Floral forecast from Ariston Flowers in New York

When we were in New York in January we attended Bridal Bootcamp from the Wedding Salon and met Christian from Ariston Flowers, a floral studio providing gorgeous creations for over 30 years. We asked her to provide us with a spring floral forecast and love her predictions!

"I have to admit that I think the times of modern sleek design are waning as the demand for more garden styles are increasing, that is still within good design. Pave, or low and compact will always be in demand because of it's classy and elegant form. It's simple and best kept that way, with just a few elements to let the flowers do the talking.

That isn't to say that people are interested in bringing traditional English garden style of arranging back either, as that is what our grandparents would be proud of. And most of us don't want the type of arrangements found in Renaissance paintings.

I feel this is the year of bringing flowers back into flowers! No more outrageously priced minimal sculptures out of flowers, but more of an elegant use of what the flower already provides."

Thank you so much, Christian! We are thrilled spring has sprung!

Cheers! Aleah + Nick

Tuesday Tips: Lighting with candles

At most weddings we see our clients use candles of some sort to illuminate the ceremony and reception, giving a warm and romantic glow. Here are few tips and ideas to remember when thinking about using candle light:

1. try to stray from using tea lights in containers with moss or anything really flammable. We've heard stories about things catching fire! Floating candles have a unique effect and are much safer.2. if your venue doesn't allow for a real flame, you can use LED candles; though not the real thing, if you have them hanging or clustered together they can emit a glow
3. if your wedding is outdoors, hang tea lights from trees in mason jars secured with wire or ribbon. Talk about a magical effect!4. if using taper candles, be sure they are not close to any part of your floral! Trust us; we've seen a near disaster with a candle that was placed too close to a centerpiece. Also be sure you have something to catch the wax so it doesn't drip and ruin the expensive linens!
5. purchase candles that have at least a 6-8 hour burn; you don't want the flames going out mid-party!6. get creative - scatter various colored vessels (like glassybabies) down the center of your family-style table for a pop of colorHappy Planning!
Aleah + Nick

Images 1: from Emily + Ryen's wedding by Amore Studios 2. from theknot.com 3. from elsechelsea.typepad.com 4. studio nine photography 5. glassybaby.com

Monday Coffee for wedding artists: bringing your A game

Having been in this industry for over 7 years, Nick and I have worked with our fair share of absolutely amazing wedding artists (you know who you are!) but recently have come across some sub-par vendors.
We have some tips on sticking it out and not bringing down our industry in this ever-changing time:

1. You must always bring your A game to each and every meeting and event. This is not the time to slack off, not respond to emails, or provide shabby services.

2. Be kind. Say thank you. Trust us - a thank you note goes a very long way. Think about who recommends you. Surely you want to keep getting those referrals.

3. Be creative. Simple as that. It's time to think a bit outside the box and not recycle ideas or just copy inspiration boards or other ideas you see on blogs. Be you. After all, that's why you're in the event industry.

4. Don't sell yourself short. It's one thing to tailor a package for a client, but providing day-of wedding coordination for $200 or photography services for $500 is bringing down the bar in the industry and thus selling others short.

5. Seasoned professionals; the not-so-talented vendors will soon fall out of the industry and, as a certain talented friend in New York recently told us: the cream will rise to the top; see you there!

Cheers! Aleah + Nick

Spring has sprung! Enjoy this cheery wedding inspiration board in honor of spring!

1. ball jars with candles 2. honeycomb letterpress 3. billy ball + daisy bouquet 4. bride and bridesmaids 5. ink and button flower 6. cupcakes 7. blue fabric

Smile, smile, smile!

We've had several of our couples ask us why people aren't smiling in wedding photos these days (at least the ones they see on popular wedding blogs). We don't really have an answer - maybe it's the more vintage-inspired photos where they're going for an old school, classic look?
Maybe the bride and groom just don't like to smile? But who doesn't like to smile and want to enjoy their wedding day?

