Soiree Feature | Ties.com

When Ties.com emailed us, we were ecstatic! We're always looking for ways to include the menfolk and to make sure he's feeling just as dapper on the big day. Ties.com is a perfect site for a whole assortment of colorful, unique ties. They have a talented team of designers, and with over 35 colors and 10 styles, you are sure to find the perfect match for that wedding day attire!

My favorite part? How To Tie A Tie, now we will all know how! Not just how to tie one tie either, a handful of ties to tie! There are so many to look at on the site, be prepared to have trouble picking a favorite, but I think I narrowed mine down to a page... Polka Dot Ties. But their entire line of Wedding Ties is perfect for those summer time nuptials. Here's a little line from their site, 

To entice you even more, Ties.com is offering our readers an exclusive offer to receive 15% off your entire purchase- just enter WEDDINGSBYSOIREE at checkout! I hope to see some swanky neckwear on all those gentlemen this wedding season!

Happy day,

Kim

Feature Friday | Proof: Sustainable Wood Sunglasses

We're back today with a Feature Friday series, and this time, we're featuring not only a product but also a cause. With more and more companies becoming aware of the need to be eco conscious, we're seeing a surge in products manufactured with sustainable materials that have a minimal impact on the environment. From organic and natural fabrics in wedding gowns and fashion to wind-powered printing mills and pure vegetable dyes in stationery, we're seeing eco friendly transitioning from trend to the norm.

Even with this heightened awareness, we are still floored when we see an ingenious product, especially when it's made with sources you'd never thought possible. Take wood for example. Would you ever imagine sunglasses made out of wood? Neither had we, and we definitely wouldn't have thought they'd have so much style either. Introducing Brooks Dame, the brain behind a line of sunglasses manufactured solely out of wood, and dedicated to a cause close to his heart. Here he sits down with us to chat about the idea behind Proof, their mission, and the company's plans for the future:


How did the idea for Proof come about?

 

Well our family grew up in the wood industry. My grandpa started his own sawmill he'd run product and then put it on a truck and run down to California and drop it off on the weekend and then come back and do it all over again.

 

So we have sawdust in our veins. It's really a part of us. I was working on trying to make some bamboo ski poles I thought it'd be a cool eco-option for skiers and it'd be something that people noticed on the hill. I couldn't get it perfect and was about to bag the idea. While I was researching bamboo I learned about all the cool applications for it and its qualities. Its super sustainable, eco friendly, grows fast, strong, good looking, etc. So as I did more research on bamboo I found bamboo reading glasses and thought why not do bamboo sunglasses, that lead to some other wood types and it's snowballed from there. 

 

 

I know you and your wife, wedding and lifestyle photographer Cristi Dame, have traveled extensively to less fortunate countries around the world. Can  you tell us a little bit about how the amazing gift of eyesight became the model behind Proof sunglasses?

Sure,

Cristi's family is from El Salvador and we've spent a lot of time down there. Done some projects. We've had the opportunity to meet people from all over and many different walks of life.  We've also traveled quite a bit. A few years ago we went to India. We were both really surprised at the amount of people in India and the amount of people living below the poverty line. India is beautiful, the people, the colors, its kind of a magical place. We both really liked it.

 

The group we work with in India has multiple clinics and they provide sight restoring surgeries to people who can't afford them. The Clinic we work with was actually introduced to me while in school; We did a case study on it. I like the concept, the story and thought it was a worthy cause to work with. It just took 4-5 years to come up with a product that could support it. There are so many talented people in the world. People who have much to give or share and just need the opportunity. These surgeries afford them those opportunities.

 

We love that not only are you contributing a large portion to those less fortunate in India, but that you're making a stand for the environment as well. Tell us a little about your process for making sunglasses out of wood?

 

That was really at our core. Once we had the product it was almost instantly that we realized it would lend itself to helping others and getting involved in social causes. Our product being made from wood automatically qualifies us as having an eco-friendly product. Wood is sustainable if managed properly.

 

Most sunglasses come from plastic. And plastic comes from oil or petroleum based products. So it's pretty interesting when people compare us to other sunglass companies that have been doing this a lot longer than us. They are usually quick to point out that all the big boys use plastic in their frames.

