The Pink Veil Event - Sunday October 4th

Cordially invites you to join us at

The Pink Veil Event

Come meet us at this FREE event as we provide the music for the lounge area.
Listen to our own Dianne present a seminar “All about the Music” at 3:15pm

(please forward this on to anyone you think would like to join)

Special guest Grace Ormonde of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine will be there giving away magazines.

Sign up for raffles for many fabulous prizes!
Walk away with an amazing swag bag full of treats and goodies

Participants include:
Cartier, Bloomingdales Wedding Registry, Sandals Resorts, Sensibly Sweet,
celebrity makeup artist Khuraira, The Fountain Spa, Cherish the Moment,
Signature Event Rentals, Oh So Fabulous celebrity event planners, Colorblind Productions,
catering by Semolina restaurant and many more!

-Attend brief seminars held by our elite vendors
-Sort through designer wedding gowns
-View the finest engagement rings and bridal jewelry by Cartier
-Experience the art of airbrushing with celebrity makeup artist, Khuraira
-Consult with celebrity event planners from Oh So Fabulous
-View the hottest trends in flowers and decor
-Take Advantage of our selection of designer sample sale gowns
-Talk with invitation and honeymoon specialists
-HEAR FROM A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR

Sunday October 4th, 2009
Twelve Noon to Four O'clock
110 Essex Street
Millburn, NJ. 07041

RVSP to this event by calling 973.376.2770 or by emailing pinkveilevent@yahoo.com
Hosted by Exquisite Bride

Seminar Schedule:
12:30 Guest of Honor Breast Cancer Survivor Annie Paulson - Speech
1:00 Exquisite Bridesmaids Fashion Show
1:30 Oh So Fabulous Celebrity Event Planners presents Event Planning 101
2:00 Destination Weddings and Honeymoons presented by Sandals
2:30 The Art of Airbrushing presented by celebrity makeup Artist Khuraira
3:15 Colorblind productions (DJ): All about the music !

Trying on wedding dresses at Exquisite Bride in Millburn, NJ

When I was getting married I knew I’d have my dress custom made. I had the person who would do it, the idea of the dress in my head and so when it came time I just went to Jose Manuel at Victorian Bridals in Astoria, NY and he made my masterpiece. I’ve never regretted that decision.

I did, though, regret that I never got to partake in the whole bridal gown shopping experience. I’ve heard the stories, lived vicariously through Say Yes to the Dress, got a taste of it when modeling for wedding gown designer Karin Yngvesdotter and even contemplated the idea that I should just go out one day and play a bride to be shopping for a gown even though I’ve been married for almost 8 years. So when we provided the music for the the Budget Wedding Planning Event & Sample Gown Sale at Exquisite Bride in Millburn, I got my first and only real taste at the wedding gown shopping experience. No, I did not try on any dresses, but I did get to watch brides to be experience this. What was best was that 2 of them were clients of mine. It was a very personal look into what they would look like when I see them on their wedding day and it made me downright giddy.

So although I was there to tout the fabulousness that I think Colorblind Productions is, I could not help but peek into fittings, give ideas on bustling, fawn over fabrics and designs and explain the importance of such variables for the day of. I mean I’m the queen of making bustles when they fall at events and wrote a blog post about recommendations for them so I had plenty of advice to impart on dress functionality at the reception. And I am nothing but honest and will give my opinion when asked. And I ended up being asked by ladies that weren’t even my clients. It was so much fun! Rob, of course, laughed at me. He joked that maybe I should consider bridal gown sales. Honestly, I’d probably enjoy it!

What this experience also afforded me was to observe Exquisite Bride from a client perspective. I’ve been in bridal salons before (as a bridesmaid) and have had different experiences at them. I have to say the aesthetic of Exquisite Bridal instantaneously makes you feel at ease. It is a beautifully designed facility with a great color combination, comfortable accommodations and so open and airy that it leaves you feeling as if, you’re in a spa of sorts. It just feels very Zen. Veronica Castro, Remy Quinones and the staff are nothing short of amazing, with their warm smiles, calm demeanor and stress free attitudes. They’re bilingual too! The comfort level they afford their clients is something that I value and appreciate. Yes, its wedding gown sales but it doesn’t leave you with a feeling of being sold. They seem to subscribe to a similar ideal as we do, let the product make the sale and reinforce it. They do an amazing job at that. They have a great bridesmaid, lingerie and accessories line too. I look forward to participating in more of their events.

Join us at the Budget Wedding Planning Event & Sample Gown Sale

Come join us on Sunday, September 13th as we provide music and meet & greet at
Exquisite Bride in downtown Millburn, NJ. Click here for directions.


