Song of the night is "marry me" by Train. Oh my gosh, Its beautiful. I have hit repeat now 6 times. If you haven't heard it yet, you must. A bride and groom of mine, Anna and Samuel (featured wedding coming soon...) just played this song as the Anna walked down the aisle. A friend of theirs played the acoustic guitar and was simply amazing. The night was perfect and this song complemented the beautiful ceremony.

"...You wear white and I'll wear out the words, I love you...and you're beautiful, and that the wait is over, and that love has finally shown her my way..." - Train

This month's featured wedding is Marissa and Donnie's wedding at The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon. This bride was a girl after my own heart...a planner! She was so ahead of the game and on top of everything; it was my dream come true. She took her time planning, and had fun; and you can clearly see it in her wedding.

I featured this wedding not only because I loved this bride and groom, but because of the details and personality of this wedding. Marissa spirit was bright and bubbly and you can see her personality all over the ballroom. To me, her wedding was all about the details that really made a difference in the feel of her wedding. This couple was smart; they watched their budget...but you would never know because she chose wisely on what she wanted to spend her money on.

The couple's wedding colors were pink, black and white and they did an excellent job of utilizing the color scheme. Typically you do not think to use black linens at a wedding, but by using the black linens as the base color to their tables, the pop colors of pink and white were really able to show their stuff. Marisa accented her tables with black square chargers which brought some shine and interest to the table. Her hot pink candy table favor boxes were shown off at each guests seat. We used the white napkins to our advantage and turned them into part of the table decor by folding them into a long rectangle and hanging over the edge of that table and under the charger. You don't always have to do the "norm" with the napkin, have fun with them. They are great, inexpensive, way to add more decor to your table. The centerpieces were done by www.theflowerhouse.com and brought in soft hues of pinks to the room. The magenta up lights were done by Northern Lights and showcased the pillars and chandeliers of the room and brought it to another level. The ladies that attended the wedding got to kick of their heels and enjoy pink, black, or white flip flops for dancing. Every detail was carefully thought out, fun, and full of the couples style.

A special thank you to www.candidmomentsweddings.com for allowing me to show off their awesome photos!

 

It is always pretty standard in a wedding to order your boutonnieres for your groom and his groomsmen from your florist in the same color scheme and style as your wedding centerpieces and floral décor. We often see calla’s with bear grass loops, orchids with berries, curly willow and the traditional rose… but what if we didn’t have a floral boutonniere? Gasp! I know it’s crazy to think about!

Ladies, I hate to break it to you, but not all guys like flowers (especially pink roses) so let’s celebrate that and let men be men! Grooms it is time that we color outside the lines and jazz up our boutonnieres to really reflect who you are as individuals and as a couple. Whenever a Sugar Rush Events coordinator works with a bride and groom we always do our best to pull out the personalities of our clients and show it off in their wedding. We want the linens, centerpieces, lighting and other décor to reflect what the couple is all about. Whether they are sporty, funky, artists, romantics, musicians, bohemian or whatever great trait their spirits pour forth – we want to see it in their wedding. A wedding should never be pulled from a magazine or from the latest post on a wedding site; it should reflect the inner most being of a couple.

I recently worked with florist Erin Rosenow of www.rosenowfloral.com and she stopped me dead in my tracts when I saw her pull out her box of boutonnieres for the groomsmen. Lined up on top of crisp white paper lay 6 mini vintage cameras, just waiting to be showed off on each mans tux. Yes, you read that correctly, and my generic description does it no justice, but trust me ladies it was fantastic! The groom was an avid photographer, so what better way to reflect his love of pictures than on his chest and over his heart. Erin Rosenow takes your hobbies, your vices, your passions and weekend loves and turns them into the most delicious boutonnieres. Rosenow floral creates every type of boutonniere from old fashioned birdcages and soft fabric flowers, to the bad boy motorcycle and rock n’ roll boutonniere. For the more traditional bride that is scoffing at this idea of non floral boutonnieres, yes, she even has silver spoons for you! She would never think to leave out those of you that are into gamming, cooking, sci-fi, boating and for the man that is the “forever bachelor” that finally got tied down…she even has one for you!