 

It has been interesting people from various demographics have been interested in the products. We get hip hop artists, hipsters, fashionistas, and tree huggers (we actually recently got featured on treehugger.com). Everyone likes the product for different reasons, but the fact that we are a "green" company earns us some extra miles with all of them.

 

We also offer the industry's only sunglass recycling program. If you get tired of the Proofs you are wearing down the road you can send them back in to us. We will repurpose them into animal bedding and give you a discount off your next Proof Purchase.

 

We source our wood from managed forests and each pair of glasses is hand assembled and finished. It's a process, but it helps us maintain high quality and good looking product.

 

 We know that the idea of wooden sunglasses is not only innovative, but outside of the norm as well. Can you tell us a little about the sunglasses themselves- are they lightweight, provide UVA/UVB protection, etc?

 

Wood is extremely lightweight. We have actually compared our bamboo frames to plastic frames that are the same size and the bamboo comes in a few ounces lighter.

 

It is extremely durable as well.We offer 3 wood types currently 5 lens options. All our lenses are 100% uva/uvb protectant.All of our sunglasses have spring loaded hinges so they fit a variety of faces.

 

We also put a little message on the inside of each temple. It is laser engraved and is kind of like a fortune cookie or motivational quote that you can check out each time you put a pair on.

 

 

What other future plans does the company have at this point?

 

It has been crazy. The response has been great. We have magazines, websites, media outlets trying to get samples, stories etc. We've had some really big names chasing us down to feature the product. We are talking Oprah big (really, we got a call from O magazine last week requesting samples for an upcoming spread). Vogue, Outdoor magazine, etc.

 

We are also getting some requests from some more famous individuals and think that'll help us get some additional exposure. Right now we are enjoying the ride and trying to keep our inventory in stock.

 

We want to continue to expand the line. We have a few new models in the works that will come out for F/W. We also want to add some additional accessories.We currently have a line of hats and shirts as well. Each is linked to a social cause we are into like- Native American education on the Reservations, Child Soldier rehabilitation in So. Africa, reforestation in Haiti, etc.

 

Really we hope to continue to grow and reach more people. If we do this we can also affect more change in the social causes we are involved in.

 

Right now purchasing the sunglasses is as easy as clicking a button online. Any plans for bringing them to stores?

 

Good question. Right now we are selling almost exclusively online. We are getting requests to open accounts from all over the world which is fun. Sorting through them all is the tough part. Deciding which stores you want to be in and which you don't is always a challenge.

 

We recently attended the Pool Tradeshow in Vegas which is tied in with Magic. It happens every 6 months and all the big brands attend. It was a lot of fun. Cool to see some well known brands and some up and coming brands as well.

 

We met a lot of great people had a great response at our booth. It was always packed with people asking questions, trying on glasses, and ordering shades for their shops.

 

So we should be opening up stores around the country in the next few weeks.

We are really excited and really appreciate the support of those people who believe in the movement and the whole concept behind Proof.

 

So stay tuned. Until we open up a store in your area go check out the webstore. 

 

We want to thank Brooks for taking the time to sit down with us. We are always thrilled to hear about products and companies doing good. The sunglasses are such a great option for those consumers looking for a balance between having style and the supporting environment. And knowing that you're directly helping others is always a huge plus too. Be sure to visit the Proof Website to peek on the entire line and keep up on what the company's up to. Congrats to Brooks and the Proof team on all your successes!

 

 

 

 

Feature Friday | Cacao Sweets

The other week we got a lovely email from Candice of Cacao Sweets introducing herself and telling us about her sweet treats. We loved her ideas for cupcakes, truffles, and the addition of some sinful ingredients to boot. And we'll admit, we are not hiding the fact that we accepted a sample (cherry rum brownie pop, anyone??) with a smile.

Candice and her company has such great ideas that a Feature Friday was naturally in order!



How long has (Cacao) Sweets been in business?

(cacao) sweets & treats started about a year and a half ago. It’s been swirling around in my head for years, but it was time to get to it!

What's your favorite thing about weddings?

I love taking stress away from the couples. Making them feel comfortable and trusting so they know that once the project is in my hands, they don’t have to think about it again!

