Who is your Austin Wedding Vendor?

2011 Presidents Message

2011-11-03T12:18:00.002-05:00

Presidents Message-

Welcome to fall and the summer wrap up newsletter! I am glad to know that the long hot summer here in Texas has kept everyone working since it was unbearable to be outside! With our long hot summer came some sad experiences for some of our colleagues. The Texas fires not only raged through the state, but derailed many lives. It is at times like this when you truly realize what is needed in life to survive how strong you can be. It is amazing how a positive outlook can make any situation, regardless of how devastating it is, seem bearable. Many thanks to our members who stepped up and offered to help each other out during this time of need. Although there is always an immediate response to help, it is truly after the first couple of weeks when support is really needed. Thank you for your support and being wonderful human beings.

Best,
Amy

2. Certification Weekend Seminar
a. November 12-November 13, 2011: Do you want to become a certified wedding planner? Are you tired of fielding the “I wanna be a wedding planner” questions? NECI, the only state licensed vocational school certification, is offering the an intense weekend seminar for event planners. Take 2 days out of your schedule to pursue the career you have always wanted! www.nuptialessentials.com.

3. June Meeting Synopsis
What an outstanding June meeting we had at Austin Country Club! The Jewish Event Panel was not only informative but quite entertaining to listen to. Many thanks to each of our panel participants who took valuable time out of the day to educate us on the various parts of Jewish events and customs.

Michele Schwartz- The Modern Jewish Wedding
Rabbi David Komerofsky- Texas Hillel
Diane Dusek- The Jewish Outlook
Timo Xavier- DJ Simcha
Keri Wootton- Leave the Details to Me

I also want to thank our wonderful sponsors. The table décor was breathtaking, the food was delectable and the ambience was relaxing!

Carrie Beamer- Flora Fetish
Keri Wootton- Leave the Details 2 Me
Olga Lee- Polkadots Cupcake Factory
Sharon Easley- Reel Time Popcorn
Michele Schwartz- The Modern Jewish Wedding
Diane Lyerly- Premiere Party Central
Julie Diaz- Austin Country Club

4. July Continuing Education Seminar
a. Many thanks to all our participants at the “Summer Session Continuing Education” series hosted by Premiere Party Central North. We had 43 attendees who came and polished up (or learned) more efficient ways to fix emergencies that occur at almost every event. Many thanks to our sponsors who made the event possible: Premiere Party Central, Bouquets of Austin, Men’s Warehouse, Eric Hegwer Photography, Michelle’s Patisserie and Platinum Weddings and Events. A special thank you to Royal Fig Catering for the amazing lunch provided. Attendees are still talking about the cookies for dessert. What a delight!

5. August Continuing Education Seminar
a. NEAWP was pleased to bring Alan Berg to Austin on August 29th and 30th. It was a fantastic Event and I personally realized how many things I need to fix in my business! I not only enjoyed learning about how my website would fire me, but realized that this was more than just a “how to be a better business person”. More than just a speech, this was an intensive series of informational, thought-provoking and motivational topics. For those attendees who paid for a private session, I am jealous as you are “toting about what you have learned”. Always remember, “Whether or not you think you can, you are right!”. I would like to extend a warm gratitude to our sponsors of the event: Complete Music and Video, Brenda Abbott Floral Design, Premiere Party Central, Vintage Villas and Cynthia’s Manhattan Limousine Service. You can still purchase a book or video of the event at www.alanberg.com.

6. September Conference
a. This September I made it a priority to attend the Wedding MBA conference in Las Vegas. I planned on attending this in June. My thought was that in August (when my darling little Abby went to kindergarten and it would be the first time in 13 years I did not have a child(ren) at home) I would have an obscene about of time on my hands. When school started in August, well since it is October, I am still waiting for that obscene amount of time to come to me. Nonetheless, I made a commitment to better myself and business. All I can say is “MAKE THE TIME TO GO!”. I have not made the time to process all my notes that I feverishly was writing down. It was a great conference and after the first ½ day I felt that I got my monies worth and I had 2 days left to go. It was nice to walk around and find some fellow Texans (you know who you are with the YOU-TWIT-FACE shirtsJ) but also chat with people who are in different areas from Boise, Idaho to Cayman Islands. It truly was the most reasonable conference for the content that was provided. I realized that after being completely exhausted each night, the three days I was there were enough for me to make drastic changes in life and business. I hope to see you at the next conference October 2-4, 2012 in Las Vegas. They do run discounts so try to take advantage of those. To register go to www.weddingmba.com.
b. Special Event Olympics- What a day this was in the life of NEAWP! Due to the Central Texas Fires, we changed the Olympics date to September 21,2011. As always, this tends to be my most favorite meeting as you see vendors in a truly different state! Thank goodness for Liz Baughier of Elizabeth Jayne Photography for making sure that no moment was left out. Each year I am truly amazed at how much people train for this meeting, how good men actually look draped in linens and makeup, the intense level of smack talking and how professionals bring out their oppressed competitiveness to win cheesy gifts and titles. Our charity for this quarter and event was actually a wedding professional. Byron Smith, the drummer for The Pictures band, lost everything in the Bastrop fires (that includes drums that he needs to make money). NEAWP is proud to give Byron and Jilly Smith $1000.00. Many thanks to each of you!!The participants at the Olympics won “beads” that were assigned a dollar amount that NEAWP would donate to Byron in honor of the winner. Congratulations to the following winners:

Thomas Meredith- Rojo Photos
Crissalane Discher- In a disc hen Events
Haley Hyman- Platinum weddings and events
The Allen House
Emily Knapp- Premiere Party Central
Skip Neal- Honeymoon Guru
Angel Carter- The Fairy Godmothers
Stella Embelton- Flora Fetish
Unkown (someone walked away without reporting)
Scott Valley-Complete Music- Big Momma Crown

Thanks to all of winners! Hold onto your title since you will have it for one entire year! If anyone’s name is forgotten, that means you are reading this! Just send it over to me and I will add it in for the record!
First Place and Best use of Costumes- CM Crazies (Tara Humphries-Captain)
Scott Valley (complete music)
Jordan Mitchell (complete music)
April Skinner (complete music)
Jordan (makeup superstar)
Courtney (makeup superstar)
Second Place and Best use of Talent- Fab 5 (Lydia Smith- Captain)
Steve Smith (premiere party central)
Ken Sharpels (premiere party central)
Emily Knapp (premiere party central)
Cheryl Bailey (yellow umbrella events)
Carrie Beamer (flora fetish)
Third Place and best use of theme- Tootsie Pops (Amy Mader- Captain)
Josh Wilkinson (penguin entertainment)
Thomas Meredith (rojo pictures)
Haley Hyman (platinum weddings and events)
Crissalane Discher (in a dischen events)
Spirit Award- Skip Neal (honeymoon guru) and April Carter (fairy godmothers)
FINALLY- a huge thank you to our sponsors! You made this fantastic event possible:
Resurgence Fitness- Kenneth Bobo
Premiere Party Central and Texas Star Event Center- Delores Crum
Elizabeth Jayne Photography- Liz Baughier
Groove Labs- Kit Ketterman
Which Wich Slaughter Lane

7. Graduate Students
a. Maricel Dona of Austin Texas

8. Upcoming Events
a. November 2,2012 - NEAWP General Meeting- Driskill Hotel
b. November 12-13- NECI Wedding Certification Seminar
c. December 7,2012- NEAWP General Meeting- AT&T Conference Center
d. December 13,2012- ISES/NACE/NEAWP Charity Holiday Party- Maggie Mae’s
e. January 7 &8- Bridal Extravaganza- contact beth Kuhn bkuhn@austinweddings.com or 512.797.9470
f. January 11,2012- NEAWP Annual Gala- Hyatt Hotel
g. February 1, 2012- NEAWP General Meeting- Hummingbird House
h. March 7,2012- NEAWP General Meeting- Uncle Billy’s at Lake Travis

9. Quote of the month- As I listened to my 5 year old read “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein to me, I have realized how relevant this excerpt is.

"I am sorry," sighed the tree. "I wish that I could give you something------ but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump."
"I don't need very much now," said the boy. "just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired."

"Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, "Well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest." And the boy did. And the tree was happy.

10. Book club- if you have not purchased this quarters book, there is still time to get reading in! I am determined to get this book read with some other peopleJ Bethenny Frankel- A Place of Yes. Discussion meeting on November 16,2012 at 11am.

11. The Event Talk: Meet, Grow, Learn- I am going to be starting something a little new this fall (yes, it came from my Wedding MBA experience). Come sit with a small group of individuals to talk about business! Here are the details:

The Event Talk: Meet, Grow, Learn
10133 Planters Woods Drive
Austin, Texas 78730
Tuesday, October 25,2011
12:30-2:30pm
Rsvp amy@neawp.org
(first 12 to respond are in like flynn)

12. The Perfect Holiday Trifecta! ISES/NACE/NEAWP will be collectively hosting a holiday party supporting Austin Children’s Shelter. 100% of the proceeds of the meeting will go towards ACS. The event will be at Maggie Mae’s Downtown on December 13,2011. The fee is $20.00 per attendee. More information will be provided to you.

