Meet Stephanie Taylor of Peacock Blu-- Stunning Wedding Jewelry, Locally Crafted

Last weekend at a party, I ran into my friend Stephanie Taylor. I was telling her about my life as a wedding officiant and she was telling me about her life as a jewelry designer. I took a look at images of her Tree of Life pendants and immediately declared to Warren that I want the silver and turquoise one for Valentine’s Day. Stephanie and I also talked about how the trees make exquisite wedding jewelry—for bride or bridesmaids or both.

I get a lot of inquiries from couples who tell me they want a uniquely Austin wedding and I know exactly what they mean. I recommend excellent restaurants for their out-of-town guests, points of interest to visit, and even sometimes—as I did for a couple planning an elopement—a list of cool, secret Austin spots to consider as the place to marry. (It helps that I am the self-appointed Number One Austin Cheerleader, and also that I used to write a travel blog for JetBlue all about Austin. Seriously, I know LOTS of Austin secrets—just ask me.)

 Now I’m tossing out this latest Austin wedding idea…yes, you can pick a unique Austin venue, get married beneath a magnificent live oak tree, and have photos of all that, and your wedding party in fancy dresses, tuxes and cowgirl and cowboy boots. Well why not also have a piece of Austin wearable art to commemorate the occasion, created by an actual Austin artist?

After the party, I sent Stephanie an email and asked for more details about her jewelry—how she came to be a designer, what goes into the process, and how you can reach her. Her answers are below. You can check out her Peacock Blu Etsy Shop here.  And see some of her commissioned, custom work at her Peacock Blu Facebook Page.

  

Spike: How’d you get started? What’s your process?

Stephanie: In 2010 I took a very basic cabachon wrapping class at a local bead shop and then discovered all the jewlery-making tutorials online. One of the tutorials I found was how to make a tree pendant with wire, but in the clip, her method (in hindsight) was quite clunky, and the end result looked a bit cartoon-y and child-like. I continued making trees and refining my process - modeling them after the live oaks in Austin - until the pendants began to look much more lifelike and, after so many repetitions, quite durable and beautifully made. I'm learning and honing my craft every time I pick up my tools and start making a new piece.

 Spike: Looking at your Tree of Life pendants, I immediately felt something like… familiarity and comfort. I just love trees—real live trees, and artistic representation of trees. So tell me more about your trees.

Stephanie: My Tree of Life pendants resonate with many people from a variety of religious backgrounds. The Tree of Life is a symbol that can be found in every major religion, and is a strong symbol representing our extended families and ancestors. For many, it's a symbol and reminder that we are all connected, related to one another in this massive family called the human race. I wear my Tree of Life pendants to help me remember that even the jackass on the highway who just cut me off is also my brother, and so I strive to find compassion for him, and for everyone else around me.

My clients love to order Tree of Life pendants with birthstones for their mothers and wives to give to them on mother's day, and for their wives and girlfriends for birthdays, anniversaries, and Valentine's Day. They also make fabulous bridesmaids gifts - sometimes the bride wants a Tree pendant for each bridesmaid in stones that coordinate with their dresses. Other clients order a tree for each bridesmaid in that bridesmaid's birthstone. Either way, it's an incredible gift, and a touching symbol. It's also a beautiful gift for families who are combining, or blending their families in marriage.

Spike: What else would you like us to know about your work?

I make quite a bit of custom work that you'll never see on Etsy, however, I share those designs with the public on my Peacock Blu Creations Facebook page:  

Great Ideas, Happy Reunions, and a New to Me VenueE

Every year I go to a tiny island off the coast of Maine. This year, while I was there, I ran into one of my 2010 couples! I love it.

Well, after spending a good bit of my summer traveling east, then way north (hello, Canada!) then west, then back east again, I have returned and am shifting into super high-gear for October Wedding Season. Actually, the excitement began this past weekend-- I had the pleasure of uniting three couples in marriage on Saturday. 

