Debrief on Urban Wed NYC event

Last Tuesday evening I had the pleasure of attending Urban Wed - a bridal event hosted by Vané Broussard from Brooklyn Bride in Union Square in NYC.

The event was beautiful, a lot of fun and chock full of great vendors.

Before I share info on the event with you, I just want to say thank you to Jen Huang for all of the amazing photos seen below - they perfectly capture the event!

Here are some of my favorite highlights from the event:

• Meeting the lovely Sam Walls Beasley from Samuelle Couture - her designs for wedding gowns are absolutely beautiful...so light and flowy. On her website you will also find some pastel creations that are out of this world and reminiscent of the perfect french macaron...

• Chasing the trays of food from Cobblestone Catering. As I may have already mentioned in previous posts, I am a huge foodie. I love food. So when it comes to catering, I absolutely adore finding great caterers with amazing food. I firmly believe that wedding food, can be wonderful food, not just a cold piece of boring chicken. I was thrilled to taste the culinary delights from Cobblestone. All of the food was uber-flavorful but I have to say - the short ribs were my favorite! So delish...

• Loving the gorgeous calligraphy and personalized stamps created by Bryn of Paperfinger. Her work was so outstanding that I am planning on buying a stamp for Stellina Events! Gotta love discovering new finds...the stamp would be perfect for your own Save the Dates, invites, thank you notes, your business or just because!
  

• Admiring the table decor and wall design done by Barb of Hatch Creative Studio. The look and feel of all of the elements was so unique, fun and fabulously creative that I had to show you all of these pics. Just take a look - the photos speak for themselves!

• Chatting with Betsy from Nine Cakes all about my favorite french macarons and admiring her wedding cakes and cupcakes for the millionth time. What bride would want to pass up working with a lovely cake maker to design a beautiful cake that is as delicious as it looks?!!! For more info on my wonderful thoughts on Betsy's creations at Nine Cakes read this.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Checking out the pretty, chic and affordable (!!!) bridesmaid dresses from 57 Grand. These dresses have style and are designed with a bridemaid's needs in mind (ie: she can wear it again - depending on the style and accessories they can be worn at night, at the office or to a party). I especially love the bow belt on their Riverside dress.

• Enjoying the sweet sounds from the talented musicians of Elan Artists. They created an elegant ambience to the event making it all the more special. Definitely contact them for your upcoming wedding if you are looking for live music whether for a string quartet, a jazz band, Celtic music, or Caribbean - they have a ton of options to fit your own personal style.
  

What a great event!!!

A pretty color palette perfect for welcoming spring...

I have recently fallen in love with a color palette. During my preparation for the Brooklyn Bridal Show I wanted to say "hello" to spring and keep things happy and cheerful so I designed my table with arrangements of coral, pink, yellow and orange hued roses.

The following weekend I attended an event hosted by Sierra and Juliet of Poppies and Posies (see top two photos above by the fabulous Jen Huang). When I walked in, I was so excited to see that they too loved this palette. The room was full of colorful, quirky and joyous poppies in shades of bright coral pink, yellow, and orange. For more pics of the event click here.

So now I wanted to share this brilliant color palette with you to be inspired for your upcoming spring wedding. These colors are perfect for those looking for a fun, bright and happy ambience for their wedding day. You can add hints of antique turquoise (see the typewriter pic above) to make it a bit quirkier or keep it simple and add some wildflowers to play up the natural elegance.

This palette could also be used for summertime weddings, especially if you go a bit brighter with the colors, while for spring you want to try and keep it a bit softer.

Complimentary tickets to The Wedding Salon in NYC - April 12th

To all Stellina Events blog readers,

I am thrilled to be able to offer you complimentary tickets to the upcoming Wedding Salon event in New York City.

The event will take place on Monday, April 12th from 4-9pm at The Roosevelt Hotel. The hotel is located at 45 East 45th Street between Madison Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue.

There will be a ton of vendors at the event (like Sylvia Weinstock for example) so you should definitely check it out!

To order your complimentary tickets ($50 value, Admits 2 people), please go to www.weddingsalon.com and use the following promotional code: STE4C

See you there...

xoxo,
Amanda

Going gaga for Telephone? How about a 4th of July party to accompany your wedding festivities?

