Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Sarah's Gown



I met Sarah Lorkovic, from Bravo Salon, many months ago during our Pasadena Magazine Photo Shoot when she modeled one of my gowns for their real weddings section. As you look through the Collection pages of our website, you can find her modeling some of my gowns! But, at the time of the Shoot, she still had not purchased her wedding gown , so after talking, Sarah made an appointment to see me. She already had something very specific in mind for her dress, she wanted a crochet and lace gown that she had seen photos of in a wedding magazine. I took her initial concept and decided to run with it, making it more of a modern, fitted piece to compliment Sarah's beauty and figure. So, as crazy as it sounded, I decided instead of purchasing the lace, we would actually create our own here at the Salon.




After fitting Sarah in a muslin gown, we pulled apart the patterns and hand stitched strips of ribbon together to create her entire gown out of our own battenburg lace. We also applied lace appliques to add to the beauty, creating a gown that was elegant, light and perfect for her Palm Springs wedding!
When we were complete, it fit Sarah like a glove and she looked stunning!



I will have wedding photos coming soon as well...

Monday, December 7, 2009

Mrs. Canada!


I am proud to have had the distinction to dress Mrs. Canada, Barbara van der Maaten, for the Mrs. World Pageant which just took place in November! Barbara contacted me back in August through a popular modeling website after viewing some photos of my gowns. After numerous emails and phone calls, I was able to give Barbara all of the information I needed to create her gown for the evening portion of the Pageant.





Although Barbara lives in Calgary, Canada, we were able to create a muslin gown which was shipped to a seamstress in Canada to fit to Barbara and then create her final gown here in Pasadena. When we completed the gown, we shipped it back to Canada just in time for Barbara's long flight to Vietnam and the Mrs. World Pageant! Long story short, Barbara looked stunning in her gown and in everything else that she wore! I will be posting photos of the gown as soon as Barbara recuperates from her exhaustive trip!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Trunk Show

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This past Saturday we presented our own Trunk Show at the Salon where we showed the complete Collection to an intimate, yet full house. Our models, Kat and Teresa, walked through the Salon on our mini runway, looking gorgeous and sophisticated.








As people sipped on champagne, chardonnay, and sparkling lemonade, they were treated to all of the handmade gowns that make up the the Alina Pizzano Collection. Our excited Brides couldn't wait to try on the gowns the second the Show ended! Many who saw the Collection for the first time had no idea that we create all of the gowns, including all of the beading and detail, right here at the Salon in Pasadena! David Kim captured all the action and looks with his superb photographic style! Thank you to all that attended and I hope to see you soon!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Zepur & Ron



Zepur came to me last year and fell in love with the fitted lace gown that was part of the Collection. When she came in and tried the gown on, she instantly knew that this was her dress! Her Wedding wasn't until August of this year, so we had a good amount of time to be able to fabricate, fit, and alter her gown in a nice relaxed manner. Zepur is so down to earth and sweet, that we connected immediately!
Upon completion of her gown, Zepur cried tears of joy, seeing her vision come to life! Needless to say, we both ended up going through a box of tissues with endless amounts of hugs.
When the actual Wedding Day came, my husband Jameel & I were honored to have been invited. The Wedding and reception took place on a 3 story yacht in Newport Harbor. All I can say is "Stunning"!






Photographer, Brian Alexander kept up with all the action on board the ship and took many amazing shots. On a perfect summer day with the sun setting on the harbor, Zepur and Ron were wed...a truly beautiful day with a fantastic couple!
Congratulations Zepur & Ron!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Alina Pizzano Trunk Show



Romance yourself in Vintage Hollywood Glamour with a fresh modern twist as you join us for the Alina Pizzano Trunk Show! Any Bride that places an order at the Show will receive a 10% discount towards the purchase of their gown. Come meet Alina Pizzano at the cocktail reception to follow! Here are a few teasers of some of the Collection...






