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V94: CECI INSPIRATIONS – ALL THAT JAZZ

ALL THAT JAZZ

Going to hear jazz in New York is one of those can’t-miss city experiences, whether it’s at a tiny club in the West Village like Smalls or a much grander space like Jazz at Lincoln Center further uptown.

That’s why I was thoroughly impressed when I met this week’s muse, Cate Wafer, and her fiancé, JD, who decided to throw their wedding reception at the latter venue. How sophisticated – and quintessentially New York! To get their guests in a New York state of mind, my team and I created a truly unique save-the-date resembling newsprint. The faux daily was chock-full of information for the guests, from the details of the wedding to a long list of only-in-New-York activities. The invitation that followed was a more formal affair and included an envelope lined with a lush flower pattern and gold foil details throughout. See all the fabulous details for yourselves, below.

For even more city glamour, check out this week’s Get the Look, filled with all kinds of items that sparkle in the night. Plus, I’m privileged to welcome to this issue Delfeayo Marsalis (yes, of that Marsalis family), a jazz legend and trombonist who’s sharing with us his Fabulous Finds. Event designer David Stark and photographer Brian Dorsey – two creative wonders who helped turn Cate and JD’s wedding into an unforgettable evening – round out this week’s amazing roster of experts. Read on and be inspired!

Ceci

Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York - Ceci, in Angel Sanchez, is on her way to enjoy an evening at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Shot by Brian Dorsey Studios.

The Creative Team

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V94: GET THE LOOK – ALL THAT JAZZ

CeciStyle Magazine v94: Get The Look - All That Jazz - Embrace New York City cool with these sparkling urban pieces

  1. IN THE PRESS
    Think different and turn your save-the-dates into anything you can imagine. Cate and JD chose a design that resembled a newspaper (various prices, cecinewyork.com)!

  2. STAR SEARCH
    Decorate the mantle with a true conversation-starter: these Foldable Star Sculptures by John Kostick ($22-$160, dwr.com).

  3. MOOD MUSIC
    Looking for a classic introduction to jazz? Kind of Blue by the legendary Miles Davis ($6.99, amazon.com) is a sure bet.

  4. GRAY MATTER
    Create a dramatic nighttime look using Nars’ Duo Eyeshadow in Paris ($34, barneys.com).

  5. MAGICAL MINERAL
    Bring on the wow factor with these architectural Grey Quartz Shield Earrings from Alexis Bittar ($225, alexisbittar.com).

  6. CITY SNAPS
    Enjoy iconic city views from the recent past in Picturing New York: Photographs from The Museum of Modern Art ($39.95, momastore.org).

  7. METALLIC BOND
    Say it with sparkle by accessorizing with Sondra Roberts’ mesh clutch ($198, bloomingdales.com).

  8. SKY HIGH
    This foot-long metal sculpture ($40, thelibraryshop.org) is a great way to celebrate the magnificence of the Empire State Building. A great gift for Deco dreamers!

  9. GOLDEN LIVING
    Michael Kors’ metallic heels ($895, zappos.com) add instant urban glamour.

  10. ELECTRIC IMPACT
    Strikingly simple, Naeem Khan’s beaded chiffon gown (naeemkhan.com) makes a super-elegant statement.

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V94: CECI CREATIVE TIPS – NEWSPAPER-INSPIRED SAVE-THE-DATES

Ceci Creative Tips

NEWSPAPER-INSPIRED SAVE-THE-DATES

Inspired by the fashion industry’s must-read Women’s Wear Daily and the iconic New York Times, my team and I created a fabulous save-the-date that presented everything our couple Cate & JD love about the city. Each section shared fun details in a clever way to get the couple’s guests excited about their upcoming nuptials in the city that never sleeps. Included was a map of Manhattan and colorful icons highlighting their go-to hot spots, from restaurants, hotels, shops and walking tours. Each recommendation even had a short description and a reason they loved it – such great personalization! From the engagement story to the weather, it was all there. Feast your eyes below.

