Sales and events August 2010 NYC

Photo from Preston Bailey

There are two contests that I highly recommend you enter. Both are offering $100,000 weddings and that’s a lot of candlelight and cake. If you are chosen as a lucky winner, let me know.

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WeddingChannel.com and Us Weekly today announced the launch of its 3rd Annual “Dream Wedding” program – a contest for celeb-loving engaged couples to win a $100,000 Hollywood-style wedding. The winning couple will get a wedding planned entirely by WeddingChannel.com and their favorite A-list wedding experts. As if that weren’t enough, all of the wedding details will be profiled in Us Weekly magazine, UsMagazine.com/wedding and WeddingChannel.com. Now, THAT’S how to have your wedding stylin’.
Here are the details:
Enter the contest at www.usmagazine.com/wedding until July 29.
August 3 to August 10: 10 couples will be announced online, and America votes for their favorite couple
August 13 to September: The Dream Wedding winning couple is announced online and the wedding planning begins!
There are only a few more days to enter, so do it quickly, and good luck.

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Join WPIX anchor Tamsen Fadal every Wednesday in the 8am hour for 'Wedding Wednesdays', a 21-week series offering wedding planning tips, trends and advice for brides and grooms. "The New York City Magical Wedding Presented by Scotto Brothers on PIX", invites engaged couples from the Tri-State area to share their love stories via www.wpix.com or www.nycmagicalwedding.com with one lucky couple winning the $100,000 wedding of their dreams. Check your local TV listings and set your DVR to catch Tamsen's tips every Wednesday morning. Hey like lotto, you gotta be in it, to win it!

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I adore this hotel. Perhaps my love of this English owned proper has a bit to do with where I attended graduate school…or…maybe its in England, where I learned to do a proper pub-crawl. In any case, The Crosby Street Hotel continues their extremely popular “Sunday Film Club NYC”. Every Sunday night, the latest movie releases (and some cool foreign films too) are shown with dinner or drinks in The Crosby Bar beforehand. I’m thinkin’, a great date night for you and your honey.

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The designer behind Ceci New York, Lisa "Ceci" Johnson, is launching a brand new online magazine called CeciStyle. It looks Haute! Delivered directly to your inbox, the magazine will offer glimpses of the hottest trends in art/decor, jewelry and of course wedding tips and gifts.
Go to www.cecinewyork.com to get on the list before it launches on August 3rd.

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Happening very soon, but there are still a very few spots available for Bailey & Blum mentoring weekend, August 6-8 with Preston Bailey and Marcy Blum. With their own unique style, it’s unlike anything else out there. It’s hands on, it’s interactive, it’s one-on-one and lots of fun. So you say you want to be a wedding planner – NOW is your shot to learn how from two industry favorites. While I haven’t spoken personally spoken to Preston or Marcy, knowing these two…there will be lots of surprises in-store. Consider this an investment in your own rising star.

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Ok, now to the sales and trunk shows for August

50% off selected bridal gowns only at Saks Fifth Avenue July 28 - 31
REEM ACRA
August 5 through 7 and November 18 through 20
VERA WANG
August 12 through 14
J. MENDEL
August 19 through 21
JUNKO YOSHIOKA
August 26 through 28
When: Entire month of August
Where: Saks Fifth Avenue - 611 Fifth Avenue – plz call for appt. 212.753.4000

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Angel Sanchez Trunk Show
When: August 5–7
Monique Lhuillier Trunk Show
When: August 12 – 14
Where: Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier110 East 55th Street, 8th Floor , New York City plz call for appt. 212 319 6778

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Kenneth Pool
When: July 29
Where: Wedding Salon of Manhasset , Manhasset, NY Plz call for appt. 516-869-8455
Christos
When: August 26 –29
Where: Wedding Salon of Manhasset , Manhasset, NY Plz call for appt. 516-869-8455

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Bridal Reflections has a full month at all their locations:
Marina K Couture
July 30th - August 1st – Carle Place/Westbury salon
August 5th - 7th – Fifth Avenue salon
Ines Di Santo – with a special in-person appearance
August 6th - 8th with Designer Appearance Saturday, August 7th – Carle Place/Westbury salon
Romona Keveza – with a special in-person appearance on Sat. Aug 13
August 12th - 14th - Fifth Avenue salon
Anne Barge August 13th - 15th – Carle Place/Westbury salon
Where: Bridal Reflections: 5th Avenue location – 260 Fifth Ave (at W.28th) 212.764.3040
Where: Bridal Reflections: Carle Place/Westbury Salon – 80 Westbury Ave Carle Place 516.742.7788

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Ok, this should keep you busy for a bit. There are LOTS of new events and another surprise retail bridal opening (swarm to secrecy for just a bit longer) that you’ll find here in the coming weeks. Until then I remain,
Yours In Bridal,

Rock The Guac Cabo Wabo Style

Cabo Wabo Guacamole

For the last few weeks I’ve written about some great cocktails and this week will be the same…well, with a slight twist. If you are a rocker you know Sammy Hagar is the creator of Cabo Wabo Cantina and besides being a really great guy, he has graciously shared some of his favorie Rock The Gauc recipes for your summer party. Sammy says “Summer afternoons are best with good friends, good tunes and great Cabo Wabo Margaritas.” I couldn’t agree more.

Avocados are really in peak season right now, so there is no time like the present to have a Mexican-themed party to celebrate your love. It’s also great if you are having a destination wedding and then coming home to have a party with your family and friends. Bring a bit of the ‘heat’ with you. So just “Rock the Guac” and sip your tequila ice cold.

