Could it be? Will I suffer my first case of wedding withdrawal??

Congratulations Heather & Moses! I LOVED working on this wedding. My first big, practically full planning wedding and what a blast! I worked my butt off but it was worth every minute. I haven't tallied up my total hours yet but I'm sure it's a huge number. The last week alone I worked at least 40 hours. Heather & Moses hired me back in February so we were a bit crunched with time. With them living in San Diego, it was going to be a challenge but with today's technology, it was pretty easy. We had some long phone conversations but otherwise, we did most of the planning via email. I also setup a website where we could all post and share pictures and files. They are such a cute couple and you could tell they were totally into each other. Heather is bit hippie and free-spirited. Moses, with his dreads, is a techie by day and musician by night. Where else did they meet but on-line! Let's get into the nitty gritty. I think this wedding is best told through pictures (mine were all taken when I had 1 second to spare; the professional photos will done it much better justice). First off, the wedding was held on Heather's parents 50 acre property, across from the Whites Ferry dock in Leesburg. The grounds were breathtaking on their own and so we just really need to incorporate it and work with it in the design rather than try to fight it in anyway. You could see the Potomac River.

Theme: Chic garden party Colors: all shades of orange accented with green and white

The ceremony was held in a secluded part of the property we discovered while doing the first site inspection. I loved this spot because it was more intimate for the ceremony since it was surrounded by a wall of boxwood hedges.

Design Elements

Flowers: Jennifer Morris created a beautiful arch to anchor the space. Penny outdid herself with all the gardening she had done throughout the spring and summer. We used all of her beautiful flowers to decorate the site, keeping it all very natural and lush. We set ferns on tree stumps to create the aisle as well as anchor the back of the arch. Chairs: We rented dark wood folding chairs to complement nature (instead of harsh white and folding chairs do better on grass than chivari). Decor: We kept the non-plant decor to a minimum because it really didn't need it. We had programs which continued the lily of the valley design from the invitations and folded in such a neat way. We had two of Heather's cousins take polaroid photos for the guestbook. That was it! Hospitality Items: Because of the hot temperatures, we had water, limeade, and fans ready for the guests. At rehearsal the day before, we scheduled it so it was exactly the same time as the ceremony. So we were able to figure out where the sun was and where the shady spots were. We moved the chairs back to get as many seats in the shade as possible. Special Touches: Heather & Moses wanted to include a bunch of children in the ceremony. So we had 3 boys ringing bells yelling, "the bride is coming! the bride is coming!" One of the boys carried a special box Moses had given to Heather. It was so cute! And then we had 4 flower girls. A BIG THANK YOU to all the parents that helped coral the kids! At the end of the ceremony, we popped some champagne and the bride and groom and bridal party toasted all the guests..

The ferns and chairs of the ceremony area. I'll try to find a good photo of the arch.

Tangerine clad bridesmaids - dress is from J. Crew!

Programs, fans & polaroids!

Programs by talent Sarah Meyer at Haute Papier

Bouquets galore!

Groomsmen looking dashing in their tan suits.

For cocktail hour, we moved the guests over towards the front of the house which sits up higher and has a spectacular view of the Potomac River.

Design Elements

Decor: We used a garden trellis to display the escort cards, which flanked the polaroid guestbook. We secured the escort cards with mini clothespins and handwritten by yours truly. We also used some of the family's garden furniture for seating in this area. Flowers: We kept things simple but interesting. We used pieces of logs and Jennifer inserted flowers into them a hole that we drilled through the center. Looked so cute!

Finally for dinner & dancing, we moved into the tent area which was situation on the most open part of the lawn.

