Archive for the ‘Partner Profiles’ Category

Welcome back to another installment of Real Weddings Magazine’s Partner Profiles!

This week we highlight entrepreneur Sandy Keller, owner of Advantage Bridal. Sandy is an inspiration to all of us here at Real Weddings Magazine! Not only does she run a very successful online retail business, she has also founded 2B Restored, a charity that helps uninsured women who cannot afford breast reconstruction after a cancer diagnosis. What an amazing lady! Take it away, Sandy…

AdvantageBridal.com

Tell us a little about your company?  Founded in 1992, we operated two bridal shops before moving to strictly online in 2004. We love being creative and designing unique items for our brides, including one-of-a-kind apparel items and personalized gifts only found on AdvantageBridal.com.

What sets you apart from your competition?  Our huge selection of more than 22,000 items on our site, plus thousands of personalized wedding invitations and gifts available on our partner sites. We offer many exclusive items that are only sold on our site and are not available elsewhere.

Where do you find inspiration?  Styles from the fashion industry both in the U.S. and abroad, and we receive many requests from our brides. We love making their dreams come true by creating new items upon request.

When you opened shop, what was your promise to your customers?  Highly personalized service and the very best prices.

Do you have any hidden talents?  Yes, I can remember all of my former car license plates, phone numbers and other useless information!

What trend do you see coming for weddings this year?  More custom touches, with monograms and custom accessories.

Do you regularly blog? If so, what’s your blog site?  Yes, site.advantagebridal.com/blog/

Do you Facebook?  Yes, facebook.com/AdvantageBridal

Can you share a funny/embarrassing/touching story about one of your clients (you don’t have to include their name)?  I once had an appointment with a bride, her sister and her mother so they could shop for some accessories. The bride had a headpiece and veil on, and was admiring herself in the mirror. Her sister asked about the significance of the veil over the bride’s face, and her mother replied, “It’s the symbol of virginity.” The bride quickly threw the veil back over her head and said, “Then I cannot wear it!” Her mother yelled, “What?” and the bride realized that she’d just revealed something of a very sensitive nature and turned beet red.

What’s your favorite local charity?  2B Restored, the charity I founded to help uninsured women who cannot afford breast reconstruction after a cancer diagnosis. Advantage Bridal carries a great line of pink ribbon apparel and accessories which help raise funds for my charity.

What is your favorite fun thing to do locally?  My children, husband and I love participating in Mustang cruises and shows.

Do you have secret vice or indulgence? Yes What is it?  Long, hot showers.

What are you most grateful for in life?  My husband, children and the rest of my family.

If you were to plan your own wedding, or re-do your wedding, what elements would be most important to you?  Photos and a video — I would splurge on those!

What advice would you can give to brides and grooms getting married today?  Don’t sweat the small stuff. There’s no such thing as a stress-free perfect wedding. At the end of the day, you will be married and that is the prize…focus on that!

Anything else you’d like to share with Real Weddings Magazine’s brides?  We are eager to hear from brides because we love helping them make their wedding dreams come true. Every bride is unique and her wedding is too. We appreciate the privilege of being a part of such an important occasion!

Find out more about Sandy Keller and her team at AdvantageBridal.com by visiting her Web site, Blog, and Facebook Page!

Photos courtesy of AdvantageBridal.com.

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Welcome back to another installment of Real Weddings Magazine’s Partner Profiles!

This week we highlight the beautiful Fearon DeWeese of Fearon May Events and Engaged Now What?. Fearon is one busy girl! Not only does she run two great businesses, she’s the mastermind and coordinator behind the annual Lavish and Fabulous event! Take it away, Fearon…

Fearon May Events

Tell us a little about your company?  Fearon May Events is an event planning and wedding design company.

When did you establish your business?  May 2010 but I have been in the wedding industry for over 11 years.

What sets you apart from your competition?  We create weddings that are personal and designed to fit the bride and groom’s personality, interest and style.

Where do you find inspiration?  I love Pinterest and I also find inspiration, believe it or not, from wandering around Home Goods.

What trend do you see coming for weddings this year?  A big trend I see this year is creative menus. I think more brides and grooms are moving away from the traditional beef and chicken to food stations, tacos and hamburgers especially from food trucks. I also see a creativeness with desserts such as gourmet popsicles and pushup cake pops.

Do you regularly blog? If so, what’s your blog site?  I blog with really important stuff, not so much everyday. You can read my blog here.

Do you Facebook?  Yes, you can ”like” me on Facebook here.

What’s your favorite local restaurant?  I love Jack’s Urban Eats.

