Always a Blogsmaid

House Warming: Ceci's New Studio

It's a wonder that I've gotten any actual wedding planning done, with all of these fabulous site visits, venue openings and other celebrations.  Lisa Hoffman has moved Ceci New York into a fabulous new showroom at 130 West 23rd Street (right above my favorite vintage store, actually).  I went to the opening reception last week and was delighted to see some of Ceci's amazing custom designs, and to check out her new pret-a porter collections in person as well.  But, one of my greatest surprise were the gorgeous sets of notecards on sale there.  If you are in the New York area, you should definitely stop by and check it out. Here are some photos of the gorgeous gallery-style space.   (and the amazing Temperley dress in the window!)

Now in New York!

Thursday, I had the pleasure of stopping by the new, by appointment only, McTeigue and McClelland showroom located near Rockefeller Center.  I've written about their rings before, and with the holidays (and engagement season) coming up, I thought I'd pay them a visit and get to see their gorgeous jewelry in person, and it more than impressed.

First, I have to say that the website doesn't do these pieces the justice that they deserve.  Not to say that they aren't lovely in photos, but the quality of the stones, the detail work and the feel of these pieces are amazing.  Not to mention their unique designs. 

If I were going for a ring, this would probably be my first stop.  Actually, if Carrie Bradsaw and Mr. Big were to picks out rings, forget Tiffany and forget Cartier- McTeigue and McClelland would be their first stop.  The designs have a vintage flair (many are made with vintage stones) and a unique quality that is anything but common place.  The value to quality ratio is nothing to sneeze at either. And, did I mention, they are UBER nice?

I should say that since the company also specializes in Estate pieces, it is a great place to bring a family stone.  

Below are some of my favorites that I got to try on....

Sweet Dreams

Yesterday I went to the opening ofCeci New York' s new studio space (more on that later) and as I was walking out someone said to me, "Is that a GemmaRedux necklace that you're wearing?"  It totally was. I was so excited because that necklace was a gift from former client and Gemma Redux designer/ founder Rachel Dooley.  Rachel was just getting Gemma Redux off the ground around her wedding time and just last month we were thrilled to see her pieces in InStyle Magazine. A month later, they were being recognized on the street.  Couldn't be more awesome to see someone pursuing their dream and having it come true.

So, it was with great enthusiasm that we went over to attend the Artez'n event yesterday where our own former client Anna was pursuing her passion of baking.  She recently launched Anna's Desserts and we went to sample the goods. In addition to wedding cupcakes, Anna produces amazing red velvet cakes, Pumpkin Breads and more, all made to order with about a weeks notice.

Here we are at the event and here is Mayra with Anna and Lib at their wedding (isn't that the cutest picture ?(by Karen Mordechai)  Anyway, here's hoping that Anna's sweet dreams are as great as Rachel's!

 

Beat the Wedding Chill

The Q:  I am getting married in January and I literally just realized that I'm going to need some sort of jacket or something.   (I don't know how I didn't notice this before.) Do you have any suggestions that won't totally break the bank?  I'm not trying to spend a lot of money on this thing.

The A:  I know how you hadn't noticed- it hadn't been cold!  Luckily there are some adorable (and affordable) options out there.   New York Magazine did a piece about winter cover ups and featured this find from David's Bridal for only $99. 

They also featured this AMAZING beaded number, which was significantly more money, but it inspired another thought...
It made me think of the awesome beaded sweaters that ladies used to wear in the '50s.  A little bit of vintage in a cardigan or bolero could be a great addition.  I did some hunting and found this on Ebay.   And this Something Blue number was from Lulu's vintage.

Stay Sweet Martha....

OMG, I'm sure you've seen this... it's been making the rounds, but as a Martha Obsessive, I HAD to share...... Snoop on Martha.

2 Birds with One Holiday Card......

The Q: Every year I send out holiday cards to my friends and family. It's a weird tradition that we have and I'm just one of those people who sends cards for things. Anyway, we are planning our reception for June and I've been looking at Save the Dates and was wondering if it would be tacky to send a combo card? It just seems like a lot of "mailings" all around the same time.