Tell us one thing we'd be surprised to learn about you?

I have a graphic designer on staff who handles all of the custom tags and print materials for our clients.

Favorite Color? At the moment, grey and lavender

Tully's, Moxie, or Starbucks? My own personal tea kettle!

Recommend a book we should read? I haven’t had time to read anything except for cookbooks lately, so what do you recommend?



What (or who) can't you live without? (product, article of clothing, personal item, person in your life, etc)

My wooden spoon, most definitely. My husband for being the best cupcake delivery driver and my massive collection of aprons for keeping me clean!

Tell us about a time you either made a mistake & learned from it, or felt fear or doubt (either in your personal life or business) and overcame it?

Things can get stressful being a one-man-show sometimes, but it’s oh-so rewarding at the end of the day. I’m very particular and a bit of a control freak so I love seeing a project through from start to finish.



(Cacao) Sweets features goodies from gourmet cake truffles to brownies to even boozey cupcakes (think Guinness, Blue Moon, Wine, and other specialty flavors). These treats make fabulous favors for a wedding or shower, gift ideas, and Just Because special desserts. Check out the website for all the product features and flavors!


Many thanks to Candice for taking the time to share a little bit about herself and her sweet company.

~Happy Friday!

Love This: Milk & Paper Shop

I love all things European. I love quaint, dainty, and the somewhat quirky. And this shop has it all, baby:





So what if it's all in French, and the currency Euros. Grab a glass of cucumber water (in a wine glass preferably), and wear your big floppy hat. You'll fit right in.

Happy Friday!

~ Brandi

Feature Friday | Creative Custom Cardboxes

Today's Feature Friday post is one that I've been dying to post- Marni of Creative Custom Cardboxes has such a great business idea as well as a perfect solution to MIA gift cards at weddings and parties. I "met" Marni on Twitter last year, and I've loved watching her inventory and product line grow, and just seeing all the new and interesting boxes she creates. By the way- just this year Marni welcomed a new little gift- baby Ben!


- How long have you been creating these specialty card boxes?

I've been creating custom made card boxes since my own wedding on July 6, 2008. I loved making my own and guest love it too! Since then i've been working on custom card boxes and decor for 100s of brides!

- What's your favorite thing about weddings?

Do i have to pick just one thing? I love that people can get together to celebrate the love of two people and the union of two families. I love the party aspect and the happiness of the joyous occasion.

- Tell us one thing about yourself we'd be surprised to learn about you?

Some people know this but many might be surprised to know that i'm a classically trained professional singer. I studied opera and musical theater in college and throughout Europe, have my master's degree in education and teach voice lessons to all ages!

- Favorite color?

If i say pink will that sound trite? I love pink and red!

- Tully's, Moxie, or Starbucks?

Since i'm not familiar with the first 2, i'd say Starbucks. I have a pretty healthy Starbucks addiction...and i'm not even that big of a fan of coffee!

- Recommend a book we should read?

Totally not wedding industry related but i'm a huge fan of the "True Blood" series (Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris)

- What (or who) can't you live without? (product, article of clothing, personal item, person in your life, etc)

Another trite answer but i cannot live without my husband Aaron. He keeps me sane and helps me so much in life and business. Of course I couldn't live without my new baby Ben either!

- Tell us about a time you either made a mistake & learned from it, or felt fear or doubt (either in your personal life or business) and overcame it?

I think life is a series of mistakes that we turn into learning experiences. I've made plenty of mistakes in life, business, and love but i'm proud to say that i've learned from each experience.

When starting my business I of course felt fear and doubt. I knew nothing at the time about the wedding industry, about business or even how to make a website. With the support of friends and colleagues and the knowledge that I create a beautiful series of products, i persevered and got to where i am today. I still continue to learn and grow every day!

Thank you for sharing with us Marni! If you're a bride in need of a posh catch-all for your cards at the wedding reception (after all, this isn't your grandma's card basket anymore, Toto), you'll want to take a minute to browse some of her creations.

Visit the Creative Custom Cardboxes website here.

Visit Marni's Blog here for even more images of the lovelies.

~Happy Planning!

