Jackson Design + Remodeling Holiday Party, Part II

On Sunday we did a sneak peek at an incredibly fun holiday party we designed and coordinated for an awesome San Diego company, Jackson Design + Remodeling. Here are the juicy details (and my very non-pro pics!):

We had so much fun planning the bash and even more fun watching the guests mingle, use the photo booth (with wacky props!) and get a private show from a magician! Even better; when the owner, Todd Jackson gave away those amazing gifts! Seriously - the entire event was a great success and a great part of our holiday season!

Our cookies!

We brought on some amazing hors d' oeuvres from the French Gourmet (yum!) - like prosciutto puffs, caramalized onion pastries, gourmet cheeses, mini Reuben sandwiches, bitesized turkey and cranberry sandwiches on little cornbread muffins, and many more goodies. Nick and I baked about 12 dozen pengiun and snowflake sugar cookies which are always a hit at our parties!

We created 9 oversized birch tree displays with the perfect wintry, sparkly ornaments and magical blue upligting. Lounge furniture was brough in my Concepts and frosted icy plates and other rentals were provided by Classic Party Rentals.

The showroom at Jackson Design + Remodeling is really incredible - I am in awe of their kitchens and baths on display, so we didn't want to cover anything. We wanted to showcase their great work so we clustered sparkly branches, vases brimming with blue and silver ornaments, and the birch arrangements and placed them around the showroom. We even had a family of oversized penguins and a polar bear on display!

Todd Jackson wanted a really fun and unique activity so Joel Ward, a really cool magician, was brought in from LA. He did some really out-of-this-world tricks (Nick and I are still debating on how he did what he did!) and kept the audience amazed. Check out his site below- you can see a clip he did on the Bonnie Hunt Show!

Each detail came together in a fun, cheery, and very wintry way! Thank you, Jackson Design + Remodeling, for bringing us on board!

Happy Holidays,

Aleah + Nick

Event Planning + Design: The Good Life Event Specialists

Photo Booth: Good Time Photo Booth

Magician: Joel Ward

Rental items: Classic Party Rentals San Diego

Lounge furniture: Concepts Party Rental

Winter animals: San Diego Event Decor

Food: French Gourmet

We know that this holiday season might be a bit tighter for some so we wanted to lay out a few guidelines on who you should tip and whether to tip cash, homemade holiday cookies, or a gift basket.
Here is a short list of who you might want to provide a holiday tip or gift to:

• Your postal worker who delivers your mail day in and day out, rain, sleet, or shine! They can't accept cash tips, so how about a hand-written thank you note with box of homemade holiday cookies (anything under a $20 price tag) or a great coffee box with beans, biscotti, and a mug?
• Anyone who provides you with continual service such as a hair stylist, manicurist, florist, or personal shopper can be given a cash thank you or a gift basket (think gourmet goodies with a nice bottle of wine) - up to $75. Keep in mind they make you look good so showing your appreciation is a good thing!
• Garbage and recycling drivers - a cash gift up to $25 or home-baked cookies or a large travel mug with gourmet cocoa mix
• Any home workers you might have like gardeners, housekeepers, cooks, etc. can be offered a cash tip up to $50 each or also a homemade gift basket
• Anyone else not mentioned like your dog groomer, doorman, or anyone else who provides you with a service on a regular basis can also be given a gift card or a cash gift from $20-50 or a homemade gift. A doctor or dentist can be given a written thank you note (gift not needed)

While these are merely suggestions, be sure to enclose a thank you note to each person you tip or gift this year. Let them know how much you appreciate their great service!

Happy Holidays, Aleah + Nick

Awesome Holiday Bash - Jackson Design + Remodeling

We were hired on by Jackson Design + Remodeling to design and coordinate their 2009 holiday party last night. Complete with a famous magician, oversized polar bears, and sooo many fun details, it was a smashing success! Todd Jackson, the owner, is a totally generous and awesome boss - he went all-out and gave away a Kindle, iPods, a weekend getaway, and all sorts of goodies to his people and this party was really a thank you for 2009's hard work. Nick and I were so impressed with the kindness and generosity this year.

We are swamped today with restocking our design goodies, but more photos and details will come!

