We wish our favorite gals lots of luck this weekend! Make sure you check your local listings to find out what time the episode will be airing on Sunday night.

TGIF!

Have you entered the Wedding Giveaway with Katy Gray Photography! No?? Make sure you do!

Name: Katy Gray

Location: Jackson Hole, WY

Tell us a little about what you do.

I am a fine art and wedding photographer based in Jackson Hole, WY but I’ll go anywhere to shoot your wedding!

How long have you been in business?

About  4 or 5 years.  I started out just doing a few little ones and elopements but last summer things really took off and this summer is looking huge as well!

What inspired you to start your business/studio?

Actually it was my own wedding photos!  I had graduated from MSU with my BA in photography in 2004 but didn’t really know what I wanted to do with it until I saw the photos we got from Jonathan Adams after our wedding.  He was kind enough to let me tag along and second shoot with him at a few of his events and give me a great critique at the end of the season.  I booked a few little elopements and intimate ceremonies, shot for a few friends and then things just started snowballing.

What is your favorite thing about your business/studio?

I love that I capture irreplaceable moments for people.  The cake gets eaten, favors get taken, flowers dry up, the dress gets put away, but the photos will be there forever.  When your grandkids and great grandkids want to hear about your wedding, out comes the photo album.  I love being a little piece of all of these family histories.  It’s quite an honor!

Was there a defining moment when you knew you picked the right career path?

Shooting Jenny & Ryan’s wedding – our sunset session out in the field.  I looked at the back of my camera a few times and was literally hopping with excitement.  In my opinion, if your job makes you hop, you’re onto something.

When you built your business what style would you say you built it around? (i.e. classic, modern, vintage)

I shoot in a bit of a modern style – edgy compositions and funky perspectives – but then I process in more of a dreamy vintage look.  So modern vintage with a bit of funk?  And I love odd juxtapositions – a bride in a gas station, or the groom out walking his dog before the ceremony, things like that.  I like to make people do a double take.

When working with people how do you help bring the vision for the event to life?

I photograph the couple’s vision – I try to shoot every detail I can get and use items from the wedding to shoot the bride’s accessories and dress – like hanging a dress on a set of antlers for a ranch wedding, or shooting the rings on a record album for a reception with a vintage record player.

Where do you go for inspiration? (i.e. blogs, magazines)

I stalk an embarrassing number of blogs.  My absolute favorite wedding photographers are Sean Flanigan, Olivia Leigh, Anna Kuperburg and Amelia Lyon – I’m always turning to them for inspiration.  I also subscribe to a LOT of style blogs – Lucy Dylan, of course!!, Style Me Pretty, Design*Sponge, The Bride’s Café, Wedding Chicks, & Grey Likes Weddings are my favorites.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you and your business/studio?

I love taking pictures, I love weddings, and I will work my butt off to help make your wedding day the best day it can be!  Plus I’m pretty funny in person.  And brides have said I’m a good ‘calmer-downer’.  I often have gum.

Company Name: Bliss Event Planning (Dylan List member)

Name: Marcie Gaukrodger

Location: We’re based out of Whistler, Canada, but we work anywhere a couple asks us to.

Tell us a little about what you do.

Bliss Event Planning is a boutique full service event and design company that creates highly unique events. Planning events is what we get out of bed for. Quite simply, we love it. It’s our job to remove all pressures, stresses and worries that may be a burden to our clients. When we accomplish this while executing their vision of a perfect event, we feel we have succeeded.

How long have you been in business?

3 years, with many more to come!

What inspired you to start your business/studio?

Two reasons. First, I was working in the industry for another company and got laid off when the company shut down. I had a choice of working for someone else or going at it on my own. I come from a family of entrepreneurs and I guess you can say it’s in my blood. Secondly, I had learned a lot from that company, both good and bad. There were things I would have changed, but I couldn’t because it wasn’t mine. I hated that feeling. So my choice was made and that year, Bliss opened its doors. It’s an incredible feeling building your own company based on your vision and I’m very proud of what we’ve done so far.

What is your favorite thing about your business/studio?

