Natalie + Brad

What a beautiful couple these two are.  Natalie and Brad were married at the beautiful Bakersfield Museum of Art.  Such a romantic and elegant setting.  Many friends and family completed this gorgeous couples wonderful day.  I wish them all the best in life!  More from the bride in the images below.

Bride's dress with Mom's dress
Bride’s dress with Mom’s dress
Natalie's wedding dress
Natalie’s wedding dress
wedding dress
Beautiful wedding dress
Natalie and Walter
Natalie and Walter
Natalie and Walter
Walter Kisses

From the Bride:

“I first met Maria at a bridal show when I saw her beautiful display of sample invitations. I spoke with her for a few minutes about my colors and style and right away she had great suggestions. I knew of the colors and a little bit of the style that I wanted but never would I have imagined that someone could take those small ideas and turn them into the most beautiful and perfect invitations the way Maria did.” 
monogram wedding invitation
Natalie and Brad wedding invitation

“There is so much detail that goes into making the perfect invitation and to have someone like Maria, who met with me multiple times to figure exact colors, styles, fonts, design and wording was such a blessing. I remember the evening I picked up the final invitations from Maria and brought them home. I went to bed shortly after, but had to get out of bed twice to go into the kitchen and turn on the light and stare at the invitation again and again, because I loved them so much! I felt like a five-year old with a new Christmas toy.”

Elegant monogram wedding invitation
Elegant monogram wedding invitation

 

Burlap and Lace Pocket Card Wedding Invitation
Burlap and Lace Pocket Card Wedding Invitation

“My invitations were one of my favorite things about my wedding and one of my favorite keepsakes from the wedding. My family and friends were texting me as soon as they got them in the mail to tell me how beautifully they matched ME and my style. The funny thing is, even as well as I think I know my own style, I would not have been able to come up with something this gorgeous without Maria’s help. I would highly recommend Maria and All in the Invite for your wedding invitations.”

burlap bouquet
Burlap Wedding Bouquet
Elegant table setting with burlap table runner
Elegant table setting with burlap table runner
Natalie with her Bridesmaids
Natalie with her Bridesmaids
Brad and Groomsmen
Brad and his Groomsmen

 

 

Hand Painted Wedding Aisle Runner

Walk down the aisle in style with our custom hand painted wedding aisle runner.  Whether you want a design with your monogram, first names or a special message, the choice is yours.Hand-Painted Aisle Runner

Bride and Her Bridesmaids Bridal Shower Invitation

A Bright and Simple Design for a Bright and Easy-Going Young Lady

 

But first have to thank Linda Rangel of Rangel Catering and Events for recommending me to her client. Ofelia Caballero is one of the most easy-going brides I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Not only is she getting married but she’s a recent graduate of Cal-State. Her bridal shower invitation is consistent with the colors of her wedding. She’s getting married Saturday….so wedding invitation will be posted afterwards…Congratulations Ofelia!

5 Ways To Look Ten Pounds Thinner On Your Wedding Day

Five tricks for a longer, leaner you — minus the dieting.

I haven’t met a bride yet who doesn’t want to look her absolute best on her wedding day. It’s just so hard to keep to a regular workout routine. Fortunately there’s an article over on the TheKnot that gives a few shortcuts you might want to try out.

 

Flatter Your Figure

Though alterations will ensure your dress fits, choosing a wedding gown that shows off your best assets (and camouflages your less-than-fab spots) will make sure it flatters. Trying to hide your hips? Go with a romantic empire waist gown or a strapless, full-skirted style. Want to suck it all in? A corseted ball gown is a great option to show off your bust, whittle your waist, and hide hips and thighs. And if you want to show off your curves (or create some), try a mermaid-style gown. A good bet for every body type: an A-line silhouette, which fits at the bust and waist with a skirt that gently flares out from the hips.

Get a Good Support System

Undergarments that fit well are key to a sleek silhouette. To avoid the dreaded bra bulge and create the right amount of cleavage (nothing that will scandalize the grandmas!), get a professional bra fitting to be sure you’re wearing the right size. Then, buy a few bras — check the store’s policy, but you can generally return them with the tags — so you can try them on with your gown and find exactly the right one.

If any part of the lower half of your gown is fitted, invest in some good shapewear. Our favorites are made by Spanx — they’re lightweight, breathable, and come in tons of colors and styles. They’re also available in different materials, so you can find garments that won’t cling to your gown’s fabric but will still nip and tuck you in all the right places.

