CITY SEQUINS

And just like that the summer is over.

2014-08-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

I went away for a while. Life has really taken over lately and I have found myself so caught up in every day that I wandered away from this little space that I love.
I started a new job at the beginning of the summer and am truly convinced that this was the best decision I could have possibly made. I am so happy and fulfilled in my new company and role...it feels like I have been there forever. I have moved out of wedding planning (thankfully) and am planning corporate and private events for a small start up company headquartered in Boston. We are absolutely blowing up around the country though and growing like crazy...so it is amazing to be part of such a fun experience.
We also have been diving head over heels into the wedding planning. A few months ago we had made the decision to get married on the Cape and keep it local and low key. Well over the summer we decided that this really just didn't feel right to us and decided to go balls to the wall and plan the wedding we have both been dreaming of since before we got engaged. BIG changes were made...the biggest of all being the location...and we couldn't be happier and more excited.
I will definitely be jumping back in to Wedding Wednesday and will show you our new, exciting location next week!

So happy to be back!

ZBB & The First Day

2014-07-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Tuesday and Happy July 1st! Can you believe it is already July? I am back after a crazy few days...but I survived the most spectacular/amazing/stupendous weekend anddddd an absolutely wonderful first day at my new job!

Friday I enjoyed a day off and was able to run an insane amount of errands - registered my car, signed up for new insurance...you know, just general adult like stuff. I was able to get a ton accomplished though and then enjoyed a relaxing afternoon outside in the sun..getting even more color.

Saturday was the best day ever...Zac Brown Band at Fenway! We started the day at the beach with friends, moved to the roof deck for some BBQ and pregaming and then headed to Fenway for an absolutely epic evening.

Roof deck pregame :)

Me and one of my besties Cait!

The amazing view that we had!!

Me, Melissa and Cait during the concert!

Ross and I...and our view :)

I kid you not, this was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. They played the most amazing assortment of music....from all of their hits, to John Mayer, Metallica, Jimmy Buffet, Van Morrison, Dropkick Murphys...seriously everything. I was totally blown away by the talent of this band...I knew that I liked ZBB before, but I completely love them now. I cannot wait to go see them again!

Afterwards my favorite Boston country band, Dalton and the Sheriffs, was playing a concert at the House of Blues which is directly across the street from Fenway. We got in free with our ZBB tickets and danced out butts off for the rest of the night. They are an amazing band and they do a mixture of covers and their own original songs. We had a blast and really made this one of the best weekends I have ever had.

Dalton & the Sheriffs

Sunday I was able to get over to Marathon Sports and finally got fitted for new running sneakers!! I have been meaning to get fitted for so long and after my last race I knew that it was finally time. I got brand new Brooks sneakers and can't wait to take them out for a spin one night this week.

Yesterday was the big day...the first day at my new job! It was so great...everyone is nice, young and really motivated/enthusiastic about our product and company. It was so refreshing to be around people who are excited to be at their job and actually want to come to work every day. I am really looking forward to diving in and getting to know the company and all of my new coworkers! We already have two happy hours on the calendar for this week, so I am sure I will be able to make that happen really quickly :)

Funemployed Friday

2014-06-27T09:50:00.000-04:00

Work is officially over and I am now enjoying a day off and a fun weekend ahead before my new job starts on Monday! Today is an errands day and then tomorrow is Zac Brown Band at Fenway! There are about 20 of us going and the weather looks like it is going to be fantastic! 80's and sunny, just how I like it :) We have plans to BBQ and drink on a friends roof deck before and then head to Fenway. One of my favorite local country bands is playing at the House of Blues after too so that is another thing I am really looking forward to!

(via)

This week we took full advantage of our backyard...and the doggies are so excited about it. Seamus is a true sun worshipper so he takes any chance he can get to lay outside and soak up the rays.

On another note, I was missing Utah so much this past week. I found myself staring at old pictures almost every night and feeling very nostalgic for the warm summer Utah days. Before Ross and I got engaged we always talked about getting married in Utah and over the past year and a half have tried many times to make that dream come true...but for budgeting reasons, it has never seemed possible. This week, yet again, I just felt sad about it. Even though we moved away, so much of my heart is still in Utah. It is where I fell in love with my future husband and where I truly learned to be on my own. I think it might be time for a trip back sometime soon.

Isn't Park City gorgeous?

I got this message on my Starbucks cup yesterday and it just seemed so perfect considering my week and all of the things that are happening in my life right now. I am so excited for this new job and new chapter and know that great things are happening! :)

Happy Friday!

Wedding Wednesday: My Last Wedding

2014-06-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday night was my last wedding ever as a wedding planner! It went off without a hitch and was actually a lot of fun. It was a long day but definitely worth it!

