by Elizabeth

When I was planning my beach wedding, I realized that I needed to find a hair stylist otherwise my hair would go flying all over the place during our ceremony on the windy beach.  What I really needed was a site where I could find great vendors with honest, candid reviews posted by real customers -- like an Etsy for services.  So, recently, when I found such a site, -- it's called Betterfly -- I just had to interview them.  

So what is Betterfly?  Is it free?

Betterfly is a free website that makes it really easy and efficient to find the right tutor, coach, stylist, trainer or other “Betterist”, to help you learn, look or feel better.  One of the things that makes Betterfly unique is that it focuses on individuals instead of companies. Rather than suggesting a good hair salon, Betterfly tells you the best stylist! Instead of suggesting a fun gym, Betterfly tells you exactly which trainer you should go to.

Neat -- How, when, why did you start Betterfly? 

Betterfly was founded by Joshua Schwadron to help him find the right people as he worked towards his own personal betterment goals.  The site was launched in May of 2010, and recent investors include some of the Groupon founders.

So our brides are probably wondering, "What are some cool and unique wedding-related services that Betterists are currently offering on your site?"

There are literally thousands of Betterists who offer services related to helping a bride get ready for her wedding day. Whether they're looking for a makeup artist, hair stylist, or dance teacher, Betterfly enables brides (and grooms) to search by location, price, specialty, availability and more.

 

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb, a search site for inexpensive bridesmaids dresses, receives no form of compensation from this vendor.

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I love letterpress wedding invitations!  But, I know nothing about how they’re made or what styles are trending up.  So, to get the scoop on letterpress invitations, I recently caught up with Julie Chiu and Mario Ortiz, co-founders and owners of Subtle Glances, a letterpress company based in San Francisco.

What are your favorite letterpress wedding invitations that you've done?  Any particular themes that seem to be in trend this year?

It's hard to pick a favorite because they're all so unique and really speak to the personalities of our clients. As the Gen X & Y era are getting married, travel is deeply embedded into their list of things they love, so we've consistently seen a lot of travel themed invitation requests. Another trend we've seen is that people are taking a nod to their venues in their invitation designs. Our clients really want to give their guests a taste of what their day will be like by giving them a glimpse of their venue, whether it be the Carmel Hills, a lush winery, or a historic hotel.

What is the process for creating letterpress wedding invitations?  How long does it take?  Can you print any design or any characters?

The invitation process begins with the design. Once a design is approved, we make photopolymer plates which are essentially mirrored images of your design. Each color must be pressed and registered on a separate run, so a plate is made for each color on the design. Traditionally plates are made of metal or copper, but we use photopolymer because it's much more eco-friendly and can be recycled. All colors are mixed using Pantone formulas and soy based inks. All of our invitations are printed on 100% cotton and tree free paper. We typically allot 10-15 business days for the printing process. Almost any design can be letterpressed, but it is typically best to send a PDF to your printer to ensure that your desired design is feasible.

How did you start Subtle Glances and how long have you been doing letterpress invitations?

Subtle Glances was always a dream for the both of us for years. It really was just an opportune moment when the two of us met and eventually realized that we shared the same dreams and passions. Julie had been designing invitations for 3 years prior to our start and was always fascinated by letterpress printing. It just happened that Mario owned a letterpress and was also working on invitations for years prior. We've been in business together for 2 years now and the rest is history!

Check out more of Subtle Glances’ beautiful letterpress work and their 5 star reviews on Yelp.

Disclosure: Shiny Orb, a search site for wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses, receives no form of compensation from this vendor.

By Elizabeth

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So, we asked our friends at Koutali, an online store for all your kitchen and dining needs, to recommend a few items.  I'll bet our brides who are wracking their brains to think of registry items don't have these!

Stylish Swedish Herb Pots by Sagaform ($19.95 - $49.95)
I love this one.  The most economical way to cook with herbs is to grow them in one's own kitchen.  Having the convenience of fresh herbs combined with the contemporary design of this herb pot will brighten any kitchen and any dish.  I'll bet none of you thought to register for this one :)

Bamboo Serving Collection ($12.99-$34.99)
A tricky concern for many couples is to ensure an online wedding registry has a variety of items across the price spectrum so that all guests can participate.  I thought this collection was inexpensive, yet elegant, impressive, and utilitarian at the same time.  You cannot have enough serving bowls, and these have a natural look at great prices. 

Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven/Broiler ($325)
This convection toaster is multi-faceted.  I love how it can be a microwave and a toaster, making it easy to warm up  leftovers and toast bread.  It can even bake desserts.  Most importantly, it can do all of these things while saving counter space.

Joslyn from Koutali has a number of other recommendations for wedding registry gifts on their blog.  Koutali also offers wedding registry services, so you can easily sign up for all of these items. 

