Fresh Juice Bar

I recently held a party hosted by a favorite NYC restaurant, Rouge Tomate. I seek inspiration from my favorite restaurants and this Michelan-rated Modern-American restaurant based on locally grown, organic foods provides plenty of ideas. I am particularly fond of their fresh juices made with unusual combinations -- they are in equal parts pretty, delicious and even nutritious! So when a planning client was seeking a healthy start to their wedding dinner, I knew just the thing -- a fresh juice bar. The bar works perfectly with or without alcohol; the key is the unique and distinctive combinations -- dill and cucumber; green tea, agave syrup and mint; or try this recipe courtesy of Rouge Tomate.

The Passion Mate

4 oz. Yerba Mate (a South American plant)

1 1/2 oz. Passion fruit juice

1/2 oz. Lemon Juice

Agave syrup to taste

Directions: First, cold infuse the Mate tea the day before (or half day). Then, in a shaker combine the Yerba Mate, Passion Fruit Juice, Lemon Juice and Agave. Shake with ice. After, pour into a highball and add some fresh Blueberries or Huckleberries as a garnish. Spike option: This drink goes well with tequila. (If you're feeling extra adventuous try a habanero infused tequila for an extra kick)!

Long, Long, Long-Lasting Lipstick

No matter how good a makeup artist is I've always been bothered by the dilemma of the disappearing lipstick. With all the talking and smooching a bride does on her wedding day lipstick touch-ups are a constant concern. So when a professional make-up artist clued me into a drugstore lipstick that did the trick, I ran to my local pharmacy to try it out. Revlon's Ultimate ColorStay Liquid Lipstick was on my lips the same day. It went on like a wand gloss, which was great. A minute later my lips felt like I applied a glue stick to them. When the lipstick dried (about 3 minutes), the stickiness was gone and the lipstick was on solid. I ate, I drank, I kissed; it did not come off. I admit to a drying sensation to this matte color but although the lipstick did not last 24 hours successfully, it certainly lasted the length of even a very long wedding. This is a lipstick I would trust to stay on and look good all night long. Try Perfect Peony with a clear gloss over it for a perfect wedding color. Give it a test run and let me know what you think!

Personalized Prints

We are often asked to suggest an alternative to the traditional guest book and I love this example from Personalized Prints on etsy. Each leaf is a signing spot for guests and the trees come with different numbers of leaves for small or big weddings. The turnaround is quick and as you can see, it's pretty enough to simply hang on your wall (as I did for the Wedding Library poster I commissioned). You have the option to print it yourself, too, and for different quality printing. Fun, decorative and novel. I love this guest book idea!

See my article for Martha Stewart Wedding's Bride's Guide on the topic!

Henna Cakes

Sandy Patangay traditionally applies henna tattoos to Indian wedding parties and guests of parties of all kinds. But she's recently branched out with an extraordinary new company Creme-Delicious. She re-creates her intricate henna designs on perfectly delicious little heart cakes. This is how it's done. First her baker creates the chocolate, vanilla or red velvet creations covered in white fondant. Sandy colors each cake to achieve the vibrant Indian hues she seeks. The cakes are cream-infused with white chocolate, strawberry or chocolate hazelnut. Then she painstakingly decorates each cake with piping, sugar dusting powder and sugar beads. The individual serving cakes can take up to a half-hour to decorate and are as beautiful as they are delicious. I think they would make a wonderful wedding favor, or simply an exquisite wedding dessert. Very special.

See my post about the cakes on Martha Stewart Wedding's Brides Guide today!

The Wedding Writer

Susan Schneider, three-time Executive Editor of Elegant Bride, Modern Bride and Bridal Guide, has come out with a novel of the likes of "The Devil Wears Prada" but for the bridal set. Yes, I read it in two sittings. I invited my editor pal over to the Wedding Library to dig the real dirt, but she swears it's all a work of fiction.

I say buy it immediately if you are getting married, intend to get married or ever were married. (Furthermore, if you're in the industry it's simply irresistible.) Perfect for the deck chair, with margarita in hand, poolside in East Hampton. Ahhh summer reading.....
Learn more about it here or The Wedding Writer can be purchased here. And read about Susan's visit to the Wedding Library in her own words, here!

Charming Seating Charts

I wrote about it on Martha Stewart's Bride's Guide today, and reiterate it here. Escort cards are tried and true, but seating charts can be useful, especially for a complicated floor plan. Laura Hooper has made them charming, too. These pretty maps can be customized to any theme and I think are particularly creative when you have table names instead of numbers. And they make a great keepsake remembrance of all the guests at your wedding.

Gruber Photographers

My friend Terry Gruber has been working on his web site and facebook page and he's ready for us all to like it! And as a ridiculously marvelous incentive, he's offering a day of photography sweepstakes for "liking" his facebook site. It's worth about $12,500!!! I like it, I like it!

So, give it a whirl and like it too: http://www.facebook.com/GruberPhotographers

A Summer Woodland Table

I created this table to show a client and love the way a strong linen can make such an impact on a simple design. Recently I found this invitation on the web and eureka, I knew it would be the perfect mate to the table setting.

I wish I were throwing a woodland party to use these ideas!

Big News!

Butterflies Galore

A client of mine will be getting her cake from her venue, and she is concerned about the in-house artistry as she'd like her design to be similar to this cover of Martha Stewart Weddings. I promised to decorate the cake personally if the in-house baker couldn't do it, but then I stumbled upon Wedding Star. I was planning to search out butterflies in different sizes and hues (or call my friends and Martha Stewart to find out how it was done). But now we don't have to!

Getting a cake with your venue is a great perk -- but often my clients are worried that the execution may not be exactly as they pictured it if they could choose their own baker. My advice is to show the in-house baker lots of pictures of what you're looking for. Look at their work and make sure they are up to the task. If not, adapt your design to suit their style. If you don't like their sugar bows, use real ribbon. If their sugar flowers are not delicate enough -- use real ones. And if all else fails, go simple and classic.

Kit by Wedding Star

Cute execution also shown by Wedding Star -- love the combination of sugar flowers and butterflies

The Big Enough Company

Many years ago I had the good fortune to meet the ladies from In Good Company, a company that creates a community for women entrepreneurs, and work spaces for them to share. Now these smart ladies are coming out with a book to tell you how it's done. They are also smart enough to know when a company satisfies the needs of it's owner -- and that's the focus of The Big Enough Company -- Creating a Business That Works for You.

The ladies honored me by profiling the Wedding Library and the journey I've taken through the decade plus I've been in business. The trailer link for this inspiring book is here.

Congratulations to these amazing ladies who have worked so hard to provide fellow business owners the tools to make their dreams a success. By the way, the book comes out in September and I can't wait to get my advance copy!

Bugs Don't Bug Me at All

Constantly trying to convince clients to use them as a motif: butterflies, ladybugs, dragonflies... with varying degrees of success. :)

Photo Shoot

I was working on a photo shoot today and came up with these sweet working pictures. I've said it before, I love the birds and the bugs!

We're on Style Me Pretty!

A beautiful wedding we planned has been posted on Style Me Pretty. Thank you Abby for sharing this Everglades Club, Palm Beach wedding with your readers!