Setup for the musicians during the ceremony

Chairs for the ceremony

Setting up for the reception under the Sperry Tent

'Living Wall' behind the band setup

Wagon (which eventually had a lemonade station on it)

Tent during the crazy dance party!

A closeup of the moss chandeliers

I did a really bad job of taking pictures! The wedding was gorgeous though and the couple was thrilled.

Today is officially my last day of work! I am a bit sad to say goodbye to weddings, but am so relieved that I won't be dealing with brides anymore and cannot wait to move on to the next very exciting chapter in my career!!

Finally Back in Action

2014-06-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

The busiest week of the my planning season is officially over! Last week I had four extremely large events, ending on Saturday night with my last wedding ever. I will recap it for Wedding Wednesday with lots of pictures!

Thursday was a really rough day at work...and after giving my notice this week my boss has been less than kind. I came home and went right out for drinks with Ross to relax and forget about the week and weekend ahead.

Friday was setup day for the wedding and it was crazy. The tent went up, lighting came in and I was with vendors literally all day long. I was running around all day but it was gorgeous weather and perfect for an event!

Friday night I had no plans to go out because of how long my Saturday was going to be, but I gave in and went to the bar with some friends. My best friend Jess moved into a new apartment and I met one of her roommates for the first time...she was awesome! We had an absolute blast and danced like crazy. I definitely was paying for it Saturday morning at work...

Saturday I worked from noon until 3am and let me just say...it was insane. The wedding was gorgeous though and the couple was so happy. Can't wait to recap it later this week!

Sunday was a beach and country music kind of day! We sat out on the beach for the entire day...and my skin is absolutely paying for it now with a serioussssss sunburn. Hopefully it goes away quick and I can be nice and tan for Mexico :)

Last night was Country Sunday where one of our favorite local country artists plays acoustic at a bar down the street from our house. He is absolutely amazing and we are seeing him and his entire band again on Saturday after the Zac Brown Band concert! We had a blast...got a little too tipsy for a Sunday, but it was all worth it and okay with me since this is my last week at my job anyway :)

Now just two more days of work, two days of errands and then ZBB on Saturday!! Can it be the weekend already?

Wedding Wednesday: The Big Change

2014-06-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy ~~Hump Day~~ Wedding Wednesday! It has been a few weeks since I linked up because honestly...not a whole lot has happened in the planning world. Well except for one thing...
Most of you probably know that for roughly the past seven years I have been working as a wedding and event planner. Well I mentioned last week that I was offered a new, very exciting job at a Boston start up. The biggest thing is...I am no longer going to be involved in weddings in any way. And I have a big confession to make....
I am absolutely thrilled about it!

(via)
When I decided I wanted to be a wedding planner I was absolutely obsessed with weddings. I loved everything about them...the decor, the romance, the food, the fun, the planning...everything. When I lived in Utah this feeling was heightened because I was anticipating my own engagement and truly dreaming about my wedding day. When we did get engaged though, my view on my job and planning completely changed.
We have had a crazy few years and, due to a few different factors, have not been able to plan our day until now. Throughout our engagement I have still been working with brides and dealing with the drama, stress and demands...which really started to take a toll on my own personal excitement. There have been many days where Ross said to me "you would be so much more excited about our wedding if this wasn't your job."
For many reasons, leaving the wedding industry is a decision that has been a long time coming. Someday I may decide that I want to go back...but for now I am so excited to move onto new clients, new events and an exciting new company.
And most of all I am more excited than anything to finally plan Ross and my wedding. My biggest wedding planner take-away definitely has been that regardless of if you spend $5,000 or $100,000 on your wedding....the result is the exact same...you are getting married to your best friend. And that is the most important thing.

Skipping Monday

2014-06-17T19:10:00.002-04:00

Is this becoming a pattern with me...skipping Monday blogging? With everything going on lately, I am barely catching my breath on Mondays let alone getting a chance to blog. And I don't do well at planning posts in advance...hopefully someday I will but that may be wishful thinking.

Friday night Ross and I relaxed at home and watched Johnny Depp film his new movie on our street! He is currently shooting Black Mass all around Boston and has been in our neighborhood shooting for about a month. It was so cool to see him and watch the process of filming a scene! Back in 2010 I got to see the movie The Town being filmed and would go watch them at Fenway every day at lunch. I can't wait for Black Mass to come out to see the scenes we watched!!

Johnny is the guy looking right at the camera with the glasses and black jacket.

I also finally ordered some new wedges for my Mexico trip! Sole Society was having an insane 60% off sale on Friday so I scored these for $28!

