Sterling Buzz: Featured on Junebug Weddings, Style Me Pretty and Rock N' Roll Bride

I'm so excited to share 3 of our weddings that were recently published on some of our favorite blogs.  There's nothing we enjoy more than sharing the special details from so many of our weddings.

Nicole and Matthew were married at her father's estate in Coto de Caza.  This beautiful Orange County wedding was modern, elegant and had just the right amount of sexy.  Read all the details on the Style Me Pretty blog.

 Brandie and Ede had an amazingly sweet and eclectic wedding at the ever so gorgeous Parker Hotel in Palm Springs.  This Palm Springs wedding was such a blast to be a part of and bride Brandie was so creative with all of her special touches.  Including hand sewing the bouquets.  Read all about her design and inspiration on Rock N' Roll Bride's blog.   

I was so fortunate to work with Cricket and Casey in planning their special day and having known Casey for over 10 years it was even more special to be a part of their planning process.  Cricket had this insanely amazing vision and bringing it to life with them was magical.  I'm thrilled that Junebug Weddings featured this lovely garden wedding and all of it's fun details.  

 
Stay tuned for more of our 2011 weddings to be featured soon as well.  Including a lovely Bacara Resort Wedding and uber sweet Temescal Gateway Park wedding.

Holiday Promotion for Wedding Videography from New Classic Films

Today we wanted to share with you a very special promotion that our friends over at New Classic Films are offering.  Whether you are a Sterling Engagement's client or friend, we urge you to take advantage of this awesome deal!

Wedding videography is so important and Camron along with his team are one of our favorite companies around to work with.

This promotion is only good until 11-11-11 so be sure to take advantage of this special offer ASAP!

Quote of the Day: Love is in the Air!

As the holidays approach, couples are getting engaged every moment and love is truly in the air.  Meeting and speaking with so many of you has put all of us in romance land and frankly I love it!

Today's quote is an oldie but a really good one!

"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand"

-Author Unknown-

 

Photo courtesy of Charlotte Geary Photography

Don't you love this photograph.  I found it off the talented Charlotte Geary's website and knew it was perfect for today's post.  So sweet!

Festive Fridays: Bride Ashley + Father David Bust a Move for their Father-Daughter Dance

Today our newest team member Star shared with us this amazing story she'd seen on Good Morning America this morning and we knew we had to share it with you as today's Festive Friday!

Photo courtesy of Good Morning America

We absolutely adore the story of Bride Ashley Richmond and her Father David Sparks who practiced this choreographed dance for close to two months prior to her big day.  For their August wedding they blew guests away with their surprise performance which started off with one of our favorite song's "My Girl" by The Temptations.  Their dance continued and really took a magical turn including such songs as "Stanky Legg", "Boogie Shoes", "My Dougie" and another favorite "Jump on it".  Off course they couldn't end the performance without a little Beyonce, taking the last steps to "Single Ladies" and concluding with a ring shot!

Our summary really doesn't do this powerful duo justice though, check it out for yourself!   

Also, be sure to check out their live reenactment on Good Morning America from today.

Ashely nor her Father never thought their dance, which was uploaded on YouTube would ever become as popular as it has, however they're so excited by it!

Do you think you have the moves to pull something like this off?  Would you pair up with your groom, bridal party, father or even wedding crowd to put on a little extra special entertainment?  What about your groom and his mom?  We're curious to hear what your thoughts are and see if you've got the moves, what song would you pick?

Inspired by Patterns!

Now that I'm back and in full swing, I've been so inspired by patterns lately that I was just aching to write this post.  Patterns are so amazing and add such an impact, regardless of whether they are used in a large or small way.  My favorite are the neutral patterns like black and white, khaki's etc.. but green is also a hot one.

Check out some of the best ways I've seen a patten utilized!

Photo courtesy of Toast and Tables

Photo courtesy of Sweet Ambs

Photo courtesy of Brides Magazine 

 

Photo courtesy of UK Wedding Blog

Photo courtesy of The Caketress

 Photo courtesy of Hadley Designs

 Photo courtesy of Project Wedding

Photo courtesy of Dolce Press

 Do you like patterns?  Will you incorporate these pretty prints in your special day some way or are you into simpler designs or alternatively, a more ornate aesthetic.  I adore these playful patterns but would love to hear what you like too.  What are you inspired by? 

