viva bella inside out

My Blog Has Moved!

2011-02-14T18:35:00.001-08:00

I've moved my blog, Viva Bella Inside Out!

Please find me at (and update your RSS feed!):

http://www.vivabellablog.com

Best of the Knot & Bride's Choice Award on Wedding Wire

2011-01-26T09:53:00.000-08:00

Wow, January is off to a great start with news that we have received "Best of the Knot 2011" and Wedding Wire's "Bride's Choice Awards 2011". Hooray!

The awards are given based on bridal reviews so THANK YOU to all of you who wrote a review for us. It truly means a lot. We LOVE our clients and we LOVE the work we do. Thank you, again!

Chameleon Chairs come to town! | Cincinnati Wedding Planner

2011-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

It's probably not an understatement to say I'm just a wee bit obsessed with chairs... well, before I sound too wacky, my passion is about the way chairs can impact the look and feel of an event. Having the right chair, chair cover, chair pad, chair topper, chair skirt or chair sleeve (whew!) changes the look of an event. I devoted a whole blog post to this 2 years ago!

The trendiest, coolest rental chair available now is the The Chameleon Chair. After first seeing this chair 3 years ago at The Special Event trade show, I've wanted to use them in the Cincinnati market.

And I HAVE tried to bring them in (shipped from Chicago), but the shipping price of $1200 (!) was wisely cause for pause.

However, at the ABC conference in Phoenix last November, I met with the President/CEO, Jerry Smolar, of Chameleon Chairs... And we devised a plan to get affordable ship the chairs for my next event.

And so they came last month for one of my corporate events at the Hilton Netherland Plaza!

There are endless options to accessorize these chairs (they are aptly named as the look transforms with the simple addition of a cover). For my December event, I chose the Chloe topper, as it fit best with the desired look - clean, sleek and upscale.

Not only are they great looking, they are SO comfortable, which was really important for the 2 day event. I rented the bar stools for the foyer are and the standard size for the ballroom. The clients (and Hilton staff) loved them!

Here is more information about these lovely chairs:

Pictured below they are "naked," with several styles to choose from. The pad can be changed to any color.

If you start adding toppers and skirts, you get a really wow look! Here are various looks I found around online:

I actually used both purple toppers pictured above on chiavari chairs for a wedding last fall. The fit wasn't perfect, as it's designed to fit a Chameleon, but it was still pretty!

I can't wait until one of my chair obsessed brides in Cincinnati wants to bring The Chameleon chair in for her wedding! Any takers? ;)

Images from the Hilton event courtesy of Saybrook Marketing and my iPhone.

All other images are credited on the photo.

Many of the toppers in the photos are available at Wild Flower Linen.

From perfume bottle to Cake Topper | Cincinnati Wedding Planner

2011-01-20T02:24:00.000-08:00

One of my summer brides, with discriminating taste(!), is considering this gorgeous perfume bottle as her cake topper.

I LOVE when my brides think out of the box!

We're working with Ileana of Sugar Realm on the cake design. Expect greatness. Seriously.

The "Blair" Arabesque Perfume Bottle is available at Bergdorf Goodman.

Family Fun!

2011-01-10T04:30:00.000-08:00

A photo session with a 1 year old is like a circus - everyone is making funny faces in hopes for a smile or a laugh!

Over Thanksgiving, we headed to Houston, Texas, to spend the holiday with my husband's parents. We decided to get some photos take all together by our good friends at Fidelis Studio.

It was a HOT and HUMID hour in the park! And we did manage to get some smiles from our Joy!

Here we are with Stevie's sweet parents, who love their little granddaughter so much! They must love us, too, because my mother-in-law woke up every morning with Joy and let us sleep in! What a treat!

Below, me chasing Joy... her favorite, "I'm gonna get you!" See that dimple... melts my heart!
Her not-so-favorite... getting caught! But I love it... scooping her up and covering her with kisses!

The gang again!

A daddy favorite below-- tossing up his girl!I love this silly picture below... Joy's letting it all hang out!

Thanks for letting me share a bit of my family with you!

How the Cool Kids Rolled in the New Year

2011-01-07T20:17:00.001-08:00

Some people roll in the New Year in true style and that hot ticket was found in Las Vegas at the new Cosmopolitan Hotel on New Year's Eve. I had a special interest in this event because I heard so much about the plans for it during my internship with the event's mastermind, Colin Cowie.

"Budget was not the chief concern, not at all" master party planner, Colin Cowie shares (via BizBash). "What Chelsea Clinton's wedding did for families, giving people permission to spend money [conspicuously] again, this event will do for corporate event marketers."

Well, with a statement like that, let's see what this party was all about!

The pinnacle of the 3 day celebration was New Year's Eve, with the evening beginning with a caviar and Dom Pérignon black tie reception. From there, guests moved to a sit down dinner. Below is a photo of Colin in front of his amazing design work!

Highlights of the dinner experience:

- Complete custom installation including custom re-carpeting, an elevated platform around the dining room and a round stage in the middle, where musicians such as Ben Folds performed.

- A mix of square and banquet tables, some with purple mirror, others in silver mirror.

- Deep purple flowers, such as peonies and dark purple calla lilies

- Lucite chairs

- Custom extravagant textured runners on the long tables

- Seating for over 1,300

All this took a mere few weeks to build out. Yowsa!

I remember Colin telling me (this past summer) that he designed the elevated perimeter of the dining room so that each person would have a great view of the stage and feel as much part of the event as the closest person to the stage.

I saw drawings of this exact space and design and sat through a meeting with the fantastic team of vendors who were going to make it happen. It's very cool to see how it came to life in these photos!

I love the custom railing in the photo below.

After dinner, the party really got started! Guests moved to a 40,000 foot "nightclub" that Colin and his team custom designed (naturally!) in the hotel's ballroom. Coldplay and Jay-Z head-lined the concert in solo and mash up performances (drool!) while Beyonce, Kanye West dropped in for surprise performances. I also read John Mayer was on hand, as well.

Oh yeah, Rhianna showed up later, too, at an after party in a night club in the hotel, as well as a slew of other amazing performers! Seriously, people, does this not sound pret-ty amazing?

Hope you enjoyed a sneak peek into this party half as much as I did! It's always inspiring to see -whether I'm there in person or reading it online- how the top in my field are staying ahead of the game, creating trends and making it happen. Thanks for keeping it interesting, Colin!

Read the full event recap as reported by BizBash here.

Photos: BizBash, Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com, Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com

Photo with Colin Cowie is from his fabulous weekly newsletter. Sign up to receive it here.

Our 2010 Favorite Things: Bridal Bouquets! Cincinnati Wedding Planner

2010-12-31T16:15:00.001-08:00

Aww, the bridal bouquet! I love seeing what kind of bouquet a bride chooses to carry... it tells me so much about their personality. Is the bride classic? Traditional? Is she refined? Is she adventurous? A bouquet can communicate these things by the type of flowers, colors, and overall style.

In 2010, many of the brides we worked with chose an all white/ivory bouquet. This was a bit of a change from last year, when most of our clients carried bouquets with an array of color. But this past year's all white and ivory bouquets were still full of wonderful texture, which is a current trend and something I personally enjoy.

Here are some of my favorite 2010 bouquets, both white and colorful, which perfectly reflected the individuality of the brides who carried them.

Below is Nicole, carrying an all white and ivory bouquet.

Nicole was a beautiful, classic bride. I recall her telling me when we first spoke that she didn't want anything too contemporary for her wedding. Nicole has refined taste and also a generous heart with a fun-loving flair. Her textural bouquet of white peonies (classic) and white mini callas (refined), with peony buds wrapped in silver jewelry wire throughout, and a collar of white rooster feathers (fun flair!) really hit the mark on capturing her bridal essence. The stems were wrapped with a band of white satin ribbon that was pleated and pinned with rhinestones. And behind every gorgeous bouquet is a great designer - Neil Leeson (Cleveland), who designed Nicole's bouquet, is no exception!

For more photos of Nicole's platinum wedding, follow this link!

Images by Steve Lyons

Next is Amy, a stunning summer bride who was a bit more on the contemporary end of the spectrum but definitely had some classic elements (I'll be blogging this gorgeous wedding soon!)

Amy is sweet, kind and soft spoken, yet she's a Texas girl who knows what she wants... and gets it. Her bouquet, designed by Kim Kenney of Timeless Fiori in Dallas, boasted cream hydrangea, white cymbidium orchids, stephanotis blooms with crystal accents, cream fringed tulips and double white freesia. Even though it was mostly whites and creams, it was full of gorgeous texture.

Wow, Amy really made this bouquet! I loved her lipstick! Her dark hair and lipstick were the perfect contrast to the soft hues of her skin.

Images by Kortnee Kate

Next is the sultry Veronica, whose look was stunning and nontraditional. I remember during the planning process, I had a weird dream about her wedding. I dreamed her bridesmaids' dresses were pink and her wedding decor was champagne and pink with roses everywhere. I have no idea why I had that dream - I know it's not her at all! But her response to my dream was, "you better not do that to my wedding!" :) And of course, we didn't!

Her hand tied bouquet, designed by Las Vegas Event Florals contained cymbidium orchids, Schwawarzwalder (black) calla lilies and black feathers. I loved how the deep colors of the perimeter faded into the white, delicate orchids in the center. It was striking, just as the bride herself.

Images by Adam Trujillo

I love it when a bouquet captures a bride's essence as the ones above did! I can't wait to see what our 2011 brides will carry. More beauty awaits!

Opening photo bouquet designed by Sprouts. Image by Alanna Photography

Our 2010 Favorite Things: Bridesmaid dresses! Cincinnati Wedding Planner

2010-12-31T16:12:00.000-08:00

Bridesmaid dresses have come a long way, haven't they? I personally have 9 (or is it 10?) bridesmaid dresses scattered in boxes in my basement. How many of them have I actually worn again?... um... well...

Here are a few from our client's weddings that I would consider wearing again!

Below, Jacquie chose sophisticated full length silk gowns for her best gals. The neckline was gorgeous, plunging and the perfect dose of sexy. Ow!

The women had coordinating fur wraps to keep them warm from the brisk December chill... total cuteness!

Images by Steph Carson

One of our June brides, Hailey, also chose a long silk dress for her maids. The gowns were a beautiful shade of purple with each dress having a unique neckline: strapless, halter and v-neck. Pretty, pretty!

Image by Michael Bambino

My favorite short dress this year was one that our bride, Maggie, chose for her girls: an adorable "shadow" colored dress by the designer, Thread. The above the knee length dresses were duchess satin fabric.

The absolute best feature on this dress was the ruffled one shoulder neckline. So, so cute! Paired with Katie Elfer's bright and whimsical bouquets, it was a perfect dress for a hot July wedding day!

Images by Kortnee Kate

Can't wait to see the dress our 2011 bridesmaids will wear!

Our 2010 favorite things: Dresses! Cincinnati Wedding Planner

2010-12-30T07:02:00.000-08:00

How is everyone's holidays going? I'm relaxing in 70 degree weather in Texas with family and friends!

Now, with just 2 days left in the year, we still have time to do "Our Favorite Things" review of our 2010 weddings!

Let's start with something I love, love, love... the bridal gown! Here are some of our favorite gown worn by our brides this past year.

First up is Lindsay in her gorgeous Vera Wang Aurora gown. The metallic duchess draped front empire gown had a beautiful jewel corsage on the bodice. I really loved the sheer trimming on just 1 side of the sweetheart neckline. It was the perfect detailed delicate touch.

The back of her gown featured a black grosgrain back tie. Pretty! Greatness can only be paired with greatness. Jimmy Choo anyone??

