Google Hangout: How to be the Best Bride-Bridesmaid Duo

Today, two of our clients, Ilana Stern, CEO of online boutique for bridesmaid dresses Weddington Way and Joanne Barken, founder of the first platform for planning bachelorette parties The Bach, joined Cathleya Geefay, Editor in Chief of Weddingbee, Xochilt Gonzales, event designer at A.a.B. Creates, and wedding editor Anne Chertoff for the weekly Google Hangout “From I Will to I Do.”

The wedding pros discussed some of the major stresses and trends when it comes to having or being a bridesmaid.

Check out the video of the Google Hangout:

 

The Bach Launches First Bachelorette Party Planning Site

The Bach LogoBachelorette parties are one of the most exciting and fun pre-wedding events, but planning them can be a daunting task. Until now, that is! We’re pleased to announce the launch of The Bach, the first online platform for planning bachelorette parties!

The Bach is free and helps users discover best bachelorette party venues and activities in the top 75 destinations in North America, build an itinerary, create invitations and coordinate with a group of guests – all on one user-friendly website. According to the recent The New York Times article, bachelorette parties are becoming more elaborate, so the launch of The Bach is particularly timely!

Bach homepage

 

Having helped plan more than a dozen bachelorette parties, I know how parties that should be fun can instead cause a lot of stress. We wanted The Bach to be a comprehensive resource to help women plan anything from a simple bar night to an elaborate bachelorette weekend in an unfamiliar city with several out of town guests – Joanne Barken, founder and CEO of The Bach.

The Bach features a list of vetted restaurants, bars, spas, party buses, activities, and adult venues in a variety of price points and atmospheres in the top 75 destinations in North America.

A user planning a bachelorette party in Austin, for example, can find the perfect dinner spot in her desired price range and vibe among a dozen recommended, well reviewed local restaurants guaranteed to welcome a group of her size. She can then build an itinerary, request feedback from other guests, send out electronic invitations and monitor the responses.

The Bach blog offers tons of bachelorette party planning tips, real bachelorette photos and contests.

The Bach Invitiation

We’re very excited to work with The Bach on helping them change the way American women plan their bachelorette parties!

 

Bridal Market Fall 2013 Recap: the Shows, the Parties, the Fun

This past week has been busy with tons of Fall 2013 Bridal Market events. I got to see the latest gown collections on the runways, spend time with our clients and make new friends in the bridal industry!

Theia Couture Pant Suit

After unveiling Della Giovanna‘s Fall 2014 Collection with our own fashion show, I got to take a back seat at some great bridal market shows. Our first was at Theia Couture where I really loved these wedding pants.

Wish Upon a Wedding Gala

I got to rock out with Joanne Barken, CEO of The Bach, at the gala hosted by the wonderful nonprofit organization, Wish Upon a Wedding.

Alfred Angelo

Wedding capes were a big trend at the shows we saw, including this sheer beauty from Alfred Angelo. Another trend was florals and, of course, the queen of floral Claire Pettibone did not disappoint:

Claire Pettibone Fall 2014 Collection

 

 

Ilana Stern, CEO of Weddington Way, at Watters

Our next show was by Watters, whose bridesmaid dresses are carried on Weddington Way. After the show, The Knot TV interviewed Weddington Way‘s CEO Ilana Stern about the trends.

Next, we headed to the New York International Bridal Week held at Pier 94, where Kirribilla debuted its adorable Little White Dress collection.Kirribilla

 

Bridal Market

Bridal market goes on around the clock, so at night we attended the fun Inspire Smart Success Magazine Party with our clients from The BachNadia D. Photography and Della Giovanna.

The culmination of Bridal Market week was the incredible galas hosted on the last night by Martha Stewart Weddings and The Knot magazines. For my appearance, I chose this gorgeous Fiore dress by Kirribilla, morganite earrings by Yael Designs and a stylish handbag by Ita Collection:

The Knot Wedding Gala

We started off the night with drinks at the Gallow Green and we even had a mini photo shoot styled by Nadia D Photography:

Martha Stewart Weddings Party

Founders of The Bach, Star Talent, Della Giovanna and Nadia D Photography with Sasha Vasilyuk of I Do PR


The 12th Annual Martha Stewart Weddings Bridal Fashion Week Party called “Starry Night” took place in the magazine’s offices, which were transformed into a lavish lounge with live entertainment, ice cream sandwiches, photo booths and other delights.

Martha Stewart Weddings Fall 2013 party

Sasha with Ilana Stern from Weddington Way, Phoebe Davison from Kirribilla, Vanessa from Weddington Way and Nadia of Nadia D. Photography

 

Martha Stewart Wedding Gala

We spotted a few brilliant bridal bloggers! Elizabeth Muhmood Kane of Bridal Musings, Anne Chertoff and Jessica Bishop from The Budget Savvy Bride posed for a pic.

