Note from Jeannine:  Ashley Baber is easily one of the classiest women I know.  Because we both live and work in Atlanta, I think most of the wedding world would try to label us as competitors, but I honestly consider her a friend.  She produces beautiful events and her clients adore her.  Her work is consistently published in magazines and featured on wedding blogs and she is well respected in the Atlanta community and beyond.  Her cutie-pie husband, William, is a real sweetheart and together they are happily raising a small herd of adorable pugs in their new Atlanta home.  I love chatting with Ashley and I usually feel a little lighter when we’ve spent time together as she is such a positive person and a joy to be around.  I’m so happy to share Ashley with you all today – enjoy!

 Photos on top row courtesy of Alecia Lauren www.AleciaLaurenPhotography.com,

bottom row courtesy of David Christensen (www.dhcphoto.com)

Name: Ashley Baber

Location: Atlanta, GA

Company Name: Ashley Baber Weddings

Number of years in business: I planned my first wedding almost 8 years ago. I started Ashley Baber Weddings in 2004 and went "full time" in 2007.

Website: www.ashleybaberweddings.com

Blog: www.ashleybaberweddings.blogspot.com

How would you describe your personal style? Classic with a twist.

What is your “go-to” meeting attire? It depends upon the time of the year, but quite often it is a black pencil skirt and then I vary the top, great shoes and accessories. Lately I have been wearing more summer dresses, which I love. They are so easy to throw on and go while still looking very put together.

What is your “go-to” evening industry event attire? I am usually leaving from meetings to attend industry events, so it is often the same thing.

What is your attire for wedding/event day set-up? I have found that I do not ever have time to sneak away and change, so I just come to my weddings dressed for the day. I will often bring various shoes to change into throughout the day- sandals for set-up, heels for the ceremony and flats for the remainder of the day.

What is your attire for actual wedding/event? Always all black- typically a dress and a cardigan with pearls. I think pearls add a sense of formality to any outfit and I always get compliments on them on wedding days.

What style and brand of shoes do you wear on wedding/event days? I am always in search of the perfect wedding day shoe… Currently I wear an Aerosoles shoe.

What are your favorite jeans and why?  J. Crew. The "short" length is perfect for flats/sandals and the "regular" length are great to wear with heels for a night out. I love the premium (dark) wash- I think it is slimming.

What are a few of your favorite cosmetic products?  I am super low maintenance with cosmetic products. I rarely have time to go to the mall to get to the cosmetic counter, so I have to use products I can grab at the drugstore. I always use a moisturizer with SPF- currently Neutrogena Healthy Skin face lotion with SPF 15. I use Neutrogena Healthy Skin Glow Sheers (SPF 30) foundation and have used Cover Girl Clean Pressed Powder for years as well as classic Maybelline Great lash washable mascara (I find the waterproof is too hard to get off). I vary my eye shadow, blush and lip gloss brands, but they are always pretty neutral.

What products are in your current skincare regimen? I wash my face twice a day with Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle/Anti-Blemish cleanser. I use salicylic acid at night to manage breakouts and have started using Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra Lift Deep Wrinkle Treatment around my eyes and other wrinkle-prone areas. I will be thirty this year, after all!

Who is your favorite celebrity style icon and why? I think Julianne Moore is gorgeous- I identify with the red hair and fair skin. I love Jennifer Aniston’s consistent "effortlessly put together" look and Renee Zellweger’s red carpet style (almost always Carolina Herrera!).

Please share with us (in 50 words or less) your favorite beauty or style tip: I tend to wear a lot of black, but love using accessories and shoes to express my personal style and bring color and attitude into my wardrobe. This is also a great way to have key pieces in your wardrobe, but get different looks by modifying your accessories.

June has been a difficult month for me regarding scheduling.  New clients, speaking engagements that required travel, June weddings and my son being out of school have pulled my attention away from The Stylish Planner.  I can remember thinking during the first week of June that I should dedicate a post to explaining that I may not be able to blog everyday during the month of June, but I just never got around to it.  Being in a position where I am not able to keep commitments (in this case, self-imposed) really brings me down and I become my own worst enemy, beating myself up for not being able to get it all done.  Deep down I know that the priority should be placed on my clients and is better focused on revenue generating activities, but I know how disappointed I can be when others do not stick to commitments, and I can’t bear the thought of my causing disappointment in others.

