Tami Sawyer Events: The Wedding Blog

I've moved...

2010-05-03T16:33:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone -
It's been awhile. Tami Sawyer Events is officially up and running. You can check us out at www.tamisawyerevents.com.

The blog will now be located there. So, add www.tamisawyerevents.com/blog to your feeds.
See you guys there!!

Tami

Toni Federici Wedding Veils

2010-03-10T12:33:00.000-08:00

I don't have to say much about Toni Federici Veils. They speak for themselves. These elegant veils will be the centerpiece of your wedding ensemble. These are perfect when paired with an understated gown. Toni Federici Veils are available through boutiques across the country and more can be seen on their webpage: www.headpieces.com

Cool Trend: The Couple Silhouette

2010-03-04T13:19:00.000-08:00

I really like the framed couple silhouette trend. Couples are having silhouettes made in bold colors and framed as a keepsake for their home. If you know their style, this could also be a kitschy gift to give the newlyweds. Etsy has a lot of shops that create couple silhouettes. Some of my favorites are below.

Spring 2010 Wedding Gowns

2010-03-04T07:10:00.000-08:00

The fashion profile for Spring 2010 wedding gowns is long and romantic and short and sassy. We are seeing full skirts with bunched and draped tulle, classic A-Line dresses accented with oversized bows and "little white dresses" with asymetrical hems. The Roaring 20s have popped into the fashion forefront as Bibi style veils have made a strong comeback. Some of my favorites from Spring 2010 are shown below.

Designer: Galina

Sizes: 14W - 26W

Designer: Alfred Angelo

Sizes: 0 - 30

Designer: Alfred Angelo

Sizes: 0 - 30

Designer: Alfred Angelo

Sizes: 0 - 30

Designer: Vera Wang

Sizes: Custom Sizing Available

Designer: Vera Wang

Sizes: Custom Sizing Available

Designer: Vera Wang

Sizes: Custom Sizing Available

Notebook Excerpts...

2010-02-28T11:21:00.000-08:00

My college roommate Jen is in the beginning stages of planning her fall wedding. She likes the color of topaz (her birthstone) for one of her wedding colors. When she told me that, I said it would look great with grey. She mentioned purple. Shes having 2 bridesmaids and so I thought it'd be a good look to put them in different color and style dresses. I browsed around to see what I could find and came up with the dresses below in the colors we talked about. They're all from J. Crew Weddings.

If Jen goes with this look and color scheme, I would definitely recommend this gray Calvin Klein tuxedo for the groom and his groomsmen, which is also the tux of Dante.

Wedding Songs from my Library...

2010-02-26T21:27:00.000-08:00

I have a knack for picking out wedding songs. From the most obvious to the lesser known, I can definitely spot "first dance" material. Here are some in rotation on my playlist.

And for a fun first dance that could include the entire wedding party:

BIG & RICH | SAVE A HORSE (RIDE A COWBOY) @ Yahoo! Video

Hot Stuff 2.25.10

2010-02-25T17:37:00.001-08:00

Below are some things I ran across browsing the internet today. Lots of color in this post. Enjoy.

Bella Pagoda by Bella Umbrella
Colorful parasols add a vintage touch to your wedding style.

Christian Louboutin Hyper Prive Peep=Toe Pump @ Saks Fifth Avenue
Perfect Splash of color against your wedding dress.

Lady Butterfly Bibi from JoomiNyc
Modern Take on a Classic Veil.

Red Ruffled Silk Carina Bolera by Bonzie's Shop
Great find to add some spice to your dress, especially during the reception.

Pocket Square by Me and Matilda
I found these while searching for pocket squares for Dante. Simple yet fun.

Upcoming Bridal Shows

2010-02-22T11:21:00.000-08:00

Every bride who has a chance should attend a bridal show or event. They are lots of fun and very informative. Not to mention, you will come away with an insane amount of swag. Here are some bridal shows coming up in the near future.

Urban Wed presented by Brooklyn Bride
March 23 & 24, 2010
5 - 8 PM
New York, NY
www.urbanwedevent.com

B.Y.O.G. (Bring Your Own Groom) presented by the Mid-South Wedding Show
March 28, 2010
2 - 4 PM
Memphis, TN
www.midsouthweddingshow.com

The Wedding Bootcamp presented by The Wedding Salon & Dylan's Candy Bar
February 22, 2010
6 - 8:30 PM
New York, NY
www.weddingsalon.com

Hot Stuff 2.21.10...

