Vendor Spotlight: Tiffany Monday

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I seriously love Tiffany so much!  She is one of the most genuine people in the industry and I get so excited when I get the chance to work with her!!  She has so much passion for what she does and a ton of experience. Hair and makeup is one of the most important elements of you wedding so let Tiffany Monday and her team help you feel beautiful all day long! Check out more about Tiffany below, along with photos of her gorgeous work, and some beauty tips for your wedding!
• Cat or Dog? Neither- I am too busy for pets! Eek!
• Twilight or Harry Potter? Twilight! Edward is so HOT!
• Mac or PC? Mac…did you even have to ask…
• Sweet or Salty? Sweet :)
• Beer or Wine? Wine
• Mountains or Beach? BEACH!!!!
• Neat or Messy? Neat…I am a type A for sure!
• What is the last book you read? The Glass Castle by Jennet Walls
• Most embarrassing moment? My pants fell down in a Sign Language college class!!! I was MORTIFIED!
• Favorite sports team? Sacramento Kings (Basketball)
• What was the last movie you went to see? Bridesmaids :)
• Who would play you in a movie? Charlize Theron
• What is your favorite drink? Iced Tea
• What is in your refrigerator right now? Nothing! On a Diet!
• What is your favorite place to eat? Native Foods in OC
• What TV reality show or game show would you go on? Wedding day makeover on TLC
• How many pairs of shoes do you own? 100 +
• Where did you grow up? Rocklin CA (30 outside of Sacramento) cowtown! Moo!
• Where have you gone to school? Rocklin High School, Sierra College, Sac State, Paul Mitchell in Costa Mesa.
• What is your advice to people planning a wedding? Take it one day at a time, and hire Tiffany Monday for all of you Beauty needs!
• What is your best marriage advice? Don’t sweat the small stuff, and communication is key!
• One of your favorite wedding moments? At my own wedding…My cake fell over in front of all my guests! OMG!

• Anything else we should know? Simply Sweet Weddings ROCK!!!  

R: Tim Otto

Tim Otto
Emp Studios
L: Emp Studios R: Braedon Photography

Here are some of her great beauty tips!

Beauty Tip #1 
Pictures really do speak 1,000 words! 
Communicating with your stylist/makeup artist is key to getting the bridal look you want! Always bring photos to the trial and be prepared to try and describe what you want in detail.


Beauty Tip#2
Bring out the very best in you!
When you are choosing pictures of hair and makeup looks, consider bringing photos that have similar  face shape and coloring. Your beauty goal for your wedding day should be to bring out the very best features you have naturally rather than trying to look like a movie star that looks nothing like you! 


Beauty Tip #3
Long Lasting Beauty
Airbrush makeup not only looks great, but lasts all day as well! When looking for makeup artists always ask what brands they use, and if they offer airbrush. You want your makeup to last all day, so you can be picture perfect for you own red carpet occasion! 
Setting your hair in rollers and using a light hair spray (I love Kenra) will help your luscious locks hold all day long! You should set for at least one hour, and always apply heat and let cool. I also always prefer that the client does not wash their hair the day of the event, so the hair has natural oils to hold the style!
Hair Extensions:
Do you want to feel red carpet ready on your wedding day? Hair extensions are a great way to dress up your look, while still looking very natural. We customize in blending, coloring and applying clip-in extensions so your hair looks and feels fuller, longer and sexier for any event. The hair extensions we use are made from the finest 100% pure remy human hair available. At your trial we can color match your hair to get the perfect shade and length that will complement your features for your big event! 

Caring for Your Wedding Dress

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Every girl dreams about their wedding dress ever since they were young. So taking care of the most special dress of your life is very important! You've finally found the dress of your dreams and you'll want it to look as pristine for your walk down the aisle as the day you bought it. Here are some tips on how to prep your dress, keep it looking perfect the day of, and maintaining the beauty for years to come. After all, future generations may someday want to wear it :) Thanks to Martha Stewart Magazine for this great article!