Walking along my usual worry path one day last week, something in me just decided to let this one go.  The truth is, readers of The Stylish Planner are most likely too busy to read every post this month, anyway.  It is the biggest wedding month of the year, after all.  I have good, solid content in the archives for any new readers that come along.  It really is not the end of the world.  Wow – I wish I would have had the clarity of mind to think this way back on June 1st.  I could have saved myself a lot of anxiety.  And written this post then instead of now so you would know why the posts were not timely this month.  And let you know that July will bring the return of daily posts.  There, I said it – now we all know what to expect!

The freedom of letting it go, releasing the worry and making the “announcement” is therapeutic.  I forgive myself for not being able to do it all.

And you should too.  What will you let go of today?

Today we have another wonderful beauty installment for you from Atlanta based Hair & Make-Up Artist, Scoobie West.  Scoobie and I have worked together for many years and he is a savvy businessman and a wonderful human being.  It is a great thing when your vendor partners become your friends and that is so true for Scoobie and I.  I knew when I started The Stylish Planner that I wanted to include him as a guest blogger. 

Scoobie was recently named one of “Atlanta’s People on the Move” by Urban Lux Magazine for his success as a make up artisan.  Check out his spread on page 12 and his fashion feature on page 42 – those Versace shoes are killer!  Many of you are familiar with Scoobie’s work without even realizing it.  He was the hair & make-up artist for model, Adair, who graced the cover of the current issue of Southern Weddings Magazine.

Image courtesy of UrbanLuxe magazine.

I asked Scoobie his professional opinion on… real nails or faux – which do you prefer and why?”

He answered: “I always prefer real nails. From my experiences, natural nails, when manicured and polished properly last for up to two weeks.  As for acrylic nails, most times they are safe and wont harm your nails.  The most popular trend has been french manicure on hands, which normally chips if not done the same day of your event.  Now, if while using acrylic nails and a  ‘gap’ develops between your natural nail and the acrylic nail, a bacteria or fungi may develop.  Every woman wearing acrylic nails is at risk because of the potential to bump or hit the nails during normal activity.  To fake out bacteria and fungi, make sure the nail salons that you are utilizing are licensed and they clean their tools after each client.”

What is your preference?  Can you tell when someone has acrylic nails?

I’m so grateful to know Caroline with Paloma’s Nest.  We first corresponded last year when she kindly provided some bouquet tiles for the guests attending a bridal show I was participating in.  A few months later, I was thrilled to meet her in person when she came to Atlanta for the Southern Weddings Magazine Party at Bridal Bar.  She’s a ball of energy and wonderful to be around.  She is always smiling and is so genuine.  I’m really glad to share her with you today.  If you haven’t looked at her beautiful handmade creations, you really must check out Paloma’s Nest.

Side Note:  Paloma’s Nest is a wonderful example of branding made personal and done very well.  (Paloma is Caroline’s daughter.)

Name: Caroline Colom Vasquez

Location: Austin, TX

Company Name: Paloma’s Nest

Number of years in business: 3

Website: www.palomasnest.com

Blog: Stories To Tell www.palomasnest.com/blog

Please describe your product or service:

Paloma’s Nest is a line of handcrafted modern heirlooms and keepsake pieces.

As the creator of the original Ring Bearer Bowl™, we invented the concept of employing a ceramic piece, instead of the traditional pillow, in a wedding ceremony.  The result was an entirely new take on the wedding tradition that has swept the bridal industry. In addition to our Wedding Collection, Paloma’s Nest also offers ornaments, tabletop products, stationery, and a new Baby & Family Collection.

How would you describe your personal style?

As a multi-tasking mom and businesswoman, I try to keep things as simple as possible. But in an effort to stay true to the artist in me, I am never afraid to try something new and different. I look for easy to wear/ easy to wash pieces and accessories that are full of visual impact. I buy handmade whenever possible, as I love to support other designers and small businesses.

My daily uniform may consist of a slip-on dress in a great pattern, a pair of boots or ballerina flats, a favorite pair of earrings, and a hand crafted leather bag.