Ceci
Newspaper-Inspired Save-the-Dates - Hot Off the Press: A playful twist on the newspaper format inspired Cate and JD's save-the-dates

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V94: OUR MUSE – SOPHISTICATED NEW YORK CITY WEDDING: CATE & JD, PART 1

Our Muse

Be inspired by Cate & JD’s sophisticated New York City wedding

Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, invitations, digital printing, letterpress printing, foil printing, die cutting
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, invitations, digital printing, letterpress printing, foil printing, die cutting
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, invitations, digital printing, letterpress printing, foil printing, die cutting

Invitations by Ceci New York

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V94: SAVVY STYLE ADVICE – CATE DVORNICKY, REAL BRIDE

Savvy Style Advice
Cate Dvornicky

CATE DVORNICKY
Make sure to schedule time for yourselves on your wedding day! You’ll want to get the pictures you love, mingle with guests, and just soak it all in – this is your day so take those extra few moments to really relax and enjoy it!

A note for other Ceci brides: make sure you frame your invitation suite! Ceci personalizes every suite to your style and taste and the results are absolutely gorgeous. We had a good friend of ours frame our wedding invitation as our wedding gift and it now hangs in our apartment. We look at it all the time – and since it was so personalized, it fits the style of our apartment perfectly and is a fun addition that all of our guests love to check out!

What It’s Like to Be a Ceci Bride:
Ceci is amazing! From top to bottom – the save-the-dates, invitations, accessories – everything was over the top! Our guests are STILL talking about how beautiful our invitation suite was. Ceci worked with us to make sure that every detail was exactly what we wanted, and everything turned out even more beautiful than we imagined!

View Cate & JD’s wedding invitations and photos in Our Muse

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V94: OUR MUSE – SOPHISTICATED NEW YORK CITY WEDDING: CATE & JD, PART 2

Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding
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V94: EXPERT STYLE TIPS – TIPS FOR WEDDING EVENT DESIGN

Expert Style Tips

David Stark of David Stark Design and Production

DAVID STARK, DAVID STARK DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
David Stark is a renowned New York-based event producer as well as President and Creative Director of David Stark Design and Production. This full-service event design and planning firm is celebrated for the innovative, imaginative events it creates for a wide range of high-wattage celebrity clients as well as high-visibility fund-raising galas for the nation’s most elite not-for-profit organizations. David and his work are often featured in various publications, design-focused blogs and he is asked to serve as a guest expert on his décor, party planning, holiday decorating and home planting projects for a range of television shows.

I most admire people who think beyond what has been done before. They’re not afraid to take risks and shape our future through innovation. David Stark belongs to this special group. Working with him, you can be confident that you’re in some of the best hands creatively and professionally. David and his wonderful team will raise your event to an exceptional new level! - CECI JOHNSON

Tips for Wedding Event Design by David Stark, David Stark Design and Production

  1. Innovate the conventional moments: The escort card table can be a place of delight and surprise – we look at every conventional moment of a party as an opportunity for innovation. Instead of simply laying the seating cards out on a table, we create a stage set for the evening to unfold in style. For a recent sports-themed fete, foam fingers magically balanced the seating assignments with a wink and a smile, setting the tone for the evening’s festivities.

  2. Party favors: Wrangle your place card to play double duty as a party favor. For an outdoor baby shower in Los Angeles, each place setting featured a fancifully chic wooden elephant sporting each guest’s name on its back. The elephant spoke to the mom’s baby theme with sophistication, and the object itself was so beautiful, the guests were thrilled to take a little souvenir of the day.

  3. Centerpieces: Make a centerpiece that is a conversation starter. We adore flowers; they are our first love and passion. But there are many events where an evocative icebreaker is needed to get conversation flowing at the table. We recently created multi-level still lifes of glass bell jars, magnifying glasses and nature specimens for the NRDC Gala at the Museum of Natural History to shine the spotlight on the evening’ s theme.

