Get to Know… Edyta Szyszlo of Edyta Szyszlo Photography

In case you haven’t had the pleasure, this is your opportunity to get to know Edyta Szyszlo of Edyta Szyszlo Photography.  Edyta loves what she does and it’s so easy to tell because her work is just plain gorgeous. This year she was recognized as one of the Best West Coast Photographers of 2014 by Martha Stewart Weddings… does a higher honor even exist?  We think not.  But we do think you’ll love getting to know Edyta just as much as we have over the years.

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edyta headshot

Name: Edyta Szyszlo

Company: Edyta Szyszlo Photography, LLC and co-owns Tomfoolery SF photobooth with her husband, Jared.

Started My Business: Been in business for almost 10 years!

Located: San Francisco

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Q: Which industry related tool can you not live without?

 A: Haha, obviously my cameras, however, a close second would be a calendar!

Q: When you’re not on site at an event, what can we find you doing?

A: I’m usually at my computer or at lifestyle/commercial photoshoots during the weekdays. But that’s a lame answer 🙂   I love exploring the outdoors and new neighborhood spots, socializing over a yummy meals, exercising, cuddling with my cats, drinking red wine, watering my plants, day-dreaming, picnicking, gawking over magazines and fooling around in our photobooth.

Edytas Cats

Edyta and Hubby

Q: At which venue are you dying to work?

A: I’m not really partial to just one place. I love anything with incredible natural light, dreamy lights or polished interior design. There are a few places in the Southern California area that I wish SF had! One on my list is Lombardi House.

Lombardi House

Lombardi House

Q: My go to snack is ________.

A:  Seasonable fruit and alike finger foods.

Q: What is/are your guilty pleasure(s)?

A: Celebrity magazines, although I never buy them. The Kardashians tv show (don’t judge me!). Cream cheese and anything with coconut.

Q: TV wise, what are you watching right now?

A: Just finished season 4 of Downton Abbey.

Screen Shot 2014-09-23 at 6.16.33 PM

Q: I can’t stand ________.

A: When there are a million phones taking pictures at a wedding ceremony, especially in the aisle.  Or when you’re reading your credit card over the phone the person is ‘uh huh-ing’ between every digit.

Q: What’s the last thing you purchased online?

A: Shoes. Leather Vans to be exact 🙂

vans

Q: Music wise, I am currently listening to ______.

A: folksy country with a mix of old school decade jams.

Q: Favorite thing I currently have hanging in my closet is ______

A: my flowy white tops and dresses…all of them.

Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in the Bay Area?

A: There are too many good ones!! I love Suppenkuche, Bar Agricole, The Corner Store, Central Kitchen, Bar Tartine, Fat Angel

Bar Agricole
The Patio at Bar Agricole

Q: Why are you most excited to be working with the Stacy McCain Event Planning team?

A: I love their structured yet easy-going nature. It’s so important to have a streamlined and efficient approach for planning an event if you want it to feel carefree. Stacy and her team are the perfect blend of elegance, top-notch service and casual attitude.  Their design sense is modern with a a soft hint of playful, making it a win-win combo.

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In case you missed it, be sure you Get to Know… Aaron Novak of Artisan Production

Real Wedding { Teaser } : Cassie + Morgan

Last October, on a crisp yet sunny Fall day, Cassie and Morgan tied the knot at Beaulieu Garden in front of their nearest and dearest.  We loved working with them and their families because they were so excited and enthusiastic about their big day and all the little details.  In addition, the vendors that we had the pleasure of working with on this wedding made it one of our most memorable weddings of 2013.  The printed pieces c/o Chewing The Cud, the decor c/o Atelier Joya, the food c/o Paula LeDuc Fine Catering – we could go on and on!  Without a doubt, the biggest show stopper was Cassie’s jaw-droppingly gorgeous Vera Wang dress; the kind of dress every girl dreams about wearing as she walks down the aisle.

Here are a few of our favorite photos from the day, but you can find the entire album on our recent Style Me Pretty feature by following this link.

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

2375_CasMorWed-2905369824-O

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

2657_CasMorWed-2905374630-O

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

Photo by Elle Jae Photography

 

Wishing Cassie and Morgan a lifetime of good food, delicious wine, and lots of love!

