your stop for daily snippets of uniquely curated wedding inspiration and expert advice
We just love when our clients teach us something. Our clients, Jennifer and Steve, had the coolest tradition at their wedding. Jennifer is from New Orleans so we subtly incorporated her roots throughout the wedding {with a palette of muted Mardi Gras colors: butter, sage, and lavender, we adorned the aisle with a Fleur-de-Lis rose pattern, and used the… read more »
Our knowledgeable friends at HerRoom are sharing some fantastic bits of knowledge today – how to choose bridal lingerie for your big day. An oft-overlooked bit of business that’s key to accentuating your dazzling wedding frock, dewy makeup, and hair that’s been perfectly coiffed, what you wear under your gown won’t be seen but will play… read more »
Happy Tuesday, lovelies! We’re quite thrilled to introduce our marvelous intern Katie to you on this spring afternoon. She’s been especially wonderful in our event prep and she’s happy to share some of her inspiration on le blog, too! Welcome, Katie! It seems everywhere you look mint is the color of 2013! This color is… read more »
‘Tis the season for sending out save the dates and wedding invitations in expecation of fun, guest-filled celebrations and writing out escort cards and place cards as wedding prep mode across the country is in full swing. The wonderfully talented and knowledgeable Erika Firm, stationery designer at Delphine and President of Chromatic & Co., shares some of her excellent… read more »
It’s Kentucky Derby week and, while we missed out on opening day of the races, yesterday we shared our festive Lemon Mint Derby Julep in honor. And what’s better than enjoying cocktails with decorating head pieces? Not much, if you ask us! If you’re celebrating the Kentucky Derby recreate those beautifully lush winner’s circle wreaths… read more »
Gosh, May is nearly here. We’re planning on surprising our neighborhood with fresh flowers on each doorstep for May Day – it’s one of those old traditions that we love. Kindness + flowers = a nostalgic way to honor spring! Speaking of blooms, spring is in the air and garden weddings are in full swing.… read more »
Laurin and Phil’s Maine wedding is oh-so delightful. They flew all the way from the UK to charming Maine to tie the knot in a sweet ceremony, complete with charming florals, a breathtaking setting and immersed in happiness. What we especially adore is that the underlying trend in their wedding is love. That dress! And… read more »
Happy Friday, friends! There was so much goodness on the web this week. In case you missed it, our friend Chris at Postcards and Pretties whipped up a delightful inspiration board || The Sweetest Occasion featured a very special party we planned and designed || and At First Blush & Co. had lots of loveliness… read more »
Oh, to live during the Roaring Twenties. Imagine living through World War I and entering a new era of speakeasy cafes, post-war bejeweled frocks and newly found riches, a flux of English-style manors being turned into magical Stateside castles and decadent styles newly emerged from a war-ravaged world… Mackenzie Marketing and PR always sends us the… read more »
Hello, lovelies! Was your weekend relaxing and rejuvenating? We’re tickled to unveil our brand new look on our Lifestyle blog. It’s been a labor of love, hand illustrations, water coloring, coding and more coding. We do hope you enjoy. If you haven’t met our Lifestyle blog, we’d love to introduce you! Hop on over and… read more »
Something about the spring months are so utterly magical. Cherry blossoms fluttering about in the warm air, birds chirping and flowers popping up through the mossy ground. Today’s inspiration shoot has spring! lovely! written all over it. We do hope you enjoy the fresh ideas as much as we do. Aleah is crushing on this near-Ikat table cloth pattern.… read more »
The talented and oh-so sweet Laurel McConnell sent over a dreamy, sunny engagement shoot we just had to share. The magic of Seattle is so evident in these images, from the glittering waterfront to the quintessential Seattle houseboats, we’re digging this shoot! Enjoy: …and that dress…and shoes! Laurel says: Kent and Emily’s travel-themed engagement session… read more »
Happiest April to you, lovelies! We’ve been extra busy bees traveling, working up a brand new spring-inspired design for this blog and our Lifestyle site, client work and prepping our new {old} 1920s home for spring and summer. Can you believe it’s that time to garden and mow the lawns? That also means we’re in… read more »
For last weekend’s sweet market-inspired wedding we crafted {and Nick built} to our hearts’ content. One of our projects was this fabric garland that adorned the metal staircase at Melrose Market Studios. It’s much bigger than shown and made a darling impact. Want to know how to make your own? It’s your lucky day! This… read more »
This weekend was one of those ah kind of weekends. After last weekend’s stunning {and labor-intensive} urban market wedding a few days to kick back was quite welcomed. We socialized with a dear college friend departing on a round-the-world adventure for at least a year, sipped on wine and some new favorite cheeses {Grand Margaux was… read more »
We’re always on the hunt for original and creative ways to add sweet touches to our weddings and parties and for fun finds to share with our clients. So you know we just loved today’s Buzz find when it came into our inbox: receive their own little piece of Italian countryside, along with a shipment… read more »
After this past weekend’s incredible urban cafe-inspired wedding we walked away with a total sense of joy, excitement for springtime weddings and a refreshed love of what we do. We also took lots of notes on the flow of the wedding, the overall guest experience based on observations and the ambiance and look, as we… read more »
Megan and Ian are one of our all-time favorite couples. Really. They just radiated happiness and fun and all of our meetings were approached with cheer and laughter. The result was a relaxed, beautiful and quite incredible Cape Cod-Inspired wedding at the historic and legendary Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego. Both from the East… read more »
Happy Valentine’s Day, lovelies! We’re so happy to share this sweet DIY treat from baker extraordinaire Ruth-Anne Ford. Thanks so much for sharing this goodness with us! Make your sweetheart a special cupcake with your initials carved on top for a special Valentine’s Day treat! The woodcut is made out of marzipan (almond paste +… read more »
Seattle Metropolitan Bride and Groom Magazine is one of our absolute favorite publications and we eagerly await each issue like it’s Christmas morning. The pages are over sized and feel so good to the touch, the layout is thoughtful and each issue so impeccably designed and crisp and clean. We were thrilled to design this ethereal seaside-meets-pastel… read more »
Good morning, friends! We’re tickled to share this project with you from our West Elm Spring Social event we hosted last night in Seattle. We not only got to play with paper flowers {so gorgeous and delicate!}, but we were challenged to put our own spin on the new delicious paper confections. We whipped up… read more »
A few weeks ago Aleah was invited to test out some gorgeous bejeweled sandals from Fibi and Clo and, while it’s not been the best sandal weather in January in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest, I tested them out around the house and am sold. They’re not only super cute and beachy {I could so see myself… read more »
Well, we’re on a roll with our wedding planning advice this week! Guess we’re in the spirit as we ramp up for a most busy season and guide each of our couples to creating experiences that are totally unique to them and their guests. Cocktail hour, or wedding happy hour, as we like to call… read more »
Goodness, we’re tickled to share today’s the buzz…post! If you haven’t happened upon the just-launched loveliness that is Cloud Parade, we hope after you read the scoop here you’ll head on over. You know we’re big proponents of making the wedding planning process easier, right? It’s what we do for our clients day in and… read more »
We’ve reached that delightful time of year when the holiday hubbub is behind us, yet we’re nestled into our cozy homes as the snow falls and the chilly temperatures hover. Spring is inching closer and couples are dreaming up cheery springtime celebrations, but still savoring winter. Today’s hitched feature is a wonderful cross between a… read more »
It’s long been a debate between many a newlywed-to-be whether or not to allow children at their wedding. Often times it’s not because kids aren’t liked or enjoyed, but a couple often wants their friends and family to kick back and enjoy themselves, sometimes sans kids. There’s a fine line as to how to approach… read more »
When we create winter weddings or parties for our clients, we focus on the season’s best to create a true experience. Whether it’s a romantic wedding nestled at an inn on the coast, at a rustic lodge in the snowy mountains or at a downtown loft, we run with the season’s bounty and our… read more »
If you didn’t notice, we’re thrilled! But if you did, we’re working on reinstating this month’s deleted blog posts and gorgeous real weddings we’ve been featuring as over the weekend our server had a big hiccup. They should be back soon! We’ll hope to tide you over with a charming and fairly simple project you… read more »
Glad to have you back, lovelies! Yesterday we poured our fellow wedding vendor hearts out with our first post of 2013 and shared some snippets of feedback our couples have recently given us on what makes them not want to book a wedding vendor {or artist, as you know we like to call them}. Today… read more »
As we’ve flipped the calendar to a fresh and shiny 2013, we have so many thoughts to share. Many ideas to share. We will strive to create {even} more. Love and laugh {even} more. To just give it a go. We hope you join us on this journey and let’s aim to make 2013 positively… read more »
Winter weddings are some of our favorites as we get to dream up and bring to life utterly cozy atmospheres and inspire our couples to think in a perhaps a more magical light. Elements like sparkling branches, glittering cocktails, warm plaid blankets and roaring fires come to mind on chilly winter evenings when the crisp sun… read more »
There’s something so magical about a color story that speaks to vibrant tones, jewel-toned hues and burst of happiness. We adore this Cleopatra-Inspired wedding sent to us by our friends at Mackenzie Marketing as it jumps out as an utterly joyous celebration. The combination of plum and fiery orange, dashing turquoise and peacock hues is… read more »
We know. The holidays are here and it’s a flurry of excitement, social calendars and mistletoe. As it is engagement season we also know the holidays can sometimes overtake your wedding planning. So with our couples we aim to take a break during the season, or at least focus on smaller elements that they can… read more »
What to buy the couple that has everything You know the scenario. Your friends are getting married and you’ve chosen your outfit, found the reception address and charged your camera batteries in preparation. What else is there to do? The wedding present. They’re a modern couple and have decided not to provide a list of… read more »
We’re so knee deep in wintry wonderful…oh, the holiday season in all its festive goodness! Full prep mode for some dazzling winter weddings has also begun {they’ve quickly become our favorites with recent touches and elements we’re incorporating!}….We spend Friday tooling around Seattle with clients {in the absolute pouring rain; it couldn’t have been more idyllic} visiting… read more »
A gorgeous sunny day. A stunning couple and a grinning wedding party. Oh, did we mention the splendiferous display of run-your-finger-through-the-frosting cakes? Yes, and a beautiful winery….okay, you get our drift. Today’s wedding is totally lovely. It makes us smile and the photography is so timeless. Enjoy! From Phrene Exquisite Photography: Zach and Mary has… read more »
Your wedding day. One of the most important days in your life. A day where all eyes are on you. While the process leading up to a wedding is one full of emotions, excitement and lots of planning down to the littlest details and logistical elements, it’s easy for a wedding day to rush by… read more »
‘Tis the season. You know, the season of savoring everything rustic and cozy and oh-so fun festivities. Today we’re sharing some of our favorite rustic picks for unique groomsmen gifts from Groomstop that are perfect for this season of warmth. Whether you’re picking out that perfect gift for stocking stuffers, to stow under the tree… read more »
Happiest week of Thanksgiving to you all! We are ever-so-grateful for your readership, friendship and inspiration and we thank you for making what we do such a joy. We will return with some excellent wedding and holiday eye candy post-Thanksgiving as we take this week to relax, celebrate and enjoy our loved ones. If you’re looking… read more »
Happy Friday, friends! What do you have in store for the weekend? As we hurry off with errands, travel and client meetings before the Thanksgiving hubbub begins we wanted to take a moment to thank some most wonderful and supportive wedding pals. While there are just too many to name, these friends always lend their supportive,… read more »
Every so often a wedding comes along that’s oh-so classic and timeless. Today’s wedding is just that: it’s airy and clean. Lovely and crisp. We adore the happy couple and the fun radiating from these images. Just wait until you see the tulips….. From Adam + Alli Photography: Have you ever meet a couple that… read more »
Finding the one, okay, the second one, is often times a difficult feat. Your wedding venue is truly what your wedding framework is built on and, while some venues have sweeping views, gorgeous decor, blank canvas walls, or an amazing location, there almost always seems to be a con for each pro. When we’re touring… read more »
Goodness, have we got a vibrant and oh-so whimsical post to share today! As the days are growing darker and crisper and many of the last golden leaves have drifed off of the trees, doses of cheery color and magic are totally welcomed. Topsy-turvy cakes, candy galore, enchanting details and a beautiful couple meld together so… read more »
Sometimes the simplest details make the most impact, don’t you think? When we’re planning and plotting soirées and weddings we often look to the little things. The sweet touches to round out a design. How simple, yet charming is this herbed escort card display we created? Each table was named after an herb and the… read more »
We’re always smitten with creative ideas for weddings and parties and, as you’ll see in today’s inspiration shoot, we’re loving the creative uses of metallic tones against an industrial setting. Who would have guessed that you could use metal electrical outlet boxes in such a funky fashion? Credits: Photography: Siegel Thurston Photography | Video: Classic… read more »
We love when we get to dream up fresh designs and bring them to life with our amazing friendors {you know, vendors who are so awesome they become friends}. We strive to brainstorm an idea and then let a talented team bring their own ideas to the table with their dash of panache and expertise.… read more »
Boy, have we got some magical inspiration to share with you today! Sent to us by our friends at Mackenzie PR, there are so many striking ideas, gorgeous imagery and delicious elements to enjoy, all inspired by wood nymphs and their mysterious nature. We thought this inspiration shoot was rather fitting to share right before… read more »
This weekend was the perfect illustration of what we enjoy about fall. A windy Friday night spent with family and friends eating at a cozy restaurant while the wind whipped outside. A Saturday spent with clients enjoying the natural inspiration that is fall. A Sunday spent seeing Wicked {it was beyond amazing!}, and traveling over… read more »
Dreaming up the perfect menu for your wedding or party should be an experience in itself. We just love when our clients get as excited about creating their own restaurants, of sorts, for their guests, as we do. With endless possibilities for creativity, delicious foods and drinks and local flair, the dining element should truly be an experience… read more »
Goodness, today’s farm wedding is brimming with eclectic loveliness. We always love a sweet wedding story and sharing images that truly capture a wedding day so well. Those that transport us to that barn, field or church where a couple is exchanging vows. Today’s wedding story definitely does just that and, the reception is going down… read more »
Whenever we utter the words wedding guest list to our clients they often shudder with fear and stress overcomes them. Why? Perhaps it’s because their guest list is continually growing. Moms and dads add to the list, long lost cousins come out of the woodwork. Or it may be because the thought of juggling 300… read more »
Today we’ve got quite the stunning wedding to share. There’s something so rich and charming about autumn weddings, especially when they’re infused with such personal touches and timeless elements. Add a magical fairy tale castle nestled amongst ivy, complete with a moat and pumpkins and it’s this bride’s dream come true.From the bride: My dress… read more »
Oh, we’re diving into this most blustery day with a darling little shoot and free printable from our talented friend Sofia at Branco Prata. Whenever Sofia sends over goodness all the way from Portugal we know we’re in for a treat. Today she whipped up some delightful printables and eye candy. Just for you. Gold… read more »
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of NECTRESSE™Sweetener for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine. You know us. We're always on the lookout for deliciously simple ideas for entertaining, new finds to add to our recipes and splendid picks to share with you. So we jumped at the change to try… read more »
The rain began to fall in Western Washington this weekend and, while we enjoyed every ounce of coziness, we’re daydreaming just a bit of springtime and all that brings: fresh blooms, outdoor gatherings and delightful weddings…..so today’s Virginia wedding is the perfect anecdote to our spring fever. Enjoy! From Marie Stills Photography: Lisa and Jon’s… read more »
Friday has arrived and the rain is slated to fall. We couldn’t be happier as it’s been months and months since we’ve felt the rain. It didn’t quite feel like fall without it! Needless to say, a busy weekend is in front of us, including polishing up planning and plotting ideas for a number of… read more »
Nothing says lovely quite like a well-dressed table at a wedding, and we’ve been sharing our tips all week for dressing your wedding table properly. We’ve shared that less is often more, that not all elements are needed and that mixing and matching neutral tones can be key. Today we’re chatting about flowers as they… read more »
Our Etiquette Week is rolling on and today we’re dishing on playing with mixed-and-matched plates and chargers. Yesterday we told you how to dress a place setting with utensils {less is more!} – paired with a lovely neutral palette a combination of charming silverware and sweet plates, a table will be utterly stunning. 1. a… read more »
Happy Monday, lovelies! We’re starting this week off overjoyed as Aleah’s brother proposed to his amazing girlfriend at brunch overlooking Puget Sound and Seattle yesterday — she said yes! We were honored to be there to celebrate and got to capture it on film, too! Needless to say, our minds are a flurry of wedding fun!… read more »
It’s Friday and therefore it’s reason to celebrate, right? We’re kicking off a new series on Valley & Co. | Weddings we do hope you’ll enjoy. Each Friday we’ll share some cocktails and stories from our events, along with tips suited for planning your own festive bash. As we roll out this series we’re kicking… read more »
