perfect bound: bridal, style and design

shopping palette: raspberry, pink chocolate & fresh grapefruit

2009-11-09T15:47:00.001-05:00

I had so much fun putting last week's shopping pallette together, I decided to try another one. Inspired by the beautiful Melissa Sweet runway, this shopping palette is an ode to flavor. If you think pink and purple are just for little girls, look again. These pieces are drop dead sexy and deeply romantic.

From top: Christian Louboutin Ernesta Bow, $875, available at Barneys. Pleated Silk Flap Clutch, $68, available at Nordstrom. Leila Satin Flower Headband, $5, available at Forever 21. Sparkle Bow Bobby Pin, $18, available at Banana Republic.

makeup palette: flirt, fresh grapefruit & pink chocolate

2009-11-09T14:29:00.000-05:00

I love this look for so many reasons. My bridesmaids wore navy blue dresses and it was a creative challenge to decide what color shoes they would wear. After shooting down silver, gold and all shades of black, we picked the perfect shade of purple! Seeing Melissa Sweet send the same blue and navy color combo down the runway reminded me of how well the duo works together. What's also working is this sweet color palette of pink chocolate, fresh grapefruit and a color named flirt. I love how the soft shades on the face balance out the deep hues in the dress. Lips like these are perfect for summer kisses, I mean weddings. Soft eyes and rosy cheeks keep things playful.

For a similar look, try this threesome: Amazing Seven Blush in Pink Chocolate, $22, available at Ulta. Smashbox Single Eyeshadow in Flirt, $16, available at Ulta. Benefit Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Pink Grapefruit, $18, available at Benefit.

makeup palette: currant, kiss and & bloom

2009-11-09T12:35:00.000-05:00

I was so inspired by the hair and make up coming down the runway at the Priscilla of Boston Bridal Market presentation, I almost forgot to look at the gorgeous gowns and dresses. Almost. To view some of my favorite looks from the Fall 2010 Look Book, check out today's Daily Inspiration gallery. But in the meantime, I'd like to dedicated today's post to makeup palettes inspired by Priscilla of Boston collections. When it comes to wearing makeup for your wedding day, it's a delicate balance between too much and too little. The camera tends to wash some people out, so it's better to add a bit of extra color to ensure your look translates just as well onto film as it does in person. It's also important to pick shades that compliment both the season and your complexion as well as your dress. Shown here are close up shots of the Tatum, Blake and Lorelei gowns from the Vineyard collection. (See the entire gown at right.) All of the brides modeling the Vineyard Collection wore dark lips and smokey eyes with a hint of purple. The palette was pure fall and ultra romantic. The mood evoked by this kind of makeup palette is sleek and sophisticated, so be prepared to turn heads. Black tie wedding attire is a must for lips like these.

Stay tuned for more makeup palettes inspired by the runway. To get this look, try the following: Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Kiss, $16, available at Urban Decay. Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Rose Bloom , $24, available at Sephora. Laura Mercier 'Satin' Lip Color in Currant, $22, available at Nordstrom.

{photo credits: priscilla of boston}

sneak peak: michelle + john

2009-11-06T16:20:00.002-05:00

I'm beyond excited to be welcoming photographer David Mielcarek of CINEMATICbyDavidM to Perfect Bound. David attended the first B List wedding blogger event with by far, the coolest business cards I've ever seen. (They kind of ripped apart, were almost like post cards, were way too cool to be called "business cards... you get the picture.) Anyway, when I asked David if he had a particularly fashionable wedding to be featured on Perfect Bound he once again amazed me with his creative talent and ingenuity. I can't wait to share Michelle and John's wedding with you next week. In the meantime, I'll let David do his thing and describe what it was like working with the couple whose engagement session took place at Ikea! (I thought my husband and I got a thrill out of Ikea but we ain't got nothing on these two...)

"After working with Michelle and John on their two-part engagement session shoot I knew they were far away from ordinary wedding couples (in the best possible of ways). What I mean by that is brave, authentic, genuine, spontaneous, willing to break rules and go far beyond the common expectations. Their IKEA session is hands down my favorite shoot of the year. I mean… who else would just run through a furniture store and pose for photographs including jumping on the display beds?! But the results were fantastic! The photos from that shoot already received wonderful feedback and I have plans for more! Completing an ‘achievement’ like that makes you a bit scared… in a way, because the bar has been raised high and now comes the wedding day. You simply CAN’T fail to deliver a material that’s at least as good as the engagement session. I decided to turn this fear into creative power and not let it take over me. Instead use it as an adrenaline kick to produce even more focused and inspired images."

