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Jennifer is a sensible and responsible amazing woman. I love how respectful she was of her mother's opinion during the planning of her wedding to Thad, who is equally awesome. They give themselves in service to our country. However, when the music starts Jennifer becomes a dancing QUEEN! You go girl!
Check out her moves...
Images Brad Howe Photography
I loved Jennifer's hair and pins. I also found some others at www.longhairgirl.com.
In this business every day is different. Lots of meetings, calls, research and pretty things....
8:45 Met realtor to look at new studio/warehouse space.
9:30 Arrived at flower wholesaler - flowers, vases, and ribbons - Oh My!
10:15 Arrived at office to find venues for several new 2008 clients, put flowers in water, and met with my assistant, Stephanie.
12:00 Returned items from last event to rental company. P/U items for client sample table.
2:00 Arrived at hotel to set table, made arrangement, and met with client and hotel staff.
5:35 Grabbed coffee and sandwich from S******** - $14 grrrrr!
6:00 Met with new client to sign contract and begin planning!
7:45 Arrived home - blogged!
See you tomorrow!
Last night we celebrated Jamie's Bat Mitzvah with family and friends at the Marriott Newport News City Center. The venue is new and beautiful.
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are very theme oriented and that means lots of items to load in for the event design team and potentially earlier than normal site access. Jamie's theme was gymnastics which we conveyed with lots of spandex - chair covers, lighted towers, and an entry arch. Everything was tied together with foam cutouts of gymnasts. My team painted and glittered the smaller gymnasts, while the larger ones that flanked the dance floor on 8 ft. towers were hand cut.
Half the room was hot pink, the other half turquoise. The spandex arch and dance floor separated the adult space from the young adult area. The centerpieces incorporated fresh flowers for adult tables or were more youthful versions with silver glittered curly ting. Everything was bathed in a soft pink glow with uplighting!
Isha Foss Events provides planning and design for all types of events. For more information on our services visit our website at www.ishafossevents.com
Brides,
If you want the most current brow look on your wedding day, it will take preparation. Gone are the skinny sculpted brows of yesteryear (OK last year) and here now are the full, slightly wild brows of tomorrow.
According to Brett Freedman, Celebrity Makeup Artist and Owner of Vanitymark, here's what you'll need to do to transition from overtweezed to tailored:
From NewBeauty.com:
So, how do you bridge your current brow into today’s hottest arch? If you’re ready to grow out your brows, here's my advice...
1. Assess: Before you put on any makeup, brush up your brows and assess what they look like.
2. Envision: Really imagine the hairs where you would allow them to grow in. Think in rows: "I'm gonna grow in one row here, two rows here," and so on. As a rule, most gals won’t need to grow much in the arch. That should always be cleared.
3. Clean: You'll want to go with a very basic cleanup. Between the eyes, above the brow and those little cobweb-like hairs that grow toward the temples and underneath, but low, toward the crease of the eyelid. Anything really out of the realm. Get yourself a good pair of tweezers. (Insider tip: Take your tweezers to be sharpened once a year. You can go to the same place that sharpens your kitchen knives—that 's what I do!)
4. Fill in: After a couple weeks you'll notice tiny hairs growing in. To ease this in-between stage, choose an eyebrow pencil or powder to fill out the brow and downplay the re-growth. Choose a shade in pencil or powder that is a shade lighter than your hairs. This is very important to look natural and keep the face looking soft and open. I love my Vanitymark Ultra-Brow Powder, used along with an angled brush to contour and define in a subtle, buildable way.
5. Hold: Once you've created a more flattering, fuller brow, it's time to make the most of the hairs by using a bit of brow gel to push the hairs up and out, making them appear more ample and adding a bit of hold to keep them that way. Gals with light brow hairs should choose a tinted brow gel to deepen brows and give them 'pop'.
So, there you go! The most challenging part is patience. My pro observation is that you'll start to see re-growth within a week, and your new very-now brow will be grown in after about four weeks. Now that isn't as bad as you thought, right?
Brett is based out of Los Angeles, California. In addition to serving as a makeup artist to celebrities and models, his latest venture is a brow-centric cosmetic brand called Vanitymark.
Hi,
It's been a minute since I published anything but I have been preparing for back-to-back Bat Mitzvahs. My team and I have been working feverishly building out props and creating custom decor. If you know anything about these celebrations, you know that themes rule and they are TOP SECRET! So we'll have to wait and share those with you after the events have passed.
