Snow Day Take Two

Park Avenue in its snowy glory yesterday

Pretty trees in Church Square Park

Bloomfield Street covered in snow

Today, I had planned on featuring a cool wedding invitation from the Exclusive Collection II from Carlson Craft. Too bad I didn't have the foresight to photograph the invitation yesterday! Have you heard about the blizzard that is pounding Hoboken & the surrounding areas? I live a mere seven blocks from Koru Wedding Shoppe; that's about seven blocks too far in the crazy snow. It's beautiful to look at from my warm, cozy living room but I have zero desire to go outside. Today is a hot chocolate & good book day.

All in all, I'm going to set aside my plans for today & save them for next week. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, please enjoy a few photographs I took of the snow in Hoboken yesterday. We've received about a million more inches of snow since then! If you live someplace warm, send some sunshine to Hoboken!!

Happy Weekend!

Martha + Web Sites = Bliss

Josie template from WeddingWire: I heart the swirls, available in different color combinations

It Takes Two template from WeddingWire: Fun & Fresh, available in different color combinations

Medley template from WeddingWire: Martha Stewart Weddings design, need I say more?

They had me at Martha Stewart Weddings.

Is there anyone in the wedding world who doesn't love Martha Stewart Weddings? I have followed Martha's wedding magazine faithfully since I started in the wedding industry ten years ago. It's full of wonderful ideas & inspiration! I always admired the designs of Martha Stewart Weddings. Imagine my delight when I found free wedding web sites on WeddingWire.com, featuring exclusive designs by Martha Stewart Weddings, Hello Lucky!, The Green Kangaroo & more. Jackpot!

I may not have a wedding date or wedding venue but I know I want a web site for our wedding. With our families split between the East Coast & West Coast, we need an easy, central location for our wedding guests to find information about our wedding & our location of choice. The hunt began for a free wedding web site with a clean design. TheKnot probably offers great web sites but because I find their main site so cluttered & overwhelming, I decided against them. WeddingPearl recently changed from a paid service to a free service so I checked them out. I liked their designs a lot but none seemed quite right. The search continued.

I was so happy & delighted when I found WeddingWire & its awesome array of designs by incredible designers. I want our wedding web site to be informative & beautiful; every template here fits the bill. I have my eye on several designer templates, including one by Martha Stewart Weddings. Once we have our wedding date & place, I will choose the one that reflects our wedding the best.

Stay tuned!!

Love Koru!

Koru Wedding Shoppe has been entered in the Intuit Love A Local Business Grant Contest & I need your help to win! It only takes a minute!

Do you love Koru? If so, please write a simple sentence or two to cast your vote for Koru Wedding Shoppe in the Intuit Love A Local Business $35K Small Business Grant Contest!! Please go to http://lovealocalbusiness.intuit.com/?b_id=15242 & cast your vote for Koru! The more fans who vote for Koru, the better chance Koru has to win!

It only takes a moment at http://lovealocalbusiness.intuit.com/?b_id=15242. Votes need to be in by 11:59pm PT on February 28, 2010.

Koru Wedding Shoppe is a small bridal shoppe with a big heart & now it needs your love! It's my honor & pleasure to offer Brides & Grooms wedding invitations, gifts, accessories & planning with friendly service in a relaxed atmosphere. When I saw an opportunity to receive a small business grant to continue to fund my dream, I jumped at the chance. This is where you come in: vote today at http://lovealocalbusiness.intuit.com/?b_id=15242!!! Please forward to your friends & family who can help Koru win!

As always, I appreciate your support!

Flower Power

My wedding find of the week from J.Crew

While we're taking our time making wedding plans, I'm having a fabulous time dreaming of our wedding. I adore the wedding eye candy! I visit Style Me Pretty daily, in addition to perusing my well-stocked library of wedding magazines & books. I love looking at wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, floral decor, invitations & more. Fun, fun!

I was admiring the wedding gowns & bridesmaid dresses at J.Crew when I stumbled upon this adorable Flowerette Sash. The sash features silk & rayon raw-edged flowers & it's available in aqua, sand & pale lilac (shown above). If you know me, you understand this look is right up my fashion alley. I'm in love with it; the possibilities are endless! Let me count the ways for you. For the right Bride, the flower sash could be the crowning touch on the bridal ensemble. If the Bridesmaids are wearing basic black, it could dress up their look. Maybe it could be a sweet addition to the Flower Girl's dress. If it doesn't quite work into the Wedding, the Flowerette Sash could be so fun for the Rehearsal & Rehearsal Dinner outfit. At a mere $35, it's a fashion steal!

