I LOVE J. CREW!

And their fairly new line of wedding attire. In the past couple of years, J. Crew has begun to offer the best casually, sexy, easy line of wedding attire. Personally, when I get married I am probably going to wear something along these lines. I want to be very comfortable but classic. These dresses are great for more formal rehearsal dinners (shorten it if you like). They can also be taken along on the honeymoon for a great date dress. However you decide to wear it, you can be confident that you will always look back on your photos of this time and be wonderfully happy with your choice.

I LOVE FEELING WELL!!

Too bad I haven't had that feeling for a week! I'll be back once my creative mojo returns...

So, I leave you with a pic of my big, tough, six-year old pit bull Tyson! Don't let the lazy pose fool ya! He WILL attack! He's my baby!!!

I LOVE TERRICA!

Okay, and I slightly envy her, too! Terrica Skaggs, an uber event planner, blogger and owner of Fabuluxe Events, Inc. located near the St. Simons and Jekyll Island area has done it again! Somehow while juggling a business, a husband (in the military), being a mom, being an employer and just being dang good at what she does, she has managed to publish an online mag! {FETE}ish is Terrica's new baby! This mag, in her words, is dedicated to 'all things fabulous'. Isn't that awesome?!

Her first issue actually has my name in it! Vain, I know, but I LOVE to see my name in print! Doesn't matter where...just as long as it is! And I am too proud to have my name in her inaguaral issue of {FETE}ish! Some of us planners who get together online were polled as to what trends/ideas we would like to see JUST DIE in weddings. There are several listed in the mag. Can you guess which ones I submitted?! Hhhmmm...wouldn't you like to know?!

{FETE}ish will be a monthly mag, so sign up now!

I LOVE A GREAT CAUSE!

This world is not just about us, I think it is mostly for what we can do for others. That is why I love being a wedding planner, I am helping give someone a beautiful memory. Rachel Rivard, founder of Dresses That Heal (DTH), has developed the most wonderful way to give back to others. When your purchase a gown that is in the The Compassion Collection, a portion of the proceeds goes to DTH, who then supports breast cancer research. DTH's mission is to raise funds and awareness for organizations providing healing for women living with breast cancer regardless of their financial restrictions.




Two of the wonderful designers who support this mission are Carmela Sutera (top) and Amy Michelson (bottom). On your wedding day, you can be gorgeous AND have a private smile in your heart that you have done something for someone else.

I HATE SHOULDER WRAPS...BUT, I LOVE THESE!

Okay, you can be upset with me ladies with what I am about to say. I truly don't mean to step on any toes. As a planner, I have learned that beauty is relative. What you think is beautiful, I may not. And that is okay. So please take this with the grain of salt with which it is written.

Bridesmaids (and bride's) gowns are sometimes worn with shoulder wraps. They are often awkward for the wearer to maneuver throughout what can be a 10 hour day. Somehow, the solution has become to tie them behind the backs of those who are wearing them, rendering their arms immobile.

If you would like to wear, or have your bridesmaids wear, a wrap, why not give them a wrap that is stylish and that can be worn again. An 8ft long, purple, satin wrap probaby won't get much play after the wedding, you know? I found this little cutie on Echo Designs website. They have both classic and trendy items. This particular wrap can be chicly worn with one length over the shoulder...always a classic, classy look. The owner of the wrap can definitely wear this again with an LBD, jeans and a tee or at a cocktail party. This can also be used as a scarf. Just create a loop, put it over your neck and pull the other side through! You will have your friends in SJP envy at your style! Go ahead, try it...

MARRIAGE 101

Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis has developed a class, Marriage 101, for marriage preparation. In the state of Tennessee, a marriage license costs about $100 if you have participated in certified pre-marital counseling. The class at Bellevue Baptist Church will afford you a $60 discount on your license. There are other classes available in the city, check with your church/priest/rabbi for information.

I LOVE GLAMOUR!

I am not just saying this. I REALLY love reading Glamour each month. I pick it up, get a glass of wine and delve into it. Each month there is always something relative to my life. Fashion, love, books, music. There's always something relevant. What I like about Glamour is that there is no fluff. It's not a gossip rag. It is an informative, interesting magazine. Have you read the blog of Erin, a Glamour staffer who has been suffering from cancer for several years now? Glamour has chronicled her struggles and triumphs in their pages.

