Weddingbee PRO
{photo from Shop Composition}
It must be the paper, because I have never tasted the chocolate. Above are chocolate bars from the Mast Brothers -leaders of the chocolate revolution and pretty packaging with Italian papers. From all the articles I have read, it sounds like people would give their left arm for a tiny morsel of this goodness. I am completely charmed by their process. The brothers clean, sort, roast, and refine the cacao beans in small batches themselves and develop the flavors, like almond + sea salt. They also hand-wrap and tape each bar closed themselves {my favorite part}.
In the brief and fleeting moments I have thought about our wedding favors, I think an edible one is the way to go, especially when they are this pretty. Many people will be traveling to our wedding and to give them something such as a small plant or flowers {our first choices} will only be appreciated for a day or two, then left behind. Plus, who does not want to nibble on a bit of chocolate before their dinner comes?
But back to the paper. I actually own some sheets of the same paper. Which makes me think -maybe I should do this myself. If I did it myself I could:
1. Customize the paper as well as the label; 2. Buy chocolate bars from local shops {such as my favorite, Haven’s, in Maine}; 3. Then I would not have to travel to Brooklyn to get these chocolate bars; and 4. Not spend $7 - 8 per bar {well, I will have to crunch some numbers and get back to you on that part}, even though I am quite sure they are worth it.
Now I want some chocolate. 
We have expanded the Kate Parker Weddings brand to include a number of products, most notably our custom Out of Town (OOT) Welcome Baskets. While OOT welcome baskets are often a DIY project for many brides, I wanted to show you our process so you get a better sense of how involved they can be from the ordering through shipping of each individual basket. We will ship to as many hotels as a client requests, contacting each hotel in advance to let them know our baskets are coming. In addition we send each box with a list of guests as to minimize any confusion. I hope this tutorial gives inspiration for the DIY brides and maybe even some expert secrets and tips of the trade! 
I am so delighted to share this lovely event with you today, as it was an early favorite for 2009. 
Julia contacted me with a vision for a fresh, chic, spring-inspired affair that reflected a love for literature. We discussed a citrus + gray palette that had me absolutely smitten. When you pair poppy sorbet colors with cool, calm slate gray, you get magic! Pure white was the perfect addition for a neutral accent. The final result? A refreshing, cheerful, and altogether sweet scene that made me (literally) squeal with joy.
In addition to our yummy fruit-inspired colors (think grapefruit, raspberry, lemon, tangerine…), we decided to play up the charm by integrating playful, vintage-feeling décor. Think eclectic bookshop meets saccharine-sweet nostalgic candy shop. Vases were mostly distressed mercury glass, while vintage books and galvanized metals were featured throughout the wedding. In a flash of brilliance, Kristin of The Treasured Petal put together unique hurricane vases (for candles) by wrapping glass cylinders with pages torn from favorite books, printed on semi-opaque vellum. Take a peek at the outcome of our planning, as captured by the fabulous Mike and Emi of Evoke Photography. I looove working with these two, as they always deliver gorgeous portraits and detail shots that are classic with a fresh edge. Plus they are sooo much fun! xo
Behind the scenes here, one of the things we get most excited about, in addition to fabulous letterpress, is our participation in a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. Bella Figura and Smock subsidize CSA memberships for all employees so a large percentage of us take advantage of the opportunity to have fresh, local, organic produce delivered to our door - quite literally, in fact, as the Downtown Syracuse delivery pod is here at the old warehouse turned artist’s haven that we call home. Once a week a local organic farm, Grindstone Farm, delivers incredibly fresh and delicious veggies and herbs to us, typically within just a few hours of being picked.
I was asked to create a green and yellow bouquet for Hilary McHone of Pasadena, who was also selected as a Ford Fiesta agent. Her theme for July is “design,” and her mission is to plan her July wedding using independent artists and bridal services.
Her bouquet matches her car!
I am so in love with this wedding I couldn’t wait to share it with you. Since I spotted that spectacular carnival inspired wedding over at Once Wed I have had a small obsession with this wedding theme. These stunning photos are by the amazingly talented Victor Sizemore. Courtney and Charles really took this theme and made it chic but still fun! I would love to attend a wedding like this…it looks like so much fun! From the carnival games, to the cotton candy tree, ring pops (a personal fave) and balloon animals…I mean seriously!! Courtney, a graphic designer by trade, did a fantastic job with her invites and all the coordinating paper products. Gorgeous!
![[shoestretch.jpg]](http://www.weddingbeepro.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/shoestr.jpg)
I rarely discuss products (if ever), but this was just too good to not spread the word. I am a big believer in the fact that you should buy shoes that fit appropriately. None of this, “Oh, they will break in” crap. If they hurt when you buy them, most likely, they will hurt when you wear them… which will be never!
Yesterday, a client showed me this miracle product (I should have been showing it to her, shame on me!), and I had to share the love. Instead of trekking to the shoe maker to get your shoes stretched, you can purchase this little product and stretch them yourself!
Instructions are as follows: Spray on entire shoe. Wear for 15 minutes….and voila! Your shoes will fit your feet. Repeat as needed. The best part about this product is that you have enough to stretch more than one pair of shoes, and it can be used in conjunction with actually going to the shoe maker for professional stretching.
So, lessons to be learned from Amy: Buy shoes that fit, but if you make that mistake because they are just soooo beautiful, buy shoe stretch spray. The worst fashion crime (aside from a bad ensemble) is to keep your beautiful items stored away. Oh the atrocities! 
Shoe Stretch Spray
$3.95- $15.95
Wow. How stunning is this wedding? Emily and Neil blended classic elements like her necklaces and gown with splashes of bold color and May poles! I’m in love with this wedding.
After Emily and I realized that we were both Atlanta transplants living in Nashville, the distance between us got even smaller when we found out I could see her workplace from our front porch! If you weren’t aware, I’m crazy about small world stuff like that.
Often, clients contact me with a sense of already having met me thanks to my blog. Such was the case when bride Kathryn called about her wedding a year and a half ago to check my availability. She had settled on a date I was already booked, but decided to have me cover her rehearsal dinner anyway. I loved that she still found a place for me in her wedding weekend and had a blast covering her pre-wedding night celebration.
Kathryn and Christian live in NYC, but returned to Maine where Kathryn attended college and has vacationed with her family on Drakes Island her whole life. It was a perfect collaboration of city meets coastal in a casual chic evening in the boathouse.
Leah and Michael were the lucky winners of the Brooklyn Pop-up Chapel contest. They were married last Thursday June 24th at the Pop-Up Chapel that Martha Stewart Weddings put together. Leah wrote their touching story -they totally deserved to win.
I was invited to participate in this wonderful event by creating a ring pillow for the winning couple. I love the sweet, candy-like decor and all the other great details the Martha Stewart Wedding Team put together for the event.
