Hudson Valley Bride Christina Lemmey

When I graduated college back in 1990, I ‘had my colors done’. A friend of my mother’s started a little boutique out of her home and offered personal color analysis. I don’t remember much about that experience but I left with a wardrobe that were my ‘perfect’ colors that I could mix and match for my new job in NYC.

I was thrilled to find out personal color analysis is still going strong all these years later! My guest in this episode is Dana Hammond from First Coffee Then Colors. She shares how brides can find their perfect wedding dress color when they know their season and which shades of white will perfectly compliment their complexion and hair color.

Yes, there ARE different shades and hues of white! You’ve got the pure white that most people think of for a wedding dress but then there are various hues of ivory, champagne, cream, bone…the list goes on. And each of these colors have different undertones to make each one look different.

It’s enough to make your head spin but that’s why we rely on experts! Get your personal color analysis done before dress shopping and you can tell your dress consultant which hues to bring out. When you know the best colors ahead of time, then you can have more fun looking for the perfect style dress instead of overthinking the color.

Going even further, personal color analysis can help your beauty team choose the best makeup palette and hair color so you’re glowing with confidence on your wedding day.

Wedding Tip:

Dana is a loyal listener and echoed a previous guest who said to focus your budget on the things that matter most to you. If food is most important, don’t find the cheapest chef. If your dress and venue are most important, then you can go with fewer flowers. Let your wedding be a reflection of what you as a couple value the most.

Contact Dana:

Website: https://firstcoffeethencolors.com

IG: @first.coffee.then.colors

My Personal Before/After Photos:

It’s not often I’ll post a no-makeup photo on the web! I’ll have a blog post coming soon about my experience getting my colors done with Dana. It was fun and I was surprised when she told me my season.



















Want more wedding talk?

Join the Fan Club to get the most recent episode updates plus other fun stuff. Add your email here or in the sidebar >>

If you’re looking for an outdoor wedding venue in the Hudson Valley, check out the Storm King Art Center. Yes, it’s a museum with one-of-a-kind sculptures installed throughout its 500 acres. But the outdoor vistas serve as a bride’s blank canvas to create the wedding of her dreams.

I had the pleasure of taking a tour of Storm King Art Center back in Fall 2022 and then I spoke with the Special Events Team to get more details about what goes into planning an outdoor wedding at their location.

We toured the two most popular spots for wedding ceremonies and receptions: Museum Hill and South Fields. Both names describe their locations perfectly. Museum Hill sits at a higher elevation with a shaded canopy of trees overlooking the fields of the art center while South Fields is literally a wide open field at the bottom of Museum Hill, waiting for a talented wedding planner’s magic touch to turn it into a magnificent dream wedding backdrop.

One important tidbit that sets Storm King apart from other venues is they schedule ONE wedding every two weeks. This allows their Event Team to dedicate the necessary time to planning just YOUR wedding and if you have questions, the team is current on your details because they’re not working on a dozen weddings at one time.

This type of schedule also allows you to take your time and not feel rushed because they have to set up for another wedding or event. When you book your date, you are the VIP for the day.

Wedding Tip:

Utilize the preferred vendors list you receive at any venue. Wedding planning is much easier when vendors have a working relationship with your chosen venue. When it comes to outdoor space, preferred vendors also have records of how best to layout the tents, power generators, lights, etc. simply because they are familiar with the terrain. Not that a new vendor can’t figure that out but a preferred vendor lessens any chance of problems or confusion.

Common Sense Tip:

Take a tour of each venue you’re considering. Ask as many questions as you like because you’ll most likely think of things when you’re onsite as opposed to just looking at a website and talking to someone on the phone. Also, take your time on the tour to really take in everything there is to see and try to envision yourself getting married in that location.

Bonus Tip:

Also be aware that when planning an outdoor wedding – such as at the South Fields at Storm King, you will need to bring EVERYTHING with you, from the utensils to the bathrooms.

Contact Storm King Art Center:

Website: https://stormking.org/private-events/

Event Photos: https://stormking.org/pelocations/

Storm King’s Views:

Want more wedding talk?

Join the Fan Club to get the most recent episode updates plus other fun stuff. Add your email here or in the sidebar >>

Food plays such an important part of most weddings but planning your wedding menu can be stressful. Finding an experienced caterer whose personality and style meshes with your own is half the battle to planning a wedding menu that will satisfy you and your guests.

Chef Yolanda Lee knew at an early age that her love of food would become her career. In today’s episode we have some good laughs as Yolanda shares how she gets creative in the kitchen. She also shares two serving ideas that will save you money in your wedding food budget.

Not sure what you want to serve at your wedding? No worries! Yolanda can create a menu incorporating a wide variety of foods, even from two different cultures or geographical regions. This is where creativity comes into play as well as intricate knowledge of flavors and seasonings so your wedding menu comes together in a harmonious display.

Plus, I learned what a “grazing table” and a “china box” are…you learn something new everyday!

Wedding Tip:

Take advantage of the consultation call. This is your chance to get a feel for your caterer’s style, personality, food specialties, and creative talent. Bring your cuisine likes and dislikes to the call and don’t be shy about telling them about your budget. The first call is the best time for the caterer to tell you whether your food choices can fit into your budget.

