More romance and sparkle in the gallery!

It is said everything is bigger and better in Texas and that is certainly how I wanted my Dallas wedding to feel – with lots of cobalt blue and bling! I also wanted my wedding to represent the warmth and welcoming nature of Texas and my family, so I sought to offset the bling with personal, intimate touches throughout.

My inspiration came from the chandeliers in the chapel of Piazza in the Village. I had a brainstorming session with my wedding designer, Dora Manuel of Viva Bella Events and my invitation designer, Amy Owens of Amo-Ink, and we decided the sparkle I sought after for my wedding would best be captured by a “chandelier” theme. The result was glamourous, striking, and original.

We set the tone of the wedding with foiled, stamped invitations. I wanted a modern feel for my reception, so we used various shades and textures of blue and silver for our linens, as well as 4 different types of gorgeous centerpieces.

Lucky for me, my florist, Kim Kenney of Timeless Fiori, is also a planner and designer, so I had her and my sister, Dora, to brainstorm amazing ideas with. Kim helped us with day of coordination, too, so my whole family could enjoy the day.

Again, I wanted our wedding to feel personal and warm so our wedding favors were individually baked 7 inch pans of cinnamon rolls that my grandmother, RoRo, took 3 months to bake. It was the biggest hit of the night. They melted in your mouth!

We brought several of our must-have vendors in from Cincinnati, and I’m so glad we did. The party was hopping and the dance floor full, thanks to the music and mixing of DJ Toad. Kortnee Kate, also from Cincinnati, captured our day perfectly!  We’re so thankful to all of our vendors who helped our wedding vision perfectly come to life!

Venue & Catering: Piazza in the Village / Wedding Planner & Event Designer: Viva Bella Events / Wedding & Floral Design & Day of Coordination: Kim Kenney of Timeless Fiori Floral Design & Timeless Elegance Weddings / Stationery: amo-ink / Photography: Kortnee Kate Photography / Lighting: Beyond / Reception Music: DJ Toad / Favors: RoRo’s Cinna Rolls / Cake: Bonnie Ruth’s Cafe Trottoir et Pastisserie

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Amo Ink, Beyond, Bonne Ruth's Cafe Trottoir et Pastisserie, Casual Elegance, Cobalt Blue, contemporary, Dallas, DJ Toad, Kortnee Kate Photography, Piazza In The village, RoRo's Cinna Rolls, Texas, Timeless Elegance Weddings, Timeless Fiori Floral Design, Viva Bella Events, Wedding Invitations & Stationery, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Little Black Book Blog

images by Red Gallery Photography

see Michelle & Eddie’s photo gallery here!

Viva Bella Events planned and designed the dazzling celebration! You can see more of Michelle’s scrumptious Vera Wang gown on Viva Bella’s blog.

Eddie and Michelle were married in Cincinnati and asked the fellows at 31 FILMS to fly out and shoot their wedding. According to Aaron, from the beginning ~ Michelle was totally up front about what she wanted in their wedding film. “She wanted something fresh and unique … she loved the dreamy look and nostalgia of  vintage super-8mm film. But she also loved the crisp, ultra-real look of HD video – so we merged the two! Michelle and Eddie were a pleasure to work with! Even though the wedding day clearly revolved around them, they wanted to be sure that their friends and family were highlighted throughout the day as well.

Enjoy their film from 31 FILMS …

Michelle & Edward – The Highlight (HD+8mm) from 31Films on Vimeo

from the beautiful bride …
Having lived in cities like Paris and NYC, the search for the right venue in the city of Cincinnati was somewhat challenging, not to mention it was a long distance wedding location. At the time of planning our wedding, the groom-to-be lived in Detroit, MI. I lived in New York City and my family is from Philadelphia, PA. The sole reason for choosing Cincinnati, OH as our wedding destination was because of my future parents-in-law. With Eddie being the only son it was important for his parents to have the big party in their hometown and I wanted to make them happy because they are fascinating people and amazing parents. After several months of relentlessly searching both online and whenever we were able to be on site in the city, we finally found an amazing historic building occupied by the Hilton Netherland Plaza hotel.

My first choice was more of a contemporary and trendy ‘MoMA’ type of place, but since I couldn’t have that to the exact specs in a smaller city, I decided to go for something with romance and character, something that would remind me of my fond memories of my days living in Paris. The Hall of Mirrors (the grand ballroom of the hotel) immediately brought me back in time to a place I loved and cherished during my stay in France, château de Versailles. Okay, maybe I am exaggerating or daydreaming just a bit, but it’s all about your imagination, right? And it’s all about your hopes and dreams when it comes to planning the biggest event of your life! And then my hopes and dreams just came together perfectly when my long lost blood father showed up in my life just 9 months before my wedding day, and walked me down the aisle.

