Vintage Accessories for Wedding Day Hair

I love the drama and sweetness of these vintage hair bands and accessories from ban.do!

For the bride who channels Carrie Bradshaw!

How perfect is this next one for the bridesmaids!

ban.do is the brainchild of pals, Jamie and Jen from Los Angeles. The company was born when the two stylists arrived separately at an event, each wearing headpieces that they had created!Check out their online store here add a vintage flair to your hair!

Introducing: Alexa

I wanted to take a moment to introduce Alexa, our new intern! She joins us for her Spring semester from Virginia Wesleyan College, where she is a Senior majoring in Communications. Alexa is scheduled to graduate in May 2009.

Alexa comes to us with some experience in event coordination, having run fashion shows for a boutique in Atlantic City. She has a strong desire to learn about the wedding business and we will give her that opportunity. She will assist with events and work behind the scenes on various projects, including the blog!

We welcome Alexa to Isha Foss Events and look forward to working with her this semester.

Calligraphy: Scrolls of Love

Kathryn Murray, calligrapher and illustrator, brings together her unique talent and graceful art to invitations and greetings cards for your special day.

Kathryn’s main focus is to communicate the importance and personality that many brides seek to voice to their friends and family.

Always elegant and creative, Kathryn Murray Calligraphy will certainly convey to your guests your unique style, and more importantly the symbol of love that you and your groom will share. Here are some samples of her fabulous work.

For more information, please visit Kathryn’s website at www.kathrymurray.com or by phone 818.399.5023.

High Fashion for Less

Silk, a new bridal consignment boutique, offers brides-to-be an alternative way to purchase beautiful and fashionable wedding gowns. Featuring high end designers such as, Monique Lhullier, Amsale, Vera Wang, Jenny Packham, just to name a few. Silk Bridal Consignment will surely meet the needs of all from the Fashionsita to the Recessionista Bride. These fashionable gowns are pre-owned and sometimes even never- worn, enabling any bride to purchase the gown of their dreams for a fraction of the cost.


For more information about Silk Bridal Consignment email info@silkbridal.net or call 757.631.2525 for consignment appointments.

Or visit the boutique at Chambord Commons 332 North Great Neck Road, Suite 108, Virginia Beach.

Like Silk Bridal Consignment, Blush offers pre-owned gowns, allowing brides personalized service and beautiful wedding gowns for half the price. Similar to Silk, Blush also has many brand name designers such as Mori Lee, Jasmine, Priscilla of Boston and many others. For more information about Blush Gowns visit their website at http://www.blushgowns.com/ or call for appointment at 757.595.7797.

Venue Tour: Norfolk Botanical Garden

If you desire an outdoor wedding, Norfolk Botanical Garden will provide a beautiful backdrop.
Location:


Norfolk Botanical Garden
6700 Azalea Garden Road
Norfolk, Virginia 23518
757.441.5830
Contact: Wedding Office x 320

Rental Spaces:
There are several outdoor spaces with varied "personalities" and a few indoor spaces as well.

You can have ceremony, reception, or both at many of the sites. Tents are permitted and rain sites are available on a limited basis.

Rental pricing ranges from $800 - $4500 depending on space and season. Ceremony space rental is for a minimum of 2 hours.

Capacities up to 240 seated for indoor site. The sky is the limit for tented events in Mayor's Row.

For more rental information click here.

Notes:

• Best months: May, June, October. In hotter months, Butterfly Garden is the perfect shady, secluded spot.
• Ample onsite parking is available. Trams are available for tours and transport during your event.
• Dressing rooms, a variety of chairs, and A/V equipment are available for rent from the garden.
• Outside rental companies are permitted.
• Outside caterer (from large list) is permitted. Catering kitchens and ice machines on site.
  Use of garden for portrait session is included in rental.

image: Keith Cephus Photography

Isha Foss Events is a preferred vendor for the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Below are a sample of events that we have designed/managed at the garden.

image: Don Monteaux Photography

Woodland flower arrangement

One of our corporate clients asked us to create something outdoorsy and masculine for their lucheon. They requested tones of green and white.

I chose Mink Protea as the focal point and surrounded it with waxflower, dried lotus pods, frangrant stock, football mums and a variety of greens. Wooden baskets with a touch of moss completed the look and complemented the chairs.

I think this could work for a rustic rehearsal dinner or an autumn wedding with the substitution of warm-hued flowers.

Makeover Giveaway

In the new issue of VOW Bride, on newstands now, you can see recent bride Veronica as she is transformed by Kim Wadsworth of BridesMade and Wadsworth Style.

