So, while I thought Darcy’s apartment WAS really awesome, it was totally NOT my intention to leave that post up there all week.  We HAVE been a little bit busy though over here, and not just with weddings.  We are thrilled to announce our NEW name and brand identity:

After 8 years of being “Always a Bridesmaid”, the truth is it was hard to pull the band-aid off and CHANGE OUR NAME.  Mayra and I really liked our old logo with the little lady.. but, it was a name and a logo for a company very different than who we are now.  When our friend designed that for us and we came up with the old name, we thought it would be “cute” and “catchy”.  There weren’t a lot of wedding planners then, and a lot of them were more seasoned than we were at the time (we were only 25 when we started this ol’ thing).  So the idea of being like a “professional bridesmaid” seemed apropos.  But then we started really PLANNING big parties and then we started DESIGNING tablescapes and roomscapes.  And then we started working in just CRAZY places like Ellis Island and remote day camps and beach boardwalks.  And we realized we were many steps away from being “helpful” bridesmaids, we were really CREATING experiences for our clients.   Suddenly, it felt like we’d outgrown the old name; like seeing a grown man walk around in short pants and a propeller hat…

So it was time for a change, but it took us 2 whole years to figure out what and how.  We toyed with totally different names, but ultimately decided an abbreviation was in touch with the past, while the Creates was actively speaking about what we do.  Being visual gals, we knew the right logo was really the trick, so we turned to the best-  Meredith at Regas New York.  She walked us through the whole process and listened to our company life story of how we started the business and it’s various iterations and where we are now and where we wanted to go.  And she came back with the brilliance you see above.  And, wait till you see the business cards! Wowza! As soon as we saw it we KNEW this was the way to go.  There was no hemming and hawing. We knew this was the right way to go.

Next up was the web site.  So we turned to Brent and Teresa at Mimo y Mima to revamp our website and they, too, blew us away!   I hope you will check it out at AaBCreates.com
And keep your eyes open for some changes on the blog too!(don’t worry, we’ll still be Blogsmaids)

I thought we’d be a lot more wistful about the name change, but it actually feels exciting and invigorating….  Here’s to a creative 2012!

While I love wedding magazines and blogs, in my personal time, I find myself seeking inspiration for our client’s weddings from other sources.  Lately, since my Man Friend is about to buy new dining chairs and I’m desperately trying to convince him against going with dark leather upholstery on this set, I’ve been scouring design mags.  So, it was fun/ and striking when I saw a VERY familiar wedding face peeking up from my ipad this morning from a non-wedding site!

The fabulous Darcy Miller Nussbaum and her husband were profiled after finishing a massive renovation and re-design of their apartment. The result is amazing.  Since Darcy is the EYE of Martha Stewart Weddings, and her own wedding launched a million trends, it was super exciting to see what her home space was like.  It’s as perfect as you might imagine, and delightfully serene and neutral.  I can understand… after spending each day inundated with images and inspiration, it must be lovely to come home to such a fresh, sophisticated space.  Here are a few pics of my favorite parts, while Architectural Digest shows off the rest including the delightful play room! Get ready for some eye candy!

Newly engaged brides…you are getting SO much noise, I know!  Emails from every web site you signed up for when you first got your ring.  Emails from every vendor you reached out to in your excitement…. Emails inviting you to bridal events.  I know that everyone is hawking bridal fairs your way “The Hipster Bride Showcase” , “The Brides on a Budget Showcase”, “The Glamazon Bridal Event”, BUT trust me, the one you should mark your calendar for Sunday, January 29th at the New York Palace for the Martha Stewart Weddings and Wedding Library Showcase.   In addition to the event “headliners” like Martha Stewart Weddings’ Editorial Director Darcy Miller, Kleinfeld’s fashion director and author of the new book, It’s All About the Dress, Randy Fenoli, top bridal gown designer Amsale Aberra, master wedding cake baker Sylvia Weinstock, the roster of participating vendors presenting their work and wares is TRULY top o’ the line.  I will myself be milling about, checking out the stunning new china line Martha has developed for Macy’s (see below!)

