NEW BLOG LOCATION
Please head on over to WWW.SWANNSOIREES.COM/BLOG for our updated blog and all the new entries! Thank you for visiting!
xxo,
Brenda
Swann Soirées Studio Open House
You are all invited to come check out the new Swann Soirées Boutique Studio!
Brenda will host a casual open house on Sunday, December 19th from 1-7pm.
Come check out the new digs, enjoy some chocolates from our rad neighbors, ChiChocolat, and if you’re feeling merry, you can also drop off a toy for the Toys for Tots foundation. No formal RSVP required, all are welcome; friends, fans, colleagues, former & current clients. Looking forward to seeing you!
2690 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 209
Download directions here.
All images courtesy of LA VIDA CREATIONS. Betsy & Jeff ROCK!
Herb Infused Wedding Inspiration Board
Although my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, has looked over its shoulder and said “I’ll see ya next year,” the images and smells of my sage butter roasted turkey, thyme andouille sausage stuffing, rosemary red potatoes, and lavender pound cake are still lingering in my mind…and definitely on my waist. When you’re a foodie, like me, there was no denying what I’ll be sharing on our Inspire Me Monday blog post: An herb-infused wedding!
There’s so many fun, creative ways to put together a herb themed wedding! The scent of rosemary, sage, basil, mint, thyme, and lavender can invigorate the senses visually and aromatically. As the board suggests, bundles of herbs can serve as a name or place card holder. For favors, the options are limitless! You can concoct a salt and herb rub or seasoning. If you’d like a sweeter approach, get a little gourmet by marinating herbs such as rosemary or thyme in honey and include a food or drink recipe that incorporates your personalized gift. Herbs are a beautiful and surprising addition to floral arrangements as well; centerpieces, boutonnieres, bouquets, and even ceremony decor.
During my wedding planning, at the consultation with the florist, we discussed how I LOVE herbs and wanted a natural look to the arrangements and bouquets. I shared with her how I envisioned the dinner napkins to have fresh sprigs of rosemary tied-on with colorful plaid ribbon….the ribbon complimented the flannel shirts worn by the groomsmen. Our venue was surrounded by pine trees that hovered over a beautifully manicured garden area. I wanted my flowers to embrace the allure of our natural setting; therefore, elaborate floral decor was unnecessary. The florist did an amazing job with my requests! There were sprigs of sage, mint, thyme, and lavender accenting the gorgeous bouquets, and at the ceremony, bundles of herbs wrapped in twine designated family seating.
Foodie or not, flirt with all sorts of herb inspired ideas for your wedding…it can make for a tantalizing experience for your guests!
Happy Wedding Planning and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
xxo!
Sherry
P.S. – Remember that these ideas are not only inspiration for your wedding but for your everyday occasions too. At my 30th birthday luncheon, I baked a bag of lavender shortbread cookies for all of the guests to enjoy. They were yum yum!
Sources:
Mint Bout | Herb Centerpiece | Peach & Rosemary Sprtizer, Herb Infused Honey, Herb Place Card, Rosemary Sea Salt Favor
Inspire Me Monday: A Trip Back Home
Last week, I was fortunately able to take a trip back to my amazing hometown… San Francisco! My family lives in the Mission District, just walking distance from awesome vintage stores and to-die-for restaurants. One of my favorite things about home? The food! San Francisco is so culturally diverse… unlike anything I have ever experienced anywhere… aaaand all available at your beck and call too! Mexican, Japanese, Cuban, French, Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese, American and the list goes on…
(Picture of Oakland Bay Bridge below)
First thing on my agenda was food of course! I found a very small & unassuming restaurant where I ordered fresh ice tea and a goat cheese, roasted-veggie sandwich, with seasoned crispy potatoes and caramelized onions. It was delectably delicious! We all know a meal isn’t complete without dessert, so I headed off to my favorite ice cream shop that specializes in unique flavors where I ordered my favorite flavor…salted caramel! Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm!
After my tummy was full with yumminess, I went to the most amazing antique store I’ve been to yet, called “Big Daddy Antiques”. Set in an old warehouse this store was filled with old barn tables, rustic birdcages, large pots filled with succulents, farmhouse candles, and knickknacks galore. There was even a cool vintage bicycle hung high up with succulents adorning it. A stunning high beamed ceiling housed these array of engaging visual displays. It was high style Ralph Lauren meets shabby chic barn. It truly took my breath away and reminded me of what I love…Weddings of course!
Because weddings are always on the brain around these parts, I began to think; “How would I incorporate these organic, one-of-a-kind pieces into a wedding?” I began to envision a lush field turned into an altar, a bride struttin’ her stuff down the aisle in a short dress while carrying a bouquet of succulents, a beautiful old barn transformed into a reception hall glowing with sunlight and a fresh iced-tea welcome for the guests. During our Swann Squad meetings, we often discuss the importance of encouraging all of our clients to seek inspiration for their wedding in the things they enjoy everyday. A wedding is a day not only to rejoice the love they both share for one another, but also allow guests to experience the celebration more intimately by having guests enjoy what the couple loves to do, see, and eat.
For this light, fancy-free, afternoon affair, I’d serve what I had for lunch earlier in the day, that yummilicious goat cheese, roasted veggie sandwich accompanied by roasted potatoes, and of course… salted caramel ice cream for dessert! What better way to personalize your wedding than to use your daily life as inspiration!
Oh how I love visiting home…
xxo!
Intern Jess
Inspire Me Monday: Polka Dots & Ruffles
Living only four blocks away from Balboa Park, I think I’ve explored every inch of it…and EVERY inch of it offers endless inspiration. During one of my night walks, I found myself staring off into the Sculpture Garden, located in the San Diego Museum of Art. The unrestrained and expressive sculptures reminded me of my childhood and of my attempts at art: crayon doodles that could have been used as inkblot tests, Lego structures that never could stay upright, and Play-Doh moldings that made my parents’ heads tilt in confusion – they didn’t know whether to praise my work or question it.
Peering in through the gates, I was convinced that one day, I’d have a bride and groom who wold want a youthful, playful reception. At this fun and interesting outdoor venue where polka dots, ruffles and colorful candles would adorn the tables, cotton candy would be waiting for you at your seat, an ice cream truck stationed outside would be stocked with ice creams and candies from yesteryear, and midnight snacks of In-N-Out burgers and fries would assure everyone goes home with happy full bellies. I think the kid in everyone would surely come out to play!
xxo,
Sherry Tarrant
Sources:
Green & white polka dot fabric for napkins | Chloe ruffle linen from Wildflower Linens for tabletop overlay | Paula Rae Florae bouquet wrap | In-n-Out burger image | Wedding Cake | Ruffle Ring for bridesmaids | Vintage tote box for gift cards | Bouquet | Bridesmaid Dress | Boutonniere | Escort Cards | Colorful Candles for centerpiece | Fun encrypted Save-the-Date cards | J. Crew Wedding Dress
Thursday Details: DIY Fortune Cookie Favors
Looking for an edible wedding favor but don’t want to do the standard truffle-in-a-box or tin-o-mints, how about fortune cookies???
While it may seem that you’ll need to have a certain “theme” in order to use the fortune cookies, that’s actually not the case because you can customize them to be in your wedding colors and even have custom fortunes inside. We found a website that even allows you to order the cookies in a specific color!
But because it is DIY THURSDAY, we will assume you want to bake them yourself (ok ok, or order them plain if you don’t want to bake) then stock up on sprinkles, icing, and other confectionary delights and viola! Decorate an afternoon away! Wrap up the pretty cookies in cello with ribbon, add a little tag, and your guests will enjoy a unique treat on your wedding day.
This is how to make it happen as per DIY Central:
(Makes 6 cookies..You will need to multiply the recipe depending on how many cookies you will need.)
- 2 egg whites
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 4 Tbsp melted butter, cooled
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 tsp lemon extract
- 2 1/2″ x 1/2″ fortune strips (Already printed, cut and ready to go!)
- Optional: Food Coloring
- Optional: Chocolate and sprinkles/nuts/colored sugar (SugarCraft has a huge variety of colored sprinkles!)
Let’s get baking!
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet thoroughly.
- Whip the egg whites on low speed until light and foamy. Blend in the sugar and continue to beat until soft peaks form.
- Pour in the melted butter, flour, salt, and extracts; mix until well combined. If you want to color your cookies add a drop of food coloring to the batter and mix well!
- Drop a tablespoon of the batter onto the prepared cookie sheet. Using the back of a spoon, spread the batter evenly into very thin 3-inch rounds. Alternatively, use the lid of a jar with a 3-inch circle punched out as a template, pour the batter in the ring, and remove. Because you must work quickly to shape these cookies, bake just 3 at a time.
- Bake for about 5 to 8 minutes or until the edges are a light golden color.
- Optional Step – Once cooled you may decide you want to dip your yummy cookies in chocolate and then either roll the dipped cookies in fun sprinkles, crushed nuts or colored sugar. If this is the case melt your chocolate in a double boiler or microwave following the package instructions. Then just dip, roll and place on a piece of wax paper to cool! Sooo delicious! Plus, you can further customize the cookie favors to your wedding theme by dipping them in colored chocolate to match or rolling the dipped cookies in sprinkles or sugar to coordinate with your wedding.
