Knapp's Castle Engagement Session with Anna Costa

I am so excited to share our engagement photos and highlight an amazing husband-wife photography team, based out of Santa Barbara, CA. I was blown away by our wonderful e-sesh photos from Michael and Anna Costa Photography! Seriously, check them out. All of their couples look like models, their shoot locations look like sets, and every day they shoot on had the most perfect weather! We've hired Anna as our photographer for both our e-sesh, as well as our wedding day.

I chose to have our shoot at Knapp's Castle because it's just such a iconic setting. The views can't be beat! It's such a diverse place too, with innumerable nooks to pose in and oozes history.

We used one of our fabulous engagement photos for our Save the Date cards. I love that Minted sources their designs from independent designers. While browsing through different vendors for our wedding stationery items, I found that Minted had more variety than the other websites because they utilize a variety of designers. I highly recommend them and you can check them out here for all your wedding, birthday, holiday, and other special occasion stationery needs! They also make beautiful canvas prints of photos, which make great gifts!

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Venue: Knapp's Castle
Photographer: Anna Costa
Coordinator: One & Only Productions

Me? A Bride?!

The time has come, I am officially planning my own wedding! I have, of course, been unofficially planning it for a couple years though (I'm not ashamed!). The greatest guy in the world got down on one knee on September 27, so I am about 7 weeks into our engagement.

There was very little I could do until we looked at venues, chose one, and picked a date. That could not happen until we were able to make it down to Santa Barbara, our destination of choice. And even THAT could not happen until I got back from my vacation in Japan, which was coincidentally timed for 2 weeks after our engagement. This drove the planner in me CRAZY! Hence, I survived.

So what have I done in the first 7 weeks?

 

We chose our wedding party!

We chose who we want by our sides on the most important and emotional day of our lives! I asked mine in a cute way- custom wine bottle labels and cutesie hair ties for the bridesmaids, and a sweet gift set for my maid of honor. Carson chose his, but will be asking them soon so I can't spill the beans! It's so important to choose these people wisely. They will have input on your wedding, will be there to help (hopefully!), and you'll want to look back 40 years from now and still love those people dearly. Plus, your maid of honor and best man have a lot of planning to do themselves for the bachelor/ette parties and showers! Choose wisely :)

We chose a venue!

We made it down to Santa Barbara the weekend after I returned from my trip. We saw 4 venues in one day (poor Carson must have been exhausted), and ultimately were deciding between two by the end of the day. I had made appointments at all the venues before I left on my trip. This is required/highly suggested so that you can meet with the point person at the venue, get all the details and specs on the site, and ask all your questions. You want to make sure the venue is a good fit for both your vision, as well as your necessities. Our vision involved glamour, a beach view, and an outdoor setting. Our necessities included wheelchair accessibility and availability in July or September. We placed some holds on both venues, but knew by the next day which one we wanted to go with. Here is our venue!

Fess Parker Doubletree-- Image by Melissa Musgrove Photography

 

We booked a photographer!

Photos are everything to me. I take photos (probably too many) of everything. I stalk wedding blogs and gush over the photography in them. I have known for a while that I would love to book Michael and Anna Costa Photography for my wedding one day, so they were one of the first vendors I reached out to once I got engaged (before we even had a venue or a date!). Other than videography, how else will you remember all the smiles, outfits, facial expressions, and décor without beautiful pictures that you'll cherish forever? I reached out to Anna right away, booked my date as soon as I could, and scheduled our engagement photo shoot. I highly recommend doing your engagement shoot with the photographer you'll have at your wedding so that you can meet, and sort of "practice" for the big day! Having a rapport with the photographer will make you more comfortable in front of the camera, and he or she will learn what types of poses do and do not work for you and your honey. I also chatted with her about my outfit choices for the engagement shoot, and she some great recommendations! Maybe she is just an all-star though and not all will be so helpful ;)

 

We booked a florist!

