Summer Vacation Wedding Inspiration Part VI: Lighting and Natural Surroundings

Sadly, vacation has to come to an end at some point. However, the memories will live on for a lifetime. The same is true for your wedding day. It's over in the blink of an eye, but you will remember it forever.

Las Vegas is a city full of light; that is part of its charm. Don't forget to use various lighting aspects to add to the ambiance on your day...


It can be as simple as maximizing the light around you (i.e. planning your ceremony to end during sunset), or as complex as dramatic, color specific up-lighting.

Our hotel used this floor to ceiling chandelier to create a shower of diamonds in the lobby.

My absolute favorite use of light - candles. They are inexpensive and you can get very creative with them. Give me any wedding, and I'll give you unique ways to use candlelight for your specific affair.

Lastly, remember that your surroundings can be priceless. Keep this in mind when picking your venue or mapping our your design.

Take a moment, wherever you are in your wedding planning process, and let your mind wander. What do you like in life? In store window displays? In nature? Take what you love and incorporate that into your wedding. Anything is possible if you open up your mind to the inspiration around you!

100th Post

This is my 100th post to the blog; thus, I would like to take a moment to thank all you! Thank you to my family who reads just to humor me. Thank you to all of the brides who have made this worth while.

I have been blessed and inspired by so many of you. I hope you continue to find and share your inspirations here.

Happy planning!

Summer Vacation Wedding Inspiration Part V: It's All In the Details...

Second to last day of summer vacation blogging...

"It's all in the details..." This is a motto I live by. I find that it's the little details in life that often add up to make the biggest impact. In Vegas I found someone else who seems to have the same belief as I do - Donald Trump. The hubs and I were blessed to get to check out the new Trump International Hotel during our stay in Vegas. I've never been to a hotel that paid so much attention to the littlest of details...

The room was beautifully laid out, and the floor to ceiling windows added beautiful light and views.

This game board was such a cute touch. I wanted to put it in my suitcase to use for a wedding. Wouldn't it be perfect for your guest lounge area? Some of the simplest touches make a lasting impression.

Not only did they provide the most complete kitchenette I've ever seen in a non-suit, but inside the cupboards there were china plates and several kinds of glassware. Being prepared for a multitude of needs is always welcoming to your guests.

For some reason, this was one of my favorite features. The TV remote was stored in a leather box.

The typical hotel toiletries were taken to another level by placing a silver tray underneath. Small, simple, seemingly insignificant touches make a big impact.

Think of your wedding from start to finish. Where can you add in little, inexpensive, easy-to-do touches that will enhance the whole look and feel of your luxurious day?

Summer Vacation Wedding Inspiration Part IV: The Getaway Car

Having a send off at the end of your wedding reception is a trend that seems to come and go, but I think it should be here to stay. It's a great way to end such a wonderful celebration, and it can really be done with style. Gone are the days of birdseed...

This leads me to Vacation Part IV, The Getaway Car. As part of loving my husband, I agreed to tour the Imperial Palace Auto Collection. Of course, while we were there I got to thinking about wedding send offs, and all of the different styles you can choose from. If you're having a traditional garden reception, you may want to consider a horse and carriage. Getting married over the Pacific Ocean on a remote bluff? Maybe you could arrange for a helicopter out of there...

Ok, so maybe you want to stick to a car. Well, remember that limos aren't the only cars for hire out there. Especially in Southern California, brides and grooms can typically find an vehicle of their choosing for the day. Out of the museum I would have picked this one...

It's the Mini that Charlize Theron drove in the beginning of the movie Italian Job. Love it!

No matter what you choose, doing a send off is a great way to leave your mark on the end of a great event.

Yes, these are the burnout marks my husband left at our wedding. The race car driver in him couldn't resist. Kids: DO NOT try this at home.

Happy escaping to your honeymoon!

Next post, all about the details...

Summer Vacation Wedding Inspiration Part III: Wedding Themes

Vegas does themes like nobody else. Pretty much every hotel has a strong theme, and they all do it up to the max. Here are a few snapshots from the Bellagio at night:

All weddings have a theme as well, even if they weren't intended. It may revolve around color, location, or a passion. While it's a good idea to put some thought into choosing your theme, what matters more is how you execute your theme. Better yet, don't think of it as a theme for your wedding but more of an overall feel. The more you tie the elements of your celebration together - from the flowers, to the food, to the music - the better. However, it is easy to get caught up in the planning and overdo your theme.

