Have I told you just how much I LOVE Grace Ormonde? Well, I LOVE anything and everything Grace Ormonde. Now you know I follow her blog, a fan on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. No, it’s NOT an obsession, just love! On her daily tweets, I received this amazing picture photographed by Punam Bean Photography, and I just fell in love with the photo.
In black and white this photo just highlights the sweet, enormous moments between fiancé and fiancé before they become husband and wife. I simply adore the crinkled wrapping paper which makes you imagine the bride opening her gift with an amazing glow on her face. I love how the groom put his thoughts on a ripped piece paper and even though the note is somewhat blurry, you can still see the part where he reminds her that he loves her. And this amazingly beautiful clutch just makes you think about the time and effort he put into this simple gesture. As Grace put it, this photograph exudes romance, nostalgia and alludes to a bygone era. And I simply could not agree more!
Yes, I would love to hear your thoughts on this photo. When was the last time you saw a picture that truly moved you?
Always inspired by Grace Ormonde,
Violaine Diogene
When I tell you I LOVE my job, please believe and understand that I do love my job! One of my favorite brides called me today to ask my opinion on her brilliant idea on purchasing three different gowns. I’m thinking, three different gowns to wear that evening? YES, she said and we begun discussing her point of change. While putting our ideas together, we came up with the change for the wedding cake cutting gown and you guessed it, I wanted to share it with you.
I’m loving this idea and what a way to make you’re a statement and to keep your guest guessing about what you’ll do next? So, her idea is to get married in a formal wedding gown, she’ll be introduced in that gown and just after the first course is served she will go into the bridal room and change her entire look! After the cake is cut and a mere hour later she’ll once again change her entire look and will emerge in her last dance gown. Yes, I know it’s brilliant!
Below are the gowns she and I are looking into. Now, you know I LOVE Oscar de la Renta and when one of my brides decides to wear his gowns, believe me when I tell you I’m over the moon.
Well, what do you think of this idea? Do you see yourself changing three times or twice? You know just how much I love to hear from you.
With three gowns in mind,
Violaine Diogene
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On the last weekend of February, I have the very best privilege and honor to work with one of my very favorite florist/designers in Atlanta! This florist/designer is one tremendous talent, knowledge and full of grace and every time we get to work together I feel as though I’m home.
Christine of Perfect Petals is one of those people who you’ll automatically feel drawn to with her warm and sincere smile. Regardless of how many weddings we do together (and believe me, we’ve done quite a few) I get very excited when a bride calls to notify me that they’ve chosen Perfect Petals to do their decor and flowers. And it is because of this reason I’m so thrilled to be working with her on this amazing event that I’m so honored to invite you to.
I’m also very excited because I’m going to have a chance to speak on a panel with other amazing wedding vendors about translating your Wedding Style! Did I tell you I’m excited? Well, I’m hoping to see you there and I certainly hope that you’ll find inspiration while attending this event. Below is the Itinerary for the weekend.
Hoping to see you this weekend,
Violaine Diogene
Phipps Plaza Bridal Weekend
Saturday, February 27th
12:00 p.m. – Couples Workshop, presented by LoveKnots
1:00 p.m. – Tasting Menu presentation from Rosebud
2:15 p.m. – Photography Workshop with LaCour & The Decisive Moment
3:30 p.m. – Wedding Vendor Q&A Panel, led by The Atlantan Brides Editor-in-Chief, Phebe Wahl, featuring top event professionals in the city
5:00 p.m. – Beauty Demo by Raney O’Keefe
Sunday, February 28th
12:00 – Translating your Wedding Style
1:00 p.m. – Bridal Fashion presentation
2:00 p.m. – Meet the author and pick up your signed copy of Weddings by Tara Guerard
3:00 p.m. – Mens Fashion presentation
4:00 p.m. – Live Giveaway Announcement
4:30 p.m. – Wedding and Event Fashion presentation
Like wedding gown, your wedding cake and other aspect of your wedding; your centerpiece should certainly reflect your sense of style, personality and should make an impression on your guests. One of my current bride really knocked me of my seat when she decided to go opposite of everything she’s ever known. I’m talking about completely opposite and every one of her guests will not believe she had this person in her.
