"B" is for Bella Bridesmaid

Bella Bridesmaid of Los Gatos, CA



Bella Bridesmaid was created in 2000 by Southern gal Bridget Brown in response to an overwhelming need for stylish, wearable, and modern bridesmaid dresses. The boutique was so well received that Bella Bridesmaid became a franchise in May 2006.

The Los Gatos Bella Bridesmaid owned and operated by Debra Chin opened in 2009 and is one of the newest of the nearly 40 Bella Bridesmaid locations across the country.

About Debra Chin

Debra was a VP of Marketing for a software company that was acquired by Dell, and wanted to do something entrepreneurial leveraging her passion for fashion. Her experience as a frustrated bridesmaid having to wear expensive, unbecoming, and poorly made dresses led to her interest in opening Bella Bridesmaid in Los Gatos. She says, “I lived ‘27 Dresses’!”



Bella Bridesmaid provides training for its owners before each location is launched. And she belongs to Bay Area Wedding Network.

Debra loves helping brides find dresses that they and their bridesmaids love to wear at and after the wedding!

Besides her job, Debra loves travelling to new and exotic places around the globe!



Debra’s Favorite Type of Bride to Work With and Most Unusual Request

Debra loves to work with brides who have an idea of what they are interested in, yet are open to options in terms of colors, fabrications, and styles.

Debra says her most unusual request was with a bride who was expecting and had only three weeks until the wedding to find a dress. Thankfully, they helped find her something that she loved and looked terrific in!

Hottest Trends Right Now



Designers are favoring softer fabrics over traditional taffeta and shantung, such as silk chiffon, organza, and silk charmeuse. The one shoulder dress is back and above the knee lengths are now an option.

Pricing at Bella Bridesmaid and Advice to Brides on How to Save Money!

Dresses range in price from $170 to $450. Some designers offer discounts based on the number of girls in the wedding party.

“We offer some simple, beautiful bridal gowns that are $1,000 or less. If a bride is looking for something chic and elegant, there are options out there that are well made and affordable.



Bella Bridesmaid, 465 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA
Website:www.bellabridesmaid.com

Phone Number: (408)399-4649
Office Hours By Appointment: Tues to Friday, 11am to 7pm, Sat/Sun 10am to 6pm

"A" is for Artisan Chocolates

DIANA PHILLIPS ARTISAN CHOCOLATES

Diana Philips is the Owner and Creative Director of Diana Phillips Artisan Chocolates.



About Diana Phillips

Diana attended Ecole LeNotre, just outside Paris. Other famous alums are Alice Medrich and Pierre Hermes of Paris. She also apprenticed with Christopher Elbow for a short stint. She belongs to ABC, SMARTY, and SOS. She has been featured in Riviera Magazine, Orange Coast Magazine, Coast Magazine, the LA Times, OC Register, Brides and Bloom, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

How She Got Started

Diana was a Creative Director in advertising, working in Italy. One of their clients was Perugian. She was based in Milan, which is very close to Turin, home of some of Italy's great chocolate makers. She has had her own business for two and a half years now.



Diana loves everything about her job, "Since I come from a creative background, most everything I do has a custom quality to it. So I love concepting with my clients to create a product that’s completely theirs. Whether it’s the hand-painted finish, or the flavor infusion, or the packaging, or the presentation. When my team is at work, we crank up the music and put all our passion into our work, so all that joy comes through in our products. Just as in 'Like Water for Chocolate'."

Her partner is a sculptor, enabling her to do all the custom molds she does. Besides her studio team which varies in number, she also has a marketing guru, an accountant, a graphic designer and business mentor.

Her company's mission statment is the same as her personal philosophy:
"Our Mission is to Share-

Exquisite hand-made-from-the-heart chocolate and all the sustenance of life:
Joy, Creativity, Beauty, Prosperity, Food, Laughter, Ideas, and Gratitude.

To our customers, our collaborators, our vendors, our family, our friends, our world."

Artistic Vision and Influences



"I am an artisan. I take that word literally in each and every aspect of my work. We want to leave the world a happier and more beautiful place as a result of the experience of collaborating with us."

She is influenced by fashion, sculpture, architecture, nature, wallpaper, paper designs, graphics, color trends, floral trends, health and nutrition, organic farming, local growers' beautiful produce, FOOD FOOD FOOD, and artisanal craftspeople of all kinds.



Most Popular Flavors and Trends

Popular flavors are as varied as her clients. Her most popular is a collection of Sea Salt Caramels. She uses a salt from Bali that’s kind of floral, a red salt from Hawaii that has a completely different mineral content and then a salt from the Isle of Cypress that has a beautiful pyramid shaped crystal that manages to hold it’s shape once it’s incorporated into the caramel so there’s little crunch as the caramel melts.

"I have a local CSA, and one day I received a basketful of rosemary and grapefruit. I puzzled over what do with these ingredients and tried a granita – which was delicious. It was so fresh and alive that I wanted to take it into a chocolate format, so I ended up creating a rosemary spiked grapefruit caramel I pair with white chocolate. The sweetness of the chocolate is a perfect foil for the tart citrus, and woodsy herb. I also have a Meyer Lemon and Thyme white chocolate ganache that has some of those properties."

The trends in general that she's paying attention to are the attention to detail and the joy of celebrating the individual. Save the date and engagements are now being celebrated,"I’m such a fan of how these events are being expressed and adding more depth and insights into each union. Let the good times roll! Even though couples may have to be more cognizant of budgets, creativity is alive and healthy."



