Vendor News: Secret Sale at BHLDN!

Attention brides, bridesmaids, and attendees. One of our favorite online wedding vendors is having their first sale ever. Check out Anthropoligie's gorgeous vintage inspired wedding line, BHLDN. Shop the sale here!

Happy Shopping!

Vendor News: Meet Jamie Fields

Hello Pink Blossom List Readers! We are happy to introduce another fabulous new face. Meet Jamie Fields, the latest addition to one of our favorite event planning vendors, A Savvy Event.

A few months back we interviewed Kelly from A Savvy Event and Jamie has just joined the team. We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did!

PBL: Did you always work in event planning? Where did you work prior to ASavvy and what brought you here to work with Kelly?

Jamie: After college graduation I was thirsty for a new adventure and decided to relocate to New York.  I found myself working as a hostess at a fine dining establishment in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.  It was at Atlantic Grill where I quickly realized my passion for organizing and planning in a chaotic, fast-paced environment.  From that learning experience, I set my sights on a career in the hospitality industry.  I targeted a role within the restaurant group’s busy, corporate office – And, took advantage of this great opportunity.  I administered and oversaw the events and parties for a dozen popular and upscale restaurants, and a trendy, spin-off nightclub.

After a handful of years in NY it was time for a change of venue.  My now husband and I drove cross country embarking on a journey out West.  We landed in my hometown of San Francisco where I took on a catering manager’s duties at The Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill.  Throughout my five-year tenure, I fell in love with planning every aspect of the wedding process – From the traditional, formal ceremony…To the most progressive and non-conventional nuptials.  I had the pleasure of running and supervising hundreds of wedding parties and special events.

I knew it was time for a work lifestyle change after the birth of my baby girl Chloe.  I needed a more flexible situation.  Kelly and I first met while we both worked for the Fairmont brand.  She was working events at our sister Sonoma property.  We always had a good rapport and remained in touch after she left to start A Savvy Event.  I’ve long admired the fabulous job Kelly has done catering to her Napa Wine Country clientele.  After some exciting conversations we agreed that I could help put A Savvy on the map in San Francisco market.

PBL: Favorite bouquet of the moment?

Jamie: My favorite bouquet design style remains constant and conforms to my simple, yet modern taste. I am a big fan of bunching one type of flower or using multiple species with similar coloring throughout.  Add in a touch of glitter for some sparkle and you have a sophisticated, sleek creation.  I love bouquets that incorporate Calla Lily’s, Star Lilys, Tulips and Orchids.

PBL: Can you think of a wedding trend this season that has been popular with the brides? Any color trends?

Jamie: Summer’s arrival brings splashes of hot pinks, corals and shades of Tiffany blue.  Trending now is Navy blue…Brown is fading out.  Navy blue is a very rich, elegant color. It’s the new black with a bit of pizzazz.

PBL: What is your favorite Bay Area wedding venue/ or where would you choose get married?

Jamie: The Fairmont San Francisco Hotel atop Nob Hill is a favorite.  No other venue offers such a range and variety of event space.  From the Crown room with it’s near 360 degree views of the City…To the traditional Gold and Venetian room’s ornate details.  The Garden Terrace is a great spot for an outdoor ceremony or a breath of fresh air during your cocktail hour.

When it came time to select a venue for my own wedding I quickly realized that getting married at the Fairmont where I worked as an employee everyday wasn’t ideal.  My husband and I researched several dozen potential locations throughout the Greater Bay Area.  Our site touring included fabulous visits to the Julia Morgan Ballroom, Legion of Honor Museum and Kohl Mansion.

We eventually decided the perfect spot for us was the Old Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Building, now known as the Bently Reserve.  We chose the Banking Hall for its contemporary marble floors, travertine walls and bronze finishes.  The tall columns accentuate the height of the space, and grand chandeliers give balance to the room.  We added up lighting and color washes, stylish linens, and stunning floral and candle arrangements.  The space was the perfect canvas to paint my fairy tale wedding with the groom to match.

PBL: If you could give brides one piece of advice from a planner's standpoint what would it be?

Jamie: Get a Planner!  I promise it’s the best money you will ever spend for your peace of mind. A wedding planner’s sole responsibility is to have their eyes and ears focused on making your event flow flawlessly for you and your guests.  Let somebody else take control over who is supposed to walk down the aisle at that appropriate moment, labor over timing your meal service, or deal with unruly Uncle Harry.

We hire a professional to assist us in most every other aspect of our life’s endeavors; Why would you not make that same type of investment for arguably the most memorable (and let’s face it expensive) day of your life?

Thank you to Jamie for sharing such great insight and advice. Contact Jamie and the rest of the A Savvy Event team here.

Vendor News: Jose Villa's Book Release

Beloved wedding photographer Jose Villa just released a new book showcasing his amazing techniques and fresh style. Whether you are a bride, planner, or designer- pick up this book for some true inspiration.

For a signed copy visit here http://josevillabook.com/signed.php

Vendor News: LALA LUXE

You are sure to fall in love with these tiny treasures like we did! Introducing local artist Kate Luxe, designer for Luxely. She creates tiny notes and origami shapes that hang delicately inside a miniature glass bottle. These "diminutive delights" are absolutely charming. They would make perfect place settings or wedding favors!

