Wedding Pinatas!

I love pinatas, and they are a staple of birthday parties at our house!  The party isn't complete without whacking the brightly-colored pinata and rushing for the candy.

We've also used them at weddings! Not often, but they are a fabulous whimsical touch for just the right outdoor celebration. What could be more fun?

Scenes from a {6 year old birthday party} Carnival!

It's official! I survived my daughter's 6th birthday party! Despite the heavens opening up towards the end and sending us all scurrying inside, the backyard carnival was lots of fun for everyone. Here are a few photos of our homespun carnival.

Skylar Hill Confections {Artisan Cookies}

Every so often you come across something so fresh and unique that you think maybe the old adage "there's nothing new under the sun isn't true." That's how I felt when I found Skylar Hill, a designer of hand-crafted tuiles.  Now I've seen tuiles before but the way she combines the colors and shape into such whimsical, charming little works of art really sets these apart.

The delicate cookies come in flavors from classic (vanilla, almond, lemon, raspberry) to intense (Grand Marnier, Kahlua, Amaretto) and she blends the flavors to create captivating patterns. These sweet cookies are perfect for an upscale cappuccino station, an elaborate dessert display or even favors for guests to take.  I already have my eye on them for favors for an upcoming Lilly Pulitzer-inspired wedding!

Chevy Chase Bridal Blowout {Sample Sales Galore!}

Chevy Chase Bridal, Washington’s premier designer bridal dress salon, announces it’s semi-annual sample sale, set to take place June 17th-June 24th.  Known for its impeccable service, in-house atelier, well-edited accessories collection and designer exclusives, Chevy Chase Bridal offers brides–to-be, bridesmaids an mothers-of-the-bride a complete, hassle-free, and intimate shopping experience for what will be one of the most important purchases of their lives.
   
Chevy Chase Bridal Semi-Annual Sample Sale, where dozens of gowns are offered between 50-80% off will feature gowns from some of the industries most sought after designers.  This twice-annual event gives brides on a budget the opportunity to shop many designers normally out of their price range.  Unlike other fashion samples, bridal samples are sized 8-10; Chevy Chase Bridal’s expert in-house ateliers can alter many samples up or down to perfectly fit a wide range of sizes.

Chevy Chase Bridal carries leading bridal fashion houses that each have their own wedding aesthetic. Legends by Romona Keveza, known for her high-style, classically designed gowns, Simone Carvalli (dramatic gowns with expert craftsmanship that are a great value); Justin Alexander, which offers modern interpretations of classic silhouettes, as well as Chevy Chase Bridal area exclusive Badgley Mischka, known to be worn on the red carpets of Hollywood are just a few examples.

Two designers exclusive to Chevy Chase Bridal, Rosa Clará and Pattis, will also be featured in addition to famed bridal couturier, Lazaro’s mid-priced gown line, Tara Keely, and renowned bridal designer Stephen Yearick,

Rosa Clará is based out of Barcelona, Spain, and infuses the romance of the city into their design aesthetic.  Rosa Clará has worked with designers including Karl Lagerfeld and design house Christian Lacroix to design capsule collections.

“We pride ourselves on not only offering brides exquisite wedding gowns and a great selection, but also creating the best dress shopping experience a bride can have,” says Nick Kassman, owner of Chevy Chase Bridal. “We know how important the wedding dress is on your big day, and trunk shows are the perfect way for brides to see entire collections, save, and get the one-on-one attention they deserve.”

Chevy Chase Bridal is located in Mazza Gallerie, Floor Two at 5300 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. Appointments are recommended.  To schedule an appointment, brides can call 202.363.9301 or visit www.ChevyChaseBridal.com.

Sample Sale at Carine's!

Don't miss the sample sale coming up on Sunday June 26th from 10 AM to 2 PM at Carine's Bridal Atelier in Georgetown {1726 Wisconsin Avenue, Washington D.C.}

Brides-to-be will have of the amazing opportunity to purchase today’s top designer’s bridal gowns at 30% to 75% off. Sample wedding gowns by Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Melissa Sweet, Karl Lagerfeld, Monique Lhuillier, Jenny Lee, Reem Acra and more will be priced as low as $999, $1,299, $1,499, $1,899 and $2699- marked down from original retail prices ranging from $2,950 to $8,450.

“Sample gowns are a great option for brides on a budget or on a short wedding timeline,” says Carine Krawiec, owner of Carine’s Bridal Atelier. Sample dresses are in great condition and must be sold to make room for new gowns. Sample gowns are a bridal size 8 or 10 and can always be altered to fit a smaller body size. Carine’s Bridal Atelier offers custom alterations onsite in their Georgetown boutique.  

Amazing!

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)

As I'm knee-deep in both wedding season and planning my daughter's carnival-themed 6th birthday party, I thought I'd share a flashback inspiration board. This week is dedicated to pulling together a backyard carnival fit for a gaggle of kindergarteners and saying lots of prayers to the rain gods for nice weather!  I love the fun details of carnivals and love pulling them into weddings for a whimsical touch.  Enjoy and wish me luck!

Gaylord National {Vendor Love}

This past weekend, Amanda and I had the pleasure of working at The Gaylord National at National Harbor. Although my team has done weddings at The Gaylord before, this was my first time to work there, and I was so impressed!

