Friday, August 31, 2012
Photobooth Fun {Josephine Party Pics}
We're suckers for photo booths! They take us back and make us feel like kids again! Here are some of our favorite photobooth shots from our big networking party at Josephine (our team, minus Sara who is represented by the gold tiara, is above).
Thanks to Booth-a-Rama for providing the awesome photo booth and the fun custom photo strips. We love the Booth-a-Rama team!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Ex Pats in Paris Party! {Video}
"ExPats in Paris" from Bowen Films on Vimeo.
Thanks to Thomas Bowen Films for the awesome video from our end-of-summer party!
Modern Trousseau at Hitched {Trunk Shows}
Do
you remember how exciting it was to go back-to-school shopping as a
kid? Well, you may be past the point of using this time of year to
justify a whole new wardrobe, but now you have a new excuse to go
shopping—you've gotta find your wedding day ensemble! Make it easy on
yourself by checking out the incredible selection of gorgeous gowns at
the Modern Trousseau Bridal Gown Trunk Show coming up on Friday, September 7th & Saturday, September 8th at Hitched!
If you've been having trouble settling on the perfect dress, the Modern
Trousseau Trunk Show is the event for you. Ever popular with Hitched
brides, designer Callie Tein's collection is full of a wide array of stunning gowns, each one as wearable as it is exquisitely beautiful.
What: Modern Trousseau Bridal Trunk Show
When: Friday, September 7th & Saturday, September 8th
RSVP: 202.333.6162 or
appointments@hitchedsalon.com [Please remember, gown trials are by appointment only!]
All
the Details: At the trunk show, you'll have the amazing opportunity to
meet with designer Callie Tein to discuss any changes you might like to
make to your gown. In addition, they'll be offering 10% off of all Modern
Trousseau gowns purchased over the course of the weekend!
This show is sure to book up quickly, so make your appointment today by calling 202.333.6162 or emailing appointments@hitchedsalon.com.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Hot Honeymoon Spot {Bulgari Resort in Bali}
We asked Teresa Belcher of Honeymoon Islands (an Engaging Affairs favorite) to let us in our her favorite pick for a truly luxury honeymoon resort and she chose the amazing Bulgari Resort in Bali! Bali is definitely on my short list of places I'm dying to visit and now I know where I must stay. Read on for more about this stunning resort!
If you “Like” Honeymoon Islands on and mention this blog you will receive $100 off your honeymoon reservation and a complimentary upgrade to the next category* (*restrictions apply)
Discover the exotic charm of the Bulgari Resort in Bali,
A luxury resort in one of the most exclusive and beautiful destinations in the world!
Once
the hunting grounds of the Balinese royal family, the Bukit peninsula
in southern Bali is now home to the Bulgari Resort. Located in one of
the most exclusive destinations in the world, a veritable emblem of the
tropical exoticism of the Orient, combining the breathtaking beauty of
unspoiled nature with a sophisticated contemporary design born from the
encounter between traditional Balinese forms and high Italian style. The
quality of the services along with the views of the Indian Ocean
offered by its magnificent position 150 meters over the sea are the
perfect introduction to the second luxury property from Bulgari Hotels
& Resorts.
Villas:
The Resort consists of 59 villas with ocean views, and together they
represent a contemporary interpretation of a synthesis of Italian design
and traditional Balinese style. Designed by the architectural studio of
Antonio Citterio and Partners, the interior walls are made of hand-cut
volcanic stone and palimanan, while the window and door frames feature
the sophisticated nuances of bangkiray, a Javanese mahogany. The refined
fabrics that adorn the rooms are designed and woven locally in
collaboration with a team of Balinese artists and designers.
Food:
Il
Ristorante is awarded as BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD by
International Food & Beverage Forum and BEST TOP 10 GREAT HOTEL
RESTAURANT 2011 by Villeroy & Boch Award. Situated next to a water
feature ornamental lake, featuring an open-air bale style structure and
pays homage to traditional Italian cuisine in an elegantly suggestive
atmosphere suffused with soft light. Open in the evening only, with
seating only for 36 guests, Chef Maurizio Bombini brings creative
reinterpretations of classic dishes of the Italian tradition to the
table, where quality ingredients imported from Italy are combined
perfectly with local organic produce. The wine list features an
excellent selection of the most prized Italian wines.
