Sweet Couture

I have to take a moment to rave about Mia Bridal Couture. I just spent some time with the owner, Emily, and adored her. What a warm, congenial woman! After our first five minutes together I felt like I had a new girlfriend. It can be hard to find high end retailers who aren't snooty or stuffy, but Emily and her intimate staff at Mia are neither. Brides are greeted at the new salon by modern white stylings with accents of mirrored elegance. The boutique is just gorgeous and done in a contemporary way that is comfortable and inviting. I loved that 27 Dresses was playing on a wall-mounted flat screen above the front desk! Emily is so caring of every bride that comes in. She thoughtfully plans her inventory to include a stunning variety of styles and price points to accommodate a range of preferences and budgets. Any bride with an appointment at Mia is in for a treat! You will get the special service you deserve.

Fashion & Philanthropy

Houston brides: grab your mom, grandmas, sisters, friends, and Save the Date November 12th for "Something Old, Something New" a Bridal Trunk Show and Charity Event brought to you by Green Lily Events and Maison de Mode. We'll be unveiling the 2010 collections of Angel Sanchez and The Cotton Bride while benefiting The Fairy Godmother Project.

Check out these gorgeous gowns from Angel Sanchez's 2009 collection. You won't want to miss the introduction of his 2010 collection as well as The Cotton Bride's 2010 line by Chris Kole. Sip champagne or wine and nibble on artisan cheeses as you mingle amongst the featured gowns on display.

Maison de Mode is opening their doors to guests for this beautiful event, Thursday November 12th 5:30pm - 8:30pm. Come and see their gorgeous boutique with floor to ceiling windows off Rice Blvd, exposed brick architecture, plush seating vignettes and discerning racks of bridal gowns. Indulge in mini-makeovers, style tips, and goody bags. Bid on a generous Laura Mercier gift basket up for silent auction.

And while you're enjoying this night of fashion, what could be better than adding a dash of philanthropy? The Fairy Godmother Project takes donations of gently-used formal gowns and accessories, such as shoes, purses, and jewelry, and gifts them to underprivileged Houston high school students for their senior prom. I know every one of us has some once worn formal gown in the back of our closet we swear we'll wear again, but rarely ever do. Why not transform your something old into a deserving students something new? Bring your donations to the event. Maison de Mode will remain open through the weekend, Nov 13-15, as a donation location for The Fairy Godmother Project.

We hope to see you there!

Hilton Post Oak

Just had a delightful morning with Rachel Hudson, Catering Services Manager for Weddings at the Hilton Post Oak. What a great venue for brides! Well, really two venues...

With 19 ft ceilings and stunning Louis XIV-style crystal chandeliers, the Grand Ballroom is gorgeous! Divided into three sections, the room can accommodate up to 1000 guests open or can be sectioned off for a ceremony and reception or to better fit your size party. Hilton Post Oak will allow outside catering and has established preferred relationships with vendors specializing in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine. This is the spot for your cultural soiree!

For a more intimate wedding, Hilton Post Oak offers the Vendome and the Post Oak rooms. The Vendome is historic in it's vintage wood paneling and has a sophisticated, French chateau feel. The Post Oak rooms are ideal for a mid-size affair with an established bar and and striking columns.

Raising the "Bar" at Your Reception

Bars and stations have been the trend for receptions and is an easy way to showcase individual's personalities. I love them as an alternative to buffets or traditional desserts. To check out some of the most amazing dessert buffets I have ever seen, visit Amy Atlas. Some of her amazing work is pictured here. See below for some of the many great ideas for bars you could use to personalize your reception. What's the best bar/buffet display you've seen?

It's been going strong for years:
The Candy Bar
(ala Amy Atlas)

Fresh-baked Cookie Bar:
print the recipe's out
as part of your favours













The latest twist on the Sweets Buffets: A Gourmet Popcorn Bar! Mmmm....

Love the Ice Cream Bars! Don't you adore this signature Amy Atlas style? Her creations are just so perfect!

For savory treats, marry a martini bar with your favorite comfort food: Pictured here is a martini glass full of mashed potatoes and all the fixin's. Try a Mac N Cheese Martini Bar or the more classic Seafood Bar.

Have a cigar rolling station or a cigar display for guests to enjoy one after dinner or to take home as a favour

Ice Bars with your monogram are so hot! They bring that "wow" factor to guests. You can have the whole bar made of ice or just the martini luge. Serve your signature cocktail off it.

