Rain, rain

I love the rain. I suppose that is a pretty good thing considering the near record-breaking downpours we have had in the last few days. Weather update aside, all this rain of course made me think of the no doubt incredibly anxious brides who must have had crossed every finger and cashed in every, "please God, just this one time..." on Saturday afternoon when it miraculously stayed dry for a good four hours or so. Had they not been so lucky, they of course could still have arrived in style thanks to Bella Umbrella, an umbrella rental company out of, where else, Seattle. I swear, you can rent anything. And these are so cute you might just pray for rain on your wedding day. But I doubt it.

Lucky Me!

OK, I'm not usually one to show off, but I just have to share my new favorite thing. Yesterday I received a most special gift from a friend and it is just so fabulous I must share. It always amazes me when someone knows me so well they can choose something that I've had my eye on without even knowing it.

So I now retire last year's Marc Jacobs to the back of the closet...
to make room for my new and improved model! White patent leather - get out, how gorgeous!
Erin, truly this was a bit much, but oooohhhh how I love it!

Nancy Liu Chin Designs

Every page of Nancy Liu Chin's website is more gorgeous than the last! I love the simplicity of the arrangements and how no one element overpowers any other. It is so important to keep things simple and beautiful. More is most definitely NOT always better.

Cupcakes make me happy

This blog is all about celebrations and special occasions, no matter how big or small. It seems as though sometimes we get so wrapped up in the day to day that we forget to celebrate all of the seemingly small events that make life special. I, on the other hand, am always looking for a reason to pause and reflect on (and, of course celebrate!) all of the wonderful things that have brought me to where I am in today. Saturday marked our "7 years since our first date" anniversary so we took advantage of the sunny day and dusted off our bikes for the first time since Summer. (Who cares that we actually "celebrated" on Sunday, we were both too busy on Saturday!) After a quick stop for air, we were on our way to Frosted Cupcakery, a delectable little cupcake shop down by the beach. Gabe's friend Stacia opened Frosted with her mom in Belmont Shore a few years ago (yes, before Sprinkles was "Sprinkles") and has had a loyal following ever since. Though I feel the novelty of the cupcake cake has begun to wear its welcome in the wedding world, there is yet to be a more practical or charming way to treat your guests for a shower or birthday party. I, on the other hand, need no better excuse to treat myself to unnecessary calories than a sunny Sunday afternoon!

You CAN wear it again!

Admit it, either you have said it or you plan on saying it sometime in the near future. We brides seem to think that it is our matrimonial duty to find the perfect bridesmaid dress that is not only comfortable, attractive, and affordable, but that can also be worn again. Perhaps it puts our minds at ease to know that although we just asked our very best friends to fork over a small fortune for a dress, at the very least they will be delighted to know they can wear it again.
No doubt you searched and, if you are anything like me, ended up with something not likely to make an appearance ever again. It really is quite a difficult task and, quite frankly, sometimes you just want your bridal party to look, well, bridal. However, there are always those brides that are cause for envy. You know the ones - every aspect of the wedding is perfectly unique and their girls' attire is no exception. Enter Anthropologie (of course). They have so many fabulous dresses that work so well for a daytime or even a more casual evening wedding. Of course it ultimately depends on the style and the formality of the event, but I love the dresses below. Hey, if you are looking for a formal bridesmaid dress that they can also wear again, ask yourself this, when was the last time you donned a formal evening gown for a night on the town? Uh-huh, I thought so.

And for the coordintaor...(I could always use a new dress!)

RIVINI trunk show this weekend

You know my affinity for Rivini. And you know what an amazing dress they created for Erin Cole's wedding. This weekend you have the opportunity to view the entire Spring 2008 line at Erin Cole Couture Bridal in Costa Mesa. Make an appointment, this one is sure to be booked!

Calligraphy envy

I just sent off a bunch of envelopes to be addressed for a bride by Laura Hooper. I can't wait to see the finished product!
Calligraphy is such an amazing art form. I took my first calligraphy class about 5 years ago and am still learning. An innate talent it is not! Although I have had the opportunity to calligraph quite a number of wedding invitations, I can honestly say they pale in comparison to the work of a professional such as Laura.
Brides, trust me on this one. If there is any way, you simply must have your envelopes addressed by hand and they must be beautiful! The quality is unmistakable and the impression is lasting. If you have ever received an invitation addressed in ball point pen in crooked, uncentered lines, you know what I am talking about.

Erin & Michael

They are finally here and they are AMAZING! The pictures and slide show for Erin and Michael's December 1st wedding show only a slice of the impeccable style and taste of Erin Cole. Leigh Miller was the photographer and I can't even begin to tell you how great she was. To know Erin is to understand that nothing she does is anything but stunning and her wedding was clearly no exception. I was so honored to have played such an important role in their day. I simply LOVED designing, planning, and coordinating this fabulous event for such a truly happy couple!

Photography: Leigh Miller
Ceremony Flowers: White Lilac
Invitations: The Paper House
Gown: Custom Rivini
Accessories: Erin Cole, of course!
Cake: Let Them Eat Cake
Centerpieces, Reception Florals, Programs, Menus: Enjoy Celebrations and Occasions

The slide show: You MUST watch this!

Red Cap Cards

Simply divine illustrations from Red Cap Cards. A little quirky, a little obscure, and perfectly unique.

Nickelsons Invitations

I came across the lovely Joanna the other day while looking around for local, independent invitations companies. Her company, Nickelsons Invitations, specializes in online and phone orders and offers a line of highly sophisticated custom designs from their "Couture Collection" as well as designs from some of our favorites including Peculiar Pear Press and Paper + Cup.