13. CONGRATULATIONS! There are A LOT of NEAWP babies being born this summer (and yes a lot of girls!!!)

a. Lauren Allen welcomed daughter Charlotte
b. Amanda Dudley welcome daughter Ellison
c. Jennie Temple welcomed daughter Arie

14. Holiday Meeting and January Gala- NEAWP is opening up sponsorship for the holiday meeting and the January gala. To contribute your talent to this event or these events, contact amy@neawp.org. No talent is too big or too small!

15. NEAWP will be taking nominations for the 2012 Board positions. If you feel that you have a trait that would be conducive to making the board successful, contact amy@neawp.org. All nominations must be received by October 28,2011. In the event that a position has dual nominations a vote will take place online on the neawp website.

November Meeting Invite!!

2010-10-20T13:02:00.001-05:00

Welcome to November! Now that you have survived Halloween, Christmas is 8 weeks away! I know with all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, the first thing that you are thinking is “how is the heck am I going to make it to a meeting?” Well, now is important for you to MAKE TIME for yourself and business. (you do have to eat, rightJ)

YOUR SPACE

Welcome to the Central Market! NEAWP extends their gratitude to Amy McCall for hosting our meeting. Celebrate Every Day! Those three simple words sum up our mission. At Central Market, we want to exceed your wildest expectations and transform your grocery shopping experience. In our stores, shopping isn’t a chore — it’s a joy. You see, we love food as much as you do. It nourishes our passion, feeds our curiosity and brings us all together. Our love of food shows in our vast selection of high-quality domestic and imported goods, not to mention our dedication to outstanding customer service. And we’re eager to share it all with you. Best of all, we believe in finding value without losing flavor. From our selection of more than 700 hand-cut cheeses to hundreds of meat and seafood offerings, there’s a new find around every corner. www.centralmarket.com.

YOUR EVENTS

10.27.10: Wedding Planners Only Inaugural Meeting contact amy@neawp.org

EVERY TUESDAY- Blogging with Eric contact eric@erichegwer.com for a reservation

12.1.10: December Holiday Party- SAVE THE DATE!

11.7.10: Susan G Komen Austin Race for the Cure contact amanda@neawp.org

1.9.11: Diamond Domain Bridal Soiree contact rita@austinweddingday.com

1.15.11: Austin Bridal Extravaganza contact beth at bkuhn@austinweddings.com.

YOUR SPONSOR

Thank you to Jerry Hughes of Artist Studio 12. Come learn about this professional photographer, author, inventor, world traveler, and speaker. As a photographer his fashion work has been in Vogue magazine, corporate clients have included IBM, Proctor & Gamble, Ford, ... as well as his award winning portrait and wedding photography. www.artiststudio12.com.

YOUR NOTES

Still need an NEAWP business nametag? If you would like a professional name tag for the meetings, bring $7.00 cash or $7.50 online to the meeting. The next order will be placed on December 15, 2010. All name tags must be paid for prior to being ordered. Look at a sample in our newsletter online.

YOUR THEME

Character- the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing. There are 6 distinct qualities of character:

Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Citizenship

YOUR PROGRAM

2011 is just around the corner. We want you get a jump start on your resolutions and goals for 2011! Bring 5 goals or hurdles that you are facing you would like to make in your business for 2011. Since we are aware we do not have all day to talk, kindly forward them to amy@neawp.org so I can be efficient with your time.

YOUR CHARITY

It will be CHILLY soon! November’s Charity will be Coats for Kids Coat Drive Coats for Kidsencourages the community, schools and organizations to provide new or gently used warm winter coats to keep the children of Central Texas warm throughout the winter. Please bring your donation to our November 3rd at Central Market

YOUR POLICIES

1. The 2010 meeting fees are $30.00 per meeting for current NEAWP members. Payments received after the deadline or at the door will be assessed a $5.00 fee.

2. Guests are always welcome. They need to be added to your RSVP list and you will receive the reservation confirmation. The 2010 guest meeting fees are $50.00 per non member.

3. If you show up to the meeting without a reservation confirmation, the cost will be $35.00 per current NEAWP member and $55.00 per guest.

4. You can pay with any major credit card via PayPal on our website by simply going to www.associationofweddingprofessionals.com/ca_meeting.com then click the meeting you would like to attend. All PayPal payments must be received by Monday November 1, 2010 at 12:00pm. All checks must be made payable to: NEAWP. Any payments received after the deadline or at the door, will be assessed a $5.00 fee. The 2010 NSF fee for checks is $50.00.

5. To ensure your reservation at the meeting, RSVP to amy@nuptialessentials.com. You will receive a confirmation reservation email. Bring a copy of your confirmation email to the check in table the day of the meeting. If your RSVP changes after November 1, 2010 at 12:00pm you will be charged the full meeting amount.

Our meeting will be kept within the time allotted so you can get back to making lots of money!

Now go plan beautiful events!
Amy Mader, PWC
President

October Meeting Invite

2010-09-28T13:37:00.000-05:00

CLIFF NOTES VERSION!

(SINCE YOU ALREADY RECEIVED THE FULL INVITE—ENJOY THIS ABBREVIATED VERSION!)

THE FULL INVITE IS LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.NEAWP.ORG

You are cordially invited to the October 2010 Nuptial Essentials Association of Wedding Professionals (NEAWP) Austin Chapter meeting.

YOUR SPACE

Mercury Hall 615 Cardinal Lane . Catering by Word of Mouth Catering! October 6^th 11am

YOUR EVENTS

Every Tuesday: Blogging Tips contact eric@erichegwer.com

9.29.10: Wedding Planners Only Meeting 11:00am contact amy@neawp.org

11.7.10: Susan G Komen Austin Race for the Cure contact amanda@neawp.org

1.9.11: Diamond Domain Bridal Soiree contact rita@austinweddingday.com

YOUR SPONSOR

Delysia Chocolates!

YOUR NOTES

October is “Come as a member month”!

SAVE SECOND BASE! Sign up for the Komen walk

Next name tag order is on October 15^th!

YOUR THEME

Endurance.

YOUR PROGRAM

Our round table discussion is back by popular demand! Come participate with your fellow peers in solving the issues of “how to endure the challenges of your business”. If you have not participated in an NEAWP round table discussion, now is the time to try it!

YOUR CHARITY

Happy Halloween! We will be collecting Halloween treats (no food) and costumes for the Dell Children’s Hospital.

YOUR POLICIES

1. The 2010 meeting fees are $30.00 per meeting for current NEAWP members. Payments received after the deadline or at the door will be assessed a $5.00 fee.

2. Guests are always welcome. They need to be added to your RSVP list and you will receive the reservation confirmation. The 2010 guest meeting fees are $50.00 per non member.

3. If you show up to the meeting without a reservation confirmation, the cost will be $35.00 per current NEAWP member and $55.00 per guest.

4. You can pay with any major credit card via PayPal on our website by simply going to www.associationofweddingprofessionals.com/ca_meeting.com then click the meeting you would like to attend. All PayPal payments must be received by Monday October 4, 2010 at 12:00pm. All checks must be made payable to: NEAWP. Any payments received after the deadline or at the door, will be assessed a $5.00 fee. The 2010 NSF fee for checks is $50.00.

5. To ensure your reservation at the meeting, RSVP to amy@nuptialessentials.com. You will receive a confirmation reservation email. Bring a copy of your confirmation email to the check in table the day of the meeting. If your RSVP changes after October 4, 2010 at 12:00pm you will be charged the full meeting amount.

Our meeting will be kept within the time allotted so you can get back to making lots of money!

Now go plan beautiful events!
Amy Mader, PWC
President

Wedding Collages for your viewing pleasure

2010-09-03T16:10:00.000-05:00

Fashion show vendors:
Blush Bridal Lounge – www.blushbridallounge.com
Rae Cosmetics – www.raecosmetics.com
Flora Fetish – www.florafetish.com
Big Day Event Productions – www.youreventproducer.com
Sterling Images – www.sterlingimagesonline.com
Distinctive Details – www.distinctivedetails.com
The Driskill Hotel – www.driskillhotel.com
Penguin Entertainment: www.penguinentertainment.com
Premiere Party Central: www.austinpartycentral.com

Joyce/Kennedy Wedding May 1st, 2010
Venue: Umlauf Sculpture Gardens – www.umlaufsculpture.org
Planner: Big Day Event Productions – www.youreventproducer.com
Florist: Flora Fetish – www.florafetish.com
Caterer: Fion Wine Pub – www.fionwinepub.com
Decorator: Quest Drape – www.questdrape.com
Lighting: FILO – www.filodesigns.com
Rentals: Premiere Party Central – www.austinpartycentral.com
Cake: Cakeism – www.cakeism.com
DJ: Encore Entertainment – www.fredthedj.com
Photographer: DCM Photography – www.dcmphotography.com

Special thanks to Amanda Dudley of Big Day Events for sharing these gorgeous wedding images :)

Upcoming September Meeting!

2010-08-25T10:13:00.002-05:00

You are cordially invited to the September 2010 Nuptial Essentials Association of Wedding Professionals (NEAWP) Austin Chapter meeting. School has begun and my vacation has ended! I am looking forward to a fantastic meeting in September. I regret the tardiness of this invite, but as you all know the meetings happen the FIRST WEDNESDAY of the month and I am sure you have it already penciled in your calendar. I missed you all in August! I would like to thank your outstanding board for taking on this meeting so effortlessly. Let’s get ready to work!

