Spring is Here!

      

It might be a bit chilly compared to normal March temperatures, but spring is here! The sun breaks through the clouds and brightens the hearts of couples anticipating their wedding. New life is created all around us! Hatchlings and bunnies are born and flowers blossom. Most significantly, vibrant colors fill our surroundings once again. If you are entering wedded bliss in spring, then your color palette is of great importance. It should be light-hearted, carefree, and beautiful. You can mix colors like lavender, teal, and pink to go for a soft and unique color combination or stick with a bold color combination like deep purple and yellow! Whatever colors you choose for your spring wedding keep with the feel of the season; enjoy emerging beauty and the new life ahead of you!

Sarah Chesley

Wedding Coordinator

Photos courtesy of Morris Malakoff
http://www.morrismalakoff.com/

Read more »

Casa de Novia Bridal Couture

I recently visited Casa De Novia to view their Spring 2010 Collection. Carmen Rideau greeted me as soon as I entered the inviting boutique. The flow of the salon was open and relaxing unlike some salons that are divided into many separate sections. It was apparent from the moment I walked in that the employees at Casa de Novia would do anything to make a bride-to-be’s dream come true. Casa de Novia has a wide selection of designer gowns, ranging from Junko Yoshioka to Monique Lhuillier. There were three dresses in Casa de Novia’s selection that especially caught my eye.

This artsy bridal gown from Monique Lhullier’s Platinum Collection is ideal for the bride who wants to stand out when she walks down the aisle while maintaining a feminine aura. “Sunday Rose” is perfect for the woman who wants her dress to say it all! She is fierce, fashion-forward and has an impeccable flair for style.  It is an ivory silk satin organza gown priced at $9500.

The picture of this elegant Oscar de la Renta gown does not do it justice. This silk taffeta and tulle v-neck dress is embroidered with sequins that really make it shine. With every hint of movement this gown flickers so subtly and would look exquisite at a candlelit ceremony and reception. I cannot stress enough that this dress must be seen in person to really get the full effect of its beauty. The bride who wears this gown loves a little sparkle in her life and wants to feel like royalty on her wedding day. The gown is runway look #22 in Oscar de la Renta’s Spring 2010 Collection (Style # 12E02).

This organza Palazzo gown, Tess, was my favorite gown in the whole boutique, and they received it a few hours before I got there! I am glad I went when I did because this dress is just perfect in every way.  This gown is for the bride who wants to showcase her true beauty rather than the dress attracting all of the attention. At first glance it is simple but it has the exact amount of detail in the back to be extraordinary. This delicate dress is meant for a woman who wants a truly romantic evening without being over the top. It costs $4200.

Casa de Novia Information:

3331 D’Amico

Houston, TX 77019

713.523.9090

www.casadenoviabridal.com

Owned by: Luvi Wheelock

Upcoming Trunk Dates: (view website for more dates)
Junko Yoshioka will make a personal appearance February 25^th-27^th. Brides will receive 10% of regular price if they purchase a dress at the trunk show!

Experience Elizabeth Fillmore’s 2010 collection Saturday March 13^th. Elizabeth’s exquisite avante garde taste & chic silhouettes are one-of-a-kind and a must see! 

Sarah Chesley 

Wedding Coordinator

Read more »

Summer Wedding with a Watermelon Twist!

An outdoor summer wedding should be laid back, a ton of fun, and beautifully reflective of the season. A typical bride in this economy desires the wedding of her dreams without spending a lot of money. A backyard picnic-themed wedding set in the enjoyable summer season is just the answer!

What is a backyard picnic without watermelon? Not only is watermelon a refreshing treat to serve to your guests to beat the summer heat, it also provides the perfect color palette for your wedding. You can serve a fruity pink cocktail with a watermelon garnish or you can serve the champagne for your toast from a watermelon keg.

For the centerpieces, place your favorite pink and white, in-season flowers in vintage watering cans. You can spend a relaxing day with your fiancé bargain hunting for watering cans at local antique shops or borrow them from friends and family. Be green and save money by reusing glass jars as candle holders. Pair the country-style bouquet centerpieces with the candle jars to adorn your rustic tables. To create a truly magical wedding look, reuse glass jars as lanterns by placing candles inside the jars, tying wire around the tops, and hanging them from surrounding trees. 

Cut costs by having a simple meal like sandwiches, potato salad, and fruit catered by a local deli or prepared by someone close to you. Place all of the meals in picnic baskets with silverware and napkins, tie with ribbon, and let the guests keep the baskets as wedding favors. 