Wedded Bliss: Alexandra + Jonathan

Today is a very special post for me as it's personal and we all know I'm not one to share personal details up on our Sterling Blog very often.  But today is the exception, as it's a special one near and dear to my heart and I'm super excited to share it with each of you!

A month ago today I married my best friend.  It was the most amazing fairytale inspired day and believe it or not I'm confident after experiencing it all as a "Bride" myself, I'm a better planner now for it.  I see things not just as the educated professional now, but also as the one that has to go through cutting the guest list, registering for gifts, going over budget and even the nerves on the big day!  It was a remarkable experience, a perfect day and I feel so lucky to share what lies ahead with my husband.  You may remember him from the few posts he wrote about being a wedding planner's groom. 

Anyway, so many of you are asking about the wedding and so today I decided to share one of my favorite photos with you from the big day by our amazing photographers, Callaway Gable Photography.  In addition, here's a preview from our day, our epic same day edit!  Created by one of the best of the best, Daniel Boswell of Imagique.

 Hope you enjoy this sneak peek as I've enjoyed sharing it with you.  So many of you have asked how it was to plan the wedding while planning everyone else's big day simultaneously.  I'll be honest, it was hard, really challenging as my clients and company are always a priority, it was extremely interesting to try and hold that up while also allowing time to plan our day.  Regardless, our wedding is now an amazing set of memories.  I'm so excited to be back, working with my clients, meet new ones and look forward to giving you and yours an extraordinary planning experience too!      

Shoe Shot Sunday: Stepanie + Darren

Stephanie and Darren were married yesterday, yes, that's right, yesterday at Greystone Mansion and had their reception at the swanky SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.  Stephanie's shoes were so incredible and from the moment I first laid eyes on them I knew I'd have to blog this ASAP as they may just be some of the BEST SHOES EVER.  This could be because Stephanie is such a fun and stylish bride and they just fit her to perfection too!

The fantastic Ryan Phillips captured the day and was so kind to rush these awesome photos over today!

 Meet Charmed by Kate Spade...

Congrats to Steph and Darren and look out soon for photos from their big day!

We'll Always Remember and Never Forget...

Photo Courtesy of the RJ Westmore Blog

Festive Fridays: Shawn + Colleen - As you wish...

I'm so excited to share today's post with you as it's a special one and a tear jerker if you're emotional like some of us (ahem, ahem).  I absolutely adore how sweet Shawn was in creating the most special day ever for Colleen.

Check it out!

Don't you just love a good surprise!

Sneak Peek: Brandie + Ede at The Parker Palm Springs

Brandie and Ede were married at the beautiful Parker Palm Springs. This lovely Palm Springs Wedding was such a delight to be a part of. A fabulous couple, unique and creative details plus a gorgeous backdrop really took this wedding to the next level. Here's a sneak peek from the amazing husband and wife duo,Lyndzee and Rog of EPLove Photography.



In addition to our eye candy, we also had the talented Camron Carrier of New Classic Films documenting the entire day. Check out this awesome highlight video detailing all the special moments!



Happy Viewing!

Festive Fridays: Taking the Plunge Video

Documented proposals are more popular than ever and I love the creativity behind so many of them! Today my fiance Jonathan sent me over a very cute video someone in his office made about his journey to I do from a very interesting perspective. I loved this video and think most of my groom's will too, but any sports fan really will get a kick out of this! Super unique, funny and lighthearted.

Check it out!

All About the Ring - watch more funny videos

Happy Friday and stay clear of the roads this weekend if you can!

Shoe Shot Sunday: Rebecca + David

Rebecca and David wed at the beautiful Cass House Inn, in the lovely seaside village Cayucos located within the Central Coast. I just love their selection of shoes for their big day, as they display their personality and still Rebecca's are perfect for a wedding with a precious bow on top!


The always fabulous Brian and Allie Callaway of Callaway Gable Photography documented their gorgeous day and you must visit their blog to see additional photos and super awesome details from the big day. Also, our good friend Daniel Boswell of Imagique Weddings edited a perfect highlight of their big day, you can view it on his blog too!