  4. Raise up the décor: What do you see when a room fills up with 250, 500, or even 1000 people? Make sure that the décor is visible when the room is packed. The trick? Raise the décor up, up, up! There are intimate details that are about being up close and personal, and there are broader strokes that are about distance. We strive to balance both, as we did in the giant, optical NEXT sculpture we created for the American Friends of the Israel Museum’s gala at Cipriani 42nd Street.

  5. Simplicity: Simplicity is just as powerful as complexity. Sometimes a setting does not require a lot of stuff. A braid of garden foliage was just enough to enhance this gorgeous horse barn at a recent wedding.

Discover more on David Stark Design and Production

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V94: OUR MUSE – SOPHISTICATED NEW YORK CITY WEDDING: CATE & JD, PART 3

Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus, table signs
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus, table signs
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus, table signs
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus, table signs
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus, table signs
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus, table signs
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus, table signs
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus, table signs
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus, table signs
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V94: EXPERT STYLE TIPS – 5 EXPERT TIPS TO MAKE SURE YOU LOVE YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS

Expert Style Tips

Brian Dorsey of Brian Dorsey Studios

BRIAN DORSEY, BRIAN DORSEY STUDIOS
One of the leading photographers in the lifestyle wedding movement, Brian is a master at capturing the beauty and joy of life. His methods combine photojournalistic unobtrusiveness with a playful sense of leadership. The result is an eclectic blend of lifestyle images that are remarkably stunning as well as natural. Like his images, his subjects appear vibrant and full of personality and joy. His clients love his passion, energy and fun visionary style, while his professionalism and technical capabilities have made him the darling of luxury event planners worldwide.

Equal parts talent and personality, Brian Dorsey brings to the table that perfect combination of skills you need to actually enjoy getting your picture taken. His knowledge of the camera has no limits. He is the master at capturing those fleeting moments on the fly – no matter the location. City streets or indoors, Brian knows how to take a beautiful picture. Quick on his feet and his detailed eye always “on”, you can rest assured that you’re not only going to love the way your pictures come out but you will have fun while it’s happening. - CECI JOHNSON

5 Expert Tips to Make Sure You Love Your Wedding Photographs
by Brian Dorsey, Brian Dorsey Studios

  1. Look for personality in the photographs: Do the people seem alive? Can you tell what they are like (not from the clothes they are wearing, but from the expressions on their faces and their body language)? I want to see personality. A good photograph should tell me more about the subject’s personality than the photographer’s.

  2. Evaluate the photographer, not the event: Remember you’re evaluating the photographer, not the events the photographer shot. I find myself falling into this trap too. I see photographs of beautiful details and think, “Great shot!” Then I remind myself that I’m really more excited by the details themselves, not the photographer’s skills. Keep in mind you are hiring the person who takes the pictures, not the event or gown designer or the shoot stylist.

  3. Beware the editorial shoot: Many photographers include images from editorial bridal shoots in their wedding portfolios. A seven-hour shoot with models, assistants and a team of stylists tells you little about what the photographer will capture for you alone in the hectic rush of your actual wedding day.

  4. Watch for event similarity: Picking a photographer who has beautiful images of a couple standing backlit in a field of wheat at sunset doesn’t help you determine if they would be right for your formal city wedding at night. Evaluate the style of the images from events that are similar to yours.

  5. The photographer as a person: This is the person who is with you more than anyone else (except your spouse) on your wedding day so who they are as a person is important. You want an artist, a technician, a dynamic leader of people, a fly on the wall, a sympathetic ear, someone who understands the wedding formalities of many cultures and can tell you what to do if you need it, someone who can tie a bow tie, someone sensitive but capable of rolling with the punches, a psychologist, and a friend. It’s tough to find it all in one person. But they’re out there.

Discover more on Brian Dorsey Studios

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V94: OUR MUSE – SOPHISTICATED NEW YORK CITY WEDDING: CATE & JD, PART 4

Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus
Our Muse - Sophisticated New York City Wedding - Be inspired by Cate & JD's sophisticated New York City wedding - wedding, menus

Cate & JD’s Dream Team

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V94: CECI COLOR STORIES – GOLD & CHAMPAGNE WEDDING COLORS

Ceci Color Stories

Use this palette as a stepping stone toward creating your own dream event.
Click on the color swatches to see how the colors come to life at a real event or discover more inspiring color stories now.