By the time we nail down our wedding plans, this Flowerette Sash will probably be long gone. But, hey, a girl can dream!

Is It Spring Yet?

The original Penelope & David invitation in Wedding One by Marsupial Invitations

The invitation revamped for a wedding celebration in Puerto Vallarta

The complete ensemble in a preppy color combination of pink & green

The wedding invitation in all its glory

Yes, yes! Please let me come!!

Because I'm still dreaming of Spring, I'm drawn to invitations for destination weddings done at Koru Wedding Shoppe. Who is with me? Doesn't Puerto Vallarta, Mexico sound good now?!

A darling Bride & Groom came to Koru & they needed 25 invitations for their destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta. Their only specification was incorporating their preppy color combination of pink & green. We reviewed the options & as soon as the Bride saw this invitation, she was hooked. The search was over. I love the moment when a Bride spots the perfect invitation for her wedding!

As the sample invitation in the Wedding One album by Marsupial Invitations was shown in a mocha/blue color scheme, we had a bit of tweaking to make this invitation uniquely their own. We skipped the cover layer & ribbon altogether because we wanted a non-fussy, clean approach. We picked a Rainforest Green backer for the invitation, as well as the script font color to make the Bride & Groom's names pop. Then we changed the floral motif & remaining block font color to Pink. The Bride & Groom were thrilled with the results that you can see above (I'm sorry, I will try to work on my photo skills). Perfect, perfect.

I would love to get this striking wedding invitation in the mail!

Keep It Together

The popular, but discontinued, Keep It Together file holder can still be found on Amazon

At Koru Wedding Shoppe, there was much disappointment when the "Keep It Together" file holder was discontinued by the Mindy Weiss for Two's Company collection. Brides loved using this stylish organizer for their wedding planning. With seven printed tabs, Brides could easily file their wedding contracts, receipts, ideas & more. Everything wedding-related was contained in one spot & ready to tote to the floral meetings, dress fittings & venue walk-throughs. Since its discontinuation, I have been unable to find another similar product to offer to Koru Brides (if anyone has a source, please let me know!).

The awesome Retro Tulip File Tote from Paper Source

Now that I'm a Bride, I couldn't help but wish the shelves of Koru still offered the "Keep It Together" file so I could snag one for my wedding planning. I nixed the idea of using a binder because my planning clients are assigned binders & I would like something different (i.e. not work-related). Imagine my delight when I stumbled upon the Retro Tulip File Tote from my beloved Paper Source! It may not have a wedding design but I think it's a great combination of looks, style & function. With its eight interior dividers & sixteen adhesive labels, I plan to turn this into my personal wedding planning organizer. It will look perfect chilling in our living room during the wedding planning process & just as cute coming along for wedding planning meetings. I ordered my Retro Tulip File Tote on the spot & I can't wait for it to arrive!!

Maybe once I'm armed with the proper tools, we might start planning our wedding!

Coming Soon!

Hannah & Ari invitation: Beautiful swirls on creamy cardstock is traditional gone modern from Wedding Four

Alexandra & Jackson invitation: Duo-toned diamond pattern creates a mod feel & layout from Wedding Four

Grace & James invitation: Elegant pattern band adorns this winter, silvery ensemble from Wedding Four

I am proud to announce the pending arrival of Wedding Four by Marsupial Invitations at Koru Wedding Shoppe. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the gorgeous Wedding One, the decision to expand & offer Wedding Four to Koru Brides was easy. I expect the album to arrive next week, just in time for Inviting Sunday!

Wedding Four is a fresh, new collection featuring clever folds, original patterns & innovative color combinations. I already love, love, LOVE this collection. It gets better: this collection is well-priced for the reality of our economy! Marsupial truly believes that great invitations should be accessible for all Brides & Grooms, regardless of their budget & Wedding Four is priced for everyone.

New designs for a new economy coming soon at Koru Wedding Shoppe. Check back for the arrival date of Wedding Four!

Rookie Bride

Once merely a Soon-to-Be Mrs. hoodie model, I'm now a Rookie Bride!

Just like a silly teenager taking the latest love quiz in Teenbeat magazine, I took the "What Kind of Bride Are You?" quiz in The Wedding Book by celebrity planner Mindy Weiss. I thought this was one quiz I could easily ace with my ten years of experience in the wedding industry. The result: Rookie Bride!!