L: Epic Imagery; R: Scott Nelson Photography
Pre-Wedding Prep
Getting your gown ready for its debut will likely involve making a few changes. For a new dress, changes might mean alterations in fit. However, a dress purchased at a sample sale might require cleaning or repairs. If you're wearing a vintage gown, the world could be more extensive, involving fabric replacement, restyling, and refitting. Regardless. allow enough time for completion: about three to six months for alterations, eight months for major restoration.
Ideally, you should bring your dress home a day or two before the wedding. But if you need to store it for longer, you'll want to take some precautions. If storing it for les than six months, hang it on a padded hanger in a closet away from direct sunlight, leaving several feet of space on either side. To shield fabric from dust, cover it with a material that allows for ventilation, such as muslin or a cotton sheet. Don't use plastic! Because it's a nonporous, it can trap condensation, causing mildew and mustiness- gross!
If you have to store it for more than six months, don't hang it but rather package the dress in an acid-free cardboard box.
Removing Wrinkles
When you arrive with your dress, be sure to put it on a padded hanger right away. You may find that many of the folds will come right out, but chances are the gown will probably need to be steamed a little. 
Professional steaming will produce the best results; usually, the bridal salon where you purchased your gown or the place that did your alterations will provide this service. But if you've traveled, this likely isn't a viable option. A good alternative is to create your own steam room. Cover a bathroom floor with towels and run a very hot shower, allowing the room to fill with steam. Turn the water off, then hang the dress on the back of the bathroom door. Next, wrap your arm in a dry, white towel and run it down the length of the gown, smoothing out any wrinkles. This method is much less likely to leave water spots or iron impressions than a home steamer or iron.
Managing Mishaps
Keeping your dress looking its best all day requires a little bit of care and forethought. Use caution when dressing. You should cover your face -- a gauzy scarf works well -- to protect the gown's fabric from your makeup. 
Even with vigilance, spills and slip-ups do happen. To combat little emergencies, Steven Saidman, president of Imperial Gown Preservation and Restoration in Fairfax, Virginia, recommends every bride keep a stain kit on hand stocked with rubbing alcohol and clean white cloths. To remove a stain, apply the rubbing alcohol (for dry stains such as grease) or tepid water (for wet stains like wine) to the cloth, and gently blot the spot from its outer edges in; do not work from the middle of the stain out, since this will spread the mark. To dry the dress, use a hair dryer on its lowest setting from at least six inches away. It's also a good idea to have a needle, thread, and double-sided tape handy for fixing hems that have come undone.

Safe Keeping for Years to Come
The final step in protecting the memories and investment your bridal wear represents is to have the gown preserved, meaning both properly cleaned and carefully boxed. If your gown has just the usual grass stains and smudges on the hem, take it to be cleaned within a month of the wedding; if there's a more serious stain, like red wine or juice, bring it in within a few days.
Because very few wedding dresses are suited to traditional dry-cleaning processes, you'll want to find a company that specializes in these gowns. If you can't find one in your area, search online. Make sure the company you select sees and inspects the dress before quoting you a price, says Steven Saidman, president of Imperial Gown Preservation and Restoration in Fairfax, Virginia (some nationally recognized businesses offer free shipping and estimates). Avoid cleaners that offer a set price for all dresses. Different fabrics and embellishments require special cleaning methods. Some dresses are more labor-intensive to clean and will cost more than others; in general, you can expect to pay several hundred dollars for the entire cleaning and preservation process. Just be sure to read the warranty carefully and steer clear of cleaners that void their guarantee if you open the box in which your dress is stored. Saidman advises looking for a company that will stand by its work for years, since many invisible stains, such as perspiration, champagne, and sugar, sometimes won't show up on the gown for four to six years if they're missed during the cleaning.
After cleaning, the dress should be stuffed with acid-free tissue paper and placed in an acid-free corrugated cardboard box. Once home, store the box in a climate-controlled area of the house, such as under the bed or in a bedroom closet; never keep it in the basement or attic, which typically experience the greatest fluctuations in temperature and humidity. The end result of all this planning and care? Decades from now, your dress should look as beautiful as it did on your wedding day.

