20% Sale at Paper Source

One of my favorite stores, Paper Source, is having a sale: 20% off EVERYTHING online! I have already started to fill my cart as I write this post.


Happy Planning!

Promises & Pearls Event | July 8

This is a great event for all you brides and grooms out there! It is put on my one of my good friends in the industry, Michelle with MB Wedding Designs. Think of it as a smaller and more distinct bridal show. These vendors are invited to be there, she does not just let anyone showcase at her event. It will be taking place Wednesday July 8th from 6-9pm at the Payne Mansion. I will be there, so make sure to say hi!

Happy Planning!

Gift Bag Giveaway!

I have {three} fabulous gift bags to give away, and they need to go this week, as some of the great discounts tucked inside these bags are expiring soon!

I will give them away to the first three people to leave a comment or a question for me. It can be about anything; planning, venues, tips, etiquette, personal, etc. You can even leave a comment about my new blog! Whatever it is, I will have a great gift bag waiting for you to pick up at our Fillmore Studio. This isn't just for brides, there are many great discounts in these bags for salons, spas, skin care, photography sessions, jewelry, etc.

One thing, you must be local as most of the discounts are for local vendors here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Happy Planning!

Article and Wedding in San Francisco Brides Magazine

I just received the online version of the new San Francisco Brides Magazine due out later this month, and was pleased to see Loralie + Kevin's wedding from November featured in their article about smaller weddings. These photos were taken by the fabulous husband and wife team, Joel and Cara Flory. We just loved this wedding with it's simplistic nature and amazing colors, especially against the dark skies that day. Their guests really enjoyed the true San Francisco feel and the bride and groom got to spend time with all their guests on their special day.

Make sure to pick up a copy of this region specific magazine, or register for a free copy here.

Happy Planning!

kathryn

The $15K Diamond Ring Scavenger Hunt

This event sounds like so much fun! David Clay Jewelers is giving away a $15K diamond ring, and the way you win it... is you have to find it! It is a scavenger hunt through San Francisco taking place on Saturday June 20th. Here are some details:

A $15,000 diamond ring has been hidden somewhere in San Francisco and it’s up to you to find and keep it! The David Clay Diamond Dash is a city-wide treasure hunt brought to you by David Clay Jewelers as part of our 30 year Anniversary Celebration! In this high-tech treasure hunt, all of the clues and riddles will be delivered via text message right to your cell phone! Any cell phone, any model, on any carrier can play! And playing is totally FREE! However, spots are limited and you must win a spot to participate. Read more and apply for your spot below. The David Clay Diamond Dash will also be raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. If your team scores above 50 points (we're sure you can do it!), we'll donate $5 on your behalf to this great cause. So, be sure to invite your friends!

So enter today to win a spot in the hunt, and I can't wait to see what team wins this amazing prize!

Happy Planning!
kathryn

San Anselmo Bridal Walk | June 21st

San Anselmo Bridal Walk
Sunday June 21st 11am-5pm

Join us on San Anselmo Avenue for a day of cake tastings, trunk shows, hairstyle demos, special offers, drawings and more.

San Anselmo offers “one stop shopping” for the Bride-to-be; Everything from Bakeries, Bridal salons, Caterers, Florists, Stationers, Jewelers and Beauty Salons to Accomodations and Event sites. We will be rolling out the red carpet for brides, grooms and their friends and family. Stroll through town, tasting and sipping along the way.

Call Shadows for event info and registration. 415-459-0574 or Email for reservations.

Happy Planning!

kathryn

Get Into the Waxing Habit

Summer and wedding season is finally here! It is exciting and also daunting for some to get back in their swimsuits, or getting ready to depart on their honeymoon in Bali. This time of year calls for a trip to the waxing wonderland that is Habit. I have been seeing Carrie since she opened in 2005, and I cannot tell you how many compliments I get on my brows. Carrie and her girls at Habit have the waxing world down to a science, and use many different waxes to work with every skin type and hair type.

Whether you are looking for a full leg, arm or bikini area wax, this is the place to go. You can relax with a glass of vino, sit back in the plush chair and listen to funky tunes while you gab with any of these talented ladies. One of best parts about the experience is that you can make your appointments online, even in the middle of the night when you finally have time to do something for yourself!

Check them out at Habit, 1905 Union Street Suite 1 (at Laguna), San Francisco, CA 94123. www.waxhabit.com

Happy Planning!
kathryn

Letterpress Invitations for a Bargain!

According to "The Knot," $538 is the average price couples are spending on wedding invitations. Letterpress invitations are typically two to three times higher. Through the end of this year, Painted Tongue Studios is offering an incredible deal: two ways to have the quality and beauty of letterpress printing for $538. One way, they do the design and printing, and the other way, they teach you how to do the design and printing. Here are their two descriptions:

WE DO IT:

• We make you a 5x7" invitation, invitation envelope, 3.5x5" response card and response card envelope.

• You select an image theme and ink color from our catalog

• You select fonts that interest you from our extensive library

• Our staff combines these elements to show you three to five dynamic design drafts

• You provide feedback and we revise, creating clean, elegant final designs

• We letterpress them onto 100% cotton Cranes paper, with printing as crisp as a fresh apple, texture as luxurious as a professional massage for your fingertips!