My challenge for all the couples that I design for, is to not be afraid of stepping outside of the “wedding norm”. Weddings are about celebrating! Celebrate your union, celebrate being individuals, celebrate your life and your loves in a way that no bride typically thinks about focusing on…celebrate your boutonniere!

This months featured vendor is Tinywater Photography. I first worked with Tinywater about a year ago and loved their spirit and attitude. So great to work with and truly easy going photographers.

Tinywater serves Napa, Sonoman and SF bay area. Tinywater
Photography is an on location, sought after, award winning, wedding
photographer specializing in artistic wedding, engagement, maternity,
baby, newborn, senior and portrait photography.  Each photograph is
uniquely avant garde. They are a little vintage, a little rock and
roll, a little punk and a little bohemian. 

Their style is avant garde, modern and offbeat. Their photographs are
known to be quirky, romantic and unique. Every session and
wedding is different and fun, their clients have a blast with them no
matter where they are photographing. Every photograph is a visual
masterpiece, a piece of art for your home. They mix fashion editorial
with a creative photojournalistic style for each wedding never
forgetting to push the boundaries and have fun.

Get to know Tinywater more by visiting their website at www.tinywater.com 

This month’s featured wedding is Rachel and Kevin. They were married at Wente Winery in 2009. I am featuring this couple for two reasons; the first because they took a chance with colors and design and it turned out stunning. The second, because not only did this couple make bold choices with their wedding but they are about to make a bold choice with their life as well...more to come on this later.

I first must start this article off with telling you about the start to Rachel's day...it was not the most ideal way to start off your wedding day. Rachel’s was given the wrong wedding dress and it did not fit. I hear you all gasping...I know, I did the same thing! I have never in my 12 years of planning had this happen. She picked up her dress, and they told her not to try it on to keep it clean, and so doing what they asked, she didn't and then on the day of her wedding she realized it did not fit. Let me tell you how amazing Rachel was, she was calm and kept it together. Rachel's focus was on marrying the love of her life, Kevin, and nothing would ruin that (please see my new article on the definition of weddings- this is Rachel and Kevin). We could not get a hold of the bridal shop, so I called our super hero for the day- Jamie's Bridal and they rushed out and came and saved the day and actually created a new back of the dress for Rachel! I must give 100% credit to Jamie's Bridal in Pleasanton for saving the wedding dress disaster.

I fell in love with working with Rachel and her mom. What amazing ladies they are! We had so much fun choosing linens, lighting and other decor. They were not afraid to go out and try something new. Rachel chose turquoise, orange, yellow and red as her colors (yes, I told you she was a bold bride!). She had a very modern and clean design to her wedding.

Her ceremony was simple - she allowed the beauty of Wente to provide most of the decor. Her aisle was adorned with red and yellow flower balls tied with turquoise ribbon and the grass was sprinkled with yellow and red rose petals. Her bridesmaids provided a remarkable pop color with yellow dresses, turquoise rings, and red necklaces. The main focus of the ceremony was the commitment to one another - plain and simply the most beautiful way to decorate any ceremony. At the end of the ceremony the bridal party, flower girls and ring bearer celebrated their marriage by wearing different colored sun glasses back down the aisle.

The reception tables were covered in satin turquoise linen with mahogany chivari chairs with white cushions. The soft yellow satin napkins were held in place with a bronze swirl napkin ring and an orchid placed through the center. There were three different centerpieces created by The Flower House in Livermore. The flowers were brilliant! They captured the essence of the wedding and provided great conversation pieces for the guests.

As the sun went down the orange, red and yellow lanterns that hung above the reception tables were casting a beautiful glow upon the guests. The red up lights created a fiery hue on Wente's tasting room. The lanterns on the cocktail tables came alive...it looked like a brand new event, which thrilled their guests.

Rachel and Kevin had special touches seen throughout the wedding night from the photo booth, to her custom orange and red cake, her scarf’s from Thailand and her fair trade chocolate favors. The couple’s personalities were evident throughout the night.