Lindsay looked simply beautiful in this gown! It really suited her personality perfectly!

Lindsay's photos courtesy of Neysa Ruhl

Next is Michelle who also wore a Vera Wang gown. The dress was featured in the first Sex and the City movie in the scene where the character Carrie was trying on several couture bridal gowns. I previously posted the clip here.

This dress was anything but simple! I love the contrast between the smooth bodice and the full & fluffy skirt. It was amazing!
Michelle added a jeweled belt to give the dress even more pop. She also added the long gloves to complete the sophisticated and highly stylish look! She was stunning in this gown.

Michelle paired her dress with these fantastic stilettos (I don't know the brand!). I love the fabric laced on the heel!

Images by Red Gallery

The next gown is Enzoani's Dulcina mermaid silhouette beauty worn by Veronica at her 10.10.10 Las Vegas wedding! (That's a 40 foot chandelier behind her and Santiago at the Red Rock Resort!)

The sweetheart neckline with ruched tulle bodice perfectly complimented her. I loved this dress on her! She wore is beautifully!

Images by Adam Trujillo

So, those are some of our favorite 2010 dresses our brides wore! Next up, our favorite bridesmaid dresses!

Oh, Christmas Tree

2010-12-12T20:33:00.000-08:00

I've never had my own Christmas tree. I've avoided it, actually.

Growing up, we always had a tree, but after graduating from college or even after getting married and having our first baby, I never put one up.

I used to say it was because we would be leaving town for the holidays, so why put it up when we weren't here to enjoy it? But if I'm honest, the real reason why I've avoided it is because I'm intimated by decorating it! There, I said it. That's the truth. Decorating a tree seems daunting to me.

It's funny because I design many weddings and events for my job - and I LOVE doing it! It's one of my favorite parts of my job. So, what's the big deal about the Christmas Tree? I can do this, right?

When we decided to get a tree this year, I did what I normally do when I approach a "design" project - I get inspired! My first stop for inspiration was Colin Cowie's website. Of course, he has fabulous holiday decorating tips (such as, pick a color scheme and carry it all the way through, right down to the wrapping paper you use). His website also had photos of his personal tree and holiday decor in his home (pictured above in the opening image).

After looking at other amazingly decorated trees in design magazines and online sites, I settled on this: I want a pretty tree but more than that, I want our tree to be personal and tell a story; a story about our family and our growth together over the years. The design for our tree would be simple & sweet! And here it is:

A few of my favorite ornaments:

Top left: Joy as a newborn; Top right: me and my older sisters sometime in the 80s!

Bottom left: my newly formed family a year ago. Bottom right: A sweet ornament from my husband's 4th grade teacher.

Here is me and my Christmas JOY in front of our tree!

We actually have 2 trees in our house...

Last year someone in my family gave me a little tree with all Joy ornaments. I really love this little tree. It reminds me of God's goodness to finally answer our prayers over the years to give us our Joy. We put it in her nursery.

I've decided to take a picture of her with it each year... What a difference a year makes!

Here's a great "outtake" photo below when I was trying to catch the perfect shot of Joy by her tree! She was running out a patience with me...

I'm so glad I finally got over my tree intimidation! It's fun and fills our living room with warmth. Now ready for the holidays!

Come Together! |Cincinnati Event Planner|

2010-12-01T18:39:00.001-08:00

Argentenian tango dancers accompanied by the world's best bandoneon player (he recorded with Shakira this year). A troupe of drummers circling an aerial acrobat. A rock show accompanied by a string quartet. Phenomenal hand balancing gymnasts. As I walked through the incredible video, the stunning lights, and the pumping rhythm, I felt privileged to be part of such an impressive show, let alone being part of producing it.

In September, we had an incredible chance to do a spectacular event for 800 people at Procter & Gamble: the North America Brand Building Awards. The celebration brought together 4 business functions and recognized the extraordinary work they accomplished together. Nine awards were given that night, and fabulous entertainment was intermixed throughout the evening.

The concept for the performances: a suite of acts revolving around the Beatles' "Come Together" (also the theme we chose for the event). They seemed incongruous when performed separately, but when combined, they became something entirely greater than the sum of those parts. It was a visual metaphor for what teamwork looks like in action, and it was inspiring! It was a gift to work with these talented artists. I'll let the photos speak for themselves!

Opening act to begin the show

Areialists and guitarists

The photo below is probably my favorite image. Such beauty and grace captured!

Amazing hand balancing gymnasts. I couldn't believe their strength.

My favorite act: the tango dancers. You could truly feel their passion.

The finale brought all acts performing together. The energy was amazing!

The entire event was inspiring! I loved seeing a company "come together" to recognize and celebrate teamwork... and having the opportunity to creatively express their message "strong individually, stronger together" was an honor!

Thanks for staging such a great event for P&G marketers on September 22. I was really impressed with the event – as usual, you think of all the details but bring it to life in a way that entertains and delights. I had a great time and wanted to make sure you knew how much we enjoyed it. Chris K. P&G

All images Kortnee Kate Photography

Artists: Aerial Experience

Original music & Creative: Steve Manuel

Musicians: Robbie Reider, Dave Eberhardt, Steve Manuel, Carl Larson string quartet

A/V Production & Lighting: Prestige, Steve Brock

Video: Ben Nicholson, Bill Poff, Patrick Buescher

Venue: Duke Energy Center

Small Business Day Promotion!

2010-11-22T16:58:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who supports their local small businesses!

We appreciate your continued support!
Small Business Saturday is Saturday, November 27th!

As a thank you for supporting Viva Bella Events, a Cincinnati small business, we would like to give you a gift! Call, email or Facebook us on November 27th, schedule your complimentary consultation and if you book your event with us, we will give you free event design services – valued at $500! Let us help you take your event to the next level with our design services that will create memories that will last a lifetime.

info@vivabellaevents.com

513.792.2298

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An Afternoon with David Tutera | Cincinnati Wedding Planner

2010-11-11T19:13:00.000-08:00

Last week I attended the Association of Bridal Consultants Annual Conference in Phoenix! Our keynote speaker was David Tutera, the host of WeTVs My Fair Wedding.

I have blogged about David before, when he was one the show, Celebrity Apprentice. The Apprentice featured him in a less than favorable light (on the show, he quit on the job, working with Joan Rivers), so my opinion of him was...well... a bit uncertain.

During an open Q&A, I have the opportunity to ask him about his experience on the show... I asked him what takeaways he learned from the experience. My question flustered him (poor guy!) as he rolled his eyes and sighed as he considered what happened on the show.

According to David, the producers were interested in drama and created a no-win situation for him to succeed. I believe it. Reality TV is nuts! He told us behind- the-scenes version of the story with great humor and charming charisma, which we all ate up with laughter! He is a funny guy. In the end, to answer my question, he said his take away from the experience that even bad PR is good PR because the exposure on the show increased his household exposure and google rating.

So, my opinion of him was redeemed (like it really matters!?) and his presentation was wonderful. He showed us pictures of the beautiful work he does and shared with us his best tip to be a successful wedding planner....

BE A GOOD LISTENER.

Listen to your bride and groom, find out who they are and tell their story through each detail of the wedding. FANTASTIC advice, I say.

So, everyone, I'm all ears!

Latin Fusion... in Cincinnati! Cincinnati Wedding Planner

2010-10-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

At some point during the wedding planning process, my client and bride-to-be asked me "Have you ever planned a Latin wedding before?" I paused to think. She immediately responded, if you have to think about it, then you haven't!" And she was right.

So, here's the story of Nicole Portal and Andres Velarde May 2010 Latin wedding... full of passion, surprise and PEOPLE!

***

Serendipity is how Nicole describes meeting Andres in 2007.

Both Nicole and Andres are Miami, Florida natives and Nicole always envisioned herself being married in the city she loved. But life had other plans, as it always does!

Andres was offered a position with Procter and Gamble that he could not turn down. Nicole and Andres’ new life together would begin in Cincinnati, so they thought the best way to celebrate their new beginning was to be married in the Queen City... Miami style!

Nicole and her planning team of mom, Gloria, and sister, Lizette, traveled to Cincinnati to ensure a flawless plan. Nicole wanted her wedding day to be an affair that would be remembered by each and every guest. And her mission was definitely accomplished! Nicole and Andres’ special day was stunning, full of emotion, and of course, memorable for all. And we were thrilled to have been a part of it!

The bride wore a Rosa Clara gown embellished with custom crystals. Cincinnati master-hairstylist, Sam Hills of the High Five Salon, created a classic style to match her personality. Gerri from Saks and Brideface made Nicole glow, with their finishing touches.

The result... stunning!

Nicole wore custom jewelry designed by Giancarlo Jewelry Designs to compliment the detail in her dress and hair piece.

Beautiful bouquet accented with white feathers.

Below, Nicole and her entourage of bridesmaids... yes, 11 of them! The bridesmaids were custom designed dresses of charmeuse, chiffon, and crystals.

Steve Lyons captured this day beautifully in his photos. I love this one of Nicole. Classic beauty with just a touch of sass, as she waits for her moment to walk down the aisle.

The ceremony was held at Holy Trinity in Norwood. With a wedding party of 33 (!) people (11 bridesmaids, 12 groomsmen, 1 junior bridesmaid, 1 junior groomsmen, 3 flower girls and 3 ring bearers and of course, the bride and groom!), the processional alone was 20 minutes!

The ceremony was full of tradition! Pictured below, Nicole and Andres were draped by a mantilla (bridal veil). They also participated in the tradition of the Arras, which are coins exchanged during the ceremony. The coins are presented by the groom to the bride as a sign that the man is giving to his bride all that he possesses and with the promise that he will use it for her support. The woman then gives them back to him to accepting her duty to protect their riches.

Immediately following the recessional, Nicole and Andres released 12 doves as they left the Church as a symbol of their love for each other.

In platinum wedding-style, Nicole chose the Hall of Mirrors at the Hilton Netherland Plaza for her reception, with Hanna Minor managing the many reception details.

Nicole worked closely with Neil Leeson from Akron, Ohio to create truly one of a kind centerpieces. The final result was a fairy-tale wedding with an abundance of flowers, crystals and fun personal touches. The centerpiece below was my absolute favorite. Gorgeous!

The centerpiece pictured below anchored the 4 corners of the room. I had never seen anything like it! It was about 20 feet high. It felt like Miami Heat to me!

Another beautiful creation by Neil. I love the crystals draping over just one side.Nicole's cake was a six tier, hexagon shaped masterpiece. The cakery used the piping to match the texture of the bride’s gown and custom crystals as trim to match the bridesmaids dresses. The cake was topped with Lladro Doves, to compliment the theme of the wedding.

Below was one of the highlights of the reception for me... the first dance. Nicole and Andres were so playful during their dance - you could really see their friendship and enjoyment of one another come through.

Another reception highlight (not pictured) was a beautiful poem Nicole recited to her mother. It was “I carry your heart with me” by E.E. Cummings. Nicole wanted her mom to know that even though they live apart now, Nicole will always have everything her mother instilled in her, especially her love. How sweet to honor her mother this way at her wedding!

Studio+Z Films presented their Same Day Edit of the ceremony and reception, gave a little back-story on the couple and even spotlighted some events of the week leading up to the wedding. Here is the happy couple enjoying the video during the reception.

