ABC GLA. Photography Panel at Matteos

I know I am a little late getting this one out but, I went to an ABC GLA meeting in July. It was the 1st one that I had gone to in Los Angles in a few months. Sadly, I missed a couple of really great ones. This one was held at Matteo's LA. It was a very informative meeting with a panel of photographers. They served us a five course meal of fantastic Italian food. YUM!!! We were seated in the 'Townhouse' their upstairs room with an outdoor patio and skylight. It is a light and airy room. We were all seated in a U-shape which is great style for a rehearsal dinner.

Downstairs is old school Hollywood. Dark, with red booths and leopard print carpet. You can imagine eating there with the mob!! Frank Sinatra was a regular in his time. They even have a train that runs around the bar on the upper wall.

The photographers had a lot to say and talked about the various styles of photography and why they price the way that they do. What has digital done for them. What can we as planners do to help the process. Traditional albums v. Montage (modern) albums. I learned a lot and had a great meal. I love learning about the other people who work the wedding and seeing their work.

They all had a lot to say and have great porfolios. Check them out.
Robert Evans Studios
Donald Norris
James Johnson
Kari Kochar
Jenny Stafford-Red Loft Studios
Nicole Caldwell

Happy Reading,

Best Wedding Blog's

I have just been added to The Best Wedding Blogs. It is a list of blogs written by Wedding Industry professionals. Their sister site is Best Bridal Blogs written by people planning their weddings. Make sure visit them for wonderful inspiration.

Thank You Stacie & Best Wedding Blogs for including A Joyeux Blog.

Bad Steph

I'm sorry. I've been a bad blogger this week. My series on Traditions & Superstitions will return next week. I have been busy getting ready for my 1st Bridal Show and I have become the coach of my son's soccer team. It's his first team experience and we are so excited about this. So I promise next week I will get back into the swing of things. Thank you for your patience.

A Hilarious Save-the-Date

I saw this on Wedding Bee, from Ms. Sea Breeze and she found it on Xanga. I think it is hysterical. I hope they did this with eye liner & not with a Sharpie!!!! Can you imagine?

What are you doing for your save-the date's? Something traditional, non traditional or not sending them at all?

Happy Reading,

Beverage Monday. Rum.

Today's beverage is Rum. There are so many different varieties on the market but, Bacardi® is the classic. So today I will feature a new rum drink and a classic. Both refreshing for Summer.

Bacardi® Peach Red Mojito

1 1/2 oz of Bacardi Peach Red Rum

Club Soda

12 Mint Leaves

1/2 peach

Peach Slice

1 Tablespoon Sugar

Place the mint leaves, sugar & peach into a tall glass. Crush them well with a pestle. Add Bacardi Peach Red Rum. Top off with club soda. Stir. Garnish with a peach slice and a sprig of mint.

Nice and peachy.

Mai Tai

1 oz light rum

1/2 oz dark rum

1/2 oz triple sec

6 oz orange juice

6 oz pineapple juice

freshly squeezed lime juice

1 dash grenadine syrup

Place light rum and triple sec in hurricane or tall glass. Add ice and pour over the orange, pineapple and lime juice. Add the grenadine. Then float the dark rum on top, and serve. Garnish with a pineapple and a cherry.

If it's done right it should look like a sunset!!

Photos courtesy of Bacardi, Chronicle Books, Bars.com.au.

Happy Reading,

My signature

When I started blogging in March I signed off with Happy Reading, Steph. I stopped doing it when I didn't have a 'real' signature. Well I have now found a way to sign my posts. So starting today I will end each post with my 'signature'. Thank you Rebecca from Weddex for letting us know about this. And to Live Signature for making this tool available for all of us.

Happy Reading,

Wedding Mapper

I have seen Wedding Mapper during my blog stalking, so I decided to give it a try. It is a cool site that lets you map your Wedding sites, Airport, Hotel and place icons on those places. Anything that an out of town guest might need to learn about the city that you're getting married in. It's a Google map so it works in the same way. You can zoom it, and move it around on the page.

I decided to try it with my ceremony and reception site. I also included where we lived at time we were married and the hotel we got ready in and spent our honeymoon night. This is a fun tool to put on your wedding website for your guests.