From The Experts: Tips For Choosing Your Photographer

This past Friday, we featured Greg from Greg Hoskins Photography. We love the classic, border line vintage feel to his photographs and the fact that he appreciates the individualism of each of his clients.

So far with our featured photographers we've heard a little about wedding day photos, engagement session tips, and now Greg is back to share his tips on actually choosing your wedding day photographer. After all, it's just like I tell my clients: You better like me (your wedding planner) and your photographer, because I guarantee you'll see us more than your groom on the wedding day!



Connection
Meet with your photographer candidates in person and choose a photographer not just based on art alone, but who you connect with on a personal level. Photography is a conversation between you and the photographer. The deeper the connection is between you and the photographer, the more authentic and real the conversation will be.



Trust
Once you have chosen a photographer that you have a deep connection with, put your unconditional trust in him or her. With trust, images are filled with authenticity, honesty, and sincere emotion. This requires you to open up parts of yourselves that you may not be used to sharing and to trust the photographer to capture those beautiful moments, even if it means doing something unique or different to support the artistic vision.



Befriend
View your photographer not as “the photographer,” but as a family member or close friend who is there to experience your wedding day with you. Think of this. When are you most comfortable? Is it around your friends? Is it around strangers? Now, who would you rather have capturing the most important day of your life – someone you are connected to deeply enough to call a friend, or someone you met once who just shows up with a fancy camera?



Thanks again to Greg for sharing with us, and hopefully you enjoyed seeing a little snippet of his work. Be sure to check out his website and blog for even more wedding goodness!

Visit Greg's website here
Visit the Greg Hoskins Photography Blog

Feature Friday | Meet Greg Hoskins

For this week's Feature Friday post, we are happy to introduce Greg Hoskins, of Greg Hoskins Photography. What can we say, we're loving the modern, yet almost vintage style he shoots (just wait until you see some of the pictures we'll show on Tuesday!); the industry around here is all sorts of buzzing about Greg and his work and so we're thrilled to get to know him a little better:

- How long have you been photographing weddings?

I have been photographing weddings for 3 years now. I attended my best friend’s wedding in Indiana a few years back and at the reception, the photographer had a slideshow playing of some of their engagement pictures as well as some of the pictures taken throughout the wedding day. So many people were gathered around watching these beautiful images play and I just stood back and observed everyone’s reactions to these images. I had an immediate draw to the connection these people had to the images and that was the moment I knew I wanted to photograph as many couples in love as I could.

- What's your favorite thing about weddings?

The raw emotion that swings from laughter to tears to joy throughout the day. All of the people and their connection with others. I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of a couple’s lives for a day and not only capture what happened, but how they felt.

- Tell us one thing about yourself we'd be surprised to learn about you?

I was almost kidnapped when I was younger…twice! Once with my brother walking home from school and once in a mall bathroom in Illinois. Be sure to ask me if you see me and I’d be happy to tell the stories.

- Favorite color?

It changes often but right now it’s blue.

- Tully's, Moxie, or Starbucks?

To be honest, I don’t like coffee. I like the smell and atmosphere of coffee shops, but not the taste of the coffee itself. You’re more likely to find me at a quaint pub that has a good quality IPA on tap.

- Recommend a book we should read?

Something else I don’t normally partake in is reading. I’m a very active person so sitting and reading a book is not really my speed. My wife Rachel reads enough books for the both of us, and then some. I just asked her this question and she recommends “Merle’s Door” by Ted Kerasote.

- What (or who) can't you live without? (product, article of clothing,
personal item, person in your life, etc)

Music. Music is an incredible way to feel connected to something, whether that something is a person, a place, a memory or event. I’ve started to experiment with incorporating music into my sessions and it has been a very moving experience so far.

- Tell us about a time you either made a mistake & learned from it, or
felt fear or doubt (either in your personal life or business) and overcame it?

It’s not a fear, per se, but a challenge. The challenge of letting go of all preconceived notions or “labels” I may bring to the day. I overcome that by realizing that every person I work with is unique and individual and deserves to be seen that way. This opens up endless possibilities and allows me to explore paths I may not have otherwise seen.

