New Collections for the New Year!

Wow! 2016 is already moving quickly.. one month down & into the season of love!!

Our showroom is primed and primped for a fabulous year as we introduce new collections of silk stems & arrangements for your home and office. Since our home & garden department has significantly expanded in the last 12 months, we have seen the increased interest in home accents & interior design services. You will find our collections continue to evolve to accommodate this in the Central Valley.  Something in particular we're excited to reveal: Bedding! 

Enjoy updated photos of our spring showrooms & visit us soon!

xo, The RSVP Team

Natural stone is a beautiful gift and notable home accessory, facilitating spirituality & peace.

Decorative trays: For your entry table, coffee table, bedside stand or serving accessory.

See many new styles in-store.

<3 Valentine's gifts and cards for your loves <3

Stems shows how to decorate with fresh, indoor plants

This spring palate brings a fresh, vibrant look to any space.

Sid Dickens is a coveted gift collection. Begin to create a memory wall

filled with special sentiment from and for those you love.

Accent dishware, natural cookbooks and hurricane candle holders and vases

are decorative elements to spice up your home.

Silk blooms to spruce up your space

Our sweet shop will make your mouth water.

Fresh, handmade chocolate truffles and sweet confections in the sweet shop by Stems.

Gift baskets of sweets, nuts and dried fruits are great gifts for all occasions and for entertaining.

We invite you to our living area.

Decorative trays, bar accessories and a sneak-peek of our new pillow collection. 

Woodlands Decor: Rustic Iron, Petrified Wood, Greenery and a Natural Color Palate

trends in every season of the year.

Michael Aram home and serving collections.

Shop the full line in-store or preview online at RSVP-Style.com

Bridal Registry for fine China, or casual dinnerware is a wonderful attribute to our growing home collections. Brides can seamlessly register in-store, or online - allowing their guests to shop nation-wide. 

We look forward to seeing you soon! Thanks for staying updated with us.

#invite   #gift   #live  in  #RSVPStyle

The Vow Factor: Wedding Etiquette to Plan Your Perfect Day

By Mary C. Papaleo

Floral & Event Stylist of Stems at the Palatine in Fresno, California

 

Etiquette is defined as the rules indicating the proper and polite way to behave. Many of today’s brides and grooms are searching for an understanding of the traditional sense of manners and some sort of guideline.

Weddings are personalized ceremonies and celebrations. Endless cultures and customs have paved their way into popular and mainstream choices for many bridal couples. Is there a “correct” way to handle an entire wedding from beginning to end? My answer is “NO!” However, there are many aspects that need to be handled in a manner that doesn’t offend or upset any one person involved, which may prove to be a bit daunting.

Think about who is involved in and attending your wedding. The personalities and backgrounds of your family, bridal party and guests are key to developing a celebration that will include all of their ethnicities and spiritual paths. While you and your groom clearly come first for the core of the ceremony and celebration, the goal is for all to take part in and unanimously enjoy your union. For example, if you and your groom hail from religious upbringings, most likely your families will expect a spiritual ceremony. If this is not your intent, explain your reasoning to them at the initial stages of planning to avoid disappointment and arguing as you progress further into your timeline. There are always compromises available, such as having your non-religious ceremony and then having a clergyman bless your marriage at the end of the ceremony in prayer.  I recommend that all of my brides and grooms have several meetings with their involved family, predominantly their parents, throughout the planning process to keep all informed of major decisions, and to solicit their advice and ask for their preferences as you go. This helps all to feel as though they have had an integral part of planning and assisting you both in the most important day in your lives. All involved will learn to adjust and compromise. Do not forget, you are joining more than you and your groom in life forever; you are joining your families. This is a foreign experience for all involved, even if you have been a couple for years prior to engagement. Sensitivity to this is key in extending your etiquette for consideration to all involved.  Invest time into discussing and envisioning what you and your groom expect your wedding day to be. First and foremost, if the two of you do not agree on what you’re anticipating, no one else involved will either. Communication is critical. The two of you must have an open dialogue at all times. This holds true for your entire life, not just for planning this event.

Use your resources. If you are unsure if something you want is proper or acceptable, ask your peers, parents or vendors. They will typically be able to lend advice as to the appropriateness of what you’re wanting. Online resources are a fabulous resource. You will find diverse thoughts and facts on endless aspects and protocol for weddings.
Emily Post is the epitome of etiquette. From the very beginning of modern ceremonies to today’s variations, you will find answers in Post’s publications.

Hire a qualified wedding planner and coordinator. Avoid using friends and relatives that “just planned” their own or their daughter’s wedding. You need an unbiased and experienced professional to address any and all concerns. Consider hiring your planner as an insurance policy. Their fee is protecting and ensuring that all of your time, emotion and money are well appropriated, and implemented the way you intend.

From your save the dates to your thank you notes, you set the stage on the mannerisms you’re imparting as a couple and for your wedding. Be sure to address them appropriately. Even if you want a casual feel, keep your print items formally addressed. Do not use printed labels, ever. You do not have to hire a professional calligrapher, however, hand addressed or professionally printed is necessary.