I mentioned in a previous post that I was off to see a potential wedding reception venue. An oceanfront location no less! The only problem... no ocean view and it was small. Can you believe it? There are actually not very many places in South Hampton Roads with a full water view that can host a large event. But there are some great places for rehearsal dinners. Here are a few (with and without water view):
Freemason Abbey - www.freemasonabbey.com - Downtown Norfolk, preset rehearsal dinner menus
Il Giardino Ristorante - www.ilgiardino.com Virginia Beach Oceanfront
La Galleria Ristorante - www.lagalleriaristorante.com - Downtown Norfolk, private rooms; A/V ready
Pagoda Garden Tea House - www.pagodagarden.org - Downtown Norfolk, private use; private room
Sonoma Wine Bar & Bistro - www.sonomatowncenter.com Virginia Beach Town Center, private area; private room
The Painted Lady - www.thepaintedlady.com Downtown Norfolk, private areas; private rooms
Town Point Club - www.town-point.com Downtown Norfolk, private rooms
Vintage Kitchen - www.vintage-kitchen.com Downtown Norfolk, private areas; private room
This list is by no means exhaustive but I have found these special and/or used them for my clients. More to come ....
For those who are not from the Hampton Roads area, the weather in October is very similar to that in June - which makes October a very popular wedding month here. With that being said, we didn't have a wedding this past weekend. I took this opportunity to enjoy the weather and my beautiful family.
We lazed around the house most of the day on Saturday. We watched some television and had an interesting dinner at a local restaurant - I won't name names.
But the highlight of my weekend was Sunday - traditionally family day for us. We spent the day at Mount Trashmore. Yes - it is a mountain of trash AND an environmental feat! We had a picnic, played in the Kids Cove with our girl, while our son Miles did some sweet tricks on his board at the skate park. We also brought Hope's kite. There was a steady, mild breeze on the mountain (60 feet high). Of course I was busy meeting new people and petting animals. We all did our own thing - together! A GREAT day.
Hi!
I played hooky today. But I left my clients in Stephanie's capable hands! Besides, this is research for wedding spa parties!
My husband, David, dropped our daughter, Hope, at school. I relaxed with a cappuccino from my new Senseo beverage machine, showered, and headed for an awesome day at the Flowering Almond Spa at the Founders Inn Health and Wellness Center.
I arrived and was shown to the pristine and well-appointed ladies locker room, where I donned my robe. I was then whisked to the solarium where I sipped green tea and waited for my Mineral Body Scrub. OK...I'm not sure what I thought but it took a minute to get used to the idea that someone would, in essence - sponge bathe me! But it only took a moment and then I was all in. After rinsing and rehydrating I experienced an AMAZING Sacred Stone Massage and it was a near spiritual experience. I highly recommend it for anyone - especially brides in those last 2 weeks before the wedding!
But what to wear? Something casual, but put together and easy to get in and out of. I love these jersey separates from Spiegel and have recently added them to my wardrobe.
Well, now that I've been rejuvenated I am ready to get back to work! I'll be checking out a new venue tomorrow. Can't wait to share!
Amy & Kyle are the definition of laid back. That vibe carried through their wedding which took place at the Chrysler Museum of Art.
My first contact was with the groom, Kyle. He actually hired me to coordinate the wedding day because he wanted it to be stress-free for Amy. What a man! I recommended some of my favorite vendors and the day was flawless. This may not sound too exciting for the drama seekers but the day was filled with genuine emotion and a calm sureness that was beautiful to witness.
One of the most touching moments came before the ceremony. Amy and Kyle had decided to see one another beforehand. They felt -as many couples do- that this meeting would ease their nerves and allow more time with guests during cocktails since they could do more photos in advance. They were certain that it could be just as special as the typical first sighting in the aisle. For this special occasion the couple met in the Tiffany Garden of the museum.
Check out Kyle checking out Amy!
The couple danced and giggled the entire night, enveloping guests in their joy. A great event!
Did anyone watch the new show from TLC called "Say Yes to the Dress"? It aired last night in 2 half-hour episodes starting at 10:00 PM. It shows brides selecting their wedding dress from the perspective of each person involved in the process - the bride, her mother, bridesmaids, and sales consultant. It was interesting and felt pretty accurate based on my experiences.
I must say that it is always and honor for me to be asked to accompany one of my brides when she selects her gown. Typically a bride brings her mother and/or the maids and everyone has an opinion! It can be tough, but mostly it is great fun. Especially that moment when everyone can see that it is THE dress! We sometimes celebrate with champagne or a group hug! I love my job!
I do have a few suggestions for brides when going dress shopping:
When shopping for a dress it can sometimes take a while to find the right one. But like the man, once you find one you love, STOP LOOKNG!
Brides: I'd love to know how many dresses you tried on before finding the perfect one. How many of you bought more than one dress?
Who says it's not easy being green? Perhaps it's someone who doesn't understand that all our small efforts add up! From using recycled paper to hybrid buses there are things that every bride can do. Here are a few resources:
The Dress:
Rings & Jewelry:
Invitations and all print collateral:
Invitation by Naturally Ever After
Respond card from Dragonfly Invites
Flowers and Decor:
Menu:
Stay tuned for more tips in the future....
