By Elizabeth

     

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must-haves-on-your-online-wedding-registry-ykGwbvpiyslposJgjueJ.zip (149 KB)

So, we asked our friends at Koutali, an online store for all your kitchen and dining needs, to recommend a few items.  I'll bet our brides who are wracking their brains to think of registry items don't have these!

Stylish Swedish Herb Pots by Sagaform ($19.95 - $49.95)
I love this one.  The most economical way to cook with herbs is to grow them in one's own kitchen.  Having the convenience of fresh herbs combined with the contemporary design of this herb pot will brighten any kitchen and any dish.  I'll bet none of you thought to register for this one :)

Bamboo Serving Collection ($12.99-$34.99)
A tricky concern for many couples is to ensure an online wedding registry has a variety of items across the price spectrum so that all guests can participate.  I thought this collection was inexpensive, yet elegant, impressive, and utilitarian at the same time.  You cannot have enough serving bowls, and these have a natural look at great prices. 

Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven/Broiler ($325)
This convection toaster is multi-faceted.  I love how it can be a microwave and a toaster, making it easy to warm up  leftovers and toast bread.  It can even bake desserts.  Most importantly, it can do all of these things while saving counter space.

Joslyn from Koutali has a number of other recommendations for wedding registry gifts on their blog.  Koutali also offers wedding registry services, so you can easily sign up for all of these items. 

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb, a shopping site for wedding apparel, receives no form of compensation from this vendor.

By Shanna, edited by Jennifer

Winter weddings in the Bay Area are challenging because winter here is not white fluffy snow but soggy wet rain.  Our hidden gems that are both elegant and dry would include the following:

• Testarossa Winery in Los Gatos: Testarossa has a cozy location for a smaller event, and is very unique in its design.  The long entryway corridor is a beautiful location to stage an indoor ceremony.  With its curved stonework walls reminiscent of a fairytale castle, you won't see anything like it anywhere else in the bay.
• Thomas Fogarty Winery: With sweeping views of the entire Bay Area and a covered ceremony/reception area, Thomas Fogarty Winery is ideal for winter weddings.  The rain coming through the Bay Area in the winter often leaves the air clear, allowing guests breathtaking vistas from San Francisco to Mt. Hamilton.  And on non-rainy winter days, the low clouds coming over from the ocean give the location and ethereal feel.
• Silver Creek in San Jose: Silver Creek boasts beautiful views of the green hillsides, which in California in the winter time are especially vibrant, as well as perfectly manicured lawns and breathtaking landscaping.  The ballroom allows views of the outdoors from all angles for a indoor event that can still connect to the beauties of the outdoors.  The interior of the facility is grandiose and elegant, including a sweeping double staircase.
• Coyote Creek Country Club in San Jose: Coyote Creek is perfect for the more casual reception or even the rehearsal dinner.  Although their ceremony sites are outdoors, the Country Club would be perfect for the winter bride who prefers a church ceremony and a reception with views.
• We and Our Neighborhood Clubhouse in San Jose: The Clubhouse is an intimate, casual, craftsman style venue -- and a San Jose historical landmark --  perfect indoor venue for a bride on a budget that wants the freedom to pick her own caterers and make the venue her own.

Photo credit: Image of Thomas Fogarty Winery by naotakem

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb, a shopping site for wedding apparel, receives no form of compensation from this vendor.

By Elizabeth

       

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flipping-through-wedding-photography-portfolios-is-a-snap-BwkxEpreFIIIbjdwrpdk.zip (1289 KB)

How did you come up with the idea for SnapKnot? 

I’m recently married and a casualty of the challenging wedding planning process (well, not really a casualty, but you know what I mean :) ). In particular my wife Eunice and I learned that finding a photographer was very difficult, stressful, and time-consuming. We were fortunate to end up with Jim Kennedy, a very talented and well-known photographer in Orange County. We consider ourselves lucky.

(Reid's co-founder) Mike was looking for his next career move and I was looking to get involved in something new as well, so after a series of brainstorming sessions we came up with the idea for SnapKnot, inspired in large part by my negative experience. We thought there was a better way for couples to find wedding photographers.

When did you launch SnapKnot?

SnapKnot was officially launched in the middle of February 2010, however we started building our social media network around the 1st of this year.  We will have 1,000 wedding photographers listed on SnapKnot within the next few weeks, and our overall traffic has been steadily growing since launch.