Personalize your wedding to your budget, your wants, and your needs. Don't become overly stressed about your wedding; it should be enjoyable and the beginning of a wonderful new chapter of your life. Whatever you are considering for your wedding, remember that it is your day and anything that you want is within reach. You might just need to get a little creative!

Sarah Chesley

Wedding Coordinator

Read more »

Spring Splendor

     Well, January is behind us, we're working our way through February, and now March and spring are hopefully right around the corner. Spring has always been a popular "wedding season," and with the wide array of flowers, colors and locations to choose from it's easy to see why. This inspiration board draws from the more serene and organic colors of spring with a few touches of pink. The whimsy and shabby chic tin buckets are full of feminine peony pink ranunculi, while the boutonnieres are a small, visually appealing succulent backed by a lush dark green leaf. The colors and overall botanical theme are carried through to the wedding invitation in its soft leaf and ivory hues. The dark mahogany Chiavari chairs against the clean ivory linens make for a rich contrast bringing the eye to your center arrangements, whether they be floral or perhaps the soft glow of a candlelit lantern? The decor possibilities that come with the changing of winter into spring are endless, you simply cannot  go wrong with setting your date in spring. 


*Composed by: 
Layne Smith
Wedding Coordinator 

Read more »

Winter Love

Red is the color of love and love is what a wedding is all about. What better colors to have than white to represent the beauty of a new beginning, brown to represent the start of a new season, and red for the passion of things to come. Great colors for a winter wedding are green and red, or white and silver. My favorite color is red so I wanted to create something that wasn't necessarily conventional but still illustrated a love two individuals have for each other. This is definitely a wedding scheme for no one other than a romantic. 

Red has such an intensity that it can easily over power anything, but by only using it subtly you can acquire the full scale of romance and charm. If you decide to use such a strong tone as red, then an ivory wedding dress is a must have. The combination of an ivory dress and a bouquet full of different red hues compliment each other wonderfully without taking over the bride. My inspiration for the center pieces was exactly what you see in winter. Everything is bear but it has a surreal beauty unlike any other season. Also, using the compilation of white linens allows you to have the perfect blend of everything that is romantic.

Astrid

Wedding Coordinator

Read more »

The Sunny Side of Weddings

When you think of a summer wedding, what do you see? The warm sun, a beautiful bride, and gorgeous flowers, of course! This summer why not make your flowers warm and happy like the sun? If you’re wondering where I’m going with all of this then you’ve maybe never heard of a Billy Ball flower.  Billy Ball’s are the perfect accessory to any bouquet or centerpiece and they will definitely put a smile on your face. If you’re looking for something quirky, fun and unforgettable then I say this flower is the perfect one for you!

And for that bride on a budget why not pair up some hydrangeas, white or green, with little Billy Balls adding that pop of brightness! Like the sun peaking through the clouds.

By: Allison Geary-Weisenhorn

Wedding Consultant

Green Lily Events

Read more »

The Walk Down One Green Street on their Grand Opening Day !

We were so honored to be a part of this true case study  of green co-working at it's best. When Sherry and Dave Eichberger had the foresight and passion to create Houston’s first organic lifestyle destination, they came to New Living,http://www.newliving.net/  a green home + building epicenter for all things green to make their vision come to life. A short 10  months later, One Green Street was opening it's doors thanks to the swift build of Joseph Fowler of Forrest Custom Construction http://forrestcustomconstruction.com/. Interior Designer Saba Jawda fashioned the store with a soft palette of grays, blues and taupes, creating a beautiful background to merchandise.

From the moment of the ribbon cutting, to the end of the day, One Green Street was the place to be. As the doors opened, guests were greated with warm welcomes and smiling faces anxious to share all the green treasures that they have to offer. There was a warmth and happiness like no other grand opening that I have ever experienced.


Guests enjoyed perusing among the four quadrants of the store, Whole Body, where Shirley and Mimi of W3LL People provided mini makeovers and introductions to their fabulously long lasting, holistic beauty color line. At Full Circle Fashion, guests delighted in reading the Alot To Say messages on the shirts and undies made with recycled bottles. In the Healthy Home section, guests relaxed with massages, warmed up with EcoSmart Fireplaces and discovered hand picked organic, vintage or hand made treasures. Guests migrated to the Gathering Place to enjoy Green Light Martini’s, a signature cocktail developed by Dee of Dripping Springs Vodka and organic delights by Byrd’s Market.


