Tamara MengesDesigns Be Inspired.

Winter/Spring 2013 Volume 1

Meet Kason! Kason is my hunk of a husband who is always on site by my side helping out to make sure every detail gets taken care of so that our brides’ days are just perfect! He ensures centerpieces are in the correct spot, candles are lit, and the mess I made from working with all the flowers is cleaned up! He has been referred to as a “professional crystal hanger” and “the linen ninja”, just to name a couple of his professional n i c k n a m e s !

Photo by: Emily Lockard

Hi! Thanks so much for checking out my new project! I have a slight obsession with magazines, so I’ve been thinking why not create my very own! I’m hoping you wil l f ind some inspiration through-out this e-magazine! It consists of recent weddings, recent press that TMD has been blessed with, and some spectacular photography from some of my most favorite and talented photographers I know! I’m very excited to share this with you! Thanks again for checking it out! xoxo, Tamara

Photo by Archetype

Cover photo by: Christa Elyce Photography “Treasure Your Love” Styled Shoot- see page 8

In this issue...

02 What exactly is Tamara Menges Designs

03 Additional services

04 Recent press/current market

05 “Literary Romance”

06 Real Wedding: Merideth + Patrick

07 Our favorite bouquets

08 “Treasure Your Love”

09 Real Wedding: Britni + Tony

10 “Modern Vintage”

11 Real Wedding: Haeley + Joel

12 Special thanks

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To some I’m a florist, others just a decorator, but most people assume I am a wedding planner..

Here’s the True Story! When I started my business as “Whimsical Creations by Tamara” in 2009, thats exactly how I marketed myself, a wedding planner. I even got certified through an online company in event planning to give myself an edge and be able to show “proof” that I knew what I was talking about.

However, I quickly realized that the “planning” part wasn’t for me. The dress fittings, other vendors consults, cake and food tastings that wedding planners accompany their brides with. That’s not where my passion or my heart was, so within my first year in business God began to open my eyes to where He blessed me with talent…designing.

For brides I offer full service design and floral, and of course the actual decor set-up. I offer guidance on color palette, floral options, room layout, room set-up, and even design

an inspiration board based on the concept.However, I also work with actual wedding planners, such as Glass Slipper Events and Two Be Wed. I am so fortunate that both of these companies have trusted me enough to invite TMD to collaborate with them for their brides. In this situation, the planner has either come up with a color concept or an actual floral design complete with specific flowers and then TMD executes their vision according to the bride’s wishes. That’s what I love about my job! I am happy to work directly with the bride or through another company ultimately for the bride, because after all we are in the hospitality business and we all want happy clients!

Aside from working with “real” brides, I also design and execute styled shoots. I have been blessed to work with some amazingly talented photographers including Bellafotografica, Sarah e. Evans Photography, Archetype Studio, Inc, Christa Elyce Photography, and Emily Lockard Photography, their images of our work have been published on numerous blogs and magazines!

To that end, Tamara Menges Designs is a full service design and floral business, specializing in weddings, events, interiors and styled photo shoots…and we are ready and waiting to welcome you as client!

What is Tamara Menges Designs?

Images by: Archetype 2

Our current marketAdditional services

Photo by: Archetype Photo by: Callie & Co

Photo by: Sarah e. Evans Photo by: Sarah e. Evans

Engagement Session Styling We love styling e-sessions! We create a complete design based on what our couple enjoys doing together. A styled e-session is more than just the ordinary session because it helps tell the story of your lives through the use of props and/or sentimental items. Consider where he popped the question or where you had you first date!

Bridal Portrait Styling During your bridal session, of course you need the traditional blushing bride and bouquet images that your mom will hang on her wall for the next 20 years, but why not add a little of your personality into your session as well! Whether you throw on your hubby-to-be’s favorite jersey, or you pay homeage to your upbringing, nothing is off limits!

Boudoir Styling Oh ladies! What better gift to give your new husband than an album that is stricly for his eyes only! I highly recommend every woman have boudoir images taken so that you can truly see how beautiful you really are! Make sure to do research on reputable photographers prior to scheduling! Also, choose your outifts based on your comfort level!

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Our current marketTamara Menges Designs serves the Southeast Texas and Houston wedding market, and we also have advertising efforts in both areas! We have participated bi-annually in theSoutheasttexasweddings.com Preview since the very beginning! We are excited to participate in our fi rst show with Weddings in Houston Magazine in early 2013.

This is our new ad in Weddings in Houston Magazine, hitting stands Jaunary 2013!

Where you’ve seen us!

Our current market

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I knew I wanted to push the boundaries of the vintage feel that so many brides are incorporating in their wedding. Together with Archetype, we designed the perfect details to convey our story. The overall concept was “Literary Romance.” We incorporated this into the story through the use of romantic lace, roses, Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 and

gold-leafed vintage books.

For the ceremony, we dressed one of Chateau Cocomar’s exquisite fireplaces as the altar. I draped a very full garland of smilex, magnolia leaves and seeded eucalyptus to the floor, then finished off the mantel with roses, mercury glass candle sticks and an antique clock. The aisle was marked with golden lace swags, more roses, candles and gold-leafed books opened to show the aged pages. For seating, we used gold chiavari chairs, and a pop of color was added

with an olive green sash.

For the reception area, we created a family style setting. The table was adorned with layered linens, a gold lace overlay and a high-end, textural, couture linen that was bustled up on the corners. For the florals, I used luxurious design with an intimate feel. Most of the vessels were pink milk glass, adding just a hint of our palette in a unique way. I used multiple shades of roses, tulips, seeded eucalyptus and hydrangea. Wrapped around each napkin are lines from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, which made for interesting conversation pieces, as each guest had a different line of

the famous sonnet.

