Wine-Zilla

This weekend I worked a wine festival near where I live and it is amazing to see how many people LOVE LOVE LOVE wine. It got me to thinking about how beautiful winery's are, and how great they would be for a wedding. I am not a huge fan of the hotel weddings, but this is a great alternative to a traditional wedding venue. You can easily have both the ceremony and reception at the location, especially an outdoor ceremony! Most winery's even ones closer to a city still have a countryside backdrop. Here where I live in Northern VA, there are a ton of winery's all within an hour of the district. a Winery may not be as readily available in all areas of the country, but do some research you never know when you may find one.

The great part about having your wedding at a winery is then drinking their wine! I love white wine and could drink it for days so any place where wine is that abundant would send me to heaven. Most places have a reception area already (if they are a bigger winery) and have wedding day plans already set. Smaller winery's may have not done as many events, but still worth a shot. Like any other venue, make sure you ask all the appropriate questions and see if you can bring in outside vendors such as catering and wedding coordination. Some winery's have great restaurants there, and may be able to provide great food and drinks. Most places have great bed and breakfast's around, while some still have a larger hotel. Look for the area and type that is best for you. If you are looking for that countryside feel with a little more to it, a winery may be the best fit.

Winerys are great from spring all the way until the fall, and maybe even in the winter depending on the location. Any colors will go with a winery backdrop, since wines themselves are multi-toned in many ways. Find a wine you love drinking and check out their winery... try and find a local winery to make it easier. Go to local wine festivals and get brochurs about the different winerys. This way you can taste their wine and get information about them without visiting the winery.

Even if you are not the wine fanatic, a winery wedding may be perfect still. There are many pros and cons to any venue, and again like I say every time do what you want to do and love your choice. A winery allows for an amazing backdrop and fun activities if you go a day early/day later such as wine tasting and grape stomping (again, depending on winery). Most winery's have skilled event/wedding planners and know how to work with a wedding party. Just don't become a WINE-ZILLA and drink too much wine before, during or after the wedding... OK after is perfectly fine!

Check out these sites for more information:

http://wineryweddingguide.com/

Thanks to: My Simple Details, Boston Avenue Photo Co. and Chateau Morrisette for pictures

Forget Me Not

I was feeling inspired by my college sorority and started thinking about flowers. My sorority's flowers are the Lily of the Valley and the Forget Me Not. Both are delicate and simple, while being fragrant and sustainable. Inspired by the last color of the week, a golden orange, I chose the Forget Me Not as the flower of the week. It fits perfectly with the new blue/yellow color combination that is popular thi season, and probably will be for seasons to come. The flower is a delicate blue/purple with a yellow center. The petals can also come in a white or pink version with the same yellow center (which allows for a lot of versatility). They are an excellent companion flower to any bunch or can stand alone. I love these flowers, delicate and beautiful with such vibrant colors. They compliment many wedding/event color combinations such as anything pink, white, purple. Looking more up about the flower, there are 50 different species in the genre, which allows for many different choices when it comes to the flower.

Forget-Me-Not Seed Boxes

The flower's meaning is "remember me". I love this for a wedding because you should want all your guests to remember the evening and you as a couple. This is also a great flower to use in vase if someone close has died and you are remembering them at your wedding.

I also love as a wedding favor to give people a seed packet of Forget Me Not's. It is a cheap and eco-friendly gift that will have people remembering you forever. Use them in your wedding or just get some seeds to plant by your house and enjoy these beautiful flowers.

Just as a side note... how cute are these forget me not cupcakes! I love cupcakes in any form, but with a beatiful flower on top, who would not be able to eat that!

In My Red High Heels

I am a shoe girl... I love all different kinds of shoes and love finding amazing colors and styles. I love this recent trend to wear crazy colored shoes or funky shoes with your wedding dress, even if just for pictures or the reception. I have seen many people dye white shoes the same color as the brides maid dresses and show them off for the camera and friends. This idea is great, but I love when brides show their own personal style with a shoe. If you have a crazy colored pair or ones you love at home wear those to show people who you really are.

I know, I know, most people want things color coordinated and cohesively flowing, but mix it up! They are shoes for goodness sakes and not everyone will see them unless you have a shorter dress or choose to yourself.

