Sasha Souza
Plus Planning Advice, techWED, Real Weddings that inspire, Pin it to win it and more!
and her Magnificent Designs
WED The Magazine WED The Magazine
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From the Editor’s Desk Welcome to WED Volume 2! We are excited to start out our second volume with a new cover design AND an amazing event designer gracing it — Sasha Souza! I was lucky enough to hear Sasha speak at Wedding MBA last year and not only was she informative about her design process, but has a sarcastic wit to boot! You’ll really enjoy our interview with her and photos of her magnificent designs! And in honor of the first edition of Volume 2, we bring you a “Pin it to Win it” contest inspired by Sasha Souza. Create a pin board on Pinterest using a pin by Sasha Souza Events as your centerpiece and you could win a signed copy of her book and be featured on our WEDpinning blog! You can follow us and learn more about the contest at: Pinterest.com/WedBiz Our trainer Chante Pemberton and our “Get Ready for the Gown” section is back, as well as Bridal Show Betty, our Something Borrowed real weddings and more! Be sure to get our App and enjoy WED on your iPad or iPhone for FREE. Just search WedBiz Media in the App Store. You’ll also find us listed under weddings. It is truly the way this magazine should be enjoyed! And you can take your inspiration and our Preferred Vendor listings with you on the go! We hope you enjoy our magazine – it continues to be infused with love! I’d love to hear what you think, or if you have ideas for articles you’d like to see, write to me at editor@wedbizmedia.com. Happy Reading!
Kelly Kelly Werder
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Editor-in-Chief WED - The Magazine WED The Magazine
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Doing Good!
WedBiz Media is committed to promoting wedding related charitable organizations and providing you with ideas on how you can help.
Wish Upon a Wedding is the world’s first nonprofit organization, dedicated to providing weddings for individuals facing a life-threatening illness. They currently have 16 chapters available to grant wishes, all across the United States, with more opening throughout 2011. Wish Upon a Wedding celebrates the courage, determination and spirit of these couples by granting their dream wedding wishes. Their hope is that chosen recipients can inspire other couples facing similar situations to find hope and strength. For more information or to Apply for a Wish, visit www.wishuponawedding.org.
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Pop-up Giveaways! We have new giveaways popping up all the time! Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for pop-up giveaway announcements, view our Pop-up Giveaway Page OR subscribe to WED’s Weekly Inspiration and we’ll send our giveaway announcements right to your Inbox.
How to Enter: 1. View our Pop-up Giveaway Page for entry info 2. Subscribe to WED’s Weekly Inspiration for updates or follow us on Twitter 3. Tell your friends!
And this month, look for our. . .
to Win it! Pinterest Contest
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! t i n i W to t s e t n o C t s e r e t n i P ” a h s a S y b d e r i “Insp Create a pin board on Pinterest inspired by the amazing designs of our cover interview subject Sasha Souza and you could win a signed copy of Sasha’s book: Signature Sasha: Magnificent Weddings by Design How to Enter: 1. Visit the WED the Magazine Pinterest page and follow us on Pinterest (Pinterest.com/wedbiz) 2. Click on the “Pin it to Win it” pin board for some of the amazing pins by Sasha Souza. Look at Sasha’s Pinterest page for even more inspiration. 3. Select at least one of Sasha’s pins to inspire your board. 4. Get Pinning! Create a board with at least 20 pins with your own dream wedding design. 5. Fill out the Entry form on WEDtheMagazine.com by August 10, 2012 and include a link to your pin board. 6. All entries will be reviewed and the winner will be sent a signed copy of Sasha’s book AND will be featured on WEDpinning.com. WED The Magazine
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WED talks with From theater arts to luxe event designer, Sasha Souza’s flair for the dramatic has suited her well. Event design trendsetter, Sasha Souza grew up in San Francisco as the daughter of a flower-child. After cultivating a background in the theater, Sasha combined this approach to event design with her business acumen in her first event business, The Whole SheBang! which she opened in 1995. She is now the award winning CEO of Sasha Souza Events and is nationally recognized as one of the top event designers and educators. She shares her journey in this interview with WED. WED: How did you get into the event industry? What inspired you? I actually fell into the events industry by accident. I had always wanted to be a stage performer but because I wasn’t very good at it, I was always in the back of the house doing the sets, lighting, stage management, etc. After I realized I would not be able to be paid regularly for working in theater, I decided to go back to school and I got a job working for the University of California in their Internal Audit WED The Magazine
Department. Not a very exciting or creative field. One day I was at a book store looking at books on home based businesses and while I was reading the jobs, I came across Wedding Consultant. I felt like I could do that job very successfully so I took the advice of the book and joined the Association of Bridal Consultants, received their training and literally started my own business about 6 months later. It’s been 16 years now that I’ve been in the industry Vol. 2, No. 1
mistake, many of those are more like opportunities. They have almost always turned out to be the right thing in one way or another and better in the long run. WED: Tell us about your team – how do you choose your vendor partners? How about your staff?