Recent Press All images by Archetype

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“Literary Romance”

Real Wedding Published on Southern Weddings

Magazine Daily Blog Images by Alyse French Photography

Design and coordination:

Two Be Wed +Recollection Vintage rentals

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“Tamara is so in tune with my clients’ overall vision that it makes it fun and exciting to work with her. The creative planning and design process becomes a collaboration with her - this is what I look for in an event and floral designer; someone who can interpret my

designs.”

-Natalie DawleyTwo Be Wed

One of my favorite things to make are bridal bouquets, I love that there are so many options and ways to make a bouquet your very own. Have you heard the history of the bridal bouquet? They have actually been around since ancient times, but back then women carried clusters of aromatic herbs such as dill and garlic to ward off evil spirits! Then when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert the herbs were replaced with fresh floral, especially marigolds. Obviously a lot has changed since those first bridal bouquets, but don’t forget there are no “rules” when it comes to your bouauet. Do you have lace or a handkerchief from your mother’s wedding dress? A tie tack from your father? Military pins from a grandfather? These embellishments are what makes your bouquet truly yours, and can easily be incorporated into your bouquet.

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Photo by Archetype Photo by Archetype Photo by Christa Elyce Photography

Photo by Archetype Photo by Archetype Photo by Archetype

The Bridal Bouquet

Recent Press All Images by Christa Elyce Photography

Christa Elyce Photography and Two Be Wed

invited us to provide floral for their shoot

“Treasure Your Love”

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Real Wedding Images by Archetype Britni + Tony

at The Gallery

December 8, 2012

“I appreciate you and all you did to make my baby’s dream wedding come true! (and

your hubby too!)”

-C oni (MOB)

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Recent Press Images by Sarah e. Evans Photography

January 2013 Issue of VIP Magazine

“Modern Vintage”

For this year’s shoot I wanted to portray an intimate setting on the grounds of a debutante’s parents’ home, who is finally marrying her one true love. My concept for the shoot was “Modern Vintage” and I chose colors that are widely popular in the wedding industry right now, which are blush, mint, gold and I decided to add an unexpected touch of charcoal for a modern pop of color. I then hand-picked several of the elements that were key to the overall design. I chose The Brown Center, because it is a former residence, and being a big white mansion it was the perfect setting for the story. The bridal gown was picked due the modern silhouette, but also incorporated vintage elements in the lace details. The groom’s suit is a beautiful charcoal Vera Wang that fit perfect with the color palette. I knew I wanted the table to be a vintage farm table, paired with very modern ghost chairs. The floral stayed true to my design aesthetic of vintage type floral, but I created a modern centerpiece by doing an ombre effect. I kept the floral low to the table to speak to the nature of having an intimate home wedding. The place settings include ornate vintage gold dinner plates paired with modern white glass salad plates, vintage depression glass drinking glasses, vintage gold flatware, and the bowtie shaped napkins, a subtle nod to the bride’s gentleman, and also provided a graphic pop of our accent color. The gifts are wrapped in handmade papers in complimenting colors and beautiful signage is paired and styled to portray our story, “today a debutante marries her beau”.

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Real Wedding Images by Emily Lockard Photography Haeley + Joel

October 13, 2012

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I love a big grand wedding just as much as the next girl, but I encourage you to really think about what it means after the cake has been eaten, the flowers have died, and you’re offically a Mrs., no longer a bride. It is so natural for us to become consumed with every last detail and the need for everything to be tip-top and perfect, but I encourage you to think about what really happens on your wedding day. You are starting a new life with your new husband! How amazing is that! You make a commitment before

your maker, your families, friends and most importantly each other to be the best person you can possibly

be from that day forward! What I love about marriage is that you have a partner to go through life with! You are never alone! I love my husband, and he is truly my best friend! For us, we pray together multiple times through the day. We started doing it early in our marriage, and it has been a huge blessing! My biggest

piece of advice I can give is to never go to bed angry, and you can never say “I love you” too much!

But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation. ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.

“

“

- Mark 10:6-9

What your day really means...

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Special Thanks:

Be on the look out for

volume 2 : Summer/Fall in June!

For images: Alyse French PhotographyArchetype Studio Inc. Callie & Co. Christa Elyce PhotographyEmily Lockard PhotographySarah e. Evans Photography

Others:Terilyn and KobySarah e. EvansChateau Cocomar Brickhouse BridalDressy DesignsThe Perfect Touch Two Be Wed- Natalie DawleyRecollection Vintage RentalsOccasions Linens Bourbon and Bloom Vintage RentalsBrigitte Dix The Brown CenterLeigh Makes DesignsAshly Black T Cakes Creations Dawn KatzDanielle Picard My Husband!

w: www.tamaramenges.com p: 903-235-7872 e: tamara@tamaramenges.com

“I cannot express to you how wonderful Tamara is! She really transformed our wedding from nice to unforgettable. She takes flowers and creates a beautiful background. Even the guys at our wedding commented on how beautiful our flowers were. I would highly recommend her work. And, she is an absolute delight to work with! I feel so fortunate to have found her!”

“We have nothing but positive things to say. Tamara Menges Designs went above and beyond anything we could have ever imagined. It was the most beautiful wedding ceremony we have ever been to, and fortunately it was our very own!...”

“Thank you so much again for your services. I could not have asked for a better team to help me on the most important day of my life...”

“Tamara was wonderful to work with. She understood exactly the look I wanted and I was able to trust her to take creative control. It was so nice, not having to micromanage the design details and focus on other things. The wedding and reception looked fantastic and I couldn’t have been happier.”

-Lisa Rich

-Miranda and Brad Hadamik

-Verenice Pompa Rosales

- Amy Parker Fournier

Some bride {and groom} love:

Photo: by Christa Elyce Photography