Happiest Thursday to you! As Aleah sits knee-deep in ruffled ideas, pastel hues and photos galore prepping to write copy for an upcoming magazine piece, she’s smitten with the sweet little details. So we’re sharing an extension of our Festive Glittering Clothespin project we shared earlier this week to turn this idea into a dazzling… read more »
Fall has settled in and we’re knee-deep in brainstorming charming ways to celebrate the season for our clients and their festive bashes. We wanted to share a handful of our very own favorite fall-esque DIY projects perfect for wedding favors or party gifts. Which project would you bring to life at your wedding? 1. Our glittering clothespin project… read more »
Alas, Monday has arrived once again. Our weekend was splendidly relaxing, which is not only rare, but welcomed! We enjoyed family, the crispness in the air, dreamed up whimsical fall ideas for our clients and events and also looked ahead to 2013. You know us, we’re always a few months ahead for our client events and… read more »
Happy, Happy Friday! This week sure flew by in a tizzy of crisp air and ever-changing golden leaves! Needless to say, we’re excited to kick back and soak up autumn this weekend {one of our first event-free weekends in a very long time!}. Perhaps we’ll sip some sparkling cider, take a long stroll and daydream… read more »
Happy Wednesday, lovely readers! We’ve missed you as we’ve spent the past week transitioning into fall and wrapping that incredible dinner in a field bash {here’s a sneak peek}, but it feels wonderful to be back and sharing this lovely lavender wedding with you….here’s our sneak peek from the weekend: From Ashley Therese Photography: both… read more »
We’re so smitten with Paloma’s Nest. Not only is designer Caroline incredibly talented, but she’s wonderfully sweet and her artistry and attention to deal have had us as fans for quite some time. We always jump at the chance to gift her goodies and, like today, style sentimental pieces sure to become instant classics. This… read more »
Today’s Tampa engagement shoot was sent our way from Marissa Moss Photography and it’s nothing short of positively sweet. There’s something so refreshing and charming about a timeless engagement shoot where gorgeous photography and the love between a couple takes center stage….enjoy!Just beautiful! Venue: University of Tampa Thank you to Marissa for sending this loveliness our… read more »
Carolyn and Josh’s Pacific Beach, San Diego wedding was just too much fun to bring to life. We spent a good year working closely with them and their families to bring to life their vision of an effortlessly classic beach side wedding for their guests, most all from Oklahoma. One of our favorite venues, Tower 23,… read more »
Happy Friday! We’ll welcome the weekend with a bit of sweetness: our bride Carolyn’s stunning vintage brooch bouquet made by Ritzy Rose {who also made Miranda Lambert’s wedding bouquet}. Isn’t it incredible! Carolyn and friends and family scoured flea markets for the perfect nautical-inspired brooches that Ritzy Rose whipped up into this heirloom bouquet. Not only… read more »
Hooray! Carolyn and Josh’s Pacific Beach wedding is featured on Style Me Pretty | California today so we’re excited to share our Part I post – their welcome S’mores beach bonfire! As all of their guests were traveling from across the country, Carolyn and Josh wanted to offer a unique experience for their post-rehearsal event,… read more »
Sweet and subtle touches are all the rage….well, in our book they’ve always been important to polishing the look of our well-hatched events, so when fall comes around our minds swirl with the perfect finishing touch ideas. For a series of mini shoots we created with Grand Floral and Bryan Miller Photography we let Robin… read more »
It’s Monday! While it is a holiday {happiest holiday to you} we’re happy to share today’s Monday Coffee post as it’s been a while! Amidst the month of near-craziness August was with amazing events, a West Coast trek and lots of travel, we’re ecstatic to be sitting sipping on piping hot coffee penning this post overlooking… read more »
The Rendezvous boutique hotel in St. Lucia sounds like the absolute perfect getaway. We’re always on the hunt for unique venues, both for weddings and events for our clients but also for some r + r and an atmosphere that allows for the perfect concoction of culture, beautiful surroundings, culinary arts and deep breaths. A… read more »
Ooh, today’s wedding is so lovely! Aleah can’t get enough of the stunning peach and slate color story, the gorgeous couple and the handmade touches throughout. We not only love to share sweet stories of couples in love, but the images that support such a special moment in time. Colleen and Luke’s celebration is exceptionally special.… read more »
Fall is upon us and we’re getting into the spirit with our clients and our fall events {remember that amazing dinner in a field island party we’re planning?} by plotting subtle ways to tie in the season. We like to focus on understated autumn colors and elements like cinnamon sticks, leaves and fresh local bounty.… read more »
Ah. Our weekend in Bellingham was gorgeous. Family fun was had and local favorite treats were enjoyed. Sunny weather graced us at Saturday’s seaside wedding but the crisp fall air made its presence known. We’re enjoying every minute of late summer and seasonal elements – and dreamy color palettes and textures as we prep for autumn.… read more »
Another week has come and gone. Today we’re knee-deep in creamy garden roses and purple-toned dahlias and Italian ruscus as we prep for a very sweet wedding. After our marathon that was August and some amazing events, we’re looking forward to Nick’s little brother tying the knot tomorrow overlooking the ocean in Bellingham, followed by… read more »
Whenever we team up with Robin from Grand Floral the results are magic. Today’s bouquet inspiration is no exception. We styled a number of fall-inspired mini shoots and let Robin go to town with stunning bouquets that express color combinations in a beautiful way. This peach and purple bouquet is sweet and stylish and warm,… read more »
Happiest Monday! For those of you who were following our sneak peeks of the weekend’s mega wedding, it was stunning and just amazing. We can’t wait to share more images - from the band to the Northwest raw seafood bar, to the incredible floating floral mounds in the pool and everything in between, it was marvelous!… read more »
Autumn is inching closer and we couldn’t be happier. We just can’t get enough of fall weddings and parties and are prepping for some lovely ones as there is something so warm and cozy about gatherings held on crisper days. Color tones of fiery oranges, turning leaves kissed with deep burgundy, shades of yellows, elements… read more »
Good morning and Happy Monday! How was the weekend? We’ve had a whirlwind weekend – last night’s Hotel Del Coronado wedding was just amazing – and we’re en route trekking up the West Coast {1,200 miles, here we come!} with another stunner of a wedding in a few days. So today we’re leaving you with a… read more »
Who doesn’t love a good cocktail at a wedding? When you’re crafting your cocktail menu offer staples {anything a bartender can mix for guests} but also offer a seasonal sip that ties into your theme. We always tell our clients to taste, taste, taste before finalizing the cocktail menu – you’d be surprised at how… read more »
Confetti is one of those things that brings out the kid in us all. It makes birthday parties sweeter. Wedding ceremonies whimsical. Love letters and birthday cards fun. The beauty about confetti is that you can make it yourself and put a sweet stamp on it and personalize it no matter the occasion. Confetti is… read more »
Friday. Another week has come and gone. We hope this past week treated you extra wonderfully. Any fun on the schedule for the weekend? We’re in the mindset of finishing touches for our August weddings and events, as Nick preps to finalize several handcrafted elements, Aleah polishes painted goodies and we finish up the look… read more »
The Dog Days of summer are officially here and, while August is going to be just a wee bit crazy {in the best possible way}, we’re excited to savor every warm day, special moment and time with our friends and family. We’re loving today’s Southern-Inspired inspiration shoot sent to us by ElliBell Creative as it… read more »
We’re always happy when Monday rolls around because it usually means we spill the beans in our Monday Coffee series and share our planning tips with you. Today we’re dishing on Seattle-area events with a post that we penned for the new WedCoupon blog. Seattle-area weddings are some of the most beautiful around as they… read more »
Ooh, today you’re in for quite a sweet treat. You know how much we love weddings that are timeless, right? Today’s wedding is no exception. And as we step back and celebrate our own wedding anniversary today {relaxation, bubbly and decadent cake are in order!} we can appreciate looking back on the years fondly. Remie… read more »
Dare we say it on this summery Tuesday? Okay…fall is upon us. While it’s still officially a few months out, we’ve been knee-deep in dreaming up crisper and cozier autumn-inspire ideas for our columns and weddings and parties for quite some time. It’s funny to always be a step or two ahead when it comes to… read more »
Monday has arrived, yet again. How was your weekend? Ours was remarkably refreshing, despite being rather packed with creative client projects, calls, event prep, and the like. We can’t wait to share snippets of what we’re currently working on: think dreamy, lush garden details, lots of funky handmade elements, ultra delicious foodie ideas for 2013 weddings… read more »
Happiest Friday to you! We hope your week has been splendid. This week has flown by in yet another flurry of fun event prep, projects, new consulting opportunities, and all sorts of goodness. We’ve also managed to slow down and enjoy the ride and the moments of summer we love so much…as we head into… read more »
Happiest Thursday! We’re sharing an article we wrote for OneWed last week as we feel it’s a very important read when planning a wedding {or when hosting any type of social event}. We know that your wedding is a celebration of you as a couple, but it’s also about celebrating your friends and family… read more »
Tuesday has arrived, yet again! As we’re knee-deep in another wonderfully busy week, we’re reflecting back on what a summer it’s been already. How is summer flying by so quickly? We’re already longing to regain some of the late evening sunlight, days spent on the sand and breezy afternoons. We’re in the thick of polishing some… read more »
Happy Friday, lovelies! We hope you’ve enjoyed a fun week and our delicious posts {how about that decadent French dessert story?}. Today we’re bringing you a giveaway from our marvelous sponsors Blooms by the Box. Good luck! How to Win: 1. Create a collage of DIY wedding flower inspiration and send it to use in… read more »
On so many occasions we work closely with our grooms on peppering in touches of them and their friends into a groom’s lounge. What is a groom’s lounge, you may ask? It’s a space we create at their wedding where the gents, and some ladies, can grab a glass of whiskey or a cigar or sample… read more »
We’re big suckers for desserts and, as a delicious part of our job, we get to taste a lot of desserts with our clients to help them select items that are not only lovely and tasty but aesthetically sweet and mean something to our couples. We’ve had couples give a baker Grandma’s carrot cake recipe… read more »
We’re knee-deep in plotting and planning not only wedding celebrations for our couples, but the events that accompany them. For summertime we’re seeing a number of pre- and post-wedding activities designed to maximize the wedding experience for our couples and their families and friends. So when we penned our etiquette article for the new issue of Eco-Beautiful Weddings… read more »
How was your weekend? Splendid, we hope! Ours was filled with an abundance of wedding goodness…we can’t wait to share all that we’ve been up to! Speaking of, today’s real wedding is one of our own – our beyond sweet couple Erin and Brandon tied the knot in May in a gorgeous ceremony at La… read more »
How was your 4th of July, lovelies? Ours was quite nice and relaxing, complete with delicious nostalgic food and a fireworks show from the cliffs in La Jolla. We’re so excited for a festive July to continue as we fine-tune some of our marvelous summer weddings and get to work on lots of 2013 wedding… read more »
Happy Monday! Kicking off a festive holiday week is always fun, especially when it’s with gorgeousness like today’s post! We planned and designed this stunning Seattle wedding with one vision in mind: regal opulence. Our clients initially wanted a Rat Pack-era feeling at their wedding, complete with a supper club feeling, a jazzy band and… read more »
I attended my friend’s wedding recently and, for once, managed finding my ideal dress really easily. Her color theme was blue and silver and I wanted to look stylish and classy but obviously didn’t want to get anything too outlandish that would detract spotlight away from my friend. I quickly found myself one fabulous pale… read more »
Summer is in full swing and the smell of the salty sea has us perfectly smitten. We’re buttoning up all of our summer weddings too, which makes for some excellent projects and creative brainstorming. What’s so fantastic is the variety of our couples and their styles; it sure makes our jobs interesting and challenging! We’re working… read more »
Ooh, goodness have we got an incredible shoot for you today! While we’re up to lots of excitement this week, we’re diving right into this post and saving the chit chat for tomorrow’s post! Inspired by opening day at Grand Del Mar here in San Diego, this shoot, sent to us by Mackenzie Marketing &… read more »
Monday has come again. How was your first weekend of summer? Ours was travel-filled {no surprise there}, but it was just splendid. We soaked up the rays out at Hotel Del Coronado as we scoped out the beach for an upcoming wedding. The sand was perfectly white and warm and the waves gently splashed the… read more »
Happy Monday! Was your weekend wonderful? We’re gearing up for some fun client meetings, summer site visits and goodness this week and, in plotting the above, thought about sharing our two cents on the highly-debated first look moment. We’ll fill you in: more and more these days we see couples planning their big reveal, that moment… read more »
Summer weddings mean endless fun and sweet treats. There’s a sense of nostalgia and magic that a popsicle or S’mores brings. We both have the best memories of summer magic spending countless nights under the stars on the beach just relaxing with family and friends laughing and nibbling on summer sweets. There are so many… read more »
Happy Thursday, friends! Hoping your week has been splendid thus far. Oh gosh, we’ll jump right in. We are so excited to tell you a bit about our newest endeavor and hope that it relates to you! We have been working on this vision for quite some time and we’re so excited for what’s next.… read more »
There’s an oft-overlooked element to a wedding that is oh-so important: the getaway! Why not leave your celebration as stylishly as you entered? We love a good au revoir moment {think sparklers, fireworks, confetti and the like} and the transportation should be just as magical as your celebration itself. Our SoCal couple Katie and Brad wanted just… read more »
While we’re smitten with traditional wedding cake, summer weddings just cry out for a rustic, effortless dessert that’s nostalgic and dreamy. Pies are a favorite of ours to serve at weddings as you really can get creative with flavors, styles and presentations. Think: lattice-topped pies, mini pies, crumbled tops and ornate monograms or pie crust embellishments.… read more »
Oh, how we love today’s wedding. What we especially love are the portraits as they’re so sunny and happy and just radiate joy. After all, that’s what makes weddings so sweet, right? We hope you enjoy this just as much as we do. What else do you have planned for the weekend? Before we officially… read more »
Cheers! Hooray! Bravo! Yay! There are so many joyous terms that come to mind when a happy couple says I Do and formally ties the knot. We’re big fans of surprising your guests and making your formal moment into newlywedded bliss as fun as possible. Why not elevate the creativity and good cheer and present… read more »
Opportunity. According to ThinkSplendid, this year 1 in 3 couples is utilizing Pinterest. What does that mean for your creative business? It means you have a tool in front of you that you should be utilizing to showcase your style, aesthetic, ideas and finished work to key players that you want to connect with: editors, publishers… read more »
Happy Monday, lovelies! While we’ve taken the day away for Aleah’s birthday, we just couldn’t leave you without a celebratory cocktail, now could we? As seen our our daily Lifestyle blog, today’s cocktail is refreshing and perfectly summer. We hope you enjoy and toast to today! Cheers! The lovely ladies of RUE Magazine invited us… read more »
Friday has arrived in a flurry of goodness. Oh, short holiday weeks. We’re prepping for another wonderfully fun weekend to celebrate Aleah’s birthday on Monday! Break out the bubbly! There’s something so relaxing about enjoying a June birthday al fresco and taking in the scents and feeling of summertime…but before we bid you adieu for… read more »
Okay. We have quite the delicious morsel of a shoot to share today. But first, we’ve got some important business to share. It’s Aleah’s younger brother’s birthday and, while we’ll rub in the birthday wishes all day, we’re spreading the love and sending him wonderful birthday wishes on the blogs, too! Thank you, Evan, for… read more »
Oh, sweet readers. How was the long weekend? Long enough? Ours was positively, magnificently wonderful! Needless to say, we’re back at it this week ramping up for some marvelous events, magazine shoots and fantastic client work that we’re just so exicted for. After all, that’s what it’s all about! So to kick off the post-holiday… read more »
The following post was brought to you by 77 Diamonds Planning your wedding is an extremely busy, stressful and demanding undertaking that takes lots of time and careful planning. Even if you are having a smaller wedding, you will likely be shocked at the number of little details you have to address throughout the planning… read more »
We are so close to the holiday weekend and lots of fun is in store. We’re kicking off the unofficial start to summer by doing a whole lot of relaxing {mixed, of course, with client brainstorming and projects}. But first, our friends at Isari Flower Studio are sharing a fantastic how-to perfect for summer weddings and… read more »
Happy nearly-Memorial Day, sweet friends! We are so excited to have our dear friend and registry whiz {seriously, she is the expert}, Amanda Allen, of NewlyWish dishing her favorite picks for summer. We’re also dishing up a perfect Memorial weekend recipe on the NewlyWish blog! Without further adieu… Hello Everyone and Happy Memorial Day Weekend! We… read more »
It’s rather amazing what a coat of spray paint can do. It can transform an ordinary red brick into a shimmery copper anchor on a table or as a drink menu atop a funky bar for a summertime party. For a darling La Valencia wedding in La Jolla a couple of weeks ago we had the idea to… read more »
Planning your actual wedding ceremony sometimes gets pushed aside {we see this with our clients often} as the details and the celebration aspect can take over the planning process. But isn’t this what a wedding is truly about? The celebration is a huge element {and something we love}, but the sweet moment of making it official shouldn’t… read more »
Happy Post-Mothers’ Day, sweet readers. Did you have a lovely weekend? You know we love getting to share sweet bits of wedding goodness that speak to all varieties of couples, styles of weddings, formalities and visions, and today’s wedding fits that bill perfectly. Sent to us by our pals at Limelife Photography, this gorgeous Mexican destination wedding… read more »
