One of the biggest trends in 2011 spring and summer weddings has been chalkboards- used as menus, place cards, and even seating diagrams. We loved the artsy twist on the trend with this chalk lettering:
Via Besotted Brand Blog
We can see these pretty little works of art gracing your wedding via the sign in table, a backdrop or photo opp, or even a beautifully displayed menu. The above lettering was done by Dana Tanamachi and is a professional chalk letterer, but you can find the same effect by hiring a local artist to drum up your perfect letter art.
And an even better idea? Spray the chalkboard art with a clear varnish coat to preserve the image to hang on your wall after the wedding- a beautiful souvenir!
Happy Wednesday,
~Brandi
Wedding Wednesday | Custom Chalk Lettering
WedSmith: 2011 Wedding Professionals Conference
We do hope to see you there, and for more information on the event, be sure to take a peek at their website here.
Happy planning!
Brandi
Inspiring Photo No. 29
As we near fall wedding season, I thought this was appropriate...
Photo via Freckles Chick
Isn't this stunning? And the chairs? Be Still, my beating heart.
Happy Monday!
~Brandi
Soiree Launch Promotion | Two More Weeks Left!
Just a quick reminder that we are down to our last two weeks for our launch promotion we mentioned earlier this month. We've had several brides take advantage of the offer so far- with big savings on wedding planning services and specialty items exclusive to Soiree brides. In case you missed it, here is the lowdown on the promotion:
- Offer is for a limited time, and for new bookings only
- Wedding must be held in 2012
- Offer is valid when an agreement is signed within 7 days of your customized proposal
- With the offer, brides will receive:
- Access to all of Soiree's exclusive specialty accounts at our cost (no markups!)
- A $500-$750 credit to your planning services*
- Custom Design Services provided by Soiree at cost*
- All in-house rentals and props at cost*
This promotion is for full service wedding planning and other restrictions do apply, so be sure to schedule your complimentary initial consultation with us to get all of the details! The official end date is September 15th 2011, so don't miss out!
xx,
Brandi
Behind The Scenes | Vision To Reality
This post was inspired by Merci New York's recent behind-the-scenes look at some of their fashion styling work for engagement sessions. I loved the two examples she provided, complete with their style boards to hone in on the look they wanted to go for. In the first example, the end result was almost directly pulled from the style board, and the second shoot featured only parts of the board while keeping with the feel of the style.
The reason I liked this so much was because it showed how weddings and design can be really gray versus always black and white. We create vision boards for all of our clients, and like Merci New York's styled engagement shoots, sometimes our weddings are directly related to the boards, and others are more loosely interpreted.
Above is an inspiration board we created for our bride last year. This is a perfect example of a loose interpretation. What we took from this board was the feel we wanted for the event- vintage touches, cherry and aqua color scheme, and eclectic touches. Below is a photo of how the actual wedding turned out:
Seeing the end result, whether loosely interpreted or a direct version of your design board, is always the most exciting part for us. And that's also why we stress the importance of having a design process while planning your wedding- take it step by step and watch the vision unfold! And as always, feel free to give Soiree a call if you're ever overwhelmed by the planning, or underwhelmed by the way the design is unfolding. We'd love to help.
xx,
Brandi
Flashback: Avoiding The Top Guest Complaints
Note: This wedding planning article was originally posted in April 2010
It's so common for brides to come to me with ideas of how they want things to be- whether it be the seating of the guests, when the pictures happen, and more. Sometimes the ideas are great and fine, and other times...well.
Don't get me wrong- I want your wedding to be all about you, I truly do, but the reality of it all is that the wedding is about you and your fiance, and...your guests too. After all, they are the ones that dropped everything, took time off work, pulled the kids out of school, and traveled (cross country, cross state, or cross town- it's all the same in their eyes) to see you two shine on this one big day. So do be prepared to make some compromises...you'll much rather receive the compliments rather than hear about the complaints. Without further adieu, the top complaints from the mouths of your guests (and some to-the-rescue tips to avoid mishaps):
1) Seating the wrong guest in the wrong area.
When you figure the amount of decibels your DJ or Band has to put out to make sure the sound carries through your 200 guests and still make it to the back of the room, it's no wonder grandmas and grandpas salute the idea of moving them as far away from the speakers as possible.