The forecast on Friday night was calling for about a 500% chance of rain on Saturday and that leads me to my first great idea. Always have a contingency plan. All three of the couples I worked with had a shelter option, and those roofs sure came in handy. Another great idea is, if it rains a) don't be bummed out because RAIN IS A PRICELESS COMMODITY and a STUNNING BLESSING especially these days and b) be sure you have umbrellas. Pretty simple, right? But easy to forget. 

Nothing says True Love like well-timed mosquito spray. 

Congratulations

All the rain we've had this year has fostered a lot of super aggressive mosquito activity. So while you're putting out fans on the chairs, or little bottles of bubbles or pouches of petals to be thrown, also consider having mosquito repellant handy. Your guests will be so grateful. And don't forget to apply some to yourselves-- trust me, it is so distracting during a ceremony to be swarmed by skeeters.

Ceres Park Ranch!

Chillin' before the wedding. 

Congratulations!

The new-to-me venue I worked this weekend is Ceres Park Ranch. It's on Fitzhugh Road, right off of 290 just before you get to Drippin'. Very cool western feel and the folks who run it are super nice.

Also chilling before the wedding. 

A roof is a wonderful thing in the rainy season.

 Another great idea-- I know a lot of couples like to not see each other until the actual ceremony. And that's cool, an idea that has its own merits and is steeped in tradition. On the other hand, you might just go ahead and see each other beforehand. You can reassure each other, get a first look, and maybe let go of any pre-game anxiety.

Here's an even better idea-- immediately after the ceremony, "run away" together for ten minutes. Hide out inside the venue, or down a path somewhere. Tell the photographer to beat it. Just the two of you. Some alone time. Enjoy the adrenaline rush. Enjoy a quiet moment together because the rest of the night is going to be a blur. A happy blur, but a blur nonetheless. You want to remember the event, and a few alone minutes together is a good way to accomplish that.

One of my bride's this weekend also did something so cool I think ALL of you should try it. She opted to stay overnight by herself at the venue. (She got married at a venue that features sleeping accommodations). That's right-- no big "party with the girls," no Til-2 am. Rehearsal Dinner (they did have a dinner, but she retired early). She wanted to take the time to just be alone and, I suppose, think about the big, exciting milestone awaiting her. I just thought that was so terrific.

Frankly I think the umbrella added an extra fun touch.

Congratulations!

And so, congratulations to all y'all who got hitched this past weekend. And to those of you on my October calendar-- Hooray! We are going to have a blast.

Unsolicited Advice-- Book Now!

When I meet with prospective clients, I like to emphasize that I try hard not to issue unsolicited advice. I then usually wind up offering at least a few bits of unsolicited advice over the course of the conversation. Okay then, I guess I still need to practice.

The reason I try to bite my tongue unless asked is that I think a lot of couples get hit with tons of advice from well-meaning but overzealous friends and family members. It can feel like too much, and in some cases it can feel like downright pressure is being exerted. You know, it's YOUR wedding, so you should, as the old BK commercial went, Have it Your Way.

That said, since I'm in this business, I've amassed an awful lot of helpful information over the course of performing 300+ weddings and commitment ceremonies. I know some really great vendors and musicians. I know the inside scoop on PA systems and what you'll need. I know shortcuts. I know how to run interference in tricky family situations. So I offer, as an added extra (which I do not charge for) to field questions that come up, make references, and show up a little early to just be an extra pair of hands the day of. Sometimes, I go crazy and really get involved-- like driving dogs home after the ceremony so they don't get overwhelmed at the reception.

Today, I have a few bits of unsolicited advice-- yours to take or leave. If you are getting married in April or October 2013, HIRE YOUR PROFESSIONALS NOW. This is not a ploy for me to get business. My April is nearly booked full (though I have a few openings) and October is getting there. Also, with global warming wreaking havoc on the weather, I find that these days more couples are looking at March and November (used to be that April and October were the "June of Texas," since June can be pretty warm). I think I've had about 15 requests for October 6th. I perform up to four weddings per day (though most often three is my max) and even still, that means I had to turn away nearly a dozen couples.

