Dream A Little Dream Events {San Francisco}

The new blog is live!

2011-01-25T06:30:00.000-08:00

It is with much joy that we can now send you to our new blog, www.dreamalittleblog.com. We did enjoy this blog for the past few years, but we really think that the new layout and ease of use can allow our readers navigate and check out our real weddings, and even search for something specific.

We worked really hard on creating it, so we hope you'll check it out and continue to follow our work!

Happy Planning!

We're under construction!

2011-01-17T14:36:00.001-08:00

We have been working for the past month on our new blog with our designers, and we are so excited about what we have come up with! The current blog is being updated a lot less, and we are sorry about that, as we are uploading real weddings and blog posts for our new site currently. The goal we have now is to unveil it before February 1, which is less two weeks away!

We promise you, this will be a great tool for all our current clients and fans out there that love to be able to see crisp clear photos from our real weddings, and have an easy to navigate blog to zip through for information. Please stayed tuned, we can't wait to share it with you!!

Happy Planning!

Tammy + Mark Featured | SF Brides Magazine Spring 2011

2011-01-06T06:59:00.000-08:00

The lovely wedding of Tammy + Mark (shared in the post below) was just published in the new Spring 2011 issue of SF Brides Magazine. Check it out on newsstands now!

Happy Planning!

Tammy + Mark | Twelve Oaks Estate | July 3

2011-01-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

Tammy and Mark had one of the most beautiful and thoughtfully planned out weddings, all the way down to the shot favor glasses with a bottle of Patron on each dining table. These guests had a blast, almost as much as I did planning it with them. Tammy came to me with a vision that she wanted to re-create, and with the venue's beauty, flowers by Nancy Liu Chin, lighting by Got Light? and linens and furnishings from Hartmann Studios, we created her dream wedding. Even when I was setting up that day in the mid-summer Palo Alto heat, I had to take a step back and simply take in what had been created by all of these talented vendors.

Tammy was a stunning vision that day, and Mark had a grin across his face for the duration of their celebration. I will let the pictures below speak for themselves, as Kate Harrison captured their day beautifully.

If you would like to see more loveliness from this wedding, check out the slideshow on our website or you can see their feature in the new SF Brides Magazine!

The other talented vendors that were a part of this amazing day were:
Church: Stanford Memorial Church
Catering: Chef Larry Chu
Transportation: Lone Star Limousine
Dessert Bar: Sprinkles Cupcakes and Icing on the Cake
Djay: Denon & Doyle
Hair: Hair by Antonio
Makeup: Kia Andresen

Staffing: The Party Staff

Coffee Service: Coupa Cafe

Bartending Service: Bartenders Unlimited

Calligraphy: Kathryn (Me!) with Dream A Little Dream Events

Happy Planning!

Some exciting news to share...

2010-12-17T08:23:00.000-08:00

...I'm engaged! Yesterday afternoon, my boyfriend proposed to me at home plate at AT&T Park (where we met), and then took me out for the most incredible night of my life! We had a walk around the park after so I could stop shaking, then some champagne at Public House (the restaurant outside the park, which used to be Restaurant 24, where our first glance at each other was), then to dinner at RN74. To end the night, he took me to the top of the Sir Francis Drake hotel for dessert and more champagne overlooking the holiday lights in Union Square.

He told me later that he had asked for my father's blessing the night before when they went to dinner together. He has a friend that works for the Giants, and she was able to allow him access to the field, and she even took the great pictures of us to have forever. I basically cried for the entire night and I am still glowing. We are extremely excited!

Here is a quick photo of us right after the proposal (I think you can still see the tears in my eyes):

I will be definitely updating everyone on how planning my own wedding is going to be, but for now, we hope everyone has a very merry holiday season, and we will be back with more posts (and hopefully our new shiny blog!!) after the new year.

Cheers!

Jen + Chris | StoneTree Golf Club | August 14

2010-12-15T06:07:00.000-08:00

What can I say about Chris and Jen other than they are a fabulous couple full of life and love for each other. From the time I met them I had the best time working with them and loved being around Jen's infectious laughter and Chris's easy going attitude.

The wedding was at StoneTree Golf Club in Novato and the day could not have been more perfect! The ceremony was held outside under a clear blue sky with the beautiful StoneTree greens in the background. Afterward, guests were welcomed inside where a delicious meal prepared by Elaine Bell Catering awaited them. Once the meal was finished Jen and Chris celebrated their union with their first dance and everyone was quick to follow in their footsteps...and the dancing did not stop! This group was full of some of the most energetic dancers I have ever witnessed. It was a true pleasure to be a part of this special occasion.

The pictures taken by the talented husband and wife team of What Shanni Saw will really speak for themselves, enjoy.

The vendors that were a part of Jen + Chris's special day were:

Florist: Julie Stevens Design
Djay: Perfect Day Music
Catering: Elaine Bell Catering
Cake: Laurie Lucov Wedding Cakes
Photography: What Shanni Saw
Makeup Artist: Sherrie Long
Venue: StoneTree Golf Club

Happy Planning!

Michelle

Marinda + Jeff | Stafford Lake | August 20

2010-12-09T06:23:00.000-08:00

We are so happy to be able to finally share all the weddings we worked so hard on this year, and this one was such a fun one!

Marinda and Jeff wanted to have a wedding that was unlike any other wedding they or their friends had ever been to. I think they accomplished that extremely well with their Great Gatsby themed wedding on a warm Friday afternoon at Stafford Lake in Novato, California this past August. The couple was so excited when they saw nearly all of their 200 guests dressed to the nines and playing the part that they had requested of their guests. They even did a skit to open up the ceremony, it was all very well thought out!

While most of the wedding was DIY, they did hire some amazing vendors to help make their day just as perfect as they thought it would be. Enjoy the photos from the very talented husband and wife team from Tim Halberg Photography in Southern California:

The vendors that helped make this special day happen for Marinda + Jeff were:

Venue: Stafford Lake, Novato
Catering: Feast Catering
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals - Burlingame
Florals & Lighting: friends and family
Transportation: United Coach Tours
Djay: Tommy Fullove

Happy Planning!

Cristin + Matt | Real Engagement Session

2010-12-07T06:14:00.000-08:00

Cristin and Matt are getting married in January at the Flood Mansion, and we have been planning their day this fall. They have been great at choosing their vendors, and made a great choice in their photographer with Shanni Weilert. They did their engagement session last month on a rainy day in San Francisco, and the results were perfection. Enjoy these images, and hope they bring a smile to your face as they did mine!

Happy Planning!

Pride & Prejudice Photo Shoot | Calligraphy Contributor

2010-12-03T06:48:00.000-08:00

Some people don't know this, but I actually do calligraphy services as well as my planning and design services. I learned calligraphy as a third grader, and I have always kept up my practice. I usually offer the services to clients only, or from word of mouth customers, as I don't really advertise it, and can only take on a limited amount of jobs per year.

I was honored though to be asked a while back to be a part of a Pride & Prejudice Wedding Shoot for Nonpareil Magazine, designed by Anne from City Sage, to provide the calligraphy for the staging. I of course agreed, and was so happy to see how beautiful the shoot came out. Even though my part was so small, I thought it was a great idea, since the soft, romantic look of weddings is really on trend right now.

You can see the photos taken by Lisa Lefkowitz on Nonpareil Magazine Issue 4 as well as Style Me Pretty.

Happy Planning!

Kathryn + Mark | Tavern at Lark Creek | August 28

2010-12-02T06:23:00.000-08:00

I met with Kathryn and Mark in January of 2010, and they knew they wanted to have a wedding this year, but were just at the starting point. They signed with me a few weeks later, and we started our stampede through San Francisco and the North Bay to find the perfect venue. Their venue requests were: outdoor ceremony location, redwood trees, near nature, intimate, great food, full bar, and comfortable for the guests. We found them the perfect location at the Tavern at Lark Creek in Larkspur, located in the heart of Marin County. They were in love the minute they saw it, and even more so when they did their food tasting!

We worked quickly from there securing the remaining vendors, and their wedding ended up being even better than they ever imagined. Their concept was to incorporate nature and travel, and they did that by the venue being right in the midst of a redwood grove, as well as the little details to keep with the travel theme. They had a guest sign in table with a vintage mailbox with post cards from all over the world for guests to sign, as well as luggage tags directing them to their table, rightly named after airport codes. Here are the amazing shots of the day captured by the always fun to work with, Adi Nevo:

The vendors that were a part of Kathryn + Mark's special day were:

Florist: Melissa Comito with a simple ceremony
Transportation: California Wine Tours
Djay: Jimmy Boom
Invitations: Paper Source
Rabbi: Rabbi Miriam

Happy Planning!

Dream Bridal Tour No. 5 | November 14

2010-11-30T05:54:00.000-08:00

The most recent installment of the Dream Bridal Tour took place on Sunday November 14th, and we had such a blast with our group of giddy brides! I got to the studio that morning at 8:00am, and it was already in the high 60's, and by the time the tour started and we were in our shuttle, the temperature was creeping into the high 70's. The brides all met at our studio at 10:00am, and we loaded our shuttle provided by Coach America to head out to our first stop. It was a gorgeous day, and we started our day with a delightful outdoor brunch atop the terraces at the Hotel Vitale along the Embarcadero in San Francisco. (Photos were taken by me)

We then headed to Hello Lucky, where we had a presentation about the different options of invitations and cards they offer, and the girls were able to look over all the color options and even see the letterpress machines. After Hello Lucky, we headed to the Marina District to Haute Bride, where the girls were drooling over the jewelry, veils, shoes, gowns and headpieces. This shop is a must for any bride in San Francisco looking for the perfect accent piece for her wedding look.

We then walked across the street to the newly opened American Cupcake, where we were served mini red velvet cupcakes and champagne. It was a nice little pick me up before we continued on our way to Bella Bridesmaid. This was a great stop on the tour, and they are a mainstay because of their selection and high standards of customer service. They carry some of the best brands, and it is a fun stop for brides to go with their bridesmaids.