Ah, it feels so good to be back! We took just a few days off from blogging + client work to enjoy some island time back home with family in Washington and to prep for a very special dinner event in a field {one long table family-style for 70!} in September. Boy, was it wonderful. Most… read more »
Happy Monday, all! Hope your week has been utterly fantastic thus far. It’s been a whirlwind of hard work and resulting goodness {last night’s #HolidayHQ Twitter chat was amazing and we announced our entertaining/summer design class at West Elm! Not to mention, we have a cameo in the new issue of the incredible goodness that… read more »
This week is off and running and full of goodness already! Enter: travel to Seattle, preparation for our entertaining and design evening West Elm San Diego {stay tuned for the invitation!}, lots of client work and wedding prep, a planning post over on OneWed today, and {of course}, fun. So to dive right in we have a positively… read more »
Happy Thursday! We’re this close to the weekend and, once again, we have lofty plans and a jam-packed weekend, which you know we thrive on! What do you have plotted out for the weekend? We’re getting a jump on the weekend and sharing a delicious design we brought to life a few months ago in… read more »
Happy Wednesday, sweet readers. What a week it’s already been. So far this week has been a sprinkling of sharing fun photos and how-tos {like our Palm Springs shoot for Exquisite Weddings Magazine}, some crafty DIYs and a delicious citrus granita recipe, amidst some wonderful projects and client work. Though the question remains: how is it… read more »
Hooray! We’re so excited to dive right into a fresh week and share one of our favorite photo shoots with you – our modern glam Viceroy Palm Springs shoot featured in the new issue of Exquisite Weddings Magazine! What we love: the vibrancy and contrast of watercolor, the stunning mountains, the grounds of the Viceroy and… read more »
Good afternoon, lovelies! How is your week thus far? It’s certainly flown by in a flurry of gorgeous images, special projects, brainstorming bits here and there, and some incredible goodness we can’t wait to share. Speaking of goodness, today we’re sharing some sweet details from our clients’ Hotel Del Coronado wedding from our talented pals… read more »
Happy Wednesday, sweet readers. Did you fare through tax season okay? As we know many of you might be in search of post-tax eye candy, we’re sharing a delightful shoot today. Our friends at Limelife Photography are so talented {and not to mention, quite adorable, right?} and we’re thrilled to kick off a special series… read more »
Happy {tax} Tuesday, friends! We’re sharing something a little different today – we’re so grateful for the awesome feedback you give us when we share our planning and small business tips, challenges and ideas. So today we’re sharing our map for spring cleaning your small business…we’re also leading up to an exciting announcement coming your way… read more »
Happy Monday, lovelies! We hope it was a wonderful weekend for you! We spent ours mostly outdoors celebrating Nick’s birthday {and that fun is continuing today as we gear up to sit poolside at the Catamaran….} and perusing the beach for coffee bean shells. Nick found four – what a way to start a new… read more »
Happy Thursday, lovelies! We’re off and running today – another superbly busy week filled with secret projects, magnificent client work and some fun! So in lieu of a normal post we’re giving you a peek into the new Exquisite Weddings Magazine – hot off the press – and one of our two features. This was… read more »
Happy post-holiday weekend Monday, lovelies! How was your weekend? Did you enjoy any Easter festivities? Perhaps you indulged in brunch scrumptiousness like poached eggs and mimosas? We hope it was a wonderful weekend. Ours was quite successful and we accomplished much of what we intended: relaxation was had, beaches were walked and we just enjoyed… read more »
This weekend we have a number of lofty plans. A piping hot mug of citrus tea {or two} for Aleah. A long walk on the beach at the time of the night when the salty air has a dewy feeling and the sun sets into the sea. House projects leftover from the week {like creating some… read more »
Oh, friends. So happy to have you stop by today as we’ve got something extra special to share! We are honored to be chosen by Mr. Tacori to take part in a blog tour this week in celebration of The Story of Us by Tacori. We were sent a copy of this charming must-have engagement journal and… read more »
Howdy, friends! How was your weekend? In the Valley household this weekend was a roaring success! We did some serious work on our lingering to do list {you know, those tasks that don’t seem to go away?} and ticked off tasks both large and small. Some new shelving went up in an awkard hallway space {with… read more »
Happy Thursday, lovelies. How has your week been thus far? We hope it’s been magnificent. Remember earlier in the week when we mentioned it’s Flower Week on Weddings? Well we’re excited to keep it rolling and share today’s post. We hope you’ve enjoyed our European flower market buffet, yesterday’s bloom-inspired engagement shoot, and our how-to arrangement DIY. Any of these ideas would be… read more »
Ooh, today’s St. Petersburg, Florida engagement session is feeding our craving for springtime blooms and romance! Sent over by Caroline & Evan Photography, we love the simplicity and the fun Caty and Graham are having together with nothing more than a suitcase filled with flowers and their love for each other. So sweet. Isn’t she gorgeous?… read more »
Ah. What a handful of days it has been, filled with sweet wedding goodness, new friends in from New Zealand {who filmed such wedding goodness!}, and some beach walks, albeit chilly ones. We’re ramping up for an exciting end to March and hopefully a smashing April. Gosh, almost two years ago we dreamed up this… read more »
Happy Friday, lovelies! It’s the first weekend of spring – hooray! We are off and running this morning prepping for that lovely coastal wedding we’ve been chattering about…think gorgeous pure white springtime blooms, navy and white striped runners, julep cups, and sweet crisp and elegant details! Stay tuned for some sneak peeks! Without further adieu,… read more »
Happy Thursday, lovelies! How is the first official week of springtime treating you? Yesterday at the flower market we picked up our loot and were so happy with what arrived: budding white ranunculus with little green hearts, pure white roses, cloudy white hydrangea and white dramatic phalaenopsis orchids….spring is here {can you sense a theme for… read more »
Ooh! We’re so excited to share this DIY project with you lovelies today. We’ve been busy bees this week with a handful of creative projects, including this ombré flag little ditty for a wedding this week {ocean side, no less}. So here’s a dual post for you today; a fun and fresh DIY and a behind-the-scenes of what a planning and… read more »
There’s something about weddings that just brings out the best in people. Happiness. Laughter. Being such a large part of what we do, we take joy in being part of such a special moment in time. We’re lucky to take part in these celebrations and, speaking of, we’re prepping and pouring our hearts into some fun oceanfront… read more »
Howdy, friends! Hopefully you had a wonderful weekend and are gearing up for a fantastic weekend. Any St. Patrick’s plans? We’re have a bit of relaxing planned amidst a downpour that’s expected this weekend {we’re really looking forward to it}, and we’re fine-tuning details for an oceanfront wedding next weekend. We wanted to share a handful… read more »
Good morning, good morning! Is anyone else as pleased as we are that the evenings are lighter and longer? We’re eating up every ounce of this added springtime luxury and soaking it in counting down the days until spring is officially here. Springtime signals a new wave of outdoor entertaining, spring cleaning, fun DIY projects… read more »
Happy Monday to you, sweet V & Co. Weddings readers! Was your weekend lovely? We managed just a little bit of time off {though not enough!} and headed to a polo match with Aleah’s parents. It was so warm and sunny and just perfect. Such a fun picnic with goodies and an exciting match. Alas, we’re… read more »
Good morning, lovelies! This morning we woke up to clear blue sky and the sound of birds chirping and singing to each other in the blooming trees. How wonderful. Spring really is in the air and we’re inspired. Though the winter didn’t seem too long, a new season that brings fresh promise, challenges, adventures, and… read more »
Good morning! It’s a fresh day. We’re so excited for some excitement to come and can’t wait to share…until then we’re sharing this equally wonderful riverside Bellingham wedding from some incredible Valley & Co. sponsors, photographers Amore Studios. They are such a joy to work with and their work is so creative and artistic. So without… read more »
French inspiration…le sigh. Driven by Aleah’s professed love for Paris, this mini shoot was styled to inspire using classic beauty. Think black-and-white postcards from Paris kissed with a plum stamp. This stationery suite is called True Vintage by Bella Figura, an elegant and chic throwback to the sophisticated and dreamy 1920s. The accessories we pulled… read more »
Oh, friends. Did you enjoy the weekend? Did you go on any fun outings or tackle any projects? We worked it up but also strung some new market lights in our garden {we’re just a wee bit excited for spring!} and enjoyed the beach. It was one of those Southern California weekends. While resting and… read more »
Hooray! It’s Friday! So much goodness made its way onto the web this week. Where do we even begin? Well, here are a few of our favorite posts from around the web {plus our whimsical tea party inspiration shoot}. Today’s on Lifestyle we’re sharing an AMAZING Provencal-Inspired Pimm’s Cup recipe. Aleah adores this Baby’s Breath… read more »
Did you leap yesterday? We sure did. Or at least we tried. We are kind of taken aback that we’re entering into March. Let the countdown begin as we inch closer and closer to spring and to some amazingness we have coming up. Think: some fantastic collaborations and stunning events. Yes. We can’t wait. We… read more »
Ooh. It’s Wedding Wednesday. While we post our tips + inspiration daily today we’re extra super duper excited about sharing this idea. The often overlooked {or slapped together} guest room welcome bag is such an important item to budget for if you’re having a destination wedding. These welcome items will set the tone for a thoughtful… read more »
Sometimes there are just those blog posts. You know, the ones that make you smile. Yesterday was one. Our whimsical tea party inspiration shoot made us oh-so ecstatic for spring. And Aleah did a little jig when Hillary from Arc Imagery sent this little gem our way. What we love: the sweet and timeless details, the magical… read more »
Alas, sweet V & Co. readers…spring is on its way. Spring has long been a favorite time of year, especially for Aleah. Growing up in Seattle {you know, where it rains. Often.} spring meant spotting vibrant purple crocuses popping their heads up out of the still-frosted ground. Robins chirping and hunting for worms. Daffodils bringing joy to… read more »
It’s Friday! Let’s toss some confetti! We’re off and running with wedding prep for a magical Hotel Del Coronado wedding this weekend; it’s going to be stunning! And as many a happy couple preps for their big day prep to and waltz down the aisle this weekend and say We Do, more are filling their planning shoes. With a new flood of… read more »
Ah, lovelies. Glad to have you back as we have the sweetest camping-inspired engagement session to share. And speaking of sweet, we’ve also got one charmingly sweet DIY just for you. It’s perfect for wedding take-home favors… Now onto today’s goodness. Jennifer Williams sent this outdoorsy engagement shoot our way and it’s perfect. What we… read more »
Howdy! We hope you all had a lovely {US} President’s Day holiday weekend. We sure did. We managed some serious relaxation, alongside striving towards some goals we can’t wait to share soon. All in all it was perfect, but we’re happy to be back to a normal week {whatever normal means, right?} as we prep… read more »
Happy Friday! First up: some important business – we’ll be announcing our Minted giveaway winner at 3pm PST today! Be sure to check back then! Lots of you entered to win our Minted giveaway but alas, we can only choose one lovely Valley & Co. | Weddings reader to win this great prize. Next up: it’s a long holiday… read more »
Oh, well the rain has been pouring down in buckets in La Jolla, but we’re enjoying every ounce of it. There’s something to fresh about a good downpour isn’t there? It’s got us excited for the spring that’s coming soon. Fresh rain, blooms popping up {Aleah’s spring favorites are crocuses, tulips and daffodils}, and charming garden… read more »
Happy Wedding Wednesday! In honor of this Wednesday {like we often like to do} we’re offering up some words of wisdom to keep in mind when scouring the land for that perfect venue – alongside a super sweet engagement shoot. Read our tips {pardon the novel} after this lovely collection of fun images! We’re especially… read more »
Well a very Happy Valentine’s Day to you, lovelies! Do you have a splendid day planned? We’ve been together for many many Valentine’s Days so we’ll take it easy – perhaps we’ll pick up some King crab for dinner and rent a fun movie and top it off with a decadent dessert. We’ll also be spent prepping for some… read more »
Update: our lucky Minted winner is Erin! Please contact us via email: hello @ valleyandco.com to claim your Minted prize! Thank you, thank you to everyone who entered! We hope you come back to Valley & Co. | Weddings {and Lifestyle!} next week when we unveil some incredible {and uniquely curated} inspirational photo shoots and another… read more »
Happy Friday! We’ve made it through the week and cocktails are definitely in order. What do you have planned for the weekend? This week was a bit of a strange one as A came back from Seattle sick as a dog. Having not been sick in a few years she was determined to not be down… read more »
Today is going to be one of those days. We can just feel it. Can you? The week’s been full of momentum and, despite Aleah being down for the count and sick {it never happens – don’t have the time!}, lots of excitement has been in the works. A special delivery of our Simplified Planner from Emily Ley Paper… read more »
We’re so excited about this new fangled concept we’ve been putting out there for this blog. Well, perhaps it’s not new fangled, but we just like that terms. We’ve been bringing you uniquely curated wedding ideas that you can personalize with your own touch, sharing original DIY projects for the home on our Lifestyle blog… read more »
Ahoy! We’re in a beachy-sailing-toes in the sand-kind of mood today {despite being under the weather and it being totally gloomy on the coast today}. As we’re gearing up for designing summertime destination soirees we have sand and shells on the brain. A large number of our couples tying the knot in San Diego are… read more »
Good morning, good morning! How was your weekend? Did you spend Sunday watching the Superbowl? Ours was fun-filled and busy filled with Seattle client meetings and some photo shoots at one of our favorite venues there; Palace Ballroom. Think huge industrial windows and rustic old exposed brick paired with our eclectic designs that we can’t… read more »
Another gorgeous day is here! What’s on your planning docket? We’re fine-tuning some gorgeous parties and weddings and enjoying a Seattle trip. Of course, we had to squeeze in some photo shoots so Aleah’s putting the finishing touches on eclectic spring-like details. Think: delicious cakes, French-inspired stationery, bright blooms, and a gorgeous setting. Sounds lovely,… read more »
Today we have bridesmaids’ gifts on the agenda! Your bridesmaids are there for you every step of the way, from your engagement to the day of your wedding. They help you try on wedding dresses, they may go with you to pick out the venue, or attend the cake tasting, they’ll plan your bridal shower,… read more »
Hello, lovelies! Oh, how we’ve missed you! We’re so happy to be back with a fresh and airy look on Valley & Co. | Weddings and a brand new concept. Stay tuned as we strive to bring you snippets of uniquely curated original DIY projects, expert wedding tips from our community of artists and our… read more »
Happy Monday and a very Happy New Year, lovelies! How was your weekend of saying au revoir to 2011 and welcoming a fresh 2012? We enjoyed it immensely and we’re really looking forward to unveiling the new Weddings look and our concept here very soon. Until then, stay tuned for our advice and planning tips… read more »
We hope you’ve enjoyed our week of New Year’s Eve-inspired goodness. From the festive Royale Resolution to the {amazing!} Three Little Pigs dessert and our entertaining tips, we wanted to inspire you for the mark of a new year. Here’s us tipping our hats and saying thank you so very much for being part of… read more »
While we kicked off 2011 with a beautifully chic downtown wedding, the following weekend we switched gears and planned and designed a rockin’ mod 50th birthday bash that was a total surprise. It was at the Grande Dame of Seattle, the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, and it was just way too much fun! What we loved:… read more »
It’s that time: we’re rolling out the last of our 2012 predictions for weddings. Oh where did 2011 go? Wedding Trend Prediction No. 7: the rise of couture gowns in the form of collection. We have some favorites from Seattle designer Luly Yang that we featured a few months back. She’s created her amazing Luly Blue and… read more »
Have yourself a merry little Christmas. May your days be merry and bright…may visions of sugar plums dance in your heads… From Valley & Co. to you and yours, here’s wishing you all a most wonderfully marvelous Christmas. Thank you for the support, the friendship, the readership, and inspiration, and the continual cheer this season… read more »
It’s that time, friends. We’re winding down the year that was and looking forward to the year that will be with bright eyes and anticipation. We’re also looking back on some of our favorite moments from 2011. The happy couples. The funny toasts. The beautiful bride walking down the aisle. The wonderful details that represent… read more »
Oh, friends! We’re just days away from Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Can you believe we’re wrapping up 2011 in all its wonder {both fantastic and challenging at times} and rolling out the sparkling red carpet for 2012? How fantastic. We’re so excited for what 2012 has in store thus far: amazing weddings and events… read more »
Dear wedding blog pals, we’re happy to have you visit today! While we’re amidst holiday goodness {cue the mistletoe, scented pomanders, decadent cocktails, and family} we’re also busy plotting for winter weddings and gorgeous springtime soirees and nuptials. Many of the details we’re proposing and planning on are handmade with a gorgeous impact. Over on… read more »
We’re counting down to Christmas where we gift our thoughtful hand-picked and handmade gifts to our family, enjoy scrumptious gourmet delights, laugh and indulge in good spirits and sweets. Laugh some more. And just enjoy being surrounded by those we love. Are you all squared away with your holiday shopping so you can sit back,… read more »
Hooray! We’re excited to be back with our wedding trend predictions {last week we let our blogging pals join in the holiday fun with our Five Days of Friends and some amazingly festive must-haves!} as we edge closer to 2012. When we got married Aleah’s parents walked her down the aisle and it was one… read more »