Whatever style of photography you decide on for your big day, please be sure to get caught smiling! Have fun! Enjoy the celebration! You don't want to look back 20 years from now and wonder if you actually enjoyed yourself! It's great to go for an old school look but laugh. Cry. Celebrate. And be sure to grin from ear to ear! You won't regret it!
Aleah

The Good Life's California feast for the eyes featured in Exquisite Weddings Magazine

Nick and I were absolutely thrilled to design and bring to life a California winery-meets-California coastal celebration for Exquisite Weddings Magazine at the Rancho Valencia Resort. It was a great chance for us to create a stunning display that appeals to everyone; both brides and grooms. Our intent was to design a table where guests could sit comfortably and eat, drink, visit, and be merry well into the night. By using warm tones of copper, stunning cobalt blue, and more muted linens, we were able to bring in touches that were both romantic and cozy. Utilizing rustic solid wood benches and captain's chairs, our family-style table could have been anywhere; in the middle of a field under a starry summer sky, on the beach at sunset, or set amidst grape vines in a sunny California winery.

Annette Gomez from Flowers by Annette Gomez provided the surreal centerpieces with an array of textures and drama. She created such a lush and gorgeous private garden for the guests in the center of the table!


Our linens set the tone for a feast for the eyes. We requested something a bit whimsical from Magnolias Linens in Manhattan and boy, did they deliver! We looked at a dozen or so combinations and fell in love with the nobby and chic white runners against a burlap base.

Mini desserts from San Diego Desserts sat atop each contemporary plate and a cheese board and artisan breads acted as our late night snack. Nick also whipped up some delicious summer sangria (the recipe was also featured!)
Jennifer Dailard from Simply Posh Designs in San Diego created our lovely paper goods - she kept with our vineyard motif and tied in grape vines and leaves in a sweet way.

Vintage print press stamps that have been in my family for years acted as a fun and really unexpected favor. We placed one on each place setting (an "E" for "Emma") with each guests' initial.
We were so fortunate to have these gorgeous images captured by super talented Terri Rippee, Rippee Photography and www.rippeephoto.com/blog *stay tuned for more images on the blog!


We hope you enjoy the table as much as we enjoyed creating it!
Cheers, Aleah + Nick

The Good Life featured in Exquisite Weddings Magazine

We are thrilled to have been asked to lend our advice to the newest issue of Exquisite Weddings Magazine regarding estate weddings.

Check out our advice and stay tuned to the blog tomorrow when we showcase our 4-page design spread!

Thank you for your continued support! Aleah + Nick

Invitation Etiquette with the Lovely Emily Ley

Today we turned to owner of Emily Ley Paper and talented stationer, Emily Ley, for some honest invitation etiquette answers to those sometimes unclear etiquette questions.

1. What is the key piece of advice you'd like to lend to brides and grooms when starting to design their wedding suites?
Look for designs that fit your personal style - designs that when you look back at them with your children and grandchildren one day, you see a "love story" unfolding, instead of "whatever was trendy" for the time being. Look for colors and layouts that are functional first - and convey the information you're sharing. Remember that your invitation is your guests' first glimpse at the biggest day of your lives thus far.

2. Do you prefer traditional wedding invitation wording or something a bit more modern?
These two styles can be mixed together in beautiful ways - I once worked with a bride who was very traditional but FULL of personality. Her invitation and response card were very traditional - but at the bottom of the response card we inserted "DJ play my song __________________" to add a fun element and bring her personality into the pieces. The guests LOVED this and the bride passed the song requests on to their musicians at the reception.

3. We were brought up to write a thank you note for most anything and know how important they can be. What might you recommend for those who aren't akin to writing thank you notes? What is the proper timing etiquette for writing thank you notes for wedding gifts?
Always, always, ALWAYS write thank you notes. Always. For your wedding and shower gifts, its customary to have your thank you notes mailed no later than one month after the wedding. I was once told (and never forgot this...) to never underestimate the power of a thank you note. Your thank you notes don't have to be long and verbose, just sincere messages of thanks to someone who took time to do something special for you. Write thank you notes not just for gifts, but to the vendors and special helpers who played a roll in your big day as well.

4. How do you propose a couple deals with an uninvited guest whose name shows up on the response card (i.e. a cousin's girlfriend when it was only the cousin's name on the actual invitation)?
This is why all my wedding suites come with double envelopes. This is hard to avoid without an inner envelopes. The outer envelope is used for the mailing address and the inner envelope bears the name of the person (or people) to whom the invitation is directly addressed. But generally, when these things happen, my advice is to "roll with it." If this only happens with a few guests, it wont put you too far over your guest count. If you do happen to push past your limit of attendees, politely and informally discuss the situation with the guest. Perhaps the "plus one" can join you at the reception if the ceremony venue is past capacity?

