Fab * Blog by InvitationConsultants.com

{Fab*Bride} A Bridal Spotlight on Natasha!

This week's Fab*Bride exudes all of the qualities in a person that I wanted to showcase when I started this series of features.  I do not know Natasha personally, but throughout our e-mail correspondence and in answering all of this week's questions, she has proved herself to be truthful and a woman full of grace. Natasha was nominated by Lindsey Thorne of Lindsey Thorne Photography and The Jason Groupp.  Last week's contributor Sarah Rhoads Photography told me about Lindsey. I instantly loved her aesthetic and she happily nominated Natasha. The summer wedding took place at a beautiful park in Manhattan, with stunning views, beautiful gardens, and trees for days. When I asked Lindsey what made Natasha stand out enough to nominate, she had nothing but wonderful things to say; the story behind how she came to be Natasha's photographer is so interesting:

'My photography was a gift to Natasha from her friends; I had never met or spoken with her until the morning of her wedding. I walked in and saw the dress, the shoes, the bride -- amazing! Natasha is timeless, more graceful than I ever have been. I noticed how she carries herself, how she looks people in the eyes when she's speaking with them. Her friends and family love her very much, as was apparent in the first five minutes of my time there. As the day unfolded and I realized where her ceremony was taking place I was speechless. This wedding possessed so many qualities I would like to have at my own some day. I appreciated that Natasha is artistic and real, and it challenged me to photograph her in a way that would reflect that. Congrats you guys! I wish you all the best. xoxo."

Let's take a peek at the gorgeousness that is Natasha photographed by Lindsey Thorne!

And now for the grueling (aka fun!) ten questions:

The moment I saw your wedding photos, I instantly felt the love between you and Jeremy, and the happiness of everyone surrounding you both.  What does Jeremy inspire in you?  Jeremy and I are both artists. He is a painter and I am an actress. He understands the difficulties that come with a life where there is no day to day security. There sometimes are weeks where I don't have a single audition, or haven't booked a job and it's easy to feel listless, uninspired, and down on ones self. I often fall into that place, but Jeremy has a way of getting me out of those dark periods. He is the most disciplined person I have ever met. He wakes up every morning at 8 a.m. and paints no matter what his mood, no matter how tired he is. I've often said that that quality "turns me on" but all kidding aside it inspires me to get up every morning and pursue my dream.

Describe one of your happiest moments with Jeremy before your wedding day.  Now that you’ve tied the knot, share a happy moment you’ve had as newlyweds.  I'm going to cheat a little on this question and tell you about a moment that happened in a blurry area-- on our wedding day in between our ceremony and our reception. After our ceremony, Jeremy and I checked into our hotel room. We were both in complete shock to say the least and neither of us had eaten a thing all day because of nerves. So, still dressed in our wedding gear, we ordered room service: 2 cheeseburgers with fries and a bottle of champagne! It was the best meal I have ever had! We both ate our plates in record time and toasted our day. We were so happy to be married and having that hour alone with just the two of us after all the commotion was like heaven.

Your vintage wedding dress is so lovely – tell us about your search for the perfect piece and why you decided on ‘something old’ instead of ‘something new.’ How did you go about accessorizing to finalize your look?  I love the idea that things that I own have had a previous life and have seen other things. I wanted my dress to have a history so choosing a vintage dress was a no-brainer to me. You hear all these horror stories from brides about the quest to find their dress so I was anticipating a long and treacherous journey. I found my dress at the third store I went to! I made some alterations to it with the help of a tailor and my mom, which turned the already beautiful dress into something even my wildest dreams couldn't have conjured up. The dress is entirely made of lace thus making it completely sheer and the alterations had given it a unique shape making it impossible to find a slip. So my amazing mom fashioned me a custom one by deconstructing a store bought slip. As far as jewelry I too wanted it to be "something old and borrowed." I wore my grandmother’s wedding ring, my mother's pearl necklace and bracelet, and my good friend’s gold bangles. My friend who designed and made our wedding bands let me borrow a pair of earrings (which i eventually bought from her because I couldn't live without them and because I wanted something from my wedding that i could pass along to my kids). I opted not to go get my hair and make up done and chose to get ready at home with the help of some close friends, my sister, and mom. I knew I wanted fresh flowers in my hair-- but the final hair-do was a spur of the moment creation by my mom. In fact my whole look at the wedding was quite spur of the moment — I hadn't really planned the look; it just sort of came together as I was getting ready.

