Shower Hour, Part Deux

Greetings, dirty girls, we see you’re back again for some shower tips. In fact, you’re the crew that has returned to see how this all takes a turn for the scandalous, aren’t you? Hah. Well, let’s dive right in then, shall we? Here goes.

To begin, the QB team has hosted a round or two of “Badlibs” (the “adult” version of Madlibs) in their day (cue parental exodus/children’s naptime/earmuffs), and even with a group of sweet, extremely conservative girls (or so we thought), it has gotten a bit spicy. Okay, spicy doesn’t quite cut it. Explicit is a much more appropriate fit. It has gotten a bit explicit. You can Google “Badlibs” (but please proceed with caution) and find “romantic” stories with fill-in-the-blanks or you can even write your own (a potentially safer option). We find it imperative to mention that one should be relatively careful when announcing the game; we once deemed it “Sexy” Madlibs and the ensuing stories were out-of-this-world racy. Like, insane. But so terribly funny because it was so out of place. “Badlibs,” in whatever form, is sure to be a hoot and a holler, we guarantee.

Other activities:

•Make Your Own Cupcake: put out plain vanilla and chocolate cupcakes (or other flavors), jars of different colored frostings, and dishes of sprinkles, etc. and let your guests do it themselves. People love this and it cuts out a decent amount of work for you!

•Bridal Advice Photo Album: all you need is an empty album, blank paper, markers (and/or rubber stamps or stickers, whatever you’re into), and a Polaroid camera. Have guests get their portrait taken for their page of advice for the bride-to-be. They can decorate it however they want…anything goes. This is a fantastic keepsake for the bride and hilarious to read aloud. Trust us on this one, it is NOT to be missed.

So ladies, to wrap this all up, the recipe for an amazing bridal shower is simple: as long as you have good people, good food, and something to fill in the space between, you are bound to have a downpour to remember.

~QUAILove.

Shower Hour

You can put it off for a while, but it has to happen sooner or later…every girl has gotta have a shower! We know the task can seem daunting, but don’t get overwhelmed; with a good group of girlfriends and a clear vision, the Bridal Shower can be one of the most memorable parts of the engagement process. Seriously. We have attended/thrown numerous showers, and let us convince you—under the right circumstances, the ladies will have the absolute time of their lives! But beware, it can get a little bit…how do you say? Errrm…PG-13? Or something of that nature. Just be certain to supervise the children. Or as personal experience has taught us, if you don’t leave the kiddos at home (which we highly suggest), bring along some earmuffs. Please read on.

The Theme

The theme is a crucial component to nail down. This is completely up to you (as the possibilities are endless) and is often tied to the upcoming wedding’s color palette or the bride’s favorite colors/aesthetics/pastimes. We at QUAIL Bridal, however, suggest a good ol’ fashioned Panty Party. Interpret this in whatever way you like, but for us that means cute undies and vintage lingerie pinned on clotheslines, mason jars with beautiful fresh-cut flowers, mismatched dishware for afternoon-tea inspired treats, and a scandalous good time. We often have been known to encourage a “top-model” inspired runway show of the bride’s new collection, and this is where things might get slightly rowdy. Especially if mimosas are mixed into the equation. Things might get even rowdier when someone takes a Polaroid of said “model” with the intention of slipping it to the groom on the big day. Again, these are just suggestions.

Some other fun themes, albeit more safe/innocent:

•Yoga Shower: have your guests arrive in their cozies and have an instructor lead everyone in a fun morning or afternoon flow. This is especially fun to host outdoors if the weather is nice. Lounge around all day and offer healthy brunch-inspired fare.

•Spa Shower: why go to the spa when the spa can come to you? Have a masseuse or aesthetician bring their table and supplies to the shower and treat everyone to facials and/or massages. Serve spa-style appetizers (hummus & veggies, cucumber lemon water, salads, fruit & nuts…you get the gist).

