We Heart The Illustrated Bride!

Imagine this, you have the most amazingly perfect wedding gown that your so in love with and are just ecstatic to wear for your big day. Come wedding day you rock this gorgeous gown, relish it's texture, are so in love with wearing it and truly wish you never had to take it off.

Of course as your wedding day concludes your married to the love of your life and are the happiest newlywed bride ever. As you celebrate each other on your honeymoon and reminisce about your special day, do you start to have visions of you in that beautiful gown? Once it's preserved and put away, do you feel as though part of you still wants to see it often? Is it even possible to miss a dress?


If so, Jennifer Hancock aka The Illustrated Bride has something very special in store for you. Using photographs from your photographer, The Illustrated Bride can recreate a custom illustration of your gown for your to cherish forever. While it's stored away in a safe place, you can still have a gorgeously drawn sketch of this special gown to look at whenever you wish.
Once you decide to proceed, you have various options to choose from like whether you want just the gown with no face details, your face sketched in, details like your veil and jewelery etc... Jennifer customizes your illustration to be exactly what you wish for.

Since a gown has a front and a back, The Illustrated Bride can also sketch both sides so your don't miss one bit.

You can also have your illustration framed individually or side by side next to a photo of you. The options are endless!


So if you haven't already, please click over to The Illustrated Bride Etsy site and check out her work! It also makes the perfect gift to give to a bride or even a bridesmaid.

Souly Wedding Vendors: It's A Bride Thing Event

We are so happy to be part of the Souly Wedding Vendors family! What a great group of wedding professionals!


Souly Wedding Vendors is a creative circle of new and established Ventura County wedding vendors, all committed to the same level of professionalism. Every other month, at a new and exciting location, we host a themed party for engaged couples. This gives the clients the opportunity to meet, mix and mingle with Souly Wedding Vendors in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

This month's event will be the best one yet! Be sure to stop by and at least check it out.

“It’s a Bride Thing”

BRIDAL SOIREE FASHION SHOW
By Camarillo Bridal

Thursday, August 20th, 2009
6:00pm to 8:30pm


Hosted at:
McCormick Home Ranch
2034 East Fifth Street
Camarillo

Fashion Show
Complete Information Resource for Brides-to-be
Hands on Experience with Hair, Makeup & Mobile Tanning Vendors
Meet & Mingle with Preferred Ventura County Vendors
Complementary Beverages & Hors d’oeuvres

Bring one complimentary guest with the purchase of one $5.00 admission
If purchased by August 18th 2009

PURCHASE TICKETS AT:
SoulMates Bridal Boutique
2068 Ventura Blvd, Old Town Camarillo
805-388-7363

Camarillo Bridal
2121 Pickwick Dr, Camarillo
805-389-1515

*Admission will be $5.00 per person at the door*

Happy Mingling!

My Fave Mondays: SoulMates Bridal Boutique

We are so excited about this weeks My Fave Monday pick! SoulMates Bridal Boutique is an adorable store that features everything but the dress! It's located in Camarillo and owned by our friends Megan and Vanessa. They do an amazing job at welcoming each guest into their boutique and assisting them in every way possible.


Here's what Vanessa and Megan have to say about SoulMates and what they offer...

If you're a bride who's looking for those perfect shoes, or another must-have accessory...you've got to come into SoulMates Bridal Boutique! Where we carry, "everything, but the dress." We're not like most other wedding shops... we're a small boutique, where you can feel comfortable and deal straight with the owners themselves. We believe in having a one-on-one relationship with each of our clients. And we make finding all the small things easy, we carry beautiful shoes, amazing jewelry, ring bearer pillows, cake serving sets (free engraving), toasting glasses (free engraving), flower girl baskets, unity candles, cake toppers, bridesmaid gifts, groomsmen gifts, and much much more!!!! Plus, if you live far, search our website, where you can buy directly and have items shipped straight to you!

We’re also your FREE information resource! If you can’t find that perfect vendor that fits your taste, personality or budget...drop in our store for complimentary Ventura County vendor information. We ONLY refer out to reputable vendors that share in the same level of professionalism, as we do. So you can find comfort and ease…and definitely feel confident in the referral.