My clothing works hard in the studio and on the playground, as well as in the boardroom. I love hunting for bargains, both new and vintage/thrift, but am not afraid to spend more on something that I know will get a lot of use in the many facets of my schedule!

How does your personal style relate to your business branding?

Interesting question! I love clothing with strong, simple lines (that "do the work for you!), in natural fibers and color palettes. I have a large collection of handcrafted jewelry- I tend to gravitate towards earrings, both large and small. I am not afraid to mix silver jewelry with gold, or to juxtapose a new piece alongside a vintage one. I find that my personal style evolves as I study different periods of art history and design as it relates to my own work. I pick up little ideas and inspiration from each decade I study and translate it into my modern closet and current look.

What would you like people to know about you that they will not discover through your website or blog?

I have a sharp (and often very sarcastic!) sense of humor that doesn’t always come through in my work or online…ha!

What is your most treasured possession?

I am the proud custodian to many family heirlooms. Among my most cherished is a packet full of love letters sent by my grandfather to my grandmother during WWII. He was quite the romantic. They were married for close to 70 years.

What message would you like to convey to others in the industry?

I want to be influential in redefining today’s definition of "handmade." Too often handmade is characterized as "do it yourself"

crafts or rustic or vintage inspired things. The modern "handmade" is fresh, innovative, and of the highest quality materials and craftsmanship. I hope my work is an example of this modern aesthetic and responsible way of creating.

Please share your favorite beauty or style tip:

If I only have five minutes (which is the case on most days), it goes to bronzing powder, eyebrows, and mascara. Some how this makes me look awake and feel pulled together.

Oh, and: "You’re never fully dressed without a smile!"

Congrats to Janice Carnevale of Bellwether Events for her funny wardrobe malfunction story/comment after our recent post on the wonders of Hollywood Fashion Tape.

Janice said, “The sole of a groomsman’s rented tuxedo shoe (the color gray, not traditional black) peeled almost all the way off minutes before the start of the ceremony. We used black electrical tape around the heel and the leg of the pant covered the tape.”

I love this one because it shows how innovative wedding planners can be in a crunch.  It also makes me think of my sweet husband who believes that there is no problem on earth that duct tape cannot fix.  God, I love that man, but I digress…

Congrats Janice!  Please send an email to info@thestylishplanner.com with your mailing address and I will get these little goodies off to you asap!

Thanks for sharing everyone – I really love hearing your stories!

Be sure not to miss The Stylish Planner tomorrow – I’m thrilled to welcome a guest contributor that you all know and love with a Wellness Wednesday topic that we all need to hear.

Blessings,

Jeannine

I recently read a great article in Entrepreneur Magazine about the use of colors in your business branding.  The similarities between colors for your business and the colors you wear are striking.  This is something that I will talk about in detail at The Style Plan workshops.  Here is my spin on a few of the more popular colors I see used in business branding:

www.colorcombos.com

Blue portrays, trust, dependability, calm and secure.  Blue carries a strong emotional connotation of well being and is associated with sky and water.  You will see many banks and financial companies using the color blue.  Navy when worn in professional attire portrays wisdom.

www.colourlovers.com

Red increases the heart rate and creates energy.  Red is an action color and evokes passion and creativity.  On the flip side, red can be taken as dangerous or indebtedness.

 www.colourlovers.com

Green is the color of life and denotes health and calm.  Deeper shades are associated with wealth and prestige (emerald).

www.colourlovers.com

Pink is a risky color to use in branding.  The message that people receive from pink varies from person to person.  Generally, hot pink conveys energy and youth, but speaks to a less expensive, trendy product or service.  Lighter pinks are received as romantic.

What is your favorite color to see in branding?  What color makes you feel the strongest emotion?   We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Graphic designed by Jess Lehry Designs aka The Savvy Bride. 

I’ve been talking about The Style Plan workshops for a while now.  This content really comes from the heart, and I say that knowing that it sounds cliché.  I went through a very difficult time last year in my personal life that completely shattered what I thought I knew about myself.  That difficulty turned out to be a tremendous blessing in so many ways.  One thing that was crystal clear in the midst of that was that if I wanted to keep my business and continue doing the work that I loved, I had to completely change the way I operated the business.  (In my case, that translated to bigger is not better.)  Another thing that happened was that I took two months off and stepped completely away from the wedding industry during that time.  I was able to think about my business with more clarity than ever before, and my creativity soared.  I took lots of notes and journaled my thoughts, but did not allow myself to work on any new ideas until the personal situation was nearly resolved.