Kelsie (a destination wedding in Boston this summer) is as quite as they come, as simple and un-elaborate as a bride can be! This week while going through magazines and photos of reception décor, she came across a website and fell in love with these daring centerpieces and called me up screaming “V, I MUST have one of these centerpieces”! Well, if she MUST have them, then she will have them and in the next few weeks I’m heading to Boston to meet with the vendor to finalize the décor.
I’m sharing this with you because I want to remind you that this is your wedding and you’re able and allowed to do whatever it is that you want. If’ you’re a bride like Kelsie and you want to just shock your guests upon their arrival at the reception, by all means make it happen. There is no rule to what and how you should do your own wedding decor. Well, you know what I mean. I don’t want you to go crazy with your colors or anything but I just want you to keep an open mind about what’s available to you. Be creative, step out of the box and surprise the most important guest of all; you!
Below are some of the most amazing centerpieces I’ve ever come across. I love, love and love the very first one as it just took my breath away. This actually more than a centerpiece as every other table were graced with handmade canopies of birch and vines which featured dripping votives. While mossy pots overflowed with garden flowers with wooden lanterns and votives to punctuate each lush table. Do you hear that? That’s your guests gasping in amazement as they step foot in your reception!
How do you envision your reception décor? Like to contact the florist responsible for such amazing work? Davinci Florist and Stone Blossom would love to speak with you. Let me know your thoughts on these daring centerpieces.
Daring you to be daring,
Violaine Diogene
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OK so, I LOVE wine and I mean I LOVE wine! One of the most important elements in planning a very nice wedding is knowing the kinds of wine you should offer your guests (should you choose to offer your guests). Now you know when we started this blog, we wanted to talk to you about all sorts of things and this wine 101 I’m thinking is a great post for those who’s looking for information on wine.
I was reading about this from Brides.com and I came accross this wonderful aritcle and I thought I would share with you. Let me know if you found it useful and if there’s any questions I can asnwer for you.
Always thinking of you,
Violaine Diogene
A top wine expert offers her insider tips for choosing your wedding-day drinks
There’s no doubt about it: Choosing wine can be one of the most enjoyable parts of wedding planning. And selecting your big-day libations doesn’t have to be stuffy or pretentious. Anu Karwa, who holds an Advanced Certification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, founded trendy wine tasting event organizer Swirl Events to share her passion for approaching wine in a fresh, fun way. Here, she shares her best advice for picking the wine for your wedding.
How should a couple pick wines for their wedding? What should they order?
When picking wine for a wedding, you want to pick one white wine and one red wine. Make sure they’re food friendly and that they’ll please a wide spectrum of palates. Don’t pick extreme or non-food friendly wines, e.g. a sweet white wine, a big Barolo, red Zinfandel, etc. Plus you need a sparkling wine for the toasts. My picks for wedding whites include: a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand (especially the Marlborough region), a dry Riesling from Washington State or Alsace or an unoaked Chardonnay (known as White Burgundy in France.) For reds, I would pick a Pinot Noir (known as Red Burgundy in France.) Great choices come out of the Willamette Valley in Oregon and the classic region of Burgundy. They’re very food friendly or perfect on their own and easily please a wide taste range.
How many glasses of wine should a couple budget per person?
Assess your crowd. Some crowds are more likely to consume wine, beer and cocktails. The ratio is up to you, but assume people drinking wine consume one glass per hour.
Champagne’s expensive but necessary for a Champagne toast. What can a couple do to save money without losing this special touch?
My favorite wine tip for weddings involves Champagne. Champagne is a major wedding expense (since people usually budget two glasses per guest.) Instead, pick a Prosecco, a sparkling wine from Italy, or a Cava, a sparkling wine from Spain. Both are equally elegant and you can find fantastic bottles for about $12!
How can oenophiles incorporate wine into their wedding?
Pick wines that are special to you and indicate the meaning behind the choice to guests via small tent cards. Place the tent cards in front of the wine or near the bar. This gives guests a little insight into you as a couple.
Not sure which wines to pick? Here are a few questions to get your imagination going:
- Do either the bride or groom come from a wine-friendly area? Pick a wine from their home state or country.
