The Soiree Blog

Jetting Away....

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

....To Florida today! That's right- we (me, Danielle, and Teresa) are hopping a flight together to travel across the country to attend The Special Event, an annual international event planning conference second to none. While basking in 70 degree temperatures (this is what Floridians call winter?), we'll also be going nonstop all day every day from educational classes that range from design to event management tracks, as well as networking with planners and event pros from all over the world. Are we excited? Just a little. I'll also get to meet, in person, some of the industry peeps that I've connected with either via Twitter, the blogosphere, or through mentorships I've participated in the past, and I'm beyond words about it all.

Via

Once the whirlwind is over, I'll be posting my finds from The Wedding Event and the Wedding Event Galleries, as well as photos from our adventures on the East Coast, so stay tuned! You can also follow all the commentary on Twitter throughout the event with the official hashtag #TSE2012.

Our blog posting may be a little far and between this week as the girls fill in for me at the office, so be sure to check back next week for all the updates!

~Happy Monday!

Weekly Faves

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

This week is all about what our newest intern, Kim, is currently coveting. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we formally introduce her on the blog, even though she's already been a busy bee helping around the office for two weeks!

Kim is the queen of bags, as noted by the great hobo bag she chose here, and shh..don't tell, but she's also my little sister. More on how this came about and why she's such an asset to Soiree...

Shopping Guide for Kim's Weekly Faves:

1. Vintage Leather Hobo Bag | 2. Pearlescent Trim Necklace | 3. Sephora Nail Polish |
4. Patent Leather Ballet Flat | 5. Empire Waist Coat

....In the meantime happy shopping, and have a fabulous weekend!

Pretty Parisian Gowns By Rime Arodaky

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Being that my background is in Spanish and Culture, along with fashion, textiles, and design, I have a soft spot for really beautiful fashions. My mom always said it was "my calling" to be a clothing designer, and I can remember being very little saying to myself that the only thing I would be interested in designing, clothing wise, was a wedding gown. Fast forward 20 some years and even though I don't design wedding dresses, I am hopelessly addicted to designing weddings- pretty close if you ask me! So it was natural for me to flip over these wedding dresses from Parisian designer Rime Arodaky- the perfect mix of romance and couture.

Aren't these flowy gowns just dreamy?

Photos 1,2,4 via This Is Glamorous; Photo 3 via Rime Arodaky

~Happy Wednesday!

What's Your Invitation Style?

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:47:00 +0000

I ran across Clementine while searching for wedding invitation examples to put in a new design board we're putting together for a client, and not only do I love the ready to order line, but also love their invitation style indicators. How many times have you tried to put into words what the theme or vision for your wedding will be? Or, if you're a wedding planner, how many times have you tried to decipher what your bride is trying to tell you? Maybe if we all introduced style files along with descriptions like these, we'd be well on our way! Below are all the style descriptions, along with some of our favorite designs for each.

So tell us, what's your favorite invitation style? You can also take Clementine's style quiz to help you decide. I took the quiz, and it's declared that I am officially a cross between the "Sentimental Mood" and the "Old World Glamour" styles. And I think it's pretty spot on.

~Happy Planning!

Inspiring Photo No. 41

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Via

I was inspired by all the color in this dress....which got me thinking: will you be wearing any color in your wedding dress this year? Or how about your wedding party?

Here's to a colorful Monday,

~xx,
Brandi

Weekly Faves

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:51:00 +0000

For me, this week was all about getting back into working out, being healthy, and being sane.

Fage Greek yogurt is my absolute favorite go-to Greek goddess. I like to mix this with honey and fruit or one of the Davinci sugar free syrups. For any of you watching your sugar and carb intake, but love your yogurt, this is the way to go.

Lara Bars are a beautiful thing. I discovered these when I was pregnant with my kiddo and needed fast snacks without sacrificing my diet. These bars are all natural, with nary a word you can't pronounce. Bonus- you can find a variety pack of these at Costco.

I've been hearing more and more about these Lululemon yoga pants. I try to do my hot yoga at least twice a week, and need a good pair that will last all the washing.

Finally, this Mentha Lip Gloss is amazing in every way- good breath freshener too.

What are you favorites right now?

~ Brandi

Bridal Hair How To | Beachy Waves

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

We love the look of relaxed waves for hair...both on brides and non brides alike. This easy to follow tutorial from Cupcakes and Cashmere allows even hairstyle-inept folks like myself the chance to look like we just walked out of a salon.

