A Look Back at 2012: Interns Reflections

Well the end of the year has come and it is time for us the interns to tell you our favorite moments and decor items of the year the year were! We are not seasoned professionals, but we know what we like so we are taking a shot at predicting what the upcoming trends for the new year will be. So I will step up to the plate first. My name is Maggie Apel and I have been working with Kasey since June and had the chance to see many bea-u-tiful weddings! There are two things that stick out in my mind as things that I loved. This moment.



The light was just right the wind was bowling her veil without someone holding it up out of the shot. Second I am a bit of a flower freak and there have been two Oh So Lovely weddings that have had just wonderful flowers (not that the other were not)! Flowers on Orchard Lane really knows what they are doing!

                                                        Photo curtosey of Lang Thomas

As for trends. Well I think that the same day edit will become more popular. Because it is all the best parts of the day for you to see and the bride and groom get to see each other getting ready for the big day and there is just something downright fun about getting to watch your whole wedding day over again in under ten minutes! Also when it comes to colors say hello to naturals with pops of jewel tones! Much like the trends in the fashion world of a neon paired with a neutral. The wedding world is ready to accept this trend with open arms. Sans neon part because that's just crazy.

Paige Endicott has been working with Kasey just about as long as I have (she started in April)! But have no worries we each found different things to love about the weddings we have seen. Her favorite thing from this year was the BEAUTIFUL Sperry Tent from Sean and Stephanie's wedding, need I say more??



As far as trends for next year she thinks that Luxe Vintage will be a big decor theme for 2013. For example, as a table setting there would be an assortment of antique sterling silver candelabras and candle holders, and antique jars along with linens that contains a lot of texture such as lace. "I love when centerpieces are not all identical! There is something about an eclectic mix of decor that I find to be very beautiful and charming!" She exclaimed to me as she was excitedly talking about this trend making its way onto the scene.

Ann Ankenbauer has been work for Kasey for a year in January (woo)!  Her favorite thing that she saw this year was at one of our Oh So Lovely weddings. Haley and Ollie. There story is one for the storybooks! They met in South Sudan while working to empower girls there. The live in England now, but having just seen them at the wedding of her best friend I am excited to say that they get to go back to the place they fell in love to help those same girls! So this precious moment on the hay bale a beautiful picture of a beautiful couple! Any bride who is willing to climb up on a hay bale with her groom is awesome in my book!

                                                        Photo courtesy of Jessica Love

A trend that I see coming up in the new year is that brides are going to be taking some bold risks with their neckwear! Statement necklace have just been for the bold of heart, most girls don't think that they can pull them off. But have no fear...you can! It is your day and you most can definitely pull them off!


Wishing you the happiest of New Years!

xoxo, The Interns (Maggie, Paige and Anna)

Wedding Trend: Bow Napkin Fold

These past few weeks have been quite the blur. With weddings, the beginning of the holiday season and getting to give a presentation to the hospitality students at The Ohio State University, there has been little room to breathe. But that is what makes my job so great. It is fast paced, always evolving and you get to learn from all different avenues! Take our wedding next week for example. The bride has seen a napkin that is folded into bow cuteness! So Paige, Maggie and I are going to be folding all the napkins next week, but we wanted to give you a sneak peek at the fold! Our example is by no means perfect but keep an eye out next week sometime to see it perfected! Check out our facebook page! It is what I would call the command center. It gets updates from everything! Happy Wednesday!




 xoxo, Kasey & The Bliss Girls

Food Truck Friday: Blu Olive

Today we ate at the Blu Olive! Our first Italian food truck experience. I got a chance to talk to the owner and ask him what his favorite dish was. He told us that it was the sweet Italian sausage sandwich. The sausage he made himself with meat from a local favorite Rife's Market! Yay supporting local business. We also sampled the meatballs. They were delish. Although we did learn a lesson today, that food trucks have a dilemma that restaurants don't have. We didn't have lots of selection, because the Blu Olive is popular and we went a bit later in the day. All of this adds up to food buying. For food trucks it is a guessing game. You don't want to buy too much and then have to throw it out not to mention the wasted money. Or buy too little and then have to cross things off the menu board. After talking with the owner we decided that although it can make customers unhappy buying too little is the better end of the deal, because people will come back to get what they want and it keeps the truck in demand. So happy food buying to our food truck friends! xoxo, Kasey & The Bliss Girls