Thanks again Greg for sharing a little about yourself with us! And don't be surprised if you see us joining you at that little quaint pub for that IPA! Join us again on Tuesday for Greg's tips on choosing the right photographer for you. In the meantime, be sure check his website and blog out:

Greg Hoskins Photography
http://www.greghoskins.com
http://www.greghoskins.com/blog

Feature Friday | Meet Ampersand Studios

This week's Feature Friday is all about two lovely ladies- Francesca and Nichole, better known as Ampersand Studios. Looking for fabulous photography? Check. Uber modern and stylish invitations? Check. Even letterpress? Check Check. Yes these girls have a lot to offer- and we love that it will always come with a lot of personality too!

Ampersand Studios

Ampersand [am-per-sand] –noun a character or symbol (& or ) representing "and"----the joining or coming together of two or more things.

Francesca [fran-che-ska] & Nichole [ni-kohl] -nouns (see photo) owners of Ampersand Studios Design & Photography in Boise, Idaho

- How long have you been doing weddings?

Both of us have been shooting alone for about 3-4 years each and Ampersand Studios is going on its 2nd year. Being fairly new to the Boise wedding scene, we are still EXCITED and since we are the age of our demographic, we are able to maintain a fresh and modern perspective.

- What's your favorite thing about weddings?

Ampersand loves LOVE!!! There is something about knowing a couple is more in love that day than they ever were before...and it is really special that we get to be such a big part of that.

- Tell us one thing about yourself we'd be surprised to learn about you?

We drink a ridiculous amount of Diet Coke in our office...although Nichole is trying to quit.

- Favorite color?

What's it next to? Am I wearing it? Designing with it? Well we both tend to love this shade of yellowish fluorescent green (Pantone 389)...we painted the largest wall in our studio that color.

- Tully's, Moxie, or Starbucks?

Although we both hate the idea of supporting corporate America...Starbucks is the most consistent and convenient!! Sorry. When we can we do Dawson Taylor!! They should be on this list.

- Recommend a book we should read?

We love Chelsea Handler...all of her books are hilarious. We both also TiVo Chelsea Lately---we are big fans.

- What (or who) can't you live without? (product, article of clothing, personal item, person in your life, etc)

Designer Jeans....and Diet Coke.

- Tell us about a time you either made a mistake & learned from it, or felt fear or doubt (either in your personal life or business) and overcame it?

Nichole and Francesca are both impulsive personalities...which has lead us to taking a lot of chances that we probably wouldn't have taken if we each had different business partners. Although some decisions have been a bit scary and we have had to sacrifice a lot, we are both thankful that we just went for it because there is no way we would be rockin' so hard if we hadn't.

- So we know you are photographers and design stationery, could you tell us a little more about that?

Both of us have our Fine Arts degrees in Graphic Design and are passionate about design. When we started our company, we wanted to make sure that design was still going to be a big part of what we do. Since we were already photographing weddings, why not offer all of what we can do to for our brides? We have found that designing wedding stationery is a really fun way to challenge ourselves creatively. Since we design everything custom, it is really cool that we are imagining an event that hasn't taken place yet and interpreting into the first (and sometimes only) impression the guest will see. Then we can take the elements from the invitation and repeat it on more print materials throughout the wedding. It is like micro business branding!

Thanks Franny and Nichole- we love what you do and what you offer. For more information and to schedule a consultation to talk about your wedding or event, visit their fabulous website here.

These ladies will be back on Tuesday with some tips for you as well, so be sure to check back!

Happy Planning!

From The Experts: Wedding Cake Tips

This past Friday we featured Pamela of Pamela's Bakery in Eagle, Idaho. We marveled at the posh little cafe-bakery nestled in the heart of downtown Eagle, and now we get to ogle some of her creations all while Pamela shares with us some of her tips for making the most out of your wedding cake experience.


The inside of Pamela's Bakery

1. Share your budget with your cake designer when you begin your wedding cake consultation. Your cake designer will know what she/he has to work with
and can design a cake within your budget.



