::Disclaimer!  Only the first photo in this post is from an event that Wish Special Events has planned or coordinated.  I’ve given credit to the designers where I can.  We can re-create what you see below for your event but these are not a part of our portfolio::

I’ve been collecting photographs of lanterns for a long time now!  This seems to be one of those decor trends that never quite expired.  Unfortunately it’s not the cheapest way to decorate a reception space but it sure is a beautiful one!

Photo: Sabine Scherer

If you’re not familiar, paper lanterns are made of a lightweight wire frame and covered in a light, translucent paper.  They come in all makes and models but the standard is a basketball-sized white version.  These are just so gorgeous in abundance:

Even when you don’t have a huge budget for a ton of lanterns, they can still jazz up a plain reception space.  This is a high school gymnasium (see how the basketball hoop is covered in satin?):

Whoever designed this event got pretty funky!  I like the combination of the round lanterns, the cone-shaped lights, and the twinkly string lights:

This wedding used lanterns only over the dance floor, giving the tent a beautiful focal point and also giving this spot a feeling of abundance (without going overboard).  Can you imagine what their cake cutting photos would have looked like if the photographer got low to the ground and shot upwards with the lanterns in the back?  ::swoon::

Lanterns can even be incorporated into a centerpiece.  Who said they needed to hang from the ceiling?

This creative wedding used them to dress up a tree!  Minty green and ‘Pepto pink’ are a little past their prime in trendiness but this was all the rage circa 2006:

Even standard white lanterns can look extra special when lit with a colored bulb or contrasted against a colored uplight.  In this case we have a pink uplight against the wall, round pink lanterns with white lights inside, and white cylindrical lanterns with white lights inside!  What a gorgeous statement for your bar and lounge space.  This scrumptious event was designed by David Beahm Design:

If the solid-colored lanterns aren’t your style, how about these funky ones?  I’m not sure where Ariella Chezar found these beautiful pieces but I love the photo just the same:

The same awesome lanterns by the same awesome designer, strung in a different space (must be the same event, right?):

This is an older image (2005 maybe?) but I could still stare at it for hours.  I love the combination of the natural-colored linens and chairs, the subdued but elegant and luscious centerpieces, the great natural trees with tables scattered between, and the strung canopy of lights.  Are these white paper bags??

I’m the worst about photo credits and have had some of these photos for a very long time.  If you know where they came from (or if they’re yours) please let me know!

Here in the DC area, Frost Lighting and Capital Decor are two wonderful companies who can install gorgeous lanterns like these.  There are a few other options but we always recommend these two.

Do you plan on having paper lanterns or another type of decoration for your reception?

Normally we don’t get to be involved in the rehearsal dinners — usually there’s not much for us to do after we run the ceremony rehearsal.  Well, with Maya and Rob, it was a little different.  First, their rehearsal wasn’t right before the dinner — it was actually the day before.  Second, it wasn’t called a “Rehearsal Dinner” — they called it “Dinner the Night Before.”

Check out the cute crab invitation:

And third — all were invited!  I think, if you’re able to, and you have a lot of out of town guests, it’s nice to offer a fun, relaxing evening the night before.

Rob and Maya decided to have a big “Crab Feast” the night before their wedding at Phillips Seafood.  Even though I’m allergic to shellfish, I can not even count the number of ways in which I loved this place.  First of all, it’s location — it’s right on the Southwest Waterfront in DC.

I took that picture standing at one of the tables — it looks out over Hains Point and there are boats in the water from little row boats all the way up to a huge yacht I saw the day before that had a helicopter on the top deck!

Second, and I can not say this enough, the staff there, from the managers to the busboys, could not have been more friendly.  Once everyone started eating, they found a space for the videographer and I to grab something to eat, and even tried to bring us a HUGE tray of crabs. (Sadly, I had to turn them down, unless their generosity extends to rushing me to the hospital…)  They were quick to replace items that ran out, kept the place nice and clean, and even tied bibs on some of the ladies so they wouldn’t mess up their dresses!