I also got a new Influenster box in the mail on Friday...the Vow VoxBox! I am so excited about it and already started using the Olay Regenerist cream! I will post reviews soon :)

Saturday morning we had our second race of the summer...another five miler in Quincy. Ross and I were feeling pretty ehhhh about it...but ended up running both of our fastest five-milers yet!!! I was so proud of us and already have signed us up for another race in July. The only issue was that I got insane blisters from the run...so it definitely is time for new sneakers. I was told to go get fitted so I am heading to do just that this week!

Saturday was also a great day out so we were able to spend some really fun time that afternoon with our two fur loves!!

Saturday night we headed to the bar with some close friends and had an absolute blast!! Dancing, drinking, nice weather and good friends is the best combination!

Sunday was Father's Day so we packed up the doggies and headed to the Cape to my parents house. My dad and Ross spent the day doing yard work and my mom and I went shopping!! I was able to find a big floppy hat for Mexico at Marshalls for $12 and am so in love! It is by Steve Madden and has the cutest pink bow...I can't wait for July 17th to be here already!

The dogs absolutely love visiting my parents...they have a huge yard and they have three dogs so they spend the entire day running around and playing. The minute we get off of the highway exit they start going nuts in the car and we can tell they are spazzing with excitement to get there.

Yesterday I finally gave my notice to my boss...and she was definitely not a happy camper. She gave me the silent treatment today, but oh well...she will get over it eventually. All of my other coworkers are so excited for me and extremely supportive so that just makes me feel even better about my decision to take my new job! I have five absolutely enormous events at work this week...so I am just ready for it to be over and for June 30th to be here!!

Five on Friday

2014-06-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! I am glad that the weekend has finally arrived...this was definitely a crazy and exciting week!

:: one ::

I was offered a new job this week and accepted! I am starting on the 30th and am absolutely thrilled to be moving on to a new chapter...and no more weddings and brides! That is definitely the best part. Tuesday night Ross and I went out for sushi to celebrate...and it was amazing. Now I just have to tell my boss today...womp womp. Wish me luck!

:: two ::
Seamus turned three on Wednesday! I cannot believe he is already three and we have almost had him for three entire years. I can't even remember life without him and am so happy that he came into our lives back in our first year together. He has been a complete blessing and we love him more than anything...even though he is a little crazy!

:: three ::
I ordered this J.Crew Factory swimsuit last night and am soooo in love! I am seriously going on a shopping binge for Mexico and need to be controlled....but really I can't wait for this suit to arrive. Fingers crossed that it fits ;)

:: four ::

Saturday morning we are running another 5 mile race for ALS...and I am quite nervous! I haven't been running a lot this month so I am sure it will be a very slow race!

(via)

:: five ::

My newest wedding obsession...flower crowns!! One of my absolute favorite bloggers, Jessica at Here & Now recently got married to her sweetie and wore this stunning floral crown at her reception. She posted yesterday about the Etsy site that she ordered them from and I really want to buy one right this second. And maybe just wear it around every day...

(via)

Happy Friday! Have an amazing weekend!

Mexico, here we come!

2014-06-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

Last week I got the extremely exciting news that my best friend Laura and I are heading to Mexico for four days and three nights of all expenses paid luxury in Playa Del Carmen!! I have never been to Mexico and absolutely shrieked when she asked me to go with her.

We are heading there the third week of July and luckily I already cleared it with my new job, so I am good to go! We are there Thursday through Sunday and are planning to enjoy some serious sunshine, pool time and cocktails.

(via)
The resort we are staying at is the Paradisus La Perla..which is adults only and has butler service, swim up suites and 16 restaurants and bars!

(via)
I have to start gearing up for the trip with lots of shopping and exercising!

Tory Burch balconette bra / J Crew swim suit / Milly bikini top / J.Crew shorts / Aéropostale blue oxford / Aéropostale bikini swimwear / TOMS wedge sandals / Maiden Lane thong sandals / Strappy sandals / J Crew leather handbag / Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses / J Crew straw hat

Should I buy everything?? What things should we do/see in Playa Del Carmen? We definitely want to go on a catamaran trip and head into town one night to go to Coco Bongo and the crazy clubs!

Things are constantly changing!

2014-06-11T11:38:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a pretty normal Tuesday, except for one teeny tiny little bit of news...

I got offered a new job!

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was starting the job search to find a better fit for me...and I finally have. I will talk about more details later, but I am really excited and cannot wait to get started! It seems like my life is just a series of changes, especially since we moved back to Boston. This is a welcome change though and I am confident that this is a fantastic move for my career and life.

(via)

DMB makes me smile

2014-06-09T09:38:00.000-04:00

I am so sad that this weekend is over, it was just too much fun! Friday I came home early from work because I was feeling under the weather but after a nice long nap I was able to rally and headed out for a relaxing dinner with one of my close friends that evening. Saturday we were up bright and early to pack the car and head to the Cape! My parents agreed to watch the dogs while we went to Dave Matthews that night, so that they could have a fun day out in the yard!