I just love the new Lady Gaga / Beyonce Telephone video and am finding it quite addictive, especially when I am on the bike at the gym - definitely a way to stop me from getting bored while trying to prep for summer!

I especially love the costumes the girls are wearing in the diner - probably my favorite bit of the video. They remind me of Wonder Woman but with a modern, risque twist. In fact, this scene inspired me to write this post...

If you are having a late June or early July wedding, why not throw a 4th of July party for your friends and family as part of the wedding festivities?

You can go fun and crazy with Gaga and Beyonce inspired attire (as risque or conservative as you like of course!) and dress up the entire space with kitschy Old Americana decor.

From old school Diner signs and menus to American flags, lunch boxes and dart boards. You could serve the food on diner-like plates.

The menu could include all of your favorites from an all day breakfast (pancakes, waffles, eggs) to burgers, franks, chicken and don't forget the fries! Be sure to top off the menu with ice cream sundaes and apple pie. Yum...

Whether you plan it as a rehearsal lunch/dinner party, a day after the wedding BBQ or an engagement party - keep it quirky and not too serious.

Remember: The key is to make it fun!

P.S. I thought you might appreciate the pic of me at my last 4th of July BBQ soiree. We decked out the house in American flags, served salads and BBQ steaks with homemade lemonade and blasted good ol' American rock and roll...definitely a party to remember!

All About the Brooklyn Bridal Show at BAM!!!

Last Sunday's Brooklyn Bridal Show at BAM was a success! It was a wonderful event with tons of great vendors.

For all of you who attended - it was so fantastic to meet you and I look forward to hearing from you and hope that we can work together soon!

During the event I made a presentation on "How to Create Your Wedding Vision". My presentation focused on the steps that you should take to create the wedding of your dreams.

If any of your missed the presentation or were unable to make it to the bridal show, please email me at amanda.diamondstein-cieplinska@stellinaevents.com and we can organize a complimentary consultation to discuss your upcoming wedding.

Laura Pugliese, our resident Stellina Events professional makeup artist, attended the show doing complimentary makeup trials throughout for all brides and their friends in attendance. She created gorgeous, red carpet worthy looks that brought out the best features of all of the brides-to-be. They looked glowing and oh so naturally pretty - the perfect look for your wedding day!

Marcos Diaz from ION Salon was also at the Stellina Events booth doing free hair trials for everyone. I especially loved his version of a perfectly messy, yet beautiful, asymetrical knot tied at the base of the neck.

I met with Phoebe from Opalia Flowers, who had some gorgeous flower arrangements on her table. She is an old friend of mine from college with a flower shop on Atlantic Avenue. She is just a doll - so sweet, talented and a pleasure to work with.

Sarah from Blossom and Branch worked with Jillian from 100 Layer Cake to design a fabulously fun wedding table with tons of bright colors, just perfect to usher in Spring.

Meanwhile, Bella from Fleurs Bella, crafted an absolutely magnificent chuppah that took my breath away. Check out the photo above from Fleurs Bella - such a pretty bouquet made a bit quirky and unique by the addition of a tomato can. Loving it!

My booth was right across from Betsy at Nine Cakes. She so very kindly let me have a cupcake or two and they were just scrumptious!!! I can't say enough about the cupcakes - they were light, tasty and fluffy, while the frosting on top was light as air and melted in your mouth. If you are looking for a wedding cake, there is not doubt about it - go check out Nine Cakes!

Two other delicious treats that I adored at the show came from Fine and Raw Chocolates and Tumbador Chocolates. As a girl who spent five years living in Belgium, I know my chocolates and while I can snack on a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup or enjoy a peanut M&M, in my heart I am a bit of a chocolate snob. I love good chocolate that is made with tons of cocoa and that is fresh.

Tumbador Chocolates goes to the heart of my adoration for interesting flavored top quality chocolates with flavors that bring in hints of lime or green tea - such a great gift for the chocolate lover and person who likes to experiment with chocolates.

Fine and Raw has exquisite chocolates, like their signature bonbons. Their bon bon bar is a big bar of the best quality, organic chocolate with a line down the center of their soft, smooth, bon bon truffle that is to die for. Really and truly amazing. If you are a member of the Food Coop in Brooklyn on Union Street, you can find their chocolates there and their ice cream too!

