Featured Members | Clover and Bee Weddings

Conversation with Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier

MEMBER	GAIL AMBROSIUS
REGION	WISCONSIN
SPECIALTY	FAVORS & GIFTS

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So much goes into the making of the perfect Gail Ambrosius truffle. How would you describe your process and philosophy?

I believe the chocolate should be front and center, so I start with the chocolate and take my cues from there. For me, it’s about finding complementary or contrasting flavors rather than forcing some crazy idea. When I taste good, dark chocolate, it brings up a memory of something I’ve tasted. I dream about food—I smell and taste it in my dreams—so in a way the ideas just come to me. Then we taste, adjust, perfect and taste some more.

You studied the art of chocolate making in France. Tell us a little bit about how this sparked your imagination for fine flavor?

In France, food is central to the culture–it slows everyone down and brings them together. The French are really great cooks and it extends to their chocolate, which they treat with great respect and passion. Even the smallest villages have beautiful, well-supported chocolate shops and patisseries. The first time I tasted French chocolate, during a high-school trip, it was a revelation. The French use fine dark chocolate, it’s not as sweet as what most of us grew up with, and it’s a richer, more complex taste experience.

Speaking of gourmet travels, we understand you’ve recently returned from a trip to the cacao farms of Costa Rica.

I grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm, so for me it’s always been very important to understand how cacao is grown and made into chocolate. That passion for all things chocolate is what first brought me to Costa Rica. I’ve made five trips in the last couple of years because the farmers and their families are so amazing. A blight nearly wiped out cacao farming there in the ‘80s and their dedication and desire to bring that way of life back is galvanizing. I’m committed to helping them succeed.

New and exciting chocolates in the works?

I’m thinking of new flavors all the time. A lot of it is seasonal. With spring here, there are fresh herbs and new fruits that will find their way into my kitchen. I’m also hoping to return to Paris soon, which I’m sure will provide lots of inspiration.

How has living in the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin, inspired you as a chocolatier?

Midwesterners are, I think, a very practical bunch. When it comes to food, we respect the ingredients and try to create something real and deeply satisfying. Wisconsin has become a leader in supporting sustainable farming, buying local, and crafting exceptional food. I partner with many Wisconsin artisan cheese makers and craft brewers for tastings—all of the flavors work so well together and it’s a lot of fun.

A quick tip for couples planning their big day and beyond?

Enjoy yourself through the whole process. Don’t feel like you need to spend a lot of money. We work with a lot of brides and can always figure something out to fit their budgets. You just need to ask.

A Conversation with Llubav

MEMBER	LLUBAV
REGION	NATIONAL
SPECIALTY	SWEET FINDS

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From sketches to stitching, what goes into a Llubav-designed ring pillow?

My heart and soul, and a lot of time go into creating a ring pillow. There’s a lot of emailing back and forth with brides regarding all the details about the wedding: color, theme/mood, flowers, etc., as well as the couples’ story. I love hearing about how they met and proposals. When something moves me, I start drawing, and then keep working and sewing and reworking until I’m totally satisfied.

New and exciting wedding designs in the works?

Recently, one bride asked me to decorate a flower basket to go with a ring pillow I designed. The piece has handmade butterflies with lots of beading and other embellishment. Another client in Canada gave me the great challenge of making her bridal bouquet and boutonnières for her bridal party. I’ve also been experimenting with other types of fabrics—silk organza, charmeuse, dupioni, shantung—and Swarovski beads. I’m working on some pillow prototypes for a high-end store that I’m very excited about.

How have culture and travel inspired your art?

I was born in Peru and one of my grandfathers was from China. Both are artisan countries with vibrant traditions so I think that a love of color and things handmade is a part of my DNA. Having lived in coastal Peru, Mexico City, suburban Virginia, and now New York City, travel and diverse cultural experiences are ingrained in my experience, and as a result, my art. My creations are an expressive mix of everything I’ve picked up along the way.

We understand you love collecting. Any sweet finds recently?

My husband and I recently took a trip to Charleston, one of my favorite places, and we found beautiful yellow corals in Mount Pleasant—right on the beach. Now they are part of my seashell collection and will be used for inspiration. While in Michigan over Father’s Day weekend I found a handmade floral headpiece at the Polish Art Center in Hamtramck, which is the same place where I bought a fantastic paper chandelier on a previous trip. Also, just today we bought an amazing print by Ryan Wallace. He’s a great artist and friend.

What are a few of your favorite home comforts and luxuries?

The list is long. I enjoy dancing, cooking, flipping through my inspiration tear sheets, and when I can find the time, paging through my books (especially Cabinet of Natural Curiousities and World of Ornament). I have a couple of favorite pieces around the house that I just love so much. One is an old kidney chart I got at the John Derian Company shop in NYC. I also really treasure my milk glass collection and my skeleton key collection. However, there’s nothing I love more than staring at my almost 2 year-old son.

A quick tip for couples planning their big day and beyond?