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V94: GREAT ESCAPES – JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER, NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Great Escapes

Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, New York

Dramatically perched over Columbus Circle with sweeping views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, this versatile and spacious venue is a jazz-inspired celebration of flexibility, equally comfortable showcasing dance, theater, opera, film and symphony.

It features two magnificent performing arts arenas, Rose Theater and The Allen Room; an intimate jazz club, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola; our expansive Atrium with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Central Park; two multi-purpose meeting rooms in the Irene Diamond Education Center, and our fully equipped Recording Studio.

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s home for the performing arts, Frederick P. Rose Hall, is a study in flexibility and elegance, and…

“..a sparkling addition to the city’s landscape”
- The New York Times

Discover more on Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, New York

Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, New York
Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, New York
Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, New York
Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, New York

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V94: CECI CREATIVE TIPS – CECI JOHNSON ON THE KNOT LIVE!

Ceci Creative Tips

CECI JOHNSON ON THE KNOT LIVE!

Recently, The Knot Live paid us a visit at our design studio and asked me to share the hottest trends in wedding invitations. I chose to highlight three: laser cutting, foil stamping and custom-converted envelopes.

I was particularly excited to be able to offer a rare glimpse into the production side of our work (meaning the stuff that happens in the press room that no one ever sees). A lot of times these details get overlooked because people underestimate how much time and energy goes into producing these designs.

Take, for example, a custom-converted envelope. Each sheet of paper is printed, die cut, folded, then glued together by hand by one of our skilled technicians! As you’ll see in the video below, these are no ordinary envelopes – each one is hand made to order for our clients. Enjoy this very special inside look and stay tuned for more cool things happening in the world of invitation design!

Ceci

Hot Wedding Stationery Trends by Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York

View this video on The Knot

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V94: FABULOUS FINDS – THIS WEEK’S GUEST EDITOR: DELFEAYO MARSALIS

Fabulous Finds

This Week’s Guest Editor: Delfeayo Marsalis

I am giddy with excitement to introduce to you this week’s guest editor and fabulous friend, the jazz trombonist and producer extraordinaire Delfeayo Marsalis. I met Delfeayo when my husband and I were visiting New Orleans and saw him perform at the famous Snug Harbor jazz club. Since that day, we’ve kept in touch and Alan and I always try to see his performances when he visits New York City (I’ve included a list of his touring schedule below so you, too, can check him out – it’s a must!). He lives and breathes jazz, growing up in a legendary family of jazz musicians led by his talented pianist father Ellis Marsalis. Lucky for us, Delfeayo took a break from his performing and shared with us what he’s digging now. I don’t know about you, but after reading this I desperately want to try that crab. Might have to hop on the next plane to L.A.!

Ceci

CeciStyle Magazine v94: Fabulous Finds - This Week's Guest Editor: Delfeayo Marsalis

  1. Paul Smith Bright Polka Dot Socks ($35) and BOSS Orange Check Socks ($13)
    I love bright colors and patterns, especially when it comes to socks! I always look online for unique footgear. These polka dot socks are the bomb, but if they’re too far out the box, the Boss check socks make a strong statement as well.

  2. Whirley Pop Stove Top Popcorn Popper ($25.99)
    It doesn’t take as long as you might suspect to pop popcorn the old-fashioned way and the taste is simply UNBELIEVABLE compared to microwaving. If you entertain guests or want to spend great family time together, the Whirley Pop is a must! Accessories would be Pop Secret popping corn, Orville Redenbacher’s buttery flavored oil, and Kernel Season’s seasoning (Nacho Cheddar, White Cheddar, Caramel and Jalapeno are favs).