This what the final product {could} look like:
Tags you could make for the cello bags
Enjoy making this fun & unique wedding favor! Maybe we’ll get started on making some too… send them off to Brenda’s adopted sailors on her husband’s ship…
xxo!
Intern Ania
Sage, Purple & Lace | Liberty Station Point Loma, Real Wedding
Nothing beats getting to work on my home turf! This past April I was part of Rachel + Rick’s uber fun wedding day which took place at Liberty Station. The ceremony was held in the NTC Chapel followed by a casual cocktail reception in the Luce Court.
There were two things that made this wedding memorable (well actually a lot of things) but two that were particularly enjoyable for me. One, was the over grown seagulls which aggressively stole the sand-filled paper luminaries surrounding the parameter of the area, I am sure they were hoping for a burger and fries instead of votive candles. It is too bad I do not have photos to share of the hilarious scene they caused.
The other was how timelessly beautiful Rachel was… her dress was so delicate, romantic, and feminine. Her hair was sweetly tied into a side bun, make-up; dewey and soft – she was brilliantly stunning, and glowed even brighter when at Rick’s side. The way he looked at her was beyond adorable… so giddy yet in awe of his bride. Oh how the secret romantic in me ate it up! Enjoy these shots compliments of Aaron & Samantha at AS Photography.
xxo!
Brenda
This is my favorite photo of the day- it is the epitome of what a Wedding Day should be.
Tuesday Shoesday!
An amazing pair of shoes can definitely make your heart melt…mine begins to liquefy at the sight of these Christian Louboutin’s called Canonita.
Made of delicate crepe satin and chiffon sitting right below the ankle creating a trendy “booty” look they are just perfect for a California fall wardrobe. As hip as this heel appears, its ruffles keep this shoe classy and wedding appropriate. Perfect for pairing up with a bridesmaid dress or adding a bit of an edgy-glam to the right wedding dress. This shoe comes in this gorgeous midnight black or an innocent crème, but spending $995.00 on wedding shoes might not be in every gal’s budget. If only…
While shopping at Nordstrom’s I did a double take on a pair of heels that I thought were these same ones, as I reached over to touch the sultry ruffles, I realized that they were actually a pair of Chinese Laundry sexiness at only $89.00! Same look, within my budget, and in three fabulous colors to choose from! Don’t you love them!? How do you like the booty-style heels kicking fall into fashion?
xxo!
Intern Jess
Inspire Me Monday
Today’s Inspire Me Monday starts with an idea for home decor project that hit me out of the blue, then turned into a creative wedding idea…
My husband, Jamie, and I have been in our new condo over five months now. When we first moved in, I painted a wall in our bedroom a cool, soothing hue of blue….
As you can see, the wall is cool and calming BUT still bare because I’ve been waiting for just the right “thing” to hang on it. It finally did during a recent Lake Tahoe trip last weekend! It was a GORGEOUS day for hiking in Emerald Bay, Jamie and I had the trail all to ourselves. The luscious shades of green were memorizing…and THAT’S when inspiration struck down on me. With Jamie unaware, I fell back to create a little distance between us and I began snapping away.
These photos would be perfect matted, framed, and hung in a single horizontal row to finally add some interest to our blue wall.
Now let’s translate this idea into something for your wedding! While the most common time for you and your fiance to be photographed (a lot) and consecutively is your engagement photo shoot, why not find a series of photos you’ve taken during your relationship… maybe from several different birthdays or different trips to the same place, heck, why don’t you take your camera on that next little getaway you take? You choose! The photos just have to be the reflection of who you are as a couple. My home project is especially meaningful for us because Lake Tahoe is one of our favorite places in the world. So now, every time I look at our wall, I reflect on all the memorable times we’ve shared in there.
After your select the photos (or coordinated the engagement shoot)- mat and frame the photos to use them as your “guest book.” No, this isn’t a new trend or anything you’ve not seen before, but like with everything in YOUR wedding, this little detail is for you to keep & enjoy for years to come- so it doesn’t matter if it’s been “done,” it’s all about adding those personal touches that makes it Yours.
Pay special consideration of how thick to mat your pictures in relation to how many guests you plan to have at your wedding; you want to make sure there’s enough space on the different frames for all of your guests to sign. You don’t want your matting to be too little, otherwise, you’re guests’ notes will be crowding your pictures. Equally, you don’t want your matting too big or else you may end up with gigantic gaps between their notes. This can be a DIY project (Michael’s always has GREAT sales on their matted frames), or you can get the pictures professionally framed. When choosing how to display your series of pictures be sure to consider the look and feel you are trying to achieve in the room. If your space reflects a modern feel, go with simple frames that have clean, straight lines. However if your space has a traditional feel, you may want to consider a more ornate, decorative frame. As far as the matting goes, you can get creative with this too- don’t limit yourself to a white or ivory mat. If your pictures and frames allow it, consider a dark color like navy blue, hunter green, black even, then use white, silver, or gold pens for your guests to sign with and PRESTO! Now you’ve got something artistic and memorable to decorate your home with .
Have so much fun putting yours together!
xxo!
Sherry
White, Black & Red | Real Swann Diego Wedding
Being in this industry, many people often ask about my & Mr. Swann Soireés’ wedding… “It must have been perfect!” “I bet it had spectacular details!” “You probably weren’t stressed at all!” -Since today is our Third Anniversary, I figured it would be a good time to share with you what the Swann Wedding Planning experience was like.
While I am quick to share that our wedding was a beautiful & unforgettable day, I’ll also admit to a day full of highs, lows, the unplanned for, and puppy dog tails- literally. We loved every last minute of it- including the jean-wearing crashers, lost Rolls Royce limo’s, and the cocktail hour which was spent at the hospital with the Mister’s 82 year old grampa who had caught pneumonia while traveling to our wedding. Overall I remember it as SOOO MUCH FUN and it is the way I typically describe it despite anything that was a challenge around it. Oh, and there was challenges, but that’s a blog for another day…
When Dayton proposed, we were both in the midst of making some pretty big life changes which included him getting ready to deploy on what ended up being a 399-day tour to Iraq, while I was gearing up to go study abroad in India. Neither one of us will ever deny the serious consideration we gave to eloping, we (or he, rather) was ready to pay to just fly our parents to Fiji & get hitched. We would have too had it not been for, hhmm…well, I am pretty certain it had something to do with his mom & grandma… not entirely sure anymore… So Alas, I was left here with what started out to be a $5000 (I know! GASP!!) budget to plan a wedding over a year and a half while he went off to war. Occasionally, we joke that if he hadn’t gone to Iraq and gotten the little bit of extra pay for being in a war zone… we wouldn’t have had a wedding at all.
The planning, oh the planning >insert awkward laughter here<… At the time, I was a day-of coordination hobbyist, doing weddings here and there for my friends (for the fee of fancy dinners OR a whopping $75 dollars if I didn’t know them directly). Because I had been involved in other people’s weddings, I knew that planning weddings was hard, time consuming, and expensive “Really Dayton, you are just giving me $5000?!!?” (If only I would have known then that getting married in a barn was going to be all the rage!) I was overwhelmed by the thought of it all… I mean, when I was coordinating (ahem, yes, coordinating, not planning) other people’s weddings, THEY had already thought of nearly everything, made their DIY items, organized themselves, designed it, etc. They had done it all… all I had to do was take all their work, call people to make sure they were showing up, pull it together, and carry around this huge bag of emergency “stuff.” I knew right from the start that this was going to be a very looong process & I wasn’t looking forward to it (is it sin to admit I as more excited about going to study in India?). Thankfully, because I had made several good relationships along the way, and had the BEST Matron of honor & Bridesmaid, all came together and turned out to be a Swanntastic day!
I’ll give you the basic run down of our priorities:
- Location: We HAD to have our dogs with us all day, so the location had to allow off leash dogs
- Location: We had to have plenty of free parking
- Location: It had to be in central San Diego, or what we dubbed it: Swann Diego
Outside of the above items, I had NOT A CLUE what I wanted for a “theme” or colors or touches…I didn’t know what kind of menu I wanted, shoot I don’t think we had a date set for what seemed like ages! But, I knew what I wanted my hair to look like, and that I wanted to wear comfortable shoes so that I could dance all night (which we did!)….I spent months looking for a dress all over, from Florida with D’s grandma & aunt to Mexico with brides I used to take down there to get custom-made veils, finally, I bought my Pronovias gown about five months before the wedding- I know, GASP again, just five months out!! Oh, did I mention I bought it for about 2/3s of the budget D gave me for the whole wedding? EEK!
