I don’t usually post giveaways that are out there in wedding land, but wanted to share this one as I really like the offering and the businesses participating.  Here are the details:

Grand Prize winner wins:  ($7600 value)

• A Minted Letterpress Wedding Invitation Suite.
• Two 18K white gold wedding rings from Brilliant Earth.
• Three bridesmaids dresses from Weddington Way.
• Three custom Indochino suit packages with accessories

You have until Midnight PST May 27th. Enter Now and let me know if you win!

Photo by Jeff Loves Jessica via Pink Shirts and Car Wrecks

From Kaella - “When I work with my clients on design, we strive to create an overall look that is unique, personal and has the guests saying “Wow!”.  After coming up with the color scheme and theme of the wedding, I begin to work on all the different elements from the rentals to the flowers and even the wedding attire to create this cohesive and complete wedding vision. In addition to all the separate elements, I focus on how these elements will be put together, styled, on the wedding day. I do this by coming up with focal points or vignette for the wedding, be it an escort card display, sweet heart table, etc.  To make sure these vignettes pop, it is great to frame them. This can be done with the positioning of the elements, but another amazing way to frame a vignette is with a backdrop!  A backdrop not only frames the station, but creates visually interest that draws the eye of your guests. Another reason you may want a backdrop is to distract from what is behind your vignette and make sure the focus is on all the elements you’ve worked so hard to style together. For example, you have a beautiful vintage sweetheart table display with gorgeous flower arrangements, china and signage, but the location is in front of an unappealing planter or wall. Well you don’t want all your hard work to go for nothing, so adding a backdrop will keep the focus on your sweetheart table. This is also especially important for photos!  Here are 7 beautiful and creative backdrops I’ve come across lately that are sure to inspire you for your wedding.

Clockwise from Left:  Vow backdrop via Event Adore; DIY Paper Flowers via Lovely Indeed, Striped backdrop Jasmine Star Photography via Style Me Pretty.

Clockwise from Left:  Balloon Confetti via Home Stories A to Z; Paper Garland, Jen Rodriguez Photography via Style Me Pretty; Glitter hearts via Glitter and Grain

Meet Kaella:

What is your favorite travel destination?

 Art history and architecture are very interesting to me, so Europe is my favorite   travel destination because there is so many historic buildings and art to see without even steping into a museum. Paris may be my favorite place so far. That said, I’ll never complain about a sunny beach vacation.

Where do you get your design inspiration?

Everywhere! I am inspired by nature, fashion, interior design, art ~ even a random window display can trigger a new idea. Living in San Francisco, there is no shortage of inspiration around me. But most of all, I am inspired by my clients. I enjoy creating beautiful designs that truly represent their personalities, tastes and relationship. That is where the design inspiration for each project is born.

What’s your favorite way to spend your free time?

What free time?! haha. My husband and I are both passionate about our careers and work a lot, so getting to spend free time together is the best. Whether it’s a day of exploring one of the many great districts in San Francisco or taking a day trip outside of the city, we often just like to get out for the day. I admit many of these excursions involve some shopping! For my personal down time, I enjoy yoga, reading and hanging out with my Yorkie, Simba. Oh and I spend quite a bit of time on Pinterest, the ultimate time sucker.

Why wedding planning?

The simple answer is I love love! It may sound cliché, but I do believe in happily ever after. Not that it’s easy to find or maintain, which is more of a reason to have a wedding to celebrate when two people find their partner for life. Whether it be an intimate gathering or a large soiree, weddings are a very special occasion that deserves the ultimate care and treatment. I understand this and enjoy making it a memorable experience for my clients and their guests.

If you were in a talent show, what would be your act?

I have an exceptional sense of direction. Not sure how I would perform this in a talent show, but it’s one of my highly coveted skills. I can also do a mean cartwheel and headstand.

Do you prefer rooms with lots of vibrate color or more neutral serene spaces?

Both! Depends on the mood and the room. I believe different spaces have different purposes. If you want a room to be calming, neutrals are the way to go. However, if you want to feel energized when you walk into a room, then bright bold punches of color are perfect.

What is your favorite thing about wedding planning?

My clients. My colleagues. The feeling I get when everything comes together on the day of the wedding and I look around to see my clients and their guests smiling and having a great time. In that moment, I always think to myself, “I love my job.”

Ristarose Wedding Dress Sample Sale June 20th – 22nd.

All bridal gowns will be available for that weekend only and priced between $499 and $899!

About Ristarose: When bridal designers were presenting ball gown and fairy princess silhouettes in their collections, Ristarose was creating slender elongating silhouettes that broke every rule about what the American Bride should look like and how she should dress. Harpers Bazaar editor Karen Hanes once labeled the Ristarose Bride as “A Bride in Denial”.

Each Ristarose creation is impeccably draped and hand crafted to showcase the Bride-to-be without upstaging her. Gowns are made with 100% silk and lined in Buttery soft silk habotae.

Bonus:   You’ll be able to meet and be assisted by Ristarose designer, Lynn Rosenzweig.  The first 10 brides to purchase gowns will also get a personalized illustration of their gown by Lynn.

Sample Sale Hours:  Thursday 5:00pm – 8:00pm, Friday 12:00pm – 3:00pm & Saturday 10:00am – 1:00pm

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!  Call us at 310.545.1409 option 4

Ines Di Santo

Rafael Cennamo

Left: Romona Keveza Right: Claire Pettibone

LEFT: Oscar de la Renta RIGHT: Carolina Herrera

LEFT: Claire Pettibone RIGHT: Marchesa

Monique Lhuillier

What do you think?  Are there others you think should be on this list?

“Here are some recycling tips to ensure your recycling efforts are fruitful.

