Christina's Blog
A Fount of Inspiration
I’ve learned many things from David Beahm; the most important of which is to find inspiration in the world around me. “Turn off the tv, step outside and look around!” David proclaims. Through his prompting, I’ve come to understand that the most unexpected avenues can yield a brilliant concept and launch a thousand ideas.
However, if you are going to step outside, why not step way out? A bit of international or domestic travel can inspire a wealth of concepts and elicit ideas you’ve never considered. Immersing myself in another locale (with all the smells, sights, sounds of a world that is not my norm) has been a gift - one which I urge any new Bride to explore when planning her own wedding.
During a recent vacation to Tulum, Mexico, I was absolutely enthralled with the colors and fabrics of the local culture. The intricate embroidery of a handmade dress; the riotous explosion of color in a serape; and the twinkling glow of candlelight through pierced tin had me furiously jotting down ideas throughout my entire trip. “We gotta use this for a wedding!” I kept repeating to myself.
And what once seemed stale can even be made new again when viewed through a pair of fresh eyes…..
Growing up in the Bay Area, I thought I had seen all that the place had to offer. How wrong I was! On a recent trip home, my mother and I took a day trip to Napa. I was enthralled with how the joyous yellow mustard plants seemed to create a dreamy, golden blanket over the foothills. The delicious clusters of grapes and curling vines that clung to every arbor, made me think of Dutch still life paintings and how we could make them come to life on a grand scale!
David is so very right - get out, see the sights, find something you love and run away with the idea. Just remember that you might have to go a little further than your backyard to find it.
"Breathe!"
At David Beahm Design, I’m regularly corresponding with a bride right up until the day of her wedding: making 11th hour changes, answering last minute questions, and almost always calming jittery nerves.
For so many brides, the day you are supposed to remember for the rest of your life passes in the blink of an eye. Enjoy the party? How about just getting through it? All the flurry of making sure that everything is exactly as you planned can be taxing on the mind, body and soul. And no matter how many times your friends and family lovingly tell you to "relax, relax, relax," it never really seems to happen. In fact, one of my favorite pieces of advice is to simply remind our brides to breathe!
But it’s your day; why shouldn’t you enjoy it as much as your guests?
So, I’ve compiled a short but practical list of tangible ideas for making the "day-of" as stress-free and ENJOYABLE as possible:
Yoga, yoga, yoga. Start working your sun salutes now! Not only will yoga get your body "Madonna-perfect" for a formfitting gown, it will keep your mind quiet and at peace during emotional frenzies. And if yoga doesn’t do it for you - find a sport, side project, or hobby that you do enjoy. Being able to periodically step away from your wedding with a bit of focused distraction will allow you to more easily evaluate the big picture and keep a level head. Ladies, let’s all say it together: OM……
Get and stay organized from the beginning! Grab that wedding binder and keep it handy. With all of your up-to-date contracts, photos, travel accommodations, and renderings organized - the binder should accompany you on every appointment. The reason is simple: having all of your information available minimizes post-appointment follow ups. For example: when your florist asks for your final table count, just open that binder. When your cake designer wants to see a picture of your centerpiece, turn to the binder. In this way, you don’t have to later take time out of your busy schedule to get your vendors the information they need. Minimize your ‘to do’ list - minimize your work
- minimize your stress.
If your budget doesn’t allow for a wedding planner from the inception of your planning process - consider hiring a professional day-of planner. Their sage wisdom and calming presence can actually allow you some peace of mind when your hair is in curlers. With their intricate timelines and guest lists in hand, you won’t have to worry when Aunt Sally comes down with the flu the morning of the wedding and table assignments need to be tweaked as guests are walking through the door.
And finally, remember that no matter what could possibly go awry with a venue, vendor or vehicle, the only thing you need to make a wedding is you, your fiancé and your officiant ….. and maybe a witness or two. Despite everyone’s big expectations (including your own) of the big day, always keep in mind what your day is truly about: the love you have for each other. Everything else will fall into place.
I promise.
Finer Notes
I have a confession to make: I dream about weddings! All the little details make me dizzy with joy. I mean it; I think I might be a little crazy. I’ve subscribed to every major wedding publication since the age of 18, and still get jumpy when I see those beautiful glossy pages awaiting me in the mailbox. Not to mention the fact that my first grade Halloween costume was, you guessed it, a wedding dress and cathedral length veil. So needless to say, when I first began my tenure at David Beahm Design I was as excited…. as a bride!
My first weeks at DBD, I was regularly found buzzing around the bridal bouquets in our studio, driving David batty. Holding the bouquets; modeling them in the mirror; trying them on for size; I did it all. So after all the years of obsessive research, what is my favorite you ask? Well, there is nothing more exquisite than a hand-wired bouquet. Most recognizable as the bouquets our grandmothers held in sepia photographs, these bouquets cascade across the front of a bridal gown like a deliciously frothy waterfall. Full of fragrant flowers like stephanotis, garden roses, and gardenias; each individual blossom in a bouquet of this style is meticulously wired for perfection and longevity. In the twenties and thirties it was routine for a downpour of thin satin ribbons tied into love knots to cascade from the base of the bouquet, each length commencing in a delicately applied blossom.
The trend of taking a new and fresh approach to weddings fuels our business here at David Beahm Design. Our brides are consistently looking for a “new idea”, whether it is a custom-designed ring, a clever amuse-bushe, or a never-before-seen bridal bouquet. Of late, however, I’ve noticed a return to a traditional classicism that is magnificent, best exemplified in the hand-wired bouquet. Everything that’s old is new again, and I encourage our brides to embrace this exceptional aesthetic. I can’t recommend anything finer.