I need to find a pair of sunglasses because this bride and wedding blinded me with how much bling I saw! I met my newest couple this season, Joann and Jean Paul, in Encino, CA and they were unlike any couple I have ever seen. The amount of enthusiasm those two had was enough for an army, or should I say an “army of bling blowe bridesmaids”! You know exactly what I mean if you’ve seen the episode!

Joann had a crystal clear direction for her dream wedding full of sexy sparkles…however, the actual spread she showed me on the day we first met fell slightly short of chic. For such a glamorous woman to consider making shoes her centerpiece was very surprising! Fortunately, as our initial meeting continued, Joann introduced me to her venue, the Peterson Automotive Museum, a gorgeous, massive space in central Los Angeles that is a museum turned event space. How unique!

I remember standing in the center of the bottom floor of the museum and being blown away by the sheer size and layout of the all-white space. And here comes the inspiration…sometimes for your wedding, all you need is that one element to inspire you and make everything else work. Well, I certainly found that at the Peterson Automotive Museum. The moment we walked in, the potential of the room was astonishing. If Joann wanted bling, she was in for some massive blinging out – David Tutera style. Have you ever had a moment like that?

When suddenly everything clicks? What are you stuck on for your wedding? Try taking a step back and look at the big picture. If you’re at a loss for the color direction or what florals to work with, go back to the basics. What does this wedding mean to you? If you had to pick the most important visual piece in the wedding, what would that be? Joanne wanted “bling”, which gave me plenty to work with.

Since we had secured the venue, the next inevitable change was her dress. I knew I wanted to put this special woman in one of my dresses, so I had three of my David Tutera by Faviana dresses for her. She looked absolutely gorgeous in these gowns; they had the bling she wanted and the elegance that I like to see my girls in. Your dress should be a reflection of your personality. We all know how much personality and style Joann has – she certainly needed a dress to match! In fact, you can find Joann’s dress at any boutique that sells my line of wedding dresses. It’s called the Joann. Easy enough, right?

Now don’t forget to have fun with your wedding…Joann loved her bridesmaids so much and she certainly loved the limelight and fashion, as well! With superstar runway coach Michael Maddox’s help, we were able to give these girls an over-the-top Top Model moment! I’ll continue to say it, your wedding should be a reflection of YOU. You don’t have to be outrageous and hire a runway coach for a Girls Day Out but you absolutely should celebrate this time in your life. Wedding planning should be fun and a positive experience full of wonderful memories! Make some great memories along the way! Have a bridal shower or bachelorette party. Celebrate this one moment in your life when you get to own the title of “bride to be”.

Essentially, this entire episode culminated in the final reveal. Now, I’ve had some great reveals in the past where I show my brides their reception décor but Joann had one of the best reactions by far! I couldn’t have asked for a better reaction – especially from a gorgeous girl with a whole LOT of personality! My inspiration for the décor came straight from the Peterson, itself. With a sleek, all-white floor and gorgeous views, how could I possibly stray away from the elegance of white?! White pillar candles, a white dance floor, complemented by white draping and a white runway. Sometimes, you have to let the space speak for itself. The décor was obvious – you want bling? You need a slew of crystals. Crystal candelabras, crystal chandeliers, crystal scatters on the tables…In fact, this type of décor is relatively simple to replicate. I recently launched a craft line exclusively for Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts nationwide and one of the many elements within this line includes basic crystal scatters. These scatters are super inexpensive but give you the glamorous look a bling-bride desires! As for other table décor, simple inexpensive tea lights are easy to add some pizzaz to a table if pillar candles aren’t your style. Just be sure to keep as much of the décor elements crystal clear – clear charger plates, clear glassware, clear centerpieces. Sometimes simplicity makes the biggest statement.

Seeing how this “bling blowe” wedding came together in the end, astonished me. We had Grammy Award-Winning hip-hop violinist Miri Ben-Ari play at the ceremony and each bridesmaid had her own special moment walking down the runway…I mean, aisle…The wedding was a wonderful sight to see and I am so happy I could come along for this blinged out journey with a phenomenal couple who showed me a higher level of enthusiasm than I knew was possible.