Please rsvp at rsvp@alinapizzano.com or 626.584.0076

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Liza Shtromberg


Many Brides that come to me are in search of that perfect accessory, that stunning piece of jewelry to compliment their custom gown. Well, Liza Shtromberg is one of those artists that can create just that. Her two shops, LS in Los Feliz and Island in Silver Lake, are an amazing showcase for her "Ancient Modern" jewelry. Liza takes stones, metals, pearls, and shells and creates wearable sculpture that is gorgeous, unique, one of a kind works of art.



Why not get your own custom wedding rings designed for both Bride and Groom? Her bands can be as complex or as simple as you would wish, with gems and stones from around the world! She also has an eco-friendly collection that takes the beauty of nature and wraps it up in an ecoresin.



Liza has a very loyal clientele of stylists and celebrities, but designs for everyone.
"My jewelry is meant to be classic, universal, organic, playing into who you really are. Each collection is strategically conceived to layer well with the others - as well as with jewelry the client may already have."

So, if you are still searching for that perfect piece, please visit Liza at one of her shops! I promise you won't leave empty handed!
Liza Shtromberg
2120 Hillhurst Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90027

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Huntington Library Photo Shoot




We were recently asked to participate in a Photo Shoot at the gorgeous Huntington Library in Pasadena. The Shoot was organized by Amanda Ma and Ada Chan of Fresh Events. They met at the Salon and browsed through the Collection before deciding upon the feathered chiffon ball gown and the twist front gown. The Photographer was Meghan Aileen who's Studio is located in Burbank. The late afternoon session provided beautiful natural lighting within the different gardens that are part of the Huntington grounds.




With the Huntington Library now open for weddings, any Bride can see from the photos what a dramatic backdrop the Gardens can provide for their event. Whether you're getting married, or have already tied the knot, I definitely recommend taking a trip with your significant other and walking the grounds to feel like you're on a first date again!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

First Couture Bride Work Shop!

Jeannie & I would like to send a grand "Thank You" to our Brides who attended our first Couture Bride Work Shop! They were engaged, involved, and a pleasure to work with. Hopefully they gained some smart and valuable tips and advice that will help them with their special day!
Special thanks to Brian Alexander Dreisbach for being our first Special Guest. You must check out his website, his skill, passion, and amazing style make him a perfect choice for any Bride. We believe in Brian so much that he has just recently shot the complete Alina Pizzano Collection, which will be available to view online very, very soon. We would also like to thank Cake Sensations of South Pasadena for their amazingly yummy treats! They provided a sample of every type of cake one could imagine for our Brides to taste and take with them! Jeannie & myself look forward to next month and are excited to be a part of each of our Brides special day!



We are excited to announce that Melissa Allen of The Ebell Los Angeles will be our September Special Guest. Melissa will be discussing "Choosing the Perfect Wedding Venue". In addition, Jeannie and myself will give tips and advice on "Planning a Flawless Wedding" and "What is the Perfect Gown?". Remember, space is limited to only 12 Brides so that we can work with you one on one! If you have not sent your RSVP, hurry as this Work Shop is sure to fill up fast! Stay tuned for our Q & A with Melissa which will be posted this week.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Bravo Salon

So, one thing that I have always known but confirmed this past week...is the fact that hair and make up can play a huge part in how a gown looks on a bride. For our photo shoot last week, Founder of Bravo Salon, Monique Montano and Make up Artist/ Model Sarah Lorkovic created the beautiful hair stylings and aesthetics to compliment my gowns. Not only are they skilled, creative, and knowledgeable, but, they are truly a pleasure to work with, and believe me they know exactly what they are doing! Monique's team at Bravo can do just about anything; from facials and waxing, to massages and nails. They even have package deals for Brides, including Grooms, and the whole Wedding Party!