The article gives tips for tailoring your makeup and hair to suit the time of your wedding. Kim illustrates morning, afternoon, and evening looks on Veronica with wonderful and dramatic results.

Makeup: Kim Wadsworth, BridesMade

Hair: Anthony Taflambas, Anthony & Company Hair Design

Photography: Eleise Theuer Photography

Pickup a copy of the magazine to read all the details and pro tips!

One lucky Hampton Roads bride will be the recipient of a beauty makeover by Kim Wadsworth! Simply leave a comment on this post about your wedding or beauty style.

The winner will be announced on February 8, 2009.

Some restrictions apply. Makeup application will take place at Kim's studio. May not be used for wedding day, but may be used for portrait or other event. Subject to availability.

FMIL Giveaway Winner

bonitacorina is the winner of the book "The Daughter-In-Law Rules" by Sally Shields!



Please contact stephanie(at)ishafossevents(dot)com to claim your prize! Thanks for reading.

White House Mother-in-Law

President-Elect Obama will have lots of things to deal with when he gets to the White House. He can't afford to have Mother-in-Law problems as well!

Whether you're the new President or a bride planning her wedding, you need to get along with your in-laws. Leave us a comment here about your issues or advice for dealing with this special relationship and you could receive a copy of the best-selling book The Daughter-In-Law Rules by Sally Shields.

Hampton Roads Magazine Bridal Show

I was asked by the Founders Inn to help decorate their booth for the Hampton Roads Magazine Bridal Show. I was happy to do it and I think it turned out great. The Catering Sales Manager, Charalese Gore, called on several Founders Inn preferred vendors to pitch in.

She wanted an all white lounge, a tablescape display, and custom lighting. Here is the result!

I worked with Charalese and the Founders team on the layout and draping at about midnight (booths look a lot larger on paper)! I created the tablescape and added some simple and modern floral accents.

Then Jeremy Kilgore of Blue Steel Pro Lighting came in with the ambiance and added character to the space! (That's a picture of his lighting on the plasma screen as well).

(before)

(after)!

Cast:

Concept: Charalese Gore, Founders Inn & Spa

Sofas and cube ottomans: Daevid's

Drape, Tables, Flooring, Chiavari Ice Chairs: Distinctive Event Rentals

Lighting and gobo: Blue Steel Pro Lighting

Tablescape and Floral: Isha Foss Events

Bridal Show!

Come and visit us next Sunday on the 3rd floor of the Norfolk Waterside Marriott at 11:00 AM!

Diana & Jerrel

Diana and Jay are a sweet and funny couple. They were married at their family church. A wedding reception followed at the Chrysler Museum of Art.

The ceremony was traditional...

The reception, not so much!

The inspiration for the color scheme came from the couples favorite flavor of Dippin Dots - mint/chocolate chip!

The ice cream cart - complete with server in bow tie!

Di and Jay didn't even want a cake, but had one in concession to the bride's mom. But they put their personal touch on it.

It was a beautiful evening full of personal toasts and musical tributes to the couple.

Isha Foss Events provided full-service planning, including wedding day management. Here are the other vendors who helped make this day special for this couple:

Venue: Chrysler Museum of Art

Caterer: Cuisine & Co.

Photography: Brad Howe Photography

Flowers: Bloom - The Art of Flowers

Video: Digital Dreammakers

DJ: Emer Lunasin

Cake: Gourmet Bake Shoppe

Wedding Planning: Setting the Date

Almost before they tell the parents, many couples begin to think about the date for their wedding. After all, after "Let me see the ring", "What's the date" seems to be the most popular question asked of the newly engaged.

Some couples choose the anniversary of when they met or their first date. That's great if it happens to fall on a weekend - or even if it doesn't!

Others want a holiday weekend so guests don't have to take time off work. That is very considerate, but can have you competing for sites and drive up costs for both you and your guests. But the benefits of having everyone attend may outweigh these other considerations.

Dates with sequential or repeating numbers are fun too (remember 07-07-07)!

Whatever your desired date, remember to consider the following:

• Other family events/obligations


• Availability of your desired venue


• Sunrise/Sunset (for pictures)


• Festivals, concerts, and public events that might impact parking and roads


• Major construction projects that might impede access to your event


• School schedules(if many guests have children)


• "Off-season" varies depending on the area of the country

Also:

• Weigh the increased costs of travel and hotel against the long weekend aspect of a holiday event.


• Check with Visitor's & Convention Bureau for major events (when the Shriners come to town in September, they take almost all the hotels on the oceanfront).

This list is not exhaustive, but I hope it helps.

Happy Planning!