2010-02-21T10:44:00.000-08:00

It's rare I blog twice in one day, but I wanted to share two websites with everyone that I will definitely use a lot and will probably become favorites of engaged couples very quickly.

Wedding JoJo: www.weddingjojo.com

There are a lot of wedding website builders available, but Wedding JoJo is my favorite of them all. Wedding JoJo has an array of styles and customizations available to allow for a unique website for each couple. The Mist theme pictured above is my top choice of all the themes as it has a very clean and modern look. You can use Wedding JoJo for free or you can pay $14.99/mo for extras such as unlimited photo storage, custom domain and unlimited support from the Wedding JoJo team.

Ticings: www.ticings.com

Do you want perfect cupcakes at your event? Ticings will do the trick. Ticings supplies "decorative edible sheets of icing that quickly add modern design" to your baked goods. The designs Ticings offers vary from cute to chic. You can even supply your own graphic for a customized Ticing. Prices vary. They seem to start around $8 for a dozen and go as high as $20 for a cake layer wrap.

Places Please...

2010-02-21T09:47:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of interesting seating charts and place cards. I love weddings that infuse the theme and the personality of the couple into every aspect of planning. Here are some of my favorite seating charts & place cards from around the web. Many of these can be DIY projects for the couple and the wedding party.

Photo Credits: Style Me Pretty, Jasmine Star, Once Wed, Snippet & Ink, Intimate Weddings, Maida-Vale

Vendor Highlight: Andrew Thomas Clifton Photography

2010-02-19T12:07:00.000-08:00

Chicago photographer, Andrew Thomas Clifton, brings an air of sophistication and elegance to every photoshoot. He captures moments both big and small with exact detail, reminding the couple of the things that may have slipped away from them as their special day went along.

In my opinion, Andrew totally gets it. His art expresses the romance of weddings. The softness of his photographs reminds us what these days that we work so hard to bring together are all about.

It doesn't hurt that he's extremely personable, funny and easy to work with, not to mention a consummate professional. Any bride and groom would be privileged to have him as their photographer.

All photographs on this page are courtesy of Andrew Thomas Clifton Photography. You can see more at his webpage: www.andrewthomasclifton.com

Crazy About Ghost Chairs

2010-02-18T08:10:00.000-08:00

After seeing a table lined with Ghost Chairs, how could you use anything else?
Ghost chairs have been around for years, but the current Ghost Chair craze (of which I am clearly a participant) is fueled by the Louis Ghost Chair and Victoria Ghost Chair both designed by Philippe Starck. They are perfect for indoors or outdoors and really give your table design a clean and modern look. Check out some of my favorite ghost chair designs from around the web.

The Louis Ghost Chair, Photo courtesy of Inventor's Spot

Photo Courtesy of Trendsetting Wedding

Photo Courtesy of Swanky Tables Blog

Photo Courtesy of Robert Fountain Files

A Tale of Two Tuxes...

2010-02-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

My friend Dante sent me a message today regarding the tuxes for his wedding. He said, "Being a stylish guy, I dont want to blend in with the groomsmen. What do you think about a gray tux for me and black for my groomsmen."

I'm all for personalization of your wedding. Individuality is the new trend in groomswear. I've seen a lot of variation between the grooms outfit and the groomsmen, but I wasnt sure. My brother wore a white tuxedo to his wedding and his groomsmen wore black ones. But black and white are pretty standard. So I went on a google hunt to see what I could find. Suprisingly, I found a lot of pictures showing the groom in a different color than his groomsmen and below are my three favorites.

1) This is similar to what Dante described. However, the groomsmen alternate gray and black suits instead of all black. I really like the look and this led me to give Dante the thumbs up on his proposal.

Picture Courtesy of Wedding Bee

2) I Love this look. It's so funky. The turquoise corduroy jacket really pops against those navy vests.