Similar to our photographer, I've known for a few years after working in the biz (very technical term for the wedding industry) that I wanted (no, NEEDED) NLC Productions to do our flowers. Nico's work is stunning, ethereal, and makes me question reality with what he is able to do with floral design. Plus, he is a fun, bubbly, sassy man with amazing style and taste. I reached out to him, prematurely, as well, and secured him for our date as soon as I could. One simple phone call explaining my vision to him, he was able to put together a proposal for me and the descriptions paired with the images he sent blew me away! Needless to say, and I am SO excited to see the end result. With him, as well as other vendors who are important to you, I would recommend reaching out to them as soon as you know you might want them. They can get to work on your proposal before you even have a date, so that once you do, you can get your wedding on the books immediately before someone else snatches them up! Having a team you are STOKED about is a great way not to let stress happen or get to you!

NLC Productions

 

I made wedding dress appointments!

Unfortunately, I made said appointments the weekend after Thanksgiving! Not my smartest move, but, hey, it was the only time my sister/maid of honor was in town so it had to be done. I am SO excited to try on dresses! Another thing I obsess over regularly is wedding fashion. While I adore the recent trend of non-white dresses, I myself am a white-dress type of bride and have dreamed of that dress my whole life! I'll be doing my shopping in San Francisco, and almost all of those dress shops require appointments. If you are limited on weekends like me, make those appointments early! I made mine about a month and a half beforehand so we have a great schedule allowing time for lunch, travel, etc. When searching for the right shops to go to, I simply Googled my favorite bridal designers and looked at their "locations" pages to find stores near me. Don't know what designers you like? Pinterest is your best friend. Start with a certain style, and when you see one you like, check out their website to see if you like more in the collection. It's also important to establish your budget before your appointments so you don't fall in love with something you simply cannot afford. Talk about heartbreak :(

 

What else? I have booked a couple other vendors and made some inquiries (musicians, hotel room blocks, babysitter, cake). We've got about 7 months to go, so I want to get as much done now as I can and hammer out those details in the months to come. I would definitely rather be stressed out now than a month before the wedding! We also chose a date for my bachelorette party and bridal shower which are going to be so AWESOME! This journey has just begun and I am loving every minute of it!

Location Location Location!

Location is everything when it comes to a wedding, and so many factors come into play. Not only are a beautiful view and a nice setting high on the priority list when selecting a venue, you also have to think about how many people it can accommodate, how accessible it is by car or shuttle, what the parking situation is like, if there are kitchens/bathrooms onsite, and more... Lots (too much!) to think about!

To save the headache, I thought I would highlight just a few of my favorite venues in the Bay Area. Places I found were easy enough to work at, and really impressed guests aesthetically.

Cavallo Point is one cool place. It was an old military post in Sausalito, but has now become a hospitality hot spot. It is a really dynamic venue, with a hotel, restaurant, and multiple separate indoor and outdoor areas where a ceremony or reception could be held. A wedding I did there utilized a beautiful, shaded grass area for the reception, a quaint outdoor courtyard area with a live pianist for the cocktail reception, and an elegant indoor area with bathrooms and a kitchen for the dinner reception. The weather is always fabulous on this side of the bay and provides really great views of San Francisco. It's hard to beat!

Cavallo Point

Image from I Do Venues

The Bently Reserve is a great venue in the heart of San Francisco's Financial District. Nothing feels more city for your guests than to be in this area. The building itself is regal (huge!) with gorgeous pillars and high ceilings. It has a classic, clean style. The first floor has one, large event room, plus multiple other good sized rooms that I haven't personally used. It's so big, in fact, that I did a wedding there once where the ceremony was held on one half of the main room, the dance floor with a large stage for a 10-piece band was set up on the other half of the room, and large rented hedges barricaded the two sides from each other's view! It was awesome to say the least. There is also a gorgeous staircase leading to a smaller second story where I have seen cocktail hours be done as the ceremony space gets flipped for dinner tables. Accessing this area is easy as there a numerous high-end hotels in the area-- major bonus!

Bently Reserve

Image from Gustavo Fernandez

The Rengstorff House is a true gem in the peninsula, located in Mountain View! It's an old house, right on the water of an outlet of the Bay, and a really cool space for a wedding. The house itself is accessible to walk through and view its historic-ness. It also has a great front lawn area; we used this space as the cocktail reception area and set up a guest book table and bar. It was a great, shaded grass area on one side of the house as well where the ceremony was held. It has great tree branches overhanding the grass that we hung adorable Chinese lanterns from, and a desk with steps leading directly into the house makes for the perfect processional. The other side of the house is an open dirt and gravel space where we set up the dinner tables and dance floor. The back has a cute lighthouse-like structure, and had ample room to make a kitchen. It literally has it all!