- Have you vacationed in wine country?
- Are you especially environmentally conscious and planning a “green” wedding? Pick all organic or biodynamic wines.
- Have you picked a wine to be your new “home” wine?
- Do you have a special restaurant: Where you shared your first date, where he proposed, etc…? Pick a wine off their menu.
- Are you going to a honeymoon spot known for its wine: Napa, Australia, France, Italy, Egypt, even India?
Cocktail hours all seem the same. How can a couple make it more fun?
Have a wine tasting! If Swirl doesn’t cover your area (NY, NJ, CT), do it yourself. Set up stations, each with one wine and a sommelier or bartender pouring and discussing the wine. Pair an appetizer or cheese with each wine being tasted and keep it at the station. Get score cards printed with the names of the wines and the station number. Hand these to guests so they can vote for their favorite or write notes. This keeps guests occupied and encourages mingling between guests who might not know each other.
— Kathryn Papanek
Ok, this is almost kind of embarrassing to admit only because I’m a wedding planner and all, but I’m not exactly, no scratch that, I’m not a flower expert at the very least! There, I said it and yes, I’m breathing in sight. Now, don’t misunderstand me, I LOVE flowers and I absolutely love picking out a few flowers to make an arrangement but I couldn’t tell you about their names, meaning and all that, and that’s fine because I leave figuring out what’s in season and what’s what to my favorite floral vendors.
Because I don’t know much about flowers, I’m thinking it’s a great idea to for us to educate ourselves about these wonderful, simple pleasures of life. On Brides.com there’s this amazing Flower Finder and it’s a great place to get all the flower facts your little heart can handle. I’m thinking in the next few weeks, I’ll feature 10 flowers per week for us to get to know.
You know the deal, let me know your thoughts on this post and if you find it useful.
Happy flower learning,
Violaine Diogene
Muscari
These delicate, tightly clustered flowers, also called grape hyacinth, burst from bulbs in spring; small-headed, with supple stems, they’re easily wired into head wreaths for flower girls.
Color
purple, blue
Style
beach casual, classic, romantic
Cost
$$ = medium price
Season
spring
Size of Bloom
small
Hyacinths
This winter-to-late-spring bloom has a strong scent and a fresh-from-the-garden appeal; use the stems in small centerpieces or planters, or pluck a couple of individual flowers for a boutonniere.
Meaning: constancy
Style
beach casual, classic, romantic, modern
Color
red, blue, yellow, pink, orange, white
Size of Bloom
large
Cost
$$ = medium price
Season
winter through spring
Alliums
Like fluffy lollipops perched on tall sticks, these perfect globes of tiny petals create eye-popping displays, but don’t put them directly on your buffet-they smell a bit like onions.
Meaning: unity, humility, patience
Color
purple, blue, white, lavender, violet
Size of Bloom
large
Season
summer
Cost
$$$ = expensive
Hydrangea
Gardens burst into life with these poufs in late summer and fall; in shades from pink to lavender to green, they look modern when massed in bouquets and large arrangements.
Meaning: devotion
Style
beach casual, glamorous, classic, romantic, modern
Season
year round
Size of Bloom
large, medium
Color
blue, pink, green, white
Cost
$$$ = expensive
Sweet Peas
Skinny stems mean you can gather these frilly favorites in a bouquet, and it will still be featherlight. More good news: While it looks delicate, this early spring bloomer is deceptively hardy.
Meaning: delicate pleasures
Color
purple, red, lavender, pink, white
Style
glamorous, classic, romantic
Season
fall through late summer
Size of Bloom
small
Cost
$$$ = expensive
Peonies
This voluptuous, ultrafragrant flower has a fleeting season—late spring to early summer. Bunches of these chubby, old-fashioned favorites are beautiful placed in pretty pitchers.
Meaning: bashful
Style
beach casual, glamorous, classic, romantic
Color
red, burgundy, pink, white
Size of Bloom
large, medium
Season
late spring
Cost
$$$ = expensive
Roses
These are the classic long-stemmed roses that you see in the florist’s shop every Valentine’s Day. A perennial wedding choice, their petals can be plucked to carpet the ceremony aisle.