Thanks David and see you all back here on Monday!

{photo credits: CINEMATICbyDavidM}

reader question: hoping to find a non-weddingy wedding gown

2009-11-06T09:52:00.001-05:00

I recently received the following question from Ashley, a spring bride who has a soft spot for high fashion: "I am hoping to find a non-weddingy wedding gown for my Spring 2010 wedding. I am going for floaty and ethereal a la Nina Ricci or J Mende l. I was wondering if you knew the name of the designer of the gown in the picture (at top.) I feel like I have seen it somewhere, on one of the blogs or in a magazine, but cannot for the life of me remember where."

The gown Ashley was referring to is a stunning Reem Acra beaded cap sleeve gown recently worn by both Jessica Szohr and Olivia Wilde. Both Jessica and Olivia are fulfilling my dream of wearing nothing but white gowns to red carpet events (when I become famous, that is.) Ashley is correct in that this isn't specifically a wedding gown. It appeared in the 2008 Spring Read- to-Wear collection, not bridal. And while the gorgeous beaded cap sleeves and silver gray fabric may be a bit out of your price range, this Twist Front Chiffon Gown with Beaded Cap Sleeves isn't. At $198, this floor-length champange gown embodies the spirit of the Reem Acra gown (at left.) It even lends itself to the same slice of ribbon that can be worn at the waist. It's a perfect fit for Ashley, who wanted something non-weddingy but is every bit the blushing bride!

{photo credits: gossip girl, elle.com, nordstrom}

birnbaum & bullock sample sale

2009-11-03T15:59:00.001-05:00

Birnbaum & Bullock is hosting an exclusive sample sale for two days only. Unlike other bridal sample sales, Steven Birnbaum and Robert Bullock offer hands on expertise and work directly with their brides to find and fit the gown of their dreams. Working with both Steven and Robert was an experience I will never forget. I loved my Birnbaum & Bullock gown to pieces and loved going to thier studio for my fittings. Now how many brides can say that...

Their independent collections, The Steven Birnbaum Collection and The Robert Bullock Bride, debueted recently are are every bit as delightful as the the Classics (shown in today's Daily Inspiration gallery.) If you have a weakness for romance and admiration for details, don't hesitate to make an appointment!

Birnbaum & Bullock

151 West 25th Street

New York, New York

Sample Sale

November 7th & 8th

Appointments are limited

212.242.2914

{photo credits: birnbaum & bullock}

shopping palette: eggplant, gold, teal & gray

2009-11-02T09:11:00.003-05:00

I've been fixated on these two photos ever since Denise and Erik's wedding. The bride and groom rented a mansion during their stay in Savannah and I'm so glad their photographer, Jade McCully,, was able to capture the colors of the home along the way. Each room in the home was decorated with gilded mirrors and crystal chandeliers.
The colors were so vibrant and regal, spending time in the mansion was like visiting another era. While the bridal party was getting ready, one of Denise's bridesmaids was inspired to pin a flower in her hair. The flower was actually not meant to be a hair accessory at all, but when inspiration strikes, you just go with it. On that note, here are a few inspired elements that can be added to your wedding look on a whim.

Clockwise from top: Valentino Satin bow-front clutch, $895, available at Net-A-Porter. Velvet Flower Pin, $15, available at J.Crew. Gerard Yosca Royal Purple Necklace, $425, available at Max & Chloe. Loeffler Randall Maggie Ornament Flats, $425 , available at Loffler Randall.

{photo credits: jade mccully}

2009-10-30T15:02:00.002-04:00

This week we had so many good friends and top talent on the blog, I thought it was worth taking you around for another spin.

Photogen Inc took us behind the scenes and front row center with Minneapolis fashion designer Joy Teiken of Joynoelle. Her 2010 collection is staggeringly sophisticated and worth seeing for yourself.

Delphine Press schooled us on the benefits and beauty of digital printing and offered to give 50 digitally printed cards away just for fun! See, digital printing is saving you money already.

Jade McCully discussed why she loves shooting weddings in Savannah. Her photos of Denise and Erik's wedding are as charming as the city itself!

