Rustic Elegance

Its been a long time since I last posted! I've been extremely busy to say the least travelling to cities like Atlanta, Washington DC, Hampton, VA, New York and New Orleans! Many, many events for many different reasons but the one that I am highlighting today was much closer to home.

A wedding I did in Kenwood, CA (Sonoma - Napa area) just 2 weeks ago was beyond amazing. The location is a hidden gem in the valley...no signage on the outside of the property so you would never know it was there. Matter of fact, I passed it 6 times trying to find it my first time there. They only started doing weddings last year and the owner still lives on the property. If, you want to know where it is, contact me and I'll share ;-)

What made this wedding so amazing was not just the location, but the people. The couple - Mike and Heather - were so loving, so laid back, and so meant to be. Everyone at the wedding shared the love and support for them. Not to mention the fact that the bride's family was uber talented!

Let's see if I can paint the right picture - her aunt made her wedding dress, her grandmother did all the floral arrangements, her dad put up some of the decor, her cousin's boyfriend was the photographer (amazing work that I'll be sharing with you soon), her bridesmaid made the ties for the groomsmen and ushers and lots of family members made special recipes for the dessert table! When you've got family like that, who needs vendors!

It was hotter than Hades out there as it was about 92 degrees as we were setting up. It was set to be a hot day so the grandmother brought wooden fans and the groom's mother brought antique handkerchiefs. Such a great idea and definitely helped guests cool off during the day.

I'm still kind of on a high from the wedding and can't wait to share some official wedding photos with you from the photographer when their ready!

Happy Planning!

To Bathroom Basket or Not To Bathroom Basket?

Do you think bathroom baskets are a must-have?

While I don't think they are a must-have, I do think they are a nice-to-have, especially if the bathroom your guests must use is less than posh.

If you are having a barnyard wedding, that is so rustic and fabulous! But, your guests many not enjoy using an outhouse - even the "executive ones". So to spruce it up a bit, add a basket with nice toiletries and maybe even a lightly scented candle if there is enough surface area. Even of you are not having a barnyard wedding, who couldn't use some hand sanitizer, a breath mint or some extra lotion?

If you want to go the extra mile, put things in the basket that your guests may need for those little mishaps that could ruin their night - clear nail polish in the women's bathroom, men's body spray, bandages, a travel toothpaste/toothbrush kit, contact lens solution, feminine hygiene products, etc. Your baskets can be small and dainty or industrial sized depending on your location.

Its also a great idea to personalize your basket by adding a little note to your guests or a poem (Great DIY Project!). This is one of my favorite poems:

So happy you're here to share in our special day,

but should something happen to go astray,

Please help yourself to the contents within,

Wet wipe, hand lotion, and even aspirin,

Use only what you need and leave the rest,

It may also be useful to another guest,

So repair the damage that may have been done,

Then hurry on back and join in the fun!

Whether your skin feels dry or your hair out of place.

You're not feeling so fresh, or whatever the case.

We've put together a basket to help you along.

Now hurry back out before you miss the next song!

Happy Planning!

Images courtesy of With This Ring Weddings and Pink Avenue Brides

A Great Tradition: Recipe Boxes!

A new client of mine is having her family members bring their favorite desserts to the wedding and wants them to write down the recipes of each dessert.

This is a great idea to preserve some family history - they make great keepsakes!

Some clients like to use recipe boxes for bridal showers or baby showers with kid friendly recipes!

I've decided to showcase some of my favorite recipe boxes for inspiration to all you brides-to-be, moms-to-be and chefs-to-be!

From left to right: Recipe File Box - Dots and Stripes $18.00, Recipe File Box - Paddock Shawl $18.00, Made from Scratch $10.00, Martha Stewart Collection Recipe Box $14.99, Pink Flower Box $13.00 (no, I'm not sure why its called "Pink Flower Box" when its blue), Bamboo Recipe Box $14.99 (its plain but you can customize it with a monogram and other decorations), Tatutina Black and White Mod Circles Recipe Box $25.95, What's Cooking Recipe Box $16.95, Recipe Box - Bon Appetit $19.99

Happy Planning!

Wedding Party Timeline

Your wedding party (and sometimes their significant others if they are not in the wedding party) need to know a wee bit more that just the date of the wedding. Here's a cute way to send your wedding party a save-the-date that gives them a timeline of their obligations. Best part about these are... you can print them at home yourself!

Happy Planning!