Nick's Picks: Being a Thoughtful Groom

A large percentage of proposals happen during the holidays, which means that some of you might be holding onto that little box containing a hand-picked engagement ring, waiting for that perfect holiday moment to pop the question.

Proposing to your significant other and planning your big day should be something to remember for all of the right reasons. Grooms-to-be can jump-start the planning process by doing some legwork pre-proposal (yep, in addition to picking out a ring!). Contact some wedding vendors ahead of time and check them out. Feel out their style; check out wedding planners - visit their sites and blogs to see if you like their work or if you think your bride-to-be would love their style.

Check out or make a list of some perfect venues that might have some significance to you and your bride. Do a bit of research and see how far out each venue is booked and what their guest capacity and food and beverage minimums are like. Most of our clients come to us needing a venue and a date; dive right in and enjoy the start of your engagement by putting some thought into the first steps of planning. Then sit back and enjoy being engaged! Your bride will be excited to be engaged but she'll really appreciate the time and thought you put into getting the ball rolling! Nick

Color Splash: icy blue, copper + gold

While mixing metallics can scare people, the end result can be super fun and oh-so unique! I made these JOY cards for our Etsy Holiday Collection and really loved the color combo so I took it a step beyond to create a color splash board using the color palette.

I would actually love to see this used year-round - for winter weddings or holiday parties using oversized gold ornaments, icy blue fabrics, and glittery copper accents would be stunning.
For spring or summer weddings, let the blue shine through in the table cloths and bridesmaids dresses. Punch up the tables with gold chivari chairs and copper place settings. It's okay to mix and match!
For fall events, lean more towards gold and copper as your primary colors and punch colors of icy blue as napkin or programs.
The end result will be scrumptious!

*photos from a couple of our past events; I Do shoe shot and invitations by Alex Studios
Canada Dry box shot by Laurel McConnell
Two linen samples from La Tavola
Top right scrumptious sandwich photo by Urban Unveiled

New Additions to the Collection! Sparkly baubles for the holidays!

At only$15 each, these handmade sparkly bib necklaces are the perfect gift for wives, girlfriends, moms, and friends! They can be customized to suit favorite colors (or eyes!) and if ordered this week will arrive just in time for her to wear with that little black dress during the holidays! Please email me: info@goodlifeevents.net or visit our Etsy shop (you can also pick up some of our customized holiday cards!) - Click here to shop

How to be a gracious guest

It's that time! Holiday party season is here and (following our popular "how to be a gracious wedding guest" post) we wanted to share some tips on how to be a gracious holiday party guest.

I. Bring a hostess gift that's easy to open or use at the party. While flowers are always sweet, don't present them to your host/hostess unless they are already in a vase or perhaps a poinsettia that's potted (though keep away from kids and pets). While flowers are such a nice gesture, the last thing your host wants is to have to scramble to find a vase amidst a bustling party.

II. Bottles of wine or champagne are always great gift or you can opt for less expensive sparkling beverages like cava (from Spain) or prosecco (from Italy). Usually about $10 a bottle they are delicious! Of course, cookies and other party food are also great items to bring to parties as your host can display the goods immediately.

III. Most hosts and hostesses know that you are making a stop in between other holiday parties but don't rush out the door! Stay and mingle, visit with your hosts, and enjoy the food and drink they put so much effort into. After all, the holidays are all about good company, friends, and family.
Happy Holidays,
Aleah + Nick

Jennifer and Steve are such as sweet couple - we're really looking forward to their destination wedding at Loews Coronado in July.

A few weeks ago they spent the afternoon in Santa Monica with the super-talented Joseph Llanes for engagement photos. He and his awesome wife Jenny make up Llanes Weddings and do some amazing work! I love these photos!!

Happy Anniversary, Eugene and Michelle!

Eugene and Michelle were married in a beautiful beach ceremony in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico last December. They had a super fun reception with lots of dancing, food, and great company!

It was a great wedding week filled with fun events - there was so much for the guests to do both in town and at the resort. From the guest room gifts bags (with an itinerary, flip flops, and snacks) to a scavenger hunt and in-town activities, the guests were well taken care of!