~Happy Thursday!

On 2012 | Aspirations, Reflections, And My Top 10

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

It's the second week in January. 2012. Most blogs I read regularly have already posted their goals and aspirations for the new year last week, or even before the ball dropped at the end of December. But for me, I've taken a different approach this year. First, I did something I never do- I took a week off between Christmas and New Year's Day. And while I paid dearly for it in the way of being slammed all last week, it was also like chicken soup for the soul (the man really had something there with his books!). I mean I really took the week off. Nary a blog entry, a few emails here and there in the beginning, but soon I found myself losing my iPhone. But that time, and even my horrifyingly busy* week last week, proved to be just what I needed to really determine what I wanted, what I didn't want, and what I was going to do for myself and my business this year. This all spurred one of the best Soiree Pow-Wow's to date this past weekend, and I can't wait to put some of what we talked about into action. And this year I'm starting with something I haven't done in past years- I'm posting those goals and aspirations here for accountability. Because it's one thing to tell your friends. Another to tell half the planet. So without further adieu..my top 10 for 2012:

1. Planning. I know, ironic, isn't it? I'm a planner yet I'm aspiring to plan more- in business. I think it can be so tough for small business owners to be the jack of all trades- the manager, the designer, the planner, the coach, the mentor, the finance person. I found myself overwhelmed more times than I can count by starting most weeks without a plan. Fact of the matter is, there needs to be a plan for the team, for the projects that week, and for the back end of the business. Now I'm making myself take just a few minutes each Friday afternoon to plan for the week ahead.

2. Becoming a truly full service firm. Soiree went through a lot of growing pains this year- which is expected and I'm actually thankful for, because it taught us all a lot. But one thing that has become clear to me is that I no longer want consulting to be the basis of my business. We are moving towards becoming a true full service boutique- one where our clients come to us with a need and we produce that with class and flair. This involves a lot of processes I'm not used to using, such as outsourcing, but in the end I know we'll be more profitable, be much happier, and I just know our clients will be serviced so much better.

3. Keeping a gratitude journal. Speaking of being thankful for things that happened last year, I'm starting this year off with a way to document my gratitude. I've heard so much about people logging their thanks each day, and I can see now how helpful they can be. I don't expect that 2012 will be all roses with perfect clients and profits handed to me on a silver platter, so at times when we're in the trenches I think it will be nice to be able to look back on this journal to remind me why I do what I do. I'm looking at the gratitude app for iPad- anyone use it?

4. Processes and systems. This is something we have been working on- the book E-Myth (I have the revisited version) really had it down in this respect. However, lack of vision has kept us almost chasing our tails with crazy amounts of form revisions and training. This year we've got that vision, we know where we want to be and we know what the entire team needs to be doing to get there. By this time next year I hope to report that we are a well-oiled machine.

5. Delegation. I love how interior designer Tobi Fairley put this: you can either delegate or dump. If you're overwhelmed as a business owner and trying to do it all, you tend to dump without properly training or giving the team a chance to grow. I'm hereby announcing that I believe I have been dumping 85% of the time just to get things off my plate. And, being a little on the type A side of life, it's really hard for me to delegate as it is. But I know with planning, and systems in place, we'll be effectively delegating in no time.

6. Health. This past year I really let my health slide. Between a toddler, a business, and a home to keep up, I was last on the list. I put on a little weight and I constantly felt a little foggy. I am making more time for myself- because what's the old saying? If mom's happy the whole family is happy?

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7. Pricing. Yep, the entire pricing structure is changing this year for Soiree. It's been a long time coming and the delay is only from fear on my part. Even though I've known this for some time, it's time to face the music- having your own business should always be working toward giving you the life you want to live. The new pricing model will be easier to understand, simplified. That's what I want.

8. KISS. (Keep it simple sweetie). This is one of my resolutions for personal and business- It's time to quit making things so complicated. That goes for our operations, our consultations, my home life.

9. Branding and Marketing. Last year we launched the new Soiree brand, which was so exciting. But we haven't done much more from there...We've got a good marketing plan in hand and we're hitting the ground running this year. Delegation, planning, and new systems will all help me make the time for projects like these.

10. Staying true to the vision. Every single masterminding book or publication you read has at least this one thing in common: if you can visualize it clearly, you can attain it. This is the one area of my business that has been foggy: what do I want? Where do I see Soiree going? Well even though I know things will always be changed a little, I am more clear than ever before- and that is amazingly liberating. By always staying true to that vision- in other words, asking myself, does this decision move us toward that vision- we will constantly be honing and attaining these and future goals. Which will only lead to good things.