David actually happens to be in our industry as well as he is behind the awesome blog Temple of the Groom. So men and ladies too, if you haven't checked out his site yet, you must go visit Temple of the Groom for a good wedding read!

Behind the Bowtie: Our Venue

So one of the first things you’re supposed to do (according to Alex) when planning a wedding is figure out where. Where will we get married? We didn’t want to make people go from one place to another. It’s a lot easier for everyone to be in one place for the entire evening. The last thing we want is our guest’s complaining about the traffic from the ceremony site to the reception. People in LA love to complain about traffic, and this would no doubt occupy the majority of conversation during cocktail hour, when they should be talking about how shiny my shoes are, or how beautiful the bride is. (Probably the ladder)

Photo Courtesy of Miss Taylor Cast

We only looked at 3 venues for the wedding. The first was Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Simi Valley. My first thought was “Wow, I can’t wait to put Simi Valley on the wedding invitations!”. But as we drove up a windy, tree-lined road to the estate, it began to grow on me. It’s hidden, it’s quiet, and it should have it’s own zip code. The house itself was not so big, but the entire estate was massive. There are all sorts of lodging at this venue too. Alex liked one of their lower areas with a bunch of trees for the ceremony site called Sitting Bull, and then she wanted the reception in another, which was a nice hike to get to. We would have had to hire a shuttle service to caravan our guests up the hill from one end of the property to the other. It would have been a “Survivor” challenge otherwise. Plus, it’s windy in the mountains, so she wanted to tent. We would have had to spend way too much money ON the venue after spending FOR the venue. In the back of the property is a grass area the size of 10 football fields. Seriously. 10. Maybe more.

Photo Courtesy of Bloomberg Business Week

They probably lost their bid for the 2016 Olympic games, but only because of the Simi Valley address. In the end, the place was beautiful, but too big, and not quite us.

Photo Courtesy of The Back Nine

Then it was off to Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks. Yes, we saw both in the same day. It’s a wonderful place, I go there every year for a golf tournament and love it. It’s very luxurious, high-end, etc. Again though, was not really us. It wasn’t as expensive as I would have imagined, but it was booking up fast and the weekend we wanted wasn’t even available. So we moved on.

Photo Courtesy of Carcano DJ

The following weekend we went to Downtown LA to see Vibiana. This was our winner. It was surprising because it was nothing amazing from the street, but the outdoor courtyard is perfect for a ceremony and the tall vaulted ceilings inside can let Alex go crazy with design and décor. I know she’s going to go absolutely crazy in there, I promise. Vibiana used to be Los Angeles’ oldest cathedral, but has been converted into a venue. The irony of a Jewish Wedding at a former cathedral is not the worse thing I’ve ever heard, just try to ignore the confessionals in the walls if that sort of thing bothers you. My High School actually just had their Senior Prom there. Not quite sure how that makes me feel. There are tall pillars inside, lots of space, and it’s perfect for what Alex wanted. Mission accomplished.

Inspired by Garden Roses!

I truly love Garden Roses. They're so textured and soft, super complicated yet still fragile and they're very versatile. Most importantly they are one of the best and most economical substitutions for Peonies. While they look beautiful and every color, I think my personal favorite is peach!

Here is some lovely inspiration showcasing these roses at their best!

Photo Courtesy of Ruffled Blog

Photo Courtesy of Francoise Weeks European Design

Photo Courtesy of Real Simple

Photo Courtesy of Every Last Detail Blog

Photo Courtesy of JL Designs

Hope you enjoyed viewing these textured beauties as much as I do! They're just a perfect touch to any summer wedding which I've clearly been seeing lots of lately during our summer season!

Join Experian Tomorrow afternoon for A Wedding Q&A Cocktail Hour

Save the date! The Wedding Q&A Cocktail Hour is coming to Twitter! Join Maxine Sweet, Vice President Public Education for Experian, and Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, Wedding Planning Expert, on June 14, 2011.


