Spread the LOVE: Tie One On

My June donation is to Tie One On, A Tallahassee Wedding Giveaway. I have been asked to create a wedding veil and am incredibly honored to do so. There are quite a few Tallahassee vendors involved, including: Papaya Planning, A Country Rose Florist, Inga Finch Photography, Lucy & Leo's, Textures Handmade Market and more! Tie One On is currently open for submissions, so nominate a deserving bride and groom ASAP.

For details of the giveaway or to nominate a deserving bride and groom, please visit: http://atallahasseewedding.com/

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Macon!

Bailey made an absolutely BREATHTAKING bride! I have known the now Mrs. Macon for years and was honored when she asked me to make her wedding veil! This is one of my all-time favorites for its simplicity and elegance. And in these photos it looks absolutely stunning!

I with this couple much love and happiness. Thank you, Bailey, for letting us Embellish Your Day!!

A cathedral length veil with no embellishments:

Photos by Charlotte Justine

Happy Memorial Day

Our focus here at Embellish is everything colored with love. Which includes Memorial Day, a day to celebrate and honor the servicemen and women who have given their lives for our freedom and protection. That's what I call love.

So, while you are hosting a cookout, frolicking in the water, or just spending quality time with friends, be sure to take a moment of silence for those men and women who made it possible.

With Love,

Embellish

HITCHED: Wedding Expo & Giveaway!

June 12th a handful of Tallahassee's premier wedding vendors will be hosting Hitched: a unique twist on the ordinary wedding. Hitched will be a Wedding Expo at Textures/Lucy & Leo's on June 12th from 6-8pm. While at Hitched, getting acquainted with the top wedding vendors of Tallahassee, nominate a deserving bride and groom for a chance to win their very own unique wedding! Yes, you heard me right, a deserving bride and groom will win their very own unique wedding! So mark your calendars today and help spread the word!

Textures/Lucy & Leo's is located at 1123 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL.

Inga Finch Photography's Open House

Yesterday, I went to Inga Finch Photography's Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Inga Finch is a ridiculously talented photographer and a fantastic person! She will capture your "surprising moments and expressions of emotion" while making you feel completely at ease. She's been a professional photographer for years and recently decided she needed a professional space to call home. I think she found the most adorable and well-lit studio on the planet.

Congratulations, Inga, on a ridiculously fabulous studio, open house, and ribbon cutting ceremony!! xoxo

The Bridal Favorite?

An accounting friend of mine (Kara, here's your shout out!!) put together a bookkeeping spreadsheet for me. It's ridiculously helpful, and has extras such as the "52 Week Sales Record" tally sheet.

This tally sheet tells me that to date, our most sold veil is "Belle" (seen below) with or without the monogram! So maybe it's more accurately put as the hip length is the most sold as is the ribbon edge! Such a classic combination, it's pretty perfect and both ceremony-and-reception friendly. So we are not at all surprised it's the bridal favorite!

Of course, this veil has a special place in our heart as it goes back to my sister's wedding where she debuted the "Belle" veil.

This week, I received this picture of an exquisite bride from an extraordinary photographer! My heart melts when I look at this photo of our "Belle" veil ...

Spread the LOVE: Jerry's Kids

Good news! I've found my April and May charity (yes, I said April, I'm a little behind, so I thought I'd double up). A friend and fellow wedding vendor, Inga Finch Photography, recently told me that she's going behind bars.

That's right, Inga Finch will be serving as a MDA Jailbird. Or a JailFinch, if you will! On June 30th, the MDA Officer will come to Inga's studio, arrest her, make her wear black and white stripes (I hope!) and lock her up. What a fun person she is and what a big heart she has! Now, in order for Inga to be released, she needs to raise some "bail" money, which has been set at $3,200. Yowzers!

If you'd like to participate with me (from the comfort of your own house), simply click here to make a secure, online donation before 6/30/11.

Not a picture of Inga, but I like the visual! :)

Top 5 Tips

Your wedding veil is one of the most important accessories you will choose as it will be "front and center" in all your pictures. But with so many choices, how do you choose a Wedding Veil?

Here are my top 5 things to consider:

1. Type of Dress We all know the wedding dress is the most important decision of them all (second only to the groom). So use your dress as inspiration for the veil. Make sure your veil complements the gown but does not compete with it.
   
   
2. Location of Wedding The location of the wedding often determines the style of dress you have. This is a given, but it can also determine the type of veil you choose. For example, a beach wedding might call for a shorter wedding veil that would catch and flow gently in the wind. Instead of a long veil that would catch in the wind and smack your guests as you walk by. But a cathedral wedding opens the opportunity for a long train to cascade the aisle behind you. Such as Embellish's lovely bride Lindsay's:
   
   
3. Hairstyle How you wear your hair will determine where the veil can be attached, how the veil will fall down your back/across your face, or if there's even room for more embellishment, such as a fascinator. So we recommend deciding your hairstyle before choosing your accessories.
   