Rengstorff House

Image from I Do Venues

One amazing thing about the Bay Area is the complete and utter variety of venues it has to offer a couple. From wineries to historic landmarks, classy hotels to barns, we definitely are not short on spaces to hold an amazing wedding.

All of the Lights

Lighting is one of my favorite aspects of a wedding. It totally sets the mood once the sun goes down, and can add a huge amount aesthetically while it is still sunny out as well. Lighting is crucial for photography and can make a somewhat plain space really sparkle!

 

It's all about finding the right type of lighting for your venue. Candles are inexpensive, romantic, and classic, but many venues ban open flames of any sort. Not to worry! There are so many electric and battery options out there that I don't think people realize. Simply browsing on Pinterest reveals the vast amount of options to match the vibe of your wedding. Your rental company should have a lot of these in stock, and if not try your florist/designer.

 

Photo: Claire Morgan                                         Photo: People Producciones             

 

I love this shot. See how much some simple string lights can make a difference? They add a glowing wall behind this lounge area, and so much dimension reflecting off the pool. Such an impact, and inexpensive! I found endless choices of string lights at Target, and these are obviously something you can keep for Christmases to come (or just rent from your rental company!). String lights are also my favorite when strung over the reception area, above all the tables and people, at an outdoor venue. It adds dimension and a "ceiling" of sorts that gives a special vibe once darkness hits.

 

       Photo: Raquel Reis                      The Hanging Lantern Company

 

I love lanterns! With a majority of weddings around the world happening during summertime, sometimes the sun does not go down until late. Lanterns are so awesome because they can act as a really fun and festive decoration before they are needed as lights (or just as decoration, no lights!). Again, these add dimension at varying heights, playfulness, and enchantment. And when they are lit up? Glowing orbs of fun overhead :)

 

Photo: Gustavo Fernandez

 

Uplights are everything. Above is a photo from an event my old company put on at the Bently Reserve in San Francisco. I believe this building used to be an old financial building, but is now used exclusively for events. The inside is all a light grey stone, and while beautiful, totally lacks in any color. You can see how use of uplights on the side pillars totally transform this space. The ability to use any colors you want can really lead to endless possibilities. Uplights can simply give shape and color to a space, can highlight certain aspects of a space (trees, wreaths, an entrance), and can be used for dramatic purposes during a grand entrance or first dance. Even better? They are easy to install, inexpensive, and can come in any color you like.

 

 Photo: Sylvie Gil Photography                  Photo: Sarah Kate                  

 

 

This brings me to my very favorite form of wedding lighting: chandeliers! Chandeliers are the ultimate in elegant, classy, upscale lighting. They add romanticism to any indoor or outdoor space and just make everything feel fancy! Chandeliers do not always have to be crystals; they can be rustic, modern, and aerie. These don't come cheap, but are especially useful in an outdoor location where you want something elegant over your guest tables.

 

I really encourage my brides to explore their lighting options to add some noticeable extra flare and magic to their special celebration!



Four Habits of Highly Successful Weddings

In its essence, a wedding is the culmination of approximately 823940 factors, all coming together to create one really fabulous celebration. What are the makings of a great wedding, you ask? Here are some starting points, in no particular order:

1. Great Things to Look At
Nothing will make your guests' jaws drop more than beautiful sight to see. Beautiful flowers and special décor can go a long way. Everyone can appreciate a beautiful flower to look at, or a gorgeous wreath to adorn an, otherwise, plain space. Any additions to your space that are visually pleasing will keep your guests entertained, talking, and snapping photos. A variation on this point is to hold your wedding in somewhere very scenically pleasing: a surreal beach view, a majestic mountain view, an ethereal valley, in the middle of a forest... the options are endless and best of all: all are built into the price of the venue! No need to go overboard with décor or flowers in these types of settings. I went to a gorgeous wedding on Oahu a couple weeks ago, and the view itself was enough to make it a truly beautiful wedding. The couple used almost nothing else, nor did they need it!

