Calling All Fabulous St. Louis Wedding Vendors!

Guess what....

The Bliss List is expanding... to St. Louis!

I am looking for the best, the most creative and the most inspired wedding vendors in St. Louis. Do you have a recommendation? Email me at jenny@blissliststl.com.

Visit the NEW Bliss List St. Louis site by clicking here!

Bridesmaids Dresses | Bella Bridesmaids | Amsale on Sale!

Bella Bridesmaid is hosting an Amsale Trunk Show!




February 11th-13th


They'll have the entire collection Thursday, Friday and Saturday and be offering 10% off through March 2nd.



Here is a link to their website: http://www.amsale.com/bnp/index.shtml



These dresses are so adorable... As their site says, do your friends a favor!

VIDEO | How to Make the Perfect Cupcakes | Valentine's Day

Learn my tricks & tips to making the perfect cupcake here : Perfect Cupcake Video

VIDEO | How to Decorate Cupcakes | Valentine's Day Cupcakes

I've created my first DIY/How-To video... "How to Decorate Cupcakes"

To view the video on YouTube.com, click here!

Buttercream Icing

4 sticks of butter, softened

4 cups of powdered sugar

beans from 1/2 of a vanilla bean

Cream together the butter and the sugar, then beat on high for 5-7 minutes. Add the vanilla bean seeds. You can add milk, cream or water to thin the icing, if necessary.

Also, if you'd like to sign up for my Valentine's Day Cooking Class, click here! We only have 5 spots left!

Photography | Tyler Wirken | Multi-Media Moments

Kelly + Pete | The multi-media show from Tyler wirken on Vimeo.

What I love about working with really talented vendors is that they see every project not as a source of income, but as an opportunity to create. Create something beautiful - whether it is a cake or a stationery suite, or an unbelievable product like this slideshow/video/time-capsule...

This piece of art was created by Tyler Wirken for Kelly and Pete. He combined heartfelt audio recordings of the weekend's speeches and his remarkable talent to capture images to produce this revolutionary product.

The entire idea came from an on the spot impulse Tyler had to record the speeches... the harp playing "I'm Yours" is a direct recording from their ceremony. How special for this couple to have such a magical document of their day.

Great job, Tyler. Thanks for sharing.

Photography | Claire Ryser | Visionaire Studios | Interview

Remember this photo shoot I did with Claire Ryser last Fall that was featured in Style Me Pretty?! Well, here is Claire's interview with The Bliss List...

1. What is your favorite type of wedding to be part of?

I simply adore weddings where every single detail reflects the character, style and personality of the bride and groom! I love when I find myself gasping and saying, "This is so YOU!" to the bride! It's so very inspiring and it makes the wedding day memorable to everyone!

2. What is your favorite ‘of-the-moment’ color palette or theme?

Why? I'm loving gray, pewter and light silvers paired with jewel-toned yellows, purples or greens! These colors are so classy and just feel ALIVE and vibrant. The soft gray or pewter adds sophistication and balance.

3. What is one word (or small phrase) that describes your brand and/or your work?

I think you say it best Jenny! Vibrant and Inspired!

4. What is your favorite business moment? (Great press, great event, big milestone?)

The moment I decided to take my photography seriously and really believe that it is possible to make a living doing something I love and am so passionate about! It was such an "I CAN DO THIS!" moment.

5. What is the best advice you can give a bride-to-be?

Take little breaks throughout your wedding day to stop and look around you and memorize how you feel! Soak in the memories you're making with your loved ones and enjoy each moment to the fullest!

6. What is your favorite source of inspiration?

I love watching a bride interact with the love of her life... how she'll gently slip her hand into his, how they press their foreheads together and close their eyes and smile, how he holds her tightly as he kisses her, the way he holds her bouquet for her with one hand and her train in the other as they walk, the moment right after a kiss, the secret's he whispers into her ear during the toast that makes her laugh. It's these real-life, real-love interactions that inspire me and make me remember why I love my job so much!

7. What is your favorite spot in KC? (Café, boutique, library, park?)

I love summer nights during Happy Hour at Kona Grill on The Plaza. I can't beat a night with close friends and the love of my life (Paul, my husband!) in the open air surrounded by happy people while eating sushi! I follow up with shopping at nearby boutiques, throwing pennies into the beautiful fountains, and a latte from Classic Cup for a perfect evening!

8. What is your favorite indulgence or greatest weakness?

My favorite indulgence AND greatest weakness is dark or gourmet chocolate. Think Christopher Elbow (http://www.elbowchocolates.com/) ! Also, I'm a sucker for anything that is packaged adorably! So I'm in big trouble when handmade artisan chocolates are packaged in a beautiful shimmery box and wrapped with satin ribbon that ties into a perfect bow!

Our Wedding | Ceremony & Reception | Seaside, Florida | The Inn by The Sea

After a short engagement (read about our engagement story, here), we've decided on our wedding venue and date... The Inn By The Sea in Seaside, Florida in October 2010.

