| sensory weddings |

We are so excited to announce the details behind an incredible event that True and Wesson is planning with Special Guest Speaker Abby Larson from Style Me Pretty and an amazing collection of incredibly talented vendors in our area.

The event will take place May 3rd at Saltwater Farm Vineyard from 1-5pm, with workshops running throughout the day. The workshops are an opportunity to meet the talented vendors involved in the event and to learn about the creative process behind selecting and working with vendors in planning your wedding. The details for the schedule of workshops are still being fine tuned and we will be posting that information soon.

We encourage you to sign up in advance for the sessions that you are most interested in as space is limited.

*Purchase your tickets online. All proceeds are being donated to the Life is Good Kids Foundation, which supports extraordinary charities that create a lasting positive impact on children facing unfair challenges, including the trauma of violence, poverty, and loss.

Featured Vendors
Smell
Hana Floral Design-the art of floral design, the language of flowers, mixing color & scent

Taste
Gourmet Galley-the art of food, creative flavors, display, menus, color
Sugarbelle- the art of dessert, custom wedding cakes

Touch
Jennie Fresa- the art of makeup, painting on a canvas (face), skin care
The White Dress by the Shore Bridal Gowns & Two Birds Bridesmaids- the art of fashion and dressing yourself and your bridesmaids in the right silhouettes, colors & fabrics
Beneath the Gown- Custom Designed Lingerie for the perfect fit

The Written Word & Paper
The Copps- Selecting a Justice of the Peace and the art of ceremony writing
Stonington Design and Paperie- the art of paper

See
Video & Photography – the art of the image, posing, shots, creating the images you want with photographers and how to communicate with them.
Maggie Conley & Adeline and Grace Photography
Buzz Media Videography

Sound & Sight
Power Posse Productions- the art of sound and lighting, the art of mixing music and how it affects an event, the art of light and how it transforms the space.

All Five Senses
Mystic Yoga Shala- the art of mind, body & spirit before the big day, plus yoga, nutrition, benefits of using a juicer, exercise, dealing with stress and getting into that dress.

Special Collaboration: Life is Good Kids Foundation, the-e-list.com, Inn at Stonington, Photobooth Planet

**Event Hosted by True & Wesson, and Hana Floral Design

| be engaged 2 |

We recently hosted the second event in our Be engaged: series of conversations with wedding experts featuring the über-talented Michelle Rago—celebrated event planner, designer and author along with the girl-in-the-know Anne Chertoff—senior editor of Brides.com and creator of the popular and informative wedding blog "from -I-will -to -I do".

We kicked off the weekend with a cocktail party at The White Dress by the shore for the industry's most talented wedding professionals hosted along with Stonington Design+Paperie and Linda Sample of A Thyme to Cook. During the party we were treated to the delicious and creative delicacies so generously sponsored by A Thyme to Cook and Sugarbelle Cakes.

The evening wound down with an intimate dinner for the event contributors at the Bee and Thistle Inn & Spa. Innkeeper Linnea Rufo hosted the group in front of a roaring fire while Yumiko Fletcher of Hana Floral Design and Boutique and Allison Salvati of Something Blue Special Events added more spark to our dinner conversation, not to mention lots of help putting the event together. Accomodations for our guests were generously provided by the Bee and Thistle Inn & Spa while Jennie Fresa treated us all to complimentary makeup sessions the next morning.

That Sunday morning 40 guests gathered in the newly renovated salon space at The White Dress by the shore for an intimate conversation with Michelle Rago, Anne Chertoff, Beth and Christine. Brides had the opportunity to ask the experts their event planning questions, and the conversation flowed as Michelle and Anne were so refreshing and approachable. A range of topics were covered—from wedding gown shopping tips to sending your save the dates to choosing the perfect venue. After the panel discussion, several lucky guests won giveaways sponsored by Crate and Barrel and Hana Floral Design and Boutique. Everyone then enjoyed tea and cheese from Savvy Tea while Michelle and Anne signed their most recent books. Guests were also treated to delicious wedding cake from Ana Parzych in our chic by the shore studio.

We thank Michelle, Anne and all our event contributors from the bottom of our hearts for sharing their talents and wisdom with us!

Stay tuned for the 3rd event being planned for the fall. . .and enjoy these pictures below from Rick Scanlan.

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| welcome to the shoreline |

we are excited to host an invitation-only cocktail party on saturday evening to welcome both michelle rago, new york event designer and anne chertoff, senior editor of brides.com to the store in two weeks. we look forward to introducing them to all the talented wedding experts we have right in our backyard. and we are grateful to the generosity of a thyme to cook who is sponsoring the event with us.

read below for more of the exciting details for sunday's conversation and book signing with these celebrity experts and authors. sunday's event is complimentary. bring a client and rsvp early, as seating is limited.