Vendor Spotlight: Troy Grover Photographers

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Since I've been blogging so much about yummy food, I think its time to talk about one of my favorite photography duos, Troy and Aimee Grover. They are the cutest husband and wife team with such amazing talent! Every time I see them they are so fun to be around and make me feel so happy to know there are people like them in the industry.  They make working fun, and they are able to let their subjects feel relaxed and comfortable....including myself when Troy did my headshots last year!  Every moment they capture is effortlessly beautiful. Each photo is unique and the passion they have for what they do is evident in every picture. Make sure to check out their website to see their amazing work for yourself!!

  • Cat or Dog? Troy: Dog; Aimee: Doggie
  • Twilight or Harry Potter? Troy: Twilight; Aimee: Twilight
  • Mac or PC? Troy: Mac; Aimee: Mac
  • Sweet or Salty? Troy: Sweet; Aimee: Sweet- Chocolate lover!
  • Beer or Wine? Troy: Beer- Blue Moon; Aimee: Wine, sweet wine
  • Mountains or Beach? Troy: Beach; Aimee: Beach, a warm one
  • Neat or Messy? Troy: A very strategic messy; Aimee: Neat
  • What is the last book you read? Troy: Rework; Aimee: Rework
  • Most embarrassing moment? Troy: In a high school basketball game, I went up for a dunk, missed it, and then got a T for hanging on the rim. Then my coach turned all Bobby Knight on me.; Aimee: Singing a solo at church when I was little and freezing on stage when I couldn't remember the words.
  • Favorite sports team?Troy: LAKERS!!!; Aimee: Lakers
  • What was the last movie you went to see? Troy: True Grit; Aimee: Little Fockers
  • Who would play you in a movie? Troy: Will Ferrell in Elf! Smiling's my favorite; Aimee: Kate Winslet in The Holiday.
  • What is your favorite drink? Troy: White Chocolate Mocha non-fat; Aimee: Coffe with Coffee Mate Coconut Cream
  • What is in your refrigerator right now? Troy: Turkey, milk, eggs, cheese, grape juice, frozen dinners, chicken; Aimee: Dito
  • What is your favorite place to eat? Troy: Wood Ranch- best beef ribs ever!; Aimee: Urban Thai
  • What TV reality show or game show would you go on? Troy: I want to be on the Biggest Loser, but that involves me gaining a lot of weight so I might have to think about it; Aimee: Amazing Race!
  • How many pairs of shoes do you own? Troy: 6; Aimee: More than I need
  • Where did you grow up? Troy: Omaha, Nebraska...the good life!; Aimee: My younger years were spent in Huntington Beach then my family moved up to Washington for the dreaded Jr. High years. I made my way back to sunny California for college.
  • Where have you gone to school? Troy: Cal State Fullerton; Aimee: Biola
  • What is your advice to people planning a wedding? Troy: Hire a planner;) ; Aimee: Hire vendors that you really mesh with.
  • What is your best marriage advice? Troy: Love never fails...people fail. Don't ever give up! ; Aimee: You can never say, "I Love You," enough.
  • One of your favorite wedding moments? Troy: I love the best man speech because you never know what to expect. ; Aimee: When the bride and her dad see each other for the first time.
  • Anything else we should know? Troy: We just got a puppy! And with that we won't be having kids for a while ; Aimee: I love coffee treats!

Confetti Lab at The Party Pantry

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If you like planning even the smallest of parties for your friends, you need to check out Confetti Lab on June 23 at The Party Pantry!!  My friend Brittany Shanks from Spruce PR has sent over all the fun details so check out more below...  If I didn't already have a wedding, I would for sure be going to check out some fun products and ideas!
Confetti Lab will be held June 23rd from 6pm to 9pm and is a party planning event where newly married brides, ladies planning a shower or anyone wanting exposure to great party products, tips and diy projects can get just that! There will be local (LA/OC) party supply vendors showing off their products, a taco truck, several sweets vendors, and diy stations. 


