Super Thanks!

A special thanks to Katee Grace who included Smitten on her blog! I'm flattered...and charmed by her work. Check out her blog at Katee Grace Blog to read all about it.

Also, I apologize for not writing as much as I'd like....so here's the big news! Yes, I'm pregnant! The doctor said my energy should be returning now and though I'm prego-scatter brained, you should start to see a lot more on the blog! Thanks for all your patience and support!

Katee Grace Photography Contest

I'm very excited to share Katee Grace Photography giveaway with you! She's a very talented photographer based in Santa Barbara (yes, she does travel, thankfully!) and she will be giving away a photography package for one lucky couple!

Simply write about your love story (and include a digital photo of you and your sweetheart) by July 25 and email it to Katee to enter at katee@kateegrace.com.

Katee suggestes including in your story: "How did the two of you meet? What makes your heart race about your soul mate? What are you most looking forward to about marrying the love of your life and living your happily ever after?I would also love to hear how you will translate your personal flavor into the details of your special day. Are you keeping it small and intimate using Grandmas fine china and heirloom linen in the family backyard? Or are you declaring your love in a poppy filled field with tall grass at sunset? I can't wait to read your Love Story!"

You can get the full details at the Katee Grace Blog.

As featured on Style Me Pretty

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Two of my most favorite clients to date are Michelle and Henry who were recently married. They tied the knot at the Sugarman Estate in Maui. It was a beautiful ceremony full of personal touches- like a French Fry station and displaying photos from their travels, hung whimsically on trees throughout the property.

Today I discovered their wedding featured on Style Me Pretty! Unfortunately there weren't any pictures of the invitations, but I promise I'll take some nice ones and showcase them Asap! The sweet story behind the monkey-themed invitations is that Michelle and Henry were both nicknamed "monkey" growing up. They really wanted to showcase their sweet affection for each other and with the amazing help of Evonne (from Events by Evonne) they were able to tie in all the details that made their wedding beautiful and touching. If you'd like more pictures, be sure to visit Away Soiree.

Vendors: Events by Evonne, Cakes by JoAnn, Catering from Soup to Nuts, Kahaiali`i Productions, Bella Bloom Floral Boutique, Smitten Invitations, Pacific Event Group, Photography by Dulce by Visionari, Pacific Isle Rentals, Dress by Pronovias

Tejani Trunk Show

Ladies, FYI: Tejani is having a trunk show here in Los Angeles April 17-19!

Plus they're offering a 15% discount for all purchases made at the trunk show, so make an appointment, grab your maids, and pick out some serious glam. Visit Tejani to schedule an appointment.

April 17 — 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

April 18 — 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

April 19 — 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The Bridal Bar

624 N. Doheny Drive

Los Angeles, CA

Preston Bailey's DIY

Talented Ms. Khris of the DIY Bride has some exciting wedding news to share! Preston Bailey, the uber-talented wedding planner is offering a complete how-to guide and resource manual to create the Wedding Bell (the table setting above) from his book “Celebrations.”

On April 06, 2009, Preston will offer a limited number 1,000 of copies of Wedding Bell for sale to the public. To get your discounted copy be sure to visit the DIY Bride
Blog to get your coupon code.

Congrats to Jose Villa and Our Labor of Love

Flipping through my mother-in-law's most recent copy of Professional Photographer Magazine I wasn't at all surprised to find my two favorite photographers Jose Villa and Our Labor of Love as featured photographers! Of course they would be in a magazine where the true cream of the crop photographers are listed! So congrats to them, and here's a little snippet about each of them.

Jose Villa Photography

Jose Villa Photography is available for travel world wide. He writes, "I am a fine art wedding photographer…ultimately my goal is to craft vibrant, energetic, fine art images that are as unique as the people in the photographs."

(Images courtesy of Jose Villa's Blog)

Our Labor of Love Photography
Our Labor of Love is a husband-wife team that are known for capturing spontaneous moments. They write, "We sincerely hope you're…interested in unique photographs that capture real beauty rather than robo-photos that pasteurize originality. We think you, your family celebrations, your friends and your true loves are beautiful and any images that represent these milestones should illustrate the pure joy in these moments."

(Images courtesy of Our Labor of Love's Blog)

Melissa's Smitten in Brides Magazine

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A super-duper hooray! If you have your latest edition of Brides Magazine nearby, flip over to page 442. Scan through the 75 Best Wedding Web Sites until you find the Ideas section. One, two, three, four down...and there it is! Melissa's Smitten Blog has been listed as one of the best wedding websites! And if you haven't seen them yet, be sure to check out the Sweet Citrus and the Asian Fusion wedding inspiration boards they mention.

Can I say hooray long or loud enough?

Friendly Blog Reciprocation

Many thanks to Savadelis Films for mentioning me on their blog!

Jewel wrote, "...she (Melissa) also has a big heart. She understands brides who crave style, but are on a budget. So, she has came up with an incredible idea. She created artwork which you can purchase to design your own invitation. You personalize the design (save the date, note card, or program), send it in and it will be reviewed by a typographer. The final art will be mailed to you on a CD. Then you print the invitations. Mission accomplished! Style on a budget. What a thoughtful lady!"