Design Elements

Decor: My favorite part! We decorated the tent with various shades of orange paper lanterns. The tables had a celery colored triple pintuck tablecloth, with a simple table number and tangerine colored candles. At each place setting, we placed a sprig of rosemary in each napkin. I also designed several menu boards, just like at a restaurant, to describe the forth coming feast! Also, the groom's father is an incredible craftsman and artist and made us these great wooden signs. Flowers: For the centerpiece, we did a cluster of 3 arrangements of flowers in the wedding colors, including snapdragons which were Heather's favorites. For the Kids: To keep the little ones entertained, we did a special kids table filled with crayons, coloring books, drawing pads and they got their own buffet! We also put some toys out on the lawn for them to play with during the night. The Lounge: My absolute favorite part of the whole thing! The grounds keeper put up 4 posts for me and then I strung some shear panels to create a lounge feel. Thanks to the family's garden furniture, all the guests loved the lounge area for relaxing and chitchatting.

The only 2 vendors I had worked with before were the DJ and caterer so I was crossing my fingers that everything would work out. Team H&M included:

• DJ: Mike Valenti - I love Mikey V. He just knows how to keep the dancing started and going. He knows how to read the crowd. How to get ALL your guests dancing, including grandma.
• Florist: J. Morris Flowers - First time using Jennifer. With Heather & Moses living in San Diego and only coming in for one weekend to interview all the vendors, I really needed to find a bunch of vendors in the vicinity of Leesburg, which I didn't know very well. Jennifer was an apprentice under Barbara von Elm at Growing Wild. She was great at the wedding - helping with getting the flowers to all the bridal party. She did a great job designing all the flowers to match our style for a very reasonable price.
• Tent: L&A Tents - a recommendation from Fusions Cuisine. John Driver runs the technical side and Debra Driver the business side. His staff worked late into the night to get the tent up. My only complaint was this: we ordered the frame tent specifically because the client did not want poles in the middle of the tent. For some reason, the day they came to do the install, a pole tent went up. Why do people not read their own contracts? So they had to come back, take down the old tent, and put up a new tent. No big deal except we had to delay the rentals by one day, which pushed some of my setup plans back one day.
• Bathrooms: Alpine Sanitation - first time using them. We rented a 15' mobile/trailer restroom. The restroom was in great condition and comes with plenty of supplies.
• Caterer: Fusions Cuisine- I owe Blaise a big THANK YOU for referring me for this job. This was a foodies dream. We had a 6-course dinner. Small plates. I don't think I will do 6-courses again, maybe 4-courses at most. They are very responsive to the client's needs. The staff was incredible. Jim and Lauren supervisors and our bride stalker Richard.
• Officiant: Rev. Norma Peyton - I have done several weddings with Rev. Peyton's husband Wesley before but he was not available. She is so cute! She can project her voice like all good officiants even in an outdoor setting with no amplification. But you just couldn't believe that volume coming from such a small lady.
• String Quartet: Stereo Strings - booked through Bialeks. I never have time to sit and listen to the strings but they sounded nice from what I could hear.
• Baker: Too Nice to Slice - Lynn Whitley. Lynn is so skilled in making sugar flowers that looked so real. She saved the day by leaving the cake on the "Cake gurney". We had to leave the cake inside the house because of the hot temperature. So to transport the cake from the house to the tent, we had to put it on the back of a pickup truck, drive down a slope, with two people holding the cake on the back of the pickup, and 2 of us walking bside it. Man! I wish I had taken a picture of that!
• Invitations & Paper Products: Haute Papier - Sarah Meyer is such a talent designer and puts such effort into each client's work. She did our rehearsal dinner & wedding invitations, table numbers and programs. They set the perfect tone for the event.

We hope you have a great time in Maui!

eaTip: Nothing spoils a party faster than bad service. It's like going to a 4-star restaurant where the food is out of this world and you get terrible service. It just ruins the meal. Never, ever skim on servers. If you need to cut your catering budget, reduce the number and/or type of tables, linens, etc. Contact us and we can help you plan your event!

Congratulations Tara & Eric!

