{Purple + Gray + Yellow Inspiration} Habesha Garden Romance Styling Shoot at Meridian Hill Park!

  In 2013 I had the opportunity to plan and coordinate over ten weddings, twenty special events and my very first styling shoot! This shoot was inspired by my love for gardens and the 2013 trend of outdoor weddings that was very popular among couples everywhere so what better place than Meridian Hill Park.

A couple of months ago I had the idea to do the "Garden Romance" Styling Shoot with some great vendors at Meridian Hill Park, a structured urban park located in the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Columbia Heights. The place is filled with beautiful areas like a cascading fountain, overlooking ledges, gorgeous landscape and much more! I wanted to photograph a young Ethiopian couple so my team and I enlisted in the talents of up and coming models, Alem & Samuel who were great to work with!

Our amazing stylist, Erica Joi from Distinctiv Style knew my color palette and vision and found the perfect bridal boutique in Old Town Alexandria named Ellie's Bridal to pick out a stunning long & lace gown which was very popular all over the bridal salons last year. The gown was also accompanied by long, traditional veil, which we also saw popular with our Favored Brides! The groom's attire was from Savvy Formalwear who has also dressed some of my past clients with great attention to detail and I think they hit the mark with this modern light gray suit and vest combination. The purple tie and handkerchief were the perfect palette addition to finish the look.

Creative Team:

• Bride & Groom Models – Alem Kifle & Samuel Zeleke
• Photography – Damion Miller Photography
• Venue – Meridian Hill Park
• Shoot Styling & Florals - Favored by Yodit Events
• Jewelry & Attire Styling - Distinctiv Style
• Wedding Gown & Veil – Ellie's Bridal Boutique in Old Town Alexandria, VA
• Groom’s Attire – Savvi Formalwear by Sarno & Son Tuxedos
• Makeup - Makeup by Fifi
• Hair - Yene Damtew

Trending: Custom Cookies!

Move over gourmet cupcakes, custom cookies are the new hot desert item at events! While cakes are always a nice stable item, they are difficult to transfer and are sometimes messy. Cookies are perfect because they can be wrapped up and taken away as nice party favors.

Bakeries have taken this trend to the next level by making custom cookies available. If you can imagine the design, there is a company out there that can put it on a delicious sugar cookie. My personal favorites are company logo cookies which are great for branding, bridal cookies for showers and sport team logo cookies for viewing parties. Below are just a few companies in the greater Washington metro area that sell custom cookies:

1. Kalorama Cookie Company
2. The Cookie Cutter
3. Cakes by Chris Furin
4. Bundles of Cookies
5. Rae Bakes

Favored by Yodit hasn’t worked with all of the companies, but I was VERY impressed with their photo galleries and decided to share. Have you worked with any of these companies or know of another custom cookie company in the area? Share with us, we would love to hear from you!

You're Invited: Truckeroo is Back on Friday April 19th! Hire a Food Truck for Your Wedding!

Food trucks have been the latest hit in food trends in cities all over. And it seems that DC couples love the idea of a food truck at their weddings too! Truckeroo is a monthly festival held at Half and M Street, SE across from Navy Yard Metro Station. Over 20 food trucks take part of the event, so its the perfect place for a new couple to scout out some possible caterers for their upcoming wedding. Its also a great date night in the midst of the the stressful wedding planning process (when you don't hire Favored team lol!) with plenty of drinks at the bullpen, cornhole, and live music for the first truckeroo of the season.

If youre thinking of having something fresh instead of traditional catering, a food truck can provide another food option for your wedding – whether it’s as the main meal, some fun bites between the ceremony and reception or as a late night snack. Any foodie couple will love the idea of local, gourmet food options for their wedding. Who needs banquet food when you can have mobile grilled cheeses, tacos, burgers, ice cream and more delivered right to your wedding?

Food trucks might not be suitable for a traditional wedding, as guests might be expecting a sit-down meal, but they’re ideal for casual, outdoor celebrations. Some would say a food truck at a wedding is tacky, but I think not. You have so many gourmet options nowadays. Because many trucks are small businesses, they can personalize menus and customize the service, usually at a less expensive cost than traditional catering.

You're Invited: Capital Bridal Affair and Fashion Show

As every engaged couple knows, there is much to be done between “I will!” and “I do!” Kick your wedding planning into high gear at Capital Bridal Affair and Fashion Show, happening Sunday, March 24 at The Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington. With today's deal, you'll receive two (2) admissions to this amazing event for just $19 (a $38 value)!

The Capital Bridal Affair and Fashion Show offers you the opportunity to meet the Washington area's best wedding vendors so you can ask questions, taste/see/touch their products, get inspired and even book their services at the show! With help from Prepare to see the newest trends of the wedding industry, from bridal gowns to invitations and much more! Hear the music (with live performances!). Taste the cake. Smell the flowers. Touch the invitations. See the photos… Everything you need to plan your perfect day – It's all under one roof!

Purchase your tickets at the link below:

http://www.thecapitoldeal.com/engine/SplashDetails.aspxLID=4&contestid=21722&productid=8750230&p=12&p=2