Archive for the ‘Rave review’ Category

Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down for coffee with one of our favorite people, Becca Brendler, owner and lead designer for Petal Floral Design, who says she has “a favorite flower for every moment.”

With a background of both fashion and horticulture,  Becca brings an innovative and truly unique perspective to floral arranging that we just absolutely LOVE.  She describes her style as “organic, ethereal… rustic with a modern twist.”  She informed me that her favorite season for weddings in New England was autumn because of the amazing colors and textures available for inspiration.  For her, it is all about the details, about using new and interesting design details to customize her work with her clients’ personality and individual style in mind.  For instance, her latest clients are doing a classic black and white wedding.  But rather than merely using a plethora of white flowers (which she is- orchids, lilies, etc.) she is also incorporating pearls, feathers, and black velvet to add texture and really channel the feel of classic glamour.   And for the bride’s bouquet she will be creating a modern version of the cascading bouquet carried by the bride’s mother many years ago.

For Becca, floral design is in the family and so opening Petal Floral was, like her creations, completely organic.  Her grandmother, Sylvia, was always looked up to, a legendary personality known for being delicate, sensitive, but also strong and influential.  She was also a florist.

When I asked Becca why she loved weddings and working with couples so much, her response was simple: “I just love love and love stories.”  Her goal is to take that love story, on one of the biggest days of their lives, and to express that love through beautiful and breathtaking flowers.  And she does an absolutely amazing job!

For delicious favors, gifts, and holiday treats there is nothing like Sweet Lydia’s homemade s’mores! Without the campfire smoke from your usual s’more making experiences, these airy treats will melt only in your mouth (because they won’t last long in your hands).

The s’mores, s’more pretzels, and marshmallow are all fresh and delivered within just days. Paypal and GoogleCheckout allow you to shop now and have a delivery on your door within 2-5 days. Seasonal flavors this year are peppermint, raspberry, and caramel. Mmmm…

{  mr.+mrs. drew for sweet lydia’s }

Highlight: we’re talking custom – the items listed on her website are there to pique your interest and satisfy your immediate sweet tooth. Lydia is best known for making personal touches to anything ordered. So let her know if you want a special ribbon, label, colored chocolate drizzle, or (with a little notice) one-of-a-kind marshmallow flavor.

In keeping with this week’s build up to Small Business Saturday we have a gem for you – The Silken Thread is a boutique shop offering embroidered, personalized gifts and wedding accessories.

{  the silken thread }

With an array of ideas there are plenty of options from favors to bridesmaid gifts. One of my favorite items is the monogrammed umbrella – a cute accessory in the event it rains on your wedding day.

I met with The Silken Thread a few years ago when looking to monogram a Vera Bradley bag for a friend’s wedding. The thread and font selections were so extensive that I was able to find the right compliment the fabric design. The end result was absolutely perfect!

Highlight: Small and large orders are done quickly, and they are happy to embroider (when possible) items you purchase outside of their shop. Contact them for details – they are very helpful!

Cheers,
__Jessica

We love finding fabulous new items to share with you, and these invites are just that – super stunning! The details, textures, and embellishments offered by Allure Invitations will have guests anxious for your wedding.

From textured paper to metallic motifs, these invitations have plenty {of options} to offer. My visit with Mara of Allure Invitations opened doors to new stationers that I had never heard of but am now eager to design with!

{  person + killian }

Arabella Papers, just one of the stationery companies Mara works with, is in high demand this season for their beautifully embellished invitations. The pockets, rhinestones, textures, and color can be used throughout their samples for a truly customized invitation. With all the options I suggest working with a stationery expert to help keep your design process simple and cohesive. With Mara’s guidance I can’t wait to see what we come up with for my next photo shoot!

After seeing all she had to offer we chatted about stationery, trends, and a bit about her.

Q: What are a few things brides are looking for this year? What trends have seen and where you do hear about the latest styles?

POCKETS! are very in this year, as well blues and purples – fun vibrant colors – not the classic ecru. Rhinestones and embellishments are also very popular right now. I stay on top of trends by belonging to event planning associations. Twice a month I attend networking groups that provides education within the industry. Every year I attend the National Stationery Show in NYC that offers seminars about all of the upcoming trends and the latest and greatest out there.

