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Things We Love |
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She left her heart in San Francisco. Melissa A. Panico, with MAP Events, swoons over the elegance and the urban Bay Bridge views.
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Northern California’s wine region is ranked as one of the nation’s top five destination wedding locations. Robbin Montero unites the wedding, wine, and tourism industry of Northern Califorina.
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On her A-List, Linda Pitelli of Eventful Designing is captured by the magic and imagination of Los Angeles and it's major star factor.
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SANTA BARBARA has been called the American Riviera, and it only takes one drive through this stunning intimate city nestled between gentle cascading hills and the deep blue Pacific...
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 Skip the never-ending search for the perfect favor and head straight to the valet! Surprise your guests with an old-fashioned donut cart stationed upon the exit.
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With the trend of destination weddings on the rise, brides-to-be are constantly in search of that perfect wedding weekend locale. Palm Springs gives the destination wedding vibe.
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Amal Harakat is a talented couture dress designer with an eye for detail. She accumulated her skills, essentially, worldwide, having been born and raised in Casablance City, Morocco, and then working along side numerous leading independent couture houses across Europe, eventually bringing her to Paris, a city renowned for fashion and design.
It was while she was attending Fashion School at La Trade Tech that she became interested in wedding couture for brides, bridesmaids and mothers. She took a position as a couture designer in the costuming industry for the theatre, providing her an invaluable opportunity to work with many influential people throughout television, film, as well as, the music industry.
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“I’ve had the opportunity to dress high society for the entertainment business,” Amal says. From the experience of dressing her clients for red carpet affairs and Hollywood galas, Amal received a special request from the Vice President of 20th Century Fox for a custom-created wedding gown. The VP had searched the top couture boutiques before turning to Amal, expressing that her designs were truly unique. This distinctive wedding gown presented a great deal of exposure and excitement over Amal’s designs, and soon she was being asked to fashion wedding gowns for other notables as well.
With her innate love of couture, Amal began devoting that energy into the bridal business, creating what she refers to as “ultra-feminine bridal gown,” to which she brings a sense of elegance, beauty, and glamour. She says her bridal collection “has the look of love,” and from what our YWD staff has seen of her work, we certainly agree. Diann Vallentine, one of the most sought-after producers in the industry states, “Amal has brought back bridal couture to women in love across the globe. Her eye for detail and hand-made fabrication using the most luxurious fabrics topped with a custom fit is a talent the wedding industry rarely sees.”
To achieve this romantic look, she incorporates fine, light imported fabrics such as chiffon, tulle and organza, utilizing sexy draping, intricate embroidery, and Chantilly lace work for a vintage look. As Preston Bailey, Designer to the Stars, says so poignantly, “her designs are absolutely exquisite and pure genius. The gowns are an inspiration in how to use color in a very sophisticated and flirty way. Amal is as amazing in person as her designs are.”
Amal’s inspiration for her gowns comes from her love of couture and weddings, but even more so, from the brides themselves. “My inspiration comes from being a part of a bride’s dream for her wedding day, from the honor of designing her unique wedding gown, and from assisting the bride from beginning-to-end to create the most important dress in her life,” states Amal.
One reason for Amal’s popularity is that she works very closely with her clients to ensure that she achieves the look and feel of the desired gown. During her initial consultation process with her clients, she even discusses location, flowers, colors, a bride’s likes and dislikes, and how the bride personally envisions her wedding day and her wedding gown. In addition, Amal believes that due to her background, including many opportunities to travel and study internationally, she is able to communicate unusually well with her clients and to translate their wishes into the perfect dress.
Although her many clients keep her busy in Southern California, from Newport Beach to Santa Barbara, she is becoming increasingly well-known and new clients are calling from around the country. She is quite willing to travel anywhere a bride needs her assistance. “I'll be happy to travel almost anywhere to meet with a bride and custom-design her wedding dress,” Amal says.
Amal’s bridal gowns fulfill the need of those brides who desire haute couture and elegant final touches. Amal reveals that what she loves most about her business is the opportunity to coordinate a wedding “look” from designing the bridal gown, the accompanying custom-created veil, to creating dresses for the bridesmaids, and for the mothers-of-the-bride and groom. And in fact, Amal is launching a fabulous new collection for bridesmaids and mothers, offering economic pricing to also include alteration fees! “This brings a custom fit, designed with love, to the most important women in the wedding.”
By Susan Hart Hellman, Executive Editor
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Amal Couture of Beverly Hills
139 S Beverly Dr ive, #210
Beverly Hills
CA
90212
Phone: (310) 205-9240
Regional
Website
Directions
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Tips |
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# 1 - LOUNGING ANYWHERE
Wonder what to do to a resort ballroom to make it more interesting and intimate? You can create individual lounge areas by renting tents of sheer flowing fabric and adding sofas and coffee tables with lots of candlelight in them. You’ve suddenly created that romantic lounge atmosphere in a standard ballroom and given it more intimacy. Your guests can move to different “rooms” during the cocktails hour or or they can dance the night away. Jill La Fleur, The Wedding Planner
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#21 LA FLEUR TABLE
Cover your entire table top with a single bold color of petals. Not
just a scattering, but the entire top of the table with a thick layer
of petals! You can purchase them at a farmers market or order them
through your florist. Place your chargers, place settings, glassware
and centerpieces in a contrasting color and lots of candles directly
onto the petals for a stunning, romantic look!
Jill La Fleur, The Wedding Planner
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#16 COMFORTABLE RECEPTIONS
Reception spaces are taking on a comfort
theme nowadays. Rather than using cocktail tables alone, couples are
creating a lounge effect in their reception areas by adding cozy
furniture groupings of sofas and coffee tables, along with tenting and
draping, lamps and lanterns, lit up trees and dozens of candles. You
may want to hire a jazz quartet or flamenco trio to create a sultry
ambiance. Some couples are even hiring cigar rollers! You can also
use this set-up outdoors for a living room beneath the stars!
Jill La Fleur, The Wedding Planner
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