Red Velvet Occasions

D & G Wedding

2011-06-15T17:24:00.000-07:00

We worked with D & G for about 9 months and had fun with all their ideas. From wedding flowers to midnight snacks, this wedding had just about everything you'd want! The dance floor was always packed thanks to the Arabic band and amazing DJ. This wedding had more vendors that usual but we loved working with everyone of them.

George + Dolores from Garner Films on Vimeo.

Event planning/coordinator: Eva of Red Velvet Occasions
Photographer: Suite M Photography
Video: Garner Films
Pipe/Drape, lighting and rentals: Persiano Events
DJ: DJ Mahjestik
Arabic Band: Fidel Fayad
Belly Dancers: Rosalba Belly Dance
Midnight Snack: The Fry Girl
Flowers: Hi Flowers
Mezza: Pita Hot Mediterranean Grill

Candy Favors

2011-04-28T05:12:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of talk about candy buffets lately - we just love them! Although some people might think this trend is no longer "in" or, well, trendy, it's always a hit! Buying bulk candy for an entire candy buffet can be expensive, so today I have an alternative favor to share with you. I found this super cute idea on You Are My Fave's blog and loved everything about it - the bottles, the decals and the mix of candy/colors. You can either use them as escort cards or place them at each place setting. You can view the entire post/her tips here.

The Honeymoon: Cotton Scarves by Dear June

2011-04-27T05:27:00.000-07:00

I love these handmade and hand-dyed cotton scarves by Dear June. Her collection is inspired by sunsets, beaches and water which makes them perfect accessories for an island honeymoon. I love that you can layer the scarves and any color combo will work. Wouldn't these be perfect for a night out in Greece?

[Images via Dear June]

Tuesday Tips and Tools: When To Order Wedding Invitations

2011-04-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

It's important to start shopping around for your wedding invitations as soon as possible - whether it be online through sites like Minted or Wedding Paper Divas, or meeting with wedding stationers. The Save the Dates and wedding invitations are a guest's first indication of just what type of event this is going to be, so I encourage couples to be very thoughtful when choosing their invitations. In my opinion, there is nothing like going with a stationer who can create a custom design!

With that being said, you want to order your invitations around five months before your wedding day. This will give you plenty of time to choose the invitations you want, have them printed, and fix any printing mistakes (believe me, you do NOT want to experience a printing disaster at the last minute!). With a nice buffer of time you will have no problem sending them out six to eight weeks before your wedding!

[Image via Sugar Paper]

Inspiration Board: Sophisticated Peach and Pink Outdoor Wedding

2011-04-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

This week's inspiration board is inspired by outdoor elegance in peach and pink hues. I love the easy feel of this board. Colorful cocktails, light sandwiches and mini tea cakes make for a relaxed afternoon. I have to admit, I miss the traditional wedding favor a bit, so I decided to include a monogramed favor box.

Photos (left to right, top to bottom)

Escort Cards: Unknown

Bride & Bridesmaids: Caroline Tran via Style Me Pretty

Chandelier: Soulmates Photo

Cocktails: Unknown

Monogram Favors: Martha Stewart Weddings

Boutonniere: Unkown

Sandwiches: Unknown

Mini Tea Cakes: Unknown

Wedding Program Inspiration (With Confetti!)

2011-04-21T05:45:00.000-07:00

Do you subscribe to the Martha Stewart Weddings newsletter? I'll admit, I don't always open it, but lately I've been finding some really cute ideas! I love these 2-in-1 programs - how cute are those envelops filled with confetti!?! If your venue allows you to throw paper confetti I would definitely suggest using this idea :)

Vendor Love: Paper and Thread Studio

2011-04-20T05:08:00.000-07:00

Searching for wedding invitations can be TOUGH - it is your wedding's "first impression" and who doesn't want to make the perfect first impression? This is where Paper and Threat Studio comes in. Lori Ruedi of Paper and Thread Studio is ah-mazing at creating personalized and thoughtful wedding invitations and stationery. No detail is overlooked and she works hard to translate clients' personalities onto paper. Each invitation is modern, unique and full of personality. Here are a few samples of her work but definitely visit her blog to see even more eye candy!