I'm sad to see this wedding end because I have been working with Tara & Eric since last November. I think this is becoming a trend with my partial and full planning clients. When you spend so much time together over the course of the wedding planning process, you really feel like you've developed a friendship out of all this, which is why I *really* do love my job. Couples hire me as a stranger and let me into some very private segments of their lives, not to mention entrusting me totally with the biggest day of their lives.

Back to Tara & Eric. As do many couples these days, they met on-line. It's really amazing how well this on-line dating thing works. Several of my clients and some of my friends have met and married someone they met on-line. What I enjoyed most about working with Tara & Eric is that this was a true collaboration from beginning to end. They came to the table with their wishes and I brought my own ideas, and somewhere in the middle, we came up with brilliant ideas for the wedding. We were opened to each other's ideas.

Tara really loves the plum color and Asian-inspired design, which were both evident in their home decor. So we chose those design elements as well as the addition of the gingko leaf as our motif. We were clear that we wanted Asian-inspired but not completely Asian (there is a difference). So we used orchids, bamboos, river rocks for a zen feel, keeping the design simple, uncluttered but visually interesting without being stark.

eaTips: if you are looking for inspiration for your wedding style, look no further than your closet or your home. They are both good indicators of what colors you like; of whether you are more classic, modern, bohemian, or a mix. My philosophy on designs for a wedding for most people is that it should reflect who you are. I should be able to walk into your wedding and say that it feels like your wedding. So what's better than looking into your closet and home to find what is really 'you'! Contact us and we can help you hone in on the style for your event!!

Another key to a successful wedding is a good vendor team. One that gets along, low maintenance, flexible, and fun! We had an A+ team which included:

• Venue: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens - Early September is beautiful at Meadowlark with all the foliage still lush and green. The only thing is that it was high 80s and sunny making it super hot for our guests during the outdoor ceremony. I was here last year in mid September and it was just as hot. So have plenty of water ready, maybe some fans and/or parasols, and keep the ceremony short, short, short!
  
• Photography: Jason and Tammy Keefer of Jason Keefer Photography. I love Jason - I mean his work (or Tammy will kill me .. haa ha). I first met Jason when he was shooting for Artists & Associates but now he is on his own. I love his 'raw' photojournalistic style with a fine arts edge. He's not afraid to get into the middle of the action without being obtrusive - the mark of a good photojournalist (believe me, I've seen photographers who take every photo 10 feet away.) Jason and Tammy photographed the rehearsal, the rehearsal dinner, and the wedding. I think it's a great idea to capture the whole weekend. The former two events tend to be more relaxed but not any less fun. His photos from the wedding are here.
  
• DJ: Kirk Rubley of Kirkabees. Everybody knows Kirk. We love Kirk.
  
• String Trio: Barbara Heitz Trio (booked through Kirkabees)
• Caterer: Fusions Cuisine. What a find! I consider myself a foodie and Fusions make my tummy happy! I met Jim & Blaise Thompson through a client last year. Fusions is a boutique style catering company and you work directly with Jim, the executive chef for all your needs and their flexibility is unmatched. In my experience, what really sets apart a catering company is its level of service. First, customer service during planning - you work directly with Blaise, who manages the events. She knows her stuff - what works, what doesn't. She is responsive, straight-forward and fun. Yes. I like fun people. :) Second, service during the event. You HAVE TO have enough servers and Blaise always put the right amount of staff at the event without going way overboard. Result: everything is done on time and just right.
  
• Florist: Barbara von Elm of Growing Wild Floral Company. I just love Barbara. The flowers speak for themselves. She is always one of my go-to florists.
• Baker: Connie's Cake Creations. First time working with Connie. She even put ginkgo leaves on the middle layer of the cake! Awesome and reasonable.
  

My photos: Asian-inspired theme plum and silver/gray color and a ginkgo leaf design.