Make it Yours: Gucci Bag

This week I bring you Gucci. I love it. Normally it extends past what my budget can allow, but hey this is all about the things I love and wish for. So this crossbody bag is what I would gladly carry all my things in, such as my superblam from last week! It is super cute and functional all while being quite the stylish little bag. So now it's time for you to make it yours. Now back to work! Looking forward to my November weddings!









xoxo, Kasey and the Bliss Girls

Food Truck Friday (on Sunday): That Food Truck

This wonderful food truck is being written about a little later than normal, because I got a case of food poisoning. Don't worry not from the food truck! I say this because I know you were, in fact wondering if that is where I got sick. No on the contrary this food truck was far from anything that would make you sick with anything other than delight! We sampled the squash fritters and the lazy chicken sandwich. Let's just say that the whole farm to fork thing they have going on over there is really working for them. Dan Kraus does all the butchering of the meat that they serve. Which made for a very yummy lazy chicken sandwich. Normally Kasey and I are not fans of mole sauce, but the black mole on our sandwich really made the whole thing come together. So yummy! The chicken was super tender and it all just worked so well together. Our squash fritters were the perfect fall side dish! Crispy on the outside and squashy goodness on the inside with a side sauce that made it even better, but I could not tell you what was in it. Overall it was a great fall meal!

 I am happy to say that we made friends with Dan and Steve and they are so cool that they have a website! thatfoodtruck.com.  Most food trucks don't so this going on so it is quite exciting!  They told us that they put this truck together themselves. So fun! So be on the look out Columbus these guys mean business! They are gain popularity in the foodie world!  They also have a blog, which is linked on the website. Check it and see what they got going on!






xoxo, Kasey & The Bliss Girls

Food Truck Friday: A Grand New Adventure!

Today is the first day of a grand new adventure! We are embarking on a culturally enriching tour of Columbus through the many different food trucks that are located in our fair city. Our journey knows no bounds we are willing to go anywhere and eat the best each truck has to offer! All in the name of research for you our loyal readers.  So keep your eyes peeled next Friday for our first investigative report on a Mexican food truck that we sampled yesterday!


 Here is a sneek peek...
 


xoxo Kasey & The Bliss Girls

We're Featured! Inside Scoop for the Knot Ohio Spring 2012

We are always thrilled to be asked to contribute to the inside scoop for the Knot Ohio magazine Spring 2012 issue.  We were asked to share a few of our favorite hidden gem venues as well and fun additions to your wedding reception.  Take a peek below at our recommendations!

Royal Wedding Week

It's Royal Wedding Week! 

 

We're so excited to watch the wedding of Kate Middleton and Price William  unfold in London on Friday, April 29th.  All week long we're going to be talking about the many aspects of the wedding - a few fun details from past royal weddings (Princess Diana & Prince Charles' is one of our favorites), what we think the design of the royal wedding details will be and share facts about Friday's royal wedding event. 

Stay tuned for our first installment and the hot topic of that everyone has been speculating about for weeks - what will Kate's dress look like?  Will she wear a tiara?  We can hardly stand the suspense!  Stay tuned to see what we're thinking and take a peek at some of our favorite images from royal weddings of the past.

Image courtesy of EdgeInspired.

Pantone Color of the Year 2011

Annnnd the winner is...




Pantone released this statement about the winning shade.

..."Honeysuckle can be described as a Color for All Seasons. It's courageous, confident and vital. It's a brave new color for a brave new year. The idea is to let the spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It's designed to be a color for everyday with nothing "everyday" about it"...

I am seeing this "encouraging and uplifting" color quite a bit in our designs for 2011. We're pairing it with many of shades of blues, grassy greens and white. I can't wait to see how everything comes to life to exemplify this powerful color.