Photo by Sherman Chu
WED: What was your first high profile/celebrity event? My first high profile event was for Amy Acker who was formerly on TV shows (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “Alias,” “Doll House” and in movies like “Catch Me If You Can” and “The Cabin in the Woods”) and her husband James Carpinello, who is a successful Broadway actor and has also made many films. WED: What mistakes did you make early on and how did you learn from them? What mistakes didn’t I make would probably be a shorter list. I feel like I have made every single mistake in the books, and because I learn best by doing, those mistakes have all been valuable lessons. But even though some things didn’t go exactly as I had wanted or envisioned, and it was “technically” a WED The Magazine
My office team is just me and my long time assistant, Mellysa. She’s been with me for about 11 years. My floral design team consists of the lead designer, Leah, and her staff of about 8 assistants/designers. Everybody else that works for me is a vendor for the event; however, I have a very short referral list. I refer one or two catering companies depending on the clients’ taste, one cake baker, one or two invitation companies based on clients’ needs and budget, a few officiates, a few photographers and videographers based on budget/style, a single linen vendor, a single lighting & AV company and one music/entertainment broker. This keeps a team of the same vendors together at all events and they all do the job they were paid to do and know the expectations I have and that the client has. There isn’t a huge learning curve and I know that I can trust them to make decisions that are right for the event and I don’t have to micromanage them – something no business owner/human being enjoys. The events are mostly smooth, aside from a few small hiccups, but rarely do we have any emergencies and if we do, they often fix it before I even know about it. It’s been this way for me since 1999 and I would never go back. WED: Let’s talk about your planning and design process – where do you start when a couple first comes to you? Where do you find inspiration? We start with a contract and portfolio review. Once the contract is signed and the retainer for our services is paid, we send them an 8-page design questionnaire. Once we have that back we start the planning and design process. We manage everything Vol. 2, No. 1
Photo by Elizabeth Messina
from site visits to the closing wrap up at the event for our clients. But we have to start with finding out what they want and where they are, from a design perspective. Our events are not over the top or ostentatious. They are events that are designed specifically to their personalities. Because of this, the inspiration we get always comes from the client. Either by adjectives they use when describing their event or the design of their house. We’ve used the color in a variety of items to design events around— favorite scarves, rugs or wall color in a couple’s home. Realistically, anything that moves my client to feel good and happy, I need to know about.
allows for the best design – they are also the more expensive spaces in that you must bring in every single stick of furniture, draping, lighting, décor, etc. But we can make the space whatever we want it to be for that moment of the couple’s wedding. I also prefer venues with large setup time as most of our events take a day or two of load in, a day of event setup, event day and a day or two of strike. WED: What have been some of your favorite weddings that you’ve done?
WED: Where are some of your favorite venues and locations for weddings? What do you look for?
With 16 years in the business, I have a ton of favorite weddings so it’s incredibly hard to choose. And I like so many of them for different reasons. For example:
My favorite venues are dependent on the couple but I think any event designer would prefer a “big black box” – a space that is raw of design and décor or preconceived notions of how it must be done. This
Kristen & Todd’s photo wall (above). It’s been duplicated all over the internet but I still think ours was the best iteration – it gave us a way to display family photos and have the guests interact within the
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wall. I also loved her herb toss. Instead of tossing flower petals or bird seed we used organic herbs such as lavender, chamomile and rosemary. Candice & Erich’s wine cave dinner (below). Gorgeous mirror top table with a custom built structure overhead to make the cave feel like a garden. We custom poured tons of candles, thousands of roses and carnations. It was romantic and opulent. The Mexico Fire Table (next page): 64’ long flaming fire table on a beach on mainland Mexico. It was a little bit dangerous and had never been done before — completely awe-inspiring. It’s what happens when you have too many margaritas before you
design a wedding. The bridesmaids bouquet from Kate & Dave’s wedding was a stunning contrast to their ocean blue gowns. I love the orange and yellow combination. Annette & Brian’s wedding reception open structure Photo by Sherman Chu was one of the most famous events we’ve done. The low hanging Japanese lanterns were perfect and appeared to be floating low over the pool. Every single pole or post was covered in hand sewn moss sleeves. I also love the escort card display & ceremony structure of Caroline & Chris’ wedding. It was rustic but elegant and whimsical at the same time. What I love most about our events is that although there is a prevailing style and you can tell who did the event in comparison to other designers, they are still so completely the couple’s style as well. WED: You’ve been featured on numerous television shows, including the popular “Whose Wedding is it Anyway?”. What was this experience like? How did it help your business?
