Real Wedding: Tiffany & Woodrow - Peacock Wedding Love!

Hey, All!  It's time for another Real Wedding!  I met Tiffany a few years ago and we have remained "internet" friends since.  Her gorgeous Peacock Themed wedding was one I knew I had to feature on the blog!  Since becoming a wife, Tiffany has started her own business as a make-up artist.  I will soon feature her gorgeous work!  In the meantime, take a look at Tiffany & Woodrow's beautiful wedding!   

Bride & Groom: Tiffany and Woodrow

Wedding Date: September 2, 2012

How did the two of you meet? 

Woodrow and I met at a night club.

Tell us about the proposal? 

Its was on my 29th Birthday. I knew it was coming but I didn't think it would be on my Birthday. We went to a very upscale restaurant. Then we went to one our favorite spots, Fat Tuesdays, for frozen daiquiris. He told me he had planned for us to stay at the Marriott that night, but it still didn't run across my mind as the proposal, because we often spend nights at the hotel, for our "getaway nights".  When we arrived to the hotel and he handed me the room key,  I thought to myself, "that was weird".  When I  turned on the lights, I see rose petals everywhere, and in the middle of the bed, a heart  made with rose petals and  the ring box in the middle.  It was a special night! The best birthday a girl could ask for!! 

How absolutely sweet was that proposal!!!  Now let's talk wedding!

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? 

Staying focused and on budget! We saw so many things we would have liked to have incorporated in our wedding, but the truth is, weddings are expensive!  

What is the one thing you are happy you splurged on? 

My dress! I felt like it was made just for me!!

What is the one thing you wished you had splurged on? 

Hmm..nothing. In the end, I was able to have the wedding of my dreams!

Did you have a color scheme or theme that embodied your wedding? 

Yes, we went with a touch of peacock!

What was the inspiration for that particular idea and how was it unique to you and your groom? 

We had seen pictures and thought it was a lovely unique idea. So, we just decided to go with a elegant peacock theme.

The Venue

Where did you choose to hold your wedding, and how did the location influence your decor decisions? 

The location had no influence on the decor. We went to see the venue and I fell in love with the space, The Double Tree by Hilton Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay in Miami, FL.

Wedding Party Attire

Tell us about your gown. 

My gown was made for me!  I think it really embodied my Fabulous spirit!!  My gown was designed by San Patrick and the name of my gown was "Edimburgo".

Groom's Attire?  

He wore a custom Jacket and tuxedo pants.

Bridesmaids & Groomsmen Attire?

The Bridesmaids wore purple dresses we bought off the rack at a local formal store downtown & the Guys rented their gray suits by Calvin Klein for Men's Wearhouse.

Reflecting on your wedding day,what was your favorite part? 

Standing there, before everyone, professing my love to my now husband. 

Favorite detail? 

The Flowers! 

What did you love about them? 

They were stunning my vision was meet and I love them!!

How many guests attended your wedding? 

We hosted 150 close family and friends.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding. 

We used Gerald Levert's "Made To Love You", as our first dance song. The wedding party walked down to Babyface's "Everytime I Close My Eyes".

What’s next for you as a couple? 

Well, we are already parents of two great kids. We purchased our home about 5 months before we got married. 

What are you looking forward to in the future?

More babies in  the future...Hmm, maybe/maybe not! lol, We are blessed and looking forward to living life together as a family!

VENDORS:

Photographer:  Creative Event Studios
Event Planner: Self Planned
Ceremony Venue/Reception: Double Tree Grand Biscayne Bay
Videographer/Film Maker: Creative Event Studios
Officiant: Pastor Calvin Harelson
Invitation Designer: Etsy
Catering: same as venue
DOC/Decor/Florist: Wilyacin's Event Planning
Cake: Divine Delicacies
Wedding Dress: Bellisma Miracle Mile 
Bridal Accessories: Applemint
Bridesmaids’ Apparel: Claudia's Fashions
Groom & Groomsmen Apparel & Accessories: Men's Wearhouse
Hair & Make-up: Hair P.O.B Hair- Wilma Make up- Razzle Dazzle Makeup Artists
DJ: Big Ben
Uplighting/Chavairi Chairs: Imperial Party Rental

Until Next Time, Make Your Next Event,

Gorgeous Groom's Shower!