Get to Know… Gabrielle Feuersinger of Cake Coquette

This month we are getting to know the lovely Gabrielle (aka Gabby) of Cake Coquette.  Not only is Gabby a pure joy to work with, she is a true artist and pastry rockstar, presenting us with cake flavors such as Hazlenut Cake (lightly soaked in rum, then layered with thin ganache and hazelnut praline cream); Lemon Cake (soaked in a tart citrus syrup and layered with a smooth citrus creme); and Chocolate Coconut Cake (filled with layers of ganache, chocolate buttercream and toasted coconut cream).  YUM!  Now our stomachs are growling.  Read on to get to know a little more about Gabby.

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Name: Gabrielle Feuersinger

Company: Cake Coquette

Started My Business: in 2007

Located: 1501 Cortland Ave San Francisco, CA 94110

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Q: Which industry related tool can you not live without?

 A: The special smoothing and sculpting tools I use for icing buttercream and shaping cakes are my most essential tools.

Kitchen time

Q: When you’re not on site at an event, what can we find you doing?

A: Any moment not working I am spending time with my almost 3-year-old son and with my family; lately we are working in the garden.

Q: At which venue are you dying to work?

A: I can’t think of a venue that I am dying to work at, but I love when I get access to residential homes or venues of architectural significance that may not normally be open to the public.

Q: My go to snack is ________.

A:  I love all dark, wheat, seedy, nutty breads covered in jam.

Photo courtesy 10th Kitchen

Photo courtesy 10th Kitchen

Q: What is/are your guilty pleasure(s)?

A: This is not very exciting, but if I can get time to read this feels like a guilty pleasure….I’m on the second book of Game of Thrones.

Q: TV wise, what are you watching right now?

A: I watch Jimmy Fallon and Conan every night (from the night before). I just finished the first season of Game of Thrones and am starting to watch The Borghese.

Game-of-Thrones-Season-1

Q: I can’t stand ________.

A: people who are late.

Q: What’s the last thing you purchased online?

A: The most recent online purchase was from eBay, an unopened set of The Beatles figurines from the Yellow Submarine movie. They are for my son, who is obsessed with the Fab Four.

Photo courtesy Animation Magazine

Photo courtesy Animation Magazine

Q: Music wise, I am currently listening to ______.

A: The Beatles.

Q: Favorite thing I currently have hanging in my closet is ______

A: A new dress from this amazing store called MAC in Hayes valley.

Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in the Bay Area?

A: To pick a favorite restaurant is too hard, but I am always up for Gracias Madre.

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Q: Why are you most excited to be working with the Stacy McCain Event Planning team?

A: I love working with the Stacy McCain Event Planning Team because I know that everything about our event will be seamless and stunning. And that we might end up in Martha Stewart Weddings together!!

(So, we did actually end up in Martha Stewart Weddings together, which you can read about by following this link!)

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In case you missed it, be sure you Get to Know… Jillian Schiavi of Jilly Ink!

Real Wedding: Olivia and Dan on Style Me Pretty Today!

We’re beyond excited to share photos from Olivia and Dan’s wedding at Beaulieu Garden on Style Me Pretty today!  We worked with an all star group of vendors to produce this gorgeous wedding, including Yvonne Wong Photography, Paula Le Duc Fine Catering, Sharla Flock Designs, Got Light., Sweet On Cake, and many others.  Here’s a little sneak peak of some of our favorite photos, but please be sure to visit the entire gallery on Style Me Pretty by following this link.

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Photo by Yvonne Wong Photography

Wedding Traditions and History: The White Wedding Dress

Queen Victoria, 1840

Queen Victoria, circa 1840

The very first white wedding dress was worn in 1499 by Anne of Brittany, as she married Louis XII of France. Prior to this date, the bride would traditionally wear her best dress to her wedding, and in fact, the color did not matter. This was of course a more practical option because the bride could wear the dress again. The truth was that only the wealthy could afford an extravagant gown that would be worn just once. The trend of wearing a white dress never really took off until the 1840’s when Queen Victoria wore a white dress as she married Prince Albert.

Queen Elizabeth 1947

Queen Elizabeth, circa 1947

Every culture is different.  Here’s an interesting fact: in Japan, a bride wears white to symbolize that she is in mourning for having to leave her family. Later in the ceremony, the bride will change her costume several times to reflect her changing identity.

Photo courtesy e wedding inspiration

Photo courtesy e wedding inspiration

In Western culture, it’s a common misconception that wearing white is a symbol of the bride’s purity; it is in fact meant to be a symbol of joy.  The act of wearing a white wedding dress is still very much the traditional choice today, however, symbolically, they are less about the bride’s purity and more about her debut as a first time bride.

Photo by Gertrude & Mabel

Photo by Gertrude & Mabel

In case you missed it, be sure to read our last entry featuring Wedding Traditions and History: The Wedding Cake!