We then hopped back on our shuttle, and headed down to Sen Spa. This is a somewhat unknown zen retreat built inside an old building in the historic Presidio area. They offer everything from facials and massages to makeup application for the wedding day. We learned about the spa day parties that brides can have with their bridal parties, as well as a place for her to come and relax from the wedding duties. We left with a bag of goodies, and a yearning to book an appointment right away!

Our next stop was the adorable La Tavola Linen studio in Laurel Heights. This where all the beautiful linens are, and they are all out for you to see, touch and spread out on tables for mock ups. We were again greeted with champagne and snacks, while the girls were able to check out the table displays and see some of the linen options.

We were then getting near the end of our tour, and headed back to our studio, where it had all began five hours earlier. The girls were offered champagne, and were situated for presentations by Gabby with Cake Coquette, Kathy with Well Rehearsed, and my roommate, Andrew Weeks Photography. Gabby passed out the most delicious peanut butter and jelly cupcakes (yum!), and Kathy discussed the importance of not letting the rehearsal dinner get overlooked. She plans the best rehearsal dinners that really focus on the groom, and are much different than the wedding day plans. Andrew finished up the tour with a presentation on photography and a slide show on his cutest ever vintage TV screen.

By the end of the day, we were all tired, but the brides left with a wealth of new information and new found vendors they may not have known about prior to the tour. Their goodie bags were filled to the top with everything from discounts to some of the vendors, holiday cards from Hello Lucky, earrings from Haute Bride and a salt scrub from Sen Spa to name a few of the items.

We will be releasing our next date for our spring tour in the next few weeks, and we are in the works for a Sonoma tour in late winter! Stay tuned for all the new announcements, and make sure to follow the Dream Bridal Tour on Twitter for the most current updates.

Happy Planning!

Leora + Adam | Time Lapse Video

2010-11-24T06:54:00.000-08:00

I can't wait to fully share Leora and Adam's wedding photos, but for now, we can only share this time lapse still video of the event from pre-wedding setup through the end of the night. The stills were taken by Tara Arrowood, and it is so fun to watch the entire eight hours in about 30 seconds!

This was such a beautiful wedding, and we will hopefully be able to share the images soon, but here is a little sneak peak of some of the colorful goodness.

Happy Planning,

Winter Floral Design Class with Soulflower

2010-11-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

Emily Dreblow with Soulflower Floral Design is a wonderful designer here in San Francisco, and is offering a winter floral decorating class to a very small number of participants. This class sounds like so much fun, especially for those looking to fine tune their floral design skills just in time to decorate your holiday table! She also will be offering wedding floral design classes in the spring, so make sure to get on her mailing list to pre-register for those, as they will book up quickly!

Happy Planning!

A Little Help For the Holidays

2010-11-19T07:22:00.000-08:00

If the holidays tend to sneak up on you, just as they do me, you'll need a little help to make sure your holiday dinners and/or parties are perfect! Here are a few little tips that can go a long way when it feels like there is not enough time to get everything done:

1) Place orders for some of menu or desserts - this may sound like cheating, but it really isn't! While you might be preparing a meal for 12 people, and just the turkey and fixings are enough to take up your day, look into your local gourmet grocery store, or places like La Boulange, that are now offering a wonderful catering menu. I tend to like to take care of my main dinner myself, but would like some delicious hors d'oeuvres to go with the meal that I just don't have the time to put together. This year, I have also pre-ordered our pies, since I like to bake cookies and other treats to go with the dessert course, I thought I would save some time and get some local homemade pies. It may be cheating, but I will at least be able to enjoy this very special holiday spending more time with our family and friends than in the kitchen.

2) Have separate entertaining glassware - one of the best purchases I have made for my personal entertaining supplies is boxed glassware sets. I have used these so many times, and they make my life so much easier on the day of my event. I have three different glassware sets; wine glasses, champagne flutes and tumblers. These are perfect to set out on your bar for self serve beverages, and cover everything from water, mixed drinks, champagne and wine. The best part is after the party, you pop them in the dishwasher, put them back in their boxes, and out to the garage they go. I have found my sets at Cost Plus World Market and Pier 1 Imports, but I know there are many other stores that carry them as well.

3) Make your play list ahead of time - one of the easiest things to forget about when planning an event at home is the music. Make sure you have the right music to go with your event, and you may want to have separate play lists for the dinner portion and something more upbeat for later in the evening. I usually burn a few cd's and put them into our stereo (I know, so old school), and never think about it again. Those of you more tech savvy can also do the same thing with your ipod.

4) Rent items instead of purchasing - We are lucky enough here in San Francisco to have places like La Tavola Linens and Hartmann Studios to rent anything our hearts desire. Check your local area for equipment and linen rental shops and see what they have available. A lot of times you can rent really beautiful linens for your tables, as well as chargers, china and even extra tables and chairs. You can save money by picking it up yourself, but if convenience is your key word, have them deliver. The best part is, they wash everything!

5) Invitations don't have to go in the mail - If you are running behind on sending out the invitations, the better thing to do is to send them electronically. The worst thing is to go ahead an plan an elaborate holiday party only to find out only 1/4 of your guests can attend because your invitation came too late. I really like Paperless Post as an online option. They even let you upgrade to electronic envelope liners... love it! Also, a quick tip about getting guests to come, don't plan your party on a Saturday evening, there is too much competition. Thursdays and Sundays are great alternatives and you will notice a better turn out.

I hope all your dinners and parties are wonderful, and I would love for you to share any other easy tips for our readers that are entertaining this season!

Happy Planning!

Getting Ready for the Holidays

2010-11-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

We are so happy that our 2010 went off without a hitch, and sent a lot of happy newlyweds out into the world! The other news is that we are going to start blogging a little more frequently now that the season has ended and we can post all these amazing images and share some things we learned over the year.

In the midst of wrapping up the season means getting ready to decorate and entertain for the holidays, and I was so excited when I opened my email this morning and saw the lovely trimmings West Elm was offering from event planner David Stark. These are perfect in a time when we are all trying to reduce our waste, and also make things look elegant. I'm loving this mantle-scape!

The mosaic bottles, and really mosaic anything, is not only great holiday decor, but is popping up in some of our winter weddings.

If you are entertaining this year, I always love to hear how you plan decorate your table or home! This is one centerpiece I am hoping to try and re-create this year, since it is very similar to an installation we did at one of our weddings this year. If you want to try and re-create this with me, you can get the instructions by clicking here: CB2 DIY Hanging Centerpiece.

Whatever you are planning, we hope it is festive and full of joy!

Happy Planning!

San Francisco Entertains - A Great Gift Idea!

2010-11-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Calling all foodies, if you have been racking your brain over gift ideas for a Bridal Shower, Bridesmaid's gift or Thank You gift look no further! San Francisco Entertains is the latest cookbook by The Junior League of San Francisco celebrating its centennial in 2011. According to Gary Danko “[it is] a foodies manual for the perfect party.” Top Chef contestant Ryan Scott of Ryan Scott 2 Go says, “San Francisco Entertains will help make every season delicious.”

This brand new cookbook features amazing recipes from league members and top local restaurants and chefs, such as James Beard Award winning Chef Gary Danko of Restaurant Gary Danko as well as Michelin star award winning chefs Mark Dommen of One Market Restaurant and Jesse Mallgren of Madrona Manor (a fabulous wedding location). Nearly 500 recipes were triple-tested and whittled down to the top 139 that include local and historic recipes with a twist, accompanied by enticing menu options and beverage pairings. To top it off the book contains gorgeous color images of the dishes and iconic images of San Francisco in addition to interesting facts about the people, places and events that occurred over the last one hundred years in San Francisco.

To give you an idea of the recipes included here are a few:

Sugar Pumpkin Martini
Red Snapper and Green Apple Ceviche
Grilled Peach with Warm Pancetta and Frisée Salad
Spicy Meatball Sliders
Ancho Chile Brownies

And if you are in the mood for entertaining here is a sample of the menus available:

Cozy Valentine’s Day Supper for Two
North Beach Italian Family Get Together
Wine Country Cocktail Party

Click here for some sample pages from San Francisco Entertains!

If you want to purchase multiples you can get a 10% discount off a case of 10 books as well! This is a great gift for everyone, it’s a wonderful keepsake for those visiting and it’s a fabulous addition to any Bay Area foodie’s cookbook shelf. Even if you don’t cook the photos alone make this a gorgeous coffee table book. To purchase online visit http://www.sfentertains.jlsf.org/ or visit Williams-Sonoma Union Square (founder Chuck Williams donated a recipe too) or The Real Food Company on Fillmore or Polk.

Bon Appétit!

Michelle

Wendy + Justin | Nicholson Ranch | August 15

2010-10-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Wendy and Justin are such a sweet couple and an absolute dream to work with. From the beginning simple and elegant was the name of the game and it was just that. A smaller wedding with under 70 guests brought together by the love between Wendy and Justin (and great food of course!) made this wedding such a special day for this awesome couple.

The wedding was at Nicholson Ranch. The ceremony took place on the pond side lawn (not only great for the ceremony, but perfect for a croquet game) and right next to beautiful vineyards and a small chapel on the hill which framed the ceremony for Wendy and Justin. Being at a wonderful winery, they took full advantage and had a pre-ceremony wine tasting for their guests set up in Nicholson's barrel room. Food was another important element to the couple and Feast Catering was up to the task from the amazing appetizers and three course Italian inspired dinner to a delicious dessert bar in which nothing was left behind.

Please enjoy the wonderful photos from Lori Paladino Photography who was truly able to capture the joy of the day!

A huge thank you to all of our vendors!