Reflections of a Newlywed...and a Wedding Planner

I can't believe its been over a year since I got married. No really, I can't believe it...the time has gone by so fast! My husband and I have been busy with work and travel, I officially started my wedding business (although I've been doing it for years) my son is a year older (and a foot taller) and honestly, its just been a blur!

As a reflect on that incredible day that I shared with the people that I love, I remember that the day was p-e-r-f-e-c-t. Now, don't get me wrong, as a wedding planner, I know that there is no "perfect wedding". Everything didn't go as planned - my dad ad-libed most of the ceremony, my wedding band didn't announce the wedding party the right way, the wedding party had to be corralled to take pictures after the ceremony, our first song was incorrect until I went over to the stage and changed it to the right one, we missed part of the reception changing for the after-party and my Uncle got up and did an unplanned blues set with the band. But you know what? THAT'S what made it perfect. All the imperfections, all the impromptu things that may have made the planner in me cringe, bring the biggest smile to my face. Each of those things added that special something that made the day absolutely amazing. As I look back, I wouldn't change a thing.

Let me set the stage for you. I planned the h-e-double-hockey-sticks out of that wedding. I included my husband in all the decisions he wanted to be involved in, I had spreadsheets and space plans and timelines for my wedding party. I made the save the dates, invitations and the programs. Each person in my family had a very special role in my wedding...a position of honor, I like to say. Once I handed off my final plans to my day-of-coordinator (yes, I had one), I let everything else go. I mean, I really let everything else go. I did my best to plan and my job after the rehearsal was just to enjoy the meaning of the day with my husband and son and all the people that love and support us.

That's what the day is all about. Its about celebrating your love with the people you love. Its about enjoying all those quirky things that make the people in your life who they are. Its about leaving it all out there on the field and having no regrets. So, while there's no such thing as a perfect wedding...my wedding was perfect for me.

Happy Planning!

Photos courtesy of Amanda Gibson Images

Happy Anniversary to Me!

Happy Anniversary to me (and my son and hubby), happy anniversary to me (and my son and hubby), happy 1-year anniversary.... Happy Anniversary to me (and my son and hubby)! That is all for now!

Happy Planning!

Photo courtesy of Sherwin Waldorf Photography

Casual, Comfortable and Chic!

Who says you have to be uncomfortable on your special day, just to look fantabulous? All brides should be able to define what casual, comfortable and chic means to them. Learn how these LBEC Brides wore some nontraditional attire for their wedding day.

Take LBEC Bride Tiffany W. for example (pictured on the left) - she looks absolutely gorgeous but made no sacrifices when it came to being comfortable walking down (and standing at) the aisle. Instead of wearing expensive high heeled wedding shoes to match her dress (that people can't even see under the hem), our bride instead opted to wear some creative casual canvas shoes (say that 3 times fast) so she didn't have to think about pain as she was saying "I do" to the man of her dreams.

These shoes carried her through her touching ceremony, pictures with her new hubby/wedding party/family, the first dance, the money dance, the electric slide, the cupid shuffle AND the bouquet toss before she changed into and even more casual "after-party" outfit.

Another LBEC Bride Tonya S. and her hubby (pictured on the right) also opted for more casual wedding attire. Since she was having a very small and intimate wedding in Lake Tahoe, she wore white pants and a very feminine, ruffly, long sleeve blouse in lieu of a traditional wedding dress. Her husband opted for very stylish slacks and a short sleeve linen shirt.

This causal attire against the backdrop of water and snow was absolutely elegant and matched the couples personalities and style. For a pop of color they opted for a bouquet and boutonniere of all red roses.

Both brides looked absolutely stunning on their wedding day and didn't have to sacrifice an ounce of style to keep some elements of their day casual and comfortable.

These brides and other's like them are proof that today's modern bride is throwing caution to the wind, tradition out the door and making the day what it should be all about - them.

Happy Planning!

Photo Credit:
Photos of LBEC Bride Tiffany W. by Desmond Rogers Photography
Photo of LBEC Bride Tonya S. by LB Event Couture

Vendor Spotlight: MBlair Studio and Desmond Rogers Photography

LB Event Couture is proud to present two of our preferred vendors in the San Francisco Bay Area - MBlair Studio and Desmond Rogers Photography!

You can check out Miguel Blair's work at mblairstudio.com and you can also become a fan of the MBlair Studio Facebook Page!