So, mark your calendars (10am-4PM) at the New York Palace and BUY your tickets!  (Tickets are $75) Images courtesy Martha Stewart Weddings

I had a nightmare the other night. In my dream I was out with Xochitl (yes, we spend time together even in my dreams:) and our friend Ian. We were sitting leisurely having brunch, when I suddenly noticed that he was wearing a tuxedo. I asked him where he was going and he said, “Your wedding! It’s two hours from now”. I started to hyperventilate when I realized that I hadn’t done anything. When I called my fiancee to see if he had also forgotten, he said, “No, I am getting ready with my family. Where is your family?”  Needless to say, I woke up in a cold sweat.

The funny thing is that my brides used to tell me about these types of dreams, and I used to tell them to relax and that there was no reason to be that stressed. Yet here I was, a wedding professional, having the same dreams! The truth is that this is a time filled with decision making. As a bride I feel like I am constantly deciding what I want. So much so that sometimes I have a hard time (and this NEVER happens to me) figuring out what I actually like! So of course during this time of constant decision making it is easy to start to feel like you are always forgetting something.

In order to get yourself  organized and avoid these nightmares, or at least get to the point where you can laugh about them in the morning, you should develop a plan. Here are some tips that we recommend for getting organized and getting started!

1. Start a wedding email- I know that you don’t want to have to track ANOTHER email, but the truth is that you will probably log into a slew of wedding websites and will be inundated with emails, so you might want to spare your work email.

2. Start a folder- Now, this can be either on your computer or an old school binder ( I actually keep both for clients) where you can keep all of your proposals and signed contracts. The last thing you want to do when you are stressed about something is spend an hour looking through things to try to find a contract.

3. Book a Venue- I know that this sounds basic, but until you have a venue booked, your wedding has no home. It is also harder to decide on a look or style when you still have everything as an option. Once you have a date and a booked venue, you have boundaries as to what you can do in the space…and that is a good thing! It will help guide you as you design the event. Also, psychologically, until you have a venue it sometimes doesn’t feel like it is really happening. I know that this is (unless your are hiring a planner) your first big purchase, but you should go with your gut and not delay this decision.

4. Style-With so many images on blogs and magazines it is easy to want to throw everything into the mix and not settle on a style, or not settle on anything because you like it all. The hard truth is that you can’t have it all, and frankly it would look crazy if you did! Put together an inspiration board of your favorite things and use that to hone your look. Hint: Everything on the board should not be wedding based. I mean, you hopefully like things in the non-wedding world:) Below is the one that I put together for myself.

Sweet Dreams ladies! Everything is going to be wonderful!

Peaches!, Gold Cake by Nine Cakes, Otomi fabric from Jacanda Home, Bronze Horsehead Bookends, Cotton Bouquet from Bride’s Magazine 2006, City Chateau by Always A Bridesmaid for Newlywish, Todd Goldman print, Peach garden roses,  Bride with long veil from Bride Chic,  Dining table from Attic Mag, You’re so Awesome!, JFK Jr & Carolyn wedding photo, glass champagne tower from WWRD event, Timbre vase from Z Gallerie.

Just the other day we were watching “Shit Latinas Say” and we decided that we couldn’t bare to watch another video of shit that people say because how specific could it really start to get?  I was waiting for a video called Shit Mayra Says (which would basically be “Xochitl, that’s too expensive.” “Xochitl, it’s not in their budget.”  And then a lot of shots of her giving me the Phaedra Parks Side Eye.)

ANYWAY, just when we thought that there couldn’t possibly be ANYTHING left to say, the people at The Knot and Wedding Channel.com give us “Shit Brides Say” and it is… BRILLIANT.  For your Friday amusement!

As we’ve talked about incessantly, we heralded in 2012 the way every wedding designer should: with a wedding.

What we maybe didn’t mention was that it was only a 4 month engagement ! The logistics of the day and the look of the reception aside, we knew right away that we had bigger fish to fry: what were the bride and her mother going to wear.

