Spring is already proving to bloom some great things. Our friend & colleague, Christopher Duggan Photography announced his 5th Annual Spring FREE Engagement Day! Not one, but TEN lucky couples will be selected for a 30 minute photoshoot session that comes complete with professional hair and makeup, digital negatives, AND {yes there’s an and}, the chance to win a custom designed 20-page LOVEBOOK with images from the engagement shoot!!!

I cannot even begin to tell you the value of this giveaway!  Engagement pictures are a wonderful way to tell the story of your love and get comfortable in front of the camera in preparation for your wedding day.  Not to mention, Christopher Duggan is super talented at his craft and an overall fab person!  Couples have until May 18, 2011 to enter.  Click here for submission guidelines.

We filmed another video for Topaz Access Granted last month and boy oh boy did we have F-U-N!  I was thrilled when Anni Bruno of NYC Faces welcomed us to go behind the scenes at her gorgeous studio to share expert tips on airbrush makeup.

So often as a planner I get asked questions about airbrush makeup from my brides because even though it’s been around for quite some time, not everyone understands its benefits in relationship to traditional makeup.  Anni is the go to person when it comes to this department and I am excited to present to you: Airbrush 101 with Anni Bruno of NYC Faces.  Enjoy!

Recently we had the opportunity to meet with Akiyo, the founder of Akiyo Henna Inc. as she showcased her new body art service entitled Luxe Glow™.  Luxe Glow™ is an extension of Mehndi (the application of Henna), but it’s so uniquely different and serves many glamorous functions.

photo credit: photo Go rophy | Go Nakamura

See and learn more about the beauty of Luxe Glow™ by checking out our exclusive behind the scenes video!  And stay connected to more Topaz Access Granted videos in the future by subscribing to our youtube channel.

I came across a delightful treat that is sure to put a smile on your face this Monday morning- edible designer handbags!  Okay so I don’t exactly mean a designer bag turned snack, but Made Fresh Daily Cakes has created the most adorable cupcakes I think I’ve ever seen.  The awesome confectioner, Rashida, has designed cupcakes that are topped with handcrafted edible designer handbags.  What a chic and fun way to celebrate a birthday, bridal shower, bachelorette party, or girls night out!

Did you spot any of your favorite designers?  I surely did!  Kudos to Made Fresh Daily Cakes for these fabulous gems.

What do you get when you take two brilliant writers who are wedding enthusiasts at heart, and have the ability to capture the essence of people’s feelings, personality, and inner voice by transforming it into well-crafted words?  Quite simply, the answer is Angie and Alicia, the masterminds of Vow Muse.

Vow Muse is a writing consultation company catered to the art of writing for weddings and events.  They specialize in ceremonies, vows, best man/bridesmaid speeches, and wedding websites just to name a few.  When I first heard about them I immediately thought, “Where have you been all my life?” – or at least all of my career!  I’ve encountered many brides who have tried to write their wedding vows from the heart,  but struggled to find the right words to express the multitude of love they felt.  Giving a speech at an important event can be a daunting challenge – add cameras and video into the mix and the whole thing can just be downright scary.  Vow Muse really comes to the rescue in the areas of writing and public speaking!

These ladies are phenomenal and they make the process of writing fun, collaborative and simple while keeping true to your authentic voice.  Want to hear the really great news?  Vow Muse is offering a 25% discount off their services to Topaz Event Design blog readers for the month of February – just make sure to mention this post!

To connect with Vow Muse, you can check out their website, like them on facebook, or follow them on twitter.