2. Realize that the wedding cakes you see in magazines and on cake shows are often very labor intensive to complete...which means a lot of money! Bring
pieces of inspiration and pictures of the cakes you love to your consultation but realize that you may have to compromise a bit to fit a spectacular design within your budget.
You can do a smaller version of the cake with a sheet cake or cupcakes on the side. You can still have a big cake but instead of the whole cake draped in handmade sugar flowers, you may
have a few sugar flowers placed here and there for big bursts of color. If you love a lot of flowers, opt for fresh flowers instead of handmade sugar flowers. You get the picture.

3. Don't rely on "Aunt Martha" or an inexpensive home cake decorator for one of the biggest days of your life! Purchase your wedding cake through a reliable bakery that has
sanitation standards that they're held to and whom you can hold responsible for your cake. I can't tell you how many very last minute wedding cakes I've done because "Cousin Betsy"
had a family emergency or "so and so" hasn't answered her phone for the past two weeks and my wedding is in two days! Hire a professional.



4. Make sure the cake tastes good. How awful is it for your guests' mouth to water over a beautiful cake only to have it taste like cardboard? All natural, high quality
cakes are more expensive than boxed cakes. Like #2, you may have to compromise on the size of your cake to fit a quality cake in to your budget, but it's worth it--
and your guests will thank you....and go back for seconds!

A big thank you to Pamela for sharing with us! If you're ever in Eagle, be sure to stop by the cafe for a little espresso and breakfast or a sweet snack. You can read our feature post on Pamela's Bakery here.

Visit Pamela's Bakery Website
Schedule your initial consultation by phone: 208.938.6585

~Happy Planning!

Feature Friday | Meet Pamela's Bakery

Today's feature Friday is all about the good stuff- cake, sweets and espresso. Pamela's Bakery is a posh little cafe nestled in Eagle, Idaho. During the week guests come for breakfast, a snack, or just drop by for a coffee. On the weekends bakery owner Pamela becomes an artist, crafting one of a kind cakes for weddings and special occasions. We love that no matter what you step into Pamela's Bakery for you'll be met with quality. Good food, great coffee, and spectacular cakes- what more could you ask for?





- How long have you been baking wedding cakes?

I have been baking and decorating wedding cake for about five years.

- Tell us one thing about yourself we'd be surprised to learn about you?

I don't like any kind of buttercream. *Gasp*

- What's your favorite thing about weddings?

My favorite thing about weddings is the love, hope, and future that they represent.
As a cake designer, I love the challenge of designing a wedding cake that is a unique reflection of the couple.

- Favorite color?

Grayish blue

- Tully's, Moxie, or Starbucks?

Pamela's Bakery Cafe Espresso, of course!

- Recommend a book we should read?

Ooohhh.....so many choices! I love to read! My favorite book is Atlas Shrugged.

- What (or who) can't you live without? (product, article of clothing, personal item, person in your life, etc)

I think that I could live without pretty much anything except my family!

- Tell us about a time you either made a mistake & learned from it, or felt fear or doubt (either in your personal life or business) and overcame it?

I feel like I'm learning from the small (and big!) mistakes that I make every day. Opening a business saturated me with tons of fear and doubt.
I had to (and have to every day) realize that I am a talented and capable person, and I will make mistakes-- but I have to try anyway. I had to take life
one day at a time, and with every day it got a little easier. I learned a little more. I challenge myself constantly in preparation for what the future holds.
I believe in practice, planning, organizing, and living by the motto "Just do it." Sometimes I fail. A lot of times I don't. But I always try.

*****************

Thanks Pamela for taking the time to share some details about yourself with us. Pamela will be back on Tuesday to share her tips for designing and selecting your wedding cake. We'll also be showcasing some of her portfolio- her cakes are stunning!

Visit Pamela's website here.

~Happy Planning!

Feature Friday | Meet Yellowline Photography

This week's feature post is about another Boise wedding and fashion photographer, Dan from Yellowline Photography. Dan is hands down one of the most interesting people I've come to know- in a good way! His style and demeanor, sincere care for his couples and their day, and his all-around great personality is always welcomed on a wedding day. When I first met Dan I remember thinking how it was nice to have a photographer like Dan in my referral file- his photography style is an eclectic mix of classic and edgy, and that's just what many brides were looking for. That's why we're so excited to be featuring Yellowline Photography today; and we know you'll appreciate his honesty, humor, and his take on living life as he talks with us. Enjoy!