Well, friends. We’ve been so happy to share festive and cheery holiday must-haves with you this week from some of our wonderful friends. Be sure to check out the past posts from Style Unveiled, Lovely Little Details, The Bride Suite, and Postcards & Pretties! They’ll surely have you scrambling to find the perfect gift wrap,… read more »
Hooray! We’re so happy to have the talented and creative ladies behind Style Unveiled {love. love.} sharing their holiday must-haves with you today! We think you’re in for a treat! Style Unveiled srsly {hearts} holiday decor … if we could, we’d keep the house smelling, sounding, and looking like Christmas-time all year round {but, then… read more »
By the end of the week you should have no excuse to not be armed for holiday entertaining, nestling up at home, having the perfect hostess gift on hand, or making jam for loved ones! Our Five Days of Friends series is great fun and we’re rolling on with a sweet post from our friend… read more »
Howdy, friends! As the week is rolling along so is our series of Five Days of Friends, featuring some top holiday picks from our pals. Yesterday oh-so sweet Chris from Postcards and Pretties stopped by to lend some holiday must-have loveliness. Today we welcome our friends Jen and Laurie from The Bride Suite. Their picks are delightfully adorable and make us crave… read more »
Monday. What happened to the weekend? We hope yours was one filled with hot cocoa, tree trimming, and festive cheer. Yes, we’re in full-board holiday mode! As we nudge closer and closer to Christmas we’re excited to welcome a handful of our pals to lend their holiday must-haves this week. You’re in for a real… read more »
Hi friends! Happy Thursday. Did you watch the Rockefeller tree lighting last night? What a magical time of year. Glittering tinsel, trees with the warm glow of globe lights, and packages wrapped up so pretty…le sigh. We just love the holidays. We’ve been serving up a number of original recipes and DIY projects on our… read more »
Happy Wedding Wednesday, blog friends! How is your post-holiday week? Though we’re excited at the smell of evergreen trees lingering in the air, the excuse to drink piping mugs of drinking chocolate every night, and spending so much time savoring the season, we’re having a hard time believing tomorrow is December 1st! Wow. We’ll be at… read more »
Although the days are crisper, festive holiday music piped everywhere you turn, and the darker days of winter upon us, we’re busy plotting and planning spring and summertime weddings and events {amidst prep for client holiday parties and winter weddings!}. It’s funny how the planning process works: dreaming up bright and airy ideas when you just want to cozy up in… read more »
Happy Monday, friends! How was your Thanksgiving, our American readers? Was your weekend filled with holiday cheer and relaxation? We spent some much-needed time truly relaxing and soaking up the holiday festivities and decking the halls; it was wonderful! Over on our Lifestyle blog we’re sharing our original holiday projects, recipes, and entertaining ideas so be… read more »
We’re so happy to have our dear friend Amanda Allen from NewlyWish back lending her wonderful registry expertise, this month geared at entertaining registry ideas. We are so smitten with this post and the gorgeous entertaining images and products below! Without further adieu…With the holidays having snuck up upon us once again, I thought I’d share with you… read more »
First up today: we’re so excited to unveil Lifestyle by Valley & Co.’s new look! We’d sure love if you hop on over and take a peek: check out our categories -hopefully you’ll find the perfect holiday recipe or craft! Moving along… Thanksgiving. The holiday that surrounds us with feasts for the eyes and taste buds… read more »
Inspiration. You know that while we’re suckers for fun whimsical designs coastal elegance strikes our fancy in a big way. It’s a timeless platform for beautiful weddings and events: from sailboat-inspired stripes to navy and white color tones with bright pops of yellow, coastal elegance makes for magical events and sophisticated bashes that radiate fun. For the Best… read more »
Dear blog friends, we are so happy to be back after our unexpected {and unwanted} hiatus last week and thrilled you joined us this morning to say hi! As we edge closer to 2012 we’re rolling along with our wedding trend predictions {last week No. 1 predicted gourmet tasting-style menus and last year’s trends for 2011 – how do you think we… read more »
Good morning, friends. Another Wednesday has arrived. As we take in this Wedding Wednesday in the month of giving thanks, let’s all take a deep breath and remember what weddings and wedding planning are all about: love. Happiness. A new adventure. Family. Joy. If you’re getting caught up in the moment{s} of planning just breathe in and… read more »
How is your Thursday morning so far? We’re in full prep mode for tomorrow’s gorgeous wedding at Tower 23 Hotel in San Diego {check out the hotel – it’s so unique!}, and working on the finishing touches: gourmet cookie bags for late-night snacks, a gorgeous copper arbor Nick made for the ceremony, and little air plant… read more »
Today we’ve got such a sweet treat for you! We just love sharing little bits of goodness from delightful people and their events. Today’s soirêe was sent to us by the lovely Phebe from Making ME Event Planning Firm in Massachussets {check out her beautiful site and blog}. This stylish fête was in celebration of her 1… read more »
How was your Halloween? Did you get spooked or spook trick-or-treaters? We’re happy to share Part II of our interview with Preston Bailey from our Fall EGlossy. Isn’t he just so inspiring? He’s also just such a wonderful person! 6. What do you love most about events and what you do?What I love most is… read more »
It’s Friday! As we enter into another weekend we’re busy bees with client meetings {can’t wait for this gorgeous Hotel Del Coronado wedding}, holiday party planning, and starting to work up stationery ideas for a few other couples. With each and every couple of ours we stress the importance of the following before we get started:… read more »
We’re back with Part Deux of our dual shoot for the Fall issue of Exquisite Weddings Magazine and showing off Nick’s concept: a thank you party for groomsmen. A fresh spin on the dusty bachelor party, why not show your guys you appreciate their years of friendship and support by throwing a fun and games… read more »
We’re so excited to show off bonus images from our dual shoot for the new issue of Exquisite Weddings Magazine! If you haven’t scooped up your copy, head to newsstands or order online! It’s gorgeous and brimming with an abundance of inspiraiton eye candy! We wanted to do something innovative {you know us} for our shoot and… read more »
We’re easing into November, which means intimate settings will be more commonplace. Whether you’re entertaining at home for the holidays or fine-tuning your beautiful Fall-inspired cozy wedding, run with charming elements when designing your tabletop to ensure your guests will be comfortable and sit and enjoy themselves all night. For our Thanksgiving entertaining spread for… read more »
There’s something that just gets us about weddings at sentimental locations. Our own wedding was at Aleah’s parents’ gorgeous home on the ocean on a tiny little island in Washington State and just meant so much. Whenever we go home to visit we’re reminded of the amazing time that was had: our delicious food, our wonderful… read more »
The holidays are edging nearer and Fall weddings are in full swing. Decorating for these festive soireés has never been easier. Use natural elements from Mother Nature like lichen-covered branches, acorns, and burlap to dress your table tops and balance rustic with elegant by using decorating goblets and fanciful china. Perfectly rustic, our stamped place mat sets… read more »
As the calender marches us closer to November, we edge into holiday engagements and the sparkling gifts of diamond jewelry and gorgeous baubles. Anjolee is the largest diamond jewelry manufacturer in the United States and offers a fresh customization process on their website so that you can put your personalized stamp on each diamond piece like bridal sets… read more »
Happy Tuesday, loves! What are you up to today? Well it’s sure been absolutely beautiful back in Washington State these past few days. What a perfect way to get a dose of fall: ferry rides across the sound and the leaves are just turning from that pale golden to deep reds and fiery oranges. Last night… read more »
Inspiration. We find it in the most random of places at times. We’re always looking to be inspired; whether it’s when we travel, out on walks, or from others. At our shoots and events people are always asking how in the heck we come up with our ideas. This one happened while we were prepping for our San Diego Magazine… read more »
Despite it reaching 101 degrees in the heat wave for our day trip up to LA yesterday {so hot…the mild coast temperatures of 75 are perfect!}, the holidays are nearly here and we’re getting into the spirit. I {Aleah} will be headed back home to Seattle this weekend for a nice bit of family time on… read more »
It’s arrived! Our Autumn EGlossy edition is all polished and ready for the spotlight. We can’t wait for you to dig into the crisp Fall goodness we’ve created. With delicious libations from Nick, bits of holiday glitter and DIY projects, some fantastic interviews, and a special wedding feature, we hope you dig in and enjoy the issue with a big mug of… read more »
Friends! We’re just hours away until we launch our Fall EGlossy and we are bursting at the seams to share it with you. There’s so much goodness in store! We can barely wait! But as we add the last bits of sparkle and polish we welcome someone who needs little introduction: Jasmine Star!Jasmine Star is… read more »
How was your weekend, lovelies? With another week comes more inspired fun and today’s inspiration shoot is the perfect way to kick it off! We’ve got a bunch of goodness coming your way including our Fall EGlossy and some fabulous holiday inspiration – we’re diving right in! Sent to us by Eventity Inc. and photographed by… read more »
Happy Friday! What a week! We’re over on Style Me Pretty | California answering three questions you asked from last month. Check out our answers and go ahead, ask away! Here’s a tiny snippet of what we’re chatting about today: Create a delightful ambiance and define a flow by offering guests gourmet food stations….you’ll have… read more »
As the week rolls on so does our excitement for what’s to come! Last night we took a stroll to the Village in La Jolla as it was just one of those nights. Feeling like we needed a dose of the ever-so-slightly crisp autumn air and to stretch our legs, the walk {and cookies from… read more »
Monday, Monday. How was the first weekend of October for you? Ours was productive but it was over before we knew it! We decided to plan a day trip out to Julian soon; we hear it’s San Diego’s best dose of Fall complete with golden leaves, apple cider, and cooler weather! We’re also wrapping our head… read more »
Friday has arrived and October is on its heels! What fun do you have planned this weekend? For those of you busy bees planning your wedding why not try out our creative guest book idea: a message in a bottle? This can be themed for a classically elegant coastal wedding, a destination beach wedding, or… read more »
As we grow closer to the weekend {and the 1st of October?!} we’re in a tizzy of beautiful client details and design ideas, excitement of several sorts, and the week that was. This past week was fantastic and lovely and, once again, flew by too quickly. But we are excited to share an extra-sweet wedding… read more »
As a flurry of newly engaged couples prepare to tie the knot in the coming months, we lend this advice to you: Absolutely enjoy the planning process. We know that it can be stressful and tiring but work together to make it fun and an adventure. After all, the planning process is a jump into… read more »
The first weekend of fall has come and gone and it left us feeling excited for this new season. We are working on designs for some charming and romantic fall weddings with perhaps some unexpected palettes {much like in today’s real wedding}. Our clients are utilizing lush color combinations and textures to paint a beautiful… read more »
We’ve made it to a new season, friends! Fall has swirled in at the coast in a cooler, cloudy burst and we’re really enjoying it! With fall comes a new business outlook and a sense of freshness and Fall cleaning. What better time than the changing of seasons to do some deep cleaning and organizing… read more »
The other day we put out a Tweet that was quickly passed around and Retweeted {thank you!}: Steer clear of overly fragrant blooms in your table centerpieces. They can bother guests and compete with your menu. The same can be said for scented candles: there’s nothing worse than triggering an asthma or allergy attack for… read more »
Ah, Wedding Wednesday has arrived and we’ve got a timeless wedding to share with you today. Wes Weber Photography send us this gem of a wedding brimming with timeless details that we just can’t get enough of. Unique Event Design created a classic and elegant look with touches of sweet lavender, dark purple, and fluffy white hydreangea clouds.… read more »
Brrr…fall is upon us which means {in most areas} the riding boots come out, coffee gets hotter, and extra blankets keep us warm on crisp nights. We always encourage our couples to prepare to take great care of their guests whether it’s warm, chilly, raining, or snowing and whether they’re entertaining at home or at… read more »
Monday has arrived and fall is just a few days away! How was your weekend? We spent the weekend back in Seattle for a our couple’s stunning wedding in the most whimsical venue {check out our Facebook page for some sneak peeks - it was a total wonderland!} and we got a tiny dose of fall,… read more »
We’ve made it to Friday, friends! Whatever your plans are for the weekend, make it a fun weekend! We’re kicking off the wedding weekend in Seattle with Starbucks. Silly, I know. But in San Diego we don’t have one too close to us so as the weather is crisper and fall is upon us my… read more »
Good morning, sweet blog readers. Tell us: what did you think of last night’s new show Up All Night? We were fast asleep catching ZZZs for our early flight out of Palm Springs but we DVR’d it! Looking forward to catching up once we’re back home and sitting down with a big cup of Joe… read more »
Wednesday. That means we’re halfway through the week and one day closer to fall. Though nothing magical happens here in San Diego {really, we have few gorgeous leafy trees to shed their leaves!} we’re quite excited for the changing of the guard. Fall television is also coming back, which means The Office {though without Michael Scott… read more »
Good morning, good morning! We’re so happy to treat you to this special post from one of our marvelous sponsors: b.mookié. The artist behind this stunning jewelry house, Molly, has such a creative eye and a true talent and passion for what she does. Be sure to hop on over to her site to peruse her amazing creations! Withour… read more »
Happy Monday, friends. What do you lovelies have on your plate this week? We’re quite amazed that it’s already the middle of September. Before you know it we’ll be welcoming the changing of seasons! We are prepping for one of our lovely Seattle autumn weddings {see the venue after our fabulous interview below!} and are… read more »
Hi loves! Happy Friday to you! We had a fun post planned for today but alas, the power in much of Southern California has been out since yesterday! Luckily ours popped back on in the middle of the night but now we’re doing double duty of baking and finishing details for our Thanksgiving shoot for San… read more »
Hello lovelies! We’re back this Wedding Wednesday with another installment of our Lifestyle series, which features the best and the brightest in the wedding, event, and lifestyle industries. We’re tickled to showcase the amazing creative types and industry pals and today bring you a fun interview with Ceci Johnson, Founder and Creative Director of Ceci New… read more »
Hello, lovelies! How was your Labor Day weekend? We hope you enjoyed the weekend and got a chance to relax and really soak up the last unofficial moments of summer! As we prepare to head into fall we find ourselves getting quite excited about what that means, especially in our Seattle office: cozier weddings, beautiful… read more »
It’s Thursday, lovelies! It just dawned on us that it’s actually Labor Day weekend. Oh, my. Do you know what this means? Yes, fall is upon us! Did you happen to join in our #WifeStyle chat on Twitter last night? We talked about how to prep your home for fall and what we love for… read more »
It’s Wedding Wednesday, which means we come bearing tips! You know we love to do that, right? Today we’re in full wedding mode {well, when are we not?} plugging away on some fabulously fun weddings and thinking about a special project we’re working on {we’ll be revealing quite soon}; you know we love to do… read more »
We’re so excited to introduce you to our wonderful Senior Associate in Seattle, Olivia Shjeflo! We think you’ll love Olivia just as much as we do – on top of being fantastic, a go-getter, and stylish, she’s Norwegian {we’re both Norwegian}! Please give her a warm welcome! Flower image by Jessica Claire We’re so happy… read more »
Oh, Monday morning is here. It always comes so quickly, doesn’t it? Well today we’re okay with it as we know our East Coast friends and readers have been on pins and needles all weekend. We’re so happy you’ve all weathered the storm safely and hope you’re all back to normal soon. A piece of… read more »
We’re just loving sharing bits of goodness based on real-life inspiration…it paints such a fun picture when you can mix and match elements that all come together to fill a blank canvas. One of our favorite inspirational places to travel is to Holland. There’s something so magical about the canals, the windmills, the ages-old crooked buildings,… read more »
Alas, it’s Wednesday…where has this week gone? While we’re trying to search for the hours that slipped away yesterday, we’ll let you soak up this fun engagement shoot! We know that whenever Photography by Verdi sends something our way it’s going to be utterly creative, unique, and so beautiful. Today’s Arizona ghost town shoot fits… read more »
We’re so happy to welcome back registry expert and founder of NewlyWish, Amanda Allen to lend some fantastic honeymoon registry advice {and a special treat!}. The perfect way to cap off your dream wedding is, without doubt, the honeymoon. Since many couples are choosing to include honeymoon activities in their registries, and are replacing the… read more »
Monday has arrived! Are you ready for it? We hope you had a wonderful weekend and have an excellent week ahead! We managed some relaxation atop the Best of San Diego Magazine bash, client work and writing, and design brainstorming. On Friday we designed a table top for the Exquisite Weddings Magazine lounge and wanted… read more »
Yesterday we were busy bees guest blogging on Postcards and Pretties and The Loveliest Day and today we wanted to share our dreamy Parisian Romance inspiration we shared with Melissa’s readers. We’re constantly inspired by architecture, nature, culture, textiles, and colors, and we love sharing this natural, real-life inspiration with our couples and clients. Taking an image… read more »
We hope your day is smashing! We’re happy to be guest blogging over two of our favorite blogs: and so stop on by and say hello and show some love! There’s a bit of fun for everyone! …and we are thrilled to announce the launch of our sparkling new planning tool: The Valley & Co.… read more »
Hello lovely Valley & Co. readers!! For this month’s inspiration to invitation column we’re taking our cue from the gorgeous tile work seen throughout countries like Turkey & Morocco. In rich brick tones and sumptuous golds it has me dreaming of a romantic night in the desert in a lantern lit tent!! Wouldn’t it make… read more »