Seriously, Rookie Bride! Granted, this is my first trip down the aisle. But Mindy, I can tell a rose from a hydrangea. I can tell you when roses & hydrangeas are in season! I know this & so much more. Still, Rookie Bride it is. Have I learned nothing in the past ten years?!

Sigh. There is good news. The quiz claims I'm open to anything, I'll listen carefully & I'll make decisions quickly in the wedding planning process. Maybe it's not so bad to be a Rookie Bride. Take that Dreamer, Perfectionist & Nonconformist Brides!

Letterpress for Less

Olivia & Brian invitation: A classic letterpress look

Kristen & Daniel invitation: A cool design dresses up this invitation

Elena & Matthew invitation: The square shape creates a modern look

Hannah & Michael invitation: Oh how sweet is this invitation?

Letterpress for less? Is it too good to be true?! No, it's true: you can find letterpress for less at Koru Wedding Shoppe!

I love the look of letterpress invitations. The 500-year-old printing process of letterpress utilizes a direct impression of type onto paper. The results are a rich, classic look. Letterpress is absolutely perfect for wedding invitations.

During countless invitation appointments at Koru Wedding Shoppe, many Brides have fallen in love with letterpress invitations. For those who don't want to break the bank on invitations, they've been frustrated with the hefty price tag for letterpress. Most happily settled on different invitations but I wished I could help them more with affordable letterpress invitations. The awesome news is now I can!!

I'm excited to announce the arrival of Letterpress Invitations by Carlson Craft, offered in the Candlelight Collection at Koru Wedding Shoppe. I can offer Brides the timeless treasure of letterpress invitations at a reasonable price! The new letterpress invitations feature rich texture, fine quality & an upscale appearance. Several beautiful, letterpress invitations are available, all customizable with font styles, font colors, motifs & wording. Compared to letterpress invitations in the Monique Lhuillier Fine Papers Collection, the Letterpress Invitations by Carlson Craft are $100++ (yes, ++) less!

Some of the Letterpress Invitations by Carlson Craft are shown above. Let me tell you, you have to see & feel these invitations to truly experience them. To attend the Inviting Sunday (save an additional 15% off!) event or to make an invitation appointment, please visit Koru Noteworthy. I look forward to showing you these letterpress beauties!!

The Proposal

"We shall walk hand in hand into every day of our lives." ~author unknown

Engaged: I'm engaged!

The perfect proposal deserves the perfect description. To be honest, everything I have started to write just doesn't seem to do everything justice. The best I can do is provide a sweet image taken moments after the proposal & pair it with a great quote. I couldn't help but think of one of my favorite quotes (featured here in January) as we held hands & walked along the secluded beach moments after our proposal. Inspired by that lovely quote, we paused to take this photograph. The photo & the quote seem to convey everything for me.

I started this blog to share things that inspire me & my wedding business with you. Now I can also share the things that inspire me & our wedding with you. As a wedding planner & a Bride, I can only imagine how exciting things are going to be in the near future. Please follow me & enjoy the journey!!!

Love, Love

The card for my Valentine made with love

Happy Valentine's Day! Cheers to love!

Real Wedding: Let It Snow

A blizzard doesn't stop this beautiful Bride! Check out her Ugg boots!

A sparkly winter wonderland reception at Crystal Plaza

The New Mr. and Mrs. smiled & laughed throughout their wedding day

February 12 is an incredibly special day for me. On February 12, 2006, I planned & coordinated my first wedding for Koru Wedding Shoppe. I was blessed to work with an amazing couple, Marcy & Dan, on their winter wonderland wedding. To top it off, Mother Nature brought us a blizzard on Marcy & Dan's wedding day. My first Koru wedding, my first Koru couple & my first wedding day BLIZZARD! What a day!

The "Let It Snow" wedding was a success, mostly due to the grace of Marcy & Dan. A raging blizzard might rattle the nerves of the best Brides & Grooms, as you can imagine. After all, I have witnessed Brides & Grooms flip out over much less pressing matters, such as ceremony flowers being delivered late or one reception table bearing the wrong chargers. Once I confirmed the church & the reception hall were open so the show could go on, Marcy & Dan didn't bat an eyelash over the snowstorm. Maybe the guest list would be smaller, maybe the transportation would consist of my Jeep, maybe the church flowers would be late, etc (none of these things happened). They didn't care as long as they became Mr. and Mrs. They smiled, laughed & loved their way through their wedding. I tell all of my Brides & Grooms about Marcy & Dan as a lesson not to sweat the small stuff. As long as you get down the aisle & exchange vows, just relax, let go & have fun!

