Lilypad Weddings and Events {Vendor Love}

How do I love Lilypad?  Let me count the ways!  Lilypad Weddings is a boutique graphic design studio that serves Washington, DC and Austin, TX (and everywhere in between)!  I have used them for invites, programs, menu cards, escort cards- you name it!  The best part is that they will work with you to custom design your product so that is completely unique and personalized!  I wanted to highlight three designs that I just adored over the last year!

Their Chevy Chase suite was designed for one of my weddings back in September.  They also created programs, table numbers, and escort cards in the same design.  How cute are these?!

We had a special project for one of my weddings that took place The Newseum (blog to come)!  Jen Liljegren, the fabulous graphic designer at Lilypad, listened to my vision and executed it perfectly!  She made escort cards out of filmstrip to complement the existing décor of the Newseum and also a nod to the sports documentary the groom is producing!  Loved these so much!  Compliments to Amaryllis Design for the awesome vintage movie décor for the escort card table and Greg Gibson for the fabulous photos!

And finally, another suite that is near and dear to my heart- my own wedding invitations!  Jen was kind enough to create some very unique and beautiful designs for our upcoming small intimate affair in Turks and Caicos!  Her designs are still classic and reverent to the occasion but incorporate so many hints of fun that guests are sure to never forget your invitation!

Whether you are a bride that is looking for something different than the traditional suites for all of your paper needs or just need a little pep in your paper, Lilypad Weddings should be your go to!

Xoxo,

Amanda

Castle Hill {Charlottesville Venues}

The Engaging Affairs girls had the pleasure of visiting Castle Hill Cider, a Virginia cidery and event venue.  Let me tell you, this place is stunning!  There are so many possibilities for rehearsal dinner, ceremonies, and receptions on this property. 

Castle Hill is located in Keswick’s horse country, just a few miles away from Charlottesville.  The Blue Ridge Mountains serve as a perfect backdrop for wedding photos anytime of the year!

The Barn has a finished feel but is still rustic which lends itself to countless décor possibilities!  It has an awesome loft that can seat an additional 200-300 guests.  There is also a separate library, which can serve as a bridal room, complete with a fireplace, lounge furniture, and a balcony.  The tasting room can also act as a private hideaway for the bride and groom! 

Outside, the Linden Grove is so beautiful for either a ceremony or a reception.  There are also The Orchard, The Lawns, and The Lake for an outside option, tented or not!

The venue is also a cidery so their tasting room is open to the public during the day.  Evelyn Keyes, their events coordinator, was so gracious to let us try some of the ciders that they make on site.  So delicious and refreshing!  We couldn’t help but think how fabulous that would be for a toast, specialty cocktail, or a favor for a wedding!

The Engaging Affairs girls are so excited to plan some weddings in this gorgeous venue!
Cheers!
Amanda

The Engaged Show is Coming!

Mark your calendars, ladies and gentlemen!  The amazing Engaged in Washington 2012 will be held on March 4th at four of the top hotels in the city. This show is always stunning and filled with inspiration so don't miss it!

Win Designer Notecards from Hampton Paper Design!

Check out this delightful paper company from one of my favorite past brides. I won't even tell you how long ago she got married because it will date us both too much!  Her company, Hampton Paper Designs has a new line called "Pen and Pencil" with some of the most delightful motifs and drawings. Aren't these charming?

And now you can win a set of 24 personalized cards and envelopes with any one of over 300 designs!  Here's what you have to do to win:

1-You must be a follower of Hampton Paper's Blog Pen & Pencil. If you are not sure how to follow click here
2-To enter, you must leave a comment on the blog telling us what image you would choose for your cards and why between today, Wednesday, January 25, 2012 and Friday, January 27, 2012. A winner will be selected at random Monday, January 30, 2012.

Visit their site for more details and fabulous designs!

Win Free Save-the-Dates from The Dandelion Patch!

Georgetown Location

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26th * 6:30 PM

Wanna win FREE Save-the-Dates?
It's as easy as 1-2-3!
 