Diana's Favorite...and Most Unusual Experiences

"One of my favorites was for a fund-raising gala where a great performer was donating a performance. As a backdrop for the dessert bar, we designed a series of 3’ x 2’ chocolate base relief portraits of the guest performer that were broken with mallets at the post-party and eaten."

Diana says one of her most unusual experiences was when,"I had a gorgeous couple that were both graduating with PHD’s from Harvard. The bride wanted to represent her Persian heritage and palate while the groom was faithful to his Hispanic roots. We had tastings that ranged from rose, pomagranate, cardamom orange blossom and saffron to chili pineapple, mango, cinnamon dulce de leche and pumpkin seed."

Diana's Advice to Brides on How to Save Money!.
"Really think things through. And trust the professionals you hire."



dianaphillipschocolates.com
dianaphillipschocoaltes.com/blog

Phone Number:310-795-0447

A Modern Art Museum Wedding in Santa Clara

I love clients who know how to have FUN! Alice and Steve were some of the best clients I've ever had, and their wedding was a real party!

Instead of clanking glasses with a fork to get the bride and groom to kiss, their guests had to sing karaoke songs to get the bride and groom to kiss.




One part of my job that I really love is working on escort card displays. Here, the bride chose these cute champagne buckets and we filled them with yummy jelly beans that I purchased wholesale. Candy can be really expensive, especially when creating a candy display. Be sure you have a professional wedding consultant working for you, to ensure you get the best prices around. Another note about escort cards is that you need to allow plenty of time for your planner to get this organized in advance. Alphabetizing escort cards or place cards on the day of the wedding is not fun for anyone!!! Try to get the entire seating plan finalized AT LEAST a week in advance of your wedding, to save headache.






Instead of a traditional guest book, Alice and I came up with this fun idea. An interactive guest book, which is actually a blank canvas that an artistic friend drew the images of the happy couple onto. Guests then used the paint and brushes my team set out to fill in grids on the canvas. The end result was a piece of art the couple can hang on their wall at home!



All photos courtesy of Jerry Yoon

Love,
The Soup Maven

Wish Upon a Wedding

We LOVE Press! So whenever my company, San Jose Wedding Consultants, or any other project that I am managing is featured in the press (such as the San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway or the brand new Wish Upon a Wedding), I like to share this info with you!

My latest project is the creation of a nationwide nonprofit 501 c 3 charitable organization called Wish Upon a Wedding. I could not possibly be more proud of this organization and what it stands for! You can read all about it right here:

Awesome logo designed by Kim Schwede

By Marina Mayer for the Chicago Marriage Examiner


Everyone deserves their dream wedding, even if they only five months to live.

That’s why Liz Guthrie founded Wish Upon a Wedding, America’s only wedding wish-granting organization that grants weddings and civil union ceremonies to couples facing life-threatening medical conditions.

Chicago Marriage Examiner chats with Guthrie to learn the ins and outs of Wish Upon a Wedding, which is set to launch January 2010.

Chicago Marriage Examiner: What is Wish Upon a Wedding? What is its purpose?

Liz Guthrie: The purpose of Wish Upon a Wedding is to:
· grant weddings and/or civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States to couples (18 years and older) who are facing life-threatening medical conditions.
· celebrate the courage, determination and spirit of these couples by granting their dream wedding wishes. Our hope is that chosen recipients can inspire other couples facing similar situations to find hope and strength.

Chicago Marriage Examiner: How does it work? Please describe the process.

Guthrie: The application process includes an online submission form, where the couple tells their story, explains why they’re seeking assistance, a description of their illness, how long they have to live and proof from their doctors. The application also includes a photograph and a personal letter that is no longer than one page in length and describes their dream. Applications will not be accepted however until the organization’s launch in January 2010.

[Meanwhile], the founding chapter is located in Northern California and consists of a mix of wedding professionals and other prominent business people. We are currently establishing regional chapters across the country, each with its own board of directors (11 different volunteers). Wish Upon a Wedding will grant weddings and civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States.

When a wish application is received for a certain part of the country, the wish will be forwarded to that regional chapter. It is then up to the regional chapter and their board of directors to execute the wedding planning process. That regional chapter will then call upon their database of volunteers (known as “Wish Granters”) to put together a wedding for the applicant. Each chapter will maintain a database of

“Wish Granters,” based on 20 different wedding vendor categories :
·Wedding Planner- will oversee all aspects of wedding coordination, including timeline creation, ceremony choreography, and will work with volunteer coordinator and all vendors to ensure a smooth wedding and reception
· Wedding and Reception Venue - site where wedding and reception will take place
· Caterer - will provide basic meal for wedding reception - no alcohol
· Rental Company - will provide basic rental of tables, chairs, linens, china, flatware, glassware, etc.
· Photographer - will provide basic, four-hour wedding day photography package
· Videographer - will provide basic, four-hour wedding day video package
· Cake Designer - will provide basic wedding cake
· Gown Shop - will provide basic wedding gown
· Tuxedo Shop - will provide basic grooms’ tuxedos or suits, if preferred
· Limo Company - will provide four hours of wedding day transportation for couple getting married.
· Officiant - will conduct the custom ceremony, based on couple’s desires
· Hair - will do couples’ hair for wedding
· Makeup Artist - will do couples’ makeup for wedding
· Stationery Designer/Printer - basic invitations, ceremony programs, menus, escort cards and table numbers
· Florist - will provide basic flowers: bouquet, corsages, bouts and centerpieces for reception
· DJ - will provide music and audio needed for ceremony and reception
· Musicians - will provide music for ceremony
· Jeweler - will provide basic wedding bands
· Hotel - will provide up to four rooms for two nights for couple and immediate family or loved ones
· Miscellaneous Entertainment based on couples’ wishes, i.e., caricature artist, photo booth, magician, etc.