Photo 1: Lisa Poggi             Photo 2: Max Wanger

2. Artistic Elements to Appreciate

Adding artistic elements to your wedding details cause guests to feel they are somewhere special and deserving of such art. Moving beyond simple flower arrangements and decor, a little extra artistry goes a long way. Given that your wedding day is the most important day ever, you want your guests appreciating even the smallest bit of creativity that you put into every aspect. Calligraphy is a big one for me. Calligraphy has few opportunities in which is it appropriate. Weddings are absolutely one of them. Use of calligraphy can make a simple word feel royal, elegant, fancy, and romantic all at once. An ancient art itself, calligraphy is a fairly simple way to make a plain detail glamorous. Unique floral arrangements, too, add this element of grandeur. Large, magnificent arches, intricate petal arrangements on the ceremony aisle, and living wall backdrops are all examples of ways you can spice up your florals with an artistic flair. Finally, gourmet food is a third way your guests will appreciate the extra attention to detail at your event. High-end caterers can do some really amazing thing with hors d'oeuvres and dinner presentation. Your food selections will be sure to show up on instagram with this approach!

Photo 1: Me! (A wedding I recently attended)  Photo 2: Buzzfeed    Photo 3: Katie Stoops Photography

3. Fun Activities!

To quote one of my favorite movies (Step Brothers), "there is so much room for activities!" Let's face it: weddings can be a 6 hour long affair! You want to keep your guests interested, entertained, excited, and smiling! First and foremost, make sure you have great music and a dancing floor. Haven't all the most fun weddings you've attended included a LOT of dancing? Make sure to test out your DJ or band before hiring them. Insist on videos of live performances, and take special note of how the crowd is reacting! You'll want a DJ or band that has people on their feet and singing along. Unfortunately, not all DJs/bands are good at playing the right music in the right sequence at the right time, so it's an important thing to look for. Photobooths are also always a hit, and there are so many variations now too! From props, to flip books, to slow motion video booths, the options are endless as well as endlessly entertaining. On this note, lawn games are also a big hit and have great variety as well. Corn hole is timeless and a great item to personalize according to your wedding theme. Horseshoes is inexpensive and easy to play as guests have a drink in their hand at cocktail hour. Another perk: great way to keep the kids at bay!

Photo 1: Flip Book America                       Photo 2: Best Photography



4. Open Bar

Possibly the most important on the list, I can't stress enough the important of an open bar. As the event hosts, you spend so much time planning every detail so that your guests are happy and comfortable, so this one should not slip to the wayside. When you face the facts, no wedding guest is happy when he or she has to pull out their wallet in order to join in the celebration. This is truly an integral part of "getting the party started" and I urge you to spend the extra cash for a hosted bar.

Finding great vendors to accomplish such a feat can be overwhelming! One perk of hiring a wedding planner is getting their expertise and industry knowledge of the best of the best wedding vendors in your area. Cheers!

Wedding Guest Welcome Bags

In the past two weeks, I have had the pleasure of attending two weddings. The first was for one of my best friends from high school and her high school sweetheart. The ceremony was at a gorgeous church in our hometown, and the reception at a classy golf and country club nearby. The second wedding was for my boyfriend's cousin at an adorable hotel on the Sonoma coast. Both were beautiful, sentimental, and a long time in the making-- both couples had a ten year history together!

 

Something I loved about both was walking into my hotel room and what was the first thing I saw? A welcome bag waiting to be enjoyed by me! I love welcome bags, and it's a really fun way to get your guests excited as the festivities are just beginning. It's also a great way to show your appreciation for their time and money, traveling near and far for your big day.

 

What goes inside of your welcome bag can vary greatly. It's a fabulous opportunity to customize this small gift based on your personality and theme of your wedding. A great starting point for a welcome bag is using items that are good for a person who has been drinking, whether night or the next (painful) morning. These items will be appreciated, even if the guest is not a drinker, and can be general enough that most everyone can enjoy them. It's also a nice touch to stay within your wedding theme (ie a chocolate chip cookie for "love is sweet," Swedish Fish candies if nautical theme).