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb, a shopping site for wedding apparel, receives no form of compensation from this vendor.

By Shanna, edited by Jennifer

Winter weddings in the Bay Area are challenging because winter here is not white fluffy snow but soggy wet rain.  Our hidden gems that are both elegant and dry would include the following:

• Testarossa Winery in Los Gatos: Testarossa has a cozy location for a smaller event, and is very unique in its design.  The long entryway corridor is a beautiful location to stage an indoor ceremony.  With its curved stonework walls reminiscent of a fairytale castle, you won't see anything like it anywhere else in the bay.
• Thomas Fogarty Winery: With sweeping views of the entire Bay Area and a covered ceremony/reception area, Thomas Fogarty Winery is ideal for winter weddings.  The rain coming through the Bay Area in the winter often leaves the air clear, allowing guests breathtaking vistas from San Francisco to Mt. Hamilton.  And on non-rainy winter days, the low clouds coming over from the ocean give the location and ethereal feel.
• Silver Creek in San Jose: Silver Creek boasts beautiful views of the green hillsides, which in California in the winter time are especially vibrant, as well as perfectly manicured lawns and breathtaking landscaping.  The ballroom allows views of the outdoors from all angles for a indoor event that can still connect to the beauties of the outdoors.  The interior of the facility is grandiose and elegant, including a sweeping double staircase.
• Coyote Creek Country Club in San Jose: Coyote Creek is perfect for the more casual reception or even the rehearsal dinner.  Although their ceremony sites are outdoors, the Country Club would be perfect for the winter bride who prefers a church ceremony and a reception with views.
• We and Our Neighborhood Clubhouse in San Jose: The Clubhouse is an intimate, casual, craftsman style venue -- and a San Jose historical landmark --  perfect indoor venue for a bride on a budget that wants the freedom to pick her own caterers and make the venue her own.

Photo credit: Image of Thomas Fogarty Winery by naotakem

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb, a shopping site for wedding apparel, receives no form of compensation from this vendor.

By Elizabeth

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How did you come up with the idea for SnapKnot? 

I’m recently married and a casualty of the challenging wedding planning process (well, not really a casualty, but you know what I mean :) ). In particular my wife Eunice and I learned that finding a photographer was very difficult, stressful, and time-consuming. We were fortunate to end up with Jim Kennedy, a very talented and well-known photographer in Orange County. We consider ourselves lucky.

(Reid's co-founder) Mike was looking for his next career move and I was looking to get involved in something new as well, so after a series of brainstorming sessions we came up with the idea for SnapKnot, inspired in large part by my negative experience. We thought there was a better way for couples to find wedding photographers.

When did you launch SnapKnot?

SnapKnot was officially launched in the middle of February 2010, however we started building our social media network around the 1st of this year.  We will have 1,000 wedding photographers listed on SnapKnot within the next few weeks, and our overall traffic has been steadily growing since launch.

There are a some fantastic portfolios on SnapKnot.  Reid shared some of his favorites with us (see above).

Photo credits: Douglas Levy, Scott McNamara, Kristen Weaver, Studio-EMP

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb, a search site for bridesmaids dresses, receives no form of compensation from this vendor.

By Elizabeth's mom, edited by Elizabeth

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Elizabeth's mom had a lot of fun taking care of the flowers for Elizabeth's wedding.  This is the last article of the DIY flowers-series, where she'll discuss floral arrangements for a wedding aisle.  Prior articles are on DIY corsages and boutonnières as well as large floral arrangements.

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb, a search site for bridesmaids dresses, receives no form of compensation from Elizabeth's mom... except for the occasional care package of snacks sent to our office. 

By Sheena, edited by Elizabeth

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A wedding reception isn't a reception without a theme or beautiful table decorations.  We spoke with Sheena from Sheena's Events, an expert in wedding themes and wedding reception table decorations.  She discusses new trends, examples of wedding decorations at receptions, and what to consider when thinking about themes and wedding reception decoration ideas for your wedding. 

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb receives no form of compensation from this vendor.

What is an example of one of your favorite wedding reception table decorations you've done recently?

All of our events (and our clients) are unique in their own way.  However, every so often, a client has a vision that will always have a lasting impression.  I once worked with a bride who immediately introduced her groom as her "hero."  As we became more acquainted, I discovered that the bride's favorite fairytale was Alice in Wonderland.  I thought it would be great to somehow combine her two loves.  We decided on a “Superman meets Alice in Wonderland” theme. In typical fashion the wedding reflected 90% of the bride's wishes and 10% of the groom's, as he was represented by the superman cake topper.  Using white table cloths and 2-foot tall silver tea pots filled with flowers of different shades of peach, orange, and red as the centerpieces excited and thrilled the guests.  Each centerpiece sat on a bed of wheat grass to enhance the theme, which was based on the Tea Party scene from the Alice in Wonderland book.  By making the centerpieces our focus, we were able to transform the theme into something modern and chic with a whimsical twist.