[Images via Paper and Thread Studio]

Tuesday Tips and Tools: Personal Flowers

2011-04-19T05:05:00.000-07:00

Today's tip is about personal flowers, which include your bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres (groom, groomsmen, fathers, grandfathers) and corsages (mothers, grandmothers). Most of the time "corsages" for the women in your family will come in the form of a boutonniere. However, I highly recommend providing wrist corsages instead boutonniere type "corsages" because I have run into the following problems when trying to pin them on: women don't like to have holes poked into their nice dresses, the boutonniere often sits in an awkward spot especially if dresses are strapless or have thin straps, there is nothing for the pin to really grab onto since dress fabrics are sheer/lacy/satin/silk (unlike the thick material of a man's lapel), and the boutonnieres are often too heavy for thinner/sheer fabrics and tend to pull on the fabric. Wouldn't you rather wear a beautiful wrist corsage rather than have your brand new dress poked and prodded? :)

[Image via Aaron Delesie (via Style Me Pretty)]

Rustic & Vintage Garden Inspiration Board

2011-04-18T05:28:00.000-07:00

Here's an inspiration board that I've put together for Lisa and Kevin who will be getting married this July at the Muckenthaler Mansion! I've spent the past week with Lisa developing her vision for her wedding - she loves how well vintage and rustic elements will complement the Muckenthaler gardens. She's thinking white and ivory linens topped with burlap table runners and birch vases filled with anemones, hydrangeas, sweet pea, stock, mums, and bells of Ireland. We'll have a chalkboard menu and candy buffet with a bunting banner for the backdrop. I can't wait to see everything come together!

Photos via (top to bottom, left to right)

Birch Vases: A Lady's Findings

Burlap Table Runner: Sunday Suppers

Chalkboard Menu: Catie Ronquillo Photography (Elizabeth Anne Designs)

Bunting Cake Topper: JaimeMancilla (Etsy)

Candy Buffet: Martha Stewart

Cocktails & Swizzle Sticks: Martha Stewart

Engaged: Darlene & Glenn

2011-04-14T05:05:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to introduce Darlene and Glenn who will be betting married at Franciscan Gardens in September! Darlene and Glenn are high school sweethearts so they had their engagement session at Mt. Carmel High School. I love the bright pops of color in their photos - so cheery!

[Photos via Trailbrook Photography]

Vendor Love: Bunch Studio

2011-04-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I profiled a vendor, so I thought I would get back into the swing of things. If you've ever asked for a florist recommendation from me then you've of Bunch Studio :) Mai Hoang Ito is the sweet and talented face behind Bunch Studio - her floral creations are always so beautiful and thoughtful and she is such a joy to be around. I can't recommend her enough! Be sure to visit her website and blog, and in the meantime, here are a few peeks of her work:

Photo by Feather love

Photo by Ashleigh Taylor Photography

[Photos via Bunch Studio]

Tuesday Tips and Tools: Keeping Your Wedding Gown Spotless

2011-04-12T08:51:00.000-07:00

Imagine yourself mingling with your guests when all of the sudden someone bumps into you and spills their glass of red wine on your gorgeous, pristine gown. You can spend a long time trying to remove the stain with water, club soda, shout wipes, etc. but sometimes those methods just don't work and can sometimes make the stain worse.

As your wedding planner, we want you to be as well equipped as possible to handle all unexpected occurrences and knowing how to remove stains from your wedding dress is a good thing to have in your bag of tricks. You can learn what stain removers work best by asking the salon where you purchased your wedding dress for quick cleaning advice for the fabric your gown is made of. After all, they know these fabrics best!

[Photo via Stephanie & Isaac Williams Photography]

Peach and Green Spring Wedding Inspiration Board

2011-04-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

I have been sooo bad on the inspiration board front, but I am back with a beautiful spring wedding color palette. I love these soft peaches, creams and greens - perfect for a garden or outdoor wedding. Doesn't that raspberry fizz champagne look yummy?

Photos (left to right, top to bottom)

Centerpiece: Style Unveiled

Papel Picado: Belathee Photography

Succulent boutonniere: Kate Osborne Photography, Sami Hansen Flowers

Raspberry Fizz Champagne: Martha Stewart

Bride & Bouquet: Kate Osborne Photography, Sami Hansen Flowers

Let's Talk: Guests Wearing White At A Wedding

2011-04-11T04:15:00.000-07:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love love LOVE reality TV. It's my catnip. So when the Real Housewives of New York started back up again last week I was beyond happy to see them on my TV screen again and even more happier that they could inspire a relevant blog post!

