This Week I'm Loving ... Weddings with Lace!

Whether you are traditional, classic, conservative or even contemporary, lace can most definitely have a role in your wedding.

No longer considered stuffy or demode, lace is appearing in various elements in wedding design.

The most visible statement you can make with lace is with, of course, your wedding gown. These gowns featured by Angel Rivera and Oscar de la Renta perfectly illustrate how a gown can be carried off in a traditional, classic and stylish manner.

A "soft" hint of your love of lace can be seen even in your wedding invitation design just like this spectacular couture design by Amy Morelli with The 2u Collection:

This package wrapped in lace {via "Oh, hello friend."} can make for an adorable ring bearer's box!

You can carry the style and look of lace throughout your wedding by mimicking your dress design on your cake, or simple touches in the special details throughout the day.

Lace inspiration is everywhere and it has a stronger presence than ever. From women's fashion, to home decor and, of course, WEDDINGS, I'm delighted to see lace take center stage.

Perhaps this quote by Coco Chanel says it all?
“I consider lace to be one of the prettiest imitations ever made of the fantasy of nature; lace always evokes for me those incomparable designs which the branches and leaves of trees embroider across the sky, and I do not think that any invention of the human spirit could have a more graceful or precise origin.”

Noteworthy Wedding Vendors...Amy Morelli!

My extraordinary job as a wedding planner has afforded me so many rewards, but none more important than the relationships that evolve between my clients and my vendors. {Or, "friendors" as my wedding friends would say!}

With more and more of our beautiful couples planning their wedding from out of area or state, sometimes a face-to-face meeting is not always possible. And, even when they are, of course, the professional basics are {and should be!} covered.

Don't you want to know more?? Yeah, me too ... !

AMY MORELLI- Onwner, The 2u Collection


• Itching to work with: I am itching to work with Jeffrey Stoner on something. I’ve know and respected his works for years, but because I am not a “day of” vendor, we have really never “technically worked together. I’ve been trying to cook up a project forever so we can work together, but video and stationery don’t seem to pair well. But never fear, I now how something in the "hoper", that I am hoping will work out so that we can finally fulfill this itch!
• Fashion Obsessions: A different pair of sunglasses for everyday.. Believe it or not for some strange reason I love sunglasses as much as I love paper!
• Beauty must-haves: an amazing hair stylist.. Mine is fab!! and I am lucky she can always keep me happy.. I get bored easily and really want to change my hair monthly.. She has yet to disappoint
• Office/Work must haves: Colored Felt Tip Fine Point Pens…Love them, Makes boring admin tasks vibrant and bright! I love me some good color coding!
• Speed dialing: Abby Liga, photographer and bestie.. And my mom..
• Can’t get enough of: cheese.. I LOVE cheese and would eat it at every meal if I could.
• Jonesing to: Close this Big Secret Project I mentioned below. I am confident, but nothing is better than having a signature on the line, so I can move forward into conception and design stage!! which of course is my favorite part!
• Current work project: a Big Secret Project in the Works-- and Beautiful Silk Pewter Hardbound book invites with letterpress and crystals!! Love Love Love letterpress!
• Current personal project: putting my library of 400 DVDs on hard drives so they are electronic and I can dive into Apple TV
• Necessary extravagance: I said it before, I’ll say it again. My IPHONE, and anything Mac.. They all make my job easier, so sadly, I would pay any price. (LOL which is I’m sure what apple counts on!)
• If I weren’t {a designer and business woman extraordinaire} I would: Lead camping/adventure expeditions. There is a hippie deep inside of me. I would miss all my girly things, but deep inside there is a bit of a country outdoorsy girl! Also if it didn’t break my heart so much I would open an animal rescue shelter. Someone needs to speak for them..
• In my bag: I’ve decided this year that less is more, so believe it or not I only have my wallet, phone, some lip gloss and a mini kleenex in my purse.. And of course as always bits of paper scraps that I collect because I’m obsessed with paper.
• Recent discovery: PAPER RINGS.. check out today’s blog post at the2ucollection.blogspot.com you’ll see why I’m in love.. Amazing Feats with Paper fascinate me
• Craving: lately I have been craving guac.. Which I learned how to make from you!!

*Fun, fearless and frivolous flashbacks*

This past March, when I hear the news of your recent wedding to Mr. Stoner.. It was hilarious, because it was a secret, we were at an event, you whispered the news in my ear. I was surprised and shocked (in a good way) to say the least, and wanted to hear all about it, but then you said.. SHHHH.. it’s still a secret, don’t tell anyone. Then at that time, some fellow vendors walked up to see what we were so hush hush about and I could say nothing.. I was busting at the seams to the point that I jumped in the car, called Abby Liga to discuss (she already knew, so was one of the only ones I COULD discuss the secret with!!)

The all nighters I was pulling to make the Stults wedding stationery! I normally don’t have deadline problems, but since the bride came to me with elaborate requests 20 days.. YES 20 days before her wedding.. It was a challenge. You were fabulous dropping by the studio to pick up and deliver things, as I was seriously working non-stop for 20 days and nights to pull it off!! Your support is always appreciated and usually helps gets me through, both personally and professionally!
Shopping at Sams Club and the trophy store with you and Miss Liga for the Kickball party.. Was an adventure and as always-- laughter and silliness was everywhere!!