Cabo Wabo Guacamole - Served at the Cabo Wabo Cantina in Las Vegas Serves 10

Ingredients:
10 Avocados, pitted and peeled
¼ cup of Jalapenos, minced
2 tbsp. of Salt
¼ cup of Yellow Onion, diced
5 tbsp. of Lime Juice
1 ½ cup of Tomatoes, diced
2 tbsp. of Cilantro, minced
2 tbsp. of Guac Oil (1 cup Olive Oil + 1/4 cup Garlic, minced)

Place avocados in bowl. DO NOT MASH! Add all other ingredients on top of avocados. Mash and mix avocados with ingredients into a chunky consistency. Enjoy!

Trio de Guacamole - Served at ZOCALO Restaurant in Chicago

Guacamole Tradicional - Serves 2
Ingredients:
2 Ripe Avocados
1 Plum Tomato, seeded and finely chopped
¼ Medium Red Onion, finely chopped
1 Serrano Pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 Handful of Fresh Cilantro Leaves, finely chopped
1 Lime, juiced
Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper

Mash and mix avocados with ingredients into a chunky consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Guacamole Rojo - Serves 2
Ingredients:
2 Ripe Avocados
1 Plum Tomato, seeded and finely chopped
¼ Medium Red Onion, finely chopped
1 Red Jalapeno Pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 handful of Fresh Cilantro Leaves, finely chopped
1 Lime, juiced
Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper

Roast tomato, onion, and red jalapeno over an open flame until slightly charred on all sides. Mash the avocados leaving them a bit chunky. Add the remaining ingredients, and fold everything gently together to mix. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top guacamole mix with roasted red jalapeno salsa before serving (recipe below.)

Roasted Red Jalapeno Salsa
Ingredients:
2 Red Jalapeno Peppers
2 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
1 Garlic Clove

Roast jalapeno and garlic over an open flame until slightly charred on all sides and blend, adding lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Guacamole Fruta
Serves 2
Ingredients:
2 Ripe Avocados
2 oz. Guava, finely chopped
2 oz. Papaya, finely chopped
1 Manzano or 1/2 Habanero Pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 Small Handful of Walnuts, finely chopped
Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper

Mash the avocados leaving them a bit chunky. Add the remaining ingredients, and fold everything gently together to mix. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Changes are happen'

As you may notice...there is a change to today's background. Well, that's because the former one...is about to 'retire'. That's ok, because the new site is going to RAWK!! So for just a few more days bear with me while these changes take place.

Yours in bridal,
Lisa

Feeling Italian tonight, head to San Rocco NYC

San Rocco NYC

When you think of the flat iron district, homemade Italian pasta may not be the fist thing that comes to your mind, but it should. Along 24th street, just off 6th avenue you'll find a fantastic little restaurant that is a hidden gem I’m happy to introduce you to. San Rocco NYC oozes authentic old world charm, fresh food, and a wine list to rival any in NY. What San Rocco has (in my opinion) that some of the others don't, dedication and authenticity to true Milanese Italian style cuisine, in a über chic and relaxed environment.

There is a wonderfully charming chef who is the mastermind of the kitchen at San Rocco. Chef Stefano Serro is charming, takes the time to greet his guests and by each plate presentation, you can tell the pride he takes in his food. “I don’t like a ‘fat’ kitchen, so all my food is high quality and we make everything here on site. Food should look as good as it tastes so presentation is important. As for great cocktails or great Italian wines, we have a lot so you don’t have to worry about finding one you’ll love.” The goal of chef Serro is to change the menu seasonally, so that only the freshest vegetables and produce will be used. He is truly an eco-friendly chef.

What San Rocco also provides is a wonderful and unique atmosphere for any of your wedding related events. From your rehearsal dinner to the after wedding brunch, they will be able to create a menu especially for your special day. What a great girls afternoon - wine and food tasting.

Join San Rocco every Wednesday evening for their delectable apperitivo bar and a free Seperatist cocktail, thru July 30th when you show proof that you have read this article. Tonight is a perfect ‘date night’, so leave the wedding planning….for a few hours, grab your honey and enjoy the night.

For more info: San Rocco - 37 West 24th Street New York, NY 10010 (212) 255-4655. Open seven days a week.

Introducing: Rafael Cennamo White Couture - 2010

The designer Rafael Cennamo

Nothing gives me more excitement than introducing you to a “relatively new” designer in the bridal market. Recently, I attended a small showing of his collection and honestly, blown away. His designs have already found their way onto the red carpets and on the bodies of lots of celebrities. I know you’ve seen some of his evening-wear on stars like Toni Colette, Vanessa Williams and the new Mrs. Carrie Underwood-Fisher, and wondered “who is Rafael Cennamo?” Well, allow me to introduce you to the next rising star in bridal couture – Rafael Cennamo.

Born in Venezuela and armed with a strong Italian background, Rafael Cennamo defines the new guard of contemporary couture. Since 2001, Cennamo has been designing and generating attention from both media and celebrities who appreciate his eye for detail and reinterpretations of classic silhouettes.

Fueled by his passion for modern glamour, Cennamo designs with a classic eye, but sees through a contemporary lens. A self-described dreamer, Cennamo isn’t afraid to modernize “princess-like” gowns with edgier structure and body-conscious sensuality. Nowhere is this clearer than in Rafael Cennamo 2010 White Couture. In this his first exclusive bridal collection, the brilliance of his lines are showcased in their purest forms, without color or distraction. Here luxurious fabrics and impeccable detailing meet a delicate persuasion towards decadence; and Cennamo’s brand truly becomes the modern fairytale, one where rock and royalty collide.

I can’t wait until the new 2011 collection is complete and I promise to bring it to you as soon as it happens. Honestly, his passion and modern approach is a welcomed breath of fresh air.

For more info: You can find his collection in select Neiman Marcus stores and other high-end stores worldwide. I hear that there are plans to open boutiques in both New York and Miami, but no launch date has been formally announced...yet.