Nicole and Andres know how to throw a party! With the majority of their guests coming from Miami (we were on our toes managing the seamless transportation for all of those guests!), they wanted to make sure everyone ate, drank and danced all night long. And with the help of Mark McFadden mixing up great music, they did!. After dinner and cake was served, the guests enjoyed an espresso and cappuccino bar from Coffee Emporium. Once the dancing started with "I got a feeling," mojito shots were passed to kick off the fun. Later guests could enjoy a midnight cupcake bar (from Abby Girl Sweets) and the Hilton's delicious late night (or morning?) 1 a.m. burgers. All this was planned to keep surprises coming and to keep guests energized all night on the dance floor. Nicole and Andres danced away with their guests until 3AM!

What a day!

Take a look at Studio Z's amazing Same Day Edit video that was showed at the reception. Guests were buzzing about it for hours afterward!

Studio Z Films : Award Winning Wedding Filmmaker » Nicole and Andres: Enhanced Same Day Edit

Best wishes to Nicole & Andres and their new life together in Cincinnati!

All images courtesy of Steve Lyons.

Learning from the Best

2010-08-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

Pictured above, Colin Cowie and me in November 2008 at the Association of Bridal Consultants annual conference

Have I told you lately that I love my job? Sometimes my job is about the planning and executing weddings and events, sometimes it's about keeping up on current trends and fashion and sometimes it's about learning from the best in the business.

Almost two years ago, while I was attending the Association of Bridal Consultants annual conference, Colin Cowie, one of the top event designers in the world, was the keynote speaker. I was all ears to hear him speak! His work as a designer is incredibly creative, inspiring and influential. Hailing from South Africa, Colin Cowie is a published best selling author and his client list includes A-list celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez, John Travolta and you name it....the list goes on and on. You can say that I'm a fan of his work! :)

During his speaking session at the conference, he surprised (and delighted!) everyone when he announced he was going to auction off a personal apprenticeship that would involve working on location with him at one of his events (with proceeds going to a charitable organization within the Association of Bridal Consultants). Wow.

I was determined to win that auction. I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to learn from the top in my field... someone who I consider the best of the best. And so, I won the auction. :)

Tomorrow, my adventure begins. I'm flying out to LA to work with him and his team on a large corporate event. I hope to be inspired but also learn practical things that I can apply in my own business that will make me better at what I do.

I'll be posting updates about how the trip is going on the Viva Bella Events Facebook page, if you'd like to follow along!

I can't wait to share everything I'm going to learn. Have I mentioned I'm excited?

More to come!

A Miami Merger

2010-08-03T11:29:00.000-07:00

"When two hearts beat as one and both attended Miami, it's a Miami Merger."

Amber and Michael are a classic Miami Merger. Legend has it that two students who kiss under the lantern of the Upham Arch at Miami University at Midnight are destined to be married.

Their destined wedding was last November in Cincinnati, Ohio. Amber incorporated the historic lantern into the theme of their wedding. She and her mother, Mary, chose a silhouette of the lantern for the invitations, ceremony program, escort cards and with the popcorn favors for the guests. It was all done with just the right touch!

Below is Amber, pictured with her mother, getting ready for the big day!

Sam Hills, hair stylist extraordinaire of the High Five Salon, was on hand to make sure Amber looked her best. Amber's make up was done by Brideface.

Pictured below is Amber enjoying a moment with her bridesmaids.

I've mentioned before that I love, love, love Amber's dress. It is a Romona Keveza and made our favorites list this year. It was unique yet simply elegant.

Amber and Michael were married at the historic Plum Street Temple in downtown Cincinnati. If you have ever been there, you know it is absolutely stunning inside. Leppert Photography did an awesome job capturing the beauty of the Temple.

The couple had a a custom Ketubah created by Julie Staller-Pentelnik of JSP Judaic Art. Just one of many personal touches that made their day so special!

The reception was held at the Hall of Mirrors in the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. Another spectacular, historic location! The fall colored flowers (Sprouts Floral Design) and lighting (Goodwin) brought the room to life.

The cake (Dessert Works) was delicious as was beautiful!

This couple knew how to have fun. I think the Hora (a traditional Jewish dance of celebration) went on for 45 minutes!

It's always nice to see the bride and groom (and their families) happy at the end of their special day. It makes all the planning, fun, and stress worth it when the day goes exactly as planned. I wish Amber and Michael a wonderful life together!

Below is a highlight of their day produced by Lifetime Films.

An Epic Wedding Trailer from Lifetime Films on Vimeo.

The Hollywood Report

2010-06-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

My little family of 3 (plus our sweetheart babysitter!) made our way to LA last week to venture in an exciting opportunity for my singer/songwriter hubby, Stevie.

Long story short: Stevie and his buddy Jeff created a story for a made-for-TV family movie called The Jensen Project (airing July 16, 2010 on NBC, 8/7c.). That, in itself, is so exciting for us! Then to make things even sweeter, Stevie was given the opportunity to write a song for The Jensen Project soundtrack, being produced by Randy Jackson. Randy liked the song Steven wrote (called Anything is Possible), so we headed to California!

Below is Stevie recording in the sound booth. My heart was beating fast for him as he sang for one of biggest music moguls around. He did fantastic job and there were high-fives all around when he finished. Randy complimented his vocal range citing that most men can't sing that high. Go Steven!

(Below) Steven and Randy (a REALLY nice guy) in the control room. Randy is an interesting and interested (in others) person. I'm not sure what I was expecting when I met him, but I was surprised and impressed how real and down to earth he is. He's also an insanely talented musician and producer. One thing is for sure, he didn't get to where he is now by accident.

Keith, the sound engineer, is in the background. Also, a REALLY nice (and talented) person.

Talking to Randy, below. We were actually talking about event planning! He told me I had the hardest job and shared stories about event planners he knows having to deal with celebrities (their tardiness and crazy requests) at events... I'm not quite there.. yet, at least! ;)

Below is one of the actresses, Alyssa Diaz, from The Jensen Project. She was in the studio that night recording a song for the movie soundtrack. Everyone said we looked like sisters, but she insisted we looked like cousins instead, which became a running joke that night.

Baby Joy, Emilee (our terrific babysitter!) and I headed back to Cinci a day early because I had a wedding to be home for. It was a quick, tiring but FUN trip. These are good times in the Manuel home!

Sex-y dress

2010-05-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

In light of the Sex and the City 2 movie release, I wanted to share a fabulous gown that one of my brides is wearing at her upcoming September wedding. This Vera Wang gown was in the original Sex and the City movie!! Wow, look at that skirting!

I can't wait to see her in this dress! I'll be posting photos from a bridal shoot Red Gallery Photography will be doing sometime soon! Stay tuned!

See the link below to view the clip from the movie. The movement of this dress is amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZcFB3wMyfk

Oscar Inspiration for Gowns and Events!

2010-03-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

When I want to know about the hottest fashion trends, the first place I look is... Hollywood. That's the reason I enjoy watching or reading about celebrity events--well, among the reasons I like it! Who doesn't like a little celebrity gossip? :)

I may have told you this before, but it's fascinating to see how it always holds true: The development of wedding trends follows this sequence: They always first appear in fashion, then in home decor, and finally make their way to weddings.

Anyway, while watching the Oscars last Sunday, I couldn't help but imagine some of those gorgeous gowns as wedding dresses (I love my job!). Then, when seeing photos of all of those fabulous after-parties, I could help feeling that I was also staying current (or even slightly ahead of the curve) with wedding and event ideas! So here's what seems to be happening...

in DRESSES:

Since dresses have been on my mind lately, we'll start here: check out this very chic navy mermaid gown by Monique Lhuillier.. I imagine it in white or ivory, but I'd like to make that satin "belt" in black... that would keep with the Black & White dress trend for 2010. So sleek!

Another dress I imagined as a wedding gown was Queen Latifah's sparkling asymmetrical soft pink gown. This dress is actually part of a trend we're seeing right now (as mentioned in one of my Favorite Things of 2009 posts): see the asymmetrical shoulder strap? This trend is on the move, I tell ya. (For this gown to be bridal, I'd keep the shoulder and waist sparkle exactly the way it is, but just change the color to ivory.)

Now, my absolute favorite dress from the Oscars was worn by Demi Moore (Elizabeth Banks wore a similar type dress by Versace). I love the tight bodice drop waist with ruffle skirt and short train. Can you picture this as a bridal gown? GORGEOUS!

In Demi's Atelier Versace gown (a closer look below), I love the 2 toned bodice that intermixes darker and lighter shades of nude... can't you see this in 2 shades of soft ivories? The ruffles are so feminine and I love how they gather at the hip into a loose floral shape.

So, those were my inspirations for gowns... onto PARTIES!

In reading about the elements that made up the Oscars' after-parties, I realized most of these are only extensions of what we've already been seeing: comfort food presented in a fresh, modern way, themed decor, bright colors and (mini) desserts galore! Here are some items that really caught my interest...

in DECOR:

At the Governor's Ball (the official post-Academy Awards party), they chose a 1930's, classic Hollywood Art deco design. The theme's title was "Streamline Moderne". The colors were soft, in shades of rose and mauve. A tri-level drop ceiling held fiber-optic chandeliers in swirling patterns - very cool design.

The lighting effects were changed throughout the evening, which is a great way to keep a party feeling interesting and different throughout the night.

At Elton John's Viewing Party, the decor was mostly red with punches of tangerine and a bit of off white scattered among chairs. The carpet was also off white, which made the bold colors stand out even more.

It's really interesting to me that just 2 chairs at the tables are off white. I dig creative, unexpected touches like that! The tangerine orchids are really beautiful as well, and pop on top of the red linens.

in MUSIC:

What really stood out to me, in everything I read, was the 19-piece all-woman orchestra, called Moon Glow, at the Governor's Ball! I also saw that Grace Jones performed at Elton's John's party, which is, again, totally unexpected. Crazy blast from the 80's, and a provocative choice as well (of course, we'd expect nothing less of Elton John)!

in FOOD:

- Trays of In-N-Out burgers in mini boxes of 4 (yum!) served by staff dressed up in the fast food chain's uniform (cute idea... good for marketing, too!), double baked mini-potatoes (MINI- anything is very IN right now!), and corn fritters. Now that's my kind of party!

The more serious menu items were:

- Oscar-shaped smoked salmon and organic chicken

- Yukon gold potatoes and baked truffle en croute (yum!)

- Spring vegetable compote, risotto with king prawns, Wahoo & New York steak

in DESSERTS:

- Baked Alaska with coffee toffee gelato

- Mini Magnolia red velvet cupcakes (with Oscar nominee names printed on top of them), mini brownies, and mini Krispy Kremes

- Godiva chocolates and champagne, served during a cocktail hour (I like this idea! Why don't we serve some fancy chocolates during a cocktail hour at a reception? I love it!)

- Crispy milk chocolate bar (yum, what's a crispy chocolate bar??)

So, hamburgers and donuts at celebrity parties. I say, bring it on!

in DRINKS:

Champagne was everywhere, as you'd expect, but the most interesting drink was the Golden Glamour, a special cocktail with champagne, vanilla liqueur and passion fruit juice - sounds tasty!

in PARTY FUN:

Apparently, the photo booth is still very much in vogue, which celebrities enjoyed at the Vanity Fair post Oscar party. Love that cute belted dress Jessica Seinfeld is wearing below!

Hope you enjoyed the peek into the parties of the rich and famous and can apply some of things into your own celebrations. I know I will...

Governor's Ball photos by Line 8 photography

Cupcake and photobooth images by Jeff Vespa/VF1/WireImage.com

Elton John party images by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com

"Say Yes to the Dress" FITNESS CONTEST

2010-03-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

Calling all brides who have fitness goals for their big day!

Revolution Fitness and viva bella events are teaming up to host the:

SAY YES TO THE DRESS (Fitting You Like a Glove) CONTEST

What is it?