Third, the food.  OH, the food.  Seriously…yum.  Each table got giant trays of both crabs and shrimp seasoned with Old Bay but there was also a big buffet with vegetable pasta, fried chicken, potato salad, and lots of other goodies, like this big strawberry cake dessert:

Here’s a shot of the patio that was reserved for Rob and Maya’s party:

As you can see in that picture, the flaps are down, which is great if it starts raining.  Luckily it was a gorgeous night so we were able to keep them open the whole time.

On a tangent, this was my first experiment with flower arranging!

Maya really wanted centerpieces on all of the tables and had gotten as far as tying raffia around Mason jars — so cute!  Unfortunately (as with a lot of DIY projects), she just ran out of time to actually get the flowers.

No problem — wedding planner to the rescue!

I went to Trader Joe’s and picked up some flowers — they usually have great, and inexpensive, bouquets.  Maya gave me her blessing and a budget.  Well, I got out of there for about $85 with enough flowers for 15 centerpieces!  I went in to the store with no idea what I wanted to do, but I saw some cute gerber daisies and supplemented them with a few mixed arrangements.  I’ll tell you what — if you’re the kind of bride who isn’t picky about her flowers, this is SUCH an inexpensive option!  I went home and spent about an hour, trimming ends and mixing and matching flowers. I don’t think I did too bad for my first time at the rodeo!  Maya got SO many compliments on the flowers which, of course, she relayed to me — I was so flattered

Don’t you love how they put the paper down on the tables?  Each table also gets a big bucket to put the shells and stuff in, plus mallets, some Old Bay and a few other fun crab accessories:

Rob and Maya’s friend had emailed everyone to ask them if they wanted to speak at the dinner.  Quite a few people responded yes, so a mic was set up so everyone could hear the sweet toasts and stories.

What a great way to end a beautiful, relaxing evening!

If you’re looking for a fun, laid-back place to host your rehearsal dinner, I highly recommend Phillips Seafood.  The place is HUGE and while they have tons of different private areas to have parties, but the best is definitely right on the waterfront side!  You can contact them for your private event by calling Debbie Morroni at 202.488.8515 x 52 or dmorroni@phillipsfoods.com.

Thanks for a great night, Rob and Maya!  Soon we’ll have pictures from their gorgeous, sunflower-filled wedding!

Last week I was invited to visit Sequoia restaurant on the Georgetown waterfront in DC.  What a gorgeous restaurant!  It’s been two years since we’ve done an event with them and they’ve made some major adjustments since then.  First, they’ve replaced a large portion of the staff and are starting fresh with some accomplished chefs in the kitchen.  Second, they’re giving the whole restaurant a face lift.  They’ve installed a beautiful art piece, updated all the patio furniture, and completed some nice landscaping on their huge deck.  They’re also vamping up their wedding reception packages to make the restaurant a more appealing option for brides and grooms!  Now THAT’S what I’m talking about!

Of course I took some photos…what would this blog be without pictures?

The view from the boardwalk along the river.  The restaurant is on the second floor of this massive building and their outdoor patio is really expansive:

The view from the top:

Another view of the patio and their new palm trees and furniture:

Stepping inside the restaurant, you’ll see the beautiful wooden floors, the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, and the gorgeous blue art installation.  I wish the sun was in a better spot so the photo wasn’t so backlit…hopefully you get the idea.  These chandeliers reminds me of an installation I saw in an airport….the one I’m thinking of had little white birds suspended from mono filament.  The little birds made up the shape of a bigger bird and from one cluster to the next they morphed into an airplane.  Does anyone know what I’m talking about?  It sounds crazy but it’s truly beautiful, just like the blue ones they have at Sequoia:

Sequoia also has a second level.  Up here there are a few dining tables, a big long wooden bar, and a smaller area on the opposite side (which seats about 20 guests):

Another photo of the bar.  Sorry for all the backlit mess!

Back downstairs there is a private room that will seat up to about 150 guests.  I like how the bar is built-in along the back wall.  The windows look out over the river.  They will be remodeling this space, replacing the chairs, and jazzing it up a bit.  I think it’s going to be gorgeous!

