Atha Sharod Bridal Event

    Sunday afternoons should be special and today was that indeed ! I went to Loft on Lake ,saw old friends and met new ones. The Bridal event was planned by
the warm & welcoming team from A La Moda Events .The lovely ladies to the left are
dressed in the gorgeous gowns of Atha Sharod Bridal. Susan Metropolis of The Left Bank was there with her fantastic jewelry & a pair of solid rhinestone pumps ! The food & sweets were fantastic,but best of all I was able to meet the incomparable Bridal photographer Tuan H. Bui and Sandra Smith Dohgmi
of Red Carpet Concierge.
   Everyone there was so kind ! It ended the weekend on a fabulous upnote.  Enjoy your week, Wendy

             The first time I saw Carla Reiter's Jewelry I was in awe. She literally
knits silver and gold to fashion her one of a kind, never seen before stunning
pieces. Her pink quartz collection (necklace on the right) is particularly well suited for bridal wear.
               I think that this quote from her website speaks volumes about
the artist and her work:
                       Carla began knitting metal in order to make a necklace she imagined and couldn’t make any other way. The possibilities of the technique captivated her, as did the way it felt to wear. “It’s surprisingly soft and caressing,” she says. “Very sensual.”
                     
Each piece in Carla’s limited-production and one-of-a-kind collection is made with a woman’s body in mind. “When I’m working, I’m constantly trying the piece on, tweaking the way the forms interact with my body – a collarbone, a wrist bone. When the piece is lying on a pad being photographed it’s flat. Something crucial is missing. It needs a body to complete it.”

“Someone once said to me that my jewelry only ‘wakes up’ when you put it on. That seems right to me.”   
                     If you would like to see more of Carla's amazing work,
Take a look at her website: carlareiter.com    I know you will enjoy it as much as I do.
                                              Have a beautiful wedding, Wendy from Visage Joli      

Dance & Romance !

   Your first dance as a married couple...What could be more romantic? The greatest gift you can give each other to make that moment special and truly memorable is dance lessons. Every couple I know who took lessons were thrilled with the results . They felt so close to each other during that first dance & they put on a beautiful show for their family and friends.
    I was privileged to be Joanne's makeup artist at her wedding . She told me about their dance lessons when we first met. And here is what she told me today:
 I knew always, that I wanted to do something special for our first dance.  Since we didn't have a "song" that was ours, and Marc was a great dancer, we wanted to do something that was fun, yet not too cheesy.  So we went with a tango, and our song was La Cumparsita - which was an updated tango.  While I was extremely nervous, it was the perfect dance/song that was us.  I loved every minute of it! 
               So you know what,,, even if one of you is reticent or nervous about the lessons, GO FOR IT !
You'll be glad you did. Enjoy your wedding !


Photograph of Joanne and Marc by Hazelton Photography

Bling

           Hope you all had a good weekend. Every Bride needs a little sparkle on her wedding day. Bridal
jewelry enhances your image and makes you feel extra special. If you choose several pieces ( earrings, necklace, bracelet & hair ornaments) keep the look delicate.  If just a couple of pieces make them fabulous!
            The most important piece of advice that I have for you tonight is this: Look for accessories the day
of your Makeup & Hair trials. That will totally change
how you choose everything.
             And if you are a Chicago bride you absolutely have to go to The Left Bank on Webster. They have the most wonderful accessories including divine veils, headpieces & gorgeous shoes. Even for brides who prefer low comfortable heels. And they are friendly and down to earth.  www.leftbankjewelry.com
Have a great week, Visage Joli

Your Bridesmaids

Every Bride needs loving attention. Whether you are 25 or 55 you will have at least one loving Friend or Sister or Aunt helping you through the planning process and on the Wedding Day.
So take good care of those who care about you. Take them out to lunch or better yet make
them dinner. Treat your Maid of Honor to to a massage or a spa package of beauty products.
Take them shopping for their Wedding Day earrings. These are of course just suggestions.
Use your imagination and of course stay within your Bridal budget. Everyone understands that in a tough economy some of us have limitations. Look for sales (lots of them in January) and check Groupon for salon specials. Just have fun with your precious Wedding Day assistants.

Happiness

Hello All, This is gorgeous Sara . Sara was married on Saturday
January 8th. She was surrounded by a loving family, wonderful bridesmaids
and a Hair & Makeup Team who truly cared about her. So here is my tip for all of you future brides this week: Encircle yourselves on your wedding day with positive people who love you & want you to have a beautiful experience. There was a lovely aura of happiness in Sara's hotel room that I hope you all will feel on your wedding day.