5. Can you please explain what's appropriate to include and not to include in wedding invitations?
In your suite, you want to include
- the hosts' names
- the bride and groom's names
- date and time
- venue address

I start to itch when wedding websites and registry information find their way onto the invitation. Enclosure cards are perfect for bearing website information. Registry information is not appropriate anywhere in the suite. Look at your suite as if you were a guest attending another wedding. What kind of questions might they have? Do they know where to be and when? How to RSVP?

Wedding invitations should introduce the biggest day of your life thus far - remember to keep your verbiage minimal and special. Additional information can be tucked in welcome bags, included in the ceremony program or listed on the wedding website. Choose a design that is timeless and special. Add personality with special touches like calligraphy, vintage postage stamps or envelope liners. Above all - choose something that will be representative of your love story. And work with a stationer who will take those things to heart when designing your suite.

Thank you so much, Emily! We appreciate your expert advice! *Be sure to visit Emily's sweet website and her informative blog!

Aleah + Nick

A romantic Irish wedding from Dylan McBurney

In honor of St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, we wanted to show off some lovely Irish wedding images from Dylan McBurney. Take a look at the unique color combination in the bouquets; so subtle but romantic! The bride's dress is out-of-this-world romantic; the oversized bow is so chic!




I am part Irish and have been fortunate to visit Ireland - I absolutely LOVE old Irish castles. There is just something so mysterious and so whimsical about them. Imagine celebrating your vows in one!
Aren't these hats fabulous?

We hope you enjoy these images and Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Aleah + Nick

The three key questions to ask your wedding photographer before you hire

We are lucky to refer our clients to some absolutely amazing photographers and work with fabulous photographers all the time. Over the years we've learned so much through the good (and the not-so-good) and wanted to share this advice with you. Here are our Top 3 questions to ask a potential photographer:

1. Who will be shooting our wedding? Most photographers you meet with will indeed be the ones shooting your wedding however, many have assistants or freelance photographers who might work with them. Be sure you are clear as to who will be there and if it's another photographer, meet with them ahead of time and look at their portfolios.

2. How many hours of photography are included in our package? This question might seem like a no-brainer and most photographers will stay on hand for the duration of the day, but many do not. This is incredibly important if you don't have a coordination team. We once had a photographer we weren't familiar with telling us he was leaving before the grand fireworks display - the final wow of the night. We had to convince him to stay and start the show twenty minutes earlier, despite him knowing the timeline.

Most good photographers won't leave (despite their package maybe saying the time is up) before key moments like the bouquet toss or first dance, even if the timeline falls a little out of place. After all, this wouldn't complete their story of your big day! Look for photographers who offer generous timing packages or those who will be there for the day.

3. What happens post-wedding? Let the photographer explain this process; most photographers have a pretty quick turnaround time (depending on the season) for at least getting you some sneak peek photos up on their blog. On the other hand, we've heard some horror stories about couples (not any of ours!) not getting to see their images for 6-8 months after the wedding! Talk about a letdown! Also ask whether you'll get an album or a DVD of images down the road so that you can print photos later; many photographers will also give you a print credit if you'd like them to print photos for you.
Happy Planning!
Aleah + Nick

The Good Life featured on Merci New York!

As many of you may know, we've been busy bees working on 6, yes 6, different designs for a massive photo shoot we orchestrated. We brought on the incredibly talented Joseph + Jenny Llanes of Llanes Weddings and an amazing bride and groom and had at it with some stunning tables and backdrops.

I won't spoil the other features and show images just yes, but I wanted to direct you all to Merci New York's blog to read all of the details and check out our full photo shoot - a modern twist on an English tea reception.

Jackie is just so sweet to feature our work; be sure to follow her blog, she features very chic goodies, tips, and happenings in NYC.

*Here's a quick sneak peek!
Enjoy!
Aleah

*Photos by Llanes Weddings

In case you missed it!

We are just thrilled with being spotted here and there on the web these last two weeks! In case you missed it, here are our favorite features (a big thank you to these absolutely amazing bloggers!):

• Today we had the honor of being featured on Merci New York's fabulous blog! Yahoo!
• Last week we gave a tidbit of advice to Lauren at Every Last Detail regarding the benefits and drawbacks of a first look on your wedding day
• On March 4th our Top 5 Tips for selecting a wedding venue (and avoiding wedding factories) was featured on the lovely Brenda's Wedding Blog
• We were featured on the Eco-Beautiful Weddings Blog - be sure to check out this blog; they feature some truly amazing green wedding finds!

Cheers! Aleah + Nick

Fabulous KYNDRID jewelry giveaway

ABOUT: KYNDRID is a unique jewelry line for men and women. Each collection has been inspired by relatable lifestyles and personality types. KYNDRID encourages you to continue to express yourself by creating your own collection that expresses your individuality. The unique pieces will express the complexity of who you truly are and that is what KYNDRID believes to be most important.

As a responsible family in the community of the world, KYNDRID has created a philanthropic collection; KYND ("kind"), in which each piece has direct association with important charities and foundations that were selected to share proceeds with KYNDRID. The design house selects these foundations based on their contribution to the world at large and how they address important needs and issues of our planet and those of us sharing it.

We fell in love with KYNDRID'S pieces as they are so unique and fresh and their KYND collection is incredible.

OUR GIVEAWAY: We have worked with Kyndrid to offer one lucky reader a truly stunning necklace called Regality. Aleah specifically chose this piece as it's the perfect icing to a lovely wedding dress confection. Breathtaking, yet simple. It can also be paired with jeans and a t-shirt and clutch for a fun night on the town.

HOW TO ENTER: Simply leave a comment anywhere on our blog with the word KYNDRID. One winner will be chosed at random on Friday, March 26th. Be sure to spread the word!
**be sure to leave your name so we know who to give the necklace to! We can't give it to an anonymous commenter! :)

In addition, KYNDRID has kindly offered our readers and clients a 25% on any purchase through March 30th. Simply enter the code GOODLIFE upon check out!
Enjoy!

...Something borrowed, something blue....

Muted icy blue is my favorite color and is just so magical. We even incorporated the tone into our own wedding. My dress sash was icy blue, as were my bouquet accents and hints of our invitations. There's something so elegant, timeless, and unique about this color. So in sticking with the old adage, Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, why not wear a pale, icy blue wedding dress?
1. Dress from JLM Couture 2. Image from redhotbrides.com 3. Image from BridalwaveTV
Pair your gown with any of these statement pieces from Stella and Dot jewelry - 1. Bardot Flower $39 2. Glitz flower earrings $39 3. St. Tropez statement necklace $178
Cheers! Aleah

Monday Coffee: Our Top 5 Pieces of Advice for staying calm, cool + collected when planning your wedding

We can't stress enough: it's so important to have fun during your wedding planning process. We aim to make each and every meeting with our clients refreshing and lighthearted, whether we're tasting cake or talking logistics.

1. Stay organized. This tip is so important -Google has some great budget, layout, checklist, and other spreadsheets (here) to keep you on track. Buy some sort of notebook or filing system where you can store fabric swatches, paper samples, and magazine pages or photos you like. *this notebook is from Mindy Weiss2. Don't micromanage. If you have a coordination team, let them manage the major details; after all, that's why you hire them. Any good coordinator won't take over your wedding (it will always be your!) but rather will keep you informed, keep you on track, recommend high caliber vendors, and help you bring your vision to reality. If you don't have a team, be sure to break up your planning in months, rather than one long TO DO list. If you have friends or family who would love to help, by all means let them - it can be lots of fun! ---but see our last post about not taking advantage.

3. Trust your vendors. We've said this in previous Monday Coffee posts and we mean it. If you put off a calm, cool + collected vibe and hire on great vendors, their talent and creativity will really shine through. Give them some room to whip up some samples and show off their amazing ideas rather than putting them in a box and holding them to just one design. You'll likely say "wow; why didn't we think of that!"

4. Don't take on too much. Letting DIY projects get out of control can create so much stress. While lots of our clients have fun and take pride in creating invitations or other handmade goodies, trying to do it all could be the end to having a great planning process. Know when to stop and turn your projects over to the pros.