Mr. Scott Moon (on right, the go-to guy for weddings at Sequoia) and his boss, Mr. Walter Rauscher.  Here you can see the blue lighting installations a little better:

I really had a great time visiting Sequoia and urge you to check it out for your own event.  Even if you already have your wedding reception venue booked, how about the rehearsal dinner or a Sunday brunch?  This restaurant is turning a new leaf, kicking it up a notch, and would love to show you how they can make your event fabulous!  Email Scott Moon today to set up an appointment.  Tell them I sent you!

DC’s Fairmont Hotel has long been a trendsetter and leader in sustainable tourism.  They recycle just about everything, purchase green power, maintain their own garden, and use electricity as efficiently as possible.  Now, they’ve added some new hotel guests!

The Fairmont has added 105,000 honey bees to their rooftop as part of their culinary program.  The bees will supply honey for the hotel’s restaurant and banquet operations.  They even hope to eventually make candles, lip balm, and soaps out of the wax.

We were recently invited to a small event at the St. Regis hotel in downtown Washington DC.  The hotel unveiled their new wedding packages (which are quite spectacular) and wanted to share the news with some select wedding planners.  We were delighted to attend and see what the buzz was about!

The St. Regis completed an extensive renovation in 2008 after about a year of being closed.  The beautiful Presidential Suite was the venue for our gathering and it blew us all away.  This suite is gorgeous!  I was so impressed with the amazing decor and sheer size of it….this room has it all.  At 2500+ square feet, it’s definitely the largest and most decadent hotel suite I’ve ever been in.  Check out the St. Regis website to see more photos of the suite!

The St. Regis hotel (image via their website):

All the following photos are compliments of Michael Kress at MBK Photo.

Walking into the Presidential Suite, this beautiful table (with a HUGE orchid) displayed some of the in-house linens the St. Regis offers for weddings.  This is just the foyer.  The bedroom is through that door in the corner and the living area is towards the left.  I love the Orient-inspired wallpaper:

Now we’re in the living area!  The coffee table had a wonderful display of dried fruits.  I love the way they’re placed — very casually but still formal enough for the St. Regis.  Check out that floral centerpiece!  Nick at Multiflor creates all the in-house designs at the hotel and does a phenomenal job:

I’ve never seen champagne displayed this way but thought it was rather elegant.  The disadvantage was that you could never put your drink down!  At least the staff was 110% attentive and didn’t let you hold an empty glass for very long:

Just a small example of the amazing food they were passing.  These are lamb chops on the bone.  MMM!  They were delicious but made it quite impossible to look dainty while eating:

It turns out that the St. Regis is surprisingly trendy in their food presentation!  Look at these whimsical ice cream pops they brought out:

They were so tasty!  It was something really unexpected and totally fun.  Everyone had to have one and it was the perfect end to a wonderfully creative event.

Interested in more on the St. Regis hotel in Washington, DC?  Check out this wonderful article about the hotel’s recent renovation!

Thanks for hosting us at your hotel!  Hopefully we’ll see you soon for another wedding!

Remember Kara & Art’s wedding at Collingwood last month?  The mother of the bride, Helena, wrote us a very sweet note after the wedding.  Here’s what she said:

“Laura,

Once more my warmest thanks for all you did to make Kara’s wedding such a success. I know you do this all the time, but for us this was once in a lifetime event. You jumped in without hesitation and did a wonderful job. I’ll be happy to recommed you to anybody who is looking for a wedding planner. You were not only efficient but also warm and kind. We all, but especially Kara and Art, will treasure that day as a very beautiful day when everything worked just right. Would you please let Ryan know that the event was a total success.

Please send my your bill for the luch!

Warmest,

Helena”

::Disclaimer!  Only the eleventh photo in this post is from an event that Wish Special Events has planned or coordinated.  We can re-create what you see below for your event but these are not a part of our portfolio::

Whether you call it an altar, a chuppah, or “that thing we’re standing under to get married,” there are all different types of arbors, arches, trees, and gazebos that can be used for your ceremony.  An altar can be anything you want - from simple to elaborate - and is a great way to add decoration to your ceremony site.