Jeffrey Marcus helped celebrate the opening of the new James Coviello shop in lower Manhattan by arranging Dahlias, Rose Hips, Viburnum Leaves and Pepper Berries in the most beautiful way.

Next week I have even more real weddings lined up and a few more fashion moments from Bridal Market left to share. Tonight my husband and I are headed down to Philadelphia to spend the weekend with friends and take in not one but 3 sporting events! I can hardly imagine I'll make it until Sunday. To top it all off, we're celebrating our first wedding anniversary by watching Pearl Jam perform the last concert ever to be held at the Spectrum. The tickets are actually our first wedding anniversary present to one another but ironically, they didn't arrive in the "paper" form we were counting on. I wonder if this means there's another first wedding anniversary present up for grabs? Enjoy your weekend everyone!

{photo credit: jade mccully}

james coviello + jeffrey marcus

2009-10-29T10:14:00.002-04:00

Last night James Coviello celebrated the opening of his new New York City shop with a little party hosted by Anna Sui. Jeffery Marcus, whom I'm proud to have as a Perfect Bound sponsor, designed the florals for the party and was kind enough to share his work with us today. As you may remember, Jeffrey and James collaborated before to create a custom bridal lariat of vintage chains, amethyst, pearls and Swarovski crystals.

James Coviello is known for creating original prints, sophisticated knitwear, and his artistic point-of-view. He caters to the woman who is inspired by decorative arts and finds adventure in design. Likewise, Jeffrey Marcus designs for the sophisticated bride who embodies the spirit of New York City through his clean lines and impeccable balance.

For the opening, Jeffrey designed simple, rustic floral arrangements, featuring Dahlias, Rose Hips, Viburnum Leaves and Pepper Berries. The containers were wrapped in birch bark and Cecropia leaves to create drama and coordinate with the "into the woods" theme. Jeffrey and James are collaborating on a collection of bridal gowns, headpieces and accessories that will be available exclusively on the Jeffrey Marcus JMVisuals website. Brides will also be invited to the Lower East Side store for consultations and fittings.

{photo credits: jeffrey marcus + elle.com}

digital printing: a q& a with delphine press

2009-10-28T12:57:00.003-04:00

Last week I had the opportunity to hang out with one of the wedding industry's best, Erika Firm of Delphine, and talk shop, specifically digital printing. Delphine is a leader in the letterpress community and known their trend-setting style and trademark charm. Even better, they have an online customizer tool which allows you to experiment with the layout, design and wording of your individual invitation suite pieces before placing an order. (The tool is way addictive and pure genius!) When Delphine announced that they would be offering digital printing in addition to everything else they offer, I knew I had to get the inside scoop as to what exactly "digital" meant and where I could get my hands on some of this good, good stuff.

Luckily, Erika agreed to a little Q& A about digital printing. She also graciously offered to give away 50 free Delphine digital cards, save the dates or invites to one lucky Perfect Bound reader. Just leave a comment below letting us know which Delphine digital invitation design you like best. They are all featured here so have at it. Thanks Delphine!

Q. What do you mean by "digital printing?" How is this different from what I can do at home with my own printer?

A. Digital printing is the latest evolution in print technology. Its primary advantage is that it doesn't require a printing plate, which makes it ideally suited to short run, personalized designs. Digital printers are designed to print rich, beautiful colors on a wide variety of papers, many of which simply couldn't run through a home printer. It's more than just printing though: cutting, scoring and folding are equally important to the finished look and feel of a card. Home printers just can't achieve the same depth of color.

Q. Is digital printing suitable for formal invitations?

A. The design, ink colors, typography and print method all influence the formality of the invitations. The very most formal invitations are usually letterpress or engraved, but as long as the style and typography of the invitation are formal, a digitally printed invitation is suitable for a formal event. The invitation is the very first peek a guest has, so it's important that it reflects the tone of the event.

Q. What kind of paper do you use for digital printing?

A. All Delphine digital invitations (ordered through our website or through Cardstore.com) are printed on 100 percent post consumer waste recycled stock.

Q. Does digital printing make it easier to print extra pieces later on?

A. Digital printing makes it easier to print extra pieces later on, like direction cards (last minute we get a lot of requests for direction cards to leave at the ceremony location to guide people to the reception location), menus, programs, etc. When you're ordering your invitations months before your wedding day sometimes little details like the drink menu haven't been ironed out yet. So being able to order menus just before the Big Day is really convenient.

