all things beautiful

Tuesday, January 17

Latest Bridal Trends

Sweetheart Neckline with Natural Waist Gowns
Textured Skirts
Vintage inspired decor with lots of chandeliers and flowers
Different bridesmaids dresses for each bridesmaid
Tall, blossoming center pieces
Lace, lots of lace
Headbands on brides
Hair down
Messy, yet romantic braids
Brooch sashes around waistline of gown
Creative escort cards
Long veils
Large, textured cakes
Dessert bars
Subtle pops of color
Classic photography
Unique venues
Gown hanger with married last name
Creative party favors
Long Tables
Floral robes while getting ready for the big day

Here are some images of my favorite weddings I saw today on my favorite wedding blog stylemepretty.com

"Mrs. Callahan"

Sweetheart Neckline with Natural Waist, Textured Skirt & Brooch Sash

Long Veil

Unique Venue

Vintage, Romantic, Chandelier

Unique, Adorable, Vintage, Romantic

Classic, chic photography

Unique Venue

Long Table

Romantic Braid

Unique Favors

Wednesday, January 11

From Hermès to Eternity by Laura Jacobs

Artisans and their creations at the Hermès leather workshop in Pantin. Photographs by Todd Eberle.

For those of you who have or those of you who want, there is a great article about the artisans behind Hermes in Vanity Fair. With the price tag of a Birkin starting around $7,000 now, many people may wonder why the large price tag. The artisans meticulously work on each Birkin, spending between 18 to 25 hours creating it. The Paris workrooms produce only five Birkins per week, which then are supplied world wide. It now makes sense why the wait lists are so long.

Almost two centuries ago, a royal coronation might be delayed until the arrival of its exquisitely stitched Hermès carriage fittings, just as today even the richest women must wait for an exquisitely stitched Hermès Birkin bag. With the family-run French company passing to a sixth generation, the author chronicles its rise to global pre-eminence, where a modern aesthetic meets the humble tools—awls, mallets, needles, knives, and stones—of unsurpassed tradition.

For 28 years, from 1978 to 2006, the most quotable voice in retail—pragmatic, poetic—came from Jean-Louis Dumas, the head of a company that in every other way speaks with its hands. It is an old company with a Protestant spine and a Parisian perfectionism, one of the oldest family-owned-and-controlled companies in France. Its name alone prompts sighs of desire among those in the know, and those in the know run the gamut from French housewife to fashionista to queen (both kinds), from social climber to Olympic equestrian to C.E.O. The name itself is a sigh, a flight, and its proper pronunciation must often be taught. “Air-mez”—as in the messenger god with winged sandals. Mischievous, witty, ingenious Hermès.

“We don’t have a policy of image, we have a policy of product.”

Read the entire article:

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/09/hermes200709

Sunday, January 8

Internship

I am so excited to share with all of you that I have an interview on Tuesday with Mindy Weiss for a spring internship. I am so beyond excited I can't even begin to explain. Interning/working with Mindy Weiss would be an opportunity of a lifetime to learn from the best and to hopefully one day be a part of her incredible team. For those of you who don't know, Mindy Weiss, is one of the best (the best in my opinion) wedding planners in the world. She is known for her red-carpet client list and her creative taste. She is truly an inspiration and would be a dream to work with. She has planned events for Fergie & Josh Duhamel; Ellen Degeneres & Portia Rossi; Katy Perry and Russell Brand, Hilary Duff and Mike Comer, Lala Vasquez and Carmelo Anthony, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden; Heidi Klum & Seal; Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale; Kimberly Williams & Brad Paisley; Kate Beckinsale & Len Weisman; and Trista & Ryan of ABC’s “The Bachelorette” televised wedding. She’s also created baby showers for Ashlee Simpson, Nicole Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Denise Richards and Brooke Shields. In addition, she’s thrown parties for everyone from Sting to Pink. She also plans free events for The Carousel of Hope Ball for Childhood Diabetes and The Race to Erase MS which I absolutely love. She has a huge heart and seems like the sweetest lady ever. For more information on her and her portfolio go to http://mindyweiss.com/ and follow her blog at http://mindyweissblog.com/. Please pray for me on Tuesday morning as this would be an opportunity of a lifetime.