Thanks again Jewel and Chuck! And to my readers, be sure to tune in tomorrow when I share some very exciting DIY news from Savadelis Films!

Recycled Wrapping Paper

I love good press! Thanks to Bridal Cheek who liked my wrapping paper idea! It's eco-friendly, super cute and easy to do!

Starry Eyed Bride wrote, "Well, that's a great idea!! Beautiful, a little funky, a lot unique, and getting more use out of the waaaaaaay too many bridal mags we all have!"

Reminder for DK Designs Giveaway

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Don't forget to send in your entries daily for a better chance to win! So far we've had over 100 entries, and with a week left to go, you'll want to enter as much as possible for the decidedly amazing clay flowers.

Diane of DK Designs is having an exciting giveaway of her amazing clay flowers! Be sure to email all your friends to let them know about this fun giveaway! Special thanks to Snippet & Ink, Victoria with Roses, A Lucky Orchid Wedding, and With This Ring for helping spread the word about the contest!

This contest has closed.

(Contest ends at 12 midnight, November 7, 2008. Winners will be randomly selected. You will not increase your chances of winning by purchasing a product from DK Designs or Smitten Invitations. You do not need to be married or engaged to enter, simply omit the wedding date in your entry. One entry per person per day. Winners will be notified by email and will be announced on Melissa's Smitten blog.)

Giambattista Valli Truck Show, NY

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This exciting news is for all the ladies near New York. Giambattista Valli is having a trunk show taking place at luxury retailer Bergdorf Goodman on October 28th and 29th from 10am to 4pm. This will be the exclusive launch of Vallis debut bridal collection, so the gowns will not be available in any other stores!

Giambattista Valli's gowns are stunning, I've included my favorites from his Bridal Collection. And for any ladies marrying in the Winter, look at his wraps! They're amazing! Any of you that attend this event, be sure to bring cameras and take plenty of pics to share with us!

DK Designs: Clay Flowers Giveaway!

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Diane of DK Designs is having an exciting giveaway of her amazing clay flowers! One entry per person per day. Be sure to email all your friends to let them know about this fun giveaway! Special thanks to Snippet & Ink and With This Ring for helping spread the word about the contest!

This contest has closed.

Gardenia Hair Flower - $20 value:

Gardenias are a very popular flower to wear in your hair on your wedding day. Why not try a handcrafted gardenia hair flower! This way it will last you through the ceremony, reception and beyond! The gardenias are slightly off-white, but not ivory. They are 3.5 inches in diameter and are VERY lightweight. The flowers are attached to a U-shape hairpin to fit securely in your up-do or low-do hairstyle.

Passionate about Peonies - $100 value:

This arrangement is called, Passionate about Peonies. It measures 6 inches high by 7 inches across the top. It's filled with light pink and fuchsia pinkish-red peonies, both in full bloom and in bud form! The full bloom peonies have over 30 petals, all handcrafted one petal at a time. The flowers are arranged in a 3 inch square white ceramic cube vase. If you love peonies, you will absolutely love this floral arrangement.

Gardenias in Something Blue - $75 value:

This beautiful light blue latte cup is brimming with gardenia blossoms! 2 buds, 2 half open and 3 full gardenias mixed with some light blue floral fillers finish this piece off. It measures approximately 6 inches in diameter and 4.5 inches high. It's clean, stylish and sophisticated. This would make a great gift for a bride or even a centerpiece for a bridal shower!

The flowers are all handcrafted by the artist featured on the Martha Stewart Show, utilizing CLAYCRAFT by DECO soft clay, which enables the artist to create lifelike flowers one petal at a time. Diane’s work has been featured in For the Bride Magazine, In Style Weddings Magazine (via http://www.estiloweddings.com/) and Pacific Rim Weddings Magazine. The bulk of the Diane's work is in custom bridal bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres and other floral decor.

(Contest ends at 12 midnight, November 7, 2008. Winners will be randomly selected. You will not increase your chances of winning by purchasing a product from DK Designs or Smitten Invitations. You do not need to be married or engaged to enter, simply omit the wedding date in your entry. One entry per person per day. Winners will be notified by email and will be announced on Melissa's Smitten blog.)

Customized Bridal Party Jewelry

I've been e-chatting with Bonnie of BonitaJ Jewelry (which offers fully customizable bridal and bridesmaid jewelry). She wanted to share her expertise tips on selecting your wedding jewelry. Since I adore her work, and since she knows what she's talking about, I thought it'd be a pretty good idea. She also has a special treat! BonitaJ.com is offering an exclusive coupon to the Melissa’s Smitten Blog readers. Save 15% Off of your entire order with the coupon code: MELISSA2008 used during checkout. There is no minimum order required.

(I designed this fall inspiration board based off Bonita J's Jewelry)

"Your bridesmaids are your closest friends and family and selecting beautiful bridesmaid jewelry for them to wear for your special day is a great gift idea. All bridesmaids have different personalities and preferences and finding jewelry that frames their individuality is the perfect thank you gift.

