Rob & Christina: fun couple, fun bridal party, fun wedding!

I knew we were all in for a good time when Rob and Christina's bridal party walked onto the Londontown and Gardens grounds with iced buckets of domestic and imported beer for the rehearsal.  Everyone was relaxed and ready to have a great time.  They were preparing to sail on the Schooner Woodwind II -- the same yacht as you may have seen in Wedding Crashers.  So, needless to say, I knew this was going to be such a fun wedding to be a part of. 

Thank you, Wendy Hickok, for these great images! 

 Christina's peacock shoes

 

These guys were such characters!  They decided to mess with Christina before the wedding ceremony.  So, they showed up with mismatched ties and told her they forgot their real ones - only to have the right ties in their jacket pockets.  She almost flipped, but I think she knew they were just joking around.

Christina and her father before walking down the aisle

The scenic ceremony location overlooking the water in Annapolis at Londontown & Gardens

It was right as they hit this part of the aisle that I remember Rob whispering to Christina about how absolutely stunning she looked.  It was one of the sweeter and genuine moments I've seen.

 

The best man, Rob's nephew Mac, asked Rob early on if he could be the best man.  Fourteen year old Mac held his own as one of the more responsible groomsmen.  What I mean by that is just that he was afraid to play that prank on Christina!

 

The baseball cake topper and groom's cake represent Rob's college coaching career.

Rob and Christina mailed me a nice note after the wedding.   

"Thank you so much for all of your work at our wedding.  You and Karla ensured everything went off without a hitch; we really couldn't be happier.  It was such a joy to work with you and we are so appreciative."

Vendor Information:

Venue:  London Town & Gardens, Annapolis

Caterer:  Saucy Salamander

Baker:  Cakes and Confections

Florist:  Intrigue Designs

Transportation:  Bayside Limo

Photographer:  Hickok Photography

Ceremony Music:  Classical Guitar Ceremonies

Reception Music:  Dance Masters Entertainment

Beauty:  Behind the Veil

Rentals:  Rentals to Remember

Bridal Show

One last reminder....

Be sure to come check us out along with some of Baltimore's great vendors at the American Visionary Arts Museum tomorrow night from 5:30 - 8PM.  If anything, it is a great excuse to get out, have some cocktails, and see the city from a unique, quirky, cool location.

Please stop by our table to say hi and let us know you heard about the happy hour from our blog.

See you then!

Joanna & Matt: a simple afternoon affair

Thank you to Joanna and Matt for including jpb designs as a part of your simple, traditional, lovely afternoon wedding!  This was our first visit to Glenview Mansion down in Rockville...it was beautiful! 

I think they hired us less than three weeks before their wedding.  I would have loved to have gotten to know them a bit better, but regardless, I'm honored to have been part of their day. 

Let me tell you the story of the afternoon...

(Thank you to Krystal Blu Photography for providing me with the images.)

Joanna and the ladies got ready at her apartment.  Check out her bling!

Love this...

The ceremony was held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rockville.  It has such interesting architecture on the inside.  This picture is really neat with the huge stained glass window in the background.  And, you have to love the guys' gray suits.

Meredith and I loved the cake.  It was stunning!

Instead of a traditional sit down dinner, this afternoon wedding had a brunch with a waffle station and an omelet station, among others.  It was quite yummy!  All the guests were definitely pleased.  The best part is that for the cocktail hour, the caterer opted to put out a table of assorted breads and fruit.  It kept the guests happy until the meal was ready.

a larger shot of the cake

Joanna and Matt found this great subway art on etsy that includes the important facts from their wedding day.  Guests signed the mat around it, and the couple plans to hang it up in their home.

One of the big hits was a huge photobooth.  This was so big it could fit up to 14 people!  Another great aspect is that the guys stay to monitor and help guests with the booth for the entire event and they bring all of the props you see (and more).  Their guests had a great time with this!

The grounds are stunning.  If you haven't already, you should make a trip over to Glenview Mansion.

The afternoon wouldn't be complete without a candy bar.  The initials were my favorite!

The couple was sent away with bubbles to a limo driving them to DC for the night.  What a great event!

Joanna wrote the nicest review online:
http://www.weddingwire.com/vendor/VendorViewStoreFront?mode=edit&tab=reviews

Here is part of it...
"Hiring Jenny was the best decision I made for my wedding and I honestly believe I wouldn't be married at this point if it wasn't for her.  

In three short weeks, Jenny was able to tie up all the loose ends, contact vendors, give ideas when necessary, expand on my own ideas, and make a master schedule accommodating everything we wanted to do into the ebb and flow of a traditional wedding. I was worried the ultimate wedding vision (traditional elements in a non-traditional setting) wouldn't work, or worse, be criticized, but Jenny made me feel comfortable from day one. She understood immediately what my fiance and I were going for and made us feel as though we were the only couple she was working with.

I would recommend her a million times out of a million. I really liked how she specializes in day-of coordination, as opposed to planning. Future brides, to keep yourself stress-free on your big day, hire Jenny!!"