The first person booked for our team (sans location or date) was our DJ, Primo from Primo Deejays. I had met Primo in 2001 at a Bridal Bazaar I attended with a girlfriend when she was planning her wedding, she loved him. I loved him… I had worked with him twice (in 2002 and 2004) and knew he was who I wanted, even if he didn’t remember who the heck I was. After booking Primo, he urged me to lock down a location & date, which I did… eventually… ceremony would be held in the courtyard of the Old Naval Hospital (mostly because it was within the now $2500k remaining budget) and had loads of parking, plus being that it was a public place the permit was inexpensive and it was semi-private since not many people tend to tourist around that part of Balboa Park (AND I figured the chances of a park ranger coming to yell at me for having my dogs wandering around off leash were slim). The reception was a toughie, but we ended up at a”hall” where a friend of mine who worked for a caterer said they’d let me bring my own alcohol and most importantly, they allowed dogs! The “hall” was actually the Cypress Room which belongs to the St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church on Park Blvd, exactly one mile from the ceremony. So, no, we aren’t Greek nor orthodox BUT they had plenty of free parking and allowed dogs, even served them a hot meal of boiled chicken breast cut up into little pieces. Did I mention they gave me a military discount too? So there, reception site found. Oh and for Catering? The only preferred vendor for the venue: California Cuisine. Great, done. pheeww.
With the “big stuff” in order (right), I went away to study in India where I became obsessed with linens & colors…India will do that to you folks- be ready if you ever visit. I bought sooo many linens out there it was ridiculous. I used NONE of the textiles I scoured the streets of New Delhi for… I know, crazy. wasteful, so typical of a girl who’s not dreamed about her wedding day… well ever. Instead, upon my return, I looked into a lady that one of my clients recommended, Haydee, at Concepts Event Design (then Concepts Party Rentals) and rented from her the most exquisite of linens for my reception, black and damask satin… oh it was gorgeous, but nowhere near as inexpensive as my treasures from India. So just like that, I ran out of $$ and wrote D an email- “I need more $$ for Your wedding, I was all about eloping remember?” -LOL! After he reluctantly gave me a little more money, that’s when I found a photographer, Alice Hu (who’s shots are below), and made about 53 trips to Michael’s to buy materials for the centerpieces- which were just bowls and floating candles (did I mention I had everyone at my day job collecting Michael’s coupons for me? Ha Ha! Then, I fell in-love with our wedding invites from Wedding Paper Divas… after ordering them, I wrote D another email: “I need more money.” We still didn’t have flowers, or cake, decor, favors, or shoes, >insert over dramatic panic< “omigosh I have nothing!” I was getting married and I had nothing!!! “Whaaaa!! I needed more money!!!”
So I got more money.
Then I booked NR3 Video Productions. I had fallen in-love with Norma from the moment I saw her website, I tried to go to other places, but I kept coming back. So… I wrote D another email: ” I need A LOT more money.” The way I saw it, this was an investment, not just uncle whoever shaky recording from the fourth row back (or worse, standing in the middle of the isle thinking he’s James Cameron!
He gave me more money (and I added to the pile from my secret pile of cash, aka my 401K- GASP! I know, blog for another time!), which I also used to book Rolls Livery, a Rolls Royce Limo to transport us to the ceremony and from ceremony to reception…. and you guessed it, I needed more money after that too. When I got it, I booked Dan Libertino to play our ceremony music… he basically got me with his charming personality and the fact he suggested playing the “Peanuts” theme song for when the dogs walked down the isle. Genius. I love you. You’re hired. Just when D was about to get the email that said “Yay! All done booking stuff! Now just get home…” I decide I need more money… for white-wooden-padded ceremony chairs instead of plastic, for red Steve Madden wedding shoes, for $200 custom dog collars for the pups, oh and dance lessons… I (I mean we) need dance lessons. Did I mention we had no cake or flowers yet? So I got more money, upgraded our photographer’s package, got my red shoes, oh and a custom made lariat necklace for me… it matched the dog’s collars. Oh yea, and I started to look into cake and flowers. Just as I was going to ask for, you guessed it… more money… A colleague in the industry offered to do my flowers as a gift (her: “What do you want Brenda?” Me: “Uhm, whatever…red, timeless, unique, blah blah, uh, you pick”). I found a baker that gave us a sweet deal and didn’t hate on my idea of doing multiple cakes that I wanted to place on the multiple heirloom platters D’s Grandma gave to me, plus! She concocted the best triple coconut cake ever (D and I loooove coconut!). I still asked D for more money though “I might need it, you know, for like lipstick and stuff..” Ha Ha Haa. The last piece of the puzzle was the coordinator, a position that was not originally up for grabs since I was stubborn and thought I could do it all myself because I did it all the time (I know! I undermined my own role!) but eventually ended up with my former assistant and a former colleague as my coordinators. They were incredible.
So- that my dear friends is how this Swann planned her Soireé (or let the Soirée just plan itself because I was busy going to India, putting together care packages, asking for more money, and watching Law and Order with my dad till the wee hours of the night, etc, etc,)- as it was it took over 18 months to plan (and I was honestly faaar more interested in my clients events than my own!). When it was all over, it really was quite the simple and intimate affair, nothing was over the top. We had 105 guests, served chicken & vegetarian (YUM couscous!) entrees, our fave beer, wine, and signature cocktails, which we called the “Something Old,” “Something New,” “Something Borrowed,” and “Something Blue”- I can’t for the life of me remember what any of them were. I didn’t have favors ( gave some $ to charity instead), place cards (decided seating chart was waaay easier), and we live happily ever after. People that talk about our wedding, remember it the way we do: It was SO MUCH FUN! We danced the night away!
Whoa this blog is way too long. It really was just supposed to be a little old thing with pictures for all of you to see, and another place where I could say “Happy Anniversary” to my sweet husband, who gave me the wedding that I didn’t know I wanted.
So, Happy Anniversary to Mr. Swann Soirées, who actually let me start using his name for my company before we were technically married. Also, Happy Birthday & Happy Anniversary to Granny Pat & Pa. Love you two very very much!! Enjoy the photos!
~All Photos by Alice Hu Photography~
Like my fascinator? I made it! My sole DIY item for the wedding.
My beloved Steve Madden shoes! Bridal Bag from Ebay, custom lariat necklace, Wedding Paper Diva
I walked myself down the isle | Our Flower Girl was the CUTEST!
Saying our vows
Having our kids with us was #1 priority! Love that they were able to be there!
One of my fave photos0 my parents in the back ground
Our dashing men in Uniform! love this picture because men in uniform aren't usually laughing
The *BEST* bridesmaids a girl could ask for!
THE Steve Madden shoes we all *had* to have
The pups were well behaved the entire time, and just look at those incredible dog collars
One of about only six pictures we got with or in the Rolls Royce
Told you we danced all night!
Those dance lessons were sooo worth it!
Blue & Taupe: Surf meets Sand | Del Mar, California Real Wedding
Upon first meeting, Shaina described herself to me as the anti-bride. I tried not to giggle, but I failed… for in her voice I heard an all too familiar quiver from many other brides I’ve met before. “It’s ok, let’s hear why you think that…”- Believe it or not, I’d say there is a 50/50 ratio to brides who have never thought about what their wedding would be like to the ones that have been dreaming about it since they were five. There is nothing wrong with either one {or anything in-between}. Dreams, like ocean waves, are all different.
Like many newly engaged women, she didn’t know where to start (and was being given all kinds of ideas & opinions by everyone around her). She hadn’t been dreaming of this day her whole life and was certainly overwhelmed by all the choices, decisions, and how quickly costs added up. She did however know that it had to be a reflection of her & her fiancé; both could be described as enthusiast of wine, the outdoors, and all things simple… so the planning began.
Shaina & Eric selected Seagrove Park in Del Mar as their backdrop for the interfaith ceremony. Neither of them minded being in a busy area frequented by tourists year-round, not to mention all the locals that can constantly be found strolling through the beautiful setting, AND the coaster that rides past at least once an hour. Many people stopped to watch her walk down the park to the beautiful chuppa where Eric & congregation of about 70 guests awaited, some even took pictures, but you didn’t see the slightest of concern or peeve in Shaina’s face, she was ready for it all to happen!
The Bridal Party was small, three to be exact:
Those cliffs at Seagrove Park make for some stunning pictures!
The theme (“I have to have a theme?!?” Shaina asked), colors, & flowers: Organic and complimentary of our surroundings. Christine of Fancy That! Flowers used familiar blooms in white, ivory, shades of blue, fun monkey tails, along with blue & brown ribbons to represent the sand & skies which surrounded us. Easy, simple, clean. Eric really liked his boutonniere!
It was a lovely ceremony. Sunny skies kissed the faces of all the guests (many who traveled here from Chicago), and it was probably a lot nicer than our summer turned out to be this year!
The reception was held at Pacifica Del Mar restaurant, in their outdoor patio where guests could enjoy the beautiful scenery we are so spoiled with here in San Diego. The food was delicious, staff incredible, and costs…reasonable. I highly recommend considering a restaurant as an alternative to your “typical” wedding reception venue, especially when you have a small guest list. Many restaurant venues will allow you to have the “standard” wedding elements such as a DJ, outside baker, florist, favors, etc.