Picture courtesy of Green Wedding Shoes

3) The 2nd picture in this set. Once again, the contrast of the darker blue against the gray is really appealing to me. I would have never thought of a gray and black combo, but I like it. Thx Dante! (Funny Sidenote: When I showed Dante this picture he said: Let me tell u what aint gonna happen and thats my groomsmen wearing khakis and a blazer.)

Picture courtesy of Style Me Pretty

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

2009-12-14T05:43:00.000-08:00

When you invite a friend or family member to be in your wedding, it is a privilege and honor to both of you. So why not treat it as such? To me, simply calling, emailing or *gasp* sending a text-message, lessens the experience. Your bridesmaids and groomsmen are not just witnesses in pretty dresses and tuxedos. They are your tissue-holders, your party hosts, your nail polish finder, your 3 AM freak out session buddy. They can be the backbone of your whole wedding process and contribute time and money throughout. They are representatives of you and your family on the biggest day of your life. Bring them into the fold with thought and appreciation. Of course, asking your god sister Kelly to be your bridesmaid doesn't require as much fanfare as your proposal, but there are plenty of fun, cute AND cheap ways, to make them feel special. Even if your bridesmaids have known since they were 12, that they will be in your wedding, it will still mean a lot to them.

Five Ways to Pop the Question (to your attendants):

1. Flour Pot Cookies ($22 incl. shipping)

http://www.flourpotcookies.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=160

Imagine your bridesmaids faces when they open this box from The Flour Pot. Not only is the cookie pretty, its delicious too. There are four different shapes to choose from: 2 dresses, a bouquet of flowers and a ring. Mix and match and enjoy the conversation about who got what cookie and what they did with it.

2. Scrapbook (Price varies)

This is a relatively inexpensive option and will be fun to create. Leah @ Veil Tales made scrapbooks for each of her bridesmaids. http://veiltales.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/diy-project-will-you-be-my-bridesmaid/ In them, she detailed how she became friends with them, what they were up to now, and why they'd remain friends. The final page popped the question. You can make these books as long or short or you like. A nice addition is to leave a page or two blank for pictures from your wedding. Then when you send thank you notes, include a picture of the wedding party for the scrapbook.

3. Make a Game (Price varies)

Another option for the crafty bride is to make a game or puzzle for your bridesmaids. You can order puzzles made from a photo online at Puzzles.com. You can also go to a craft store like Michael's and get a blank puzzle and paint it or draw on it. Once you design your puzzle, take it apart and put it in a nice envelope and mail it off to your BMs. They'll have a lot of fun with this one. You can also do like one bride did and make a word scramble. Use your imagination with this one. You can do almost anything.

4. Buy a Handbook (~$10)

There are plenty of books out there for Bridesmaids. Choose one that fits your personality and have it shipped to your bridesmaids with an inscription such as "You might need this on June 9th , 2010!" It's also a good way to handle the tough situation of teaching etiquette to some of your bridesmaids or explaining what you expect of them. Kill two birds with one stone with books such as: The Bridesmaid Handbook, The Bridesmaid Guide, and even one for the guys: The Best Man's Handbook.

5. Send a Card (Price Varies)

Snail mail still has value when it comes to special occasions. There are tons of bridesmaid cards available to send your bridesmaids-to-be. Choose a nice card or an array of cards and send out to your bridesmaids. They are sure to keep the card for years to come and will appreciate the extra time you took to send it.

Holiday Open House

2009-12-01T22:55:00.001-08:00

I've got final apartment pics coming soon and some blog shares.

But in the meantime, my parents are having a holiday open house. Here's the card I designed:

Happy Holidays!

Bold, Modern Stationary

2009-11-29T16:32:00.000-08:00

Hello friends and happy Holiday season!
It's been awhile, but I think I'm back. :)
I was going through my google reader and all these posts just made me want to share with you guys again.
The one thing I am sharing in this post is a gorgeous stationary set, designed by FPO. I would totally copy this for my own event and recommend it to a bride and groom who want a bold, modern wedding design. Take a look.
More images here:
http://www.underconsideration.com/fpo/archives/2009/11/barbara-and-antony-wedding.php

Much more to come. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving

The Big Reveal

2009-08-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

My friends Jamie & Sean Saunders' Big Reveal

Tradition speaks that it is bad luck for a groom to see the bride before the ceremony. I believe this superstition comes from a time of arranged marriages. The bad luck probably equates to cold feet. Imagine catching a peek of your portly and pimply groom right before the wedding. It is definitely cause to run off with the stable boy.

