Happy New Year!

Just a quick note to say a HUGE thank you to my team last night for a fabulous New Year's Eve wedding at the Historic 6th and I Synagogue and The Hotel Monaco. The party was amazing! A big shout-out to my wonderful assistants Krista and Erika (and kudos to Erika's quick thinking with some White-Out to cover a a stain on the bride's dress). I'll share photos as soon as I get them but now I'm going to crawl back in bed. Needless to say, it was a late night! I wish everyone an amazing 2010. Happy New Year!

Gustavo Mottola {A Makeup Lesson}

Sorry for the extended absence everyone. I always take a little time off around the holidays since I work through most holidays (Labor Day, Memorial Day, etc.) but now I am back at it!

While I was off, I had the good fortune to see one of my industry colleagues, makeup artist Gustavo Mottola. I've known Gustavo for eons and we've done some pretty phenomenal weddings together. He is such a great guy plus he always makes brides look stunning (and it's fun to see the latest celebrities that he's done--Penelope Cruz, Julia Roberts, Paris Hilton, Katie Holmes)! Recently, he's developed his own line of organic skin care and makeup (Gustavo Cosmetics) so my eco-friendly brides love him even more. No animal testing or harmful chemicals or any yucky stuff!



The reason I got to see Gustavo the day after Christmas was that he was part of my stepdaughter's Christmas present. She's in high school and apparently the trend for 14-year-old girls is to wear as much black eyeliner as possible without actually tipping over from the weight of it. Since I didn't want her to go through life looking like she'd been sucker punched, I called Gustavo and set up a makeup lesson.

He was so great at showing her how to do everything from clean her face to how to put on blush so that it looks natural to how to do her eyes without caking on the liner. She left looking so pretty and with a bag full of new makeup and lots of confidence. I even got a party favor: Gustavo's Vitamin C Lifting Serum. I have been faithfully applying it and I could swear that I look 25 again. For those of you saying that you thought I was 25, I love you the most!

Check out Gustavo if you're looking for great wedding day makeup (and hair--he has a resident stylist) or just a lesson to learn how to do your own. And check out his amazing organic products online!
Laura

Brand Spankin' New Location {Georgetown Cupcake}

I was strolling down M Street in Georgetown just last week admiring all of the hussle and bussle of the holiday season. Just as I came upon Dean & Deluca, I glanced across the street and noticed the most delightful little shop! And how much more excited was I to see that it was the brand spankin' new Georgetown Cupcake location!


Now this shop is clearly larger than their last location, which sits pretty on the corner of 33rd & M St., offering plenty of room to sit down and enjoy a tasting of all their wonderful creations! Oh, how we do love the cupcake! And what a fabulous treat for your wedding guests, giving them oodles of options to nibble on!

{Photo by Jaime Windon, The Blonde Photographer}


Happy planning!
xoxo,
Amy Lorraine

Engaging Affairs #1 in Washingtonian Again!

We are so thrilled to announce that Engaging Affairs was just voted the #1 wedding planner in the Washington, D.C. area by The Washingtonian Bride and Groom magazine. We want to thank everyone in the industry who voted for us and all the brides who have been so supportive of us this year. We couldn't do it without amazing clients and the world's best colleagues. Thank you everyone!

The winter 2010 issue just hit the stands so be sure to grab a copy!

A Wedding Planner's Wedding; Part I

Oh, the pressure! A wedding planner planning her own wedding. After weighing the facts, I made the conscious decision to get married here, in DC, surrounded by my favorite people. (and, my Engaging Affairs associates)


Like many of my clients, most of our guests would have been traveling in from out of state so location was key. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was our venue of choice for many reasons. First, it was completely unexpected. You get a wedding invitation and it lists the name of a hotel or a banquet space, sometimes even a restaurant. But a government organization building like this, how interesting! Besides that, it has the location going for it- 1615 H Street, directly across from the White House and the amazing detail in the function spaces. I always say, the more interesting the room, the less you have to do to it! Our guests noticed details we never even saw, and we had many planning trips to the space.


While I have done other events in the building, each had a more regal feel (see the photos above of my past weddings there) that somewhat "fit" the framework of the space. I had slight concerns as I went in a more modern direction, something I hadn't tried there before! Check out my take on the space in the photos below.


You can show me pictures of a million weddings, and trust me that's how many I have seen, and I might love them all. But at the end of the day, for myself, I kept going back to elegant, classy green and white. Then I realized, that wasn't enough "me". I have a little more bite to my personality than that. So, I added black. It's funny, brides do black tie affairs all the time, but many seem to be scared of black as a color at their wedding. (A secret, it looks fabulous with the right flower colors popping off of it)



And so there you go! Peek #1 into the wedding planner's wedding. Stay tuned for more installments about decor, lighting, entertainment, food and surprises!

Sara
And of course, thank you to Justine Ungaro for the fabulous images!

Insider's Guide to Sunny Honeymoons

Teresa Belcher of Honeymoon Islands has sent us some more fabulous ideas for sunny honeymoons from Virtuoso. Check out their website! I don't know about you but I could use some surf and sun right about now! Whether you're considering Hawaii or the Caribbean Islands or the Mexican Riviera, there are some fabulous resorts and great deals. Send us a postcard when you get there!