YOUR SPACE
Welcome to the Omni Hotel Austin! NEAWP extends their gratitude to Leah Pitre for hosting our meeting. The Omni Austin Hotel Downtown is a magnificently appointed luxury hotel that surrounds you with comfort and style. With the heart of the thriving downtown business center at your doorstep, you'll be just steps away from the Austin Convention Center and the Texas State Capitol. The 6th Street Entertainment District is walking distance from the hotel. Omni Hotels was named as one of the best companies to work for in Texas in an annual program created by the Texas Association of Business, the Texas State Council of the Society of Human Resource Management and the Best Companies Group.

YOUR EVENTS
8.25.10: Wedding Planners Only Inaugural Meeting contact amy@neawp.org
8.25.10: NACE Eat the Heat contact delores@premierepartycentral.com
8.31.10: August Book Club Meeting contact amanda@neawp.org
8.31.10: August Mentor Meeting contact barbara@neawp.org
9.15.10: NEAWP Event Games contact amy@neawp.org
11.7.10: Susan G Komen Austin Race for the Cure contact amanda@neawp.org
1.9.11: Diamond Domain Bridal Soiree contact rita@austinweddingday.com

YOUR SPONSOR
Thank you to Eric Hegwer of Eric Hegwer Photography. Come learn about the photographer who has mastered Hebrew, rock climbed for years, is a biochemist AND actually know who Phish is. Visit Eric at www.erichegwer.com.

YOUR NOTES
2010 Olympics: Teams are still needed! The cost is $25.00 per person. We have changed the requirements for the minimum number of participants per team. The minimum is 4! Locate your event colleagues and form a team! Event details and registration is atwww.neawp.org!

September is MEMBERSHIP DRIVE month!! If you would like to join or need to renew your membership, the current membership drive is $150.00 ($100.00 off the original dues!). This membership drive ends on September 30,2010.

Still need an NEAWP business nametag? If you would like a professional name tag for the meetings, bring $7.00 cash or $7.50 online to the meeting. The next order will be placed on October 15, 2010. All name tags must be paid for prior to being ordered. Look at a sample in our newsletter online.

YOUR THEME
Neediness- Seeking encouragement and support from others and appreciating being aided when in need

YOUR PROGRAM
YOU! Come and find out what we are up to this month!

YOUR CHARITY
NEAWP is continuing our support of the Austin Humane Society. They still need our help! The following items are needed:

Treats & Rawhide chews for dogs

Canned cat and dog food

³KONG² Type toys for dogs

Gently used Towels

Bath mats & blankets

Newspaper

Gently used or new pet collars

Pet shampoo

Dog and Cat treats

They are also accepting monetary donations for to spay and neuter animals in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. $1200 will spay or neuter 40 animals!

Please bring your donation to our next meeting.

YOUR POLICIES

1. The 2010 meeting fees are $30.00 per meeting for current NEAWP members. Payments received after the deadline or at the door will be assessed a $5.00 fee.

2. Guests are always welcome. They need to be added to your RSVP list and you will receive the reservation confirmation. The 2010 guest meeting fees are $50.00 per non member.

3. If you show up to the meeting without a reservation confirmation, the cost will be $35.00 per current NEAWP member and $55.00 per guest.

4. You can pay with any major credit card via PayPal on our website by simply going to www.associationofweddingprofessionals.com/ca_meeting.com then click the meeting you would like to attend. All PayPal payments must be received by Monday August 30, 2010 at 12:00pm. All checks must be made payable to: NEAWP. Any payments received after the deadline or at the door, will be assessed a $5.00 fee. The 2010 NSF fee for checks is $50.00.

5. To ensure your reservation at the meeting, RSVP to amy@nuptialessentials.com. You will receive a confirmation reservation email. Bring a copy of your confirmation email to the check in table the day of the meeting. If your RSVP changes after August 30, 2010 at 12:00pm you will be charged the full meeting amount.

Our meeting will be kept within the time allotted so you can get back to making lots of money!

Now go plan beautiful events!
Amy Mader, PWC
President

Summer Games!

2010-08-21T18:10:00.000-05:00

Just a few images from last year's NEAWP Summer Games! Thanks for the images, Eric!

Don't forget to register for our Summer Games 2010 by August, 25th! You can register on our website at http://www.neawp.org/ca_meeting_09152010.cfm . May the best team win!!

August Meeting: Charity Bash and Summer Games

2010-08-06T08:36:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much for attending the August meeting at the gorgeous downtown Marriott Courtyard and Residence Inn! NEAWP extends their gratitude to Yvonne Oaks for hosting our meeting. With over 6,600 square feet of flexible meeting space, this hotel is in the heart of downtown Austin.

Thank you to Katherine Reece of Dragonfly Designs. Dragonfly Designs will help a bride coordinate her wedding stationery and accessories to create the mood and theme of her wedding date. Katherine will do home visits to clients as well as customize any invitation. To find out more about Katherine, go to www.dragonflydesignstx.com.

A very special thank you to our guest speaker Alex Winkelman. Alex Winkelman- Executive Director, CharityBash

Alex previously was the Chair of Dining for Darfur-Austin, a Director of the Tents of Hope campaign, and a consultant for Nike’s Human Race 10k. Her involvement ranges from being a reading mentor and gymnastics coach to traveling to Israel with the Young Adult Leadership Association and to Costa Rica to work with children. Alex is currently Executive Director of CharityBash and is a Social Entrepreneurship student at St. Edward’s University.

The Wedding Chicks: Sweet Treats + Chocolate Wedding Menus

2010-08-06T07:59:00.000-05:00

Sweet Treats + Chocolate Wedding Menus

Yes, it is Friday already and of course we have some deliciously sweet treats to share with you.

1. This dress is beyond adorable. Swiss dots on french tulle with whiffs of ruffles hanging at the bottom. You really cannot go wrong with this JCREW wedding gown.

2. Look no further we have your FREE customized arrow and heart table numbers for you. Emailed your inbox instantly like magic.

3. In lieu of wedding favors what about a chocolate menu. We discovered this in Real Weddings fromThompson Poole Photography. Delysia Chocolatiers baked these with love for you.

4. Fun and sexy, this satin evening shoe has clusters of pewter beads decorating the T-strap for a playful look by Max Studio for $120. These T-straps also come in silver.

5. How about this yellow Gold Silk Couture Flower to top off your look for $45 from Etsy artistweddingaisle.

1. Inspired By Their Love Of Children

2. Yellow & Blue Texas Wedding

3. Nautical Wedding Monogram

4. Eco Friendly Wedding Favor

5. San Francisco Intimate Wedding

6. Palms Spring Wedding Filled With Vintage Charm

7. Killruddery Estate Engagment Shoot

8.A Pittsburgh Wedding

9. DIY Free Custom Bunting Save The Dates

10. Spring Time Baltimore Wedding

11. Baltimore Wedding With Cheeky Charm

12. A Korakia Pensione Palm Springs Wedding

13. Stylish Cake Stands

14. Geek is Tres Chic Wedding

Style Me Pretty: Blue Wedding Design

2010-07-26T09:45:00.001-05:00

rom Inspiration to Reality – The Board

July 23rd. 2010 by Erin Lepperd | Filed Under | 2 comments

We are happy little campers around here because a) the weekend is in our sights and b) we have a fabulous From Inspiration to Reality feature to share with you today. Be sure to take notes ladies because this is filled with so many lovely bits and pieces for your own soirees. And there are a bevy of power hitters that came together to make this shoot happen. With photography by Jessica and Nate Johnston, design and styling by Lucia|Paul Design, cinematography from Epic Motion, stationary and sweets by Dooby Design Group and Florals by Bellisario Florist as well as a host of other fab vendors, we are talking MAJOR inspiration headed your way. But first, lets take a look at the board that started the wheels turning. From Style Circle guru Nikki, this is inspiration in the form of tiffany blue heaven.

Gorgeous right? We are so excited to share all of the pretty details with you. We will be back in a jiffy with some beautiful design and styling so worthy of Audrey Hepburn.

Jessica Johnston Photography, LUCIA|PAUL DESIGN and Epic Motion are members of our Little Black Book. For more information on how members are chosen, click here.

Martha Stewart Weddings: Opalescent colors

2010-07-23T09:40:00.000-05:00

Perfect Wedding Color Palette: Opalescent

Bridesmaid Dresses

Bridesmaid dresses don't need to look like, well, bridesmaid dresses. Pick out frocks in your palette that have potential for an afterlife and feature exquisite details -- oversize ruffles or allover pleating, perhaps? -- and your attendants will rejoice. From left: Strapless organdy dress (#2514), Vivian Diamond for Dessy Collection; coral necklace, de Vera; 50mm ribbon (#10000, color #31), Mokuba New York. "Nice" flower girl dress, Pip-Squeak Chapeau Etc.; 9mm ribbon (#10000, color #31), Mokuba New York. Silk gazar dress, Luisa Beccaria. "Galette" dress,J.Crew. Crinkle silk chiffon gown (G561C),Amsale. "Orchard" strapless dress, 57 Grand; stone necklace with pendant, Monet, Macy's.