There are some ceremony sites that are so beautiful that they really need no decoration.  This beautiful gazebo-like structure below, covered in greens and flowers, is a perfect example:

Other times, the site for your wedding will already have something installed, such as a permanent chuppah, gazebo or arch, which you can decorate any way that suits you:

Decorations and flowers by Tapestry Flowers:

Christin Khan Photography:

One tradition I love from Jewish weddings is the idea of people as Chuppah Holders.  The chuppah represents the couple’s home and is open on all sides as a sign that the couple’s home will always be open to their friends and loved ones.  The “home” lacks furniture to show that the most important part of the home is not the furnishings in it, but the people.  At sites where there is not already an existing chuppah, or it is not feasible to install a chuppah (Lindsay and Sam’s wedding would have been a perfect place to have chuppah holders, since theirs kept blowing over thanks to the winds off of the Chesapeake Bay!), chuppah holders carry in the chuppah and hold it during the ceremony.  It’s a nice way to add honor attendants to your wedding party, especially if you have friends of the opposite gender and don’t want male bridesmaids or female groomswomen.  This image from the blog A Practical Wedding is a gorgeous example of chuppah holders:

Of course, you don’t need to have a chuppah or an altar at all.  You can get married in front of a beautiful fireplace:

Under a stately old tree:

Jasmine Star:

Under a patio umbrella like our very own Laura did (Linda Wallace Photography):

Or even decorate the side and entrance of the house, like this couple did (I kind of love this one, photographed by Huy’s Photography, just because I think it’s sort of ingenious):

Beaches are great places to have altars with beautiful draped fabric:

Studio This Is:

Karen Tran Florals:

Vision Photographs:

But, of course, urban backdrops are great too!  Blue Bouquet Flowers:

These two shots show not only how beautiful the altar is from the guests point of view, but also, how amazing it looked from underneath:

And a few more, just because I found so many gorgeous photos!

Wendy Hithe Photo:

Dia Rao Photography:

Love Life Images:

Are you getting married under an altar/chuppah/arch/tree/other?

Remember Kristan and Steve, one of our recent Meadowlark couples?  I just got professional images from Justine Ungaro and think they’re amazing!  I wanted to share since Kristan and Steve had such a beautiful day.

They chose to see each other before the ceremony.  I love the ‘reveal’ moment when the bride and groom see each other for the first time:

Seeing each other beforehand also allows plenty of time for formal photographs.  I think this portrait is really classic but edgy in it’s own way:

Off to the ceremony!  Daddy’s face is just priceless here.  Justine captured a lot of different emotions in this image:

Ceremonies at Meadowlark are always so idyllic:

This really, truly, sums up Kristan’s personality in one photo.  She was like this the whole day:

Maryam Flowers made these pretty bouquets for the bridesmaids.  Since the girls were wearing different colors, they had alternating bouquets to complement the dresses:

In my last post you can see the ‘behind the scenes’ view.  Here’s what Justine was getting:

The girls had so much fun with these paper parasols:

Great Blue Heron, the in-house caterer at Meadowlark, did a great job setting the tables.  I love these tall martini glasses that Maryam uses for centerpieces:

Norm at The Sweet Life brought this phenomenal suitcase cake.  Don’t you love it!?

I mentioned that Steve is a member of the great local band Gonzo’s Nose.  Hence, a lot of their friends are musicians!  Kristan and Steve were treated to a number of amazing acoustic live performances during the reception:

They had a DJ on hand, too, to really get the party going:

Once the sun went down the party moved outside!  The patio was the perfect place to mix and mingle under the stars:

I love this final shot that Justine took:

Congrats again, Kristan & Steve!

::Disclaimer!  The photos in this post are purely inspirational and not from events that Wish Special Events has planned or coordinated.  We can re-create what you see below for your event but these are not a part of our portfolio::

I meant to include all of my gorgeous hair pictures in the last post, but I just had too many!  So I broke it into two posts — this time, for those who are wearing their hair up.  Click here or scroll down if you missed the first post.

