A little something extra for your Bridesmaids!

I don't often post about DIY.... (There are enough out there)
But I came across this one that I LOVE on www.do-it-yourself-weddings.com
Homemade salt or sugar bath scrub! Not just for your girls, but for you as well on the big day. Lets be honest we all love to have glowing soft skin:) It's a fun simple thing to let your bridesmaids know how thankful you are to have them with you on this incredible day!

You will need:

• 3 cups epsom salt (or coarse sea salt)
• 1 cup almond oil (or canola oil or olive oil)
• Essential oils for fragrance (I love gardenia, and classic vanilla)

First measure out your salt and pour into a large container or pot. Measure the almond oil (or olive oil, etc) and slowly pour into the salt while stirring. Finally, add the essential oil to the desired strength.

Essential oils can be mixed and matched to create unique scent combinations for the bath scrub. Here they used grapefruit and lemon which was a bright, refreshing scent. Consider trying green tea with tangerine, or lavendar with sage. Remember though, if you are giving these as gifts, try to stick to scents that others might enjoy. Citrus and minty scents are liked by most people, for example, and most fruits are a good bet too.

There are many containers you can choose for your bath scrub, just make sure that it can be sealed enough so it doesn't leak! Clear glass containers are lovely, and if there is no color to your essential oil you can add just a drop or two of food coloring to your bath scrub. (Just a drop or two will not stain skin when you use the scrub).

I printed out tags for my bath scrub gifts and attached them to the jar with ribbon. You can also print on sticker paper and make real custom labels. You can make up your own name like "Betsy & John's Lemon Heaven Bath Scrub" and you can list ingredients and provide instructions.

These are great bridesmaid gifts and also would be perfect as a hotel gift for out of town guests, or as part of a gift basket. Have fun making your bath scrub & don't forget to make some for yourself too. What better way to relax from the wedding planning stress and get your skin silky smooth!

A different kind of Bouquet

My friend Ashley was in her cousins wedding this past weekend. As I was wondering through all the pics, (scanning for ideas:) I came across this fun idea for bridesmaids!!

Great as well for cutting the cost of your flowers, and Totally reuse able! Simply go to your local garden shop, or craft store and pick up some vintage vases, then use a thick wire to add a handle, add a BIG single flower and your done!

Daily Inspiration

Leslie and John

I am so excited to announce another with Grace couple!!!

John and Leslie met in 1987, when Leslie took one of John's screenwriting seminars.  He admired her engagement ring during a class break, so she invited him over for dinner with her newlywed husband.  He doesn't remember this, but she does, because he didn't bring a date.  Since he encouraged students to keep in touch, Leslie sent John an announcement a few years later about the screening for a film she wrote using his story structure method.  He called and they spoke on the phone for a few minutes while she made dinner for her two young children.  Five books and a literary prize later, Leslie sold another screenplay and got out her notes from his class to begin.  Since nearly everything she'd written using his technique had sold, she decided she owed him a cup of coffee.  Leslie was newly single, dating happily and networking for business with no idea of John's marital status. By now, John was an internationally renowned story consultant with film prizes, a software business, and a new textbook.  John emailed back, offering to buy the coffee.  That coffee lasted so long that that Leslie got a parking ticket.  Surprisingly, John had never married.  He offered to pay for Leslie's parking ticket, then asked if she'd like to have dinner.  She turned down help with the ticket, but accepted the dinner invitation.  And John was so sincere that she was compelled to cancel all the other dates she had lined up for the next few weeks.  On their first weekend trip to Santa Barbara, John, the quiet bachelor with a history of beautiful, brainy girlfriends,  asked Leslie if she would ever marry again.  She said no, never.  She even called "wife" a four-letter word during a network TV interview about her happy divorce novel, Wife Goes On.  She did not want to fall in love or discuss the M word.  Leslie just wanted to have fun.  Three years later, Leslie and John were still having fun.  They travelled to Paris, London, Hawaii, Mexico, Key West, and New York; they wrote books and saw movies, and shared picnics on the beach.  As Leslie's youngest neared high school graduation, she reconsidered her position on marriage.  John admitted that he began clipping articles on how to buy engagement rings several months after they met.  And so, 23 years after their first meeting, John Truby and Leslie Lehr will make their romance official on September 19, 2010 in a sunset ceremony overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Malibu West Beach Club.

After spending the day at a tennis tournament in Palm Desert, John proposed over a romantic dinner at the Cliff house restaurant.  He gave Leslie a party favor ring with a note that read "replace me with a ring to last a lifetime." Then they dug into the file of articles he had been saving and went diamond shopping together.  Leslie has the most beautiful ring in the world - simple, elegant, and dazzling ...just like their romance.

 

Cassie & Oliver

I am so proud to introduce not only a new couple for withGraceproductions, but family to me as well!

Cassandra Copperfield and Oliver Slosser.
Oliver and I grew up together with our moms being best friends for over 30 years. He is more than a friend to me, he is a brother. When Oliver first started dating Cassie over 5 years ago we all were beside ourselves with joy! Oliver has two brothers, Jake and Max, so I was most excited to have another girl in the family :)

Cassie and Oliver are planning a romantic beach wedding here in Malibu at none other than my favorite venue, The Malibu West Beach Club, this coming August!

Check back for more on their "Love Story".