Charcoal gray pintuck provided by Perfect Settings. Note the Beet colored table names using Chinese characters on the left, the menu cards using the Beet backing with a ginkgo leave motif stamp, the Beet escort cards, the candles wrapped in beet colored Abaca. All this flanking the beautiful clusters of floral arrangements in cream, purples and natural green with river rocks by Barbara von Elm of Growing Wild Floral Company (what you can't see is a small square vase with a purple cymbidium orchid floating in it on the other side).

In the foreground: charcoal gray twill linen with a plum runner that had gold ginkgo leaves on it that Tara found and a tall arrangement of bamboo by Barbara. We sprinkled actual ginkgo leaves on the table. In the background, a bamboo runner anchors the gift table along with a polaroid guestbook.

Connie's Cake Creations with ginkgo leaves on the middle layer surrounded by sprinkled ginkgo leaves. Plum ribbon at the bottom of each layer.

Barbara Heitz Trio

What a beautiful arch! Natural and filled with greenery and real grapes. Barbara was a rock star!!

Congratulations Greg & Haiying

What a fun wedding and a fun couple! I was happy the whole time I was working this wedding and my feet didn't turn numb like they always do at the end of the night! Crazy! I know!

Greg & Haiying met at swing dancing. Not only are they good dance partners, but they are great life partners. He is more serious and linear, and Haiying is more free-spirited and creative. The perfect match. Greg handled most of the planning which is quite unusual but a welcomed change for me. He and I are just as detailed oriented so we got along famously! I loved working on this wedding because they were up for doing something different and were a totally low maintenance couple.

Their ceremony was held at the Arlington Arts Center, a local art gallery that I've passed by a million times but never visited. What a cool space and rental rate is so affordable. The guests could visit the other galleries while waiting for the ceremony to start in the Tiffany Gallery (see photo below). It was a little tight for 100 seated guest. There were interesting spots for photos also. The reception was held at the Clarendon Ballroom, where Greg & Haiying have swing danced before. As usual, the food and staff were superb. Will Tynch and Bill Merkel from Orangeline Entertainment provided the sounds for the evening and kept the dance floor busy. Greg & Haiying surprised the guests with a traditional Chinese lion dance performance from the Wong Chinese Boxing Association. A lively and festive beginning to the party and the guests (and all of us working) were completely mesmerized! The lion dance with the drums and cymbals is meant to scare away bad spirits. Greg and Haiying danced a traditional waltz to Come Away with Me by Norah Jones (there are very few pieces of contemporary music in 3/4 time, and this song is perfect). They floated across the dance floor with such grace. Then later on, they surprised their guests one more time with a swing routine to Shake, Rattle & Roll! Jessica Christian, a new photographer to the DC area, was kept busy capturing all the great moments of the day. Here are some preview pictures at Jessica's blog.

Closeup of centerpieces provide by a family friend. Very bright and festive.


The Arlington Arts Center, site of the ceremony. We placed some colorful parasols in the front lawn. Guests had fun posing for pictures with them! :)

The Tiffany Gallery, appropriately named.

The Clarendon Ballroom - bright orange napkins livened up the tables. Some fun dance lighting provided by the DJ in the background.

The lion dance!!

Not into the traditional cake and cake cutting? Go with cupcakes instead and skip the cake cutting altogether. Note the orange tablecloths on the buffet table.

Tired of the traditional guestbook? Try a skateboard. Yes. A skateboard. We had the guests sign their names and leave a short message. Great idea!

The bride & groom in their swing dancing clothes with yours truly!

I just had so much fun with Greg & Haiying and am so honored that they chose me to be their wedding coordinator so that I could be a part of their special day. I hope they have a good time in California.

eaTip: If you are having a smaller number of guests (less than 100), consider having your ceremony at an art gallery, or even the reception, if allowed. The spaces are usually wide open and unobstructed. The gallery allows guests to check out local art while waiting. Do look into the existing lighting as the lights are typically pointed at art work and there might be some dark spots. Also, be sure to check on the sounds quality as the galleries tend to echo. Contact us and we can help you find the perfect venue!