Some of her incredible events

Wednesday, January 4

Confession: I am WEDDING obsessed

My love for all things beautiful has officially transpired into my new-found passion for event planning. I am absolutely obsessed. My first experience with event planning began at a young age when I watched my Mother flawlessly plan rendezvous for their clients, my sisters glamorous wedding, and dinner parties like it was effortless. I then attended Pepperdine and joined Kappa where I was appointed Events Chairman and planned my first two events for 150 people. The events were both a success and were so much fun to plan. I have always had an eye for detail and for creativity so I guess you could say this is a natural progression. Being able to use my skills was so fulfilling and since then I have decided to go the event planning route (hopefully) when I graduate in April. I literally stalk wedding blogs like stylemepretty.com, inspiredbythis.com, weddinggawker.com, pinterest.com and etsy.com, etc. for new photos of events and weddings. I also follow Mindy Weiss (who is my role-model) for creative ideas and inspiration, as well as Rachel Ashwell from Shabby Chic for vintage inspiration. I am in love with event planning and I am so looking forward to taking you guys on my journey with me. From now on, I will continue posting about my life and exciting events but I am also going to be sharing inspirational shots from beautiful weddings and events as well as my thoughts on currents trends in event planning. I hope that you all enjoy and are prepared to embark on this journey with me! Thank you all for your continued love and support.

Some of my favorite & beautiful images

Miracles

Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.

This has been on my heart a lot lately. I truly believe in miracles and I am believing for incredible miracles in 2012. Reflecting upon 2011 in my previous blog post made me realize that miracles happen every day in my life that I do not even take the time to realize or to thank God for. I am feeling truly blessed today and needed to be reminded that nobody deserves to be abandoned. No matter how much they have hurt you or how terrible they have been, they still deserve to be loved. After all, doesn't love conquer all? I've definitely been betrayed more times than I can count in my lifetime and have truthfully held grudges and have found it difficult to forgive but this year I am committing to love. I am committing to loving those who have hurt me and I am committing to loving life every single day. Life is full of blessings and miracles each day and if you do not take the time to stop and realize, then what is the point?

Tuesday, January 3

Words of Inspiration

Monday, January 2

A Year in Review

2011 was an interesting year. It was a jam packed year full of trials that shaped the woman that I am today. Each day taught me something new. Each day brought up various emotions. Each day lead me one step closer to 2012, the year that I graduate from Pepperdine and feel will be the best yet. 2011 was one of the most testing years I have had thus far but I would not take it back for a minute. I have grown immensely and am closer to fulfilling my dreams now more than ever before. Despite the hardships, I cannot complain because I am still so fortunate and so blessed. 2011 showed me that it is okay to face your emotions and that it is okay to be yourself. 2011 was the year that I started All Things Beautiful, turned 21, traveled to San Francisco and Santa Barbara for sister weekends, saw some of the most beautiful sunset's, sunrise's and rainbow's I have ever seen, worked harder than I have ever worked before, discovered my passion for event planning, fell in love with Seattle (again), spent fourth of July in Newport with some of my best friends, began my internship at Christian Dior, traveled to Grace's mountain cabin (one of my favorite places), planned two Kappa formals at the Thompson Beverly Hills Hotel and the Marina Del Ray Yacht Club, celebrated my niece Savannah's fifth birthday, celebrated my nephew Justice's second birthday, celebrated my Mom's 61st birthday, my Dad's 60th birthday, Heather's 33rd birthday, and Sarah's 36th birthday, found an incredible church in Los Angeles--RealityLA, felt closer to God than ever before, renewed my sense of self, fell in love with Pinterest, kayaked on Lake Washington for the first time, said my Kappa is at my last sorority recruitment, picked up Savannah from her first day of Kindergarten, celebrated the 9/11 memorial with over 3,000 flags at Pepperdine University, ventured to Catalina for Claire's birthday weekend, won Derby Days for the 9th year in a row, built a 5-tier styrofoam cake, took incredible walks on the beach, and developed great friendships that I know will be life long. Looking back, the good outweigh the bad and maybe my year wasn't so bad after all. I am feeling blessed today and am looking forward to what 2012 will bring. To prep for the upcoming year I am planning to live by faith and am going to trust every single day.