And the color of the year is....

Last week Pantone announced PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the #Color of the Year for 2010.

I absolutely love this color. As if you couldn't tell by the colors of Bliss & That! I think it works well mixed with various other colors or as a stand alone color with varying hues. I feel like 2009 was year of the pink wedding, so I'm excited to see what we get to do with this color in 2010.

Trend Spotting: Spring 2010 Color Report

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York was last week and we saw lots of amazing and beautiful designs make their way down the runway. As with each season, I love seeing the new color forecast for spring and it always makes me happy to see some of our spring wedding design color palettes on the list. I'm particularly fond of this pistachio color that Reem Acra used. It's so versatile. You can make it playful with brighter colors or tone it down with a more neutral color. Also, I could see this working great with patterns.

Miracle Berry Flavor Tripping Parties Flip the Tongue

Joe Fornabaio for The New York Times

Imagine a teaspoon of lemon juice that tastes as sweet as maple syrup. Guinness that tastes like a chocolate malt. Cheap tequila that goes down as smooth as Patron.

If you think this sounds crazy, you're probably right. But this sensation is possible due to a tiny little berry dubbed the "Miracle Fruit." Once eaten, the Miracle Fruit (or Synsepalum dulcificum) rewires the way taste buds perceive hot and sour tastes, rendering them sweet. One of the hottest new trends in New York City, parties featuring the Miracle Fruit are called "flavor tripping parties." At a typical party, guests eat the berry, then go crazy eating a variety of foods like citrus, cheese, vinegars, pickles, and just about anything else you can think of.

Miracle berries are available online from the website www.miraclefruitman.com. They are also available in a freeze-dried tablet form. At nearly $3 a piece, the berries are not cheap, but they promise to be an unforgettable experience for your next adventurous gathering!

TOMS Shoes

TOMS shoes are an American shoe company started by Blake Mycoskie, a former contestant on The Amazing Race. For every pair sold, they donate a pair of shoes to people in impoverished villages. Since May of 2006, TOMS has given over 60,000 pairs of shoes to children in Argentina and South Africa.



Not only are these shoes part of a worthy cause, but they are also cute and super stylish. They are made of natural materials and slide on for a relaxed and comfortable fit. They would make a great pair of traveling shoes or slippers for unfamiliar planes and hotel rooms. They fold up fairly small as well, making them good to tuck in the luggage for a honeymoon. Check them out at www.tomsshoes.com

Classic Cocktail Comeback: The Sidecar

The Sidecar was created in Paris during World War I and enjoyed popularity for many years before seemingly falling off the map in the 70s. Any good bartender should know how to make this classic, but many mix it poorly (probably the reason for its decline in popularity). Recently, however, the Cognac Martini has been making a comeback at trendy bars in New York City. Try this recipe for yourself and see why it's fast becoming a hipster favorite!

• 1 1/2 oz bourbon, Cognac or Armagnac
• 3/4 oz Cointreau
• 1/4 oz lemon juice

1. Pour ingredients in a mixing tin with a scoop full of ice.
2. Shake well (6-8 times or until tin is frosted over).
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon wedge (try pineapple or orange if you're feeling sassy!)

Who's the Big Bad Wolf?

There are tons of blogs that get down on the wedding industry, and especially the Biggest, Baddest Wolf of them all, the evil Wedding Planner. They say we are taking brides for a ride on their "big day" and fueling the trend in Bridezillas, but I really wanted to know what the percentages were for each category, who was making the most money in the industry that is reportedly fueled by greed and self indulgence.

What I found, surprised me and I think it's important to outline EVERYTHING that is included in the SIXTY BILLION DOLLAR a year figure that the wedding industry reportedly pumps back into the economy. The number don't include all the money spent on books, magazines and websites created by the bride and groom. How much can that add? My guess is it's equal to the wedding planning figures.