For those of you who aren't liquor fans, try a Beer Buffet. You can order your own custom labels to coordinate with your wedding style and apply them to your favorite brews. Ice 'em down in various size buckets and arrange them on a table. Tie ribbon around the buckets with a personalized tag displaying the beers true name. Position a few jars of your favorite bar munchies as a cute addition!

Nancy Aidee Photography

I just had a moment to catch up with the beautiful and talented Nancy Aidee. She shared all her latest and greatest work with me and I was truly inspired by her editorial style. Nancy is passionate about utilizing natural light, rarely working with photoshop, but often shooting her clients  outdoors to capture the right effect at the right time. Enjoy some of Nancy's favorite images she shared with me...

 

"Split" Bouquets

Looking to honor a few extra friends at your wedding but don't want a dozen bridesmaids or to put them on guest-book duty? Try a "split" bouquet. Ask your florist to create your bouquet, then split it into equal parts to match the number of "flower" girls you have. You can also do this with the women in your house party. I have seen this done with four people and it worked beautifully. Have each one of your friends stand at the beginning of the aisle with one part of your bouquet. As you begin to walk down the aisle, collect each part of your bouquet as you walk past each honoree. Once you have them all in your hand, they will look like one bouquet again. Have your maid/matron of honor holding an extra length of ribbon so that when you hand your flowers off to her she can wrap them together and tie off with a sweet bow. You may want to give her a chance to practice this at the rehearsal so it goes smoothly during the ceremony.

What I love about this idea is you could easily incorporate your male friends! I saw a bride do this using four of her cousins to honor her late grandmother and she included a note of remembrance in her program. So it could also be a touching tribute.

Making a Positive Imprint

So one of my associates at Green Lily, Lauren Ballas, is an amazing LEED AP designer who introduced me to this gorgeously green project. Flower Imprints; an eco-friendly solution to preserving your wedding flowers. So easy, so chic, and absolutely fabulous!

What you'll need:
Cut flowers from a bouquet or centerpiece
Cloth or recycled paper
(The project pictured here re-used paper from wrapping in a package!)
Hammer
Wax paper


Instructions via Lauren:
Take cloth or recycled paper and lay on tile or concrete flooring (don’t put on table or countertop as it may ruin these surfaces)…
Take cut flowers (make sure they are colorful enough to make a print on the surface) fan out and place them face down on the cloth/paper
Place a sheet of wax paper that is big enough to fit over the flowers
Gently hammer the petals and then the center of the flower
Remove wax paper and remnants of the flowers stuck to the cloth/paper
You should end up with a print of the flower
Check out these gorgeous results:

What to do with your imprinted material? Cut a square and put in a frame as a keepsake. Try framing four pieces in different sizes or shapes for a focal wall. Or you could wrap thank you gifts for your family and friends in this commemorative material.

Thanks to Lauren for this wonderful idea. Stay tuned for more amazing design tips from Green Lily Girls.

Bridal Portraits by Clint Shuttlesworth

Check out these high fashion bridal portraits from Houston photographer Clint Shuttlesworth. Pictured here is one of our beautiful Green Lily Brides, Van Nguyen, whom we just coordinated her wedding for last weekend at Hotel Derek. A beautiful event I can't wait to blog about soon. Clint is seriously talented; he makes every bride feel gorgeous with a chilled out attitude that groom's love. Book him fast, he's a hot commodity!

At your service!!

Hello Houston Brides! My name is Jill Scott and I'm excited to be the newest guest blogger for the Knot Houston! Stay tuned for helpful information on the best local venues and vendors, as well as style tips and trends for the contemporary bride. For you houstonians planning destination weddings, I'll have plenty of advice there as well as eco-friendly solutions that will have every bride feeling gorgeously green on your most special day!

A quick snippet about myself; I am the Director of Weddings & Special Events for Green Lily Events. We are a boutique event-planning firm specializing in elegant, contemporary events with a passion for client care. I have a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas concentrated in fine arts and communications. I've just recently relocated to Houston after working for a major event and catering company in New York City doing all the hottest events, galas, and weddings in Manhattan. More than just an event planner, I am an artist with an eye for detail and flare for productions. Green Lily Events is about more than just planning, we design and create to each client's personality; orchestrating amazing, stylish events unique to each bride and groom.

check us out www.greenlilyevents.com