On Thursday's episode Jill, Ramona, Alex and Cindy were invited to a wedding in BarefootContessaLand (aka The Hamptons). Ramona and Alex showed up lookin' something like this:

to which Jill and Bobby responded like this:

Yes, Ramona and Alex showed up to the wedding in WHITE (Cream, Ivory, Ecru, take your pick). Jill was all sorts of baffled that anyone would wear white to a wedding.

I must admit, Cindy and I had the same expression when I saw Ramona and Alex. I even said aloud, "Why on earth are they wearing white?" See?

It got me thinking: Is this tradition antiquated? Do brides care anymore if their female guests show up in white? I'm usually Team Ramona, but I think Jill gets the point for this one. What's your opinion? Share in the comments!

PS: This is never okay:

[Photos via Bravo]

Tuesday Tips and Tools: Calculating Wedding Costs

2011-04-05T05:27:00.000-07:00

I have a wonderful segment for today's Tuesday Tips and Tools that I think you will find very, very helpful. Sisters Flowers posted a great blog the other day about the real cost of those gorgeous florals you see in magazines and blogs. The tablescapes in these photoshoots are just not monetarily practical for everyone. I encourage you to read the entirety of their blog post for the details of how they calculated the cost for the arrangements. Here is a quick summary:

In this photo, the vase is 8 inches tall and 5 inches wide and is filled with ranunculus (one of my favorites!). This wouldn't quite be a centerpiece for a table -- more of a cocktail table centerpiece. Ranunculus are small (about the size of a quarter) but cost the same as a rose. There are about 15-20 ranunculus in this vase. The cost? $85-$110.

This beautiful arrangement from Martha Stewart has about 75-80 blooms for the whole arrangement. It's a great size and its "full" like many brides prefer. The cost? $275-$325 per arrangement.

Let's do some more math (we'll even take the lower end of the price for you) and multiply $275 x 15 (tables) - the cost of the centerpieces (not including the bridal table, cake table, escort card table, gift table, guestbook table, bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, and entire ceremony area) is $4,125. This number means different things to different people - for some it is out of the question while others don't even bat an eye.

If the reality of the cost of the flowers you love doesn't fit within your budget, don't think you can't have them at all. Florists are wonderful at accommodating their brides and grooms and coming up with arrangements that can achieve the same look while staying within your budget.

SO today's tip: Look at magazine and blog photoshoots as inspiration, not reality until you get cold, hard numbers.

[Images via Sisters Flowers]

Kate Spade Wedding Belles (and Whistles)

2011-04-04T05:17:00.000-07:00

I had no idea that my little post on Friday would be followed by Kate Spade's announcement of their Wedding Belles (and Whistles) collection! Kate Spade has dubbed this collection as "a celebratory collection of little white dresses and colorful accoutrements for every shower and soiree." They have everything from LWD's (Little White Dresses), shoes with their signature details, colorful jewelry and hairpieces, clutches, tights and cardigans. Here are a few of my favorites:

I love a necklace with a lot of sparkle and a ribbon accent!

They have a great selection of shoes in the perfect shade of blue

I like their white dresses, but they seem more appropriate for a rehearsal dinner or engagement party, what do you think?

A sparkly heel, natch!

What do you think of Kate Spade's new line? What are some of your favorite pieces? Will you be buying anything for your wedding?

[Images via Kate Spade]

Jewelry: Kate Spade "Mrs" and "I do" Necklaces

2011-04-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful week and are staying cool with this ridiculously hot weather! Kate Spade sent out a email chock full of new arrivals this morning and I gasped for joy when I saw their new "Mrs" and "I do" necklaces - perfect for the upcoming wedding season!

I think the "Mrs" necklace is a little more clear, but it's hard to tell from these photos. What do you think of these necklaces? Would you buy one?

[Image via Kate Spade]

Tuesday Tips and Tools: Evernote

2011-03-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

Evernote is a great application that allows you to capture anything (save ideas, things you like, things you see, and things you hear), access it from anywhere (computer, phone or mobile device), and find these things quickly (search by keyword, tag, or even printed and handwritten text inside images). I use it all the time and I love that it is so simple to use.

