Plans of a Planner - A Change of Course

As you might imagine, plans are everything to a planner.  Heck, as a wedding planner, the word plan is even part of my title.  Just as important as a good plan, though, is the ability to roll with the punches when the plan changes.  And friends, my plans have changed.

Rather than the country club wedding we were planning, we've decided to elope!  Some might question my use of an exclamation point at the end of that sentence, but it's one of the most perfectly placed exclamations I have ever used (and for those of you who know me, you know that I'm a prolific user of the e.p.).  See, I'm very excited for us and for our new plan.  In actuality, eloping was our first plan of action, even before we were engaged, so we've come full circle back to what we really wanted to do.

What's the plan?  Glad you asked.  In the early spring we're traveling up to beautiful San Francisco and getting married in that city's iconic City Hall.  Our amazing photographer has agreed to go with us, and of course the day wouldn't be complete without our parents and my future brothers-in-law.  A month or so later, we'll travel to...wait for it...Paris for more photos and our honeymoon!  I am SO excited. 

San Francisco City Hall

The Eifel Tower, Paris, France

Lesson for other brides:  follow your heart, do what feels right to you.  Do I regret my country club plans?  No way, definitely not.  It would have been a beautiful way to celebrate our marriage.  We've just decided to stay true to ourselves and do what feels most like us.

photos (1), (2), (3)

I Love Mondays - Brightly Hued Wedding Nails

I think I'll dub 2011 the year of the bright lip and even brighter nails!  This year, more than any other year I can recall, women of all ages have embraced colorful lips and nails, and that trend has definitely found its way into wedding fashion as well.  For as long as I can remember, pale pink polish or the ubiquitous french mani have been de rigueur when it comes to weddings.  No more!  Brides are embracing their passion for color, from mis-matched floral centerpieces to fun painted furniture as accent pieces, to their lips and nails.

Love this look on Drew Barrymore.  Girl can pull off just about any look, and she does vintage here quite well.

Bright flowers with equally bright nails.

Lovely coral...and Chanel to boot!

Love that her nails are short, but she went for red anyway.  My kind of girl!

I love this look, but I would be hard-pressed to wear it myself.  However, I would definitely wear each of these colors.

Notice that the "moons" of her nails are a lighter color - intriguing!

Love this color -  need it now!

I'm calling this one the "party nail."  So elegant and eye-catching.  Would you try it?

Happy Monday!
xo
d.


all images via my Pinterest page

Happy 1st Anniversary Becca & Chris!!

One year ago today I had the pleasure of seeing this beautiful couple exchange wedding vows!  I can't believe it's been a year already.  

We had planned their ceremony for the wide green lawn at Malibou Lake Mountain Club, but mother nature wasn't in the mood to cooperate that day.  With the early afternoon came rain, first a drizzle, then large drops.  Lucky for us, the side patio of the clubhouse was covered, and with a few heaters added made the perfect back-up ceremony site.

Becca's favorite color, purple, played a big role in setting the tone for the day.  Along with the fall foliage and the mountains surrounding the club, it was the perfect note to offset a grey day.

I had so much fun with these two, and now have the privilege of calling them friends.

We spent many a weekend hunting down vendors and coming up with fun ideas for their wedding, and when the big day arrived, it was nothing short of amazing!

Thank you Becca and Chris for allowing me to be a part of your wonderful wedding!!

xo
d.

photos by our amazing photographer, Suzanne Mapes Photography.