I also love that there is always a great giveaway from Glamour. I have won before! It was a bra! Hey, don't laugh! I didn't have to pay for it! This month, Glamour is giving away trips to Paris, Hawaii and this uber cute bag from Banana Republic!

TENNESSEE TORNADOS

I am interupting my I Love...series to post a bit about what is now national news. There were several tornados to tear through the state of Tennessee this week. The sirens began to blow around 4:15 p.m. and remained on for about four hours. About an hour and a half later, they came back on and rang for another hour or so. I think we as Southerners are jaded to storms. Just as those from the midwest are jaded to snow. We all kind of know what to expect and just hunker down and get through it. Unfortunately, some people in Memphis did not get through this storm. My prayers are with their families. It's been a stormy couple of years for me (there's the whole Hurricane Katrina thing). But, I am grateful for my safety from this week's storms. My friend Regi sent me these photos and I decided to share them. This tornado damage is about 10 miles from my house.

I LOVE SHOES!

I am TOO excited today's edition of my February I Love Series! Just because this was not first in the series does not mean that shoes are not important to me. I have a very good friend who I have stayed up with on the phone (she lives far, far away...I miss her *insert sad face*) shopping for shoes online! Sometimes we begin a new shoe discovery. She's finds one and says, "Oh, go to this site!" Then, I do the same. It can truly last for hours. My favorite pair of shoes that I own are these pink, fuschia, green, butterfly, floral mix BCBGs. Perhaps I'll snap a picture of them and post later. I wanted them so bad when I first saw them online, but, alas, they were not within my financial comfort zone for purchase. Then, I found them on EBay for a steal!

When it comes to shoes for brides, I am not very traditional. My friends would be interested to know that, as I am typically fairly traditional. I just love the idea of doing something a little special, though. I don't see a problem with non-white shoes for the bride. More often than not, your shoes are not seen. But, there is a trend that is changing that. So, I have found some lovelies that I think you will enjoy. Hopefully, it will help give you some ideas for your special day.

These belong to my 'shoe friend', Marva. She is responsible for my addiction to shoes. She won't take credit for it, but it is SO her fault! She had some wonderful embellishments made to her wedding shoes and they were gorgeous! Her gown had gold beading on the bodice and her shoes complimented it perfectly!


Here is an example of doing something very different and upexpected. This is my friend Trina who got married in November 07 in her hometown (my former home) of New Orleans. You can tell by the gown which shoe belongs to the bride. Sparkly, sparkly! When we took this picture, one of the catering people came over to me to ask why we were taking pictures of shoes. I looked at her like she had two heads! I mean, doesn't everybody take pictures of their shoes?! There has to be a reason?! Since my friend was such a cutey bride, I just HAD to post a pic of her! We had SO much fun at her wedding! I was sweating after the ONE HOUR second line! Miss ya'll!



These lovelies belong to my bride Krystal who was married in October 2007. This was her fourth pair of shoes, I think. She couldn't decide. The pair I saw before she stepped out of the limo in these were a pair of absolutely adorable Kate Spades. But, in the end she did end up with the best pair for her gowns. Krystal has great taste, so you wouldn't expect anything less! Photo credit to Jake at Studio J.


I found these on The Brides Cafe. Photo credit to Mel Barlow. I just love the instepof these. Traditional, yet modern. What a wonderful combination! I would rock these so hard! You don't even know! Sexy, sexy!

So go out and buy a pair of shoes today! For no other reason that just to do it. Shoes make you feel sexy and sassy and powerful. I know it's not just me, come on now...

I LOVE CAKE!

Brides.com is sponsoring a wonderfully tasty contest. All you have to do it go to their site and pick your favorite cake! You could win the cake of your choice! VOTE NOW!