•Co-ed Shower: these are such a blast and great when done BBQ-style. This usually makes everyone happy and the environment is comfy and casual. Burgers and beers and good times. Easy as apple pie. (Mouth now watering.

•Wine & Cheese Tasting: this one is all about the spread. If you can create a good cheese platter (don’t forget the fruit and honey), you’re set. A brown-bag taste test is also a fun game and guests can learn a bit about different varietals and their own personal palate. We have used scorecards and little pencils to rate different wines and “Hello, My Name Is” stickers (on sticks, of course) to label different cheeses. This shower is relaxing, enjoyable, and easy to put together.

What about the games, you ask? Well…stay tuned for more “brilliant” ideas from us crazies. This is the part where the earmuffs come into play; you will most certainly be glad you checked back in.

~QUAILove.

QUAIL Bridal Photo Shoot Sneak Peak!!!

Dun du du du!!! It’s the moment you’ve ALL been waiting for (insert drumroll please)…QUAIL | Bridal is launching its very…first…Bridal Collection! Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

The excitement is kiiiiiiillling us!!! We can’t. Hardly. Wait. (Exhale.)

And because we are such kind, sweet, loving people, we figured we would refrain from torturing you and opted to instead share the love. So here, ladies and gentlemen, is a mere foretaste of what’s to come. Just a morsel, really. 

We hosted an incredible team of professionals for our QUAIL | Bridal Lookbook photo shoot at our Long Beach studio. We transformed the space into a paper garden of sorts and staged just about the most charming wedding you’ve ever laid eyes on. Check out the behind the scenes images below!

Michelle styling the Bride. 

Oh, just a little bit of makeup…

a couple paper flowers…

a pile or two of jewels…

a bunch of babes getting painted…

and a videographer to document it all. You know, the usual stuff.

And now for the icing on the cake…the GROOM!!! Cutting the CAAAAKE!!!

We can hardly contain ourselves and we know you can’t either. So keep your eyes peeled for the QUAIL | Bridal 2010 Lookbook!

~QUAILove.

Man of the Hour

You’ve all heard the expression, “he’s the man.” Well they were talking about Samuel Lippke. He’s the perfect combination of adventure and chic: a fashion/wedding photographer who wears a bow tie and chops his own firewood. The Man. We got to sit down and chat with this talented chap about edible Air Jordans, man-pyramids, big butts, and razor burn. We know you’re intrigued…please read on.

So, Samuel…how long have you been a photographer? How exactly did you get into this world, anyway?I’ve been a photographer for 6 years. I was brought in as an apprentice to an incredible photographer who is also my brother, Ira Lippke. He taught me everything there is to know about being a photographer and wedding professional. Of course I’ve added my own touch and spin to it, but learning from him got me started on the right foot. He’s an amazing teacher. I shot this image at his wedding.

What is your favorite thing about shooting weddings? I love sending my clients away from their wedding day with images that will last forever, that will help build their family tree and be cherished until the end of time. I love the people I meet, the clients that turn into friends. Every wedding is so incredibly different, it’s an adventure photographing different people, different settings and different lighting at every event. It never gets old and it’s incredibly challenging. 

All-time funniest wedding moment? I’ve witnessed some insane toasts from the best men, some hilarious misquotes from a minister or two. Once I was shooting a wedding in the mountains of Canada—it’s 8º outside and I’m shooting images of the guys on the frozen lake. I squat down to get a better angle and my pants completely split. I had split suit pants from the knee to my belt. The chill had made all the fabric and thread brittle on my fitted slacks…luckly my hotel room was close by and I could use my brother Ira’s spare slacks. That could have been a disaster.

