If you missed my previous post on my press trip to Cleveland, just click here. I had a wonderful time scouring the city with girls from all over the USA. It was fun to hop on the plane alone and make new friends while exploring a city that I had never visited before. Ok, on to the posting…

What girl doesn’t love chocolate? Ok, I know that there are a select few of you for sure, but I think that those who are not chocolate lovers are surely in the minority. If you aren’t a lover of the confection, then maybe a visit to Lilly Handmade Chocolates will change your mind. My recent visit took me to the store of Amanda & Joshua Montague, where Amanda treated us to come of her delectables… so delicious! Enjoy this little tour of her shop that I enjoyed on my recent trip to Cleveland.

The outside of Lilly Handmade Chocolates is cute, and Amanda is there to greet you as you come in the store. I love it when shop owners are easily accessible to their patrons.

How cute … don’t worry, the chocolates are not within easy reach for licking.

Such temptations …

This is what we got to sample. The dark chocolate had sugared flower petals on the top … so delicious! The other was sweet and crunchy. I really enjoyed what Amanda picked for us to sample.

For those who are wondering, yes she does ship, and yes she does wedding favors!

Amanda has a “Life is Sweet” tattoo … and the box of chocolates mimics those she makes.

Special thanks goes out again to Positively Cleveland for a wonderful experience in Cleveland, and if you are ever there, be sure to visit Lilly Handmade Chocolates. PS. guys… these chocolates would be a fantastic idea to have delivered to your sweetie for Valentine’s Day!

Don’t forget that our early registration for Bliss, a fine wedding fair ends on Valentine’s Day, too! Click HERE to check it out… it’s such a wonderful event for Central VA brides.

I know I have said it before, but I adore Twitter! It is so fun to “meet” people worldwide (literally!) who have similar interests. Well, get ready to meet Carrie of Dream Green DIY (who actually lives in my same town!), who is also planning her wedding, which is taking place in April. Pinterest is an amazing source for inspiration for your special day (and also many other things, such as decorating, food, fun… etc.). Take a peek at what Carrie has to say, and follow Hill City Bride’s Pinterest boards by clicking here.

Planning a wedding is hard. Like, pull-out-your-hair-, sleepless-nights- and mood-swing-prone-hard. You are my absolute hero if you have been able to plan your special day with pure grace, no tears spilled and nary a snap at family members. As a bride-to-be myself, I can honestly say that I never expected this process to be so taxing. That’s certainly not to say that it hasn’t also been the best time of my life, but anything I have found to help me along the way has become my best friend.

Enter the bliss that is Pinterest…

I whole-heartedly believe that I would be a puddle of nerves at this stage of my planning process (three months to go!) if it weren’t for Pinterest. If you haven’t already joined, do yourself a favor and head to the site now. Don’t let the “request an invite” requirement deter you – it only takes a few days and is worth the wait. For you ladies who are already familiar with “pins,” “repins,” “likes” and “boards,” I know you can attest to the power of this resource.

Whether you have a wedding planner or not, Pinterest is a fabulous way to catalog all of the visions you have for your wedding. From flower arrangements and attire options, to guest book ideas and hair styles that pique your interest. And don’t even get me started on DIY projects… My event is being crafted almost entirely at the hands of myself and friends and family, and I have Pinterest to thank for all of my motivation and inspiration.

By cataloging my ideas and projects on Pinterest, I am able to keep my wedding to-do’s in one place and handy at a moment’s notice. My hair stylist asks what kind of look I’m going for the day of the event? I print off some of my pins. My florist is curious of what types of flowers I want, but I have no idea what the difference between a petunia and dianthus is? I print off some of my pins, and she can easily identify my favorites.

You know how sometimes getting started can be the hardest part of a big project? Turn your wedding planning into a fun, creative and no-stress project by starting with Pinterest. Watch your dreams come alive and guarantee that your style and personality shine through on your big day.

To follow Carrie’s boards as she is in the swing of all things wedding, just click here. Her pins are definitely “repin” worthy as you will see that I repinned some of her hairstyles onto the Hill City Bride Pinterest board. Thank you again, Carrie, and I wish you all the best with your upcoming wedding!

Pinterest is a great way to organize all of your wedding ideas (and to get fantastic new ones, too!). I just wanted to send a shoutout to let you know that Hill City Bride is on Pinterest, so just click HERE to follow our boards. We pin new things often, so be sure to check back. Happy pinning, everyone!

Again, just click here to follow us. See you in Pinland!

Last summer, I was invited as part of a press group to tour Cleveland for three days. Having no expectations whatsoever, I hopped on the plane, and had an experience that far exceeded my expectations. I had no preconceived notions about the city and its surrounding areas … good, bad or indifferent, so I was prepared for a totally unbiased, open experience. The team at Positively Cleveland (who promotes Cleveland tourism) had a wonderful itinerary for us full of food, adventure, culture, fun and more food (truly!). I will be doing a few postings about my experiences in the city, but I just had to share this one first.