Who knew something so tiny could make such a huge impression?

Check out more at Luxely.Etsy.com or contact designer directly at lalaluxe@hotmail.com!

Vendor News: Anthropologie's New Bridal Line

What kind of a bride are you? Anthopologie's new wedding shop, BHLDN (pronounced Beholden) debuted online last month, and the website is amazing. The site categorizes the collection into bridal shops based on your personality, from "nostalgic romantic" to "neo-sophisticate". The collection goes beyond gowns and dresses to include unique wedding accessories and shoes. Here are some favorites, courtesy of www.BHLDN.com.

The detailing on this dress makes it a work of art!

These flower hair pins are the perfect dainty addition to a bridal updo.

So charming!

Vendor News: Meet Kelly!

The key to a flawless wedding is a talented, professional, and fabulous event planner. Meet Kelly from A Savvy Events! She is all of the above and more. We were lucky enough to interview this busy lady and get some insight into her unique personal style, the hottest trends on the wedding platform this season, and day-of- wedding advice. Enjoy!

NLCD: What have been the most popular wedding colors for this upcoming spring/summer season?

Kelly: This year I am seeing A LOT of Grey! Grey is everywhere and it is such a neutral color and it just goes with everything! I love mixing grey in to a variety of color palettes! Another color I am seeing a lot of this year is Dark Purple. I typically don't love Purple but if done properly it looks fabulous and it is very rich and warm! 

NLCD: What is your favorite bouquet of the moment?

Kelly: My favorite bouquet is anything with Peonies! Just like every bride I am a sucker for beautiful peonies and I just think they are so soft and romantic and make the perfect bouquet!

NLCD: If you got married again in the Bay Area- what location/or venue would you choose?

Kelly: Gosh this is so hard as I like so many venues for so many different reasons but I think if I were to do it all over again and if I were to get married in this area I would probably choose Annadel Winery in Sonoma! I just love it there! The ruins are so beautiful and the property is just spectacular. I love the garden feel and Annadel is just that. It is a stunning property. I love rustic and elegant together and that property to me fits that feel to a tee! 

NLCD: What was the largest wedding you organized- how many guests, where was it, and what was the biggest challenge?

Kelly: The largest wedding to date was 275 people at Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma. It was a beautiful wedding and really their were not a lot of challenges at all. I would say the biggest challenge was that I was hired about 8 weeks prior to the wedding as the couple felt they didn't need a wedding planner and as it got closer they realized they really needed one. So a lot of times when I am hired last minute there is a lot to do to catch up on everything that has been done and sometimes a lot of cleaning up and organizing things. So that is always the biggest challenge is when you are brought on last minute! I always tell my couples, friends and anyone that is going to get married hire your planner first. They will help you through out the entire process and it is money well spent. 


NLCD: What is one design/wedding trend that you love?

Kelly: I am still a sucker for the white wedding! There is something so romantic and timeless about a white wedding. It doesn't have to be vanilla and boring. You can always bring in soft hints of color to accent with but what I truly love is to walk into a reception that is candle lit with shades of whites it is still breath taking to me and it just says WEDDING!

NLCD: What is one trend that you are hoping will go away soon? 

Kelly: Gosh...I have never really given this a lot of thought lately because even if a trend is over done or tiresome I always try to tweak it to make it new to the couple or the wedding. I can't really think of anyone trend that should go away.....

NLCD: What was the most memorable moment of your own wedding? 

Kelly: The most memorable moment for me is when the doors to the church opened and I saw my husband for the first time. Nothing will ever take that moment away from me! It was very important for me and my husband to keep some tradition with our wedding and one of those was that we were not going to see each other before our ceremony! I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. It is the one picture that is my mind for the rest of my life and I will never forget his expression and the way he looked at me for the first time! It still makes me teary eyed. 

NLCD: If you could give a bride one piece of advice/words of wisdom on the day of her wedding- what would it be??

Kelly: My biggest advice is that this is your special day! Remember to take time to smell the roses (Literally) because it goes by so fast. You have spent so much time and days preparing for this day so stop and take little moments through out the event to just step back scan the room and remember everything! I also recommend after your ceremony to have a little alone time with your new bride or groom. It is probably the only alone time you will get all night so have your caterer/planner get you some champagne and hors d'oeuvres and enjoy them together before you greet your guest!
  


Thanks to Kelly for such great insight!

    
Get in touch with Kelly at asavvyevent.com

Industry News: The Wedding University II

The Wedding University SDE from andrew msv on Vimeo.
Behind the scenes of the 2nd Annual Wedding University.

{Reality Check #2: Garden Centerpiece}

For our 2nd installment of "Reality Check", we decided to continue with flowers since they seem to vary so much in price.

For this week, the Pink List Panelists asked four different floral designers from across the nation to answer this question...

How much would this designer garden centerpiece cost in your city?

From to California to Connecticut, Utah to Michigan, this is what they would charge for this eco-green centerpiece created by Lewis Miller of LMD Floral Events in NYC. Anemones, brown berzilia baubles, scabiosa pods, leather fern, sword fern, scented geranium, jasmine like vines in glass cylinder never looked this beautiful. Thank you Studio Stems, Precious & Blooming, Eileen's Exclusive Floral, Floral Verde for your help on this series.