We'll be married on the front porch of The Inn - some of our guests will be able to stay in the 9 room Inn, and the other guests will rent cottages in the tiny town.

We visited Seaside two years ago on our first vacation together - it is a magical place that we are so excited to share with our guests.

Seaside is a picturesque American beach town centered around a classic town square... you may recognize it - The Truman Show was filmed there.

We think Seaside will be a great get-a-way for our family and friends... we really like the idea of everyone spending the entire weekend together celebrating in this special place.

The Inn is located on a corner about 50 yards from the beach. The ceremony will take place on the front porch, then the reception will be in the back yard. Simple.

This is my favorite room in the Inn - "True Blue". All of the rooms feature Vera Bradley fabrics and designs.

It is a second story room with a balcony : )

The dining room... features Vera Bradley patterns and china.

Workshops | Valentine's Day | Romantic Dinner & Sweets Cooking Class in Kansas City

Do you need help making treats for your Valentine's Day Sweet? Join my for the first workshop to be held in my home...

Wednesday, February 11th, 6:30 p.m. : Romantic Dinner & Sweets Workshop, $30 per person

I'll demonstrate how to prepare Chicken Picatta for the class to enjoy... Then it is hands-on time! Learn how to make and decorate Sugar Cookies, Cupcakes & Chocolate Truffles. Take home a box of goodies for your Sweetheart.

The class is limited to 12 participants - click here to register!

Favors | DIY Chocolate Truffles

There was a time when I was soooo intimidated by Chocolate Truffles - they're so expensive, so desired... they must be too hard to make! Not true. For several events, I've made these simple little masterpieces - and just like I was intimidated, my guests seemed to be super impressed by my skills... shameless! You can start with the basic recipe below, then add some of your own touches. I love to add 2 tablespoons of chunky peanut butter, or raspberry jam.

Here is a great starter recipe from Real Simple :

Makes 35-45 trufflesHands-On Time: 40mTotal Time: 1hr 10m

Ingredients

• 20 ounces semisweet chocolate, cut into small pieces (or semisweet chocolate chips)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Make the filling: Place 8 ounces of the chocolate pieces and the butter in a large bowl. In a small saucepan over low heat, bring the cream to a simmer. Remove from heat and pour half the cream into the bowl. As the chocolate melts, slowly whisk the mixture together until smooth. Then gradually add the remaining cream until it's completely incorporated and the ganache is thick and shiny.
2. Form the truffles: Pour the ganache into a 2-inch-deep baking pan, spread evenly, and place in the freezer for 30 minutes or until set (it should have the consistency of fudge). Using a melon baller or a small spoon, form rounds and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Let the truffles harden in the freezer for about 15 minutes. After removing truffles from the freezer, roll them between your hands into marble-size spheres, squeezing gently (try to do this quickly, otherwise they'll become too soft). Dust the truffles with cocoa (see step 4) or coat them with chocolate first (they'll hold their shape better in this case).
3. Make the coating: Set the truffles in the freezer while you make the chocolate glaze. Place the remaining chocolate pieces in a large bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and stir occasionally, until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from heat and let cool at room temperature, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate starts to set at the edge of the bowl. Drop the truffles into the melted chocolate and retrieve them with a fork, allowing any excess chocolate to drip off. Garnish immediately or leave the truffles plain and proceed to step 5.
4. Garnish: For a nut garnish, roll the freshly coated truffles in a shallow dish of chopped nuts. For a sugar or cocoa garnish, set the freshly coated truffles on a plate and sift the garnish over them. Turn the truffles and sift again to cover completely.
5. Storage: Place the truffles on a lined baking sheet and allow them to set in the refrigerator for 5 minutes. Truffles will keep for about 2 weeks, chilled or at room temperature, when stored in a tightly sealed container.

Bridesmaids Dresses | J.Crew | Dresses on Sale!

It is no secret... J.Crew is my favorite place to shop. They always have the most classic bridesmaid dresses in great colors. Better yet - they have terrific sales! For example, you can get this bridesmaid dress for around $60! It was originally $215, but drastically reduced right now... if you know the color you want, follow my Mom's advice, "Just watch it for a while" it will eventually go on sale.

Photobooths | boothBOOTH | $300 off until Friday!

KC's newest Photobooth, boothBOOTH, has extended its KC Wedding Show special pricing to Bliss List readers until this Saturday! So, if you book between now and Saturday, you'll get $300 off of your package... might just be the little boost you need to make a decision!

Contact boothBOOTH here!

Design Board | Powder Blue, Light Pewter, White & Ivory

As most of you know (via facebook status change...), I have made the move from wedding planner to bride-to-be. That being said... I won't be giving away too many of my wedding planning details on the blog (I want my guests/future husband/family/etc. to be surprised!), but I will be sharing some of my inspiration, planning timelines, and the occasional dilemma.