What’s your favorite local charity?  I am doing an event for 1st Touch Foundation & The Athlete’s Closet. It’s a great organization.

What is your favorite fun thing to do locally?  I love to get drinks with friends. I am a socialite and love to meet and mingle with other wedding professionals.

What are you most grateful for in life?  I am very grateful for a loving husband that is very supportive of everything that I do and is always there for me.

What advice would you can give to brides and grooms getting married today?  Get a videographer!!!! The day goes by so fast and at the end of the day all you have left are your wedding pictures. Most couples don’t think of a videographer as something they HAVE to have and decide not to have it. Every bride and groom that I know who did not have a videographer regret it so much. Pictures are wonderful but they only capture a moment. Video you actually get to hear the words, music and experience of you wedding day. Here your father’s speech, watch your first dance, and relive the event of your life over and over. My husband and I watch our wedding video every year on our anniversary.

Find out more about Fearon DeWeese, her businesses and upcoming events by visiting her Web site, Blog, and Facebook Page!

Photos Credits in order of appearance: ”Spanish Eyes” photos courtesy of Eye Connoisseur Photography, “All you need is Love” photos courtesy of Carmen Salazar Photography, “Urban Cowboy” photos courtesy of Christopher Kight Photographers, “Heavy Metal” photos courtesy of XSiGHT Photography & Video, “Moulin Rouge” photos courtesy of Sharpe Photographers, “Havana Nights” and “Walk Down the Aisle” photos courtesy of Shoop’s Photography.

Do you have the new Real Weddings Magazine iPhone and iPad App?

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

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Welcome back to another installment of Real Weddings Magazine’s Partner Profiles!

This week we highlight the adventurous Loren Sperber of Villa Florentina. Loren grew up picking grapes at his family’s vineyard in Napa. He brought all his passion for life, family and nature right here to our own beloved Foothills! Loren says, “Come discover how here at Villa Florentina smiles come more easily, the wine flows more freely, and people again remember how to bathe in life itself.” Ok, count us in! Take it away Loren…

Villa Florentina

Tell us a little about your company?  Villa Florentina is a unique wedding venue and inn located in the beautiful wine country foothills of California. We provide our luxurious Villa, breathtaking views, and countless amenities to couples seeking the ultimate wedding experience.

When did you establish your business?  We opened our doors in late 2011 and are already making a splash with brides and their wedding planners.

What sets you apart from your competition?  There is a concept that I call “understated elegance” which defines Villa Florentina. Even though the venue is absolutely luxurious and stunning, it remains welcoming and unpretentious. You may feel that you are at an ancient villa in the hills above Florence, but never in a ballroom at the Bellagio!

Where do you find inspiration?  Two things continually inspire me. One is the power and grace of nature. The other is the power and grace of love.

When you opened shop, what was your promise to your customers?  It was more a promise to myself, but it applies to all of my guests. I believe that an elegant and unforgettable wedding should be within reach for all of us. I promised myself that I would always work within my guests limitations to make their dreams come true.

Do you have any hidden talents?  I’m a six-time logrolling champion…no foolin’!

What trend do you see coming in 2012?  Feathered hair and terry cloth…with lots of polyester!

Do you regularly blog? If so, what’s your blog site?  Blog? I hardly have time to sleep!

What’s your favorite local restaurant?  One that features locally sourced ingredients.

What’s your favorite local charity?  The American River Conservancy.

What is your favorite fun thing to do locally?  Any day paragliding or paddling the river is a good day in my book.

Do you have secret vice or indulgence? What is it?  I thought you said you wanted “brief” answers…this one might take a while!

What are you most grateful for in life?  The love and support of my family and friends.

If you were to plan your own wedding, or re-do your wedding, what elements would be most important to you?

1. Venue

2. Photographer

3. Lots of meditation

What advice would you can give to brides and grooms getting married today?  Your day is going to be fabulous! Put your heads together to plan, then just relax and let it happen!

Anything else you’d like to share with Real Weddings Magazine’s brides?  The best weddings I’ve witnessed are both rooted in tradition and free of the constraints of history. If we take the opportunity to create our own vision, it will be truly unique!

Find out more about Loren and Villa Florentina by visiting their Web site!

Photos courtesy of Villa Florentina.

Do you have the new Real Weddings Magazine iPhone and iPad App?

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

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Welcome back to another installment of Real Weddings Magazine’s Partner Profiles!

This week we highlight the amazing team of Hui and Wen at 555 Photography! These besties sure know how capture the individuality of each person they photograph. What an incredible talent! Take it away guys…

555 Photography

Tell us a little about your company?  555 Photography is Hui and Wen. We focus on providing beautiful wedding images that tell your unique story. 555 Photography was founded by best friends that just happened to share the same “555” street address in different cities.