Florist: Natalie Bowen Designs

Ceremony Musicians: Black Diamond String Quartet

Band: Pamala Rose Trio

Lighting: Illusions Lighting Design

Hair and Make up: Amy Hatsushi with Joseph Cozza Salon

Cheers,

Brittani

Lisa + Brian | Sonoma Mission Inn | July 24

2010-10-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Lisa and Brian fell in love with the idea of having their ceremony in one of California's missions. While looking into where, Lisa fell in love with the Solano Mission of Sonoma. When Brian was transferred to Beijing, Sonoma seemed like just the place for all of their family and friends from all around the US and the world to meet and celebrate their wedding. Lisa and Brian are such an awesome couple and I am so lucky to have been part of their wedding process. Planning from another country is not an easy thing to do, but Lisa did it with such ease. They were able to combine pieces from their life together in the US with their new life in China which was such a great way to bring everything together. Lisa had napkin rings made in Beijing as well as bringing back little goodie bags to send their guests back with a a sweet treat.

The reception then followed at the beautiful Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn where the celebration continued late into the night. Enjoy the wonderful photos from Arrowood Photography!

There is no better way to end a wonderful night than with a chicken and waffle station! This was such a fun wedding with amazing people and a fantastic couple!

Florist: Natalie Bowen Designs

Ceremony Musician: Mark Taylor Flamenco Guitarist

DJ: Denon & Doyle

Hair and Makeup Artist: Meaganne McCandess Makeup and Hair

Napkin Rentals: La Tavola Linens

Happy Planning!

Brittani

Tina + Stephen's Wedding Featured on Brides.com

2010-10-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

Check out Tina + Stephens wedding featured on Brides.com. We are so excited to see them featured, as they are truly the sweetest couple ever, not to mention their sweet pups!

Happy Planning!

Jane + Alex | Real Engagement

2010-10-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

Jane and Alex decided what better place to take their engagement photos than some of their favorite spots here in San Francisco. Tara Arrowood (Arrowood Photography) captured the fun spirit and love this couple shares right at home in their own neighborhood! Enjoy!

Jane and Alex's wedding is coming up on Oct. 23rd and I can not be more excited!

Cheers,
Brittani

The Next Dream Bridal Tour Tickets Available Today at 9am | Sun Nov 14th

2010-10-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to announce that our next Dream Bridal Tour will be on Sunday November 14th in San Francisco. We will be having a champagne brunch before getting on our chartered shuttle to visit numerous wedding vendors and shops throughout the city! We only have a limited number of tickets available, so make sure to get yours today, and since you saw it here, use the code 'getonthetour' to save $10 per ticket!

For more information and photos from our previous tours, please visit the Dream Bridal Tours website.

Happy Planning!

Blogging vs. Weddings

2010-10-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

Our studio has been buzzing with all the weddings going on, as our fall has been incredibly busy! But, when it came to Blogging vs. Weddings... Weddings won, by a lot. I know it seems obvious, as the weddings should take precedence, but I actually feel bad when I don't blog, since I have so many new weddings, tips and ideas I want to share.

The good news is that the season is wrapping up in November, and we have SO many great things coming in the winter. We hope to have our shiny new blog up and running by early 2011, our next bridal tour will be happening in November (more info on that soon), along with all new weddings we are already planning for in 2011.

Thank you so much for being patient, and we promise to have some new content up soon!

Happy Planning,

Wedding & Event Open House | The City Club | Oct 3

2010-09-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

The City Club is hosting a fun and free wedding and event open house on Sunday October 3rd. There will be a lot of great vendors on hand to meet with (make sure to visit Kathy Goodman with Well Rehearsed), food and treats to taste. A fun afternoon for any bride to be!

Happy Planning!

Kathryn + John | Sneak Peek | Flood Mansion

2010-09-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

This wedding just took place last Sunday September 5th, and we already have a little sneak peek of some of the amazing images from the day from Matthew May Photography. The couple had their first meet in a board room in the Bank of America building, which provided some absolutely breathtaking views! The brides princess Vera Wang gown needed a wider aisle than usual, but she was definitely a vision on that perfect San Francisco day.

We will be doing a blog post once we have more images, but for now, you can see these images on Matthew May's blog.

Happy Planning!

Kathryn Featured on The Knot Website | Insider's Guide to San Francisco

2010-09-07T06:53:00.000-07:00

Back in May, I was asked to host a video tour of San Francisco for TheKnot.com. I didn't hesitate, even though I was really nervous about being in front of a camera! We got to take a tour of venues, a floral shop and a bakery. It was a lot of fun filming with The Knot crew, and they made me feel as comfortable as possible.

This video is on the home page of The Northern California planning page on TheKnot, but you can also check it out directly from the link below.

http://wedding.theknot.com/the-knot-wedding-tv-ondemand.aspx?id=z81cr60j

Happy Planning!

Stephanie + Matt | The Brazilian Room | March 6

2010-09-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

Stephanie and Matt were such a sweet couple and a joy to work with. They were married at the Brazilian Room in Tilden Park with beautiful views and excellent company. Stephanie had many DIY elements (including hand made flower place cards from Paper Source) that I am so excited to share! Stephanie and Matt also have the cutest dog, Peanut, who was able to join them after the ceremony for some family photos. Magnolia Photo Booth provided some awesome props that were a huge hit with all the guests, especially the wedding party who used them during their introductions. One of my favorite things form this wedding - I love shoes and Stephanie did have a FABULOUS pair, but her and her bridesmaids each had a pair of rain galoshes to make sure they stayed dry and mud free as they went off for photos. Too much fun!

Jerry Yoon Photography did a great job of capturing Stephanie and Matt's wonderful day and all of the details they pulled together and I am excited to share with you!

A big thank you to all of our vendors in addition to the ones mentioned above!

Caterer: Culinary Excellence

Baker: Love At First Bite Cupcakery

Florist: Fleurtation

DJ: Quantum Music

Cheers,

Brittani

Natalie + John | James Leary Flood Mansion | June 26

2010-08-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

Natalie & John were married at one of my favorite venues in San Francisco, the James Leary Flood Mansion. It is such a wonderful location, as it offers everything that my clients typically want: outdoor space for ceremony and/or cocktails, clean marble interior and stunning views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. This wedding was a lot of fun, as Natalie and John really hired a fabulous team that made the wedding run so smoothly. Their guests were thrilled with all the details that they thought of, and the food that was so perfectly executed by Betty Zlatchin Catering.

We are very excited to share these images from Janae Shields:

The list of vendors that made this wedding so perfect were:
Florist: Hunt Littlefield
Djay: Denon & Doyle
Ceremony Musicians: Starlite Strings
Cake: Gabby with Cake Coquette
Lighting and Draping: Got Light
Videography: Thomas Hughes Video
Valet Parking: California Parking

Happy Planning!

Sneak Peak Jennifer + Chris | StoneTree Golf Club | August 14

2010-08-24T06:55:00.000-07:00

Sun is shining,

the weather is sweet,

make you want to move your dancing feet

- Bob Marley

These lyrics completely describe the wedding celebration of Jennifer and Chris at the StoneTree Golf Club. The weather was perfect, the sun was out, the dancing was amazing. This group knew how to have a good time! My cheeks were sore at the end of the night from smiling so much.

Working with Jen and Chris was such a wonderful experience and the vendors they chose were outstanding. For more fun shots from their photographer Shanni Weilert from What Shanni Saw please check out her blog. I can't wait to share all of the images once they are available!

Happy Planning!

Michelle

Our Fabulous Bride Featured in The Knot

2010-08-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

I love opening a wedding magazine and flipping through the pages, only to see one of my favorite brides featured in a full page spread about her wedding day style. Loralie was simply breathtaking, and she stayed true to her style throughout. Their wedding was a small destination wedding here in San Francisco, but they chose to get ready and have their first look images taken at Hotel Vitale, which is where this image was taken by the wonderful Flory Photo.

Happy Planning!

Kimia + Kenny | San Francisco City Hall | May 28

2010-08-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

Kimia and Kenny were such a delight to work with! Kimia is just so stylish and fun to be around, she and I had such a good time planning together. She has a great eye for all things, and since she is an artist, it wasn't surprising when I saw what she had planned out for her gorgeous day. Their photographer, Jose Villa, is not only extremely talented, but such a humble and wonderful photographer to work with.

Their day started at the Westin San Francisco (only because her other hotel had a fire two nights before the wedding!), and Kimia and Kenny had decided to meet up before the wedding privately, for some shots around the city. They went to the SFMOMA and the Yerba Buena Gardens to get the pre-wedding photos, and had a blast together. They then arrived with the wedding party and families at City Hall for their grand ceremony in the Rotunda. Kimia had some of her friends, who are absolutely amazing singers, perform during the ceremony and brought tears to almost everyone's eyes! From there, their wedding was all about fun, food and family, so I am happy to share these photos with you from Jose Villa.

The amazing vendors that were a part of this lovely wedding were:

Catering: Melons and Maykadeh
Florist: Leighsa from Branch Out Floral
Band: Double Funk Crunch through SF Booking
Hair: Clifford Hashimoto
Makeup: Maria Lee Makeup
Lighting and A/V: Got Light?
Photo Booth: Video Amusement
Videographer: Thomas Hughes Video
Ring Bearer Bowl: Paloma's Nest
Paper Products: Cards de Luxe

Happy Planning!

Sneak Peak | Jessica + Bradley | Hotel Vitale | August 8

2010-08-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

We love doing destination weddings here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and this one definitely hit the mark for all the guests! They had everyone travel from all over the country, and the "wedding week" included a trip to Alcatraz, a Wine Country tour, a mini trip to Yosemite and of course, the wedding at Hotel Vitale. It was a lovely wedding on a cold, drizzly San Francisco evening, but that didn't hinder any of the good times that were being had.

Here is a sneak peak of the wedding slide show from Flory Photo, and we will be sure to share all the images once they are available!

Happy Planning!