Meaning: love and passion
Color
red, yellow, pink
Style
glamorous, classic, romantic
Season
year round
Size of Bloom
medium
Cost
$$ = medium price
Lenten Roses
When is a rose not a rose? When it’s this five-petaled flower—more accurately called helleborus—that blooms in the Lenten season; it adds a springy bounce to bouquets.
Color
purple, pink, green, white
Season
early winter through spring
Style
beach casual, glamorous, bohemian, romantic
Size of Bloom
small
Cost
$$$ = expensive
Gardenias
With a scent to swoon for, this stem less flower can be floated in water or wired into a bouquet; though edges turn brown when handled roughly, it’s a stunningly retro-glam hair ornament.
Meaning: joy
Style
glamorous, classic, romantic
Size of Bloom
large, medium
Season
spring, summer
Cost
$$$ = expensive
Color
white, ivory
Eremurus Foxtail Lillies
Each stalk of this long-stemmed spring flower can have hundreds of star like florets; it can last for up to three weeks in a vase, so it’s great for make-ahead arrangements.
Style
beach casual, glamorous, bohemian, modern
Size of Bloom
medium
Cost
$$ = medium price
Season
spring, summer
color
yellow, pink
Out of all the amazing and brilliant designers that we’re fortunate to be a witness to their work, does any of them whisper your name? When a designer whispers your name, he’s calling you to wear his designs; Regardless if you can actually afford that particular designer at the very moment, eventually you will give in to that whisper and you’ll start wearing their designs.
Valentino has been whispering my name for a while now and I’m about to answer his call with the very first pair of shoes below. Yes, I know, I LOVE that amazing pair of shoes and it screams Violaine all over! But besides the amazing shoes, Valentino is a designer whom provides ample inspiration for the lady seeking a one-of-a-kind gown, and this particular Valentino collection simply took my breath away! This collection delivers exquisite and timeless couture gowns.
Which of these designs whispers your name? Which designer whispers your name? I know some of the suits below are white and I would love to hear your thoughs on where you would wear the white suit to! I would love to hear your thoughts…..
Inspired by Valentino,
Violaine Diogene
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Dear wedding guests attendees, whether you’re attending your girlfriend from high school’s wedding, whether you’ve ever met the bride, whether you’re a friend of a friend who’s standing in at the last minute. Whether you’re accompanying your significant other to his or her best friend’s wedding, whether you’re a friend of the mother, brother, sister, father, a mere distance cousin, it’s NEVER and I repeat, it’s NEVER ok to attend one’s wedding in a pair of jeans (expensive or not) with a nice shirt tucked in! And please understand that I’m saying this with love.
I can appreciate that it’s intimidating to wear a full gown to a wedding but I promise you, the bride and her family will appreciate the time you took to dress accordingly to their wedding.
Below are just a few samples of my favorite gowns but the very first gown by the one, the only, Oscar De La Renta! Yes, I know it’s a full ballroom gown but at times when you know you’re attending a formal seated dinner, trust me you can pull this look together and make your own statement without taking anything away from the bride. For more information on each of the gowns, simply move your mouse to each gown and the name of the designer will be revealed. What do you think of the gowns below? Have you ever had a guest attend your wedding and you did not appreciate what they wore? I would love to hear your thoughts on this post.
Always with you in mind,
Violaine Diogene
Grace Ormonde, the wedding bible featured this story and I just had to share……
“There was never enough time in the day for me to spend with her: 24 hours wasn’t enough.”
When Earl Watson led Jennifer Freeman to a candlelit lily pond and asked her to close her eyes, he expected his proposal to elicit “a hug and kiss—not a punch.” Startled to see the NBA point guard on bended knee, the television and film actress jabbed him playfully and demanded: “This had better be for real.” After all, she’d arrived at Virginia Robinson Gardens to represent Earl at a Christmas Eve charity event—or so she thought. Earl’s scheme nearly fell through though when his flight was canceled. As they danced to her favorite song, “At Last” by Etta James, “It was surreal,” admits Jennifer, who didn’t expect her beau to make it, much less a ring.