Speaking of disasters, have you ever shot a wedding where someone got cold feet? If so, what on earth did you do?
Luckly I haven’t. That would be incredibly sad. I have, however, seen some cold sweats and locked knees. I have heard a story from another photographer about the couple breaking up on the wedding day. A 400K reception down the drain…I think if that ever happened I’d cry with everyone. I’m crossing my fingers that never occurs.
What are your style tips for The Groom? Don’t rent a tux. Find magazine clippings of the most stylish men at a red carpet event. Pair that with what element you are going to be in and be yourself. (City, Rural, Hot, Cold, etc.) The goal is to look good for YOUR day. I personally would invest in a Tom Ford Tux if its a city winter wedding, a good self-tie bow tie and some shoes that would make your grandfather proud. I would go with a light grey suit if it’s in the summer & I wouldn’t recommend shaving an hour before pictures. No one looks good all red-faced and razor-burnt. Give it at least a few hours. P.S. Get a good watch; you don’t want to be late to your wedding ceremony. Lose the iPhone in your pocket, your keys and any clunky wallet (that’s what groomsmen are for). Don’t let anything get in the way of you taking in the whole day for what it is, those memories will last forever… my photos will enhance that memory.

While we’re on the subject of grooms, rumor has it you had your head glued back together at a bachelor party. True or False? If true…please explain. We’re dying to know.

Haha, alright. So a group of the world’s most interesting men took to the lake for a good friend’s bachelor weekend with jet skis, a powerboat, tubes, and whatever else sounded right. Before you know it, a group of 8-10 of us are taking turns putting on a show tubing in the back of the boat. At one point, the two tubes were together and 6 of us had formed a man pyramid while being towed. As if that wasn’t enough, the transfers started and the boat kept going faster. During one of the wipeouts, a few of us got tangled up and banged heads, elbows, legs, and chins. It hurt. I came out dripping blood everywhere and a few of the guys held the cut on the top of my head together until we got to shore. Instead of going to the ER, I opted to let 3 guys play surgeon and glue my cut up. I ended up being a little bloody for a few more days, but it’s healed for good and it didn’t ruin any of the trip.

Wow. Guess we won’t be forming any floating “man-pyramids” anytime soon. Oy. Back to matters of matrimony, are there any wedding traditions you’d like to see outlawed?

Ditch the garter & bouquet toss. What’s the point anyways? The money dance is awful, also the song “We are Family” & “Brick House” should be outlawed too.

What is the weirdest cake you’ve ever shot?

Oh, the cake…so many beautiful and so many odd. The grooms’ cakes are the craziest. I’ve photographed a cake that looked like a pair of Air Jordans, even one that had a cake iPhone on the side. The wildest wedding cake was one with edible candied flowers covering the whole 4 foot-tall cake. It cost the bride & groom $9000.

Ohhh-kay. iPhone. That’s insane. Strangest wedding shoes you’ve spotted? 
I’ve seen some funky polka-dotted wedding shoes, some wild looking clunky clogs too. You can tell alot about a bride by the shoes she wears.

Wedding song most guests dig? 

Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “I Like Big Butts”; “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas; “White Wedding” by Billy Idol still gets a good reaction; Kanye’s prenup song always gets people going. It’s really a matter of what the crowd is though. “Living on a Prayer” gets almost everyone out of their seats and on the floor. Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” is a girl power song that usually sends the straight men to the bar.

Alright, wise wedding sage…words to live by? 

Live today as if tomorrow were your last day, love your neighbor as much as you love yourself, take calculated risks and never look back…unless you dropped your map.
Well, Mr. Lippke, our time together has come to a close. Final thoughts for future brides and grooms? Let your day be a reflection of who you are. Don’t be pushed around by what other people did or want you to do. It’s your day, enjoy it. Also, find a photographer, DJ, coordinator, event designer that you really mesh with. They are a big part of your day, they can make or break a lot.
I love what I do in the wedding industry, the people I work with and for, the places I’ve been and the places I’m going. I can’t wait to see what doors open in front of me and how I can get to be the best photographer possible.