Attire is an area that needs careful consideration. Keep in mind that marriage is a tender and memorable occasion. Trends are fun, however, they can tend to date stamp your event and can somewhat downplay tradition. Flair that lends to your personality is acceptable when kept in check.
For the gentlemen, tuxedos, suits, vests and trousers are all intermixable. Correctly fitted apparel is critical for all involved. Shoe selection can be whimsical for the gents, as well as the ladies. From cowboy boots to sneakers, keeping the footwear fun and comfortable is appreciated by most. The venue for your ceremony must be kept in mind for these options. A cathedral or temple is not the place for these casual choices. Reserve this for the reception and have your grand entrance make note of your festive flair.

Celebration is what all anticipate. So celebrate… with style. Be careful – fun can get out of hand quickly. Keep your liquor controlled. This will also help in control- ling costs and liability. Hosting a bar is not required at any reception.
Food is an open field. There truly is no etiquette when it comes to your fare. Thoughts to keep in mind include ease of service, and the mess factor involved for you and your guests. People are typically dressed in their best. I know I’m not interested in eating with my hands when I attend a wedding, nor am I thrilled with overly spicy or pungent selections. Ethnic food is acceptable, keeping in mind that not all may enjoy this choice. Scaling ethnic selections down and pairing with a few mainstream options is always appreciated.

Music should be mellow and toned down for the initial cocktail hour and dinner portion of the reception. Keep the upbeat “club” tones for after the formal portions of the eve- ning. Allow guests to enjoy intimate conversations among themselves, as well as your toasts and special dances. The older guests tend to depart once they’ve indulged in all of the tradition. At a later point, let your hair down and celebrate with your friends with the vibe you enjoy.
Décor should be personalized and within reason. Thematic weddings are on an upswing these days. Selecting a theme that will not take away from the event at hand is key. Taste is always the key.
Centerpieces should never impede the conversation view of your seated guests. Fragrance in fresh flowers should be kept to a minimum, as well. Floral décor accessorizes your entire event and should reflect your personalities and tastes.  Attention to small details will be noticed and appreciated by all attending, from the place cards to the china to the linens. Pay attention to keeping these details cohesive and appropriate to your overall event.

Don’t drown in a glass of water in all of this planning. Organize your thoughts and wants from the very onset of engagement. Work as a partner with your bride or groom. Communicate clearly with your family and vendors. Hire professionals in all areas. They have years of experience and will alleviate enormous amounts of stress from your load. Personalize your wedding with fresh, new ideas that will make your wedding stand out. When in doubt, ask. Enjoy every moment of this experience.

CV Luxury is the Central Valley's resource for modern living, fashion & everything fabulous!
To see their online issue and subscribe today, visit CVLux.com 

Discover the Spirit of Shamballa

Shamballa Jewels is a fabulous collection that represents a unique combination of jewelry & spirituality.  Inspired by the Buddhist & Tibetan traditions, yoga and meditation, the jewels incorporate ancient symbols, reminding us of the fundamental values of life: love, condolence & tolerance.  Their signature pieces aretheir macramé braided bracelets using 18K gold balls with precious stones. The theme of the collections is the energy of creation, symbolized by the Star of Shamballa and the thunderbolt.  The star represents the female creative energy of the universe and the Thunderbolt the male firepower of creation.  The two symbols are present throughout the collection, carved into the 18 kt. gold.

Gianni Fine Jewelers, of the Palatine Building is proud to be one of 17 locations in the nation to represent this star-studded, exclusive collection, among locations from Great Britain, Switzerland, Russia, France, Sweden, Norway, Spain & Denmark.  The star of Shamballa has it's own collection of star power, adorning  sports persons, fashion icons & royals.  You may have spotted this sensation in leading fashion publications such as Vogue, Vogue Paris, Vogue Italia, Vogue Espana, Gotham Magazine, InStyle, Elle & more - or on celebrities such as Helena Christensen, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Michael Jordan, Heidi Klum, Justin Bieber, Boris Becker, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mary-Kate Olsen & Goldie Hawn to name a few!


We had the pleasure of hosting Michael Lillelund of Shamballa last week at the Palatine Building.  As a man who has traveled the world and attended some of the most fabulous events from New York and Florida to Paris, Cannes and Saint Tropez - We were given the highest complement when hedined at Slates and deemed our 20 oz. Rib Eye as "one of the best steaks he's ever had!"  Some of our customers had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with this fashion icon. We were delighted to host him, and excited to be an exclusive dealer of this prestigious brand.

To shop at Gianni and discover the spirit of Shamballa - visit us on level one of the Palatine Building in Fresno, California.  You will be dazzled and delight in taking home your very own piece of jewelry from this collection.

Goldie Hawn

 

L: Supermodel Irina Shayk

R: Eva Longoria with Hofit Golan & Amaury Nolasco at Cannes Film Festival

Justin Bieber

 

Ryan Lochte

 

Karl Lagerfeld

 

Jay-Z & Beyonce

 

 

Formula 1 Racer Michael Schumacher

 

 

Princess Mary of Denmark

 

 

Gwyneth Paltrow

 

 

Micheal Lillelund