As a planner, I learned much from this wedding. First, this wedding taught me that I can & will handle everything & anything that is thrown my way at a wedding. Everyone comments about my calm demeanor at weddings. I have the confidence that I can navigate any problem after dealing with testy Mother Nature. Bring it on! Two, a talented vendor team is of utmost importance. If Marcy & Dan's fabulous vendors hadn't stepped up to the plate, I would be here writing about a complete disaster of a wedding. When one transportation vendor dropped out due to the snow, another one saved the day. I couldn't have done it alone & it was a relief to know each vendor was willing to go the extra mile in the snow. Make sure you trust all of your vendors to work for you, no matter what happens.

For more photos from "Let It Snow," please visit Koru's Gallery. A big "Thank you!!!" to Joshua Zuckerman Photography for the glorious photographs.

Marcy & Dan, Happy Fourth Anniversary! Cheers to your continued Happily Ever After~

Snow Day

Our charming storefront as the snow starts getting serious

Poor Soon-to-Be Mrs. Clark isn't happy about the winter conditions

Finally, I felt sorry for Soon to Be Mrs. Clark & brought her inside to thaw

Yesterday, we enjoyed a snow day in Hoboken. Before the snow became heavy, I opened our 106 Fourth Street storefront for Koru Wedding Shoppe & Maxwell's customers. Normally, the front entrance is decorated with plentiful Koru & Maxwell's merchandise for everyone to admire. The only merchandise I thought could stand the weather conditions was the popular Soon-to-Be Mrs. Clark sporting a fabulous black & white snakeskin-print shawl . When I checked on Soon-to-Be Mrs. Clark one hour later, she was covered in snow! Poor thing. I let her freeze for another hour before I felt sorry for her & brought her inside to warm up. She dripped melting snow for awhile. Not long after, I closed the shoppe & headed home for some hot chocolate. I pretty much looked like Soon-to-Be Mrs. Clark when I got home.

I bet Soon-to-Be Mrs. Clark is wishing for Spring just as much as the rest of us!

Cabo Creation

A beautiful save-the-date invitation for a Cabo San Lucas wedding

The pocket keeps the travel information organized for the wedding guests

With a heavy snowstorm hitting Hoboken, I'm going to escape on this post to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I visited last April & I fell in love with the tans of the desert landscape & sandy beaches combined with the blues of the ocean & sky. It was simply breathtaking.

Many months later, a destination Bride & Groom came to Koru Wedding Shoppe for a save-the-date inspired by those same things: the endless sandy beaches, beautiful waters & blue skies of Cabo San Lucas. The beauty of Cabo San Lucas had won them over & convinced them to host their wedding there in November 2010. Now they wanted their wedding guests to get a glimpse of Cabo San Lucas' beauty through their save-the-date. Also included on their save-the-date wish list was incorporating a photograph of them in Cabo San Lucas & sharing travel information with their wedding guests.

The closed pocket features a seal with the couple's name

Playa del Amour in Cabo San Lucas showing the colors that inspired this save-the-date

We had so much fun creating their save-the-date! First, we scoured their Cabo San Lucas vacation photographs & selected a favorite. This photo showed the couple against the backdrop of the ocean. Then we selected a small, pocket save-the-date invitation from Marsupial Invitations. With two inserts neatly tucked into the pocket, it's not only easy to share travel information with the guests, it's also easy for the guests to keep track of the information. Since the photo covered the gorgeous blue waters of Cabo, we chose a Dune colored pocket to reflect the pretty sands of Cabo. Together with textured cream paper & warm brown ink, this save-the-date is perfect for a Cabo San Lucas wedding!

Take a look at the fabulous results of our hard work above!!

Be Mine

What would you write on your conversation heart cookies?

How cute are these conversation heart cookies?! Modeled after the Valentine's Day staple of candy conversation hearts, a cookie version is so much more yummy! These cuties would be perfect Valentine's Day treats or Valentine wedding favors. So sweet.

Once again, we have Martha Stewart to thank for this cool idea.

What a bummer that I'm a disaster in the kitchen. The chances of me attempting to make these cookies are slim. I'll just admire the photo!

Koru Hearts TGP

A Happy Couple at their Avalon, New Jersey wedding
The Admired Work of TGP, Timothy Glenn Photographers

From the start, Koru Wedding Shoppe has been a huge fan of TGP, Timothy Glenn Photographers. As it turns out, we aren't alone in our adoration of TGP: they received the Bride's Choice Awards 2010 (trademarked) from the WeddingWire Network!!! This award recognizes the top 5 percent of local wedding professionals who demonstrate excellence in quality, service & professionalism. The Bride's Choice Awards (trademarked) are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through extensive surveys & reviews, which means TGP's past clients love them as much as we do. Congratulations TGP on the well-deserved recognition!!!

