In The Press: Town & Country Weddings

We are thrilled to have Liz & Chris's wedding featured in the current issue of Town & Country Weddings. This publication only includes eight weddings a year, so we feel very fancy and honored to be alongside of the endless inspiration that fills their pages. It's truly a beautiful publication and we hope you'll check it out soon!

Real Life Bride : Week 9

I have a little secret to let you in on:  Grant and I have been freaking out over our budget, our wedding, our location, our everything. 

Here’s the story:

 When we started shopping around for rehearsal dinner locations and hotels, we thought it’d be nice (especially for all of the out of town guests) to experience a beach-front location.  We looked at venues that were literally on the beach (think: sand), which is almost impossible to do here in LA. We checked out private clubs only to find our rehearsal dinner and welcoming party were going to cost just as much as an entire wedding.  Then, we started looking at beach-front hotels like Shutters and Casa del Mar which resulted in equally expensive.  We searched and searched for this beach-front idea we had and couldn’t find anything within reason.

With high expectations and feeling extremely deflated, we began re-thinking our entire wedding plan to begin with.  Thoughts of eloping entered our head.  We sat down with our parents to discuss the idea of mini destination wedding. In fact, we’re even going to Mexico next week with my parents to check out possible locations!!  (If you haven’t caught on to my personality type right now it’s Type A all the way. Of course when these baby thoughts entered our head I planned an entire scouting trip around them).   

And then, like a light bulb, we found a solution.   This week we let go of our beach-front rehearsal dinner and welcoming party.  We just let it go.  “When one door closes, another one opens…”  

Grant & I aren’t extreme beach fanatics anyway, and while the idea sounded nice, it honestly wasn’t that difficult to change direction.  We opened our minds up to other options and this week we found a perfect solution.  We found a GREAT hotel for our guests and as an added plus, the restaurant located in the hotel has this adorable courtyard where we can host the rehearsal dinner/welcoming party.  It is soooooo cute! The space really matches our personality and will be easy to theme in with the wedding.   I’m not going to give the name of the hotel away quite yet (until we’re 100% booked), but I must say the name is quite appropriate considering I am the daughter of a farmer (clearing throat…Jacey can’t keep secrets).  

Above you can see some photos of our scouting trip to the hotel.   A very relieved Jacey & Grant now have a perfect option (and affordable option) to host our rehearsal dinner.   And as a bonus we’re headed to Mexico next week for a nice vacation.

xoxo

Real Life Bride: Week 8

I hate my handwriting.  This week I finally sat down and addressed our save-the-dates.  I wish we had invested in a calligrapher after all because I’m very hard on myself and think the addresses look awful.  Something I guess I should just let go, but a part of me feels like once you start to let one thing go, then another, before you know it you’re letting all the small stuff slip up and then the whole wedding falls apart.  Psycho? Yes.

I started on my New Year’s Resolution this week of taking some “Me” time.  I hit up my mani/pedi place, got my hair highlighted and went to the spa for a massage and facial.  I also extended my training sessions to Monday, Wednesday, Friday and we starting to hit gym hard this week.   Maybe all this “me time” is a bit overboard but if you haven’t caught on by now when I do something, I do it 100%.  As I was getting a facial, I talked to my esthetician and she says we should start with the wedding regime 6 months out.   6 months out…that’s in April! That’s only about 3 months away!  And it has officially hit me that I am 9 months away from our wedding.  I started feeling a bit overwhelmed this weekend, but I have to trust that everything will be done. It will be.  But I still had a mini-freak out.

In planning news, Susie touched base with us as we returned from the holiday.  She and Beth say we’ll have a meeting in a few weeks to discuss design. I. Cannot. Wait.  To me, this is the FUN PART!!!  I cannot wait to see what Beth & Susie have to show and it will be so nice to have someone help package all of our ideas together.  Sometimes I love so many colors, prints, trends, etc… that it’s hard to make them cohesive.  Also, my mother-in-law to be and I also secured a date to have a girls wine tasting weekend up at her ranch in Santa Ynez just before the wedding.  I’m really excited about having not just my bachelorette party in Texas, but also a girls get together/shower just before the big day! That's all for now...until next time.

xoxo,

LUV is in the Air by Southwest Airlines

I don't usually post sweepstakes and such, but I guess, I'm secretly hoping that along with the winner of the LUV Sweepstakes (see details below), I, too, will win a 7 day night stay at the Grand Panama Beach Resort, 2 round trip tickets and a $10K shopping spree. Somehow, I don't think my wish will come true, BUT, just in case...Take a peek below to find out how you and your fiancee could win...Good luck and if you win, don't forget where you found the info!

The Aisle New York

We've pretty much been obsessed with Rue La La as long as we can remember and we are so happy to now have a similar resource for the wedding industry! The Aisle New York recently launched and we couldn't more excited. All of you brides dying to have that $10K plus couture gown for your day, might have a chance to save a few dollars on some of the best designers in the industry by signing up for the ultra exclusive invite only sales on gowns, accessories and even honeymoons. Hop on over to The Aisle New York to get on the list asap!

Style Me Pretty : THE MAGAZINE

Have you seen it yet? SMP JUST launched their first magazine highlighting the reader's favorite weddings of 2010. It's a wondrous source for inspiration and we are so honored to be included. Liz and Chris's wedding, which just so happened to be one of OUR personal favorites as well, graced the pages.

 

Check out the E-Glossy here
Congrats to Abby and the team for a beautiful job yet again!
 

2010 Highlights

 We love a new year...Full of fresh starts, clean slates and ENGAGEMENTS! We wanted to take the time to wish all of you newly engaged couples out there a huge congratulations! We are hoping to get to know some of you that much more as your wedding plans unfold, but in the meantime, here is a look back on some of our favorite designs from 2010:
 

Cape Cod Prep

Understated in Los Olivos

Homespun in Aspen

Glamour in Santa Barbara

Classic Luxury in the Hamptons

Effortless Charm in Maui

Here's to making that many more memories in 2011!