- How long have you been photographing weddings? I started shooting weddings in the spring of 2008 due to a chance encounter with Mira Piva in A Minds Eye Tattoo. Her fiance was getting some work done, and she told me she could get me connected in the wedding industry. bataboom batabing. It's all about who ya know. :)

- What's your favorite thing about weddings? The personality. The individualism. The discoveries I get to make. The whole motion behind the day. Its so often like a song or poem with an intro and chorus and complexity and melody. I have the honor of being a central aspect of the designated beginning of a relationship. It gives me energy and I like it.

- Tell us one thing about yourself we'd be surprised to learn about you? I streaked a lot my freshman year of college. at a Nazarene university. One time i almost ran over some freshman girls in the buff... needless to say, they never looked at me the same again. We did not become friends.

- Favorite color? I just love color in general. I love color splashes in my photos. Dark clothes, dark setting, green tie, green eyes. I think its beautiful and gripping.

- Tully's, Moxie, or Starbucks? TULLY'S wholeheartedly. Not because of their coffee. It just happens to be the closest to my house. I started going to the one in BoDo { Boise Downtown } a year or so ago, and I felt like a social loafer because I couldn't afford coffee at the time, so I never spoke. I was just this random creeper that came in for wordless hours at a time to work on his computer. But now we're all a big happy family.

- Recommend a book we should read? Hecka yesa. I love to read. I just started "Bodies in Motion and at Rest" by Thomas Lynch, and its shaping up to be a winner. I just finished "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera and his understanding of romantic relationship blows my mind. Before that I read, "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankl. Again, a mind blower. READ IT. :)

- What (or who) can't you live without? (product, article of clothing, personal item, person in your life, etc) I'm pretty sure I'd have a hard time living without music. I adore it. it moves and guides me in ways that little else can. Currently I'm in adoration of CocoRosie, Ringside, Sea Wolf, (and always and forever) David Bazan.

- Tell us about a time you either made a mistake & learned from it, or felt fear or doubt (either in your personal life or business) and overcame it? Well I wrote a little "about me" on my webpage that describes my fears involved in starting my own business. Self-doubt and fear of failure can be a difficult beast to wrestle.

Dan's Website: Yellowline Photography

Thanks again to Dan for talking with us and letting us get to know you a little better. Check back on Tuesday for his expert photography tips and some features of his work; in the meantime, we're going to check out these books he recommended- we're intrigued!

~Happy Planning!

Feature Friday | BeeGee Bags

Our Feature Friday this week is all about handbags. And what girl doesn't like a good handbag? These clutches from BeeGee Bags would be perfect for bridesmaids gifts, a wedding day catch-all (think lipstick, powder, bobby pins, etc), and would be something that could still be used after the fact at other occasions.







They have so many prints, patterns, and styles available; there's something for everyone.

Happy Friday!

~Brandi

From The Experts: Tips For Wedding Day Photos

This week's expert tip is from our Feature Friday guest Tana Urizar of Tana Photography. She's back this week to share some of her favorite tips to making your wedding day photos run smoothly, stay classy, and most of all capture the best parts of the day:

Have wedding day portraits taken prior to the ceremony.

It’s not taboo anymore and the groom will still think the bride’s beautiful when he sees her walk down the aisle. Especially if the wedding and reception are going to be at the same location, having the portrait session scheduled prior to the ceremony is one way to ensure the best day. Having the couple’s portraits, along with bridal party and family members, taken earlier will keep the sessions more private and relaxed, allowing more time for creativity especially when guests aren’t on the sidelines watching. Photo sessions before the ceremony definitely go more smoothly too. There’s a scheduled time for everyone to be there (a bridal party member is less likely to go missing) and everyone’s prepared and looking their best. The photographer can always arrange for the wedding couple to initially meet each other privately, capturing the “first look” and the groom still keeps that moment when he sees his bride coming down the aisle.

Consider having your wedding makeup professionally done.

