Bellz & Whistlez® Blog: 12/01/2009

Monday, January 11, 2010

movie ticket guest book

Are you a person who saves movie ticket stubs?...lucky for you, I saw this photo and thought of a great idea on what to do with them! Neatly display them in a blank album (*along with space for guests to write) and custom make your guest book! What an innovative idea for the movie buff couple -- adds a very personalized touch and makes for an even more valuable keepsake. You can tab the sides of the pages for easy alphabetization.

Photo source: Jesse Deanna (Blurb) . . .(click for full post)

Friday, January 8, 2010

wedding forecast by JM :: upcoming events {Winter 2010}

"What's on the horizon for Winter 2010 Bridal Shows"
Several bridal events will be taking place in the Southern California area! Don't miss out on these exclusive happenings! These aren't your average bridal shows...

FESTIVAL OF BRIDES
The Festival of Brides is my pick when it comes to couture-style bridal events. Its making its Winter 2010 presence in several of SoCal's most desired locations. To start the festivities, they are holding the first FoB affair this Sunday, January 10th at The Grand Del Mar -- a spectacular venue tucked in San Diego's Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve.

Tickets for this sought out event begin at $25/pp (pre-sale) and $35/pp at the door. Please click here for more info or call (310) 577-7788. Come see a couture bridal fashion runway show previewing Lhuillier, Di Santo, Vera Wang and more.

January 10, 2010
@ The Grand Del Mar
11am–4pm
5300 Grand Del Mar Court
San Diego, CA 92130

January 17, 2010
@ The Montage
11am–4pm
30801 South Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

January 31, 2010
@ The Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa
11am–4pm
1401 South Oak Knoll
Pasadena, CA 91103

February 28, 2010
@ Terranea Resort
11am–4pm
100 Terranea Way
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90274
T (213) 225-2691

CONFIDENT BRIDE WORKSHOP
This is a very intimate event and limited to only 50 brides. Don't miss out, RSVP today. You will receive planning materials, insider tips from the best wedding professionals in Southern California, and a fabulous goodie bag.

January 12, 2010
@ Bella Collina
6:30pm–8:30pm
200 Avenida la Pata
San Clemente, CA 92673
RSVP rsvp@weddingjeannie.com
http://www.confidentbrideworkshop.blogspot.com/

THE SPECIAL EVENT SOIREE

February 20, 2010
@ Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa
4pm–9pm
32-250 Bob Hope Drive
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
www.dayofthediva.com
Admission: $5 (cash only please)

BACKSTAGE BRIDAL: A LUXURY WEDDING EXPERIENCE

Enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of luxurious weddings and learn some tricks of the trade from participating vendors at the experts’ panel discussions. If you are just beginning your wedding plans, Backstage Bridal: a Luxury Wedding Experience is certain to get you on the right track and if you already have your plans underway, find valuable resources for planning and all the finishing touches.
Expand your knowledge with 12 sessions representing various areas of wedding planning and design
Learn from top wedding professionals who are hand-selected experts in the following areas: Wedding Planning, Ceremony Structure and Legalities, Bridal Attire, Financial Planning, Music and Entertainment, Dance, Floral Design, Invitations and Stationery, Photography and Film.
Custom design your own program by choosing the exact classes you need
Have fun and learn at the same time

February 28, 2010
5896 Smiley Drive
Culver City, CA 90232
www.backstagebridal.eventbrite.com
Admission: $55 for EARLY BIRD VIP; $70 for standard VIP admission . . .(click for full post)

Thursday, January 7, 2010

ruffle up with wai ching's style

I'm so fortunate to have Janissa, my go-to gal when it comes to trends and forecasting. When I opened up her post about Chrissy Wai Ching, I also found myself intensely gawking at Chrissy's gowns. I love texture and variations in material, and I love color. Janissa's post inspired me to explore how one could incorporate the dress' design/texture into the rest of the reception vision. From linens, to confections, to ring pillows and flowers, styling is all about complementing well and visual balance.

Don't be afraid to go beyond your color scheme or elements from your invitation when designing your cake. Try incorporating textures from your wedding gown, jewelry, printed table linen, or even your actual flowers! You don't have to match your layers exactly (well, maybe the cake artist can do that), but find textures that complement your dress' design. Key word is complement. Oh, and one more important thing: ask a professional (B&W!) about where and how to incorporate these details; we know what's too little and what's too much -- straight from the eyes of designers.

Check this photo out -- a total "Wai-Ching" stylized cake! I love the ruffles and the various tones of neutral.

Photo source: AllegroPhotography.com

Sweeten up your cake display with ruffled cake bases.

Photo source: CrateandBarrel.com

A great and very cost effective flower: the carnation -- built with tons of texture and a variety of colors. The gathered layers of the petals create the ruffled look.

Photo source: Eddie Ross

I adore these pillows. Two different prints and textures make it visually appealing. And the ruffles are subtle.