About an hour away from Cleveland lies the village of Sandusky, which we were told meant “cold water” to the American Indians (who knew?), and it is set on the coast of Lake Erie. On its main street lies a great bakery, WKCafe, owned by Wendy Kromer (WK), and it is such a feast … for the eyes and the palate! Wendy herself has an interesting story, and it seems as though she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to. Born and reared in Ohio, Wendy actually started at the age of 21 being a Paris runway model, and after 10 years of success, her heart beckoned her back to the US, via NYC, where she entered pastry school. What started out as a love for food burgeoned into a desire to create edible art. Twenty years after leaving her hometown of Sandusky, Wendy returned to open up Wendy Kromer Confections and WKCafe.

 While still in NYC, Wendy entered a cake design contest on a whim. She not only won first place (amazing!), but she also caught the attention of the team at Martha Stewart (yes, this is a true story … don’t you love it?). Wendy has been a part of the Martha Stewart Living team since 1995 having roles as a contributing editor, co-author of “Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cakes”. Chances are that if you are familiar with Martha Stewart Weddings (as every bride should be) or Martha Stewart Living, you have seen either her adorable cookies or impeccably decorated cakes gracing the covers and inner pages. Truly, from successful runway model to one of the top cake artists, everything that Wendy touches turns to … gold (okay insert *sugar* instead).

Well, needless to say, it was quite a treat to visit WKCafe and to meet Wendy. It was delightful to eat lunch (a yummy chicken salad wrap with a HUGE chocolate chip cookie sprinkled with sea salt … jealous yet?) and browse through her confections as the picture story below will tell. Enjoy this visual treat!

Wendy offers ready made items for wedding and other cakes … confectionary decorations. They are so artful!

Wendy has also coauthored a book with Martha Stewart, entitled Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cakes.

Before we get to her stunning cakes, I thought I would show you some of her sweet cookie creations. They are so fun and detailed!

Ok, ok … enough teasing. Enjoy these amazingly beautiful cakes from Wendy’s shop.

Thank you again, Wendy, for sharing your shop with me … it was a fun treat to be able to see the beauty of your creations! If you would like to fan WKCafe, just head on over and check them out here.

One of the things I really enjoy about being in the wedding community is that my paths cross with such wonderful people, and Emily is no exception. The first time I met her was at the backyard party of wedding and event planner, Jennifer McBride of McBride Events in Richmond, and Emily was wearing a yachting cap and orchestrated the *very* fun games we played. Besides being loads of fun, she is super sweet and extremely knowledgeable when it comes to beauty. I am so thrilled to feature this first of three articles by Emily on the blog. 

Tips for Hiring a Stylist or Makeup Artist for your Event

Congratulations! He asked, you said yes, and now you have a wedding to plan! So much fun and excitement awaits. For many of you, this will be your first time to dive into a project like this. Some of you may have been bridesmaids or even maids of honor, but this time (your time) there are so many more things to think about.

Let me help you with the one that I am most familiar with, how to find the right hairstylist or makeup artist for you.

First things first, determine what you will need from your stylist for this event.

Here are some things you may consider. Do you want and individual, or a team, to come to your location, or are you looking to make an appointment at a studio space? Do you want one person who does both hair and makeup, or are you looking for only one or the other?

How many people will be in your party? Which of those bridesmaids, mothers, grandmothers, or flower girls want their hair or makeup or both done?  What is the budget for hiring someone to do this? Do you have a specific time frame that you will need to work within?

Are you looking for anything specific? Some stylists work in a studio or on location only; some stylists may offer both options. Are you looking for someone who specializes in updos or formal event styling? Not every hairstylist does this, so find one who specializes in what you want. Not every makeup artist offers airbrush makeup, so if this is important to you, find one who offers this and specializes in bridal.

* Photo: Katelyn James Photography*

Find the Artist who is right for You.

Now that you have determined what you want this person to do for you, the next step is to find the right artist for you. Ask for referrals from other vendors… specifically the venue, your coordinator and photographer.  These are people who work closely with stylists often and would be mostly to have one to recommend.  They will probably have someone they have worked with before that could be a good personality fit and be able to achieve the look and style you want.

Ask your friends who have recently gotten married (if you liked their style), who they used for hair and makeup. Find out what the experience was like with everything from requesting information to how the day of the event was handled.

Look online. Most experienced stylists have portfolios online for you to look at examples of their work.

Contact the artist.

First, ask if they are available on your date. Don’t wait! I have booked dates as far as 18 months out. Especially if you have a popular date in April, May, September or October, beat the rush and secure your artist as soon as possible to make sure you get the one you want.

Ask questions to find out if they fit what it is you are looking for.

Find out price and booking information. Determine if they fit your budget and if they have a minimum booking requirement. Make sure that you are clear on all the information required to officially secure your date on the artist’s schedule and when your final payment is due.

Stay tuned for more from Emily Hudspeth, hair and makeup. Coming soon… tips on planning a successful dress rehearsal before your big day.

Emily Hudspeth is an on location hair stylist and makeup artist specializing in events, photo shoots and more. Contact Emily for more information on booking an event. Follow Emily on facebook and twitter to keep up the latest on her daily blog posts with tips on on things beauty related.