Photo by Sherman Chu WED The Magazine
The experience of doing TV is always exciting. But you have to know that it can be a double-edged sword. Unless you’re the executive producer on the show, your words can be used out of context and your drama produced. For Whose Wedding, the show worked very well for me. I think that’s because I didn’t try to be who I am not just for the camera. If I was exasperated with the client, it showed. If I was having a great event, it showed. Being who I have always been has served me very well and TV can bring out the best or worst of your personality. I Vol. 2, No. 1
have learned when to turn down a TV spot because it will not benefit the company or the client, and I have learned how to do a shoot in one or two takes. Because of my background in theater, the producers love me since I’m efficient with their time and can be concise when answering their interview questions and know how to use my personality for the camera. As far as it helping my business, it’s definitely given me more name recognition amongst my peers and more name recognition with potential clients. But people have to like your personality before they are willing to interview you. If you come across like a nitwit on TV, it would decimate your career more than help it. WED: You’re the Founding President of Wish Upon a Wedding. Tell us about Wish Upon a Wedding. How can wedding professionals become involved? Liz Guthrie, who was a wedding planner in San Jose, CA, started Wish Upon a Wedding 2 ½ years ago.
She came to me with the idea of a non-profit organization that allows the events industry to give back to couples who are facing terminal illness & life altering circumstances and allows them to utilize the money they spend to grant the wish as a tax deduction. I took the role of Founding President and I’m now in my second 2year term. Thus far, we have granted over 30 wishes nationwide with 20 chapters across the US. Each of our boards consists of 11 board members and they report to the National Board but they are responsible for planning and implementing all of the wishes for the couples. Each of the wishes submitted comes to me for review before going on to the chapter for approval. Each wish is checked for accuracy by a Wish Grant Chair to determine if the information in the application is
Photo by Kurt Ackerman WED The Magazine
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Photo by Alisha & Brook
truthful and correct. Couples who are facing less than five years survivability on a terminal illness are granted their wishes and we also do a limited number of non-terminal, special circumstance wishes for couples that have faced other challenges. We do not grant wishes for couples that are facing monetary hardship or military deployment unless that deployment results in an injury or illness upon return. It’s been such an honor to see this grow from less than 5 chapters to over 20 in just two short years and to see all the happy couples that have been helped to live their dream to have a wedding. One of our wishes that passed said, “You never know how many people’s lives you touch throughout your own life” and that has been a quote I’ve hung on to because it speaks volumes about each of our lives and the opportunities we have every day to be gracious, caring and loving. We are blessed to have jobs that we love, to make money planning pretty parties and giving back should be something we all WED The Magazine
do – whether it’s time, talent or money. Everybody has something that they can give to help others in need. People who wish to get involved with Wish Upon a Wedding can fill out an application to be a wish granter on our website WishUponaWedding.org or if they would like to sit on a board, or start a chapter or even make a donation, there are links there to get information for anything they would like to do to support our organization. We consider ourselves to be the Wedding Industry’s charity of choice. WED: You’re also a Master Bridal Consultant with the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC). How did you become involved with this organization? How has this helped your business? When I started my business, I began with the education of the Association of Bridal Consultants and through the years, I continued their training until I received their highest honor: Master Bridal Vol. 2, No. 1
Consultant in 2004. This helped me get a firm foundation by which to start and grow my business. I started going to their conference in 1999 and learned so much from other planners. We didn’t have the wealth of information we have now in the many workshops, conferences, classes, etc. back then, so we relied on a one time per year conference to network and share ideas. It was a pretty magical time for me. I learned to compete against myself and nobody else. WED: Wedding conferences and organizations around the world seek you out for speaking
knowing what parts of my personality my clients can take. For example, recently we replied to a client who sent an email full of typos. But we responded to them fully in Pig Latin. I don’t believe that we can’t have fun with our clients or that it’s unprofessional. I honestly believe that it helps build a rapport with the clients when they’re comfortable with us. When I’m not being fake, we have a better experience with the event and I know that my niche client can take a little ribbing, enjoy the process and has a great personality. We have fun with them and they have fun with us. We have a few rules in our corporate culture:
Have a personality Be brutally honest Trust & respect your vendors, pay them on time Don’t guess because chances are good you’ll probably be wrong Shut your mouth and listen to your client Humor {& Sarcasm} is totally appropriate WED: Any speakers? Photo by Sherman Chu
engagements, not only for your experience but also for your sarcastic wit. What wisdom do you try to impart during speaking engagements? “Be Yourself. Everybody Else is Already Taken,” is a quote by Oscar Wilde. I’ve never tried to be anybody other than who I am. When I hear people in the wedding industry say “I’m going to be the next so & so” I always wonder why they would want that. When I speak to my industry peers and to brides, I am exactly the same person as when I speak to my clients. They hire me for my personality and are willing to pay more money for somebody who has an opinion and who will freely give it to them. I’m the personality that will laugh with my client — of course WED The Magazine
advice
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When standing in front of people imparting your knowledge on them, try to bring a little personality to the party. How boring is it to listen to a speaker behind a podium drone on about how fabulous they are? Brag about how much money they make? Tell you they’ve never had any problems with their weddings and they always tell their clients “YES”…and best of all… their business is AMAZING! If you’ve been in this business long enough, you have had the opportunity to learn so much. People who come to hear you speak are looking for something that they can take back and implement TODAY to make their business better than it was before they paid to see you. So don’t stand up there and lie to people. Be honest and tell people what you do right Vol. 2, No. 1