A contest for BRIDES who want to meet their fitness goals for their wedding. This contest will have you looking your best on your wedding day and looking awesome in that honeymoon bathing suit! (fiancés are welcome, too!)

What's involved?

24 group personal training sessions over 8 weeks (3x per week) at Revolution Fitness in Oakley (no gym membership required)

Nutritional coaching

Motivation to help you reach your goals (from Certified Trainers)

How & What do I win?

The bride who has the highest percentage of change (in inches lost), will WIN Cash back* from Revolution Fitness & WIN Wedding Services** from viva bella events

How much?

$500 for all 8 weeks

When does it start?

Monday, March 29th!

How do I sign up?

Revolution Fitness is a premier fitness facility, recently voted Best of Cincinnati Gyms for 2010 by City Beat! We at big fans of them here at viva bella events and might join in a few classes to help us get back in shape, too (post baby pounds still hanging around!).

We believe in your fitness because we know how important it is for a bride to feel her best on her wedding day!

Current viva bella clients who sign up will receiving something extra special from us!

* Cash back determined by number of participants; (10% of enrollment fee goes into the pot-- so if 10 brides sign up you can win your $500 back

** Wedding services determined on an individual bases determined on where you are in the planning process and your wedding planning needs

Our Favorite Things: Dresses

2010-03-13T14:02:00.000-08:00

Photo by Corina Lecca

I'm continuing my never-ending (!) review of our favorite things from 2009.

The wedding gown...

It's often the first thing a bride chooses in the wedding planning process. And why not? For many women, they've imagined themselves in a wedding gown since they were a little girl. (I know I did!) There's just something about seeing a woman in a wedding gown that feels somehow... important. Magical.

Here are some of the magical gowns worn by our brides last year!

First up is Sarah, married last May in the Rose Garden at Ault Park. Sarah is a fashion model in New York City, so when it came time for her to choose a dress, she had many couture options available to her. She chose to wear a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta wedding gown (which fit her like a glove, given the samples of these dresses are made to fit her body, specifically!). The dress is white guipure lace with a portrait neckline and full skirt - or as Sarah likes to describe it, "yummy guipure handmade lace." Stunning!

Sarah's photos courtesy of Jen Francis from Essenza Studio.

Wow, I love the intricate lace detail in her dress.

I can't write about Sarah without sharing that she is the oldest of NINE siblings in her family! Yes, all from the same parents and YES, her parents are still very happily married. It was hard to take care of Sarah on the wedding day because, as the oldest, she was always taking care of everyone else! Her family is truly beautiful in every way and it was apparent that there is an amazingly tight bond among all of them. Naturally, her family was very involved in the wedding day, but there were two extra special family touches. First, her father not only walked her down the aisle and gave her away, but also officiated the wedding! Secondly, her sisters sang to her as she walked down the aisle. What a lovely moment. Here's the beautiful bunch on that special day.

Next is Leslie, who wore a Lazaro gown, of the JLM Couture line. Leslie had a unique shopping experience for her dress: she flew to New York City to be filmed by a crew with the TLC cable wedding show, Say Yes to the Dress. The camera crew was also present on Leslie's May 2009 wedding day to capture Leslie and her dress in action. Leslie's Lazaro gown is an ivory alencon lace on net over silk satin organza. Below is a photo of the scalloped V-neckline and cap sleeves that made for a delicately feminine bodice. So pretty! (I also really just love this photograph below. Leslie looks so beautiful and it's just a terrific photo by April Rentz of Bluebird Photography).

Another beautiful feature of the dress was the woven bias ribbon at the natural waist line....

...yet my favorite aspect was the back of the dress, featuring a tiered, pleated tulle sweep train.

It created beautiful movement as Leslie walked. Below is a picture of her and Adam on their wedding day.

Leslie's photos courtesy of Bluebird Photography

Next is our second Sarah, who wore a Judd Waddell strapless silk a-line dress. Sarah is so petite and fit that this dress was perfect for her. Below is a picture of her and Brian walking in Garfield Park, in downtown Cincinnati--always a popular location for wedding photos. Photos by Chad Moon.Sarah carried an all-white Calla Lily bouquet, which coordinated very well with the style of her dress. I really love the beautiful accent lace on the bodice, pictured below.

I'm excited to say that Sarah's sister, Jennifer, is getting married in May 2012. Her family has hired me for that wedding as well. (Yes, that's more than two years away!) I really enjoy working with families multiple times--I feel that much more qualified to represent their style and taste, and we all have the comfort of familiarity to enjoy.

Finally, we have Amber, who wore a dramatic gown from Romona Keveza's 2010 collection (pictured on the model in the opening photograph of this post).

What an amazing photograph (below) by Laura Leppert of Amber descending the staircase. Amber's long veil was perfect with this dress.

The front of the dress was strapless but with a twist: a swath of material extended from the top of the bodice around to the back. Unique, and soooo pretty!

Here are Amber and her husband, Michael, recessing after their Plum Street Temple ceremony.

Below is the back of the dress, which was, again, very unique. The offset streaming material was charming and elegant, as you can plainly see.

(A post about Amber and Michael's beautiful wedding is forthcoming!)

So, those were 4 of our favorite gowns from the past year - it was so hard to pick because I have a thing for wedding dresses. :) I also just realized that 3 of the 4 dresses had lace--shows you what my tastes are!

I can't wait to see what our 2010 brides will wear. I'm pretty excited about some of the coming trends: Asymmetrical (like Amber's), Black & White, and even knee-length dresses! Watch this space for more Wedding Gown Gushing from Dora...

Baby Bella!

2010-03-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in a previous post that Kortnee Miller of Kortnee Kate Photography flew to Dallas to take my sister's engagement photos over Valentine's Day weekend. Stevie, Joy and I were also in Dallas that weekend (so my husband could eat and breathe basketball day and night during the NBA All-Star weekend).

Kortnee came over for dinner after the engagement photo session, and grabbed a few photos of Joy before she went to bed... of course, I have to share them with the world!

I can't help kissing those chubby cheeks all the time. I love her expression in this one:

I laugh at myself sometimes when I see how enamored of her I am!

I wonder if my girl's wedding will be natural (say, a backyard Texas BBQ under pecan trees), or if she'll be a frilly girl and want all the sparkle and glamor of a modern event. Will she let me help her plan it? What will her style be? Here's to finding all those things out over the next 25ish years...

Thanks for indulging my need to show off pictures of my girl... Now back to wedding planning!

We Are Family

2010-03-07T12:03:00.000-08:00

My family is complicated. Isn't everyone's? :)

I have the beautiful family I was born into, I have a great family I married into, and I also have a "Blind Side" family (if you haven't seen that movie, it's a MUST! Be sure to bring some Kleenex...).

Eighteen years ago, I was a Texas teenager with a broken family and a broken heart. For a number of reasons, I moved in with my Sunday School teacher's family (Stevie calls them the Bs) during my junior year in high school. The move was only supposed to be temporary, but as we like tell the story, I moved in and never left! :) They adopted me into their hearts, and I them. The experience of living with them changed my life both emotionally and spiritually, and set me on a new course. I probably would've never gone to the college I went to, so not met my husband (Stevie and I met in college), and not ended up in Cincinnati (the job that relocated me to Cinci is one the Bs helped me get).

All that said, I met my "Blind Side" sister, Amy, when she was 7 years old: when I came by the B's house to discuss possibly staying with them for a couple of weeks, she was laying on the couch watching TV. (I remember her being very sleepy and very sweet.) Over the course of the year, I became her de facto big sister. Being a big sister was new for me, as I had always been the baby in the family. Amy would look through my stuff (!), wanted to be with me when my friends were over, and she cried when I went to college.... all typical little sister stuff! Over the years, we've become great friends.... and true sisters!

Here are some pictures over the years... don't we look just alike?! ;)

Top left photo: my high school graduation... Amy was so little and so cute! Top right photo: My 2002 wedding. Bottom left: Amy's college graduation with a Bachelor in Nursing. She's an amazing nurse! Also pictured is our little sister, Gracie, born when I was in college. Bottom right: Amy was there for the birth of my daughter last September.

Why am I posting about Amy B? Well, she'll all grown up, as you can see, and is getting married this summer in Dallas... boy, I'm so excited! Stevie and I just love the man she is marrying. We know there is an amazing adventure awaiting them. I'm also super excited to help her plan this wedding! (Did you think for a second I wouldn't get in on that?!)

Of course, I couldn't possibly be part of her wedding planning puzzle without pulling in a few of my favorite vendors... so, we're shipping in DJ Toad to rock it out at the reception and Kortnee Kate to capture the day in pictures. Also, amo-ink is designing her the wedding stationary. Quite a team, I'd say!

Below are Amy and Lauren's engagement photos that Kortnee flew to Dallas to take. Kortnee did an amazing job of capturing who they are!

Look at that great smile!

All the color in the photos is amazing... Amy's adorable green coat and purple scarf (that she knitted herself... I got a green one for Christmas!) really pop in front of the blue door, don't they?

I love this picture! It very much feels like Lauren being silly and cool at the same time while Amy patiently smiles!So sweet!

The next two photos below were taken at a cute cafe in Dallas that Lauren, Amy, Stevie and I bonded over during the holidays... we sipped coffee while talking about marriage. We ended up closing the restaurant down and moving to an IHOP to talk more. It was a great night! I'm so glad they took pictures at our cute cafe.

Look at the adorable heart shaped cinnamon in the latte! Too cute.

Super fun photo in front of the Dallas skyline! It looks like a postcard that says "Save the date! Lauren & Amy in Dallas, Texas on July 30, 2010!"

Congrats, little sis! Can't wait 'til the big day!

Top 10 Wedding Trends for 2010

2010-02-24T07:40:00.000-08:00

TheKnot.com recently published their list of top trends for the year.

My favorites are the new cocktail style receptions and statement cakes!

Biggest surprises... 3-D stationary... hmmm.... we'll see!

And here they are:

RETRO GLAMOUR…
1. BLACK, WHITE & BALL GOWNS: From black-sashed dresses and ball gowns to tulle and high waists, the look of the season is all about Grace Kelly elegance, right down to the accessories: ladylike gloves and pearls. For the guys, traditional tuxes are back.

2. MAD MEN-INSPIRED BEAUTY: Channeling the likes of Betty Draper and Audrey Hepburn, brides will be opting for statement-making hairstyles, like bouffants, French twists, and even beehives, with chic cage veils. As for makeup, matte base, black eyeliner, and red lipstick complete the look.

3. RAT PACK COCKTAIL RECEPTIONS: Couples are skipping the sit-down dinner and going for super club-style cocktail parties instead. Think: big-band music, heavy appetizers, and old-fashioned cocktails, like Manhattans, sidecars, and dirty martinis.

4. ART DECO COLORS: Black -- paired with emerald green or ruby red -- will give weddings a dramatic, sophisticated feel.

5. STATEMENT CAKES: Cupcakes will always be cute, but the big news right now is stately cakes, from towering layers to splashes of metallic details.

QUIRKY SURPRISES...

6. INTERACTIVE ELEMENTS: Blame it on Avatar, but the 3-D craze is also hitting the wedding scene with 3-D save-the-dates, menus and more. And, the interactive phenomenon doesn't stop there. Guests can look forward to crossword puzzle-style save-the-dates, video announcements, and special performances.

7. GLEE-INSPIRED FIRST DANCES: Inspired by the hit show, Glee, couples are taking their first dance to a whole new level by opting for a “mash-up” (or medley) of songs instead of a single one.