I ran across this article "8 Ways to Plan a Wedding with Evernote" and I found it to be a great comprehensive guide for brides, so I thought I would share. Some of the highlights:

"Wedding planning is extremely detail-oriented. Here are some of the ways we used Evernote:

Managing guest lists (this list was constantly a work in progress!)
Clipping inspiration from blogs and websites such as Design*Sponge and Brooklyn Bride. We would send Heidi’s sister clips of bouquets we liked. She ended up using inspiration we shared via Evernote to make our bouquets
Taking snapshots of things (like suits and flowers) we liked in shops using Evernote on our iPhone
Keeping track of invites, mailing addresses, RSVPs, address lists, vows and Thank You card recipients
Storing, editing and sharing itineraries for the day
Planning our honeymoon: tracking budgets and prices, listing hotels, places to eat and things to see
Managing our overall wedding budget
Emailing important notes straight from Evernote to our photographer"

I can't recommend Evernote enough, especially for the tech-obsessed bride, but it is useful/easy to use even if you're not tech-savvy. What do you think? Is this something you would be willing to try?

[Images via Evernote]

Tuesday Tips and Tools: The Guest List

2011-03-01T05:44:00.000-08:00

I always tell my brides to make two guest lists for me - one list has all the guests' names in alphabetical order with their table number/meal selection beside the name, while the other list will have guests' names/meal selection grouped by table number. This makes it SUPER easy for planners to see where guests are seated (if they lost their escort card) or double check that people are seated at their correct table (if there are more people than seats).

[Image via Gladys Jem Photography]

Venues: Hotel Casa 425

2011-02-24T05:53:00.000-08:00

Hotel Casa 425 is a relatively new boutique hotel located in The Village of Claremont, CA. Casa 425 is perfect for couples looking for a small, modern outdoor venue with a bit of Spanish flair.

One of the best features of Casa 425 is its outdoor courtyard which is beautiful on its own, but can also be a beautiful blank slate to work with.

The outdoor courtyard can accommodate up to 250 guests and site rental fees range from $750-$4000 depending on the day.

I think this is a great option for couples looking for something modern, intimate and new. Has anyone ever been to a wedding or visited Casa 425? What did you think?

[Images via Hotel Casa 425]

Tuesday Tips and Tools: Tenting

2011-02-22T05:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a cheat sheet to figure out the size tent you will need depending on the number of guests:

Number of Guests | Size of Tent (in square feet)

50 | 650-750

100 | 1,300-1,500

150 | 1,950 - 2,250

200 | 2,600 - 3,000

250 | 3,250 - 3,750

300 | 3,900 - 4,500

[Image via Jasmine Star]

Real Wedding: T & A

2011-02-17T17:08:00.000-08:00

T&A were married on a gorgeous Sunday in October. The weather was absolutely perfect for their outdoor ceremony at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim Hills, CA. T was an amazing DIY bride and made absolutely everything decor-related for the ceremony and reception. She made fabric poms and garland, the invitations, programs and menu cards, twine balls that held the floral centerpieces, signs that pointed guests to the ceremony, the table numbers and table number holders, and candle holders. I had so much fun brainstorming the decor with her and was so excited to see everything come together.

She assembled an awesome vendor team. I had the pleasure of working with Brandon Kidd Photography, Extreme DJ (who got EVERYONE on the dancefloor!), Susie Chhuor Hair and Makeup, Cheesy Photobooths, Oak Canyon Nature Center (ceremony) and Anaheim Hills Golfcourse/Clubhouse (reception).

[Photos by Brandon Kidd Photography]

Tuesday Tips and Tools: The Reception Site

2011-02-15T06:50:00.000-08:00

Did you know? The reception will account for approximately 50% of your wedding budget since it includes the food, alcohol, site fee, etc. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the expense, consider the following ways to save:

* Marry on an off night (Friday or Sunday)
* Trim the guest list (if each guest costs ~$100, trimming even 10 people will help curb costs)
* Marry in the off-season. In California we are blessed with gorgeous weather year-round - consider getting married October, November, February and March.

Love, Jenna Calligraphy

2011-02-11T11:33:00.000-08:00

Love, Jenna is one of the most talented calligraphers and would be my absolute first choice if I wanted to have calligraphed invitations or envelopes. Her work is impeccable and always so elegant and fun. Here are a few samples of her work:

[Images via Love, Jenna]

Ruffled Garland DIY

2011-02-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

If I could sew, I would make this ruffled garland in a split second. This ruffled garland would be the perfect chair accent for a whimsical garden wedding. If you're a seasoned seamstress head on over to The Sweetest Occasion for Hank and Hunt's awesome tutorial.

[Image via The Sweetest Occasion, tutorial by Hank and Hunt]