This is a difficult question because I truly love all aspects of planning from meeting each couple to bringing their vision to life. I guess if I had to boil it down to one thing, it would be getting to be a part of such a remarkably intimate moment in each couple’s life. Designing and planning the pieces of a day that they will remember for the rest of their lives; it’s an honor that is too big for words.

Was there a defining moment when you knew you picked the right career path?

I knew I was on the right path when I started going on-site for the event company I last worked for. I had started off behind the scenes and enjoyed it, but the real thrill came from seeing all the planned pieces meld into one another creating this fantastic synergy. I was hooked!

When you built your business what style would you say you built it around? (i.e. classic, modern, vintage)

My business has been built around the couple, not my specific style. My background is diverse; I studied interior and industrial design and have designed many events ranging from edgy to contemporary, vintage to classic, the predictable and the unpredictable. Regardless of the couple’s chosen style, the applied fundamentals of design are always the same. We approach each couple with a very open mind.

When working with people how do you help bring the vision for the event to life?

Our underlying process is the same, but our approach varies with each couple because every couple is unique. But generally, I ask a lot (and I mean a lot) of questions. And then I listen to what’s in their answers as well as what isn’t. I’ve found you can learn a lot that way. Some couple’s know exactly what they want from the start and others only know what they don’t want.

Where do you go for inspiration? (i.e. blogs, magazines)

There isn’t really just one source. I have my favorite blogs, magazines, authors and artists but I believe that design and beauty surrounds us in everything we see each day. Often the inspiration for something comes from the most unexpected places. That’s one of the reasons why I fell in love with design many years ago.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you and your business/studio?

There’s no shortage of personality at Bliss. We love what we do and even the long days of planning, pre-production and set-up haven’t ever really felt like work. Getting married should be one of the best experiences of your life from the “Yes, I will marry you!” to the “I do.”

At Bliss we have fun. We smile. We laugh.

Photos courtesy of Anastasia Photography.

If you missed it yesterday make sure you check out Dejane and Erik’s Real South African Wedding!

Company Name: cloud 9 Weddings & Papers (Dylan List member)

Name: Ann Marlin

Location: Denver, Colorado

Tell us a little about what you do.

cloud 9 Weddings & Papers is Denver’s premier wedding and stationary company.

How long have you been in business?

I joined Nancy Chase Weddings and Celebrations in 2002 and purchased the business in 2005.  At the same time I also purchased Pampered Papers and am so excited to announce cloud 9, the joining of my two favorite things; weddings and fine papers.

What inspired you to start your business/studio?

I have always had a passion for planning events and was fortunate enough to join the Nancy Chase Weddings and Celebrations team in 2002.  Working with Nancy and getting to know the industry only deepened my desire to make this a lifelong career and buy the business.

What is your favorite thing about your business/studio?

Getting to know a  couple and their history, family, traditions and translating their wedding dreams into reality and of course coupling that with stunning save the dates, invitations and accessories!

Was there a defining moment when you knew you picked the right career path?

I am lucky to be able to say that I look forward to going into work taking on the tasks and challenges ahead…I am excited about my job every day.  I work with wonderful brides, families, vendors and fabulous paper on a daily basis.

When you built your business what style would you say you built it around? (i.e. classic, modern, vintage)

I would say that we have a more classic style.  We definitely pull in vintage and modern elements throughout the details but overall we have a very elegant, romantic and classical feel to the business that bring in the couples relationship for a truly unique experience.

When working with people how do you help bring the vision for the event to life?

We take great pride in keeping each wedding and event unique.  We pull as much information from the bride and groom as possible – their favorite things, their style, their likes/dislikes and especially their vision for the day.  No two couples are alike and no two weddings should be alike.  We start with the bride and grooms priorities for the day, and focus on the details from there.

Where do you go for inspiration? (i.e. blogs, magazines)

We read all of the industry magazines including Martha Stewart Weddings, Grace Ormond, Real Simple Weddings and love to search blogs and wedding related websites.  Décor magazines and invitation/paper trends serve as great inspiration as well.

