Our Wedding Reception!

Luvies, I can't believe I never posted our wedding reception! But I'm thrilled to share them with you now.  As our first anniversary {rapidly!} approaches it's so fun to look back through the images and remember the absolutely electric feeling of that night.

Key statistics: I never sat down, I never ate, I only managed to grab one drink and I never used the restroom - for six hours. And I loved every second of it!

As you probably remember - we held our wedding ceremony on a remote beach in Mexico. But still wanted to involve our entire circle of family and friends. So when we returned we threw a big ole' hometown party.









A bit about the details:
We held our reception in a fantastic urban space - a former brewery in Seattle that had amazing high ceilings, cathedral windows and concrete floors. The perfect blanks slate for me to go bananas with!

The highlight for me, and really for everyone there that night, was a looping black & white video of our wedding ceremony that we projected, movie screen size, onto one of the blank walls. The fact that could see it from the street totally rocked.

We also had a welcome table decorated with Polaroids taken from the Mexico wedding ceremony so guests could see more of the special day. Vintage postcards from all over the world served as our guest book. Fans, sombreros and chalkboard signs for available for guests to play with in our photo booth. The rest of the room was adorned with cafe tables, benches, fresh farmers market flowers and candles candles and more candles. Our guests feasted on Mexican themed treats, noshed on a dessert bar of cookies and mini cream pies and enjoyed local beer and wine, all done DIY style.

All in all, it was a fantastic party with everyone we love and care about. And there's nothing better than that!

You can check out details of our wedding ceremony in Mexico on Style Me Pretty and my tips for planning a destination wedding on Green Wedding Shoes!


Our Vendors
Photography {Visions of Romance}
Event design {me, myself and I!}
Invitations {Brown Sugar Design}
Catering {Herban Feast}
Rentals {Rented Elegance}
Flowers {me, myself and I}
Photo booth {David Ryder Photography}
Wedding dress{Robert Bullock}

Wedding Wednesday {In the Details}

For this week's Wedding Wednesday I'm so excited to share the detials of a fellow blogger and someone I'm lucky enough to now call a dear friend - Caitlin from Sacramento Street! Caitlin and I actually bonded over the joys and woes of wedding planning, as we got married within a week of eachother nearly a year ago! Her stunning wedding was just shared on Forget Me Knot and I just couldn't resist plucking a few of my favorite images to share here.

A stickler about the detials, like myself, I knew Caitlin would throw a gorgeous affair. How can you not when your setting is in wine country?!  And while her lovely personalized touches made my event planning heart pitter patter, this adorable picture of Caitlin with her dad makes my heart absolutely melt.






I only wish I could have been there to share in this incredible day with Caitlin and Eric. At least wine tasting with them this past weekend ran a close second!

Seeing Caitlin's adorable placecards, burlap runner on her lovely table setting and simple flowers reminded me how much fun I had planner our wedding AND that I never shared our wedding reception with you!

Check back later today my dears because I will {finally!} share all.

xo,
Mrs.E

Caitlin's Wedding Details:
Photography {Erin Beach}
Event Design {Caitlin Flemming}
Coordinator {Kathryn Kalabokes}
Floral Design {Natalie Bowen}
Venue + Caterer {Vintage Estates}
Makeup + Hair {Sherrie Long}
Cake/Desserts {Penelope Jane Orsini}
DJ {Denon & Doyle Entertainment}
Dress Designer {Lena Medoyeff}
Groom’s Attire {Men’s Warehouse}
Jewelry {Atelier Marisa Orbit 8 Earrings}
Officiant {James Honey}
Shoe Designer {Kate Spade}
Stationery {Cheree Berry}
Veil {Haute Bride}
Bridesmaid Dresses {Lela Rose}

Wedding Wednesday {A Few Favorite Things}

The litany of amazing and brilliant wedding details out there can mesmerize for me hours {literally!} so I thought I'd share a few of the ones that have kept me coming back for a second look this week.

Who needs dessert bars when you have cheese bars!



I'm a sucker for peachy keen details.



I could live in these sassy stripes,



And I will always fall head over heels for pretty perfect paper.





And I could go on and on and on!

luvies, don't forget to click on the pics and links for photographer, blog and vendor sources!

Feelin' Sweet and Saucy

I've already outed my obession with large, flowery accessories. As it turns out, they're just as brilliant on wedding cakes! But don't take my word for it. Just check out this stunning example from My Sweet And Saucy.

The SoCal queens of wedding cake really outdid themselves with this one {ps. those flowers are made of sugar!}.

What do you do when your cake is too pretty to eat?!

image via sweet and saucy shop

For the Destination Bride

I'm so honored that Jen invited me to share our wedding along with my top tips for destination wedding planning on her blog, my longtime fave, Green Wedding Shoes today!

Are you planning a wedding or special event? I'm now sharing the wedding planning knowledge I've gained, both from my own wedding experience and from my life as a professional event planner, with the masses. I'd love to help you clarify your vision, set a creative direction or manage the details of your special event.

Please check out my event styling services, Aparmtent 34 Creative, for more information!

And be sure to check out Jen's entire feature at Green Wedding Shoes.

