Wedding Gown Inspiration: A Glamorous Trumpet by Monique Lhuillier

Photo by KT Merry Photography

One name says it all: Monique Lhuillier. Glamour, sophistication, one-of-a-kind, elegant, tasteful and timeless. It's pretty powerful. 

As a wedding planner, as soon as you hear "Monique" from your client's lips, you don't even think twice about how stunning she's is going look and you start feeling incredibly excited about creating the event design. 

For those who don't know, the wedding gown is one, if not the biggest, deciding factor in a wedding's formality. It affects the tone, color and in most cases, the overall design. It's what launches inspiration and should be put on display for all those to admire. 

This morning I fell in love with this super glamorous trumpet donned by a gorgeous bride in Miami. I love the fit on her body, the touch of sparkle and how effortlessly beautiful and gracefully she moves in it. It is a perfect fit and it's evident they belong together. 

Enjoy the following images taken by KT Merry. 

How to Buy An Engagement Ring - Knowing The 5 C's of Diamonds

Being in the wedding industry and having close connections in the high jewelry market, I've been lucky enough to  have worn, seen and touched some of the most beautiful and rare diamond pieces in the country. I'm well versed in cuts, quality and styles, and believe me, there is a lot to know.

An engagement diamond ring is unlike any other piece of jewelry a woman will ever wear - it's a symbol of commitment and love and it should reflect her style, define her taste, and should be a piece she loves wearing.

When selecting an engagement ring for your soon-to-be betrothed, don't take it lightly. A lot of research, consideration and thought should be spent in making the decision. Many men actually smartly bring their betrothed into the selection process to ensure he gets it right the first time, rather than risk her not liking it. After all, it's on her hand permanently, and if she doesn't like it, it can be a pretty hairy situation considering the investment that's made (or lack there of). No woman wants to wear a piece of jewelry that she doesn't like on her hand every day.

There should be a careful balance in all defining characteristics when selecting a diamond. Size (carat) is NOT the only factor. 

Make sure you focus on The Five C's:

Color
Diamonds come in all colors of the spectrum ranging from colorless - the rarest & most valuable - to yellowish, reddish or bluish. Most diamonds appear white. The majority of diamonds are the warmer whites with tinge of yellow or brown. There are also diamonds in pastel colors such as pink, green and champagne.

When you are buying a diamond, color is an important factor in determining the price. Completely colorless, icy white diamonds are very rare and priced accordingly. 'Fancies' are diamonds whose colors are very apparent to the naked eye, such as deep red royal blue or the very rare black. These are extremely rare and costlier too.

Carat 
The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. There are 100 points to a carat. A carat is equal to one fifth of a gram and there are 132 carats to an ounce. For instance, a 25 points diamond is 1/2 carat.

Clarity
Bright and sparkling diamonds may appear all the same, but each one is different. In the process of crystallizing diamonds out of carbon, there are miniscule birthmarks-specks, bubbles and 'feathers' left in most of them. These natural characteristics are called 'inclusions'. Because of inclusions, each diamond has its own individuality.

Fewer the inclusions in a diamond, the more valuable it is, and costlier too. A flawless diamond is the one that has no visible inclusions when viewed under 10x power magnification by a trained skilled eye.

Cut
The cutter decides what shape the diamond will be. He takes into consideration the shape of the rough, its size, inclusions and how much weight will be lost in the cutting. The most popular shape for the engagement diamond is the round brilliant cut. This is usually cut from an eight-sided crystal. The marquise, oval, pear, emerald and heart-shaped diamonds are known as fancy cuts. These are all fashioned from different shapes of rough diamonds. The shapes of the facets differ in each of the cuts and these tiny polished planes of the surface of each diamond account for its brilliance and fire.

Certificate
To the original four C's-Carat Weight, Color, Clarity and Cut a fifth has been added in modern times-Certificate. This modern 'C', which became important for most diamonds in the last few years, is the diamond certificate. The best-known and most widely accepted certificate is that issued by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The certificate is a quality analysis of a stone, a measurement of its weight, color and clarity.

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE & PREFERENCES IN CUT

I'm a vintage romantic kind of girl, so enjoy these amazing vintage and estate stunners pictured.

Old European Cut -
My favorite cut of diamond is the Old European Cut (OEC). They have a romantic and dream like sparkle and glow. Many are unfamiliar with this cut because it's unique. Old European Cut diamonds are the predecessor of the Round Brilliant and were very popular in Art Deco rings. However, the cuts of OEC diamonds are deeper and chunkier, whereas the round brilliant cuts are much more splintery. Old European Cuts are all hand cut which makes each antique OEC diamond unique, and they are also usually warmer in color. I find them breathtaking.

Antique Cushion Cut -
The cushion cut is an antique cut that most often resembles a cross between the Old Mine Cut (a deep cut with large facets that was common in the late 19th and the early 20th centuries) and a modern oval cut. This cut is not as fiery or brilliant as many of the newer cuts, but it has a marvelously romantic and classic look and definitely stands out from the crowd of round brilliants. 

Good luck on ring shopping Gentlemen!

Wedding Gown Inspiration: A Timeless A-Line by Alta Moda

Wedding Gown by Alta Moda

As wedding planner, I see my share of magical gowns. However, every now and again my jaw drops instantly when a very special one appears on the right woman.