Common Sense Tip:

Focus on your wedding menu and finding a caterer early, especially if you have a particular person in mind. At least get on their calendar early…menu planning might take place closer to the wedding but caterers can book out far in advance, so put catering high on your priority list.

Contact Yolanda:

Website: https://hungryfortravel.org/

Phone or Text: 718-864-7687

Email: hungryfortravel421@gmail.com

IG: @hungryfortravel421

FB:@MrsLee421

Samples of Yolanda’s Work:



Want more wedding talk?

Join the Fan Club to get the most recent episode updates plus other fun stuff. Add your email here or in the sidebar >>

Marisa Caccamo is on a mission…to educate people about how essential oils can help maintain your overall wellbeing, especially during times of stress. As a doTerra Essential Oil Specialist, Marisa has lots of advice to share in this episode!

The basic premise of using essential oils for almost any situation is to approach the problem from an all-natural, holistic point of view. For instance, instead of using harsh chemical-based cleaners for your home, essential oils diluted with some white vinegar, water, or even baking soda (homemade recipes vary widely) are exceptionally safe and non-toxic. So, if you want to care for your home with all-natural products, you’ll probably want to care for your health & skin naturally, too.

While this episode isn’t about essential oil recipes, Marisa sees a way to prepare brides to look and feel their best leading up to the wedding and on the special day itself. She even has ideas for a Bridal Emergency Kit that your maid of honor or mother can keep on hand, just in case a nervous stomach or congestion pops up suddenly.

While some essential oils can help relieve symptoms quickly, others might take a bit longer to work, which is why Marisa believes in preventative care.

Wedding Tip:

Know that everything always works out! Marisa shared her own wedding story, fraught with problems, but in the end, friends and family came together to help her create a memorable wedding day. You can’t often see the light when you’re in the midst of a storm, but you WILL get through it.

Contact Marisa for a free oil sample or consultation:

Phone or Text: 203-981-1050

Email: MCaccamo@yahoo.com

IG: @mtcaccamo

FB:@marisacaccamo

Want more wedding talk?

Join the Fan Club to get the most recent episode updates plus other fun stuff. Add your email here or in the sidebar >>

Following wedding makeup trends is what fuels Essie Cohens’ passion for her artistry. Essie brings confidence and ease to every client she meets and she’s on a mission to make each bride’s wedding day an experience they’ll never forget. After years in the corporate makeup industry, Essie branched out by developing her own luxury cosmetic service. Essie now has a team of like-minded artists who want to empower women, in every sense of the word. They are actively working to support women-run businesses, networking, and building confidence within their female-driven clientele. The goal at Essie Cohen Makeup LLC is to grow, inspire, and impact as they work to enhance your natural beauty.

Building relationships with her brides and making their special day an experience they’ll always remember is another passion of Essie’s. Answering questions and offering skincare tips prior to the wedding as well as shielding the bride from pushy family members on the wedding day itself is all part of the job that she’s honored to do. As a result of making each bride look spectacular, Essie’s brides often book her for other milestone events because of the relationship she builds with each person.

Wedding Tip:

Be willing to take advice on colors and makeup styles that will suit your features! Essie welcomes when her brides bring in photos as inspiration. However, with her years of makeup expertise, Essie knows what will (or won’t) work with a bride’s facial features or coloring. What looks beautiful in a photograph can often translate differently in real life. Essie’s mission is to always be honest with her brides and offer different suggestions that will better suit that bride’s vision for her big day.

Contact Essie:

Email: essiecohenmakeup@gmail.com

IG: @essiecohenmakeup

FB:@essiecohenmakeupartist

Samples of Essie’s Work:



Want more wedding talk?

Join the Fan Club to get the most recent episode updates plus other fun stuff. Add your email here or in the sidebar >>

Wedding invitations are often one of the last things couples think about while preparing for their wedding but my guest today argues that they should be among the FIRST things on your list to plan for…especially if you want to excite your guests with luxury handmade wedding invitations!

My guest today is award-winning designer Laura Damiano of Laura Damiano Designs in Westchester County, NY. Laura dove into the design and printing worlds with little first-hand knowledge and created a worldwide business name for herself! Her mission for every couple is to craft a one-of-a-kind invitation that makes their guests excited to attend their wedding. If your invite doesn’t create FOMO, is it really working?

We also discussed a popular ‘high tech’ feature that she can work into any wedding design and the popular trend of creating a website for your special day. I also love her story of how she assisted a client with the mailing of her invitations. You’ll have to listen in to hear the WHY behind that story!

With the focus these days on personalizing your wedding in every way possible, what better way than to create a truly unique wedding invitation. Laura’s designs are one-of -a-kind and her policy is never to duplicate an exact design for two clients. Similar features might be used but the designs are always unique to each couple. Talk about a truly special memento.

Wedding Tip:

Respect your timelines! When you ask a wedding vendor for rushed timing, you also affect their other client timelines. Mistakes (and stress) often occur when timelines are rushed, so err on the side of booking too early.

Contact Laura:

Email: hello@lauradamianodesigns.com

IG: @lddesigns

FB: @LauraDamianoDesigns

Pinterest: @LauraDamianoDesigns

Samples of Laura’s Work:



Want more wedding talk?

Join the Fan Club to get the most recent episode updates plus other fun stuff. Add your email here or in the sidebar >>