We got to the Cape and I immediately ran to the huge Kate Spade box waiting for me in the living room! I just bought this bag for a birthday present to myself and am so excited to use it for a fun summer bag!

Penny and Teddy were very happy to be reunited and had an absolute blast all weekend! We then got back into the car and headed to a friends about an hour away to BBQ before the concert. He lives right down the street from the venue and was a perfect spot for us to sit out in the gorgeous weather and relax before we headed to tailgate.

Tailgating was an absolute blast! We had amazing weather and a huge caravan of friends - seven cars and around 30 of us!

Sorry for the horrible quality of these pics - I stole them from my friend Jess on instagram!

I also have no idea what Ross is doing in the background of these past two pictures...

We had really decent seats and oddly enough had a group of girls from my high school sitting right behind us...small world! The show was fantastic and we danced like crazy people the entire time!

We are seeing them two more times next month in CT and I cannot wait!! I also finally have made the decision that it is the right time to get my Dave tattoo. I have been thinking about doing it since I was like 18, but haven't committed yet...but as I am approaching my 40th and 41st DMB concert next month I just am ready to do it.

Today I am working from home because I have to head to the post office to renew my passport for Mexico and take care of Seamus because he is feeling very under the weather! We have a very busy week ahead and then another race this upcoming Saturday!

Linking up with Biana for Weekending!

Friday Five!

2014-06-06T10:36:00.000-04:00

And finally we have made it to Friday! This may be the best week of the summer for me because tomorrow is my 39th Dave Matthews concert...which means it is the official kickoff to summer and the most amazing day of the year. And here are five more reasons why this week freaking rocks...
:: one ::

I just found out yesterday that I am going to Mexico next month....woohooo!! I have never been anywhere but the US and Canada, so this will be an amazing trip!

:: two ::

This week we really enjoyed our new patio....we sat our most of the week, listened to Dave and just soaked up the sunshine.
:: three ::

Tuesday was a really bad day at work...so this simple dark ale at John Harvard's Brewery cured every issue I had. Sometimes all you need is a beer.

:: four ::

My sweet puppies are spending the weekend at my parents house and they absolutely love it there! Since my parents got their new puppy Teddy, both Seamus and Penny have been having such an amazing time at their house. They love playing with Ted and exploring the yard and the beach. I am excited for them!

:: five ::

Here is a picture of the lighting going up in my venue today...getting ready for the events this weekend.

Wedge Love

2014-06-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Summer is wedge season, right ladies? As a taller girl (5'9") I want to wear heels but also want my feet to be comfortable and don't want to be towering over every person I am with. Wedges are the best of both worlds...they are fashionable, comfortable and come in so many different heights and styles. Wedges are also amazing for city living because I am constantly walking and not always on the most even surfaces!! Here are some that I am drooling over for this summer season...

Tory Burch slingback wedge sandals / Kate Spade pink sandals / Kate Spade platform wedge sandals / Stuart Weitzman crochet sandals / Tory Burch peep toe espadrille / Lauren Ralph Lauren heeled sandals / Sole Society high heel shoes / Sole Society platform sandals / Jessica Simpson black wedge shoes

What are your favorite shoe brands? Any wedges that I should know about for this season? I am always looking for the most comfortable but still fashionable styles!!

Wedding Wednesday: The Church

2014-06-04T08:54:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I told you guys about our amazing reception venue that we fell in love with on Cape Cod! After deciding that we really loved it, I was faced with the task of finding a ceremony venue. We want to have the ceremony in a Catholic church and many times it is hard to find one that will marry you there if you do not belong to that particular parish. I called about 10 different churches in the week after finding our venue and was having so much trouble getting in touch with people or even getting any phone calls back. A lot of the old church ladies were very rude to me too!! It was super frustrating and felt like we weren't going to be able to find anything.

I finally ended up talking to the sweetest woman at a church right near my venue and decided that it is the perfect location! Surprisingly it is a church that I have been to probably a hundred or so times in my life too. It is located 9 miles from our venue and only 5 miles from my parents house, so it really is in the perfect location. The church is gorgeous both inside and out and will be the perfect place to say "I Do"!

(via)

We are really excited that our plans are finally starting to come together! The next year is going to be so much fun and I cannot wait for the planning and celebrating!!

Red Sox, Beer & Sunshine

2014-06-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

When an amazing week/weekend is over it feels like a part of my fun dies a little bit. This past week was definitely one of my most fun weeks in Boston ever!

Let's start with last Wednesday! The new Johnny Depp movie "Black Mass" which is about Whitey Bulger is being filmed alllllll around my neighborhood so after work I did a little celeb scouting and tried to find him. I didn't, but I saw a ton of filming and got a shot of these cool old cars they are using. That night I went out for an amazing birthday dinner with three of my bridesmaids and had drinks, delicious food and some really fun gossip!