5. Share the fun with your bride or groom to-be. We're also big proponents in sharing the tasks; let your groom surprise you with a funky play list or take on planning cocktail hour or a down-home late night menu.

We hope that you take heed to our advice and stay calm, cool + collected. You'll be sure to enjoy your planning process!
Cheers! Aleah + Nick

More photo love from Karina Pires, II

Happy Friday, everyone!

Be sure to show Karina Pires some love!

For the ladies: Aleah's Top 5 Tips for involving your family and friends in your wedding

As coordinators, we often act as act as a sounding board to our clients, giving advice on how to include loved ones while still keeping the wedding "theirs." Today I wanted to share my Top 5 Tips for including mothers and friends:

1. Bring your mom along to try on wedding dresses. Do NOT bring an entourage of moms, bridesmaids, aunts, and cousins. This just complicates the process and you'll have conflicting opinions. Moms usually do know best and I'm sure your mom would be honored to join you.

2. If you have some DIY projects, like assembling favors or stuffing invitations, make it a fun party with your bridesmaids. Have a caterer drop off some ready-to-serve hors d' oeuvres and have some champagne on hand. Make these projects fun and upbeat and involve your girls at the same time.

3. Don't stick your friends who aren't in the wedding party with odd-ball jobs at the wedding to "honor" them. We've heard feedback over the years that it's not really an honor to man the guest book table all night or instruct guests on utilizing the wedding shuttle. Instead, ask them to perhaps do a reading at the ceremony - something that truly means something.

4. If you have a really artistic or talented mother-in-law to-be or friend, ask them to create something for your big day. Keep in mind the fine line between taking advantage and the honor of being asked to create something. Unless it's offered, do not assume someone will create 150 wedding invitation suites or 30 centerpieces for free if that's their specialty. Instead, maybe ask your florist mother-in-law to create your personal bouquet - tell her you'd be honored to carry something she creates.

5. Be kind. Have fun with your ladies and make sure they don't regret being involved with your wedding. Surely you've seen the show Bridezillas - don't boss around your loved ones. Be the sweet bride you know you are and see how much fun the process can be!

Happy Planning! Aleah

*photo from brides.com

A lovely real wedding from Karina Pires, Part I

I love this wedding Karina Pires shared with us- the Kelly green palette is so spring-like and reminiscent of a vintage wedding. The ceremony and reception were held at St. Bernardine of Siena Church in Woodland Hills. Talk about some lovely details! Enjoy! Aleah

A Truly Amazing Cause: Wish Upon a Wedding

Today we wanted to shed a spotlight on an amazing new nonprofit - Wish Upon a Wedding. You've surely heard of the Make a Wish Foundation, well this is similar but grants wedding wishes to those who have a terminal illness. Truly incredible.
Here are some important details:

WISH UPON A WEDDING:
• Was founded in San Francisco, CA, in January of 2010, by a group of wedding and business entrepreneurs.
• Is America’s FIRST nonprofit wedding wish granting organization, producing weddings and civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States for individuals facing terminal illness, regardless of sexual orientation.
• Boasts twenty chapters nationwide, headed by some of the industry’s most renowned leaders.
• Presidents:
• Sasha Souza, National
• Kevin Covey, LA/Orange County
• Stella Inserra, New York
• Ivy Robinson, The Carolinas
• Eliana Baucicault, Atlanta
• Mary Alice Sublett, Tennessee
• Heather Hamilton Sims, Houston
• Shelby Tuck Horton, DC
• Elisa Delgardio, Orlando
• Ali Phillips, Chicago
• Daniela Fageʹ́t, Seattle
• Other chapters opening soon: Colorado, Arizona, Portland, Miami, St. Louis, Ohio and Nevada.
• To qualify for Wishes, applicants must be unmarried legal citizens of the United States, over the age of 18, who have been diagnosed with less than three years to live.
• Simply apply online to request one of three wedding types: URGENT (Up to 10 guests, in hospital or at bedside); BOUTIQUE (up to 25 guests, in home town of applicant); ROMANTIC (Up to 50 guests, at any WUW destination)
• Wish Granters needed in all locations. Please apply online today to start helping us make Wedding Wishes come true. Photo of the first recipents by Stella Sweet
Please pass this message along!