To twist it up a bit more, he and his entire family are practically neighbors of my future parents-in-laws residing in Columbus, OH. This is a very long story with full of twists and turns and fate that perhaps you will find in a memoir, and hopefully in a motion picture, someday…stay tuned! The event came together just as I have imagined and dreamed of all my life. It started out with finding the perfect wedding planner who was able to figure me out very quickly. She was the key to the success of the event, who was patient, beautiful, kind-hearted, and very bright. She basically carried out the vision I had, but with the added details I failed to imagine, being the big-picture “don’t sweat the small stuff” kind of person that I am. She also came equipped with an A-list of vendors that all contributed to the great success of the event.

The list of my favorite vendors and key contributors – Dora Manuel, wedding planner & event designer of Viva Bella Events – responsible for how I found the Hall of Mirrors, which was featured on her website, and the breathtaking design of the entire event, along with all the other fabulous vendor recommendations. Robyn Adinamis, event manager of the Hilton – responsible for running the terrific staff that executed Dora’s visions perfectly, and for being fabulous and the cutest pregnant little lady I’ve ever met! Amy Owens, owner and designer of Amo-Ink Custom Stationery – responsible for creating the theme colors of the entire event and the invitations that everyone adored, and for being a wonderful and pleasant companion throughout the entire process. Kelly & Kelly, designers of Eden Floral Boutique – responsible for creating the most amazing pieces of work that took everyone’s breath away when they entered the room, and for being brilliant enough to capture my imaginations in just 90 minutes of face-to-face encounter. Clay & Lisa Justice of Red Gallery Photography – responsible for creating amazing ideas that came together in beautiful images for our engagement session, the bridal couture, and of course the big day. They are one of cutest couples I’ve met who are full of magical talents and a pleasure to work with. Aaron & Rachel Tharpe of 31films – responsible for capturing all the best moments of the event.  Aaron’s talent is unmatched and he is one of the best decisions I’ve made during the wedding planning process, as demonstrated here in the wedding film highlight!  Indira Rivera of Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier NYC – responsible for choosing the perfect bridal dress with her very first recommendation as soon as I walked into her door. She took a good look at me and said “I have the perfect dress for you, it’s the same Very Wang dress that Carrie Bradshaw wore in the SATC movie”. It was indeed love at first sight and Indira made it a memorable experience with her beauty and elegance. Crystal Henize-Rieger of Eye-Do Makeup and Eyelash Design – responsible for making me a beautiful bride and for recommending a great hair stylist Valerie Blackburn of Reveal Salon. You two make the perfect team in every way. Thank you all for contributing your amazing talents and your relentless efforts in making our day a day we will forever remember and cherish.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 31FILMS, Cincinatti, Hilton Netherland Plaza, Ohio, Red Gallery Photography, St. Francis De Sales Church, Vera Wang, Viva Bella Events
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Wedding Cinematography, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planners & Designers

photography courtesy of Geri Ciulla Photography

We have one of the most heartwarming highlight films from Studio Z Films for you today. It will remind each and every one of you what you are about to promise each other. It’s about what defines marriage. Whether you’re at the beginning, the middle or the end of your wedding planning process, we hope you’ll watch this and let the message sink in.  It’s about love, it’s about promises, it’s about lessons learned ~ together. 

For the best playback experience, press play & then pause. Allow the film to load for a few moments. Then press play again.

wedding coordination by Viva Bella Events

There is certainly a place for humor and lighthearted banter during your wedding celebration. But the young lady who toasted Jessica and Cody … and the vows shared between the two of them, well, they are some of the sweetest, most sincere words we’ve heard. We are honored to share these moments from Jessica and Cody’s New Year’s Eve ceremony with you today.

We’d also like to take a moment to congratulate Steve at Studio Z Films on being named one of the top 50 most influential event film-making studios in the world by Event DV Magazine! We’re thrilled for him ~ and all of our other Little Black Book members who were listed in this elite group of amazing visual story-tellers!!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Cincinatti, Event DV Magazine, Geri Ciulla Photography, Ohio, Studio Z Films, Toasts, Viva Bella Events, Vows, Winter
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Vintage Chic, Wedding Cinematography

more from Dora at Viva Bella Events …

The reception featured both round and square tables with alternating red velvet and black/white patterned linens and 3 types of floral arrangements. We rented black chiavari chairs for all tables to keep something consistent at each table. The lighting designer saturated the walls with a “red fabric” pattern and the ceiling with a red mosaic design. A black and white dance floor completed the look …

The flowers were black magic roses, black callas and fern curls complemented by black feathers for Lauren’s bouquet and white feathers for the bridesmaids bouquets.