Thursday was a really exciting day! I won a wedding giveaway for a Minted.com gift certificate and then my boss gave me two tickets to the Sox game...where they won! They were great seats and Ross and I had a freaking blast!

Friday I spent the day prepping for our weekend weddings at work. Check out these DIY centerpieces...the brides mom made them! So gorgeous!

Friday night Ross and I relaxed at home because he had big surprise plans for us on Saturday!! We spent the night with the doggies, watched some movies, had drinks and just laid on the couch.

Saturday I woke up for my Surprise birthday day! Ross cooked me a delicious breakfast, we took the doggies for a nice long walk and then headed to our first destination...the Sam Adams brewery! We did the tour and were able to enjoy some delicious Sam beers all morning/afternoon! Then we headed home to take care of the doggies before our next stop...

Which was another Red Sox game!!!!!!!!! If you've been following this blog for a little while you will know that I am a freaking lunatic about the Sox! Two games in three days, uhhh yes please! We went to dinner at Lansdowne first and had some delicious beers and shots :) Then we headed to the game, which couldn't have been more perfect!

We actually sat up on the Coke Deck, which was a first...and the view was spectacular!

They also ended up winning and are finally back on track to turn 2014 into a great season!

Sunday was a family day...we spent the entire time outside working on cleaning up our back patio/yard for the summer. The space is small but it is the perfect size for hanging out and letting the doggies get some sun and space to run around. We made a Home Depot run, cleaned the entire area and then were able to sit out and get some sun!

Last night we did the exact same thing. After an extremely long day at work, we sat out with some beers, good music and the doggies! We head to our first Dave Matthews concert of 2014 on Saturday, so we are getting in some good DMB listening this week to get ready! Happy Tuesday!

Birthday Weekend Recap

2014-05-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

Is it seriously already Wednesday? I am absolutely failing at blogging these past few weeks...with work, wedding planning and everything else going on, I just haven't had time to sit down and get to blogging!

This past weekend was Memorial Day and my birthday and we had such a blast!

Friday night I had a wedding at work and by the time I got home was completely freaking exhausted. We were supposed to drive to my parents house that night, but ended up just getting dinner and a few drinks and staying home. Aren't their cornhole boards the cutest?

I treated myself to a special birthday present during the Kate Spade sale...which I will debut next week since it should be arriving tomorrow!!

Seamus was absurdly sad that we didn't go to my parents Friday night and made himself a little nest in the couch cushions where he sulked all night.

Saturday morning we got up bright and early and headed to the Cape! The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the dogs were thrilled. We brought some new tomato plants down to my mom and just enjoyed the weather and being with them.

My parents recently got a new puppy named Teddy...and our dogs absolutely loved him. We were worried that he would be afraid of them, but he followed them around and played with them the entire weekend. It was true love. He was so sad when we went home!

Saturday afternoon we drove to a bar in Dennis and met up with a group of friends who were there for the night. The bar we went to was called the Improper Bostonian and it was literally the wildest bar I have ever been to in my life. I actually cannot believe it was still in business...there were easily 600 people jammed in there at 4pm, dancing, sweating and singing at the top of their lungs. I wish I could repost my snapchats here, because they were definitely a treat. What a freaking night. Ignore my insanely red/sweaty face....I was dancing very aggressively.

Sunday was my actual birthday so we packed up and drove back to Boston to go out with friends for the night. We did some roof deck drinking, went to dinner and then bar hopped all around Southie. It was such a blast!

Monday was Memorial Day, but the weather wasn't that great so I hung around at a friends apartment for a few hours then went grocery shopping and out for sushi with Ross. I have birthday dinner plans with my bestie tonight and then Ross has a surprise day planned for us this Saturday! I cannot wait!

How was everyone else's weekend?

Wedding Wednesday: The Venue

2014-05-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday was an extremely exciting day! Ross and I got up bright and early and ventured to the Cape where my parents live to look at two different wedding venues.

The first place we looked at was the Popponesset Inn in Mashpee. It is located at New Seabury, which is a golf community right on the water. I had seen many pictures of weddings there and it looked absolutely stunning, so despite the extremely high prices, I still wanted to go take a look. Right off the bat we knew that the location wasn't ideal. It is a bit far away from everything...very remote and not near much of anything, but we finally pulled in and saw the gorgeous entrance and I was excited all over again.

The space is made up of a large tent that is located literally right on the beach. The view from outside was absolutely stunning, especially since it was a gorgeous day. We met with the wedding coordinator and she showed us around the cocktail and dinner space and told us more about having our wedding there.