   
4. Photographic Memories Think of the type of memories you want to capture. How about fun and flirty? Or elegant and Chic? Choose a veil that emphasizes the characteristics of the memories you want to capture and keep.
   
   
5. Personal Style Your wedding day is not the time to experiment, it is an opportunity to "dress up." Essentially, take your own style (preppy? hippie? fashionable?) and fancy it up a notch. But only kick it up enough so that you still feel comfortable but breathtaking (in a good way).

Use these tips and you will adore your wedding look for years to come. Happy Shopping!

Spread the LOVE: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Cont'd)

To follow up on March 23rd's post titled "Spread the LOVE: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society," here is a picture of the winner of the two monogrammed tutus we made for the Atlanta area's Team-In-Training Silent Auction. I sure hope she likes 'em!!


It was an honor to be a part of the great work the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is doing on behalf of those affected by blood cancers. If you have a preferred charity you would like for Embellish to consider donating to, please let us know. We love suggestions!

Stumbling Down the Aisle

I guess it's better for me to stumble, than a bride to literally stumble down the aisle ...

I had scheduled a delivery this morning to a Lovely Bride who I've known for years. Well, I got up, double checked the order, and realized that I had made her the wrong veil. The wrong veil? I looked again. The wrong veil. Ummm, paniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiic!

It is 100% my fault that this happened, but it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't lost that stupid, essential pattern! It is a pattern that I use to create two different veil lengths. It is the size of the shorter veil and I just add length when the longer veil is requested. I was so focused on needing that pattern to create this veil, that I made that pattern exactly, instead of adding the length as requested. Ugh!

A few years ago, when I was working in Atlanta, a co-worker (shout out to Stephanie!) could always tell when I was having a bad day, based on what time I dipped into the M&Ms bowl. Well, I didn't have any M&Ms here, so I had vanilla ice cream with Hershey's syrup at 9 this morning. Ridiculous, I know, but I needed a minute to decompress and think. This is the first time I've done this! What was I going to do? I can NOT deliver the wrong veil but it makes me look incompetent to admit that I made the wrong veil.

Although now, if Lovely Bride reads this, she knows why I rescheduled. Lovely Bride, I am so sorry!!

Happy Anniversary, Embellish!

Normally, it's the man's job to forget the anniversary. But since no men work at Embellish, I guess I'll take that role. Embellish's 1st Anniversary was March 6th. And, yeah, I just realized this week that I forgot it. Total bummer to miss such a special occasion!

Now, the typical 1st anniversary gift is paper. So I started thinking, "what can one do to celebrate this occasion with paper?" And then it hit me like that toilet paper commercial: paper gowns, head pieces, and flowers. I lifted this picture off the world wide web ... I do not know these ladies, but I like their style. Enjoy!

And thank YOU for supporting Embellish! xoxo

Love and Taxes

Sometimes I wish the saying were "Love and Taxes." Who's on board with this change?? Death should not be our given, Love should be. Afterall, that's why He sent His Son, right?

On second thought, maybe we should abolish taxes too and just stick with the Love!

I can honestly say that I'm LOVING that my taxes are done! Even though I've been doing my own taxes since my first job at 15, it still brings me to my knees and makes me want to cry. Now let's add in this new business and now I really want to have a terrible-twos-fist-pouding-screaming-at-the-top-of-my-lungs-kind-of-fit.

But my taxes are done. DONE. For the next 364 days, done. I love this feeling. It came close to killing me, but obviously didn't. So I'm left with Love and Taxes. Loving that my Taxes are done. DONE.

On a somewhat related topic, I got this picture off the Money Funk website and thought it was pretty funny!

Slight Correction: Embellishing Ashlie's Day

Turns out, the giddy moment in the lunchroom was not the first kiss. I repeat, there was no hanky panky on school grounds! Turns out, that was when Lee asked Ashlie to be his girl. So sweet!

Correction to March 27, 2011's post: "Embellishing Ashlie's Day"

Embellishing Ashlie's Day

Ashlie and I met in 3rd grade, but we did not hit it off right away. In 4th grade, we became friends but in 8th grade, we became best friends.

Over the years, we've remained close and in September, she will be marrying her high school sweetheart. I still remember Ashlie busting in the lunchroom giddily announcing (to an intimate group of us, I'm sure) that Lee had just kissed her! She was completely beside herself, falling in love.