Sangkar
Restaurant With its extraordinary position at the edge of a cliff and
its elegant yet informal atmosphere, distinguished by a magnificently
illuminated ceiling and traditional woven lamps, the Sangkar Restaurant
offers a menu of international specialties, creatively combining typical
Indonesian dishes with contemporary culinary techniques. Throughout the
day, guests can enjoy dishes such as tamarind chicken breast or bamboo
shoot and vegetable curry with turmeric-scented rice.
Spa:
A luxurious treatment administered by a team of four therapists,
including deep massage with exotic oils and herbs, and the placement of
warm volcanic stones on the chakras, the body’s seven energy centers,
providing total relaxation and a soothing anti-stress effect. Warm
stones used in combination with aromatic oils to rehydrate the skin: the
Spa’s menu is designed to offer a series of complete treatments that
integrate Asian and European approaches: the ayurvedic Balinese ritual,
facial treatments, body wraps and massages, all at the ocean’s edge.
Destination Weddings:
The Bulgari Resort in Bali becomes a special location for exclusive
wedding ceremonies distinguished by Bulgari style. Four types of
ceremonies are available: The Water Wedding, The Beach Wedding, The
Gazebo Wedding and The Pavilion Wedding. Each includes flower
arrangements by a famous floral designer, champagne for the toast and an
elegant case for the marriage certificate. A wedding planner tends to
every detail to make the experience perfect and unforgettable.
Bali the Destination
- Bali is a land of lush forests, tropical climate, and pristine
beaches touched by the warm Indian Ocean. Volcanoes tower over the
island landscape, rising above clouds and rice fields to form intricate
patterns on the hillsides. The Bulgari Resort Bali is just a drive away
from the Ubud Art Village, a prominent centre for fine arts, dance and
music that allures art collectors. For a more spiritual experience,
journey to the Pura Besakih Temple, the largest of the island's 11,000
Hindu temples.
For information and reservations for Bulgari Bali call Honeymoon Islands 703-753-8115 or email info@honeymoonislands.com
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
10 No-Fail Songs to Pack Your Dance Floor!
Our clients are always telling us they want to make sure that their guests dance and that means playing the right songs to get people out of their chairs and onto the dance floor! We all have favorite songs that get our toes tapping, but we thought we'd ask the real experts in getting wedding crowds moving and shaking: Jennifer and Evan Reitmeyer of MyDeejay.
We love all the DJs at MyDeejay and have never had them DJ a wedding that wasn't an amazing success. They know music and after thousands of weddings, they know what songs are "sure things." Check out their Top Ten List of No Fail Songs plus the Five Hottest Hits of the Summer of 2012!
Thanks MyDeejay!
10 Moving & Shaking Songs:
Jackson 5: I Want You Back
The Summer’s Top 5 Wedding Hits:
Temptations: Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
Stevie Wonder: Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Earth Wind & Fire: September
Michael Jackson: Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Run-D.M.C.: It’s Tricky
Mark Morrison: Return of the Mack
Usher f. Lil Jon & Ludacris: Yeah
Black Eyed Peas: I Gotta Feeling
The Summer’s Top 5 Wedding Hits:
Carly Rae Jepsen: Call Me Maybe
Calvin Harris: Feel So Close
Flo Rida: Good Feeling
Nicki Minaj: Starships
The Wanted: Glad You Came
Monday, August 27, 2012
Vendor Love {Beauty 'n the Bride}
One of the great pleasures of being a wedding planner is getting to work with some pretty phenomenal talent. Nikki Fraser, makeup artist extraordinaire and founder of "Beauty 'n the Bride" is one of those talents and also one of the sweetest people we know. Nikki not only makes our brides look GORGEOUS (and like the best version of themselves) but she is so calm and delightful to be around.
Nikki works beautifully with all skin types and ethnicities and all of our brides simply adore her. I love the way she creates sexy, smoky eyes!
We were originally introduced to Nikki by our good friend Sandy Leone of Love Couture Bridal and Nikki has since become an Engaging Affairs favorite. Thanks Nikki for making our brides look so beautiful!
xo
Laura
Friday, August 24, 2012
Museum Inspiration {Flashback Friday}
busts (Style Me Pretty), flowers (Martha Stewart Weddings), cake (Snippet &Ink), couple kissing (Brides.com), framed escort cards (In Style Weddings), live event painter (Wedding Bee), tablescape (Brides.com), bride (Favors in the City)We've had so many museum weddings this summer that we thought it would be fun to feature one of our favorite inspiration boards inspired by art. Enjoy!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The Tea Can Company {New Find}
I love the pretty customized tins of specialty tea from The Tea Can Company for wedding favors or to put into welcome bags. You can get a sampler bag of lots of different teas or a pretty tin. I've personally sampled the Moroccan Mint tea and it's so yummy!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Top 5 Tips For Planning a Destination Wedding!