July Meeting

2010-07-07T15:13:00.000-05:00

We were fortunate today to bring together the leaders of wonderful wedding industry organizations for our July meeting. Very special thanks to Bucca di Beppo for hosting our event. BTW, the tiramisu was amazing :)

Our topic for this month's meeting was about creating a community of wedding professionals beyond our own organization. So we invited leaders from ISES and NACE to come and hang out with us.

Ashley Donnell of Brenda Abbott Floral Design giving us a little introduction to their floral studio. Thanks for being our Sponsor of the Month!

Congratulations to Carrie Beamer of Flora Fetish for Vendor of the Month.

Also, Congratulations to Maris Malone Calderon of MMC Makeup Artists for Vendor of the Month.

And a very warm welcome and thank you for Stacey Hoyt of Stacey Hoyt Events from ISES and Michele Edison of the Hilton Austin from NACE for attending to tell us more about their organizations!

Thanks again to everyone for attending and see you next month!

Petal Pushers on WE TV!

2010-07-05T13:29:00.000-05:00

Give it Up to!!!
Our Very Own and Ultra Amazing...Floral Artist Stacey Hogge from Petal Pushers.
She did an awesome job working with David Tutera on "My Fair Wedding"!! I'm sure she has a great to story to share!
Maybe you caught the episode...but All of the floral work...was Their masterpiece.
So proud of her!!

Here is the link:
http://www.wetv.com/my-fair-wedding/vendor-lists/sheena-diva-bride

So If it pleases the powers to be, I would very much like to see this on our blog and newsletter right away.

Thank you very much and I look forward to seeing ya'll at the meeting!!

July Meeting!

2010-07-05T12:41:00.000-05:00

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
Greetings to you all-

You are cordially invited to the July 2010 Nuptial Essentials Association of Wedding Professionals (NEAWP) Austin Chapter meeting, “Sensitiveness”. This month, you will have the opportunity to hear more information about other Austin professional associations. Have you ever wondered what are their policies? What is their focus? Which one will be the best fit for me? Instead of attending numerous meetings and paying numerous guest fees, come to this meeting and hear about ISES (International Special Event Society) and NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) right from their representatives mouth. Don’t wonder what everyone is about, come ask questions!

YOUR SPACE
Welcome to Buca di Beppo. Buca di Beppo® is an authentic Italian restaurant that offers flavorful Italian dining. Dine with family and friends while enjoying the Italian traditions of food, friendship and hospitality. In the spirit of Italian culture, our dishes are served family style and are meant to be shared. Thank you to Jennifer Branam for hosting this event. You can find out more at www.bucadibeppo.com.

YOUR SPONSOR
Thank you to Brenda Abbott of Brenda Abbott Floral Design. Brenda has long been a student of nature, architecture and art, and it is there she finds her inspiration…assisted of course by classes at the prestigious Benz School of Floral Design at Texas A&M University and numerous other talented floral artists who share their expertise via the many continuing education events Brenda attends. To find out more about Brenda, go to www.Brendaabbott.net.

YOUR NOTES
Still need an NEAWP business nametag? If you would like a professional name tag for the meetings, bring $7.00 cash or $7.50 online to the meeting. The next order will be placed on August 15, 2010. All name tags must be paid for prior to being ordered. Look at a sample in our newsletter online.

Delores Crum, the Fundraising and Community Development co chair for NACE will be present selling tickets for the Eat the Heat fundraiser as well as the NACE raffle for the national convention.

YOUR THEME
Sensitiveness- Analyzing motives and putting oneself in other people's shoes in order to understand their behavior.

YOUR SPEAKER
NACE Austin Chapter President- Michele Edison
ISES Austin Chapter President- Stacey Hoyt
NEAWP Austin Chapter President- Barbara Hearne

YOUR CHARITY
Our charity of the month is Ignite a Dream. Sports build character among children and yet many children do not have the opportunity to play them without equipment. Spearheaded by Dinka Hadzic, Ignite A Dream is proud to announce we have partnered with Southwest Key Organization to implement both of our soccer and tennis programs in their charter class of a brand new East Austin College Preparatory Academy. Their school previously had no athletic opportunities to provide to their very motivated and dedicated students. We have been extremely excited and honored to bring them soccer and tennis programs, that will impact around 40 to 50 students. They are in need of raising $2000.00 and are looking for $5.00 donations (they will gladly accept any amount!) To find out more about Ignite a Dream go to www.firstgiving.com/dinkahadzic or go to www.igniteadream.com. Think about making one less trip to Starbucks! And allow the children of the Austin Can Academy to play sports -http://www.dallascan.org/academies_austin.asp.
Continuing our June charity, we are collecting hair samples for the Gulf Coast Spill Clean Up. We use shampoo because hair collects oil. Why should millions of pounds of absorbent, natural, renewable fiber clippings go to waste every day? We are teaming up with Matter of Trust to help the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Response. All through the month of June we will be collecting pet hair and hair trimmings for oil spill cleanup. While you are at your salon getting your summer hair cut or getting your pet’s summer cut ask your salon and/or pet groomer to donate the hair and fur they would otherwise throw away. We also need nylons so dig in your drawer and bring those to our July meeting. If your salon or groomer is interested in donating hair, please send their contact info to me and I will arrange pick up. For more information please visit www.matteroftrust.org. If you have any questions, contact our philanthropy diva- amanda@neawp.org.

Don’t forget to “keep the change and pay it forward”. Empty out that change jar in your car and donate to this monthly cause. The money will be used at Christmas for Toys for Tots!

RSVP POLICY:
You MUST RSVP to this meeting by E-mail to amy@nuptialessentials.com.
RSVP's due by Monday, July 5, 2010.
No shows will be billed.
If you show up at the meeting without sending your RSVP, the cost of the meeting will be $35.00 per current NEAWP member and $55.00 per non-NEAWP member.
Any changes in the reservation system after noon on Monday, July 5, 2010 at 12:00PM will be billed assessed the full meeting fee.
If you show up to the meeting without a reservation confirmation, the cost will be $35.00 per current NEAWP member and $55.00 per non NEAWP member.
Checks should be made payable to NEAWP. NSF fees for checks is $50.00.

For more information, please contact us!

I look forward to seeing you all at the meeting!

Amy Mader

President
NECI,LLC and NEAWP

MyWedding.com: Whimsical Cakes

2010-07-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Cake Gallery: Whimsical Cakes

Posted by Staff Writer of mywedding.com March 12, 2010

Whimsical decorated wedding cakes are making their appearance at receptions all over. What do you think about these?

Style Me Pretty: DIY Sugar Packets

2010-06-29T10:09:00.002-05:00

DIY Project: Sugar Packets

March 26th. 2009 by Abby Larson | Filed Under | 35 comments

I am obsessed with this next project. And obsessed might just be putting it lightly. I love when ideas come my way that I haven’t ever seen before and not only is this one new to me, it’s so designed so beautifully that it just appeals to my own sense of style and love of simplicity. Plus, it uses the Gocco which just might be the best invention EVER.

Here is the breakdown and instructions…

From the lovely bride…As we’re having a destination wedding in Barbados, we are limited in what we can give guests as favors. It can’t be too heavy and/or too large, as we need to carry it out there and guests have to be able to take it home. We’re getting married on the grounds of a 17th century sugar mill and wanted to tie the favors to the location somehow. Flavored sugar packets seemed perfect. Sugar is one of the island’s primary natural resources, so our plan is just to ship the packets and fill them with local sugar that we flavor down there. Guests should have no trouble packing them in their suitcases and bringing them home to hang on their spice racks. We bought a Gocco machine to print our Save-The-Dates, programs, menus and favors.

Materials
Gocco Machine + Inks and Screen
Ink Jet Printer
Glassine Envelopes
Round Seals
String & Needle
Resealable Cellophane or Zip-loc Bags
Flavored Sugar (Vanilla, Lemon and Cinnamon)

Instructions
1. Begin by flavoring the sugar. There are plenty of recipes online, where you can use ingredients you most likely already have at home. Or, buy ready-made flavored sugar from sites like www.faeriesfinest.com/sugars which have over 51 different flavors. I grounded cinnamon sticks, sliced a used vanilla pod and took rind from a lemon to make my three sugar flavors.

2. Prepare the artwork for the front of the bag. In Illustrator I designed the text to go on my bag, including the flavor, and printed it on an Ink Jet Printer. With the Gocco machine I transferred the text to a screen and mixed my ink colors. (It is possible to print directly on the glassine envelopes and skip the Gocco altogether, but we had bought one for our Save-The-Dates so were excited to keeping using it!)

3. Print on the glassine envelope and leave to dry.

4. Add sugar (I used 3 heaped teaspoons for 3×3 bags) and seal bags. Place into glassine envelopes and seal.

5. In the top corners of the envelopes, push a threaded needle of string through and across the front. Make two knots on the seal-side on the envelope to secure the string. Guests will be able to hang their own flavored sugar packets in their kitchen.