To make it plain and simple, when it comes to your theme remember that the ultimate goal is balance. You want a purpose behind ever element, and you want to envelope everyone in the day. However, you don't want to scream tacky. Always ask yourself the following two questions before making a decision:

1. Does this element have a purpose behind it? Does it echo our personalities or tie into our day?

2. Am I making this decision just because it goes along with my theme? Do I really like this or is it a bit overboard?

I know it's a cliche, but if you take a few moments to stop and take it all in before making a decision you'll be much happier with the end result on your wedding day.

Summer Vacation Wedding Inspiration Part II: Creative Cakes

Let the fun of summer continue...

While walking through Wynn Las Vegas I had to whip out my camera and take a picture of the cakes that were on display outside of Sugar and Ice, one of their eateries. I apologize for the glare from the cases, but I didn't want you guys to miss out.

These stacked hat boxes lend themselves well to a Victorian theme. Around the cake they had pearls and other jewelry on display. I absolutely love when the cake theme spills over onto the table it is sitting on.

This cake is unique with its ruffled tiers that pay homage to the layers of a wedding dress. The attention to detail is intense and helps to draw your eye in. Intricate cakes always stand out as conversational pieces.

I felt that the opulence of this cake lent itself well to the surrounding hotel decor. I don't know if that is what the baker intended, but it's always a good idea to keep your surroundings in mind when picking out the design of your wedding cake.

Lastly, this whimsical cake lent me to believe that there was more of a personal story behind its creation. Never be afraid to let your personalities shine in all areas of your wedding. This is so much more important than being traditional.

When you sit down with your baker, be ready to think outside the box to create a cake that is daring, reflects you personally, and draws in your theme and surroundings. The cake truely can be so much more than dessert.

Happy cake tasting to you all!

Summer Vacation Wedding Inspiration Part I: Vegas Baby!

It's summer. A time for weddings, but also a time for vacations. I promised you a special series this month. Well, come on vacation with me!

Not too long ago I was in Las Vegas, Nevada. No, I didn't go to Vegas for a wedding. Although, I think I came across about 6 brides and grooms. Anyway, while I was there, I kept getting inspiration for weddings and blog posts. No, I didn't get infused with ideas for drive-through weddings as the solution to today's economy. Stay tuned, and be inspired by the details...

All smiles after a yummy cheeseburger. Oh the food - so much, so delish! Don't forget, it's not about what you serve at a wedding. It's about how delicious it is.

Please pardon the blur. We were on a moving walkway, taking in the sites. Have you planned areas for your guests to be able to take a moment off the dance floor to take it all in?

Look closely. There is a double rainbow. See, rain isn't always a bad thing on a wedding day. P.S. As I recently told a bride, I've yet to have it rain during a wedding. Not making any promises here, but I'm just saying.

New York, New York.

Venice anyone? Vegas does such a good job of taking their guests and transporting them to another world. No matter your wedding theme, this is what should happen for your guests. They should get lost in a world of celebration, transported into the moments that are your wedding day.

Next stop, some unique wedding cakes on display...

Happy Belated 4th of July!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! I have a new series of blog posts coming up for this month, so stay tuned for that. Loads of inspiration coming your way. For now though, I'm going to live in the moments of the 4th for just a little bit longer.

For the past two years the hubbs and I have been following a new 4th tradition. We spend the day on our local, favorite beach. Just hanging quietly as the two of us, taking in summer. Once I say, 'I'm getting cold!' we head up to our car, grab warmer clothes, and then share some pizza.

After dinner it's over to Vons to pick up as much candy as a little kid's heart could desire. Of course, I have to go to Coffee Bean for an Earl Grey. Then we park it back on the beach, with front row seats to watch the sunset as the bardge moves in.

Mmmmm, dark peanut M&Ms. Yes, we ate almost the whole bag that night...

Ahhhh, summer!

Hope you had a blessed 4th! Here's to summer, and sweet summer posts coming your way...