Maxine and Kimberly will be online from 4-6 pm PT (7-9 pm ET) answering questions on how to Live Credit Smart as a couple! It all starts with planning a wedding on a budget which leads to joint checking accounts, major purchases and saving for retirement. The decisions couples make now can impact their credit and financial future, so couples should start their life together on the right financial foot by getting educated!

Those who submit a question will be entered to win one of five $250 American Express gift cards. It’s the perfect little boost for that wedding budget, a helpful extra payment toward paying down debt or it could be used for something fun during this special time!

Tweet your questions by using #happilyeverafter and @Experian_US!


For additional information, please visit the Experian US Facebook page.

Sneak Peek: Daniela + Scott

We spent Memorial Day weekend in lovely Santa Barbara at Bacara Resort and Spa for Daniela and Scott's wedding weekend. With a gorgeous ocean view ceremony and beautiful terrace dinner followed by dancing in the rotunda, the lovely Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore had a perfect day with their guests. Here's a sneak peek of this amazing Santa Barbara wedding, check back for more photos soon!

All photos courtesy of Chris Schmitt Photography

Sterling Buzz: We're Nominated for Social Planner of the Year!

I'm so thrilled to share with you that I'm a finalist in my favorite event trade publication's Reader's Choice Awards! Bizbash is seriously one of my all time favorite magazines to read. I love getting their email news and love even more each time the magazine arrives in the mail and I have my regular routine of coffee and a full read.

Which is why I'm so honored to be featured as a finalist in their first ever Reader's Choice Awards. When I received the call from Bizbash President, Richard Aaron, asking me to accept my nomination I was elated! It's such an honor and privilege to be in such good company and be recognized for hard work and true passion for what I do and truly love!


There are 5 days left for you to vote and I would love each of your support, daily if you like, afterall each vote counts! Please head over to the online polls and cast your vote today!


Also, when you place your vote, please vote for our industry friends and colleagues! Nahchey Storer of Dash Entertainment is nominated for DJ of the Year! Lighting designer James Schipper of Kinetic Lighting is nominated for Lighting Designer of the Year! Margaret Launzel-Pennes of Herbalife, one of our corporate clients, is nominated for Corporate Planner of the Year! Chef Joe Melillo of Epicurean Events is also nominated for Caterer of the year! Lastly, Christina Scion of the California Science Center is nominated for Venue Manager of the Year. Each of these industry pros deserves this award and recognition as they are truly fabulous!

Winners will be announced at the Annual Bizbash Expo & Awards on June 14th at the Pasadena Convention Center. If you'd like to attend, please feel free to email us and we can offer you a discount code!


Happy Voting!

Too Sweet Not To Share: A Movie Theater Trailer Proposal

It's no surprise that I'm a hopeless romantic nor that I tear up consistently at almost every single wedding I produce. I just love love, love to love and the whole idea of any man or woman showing their affection, especially in a BIG way, always give me the chills.

Today's post is a proposal and it's so sweet and features one of my favorite songs ever right now, "Marry Me" by Train.

Check it out!



How sweet is Matt? I love his words about "making the movies jealous". They are so adorable and already have over 12 million viewers that have seen his proposal video. The response has been so large that they now not only have their own YouTube Channel, but also have a website dedicated to all their updates to follow up on their planning process, you can learn about everything Matt and Ginny here.

This super sweet photo was one of their engagement photos captured by Audrey Fotografie. How precious are they!

Inspired by Ranunculus!

I constantly work with designs that include ranunculus, they are so full of texture and really a beautiful addition to any floral combination. I love how complicated they can look because of all the layers of petals they have but at the same time, they're so delicate and dainty. They are extremely cost effective and versatile and I think that's why they are so popular.

Photo Courtesy of Did You Just See What I Saw

On Mother's Day, I used them at my home as I hosted my family over for the day. I bought two different colors and placed various stems within my collection of Milk White Vases. So simple yet so sweet! Here's a quick photo just off my cell phone...


Here are some of my favorite inspirations utilizing this fluffy flower! What's your favorite color combination utilizing ranunculas?

Photo Courtesy of A City Love

Photo Courtesy of Wedding Flowers

Photo Courtesy of Swatchbook Weddings Photo Courtesy of Housemartin Photo Courtesy of Green Wedding Shoes