Journal

March 23, 2015

Calligraphy and Cocktails

Happy Monday! Today is a very, very happy Monday indeed as we are SO excited to announce that we are hosting our very first workshop!

Calligraphy & Cocktails
May 3rd
1 – 4pm
Taught by Sincerely Amy Designs

Calligraphy has just morphed into this big, beautiful entity in the wedding and design world and we are so thrilled to host the talented Amy behind Sincerely Amy Designs. Amy creates stunning calligraphy out of Richmond and will be coming down to Hampton Roads to teach the workshop attendees.

The workshop will include:
Three Hours of Hands on Instruction
All Materials
Q & A with Amy
Cocktails & Light Snacks
Fun Afternoon Out!

Hopefully this is the first of many workshops, but spaces are limited so don’t delay in securing your seat!

E-mail [email protected] with any questions!

February 26, 2015

Meet the Couple

Wedding season is fast approaching and we are absolutely in love with our couples this year! We are so excited to introduce you to a few of them!

Your name and your beau’s name: Ryann and Craig

Tell us a little bit about you two as a couple! What do you do for fun? What are your pets names? Craig and I were friends from high school who rekindled over a Christmas Break at home a few years ago. From then on we have been on the go! Along the way we have picked up Mac the Bulldog and Molly the cat, and we love them more than ANYTHING!
After dating long distance we moved in together, while moving across the country. While in San Diego we loved kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, wine tasting at the vineyards, brunch (which I consider an activity, not just a meal ) and of course, San Diego’s nightlife. In the next few months we will be settling into Beaufort, South Carolina and plan to keep up the same hobbies. Craig is overtly social and I a natural host, I learned quickly to always keep the house stocked with everything needed to create party trays. If there is a football game on, friends are bound to be showing up right at kickoff, if its Friday the night starts at our place!

Which celebrity couple are you most like? With all that goes on in our house, we defiantly have some Lucy and Ricky moments! Undoubtedly Craig and I remain children at heart, so you never know who is who that day.

How did that mister put the sparkle on your finger? Was it a total surprise or did you suspect it was coming? We were in Las Vegas, I knew a ring was in the works. We went with another couple, us girls had plans to see Brittany Spears in concert. All day and night Craig was begging to go to the Eiffel tower overlooking the strip, only for the girls to say “later.” At the show, my friend and I talked about the ring, which we picked out together. Being that it was late on Saturday night, I said, “but I guess it isn’t this weekend. Maybe tomorrow when my Seahawks win the Superbowl!” After the show let out Craig insisted on making it to the Eiffel Tower, but we complained our feet hurt. I guess he was getting antsy, because when I turned around he had dropped down on one knee right there. I was shocked! It was the best surprise EVER!

Where are you getting married? What was your hardest wedding decision so far? We are getting married at Kings Creek Marina. The location has been the hardest choice by FAR. We originally came to look at venues from San Diego and a snow storm made is impossible to visit the Eastern Shore. 6 months later, after a hiccup, we ended up at the most perfect place for us! Must be fate!

Who was the most important vendor decision for you? For your fiancé? EASY! Patti Cakes Beautiful on the outside, yummy Banana Chocolate Chip on the inside.
Craig really wanted a celebration, so the DJ is key to keeping everyone having a good time and out on the dance floor! We are in great hands with Astro!

Describe your wedding in five words. Timeless, Scenic, Sweet, Family, Celebration

What has been the best part of wedding planning? What has been the hardest part? The journey of planning and piecing together such a beautiful day has been wonderful. I love crafts, decorating and hosting parties so to see if all come together is all a ton of fun!
The hardest part is hands down THE GUEST LIST. I know everyone says it, but they are all right. There is my family, his family, my friends, his friend and our friends! Starting out we wanted an intimate wedding, but then as guest list 1, 2, 3 and 4 came to light we started increasing the numbers. Just like many others before us, we wish everyone could join in on our celebration! It is very difficult to set a number and stick to it.

Are you going on a honeymoon? If so, what are your big plans? Was it hard for the two of you to decide where to go? We are leaving the morning after the wedding for a sunny week in Jamaica! Honeymoon planning was one of the easiest parts for us. We wanted all- inclusive, a gorgeous ocean view, some sun and sand to relax and plenty of actives when we were ready. Sandals Grande Rivera is perfect for us, the spa appointments are booked, we’re signed up for the party boat and waterfall hike, all were waiting for is to say I DO!

What are you most looking forward to about being married? Do you anticipate it being much different than being engaged? We already live our lives intertwined we doubt it will be any different, sharing the same name feels like the icing on the cake. The reminders when you are least expecting it, is when it so sweet. At times Craig introduces me as his “girlfriend” and quickly changes it to “fiancé” with a bigger smile and that’s such a cute little reminder. I am sure the titles of husband and wife will give us a little sparkle to share for quite sometime!

February 18, 2015

A Galentine’s Day to Remember

Last week we had the privilege of celebrating Valentine’s Day with almost 50 of Hampton Roads best wedding vendors. There were photographers, lighting experts, wedding planners, caterers, graphic designers, and so many more, I think we had at least one representative of every field there. It was nothing short of amazing. We are so thankful to all of the ladies that made it out for lunch, and especially thankful for the community of support within our field. Hampton Roads brides are certainly in good hands with all of the talent that we have in our area!

We are so grateful to have the opportunity to work with and have friendships with so many amazing women in this industry. It’s not often that we get the chance to get together for a lunch date with one another but it’s so wonderful when we do!! This is the second year that we’ve all gathered at Geisha for a Valentine’s Day lunch date and we hope to do it again next year!

*And look at all of the goodies that were given*

February 1, 2015

What to do for Valentine’s Day …

Hello lovebirds, and happy February! Clearly I am just stating the obvious here, but in the event you are living under a rock Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. I know there are a lot of people out there that don’t get overly excited about the thought of planning for Valentine’s Day. I personally love seeing all of the hearts and pretty red and pink store displays reminding me that this lovely holiday is right around the corner and I need to do something special for my love. I mean, that’s pretty much what Valentine’s Day is about, right? It’s an extra reminder to show your loved one(s) that you love them? I think sometimes we get so busy with life that we forget to stop and show our affection for each other as much as we used to. We get complacent. Sure it’s easy to just go out to a nice restaurant every year and celebrate Valentine’s Day, but why not do something a little more untraditional? I’ve compiled a list of 5 ideas to celebrate your Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank.

1. It would be unfair for me to not mention the release of the 50 Shades of Grey movie set to release the day before Valentine’s Day. So for the sake of not ignoring the obvious this would clearly be a great date idea for more reasons than one.

2. Instead of buying Valentine’s Day cards for each other why not make them? Take yourself back to the days of elementary school with the Elmer’s glue and the googly eyes and get a little crafty with it.

3. Go grocery shopping together for all of the ingredients to make a nice meal at home together. Do a wine tasting together to pair your favorite wine with your meal and make it a monthly ritual.

4. Aphrodisiacs. Don’t underestimate them. Dark Chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and almonds…sounds amazing, right? Now imagine a candlelit bath with your favorite music in the background and some of the amazing bath and body products from LUSH. Let’s be honest. It doesn’t matter if you slip into silk sheets or into a snuggle together watching a movie on the couch, a romantic bath is the perfect way to start/end any evening.

5. Write each other a short little note or text message each morning saying what you love about each other. You’ll each start your day feeling loved and appreciated.

Whatever you decide to do this Valentine’s Day, I hope you have an amazing one together!

January 18, 2015

An Eastern Shore Wedding

This past June we had the opportunity to work with Caroline and Marshall on their beautiful Eastern Shore wedding and reception. Their southern styled wedding was held on the spacious lawn of the Kings Creek Inn, overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. It was just breathtaking. The weather was absolutely perfect for an outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour followed by a beautiful tented reception. They had a phenomenal band (E3) that kept the guests dancing well into the evening hours so of course no one wanted to leave. Thankfully the couple gifted their guests a small farewell package of assorted pies and we ended the night with an epic sparkler exit to an antique car. It was an amazing day with a wonderful couple and we were so thrilled to be a part of it!

Click here to watch their film by Yellow Bicycle Films

Here is the link to their photographer’s blog to see more images from their day.

