Karen Bussen, Star of "Home Made Easy" and author of "Simple Stunning Wedding Showers"
This expert in food, wine, flowers and design, says a truly great party means blending unique details with your own personal flourishes!
Karen is one of America's highest rated wedding planners. That's no surprise -- she's designed over 100 weddings! Her work has been featured in magazines such as Modern Bride, InStyle Weddings, Cosmopolitan, Martha Stewart Weddings, Elegant Bride, Food & Wine and Good Housekeeping. Karen is also a cooking expert and professional party planner. She's the star of Home Made Easy, which airs on the DIY Network and is the author of several hot selling books on wedding showers, including her iconic Simple Stunning Wedding Showers available at Amazon.com
You can imagine what a treat it was for us at The Shower Diva to get to spend time talking with Karen Bussen! Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, it did! We learned lots more about how to create elegance, ambiance, style and beauty by applying a few simple shower design rules that don't require us to break the bank! Get ready, because we're passing Karen's super shower tips and tricks straight on to you!
THE BEGINNING OF A PASSION
We asked Karen how she discovered her passion for designing events and how she trained to do it. Did she have to graduate from an expensive design school with a Ph.D.? No! This magical maven got to learn – from life. She took her small Italian restaurant manager's job to higher level by going the extra mile. She called upon her own initiative, mobilized her creative drive and transformed her day job into a talent showcase.
As Karen advanced, she took to going to the flower market herself to pick out blooms for restaurant decor. She began to experiment with floral arranging by using traditional flowers with a unique variety of leaves and other not-so-common blooms.
It wasn't long before the restaurant's clientele were remarking on her artistry and original table arrangements. By doing what she loved (and being willing to go above and beyond the call of regular job duty) Karen was able to land her first wedding party assignment.
Karen taught us to go creative by combining the usual with the unusual elements that lead to a focused, stunning visual surprise! Don't be afraid to push the envelope! Because less is more and simple is decidedly chic, you can go the distance no matter whether your budget or party is large or small. You can make the ultimate in sophisticated shower statements by opting for simple elegance that you top off with the eye-popping color.
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What do you mean -- unique details? How do I do that with flowers? Let's have some fun while we get the hang of what Karen means when she talks about combining classic flowers in unusual ways. Visit Good Housekeeping's "Unique Floral Arrangements" online and have a look at GH's six unique flower designs anybody can do! Before you're done reading the first paragraph, you'll be itching to head out to your local grocery store, flower stall and farmer's market. It's that easy! Take a moment to check out our favorite – this simple, affordable, easy-to-make asparagus-hyacinth bouquet.
Imagine several of these make-it-yourself bouquets placed on tables. Place vanilla-scented candles alongside the bouquets then hang several long lavender toned ribbons from your living room and dining room chandeliers! Let them stream! This is what Karen means by going simple, chic, classic and unique all in one! |
DEFINITELY KEEP IT PERSONAL
Karen's perfect party formula has two rules – We've already touched on the first one -- keep it simple. The second one is to make it personal. Don't forget the "why" you're throwing this party in the first place. It's to honor the Bride-to-Be by focusing on who she is at core and what she most wants to state about herself through every detail of the shower.
Remember the basics – work with her to identify her personal style. Is she traditional? Avant-Garde? Dressy? Casual? What are her favorite colors, flowers and songs? Is she keeping a binder of "dream" bridal celebration room pictures from magazines? If so, get her to pick one you both know can be easily duplicated on a reasonable budget. Let your shower star's personality dictate everything you choose for your event.
THE FORMULA 'LESS IS MORE' MAKES FOR A STUNNING SHOWER
Karen says you need to go with three colors (or less!) to create a stunning visual effect. Too many colors mean no focal point. No WOW moment when guests and the bride enter the party room. Trust me, you want that! The "big reveal" is a reward like no other. Make sure you get it!