There are a some fantastic portfolios on SnapKnot.  Reid shared some of his favorites with us (see above).

Photo credits: Douglas Levy, Scott McNamara, Kristen Weaver, Studio-EMP

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb, a search site for bridesmaids dresses, receives no form of compensation from this vendor.

By Elizabeth's mom, edited by Elizabeth

     

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DIY_beach_wedding_flowers_tags.zip (196 KB)

Elizabeth's mom had a lot of fun taking care of the flowers for Elizabeth's wedding.  This is the last article of the DIY flowers-series, where she'll discuss floral arrangements for a wedding aisle.  Prior articles are on DIY corsages and boutonnières as well as large floral arrangements.

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb, a search site for bridesmaids dresses, receives no form of compensation from Elizabeth's mom... except for the occasional care package of snacks sent to our office. 

By Sheena, edited by Elizabeth

           

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Wedding_reception_table_decora.zip (429 KB)

A wedding reception isn't a reception without a theme or beautiful table decorations.  We spoke with Sheena from Sheena's Events, an expert in wedding themes and wedding reception table decorations.  She discusses new trends, examples of wedding decorations at receptions, and what to consider when thinking about themes and wedding reception decoration ideas for your wedding. 

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb receives no form of compensation from this vendor.

What is an example of one of your favorite wedding reception table decorations you've done recently?

All of our events (and our clients) are unique in their own way.  However, every so often, a client has a vision that will always have a lasting impression.  I once worked with a bride who immediately introduced her groom as her "hero."  As we became more acquainted, I discovered that the bride's favorite fairytale was Alice in Wonderland.  I thought it would be great to somehow combine her two loves.  We decided on a “Superman meets Alice in Wonderland” theme. In typical fashion the wedding reflected 90% of the bride's wishes and 10% of the groom's, as he was represented by the superman cake topper.  Using white table cloths and 2-foot tall silver tea pots filled with flowers of different shades of peach, orange, and red as the centerpieces excited and thrilled the guests.  Each centerpiece sat on a bed of wheat grass to enhance the theme, which was based on the Tea Party scene from the Alice in Wonderland book.  By making the centerpieces our focus, we were able to transform the theme into something modern and chic with a whimsical twist.

What wedding reception table decorations are most popular now?

All clients are looking for that “Wow” factor.  They want their guests to be amazed by the visions they have had specially turned into a reality for their wedding day.  Although each client is different, most are asking for tall centerpieces and dramatic props to further enhance elegant and extravagant themes.

What kind of tables are brides choosing today?  Specific shapes?  Banquet tables for the bridal party? 

Sweetheart tables seem to be making a return.   Most couples are finding that this set up allows them to enjoy and cherish their special moment.  More recently, brides and grooms have allowed their wedding parties to sit at round tables with their respective dates.  

What table arrangements are popular and why?

The new trend is to have table arrangements that also can be used as favors.  Take home items like tulip bulbs, trinkets of origami, and clusters of candles with a creative design help to add that personal touch your guest will not forget.

How do you come up with your wedding reception decoration ideas, themes, and vision?  How do you work with brides to bring about a theme or vision that everyone will be happy with?

No wedding theme is possible without inspiration.  Our work is influenced by art museums, fashion shows, boutique hotels, nature, as well as other people.  Our team is always in search of new material for upcoming events.  Our process begins by presenting each bride with a series of pictures to help them articulate their visions.  One of our biggest hurdles is understanding each bride's vision.  A presentation of various photographs of different themes helps us understand what each bride is looking for, as well as enabling our brides to articulate their desired designs.    A large part of the process is learning to pick up on hints and behaviors from our clients that may help us in the design process.

Sheena is the founder and an event designer at Sheena's Events, a company based in Oakland, California.  In addition to many happily married couples, her list of well-known clients has included Macy's, HSBC, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Pixar, the Special Olympics, and many more. 

By Jenilee, edited by Elizabeth

                       

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Rehearsal_dinner_ideas_tags_re.zip (948 KB)

We are always on the lookout for unusual and special activities in the wedding world.  I recently ran into Jenilee Gerodias Slagle, who holds cooking parties as rehearsal dinners.  I just fell in love with the idea.  She discusses how the wedding party, families and close friends, come together to make good food and share good times together prior to the wedding.

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb receives no form of compensation from this vendor, though admittedly, I did try some of her desserts, and they were delicious.

Tell us about how you've held some of your cooking parties for rehearsal dinners in the past?  How does this work?

