Mr. & Mrs.

{Image Courtesy of Miranda Karkling}

They did it!

I have so much to post regarding my amazing clients and friends, Ryan and Angela; however, I wanted to post this teaser before my trip. [Many thanks to Ms. Karkling for providing the sneak peek].

Details and photos from this fabulous wedding to come.

New York, New York

B. and I are off to the-city-that-never-sleeps for a week of eating & drinking Manhattan's best, viewing the famous sites, taking in Broadway and baseball, and - yes - probably some shopping. I am oh-so-excited to visit the city I've dreamed of visiting for so many years and to spend some quality time with my man.

. . .

In honour of our trip, I thought I'd post some photos from one of my favorite New York Weddings: Martha's Breakfast at Tiffany's creation which was featured on the "Today" Show.






I love the classic style of this wedding, modelled after one of my favorite films, (and I plan on spending some time gazing into that iconic window in the coming days). Find more photos and details here.

Enjoy the next week.

Secrets to a Happy Marriage

While catching up on my regular blogs, I have thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic guest posts on A Cup of Jo while the amazing Joanna Goddard was away on her very own Honeymoon [Congratulations to the Happy Couple]!

She invited all of her favorite bloggers to contribute, subsequently creating a collection of heartfelt, honest, and constructive advice. If you haven’t read this lovely set of tips, catch up here.

I love this idea.

Sunday Sweetness {i}

{once wed}

I adore this photo (and the wedding it came from).
How beautiful is this child? The blue floral hair wreath is darling, as are the many rustic details found here.

The Welcome Table

After assembling the final touches of Ryan and Angela’s Welcome Table, I have a newfound respect for the art of entrance décor.

Quite often I find myself attracted to straightforward, clean details; the more simple the table, the more stunning the effect.

The following are two of my favorite examples of this look:

{With this Ring…}

This table embodies fabulous details: monochromatic tones, classic linens, and lush florals. Check out more details from this to-die-for wedding here. Recognize the wiggly willow, Angela?


{Snippet & Ink}

This table is simple-yet-stunning. I love how this couple’s stationary and palette are carried into every aspect of the wedding, including their welcome table. The understated bud vases add a pop of colour to this classic and fun look. Recognize these vases, Angela?

What is a Welcome Table, you ask?

Welcome Tables are placed at the Entrance of Ceremonies and Receptions to hold Escort Cards, Programs, Seating Charts, Guest Books, and other wedding-related items to greet your guests. A Welcome Table is a fabulous way of incorporating your wedding colours, flowers, and theme to establish the mood of the event at first contact.

One.Year.Later.

You will now be directed to your regular scheduled blog posting…

Leaves are changing and falling from the trees. Our post-dinner patio time is beginning to be invaded by a chill. Days are getting shorter and darker at an earlier time. Autumn is quickly upon us and I have surprised myself at how excited I am to receive it.

On the same note, Fall marks the One-Year-Anniversary of the inception of the C Star Events blog.

I have learned so much over the past year through the many ups [& downs] of blog-world publishing. A heartfelt thank you to all of you who have contributed to the development and creative growth of this blog and of my wedding planning career.

Where have I been?

In a nutshell, I have been planning the 09.12.09 R&A Event (more details to come); purchasing, moving, unpacking, and decorating our.new.home (more details to come); planning our September trip to New York (more details to come / any advice?); and spending invaluable time with my lovely friends, my main man, B, and our darling puppy.

What’s next?

Regular posts (for real); more “How To” guides; new features; and did I mention regular posts?

. . .

As – technically – it is not yet fall, here is a recently discovered cocktail to enjoy the final moments of summer sunshine...

Gin-and-Tonic-with-Lychee - a New Twist on the Classic


{my favorite Lychee Liquor: Giffard Lichi-Li}

1.5 oz your favorite gin
0.5 oz of Lychee liquor
Tonic Water to taste

Garnish with a lime and enjoy.

Cheers.

2 sleeps...

Hello again blog world!

The time has [almost] come! Ryan and Angela will be walking down the aisle on Saturday afternoon.


The next 48 hours will be busy, busy, busy for us here at Team R&A. We have our Rehearsal, Reception Set-Up, and last-minute-details leading up to Saturday’s Main Event.

I’m off to put the final touches on a couple DIY projects but I will return with more details from the Wedding [and be back to my regular-blog-posting self].

Until then… enjoy the last moments of summer sunshine!

{Engagement photo by Miranda Karkling}

DIY Coat Check

When I came across this fabulous idea some time ago I was waiting for the perfect occasion to roll it out. With Angela and Ryan’s Wedding quickly approaching – just over two months away – I am looking forward to starting this project very shortly.


The oh-so-talented Abby Larson of Style Me Pretty has put together a flawless do-it-yourself guide for creating these charming coat check tags. [Check it out, here].