Photo courtesy of Frances Photography

It has just come to my attention that Google Reader has not been updating in the last few weeks. We’ve been working on it diligently and we will get it fixed ASAP. So, for all of my faithful RSS subscribers hang in there. I really appreciate you following the blog everyday. Below are the posts you might have missed.

Real Wedding: Robert & Shantell

Bridal Shower Food

I’ll be shaking a few things up in the next few weeks. Earth day is just a few days away (April 22) so this week will be dedicated to eco-friendly alternatives for your wedding day. I’ve been working on some fun projects and can’t wait to share with you!

Happy Monday!

Name: Christina Holt

Location: Cape Town / South Africa

Company Name: Wedding Concepts

Tell us a little about what you do.

I own and manage South Africa’s premier wedding coordination & management agency Wedding Concepts with a wonderful team of 9 – specializing in exclusive destination “designer” weddings to Cape Town. We assist couples who reside overseas to create their stylish wedding by thinking of and coordinating literally every detail you can think of.

Our sister company Travel Concepts is the boutique style travel arm taking care of wedding guest travel from accommodation around the wedding venue to full itineraries across Southern Africa – as well as  honeymoons. We tailor highly personal journeys African journeys with a keen eye for stylish yet authentic travel experiences.

How long have you been in business?

I started my business Wedding Concepts in 2004 when I moved from the UK to Cape Town. My international career however has always been in the hospitality and event management industry – it’s a passion.

What inspired you to start your business/studio?

A very simple (and quite romantic ) story – when still living in Germany and holidaying in South Africa,  I met my British husband Richard in Cape Town and we decided to get married on the very wine estate where we met. I was the classic overseas bride who needed planning assistance on the ground. This is how I met my previous business partner, who I then started Wedding Concepts with. I now actually own the business with my husband and things have literally come full circle . We met in Cape Town, got married here, moved here and now run the business together. The huge global destination wedding trend has of course helped in creating our offer to this scenic part of the world.

What is your favorite thing about your business/studio?

My business at large gives me a great sense of pride – for having established a successful brand together with fabulously devoted team – based on a simple idea, vision and lots of hard work. We also occupy a stylish space that showcases our work and is simply inspiring to work in. My main passion lies in connecting with people from across the globe and working in a truly multicultural industry….plus I get to market South Africa to the world – one of the most beautiful places for a destination wedding.

Was there a defining moment when you knew you picked the right career path?

My career has never been totally straight forward – it is when I listened to my instinct that I was successful. Specifically that was a moment when I woke up after my first night in Africa 10 years ago – saw the beauty of this country and new it would change my life. Very clichéd – but  ever since then I knew I had to live & work here in the Cape. When you are changing your life from the place of “just knowing” – that’s when it works. And it did!

When you built your business what style would you say you built it around? (i.e. classic, modern, vintage)

Wedding Concepts stands for professionalism, sophistication and style with a sense for fun & trends . We interpret wedding visions across many different designs and client personalities. Internally we merge different backgrounds in our multi cultural team and have a real understanding of international design trends. Being a “people business” means that highly personal communication is of course a given.

When working with people how do you help bring the vision for the event to life?

We look for indicators not only in their personalities and personal preferences of our clients: are they fun loving people who love the outdoors – global travelers who reside in 5* luxury – unfussy clients who want a party – interior designers with a lifelong wedding vision etc. Of course we also ask for guidance as to what / how they enjoy, read, eat, celebrate, travel etc. Personal conversations and many, many emails usually paint a brilliant picture!
We then carefully match personalities and the vision of the day to a handpicked group of top service providers. I am also a strong believer in bringing the right personalities together during the months of planning – it is in fact vital!

Where do you go for inspiration? (i.e. blogs, magazines)

More often than not we look for inspiration internally in our “creative team brainstormings”. Thanks to so many creative minds in our business and our industry, we have actually become trendsetters in our field which is such a big part of our success.

Of course personally the smallest “every day” things can inspire me - a napkin fold in a local bistro, an antique vase, a market with seasonal flowers, a friend’s new chaiselounge, a boutique hotel…inspiration can come in unexpected ways.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you and your business/studio?