  3. Zojirushi VE Hybrid Water Boiler & Warmer CV-DSC40 ($162.98)
    I traveled to Japan many times with legendary jazz musician Elvin Jones. There was always hot water and green tea in the hotel rooms, so I figured the Japanese were on to something. If you use tap water, you’ll have to buy cleaning tablets, but I only use filtered water, so it’s never needed cleaning in 8 years!

  4. Red Apple
    “An apple a day keeps the doctor away!” It’s an old cliché, but an 80-year-old guy who teaches yoga and is in great shape recently reminded me of the powers of Eve’s food of choice. (Yes, apples got a bum rap on that one.) Since giving up fast food a few years ago, I find that apples give me more energy and a better disposition! I prefer the small or medium reds.

  5. Dungeness Crab with Black Bean Sauce at ABC or CBS Seafood, Los Angeles
    My obsession with crab goes back to my youth when my Aunt Marguerite used to remove the meat from the shell for me… ah, how I miss those days! I love the black bean sauce recipe so much that if I have a layover at LAX I have a friend pick one up and bring it to me. If you can buy live crab, make a deal with your local Chinese restaurant and chances are they can make it up for you! (Lobster isn’t bad, either.)

  6. Cole Haan Air Franklin Wingtip Oxford ($178) or Monroe Penny ($198)
    Cole Haan has the greatest collection of unique shoes online. Since adding the Nike Air technology, these shoes look professional and stylish while taking it easy on your feet. The penny loafers are great for airport security lines or to spice up your wardrobe and impress the fellas in the band!

  7. Le Crueset 12″ Cast Iron Skillet ($155)
    In 2004, I put our microwave on the side of the curb and haven’t had one in the house since. What a relief! Food tastes so much better and nutritious, it’s remarkable. You do have to clean the skillet, but that’s a fair trade-off for the rewards.

  8. Precor Elliptical ($2999)
    I don’t feel guilty about watching TV while I’m on the elliptical. It’s the best way to work out the arms, legs and abs. All it takes to stay in shape is 30-45 minutes, 3-5 days a week. The key is to use it, so I plan to work out when I want to watch specific TV shows.

  9. Tumi Vapor Large Trip Carrying Case ($645)
    This item is a must for any frequent traveler. Tumi has other great designs as well and this case is sturdy, extremely lightweight and easy to navigate. The medium case is equally impressive if you want the set.

  10. Ellis Marsalis Trio (Blue Note) ($49.95)
    Once you hear this one, you’ll understand! Great for any occasion.

Discover more on Delfeayo Marsalis, and get more details on his upcoming shows

Sweet Thunder by Delfeayo Marsalis

Minions Dominion by Delfeayo Marsalis

Purchase his music now on Amazon.com!


Delfeayo Marsalis – Upcoming Shows

May 16, 2012 | May 23, 2012 | May 30, 2012
New Orleans, LA
Snug Harbor
The Uptown Jazz Orchestra
May 16, 2012 | May 23, 2012 | May 30, 2012
New Orleans, LA
Snug Harbor
The Uptown Jazz Orchestra
June 18, 2012
Winnipeg, ON
Winnipeg International Jazz Festival
Delfeayo Marsalis Sextet
June 20, 2012 | June 21, 2012 | June 22, 2012 | June 23, 2012
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
The Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe
Delfeayo Marsalis Sextet
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V94: NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE – PAPER PERSONALITY

Don't Miss Next Week's Issue

In next week’s issue: Paper Personality

Sign up for CeciStyle now!

Paper Personality - Ceci shows you how to look your personal best, from your invitations to your individual style.

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CeciStyle Magazine V93: Beauty Branding
View previous issue:
Beauty Branding
View past issues: StyleFix Archive
Ceci Johnson, Founder and Creative Director of Ceci New York, is the authority on style and invitation design. She is also the author of her highly coveted weekly style magazine, CeciStyle. Loaded with gorgeous tips and takes on invitations, fashion, parties, weddings, décor, gifts and more, CeciStyle is free and full of trusted, time-saving advice.
Get on her list and join now | Follow Ceci on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook