As soon as you get engaged, there is a mile long list of things to do, but one of the first order of business is to choose your attendants. Who will have the honor to stand next to you on one of the most important occasions of your life?
The actual number of attendants can vary greatly. I believe the largest bridal party we've had was a total of 35! On the other end of the spectrum, we've had couples who opted to keep it minimal, with 1 Maid of Honor and 1 Best Man. Most of our clients prefer an even number on each side, for the visual balance, but really, there are no hard rules today on how many bridesmaids and groomsmen should be in your bridal party.
There is an array of expectations that seem to go hand in hand with being named a bridesmaid, but I truly believe that their most important role is to be an emotional support to you as the bride. All party planning and dress shopping roles aside, a bridesmaid should understand the emotional roller coaster ride that you will inevitably go through in various stages of the planning, possibly culminating in one big cry feast on the wedding day. She will need to be comfortable putting your needs in front of hers (which, of course, you wouldn't take advantage of!) and to proudly stand by your side as you exchange your vows with the partner you love.
As you think about the special friends in your life whom you'd like to take on this honorary role, here's a fun idea that one of my clients shared with me....
A Bridesmaid Proposal!
You can find these cute proposal spools on Etsy vendor ChoosingYou
As a planner, I get many chances to recommend service providers to my clients. It's a process of match-making that I love. I honestly don't expect to receive anything in return from my vendors, other than for them to do the best possible job for our mutual clients. It is humbling though, when they appreciate the hard work that planners put into a wedding. A few weeks ago, Gertrude and Mabel Photography decided to spruce up the fun factor while showing their appreciation for all the planners and designers that have supported their business through the years. They planned a hands-on dinner experience for us at Hands On Gourmet in the dogpatch district of San Francisco.
Below is a fabulous slideshow recapping the sensational time that we shared...
When you put groups of creative people together in the kitchen, along with unlimited libations, there are seriously no boundaries as to what they are capable of doing. I don't think I stopped laughing the entire time as I chopped, stirred, and showed off my mean culinary skills. After all the kitchen work, we got to sit down and enjoy the fruits of our successes, all while someone else cleaned the messes we left behind...
There are many words to describe Pinterest, but "addictive" is definitely on the top of my list. I use this adjective with a positive tone though, because it this very addiction that has brought a new form of organization and inspiration in my life.
Like many others, I spend hours cruising the internet on any given day, mesmerized by all the eye candy, new (amazing) products, and creative ideas out there. Now, instead of trying to bookmark every interesting page that I come across, I can conveniently "pin" it onto my Pinterest boards, allowing me to organize every image and link that I want to preserve.
This is a very user-friendly site that makes it almost intuitive to use, and to share, and it would be a great way for couples planning their wedding to keep their ideas and images contained in one place.
It seems that a lot of very talented and creative folks out there are hard at work inventing the 'next best thing' for engaged couples. Here are some of our favorite new things in the gorgeous world of weddings...
{ Weddington Way }
If you've ever shopped with a group of girls and tried to reach some kind of consensus on a dress, you'll likely agree that it can be a daunting process. Brides can surely commiserate on the stressful task of finding the right bridesmaid dress that all of their bridesmaids would love, then coordinating to make sure everyone understands the ordering and fitting process, while trusting their best girlfriends who are scattered in different parts of the world to actually remember to do everything in a timely manner. Weddington Way is a brilliant solution to help brides master this ever-intimidating task by providing an easy to use platform for the girls to shop, share, and bond over the experience. Heavenly, right? We think so.
{ Loverly }
Exactly how are you suppose to keep track of all those eye candy that sweeps you off your feet in the blogosphere? Loverly wants to be your solution. A "visual search engine and cloud scrapbook, they help brides and their friends search, save, and share wedding inspiration from the best sites online." We think they're going to rock the wedding world!
{ Kate Spade Wedding Belles }
With newcomers to the bridal market such as J Crew and Anthropology, it leaves us anticipating which of the next big brands will announce a new bridal line. Kate Spade, however, chose to focus instead on the occasions surrounding the wedding day. Their stylish line of little white dresses are remarkable choices for the rehearsal dinner, welcome cocktail party, or other pre and post wedding events.
{ Foodie Registry }
If you're looking to have an unconventional registry for your wedding, the Foodie Registry may just suit your palette. Started by several Chicago foodies, this registry will allow guests to gift you dining experiences at your favorite restaurants. If you are big foodies, or if you simply love dining out, you'll find this registry so much more practical than an extra pot or pan around the house!
Last week, I tuned in with the other 2 billion viewers from all over the world to witness the marriage ceremony of a true prince and princess. Kate won a lot admiration with her stunning dress, simple bouquet, and personable smile. Without a doubt, her lace sleeves, intricate tiara, and natural hair style will be amongst the many details from this royal wedding that will set the trend for the wedding industry in the next couple of years. I, like many of my colleagues, am looking forward to seeing 'Regal Elegance' make a comeback!