Automatically I noticed huge things that were pretty concerning. First off, the cocktail hour space is less than ideal. It literally is the most indoor part of the venue with barely any view of the water, which made little sense since cocktail hour is in the daylight and would be when guests want to actually see the view. The second part was that the bar used during cocktail hour had to be split with the public in the restaurant...which the girl said gets very busy on Fridays and Saturdays in the summer. So strange.

Inside, there were lanterns hung for an event that evening, but those are a rental item that typically are not in the space. The ceiling of the tent was starting to rust very badly and the sides/walls were very run down. The floor was also a big concern...if you notice in the pictures there is an outer floor made of wood planks, then a concrete area and then the dance floor...it was just a mess.

Overall, we left the venue feeling somewhat let down and unimpressed. Not to say that the weddings there are not stunning, because the pictures I have seen definitely go to show that it can be...but it just wasn't the right choice for us.

Later that afternoon we headed to our second tour, at The Flying Bridge in Falmouth. I had a really strong feeling that we would love it since I had been to the area around the space hundreds of times and knew how gorgeous the view was and how fun the town is.

We met with the wedding coordinator and went upstairs to the space, which is above the restaurant. There is an enormous deck for cocktail hour that spans the length of the building and then the indoor area for dinner and dancing. I was instantly blown away by the view and went right out to the deck to stare at all of the boats.

The deck itself has patio furniture - but the coordinator said that we can put linens and centerpieces on the tables and rent in other chairs if we want to. I am undecided on if it's even worth renting chairs, but it is definitely a thought to dress up the look a bit.

Inside, the space feels very nautical - with lights that resemble ones from a ship and big wood planks painted in a cream color for the ceiling. Every wall is windows and doors leading out to the deck, so the view inside is just as beautiful as outside. The dance floor is built in and is a really gorgeous, light wood.

The bar looks like something straight out of a ship and is in the perfect spot next to the dance floor.

The one thing that I was not a fan of was the carpet...but it is definitely something I can look past, since everyone will either be outside admiring the view or on the dance floor getting low.

One of my favorite features is the mason jars - they serve all drinks in these!!

We knew almost immediately that we loved it and my parents were absolutely obsessed! We decided that this is absolutely our venue! I am still trying to lock down a church, but we have set the date and are officially getting married in Falmouth on... Friday July 24, 2015! 429 days to go!

Sunburned and Happy

2014-05-19T11:35:00.000-04:00

Monday morning, why do I hate you so? I wish that every weekend was five days and the work week was two days...that would just be perfect. This weekend was one of my absolute favorite weekends so far!

Friday night Ross and I had a few moscow mules, headed out to hear an amazing band at our local watering hole and just enjoyed being together for the evening.

Saturday we were up bright and early to head to the Cape for the day and look at wedding venues!! The forecast called for torrential rain all day, but it ended up being absolutely gorgeous weather. We were able to see two venues and had an amazing lunch and dinner with my parents. We had such a fun day!

The view of the Falmouth Marina from....our wedding venue!!!!!!

View from the cocktail hour deck :)

We ate dinner at our venue that night and they serve all of their drinks in mason jars! So cute! I forgot to ask if they do that for the weddings as well.

Sunday was my race day and it was an absolute blast! I beat my goal time and ran a pretty solid race. I definitely could have done better but I didn't have to stop and felt really good throughout the whole run. There was a beer festival after (since the race was put on by Harpoon) and we had so much fun. I did get a very intense sunburn though :( Definitely paying today!

Ross got a picture of me running across the finish line!

Clearly we had a lot of celebrating to do after! :)

Next weekend is my birthday (the dreaded 27) so we are heading back down to the Cape to enjoy the sunshine and the beach. I am trying my hardest to get out of work on Friday but we have two weddings this weekend and I am having a ton of trouble getting staff together! Cross your fingers for me!

Five on Friday

2014-05-16T11:11:00.000-04:00

We made it to Friday! I am jumping for joy because after the wedding tonight I am off for the entire weekend! Tomorrow we are looking at wedding venues and I could not be more excited!! I really hope that for next Wedding Wednesday I have a date and location to tell you all about! :)

:: one ::

We had a lot of really yummy meals this week! This pizza was homemade Chicken, Bacon, Ranch and it was freaking delicious. On the menu for tonight...Salmon :)

:: two ::

I was able to spend a lot of time with my two sweet babies this week! It was nice weather and I had Monday off so we had a lot of walks at the beach and plenty of cuddle time...which is everyone's favorite.

:: three ::

Is anything better than living 2 minutes from the beach? I really think I live in the best place I have ever lived and can't wait for Ross and I to be able to buy a place in Southie in a few years!

:: four ::

Aren't the table settings from our event last night just gorgeous? I am obsessed with these colors and the flowers...everything came together so nicely and looked absolutely stunning!!