Photos courtesy of Phase 4 Photography.

Happy planning!!

My Fave Mondays: Affectionate Digitals

We are so excited about today's My Fave Monday pick. Affectionate Digitals is a custom invitation company that designs stunning invitations, stationary and more! We love working with Ruth and know that her handmade creations always contribute to creating a buzz about our client's events!

Affectionate Digitals started as a husband and wife team dedicated to helping couples design and create unique and elegant invitations and cards. They have over eight years of experience designing cards, and many years in the computer technology and photography fields. The combined experience allows them to serve all your needs when it comes to creative design and exceptional attention to detail.

They really strive to offer something different in terms of design, style and content so that the invitation to your special event will delight your guests. They help you add a personal touch, whether it is with a photo, a specialty paper, your own special wording or an "affectionate digital". By adding a personal touch, you will gain the attention of your guests. Your honored guests will know they are being invited to a very special celebration.

This is to date our favorite design we! The detail is amazing throughout each layer of this invitation. Not to mention the actual event was at a favorite venue also, Hummingbird Nest Ranch.


They have a beautiful assortment of handmade papers, which they order from Nepal and other amazing sources all over the world.

They also assist clients to create custom monograms special for the day. These are a beautiful accent on the outside of a folded invitation. It compliments the handmade paper and is such a great personal touch!














Their line of products include:

* Specialty Paper Custom Invitations
* Photo and Non-Photo Invitations
* Save the Date Cards and Booklets
* PHOTO Thank You Cards

* Maps
* Programs
* Menus, Table Cards, Escort Cards

* Traditional Styles
* Embossed Border Designs
* All Forms of Printing
* Computerized Calligraphy

* Guest Calligraphy Font
* Other Paper Accessories

* Fine Personalized Stationery
for your personal needs and
social requirements


Affectionate Digitals also does an array of fabulous Mitzvah invitations as well!

















Happy Viewing!

New Registry with A Great Affair

So often do I have clients asking me how to register for items other than those at Macy's, Pottery Barn etc... There are so many options out there nowadays with Honeymoon Registries, Photography Registries and more... How do you choose?

While it is not in proper etiquette to ask for cash for your wedding. A registry like A Great Affair, gives you the option of asking for what you really want, while still not literally asking for cash.



So if you are one of those couples out there who has been nesting for long enough that your house is pleasantly full and you want another option... Here is a great way to kindly request what you truly would like for your wedding gifts!

Happy Registry!

My Fave Mondays: Fantasy Frostings

Something to appreciate about Leslie Maynor and Fantasy Frostings is her passion and desire to make a dessert and not just the wedding cake. So often we find clients interested in doing dessert bars, candy bars, a dessert within their coursed meal, cupcakes etc... While these are all delicious, the one thing these items happen to do is take away from that fabulous wedding cake! What we love most about Leslie and her team at Fantasy Frostings is they make beautiful cakes that taste just as decadent as they look! This is why they are our favorite pick this week.


Fantasy Frostings is a family owned and operated business on the West Coast, opened by Joyce Maynor 30 years ago. While they do bake up whatever you wish to order, they definitely specialize in Wedding Cakes. They understand that an unforgettable cake is essential to any wonderful event. It embodies all the elements of style, beauty, and taste that a party represents.




















Their attention to detail, outstanding customer service, and unmistakable taste have earned Fantasy Frostings recognition from some of the nations most prestigious food, wedding, and lifestyle magazines including:
● In Style
● InStyle Weddings
● Bride’s Magazine
● Los Angeles Times Magazine
● Elegant Bride
● Los Angeles Magazine
● People
● Modern Bride
● Angeles Magazine
● Grace Ormonde Wedding Style 2003


Numerous wedding books have also highlighted Fantasy Frostings’ cakes including:
● Weddings a Celebration - Beverly Clark
● Town & Country - Elegant Weddings
● Here Comes the Guide - Wedding and Reception Sites


The Fantasy Frostings Menu includes the following...
We love the Chocolate Fudge Surprise and Marble Chip!