Special thanks to:

Classy Covers for the table runners

Eastern Shore Events & Rentals (ESER) and Distinctive Event Rentals

Bliss Bakery for the wedding cake and personal pies

January 14, 2015

The Invitation Guide – Pt. 3

What to Include on Your Wedding Invitation
The Invitation Guide – Pt. 3

Choosing the design for your wedding invitation can be extremely time consuming, there are approximately 8,000 design styles now and you can personalize them all to perfectly suit your wedding. But the information included on your invitation is pretty universal. Allow us to break down the basic information required.

-Who:
You and Your Fiance
If not including your parents be sure to include your last names

-What:
In some form be sure to mention that you are “getting married”, people need to know what they’re being invited to.
Unless of course it’s a surprise wedding.

-Where:
It might seem common sense to most, but out of town guests can be easily confused. Be sure to list the venue site name, city and state, venue site address, and Time including morning + afternoon + or evening.

-RSVP date
You don’t want to be hunting people down two weeks before your wedding to find out if they’re attending, so be sure that this is easily visible.

-Envelope Addressing
Be sure to list out exactly who the invitation is for.
The word “and” in between two names traditionally implies that those people are married. Names of unmarried hosts or guests should be stacked.
Be sure to use the correct form of “Miss”, “Mrs”, or “Ms”.

Other Tips:
-You can personalize how you ask for replies, but remember to keep the wording consistent with the invitation. For example “the favor or a reply” typically matches the invitation wording “the honor of your presence”. For less formal invitation wording, such as “request the pleasure of your “, the RSVP wording would typically “Kindly reply by” or “Kindly respond by”.

–If the ceremony and reception are held at the same venue, it is fine to state “Reception to follow” at the bottom of the invitation. If the reception is held at a different location, it should be treated as a separate event. Include a reception card with the event details as part of the invitation suite.

–An information card is enclosed with your wedding invitation, and allows couples to provide guests with any additional information you want them to have (transportation information, lodging suggestions, etc.).

-Rehearsal dinner invitations should be sent separately, at least three weeks before the event.

What other topics do you want to read about?

January 7, 2015

The Wedding Invitation Guide – Pt. 2

Happy 2015!! I can’t believe that we are already one week into the new year. We hope that everyone had wonderful holiday celebrations, and capitalized on your time off. Now it’s time for us to hit the ground running and gear up for a fantastic 2015 season, so today we’re continuing with our wedding invitation guide,

Wedding Invitation Guide – Part 2
The A List & B List

-Reasons you might need a back up list:
1) Budget purposes
2) To meet a venue minimum (if you are receiving more NO’s than originally anticipated)
3) To accomodate a small venue

-Keys to making a B list work without offending anyone:
1) Ensure your second round of invitations don’t go out too late (aim for no later than 4 weeks after the first invitations are sent)
2) Try to keep your circles together: family, friends, colleagues, etc. This will lessen the chance of people crossing paths and wondering why they haven’t received their invitations yet.
3) Print two sets of RSVP response cards, so the B list has a later date. Sending RSVP’s with a date that has passed is a dead giveaway.

With a B guest list discretion is key; No one wants to end up with hurt feelings or drama in the weeks leading up to your big day. When deciding to send out B list invitations make sure that you are not inviting this B list just for the sake of excitement, they probably didn’t make your A list for a reason.

December 16, 2014

The Wedding Invitation Guide – Pt. 1

The season may be slow, but wedding planning is most definitely in full swing. We thought that it might be helpful to start a few series sharing some advice on topics we are most frequently asked about. Today begins the series on The Wedding Invitation. We will break it down into different topics that go more in depth related to questions we’ve received. So hang on and lets figure out….

THE WEDDING INVITAION – WHO SHOULD YOU INVITE
{Now take into mind that next week we will discuss who/when you should have an A & B list, and how to use them. This is just the bare bones, MUST HAVES on your invitation list.}

Aside from the common sense guests like immediate family, grandparents, and your bridal party attendants you and your fiance have sole control over your guest list. Don’t feel pressured by mom or Aunt Sally to add to your list (unless mom is paying for the whole thing, and then it might be nice to throw her a bone but we will discuss that on the next invitation installment.) No guest list will be the same, you can have 10 guests or 1,000 guests, it can be all family or all friends. The beauty of this wedding is that it is all about you and your fiancé.