Click on the picture to visit the event page on facebook

Stop by and enjoy a glass of champagne and meet the wedding experts who are ready to help you plan the wedding of your dreams!

Exquisite Bride
With over 10,000 sq ft of space exquisite bride has the largest selection of bridal gowns in New Jersey. We have two locations offering outstanding customer service, unparalleled attention to detail, and unique couture designs. Our brides are very important to us therefore we see our brides by appointment to provide them exclusivity, privacy, and the complete attention they deserve. We are the exclusive New Jersey retailer for Vera Wang bridal gowns.
Email: exquisitebride@gmail.com
Phone: (973)376-2770
exquisite-bride.com

Exquisite Bridesmaids
Offers a wide variety of chic, classic, and modern bridesmaids dresses. We know that brides want there bridesmaids in dresses that are stylish, exuding the feel of the wedding, and above all dresses that can be worn again. Therefore our stylists are available by appointment to help the bride to be, in choosing the best style for her party. Some of the designers we carry are Vera Wang Maids, Bari Jay, Watters, Wtoo, Dessy, After Six, Impressions, Enzoani as well as Mother of the Bride/Groom dresses.
Email:info@exquisitebridesmaids.com
Phone: (973)379-2222
exquisitebridesmaids.com

Colorblind Productions - Rob & Dianne Velez
Serving the greater New York region with headquarters in New Jersey, Colorblind Productions caters to its brides and grooms with a client centered focus. We feature a variety of services including DJ, photo, video, custom gobo, projection, karaoke, coordination, and plasma screens. We also specialize in multigenerational, multicultural & Latin weddings and offer bilingual M.C.’s. Colorblind Productions is the recipient of Wedding Wire’s Bride’s Choice Award, and 2008 Best of Project Wedding award, seen on the reality shows Whose Wedding is it Anyway and Cake Boss, and is mentioned in Event Solutions Magazine, the Knot Magazine and featured in Wedding Bells Magazine. For more information visit our website colorblindprd.com or contact us at 908-3704010 or info@colorblindprd.com.

Courtney Kern/ Events Beyond
Over 10 years of experience in the arts, and event planning industry, a BS in Business Management with a Specialization in Marketing from Mercy College in Manhattan. In addition to founding Events Beyond, Courtney is employed at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. She enjoys making connections and cultivating relationships with the many talented individuals and businesses within the event community. Courtney’s passion for beauty, rigorous training, detail-oriented eye, and extensive experience has culminated in Events Beyond. Whether you are looking for Courtney to help you get started, or you need Courtney to guide you through every detail of your special day or event, Events Beyond has the resources and passion to make your vision become a reality. Courtney would love the opportunity to make your dreams come true. To learn more about the event planning services Events Beyond can provide check out eventsbeyond.net, or to set up a consultation, email info@eventsbeyond.net or call (518)229-5683.

Entiise Lingerie
Give your dress the perfect form with great function. We carry bridal bustiers, strapless, spanx, honeymoon lingerie, bride, bridal party tanks, and more. Shop On-line or sign up for our On-line Lingerie Gift Registry.
Email: veronica@entiiselingerie.com
Phone: (973)379-4450
entiiselingerie.com

DeVenir Beauty
On Location Hair and Makeup
DeVenir Beauty's philosophy and mission is for you to become the beautiful you!Our artists are specially trained in event styling with many years of experience. We continuously attend hair and makeup seminars enhancing our skills to bring you the best in contemporary styling innovations.
Email: info@DeVenirbridal.com
Phone: (800)234-8814
devenirbeauty.com

Palermo Bakery
We have been in business for over twenty years. Our bakery began as a small retail shop, yet has expanded into a large retail/wholesale operation servicing many hotels and catering halls throughout New Jersey & New York. We have been credited in providing cakes for brides on Platinum Weddings on WE. Our cakes have been featured on TLC. Our products have been given notoriety and publicity in local magazines and they have been ranked in "Best of..." in various categories.
Phone: (201)641-1654
palermobakery.com

The Studio Photographers
have crafted a distinctive documentary style of wedding imagery by blending illustrative portrait artistry and photojournalism. This is accomplished by having a team of two highly trained photographers on every wedding to capture the unique story of each couple. Images by The Studio Photographers have been featured on The Early Show on CBS, TheKnot.com, WeddingChannel.com, Pictage.com and on the pages of Contemporary Bride Magazine. Their fashion and editorial work has led them to be the exclusive cover photographer for Contemporary Bride of NY and NJ. Several locations through out the tri-state area.
Email: info@thestudiophotographers.com
Phone: 800.439.6178
thestudiophotographers.com

Robin Goldsmith / Scissor Paper Stone
Scissor Paper Stone designs wedding invitations for today's modern bride - stylish, cool and totally fabulous. Available in a range of formats to suit every budget, from luxurious handmade invitations wrapped in tissue and ribbon to cool and funky postcards. The invitations are fully customizable, including print specifications, colors, designs, typeface, and personal photographs. Already a leader in the UK, Scissor Paper Stone is pleased to announce the launch of its US office and website. Contact us via our website: scissorpaperstone.com or at (718) 313 0139.