Like most newly engaged brides, my head is filled with color palettes, flowers, dresses, stationery and cakes... to get all of this under control, I'm going to create several design boards and share them with Mike (and the blog)... it will be a surprise as to which one I choose!

I LOVE this color palette - to me it screams (or maybe it sighs softly...) sweetness. Soft blues and greys, beautiful white flowers (peonies, garden roses) and rich satin.

Dresses : J.Crew Silk Dupioni Marlene in Light Pewter & J.Crew Silk Taffeta Sabine Dress in Ivory | Ribbon : Midori Double Faced Satin in Seafoam | Cake : Classic Cakes (Andrea Britt, Bliss List Member) I changed this cakes ribbon from pale yellow to soft blue for the sake of this design board because I love this cake! | Stationery : Marthastewartweddings.com

Are you newly engaged? Send me an email with some of your wedding inspiration and I'll create a design board for you! Just email jenny@blisslistkc.com

Photobooths | boothBOOTH | Discounts on Kansas City's newest Photobooth

boothBOOTH (the newest member of The Bliss List) is going to be at the KC Weddings Show this weekend, and... they will be offering nice discounts to anyone that books at the show. Look for boothBOOTH in booth #505!

If you can't make it to the show, they are offering a great deal for 'last minute' events that are taking place now through the end of April... it is only $1000 to rent the booth and it includes all of their normal stuff!

They'll come and set it up, man the booth for your event up to 4 hours, the guests get their photos within minutes while the clients get a high res CD of all the "fun in the booth" as well as posting it online for all the guests to look at again, too.

Soriee Event Design | Bella Bridesmaid | KC Star

In this mornings' KC Star, Megan Allen of Bella Bridesmaid was featured in the 'How I Got The Job' section...



Home
How I Got the Job: Megan Allen, 28

Megan Allen
The job: Owner
The businesses: One of my businesses, Soiree Event Designs, which focuses on wedding planning, is based in an office out of my new Brookside retail store, Bella Bridesmaid. Bella Bridesmaid was founded in San Francisco in 2000 and franchised in 2006. Our independently owned and operated shop opened here in Kansas City in October.
My role: The job is multifaceted. My co-owner and I keep busy with bridesmaid appointments, but also are busy with buying, bookkeeping and the wedding planning that operates out of the back of the store. We both wear many hats.
How long have you been in this position?
We’ve began operating Soiree Event Designs out of our homes since 2006.
Why did you decide to establish your own business?
First and foremost, I never saw myself not working, but I also want to have a family. I felt that if I started my own business at a young age, I could create the groundwork to make my life a lot more flexible when kids do come into the picture.
Although there is a ton of responsibility, long hours and dedication that goes into owning your own business — sometimes even more so than working for someone else — it is that much easier because you are doing something that you created. Plus, the successes of the company are so much more enjoyable when you can directly attribute them to the hard work you yourself put in.
How did you find your business partner?
Danielle Suarez, and I met in college and started our wedding planning company together based on both of our loves of entertaining. Also, we have very similar work ethics and goals.
Were there any organizations particularly helpful to you in starting this business?
Yes, the Small Business Administration Web site —www.sba.gov — was very helpful in terms of writing our business plan and the business development center at the University of Missouri-Kansas City offered us in-person guidance, which was nice.
What did you have to consider before starting this venture?
Too many things to count. Was it a good idea; was Kansas City a good fit for this concept; how would I come up with the capital needed to start; where would I put the shop; is this something I can see myself doing for many, many years to come; can I make money doing this; do I know enough about business to run my own company? The business plan helped answer a lot of those questions.
Are there any low points as a small business owner?
There are many days I get extremely frustrated and discouraged because there is a lot of “figuring it out.” Before, when I worked for someone else, if something didn’t go right or I didn’t know how to do something, there was always someone to go to and ask for guidance or help. Now it’s up to me and Danielle.
However, you overcome those low points by taking a step back, thinking through it logically and taking the time to do it right. Plus, there are always other small business owners out there that I can consult. They may not do the exact same thing I do, but I’m sure they’ve been in a relatable situation.
What is your advice for others wanting to start their own businesses?
Go for it! Honestly, that sounds corny, but I think you can sometimes be your own worst enemy by talking yourself out of something. However, don’t rush into it. You’ve got to do the groundwork to give your business a successful foundation. Do your research, write a business plan and have multiple people read it and make many revisions to it, and work really, really hard.
What is your educational and work experience?
I have my bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Kansas (May 2003). My work experience is in private and corporate event planning. My first career job was working for Kansas City’s The Catering Co., now called Inspired Occasions. Then I worked as catering manager for Restaurant Associates in Chicago. I also have been an account manager for Barkley advertising in Kansas City.
How does this retail store fit into your long-term career plans?
I plan to always be in this industry, however, my businesses give me the desire to always seek new business opportunities.
| Sue Dye Babson, special to The Star
Submitted by Donna Vestal on January 3, 2010