Thank you for stopping by today! We’re thrilled to continue our Lifestyle installment where we introduce you to amazing industry leaders and pals who inspire us immensely. Today we are honored to showcase the incredibly talented and kind celebrity event designer and florist Preston Bailey. Meet Preston, author of numerous gorgeous and inspirational books, including one of… read more »
There’s something just so magical about flowers. Blooms in all shapes and sizes just make me happy and this palette from Jennie and Justin’s April wedding was no exception. Tropical vibrancy at its best, we worked with gorgeous pincushions, orchids, sunset orange calla lilies, and fiery ranunculus to create a warm ambiance. It was perfect… read more »
Ross and Mychela’s engagement shoot can’t get any better! A pinch of cozy outdoor romance, a sprinkle of carnival fun, and a dash sunny loving makes this one of our all-time favorite engagement shoots! Plus Mychela’s breezy looks and sweet kicks make for such a beautiful look. Thanks to Troy Grover Photographers for sending this goodness… read more »
Well Happy Monday to you! We hope your weekend was refreshing and fun! We’re happy you joined us for Monday Coffee on this beautiful morning! We’re thrilled to be the Etiquette Contributors in the lovely Eco-Beautiful Weddings Magazine and in the current issue we lent some of our etiquette tips and ideas to creating a beautiful… read more »
Happy Friday! We hope you’ve had a superb week and have something great planned for the weekend. We’ve spent the week traveling back to San Diego and playing catch-up! We were recently asked by one of our wonderful brides how we do it all and seemingly manage so much. The response came with a bit… read more »
This summer we’ve been treated to some seriously gorgeous engagement shoots that define summer romance. This is no exception! Talk about a beautiful couple, a dreamy summery setting in Mississippi, and some incredible photography from Adam Hudson Photo. Victoria and David’s summer romance story starts here… Photography | Adam Hudson Photo Talk about dreamy, right?… read more »
The talented photography duo at Narrative Images shared this sweet backyard San Diego wedding with us and we’re smitten! There’s something so charming and intimate about a wedding at home, especially when it’s a home with years of happiness, memories, and shared sentiment. We adore the birch chuppah, the sweet post-wedding portraits, and the glow… read more »
We’ve just returned from two lovely weddings in Washington State and are grateful that the sunshine came out in a big way at both! It hasn’t been the best summer in Washington so we packed up the sunshine and took it with us! When planning for your summer party or wedding it’s so important to… read more »
We adore the work of our talented pals at Brancoprata in Portugal and we’re thrilled to share their beautiful imagery with you today. This breathtaking wedding is the definition of timeless beauty and charm; the natural setting, loving couple, and amazing photography seal it as one of our favorite weddings this summer! Enjoy! Photography – André Teixeira,… read more »
We’re so pleased to be guest posting for Nick and Aleah today. We put together a little treat for you with loads of fun images plus a free download designed by us. In honor of all of the fun summer weddings happening right now, we put together a collage of some of the cutest wedding… read more »
Our insightful and lovely registry contributor Amanda Allen from NewlyWish is back lending expert insight into making the best out of your registry: With the outrageously hot weather we’ve been having, I decided the other day to whip up a batch of my not-quite-world-famous gazpacho. For those of you familiar with gazpacho will know that… read more »
We love morning and early afternoon weddings. One of the beautiful benefits about these earlier weddings is that the happy couple can make a date post-saying I Do and have a nice and sweet photo session once the excitement has died down. We are big proponents of scheduling time during your wedding {whether it’s daytime or… read more »
Rick and Bernadette of Narrative Images are a fantastic husband-and-wife photography duo based out of San Diego. They are a joy to work with and their images are always breathtaking and timeless. This retro stewardess-themed engagement session they sent our way is no exception! We hope you enjoy the gorgeous images from this darling shoot! Photography… read more »
Some of our most favorite weddings that we’ve planned and designed have been beautiful reflections of our couples in a number of ways. When dreaming up personalized ideas to make your mark, consider creative projects outside of monogrammed napkins. One golden tip we will offer: build it! Hand forged elements built specifically for you are timeless and fun… read more »
There is one word that best sums up Reinhard and Lara’s wedding: wow. Sent over to us by photographer Hannes Uys, this South African wedding is right out of the pages of a fairy tale. The gorgeous couple just radiates happiness and the photography is impeccable. From Hannes: Reinhard and Lara’s celebration was my first wedding… read more »
Happy Friday! We hope you have had a wonderful week and have a marvelous weekend planned! We’re rounding out our week of love sessions with a truly beautiful and organic shoot at home in New York sent over by E. Leigh Photography. Mona and Andrew’s relaxed atmosphere lends for the perfect setting for an engagement shoot showing… read more »
Today’s love shoot comes from Lindsay Madden, a talented NYC photographer who loves to travel for her clients. From Lindsay: Tim & Darcy were married the weekend before their newlywed shoot in St. Tropez & they thought it would be a wonderful idea to capture their newlywed glow in their hometown of Boston along the… read more »
We’re happy to share another lovely engagement shoot from FlickFoto. Today’s springtime Philadelphia shoot is so cheerful and sweet. From the fresh blooms to the gorgeous architecture, photographer Sarah captured these moments beautifully. From Sarah at FlickFoto: The engagement session of Donnelley and Anthony that I photographed was perfect timing this past spring. Since the… read more »
Weddings and events are such joyous occasions and serenading your guests with equally joyous music, whether vocally or instrumentally, can make such a lasting impression. Your musical entertainment needn’t be over-the-top or elaborate; sometimes background music, especially during cocktail hour, will do just the trick to set the tone for your celebration. Ceremony: a live… read more »
We have been big fans of Seattle’s Glassybaby for years and are excited to bring back a third Glassybaby giveaway for our readers! Glassybabies are special hand-blown glass vessels that not only bring joy and light to their recipients and users, but they can also give back to those who need it. 10% of certain… read more »
We are suckers for fun-loving dreamy shoots where breezy images are captured in a timeless fashion. A while back we collaborated with our friends Jenny and Joseph Llanes of Llanes Weddings for a marathon of shoots and some of our favorite images were these. We feel that they speak for themselves and are just absolutely… read more »
Today’s engagement session comes from the talented team at FlickFoto and it reflects so much of what we love about city engagement shoots: colorful backgrounds, character, history, and great architectur. From Sarah at FlickFoto: “Working with Lindsey and Dan in Manayunk will be one of my fondest remembered engagement sessions from this season. They were… read more »
A while back we worked on a fun project with our lovely friend {and talented photographer} Shannon Lee of Shannon Lee Images. After the shoot we produced we had some fun with a few side props we brought along and you know, we really loved the outcome! The lavender, lemons, and mixed textures and pieces… read more »
We love each and every one of our couples and Renee and Alex are certainly no exception. This past weekend they celebrated their 2nd year anniversary and we wanted to say thank you to them for being so wonderful. Happy Anniversary! The finale of their beautiful wedding day was an incredible fireworks display that lit up… read more »
Please welcome back our wonderful expert registry contributor Amanda Allen from NewlyWish! We appreciate Amanda’s expertise and love this entertaining-themed registry post! Thank you for sharing your knowledge, Amanda! When people think about entertaining and their wedding registry, they often focus on full sets of china that they can use for more formal dinner parties, family holidays,… read more »
A while back our lovely friend Wendy from Just Wenderful asked moi {Aleah} to dream up a vision board for her darling ombre post. The result was breezy summery imagery with darling blush elements. Enjoy! Balloons | Perfume via Min | Shoes | Lace | Suitcase Flowers for Valley & Co. | Stationery | Blush | Dress |… read more »
Passion is ingrained. It’s felt. It’s something that drives you and makes you want to do what you do better. Our passion is to make others happy. It’s to inspire. It’s to have fun and to do it together. Our passion is to travel and enjoy life with our families. Our passion is what fuels… read more »
It’s summer….we welcome warm and seemingly endless summer days, fresh squeezed lemonade, and a nostalgic charm that we only see during this season. We just adore this inspiration to invitation from Contributor Kate Holland of Ruby and Willow. We think you’ll agree! Photos from top left; Yellow dress | Mandy Lynne, Blue Cake | Corbin… read more »
Alas, summer has arrived {hooray}! Plum Pretty Sugar Loungerie is changing the face of lounge wear, pre-wedding wear, and bedding and we are sharing some favorites, just in time for summer! What we love are their breezy, delicate fabrics with impactful, yet sweet prints. Perfect for bridesmaids’ gifts or bedding for your favorite newlyweds, there’s something for everyone.… read more »
While it is a great honor to be asked to be a best man or one of the groomsmen in your pal’s wedding, it’s also, in most cases, a costly and time-consuming duty. With that in mind, I always encourage our grooms to really consider this when putting together their lists of duties for their… read more »
Ah, flowers. Who doesn’t smile at the sight or scent of a fragrant ruffled bloom? Sure, I know some of you aren’t too keen on flowers, but to me there’s nothing that’s so diverse, so chameleon-like, and so charming as a fresh cut bunch of flowers. Flowers can make one’s day, lift spirits, and bring an… read more »
Happy Wednesday! We hope your day is off to a smashing start…We’ve been working on some photo features and stumbled upon this sweet image from one of our all-time favorite weddings. Megan and Logan made a point to steal away for a series of intimate and darling photos in the middle of {very} chilly Puget Sound in… read more »
Chris and Leeann’s fall Indiana wedding just makes us happy. While it’s brimming with lovely details, we love the timeless elements and the fun vibe these images capture {and these shoes!}. Chris and Leeann tied the knot at their university campus; talk about a gorgeous backdrop and a great wedding story! Their color story is refreshing and… read more »
We know, perhaps more than most, that developing a seating chart for your wedding or event is serious business. You’ve taken the time to hand select each and every guest thoughtfully and you’re excited to celebrate with them all, but a seating chart always means that there’s a table or two in a less desirable… read more »
Our pal Melissa from The Loveliest Day stopped by today to lend some nautical sparkle inspiration. It’s tres chic and brings us to fond memories of the South of France in the heat of summer. Thank you, Melissa! Image Credit L-R: Photo by Jasmine Star Styling by Kelly Makes Things , By Britt Aboutaleb via… read more »
Hi there Valley & Co. readers! Chris from Postcards & Pretties here and I’m so happy that Aleah + Nick asked me to guest post today while away on their well deserved vacation. If you’re a daily reader of V&C like me you know this adorable couple loves the beach and with summer just around the… read more »
Happy Friday, everyone! What fun do you have planned for the weekend? We are leaving on a jet plane…headed to Maui for Aleah’s birthday tomorrow and some much needed R + R! We’ve had a whirlwind week after attending engage!11: Grand Del Mar and we will be back to our normally scheduled posts {though we… read more »
engage!11 has been inspiring in all of the right ways and for both of us an entirely different experience, which is great. As we both split tasks and roles in our business and visualize ideas differently, we’re soaking up knowledge, and insight in our own ways this week. Some of our favorite pieces of wisdom… read more »
We’ve been excitedly awaiting engage!11 at the Grand Del Mar for months. Yesterday kicked off this luxury wedding conference where the best and brightest in our industry converge to learn, share, and visit. As we prep for the education, networking, and fun that awaits us today, we are taking a brief moment to share some insight… read more »
It’s Friday {how did that happen?}, which means we’re in for our second installment of our business musings. We are prepping for a weekend of traveling for a wedding and returning Monday to San Diego to attend our first Engage!11. We are just beyond excited to visit with some of our dear industry friends, meet new… read more »
Sometimes color inspiration comes to us from the most creative or random of places. It can come from our daily walks along the boardwalk or the bay {getting fresh air and taking a deep breath in the middle of your day is a must, if even for a minute}, from palm fronds or the color of the sea,… read more »
We frequently tell our couples to really soak up the moments leading up to their wedding day. From your engagement through the planning process to the big day, and everything in between, there’s no time better than the present to soak up the moments. Ham it up. Have fun. Document away. Whether it’s dressing up and spending… read more »
We are thrilled to welcome back our expert registry contributor Amanda Allen from NewlyWish! Thank you so much for lending your stylish and informative expertise, Amanda! Hello, again, everyone. It’s estimated that we spend about one-third of our lives asleep, and, fittingly, one of the areas I get a lot of questions about from registry… read more »
This Mississippi engagement shoot from Adam Hudson Photo made Aleah’s heart jump. There’s something just so perfect, so summery, and so fun about it. A happy couple in love + an easy, breezy setting = an engagement shoot we can all appreciate! Add in an heirloom quilt and gorgeous horses and you get an incredibly dreamy session out… read more »
We are thrilled to have launched our new Lifestyle By Valley & Co. blog and excited to announce that every Friday {instead of At Home with Aleah} we will now be blogging about a handful of helpful business tips and experiences we have learned over the years in our Seattle and Southern California offices. We… read more »
Summertime is on its way and we can’t wait! As we’re fine-tuning details for summer events we’re seeing fresh berries, mini doughnuts, and cotton candy making late-night menus and as take-home favors. What a fun summer treat! Mini sugared doughnuts + striped paper bags from Sweet Lulu = nostalgic treats your guests will love. Doughnut… read more »
We love when Kristine Paulsen sends her Montana goodness our way. She is a talented and very artisic photographer in Missoula and her imagery is always so gorgeous, so fresh, and so real. Today’s sweet engagement shoot speaks to her creative and natural eye and we think you’ll enjoy it! How incredible is this backdrop? This… read more »
We were honored to guest blog last week over on MyWedding.com and are sharing all of our pointers here with you today. We all know that your wedding day can go by in a whirlwind of kisses, stolen moments, and hugs from family and friends. Well enjoying the planning process is just as important as… read more »
We are pleased to announce a fun giveaway for our lovely readers. How I Planned Your Wedding is a great book written from a mother-daughter standpoint of wedding planning. One of our lucky readers will win a $50 Macy’s gift card and a copy of this fabulous book. How to enter: 1. Leave a comment and tell us what… read more »
We were kindly invited by Universal Pictures to a screening of the new movie Bridesmaids and we loved it. If you don’t have plans for this evening, go and get your tickets as it opens tonight! With a stellar cast of funny ladies, it rings true in many scenes, made us laugh, and was just a… read more »
We tell all of our couples that both the planning process and the wedding day can go by in a flash. It’s so important to slow down and enjoy each and every bit and savor what it’s all about. We adore these images from one of our all-time favorite weddings. They remind us of what… read more »
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEValley & Company Partners with Navy & Lavender to Launch Three New Welcome Gifts. San Diego/New York City May 11th, 2011–Aleah and Nick Valley, the husband and wife team of Valley & Co., partner with New York City gifting experts Navy & Lavender to launch three new wedding welcome gifts. This new partnership… read more »
Today’s Pleasanton, California wedding equals romance at its best. From the gorgeous details and timeless images from Fairy Tale Photography to the rustic winery setting and the breezy California atmosphere, it’s just lovely! Fresh! Vibrant! Just beautiful! Talk about a polished and beautiful group of bridesmaids. Their look is so classic and just perfect. What a quintessential… read more »
We are so excited to announce our new blog Lifestyle By Valley & Co.! The sister to this blog, Lifestyle will showcase entertaining tips, lifestyle and at-home expertise and inspiration, and goodness on the daily for all things lifestyle. We hope you’ll pop on over and make it a daily read as well! www.valleyandcolifestyle.com
While many of our weddings in Southern California are considered destination weddings for our clients or their guests, destination weddings and events where we get to travel are some of our all-time favorites. There is something so intimate and fun about transporting your family and friends to a tropical locale, a rustic cabin, European countryside, snowy… read more »
There is so much fun slated for this weekend! First up: The Kentucky Derby. Pull out your best festive hats and whip up some traditional Mint Juleps for a memorable day at the races. Image via Northwest Source | Recipe via Northwest Source/DrinkBoy 2 oz. Bourbon | 4 sprigs of mint | 2 tsp. sugar muddle in a shaker… read more »
Sometimes the most creative, fresh ideas come to us while taking a walk down a charming street, as did the inspiration for this mini shoot. While on a stroll we spied this old battered fence panel and got an idea for an eco-friendly {and unique} escort card display. Out shooting another project with our friend… read more »
Mother’s Day is just around the corner! We both adore our moms and think the absolute world of them. They know this {trust us, we tell them often}, but we can gush for a second. We both wouldn’t be where we are today without the incredible support and unconditional love from our awesome families. Both… read more »
There’s nothing quite like enjoying a post full of macarons, mini fabric flags, and little printables over morning coffee! We’re excited to show off some bonus images from our lovely friend Lauren’s {of Lauren Elise Crafted} shoot from our spring eglossy. We hope this starts off your morning with a smile. Enjoy the darling photos from Lauren! Lauren’s macaron picnic is so darling… read more »
We’re so excited to welcome back our dear friend and talented designer Kate of Ruby & Willow in New Zealand for her second Inspiration to Invitation contribution post. Hi there Valley & Co readers! For this month’s inspiration to invitation post we’re looking ahead a few months to fall. Now I know you’re probably all quite excited about… read more »
