My mom, the bride.

I just got back from an amazing vacation in Maui, Hawaii. I know! Lucky me!

However this wasn't just any vacation...the purpose behind the trip was my mom's wedding. It was her dream to get married barefoot on the beach amongst a small, intimate group of family and friends. I am happy to report that her dream came true.

Here's a little background for you. My mom and her guy have been together for a while and the engagement ring she picked out had been sitting in a hidden spot in the house. For some time, she's been wondering when he would pop the question.

My mom's boyfriend called a couple of months ago to tell me he was planning on proposing to her in Hawaii and that he wanted my husband and I along for the trip (he knows how super tight my mom and I are--super thoughtful, right?). Before long, as excited as he was, he let the cat out of the bag and ended up telling my mom where they were going. Being that she had never been to Hawaii, she got more and more excited, as did he. Before he knew it, he was popping the question....in Phoenix. Couldn't hold out for the trip. Before we all knew it, the trip turned from an engagement vacation to a wedding vacation.

I am so thrilled that my mom has found someone that makes her happy and honored that I was there to experience their beautiful, intimate and spiritual ceremony.

Congratulations Mary and Julie!

[One of my photos--sadly, not a professional shot. Can't wait for those!]

Two of my first clients also happen to be some of my favorites. I had the best time helping Mary and Julie pull off their amazing Rustic Colorado wedding (or,'commitment ceremony'). We would always end of laughing at our meetings and it was always more fun than work. I'm so thrilled for them. Their day was absolutely lovely and it was such a fun, intimate event.

Etsy crystal finds.

One of my couples is having a crystal-filled wedding at the end of the month. From the bride's dress to the chandeliers to the candle holders, this wedding is going to sparkle. I was browsing etsy to find some supplemental decor items and found myself caught up with the jewelry section. Big surprise there, being the jewelry fan that I am!

Whether for a wedding or for a night on the town, these are sure to be eye-catching.

[cathy5591]

[luxedeluxe]

[Nanda]
[latigomoon]
[munkeejewelry]
[powerbluebijoux]

Real Wedding: Anna and Yarrow

I recently had the pleasure of working as the Day-of-Coordinator and Logistics Queen for a fantastic couple who got married in New Haven, Connecticut at Lighthouse Point Park. Anna and Yarrow met while at Harvard and are both about to (or have) receive their doctorates. I can't tell you how much fun this wedding was because a) there was a carousal from the 1800s involved and b) it was a true DIY wedding. Anna and Yarrow worked hard to create their relaxed, beachy, picnic-themed wedding and my team worked to carry out their vision. We were the decor specialists, florists, servers and all-around event hustlers throughout the evening. And I got a chance to meet Tim Brown, from TAB Photographic. I absolutely loved his laid-back style and his photos turned out amazing. East coast brides: I would highly recommend giving Tim a call.

Tim's sense of humor shines though in this shot: he captured the bride and groom with this local who couldn't tear himself away from the wedding scene.

All photos courtesy of Tim Brown of TAB Photographic, except the first one of the lighthouse (taken by me).

DIY: Mujka Chic

Mujka Chic is a website I've had bookmarked for a while and last night I found myself browsing through all the graphics...I forgot how many great freebies are listed! And what's not free is super inexpensive. There are graphics and invitations suites for couples who are looking to print their own wedding goods and even if you're not looking to design anything for your wedding, you can find vector art for monograms, business cards, blogs and web design. Check it out here.

Drink calculators.

One of the questions I seem to hear most from couples is how much alcohol they need to provide for their reception.

I always take into account (based on the couple's knowledge) how many of the guests are heavy vs. light drinkers and whether they mostly like beer, liquor or wine. I also calculate the numbers taking into consideration whether there is an open bar and if only wine will be served during dinner.

If you've researched this topic online or in magazines, you'll often read that it's safe to guess that everyone will have two drinks the first hour and one drink per hour thereafter. Here are some handy calculators to help you crunch the numbers.

Real Simple's Liquor Calculator
Evite's Party Planner
Manitoba's Party Planner
That's a Wrapper's Drink Calculator