I usually hold parties in the clients' homes or rent a kitchen. These cooking parties are usually 3 hours long where I give an introduction to basic kitchen skills and talk about recipes for 30-40 minutes.  Then the client and his/her party will hands-on cook by following printed recipes I provide.  Lastly, they sample the dishes prepared.  There are a few different styles of cooking parties I hold:

•  Plated-style: I divide the party into 2 teams and cook two different 3-course menus (usually a protein, side and dessert.) Once they have everything cooked, I have a beautiful table arranged and serve everyone a plated and coursed dinner they made themselves.  An example French-inspired 4-course Menu:
  • Team 1: Potato Gratin, Filet Mignon with Bernaise Sauce, Molten Chocolate Cake
  • Team 2: Citrus Fennel Salad, Sole Meuniere (Fish in a Lemon Caper Sauce), Tea Cakes
• Tapas-style: I divide the party into pairs and assign a tapas style/ finger food recipe for each pair to cook.  I work with the hosts to find out what wines and cocktails will pair well with the food.  Here is a Spanish-inspired example:
  • Potato Croquestas, Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp), Bacon-wrapped Figs Stuffed with Blue Cheese, Flat Bread topped with White Anchovies, Preserved Lemon and Fennel, Paella Style Deep Fried Rice Balls.

Who attends/participates/cooks?

The client and his/her party will be cooking. The bride and her family might be on Team 1 and the groom and his family might be on Team 2 or sometimes I even mix families together.  I basically guide them through the recipes to make sure they all have something to eat at the end of the cooking party. I would also like to think that I can share a cooking tip or two.

What are some examples of themes you've done in the past at these parties?

Working with a theme is always fun -- I once organized a Moroccan theme party wherein everyone was in full Moroccan attire and even the client's home was decorated with beautiful Moroccan style fabrics and rugs. We made lamb tagine with apricots, vegetable couscous and baba au rhum, which is rum cake.  

Jenilee Gerodias Slagle is an independent chef based in the San Francisco Bay Area, who loves sharing her passion for food with others via her cooking courses, her catering, and her private chef services.  She previously worked at a Michelin-starred restaurants Le Chiberta and La Folie in Paris and San Francisco respectively and is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.  

By Therese, edited by Jennifer

While some of us are still experiencing rainy days here and there, it's time to think about summer. Today, Therese Jacinto, a floral and event designer for Therese Jacinto Design, discusses some summer flower inspirations for weddings.

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb receives no form of compensation from this vendor.

What are some beautiful summer flowers that you'd recommend for a summer wedding?

Summer is the season of choice for most couples who are planning a wedding. What’s great about this season is that it is the most vibrant – meaning when it comes to colors, almost anything goes! June is the classic wedding month so most brides opt for very romantic, light, and airy flowers. Peonies, hydrangeas, carnations, orchids, and roses come in beautiful soft colors that complement this look.  July brings about a thirst for the exotics. Common color schemes during this month are extremely bright and lively. Think yellow roses, hot pink and orange gerberas, and lime green orchids. The month of August brings about deeper tones of blues, purples, and pinks.

I recently executed an August wedding in a monochromatic blue and white color scheme. The bride and groom love the beach, but instead of literally creating a “beach” at their garden reception, I opted to carry a simple blue scheme inspired from the cool ocean waters. We combined blue and white hydrangeas, roses, delphinium, white calla lilies, and modern glass containers filled with wheatgrass to complete this look. The effect was refreshing and modern.  

Are there any flower trends that you're seeing for summer weddings?

Organic and sustainable flower arrangements and tablescapes are a big trend. The San Francisco Bay Area is very eco-conscious and we’re lucky to have a lot of local resources to tap into. Incorporating organic wheatgrass, succulent plants, fruits, vegetables, and reclaimed branches into floral arrangements is a great way to lend a natural feel to a wedding.
 
Are there uniquely Bay Area flowers that you'd recommend to local brides?

We have wild flowers like the California poppy and the yellow pansy which are gorgeous in the bright yellow and orange schemes. Forget-me-knots are beautiful and delicate, and also found around the area. They’re perfect for a more romantic look.

By Elizabeth's mom, edited by Jennifer

   

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Do_It_Yourself_Beach_Theme_Wed.zip (183 KB)

Elizabeth's mom had a lot of fun taking care of the flowers for Elizabeth's wedding. In addition to $5 corsages and boutonnières, she also made some large floral arrangements, which she discusses today.