There was little that had to be added to the restaurant inclusions. For centerpieces, Shaina inherited sea-glass vases from a previous bride of mine who had used them at her wedding… I just love being able to recycle items among my brides! The same vases are being used by one of my September brides too! Her paperie was all designed by her sister, a design replicated perfectly on the cake. The tables were named after favorite wines & were adorned by photos of the many adventures her & Eric have shared. Favors: Costa Rican Coffee (where Eric & Shaina would Honeymoon).
It was a lovely wedding… one that perfectly celebrated who Eric & Shaina are as a couple. I am so grateful to have been part of it! My words of advice to future “anti-brides” – plan to celebrate this next milestone in your life the way that makes YOU BOTH happy. There are no rules or guidelines to what you can or should do for a wedding.
xxo!
Brenda
~Encouraging & Inspiring Ideas that will fashion your celebration!~
Shout-Out to the Wedd Pro Team by my side:
- Ceremony & Cocktail Music: Miles Moynier
- DJ: Joe, JMC Events
- Cake: Sumi’s Oven
- Flowers: Fancy That!
- Photography: Pasion Photography
- Videography: Cloudbreak Films
- Ceremony Rentals (including Chuppa): Platinum Party Rentals
- Getting Ready Room: L’Auberge
Swann Soirées’ debut at the San Diego Bridal Bazaar
This past Sunday, August 8th, we made our debut at the Bridal Bazaar which took place at the San Diego Convention Center downtown. Having never had a show booth before, the pressure was on to make sure that this investment was both sound and inspiring to future couples. Needless to say, I am very pleased with how everything turned out (after changing my mind several times and getting advice from nearly every show vet).
I designed the booth with the intention of depicting to couples (and their accompanying family or bridal party), what the heck a Wedding Planner & Coordinator is…In 60 seconds-which is the average amount of time a person will look into a booth at a show like this, talk about pressure! Sure, to many of in the industry or those who have already been married, it’s pretty clear cut what “I do”, but some people still think that a Planner & a Coordinator are two separate people- one is like J-Lo in the movie The Wedding Planner, who costs a lot of money, and makes your wedding everything he or she wants, wears a fancy head-set, and actually runs around in heels on the wedding day! The other, is someone who costs less money, perhaps a hobbyist or newly married person who did everything themselves for their wedding so they know all the “little stuff” that needs to be taken care of on the day of your wedding. Not many people realize that “JLo” and the “Coordinator” are one in the same, for you can’t Coordinate a wedding without planning… and one can’t plan a wedding without coordinating all the elements. What is often forgotten as well is that most of us take our profession just as seriously as the rocket scientist couple who might hire us…. We constantly self-educate, train, and reach out to others in our industry to remain on top of our game.
So… how to put all that in a 10×8 booth?? Please see below:
Bonjour!
There was four sections to our booth; The “entrance,” which was a bookshelf that depicted how our services are an All-Encompassing resource from beginning to end. The table that followed I called the “Details” table which had DIY place cards Sherry hand crafted and photos of the many wedding details we’ve helped put together. That display was followed by our sweetheart table (made deliciously stunning by the Wing Chairs we rented from Concepts Event Design). The tablescape was pulled together by Sherry’s ability to take my random ideas & make them a reality… finally, closing up the booth was a belly bar I called “Picture Perfect”- which depicted how our pre-planning & behind the scenes involvement makes all the great moments at weddings, Picture Perfect.
Here’s some more picture of the absolutely gorge-ous sweetheart table: I am a huge fan of everything contradictory yet complimentary.. what the what?? Yea, I like clean, simple, elegant styles… no shabby fluff, swirls, or overly complicated patterns, yet I loooove textures! The linens (also from Concepts Event Design) as well as the pillows from Z Gallerie, along with the placemats provided me that fix… the place settings, glassware, and silverware were understated and calm. Perfect Balance.
Now the flowers… let me tell you about the flowers… O M G… UUHHH-mazing!!
I was thrilled with the florals, which were the magnificent work of Nancy Stevens. I was floored with what she came up with for me after only talking to me about the booth for an hour & getting such vague, indecisive, and complicated instructions. I feared that my inability to name anything other than a white cynbidium orchid for my hanging vases on the backdrop, I had given Nancy what I thought was zero to go on… I recall telling her “I would like two arrangements and a bouquet… I want them to be sassy, organic, lots of texture, all white…a splash of deep purple and sage are okay but NOT much… I would like them to be funky but not weird… you know, classy but not boring…oh and I would like something to wear, preferably in my hair, but not feathery or a flower…” I can only imagine what Nancy was thinking when she heard me say that last part! Hello!? The woman is a florist, not a hair accessory maker… Ok well she nailed it anyway. She’s just THAT awesomesauce. The gorgeous pieces are currently adorning my office, and they were a hit at the show! Can’t tell you how many people picked up the bouquet, took pictures and asked about them. Good stuff!
Please don’t allow my lack of photography skills to tell you differently about Nancy’s talents… These were perfect. I wish I had been getting married and that these were my decor (p.s. the only good pic I got of the sweetheart table arrangement is above- oops!)…
Bouquet:
Close-up of top of bouquet:
“Organic” or “Live” headband which consisted of orchid petals (purple) succulents, and the monkey tail. I am in the process of preserving this one with some stuff I bought at Michael’s, I’ll let you know how it goes. This is by far waaaay more unique than anything currently adorning wedding manes in my humble opinion.
Lastly, the arrangement she made for the “entrance” to my booth:
So that’s it folks! Sherry and I had an absolutely busy day from start to finish, it was non stop! I call the show a success. We met many brides, booked quite a few, and plan on doing it again.
P.S. The promo pricing we were running during the show has been extended! Please call or email us so we can talk wedding!
xxo!
Brenda!!
SHOUT OUTS::
My friend & colleague, Sherry Tarrant
Wing Chairs, Linens, Sweetheart table rentals: Concepts Event Design
Florals: Nancy Stevens Flowers
Logo revamp, banner & Flyer design: Bamboo Star Studios
Logo dress: Fiveloaves Twofish Clothing
Drive & Motivation: My mom & husband
Inspiration: My current & future clients <3
Black & Ivory: Timeless Beach Elegance | San Diego Real Wedding
Every single time I look at this wedding it makes me go back to the day it happened. It was such a beautiful day all the way around from planning to execution and everything in-between. Given I am behind on blogging, why not go back to my favorite month last year, October, specifically to when Maribel & Uriah tied the knot at the St. Francis Chapel in Balboa Park then partied the night away at La Valencia in la Jolla. This wedding meant a LOT to me, for I met Mari & Uri through one of the nurses at the San Diego Hospice where I drop off donations on the weekend. Needless to say, Mari’s left over flowers went to the Hospice after the celebration too. Yay! You can see the “Live” shots from the day on the SS Facebook Fan Page, but since Michelle was awesome & sent me more of her amazing shots it would be horrible not to share!
The theme was a Classy Beach Elegance, there are sooo many ways to depict that, but Mari & Uri went the vintage & formal route. All the little details, from the sterling silver bouquet holder to the ornate champagne flutes really helped bring to life a romantic and timeless event.
Enjoy the beautiful shots & be inspired!
xxo!
Brenda
~Encouraging & Inspiring ideas that will fashion your celebration!~
Uri…
Mari…
The Details were my favorite part! Beautifully adorned champagne flutes with matching cake cutters. The tables were named after their favorite beaches, thick, clear acrylic frames held photos of the corresponding beach, each frame nestled among arrangements of roses and beautiful greenery of varying height. The ring pillow was a DIY project, the lace came from Mari’s mom’s dress from her wedding…Love! The favors were wine stoppers with crystal clam shells on top, oh and perhaps my favorite detail? The silver bouquet holder with a little tag that had their names on it… it looked beautiful and kept the bridal bouquet in-tact all day & night. Photos of family weddings were set on the piano of the lounge at The Valencia and really added that romantic touch to the lovely and personal event.
The place cards were held inside a cork-lined tray which was made by one of Mari’s friends, the starfish were a perfect accent!
Cake & topper made by Mari’s sister! It was deeelish!
Wedd Pro Team:
- Photography: Michelle of Captured Forever Photography
- Hair & Make-up: Mei-Li Rockot
- Videography: Daniel Fosse
- Flowers: Tessilk Flowers
- Transportation: Rolls Livery Limo
- Rentals for Ceremony: San Diego Party Rentals
- Cake: Sister of Bride!
Crimson, Moss & Slate: Twilight Inspiration Board
It’s not easy being a hopeless romantic. The last time I got sucked into a movie to the point where daily viewings were a normal part of my day, was an ancient ten plus years ago, when I was hooked on Pretty Woman and Dirty Dancing. I figured I might have grown out of that stage…apparently not!
I am, one hundred and ten percent, team Twilight Sagas!! Talk about beating to the tune of my hopeless romantic heart! Thank goodness for this new found obsession because it became my muse for this month’s inspiration board.
In the movies, there’s an “Edward and Bella” spot in the woods. For those who have never watched the movie {Brenda} Edward is the vampire and Bella is the human who are destined, by the hands of Fate herself, to be together. Their love story is passionate, mysterious, sexy, and most of all… timelessly romantic.
