Happy Halloween!

Okay, so I am going to take a quick break from our regular programming to show you the 80s Cafe (aka the Girls and Guy of The Office)! We decided as a group that our theme this year would be 80s, and the one instigator of the theme decided to NOT dress up! (yes, you, Kim!) But here is everyone else - I hope you get a giggle!From Left to Right: Shea, Me, John and Brandy Gotta love Shea's blue eye make up and her side pony and crimped hair! It's totally bitchin' dude!Brandy with her knee high socks, rainbow eye make up, nails each a different color, her hair has streaks of gold along with several braids- her layers of cloths, yeah, there are no...

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Q&A: Ask the Pro's! Wedding Cakes!

I came across a great local article on Wedding Cakes by one of my favorite bakers, Debbie Welch-Busser, from Ms. Debbie's Sugar Art - I found the article in our Local Wedding and Reception Magazine, and I thought I'd share it with ya'll.Q. When should I start shopping for my wedding cake?A. Answers range from 4 to 12 months. Many specialized wedding cake designers limit the number of wedding cakes they do and can have some of the more popular wedding dates booked as much as 12 months in advance. You should call and inquire about your date's availability then request a consultant to see the designer's personal work and discuss ideas, budget and...

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Studio - Almost Done!

We have been working so hard on my new studio - furniture is coming together. The television is mounted, all we are waiting on is the tables - which were supposed to be here in 3-8 weeks, eight weeks is this weekend, and there is no sign of the tables! The photographers I love are bringing images for me later this week! Thanks Caroline Johnson Photography and Powers Photography! I am just getting so excited...

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I'm so Lucky to have this Guest Blogger!

I feel so blessed and Lucky to have Erin from Lucky Designs guest Blogging for us! She has such a great story, and her work is just so beautiful! Her monograms are so personal, with such a unique and classic approach. So without further ado, here is Erin!Happy Monday to the readers of Masterpiece Weddings. Melissa has been kind enough to invite me to guest blog today. As a newlywed, I loved planning my wedding. As a result of many compliments on our wedding stationary, I began Lucky Designs (with the help of my family). I greatly enjoy creating invitations, monograms, etc. for brides and their fiancés.For those of you planning a wedding, shower,...

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Sydney and Peyton!

You guys are too cute! Yes, Sydney and Peyton are twins. And by chance, I just so happen to totally agree with all of you that they are totally adorable! I have gotten a so many emails today from you all asking about the girls - and thank you, I am super duper proud! I can't wait to see them!!!They just turned one earlier this year - YES they are twins, for those of you who thought my sister was just THAT fast.For the baby shower I did in fact make each of the girls a quilt - for those of you that just assumed I did. I personalized each on with their names on the bottom - her colors are pinks and browns. I think it's purdy!Any other questions,...

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Off to West Palm Beach!

Here we go again! I am leaving for West Palm Beach today (well technically tomorrow) for an 80th Birthday Party! So fun!But as an aside, I get to see my nieces that just turned one! Sydney and Peyton, here I commmmmeeee!!!!I am really excited, it should be a blast! I'll let you know all about it when I get back (the Party), and hopefully include some photographs for you to take a peek at.I hope you have a great weekend! I hope you have something amazing planned, and if you have no plans at all, that's perfect too!Introducing Sydney and Peyton: (Peyton is the one crawling closer to the came...

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One Final Tip on Tipping!

Tapped Out Yet?Well here's some good news: There are some people you don't have to tip. It is easy to remember that you don't tip the owner of a business, but instead tip the people working for that owner. In addition, the florist, bakery, and bridal shop will not be expecting a gratuity, nor will the invitation or party rental companies. Thank-you notes are, as always, universally and eternally appreciated.However if you feel like ANY of your vendors have gone over and above and beyond the "call of duty" then a tip is always appreciated.Yup! That's me working on 352 amazing butto...

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Tipping, Part Cuatro!

I was sort of over the french themed numbers after Deux.... so on to Spanish!So who are these lucky recipients of your generosity? We'll begin with the first person you may encounter and then walk through the rest of the day.· Hair, Makeup & Nails: Whether you go to the salon or the pros come to you, you tip the hair stylist, makeup artist, and manicurist just as you would normally, about 15% to 20%. If the bridal party is paying for their own services, it's nice if you take care of the gratuities, but of course it's not necessary.· Wedding Coordinator: I am alittle hesitant to essentially talk about tipping myself, but why not.... Maybe...

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Tipping, Part Trois!

Welcome back for another fun filled edition of Gratuity, and You! It's your hard earned money - so who gets it and how much, that's the question, and I am here to help!· Musicians (ceremony and reception): Whether an organist or string quartet is accompanying you down the aisle, if you're cutting a rug to a 12-piece swing band or a single DJ, tipping the musicians is completely optional. If you do decide to "show them the money," calculate $20 to $25 for each member.· Photographer/Videographer: This is completely optional. If you're paying top dollar for their fees, they shouldn't be expecting a gratuity. However, a thank-you in the form of cash...

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Tipping Part Deux!

So who are the lucky recipients of your hard earned moola? Let's start with where the most of your money goes, the Food.Banquet Manager, Maitre d': This is where it's very important to check if you're already paying a service charge. If gratuity is not included in your bill total, figure from $200 to $300 as a tip, depending on the size of your wedding. This amount should go to the person in charge of your reception; if there's more than one person in charge, divide the gratuity among them.Caterer & Waitstaff: If your reception isn't in a hotel or club, there's a good chance your caterer has to work out of a tent or minimally equipped kitchen,...