8. OVER-THE-TOP WEDDING EXITS: Forget the sparklers, confetti canons and hot air balloon sendoffs will be all the rage.

9. STYLE SURPRISES: A pair of high-top sneakers peeking out from under his tux! A glimpse of a pink petticoat under the hemline of her dress! Pairing bright-green socks for the groom and bright-green shoes for the bride! Couples are really showing their individuality, underneath it all.

10. THE ANTI BRIDE: The '80s are back in a big way, and weddings are not immune. Fingerless gloves, neon graffiti, and '80s prom music will be huge at fashion-forward receptions and after-parties.

AND HERE'S WHAT'S HOT IN:

RINGS: Taking a cue from the fashion runways, gold is the new metal for engagement rings andwedding bands. And for a vintage feel, brides are pairing it with a rose-, emerald-, or Asscher-cut diamond.

REGISTRY: While wedding style goes retro, registry goes high-tech. Couples are now using new and innovative ways to create their registry with techie tools like Gift Registry 360 on Facebook.

HONEYMOONS: All-inclusive luxury resorts are popping up all over the globe, from Hawaii to Antigua -- and honeymooners are flocking to them for the awesome food.

A New Year's Eve Celebration

2010-02-10T05:43:00.000-08:00

Below is a great wedding highlight video from the New Year's Eve wedding of Jessica and Cody at Drees Pavilion. Beautiful work by Steve Zugelter at Studio + Z Films .... you can really feel the emotion in this!

I can't share this without pointing out a few favorite details...

First: the vows: wow! I love when couples personalize their vows. Their vows were so honest and touching.

Second: Jessica's hair piece is completely adorable! The way the netting scoops over part of her face is so classic. She looked beautiful and her pearls finished her look.

Finally: Her bouquet-- you can't see if very much of it, but Jessica is carrying the same bouquet design that her mother and grandmother carried in their weddings : Spray of Gardenias, Lily of the Valley, and Stephanotis (bouquet by Timothy's).

Cody is decked out in his military uniform and is looking snappy! Thank you, Cody, for serving our country!

View on ExposureRoom

And the official results are in...

2010-02-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

We are so pleased to officially share that viva bella events was voted Best of Wedding Planners by brides on TheKnot.com!

If you are new to all things wedding, let me tell you a bit about The Knot. TheKnot.com is the number 1 wedding website in the United States. In fact, 80% of all online wedding traffic belongs to The Knot Wedding Network (theknot.com & weddingchannel.com), boasting 2,348,000 (!) monthly unique page views (to put in perspective, the 2nd most popular wedding website has just barely a quarter of this traffic). Another interesting factoid....The Knot tells me that 97% of their registered brides spend 20.4 hours a month on their website! Wow! (...I'm sure all wedding planning is done at home, away from work... ;) Right, brides?) What can I say? Brides love The Knot.

Here's how the voting works: A third party research firm, Harris Interactive, conducts the survey and compiles the results. Brides (who are registered on either of The Knot Wedding Network's sites, and who had a wedding date of Oct 1, 2007-June 2009) were sent an individual link inviting them to vote for their favorite wedding vendor. The bride's requirements to vote were simply 1) they hired at least 1 wedding vendor and 2) they had no family members or friends working in industry. That was it. We are so thankful to be a vendor that our brides listed as the best at what they do!

Again, we're thrilled about this! Thanks to all of our brides who voted for us! We LOVE what we do and are glad you love it, too!

KC & Antwan

2010-02-02T13:02:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of our summer weddings from 2009 was featured in a four page spread of the current issue of Cincinnati Wedding Magazine.

Below are some of my favorite images from their wedding (thanks to Kortnee Kate), as well as the video trailer created by Andrew Tate of 28:20 Films.

Here is the dashing duo who have been a pair since 2002... fierce looks but big hearts! Antwan is an NFL linebacker and KC is a fitness guru, who keeps their family of 8 (!) in line.

The outdoor ceremony was at Ault Park on probably the hottest day of the summer! I was over 6 months pregnant at the time and was definitely feeling the heat... and the love! :)

KC wore her veil over her face, which felt really special. You don't see that much anymore, so it was very sweet when Antwan lifted the veil to kiss his new bride.

Look at these two, sneaking a kiss when no one is looking (except Kortnee!).

All of the wedding stationery, designed by Amy Owens of amo-ink, was beautiful... below are the programs Amy designed for the wedding. I love wedding stationery that coordinates perfectly with the invitations, programs, escort cards, table numbers, menus, all the way to the thank you notes. It's all in the details!

Following the ceremony was the beautiful (and FUN!) reception at the Phoenix.

The lighting on the dance floor (below) was the same pattern as was on the stationery. amo-ink provided the image to Goodwin Lighting and they were able to create an exact match.... just another way that small details add up to a make a dramatic look.

The decor of the reception was black, white, red and BLING. :) KCs beautiful ring set the tone.

Sparkle was everywhere you could see at the reception. Her bouquet (by Katie Elfers) boasted a rhinestone band around the stems and had small crystals in the flowers.

The table tops were scattered with big and small crystals, which really popped over the black crushed table linens that draped half the tables. The alternating tables had black and white patterned linens that also coordinated with the black and white damask design of the wedding stationery.

The cake knife and server were engraved with their wedding date, and the handles... well, they had bling, naturally!

And of course, the cake topper monogram was also aligned to the theme... a P created from rhinestones.

Pictured below is one of the beautiful centerpieces comprised of roses, James Story red orchids and fern curls. Notice how the damask black and white ribbon that Katie applied on the vase coordinates with the damask pattern on the tables numbers.

Everyone had a great time, especially the bride and the groom, pictured below on the dance floor. You know when DJ Toad is part of the team, it's going to be a great party and full dance floor.

What I loved about this wedding is that anyone who knows KC and Antwan walked away knowing that their wedding was uniquely them.... it not only reflected their personal style, but the evening just FELT like THEM... from the outdoor ceremony where KC wore the veil over her face, to the rhinestone studded cake topper and happening music selections on the dance floor.... it was all who they are. Anyone can have a pretty party, but a stand out party is when you can feel the couple's essence all around you.

Pictures tell a thousand words, yet video further helps bring to life the emotion experienced. Enjoy Andrew Tate's great work but don't like it too much as 28:20 films is no longer booking weddings (to pursue greater passions).

KC & Antwan's wedding day was brought to life by the following amazing team:

Ault Park, The Phoenix, Kortnee Kate Photography, 28:20 films, Katie Elfers Inspired Floral Design, IncrEdible Endings, amo-ink custom stationary, Goodwin Lighting, DJ Toad and Chenese Bean Makeup Artistry (special thanks to Chenese for the scans of Cincinnati Magazine!)

All images courtesy of Kortnee Kate Photography.

Our Favorite Things: Bridal Bouquets

2010-01-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

We continue our 2009 review with one of my all-time favorite wedding elements.... the bridal bouquet!

Picking the right bouquet is important. It has to be uniquely YOU. There are so many choices to make... what type do I want (hand tied, cascade, arm/cradle, etc), what size and shape of flower work best for my wedding, and what colors will I use? The flowers should reflect you: Are you a classic bride? ...then an all-white rose bouquet might be your thing. Are you a more contemporary type? ...then a bouquet with several textures and flower types might be for you. The recipe for the perfect bouquet is a hard one to get right but, thankfully, some people really get it perfect.

Below are some of my favorite bouquets from the past year and the beautiful brides who made them sparkle!

The lovely bride below is Stacy at her January 2009 wedding....

Stacy carried a bouquet with white cymbidium orchids with a pink throat, purple mini calla lilies and green hypericum berries (bouquet designed by Tim Lieber of Timothy's). All the berries seemed perfect for a very winter wedding!

Our next beautiful bride is KC (her wedding just received a 4 page spread in the Winter 2010 issue of Cincinnati Wedding Magazine- I'll be sharing more on this wedding soon!).

This bouquet was perfect for KC... the colors and textures were so strong, and matched how striking KC is, herself.

The design by Katie Elfers featured Black Magic and Black Bacarra roses, Schwawarzwalder (black) calla lilies, Uhule fern curls and was accented with rhinestones. The black ribbon that tied it all together had a rhinestone band to give it extra pop. Beautiful!

KCs photos courtesy of Kortnee Kate Photography

Another June 2009 wedding I loved was Liz and Kevin's. Liz carried a summery garden bouquet with white and pink flowers (designed by Robin Wood Flowers).

This collection just feels so sweet to me and was perfectly suited for Liz. The arrangement consisted of white and pink peonies and garden roses, lilac stock, tulips and astrantia... Lovely!

Liz's photos courtesy of Prentiss Photography

This bold bouquet was carried by Kim for her August 2009 wedding. I love how the rich colors and interesting shapes contrasted against her skin.

The bouquet was designed by Courtenay Lambert Florals and consisted of Black magic red roses, Schwarzwalder (black) calla lilies, Burgundy dahlias, and was accented with Dahlia buds. It was hand tied with a majestic purple ribbon. To add a very personal touch, Kim laced over the ribbon an old family rosary belonging to her grandmother. The rosary carried great sentimental value to her and she was honored to be able to include it in her bouquet.

Lastly....

Through the magic of Facebook, I was able to connect with an old college friend, Cesar, from my days at Texas A&M University (Gig 'em! to all you Aggies out there... anyone?... at all...?), and view photos from his wedding to his adorable new wife, Jill.

I immediately loved her her whole look: the dress, shoes, bouquet, the flowers she wore in her hair....

Her bouquet, designed by Shelly Black (Clarksville, MD), boasts antique green hydrangeas, green cymbidium orchids, circus roses (yellow and orange mix), orange roses, red & hypericum green berries and yellow ranunculus (I just love that word... ranunculus). The arrangement's fullness of color and texture make it completely beautiful!

One of the best parts of the bouquet is the yellow ranunculus... the bouquet has just a hint of it, but it's the perfect amount to coordinate with her canary and gold shoes. In my mind, the bright heels and the ranunculus made this a stand out look!

Photography by Jill Gately in Baltimore, MD

(Thanks for sharing your photos, Cesar & Jill!)

So, that's it for bridal bouquets... next up... wedding gowns! Picking just a few bouquets to feature was hard enough, but wait 'till you see the gorgeous dresses we've chosen....

Opening image photography courtesy of Steve Lyons; Bouquet design by Sprouts.

"Our Favorite Things" - Bridesmaid Dresses

2009-12-31T14:40:00.000-08:00

Photography courtesy of Steve Lyons

You know how Oprah has her "O List" of favorite things? Well, we have a few of our own favorites from this past wedding season (November 2008-November 2009).

My next few posts will detail the picks of the year. We'll start with our favorite bridesmaids' dresses!

First up is the Amethyst and Plum 2-toned dress from Verg Wang Maids. This full length dress is from Avideh & David's November 2008 wedding. This dress also come in Navy/Navy and Black/Stone color combinations. I love the jewel toned colors of the amethyst and plum. It's so rich and full... perfect for the fall!

Photo courtesy of David Ziser

Next is a fun and summery look from Caitlin and Joel's July 2009 wedding. Half of the bridesmaids wore summer bright green, while the other half modeled a fun tangerine floral pattern (both from David's Bridal). The two dresses coordinated perfectly. The emerald dresses were paired with tangerine shoes and vice versa. Except for the Maid of Honor, that is: her orange shoe/patterned frock ensemble made her stand out just the right amount. To tie the look all together, they all wore green sashes. Love it!

Photos courtesy of Shutter Think Photography

Another favorite from this past year is this beautiful Priscilla of Boston dress from Molly and Michael's October 2009 wedding. The dress is knee-length brocade with an empire waist and pleated bodice. Classic with a twist! The dresses were set off with strappy gold heels.