Table Numers that really "Stand" out

My design consultant Carrie and I are always looking for fun and new ideas for table names... I swear sometimes I think we share a brain.... She emailed me this great shot, just after I had picked up some for an engagement party! I found them at Michaels, but I know Joanne's Fabrics has them as well. You can decorate them to fit any theme you have. Adding sparkle, flowers, cloth, and even sand to embellish them even more!

Save the Date "FOREVER"

I have seen some pretty unique ideas for Save the Date cards. It really is endless on what you can do. When Sara and I first talked about them... we were going to do the traditional photo card with a lil info...  As I was digging into my "Creative" box (IE my brian) I though how fun to do an animated like postcard??!!  I came up with this fun idea incorporating The Nightmare before Christmas. Sara and Branden LOVED it!!!!

Meet Sara & Branden!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE when I get a chance to work with a couple who have a totally different view for their wedding, Sara and Branden are the perfect match!!

This amazing pair met when Branden was in his second semester at ASU in Tempe Arizona. Branden noticed Sara in one of his general classes, but in his mind she had no clue he existed. It wasn't until a meeting at a mutual friend (Brian's) house that their eyes met. In Branden's words "That was that!"

As the summer came to an end the pair spent more and more time together, They both approached their Sophomore year with a new budding romance, and they realized that they had met "The One". They moved in with each other for the duration of ASU. Once finished Branden came back to California (his home) and Sara stayed to care for her grandmother. They tried the long distance thing, but in the end it just did not work. After 8 years from the day they met, Sara made the plunge and moved to California to be with the man of her dreams.

Sara and Branden's favorite holiday is non other than "All Hallows Eve" AKA Halloween :) Branden's parents were planning a huge Halloween party and he had planned on proposing to her then. But with some friends advice and a lil anxiety, Branden decided to pop the question that morning before he left for work. So at 5:45am he awoke his Fiance to be (hopefully:) Got on one knee, and told her how excited he was about their first BIG party in their home, he then pulled a ring out from under her pillow and said he never wanted to be alone, and who better to spend the rest of his life with than his best friend. Sara's eyes were barely open at this point, but that didn't matter, she jumped out of bed and into his arms.... saying YES!!!!

From the get-go I felt a connection with these two, then when Sara explained her thoughts on theme...I knew we were a perfect match!!!

We are planning a "Halloween, Vintage, Damask" wedding this coming October, full of Black chandeliers, lace, and scarlet begonias!!! Cannot wait for this one!!

SOOO excited for Kate & David's upcoming Wedding!!!!!!

Just a little introduction to my newest couple Kate and David!!


David grew up in Lakewood, CA and went to St. John Bosco High School.  He graduated from the University of Southern California in 2003 with a degree in Civil Engineering.  David has worked for Nabih Youssef Associates Structural Engineers since 2003 in downtown LA.  He recently passed his Structural Engineering license exam!

Kate grew up in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska and moved to Wichita, KS before her freshman year of high school.  She graduated from the University of Kansas in 2006 and received her masters from Stanford University in 2007.  Kate has worked for Nabih Youssef Associates Structural Engineers in downtown LA since 2008.

David and Kate met while both working at NYA.  After a couple months of getting to know each other, David finally asked Kate on a date.  They started the night out with dinner at Violet, a Spanish tapas restaurant, got a drink at the bar next door and then decided on a whim to ride the Santa Monica ferris wheel since Kate was new to LA and had never done so. 

While skiing in Mammoth Mountain over New Years weekend, David took Kate to the top of the mountain to stop for a ski break and look at the observatory.  After a few minutes of reading the mountain's history and checking out the nearby mountain peaks, they went outside to a private area to take pictures of the beautiful scenery.  David asked Kate to stand back a bit while he got down one knee to take some pictures.  He asked her to come closer and then popped the question! 

 

Something Blue

My dear friend Laura Harkin had one of the most amazing wedding I have ever been to. She married the man of her dreams and it was such a spectacular weekend on the Fourth of July last year up in Roseville California. One of my favorite details was her "Something Blue" You can find these "I DO" Swarovski crystal stickers on Etsy.com in almost any color!

Daily Inspiration

Looking for the perfect Bridesmaid's Dress? Look no further!

I have an addiction to the Fox LA morning news with Jillian, Dorthy, and Steve.. Yes I know but I can't help it, I have to blame my mother for it. She had me watching it since I was in grade school! I always come across great ideas on the show with local vendors (which I LOVE) To use in my weddings. 
We all have heard the "You can shorten it, and wear it again!" Well let's be honest, most of the time you really can't. I Absolutely LOVE this idea for a bride getting married on or near the beach, or even for a formal affair!

Twobirds Bridesmaids Dresses can be worn 15 different ways and come in over 30 colors!!
I think this is such a great summer dress for almost ANY occasion. It is light and comfy, and I have to say actually does look great in all the different styles. Here are a few of my favorites.

Check them out at www.twobirdsbridemaid.com today!!
and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/twobirds-bridesmaid/61059722690?v=wall

Daily Inspiration

I would not mind being here right now......LOVE

Sweet Lady Jane Cakes!

If you are looking for the "Not so traditional" Wedding cake, look no further! Sweet Lady Jane (off melrose) has Incredible cakes for every occasion. Brooke and Craig chose them for their wedding cake and it was to die for!

http://sweetladyjane.com/

I love this one.... Traditional yet different!

Daily Inspiration

can't go wrong with the silhouette shot..... LOVE

Daily Inspiration

LOVE.....Getting inspired for Sara & Branden... (introduction to come)