When did you establish your business?  2009

What sets you apart from your competition?  Each client is unique. We spend time understanding our clients’ stories before the cameras start clicking. We make sure to get to know them so that we capture their special day in the most meaningful and memorable way.

Where do you find inspiration?  We get inspiration from our clients’ stories, from living in the beautiful bay area, from family and friends and from everyday life.

Do you regularly blog? If so, what’s your blog site?  Yes, 555photography.com/blog

What’s your favorite local restaurant?  Little Star Pizza

What’s your favorite local charity?  HandsOnBayArea.org

What is your favorite fun thing to do locally?  Walk around the city and take photos of all the interesting things that make San Francisco unique.

Do you have secret vice or indulgence? What is it?  Law & Order rerun marathons!

What are you most grateful for in life?  Being able to use my passion for art to help clients capture their memories.

If you were to plan your own wedding, or re-do your wedding, what elements would be most important to you?  Definitely photography! The photos are going to last a lifetime.

What advice would you can give to brides and grooms getting married today?  Make sure you have fun! It is your day after all.

Find out more about 555 Photography, and Hui and Wen by visiting their Web site, Blog, and Facebook Page!

Photos courtesy of 555 Photography.

Do you have the new Real Weddings Magazine iPhone and iPad App?

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Welcome back to another installment of Real Weddings Magazine’s Partner Profiles!

This week we highlight the super talented Diana Miller from Diana Miller Photography. Not only has Diana been taking beautiful photographs in the greater Sacramento area for years, she also been sharing her knowledge by offering very popular photography classes and writing informational articles! Way to go, Diana!

Diana Miller Photography

Tell us a little about your company?  Diana’s passion for photography began as a child in after receiving her first camera at age 10. By the time her first roll of BW film was developed, she had already decided she would become a photographer. After studying photography in high school and accepted to the Art Institute in Pittsburgh, fate brought her into a medical career.

Initially working as an EMT/Firefighter, Diana went on to become a registered nurse (R.N.). After moving to CA and working night shifts in the NICU, Diana took day classes at Sacramento City College studying photography, as well as practicing her technique with friends. She finally opened her doors for business in 1993 and became a full-time photographer. Now in her 18th year of business, Diana is in high demand for her portraiture, weddings and political event photography.

What sets you apart from your competition?  Being an R.N. for 14 years taught me before each job to make a plan, then have a back up plan, be flexible, go with the flow and be fast on your feet when nothing is going according to plan! I am very comfortable working with people and putting them at ease in front of the camera. Two comments I hear a lot from brides is that I brought out so much emotion in their pictures, and that they didn’t even remember us taking most of the photos! We are experienced and know what we are doing. We want to get the pictures you want quickly and get you to your guests so you can enjoy the most special day of your life.

Diana is the past president of the Professional Photographers in Sacramento Valley and was also named “Wedding photographer of the Year”. She has written many articles and teaches classes on photography and was featured in Rangefinder Magazine.

Where do you find inspiration?  Watching the light and how people interact. I love watching people, watching how the ambient light changes the mood and location of where we are, and being inspired by both.

When you opened shop, what was your promise to your customers?  To treat everyone the way I would like to be treated, to give them the best possible service and experience with their wedding photography.

Do you regularly blog? If so, what’s your blog site?  Yes, dianamiller.com/blog

What’s your favorite local restaurant?  Silver Sake and Miso. Two brothers own them so it’s a tie!

What’s your favorite local charity?  Women’s Empowerment. I do volunteer photography for them several times a year.

What is your favorite fun thing to do locally?  Hang out in midtown, visit the Crocker, go bike riding.

Do you have secret vice or indulgence? What is it?  Salt and vinegar chips.

What are you most grateful for in life?  My family.

If you were to plan your own wedding, or re-do your wedding, what elements would be most important to you?  The photography! I got married very young and didn’t put much thought into my photographer. He was very difficult to work with and hardly got any good photos of our wedding. I still regret it after 26 years of marriage!

What advice would you can give to brides and grooms getting married today?  The food is eaten, the cake is gone, the flowers are dead, the dress is packed away. What memories do you have from one of the most important days of your life? What do you have to pass on to your children and grandchildren?

Find out more about Diana Miller by visiting her Web site, Blog, and Facebook Page!

Photos courtesy of Diana Miller Photography.

Do you have the new Real Weddings Magazine iPhone and iPad App?

Check out the Real Weddings Contest Page! Great bridal loot for real Sacramento-area brides!

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!