In case you would like to see more of Samuel’s work, or if you somehow need further proof that he is deserving of our oh-so-coveted “Man of the Hour” crown, please feel free to peruse the images below. 

Yes, it’s quite clear. Samuel makes magic. And with that, we rest our case. 

SamuelLippke.com

~QUAILove.

Let Them Eat Cake, etc.

Hey people. Now that we successfully grossed you out last week, it’s back to the drawing board. We’re talking yummy stuff. Food. Snacks. The finer things. Ahhh, it’s good to be home on more familiar ground.

At any rate, if we’re gonna talk food, we’ve gotta talk spice. And if we’re talking spice, it bears mentioning that variety is the spice of life. This holy grail of a statement should literally settle any culinary unrest for anyone planning a wedding. For the layman, this simply means: the MORE SNACKS THE MERRIER!!! Rejoice!

And we will. Rejoice, that is. And eat whatever we want.

Note above photo. (Pretend the knife isn’t there.) The beautiful bride and her dashing husband look quite pleased at all their delectable options now, don’t they? Or maybe they’re just into each other. Whatever. All I can say is that if I was presented with such an exquisite cornucopia of desserts to choose from, I’d probably plant one on the first tuxedoed man who crossed my path. Honest. So if you too would like your wedding to morph into a giant love-fest (and please don’t take this the wrong/dangerous way), you should probably forgo the giant vanilla cake with raspberry jam filling for a more epic dessert buffet. Anything goes. 31 flavors. Go “suicide” if you want. One of everything. It is true to satisfy the inner child in us all.*

*Sidenote: if your friends love you a lot, maybe you can get them to bake their specialty pastry, cake or cookies for your dessert table. Might sound cheesy but it’s a great way to foster community by allowing your loved ones to showcase their creative capabilities by more deeply participating in this moment with you. (If they’re into it, that is, as many communities are.) We’re super into it. We like friends and sweet things—what better marriage (heh heh) of the two could you ask for?

~QUAILove.

Too Sexy for My…Dress?

So, excuse us, but we are taking a short break from all this food stuff because we were getting too overwhelmed. And a bit too hungry. Honestly. We’re changing subjects to ease the hunger pangs. Hope you don’t mind.

We now return to the superstar of this crazy thing we call “wedding”: the dress. We’ve talked about colors and traditions and blah blah, but today, we want to talk about propriety. Every bride wants to look her very best—you know, showcase her assets and all that sort of stuff. She wants to look movie-star beautiful, and dare we say…sexy. But sex appeal on the wedding day can be slightly controversial. Thus we raise the question: how sexy is too sexy?

Please. Allow us. Let the imagery do the talking.

Too sexy. Maybe she should ditch the rose.

Kind of too sexy. Dirty, even. Xtina styles. Remember when she was all orange dancing in that filthy boxing ring? That’s the vibe we’re getting.

Also duly noted, bride’s Target sheer window panel veil, bridesmaid’s satin racerback/string tie swimsuit combo dress, husband’s well-tailored suit, and the conGRADulations balloons in the distance. Man oh man. Too sexy.

This one is also a little bit too sexy. Actually, we’re offended.

Whooooah, cowgirl. Easy. We get that skin is in, but knock it off, already. Triple X. Geez.

And since you were all wondering…to veil or not to veil?

Uhhh…hope this answers your question. How could you possibly live without one? Especially when you already have the resources to make your very own in a restroom near you!

Oh, and for the record, her corset dress is maybe a bit too sexy. If only it weren’t so baggy.

~QUAILove.

Sugar & Spice

So we’ve finally gotten to our favorite part…the snaaaacks!!! Perhaps there’s a better, more grown-up/appropriate word to refer to wedding food, but…ugh, there’s just something about the word “snacks” that really makes the heart sing, you know? Aaaanyway, we’re gonna cut to the quick and get right down to business. Just wanna share some thoughts, ideas, and tantalizingly sweet and spicy images with you. (NOTE: writing about “snacks” is a rather large undertaking. Stay tuned each week for a little piece of this potentially endless puzzle.)

