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From The Heart

Personally created additions to family simchahs.

PHOTOS BY: CHELSEA ANNE PHOTOGRAPHY

Shelli Liebman Dorfman I Contributing Writer

Judy and Dave York at Katie and Ben's wedding.

York wedding reception table.

S omewhere between laborious and over-
whelming, the word fun should help
describe the planning for a simchah.
For those with specific creative powers and
interests, that fun can be the infusion of an
individual forte, even when enlisting the know-
how and resources of an event planner.
"Our favorite part of planning is being
able to intertwine or feature the personally
handmade addition to the event," said Lauren
Waterstone-Bradley, event designer and coor-
dinator at A June Event, a full-service plan-
ning and coordinating event company in West
Bloomfield. "Time and time again our clients
tell us whatever personal item they created
becomes a 'memory of a lifetime' for them."
Jewelry designer Judy York literally brought
her talent to the table when she created napkin
rings for her son and new daughter-in-law's
Jan. 3, 2015, wedding reception.
York, who owns LOVE, JUDY Designs in
Farmington Hills, fashioned the napkin rings
from an enhancer-bracelet she crafted to be
worn with her first bracelet design, which she
had dubbed, "The Katie," named for her son
Ben's then-girlfriend, now his wife.
The enhancer is called, "the La Jolla" after
the California city where Ben and Katie, who
live in Kansas City, Kan., were married. It is
made of light rose-colored Swarovski crystals
and curved wire with a dangling heart.

The "Katie" design made its way to Dancing
With the Stars, the Oscar's and Emmy gifting
events — and to Kate Middleton. It was also
pictured in People.com , all thanks to York's for-
mer Southfield High School classmate Marilyn
Nelson Kirschner, a celebrity gifting special-
ist and founder and CEO of My Professional
Konnection in Los Angeles and Miami.
But the original "Katie" is still owned by the
bride and was temporarily on-loan to her mom,
who wore it at the wedding.
York's line of jewelry is sold through her
website (www.lovejudydesigns.com ), by phone
(248-270-8945) and in area stores, including
Emery's Creative Jewelers in Farmington Hills,
Too Chic Boutique in Keego Harbor, Artloft in
Birmingham and Merle Norman in Farmington.
"Katie had asked me to help create the
table," said York, who lives in Farmington Hills
with her husband, Dave. "One of the things she
wanted ideas for was the napkin rings. I came
up with the idea when I was having lunch one
day with a friend. I was showing her one of my
bracelets, and then it was laying on the table
next to my rolled up napkin. Voila! I asked
Katie and she liked the idea."
After the wedding, the napkin rings were
gifted to the women guests to wear as brace-
lets.
"I've worn mine every day since," York said.
"It means a lot to me."

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celebrate! I March 2015

Judy York's wedding napkin rings

Napkin rings on Katie and Ben York's wedding
reception table.

Judy York's napkin ring, right, next to Katie and
Ben's forks that say, "I do" and "Me too."