On Friday morning, I had the honor of attending a lovely brunch hosted by the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, along with San Francisco Brides magazine and Josephine Fisher Interior Design. They called the brunch a 'Royal Wedding Viewing', and it was held inside their 6,000 square feet Penthouse, which offers a stunning view of the San Francisco skyline. My fellow wedding industry colleagues and I enjoyed a morning of the 'royal treatment', with champagne, a sumptuous brunch, and entertaining conversations about the Royal Wedding itself. Thank you to Emilie Rekart, Director of Catering at the Fairmont Hotel, for hosting such a delightful event on a glorious day!
The awe-inspiring flowers were sponsored by Ornamento
I was head over heels in love with this Monique Lhuillier gown, from Bridal Galleria
It is so much fun when we get to plan a formal 'send-off' for our brides and grooms at the end of their wedding reception. The traditional 'getaway car' has now evolved into the getaway bikes, the getaway carriage, and my new favorite found on Southern Weddings blog--the getaway canoe! What a creative ending to a fabulous party!
Photo above from Southern Weddings Magazine Blog
Left photo from Martha Stewart Weddings' Bride Guide | Right photo from Southern Weddings Magazine Blog
Left photo by Gertrude and Mabel Photography | Right photo by Lisa Lefkowitz Photography
We are a contestant for Classic Party Rental's 'The Most Fabulous Event of 2010", and would love your vote!
We decided to submit Leslie and Jeffrey's 'Cozy Chic Wedding in Napa' for this contest, not only because it is absolutely beautiful, but also because each detail speaks so intimately to the couple, and that truly is what a wedding should be about. Read all about it on our submission here.
Thank you for your support! The contest will run from today, Valentine's Day, until March 3rd, and you can vote once a day.
Just received the following press release from Get Married, and wanted to share it with my readers!
GET MARRIED SEEKS REAL BRIDES FOR ITS NATIONAL WEDDING PROGRAM Casting call for brides-to-be to appear on Get Married’s show on WE tv
ATLANTA, January 11, 2010 – Get Married’s national wedding program is looking for passionate brides to appear on its television show. Throughout the half-hour program which airs every Saturday at 9:30am ET/PT on WE tv, host Stacie Francombe—Get Married’s CEO and founder—helps brides identify and match their personality with their unique bridal style. Brides are guided through an array of bridal experiences and participate in inspiring challenges with wedding professionals and experts.
Interested brides-to-be are encouraged to apply by visiting www.getmarried.com/omg where additional details are posted. Brides across the country could be saying “OMG! I’m going to be on TV!”
“Get Married’s show is all about the bride. By incorporating real brides in every episode we make a connection with our audience, showing them that every wedding element is attainable regardless of your style,” said Stacie Francombe, CEO and founder of Get Married Media. “Get Married’s show helps brides create the ultimate wedding that reflects their unique and personal style.”
Get Married’s television show on WE tv, a women-centric network dedicated to the wedding genre, is among an audience of brides seeking bright, innovative ideas and inspirations. Available in nearly 74 million homes, WE tv is the premier source for women looking to satisfy their curiosity with fascinating, original stories and entertaining content. The series will also simulcast to an additional three million on Wedding Central, a 24/7 multiplatform, interactive programming service devoted to weddings, dating and romance.
What's the latest and greatest in the wedding world? I visited Andrew Hsu of Studio MSV yesterday and we had a great time chatting about our businesses. He introduced me to his new concept--creating a Save the Date video and sending it to your families and friends via the internet. Not only does it save you stamps but it'll get you some wows for sure! You can get as creative as you want with Andrew, and really make it personalized.
I know there's something wonderful about receiving a beautiful piece of mail, but you can always do that for your invitation. I always feel that Save the Dates should be something fun, to show your guests that they can expect to have a great time at your wedding. Skip the magnets--they will LOVE seeing your faces in a custom video!
I love it when I discover fabulous places with fabulous experiences so that I can have fabulous recommendations for my fabulous clients. I just wrote 'fabulous' 4 times in one sentence!
Last week, I had a 'business' meeting scheduled with Jean Marks and Viola Sutanto and Viola was brilliant enough to suggest Crown and Crumpet as the place for us to meet. Experiencing Crown and Crumpet had been on my 'to-do' list for quite some time, but who has time for high tea when you've got a 2 year old right? Well, it made total sense to kill two birds with one stone, so off to the lovely new tea salon I went to get some business done!
Crown and Crumpet is located inside Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco and it is by far the MOST stylish tea house I've been to. The moment I walked in, I felt giddy. The vibrant decor was so cheery, with polka dot tablecloths, shabby chic furniture, and a cute gift shop in the corner.