Attn: Naughty Girls

For those of you planning to skip the traditional cake-cutting shenanigans, thus begins are some of our sweetest (and most rebellious) ideas.

Have your (vegan cup)cake and eat it too.

BabyCakes, an insanely amazing health-conscious bakery with outfits in both NY and LA, offers all-natural, organic, scrumptious alternatives free of common allergens: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, and eggs. Instead of white sugar or toxic chemical sweeteners, most treats are sweetened with agave nectar, a natural syrup with a low glycemic index that’s also safe for most diabetics. The stuff is heavenly. And so are their famous vegan cupcakes. Order tons of these decadent suckers (you’ve got options; they have red velvet, chocolate, vanilla, carrot, and more), rig one of those tiered cupcake stands, and voila. You’ve got yourself a “cake.” Trust us, it’s darling. And if you feel like smashing one of those cupcakes in your groom’s face, by all means…

babycakesnyc.com

Eat your heart out.

~QUAILove.

1000 Words

If you debriefed with just about any bride post-wedding, she might regret a few things. She will perhaps wish she could take back the outlandish amount she spent on her flowers. I mean, thousands of dollars later and those suckers just died in her arms. She may wish she hadn’t liquidated her life’s savings on a cake that she didn’t even get a legitimate piece of. She may wish she’d skipped the vampy makeup job and just put her mascara on herself. She will NOT, however, tell you that she wished she hadn’t taken so many pictures or hired such a good photographer. She just won’t.

See, friends, today, the documentation is all our bride has left. (Oh, alright, she probably still has that gorgeous dress and the top of the cake if she’s lucky…but you catch our drift.) After all is said and done, the biggest day of her life most likely closely resembles the Tazmanian Devil in her mind—a tumultuous whirlwind of people that came and went so fast she has already forgotten what they looked like. But, AHA!!! We are in luck. She has some pictures to help her piece it all together. Whew. Close call.

*Bright Idea!

In addition to your regular wedding photographer, rent an old black & white photobooth! Guests can take unlimited photos (those old school strips of 4 shots) and even paste them into a scrapbook and write a message for the newlyweds! It’s a great spin on a traditional guestbook—so much fun for your guests and quite hilarious to look back at everybody hamming it up. Things can get pretty crazy when your friends and family are left to their own devices. Trust us. This is a good investment.

Check out classicphotobooth.net for rental prices. This is a great company, but they only service certain states. Also check out mypartyplanner.com, a phenomenal search engine and directory of party vendors all across the US. The MyParty people have thought of every last detail for your special occasion, including local photobooth rental vendors in your area. Genius.

*Photographers are our friends! Literally!

Some might say it’s just about pushing a button, but we WILDLY disagree. We would prefer for our greatest moments to be captured appropriately—respectfully. AKA, our photographers have gotta have style! Pizazz! Good people skills! You get the gist. That being said, here is a list of our local photo friends. If you don’t happen live in LA or NYC, these people will come to you if you are willing to cover their costs…and believe us when we say, they are worth your every penny.

Some might say it’s just about pushing a button, but we WILDLY disagree. We would prefer for our greatest moments to be captured appropriately—respectfully. AKA, our photographers have gotta have style! Pizazz! Good people skills! You get the gist. That being said, here is a list of our local photo friends. If you don’t happen live in LA or NYC, these people will come to you if you are willing to cover their costs…and believe us when we say, they are worth your every penny.

Adam Sjoberg (LA/NYC) 

Gabriel Ryan (LA) 

Ira Lippke (LA/NYC) 

Laurel Dailey (LA) 

Louie Huesmann (LA) 

Samuel Lippke (LA/NYC) 

So, friends…take a picture. It lasts longer. Seriously.

-QUAILove.

