How many of your remember your sweet sixteen? Its such an exciting time!
I had the pleasure of planning a sweet sixteen birthday party this month and I’m always gobsmacked but how much more sophisticated girls are than I was at this age. Skyler wanted a small intimate dinner party with her friends, with nothing that felt “like a kids party”. We chose a palette of hot pink, gold, black and leopard print (her favorite). To keep it youthful but not young, we strategically placed huge round gold balloons, tied with leopard ribbon around the space. And to really set the tone, we had tray passed “Sky-tinis” (Strawberry Lemonade) passed in the foyer, before her friends entered the dinner.
Hot pink blooms in black satin covered vases.
Each setting got a custom leopard print sugar cookie with Sky’s name in Hot Pink lettering.
Huge Balloons take the focal point up.
What girl doesn’t want to see her name in lights? In this case, hot pink glitter?
Each table had multiple pictures of the birthday girl in ornate black frames, with one hot pink frame thrown in for good measure!
The birthday girl when she saw the space for the first time. She was one tough customer, but she loved it!
Of course, I have to thank my fabulous vendors, floral by tic-tock who once again proved large or small, he is unmatched in floral design. And the gracious Marina Dena Santos Photography, who made the girls feel like movie stars with all her flashing lights.
xoxox,
Summer
I love the Oscars! Well, in truth, I love the red carpet. I love the glamor and excitement and I must say mayhem. Every year I think, I want to execute that red carpet! Oooh…the changes I would make, but I digress.
The Oscars are a great predictor of what we will start to see in Bridal Fashion for the upcoming season. This year, more than ever, we saw lots of diversity, in every area, age, body type, nationality. It was beautiful! Here are my top picks that could easily be translated to your wedding day! Enjoy!
Gwyneth was my favorite. Oh, Tom Ford, how I love you!!
xoxox,
Summer
This beautiful custom design was created by the insanely talented Flite Design for my sisters upcoming wedding. I love it!
xoxox,
Summer
I love seeing Lady Gaga’s boobs and bum,” she says. “I love seeing Katy Perry’s boobs and bum. Love it. But that’s not what my music is about. I don’t make music for eyes. I make music for ears.” Adele
But my goodness, you are beautiful to watch.
Six Grammy’s, well deserved!!
I love awards season, the gowns, the diamonds, **sigh**, I feel truly inspired.
The Golden Globes held true to their promise with some amazing gowns for literally every body type. Here are a few of my favorites:
This was my top favorite, she looks amazing, but yet effortless and very much like herself. She is a perfect example of how one should look on a special occasion, like the very best version of themselves.
Love this silhouette and how simple she keeps everything else, divine!
This wasn’t my favorite look, but it is a very popular wedding gown from Reem Acra!
Charlize is amazing. She’s always commits to every detail of her look…flawless.
This would make stunning bridal hair!
I love how Selma makes this edgy look, somehow soft and beautiful.
The inspiration here is to see how all these lovely ladies chose the perfect silhouettes for their body types, something you can easily apply to your search for the perfect gown!
xoxo,
Summer
I love everything about this wedding. I love how it truly and singularly expresses the couple unique and beautiful love story…and even though its not one of mine, I can’t help but share it.
The video is. amazing from Cana Video Productions. Check it out!
http://vimeo.com/31111004
Job well done!
xoxox,
Summer
My sister found her wedding dress over the holidays. We went to several salons, but found the winner at Monique Lhullier. Its gorgeous on her and she’s so excited and so am I!
Its not at all what we thought she’d love. Its a much more romantic silhouette than she was initially drawn to. But you really have to put it on to know…and once this one was on, there was no question this was her dress. Stay tuned as we put her amazing event together.
xoxo,
Summer
As I mentioned here before, my little sister is getting married next year. And its time for one of my favorite parts of the wedding process, bridal gown shopping!
We’ve been scouring bridal lines and these are some of the looks that caught her eye.
Oscar De La Renta
Monique Lhullier
Reem Acra
The reason I love bridal gown selection is that it helps me so clearly define a Bride’s design aesthetic based on her gown choice. For example, for the Oscar, we may go with something very clean and modern, to match the simplicity of the gown. For the Monique, certainly something more natural and rustic and for the Acra, all out Hollywood Glamour!
It’s also 100% possible she may not choose any of these gowns, and we’ll go with something amazing that we didn’t even imagine. This is why I adore it!! The thrill of the unexpected! And after watching this process dozens of times, I have some advice for your first hunt:
- Dress Nicely, Put on Make Up, Do Your Hair…its a lovely experience and you should feel beautiful when you walk in the door…imagination can only take you so far.
- Wedding dresses are custom affairs, the samples will not fit you. This has NOTHING to do with you, know that going in and that on your wedding day, it will fit as if was designed just for you!
- Take only one or two people the first time. I know this is hard. You want everyone to come with you and share in this moment…problem is EVERYONE has an opinion. And a lot of times, it has little to do with how YOU look in the dress. It has more to do with some preconceived notion they already have about wedding dresses. So go with one or two trusted advisers and if you cant decide, between say two, fabulous gowns, take your whole crew back for a vote. But be clear with them, you already love these two, and its a matter of which one.
- Don’t try on dresses you can’t afford. Simply. Don’t.
- All wedding dresses are pretty. So its never a question of whether its a pretty dress, its a question of how you feel in it. In the end, that is all that matters.
Happy Hunting!!
xoxox,
Summer
This was is the last design for the event we planned for the corporate retreat at The Four Season Biltmore.
We called this design, Calvin Klein meets Palm Beach.
xoxox,
Summer
“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”
- John Lennon
Let me warn you, this will not be a popular post!
I really believe weddings are magic. Call me a romantic if you will, but I say I’m a believer! I have seen the most magical moments at weddings and my FAVORITE moment, is when the Groom sees the Bride for the first time as she makes her way towards him. The love and anticipation on his face in that moment, gets me every time.
Now, on to my Summerism. There is a movement that has been afoot awhile, where the Bride and Groom see each other before the ceremony to take pictures. I don’t like it! It makes for lovely pictures and pictures are very important. But I believe that your wedding photography should capture the moments, not create them (<— Summerism).
And although it has its merits, more opportunity for photos, more time to spend with your guests, etc. I feel strongly that it misses the point of the wedding to begin with; that moment when he sees you for the first time, in your beautiful gown, the woman of his dreams, walking towards him, about to become his wife. That’s what its all about!
Come on! What can be better than this shot! (borrowed from Joy Marie Photography).
I understand the time challenges of weddings today, but I say, show me your challenge and together we will create an opportunity for you to have your moment, and get the shot!
xoxox,
Summer
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