Embrace and enjoy the planning process. Be realistic in what you can do yourselves, ask family and friends for help and/or rely on professionals to make your special day go smoothly. Don’t recommend procrastinating—get as much done in as far advance as possible. And, if something goes wrong on the big day, don’t sweat it! Few will notice and even less will remember it. Finally, most importantly, remember to still date each other years after the wedding.

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A Conversation with Jessica of Lemongrass Photography

MEMBER	LEMONGRASS PHOTO
REGION	INDIANA
SPECIALTY	PHOTOGRAPHY & FILM

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What three adjectives would you say best describe your photographic style?

Fresh, modern, fun. I love to keep everything very low-key and relaxed, letting the couple be themselves. Let them love on each other and cuddle with each other, like they would if I wasn’t there. But, I love to combine that with awesome light and beautiful locations…my recipe for some killer portraits!

We understand weddings really move you…

Yes, I cry at every wedding! When I see the way the father of the bride looks at his daughter, or how excited the flower girl gets when it is almost her turn to walk down the aisle, or the smile on the groom’s face when he sees his bride…I can’t help but tear up! I just, well, love love!!

Tell us a little about the new Lemongrass Photography meeting space.

I’m just so excited about it! Our new space is the perfect place to come, hang out, get to know each other, and see some fabulous wedding portraits, albums, and other fun products! The walls are decked out with beautiful canvases and there are some great album samples to take a peek at.

How would you describe a typical Lemongrass Photography session?

Well, they’re never typical! I do everything on location—which means we get to pick the perfect spot for you and your fiancé! The engagement session will be customized for your personalities, if you have a vintage style, we might head out to the country and find some old barns or open fields. If you like something more urban, we can go downtown and search for some back alleys or great graffiti. Every day is something new and different!

There’s a special connection between Lemongrass Photography and your philanthropic work.

Supporting our troops is really important to me. My husband is a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army and is currently deployed in Afghanistan. One of my favorite causes is Operation: Love Reunited. It is an awesome way to connect families at home and their soldier! Any family with a deployed soldier can get a free photo session, either before they leave, while she or he is deployed, or at their homecoming. Then, the soldier receives a photo album with all the pictures from the session. It is so special for them to have those memories. My most recent session was for a soldier whose daughter was born after he left for his deployment—so important!

How has living in the Midwest, specifically Indiana, inspired your photography?

The people! I love the relaxed attitude. I lived in NYC in college, an amazing experience, but I missed smiling at people on the street and saying hello! Also, within a 20 minute drive, I can get to downtown Indianapolis, to the canal, to some fabulous museums, great parks, out in the country, on college campuses, to a lake, to beautiful wild flower fields, orchards, wineries…the list goes on and on! Nowhere else do you have so many wonderful spots to take pictures.

A couple quick tips for couples planning their big day and beyond?

Keep it simple. Pick a few elements you really love and go from there. Personalize your day with your style, not just what others say should be a part or what seems to be the trend. Definitely make sure there’s some time in the day for the two of you to simply enjoy each other!

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A Conversation with Lisa of Good On Paper

MEMBER	GOOD ON PAPER
REGION	NATIONAL
SPECIALTY	PAPER GOODS
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What three adjectives would you say best describe your designs?

For weddings, sweet, simple, and modern. When I work on other non-wedding projects, my style can be a little more edgy, bold with a clean aesthetic.

Tell us a little about recent projects and new goods.

I’m currently working on my 2010 wall calendar—one of my most popular stationery items each year—and I just finished a new limited edition hand screen-printed card designed in honor of my late grandmother. It’s really special to me. All proceeds from the sale of the cards benefit the American Cancer Society.

New and exciting inspirations for wedding designs?

I’m really liking the gray/khaki combo with a pop color… pink, teal, maybe a sea green. I also love bright summer colors like yellow and orange. I’ve had several requests for invitations letterpress printed on wood. It’s gorgeous and lends a unique feel/texture to the invitation set.

Good on Paper cares about the environment.

For me, caring about the environment is a lifestyle. I strive to use sustainable materials in all my designs. For wedding invites, I like to use 100% cotton stock made with reclaimed fibers from the garment industry. I work with an amazing letterpress printer who uses soy-based inks, too. For my stationery line, I use recycled paper and biodegradable cello bags for my cards. Every little thing—from buying organic, composting, and re-using/recycling—helps. If you just use less, it will make a big difference.

What are a few of your favorite home comforts and luxuries? (Maybe Pixel is one!)

You’re right about that! Pixel, my Boston terrier, is one of my main home comforts. I am a huge homebody—I could be doing laundry or the dishes and that’s comforting to me. As for luxury, our backyard is basically a regional park—fresh air, big trees and space for hiking. I also love taking baths (though I have yet to take one since moving into our house!), cooking, baking, and watching movies with my husband and dog.

A couple quick tips for couples planning their big day and beyond?

My first piece of advice is to enjoy your engagement for as long as possible. Once the wedding planning gets started, it never stops until the big day. Definitely soak in all the excitement and joy first. I would advise hiring a day-of planner as well. You don’t want to worry about anything on your wedding day except getting married. Having someone there who knows all the ins and outs will put you at ease. Trust me, it’s worth it.

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