What are your big goals for 2012? What have you been keeping to yourself out of fear? Let's get them all out so we're all accountable this year...and GO!

*Don't worry I still encourage taking vacations. They just aren't for the light at heart when you're in this industry! Play hard, work hard, right?

~Brandi

Inspiring Photo No. 40

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

~Happy Monday!

Portfolio: Brian + Ashley's Tablerock Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Ashley and Brian's wedding was sincerely one of the most heartfelt, personalized weddings we've designed ever. Ashley and Brian met at Boise's Twilight Criterium and the love blossomed from there- which is why it was imperative that a slight vintage bike theme take place in the wedding. Starting with the wedding invitations by Ampersand Studios, all the way through the wedding day with the couple's vintage beach cruisers making an appearance, the bike emblem was perfect. Other must-have details of the wedding were: Bright orange (Brian's signature color- just ask Ashley, as she managed to fall in love with a man wearing a neon orange shirt upon first meeting), spring green, and lots of natural elements like burlap. A live band from Portland, Wisconsin cheese, and oyster bar all got the party started...and kept it going well into the night.

The setting was a Brian's family's house, with the ceremony on top of the mountain overlooking the city- absolutely breathtaking. It was our first experience with straw bales, but we did have fun getting to know all of the farmers in the state of Idaho :) So without further adieu, here are some sneak-peek photos from their September fall wedding..don't forget to head over to the Ampersand Studios Blog for even more photos.

We welcomed guests into the cocktail hour with mojitos in mason jars- they were a hit especially since Ashley and Brian got lucky with Indian Summer-like weather.

Guests on their way up to the top of the mountain.

The wedding flowers were a combination of fall dahlias, the bride's favorite, and sweet little succulents.

The tented dinner area in the front of the house was one of our favorite parts of the day- we used a bare tent frame and hung patio lights from the poles. Dinner was right around sunset; soon the guests were eating under the stars and lights, alfresco style.

Overall, the wedding was a smashing success with the help of the amazing team of vendors:

Caterer: Metro Gourmet
Band: The Design Band, Portland
Design & Planning: Soiree
Photography, Invites: Ampersand Studios

~Happy Thursday!

Inspiring Photo No. 39

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Here's to all the 2012 weddings...

Via

...And to a fabulous start to the year. Happy Monday!

~Brandi

Inspiring Photo No. 38 + The Knot's 2011 Engagement Ring Stats

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Well the Christmas holiday is over, and we're guessing quite a few happy couples were engaged over the weekend. Were you one of them?

A lovely wintry photo of the happiest couple, via

We also found these interesting statistics from The Knot about the average engagement ring and wedding band buying process....so you can see what your fella had to go through to find the perfect sparkle for the perfect you.

2011 AVERAGE ENGAGEMENT RING & WEDDING RING STATISTICS

Engagement Ring Cost: $5,200

Carat Size: 1 carat for center stone; 1.4 carats total stones

Most Popular Engagement Ring Shapes: Round (53%) and Princess (30%)

Most Popular Engagement Ring Metal: 73% of rings are made of white gold

Time It Takes for Groom to Find Engagement Ring: 3 months

Wedding Band Cost: $1,126 for brides; $491 for grooms

Most Popular Wedding Band Metal: For brides, 70% are white gold; for grooms, 34% are white gold

The Luxury Ring Segment: About 12% of couples spend more than $8,000 on the engagement ring

Luxury Engagement Ring Cost: $13,500

Luxury Engagement Ring Carat Size: 1.5 carats for center stone; more than 2 carats total stones

The Knot also goes into trends for proposals and other such goodies all brides in their current giddy state will find interesting, so be sure to check out the entire article here.

And if you are a newly engaged bride with a perfect new sparkle on your finger, let us be one of the first to say, "Congratulations!"

~Happy Tuesday,

Brandi

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:48:00 +0000

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Hope your weekend is filled with love, family, and warmth. Be sure to take some time to sip the hot cocoa and don't forget the marshmallows!

Here's to a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday from our family to yours.

~The Soiree Girls

Pinned Favorites | Muted White + Silver

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Here are some of our favorites we've pinned this week...

Together they made a lovely little palette of muted whites and silvers, perfect for a winter wedding or New Years Eve party. Have a lovely Thursday!