Do Your Guests a Favor

The age-old debate of function vs. form marches on. So what, then, to consider when brainstorming about wedding favors? Do they need to have a legitimate purpose at the wedding? Should they be usable after the wedding? Or should we all just get over ourselves and make sure that they just look good…whatever they are? Ahhhh!!! So much to think about! Or maybe we’re just overcomplicating the matter. Yes. We are overcomplicating the matter.

Let’s think about it. We’re conscious gals, right? We recycle…we minimize waste. We don’t need a lot of stuff…and we’ve definitely got style. Well there it is, ladies. We’ve answered our own question: in the great debate of function vs. form, it’s a freakin’ tie. At least in this scenario, it appears that said contenders are equally as important as one another. Hence, in the quest for a formidable favor for our tremendously valued wedding guests, we are looking for a marriage (hah) of the two.

That being said, here are a few examples of some good-looking party favors with purpose.

• EDIBLES: if your wedding favors are edible, they have a purpose. Plus, everybody likes stuff they can eat. Duh. Some examples: little personalized popcorn tins, honey jars, or tea satchels. (Some of these options and many more available at beau-coup.com)

• NAME CARDS: if your functional favors also double as name/place cards, you get extra points for efficiency! Plus, your pocketbook will thank you and everyone will think you are super creative and clever, so it’s a win-win across the board. Some examples: little picture frames, birdcage tea light holders, vases, or our personal favorite…little herb pots. Sure they’re cute, but it’s all about longevity, people. We are really into it.

Finally, for a prime example, we would love to again call attention to rockstar bride Quyen Sklar. Her wedding favors were genius. Get a load of this:

Quyen and Jon ordered shot glasses imprinted with their wedding logo (the monogram they designed for their invites, etc.) and filled them with Jelly Bellies. On them were tied little tags that listed each guest’s name and the table at which they were to be seated. On the back of the tags, Quyen and Jon printed recipes for their favorite shot. Talk about extra points!!! Their favors tied in with their overall wedding aesthetic, plus they were edible and functional both at and after the wedding. And they were affordable to boot. You can do it too, girls. Team Quail believes in you. When all else fails, always remember: Google is your friend.

~QUAILove.

On the Table

So the colors are set. You’ve nailed down the DJ and hired the florist. What on earth are you going to put on the tables? Good question, girls. The good news is…you’ve come to the right place. Let Team Quail show you just how it’s done.

Tell Your Story

Who are you? What makes you who you are? What do you like? Most importantly, what aesthetic do you dig? These questions are necessary to ask when determining what table-scape look to go for. You’ve gotta express yourself!

For example, take Quyen Sklar. Quyen is studious. She likes organization, hand-made objects, and mixing the old with the new. Quyen has a reverence for those who have paved the way for her, and along with this comes a love for antiquated things. She loves the “vintage classic with a modern twist” look; she loves to mix and match. Quyen is Vietnamese and adores tea, particularly the tins they come in. She also really loves text.

The following images tell the story of Quyen…simply, humbly, beautifully.

Each table was marked with a letter (and a corresponding animal) exhibiting her love for organization and text. Her gorgeous flowers were arranged in a variety of mismatched vases and vintage tea tins acquired from various thrift stores and flea markets.

Upon entering the reception area, Quyen’s guests were welcomed with a message spilling out of an old typewriter. On this table was the guest book, surrounded by vintage lanterns and crates and old pictures of Quyen and her husband Jon’s family members…the table told their story. It told a story of where they came from and where they are going…together.

Keep It Simple

Less is always, always, always more. Besides, people like to eat their dinner without having to push 10 lit candles and 7 bottles of bubbles out of the way. Truth.

Keep It Pretty

By all means, mix masculine elements with feminine, but at the end of the day, pretty always wins.

That’s all for now. Stay tuned for more nitty-gritty.

-QUAILove.

Images from the wedding of Jonathan & Quyen Sklar courtesy of Gabriel Ryan Photography.