Q. Am I limited in any way to just one or two colors? Is there a minimum amount of invitations I can get printed digitally?

A. Digital printing is essentially a 4 color process. Colors are fairly unlimited! One of the things I love about digital is the ability to flood the background of an invitation with color. And we can also print on the back, which can add a nice pop of color to your invitations.
At Delphine our minimum for all custom orders, letterpress or digital, is 50 qty. But our collection at Cardstore.com is more flexible: you can order a single invite if needed!

Q. Can my place cards, menus, table numbers and so on also be digitally printed?

A. Absolutely. It's not really cost effective to put each guest's name on the place cards (that would be 100 press setups for 100 guests), but we print cute "blank" (i.e. no text) place cards all the time, as well as menus, table numbers, etc. At Delphine each of our wedding invitation suites has pre-designed components to match the invitation, from save the dates to menus to place cards to thank you notes and program covers.

Q. I've noticed a lot of companies are going digital. How does Delphine do it differently?

A. The biggest difference is our online customizer. We love it when our customers make our designs their own! Our customizer allows you to change fonts, inks, background colors, envelopes, and, of course, your text and preview it instantly online, all on one page. No clicking around. It's really fun and allows you to place your order with confidence. Of course before we print anything the customer gets a professional, typeset proof by a Delphine graphic designer. All of the other companies that offer digital invites have pre-set color combinations. We wanted to make sure that our brides can get exactly what they have in mind!

The contest winner will be announced on Monday. Thanks again to Delphine for making us smarter and making our mailboxes feel prettier on the inside!

denise + erik wed in savannah, georgia

2009-10-26T12:25:00.006-04:00

A few weekends ago my husband and I traveled to Savannah, Georgia to attend the wedding of our friends Denise and Erik. The wedding was as lovely as you would imagine an afternoon wedding held in the beautiful Forsyth Park to be. Fountains sparkled, trees swayed, champagne was popped and the crowd went wild...all evening long. By the end of the night, the bride's shoes were whittled down the mere metal studs! I'm so excited to share their wedding photos with you today and super excited to welcome their photographer, Jade McCully, to Perfect Bound. Jade is a Savannah-based photographer and captured the spirit of both the city and the couple beautifully. It was pure fun watching her work and watching two of my favorite people, Denise and Erik, tie the knot.

Jade writes, "I love Savannah for her charm, hospitality, eccentricity, history, and of course her beauty. The city is composed of century old homes, trees, and cobblestones; and each street or alleyway has its own character. This helps me tell the stories of my uniquely beautiful couples and to capture their personalities. Couples coming here for destination weddings are always amazed that everyone really says hello, and that people go out of their way to be nice. That’s hard to find these days and Savannah does a good job of making you feel welcome! Savannah takes you in, allows you to make it your own, and surrounds you with it’s unending and assorted beauty!"

Below, Denise purchased several jewelry trees from Urban Outfitters and spray painted them in her signature color, gold. She had seating cards designed online by Moo and hung them from green ribbon. The seating cards and the table numbers were inspired by various parks, including Forsyth Park where the couple got engaged, and named accordingly.

Denise + Erik's wedding vendors included:
Gown -Purchased at Edens Bridal, in Indiana PA (the groom's hometown)
Bridesmaids dresses - The Dessy Group
Florist- Garden on the Square
Hair & Up - Lilia at Colorboxx
Venue - Forsyth Park
Reception decor- trees were from Urban Outfitters and seating cards were from Moo
Favors- Seed paper as"donation announcement cards"
Signature drink - Hard Sweet Tea served in mason jars
Cake -Custom Cakes
Wedding Coordinator - Tricia Huddas and Co.
To view the couple's slideshow, click here.

{photo credits: jade mccully photography}

joynoelle spring 2010

2009-10-26T09:13:00.004-04:00

Last week at Bridal Market I had the opportunity to meet Joy Teiken of Joynoelle, the signature line of this Minneapolis based bridal designer. Meeting fashion designers is always such a thrill for me. The thrill of seeing both a collection and the designer side by side is the ultimate treat. Such was the case when I spent some time chatting with Joy about her 12-piece collection which includes not only gowns but bridal coats. That's right, coats! Before coming to Bridal Market last week, Joy debuted her collection in Minneapolis to an audience of adoring fans and fashion favorites. Held at Gallery 13, the Spring 2010 collection was captured beautifully by photographers Photogen Inc, another Minneapolis cluster of out of control talent. Man, I've got to get to Minnesota!

