inspiration | passionately purple

We are feeling very inspired by purple...

passionately purple {1} by by design events

passionately purple {2} by by design events

What color inspires you?

Happy designing!

unveiled photos | washingtonian bride & groom ultimate wedding showcase

Just 3 letters... w-o-w! The Washingtonian Bride & Groom Ultimate Wedding Showcase was absolutely amazing. The wedding dresses + Kenneth Pool 2010 Bridal Collection Runway Show was exquisite, champagne ~ magnificent, vendors ~ top notch, music ~ mesmerizing, and featured guests absolutely charming.

Our favorite hairstylist: Ted Gibson! of Ted Gibson
Salon & Hela Spa (DC) and of TLC show, What Not
to Wear with Samara & Ann of By Design Events
and Lerkia of Savvy Soirees.












Beautiful fuchsia chandelier and black and white stripped drapes.













The stunning Jill Hudson Neal, Editor of Washingtonian Bride & Groom Magazine with Samara of By Design Events and Lerkia of Savvy Soirees.
















The beaming Betsy Robinson of Betsy Robinson's Bridal with Samara of By Design Events and Lerkia of Savvy Soirees.

The exquisite Amsale Aberra of Amsale with Samara & Ann of By Design Events and Lerkia of Savvy Soirees.


















The fabulous Lerkia of Savvy Soirees with the stunning Kenneth Pool Bridal Models.



We were in a wedding wonderland! We eagerly await next year's wedding showcase... We look forward to seeing you there.

Happy planning!

nicely quoted...

"If you'd walked into a restaurant, I would've become a waiter. If you'd walked into a burning building, I'dve become a fireman. If you'd walked into an elevator, I'dve stopped it between two floors and we've spent the rest of our lives there... Please forgive me but you can't walk out of my life like that."

Henry Van Cleve
Movie: Heaven Can Wait (1943)

{wedding vendor spotlight} love life images

grooms lounge : original cufflinks

Gentlemen, we want you to look extremely sharp for your wedding day! Her eye's will be focused on you all day... Look your absolute best for your stunning bride to be.

Take a peek at these fierce cufflinks from Tateossian London...

Nicely done.

Happy shopping gentlemen!

stop the presses | kenneth pool trunk show at carine's

We just got word... The fabulous Carine's Bridal Atelier is hosting Kenneth Pool's Trunk Show - TODAY! The dates of the trunk show are actually Thursday, Jan 28th - Saturday, Jan 30th, 2010.

Ladies, you have to see this bridal collection... It's absolutely stunning! At the Washingtonian Bride & Groom Unveiled Wedding Showcase this past Sunday (by the way the pics are on the way -- we promise!!!) we saw these dreamy dresses first-hand at the spectacular Amsale, Kenneth Pool Fashion Show. We were speechless... Jaws were dropping everywhere.... Along with a lot of ohhhs!!! and ahhhhs!!! and that's MY dress! No that one! :O) We absolutely fell in love with what Kenneth Pool has designed for their Fall 2010 Bridal Collection. They absolutely did not disappoint... Our brides this year will be looking fierce!

At the lovely Carine's Bridal Atelier you can try on all of your favorite Kenneth Pool gowns from the Fall 2010 Bridal Collection as seen on the runway. Also Carine is offering an amazing 10% off during the trunk show and special incentives from the designer themselves. Fabulous!!!! Do you need anymore reasons on why you should visit Carine's???

Ladies, please know the trunk show viewings are by appointment only. The appointments are one hour long and begin on the hour.

Schedule your appointment today!
{call} 202.965.4696
{email} info@carinesbridal.com

Visit Carine's Bridal Atelier at 1726 Wisconsin Ave, 2nd Fl., Washington, DC 20007.

Hurry ladies... Your jaw dropping dress is waiting for you at Carine's!

Happy shopping!

nicely quoted...

"When the heart speaks

take good notes."

Anonymous

{vendor spotlight} etsy shop: your wish cake ~ love in a jar notecards

5 simple ways to save on your budget

Thinking of ways to save on your wedding budget can be challenging. There are so many decisions to make throughout the planning process, all which will be impacted by your wedding budget. We came up with 5 simple ways you can save on your wedding budget...

Set guest list boundaries
We find “who to invite” is the biggest challenge most couples face. To minimize your guest list, refrain from inviting children and co-workers. Think about including your friends’ significant others but not casual dates. This day should really be celebrated with those that are close and near and dear to you. You wouldn't want guests in your pictures that you surely don't know.

Borrow accessories
Consider your “something borrowed” for your wedding accessories. This may be more meaningful and hold more significance than buying your accessories outright. You can perhaps use a grandmother’s vintage brooch, your mother’s exquisite veil or a friends stunning jewelry.













Wine & beer please
Scale back on your open bar offerings. Choose a few types of beer and wine your guests are sure to love. Believe us, with an open bar, they won't miss a thing. Also check with a local alcohol beverage wholesaler to see if you can buy your beer and wine by bulk to save up to 10% on your purchase. You may have to pay a per bottle corkage fee to the caterer, however, this expense would be considerably lower than having the caterer provide all of the alcohol for your bar service.

Lose the limo
Why not use your personal vehicle or rent a car for transportation throughout the day. Ask a friend to be your personal chauffeur for the day. They'd be happy to be of assistance and help in any way possible to be apart of your special day!

Corsage up your bridemaids
Set a new trend… Forgo the expensive bouquets for pretty simple wrist corsages. Your bridesmaids will still be recognized as your "ladies in waiting" with these amazing corsages. The extra benefits, your bridesmaids won’t have to keep track of their bouquets; they’ll be “wearing” it!

We hope these tips are very useful to you in your planning & budgeting!


Do you have a few tips of your own you'd like to share? Send your ideas our way and we'll be happy to spotlight them.

Happy saving!

paper source outing : wedding favor workshop

This weekend, Samara attended a wedding favor workshop at the Paper Source with one of her favorite brides from 2008, Michelle.

Leslie, the fabulous instructor showed us the various ways of using different shaped paper cutouts to make amazing wedding favor boxes. To design our favor boxes, we used everything from beautiful ribbon, rubber stamping, glitter glue to embossing to make our lovely creations.

Look at the fabulous things we made...

Michelle hard at work. Great job Michelle!

Our fabulous instructor, Leslie, showing us her wedding favor boxes!

These are the great wedding favor boxes Samara designed. Are these fabulous or what?

more wonderful instruction from Leslie...

_________________________________________

{DIY}

Learn how to make your own

chinese take-out box wedding favor

supplies needed:

paper source chinese take-out box paper, 4 brads, rubber stamps + ink, scissors,

embossing heating tool + clear embossing powder, ribbon

and/or thin strip of decorative paper to wrap around box

crease the paper (take-out box) at folds and stamp.

samara placed her stamp inside of the fold, as seen below.

fold up the box and insert the brads into the pre-punched holes to secure the box.

next, cut a strip of decorative paper or ribbon to wrap around the box.

don't forget to fill the box with your favorite candy or treat!

lastly, wrap your box with the decorative paper or ribbon.

voila! an incredible unforgettable wedding favor -- made by you!

Fabulous creations made by Samara and Michelle!

What a fun time we had at the Paper Source! Be sure to check in with the lovely ladies at the Paper Source to sign up for the next amazing workshop. You're guaranteed to have wonderful time... And not to mention the insane shopping! They have so much fun stuff to look at... And incredible things to buy!

Happy designing + shopping!