A dapper groom

While we love posting fashion and inspiration for brides-to-be, we'd like to lend a few dapper 2010 spring attire ideas to our groom readers our there!
Perfect for your guy's night out or a super casual rehearsal dinner:

Suave honeymoon wear:



Suited for spring: perfect attire for a spring or early summer nuptials

Classic: a classic look for elegant vows

1. Banana Republic outfit 2. Michael Kors ready-to-wear 3. and 4. Tiffany & Co. cuff links

5. and 6. J. Crew suit and tux

Photo Love: Shannon Lee Images

I love this photo from Shannon Lee. The contrast, vibrant colors, and feeling just make me happy!

So we just couldn't wait to post this piece of advice from one awesome bride and groom (seriously, they are one of our all-time favorite couples!). Marking our first advice from our grooms post, Ryan and Stephenie want you to know the following when planning your wedding:

"The wedding was important to plan together because it was a union of the two of us. We wanted to make sure we both were comfortable with everything from the color choice to the food to even the wedding planners we chose! It was an event that we knew we were only going to have once so we wanted it to be perfect and we knew that we would clash on somethings and mesh on others, so it was the perfect balance to plan it together. The most important thing for Ryan was making sure the vendors chosen were reliable, especially after all the stories you hear from friends who had flaky vendors.


Stephenie was most focused on being able to plan her wedding with someone who understood her indecisive mind and constant ideas, but would also be able to incorporate their own opinion without being pushy about it. Having Nick & Aleah plan our wedding was the greatest decision we ever made together. They listened and took notes when we had things to say, were extremely dependable and easy to reach at our convenience. They recommended vendors to us which we sat down and interviewed, and soon after agreed to work with. We can't imagine our wedding without them being there. Having Nick involved was a blessing. He was so helpful for anything on Ryan's side and for questions we had relating to the male aspect. It was nice to work with an opposite sex team, but it was amazing to work with Nick & Aleah. I know that if I had to go through it all again, I'd go with them when planning my wedding. They will not just be your wedding planners, they will become a part of your family."

Thank you, Stephenie & Ryan for the kind words and the advice to other brides and grooms!

Happy Planning! Aleah + Nick
Photo: La Luz Photography

Coming Soon - From the Groom

Being the husband-and-wife planning team, we know it's important to have the bride and groom involved in the planning process. Not only can it be super fun (just ask our clients!), but it's a great way to connect before your big day. While most of our brides will take the lead on certain items like color palette, flowers, and the design aspects, dishing out fun duties to the groom is important.
Stay tuned for some bit of advice from our brides and grooms on how you can share your planning experience!
Happy Planning!
Aleah + Nick

Wow. That is all I can say! Well, other words come to mind: perfect, delightful, and whimsical! Oh, and romantic! I absolutely love this French wedding set just outside of Paris at Château de Breteuil. The bride (an interior decorator from NY) and her art-loving groom treated their 300 guests to a luscious reception fit for modern royalty. One long table sat all 300 guests for a lavish reception....ah.....perfection! (*look at those fabulous feathers!)



All photos by Mallory Samson and Veranda

So sneaky: capturing the proposal!

I love, love, love the idea of having a photographer capture your proposal. Your expression, the atmosphere, and the hug + kiss afterwards are things that most brides (and grooms) to-be don't get to see!
So sweet! This engagement was captured by NYC photographer Daniel Krieger
Check out these shots from photographer extrordinaire, Laurel McConnell in Seattle!


So all of you prepping to propose: hire a photographer!

Nick's Picks: Living Well

It's the time of year that most of us set out with a list of goals for the year to come. Many of these may also be carry-overs from past years so keeping this in mind: I say at least one of the following should top your list:

Have fun!
Spend more time this year doing new things and enjoying the ride.
Worry less and live more.
Most importantly, stick to your goals.
With this list of resolutions like this, you're sure to have a successful and fun year!
Cheers, Nick

Real Wedding: An Elopement Captured by Holly Steen at Cakes + Kisses

I love this real wedding emailed over by Holly Steen at Cakes + Kisses Photography! The simplicity of this elopement is so incredibly lovely and the romantic field and pier shots are stunning. Enjoy!