:: five ::

Sunday is the Harpoon 5-Miler and I am so nervous! My goal is to finish in under an hour...but let's be real, that probably won't be happening! Oh well, as long as I finish and get to the beer I will be happy :)

Summer Style

2014-05-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

May in Boston is a tricky time. We go back and forth between 80 degree days and 50 degree days, so my wardrobe has to be able to span all temperatures. We are ramping up to the summer though and that means prime shopping time! Summer is definitely my favorite season for so many reasons. One of the biggest is that I can wear sundresses, wedges and sandals all day, every day. Here are some gorgeous items that I want to add to my closet this month!

NLY Eve Maxi Dress / Target Striped Dress / J.Crew shorts / Michael Kors Bow Wedges / Sole Society Leather Wedges / Gap Loafers / Kate Spade Crossbody Bag / Sole Society Aztec Tote / Forever 21 Necklace

What are your favorite things to wear in the summer? Anyone a wedge girl like I am!?

Wedding Wednesday: Tips from a Wedding Planner

2014-05-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Most people think that because I am a wedding and event planner, I will have a really easy time planning my own wedding. Oddly enough, that is not the case. I see hundreds of new ideas, foods, flowers and dresses which makes it harder to decide what I want, what I can afford and what I really don't need.
Since I work on roughly 50 weddings per year, I knew automatically when I got engaged that I would hire a wedding planner. Having a planner to help me will make things easier, especially when I am planning all of my clients weddings at the same time. We are heading to look at venues this weekend so for this Wedding Wednesday I have put together a list of a few things I always tell my brides and grooms.

1. Hire a Wedding Planner

(via)
Or at least hire a day of coordinator. Plenty of brides are able to do the actual planning themselves without an issue, but for those couples with very busy schedules or who are planning from afar, I think it is extremely valuable to have that extra hand. In addition, wedding planners have relationships with vendors and are able to get better prices for clients than they would normally be able to get themselves. A day-of coordinator also comes in handy because they assist with all of the things that you would normally delegate to a family member - like getting you another glass of champagne during photos, bustling your big dress or assisting with pinning on boutonnieres.

2. Full Meal & Open Bar

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People definitely have different opinions on this topic, but this is how I feel. When inviting guests to a wedding, I think that an open bar and a full meal are absolutely necessary. Typically guests are buying a new outfit, a gift, possibly traveling, staying in a hotel, spending money on showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, etc. An average couple probably spends roughly $500-$1000 going to a wedding depending on travel and accommodation needs. On top of these expenses, guests do not want to carry a ton of cash to a wedding and spend $10 per drink all night and then only receive "heavy hors d'oeuvres" for what is supposed to be dinner. Feed your guests, get them drunk and have a blast.

3. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

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Recently a bride of mine was in a huge argument with her bridesmaids - she had picked out $130 heels for them all to buy and they were pushing back. The girls wanted to choose their own silver heels at a more reasonable price point, since they likely would not wear 4" silver heels again any time soon. The bride was so hung up on having the shoes exactly match that she couldn't see the problem she was causing for her more budget conscience bridesmaids. My thought is that five minutes after the wedding is over, will a single person have any idea what the bridesmaids shoes looked like? Or will anyone remember the lavender scented envelopes you sent your invitations in? No, they will be deep in a dumpster somewhere with the rest of your guests trash. I am all for special, unique touches...but it is always easier to stress less and celebrate more.

4. Avoid Major Debt

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Know your budget and stick to it. Point blank. Going into major debt because you want to have a wedding bigger than your cousin Suzy is just foolish. If you can't afford to pay for it, then you probably don't need it. A $1,200 dress will look just as spectacular as the $8,000 dress...trust me.

5. Decide what YOU want

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A lot of couples get caught up in what everyone else tells them they should do and can easily lose focus on exactly what they want for their day. It is easy to watch all of the wedding shows on TV and think that you have to do the same things, spend just as much and have the fairy tale wedding. But at the end of the day you are marrying the love of your life and should try to keep the day to exactly what the two of you want!

Next week I will recap the venues we are touring this weekend - and hopefully have a date and location! Fingers crossed!!

Summer Days are here...to stay?

2014-05-12T18:59:00.000-04:00

I think every Monday my posts seem to start out with "Holy crap I was so busy this weekend." Well this week is no different...my weekend was insane.

Friday night was a very late night at work and after an extremely stressful day, I was ready to get out and have some fun. Ross and I went to our local favorite place, Junction, and then headed down the street to another one of our favorite bars for Reggae Night. We had an absolute blast and danced the night away to stop amazing tunes. I will be there every Friday for sure!