Each girl had a cute coordinating wrap to keep them warm in the chilly October weather.

Photo by Michael Bambino and Co

So, these were some of my favorite bridesmaid dresses from 2009.... next up are my favorite bridal bouquets. Stay tuned!

Meet Our Newest Team Member

2009-12-14T19:19:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone!

Well, I'm back from taking a way-too-long break from this page. It was a busy summer and fall -- full of events and excitement -- but that's no excuse for blog neglect! I am back now and, until the end of the year, will be featuring our favorite things about our weddings and events in 2009.

But first: one of the highlights of the fall was the addition of our newest team member. She joined the viva bella team on September 26. Prior to that date, she'd spent 9 months 'shadowing' me -- she never left my side... not even for a moment. She attended every consultation, vendor meeting and event with me, so she's full of first-hand experience! As a matter of fact, the day she joined us was the biggest event in viva bella's history!

I've been working hard on-boarding her over the last (nearly) 3 months -- it's been a time-intensive process, but I think she's worth the trouble. I can already tell she's going to be a great communicator, is going to really respond to my leadership, and is going to win over new clients in a heartbeat! (I also think I sense a real fashion sense developing!)

Everyone, please meet and welcome Miss Joy A. Manuel!

All images (c) Tine Hoffman.

A Processional Like No Other!

2009-07-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-24T11:18:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-06-08T15:53:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-12T11:47:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

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!

Featured Wedding on Style Me Pretty!

2009-04-27T20:18:00.000-07:00

Last fall, I shared about Lauren and Jordan's amazing, "detail-licious" wedding that I was privileged to be a part of.

I'm so pleased to announce that top wedding blog, Style Me Pretty, has featured this wedding!

Read the 2 posts about Lauren and Jordan's Dramatic and Retro Hollywood Glam affair here .

(it was posted on Style Me Pretty on 4/27)

Lizzy + Nick - The Fall Fairytale

2009-04-06T18:17:00.000-07:00

Lizzy and Nick had an elegant, classic, loved-filled wedding last October! It was the perfect fall day. Below are a few highlight photos of their special event, courtesy of Geri of Ciulla Photography.

I love the first photo above. It lets a little sass show through with Lizzy's hand-on-hip-action, while also showcasing the beautiful architecture of the Hyde Park Community United Methodist church.

Lizzy's hairpiece complimented the jewel in her bouquet - both were stunning!

The jewel in her flowers belonged to her maternal grandmother, who Lizzy says was "known for her great collection of costume jewelry and overall style." Although Lizzy never had the opportunity to meet her grandmother, carrying the jewel served as a way to celebrate her memory.

It's always so sweet when the bride and groom see each other for the first time. I love how Nick is looking at Lizzy in the photo on the right.

The wreaths on the doors that welcomed guests were gorgeous. I love the crimson and violet jewel tones together!

An upscale wedding such as theirs could not be complete without an exit to the waiting Rolls Royce!

This picture of the bride and groom in their getaway car looks so vintage... Geri did an amazing job on all of these photos!

Here are Lizzy and Nick entering their reception at the Cincinnati Art Museum. I've always loved the indigo Chihuly glass sculpture that hangs in the main lobby.

Below are beautiful reception details... I know I say I love everything, but I really love the jeweled votives they chose. So pretty! I'm a huge fan of unique votives. Every event, really, requires votives, so when you choose something a little off the beaten path, it really lends a special touch to the occasion.

The entire reception was so lovely. I especially appreciated the feather detail on the seating chart (pictured below). Feathers were also included in the design of the invitations and museum directions signs. A graphic feather was included on the dinner menus. All of these beautiful printed pieces were designed and produced by Poeme.

Below are the Mistics getting the party started! You can always count on them to bring people to the dance floor.

Lizzy enjoyed the reception with her friends, but why's she holding the train of her dress? The bustle fell out while she was dancing, but she didn't want us to fix it for her right away because she was having too much fun! (We did some 'construction' when the band took a break so she could keep dancing!)

It was the perfect wedding day. Lizzy left a very sweet message on my voicemail the Monday following her wedding. I wanted to share it:

"Thank you for a wonderful evening. Literally the first thing we said when we got into the car after the reception was that we could not have done it without you! Thank you!"

And 6 months later, she wrote me, "We often reflect back on our wedding and how wonderful it was-- 100% fairytale!"

There are few things more special than to look back on one of the most important days of your life and not want to change of thing. Now that feels like a fairytale to me!

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The vendors involved in creating the beautiful decor of the evening were: Jones the Florist, Goodwin Lighting, All Occasion Rentals and Poeme.

All photos by Ciulla Photography.

Chair 101

2009-03-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

I must confess, I have a bit of a chair fetish. I have a strong opinion that a chair or chair cover can dramatically impact the design of an event.

So, let's review the different options for chairs and then I will share with you a new chair that I'm absolutely in love with!

Different chairs are suitable for different events. For instance, if you are having a garden or outdoor wedding, the white wooden folding chair is really lovely! The rental price for these chairs can range from $2.50-$3.50.

This white S shaped chair is a fun look for modern designed events, but they are pricey! It's been a few years since I've rented them, but I believe I rented them for this event below for $50 each!Another sleek look for a stylish event is the Ghost chair (as seen, or not seen, below). The most popular 'color' is clear, but I've also seen them in black, green and blue. This is also a pricey rental... $40-$50 a chair.A less expensive option, while remaining contemporary and sleek, is the Spandex chair cover. This is less popular for weddings, but terrific for events. The 2 photos below feature chair covers in black and in white. These are not the easiest to apply to the chair... it's a work out! The rental price for chair covers is usually $7-$10 per cover.

Poly cotton (below) or Satin chair covers are very popular options for weddings. And they are affordable! They come in various colors, the most popular being white, ivory or black. They can be rented from $3.50-$7 each.

The most popular chair rental for weddings, though, is the Chiavari Chair. I have long loved this chair. This is an elegant and beautiful chair. It can be rented in many colors: mahogany, gold, silver, black, white, ice (ice is VERY cool)... I've seen colors, too, like red. Rental prices for these chairs range from $8 - $11, depending on the vendor.

Now, here is my new obsession.... The Chameleon Chair.

I was first exposed to these chairs and chair covers last November, at the Association of Bridal Consultants annual conference. These chairs are already very popular on the West Coast, and slowly making their way into the Midwest (I know just one Chicago vendor who has them).

We'll start with the basic chair. It's lovely on its own, on a par with the chiavari chair.

Then you can start adding covers to these chairs, and whoa, you get an elegant look.
Add fun frills for an fun After Party....

The photo below is from a Sasha Souza wedding in California. This just drips elegance to me!

Below is another event Chameleon featured in their email newsletter. I love the chair on the right table.... those frilly tails on the chairs are both fun and elegant.

The Chameleon Chair rental prices range from $11-29 a chair, depending on the various covers and accessories you add.

Is it worth it?

I say yes (of course!), for the right event and the right chair obsessed bride.

A Dress To Remember

2009-02-03T14:09:00.000-08:00

The Ohio branch of the Association of Bridal Consultants is producing A Dress to Remember to benefit the Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation. Dresses That Heal, Inc. will be conducting a silent auction of donated designer gowns, along with other wedding related items, to help send a local breast cancer survivor to a four day retreat to help with the healing process.

A Dress to Remember will be held at the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center on Sunday February 22, 2009.

Please join us!

For tickets, go to www.cincinnatibridalconsultants.com

A Dress to Remember By Steve Zugelter
View in HD Download 1080p HD Version Visit Steve Zugelter's ExposureRoom Videos Page

Kelly + David... celebrated at last

2009-01-27T22:41:00.000-08:00

Many of you will recall of the story of Kelly and David and the surprise wedding thrown for them by a small group of friends and some of the most generous (as well as talented) vendors in the city. Well, Tine Hofman's photos are in (okay, so they were in over a month ago, but I'm now just sitting down to post this!), and I am so excited to finally share them...

The day started with a bridal luncheon at the BonBonerie tea room. After that, it was off to get hair and make up done by the beauty "dream team:" Sam Hills of high five salon and Nancy of Brideface.

Here is the beautiful bride with her RED hot stilettos (fun!). I love her bracelet.

On the other side of town, the men of the wedding (David and their two sweet boys, Mac and Bode) were busy getting ready themselves. David is always a smooth dresser, as seen below in his suspenders!

The bride and groom couldn't resist seeing each other before the ceremony. Tine was able to catch a peek of them during their private moment.

Kelly tells me the below picture captures the essence of her children!Here was the area where our ceremony was supposed to be held. To my disappointment, we were rained out, so we moved inside the house a couple of hours prior to the ceremony. Oh, I had big plans for this space... shepherds hooks lining the aisle, big flower urns on each of the pillars, petals down the aisle.... :(

(BTW, brides... ALWAYS have a back up plan for rain!)
Here is our Plan B, which worked out great. It was a very warm, cozy setting for the personal and intimate ceremony.

Below is a much-anticipated moment for Kelly: walking down the aisle with her dad for the very first time. She waited 11 years for this! It was very special and her dad was very proud to finally take on this honor.

Kelly chose a scarlet and deep melon color scheme... a very popular color combo for Fall 2008. The lovely flowers were the work of Kevin Ford of Ford Ellington Floral and Event Design.

After the ceremony, the 30 guests enjoyed a brief cocktail hour, then were seated downstairs for dinner. The fire orange "pintuck" style linens and mahogony chiavari chairs were rented from Camargo Rental.
Funky's catering provided a delightful menu, including edible flowers!

Kelly and David had a surprise of their own for their guests.... they announced they were 9 weeks pregnant with their third child!
But that news was eclipsed (if only briefly) by what we had planned for them next.... a surprise reception! We blindfolded them and drove them around in a limo for 45 minutes to throw them off.

The first thing Kelly and David heard immediately after being introduced to the adoring crowd was "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough." Amid cheers of joy, the blindfolds came off. Their reaction to seeing 100 of their closest friends and fans shouting and clapping wildly? To dance, baby, dance!

After taking in everything, we sat them down to watch a Same Day Edit video that Steve of Glass Eye Video put together for everyone to see... it had clips from the ceremony so everyone at the reception was able to share in what had just transpired.The lounge style reception (furniture by CORT) featured fun foods: a late night Cincinnati Chili bar, mini sliders and fries, Funky's famous "gyros" ... and cotton candy (of course!).

And here's the beautiful cake from Maribelle! It perfectly matched the graphics on our custom invitations (designed by Cindy Loon and David Valentine).

Below are Kelly and David sharing their first dance on the very cool black and white dance floor provided by Camargo Rental.The rest of the night was spent on the dance floor!

I'm guessing this all-hands-on-deck moment was brought to us by The Humpty Dance or Shoop or some other awesome 90s hit... (DJ Toad was, as usual, a major source of energy and cool.)

I HAD to throw in these Dancing Machine photos of our friend and Best of Cincinnati stylist extraordinaire, Sam Hills. You go, Sam.
The reception was beautiful, but there was such a spirit of generosity and love in the air that the people are what made the night so special. I cannot over-thank the incredible vendors who helped make this a celebration that no one is soon to forget. We love you, Kelly and David Russell!

All photos courtesy of tm photography.

Cincinnati Wedding's Expert Panel

2009-01-24T17:29:00.000-08:00

Today, I (along with four of my favorite colleagues) was part of an expert panel doing a Q&A promotional event for Cincinnati Wedding Magazine. Joseph Beth Booksellers hosted us, and it was a great chance to be provided as a resource for local brides.