My favorite updo is the loose updo — usually either a knot or a loose bun.  It just looks so relaxed and natural, but still meets my primary requirement, which is that my hair isn’t on my neck.  I wish I could be one of those girls who, in 90 degree weather, is rocking her gorgeous long curls.  Too hot!

I have been in love with this next set of photos, taken by Eleise Theuer, since the first time I saw them.  THIS is how I want my hair for my imaginary Clooney wedding (see previous Wish Candy posts for discussion re: Clooney):

Yes, I realize I just posted three pictures of the same bride (I love you, random bride I don’t know!) but that’s how much I love her hair — it is the definition of a relaxed, comfortable, awesome bride.

Another hairdo I love is this great one, shot by Jasmine Star.  Although I don’t know the bride, she just looks like this is probably how she looks every day.  Hair sort of down and curly.  And how cute is the clip in the 2nd picture?!

More cute, loose updos:

How great would it be to be a famous country singer, having someone do your hair for you all the time?

Of course, a sleek updo, like Carrie Underwood’s above, can look gorgeous too:

Emilie Inc. Photography:

And I love this bride’s hair and veil, photographed by our friends, the Regetis:

Coming from a girl who wears her hair in a ponytail every day, I appreciate a bride who can wear a sleek pony and make it work!

This last group of photos highlights a girl after my own heart, the curly haired girl:

Will you be wearing your hair up for your wedding?

::Disclaimer!  The photos in this post are purely inspirational and not from events that Wish Special Events has planned or coordinated.  We can re-create what you see below for your event but these are not a part of our portfolio::

There are lots of great web sites out there for wedding hair inspiration.  The Knot has thousands of pictures, as does a great blog called African American Wedding Hairstyles and Hairdos.  Also, Google Images (images.google.com) is a great way to search for pictures, especially if you’ve seen a great celebrity hairstyle on the Red Carpet, or even to search something like “Short Hair Bride” or “Wedding Curly Hair.”

Everyone is different when it comes to hair for their wedding.  Some ladies want long and flowy, some want big fluffy curls, some want a sleek updo…some have long veils, some have birdcage veils, some have flowers, some have nothing in their hair at all!  It’s your day, it’s your hair, just go for it!  Here are some (aka lots) of pictures I love of great wedding hair!

I’ll start with the “long and flowy” wedding hair, which is one of my favorite looks:

Brides Magazine:

Chop Chop Salon:

If you don’t want your hair all down, another great look is the half up-half down.  This is great for those wearing a veil, as it gives something to fasten the veil into, and looks beautiful!  (Of course, I just realized that none of these pictures show a veil…which just goes to show it looks great both ways!)

Emily Desjardins, Appearances Salon:

I love the little braids in this hairstyle from The Knot – I might be experimenting with them on my hair this weekend!

Laura Negri Photography:

Another great way to find hairstyles is to look for celebrity looks.  Here’s Jessica Alba:

Drew Barrymore almost always does something cute with her hair!

Halle Berry:

Alicia Keys is another one who is always doing gorgeous things with her hair:

I have a total girl crush on Rachel McAdams…maybe even more so with these braids!  (Apparently I’m on a braid kick today…)

Some great loose updos from Jennifer Garner:

Meredith Grey (Wait, that’s not her real name…Ellen Pompeo, right?)

Eva Longoria Parker:

and Leighton Meester:

As well as some cute, short dos from Hillary Swank:

Angela Bassett:

And Ashley Judd:

Speaking of short hair, I am a SUCKER for a short haired bride.  They are always SO AWESOME!!!  I was in a bridal shop a few weeks ago, and this girl with an adorable pixie cut was ROCKING this great, super form fitting, amazing dress.  My best friend summed it up perfectly “Her hair just totally goes with that dress”

These finger waves are GORGEOUS!  Very retro:

Next time, we’ll discuss updos, and how to make them NOT look like prom hair!

How are you wearing your hair for the wedding?  Down?  Short?  Veil?  No veil?  Tell us in the comments!