nicely quoted...

"Laughter is the sweetest medicine."

splenda sugar packet - how sweet?

{wedding vendor spotlight} julia macinnis photography

haute hair | bridal

Look absolutely stunning on your wedding day with any of these mesmerizing hair styles...

photo credit: derek blanks

We suggest taking a few pics of your absolute favorites hairstyles with you when you meet with your stylist to do your bridal trial hair session. What better time or chance to see which style accentuates your natural beauty! Have fun with it... Don't forget to take your hair accessories with you so you'll see what your final look will be.

Happy haute hair!

elan artists | band showcase - 2.23.10

Simply amazing! We recently heard Elan Artists Band, Nation at the Unveiled Washingtonian Magazine Bridal Showcase last month and they were nothing but amazing. We love, love, love Nicki Gonzalez, one of the lead vocalist of Nation. She is an extremely fabulous singer -- she is out of this world! You have to come out to hear her... You won't regret it!

We're really excited to tell you that you too can get a chance to listen to Nation at Elan Artists upcoming band showcase on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 at 7:30pm. Here are the details:

Location: Omega Studios
5609 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20852

Admission is FREE, however please rsvp to attend:
888.800.3526 or rsvp@elanartists.com
RSVP is strongly requested.

Prompt start time: 7:30pm
More details on the event.

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Featured bands: Nation & Truth Groove
Preview bands

Elan Artist Bands were recently featured in Martha Stewart Weddings 15th Anniversary Issue...

Next Tuesday, each band will perform a cross section of music from classics to contemporary. Hip, sophisticated, and affordable. You'll get a chance to meet the band leaders and musicians and get a feeling for their style, personality and quality.

Don't miss this amazing event! If you're on the fence as to whether to hire a band or dj for your upcoming event you have to come out and experience the difference for yourself.

We look forward to seeing you there - with your dancing shoes on! :O)

Happy dancing!

our favorite things : lighted umbrellas

We absolutely love it! No more dreary and dark rainy days with this illuminated umbrella by Bright Night. What a fantastic and brilliant idea! These umbrellas would be especially perfect to use for those rainy day weddings. Think of all of the amazing photo opps... We personally can't wait to use this umbrella for next rainy day event. :O)

These illuminated umbrellas come in various patterns and colors... It'll be hard to just choose one.

What a great bridal party gift.

Enjoy!

handled with love | bouquets

You've selected your florals for your amazing bouquet. Don't forget about the little details... Your bouquet handle. Whether your bouquet handle is designed with a family heirloom, a picture locket, rhinestone initials or vintage brooch, be sure to add that final touch to make your bouquet absolutely stunning...

Have lots of fun... Happy designing!

liven it up | out-of-the box reception ideas

So you’re thinking about your wedding reception. You definitely want it to be very different from the last wedding you attended and are really not excited about the idea of a traditional wedding reception. There are many fantastic things you can do to create an out-of-the box wedding reception.

Here are a few of our ideas…

{Salsa Night} Hire a salsa dance instructor to teach your wedding guests the latest dance moves. They’d have a blast learning a new dance and will enjoy dancing the night away.

{Game Show} Have a “Marrywed” game. This is a great twist to the old classic “Newlywed” game. Instead of the traditional garter and bouquet toss, you can put on your version of the “Marrywed” with the funny questions and all. The married couple that wins the game will win your toss bouquet and garter!

{Theater} You can hire performers to put on a short skit. They can act out a mini version of your absolute favorite play.

{Comedic Hour} Dinner time can be all laughs. You can hire a comedian to entertain your guest for a portion of your reception.

{Singing Show} Have a fabulous reception with the Three Waiters Show. Sophisticated and spontaneous, hilarious and highly polished, The Three Waiters puts three singing waiters undercover - right inside your function! The tightly-scripted yet hilarious show is designed to enhance your event, but never interrupt it.

{Cirque du Wedding} If your venue has amazingly high ceilings… Hire a few aerial acrobatics performers to put on a fabulous show for your guests.

{Cooking demonstration} Hire a chef or caterer to do a cooking demonstration for your wedding guests. Your guests can see first-hand how their meal is prepared and at the end of the demonstration the servers can bring out their plated meals to taste for themselves.

As you can see, the out-of-the box reception ideas are endless… What ideas do you have for an out-of-the box reception?

Happy planning!

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