Rule of thumb: always put the younger folk nearest the speakers. Still need a spot for grandma? Try putting her near a bathroom or somewhere with a clear path to and from the refreshments. You don't want to see grandma hurdling a sea of furniture.
While we're still on #1, I'd also like to mention larger guests. Though it's not always completely possible to fulfill everyone's wishes, it is always a nice gesture to try to put your larger guests in an area that he or she won't have to continually move in their chair or stand up each time someone walks by.
2) The toasting keeps going..and going...
It may be hilarious to listen to your best man ramble about each year in elementary school, but we guarantee you your guests will begin to get antsy after about 20 minutes max. And the "inside jokes" only you and your maid of honor know about? Not cool, and actually kind of awkward for your guests, especially when you blush.
Rule of thumb: Avoid "passing the mic"...instead appoint the exact guests that will be presenting a toast (I recommend no more than three if you can) and stick to the schedule. Let your toasters know in advance that you'd like the messages to be short, sweet, and G- Rated.
3) Where are the bride and groom?
Traditions will be traditions, so if you really don't want to see each other before the ceremony, that's definitely your decision to make. Scheduling does get a little tight in this scenario, and your guests will not appreciate waiting 2 hours for you and your new hubby to make an appearance at the reception.
Rule of thumb: If you're not seeing each other, make sure you take as many pictures as possible before the ceremony (i.e.: bride with bridesmaids, groom with groomsmen, bride's side of the family, etc), and keep the photos after the ceremony to no more than 45 minutes. Regardless of whether or not you provide food and beverages to your guests while you're gone, they will still feel very uncomfortable with the guests of honor missing in action.
4) The gap between the ceremony and reception
We've posted on this conundrum before, and though you can try lessening the discomfort, your guests are still going to find it different. Fact of the matter is, they automatically expect one thing to follow another.
Rule of thumb: If you do have to have a gap, make sure there are organized activities for your guests (did you see the emphasis on organized?). We're talking pre-arranged transportation (such as a trolley tour here in Boise) to take them to and fro. Make it a neat experience, especially if your guests are from out of town- show them around! Have it printed in your informational enclosures with your invite or on your wedding website so they know what to expect in advance. Your guests will thank you for it.
5) Where do we go?.... And who is that?
We've posted about this issue before too...it's what we at Soiree call the Deer In Headlight syndrome. Here's how it goes: you have your ceremony, well wishes, and then you expect 200 people to find their seats. Magically, it does not go well. Pretty soon there's a bottleneck at the door, seats are propped up against the tables in an effort to "save a seat" or to be able to sit next to someone they know. Sound like a vision?
Rule of thumb: At the very least, please assign your tables. Even a BBQ-style, casual dinner needs some structure- especially if you've got, oh say, over 10 guests attending.
If you will have assigned seating (applauding), be very in tune to who you place next to whom. You can't win all the battles, but if you know someone is going to be at a table with no one they know, be a good hostess and move them next to a friend.
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And that wraps us up on 5 of the most common complaints we wedding professionals hear much too often. And how about you- have you been a guest at a wedding and in a situation you did not appreciate? Do tell.
~Happy Planning!
Inspiring Photo No. 28
Some say baby's breath is a filler and hasn't had a place in a wedding since 1980....
photo via Cecilia Fox
...I say they're more glamorous than ever! And, don't be fooled by this traditional "filler"- don't let your friends tell you they're the cheapest option for wedding flowers. In order to create arrangements like this you'll actually need quite a bit, so baby's breath is one of those ideas you'll need to go big to make your statement.
What are your thoughts about baby's breath?
Bridal Beauty: Hot Yoga
So I mentioned on Monday that I was going to try a hot yoga class for the first time. Visions of sweaty, humid yukiness had me a little skittish, but I had also heard so many good things that I wanted to try it anyways. I'm an off and on yoga person (I won't call myself a Yogi just yet), mostly due to traditional yoga often becoming a little static for my personality. I'm one of those that has to pump to music- loud music.
Long story short, I was so impressed, and it was literally the fastest hour and fifteen minutes of my life. The class consisted of a Vinyasa power flow style method, which pushes your muscles to the max with body and core resistance. With the room being heated to 105 degrees and 40% humidity, we were sweating almost instantly, and combined with fast flowing movements, my heart was pounding just like when I'm running. In a nutshell: the experience was amazing. I think I'm hooked- even the non-traditional music had me going- just imagine Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" blaring through the studio as we move into our hardest stretch/move.