The moderator asked us a few questions, then the brides (and their sweet moms) asked us several questions. I was asked what one tip I'd give to a bride-to-be, whether they were using me or not, regarding their wedding. My answer: have someone there to run your wedding day (or it will run you!)!

iWeddings

2009-01-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

So I just got an iPhone for Christmas.

Hello (!), I'm sure you've heard this from someone already, but that thing is amazing. I'm hooked. The real genius of this device is the "apps" you can download instantly, many of them for free. Did you know there's a "help me find my car" app? They must've been thinking of me. Thank you, iPhone!

I searched the App Store for any wedding applications that might be available. I came across iWeddings. It's basically an electronic planning device, outfitted specifically for weddings. Neato!

Here's a few features from iWedding that I like:

It takes advantage of your Contacts list from your iPhone, which is great if you need to contact a bakery, photographer, or wedding planner (!) on any specific day. Everything is connected!
There's a countdown feature, detailing the number of days until the wedding! Perfect!
You can manage your wedding's budget.
You can handle your gift registries!
The best thing, in my opinion, is the Top 5 list. The app allows you to always have, at your fingertips, the 5 most important tasks that need doing for your wedding. Very handy for any bride-to-be on the go.

Can you tell that I'm a fan? Not that a piece of software will ever replace an actual wedding planner (ha!), but this little organizer gizmo sure can make wedding planning easier.

The Blackout Wedding

2008-12-12T13:42:00.001-08:00

The week of September 15th started black. Literally. Ninety percent of greater Cincinnati was without power due to hurricane wind gusts that knocked out power lines all around the city. Peterloon Estate, where I was to be coordinating a wedding, called me in the middle of the week to let me know they were, too, without power. But SURELY they'd not be without power on Saturday… right? Surely, the energy company would come to our rescue and restore power for the wedding… right? WRONG!

A plan was quickly put into place! To handle the practical needs of the day, we rented a king-sized generator to supply our power needs for the tented reception, including the lighting and the band. A catering tent was rented because the estate's kitchen was also without power. And, because the venue's restrooms would not be available due to the blackout, we also rented a luxury restroom trailer from Camargo Rental (who provided all of the rentals for the reception). But my beautiful bride didn't deserve just any old bathroom... this one featured hardwood floors, marble sinks and a state of the art hand dryer!

And when the big day came in, like an autumn storm, we were ready. The wedding went off without a hitch, despite no power! We considered it a moral victory.

Below are photos from the lovely wedding ceremony held at the Indian Hill Church....

...after which the guests retired to the Peterloon grounds for the reception. We augmented the generator-powered spotlights with a TON of candles that were rush-ordered earlier in the week.

All of the candlelight was actually SO ROMANTIC AND BEAUTIFUL! Votive candles hanging from shepherd's hooks delineated walking paths for guests. Everyone loved the romantic glow throughout the grounds. It really was a great wedding, and a great day for my team--we felt satisfied that even a city-wide blackout couldn't keep the party from going on.

Here is the beautiful couple, Kelly and Matt, who were able to fully enjoy their beautiful wedding day!

One of the best parts of my job is knowing I was able to help provide a wonderful experience for my clients that they can remember for the rest of their lives. Here is a generous note the mother of the bride sent me following the wedding.

"I can't express my gratitude and appreciation for all your hard work and support. Kelly and I knew instantly that you were the right person to help her dream wedding come true. The night was magical and your attention to detail, advice and organizational skills made it all work. I could enjoy our out of town guests, family and friends and especially, Kelly and Matt, knowing you were in control. When the power went out, I knew we could count on you… and you more than pulled through. You are gifted and a delightful person to work with and to know. Thank you, thank you!"

Photographs by Michael Bambino & Co.

Paella Please!

2008-12-05T21:26:00.000-08:00

This week at a wedding industry networking event, I met Hector Esteve, who has a unique, specialized catering business called "Paella At Your Place."

I visited him last night at the Chateau Pomije Wine Store in O'Bryanville where he was sampling this flavorful Spanish dish. Check out my video report below (thanks to my new Flip video camcorder!).

To have this at your next event, big or small, visit Hector's website: www.paellaatyourplace.com or call him at 513.520.5502.

Cincinnati Magazine just gave him raving reviews in the December issue! Add me to his fan list!

Lauren & Jordan's hip affair

2008-11-29T08:27:00.000-08:00

A beautiful event's secret is always in the details...and that was very true of this lovely, uniquely designed wedding!

Here is the beautiful couple! Lauren had a very clear vision for her wedding design... funky, chic and hip! I'm so glad I was able to be part of the team to help bring her vision to life.

Above is Lauren's amazing bouquet created by Mt. Lookout Sprouts... the bouquet features red and black magic roses, black callas, ferns (the curly brown things!), and black feathers.

I love that while Lauren had black feather accents in her bouquet, her bridal party's bouquets were accented by white feathers.

This custom built chuppah was the focal point of the (17 minute!) ceremony. Many, many conversations were had over the design... the fabric, the size, the lighting, but it all came together! Special thanks to Steve Brock and his talents with this project!

I love this photo! Lauren came down part of the aisle by herself (how brave!) and then her parents met her about 2/3 up and walked with her the rest of the way.

An aerial reception room shot... round and square tables were mixed in the room with alternating red velvet and black & white patterned linens.

(Above) This is one of the 3 centerpieces created by Sprouts.

(Above) The finished look with lighting in place (Lighting by Goodwin)... "red fabric" on the walls, red mosiac on the ceiling and pinspot lighing for the tables.

(Above) The newly married couple performing their first dance. I think they were more nervous about this choreographed dance than anything else!

Candy bar!

The above and below pictures feature Lauren's very personal touches (including the custom labels she created for the candy bar bags).

Lauren is a very talented graphic artist and created her own invitations, (amazing! wish I had a picture of them to share) as well as created all of the printed pieces used at the ceremony and reception.

How cool are those "Mr. and Mrs." signs for the sweetheart table chairs!

Below is a collage of more of her beautiful work... She created direction signs that were placed on landings and in the elevators. The bar had her signature drinks sign.

Her programs were such a hit! And the escort card... can't forget those... they were little black envelopes with a feather meticulously attached to each one.

All of this was wonderful attention to detail that completed the overall look.

Isn't that ring bearer pillow great?

I love Before and After Pictures to see how creativity and beauty transform a space!

The first set below is the ceremony room before we built the lovely chuppah.

I took this "Before" photograph months before the wedding to determine what size the chuppah needed to be and how it would fit into the room....
The room has blue wallpaper and favors a blue tint.

After.
Ta-da!

Here is a centerpiece before and after the lighting was in place....

What a difference lighting can make! Here's my lighting soapbox: Lighting is a HUGE contributor to the overall design of a space... I would forgo a lot of other design elements before not having lighting because it has a very significant impact on the overall look of a room.

Isn't it great when a wedding really reflects the personality of the couple?

Congrats Lauren & Jordan and best wishes for your marriage!

Images captured by the lovely and radically talented Neysa Ruhl.

Custom Aisle Runners

2008-11-18T18:53:00.000-08:00

I love custom aisle runners! They are so much better than the paper type runners that the florist will sell you or that you can buy from a Michael's type place.

You can find a beautiful runner selection, or create a custom runner, from Original Runners. And best of all -- they are having a 15% off sale until December 15th!

Here are 2 custom runners that we used for weddings this past year. It was just another way to customize the look!
I also pretty certain that the runner pictured below in these photos from Ashlee Simpson's wedding was from Original Runners, too, because they carry this exact design! It's called Bed of Red Roses. It's almost hard to tell from the photo below what is the runner verses the real roses. Love it!

P.S. Just because I am posting shots from Ashlee Simpson's wedding does NOT, I repeat- NOT- mean that I'm a fan of her music :) HOWEVER, her wedding design was very cool (designed by celebrity planner Mindy Weiss).
I can say, though, that Jessica Simpson went to my high school and church back in Texas... she was a cheerleader but not very liked! Go figure!

Chic New Bridal Bouquets

2008-11-15T16:54:00.000-08:00

The use of feathers in wedding elements (invitations, bouquets, centerpieces) seemed to be all the rage this past year! I had several brides add feathers to their wedding design - peacock feathers, black feather, white feathers...very chic!

Now there is Emplume, offering beautiful feather bouquets and boutonneries! One of my brides shared this website with me recently and I wanted to pass it along.

Look at these bouquets!

LOVE the red one!

Look at these fabulous boutonnieres!

Everything they create is custom and prices range from $150- $450 for the bouquet and $20-$45 for a boutonniere (they also have bridesmaids bouquets).

Check them out! They've made a fan out of me!

Emergency Bride Kit

2008-11-07T07:19:00.000-08:00

I'm always on the lookout for products that will help my brides in a pinch. On your wedding day, and on the honeymoon, there's so much that needs to be remembered, considered, and planned for that having to cover one less base is a real help. I always have an emergency kit with me (including band-aids, stain remover, extra deodorant!, super glue, hairspray, all sorts of pins, etc.), to come to the aid of my brides! I thought I'd pass along some of the great finds that've come across my desk over time. These are handy, portable helps in times of need! And they're great quality products, too.

Supersmile Whitening Mouthrinse is a mouthwash that comes in a tiny envelope! You just add water and it has all the minty freshness you need! Great for an airplane or the chapel bridal suite!

La Fresh products have been around a while, but they're still terrific: they package needed toiletries (make-up remover, sunscreen, moisturizer) in these little single-use packets. Great for cruising through airport security and easily stashable in a clutch purse or back pack.

Emercen-C is a fabulous product that Stevie never travels without. I also believe that it's saved us from lots of colds and days with sniffly noses. The simple idea is that vitamin C fights colds, so how about a BLAST of the stuff to keep them away? Great to have everywhere.

So there's a few ideas for you! Hope they help you as much as they do me!

From Fashion to Wedding!

2008-11-05T13:27:00.000-08:00

I get my best ideas for event design from keeping an inspiration journal and adding anything I see that I like – it could be a fashionable dress from a magazine, or a new kind of floral arrangement I see when checking into a hotel in a new town.

Of all the things I look at to inspire, fashion is my favorite inspirtation for wedding! Why? Fashion tells me what’s coming: New ideas and trends first appear in fashion, then move into home/interior design, then finally weddings and events. Watching fashion keeps me on top of what's happening!

I fell in love with the dress in this photo and set out to put together a table arrangement that reflects this look! Here’s what I came up with... (These are always fun exercises for me!) These are very simple and elegant looks.

[By the way, I can't find this dress anywhere for sale! If you see it, let me know! :) ]

The first look was called "Fuschia and Ice." It's a great winter wedding contemporary look!

I started with a beautiful textured fuschia linen. The chairs in the photo are "ice chiavari chairs." They are see through... very cool!

I used silver chargers and silver napkins. My votives on the tables were actually "snowballs." The BEAUTIFUL flowers were put together by the very talented Katie Elfers. The arrangement is a bed of carnations with orchids and ferns. Katie also added a peacock feather to the arrangment!

Amo Ink contributed the lovely menu cards and table number that completed the look.

Below are 2 very contemporary napkin folds to complete the Fuschia and Ice look.

The 2nd look was Fuschia and Chocolate... I find this a great fall wedding look! I used the same table cloth, but add chocolate brown lamour napkins and changed out the ice chairs for mahogony chiavari chairs. Adding the brown brings out the necklace the model's wearing in the inspiration picture.

Adding a flower detail to complement Amo Ink's menu card is a chic touch!

So there you go! From fashion to wedding! Feel free to send me inspiration photos that you'd like to see in a table setting! This type of project keeps me on my toes and... it's what I do!

Special thanks to Molly from Camargo Rental for helping me pull this all together in their showroom!

