Hilton Wedding Contest - Best Brides Forever

Hilton has got a deal for you! Hilton is offering a contest for brides to win the destination wedding of their dreams called “I Do Times Two” at the The Hilton Waikoloa Village in Hawaii. But it’s a double win – a destination wedding for you…AND your best friend: one week, two weddings and one big party.

It works like this, two brides get together and submit in the essay contest. The contest will run through February 22, 2010. Hilton will judge the essays and a pair of brides will win the package of an all-expense paid wedding package, including airfare, for both couples. As a huge bonus, Hilton is putting up 15 guest rooms for BOTH brides (30 rooms total). This is HUGE because this one area where brides can help their family.

Both brides will have their wedding on the same trip sometime between Jan. 1, 2011 and March 31, 2011. Why not have your destination wedding at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on Valentine’s Day 2011?

We’ve never been to the Hilton Waikoloa Village and can’t personally vouch for the property, however, it looks terrific on the website.


Update 3/22/2010: And we have a winner!

Hilton Worldwide has named Chelsea Jones from Boulder, Colorado as the winner of the contest. She and her sister Hillary will get married over Valentine’s Day weekend 2011. The sisters are best friends and inseparable, despite problems brought on by Hillary’s health issues. Complete details on the winners are at the contest website.

Congratulations to Chelsea Jones for winning the contest!


Photo credits: Hilton Waikoloa Village

The Kentucky Derby Delay

 The Dining Room: We used different sized tables to fill the room and create the dinner party ambiance

While organizing our studio this week, we came across a couple weddings we hadn't blogged about, and this was one of them.  There are incredibly talented photographers at Michelle Reed Photography (Aimee documented this wedding) and well, the proof is in the pictures.

 

At the ceremony, each of the guests received one of these handfans with the custom tags

 

Derby Bride wanted a very intimate ceremony, so all the guests surrounded the couple.  We just had a few seats for those who really needed them.

I've never had a late start that made me giggle. Until this past May.  I had a bride who refused to leave the bridal suite to go down to the ceremony. Not because she didn't want to get married though.

The sand ceremony; chocolate and sea blue sand.

It was because the Derby hadn't happened yet.  Hilarious.   Derby bride and the rest of the wedding party (and me) sat and watched the race and then raced down to the limos to get to the ceremony on time.

 

The tall centerpieces of white hawaiian dendrobiums in sea blue water filled vases lightened up the room.

Pale blush tones are what made this bouquet of roses and peonies so romantic

The very simple and intimate ceremony took place on Bonita Beach and the reception for about 60 was at The Hyatt Coconut Point Country Club, Raptor Bay.

 

The champagne colored textured linens were just what we needed to tie the lightness of the flowers to the heavier design of the room.

 

Adding a bit of formality to the cake with the fondant draping

 

You know how there is always that picture perfect spot and if everything is just right you get something amazing?  This is it.

 

Gift and escort card table details.  You can't go wrong with candles.

The beautiful flowers are from Signature Florals...Sue always exceeds my expectations.  The cake was from Ella's Cakes and was so good there wasn't a slice left behind.

Our Grand Clients

The last few weeks have been better than exciting for us here in the studio!  At The Engagement Party on January 10th, we gave away a wedding valued at well over $100,000, and the number is growing every day with all the awesome pro's getting involved.  The lucky winners are Sara & Nick- aren't they adorable?  They truly are even sweeter than they look.

Planning their Grand wedding (and wedding parties, all 5 of them) in just 6 weeks has been amazingly perfect, thanks to the incredibly generous and talented wedding professionals that we're working with.  Everyone has been asking so...here is a little bit about Sara & Nick: They met during college at FSU (and yes, there will be a FSU grooms cake) and have been together 4 years.  Both of them are really drawn to modern, architectural designs- which works out perfectly for the wedding I am designing for them.  Nick proposed to Sara during a walk of some of the important places he grew up visiting.  When they got to the beach he got on his knee and said, "This place is so important to me, and I want it to be important to us"
Could you just die? So sweet.
Sara is a scientist and Nick is a property tax consultant...yep, they're smart people.  And after spending last weekend with them, I can officially also confirm that they are genuinely super nice, gracious, and full of laughs.  On their finalist questionnaire, we asked "How would your family or friends say you handle high stress situations?" Their answers:

Sara: By making to do lists and being easy to compromise with
Nick: Well, with a twist of comedy.