 

Martha Stewart Weddings Party

Jacqueline Courtney from Nearly Newly Wed and Thea Bloch-Neal from Hushed Commotion looked great in their headbands.

We then hopped over across town to The Knot Wedding Gala at the New York Public Library:

The Knot Wedding Gala

Photo Oct 14, 10 25 39 PM

And of course I got to dance with two of The Knot‘s gorgeous editors, Sam and Heather.

The Knot Wedding Gala Nadia D. Photography and Sasha Vasilyuk

It was a great night and a perfect way to end bridal market!

 

Della Giovanna Launches Inaugural Collection at W Hotel

We’re very excited to share that Tuesday night, our newest client bridal couture designer Della Giovanna launched the inaugural collection of edgy, fashion-forward wedding dresses for Fall 2014!

Founded by New York fashion designer Michelle Della Giovanna, the collection combines the glamour of a traditional wedding gown with the latest trends of today’s fashion runways. As part of Bridal Market Week, where editors attend several dozen shows, we wanted to wow our guests, which is exactly why we held the fashion show and launch party at the Extreme WOW Suite on the 57th floor of W New York – Times Square:

Della Giovanna Launch View from W Hotel

Guests were welcomed not only with the stunning view of the city, but also with bubbly and unique canolis and seasonal pumpkin panna cotta from Pasticceria Bruno:

Cannolis

The innovative bridal collection was inspired by Michelle Della Giovanna’s fashion design background and caters to the modern bride who wants a statement-making wedding gown that reflects her contemporary sense of style.

Here’s me (on left) with Michelle Della Giovanna in front of the fab Extreme Wow Suite graffiti wall:

Photo Oct 08, 8 32 25 PM

To showcase Della Giovanna’s unique aesthetic, we chose to open the fashion show with a stunning performance by an electric violin-wielding bride from Star Talent Inc:

 Star Talent Violinist at Della Giovanna Show

Della Giovanna’s Fall 2014 Collection features gowns, corset tops and skirts in a variety of silhouettes in silk and cotton, embellished with elements of white leather, metal studs and python skin.

luxphotos_della_giovanna_78

Della Giovanna Fashion Show

Della Giovanna Fashion Show

Made locally in New York City, Della Giovanna’s debut collection includes a range of silhouettes from the flattering fit-and-flare to sleek mermaid to knee-length pencil skirts as well as corseted tops offering a variety of necklines. The tops and skirts can be mixed and matched, giving each bride an opportunity to create a unique look for her special day.

Della Giovanna Fashion Show

Della Giovanna Fashion Show

While many brides find the gown of their dreams among the current designers, I saw room to create designs for brides with a different, edgier aesthetic,” said Michelle Della Giovanna.

Della Giovanna Fashion Show

Della Giovanna Fashion Show

Michelle Della Giovanna

The unique collection, available on www.della-giovanna.com, is already getting the attention of top bridal magazines, including Brides, The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, Inside Weddings, Bridal Guide and Weddings by Ritz Carlton. Check out Bride’s photos from the show!

luxphotos_della_giovanna_142

luxphotos_della_giovanna_150

Della Giovanna Fashion Show

It was a great night and after the guests left, we got to decompress in the Wow Suite’s cool swing chairs – never thought I’d be swinging above Times Square!

Michelle Della Giovanna

We are so glad that our fave NYC wedding photographer Lux Photos, was there to capture every minute of the night! Thank you to everyone who came and made last night such a success!

The Peninsula New York Turned 25 and We Got to Go!

This week, I got to go to accompany our wedding music client Michael Taylor, CEO of Star Talent Inc., to The Peninsula New York’s  25th Anniversary Celebration. This was one heck of a party – with caviar, champagne, 5 different bands, a dance performance over a pool and a slew of celebrities to spot! And since The Peninsula is one of New York’s premier 5-star wedding venues, I got to meet several prominent wedding vendors as well.

The Peninsula New York

As I arrived, I was greeted by this Chinese dragon that immediately put me in the mood to party – after all, The Peninsula is a Chinese company that was first founded in Hong Kong more than 80 years ago:

25th Anniversary Celebration at The Peninsula NY

25th Anniversary Celebration at Peninsula NY

The party began in the hotel lobby, which was converted into a bar. And to showcase the newly opened restaurant, Clement, they had the Chef de Cuisine Brandon Kida’s regionally inspired seasonal dishes and desserts.

Of course, given that I’m Russian, I went straight for the Petrossian caviar bar… Yum!!