In a short order miracle, we were able to order the bride’s dream gown our first night looking. It made it in just before Christmas.

Then our sites turned to the 2nd most important woman in the room- the mother of the bride. A stunning, petite little mama, she could have worn anything and looked amazing, but after a few high end department stores left her feeling flat about it all, she called for a suggestion.

I immediately thought of Mark Ingram. Clearly he’s renown for his impeccable bridal offerings, but his Mother of the Bride selections are also rather remarkable.   Since the client was in the city already shopping, I called to Mark’s salon and they were happily able to squeeze her in.

More important that even their wide selection is the customer service. They didn’t just pull some dresses for her- they FOUND her the perfect gown… And put a sleeve on it!  She had it fit right to her and, most importantly, they made her feel great.

Just before she left for the church we saw our MOB for the first time, and our jaws dropped! She said “thank you so much and thank you for sending me to Mark Ingram!”

Were constantly asked about where MOB’s should go- and now I’m sharing – Mark Ingram’s Bridal Atelier. (And thank you to Inku for these FABULOUS photos!)

I am so excited about 2012! After 8 years of helping our brides down the aisle, I am finally planning my own wedding. I have to admit that this process has made me a whole lot more empathetic to my brides. In the 3 months since he proposed I have had a few meltdowns and fallen prey to some of the planning pitfalls that I advise my clients to watch for. But now I am back on track and ready to let the planning begin!

At the start of the year I started to think about prepping myself for the big day. It has involved a new diet (the 4 Hour Body), daily visits to the gym, and a plethora of hair products to help make it grow and shine. Now I want to set this up by saying that I have never been a girl that lacks self-esteem. Not that I don’t see my flaws – far from it – but I have never had them outshine my qualities when I look in a mirror. Well, that has come in handy these days. Since I know that hair and make-up trials can be costly, and since I doubt that my pony tail and minimalist make-up will photograph the way that I would like them to, I set out to find a few online virtual options to “try on” a few things…

There are a few different tools out there that you can use. I stuck to The Knot, Brides online, and Say Yes To The Dress. I started out with a basic photo that I had Rebecca at the office take for me. This photos was chosen after some trial and error. You want to make sure that the background is completely blank behind you.  You also want to make sure that your hair is completely off your face. When trying on dresses, you should wear a tank top and take a full body photo. I sort of gave up on that point, so I just chose a model that had my body type and skin color for the dress portion of this exercise.

Brides – By far the most comprehensive of the tools. You can try on make-up, hair, and dresses without ever having to leave your home! Now, that’s luxury! However, I am not sure that the result really gave you a sense of what you might look like on your big day. I “tried on” a few different types of styles. Ladies, I’ve got to be honest with you. Most of them looked odd. Granted, I think that some of them might look odd in real life, but most of them didn’t really give me a sense of what they might look like in person. Below are two options that were the best (you can only imagine what the others looked like!) and one of them even made me want to dye my hair. But neither was quite what I had in mind…

Feeling a little defeated I started to try on dresses. That would be fun, right? Again, because I didn’t take the proper photo, I just used a model that had a similar shape and skin tone. Well, let’s just say that it made me re-think what I might look good in on my wedding day. Big dresses made me look crazy, so it looks like a sexier dress might be in order here. Not that I want to be “sexy bride”, but I think that something a little more clingy, based on this tool, might look the best. Below are three different styles. You be the judge.

There is also a make-up tool on this site, but I made myself look like the joker every time I tried it. Now, props to Brides for having all of these available. No other site was as comprehensive in their virtual tools. So, even though I thought I looked a little crazy, I do appreciate the effort!

The Knot – This site only has one option, which is the hairstyle tool. It had some styles that Bride’s didn’t, so I was happy to try them on. Honestly, I am not sure that it was any more realistic but, again, fun to try!

Say Yes to the Dress – Obviously you go here for the dresses, so that is their only option. I wish that it had an option where you might see the dress with veil options, but this tool is fairly basic. This site actually doesn’t give you the option of uploading your own photo, but it does give you options as to skin color, size, shape, and hair color. Below is one of the dresses that was available. This is not a place to see actual dresses as much as it is a place to see which shape might best suit your body.