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb receives no form of compensation from Elizabeth's mom... except for the occasional care package of snacks sent to our office. 

Because beaches often have no pews, arches, or other markers, I created two floral arrangements to mark the ceremonial area of Elizabeth's wedding.  The nature of flowers and foliage is such that "you can do no wrong," so don't be afraid to try your hand at floral arranging!  It's cheap and easy to do.  Estimated arrangement time: 5 minutes.

Theme and design tips

Based on your wedding setting, decide on the colors and "look" of the flowers you want for your floral arrangements.  Because Elizabeth’s wedding was at the beach, I wanted natural looking arrangements and if possible, with a tropical theme. I also kept in mind that the flowers needed to be pretty durable to withstand any wind and hot June weather.

Flower and foliage selection tips

Spring and summer brides will be blessed with wide variety of flowers. You can get flowers flown in from other areas. You can use flowers and foliage from your backyard. Or, buy and grow some plants in pots. However, because one can not be sure if the flowers will bloom when you need them, be sure to have a backup plan if you are growing flowers from seeds.  Enjoy perusing local floral outlets, farmers markets and garden stores to get ideas for flowers and colors.

Beach-themed wedding ceremony floral arrangements (DIY)

For the floral arrangements I made for Elizabeth's wedding ceremony, I bought the following for each arrangement:

• 1 24" clear large cylinder vase from Michaels ($15 per plastic or glass vase)
• 4 long ferns and a bundle of tall grass (all from my backyard). Any large greenery will do.
• 1 Bundle of tall weeping willows ($5 a bundle)
• 3 Bird of paradise ($5 for 3) sprigs
• 2 sprigs of orchids ($5 total for all the orchids, a great deal from a farmers market)

• Optional 1 large ceramic cylinder (I made this myself in a pottery class to add weight to the vases and hide the end of the plant stems, but by no means is taking up ceramics necessary!)

Steps:

1. Purchase/cut orchids and ferns up to 2 days before the wedding.  Purchase/cut all other plants/flowers up to 2 weeks before the wedding.  All other items can be bought at any time.
2. Put 7" of wet sand in the vase.  If you have a ceramic cylinder, place it in the glass vase on top of the sand.
3. Place a tied bundle of willows in the center of the ceramic cylinder if you have one or in the center of the vase.
4. Spread the ferns and grass evenly around the inside of the ceramic cylinder.
5. Insert the Bird of Paradise sprigs and "hang" the orchids in the front or the side of the vase.

That's it!

Note: having the ceramic cylinder prevented all plants and flowers from touching the wet sand, enabling them to remain fresh for a few days.

Photo credit: First photo taken by Audrey.

               

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Do_it_yourself_5_wedding_corsa.zip (571 KB)

In arranging your own flowers, you can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. In this post, I'll talk about how I designed and assembled 15 corsages/boutonnieres in under 15 minutes each. Note, because most of the assembly occurs 2 days before the wedding, you should definitely ask your friends/family for help.

1. Decide the colors of the corsage/boutonniere flowers.

• I used different colors for different guests, but most people would probably prefer to use the same colors, particularly if you are assembling boutonnieres for your groomsmen and ushers, so they all match.

2. After picking colors, decide what flowers will be available and will look great in these colors for your big day.

• Baby roses and carnations are available year round and are great flowers to use.
• I used roses with some sprigs of ferns and baby's breath for Elizabeth's wedding. (See photo #1, 2, 3)

3. Buy supplies.

• You can buy any of the following from a local crafts store or online. I bought most of my supplies from a Michaels' store.
• Corsage pins (often craft stores have a "wedding supply area" -- check there first). Buy 2 pins per corsage/boutonniere.
• Floral tape. Comes in white or green. You'll need 4ft per corsage/boutonniere.
• Florist wire, 20 gauge. Look in floral arrangement aisle or jewelry stringing area. You'll need 7 inches per corsage/boutonniere. (See photo #4)
• (Optional) Spools of ribbon. Decide on transparent or opaque, on color(s) and on width: they tend to come in 5/8 inch, 7/8 inch, 3/8 inch, ¼ inch. I chose blue and white ribbon. (See photo #5) I used about 3 feet of ribbon per boutonniere/corsage but you can probably get by with less. Because you'll be using the ribbon purely for decoration and not for any utility, you can also create corsages/boutonnieres without any ribbon. (See photo #2)

