Chuppah! I am the Irish Catholic wedding planner who knows quite a bit about awesome Jewish traditions. I love Chuppahs; I respect their history and what they symbolize. Here's your Tuesday morning tidbit from the Wine Country. A Chuppah symbolizes the home the bride and groom will build together, it's open on all sides to reflect that their home and hearts will be open to friends and family. What's not perfect about that????

Here are of few of my most recent Chuppah's. Thanks to Damion Hamilton and Meg Smith for the talented photography. And thanks to Kathy Hoffman for her amazing floral and design work.

Lounge Time

This morning, I am going back to my promise to focus on images and pictures more than words - so I'll make this short and sweet.

Over the last few years I've had lots of fun creating one-of-a-kind lounges. Here are three favorites. The first is just fabulous, custom benches with a huge fire pit, stacked wood behind the benches, and coffee tables made of upside down half barrels; it was popular 'til all hours. The second is comfy and plush with crisp, clean blues and whites; the gorgeous throws came from Michael Holmes Designs, wow does he have lovely taste. The third was in an old apple barn, we used props and furniture from around the property and 'cozied' it up with fabrics, flowers and candlelight.

I am always searching for the perfect banquette, the perfect lounge, coffee table or fire pit. Any ideas?

Good morning,

We're officially 4 days in to Spring. Yipppeeee.

Today's post is kind of long, but I love this topic, I hope my fellow service providers out there get something out of it. Here goes....

Right Client, Right Price, Right Property

My husband is in commercial real estate. I am biased, but I think he’s the best agent this valley has ever seen. He’s also my rock, cheerleader, counselor. He says, having a great wedding planner is like having a great quarterback; you just need one to win the game. I love thinking of myself as a quarterback. Have you ever seen my throw a football?

Jeff’s coined this cool idea in real estate: his clients have to fit three criteria: the right client, the right price, the right property. If one of those is missing, folks, it’s not a fit. About three years ago I kind of stole this concept, and frankly, it turned my Wine Country business around. That, and 13 years of working my tail off.

Try it out. We’re all out there meeting potential clients; this article couldn’t be timelier than early Spring. What are we doing but conducting interviews and popping out proposals? Hmm, right property, right price, ill-fitting client. Next. Right property, right client, and wrong price (no room in the budget for you to make a fair living).

You get the drill. I could go on and on about this topic, I love it. The whole idea really frees one up to absolutely excel at their career. When we are working with the right clients, at the right price at the right property (provided you’re a great ‘quarterback’), we are blowing their expectations away and giving them service that will keep them talking for years and years and years to come. Super simple, no advertising needed.

Carrie and Secin's wedding was amazing, stunning home-location, awesome family, great vision and imagination, just an all around dream client. Thanks to Brides Magazine for choosing to feature it!

Happy Friday

Hello glorious sunny day. Wow, it could not be prettier outside, it's a shame you're all looking at a screen and not breathing in the 'new blossom, clean dirt, fresh breeze' air. With that said, here's a bit of Spring inspiration from a wedding we did a few years ago at the glorious Beaulieu Gardens. This was such a special wedding to me, so boutique and heart felt - our floral designer Susan Carr lovingly grew most of the flowers and pulled the darling white containers from her own collection and home.

Happy Fall....
My favorite time of year, something refreshing about the smell, the golden leaves, the changing vines, early mornings and early evenings. It's a wonderful time to recollect, read, enjoy the simple gifts of life - faith, family, food, outdoors.

I've not been great about writing in my blog. If you are anything like me, I'll always make time to look at a stunning photo, but may not read the text. With that said, please check back every week! I'll be posting 2 or 3 images from my 2009 weddings, and I promise to use 20 words or less. Just the pace we all like.

Enjoy.

A classic, Italian garden inspired 100' long dining table - complete with antique chalk stakes for table #'s, caramel nubby silk linens, hard wood chairs, metal garden props and topiaries of every kind.

Einstein......'Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.'

Why do I always gravitate to quotes and thoughts about simplicity? Because we live in a world that spins on confusion, complication and complexity. The things I am blessed to be around, as an event planner, ARE simple. Gracious candlelight, garden roses, fresh produce, lovely textures. My role, as a planner, is to find that place of simplicity and authenticity and to bring my clients there.