A few weekends ago my amazingly talented and rockin' photographer friend Ruth Rackley and I were preparing to shoot and set up props respectively for my brother-in-law and his fiance's engagement shoot at our family's country home. In my quest to add one final element to complete the looks we created. Ruth and I climbed into the attic to see what type of "treasures" we could find. I had never been up in the attic before, so I wasn't exactly sure what we would find. While waiting for something to catch my eye like a pair of killer high heels we ran across an old chess that had several books tucked away. As I opened the chess, I looked inside and much to my amazement, I found an old copy of Emily Post's Etiquette The Blue Book of Social Usage 1945 edition that once belonged to my husband's Great-Grandmother.

Upon the discovery I shouted, "OMG! Look what I found."Did they know this was up here?" I spoke of this book like it was a lost artifact of a bigone era. Ruth and I huddled over the book and slowly open it to see what it releaved. We were both pleasantly suprised. Not only did it hold words of Emily Post's wisdom, it also held old newspaper clippings from the annual bride's edition of the local paper and a wedding invitation from a family friend from 1966. Ideas of how to present and display this book in a way for other's to enjoy swirled through my head. I instantly thought of my blog and ways in which I could incorporate this "treasure" into my soon-to-be sister-in-law's decor for her reception. I didn't find anything last minute to use for that day,but I found something much more valuable, a treasure that holds the word of etiquette in only the way Emily Post could eloquently say it. I craddled the book in my arms as Ruth and I climbed back down stairs and shared it with delight with my mother-in-law and asked her permission to take the book with me to use for inspiration and to see if my soon-to-be sister-in-law would want to incorporate this family "treasure" in into her wedding.

I have carefully turned the pages of this book and have taken note of sections of great importance to any bride-to-be whose planning their wedding. In the next few blog posts I will share with you the great words of Emily Post's wedding wisdom. This book might be old, but it still holds valuable and timeless words of advice. I hope you enjoy the next few posts as much as I have enjoyed discovering this treasure in the attic.

Here are some important wedding related events you will want to plan your attire for: "Will you be my bridesmaid party?", engagement parties, bridal showers, couple showers, batchelorette party, rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, departure outfit after your reception and your honeymoon attire. Make sure that you don't forget your husband-to-be. You will want him to look dapper at each event too!

Many large cities have personal shoppers in major department stores that will be happy to assist you or inquire with Vian Events for individuals who also provide this service in the Charleston area.

The following images are on my lust list that would be perfect for your bridal trousseau. From left to right Herve Leger Birch Bandage Dress www.herveleger.com Chole Heloise Metallic Shoulder Bag from www.chole.com Sunglasses by Louis Vuitton www.louisvuitton.com

Swarovski Parallele Pierced Earrings at www.swarovski.com

Luggage by Kate Spade at www.katespade.com

Shoes by Jimmy Choo at www.jimmychoo.com

Makeup by Nars Cosmetics Hula Hula Duo Eyeshadow and Multiple Bronzer at www.narscosmetics.com

Faux Eyelashes by Mac Cosmetics at www.maccosmetics.com

Its here! It here! Vian Events exclusive interview with the fabulous Dale Wallace from Dale Wallace Fine Floral Creations. I am so honored to feature Dale in our spotlight of vendors that we oh so love working with.andrdquo; Thank you Dale for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down with us and answer a long list of questions. Weandrsquo;re thinking about ditching the event planning job and becoming Lois Lane instead. Just kidding, we love event planning! Please take a moment and enjoy our interview with Dale. Heandrsquo;s absolutely F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S (Iandrsquo;m singing Fergieandrsquo;s song, Glamorousandrdquo; outloud as I type this) and THE florist you want for your event!! I hope you enjoy the interview as much I did asking the tough questions!!!

Vian Events (VE): What are you seeing in terms of trends and what brides are looking for in floral design for weddings?

Dale Wallace FFC: More and more Brides are seeking fun and creative ways to incorporate personal details into their dandeacute;cor. I find that this gives more meaning and purpose to their selections and creates a sense of intimacy to their special day.

VE: Where do you pull your inspiration from?