Now, 20 years after Ashlie and I became friends (has it been that long?!), I will be creating Ashlie's hair embellishment. Ashlie, I wish you and Lee all the best as you become husband and wife. Thank you for letting me Embellish Your Day! xoxo

Here's a picture of me with the happy couple at age 16, on our first day trip to the beach without our parents!

Spread the LOVE: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

On Valentine's Day of this year, I decided to donate one item to a charity each month in an effort to Spread the LOVE. My February and March items are going to a very worthy cause: fighting cancer!

A friend of mine, Megan Odom, is competing in an Olympic distance triathlon as part of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. I am ridiculously proud of her! Less than a year ago, she wasn't allowed to be up and about without a cast on her leg and now she's in super shape, ready to fight the waves and pound the pavement in honor of her uncle and a 10 year old friend. Here's a video of Megan's story: http://vimeo.com/21087959

As part of Megan's team's fundraising efforts, they are holding a night out and silent auction at 5 Seasons Brewing on April 17th in Atlanta. As part of the silent auction, Megan and I worked together to come up with a concept that would embody the spirit of the event. And here's what transpired:

If you have ever been to an organized race, you've seen people in all kinds of get-ups celebrating the cause. So, Megan and I decided Embellish would provide an adult-size tutu (should one feel prompted to purchase it for a race) and a child-size tutu (perfect for a gift). Of course the tutus are as close as I could get to the trademark LLS TNT colors: purple and green! And what better words to describe the journey than "triumph" and "hope"?!

All the best to you, Megan, as you complete your training and head for the finish line, with triumph and hope under your belt!

Adult-size Tutu with "Triumph" monogrammed on the ribbon belt:

Child-size Tutu with "hope" monogrammed on the ribbon belt:

My First Expo

One of my vendors, Vocelles; The Bridal Shoppe, recently participated in the South Georgia Bridal Expo held in Valdosta, Georgia. As usual, there was a runway fashion show full of this season's bridal trends and styles.

Vocelles used my veil, Dawn, on one of their beautiful runway models in a short, kicky gown!! This was Embellish's first runway experience. We weren't in attendance at the expo, but are thrilled to have been a part of it. Thanks, Vocelles!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Heggie!

Don't tell anyone, but I stole these pictures off of the newly married Mrs. Heggie's Facebook page. They are so gorgeous, I just couldn't stop myself! Lindsey had a very specific vision of the veil she wanted for her Big Day and Embellish happily complied. In fact, we love the shape of this cathedral veil so much, that with Lindsey's permission, it will become a part of the Embellish family.

I wish these lovely newlyweds a lifetime of happiness. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Heggie!! And thank you, Lindsey, for letting us Embellish Your Day!

Photographer:

sarahbgilliamphotography.blogspot.com

Photographer: Lisette Price

www.lisetteprice.com

State Parks vs Fabric Stores

One gets ideas from lots of places, but one way to scour the globe is through fabric stores. I've spoken to what seems like every fabric store in the country and have repeat visited fabric stores in all my "home" towns. Now when I travel, I think about fitting at least one fabric store into the itinerary!

Which takes me right back to my childhood. When I was little, my mother was obsessed with state parks. Her goal was to visit every one of the 160 state parks in Florida. So my siblings and I were drug kicking and screaming to each one. Okay, not really, but it sure felt like it when all we wanted to do was visit Mickey Mouse!

So, it looks like my (future) kids will likely complain about the fabric stores I will drag them to in every city, town, or village we visit! Oh, the fun they will have! ;)

Rules, what Rules?

As someone who lives her life by the rules, I love it when there are none! Therefore, my favorite thing about wedding veils is that there are NO rules! It's all based on preference, your preference. Or your mom's, if she's paying! :)

So, instead you consider the style of your gown, your personal fashion style, the location, decorations for the day, it's all fair game. Perhaps you want a red ribbon edge to match the red sash of your gown and red ribbon on the invitations? Do it! Maybe you are going to get married at the beach and don't want your veil blowing in groom's face, so you choose a birdcage veil? Go for it! Maybe you're getting married in a church with red carpet, so you want a cathedral length veil with your monogram trailing behind you? Perfect! (That was my shout out, I hope I get to see pictures!!) Maybe your fashion style is retro or hippie or prep, well, there are veils for each!

So, throw the handbook out the window, put on your happy shoes and choose whatever veil tickles your fancy!