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Tips on Tipping! Part 1

This week a bunch of my clients have been asking about gratuity. So I figured they probably aren't the only ones with these questions. I am going to dedicate the rest of the week to tipping your wedding vendors. So, you feel pretty confident that you've completed calculating costs for the big day. But wait -- before you close that budget binder, did you remember to include tips? Technically, no one should expect tips, but many vendors might, since tipping has become standard practice. Depending on where you're getting married, the protocol will vary. Here is a simple rule of the thumb: most of the time you tip employees, not owners. Don't add...

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Cluster it!

I love the look of all one flower or all one color clustered together. I just think it looks so pretty! I had recently seen the most amazing all Carnation arrangements, Carnations, can you believe it! And they were absolutely incredible! Just keep in mind a great cost saving idea is to use all one flower (an inexpensive one) and use a fair amount of them - it'll look great! I guarantee it! Check out these great Martha Stewart idea using a lot of carnatio...

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Everyone's Favorite Awesome Baker, Blogs!

Charm City Cakes Blogs! Yep! Check it out, Mary Alice is bloging for the bakery! She's showing behind the scenes funness, and great pictures and video's it's gonna be Awwwwesome!...

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Big Announcement!

I've been waiting and waiting to announce this - but I think the time has come! MasterPiece Weddings Studio is opening SOON!I am so excited to finally show you pictures, and get you up to date! Our furniture started coming in, and our favorite photographers are coming in with their pictures for our walls soon - and I think it's starting to look really homey! Don't you!Before:Wood Floor Going in!:Wood Floor Done! And Furniture Entering the Room!:Our Door, just because, well, I'm On The Door:More Updates to come! We are officially opening November 1...

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Lourdes and Andrew are Hitched!

Lourdes and Andrew got married in Miami - and it was beautiful, and super personal, I mean after all that is what a wedding is all about, right! The joining together of two families, two very unique families and starting one anew!Lourdes' mom grows amazing Orchids, her bouquet bookmark was from her mother's garden, which I think is just amazing!The bread that is being carried down the aisle is a Ukrainian tradition, by the beautiful, Abigail in her Traditional Ukrainian outfit! This bread has been around and carried down from generation to generation! It's gorgeous!Andrew is a sword collector, so they HAD to cut the cake with a huge very sharp...

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Relax, it's just Yoga!

I think that some people find Yoga intimidating. Even I did, before I started practicing Yoga regularly - I went out and bought 2 Yoga DVD's, because I couldn't show up at Yoga class and not know anything... but now I have a routine, on Wednesday and Fridays I do Yoga first thing in the morning - 6AM. And I love it, it starts my day off with both relaxation and strength training. My instructor, Anisa, is amazing! Probably the best Yoga instructor E.V.E.R! She's patient and kind, and well, the best Yoga instructor ever!But even if you can't have Anisa - you might want to consider practicing Yoga - or letting your clients know that it's a good...

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First and Only Certified Organic FDA Approved Baker!!!

In honor of Blog Action Day (okay, week) I wanted to let you know that a good friend of mine at Erickson Design told me that Bleeding Heart Bakery in Chicago is the first complete certified organic bakery in the country!!!You might remember them from the EXTREME Cake Challenge on the Food Network, the one where Duff, Geof and Mary Alice judged. Did you see that one? They were the way cool couple that did the upside down spinning cake. It was way cool. I think it's pretty great that they are doing everything they can to make the Earth a better place and still keeping our sweet tooth's satisfied!And our friends at Erickson Design are planting a...

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Getting Inspired!

After a bazillion wedding pictures, 352,000 magazine snap shots, 923,000 opinions how do you find your personal inspiration. How do you determine what you want. It's no easy task!Look around you, look at flowers, paintings (and not necessarily wedding themed paintings), take a look at things that you like everyday - your favorite tree, your favorite car, your cup of coffee, or your favorite china pattern. Just take a look a the things you look at everyday, but look at them differently. I love creating boards for my clients of random photographs (mostly wedding related photo's) although this is from Liquid Sky to see how beautiful and sometimes...

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Welcome to Miami!

I just got back from an amazing wedding in Miami! Lourdes and Andrew - thank you for including me in your plans! I hope to get your pictures up here as soon as possible! You both are an amazing couple! The ceremony was so personal, the reception was as beautiful as the two of you! I hope you are having a blast in Napa Valley!Lourdes did so many things to make sure the event was classy - and make sure to include both of their heritages! Lourdes' family speaks Spanish and Andrew's is Ukrainian, so Lourdes did her vows in Ukrainian and Andrew did his in Spanish, the families kept the theme in the reception doing the toasts in multiple languages,...

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Being 3 Rocks!

Harrison turned 3 and he loves food and helping his mommy and daddy cook! So his mommy wanted to plan a party for 3 year old's to make food, and do a food themed party! How fun, right! (or she's insane to have a bunch of 3 year old's cooking in her beautiful home) but it turned out amazing! They made their own Pretzels, and Pizza, and Whoopie Pies! Mommy and I made Popcorn Tubs Cupcakes and I made a Hot dog Birthday cake, it was just a blast! See for yourself!Happy Birthday again Harrison!The 3 Year Old Chefs!It's Pizza Time!The Final Pizza Product! Perfect in every way, no?The Hot Dog Cake and Cupcakes!Birthday Boy and Whoopie Pies Unwrapp...

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