Dale Wallace FFC: Most of my inspiration comes from what is revealed in my conversations with the Bride and Groom. Most Brides already have a clear vision of what they want their wedding to look like. Colors, Textures, seasons, the space and personalities of the client all serve as great sources of inspiration in generating ideas for our clients to consider.

VE: Does you offer other design elements for brides who are looking for that added touch?

Dale Wallace FFC: We look at the whole picture when creating a look for a wedding and flowers are just one element of the dandeacute;cor. We have a large selection of decorative accents for our clients to choose from to add that perfect touch to their day.

VE: Do you customize your designs to fit your brideandrsquo;s needs?

Dale Wallace FFC: It still amazes me that after 18 years of service to this industry that I have yet to duplicate a wedding. Each and every event we lend our creative talents to is custom created around our clientandrsquo;s specific needs and budget requirements. I have held a strong belief that every bride deserves to have a beautiful wedding regardless of her budget. We have worked with large and small budget clients and our experience has allowed us to offer creative and cost effective solutions to fit every budget.

VE: What is your perfect client? Do you cater to one particular group? Destination brides, in-town, out-of-town brides?

Dale Wallace FFC: Iandrsquo;ve always been proud of the fact that all out clients chose us and for me, that makes them all perfect. But I suppose my favorite clients are those who trust our creativity and allow us to do the job weandrsquo;ve been hired to do.

VE: Have you always known that you wanted to be in floral design? When did you start out on your own? Did anyone inspire you along the way?

Dale Wallace FFC: I really started in this by accident but discovered I had a natural gift and God-given talent for floral design. I perused it and graduated with my masterandrsquo;s certification in 1996 before moving to Charleston. So many people have influenced my style of design and have been a great inspiration to me.

VE: How does your design work stand out among other floral designers in this area?

Dale Wallace FFC: There are a lot of wonderful florist in our area but I do believe strongly that there is something special in our work. Perhaps itandrsquo;s the pride we put into every piece that we send out. I think comparatively we are unmatched in value dollar for dollar.

VE: How long does it take you to create an initial design to producing the final product?

Dale Wallace FFC: Its quick, having a clear vision coupled with a good plan allows the execution to go much quicker. An average piece takes me approximately 20 minutes to complete.

VE: Do you find it that brides-to-be know what they are looking for in floral design for their wedding?

Dale Wallace FFC: I think brides have a strong idea of what they want but rely on our knowledge and expertise to help them achieve that look.

VE: How do you know when a bride/client is pleased with your work?

Dale Wallace FFC: Ooohandrsquo;s and ahhhandrsquo;s are a good indication. We have boxes of letters and cards that weandrsquo;ve received over the years from clients who have shared with us how wonderfully pleased they were with every aspect of the service and products we provided to them.

VE: Do you incorporate other design elements that are considered non-traditional in your creations?

Dale Wallace FFC: Absolutely. Mosses, vines, branches, crystals, feathers, fruits are just a few items that offer an element of surprise and textural interest to our designs making them ever more visually pleasing to our clients.

VE: What colors and types of flowers are you seeing more and more of in request from brides?

Dale Wallace FFC: Warm, soothing colors such as tangerine and nectar are popular this year as well as light tans and pale blues. However, I have every color of the rainbow being used this year so it really is a personal choice depending on the clientandrsquo;s individual preferences.

VE: Do brides select flowers that are typically in season during the month they are hosting their wedding? What flowers hold up best in Charleston humidity?

Dale Wallace FFC: Lets face it; the summer humidity can shrivel even the most durable and hardiest of flowers. Proper conditioning can go a long ways to extending the vase life of most flower varieties but it really comes down to timely placement of the flowers, minimizing the amount of time they are exposed to such hard conditions, such as heat, direct sun-light and humidity. Orchids, Lilies, Roses and woody stem flowers do well.

VE: Typically what is the planning process you go through with a bride-to-be to achieve the look they want for their wedding?

Dale Wallace FFC: I do all I can to make this process as convenient and pleasant as possible for our clients. Typically, itandrsquo;s a 3 part process starting with a meet and greet session. Once weandrsquo;ve presented the proposal we meet again to finalize details and make the final selections. Lastly we meet to sign contracts officially securing our services.

VE: Lately, what has been your favorite creation that even knocked your socks off?