What wedding reception table decorations are most popular now?

All clients are looking for that “Wow” factor.  They want their guests to be amazed by the visions they have had specially turned into a reality for their wedding day.  Although each client is different, most are asking for tall centerpieces and dramatic props to further enhance elegant and extravagant themes.

What kind of tables are brides choosing today?  Specific shapes?  Banquet tables for the bridal party? 

Sweetheart tables seem to be making a return.   Most couples are finding that this set up allows them to enjoy and cherish their special moment.  More recently, brides and grooms have allowed their wedding parties to sit at round tables with their respective dates.  

What table arrangements are popular and why?

The new trend is to have table arrangements that also can be used as favors.  Take home items like tulip bulbs, trinkets of origami, and clusters of candles with a creative design help to add that personal touch your guest will not forget.

How do you come up with your wedding reception decoration ideas, themes, and vision?  How do you work with brides to bring about a theme or vision that everyone will be happy with?

No wedding theme is possible without inspiration.  Our work is influenced by art museums, fashion shows, boutique hotels, nature, as well as other people.  Our team is always in search of new material for upcoming events.  Our process begins by presenting each bride with a series of pictures to help them articulate their visions.  One of our biggest hurdles is understanding each bride's vision.  A presentation of various photographs of different themes helps us understand what each bride is looking for, as well as enabling our brides to articulate their desired designs.    A large part of the process is learning to pick up on hints and behaviors from our clients that may help us in the design process.

Sheena is the founder and an event designer at Sheena's Events, a company based in Oakland, California.  In addition to many happily married couples, her list of well-known clients has included Macy's, HSBC, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Pixar, the Special Olympics, and many more. 

By Jenilee, edited by Elizabeth

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We are always on the lookout for unusual and special activities in the wedding world.  I recently ran into Jenilee Gerodias Slagle, who holds cooking parties as rehearsal dinners.  I just fell in love with the idea.  She discusses how the wedding party, families and close friends, come together to make good food and share good times together prior to the wedding.

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb receives no form of compensation from this vendor, though admittedly, I did try some of her desserts, and they were delicious.

Tell us about how you've held some of your cooking parties for rehearsal dinners in the past?  How does this work?

I usually hold parties in the clients' homes or rent a kitchen. These cooking parties are usually 3 hours long where I give an introduction to basic kitchen skills and talk about recipes for 30-40 minutes.  Then the client and his/her party will hands-on cook by following printed recipes I provide.  Lastly, they sample the dishes prepared.  There are a few different styles of cooking parties I hold:

•  Plated-style: I divide the party into 2 teams and cook two different 3-course menus (usually a protein, side and dessert.) Once they have everything cooked, I have a beautiful table arranged and serve everyone a plated and coursed dinner they made themselves.  An example French-inspired 4-course Menu:
  • Team 1: Potato Gratin, Filet Mignon with Bernaise Sauce, Molten Chocolate Cake
  • Team 2: Citrus Fennel Salad, Sole Meuniere (Fish in a Lemon Caper Sauce), Tea Cakes
• Tapas-style: I divide the party into pairs and assign a tapas style/ finger food recipe for each pair to cook.  I work with the hosts to find out what wines and cocktails will pair well with the food.  Here is a Spanish-inspired example:
  • Potato Croquestas, Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp), Bacon-wrapped Figs Stuffed with Blue Cheese, Flat Bread topped with White Anchovies, Preserved Lemon and Fennel, Paella Style Deep Fried Rice Balls.

Who attends/participates/cooks?

The client and his/her party will be cooking. The bride and her family might be on Team 1 and the groom and his family might be on Team 2 or sometimes I even mix families together.  I basically guide them through the recipes to make sure they all have something to eat at the end of the cooking party. I would also like to think that I can share a cooking tip or two.

What are some examples of themes you've done in the past at these parties?

Working with a theme is always fun -- I once organized a Moroccan theme party wherein everyone was in full Moroccan attire and even the client's home was decorated with beautiful Moroccan style fabrics and rugs. We made lamb tagine with apricots, vegetable couscous and baba au rhum, which is rum cake.  

Jenilee Gerodias Slagle is an independent chef based in the San Francisco Bay Area, who loves sharing her passion for food with others via her cooking courses, her catering, and her private chef services.  She previously worked at a Michelin-starred restaurants Le Chiberta and La Folie in Paris and San Francisco respectively and is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.  