Have you decided to jaunt off and get married someplace exotic? A Caribbean island perhaps or a romantic castle in Ireland? Here are some tips from our own Amanda Smith McCabe who recently planned her own destination wedding in Turks and Caicos. Enjoy!
1)
If you have the time and resources, do a site
visit! Besides seeing your venue and
putting a face with some of your vendors, you can learn valuable information
such as cost and means of transportation from airport to hotel, length of time
from airport to hotel, and restaurants or other site attractions nearby! There also may be sections of the
island/city/area that you do not want guests to go to!
2)
Hire a planner!
Just as if you were having your wedding locally, you will want to relax
and enjoy your day. You can bring
someone down with you from your hometown or research to see if there are
planners that are local on the island- they can be a valuable resource!
3)
Before you decide to ship down favors/welcome
bags/décor, do some research on the import tax if you are in a different
country than the US! It may be more
practical to bring these items down in suitcases- plus that leaves room for
more shopping after the wedding!
4)
Don’t be scared to get some vendors
locally. They, after all, live
there! Unless your dream is peonies at
your wedding- trust the locally grown florals- they look fantastic in their
home setting!
5)
HAVE FUN!
How often do you get to have a group of friends and family (most who
probably don’t know each other well) all together in one location for a few
days?! I love the idea of planning some
side activities such as snorkeling, fishing, horseback riding, etc. to have
those special experiences with your guests!!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
The Dandelion Patch {Vendor Love}
If you haven't noticed, there have been dandelion patches springing up all over the DC area. First out in Virginia, then Georgetown and now at National Harbor! We don't mean the sweet little flowers that my daughter loves to pick but the super-stylish paper and gift shops named "The Dandelion Patch."
We are huge fans of these fabulous shops and our brides love shopping there for elegant invitations, swanky save-the-dates and even deluxe bridesmaids' gifts. These fresh stores really do have an amazing selection of upscale paper products (think luxurious letterpress from Sugar and sophisticated Vera Wang designs), Vera Bradley totes in all colors and even fabulous favors.
Now that there are so many locations, it's even easier to pop in a check out their amazing selection. I just bopped over to the new National Harbor store the other day and picked up a gorgeous layered necklace. We were lucky enough to co-host a "Paper Party" with the Georgetown Patch a few months ago and their amazing team (pictured below) led our brides through the process of wedding paper products. And on top of it all, The Dandelion Patch is headed by the fabulous Heidi Kallett, who is truly one of the sweetest and most delightful people we know!
So if you're looking for invitations or just a pretty present, skip on over to "The Dandelion Patch" and have a blast!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Styling Night at Hitched!
Accessorizing an outfit to fit your personal style
can be a bit of a challenge, and the process can seem even more daunting
when it comes to your wedding day ensemble! If you've been feeling a
bit overwhelmed [or underwhelmed, for that matter] by the selection of
bling and baubles you've seen so far, stress no more! The Hitched gals
would love to help you put the final touches on your bridal look at their
next Hitched Styling Night on Thursday, August 23rd!!
What: Styling Night Open House at Hitched
When: Thursday, August 23rd from 5pm-8pm
Why:
To experience an incredible selection of veils, jewelry, belts, sashes,
birdcages, statement necklaces and hairpieces to complete your wedding
day look!
Details & Perks: As an added perk, all accessories purchased during the event will be 10% off!
RSVP: 202.333.6162 or info@hitchedsalon.com
No appointment is necessary, but they do need an RSVP for the Open House.
No appointment is necessary, but they do need an RSVP for the Open House.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Breathtaking Waterfront Wedding Featured in Sarasota Magazine!
The media blitz continues with one of Sara's gorgeous weddings (this one took place in Sarasota, Florida) appearing in the latest issue of Sarasota Magazine. The wedding of Jessica and Todd was featured in the magazine's annual Platinum issue featuring the most luxurious weddings and we must agree. This wedding was exquisite and elegant!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Glamorous NYC Wedding Featured in The Knot Magazine{Real Weddings}
More stunning Engaging Affairs weddings by Christine featured in The Knot Magazine! We love the fun shots of the bridal party around New York City--so fun!!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Engaging Affairs in The Knot {Real Weddings}
We're thrilled that Christine's two latest NYC weddings have been featured in The Knot magazine! First up, Samira and Jesse's sultry Gotham Hall wedding.
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