Stand Up for Yourself

Proper posture can make a big difference in how you look — and don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you have to stand at attention all day long. A couple of simple tips can keep you upright and looking svelte. First, keep your shoulders back. If you find your shoulders slouching forward (totally natural if you’re tired or nervous!), shrug them up toward your ears a couple of times to loosen yourself up and shift your shoulders back.

Second, try to keep your back straight. Again, the secret is in your shoulders — you should feel like there’s a straight line dropping from them to your hips. If one starts to get ahead of the other, shift yourself and realign. Remember, it’s not about standing still all the time — that’s actually more likely to make you slouch! Instead, shift your weight as it feels comfortable to do so, keeping the position of your shoulders and hips in mind from time to time.

Give Your Height a Boost

We’re not going to lie and say they’re comfortable, but wearing heels is one of the simplest ways to appear thinner. Think about it: Say you’re normally five feet, four inches and you weigh 140 pounds. Put on a pair of two-inch heels and suddenly you’re five feet, six inches — but you still weigh 140 pounds! It’s not just about having longer legs; heels instantly trick the eye into reapportioning your weight over a taller frame. Worried about foot fatigue? Skip the spindly stilettos and go for something with more support, like a wedge heel, and don’t push it too high — no more than three inches.

Strike the Right Pose

Your wedding photos are how you’ll remember your wedding day, so ensure you’ll remember that you looked fabulous! Keep your shoulders back, and flatter your jaw line by pushing your chin forward. If you can, keep your body slightly turned — you’ll look slimmer than if you’re facing straight at the camera. The most ideal look is to tilt your shoulders toward the photographer with your hips on an angle, which makes your waist and hips look instantly narrower.

Especially key for brides? Hold your arms slightly away from your body rather than pressing them against your sides. It can be tough (especially if you’ve been holding that bouquet all day!) but it makes a huge difference. While it seems like a lot to keep track of, don’t forget that you can practice! With all of those prewedding parties, you’re going to have your picture taken pretty often — take advantage so that on your wedding day you can give ’em your best shots.

Read more: How to Look 10 Pounds Thinner On Your Wedding Day

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{Blunders to Steer Clear Of} Are You Leaving Him Out?

A continuation of our series: Blunders To Steer Clear Of After Getting Engaged

Mistake #3 – Leaving  Your Groom Out of the Planning Process

Get Your Groom Involved in the Wedding Planning

The days of solo wedding planning are behind us.  Not only are mothers and daughters concerned with the wedding plans but so are many of modern-day grooms.  Don’t assume he doesn’t want to help. Get him involved.  Don’t leave him out.   After all, it’s important for both of you to feel connected to this process.

If you’re one of the fortunate brides whose groom wants to be involved in every decision then consider yourself lucky.  Give him his list and treat yourself to a day at the spa.

If you’d like more input then consider these tips.

Let Him Choose

Right at the very start of the planning stages, find out which parts of the planning he wants to be in charge of.   This will allow him to choose what interests him (like finding the right DJ over selecting wedding favors).

 

 

 

Narrow Down His Choices

Yes, I’ll say it.  Men have short attention spans.  Once you’ve narrowed it down give him a short list of options for each stage of the planning process.  Get his opinion from these lists.  Keep your wedding planning conversations with him brief. An hour of debating lavender and gray or hot pink and teal will have his eyes glazing over.

 

 

 His Ideas Count

You wanted him involved, so be prepared when he gives you an honest opinion. Let him know his suggestions matter and are important to you.   Marriage requires compromise.  Be willing to listen and don’t reject his opinions.

 

 

 

Good Negotiator?

Let him take on some of the vendors.  Let him choose the ones that appeal to him.  He may be interested in finding the right DJ, even setting up wedding day transportation. Ask him to work out the prices with vendors, and see what kinds of “extras” he can manage to get included in your packages.

 

 

Honeymoon Planning

Your guy probably already has a plan for your honeymoon.  Almost all grooms are eager to have a direct say in this part of the wedding planning.  So, make a few suggestions but let him come up with options for that too. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make it easy for him to participate. In wedding planning, no task is unimportant.  Keep things organized in a way both of you can easily make decisions.

You never know, maybe he’ll even blow your socks off by throwing you a few wedding planning tips.

 

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