For those ubber cool, eco-fashion and home design addicts, you have yet another reason to rejoice about shopping : At One Green Street, you will find over 70 lines of all that is good for you and the planet too at the brick and mortar store and online at : www.onegreenstreet.com

Keep posted for many upcoming events including the Alot To Say on Valentine’s Day on February 13th.

Take a walk down One Green Street. You will be glad you did.

Jessica Zapatero
Director of Public Relations + Events
Green Lily Events

Read more »

Tonya and Chris !

There is nothing more that we love than to make a Bride and Groom happy as we navigate through all the choices and decisions of wedding vendors. We have had so much fun helping Tonya and Chris wrap up some of the final details of their wedding that we felt compelled to share their fun loving engagement pics by creative photographer, Christina Carroll Photography. http://www.christinacarrollphotography.com/

Tonya has selected a playful theme for her wedding where she is incorporating personalized koozies and home made cookies. We love Tonya's style. Be on the lookout for more Wedding Pics from Austin based photographer, Christina Carroll. The ceremony and reception will be held at the Tuscany Villa in Katy, TX. Cheers Tonya and Chris !



Jessica Zapatero

Green Lily Events

Read more »

Dubble Bubble Bride

I came across this uniquely fresh idea for a wedding favor and just couldn't resist sharing it. At this time of year when we all start to feel like children again, what a more perfect way to thank your guests for sharing in your special day than treating them to a mini gumball machine? Fill it with gumballs that match your colors or simply stick to traditional primary colors, either way is a fun, retro-chic way to represent the bride or the groom who can't seem to get enough of their favorite gum.

*Composed By: Layne Smith

Read more »

Tree-Chic

The perfect decor for a winter wedding is crystal-clad trees. Use them to line your aisle at the ceremony and all over your reception. Pictured here is a stunning example of how glamorous you can go. How exquisite are the crystal tear drops amongst the floating dendrobium orchids and tea-lights. Stunning!

A more sizable arrangement is great for guests tables or cocktail tables

This is the perfect example of a tall tree arrangement for a guest table. I love how the branches drape well above the guests line of sight and the roses at the base bring a soft, romantic finish.

 

Plan to dress up your bar or special display tables with a larger tree overflowing with crystals. I would love to see this tree draped with rock candy crystals highlighting a candy bar buffet.

Bling out your place cards and welcome guests into your reception with a dazzling display.

Read more »

Pomanders: Precious vs Posh

Pomander balls are a popular (and smart!) option for flower girls to carry down the aisle. Baskets can be awkward for a small child to carry and many indoor venues won't even allow anything to be tossed down the aisle for safety reasons or care of the facility. Pomanders give you a 360 display of all those pretty buds in one precious package that's easily transportable for the most rambunctious of little girls. Yes, sweet as they may be, most every flower girl is also a bored little kid dying to run around and play!

But have you ever considered using a pomander ball for your bridesmaids instead of traditional bouquets? Consider a collection of sophisticated blooms like peonies or exotic stems of dendrobium orchids. Ask your florist to size them larger and accent with crystals or a bracelet-like loop for a handle. Send your bridesmaids down the aisle solo with one hand on their hip, the other hand draped with the pomander ball. You'll have your ceremony looking more like a posh runway and your bridesmaids feeling fabulous.

Read more »

Sand Ceremony

I love honoring old traditions in an updated fashion. With outdoor weddings, a beautiful ceremony to perform after exchanging rings is the sand ceremony. It comes from the unity candle tradition, in which mother of the bride and groom both light two separate candles during the pre-service. After the exchange of vows, the bride and groom each use the candle their mother lit to light one center candle and then extinguish the mother's candles to symbolize the unity of two people into one shared commitment.

Sand Ceremonies are ideal in outdoor settings where wind may be a factor. It creates a beautiful visual effect for memorable photographs as well as the commemorative keepsake you take home with you. If you'd like to honor both mother of the bride and mother of the groom, you can have them walk down the aisle before the ceremony with a small vessel of sand to place beside a larger empty vessel for the ceremony. You may also wish to coordinate the color of sand with your wedding colors. Or think of a room in your house you will wish to display your unity sand sculpture in and then coordinate with the style and decor of that room.

I like the example displayed here. This couple chose to fill an hour glass to signify the beginning of a new time in both their lives. Long after their wedding day is over, the hourglass remains in their home office as a discreet keepsake.

Read more »