you note on a cookie. Heather and Susan, the masterminds behind Gifts for the Good Life sent us this box filled with Wedding Library cookies and a special one inscribed with a note. And most symbolically and literally, the whole office got to appreciate their thoughtful thanks.Buzz Bonus: Gifts for the Good Life will be at the Wedding Library showcasing their event accessories and creative gifts that will surely inspire you. Sunday, February 22, at the Wedding Library.

This says it all

It's dangerous to criticize others while subjecting yourself to scrutiny. (People in glass houses, etc.). However if you sell stationery, or discuss it, or have graduated from high school, it's time to learn to spell it. Apparently, I am not the only one who feels this way. Parcel Post got me started on the subject...

Cards by La Familia Green.