Kathryn Featured in The Dominican Torch

2010-08-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

It is always fun to get interviewed for articles, but I thought this was especially nice, since it was for the quarterly magazine sent out by my college, Dominican University. They were doing a segment on graduates that have started their own businesses, and featured the ups and downs of those decisions, but also how they all made it become successful careers.

The photos in the feature were taken by Andrew Weeks Photography, Tinywater and Anna Kuperberg.

We will have new real weddings being featured next week, plus a pretty exciting contest by the end of the month, so keep checking the blog, or follow it so you won't miss these exciting announcements!

Happy Planning

Real Engagement I Jennifer + Chris by What Shanni Saw

2010-08-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

These engagement photos taken at Half Moon Bay from What Shanni Saw of my clients are so beautiful! The love between the two of them along with their fun and positive energy are captured so well. When these two enter a room you know it's going to be a good time. I am so excited to be a part of their special day and can't wait to share the gorgeous photos with you all. Jennifer and Chris are getting married August 14th at the StoneTree Golf Club in Novato and I can hardly contain myself.

Happy Planning!

Michelle

Emily + Brian | Nestldown | May 22

2010-07-29T06:28:00.000-07:00

I love working with clients that have so many fun ideas for their wedding, and Emily & Brian definitely had TONS! This wedding looked like it was straight out of a fairytale, with the handmade painted wooden table names, to the stone place cards, plus, Nestldown has that look to it. Everything was carefully thought out, and even though the evening was chilly, the guests and the couple couldn't have had a more amazing night!

The basket of IKEA blankets were a big hit, as it was chilly even when the ceremony started. This is a great idea for those of you having outdoor weddings, and want to make sure that your guests are comfortable. IKEA has many fleece blankets all for around $3/piece. They come pre-rolled, so grab a big basket, fill it up, and you have an instant guest pleaser.

Emily & Brian also did a great job in hiring a fabulous vendor team! Everyone was so happy and worked so well together, it was really just a perfect night. The photos below were taken by the talented Danielle Gillett:

The other vendors that made this wedding come together so beautifully were:

Catering: Thomas John Events
Florist: Asiel Design
Videographer: David Ethridge of AVR Films
Hair: Lisa Zomer
Djay: Paul with Big Fun Djay
Transportation: Lone Star Limo
Cake: Pastry Smart

Happy Planning!

Immortalize Your Wedding Cake

2010-07-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

I wanted to introduce Michelle to everyone! She is our newest team member, and is a month of coordinator. She has amazing ideas and tips to share, so watch for her posts here on the blog too! Here is her first post about a fun way to keep the memory of your wedding cake around forever:
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You spend hours if not days thinking about your wedding cake and how you want it to look. I was a little heartbroken after our cake was devoured and all I had left was our beautiful pictures. So when I was clicking around on Etsy one day I came across SugarArt Jewelry out of Cincinnati who makes replica wedding cake ornaments and had to give it a shot. Now every Christmas while decorating and admiring our tree we will be able to reminisce about our special day.

SugarArt can custom design a mini customized cake ornament or figurine to match your wedding cake, baby cake, birthday cake, etc… Once they receive your picture it takes up to 3-4 weeks to create. It can be made into an ornament or left as a small figurine. The ornament will have a silver hook with a coordinating ribbon, your names and wedding date can be written on the bottom as well. The cake is made of polymer clay, acrylic and puffy paint with a coat of clear gloss to add luster and shine to last for years. It’s a great gift idea too!

Happy Planning!

Michelle

Design Studio & 6th Anniversary Party | July 8

2010-07-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, the Dream A Little Dream Events staff all came together to celebrate not only our 6th anniversary, but also the opening of our new design studio! The girls all loved seeing it, and we had a great night chatting about our past and upcoming weddings. Some of our day of assistants never get to see each other, as they work different events with Michelle, Brittani and I, so it was nice for everyone to make connections. We even had support from Andrew Weeks, our suite mate, and his wife and son, my boyfriend and son, and Michelle's husband.

We have such an incredible team, and I feel truly blessed to have a staff that cares as much for my business as I do! Below are some photos taken by me, so I apologize for them not being up to par, but wanted to share them anyway. Enjoy!

Happy Planning!

Makai & Vasken | Fairmont San Francisco | May 8

2010-07-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

Makai and Vasken are a such a classy and fun couple! I had such a great time working with Makai to put together the wedding she and Vasken had envisioned. It was a small and intimate wedding and they found the perfect spot in the Penthouse Suite at The Fairmont San Francisco. There are so many different rooms and places to use that we were able to really have some fun!

Here are some of the photos taken by the incredible and talented Viera Photographics:

The flowers were simple, beautiful and elegant. We were lucky to catch peonies right as they came into season. A. Hana Design helped to bring their vision to life.

The scotch bar in the Billiard Room was such a fun spot for guests to gather and play.

The vintage cake topper was one of Makai's favorite details and made this awesome cake complete.

One of the best perks of the Penthouse is the incredible view of downtown San Francisco!

Venue: The Fairmont San Francisco
Photographer: Viera Photographics
Florist: A. Hana Design
Band: Elle Music and Events, Misa Malone Project
Cake: The Fairmont San Francisco

Happy Planning!
Brittani

A Fun Day Off

2010-07-20T07:20:00.000-07:00

Last week I was able to enjoy a day off with some fun wedding industry friends on Treasure Island being an extra in the new Train music video. Most would wonder how I would end up there, but when one of my best friends, Michelle from MB Wedding Designs called and said she needed extras for a wedding scene in a video, we were there without hesitation. It was a lot different to see things from a filming side (except how long everything took!), and be able to help them create a realistic wedding ceremony scene for the new video.

Here are a couple photos that Gustavo Fernandez took, and even though I probably am not visible in the scenes, I still had a good time! Watch for the video though, as the dress worn by the bride was from Haute Bride, one of our favorite places in San Francisco for bridal gowns and accessories.

Happy Planning!

Nahjeen + Brian | The Claremont Resort and Spa | May 14

2010-07-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

Brittani is excited to share this wedding she coordinated in May at the Claremont Resort and Spa. You can read all the details and vendor information below:

I had the pleasure of working with Nahjeen and Brian to plan their perfect wedding. Nahjeen was so excited to jump start the planning process and we did just that. Nahjeen never hesitated to ask for suggestions, questions and referrals throughout our time working together, and ended up with a gorgeous wedding because of it! Nahjeen thought through every detail of her wedding with an illuminated smile!

Enjoy these photos from the talented Maurice Ramirez!

The wedding was at The Claremont Resort and Spa in Berkeley. La Tavola had just come out with their new line of linens a few weeks before the wedding so we decided to change our original plan and were able to be one of the first to bring these beautiful new linens to the table.

Nahjeen and Brian have such great enthusiasm and it was so fun to be part of their special day!

Photographer: Maurice Ramirez Photo
Flowers: Katherine Bergman Floral Designs
Linens: La Tavola
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Cake: Katrina Rozelle Pasteries
Videographer: Day Dreamer Creative Cinematography
DJ: Amos Productions

Happy Planning!

brittani

San Francisco Brides Magazine Day of Luxury | August 1

2010-07-14T06:33:00.000-07:00

This bridal show is a lot of fun, as I went last year with one my clients, and we had a great time. From the vendor showcase to the fashion show, it was a top notch affair. They are holding the event again on Sunday August 1st at the St. Regis, so if you are in the Bay Area, make sure to check it out!

Here are more details and the link to purchase tickets:
San Francisco’s hottest bridal event—An Afternoon of Bridal Luxury—unveils at the St. Regis on August 1. Join San Francisco Brides magazine for specialty cocktails and posh hors d’oeuvres before a Vera Wang runway fashion show. Then chat with vendors at luxurious vendor suites before heading home with an Oscar-style goodie-bag.

Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite.

Happy Planning!

Bari + Justin | Featured on Style Unveiled

2010-07-12T07:03:00.000-07:00

We love the ladies at Style Unveiled, and were so happy to hear that they have featured our fabulous New Year's Eve couple, Bari & Justin. I have featured their photos before on the blog, but you can take a look at many more, including their words of advice (like how couples should definitely hire a planner, so cute!).

Check out their post here, and Happy Planning!

Niki + Ben | Photo in Martha Stewart Weddings

2010-07-08T05:22:00.000-07:00

I know to some this may not seem like a big deal, but to me, just getting a photo in Martha Stewart Weddings from one of my weddings is enough to make me jump for joy!

We have a small (we're not even mentioned, but I don't care) photo from Niki & Ben's Wedding from the Flood Mansion last May featured in an article discussing venues for weddings. We are excited about it, and since we're celebrating our new design studio opening tonight with the staff, we're going to go ahead and celebrate this little achievement as well!

Happy Planning!

Christina + Carl | Flood Mansion | July 2

2010-07-06T07:04:00.000-07:00

This romantic, classic wedding just happened on Friday night, but we already have a sneak peak slide show from Flory Photo! I will definitely share all the loveliness from this wedding when I have the images, but enjoy the sampling of the getting ready, first meet and ceremony photos until then!

Happy Planning!

Mary + Robert | Medjool Sky Terrace | June 15

2010-07-01T06:52:00.000-07:00

I promised some images from my Tuesday wedding a couple weeks ago, and here they are! Mary and Robert were such a super sweet couple from New Mexico, and we planned everything over the phone and internet. They wanted to have a fun wedding, and were so easy going about it, that they ended up picking a Tuesday night. They also chose local restaurant/nightclub Medjool for their venue on the roof top terrace with some of the best views in the city.

Everything was beautiful from the multi-course family style dinner to the sparkling San Francisco skyline once the sun went down. The simple flowers were created by Natasha from In Water Flowers. Their friends and family were so gracious as well, and were constantly telling us how amazing the night was. We love to hear that from the wedding guests, as their comfort and enjoyment are just as important!