“I believe that each piece in my collection has a personality and each piece of fabric tells a story" explained the designer. "Since I am keenly aware of vintage styles and modern fabrics, each texture guides me and tells me what to do. A finished Joynoelle product is a celebration of the female form, one that follows her curves and makes her look stunning. It’s for people who want something special, original. Something that brings attention, because these pieces do draw quite a bit of attention. My customers don’t have to fit within a certain age but they do need to have a certain personality – My collection vision has never changed. Essentially it’s wearable couture. I think the idea of this experiment: one-of-a-kind and limited run pieces- is incredibly worthwhile and could be an effective avenue for designers who do not possess the financial backing to ever appear within the right retail outlets.”

If you're lucky enough to live close by, you can check out Joynoelle's studio for yourself. If you live outside the area, call the Joynoelle studio for a schedule of upcoming trunk shows near you. You really must see these gowns in person. The Photogen team of photographers shoot nationally and internationally as well. Visit their wedding website and blog to meet Eliesa and her amazing team. And for even more photos of Joynoelle Spring 2010, click here.

{photo credits: photogen-inc; daily inspiration gallery: photogen-inc & dale may}

15 years of martha stewart weddings

2009-10-21T14:27:00.002-04:00

I wanted to share some photos from the Martha Stewart Weddings' 15th-Anniversary party with you and thought it would be fun to feature them side-by-side some of my favorite Martha Stewart Wedding covers. As you can see, pink was the color of choice. The party was hosted at The Plaza Hotel. As guests mingled to live music, plates of sushi, mini hamburgers, mac-n-cheese and pigs in a blanket were passed around. Since Martha Stewart had a previous engagement, she sent the room a personal message which was played at the beginning of the evening. As the night wore on, guests indulged in even more delicious treats from Great Performances Catering. Reem Acra, Amsale, Anne Barge, Mark Ingram, Judd Waddell and Colin Cowie were all in attendance. It was a star-studded evening for sure and I'm so grateful to have been included! Cheers to everyone at Martha Stewart Weddings for giving brides so much inspiration month after month after month. Here's to a million more!

Floral arrangements by Matthew Robbins dotted every surface. Below, Amy Atlas
designed a dessert buffet with cupcakes by Love Street Cakes and every pink candy imaginable.

Cakes by Wendy Kromer, Sylvia Weinstock, Ron Ben-Israel, Gail Watson, Confetti Cakes and Cheryl Kleinman stretched high up into ceiling and as far as the eye could see.

Jessica and Cody, who were married on "Today" two years ago, pose with Darcy Miller. Don't you just love Darcy's necklace! For a full tour of the evening, visit The Bride's Guide.

{photo credits: mel barlow for martha stewart weddings}

bridal market: ines di santos 2010

2009-10-21T13:04:00.000-04:00

I could stare at the Ines Di Santo collection for hours without repeating a single blink! Every inch of her gowns are covered in detail and depth. Born in Italy and raised in Argentina, Ines Di Santos is the embodiment of romance. Her style strongly reflects her Italian and Spanish heritage. All of her gowns are created in the French tradition of Haute Couture, with each gown made with only the finest European embellishments and silks. An Ines Di Santo brides is sophisticated, romantic and can stop traffic in any country. I wasn't able to see this collection in person but am grateful that the Weddingbee crew was there to capture all the action. Listen closely and you can hear the collective gasp that I'm sure spread through the crowd the moment the models took to the runway.

{photo credit: weddingbee}

bridal market: nicole miller

2009-10-20T14:38:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I got to spend a little time looking at the newest Nicole Miller Bridal collection. I am a huge fan of the Ready to Wear collection. The line is always so chic yet totally accessible. The treatment of fabric is so sensitive that even a simple twist (as seen in the dress at right bottom) can say so much. The gowns are perfect for destination brides who need to pack up their dress and hit the road but still want to wear something that is show-stopping.

{photo credits: nicole miller}

bridal market: romona keveza

2009-10-20T11:08:00.002-04:00

This year celebrates the 1oth Anniversary of Romona Keveza's Couture Collection. When Romona took the stage to greet her guests, she was visibly giddy at the idea of reaching such a landmark year. As the gowns came down the runway, the audience grew giddy too. The 2010 collection uses fabrics that have texture and depth with three dimensional quality such as chiffon ruffles and hand applique organza flowers and petals.