I have become a fan of brides changing into different shoes, and dresses, for the reception. If you want everything to match in pictures and flow, the reception is the time to mix it up a little. Find a pair of sandals or strapy shoes that speak to you and wear them. Also, find something you are comfortable walking and dancing in. So many people choose a shoe because it looks great (I am a victim of that) but for your bug day make sure they are comfortable.

On the non-wedding side of things... if you are hosting or going to an event. Find shoes that scream you! especially as a hostess, you want people to look at you and saw wow she looks great and so does her event (or his). Choosing a shoe that is a little loud, yet still styled for the event is the perfect way to spice things up without wearing revealing clothes or a style not fit for the event. My personal favorite is always a great bright red heel. I own three pairs of red heels all in different shades. It brings out the best with natural colors and goes with most other colors as well. Find a shoe that matches the color scheme of your event ( I know I said no crazy matching, but it is a classic way to go).

Whatever the occasion, wear a shoe that represents you and is still comfortable enough to stand and walk in for hours. Too many times I get shoes that I know are uncomfortable and I never wear them out! Also, get dr.scholls for your heels they work wonders! You don't want to be the one taking your cute shoes off or not walking around because your feet hurt!

Embrace your style and of course, love whatever you choose to do!

Riding the Waves

Here in Washington, D.C. the weather was beautiful and it was the perfect Labor Day weekend for a wedding. Sunny with a few fluffy white clouds, but still in the high 70's. I myself enjoyed the weekend on a boat and walking around National Harbor in Maryland. While there, I realized how amazing a wedding on a boat (or at least really close to the water) would be. Although a boat wedding seems expensive it could still be reasonably priced and you could still have your reception on land or vice verse (ceremony on land, reception on a boat). if you don't want to have the ceremony or wedding on a boat, think about having the rehearsal dinner on a boat cruise or taking your engagement photos on a boat where you can share those amazing views with everyone.

I have personally never been to a wedding on a boat, but I know that they do have them in many cities where there is a river or lake surrounding the city or skyline. You do have to look into what the company offers in terms of allowing outside vendors, food, entertainment and price. Most places provide many things for the wedding so that you do not have to worry about it and also allow you to still make important decisions. Research does need to be done, like with any wedding or event.

If you have an aversion to water... please do not have a wedding on a boat! If you love being outside and on the water like I do, it is a great option to look at when choosing venues. You normally get to see some great sites and skylines and still pay around the same price. You do need to have a back-up plan in case of really bad weather, like any outdoor wedding, but most boats have dining etc. indoors so it can still work out.

There are so many options if you do not want to be on a boat like doing something at a hotel on a harbor or right on the beach. Do what you like and where you feel most comfortable. Take into consideration all your options and definitely look at pricing and other options that company's give you.

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!

Pictures from: odysseycruises.com and elizamagazine.com/blog/?cat=1417 (Love on a Boat Post)

Destination of the Week: Italian Islands

The Italian Islands are an amazing extension of Italy and allow you to have that tropical island feel while still having the rustic Italy feel. There are 6 different islands: the 2 major islands are Sicily and Sardinia, and the minor islands are Ischia, Capri, Procida, Elba, Tremiti and Aeolian islands.

Italian Island weddings have many options from castles to hotels. There is so much history surrounding the country that it is easy to make anything work from old school to modern. Amazing old buildings and gorgeous views who would not want to take a trip to the Italian Islands?

It is affordable to find venues and vendors in the area as well and use them instead of trying to fly people over from the US. If you know anything about Italian food, most caterers will have full flavored, amazing pastas and desserts.

You are still able to travel throughout the main country of Italy and throughout Europe if wanted. Make your honeymoon in the surrounding areas and countries to save money on more airline tickets.

Make sure you check the requirements necessary to get a US wedding certificate in a foreign land.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to these sites for the pictures:

http://www.italiandestinationweddings.com/italian_island_wedding_locations.html http://www.romeoandjuliet-weddings.com/tina-jared-ischia-wedding.0.html

http://www.christianmichael.co.uk/entry.php?entry_id=54