Wednesday, October 31, 2012

I'm Dreaming of a White Pumpkin!



I'm not a big fan of Halloween-themed weddings where the bride and groom dress as zombies and fake cobwebs are considered decor. It may work for some people but it isn't my thing. I do think fall weddings are fabulous, though, and love working in harvest touches in sophisticated ways. For instance, I love using white pumpkins and the collection of miniature pumpkins under glass (above) is pretty fabulous. 

Wishing everyone a Happy Halloween!















Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Oscar De la Renta Trunk Show!


Please join us for the Spring 2013 Bridal Collection 
Trunk Show

November 1st, 2nd & 3rd

By Appointment Only

Logo 
5510 Wisconsin Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD
301.652.2250

Monday, October 29, 2012

Punk Rock Bride 2013 Collection


Punk Rock Bride is pleased to announce the launch of their 2013 Collection!

The 2013 Collection consists of five designs and continues in Punk Rock Bride's mission of offering brides a fashion-forward alternative to the traditional wedding dress. Several themes tie these dresses together, including the use of beaded embroidery and Swarovski pearls, innovative details and belted accessories.



As always, fabrics and textures were an inspiration for this year's designs, with many of the dresses incorporating intricate beading and embroidery.  Some of the fabrics used this year include silk faille, silk zibeline, crinkle chiffon, and heavy silk taffeta.






Nearly all of the dresses incorporate an overlay detail, such as the crinkle chiffon over "Amy" or the silk wool pique over "Morgan".  Most also include a separate belt to give the bride more options.  Pleating, subtle ruching, layering and pockets top off the details.

Please visit punkrockbride.com to view the complete collection.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Miami Vice {Signature Cocktail}




In honor of our fabulous Miami wedding, a signature cocktail that sounds as fun as it tastes (and I love the 80s homage)!  Cheers!


Miami Vice

INGREDIENTS:
1 strawberry, stem removed and sliced
1 slice kiwi
1 ounce simple syrup
2 ounces Absolut peach
4 ounces Red Bull

Paper umbrella, for garnish

METHOD:

In a glass, combine strawberry slices, kiwi, and simple syrup. Mash with a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon. Add ice, Absolut peach, and Red Bull, stirring to combine. Garnish with umbrella. Sure to keep you going late into the night in South Beach!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Miami Style!


Sleek South Beach-inspired style in honor of the Engaging Affairs team hitting South Beach prior to our big wedding weekend. Fun!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Miami Bound! {St Regis Bal Harbour}


This week we're headed off to Miami for a wedding. We love destination weddings and especially ones at locations as fabulous as the new St. Regis Bal Harbour! This gorgeous new hotel is the wedding venue and our home base for the week. How lucky are we?


With amazing views, a stunning pool and gorgeous indoor spaces, this hotel is a dream come true.  We love the sleek, modern design!


Stay tuned for more Miami updates!

Monday, October 22, 2012

An Engaging Evening!



I could not be more excited to marry my fiancé.  I have been waiting for quite some time (almost 4 years) for him to pop the question so when he finally did in June, I couldn’t wait to start planning the engagement party.  Yes, typically an engagement party is hosted by a friend or family member but, as a wedding planner, I could not relinquish that much control.  I thought it would be “fun” to plan a party for 110 of our closest friends and family at our home.  I learned early in the process that being a wedding planner made the planning even more stressful because I knew every detail counted … especially to me.  My fiancé allowed me to handle all of the décor while he took care of the food. 



The invitations dictated our color scheme of bright orange and peach.  Our love of Miami dictated the overall look and feel of the party.  Since we were planning on hosting our party in the backyard of our house, I loved the idea of bright linen on the tall cocktails tables to add a bit of a color to an otherwise green background.  So, with the help of Liz at DC Rental, I was able to find the perfect orange cocktail table linen.  

 

Bill and his amazing team at Edge Flowers helped to make the cocktail tables and our pre-existing wrought iron tables pop by creating gorgeous low arrangements that included orange orchids, fluffy peach garden roses (my favorite!) and fun green accents.  They also created a 4 foot tall “C” and “V” that served as the centerpiece of our main food buffet and also as the main focal point as our guests entered the tent area.  



My fiance actually prepared the entire menu (along with his mother), which included items such as lobster tails, seared tuna, homemade meatballs, BBQ ribs, crab legs, grape leaves, and exotic cheeses. 







The furniture was very important to me so I brought in Jeffrey Fox of Fox Ventures to help me turn my backyard into a Miami-style party.  We placed 2 white leather furniture groupings with a frosted Lucite coffee tables in 2 corners of the tent.  Accented with orange and white pillows, this was a great area for our guests (specifically my friends) to gather.  The main buffet was a chunky white 8ft long wood table.  The 2 seafood buffets were 3.5ft frosted Lucite squares and placed on each side of the main buffet.  



Fox Ventures also created 2 Lucite mirrored bars that served as a dessert buffet and self-serve drink station that included blackberry mojitos, Lynchburg lemonade and mini bottles of champagne (my personal favorite).  All of the drinks came with orange straws (flexi straws for the champagne) and personalized napkins that included 4 different fun facts about us.  Fox Ventures also provided Lucite benches that we added to a rectangular table for additional seating.  Lining the center with orange vases and tall glass candles created an intimate area for our guests to eat and relax.  