Another thing-- consider the heat. Seriously. I am totally down with doing outdoor weddings in summer, I do them all the time. And I'm pretty sure you can save a bit of money booking venues in the dead of summer. But if you're going to ask your guests to endure the heat, especially if they are from out of town, it's a very good idea to have water set up beforehand, water they can take to their seats. Fans aren't a bad idea either. I did a wedding the night it hit 109 degrees-- honestly, it was pretty nuts. You might also consider keeping the ceremony short so you can all get into the A/C quicker.

Okay, enough with the advice. For now. But if you do have a question you'd like me to answer here, just shoot me an email.

Picture This: The Most Amazing Month Ever

As my busiest wedding month ever continues-- by the time all is said and done I'll have performed nearly two dozen ceremonies this April-- I am going to just go ahead and let the pictures do the talking this time. Because another Saturday has rolled around, I already performed a pair of weddings earlier in the week, I've got a pair this afternoon and one tomorrow. So let's just enjoy the photos and once May rolls around, I'll offer more written thoughts on how to have the best wedding possible.

Arundel Ensemble 

Giving Thanks for a Week of Thanksgiving Weddings

My partner, Ori, lending a hand.

It was another great week of weddings. A bit on the unusual side-- I performed two ceremonies on Tuesday. One was at Chapel Dulcinea, where there are ceremonies seven days every week. This particular wedding included a bride who speaks Spanish as a first language and so she wanted part of the ceremony delivered in Spanish. Mi Espanol es my mal, to understate the matter, but my partner, Ori, happens to be fluent, having lived in South America for a couple years. I asked him if he'd help out and thought for sure he'd decline. Instead he agreed, translating several sections and-- this was the really big part-- agreeing to not wear cargo shorts, which he lives in 365 days of the year. We had a great time and even swapped a smooch at the fountain 'o love out there. 

The second Tuesday wedding was at a private home, parents of the groom. He no longer lives in Austin, but I guess everyone was traveling home for the Thanksgiving weekend, so it made sense for them to marry on a Tuesday evening. I love all kinds of weddings-- big and small-- but I have a special place in my heart for teeny-tiny backyard weddings. 

Chapel Dulcinea, Wedding #1

Cakes for Wedding #2 -- check out the robots on the groom's cake.

Wedding #2, a backyard affair

Wedding #3 was also at Chapel Dulcinea, early in the morning after Thanksgiving. As with the two before it last week, this was a very small event, attended by the closest friends and family of the bride and groom, including their adult kids. The vibe was very Austin and, as is the case always with my job, I'm even happier to be alive after I say, "You may kiss!" than I am on the cheerful drive out to perform my duties.

Wedding #4, also the day after Thanksgiving, found me out at the Oasis. I've done several weddings at the Oasis and I know, I know, some people think it's touristy but there's a reason for that: Because IT IS Touristy! And that's something I love about it. You find people from all walks out there, the dining rooms on the lower levels are all abuzz, and then there I am, upstairs on the second or third level (second in this case) presiding over a wedding. It's very cool, actually. And the view-- despite the dropped water level-- is still really magnificent. 

Oasis Wedding

Oasis Wedding

Wedding #4, Oasis

Which brings us to Wedding #5, and a new-to-me venue: The Prairie, out in Round Top, which is about ninety minutes outside of Austin. The property and the old buildings are wonderfully funky-- it's owned by Rachel Ashwell, the English designer responsible for the Shabby Chic line of linens and home decor you can find at Target. The sky was so full and gray that day, and it was really, really cold. But the intermittent rain stopped in time for the ceremony, we all huddled close, and once I pronounced the couple husband and wife we all hustled inside for a toasty warm reception. I just loved discovering The Prairie and am already scheming for ways to hold a workshop out there. I certainly hope I'm invited to perform more weddings out that way.

Wedding #5 also brought together two new stepbrothers, both 11. And that makes me realize that all five weddings this past week included kids of the bride, groom, or both. Lots of new families coming together out there. So glad I get to be a part of it!

Here are some pictures from Wedding #5: 

If you want more information about my Austin wedding officiant services, please visit my website for details.