"Props" to these photo booth prop designers

Even the most camera shy guests will give in to having their photo taken with these adorable photo props.

{1} New Year's Eve Wedding Photo Props by live.laugh.love.lots
{2} DYI printable photo booth sings by idoityourself
{3} Photo Booth Garland by Little Retreats
{4} Love Birds on-a-stick Set by live.laugh.love.lots
{5} Gentleman on-a-stick Set by live.laugh.love.lots

Inspiration Board: Ombre

Martha Stewart named "Ombre" the big sensation for 2011 weddings and we are seeing it all over the web.  Her website is litterd with ombre floral arrangements and DYI projects.  The concept lends itself beautifully to weddings.  From the transitional floral arrangments to hand died linens the Ombre design can be incorporated into your big day.  The water color likeness of most Ombre inspired desgins can provide your day with the romantic, light, and whimiscal event you were hoping for.

1. Glassy Baby votives

2. Ombre Raffia from Carmelos.  Perfect for incorporating Ombre into your guest's gifts.

3. Ombre linnens and Pillow Cases.  Picture these beautiful pillow cases scattered around your cocktail hour.

Paper Lanterns | No outlet? No problem!

Luna Bazaar is finally offering LED lights for paper lanterns.  With so many venue lighting limitations someone has finally come to the rescue!  The lithium battery operated lights come in different lighting strengths and colors.  Luna is also offering a new line of Pizelle paper lanterns along with an economy line of lantern packages.

Your Engaged! Now what? | No. 2 Budget

There are 3 budgeting questions you need to answer . . .

1. Who's paying?

While tradition once dictated the parent's of the bride were responsible for footing the bill; the times have changed.  The average age of an engaged couple continues to steadily rise.  Many established couples are paying for the event on their own.  According to "The Wedding Report" in 2008 about 60% of the cost of the wedding was contributed by the couple.

If you need or want financial help from your family you need to do some homework before you ask for cash.  When family begins to contribute financially to the wedding fund you need to be prepared to accept their "two cents."  You should only begin this conversation after you and your fiance have created an estimate of the cost of your wedding, considered what you can contribute, and have an idea of when and where you would like to be married.  When you do begin the conversation make sure you give your parents time to prepare.  Ask them when would be a good time to discuss your wedding budget.  Come prepared with an outline of the estimated cost.  Some parents may be willing to contribute a fixed dollar amount while others might be more inclined to contribute to a specific item such as the wedding dress.

2. How much are you willing to spend on your wedding?

Sit down with your fiance and create a list of the important items you want to include in your wedding.  How many guests?  DJ or a band?  Open bar or Cash bar?  Wine & beer only?  Indoor or Outdoor ceremony?  Buffet or plated dinner?  Cake or desserts?  Photographer & a videographer?  Pick your top 3 most important items to help prioritize your dollars.

Just so you have an idea . . . the average wedding is costing $28,000.00 in a metropolitan area.


3.  How are you planning to pay?

Time to look at how much money you have to contribute to the wedding budget.  If the amount of money you have is not enough to cover the cost you may want to have a longer engagement so you have more time to save or you may want to scale back on some items in your budget.

While I am a firm believer that you should not use credit cards to make up for a loss in available funds I do believe in paying for everything with a credit card.  Do your homework and find a credit card that provides air miles, hotel stays, cash back bonuses, and protection in case a vendor does not come through.  If you are getting married at a hotel venue make sure you sign up for their rewards program and check-in to their credit card programs (double your points).  When you are spending $28,000.00 on a wedding those miles can rack up fast.  You might even earn enough reward points for a honeymoon.  Just make sure you pay your credit card balance off in full each month!

The most important part about your budget is open communication between you and your fiance.  Planning your wedding might be the first time you and your fiance learn about your saving/spending habits.  Be flexible and try to compromise.  Remember, when you look back at your wedding day what you will remember the most is not the charcuterie station it is the moments shared with friends and family.

Inspiration Board: The Hermosa Inn . . . Destination Desert!

Destination Desert . . .

This board is inspired by The Hermosa Inn, a Scottsdale, Arizona luxury hotel, featuring 34 hacienda-style, single-story accommodations and casitas on more than six acres of lush desert landscaping in view of famous Camelback Mountain.  The accommodations set the perfect stage for a destination wedding allowing all of your guests to stay and celebrate in style in a single location.