If you could label one song as the theme to your wedding, what would it be?  We asked our good friend Tania to officiate our wedding. As part of her ceremony she got the whole crowd to serenade us with the Bangles' "Eternal Flame" a classic 80's love ballad. It was amazing and I instantly burst into tears while simultaneously laughing my head off. That song and moment was the perfect theme to our wedding.

{Wednesday Trendsday} Twilight: New Moon Party Resources

Around Halloween, I wrote about my True Blood party, but tackling New Moon is a whole different beast (sorry for the pun, Team Jacob members). The Twilight Saga: New Moon hits theaters this Friday and the excitement is palpable. This film is beyond a trend, it's a phenomenon. There are so many awesome resources out there for throwing a howling New Moon party, and here are five of my favorites:

1. Hostess Blog New Moon Printables and Twilight DVD release party details: Jen at Hostess with  Mostess has created free printables in two color schemes to represent the original black, red and white from the New Moon book art and new evergreen and woodland hues from the New Moon movie previews and posters. Both designs capture the essence of the book perfectly, and feature pivotal quotes. They would make awesome decor if framed and used on your party tablescape. 

2. A New Moon Playlist from Stephenie Meyer: Stephenie Meyer created a beautifully thought out play list based on the characters emotions in the book. Who better to associate the characters perspectives with songs than the creator of the characters herself? My favorite is Stephenie's association with 'The Scientist' by Coldplay from Edward's heart-braking point of view. Burn these songs to a CD and you'll have yourself an instant party soundtrack.

3. Team Edward vs. Team Jacob Cupcakes from Sweet Avenue: These amazing cupcakes are the perfect inspiration for New Moon sweets. It may be difficult to replicate these printed cupcakes at home, but use them as a jumping off point for creating your own tempting treats. Think of dark, devil's food cupcakes with rich chocolate ganache and drizzled with red 'blood' icing. Or, to be more appropriate for members of your pack, consider spice cupcakes frosted to look like a wolf.

4. Twilight Inspired Invitations: Think woodland chic for your New Moon premiere party. This Secret Passage invitation features a scene hauntingly similar to the forest atmosphere described so well in New Moon. 

5. Etsy Twilight Finds: This New Moon Collection of pins by manhandled would make great party favors for vamps and werewolves alike. The collection features adorable Twilight references like 'I Drive like a Cullen' and 'LaPush Cliff Diving Team'. If your New Moon party is in honor of a birthday and gifts are in order, consider these New Moon inspired jewels: a Lion and Lamb silver cuff by BrighidsForge and a Twilight definition pendent by hellobrowneyes.

And for party attire, look no further than the New Moon stars themselves. The images above are of Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Dakota Fanning at the New Moon premiere this past week and they all look supernaturally elegant. Look for inspiration in their sleek dark suits and glamorous gowns and you really can't go wrong. Image Source: Mail Online and Starpulse.

I hope everyone enjoys New Moon this weekend and that all you twi-hards are not disappointed in any way with this epic story coming to life on the silver screen. Let me know in a comment below, are you TEAM EDWARD or TEAM JACOB? Or, perhaps you're neutral like Switzerland? 



Tweet with me @genreilly

Less Than 100 Days till the Winter Olympics: Vancouver

I am the first to admit that I do not enjoy cold weather. Eight winters up north was enough windchill and snow to last me many years. However, I do like vacationing in the cold. Since I live in lovely weather, I do not always like vacationing in utter warmth. For one of our vacations we decided that our kids should see snow for the first time, so we headed not to Vermont or Michigan, but rather to Vancouver, BC.