Surprise Wedding Update #2

2008-10-31T16:18:00.000-07:00

I've probably had more interest and questions about our surprise wedding than anything I've ever posted about. So, while I don't yet have the professional photos back, I do want to share some about the wedding. It happened last month, and it was incredibly special. I'll share some taken-with-a-friend's-tiny-digital-camera photos (thanks Lori!) and tell you about it:

There was a ladies' luncheon on the day of the wedding at the Bonboneire tea room.

Kelly with mom and stepmom:

Men in suits! Right before the wedding at the home of dear friends:

Daddy with his adorable, sweet boys! We love these guys:

Our beautiful bride! Great hair by Sam Hills!

Below is during the small 30 person -- rained out :( -- ceremony. That's my Stevie presiding in the back-up plan living room wedding ceremony...always have a back up plan for outdoor weddings!

The small private dinner following the ceremony turned out great. Low and high arrangements on each table.
In the Hummer limo on the way to the big surprise reception...

And I guess that's all you're going to see for now! What WAS this 'surprise reception' all about? Who showed up for it? Were David and Kelly surprised yet again? Find out all this and more in the next installment of Surprise Wedding Update... with professional photos!

Paris by Night

2008-10-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

Last month, my team and I produced the Health and Wellness Brand Building Awards for Procter & Gamble. I love working with the Health group! They're always up for something new and fun. The photos just came back and I was excited to share them...

The event was held at the Hilton Netherland Plaza in downtown Cincinnati. Guests arrived to a stylish foyer designed in black, white and red to feel Paris Chic.

The Cocktail Hour was Themed "Streets of Paris." I wanted people to feel like they were outside at dusk walking around Paris.

Bistro tables lined the Paris streetscape, while bicycles were parked by the street benches and light posts. The bicycle baskets were filled with fresh flowers and baguettes, of course!

What's a Paris party without a guy in a red beret playing the accordion?!

Look at this amazing lighting on the ceiling!

The menu, developed by the head chef at the hotel, was to die for! Chicken Confit, Gnochi, Foie Gras Tenderloin... all perfectly Parisian!

From the cocktail hour, guests moved upstairs to a second ballroom for the Awards Show, where the past year's great marketing achievements were recognized.

The Awards Show entertainment featured Aerial Experience Productions. Fantastic!

The After Party was Themed "Nightlife in Paris." We wanted people to feel like they walked into a French nightclub! We replaced the bistro tables from the cocktail hour with black and white bench ottomans, brought in a black and white dance floor, a D.J and turned all the lighting to red.

One of the best parts about the After Party was performances by breakdancers!

But the truly best part about the After Party was the desserts... they were all fabulous, but one stood out among the rest: THE CREPES, freshly prepared on site! I may have had 1 or 2... okay, FIVE! :)

Other wonderful desserts included eclairs, Creme Brulee and raspberry tarts.

The event flowed so smoothly that I was able to enjoy it as it unfolded, which is not always something I have the opportunity to do. I'm usually running around behind the scenes, putting out the fires that come along with an event this complex. But thanks to a great team, including all of the wonderful vendor partners involved, the event was seamless and we all enjoyed some crepes, nodding along with the great French rap music!

Guests left the event with a bottle of French wine and a beautiful custom Eiffel Tower wine stopper. They then moved down the street (and a little south of the border) to the AFTER After Party at NADA, the mod, stylish Mexican restaurant and bar where the party continued until 2 a.m.!

Woo! What a night!

All images by tm Photography.

The New Wedding Snack Bar

2008-10-20T13:37:00.000-07:00

If you've been to many weddings, (or are just collecting ideas as you plan your own!), you've probably seen the late night snack bars that get rolled out around 10:30 p.m. once the dancing is well underway.

Here are some of the "bars" that've been popular over the past few years:

1. The crowd-pleasing candy bar has been a big hit for a few years. Couples select their favorite candies to share with their guests. Guests grab a bag and fill it up! Couples choose candy whose colors match their wedding design... or not. Either way, it is always a hit.

2. Then there's the late-night Skyline chili bar for
us Cincinnatians who call pasta "chili"!

Who wouldn't want a "3-way" or a cheese coney to refuel you after you've been dancing for a couple of hours?

3. I've also seen the soft pretzel bar, Philly style. Hot pretzels are served up with a variety of toppings and dipping sauces like mustard or cheese.

4. You may have run across a cupcake bar or ice cream bar - yum! You can decorate your own with a variety of toppings!

And here comes my newest invention...

The Cereal Bar
I'm hereby proposing a new type of late night bar for weddings.... how about a cereal bar? My husband, Stevie, visited Chicago recently and found Cereality and told me about some of their wedding favor ideas. Seeing what they do reminded me of my own love of Fruity Pebbles or Cap'n Crunch right before bedtime. So I thought, "Why not take this goodness to weddings?" (Doesn't this sound fun!?)

Start with Cereality's "milk tight" serving bucket...

Add your favorite cereal...

And extra toppings (I can't say I want Reece in my Captain Crunch, but who knows??)

And with your choice of milk (whole, skim or soy), there you have it... the best new late night wedding snack bar! Get your cereal fix and then head back to the dance floor!
Okay, so, I'm hungry now. Who wants to sign up?

Trash-y Results!

2008-10-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

I wrote a few weeks back about the "Trash the Dress" trend, and that I was going to have my own personal "Trash the Dress" session with my 6+ years old wedding gown. Well, it did indeed happen! Some of you out there have told me you "just don't get it..." I even had one person say she thought 'trash the dress' was morbid! Well , you can see the results below, but my main reaction to the whole thing is just to say that it was SO FUN. I felt like a star for a day, and I was put in situations where, of course, I would never otherwise be. It was a blast. A messy, and eventually, drenched blast.

Forgive me if these photos are a bit of an overkill, but I want you to see the variety of creative and interesting situations that Simply Timeless Photography and Glass Eye Video put me into!

The amazingly talented Sam Hills created my 'faux bob' and the lovely Nancy with Brideface did my make up and put these fabulous fake lashes on me... oh, the lashes! Thanks to them both who I consider the beauty expert "dream team."

As you can see, I didn't trash "beyond return." I can still clean it and keep it, if I want to. My dress now has new memories!

Here's a record of the whole thing from Steve at Glass Eye Video:

Dora Trashes It from Steve Zugelter on Vimeo.

Frédéric Fekkai

2008-10-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

I posted last month about the Best of Beauty Awards I put together for Procter & Gamble. It was such an exciting challenge, and I worked with such a great team! I mentioned in passing that a hair style maven named Frédéric Fekkai was a featured guest at the event, and spoke during the award show.

I thought I would give you all a little more info about this interesting French fellow. First of all, it was an honor to meet a self-made success of these proportions. As recently as the 80s, Frédéric was hand-mixing ingredients in his kitchen sink to make his own shampoo and conditioner. He now helms an incredibly successful product line (just sold it to P&G for who knows what) and is regularly in movies and on television as a hair/style guru (like Zoolander- he played Derek’s hairstylist, America’s Next Top Model and Shear Genius- he was a judge).

One of Frédéric’s claims to fame is that he was the first person to charge $200 for a haircut (that was in 1986- I guess he wasn’t mixing shampoo for long!), and when he was still doing hair in 1996, his cuts went for $500 a pop! WOW! He currently has a hair conditioning product on the market that retails for $195. (Seriously?)

Remember those ads that said “My name is Vidal Sassoon, and I LOVE Beautiful Hair”? We all used to laugh at those because Vidal obviously thought he knew something mystical about Beauty and Hair that the rest of us NEVER would. Well, Frederic came out with some pretty hair-raising statements of his own. I didn’t know whether to be amazed, stunned, or put off when he said,

“When I run my hands through a woman’s hair, I feel who she can be.” or

“Styling is not about hold… it’s about self expression”.

I’m not totally sure what that means (you can be the judge!), but my thought is that you better be a GQ type guy with a French accent to pull off comments like that! :)

Pictured above is me & Fekkai at the After Party. I think my hair actually looks better by just standing next to him!

The Wedding Dress Conundrum

2008-09-20T08:02:00.000-07:00

Most brides wonder (and EVERY groom wonders, usually aloud): What are we going to do with this beautiful gown once the wedding's over? What DOES one do with an expensive wedding dress that was bought for hundreds or thousands of dollars, after its big moment has passed?

Here are a few options:

1. Have it cleaned and preserved.

Usually, people who do this have hopes that their daughter may wear it, or use part of it someday. Or, they're just too emotionally attached to let natural aging alter it over time!

Professional preservation costs around $120-$190. Another cost, at least in my book, is the fact that you can never try it on, again for at least 20 years! Many local dry cleaners offer this service, as well as many online vendors. Google "wedding gown preservation".

2. Another option (the path I had chosen), or really, just defaulted to, is this: The night of your wedding, after you've danced your First Dance, cut the cake, and celebrated your new marriage, simply stash your wedding dress back into its hanging bag and stuff it in an unsuspecting closet somewhere in your house. I like to think that it hangs there with echoes of dancing, cake and joy in its memory! (My more practical husband, always the pare-down-the-junk policeman, thinks it's a frivolous waste of space. Party pooper!)

3. Sell it! Try a consignment store or ebay! Many brides are more than happy to be a used-for-only-a-few-hours gown at a discounted rate. It's actually a great idea if you're planning a wedding on a budget. The only thing to remember is that you'll have to also pay for alterations costs, which can be pricey.

4. TRASH IT. There's a new trend is wedding photography and videography called "Trash the Dress." Brides are using their wedding gowns in high fashion photo shoots. The idea is to get one more use out of your expensive dress by going around town wearing it. It's a great opportunity to have fun and create some art without being nervous about getting your dress dirty. Check out this explanation on Good Morning America:

The cost of this photoshoot can be anywhere from $500 - $800 depending on whether the same videographer and photographer involved were the ones who shot your wedding. Many are now making a 'trash the dress' photo shoot part of a package. These photos will give you an idea of how the "trashing" can be done. You can trash it with no looking back, knowing this will be your dress' last day on earth, or you can have some more measured fun and retain the possibility of cleaning your dress afterward.

Here's a great "Trash the Dress" video:

As for me, I felt I should do some research into this popular trend. (I mean, how can I recommend something to my brides that I've never tried myself? If being good at my job means that I HAVE to sit for a high-fashion photo session (and have to get my hair and make up done for it...) don't I HAVE to do it?) :) SO... I took my precious 6-year-old dress out of the closet this past week, put it on and well... trashed it.

Stay tuned.

Viva Bella Honored By Style Website!

2008-09-18T17:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, I received the neatest honor this week and can’t help but share about it here. Wedding design blog Style Me Pretty has chosen viva bella to be a VIP event planner in their "Little Black Book" for greater Cincinnati!

If you’re not aware of Style Me Pretty, it’s a wonderful style blog (coincidentally- really! I just added it to my list of favorite sites on the right of this page) that helps inspire brides and connect them to the best event designers and vendors in the nation. To give you some idea of the success of Abby’s little blog (Abby is the creator of Style Me Pretty), Martha Stewert’s Weddings has chosen SMP as an online partner, and named them as one of Martha's favorite blogs! Also, one of my clients, Pantene, advertises there. Great connections (and pretty heady company)!

So, Abby and her comrade Michelle scanned the scene in Cincinnati, looked at websites and blogs, and chose viva bella as a preferred wedding and event planning company! That means that they’ll list me on Style Me Pretty in their Little Black Book! They receive over 30,000 hits a day, so the endorsement is no small thing.

I’m so excited for viva bella! Things continue to look green with our little boutique business, and all of you are part of our success. It’s a happy day around our office today!