Joe Rumore/Turn Loose the Ar
Turn Loose the Art is a boutique photography studio specializing in fashionable wedding photography and creative portraits with flare. We are enigmatic shooters always on the hunt for good light. There is art in your wedding! Joe brings a more formal, East-Coast style to Britney's laid back West-Coast style to create the perfect team coverage for your wedding photographs. Serving the Southern California and New York metro areas with no travel fees, destinations also available. Contact Us: Web: turnloosetheart.com, see the latest on the Blog: http://turnloosetheart.net or call us at (646) 416-6404 or info@turnloosetheart.com.

Rekemeier's Flowers

The Rekemeier’s bride may be secure in the knowledge that her flowers will be custom designed to suit the season, the atmosphere of her wedding location, and her own personal style. We would like to invite you to Rekemeier’s Flower & Gift Shop for an introduction to “stress-free” floral planning. Two locations in NJ.
Email: clint@rekemeiers.com
Phone:(908)277.6333

rekemeiers.com

Joshua Freiwald / Joshua Freiwald Photo
Joshua Freiwald is a freelance photographer based in New York with 15 years of experience. His clients include Estee Lauder, the St. Regis Hotels, Unicef, film producers, and art directors. Josh's photographs are held in private collections in over 15 countries. With a documentarian approach, he captures all the love, humor, and joy of a wedding day as it unfolds naturally. Revealing authentic emotion and human interaction, his photos are beautiful, fresh, spontaneous, authentic, and modern. Full of truth and beauty and of moments large and small, Josh reflects all the complexity and richness of the emotions experienced during one of life's most precious occasions. For more information check out joshuafreiwaldphoto.com email Josh at josh@joshuafreiwaldphoto.com or call (646) 729-7444.

An Affair to Remember Weddings
Eileen Kaden Dean, founder and owner, comes from a rich varied background of theatre and the arts. Her experience working at Vera Wang gives her the advantage of fashion-forward thinking and a real knowledge of couture weddings. And her love of travel has taught her to imagine a a world of limitless possibilities while keeping her eye on the tiniest of details. She forms personal relationships with each couple and oversees all the events. Her impeccable style and low pressure personality have led her to be known as one of the best in the business.
Email: eileen@anaffairtorememberweddings.com
Phone: (917)359-7302
anaffairtorememberweddings.com

The Wedding Salon at the Roosevelt Hotel

I love the Roosevelt Hotel. No, I've never stayed there. Actually, until this event I've never even been inside. But I'll tell you why I love it. 2 years ago a friend from out of town had plans to meet me at the clock in Grand Central Station. Pressed for time, I ended up driving into the city and of course got stuck in traffic. Said friend had no cell phone. I was late and you know how likely finding a place to park in the middle of the day on a weekday by Grand Central Station is? Yeah - not likely at all. So I pulled up to the Roosevelt Hotel and asked the doorman there for advice on a parking location. I blabbed out the reason for my situation and asked him if he knew anywhere I could put my car for the 15 minutes max it would take me to meet my friend that wouldn't cost me $50. And what that wonderful man said was my salvation, "Leave it here. I'll watch it and make sure that the cops don't ticket it." And that's what I did. I left it in front of the Roosevelt hotel, grabbed my friend and ran back up in less then 5 minutes. My car remained there. Ticket-less. I gave him the $25 in my pocket for it.

But I digress. Customer service kudos to the Roosevelt Hotel aside, I found myself in front of it at 6:15pm on Monday for The Wedding Salon Event. I attended the Wedding Salon event in October which was beautiful (if unbelievably warm) and obviously missed the after work crowd at that event as this go around, I found myself around the corner on a line that snaked up the street, in the side door, up 2 flights of stairs and over the main room JUST to get to the registration tables. I stood behind 2 wedding planners form Connecticut and in front of a bride to be and her friend with the most odd story of the guy she's seeing and his psycho ex-fiance with whom he bought a house with while engaged to yet another man. ODD. It served as a great distraction from the line I was standing on. To the Wedding Salon's credit, it did move fairly quickly. But by the time I reached the registration desks I was already sweltering under my plaid wool coat. I skipped the coat check because of the number of people there but waved at the living plant feeling sorry for how hot he must be and began my walk around.