Supplies can be found here:

-Glasseine Envelopes – $8.75 for 50 (4″x4″) at Paper Presentation
-Round Seals – $4.50 for 50 at Paper Presentation
-String – $0.99/yard at Paper Presentation
-Resealable Cellophane or Zip-loc Bags – $2.50 for 100 (3×3) at clearbags.com

* * *

Print Gocco’s can be a little bit expensive, so they are really best when you can use them for multiple wedding projects like this bride. They are kind of amazing and can print all sorts of fun things, but they take a little bit of time to master. Personally, I LOVE them. They are hard to find, so check places like ebay and craigslist for good deals.

MyWedding.com: Tips for Wedding Etiquette

2010-06-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

Expert Wedding Planners and their Top 5 List for a Perfect Wedding Day

Posted by Staff Writer of mywedding.com February 1, 2010

Photography by Maya Myers Photography

I’m engaged! Hooray! However, I’ve transitioned from glee to anxiety because I’m completely paranoid that I’m going to forget an important detail during my wedding planning. What advice would you give to help me make sure everything is perfect? - Marci, Austin, TX

First of all, no matter what event you are planning, it is never going to be "perfect." The important thing to remember is that on your wedding day, you aren’t going to care if the flower girl’s sash is the wrong color or if the DJ insists on playing "Butterfly Kisses," despite your repeated requests not to. These otherwise nagging annoyances will ultimately fade into the background because you are getting married; joy covers all manner of sins.

However, it is prudent for you to try and avoid as many of these glitches as possible. Here is a top 5 list of things to remember, contributed by some of mywedding.com’s favorite wedding planners:

Plan for the details. "An itemized budget should be set before hiring any vendors...you need to budget properly for all expenses," says Cindy Zingerella of Engaging Events. Often, couples just don’t remember all the seemingly small expenses, and "those little details can pack a heavy financial punch when added up," remarked Dawn Schenkel of Premier W.E.D.
Remember the wedding. Janet Dunnington mused that couples are often so focused on celebrating with their friends and family at a fun reception, that the details of the actual ceremony are the last thing to be planned.
Plan well, but be adaptable. Whether it be a sudden storm or twenty unexpected guests, couples need to plan as much as possible for any situation. Try to make your guest list early in the planning and be honest with yourselves about how many people might eventually be added to it, advises Joannie Liss of Joannie Liss Events. Liss adds that if you really want to get married outdoors, it is absolutely essential to have a back-up plan in case the weather conspires against you.
It takes a village. "The foundation to a successful wedding is for couples to have their own support team,” says Katy Castillo. Trusted friends and advisors are critical to not only a beautiful event, but also just maintaining your sanity.
It’s just a day. Granted, it’s "just a day" you have been dreaming about since your Malibu Barbie first married your brother’s GI Joe, but still, it’s no reason to lose sight of why you are having the party in the first place. Meagan Kochendorfer of Ambiance Wedding Consulting states, "A couple should remember to keep it all in perspective and remember what is most important about their wedding day: the joining of themselves in marriage."

Martha Stewart Weddings: Green Calligraphy Stationary Ideas

2010-06-18T19:01:00.000-05:00

A relaxed and festive handwritten script was used to create each element of this stationery wardrobe, then reproduced in two shades of green ink using inexpensive offset printing; this strategy is a great way to achieve a handmade look for less money. The matchbox and program bear monograms in the same style of calligraphy. The favor cone, filled with sweets, is inscribed with an old Irish toast. Green ribbon is threaded through the place card, invitation, and program, then tied in bows.

Return to Stationery Themes

From Martha Stewart Weddings, Spring 2003 | Subscribe and Save 32%!

Style Me Pretty: Dessert Table Designs

2010-06-08T12:23:00.000-05:00

Today is a great day on Style Me Pretty. Actually, every day is a great day on SMP but today is exceptional because it is all about the girly, the drool worthy, the down right gorgeous. And what better way to kick things off than with a pink infused dessert table? Designed by Jenna Marfori Lang of the fabulous blog Eat Drink Pretty, this little number is the creme de la creme of dessert feasts. Every girly base is covered and can we please discuss the blooms in apothecary jars…genius! We know it is only 9 am but it is never too early for cake and champagne in our book.

{click here for more sweet goodness}

From Jenna of Eat Drink Pretty:

I designed this dessert table to celebrate Eat Drink Pretty’s blogiversary. The vision was to bring my blog to life by asking the question, “if Eat Drink Pretty was a dessert table, what would it look like?” The colors and overall style of the table were influenced by the blog design; lots of pinks and grays, a chandelier and rows of tasty pink treats. Many of the desserts were homemade and were inspired by the many recipes I have featured on my blog over the past year.

Photographer: Sewell Photography / Florist: Just Bloomed / Linens: Apres Party Rental / Edible Icing Decals: Hello Frosting / Calligraphy, place cards, cupcake toppers and drink straws: Lovely Scribbles / Cake: Sweets Bakeshop / Concept and Design: Jenna Marfori Lang of Eat Drink Pretty

Wedding Invitation Inspiration

2010-06-04T08:14:00.000-05:00

The wedding invitation ensemble is comprised of many individual pieces of stationery. I receive repeated inquiries of what items are required. The answer varies based on how the event is planned.

Save the Date Card: Save the date cards inform guests of your wedding date well in advance, allowing them to better plan for your event. It is especially important for out-of-town guests. They will need to make travel and lodging arrangements.

Wedding Invitation: The invitation informs guests of the date, time and location of your ceremony (and reception, in some cases), and also sets the theme and tone for the celebration. Mail all invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding.

Outer Envelope: The larger, gummed envelope is referred to as the outer envelope or mailing envelope. The recipient’s name and address should be written on the front with no abbreviations. The sender’s return address should appear on the back flap which saves addressing time and also ensures that undeliverable invitations will be returned to you.
Inner Envelope: The slightly smaller, ungummed envelope holds the invitation and enclosure cards. It is inserted into the outer envelope. These may be lined with colors to match your wedding invitation. The inner envelope should have only the recipient’s title and surname on the front.

Respond Card and Printed Envelope or Respond Postcard: Respond cards provide an accurate guest count. A respond date is included, which is usually two to three weeks prior to the wedding date. Guests return the card in the accompanying printed envelope, indicating if they will attend. A stamp should be affixed to the envelope. The respond card and envelope are enclosed with your invitations. Respond postcards are an economical option. Money is saved by omitting the envelope and posting with a postcard stamp.
Reception Card: Reception cards are enclosed with your invitations to announce the time and location of the wedding dinner, dance, brunch or other celebration. These may be omitted if the ceremony and reception are being held in the same location. The invitation may include "Reception to follow ceremony" in this case.

Map Card: Printed map cards enclosed with your invitations provide guests with detailed directions to your ceremony and reception. This may include a pictoral map, written directions or both.

Accommodation Card: Provides your guest with lodging options. This is important for out-of-town guests and if you have blocked rooms in specific hotels. Include hotel names, addresses and phone numbers.

Pew Card: Pew cards are included in the invitations of special family members and close friends. When presented to the ushers at the wedding, these cards ensure special reserved seating.

Contributed by Dragonfly Designs Invitations

Bridesmaids Dresses by Cynthia Rowley + Dessy

2010-06-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

From Style Me Pretty...

We all know that bridesmaids dresses have hit a whole new level in pretty, thanks in large part toDessy who has some of the chicest numbers around. Well, they have partnered up with Cynthia Rowleyand the collaboration is absolutely magical. We are beyond excited for this new collection: cute, chic, gorgeous, will absolutely wear again. Believe us, your friends will thank you for placing them in these lovely frocks.

Now on to the REALLY big news. Get ready ladies because you can join Cynthia Rowley for the launch of her new collection! That’s right, the woman behind the bridesmaid delights might be coming to a town near you. She will be hosting three parties in New York City, Charleston and Chicago. Here are all of the pretty details:

New York City
Thursday, June 3rd 6 – 8 PM
376 Bleecker Street

Fittings by:

Charleston
Tuesday, June 8th 4 – 6:30 PM
STEMS, 208 Coming Street

Fittings by:

Chicago
Tuesday, June 15th 6 – 8 PM
Cynthia Rowley Store
810 West Armitage Avenue

Fittings by:

Fabulous, right? If you are going to be attending any of these events, simply head over to Dessy to RSVP. Better yet, if you check in with Foursquare , you can receive a gift certificate redeemable for bridal favors, accessories or apparel at Dessy. Also, for one week following the event (June 4 – 10), guests who check in on Foursquare at Lovely Bride (313 W. 4th St.), a neighboring bridal shop carrying the Cynthia Rowley Bridesmaids collection, will receive additional discounts. Happy Shopping!

June Meeting: Motivation and Media

2010-06-02T17:51:00.000-05:00

Our meeting today was all about getting out of our daily slump and realizing everything we have to be thankful for. Also, we were given a few lessons on how to spread that wonderful feeling via social media.

Special thanks goes to the gorgeous Hilton Downtown Austin for hosting our meeting today.

The wonderful Elizabeth Rison, catering sales manager for the Hilton...

Our June sponsor, Olga Lee of Polkadots Cupcake Factory :)

Congratulations to our two Vendors of the Month

Alina Prax of La Dolce Vita Photography

Brad Lemon of Hyde Park Photography

A very warm thanks to our inspirational speaker Jim Gentil aka Mr. Positive for his motivational words and advice.