As soon as we finished snapping a million pictures of every angle of the tea salon, we settled at a table and were greeted by Holly--our 'Trolley Dolly'. Since all three of us had a late lunch, we ordered the 'Tea for Two' to share, with one extra pot of tea. It was so hard to choose our individual tea flavors since they had such a superb variety. I finally settled on Blue Eyes, which is a caffeine-free tea bringing hibiscus, rose hips, orange, and apple together with delicate sky-blue cornflower blossoms. It was very light and fruity--perfect for my palette.
Our Tea for Two came with a variety of tea sandwiches, scones, crumpets, and mini tartlets and brownies--all VERY delicious. Now isn't this a much better setting to discuss business for creative professionals?
Crown and Crumpet is a great place to host bridal showers, baby showers, or other girly girl events. Although they do not have a private room for special events, they are able to section one part of the tea salon off to create an intimate space, and you even get a beautiful view of the bay!
We still have a few spots left for The Wedding University this Sunday, February 8th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palo Alto. It is going to be super fun, and educational. If you want to get good tips on planning your wedding, or to get inspired by new trends and designs, or enjoy an amazing menu by the Four Seasons, you MUST come!
We are loved by two of the most popular wedding blogs--Style Me Pretty and Ritzy Bee! How cool is that?
Does the title seem silly to you? Well, believe it or not, there are cake topper thieves out there! I know what you are thinking. Who would ever steal at a wedding, and if they were to steal, why a CAKE TOPPER of all things?
That's because you have not seen Stacie Tamaki's amazing custom cake toppers, hand made with beads. They are truly works of art, and can be customized to fit any color palette and any theme. My favorite one is the pair of shrimps that she made for her own wedding in 2007 which you see here on the left. It was a perfect reflection of her husband John's love for shrimp cocktail!
Back to the topic of cake topper thieves. Several years ago, I asked Stacie to create a sample of a daisy cake topper for one of my clients. She brought it with her to an event that we both attended. It was a very small, intimate event and when she brought the cake topper out to show me, people around the table were ooohing and ahhing nonstop. Everyone wanted to see this beautiful piece and it was circulated for a few minutes. Next thing we knew, it was gone! Poof! Vanished! We searched everywhere, even under the tables (!!) for it, and it was nowhere to be found. We made all the excuses in the world to make this odd incident seem unsuspicious....and decided to put it behind us.
Months went by, and Stacie created a really cute, whimsical daisy cake topper for my client. It was one of the show pieces of the wedding reception and all the guests were commenting that they had never seen such a unique cake topper. Well, what do you think happened at the end of the evening when we tried to find the cake topper to box back up for the bride?
The cake topper was never seen again.....
You may think this particular daisy cake topper was jinxed, but that wasn't the case...because the same thing happened to another bride who displayed one of Stacie's cake toppers on her wedding cake just months later!
I know exactly why this happened. Stacie's cake toppers are just too hard to resist! You can bring it home and convert it to a desk ornament or photo holder. It's so pretty to look at. Heck, you should order one even if you're not planning a wedding!
Wouldn't you be envious if someone got their wedding photographed by a very talented professional photographer.....for FREE?
Well, don't just be green with envy. Use the word green to help YOU win the contest below by Sabine Scherer Photography! (Click on image for a larger viewing)
'Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la la la....
Who doesn't love Christmas? It's such a joyous, festive time! Since there is less than a week until Christmas, I thought it'd be fun to post some of my favorite things for the holidays this year!
1. Chocolate gingerbread house petits fours--how cute is that? I'm definitely saving this idea for next year, when my daughter is old enough to enjoy this together!
It's a Martha Stewart creation. Click here to get the full recipe.
2. Marshmallow Snowflakes--another super cute MS creation. Homemade marshmallow is such an inexpensive way to add some spark to your holiday party. Add it to the hot chocolate that you're serving your guests, and they will be ooohing and aaahhhing for sure! You can find the recipe here.
3. Holiday Hand-Dipped Strawberries--a festive twist to a much loved dessert. No time to make it? Just order it on Red Envelope!
4. Gem Martinis--I'm all about throwing a great party to wow your guests, but it doesn't always have to be ultra expensive. Focus on the little details. A fun, colorful martini glass goes a long way and it's only $4.95 each at cb2!
5. Telluride Stocking Collection--I love these vibrant, cute stockings at Pottery Barn Kids! It's perfect to enhance any fireplace mantel, and there is plenty of room to stuff them with all sorts of goodies!
