Refreshing Signature Cocktail Ideas

September 8, 2016

Who doesn't love a good cocktail? I for one am a fan of a cocktail made of fresh real ingredients as opposed to syrups and sugars. These cocktails all include fresh ingredients but are simple enough to pull off quickly and with a larger crowd.

Plum & Thyme Prosecco Smash

This delicious prosecco-based cocktail from My Diary of Us combines fresh fruit and fresh herbs in the perfect mixture. YUM

Blackberry Lemon Gin & Tonic

I'm a huge Gin fan, so this one is right up my alley. The color alone makes this cocktail well worth a try, especially on a hot summer day. Thanks to The Stiers Aesthetic for creating this beauty.

Watermelon Mojito

A Subtle Revelry does it again, this time with a refeshing summer cocktail that also makes for the perfect "Hers" Signature Cocktail for any wedding.

Basil Fig Vodka Smash

This one might be a challenge to pull off at a wedding, but would be totally worth it! With Food & Love creates the perfect summer/fall cocktail that is sure to be a favorite no matter where you serve it. YUM.

Fall 2016 Bridal Trends with David's Bridal

August 24, 2016

Let's talk bridal fashion, and who knows more about fashion, trends and what women want than David's Bridal. They have over 300 stores and 1 of every 3 brides will walk down the aisle in a David's Bridal gown, so they know a little something about the topic.

Fall 2016 is fast approaching and with it we will see a new collection of beautiful gowns. So what are the top trends this fall? We have partnered with David's Bridal to hear about a few trends that we will definitely be seeing more of in the near future.

DRESS: David’s Bridal Style Number MS251173 | Collection: Melissa Sweet, exclusively at David’s Bridal — DRESS: David’s Bridal Style Number MS251173 | **Collection:** Melissa Sweet, exclusively at David’s Bridal

Deep V – This season’s plunging necklines offer modern brides an elegant way to add a something extra to her look.

DRESS: David’s Bridal Style Number SLMS251111 | Collection: Melissa Sweet, exclusively at David's Bridal — DRESS: David’s Bridal Style Number SLMS251111 | **Collection:** Melissa Sweet, exclusively at David's Bridal

Delicate Deco – Inspired by 1920’s glamour, this season’s art deco beading is crafted to be delicate and graceful.

RESS 1: David’s Bridal Style SWG751 | Collection: Galina Signature DRESS 2: David’s Bridal Style WG3817 | Collection: Galina — RESS 1: David’s Bridal Style SWG751 | Collection: Galina Signature DRESS 2: David’s Bridal Style WG3817 | Collection: Galina

Sleeves - Sleeves are one of the top looks for fall. Better for fall, it adds a little something special to the bride's silhouette.

What are your favorite wedding dress details and what do you feel like we will be seeing a lot more of this Fall? Make sure you check out the David's Bridal new arrivals when you're looking for your dream dress!

Peace of Mind for your Piece of Jewelry

August 3, 2016

Being engaged is an exciting time! Sliding that engagement ring on your hand, telling your friends and family, and proceeding to plan the wedding are all very exciting milestones in any relationship. But they can also be a whirlwind! It can be easy to forget about some of the most important (and maybe less fun pieces) like remembering to protect your engagement ring.

It might not be the most glamorous thing to talk about, but nothing is worse than something happening to that beautiful ring on your finger! So today we are talking about that exact topic with Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company.

Jewelers Mutual® protects your most precious jewelry giving you the peace of mind that everyone deserves. Their policy covers everything from loss, damage, theft or mysterious disappearance even during travel (yes, you heard that right) anywhere in the world! Jewelers offer $0 deductible policies so you can be sure you don’t have to shell out money in the event of a claim. Since, Jewelers Mutual only covers jewelry, and have since 1913, they know it and do it well.

But, don't stop at your engagement ring and wedding bands. They cover all types of jewelry, so don't forget to add any valuable jewelry to your policy as well. When you get around to choosing your wedding day jewelry, make sure to add that on!

I clicked through to get a free quote for my wedding ring assuming I'd have to answer a whole lot of questions. To my surprise, there were only three fields to fill out and within a minute, I had a quote! I was pleasantly surprised at how simple it was to get information (regular insurance companies are......well, not as consumer friendly!) and how straight-forward the website was. It is definitely worth spending a small amount of time (and money) to ensure that your most valued jewelry is protected!

Lauren & Patrick | Holman Ranch

July 27, 2016

This September Holman Ranch wedding was inspired by organic textures and a neutral color palette. Details included lush floral with accents of purple tones, a living aisle at the ceremony, home caramel popcorn favors by the family, a farm-to-table plated dinner for 250 guests complete with wood slice place cards indicating guest's meal choice, and a dance party to top off the night!