White Satin
A moist, luscious, old fashioned white cake sprinkled gently with Grand Marnier and filled with layers of white chocolate mousse and shaved dark chocolate alternating with Raspberries on a bed of whipped crème.

Chocolate Fudge Surprise
Dense, Dark Chocolate layers glorified with hand beaten fudge, dark chocolate mousse and a rich layer of ganache with crushed English toffee. Our tribute to all world class chocolate lovers.

Lemon Squeeze
A sunny lemon pound cake enhanced with a perky lemon sauce and filled with a tart English Lemon Curd alternating with tangy lemonade mousse for a great taste sensation.

Banana Walnut
A rich cake batter laden with fresh bananas and walnuts, lightly spiced and filled with fresh bananas and whipped cream or if you prefer a soft banana cream.

New Orleans Spice
A soft, lightly textured cake generously flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with a gentle splash of brandy before baking. A soft cream mousse is the favored filling.

14 Karat
Pineapple, walnuts, cinnamon, and carrots make this a heavy favorite. Cream cheese frosting is the popular choice but for a change of pace we suggest our thick apricot filling.

Red Velvet
A light chocolate cake flavor with a deep red color create a unique dessert, filled with a cream cheese frosting or cream mousse is favored as the grooms cake in many southern states.

Marble Chip
Swirls of white and chocolate cake gracefully mingle together. Sliced bananas folded into a rich chocolate mousse, alternating with fudge complete this dessert.


Here's a peak at Kendra Wilkinson's cake which Fantasy Frostings designed for her wedding last month. Photo Courtesy of The Bridal Bar.

Happy Tasting

My Fave Mondays: Raj Tents

If you want to take your wedding or event to the next level, Raj Tents is the company to help you accomplish that! We absolutely love adding these stylish tents to our designs and that is exactly why they are our favorite pick for this week!


Raj Tents has become the leading luxury tent rental company looking after discerning clients tenting and décor needs in California and nationwide from their offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. With an exclusive and unique inventory, Raj Tents fills the gap in high-end, detail oriented and just simply beautiful tenting to make weddings and events stand out from the crowd.


Raj Tents can provide tenting for a variety of themes, including Moroccan, Indian, eclectic modern, beach chic through to French provincial and the understated elegance of ivory and gold. Raj’s inventory ranges from smaller, immaculate Pergolas and Pavilions for lounges, food or bar service and that work wonderfully as focal points for ballrooms, all the way to large frame tent linings to transform standard white vinyl tents into palatial settings for your nuptial celebrations.


Our favorites are the Maharaja range of traditional pole tents – just about as romantic as you can get. We also love the Chandeliers, it is such a beautiful accent!


Check out the Raj Tents web site to view more of their stunning sensations. They are consistently written up in the press for their Oh So Chic and Glamorous designs. Raj Tents are definitely the company to call when you don’t want to compromise on style or quality. If you have questions you can always contact them at their main office in Los Angeles at (310) 320-6600


Happy Tenting!

My Fave Mondays: The Cappuccino Connection

This week my favorite Monday vendor pick is The Cappuccino Connection. They are located in Santa Barbara, but available to serve all of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Adding a bit of luxury to your event always proves successful when The Cappuccino Connection is serving your guests...



Established in 1989, The Cappuccino Connection is widely recognized as the premier West Coast espresso catering company. With brass domes, silver trays, samovar urns and fine decoratives, they always add to the ambiance of the occasion. Elegant in presentation, yet affordable in price, this trendsetting beverage service offers a wide selection of both hot and iced blended beverages for every season of the year.

They have a very extensive client list and in years past, participated with the Emmy's, Golden Globes and The Academy Awards. It is worth noting that at every venue, it is the guests themselves who appreciate the addition of the espresso bar as a wonderful moderating alternative to the alcoholic beverages, and compliment their participation as a great catering idea.



Here is a sneak peak of their Menu options.

Menu

Espresso

Macchiato

Cappuccino

Latte

Mocha (hot or iced blended)

Café Royale (embellished with fine flavors or liqueurs)

Hot Chocolate

Herbal and Black Teas

European Roast Coffee

Also available: Iced Chai Latte, Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Smoothies and Tropical Iced Teas.