We are so thrilled to send our very best wishes to the sweet and darling Victoria Sharkey as she ties the knot in Hawaii with her sweetheart! Victoria, we wish you and John the absolute best on your big day and in life. May you be happier and more in love each and every day. Ho’omaika’i ‘ana!… read more »
It’s here. The Royal Wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton has arrived. As royal tradition meets a modern couple, we also look back on Prince William’s grandmother’s wedding in 1947. This historic royal wedding set precedent for what some predict will take place at today’s wedding. Queen Elizabeth married Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh at… read more »
The world is eagerly waiting to watch Prince William and Kate Middleton walk down the aisle tomorrow. While we are prepping for a wedding tomorrow here in San Diego, we will be DVRing the day’s festivities so that we can watch in awe. We’re most looking forward to seeing how old and new traditions are… read more »
With the Royal Wedding this Friday, excitement is mounting across the world. While we are excited to see the details, to read about what royal and English traditions are incorporated, and to see the looks and styles, we’re also looking forward to Prince Albert of Monaco’s Royal Wedding this coming summer. French magazine Point de… read more »
We are thrilled to introduce our new wedding registry expert and monthly contributor Amanda Allen from NewlyWish in New York City. Amanda is well-versed in all things registry and lent some incredible tips for starting your registry in our spring ezine. We hope you welcome her today and come back monthly to learn more about her… read more »
There is something so magical and so dreamy about a Luly Yang wedding gown. When one of our Seattle brides wears one on her wedding day it brings a touch of whimsy and a total sense of style to her whole look. From Luly’s chic 4th Avenue showroom in downtown Seattle to her impeccable artistry and stellar… read more »
Happy Easter to you all! We are tickled to share this lovely Easter shoot with you sent to us from Gasoline Photography in Stadtgarten, Germany. It’s just so cute and we thank mom and photographer Stefanie for sharing this afternoon of quality time with her adorable little girl. Happy Easter! Photography | Gasoline Photography
Happy Friday to you all! We hope you have a lovely Easter weekend planned. With Easter here and Mother’s Day quickly approaching I wanted to share some sweet and simple favor ideas and effortless spring entertaining tips. This shoot was created for our spring ezine with outdoor entertaining in mind. What better way to spend a spring afternoon… read more »
Spring is here, which means warmer nights and longer days! As we’re plotting away finishing touches for our spring weddings and events, we’re encouraging our clients to have some fun and bring in games their guests can play. At San Diego’s royal wedding next Friday our fun-loving couple Brad and Katie had the idea to turn a navy… read more »
We always love new finds and sharing them with our readers. A few months ago we stumbled upon Fresh Line Illustration and Design. Artist Colleen Johnson designs charming ring bearer pillows , guest books, and funky art prints just perfect for newlyweds. We photographed some of her vibrant and fun ring bearer pillow for our spring ezine; they… read more »
Whenever Jonathan Ivy sends his work our way we get so excited. We love that his engagement shoots are just so natural, beautifully captured, and are always authentic. Give bride-to-be Kendra a chance to show off a dazzling sapphire dress and those killer heels and spend the day romancing with fiancé Oscar and you have a mighty fine engagement… read more »
Your wedding day is the day that you want to cherish. You want to savor each and every moment and relish in the celebration, enjoy your family and friends, and have the time of your life. Our simple tips will help you ensure that you can do just that: 1. Take a morning stroll to clear… read more »
Happy Friday! What fun things do you have planned for the weekend? We are refreshing and relaxing before some wonderful weddings and are taking a great weekend off for Nick’s birthday today! Whatever your plans are, I hope today’s post will inspire you to create a breezy afternoon of entertaining with close friends. From the… read more »
Today’s Fargo, North Dakota real wedding from Katie Lewis Photography gives new meaning to the term blushing bride. Beautiful bride Linsey’s entire look is so timeless and the blush detailing from her flowers to makeup are subtle and just perfect. Her look is reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour, isn’t it? Linsey’s over sized blush peonies… read more »
We just love when Heather Mount shares her amazing photography with us. Today’s spring Texas engagement shoot is no exception! It’s light and airy and brimming with love, sweet love. We’ll let you see for yourself! From photographer Heather: These two are as sweet as can be, and let us pretty much decide all the details… read more »
We are thrilled to showcase a gorgeous bridal shoot sent to us by the talented duo and our friends Kismet and April from The Unreal Bride. We will let them take it from here: Hello Hello, everyone! It has been quite an exciting month for us over here at The Unreal Bride-from being featured on national… read more »
One of the key elements of any wedding reception or party is the dining. We encourage our couples and clients to make this time a true experience, rather than another ordinary and predictable sit-down meal. When planning your special event consider our Top 3 {Simple} Ideas to treat your guests to a memorable dining experience. 1. Welcome them with… read more »
Happy Friday to you! I hope you have something fun in store for this spring weekend. What better way to impress your guests by turning an ordinary gathering into an experience? In our spring eglossy I wanted to create an innovative and fun wine tasting party so we created a wine flight spread. The perfect idea for… read more »
As you likely know, we think our pals over at The Bride Suite are just so fun. They happen to think we’re rather crafty at whipping up packaging, table tops, and other miscellaneous goodies we’re given so, in the spirit of fun, they challenged us to a table top design. The task: pick 5-6 items to… read more »
Love is in the air! Chelsea and Corey’s Florida engagement session was sent over by Pure 7 Studios and it’s utterly sweet and romantic. As we’ve been saying for a while, we’re really loving engagement shoots that are timeless and just a couple in love having fun. Few props are needed here… Well, except for… read more »
Today’s real wedding was submitted to us by the ever-so talented Jan Michele Photography and it is just delightful. Courtney and Saul’s Upper Marlboro, Maryland springtime wedding is classic and timeless and so darling. Some of Aleah’s favorite bouquets are those that look as if they were just plucked right from an English garden. The… read more »
Weddings and special events are the perfect time to treat your guests to darling touches, innovative ideas, and fun spring details. Those details make such an impact and help finish off the thoughtful ideas that you have designed and pored over for months. Whether it’s a hand-painted table number or a scrumptiously descriptive menu atop each place setting, guests… read more »
Happy Sunday! We hope you are enjoying a lazy Sunday. We sure are after an amazing wedding last night. We are so grateful for our wonderful, kind clients. You all make our job so rewarding! Today enjoy an impromptu brunch by displaying store-bought powdered doughnuts on vibrant plates and serving with more formal silverware. Enjoy! Photo… read more »
It’s been quite an exciting week here {and it’s April!} as we launched our Spring EGlossy At Home with Valley & Co. It was a labor of love and the response was incredible. We are so grateful for our contributors, for the outstanding support, and the stellar feedback. Thank you all! Needless to say, our minds are… read more »
We are so very excited to announce our dear friend Kate from New Zealand stationery design studio Ruby & Willow {and the wonderful blog Magnolia Rouge} as our monthly Valley & Co. color palette and stationery contributor! You have likely seen Kate’s amazing inspiration boards on her blog; stop on by and say hello monthly for gorgeous color palettes and accompanying… read more »
We are beyond thrilled to announce the launch of At Home with Valley & Co. – Spring. Our second magazine issue features contributions some of our favorite All-Star industry pals: from Ceci New York to The Loveliest Day, Housewife Bliss, Just Wenderful, Lauren Elise Crafted, and so many more, this issue is brimming with innovative and… read more »
One of the most important bits of advice we tell our couples on their wedding day is to sneak off for a moment together, just the two of you. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the celebration it is quite easy to get swept away by family members, dancing, dining, and taking it all in.… read more »
We love weddings at historic venues and today’s real wedding from Jan Michele Photography and Events in the City has us oh-so happy. Amanda and Jonathan’s summer nuptials were thoughtfully designed and each detail from the menu cards to the bouquets, glassware, and the ceremony tied together so beautifully. Not to mention, their venue tops our… read more »
To me there’s not much better than a really good, strong, smelly cheese paired with a rustic baguette and a good champagne. This weekend take it easy and create an impromptu dinner and create your own easy, yet oh-so-delicious spread by picking up a variety of hearty blues, creamy French cheeses {Rouge et Noir Triple… read more »
Hooray for sunny spring engagement sessions! ‘Tis the season for getting out there and enjoying the fresh air and Mother Nature. Today’s engagement session from Lauren Piper Photography {styled by the bride!} has us giddy with spring excitement. Check out the sweetness for yourself: From Lauren Piper: Chelsea and Gabe are actual high school sweethearts. After… read more »
We are so excited to send warm wishes and some sweet recipes to our lovely friend Claire who is tying the knot this weekend! Annie from Marry You Me had these charming recipe cards designed and some of us came together to send Claire into wedded bliss in a sweet way. Be sure to stop… read more »
Spring has arrived and with it raindrops have followed here in Southern California! What better way to make rain fashionable than by carrying one of these delicious creations from Seattle’s Bella Umbrella? We love this shop and they have vintage, custom, and new umbrellas both for sale and for rent. Black and White Umbrella |… read more »
Everything is coming up roses {and rosemary, and lavender, and lisianthus!} now that spring has shown its pretty face. We can’t get enough of the seasons that allow for us to create and design to our hearts’ content using fresh and natural elements. Here are some of our personal favorite {simple} springtime elements our clients… read more »
Hooray for spring! We are so happy to welcome a new, fresh season and what better way to do so than with an enchanting spring-inspired wedding from Two Ring Studios and Shay Brown Events? Abby and Jacob’s North Carolina nuptials are so magical and lush. Each detail is brushed with green tones: from Kelly green to chartreuse… read more »
Happy Sunday and Happy {almost} Spring! Today’s Sunday Simplicity is so delicious and light: chive, honey, and chèvre spread on toasted baguette bites. I stumbled upon a recipe on Epicurious but put an Aleah spin on it by sweetening it with honey goat cheese. Enjoy! Chive and Honey chèvre Spread on a Toasted Baguette {adapted from… read more »
Spring is just a few days away! We are excited for the changing of the seasons and to us spring represents new inspiration and energy. What are you doing to prep for spring? Head out to a local market or garden and pluck some lovely blooms for your home or office and get inspired! Cheers to… read more »
We are still in shock and disbelief over what has happened in Japan. Our hearts are so heavy thinking of the helplessness and suffering that is occurring and we want to do anything possible to help. Our friends Lydia at Ever Ours and Lucia at Utterly Engaged have joined forces with blogger pals to raise awareness… read more »
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all! Today wouldn’t be complete without an Irish blessing and some green, would it? Being part Irish myself {as well as a wee bit French and 1/2 Norwegian}, I love St. Patrick’s Day for the fun and lighthearted day that it is and for the nod to Ireland. I’ve been to the… read more »
Oh, what a treat we have to share with you! This engagement session is positively perfect to get us in the spring mood. The magical lighting, the dockside guitar session, and the bike ride through the park have us so excited for spring to show its sunny face! We hope you enjoy this; it continues… read more »
We are so thrilled to share this gorgeous wedding with you; it took place at one of our favorite Washington resorts: Semiahmoo. Aubrey Joy Photography sent this our way and did an amazing job capturing the day in such an artistic and timeless way. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Semiahmoo actually… read more »
Happy Monday to you all! When planning your at home fête, wedding celebration, or brunch gathering, look to some of your favorite things to incorporate a personal touch. Here are just a few of our favorite {European} delights and ideas on how to incorporate them into a memorable bash. 1. A Pimm’s Cup is one… read more »
Happy Friday to all of you! I hope you have a fun weekend planned, whether it’s prepping your home for spring, enjoying a lovely meal out with loved ones, or scouring the beach for weathered sea glass {Mermaid’s Tears}. Spending hours on the beach searching for little glowing gems of sea glass is a favorite past… read more »
We just love this engagement shoot sent over to us by the incredibly talented photography duo at Betwixt Studio. This San Diego session proves that all you need is love {and some great architecture}! Amy and Maurice from Betwixt chat about this photogenic couple: “Holly and Kevin are a super sweet couple. The first time they… read more »
When entertaining {whether in your home or for your wedding celebration} often times the simplest details create the most impact. A hand-written note to your guests, a fresh rosemary sprig from your garden, a simple flower or branch, or a thoughtfully wrapped napkin on each place setting,make guests feel special and well taken care of. Sunday… read more »
Roche Harbor Resort is the quaintest, sweetest venue you ever did see. It’s located on San Juan Island, a sleepy island in the San Juan chain just a ferry ride from Seattle but seemingly a world away. We just love the islands and were thrilled when the lovely ladies at Belathée Photography shared Ann and Eddie’s… read more »
We hope today’s post brings a burst of spring color and inspiration to you {especially those friends of ours who are still in the cold!}. Last weekend we partnered with our lovely friends at Exquisite Weddings Magazine and The Bride Suite and co-designed a modern-meets-lovely table for the US Grant Royal Wedding Showcase. We took our… read more »
We hope you are doing something positively relaxing today. Perhaps a refreshing cocktail is in order to top off an afternoon of nestling into your favorite book or spring magazine? This refreshing spiked rosemary lemonade recipe sounds just plain tasty {it can be enjoyed with or without vodka}. Cheers! Image and recipe from The Nest Ingredients 1 cup fresh… read more »
It’s no secret that we adore Exquisite Weddings Magazine. If you have never seen, felt or read an issue, you must order your own copy {how gorgeous is the spring cover?}! Amidst the over sized pages you’ll find the best in hand-picked stylish gowns, stationery ideas, hair accessories, expert insight, and inspiration laid out in… read more »
We’ve been working away on editorial and inspiration for our upcoming Spring Ezine {we have the best contributors around on board!}. Today we wanted to show off a teeny sneak peek from one of our shoots with dear friend Jenny from Llanes Weddings. Any ideas on what the rest of this design might consist of? Photo by Llanes… read more »
Mixing and matching tones and palettes when it comes to your wedding party can paint such a lovely picture. There are countless ways that you can add panache to your wedding party by dreaming up an innovative look like no other. Working with a sherbet palette, this look is sweet and charming, yet the cardigans… read more »
Vibrant wedding palettes are beautiful and when a photographer plays off of a colorful background and shoots focal points like bright tiles and fruit, gorgeous shots are captured. Today’s real wedding comes from a Valley & Co. sponsor Photography by Verdi . We adore the rustic accents contrasting the sweet jewelry, delicate beading on the bride’s dress,… read more »
Happy Monday! We hope you’ve all had a fabulous weekend! In today’s Monday Coffee we lend some truly simple tips that add to the experience for your guests {they’re easily overlooked}: 1. Pre-ceremony offer your guests a water station {think bottles or cups} with cucumber- or lemon-infused water. Especially during the summer months this is a must.… read more »
I just adore ruffled, over sized blooms that when grouped together create an eclectic, cafe-inspired look. I happened upon this image from Once Wed and it’s just perfect! My favorite flower market is in Vieux Nice in Nice, France. I could just wander and smell and take in the flowers for hours. This image takes… read more »
Happy Friday to you all! As crazy weather patterns and storms are criss-crossing the country, I wish you all a warm and sunny weekend…on the Yucatan Peninsula! -Aleah Image from Valley & Co. What are your plans this weekend? Will you be cozying up next to a fire while the snow falls outside or nestling… read more »
When we spied this wedding sent to us from Studio 563 we got a little giddy. This wedding was a total family labor of love with handpicked details. From the photographers: Diana & Bret were such a pleasure to work with! They married on the Tasch Farm outside of Austin, Texas. Everyone played a part… read more »
How lovely are these paper flowers? These came from the incredibly talented team at Momental Designs. Not only to they make for fun boutonnières, but paper bloom bouquets are stunning and will last forever and they can make a simple place card a keepsake as an adornment. This palette of blush and a pale, icy… read more »
I am loving these shoe posts – many of our blogging pals {check out a couple: Magnolia Rouge | Postcards and Pretties} participate in Tuesday Shoesday {I’ve come to find it’s a wide-spread deal} and it’s quite fun! I was perusing Anthropologie for some comfy new spring shoes and spied these lovely sandals. Don’t they just scream changing of the… read more »
Your wedding shouldn’t just be another wedding. We encourage our couples and clients to envision creativity.Think about what you can incorporate to really make your guests say “wow” and set your wedding apart with entertainment. Start by thinking about what you and your spouse-to-be do for fun. Think about how your heritage or your favorite music can spice… read more »
The highly anticipated Oscars are a week away and what better way to watch than with some sweet, bubbly drinks and gourmet caramel popcorn? Both recipes are entirely too simple and quite delicious. Enjoy! Champagne | Popcorn The Oscar: We love to add a scoop {just an over sized table spoon} of orange or raspberry sorbet to a champagne… read more »
Happy Friday to you! Thank you for stopping by today. Spring is just around the corner and for me it means a sense of freshness. Creativity seems to bloom as the sun peeks out. While we plant more year-round {on Valentine’s Day we planted a new bougainvillea and an orchid}, I love to spruce up… read more »