Things Remembered // Perfect Wedding Party Gifts

June 7, 2016

Let's talk about wedding party gifts. Among all the planning and preparing for the big day, you don't want to forget about the friends who will stand by your side on your big day!

Your wedding party deserves something special as a thank you for all the time and energy they put into your big day! Show them how grateful you are by choosing a personal gift that is perfect for them. I am a big proponent of gifting useful and special gifts that do more than just sit on a shelf. Find a gift that can be cherished for years to come. Enter Things Remembered!

Bridesmaid Gifts:

There are so many gifts options for bridesmaids and your maid of honor (Thankfully shopping for women is SO easy!). One popular idea is to get them something they can wear or use on the wedding day, however, there are no rules here. If your bridesmaids all have different interests you could always consider buying each of them something unique to their personality and your connection with them. The days of matchy-matchy everything are gone, so feel free to mix things up here. Show each person that you really thought about them!

I've posted a few of my favorite below, I especially love the personalized leather goods!

RESOURCES: Leather Goods, Water Bottles, Personalized Jewelry, Personalized Jewelry Box

Groomsmen Gifts:

Oh your groomsmen! Things Remembered has so many gift options for men. I am so surprised at the number of things you can find on their website that are perfect for the Best Man or groomsmen gifts. Flasks, Tie Bars, personalized accessories, or again a favorite of mine, those leather goods! Just take a look at their groomsmen gift collection, it would be hard to walk away empty handed!

RESOURCES: Personalized Accessories, Tie Bars, Personalized Leather Goods

Have fun finding that perfect gift for each and every one of your best friends. This little token of appreciation will create a wonderful impact on the friends you love most. Good luck and happy gift shopping!

Currently Loving

June 2, 2016

I'm loving neutral and minimal design right now! As summer approaches, I'm feeling the urge to shed the excess and get back to my roots of clean lines, beautiful and organic color palettes and simply inspiring goods!

Wedding Invitation Heaven with Basic Invite

May 3, 2016

The "design" of a wedding is one of my favorite part of the planning process. Over the years I’ve moved from a “DIY and heavily styled” aesthetic and evolved into a “less is more” aesthetic, which means I tend to embrace the natural elements that create the best overall experience for both the couple and their guests. Floral and paper being two elements that are often highest on my list!

It is no secret that guests will have a lot of questions about your impending wedding from where to stay to what to wear. A wedding website provides a great resource that can be updated often as details get ironed out (highly recommended!), but a wedding invitation suite is an equally important part of the equation. Not only does it give the details of the event, but it sets the tone for the entire wedding.

You have a variety of options - some like to keep it simple with only one or two , whereas others like to create the perfect package with as many details as possible about the big day. And let's not forget about the endless options of design possibilities!

Enter - Basic Invite. Just take a look at a few of my favorites that they have to offer:

Every invitation is part of a set, so it is easy to take care of all your paper needs in one place. Save-The-Dates, Bridal Shower invitations AND thank you cards in one place?! WIN.

Plus (and this one is a big plus) Basic Invite allows customers to order a printed sample of their actual invitation so they can see exactly how it will turn out before they ever place an order.

With almost an unlimited number of wedding invitation color options, 40 envelope color options (look at all those colors!!), and over 200 designs, Basic Invite has it all when it comes to the perfect invitation suite.

Pretty cool, huh?! Check out Basic Invite's amazing collection of goodies online and tell us what you think about them!

Sneak Peek // Holman Ranch

April 27, 2016

A few weeks back I had the pleasure of pricing this absolutely stunning wedding. These stunning sneak peek images by Everly Films are just jaw dropping!

Reach The Workshop // Boho Inspiration

February 6, 2016

I'm so excited to share the images from Reach The Workshop, a two-day wedding planning and photographer workshop I had the pleasure of co-hosting with Carlie Statsky.

For the second day of this experience, we carted all the attendees up to the top of the Carmel Valley mountains, for this photoshoot filled with lots of boho goodness!

We are working on preparing the next workshop. If you want to be updated with the details of the next event, sign up here!

5 ways to include The fam in your big day

November 24, 2015

Here we are, November 24 th, with Thanksgiving right around the corner. This time of year is always super exciting because it means three things are coming your way - family, food, and shopping! Amiright? While I'm really looking forward to all three, for now let's focus on the first one!

Today I thought I'd share 5 awesome ways to include your loved ones in your big day. Sure they get to eat, dance, and celebrate with you; but why stop there? Scroll down for some killer ideas on how to make your family feel extra special on your wedding day.

1. Take a Group photo!

2. Display your family tree! (possibly in a tree)

3. All hands in for a Generation photo!

4. Dine Family Style

5. Use those heirlooms!