The Perfect Palette...Color Palette That Is

While setting up my Google Reader to track my favorite wedding blogs, I came across this post from The Perfect Palette. This blog, which offers wedding color suggestions in almost every color palette imaginable, is hands down one of my favorites. I'm especially loving the aqua, light green & antique gold pairing suggested in their latest post:

A Summer Soiree: Blending Aqua, Light Green & Antique Gold

Sometimes I happen upon a color palette that just really makes me feel inspired! This palette of aqua, light green, and antique gold is exactly one of those palettes. There is something very soft about how these colors come together. It's light & airy, a tad feminine, and also incredibly romantic. I think this palette would look gorgeous for either a Summer or a Spring wedding. Some of my favorite ideas in this board include the gorgeous cake design with it's intricate detailing as well as the fun and quirky getaway ride! So what do you think? Is this a palette you would consider? I think if I were to do it all over again, this would be a really fun palette to work with!

From The Perfect Palette

Set The Tone For Your Wedding Starting With The Invitations

Long before the ballroom has been decorated, before any candles have been lit or floral arrangements assembled, even prior to the first guest witnessing the wedding venue; did you know the tone for your entire wedding day has already been established for your guests?

Wedding invitations do a lot more than just inform your guests of the date, time and location of your nuptials – they set the tone for your entire wedding day.

Think of your wedding as a book, with the invitations being the first chapter. Often times, if the first chapter fails to catch your interest, your enthusiasm for the rest of the book is likely to dwindle as well. So, make sure that the first chapter of your wedding story speaks to your theme and gives your guests an exciting sneak peak into what they can expect come your wedding day.

Work with a stationer to create custom made invites, like these from Creative Works Designs.

Or, there are hundreds of great options from online wedding invitation stores like Wedding Paper Divas and The American Wedding.

Wedding Paper Divas

The American Wedding

You can even buy your stationery from a store like Target, then head to your local print shop to get them imprinted.

I'm a Business Owner!

Perhaps one of the most joyous moments for a new small business owner is getting your very first set of personalized business cards for your company. So, you can imagine my excitement when I got these in the mail the other day!

Telling Your Wedding Story Through Photography

In a previous post, I mentioned the importance of hiring a professional wedding photographer to capture all the special moments of your day. Additionally as important, in my opinion, is finding one that is skilled at shooting in a photojounalistic fashion. What does this mean, you wonder? It means the photographer is skilled in capturing a combination of posed shots and candid moments and putting them together in a manner that tells a story.  With this style, I liken the final product, the wedding album, to the pages of a fashion spread in Vogue or Marie Claire.

One Southern California photographer who does a fabulous job of this is Mollie Jane of Mollie Jane Photography. Take a look at some spectacular images she captured at a recent wedding below. For even more photos, visit her website or blog.

Why Hire a Wedding Planner?

Last year, before officially launching Fabulously Ever After, I had the opportunity to assist a talented established wedding planner as she orchestrated spectacular events. It was during that time that I learned how essential a wedding planner/coordinator truly is. Some may think hiring a planner is a luxury, but if you want to have an enjoyable and stress-free experience leading up to and on the wedding day, hire a professional wedding planner! They are worth their weight in gold.

I can't imagine any couple (or close family member for that matter) that wants to have to worry about event logistics and details that can take away from the enchantment of their special day. Here are just some of the responsibilities a wedding planner can take off your plate:

Before the wedding

• Recommending reputable vendors (planners often have relationships with vendors and are able to negotiate prices that can save you a lot of money)
• Assisting with budget creation and management
• Providing monthly checklists
• Tracking RSVPs so you know exactly who is coming
• Developing detailed timelines so the wedding party and vendors know exactly what should be taking place when

Wedding day

• Managing setup of the ceremony & reception venue
• Making sure your "vision" is realized in the setup and decor
• Attending to any last minute needs or details
• Correcting any mistakes the venue or vendors might make (I've seen a vendor put the wrong linens on tables and set the table before realizing the error, a venue set up a dance floor in the wrong part of the room and have to tear it up and reassemble not long before guests arrived, a florist forget to finish decorating the cake with flowers resulting in "Zoe The Cake Decorator", etc, etc)
• Organizing your wedding party and getting everyone down the aisle
• Handling non-RSVP guests and "crashers"

These are just a few examples of the services a typical wedding planner or coordinator will take care of. On your day, leave the details to the professionals and focus on enjoying your special day.

Jennifer Lopez in the popular movie, The Wedding Planner

2010 Wedding Trends

Over the weekend, I made it out to two bridal fairs where I met dozens of potential vendors and got some great ideas for the upcoming wedding season. Here are a couple wedding trends I’d love to see more of in 2010!