 

 

The picture above shows the items included in the first welcome bag I received. A couple of waters, some granola bars, two packs of gum, a bag of Chex Mix, and the wedding program. My boyfriend and I drank the waters before the wedding, as we anticipated we would be having mostly wine the rest of the night. I munched on the Chex Mix while getting ready, and had a granola bar before brunch the next morning (I was starving!). Most of all, I enjoyed getting a sneak peak at the wedding program. Theirs was especially sentimental, with numerous stories and sweet notes. I love that in it, they explained the meaning behind all of their guest table names for the reception. Some of the names appeared quite random, but truly had so much meaning behind them.

 

 

The second welcome bag was similar, but was equally personalized for this wedding as well. The fig bars made for a yummy late night snack, as well as the peanuts and the salt-water taffy. This wedding was a couple hours drive up a long windy road, and along the way we passed a bright pink store advertising salt-water taffy. I'm not sure if this is where the relation came from, but either way I was very happy to have a sweet treat! My favorite part of this welcome bag was the homemade Lemoncello. The groom's mother made it using lemons from the garden of the bride's family's home and work place. What a special (and yummy) touch!

 

We had such a great time with family and friends celebrating two amazing couples!

Give your Guests the Star Treatment

So it's your big day! All your friends and family have traveled and gathered to celebrate this momentous day in your life. Let's face it, how much fun would a wedding be if no one showed up to enjoy your wedding day with you?

 

It's important to show your guests you are SO happy they came and that the effort, time, and money they put in to joining you on your big day was well worth it for them. There are a lot of ways you can put in a little extra effort to show your guests you thought about them during your planning process.

 

Most wedding ceremonies incorporate some kind of ceremony program. Guests, especially relatives, really appreciate this little guide to your ceremony and wedding party because it helps them know what's going on and who you've chosen to take part in your day. It'll tell them who is who, the order of the ceremony, important passages or readings they can follow along with, and what is happening once the ceremony is over. This is also a really great time to type a note thanking your guests for coming, that you couldn't imagine this day without them, and how excited you are to share your future with them as a part of your life.

 

Photo by Laura Ivanova Photography

 

The programs pictured above double as a fan, which is another way to make guests more comfortable during a hot summer ceremony. Not only do people love cutesie, clever, practical items, but they'll really appreciate it when they are exposed to the sun for 30+ minutes. Another great way to achieve this level of comfort? Parasols. It's an adorable word for delicate, girly umbrellas that looks great and shade your guests. You can buy them for pretty cheap, or a lot of venues rent them out for the day.

 

Image from a wedding I assisted on with Soigne Productions, photo by Michael & Anna Costa Photographers Ltd.

 

Another great way to create a more comfortable environment for your guests is to add some amenities to the restroom(s) at your venue. You are not the only one who wants to look and feel great on your wedding day! Your guests want to look their best as well, and you can aide in this endeavor by throwing together a fun yet practical basket for the restrooms. Whether you are hosting your wedding in a hotel, a winery, or somewhere requiring you to bring in portable restrooms, there is always room to make the bathroom that much nicer.

 

Image from All Free DIY Weddings

 

Things to consider including: deodorant spray, floss, sunscreen, feminine products, a comb, and breath mints. People really appreciate it, and definitely notice that extra effort. You can even include a cute note for a personalized touch.

 

Finally, never send your guests home at the end of the night without a party favor. They will love it, they'll remember your night, and (hopefully) they won't throw it away! In my opinion, it's important to give your guests something they can use, not something that will add to the clutter drawer in their house. They will appreciate that you took the time to give them something thoughtful and practical. There are so many directions you can go with this, and that's what makes it fun! Try to find something that goes with your theme. Garden them? A cute little succulent (that can double as a place card!) is always a fan favorite. Aiming to go a little more DIY? Home-made, wrapped cookies can NEVER go wrong. If your wedding color is a mint green, "Mint To Be" breath mints are clever and very useful for guests young and old alike.

 

Image from a fellow blogger

 

Had to throw in one more party favor favorite of mine, "I Met My Match." I love the saying, with the names and the wedding date, and matches are something people always need, always keep, and will remind them of this special day every time they use one. You can even throw on a little "Thank you for celebrating with us!" note to show your gratitude one last time.