A Processional Like No Other!

I was sent a link today from a friend on Facebook and, while I wouldn't usually post a YouTube video on my blog, this was just too good and fun to pass up. The couple featured in this video really understand that your wedding day is Your Day and it doesn't have to be like anything you've ever seen before! This couple wanted people to be loose and happy and CELEBRATORY on their wedding day, and they made sure everyone could see their incredible JOY in being married to one another. So here's to people truly thinking "outside the box" and dreaming up the perfect wedding for THEM! Enjoy this...

Footage of Me on Channel 9!

As I stated below, I was asked by Cincinnati Wedding Magazine to appear on a morning news segment on Channel 9 to talk about "Wow Weddings". It was a very fun experience: though I was tired (yes, those are bags under my eyes! I'd been out until 1 a.m. the night before at a wedding!), it really was a blast to see a live television broadcast--and then be a part of it as an expert! The talent and crew at Channel 9 were terrific... I hope they use me again!

Anyway, here's the snippet. We had to video this off Sara's DVR, so the sound's not great (but it looks surprisingly good!). Watch me try to think fast on five hours' sleep!

Viva Bella on Cincinnati's Channel 9

In conjunction with Cincinnati Wedding Magazine, on Saturday morning, June 27th at 8:45 a.m., Dora will have an appearance on Cincinnati's Channel 9 to talk about how to create a "Wow" wedding! If you can get up that early on the weekend, check it out!

KC & Antwan... getting married this weekend

Meet KC and Antwan.

KC is a BEAUTIFUL, fun loving girl with some spunk. Antwan is an NFL linebacker and absolutely one of the biggest (no pun intended) gentlemen I've ever met! They have been a pair a long time and are finally getting married this weekend! I've had the privilege of planning their wedding over the last 5 months (yes, you can plan a wedding from start to finish in 5 months!)

Kortnee Kate did an amazing job of capturing their personalities during their engagement session, so I wanted to share a few of those pictures.

The above picture shows the smooth, slick side of this fantastic couple... but don't let it fool you. There is definitely some silly, fun lovin' happening between them, as seen below....

I am loving KC's shoes above.... Wow, how tall are those heels! I guess she needs them to be able to reach Antwan!

Beautiful smiles!!

The below picture is one of my favorite ones.... Antwan has an inspiring smile and kind nature. I feel this picture captures both!

I am really looking forward to this wedding on Friday night!! Can't wait! Check back to see photos from their wedding.

All images courtesy of Kortnee Kate Photography (formerly Simply Timeless).

New Ad!

I'm very excited about a new ad that's just come out in CINCINNATI WEDDINGS magazine. I know it might seem like nothing to outsiders, but my team works hard to make sure the message we're sending out about viva bella is right on. So can I tell you a little about our new ad?

First of all, this is Kristin (Humpert) and Nate Hagedorn. They were married on December 1, 2007 . I thought their photo, taken by the amazing Tine at TM Photography, was perfect. To me, it says romance, mystery (because you can't see their faces) and contemporary elegance.

Cindy Loon at loon + co helped me put this together, and we landed on the text to read "feel, experience, and remember." Over the last year, I've really been working on brand identity and these three words keep coming up as central to who we are as a company. The continued feedback we received from clients was that they felt and experienced something special at their event that they would soon not forget.

The unique half-rounded box (which always reminds Stevie of the Partridge Family opening sequence) was created by our web programmer, Chris Bollman, and we use it on the new website a lot. To us, it communicates different and cool and modern. Lastly, you see a lot of chocolate brown and toasted gold in the ad- those have become signature colors for viva bella, so we wanted them to figure in heavily into our print ads.

So it might seem a small thing to someone flipping through the pages of CINCINNATI WEDDINGS, but to me, it's a 4x6 representation of my brand and company to the whole world. Thanks again to Cindy Loon for her great work on our new ad!

Come On, Celebrity Apprentice Event Planner!

I've never big a huge fan of Donald Trump's product-hawking reality series, but when I heard that this season would feature Joan Rivers, Dennis Rodman, and Tom Green, I was IN for The Celebrity Apprentice.  I've been watching the show with the same fascinated cringing that most reality television produces: incredulous that people act this way, and desperate to see more.  I know, it's bad.

My event planning senses started tingling, though, when, out of nowhere, David Tutera, a well-known NYC-based celebrity designer (who I saw as a speaker at an Association of Bridal Consultants conference), appeared to work on a party/silent auction that was the final challenge for the remaining contestants. I had a professional interest in seeing what David would produce for Joan Rivers and Annie Duke (I commandeered the remote immediately, lest my basketball-loving husband found a playoff game to watch).  I had the same reaction as this report from Entertainment Weekly: all David seemed to be doing was throwing around buzzwords ("We need a total transformation of this space!") without giving actual, detailed oversight.  I voiced my disappointments, to the television.  Stevie sighed.

My mouth hit the floor, though, when it was revealed that David was so flustered by Joan that he just quit the whole show, pulling out on both Joan (who he later called "a monster" in a radio interview with Barbara Walters) and Annie as well!  Wow.

I know this all seems a bit dishy and celebrity gossip-y, but I do have a point:  I was stunned at David Tutera's inability or unwillingness to create a win (even if Joan was an awkward, demanding client... come on, this guy does events for Jennifer Lopez! You don't think she can be difficult?), and his departure from the show (and subsequent barring of the cameras from his office AND failure to call Annie and tell her he'd quit on her) seemed an unnecessarily unprofessional move.  So here's one of the 'best and brightest' in my industry, on prime time television, coming across as a petulant prima donna who didn't come through when the chips were down.  I looked at Stevie and declared, "they should have asked Colin Cowie to do it."  He sighed.

Suffice it to say that I, in contrast, believe in teasing ideas and sensibilities out of my clients, so that we can agree together on a design that excites us both and represents their dreams.  And I will never, no matter how frustrating the circumstances, walk off a job the night before the event! My sense of honor wouldn't let me (and my reputation is too important)!  I'm all about style, too, but when hip-sounding words are a mask for a lack of actual delivery, the lack of substance is an embarrassment.  

David's take on the whole goings on is represented here, on the front page of his website.  But, explanation or no, it'll take some doing for my faith in his company to be restored.  I just can't imagine letting that happen on any event.  My faith in reality TV, however, is as strong as ever...  :)

Cute Trend Alert: Wedding Wands!

At a recent Association of Bridal Consultants conference, I was exposed to a fun new trend called the Wedding Wand. The wands can be used in lieu of throwing rice or using bubbles to celebrate the exit of a bride and groom.  A California based wedding planner I really admire, Mary Dann, sells these wands in her online store. 

Another unique use of these wands is with the flower girl. Instead of a flower basket, or pave ball of flowers to carry, the young girl can make her way down the aisle waving her wand (or maybe two!).   Below is a picture from a recent wedding where this happened.  So cute!  Your florist can supply these adorable wands for the flower girl(s). They'll be sure to love it, as will your guests watching her come down the aisle!

So keep your eye open for wedding wands!  They're festive, have no cleanup, and may be coming soon to a wedding near YOU!