Laura

The Bubbly Bride: The Ultimate Wedding Cocktail Guide

Just by the title of this book, you know we're going to love it. Bridal Bubbly. Bubbly Bride. Plus, what's not to love about a book full of fabulous wedding drink ideas?

Natalie Bovis-Nelson is a mixologist extraordinaire who is the editor of the site TheLiquidMuse and is launching an online cocktail show called "Inspired Sips with The Liquid Muse." In her latest book, "The Bubbly Bride," Natalie shares fun cocktails for every stage of wedding planning from engagement drinks to bachelorette party shots. The signature wedding cocktails are even divided into themes so you can choose the perfect drink for your garden wedding, tropical reception or Asian-inspired event. I love the "green" cocktail section. But my favorite section has to be Battling Bridezilla! Check out this fabulous drink to calm your nerves.

Chill Pill

Lavender Water
1 ounce lavender infused vodka
1 ounce lavender -infused simple syrup
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
Splash lavender soda

Shake lavender vodka, simple syrup and lemon juice with ice. Strain into champagne flute and top with lavender soda.


In case you don't happen to have lavender-infused vodka on hand, check out this fun one:

The Male Stripper Made Me Sin

1/2 ounce vodka
1/4 ounce cinnamon schnapps
1/4 ounce cream
3 red hots

Pour vodka, schnapps and cream into a shot glass. Drop red hots in the bottom of the glass.

Cheers!
Laura

A Picture Worth A Million Words

Pictures and art of all kinds are just marvelous to me. I love when people get creative and adore pieces that strike conversation, both at events and in my home.

I found this fabulous artist, Dee, on Esty.com and just adore the art she makes with words! Her work is distinct and unique. She also does custom work and can coordinate your art colors to match your wedding or home decor. Also, it's so incredibly affordable for a thank you gift for a mom, bridesmaid or anyone else who strikes your fancy!

Hang them in your reception or your bathroom!

Check out Dee's shop on Etsy.com HERE

Happy decorating!
xoxo,
Amy Lorraine

modern or traditional... textured or flat? {Amy & Clark}

Ahhh, I do adore the touch and feel of a fine invitation. Whether you are preparing for a formal holiday dinner or an upcoming wedding, a beautiful invitation to your fete should not be overlooked.

There are so many variations of papers, fonts, colors and design concepts in the world to choose from. You shouldn't have much trouble finding an invitation that portrays "you" and the type of event that you are hosting. There is the ever-growing concept now in paper products of designing your own invitations and corresponding menu cards, programs and escort cards.

The first step in designing your own invitations is getting in touch with a graphic designer {or graphic designer turned invitation producer}. Having a consulting session with them will allow you to download all of your wishes for what your design concept will look like in the end product. From colors to modern or whimsical fonts to formal or fun vibes.

Clark and I worked with a great friend of ours and graphic designer, Jason VanDorsten, on our invitations. Jason was super fun to work with and offered so many ideas and creative ways to make our invites more like us!

Here is a glimpse at our first round of invites after telling Jason all of my HUNDREDS of ideas!! Oh, how fun!



Once you have your final design, you can work with either your invitation producer on the printing options or find a local printer that can walk you through the paper types and printing options.

To contact Jason directly for product design, email him at
{jason@vandorstendesign.net} or find his website HERE.

xoxo,
Amy Lorraine

A Family Affair

As I look back at my CRAZY October, and start to fill you in on it, I realize it started off in such a familiar fashion. Of course a wedding is a family affair, as my blog post title describes. But the wedding of John Yavari and Christina Aumann was more of that to me than normal.


This past year, and next year is shaping up to be, a tremendous year for me and sibling weddings. A huge honor and one of the biggest compliments in my book. This year, I had the pleasure of doing three weddings for sisters OR brothers of past brides. Let's start with John and Christina and work our way backwards.

John and Christina met in school and that was just the end of that.

Heartthrob that he was, and I know this because best man Nick Caldwell, brother of my former bride Allison (Caldwell) Bliss, collected keys to John's room from the lovely ladies in attendance at the wedding during his speech. (See, it was a big Engaging Affairs extended family affair!) Anyway, Christina had captured his heart and the couple got engaged just before his sister, Josephine, wed Robert Reger last October.


The two weddings, as they should be, were very different. The first at the Stephen Decatur House in Washington, DC and John and Christina's at the Ritz Carelton, Pentagon City. The first had more of a land ans sea feel, appropriate for the bride and groom's professional dealings, while John and Christina's was more red hot and sultry with color and had a modern twist on a favorite traditional venue. Jo's wedding had live fish, John's wedding had a live ninja. Similar, but completely different. Exactly what I love about weddings, but what I love even more about sibling's weddings.


Not only was the family the same, but I got to work with a hand full of the same vendors as well. Toni Footer from The Write Image got us going again with invitations. Justine Ungaro captured the day in stunning style. Leslie at Fancy Cakes by Leslie created two more breathtaking cakes and Digital Lightning lit up to space to create the appropriate feel. Thanks for sticking with the team everyone!


Ok, so I mentioned this was one of the three family weddings I had the honor of participating in this year. Stay tuned to recap the other two and their sibling's events!

Sara