and what you do wrong. People can learn just as easily from your mistakes as than they can learn from your accomplishments. They aren’t there to hear about what you think about yourself. They are there to learn from you. Give them the goods that you were paid to give…and they paid to hear. WED: Your Sparkliatti blog has amazing inspiration for couples planning their wedding. First, where did you come up with the name? And what have been some of your recent favorite posts? When I was trying to come up with a name, I wanted something that wasn’t just “Sasha Souza’s Blog” or “Blog of Sasha Souza Events” – because I wanted to feature things that weren’t just my work but showcased a lot of different talent and voices. Sparkliatti came from the term Glitterati, actually. It was an available URL and I’ve had it for about 4 years now. My daughter, Hilary, now does most of the posts and editing and I admit that we’re a little behind in posting new articles — but it’s wedding
season and she works as an event planner in New York City so she’s very busy as well. Some of my favorite recent posts are all from Hilary and they are: Steven Tyler’s Rock Weddinspiration board Bridal Skirts A three part post on Plaid An older post I love that I did is titled: Feed Your Vendors. {Editor’s Note: this is a MUST read for every bride and groom. And vendors could learn a thing or two in this article too.} WED: How are you incorporating social media into your business? Has any platform changed how you work? I have used all types of social media almost from the inception. I have been on twitter for four years, had a Pinterest account very early on, use Facebook’s Pages for our business page, Linked In and more. I think that each have their own set of benefits and
Photo by Sherman Chu WED The Magazine
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drawbacks. The biggest one is the need for time to invest in social media. It’s an interesting dichotomy. You want to use it to gain “popularity” by way of likes, followers, etc. but you also have to use your time for the clients who have hired you and are paying you to plan their events. It’s difficult to multitask the amount of time it takes to dedicate to having real conversations with people on Twitter, Facebook, etc. I can’t design a person’s layout of their event while reading tweets of other people in
platform. The one social media that has served me very well, is online inspiration boards. Sites like Pinterest and Indulgy are great for me because it plays directly into what I do. It is still a vortex of time to build boards, but we have used it in such a way as to exchange client ideas so that we can design their event with them visually before putting in time to put it on paper only to have them change it down the road because they didn’t give us the proper visuals in the first place. WED: Tell me about your book “Signature Sasha” – how did this come about?
the industry and having 15 ongoing conversations. I can’t believe that anybody can be busy in their business and tweet 150 tweets in a day. For that reason, I’ve stepped back significantly from Twitter and use it only to announce things and thank/ acknowledge people. I feel that I need to give my attention to my clients and potential clients and not worry about gaining popularity by way of that WED The Magazine
Signature Sasha: Magnificent Weddings by Design is the first book I have produced so it was a learning experience. It is a hard cover wedding design book featuring beautiful photography of all aspects of wedding design, including never before seen weddings. The book was initially conceived when I was approached by a publisher about showcasing our unique work and at first, I didn’t know if I really wanted to do it — only because of the amount of work that goes into writing and choosing the images, etc. and I wanted the book to have my voice, so I didn’t want to rely on a ghost writer or anybody to design it for me. I am so glad that I did it the way that I did – over 5 months. It was an intense schedule writing, editing, sorting, uploading and refining images but I’m extremely proud of the final product. I worked with a layout artist and editor to refine my vision once it was on paper and they gave me good input on how a book normally would layout. It was honored as the Gold Medal winner of the 2011 IPPY (Independent Publishers Award) in the Home & Garden Category. WED: What can couples and wedding professionals learn from your book? This book is a culmination of my many years experience and Signature Sasha: Magnificent Vol. 2, No. 1
Weddings by Design provides brides & grooms, event planners, caterers, designers and florists with unique design inspiration. It is the first book of its kind to offer details on event design from inspiration to execution. Signature Sasha: Magnificent Weddings by Design not only provides stunning images to use for inspiration, but is also chock full of guidance on how to go about creating events that are one of a kind. It contains comprehensive advice ranging from color couture, to floral, to creating inspiration boards and allows the reader to dream about their ideal wedding design. You can also follow along my own memory lane as I showcase how other couples have chosen their own personal signature style by reading the background on eight "love story" real weddings.
WED: What advice would like to leave for our engaged couples reading this article? The best advice I have for couples is to not worry about what they didn’t have at their wedding. Realize that nobody is going to miss it if you don’t have hard liquor but serve really delicious wine and craft beers, they won’t miss the ice sculpture you couldn’t afford or the groom’s cake. As long as you are providing them with great timing that evening, wonderful food {buffet, station, passed or sit-down dinner}, a place to sit and a fun bit of entertainment, you will hit the event out of the park. Also remember that the groom’s opinions on everything from décor to food to booze or music are valid. I ask brides to give the groom “his way” on things that don’t matter as much to her and to pick her battles. The wedding isn’t the bride’s day and it’s not the most important day of your life. It’s ONE of the most important days and it’s about the couple and their guests. ~ WED ~
Be sure to check out Sasha Souza Events’ website and the Sparkliatti Blog for more magnificent design inspiration. Be sure to check out Sasha’s Inspiration Boards on her website. WED The Magazine
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Our Get Ready for the Gown section will help you get in shape and healthy for your wedding day and beyond. Our fitness and nutrition experts will provide you with a plan to get you gown ready!