The catering team we worked with was on top of every detail from beginning to end, taking care of everything from finessing an early set-up in the ballroom to providing a gorgeous getting-ready suite for the bridal party to making sure the vendor room was available early.  Our account exec, Joanna Kaub, went above and beyond to make the wedding day flawless (even though she was under-the-weather and should have been curled up in a ball) and our personal wedding assistant and Teal Jacket Hero, Tracy, was on hand the entire day attending to every issue.  We even had the Director of Local Catering and my long-time friend in the industry, Rachel Chadderdon, stop in to make sure everything was perfect.  Phenomenal service!

As a wedding planner, it's the little things that can make a big difference on a wedding day. Having the valets hold my car at the front so I could run out and hop in it when I needed to make a run for a tuxedo jacket a groomsman forgot to pick up and then again when I was ready to dash off to the ceremony was invaluable.  Every valet knew Amanda and I by sight and let us run in and out all day long with zero hassle. Amazing!

 Not only was the service and food for the wedding guests outstanding but the food for the vendors working on the wedding was fabulous. Now we're all used to eating lots of club sandwiches at weddings but The Gaylord set out a hot buffet for us. Such a treat and one we all really appreciated!

Plus, the Gaylord staff really spoiled the bride with amenities, spa treatments and upgrades from the moment she arrived on property. They really know how to make brides and grooms feel special, and I know the bride loved all the hotel's special touches on her wedding weekend.

Amanda and I were blown away by The Gaylord and we can't wait to go back. Oh, heck, I may go back next weekend just to hang out with the fun staff and watch the fireworks. I'm sure they would love to have a wedding planner stalking them!

Stay tuned for photos from our fun Gaylord wedding!

Bridal Hair by Remona {Vendor Love}

Our Engaging Affairs team loves working together and sharing great new ideas and vendors but we can get a little territorial about our favorite hair and make-up people. Probably because we know how invaluable a great hair stylist or make-up artist is on the wedding day!

Bridal Hair by Remona is one of those favorite hair stylists that we love so much we have to share but secretly hope that not everyone finds out how fabulous she is or we'll never be able to book her!  Not only is she an amazing stylist who does fabulous updos and is so creative with hair but she is also really easy-going and fun to be around.  She's worked on plenty of celebrities but her greatest skill is making your average girl look like a star.

 All photos by Fotobriceno

I was lucky enough to get my hair done by Remona for the Engaged Magazine photo shoot last weekend, and I loved being on the other side of the chair with her. She created a gorgeous side sweep look for me that I loved and the looks she created for the other planners at the shoot were equally amazing.  Here she is creating a stunning updo for one of my brides last year.  Love it!

From Russia with Love {Heather & Adam}!

The wedding of Heather and Adam, was truly a treat for all of their guests.  Getting to share the occasion with the couple alone and spend time with them was something many were excited about as the couple relocated to Russia for work shortly after we had begun working together.

The bride came back to town 3 weeks before the big day to help tie up loose ends and make final decisions while the groom breezed in just 3 days before.  How did we let that happen?  The result was a striking event at the Mayflower Hotel to be matched only by the beauty of the bride.  Heather's inspiration for the decor was rich and lush and not a detail was neglected.

I LOVE how you can see Heather through the veil in this picture, so classic!

As an exciting twist, guests were entertained by a belly dancer who escorted the couple to their seats and then put on a stunning show of multiple performances including use of a Shammadan.

Adam and heather then dazzled the audience with not one but two choreographed dances.

During dinner, another surprise performance as Heather and Adam  exposed their guests to some of their Russian experience with another dance group.  Their final dance, the bottle dance, got guests out of their chairs and onto the dance floor as they began the hora and lifted the bride and groom into the air.

Heather and Adam danced into the night surrounded by friends and family to the music of DJ Dan.  Egomedia did a fantastic job of capturing the feeling of the day thought emotion and love.  Petal's Edge worked tirelessly through e mail to make sure the bride's vision was achieved.

Thank you to the whole team the worked together to make Heather and Adam's day so special including Sage String Quartet and Blue Sky Films.

These escort card chairs were one of my favorite details

Thanks to EgoMedia Photography for the amazing images!

Sara

Starting the Wedding Season

I know, it's a crazy title to a blog considering it's mid June.  But, with the craziness of the season, I am left to start catching up on the beginning now.  I have never had a wedding washout, but this may be the closest I have come.  Back in 2008, Ali and Chris faced flooding in the district, but the rain stopped and the skies cleared before the bride left the hotel.

Lissette and Todd were slightly less lucky, as they, along with their wedding parties had to pile into the limo as I held not one, but two umbrellas overhead.  I think I started out that day with my hair up.

But the rain did not stand in the way of their love and by the time the bride stepped out of the limo and into the church, the rain had passed.

Following a ceremony presided over by the wonderful John Wimberly at the Church of the Holy City on 16th Street, the couple and their guests made their way to the Corcoran Gallery of Art for an event of dancing fun.

Design Cuisine catered a fabulous dinner while decor and flowers were provided by John Duffy of Yellow Door and Digital Lightning.  DJ Andres kept the dance floor packed and guests were entertained by the new wave of photo booth, some of you may recall my post immediately following the wedding, Boxi.

The couple ended their evening with a DC evening photo shoot with none other than Jenny Lehman.

Lissette and Todd, thank you for making me part of your special day!

Sara