NOTE* The term BASIC to be defined on a case by case basis.

Sometimes that may mean the ceremony will take place in a hospice or at a hospital bedside. If the applicant is healthy enough to be married at a wedding venue, Wish Upon a Wedding will make it happen. Wish Upon a Wedding will also fly up to four family members or loved ones in to the city the wedding is to be held in. If the couple wishes to marry outside of the area they live in, and the request is reasonable, Wish Upon a Wedding will do everything it can to get the couple to their destination of choice.

Chicago Marriage Examiner: What separates your non-profit from others that may be designed to carry out similar functions?


Guthrie: There is no other organization in the country specifically designed to grant wedding wishes to terminally ill patients. Wish Upon a Wedding is filling a unique void, relying on the generosity of wedding professionals’ donated time and services.

Chicago Marriage Examiner: What are you doing to get the word out?

Guthrie: We do not officially launch until January of 2010. At that time, we will be sending out press releases and hosting a launch party in the San Francisco Bay Area. We have a public relations/media chair on our board of directors, as well as a marketing chair. These two volunteers operate the Twitter page, as well as our Facebook fan page. We are working on a blog, which will feature articles from all of our chapters each month and a fabulous Web site, all of which will be publicly revealed in January 2010.

For now our primary source of getting the word out is the Facebook and Twitter pages. In the future, we hope to partner with bridal-related organizations, destination wedding locales, airlines, hotels and more.

Chicago Marriage Examiner: What other organizations are you involved in? What are these designed to do?

Guthrie: I am the producer of the 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway, a community service project sponsored by 45 of the bay area’s top wedding, hospitality and travel professionals. This wedding is valued at $100,000 and [rewards] one very deserving couple facing some sort of loss, illness or significant hardship.

If interested in forming a chapter in your area, please contact Liz Guthrie at liz@sanjoseweddingconsultants.com. She also is accepting donations of money, volunteers wishing to be on our “Wish Granter” database/list and seeking committee members.

Love,
The Soup Maven

The Fabulous DREAM TEAM on film!

SF Wedding Giveaway 2010 from andrew msv on Vimeo.

The talented Andres Hsu from Studio MSV created this awesome trailer, featuring all the members of the San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway (Which I am proudly producing).

Thanks Andrew--- and THANKS everyone who is making this dream come true for one very lucky couple!

Jewels Are A Bride's Best Friend!

A few weeks ago I had the honor to coordinate a simply stunning wedding for a gorgeous (and incredibly sweet) bride and her groom at the Cypress Hotel in Cupertino.


The whole scene was so dramatic!

North American Theatre Technologhy did all the lighting. And my dear friend Karin Woodward from Haute Horticulture did the amazing florals and a big chunk of the event design.



I loved the color scheme of royal purple, fuschias, and varying shaded of pink. The theme was JEWELS, which the bride and our team made sure were everywhere.

From the table names and their frames

To the escort card display

To the crystals dripping along the head table and inside the floral arrangements...

It was a very sparkly wedding!

All photos courtesy of Michele Lee Willson Photography

Love,
The Soup Maven

Meet The Dream Team Mixer

On Tuesday OCTOBER 6, 2009, we invite you to join us at 1 Fort Mason in San Francisco at the Meet The Dream Team Mixer from 6-9 pm. This event is dedicated to the contestants who have entered to win The 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway. It's the perfect opportunity to meet the generous sponsors who make up The Dream Team and learn more about their services. There will be lots of fun surprises, so be sure to drop by!

DATE:October 6, 2009
TIME:6:00-9:00 pm
PLACE:1 Fort Mason, San Francisco

MAP TO 1 FORT MASON

WEBSITE INFO


WHAT: Meet the Dream Team Mixer

We would like to invite anyone wishing to get married in the bay area to attend this fun and informative evening.

Music from Spintronix.

Flowers from Branch Out Floral and Event Design.

Movie Trailer featuring the Dream Team, from Studio MSV.

Hors d'ouevres from Spring Loaf Catering.

Wines from Franciscan Winery.

Lighting from North American Theatre Technology.

Fashion Show featuring Bella Mia Bride, Bliss Bridal Shoes, Natural Images Skincare, One World Designs, and Get Your DO Up!

Photo Booth from The Laugh Box.

Special Display from Nancy Liu Chin Designs.

Rentals from Williams Party Rentals.

Cupcakes from Freedom Bakery & Confections.

Photography from Lilia Photo.

Limo from Lone Star Limousine.

Featured Special Guests: Haute Horticulture, Balloons Equal Fun, Jon Casey Caricatures, and Blue Water Party Rentals.

Come meet the couples vying for the title of "San Francisco's First Dreamy Couple".

You'll learn more about the vendors responsible for this community-driven project and how you can enter for a chance to win a $100,000.00 Dream Wedding!

We hope to find a hard-working and deserving couple who values the impact of giving back to the community around them.

Could it be YOU?

RSVP:
On the Facebook Fan Page

"D" is for Dilek Sezen - Fine Jewelry

Dilek Sezen is a designer of fine couture jewelry, located in San Francisco, CA.
Each of her designs is "...a distinct piece created with imagination and timeless beauty".