I love wedding cake. Yes, I enjoy eating it, but I more love the designs that you can bring to them. You would think that as a wedding planner that I eat lots and lots of cake. The truth is, when I am working a wedding I generally do not eat at all that day, much less partake of the wedding cake. I'm too busy making things happen. I truly don't even think about food (now, if there is a bar, that's a whole other story!). Now, my team is different. They have gotten together and made sure they had time to stop and eat. They were like, "Uh, Andria, when can we take a break and eat?" I'm like, "Huh? Oh, yeah, ya'll are hungry, right?!" It's funny. I appreciate them so much for all they do, but it truly never occured to me they were hungry! So, with cake on the brain, I have posted some gorgeous cakes that I just like to look at. What I love about the trends in cakes right now is that you can have any flavor you want. From strawberry to cream fillings you can have fun with your cake. After all, it is your wedding right? A local baker I love to work with is Briant Wright with Just Wright Cake Design. Not only are his confections yummy, he's just a joy to work with. Always professional. He created this first cake (what a beauty) for one of my bride's last summer. The writing you see on it is the phrase I LOVE YOU in various languages. He also created a size 11 replica of an Air Force One as a surprise for the groom from the bride. I'll have to locate that photo and share it with you. The groom did NOT want to cut that cake! He called his brother on the phone in the middle of the reception and bragged about his cake!

Other lovelies...

SHOUTING MY LOVE OF SPANX

Since this is the month of amore, I have decided to write about one thing I love each day of the month. Who doesn't love Spanx? If you don't know what Spanx are OR have not had them enhance your life, then you are probably in your early 20s, with no kids or with the best metabolism that exists! And what bride doesn't want to look extra svelt on her wedding day? These can be worn under any gown and not be detected. They smooth and sooth!!!

SPANX is in Love… it's you we adore. Click the link for information on their newest product!

STORYBOARDS

For some clients, I will create a storyboard/inspiration board for them when designing their wedding day. Here is one that I created from a 2007 wedding. I love color and that was one thing this wedding was not short on. The bride and I worked very well together in that she let me do my job and I let her have her day! What a wonderful combination! The theme of the wedding was Comfortable Elegance. It was held at Le Pavillon in Memphis on a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon. For the wedding, we made it more of a chocolate theme. Then, for cocktail hour (held inside) we brought out the fuschia in her color scheme. Finally, for dinner (we flipped the courtyard ceremony area into a dinner area) we brought in orange and fuschia blends. Gorgeous, I tell you, just gorgeous.

Brides should not be afraid of color and not be afraid to step outside the box. Do not get stuck on just one color for your flowers or linen. Allow complementary colors to enhance your day. You know how they say two heads are better than one? Well, when it comes to color, three are much better than two and four are amazing!

Photo Credit: Studio J/Guests

WHY ARE MY PACKAGES NAMED WHAT THEY ARE?

I often like to have people guess where the names of my collections (my planning packages) come from. Now, you have to remember, I love EVERYTHING about weddings. From the proposal to happily ever after. Most people can guess one or two, but not all three. I do have to say that I now only have two named packages, after revamping for best client need for 2008. It was truly heartbreaking to let go of that third named package. Can you guess (before reading below) why I named my collections The Maria Collection, The Sabrina Collection and The Belle Collection? Can't guess? Well, I will put you out of your misery. Here, right now, I am opening the secret. I know, WAY too dramatic!



THE MARIA COLLECTION ~ MY FULL SERVICE PLANNING PACKAGE
This package name comes from The Sound of Music. The wedding scene was very elaborate, hence being the largest package that I offer.



THE SABRINA COLLECTION ~ PARTIAL PLANNING PACKAGE (NO LONGER OFFERING; REPLACED WITH VENDOR SERVICES)
This comes from the movie Sabrina. Not the '80's remake, but the original. I love great movies as much as I love weddings. I also like pretty gowns. That is why this collection was named for Sabrina. Although, this was not her wedding dress in the movie (she wore this during a party scene), I absolutely CRAVED this dress from the moment I laid eyes on it. Sabrina was a very laid back, relaxed woman; so, the collection was named for her. Not too much, but more than a little.



THE BELLE COLLECTION ~ DAY OF COORDINATION PACKAGE
Simple but elegant was Belle from Beauty and The Beast, so she inspired this package.


Now, you know 'the rest of the story'.

GO RED!

Today is National Wear Red Day! I am fortunate and blessed enough to not have had anyone in my family or close to me to have been affected by heart disease. That does not mean, though, that I don't care. I am very interested in issues that deal with women's health. Red is one of my favorite colors. I haven't carried a wallet that wasn't red since college! My purse is red. I have a kick-tail pair of red pumps. Just love red. So why not wear it for a great cause! This entire month is dedicated to heart disease, so if you didn't get to wear red today. Wear it tomorrow! Wear it the next day and the next and the next!

For more information visit Go Red For Women...