The A:  I not only DON'T think it's Tacky, I think it's quite smart!  It saves paper, postage and money, while still making your holiday card something special.  The other side of it is, maybe people won't notice your important message amongst the holiday cheer, BUT, I'd venture to say Christmas cards don't come in the volume they once did and you can always reinforce the message with a digital reminder post-New Year. 

So, now that you've had this brilliant Idea, don't let it fall flat.  Think of a personalized photo card with your guys and your ring, or check out the holiday cards at Minted.  I've written about them before, but they are so awesome at personalizing their stationary and have a ton of great designs, you'll be able to spread the cheer and the news all at the same time!

Jessy is My Homegirl

Jessy at Fleurs, here in NY sent me these lovely shots of a red and fuschia wedding she did at the Tribeca Rooftop this past weekend.  They really add bold color to the stark pallete of the venue.  Can't wait to see the professional shots!

Frolicking Frocks!

My dream had always been to wear a vintage wedding dress.  I know it isn't for everyone, but the romance of days gone by (and I'm not talking about 80's puffy sleeves, here, I'm talking VERY vintage) is just so hard to capture AND you never worry that anyone else will be wearing your "look".  I was thrilled to find TheFrock.com and couldn't wait to share.  From $1200-6,000 these designer duds of the past will add a spot of glamour to the lucky gal who fits into the dress.  My favorite- the vintage Givenchy number at the bottom.

Recession Tips Galore!

To keep our spirits up while the dow is down, I thought I'd post today on some great Recession Friendly Wedding Planning Tips for you to consider as you move ahead with your wedding planning.

Decor:   Use parasols instead of flowers for your bridesmaids!  It will totally fill up space and add pops of color to your ceremony.  Get them for a steal at Pearl River Mart.  ($10-20 each).
Visit Home Depot's Garden Center.  Pair a potted rose plant ($20) with an ornate patterned or floral linen ($45 and up to rent) to give the impression of more ample floral and to fill your space with festive color!

Ceremony: Have a friend officiate!  It's a little controversial, but there are churches that will "ordain" you and it is typically legal in all 50 states! 

Attire: Why not have something Borrowed???   Adorn Brides loans gorgeous jewelry (think Diamonds, Pearls, Chandelier Earrings, etc)  from $200 and up, AND they are offering 20% off to Always a Blogsmaid readers!   Here is the promo code:

Consultants and Planners:  Certainly, not everyone has the budget for a full-service wedding planner, but hiring a planner for hourly consulting can be a WISE move.  They'll help you budget your resources for maximum effect and lead you to vendors who can work with what you've got.  They can even help you design your day to get the most bang for your buck.  In Los Angeles area, Mary Dann and Associates offer hourly rates of $120 per hour, while here in New York area we at Always a Bridesmaid offer 10 hours for $1,000 and have effectively helped plan destination affairs, small NY city soirees and more.  You'd be amazed at how much we can get done in 10 hours!

Music: Forgo the pricey quartet and Hire Juliard Alumni at a fraction of the price.

Reception:  Host your party at an off hour to avoid the need for a full sit down meal.  Consider an early afternoon cocktail reception with a couple of stations or a late evening dessert reception.  It's not written in stone that everyone must be fed a full dinner as long as it isn't dinner time.  Also, why not consider someone new or starting out with a lot of experience.  We like Kate Cooks from upstate New York, who will travel in and out of the city for wedding work.  (917-207-5785.)

Tasty Cakes by Mark Joseph Cakes

Mayra is a recovering cake-a-holic and was lured off the wagon by the delicious cakes at Mark Joseph Cakes in Brooklyn a couple of weeks back.  She came back raving about the styles, prices and the flavors, AND she brought a goodie bag!  Their red velvet and cream cheese flavored buttercream is to DIE for!  Mark Joseph was baking away at fabulous establishments including Confetti Cakes before he and wife Leslie decided to forge their own path.  From gorgeous wedding cakes to sculpted fun time cakes, they offer amazing flavors and competitive pricing.