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 Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: cid:image007.jpg@01CC8E68.98FBE610 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       
        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.

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.