A Day To Remember

Engagement Fun Facts

Lora — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:35:04 +0000

I love learning how my couples met. It’s great fun for me to know those details and I smile while she tells her version and he tells his version… so cute. Through my career (and since the internet was invented), I have enjoyed working with many couples who have met on line. I found the statistics provided by The Wedding Report quite interesting…

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How do couples meet these days?

In a recent survey, couples were asked if they met online or not; if they did meet online, where did they meet; and if they didn’t, then how did they meet.

For the first question, “Did you meet your spouse-to-be online?”:

16% said yes they did, while 84% said no.
Of those who did meet online, 65% met on an online dating site.
The next highest percentage, 14%, met on a social networking site.
2% indicated they met their soon-to-be-spouse in either through a personal/classified ad or on an online forum, bulletin board or in an online community.
Just 1% met on a personal website/blog, or through direct contact via email or messaging, while 6% met online in a way not mentioned above.

For those surveyed who did not meet their spouse-to-be online, the majority of those surveyed:

22% indicated they were introduced by a friend.
18% met their significant other in college/university. 16% of those met them at work.
8% met in a bar, pub, or club while 7% has known their significant other since childhood.
5% met one another in high school.
4% met at a house party or some kind of social party.
43% were either introduced by a family member or met in church.
2% met at some sort of large social event, through a shared hobby/voluntary group, or at a public space.
1% met one another in their neighborhood.
6% met their spouse-to-be in a way not mentioned above but not online.

*The Wedding Report*

The joy of selecting a salad!

Lora — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:09:54 +0000

Cassie & Matt are my Cinco de Mayo couple marrying at the Delta King Riverboat in Old Sacramento. Cassie is from Buffalo, New York and she wants to show off the rich history of the region to all those East Coast folks.

It’s time to select their wedding feast, but Cassie didn’t care about tasting the entree options (beef, chicken, fish, nor did she care about the side dishes (potatoes in any form, pasta, or vegetables)… what she was most interested in, was selecting the salad! That’s “her thang.” So we visited the Delta King and enjoyed going through three different salad options.

I was very impressed with the individual serving sizes… huge! First up was the Caprese… even in the winter, the tomatoes, mozzarella and basil was wonderful.

Next we tried the baby spinach with pancetta and crispy sweet potato topping (and boy the topping was delicious!).

Last was the bed of escarole with fresh greens, cranberry, and blue cheese crumbles. It was very cool looking on the plate.

A hands-down decision was made… can you guess? The Caprese!! What a treat for all those out of towners to enjoy the fresh tomatoes and basil of our Sacramento Valley region.

Meet Matt & Cassie! Great couple!! Their wedding is goin’ be some fun!

Meet Liz and Kevin

Lora — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:36:01 +0000

Another delightful couple we get to work with in 2012! Kevin is serving in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Tennessee. In November he finds me while websurfing and after great conversations (he called me “Ma’m” a lot), I’ll be planning his wedding to Liz – to be held at Karmere Winery in Amador County in May. In December they moved to Washington State to get Liz set up in a home near family, as Kevin will be leaving for Afganistan right after the wedding. Whew…and I thought my life gets hectic at times. Meet Liz & Kevin -

And this is Karmere Winery, outside of Plymouth, CA in Amador County… such a unique and very pretty wedding venue.

Venue Sharing Sunday

Lora — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:00:13 +0000

Because I am one of the “Vixens” for the Venue Vixens I want to show off many of the awesome venues that we visit and explore. I hope to do this for many Sundays ahead. I won’t go into as much detail as you can learn from reviewing the Venue Vixens website (be sure to do that if searching for a wedding venue). This gorgeous property is called Helwig Winery and located outside Plymouth, California, in the rolling hills of Amador County.

Helwig has a “modern day rustic Western” feel – and they do it well!

And if you only want to go to visit their cool tasting room and enjoy award winning wines… there is nothing wrong with that!

The view from the top of the hill from the covered outdoor pavilion is great. The pavilion has an outdoor fireplace which could be perfect for those cooler evening receptions.

One of the ceremony spots is the outdoor “amphitheatre” which is quite unique… and just imagine your processional entrance out of the wine cave’s majestic doors.

The underground wine cave is a marvelous wonder. I mean really, how many caves are there around the region?? It is available for intimate weddings, dinner parties or for a cocktail reception.

