Mellow Yellow

Photo from MSW

This past weekend was so gorgeous in the D.C. area! The forsythia bush in my yard is in glorious bloom with the most riotous yellow blossoms so I thought I'd post some favorite photos of yellow wedding details.

Photo by The Cake Girls

These individual cakes look so yummy! You know how we love bright shoes under wedding dresses. These sunny peep-toes are perfect for a warm weather wedding!

Photo by Jose Villa

Happy Monday and bring on the Spring!

Wedding Amusement {Carnival Inspiration}

credits: candy and game (Victor Sizemore Photography), centerpiece (Green
Wedding Shoes), escort cards ( Grey Likes Weddings), milk jug toss (Victor
Sizemore Photography), photobooth (Grey Likes Weddings), ferris wheel kiss
(Green Wedding Shoes), carousel bride (Picture That Photography), cotton candy
(Victor Sizemore Photography), ring toss (Victor Sizemore Photography)

The warmer weather starts making me think about summer carnivals and outdoor fairs. I always love really whimsical weddings that take inspiration from childhood fun. Plus, I adore cotton candy and funnel cakes and all sorts of fair food! Love having escort cards that look like carnival tickets--such a cute idea! Weddings are happy occasions so why not make them really fun? Enjoy and Happy Friday!

Win a Luxurious Yacht Wedding!

We just have to share this amazing giveaway!

Win an Annapolis dream wedding on a luxurious private yacht on the Chesapeake Bay! The prize, valued at over $20,000 includes:

• 3-hour yacht cruise
• Hosted Soda/Juice/Beer/Wine Bar
• Delicious catering and a fabulous wedding cake from The Main Ingredient.
• Accommodations, valet service and breakfast from Historic Inns of Annapolis
• DJ services from Alpha Entertainment
• Photography by DBryant Photography
• Florals from Intrigue Design and Décor
• Limousine from An Extraordinary Limousine

There are two ways to enter:
1. Send a video (90 seconds or less please) of your love story or wedding proposal.
OR
2. Come down to the Annapolis City Dock on April 17, 2010. Watermark will welcome you to step aboard the Catherine Marie to record your video and receive a tour.

For more information or to download your video, go to the contest website. Good luck! We hope a Bridal Bubbly reader wins!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! {Green Wedding Inspiration}

Photo credits: dresses (Martha Stewart), bouquet (Martha Stewart), cake

(Artisan Cake Company via The Knot), ring pillow (), shoes (Cheri Pearl), table
setting (Martha Stewart), teacups (Martha Stewart), clover boutonniere, apple
escort cart setting (Style Me Pretty), drink (Martha Stewart Wedding), cupcake
(Snippet & Ink), invitation (Style Me Pretty)

Hope everyone remembered to wear green today!  We have a few green and white weddings coming up this summer, and we love the crisp combination. Enjoy this fresh and fun green wedding inspiration and may the luck of the Irish be with you!

Lunch with Some (Wedding Planning) Ladies

Last week, Sara and I had the pleasure of attending a lunch to showcase the catering talents of Silverleaf. Our dear friend Pam Barefoot of Atrendy Wedding hosted the Georgetown party and some of our favorite fellow wedding planners attended.

The weather was glorious so we enjoyed cocktails in the walled garden before going inside for a seated lunch. The meal was tapas style with delicious items like shrimp on skewers, summer rolls and chai pots de creme. I loved the unique flavors and creative use of spices! Pam had everyone answer a fun, wedding planning related question, which led to some lively conversation.





Nick Perez of Multiflor created gorgeous centerpieces using unusual flowers and vegetables that evoked the modern art on the wall. The beautiful photos are courtesy of Kate Triano. Thanks to Pam and to Silverleaf for a lovely afternoon!

A Picnic-Inspired Spring Wedding Board

bouquet (Martha Stewart Weddings), dress (Pretty Chicky), ceremony (Style Me
Pretty), watermelon (Brides Buzzing), tablescape (Style Me Pretty), lunch bags
(Style Me Pretty), escort cards (Style Me Pretty), picnic blankets (White Lace
Wedding), hammock (), table setting (Style Me Pretty), cake (Martha Stewart
Wedding), bottles (Style Me Pretty), edible 'paper bags' (Martha Stewart
Weddings, jar (Prima Donna Bride) The red gingham bottle photo is courtesy of Halo Photography.

We're so thrilled that the weather is turning warm that we feel inspired to share happy, sunny wedding ideas. What could be more fun than a wedding outside on the lawn? After ages with snow on the ground here in D.C., we love the idea of an elegant reception on the lawn with individual picnic blankets and baskets for guests. I love the pink floral arrangements on each blanket and the white cushions!

Photo courtesy of White Lace Weddings

Flaunt Your Rock!

Did you recently get engaged and are beaming with pride over the shiny rock on your finger? Do you have the best engagement ring ever? Well, it’s time to flaunt it for a chance to win a FREE Engagement Session AND a FREE 20 page Gold Guest Signature Album from Ever After Visuals.