Once again, thank you to Monique and Sarah! If you are searching for a superbly professional salon where you can go to pamper yourself and just look fantastic, then you must visit Bravo!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Photo Shoot





This past Monday we created a photo shoot of the complete Collection. Photographer Brian Alexander, directed the Shoot at the Salon. This month at our Couture Bride Work Shop, Brian will be the special guest discussing his photographic style and giving out wedding day tips! Models Katherine Torres and Sarah Lorkovic looked stunning as we continued shooting well into the afternoon. It was exciting to see the completed gowns on these beautiful women and to imagine how gorgeous they will look on my Brides. Besides modeling, Sarah is also an Estetician and Make up Artist for Bravo Salon right here in Pasadena! The look for the gowns would not have been complete without the amazing hair that was done by Bravo Salon Owner Monique Montano. If you are ever looking for the perfect combination of hair, make up, and overall spa pampering, then Bravo is a must!

Without giving too much away, here are some detail photos of a couple of gowns from the Collection! Stay tuned for more...


Sunday, August 2, 2009

Barbara & Miles

Barbara came to me via a referral from one of my previous Brides, Katie. Unlike many Brides that walk through my doors, Barbara knew exactly what she wanted and even had a typed out list ready to discuss. She was organized and easy going and made the process for me a delight! Her A-line styled duchess satin organza and taffeta gown looked amazing on her...We even topped it off with a beautiful little bird cage veil that was also made at the Studio. In addition to her gown and veil, Barbara had one other request, she wanted to have traditional monogrammed hankies for her family and bridal party. Without wasting a minute, I made a call to my embroiderer and we were able to get the hankies made in plenty of time. My assistant & I even made the custom hankie envelopes to match the yellow and green colors of Barbara's wedding! Congratulations Barbara & Miles!





Photography by Bryon Devore

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Wedding Work Shop




We are very excited to announce the launch of our new monthly Work Shop! Jeannie Ward and myself will host ten Brides at the Studio with a different special guest each month. This month we feature Photographer Brian Alexander. It will be fun, informative, and intimate! So don't miss out on this special event...

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Lynne & Aaron



I call Lynne my "Emergency Bride"! With 3 weeks to her weddding, Lynne came to me desperately in need of help with her gown. The person who created her gown did not understand the basics of design or fabrication. Needless to say, Lynne was extremely distraught and in a bind and needed a new gown. Usually, I don't take on the creation of a gown with anything less than a 4 month time frame, but, Lynne convinced me. I could completely understand her frustration and imagine this is just 3 weeks until her actual wedding day! So, with the clock ticking, I went for it! We actually tore apart her old dress and used it to make new patterns, creating a brand new gown!
Long story short...Lynne was very, very happy...and I think I now have two friends for life...Lynne and her wonderful husband Aaron! If you ever see Lynne ask her about all the other craziness that occured on her wedding...that story will fill up a completely new page.




Photography by Jim Semlor

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Best of Pasadena!


Thank you to Pasadena Magazine! Alina Pizzano couture bridal has been named "Best Custom Dream Gown" in their Style section! We are very excited and honored to be noted as a stand out among so much competition here in Pasadena and it's surrounding areas. Even as we have grown into our larger location, my vision of creating custom wedding gowns for my clients has not been altered. In fact, when you visit the Alina Pizzano Studio, you will experience not only the "Best Custom Gown", but one-on-one personal attention from me and my staff and sparkling lemonade to boot!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Samantha & Curtis

Here is the first of what I hope will turn into a showcase of my beautiful Brides as they and their new husbands are captured on their Wedding Day! This is Samantha & Curtis...

Samatha's gown is a side-gathered trumpet gown, made from double faced satin and with an embroidered organza train. The design on the train is a modern take on a lotus flower that we designed specifically per Samantha's request. In Indian culture, the lotus symbolizes divine beauty, purity, potency , and wealth...all wonderful traits to be associated with every wedding and marriage! All of the bead work on the gown was hand done in our Studio here in Pasadena.



It's always extremely gratifying to see how happy my Brides are on their special day!


Photography by henry chen