After meeting a few months earlier at a summer barbecue, their paths crossed repeatedly, and they often found themselves lost in conversation. “Destiny had a way of putting us in front of each other,” Earl believes. “There was never enough time in the day for me to spend with her: Twenty-four hours wasn’t enough.”
Earl’s godfather, television producer Ed. Weinberger, insisted they wed at his Bel Air estate. “We couldn’t have picked a better place,” says Jennifer. As she prepared for the ceremony, flowers arrived with a two-word note: At Last. “I didn’t want to start crying, but I couldn’t help it,” Jennifer recalls. Earl’s second note, with a diamond heart necklace, made her laugh: “It’s too late to run.”
Walking down the aisle with her mother, “I was so excited that I wanted to burst,” Jennifer remembers. Earl “looked at me like there was no one else there, and I was the most beautiful woman in the world. I wanted to cherish that moment forever.”
Although Earl was determined, “there’s no way I’m going to cry,” he was soon caught off guard. “The agreement was: We would say traditional vows, then we wanted to say something to each other from the heart.” Instead, “Jennifer pulled out vows that had been written down and looked like they’d been proofread and rewritten three times. “She said the most amazing words. It came from the deepest spot in her heart. I couldn’t compete,” laments Earl, who sparked laughter when he blurted: “You made me cry.”
“He’s always been able to express himself,” says Jennifer. “I wanted to write something and tell him exactly how I felt. I wanted it on tape, so he could replay it.”
More than two-hundred guests joined the newlyweds at the Montage Beverly Hills for dinner and dancing. “Everyone was genuinely happy for us, which created so much positive energy,” Earl says. “We were the last ones there,” says Jennifer, and as they swayed to “At Last” and “Unforgettable,” she thought, “I couldn’t have dreamed of a better wedding.”
The couple hosted a post-wedding barbecue before their week-long Turks and Caicos honeymoon. Although their careers sometimes require time apart, “We’re constantly in touch, talking on the phone, texting,” says Jennifer. “He knows everything about me, good and bad.” “There’s nothing that Jennifer could ever do or say that would stop me from being in love with her,” Earl assures. “It’s unconditional love—forever.”
Article by Kim Knox Beckius
Reception and Caterer: Montage Beverly Hills, CA; Cake: Nancy Kay’s Confections Los Angeles, CA; Event Planner: Kimberly Bradford Event Planning and Design Costa Mesa, CA; Florist: Nisie’s Enchanted Florist Los Alamitos, CA; Groom’s Attire: élevée Van Nuys, CA; Wedding Gown: Kenneth Pool; Photography: TripleCord Photography Ladera Ranch, CA
Inspired by Jennifer and Earl,
Violaine Diogene
Ok, so by now you know about my shoe fetish right? Right! Imagine my pleasant and crazy surprise when I heard about this amazing person by the name of Ann Roth who designs shoes and event better, she custom design shoes! Seriously though, I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.
According to her website, Ann Roth found her way into shoe design after a serendipitous broken dance shoe led to her first creation.
After her first encounter with shoe-making came an extensive period of research and a dream of a certain blue toile espadrille. Roth learned how to make a last and a pattern and fashioned the shoe she had envisioned. Her unique sense of style, love affair with footwear and steadfast dedication turned into a desire to bring her creations to other women, and Ann Roth Shoes was born in the spring of 2006.
Inspired by the romance of a bygone era, each pair of Ann Roth Shoes evokes nostalgic elegance and charm. Characterized by classic silhouettes with modern details, the collection is now lovingly made in Spain by expert craftsmen who come from a long line of zapateros.
Roth’s designs continue to evolve, and with each new season she delights the senses with her wearable works of art. Ann Roth Shoes have been featured in Lucky Magazine, Footwear News and Daily Candy, among others. Most recently, Roth’s designs were part of history in the making, when a pair of her grey suede Garbos graced the stage on election night 2008.
Now, I’ve yet to have the pleasure of having my shoes design (that will soon change) but from the looks of what I see online and the rave reviews I’ve read and heard, this shoe designer will soon be a name whom brides, moms, and shoes divas will praise.
What do you think? Have you ever had your shoes design for you? If so, I would LOVE to see a picture and you can be featured on the blog….
In shoe heaven,
Violaine Diogene