{  person + killian }

Q: Do you have any tips to offer?

Make sure there is time for addressing the envelopes to your guests and stuffing the envelopes. I always leave at least 2 weeks for that process. And please don’t ever buy stamps in advance – you must take the entire suite to the post office and have it weighed. The price typically varies between .55 to over $1.50/ stamp, so ordering stamps in advance can turn out to be a very stressful situation we can avoid. Remember that square envelopes are more expensive to mail than a classic envelope.

Q: Tell me about Allure Invitations. What’s unique about Allure Invitations and the invitations you offer/create?

Allure Invitations, formerly Yours Truly, Mara, has been in business for over five years. Customer Service is our greatest quality – if a client can’t get to us, we will go to the client. Very often we run into town with 2 or 3 vendor books to help a bride create her unique and special invitation. We take a client’s budget very seriously and do not try to up sell the client. Planning a wedding can be very stressful financially and we want everyone to leave with the feeling that they got their moneys worth and feeling amazed about the first glance their friends and family will have into the big day. We have graphic designers on staff and can create anything imaginable – besides the invitations we also address the envelopes, create programs, menu cards, placecards, table numbers, napkins and hospitality bags for out of town guests.

• Planners Note: A stationery vendor who will address your envelopes is a fabulous find!
  

Q: When working with you, what is the process that couples should expect?

It is different for every bride. I always start with sitting down and talking about their wedding day and what it will look like, if they have any thoughts about what they want to do for the invitations. We make a timeline so the bride can see all of dates related to her invitations: when the invitations need to be ordered, mailed, and the RSVP date. Based on what we discuss, I show them manufacturer books in the appropriate price range and production time. If they don’t find something they love in all of the books, we start from scratch and actually create the image they have in mind. We offer over 20 different manufactures, so its typically easy to find what you love – but we also love the excitement of creating an invitation that is delivered in a silk box or with exquisite brooches and rhinestones.

Once the invitation is designed, I place the order and we receive and emailed proof to review the spelling, layout, and fonts. After the proof is approved, the production time can take between one week and five, based on the complexity of the order. I highly suggest a bride start looking 6 months before the wedding – that is plenty of time to allow the above steps to move smoothly and stress free.

Visit Allure Invitations online to schedule an appointment for invitations, save the dates, or stunning ceremony programs!

Cheers,
__Jessica

Hope you’re enjoying your Saturday morning! With coffee in hand let’s take a look at one fantastic venue just south of Boston…

At a recent wedding industry conference we discussed non-traditional wedding venues, and it reminded me that I have one last installment of the Roger Williams Park venues. We’ve featured the Casino and the Carousel so far, but of the three main wedding spaces in the park my favorite is the Botanical Garden.

Part III: Botanical Gardens

With ample parking and landscaped paths the journey to the Botanical Garden is a very pleasant experience. The majority of the structure is a glass greenhouse that offers a great view inside and out.

Several fountains dot the interior gardens – this one is inside the main door. Some of the fountains can be turned off and covered with flooring in order to increase the space for ceremony chairs. All of the potted plants are mobile and can be removed to create an aisle.

{  pranzi catering }

This is a sample of a ceremony in the entry space. The fountain has been covered and the plants moved to create an aisle. Looks great!

As you walk through the ceremony (or cocktail) space there is small hallway with bathrooms that separates the first greenhouse from the second, larger greenhouse. This is the first peek into the main event space.

The main event space is far larger than it appears. All of the small potted plans would be removed, leaving space for approximately 10 guest tables between the two fountains (one on each end) that you see here. For day time events there is a screen for the glass ceiling that can be drawn to reduce the direct sunlight.

And the entire facility is climate controlled – perfect for any time of year! Providence is a great town for a wedding, and this is just one of many gems to consider.

Let us know if we can help you find the perfect wedding venue in Providence, Boston, or beyond!

Cheers,
__Jessica

Ever wonder if mint green and pale pink really look good together? Or maybe you just aren’t sure if silver chiavari chairs will create the look you want. Boston’s best rental company, Rentals Unlimited, has a created Virtual Table Top to calm nerves and inspire your creative side.