• Allow 3-6 weeks for completion of your project

• $528 covers up to 125 sets. Add $100 per additional 50 sets

• Custom add-ons available. Contact us for pricing.

YOU DO IT:

• Sign up for our Wedding Invitation Workshop on Sundays from 12:30-3:30 pm

• Make up to six invitation components, in any dimensions or quantity you wish

• Design using up to two ink colors

• Use any imagery you desire (following copyright law, of course)

• Learn to make layouts for letterpress using our software and computers

• Select any paper you'd like for printing. Use our samples for pricing and information.

• $538 covers the class. Materials are an additional cost, and vary based on quantity, size, number of colors, and paper selection. Our instructor helps you plan for your budget.

• Allow 2-4 months for completion of your project

• You finish your invitations possessing a skill you can use again for programs, menus, thank you notes, birth announcements, business cards, and more. You can obtain future access to our equipment through our workshop and open print schedule.

The Lucky 538 Special is being offered now through December 2009. Call Kim at 510-593-4221, or send email to info@paintedtonguepress.com to take advantage of this special. Consultation meetings welcome.

This is an amazing deal and works for both the DIY and not so DIY brides.

Happy Planning!

kathryn

Cornerstone Gardens Party | June 2

Photo by Michelle Walker

Brittani and I got to attend a great event this past Tuesday night at Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma. It was a country themed party, and they really did a great job getting everyone involved in the fun and doing a little "do si do'ing." There were small plates provided by Sage Catering, cake bites by Inticing Creations and rentals by Classic Party Rentals. It was nice to see the new look of Cornerstone, and mingle with fellow wedding and event planners. We had a great time, and I even learned how to line dance. For those who know me, that is a hard feat considering I'm not a country girl at all. Here are some photos:

Cake and Gift Bags

Lounge Seating

MB and Duncan - "Do Si Do with your partner"
Me and my very brave boyfriend - "Now bow to your partner"

We had a really fun time! Cornerstone is a great spot for private events and weddings, as you get use of multiple areas to create different vignettes for the different stages of your event. Even if you are just traveling through the wine country, definitely check them out, there is a lot of fun things to see, and now Sage has a cafe there.

Happy Planning!
kathryn

Niki + Ben | Flood Mansion | May 2

Niki & Ben were married on a drizzly day in San Francisco a month ago, and I just got some great images from their amazing photographer, Anna Kuperberg. I am so inspired by her work and ability to capture every little detail and expression. I met Niki back in November to take over the planning of her wedding, as she has a very intense job in New York which didn't allow her the time to be in San Francisco that much. When I finally met Ben, I could see how much love these two had for each other, and that this wedding was just going to be even better than they had imagined.

The concept for this wedding was to bring her Japanese and Indian backgrounds and merge it with his Jewish background, and make it come together beautifully. The result was a whimsical and colorful wedding full of traditions, laughter and tears. This wedding was so much fun, and I am so happy to be able to share some of these images with you! You can also view the wedding slideshow here.

This last one just gets me. I love them! Here are the vendors that made this wedding magical:

Venue - James Leary Flood Mansion
Photographer - Anna Kuperberg
Florist - Birch
Caterer - Betty Zlatchin Catering
Cake - I Dream of Cake
Djay - Joel Nelson Productions
Ceremony Musicians - Starlite Strings
Officiant - Ed Holt
Hair and Makeup - Meaganne McCandess
Rentals/Lighting - Classic Party Rentals Burlingame
Invitations - Dauphine Press
Transportation - California Wine Tours
Valet - Peninsula Parking

kathryn

The 2010 Dream Wedding Giveaway!

Announcing the 2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway

The official website and contest is being announced nationwide via mass press release today! Liz from The Bay Area Wedding Soup has assembled nearly thirty A-List vendors for this amazing destination wedding to be held at one of San Francisco's most historical landmarks. The Giveaway will include a rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception, and honeymoon to Napa!

There will be much more exciting information to come, but this is definitely something special for one very lucky couple!

Happy Planning!

kathryn

Dream Staff Party - Tiptoes Salon

Twice a year, I treat my staff to a little celebration to show them how much I appreciate all their hard work, dedication and loyalty. I do one in May/June and one in Nov/Dec. We just had our most recent party yesterday at Tiptoes Salon in San Francisco and had a blast. This salon is so nice and clean and they are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. We all felt like queens sitting in our throwns, having our feet pampered, watching "The Wedding Planner" on the big screen, all while drinking mimosas. What a fun day to have all the girls get together and discuss recent/past/future weddings and events, and just getting to know each other better.

If you are looking for a place to host a shower, treat your bridesmaids or treat yourself to one of the best pedicures in the city, you need to check out Tiptoes! Howard provided me with all the platters for the food I brought in, along with really cute glasses for our mimosas. I didn't need to bring in any equipment, he took care of it all. Best part, there is a free parking lot plus tons of street parking right in front.

Here are some photos from our fabulous Sunday morning:





We knew the last picture was nerdy, but we had to do it to show off our pretty toes.

Happy planning!
kathryn