My interpretation of their spot came to fruition through my DIY contribution which is the dinner table centerpiece pictured above: Set in the woods, luscious green grass is a beautiful backdrop to the blooming flowers in hues of blues and purples. I absolutely loved the colors in the first movie, Twilight; Seattle’s gray with muted tones of blues and deep purples, vibrant green landscaping thriving from the little bit of sun that shines through, which also allows for the milky-white pale skins of our lovers to glow. My favorite color in the movie is the crimson-red hue on both Edward and Bella’s lips *insert me blushing*.
I purchased everything but one item of my DIY centerpiece at a local floral warehouse: Vase, river rocks, florist block (which is under the moss), tiny crystals, berry branches, red Sweet William dianthus, thistle (purple), and light Bella delphinium (blue)…go figure I subconsciously pick flowers with the name “Bella” in it? I also bought these toothpick-like things that had floral wire attached to it. I used them to keep the Bellas in place. The only other thing purchased for this project was the tiny, tiny crystals I glued onto the branches, which represents Edward’s glistening diamond complexion.
I appreciate how the movie incorporates old traditions in a present-day world. You’ll see how I’ve tried to achieve that well-balanced mixture throughout the board:
Beginning with the invitation at the top right corner. The monogram is regal and the perfect hue of red while the font and text placement is simple and clean. Continuing clockwise, I envision the table to be draped with a navy blue canvas over a white French brocade linen. The brocade linen is a classic and elegant, softening the look of the masculine, hatch-pattern textured canvas.
On the table top, the gorgeous mosaic patterned dinnerware is in hues of greens and blues with a light trimming of antiqued gold, it’s classy and charming, perfectly accompanied by the absolutely sexy crystal champagne flutes. The bodice of the flute is wrapped in a Waterford Alana pattern which gives it a crisscross hatching pattern—when I saw the price of these bling-bling flutes it confirmed what I already knew, ”Girl’s got expensive taste”.
Continuing with the table, lighting is a key element to creating the right ambiance at any celebration. I found these enchanting mercury glass votive holders, with a pebble-like texture that repeats the shape of the small round crystals hanging sparsely on branches of the centerpiece. The mercury glass will cast a warm, antique glow on its surroundings. The more of these on the table, the more dramatic effect will be achieved between the candles and the flickering of the crystals on the centerpiece.
Moving on with antique but including romantic, we have the Jenny Yoo bridesmaid dress in pomegranate. Its red hue draws me in like the passion between Edward and Bella. It will most definitely drape your bridesmaids softly and romantically.
Thanks to one of our favorite, talented baker Sumi, with Sumi’s Oven, I found my ideal cake in her portfolio! I was considering suggesting using different red flowers on the cake but these red roses perfectly match my bridesmaid’s dress. I love how soft and romantic the roses look. It’s elegantly simple with its monochrome filigree icing work. For the cake flavor? I suggest Blood Orange cake with either light cheesecake filling or guava mousse filling…I’m torn between the two {Brenda will watch the Twilight Saga’s in exchange for a piece of this cake!}
Next are my two Etsy finds; First it’s a handsome bo\boutonniere made with an antiqued brass Rococo broche, natural moss, twigs and white baby’s breath…I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect boutonniere for this special board. It has all the old-world charm Edward encompasses. Lastly, I never knew Etsy carried such sweet, angelic flower girl dresses until I attended a very close friend’s, one-of-a kind wedding, where her flowergirl was donning one of the Etsy finds. What little girl wouldn’t want this dress added to her wardrobe? The silk and organza design is innocent and pure. My only suggestion would be to replace the sash and flower color to the purple of the thistle or blue of the canvas table linen.
With that, we’ve come full circle on my Romantic Twilight Wedding inspiration board. I hope to have teased your creative appetite with your wedding planning through my obsession with the Twilight Saga movies. You never know when or how your next creative spark is discovered, but when you do, you just gotta run with it!!! Happy Wedding Planning and I’ll see you next month…
SOURCES (starting with invitation and going clockwise):
INVITATIONS – Designer: Wiley Valentine, Callaway Collection in his Luxe Album; LINEN – Wildflower Linen; DINNERWARE – Mosaico D’Italia Mattonella by Lenox; GLASSWARE – Alana Prestige Lime Toasting Flutes by Waterford Crystal; VOTIVE HOLDERS – Mercury Glass Pebble Texture Votive Holders; BRIDESMAID DRESS – Designer: Jenny Yoo, Ainsley in pomegranate; WEDDING CAKE – Bakery: Sumi’s Oven, San Diego Baker; BOUTONNIERE – Etsy Shop: Pomp and Plumage, Chevalier; FLOWER GIRL DRESS – Etsy Shop: Beane & Company, Silver, White and Yellow Satin Organza Flower Girl Dress.
Purple, Orange, & Yellow | Eclectic Inspiration Board
Welcome to my first blog EVER!!! I am excited to announce that I, Sherry Tarrant, am the newest member of the fantabulous Swann Soirées team. Being deemed the resident Designer/in-house Foodie, I created this department for the sole purpose of making it sound more posh than it really is – Director of Creative Design for our Wedding Inspiration Department…that was a mouthful huh? So whenever I find myself inspired, find or eat something absolutely amazing, I will create these inspiration boards and share them with y’all in hopes to excite your imagination and help you create a Swanntastic Event! <–Brenda made me say that! LOL.
Let’s navigate through this lovely board shall we?
Starting from the center then moving to the upper left corner going clockwise. While I was finding a fabric to re-upholster stools at home, I found this very cool P Kaufman fabric which became the centerpiece for this inspiration board; I envision this fabric as the exterior covering of a canopy tent with its wide strands streaming all the way down from the top center point. Any outdoor setting will welcome this colorful, organic, and unique design.
I luckily came upon these awesome cane finial lanterns on a website called seastarboutique.com. I would have these clustered in the center of the canopy tent to give an illusion of a chandelier. Then, I’d add the origami butterflies (explained in further detail below) as if they are swarming all around the lanterns, sparsely spacing them outwards throughout the entire canopy ceiling. Imagine how the center would look at night once all of the pillar candles are lit??? STUNNING!!!
Invitations By Nature, crafted this whimsical, graceful butterfly wedding stationary.
One of our local San Diego faves, Paula from Rae Florae is the talented florist responsible for the wild, fun, yet elegant boutenniere & bride’s bouquet pictured, in tones that are a perfect compliment to the P Kaufman fabric. I definitely recommend arrangements with wild flower blooms too, just like in the pics!
There’s just something so delicate, sweet, yet elegant about the Saffron gown by, ex-contestant of Project Runway, Melissa Sweet. Its stunningly soft silk organza flows down elegantly, the Swarovski crystal embellishments add just enough glimmer for the glamour. GOOOOOORGEOUS!!!
I can always count on Etsy to add to the details. Timeless Paper is the seller of this delicate butterfly place card you see in the bottom right hand side.
I am proud to admit that I have recently joined the bandwagon on crafting. All thanks to my chiquita bonita Dana, who last year, during our annual New Year’s trip, brought a crafting project that got me hooked. So to celebrate my new found love for DIY projects, with each inspiration board I create, I will always include at least one DIY personal Sherry touch! My DIY project for this board is butterfly origamis. This idea came to me as I was brainstorming on this design concept for this board. After having my heart set on the Butterfly wedding stationary by Invitations by Nature, I knew I needed to repeat the butterflies somewhere… by repeating it, I wanted to make sure that the decorative butterflies exuded more of a masculine presence. After much research and realizing that I still needed to pick my DIY contribution to this board…butterfly origamis were the obvious choice! I made these in no time and found both written and video instructions easily on the web! I found the video instructions more helpful…Oh and my husband’s reading over my shoulder, asking why I didn’t give him credit for making one of the origami butterflies; therefore “WE made them in no time.” I bought oragami paper that are in the blue and purple tones of the fabric.
On to the beautiful plate from Anthropologie, who doens’t fall in-love with something in that store?! I thought to splash of color at the dinner table with their Sliced Persimmon Dinnerware collection was Deee-licious before you even get to the meal!
On the left of the dinnerware, another Melissa Sweet gown, specifically for your bridesmaids, in canary, identified as Vineyard style 1419. This chiffon, full length blouson dress perfectly adds to the soft flowy feel of the design concept. The canary yellow is a nice summer accent color inspired by the P Kaufman fabric.
I absolutely love the intricate detail of the pipework on this decadent cake by Cakes by Dee-sign, in Farmington, NM. The details repeat the delicate and organic concept that is part of the wedding theme while flirting with a hint of elegance…How about this for a cake flavor; Chocolate Ginger cake with a Frangelico pear filling??? Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
I am a true believer in a balanced design. I see design in many forms, one of them being masculine and feminine. I find that the cane finials, origami butterflies, and wild flower blooms project add a bit of masculinity…BUT the over all feel is still flirty, feminine, fun, with a sheath of cultural grace. Thanks y’all so much for sharing in this creative journey with me. Til next time…
Smiles,
Sherry
March Weddings | Swann Soirées San Diego Wedding Planning
Goodness, I am overdue for a wedding blog!