Vendor information:
Church:  St. Mary's Catholic Church - Rockville, MD
Venue:  Glenview Mansion
Caterer:  Putting on the Ritz
Cake:    Edibles Incredible
Florist:   B Floral & Event Design
DJ:  Chris Laich Music Services
 Photographer:  Krystal Blu Photography
 Photobooth:  Booth-a-Rama
 Beauty:   Up Dos for I Dos
Transportation:   Bayside

Thank you, Balance Photography!

St. Patrick's Day morning I headed over to the Balance Photography studio to get my hair and makeup done by Beth Johnson, of the Up Dos for I Dos team.  After an hour of chatting and getting all dolled up, I was ready to head over to a local park with Nathaniel and Jess from Balance.  Together, they made me feel comfortable and relaxed, which in effect, allowed me to just be myself in front of the camera.  So, without further ado, here are some of the images from Balance - with some outtakes, too! 

Thanks again for the headshots, Beth and the Balance Photography team!

I decided to go with this image, but there is an outtake below.  

We had such a great time!

Some other shots from the morning...

Honeymoons for You

So you're making post-wedding plans and trying to figure out where to go for that highly anticipated honeymoon. There are different vacation spots and activities that can reflect your personality. Here are a few:

For Adrenaline Junkies:

Costa Rica is a great place for honeymooning if you and your spouse to be are looking for a big adventure. Costa Rica offers hiking, ziplining, surfing, and tours on horseback. You can even go exploring through the many parks of Costa Rica anything from three toed sloths to spider monkeys. Any and every activity in Costa Rica is sure to give you a head rush.

For the Laid Back:

The Maldives are the ultimate honeymoon spot for those that want to relax by the beach. The kicker: the houses are in the water. Wake up in the morning by doing some yoga and then return to your villa; from there, you could literally jump into the gorgeous blue waters. You can find more info at http://www.traveldestinationinfo.com/maldives/top-rated-luxury-hotels-in-maldives/.

 For the History Buffs and Culture Seekers:

London is filled with culture and history. There are many museums to visit, and historic landmarks such as Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Take in a show - broadway, plays, opera, ballet, and so much more - at West End. Attend a concert and The Royal Albert Hall where Grammy Winner Adele performed just a few months ago. You can also kick it up a notch at night and party it up at one of my many clubs in London.

For the Foodies:

For the epicureans, Italy is the obvious choice. The home country of great chefs like Giada De Laurentiis and Mario Batali, Italy boasts the best food, wine, and pastries in the world. And don't forget the gelato in a wide variety of flavors!

Where are you going for your honeymoon? Do you have any suggestions for your fellow blog readers?

Your Floral Guide

Flowers are part of almost every wedding. If brides are looking to cut costs, though, they may look to the florist budget first. An option is to use flowers that are in season. Just like food, if a certain item (in this case, flowers) is not in season, it is more costly for producers to produce and ship said item so the consumer ends up paying more in order the producer can still make a profit. However, if consumers purchase a good in season, it is the ideal conditions for the good to grow so no extra effort must be put in to produce the good. This results in lower prices for you.

I know that was technical and a bit long-winded. Are you still with me? Basically, the moral of my post is that if you want to save money on flowers, opt for those that are in season.

 The question on your mind is probably, "Which flowers are in season when?" Some of you may be natural green thumbs and pro gardeners and know everything to know about flowers; but, if you're like me, you need a little help. This guide from The Knot has an extensive list of the flowers in bloom throughout Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Which flowers do you plan on having at your wedding?

Hotlanta

I'm in Atlanta! I went to college in Atlanta and I'm back for a visit. I went to this really cool restaurant that I want to tell you about. It's called the Sun Dial and it's a restaurants that spins. SPINS. While you're sitting at your table and enjoying your dinner, you can see a 360 degree view of Atlanta. It's so cool. And I had delicious food and dessert while I was there (vanilla creme brulee with fresh fruit!).

View from our table

I love Creme Brulee

If you by any chance are getting married in Atlanta, I highly suggest you have your engagement party or rehearsal dinner here. The views are beautiful which guarantees limitless photo opportunities and the food is tasty, too! Their website is http://www.sundialrestaurant.com/.

Sunset

I personally think the best time to go is right before sunset. You can literally see the sun slowly go down until it disappears completely and Atlanta transf

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! I hope you all have big plans for today. Are you by any chance throwing a party? If you are, I have some great alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktail recipes for you to try out.

COCKTAILS

Green Dublin Apple Cocktail

Green Dublin Apple Cocktail

What do you need?
     - 2 oz Irish Whiskey
     - 1 oz sour apple schnapps
     - 2 oz white cranberry juice

What do you do?
     Shake all the ingredients, plus some
     ice, in a cocktail shaker. Strain
     and drink! (Could this be any easier?)

The recipe and picture is from http://cocktails.about.com/od/whiskeyrecipes/a/greendublin_apple.htm.

