Bridal Show at Belle Mer in Newport, Rhode Island

On Sunday, January 6th - La Bella Bride magazine will be hosting a bridal show at Belle Mer and the Hotel Viking in Newport.

Traci Romano Events and Grazier Photography will be collaborating with an amazing design team to create a fabulous lounge for brides and grooms to relax in while viewing some of the latest trends in weddings.

A sneak peek into who's in our lounge:

Bridesmaids fashion from THREAD. Beauty provided by Once Upon a Bride. Floral Design by Katherine Daught Jacobs . All of these talents are part of our vendor research gallery in Connecticut- which is always FREE to use.

I am so thrilled to be working with Grazier Photography on the design and concept of this lounge. What most likely started as a sketch on a cocktail napkin [ as all best ideas do!] our collaboration has taken on a life of its own and I can't wait to share the space with engaged couples throughout New England and beyond.

If you are in the Newport neighborhood - please stop in to relax in our lounge, meet our design team, and feel free to ask us any questions you may have on your upcoming nuptials
[ style, fashion, planning , etiquette, beauty, photography ..... we are here to help!].

More detailed information to come as the date gets closer..stay tuned!

Badgley Mischka countdown to 2008

Here is a preview of one of the new designs for 2008 courtesy of The Knot.

The new designs are simply wonderful and will be in the studio on December 15th. We love them so much, we are buying them for our own cocktail collections. Thank you Badgley Mischka!

Thread Bridesmaid Dresses

Introducing :
Breck, Shannon, Calie and Elijah from Thread in more than 28 colors including the beautiful shades above. All dresses can be found at Traci Romano Events design studio. We love Thread!

Grazier Photography

Mattion and Enna Grazier are a dynamic husband and wife photography team from the Boston area. Their photography style is intimate and provoking. As part of our photography series Matt sent over two of his favorite images from this past Wedding Market in New York City.

Matt was commissioned by La Bella Bride magazine to cover the fashion shows.

Enjoy the pictures and make sure to visit The Grazier Photography website and blog for more of their work.

Enjoy!

Will you marry me?

Sitting quietly on the sofa after just waking up - my 5 year old daughter Julia said to her older brother " Matthew when I grow up will you marry me?" I smirked and listened as I thought Matthew would set her straight about the rules regarding marriage. Instead Matthew offered this back to Julia " I can't marry you Julia - we live together". It really made my morning.

Julia is 5 and already thinking about her wedding plans. I really can't recall when I first envisioned my wedding. I have to say I was not one who thought about it a lot. I don't think I really gave marriage much thought until I was in college and fell in love for the first time. I guess I am making up for lost time now.

I would love to hear when everyone else first started envisioning their wedding day.. share your thoughts!

Cupcake Accessories

While reading the Something Old Something New Blog today I saw these adorable cupcake wrappers that Mackenzie posted about.

First I was hungry, then I started to think about what a perfect food cupcakes are. In my house we make miniature cupcakes - and stack them with frosting into buildings , towers, you name it we build it.

At weddings it is fun to pass cupcakes while guests are mingling after dinner. Pass bite size pieces for an added surprise after the cake has been served! I love passed items as much after dinner as before-- how great would passed cupcakes be with a demitasse cup of hot chocolate on the side?

Hmmm.. I wonder if I could design an entire reception around cupcakes - hot chocolate and champagne ?
Might be fun! Scratch that ..Would be fun!

Bruce Plotkin Photography

Bruce Plotkin - in his words...

The incredible excitement of being a wedding photographer is that each and every weekend is a totally unique experience. This past summer was a great example where we photographed weddings from Block Island to Watch Hill, RI, from Ct. to NYC. And of course the most wonderful part of this is having the opportunity to meet so may wonderful couples, many of whom have become life long friends, and to document the most important day of their lives.

And while most of our day at a wedding is spent quietly and unobtrusively photographing the " real moments" taking place, what attracts me to this particular group of photos is that each of these couples were equally eager to sneak off for a few minutes with me, to leave the crowds behind, to capture these truly memorable photographs that I'm sure they'll always treasure. I believe time well spent.

The Wedding of Wendy + Jim

Wendy is a designer for Kate Spade so her wedding had a very fun + chic feel to it. My design process was inspired by a beautiful illustration that Cheree Berry created for the save the date.

I love the vivid greens and the pinwheel escort cards while all were painstakingly done by hand were an amazing focal point embedded in wheat grass on the club's porch.
This reception took place at The Country Club of Darien in Darien, Connecticut and was photographed by the fabulous Bruce Plotkin who will be sharing his favorite photographs soon.

This wedding was featured in The Knot Metro New York edition and Westport Magazine.