First off, did you know that in 2006 Wedding Registry was a $20,000,000,000 (TWENTY BILLION) dollar a year industry all by itself? That doesn't take into fact all the people working on the wedding, that is just what people spent on gifts for the bride and all the things the bride & groom asked their guests to buy for them in exchange for an invitation to their wedding. That was in 2006, I cannot locate 2008 figures, but with inflation it is safe to assume that it probably went up by a few million.

So here are the stats and what they include....next time you're picking up that Le Creuset pot and you're anti big bad wedding industry...consider that between registry & reception costs that is just under 50% of the industry right there. Then add in Jewelry and you're at 62%. Those three account for over $49,499,852,691 dollar.

Oh, and the big, bad wedding planner who takes everybody's money? 2%

Update: Full stats are available via .pdf download at the end of the post....

The Wedding Registry $20,000,000,000
All Wedding Registrys Combined $20,000,000,000.00

Ceremony: $3,141,133,867
Aisle Runner $115,651,166
Ceremony Location $2,384,867,234
Other Accessories or Decorations - Ceremony $480,346,606
Ring Pillow or Box $78,853,068
Unity Candle $81,415,793

Entertainment $2,569,755,774
Band at ceremony $98,434,913
Band at reception $392,294,013
Dance lessons $253,709,746
DJ at ceremony $298,765,513
DJ at reception $938,395,316
Musician/s at ceremony $410,079,761
Musician/s at reception $178,076,512

Flowers $2,340,140,022
Boutonnieres, Corsages $227,929,174
Bridal Bouquet $323,823,266
Bridesmaid Bouquets $302,160,576
Ceremony Flower Arrangements $513,683,931
Flower Girl Flowers $130,633,249
Flower Petals $133,546,432
Reception Flower Arrangements $708,363,394

Photography/Video: $4,774,246,617
Engagement Photographer $641,820,166
Engagement Videographer $837,813,848
Wedding Photographer $2,332,736,595
Wedding Videographer $961,876,008

Planner: $1,249,492,573
A La Carte Services $111,839,935
Day-of-Coordinator $178,470,777
For Getting Started $84,241,361
Full Service $722,381,717
Month-of-Direction $152,558,783

Reception: $19,201,663,915
Hotel Room for After Reception $415,511,861
Other Accessories or Decorations - Reception $445,191,280
Reception Bar Service $3,537,983,836
Reception Food Service $5,911,264,050
Reception Location $4,349,841,882
Reception Rentals (Tent, Table, Chairs, Etc.) $2,883,065,299
Reception Table Centerpieces $617,967,113
Toasting Flutes $157,881,365
Wedding Cake $699,842,882
Wedding Cake Topper and Serving Set $183,114,347

Source
Want to see it broken down by category, you can download a very large .pdf Excel Spreadsheet Download Weddingindustry reports

A big Thank You to Sasha Souza, who originally shared this on her blog: Sparkliatti!, for allowing me to repost this to share with our Bliss & That readers! Thanks Sasha!

Trendspotting: Spring 2009

They're here for the world to see! Bright, fresh, fun are what I would describe the just released Spring/Summer 2009 color palette.

I love this time of year where we get a sneak peak into what to look for in the spring. The Spring 2009 fashions hit the runways in New York earlier in September. I can't wait to see what awaits us after the winter. Planning a Spring or Summer wedding? Maybe keep these colors in mind when selecting your color scheme.

Sentimental...

I thought this was a very cute and unique idea that I've seen more and more lately.

We are either placing or lighting a candle in memory of family members or close friends who have passed away and are not in attendance at the wedding. Usually we'll have a small flower arrangement on the altar, a flower placed on an empty seat or a candle lit during the candle lighting ceremony with the mothers. I'm so in love with these small lockets that you can place a small picture of a loved one(s) tied to the bridal bouquet. I've had several brides in the past week also carry their grandmothers favorite broach or other family heirloom on their bouquet and it looked really gorgeous! Here's one example. Doesn't it look so nice?

Photo courtesy of La Vie Photography.

Photo courtesy of Timary Lee

photo courtesy of evoke photography