Dale Wallace FFC: In October, my staff and I created a 12andrsquo;x20andrsquo; wall of Swarouski crystals that served as the backdrop for the Bride and Groom. It was a brilliant and dazzling shimmer of beautiful colors that took everyoneandrsquo;s breath away. Even mine.

VE: What is the most challenging aspect of your job in staying a cut above the rest?

Dale Wallace FFC: I guess for me, Iandrsquo;ve always found it difficult to get my idea from my head to pen and paper so that the client could see what I was seeing. I sometimes have to actually have to create the design to convey to the client what Iandrsquo;m trying to communicate.

VE: Do you offer services outside of the Charleston Area? What is the farthest you have gone to design for a wedding? Do you provide international/destination services?

Dale Wallace FFC: We travel as far south to Savannah and Atlanta and North to Greenville, Columbia, Pawleyandrsquo;s Island and Myrtle Beach. However, we did secure an event for 09 being hosted in Rocky Mount, NC.

VE: What are some expectations you get or see that clients want in designing their floral dandeacute;cor? Dale Wallace FFC: Value and Quality and they all want it to look like theyandrsquo;ve spent a lot more. Weandrsquo;re good at achieving that. VE: What is the best way for potential clients to get in touch with you to see if you are available for their selected date?

Dale Wallace FFC: We welcome their call, but they can also email us their inquiry.

VE: What is the most extravagant design youandrsquo;ve ever created for an event?

Dale Wallace FFC:I donandrsquo;t know about the most extravagant but one of the most memorable and exciting jobs was creating flowers for a private luncheon for Oprah Winfrey while she was in town filming for a future show back in 2006.

Well ladies and gentlemen, I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Dale and Dale Wallace Fine Floral Creations. He is a true delight and I hope you will consider a consultation with him in the future for your next big event. Thanks Dale! Love ya!

I started to think about wines and the best parings for weddings. Many brides and grooms wonder what is the best type of wines to serve their guest. For summer weddings I recommend German Rieslings, its light and sweet and perfect for those warm LowCountry days. For colder months I tend to favor shiraz' and some chardonnay's. However, I am not an expert and would recommend consulting a professional sommelier. A sommelier will be able to help you select the perfect wine to complement your cuisine and taste palate.

Charleston provides many opportunities for wine lovers to get out and about. In the spring Charleston host an annual Food and Wine Festival downtown and attracts high end chefs and vintners. For those who enjoy a little art, The French Quarter hosts four art walks a year and allows people to view fine art and drink complementary glasses of wine. Also, many restuarants in town select one night a week to sell bottles of wine for half off to allow patrons the opportunity to taste different wines they might not have otherwise.

My husband and I enjoy visiting our local wine and cheese shop around the corner for weekly wine and cheese tasting. We always end up leaving with one or two new favorites.

As I sit here writing this post I am sipping on a glass of Cecchi's 2006 Sangiovese. A recommended favorite of my brother-in-law, the family wine expert. If you have a favorite wine or recommendation feel free to leave a comment below to share.

When I picked up my favorite fashion magazine and notice that this year's fall "it" color was purple, I was ecstatic. I love the color purple, hense the color of my blog, website, and logo.

Incorporating color into an event can change a space that is otherwise drab into something spectacular. Color gives a room that extra little pizzazz. Here are a few images of tablescapes I did recently in my favorite color. I really had a fabulous time pullling this event together.

What can I say about Bridget and Jeremy. Everything. They are such an amazing couple and so fully of love for each other that anyone can tell how much they love each other just by the way they look into each others eyes. It just makes you want to melt.

I had the pleasure of meeting Bridget and Jeremy a few months before their "second" wedding. I say second because Bridget and Jeremy had gotten married a year ago with just the two of them and a minister. Jeremy is in the U.S. Navy and not knowing when he might be called to serve our Country they decided to tie the knot. For their first anniversary they decided that they wanted to "get married again" this time with all their family and friends to witness. They renewed their vows under the beautiful line of oaks at The Legare-Waring House. The setting was majestic.

Here are a few shots of their special day. The images are provided by the photographers at 'A Charleston Wedding.'

I had so much fun on this wedding that I was sad when it was over. Their families and friends were loads of fun, laughing, cutting up and dancing the night away on the dance floor.