When planning a wedding, let's face it, grooms often get the shaft when it comes time to plan a wedding.  The Engagement Party, while that event is for both the bride and groom, most often it is a feminine event. The Bridal Shower, again, the groom is often left out of this event entirely, unless someone gives the forethought to plan a coed Bridal Shower, but more often than not that is not the case.

Well today, I came across a......trying to think of a manly word....hmmmm....I came across a masculine GROOM'S Shower, designed by Bella Destinee Weddings and Events.  It is absolutely breathtaking.

Check out the awesomeness below!  I hope you love it as much as I do!

To see more photos from this stunning event check out Bella Destinee Wedding and Events Facebook Page.

Until Next Time, Make Your Next Event.....

Trend 2013: Dare To Don Noir!

Let me tell you, back when I was planning this big obnoxious wedding, I was adamant about wearing a black dress!  I had watched an episode of "Platinum Weddings" and the bride wore a beautiful black dress, and I said, "YES"!  That is what I want to wear down the aisle! Then came the naysayers...boooooo!  They said things like, "Really, a black dress?" and "It's a wedding, not a funeral!" and so on and so forth.  My dream remained a dream.

In the last few years, designers have been adding one or two black gowns to their collections, and now in 2013, if you want to wear a black wedding dress, you have many to choose from.

A black gown is so daring, bold, sexy and glamorous.  Jump inside my head: The Bride is stunning in black, her bridesmaids in white or even silver or any other color, the possibilities are endless, preceding her like angels & colorful beings, as he waits in the wings....*sigh*...

Anyhoo, here are some of the black beauties! Enjoy!



Wtoo - "Daringly Beautiful"

Vendor Spotlight : AJB Event Design & Planning Group

I featured Amanda Brown's wedding a few weeks ago, along with a brief interview about her events planning company, AJB Event Design & Planning Group.  I felt like it got lost in all of the gorgeousness of her wedding, so I wanted to spotlight her again!

Were you an Event Planner before you started planning your wedding, or was there a revelation while you were planning your wedding, that this was something you could turn into a business?

I had always known that I wanted to be an event planner since I was in high school. I remember always planning events for my friends and family, and then always dreaming up the perfect event using different color palettes and themes. After negotiating contracts with for our own wedding, researching vendors, creating seating plans and learning about and working with Beverage and Event Orders, I thoroughly enjoyed the business side of planning and knew that this was something I was supposed to do. So I advertised my services, for free and to gain more exposure, after my own wedding and waited. And it happened. Fast.

Tell us about AJB Events Design & Planning Group.

Our company, owned by both my husband and myself, is called AJB EventsDesign & Planning Group. The group consists of the brands, Celebrations by AJB Events and Amanda J. Brown Weddings & Events. The brand, Celebrations by AJB Events, specializes in children’s events and the ever-popular Candy Buffet. Under this brand, we also design and coordinate those celebratory events in life, such as baby showers, bridal showers, anniversaries, and quinceaneras, just to name a few.  My name brand, Amanda J. Brown Weddings & Events, specializes in all things wedding. We design the blueprint for our bride’s perfect event, execute their wishes, and coordinate their big day. We work with a host of vendors that I have personally screened and researched and share the same passion as we do; making this special event memorable and flawless.  We intend, in the future, to become a source for clients to find the right vendor to make their wedding or event perfect. We are currently working with other professionals in the event industry to become a design and planning firm where we have a one-stop shop for brides in California and in Nevada consisting of everything from event planning services, DJ, floral, photography, and in the future, a location where brides can hold their event. We are hopeful of our future!

Where are you located, and what areas do you service?

We are a Nevada-based business that currently works out of Southern California. We service all areas in the Southern California from the northern area of Antelope Valley, down to the beach cities of Orange County and as far east as Riverside County. We serve all of Southern Nevada up Southern Utah. I recently overcame my fear of flying (sort of) and so we will coordinate and plan destination weddings, if needed!

Share your first experience, other than your own wedding, as an event planner, where you were in charge of making someone else's event/wedding memorable.