-Invite the a-list players in your life. Do you have dinner together frequently? Do you have a relationship outside of social media? You want the people there that will fill your heart at the sight of them, people that you know you will be able to reflect back upon your wedding day with in ten years.

-Plus One’s. Bridal Party members should definitely get a plus one. No you don’t have to put the plus ones at your head table, but that is a topic for a different day. For other plus ones you are welcome to evoke the “no ring, no bring” rule, or just use common courtesy. If you have never met the significant other there is no need for them to be there, if they are a regular attendee at events that you go to then make room for them on your list.

-If you want to send a save the date to this person you MUST send them a wedding invitation.

-Anyone that you plan on inviting to an engagement party, bachelorette party, bridal shower, or rehearsal dinner. The one exception might be if your office throws you a party and people you have very little interaction with attend. But if you have any input on the guest list for the party then make sure that person will be receiving an actual wedding invitation.

-For guests you are the fence about, ask yourself: Will I still be involved in this person’s life in five years? What kind of wedding guest will they be? Will they go overboard at the open bar or perhaps make an embarrassment of themselves sometime throughout the event?

December 10, 2014

Pantone introduces the new color of 2015

Goodness gracious were did 2014 go? As we are nearing the end of the year Pantone decided to get us amped up for next year by releasing the 2015 Pantone Color of the year MARSALA!! “Marsala enriches our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence and stability. Marsala is a subtly seductive shade, one that draws us into its embracing warmth.” -Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute®

From Pantone’s website: “A naturally robust and earthy wine red, Marsala enriches our minds, bodies and souls.” We couldn’t agree more! Now the next step is to put it into your personal color palette!

We compsed an elegant Marsala inspiration board over on our Pinterest page . Go ahead, take a peek! You know you want to! We can’t wait to use this color in our upcoming events and also see how our clients are incorporating it into their vision! Can’t you envision it paired with eggplant, robin’s egg blue, or a mustard yellow? The opportunities are endless!

December 8, 2014

Brandi had a baby (shower)

As many of you know our very own Brandi is due to have a baby any day now. I had a lot of fun putting together a sweet little baby sprinkle for her along with some other friends in our industry. A woodland theme was one of the options tossed around for the new baby’s nursery but didn’t end up being the final choice so I was so excited to snag it for our fun baby sprinkle theme! After settling on the theme I spent a few days thinking on the perfect spot to host the event. A park, a backyard, a restaurant….even though an outdoor setting (such as a tree filled park) would have been the absolute perfect setting I didn’t really want to deal with a rain plan. I know, call me lazy but I’ve done enough outdoor events to know that switching over to a rain plan can be a lot of work and frankly I wanted the event to be super fun and care free so I went back to the drawing board. We did a really beautiful wedding back in May (link here) where we brought trees into the ceremony and reception to bring the feeling of nature and the beautiful outdoors inside, which is exactly what I wanted to emulate! So now I just had to find the perfect space! I wanted the space to be chill and laid back. Very casual feeling and easily able to take on the feel of a woodland theme without it having to look forced. And that’s when Becky with Roost and Mary with Bluebird’s Garage came to mind. They have a collaborative space in Virginia Beach and both of their styles and creative personalities were completely on point with what I was looking for. I reached out to them and right away they were on board! Now that the hard part was taken care of it was time to move on to the fun details! We started with the perimeter of the room to achieve the overall look we were going for. We placed Bluebird’s Garage’s vintage furniture around the room to create an intimate and eclectic space and we used her handcrafted wooden bar as the bar of course 😉 Roost hung branches from the ceiling and put together a few seriously beautiful floral arrangements for us. She also placed trees by the entrance so that our guests were literally walking into the experience as soon as they walked through the door. Michelle with Sweet Temptations baked some adorable mushroom cupcakes for us and Lorraine with Beach Belle Bakery knocked it out of the park with her ridiculously cute customized sugar cookies. And of course, the fabulous photographer Zoë Grant was gracious enough to snap some shots for us. Enjoy!!