• Colorful bridal shoes – while whites, creams, silvers and golds may be the more common choice for bridal footwear, don’t be afraid to experiment with bright colors like fuchias, reds and blues.
 
• Photojournalistic wedding portraits – choose a photographer that will capture the candid moments during your special day, in addition to the posed shots – it will tell a better story in your wedding album.
• Soft and touchable hairstyles – gone are the days of rock hard curls and updos. Go for a more natural appeal.
 
• The demise of tiaras – unless you’re a real life princess, stay away from the crowns and tiaras please. A beautiful flower, bejeweled barrette, or a vintage hair-clip is much more modern and chic.
• Themed wedding cakes – the wedding cake is often the focal point of your reception. Let your pastry chef help you find ways to personalize your cake or incorporate elements of the wedding theme or colors.
 
• Mismatched bridesmaids gowns – pick out a color, then let your bridesmaids choose from several styles that suit their body types and personalities.
• Turn table DJs – your iPod and speakers are no substitute for a professional DJ. Invest in a DJ to make the reception more enjoyable and entertaining for your guests.
 
• Eco-friendly weddings – incorporate organic materials, sustainable decorations and local or seasonal flowers, to name a few.

A Pinkberry Wedding

I just came across this on Inspired By This and had to repost. If you’re a Pinkberry addict like I am, then you can sense my excitement when I found out that Pinkberry now caters weddings and special events!

Breaking news for pinkberry lovers…Pinkberry is now doing wedding catering! To find our if they are doing it in your area, contact your local store. If you are getting married in the south bay area, you are in luck as the Hermosa Beach store is ready to make your event extra cool-get it fro yo? cool? Contact Ray the manager to get you set up. The event minimum is 25 orders which comes with transportation, set up, team to serve, breakdown and cleanup as well as all the serving bowls and utensils. Seriously loving this idea!! They are offering 6 delicious flavors: chocolate, coconut, pomegranate, passion fruit, original and green tea. They also bring all of their toppings! To get more information contact your local Pinkberry.

Images by Caroline Tran

Fabulously Ever After Wedding: Al & Tamari Hagens

Earlier, I shared a picture of my sister and I at her August 2008 wedding. Her FABULOUS wedding was my first experience helping to plan a beautiful event from start to finish. Most of the creative direction came from my mother, who had great décor ideas that cost way less than I could have imagined. Take a look at some pics from the fabulous event!

Couple: Alvin and Tamari Hagens
Date: August 2, 2008
Ceremony: Cerritos Performing Arts Center
Reception: Cerritos Sheraton
Design and Planning: My mother and I, with input and coordination from Serenity Events

Though the wedding wasn’t Indian themed, the bride and bridesmaids wore Indian saris for their attire. The unique wrapping styles worked perfectly for the bridesmaids’ varying body shapes, and met the brides expectations for something “diva” and out of the ordinary.

I simply can't say enough about how lighting can transform even the most generic room into something spectacular. The up-lights really set the ambiance in this otherwise bland space. 

This cake by Rossmoor Pastries was amazing!

Photos courtesy of Janel at Focus Photo, Inc.

Black Men DO Still Love the Sistas

On the heels of a rather discouraging Nightline news segment about the disparaging marriage rates among successful black women, it was a breath of fresh air to see the fourth annual “Will You Marry Me” feature in the upcoming February issue of Essence Magazine.

The contest invites black men to surprise the special women in their lives with a marriage proposal in the pages of Essence. Just when Nightline and mainstream media seemed to convey that “fabulously ever after” is not a dream the sistas should hold on to, witnessing love-struck black men eager to get down on bended knee proves otherwise.

Meet the couples and take a look at the proposals below!

Welcome!

Every year for the past three years, one of my new years goals has been to come up with an idea for an entrepreneurial business venture. Something that I love doing that I could also make money from. Well, it took longer than I expected to come up with a solid idea, but in 2009 I had the "ah hah" moment that Oprah so often speaks of.

If you know me, you know I love, love, LOVE! weddings and everything having to do with them. From watching wedding T.V. shows, going to friends weddings, planning weddings, visiting wedding boutiques…I just can’t get enough of weddings!

So, I thought what better way to channel my wedding energies than to start my own wedding & event planning company.

Welcome to Fabulously Ever After Weddings & Events. Come with me as I chronicle the adventures (and sometimes misadventures) in my pursuit of weddings, events and, most of all, all things fabulous!

That's me, Zoé, in the blue bridesmaid dress at my sister's August 2008 wedding