In business for 16 years, Dilek Sezen enjoys creating timeless, custom fine jewelry and she takes pride in the personalized service she provides to her clients.



Dilek began working after she completed school in Istanbul, and was employed by a Turkish company before moving to London and then eventually the United States where she worked for Tiffany.



She now works and designs in San Francisco for her own company, DILEK SEZEN.

Money Saving Tip- Cut the Guest List

Okay- it may seem obvious that cutting the guest list is the number one way to save money on your wedding. But sometimes this is easier said than done. With so many friends and family and co-workers and neighbors... you're a popular person!

However, with a clear set of rules decided upon by you and your fiance, it will be easier to accomplish this task. The trick is to set guidelines and stick by them!

Should anyone ask you why they were not invited to celebrate your big day, you'll be relieved when you can tactfully explain that you did not have the space to invite "coworkers"... or whatever the group is that you've decided to leave off the guest list.

Very often these days, my clients are paying for the wedding themselves. Perhaps they are on their second marriage. Or they've waited until they are in their 30s to tie the knot. Or they've already been living together for a few years, and want to make it official. Whatever the case, it's becoming less and less frequent that I see the bride's parents footing the entire wedding bill.

Because of this, it forces couples to find creative ways to save money and still have a beautiful wedding they can be proud of.

HOW TO DECIDE WHOM TO INVITE


DO THE MATH!
Typically, 50% of your budget will go to the reception costs: Reception venue, food, bar, rentals, and service staff. It's a good idea to decide right off the bat what your total budget is... and stick to it.

Let's say your total wedding budget is $30,000.00 (not including honeymoon or rings). Right away, you know $15,000.00 of that will need to go to the reception costs.

With an average cost for bay area catering between $90-$130 per person, the per person factor adds up QUICKLY. 100 guests x $115 pp= $11,500.00. Add the low-end average venue rental fee of $4,000.00 and now the total = $15,500.00.

If you do your math, you'll see that your MAXIMUM guest count will have to be 100.

Do this simple equation FIRST--- before you even start looking at venues! It will save you so much headache later on.



SHOULD WE INVITE COWORKERS?
If money were no object, and the nation was not in the throes of a recession, you'd be able to invite everyone in your office, plus every neighbor on the block, every friend from college, childhood pals, and every long lost cousin. But! Look around and see that people are spending less... because they are AFRAID. Afraid of layoffs, afraid of pay cuts. So- I would say a good place to start shortening that guest list, is with your coworkers. They understand the fear of not having money- and they understand the current state of your financial situation.

LONG LOST COUSINS & DISTANT FRIENDS
Extended family. For those of you whose parents come from large families (like they were one of six kids), I understand your pain. If your dad had six brothers and sisters, and they all have had children and little cousins keep popping up like mad, it can make your mind spin. Trying to figure out if you should invite that third- removed cousin... or worrying about hurting someones feelings will only make you crazy. Additionally any friends that are more like acquaintances can be removed from the guest list. And finally, just because someone invited you to their own wedding, does not mean you must invite them to yours!

JOHN SMITH ...and GUEST
No dates. It may sound harsh, but if you are really struggling with keeping the numbers down and remaining true to your budget rules, here's another option. This rule applies to your single friends only. You can't expect a couple that has been living together for 2 years to only have one half of them attend.

CHILDREN
Most caterers offer meals at 50% off for kids, or at a lower set rate. But if your list adds up to 30 children, it may be a good idea to establish the "no children" rule.


NOW MAKE THAT GUEST LIST!
I recommend using a spreadsheet like Excel or even a free software program like EZ Wedding Planner to keep an accurate record of who is invited and to track RSVPs as they start to come in.

With a little preparation on your part, you'll avoid unnecessary stress that often accompanies planning a wedding. By sticking to these rules, it will make your job so much easier and you'll always be prepared with the perfect explanation should anyone feel left out.

Contact me today if you'd like to chat about budget preparation or the wedding planning process. I'd love to meet you and help make the journey FUN!

Love,
The Soup Maven

NBC Nightly News Coverage

The 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway is a project I created to give one deserving couple facing loss, illness or hardship the chance at winning the wedding of their dreams.



It's a community service endeavor that involves over 40 local vendors joining together to create a once in a lifetime affair that will be donated to a couple we feel truly needs and deserves it.

On August 4, 2009, the giveaway launched to much fanfare, complete with the NBC Nightly News featuring a story about this philanthropy project sponsored by some of the bay area's most sought-after wedding and travel professionals.

It's funny because the day they interviewed me was anything but calm. Around 3:30 that afternoon, as I babysat a neighbors' kid dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and no makeup, I got a phone call from NBC. They asked if they could interview me about the giveaway. "Sure," I said excitedly, "When would you like to do it?" "Well," said the NBC producer, "We'd like to interview you in the next 30 minutes, so we can get it on TV tonight."

Hmmmmm, okay. I immediately shifted gears and went into full-planning-mode! Part of being a good event planner is knowing how to be flexible and how to change plans at the drop of a hat. Needless to say, a bit of chaos went on behind the scenes.

But I think the interview went well, and I was pretty stoked to see my name in lights!!!

For those of you who have not yet seen it- please stop by the website at The 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway!

If you know someone who could be our Mr. and Mrs. Right, tell them to check it out :)




Love,
The Soup Maven

"C" is for Champagne Promises

Custom Invitation Designs

Astrid Mueller is the owner, illustrator and designer of Switzerland-based company, PotatoMammaDesign and the recently-launched USA-based company, ChampagnePromises.com. Champagne Promises is a brand new invitation design studio, featuring something totally original.