Inspiration Board: Keep Calm & Cast On

A fly fishing inspired wedding.

Keep Calm & Cast On poster, fly fishing note-cards, tackle earrings, and fly fishing inspired hair piece are all available on etsy

Your Engaged! Now what? | No. 1 timeline

"When is the big day?"

The first step in planning your wedding is determining how much time you have before the big day so you can establish a general planning timeline. 

Important questions to consider are: (1) Will guest be traveling? Your friends and family will need enough lead time to take vacation and book travel.  (2) Do you have a special date in mind? Perhaps there is a significant date in your life you want to be married on.  (3) Holidays? Maybe you want to coordinate your wedding with a favorite family holiday.  (4) Destination Wedding? Your thinking a December wedding but you want to get married on the beach.

Step 1, come to an agreement with your fiance about your ideal wedding month.  The exact date will be narrowed down by your choice of location, but having a general time frame is the first step in creating your wedding timeline.

PREGGERS | Baby Shower Invitation

chris + ana | wedding photos

Congratulations Ana + Chris.  The trip to the central coast was amazing.  Here are a few photos I captured from the big day.

beth + tom wedding video

beth + tom from Aaron Horton on Vimeo.

Aaron Horton has completed our wedding video.  Please check out his blog to leave any comments!  Thank you so much Aaron for your amazing work!

Photography: Vanessa Preziose

Forist/Coordinator: Artisan Events
Cake: My Favorite Cakes
Venue: Viceroy

chris + ana | invitation @ pismo beach, ca

I snapped a shot of Ana and Chris's invitation while I was in Pismo Beach, CA for their wedding.  I love being able to see the final product at the event!

Chris + Ana | Invitations

Chris and Ana have finalized their wedding invitations!  Sticking with the beach theme while incorporating a childhood game Chris played with his mother the couple selected sand dollars as their main image. 

jen + ashley | inspiration board

Two of my favorite people are getting hitched! Jen & Ashley are planning a July 2011 wedding in downtown Seattle.  The important items we have highlighted to date . . . 1) Jen loves blue, 2) Ashley loves green, 3) they MUST get married in Seattle, 4) they are hoping to have part of the ceremony or reception outdoors (with the Seattle skyline as a backdrop), 5) think bohemian, 6) but keep it urban.  So here's my first shot.  Since I'm lucky enough to be designing for two brides instead of one I wanted to create and individual scheme for each bride that will still work well as one unit.

the brides . . .

The concept . . .

The palette . . .

The setting . . .

beth + tom | Our Viceroy Palm Springs Wedding

If you are thinking about a PS wedding I would suggest a having it in March. The hotel grounds have several citrus trees producing the most heavenly aroma. The intoxicating scent of the citrus blooms is guaranteed to set the tone for your event. Your guests won't stop talking about the scent.  Here are a few pics from our big day.

Vanessa has created a slideshow for all of us to view.  make sure you turn up the tunes!  she also posted a few of her favorite pics on her blog. she loves comments!

Chris + Ana | Save the Date

I'm so excited for Chris and Ana. They are getting ready to mail out their save the dates. The save the dates will fit their Pismo Beach wedding style while sharing with friends and family a taste of Ballard. Ana's favorite color is purple and will be used throughout the event. It is shaping up to be the perfect beach brunch wedding. Surf boards and flip flops are encouraged. Congrats Chris + Ana!

Viceroy Inspired Wedding Invitation

 

I couldn't be happier with the finished product.  I just received my wedding invitations from the Mandate Press and every imprint is perfect as always.  I just love receiving the neatly packaged invitations.  It is such a huge rush to see your electronic product converted to the age old letterpress.  Designing the invitation was a walk in the park.  The Viceroy provided more than enough inspiration for my wedding invitations but rather than pulling from the Hollywood glam vibe I decided to focus on my favorite feature at the hotel. The lobby's yellow and white mosaic tile feature defines the entry while exhibiting true Palms Spring inspired design.  I can't wait for the guests to get this bold, striking invitation and ultimately bring the experience full circle when they enter the lobby.  