For the full Romona Keveza Collection, visit Brides.com

{photo credits: perfect bound}

happy anniversary martha stewart weddings

2009-10-20T00:26:00.003-04:00

Somehow between the mini cheeseburgers, mac-n-cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches, we found time to sneak in a few snaps. Thank you Darcy Miller and the entire Martha Stewart crew for hosting us at The Plaza. Here's to 15 more years!!

bridal market: claire pettibone 2010

2009-10-19T13:28:00.000-04:00

This year I was lucky enough to be invited to see some of my favorite bridal designers send their newest collections down the runway. Surrounded by press, buyers and my fellow bloggers, I pinched myself no less than once a minute. With each new collection, my heart raced as I imagined the moment when each of these dresses would make their way into the hands of a real bride.

Claire Pettibone named her 2010 collection Cherry Blossom and designed every little detail with the Japanese flowering cherry in mind. The runway presentation took place at Buddakan, a cavernous downtown space where diners are treated to sophisticated decor and delicious food on a nightly basis.

Brides.com spoke to the designer directly about her inspiration. "The collection is inspired by the Cherry Blossom Festival—pure, fresh and light, with fanciful details. Clean white with and pale touches of color that evolve into more intense vivid accents like red, gold, sparkle mimic pure joy and happiness!"

Pink and purple tassels embelished some of the gowns like this one below. I love the whimsical addition of color. It adds a bit of playfulness to the collection and is an updated version of the sash trends that dominated the runway last year. Models wore their hair piled high atop their heads in intricate braids.

I love this shot of the model fixing her shoe. Perfection is always less interesting than real life.

For full coverage of all the looks from Claire Pettibone 2010, visit Brides.com

{photo credits: perfect bound + buddakan}

an exclusive matthew christopher trunk show

2009-10-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

If you weren't able to attend this weekend's Bridal Market, you can still get a peak at the top collections by following me via Twitter. Yesterday I tried to keep up as Claire Pettibone, Romona Keveza and Priscilla of Boston sent their latest looks down the runway. Today I'm headed to Monique Lhuillier, Nicole Miller and Douglas Hannant where there will be more of the same.

Next weekend, everyone is invited to an exclusive Matthew Christopher trunk show at Gabriella Bridal Salon. The 2010 collection will be on view and 10% off from October 23-25. Matthew will be bringing his 2010 collection straight from the runway right over to Gabriella Bridal Salon. It's like having a front row seat will full backstage access! Don't miss it.

To make an appointment, contact the salon directly at 212 206 1915.

{photo credit: perfect bound}

ahead of her time

2009-10-15T17:32:00.000-04:00

I can't decide whether or not the pom pom should stay or go but the dress, oh the dress.
Natalia Vodianova wearing Nina Ricci for Vogue.

{photo credits: vogue}

nina ricci spring 2010

2009-10-15T00:32:00.002-04:00

It seems unfair that the word "beautiful" can be used in so many ways. Certainly there is only one meaning and I believe Nina Ricci has found it.

{photo credits: Peter Stigter and Jonas Gustavsson / For The Times}

bright ideas

2009-10-12T09:57:00.002-04:00

I am loving the work of Stephanie Williams Photography and the idea of jelly beans in general! This couple brought props, including jelly beans, to their engagement session and let the inspiration flow from there. To see the rest of their bright ideas, click here. At right, candy colored earrings and necklaces from Anthropologie can't cure your sugar addiction but they sure do look pretty.

{photo credits: stephanie williams photography + anthropologie}

why is kate hudson wearing a wedding gown?

2009-10-08T07:49:00.000-04:00

Don't worry. She's not getting married. Apparently it's only a Harper's Bazaar photo shoot that has her wearing white and wandering the streets of NYC. But doesn't that dress look lovely and don't those red roses make you think she's headed for a Carrie Bradshaw moment? I can just see those long and lush petals falling everywhere around her. Come to think of it, do you think long stem bouquets are coming back in style? I'm a fan.

liene stevens says "i do"

2009-10-07T15:44:00.000-04:00

Liene Stevens is known as a mega-watt wonder woman of the web by anybody who has the phrase "wedding blog" in their vocabulary. After spending a few minutes on her blog, Think Splendid, you realize that this title is both well-deserved and hard-earned, not to mention totally contagious. Liene was kind enough to set aside some time to answer my questions about what she does, how she plans her day and where she goes to get inspired. Thanks for saying "I Do" Liene!

