Say ‘I Do’ With a Big ‘Do Contest Sponsors
Abby Aguilera is a celebrity hairstylist who has worked at private hair extension studios and upscale salons in Beverly Hills, and whose clientele includes many celebrities and breast cancer survivors. While her heart always felt for her clients who had lost their hair to breast cancer treatment, one survivor in particular stands out that changed Abby’s life and inspires her work.
It was about three years ago, but Abby remembers like it was yesterday. The survivor had told Abby “I felt like less of a woman when I first looked at myself in the mirror a few weeks after chemo and total mastectomy in both breasts, I just couldn’t believe it was me”. When she came to Abby for hair extensions, she had undergone breast reconstruction, a nipple transplant, and tattoos for the areola around the nipples. She came to the salon with her six year old daughter and a picture of them together from before she had lost all of her long, beautiful hair. She spent a full day at the salon with Abby, and when they were done and she had the most beautiful breasts and long hair again they all laughed, cried, and hugged at the joy of her client seeing herself again and recognizing the reflection in the mirror.
Abby knew then that doing hair extensions gives her the opportunity to help give a survivor her femininity back after their battle with breast cancer, recognize themselves in the mirror again, and improve their self-image. She wants to continue to put a smile on her client’s faces and is grateful for the opportunity to participate in this contest to award a full head of hair extensions to a bride-to-be for one of the most important days of her life. She lost one of her best friends to cancer in December 2007 and takes this cause very personally.
The Spiraled Stem Floral Design is presenting this contest as an extension of the launch of its floral design studio on January 31, 2008. At a gathering of approximately 150 wedding, event, and floral industry professionals, a silent auction raised money to purchase natural hair extensions for a bride who had lost her hair due to breast cancer treatment. Celebrity Hairstylist Abby Aguilera donated the hair extension service. The Spiraled Stem Floral Design is proud to present this contest to select the winner of this prize package!
Owner Christine Saunders lost her aunt Anne to breast cancer 10 years ago. Anne was an accomplished seamstress and had sewn all of Christine’s dresses for holidays, dances, and parties since she was a baby. There are many family photos in which Christine and her brother and sister are in perfectly matching hand-sewn outfits, and Anne had even made matching outfits for Christine and her dolls! Anne had made Christine’s sister’s wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses, and Christine had looked forward to designing a custom wedding gown with her aunt when it came her time to marry.
In 1995, Christine called her aunt Anne to design a dress for her to wear to her junior prom. Anne explained that she hadn’t been feeling well for some time and had just come back from the doctor’s office and running a bunch of tests, and she didn’t think she would be able to make a dress for her. The diagnosis came the following week: breast cancer. She had put off going to the doctor for so long that is was very advanced by the time it was discovered. Anne ultimately lost her battle with breast cancer in 1998.
In honor of her Aunt Anne, Christine donated the store-bought dress from her wedding in 2003 to the Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale, proceeds of which go to support Making Memories, whose mission is to grant wishes, including memory making events, for metastatic breast cancer patients, while continuing to support, educate, and increase resource awareness. Participating in this contest is a meaningful way for Christine to give back to a breast cancer survivor by providing a gift of flowers for her wedding.
Lorne is the Chief Bra Lady of Sculpted Silhouette. Like so many women, she believed she was wearing the right bra size and style. This was based upon what was recommended and available at local retailers. Not until a few years ago did she learn that she was wearing the wrong bra size and there were so many more fashionable and stylish selections than she had ever known. The problem was that she was in a boutique in Paris! She was so ecstatic about her discovery that she wanted to frolic in the streets of Paris in nothing but her bra and panties, which fit her like a glove and were so beautiful! Not familiar enough with local customs she refrained, but her mind was filled with questions. Why hadn’t she seen this brand before? Did she have to drop her life savings right there in the boutique or could she buy more lingerie sets like this at home in LA?
This life changing experience inspired her to find her niche… Lorne decided to bring exquisite imported lingerie from exotic places like Hungary, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and New Zealand to American women in the privacy of their home or in the setting of a home shopping party. Lorne hopes that all of her customers will inspired to run the streets of their neighborhoods in their panties, just like she was on that fateful day in Paris.
Lorne was compelled to sponsor the Say ‘I Do’ With a Big ‘Do contest because as a Certified Mastectomy Fitter, it saddened her that she could not offer mastectomy clients the same selection of fabulous bras that matched their personality and suited their lifestyle needs. Where was the strapless, lacy, sexy, or sporty bra for the breast cancer survivor? She created The Bra Pocket for women who may have lost their breasts but not their femininity. The Bra Pocket can be used as a cover for a prosthesis that can be slipped in and out of a bra or permanently sewn in. With The Bra Pocket, mastectomy clients can enjoy all of the bra styles offered by the Sculpted Silhouette.
Simply Mumtaz Events, Inc. is an award winning full service Special Event & Meeting Management, Production & Design Company providing their clients with the highest level of service. Finding its niche as the “green” event management and production company, Simply Mumtaz Events looks to customize your next special event. Events are not just about the day of… they are about getting there. They know it takes attention to those small details to create those Simply Mumtaz Events.
Simply Mumtaz Events, Inc. President Joella Hopkins (left) and Special Events and Weddings Director Karli Tanner (right) are proud to participate as a sponsor of the Say ‘I Do’ With a Big ‘Do Contest. As a minority and woman owned business, they realize that wellness and balance between work and personal lives are often lacking. As a small business, Simply Mumtaz encourages their all-woman team to become educated, balanced, healthy, and happy – ultimately to be and feel “alive and thrive!” Breast cancer touches us all in some way and they hope that their contribution will bring hope to women affected by breast cancer.
After being a fashion industry veteran for 11 years, Tina Aldatz Norris noticed there was something lacking in the marketplace for stylish women that enjoy wearing high heels, but still want to be comfortable. Convinced there was a solution to this ongoing problem, Tina found the perfect material in a U.S. factory. After testing the material, she found its benefits to be many and better than anything else being offer in stores.
Foot Petals was started in January 2001 and offers solution-orientated foot care and comfort products. Tina’s goal in creating Foot Petals and Foot Petals products is to create something that would give long-lasting comfort and not take away from the look of designer shoes. Foot Petals is the original designer shoe cushion.
Foot Petals is participating in the Say ‘I Do’ With a Big ‘Do contest to help raise awareness and find a cure for breast cancer because we are a company created by a woman for women. This is an issue that primarily affects women and we feel it is important to help in any way we can. Foot Petals donates a portion of proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Foundation every month all year long. The joy of women getting married after suffering through such a life changing experience is exciting and inspiring to all of us. Foot Petals’ “Runaway Bride” kit will provide comfort to the brides’ feet so they can enjoy their special day!
Additional Sponsors
Luminaire Images – Molly Yarchin – Photography package valued at $4,120
American Limousine - Four hour limo transportation valued at $500
Mikasa Event Linens - Linen package valued at $400
Brides Against Breast Cancer – Wedding gown valued at $500
