Welcome back to our new series, What’s in my…  This week we interviewed my favorite fashion friend, Beth Chapman of The White Dress by the shore. Beth’s sense of style is something that I have admired for a long time– long before I considered her one of my dearest friends! Beth opened up her closet (which is a treasure trove of vintage + new and unique pieces) and has shared some tips and tricks with us below. Prior to opening up her successful bridal boutique in Clinton, Connecticut, Beth was the Vice President of Ann Taylor and worked in Manhattan for many years. She’s parlayed her years of experience in the fashion industry into not only owning the best (and might we add, most beautiful) bridal store on the East Coast, but she has also added the role of Stylist to her resume. Hired by magazines across the country, she’s styled photoshoots for designers, editors and for her own personal project coming out in August– a book of her work as a stylist.

Some absolute fashion label staples in Beth’s closet include j.crew and kate spade for everything from skirts to jewelry. We asked Beth several questions and here’s what she had to share:

“It’s no secret that I love fashion and I love clothes! Unfortunately, Sandy brought a tree down on my bedroom and caused me to have to clear out my room and my closet last week. It made me realize just how many clothes I have!

I am fortunate to have two closets. One for each season.

I would define my personal style as classic with a “twist.” I hold onto classic pieces and love to mix them with trendy pieces. I wear an eclectic mix of designers. My go-to’s tend to be Kate Spade and J.Crew, but I have everything in my closet from Chanel to Target! The two things that you can always count on me wearing are- stacked bracelets (my kids love that they can hear me coming) and my signature scent by YSL, “Paris”, which I’ve been wearing since high school.”

Beth’s newest fashion obsession is lace. We love it too! It’s so feminine and can be paired with just about anything for a day or night look. She picked up this adorable little mini lace shorts from madewell recently and the dress pictured is custom designed by ivy & aster, a fantastic designer that Beth carries in her store.

Beth’s also in love with the color of the season: marigold. Because it isn’t the best choice for her complextion, she uses the color in her accessories, like the shoes from madewell and the necklace from Aquinnah.

We know you love Beth’s style as much as we do! We highly recommend that if you are a bride-to-be that you visit The White Dress by the shore which is not just a bridal boutique, but a collection of curated looks chosen by Beth herself. Beth also has a wonderful blog for her store, covering all things bridal and inspirational for your wedding day fashion. Each month, she produces an amazing newsletter and features one fashion shoot that she’s styled in her Musings of a Stylist series. We highly recommend you subscribe to all!

Thank you so much Beth for taking the time out to share with our readers what’s inside your closet. Next week we have a special blog post from our stylish friend Nichole Michel of Coral Pheasant. Happy weekend! xo

for more from Beth, be sure to follow her on facebook | instagram | twitter

Welcome to our new series “Whats in my….” Each week we are excited to feature our favorite fashion forward industry peers and share with you essentials in their closets and homes. Our series starts with one of our favorite beauty guru’s Jennie Fresa, owner of Jennie Fresa Makeup and Skin Care Boutiquiere. Jennie is our go-to for all things that have to do with makeup, beauty and skincare. She writes a very informative blog updated daily with tips, techniques and advice on what you can do to always look your best! Prior to opening up her successful business on East Main Street in Clinton, Connecticut, Jennie lived in New York City and was Trainer + International Makeup Artist for beauty expert Trish McEvoy.

Along with owning a successful boutique that specializes in makeup application and skincare, Jennie and her team also provide makeup lessons to anyone wanting to learn how to wield a magic makeup wand. You can also purchase numerous skincare and makeup lines that Jennie herself endorses, like Stila, Vered Organic Botanicals, Dr Alkaitis and Tsi-La fragrances among many other must-haves. So, what’s in Jennie’s makeup bag, you ask?