REAL WEDDINGS: Robyn and Andrew Dixon

Delightful, whimsical, refined, intimate and cozy are just some of the many adjectives that come to mind as I recall the wedding of Robyn Thomas and Andrew Dixon.

I met Robyn through the highly regarded owner and creative director, Amy Morelli with The 2u Collection. Honored and humbled by the contact, I met with Robyn literally moments after having stepped off a plane from a business trip.
Robyn was tentative to say the least! Andrew simply wanted to marry the love of his life {as easily as possible!} and Robyn did crave a wedding, just not a lavish affair--

With the their sensibilities and priorities in mind, I set forth to conceptualize a beautiful backyard, garden wedding for an intimate gathering of only family and closest friends.

Andrew hails from England, and so we had a bocce ball set, English cookies from his "mum" and our English garden setting. He also built a beautiful deck on the very edge of some woods behind their house where we hung a chandelier overhead and 60 fortunate souls were able to witness Robyn and Andrew promise their lives to one another forever.

Robyn was a tremendous sport by scouting and recruiting family china- enabling us to set gorgeous tables with mismatched {yet coordinating} plates, and family silver vessels that my phenomenal floral team Aaron and Jay with Flowers of Winter Park were able to further enhance.

The scene was perfectly set with the gorgeous menu cards and escort cards to compliment guests' invitations, the most delicious meal as prepared by Kevin Moore with Moore Fine Foods {nobody left hungry!} a most beautiful cake by Cakes by Design, a surprise cigar roller for Andrew and heart-thumping libations played by DJ Fun Factory.

An afternoon and evening filled with love, laughter, family, friends and nostalgia...

It just doesn't get much better than that--Cheers!

UNBRIDLED: My favorite wedding friends like...Amy Morelli!

This week I probed into the creative mind of colleague and friend, Amy Morelli.
Owner and Visionary for The 2u Collection, Amy Morelli conceptualizes and designs one-of-a-kind, exclusive custom invitation collections as well as specializing in Wedding & Boutique Advertising Design.
Amy and I have collaborated on many ideas, and my fresh logo and marketing collateral is all in great thanks to her. I ALWAYS feel sassy handing out my business cards, rack cards and marketing collateral confident in her designs and execution. Best yet, she’ll always give it you straight, people! I find Amy to be very ‘black and white” with no grey area; a very reliable characteristic when you need to trust someone with your vision.
Oh, and she’s pretty fun too…


• Itching to work with: Lee Forrest of Lee Forrest Design. He is fabulous and a friend, but we have yet to share an event! Would love to figure out how to incorporate live floral in my reception paper designs somehow.
• Fashion Obsessions: Newest Pair of Open-Toed Black Shoe Boots, were just purchased with the help of Miss Abby Liga—Need I say more, they are Fierce and I find myself planning my outfits just so I can just wear these shoes!
• Beauty must-haves: Currently it’s a headband. I’m growing the bangs out. Not fun!! But I’m making the most of it, and going with the gypsy look this summer. Crocheted headbands, over sized sunglasses!!
• Office/Work must haves: Colored Felt Tip Fine Point Pens…Love them, Makes boring admin tasks vibrant and bright!
• Speed dialing: 2 people. My husband of course, who has been supportive through the building of my dream, and gives me great objective business advice. And Abby Liga, I bounce creative ideas off of her, and she’ll always tell me the truth about my work!
• Can’t get enough of: Bubble Yum Gum! (any sour flavor) Sounds silly but there is nothing like snapping bubbles to the beat of my favorite tunes to get my creative juices flowing.
• Jonesing to: see Graceland! I think it would be fun to spend a long weekend in Memphis
• Current work project: a Secret Project with Susan Southerland and Kristy Chenell! Mum is the word! Love those ladies
• Current personal project: I need to get my butt back in shape, and I’ve been starting to swim laps… Also, I need to get my personal videos organized and edited!
• Necessary extravagance: my IPHONE…need I say more!
• If I weren’t a graphic designer, I would: Lead camping expeditions. My husband says it’s the hippie deep inside of me. I would miss all my girly things, but deep inside there is a bit of a country outdoorsy girl!
• In my bag: Lip Balm (Mint Bou Balm from Caribou Coffee- it’s a Michigan thing) Travel Baby Wipes (What?! Really I’m don’t have a baby) a compact and box of matches (again—why? Not too sure.) And of course those who know me will laugh—pieces of paper swatches I’ve collected here and there…I do have a problem
• Recent discovery: Metallic Linen Paper! It’s Metallic, It’s Linen, and it’s Amazing.
• Craving: my famous bloody-tini with blue cheese stuffed olives.. Yum.


*Fun, fearless and frivolous flashbacks*

1. First bit of face time. Lunch at Infusion Tea House.. Realized we shared so many of the same philosophies, attitudes about business and love of fashion. I knew we’d hit it off and be not only have a business relationship but a friendship also.

2. First Bride we shared! Miss Robyn; where I was lucky enough to be a guest and a vendor. It was a great experience bouncing ideas off of you, developing the stationery concepts together, and of course seeing you in action day of!

3. Martinis with you and Miss Abby Liga on Park Avenue just after your speaking engagement in BFE…! I discovered Pink! Was your angry music, as it is also mine!