So why do I post this on the wedding blog? Because I know every single bride that comes through our doors have some sort of bridal beauty regime they're starting, whether it's a new exercise program, teeth whitening, facials, etc. If you're looking for something to kick your boredom to the curb and tone or even lose some pounds, I would suggest giving hot yoga a try. A few statistics and info about hot yoga:
The classes generally consist of 26 fluid poses, which, with the 105 degree temperature (depending on the studio the temp might range from 90-105 degrees), hot yoga enthusiasts will boast the temp actually helps to loosen your muscles to allow a deeper stretch (read: launch further into your warriors. Your muscles will burn!).
Other benefits include body detoxification, weight loss, anxiety and stress reduction. If anything, for me, it was just my hour and fifteen minutes away from the world. I left the studio feeling rejuvenated and wanting to come back.
How about you? Would you try a hot yoga class? Sumits Yoga in Boise is the studio I attended, and they offer a 2 week introductory bonus: unlimited classes for the newbies. It's a great way to try something new.
~Happy Thursday!
Wedding Day Makeup Tips From Bobbi Brown
A couple of weeks ago I visited Gabby Marcantonio, a Bobbi Brown stylist, so we could make me over with a new bridal-worthy look. The before and after shots are amazing- I literally went from pale to blushing bride. And since I'm not a bride, but still loved the look- natural, not too made up- I did end up buying a boat load of products from her.
We collaborated with Tana of Tana Photography to take the before, during, and after photos to show you the look in progress:
First, here's Gabby looking fabulous as ever. Her makeup was just perfect. You know, she told me that all the Bobbi stylists have to go to Bobbi Brown school each year, and they are rated on a scale from 1-5, with the 5 being, well, Bobbi. Gabby consistently scores a 4!
Next up, the most frightening photo- the before photo. Even Tana asked, are you sure you want to be without makeup on your blog? See what I do for you?
So here I am, in all my bare-faced glory. Where did my eyes go?
And the work in progress. I'm wearing the lipgloss in Petal- lovely little shade!
And the final product. There are my eyes! In fact, that was my absolute favorite part of it all- the eye makeup was fabulous.
Gabby also put together some tips for achieving the look you have in your mind, as well as looking your best for your photos. The full write up is over on Tana's Blog, but here are some of our favorite tips:
~If you’re someone who doesn’t wear a lot of makeup, and doesn't know what to tell the makeup artist, consider putting together an Inspiration Board or a Look Book. These are clippings or photos of things that you like, whether it’s clothing, makeup or even themes. This will show the artist your personal style.
~ If you want a cohesive look, and if your girls are up for it, have them scheduled to have their makeup done as well. The artist can still create an individual look, but everything will be more uniform for your photos.
~ SPF isn't always your friend. It’s better to skip it all together since some sunscreens reflect off the flash of the camera. But if you’re a fair beauty and can’t leave the house without SPF, wear it in your foundation and make sure that it’s photo friendly.
And there you have it- hope you enjoyed and learned a little too. Remember to take a peek at Tana's blog for the full write up of wedding day makeup tips from Gabby. Happy Wednesday!
What We Can't Live Without: Evernote
I know, Evernote has been around and is not a new thing. But I thought I would share how we use the program in planning weddings.
Some of my staff works remotely, and the interns often have homework they're working on during the week when they're not in the office. The biggest way we use Evernote is as a catch zone for all of our online and photo credits for the blog. All of the girls know to clip any photos, urls, or ideas to Evernote, that way we all have access to the credits. Since I edit and write this blog, when it's time for me to upload photos or create a blog post, I just head to Evernote and look under that week's tag for all the photos and info I need.
The other way I use Evernote is to clip ideas I find. Whether for the blog, inspiring photos, or just new ideas to use. When I'm creating design boards for my clients I'll also make a folder for each of them and clip any and all photos or inspiration in it. This way I'll have all the websites stored in one place so I can go back to them when I need to.
Pinterest is a big deal right now, but I still think Evernote could also be really useful in wedding planning- clipping your sources (especially if you're a wedding blogger), notes to remember to ask your vendors, to-do lists, and more.
Are you an Evernote user? How do you find it most helpful?