Check out Helwig,,, you’ll be happy you did! Kathleen, the event coordinator, is a sweetie. She’s very proud of this new facility… and held her 2011 wedding right there!

Thanks so much to Beth Baugher of True Love Photo for taking all these great photos… she even was the wedding photographer for Katheen!

Meet Hertha and Marlon

Lora — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:05:12 +0000

Say Hello to the newest couple to come through our doors… well, actually through e-mail and the telephone! Hertha and Marlon are from Sacramento, but now live in Florida and after a Christmas Day proposal, this beautiful bride started her research to hold their wedding “back home.” We totally connected while chatting and I cannot wait to meet them in person in February. Hertha is a fashion designer and Marlon is with the NFL playing for the Miami Dolphins (can you tell he’s buffed from those biceps?)

New Years Cocktails!

Lora — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:37:37 +0000

Happy New Year everyone!! If planning a gathering this NYE, thought you might enjoy some of the cocktails that we’ll be creating at our soiree. I love how these three drinks continue with the Christmas colors of red, green and white. Enjoy!

COSMOPOLITAN

Recipe:

1 oz Vodka ~ 1/2 oz Triple Sec ~ 1/2 oz Rose’s lime juice ~ 1/2 oz cranberry juice

Shake vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry juice vigorously in a shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass, garnish with a lime wedge on the rim, and serve.

WHITE RUSSIAN

Recipe:

2 oz Vodka ~ 1 oz coffee liqueur ~ light cream

Pouor vodka and coffee liqueur over ice cubes in an old-fashioned glass. Fill with light cream.

MOJITO

Recipe:

1.5 oz Captain Morgan Original spiced rum ~ 12 mint leaves ~ 1 Tbsp sugar ~ .05 oz lime juice ~ 2.5 oz soda

Place mint leaves in bottom of glass. Add crushed ice, Spiced Rum, wugar and lime juice and then muddle. Add soda water and garnish with mint leaves. (Note: “muddling” means to crush the fruits, herbes and zests to unlock every bit of flavor).

Here’s to a fantastic 2012!

Marjan & Ken E-Session

Lora — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:03:10 +0000

I am pleased to introduced Marjan & Ken… one of our 2012 couples. Having met in medical school in the mid-west, Ken first moved to Sacramento just last year and Marjan joined him this last spring. They fell in love with the waterfront history of Old Sacramento and selected Courtyard D’Oro as their wedding venue.

On a lovely fall day, photographer Sarah Dawson arranged for their engagement photo session throughout the streets of Old Sac… looks like they had a great time!

Even a parking garage looks cool.

This looks like a rural road – right? It’s one of the lovely alleys in an older Sacramento neighborhood . Love this shot.

Marjan and Ken wish for a very relaxed, family and friend oriented wedding. Nature is important as well as presenting Marjan’s Persian heritage via the sofreh aghd display. Can’t wait!!

Grooms: Find the Most Flattering Tuxedo Style

Lora — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:13:37 +0000

In the dark about which wedding tuxedo styles are best for your body type? Here’s help. You’ve never had so many pictures taken of you in your life, so make sure you look great. Keep these tips in mind for choosing the suit that best becomes you.

1. Tall and Thin

Congratulations. You can wear just about any tuxedo, from contemporary styles — like single-breasted four-button jackets — to a more classic, double-breasted tuxedo with broad shoulders. The choice is yours. If you’re extremely thin and want to look bulkier, opt for the latter; it will pad your chest slightly and fill out your torso. One caveat: Make sure your trouser legs and jacket arms are long enough.

2. Tall and Husky, or Muscular

Go for a smooth, clean look without a lot of frills. A shal collar (a more rounded lapel than a peak collar) will create an elegant line that will make you seem less bulky. Avoid double-breasted jackets and pleated shirts, which add volume. If you have a large waist, consider wearing a vest instead of a cummerbund, since cummerbunds draw attention to the waist, while vests conceal girth. Keep in mind that black has a slimming effect, which makes the classic tux perfect for you. You’ll probably find that white suits, light-colored suits (such as tan or seersucker), morning suits, and tails are not your most flattering looks. And if you’re extremely muscular, be aware of sizing, especially around your neck. You don’t want to feel like your bow tie is strangling you.

3. Short and Slim

Avoid styles that look too large on your frame. Steer clear of double-breasted jackets. Instead, go for a two- or three-button jacket with a low-button stance (it elongates the body), paired with classic tuxedo pants or pleated trousers. If you want to look a bit broader, ask your tailor for extra shoulder padding. When sizing your tux or suit, make sure everything fits precisely so you don’t end up swimming in yards of extra material.