We went to Vancouver less than two years ago and right outside of our hotel they were already building the building for the Olympic's press. Sadly, we did not get to make it to Whistler because we did not have snowchains on the car that we rented in Seattle. However, we got to go to Cypress and Grouse Mountains. My first trip on a gondola was on Grouse Mountain! A little nerveracking. Next time I would like to be braver and head to Whistler to ride the peak to peak gondola Whistler-Blackcomb. Sea to Sky Highway is supposed to be amazing (the road to Whistler).

What winter sport are you going to be watching? My favorite is figure skating. But I know we will also be watching, cross country and the luge. When the spectators get tired of watching sports, they can head to Robson Street for great shopping and sushi or to Stanley Park to just relax. Other great sidetrips for the day involve taking a BC Ferry to one of the beautiful islands or to Victoria, the capital of BC (an island as large as Ireland).

I guess it's in my blood, being part Canadian that I am excited about the Olympics being there! Have fun watching. Check out the Winter Olypic Countdown clock.

Peak2Peak, Snowy photos thanks to me!, Whimsical Wintry Flurries, Snowflake Skates

{I LOVE 80'S PARTIES!} Style Icons of a Fashionable Decade

Anyone who is a product of the 80's or lived through this memorable decade most likely has embarrassing photos of themselves in ostentatious clothing. Whether it be wild hair, flamboyant colors, or off the wall accessories, 80's trends were and still are a staple in fashion history. On the flip side of all of this, a lot of fabulous fashions were not just fads; they have either stayed wildly popular until the present or have resurfaced in modern, sophisticated ways. Let's take a peek at three of my totally bodacious and favorite fashion icons.

Madonna. Madonna first moved to NYC in hopes of a career in modern dance; boy did her life take a different turn. To me, Madonna epitomizes a style icon. She has reinvented herself countless times throughout the years and has managed to stay on top of her musical and fashionable game. Love her or not, you can't defend that she she hasn't made a stylish impact in pop culture. My favorite fashion technique that Madonna has used throughout the years is that she plays with different fabrics. From spandex leotards to leather jumpsuits, from jeans and a button down shirt to flowing saris, Madonna experiments with textiles in inventive ways that reflect where she is at in her life, whether it be young and 'material' to spiritual and sophisticated. Her look exemplifies what a performer should look like.

Michael Jackson. It's hard to believe that someone of such phenomenal fame and importance in musical history is no longer with us. He joins Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and so many other musical geniuses in a different realm, but his legacy has and will stay alive. A documentary about Michael Jackson called 'This Is It' is in theaters right now. It's two week span has been extended until Thanksgiving weekend, so I definitely plan to see that in theaters so I can experience his would have been last performance in as real of a setting as I can. Let us commemorate the style of MJ. Of course he is known for so many trends, most notably his cropped pants with white socks, but my favorite pieces that Michael sported so well throughout the years were fabulous jackets. He inspired millions to wear zipper-accented red jackets, slick leather suit jackets, sparkling moonwalk jackets, and military-inspired garb. He did not shy away from hats, embellishments, color, or arm bands. A true style icon in his own right, Michael paved the way for so many pop icons, celebrities, and normal everyday people to take risks with their clothing.

Molly Ringwald. She made her mark in 80's favorites such as The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty In Pink...to name just a few. Though she played the quintessential teen girl, she was always striving for individualism in her everyday life, which definitely reflected in her clothing choices. Ringwald has noted that Edie Sedgwick, Marilyn Monroe, Diane Keaton, Dianne Wiest and Brigitte Bardot as her fashion role models. Known as John Hughes' muse, her style reflected femininity and quirkiness. In my opinion, her most notable fashion techniques were pairing lots of things that didn't quite go together, but seemed to make sense at the same time. She defined youth and always managed to achieve that girl-next-door, school girl look. And who can forget her short red do? A refreshing staple in a world of blonde bombshells and brunette babes. She has a nostalgic quality about her, which undoubtedly makes her iconic.