So think dramatic – don't be shy. Go for big impact. Think – and visualize – how you'll carry out color schemes through food choices, flowers, beverages and table decor. It should all fit together so that when your guests enter the room everyone will stop and draw in a deep breath. That's the goal – to create an experience that takes your breath away.
Getting from boring to breathless doesn't depend on how much you spend or on how hard you toil. It rests on how creative you can be with two to three simple elements that combine to please the eye, the palate and one's sense of touch. All of these things should then be steeped in the romance of delectable fragrances. This formula works and that's exactly why Karen is such a huge success!
KAREN TAUGHT HERSELF AND YOU CAN TOO!
Karen is a self-taught flower expert, cook and party planner. She learned the ropes by immersing herself into every detail of major party planning. Her relentless efforts and love of beauty are what led her into her glamorous career! We asked Karen what advice she had for our readers who are eager to try out new ideas but don't know where to start. Here's what she said to do:
If you're just starting out, experiment at home. Make it your workshop. Throw little parties for yourself and friends just for practice. However, if you've already been drafted into throwing a shower and you're panicking because of limited time, here's what to do: Pick out one vase style and one kind of flower.
What you're going to do is get several of these vases and put one flower (such as a rose) into each one. Bring all the vases you've prepared together in the center of your table and let this arrangement serve as your centerpiece. That's all you need to do. Don't go with more than three (at most) flower colors. Two is better. If you're still feeling queasy about your decorating skills, don't worry. Go with lots of reds. Warm tones always work because they create the biggest impact.
WEDDINGS ARE KAREN'S FAVORITE!
When we asked Karen to share what she loves most about her work, she said that planning weddings is her favorite thing to do -- hands down! There's nothing like the moment when she gets to feel "Wow! This is just what the couple wanted!" She recalled a stunning New Orleans wedding she planned in 2007. The bride and groom thought they wanted to hold their wedding on Block Island (part of Rhode Island), but weren't really inspired and didn't yet have a theme.
Karen probed the couple for family memories and got treated to stories of how the bride's parents had married in a small church in their town. Getting the bride and groom to talk with feeling about what a wedding meant to them (and to their parents) led to the discovery of the very wedding theme they wanted. The rehearsal dinner was held at the world famous, historic New Orleans' restaurant, Antoine's (in business since 1840). The wedding itself took place at a historic Louisiana home on River Road.
Karen decorated one long 150-seat community table for everyone to enjoy at the reception. The bride's father commissioned a local artist to sit on the veranda and paint a "Portrait of the Wedding Feast." The painting is now a family legacy piece that will forever commemorate this bride and groom's joyful day. Karen was brought to tears when she was gifted with one of the paintings by this grateful, loving couple.
I CAN'T 'DO' ANTOINE'S – HOW CAN I CREATE MAGIC ON MY BUDGET?
1. By using the Internet as your guide, says Karen. There's so much available these days. You can find great deals on candles, personalized cocktail napkins, shower invitations, tableware, cocktail glasses, etc. Shop around! (Diva tip: target.com is a treasure trove for shower mavens!).
2. There are upscale, affordable shower games available for purchase online such as Gift Bingo at BadaBadaBingo.com (featured in Karen's book, Simple Stunning Wedding Showers).
3. You can go chic by serving a signature cocktail and/or substituting a wonderful low-cost sparkling wine such as Prosecco in place of costly Champagne. (See The Shower Diva's March beverage feature for how-to hints).
4. Your table decor can be inexpensive yet beautiful by using affordable blooms such as carnations massed together in one or more large vases. Carnations can be every bit as stunning as the more expensive hydrangea or orchid varieties. You can take simple plastic vases and bump them up a notch by covering them with elegant paper purchased from your local stationery store. Creatively re-designed vases like these are far less expensive than breaking your budget on one or two high priced crystal vases. In fact, vases you redecorate yourself are much more unique!