Inspiring Photo No. 27
Found this photo over at Coco + Kelley...and I too can't believe it's mid August already. Hope you've all been enjoying the summer weather so far, and getting plenty of use out of your floppy straw hats.
Speaking of hot summer days among other things...tonight I try out my first hot yoga experience. Have you taken on any classes? I'm so excited...have wanted to go for a while. Wish me luck!
~Happy Monday!
Portfolio: Jess and Kate's Boise Art Museum Wedding
It's another Wedding Wednesday today and we're thrilled to show off one of our recent weddings at St. John's Cathedral and Boise Art Museum. Kate and Jess were a dream to work with and our Michelle did a fabulous job (if we do say so ourselves) with helping to pull together the wedding with 300+ guests!
The vendor lineup:
And now for all the inspiration from the Slate Gray, Purple, and White loveliness:
Inspiring Photo No. 26
I love love love this color palette- for Fall or Spring. The addition of the gray-blue hues to the bright chartreuse and aqua is a nice change from the more common color combos out there right now.
via Cottage and Vine
I liked this photo because it shows how many different variations you could introduce to your wedding palette and still have an amazingly pulled-together look.
Happy Monday!
Paper Placemats For Your Wedding + An Exclusive Offer
Happy Friday, everyone! First up, these fabulous paper placemats by the Stationery Studio. Actually really affordable, they would make a really big statement on your tables. Even if you chose not to use them on your guest tables, you could buy a pack and use them as decor in other areas of the event. And, bonus- they're monogrammed with your new initial.
These are just some of the color combos and monogram ideas you can use; just use some double sided sticky tape to keep them from flying away and you've got an instant pop of color (and personalization) to your tables. Would also make a great engagement gift too. Head to their website for more ideas!
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And now for the "Exclusive Offer" portion of today's post. We are happy to announce, in celebration of our recent Big Reveal a few weeks ago, that we are offering what we like to call the Soiree Promotional Launch. With our new logo, website, and branding, we have been steadily working toward our vision and mission: to constantly bring new design ideas to the table and to never stop looking outside of the box to create weddings of our brides' dreams. What you may not know is for several years now, we have been slowly adding exclusive accounts with specialty linen and accessory companies across the nation. We use these accounts to offer Soiree Brides top-of-the-line options to truly make their weddings unique. Most of the companies we work with are not available in Boise, so it ensures that our events will never look like any other event here in town. So, for a limited time, we will offering all of these accounts to our brides at cost. That's right- you can have a high end linen at an affordable price. You can have specialty decor that will never be seen anywhere else. The details in a nutshell:
- Offer is for a limited time, and for new bookings only
- Wedding must be held in 2012
- Offer is valid when an agreement is signed within 7 days of your customized proposal
- With the offer, brides will receive:
- Access to all of Soiree's exclusive specialty accounts at our cost
- A $500-$750 credit to your planning services*
- Custom Design Services provided by Soiree at cost*
- All in-house rentals and props at cost
**Restrictions do apply- please inquire within
So there you have it- our promotional launch in a nutshell. Why are we doing this? Because it's part of our efforts to spread the word about what a unique company we are, and how our services are so different. And again, the launch is for a limited time only, so contact us now for an initial consultation.
Have a happy Friday and a beautiful weekend,
xx
Brandi
Pinterest Wedding Cakes
It's Wedding Wednesday again, and this week I'm inspired by all the confections on Pinterest. Have you discovered Pinterest yet? I first blogged about it several months ago, but since then it's become all the rage. It's like a virtual design board- we've had more brides come in with their iPads and instantly pull up their wedding inspiration pin boards on Pinterest than ever. Without further adieu, hope you'll be inspired by some of these featured cakes we came across:
If anything, seeing all the cakes should give you a sweet tooth. If you haven't already, run, don't walk, over to Pinterest. And if you'd like to see my wedding design inspiration board, click here.
Happy Wednesday!
PS: Friday we have another big announcement, following our Big Reveal a few weeks ago. Stay tuned!
Inspiring Photo No 25
Wouldn't it be any girl's dream?
Photo of a luxury boudoir photo shoot by Dolce and Gabbana, via Merci New York
Just goes to show that even seemingly the smallest of details can become a beautiful shot and a part of your wedding day story. Happy Monday!
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