Soiree by Simone on Facebook and our Upcoming Website

Soiree by Simone has been in full swing in getting up both our website and Facebook pages. We are excited to announce that our Facebook page is now LIVE and we're actively posting planning tips, weekly style trends and other wedding related topics. Please visit by going to our page.

We are now putting the finishing touches on our website with some great wedding galleries of events we've done for all to see. The site will be going LIVE at the end of the November. Thank you to all our supporters and we'll definitely formally announce the launch!

A Sweet Soiree in Saratoga for a Very Sweet Couple

Today Jason and Christina are getting married. After over six years of dating, 9 months of planning, a full week of weather report checking and an emotional rehearsal dinner, the day is finally here and everyone is excited.

No one loves wine more than this young couple and with a color palette of burgundy red, autumn brown and champagne, it was only natural for the festivities to be held at the gorgeous Mountain Winery in Saratoga, Ca.

For me, it's a bitter sweet feeling... as a planner you get very close to clients. As stated perfectly from one of Christina's bridesmaids, "When you really grow to love people, the line between family and friends and friends and family begins to blur." After nine months of planning, these two have grown to become more like family. Congrats to them on their special day.

Photos to come.

Vendor Credit:
Engagement photo take by Deanna Graham-Garcia of Sweet Thing Photography

Eileen + Stephen - No Beginning & No End

On an unusually warm Sunday afternoon in October, Eileen and Stephen of San Mateo, Ca., tied the knot in front of 70 of their closest friends and family at stunning Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley. The bride's attention to detail, style and class shined through in every aspect of the event. The theme of their wedding was "rustic elegance" - with hand selected artisan cheeses & wines, floating gardenias, gold pashmina party favors, amber glowing lanterns and a custom cigar bar, the event was one that everyone who attended will remember for a long time.

The couple married against the Carmel Valley backdrop of the Santa Lucia Highlands and exchanged written vows alongside their two daughters, Sophia 10 and Julia 7. The bride donned an ivory Carolina Herrera trumpet gown, a gardenia in her hair and a small locket with a photo of her father in his remembrance on her bouquet.

The newlyweds and their guests dined at a king's table with a harvest inspired decor and toasted during a gorgeous sunset. The local and sustainable menu featured butternut squash amuse bouche shooters, heirloom tomato caprese salad, herb infused rack of lamb, Israeli couscous, garden vegetable medley, grilled chicken with apricot chutney and black forbidden rice.

After dinner, the couple danced to “At Last” by Etta James in a candle-lit carriage house as guests looked on and enjoyed designer cupcakes from a specialty bakery. There was magic and lots of love in the air on 10-10-10.

Vendor Credits:
Wedding Event Design and Planning: Soiree by Simone
Floral Design: Christine Cater Wedding and Floral Designs
Catering: Paradise Catering
Cake: Petals and Pastries
Photography: Alex Johnson of AJPhotographer
Location: Holman Ranch, Carmel Valley, CA
Cheese & Wine: The Carmel Cheese Shop

Bride's Attire:
Dress by Carolina Herrera
Shoes by Kate Spade
Vintage diamond & yellow gold bracelet by Fourtane Jewelers

New Website.... launching first week of November!

Soiree by Simone will be launching their brand spankin' new website during the first week of November! The website will feature galleries from this year's weddings and events, new service packages and some other cool stuff...so stay tuned!

Eileen & Stephen - A Perfect 10

10-10-10 = Eileen & Stephen
Holman Ranch, Carmel Valley, Ca
(Sunday, October 10, 2010)

Numerology for 10:
4+6 = harmony

1 followed by 0 indicates the column and the circle, meaning the principle of the female and male

The number 10 is regarded as the most perfect of numbers, because it contains the Unit that did it all, and the zero, symbol of the matter and the Chaos, of which all came out; it then includes in its figure the created and the non-created, the beginning and the end, the power and the force, the life and the nothing

Whether you believe in numerology or not, the power that's felt in this date truly matches the intensity of adoration, love and respect this couple shares for each other.

Working with Eileen and Stephen has been a wedding planner's dream - they had a clear set vision, elegance, sophistication, charm and a great sense of humor. Eileen is a stunning beauty with great style who loves small special details. Stephen is just a class act gentleman with old school chivalry that's hard to find. Together they make one of the most stunning and interesting couples I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Their wedding and reception will be held at Holman Ranch, a beautiful ranch style garden estate tucked in the mountains of Carmel Valley, CA. With grounds full of lavender, rosemary and roses, and backdrops of vineyards and rolling hills, this fall inspired event will be a wedding to remember.

Here is a preview of just a few details of what we have in store:
- Wrought iron adornments with burnt orange, ivory and bitter brown flowers
- Dahlias, garden roses and floating gardenias
- Chalkboards and love notes
- A king's dinner table under a vineyard arbor featuring the Carmel sunset
- Wine and cheese pairing from around the globe

Event photos to will be posted shortly.

Dahlias - The Floral Star of Fall

I get excited for the start of every season knowing that Mother Earth will start producing a new collection of the most stunning varieties of flowers for us lucky people to enjoy. To say the least, she has not disappointed us this year.

While shopping this past weekend at Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, I was in Dahlia heaven. I have never seen such an abundance of different sizes, varieties and colors of dahlias in my life. Pastel and deep hued blossoms of various varieties the size of a small watermelons were growing every where. If you live in the Bay Area, are in need of a shopping fix and love dahlias like I do, run to Stanford Shopping Center and enjoy them before they're gone until next year.

This past weekend's run-in with this lovely fall flower has made me even more excited about the upcoming nuptials planned for this coming weekend at Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley. The dahlia is the floral star in our fall ranch inspired wedding where she'll show up in fall colors of orange, ivory, white and brown. Photos to come!

Guest List Etiquette - When Are Plus Ones Appropriate?

One of the biggest concerns among engaged couples is, "who gets a plus one and who does not?" From an outsider's perspective, many might not think it's a big deal, but if the wrong decision is made, things can get a bit dicey.

Guest lists are one of the very first items couples must complete when they start planning their wedding - it helps determine the wedding budget, the size and how much a couple can spend on their event.

Here are a couple simple tips to follow when determining who gets invited and who doesn't:

Where to Make Cuts - a guest list is obviously a numbers game and every head is an extra cost incurred to the couple. They should remember that the wedding is about them and not about making everyone else happy. With that said, inviting family, close friends and spiritual mentors are all at the top of their list. If you have to make cuts, try to subtract work colleagues and friends that you haven't seen or heard from in years.

Who get plus ones - plus ones should ALWAYS go to friends and family who have spouses, domesticated partners and long term girlfriends/boyfriends. They should also always be extended to their wedding party attendants. Regardless if the couple knows their closest friends' other halves or not, it's in poor taste not to invite them. Believe me, if the person you're inviting has a long term boyfriend/girlfriend that you decide not to include as a "plus one", there's probably a good chance that couple will get married and will remember the lack of the plus one on your part. How would you feel about receiving an invitation to their wedding that DOES NOT include your wife or husband? Not good and it happens. On the contrary, if the friend or family member you are inviting has only been dating their significant other for a short period of time, you aren't obligated to extend a plus one to their invitation.

Determining your guest can be an arduous task so be selective, be consistent and be fair.

Happy planning!