The wedding reception was awesome - Eugene and Michelle choreographed their first dance like nothing we'd ever seen and everyone danced into the night.
Happy Anniversary!

Eugene's brother enjoying the view

Photos by La Luz Photography

Nick's Picks: Skip the Flask

One of the most common questions I hear from grooms is "what should I do about the groomsman's gifts?" I always say "skip the flask."
Keep your wedding fun; don't make it feel like a job or a burden to the friends you are asking to be involved. The costs for then can escalate quickly when you calculate any travel, tux rental, bachelor party, and other wedding-related events. You're inviting your groomsmen to stand by you and it should be an honor. Here are some simple gestures that your groomsmen will appreciate.

If you're renting tuxes, set up a fitting for those local groomsmen and make it an outing for everyone. Surprise them by paying for the rental (usually under $100 each); the cost is minimal but the gesture large. Treat them all to dinner and drinks afterwards as your thank you.

Instead of a standard gift (like a flask), set up a day of golf and drinks for your groomsmen and pick up the tab. Somewhere during the day, snap a photo of all of the guys and gift them the photo in a frame on your wedding day. Not only are you still giving a token gift, but you created a memory.

Following these simple tips helps to keep the title of groomsman an honor and shows your friends that you appreciate their support and want them to enjoy themselves.
While not every groom can afford to treat all of his buddies to golf and drinks, find a happy medium. Splurging just a bit on treating your friends now will speak volumes years from now.
Nick

Monday Coffee: have a holly jolly holiday party!

It has arrived....the holiday season is upon us! For most that means shopping, visiting friends and family, and parties!
Nick and I love to throw holiday parties and have a little trick to share: rent! Yes, renting items like plates, cloth napkins, and even cocktail tables will spruce up your party won't break the bank, and will make clean-up easy!

Most rental companies rent out glassware and dishes for about $.50 a piece; well worth it considering you can just pop 'em back in the box and return. No hours of clean-up!
You also have the luxury of picking cool and whimsical items like icy-looking cocktail plates, frosted martini glasses, and silvery overlays to perk up your holiday theme.
Add punches of color with bowls of ornaments, garlands, and colored napkins if you'd like.


Classic Party Rentals carries an assortment of these items in fun colors and textures and don't worry, you can rent as little as two items if you want!
Happy Planning,
Aleah + Nick

This Just In! New holiday cards and tags from our Collection on Etsy!

Super-fab holiday deals right now on our Etsy site! Check out our new vintage holiday collection! Hot of the press (the hand-made press), these cards and tags are made using vintage print press ink stamps. Now they'll get your neighbors and friends talking! They're not your run of the mill department store goodies!

Monday Coffee: to host or not to host...that is the question

Most of our clients want to offer their guests a full bar for the duration of their reception. Most clients, that is, until they get an estimate! Hotels and caterers usually offer a flat rate fee per hour for each guest. During that time they will have unlimited access to beer, wine, soda, and hard liquor (if you opt for it). However, offering a full bar can be extremely expensive and confusing.

Here are some easy-peasy tips for cutting the cost:
1. Offer the lower of the bar packages offered by the hotel or venue. Trust me; your guests likely won't know the difference between a "lower shelf" and "top shelf" vodka or bourbon. If they do, they won't say anything!

2. Cut the hosted bar during dinner. At most weddings guests are sitting during dinner and won't get up for another drink. Closing the bar during the dinner hour can save you thousands. Seriously. Calculate the cost of some hotel bar packages - $15/hour per guest x 200 guests = $3,000! Add gratuity and tax on that and we're nearing $4,000 for a virtually unused bar for one hour during dinner!

3. An option to keep guests happy is to either have wine on the tables or have table side wine service during dinner. You can also opt for a per-glass price during this time if Aunt Edna wants to get up for a glass of wine; it'll likely run you $6-8.By these simple cuts you're saving yourselves while still looking like the fabulous hosts you are!
Happy Planning,
Aleah + Nick

As the holidays have arrived it means parties, entertaining, friends and family, and good food!
I like to have little gifts and fun food items on hand for when friends stop by or when we get invited to an impromptu cocktail party.
Here are little hostess gifts that won't break the bank.