This amazing A-line gown by Alta Moda did that to me today.

To me this dress just says "class" in every way. I love the beautiful lace work from the sweet cap sleeves all the way down to the fitted bodice. The amazingly flirty and dramatic A-line flare is just so romantic in the perfect shade of warm white. It's absolutely timeless.

Another reason I love about this gown is because it can be worn at any time or in any season.

This is a true "inspiration gown".

I hope you love it as much as I do.

Bridal Gown By: Alta Moda

All White Wedding Cakes - Understated Elegance

When it comes to design, I'm a "less is more person" for sure. I don't like over-the-top, excessive or too many components. If you are my client, then you know I'm into streamline and clean design and every detail must make sense and have a place. I'm always constantly reminding my clients that each component - a favor, a piece of signage, drink stir sticks, dessert displays, etc.. - all have to relate and make sense in the overall design of event. Every detail should be given a lot thought. Believe me, elements that aren't well thought out, definitely are noticeable to guests and in your wedding photos. Trust me. 

When it comes to wedding cake design, I'm love a clean base and having simple elements make the statement. I love a white or ivory cake with clean lines and letting a texture, pattern, floral (sugar & fresh) or a great topper make it unique. Your wedding cake is one of THE focal design elements of the day and should be treated as such. 

Here are some of my favorite understated and elegant white and ivory wedding cake creations. 

Enjoy.

A Signature Cocktail Inspiration: Cranberry Cobbler

We are in the middle of our Indian Summer here in San Francisco so all of us natives are certainly enjoying this last bit of late summer warmth. However, in a couple of weeks we'll all have our winter sweaters on and will start looking towards the holiday season. 

Here are Soiree, we are gearing up and getting excited about our upcoming holiday weddings to cap off our amazing season. For us, we welcome the change of scenery. After executing so many gorgeous spring and summer outdoor garden and ranch weddings, we're looking forward to stepping inside the legendary Julia Morgan Ballroom, the Presidio's Golden Gate Club and a candle lit wine cave at Calistoga Ranch. 

One of the many details we're fine tuning with clients heading into their holiday season weddings are their signature cocktails. The trick is to select one that matches the season but doesn't scream Christmas. Just because you're getting married in December, doesn't mean you have to add a candy cane in your drinks to feel festive. After all, it's still your wedding and not a holiday party. 

If you like Cranberry like I do, try this delicious spirit called the Cranberry Cobbler. 

Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

1 lemon, cut into wedges

1/2 orange, sliced into thin rounds

1 1/2 cups London dry gin (such as Beefeater or Tanqueray)

1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp. off-dry Sherry (such as Lustau East India Solera)

6 mint sprigs

Preparation
Bring sugar and 3/4 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan; stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour off all but 1 cup simple syrup; refrigerate remaining syrup for another use.

Heat syrup in pan almost to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Add cranberries and simmer until they just begin to burst, 2–3 minutes. Let cool in syrup.

Place 2 Tbsp. drained cranberries and 6 Tbsp. cranberry syrup in a large pitcher. Add lemon wedges and orange slices. Using a muddler or wooden spoon, vigorously mash fruit. Stir in gin and Sherry. Let steep for 5 minutes.

Strain into a medium pitcher. Fill 3 glasses with crushed ice. Pour half of mixture into a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice; shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Strain into prepared glasses, then mound with more crushed ice. Garnish each with a mint sprig and 3 cranberries. Repeat to make 3 more cocktails

Cheers!
~simone

A Perfectly Imperfect Floral Inspiration: Sweet Jasmine

Bridal Bouquet By Yasmin of Floral Theory; Photo by Shira Weinberger

One of my favorite designers and partners in the wedding industry is Yasmin Zialcita Ali, principal designer/owner of Floral Theory. As one of my "power vendors", we are in constant collaboration and she leaves in awe after every event (which is almost impossible considering my unhealthy level of perfectionism). The woman is truly genius at her craft and I find myself coming away with a wealth of knowledge after each wedding we execute together.

One of my favorite design principals that I've learned from her is, "beauty is perfectly imperfect", especially in floral design. She couldn't be more right.

I find it amazing that just a touch of something wispy and organic can really elevate an already stunning floral centerpiece or bridal bouquet into a state of perfection. I love the use of Jasmine in her work as it really adds another dimension by creating a soft, organic and understated elegance to the design.

Enjoy the following Jasmine inspiration images where it's executed beautifully in floral design.

Bob & Natalie {Wedding Film} Cavallo Point Wedding

Our amazing couple, Bob and Natalie, were married this past June at Cavallo Point Lodge in Sausalito. It was a bitter-sweet day because we had so much fun planning this wedding with this darling couple and we didn't want to the experience to end. 

The day was nothing short of spectacular - our vendor team's talent shined through in every aspect of the event and the day was full of tears of joy, laughter, great dancing and lots of fun. 

The insanely gifted (and funny!) team at IQ Videography captured their perfect day. They are so good that they turned this highlight video around in less than one week so our couple could enjoy it before any of their wedding nostalgia wore off. Even though the wedding was back in June, I watch it almost every week and it always puts a smile on my face. I can't wait for the entire video to be released in December. 

Check back soon for Bob and Nat's official wedding gallery to be posted in the coming weeks. 

Happy planning! 

~simone