Sources: 1.) BHLDN Shoe Clips via 2.) Bolsa Wood Bouquet, Via 3.) Felt Christmas Wreath, Via
4.) White Wedding Cake, Via

Pretty In Pink

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Just loved this blush colored wedding inspiration over at Betsy White this week...

So do tell, are you a blush-ing bride? Would you wear a pink wedding gown?

~Happy Wednesday!

5 Tips On Small Spaces

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:15:00 +0000

We mentioned that this past Saturday we hosted Matt + Carlie's winter barn wedding, and what a wedding it was. However, it wasn't handed to us on a platter of roses by any means- while the barn setting was absolutely perfect for the event, it was also a little cozy for the amount of guests that attended the wedding. So, in an effort to make lemonade out of lemons, we decided to design the wedding and the flow of the evening around the venue. Here are 5 tips we applied to this weekend's wedding to ensure the best experience for the guest while working with, rather than fighting, the space we were given:

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1. Direction, Direction, Direction. Can't stress this enough. This was the first and foremost point we made; your guests love direction at any party over 10 guests, and it was needed even more so with a non-traditional style of wedding. We had programs and menus designed together in one document the guests could carry around. This explained the flow of the evening, the passed mini foods menu, and the places throughout the barn they would find more goodies. Think of it as a map: our guests knew they where they would find all the stations, bars, dessert displays and even the restrooms downstairs.

2. Consider Your Menu. Rather than fill an already over-filled space with even more tables for buffets, we instead hired lots of staff, reduced the food on the menu down to adorable conversation-starting one-bite appetizers, and had 90% of it all passed. Yes we paid more for staff and for the added labor of making the cutest little morsels like itty bitty grilled cheese and tomato soup shooters. But it was absolutely necessary and added to the experience for the guests- imagine their surprise when they realized food was going to be continually passed all evening long. Just stand there and food will arrive. Genius! The less trying to get around in a cramped space, the better.

3. Get Creative With Space. Again, with the menu, we opted for almost all of it to be passed to save on space, but we also re-purposed one of the high counter-bars built into the barn for one food station upstairs and cleaned out a horse stall downstairs for the other station. This eliminated the need for lines since guests could either wait for a passed item or take their time as they passed one of the stations.

4. Welcome Non-Conformity. Not all brides love the idea of having guests seated at tables for the ceremony. But, in this case, we tried to keep the ceremony special and heartfelt, even though some of the guests were already seated at long tables. There was simply no way we'd be able to turn over the room after the ceremony, and it also ensured the guests would enjoy the gorgeous table displays all evening long.

5. Seating Charts. This goes along with direction again. In our case, we had some guests seated, and some standing. Even if you loathe the idea of creating a seating arrangement, you must for any reserved seating you may have. If we wouldn't have had the family reserved tables outfitted with place cards, we would have had mass chaos on our hands- your guests are already going to naturally be a little confused with the lack of seating. Have a wedding planner or other authorized (sober) person on hand with the seating chart to help direct your guests either to their seats and to explain the style of seating for the ceremony. It makes all the difference and saves you from angry guests.

Hope this helps if you're finding the perfect venue is a little cozy for your guests! Have you had a similar experience? What have you done to counteract the lack of space? Do tell!

Ready For Christmas...

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

We just finished our last wedding of the season, and now I can't believe Christmas is only days away! Here's wishing you and yours a week full of joy and happiness!

Recipe and source via

xx,

Brandi

Our Favorite Gift Wrapping Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

This post was meant to go out yesterday, but we're a day behind with wedding festivities this week. Day 1 of our install begins today and we're trying to beat the snow that is supposed to finally make an appearance tomorrow. But despite the lateness, we so loved the ideas we found for this post I wasn't about to just file it away. Besides, if you're anything like me, you might tend to get a little neurotic about wrapping your Christmas presents every year; I love to spice it up if I can, over the usual dancing santas and reindeer. Here are some of our favorite, unique, and easy to do gift wrapping ideas, with the added bonus of all requiring materials that you may even already have at home!

Sources: 1. Yarn and buttons by Sweet Paul 2. Newspaper wrapping paper 3. Stamped wrapping paper
4. Old calendar as gift wrap 5. Holiday shopping bags as gift wrap 6. Shirt gift wrap
7. Food coloring gift wrap

Featured: A Day In The Life | The Planner's Lounge

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Today I'm featured on The Planner's Lounge as part of their A Day In The Life series- a really cool collection of posts all about professional wedding planners and their typical day to day routine in detail.