Out of that time away, The Stylish Planner was born, and along with it, the desire to put my experience and everything I had learned into a format to be shared with others.  That was a year ago and I can’t believe the first in a series of workshops will be held in my hometown of Atlanta in just two weeks!

From the infant stages of the workshop, my wonderfully talented friends and StudioWed owners, Nicole Riley (Asheville), Michelle Gainey (Atlanta), Mary Alice Sublett (Nashville) and Debbie Orwat (Denver) agreed to sponsor and host the event.  This unique relationship provides me with talented StudioWed vendors at my fingertips and allows me the opportunity to tap into their skills and expertise and showcase them to the workshop attendees.  While the workshop format will remain the same in each city, here is a sample of how vendors are participating in the Atlanta workshop:

LUNCH:  I requested a healthy lunch, used fresh, nutritious ingredients that busy professionals could easily incorporate in their everyday lives.  I also asked for the Chef to share with us their thoughts on healthy eating and how good nutrition affects our health overall.  Endive Fine Catering has already exceeded my expectations with this wonderful menu:

1)  a traditional middle eastern mezze spread of white bean and garlic hummus, babaganoush, select Persian olives, tabbouleh and grilled vegetables served with sliced cucumber and ethnic flatbreads. 

2)  soy bourbon glazed salon file over a strawberry spinach salad with baby curly spinach tossed with raspberry vinaigrette topped with sweet and spicy roasted pecans, dried cranberries, crumbled maytag blue cheese and fresh sliced strawberry. 

3)  California rolls with chef’s choice of smoked salmon, ahi tuna, cream cheese, avocado, tri-colored bell pepper, pickled daikon and cucumber served with soy sauce, wasabi, and ginger, and

4)  miniature wonton tacos filled with Thai chicken, Asian vegetables, fresh ginger and cilantro sautéed in a bold sherry soy tomato sauce. 

NOTE:  Chef Drew will also conduct a live demonstration of sushi rolling techniques!

Photography:  I asked that one of the StudioWed photographers in each location be available to photograph attendees for a small fee.  I thought it would be a great idea for attendees to have the opportunity to update their headshots for their websites, blogs, Facebook and Twitter avatars and more.  I’m so excited that the incredibly talented and fun Janet Howard of Blue World Studios answered the call for the photography spot!  For a $30 fee paid directly to Janet, attendees will receive 8 – 10 images within a couple of weeks of the workshop date.

Hair & Make-Up:  Scoobie West is one of my dearest friends in the wedding industry.  I simply adore him.  He will be on hand to share his thoughts on hair and make-up trends and tips, talk about the importance of good grooming and how to look your best.  (He will also discuss some male grooming trends for the gentlemen in attendance.)  Scoobie will also offer a discounted hair & make-up styling session to The Style Plan attendees to be booked with him at a date and time of your choosing.  I’m hoping he can teach me some new up do looks as well as how to apply faux lashes!

Dress Designer:  The wonderfully talented Erica Angeline will be with us and during the Personal Image segment of the workshop, she will speak on fashion and discuss in detail the importance of good tailoring.  This is a wonderful opportunity to hear from a designer what fits are best for your body type.

Desserts/Treats: Peachy Treats will provide a delicious surprise.  I’m not picky at all when it comes to sweets, I love them all, so I am definitely excited to see what is in store for us at StudioWed!

The Style Plan news highlights:

- I’m very pleased to announce the charity of choice for The Style Plan is Wish Upon A Wedding.  1% of all proceeds of every Style Plan workshop will be donated to the wishing well.

- On Monday, June 14th, I will be announcing guidelines for a scholarship opportunity to the Atlanta workshop.  I will offer this in each city with the same guidelines.  I remember all too well how overwhelming things were for me when I first started in the industry, so I definitely want to be sensitive to those who are just starting out.  One Atlanta area wedding professional will receive a full scholarship to the workshop as long as the guidelines are met.