I don’t even know where to start, it’s almost May, where did the time go?? March was an incredible month. Happy Happy Happy…That’s pretty much how I can sum it up!
It all started with Josel & Brad at the Immaculata & the Dana in Mission Bay, followed up by Shaina & Eric at Seagrove Park & Pacifica Restaurant, then onto a reunion with the Nefelar clan (first met them back in 2008 brother Bernie’s & Melissa’s Wedding) for Bermellyn & Russell’s wedding at Admiral Kidd… and closed the month off with Jenn & George at Maderas Golf Club. I often ask myself, does it get any better than this??
I know you’ve probably read or heard me describe one of my favorite parts of being a Wedding Planner… the relationships. Meeting all of the wonderful couples who allow me into their lives on what is a giant milestone for them. Often though, it’s not just them I interact with or get to know, it is their family, their friends, and sometimes even their dogs too! It’s such a pleasure, no matter how temporary or everlasting, to end up laughing and crying with them on the wedding day. Talk about validation of having found your passion, it is the greatest feeling… like getting that straight A’s report card. As an added bonus, I also get the opportunity to work with my favorite folks AND meet/work with new-to-me professionals in the industry, allowing a chance to learn and grow even more. I’ve yet to work a wedding where I didn’t learn something new that could help me be a better professional or person. American is often described as the land of opportunity, but really, I think Life is the opportunity.
Post wedding, I love looking at the photos or video highlights and seeing more than just a cake, or linens, or a person… flashbacks of emails about color swatches and cake tasting appointments… meeting the cousin or sister or God parent during one of the consultations… the moments that got us to the wedding day and that live on after… that is what life is about…a culmination of triumphs, errors, and all the in-between. Yeah, I am gonna say it, it is truly grand to be me. Blessed, Happy, Living, and Sharing these Uh-Mazing moments with so many people.
That pretty much sums up March, each wedding had their own highlights… I will share it below along with some pictures,I promise to update when I get pro shots.
xxo!!
Team: Pete Redell Photography, Starcross’d Creative, Fancy That! Flowers, Joe of JMC Events (DJ & Lights), A Perfect Table (linens), Sumi’s over (cake)
All the little one's at Josel & Brad's wedding. So attentive! They really understood how important they each were as part of the wedding party.
Josel's mom & dad, so many hugs & love from them... as if I was one of their own!
Shaina & Eric 3.14.10
Team: Pasion Photography, Cloudbreak Films, Miles Moyner (ceremony music), Joe at JMC Events DJ, Fancy That! Flowers, Sumi’s Oven (cake)
Eric right before seeing Shaina for the first time on the wedding day... the thumbs up was for his bout, he really liked it!
Shaina & Eric during their reception... nothing beats seeing your bride & groom so happy & relaxed.
Bermellyn & Russell 3.20.10
Team: En Pointe Photography, Starcross’s Creative in collaboration with Omni Stories (video), Just 4 Fun Entertainment (DJ & lighting), Lovely Chair Covers & Linens, Eldeweiss Bakery, flowers by Auntie 
Bermellyn & Russell had a ton of little details in their wedding... these jars holding the guestbook signing pens describe them perfectly. It is how I aim to live, and exactly what surrounded them during their celebration...love, laughs, and the reflection of a life well lived!
The families... nothing beats hearing your name hollared in glee, by people who remember you from two years before!
Jenn & George 3.27.10
Team: Tamarack Studios Photography, NR3 Video Productions, Fancy That! Flowers, Joe, JMC Events (DJ & lighting), Cupcake Squared (cake/cupcakes), The Sweet Studio (favors)
Cracking up with the best man as his toast was being delivered... This was the sight all night, glowing cheeks and smiles from ear to ear!
Sporting the official Wedding Kicks... because we all had to rock! Me & the Groomsmen kicking it in the lounge with the bride & groom at the end of the night.
Black, White, Red, Vintage Glam Wedding | Audrey + Ron 2.20.10
We’ve all seen newly-engaged glow, pregnant-glow, just-got-back-from-vacation-in Hawaii glow… but has anyone ever noticed Groom Glow? Frankly, I will admit to not noticing it before, at least not on a wedding day, not on the day of the rehearsal either, and certainly not in the wedding-planning months prior… but let me tell you, Ronnie, was glowing from head to toe from the moment I met him.
The Groom-Glow didn’t become blatantly obvious until rehearsal day, but as I sat at mass, witnessing their vows, I had time to reflect on the months leading to their wedding day. Ronnie was ALWAYS so happy, smiling, a doting fiancé very much excited to be part of the planning, even his voicemail messages radiated some sort of warmth that was so cute to hear. I loved it.
On the day of the rehearsal, there was a lot going on, there always is, a bride can’t help but be a little out of her skin- I mean she is less than 24 hours away from a huge milestone! Excitement, happiness, anxiety, eagerness…so many emotions that just seep through every last pore of your skin… yea, that’s what makes the glow, and Audrey had it, but Ronnie, he was sportin’ it real good. It made me so happy to share these moments with them… There is something so knight-in-shining-armor-esque about the groom being so involved with all the details, pining over the every move of his beloved. Makes me melt just trying to write this post!
Their beautiful, bilingual wedding went smoothly, the details were divine… from the Mariachi Band that extended the cocktail hour with their festive songs, to the wax-sealed favor envelopes (filled with personalized postage stamps), and candy buffet with some of MY favorite childhood Mexican candies. Norma & John from NR3 Video Productions, along with Luz Del Sol Imagery were there to capture the day, Irene from A-Perfect table provided the gorgeous linens & dinner plate chargers that set the tone for this Vintage-Glam inspired celebration. Tessilk Flowers did a beautiful job with the centerpieces, bouquets and bouts, Todd Murphy was our DJ and Emcee for the night- and by the time all was done and they were picked up by their fit-for-the occasion, black Rolls Royce limo, Ronnie, was still glowing.
Cheers to many happy years to you both.
Married!!
The amazing cake made by Purple Flours
Gotta love the Mariachi Bands!
The Ballroom
Loved the place-settings & favors!
On NR3's camera viewfinder
During their first dance, sometimes the iphone camera captures something cool!
Swann Soirées party of Four!
Before I start, allow me to give you a heartfelt Merci Beaucoup… Yes, you, reading this blog entry. You’ve probably been here before, reading up on the endless words of recently acquired wisdom, unsolicited advice, ramblings, and recounts of personal accomplishments, weddings, and otherwise exhilarating milestones I’ve made as Swann Soirées, party of one. Thank you all for your love, mentor-ship, encouragement, and even for the bitter little jabs some have taken at me while I wasn’t looking… it all continues to motivate and encourage me to grow.
In late 2008, Kristy Eagle joined me as I entered a year of (then unknown) incredible accomplishment. It didn’t take long for her to start running her own weddings, representing Swann Soirées in a way that far exceeded the already-high expectations I had set for her.
Kristy making me proud! Photo by Bluewave Photographic
Many of you have met or worked with Kristy, and I am sure can agree with me when I say the girl makes me proud! With her loyalty by my side, I was able to surpass many of the goals I’d set out to attain last year (not to mention she helped SS improve on a few processes). But alas, as with all good things (no, they don’t always come to an end)… they got better, and growth became very much a welcomed option.
Enter Megan Mills and Helene Isbell. Two absolutely amazing women now part of the Swann Soirées team!
Megan Mills
Megan, a San Diego native, and George Washington University grad, recently returned to the sunshine from the East Coast (can you say Navy Wife?), where she was working for a well-known wedding planning firm in Annapolis, Maryland. Tenured in Wedding Planning & Coordination of events that range from $20K- $300K in size, Megan’s career actually began in politics, in the non-profit sector, doing among many things, event fund-raising and planning ~on itty-bitty budgets…Which in my opinion are skills essential in wedding planning!
Helene Isbell
Helene is a Humboldt State graduate, who in her short life has already opened TWO successful restaurants in Nicaragua. Having spent my previous life in the Construction field, I can appreciate a person, and even more so a woman, who knows how to build from the ground-up! Not just a business, but also the physical structure that houses one’s dreams! Helene is fluent in Spanish, and will be our in-house Green-Wedding Advisor, (after all, you gotta put that Environmental Resource Engineering degree to good use!).
It is with immense excitement I announce Swann Soirées is now a party of Four! Shout out to Gabrielle Fox Photography for her amazing photo skills too!
We are so excited to be re-opening the 2010 Calendar year for your Wedding Planning & Coordination needs! Kristy, Megan, and Helene are available to help you with everything from Day-Of Coordination to Full Service Planning, and Hourly-Consulting!! Contact us today to learn about the Promo Pricing available for your Wedding Day. Also, stay tuned for an invite to a casual Meet-and-Greet, with Megan, Helene, Kristy & myself coming in April, we’d love for you to come say Hi!
xxo!