If you're an aspiring wedding planner or event coordinator, definitely visit the new site, which is already chock-full of sage advice (read= mistakes that have already been made, and therefore no need for you to make them either) and ways to get your event planning business off the ground the right way.

If you're not an aspiring planner but just want to peek into a day in an event planner's life, do check it out.

Many thanks to Debbie, founder of the Planner's Lounge, for featuring me!

~Brandi

Our Favorite Gift Ideas | 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Just some of our favorite gift ideas we've run across in our blogging adventures this holiday season...for the ladies and the men in your life.

For the Women: 1)We love these Kate Spade Idiom Bangles 2) This wrap bracelet/watch combo is genius and stylish 3) InStyle Parties for the hostess 4)These cozy polka dot gloves keep hands from getting chapped 5) This is one of the prettiest all-in-one leather passport holders we've seen. Plus we love anything with a monogram.

For the Men: 1)The REI Double Shot Press Mug. Need we say more? 2) We are just loving the skinny tie look. 3) A beer making kit for the enthusiast 4) Eco Friendly, 100% organic tequila. If anything, the bottle design is fabulous! 5) This iPhone wallet case is perfect for eliminating back-pocket bulge.

~Happy shopping!

Classic | Black, White, Pewter

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:02:00 +0000

Here's a twist on the classic black and white winter wedding:

Pewter is just so forgiving. It can be glam, it can be vintage, shabby chic, or even rustic. We imagine this wedding to be an eclectic mix of glam and vintage with the dainty black and white illustrations.

Sources: 1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6.

~Happy Planning!

Holiday Nails Giveaway Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:00:00 +0000

....Drum roll.....please........ And the winner is.........

Miranda Lambert- you're the winner of our mini-giveaway. Miranda's fabulous comment (and now we want to go out on the town with you):

Miranda, will you email us at blog@weddingsbysoiree.com with your mailing details and the exact set you want, and we'll get it out, stat. Thank you again to both of you that took the time to enter our contest. This was just the first of a few giveaways we have in the works this month- so do stay tuned!!

~Happy Holidays,

The Soiree Girls

Candlelit Winter Wedding Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Our last wedding of the year is next weekend so it seemed fitting to share the couple's inspiration board we did for them to depict the general theme and overall feel we wanted to achieve:

This wedding design process was a little different than some of our projects, in that they came to us with very distinct ideas, including the theme, venue, and certain specifications (like no flowers). It just goes to show that our brides begin their design process, and therefore come to us, at all different stages of their planning. And we like it that way- keeps us on our toes!

This is also why this inspiration board has photos of actual items we'll be using in their wedding, versus some of our other inspiration boards that feature just an overall concept. So how do we put our spin on designing a wedding that already has the concept planned out? I like to say we aim to take it 5 steps further by adding unexpected elements, lighting, personalizing, and working out the flow of the event to make the experience ah-mazing.

I won't give away all the details until after the wedding, but here is a sneak peek from their idea board, a second step in our design process. The idea board breaks down the event- from ceremony to cocktail hour to the reception- bit by bit to help our brides visualize the day as a whole. We include everything from linen samples, centerpiece styles, and add in a dose of our sometimes off-the-wall ideas to keep your guests guessing.

After this fabulous rustic-meets-glam wedding is over we'll go into more detail about how our design process works to create the whole event. Until then, a sincere thank you to our brides that continually trust us and let us use our often off-the-wall ideas. And happy planning!

~Brandi

Inspiring Photo No. 37

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Tis the Season...

Via

....What colors or styles are you wrapping in this Christmas?

~Happy Monday!

Sunday Soiree | Cranberry Margarita

noreply@blogger.com (Soiree) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Who says margaritas have to end when the warm weather stops? Here's a recipe to sustain you for the cold months....and hey, it looks pretty too!

via

How To:

* Wedge of lime
* Sugar
* Ice cubes for shaking and serving
* 1/2 cup cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail
* 1/2 cup silver or other 100% agave tequila
* 1/4 cup orange liqueur (Grand Marnier, Triple Sec or Citronage)
* 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
* Garnishes: thinly sliced limes or fresh cranberries

1. Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass, and dip the edge in sugar to coat. Fill glasses with ice. Set aside.
2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all the ingredients, and shake like hell.
3. Strain into ice-filled glasses and serve.

We'll be putting the finishing touches on our Christmas decorating around the house today, as well as some DIY projects soon-to-be-revealed in the Soiree office. Stay tuned, and happy Sunday!