Kathi Littwin Photography was at the event as well. Her photos are so beautiful - they just make you wish you were a guest at the weddings that she has photographed.

Erin Wigger from Leigh Photography was so sweet. From her photographs, you can tell that she has a sense of humor and appreciates couples who like to have a good laugh and enjoy their wedding day to the utmost. She even offers couples the option of a crazy booth where they and their guests can have a laugh dressing up for a funny photo shoot during their wedding.

Kelly Guenther, a Pullitzer Prize Winning photographer, was at the event as well. I really like how artistic her photos are - perfect for hanging on the wall as an exhibit in your apartment or house after your big day.

Bond Street Productions is a videography company and they have such a cool, vintage aesthetique...a perfect fit if you are going for a vintage or retro theme for your wedding!

Overall, the Brooklyn Bridal Show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) was a fantastic event. Thanks to Great Performances for hosting the event. It was such a joy!!!

Congratulations to all brides- and grooms-to-be who attended the event!!!

Complimentary tickets to Wedding Bootcamp at Dylan's Candy Bar in NYC!!!

The Wedding Salon is so very kindly offering all Stellina Events blog readers complimentary tickets to their upcoming Wedding Bootcamp at Dylan’s Candy Bar on March 15th in New York City.

They have some amazing speakers confirmed including Lliquid, Salvatore Cincotta Photography, Flowers By Topaz, Alpine Creative, Tatiana Byron of The Wedding Salon and Dylan Lauren, owner of Dylan’s Candy Bar, who will also offer candy treats for brides-to-be!

The Wedding Bootcamp - New York, NY Show
Date: Monday March 15, 2010
Show hours: 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Venue: Dylan's Candy Bar
Address: 1011 Third Ave, New York, NY 10021

To purchase your free tickets, please go to http://www.weddingsalon.com/theweddingbootcamp.cfm
Use the following complimentary code: SENY3C

I will be attending the event as well so I hope to see all of you there!

xoxo,
Amanda

Donate your old bridesmaid dresses to Operation PROM: March 10-13 in NYC

It’s a dress drop! Get rid of those old bridesmaid dresses taking up space in your closet and help out some high school girls in need of a beautiful dress.

57Grand is collecting dresses to be donated to Operation PROM, which helps girls in need attend their proms by providing free dresses.

The first 100 ladies to donate will receive a free Revlon lipstick and nail enamel.

Where: 250 W 39th Street, Suite 804, NY, NY 10018 (b/w 7th and 8th Avenues)
When: March 9th to 13th, 2010, 11am to 7pm
Contact: 1-212-302-1604, hello@57grand.com

If you are not located in NYC, then you can still help out by mailing your old bridesmaid dresses to the following address:

Operation PROM
P.O. Box 924
Bronxville, NY 10708


About Operation PROM
A 501-3c nonprofit organization, Operation PROM helps low-income students attend their proms by providing free prom dresses and low-cost tuxedo rentals, as well as helping students with regular donations of food, clothing and school supplies. Most students assisted by Operation PROM are homeless or live in shelters and do not have family to assist them. Learn more about Operation PROM at www.helpprom.org.

About 57Grand
Since 2009, 57Grand Bridesmaids has been merging timeless uptown flair with a downtown sense of individuality. Designed and made in New York City, each dress is inspired and named after a New York City street. 57Grand's collection is available in 40 luxurious colors and fabrics and is priced at $200 and under. Shop 57Grand online at www.57grand.com.

Complimentary tickets to the Wedding Salon's Wedding Bootcamp in LA tonite!!!

The Wedding Salon is holding its Wedding Bootcamp this evening from 6-8:30pm at Hansen's Cakes in Los Angeles so for those of you who are based in LA and planning your wedding, definitely take advantage of this great offer.

Hansen's Cakes is located at 1072 South Fairfax Avenue.

There will be speakers there guiding you on how to plan your wedding, vendors to meet with, cake to taste and goody bags!

For your complimentary tickets to tonite's activities, please call: 212.631.7777 or go to www.WeddingSalon.com

Please be sure to specify the following promotion code: SELA3C

Enjoy!