Designer + Owner, Claudia, will offer her thoughts on wedding trends for 2012 and an in-depth look at the styles of Fig. 2. We'll provide the champagne and tasty treats, you bring a girlfriend, mother or fiancé!

* * * * * * * * * *

1. At the end of a fantastic evening together, we'll pull one lucky winning ticket to win a FREE set of 50 Save-the-Dates from Fig. 2.*

2. Anyone who places an order for invitations or a save-the-date at the party will receive 50 free insert cards.** 

3. To sweeten the deal, The Dandelion Patch will offer a $25 gift card to every attendee! *** 

* * * * * * * * * *

  

TO REGISTER, EMAIL georgetown@thedandelionpatch.com  

*Winner of the 50 Save-the-Dates must register and be present to win. Choose any existing design except the A2 Vellum Calendar. Cards must be single sided, with the exception of the Postcard Save-the-Date. If printing letterpress or offset, colors are limited to 2 color printing and can not be custom colors. Envelopes will be printed in 1 color.  Liners are not included.

**For 50 free insert cards: Cards must be single sided, and smaller than the invitation or save-the-date card. Colors are limited to 1 color printing and cannot be a custom color. Envelopes and liners are not included. Cards must be ordered from January 26-29th.     

***Guests must register by January 25th to receive gift card. Must be present to win. 

    

Liancarlo at Carine's {Trunk Shows}

Hideaway Honeymoon Ideas

 

Today we have a guest post on honeymoon options submitted by Christina Johnson. Welcome Christina!

When seeking out the best location for a beautiful place to bask in the glow of a brand new marriage, the key is in the details and in searching for that unique place that speaks to both the bride and the groom. The honeymoon can be romantic, adventurous, or both, but most importantly it should reflect the newlyweds' personalities, tastes, and a reflection of how they feel about one themselves, individually and as a couple.

For the most romantic of honeymoon hideaways, a remote beach with hidden coves is a classic destination for enamored couples that never goes out of style. For a fun romp in the surf, Puerto Rico offers a newly married couple many choices of secluded beaches and private paradises. Whether the couple wants to experience soft and sandy beaches or pebble-strewn seaside tracts, Puerto Rico offers something for anyone's desires. The island of Culebra is perfect for this romantic escapade. Honeymooners can snorkel while visiting this romance-inducing island. Couples seeking whimsy and adventure should visit the Boqueron Bay Beach. Once a haven for pirates, and now a refuge for endangered birds, this environmentally friendly beach is a mecca for beach lovers.

Southwest India is brimming with clandestine romantic interlude possibilities for those just married and looking for solitude. Full of highly rated resorts, beautifully private beach bungalows, spas, The beaches of Goa and Kerala are warm, inviting, and overflowing with idyllic sandy beaches lapped by clear water. Even though well-visited, the beaches at Goa still retain their easy charm and laidback sensibility to make it an ideal honeymoon hideaway spot. Tourists are known to take afternoon siestas on the southern beaches of Goa to celebrate the beauty and soothing allure. Couples can visit Calangute, the "Queen of Beaches," to go windsailing or paragliding to take a break from the gentle calm and interact with others.

Fraser Island in Brisbane, Australia, is the world's largest sand island. Offering sun, sand, and an area rich in ecological preservation, this island paradise will give couples some quiet time together while being able to enjoy unspoiled beaches. Couples will be surrounded by beauty and adventure so any trek outdoors will greet them with beautiful birds and all manner of wildlife. Honeymooners can also find plenty of activity in snorkeling, kayaking, and fishing. 

For the ideal Greek honeymoon hideaway, Folegandros, Greece, will exceed the hopes and expectations of any dewy-eyed romantic couples' eyes and hearts. Mountainsides speckled with whitewashed buildings that overlook glorious azure blue water fit the bill for anyone seeking quiet beauty and romance, for that once in a lifetime honeymoon experience. Couples can shop in the markets when they find time to pull themselves away from the beautiful pristine beaches.