• After searching and searching for the perfect everyday work tote, I finally found one that will meet my needs! I just ordered the Black Lizard Park Avenue bag by Francine Collections! I love the sophistication and versatility of this bag and, of course, the fuchsia lining was a big selling point! I’ll be able to keep my IPAD, paperwork and all of my touch up beauty essentials in one place.
• My can’t leave home without essential?! Hum, I hate to admit it, but probably my iphone. And, my RoseBud Mocha Rose lip Balm.
• I can guarantee that you would find both a hand full of bobby pins, a metro card and a lip gloss in the “secret pocket” of every bag I own!
• I think a perfume can define someones personalty. In true Gemini form, I can not decide on just one. I like to pick my perfume based on my mood. Some of my favorites are Jo Malone – Blackberry Bay, Tsi-La – Misaki and Chanel -Beige.
• I often describe myself as the quintessential bare bones girl when it come to makeup. I do like to have fun from time to time but my daily look consists of concealer, tinted moisturizer, filling in my brows, mascara and some lip gloss. These days my focus is more on skincare. I have a morning and evening ritual that I am very faithful too. My absolute favorite skincare lines are Vered Organic Botanicals and Dr. Alkaitis.
• I’m really fascinated by the nail art trend right now. I think it’s such a fun way to show off your personality and style. This week I tried the Moon Manicure with Luxedo by Essie. So fun!

And since Jennie is so truly passionate about reviewing products and recommending to her readers what she thinks is best, be sure to visit her blog as a daily, honest resource. Don’t forget to spend a good amount of time at Jennie’s boutique the next time you are in Clinton– whether it be to schedule a beauty party for you and your girlfriends, a beauty application for a special date night, or to purchase the products that Jennie and her team endorse! Thank you so much Jennie for sharing your must-haves with us– we can’t wait to feature your favorite fashion finds nestled in that amazing closet of yours soon!

for more from Jennie, be sure to follow her on facebook | instagram | twitter

Happy Wednesday lovelies! We’re reflecting today on what a great and blessed year we’ve had here at Jubilee Events. 2011 marked huge milestones for our business, and more importantly, for our clients. It has been such a dream of ours to be standing where we are today and we couldn’t possibly have had such success without all these amazing talents. The old adage that it takes a village certainly rings true when producing a beautiful and successful event. We want to give a huge thank you to all the incredible businesses we’ve had the opportunity to work with this year and years past. Thank you for exceeding our clients’ expectations, for your superior customer service, and for always going above and beyond!

To those looking for the best of the best in the area… look no further. You would be sincerely lucky to have any of these professionals working for you on your wedding day! xx

Catering

A Thyme to cook
Cloud Nine
Coastal Gourmet
Culinary Concerts
Emily’s catering group
Gourmet Galley
Jordan Caterers

Confections

A Little Imagination Cakes
Ana Parzych Custom Cakes
Cakes Unlimited
La Petit France Bakery
Let’s Eat Cake
Lovely Cakes
Lovely Lollies
Palmer’s Bakery
Sweet Cakes
Sweet Lisa’s
The Cake Boutique

Dress

Valentino Tailors
The White Dress by the Shore

Floral

Azalea Floral Design
BLUSH Floral Design
Datura: A Modern Garden
Hana Floral Design
Just for You Floral Design

Hair & Makeup

Dana Bartone and Company
DD Nickel Makeup
Jennie Fresa Makeup and Skincare Boutiquerie

Lighting & Design

Ryan Designs
Shoreline AV

Linens

BBJ Linen
Cloth Connection
Gala Cloths
La Tavola Linen
Wildflower Linen

Entertainment

101 Management
Boppers Entertainment
Don Cavett
Elan Artists
Eli Escobar
Hartt School of Music
Heartbeat Dance Band
Joe Kiernan
Lapis Luna Band
Millennium Music
Powerstation
Rob Alberti
Sound Guyz Entertainment
Valentino Productions
Vali Entertainment
Wilson Stevens Productions