Brenda
Yellow & Navy Blue: Beach Side, Sunset Cliffs Wedding | Jung + Victor 2.27.10
I have been sitting at the computer keys for a couple hours now, trying to figure out how to sum up the day’s events in a short & sweet blog- You know the kind, one with witty banter, a couple jokes, and overly descriptive moments of joy from today’s celebration. But I am drawing a blank. My body; exhausted. My nose; runny. My mind; beyond itself. Similar to what I was doing 24 hours ago- I am sitting here, unable to sleep, trying to process a whole lot of stuff that truly has no real…well, processing.
I suppose that first & foremost I should share with you that everyone is ok. Some of you may have seen what essentially was a Facebook 911 post on my fan page, some of you got calls- asking for help, any help- for I will admit, I was scared. It is probably not a good idea to admit fears or weaknesses in a public forum, but I’m only human. What was the big deal you ask? I will tell you… But only after I tell you about the AMAZING, I mean absolutely AMAZING team of vendors that worked by my side & rocked it till the very end- the abrupt end.
To understand the madness you must understand the venue: Ocean View Villas, on the cliffs in Ocean Beach- literally, on a cliff. An amazingly gorgeous venue, yet completely outdoors at face to face with mother nature. Ok remember that as you read on…
On the catering front: Feast on this! A company where all the staff is on top of every need- no questions asked, anticipating the moments , filling every role known to an event, and to top it off… friendly, polite, and accommodating. Our DJ: Oscar Otanez… look I don’t know ANY DJ’s who set up equipment in the rain bc the coordinator is determined to have an outdoor ceremony for her bride… nor one that will pick up tables, move chairs, empty candy jars, or take any other barked orders from that same coordinator putting up a fight to a tsunami-like conditions. Bartenders: Susan with Feast on This & Tim Selenak- rain or shine, who keeps people happy? Bartenders! These two- above & beyond- they kept serving the drinks through it all. Photography: Robert Yee + second shooter Bryan, seriously, I’m posting hours after the wedding, and I’ve got pics to share. What more can one say?? Oh right… Robert is a team player down to the marrow of his bones. Nothing went as planned today, nothing. Because of mother nature, pictures were a juggle of improv, you would have thought he was a clown at the circus. He constantly checked-in with me, checked on me, and rolled with all the waves- right not the punches, but the incredibly gigantic waves of rain, (or was it sea water?), that crashed on us today.
Now for the Wedding- as usual with nasty weather, I do a no-rain dance, I beg & plead, lose sleep, the whole bit- my bride wants an outside wedding, she’s gonna get an outside wedding. Separately, both Jung & Victor told me today, “I’ll get married in the rain, even if nobody is there”- How can a coordinator not be totally inspired and pumped by that?? The best part about today’s rain or shine plan, was that Victor & Jung had the support from their closest friends, to hold their wedding ceremony in the rain. As I am going to tell the DJ that we’re a go, on-time, rain or shine, a guest knowing what was going to happen (who traveled from Michigan btw) gave me the biggest approving smile- she was going to sit and witness their vows in the rain & was ready…. so we did it. We had a wedding ceremony that started out a bit misty, but quickly dried up, then, almost on cue, the rain began to pour as the new Mr. & Mrs. led the recessional down the isle.
The next few hours are all but a blur, it went a little like this though.
Rain, rain, rain, POUR, dry break, grand entrance, first dance (Uhm full on Dirty Dancing routine that was incredible!), sunshine, salad, rainbows, wine service, mist, dinner, sprinkle-sprinkle, POUR, gale-force winds which knocked me on the ground, GIGANTIC waves breaking-up the cliffs, 20-30 guests, catering staff, bridal party, and me holding down every pole of the tent- that nearly became a giant kite, lifting the cement buckets weighting it down like rags… OMG. It wasn’t a matter of being cold, wet, and muddy anymore- we were in dangerous waters, literally. Safety became a priority. Oh, and let me tell ya- I will never laugh at the face of a tsunami warning ever in my life. Ever.
A million calls later (shout out to those of you who answered, including the two USN Sailors who showed up with serious muscle), several really tough decisions made, and with the approval from the bride & groom- the wedding officially ended 
But the good news is, that everyone ate! After all, the menu was ‘Surf & Turf”- Filet & Shrimp, which many people confirmed as being NOM!
The last thing I actually remember seeing as a whole scene (because yes, everything is like a montage of pictures in my head now), was an incredible amount of water that came out of the sky (oh imagine that!), through a shelter we’d built, and onto the DJ’s equipment to the point- I seriously thought he was going to get electrocuted. It all just happened so fast.
For the purpose of this blog that started out near wordless…I’ll wrap up…. resilient guests were re-situated, cake relocated, we had a cake cutting, and somehow ended up with a giant bottle of Reposado Tequila in my hands (and no i didn’t drink any, swear!).
Jung & Victor were wonderful through it all- at several moments I questioned my own solutions to what faced us- putting my self in Jung’s shoes; “What if this was MY wedding?” But they were laughed about the situation, stayed calm, and were very rational through it- they too rolled with the punches. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect couple- perfect in every way- from their dedication to each other, their sweet hand-written vows, the way they laughed together… the affirmation in his voice when he called her “babe”- the way she found comfort in him- everything… they are perfect for one another. Since rain is lucky on your wedding day, let me tell ya… a storm is gonna bring you abundance of joy for you two! Believe it.
Much love & MANY happy moments to the new Mr. & Mrs.
His Shoes
Her shoes...
Ready to go!
Beautiful Bride- I hope she's not looking outside!
Ceremony, ready to go!
It's dry!! it's dry!!
First Dance
cutest cake topper!
loooved this!!
This one time... at a wedding... I was soaking wet & was handed a bottle of Tequila to warm me up...
Bridal Nosh!
Together with Bridal Insider, I hosted the first Bridal Nosh this evening- and it was exactly what I hoped it would be!
What’s a Bridal Nosh you ask? Well A nosh is a nibble, snack, or otherwise a light meal. A Bridal Nosh, is where a bride planning her wedding can join me, and other brides, to chit-chat about ALL things wedding, her wedding, my wedding, her friend’s wedding… weddings, weddings, weddings- oh and the life that happens in between our weddings! Because I suppose there is a life beyond weddings… or is there?? Kidding
There is no agenda or discussion topics, there are no bored friends tired of hearing about the planning, no judging about what you’re doing or what you’re spending on your wedding… Just good ol’ fashioned conversation, yummy snacks, and real brides to compare notes, and develop relationships with. Good times I tell ya! I had such a blast today, hearing the engagement stories, about the plans, and reminiscing about my own wedding too. In the midst of all the chatter, we only took one picture at the end of the night, sorry for missing the others- next time I’ll definitely have the camera on-hand while we’re laughing away the evening (and watching people crash into their own cars!)
Thank you ladies for joining Lori & I, it was such a blast! We very much look forward to the next Bridal Nosh in March!
xxo!
p.s. The Noshing will happen every third Wednesday of the month from 6-8pm in the Cerimone Studio in Point Loma. Open to Brides Only~ space is limited, please be sure to RSVP to reserve your spot.
With Kecia & Darah- Wedding Date Twins!
Challenging Rain: Thuy + Huy 2.6.10
As if they were kisses from the sky, droplets of water gently began to descend from above as Huy & Thuy were pronounced Husband & Wife.
They started out slow & scattered, but much like the chatter & glee of the 300+ guests who joined us today, in a matter of minutes- it was a downpour.
YYEEEESSS!!!
To understand my excitement, let’s go back a little bit… to 10 am on the BIG day… I was in the studio, which is just a few miles away from Admiral Kidd Club, the location of the day’s event. Ceremony plans were outdoors, back-up plan was indoors…on the dance floor, with guests at their dinner seats. Uhm No. I didn’t like that option at all. It was pouring. I mean slamming on the windows and screaming at me; “Hey Brenda!! I know you love me, so here I am!!” UGH. Really? I must I prove my love for you today?
I got in my car, headed to the venue, and just stared out towards the city from the spot where my Bride would say “I do”- still pondering what to do, I figured unloading favor boxes would give me direction, then I overheard the staff say ” That’s gonna be the Wedding Planner’s call.” Hey, that’s me, who is it that I have to call?? LOL. I had to a make a decision, where does everyone set up?? Play it safe and do it inside, or be in contempt of the weather gods and set up outside? After an eight-minute pep talk with myself, I told the venue- “Set them up outside! Let’s go!” – they looked at me all kinds of crazy and even asked me not to be mad if it started to rain. For the next hour and a half, I was tucking menus in napkins, putting favors out, and watching the clouds oh so closely. EEK! It was as if I was waiting to walk down the aisle myself! The anticipation & anxiety was killing me!! The next moments were all but a blur…
Wedding Party arrived, Bride & Groom were onsite, guests were on-time… Groomsmen on top of it getting everyone in their seats quick… cue DJ, enter officiant, somewhere over the rainbow begins to play, grab an interim bridesmaid from the congregation and let’s go! We are having a wedding folks… a beautiful, dry, magnificent wedding. YYYEEEESSSS!!
