When you're a bride, you will (99% of the time) fall into two categories: 1) You've Known Your Color Palette Since You Were Three, and 2) You Love Several Color Schemes.
If you happen to fall in the latter category, there are a few tools on the web today to help you decide which color combinations to use:
Multicolr Search Lab, By Idee
This lovely little tool lets you pick several colors, and it will generate a form of an inspiration board by extracting those color combos from millions of the most creative and interesting flikr photos.
I chose a palette of green shades- check out my board here. If you're a visual type like me, this tool can be incredibly helpful in narrowing down the color, shade, and mood you want for your wedding. Pretty cool, don't you think?
Colour Lovers
This is a great website/ forum to share and create color palettes. You can even play with patterns if you like!
What other tools or methods are you using or did you use in planning the colors for your wedding?
Choosing Your Wedding Colors
Is Your Wedding About You?
As you plan your wedding, make sure you're also finding ways to tell your guests a little about you and your fiance...
Happy Planning!
Los Angeles Ritz Wedding + Mary Dann Recap
As I posted on Thursday, this past weekend I went to LA/ Manhattan Beach to work a wedding and train with industry renowned Mary Dann and her team. I also mentioned in my post last week that I would be posting pictures as the weekend progressed, but I left both the usb cables and the memory stick adapter at home...made it a little difficult to get the pictures off my camera!
Nevertheless, I have them here, along with a lot of stories to go with them:
On Thursday I spent some time in the office with Mary working on the finishing details of the luxury hotel wedding. That evening we went to the rehearsal, and then really kicked our heels up by attending the SLS Hotel event party in Beverly Hills.
In the main ballroom of the party. That's Leila Khalil (in orange) and sister Kellee of Los Angeles based PR firm Be Inspired.
A few of the tablescapes featured at the party.
Mary, me, and Leila at the end of the night. Them, looking great. Me, not exactly disguising the fact that I'd been up for almost 24 hours at this point!
The industry party was fabulous- great food, drinks, and I met so many of the people with blogs, websites, and magazine contributions that I follow regularly. But the real event of the weekend was the wedding happening at the LA Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel:
Set up of the ceremony begins...
And the finished product.
The bridal party after the ceremony- check out that spread! 10 bridesmaids and 10 groomsmen..this was a big Texas wedding.
I had to throw this one in...how sweet is that! Not every day that you have hearts drawn in the sky on your wedding day.
And now for detail pictures of the black, white, and pink reception:
A close up of one of the low centerpieces. I adored the sparkly chargers- it added just a bit of pop to the table. I also loved the couple's gift to the guests: in lieu of traditional favors, the couple donated money in honor of their guests to their sponsored child in Africa.
Me and Mary Dann after a long, but gorgeous day.
Many thanks to Mary Dann and her team for taking me in and making me feel so welcome. Mary is truly one of the nicest people I have ever met, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Happy Planning!
{Photos courtesy of Soiree, with full permission given by Mary Dann Party and Wedding Coordinators}
Exciting News + The Sweetest Little Black Dress
So I write this post with glee today due to two amazing things.
First, the exciting news: Tomorrow I'll be leaving for the weekend to work a wedding with none other than the lovely Mary Dann and her team in Los Angeles. The weekend will include a few days at the office with the team of party coordinators, an industry party Thursday night, the rehearsal on Friday, and the wedding at the Ritz Carlton on Saturday. I've been waiting for this opportunity for months, and I can't believe it's already here.
While this is Soiree's third season, and each year gets better and better, I feel it's not above oneself to continue to be educated. I opened the company after an intensive course in wedding and event planning, tons of marketing and research, and a leap of faith, but I'd never actually trained with anyone. After speaking on the phone with Mary, she invited me to come meet and work with her team, and I can't think of a better opportunity for any business owner. This is a chance to be critiqued (positive critism is good!) and a way to continually update the way I do things to make them more efficient and effective. I can't be more excited.
*****************************************************************************************************************
Now on to the second part of this post (and they do correlate with each other, promise):
Insert the black dress. After power shopping through several stores, trying to find a dress that wouldn't be too revealing, yet still dressy enough for the event, I stumbled into Ann Taylor and laid eyes on this beauty:
It's Jackie-O in dress form. This picture really doesn't do it much justice, but it has hidden buttons all down the front, and sweet little pockets. Paired with my favorite black heels and I'm in heaven.
A close second was this lovely:
Real Party: Whimsy And Butterflies
This weekend I had the pleasure of helping to throw one of our best friends a surprise baby shower. Shanna (the guest of honor and also the master mind behind Envy Design Studios), along with Baby "D", was successfully fooled into thinking she wasn't going to have a baby shower while in Boise for her annual 3 week visit.
