Countdown To The Royal Wedding

The countdown has officially begun and as I sit here watching the Royal Wedding coverage with so little time left to go, I felt the need to share a a piece of my excitement with you.

I started my day attending a very special Royal Tea Party hosted by the ever so wonderful Eddie Zaratsian of tic-tock Couture and The Langham Pasadena. The event was flawless, so much fun and truly the perfect beginning to a magical event in history. Here's a sneak peak of the tablescape from the Viennese ballroom where we had tea.


With all this Royal Wedding buzz the wedding industry is booming with Royal inspiration and I felt it was fitting to share a bit of it with you tonight.

Photo Courtesy of Hulu

A couple week's ago the incredibly talented Youngsong Martin of Wildflower Linens revealed an opulent "Royal" inspired napkin ring that is just epic. From the moment we received the details on this stunning show stopper we were sold!

Photo Courtesy of Tres Fabu

Today we received an email from Classic Party Rentals on yet another "Royal" inspired Chameleon Chair. How elegant is this?


As I watch the arrivals I love all the hats and headpieces I see! It's fascinating to watch all the different designs, colors and details of these fabulous hats!

Photo Courtesy of Rachel Trevor-Morgan

Photo Courtesy of All About Weddings

I'm also fascinated by the men's morning suits! How great are they? Just as versatile as some of the hats are the variety of colors and textures in the gentleman's suits. Here are a few favorites...

Photos Courtesy of Nicola Cornick

Last but not least is what I hope to see Kate in... a lace gown that's timeless, sophisticated and contemporary but still pays homage to Diana. A friend told me today to revisit Grace Kelly's gown, I did and now I must share it with you, it's just breathtaking!

Photo Courtesy of Covelli Boutique

Hope you enjoyed the countdown but now it's time for the moment I've been waiting for since November... The Royal Wedding!

Inspired by Dusty Miller!

One of my brides is currently in debate with whether or not to incorporate Dusty Miller foliage into her bouquets. So lately I've been inspired by this velvety goodness!

Photo Courtesy of Dave's Garden

I seriously love Dusty Miller, it's so delicately soft and a perfect neutral filler to add a little texture to whatever palette it graces! Here are some of my favorite ways to incorporate it into your design!

Balsa Wood Flowers are gorgeous and so texture rich, combine them with dusty miller and the look is just exquisite! Check out this bouquet made by the fabulous Carissa of JL Designs.

Photo Courtesy of Bollea

How great is this boutonniere? The white spray roses combined with foliage and the softness of the dusty miller is just so sweet!

Photo Courtesy of Floral Verde

I love this smaller centerpiece off the Martha Stewart website using the dusty miller with a pink palette!

Photo Courtesy of Martha Stewart

What I love must about Dusty Miller is it's versatility, it looks just as wonderful with a neutral palette as it does with some color! Check out this gorgeous fall colored tablescape by the ever so wonderful Susan of Peony and Plum!

I absolutely adore this final photo of an oyster shell wedding cake. How beautiful is this!

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

Hope you enjoyed viewing all the many ways you can add a little dusty miller into your look!

Shoe Shot Sunday: Brittany + Mike

I'm so excited to share this feminine Badgley Mischka pair with you tonight. Brittany and Mike were married in San Diego at a hidden gem in La Jolla, The Darlington House. There's nothing better than a historic property by the beach for your wedding day in a stylish pair of shoes right!

I love the color of them and how texture rich they are. This shoe is so versatile and can compliment a couture wedding gown just as much as it dresses up a more simpler design.

I also happen to adore the photographer of these images, Ryan Phillips, who so brilliantly placed them on a mirror tabletop to create one of my top favorite shoe shots of all time with this shot. I'll let you be the judge.... check it out!


I love these next couple portraits of Brittany too, so natural, the backdrop is beautiful and look how the shoes are peeking out to make their statement too!

For more fabulous images of their special day, be sure to visit Ryan's blog.

Trunk Alert: Monique Lhuillier's Spring 2012 Collection

Our friend Megan McKenna Volkening over at Monique Lhuillier's Melrose Place salon has sent us an invitation for a private trunk show to share with our brides.


Come see Monique's Spring 2012 collection and prepare to be dazzled. Market is going on right now and this will be the first opportunity for you to view these gowns in person for an amazing trunk show!

Appointment's must be made, so call Megan today to secure your spot.

Sterling Buzz: Featured on Hostess with the Mostess Blog!

For weeks I've been jumping out of my seat to share with you details from my own engagement party. I constantly focus on creating the most perfect of events for each and everyone of our Sterling Engagement's clients, for the first time it was my turn and I'm delighted to have Hostess with the Mostess share some of the fabulous details with you.


Here are a few of my favorite images from the night thanks to my friend Ashleigh Taylor for capturing them!