Some of the additional fun touches were the orange bow ties our bartenders and drivers wore, the photos of the two of us throughout our relationship (printed on orange paper) that were scattered around the party, printed signs for the beverages and bar menu, and custom napkins with fun facts about us.







 Not to mention the delicious chocolate peanut butter topped with orange buttercream, vanilla with dolce de leche center and peach buttercream cupcakes that Kendall of Kendall’s Cakes crafted for us.  Wow, is about all I can say about them!




A special thanks to Occasions Caterers for providing an awesome bartender that kept the drinks flowing all night!  Thank you to Remona for styling my hair!  Thank you to Zach Gibson for the amazing photos!






Oh, what a night!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Hitched Styling Night!

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, October 24th!

What: Styling Night Open House at Hitched

When: Thursday, October 24th 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.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

A Sneak Peek of Sweet Romance!


Just a sneak peek at the gorgeous images from Eli Turner from Amanda's charming Woodmont Country Club wedding a few weeks ago. Soft and pretty and so, so sweet!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Amsale Trunk Show


Before you step out in that spooky Halloween costume next weekend, come get all dolled up at Hitched during our Amsale Bridal Trunk Show on Friday, October 26th and Saturday, October 27th! 
 
What: Amsale Bridal Trunk Show

When: Friday, October 26th & Saturday, October 27th

Why: Designer Amsale Aberra's gowns have been featured on both the big and small screens and are a favorite among celebrity fashionistas, so don't miss your chance to try on her newest collection of chic, modern wedding gowns yourself!

Details & Perks: In addition to being able to see all of the gowns in Amsale's latest collection, you'll have the chance to meet with a representative from the company to assist in selecting the gown that's perfect for you. As an added bonus, all Amsale gowns will be 10% off during the trunk show!

RSVP: 202.333.6162 or info@hitchedsalon.com [Please remembe that all gown trials are by appointment only!]

Monday, October 15, 2012

Wedding Gospel!


One of my favorite ways to add some heart and soul into a wedding is with a gospel choir. And I love using it as a surprise for guests. In this case, we tucked the choir in the balcony and when they began singing the recessional, all the guests looked up in amazement. Talk about a WOW factor!

What is your favorite wedding ceremony music?

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Perfectly Pink {Courtney + John}



The first thing Courtney told me when we met to start planning her wedding was that she loves pink and she and her fiance love good wine!  She and John even got engaged at a Virginia winery.  So we got to work on a pink-infused wedding with tons of amazing wine!


The wedding weekend began with a festive rehearsal dinner at Cafe Milano in Georgetown where the father of the bride revealed a custom caricature he'd had created of the couple.  Then the fun continued at a dessert and drinks reception at The Fairmont, also the site of the wedding reception.

 The couple fell in love with The Fairmont Hotel in DC from the first moment they saw it and the amazing Bob Mikolitch worked with us to make sure every detail was perfect.  The bride and her girls had such fun getting ready in the Fairmont suite the morning of the wedding with Chris Cushing doing hair and Kim Giammarria doing makeup.


The bride fell in love with a magical Vera Wang ballgown and found pale pink bridesmaids' dresses with complementary cream sashes.


John Duffy with Yellow Door Floral Designs created the stunning bouquets and arrangements using tons of pink and white peonies and garden roses.


The ceremony was held at Western Presbyterian Church and was officiated by their family pastor.  Guests enjoyed harp music before the ceremony began then the bride processed in to the sounds of a trumpet and organ.






After the ceremony, the couple took off with the fabulous photographer Elaine Studley of Hay McKenna Photography to Georgetown for some photos on the cobblestone streets.


They also stopped for a quick photo outside the Georgetown bar where they first met!


While the bride and groom were dashing about taking portraits, guests were at The Fairmont enjoying a cocktail hour that featured a Peking Duck station, an expansive raw bar and passed flavored vodkas.


Guests found their escort cards around a beautiful pink floral arrangement filled with wine corks.  Out-of-town guests had also received welcome bags filled with bottles of wine from the winery where the couple got engaged!


A Dixieland jazz band played during cocktail hour and led the guests into the Colonnade Room for dinner.


The bride loved the look of all all white and pink room so we brought in chivari chairs and covered them with made-to-fit slipcovers and pink sashes. Lovely pink arrangements sat over crisp, white linens and each guest found a pink wedding cake cookie on top of their menu card.


The wedding cake featured a pale pink bow, as well.


The bride and groom opened the dance floor with a choreographed first dance then the fabulous band "Nightsong" kept the floor packed for the rest of the evening.


After a wonderful dinner, guests filled bags with pink, white and silver candies. Even the candy jar labels were created to resemble the trademark patterns of the bride's favorite designer, Lily Pulitzer.



Painter Irina Koren created a painting of the wedding throughout the evening that the couple can hang in their home to remind them of the spectacular event.


Congratulations to Courtney and John!! And thanks to Elaine Studley for sharing the gorgeous images of the day with us and letting us share them with you!


Thanks to our amazing team of vendors:

The Fairmont DC
Cafe Milano
Kay McKenna Photography
Dolce Studio Films
Yellow Door Floral Designs
Vera Wang DC
DC Rental
Sunny's Limousine
MSE Productions
Nightsong Band
Kim Giammaria
Irina Koren
Fancy Cakes by Leslie

And special thanks to my assistants Bella and Gingy who patiently tied hundreds of bows over the course of the wedding day!
Laura