Trader Joe's sparkling apple cider is so tasty and makes for a fun token to bring when stopping by a friend's house $3

Festive champagne glasses from Red Envelope are the perfect gift to bring to a gift exchange
Rosemary + lavender sea salt $11.50 from bella cucina


Cranberry Balsa Wood gift set $35 from bella cucina
Preserved lemon cream $12 from bella cucina

Sea salt caramels from Crate + Barrel - $19.95
Adorable snowflake soap from Crate + Barrel $1.25 eachHappy Holidays!
Aleah + Nick

Easy Entertaining: lawn lounging

Host your outdoor party guests on the lawn, complete with plush oversized pillows for lounging. Scatter bright citruses for a pop of color.
Happy planning!

Monday Coffee

So we have some brand spanking new fun blog posts coming - we've implemented a "Monday Coffee" segment where we offer real, down-to-earth wedding planning tips from our point of view. Free tips! What better way to start your week!
Stay tuned to Wednesdays where Nick will be lending his amazing, manly ideas to grooms in "Nick's Picks!"
Of course, we'll be consistent with our lifestyle, planning, and entertaining tips, recipes, and photos.
Thanks for reading!

Monday Coffee: Warning for the DIY Brides and Grooms - Floral

While we are all about helping our clients with DIY projects and ideas and money saving tips, it's really important to know that tackling certain DIY projects can be incredibly difficult, time consuming, and even expensive.

We recently had a bride and her mother create all of the centerpieces for their 200 guest wedding. That's 20 + arrangements!

We strongly recommended they order bouquets and boutonnieres from a professional florist (unless you, a friend, or family member is a florist, these are not simple to make). The flowers were ordered from a local floral wholesaler and were to be picked up the Thursday before the wedding weekend.

The problem came when half of the flowers didn't arrive early in the morning as requested. The bride and her mom had enough going on with prepping themselves for the big day and visiting with out of town guests. They had to come back later in the afternoon to get the rest of the flowers.

In the end a few bunches of special order flowers didn't make the shipment from South America. We stepped in and called around to locate replacements, but they made do with what was there.

The end result: while the arrangements looked good the bride's mother was stressing before the wedding. Not something we like. Unfortunately it's out of our control when clients take on DIY projects like that; there's no florist to call and get a back-up through or no recourse (though we were able to locate a secondary replacement flower). Floral wholesalers order and get what's available; even if you pre-order sometimes things don't make it. When our clients use professional florists we don't have this problem as they are prepared should something not come. It's their job to make sure each flower arrives, is fresh, and looks gorgeous.

Another important duty to consider when going the DIY centerpiece route - who will be dealing with the delivery and take-home of the flowers? Will it be your family? Your bridesmaids? Remember that while they are all there to help and make sure you enjoy the day, you don't want to stick them with something that's a burden.

The bottom line: Talk to a florist first to see what they can do and how they can work with your budget. When it comes down to it, is your time, dealing with a wholesaler, the cost of flowers, and purchase of vases really worth doing it yourself? Your florist will deliver, set up, and take away all of the flowers so you're left with nothing but fun (and stress-free) memories!
Happy Planning!
Aleah + Nick

Frank Ross Photography

Amore Studios

Happy Birthday, Megan!

Floral arrangements flanking the red carpet by TGL for this surprise birthday party! The theme was 1920's Hollywood glamour and it showed! From the rich eucalyptus leaves to the romantic and chic calla lilies and feathers, the arrangements were perfect on the red carpet! Cake by the French Gourmet

Fun find: Wall Words

A client turned me onto this fun find: Wall Words! Check out the site for customized, monogrammed, saying, or other cute wall "stickers." They are basically stickers that cling to flat surfaces and look amazing! From holiday scenes to kitchen phrases and wedding initials, the possibilities are endless and affordable! http://www.wallwords.com/ - while I love the French and Italian sayings, this chandelier is tres chic!
I also spotted this cool and unique vintage window with chandeliers stenciled on -- I am really wanting to incorporate chandelier silhouettes in some sort of design!

Stay tuned for some fun DIY project tips featuring chandelier stencils!