Hello Sarah Seven!

(Photography by Dixie Pixel Photography)

Boutique bridal (etc.) shop, Sarah Seven, just opened a flagship showroom in San Francisco!

Designer Sarah Seven is creates unique, vintage inspired pieces with a modern twist. Offering, bridal, special occasion and ready to wear collections Sarah Seven uses natural fabrics, silk, wool, linens, cotton voile and also recycled vintage fabrics.

Even More Good Stuff!
A percentage of all sales are donated to the following charities:
3% to Compassion (www.compassion.com), to feed unsponsored children);
2% to International Justice Mission (http://www.ijm.org/), IJM is an organization that works to free the enslaved and to hold the slave owners accountable.

Sarah Seven, 3138 Geary Boulevard, between Cook and Spruce Streets: 503-801-5650 or sarahseven.com. To make an appointment, email sarah.seven@yahoo.com.

Portlandia's "Cool Wedding"

ZahZoom celebrates the concepts of personalization, originality and uniqueness in the wedding arena, and is avidly pro-"indie wedding"- But last week's Portlandia episode featured one "indie wedding" that seemed to go beyond "over-the-top"... (This skit strikes a chord and brings a laugh): Enjoy!

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A ZahZoom Event Just Hit Newsstands Near You!

Heather and Bradford's amazing Vaudeville wedding at Bimbos is featured in this month's issue of San Francisco Brides, just out last Friday, December 23rd!

For more about their fabulous day, you can check out ZahZoom's {blog post on the event}.

A Touch of Beauty for a Good Cause!

Last Thursday I was honored to participate by attending and donating floral arrangements for the 7th Annual Cultural Cuisine dinner, to help the Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (MESA) raise money for future programs promoting sustainable agriculture.

The event featured a delicious multicultural feast prepared with help from MESA Stewards who influenced the menu with favorite dishes and flavors from their home countries. The menu included traditional dishes from Peru, Ecuador, and Thailand, and the ingredients came from donations from local growers and producers. Dessert was passion fruit custard cups with cream and candied fennel!

The evening also featured live music, dancing, and a silent auction boasting sustainable winery tours, eco-friendly spa retreats, a dinner at Chez Panisse, tempting gift baskets from local purveyors, and much more.

Just another way that ZahZoom stays involved in the community through values based giving and keeping it green, outside of the world of weddings!

Trend Spotter: Eye on 2012! (Lallitara Clutches and Ties!)

These lovely little numbers from Lallitara (lallitara.com) make a beautiful accent for attendant attire, which can also serve as a bridesmaids' gift! Or, you could think of it as a bridesmaids' gift that useful on more than the ONE OCCASION *wink. Better still, they are upcycled, in the first place, from vintage saris- so these fashionable fabrics already lived a full life before their glamour was reassigned!

What's more- they can be purchased with matching ties, so the whole wedding party can be picture ready with coordinating, hip accessories and receive a gift as token of your gratitude, in one fell swoop!

Oh, Baby!

I've been a little busy and somewhat preoccupied (thus the hiatus from blogging)- but he was more than worth it!

This handsome baby is Kaj Donaldson, my son, born late last March! I'm showing him off with an image that Easy Canvas Prints has turned into a piece of art for me. Let’s take a closer look:

Easy Canvas Prints offers user friendly interface with simple options to customize your print. First, choose how thick you want it: 0.75 inch or 1.5 inch. Then choose a wrap option: mirror image; photo wrap; or border. (Note that wrapping the photo, as I chose, has a neat artistic effect, but does cut some of the image, from the face-on perspective. Choosing a color border preserves the original dimensions of the photo from this vantage point).

A canvas print would make a lovely wedding display item (even an item for wedding signage!), or would be an excellent option for a favorite wedding memory, for your own wall, or as a gift.

ENJOY 25% OFF AND FREE STANDARD SHIPPING!

An Example Of A ZahZoom Green Wedding (Heather & Bradford)

Heather and Bradford were married in a music forward Vaudeville themed wedding extravaganza at Bimbo's 365 Club in North Beach (San Francisco). They set out to recycle and repurpose their way to 'reclaiming an era'! And it was beautiful.

Their ceremony was the first event of the evening to grace the main stage at Bimbo's, an historical club that opened in 1931 at 365 Market Street. On Bimbo's stage in days of yore, lines of long-stemmed chorus girls kicked high to the music; one of whom was Rita Hayworth! Gin was served in coffee cups while patrons puzzled over the optical illusion that was Dolfina, "The G

irl in the Fishbowl": she appeared to swim nude in the fish tank behind the bar, and still does today, at Bimbo’s Columbus Avenue location, where the club moved in 1951 and became even more of a happening spot. Herb Caen caught it all and recalled, “Jugglers, dance teams, stand-up comics, crooners & chantootsies...

Costumed performers from the Yard Dogs Road Show assisted ushers wearing colorful vests in welcoming guests and distributing

custom designed programs printed on 100% post consumer waste recycled paper.

(Their table numbers and escort cards -with names and table numbers penned by Tracy Joe Calligraphy- were also printed this way!)

The bride walked down the aisle to Lou Reed's fantastic cover of "This Magic Moment", the ring bearer carried their rings on a teal 45, and the flower girls scattered feathers (instead of petals) on the runner. Floral decor, by eco-minded floral design guru Emily Dreblow, of Soulflower included feathers, too!

During the cocktail hour, guests enjoyed treats such as truffled popcorn in bamboo cones, and were treated to an appearance by the famous "Girl in the Fishbowl" (as mentioned above).

After dinner there was photobooth fun to be

had.

Dancing.

And cupcakes handmade by a friend and incorporated into a candy buffet.

It happened to be a 6-year-old niece's birthday, and she was surprised by a magician at her table, and a birthday cake!

And finally, the cap of the evening: a performance by the Yard Dogs Road Show.

As a parting gift, guests took home an item that they will be able enjoy for years to come: a custom CD filled with memorable songs from Brad and Heather's wedding. The case features images from their engagement shoot with Jules Bianchi!

At the end of the night the newlyweds departed in a vintage Rolls Royce, for the Hotel Vitale (an eco-savvy, boutique hotel on the San Francisco waterfront).

A wonderous wedding, indeed!

images by Jules Bianchi