Officiant

Mary Coburn

Paper

CECI New York
Coral Pheasant
Michelle Dowling Calligraphy
Elizabeth Porcher Jones
Lilah Paper
Love Jenna Calligraphy
Mr. Boddington’s Studio
Neither Snow
Posh Paperie

Planning

Kathy O’Boyle Events

Photography

Binary Flips Photography
Brooke Allison Photography
Carla Ten Eyck Photography
Charlotte Jenks Lewis
Derek Fowles
Eric Foley
Erik Maziarz for Carla Ten Eyck
Greg Lewis Photography
Growing Tree Photography
Iris Photography
Jasmine Balgobin for Carla Ten Eyck
Julie Morawski for Carla Ten Eyck
Katie Slater for Carla Ten Eyck
Lisa Berry Photography
Raya Carlisle Photography
Raw Photo Design
Robert and Kathleen
Robert Norman Photography
Studio Foto
Take Aim Photography
Tricia Bohan Photography

Rentals

Connecticut Rental Center
Luxe Event Rentals
Party Rental LTD
Rentals Unlimited
Taylor Creative Inc.

Tent

Mahaiwe Tent
Sperry Tents

Transportation

Gateway Limo
Kelley Transit
Liberty Limo
Premiere Limousine
STA Transport

Venues

Amarante’s
Anthonys Ocean View
Bee and Thistle Inn
Bel Mer
Branford House
Carousel at Lighthouse Point Park
Dauntless Club
Florence Griswold Museum
Guilford Yacht Club
Homestead Inn
Inn at Middletown
Jonathan Edwards Winery
Latitude 41
Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa
Saugatuck Rowing Club
Saybrook Point Inn & Spa
Sharon Country Club
Shore and Country Club
Stonington Inn
The Barns
The Lace Factory
The Ocean House
The Old State House
The Riverview
Tomes-Higgins House
Wadsworth Mansion
Waveny House

Video

Boston Entertainment
Buzz Media Company
Vantage Point
Vintage Cinema

Our friends at Hana Floral Design are holding an open house today from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at their boutique in Mystic!

They have hand clamped wreaths for sale, boxwood trees, centerpieces and lots of lovely little trinkets for the women in your life. Sip on cider and grab a treat while deciding which wreath to take home! A perfect stop to get you in the holiday spirit today.
XO!

I had the great pleasure of working on a recent editorial project with Maria Cerff, Creative Director of Lela New York . She created an incredible art deco inspired invitation suite for us and I just had to share a bit more about her and her company to our readers! Lela New York is a luxury invitations and stationery studio specializing in creating one-of-a-kind works of art for the discerning client. Their work is sought after by distinct wedding planners, designers and savvy brides worldwide for their couture designs and awe-inspiring creations. Lela New York will help match your special event with a couture invitation equally as special. From hand-drawn illustrations and water color paintings to silk box invitations and unique embellishments every suite is designed to be truly unique. Lela New York is available by appointment for consultations serving clients in NYC and worldwide. Maria’s work has been featured in BRIDES Magazine, The Knot Magazine, Style Me Pretty, and the NY Post! Her portfolio is a variety of engaging pieces ranging from the most formal of social occasions to birth announcements and personal stationary. I love her luxe, opulent design style.

Be sure to visit her website to see an in depth look at her work. For a look into the hottest trends and what’s fabulous, be sure to visit her blog too!

On Sunday I attended a great party put on by White Dress by the Shore and several vendors who’ve moved into wedding row. One of my absolute favorites is Beneath the Gown, a fabulous company developed by master seamstress of White Dress by the Shore, Josie. Beneath the Gown is a bridal lingerie boutique presenting an exquisite collection of exclusive designer lingerie labels featuring french European couture fine laces and hand-made silks perfect for honeymoon, special events or everyday. Josie’s services include complimentary, professional bra fittings and in-house custom design service where we can customize or custom create bustiers, night gowns, and wedding gowns.

