Guest Experts

Amanda Burdick is the owner of La’Di Events, a full service wedding and event planning firm serving the northern Illinois and Chicagoland region. Whether planning a lavish wedding, corporate event, or a small social gathering, you can count on La’Di Events to make your dream event a reality. Read More …

Website: MaringPhoto.com
Photographer Charles Maring is a life curator who captures portraits, weddings, and the life and style for families that know the importance of documenting and archiving their family history creatively. Charles is principal photographer of Maring Visuals, a creative team and family of artists who photograph weddings on a wide range of budgets. The Maring team is among the most awarded in the wedding industry with clients that include well known celebrities like Donald and Melania Trump, writer Tom Clancy, talk show hosts Star Jones, Glenn Beck, and celebrity party planner David Tutera to name a few.  Read More…

Website: http://www.claudiaendler.com
Claudia Endler is a passionate devotee of modern jewelry, art, architecture, design, and self-expression. “Ever since I was little you could not drag me away from jewelry store windows.” As the designer and owner of Claudia Endler Designs, a premier Los Angeles modern jewelry design house, she indulges in her passion by conceiving contemporary jewelry creations that combine elements of modern art, graphic design, and modern architecture. Read More…

Website: http://blendbeautystudio.com
Cynthia Sally is an award winning makeup artist that has been in the industry for over 10 years. She is the proud owner of Cynthia Sally Makeup and Hair Artistry in Chicago, Illinois. Her team focuses on helping make women look and feel like the best version of themselves. Cynthia Sally specializes in bridal beauty but also does work for runway shows, films and high fashion photoshoots. Read more …

Website: 5StarEvents.com
My career as a dj began in the summer of ‘84. At that time, I wasn’t even old enough to drive. I was just a kid with entreprenureal spirit – trying make a few bucks. It’s hard to believe that twenty something years (and well over 2000 events) later, I’m still playing music at parties. Even harder to believe, it’s been my only job in all this time. I guess I’m lucky to have found something that I love (and could make a living at), at such a young age. Read More…

Heather Wilson is a Wealth-Esteem expert, certified coach, international motivational speaker, and an author all rolled into one dynamic package! It’s her passion to help people create a joyful and fun, rewarding, and strong relationship with their money and wealth, as well as with themselves. With disputes about money being a major contributor to the break-up of relationships, Heather’s mission is to teach couples how to communicate with each other about money, how to create a long term wealth vision together, how to improve their own self-esteem, all the while having fun and truly enjoying their life together. Read More …

Website: WeddingTresses.com
Jacki Norrie is an expert in bridal hair and makeup. She is the founder of the award winning team of bridal specialists, Wedding Tresses – an on location hair and makeup service with offices on Newbury Street in Boston, Bellevue Avenue in Newport RI and on Main Street in the south shore town of Plympton. Read More…

Website: Cosabella.com
My name is Jacqueline L’Ecuyer and I am the Bridal Expert at Cosabella. Cosabella was founded in 1983 by Ugo and Valeria Campello. It is designed at its headquarters in Miami, FL and manufactured in Italy – Resulting in a great mix of American design and Italian Craftsmanship. Cosabella is famous for its use of vibrant, cutting-edge colors. Many of the hottest celebrities wear Cosabella and it has been featured in episodes of Sex and the City, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost,  Nip/Tuck,  and  Desperate Housewives. Read More…

Website: JeriFloralDesign.com
As a teenager, Jeri Solomon’s first job was in a flower shop. She loved working with her hands and especially enjoyed all the senses flowers stimulated – sight, touch, smell. Throughout high school and college she worked alongside Boston’s finest designers, learning from the best. To broaden her understanding of the industry she worked for several years at a wholesale flower company. In 1994 she established Jeri Solomon Floral Design – a special event flower studio.  Read More…

Website: Mannersmith.com
Jodi Smith is an etiquette advocate and has been promoting better behaviors since 1986. Her business, Mannersmith, launched in January 1996. Jodi holds a bachelor’s degree in motivational psychology from the University of Rochester and a master’s degree from Cornell University. She consults to organizations, corporations, educational institutions and individuals on a variety of topics, including dining skills, office etiquette, professional protocol and wedding preparations. Read More…

Website: GrapevinePaperie.com
Celebrity invitation designer and paper guru Karen Bartolomei is the founder and creative director of Grapevine, a couture invitation design studio in Boston, MA. Her signature designs have graced the pages of every major bridal publication including In Style Weddings and Martha Stewart Weddings. She was recently featured on the cover of the Style Section in The Boston Globe. She has been featured as the paperie expert on HGTV’s Ultimate Wedding Guide, Chronicle and BetterHomesandGardens.com. Read More…