And of course, such a mama's boy!

It was so fun to work on something so personal and special to my fiance and I. Hope you enjoyed it! It took an incredible team of some of my most favorite vendors to assemble such a special evening and I thank each one of them!

Vendor Love:
Bridal Party Definition Cards: Practically Perfect Design
Bridal Tote Bags: Pink Velvet Press
Candy Buffet/Event Styling/Floral Design: Sterling Engagements
Custom Linens and Chairs: Designer Specialty Linens
Custom Name and Candy Buffet Banners: SiennaJen
Dessert Buffet: Fantasy Frostings
Event Stationary: Affectionate Digitals
Groomsman Shooter Glasses: Distinct Glass Studio
Invitation: Mujka Chic
Love Crochet Towels: Patti’s Potpourri
Napkins: For your Party
Photography: Ashleigh Taylor Photography
Salads: Epicurean Events
Signature Plate: The Heads Creation
Taco Catering: El Tapatio
Tissue Poms: Prost to the Host
Tres Chic Vintage Mirror: Shabby McFabby
Wooden Signs: Family Attic Shoppe

For more of our L-O-V-E filled details, please visit the Hostess with the Mostess Blog.

My Fave Mondays: Event Painting by Agnes

Agnes Csiszar Russo is an artist to say the least but not just any artist, a live event painter. Today I want to share with you an incredible gift can give, be gifted or even gift yourself. A live event painting is an amazing piece of art you can hang on your wall to remember your wedding or special event.


Agnes is one of the best and we're thrilled with her artistic talent and the incredible gifts she continues to create for couples or event hosts.


Agnes was so kind to share to share with us a little peek into her world and how she makes her magic.


Live event painting is so unique, how did you first get into this?
"I am from Hungary, where I grew up in small cities, moved through gypsy villages, where people had plenty of time to pose for portraits. Later I was trained in traditional fine art in Budapest and when I moved to Los Angeles in 1995, I started to work in the movie industry. I worked as an illustrator, creating concept sketches, posters, and set design.

One day I was drawing a presentation sketch for a big event and the client loved the illustration so much that she wanted me to paint on the location during the event. That was my very first "Live Event Painting". I met several future clients at that event and this became a wonderful passion of mine. It developed into a new profession that I love."

How does it work?
"I come early to set up my easel and I sketch the background elements for the painting, by the time the guests arrive, there is a vibrant sketch on the canvas. I then can start focusing painting in the people. I take photos of the special guests that the bride and groom choose an advance and place them into the foreground of the painting, carefully creating a balanced composition. I pay special attention to their body language, and try to capture their characters with natural poses. My little digital camera is a great help for reference, since naturally no one has time to pose long enough for their portraits."


I hope you have enjoyed learning a bit more about Agnes and the gorgeous "live event paintings" she creates. For more information , please visit her website and see what kind of magic she can paint for your next wedding or special event.

Shoe Shot Sunday: Erica + Ian

We love this Shoe Shot Toby Tucker sent over from Erica and Ian's wedding in Solvang at Alisal Ranch.


How great do the ruffles on the shoes compliment the romantic lace of her gown! So beautiful.

Happy Feet!

An Introduction... I'm Finally the Groom

As the Groom of a Wedding Planner who is planning her own wedding, one would think the process is going to be seamless. However, I don’t think anything happening isn’t out of the ordinary for a typical Bride and Groom.

Alex is the love of my life, and I could never imagine my life without her. We’ve been together for nearly a decade, unfortunately, the time and effort we’ve put into our relationship has no effect on the obstacle that is: planning a wedding.

Photo Courtesy of OnceWed

I’ve watched her establish her company with much success over the past several years, helped her along the way and witnessed firsthand, on many occasions what goes into a wedding. I’d like to say I could count the number of centerpieces I’ve carried, the chairs I’ve moved, or the chargers I’ve set up, but the numbers are much larger than one can remember. And I have a great memory.

Because Alex is a wedding planner, she and everyone else is expecting so much out of our wedding, it’s putting a tremendous amount of pressure on Alex and myself to deliver an event that is nothing less than mind-blowing. Is this fair? No, of course not, but life isn’t fair, and neither are weddings. They’re expensive, time-consuming, and the number one cause of migraines among men ages 25-31.

Alex is also the bride in this case, not just the wedding planner. I tried to order the partial-planning package, but I just didn’t think it suited my needs, nor was it a realistic option. I have been awarded the full service, in your face, going to make you do things you never imagined package and I’m okay with that. Hence, here I am, writing a wedding blog, on a wedding website, for my fiancé, the wedding planner.

Photo Courtesy of Chiq Weddings

Thanks for reading, there will be more to come over the next 6 months. I'm sure it will get more interesting. I don't see how it couldn't.