The sheer number of people there made it difficult to really talk to much of anyone, let alone make your way through the packed rooms and narrow, cramped and congested balcony space. I never made it into the Victoria's Secret Lounge and curse myself for it as I heard that was where David Tutera's company was. I marvel that I stayed there for an hour as the conditions could only be correctly labeled as sweltering. Even then, though, it is always a good event to attend. I especially love going to see the tablescapes. My favorite being the design by Flowers by Topaz, but I'll let you be your own personal judge.

Of course, one of the highlights to the Wedding Salon are the cakes, or better said, the tasting of them. Sylvia Weinstock was there yet again, and I thought it particularly endearing to see her handing out cakes to passerbys.


I must though take the time out to say that Make My Cake II was by far my favorite cake there. Absolutely scrumptious. I went back much to my embarrassment - 3 times. Absolutely delicious.


And of course among the tastings is the beauty of the cakes and cupcake tiers displayed





Visiting the vendors at took a back seat this go around because, like I said, the number of people and the heat of the venue. But I have to give a shout out to Joseph Edwards (wedding filmmaker) for remembering me from the last show (I told you, you are still on my roster ;) ) I also got to speak with Allison from Style made Simple with whom I really clicked with and who I can imagine is the perfect wedding dress concierge and stylist.



I was to meet up with the photographer from Jason Groupp there but was just too hot and left shortly after walking down the block with my jacket still flung over my arm trying to cool down. I would have stayed longer and talked more had the location turned on the air conditioning. But maybe that was the whole point.

Fall busy-ness, October wedding madness & Trade events

admit it. I’ve neglected my blog. Noticeably. So much so that three of my recent brides have said “weren’t you going to blog about this??” OOPS. So apologies for falling behind in so many things and thank you all for your reminders as not only do they motivate me to actually UPDATE but it makes me realize that people are reading along with the blog (if not actually leaving comments *hint, hint* )

October is without a doubt one of the busiest times for us as the fall foliage decorating the backdrops, the semi warm yet cool temperatures and the general beauty that is the autumn season makes it especially popular to get married. As Rob and I got married on Columbus Day weekend six years ago (has it really been 6??) I have to agree that this is one of the best times of years for a wedding. And I have many ‘real weddings’ to showcase to you over the next few days/weeks - beautiful garden weddings, elegant hall weddings and weddings that seem to be spiritually engulfed in emotion. I may be exhausted over the work but I’m renewed each time with the reality that I truly get to see such beauty, such love and such emotion in each individual celebration.

Beyond weddings we were busy with some tradeshows and events to attend. Rob attended the Photo Plus Expo which is without a doubt the largest Photography Expo. I was rather jealous that I was not able to attend that with him as he reported back to me how absolutely enthralled he was in the latest in technology and offerings. These events always serve as inspiration for new ideas and opportunities to add to our already illustrious list of contributions at Colorblind Productions. They also serve to deplete bank accounts in the desire for the newest and generally coolest gadgets. He attended with one of our photographers Maggie who took advantage of several seminars. I totally expect to attend this event myself next year!

Rob and I took the time to visit The Wedding Salon. It is a luxury wedding showcase in New York City. We went specifically look at the latest in luxury ideas, designs and companies. It is generally a bridal show but one where the exhibitors are by invitation only and the target market is elite clientele.

Not being a bride (and lesson learned as I made the mistake and told the registration desk that I wasn't one) I missed out on the goodie bag. I did get samples at booths. It was held at the Prince George Ballroom a stunning space that had to unfortunate luck of losing the general aesthetic of the room's grandeur in the midst of vendor booths and throngs of guests. Models walked around in stunning gowns and honestly answered my questions on the weight of the dresses and their personal opinion as to whether they could feasibly dance in them. I did speak to some vendors and exchanged business cards. The illustrious Sylvia Weinstock was there and I was able to talk to her, but I was so flustered and intimidated that I couldn't even bear to ask her to take a picture with me which I really wanted. And with cake tastings of her and other cake artists I was in heaven. I took pictures (mostly of the tablescapes design firms/florists put together.)

What you can't see in this first one (Rob took the pictures as I perused the vendors) was that the flowers actually wrap around the entire pedestal of the table and is visible through the glass tabletop.

I met the designer of this and got to talk to him about his inspiration on this piece. It was pretty damn cool to have that conversation. I love gold and he was as happy as I was to know that gold has made a comeback in its competition with silver based metals

What was cool about this florist is they had price boxes. You gave them your cost of centerpiece and they provided a box with examples of work that was in the budget you gave.

And how gorgeous are these seat covers? My friend Michelle of Everyday Celebrating was so infatuated with them that not only did she blog about them but she has told me how much she loves them EVERY DAY since I showed them to her and is obsessed in finding them.

Delicious cakes!!!