Also, another huge Thank You to David Neff, the Social Media Guru, provided us with some great ideas to utilize social media to promote our businesses and network with other vendors!

Now for the best part of the meeting...

Thank you to both our guest speakers as well as Polkadot Cupcake Factory and the Hilton Downtown Austin for providing us with a wonderful June meeting. See you next month :)

DSCAT Charity Event

2010-06-02T15:49:00.001-05:00

Live Auction-

Brad Pitt autographed guitar
Southwest airline tickets + vacation home
T-shirt signed by Lance Armstrong
Round of 4 for Golf @ UT Golf Club with Will Muschamp

Silent Auction- We have over 40 wonderful items! We've listed a few below.

Austin Torros season passes-4pk
Painting by Austin artist Lou Ann Bardash
2 gluten free cakes decorated for any occasion by Kim Stamford--author of gluten free cook book
Case of wine from assorted Napa valley wineries..

To purchase tickets click here: http://www.dsact.com/index-2.html

To purchase tickets click here: http://www.dsact.com/index-2.html

DIY Wedding Banner from Martha Stewart Weddings

2010-06-01T12:16:00.000-05:00

Templates for Wedding Decorations

Just Married Sign

Decorate an entryway with a blooming branch, regardless of the time of year. Here, a leafless dogwood limb provides the base for a Just Married sign and gardenia blossoms that have been wired.

Download the Clip A

Southern Weddings - Etiquette with Emily: A Holiday Weekend Wedding

2010-05-30T09:31:00.000-05:00

Hi, y'all! With Memorial Day right around the corner, I have a timely etiquette question to discuss. What of the holiday weekend wedding? Is it rude to schedule your wedding for, say, the July 4th weekend? There are essentially two camps.

The first says that individuals and families often have their own long-standing traditions based around long weekends, and that scheduling a wedding during said weekend forces them to abandon your wedding or abandon their tradition. Plus, flights and hotels are often more expensive over a holiday, and besides, some people just like to relax when they have a rare Monday off.

The second maintains that just as the bride and groom have the choice of when to schedule their wedding, their guests have the choice of whether or not to attend. Many host families think an extended weekend essentially makes the travel worth more for their guests, as there is more time for both scheduled events and casual get togethers, all without taking more time off work.

I have to say, I'm firmly in the second camp. I've always thought (shhhhhh, don't tell!) Labor Day Weekend would be my first choice for my wedding -- the weather is usually perfect in Connecticut at that point, and the three-day span would allow plenty of time for auxiliary events.

But what about you? Has anyone planned or is anyone planning a holiday weekend wedding? How has it gone over with your guests? Do you think scheduling a holiday wedding is rude?

Let me know what you think, and, as always, send me your etiquette queries for a future edition!

Project Wedding: Buying Vintage: Advice from the Expert

2010-05-29T08:43:00.000-05:00

Buying Vintage: Advice from the Expert

Posted on May 26th, 2010 by Kate. Filed under Wedding Dress.

“I only buy dresses that I absolutely love. That is my one fundamental rule for buying.” Charlie Brear of The Vintage Wedding Dress Company

I can’t get enough of perusing the unique beauties that Charlie houses in her London showroom. Read our exclusive interview with her here, it’s full of great tips for brides who love vintage!

The lace pieces are my favorite. I love the idea of having a dress made of a completely unique fabric. Wouldn’t it be fun to go scouting in relatives’ closets in search great vintage bridal finds?

Martha Stewart Weddings DIY: Custom Banners

2010-05-28T08:33:00.000-05:00

Why save the traditional Just Married sign for your car-aided exit? Hang it up at your reception and you'll get more time to enjoy its message. Better yet, spell out your sentiments letter-by-letter using our alphabet template.

Each character is encircled by a different border, a whimsical take on the old-fashioned look of vintage typewriter keys. Print the 3-inch-diameter designs on standard paper and cut or punch them out; make two small slits near the top, just inside the decorative border, and weave a 1/4-inch ribbon through. For streamers, ribbons are a more polished alternative to crepe paper; the pre-pleated ribbon used to make these swags comes in various widths.

Download the Alphabet template in PDF format.

Printable Directions

Letters A through F

Letters G through L

Letters M through R

Letters S through X

Letters Y and Z

Ampersand

Letter A

Letter B

Letter C

Letter D

Letter E

Letter F

Letter G

Letter H

Letter I

Letter J

Letter K

Letter L

Letter M

Letter N

Letter O

Letter P

Letter Q

Letter R

Letter S

Letter T

Letter U

Letter V

Letter W

Letter X

Letter Y

Letter Z

June Meeting w/ Jim Gentil and David Neff

2010-05-27T21:08:00.000-05:00

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
Greetings to you all-

You are cordially invited to the June 2010 Nuptial Essentials Association of Wedding Professionals (NEAWP) Austin Chapter meeting, “Nuturance”.

YOUR SPACE
We are pleased to make our second trip to the Hilton Hotel in downtown Austin! Thank you to our very own NEAWP member, Elizabeth Rison for hosting this event. You can find out more atwww.hilton.com.

YOUR SPONSOR
I would like to thank Olga Lee of Polka Dots - A Cupcake Factory for being our featured sponsor of the month. Take the time out of your day to visit this charming SWEET SHOP located at 2826 Rio Grande in a house built in the 1900’s. To find out more about Polka Dots, visit their website at .www.polkadotscupcakefactory.com.

YOUR NOTES
Still need an NEAWP business nametag? If you would like a professional name tag for the meetings, bring $7.00 to the meeting. The next order will be placed on June 10, 2010. All name tags must be paid for prior to being ordered. Look at a sample in our April newsletter online.

We are rounding up our teams for the NEAWP event Olympics this summer! Start getting into shape!

Visit our new blog at www.neawp.blogspot.com.

Our next online wedding certification course will be in June. Tired of taking your precious time to train staff? Leave that to us! Get back to making money and not giving away free information. Contact John at johnjohn@nuptialessentials.com. Scholarships are available!

YOUR THEME
Change - Participating in new activities and fashions and liking the novelty of one’s life.

YOUR SPEAKER
We are hitting you with the “one-two punch” in June! You are getting two speakers for the price of ONE! Thank you to Cortney Zieky, PWC our education chair.

Jim Gentil - Mr. Positive

Jim Gentil worked for The Dow Chemical Company for 25 years. He served as Public Relations manager, Community Relations manager, and for the last 12 years of his corporate career he was a lobbyist and Manager of State Government Affairs. Jim retired from Dow in 1996 and moved to Austin to continue his dream of providing his positive, motivational message and materials to those who need it.
Jim's lifetime experiences include being a teacher for 14 years in addition to being an author, speaker and magician. He has successfully owned and operated a pizza parlor, published a weekly television guide and operated a video production company. He has served as news director for a radio station in Texas City, Texas and was TV news anchor for the first cable television station in Galveston, Texas. He also anchored corporate television news programs while serving as public relations manager for the Dow Chemical Company. He has lived a total of 10 years overseas, nine in Korea and one in Germany.
Jim is the author of a success motivational guidebook, The 60-Second System of Success, and Positive People Power! as well as publisher of The Positive People Power! Newsletter and The Positive Spiritual Living Newsletter which are available free on e-mail. He has tremendous enthusiasm, an eager interest to help people and a strong desire to spread his philosophy of POSITIVE PEOPLE POWER! to anyone expressing a commitment to have a better life for themselves.

David J. Neff - Social Media Guru

My name is David J. Neff. I help Non Profits and people for a living. I do that with Ridgewood Associates and Lights. Camera. Help. I also do large scale collaborative events like Non Profit Bar Camp and VideoCamp Austin. I would say that I am a Teacher, Speaker, Blogger, Network Weaver, and Social Media Scientist. For over 10 years I have done things that have never been done before at Non Profits. This includes launching the American Cancer Society's first software program , building the first ever user generated Web Site for those affected by cancer, and starting their Social Media, Online Giving an Film departments.
I'm currently working on getting my own non profit up and running. It's called Lights. Camera. Help. We help all other non profits focus on good through our film festival, education and the world's first film focused volunteer program. I was named one of the "Top 20 Social Media People in the state of Texas" by the Austin American Statesman in 2009. The American Marketing Association awarded me the "Non Profit Social Media Marketer of the Year" in 2009. I also was also a past twice recipient of a American Cancer Society Futuring and Innovations grant. I am also responsible for helping start The Frozen Pea Fund to fight Breast Cancer and a co-founder of the successful Austin Tweetups : Social Media for Social Good. I am also a published author with articles in PRSA Tatics and the new 2010 version of the book People to People Fundraising.
I earned my BS in Public Relations from the University of Texas in 2000 with a minor in Business from the McCombs School of Business. I earned my Certified Internet Webmaster certification in 2003. I currently live in Austin, TX and enjoy filmmaking, hosting a TV show, live music, photography, halloween, and spending time with my dogs and my friends.

YOUR CHARITY
Don’t forget to “keep the change and pay it forward”. Empty out that change jar in your car and donate to this monthly cause. The money will be used at Christmas for Toys for Tots!