Chris + Ana

I had the pleasure of taking engagement photos for Chris and Ana. The couple recently relocated from Central Coast in CA to Ballard, WA and wanted to take photos that captured their new community. We started our journey at Golden Gardens then made our way down Market. The Ballard Farmer's Market was in session and we meandered in and out of some of their favorite boutiques. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the day. Again, Thank you Ana and Chris for letting participate. I had a blast taking your photos. Beth

Viceroy Palm Springs| Destination Wedding Location

I recently had the privilege of touring, sampling, and experiencing The Viceroy Palm Springs while on a destination wedding venue search. The Viceroy is a luxury boutique hotel located in sunny Palm Springs, CA. The manicured grounds, private villas, and 3 refreshing pools makes this the perfect destination wedding location.

Kelly Wearstler is the interior design genius behind the resort's modern Hollywood Regency design. She recaptures the look and glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age by featuring modern styling amidst a black, white, silver and lemon yellow palette. The location is a photographer's, wedding planner's, and bride's dream come true. There is no need to re-create the wheel when planning your wedding. Kelly has conveniently and tastefully set the tone for your event. The Viceroy website alone will serve as your wedding inspiration board.

The hotel's 67 guest rooms, studios, and villas that are situated perfectly to create intimate and secluded locations throughout the hotel grounds. The Viceroy, first unveiled in 1933, rests on 4 acres divided into 4 very elegant environments for your wedding (click for map). My two favorite locations are the Regency Courtyard and the Presidio Ballroom. The surrounding mountains provide a dramatic backdrop in the Regency Courtyard which is perfect for your garden ceremony while the Presidio Ballroom exudes Hollywood glamour with mirrored walls, glass chandeliers, and amazing silver wallpaper. The first time I entered the ballroom I felt like I had slipped into gray satin evening gown, my hair was pinned back in finger rolls, and from my ears dangled diamond chandelier earrings. It was like stepping through a portal to old Hollywood.

The Palm Springs International Airport is conveniently close to the hotel, about an 8-minute cab ride. No rental car required for your guests; The Viceroy is located in downtown Palm Springs near all of the boutiques and restaurants.

The Citron, the hotel's gourmet restaurant, features California modern cuisine for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and poolside. I would recommend their grapefruit martini or lemon drop, it's like the Viceroy in liquid format. The restaurant staff are extremely attentive; you will never be without a drink.

The Viceroy hospitality is only rivaled by The Parker. You and your guests (and your puppy) will feel welcome from the moment they arrive. The staff is genuinely friendly. It is obvious that each member of the Viceroy team is madly in love with their job.

I look so forward to my next trip. Please make sure to visit their website. It contains amazing photographs of the venue along with all of the details you need to plan your Palm Springs destination wedding. All photographs above are from the Viceroy website.

Thinknow Takes on Vegas

Becky Ellis of Thinknow Design thought it would be fun document her eco-fashion pieces on the road. I absolutely agree. During a recent trip to Las Vegas I pulled out a pair of my favorite earrings at the Ghost Bar at the top of The Palms.
Floral Metallic by Thinknow Design

Sex and The City Love Key Chain

After hosting the SATC Movie pre-screening party in Seattle all the ladies were buzzing about the Love keychain that Louise gave Carrie. It is one of the most iconic images from the movie (besides the blue Manolos). After some research I learned that the keychain was custom designed by H. Stern for the movie with a fat price tag of around 6k. How Louise could ever afford that keychain is beyond me!

After my crushing discovery that the keychain cost more than the Manolos I let my dream of carrying around a little piece of SATC and the reminder to have "faith in love" slowly fade away. Fast forward to present day. I happened across the movie on HBO and the key chain grabbed my attention yet again. Then I had one of my "inspired" moments and thought A) what a great way to ask your girlfriend to move in with you and B) those would make fantastic bridesmaid gifts. So after a single google search their she was, a reasonably priced replica. Check out Love is Key NYC, The HBO Store, or Seen On for the key chain and Mr. Lock or your local hardware store for the house key cap cover.

So fellas, if you are looking for the perfect way to ask her to move in try it Sex and The City Style with the Love Key Chain. Then when the time is right you can propose with the Blue Manolos and she can in turn give the key chain to her bridesmaids as thank you gifts!