Get Ready for the Gown!
Personal Trainer Chante Pemberton dispels the myth of bulking up with weights. Summer Weddings mean strapless gowns and many brides wanting the perfect arms. The biggest mistake we women make is we do too many repetitions and not enough weight. I don't know how many times I've had female clients say, "I don't want to do too much weight and get bulky." Please know that challenging your arm muscles with more than a five pound dumbbell won't bulk you up. Women and men develop muscle differently due to hormonal differences. As women, we are a bit too low in testosterone to seriously bulk up. Biceps, Triceps and shoulders can be targeted by several different exercises. I suggest two or three different exercises for each muscle. One of the best exercises that will work all these muscles as well as work your chest, back and core muscles is the push up. The Push up is a great way to warm up before your arm routine. {Visit the WED YouTube Channel for Chante’s Pushup video.}
can easily do two sets of 15 repetitions take it up a notch and go for eight pound dumbbells. Triceps are one area of the woman's body that is a high fat area. This is the area I hear the most complaints about. So get busy dipping, not chips. You can do tricep dips anywhere there is a chair or a bench. Grab those dumbbells and add kickbacks to your arm routine. Five pound dumbbells can work well on this move. The shoulder is a three headed muscle—front, medial, and posterior deltoid. We need to do several moves to get a well rounded shoulder. Working the rear shoulder is what most people are missing in their workout routine. A bent over fly can target this muscle and I suggest starting with light weight on this move. The front raise, upright row and overhead press will target your medial and front deltoid. Start with 3-5 pound dumbbells and remember two sets of 15 should be challenging.
Bicep curls with dumbbells or elastics in different directions is important so you work Remember, marriage is hard work and both parts of this "two headed" muscle. Try challenging and so should the arm workout using at least five pound dumbbells and if you that will help you Get Ready For The Gown. WED The Magazine
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View Chante’s Latest Video on WED’s YouTube Channel. Be sure to consult a doctor before starting any kind of exercise routine.
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Our Get Ready for the Gown section will help you get in shape and healthy for your wedding day and beyond. Our fitness and nutrition experts will provide you with a plan to get you gown ready!
Consult with your physician before starting any new meal plan or making a change in your diet.
Get Ready for the Gown!
Meal Planning Maven Linda Shapiro creates meal plans that can help you Get Ready for your gown.
One key to changing your diet is planning your meals. Our friend, the Meal Planning Maven Linda Shapiro, is phenomenal at this task. Here’s a sample meal plan from her website, MealPlanningMaven.com. Contact Linda directly for a custom designed meal plan to meet your needs.
Pudge-Buster Sample Meal Plan Want to blast–off that annoying “pudge” that mysteriously found its way to your tummy and hips? Then start out by trying MPM’s Sample Pudge-Buster Menu. Simple and satisfying, this menu is designed for busy cooks like you who have limited food shopping and prep time. Check out MPM’s tantalizing array of Personalized Meal Planning Services that will help you create a healthy eating lifestyle and say goodbye to pesky “Scale Creep.”
Pudge-Buster Sample Meal Plan Click links for recipes
Breakfast Two Eggs Over Baby Spinach 1 cup berries 1 slice sprouted grain toast
Power Snack
MPM will also teach you strategies for making healthy restaurant choices, coping with food temptations at parties, as well as conquering stress-induced snack attacks. So get ready to clean out your fridge, freezer and pantry. Don’t think Meal Planning Maven doesn’t know you have a pint of Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food ice cream lurking in your freezer!
Fresh veggies with salsa
Intrigued? Then why not take the next step and find out what MPM can do for you.
Power Snack
Lunch Farmer’s Market Salad topped with chicken, beef, turkey or fish
Cherries 'n Berries Smoothie Here is a sample of a Pudge-Busting meal plan MPM offers to her clients. To make your meal plans truly personalized, MPM will do a detailed interview with you to identify your food likes and dislikes as well as find out how she can create menus that will work well with your lifestyle and budget. WED The Magazine
Dinner Chicken Cacciatore served over spaghetti squash Steamed broccoli with lemon and garlic
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MPM’s Golden Pudge-Busters 1. Don’t be fooled by the latest crash diet…they almost never work. Any weight lost often comes right back after normal eating is resumed. 2. Create reasonable goals. You didn’t put the weight on overnight, so don’t expect it will magically disappear just as fast. 3. Record your goals and progress. Get yourself a journal and use it. It has been proven people who are successful at losing weight and keeping it off record their journey every step of the way. 4. Get rid of the junk. Give your fridge, freezer and pantry a makeover, getting rid of the holiday excess. Fill your shelves with fresh fruits and veggies, lean proteins and healthy snacks. 5. No skipping breakfast, please. Cutting out the first meal of the day not only may make you feel crabby, but also feeling so hungry by the afternoon that you will wind up scarfing down many more calories than if you had eaten breakfast. 6. Water is a huge appetite buster. Before you binge on sugary snacks, ask yourself if you are truly hungry. Chances are you’re just thirsty, so drink up! Not to mention, your skin will thank you too. 7. Beware of diet saboteurs. We all have them in our lives-family, friends and co-workers always urging you to eat “just one cookie.” Just say…“I have food allergies and this food makes me sick.” Works every time! 8. Find another best friend besides your scale. Unlike a true best friend, the scale may let you down, especially if it won’t budge. Take your measurements regularly or judge success by how you look and feel. 9. Get out there and move. Find a balance between aerobic and resistance training that works for you. This is not rocket science, but it works. Plus, exercise is fun and a real stress-buster. 10. Mini-indulgences are great rewards. Get in the habit of treating yourself. Not with chocolate cake mind you, but what about a nice massage, or a new pair of skinny jeans?