What's so cool and unique about her wedding invitations?

Well, Astrid will design a completely original, custom illustration of the bride and groom, which in and of itself is a pretty awesome thing to have. Then she'll incorporate the one-of-a-kind illustration into anything and everything the couple could desire: Save The Dates, magnets, candy tins, favors, soap, candles, t-shirts, the invitations, table numbers, cake toppers, water bottle labels, wine bottle labels.... you name it. Wherever an image can be printed, ChampagnePromises.com can put it there for you! I have not yet seen anything quite like this before, and I just love being one of the first to introduce this company that is sure to take the world of weddings by storm!

About Astrid

Astrid Mueller specializes in fashion and lifestyle illustration for women and brides, and also provides illustrations for magazines, advertising companies and book publishers. Astrid's creations draw their inspiration from the style and the elegance of the 1950’s, and are brought up-to-date by using contemporary and trendy graphics. The illustrations she creates evoke fun, happiness and joie de vivre. Astrid has had the opportunity to illustrate for major brands, such as Swarovski and Diesel. Her designs have even been published in numerous international women’s fashion magazines, such as Marie Claire, The Knot and You and Your Wedding.

How She Got Started

Astrid loves "...a lot of things about my business--being creative, researching, designing, and all aspects that go into running a business. I feel blessed to do what I love and get paid for it!"

Though she has always been creative and wanted to live in the USA, her career began as a life insurance clerk for several years- not a creatively challenging position.

After a summer in the USA, she began a new line of work, with Swarovski, where she finally was allowed to enter the creative field. Her position there allowed her to develop her creative senses with a wide range of tasks including: catalogue design, photo art direction, photo-shooting assistance, magazine advertisement design, specialty mailing conceptualizing, and print production direction to crystal tattoo design.

After a sabbatical and studying art and design in Alaska, Astrid soon decided to open her own design business. She went straight to the top, when after creating her portfolio, she called the largest women’s magazine in Zurich, Switzerland for an appointment. She was thrilled and surprised to instantly be hired for her first illustration assignment. That was in 2005. Astrid officially opened PotatoMammaDesign.com in March of 2006, and added wedding invitations to her services in 2007.

"One of my biggest joys is when my customers write me specifically to tell me how much they like my designs, and how they will cherish the item I created especially for them for years to come.".

www.ChampagnePromises.com

http://twitter.com/ChampagneP_LLC

Face Book Fan Page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?sid=f3ac6d6ef5ce4e66ed614323927b4037&id=559007886&hiq=astrid%2Cmueller&ref=search

Email:Astrid@ChampagnePromises.com

Phone Number: (917) 445-5223

Champagne Promises LLC, P.O. Box 2245, Kodiak, AK 99615

BRIDES TO BE: Just for fun, visit this link to play with a cool tool on The Knot that Astrid did all the illustrations for! Your Inner Bride


Love,
The Soup Maven

"B" is for Bliss Bridal Shoes

Bliss Bridal Shoes will celebrate their first year in business next month, in September. In a very short time, owner Tamara Connell has taken the wedding world by storm, with her flirty line of brides and bridesmaids shoes. "Every girl dreams of her special wedding day and to be part of such a wonderful contest giving a lucky couple the perfect wedding day with all the trimmings is a very extraordinary opportunity," says Tamara.


How Bliss Bridal Shoes Got Started

Tamara's passion for pretty shoes and special celebrations led to the creation of Bliss Bridal Shoes. She is inspired by elegant, modern, fashion forward styles and has designed a collection of wedding shoes which she feels the bride and her bridal party will love.




What's Great About Tamara's Job?

Tamara loves the creative aspect of her job. She says, "Designing shoes that will compliment the most beautiful wedding gowns is amazing.". Tamara loves receiving emails from brides letting her know how much they love their Bliss Bridal Shoes.

"All girls know how a pair of shoes can transform an outfit from pretty into pretty amazing," says Tamara, "I love knowing that Bliss Bridal Shoes are selected to create that pretty amazing factor.".




As Seen In:

Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine Winter 2009 Brides Magazine February/March 2009 Collector’s Edition

And Upcoming In: Crave San Francisco, Brides Magazine September/October Issue



Bliss Bridal Shoes

Follow on Twitter:Follow Bliss on Twitter


>Email BlissPhone Number: 866.873.0677

Business Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00-4:30 PT



Love,
The Soup Maven

"A" is for ...And Something Blue

...And Something Blue is a fabulous boutique store filled with gorgeous bridesmaids' dresses just waiting to be loved...



Lisa McNichol, owner of ...And Something Blue used to plan events for a living. But now she gets to talk about weddings all day long. ”It’s every girls dream!” she says. Six years ago, she started working at …And Something Blue as their “Sunday Girl”. Instantly, she was in love. “This cute little store where I got to spend my weekends was my passion,” says Lisa.

“When the previous owner was ready to sell I took a leap of faith and jumped right in. That was two years ago and I have never looked back!”.

An adorable shop located in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, …And Something Blue is described by their customers as “a very good, super cute bridal salon with a good selection modern bridesmaids dresses.”.



The shop also carries many fun gifts for brides and bridesmaids, as well as flower girl and mother's dresses.



With rave reviews on Yelp and many local wedding guides, ...And Something Blue should be a shop not to be missed on every San Francisco Bride-to-be's planning list!



...And Something Blue

2999 ½ Washington Street, SF 94115
415-409-0217


>Owner, Lisa McNichol




Love,
The Soup Maven

Win a $100,000 Dream Wedding in San Francisco

Over the last 3 months or so, I have been busy putting together a magnificent TEAM of over 40 of the Bay Area's most sought-after wedding companies. Together, we will create the 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding, aka "The Wedding of the Year".

The wedding will be held at the beautiful Hotel Vitale on May 14, 2010, and will host the lucky bride and groom, along with 75 of their friends and family.

The deserving couple who wins the contest will be announced on Valentine's Day, 2010.

The contest finally opened to much fanfare and a great response.

Be sure to stop by the site and enter for your chance to win!

You've got nothing to lose!

Love,
The Soup Maven

As Featured... on Orange & Blossom

There's a new website in town. Orange & Blossom is a fabulous new website featuring upscale, boutique-inspired wedding favors and accessories. So many wedding favor websites have THOUSANDS of things to choose from, and it just gets to be too much! Orange & Blossom Founder, Lisa Marie Rovito, wanted a website that would inspire visitors, rather than overwhelm them.

Orange & Blossom finds it success through it's simplicity. Check out the site and be ready to drool!

San Jose Wedding Consultants is the "Virtual Wedding Consultant" for this fantastic site! I'm looking forward to helping brides who have questions about the wedding planning process but have not hired a wedding planner to assist them. Maybe they cannot afford one. Or maybe they have not made up their minds whether they need a wedidng planner yet. Below you can read an article featuring yours truly, on the Orange & Blossom blog!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade a DJ for your iPod? Ask our virtual wedding consultant…
July 24, 2009 – 5:23 pm


After 17 years in event planning, Bay Area wedding designer Liz Guthrie has seen it all. Including the recent budget-boosting trend of ditching the traditional DJ or live band in order to self-DJ using an iPod. We asked Liz, our new virtual wedding planner, for her take on the trend… great way to save money, or too much to take on?

“I’ve seen it work, and I’ve seen it not work,” she says. One couple she worked with pulled it off without a hitch. BUT, the groom is a musician in a band. He knew the ins and outs of setting it up, had the proper equipment, and had a sound tech familiar with the sound system to turn it on and off throughout the evening for the first dance, toasts, and cake cutting.

On the other end of the spectrum… “It’s something you need to test thoroughly in advance at your venue with the person who is going to be controlling it,” Liz advises. ”I’ve seen a couple who didn’t test it out beforehand only to have a speaker blow out when they turned it on.” This obviously is not the way you want to kick off the celebration, no matter how much money it saves you.

A sound tech can cost anywhere from a few hundred to more than a thousand dollars, depending on your date, time, location, and number of hours of ceremony and reception time. Liz says, if you’re having a fairly small event, can test the sound system ahead of time, you someone familiar with both the equipment and your wedding timeline who is willing to man it for the duration, and are fine with no one announcing the events as they happen, this could be the right choice for you. (Talk with your venue’s coordinator about it, too.)

But remember, while live music is expensive, it can also be electric, moving, and/or one of the most memorable parts of the big day. As for DJs, not all are cheezy. (They just got a bad rap when many of them were, just like the old-school wedding photographers.) Experienced ones are very familiar with the whats and whens of the evening, more than a friend or relative will be. And most are happy to use a provided song list and only emcee as much as you ask them to, if those are part of your concerns. As always, it’s all about the right fit. Which might be an iPod after all!

Read more about our new virtual wedding consulting package on the Orange & Blossom website.
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Thanks so much Lisa Marie! I just know this website is going to be a super success. What bride doesn't LOVE to shop for truly unique wedding favors and fun accessories?!

Love,
The Soup Maven

Words to Live By

I'm starting a new mini-series of articles here on The Soup. Every so often I'll post some of my favorite sayings and explain how they affect my own life. Today, I begin with:

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

Great Love
What is Great Love? To me, it is knowing that the person you are with will love you unconditionally and respect you, not only as partner, but as a friend. Finding Great Love, is risky because, in the beginning, you really have to let your guard down. In the process of exposing your true self, you could get hurt. Many people can't ever find and know Great Love because they have been hurt too much in the past. But only when you expose your deepest innermost self to the person you are falling in love with, can they truly know you and love you.

I am happy that I let my guard down when I met my husband, because look where it has led. A decade later and two beautiful children, and here we are! Sure, I'd been hurt before him, but that's all part of life's great lessons. I also believe it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. So my advice in Love is to just Go For It! Follow your heart, and throw caution to the wind!

My husband and I have been together for almost ten years now, and we still continue to take risks in Love. It's part of why I love being married.

Great Achievements

What are Great Achievements? This can only be defined by individual people. Great Achievements are different for every single one of us. Becoming a business owner has been a great achievement for me. There was a lot of work, and a lot of risk, to get here, but it's been so worth it. To be able to set my own hours, spend time with my children, and do what I love most in the world for money... That's pretty cool!

Having children was a definite risk. How would it change my life? How would we be able to pay for all the expenses that go along with being parents? Having them was a risk. But learning how to become their mother has been my greatest achievement to date. Watching them grow and succeed and love...is an awesome achievement.

Great Risk

I think that I am naturally a Risk-Taker and I'm pretty secure with myself. I'm not really the type to question anything I plan to do. I JUST DO IT. Head first, I dive in, and figure it out as it's happening. Well, sometimes it can lead to trouble, but for the most part, I think I have made pretty good decisions with my life. And I sure have learned a lot along the way.