You can see some of MBlair Studio's pictures from a wedding we coordinated in September of this year. We are honored to be on the MBlair Studio

site as the preferred event consultant! It has been an absolute pleasure to work with such a talented photographer and I'm sure there will be many events to work together in the future.

Thanks MBlair Studio!

You can check out the work of Desmond Rogers work at www.drodphotography.com/ and you can also become a fan the Desmond Rogers Photography Facebook Page! We also worked with this fantabulous photographer at the wedding we did in September and as you can see by his work, he's definitely top notch!

The September wedding pics on the website are private per the couples request, but you'll be able to see a few of them in an upcoming Event Couturess blog post shortly!

Happy Planning!

The Event Couturess - LB Event Couture

Creative Table Names

The table name trend has been personalization for a while now, but couples are running out of original ideas. Here are some ideas that will add a personal touch to your reception, without making your guests feel like they're low on the totem pole based on their table number.

"Favorite Movies/Music/Restaurants": Name each table based on your favorite movies, albums or restaurants. You can even choose a theme if mutual favorites are hard to come up with - comedies, love stories, movies filmed all filmed in NewYork, restaurants you want to try, R & B hits of the '90's, etc. Go the extra mile by not only having a sign with the name, but also the picture of the DVD/CD cover or restaurant logo.

"Why I love him/her": The bride and groom can name each table for reasons they love each other such as "Table His Eyes" and write a brief explanation why - "His eyes are the gateway to his soul and when I look into them, I know that everything will be okay." or "Table Her Compassion" - "She always thinks of other people before herself and has a way of making people feel like family, even when she's just met them for the first time."

To ensure that the catering staff knows which table is which, put a small number on the bottom right hand corner of the sign.

For those who want a creative way to use numbers, you can use "Count the Ways". For this theme each table will have a number, but the numbers are associated with ways the couple love each other. Similar to the "Why I love him/her", the bride and groom can list X amount of ways they love each other and why. For example, "Count the Ways 1 - Because she always lets me have the last bite", "Count the Ways 7 - Because he always makes sure my car is filled with gas, just so I won't have to worry about it".
Any of these ideas will add the perfect touch of personalization for your reception. They are great ice breakers for guests at tables who don't know each other and lend conversation starters for family and old friends.

Happy Planning!

The Event Couturess of LB Event Couture

Planning – Where do I begin?

If you already have your stack of wedding magazines piling up and are itching to get going, then let’s get started! Before you get ready to send out save-the-dates, order the flowers and book the DJ, there’s something that you should do that should precede all of that – the guestlist! Figuring out the who’s who of your guestlist will save you time and money (by helping you set your budget).

Decide what kind of wedding you want to have. Do you want an intimate affair for 35 with close family and friends or a blow-out soiree for 400 people? The type of wedding you want to have will determine how you organize your guest list. Now this tends to be the not-so-fun part of planning but if you and your fiance communicate your wishes with each other (after all the wedding is for both of you) its actually a great time to set expectations. If parents are financing the wedding, its also a great time to find out if they will be adding additional guests.

Once you’re done conceptualizing your event and talking it through with all of the stakeholders (fiance, parents, best friend that you bounce everything off of), make a list of any and everybody you would want at your wedding – from your mom and dad to your next door neighbor’s cousin’s dog walker. Then depending on the type of event you want to have, sort them by “A List”, “B List”, “C List”, etc. Don’t worry, you can get contact information later.

After you make the initial list, let it sit for a while. There will be important people that you forgot – and less important people that you decide don’t really need to be invited. Take a look at the list one week later and go for round two!

Happy Planning!

The Event Couturess of LB Event Couture

Advice for the Newly Engaged Couple

Sometimes as soon as a couple gets engaged the frenzy begins. My first piece of advice to newly engaged couples is this – take some to to actually enjoy your engagement! Couples (and most often their families) tend to forget that engagement is the actual step towards marriage, not just a formality. Take some time to enjoy your fiance (or fiancee), celebrate and relax until its time to get planning.

Have a brunch celebration with your closest girlfriends, go out to dinner with both your parents or plan a low key (i.e. low effort on your part) engagement party. Whatever you choose to do, its a time to celebrate and reflect on the step you and your fiance have taken towards your brand new life together!

I am always happy to discuss your needs and answer any questions you may have. If you’re interested in more ideas to celebrate your engagement or need some help putting something together, feel free to email me or visit my site for more information.

Happy Planning!

The Event Couturess of LB Event Couture