We came across some delicious little gems for the ladies and gents on Etsy today:
These earrings are absolutely sparkly, gorgeous, and oh-so fun! At less than $20 each, you can't go wrong to pair with a bridesmaid's gift! Check out the Lara Lewis shop on Etsy

And how about these awesome cufflinks! So vintage and handsome! Again, at about $20 you can't go wrong! HauteKeys on Etsy

Spring love: violet, pale blue, and pretty pink

We got so much lovely feedback from the Valentine's Day inspiration board I created and I've been thinking spring. The result = a nautical inspired spring board. I love this combination as it speaks to a nautical theme without being "themey." Adding violet + pink touches to your event with bolsters, orchids, and lovely letterpress paper goods will bring a unique touch. Hope you enjoy! Aleah
1. Vinage map 2. polka-dot spring wedding gown from Nibs 3. picnic basket by Roberto Pie 4. boat photo captured by yours truly in the South of France 5. pink orchid by direct-bouquet 6. violet pillows by ismoyo 7. nautical rope place mats from beach house decor 8. scrumptious scallops from MontereyWineCountry 9. violet cashmere throw by justblankets.co.uk 10. luxe letterpress stationery by Bella Figura (our 2nd feature; love them!) 11. seersucker fabric intotextiles.com

Real Wedding: Shannon Lee

We've been featuring some sweet real weddings and we love this wedding captured by Shannon Lee. Isn't the bride's dress just stunning? And what a handsome groom!

Nick's Picks: Lending a Helping Hand

Given the recent earthquake and following tragedy in Haiti, I wanted to talk about how to help today in my Nick's Picks.
Remember that even a little can go a long way.

1. Donate to the Red Cross
2. Music superstar Wyclef (who is from Haiti) says: Help Haiti Earthquake Relief Donate $5 by texting YELE to 501 501 right now
3. You can also visit www.yele.org

*Here is another great website for other ways to help those in need elsewhere in the world
Give Your 10 http://www.giveyour10.com/

Without the world's help, this is a tragedy that won't fix itself.
Nick

Valentine's Day is just around the corner so I wanted to share a vintage-inspired Valentine's day vision with you. Mixing and matching textures, patterns, and funky design elements like vintage books, modern stationery, and fresh flowers = a lovely and romantic table. Enjoy! Aleah
From left to right:
1. red wellies 2. lovely tulle dress by bridalwavetv 3. shabby chic chair by the bella cottage
4. roses from one of our brides, image by kate mcelwee
5. cappuccino image by homebaked memories 6. chandelier by kaboodle
7. vintage pillows by country living 8. felt heart from design evolution
9. lovely books from blue bird notes 10. lovely letterpress in joy by bella figura

Ethereal and stunning: images for Tuesday

I love this gown by Lazaro. So romantic and delicious!

Monday Coffee: weddings + cocktail hour

We wanted to dedicate this Monday's Coffee advice to weddings and cocktail hour. We have so many clients who have this debate as to whether or not they'll offer guests tray passed hors d' oeuvres and drinks before dinner or how long to host the cocktail time for. We most always suggest having a cocktail time and staging it for no more than an hour and a half (an hour is usually perfect).

Often times this is necessary at a venue where the ceremony + reception are in the same room. The room will need to be smoothly turned for dinner service and this is a great opportunity to magically transform it.

Cocktail hour is also a great chance for the bride and groom to steal away for photos or a moment to breathe and gives your guests a chance to relax and visit. Make sure to offer non-alcoholic beverages as well as beer, wine, and mixed drinks (if you're having an open bar). Offer a variety of either tray passed or stationed hors d' oeuvres (one vegetarian option is always a must). Keep in mind anything more than our recommended time will likely leave you with antsy guests who are getting hungry (and drinking). We want our clients' guests to feel well taken care of, enjoy the food and drinks and atmosphere, and feel relaxed. The last thing you want is for your guests to wonder where the bride and groom are or wait two hours for dinner. These simple little cocktail hour tips will be sure to make for a successful event!
Happy Planning, Aleah + Nick
Photo by Laurel McConnell

PSA: registry extravaganza at Pottery Barn

Click here to start your Pottern Barn registry and find a nearby location hosting a registry party on January 16th

Happy Planning!

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!