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I ‘HEART’ STEPHANIE GRACE

Our featured guest at the cafe today is the beautiful and talented, Stephanie Grace.  Where do I begin to tell you all about Stephanie….let’s see…she is the owner of a very successful full service event production firm that specializes in floral and event design as well as planning for both private and corporate clients…. she has offices in three West Coast locations….Stephanie Grace is on TBC’s  Crème de la Crème  list…..and she is just a sweetheart….I adore her!!!

She took a little time out of her busy schedule to stop by and visit with us and I’m so glad she did…I had the pleasure to interview Stephanie and it was a blast….let’s check it out….Enjoy!!!

TBC:  Describe a Stephanie Grace Signature Event.

SG:  A Stephanie Grace event is one with deep traditional elegance and opulence, infused with a fresh, new and innovative spirit. A Stephanie Grace event is one where the guest feels like they have entered an entirely different space and world, a total transformation! Our specialty at Stephanie Grace is designing the event as a whole, focusing on every detail and nuance, from the flowers to the lighting to the planning, to make sure that the whole experience is stunning, visually magical and impeccably planned.  Above all, our events express the special personality of the bride and groom!

Describe a

 

TBC:  How does a bride incorporate “her personal touch” on her wedding?

SG:  This is such a good question, because the wedding can be such an overwhelming experience for couples, and often, the wedding becomes a lot about everyone else! Thus, it is so important that brides remember their wedding is about them and their fiancé too J On a small level, brides can add little special touches to the wedding, whether it is a personal brooch on their bouquet, little handkerchiefs to their bridesmaids, a special pair of cufflinks for the groom, a special first dance, etc. On a larger level, brides should remember what they love, and try to infuse those elements in as much as possible, whether that be a signature drink, a special band or singer, unique flowers they have always loved, etc.

TBC:  Stephanie, please give us five ways a bride can make her wedding unique.

Stephanie:
1).  I think a fabulous way to make a wedding unique is to incorporate the cultures of the bride and groom into the wedding. Whether you feature a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, the breaking of the glass, or traditional foods, I think including one’s culture is a beautiful way to add depth and uniqueness to your wedding.

 2).  Another way to add dimension to your wedding is to really entertain and wow the guests with creative interactive experiences. Some examples might be adding a photo booth, a dessert buffet of your favorite desserts, an impersonator, an old style singing quartet, a port and cheese tasting, etc.
 
3).  Another way to make your wedding is unique is to be very creative in your centerpieces. Instead of using traditional flowers, try something a bit different. Some ideas might be beautiful vintage bird cages, elegant crystal chandeliers, or even miniature wedding cakes as centerpieces.
 
4).  To wow your guests, another way to make your wedding special and different is to include over the wedding weekend some different activities for your guests to get involved in. For example, a mini tennis tournament, a Clam bake for all your guests, a morning hike, a Sunday brunch, etc. Adding some creative activities for your guests really helps add a whole new unique aspect to your wedding.
 
5).  I think the most important part of making your wedding unique is to incorporate the passions and personalities of the bride and groom.  For example, if the couple is really into wine, use that theme and infuse it throughout the wedding. For example, you could have the tables named after vineyards you love, the place cards could be set in wine corks, the color scheme could be deep reds and browns, you could bring in wine barrels to add additional décor to the room, etc. I think bringing in who you are as a couple is very important in making your wedding special and unique!

TBC:  What are some of the wedding trends and color palettes to look for in 2009?

SG:  First, I feel that there will be a reversion to the traditional colors of white and ivory. We have seen in recent years a move towards bright bold colors, but I feel that brides are moving back towards a more traditional elegance with white and ivory tones.

Second, I feel that weddings will continue to strive for unique ways to entertain their guests. Instead of using the more typical methods, like photo booths, weddings will go even further in creating atmospheres for entertainment. Whether that be a tapas bar, a wine or tequila tasting or even spicing things up by bringing in new forms of musical entertainment like a Spanish guitarist, I think the trend is to create a larger more tactile experiences for guests.

Third, I feel that the trend of having lavish and spectacular rehearsal dinners will continue as well. I have seen a lot of weddings this past year include an over-the-top rehearsal dinner for all the wedding guests, that highlights the heritage and personality of the groom’s family. I think we will continue to see the rehearsal dinner as another opportunity to include all the guests in a fun festive way.

TBC:  Please give a little advice to couples on a ‘small budget’ that will help them to have a ‘Signature Wedding’.

SG:  Having a small budget certainly does not prohibit a couple from having a fabulous and stunning wedding. There are so many hints and tools you can use to really make that budget work for you.


-Quote out a few florists and price compare. There are florists out there at various price points, and it is good to see what is out there and which florists are willing to work with you.


-Opt for flowers that are in season because that will help reduce extra costs.

-Do hire a planner! They have longstanding relationships with vendors and venues, and can really assist in bringing down the costs.

-If the venue has their own white linens, use them, and accent them with great napkins and flowers. If you can afford linens from an outside vendor, do also quote out a few companies. Just like florists, there are varying levels of price and it is important to see what is out there.

-Try not using flowers, but investing in something more creative for a centerpiece like vintage chandeliers (which you can buy from a flea market), or a few hurricane candles. You can also try reworking the tables to form long tables instead of traditional rounds, possibly reducing the number of centerpieces you actually even need.


-Incorporate your personality and style into the small details that really define a “Signature Wedding” such as place cards, table numbers, ceremony details, etc. It is in the details where your style comes out and you can add this texture with small touches.

-Instead of having a large cake to feed all your guests, opt in favor of having a spectacular but smaller cake, and then using sheet cake to feed the guests. This will save you a substantial amount of money and your cake will still be the stunning one you want

TBC:  What are some of your favorite wedding venues?

SG:  Ooohh I love this question. I absolutely love the Beverly Hills Hotel in all its pink and green fabulousness! I also really love the Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara-truly spectacular and unique venue. On a smaller scale, I love The Bernardus Lodge and Winery located on a vineyard in Carmel-absolutely exquisite. Another favorite is the Pasadena Caltech Anthenaeum…it makes me feel like I am in a European cloister.  

TBC:  Tell us a little about our personal life so we can get to know you a little better.

SG:  I am married to my fabulous husband, who inspires me everyday and supports me completely on this crazy journey! I have a little dog named Maddie who is the love of our life and constantly brings us smiles and joy. Before I started my business, I was a former lawyer who worked in private equity. Not loving my career at that time, I decided to do what I love, and I left the legal and business world, and haven’t looked back since! In my spare time, I love to cook, my second passion besides flowers and design! 

Stephanie, thank you SO much for stopping by today….it was wonderful to have you visit with us and thanks also for a great interview….guys, please make sure you check out Stephanie’s beautiful site….Also a HUGE thank you to Elizabeth Messina for all the gorgeous images!