Here are some of the photos from their photographer Whitney Dafoe:

Enjoy the holiday weekend, we will be working on two more wonderful weddings with two more very happy couples. Happy Planning!

New Design Studio

2010-06-29T06:42:00.000-07:00

We are so happy that our design studio is getting the finishing touches on it this week, and we will be actively using it starting next Tuesday for all our design meetings. We can do everything in this studio from choosing linens to running full design mock up meetings. Our clients simply come to our office, and we have the rental company, florist and sometimes lighting designer all come to our "design studio" so that we can see everything come together for their wedding. This way, any tweaks that need to be made can be done before the wedding, and leave the bride with a sense of what everything will look like. I will admit, without a mock up meeting, there are times when even a designer doesn't have the full grasp of how everything will look together.

We will be sharing some professional photos once she's all up and running, but here are our phase photos, as we took over a waiting room that was next to our main office. Let's just say I don't want to be dealing with anything construction related anytime soon!

We will also be having an open house in late summer to celebrate the new design of Andrew Weeks Photography studio in our main office, as well as our new design space. Announcement to come soon...

Happy Planning!

Caitlin + Eric | The Villagio in Yountville | April 10

2010-06-24T07:05:00.000-07:00

I met Caitlin right after she got engaged, as one of our assistants brought her on our January bridal tour in 2009. Soon after, she hired me to help her plan her wedding, and I was so excited! Within a day of the contract being signed, I had a power point presentation in my email box from her based on all the inspiration for her wedding. I knew that this was going to be a gorgeous and classic wedding, just like Caitlin.

We began the planning right away, since her fiance Eric, worked for a professional baseball team, and we needed to plan the wedding around the teams schedule. They found the perfect place at the Villagio in Yountville and the planning commenced! It was a joy working with Caitlin and her mom on the wedding design and details, as they had so many great visions. I'm happy to be able to share these photos of their special day from Erin Beach.

The other vendors that made this wedding truly beautiful were:

Flowers: Natalie Bowen Designs

Linens: La Tavola

Cake: Penelope Jane

Djay: Denon & Doyle

Hair & Makeup: Sherrie Long
Bridesmaid Dresses: Lela Rose from Bella Bridesmaid

Invitations & Paper Products: Cheree Berry
Calligraphy: (Me!) Kathryn from Dream A Little Dream Events

Happy Planning!

A Wedding on a Tuesday?

2010-06-17T06:26:00.000-07:00

This is what most people asked me when I mentioned that I had a wedding on a Tuesday night this month. I repeatedly had to explain that the cost savings of a weeknight wedding, or off season wedding, can be one of the biggest ways to trim a budget. So, last night, along with 80 happy guests, my clients had their wedding on the Sky Terrace at Medjool in San Francisco's Mission District. It was a gorgeous and clear San Francisco night, and they had the wedding that they always wanted without the price tag. Below is a photo taken with my phone.

I only heard great things from all the guests about how amazing everything was from the views to the food, and none of them even mentioned it being a Tuesday night. I honestly don't even think anyone was aware it was a Tuesday night, since most stayed until after 11pm dancing under the stars. As I tell many of my clients getting married on off days, your friends and family love you, and no matter what day it is, they will be there.

So, if you are a couple out there that is feeling overwhelmed by the price of the wedding you want versus the budget you have, you may want to consider other options like off days. The cost saving is very significant for weeknights, and some discounts are given for Friday or Sunday weddings as well.

I'd love to hear from couples that have/had chosen an off day for their wedding, and the positives and negatives that you faced!

Happy Planning,

Real Engagement | Christina + Carl by Flory Photography

2010-06-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

If you follow my blog or my work, you know that I just love Joel & Cara from Flory Photo. They always get my clients personalities to show through, capture all the emotion in their faces and let's the viewer feel what they are feeling.

This engagement shoot of my clients Christina & Carl does not disappoint! I always love urban photos, and this one clearly gets all that San Francisco has to offer without being overdone. You can see their entire slide show here, and if you are considering Flory Photo for your wedding, contact them soon, they are booking up for 2011 already!

Happy Planning!

Michelle + Kristian | Featured on Style Unveiled

2010-06-01T07:26:00.000-07:00

photo by Janae Shields

We are so happy to have Michelle + Kristian's Healdsburg Wedding featured on Style Unveiled! This wedding was lovely and just simply perfect. Brittani and Mia ran their day so smoothly, the guests really enjoyed the day along with the happy couple!

We are also happy to announce that Michelle is now doing month of coordination for Dream A Little Dream Events. She is an amazing addition to our team, and we are so happy to have her on board! If you are noticing that Brittani and I are booked up for your wedding date, email us and see if Michelle is available, she is so organized and able to handle even the most complicated of weddings!

Happy Planning!

What We Have Been Up To

2010-05-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

Though it has been over a week since my last post, we have been doing so many fun things, I thought I would update on what has been going on here at the Dream A Little Dream Events studio:

* We had six weddings in May! We have our final two of the month tomorrow and Sunday. One is at the lovely Ralston Retreat in Mill Valley, while I will be working at City Hall for a gorgeous Persian inspired wedding.

* I had a film shoot with The Knot this week! Yes, soon you will be able to see me leading the film crew through the rainy streets of San Francisco to show the some wedding venues and vendors on the local insider's guide on theknot.com. It was so much fun working with Bernadette and Christa from The Knot. Can't wait to share the finished product!

* We are expanding!! While we love our beautiful studio here in Pacific Heights, it has become a little too small for all we are doing. So, I am taking over a small space next to my office that will be dedicated as our Design Studio. We will have meetings in there as well as design mock up meetings with clients, rental companies and florists. We can even do lighting! It will be a lot of fun, but doing contractor work is not my usual hat, but I'm learning a lot. We will definitely share photos when the work is complete!

Along with all of that, we are working on our 2010 weddings, and have already started working on our 2011 weddings. Can't wait to keep sharing and updating on all the exciting things we are doing here!

Look for a new real wedding post next week, and have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend everyone!

Happy Planning!

Shana + Brandon | Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn | March 27

2010-05-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

Shana & Brandon had such a pretty wedding up in Sonoma at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn back in March. I was lucky enough to get to work with such a fun couple, and with Anna Kuperberg for the second weekend in a row! The weather was absolutely perfect, the bride was stunning and glowing, and the guests enjoyed every minute. The wedding was full of laughter and a lot of dancing late into the night, exactly what the couple wanted!

The other vendors involved in making this wedding so perfect were:

Florist: Julie Stevens Designs

Djay: Roger with AMS Entertainment

Makeup: Audrey with Glowing Bridal

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals Napa

Happy Planning!

SF Dream Wedding Giveaway | Today!

2010-05-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

I am so excited that today is the wedding for Vanessa & Mike who won a $100,000 wedding giveaway through SF Dream Wedding Giveaway! At 4pm on the 7th floor terrace at Hotel Vitale, their dreams of having a beautiful wedding will be fulfilled. Myself and approximately 40 other vendors came together and donated our time, products and services to the well deserving couple. Vanessa has been battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and they have been such an inspiration to me. Anytime Vanessa and I got on a Skype call while she was in her hospital room receiving treatments, it always brought me back to reality of what is truly important.

This couple has a true love of family and friends and cannot wait to celebrate with them here in San Francisco. I will be sharing photos from Lilia Photography as soon as they are up, but hope to get a few sneak shots in while we are setting up. Since Vanessa said from the start she wanted a very simple wedding, we have made sure that is exactly what she is going to get. Her color palette of yellow, soft grey and white will be so crisp against the nude colors of the Vitale.

I'm looking forward to sharing images and stories from this wonderful celebration!

Happy Planning,

Kimia + Kenny | Engaged

2010-05-13T06:24:00.000-07:00

I would be lying if I said I didn't drool over these engagement photos from Jose Villa of my clients, Kimia & Kenny, getting married over Memorial Day weekend at City Hall. They are more than beautiful, and I just don't have words that would give them their proper credit. So... just enjoy these delightful images!

I can't wait to share their wedding images, this is going to be a spectacular wedding full of love, dancing and joy!

Happy Planning!

Tina + Stephen | Hotel Vitale | March 20

2010-05-11T06:42:00.000-07:00

I cannot express how much I loved working with this couple! They were so excited about every step in the planning process and very detailed all at the same time. Both are med students, so a lot of the planning took place in the summer of 2009. We had to do it that way as their residencies would take over in the fall, and finding dates that we could do vendor meetings would have proved to be very difficult.

We started searching for venues that would allow their two dogs to be in the wedding, and Hotel Vitale was one of our first stops, being a dog friendly hotel. Add in the simple, clean lined decor, and the amazing views, and Hotel Vitale was the winner for the ceremony and cocktail reception. This made it even easier, as their reception location, Yank Sing, was a mere block away.

Tina & Stephen saw early on the value in their vendors, and ended up with a team of wonderfully talented and extremely professional vendors. The weather cooperated as well, and they ended up with a gorgeous sunny day, with their unique color combination making their wedding one of my most memorable. The wedding itself ran flawlessly, and they couldn't have been happier with their vendor choices and details. Enjoy the photos by one of our absolute favorite photographers to work with, Anna Kuperberg.

The other vendors involved in making this day magical were:

Florist: A Simple Ceremony

Video: Justin Fone Productions

Ceremony Music: Music to Go through the SF Conservatory

Djay: Kevin with Denon & Doyle

Cake: Jill Branch from Branching Out Cakes

Draping: Enhanced Lighting & Sound

Hair & Makeup: Sherrie Long

Happy Planning!

Kathryn

Staff Appreciation Party | May 2

2010-05-07T06:59:00.000-07:00

About twice a year, I like to plan an outing for my staff to show them all how much I appreciate their hard work and dedication to me and my business. We have done everything from pedicure parties and brunch to cocktails and facials. I have been truly blessed with the employees I have had through the years, and couldn't ask for a better group to have working for my company! These girls work very long hours on wedding and event days, and take care of a lot of things behind the scenes. They are a crucial part of running a successful event.