I was so happy (and thankful to the powers that be) to have had the wedding outside, just as my lovely bride wanted, that I didn’t even mind the sudden rush of 300 people trying to find their seats all at once (instead of the normal trickle-in of guests, because most normally meander outside awhile, enjoy the view, take pictures, and eat some hor devours). It was crazy hectic, the skyline room was packed to the brim, and the chocolate fountain could not have started fast enough! But man oh man, was it such a relief that nature once again was on my side! Thuy & Huy were incredibly happy too!
One of my favorite parts of a wedding is seeing the Groom just glow when he looks at his bride. It’s so beautiful-in such a publicly intimate moment, to see the sparkles in their eyes… aaww, you just want to melt. Ok ok, but I’m not trying to be a sappy romantic. Thuy & Huy were amazing! With their infectious smiles and their gracious attitudes, sharing this day as a part of their vendor team was really a breeze. With me for the celebration were Narrative Images for photography, A Perfect Table for linens, Shirley the cake lady with her fabulous cake, Chris from DJ Guy for music, Arc de Belle provided the ceremony arch (thanks guys for setting up outside against the odds!), topped off with the sweetest; Mike & Lovely with Lovely chair covers & fountains who provided the delish chocolate fountains I had to put effort into staying away from!
Here are some pictures from the celebration… didn’t have a chance to take too many, but you gotta love those iPhone shots XXO!!
p.s. don’t forget to leave some comment love~
Quickest Bridal Party line-up ever!
Here comes the (dry) bride
Love me some Men in Uniform! The Marine on the left is Huy's brother
Married! And sharing their First Dance <3"
Nom Nom Nom- this was a tower of a cake!
Mike spreading the choco-fountain love with fellow vendors.
Getting some love from the groom, Huy
and from the beautiful bride Thuy (+ brother)
Who’s Wedding is it anyway?
That’s a rhetorical question… I don’t actually want you to come up with an answer to that… Not yet anyway.
I’ve had the opportunity (honor really), to grow close to many of my couples. Even if the closeness only lasted the amount of months it took to plan their wedding. I never the less, entered the lives of many people, in a way that most of us have to earn over years. Call it temporary friendship, acquaintance-ship (yes, I just made up a word), or merely a “product” of the business- whatever you call it, I know how I define it…
Part of that definition comes from somehow ending up in the middle of very awkward (and very personal) situations… often. Some of you may remember the Maiden Name, Married Name Blog I wrote last September. That blog as inspired by an episode I bared witness to in the middle of a planning consultation. While I feel incredibly honored to be trusted by clients and their families in such a manner, it is also astoundingly uncomfortable to be posed a myriad of questions amidst quarreling people- to which the answers are really no matter of mine to begin with.
In the Married Name, Maiden Name blog, I expressed the importance of communication. But if I wasn’t clear enough, I want to relay that message again. Communication is imperative when planning such a milestone of a celebration! Be it via smoke signal, email, text, twitter…whatever- always always communicate with the people who matter in your life, regardless of their financial contribution to your wedding, for you never know who’s feelings will be crushed on what is meant to be an extremely happy day. Let me tell ya a story…
In planning their wedding, a couple, who was paying for their wedding in its entirety, decided that they would not partake in any of the traditional reception rituals. The word traditional in itself being a subjective matter varying per person, but for this blog I am referring to formalities such as the Father/Daughter, Mother/Son dance, Welcome Speeches, Toasts, Tosses, Cake Cutting, Money/Honeymoon dances, etc. This couple just wanted to eat, drink & be married. In the months of planning, we vigorously discussed and planned everything from the live food stations, to the mid-reception entertainment, and the elaborately orchestrated exit. At no point, did they ever expect, or even want anything to do with the events typically witnessed at weddings. Age or previous numbers of marriages are irrelevant-in this or any wedding for that matter, for when a couple celebrates their wedding, they should be able to do so as they please within their defined reasonable parameters. Their celebration was to go off without a hitch!
Well, not quite… Dad found out, on the wedding day, that his son (the bride’s brother) would escort the bride down the isle, not him. Then the groom’s mom realized that the officiant was not an ordained minister but a friend licensed for the day. A set of aunts were appalled that they did not have corsages or were part of the processional. Later, I had couple of family members ask me when catering was going to bring out the Jordan Almonds (uhm huh?), and in the midst of trying to figure out what the big deal about the dang Jordan Almonds was… I found the step-mother to the groom, crying, because she had just been told by the DJ that there was no mother/son dance scheduled, and she was not going to get to dance with the only man she knew as her son. There is nothing worse than unintentionally being the bearer of disappointing news. Which to be quite honest… I have to accept, it’s part of the job. No big deal. HOWEVER, being that part of my job is also to be seeker of solutions, and quick… these predicaments found me completely stumped and at a loss- seriously, finding Jordan Almonds on a whim was the easiest task of this evening! Think about this; at what point in the planning process is it my right to question the desires of a couple? Where is the boundary between Planner & Family Counselor? I can get my hands on a replacement veil & bribe a ring bearer to walk down the isle any day of the week… but questioning people’s personal values & how they want to celebrate is a totally different story.
Please, don’t misinterpret my words, I am not suggesting that a couple should pay no mind to anyone or anything if they are paying for their own nuptials, nor that anyone who financially contributes to the nuptials somehow buys the right to have a say in the ceremony or reception program. This isn’t government lobbying here… What I am saying is that if for whatever reason a couple does not want to partake in the (subjectively) traditional ways of celebrating, it should not be a matter of contention for anyone. However, because those traditional elements have great value to some families and cultures, a couple is equally responsible to discuss with parents, elders, or otherwise influential people in their lives, how they want to celebrate their union. If anything, to show that same love, respect, and understanding they want for their celebration, to the people who love and support them.
Yes, it’s like opening up a Pandora’s box. There will be conflicting views on how things should go, there will be opposing opinions, antiquated versions of what pop-culture has shaped to be important at weddings… and when you talk, you aren’t going to do it in a quick twenty-minute, sitting in traffic episode, it wont be easy, it will drag on, you will lose sleep, you’ll scream, you’ll be upset, OR you might be relieved, maybe even happy, you might find that everyone around you is thrilled to be celebrating, whatever the way, that you are supported in the new traditions you want to partake in, or the old ones, or the made-up ones, who knows! Better still- you might have a combination of the above happy and trying moments, and you will come out learning more about your family, yourself, and overall have practiced those communication skills that often go completely misused.
I can guarantee you that taking a moment to talk about things (“things” as in your wedding plans) with those people who love and support you, will be among the best decisions you make as you move forward with planning the next stage of your life.
P.S. if you want to know what the deal was about the Jordan Almonds, click here to read about the tradition & meaning of having them at your wedding.
Toys for Tots + Swann Soirées = HAPPY KIDS
That’s right! Swann Soirées has partnered up with Toys for Tots to help collect toys for families in need for the 2009 Holiday Season.
Cerimone Studio is now an OFFICIAL San Diego drop-off location! Woot!! I am so excited at the opportunity to help bring some happiness into the lives of the benefiting kids & families.
Toys for Tots started in 1947, it originated as an idea from a Marine’s wife named Diane who hand-crafted a doll & wanted to donate it to a child in need- turns out there was no organization that did that sort of thing, so her husband created one. NICE! Just the way I’d do it!
Many of you are probably familiar with the organization, for they really put a countless amount of effort to raise money and collect toys throughout the year. Besides, who can really miss the dashing Marines, dressed in what I think are the best uniforms of the Armed Services, standing tall at the drop-off locations these last three months of the year? Lures me into going to buy a toy just so I have an excuse for my staring! Don’t worry, Dayton already knows I love the Marine uniforms more than the Navy ones… no need to gasp…hee hee. Nothing beats a man (or woman) in uniform! Toys collected will be distributed to families & non-profit organizations throughout the country in December just in time for Christmas morning (hence why efforts & collection drives start “early”).
Alright, so the details: I’ll be collecting new, unwrapped toys AND checks (made out to the Toys for Tots Foundation) starting October 2nd, between 5-8pm at the Cerimone Studio during “Friday Night Liberty”- a monthly Open House event at NTC Liberty Station. You can also drop off any toy or check donations at Cerimone between 9:00a – 4:30p M-Th, Friday, Saturday & Sunday hours will vary, but I will be updating Facebook & Twitter with those times. You can also mail donation checks to the Cerimone Studio.
Please know that this may be the ONLY toy a child could get on Christmas morning, your love & attention at selecting a gift is very much appreciated, in other words… Make it good! Also, due to potential health risks from allergens, no stuffed toys.
XXO!! THANK YOU SOOOO VERY VERY MUCH!!!
Cerimone Toy Drop Off Info:
M-Th 9:00a-4:30pm
Friday Night Liberty Dates are as follows:
Nov. 6 & Dec. 4 5:00-8:00 pm.
Toys will be collected until December 10th.
P.S. Fellow Wedding Pros… if you want to get involved with Toys for Tots by donating your services, please contact me! All kinds of help is needed & greatly appreciated! xxo!!