Saturday morning I woke up to frantic calls from my event staff with a ton of random last minute wedding problems, so I threw a dress on and went into work for the day...womp womp! The wedding ended up going extremely well and was absolutely beautiful.

I was able to make it home just in time for some roof deck Battleshots and the Bruins game. We went out with a big group of friends and had another night of celebrating the B's win and dancing like crazy. The bar we went to had an amazing DJ who played tons of old school jams which were a blast to dance to.

Sunday was Mother's Day...and although I didn't get to see my mom, I will on Saturday!!

Ross and I had plans during the day and were able to get some sun and have some delicious beers by the water. Isn't that view absolutely spectacular?

Today I had the day off to get some errands done and was busy all day! Grocery shopping, laundry, Target, meetings...it was crazy. Tonight the B's play again...let's hope they take it home!

Five on Friday!

2014-05-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday!! I could not be more excited that it is finally Friday!
:: one ::

If you didn't notice...I got a fancy schmancy new blog design!!!!! The absolutely amazing and spectacular Brooks from Two Oaks Design made this gorgeous design for me and I am so happy! I have been blogging for about a year and a half and finally feel fancy and official :) If you are in the market for a new, amazing design...definitely talk to Brooks, she's the best!
:: two :: On Wednesday night, I went for an amazing beachside walk with Ross and the doggies and then had a relaxing, wine and champagne filled night at my friend Lissi's roof deck! It was great to have some girl time, champie and stare at the gorgeous Boston skyline.

:: three ::

I have three appointments set up to look at wedding venues next weekend! The one above is my absolutely favorite, but also the most expensive, so we will see how that goes!

:: four ::

Have I mentioned yet that it is playoff hockey time?!

:: five ::

Warm days have finally arrived! I am excited for the weekend...sunshine, beer, Bruins, roof decks and tanning!

Wedding Wednesday: The Dress Debate

2014-05-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

In December of 2012 right after Ross and I got engaged, I came to Boston for the holidays and decided to go wedding dress shopping with my parents and my maid of honor. On that trip we went to two stores, I tried on about 8 dresses and ultimately found "the one" at the second store. That dress is now hanging in my parents guest bedroom where it has been for almost a year and a half. Every time I visit home, I open it up and look at the gorgeous dress, wondering when the hell I will ever get to wear it.

Now that we have decided to start planning the big day, I all of a sudden have this feeling like I should go look at dresses again. On the 17th we are heading down to my parents to do some venue searching, so I am thinking about trying the dress on again for reassurance...and to see how much weight I need to lose :) I am hoping that I will remember how much I loved it and it will convince me that I shouldn't go look for another dress!

But in the mean time...here are some dresses that I have seen lately and am drooling over!

Monique Lhuillier - via Style Me Pretty

Jenny Yoo - via The Knot

Reem Acra - via Nordstrom

Kenneth Winston - via The Knot
I am obsessed with this one!!

Did any of you ladies buy a dress and then change your mind? How far in advance did you find your dress?

Busy Weekend = Blog Neglect

2014-05-06T11:37:00.000-04:00

The past few weeks and weekends have been so busy that I keep having trouble getting back here to blog! Things have been absolutely nuts at work and then when you add on wedding planning and a social life, I have just been crazy lately. Last week was no different - Thursday I went to the Red Sox, Saturday I had a huge event at work and then Sunday I spent the day shopping and exploring my amazing city with Ross.

Thursday I went to the Red Sox game by myself, since we had tickets for Wednesday night, but it was rained out!! I took a mental health day and headed to the game for some afternoon relaxation. That night I went to a really fancy dinner with my friend Laura for a work thing she had. We had open bar and free dinner at Del Frisco's, a restaurant in the Seaport District. Afterwards we headed to the bar to watch the Bruins game and have some girl time.

Friday was a boring night at home resting up for my event on Saturday. We had a tented wedding, which went off without a hitch and was absolutely gorgeous. That night I hurried back into Boston for a girls night out...which was an absolute blast!

Our Moscow Mule mugs arrived last week, so we finally were able to make them...and to be honest, I was just not a huge fan. Too sweet!! I had two and then had to switch to my good old whiskey.

But obviously Penny liked them :)

Sunday Ross and I ventured out for a day of enjoying the sun, each other, lobster, and some shopping. I got some fun new clothes for the summer...including white jeans!!...and had an amazing lunch. We went out for sushi that night too, but I was forgetful and didn't snap a pic unfortunately.

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo and a bar down the street from us was having $5 margaritas! Of course we couldn't say no to that kind of deal so we met up with some friends and enjoyed a relaxing evening with refreshing drinks.

This week is crazy busy...tons of work meetings, events and social outings. I am so glad that the summer is approaching and the weather is getting so amazing though. I am loving being able to soak up the sun and enjoy everything that Boston has to offer!