Whew! Now, do I feel any closer to knowing what “look” I might try on for size?? NO! However, this did make me see that even on virtual tools, the updo is not my friend and I should stay away. It also confirmed the fact that I don’t like the way I look in ballgowns. These are fun tools to help you imagine, but not sure that they will be good enough to avoid some trials and a few visits to gown shops!

This year, I can honestly say that Mayra and I have plunged into 2012 energized, super focused and truly LOVING what we do!  I can say that because, the day after our New Year’s Eve wedding, we Polar Bear plunged with our bride and groom, their wedding party and a handful of guests off of the Asbury Park boardwalk… closing an unforgettable weekend for us all!  I have to say that this particular wedding was a challenge- not only because the engagement was only 4 months long, but because we had to convert a Theater, Arcade and Convention hall into an unforgettable, luxury wedding venue.  And yet, I can tell you, it was one of the most fun New Year’s that I’ve had in ages… What can I say, I love my job!  Here is a sneak peak at the Bride and Groom just after Sunset outside of the venue… (photo by Inku)

Recently, while taking an Amtrak ride, I read the new Russel Simmons book called Super Rich.  It’s actually alot more about enjoying life and work than it is a different kind of rich.  He wrote about the Yogic principal of being so in the moment, so focused on actually DOING your very best at each aspect of a project that you find pleasure in the preparation as much as the result.  That is kind of how I felt while we set up for this wedding… Obviously, we always want the couple to be happy, but I actually felt total, sheer joy in executing our months of planning. (Loved the way our posters ended up looking once in the cases!)

HAPPILY, our clients were as joyful as we were and we all celebrated the magic of marrying on New Year’s Eve well into the morning of New Year’s Day. Following a lovely brunch at the nearby hotel, the Bride, Groom and their guests headed out to Polar Bear Plunge.  Mayra and I only thought it appropriate that we join them, capping off an amazing weekend for us and our team AND kicking off a new year that we are really excited about.  Wishing YOU all the best in 2012 and looking forward to writing, blogging and maybe even working with you!

Mayra and I, preparing to plunge. Yes, it is a Turban. Yes, it is fabulous.

Unlike most years, where Mayra and I are getting a bit of R & R and catching up on our movies, this year the holiday season found us UNUSUALLY busy as we are in the midst of re-launching our brand and logo (for a sneak peak at the New Look designed by Regas NY, check out our twitter page)…. AND prepping for our New Year’s Eve wedding.  What a more fun way to ring in the New Year!

Plus, the day after we’ll be bringing in the New Year with a Polar Bear Plunge at the shore.  None of us really like the cold, but we figure that there is a first time for everything and what a great way to ring in 2012..

I’ll reveal all the details after the madness is over, BUT, for now, I thought I’d share one of he AWESOME posters that our friends at Regas designed for the Marquees of the venue.   (I blurred out the venue….) Wishing you a fabulous New Year filled with dreams coming true!

Earlier this year Mayra had the pleasure of being a Maid of Honor at her friend Michelle’s wedding out in Napa Valley.  Being an MOH has a lot of responsibilities for the average bear, but for Mayra, being in the business, the pressure was on to assist Michelle in making her wedding to Davide something really special.  We were so excited to see it featured on Style Me Pretty today!   They knew they wanted to have the it in California, and turned to The Careneros Inn in Napa as the perfect backdrop for her modern and gorgeous orange and white wedding.

With the venue secured, Michelle and Mayra worked on her invitations.  Since we retail Smock, and Michelle knew she loved their gorgeous, customizable letterpress invites, it seemed a natural fit.  The orange in the invite and the elegant, muted textured border played themselves out in her textured white on white table runners and orange bows binding the napkins.  Her bridal party was decked out in White (a plan before laid out before Pippa went down the aisle before her sister) and the stunning bride and groom were classic as well as stylish.  A special thanks to Angy Silva for these gorgeous photos.  To see more of this inspiring wedding, click here!