Irish Car Bomb 

Irish Car Bomb

What do you need?
     - 1/2 pint Guiness stout
     - 1 shot Bailey's Irish Cream
     - 1 shot Jameson Irish Whiskey


What do you do?
     This is a popular drink amongst college students (probably
     because it's delicious). Pour the Bailey's and Jameson into a
     shot glass without mixing them together. Pour the Guiness
     into a glass, drop in the shot glass, and drink as quickly as you
     can. It tastes like a milkshake. For the full recipe, click here.

Magic Green Lantern

Magic Green Lantern (makes 6)

What do you need?
     - 1 cup of sprigs of parsley
     - 1/2 teaspoon of grated lime zest
     - 1 cup cold water
     - 1/2 cup lime juice
     - 1/2 cup sugar
     - club soda
     - limes for garnish

What do you do?
     Blend all the ingredients (minus the club soda) until smooth.
     Fill cups about 1/3 of the way with crushed ice and then strain
     your blended ingredients into each cup. Fill the rest of the cup
     with club soda. You can garnish with lime or even a spoonful
     of sherbet to add another dimension.This is a great drink for
     kids because it's cool, refreshing, and non-alcoholic. You
     can find this and other non-alcoholic recipes here.

Please try out these recipes and let us know how they are! Even if you're not throwing a St. Patty's Day party, these recipes cane be used in a wedding if you have green in your color scheme. Enjoy :-)

Irish Blessing

It may be my Irish heritage, but with St. Patrick's Day coming up I've had green on my mind for a week now and have decided to give you all a little themed inspiration board. Don't worry, there are no pots of gold or leprechauns here. I mean a true earthy and elegant Irish inspiration board. The romance and love that springs from this board are contagious regardless of your heritage, so take a look!

1. Bagpipers
2. Celtic Knot Invitation
3. Table Setting
4. Scottish Groom
5. Claddagh Ring
6. Dress
7. Irish Countryside
8. Irish Soda Bread
9. Flowered Headpiece
10. Irish Thistle Seating Chart
11. Kelly Green Bridesmaid Dresses
12. Guiness

Looking Perfect on the Big Day

Susan Whicker is an expert on getting brides to look their best on their wedding days. She has a variety of therapies that will make your skin look flawless and give you an energy boost. You can get a better look at the offerings and testimonials from some of her clients at www.wellnessbysusan.com. Susan was kind enough to offer some of her tips for brides:

1. Is there anything a bride can do the days leading up to her wedding to ensure perfect skin on her wedding day?

Absolutely! The beginning of detailed planning for the big day is a good time for a bride to seek the counsel of an experienced skin expert so a plan tailored to her specific needs can be created. Weddings are exciting and the planning of one can be a lot of fun, but even happy stress can often manifest in the form of breakouts and I can help manage them. Ideally, 4 to 6 months prior to the wedding is the perfect time frame to begin a regular skin workout routine with proper home care and professional skin treatments to achieve a bride's most radiant skin. However, a bride would begin her plan of action even sooner if she happens to have more serious skin issues to address such as acne, scarring, uneven pigmentation, etc. I take a whole body approach to each client; therefore, nutritional, mental and physical aspects are all addressed when devising an individualized plan so my brides can feel confidant in the skin they're in when they walk down the aisle.

2. For brides that want a nice glow on their wedding days, do you have any products that you recommend they use?

I firmly believe that proper home-care is where that "glow" begins as healthy skin is going to have a natural, dewiness that people often try to mimic through the use of make-up. But why fake it if you can make it! I'm happy to say that nowadays people are becoming more aware of the dangers of UV light and are choosing safer means of achieving that sun-kissed look. In addition to proper home care and regular professional treatments, I encourage my brides to use Lindsay Carroll of BronzedBerry Organic Spray Tanning along with Jane Iredale pure mineral bronzers to achieve that radiant, bronzed hue.

3. Any tips to keep the face looking clean and fresh throughout the night?

Brides tend to have more make-up applied on their wedding day than any other normal make-up wearing day due to photos. That clean and fresh look starts with proper home care and it's use weeks before that joyous day, but I do actually have a secret weapon... Jane Iredale Skin Care Make-Up. More specifically Jane Iredale's primer and oil control product, Absence. Did you know that oil is the primary culprit of color change in make-up? Absence actually helps control over-active oil gland, conceals larger pores and prepares the skin for make-up application leaving behind a sheer, color-free finish. Jane Iredale make-up is a skin care make-up line because it actually benefits and protects the skin through the use of purified minerals. It's safe to use on skin that's being treated and can be used on the most sensitive, reactive skin types. In particular, I love that Jane Iredale products allow for your natural beauty to shine through rather than applying a whole new face through the use of make-up. The lasting power of correctly applied Jane Iredale products is beyond compare and I love that I can't even feel it on my skin!

Every girl wants to look perfect on her wedding day and an expert like Susan can make it happen. She even offers therapies for men so you and your husband-to-be can go together!

Rustic Romance

Going home for the weekend to my small town really made me reminisce about all things rustic. I don't know if it was seeing all the barns, eating some good home-cooked food served family style, or just being back in the woods, but something made me want to take the countrified vibe and give you all some inspiration for your own events. Enjoy!