It’s pampering, relaxing, and can give a bride more confidence in front of the camera. Wedding makeup should definitely be different than an every-day look. (The dress isn’t ‘every-day”!) It’s important to emphasize the eyes and features to avoid looking washed-out in a portrait. Find an artist you trust and be sure to do a pre-wedding run through. To make sure the bridesmaids’ look is cohesive, and if the budget allows, schedule enough time to have their makeup done that day too.

Plan your wedding day schedule realistically.

For photography, the schedule is usually tight and everything’s planned to get the most accomplished without taking too long. When wedding portraits are planned for pre-ceremony, allow a little room for running late at the hairdressers’, makeup artists’ and getting into wedding garb. When brides arrive late for photos, they’re already nervous and now they’re rushed- and it doesn’t make for a relaxing day. (And the photo session is one of the best parts!) My tip: tell the parties involved to be at their location 15 to 30 minutes earlier than they’re supposed to.

“Celebrating” before the photo session

I’m totally “in” with alcohol being a festive part of any celebration. But a little too much celebration a little too early in the day isn’t a good idea. Especially on those hot summer wedding days when the bridal party is being photographed outdoors and everyone gets thirsty, lethargic and distracted. “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” doesn’t hold for 11 am photo shoots. Granted everyone’s extra happy, but…I’m just saying.

A few more ideas….be sure to bring your lipstick, powder, tissues and drinking water to your photo session. And bonus tip: make your wedding day full of personal touches and all about you and your loved ones. That makes amazing photos.

~Tana

Thanks Tana for sharing your tips with our brides! For more of Tana's work, visit her website and her blog. You can also see our Feature Friday post on Tana here.

~Happy Planning!

Feature Friday | Meet Tana

Welcome to our first kick off to our Feature Fridays series! I'm not sure who will love this series more- me or you- because I'm even learning things about our featured vendors I hadn't known about before.

To begin our lineup, we start with the lovely Tana Urizar, the creative mind and eye behind the camera of Tana Photography. Tana and I first met in 2007, while working together on Maggie and Rex's Manhattan Chic wedding. The first impression I remember (very well) was how calm she was and what a great demeanor Tana had while working. Since then, we've worked with her several times, and each wedding just gets better and better. And finally, some tidbits about Tana:

- How long have you been photographing weddings?

My first wedding was ten years ago. The bride was a good friend of mine- she already trusted me which allowed me to just run free. I showed her some of the portrait images later that same day and she was so happy she cried. I’d found the type of photography that was my niche- it was a great day!

- What's your favorite thing about weddings?

I have three fav’s! I love the creative pressure that’s all wrapped into one day. There are no re-do’s and somehow that works for me. I love being around relationships and all the different people that make up a wedding day. And I love that each wedding is a whole new ball game. New people, beautiful things, different styles.

- Tell us one thing about yourself we'd be surprised to learn about you?

I’ve collected button pins since I was a young grade-schooler (political, kid’s clubs, pop culture). I’m an official member of the Archie Fan Club and the Sugar Bear Ecology Club.

- Favorite color?

Salmon pink- the color of my grandmother’s Dior nail polish.

- Tully's, Moxie, or Starbucks?

I have a Starbucks card I picked up in Hawaii that I just keep reloading. It’s like a souvenir I see every day.

- Recommend a book we should read?

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook. Everyone should know how to stop a runaway horse.

- What (or who) can't you live without? (product, article of clothing, personal item, person in your life, etc)

I can’t live without my nieces: the aspiring photographer, pastry chef and veterinarians

- Tell us about a time you either made a mistake & learned from it, or felt fear or doubt (either in your personal life or business) and overcame it?

I’ve tackled some big steps in my work like submitting to a large magazine, or contacting someone important in the big city, with the attitude that I have nothing to lose. If I didn’t attempt it…I would miss the opportunity and if I attempt it and fail, I wouldn’t have had it in the first place. Sometimes I wait for that wild burst of bravery and just go for it. Somebody’s going to do it- why not me?

Thanks for sharing some tidbits about yourself Tana! By the way- Tana's work is also featured on the Elizabeth Anne Designs blog. See some of her featured weddings here, here, and here. Tana will be back on Tuesday for some expert tips on your wedding day photography- be sure to check back!

Tana Photography

Website: www.tanaphotography.com

Visit Tana's Blog