Photo source: Ashley Ann Photography

Try not to skip out on linen. They make a HUGE statement. Tone down the florals and choose some fabulous linen. It makes all the difference. I love this ruffled underlay. Or you can see if your linen company can manually "ruche" or gather the material with pins.

Photo source: Citified.blogspot.com

Eddie Ross displays a pretty neat and simple carnation centerpiece. This is a great way to tie in the ruffled texture, and it's not too overwhelming.

Photo source: Eddie Ross . . .(click for full post)

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

wedding forecast by JM :: wai ching

"Wai Ching Flatters"
When it comes to forecasting trends, discovering unparalleled talent plays an important part of research. I was immediately struck by the bride’s jaw dropping dress in this photo and had to research the masternmind behind the work of art. With a couple of clicks, I was directed to Chrissy Wai Ching.

Chrissy Wai Ching debuted her wild, yet wearable line, Wai-Ching, in 2003 with figure flattery at the top of her priority list. Creating fiercely unique clothing is a delicate process. To Wai Ching, the art lies not only in designing, but also in selecting luxurious silks, hand dyeing the blank canvas, and meticulously piecing together each masterpiece. The name Wai Ching (Cantonese for wisdom and virtue) reflects the philosophy of the line and of the artist herself.

Her dresses exemplify an exploration of layering, piecing, and contrasting. They are truly gowns for the unconventional bride, though she has a way of tying in traditional lines. What I love about these dresses is that they are so unique, and the designs easily bring out so much personality in a bride -- whether it be her fashion style, outgoing & creative personality, or her confidence. They're colorful pieces of art that are sure to make any bride radiate.

Pure customization is pure trend setting and although Seattle-based Chrissy Wai Ching may seem like a far and impossible plane ride away, she will work with clients remotely to design a one-of-a-kind wedding gown. The studio communicates closely with you to get your measurements and they guarantee a perfect fit. Prices start around a very reasonable $500! Talk about a collection that really embodies the “free spirit.”

Photo sources: JaredBirt.com (top 2), StyleHive.com, Wai-Ching.com, SeattleTimes.com . . .(click for full post)

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

DARING DIVAS: spike it up with some Louboutin!

Daring Divas/Divos: Check out another bad (*in a good way!) creation by Christian Louboutin for Spring 2010. Would you rock these matching spiked kicks for the big day?

Photo source: Nitrolicious.com . . .(click for full post)

Saturday, January 2, 2010

update: 2010 pricing info + 1/16/10 promo

With the new year comes a fresh start and anticipation for what's to come! We have made some changes to our services and have also updated the 2010 pricing schedule, but because we loved 2009 so much, we're extending our 2009 pricing to clients who book on or before January 16th, 2010!*

Sadly, we will no longer offer our "SILVER (day-of)" service due only having very few inquiries -- I can count them on one hand -- so the 1/16/10 extension excludes the Silver Package. But hey! You'll still get our matching details package if you book any design package!** That won't being offered in 2010, so get it while you can! That's a savings of $760 to over $1,000!!

* 50% deposit and signed contract must be received by 1/16/10
**Please e-mail info@bellzandwhistlez for more information. . . .(click for full post)

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year! {2010}

Let's ring in the new year with warm wishes and lots of love!

. . .(click for full post)

Monday, December 28, 2009

wedding forecast by JM :: trend in flowerless bouquets

"Seeing a trend in creative flowerless bouquets"
We at B&W love hand made wedding details. We've blogged about products sold on Etsy.com, an accessible outlet for originality, uniqueness and customization. But there are other wonderful artists who have set up shop on their own; it's just a matter of finding these gems through creative searches online. With Charmae’s recent posts on PrinceDesign UK and winter wedding essentials, I thought it would be perfect to incorporate my blog about trends in flowerless bouquets that I discovered on the web.

Photo source (top – bottom): SilverSixPence.com.au, PamelasParasols.com, PrincessLasertron.com, PrincessLasertron.com, Jim Kennedy Photography

With shifts to the more modern approach and brides' yearn to have her big day purely original and personal, choosing the perfect bouquet is as important as choosing the dress. Imagine the statement you’ll make as you walk down with a non-floral, non-traditional bouquet and the compliments you’ll receive when flaunted in your photography session. There is a wide range of elegant sans-botanical alternatives to fresh flowers. The possibilities are endless and the result will be timeless.

The advantages to the flowerless bouquet are that it will not be susceptible to wilting, drying or fading AND you'll be doing your part as a “green” bride, enjoying the fact that you've spent money on something you can keep forever or even reuse. It can be used for several purposes after your big day: throw it in a vase as a centerpiece for your dining table, place it on bookcase shelf in your living room, display it like an art piece and hang it on your wall, or even pass it on to another bride as a tradition. Regardless of what you do, its versatility will make it an absolute conversation piece and special keepsake, and its ability to outlive real flowers will give you more opportunities to use it over and over.

Here are some categorized ideas for non-floral bouquets.

Butterflies