From the bride: As a non-traditional couple who decided to move forward with an elopement instead of a wedding, we both had agreed that we needed to find the perfect photographer willing to “go with the flow”. Thank god we picked Holly! She gladly went to the courthouse, trekked off to the beach under a pier and then followed us and our siblings at a beautiful garden courtyard for cake and champagne toasts. But my favorite part is when we went to a Pier on Ventura Beach where my husband proposed to me a year and a half ago. I had told Holly the story of his proposal and why this place was so special to both of us. Under the pier where we relived the proposal and were giddy from excitement from just running off to get married, Holly's pictures captured the spirit of our wedding day and essence of the night when we decided that we were lifelong partners. We invited our siblings to our super secret wedding, and I will admit, we were a difficult bunch to shoot. We were having so much fun there were times that we were doubled over in laughter. Holly, instead of telling us to pose like a proper wedding party, jumped in and took the best pictures of us I have ever seen. Call Holly if you want a photographer who will capture the essence of what any wedding should be—about laughter + happiness + fun + family! I love you, Holly!

It's love!

I couldn't help but post these lovely spring-inspired dresses. How perfect for bridesmaids at a spring or early summer wedding! All by Anthropologie and under $200!

Enjoy! Aleah

Monday Coffee: Diving In

For the many of you who were engaged over the holidays; Congratulations!
In our first Monday Coffee post of the New Year, we wanted to lend a few tips for those without a planning team to make the jump-start process a little easier. We know that getting started can be a whirlwind of tulle and chiffon, roses, and wedding cake, so take a step back and get organized, starting with the most pressing items first.

1. Pick a date. If you must have a 2010 wedding, keep in mind that many venues book up over a year out so stay flexible.

2. Create a rough guest list so you'll be able to start piecing together your budget and venue. Think about whether you want an intimate, family-style wedding or a lavish 300 guest affair. This will help you to tailor your guest list. A rule of thumb from Nick to help keep your list down: if you wouldn't treat a guest to dinner or have them to your own home, do not feel obligated to invite them.

3. Find your locale, which goes hand-in-hand with the number of guests (and of course, your date). Think about the style and ambiance you want to show off. Is it an ultra-chic loft space? A backyard wedding? A coastal soiree you envision?

4. Book it and breathe! You've accomplished a lot! Take a step back and prioritize what's next. Think about the wedding artists you'll need to book and prioritize who is most important (meaning what service/vendor you're willing to spend what on) and set up a meeting. Create a to-do list month-by-month and check in with yourself (and your fiance) to keep on track.

For those brides and grooms to-be in the thick of planning: it's a great idea for those without planners to touch base with all of your wedding vendors if there's been a break in communication due to the holiday frenzy. Send a friendly email checking in and make sure you're all still on the same page. Review your timeline and see what's next on the docket and prioritize. What needs to be done the didn't get finished in 2009? Did those save the date cards get addressed and mailed? Pick up the pieces from the pre-holiday rush and take a deep breath. Happy Planning! Aleah

Photo by Kate McElwee

Inspiration: Fresh + Clean

Happy New Year! In the first few days of 2010 I am already dreaming up ideas for our clients' events and tables. A new year brings a fresh and clean outlook, like this simple and delicious place setting I came across on Coastal Living's website. Less is more. Love it!


Image by Coastal Living

Fun Find: Riviera Resort + Spa in Palm Springs

Nick and I were just on a weekend holiday to Palm Springs and I had to check out this fabulous hotel I've heard great things about. The Riviera Resort + Spa is so chic and fun - perfect for a hip wedding.

The Riviera was first opened in 1959 and became a mecca for Hollywood celebrities. A recent renovation was completed and kept the integrity while giving the resort an incredibly unique, swanky feeling. Check out some of my snapshots and be sure to stop by for a drink in the same lounge the likes of Elvis and Frank Sinatra used to frequent!