Please don't hesitate to call or e-mail The Cappuccino Connection for a price quote and to book their espresso catering services.

Ken Cohen & Julie Russell
The Cappuccino Connection
1-800 270-0188

Happy Monday!

LA Style Unveiled: Plan your Wedding Resources Revealed!

In case you missed our first post earlier this year, LA Style Unveiled is the new hot place to be!


Heather Sharpe and her team have gone above and beyond to create a wonderful experience for each bride that comes to the LA Style Unveiled website. What we love about this uber chic site is how personal it is for our LA brides. While some of our other faves like Style Me Pretty and Junebug are so fabulous to read, LA Style Unveiled accommodates our Los Angeles Brides to be, offering them fabulous finds, information and detail all related to the LA wedding scene. This is special for brides, because they not only are learning unique and creative wedding inspiration plus advice but it also makes it personal for them. The majority of the content they read is accessible within Los Angeles, so it's comforting to know that what they see on this stylish blog, can also be a part of their special day.





On April 1st, LA Style Unveiled debuted their fabulous resources on How to Plan your LA Wedding. This lush library filled with the best of the best is amazing. Be sure to check it out and learn about all the great Los Angeles vendors from selecting your Venue through planning your Honeymoon. Also, don't' forget to check out Sterling's listing under their Coordinators section. The Style Unveiled team took careful consideration into putting together a collection of LA's finest. We are so pleased to be a part of the Style Unveiled family and look forward to working together again in the future!









Happy Surfing!

Check out our profile on Your Wedding Day!

It's official, we are so pleased and honored to be a part of the Preferred Vendor family within the Your Wedding Day Magazine resources.

We had the privilege of interviewing with Alison, a staff writer for the magazine, a few months back and she wrote an amazing article about us! We are so flattered and grateful to receive such recognition from this prestigious publication. Check out our page and read the fabulous write-up on our profile page.

YWD is a destination wedding and lifestyle magazine and online publication. With engaging editorial, stunning photography, compelling graphics, and contributions by the industry’s finest, YWD provides our discriminating readers—brides and grooms, their parents, and their wedding professionals—with innovative and elegant ideas as well as a full complement of resources to make their wedding day a stylish occasion.

Happy Reading!

Bridal Premiere Question 6

Question: As a Groom, how can I get my points across to my Bride and her Mother? - Ryan McGill

Answer: Ryan, such a brave question and I'm so pleased to answer it for those that do not always feel comfortable stepping out and letting us know how or what they are thinking.


The truth is though, the best thing you can do is to just be honest and vocal. Your words will be much appreciated because when it comes down to it, this is your day too! There is nothing that your bride and family will want more than to know that your opinion has been heard and reflects in this day also. While it may sometimes seem difficult to get a word in with all the typical chaos of planning a wedding, most brides love it when their groom takes an active role in the process. So, please speak up and be proud to do it!

If you feel that when you try, your points are not addressed or not heard, try speaking to your planner and she may aid in making this easier.

Also, there are many websites which offer helpful tips and advice for Grooms. This trend is somewhat newer but definitely worth checking out when you are a groom and have questions. Some of my favorites are Groom Grove, The Man Registry and Groom's Club.

Good Luck and please feel free to email me if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Happy Speaking!

New Site for the New Year: Check it Out!

There's a new site in Los Angeles that I definitely recommend checking out. It just debuted this week and already seems to be buzzing.


Style Unveiled Los Angeles is a new guide which provides the best of resources, stylish advice and of course inspiration. They have some amazing areas of the site including their Eco-Chic section, The Runway and general advice on tying the knot. In addition, you can view their featured weddings, check out their blog called The Lounge and read helpful articles like the inspirational Couture Coloure.

The site created by Heather Sharpe, originated in Seattle and seems like it will be popping up in cities near you soon! Check out Seattle Style to see more of what's to come on LA's site!

Have a great afternoon and happy surfing!

Come check out our new profile on The Wedding Directory!

We are so pleased to now be part of the The Wedding Directory Community! OneWed is such a fabulous resource for all things wedding related, especially when it comes to all resources!