Now onto the most important aspect of this couple...their amazing souls. It is not often that you see a beautiful couple in this area that is just starting off their lives together that choose to move to Thailand to help rescue children that are being sold into prostitution. I labeled this article Bold and Beautiful not only for Rachel and Kevin’s wedding but for their hearts as well...bold and beautiful - because there is no on that I know who would uproot their comfortable Bay Area lives to rescue those in need that they do not even know. I know this isn't a light hearted topic, but it is so important and really touched my heart, and I hope it touches yours too.

Please visit their website www.thesoldproject.com to find out more and to donate. Again, I do not plan to use this blog as a forum, but being that I am a mom, it breaks...actually crushes my heart to see what is being done to innocent children. Please take a second to visit this site. Thank you to Rachel and Kevin for being bold and beautiful people that light this world…there are so few souls that walk this earth that are like you.

 

 

 

Have you ever really thought about what a wedding is? What does the actual word "wedding" mean? Maybe I am thinking too in depth because I am on the verge of having a baby any minute; but going back to the root of what a wedding really is all about has been on my mind. We are now in wedding season and time after time I see the focus of a wedding go off track. The whole experience I want to give my brides includes celebrating what they are about to embark on...not just the decor.

Weddings are defined as: "The act or instance of joining closely. The combinations or blending of two separate elements."

What an amazing definition if you really think about it...Weddings are not defined as an event where you spend money on diamonds, linens, lights and flowers....no, it's as plain, and simple and beautiful as the "instance of joining closely."

The number one mistake I see brides make on the week prior to the wedding and on the day of the wedding is worrying. Their stress levels rise (no matter how perfect we plan for everything), their minds race with "what if's" and they don't sit back, relax and enjoy this amazing ride they are about to embark on. Some brides worry so much, they miss out on the entire experience of love, family and friends all because they were worrying over minuscule details. It is so important for a bride and a groom to allow your vendors and your coordinators to do what they do best...plan a perfect wedding for you! You have to trust that you did your homework and chose the best vendors, and then allow us to do our job...because we want what is best for you, as much as you do! A couple must allow life to happen because after all - it's not about the place cards getting set up correctly, or the candy table display being perfect; its about "the instance of joining closely" with the one you love...

I wish all my beautiful brides the peace of knowing they will be taken care of on their wedding day. My hope is that they allow for the beauty and the definition of the word wedding to really take over and be the main focus of their special day. I pray that they will feel that "instance of joining closely" when they say "I Do" to the one they love....

I first met Maria Mrasek years ago when I was also just starting in the business. I spoke to her on the phone to talk more about her photography services and instantly felt a connection. Do you ever just meet someone and want to be best friends with them? Well, that person is Maria. She is laid back and relaxed. She has an outgoing personality and her spirit is alive…put all those amazing attributes together with some seriously outrageous photography skills and you have the complete package.  I have seen Maria grow so much over the years and love who she is becoming. 

Maria teamed up with her friend Robyn Kessler about 2 ½ years ago when they met at Bay Area Photographers and the next thing they knew they created  Verite’ Photography and WOW what a team these two ladies make.  

Robyn and Maria are the real life people behind Verité Photography, and these girls couldn't be more real. When a couple sits down with them, expecting to be sold on the merits of their photography, they're frequently surprised by the fact that instead, they quickly end up divulging their most embarrassing moments and laughing for hours about their "how we fell in love" story for hours. But the Verité gals wouldn't have it any other way, "It's so worth the investment in time. Spending a little extra effort getting to know our couples allows us to understand them that much more; there's a lot of things that can be faked in photography, but emotion is not one of them". Robyn and Maria believe wholeheartedly that you get amazing images not only by having super talented photographers like themselves (and they are so humble too!) but by creating a space that allows their clients to be themselves, and to feel comfortable showing that more vulnerable part of themselves.

The word Verite’ means truth and I feel that is exactly what you get with their pictures…total, utter, truth. You can see the love, the joy, the emotion in the eyes of their clients they are shooting. I sit and look at their pictures and I am in awe at the artistry. How they capture the emotion and moment like they do is beyond me…I encourage you all to visit www.veritephotography.com to check out their work, you won’t be disappointed.

ps- please click on the pictures above to enlarge them and to really enjoy their beauty.