I can remember the first wedding that I coordinated with a total of 200 guests. My stomach turned in knots the days leading up to the wedding; you would think that I was the bride! I assisted in the décor choices, and then ultimately served as the coordinator for the day, and then of setting up the reception areas. The bride was very particular about what she did and did not want for her wedding day and I was happy to make sure I was always one step ahead of her. The bride had a great time at her reception and later told me how much she enjoyed herself and having someone there to make sure she was on schedule and that the night ran smoothly. She couldn’t stop thanking us!







Did anything go wrong? If so how did you handle it?

For it to be my VERY first contracted event, it was completely natural that everything would go wrong. Our original plans to swag her tent went south when the amount of fabric the bride provided us with was off from the measurements of the tent she rented. Needless to say, our company spent the day before her wedding deciding how to swag her tent with the amount of fabric we were provided. We were calm and came together to really do a fantastic job draping the tent’s ceiling and walls with white satin. At the same event, there was an instance when the guests had arrived and were seated for cocktails. There were candles on the table and as I was standing by to direct a guest to the gift table, one of the guests alerted me that the table was on fire! I quickly learned the lesson that no matter how much the bride wants candlelight on the table, if it’s a windy day and cocktail napkins are involved, the candles are a no-no! Lesson learned.


What advice do you have for someone currently planning a wedding/event?

Hire an event coordinator. And I am not just saying this, but really, your life will be easier when you know that you have a professional dedicated to carrying out your plans on your wedding day. There are brides that enjoy the planning process and want to plan their own wedding, and that is always great to see, but there has to be someone there to make sure that you are on schedule, that plans are running smoothly, and that you are relaxed and feeling as amazing as you look.


What advice would you give to someone, who may want to become a part of the event planning industry?

Don’t second guess yourself, do it! And dream big while you’re at it. You will get the chance to find what aspect of the event planning industry makes you most happy and pursue your happiness. I recommend setting realistic goals for the weeks, months, and years, so that you can keep track of your progress and see what you need to do to reach your ultimate success. And the biggest lesson I learned is to never let negative thoughts find a place in your mind; I try to keep positive and know that if business is slow right now, that does not mean that things will not pick up later.

Thank You so much Amanda for sharing your special day with us!  You did a wonderful job with bringing your vision to life!  I hope to see big things for Amanda J. Brown Weddings & Events and Celebrations by AJB Events. Their website is currently under construction, but until then, check them out on Facebook at AJB Events Design & Planning Group





I also took in Amanda's advice about the Event Planning industry, I hope you did too!  

Until the next one, Make All Of Your Events....

Sparkle, Shimmer, Shine ~ Sequins

I love all things SPARKLE! And sequins is it!!!  I love that you can use sequins in an elegant or whimsical way for your wedding or event.  From invitations to bouquet wraps, you can add a little sparkle to your wedding.  Check out the inspiration and discover how you can use sequins to light up your event!


INVITATIONS

ATTIRE

ACCESSORIES

TABLESCAPES

DETAILS

  

CHAIR TREATMENTS

CAKES

BOUQUET WRAP

Sources:  ATTIRE - Paper Work Envy, 100 Layer Cake (Photos 1 & 5), Magnolia Rouge, Glamour, Grey Likes Weddings (Photo 6 & 14), Modernly Wed,, Pronovias, Green Wedding Shoes, Polka Dot Bride, Carrie Purse Make Up & Hair Artistry, Before The Big Day, Calligraphy by Jennifer, Jen & Chris Creed Blog, Monique Lhullier, Society Bride, Belle the Magazine, Jarvie Studios, Brides via Christine Chang Photography, Wedding Chicks (Photo 24), Martha Stewart Weddings, Sparkles I Do by UGGS, Ruffled Blog, TABLESCAPES: Scheme Events, Mod Wedding, Inspired By This, Wedding Chicks, Style Me Pretty (Photo 13 also), Wildflower Linens, AZ Central, Style Unveiled (Photo 14 also), I Love SW Mag, Glow Event Design, Hostess With The Mostess, Every Last Detail, One to Wed, Perfect Planning, Estera Events, Karen Tran, Calligraphy by Jennifer, Lovella Bridal CAKES: Gimme Some Sugar, Ruffled Blog (2 & 3), Misty Miotto, Bellissimo Weddings NY, 100 Layer Cake, Sweet Elements (7 & 8), Belle The Magazine



Let All Your Sparkly Events Be,