The Details:

• Engaged couples only.
• Ceremony must be held in the Northern VA, DC, MD area.
• Submit 1 photograph of your ring & 1 photograph of yourselves (amateur photo’s only) by March 17th by e-mail only to Mindy@EverAfterVisuals.com. After submissions are closed, they will put all images back up on the blog for voting.
• Encourage all of your friends and family to vote for you. The ring with the most votes wins! Voting will begin on March 18th!

Everyone will be invited to cast their vote by leaving your name, a comment and the image number of the couple you are voting for.

Entries:
Submit by: 03/17/2010
Voting begins: 03/18/2010
Voting ends: midnight on 03/25/2010
Announce winner: 03/31/2010.

The prize the winner will receive:

• A FREE Engagement Session
• A FREE 20 page Gold Guest Signature Album

For a TOTAL VALUE OF: $500.00

Also because they appreciate you taking the time to vote, Ever After Visuals will give away 2 family portrait sessions as prizes! JUST FOR THE VOTERS! So be sure to leave an email address when you vote where they can contact you!

Don't send your photos or try to vote here. Bop on over to Ever After Visuals for more info. Good luck!

Jet-Setting Weddings

credits:
box of collectibles (Green Wedding Shoes blog), plane shot (Blue Door
Photography), passport program (SMP), boarding pass escort cards (SMP), postcard
Save the Date (Besotted Brand LLC on leblahg), suitcases (SMP), mini globes
(Elizabeth Demos), toy airplane (Style Me Pretty), compass (SMP), luggage tag
escort cards (SMP), passports (SMP), suitcases (SMP), map (Elizabeth Demos)

Our quick little jaunt down to Bimini Bay (with our crazy dash through the airport followed by a ride on a teeny tiny private plane) inspired us to think of travel-inspired weddings. Since so many D.C. weddings have guests flying in from all over the world, we have done some fab luggage tag favors and place cards. I also love the idea of using a giant map for guest seating. Guests find their "escort card" flag according to where they are from. A fun conversation starter! Enjoy!

"On Love" in The Washington Post {Danielle and Nick}

Check out the fabulous Engaging Affairs wedding of Danielle and Nick featured in The Washington Post. More photos of the swanky 1940s style wedding to come!

A Night to Remember

Saturday was the first beautiful day we've had in DC in many months. So, it would be fitting that our girl Amy would be married amongst the sunshine and excitement. I was reminded once again, I still haven't given so many of you the look at my own wedding you have been asking for. So, before Amy returns from fabulous Fiji, I've decided to get my butt in gear and recognize all the amazing people who made my own wedding a night I will never forget. So, here we go!


The weekend kicked off Friday evening when my husband and I hosted friends and family at Le Bar, the chic bar in the Sofitel. The highlight of the evening, my surprise groom's cake made by the amazing Kendall of Kendall's Cakes. Her carrot cake is so full of stuff it could be considered a meal, and it's my favorite! So, back to the cake, I tasked Kendall to create a bust of Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. (Someone is a big RayRay fan) For her first bust, she hit a home run (or perhaps scored a touchdown is more fitting)! Thanks Kendall for creating this kick butt surprise!


Festivities the next day began at noon when two ladies I work with often came to beautify me and my wedding party. What a treat to be the one in the hair and make up seat! Susie Rucksthul did my hair, a very "me" messy bun in the back, finished with a fragrant gardenia, no veil, ala my mom who did the same thing on her wedding day. Pattie Martin, perfectionist that she is, worked her magic on my face. I felt so special!

By about 4pm, the wonderful Justine Ungaro and Jenni Green arrived to start photographing the excitement and Jenny Lehman arrived to start video coverage. I have worked with all of these ladies so many times in the past, but I have never been on the other side of the lens.

Putting on my dress was so exciting. If I had the choice, I would NEVER take it off! It was SO me. I'm actually thinking about dying it black. It would be perfectly appropriate to wear to a ball or gala in the future...if I went to any of those. The lovely ladies at Hitched Bridal Salon in Georgetown helped me find my stunning Oscar de la Renta gown.


Yes! I wore red shoes. My mother and I always say, red feet are happy feet :) Seeing my future husband for the first time, I can't even remember what I was thinking. My face sure shows some good emotion though!


After a traditional Jewish ceremony at the US Chamber of Commerce, guests danced the night away to the sounds of Billy Joel, Journey and Frankie Valli performed by New Monopoly, one of my favorite bands. As if I had any clue that someone could surprise me, my parents came through with flying colors. My husband and I met at the University of Maryland and remain huge Terps fans. (our football team of late has been unimpressive but our basketball team just beat Duke to tie them for #1 in the ACC!) So my parents arranged for the Maryland mascot, Testudo, to make a special appearance on our big day. Go Mom and Dad!


Two of my favorite things from the wedding were the gourmet popcorn bar complete with red and white striped popcorn boxes and the live painting of the event Irena Koren did. It's hanging in our dining room, and it's quite a conversation piece.




A huge thank you goes out to Jeffrey Fox and his crew at Capital Decor and Events for helping to carry out my vision for the ceremony and reception space. The classic green and white with a modern black punch was just what I was looking for. Digital Lightning polished off the event with uplighting in green chosen by Laura Weatherly. Thank you also to Ray Bialek of Bialek's Music and John Knudson for the ceremony and cocktail entertainment.


I hope you enjoyed!
Sara