 Not that we care about that, because this is one wedding where there is no stress to be had.
I'll be sure to blog about all the wedding parties and the wedding.  You can also follow the planning on The Grand Wedding 2010 blog.

Destination Wedding Dresses at Discount Prices

Few things cause brides as much anxiety as the dress. It has to be perfect. Some girls just know when they find “the one,” but others stress and labor over the decision.

I predict that 2010 will be the year of couture and homemade dresses. Why have a mass market dress when you can have something one of a kind?

Sure, there are ways to get couture designer dresses at less than couture prices. There’s the inevitable recommendation to hit up sample sales or trunk shows (ever tried to find one of these?). Of course, there’s the insanity of the Filene’s Basement “Running of the Brides” – then again, you’re shopping at Filene’s Basement and you have to go to Boston.

Then, there’s the recommendation (typically from your grandmother) that you should go to thrift shops or the modern version – Craig’s List. The idea of either of these just seems too much like being on welfare for my taste.

There are two other reasonable alternatives. The website Oncewed.com has a page where brides sell their gowns after the wedding. This is like the thrift shop or Craigslist without making you feel cheap. And if you are more socially conscious, why not buy your dress and help a good cause? Brides Against Breast Cancer has sales across the country of great dresses at reasonable prices with the proceeds going to a good cause.

Finally, there’s one more great way to get a custom wedding dress without the hassle – Etsy. The crafty website Etsy and many of its artisan vendors sell couture wedding dresses. If Etsy isn’t your style, you can try custom dress shops in your area. In this way, you can get a handmade dress designed especially for you. What can make a girl feel more special than something one of a kind?

Happy dress hunting!

Here we are on the Wink Morning News about The Grand Wedding!

Ildiko+Gary=Luxe | Harrison Hot Springs Wedding

Harrison Hot Springs Wedding Photography



Just like the fortunes she found in her cookies predicted, Ildiko is enjoying her dream of being an actress and found her happily ever after with the boy next door (well, a few houses away!). She reread those slips of paper as she got ready for her wedding day, and with tears in her yes, told her girls she couldn't believe that today all her dreams were coming true. Two floors down, as he did up his tie and took a swig from his flask, Gary said the exact same thing.



The couple's wedding, currently featured in this season's gorgeous issue of Wedluxe Magazine, was luxurious, glamourous, and fun - just like Ildiko & Gary! Here are some of our favs from the day

High heel heaven! The trifecta of shoes: Versace, Manolo, and Louboutin. Sigh.







It's those little details that tell the story - Ildiko getting ready.



Beautiful bride. Fans of Smallville might recognize actress Ildiko from her commercials, tv shows & movies.



LOVE this album spread of Ildiko.


The ceremony took place at Harrison Hot Springs Resort - such a gorgeous location. Kim & Andy of Wedding Design Studio made everything look perfectly romantic in golds, whites, and reds.



Ildiko & Gary share their vows and promises.



How can you not look at the last image in that sequence & smile?! That emotion, that moment, that realization of 'we did it!' - it's what love is all about!



Nothing like a classic car & a cathedral length veil for a grand exit.

One of my favourite shots of the day.

This abandoned field , with its mix of soft grasses and textured old barns, was an interesting place to do some  portraits.



Another of my favourite album spreads.


The reception was all about old Hollywood glamour, starting with the red carpet entrance for Ildiko & Gary's guests, each of whom had gold VIP cards. The fabulous Gracci & Rico photographed them paparazzi-style as they entered - tons of fun!



Inside, more luxe decor.









Wedding planner Sarah of DreamGroup, helped bring Ildiko's wedding vision to life! Ildiko wanted a Old Hollywood glamour feel to her wedding complete with including celebrity impersonator appearances by Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin who flew in from Vegas to perform for the guests.
 




We love doing weddings with Sarah at the helm. And Ildiko & Gary's team was especially fun, because we also got to work with videographer Laura of Laura Ann Cinema. Check out the her highlight reel for I+G on her blog.

Frank & Dean weren't the only entertainers during the reception - Ildiko's bridesmaid sang for the couple, leaving everyone teary-eyed.



Tears & cheers were also the reaction to the couple's first dance. Congratulations, Ildiko & Gary!

~~~~~~~

I+G's dream team of vendors:

Ceremony & reception: Harrison Hots Springs Resort & Spa
Wedding Planning: Sarah Shore of DreamGroup Productions
Flowers & Decor: Wedding Design Studio
Videography: Laura Ann Cinema
Cake: Sweet Thea