1. What do you do? Be as general or specific as possible.
I am an online media consultant for the wedding and hospitality industries. I help companies integrate social media into their routines with strategies that help them maximize both their long-term business goals and revenue.

2. How does your day begin? How does it end?
Each day is a bit different during the in between, but I tend to be a creature of habit when it comes to how my days begin and end. I start the day with something called Morning Pages, which I recommend to everyone. It is basically stream of consciousness journaling where you write three pages, by hand, of whatever is on your mind. No need to edit or even have the thoughts be coherent. What shows up when I put pen to paper often surprises me, sometimes for better, sometimes not so much. I go through journals pretty quickly because of this. I end my evenings by reading - usually a few chapters of a personal development or devotional type of book (currently loving Marianne Williamson) and then the Bible. I've been reading through the 365 days Bible this year (it's organized with daily sections) not so much to read through the entire thing, but more so for the structure and accountability it provides to reading it. They also make a free iphone app for it, which is what I use when I travel.

3. How large a role does the Internet and/or blogging play into your daily routine?

The Internet is a huge part of my daily routine. I pull feeds and monitor activity for my clients, which is all online, so if I am in the office, it is pretty much guaranteed that my computer is on. I write most of my blog posts in advance and schedule them to update at certain times throughout the week. This helps me stay organized and focused, and allows an idea to marinate for a bit and then allows me to edit it before it goes live. I have a daily quote library at FindSplendid.com which is all pre-scheduled as well. I love getting the emails each morning of those posts because I've often forgotten by then what that day's quote is and am re-inspired when I read it.

4. In what environment do you feel most creative?

At the beach. There is just something about looking out at the vast expanse of ocean and seeing the absolute bigness of it, and then realizing that each water droplet making up the ocean is made up of tinier molecules. It reminds me that the world is complex, yet ordered, and that it goes round and my problems are not really that big a deal in the grand scheme of things. It is quite calming and centering for me and I am always inspired to sketch, paint, think, create.

5. What are 5 objects that you keep on your desk?

1) A chandelier-type lamp.
2) My computer
3) A clock

4) A coffee cup or beverage glass

5) A small ceramic vase that I use to hold pens

6. Who do you most admire within your field?

This is tough because there are several people I admire for different reasons, so I am going to name a couple of qualities I admire instead. Besides the given traits of integrity, honesty, creativity, I really enjoy chatting with people who have been in the wedding industry for 20+ years - they have a lot of wisdom simply from seeing firsthand the patterns of turnover this industry is known for. I also have great admiration for the people who are willing to admit that they don't know or are not good at everything and are willing to hire people to help them in those areas. Usually the people who choose to do that are the ones who will be able to stick it out for the long haul. I am also really inspired by people who refuse to be dragged down by the status quo and who consistently push for a better way, even when it is not popular to do so.

7. What did you want to be when you were younger? When did that change, if at all?

So many things - I was never one of those kids who knew they wanted to be an optometrist by the age of 5 and took classes all through junior high and high school that would help them achieve that goal. Some of things I wanted to be included a librarian, an interior designer, a wife and mom, a professional ice cream taster, a dancer on Broadway, a humanitarian aid worker, a counselor, an attorney, a teacher, a writer, and the President of the United States.

The one thing I never ever wanted to be was a business owner. I was quite adamant about that actually because the only business owners I knew were people who let it control their lives and I knew I didn't want that.

I still have varying interests and other ideas and dreams percolating. Life is quite adventurous this way, and I am really enjoying it.

8. What do you do or where do you go when inspiration has difficulty striking?

Since the beach is not exactly near by, I generally will drive up to Sedona (about two hours north of Phoenix) and hike through Oak Creek Canyon. I love that in the winter I can leave Phoenix in its 70 degree weather and be in snow in less than a couple of hours.

9. If you were to be given an award (think Oscar quality) who would you most likely forget to thank?

I'd probably pull a Hillary Swank and forget to thank my husband or boyfriend or best friend or whomever had the largest personal role in my life at the time of the award.

For a look back at the entire "I Do" series, click here.

{photo credit: sloan photographers}

valentino spring 2010

2009-10-06T15:06:00.002-04:00

Really, really, really, really pretty. Really.

{photo credits: coutorture}