For more information, please contact us!

I look forward to seeing you all at the meeting!

Amy Mader

President
NECI,LLC and NEAWP

Style Me Pretty: From Inspiration to Reality: the Board

2010-05-27T08:33:00.000-05:00

From Inspiration to Reality: The Board

May 27th. 2010 by Erin Lepperd | 1 comment

This week has been an explosion of all things inspirational and we aren’t done just yet. We have another From Inspiration to Reality feature to share and this one goes out to all of you bohemian lovers. Straight from Austin, Texas, this is rustic boho at its finest. Think flowing dresses, raw cotton and lace and you are on the right track. Before we get to all of the fabulous goodies, can we please drool over Emilia Jane’s dreamy boa rd that inspired the shoot? I think this girl might have the magic touch because this is her second board turned into real live inspiration!

The inner hippie in us is squealing with delight over this board and the shoot that followed suit. Hold on to your flower crowns ladies. You will not want to miss a second of this. We will be back lickity split with the design from this fabulous Austin crew.

Photography: Heather Curiel Weddings / Design and Styling: Clink Events / Florals: Merveille Events / Venue: Vista West Ranch, Austin, Texas / Tables and Benches: Marquee Event Group / Napkins: BBJ Linens / Stationary: Couture Ink / Clothing: Vintage pieces from Laced with Romance

CLINK and Vista West Ranch are members of our Little Black Book. For more information on how members are chosen, click here.

Featured Wedding: Ashley and Drew

2010-05-24T09:09:00.000-05:00

Featured on Style Me Pretty:

I really wish that I was half as cool as this couple. From the fashion to the venue, every little bit of style that they chose is just so freaking cool. It makes me a little bit jealous actually. But not jealous enough to stop myself from completely gushing and going on and on about just how much I love them. Ashley and Drew tied the knot this past November at Laguna Gloria Art Museum in beautiful Austin, Texas. With the goal of bringing in their arts background and their modern but eclectic style, the wedding turned out to be a study in effortless chic. Oh and the photographs by Jennifer Lindberg really take it to an entirely new level.

When we got engaged in January of 2009, we were not really sure what we wanted our wedding to be like. We knew we wanted to be outdoors. We debated about where to get married but we knew we wanted something modern and somewhat non-traditional. I am from the Big Bend area and we both love it there, but when we decided that we wanted a larger wedding. We knew Austin was a better choice. We love it here and it is more convenient for travel. We ended up working with Amy Mader from Platinum Weddings and Events. She was great and really helped us find vendors that fit our style. We have always liked simple, clean, yet elegant design and that was kind of the basic theme for everything we chose. Laguna Gloria was a pretty easy choice for us. We are both artists, so the art was a great appeal, and it is obviously beautiful. We were really fortunate to get the last available date for the year, November 28.

We chose to use ivory, graphite and black for our colors, because we felt it would help us carry out our elegant and modern vision. I have always loved greys and neutral colors are pretty versatile. We had seen some flowers that we loved at Uchi many months prior but we did not know their name. We later found out that they were Scabiosa pods, so the idea for our flower arrangements started there. After talking with Jean Gabbay of Gunn & Rose Design, we were really drawn to their architectural and sculptural influence. I had gathered pictures of flowers I liked and Gunn & Rose were amazing in bringing them all together. We wanted a hand gathered look that was still elegant and modern. We loved our flowers very much.
I wanted to mention that the ceremony music was really a reflection of our style as well. Will Taylor from Strings Attached arranged instrumental versions of songs from some of our favorite artists: Nick Drake, Joseph Arthur and Bon Iver. We were really excited about that. Also, having a background in photography myself and with Drew and I both being artists, we had high expectations for a photographer. We picked Jenn Lindberg for her style and creative approach. We are really happy with the photographs and feel that they captured everything wonderfully. Word of Mouth did an amazing job catering. They really worked with us on the menu. We wanted to use natural hormone free meats and as much local produce as possible. They found out what kinds of foods we like and created a wonderful and unique menu that reflected our love for Mediterranean, Asian, Indian food, etc. but kept it simple enough to appeal to everyone.
Vendor Credits: Photography: Jennifer Lindberg Weddings / Getting ready Venue: Hotel St. Cecilia / Ceremony & Reception Venue: Laguna Gloria Art Museum / Planner, Amy Mader: Platinum Weddings / Catering: Word of Mouth Catering / Paper: Alegra’s Invitations / Lighting and Production: First In Last Out Productions / Recycling: Wandering Recycling / Rentals & Tents: Marquee Event Group / Floral:Gunn and Rose Floral / Make up: Rae Cosmetics / Chair rentals: Premiere Party Central / Cake: The Cake Plate / Groom’s Cake: Blue Note Bakery / Reception Music: Skyrocket Band / Antique Car:Transportation Consultants / Ceremony Musicians: Strings Attached

June Meeting Invitation

2010-05-21T08:59:00.000-05:00

DON’T FORGET TO VIEW OUR MAY NEWSLETTER AT www.neawp.org

TO SEE WHAT WE ARE UP TO!

	NEAWP Austin Chapter Meeting Wednesday, June 2, 2010 11:00am-1:00pm The Hilton Hotel- Downtown 500 East 4^th Street Austin, Texas 78701 512.482.8000 www.hilton.com
You are cordially invited to the June 2010 Nuptial Essentials Association of Wedding Professionals (NEAWP) Austin Chapter meeting, “Nuturance”. YOUR SPACE We are pleased to make our second trip to the Hilton Hotel in downtown Austin! Thank you to our very own NEAWP member, Elizabeth Rison for hosting this event. You can find out more at www.hilton.com. YOUR SPONSOR I would like to thank Olga Lee of Polka Dots- A Cupcake Factory for being our featured sponsor of the month. Take the time out of your day to visit this charming SWEET SHOP located at 2826 Rio Grande in a house built in the 1900’s. To find out more about Polka Dots, visit their website at www.polkadotscupcakefactory.com. YOUR NOTES Still need an NEAWP business nametag? If you would like a professional name tag for the meetings, bring $7.00 to the meeting. The next order will be placed on June 10, 2010. All name tags must be paid for prior to being ordered. Look at a sample in our April newsletter online. We are rounding up our teams for the NEAWP event Olympics this summer! Start getting into shape! Visit our new blog at www.neawp.blogspot.com Our next online wedding certification course will be in June. Tired of taking your precious time to train staff? Leave that to us! Get back to making money and not giving away free information. Contact John atjohnjohn@nuptialessentials.com. Scholarships are available! DO NOTE: YOUR RSVP DATE IS MEMORIAL DAY! YOUR THEME Change- Participating in new activities and fashions and liking the novelty of one’s life. YOUR SPEAKER We are hitting you with the “one-two punch” in June! You are getting two speakers for the price of ONE! Thank you to Cortney Zieky, PWC our education chair. Jim Gentil- Mr. Positive Jim Gentil worked for The Dow Chemical Company for 25 years. He served as Public Relations manager, Community Relations manager, and for the last 12 years of his corporate career he was a lobbyist and Manager of State Government Affairs. Jim retired from Dow in 1996 and moved to Austin to continue his dream of providing his positive, motivational message and materials to those who need it. Jim's lifetime experiences include being a teacher for 14 years in addition to being an author, speaker and magician. He has successfully owned and operated a pizza parlor, published a weekly television guide and operated a video production company. He has served as news director for a radio station in Texas City, Texas and was TV news anchor for the first cable television station in Galveston, Texas. He also anchored corporate television news programs while serving as public relations manager for the Dow Chemical Company. He has lived a total of 10 years overseas, nine in Korea and one in Germany. Jim is the author of a success motivational guidebook, The 60-Second System of Success, and Positive People Power! as well as publisher of The Positive People Power! Newsletter andThe Positive Spiritual Living Newsletter which are available free on e-mail. He has tremendous enthusiasm, an eager interest to help people and a strong desire to spread his philosophy of POSITIVE PEOPLE POWER! to anyone expressing a commitment to have a better life for themselves. David J. Neff- Social Media Guru My name is David J. Neff. I help Non Profits and people for a living. I do that with Ridgewood Associates and Lights. Camera. Help. I also do large scale collaborative events like Non Profit Bar Camp and VideoCamp Austin. I would say that I am a Teacher, Speaker, Blogger, Network Weaver, and Social Media Scientist. For over 10 years I have done things that have never been done before at Non Profits. This includes launching the American Cancer Society's first software program , building the first ever user generated Web Site for those affected by cancer, and starting their Social Media, Online Giving an Film departments. I'm currently working on getting my own non profit up and running. It's called Lights. Camera. Help. We help all other non profits focus on good through our film festival, education and the world's first film focused volunteer program. I was named one of the "Top 20 Social Media People in the state of Texas" by the Austin American Statesman in 2009. The American Marketing Association awarded me the "Non Profit Social Media Marketer of the Year" in 2009. I also was also a past twice recipient of a American Cancer Society Futuring and Innovations grant. I am also responsible for helping start The Frozen Pea Fund to fight Breast Cancer and a co-founder of the successful Austin Tweetups : Social Media for Social Good. I am also a published author with articles in PRSA Tatics and the new 2010 version of the book People to People Fundraising. I earned my BS in Public Relations from the University of Texas in 2000 with a minor in Business from the McCombs School of Business. I earned my Certified Internet Webmaster certification in 2003. I currently live in Austin, TX and enjoy filmmaking, hosting a TV show, live music, photography, halloween, and spending time with my dogs and my friends. YOUR CHARITY Don’t forget to “keep the change and pay it forward”. Empty out that change jar in your car and donate to this monthly cause. The money will be used at Christmas for Toys for Tots! YOUR POLICIES 1. The 2010 meeting fees are $30.00 per meeting for current NEAWP members. Payments received after the deadline or at the door will be assessed a $5.00 fee. 2. Guests are always welcome. They need to be added to your RSVP list and you will receive the reservation confirmation. The 2010 guest meeting fees are $50.00 per non member 3. If you show up to the meeting without a reservation confirmation, the cost will be $35.00 per current NEAWP member and $55.00 per guest. 4. You can pay with any major credit card via PayPal on our website by simply going towww.associationofweddingprofessionals.com/ca_meeting.com then click the meeting you would like to attend. All PayPal payments must be received by Monday May 31, 2010 at 12:00pm. All checks must be made payable to: NEAWP. Any payments received after the deadline or at the door, will be assessed a $5.00 fee. The 2010 NSF fee for checks is $50.00. 5. To ensure your reservation at the meeting, RSVP to amy@nuptialessentials.com. You will receive a confirmation reservation email. Bring a copy of your confirmation email to the check in table the day of the meeting. If your RSVP changes after May 31, 2010 at 12:00pm you will be charged the full meeting amount. I look forward to seeing you all at the meeting! Our meeting will be kept within the time allotted so you can get back to making lots of money! Now go plan beautiful events! Amy Mader, PWC President