The modern couple doesn't have to worry about this superstition. Chances are you've lived together or spent a couple of nights together, so not seeing each other from 8 to 10:30 am on the day of your wedding, isn't going to perserve anything. If you want to hold on to tradition, you certainly should, but a favorite option of mine is the Big Reveal.

Usually the big reveal is a private occassion between the groom and bride and maybe the photographer. The couple gets to see each other for the first time in all of their wedding glory. The couple can also use this moment to exchange gifts, read a favorite Biblical passage, share a favorite memory, or whatever they choose. It's a moment you'll hold dear when recalling the hectic but fun pace of your wedding day. In a traditional reveal, when a groom sees the bride for the first time as she walks down the aisle, he is seeing her along with everyone at the ceremony. The moment can be special, but it can also be muted as it is caught up in the frenzy of the music, your mother's loud crying and grumbling stomach of your best man. In the big reveal, you can share a quiet moment together, before getting caught in the revelry. It's a nice option. One of the biggest complaiants from couples is that they didn't get to spend time together alone at their wedding because they were busy entertaining everyone else. This issue is definitely resolved by choosing to do the big reveal.

Townhome Renovations

2009-08-21T10:50:00.001-07:00

I just moved home to Memphis about three weeks ago. My mom and I are remodeling my two-bedroom townhouse and I must say it has been fun. Last night, I spent the evening ripping the seams out of pillows and curtains so that we could reupholster the pillows and move the pocket on the curtain. It's not a bad place. It's just old and cream colored. I'm excited for the finished product. The office is my special project. Since, I will be working from home, I wanted a place I could spend the day in and not feel cooped up, bored or unproductive. I took a lot of inspiration for the office from the now folded "O at Home" magazine's Color Issue. It will have dark base with punches of color. Fun and modern is the look I'm going for in there.

Here's what we're doing in the townhome:

There's no central AC in here. So, Mr. Chris is replacing all the light fixtures with Ceiling fans. That way I can get some cool air circulating in the apartment besides just the air from the units.

Ignore the lopsided blind. This one is getting replaced. My mom is sewing curtains to go on all 4 windows. We've got about a 3 inch pocket at the top and the curtains are hemmed to brush the floor. I found some gorgeous curtain rods at Big Lots, which I turned my nose up at when my mom first suggested we go there. I am officially a Big Lots convert though. I even bought hand soap refill there. J

My dad inherited this beautiful deep mahogany table set from my Uncle James. We are reupholstering the chairs in a soft yellow with multicolored polka dots fabric. I love the fabric. It also inspired the fabric choice for the pillows on my couch that we made below. We took the old pillows and tore them apart. Used the soft brown microfiber backing and added the teal velvet.

Before

After

We still have more to complete including painting my dresser, adding some flair to the bathroom and of course my office! I'll post the final project when we've finished everything. I'd love to hear everyone's ideas, please share!

Wedding Registry Options

2009-08-20T21:35:00.001-07:00

The Wedding Registry was established in 1924 at Marshall Field's as a means for engaged couples to indicate their chosen China patterns to wedding guests. Today the act of creating a wedding registry, registering, has become a much more involved process and can result in unnecessary stress for the bride and groom. Choosing to register, in and of itself, can be a complicated decision to make. In today's post, I will offer some opinions, tips and how-tos on the process of Modern Registering.

To Register or Not To Register

Are you having a hard time deciding whether or not to register for your wedding?

Numerous brides and grooms find themselves in the same boat. Some couples already have an established home and do not need new table settings and the like. Some find themselves anxious at the thought of a list of gifts just for them. But Registering is not limited, nor is it gauche. Think of your registry as a tool for your guests rather than a wish-list. Most wedding invitees automatically look for the couple's registry. With a registry, they are ensured that you will like the gift and with the option of purchasing your gift online with automatic delivery to your home it saves them time and stress. So, help your guests out. Give them some guidance by creating a registry, even if it is a small one.