With the assistance of my graphically-inclined bride, I am going to put together 100 tags for our self-serve coat check.

The Details:

Upon arrival, guests will be handed the bottom portion of their coat check in exchange for their coat. Our diligent helpers (the niece and nephew of the groom) will then be filing the jackets and shawls in numeric order. At the end of the evening, guests will use their ticket to find the correlating hanger, subsequently creating an easy and well-organized departure.

More details to come as this project is put into motion…

UPDATE: 09/10/09

This project was effortless [and cost effective]. The tags are adorable.

Stay tuned for photos.

. . .

For [many] more cost-efficient and personalized DIY projects check out the Style Me Pretty archives.

cocodot

My affinity for Gwyneth Paltrow seems to grow every Thursday when her weekly GOOP Newsletter arrives in my inbox. Leave it to the eco-chic fashionista herself to find this fabulous company.


cocodot is an online greeting and invitation company that helps
“Save Face. Save Time. Save Money. Save the Planet.”

Four mucho-important things worth saving in my world.



Starting this month, you can sign up for an annual subscription for invitations ($29.95 US) and begin to go green with their fantastic paperless invites.
For $12.95 per event, this is a great way of saving money and paper.

What’s more, greeting cards are free! Visit their site to view more of these darling invites and get inspired for your next party or celebration. The possibilities seem endless. [If you register - for free - they’ll send you an email when they launch the site].

I can’t wait to send invitations for our housewarming party this August!


This week's GOOP Newsletter is full of other fabulous ways to go green without going hippie. Check it out, here.

. . .

On a personal note, I wanted to express a heartfelt thank you to all of my loyal readers. Your sweet comments and thoughtful emails have put many-a-smile on my face. Although I am not going to even attempt blogging via blackberry, I will do my best to have a more regular presence over the next month and a half. And, I can assure you, as of August 15 I will have my very own Internet connection [and my very own home]. We’ve purchased our first home which means no more renting and – more importantly – no more inconsistent wireless connection!

As always, thank you for your continued support and patience.

hugs,
C.

May Days

Well there that went.

Hello and [almost] Goodbye, May. It's been lovely.

The past few weeks have been full of great things - both personally & professionally. We moved, I turned a year older, we celebrated the one.year.anniversary of when we picked up our puppy, I pulled off the third installment of the Annual Wine Tour Long Weekend with the help of some lovely ladies, and I met with some fabulous Kelowna Photographers.

The month's been great in every respect but my lack of access to the Internet.

I am hoping this is going to change very soon - thank you for your patience. I've missed you blogworld, I'll be back shortly.

{Found here via here}

vintage + rustic

While the rest of my life is a whirl wind of chaos (sparked by an impromptu move) I have found solace in gorgeous photography and fabulous vintage bridal style.

Stephanie Williams has a fantastic eye. Her photographic approach captures these vintage gowns perfectly; I adore each and every photo in this shoot. [Check out her website here].

As I haul boxes from point A to point B and clean like a mad woman, enjoy these pretty gowns and lovely photos...






The talented Amy-Jo Tatum is behind the Bridal Couture featured in this shoot. Amy-Jo offers sustainable alternatives within her newest collection, producing these gorgeous designs in cotton and hemp.
[Check out her shop here and her blog here].

This shoot also features the pretty veils and hair pieces designed by Batcakes Couture. Check out their shop for more lovelies.

I will never tire of Vintage Bridal Style. Bird cage veils, feathers, and classically cut gowns put me over the moon...

Now, back to the boxes.

How To: Spoil your bridal party on a budget (Part two)

Every girl would love to be gifted a special piece of jewelry.
I'm a firm believer that it's the thought - and not the price tag - that counts.

The following pieces are a thoughtful yet affordable way of letting your bridesmaids know that you care.

{Clockwise, top left: sora designs, $18; shi jewels, $22; everyday glory, $12; Elsewares, $50}

I adore classic cocktail rings (seen here in the top left and bottom right examples). It would be so lovely to have a story behind a fabulous costume piece.

There is also something to be said about traditional friendship rings. The pretty silver examples, pictured top right and bottom left, are perfect everyday pieces.

{Clockwise, top left: Cindy V designs, $21; kiska style: i, $24; ii, $29; and iii, $15}

I love how classic and girly this necklace by Cindy V. Designs is. The fabulous collection by Kiska Style is full of so many unique and stylish pieces; I had a hard time picking my favorites.

. . .

It would be a lot of fun to choose a different piece of jewelry for every bridesmaid, catering to each woman's individual taste. What's more, in many cases such pieces are one-of-a-kind.

The jewelry featured here - many of which assembled with handcrafted metals - provide style and elegance without the Tiffany's price tag.
Brides with large wedding parties will especially enjoy the value one can get for one's dollar by shopping handmade.