CALLING ALL BRIDES and MEMBERS of the WEDDING PARTY! NEED to BLAST OFF SOME PUDGE BEFORE YOUR NEXT FITTING?
Well, you’re in luck! The Meal Planning Maven (MPM)—our own Get Ready for the Gown’s Linda Shapiro— is closely associated with the blockbuster, results-driven Smoothie Shakedown, created by Ann Louise Gittleman Ph.D. C.N.S. Find out why this EASY 14- day plan based on 2 delicious smoothies, 1 healthy meal plus snacks daily is sweeping the nation! If you need to drop “just a few or a whole bunch,” before the BIG DAY, the Smoothie Shakedown may be the perfect solution for you. And… MPM would be delighted to coach you through the program from start to finish! MPM can also help you personally by sharing her healthy eating secrets you can use, today, tomorrow and always. Her specialties include creating customized meal planner packages and one- onone food coaching, utilizing the highly successful book, The Fat Flush Plan, also by Dr. Gittleman. The skills you will learn with Meal Planning Maven will help you achieve your goals and hopefully avoid the telltale newlywed “pudge” all too common for many new brides (and grooms!) WED The Magazine
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Bridal Show Betty is here to share her views and review of everything bridal on TV. And maybe even find a lesson or two. In this issue, Bridal Show Betty looks at casting notices for some of the latest reality wedding shows and Randy to the Rescue.
Hi – I’m Betty – and I’m a bridalshow-aholic. It all started innocently enough – watching Bridezillas and Whose Wedding is it Anyway while I was planning my wedding. But I just can’t get enough! I’ve even sat through all the episodes of Bridalplasty – evidence of my problem. So, I finally found a way to justify my viewing habits. I’m writing this column for WED and rating shows for you with mini-tv’s (1-5 TV’s). But I prefer to stay anonymous – known only by my nom de plume, Bridal Show Betty. In our column in this edition, we wanted to share a few upcoming casting calls for Wedding TV shows. Yes, real brides actually make it onto these shows! Below we share the casting calls for some of our favorite shows. If you’re looking to be on Bridezillas, we’ll let you figure that one out on your own. WE tv's hit series My Fair Wedding is now seeking brides who are getting married in the LA area in JULY, AUGUST or SEPTEMBER, 2012 and need a little help making their dream weddings a reality.
And for TLC, the producers of Say Yes to the Dress want to help you find your ultimate wedding dress! If you're a bride with a HUGE personality and smaller budget, then a new TLC wedding show, I Found the Gown, could be your answer to scoring a designer dress for less! If you or someone you know is on the hunt for a discounted designer wedding dress, the experts at Vows bridal outlet in Boston can find you your very own dream gown. Whether you're a fashionista on a budget, someone who loves the art of the deal, or a bride-to-be running out of shopping time, they can solve your dress dilemma. Visit the TLC Casting Page for more information. And for those brides who prefer a more extravagant experience, world renowned bridal stylist Renée Strauss and her colorful team of consultants are back for a sophomore season of Brides of Beverly Hills. Vowing to deliver even more glitz, glamour and drama, season two will continue to follow Strauss and her team as they navigate the unique personalities and demands of the Beverly Hills bride. Produced by Planetworks Inc., this 15-episode half hour season is scheduled to premiere October 2012.
This season, they're looking for brides with UNIQUE wedding ideas -- ideas so unique that the groom, family, friends or bridal party may not be completely convinced that it's a good idea. If you are that bride (or that groom, family member or friend), then they The series is currently casting for brides looking to want to hear from YOU! David Tutera can take any share their story. For more information visit the TLC unique idea and turn it into the perfect wedding Casting Page at: tlc.discovery.com/casting event for EVERYONE. Visit WeTV’s Casting Page for more info. WED The Magazine
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Randy to the Rescue {Behind the Scenes Video} Watch on TLC
Randy to the Rescue TLC, Fridays 10 p.m. Well it’s about time Randy Fenoli got his own show!! Randy to the Rescue, TLC’s newest bridal installment, features bridal style guru Randy Fenoli (of Say Yes to the Dress fame) as he hits the road to bring his favorite gowns, unsurpassed dress knowledge and signature styling approach to lucky brides around the country. Across eight cities, Randy provides a “head to hem” makeover for brides-to-be along the way. From dresses and accessories to hair and makeup, Randy creates a bridal blueprint for each bride, with a full look that can be replicated on their actual wedding day. WED The Magazine
a Must See!!