Sarah and Patrick know how to throw a wedding! They started by selecting two amazing locations on the idyllic Eastern Shore of Virginia - historic Hungar's Church and Aqua at Bay Creek Marina.
The beautiful ceremony was punctuated by laughter and tears at the reading of the poem "I like you" by Sandol Stoddard Warburg. It was so perfect for the couple.
The reception was one of the best I have experienced - and this has been a year of great receptions! It started with a 2 hour pre-reception cocktail party. It featured some of the couple's favorite foods including Sushi, Focaccia, Shrimp and Crab, and more. The bride's signature cocktail was made with Italian pink grapefruit soda. Sara and Patrick took as many photos as possible (separately) before the ceremony to ensure plenty of time for mingling on the expansive deck overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. Guests were treated to an Irish band, a stunning sunset, and plenty of time with the couple. When we moved the festivities inside for dinner, guests were again touched by the heartfelt toasts from family and friends.
Tiffany and the staff at Aqua were awesome in their execution of the plated meal service. Once Shawn from Astro DJ took over, it was a non-stop party - we ended up extending the event an extra hour! By greeting everyone beforehand, the couple was able to spend a ton of time dancing with their guests - which makes for the best event. Fortunately we had arranged for shuttle transportation so guests could celebrate until their hearts' content.
It was very important to this couple that their wedding celebrate the Chesapeake Bay and be environmentally friendly. To that end they ensured that the sushi was not from over-fished varieties and selected locally grown flowers where possible. The wedding program listed personal biographies, written by the couple, on each member of the wedding party and illustrated just how much each person meant to them. The program covers were custom made by Palindrome Press and we had the inserts printed on recycled paper - available at most printers. Favors consisted of a donation to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and a Pocket Seafood Selector to help each guest make good choices for the Earth. For other tips and resources on green weddings see our next post!
The guest book consisted of Polaroid candids and good wishes from guests. The pictures always get 'better' as the evening progresses! For a variety of books designed for this purpose:
Adesso Albums - http://www.adessoalbums.com/weddings.html
Place cards were hand-written by Sarah and attached to heart-shaped cockle shells drilled by Patrick. Everything had a personal touch.
For more images from this real wedding and others, visit our gallery at Isha Foss Events - www.ishafossevents.com
My last entry featured Jane & Stephen. Stephen takes great care of Jane and she wanted to let him know that she appreciates it. We suggested Jake's Place in Ghent, a salon & spa catering to gentlemen.
This is a great option for a guy event when the girls are doing the spa thing or just to show you care....
Jane and Stephen's ceremony at First Lutheran Church in Norfolk was beautiful. The couple exchanged personal notes prior to the ceremony. The reception followed at the fabulous Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Perfect settings, beautiful weather, wonderful couple! Many of the elements that added excitement to this event also complicated it. This weekend the oceanfront was teeming with activity from the Neptune Festival, host of the North American Sand Sculpting competition - 32 blocks of bands, food, art, and a parade to boot! **(Always check your date to see what events are ocurring). When the couple took photos on the beach they were treated like rock stars! 
Immediately after contracting with the couple we designed a wedding website with a beach theme to coordinate with their save the date cards. There we provided information on the couple, ceremony and reception, hotels, and transportation. Jane & Stephen's guests were given a choice of 5 hotels as well as shuttle information and driving directions. We delivered Italian cookies from the groom's parents to welcome guests at check-in.
There was plenty to see and enjoy but the parade and resulting street closings kept us all on our toes. The couple, wanted to make things as easy as possible for their guests and provided transportation for the entire weekend. Fortunately Tom Johnson, Director of Catering, at the Hilton was on his game as usual. Tom used his connections at FestEvents to keep us up to date on best routes for the buses, gave access to special parking areas for loading and unloading, and personally walked a block to escort the groom's limo. We all stayed in constant contact with the shuttles and one another. My assistant, Stephanie, was onsite to assist vendors with load-in and setup and any issues that might arise. We scheduled spa appointments and pickups as much as possible around street closings and it all went smoothly.
Guests were treated to excellent food, beautiful decor, and music by the band Butter. We designed a setting of gold chiavari ballroom chairs with burgundy cushions, our burgundy beaded runners, and gold chargers and napkin tassels from the Hilton. It was all crowned with amazing florals from Helga Macko Flowers and soft uplighting. I can't wait for the professional photos! But here is one of mine.
The gold-wrapped chocolate seashell favors were from Schakolad and were presented in clear boxes that we tied them with personalized burgundy ribbon. Sweets were in abundance - sorbet, marble cake with fresh strawberries, and a Viennese table - YUM!
To top off the evening, guests enjoyed fireworks from the hotel's oceanfront balcony outside the ballroom!