Caviar at the 25th Anniversary of the Peninsula NY

 

While one party raged in the hotel lobby, another two were simultaneously taking place on the hotel’s rooftop terrace. Salon de Ning, which is normally an open terrace, was tented to create an intimate retro lounge with Asian specialties including sushi and dim sum and featuring Prohibition-era music and dancing.

Entertainment at the 25th Anniversary of The Peninsula NY

Meanwhile, The Sun Terrance, a wrap-around balcony with amazing views that can accommodate smaller weddings, featured Latin music with a lively Cuban-inspired cocktail bar. The Peninsula even transformed its pool on the 21st floor by covering it and turning it into a dance floor! Since the hotel doesn’t have a ballroom, I think they should keep the dance floor as an option for weddings in the future.

Speaking of weddings… I met some amazing wedding vendors at the party, including prominent New York wedding photographer David Hechler, Annie Lee, a great wedding designer with Daughter of Design and David Beahm who created this amazing flower obelisk:

David Beahm Design flower obelisk at The Peninsula New York

In addition to the beautiful décor and delicious treats, I spotted a few celebs: fashion icon Oscar De La Renta, tennis player John McEnroe and the gorgeous Naomi Campbell. I even rode the elevator with Greyton Carter, the publisher of Vanity Fair!

I certainly couldn’t complain. Especially when upon exiting I was greeted with this dessert display:

Food at the 25th Anniversary of The Peninsula NY

 

The Peninsula New York sure knows how to throw one heck of a party. And I’m one lucky girl who gets to go.

We’re Hiring!

I Do PR is looking for a bright, motivated and highly organized Public Relations Account Coordinator to join our team in New York City! This part-time position is ideal for someone looking to get their hands dirty at a boutique agency, work with creative clients and learn more about the riveting and quickly changing bridal industry. If you’re looking to develop deep, lasting relationships, this position will allow you to work closely with the principal as well as meet amazingly talented editors. Plus, you’ll get to brag that your job consists of looking at pretty wedding pictures all day! For the right candidate, this position has an opportunity to become full-time within several months.

Duties will include:

–          Manage day-to-day client activities, including research, evaluation and implementation of strategic pitching, paying careful attention to deadlines and client records.

–          Create effective, well-written pitches that are tailored to specific publications

–          Follow up with editors and clients to insure smooth, timely communication

–          Answer editor requests with immediacy and accuracy by sending images or shipping samples when necessary

–          Track resulting coverage, collect and process placement images

–          Ghostwrite and edit clients’ quotes, bio and guest blog posts

–          Send thank you emails to editors

–          Monitor and promote clients’ social media

–          Update clients’ monthly placement reports

–          Keep an up-to-date editor database

–          Occasional blogging and editing

We expect you to be ahead of the stories and trends by reading all bridal publications and other relevant media as well as interacting with editors through social media.

You have:

– Bachelor’s degree in communication, literature or marketing

– Previous internship or work experience in public relations

– Passion for the bridal industry

– Stellar communication skills: pleasant phone manner and perfect grammar

– Great attention to detail and a knack for staying organized

– Deep understanding and experience in social media (Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest)

– Positive, can-do attitude of a true go-getter

– Experience with Photoshop or other image-processing software

– Drive to succeed

How to apply:

Before applying, please learn more about our company and clients for a better understanding of the focus of I Do PR. Please email us your resume, links to your relevant LinkedIn, Twitter or Pinterest accounts, and a cover letter where you explain why you believe you’ll succeed as a PR account coordinator and what makes you excited about working in the bridal industry.

This position offers flexible hours, competitive salary, and a mix of telecommuting and on site work in New York City.

I Do PR welcomes Weddingstar

This summer, we were very excited to welcome Weddingstar Inc. to the I Do PR team!  Weddingstar is one of the world’s leading designers of wedding favors, décor, cake toppers and invitations.

Based in Canada, Weddingstar has been providing brides worldwide with accessories that reflect their personal style.  From their specialty cake toppers to unique wishing wells, Weddingstar offers over 3000 items, making them a retail leader in the wedding industry.

With such a great variety of products, we have enjoyed working with U.S. bridal publications on spreading the word about Weddingstar. Here are some recent highlights:

In its Fall 2013 issue, The Knot chose the “A Promise Made” jewelry box as an editor’s must-have:

Weddingstar featured in The Knot

Superstar wedding planner David Tutera featured Weddingstar’s adorable cupcake jars on his blog, It’s a Brides Life:

David Tutera features Weddingstar

Wedding Wire included Weddingstar’s Mini Suitcase Wishing Well as one of the hottest wedding details from the 2013 National Stationery Show:

Wedding Wire featured Wedding Star

Four Seasons Magazine featured Weddingstar’s sand ceremony shadow box as a great beach wedding detail:

Four Seasons features Weddingstar

In their August/September 2013 Issue, The Wedding Connection featured Weddingstar’s vintage lace hand fans as a rustic wedding essential:

The Wedding Connection featured Weddingstar

 

Summertime in New York City

Summer is such an exciting time in New York City!  It seems as though everything is better with warm weather, endless days, and new places to explore. Now that I Do PR is based out of New York, we get to enjoy welcoming our clients and colleagues from around the country (and abroad) to enjoy this perfect time of year exploring everything this city has to offer.