4. Optional -- start assembling your flower ribbon bunches -- can be done months in advance

• If you decide to use a ribbon bunch for each corsage/boutonniere (See photo #1), you'll need one ribbon bunch per corsage/boutonniere. You can make these in advance and set them aside until a couple days before your wedding. However, if you decide not to add a ribbon bunch, feel free to skip this step altogether.
• If you use two colors of ribbon like I did, e.g. blue ribbon, wider in width, with white ribbon, thinner in width. Place them on top of each other. Fold the ribbons back and forth. (See photo #6)
• Scrunch the ribbons at one end and coil the florist wire to secure the end. (See photo #7, #8)

5. Buy flowers locally -- ideally 2 days before the wedding

• I bought flowers (roses) from a local farmers market. You can also see if there are flower/plant outlets near where you live. For those of you who are in the San Francisco Bay Area, there are great places in San Francisco or Half Moon Bay. Costco can also be a good backup source for flowers. Check if a Costco near you gets their flowers daily or only on certain days.
• Also, buy some sprigs of fern leaves and baby's breath or other small flowers to complement your main flowers. (See photo #1)
• For a Saturday wedding, try to buy on Thursday.
• If possible, keep your flowers in a vase filled with water in a refrigerator.

6. Assemble the corsages/boutonnieres the day before the wedding

• (Optional) Find those ribbon bunches you made a while back.
• Use the free ends of the wire to anchor 1 fern leaf (or equivalent) and 2 flowers (I used baby rose buds) to the ribbon bunch in a pretty position.
• Wrap the floral tape around the end of the flower, fern and ribbon "arrangement". To do this, place the free end of the tape at the base of your arrangement. Wind and wrap the tape down the length of the floral stems, make a "U" around the tip to cover stems,tightly wrap in circular motion till you reach the base of arrangement. Tear off the floral tape, leaving a little extra of tape, and cover any exposed parts at the base with more tape.
• Stick two corsage pins to stem. Store the corsage/boutonniere in refrigerator, in a container with lid.

by Amy

       

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5_Hidden_Gems_Wedding_Location.zip (263 KB)

Amy Frugoli, a professional wedding consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area shares 5 hidden gem locations to hold a wedding.

Editor's disclosure: Shiny Orb, a search site for bridesmaids dresses, receives no form of compensation from this wedding vendor.

1) Holly Farms in Carmel
 
Tropical paradise right here in Carmel. If you are looking at making your wedding a weekend party with plenty pampering and privacy, this is it!  They only book one wedding per weekend, and it as sold as multiple day packages (from 2-6 days) You can have a group of up to 22 people stay on the property with you in your private retreat.  As a wedding consultant, I felt like I was in a completely different world once I stepped through the gate (into Holly Farms).  I could just imagine the wedding party and family enjoying meals, games and a complete bonding experience.

2) Oceano Hotel and Spa in Half Moon Bay
 
This place is welcoming and cozy. The staff couldn't be easier to work with, they have the most comfortable accommodations and everything else you need for your wedding experience. Ceremony, reception, spa, accommodations, shopping...what more could a bride want? I love the fact that it is close to the beach for some great photo opportunities as well.
 
3) Boulder Ridge Golf Club in San Jose
 
The view of the valley from this venue is stunning, and the staff at Boulder Ridge Golf Course is perfectly attentive to every detail.  They are almost done building a brand new wedding pavillion which will make this a premiere wedding venue for sure! Who knew it was hiding in South San Jose?
 
4) Long Branch Saloon and Farms in Half Moon Bay
 
This place is for a specific type of couple, the kind that likes to have FUN!  Here, you can have a theme-wedding complete with gold panning, casino packages, gunfights and more; this place has it all. I love how you can have an "anything goes" type of party and really get guests engaged in some unique activites.
 
5) Barone's in Pleasanton
 
This is a true little hidden gem! The owners of Barone's Resturant have put a lot of work into some major additions to this venue to be very wedding friendly. There is a ton of outdoor space for a large guest count as well as a smaller indoor space. It has a really comfortable neighborhood like feel to it, and the food is incredible!

Amy Frugoli is a professional wedding consultant and owner of Twitterpated Weddings based in San Jose, CA.  She sits on the national board of directors for the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants (ACPWC) and is also on the founding board of the Wish Upon A Wedding foundation, which grants weddings to couples who are terminally ill.