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| be engaged: march 22nd conversation |

Are you asking any of the following questions - How do I select a venue? When should I order my wedding gown? How far in advance of the wedding should my save the dates go out? Let us help you answer these questions and more at the second event in our be engaged series - Perfect Planning for the Perfect Wedding.

The event is taking place on March 22nd from 1:00-3:00 PM and features Michelle Rago, acclaimed event designer and author of 'Signature Weddings, Creating a Day Uniquely Your Own.' The day will begin with a panel discussion moderated by Brides.com senior editor and author Anne Chertoff. Beth Chapman and Christine Toner will also join the conversation to talk about Perfect Planning for the Perfect Wedding. The discussion will last about an hour and give brides the opportunity to ask the experts their own questions regarding their wedding plans. It will be followed by a book signing, featuring both Michelle's Signature Weddings book and Anne's wedding organizer from Russell+Hazel. We will also have exciting giveaways including gifts from our sponsor Crate & Barrel.


Seating is limited, so kindly rsvp. Reservations can be made by calling 860.669.4596. Books may be purchased at the event.

Hope to see you there!

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| be engaged: march 1st conversation |

simple and stunning. . .those are two words that come to mind when we think of the lovely and enormously talented karen bussen. she's a celebrated nyc event planner and author who took the time to come visit us on the connecticut shoreline this past weekend. how lucky are we?

we started the weekend off at the amazing bee and thistle inn and spa with gracious owner and vocal artist, linnea rufo. the stunning ann nyberg of wtnh 8 joined our dinner and moderated the panel with such genuine grace -- we are forever grateful. the talented photography duo justin and mary marantz added a warmth that only newlyweds can exude. plus the fabulous allison salvati was once again kind enough to be a part of our planning team.

but wait there is more. . .

the genius of hana floral design and boutique, yumiko fletcher, brought karen bussen's designs to life. jennie fresa treated us all to her signature services and new makeup line. [how lucky are we?] bloomingdale's showered our guests with lavish giveaways while the generous talents at metro catering poured karen bussen's prosseco punch and designed the delicious delectables. we were also fortunate to have the help of rj julia–the booksellers extraordinaire–to coordinate the signing.

and we had the loveliest of brides, sisters, mothers in our audience mingling with some of the wedding industry's most talented.

again we say, thank you, thank you, thank you to all that helped bring this event to life. hope you'll join us for our next conversation on march 22nd. . .

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photos courtesy of Justin & Mary Marantz Photography

| rain, sleet or shine |

it is bright and sunny this saturday morning, and we are busy getting ready for tomorrow's event with karen bussen. come rain or shine we hope to see you. scroll down for the rest of the details. . .

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| march 1st giveaways |

We wanted to highlight the great giveaways that will be at our first be engaged event on March 1st, featuring the lovely Karen Bussen.

Every bride that registers for the event will qualify for a drawing to win one of the following:

Wedding Luncheon with Karen Bussen

This is one lucky bride's chance to have one of America's top wedding planners and

entertaining experts all to herself for two hours! You'll dine as a VIP with Karen and

one guest at Le Train Bleu, a vintage dining car restaurant set in the home department

of Bloomingdale's flagship store in Manhattan. You can choose any topic to discuss

with Karen--decor, dresses, invitations, etiquette, food, logistics--whatever you like!

Bring your notes, questions, and inspirations and Karen will share inside advice and

tips with you to help you personalize your celebration and streamline your planning

process.

Monique Lhuillier "Joie" Toasting Flutes

This extraordinary refined collection from designer Monique Lhuillier proves that elegance is all in the details. The Monique Lhuillier for Royal Doulton collection is extremely durable, intended for everyday use and is also highly sophisticated for special entertaining. Inspired by Monique's best-selling bridal gowns and fabrics from her evening gowns, the collection appeals to a wide range of personalities and tastes. Owning them is a joy forever.

Karen Bussen's Simple Stunning Wedding Collection

The Simple Stunning Weddings series of books has everything you need to know from start to finish including resources and insider advice on all the details from one of America's hottest wedding experts! Simple Stunning Weddings is a design book with 200 color photographs to inspire you, plus hundreds of tips and tricks.

Simple Stunning Wedding Organizer is filled with checklists, a customizable calendar, and plenty of notes pages, plus pockets to keep swatches, contracts and business cards at your fingertips.

Simple Stunning Wedding Flowers is a must-have guide to wedding flowers for every bride. Filled with gorgeous photos, beautiful budget-friendly centerpiece ideas, and easy flower reference charts to put you in-the-know.

Simple Stunning Wedding Etiquette is the real-life guide to hosting your celebration with grace and style. This practical etiquette book is jam-packed with Karen's advice on tons of "sticky situations," along with the ins and outs of formal attire, invitations, and all the details ...

Simple Stunning Wedding Showers is filled with inspirations for twenty fresh shower themes, plus pages of recipes and activities. Perfect for your bridesmaids!

| space is limited, so please RSVP today by calling 860.669.4596 |

please scroll down for more info