Owning your own company certainly takes great risk. Leaving a job you've had for a long time, or leaving your comfort-zone, involves great risk. Trying anything NEW can feel risky for some people. There are definitely protocols to follow, and it does require a lot of planning. For me, once I made the decision to do it, the rest just fell into place.

If you don't at least try something new, you won't ever be able to achieve your dreams. You'll always be wondering, "What if...?" That's no way to go through life!

Dreams
For myself, I like to dream, and I tend to dream pretty big! Why not? The worst that can happen is that I "fail" - but if I have given it everything I've got, then it was worth the risk. It just wasn't meant to be. And there's usually a pretty good reason for that.

But I think enough things in life ARE meant to be. If I have a dream, nothing stops me from at least TRYING to make it come to life. Once I get an idea that I am going to do something, I put my nose to the grindstone, and I put in 110% effort to make it happen. I do this for my wedding clients, too. If they have a vision for their wedding day, I am bound and determined to make it happen for them. I like that challenge of creating someone's vision and having to "think outside the box".

Goals
If you plan to succeed in life, you must set goals. I set them for myself very randomly, but I am always striving for something new. And I don't stop until I have achieved these goals. There is sure to be some rejection, some set-backs, and I realize that I have to deal with that...as it happens. There is no sense in fretting over something that may never happen, right? Fear can make people paralyzed. But when you get over the fear, and realize the WORST that can happen is that someone will say "no" or, you may even "fail", it's still totally worth the attempt.

I find that when I keep an open mind and think about the GOOD things I want in my life, those things transpire. But ONLY with hard work, dedication, and great risk.

Readers: What has been the riskiest thing you've ever done, and was it worth it?

Love,
The Soup Maven

"Z" is for Zephyr Tents

Z. This letter stumps me. What can I say? I know it has taken me forever and a day to get around to posting about the letter Z!

So zue me...

Ahem... !

Zephyr Tents, thank you for beginning with the letter Z. Now I have a great LOCAL company to brag about!

PLAN B
Any time a couple is planning to have their wedding or reception take place outside, they are taking a risk. Whether it's winter, spring, summer, or fall, each of the seasons come with plenty of unexpected weather-related surprises. Often, a tent is the answer to preventing a potential wedding disaster. Even if the weather ends up being beautiful, Zephyr Tents provide an amazing WOW factor that is sure to impress your guests!



Although we live in California, that does not guarantee Mother Nature will cooperate on your wedding day. I like to advise my clients to take extra precautions when planning on outside parties. It's called PLAN B, in the land of event planning. A good wedding coordinator will ALWAYS have a PLAN B in their mind, though the clients may never even hear about it.



When doing a site inspection with your wedding planner, be sure to look at things that may impact you and your guests' comfort levels. Watch for natural things like shade from trees, where guests may find shelter if needed, and any changes that happen throughout the day (like bright sun in your eyes during the ceremony).



Plan for the Worst
What if it rains and your reception is taking place on the grass? Will the chairs sink? Will your white dress get muddy? Those votive candles on the dining tables: Will they stay lit? Will your guests just be plain miserable?

What if it's 100 degrees outside and your guests are seated in the direct sun for the ceremony? Will you provide parasols for the ladies? How about placing some market umbrellas in the aisle? What about water? Plan to have chilled bottles of ice water or some other refreshing drinks available during the ceremony if it's going to be a warm day.

Check the Weather Report, but Don't Always Believe it!
It's smart to check the weather report at least a week before the wedding, just to see how things are shaping up. Whether it is rain or extreme heat that is expected, ask your wedding planner about reserving a tent, like one of these from Zephyr Tents. It's better to be safe than sorry.



How Did Zephyr Tents Get its Start?
After attending a friend’s East Coast wedding, Tod and Jennifer Owsley were introduced to a brand new style of tent, "...both elegant and unique and perfect for sophisticated events and weddings.".

Designed by New England craftsman and accomplished sail maker, Steve Sperry, these tents are different than standard tents seen at many of today's weddings.

After a long history working in the wedding and event industry in the San Francisco Bay Area, Tod and Jennifer Owsley now own and operate Zephyr Tents.

Courtesy of Jules Bianchi Photography


A Bit about Zephyr Tents, from their Website
"Zephyr Tents specializes in the sale and rental of sailcloth tents creatively designed by craftsman Steve Sperry. The Sperry Tent is an elegant, romantic and natural outdoor room for your event. The round and oval tent shapes fit gracefully into the landscape and allow for the maximum use of space. Our tents are made from waterproof ivory sailcloth sewn together with craftsmanship that combines elegance, durability and simplicity. The center and perimeter poles are made from solid milled pine and spruce finished with colonial maple stain. Festive flags in an array of colors may be added at your request. Zephyr Tents offers the only tent of its kind on the West Coast."

Tod and Jennifer Owsley, Owners of Zephyr Tents

Just for MOMS - A Special Event July 25th

Kathy Goodman from Well Rehearsed is a bay area event planner, whose company focuses on planning the rehearsal dinner. She also is a master of coordinating other types of parties that surround the wedding itself, such as bridal showers, the day after brunch, and later on down the road, baby showers!



Featured on View From The Bay, as well as publiczied in numerous wedding magazines, Kathy Goodman has earned her title as a local expert on the subject of weddings.

Now she is teaming with Neiman Marcus to host an event just for MOMS: Mothers of the Bride, Mothers of The Groom, and any other moms who'll be attending weddings this season.