1. Think before you toss.  Don’t just toss something into the recycle bin.  Figure out if an item is recyclable by looking at it, cleaning it, and keeping a list handy of what’s recyclable in your area.  Throwing garbage or non-recyclables into the recycling may mean that none of your recyclables get recycled, so be diligent.
2. Find out what’s recyclable in your area.  Here’s a list of commonly recyclable items.  Check Recycle Cartons to find out if cartons (like milk, juice, etc) are recyclable in your area.  Note: the list below is for my own hometown, Hermosa Beach, CA but may not be the same where you live.
3. Clean out containers!  Dirty or food-soiled containers WILL NOT GET RECYCLED.  Thus, it’s important to wash out containers (like you were washing a dish) before you toss them in the recycle bin.
4. Look for the number on the bottom of plastic containers, which will be inside an triangle of arrows like the one above.  Numbers 1-2 are the most commonly recycled plastics.  For the plastics not recyclable in your area, reuse the container or throw it away.  Here’s a Plastic Recycling Cheat Sheet to use at home.
5. Throw out food-soiled paper.  Paper coffee cups, paper towels, napkins, greasy paper, pizza boxes, juice boxes, and anything else that has food or beverage remnants on it cannot be recycled.  These items can sometimes be composted if you have a compost pile or there are services in your area, but tossing them into the recycle bin may mean all your recyclables end up in a landfill.
6. Enclose small bits of paper in a larger paper bag.  If you’re shredded confidential information, or tearing up paper to be recycled, put the scraps into a paper bag so the pieces are contained and can be sorted at the recycling center.
7. Bring plastic bags back to the grocery store for recycling.  Of course, the best way to reduce bag waste is by bringing your own reusable bags.  But if you forget, reuse the bags you bring home or stick them in the car so you remember to recycle them next time you’re at the store.  Bags are usually not recyclable via residential recycling.
8. Get off junk mail lists so you produce less paper waste.  Opt out here.
9. Recycle old batteries, even rechargable batteries from cell phones, computers, and power tools – but not in the regular recycle bin.  Find a drop off location in your area.

A big thank you to Amelia for these recycling tips.  Do you have any you’d like to share?  

1. Dress: Champagne Soiree – $87.99, Shoes: Lustery Day – $58.99, Earrings: Verdant It Be Lovely – $14.99

2. Dress: Pretty as Petals – $54.99, Shoes: Black Walnut Heels – $69.99, Belt: Tied With a Bow – $14.99, Necklace: Loud and Clear - $14.99

1. Dress: Cafe Au Lace - $54.99, Shoes: Goblet of Glamour - $79.99, Necklace: Cabeiri Wood Twist Necklace  - $47

2. Dress: Change of Pastry, Shoes: Sparkle an Interest Heel - $39, Headband: Golden Creme Floral Headband - $15, Earrings: Champagne Swarovski Earrings - $56

The Dress:

This dress couldn’t have been more perfect for me. I had actually tried the same gown on during my very first outing to try dresses with my mom, about eight months before the wedding. I loved it, but didn’t feel ready to commit to a dress yet, and was nervous about the cost. After spending the next six months looking high and low for something I loved, I ended up on Encore Bridal’s website late one night and saw that they were carrying the same Lela Rose in my size. The next morning I raced over to the shop, put it on, and knew it was supposed to be my wedding dress. Every time I look at the photos from the wedding I’m glad I chose it. It suited me, the location, and the atmosphere of the wedding.

Location: Ouray Ranch in Granby, CO

Alexis and I got married in Colorado on land that was once a boys’ summer camp, where my parents now have a house. There’s an outdoor chapel in the woods that was built in the early 20th century and had become quite overgrown. We spent weeks before the wedding clearing out debris and even planting a few aspen trees to surround the back of the site.

Rehearsal Dinner & Reception:

We had our rehearsal dinner and post-ceremony reception in the old camp lodge and on the lawn outside it, which has sweeping views out over the valley across pastures and meadows and the Colorado River below. The two of us decided we wanted to cook our own rehearsal dinner meal, so we spent several days preparing traditional Mexican molé (for 100!), a long-time favorite for Alexis’s side of the family. The wedding meal was catered by a wonderful local company and served at sunset after the ceremony.

Congratulation Sarah and Alexis!  Thank you for sharing your beautiful wedding moments with us.

This Valentine’s Day, make a future bride’s dream come true at no cost to you!

Want to do something special this Valentine’s Day? Ready to make room in your closet while making a bride’s wish come true?  Consider donating your used or pre-owned wedding dress today through March 15th.  This isn’t our usual consignment arrangement (although we are still taking dresses on a consignment basis!). You won’t be re-couping wedding costs or receive money when your dress sells.  This is just pure generosity.   Dresses collected this month on behalf of Brides For A Cause will be shipped at our cost to the fundraiser.  50% of the money received by Brides For A Cause from the sale of your gowns is then given to one our favorite charities, Wish Upon a Wedding.  Wish Upon a Wedding is the world’s first non-profit wish granting organization providing weddings and vow renewals for couples facing terminal illness and certain life altering circumstances, regardless of sexual orientation. Take a look at some of the weddings they have granted in 2012.

We’re asking you to partner with us to make wishes come true.  

Here’s How:  Drop-off your bridal items at Encore Bridal this Today, February 14th from 11-5.  Or February 15th-March 14th by appointment.  Give us a ring at 310.545.1409 option 4, or email, info@encorebridal.com.

What items are accepted? Any gowns from 2005 or sooner that are in good condition and bridal accessories such as veils, jewelry, and shoes.

What does it cost?: Absolutely nothing! Encore Bridal will ship the items for you and provide you with a donation receipt.