All of these icons can inspire tons of looks for everyday life as many fashion designers such as Marc Jacobs and Betsy Johnson (to name a few) have done. Not only can you make 80's clothing wearable and very today, but they are always festive for Halloween or appropriate for a decade themed party. I must say that 80's parties are all over college campuses nationwide, and is the ideal theme for a birthday party because it's so easy to achieve and fun to do. Start with a Totally 80's Party Invitation that plays up the neon hues of the decade, or perhaps this Stylish 80's Invitation will inspire people to wear something fabulous. Take cues from these style gurus and individualize them! Be your own fashion icon or inspire others! Stay Fab*ulous!

Madonna Image Credits: Madonna photo and ankle boot, celebrations print, & Cameron Diaz as Madonna photo via Polyvore.com. 

Michael Jackson Image Credits: Black & White image,  embellished black jacket & red leather jacket via Polyvore.com

Molly Ringwald Image Credits: Pretty In Pink image and Tiered Skirt & Hat image via Polyvore.com.

It's Your Wedding Too! TheManRegistry.com

Last week, Chris from themanregistry.com contacted us about our bachelor party invitations. We were so excited to discover his website that caters specifically to grooms and groomsmen. It is a rare treat to see the grooms so involved in the planning of their wedding! Don't get us wrong, we have tons of grooms who call us for advice about their wedding invitations, but I never imagined there could be such a resource for grooms. Themanregistry.com covers everything groom related- from vendors to information on acquiring  marriage licenses and other paperwork. Plus, they do all of this with a sense of humor. Check out their playful 'Man-Up!' YouTube video:

Brides & Grooms-- let us know in a comment below, how much was/is the future husband involved in the planning of your wedding?

My Favorite Tablescapes

I took these photos of events I have had. The tablescapes are simple and really focus on the food. From birthday parties to holiday parties to baby showers. 

For my dad's party I selected navy and silver as the table colors to signify wisdom, maturity and a classy combination.

My friend's chose pink and brown for my baby shower because they are a trendy color combination that is both chic and sweet.

For our holiday parties I always incorporate red into the tablecloths and very often into the partyware. Mixing red with green or gold or silver is a festive choice. 

Choosing two inks for a tablescape is just perfect.

Martini Party: Stir One Up Quickly

Martini Parties are hot especially at this time of year. So stir something up. Here are a few tips for having a stellar martini party on the fly with not much time to plan, it's really just about getting friends together. First send the martini party invitations!

Be creative

Create a martini menu with everything but the kitchen sink. But here's the trick, find items you have in your home to use, in order to keep down the cost. Hopefully you have cranberry juice, other juices, fruits, olives and maybe pumpkin at this time of year. Research seasonal martinis for that fall and holiday feel.

Be thoughtful

If you have non-drinkers and pregnant friends coming, be prepared. Consider dessert martinis, like milk in a martini glass with a chocolate cookie as a garnish. And get creative with juices by simply placing pineapple juice in a martini glass with several small fruits as garnish on a toothpick.

Feed them too

Serving only alcohol may not be the healthiest thing, so use more martini glasses and serve small hors d'oeuvres and mini desserts in these chic glasses. For example, mini chocolates and marshmallows fit in perfectly. A spoonful of hors d'oeuvres fit in these glasses well, like salmon mousse on a small toast point, tomato salsa, and mini arugula salad with walnuts also fit in well and are light bites.

Pretty simple! Now all you have to do is practice saying, "Would you like that shaken or stirred?"

Martini Season, Martini Pop Art, Pumpkin Martini, Vesper Martini made famous by James Bond, dessert in martini, Virgin martinis, Cheap and Dirty Martini.

A Halloween Birthday Bash! Vampires Welcome...