I value these ladies more than I can even say in words, so for our party this season, I took ten of them, plus my mother and grandmother to the local horse race track. We had reserved tables in the turf club, and even had a race named after us. We toasted to our team with some champagne, I handed the girls a personal note from me with some fun money, and we were off and betting! There were many laughs throughout the day, including when we got to watch "our" race from the winner's circle and meet the winning jockey. Let's just say he took a liking to one our our lovely ladies!

We also were accompanied by Adi Nevo who took all the great photos. Enjoy a look into our day of celebration!

Happy Planning!

Shana + Brandon | Featured on Anna Kuperberg's Blog

2010-04-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

I promise I will share more photos on my blog from this lovely wedding when I have all the images, but for now, I have a sneak peak of a few here, plus a link to visit Anna Kuperberg's blog to view her favorites. This was such a fun wedding up in the wine country in March, and the bride and groom couldn't have been more beautiful or happy.

I'm so thrilled to be able to share all of our recent weddings, the images are coming in weekly from the wonderful photographers we work with. Stay tuned, as there are more coming up!

Happy Planning!

Taryn + Greg | Featured on Flory Photo's Blog

2010-04-21T08:43:00.000-07:00

We always love working with the husband and wife team of Joel and Cara Flory over at Flory Photo, so when it came time for one of my lovely assistants to get married, they were at the top of her list. The wedding was so lovely in every way from the stunning St. Ignatius Church to the clean look of the Bently Reserve, everything was perfect. Check out their blog post for more of the photos and some comments from the bride herself!

Happy Planning!

Picking Your Wedding Date

2010-04-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

This may sound like a weird topic to talk about in a blog, as some weddings dates are chosen because of a significant date, or because of lucky numbers. Some don't care, and let the venue they choose pretty much decide what date they will have. Either way, something that often gets overlooked is to know what is going on that date in the area where the wedding is, or something that would snarl traffic badly.

I have had clients that didn't know ahead of time that things were going to happen that could compromise their wedding. This is hard to avoid, as we were notified three months before a wedding that the weekend that they were hosting their wedding on Treasure Island, the Bay Bridge was going to be closed. It was the first year they did this, and for those that don't know, the bridge is the only way to access the island. Now, we know that every Labor Day Weekend, the bridge will be closed. We count on it, and make sure any Labor Day Weekend weddings we are doing understand that, as well as all the vendors working on the wedding.

Another thing that happens here in San Francisco are a lot of street fairs throughout the summer. They close down large areas of major streets like Union Street, Fillmore and Haight, as well as take over all of North Beach, right in front of the most popular churches in the area, Sts. Peter and Paul. They have live concerts in the park directly across from the church, so even with the doors closed, the ceremony is compromised, as well as accessing the area for guest parking and bridal party transportation.

My personal experience with the street fairs and local events hasn't always been pleasant. I have had a group of drunk men try and take over one of our guest shuttles, I have had shuttles get stuck in extreme traffic because of street closures, and I've even had one couple have to close their eyes through a parade of naked revelers in the Bay to Breakers. There are some things you can't control, but checking the local event calendar for your area before you plan your wedding should be at the top of your list. Even though these events were known about, the thought was that they won't have any effect on the wedding. That is true in some cases, but when you have shuttles, or are going off site to take photos, it can lead to being caught in a mess.

Golden Gate Park is a very popular spot for ceremonies, and has over seven different locations host lovely garden ceremonies at. It also has many concerts, and it must be avoided during those dates. There is simply no way in or out. It will save you tons of hassle in the long run if you know the times and locations of these concerts and events.

One date that I notoriously mark off our calendar yearly is when Nascar comes through the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. It took me over 2.5 hours to get to a wedding rehearsal one Friday afternoon about five years ago, and I will never forget it. My home is about 30 minutes from the venue I was heading to. There is only one main highway, and I had many vendors extremely late for set-up on the day of the wedding, even though they had been warned of my experience the night before. I instead will take a wedding in San Francisco or south, but none on the Sonoma/Napa side of the wine country.

Part of my job is to warn my clients of these potential disturbances to their wedding. As in the ones mentioned above, I was hired late in the game as a month of coordinator, and at that point, the best you can do is just try and work around it. Venues will not always let clients know about these things, and it is worth the extra step to research it yourself or if you have a planner, make sure you have a discussion with them about this. If you are in San Francisco, this is a good list to start with: http://www.sanfrancisco.com/festivals/

If any of you are currently planning, do you have to face any of these issues? Any of you had to deal with a situation like this as a bride or a vendor?

Happy Planning (& weekend off for me, yay!)

Biz Advice | The Simple Plan

2010-04-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

This past November I flew to Seattle with one of my wedding planner colleagues, Michelle Barrionuevo, to attend The Simple Plan. It was such a great experience, not only to re-evaluate my five year old business, but to make new connections with other great industry vendors. I came back from that two day seminar with a better outlook on my business goals and plans and with a new group of friends!

I highly recommend this seminar for anyone in the industry, or for those looking to start their own business in the wedding and event field. It is priceless to be able to walk away with a plan that you can always refer to, and was written with so much thought. If you saw my first business plan... well, let's just say it was embarrassing to look back at it.

The good news is that they will be running the two day seminar here in San Francisco May 10th-11th. Get your tickets through www.thesimpleplan.biz!

Happy (Biz) Planning!

SF Dream Wedding Giveaway | Linens

2010-04-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

We have picked out the linens for the SF Dream Wedding Giveaway, and I'm so lucky that I had so many great ones to pick from through the sponsor, Wildflower Linens. We are using the yellow linens outside for the cocktail reception, and inside for the napkins and cake table. We are using the grey linens for the dining tables and side tables. The chairs will be silver and white outside for the ceremony, and white on white inside to make the grey and yellow really stand out! Vanessa and Mike are very simple with their tastes, and I think this wedding is going to emulate that really well.

We are off again to work another wonderful wedding this weekend in Yountville at the lovely Villagio. Looking forward to sharing some photos soon from our spring weddings on the blog. So many fun things to share, including a guest blog feature from one of our current brides, we can't wait!

Happy Planning!

SF Dream Wedding Giveaway | Invitations

2010-04-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

Now that the design elements have all been put together, the invitations needed to be sent out to Vanessa and Mike's guests. Astrid Mueller graciously donated her time and services to create a lovely and simple invitation that the bride and groom are getting ready to send out this week! I love the way they came out, and after getting to know Vanessa, Astrid put together an invitation that was exactly to her specifications. Vanessa was able to choose the final version, which is this one, and she couldn't be happier.

We are so excited that the wedding is a mere six weeks away! More to come on the plans of this memorable wedding...

Happy Planning!

2010 Is Off To a Great Start!

2010-03-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

While our blog posts have slowed down, the work that is going on at the studio definitely has not! In the three months of 2010 so far, we have planned and coordinated five weddings, put on a San Francisco Bridal Tour and are putting together plans for our upcoming 2010 and 2011 weddings. It has been a busy start, but is certainly welcome, as we love the amount of happy clients we get to send off into their new life together every year.

I do have to point out though that we have been EXTREMELY lucky with the weather this year. It has been a very heavy rain season here in the bay area, and having four outdoor or semi-outdoor weddings in March was tricky. We always had our Plan B as well as a Plan C in case of inclement weather, but as most would imagine, these are rarely the preferred plans. We were lucky to not have to use any of them in and and ended up with amazing weather for our clients.

I do have to mention though, while watching a television special a few weeks ago, I was less than amused that the bride and groom were drenched by the end of their wedding ceremony. I have heard many things about this situation, such as the producers insisted on no back up plan, or that they did it for the drama. Either way, you simply don't put clients or guests in that type of situation. A simple change would have been to switch out the fabric ottomans that were used, so at least they could be dried off. Instead, they were left out there, and the guests had to sit on plastic

The umbrellas are great, but how about having two people hold them for the bride and groom? There were simple things that could have been done to partially remedy the situation, and I'm sure there were things that the planner could not do because of television restrictions, but I still think that this couple was unfortunately left out in the cold, literally.

Trust me, we have been forced to make a last minute decision before, and while the weather reports might say it will clear by the ceremony time, it is always hard to tell for sure. I have made some very iffy calls before, and luckily they worked out, but this is something that even if you know it could rain, come prepared. Have your coordinator bring towels to wipe down all chairs before the guests sit down. Have a large golf umbrella up near the alter, so if a downpour starts, the couple can take some cover and the officiant can hold it. Have your coordinator bring umbrellas or have them pre-ordered, and you can return them if they are not used after the wedding. If you have it in the budget, have a simple clear top tent on order. This usually requires a non-refundable deposit, but if you are looking to get married in somewhat rainy months, it is better to be safe than sorry.

We will be posting photos soon from our recent weddings, as we have worked with some great photographers recently. Here is a very bad quality photo taken with my phone from my March 20th wedding that was at Hotel Vitale and included the couples dogs. One of the pups decided the brides dress was her favorite spot!

Happy Planning!

SF Dream Wedding Giveaway

2010-03-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

I feel so fortunate to have a career that I love so much, and giving back was on my list of things to do this year. I have started that with signing on to be the lead wedding designer for the SF Dream Wedding Giveaway for a very deserving couple, Vanessa and Mike. The couple found out they were winners on Valentine's Day, and the design team got right to work on our design. I was able to Skype with Vanessa to find out her likes and dislikes, and get an overall feel of how she will want her wedding to be.

Her original color selection was red, black and white. This could work almost anywhere, except the Hotel Vitale. This hotel is only five years old, has a very muted color palette and looks like a West Elm catalog. It is lovely! After realizing those colors weren't going to work, we came up with a muted grey, soft yellow and crisp white. It is coming together nicely, and will look great with the backdrop that the Vitale offers.