4. Short and Broad

Stick with a single-breasted jacket. Go for a classic two- or one-button jacket with a low-button stance and a shawl collar, which will keep your look streamlined and slim. Also, choose a jacket with a natural shoulder line, and avoid the more broad European styles. If you have a heavy waist, choose a vest rather than a cummerbund to draw attention away from your waistline and up toward your face. And once again, remember that black has a slimming effect, which makes the classic tux perfect for you. When it comes to sizing, make sure your jacket and trousers fit well. When you button your jacket, the material near the buttons shouldn’t pull. Your trousers should fit comfortably around your waist.

How do you know if your tux jacket fits right? The bottom hem should cover the butt and the vent shouldn’t pull open, and the collar should lie flat on your neck without any gaps or bulges.

Different types of weddings call for different versions of formalwear. Use these general guidelines to match your look to the mood of your wedding.

Semiformal, Daytime
Both you and your groomsmen should skip the tuxes and opt for suits (navy or charcoal are great year-round; reserve khaki or white for warm seasons). Choose a white shirt worn either with or without a tie.

Semiformal, Evening
Go with a dark tuxedo and bow tie worn with a cummerbund or vest. Your other option is a nice dark suit. Either way, your shirt should be white with a wing or turned-down collar. For summer weddings or tropical locales, white dinner jackets are an acceptable option.

Formal, Daytime
You’ve got lots of choices: tuxedos, tailcoats, and gray strollers are all appropriate. Match them with a white spread-collar shirt, a vest to match your coat, an ascot or a regular necktie, and a pocket square if you’re feeling particularly dapper.

Formal, Evening
It’s time to break out the black-tie. You’ll be wearing a classic black tuxedo with a white wing or spread-collar shirt, black bow tie, and matching vest or cummerbund. Formal four-in-hand ties (aka fancy takes on the standard necktie) are a more contemporary option for the fashion-forward groom. And if your wedding falls during the summer, feel free to don a white dinner jacket with formal trousers.

Ultraformal, Daytime
Think cutaway coat, gray striped trousers, gray vest, ascot, and black shoes. If you want to go all out, you can also add a top hat, spats, and gray gloves.

Ultraformal, Evening
Break out the white tie. That means a black tailcoat, black trousers, white pique wing-collared shirt, black vest or cummerbund, and white bow tie.

Article, in part, from The Knot website.

Venue Sharing Sunday – Love to Cook? Ramekins

Lora — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:02:43 +0000

Recently I was giving suggestions to somebody looking for a unique venue to hold a girls’ retreat. She wasn’t looking for the traditional spa packages, but rather along the lines of a gastronomic experience. Immediately I thought of Ramekins Culinary School Events & Inn. As a Venue Vixen, I had the opportunity to visit this property and experience some of their many features and qualities.

Ramekins offers hands-on cooking classes, or you can enjoy demonstration cooking . Their kitchen is magnificant and their classroom setting is perfect for learning.

We loved the art and paintings around the property.

We liked this venue; it’s definitely worth checking out – whether for a party, cooking class, wedding reception… or just for spending the night. The 6 guest rooms are GORGEOUS and they even make a lovely breakfast for overnight guests. Just blocks away is the Sonoma Plaza for shopping and sightseeing. Love it!

Photography provided by Allison Stahl.

Twilight Saga…Bella’s Hair Comb

Lora — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:08:33 +0000

So, how many have seen The Twlight Saga; Breaking Dawn? I won’t take a vote on how many loved and drooled over the wedding scene, or how many of you brides had opinions of Bellas wedding gown (a Carolina Herrera design). But I do want to get you in touch with the maker of Bella’s Hair Comb. Check out The Gilded Lily’s website. They offer the “Signature Edition” and the replica “Collector’s Edition.”

Above is the replica from the Collector’s Edition… it’s made of Rhodium Plated fine bronze and has 163 Russian Formula 58 facet Cubic Zirconia stones. The cost through the website is just $199.00.

And this bad boy above, is the Signature Edition. Made of Rhodium Plated 14K White Gold with 163 Russian Formula 58 facet Cubic Zirconia stones. The asking price? $3,899.00. WHAT?

Christmas is just around the corner. Ask for the replica Collector’s Edition and be proud!