Website: http://www.kgoodphoto.com/
Photography as a medium is so powerful because it affects everyone – from high school yearbooks to every other milestone in your life, it accomplishes the seemingly impossible concept of time travel. You go back to that moment. This is why I love what I do. Read More…

Website: LCIPaper.com
Kristen Desrosier is an in-house wedding stationery designer at LCI Paper, a Massachusetts-based company offering a convenient and affordable way to purchase specialty papers, accessories, and supplies for DIY wedding projects. Read More…

Website: KioKreations.com

Kristen Janes is the founder/owner of Kio Kreations, LLC a boutique event florist and creative services company specializing in wedding flowers & decor. Her background is diverse and includes a BFA in Illustration, a four year career as a product designer and over 15 years spent as a professional floral designer.

After working in three floral shops throughout the years and finishing her fine art degree, Kristen decided that she really enjoyed making flowers for weddings and events. She knew she wanted to pursue Kio Kreations Wedding & Event Floral as a side career while she worked as a product designer in the corporate world. While working as a product designer, Kristen designed hundreds of wedding items, many of which can be purchased around the country at Michael’s, JoAnn’s, Target and Wal-mart stores. She also designed wedding packaging, styled photo shoots and created wedding trend guides.Read More…

Website: http://www.prospectmx.com
Lauren Horn is a Digital Public Relations Specialist at ProspectMX who serves as a contributing writer for a variety of clients/companies that can help future brides prepare for wedding planning, bridal shopping and marriage. She especially loves helping brides-to-be prepare for their once-in-a-lifetime event, in any way possible. Read More…

Website: www.iMakeupArtistry.com
A Professional Makeup Artist since 1998, Leisa is also a licensed Esthetician and Instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art and Photography Degree that fueled her passion for Makeup Artistry. Leisa is an expert in a wide range of makeup applications and techniques, but specializes in beauty and bridal makeup, creating custom looks for brides on their wedding day. With her unique perspective as an artist, Leisa is able to use makeup as a tool to create what she calls “the highest form of art.”Read More…

Website: TangorraWeddingPlanning.com
Tangorra Wedding Planning is an award-winning full service wedding planning firm. We are committed to working closely with each couple to create a wedding that is as distinctive as they are.

Whether your style is traditional and elegant or simple and unique, Tangorra Wedding Planning will work with you to create the wedding of your dreams. We offer the right combination of organization, creativity, patience and knowledge and are dedicated to save you time, money and stress. We provide full service wedding coordination with a variety of packages which means we can be involved with as much or as little as you wish. Read More…

Mellissa de Oliveira is the creator and editor of de Lovely Affair, a practical wedding resource for modern multicultural couples. The blog blends world traditions and international “I Do’s,” practical planning and DIY projects with a good dose of humor, gorgeous photography and, of course, real weddings. Read More …

Website: http://www.nc-photography.ca/
I love LOVE and everything that surrounds it. When I first started out in photography, back in 2009, I tried it all, families, babies, maternity, portraits. I was enjoying what I was doing but I wasn’t in love with it. I shot my first wedding in 2009 and I was hooked. I loved the anxiety from the bride as she slowly transformed into a stunning women in white. It was so amazing to be surrounded by all of their family and friends who were so very happy for them. And then to watch their love grow into husband and wife, was just simply breathtaking. Read More…

Website: http://nordicaphotography.com/
Nordica Photography is a Vancouver based company that focuses on Wedding Photography, Headshots and Social Media Photography. Jakob Granqvist and Cole Roberts work together as a two-shooter team and the two primarily shoot outdoors using natural lighting which keeps their images calm, sharp and consistently professional. Nordica are Vancouver Wedding Photographers, but also do international projects, and you can check out more of their work at NordicaPhotography.com.Read More…

Stephanie began her career as an editorial photographer working for newsrooms throughout Southern Colorado. It was her start in photojournalism that developed her skills to fit the documentary style of wedding photography that she now prefers.

Photography obsessed, she loves to talk with new brides about their special day and hopes that through her partnership with Wedloft she will be able to help new brides learn the ins and outs of wedding photography. Read More …

Website: http://www.xtraxtra.com
xtra xtra is the premier destination for hometown events and milestone announcements. We are devoted to helping you celebrate the moments that matter with our free and eco-friendly online announcements.

A wedding is undoubtedly one of the largest milestones one can experience. It’s our goal to help users share that news with the people and communities that matter the most. From engagement and wedding announcements to the commemoration of a golden anniversary, xtra xtra will be there every step of the way! Read More…