5. Keep costs in line by sticking to your goal – incorporating your guest of honor's personality into every phase of your party will keep you from impulse spending. Remember the bride's preferences and you can't go wrong. Ask her for her input. Consider her interests. For example: What if you personally wanted to throw the frilliest bridal shower you could ever imagine but the bride herself isn't the frilly type? What if she's actually a low key gal who's an avid movie fan? There's your answer – throw her a shower where guests are invited to bring DVDs, microwavable popcorn, subscriptions to movie review mags and the like to the shower. Gifts could range from adding titles to the bride and groom's movie collection, beautifully framed movie posters for a theme room in their home, wines and fancy cheeses to enjoy on "movie night" and so forth.
If movies aren't her thing, perhaps she has a favorite cuisine. Throw her an Italian-themed shower. Serve easy antipasto, pizza, cheeses, olive oil with rosemary bread, olives, red wine or sangria punch. Get inexpensive red checkered tablecloths and create an old world Italian eatery feel. This can be done very inexpensively and the bride will love you for it.
You're the shower hostess therefore your giving heart reigns supreme. The glory, however, goes to your guest of honor – the Bride-to-Be!
- Remember to ask the Bride-to-Be what she wants.
- Keep it simple.
- Add your creativity.
Put these things together and you've got a recipe for the best shower ever!
Karen Bussen's one-of-a-kind event designs and entertaining expertise are sought after by luminary hosts in the worlds of business, media and society.
A quintuple-threat expert in food, wine, hospitality, flowers and design, Karen believes a truly great party is filled with uniquely well chosen details and personal touches. A native of Ohio, Karen began her career traveling the globe as an entertainer on several of the world's most luxurious passenger ships, where she found inspiration for her unique parties among the endless exotic destinations and elegant details of the cruise lifestyle.
Karen made her home in New York City, where, under the tutelage of some of Manhattan's top chefs and restaurateurs, she fine-tuned her knowledge of food, wine and high hospitality. In 1998, she opened her design company to create flowers and events for social, corporate and wedding clients. Today, Karen maintains a close connection with the restaurant industry, working with the brightest stars in the culinary world.
A self-taught flower expert, Karen visits New York's famously chaotic wholesale market early each morning, personally selecting the best blossoms to complement her designs. Karen never imagines the same party twice. Instead, she works closely with clients to discover and distill a unique and personal vision for each event.
With a team of lighting wizards, visual effects designers, couture invitation gurus, caterers and other event specialists, Karen continues to seek out the industry's best resources in preparation for the most important party ever.
Karen Bussen is the author of Simple Stunning Wedding Etiquette: Traditions, Answers, and Advice from One of Today's Top Wedding Planners by Karen Bussen (Jan 1, 2008); Simple Stunning Wedding Showers (Jan 1, 2007); Simple Stunning Wedding Flowers (Jan 1, 2007); Simple Stunning Weddings: Designing and Creating Your Perfect (Nov 16, 2004); and Simple Stunning Wedding Organizer: Planning Your Perfect Celebration (Ring-bound - Nov 16, 2004). All of Karen's books are available for purchase at amazon.com
Diva Darling Bonus features:
- Please be sure to visit The Shower Diva's sponsor, BadaBadaBingo.com Gift Bingo was featured in Karen's book: Simple Stunning Wedding Showers.
- Karen Bussen's article for America's Bride Magazine: "Favorite Things: Where To Shop Online" Also, you can enjoy the whole issue online simply using ABM's cool "read the mag here" tool online!
- Watch Karen on the Do-It-Yourself Network's home show, "Home Made Easy" on the DIY Network.
- See Wedding Essentials' featured interview with Karen, "Not every couple has time on their side -- here's how to plan your perfect wedding in a flash."
- New York Weddings, "Top Five: Bridal-Shower Ideas"
- "Karen Bussen, wedding planner and author, lays out the ideal floor plan that takes everyone's needs—and idiosyncrasies—into consideration."
Interested in more guest contributors stories? Check out our March 2008 featured guest!