Christina Johnson works remotely for Elliman Prudential in the NYC Rentals market.  She is using her journalism major to combine what she loves most, writing and her career.  Her specialties include home decor design and DIY home improvement projects.

Keswick Bound!

This week the entire Engaging Affairs team is off to visit Keswick Hall near Charlottesville, Virginia for a few days. We've been lucky enough to plan several weddings at Keswick over the years and we love this stunning resort. Breathtaking!  We'll have more fun details on the property and all the amazing new options for events when we return.

Brunch Wedding Receptions!

YoungDesigns

I love breakfast. Really bad-for-you breakfast like French toast, pastries and pancakes drenched in syrup. Done well, breakfast is quite a decadent meal.

 ElizabethAnneDesigns

And I love breakfast for wedding receptions. We've done brunch weddings or even midnight breakfast spreads. Our own Sara served fabulous breakfast foods during the cocktail hour of her evening wedding and it was a massive hit.

You can get really creative with traditional breakfast food and make them passable for a more elegant presentation like mini pancakes, tiny frittatas and layered yogurt parfaits.  This stylish omelette bar from 100 Layer Cake is divine!

100 Layer Cake

You can also have some fun with drinks--make-your-own Bloody Mary stations and Mimosas with various garnishes come to mind.

100 Layer Cake

All this talk of breakfast is making me hungry!  Cheers!

Reem Acra at Saks Jandel!

Badgley Mischka Trunk Show!

A North Meets South Romance {Brandi + Justin}

The bride, a sweet Southern Belle.  The groom, from the North and die-hard Mets fan.  Somewhere in the middle they met and fell in love.

The elegant affair began on a warm Saturday morning in October.  The Groom started off his wedding day with a game of whiffle ball with his friends on the Mall.  While he was enjoying the day outside, the Bride and her lovely ladies were busy getting ready at the beautiful Willard hotel.  Thank you to Diane of Hair by Diane and Pattie Martin for amazing hair and makeup!

The out of town guests along with the bridal party were transported to the Mellon Auditorium by shuttles and limos provided by International Limo.  The Bride and her brother rode over in a vintage car provided by Regal Limo.

As guests arrived at the Mellon Auditorium for the Fall-inspired wedding, they were greeted by passed apple cider.  The very talented Pop Culture Strings played modern and traditional songs as guests found their seats.  After the bridal party made their way down the aisle, the Bride entered with her brother to "God Only Knows" played by the strings.  So sweet!

Cocktail hour consisted of delicious specialty cocktails called “Snaps” made from Ginger liquor, a raw bar set up on the upstairs terrace and, for their newspaper-themed guestbook (the couple works for a newspaper company), an antique typewriter sat next to where the guests signed blank sheets of paper, balled them up and threw them in a small trash can!  After the wedding, the couple planned to flatten them all out and place them in a scrapbook to remember the memories.  So creative!

Once cocktails were over, guests were ushered back inside the main hall for dinner and dancing.  The room was stunning with amber lighting and rich purple, orange, red and blue flowers and linens.  Thank you to Capitol Décor for all of the amazing flowers and John Farr Lighting for the perfect ambiance!

The delicious dinner and wedding cake was provided by Occasions Caterers.   In addition to the wedding cake, the Bride surprised the Groom with a Mets themed groom’s cake designed by the famous Charm City Cakes.

Dancing started off downstairs in the main room thanks to Sound Connection and continued at the after party on the 3^rd floor terrace until the wee hours of the morning.

 The 3^rd floor terrace, decorated in white furniture with a custom white bar and lit with pink and blue uplights was packed with the guests dancing until the party shut down.  Guests were also able to enjoy late night snacks including a S'mores station.

All of the amazing images were captured by photographer, Steve Canning.   Thank you also to Blue Sky Films for capturing all of the day’s memories on video.

Thank you to my special team of assistants, Amanda and Emily!

Congratulations Brandi & Justin, and thank you for letting us be a part of this amazing day! What a fabulous couple!

Christine