Here are some highlights of Summer 2013:

Photo Jul 24, 3 56 16 PM

Kirribilla hosted a summer trunk show at KEP Designs on the Upper East Side. We were so excited to see Kirribilla’s cofounder Phoebe Davison. We had an awesome time browsing her fun, flirty, and fabulous dresses!

Photo Jul 24, 3 57 25 PM

At the Trunk Show, Phoebe Davison rocked the adorable Sydney Dress. Her cheery personality and passion for design reminded us why we love her (and her dresses) so much!

I Do PR team (From left to right) Sasha Vasilyuk, CEO of I Do PR; Kirribilla mannequin; our super summer intern Meredith; and account manager Michelle Shelorke outside KEP Designs.

Yael Designs was also in town this summer for the JA New York Trade Show:

Serendipity Collection Yael Designs at JA New York

We met with the jewelry editor of Inside Weddings to browse the Serendipity Collection of emerald slices on display at JA New York. And of course, I couldn’t resist trying on a few pieces:

Photo Jul 29, 12 14 37 PM

 

Another highlight of this July was getting to know our newest client – edgy bridal gown designer, Della Giovanna.

Photo Jul 30, 2 31 51 PM

I took the Fashion Editor of Martha Stewart Weddings to DUMBO to preview Della Giovanna’s new Fall 2014 collection. I love her unique, fashion-forward wedding dresses and have been very excited to receive positive feedback from some of the biggest names in bridal fashion.

 

Speaking of bridal fashion, another highlight of the summer was finally meeting my PR colleague from Watters, in town from Dallas for an exciting editorial shoot. After a busy week, we met up at the Hudson Hotel’s summer lounge for a much needed Friday happy hour. Can’t wait to see Watters’ fashion show during October Bridal Week!

2013_8_watters

 

Finally, I was excited to spend some time with Nadia of Nadia D Photography who has just relocated her business from Georgia to New York. For a proper NYC greeting, I took her to a concert at the Lincoln Center and dinner at my favorite Upper West Side haunt, Ronda Cafe:

Photo Aug 02, 7 37 42 PM

 

This summer wouldn’t have been nearly as great without my busy schedule filled with client outings. Looking forward to exploring more of the city with our clients and colleagues with New York Bridal Week just around the corner!

Photo Jun 29, 8 15 18 PM

 

Nadia D Photography Featured in Bridal Guide

The Fall 2013 issue of Bridal Guide Magazine is out and we are especially excited about the four-page spread that the editors put together of Jenna and Rodderick’s old English love story-themed wedding, beautifully photographed by Nadia D Photography.  Nadia’s photographs of the romantic, fairy-tale wedding at the Barnsley Gardens Historic Ruins in Georgia have further enhanced her reputation as a creative, innovative and skillful photographer.  Thanks to her editorial style and creative approach, the couple can now look back on their wedding night as their favorite old English love story.

Bridal Guide Magazine Fall 2013Nadia D Photography featured in Bridal Guide Magazine

 

Nadia D Photography featured in Bridal Guide MagazineNadia D Photography featured in Bridal Guide Magazine

 

Nadia D Photography featured in Bridal Guide Magazine

Great work Nadia D Photography. Readers of Bridal Guide are sure to be awe-struck by these inspiring images!

Engagement 101 Features Nadia D Photography and Choco Studio

 

couv 2013

Engagement 101 Magazine’s Fall 2013 issue is finally out! We are excited to announce that two of our clients, Nadia D Photography and Choco Studio, are featured in the new issue!

Let’s take a look at both features in Engagement 101 Magazine:

nadia d

The image above features Nadia D Photography. Nadia incorporated a race car into the photo shoot, as this was a driving force of attraction between the two individuals. This technique and creativity allowed Nadia to truly capitalize on the personality and interests of the couple, allowing her to create stunning, editorial-inspired images. The unique engagement story of the couple combined with Nadia’s captivating images is sure to attract the attention of those reading the new Fall 2013 issue.

 

choco studio

Choco Studio’s feature in the Fall 2013 is shown above. The photographs by Choco Studio capture the obvious connection between the newly engaged couple. These images will undoubtedly catch the eye of  Engagement 101 Magazine readers!