I will posting throughout the planning of this wedding of our progress on the design elements. The wedding is coming up quickly on May 14th, but for now, here is our inspiration board that got us started. She already has her gown, bridesmaid dresses and invitations picked out. Linens have been selected and rentals ordered. I'm working with Nancy Liu Chin and Leighsa Montrose on the
floral design, so you know it is going to be beautiful!

Happy Planning!

Planning the Rehearsal Dinner

2010-03-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

There are no real rules when it comes to the rehearsal dinner. It can be just you two or extended to include your immediate family, wedding party and their spouses. A lot of times invitations are extended to out-of-town family and guests because it is a great time to catch up other than on the wedding day. The decision can be daunting while writing the guest list to the rehearsal dinner. Who to invite while trying not to hurt anyone's feelings while not going over budget?

A lot of our couples have family and friends coming from all over the country. The rehearsal is an opportune time to host a dinner that is more casual. This is a great time for all of your family and friends to meet and get to know each other. Many of our clients are having cocktail or dessert receptions in place of or after a sit down dinner. A cocktail hour from 5:00 to 7:00 allows your guests not be rushed straight from the airport. It is also more relaxed and gives people a chance to mingle and catch up with everyone. Hosting a dessert reception gives you and your immediate family time to have a smaller more intimate dinner then joined with all of your out of town guests later in the evening. This is a great way to include everyone, give your guests time to arrive or explore the city a bit on their own, and then come to celebrate while you get to stick to the budget.

Kathy Goodman with Well Rehearsed is one of our good friends and is an amazing resource when it comes to planning your rehearsal dinner. From finding the perfect location to decor and all the details, she is fabulous at working with you (and your future mother-in-law) to plan a memorable rehearsal dinner.
Wanting to include everyone, we have alternatively had picnics in Golden Gate Park, bringing in catering trays from a local gourmet market or our favorite - a taco truck! This is much more casual, you can invite the whole crew and enjoy a beautiful afternoon (with the chance of fog as always) with all of your family and friends.

Your rehearsal dinner, whether is ends up being big or small, traditional or not so much, remember as always it is your wedding weekend. Have fun!

Cheers,
Brittani

Giveaway | Simple Stunning Wedding Organizer

2010-03-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

We are just hitting the start of what is proving to be a big wedding season. We have March brides scrambling with their last minute details, while we are completing timelines, vendor confirmations and room diagrams. There is a lot going on during those last few weeks, and I know that some brides don't have planners out there, so we are running a contest for a Simple Stunning Wedding Organizer by Karen Bussen! Even if you have a planner, this is a great tool to keep you organized through the planning process.

To enter, leave a comment with your most stressful wedding moment, detail or crisis you have dealt with with your email address, and we will randomly be picking a winner on Thursday March 18th.

Happy Planning!

Kid Friendly or Not?

2010-03-09T10:11:00.000-08:00

It is hard deciding whether or not to have an adult only wedding or extend the invitation to families with children as well. There is the bad rap that kids can be a damper on the wedding. What are they going to do the whole time? What if they spoil things? We want our friends and family with young children to have fun at the wedding too! There are many options to make your wedding “kid friendly”, and with a little planning, kids can attend and be a part of the wedding while keeping the focus on the bride and groom.

If you just have a few children and they are sitting with their parents having a goodie bag with activities for the children at their seats keep them entertained while adults have dinner and toasts are going on.

Creating a playroom is a fabulous option. If you are able to provide a separate room at your venue that can be a “hang out” for the kids will keep them plenty busy. A few ideas to have include coloring books, games, puzzles, supplying beads to make necklaces they can take home or other arts and craft projects. Most caterers will provide a kids buffet with all the kids favorites, and even can make the table kid friendly height. Once they have eaten their dinner and crafted their hearts out, a TV/DVD player to play movies and giant pillows and blankets for them to crash on is the perfect end to their night.

It is also important to delegate someone to watch the younger guests throughout the reception if you have a playroom out of sight. There are many professional nanny services, or you can ask your hotel if they have a company they work with are a few ways to find someone the parents can trust watching their children.

If you do decide to go the “adult-only” wedding, that is okay too. It is a way to keep your guest count lower, and it really depends on what you want and how you see your wedding. Some venues or decor installations at weddings are simply not child friendly, so sometimes it is a safer option to opt for the adult only. We have seen many a centerpiece or cake go down because of a curious little one. Out of town families might still choose bring their children along though and make a vacation out of your wedding, so providing off site babysitter/nanny options is always helpful. Make sure that you specify that you are doing an adult only reception on the wedding website as well as the invitation. A simple "please join us for an adult only reception immediately following" on the reception card is an easy way to make it clear.

Cheers,

Brittani

Blog it Forward | What Inspires Me

2010-03-04T09:50:00.000-08:00

I am super excited to be in included in sfgirlbybay's Blog it Forward mashup. About 300 bloggers are participating, and we were given the task to write a post about what inspires us. Yesterday I was passed the baton from Discover: Interior Design, and loved her post about her inspirations. There are so many things I could write about, because I constantly get inspired by so many things around me, but I decided to write this post without restriction and straight from the heart. I usually don't go this personal, so this is a little scary for me, but hopefully you will enjoy it!

{Yoga} With so many things in my life to juggle, it sometimes can take over and overwhelm me. I learned years ago that I need only about an hour a day to myself, and doing my yoga practice is the best way for me to do that. It is when I can clear my mind and body, and prepare myself for the grinds of my job. At the weddings, we need to think fast on our feet, as problems arise and we have to fix it. Coming in peaceful and ready makes all the difference, and makes me a better person overall.

Image by International Orange

{My Home} Most who know me know that I always try to make every space I'm in as cozy and comforting as it can be. I'm a self proclaimed homebody, and I am proud of it. My home is where I come to at 2am after working a twelve hour wedding day, cuddle up in my midnight blue and white bedroom, and wake up the next day to choose which of my three balconies I will enjoy my morning tea on. I don't spend a lot of money on my decor, I just find things from many different sources and piece them all together.

{My Son} Most don't know this tidbit about me, but I had my son when I was 20 years old. He completely changed my life, and has been my best friend and proudest supporter. Everything I do, I do for him. I put so much effort into my business daily because it is to support us. He is a walking little me. Wait, take that back, a BIG me. He is now 5'9 and I'm pushing 5'1. Having a teenager in the house isn't always easy, but I always know that deep in there, he still loves his mommy.

{My Boyfriend} I met my boyfriend almost ten years ago at a Giants game, and we instantly had a deep connection. He came into my life and took on with grace being a big part of my son's life. He also was my biggest backer when I decided to open and run my own event planning business. My boyfriend was raised solely by his mother, as his father passed away when he was 2. He has struggled with many major health issues during our years together, and it has only brought us closer. On Valentine's Day 2008, I got a devastating call that Joe had suffered a major migraine induced stroke. This left him unable to speak for five days and in the ICU, with months of rehabilitation after wards. His strength and courage through that time, and even today, makes it clear that he is forever my rock. I will say though, I do make a pretty good nurse!

{Love} This one pretty much goes without saying, and may sound corny, but I actually get so inspired by my clients love for each other. The way they look at each other, or slightly grab the others hand always makes me smile. Much of my work and design isn't about the bells and whistles, I like to really focus in on the couple and their love for one another. One of my favorite weddings was one that hardly any money was spent, no details were majorly stressed over, but the love felt at their reception was overwhelming. It wasn't just their love for each other, but for life, friends, family and even their vendors. I walked out of that wedding with a different outlook on what is really important.

Image by Anna Kuperberg

Be sure to check out tomorrow's blog it forward post on drywell's blog, looking forward to it!

Happy Planning!

Real Parties | Oscar Night!

2010-03-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

Every year I throw an Oscar party, as it is one of my favorite nights on television. It isn't too lavish, it is actually rather casual, but it is always a lot of fun, and I really have fun putting it together. I am preparing for the party this weekend and thought I would share some of my ideas.

One thing we always do is have an Oscar pool. Everyone brings $5 to put in the pot, and we all fill out our ballots before the show starts. Quick note, always put your start time an hour before the show to allow for everyone to get there, say their hello's and get their food and drink. This way they also have time to fill out the ballot. Once the show starts, pass the ballots out to everyone to grade, and let the battle begin!

Another thing I am incorporating this year is I will be having prizes awarded throughout the broadcast. The way I am doing it is on their ballot, I will have a space for them to guess the time that these firsts will happen: first crying acceptance speech, first cut off acceptance speech, etc. It will keep the interest up through the three hour show even for those that aren't as into it.

When guests first arrive, they are greeted outside by my mock "search lights." It is basically a bunch of flashlights attached in different directions to the trees outside my home, and it makes me laugh, but it works. Then I have a "red carpet" for the guests to walk on as they enter. They are always greeted with champagne, and I have the bar fully stocked and loaded so I can enjoy the show while guests help themselves throughout the evening.

On the dining room table, I create a buffet. When they first arrive there will be individual boxes of popcorn, red vines and cracker jacks on the coffee table. There will also be fancy appetizers that they can make a plate of, grab their seat and get ready to enjoy the show. I am planning to mimic the design that has been approved for the Governor's Ball, I'm loving the color combination.

At one point, I take out the tri tip and all the fixings for guests to make gourmet steak sandwiches, with a few side dishes. Nothing too fancy, guests are eating on their lap, so you always need to consider that. I also have dark chocolate, Oscar trophy red velvet cupcakes and red wine for the tail end of the show when guests need a little pick me up.