TGP is comprised of the dynamic duo of Tim & Glenn, two talented photographers who work together to capture every moment of your wedding day. Besides being a pleasure to work with, the artistry & beauty in their photos are nothing short of breathtaking. I have witnessed a wedding from start to finish that TGP photographed. When I saw the photos later, full of sweet emotions & important details & incredible moments, I realized I hadn't seen a thing that day. Yes, TGP is that good!

My Funny Valentines

The start of my Valentine's Day card for my Goddaughter

My Supplies: Cards, Stamps, Ribbons, Scissors & Decorations

I'm nervous that my Valentine's Day cards will not be funny as in amusing but funny as in looks. A kindergartner may do a better job than me! As part of my vow to be more crafty, I decided to flex my creative muscles & make my own Valentine's Day cards this year. The cards are works in progress & it's already clear that I am no competition for Hallmark.

The work begins on my Aunt Dee's Valentine's Day card

All the craft goodies needed for my card creations

Everything started with a fun trip to AC Moore where I loaded up on shimmer paper cards, pretty ribbons & Valentine decorations. Then I picked out & ordered black & white photos of me with each recipient. I decided each card should be unique in its design as each is inspired by a special individual in my life. Together with my own collection of stamps, ribbons & edged scissors, I thought I had all the makings for beautiful Valentines.

Then the fun began . . . Each card features a different design but the process is the same: stamp the card, add the photo & layer with ribbons & decorations. In addition to making a few cards, I've had a few adventures along the way. I stamped the dining room table in a very nice red that matches the wall color. I glued a chocolate brown, velvet ribbon to my finger. I had to part ways with some decorations that I mangled beyond recognition.

Oh well. I don't know if any of my creations quite meet my standards yet but I still have some time to work on them. If nothing else, it's the thought that counts!

Stay tuned next week for my finished creations! Happy weekend!

Inviting Sunday

A Gentle Bloom in the Air invitation by Marsupial Invitations

I'm proud to announce the next Inviting Sunday event on February 28 from 12-6pm!!! I adore this event when I meet so many fabulous couples & help them create the perfect wedding invitation. To find out how you can save 15% off your wedding invitation, read on!

Calling all Brides & Grooms . . . Love your wedding invitation & save money! Koru Wedding Shoppe is offering 15% off every invitation order placed at our next Inviting Sunday on February 28 from 12-6pm. Shop a brilliant new season of beautiful invitations & chic stationery in colors & styles that truly make a statement. Enjoy our expertise to guide you through the invitation process in a friendly, relaxed manner. We'll help you create the perfect invitation while you save money!!

We're sorry: we can't offer this discount on the Monique Lhuillier Fine Papers Collection. Also, this offer can't be combined with other offers.

By Appointment Only. We accept one appointment per hour from 12-6pm. To make your appointment or for more information, please visit follow this link to our Noteworthy page. Thank you!

DailyCandy + Weddings = Perfect Match

From Daily Candy

As an avid follower of DailyCandy New York City & Everywhere, I was so excited to learn about the latest & greatest from DailyCandy: DailyCandy Weddings!!! It's a new, weekly email devoted to your big day. Daily Candy Weddings is promising unconventional inspiration, floral trends, new designers & fresh ideas for your wedding. How fun! The launch date is set for February 8.

Yeah, now there really is a DailyCandy dedicated to everything near & dear to my heart- weddings, travel & shopping!!

To sign up for DailyCandy Weddings, click here.

How Sweet It Is

A sweet image from one of my favs, Real Simple

February is a sweet month! Lucky for me, I celebrate love & marriage year-round. However, things get sweeter in February as others join the celebration of love. I'm a complete sucker for glittery red heart decorations, cute candy conversation hearts & everything else Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is a day in the spirit of love. Much like your wedding day is (was) dedicated to your love, Valentine's Day is dedicated to everyone's love. It's not all about red roses and chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne. Just a simple "I love you" to our family & friends goes a long way on Valentine's Day (or any other day).

On a personal note, February is truly one of the sweetest months. My boyfriend & I will celebrate three years together in two weeks. I'm so excited to toast to the amazing life we have created together. Talk about luck: I'm so lucky to have found him!

Cheers to love!