Head Over Heels

Some uberfabulous ladies can pull off eye-popping hair accessories on an everyday basis. I tend to require a special occasion.


looks 1, 4 by ban.do for BHLDN. look 2 by jennifer behr. look 3 by twigs & honey

But I'm loving these looks so much, I'm wondering does a sunny Wednesday morning count?!

Wedding Wednesday {Decidedly Different Bouquets}

Now I love a classic peony bouquet as much as the next girl, but I'm suddenly smitten with a different take on the wedding staple.



Lilac, anemones, cottonwood and entire classifications of flowers whose names I don't know look fabulous together when bundled up just so.

I love that a bridal bouquet can be as individually unique as the woman who carries it!

Green bouquets via karen wise and joy thigpen
Black & white bouquets via snippet & ink and green wedding shoes
Soft and sweet bouquets styled by joy thigpen, photographed by jose villa via once wed

Still Beholden

With BHLDN. I couldn't resist sharing a few more of my favorite moments from my visit to the BHLDN headquarters.

What's that you say, watch a stunning fashion show and then wander aimlessly through a house full of bridal couture, party dresses and handcrafted shoes, trying on at will? Don't mind if I do!

Meet my absolute favorite: The Zinnia Gown!




images by amanda of ruffled and me!

For those who are curious about more details, BHLDN wedding dresses will range from $600-$4,000. For example, my personal favorite above, the darling coral and grey Zinnia, will be $1,800. {I'm so tempted to wear the Zinnia to a friend's outdoor wedding this summer! What do you think, over the top?}. BHLDN shoes were commissioned from the talents of Bettye Muller and Chie Mihara, some made from vintage french fabric (there were only 32 pairs made of those so shop quickly!). Accessories come from the likes of cult faves Ban.do and Jennifer Behr. The aim of the collection is to provide brides with the handmade, nearly-one-of-kind, extra-special pieces that you can use to make the bid-day truly you.
Personally, the entire concept, from beginning to end, transported me into a fairytale party~land which I really didn't want to leave. What do you think luvies? Are you smitten too?

I've Got a Crush {On BHLDN}

BHLDN is the brain child of Anthropologie alum Kristin Norris and her darling creative team. Here’s a little inside scoop on the name {because I didn’t get it at first either}: pronounced be~holden, BHLDN is actually based on the Dutch word blijven which means to keep. And their tagline is "Be You, Be Loved." Certainly do love that!

After being lucky enough to get a sneak peak at BHLDN’s first collection, I’d happily have and hold any of the spot-on bridal looks, party frocks, bridesmaid dresses, accessories or shoes. As the BHLDN team told us, the line seeks to capture the emotional qualities of life, for your big day and everyday, which I think is a rather fabulous brand ethos. {And one I can attest is truly heartfelt by the passionate BHLDN team}.

But really, they had me at the shoes.

There is entirely too much goodness to drool over but if I had to narrow my crushes down they’d have to include:

Gorgeous gowns,



Fanciful footwear,



Dazzling detail,



Fabulous flowers,



Sweet settings,



Blogging buddies,



Lovely lunches,



And on BHLDN’s utter charm and cheeky whit.



The BHLDN e-tail site goes live on Monday, February 14th {Valentine’s Day of course}. You'll not only get to purchase their gorgeous creations on the spot, you'll be able to get overnight delivery and enjoy free returns. Because if you want to get married next week and wear a fabulous dress you should be able to! Brilliant.

So for the lovely lady who find herself newly engaged next Monday, BHLDN will be your go-to spot for unique, accessible yet aspirational bridal style. Later this spring BHLDN will branch out into wedding décor and event accessories, making it a truly one-stop-shop for a bride who wants to think out of the staid wedding box.

For the perpetual wedding fan {i.e. already married women like myself} I will be visiting BHLDN routinely to oohhh and ahhhh and get design inspiration for my own wedding & event styling services.

And, obviously, to pick up a fabulous pair of shoes {or two}!

Thank you BHLDN for inviting us to peak under your skirts before your big launch. I'll be sharing a few more of my favorite moments with you tomorrow so do check back.

You can see even more behind-the-scenes details from blogging darlings Amanda, Jen, Joy, Emily, Vane and Joanna.

Be You, Be Loved!
*Mrs. E

Wedding Wednesday {Cupcake Alternative}

While there are a myriad of wedding cake alternatives out there (I've seen pancakes, pies, cookies and custom candy buffets among others) cupcakes remain the dominant trend. And don't get me wrong, I do love a good cupcake. But they're tipping over into the over-exposed, the expected, the ordinary category.

That's why I came to a full stop when I saw these gold-leafed mini cakes from Sweetapolita.


imags via sweetapolita, spotted on mimi+meg

Still small and individual, just like a cupcake, but instead, in the form of a sweetly heart shaped cake covered in edible gold!

Now that adds a whole new glamorously-romantic factor to mini dessert idea. And I, for one, am completely in love.

Wedding Wednesday {Jenny's Girls}

I just discovered Jenny Packham's absolutely heavenly 2011 collection - all with names as pretty as the looks themselves.

Meet Dearest, Syrie, Antonella, Minerva and Saskia.

 




I'd love a dancing-date with any of them!