As you can see, it is super easy to throw a party like this. Get your Oscar Party Kit from the Oscar website and download all you need and get some great recipe's as well. There are a few keys to remember though when planning your Oscar Party:

1) Always make sure you have enough seats. This isn't a standard party where guests can stand and mingle.
2) Make sure the food is easy to eat, you don't want to serve something that needs a knife.
3) Create a bar that is a self serve type. Have enough glassware, open wine and a carafe of water. Always serve your guests as they enter the party, and explain that they can help themselves to the bar after that.
4) Don't invite too many people. Some are very into the Oscar's and want to hear the speeches. You don't want it to be too crowded or too loud.
5) Go light with the decor. The theme at the Governor's Ball this year is "1930's Streamline Moderne." Design your table that way instead of with the tacky party store items.
6) Some go with a full sit down Oscar inspired dinner, which can also be fun. Take the movies nominated, and play with that. Or, you can always try and serve what Wolfgang Puck will be serving that night, yum!

Do you have any fun ideas to add? If so, please share!

Happy Planning!

All About Flowers!

2010-02-25T09:22:00.000-08:00

When it comes to selecting your wedding flowers, there is a lot to think about. Using flowers that are in season is always great to give you the freshest and most vibrant flowers. But, how are you supposed to know what flowers are in season when there are so many to choose from? That is where your florist and coordinator step in to create the vision that you have with the flowers and colors you like, all while staying within your budget.

There are a lot of things you can bring with you when you go to meet with your florist that will help them see what your vision is clearly. Here is a list of helpful aids for you to bring to your initial meeting:

- Cut, print and gather. When discussing your color scheme, style and ideas, bring photos or image collages you have put together. Be it printed from websites you like, tears from magazines or a favorite piece of art that has inspired you, everything is helpful.

- Tell you florist your favorite and least favorite flowers. Even if you only have a few to mention, or don't know the names of them, the florist can name them for you and help get a sense of your style. Florists are artists. If you give them the direction, they can take it from there and create a beautiful proposal with your planner that will fit your style.

Image by Janae Shields

- Bring swatches! If you have selected your bridesmaid gowns, or have color samples of the palette you would like to aim for, bring them. It is really helpful to have on hand, and the florist can then match the ribbon colors to the bridesmaid gowns. You may not have these at your initial meeting, but it is something you should provide them with at least a month before your wedding.

- Be honest about your budget. The worst thing is to go in without one, and then you realize all your visions cost over $10,000. If that is your budget, that is fine, but for many it is not, and if your florist knows this from the start they can provide the best possible direction for you.

- Recycle. Many of your ceremony arrangements or bridesmaid bouquets can be re-used in the wedding reception. Make sure this is discussed with your florist at your meeting, as they will have the best ideas and the most realistic way to implement that. Also check if you are purchasing your containers. If you are, which we recommend, you can either send them home with guests, or re-use them the next day at your day after brunch. Make sure your coordinator knows, as they will set aside the ones that need to be used the next day, and have a space where guests can pick them up on their way out.

- If you don't have a planner, create a simple inspiration board. You can do this by going online and pasting pictures into a document that you can then email and bring to all your design related meetings. You can also create one online at Style Me Pretty's Style Circle.

Remember, you are not expected to know every flower that is out there. You know what you like and do not like, and with the above tools you will be well on your way to a great meeting and an amazing design palette!

Cheers,
Brittani

We are on Here Comes The Guide

2010-02-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, getting listed on Here Comes the Guide takes quite a bit of work. In order to be considered for a listing, you have to submit 15 client and 15 vendor references. They carefully screen each one, and ask them many questions about how that vendor does business, what they had any issues with, and their overall feeling about that vendor. We are happy to report that we got rave reviews from all our references, and have been listed on the guide!

We are always humbled by the reviews we receive, and we feel this is a great step for our business to show that we have been screened and we are a reputable business.

Looking forward to making many more clients happy this year!

Happy Planning,

Real Engagement | Tina + Stephen by Anna Kuperberg

2010-02-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

Okay, so Tina & Stephen have been the cutest, sweetest and most appreciative couple ever, plus they make me laugh constantly (Stephen once asked me if he needs a trial for his hair cut!). I have had so much fun with them over the past year planning their wedding that will take place next month in San Francisco. That is why getting these engagement photos from A nna Kuperberg made me even happier, as she truly caught their personality and deep love for each other. The pictures aren't about the scenery, yet the couple themselves, and I really think that is what makes Anna so special. Enjoy!Happy Planning!

Save the Date Ideas

2010-02-18T08:42:00.000-08:00

Brittani Waldman is a wedding and event planner with us here at Dream A Little Dream Events, and is now going to be contributing to our blog! Brittani is a great planner with a lot of energy and humor that really makes her clients feel at ease. Here is her first post on some great Save the Date ideas:

It is that time of year where our upcoming summer and fall couples are coming up with ideas for their save the dates. The standard magnet is always a fine choice, but I have a few other ideas to make your save the dates a little more personal.

Photo booths are always a blast and an easy way to personalize the card. You can go to one at your local mall or if you are lucky enough to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hello! Lucky now houses their own in-house photo booth. You can do it with signs like “We are getting married!” “San Francisco” “July 3, 2010”, or without signs and have the team at Hello! Lucky take care of the rest or the verbiage.

Photo from Hello Lucky

A lot of our clients are from out of town and having destination weddings in San Francisco or in the Wine Country. Create your own post card with some of your favorite city sites to get your guests excited about the trip, or grab some tourist post cards, get a custom stamp made with all the details (you can do this at Paper Source), and send them off!

I also love the idea of incorporating a sticker that can be removed from the card and placed in a date book or on the family calendar. It makes it simple for your guests to make sure they have the date off their calendar immediately and won’t miss your big day! Check out the how to on this unique option on Martha Stewart.

No matter how you create your save the date’s, make sure the date is pronounced on the card the most so it will be sure to stay in your guest’s minds!

Cheers,

Brittani

Featured | Niki + Ben on Snippet & Ink's Blog

2010-02-16T08:42:00.000-08:00

Niki and Ben's wedding was truly the unique, colorful and whimsical wedding that they had wished for all along, and I was so incredibly happy to have been a part of it. Held at the lovely James Leary Flood Mansion in San Francisco, this venue makes for a perfect backdrop for the weddings that are looking to do something different, as there are no carpets or wallpaper patterns to compete with.

I had long been a fan of Anna Kuperberg's work, and this wedding made me a fan for life. I still look at these pictures and am amazed at how much emotion and warmth was caught by her lens.

Enjoy the fresh photos on Snippet and Ink's wonderful blog that haven't been featured elsewhere of this adorable couple!

Happy Planning,

Giveaway | Bridal Tour Gift Bag & Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T07:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! With my job, every day is Valentine's Day, but to truly celebrate the person (or people) that you love is a great tradition. It should not to be masked or thought upon negatively by the overload of cards and chocolates that are in the stores, but leave you to be inspired to celebrate the way you feel appropriate.

I wrote a post on this last year, and this year, I'm celebrating with a lovely brunch this morning with both my boyfriend and son, the two biggest loves in my life, before spending the day with them. How do you plan on spending your day? We will draw one winner at random from the comments left on this post to win the gift bag that was collected on our last bridal tour! This bag has offers and gifts worth over $4500, so make your comment and enjoy your Valentine's Day!

Happy Planning!

Dream Bridal Tour Video Clip

2010-02-11T09:31:00.000-08:00

When we ran our last Dream Bridal Tour in January, we were so lucky to have Thomas Hughes Video join us on our tour to catch the day in video to be able to share with everyone. Enjoy!

Dream Day Bridal Tour from Thomas Hughes Films on Vimeo.

Happy Planning!

Featured | Brides Northern California Magazine

2010-02-09T08:46:00.001-08:00

I was interviewed recently for an article to run in the Brides Northern California Spring/Summer 2010 edition that was going to be about wedding ceremonies. They wanted to hear about the different ways couples were incorporating their traditions and guests into their ceremony. It is really a pretty magazine, with some very sweet real wedding features. Check it out on newsstands now!

Happy Planning!

Custom Maps

2010-02-08T08:49:00.000-08:00

I am so loving these custom maps from Stephanie Barba. Her company, Couture Maps, is simply the cutest, and her maps are just what you need to set your wedding invitations apart from the rest. I received her beautiful package in the mail with a hand sewn map by Mira Aster, and it couldn't set the mood for a Hawaiian destination wedding more perfectly.

I'm so excited to share this with my clients and blog readers who are really looking for something different in their wedding stationery decisions, and so incredibly lucky that she is located here in San Francisco. She may need to be a stop on the next bridal tour!

Happy Planning!

Upcoming Events for San Francisco Brides to Be

2010-02-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

There are some fun bridal events coming in the next month that I thought I would share for the local San Francisco brides to be.

~ Huckleberry Karen's Floral Workshop, Saturday Feb 27
1:00-4:00pm at the Huckleberry Karen Studio in San Francisco
$75 per person
For more information, email karen@huckleberrykarendesigns.com

~ The Union Street Wedding Ring, Sunday February 28
12:00pm VIP Reception, 1:00pm General Reception
$45 VIP Tickets, $20 Bride Tickets, $5 Guest Tickets

Peruse couture gowns and stunning jewels. Run your fingers over perfectly letter pressed stationary and handmade photo albums. Enjoy delectable cakes and sweets. Breath in the sweet scent of Peonies and Port. And much much more.

25 of San Francisco's most exclusive bridal shoppes, all on Union Street, and all offering special promotions- Bring your mom, your girls and your checklist for an afternoon of walking and wedding inspiration.

For more information, visit www.unionstreetweddingring.com

~ The Wedding Tea at Paper Source, Saturday February 20
10:00 - 11:00am
$15 per ticket

Join Paper Source for a lovely morning of sipping tea while enjoying sweet treats, as they share hands-on wedding inspired ideas and introduce our Paper Source 2010 Invitation Collection.

As a gift for spending the morning with them, you'll receive 10% off your purchases made that day. Attendance is limited to only 15 guests. Visit us in store or call them at the Fillmore or Chestnut Street locations or get more information at www.paper-source.com .

Happy Planning!