This is a popular trend for brides recently. Using the same color palettes as your guide, you can choose completely different jewelry for all of your maids and have it look great. The perfect way to have a congruent look while expressing unique individuality would be to purchase the same necklace or bracelet for all of your bridesmaids and then selecting a different pair of earrings for each girl.

Your bridesmaids will be delighted with jewelry that compliments their own style. For example, since it is the fall season, say your color palette is browns and coppers, you can find earrings that all use the same family of colors together but have completely different designs. The easiest way to accomplish this is to use a jewelry designer that uses Swarovski crystals and pearls for their designs. Swarovski offers the highest quality bead with the most sparkle and truest hues. They have a multitude of color options, so finding your own perfect match is easy.

Selecting bridesmaid jewelry that is unique to your maids personal tastes is the best way to give a gift that can be used again. Most of your bridesmaids will not wear their gowns again, but they can have great accessories that fit them perfectly and wear them over and over."

Thanks again Bonnie for your excellent advice!!

Photos courtesy of Martha Stewart, Ann Hamilton, and Mary Jane Photography.

Mindy Weiss Booksigning

(Melissa and Mindy)

I met the amazing Mindy Weiss at the Bridal Salon in Beverly Hills. She's amazingly talented (being a planner to the stars) but I was surprised at her level of kindness and friendliness. I can spot a fake salesperson-smile a mile off, but not Mindy- she's very genuine and warm.

She was signing copies of her new book The Wedding Book: The Big Book for Your Big Day. Amazingly helpful! I would recommend you get a copy today! Having planned events for Heidi Klum and Seal, Avril Lavigne, and Gwen Stefani, she knows weddings inside out. She also has tips on how to make a big impression on a smaller budget. This is one wedding planning book you won't regret purchasing- in addition to her other amazing wedding planning items and gifts.

Wedding Salon Beverly Hills

This year's Wedding Salon is quickly approaching! I'll be there with the crowds passing out Melissa's Smitten postcards so be sure to find me if you'll be attending!

This year's Los Angeles event is Monday September 22, from 4pm -9pm at the The Beverly Hills Hotel (they also have shows in Florida and New York). This event will also be featuring a book signing by planner extraordinaire, Mindy Weiss. Be sure to check out their video presentation as well. Get your tickets today and I'll see you there!

From last year's Wedding Salon: Renee Strauss poses with model photo by Marsaili McGrath. Cake by Sylvia Weinstock, cupcakes by Leda's Bakeshop. Photos courtesy of Splash Magazine.

Ritzy Bee Blog

I am so honored to say that Melissa's Smitten has been included in the Ritzy Bee Blog best of series! I love theRitzy Bee Blog, her posts are a continual inspiration to me, her taste and events are scrumptious, her wedding know-how is extensive. If you haven't read her blog yet, be sure to check it out today!

The Wedding Salon

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I'll be attending this year's Wedding Salon, will you? The Wedding Salon is the world's first luxury wedding showcase, featuring must-have products and services for the sophisticated bride and groom. I promise, it's not at all a typical bridal expo- it's a wedding immersion! Really!

It's not jam packed full of frightful vendors- these are Los Angeles' elite vendors. And instead of typical booths, the event is organized into a reception, a ceremony, etc. So each part of a wedding is tastefully designed to show off great products for each aspect of your wedding. And bring your fiancé! Trust me, he'll actually like this event- they have a groom's lounge where he can get complimentary pampering, pool tables, etc.

This year's Los Angeles event is Monday September 22, from 4pm -9pm at the The Beverly Hills Hotel (they also have shows in Florida and New York). Be sure to check out their video presentation as well. Get your tickets today and I'll see you there!

Smitten Invitations Thermography

I know I've had a lot of big news lately, but I've been a busy bee! Smitten Invitations is now offering our fabulous wedding invitations in thermography printing (in addition to our top-notch letterpress printing).

Thermography printing is an elegant yet inexpensive look for wedding invitations. For our cards, we'll be first using an offset printer (with a result similar to a high-end ink jet printer) for the graphics that will leave bold, solid colors, but no noticeable indent. Then we'll do the text in thermography.

Thermography printing is a modern invention, mimicking the look of engraved stationery. While the ink is still wet, a powder is added to the letters and then set with heat. The result is raised text which you can feel if you run your fingers across the paper. Paired with our thick, velvety paper, our thermography printed invitations are worth getting excited about!

The Knot TV

I'm sure many of you are aware, but for those who aren't The Knot on Demand TV is available online 24/7. You can see gown designers such as Angel Sanchez, get beauty tips from Vivienne Duebbert, and shopping tips from the likes of Leila Sbitani. You can soothe your wedding addiction at any time with these great videos.

Win Jewelry by Roberta Chiarella

Want to to score beautiful accessories for you and your maids by jewelry designer, Roberta Chiarella?

InStyle Weddings is hosting the Roberta Chiarella's giveaway. To enter to win, submit your best wedding fashion and style tip in 100 words to less to weddings@instylemag.com.

Click here for complete contest rules.