  

Vendor Spotlight: Final Touch Bakery

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This is so exciting for me to talk about Final Touch Bakery! This is a small family owned business that has been around for more than 15 years so they have tons of experience. I met the owner Stephanie Dinh and she truly has a passion for every cake she does and she will do her best to make your day as special as possible. Her bakery specializes in custom cakes, from baby/bridal showers, birthdays, and of course, weddings! Not only do they do custom cakes, but they can also make special pastries and cupcakes! They have such a variety of flavors that include classics like chocolate and red velvet. But their signature flavor is their white cake with fresh berries and bavarian cream. It's seriously to die for. Not only are their flavors delicious but the outside of their creations are just as amazing as the inside. I love their versatility and everyone I've talked to loves their work. Check them out and take a look at their beautiful cakes below! Feel free to contact Stephanie for any questions!
  • Cat or Dog? Neither. I'm not an animal person.
  • Twilight or Harry Potter? Twilight.
  • Mac or PC? Mac all the way!
  • Sweet or Salty? Salty.
  • Beer or Wine? Wine.
  • Mountains or Beach? Both.
  • Neat or Messy? Neat.
  • What is the last book you read? Eat, Pray, Love.
  • Most embarrassing moment? I peed in my pants in public when I was younger..So embarrassing!
  • Favorite sports team? Don’t have one.
  • What was the last movie you went to see? X-men: First Class.
  • Who would play you in a movie? Meryl Streep.
  • What is your favorite drink? Pear Martini...yum..
  • What is in your refrigerator right now? Lemons, watermelons, bread, cheese, juice, salad....everything!
  • What is your favorite place to eat? Marche Moderne.
  • What TV reality show or game show would you go on? Top Chef!
  • How many pairs of shoes do you own? 30 or 40...
  • Where did you grow up? Saigon, Vietnam.
  • Where have you gone to school? Vietnam, Kentucky...Cal State Fullerton for college.
  • What is your advice to people planning a wedding? Don't stress out about the little things! Enjoy your day...trust your vendors.
  • What is your best marriage advice? Be sweet to your husband...and compromise.
  • One of your favorite wedding moments? The ceremony is always beautiful.
  • Anything else we should know? I actually graduated with a computer science degree and I used to be an engineer! But then I realized that I love to bake and cook. 


  

Vendor Spotlight: The Fry Girl, Inc.

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I am so excited to share my love of The Fry Girl, Inc. today!  She is so big time catering on almost every television or movie set you can think of....but more importantly, she comes to weddings!  Shelley Beals will make mini donuts, mini funnel cakes, mini corn dogs, and french fries, right there on the spot. Every one of my client's that has booked her services cannot say enough great things.  Her hot fresh treats really hit the spot the last two hours of the wedding.  I could honestly go on and on forever about great they are...the first time I worked with her, I ate so many donuts I had to go outside and get fresh air...no joke! Haha.  Check out a little sneak peak into Shelley and let the pictures speak for themselves!
  • Cat or Dog? Dog.
  • Twilight or Harry Potter? Neither. 
  • Mac or PC? PC.
  • Sweet or Salty? Sweet.
  • Beer or Wine? Wine.
  • Mountains or Beach? Beach.
  • Neat or Messy? Neat.
  • What is the last book you read? If You Like Chocolate Eat Chocolate by Anthony Miner. 
  • Most embarrassing moment? Talking to a client on the phone thinking they were a male & coming to find out they were really a female!
  • Favorite sports team? Don’t like sports. 
  • What was the last movie you went to see? The Tourist.
  • Who would play you in a movie? Coco Chanel but I’d have to learn to speak French. 
  • What is your favorite drink? Chardonnay. 
  • What is in your refrigerator right now? Lots of Jenny Craig! Haha
  • What’s your favorite place to eat? Chef Melba’s Bistro in Hermosa.
  • What TV reality show or game show would you go on? My own hopefully.
  • How many pairs of shoes do you own? 100’s. 
  • Where did you grow up? Weyburn, Saskatchewan Canada.
  • Where have you gone to school? Canada. 
  • What is your advice to people planning a wedding? Enjoy the day as it goes too quickly!
  • What is your best marriage advice? Never go to bed angry or holding any resentment.
  • One of your favorite wedding moments? The same moment at every wedding. When guests rave about our mini donuts deliciousness!
  • Anything else we should know? Our gourmet food truck will hopefully hit the streets of LA by summer 2011! Watch for us!