I adore sweet details at weddings, events, at home, and when entertaining. I stumbled upon a post on Junebug Weddings with these incredibly charming save the date hankies. These could be the perfect take-home gift for afternoon tea guests, for bridesmaids, or a friend’s summer birthday. Hankies | Garland I also love this chair garland;… read more »
You might remember us talking excitedly about a big surprise birthday bash for a family we adore and have worked with over several years. This party was a surprise 50th birthday soirée for the matriarch of the family and we were thrilled to come on board. In just under three months we created a rockin’ bash… read more »
Surely you’ve all seen the new site + goodies from BHLDN. There was quite a buzz leading up to it and I’ll say that I do adore most all of the frocks. They’re light, airy confections that are really lovely. I am not a big fan of any enormous headpiece that takes away from a… read more »
We adore our friend Brenda from Best Wedding Sites and were up for the challenge she created for Valentine’s Day. She put together teams to create an inspiration shoot and, in true Valley fashion, we staged our shoot on our beach. We’ve been together for many {I mean many} Valentine’s Days and we always do… read more »
We styled this shoot to encourage creativity. Our vision for this world traveler-inspired shoot was to take our bride and groom back to an era when traveling was truly seen as an incredibly romantic adventure. We wanted to showcase unique ideas for a wedding reception luncheon and also non-traditional wedding reception attire. Using Sail Bay in… read more »
By now we’ve all seen the sneak peek images that came out from the new {and oh-so lovely} wedding line from Anthropologie called BHLDN {pronounced Beholden}. These are my favorite picks from those that were released, paired with some utterly sweet photos. I adore this flirty and fun retro-inspired frock. Pair it with a champagne… read more »
I {Aleah} adore Norah Jones and her song “Come Away with Me” has been playing in my head today. It was a cozy day on the coast; a little chilly with a misty marine layer. I loved it and it reminded me of Seattle and Norah. Those thoughts took me to this place {my happy… read more »
There is just so much goodness going on this week. We love it! First off, we want to warmly welcome Photography by Verdi as a Valley & Co. sponsor! We love featuring their goodness and are so excited to have them on board. This breathtaking, Fire Island engagement shoot they captured is the epitome of coastal romance and… read more »
We love New York City and just adore this quintessential NYC ballroom wedding. It’s charming, it’s romantic, and it’s absolutely classic. The skyscrapers. The taxi. The gorgeous architecture. We love all of these elements and hope you enjoy as well! Thank you so much to Photography by Verdi for sharing this beautiful wedding with us!… read more »
Happy Super Bowl Sunday! We’re always striving to test out new, simple recipes that are just delicious and maybe a bit unusual. This recipe for Blue Cheese & Pomegranate Bites is just that. Try it out and let us know what you think! Recipe from Half Baked Blue Cheese Pomegranate Bites 1 (8-ounce) piece of… read more »
Happy Friday! As many of you know, we absolutely love living on the coast. We both grew up with family homes on sandy or cliff side coastlines and we reside in a 1920s beach bungalow. I always take the most relaxing breaths on the coast {coasts in Canada, Mexico, Italy, France, you name it}. Needless to say, we have… read more »
While most of our friends across the country are buried in snow and ice, we’re thinking warm thoughts for you….but we are secretly longing for a blustery, windy day so that we can cozy up and spend a day relaxing and watching some of our favorite movies…this board is representative of just that: a blustery,… read more »
Each Christmas we can count on getting homemade jam from Aleah’s 92 year-old Grandma Grace. It’s always incredible and we can just taste that she poured so much love into each batch. We love the idea of gifting your guests a truly special {and delectable} take-home favor of homemade jam in a jar. Image via On Food… read more »
We adore Jonathan Ivy Photography and love when his pretty weddings get sent our way! This November Texas wedding was all homespun and was a labor of love all around. Says Jonathan: “This beautiful antique inspired wedding was a DIY dream. The bridesmaids made the bouquets while the bride got her makeup done at her mom’s… read more »
We hope you had a wonderful weekend! We had a busy one and attended the big bash for San Diego Magazine’s Top 50 to Watch list; we are still just beyond grateful and so honored to be on the list with such amazing people! Then we jetted over to Palm Springs for the super fun Hitched Event!… read more »
Happy Friday! I hope you have some fantastic plans for the weekend! We have a weekend filled with some amazing events {ones we’re attending for once, not planning!}. I hope you take some time out to relax and enjoy the little things: like air plants! There is something just so mysterious about air plants. Not… read more »
Summer is around the corner, which means the time has arrived to plan the bar at your wedding or bash. We’ve said it before and will say it again: choose cocktails people will truly enjoy, while still being unique and your style. While overly sugary drinks may look tasty, we see more go to waste than… read more »
This is one of our all-time favorite photos shoots that we’ve styled and we’re so happy to show it to you! The concept was Nick’s: create an unexpected shoot brimming with simple South of France-inspired details: think a classic Bond-esque tuxedo, martinis, and crisp nautical china; all timeless elements. We went for a non-floral motif with… read more »
We’re loving engagement shoot where a couple’s true love radiates. There aren’t any props or distractions; just a couple totally and completely in love. This engagement shoot is charming and special as it was captured on a very rare snowy day in Georgia last month. The couple jumped at a chance to utilize a bitter… read more »
“Traditionally” the groom and his family take charge of the rehearsal dinner planning and all that it entails. This night is key to opening the wedding experience your guests are in store for and it’s a time your guests will get to know each other, reunite, and quite often share memories through speeches to the bride and… read more »
Happy Sunday! Surely you’re enjoying the big games today – if you’re still in need of a simple, yet really delicious snack above and beyond chips + salsa, treat your guests to some tasty figs with goat cheese and prosciutto. Image from Petite Chef You need: Fresh figs | Chèvre {goat cheese}| Prosciutto Dollop a… read more »
Lately we’ve had spring on the brain. With our gorgeous Southern California weather these past few weeks, it makes me really excited for bright and cheerful spring days. We’re longing for days that last longer, for bulbs to sprout, and for some of our amazing and refreshing springtime weddings. I hope you enjoy this collection of… read more »
A while back we designed a whirlwind of fun + simple table top designs and had an inspiring day of styling with our pals at Llanes Weddings. This woodland-inspired shoot was full of spongy, lime green moss, gold brocade napkins, and a dreamy green setting {though it was set at the tropical Catamaran Hotel in San Diego}.… read more »
I {Aleah} just love doilies and while we don’t use them in our own home décor, I really do admire them, especially when used in innovative ways. My great-grandma would crochet doilies and I appreciate how much patience and thought they take to hand make. There really is just so much that you can do… read more »
Today’s British Columbia wedding is such a sunny, cheery one that just makes us happy. In the middle of winter a beaming, ethereal bride and her handsome, overjoyed groom radiate joy. This wedding makes us long for summer and we’re excited for the sunny and bright ideas we’re working on with our couples. Without further ado,… read more »
Happy Monday! We hope you had a wonderful, relaxing weekend! Let’s dive into our Monday Coffee and chat about the best {simple} ideas to stamp your wedding with sweet personalized touches. 1. We always encourage our couples to really think about what they love to do for fun, what restaurants they like, where they love to… read more »
We love this recipe and enjoyed it over the holidays with family. It makes for the perfect, light brunch when paired with a mimosa. Enjoy! Ingredients: 12 slices of Canadian bacon/ham – prosciutto would also be tasty 12 raw eggs 1 cup shredded cheese {Gruyere is delicious} salt, pepper, cooking spray Directions: Preheat oven to 350. Spray a… read more »
This recipe is too simple and so fun. We whipped up some batches for the Seahawks game tomorrow. You could also use them as salad toppings or to garnish a comfy tomato basil bisque. Enjoy! 2 (12 ounce) packages oyster crackers 1 cup vegetable oil 1 1/2 tablespoons dry Ranch dressing mix 1 teaspoon lemon pepper 1 teaspoon… read more »
Happy Friday! Stay tuned next Friday when we’re back with At Home with Aleah. Today we’re excited to showcase a collection of some of our favorite posts from around the web this week. How cool are these DJ request cards from Wedding Chicks via Postcards and Pretties? The simplicity of this country kitchen table via… read more »
There’s something so comforting and cozy about winter weddings and Stacy & Marco’s Delaware wedding fits the bill. From the winter white bouquets studded with texture to the glowing ambiance created for their reception, each detail paints the perfect cozy picture on a chilly winter canvas. We are big suckers for string musicians during a… read more »
We are so excited to share this beautiful Walla Walla, Washington winery wedding {say that five times fast!}. It’s brimming with the sweetest details, one lovely couple, and two cute pooches! We just adore winery weddings and Central Washington is the perfect setting. Jodi + Ben are from Seattle, yet love wine {Ben is in… read more »
If you’re not familiar with Kristy Rice and her Momental Designs team, we encourage you to get to know them all! We’ve partnered with the talented team on some really fun projects over the past year {our 1950s nautical shoot, some beautiful magazine table top designs, and recently lovely sculpted paper bouquets for our New… read more »
While we love a good traditional wedding cake, mini desserts are continuing to be big on the scene at weddings and events. What’s great about seasonal galettes or tarts is that you can truly give your guests a personalized, gourmet experience and show off the best of your local fruits. Mini pies like these are… read more »
Special moments captured between a bride and groom are so pertinent to telling the entire story of a wedding day. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle and excitement of the wedding day this can get lost. We love when our couples steal away with their photographers for some romantic moments aside from the traditional posed… read more »
Sometimes the most charming centerpieces are those that are simple, yet thoughtful and understated, not overdone. Stock your favorite milk glass vessel, a vintage watering can, or tins with monochromatic blooms for a darling vision. Image via Jigsaw Explorer | Image via Carolyn’s Homework Aren’t these sweet tins just so lovely? Dress up tea tins or coffee… read more »
Happy New Year to you all! Congratulations to those newly engaged over the holidays! We’re loving Brooke and Tyler’s Canadian engagement session to us {via Two Bright Lights} from Barbara Ann Studios as it’s magical, beautiful, and just romantic. When planning out your engagement session, think about the following: 1. Location, location, location. Find a secluded spot that’s sentimental… read more »
One of the most refreshing palette cleansers is basil lemon sorbet. After weeks of delicious holiday food, something light and airy sounds perfect. This basil lemon sorbet we served up packs a bit of a punch with the zesty lemon flavor but balances out your meal or acts as the perfect, fresh dessert. Making your… read more »
A very Happy New Year to you! Thank you all for being part of an incredible year that was 2010. We are so thrilled to welcome a wonderful 2011 and wish you all the very best this coming year. Here’s to a fun, festive, and cheery New Year’s celebration. Whether you’re fêting with your best… read more »
Wow, time flies! We are excited for all that’s happened in 2010 and are eagerly awaiting the clock to strike midnight to ring an incredible new year. As you prepare for your New Year’s celebrations, think about keeping things simple going into 2011. Surrounding yourself with loved ones; a cozy + festive table top, and… read more »
We are beyond grateful + so thrilled to make this announcement. We absolutely love what we do and are so proud to be recognized for our work, both past, present, and to come. 2011 is going to be amazing and are ready for the ride! *Read the full press release below. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Valley… read more »
We hope you had a wonderful holiday with loved ones. As we leave the wonderful year that was 2010 we excitedly anticipate 2011. Spend this week refreshing. Renewing. Enjoying. Celebrating. Image via Etsy Enjoy! Stay tuned this week for a big announcement + some New Year’s Eve inspiration! Image via Country Living Cheers!
The perfect post-Christmas meal: Dutch Babies with chorizo and fried eggs. Delicious! Dutch Babies are light, subtly sweet, and just scrumptious for the Sunday after Christmas. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas weekend. What was your favorite meal or dish of the holidays? Image Eating Out Loud Ingredients 2 eggs 1/2 cup milk 1/2… read more »
Felt Garland DIY Merry Christmas! I’m Jenny from Hank + Hunt, and I adore garlands of any kind. When Nick and Aleah asked me to do a pretty little tutorial for them I was so excited! I put together this super simple, but oh so cute felt garland based on traditional circle paper garlands. All… read more »
We adore Katie Martin of Eco Beautiful Weddings Magazine and we were overjoyed to contribute our take on a table design for the Etsy Love Challenge in the Winter Issue {and first anniversary!} of the magazine. Of course, we brought on our totally talented pals Jenny + Joseph Llanes of Llanes Weddings to photograph. Our table… read more »
Christmas is upon us! As we enter into the week of Christmas, we wanted to share some simple tips for putting the finishing touches on a magical Christmas weekend to ensure your celebrations sparkle. 1. Easy crowd pleasers: these candied spiced walnuts are easy to make in big batches and can be both served at… read more »
Here it is! We were raving about the sugar cookies we make each year at Christmastime with Martha Stewart’s recipe – and you wanted it! We hope you enjoy and bake up a storm! Sugar CookiesIngredients2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter 1 cup sugar… read more »
The countdown to Christmas is on! I just love the Christmas season and everything it entails. We both grew up in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest and for years my family has decorated our island home with a bounty of coastal nods. Nick and I also live on the beach on the Pacific and this year decked out… read more »
Our job often entails predicting and setting innovative trends for our couples to incorporate into their celebrations. It’s great fun to work with such unique couples and as we typically plan weddings out one to two years, we wanted to share some our predictions for 2011 and 2012 with you. It’s all about envisioning creativity. Aleah 20111.… read more »
Today visions of winter are dancing in our heads. We’re excitedly wrapping the details for our first wedding of the New Year where winter white is prominent. We’re loving these images of winter white paper designs used in decor. How incredible is this all-paper sculpted staircase? Talk about welcoming your guests! Image found here Who says… read more »
This love shoot is beyond charming. It was sent to us by Brilliant Imagery and the images are indeed brilliant. Taken in the fall at Red Rocks in Southern Nevada, the details are simply stunning. How gorgeous is this couple? The candlesticks are incredibly magical, aren’t they? They have developed their own elegant decay… read more »
Today’s Monday Coffee is a bit different than our usual tip-filled Monday posts. We’re showing off our charming table top design with you to inspire you to welcome your holidays guests into a cozy ambiance in your home. Our tips today are simple, yet have an incredible impact in drawing guests close, filling your table with… read more »
Aren’t these demi servings of white chocolate mousse adorned with powdered sugar raspberries so adorable? They look delicious and creamy – we hope you get a chance to whip them up for your holiday entertaining. The wonderful thing is that this recipe yields 8-10 servings and you can make them well before your bash. Enjoy!… read more »
We mentioned in our holiday ezine that stocking a bowl of ornaments by your door at the holidays is a must. We keep this silver tray by our door and have already given out a handful of ornaments to neighbors and friends dropping off a holiday gift and one who just stopped by to say hello.… read more »
During the holidays I love to make orange pomanders made by inserting whole cloves into tangerines or oranges. Pomanders are an old tradition dating back to Victorian times {and can possibly be traced back to ancient Arab traditions} and were used to mask scents. Perhaps my love of pomanders dates back to our European honeymoon seven… read more »
We are crazy about our amazing couple. Katie and Brad happen to be incredibly fun to be around, the sweetest people around, and they also had THE wedding date first. Yes, they are tying the knot in a coastal soiree in La Jolla on April 29th. We’re talking jaw-dropping details that will indeed rival that… read more »
We are so excited {and a little nervous!} to point out that Christmas is just two and a half weeks away! We’re looking forward to celebrating with our families and ringing in the New Year with friends. Post-holidays we have a fabulous wintry New Year’s Day wedding and a smashing event the following weekend so… read more »
A few weeks ago we put together some wonderful mini shoots with some dear friends, Jenny and Joseph Llanes of Llanes Weddings for our lovely friends at The Bride Suite. This particular shoot was meant to inspire you to truly get creative and provide your guests with sweet and thoughtful details from start to finish.… read more »
Just how perfect and scrumptious does this perfectly stacked plate of macadamia nut pancakes look? It’s topped with a light and airy vanilla bean crème anglaise. Okay, perhaps not the simplest recipe, but it’s amazing. You can substitute the crème anglaise for a good maple syrup to keep it easy. Enjoy! Image and recipe from Dessert… read more »
We’re happy to have you back for the second edition of At Home with Aleah! We make a point to have easy holiday gifts at the ready if we’re invited to a neighbor’s home for a nightcap, dinner at a friend’s, or in case a holiday guest stops by unnounced. I enjoyed creating these effortless… read more »
We are beyond excited for the holidays and wanted to share this simple + lovely wintry inspiration with you. We love decking the halls to the max and our house radiates Christmas. Most is decked out with coastal elements, heirloom ornaments, and classic Christmas decor {we just love dressing up our beach bungalow}!. These images show us how effortless, yet stunning holiday… read more »
We are so excited to share Christine and Ben’s sweet Woodinville wedding with you. They are one of our wonderful Seattle office couples and we just love these woodsy, romantic images that really epitomize a Seattle-area wedding. A winery + a wooded setting + a five-star meal = total Northwest magic. As guests arrived {most… read more »