For those that know me well, they can tell you that creating wedding planning workshops for brides and grooms have been a dream and fantasy of mine for quite a few years now. I've always loved to teach. Before I became a wedding planner, I taught a lot of HR courses on conflict management. Two years ago, I was invited to the Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica to teach and certify a group of wedding planners. For the past 6 years as a wedding planner, I have certainly taught A LOT of brides and grooms on many aspects of wedding planning from designing concepts to creating a fabulous menu to dealing with tricky family dynamics. Okay, you get it--I love to teach.
Well, I've dreamed about it and talked about it....now I'm finally ready to act on it! On February 8, 2009 I will be co-hosting a very unique and special event call THE WEDDING UNIVERSITY.
What exactly is it?
Imagine being a first time bride. You're newly engaged and super excited about that dynamic ring that he chose for you. You share the incredible news with your family in their living room, then with your girlfriends over cocktails. Your next stop is the bookstore, where you purchase every single magazine with the word WEDDING on it.
The first month is probably a whirlwind as you pour through tons and tons of magazine and online photos, fantasizing about that dream wedding of yours. You may have even purchased one of those wedding organizers, determined to stay calm and organized.
But then, reality kicks in. You start to become overwhelmed by question marks floating around your head.
1. How much is all this going to cost?
2. OMG, there are thousands of photographers in the area. Which one is right for me?
3. How do I get the most value for my money?
4. What's a Banquet Event Order?
5. What's an escort card versus a place card?
6. Who helps me create a timeline?
7. How do I personalize my wedding with special touches?
8. What hairstyle looks good with my dress?
9. How can I tell my bridesmaids that they have to pay for their own dresses?
10. What's the proper wording for my invitation?
Yes, there are A LOT of decisions to be made for a wedding. Most people have not planned an event of this caliber before so feeling overwhelmed and lost is normal. The Wedding University is designed to help newly engaged couples with their wedding planning by providing them the knowledge, tools, and resources that they need to make wise decisions. It is an all day event, in several different classroom settings, with topics varying from photography, videography, makeup + hair, budget, etc.....all the way to learning the steps for a fabulous first dance! In the midst of all that, you can sample extraordinary food and wine from the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley and interact on a personal level with some of the very top wedding professionals in the Bay Area.
I love the holidays. It's my favorite time of the year, and I always take time to decorate our home to make it especially warm, inviting, and festive!
As we all know, traditionally Christmas consists of the following colors: red, green, white, silver, and gold. However, blue entered the mix awhile back and now, we're seeing much more creative color palettes for this special holiday. While shopping this year, I fell in love with a goldish rose color that sprung up in holiday decor.
Admittedly though, I feel a little bittersweet about this. On one hand, I want to preserve the traditional wedding colors and be reminded of Christmas when those colors pop up everyone around the stores. On the other hand, I'm excited that one no longer needs to worry about the holiday colors clashing with their home design and decor.
During my recent Tokyo trip, I noticed that their holiday colors (at least for this year) were mainly blue, silver, and white. It's quite glamorous, and lovely. Interestingly enough though, they were encouraging a new color palette for Christmas. Take a look below! What do you think?
For the past two weekends, I had weddings at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon bay, one of my favorite places in the Bay Area. I never mind the 45 minute drive there, as I love to enjoy the mountains and coastal scenery along the way. At this time of the year, it is especially inviting because of all the pumpkin patches being set up, officially welcoming the fall season!
Autumn is such an enchanting time of the year, transitioning us from summer to winter. For those of you that have never made a trip to the famous Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival, you should definitely not miss out again this year!
Mark your calendars--October 18th and 19th, 2008!
This is the 38th year of the festival, where couples, families, and friends join together for the 'special display of massive weigh-off champion pumpkins, the remarkable “Picasso of pumpkin carvers” sculpting and shaping a monster 1,000+ pound pumpkin, three stages of blockbuster entertainment, everyone's favorite home-spun parade, harvest-inspired crafts, the tastiest pumpkin pie on the planet, enchanting events and contests for the whole family, and the never-ending search for the Great Pumpkin waiting to be picked from one of the rustic pumpkin patches dotting the coast.'
The Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free, but you may want to consider getting there before 9 a.m. to avoid a very congested Highway 92. It's worth the drive (and the traffic) though, as it really is a very spectacular event!
I was enjoying a nice, sunny afternoon at Stanford Mall and stopped by my favorite marketplace there to pick out some sweet fruits for Bridgette. I couldn't help but photograph all of the colorful fruits and vegetables in front of me! What would we do without COLORS in our life?
When I am asked what my favorite color is, I have a really hard time answering. Each color creates a particular mood, so my answer is always 'it depends!'!
As you are thinking about your wedding colors, you should think about the mood and ambiance that you want to create. Bright yellow naturally makes people feel very cheerful. Purple brings in elements of luxe and sophistication. Here is a very helpful website to help you blend colors:
