Thursday, August 6, 2009

Save the Date postcards - vintage city and state designs

BORROW THIS IDEA: One of my brides shared a link she found for vintage postcard Save the Dates so thought I would share it with you all. It's $99 for 100 4"x6" cards that you can personalize. Pretty good deal.

Otherwise if you have your own graphic file, I sometimes use Overnight Prints which is only $12.95 for 100 4"x6" cards.

HELPFUL HINT: Remember only send save the dates to people you really want to save the date! Don't send one to someone who is on our B list if you're not sure you're inviting them to the wedding for sure. It totally sucks when you have to explain that you have too many people that are coming now and have to retract the initial invitation you extended to them!

Monday, August 3, 2009

WeddingChannel.com article!


Check out our latest press piece on WeddingChannel.com on "Alternative Ceremony Ideas for Second Weddings!"

To see all Daughter of Design press check out our press page by clicking here.


Friday, July 31, 2009

You count!

Brides and Grooms, remember to include yourselves in the final guest count!

I often notice on my clients' spreadsheets that their names are not on the final seating chart or guest list. This happens at almost 99% of the weddings I work on. You want to eat too right? :)

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

SAVE THE DATE! War Memorial Opera House, SF

I rarely write about weddings until it's already passed and I can post the pictures but I just can't contain myself on this one! Next July, Daughter of Design will be doing a wedding at the War Memorial Opera House, home of the San Francisco Opera and Ballet. They only allow two weddings per year so to be one of them is an extreme honor. The couple are season ticket holders and actually came here to an opera on their first date so how perfect is that!

For me this has extra significance in that I started my event career here nearly 10 years ago. I worked in Marketing and Special Events for 2 years and have the warmest and fondest memories of the San Francisco Opera and my old "office". It's like coming home...

Check back here July 2010 for photos!



Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Amy and Sean - Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills

Amy and Sam were JUNIOR high school sweethearts who finally tied the knot a decade plus later at the ever beautiful and classic Beverly Hills Hotel. It was a gorgeous California summer day and what I LOVE about California summer weddings...no rain plans necessary!
Their wedding was recently featured on Style Me Pretty's blog.

Here comes the bride, all dressed in white (and stunning diamond jewelry set she got on loan from her jeweler friend.)

Love these Renee Caovilla's. See my former post to find out how you can possibly get your very own for half off and with no tax!

Let's play a game: can you find these rings shown below in the picture above?

Amy honored her grandfather by pinning his military star on her bouquet

I thought I was a daddy's girl until I met Amy. Her and her father were so adorable and really had a special bond.

Amy and Sean's entire wedding was very elegant and romantic, starting with this lovely garden ceremony.

BORROW THIS IDEA: Have your florist make fun designs with your aisle rose petals.

HELPFUL TIP: You can have your florist make designs down the actual aisle and not just on the sides, which looks fab for pics before the ceremony but once the wedding party walks down may look like a wreck for the bride's processional, just a note.

BORROW THIS IDEA: Goodbye slide shows, hello framed photos of family

The menus were designed to match their invitations which incorporated their Taiwanese heritage with their garden romance theme.

BORROW THIS IDEA: The napkins didn't actually have lace trim but to give the effect and add that extra touch we tucked a piece of lace around the napkin once they had been folded. Low cost, little effort with high visual value.

This sure as hell beats a standard parquet dance floor (and to be honest I can't stand those parquet dance floors!) Amy and Sean went with a circular shape which complimented the large crystal rose light fixture that the Beverly Hills Hotel is so well known for.

HELPFUL TIP: Putting lounge furniture around the dance floor is a great way to keep guests from sitting way back at their tables and staying closer to where the action is at and keeping the dancefloor area looking more dense.

Heck, if you're doing the custom dance floor you might as well get the custom decor on it for a few hundred more :)

This was undoubtedly the most painful thing I've had to do as a planner. I'm a huge Cal Bears fan so to help arrange the USC band to come perform for this Trojan couples grand entrance went against every bone in my body. This just goes to show what a dedicated planner I am. However I took some comfort in knowing that Amy's little sister shared my pain since she was a Cal cheerleader!

What a cake! Shavings of white chocolate really gave the exterior a great texture.

Now here comes the bride, all dressed in RED! Amy changed into the traditional Chinese wedding outfit, qipao, for the last part of the reception. She's a great model and hopped right on top of that piano. Go Amy!

After dancing for hours, it's always nice to nourish and replenish your guests!

These two really are an inseparable pair and each other's best friend. I wish them the world of happiness!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Wedding Dress Sample Sale in Southern California

To any brides who are going to be in Southern California, a favorite bridal boutique of mine, The White Dress, is having an amazing amazing sample sale. The dress selection is fabulous and the rates are even better.

The White Dress
2853 Pacific Coast Highway
Corona Del Mar, CA 92625
949 723 0121
www.thewhitedress.net

Tell them Daughter of Design sent you and you might get even better rates!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Daughter of Design on Style Me Pretty today!

Check out Laura and Eric's beautiful Studio 450 wedding featured on today's Style Me Pretty's site! Laura in addition to being wonderful person, beautiful bride and loving wife is also a very talented graphic designer who started her company Make Merry! She also makes these stunning hair pieces from vintage buttons, feathers and fabric as seen in the Style Me Pretty post. Recently she helped create beautiful custom maps for a wedding Daughter of Design planned in Lake Como, Italy. Check out her work at Make Merry!

First post: Laura and Eric on Style Me Pretty1
Second post: Laura and Eric on Style Me Pretty2
Third post: Laura and Eric on Style Me Pretty3
Fourth post: Laura and Eric on Style Me Pretty4
Fifth post: Laura and Eric on Style Me Pretty5