Spread the LOVE

Months ago, I was asked the question, "what do you do with your wedding veil after you wear it?" This question took me by surprise. I just assumed everybody kept their wedding veils along with their dress. But it turns out that other people don't cherish wedding veils the way I do. ;)

So after careful consideration, I decided that from now on my recommendation will be to either keep it (if you have a baby lady one day a short veil would be fun for dress-up!) or donate it. I know Goodwill offers wedding dresses every chance they get and your veil might be just the accessory a bride was looking for who otherwise may not have been able to afford it!

So, my recommendation if you don't want to keep your wedding veil is to Spread the Love and donate it.

And I, too, will Spread the Love by donating one wedding veil a month!

With Love, Embellish

When one who lives out of state purchases an Embellish veil, they will get a package from Embellish ... With Love. And this is what said package will look like. There's a veil in there!

Branding the Product

Tulle is see-through and delicate. Yet, naturally I want to tag my veils in the event that a bride recommends me to a friend. How will she remember the brand if the item is not branded? But we're not working with cattle here, so I cannot simply burn an emblem directly onto the product (can you tell I'm a farmer's daughter?!). Instead, I shall be attaching the following jewelry tags ...

onto the veils like this ...

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. England!

Nance's husband, Adam, is one of my brother-in-law's best friends. I'm told that Nance and Adam met while successfully pulling off an impromptu triiiiiiicky dance move at a mutual friend's wedding. Which is really impressive seeing as how it took Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey months of practicing in the water before they got this particular dance move right!

These lovebirds got married in a beautiful outside ceremony where they capitalized on the scenery and natural light! I am super stoked to share these photos with you as Nance used the veil to add a layer of fun to her special day! The pictures are just so much fun to look through and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do ...

I wish this couple much love and happiness. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. England!!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hastings!

This past Saturday, another custom Embellish wedding veil went down the aisle. Rachael (who I introduced last month) picked the length, the beads, gave general direction and left the rest up to me. The ceremony was held in the foyer of the North American Mission Board. And a beautiful ceremony it was!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hastings. Here's to a lifelong marriage filled with much love and laughter!

Options and Styles A Plenty, Part 2

My last post focused on the variety of gown styles available for all the brides-to-be out there. Well, this is the followup...

Not only are there a wide variety of gowns, but there is also a wide variety of veils. And the beauty of it is that there are no rules! So you picked the dress that made you feel like a million bucks (or would it be a billion nowadays?) and you are glowing. Well, now it's time for the icing ... and you can have any kind you want! French/Russian Netting. Tulle. Swiss Dot. Birdcage. Fingertip. Chapel. Cathedral. Blusher. Abstract. Sparkly. Simple. Extravagant. Flowery. Lacey. Symmetrical. Asymmetrical. Vintage. Ribboned. Fascinator. Headband. Tiara. Ring of Flowers. Pearls. Swarovski.

But fear not, for the choice is yours and as I always say, "the bride gets what the bride wants."

Options and Styles A Plenty!

It continues to amaze me just how diverse the wedding industry is with all the options and styles that are offered. Today, I got to look at yet another STUNNING dress that will go down the aisle on my newest bride, Lindsey H.

And it occurred to me, each of my lovely brides have had drastically different dresses, each reflecting their own personality and style. Brenna wore an A-line dress with two patterns of lace and a bouquet of flowers on her bum, Lindsay W wore an Empire dress with a crumb catcher (my favorite industry term to date!) and abstract flowers on her waist, Nance wore a Sheath dress with all-over lace and a sweetheart neckline, while Siara wore an Empire dress with all-over lace and a sash. All gorgeous dresses, on even more gorgeous brides, each dress reflecting that bride's personality and style.

I have no idea how brides choose just one dress ... the possibilities are endless!

Fingers Crossed

Along the way, each piece of this ginormous small business puzzle has made me feel legit. The first time a bride went down the aisle (and every one since!), the first time I sold a veil to a stranger, first logo, first business card design, opening a bank account, starting this blog, first photo shoot, first consultation with a bride ...

But this month is the first month where it seems like I just might make it. I have three veils due this month (including one to go down the aisle on a friend), my first consultation at Vocelles, my first birdcage veil sold, two requests for an estimate and at least two orders from Vocelles are on their way.

I'm trying to keep realistic, which means that this volume won't keep up due to the flow of the wedding seasons, but fingers crossed anyway!

Baby Face

There are many moments in life that bring about both ecstatic and terrifying emotions simultaneously. For me, one such moment can be summed up by the image below. This image pops up on my mom's embroidery machine when it's finished with a monogram. This notification means one of two things: the monogram is perfect and I can move on to the next step OR the monogram is not perfect and I have to start over! Hence the ecstasy or terror. A situation I faced recently as I'm in the process of finishing two monogram veils to be worn in 2011!

Nonetheless, this little baby face is adorable!