To all brides out there – think outside the box, consider a destination wedding to South Africa. We are setting international trends here – so dare to experience it for yourself and check out our real life weddings for inspiration.

You can check out more of Wedding Concepts work by visiting their website and their Real Wedding featured here. Also make sure you check out Travel Concepts.

This is one of the most frequent questions I hear from brides. Should I hire a make-up artist? Well… now your wedding day questions are answered! Our friends over at Cloud 9 asked their “go-to” make-up expert Carissa Passerella with Carissa Beauty all of your burning wedding day questions.

Head over to Cloud 9’s blog to read the entire article on Ask the Expert… Carissa Passerella. Make sure you check out Carissa’s blog Hooked on Beauty for all of the latest trends.

TGIF!

Company Name: My Big Day Planner

Name: Tawsha Connell

Location: Colorado

Tell us a little about what you do. I am the owner of My Big Day Planner which is also the name of my wedding organizer created by brides for brides. Along with the wedding organizer, my business partner and I have come up with an event called the Wedding Preview Event. This bridal “show” is a production featuring the very best professionals in Colorado. There will be wedding demonstrations, lunch, dessert, champagne, workshops and one on one meeting time.

How long have you been in business? My Big Day Planner has been an official business for a year. However; The research for this business and creation of the book was a seven year process.

What inspired you to start your business/studio? Is it horrible to say that I inspired myself to start this business? I was a lunatic when planning my wedding. I wanted everything just right and it wasn’t happening. I refused to hire a planner because I thought I could do it all on my own. I nearly went crazy. On my wedding day, my brain wouldn’t stop focusing on the next thing and I didn’t give myself an opportunity to enjoy this once in a lifetime occasion. As the doors opened for me to walk down the aisle, I wondered if everyone knew how to get to the reception spot. That was it. On my Hawaiian vacation, I vowed (no pun intended) to help future brides avoid this mistake. Whether or not you hire a planner, organization is the key to calm. My Big Day Planner will keep you organized, on top of your planning and ready for the next step. How? It was created by brides who have all experienced the same thing.

What is your favorite thing about your business/studio? My favorite thing about My Big Day Planner is that I am confident in what I’m promoting. I believe in this book so much because I know that so many people left their personal touch in order to help other brides. That’s really special. It’s like creating a bridal community. Providing a book that allows brides to actually jot down their dreams; some for the first time, is so exciting to me!

Was there a defining moment when you knew you picked the right career path? There wasn’t a defining moment; really, it was more a defining feeling. Once other professionals who I respect very much started believing in my business as much as I do, the turning point had been reached. There are such incredible people in the wedding industry and I feel right at home. It’s just a good fit.

When you built your business what style would you say you built it around? (i.e. classic, modern, vintage) Is “stress” an option?

When working with people how do you help bring the vision for the event to life? That’s the cool part about my job. I get to hear (and see) brides at the very beginning. They start with My Big Day Planner and lay it all out there. I see their hopes for their big day, some color suggestions, their flyers and pamphlets they’ve collected, business cards, etc. It’s fun. Once the wedding day draws near, everything comes together. In the months (sometimes year) that the brides have been planning, the pages have been filling up. A couple of weeks prior to the wedding, she can take the pages she needs for her big day and combine them into a mini-planner so she’s able to enjoy her time while someone else carries out her plans. It’s like magic.

Where do you go for inspiration? (i.e. blogs, magazines) Other brides. Always other brides. Nobody knows the stress of planning a wedding than the brides who have been through it.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you and your business/studio? There’s so much more to come. I love feedback . I enjoy coming up with ideas of how things can go together or what kind of unique product we can do next. Remember My Big Day Planner because this is only the beginning.

**The Wedding Preview Event is this Sunday, March 21 in Denver. Make sure you check out My Big Day Planner’s website and blog for more information.

Photo courtesy of My Big Day Planner.