Unorthodox Registries

I'm sure you already know that you can go to Macy's or Target or even Tiffany's if you so choose. But there are plenty of other options out there for you and your guests. Here are a few below:

Charity Registries - There are websites that allow you to set up donations in your names to your favorite charity. The Wedding Center @ justgive.org makes setting up such a registry simple. If you're biting your nails over receiving gifts, allow someone else to receive your guests benevolence. There is a $5 service fee for your guests to use Just Give, but you can also call your favorite charity and set a "registry" up for free.
Honeymoon Registries - Sometimes heading out of town for a honeymoon after spending thousands of dollars on your wedding can be a serious stressor on your financial portfolio. With Honeymoon registries, you can ease that stress. Sites such as Honeyluna.com, allow you to list options for your guests to contribute to your honeymoon costs. Almost every aspect of your honeymoon, from airfare to deep sea diving to couple's massages can be included in your registry. This is also a great option if you're tempted to tell people to "just give us cash."
Hodge Podge Registries - Maybe you want a 60" flat screen tv, a Wii and a classic White Tiffany's setting. Go to MyRegistry.com and you can put it all together. Sites such as this allow you and your groom or bride to throw orthodox convention to the side and put whatever you'd like on your registry. Your college roommates might have more getting together and buying the Johnnie Walker Collection, while your Granny will shed tears presenting you with the Crock Pot you'll use only at New Years for Black-Eyed Peas.

Keep It Light & Varied

Whatever you do, Registering should be fun and not stressful. You and your S/O should take a couple of Saturday afternoons and go to your favorite stores, whether it be Best Buy, Footlocker or Neiman's and make some lists or curl up on the couch and research various charities. It'll be a fun, bonding activity and you won't have to get stressed out at the price tag. Just remember to make your list versatile in prices, so that everyone from your cousin starting their freshman year at NYU to your rich uncle can pick out something they know you'll appreciate. Your registry, like everything else in your wedding, should reflect you and your mate's personalities and interests.

Shoe-nality

2009-08-18T07:33:00.000-07:00

Gone are the days of ivory dyeables. Today's modern bride is stepping up her shoe game, adding color and personal style to the mix. Grooms are even joining in on the fun. Chucks have been seen making an appearance on the feet of quite a few groomsmen lately. Check out some of my favorite shoe shots below.

From Maida Vale Invitations:

From Pretty Chicky
This Bride's Spicy red shoes almost steal the show. Take a close look @ the groomsmen's socks. How fun!

From Dallas Wedding Planner:

More Red shoes. Bridesmaids are rocking them too.

And from the same blog, yellow yellow yellow! How enjoyable is this bright splash of color?

From Project Wedding:
Groom & Groomsmen profiling their Chucks. Fun idea for a low-key Groom

Google Reader Gems

2009-08-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

From Jasmine Star - Jill & Jack: Wedding

Jasmine Star is my favorite wedding photographer. If I have it in my budget when I get married, I just might have to fly her to Tennessee.

Green and black is the new green and brown. I adore family style seating. Jasmine captures these two trends expertly. Love It!

From Apartment Therapy - Color Close-Up: Kelly Green

I had this exact color on my back wall in my living room in DC. Love it!

Would you paint the cabinets in your rental? I hate the cabinets in my new kitchen. They have been whitewashed a million and one times. I like this solution, but I'm scared to try. Look below.

From Apartment Therapy Chicago - 10 Ways to Customize a Rental

From The Bride's Cafe Blog - Real Wedding: Heather & Matt

This is a perfect floral aisle. Very nicely done. I really appreciate the curvature instead of a straight walkway.

Blogs I Found Today:

How About Orange has a lot of great DIY projects. I see a fun, craft filled fall with my neice.

Erin Vale Design has awesome stationary that you can print out at home from thank you cards, to kitschy to-do lists.

1.

2009-08-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

As you can tell from my blogroll, I am an avid design, wedding, diy, photo blog reader.
For awhile now, I've said that I would start my own blog to share all the wonderful things I run across on the internet, but it wasn't untill I saw my fellow SMS alum - MK Millner's - blog Almost Famous, that I decided, now better than never.

So here we are. For now, Tami Sawyer is the name of the blog. It might change.