Straight off the runway and transported via big rig, Randy rolls into town with a bridal salon on wheels to dish out his top tips on bridal style, do’s and don’ts and the hottest trends for the season. Along the way, viewers are introduced to the emotional stories of deserving brides wishing for dramatic makeovers for their big day. City stops include: San Diego, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Nashville, Cincinnati, Boston, Minneapolis. Never fear: it’s RANDY TO THE RESCUE! I love this new take on the bridal gown show. If you missed any of the first run shows, be on the look out as they re-run on TLC.
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Our wedding planning experts teach you how to organize for your wedding day. In this issue, Paige Simpson and Kelly Werder of No Worries Weddings and Events talk about how linens can make a room.
When creating your wedding design, consider than $10 per table but add an easy touch of all five senses, including touch, particularly in shimmer and sophistication. regards to table linens. If you are holding your wedding in a Most venues, such as hotels and country restaurant or country club, they often will clubs, will supply a poly-blend standard linen, only supply a linen that does not go full to usually in white or other neutral color, for the floor. To give your wedding a more your wedding. By upgrading your linen to a elegant look, be sure that you have fullmore elegant fabric, it can dramatically length linens. This is vital if you are using change the look and feel of your event. rental tables with metal legs—you will want Many brides either do not think to upgrade to cover these up! the linen or do not have it in the budget. When planning for your centerpieces (and the whole tablescape), consider allotting a portion of your per table budget toward linens. Even an overlay with a bit of color or shimmer can make a dramatic difference. An organza overlay for example, may run less
If your budget is truly limited, consider a table runner to add a pop color or style to the table. Many linen companies now offer a variety of fabrics in a runner style. And be sure to consider an upgrade in the napkin as well. Your guests will appreciate that.
From the Connie Duglin Linen website—Example of a design tool that allows you to choose the various linens options and try them on your table. Many linen rental sites offer this. We recommend viewing the linens in person as well via a sample or swatch.
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Have you checked out . . .
With the growing popularity of Pinterest among brides, WED launched the WEDpinning.com blog to feature some of the best wedding pin boards and share “pinteresting” news, such as Pinterest Apps and add-ons. You’ll also find featured Pinterest contests including our “Pin it to Win it” Inspired by Sasha contest.
Happy Pinning! Example of WEDpinning.com Pin Board of the Week (above).
WED is on Pinterest! Follow our boards: Pinterest.com/wedbiz/
Pinterest is by invitation only. Need an invite? Send your request to: editor@wedbizmedia.com with the subject line: Pinterest Invite WED The Magazine
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tech WED
We’ve changed “There’s an App for That” to techWED to encompass even more technology available to help you with your wedding. We’ll share not only iPhone/iPad and Android Apps, but any technology that may be helpful. And, as always, be sure to check out the WedBiz Media App!! Yes our own iPad/iPhone App is now FREE! Designed for the iPad it can also be used on the iPhone. You can download it in your App Store today.
TouchNote– It’s the marrying of digital and print—and we love it! TouchNote allows you to create a postcard from your photos — either online, or using their App (iPhone/iPad/Android) and then have it printed and shipped for you. We love this idea for Honeymoon postcards OR Save-the-Dates. Another great wedding use — send postcards to friends and family who were unable to attend your Destination Wedding! You could even use these for your Thank You cards. Use your own photos or ask your photographer for a fab engagement photo or wedding photo. Cost: $1.49 per postcard including postage Recommendation: A fabulous technology for those looking for an easy way to print and share photo postcards. Do a test run and see what you think!
How it works Upload your photo for the front of the postcard. Then add your message on the back. Add in the address you want to mail it to. Make the payment and you’re done! Can be done online via their website or using the TouchNote App via iPhone, iPad or Android.
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We tested out a sample Save the Date using an engagement photo by Aimee Rossi Photography and added some sample text on the back. It was easy to do although some of the options (colors, fonts) are limited. It’s especially great for the one-off honeymoon postcard, especially to close family and friends. Try it out and let us know what you think!
tech WED
WedBiz Media – our App is live!! And we are so excited to bring it to you. Our digital magazines WED and WedBiz Journal are both housed in the WedBiz Media App. Take your inspiration on the go! Cost: Now it’s FREE!!! Recommendation: Go get it!
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For the Groom
Don’t Fear the Bridal Show!
She said yes, now what?
Your first thought when asked by your bride if you want to go to the latest bridal show is probably, “why would I want to do that?” OR “I’d rather be anywhere else.”
