Challiz & Andre!

Here are some really quick shots that I took at Challiz & Andre's wedding today! They had a perfect day. The rain held out while we got some awesome shots at the train station in Liberty State Park! Professional pictures to follow in about two weeks!

Challiz and Andre: Have a great trip to Costa Rica!

Wedding Today!

I am so excited about the wedding I am working on today. They are using almost all of my recommended vendors (which, for a wedding planner, makes me want to do a little happy dance), it's at one of my FAVORITE locations of all time, I love the couple, and I love every single detail of this wedding. Check out their Save The Date's below:

Check back in about two weeks for their full wedding pictures! I'll post some more shots that I get tonight and keep your fingers crossed that the rain holds out for them!

Featured Vendor

Allison Coya Hand Crafted Jewelry

I recently got a call from Allison Coya of Allison Coya Hand Crafted Jewelry. Allison creates custom jewelry for weddings and special events. Rather than searching for that perfect piece of jewelry, you can tell Allison your vision and she will create it for you. I love this because oftentimes you find jewelry that you like but it either doesn't match perfectly, clashes with your dress, isn't the right size, etc. It's a great gift not only for the bride, but for attendants as well. The bride can custom create jewelry that goes along with the bridesmaids dresses and the attendants will get to keep their original piece of jewelry designed just for them. Here are some samples of her work and a little bit more about Allison!

Name: Allison Coya

Business: Allison Coya Hand-Crafted Jewelry

Website: I’m putting together something…I’ll keep you posted…

Location: Upper Saddle River, NJ

Type of Vendor: Custom make stylish jewelry using the finest semi-precious stones, cultured pearls, Swarovski crystals, silver and gold. My business is made to order and is not mass produced….which makes my pieces unique and my business very personal.

How Long In Business: 7 years…it started as a side business while I was working at the New York Stock Exchange, but has since turned into my main business.

Work Style: I’m very laid back, but very driven and I’m a perfectionist...I hold myself to the highest standards. I give myself early deadlines so my clients don’t have to think about when they are getting their jewelry…brides, especially, have enough to think about! My style is very hands on…I like to involve my clients in design aspects of the jewelry, which also makes the experience more special.

Training: Mostly self taught, but I did take a series of jewelry classes at FIT. Other than that, I have a Business Administration degree from Fordham. :)

Favorite Color: Red, but I also love Orange…fiery colors are my favorite!

Sports Team: Mets, Giants
Languages: English, but I would love to speak Spanish and Italian too!

Favorite Food: Oh, I can’t just pick one…I love food!
Hidden Talents or Favorite Hobbies: I love to make jewelry…it’s my passion! I also love to snowboard with my husband, but haven’t gone in a few years. Traveling is one of my favorite things to do too.

Home Town: East Meadow, NY…I’m a Long Island girl!
Favorite Place: St. Bart’s….that’s where my husband and I went on our honeymoon and hope to go back someday.

Pets: None, I have 2 small children…that’s enough to take care of and clean up after!

Favorite Holidays: Christmas…it’s just a magical time of the year.

Favorite Quote: “Everything happens for a reason.”
Best Part Of The Job: The excitement when people see the finished product is definitely the best for me, but I really enjoy the whole experience of working with someone. Weddings are definitely my favorite! It’s such an exceptional time in a woman’s life and I love creating beautiful jewelry for brides and bridesmaids that they’ll always have, wear again and remember the sentiment behind it.

I think this necklace is gorgeous! It would go with just about anything and you could wear it over and over again.

I love the gold accents on the necklace. It'd look so great with a formal gold and brown wedding. That gold gives it a subtle pop without being too much.

I love all things pink - this is by far my favorite necklace!

If you'd like to work with Allison on some jewelry for your wedding or upcoming special event, you can email her at allisoncoya@hotmail.com, or contact us for more information, stacey@asyouwishwed.biz. Tell Allison that we sent you!

Save The Dates

My best friend Jannet got engaged in early August. She'll be getting married next summer on the beach in Long Branch, NJ. The anchor will be one of the central themes to her wedding. She volunteered to be the guinea pig on my first project with Jill from Peekaboo Paperie (see below). I can't take any of the design credit on this, it was all Jill, but check out how amazing her choices came out:

In the end, Jannet decided to go with this design:

Keep checking back for more collaborations between As You Wish & Peekaboo Paperie. To have us work on a project for your wedding, email us at stacey@asyouwishwed.biz.

Photo credit: Tania Lezak Photography.

Adorable Baby Announcements

Even though this is a wedding blog -- when a great thing non-wedding related thing comes along, I need to share. Especially when those things involve other young, female business owners. My good friend Jill who I grew up with is an AMAZING graphic designer and just launched a company doing baby announcements. It's called Peekaboo Paperie. Check out some of her samples below. She's offering original designs for a fraction of what other sites are charging. She'll even translate into Spanish!

Not only are her designs affordable, but the best part is that she is donating a portion of her proceeds the Infant Crisis Services Inc., which helps babies in need.

This is by far my favorite design.

Check out all of Jill's designs on her website or email her at info@peekaboopaperie.com.

This won't be the last you'll hear from Jill. Jill and Peekaboo Paperie are teaming up with my team at As You Wish Wedding & Event Design to bring a custom you a custom designed collection of wedding stationary. Contact us for details and keep checking back for updates!

Just Flat Out Cool!

I'm a big advocate of making a statement with these elements of your wedding:

1. Guestbook
2. Placecards
3. Linens

Guests are expecting ivory linens, reception location stamped placecards, and a plain book to sign. When you go out of your way to add a special touch to any or all of these elements, guests really remember it.

I recently used individual vases as place cards for a floral spring themed wedding. We pulled all of the different flowers from the bride's bouquet and put them in vases. Not only was it a gorgeous display of 200 vases with the wedding flowers, but the guests got to take them home at the end of the night as a bonus favor!

www.lillianvernon.com

www.americanbridal.com

You could jazz this up in countless ways! Try filling it with foliage for a fall wedding, holly and berries for a winter wedding, sand and seashells for a nautical twist, or coordinating bridal party flowers.

Check Us Out!

Have you Bergen County Brides checked the debut issue of (201) Bride magazine yet?

Check out our ad on page 129!

Carmi & Mike's Wedding -- May 25, 2008

I had the pleasure of working with Carmi & Mike for almost a year leading up to their wedding. Carmi was completing medical school in Boston and Mike was studying in London so their planning period was tricky to say the least. In the end, they finally got to be together and had a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend celebration.

Cast of Characters:

Ceremony: St. Stephen's Parish, Kearny NJ

Reception: The Palace at Somerset

Flowers: Laurelwood Designs

Photography: Tania Lezak Photography

Videography: Blue Lobster Films

Transportation: Santos VIP Limousines

Band: Vali Music

Here are some of my favorite shots from the day:

Congratulations, Carmi & Mike! Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!

These awesome photos were taken by Tania and her second shooter Jan who did a fantastic job, as always :-) Thank you, Tania! Check out Tania's blog (www.tanialezakblog.com) and check out the slideshow she put together!)