{  virtual table top }

Here’s a preview of what we are working on this weekend. Keeping in mind that all computer monitors see colors differently, you still have a great idea of how things will look together. All of the Rentals Unlimited showroom is at your finger – including linens, china, flatware, glassware, and chairs!

Just a little something to distract you on Friday afternoon…. Have a great weekend!

Cheers,
__Jessica

Thanks to our fantastic, happily married clients we are proud to be WeddingWire Rated! If you haven’t utilized WeddingWire to research vendors, read reviews, or even find some wedding inspiration it is high time to sit down and take a look at what they have to offer.

Thinking that you need help with your wedding but unsure that a wedding planner will fit in your plans? Read our glowing reviews to learn more about the peace of mind we bring to our couples, then schedule a complimentary consultation.

If you haven’t already seen the photos that Tyra Bleek (of Tyra Bleek Photography) took last week for our photo shoot don’t worry, we’ve got some of her best work here.

After a fun afternoon in the Arnold Arboretum, Tyra and I sat down and chatted all things wedding and photography. She was kind enough to answer my questions, but best of all, she offered some of her work to share. There were lots of great ones, but here are my favorites.

Tell us a little bit about you and your company.
Let’s see… I am a small blond that loves the color turquoise. My birthday is in January. I love the rain the most when it stops. I love the first snow fall. I started taking pictures when I was twelve at summer camps. I used to sneak and take pictures of boys without them knowing, thus began my obsession with photography. I put myself through college by doing small wedding jobs throughout the summer breaks while working as a waitress at a local seafood restaurant. I very much enjoy the outdoors and loving taking walks with my husband.  It makes my heart happy when my clients love the way they look in my photos.

How would you describe your approach to photography?
I love candid shots. I embrace the photojournalistic techniques in my photography. I also enjoy the vintage and indie style of photography.

What about a photo shoot inspires you?
I love it when my models feel confident in themselves. I think the more they feel comfortable around me the more they are confident in themselves which makes for amazing photos. I also thrive off of the perfect lighting. I love pushing the limits when it comes to lighting and trying new things.

How did you get your start in wedding photography?
A friend asked me to be their photographer. It was a stressful first wedding but I loved the outcome.

If you could design a engagement session, where would you take the couple?
I would pack up my truck with vintage paraphernalia (couches, rugs, blankets, baskets, books, lamps) and set up a living room scene in the middle of a huge field or on the beach.

What’s the best lesson you have learned in your career?
To believe in myself, that I actually have a talent.

What advice do you have for brides/grooms?
There are some amazing photographers across America. If your budget permits it, fly your favorite photograph to you and enjoy the outcome.

What do you do for fun?
I love doing things outdoors. I love going on walks with my husband. I enjoy cooking, especially yummy treats. I love traveling.

What sets you apart from other photographers?
I think my personality. I am an outgoing, unintimidated lady who loves to have fun while working.

What blogs do you frequent?
Clayton Austin Love Stories (http://claytonaustinlovestories.com/blog/)
Sean Flanigan (http://seanflanigan.net/blog/)
Kaylee Eylander (a Seattle friend) (http://www.kayleeeylanderphotography.com/blog/)
and James Moes (http://blog.jamesmoes.com/)

What’s the best thing about weddings?
My favorite thing about weddings is how confident the bride, the groom, or even the moms and dads feels about themselves. They know they look beautiful and it shows in their photos. I enjoy it when others feel good about themselves.

What is your favorite memory from a wedding?
When I got my husband’s number at his sister’s wedding, for whom I was the photographer.

What would you do with $1 million dollars?
Travel the world with my husband. Fly family member their desired locations and enjoy their company.

and just because this one is too sweet…

It was a blast working with Tyra — I can’t tell you how many goofy-face photos were left on the editing room floor after our shoot because we were laughing when she was taking photos. I guess that’s why we took over 200  them of… she knew we’d get some great ones,  even with all of the “bloopers”.

We’re working on a concept shoot together – classic 1920′s style with a vintage feel. If you are interested in a “trash the dress” alternative, something that is fun with photos to enjoy afterwards, email me { jessica@aldenblairevents.com}.

Cheers,
__Jessica