I was assigned the decorations, and with only 2 weeks to plan the party and a budget to stick to, I came up with a pretty in pink whimsy theme, with butterflies being the main attraction.
All the paper was ordered through Paper Source. The vases were wrapped in the pretty paper, and the place mats were made by tracing cardboard and gluing contrasting paper to it.
Pink hydrangea, lilies, and bear grass made the pretty centerpieces.
Foam core was covered in the paper and used as decorative place settings on the food table. Tissue paper flowers adorned with little pink rhinestones also made an appearance throughout.
The favors of the evening: Sugar and cinnamon coated almonds.
One of the pillows made for the occasion. Shanna got to take all of the decorations home after the party, since the color scheme and decor matched the baby's nursery!
It was a great party, complete with great friends....but the real stars of the show? All of our littlest guests:
Pretty stinkin' cute, don't you think?
Happy Monday, and congrats Shanna!
Soiree Featured On Breathtaking By Camilla
Camilla Orosco recently asked me to write a little about the importance of including a wedding coordinator in the planning process. I naturally obliged, and also elaborated by including some text about what a wedding coordinator really does; hopefully expelling some of the myths and pre-conceived notions many brides have about the idea of hiring a wedding planner.
You can read the entire entry, as well as her tips on all things make up and bueaty, on Camilla's blog, Breathtaking By Camilla.
Happy Friday!
New Twists On The Bridal Bouquet
You're not an ordinary bride, so why settle for an ordinary bouquet? These lovelies are all about creativity, style, and anything but ho-hum.
I've seen chocolate cosmos in bouquets, but never a full bouquet of them. These are gorgeous!
Make a stunning impact with clusters of unexpected flowers, like these mums, which are normally placed throughout a bouquet. I love the little daisy outline too.
If you're looking for something really creative, try a fabric bouquet- like this one, made of cotton, linen, and crepe paper. Try the lalalaurie shop on etsy for boutonnieres too!
Or how about a bouquet design made of succulents?
There are so many great options and ways to bring creative style to all elements of your wedding, no matter what your budget is or the theme you're dreaming up.
Happy planning!
{Photos}
#2- Arena Flowers
#4- lalalaurie
#5- Michelle Warren Photography, via the Green Wedding Shoes Blog
Today Show Throws A Wedding: The Dress
So my favorite, hands down, is dress number one by Alvina Valenta. I want to get married all over again and wear it. Sigh. It's just so elegant, yet modern at the same time. And I've noticed I have quite the fetish for Alecon lace. And buttons all the way down the train. And the fancy little ruffle at the top? Oh stop me. I think I'm in love with the dress.
What's your favorite? You can also submit your vote over at the Today Show website.
Happy Monday!
Soiree Birthday Wedding Day Giveaway: The Winners Announced!
We were absolutely blown away at the participation of our readers in this contest: we had a total of 1980 votes!! So, with out further adieu, we are pleased to announce....the winner of the Wedding Day Giveaway contest is:
Matt & Lindsey!!
Congrats you two, you are the lucky recipients of the grand prize, an approximate value of $1200.00 in products and services :
* Full Day of Coordination Package compliments of Soiree.
What does that include? Our Day of Coordination package starts 2 months before your big day- that's right, 2 months- because we don't believe in just coming in right before the wedding. We'll start with a wrap up appointment during which we'll review your vendor contracts and plans, answer any questions you may have, and begin your Event Day Timeline. From there, Soiree will confirm with all of your vendors arrival and departure times and confirm contracted services. We'll provide a layout and set up instructions to all of your vendors, and the week of the wedding they will all receive their own copy of the Event Day Timeline as well. Soiree will be with you on your rehearsal to make sure every one is on the same page about the next day's events. Then on the big day, consider us your personal assistant, guest directors, and vendor liasion- or in short, consider yourselves the guests of honor because you won't have to do anything except enjoy your fabulous day!
* Engagement Session and Custom Signature Matte compliments of Ashki Photography
That's right- a fabulous engagement photo shoot with the lovely Cyndee of Ashki Photography and a signature matte to display at your wedding.
Congratulations again Matt and Lindsey, from all of us here at Soiree, we look forward to working with you!!
Do You Know What Type Of Bride You Are?
I stumbled acrossed this fun quiz the other night while perusing the internet, created by the lovely Mindy Weiss and is featured in The Wedding Book. I even took it myself. Apparently, I am a perfectionist. Weird.
Anyways, thought it would be fun for you to take the quiz while you're on your lunch break (because you're clearly not the type that would be reading this blog while working!)- have fun, and happy planning!
- Brandi
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