- In addition, I am offering a limited time discount to five attendees.  E-mail me at info@thestylishplanner.com with a short note on what interests you most about the website, and you will receive 1/2 price registration ($75).  This offer will be available until all five slots are filled or until tomorrow (June 11) at midnight.

To learn more about The Style Plan workshops, read this post I wrote last week and see the workshop outline, list of deliverables and registration information here.

I’m curious to know – what interests you the most about The Style Plan workshop?

I am a super visual person.  I learn best by watching, then doing.  Tutorials rarely work for me, I just have to dive in and try things until I get them right.  This is true even for something as simple as doing my own hair.  When I change my hairstyle, I must have my hair stylist walk me through each new step of styling my hair so that I can try it myself at home.  Even then, it’s usually weeks before I can get it completely right.

I’ve been growing my hair out for a couple of years.  Now that it is long and the mercury is rising (and rising) in Atlanta, I’ve been attempting some new up do’s in an attempt to steer away from what was quickly becoming my everyday look, a low ponytail with side swept bangs.

So, I was really excited when I saw a new product line from Goody, the hair accessory company.  The Goody simple styles collection includes 4 new tools for an assortment of styles, a storage pouch and a style guide.  In fact, you can download the style guide here:  Goody Simple Styles Style Guide.

 https://goodysimplestyles.com

It’s only $14.99 plus shipping and handling – not a bad deal!  I’ll let you know how I like the items when my order comes in.

Another hairstyling resource fell into my lap over the weekend in the form of my favorite wedding magazine, Martha Stewart Weddings.  In the current issue, check out the D-I-Y hairstyle feature.  It’s fantastic!

Martha Stewart Weddings – Summer 2010 Issue

What are your D-I-Y hairstyling tips?  It’s really not fair for you to keep them all to your self.  Share them in a comment below!

Back in January, I posted a complete list of items that I carry in my planner’s emergency kit.  One of the many items included is Hollywood Fashion Tape.  Last week as I was enjoying a little retail therapy, I noticed that there is now lovely new packaging for the products, along with a new “Red Carpet Assortment” with 5 unique shapes.  SCORE!

Hollywood Fashion Tape

I’m feeling rather generous today, so in keeping with my promise to commence with several new giveaway’s on the blog, I’m pleased to announce this contest giveaway. 

I will gift to one individual, a Hollywood Fashion Tape duo – The Original easy to use strips, and the new, “Red Carpet Assortment” double stick strips in 5 unique shapes.  The two items together are a $12 value and I will mail to you anywhere in the Continental United States.  The contest will end at midnight EST tomorrow night (Tuesday, June 8th) in anticipation of another giveaway that starts Wednesday morning!

Winning is easy and fun for everyone…just add a comment to the post (below) with a short and sweet retelling of your funniest ever wedding attire mishap – aka “wardrobe malfunction”.  Whichever story makes me (and the blog readers) laugh the most wins. 

For those of you who are reading but not contributing, help your friends out by re-tweeting their stories and encouraging others to chime in.  After all, it is wedding season (and a Monday), so we could all use a good laugh!

Good luck!

I recently received a great Daily Candy article in my inbox that sparked my interest.  Called, Tech and the City, it highlights several tech products featured in the movie, Sex and the City 2.  Thank you, Daily Candy for introducing me to the term, “Techcessory:  n. 1. Any stylish gadget that serves the dual function of keeping you connected on the go and making you look cool. 2. An increasingly important part of your wardrobe.”

The Tech and the City article spotlights a beautiful, HP Mini "digital clutch" designed by Vivienne Tam shown in a scene of SATC2 with our favorite PR Gal, Samantha.  Who knew technology could be so beautiful?!

I love the idea of techcessories, and extending your style beyond just the shirt on your back, so to speak.  Since getting an iPhone a few years ago, I feel completely lost if it isn’t with my reach, and I’m sure most of you feel the same about your phones.  At the time of purchase, I went with a basic black, rubber case for protection, but I do find myself longing for a more stylish option.  Allow me to introduce the latest accessory, (or techcessory) that I have my eye on:

 Image courtesy of Kate spade

Yes, one of my favorite designers has a line of stylish iPhone covers.  Now my problem is which one to choose!

Do you have a favorite techcessory?  Do tell!