For questions or more information please call 650.329.3303.

Love,
The Soup Maven

Can I Borrow Your Clone Machine?

Happy Monday everyone! What does Monday mean here at The Soup? It's the day I get personal with you, and tell you something about myself.

I am Soooooooo Sorry I have been MIA for a while now. I have a million projects going on, and I'd love it if someone could loan me their cloning machine. I think I'll make ten different versions of me.




1- The Mommy Clone. I've got a 4 year old and an 18 month old. I need a mommy clone to be the best mommy possible. I'm looking for Super-Mom! She must never raise her voice at my kids. She must have extreme patience.
She must be a fabulous cook and must always cut sandwiches into fun shapes like flowers and dinosaurs. She must know my son only likes peanut butter on his and my daughter only likes cream cheese and jelly hers. She must also know how to get my kids to eat their vegetables. (Then she needs to tell me how she did it!)

2- The Dream Wedding Giveaway Contest Clone. I am currently obsessed with the 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway. It's a "little" (ha!) contest I am producing, to give a couple facing hard times the wedding of their dreams. Check it out by clicking here. There are over 30 bay area vendors involved with this project. The Dream Wedding Giveaway Clone must be organized, ambitious, and like doing community service work.

3- The Housekeeper Clone. My house isn't big, only 1200 square feet, and we just have one bathroom. But I need a clone to clean it for me. This clone can never leave a dirty dish in the sink. She will sweep and mop the floors daily. She will keep the kitchen counters clean at all times. She will clean the baseboards regularly and never let the house get dusty. Laundry will never be stacked up so high it is seeping through the laundry room door. The kids' toys will be organized and put away exactly where they belong. And she'll do it all with a smile on her face.

4- The Wedding Planner Clone. I plan weddings for a living, did you know that? The Wedding Planner Clone must be creative, resourceful, flexible and a hard worker. In order to reach the wedding day, A LOT of work goes into the planning stages. This clone must be dedicated to making all her clients' visions become reality. She'll be able to effectively juggle multiple projects and events at one time.

5- The Education Clone. This clone will have to teach my kids how to read, write, and do all the other stuff needed to get them ready for kindergarten. She should also take them to preschool on a regular basis. She'd also be in charge of the preschool and elementary school faire, sponsored by Las Madres. It's going to be a one-stop shopping day for busy parents to gather info on many different types of schools, and it's coming to the bay area in January 2010. Organized by yours truly.

6- The Gardener Clone. Before I had kids, I loved to garden. Even pulling weeds was an enjoyable experience. Now I look at the weeds, and I groan in disgust. Weeds! I hate you, weeds! Why do you have to grow at all? Can't you stay out of my flower beds? And snails? You can leave, too. So The Gardener Clone would pull the weeds at least a few times a week. And she'd make those nasty, slimy snails magically disappear.

7- The Blogger, Twitter and Facebook Clone. This clone would have a pretty fun job, chatting with people she knows in cyberspace and beyond. She'd be the queen social bee clone. She'd post updates several times a day on Twitter. She'd efficiently use Facebook for both business and personal communications. And, of course, she would write new and exciting posts on a daily basis for BOTH of my blogs!

8- The Good Wife Clone. I married a pretty decent guy, if I do say so myself. He puts up with all my crazy projects I take on. He's a really great dad, who spends amazing quality time with our kids. He remembers my birthday, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and our anniversary every year. I think he deserves his very own Good Wife Clone. She'd have wonderful dinners ready for him every night and a cocktail in his hand as soon as he walked in the door, after a long, hard day at work. And, she would make sure he was frequently happy after the kids are in bed, ahem, if you know what I mean.

9- The Good Daughter/Sister/Friend Clone. This clone should visit my parents at least four times a year, where they live in Orange County. She should stay at least a week each time. She should also do the same with her sister and her brother. And this clone would be the best friend any girl could ask for. She'd call her friends on the phone like once a week just to say hi. She'd have many lunch dates, like 5 a week would be awesome! If a friend ever needed anything, this clone would always be available to help, because that's what friends are for. Though she can't always let them know, she believes family and true friends are SO important!

10- The Business Woman Clone. This clone excels at accounting and book keeping. She knows how to proficiently use a variety of computer programs such as photoshop, quickbooks, word, excel, and others. She is also a whiz at marketing and never misses an opportunity to meet new people. The checkbook is always balanced. The receipts are organized. This clone ensures that the business side of things are always under control.

See there! I told you I could use TEN of me! So, please let me know when you plan to loan me your Cloning Machine- I promise to give it back right away...

Readers: What one clone do you need the most in your life?!

Love,
The Soup Maven

San Jose Wedding Consultants featured in San Jose Mercury News!

I was recently interviewed and featured in a San Jose Mercury News article about ways couples are trying to save money on their weddings during the recession.

While the article quotes me as stating, "the average bay area wedding is $30,000 for 100 people", that is not "exactly" what I said. I advise my clients that $30,000 is the minumum amount they should attempt to "comfortably" work with if planning a 100 person wedding. If the couple is really into the do-it-yourself-thing, or if they have friends in the industry willing to do trades for goods or services, they "might" get away with spending less.

Any couple planning a bay area wedding, should know up front the costs that are involved, and what local wedding vendors are charging. By planning a realistic bay area budget FIRST, you can relax knowing that your visions are attainable.

Click here to read the full article: Recession hits home for Silicon Valley brides this summer
By Donna Kato.


Love,
The Soup Maven