By Therese, edited by Jennifer

While some of us are still experiencing rainy days here and there, it's time to think about summer. Today, Therese Jacinto, a floral and event designer for Therese Jacinto Design, discusses some summer flower inspirations for weddings.

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb receives no form of compensation from this vendor.

What are some beautiful summer flowers that you'd recommend for a summer wedding?

Summer is the season of choice for most couples who are planning a wedding. What’s great about this season is that it is the most vibrant – meaning when it comes to colors, almost anything goes! June is the classic wedding month so most brides opt for very romantic, light, and airy flowers. Peonies, hydrangeas, carnations, orchids, and roses come in beautiful soft colors that complement this look.  July brings about a thirst for the exotics. Common color schemes during this month are extremely bright and lively. Think yellow roses, hot pink and orange gerberas, and lime green orchids. The month of August brings about deeper tones of blues, purples, and pinks.

I recently executed an August wedding in a monochromatic blue and white color scheme. The bride and groom love the beach, but instead of literally creating a “beach” at their garden reception, I opted to carry a simple blue scheme inspired from the cool ocean waters. We combined blue and white hydrangeas, roses, delphinium, white calla lilies, and modern glass containers filled with wheatgrass to complete this look. The effect was refreshing and modern.  

Are there any flower trends that you're seeing for summer weddings?

Organic and sustainable flower arrangements and tablescapes are a big trend. The San Francisco Bay Area is very eco-conscious and we’re lucky to have a lot of local resources to tap into. Incorporating organic wheatgrass, succulent plants, fruits, vegetables, and reclaimed branches into floral arrangements is a great way to lend a natural feel to a wedding.
 
Are there uniquely Bay Area flowers that you'd recommend to local brides?

We have wild flowers like the California poppy and the yellow pansy which are gorgeous in the bright yellow and orange schemes. Forget-me-knots are beautiful and delicate, and also found around the area. They’re perfect for a more romantic look.

By Elizabeth's mom, edited by Jennifer

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Elizabeth's mom had a lot of fun taking care of the flowers for Elizabeth's wedding. In addition to $5 corsages and boutonnières, she also made some large floral arrangements, which she discusses today.

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb receives no form of compensation from Elizabeth's mom... except for the occasional care package of snacks sent to our office. 

Because beaches often have no pews, arches, or other markers, I created two floral arrangements to mark the ceremonial area of Elizabeth's wedding.  The nature of flowers and foliage is such that "you can do no wrong," so don't be afraid to try your hand at floral arranging!  It's cheap and easy to do.  Estimated arrangement time: 5 minutes.

Theme and design tips

Based on your wedding setting, decide on the colors and "look" of the flowers you want for your floral arrangements.  Because Elizabeth’s wedding was at the beach, I wanted natural looking arrangements and if possible, with a tropical theme. I also kept in mind that the flowers needed to be pretty durable to withstand any wind and hot June weather.

Flower and foliage selection tips

Spring and summer brides will be blessed with wide variety of flowers. You can get flowers flown in from other areas. You can use flowers and foliage from your backyard. Or, buy and grow some plants in pots. However, because one can not be sure if the flowers will bloom when you need them, be sure to have a backup plan if you are growing flowers from seeds.  Enjoy perusing local floral outlets, farmers markets and garden stores to get ideas for flowers and colors.

Beach-themed wedding ceremony floral arrangements (DIY)

For the floral arrangements I made for Elizabeth's wedding ceremony, I bought the following for each arrangement:

• 1 24" clear large cylinder vase from Michaels ($15 per plastic or glass vase)
• 4 long ferns and a bundle of tall grass (all from my backyard). Any large greenery will do.
• 1 Bundle of tall weeping willows ($5 a bundle)
• 3 Bird of paradise ($5 for 3) sprigs
• 2 sprigs of orchids ($5 total for all the orchids, a great deal from a farmers market)

• Optional 1 large ceramic cylinder (I made this myself in a pottery class to add weight to the vases and hide the end of the plant stems, but by no means is taking up ceramics necessary!)

Steps:

1. Purchase/cut orchids and ferns up to 2 days before the wedding.  Purchase/cut all other plants/flowers up to 2 weeks before the wedding.  All other items can be bought at any time.
2. Put 7" of wet sand in the vase.  If you have a ceramic cylinder, place it in the glass vase on top of the sand.
3. Place a tied bundle of willows in the center of the ceramic cylinder if you have one or in the center of the vase.
4. Spread the ferns and grass evenly around the inside of the ceramic cylinder.
5. Insert the Bird of Paradise sprigs and "hang" the orchids in the front or the side of the vase.

That's it!

Note: having the ceramic cylinder prevented all plants and flowers from touching the wet sand, enabling them to remain fresh for a few days.

Photo credit: First photo taken by Audrey.