Easy Entertaining: New Year's Eve

We hope you all had a terrific holiday! Now that Christmas is over and the gifts have been unwrapped, I am starting to think about New Year's Eve! We have dear friends coming into town so I wanted to add some fun little touches to our table.
I am thinking about a fun and vibrant Parisian-themed hors d' oeuvres table (think fun French dessert plates and jewel-toned accents) and thought of the perfect mini-project: whimsical fringed drink stirrers.

Here are directions for my easy-peasy project:
1. Find some curious and fun stir/swizzle sticks or straws (mine happen to have spheres on top) and pick out delicious paper to accent; I am using vellum as it bends well and holds shape



2. Cut paper from an 8.5" x 11" sheet in strips - about 1" x 8.5" is perfect

3. Tape one end of the paper to your swizzle stick or straw

4. Fringe each strip

5. Tightly wrap the paper around and around your swizzle stick and tape the loose end

6. Voilà

Enjoy and have a very safe and fun New Year's!

Aleah

*Please email us photos of your take on our DIY project!

Sparkling cranberries

I love the glittering look of these little cranberry gems (thank you to my mom for finding this recipe!). Add them to a gourmet cheese board for a pop of sweetness and tartness or add them to a glass of bubbly - string three through a stir stick and drop in a champagne glass for a festive flair. Enjoy! Aleah*Sparkling Cranberries
For the simple syrup, raw cane sugar or real brown sugar lends a nice molasses flavor to the cranberries, but regular granulated sugar (or a blend of brown/white) will work.
2 cups cranberries, picked over
2 cups water
2 cups sugar (see head notes)
More sugar for coating: I do a mix of medium-grained organic sugar for the first coating, and then a second toss with regular granulated white sugar. Place the cranberries in a medium glass bowl and set aside.
Make a simple syrup by bringing the water and sugar just to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Let the syrup cool for a couple minutes and then pour it over the cranberries. If the syrup is too hot the cranberries will burst, so be careful. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, drain the cranberries and toss them with larger grained sugar until they are well coated. I only use a scoop of sugar at a time, and small batches of cranberries, so the sugar doesn't get too damp. Place the coated cranberries on a baking sheet to dry for a few hours.
Do a second toss with the regular granulated sugar, this typically takes care of any sticky spots on the cranberries. Let dry another hour.
Makes 2 cups of sparkling cranberries

*Recipe from: www.101cookbooks.com

It's nearly time; I love getting decked out for the holidays - my sparkly baubles and feathered hair pieces come out to play!
Here are some adorable Anthropologie pieces mixed with.....Forever 21 accessories! It's all about mixing and matching quality pieces with less expensive accessories for a fabulous look. Enjoy!
Aleah

From left to right 1. Wrapped in ruffles Anthropologie cardigan - $128 2. Feathered headband $4.80 from Forever 21 3. Sequined fingerless gloves - Forever 21 $4.80 4. Demi-sequined cardigan from Anthropologie $128 (pair with jeans or a ruffled black skirt)

5. Flower headband $6.80 Forever 21 6. Pearl + ribbon bracelet Forever 21 $$4.80 7. Felt lei cardigan (perfect for Christmas brunch) Anthropologie $118 8. Complete outfit by Ann Taylor - Top $85 and pencil skirt at $118

These little accessories also make for fab stocking stuffers or last-minute gifts!

Color Splash: blush pink and black

It's no secret that I love anything and everything French! I was looking through photos of our last European trip and wanted to put together an inspiration color board based on a photo of the Eiffel Tower I took at dusk. Gorgeous!

From left to right: 1. Croquembouche from Martha Stewart 2. Personal photo of the Eiffel Tower 3. Veuve Clicquot Rose from VeuveClicquot.com 4. Gorgeous confection gown from J. Crew Weddings
5. Burlap Paris pillow from Etsy's Petit Coterie 6. One of our bride's J. Crew gold sandals - photo by Kate McElwee 6. Delicious cake from an open house at Hotel Monaco - photo by Laurel McConnell
7. Paper goods on Etsy - The Shabby Boutique 8. Lovely baubles by J. Crew
Enjoy!
Aleah