Company Name: Intricate Icings Cake Design

Name: Rachael Teufel

Location:149 South Briggs Street, Suite 100, Erie, CO 80516

Tell us a little about what you do:  Intricate Icings is a custom cake boutique specializing in wedding cakes, sculpted novelty cakes, and hand-made gumpaste flowers.  We take pride in every cake we make, baking it fresh no more than two days before the event.  We use high quality ingredients and never freeze our products.  We limit the number of events we reserve each weekend in order to maintain our high standards of quality.

How long have you been in business? We officially became  a business in October 2006.

What inspired you to start your business/studio? My passion for baking started when I was a young girl.  I grew up baking with my grandmother.  When I graduated from college, I started looking for a creative outlet and took a few classes in cake decorating.  I made a few cakes for friends and family and before I knew it I had a business.  I gradually transition from physical therapy to cakes when I moved here to Colorado in 2006 and grew large enough to open my own custom cake boutique in May 2009.

Was there a defining moment when you knew you picked the right career path?  I can’t say there was a specific moment.  I can tell you that when I wake in the morning I can’t wait to get to my shop and start making cakes.  I sometimes put in really long days and even when I’m up until 2 am working, I still love what I’m doing.

When you built your business what style would you say you built it around? (i.e. classic, modern, vintage)  I have a very modern, clean line style.

When working with people how do you help bring the vision for the event to life? I love using inspiration from other parts of the event.  Things like the invitation, embroidery from a bride’s gown, vases/flower arrangements, etc all help guide the final cake design.  The cake has become the centerpiece for events over the past few years.  It’s really a place to tie everything together or show off a little personality.

Where do you go for inspiration? (i.e. blogs, magazines) Top wedding sites like Style Me Pretty and Wedding Chicks are my two favorite sites for wedding inspiration.  I look for the new trends in the industry and then adapt them to cake.

Is there anything else you want people to know about you and your business/studio? We bake all of our cakes on site, no more than two days before an event, using high quality ingredients.  We do not freeze our cakes, which means you are getting the freshest cake possible.

You can check out more on Intricate Icings Cake Design by visiting their website and blog.

Photos courtesy of (from top): Autumn Burke Photography, Kokoro Photography, Peter Holcombe Photography.

Name:  Kara Delay

Location: Winter Park, CO

Tell us a little about what you do:  Floral design, event décor design, event planning and event coordination

How long have you been in business? 5 years

What inspired you to start your business/studio?  A love of flowers and a need to please people.  Living in a small resort town, we saw an opportunity and ran with it.

What is your favorite thing about your business/studio?  Bringing someones vision to life and making it different every week.  We are extremely flattered when a bride brings us a picture from our own website as inspiration.  Our response is always – how can we make this unique for you?

Was there a defining moment when you knew you picked the right career path?  When I got a high five right after a wedding ceremony from one of the top photographers in Colorado who said “You make this fun . . .a really pretty to shoot.”

When you built your business what style would you say you built it around? (i.e. classic, modern, vintage) Rustic Ranch Weddings – 80% of our weddings are outside so we aim to incorporate as many elements of the property as possible.  Is there a vintage truck?  We will use it.  Whisky barrels as planters – let’s build the décor around them.  Recycle and reuse throughout the day.  Make it easier on the environment AND the budget.

When working with people how do you help bring the vision for the event to life?  LOTS of pictures, fabric swatches, inspiration boards.  And sitting down – one on one – and finding out what is important to the couple.

Where do you go for inspiration? (i.e. blogs, magazines)  YES and catalogues for home and clothes, travel pictures.  My favorite design of last summer was created with this instruction from the bride – she handed me a picture of an alpenglow sunset and said that those were the colors she admired and told me that I had to include coxcomb since it was the first flower her now husband had ever given her – and then she told me to make something (within budget) that I was proud of.  Here’s the picture:

Is there anything else you want people to know about you and your business/studio? We believe that every wedding is different and should be a reflection of the couple.  It’s your wedding – your way.  All we do is whatever it takes to make it happen!

You can check out more on Pick Me Floral and Event Design Studio by visiting their website and blog.

Photo courtesy of Brinton Studios.