When guests were seated for dinner, they found a chocolate dipped strawberry awaiting them at their place setting. The strawberry contained a message from the bride and groom , “Life is Unpredictable. Eat Dessert First.”

As we mentioned in the first post, Lauren (the beautiful bride) is a graphic designer and created terrific invitations and all of the paper pieces that go along with a wedding! Her website is Giddy Ink and shows just how creative she is! Really, you should take a look!

And again, from Dora …

Before the party got underway, Lauren and Jordan shared a memorable … choreographed … first dance!

The total look was fierce and intricate. Uncompromising and memorable. Just like Lauren and Jordan.

A huge thanks to Dora at Viva Bella Events and Neysa Ruhl Photography for sharing Lauren & Jordan’s amazing wedding! And to Lauren, your designs {Giddy Ink} are fantastic!!  Best of luck from all of us here at Style Me Pretty.

Other Wedding Vendors
Make up Brideface – Little Black Book Member
Video: Iconography Video Services http://www.iconographystudios.com
Hair design Sam Hills www.highfivesalon.com
Band: Soul Pocket http://www.soulpocket.com
Rentals: Camargo www.camargo-rental.com
Rentals: All Occasions www.aorents.com
Venue for both ceremony and reception: Phoenix www.thephx.com
Florist: Sprouts www.sproutsfloraldesign.com
Cake: Bonbonerie www.bonbonerie.com
Ceremony music: String Celebrations www.stringcelebrationsusa.com
Lighting: Goodwin www.goodwinlighting.com
Bridesmaid’s dresses were each different chiffon designs from Belsoie.
Jordan’s Tux: designer: Calvin Klein purchased at: Romualdo’s Formal Wear
Lauren’s Dress: designer: Tara Keely; purchased at Bridal and Formal
Feather Hair Pin: Custom Design from K Autumn.
Flower Girls: Custom Designs from Pegeen
Dance Instruction: Best of Ballroom

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cincinnati, Feathers, Giddy Ink, Hairpiece, Hollywood Glam, K. Autumn, Mojito, Ohio, Roses, Strawberries, Table Settings, The Phoenix, Viva Bella Events
Post categories: Bouquets, Centerpieces, Contemporary, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Decor, Wedding Invitations & Stationery, Wedding Planners & Designers, Wedding Style, Whimsical

Lauren and Jordan joke about how different they each are. She’s an artist. He’s a dentist. She’s Catholic. He’s Jewish. She’s a smalltown girl. He’s from the city. To meet them though is to gain an understanding of the complimentary nature of true love—theirs is a story of yin meets yang.

Lauren’s moment of inspiration for the wedding happened when she found her feather hair pin online… This hair pin became the design inspiration for the entire wedding… feathers, gems, red, black and white.

Lauren and Jordan’s relationship is built on a willingness to break the rules, and their wedding was to be no exception. Held at an old gentlemen’s club built in 1826 (The Phoenix), they had visions of a hip, retro Hollywood affair with bold strokes of black and red and a touch of glitz.

The “chuppah,” custom built by Viva Bella Events, was the centerpiece for the ceremony. It was draped in white fabric and accented with black and white patterned ties. We asked the lighting designer to uplight the inside of the fabric on the four corners and the background drape was uplit with red lighting. Because Lauren is Catholic and Jordan is Jewish, we made it an open canopy chuppah to blend their backgrounds. A Rabbi performed the ceremony, but the ceremony contained both Jewish and Christian traditions such as the Unity Candle (Christian) and the breaking of the glass (Jewish).

All of the stationery played a large role in creating final touches for the wedding. Lauren, a graphic artist at her company, Giddy Ink, designed each piece with care. Creating an intricate one-of-a-kind design (reminiscent of a 1940’s-style playbill), she blended vintage-inspired text with unique materials like feathers and gems. And the details kept coming, from programs, to escort cards envelopes tucked with feathers to drink signs, direction signs, chair signs and much more!

The stunning photography is courtesy of Neysa Ruhl.

More from Lauren and Jordan’s dramatic reception … in a bit …

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 26 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cincinnati, Color Palette Black White Red, Feathers, Giddy Ink, Hair Pin, Hairpiece, Hollywood Glam, Jewish, K. Autumn, Neysa Ruhl, Roses, Veil, Viva Bella Events
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Vintage Chic, Wedding Fashion, Wedding Planners & Designers, Wedding Style, Whimsical