I can hardly contain my excitement anymore, Halloween is TOMORROW! Woo hoo! My friend Carly and I were born a week apart (me on October 24th, and Carly on Halloween itself, lucky girl!), so we often celebrate our birthdays together with a night on the town or a joint shin dig. This year, we are going all out for the party, celebrating a year of big accomplishments and good times. Just to gush for my friend for a moment- this year, Carly got admitted into a masters program in Molecular Medicine. If that's not something to celebrate on your b-day, I don't know what is!

So, on to the party details! I am a huge fan of True Blood. In case you're not familiar, True Blood is a vampire show on HBO. Some may say it's Twilight for grown-ups. I was determined to have a True Blood party and I have incorporated some vampire related elements into the party decor in addition to creepy skull and crown motifs.  I gathered a lot of inspiration from Hostess Blog's Twilight themed party posts, and I even plan on making these vampire martini's and vampire bottle labels.

Last night, I set out a lot of the party materials so I can be ready set to celebrate, and not have any last minute stress. Some of my favorite details are featured above from left to right:

{Fabulous Flashback} It's a Jolly Holiday with a Mary Poppins Tea Party!

'Tis the season to snuggle up with your sweetie, cozy up by the fire, and watch classic movies that remind us of why it is so wonderful to be young at heart and imaginative. This week's post pulls from an old favorite of mine...Mary Poppins! A lot of my friends poke fun at me (and some join in my love) because I adore timeless musicals, Disney movies, and other classic flicks filmed before my time. My parents always exposed me to these films, which I'm certainly grateful for, but there are those that weren't acquainted with classics such as Mary Poppins. So if you're totally confused right now with my favorite-movie-rant, let me expand your imagination with a Mary Poppins Tea Party! If you already familiar with Disney's cinematic genius, you'll find this post "practically perfect in every way!"

A Mary Poppins Tea Party is ideal for a young girl's birthday party or a leisurely ladies day out. With the holidays just around the corner (can you believe it's already almost November?), we've tailored this party to have a festive flair. The caramel apple imagery and adorable tablescape seen above is courtesy of the Party Wishes blog. She has literally pinpointed every detail of the movie and incorporated them into the party's theme. Some favorite ideas are:

• have everyone wear Mary Poppins inspired hats: (perhaps the white tie around the neck number tickles your fancy, or you'd like to be a little more casual with a plain black one adorned with little flowers)
• provide artful activities such as kite decorating (to fly to the highest height of course) and sidewalk chalk (to jump into their drawings)
• play games such as "Tuppins Toss" or "A Spoon Full of Sugar" relay
• set up a photo shoot with a carousel horse

Some other ideas we came up with are:

It's a... Baby! | Stylish Baby Must-Haves

It's been a while since we've seen a baby post here on Fab*Blog, so the time is right for a little baby love! I've put together a pink and blue post with lots of adorable birth announcements and irresistible baby must-haves.

Start out with a colorful birth announcement like the ones shown here (middle column). Each have a unique style and is a great way to inform friends and family of your new bundle of joy. Make it even more special with a picture-perfect photo of your baby, like the ones here (top left, top right), taken by photographer Paula Kennedy.

Then, pick up a handmade onesie from etsy. I found these two (middle left, middle right) from etsy seller CantaloupeCorner. With lots of super-cute options, you're sure to find something just right!

Finish off with a pair of stylish booties from Robeez and you're set! Sure, socks are the go-to for infant footwear, but why not change it up with a great pair of tiny shoesies for your little one?

These are just the beginning to some great shopping options, so get out there and have fun with it. Whether you are out buying for your own little one or for a friend, you can definitely find some cuter than cute and highly unique gifts!

Image Credits:

Baby girl photo, Baby boy photo, Girl onesie, Boy onesie, Girl shoes, Boy shoes.

Birth Announcements:

Sweet Dreamer, Polka Dotted Arrival, Argyle Diaper Pins, Special Delivery in Blue.