I have to admit — I was doing a lot of window shopping for myself while I was in Josie’s beautiful shop. She had some of the most delicate and stunning pieces of lingerie I’ve ever seen. I love the custom aspect too. In our chat we talked about how we can take a piece of my wedding gown and incorporate it into a custom piece of lingerie. Amazing!! I would love to be able to slip into something special that has elements of my wedding gown.

Visit Beneath the Gown on the web to learn more about scheduling an appointment. They are located in Clinton, Connecticut at The White Dress by the Shore. Be sure to tell Josie we sent you!!

xoxo

I’m collaborating on a project with Maihar Designs next week and I just LOVE Melanie and Ashleigh’s designs. Their Texas born sisters who came up with the concept of their custom ring bearer pillows, flower wands, and hair petals. When you see their amazing work, you’ll swoon too!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of working with a lot of my absolute favorite people on a photoshoot with Carla Ten Eyck for her September Ten Eyck Tuesday. I collaborated with Elisabeth of BLUSH floral design and Beth Chapman of White Dress by the Shore to come up with a unique and fun color story in teals and pinks. All the hair and makeup was done by the talented and super amazing Dana Bartone & Co., who are responsible for making almost ALL of my brides gorgeous on their wedding day (me included)!! My studio roomie Thomas Morlock of Vantage Point Films also shot the entire event from his viewfinder. Plus, he drank all the champagne.

For those of you who don’t know, Carla runs an amazing workshop for photographers once a month where she spends an entire day shooting, educating, and discussing her artform. I’ve attended two Ten Eyck Tuesdays and Carla is amazing!! If you are a photographer in the area (you should travel here if your not!) I highly recommend Carla’s workshop. They are so thorough and detailed. Plus, Carla puts the sass in sass-a-frass.

The location for the shoot was really awesome. The building is an interior designer’s dream, full of lots of shops from furniture to lighting. We took over a blank industrial space with nothing except a few sheets of unused drywall laid up against the wall.

This gorgeousness is all courtesy of Carla and Beth Chapman of White Dress by the Shore who dressed and styled our gorgeous models. Don’t you just LOVE this short wedding gown and feather hair fascinator? It was so delicate and pretty in person! I could have played dress up for hours with all the amazing accessories Beth brought.

That gorgeous, vintage pink bouquet is by the equally talented Elisabeth of BLUSH floral design. I love Dan’s peacock feathered boutonniere. Can you see the peacock feathers tucked into Mandie’s bouquet? Check the neck collage of images!

Pretty gorgeous, right? The furniture is from my FAVORITE rental company, Signature Event Rentals, who are responsible for most of the awesomeness you see. That gorgeous white couch? The clear-backed and hot pink dining chairs?! The leather tufted wall panels?!?! The WHITE dinning table?!?!?! Yeah, they pretty much rule. They’re the best, hands down, and we LOVED having their furniture at the shoot!

Elisabeth created a bed of tightly arranged hot pink carnations for our escort cards, which were pennant flags that I made and hand wrote in gold ink. Antonia from Flower upon Flour blew us away with her tasty little gold petit fours with the hot pink fleur de lis… but the pièce de résistance was definitely her INSANE cake!!

Antonia and I had discussed the color story and inspiration behind the shoot… and when she showed up with this…. we were like… seriously?! A teal cake with a gold birdcage on top and hot pink feathers?!

…. up next, our table and some other fun stuff!

xoxo

It’s been WAY too long since I did a vendor spotlight on some cool Connecticut talent. I figured I’d start back up our series with one of my favorite photographers (and studio roomie) Eric Langlois of raw photo design. Eric’s style truly lives up to his business tagline — a fusion of art and atmosphere. Eric did my pre-wedding trash the dress so I have some first hand knowledge on how awesome he really is!

Eric isn’t only a wedding photographer but is also well known for his boudoir portraits. Right now he is running an awesome promo for ladies (and couples):

Here are some of my favorite images of Eric from this current season…

To learn more about Eric visit his website and blog at rawphotodesign.com. The best part? Eric is global and shoots all over!