Boy, you’re in for a wonderfully romantic treat today! We just love this Ever After session sent over to us by Maranda Lambrich from Evoke Images. It epitomizes love and affection and is really quite special, reminding us of 1970s photos {not to mention their adorabe dogs!}. From Maranda: Crystal described their personal style as being… read more »
To all of our Stateside readers, we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! We’re happy to be back after the long weekend and our NYC trip with today’s Monday Coffee. Despite entering into the chilly {and often frosty and snowy} winter months, we love when our couples and clients utilize gorgeous outdoor spaces for their… read more »
We hope you’ve all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday weekend! After all of the delicious food, Christmas decorating, and goodness and fun had, we’re in need of a much lighter treat! While we love drinking chocolate and pumpkin pie, we’re on a bit of a sugar overload! We hope you enjoy this recipe for peppermint… read more »
We hope you had an incredible Thanksgiving! We are excited to launch a new series of posts from Aleah featuring entertaining and home decorating tips. We can’t wait to hear what you think! It’s our tradition to spend the post-Thanksgiving weekend trimming our tree! We’ll be draping our beach bungalow with sparkling lights, setting up classic… read more »
It’s almost here! Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Today we give you our refined rustic shoot for some late Thanksgiving entertaining inspiration. We wish you a holiday full of family, friends, good conversation, wonderful food, and a day of thanks. We are beyond grateful for all of your support, your readership, and your friendship. While the… read more »
If this engagement shoot doesn’t put you in the mood for winter {on top of the snow that’s covering much of the country!}, we don’t know what will! We love the simplicity of this shoot, yet how romantic and cozy the overall feeling is. This goes to show that all you need is love {and… read more »
As we enter the week of Thanksgiving and the holiday season, we wanted to take a moment to stop and give thanks and reflect on what we all do and the joy that we get to bring to others. Back in August Jennifer and Greg were brought to our attention by Nick’s mom. Greg was a patient… read more »
DIY All-In-One S’mores KitHi Valley & Co readers! I’m Lauren from Lauren Elise Crafted and I am beyond thrilled and honored to be here with you today. I have gotten to know Aleah and Nick through Twitter and have found so much inspiration and insight into the wedding industry through these two pros. As a… read more »
Hey all…. I’m delighted to be doing a guest post for A+N whilst they’re living it up in the Big Apple!! Today’s board is all about winter inspiration. The Aspen invitation was one I did for a bride during the southern hemisphere winter and thought it made a nice change seeing orange come through for… read more »
Today we are handing the blog over to Erica O’Brien of Erica O’Brien Cake Design. Erica hails from New York and has been designing wedding cakes for 15 years. Five years ago, Erica O’Brien Cake Design relocated to Long Beach, California. Erica works with couples with a variety of budgets. Below, she identifies cost effective ways… read more »
I am so honored to be writing up this guest post for the lovely Aleah & Nick (Valley & Co) today – they have inspired me so much and I just can’t thank them enough for that! Ahh, the power of Twitter! In keeping with the theme of the rustic and cozy fall season, I… read more »
First things first: thank you to the amazing team of Aleah + Nick for giving the opportunity to guest blog for them today. You are both an inspiration to me and this guest blogging is just another evidence of the power of social media and in this case, Twitter.So when Aleah asked me if I’d… read more »
Earlier this week our Heirloom Goodness shoot was featured on one of our favorite blogs, The Loveliest Day. This shoot was crafted by Aleah with chic and sweet details in mind and many heirloom pieces passed down from our grandmothers were used. You know us, we always like to step outside of the box {even just… read more »
We really can’t begin to express how overjoyed we were with the amazing Blogging Around the Wedding World: Elegant Decay series that took place yesterday. In case you missed it, you really should start from the beginning! We can say that we are beaming with pride and are just so proud that we are in such… read more »
We are beyond excited to have a part in the very first Blogging Around the Wedding World day! What, you might ask, is Blogging Around the Wedding World? We’ve rounded up an incredible group of talented and creative bloggers to feature one photo each from our Elegant Decay shoot every fifteen minutes. We start in New… read more »
We are so excited to have our heirloom shoot featured over on The Loveliest Day today! Head on over and let us know what you think! Here’s a snipped of our advice featured {head on over to read the rest}: …This could mean borrowing Grandma’s favorite brooch to adorn the bride’s bouquet… Photo from Jeremy Leffel
We just love a good party {both attending and hosting them} and as we’re nearing upon the most wonderful time of the year, today’s Monday Coffee is dedicated to our top tips to ensure your guests have an incredible time at your holiday bash.1. Be ready. This is the key to enjoying your own party… read more »
We are getting so excited for the holidays and love snowy white accents for winter weddings and parties. We have a gorgeous winter wedding on New Year’s Day and we can’t wait! Here is a sprinkling of some winter white inspiration. Our white chocolate martinis served up in vintage glasses set the perfect tone for when… read more »
Okay, just how cool is this wedding? We are quite smitten with this; we always, always tell our couples that their wedding should be a reflection of them as a couple. This Montauk, New York wedding totally fits that bill. It’s glamorous, it’s retro and it’s so them! A big thank you to Photography by… read more »
I {Aleah} am getting so excited for the holidays! We have a project tomorrow that just called for me to make a sweet take-home favor that’s perfect for fall and the holidays. These little pouches can really be made from whatever fabric you desire {go with a golden threaded taffeta for Christmas or silver for… read more »
It’s that time! Now that Halloween has passed we’re rounding the corner into cozy celebrations, long-lasting dinners, and the holiday season. While we’re not showing off any true holiday glitz in this post {we think it’s just a wee bit too early, plus we have something fun up our sleeves}, we wanted to showcase a variety… read more »
During the wedding planning process we know that it’s {of course} centered around you. Surely your family and friends are helping you and are over the moon for your big day. But in the whirlwind of planning, make sure that you appreciate your support system and take time out to show your appreciation. In addition to the… read more »
Happy Halloween to you! We hope you’re having a spooky, scary day! Today’s Sunday Simplicity is a warm-you-up spiked cider recipe. What better to indulge in on Halloween? Recipe and image from House and Home Ingredients: 6 oz. hot apple cider, 3 whole cloves, 1 stick of cinnamon, 1-1/2 oz. bourbon Directions: Pour cider and… read more »
Wishing you all a very spooky Halloween! What fun are you scaring up this weekend? Check out a few favorite finds for the perfect spooky bash. Image found here We think these brain treats are just disgustingly perfect for Halloween! Image and recipe from Martha Stewart Mix up potions for your Halloween bash like our… read more »
‘Tis the week for engagement shoots! We are all about our couples being themselves and we adore engagement shoots that are reflections of each couple. The balloons are the only props this sweet couple’s engagement session from Free Spirit Photography needs. Their love speaks volumes..how perfect is this? What props would you use for your engagement or… read more »
Our clients Amy and Jimmy are some of the sweetest, kindest people you’ll ever meet. They tied the knot in a lovely morning ceremony at the Rancho Bernardo Inn followed by a scrumptious luncheon reception. Not only was the wedding utterly romantic, the timing allowed for them to enjoy a total private post-photo shoot with… read more »
We were so happy to see this gem of a fun shoot sent over by Dawn E. Roscoe Photography. It took place in an apple orchard in Wisconsin called Apple Holler {how charming is that?}. It’s perfect for this time in fall – just as the leaves are turning crimson and gold, a few days before Halloween,… read more »
Happy Monday! Today we’re bringing you a triple-shot of Monday Coffee goodness! {Scroll down for our giveaway!}First up: Giving Guests the Welcome Treatment {a snippet from our post on Brenda’s Wedding Blog}Whether you have guests traveling from out of city, state, country, or continent, don’t forget about them at your wedding! We know this can be easier… read more »
We love using seasonal textures and elements in celebrations. There’s not much better to adorn fall table tops with than using harvested wheat! Image via Martha Stewart How charming is this table? Mixing pears and wheat has such an enchanting feeling. Image from Kellan Studios For each place setting hand-tie bundles of wheat to adorn… read more »
We are absolutely, positively humbled by the awesome outpouring of support over our new adventure announced yesterday. Really, we’re blown away and thank you all! We’re so excited for what’s to come and very excited about what’s hot off the press this month! The wonderful Barrie Gillies of BRIDES Magazine interviewed us and Marcy Blum for… read more »
Happy Wedding Week to our sweet and inspirational friend Erin of Sparkle and Hay! Our fabulous friend Kate with Ruby & Willow coordinated a worldwide virtual shower to celebrate Erin and Dan! Some of our wonderful friends lent some sentimental messages: Sofia@Brancoprata Kim@BrideGoggles Gaby@CapClassique Abby@TheSuperburbs Naomi@EnchantedDreamWeddings Chris@Postcards&Pretties Kristi@Luna&Chloe Nicole@NicheWhite Megan@Glamour&Grace Allison@EngagedandInspired Magalie@TheDemoiselle Aleah&Nick@Valley&Co Megan@ForgetMeKnotWed… read more »
We’ve always been known to put out a crazy idea or thought and just do it. Back in 2003, after our own wedding, we both chose a path {far different from what we set out to do at university} that led us to create some of Seattle’s most incredible weddings and events by starting our… read more »
It’s that time of year! While white ghost pumpkins can add a bewitching touch to your Halloween décor, they are positively enchanting in weddings and special fall entertaining. Mixing these with sweet blooms softens their unique exterior. Image via The Knot Stenciling a gorgeous border, monogram, or table number on your pumpkins does double duty! Image… read more »
A great place to start when planning your wedding is to sit down together and write out what is important to both of you on your big day. You’d be surprised how many times our couples are not on the same page when they begin, though they think they are. This is easily avoided by… read more »
We love using birch in a variety of different ways at events. Here are three charming and whimsical ways to use birch in true fall fashion. This gorgeous collection of birch containers in staggering heights is so lovely and eclectic. Image via the Sweetest Occasion This birch backdrop, complete with its own sprouting forest, offers… read more »
‘Tis the season to keep your guests warm and comfy at your celebration. While some of the country {yes, us in Southern California} are still enjoying late summer warmth, our nights are cooling off a bit. What better way to treat the lovely ladies at your wedding than with rolled pashminas adorned with a tag… read more »
Bringing the microbrewery into your celebration adds such a unique and tasty touch that your guests will rave about. In most every major city there are great microbreweries, and what a different experience it is to hire them on to provide a custom brew tasting personalized to your tastes. We’ve brought this idea to life several… read more »
This recipe is incredibly delicious, elegant, and the perfect end to a hearty fall {or winter} feast. Brigitte’s Poires Martin Sec au Vin is a simple recipe, yet the end result is quite impressive. What guest wouldn’t feel catered to when this après-dinner treat comes out? You know we always think outside the box: why not have this paired with… read more »
We just love when one of our brides chooses a J. Crew gown for her big day. They’re so stylish, so unique, and so classic. Here are a few of Aleah’s favorite picks for this season. This Clarissa number is romantic with a dash of edge, perfect for a chic and unique bride. Clarissa gown… read more »
There are so many charming ways to tie rustic elements into your big day. Yesterday we were happy to show off a refined rustic vision {thanks to our pal Chris at Postcards and Pretties for that sweet term}. Today’s inspiration is a spin off in a more rustic, rural direction as we discovered these two too-sweet tables that are… read more »
Today’s inspiration is an eclectic mixture of pure elegant touches, rustic hints of whimsy, and a dose of fall. We just love frozen grapes; they are delicious as a snack and scrumptious when dropped into a glass of bubbly {champagne grapes are even better}! We hope you enjoy! Vintage china place settings from Jose Villa, via Duet… read more »
We’re so happy to finally share our clients’ Coronado Island wedding with you; it was featured on Style Me Pretty on Friday! We enjoyed a yearlong planning and design process with Jennifer and Steve and the result was a gorgeous, sentimental, and fun muted Mardi Gras wedding. Check out the inside scoop from the happy bride… read more »
Almost every couple we have struggles with devising their seating chart for their wedding. Who can sit with who, where should we put grandma and grandpa, and should we mix friends and family are questions we hear often. The dynamics of families, step-families, and relationships often come into play as well and can create some… read more »
We often say this to our couples when we get the planning ball rolling: don’t sweat the small stuff. Wedding planning should be fun and a process you both contribute to, but don’t let it over-consume you. Remember why you are getting married, what you stand for, and what your marriage is going to represent. Don’t… read more »
Last week we brought you a charming simple inspiration post using some unexpected fall colors: blackberry, eggplant, violet. Today’s inspiration is tried and true warm fall inspiration: cranberries. Cranberries are such a cozy element that can be used in décor itself or as a springboard for your color palette. For a clients fall wedding we… read more »
Our Monday Coffee series is back! Today we offer up three simple tips to consider when creating and maintaining your guest list. 1. Nick’s #1 tip he tells our clients in regards to who to invite and who to not invite: if you would not take this person {or their extra guests} to a minimum $150 dinner… read more »
Today’s simple inspiration consists of dark, dreamy colors like blackberry, violet, and eggplant. The perfect palette for a dramatic fall event, these colors can be punched up by accenting your place settings with rich menus calligraphed in white ink, stacking plums or eggplants in tall, cylindrical vases, or anchoring your tables with deep walnut chairs. Calligraphy; Eggplants;… read more »
When we spied this ultra-charming Savannah ceremony we just had to share. It was featured on Style Me Pretty and was shot by fellow Little Black Book Member Allison Reisz. We absolutely love the simplicity of the details, though if you look closely the ceremony is brimming with them. The difference is the ethereal palette;… read more »
Rex and Brittany’s end-of-summer wedding at the Sundance Resort is timeless and oh-so beautiful. The natural setting is quite stunning and the lovely details are sweet and subtle; they come together to create a perfect wedding. How beautiful is their color palette? There’s really nothing more perfect than live music played during a ceremony, don’t… read more »
This is really one of the best ways to eat a panini! Brie + chocolate chips + a great bread = perfection! We made this a while back and it’s so sweet and savory; a must bake fall treat! If you’re entertaining a football crowd today, bake up a handful of these and cut each panini… read more »
We are in love with Arica and Jamal’s wedding at the Elysian in Chicago! The stunning design, the vibrant color palette, and the overall ambiance is just too chic! How classic is this venue? It’s elegant, sharp, and just so charming! While Arica and Jamal tied the knot in June, their vibrant palette of plum, lavender, and… read more »
While many consider what type of stylish entrance to make on the big day, sometimes it’s easy to forget that your exit is just as important! A proper Bon Voyage should be in order, and today we round up some classic and fun exits. Placing ribbon wands on each guest’s chair at the ceremony is… read more »
Paper luminaries are so easy to make but pack a fantastically festive punch, especially when the nights start earlier. Whether you utilize a few luminaries or dozens at your event, they’ll provide such a romantic, whimsical glow. Use them to help guide guests down a long and winding path or to anchor an outdoor altar at dusk.… read more »
Today’s post is for the gents. We know it’s easy to get wrapped up in the larger picture of the wedding and easy to forget about what are often viewed as the small details. However, it’s important to think about how key a perfect boutonnière actually is to tying your attire, your style, and how the photos of you… read more »
Eavan an Wade’s backyard Indiana wedding is just too charming. Their nuptials were brimming with sweet, homespun and thoughtful details, and talk about a fun wedding dress! What charming, usable favors! Think about sending your guests home with something they can use at home; whether it’s inside our out, they’ll appreciate it! How fun are these… read more »
There’s something so comforting and cozy about apple pies. We personally love mini pies as they make for the perfect single serving and you can send individual pies home with guests after a dinner party. Wrap in a tea towel or wax paper, cinch with baker’s twine and a fork and you have the perfect… read more »
We love, love our clients Katie and Brad. Not only are they super cool, but they were down to let Aleah have creative vision with their engagement shoot with Llanes Weddings. The result was a fun, relaxed shoot and some stellar, out-of-the-box images that are unlike any others Katie and Brad have. Brad and Katie both… read more »
Now that it’s officially been seen on stands, we are thrilled to share our spin on a French Country Chic celebration with you. Big lovers of all things French, it was natural for us to bring French Country elements into our design. We also nodded to Paris with some subtle details: chic black-and-white striped satin napkins,… read more »
This post was sparked by a recent conversation with lovely Jenny Llanes of Llanes Weddings. We share an incredible love of gourmet cheeses. I mean incredible. Give Aleah a rustic Italian loaf of bread, some deluxe olive oil, sea salted Marcona almonds, and some fabulous cheeses {Rouge et Noir Triple Crème Brie and Mt. Townsend Seastack often top… read more »
Becca and Brent’s springtime winery wedding was brushed with the most delicate, sweet details. The rustic winery backdrop created a close-knit, intimate ambiance and the butterfly accents flirted with timeless romance. We hope you enjoy this gorgeous wedding as much as we do! Now how cute is this photo? Having Grandma help with getting ready… read more »
When this submission came to us from Christine Bentley it sparked a sense of carefree fun. Bride and groom Jennifer and Jay are one of those couples who heeded what we always preach: create a wedding that’s true to YOU. Their high-roller themed wedding looks like an outrageously great time and guests were treated to a gorgeous boat cruise wedding celebration,… read more »