Martha Stewart Weddings DIY: Announcement Flags

2010-05-20T10:57:00.000-05:00

Download the PDF file, and print onto medium-weight 11-by-17-inch paper. (If your home printer won't use that size of paper, most copy shops will be able to print it for you; simply put the file on a disc or a thumb drive and take it to one.)

Cut the paper into a triangle by cutting from the corners of one end to the center of the opposite end (use a paper trimmer or a craft knife and a metal yardstick or long straightedge).

Paint a 1/2-inch dowel white or whatever color you want. The paint will seal the wood to avoid splinters and will provide a washable surface, as well as create a polished look. We used an 18-inch-long dowel, but most lumberyards sell dowels up to 48 inches long, which would make a very tall flag.

Attach the wide end of the flag to the dowel with double-sided tape, and tie on a ribbon bow.

Vest, shirt, bow tie, and shorts from Crewcuts by J.Crew.

NECI June Courses Starting

2010-05-20T10:23:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to announce the next online NECI wedding course will begin June 21st,2010

We will be granting scholarships up to $150.00 until June 14th, 2010.

Please contact John Cook,Admissions Advisor, Ph# 210-823-6522/ johnjohn@nuptialessentials.com

I would be happy to answer any wedding course, payment arrangements, and scholarship details with you.

Our Distance Education wedding course is offered anytime!

***Did you know that We are the first and only vocational school for wedding consulting instruction licensed and regulated

by the Texas Workforce Commission.

Style Me Pretty DIY: Favor Bags by Twig and Thistle

2010-05-19T11:01:00.000-05:00

Featured on Style Me Pretty:

And speaking of fabulous DIY details, I am so excited to share this adorable project for DIY Gift Bags that Kathleen of Twig & Thistle designed exclusively for SMP readers. It’s too cute to resist and I am pretty sure that I am going to be making these time and time again. Kathleen is behind some of our all time most popular DIY features including these adorable hot cocoa bags and these perfect favor boxes. You can check out all of her goodies on her etsy shop, as well as some pretty fab ideas on her blog, perfect for the chic crafty bride.

Materials
Ink Jet Color Printer
5×7 White Paper Bags
Treats

Instructions

1. Download the bag graphic and type in names and wedding date in spaces provided. Follow the directions in the PDF for printing with an Ink Jet Printer. If you don’t have an Ink Jet or if your printer doesn’t allow you to print odd formats, you can print directly onto sticker paper (found at office supply stores) and post apply to the bag.

2. Help maintain freshness and keep sweets from leaving oil stains on the paper bag by lining with a glassine envelope.

3. Add a little more detail to the bags and scallop the top with a pair of pinking shears or rotary cutter.

4. Fill bag with treats and serve!

White paper bags can be found here and glassine bags can be found here.

Upcoming May Mentor Meeting

2010-05-19T10:02:00.000-05:00

DON’T FORGET TO VIEW OUR MAY NEWSLETTER AT www.neawp.org

TO SEE WHAT WE ARE UP TO!

NEAWP May Mentor Meeting

Tuesday May 25, 2010

10:00am

NECI Office

10133 Planters Woods Drive

Austin, Texas 78730

866.766.NECI

MAY MENTOR MEETING

HUH?

I am hosting the May Mentor Meeting for NEAWP! You got that rightJBarbara has handed the reigns over to me to go crazy with you all. Before she freaks out, on a serious note, I am hosting the meeting for her. You are most welcome to attend the meeting. Come one, Come all! Here are my rulesJ

POLICIES

1. We will start at 10:00am. If you stay through lunch, I might suggest we order pizza since I will need to eat and have my diet coke.

2. Bring beverages or snacks if you would like to have them.

3. Kindly RSVP so I will know how many are coming.

4. There is no fee to come. Just bring your questions and be ready to talk.

5. It is casual. This is a forum for anyone in the industry to come and ask questions about anything (well hopefully it will pertain to events, however I am fairly well versed in baseball, tennis, real housewives reality show (that would be all cities), kids, pta, volunteering etc) .

Directions

We are meeting at my stomping ground. Directions from 360 and 2222

Go west on 2222 (that is toward the lake)

Take a left on River Place Blvd.

Take a left on Big View Dr.

Take a right on Planters Woods Dr.

It is the last house on the left.

Now go plan beautiful events!
Amy Mader, PWC
President

Message from our President, Amy Mader :)

2010-05-18T09:28:00.000-05:00

Do you ever want to take your company to the limit? Do you want to exceed your own expectations? Just when you think you can’t push yourself any further, what will make you go further? I just completed reading the book “Ticket to the Limit” by Randy Cohen who is the CEO of Ticket City in Austin, Texas. I know everyone says “I do not have time to read during the busy time of the wedding season” because I was everyone. However, I found that I could read 1-2 paragraphs at a time waiting for a meeting to arrive, waiting for my daughter at ballet class, or my son to finish up with baseball practice. I began by underlining the portions of the book that I felt were relevant to my business or myself as a leader, business owner, parent , collegue and friend. When I completed the book, I realized that ¾ of the pages were dog eared and there were marks on almost every page. This book is not about how to run your business, but it discusses how to be a productive human being and that will allow you to be a successful in your business and personal life. The book is divided into chapters regarding the Randy’s Rules of Reason. There are 10 of them.

1. Be Passionate. Love what you do.

2. Live your values.

3. Put family first.

4. Take care of people. Find the amazing.

5. Have fun. Learn to laugh.

6. Have a big heart. Make a difference.

7. Never stop learning.

8. Take chances. Put yourself out there.

9. Be a rock star! Work hard and play hard.

10. Follow through. Master the game.

I love all 10 of the rules.. but the first one I would like to address is rule 9. Be a rock star! Work hard and play hard. Would you like to know how to become a rock star? Well read on! First, a rock star is a person who is living his dream- doing what he is meant to do! So let’s go--

1. Show up! Keep your promises and commitments no matter what!

2. Think of every day as an audition for your greatest gig.

3. Band together and leverage your team members’ individual skills and talents.

4. Don’t forget to play your greatest hits. Take what you are known for and deliver on expectations.

5. Leave your ego at the door.

6. Give your other team members room for “solos”. Let them shine.

7. Leave it all onstage. Give every day everything you’ve got.

8. Treat your clients like VIP’s and give them all access passes to you and your business.

9. Say “thank you” (a lot!), and show deep appreciation for your fans.

10. Make the world your stage and give the performance of a lifetime!

Always remember: How you do anything, is how you do everything!

Best- Amy

Amy Mader, PWC

Featured Wedding: Julia and Nick

2010-05-17T12:51:00.000-05:00

Not all Austin weddings happen in Austin. Earlier this yeartwo NEQSP members were involved in Julie and Nick's Destination wedding at a private resort near Playa Del Carmen in Mexico.
Skip Neal, the Honeymoon Guru organized the trip for the couple, as well as all the guests, and Eric Hegwer an Austin Wedding Photographer was selected to fly down and photograph the event.
The texas couple planned a ton of unique details, a custom ring bowl from Plamoma's Nest, Unique out of town canvas bags filled with favors for the guests traveling in from all over the country, custom tiles as placecards, and they even stitched a texas flag to a canvas bag filed with some Texas dirt, that they put at their feet during the ceremony so they would be standing on Texas soil when they got married.

All in all there were 15 guests in attendance, a nice mix of friends and family all together for a fantastic wedding weekend in Mexico. Congratulations to you both!