Ideas & Advice for Grooms
But there are quite a few reasons you should consider attending. Check out our Top 5 below:
1. Your opinion matters! This is a great chance to be efficient and meet a whole bunch of vendors you need for your wedding in one spot. If you’re there to meet them, you can put in your two cents when making a decision. 2. Many shows now offer a “Man Cave” or “Groom’s Lounge” to get away during the fashion show or if it just gets unbearable. Find out if the show near you offers this. 3. You can check out all the cool free stuff/ giveaways and help to enter the raffles. 4. Two words: Free Cake 5. Your bride will appreciate it and it won’t kill you to spend 3 hours at a bridal show. And the next time you want to (golf/fish/ go to a monster truck rally/insert your 3-4 hour activity that you like to do that your bride does not like), you can remind her that you went with her to the bridal show. : - )
Bottom line — it’s your wedding too and this is a great way to help with the planning.
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Does your guy need some groom advice? Check out these Groomy blogs: The Man Registry— with a Groom 101 section
Groom’s Advice from the Man Registry is a great blog to follow covering all kinds of groomy topics.
The Grooms Says—an irreverent view from the Groom’s side of the aisle
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Groom Style: KnotTheory.com We love these ties from Knot Theory. Each tie set can be worn multiple ways offer great options for all the groomsmen. The fashion forward colors are vibrant. Learn more on KnotTheory.com.
For the Groom She said yes, now what? Ideas & Advice for Grooms WED The Magazine
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Blogs for Brides Our review of the Best Blogs to help you with your wedding planning With so many great wedding blogs, we went in search this issue for those that help with creating your design vision and offer advice. Here are a few that offer great inspiration. Be sure to check WED’s Blog for vendor profiles, giveaways and Weekly Inspiration!
The Boho Wedding Blog — Are you looking for alternative wedding ideas for your bohemian wedding? Then this is the blog for you! This fun UK based blog offers Sparkliatti Blog— We’ve featured her blog inspiration, trends, DIY Tutorials and real before but since Sasha Souza graces our weddings with an alternative feel in mind. cover for this edition, we mention it again. www.boho-weddings.com Planner and Designer extraordinaire Sasha Souza’s blog—Sparkliatti—always has lots of gorgeous ideas for your wedding. We love when she creates inspiration boards and shares them. Even better when she shares her real wedding stories! You can subscribe to her blog and receive updates by email so you don’t miss any of the sparkly Staggered—Another blog from across the fabulousness! pond, Staggered is geared toward the groom www.sparkliatti.com and his guys to help him through the planning process. As they say, “We’ve got stag-do ideas to make you the best best man and enough wedding competitions, free offers and discounts to keep you going for life.” www.iamstaggered.com
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Real Weddings, Real Inspiration Vendors may submit their weddings on Two Bright Lights.
In this edition’s Something Borrowed, we share weddings with amazing locations and a nod to vintage style. Each Wedding in this issue shows that a fabulous location can make for fabulous photos. Plus, we love a touch of vintage! Want even more Real Wedding inspiration and bonus photos? Sign-up for WED’s Weekly Inspiration for Real Wedding and other inspiration delivered right to your Inbox!
Photographer: Diane Askew Photography
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Photographer: Brochman Photography
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Photographer: Mark Hayes Photography
All Photos by Brochman Photography
e k i M igh &
Kayle
What an interesting location for a ceremony? On the tarmac in front of a vintage airplane—we love it! And we love the other touches like paper airplanes to throw during the recessional, parachute backgrounds, and telegraph invitations. Featured Vendors: Photographer: Brochman Photography Floral Designer: Simply Stated Elegance Venue: Fleming Field
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All Photos by: Diane Askew Photography
i l A vintage wedding in wine country— E & y r Hila what could be more beautiful! This gorgeous Sonoma, California
vineyard provides an amazing backdrop for the ceremony, with a dinner held inside the winery. We love the vintage style gown and styling as well as the details. Featured Vendors: Photographer: Diane Askew Photography Venue: Gundlach Bundschu Winery Caterer: the girl & the fig CATERS! Floral Designer: Lavendar,Lavender Musicians: Hot Club of San Francisco Rentals: Wine Country Party & Events
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k r a M Kelle & A Castle setting, vintage style and a horse & carriage — how can you lose with this wedding! We love the feathers in the hair and the fedora for the groom. Vintage done elegantly! Featured Vendors: Photographer: Mark Hayes Photography Venue: The Dunafon Castle Hair Stylist: Keri Winters Bridal Band: Swing Essence
All photos by: Mark Hayes Photography
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All Photos by: Timothy Faust Photography
lieThe Keystone Ranch in Colorado provided the r a h C ily &
L
setting for this fun wedding. The rustic feel was great for photos. You can tell from the photos that the guests had a great time. Featured Vendors: Photographer: Timothy Faust Photography Venue: Keystone Ranch Event Planner: Bliss Elevated
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Featured Bridal Shows
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No Worries Weddings Your Destination Wedding Specialists Full Service Wedding Planning Day-of Coordination Officiating
Serving Southwest Florida 239-821-9381
info@noworriesevents.com MyNoWorriesWedding.com WED The Magazine
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