WEDDED TWIST

Christine & Eugene - Ferry Building, San Francisco

2012-01-22T20:21:00.000-08:00

Christine & Eugene were married at the Ferry Building in San Francisco on October 1st, 2011. Paula le Duc always does a fabulous job with the catering and photographer Julie Mikos captured this adorable couple and all the chic little details beautifully. Enjoy!

Engagement Shoot - Morgan and Brendan

2012-01-11T09:41:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited about the way Morgan & Brendan's engagement shoot photos turned out! Sasha Gulish did a truly incredible job, they look like something out of a magazine!

An engagement shoots are becoming more and more popular and for good reason, here's why I think an engagement shoot is a great idea:

- Dry Run: It's great to test out being the subject of a photoshoot if it's not something that you are very familiar with (and must of us aren't!). You can see in the photos what poses and angles look good and which you should avoid so you can feel more confident on your wedding day. If you haven't officially signed your photographer yet it's also can be a great way to make sure you're happy with the results before you sign OR if you have already signed on for the wedding day you can look at the results from the shoot to explain what you do and don't like so they know what you like going into the wedding day.

- Announcements: Using a photo from your engagement shoot is a great way to announce your engagement or for a save the date card.

- Momento: Let's face it, while you're wedding day photos will surely be incredible, you don't want your first house together to be entirely filled of photos of you from one day! An engagement shoot captures a romantic, special time in the life of your relationship and if you switch it up by visiting different locations and changing clothes you can end up with a variety of pictures to frame for your house together. Check out Morgan and Brendan's outfit changes and location changes for an idea of how to do this, fun!

New Year, New Wedding Ideas: Metallic Gold

2012-01-03T16:07:00.000-08:00

Spotted on Pinterest, I love these ideas for a metallic gold inspired wedding. Happy New Year!

Amazing British Venue

2011-12-15T19:45:00.000-08:00

Please can I plan a wedding at One Marylebone Lane? I love this space and think it would be so elegant and modern for a wedding. Sigh...

Wedding Treasure Hunt

2011-11-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

Last month I planned a wedding for a funloving couple who wanted to have a scavenger hunt into their wedding! I thought this was a really cool idea and had a lot of fun thinking of ways to incorporate it into the guest experience throughout the night. Please excuse my poor quality iPhone photos, the photographer, Gia Canali is sure to have some much prettier shots, but I just wanted to share the logistics of the game for now.

When guests arrived at the ceremony they received their program with a large personalized pencil. The back of the program was the answer sheet for the scavenger hunt and the pencil doubled as a flag that guests waved when Emily & Joe recessed down the aisle. The answer sheet explained the game at the top and included the first question

Clue 1:
"Joe and Emily met in a bar named after this type of tree"

After the ceremony guests headed into cocktail hour where waiters passed drinks with cocktail napkins that contained clue number two. The cocktail hour was inside the Conservatory of Flowers so the clue was meant to lead guests to a plant in the special exhibit "Wicked Plants" which also happened to be where the bar and music were playing and so had a lot of foot traffic.

Clue 2:

"Which wicked plant from the genus Strophanthus is known for its effects on the heart?"

We put a big flag on the plant to help direct guests to this clue "Kombe":

Next guests were invited to dinner and Clue Number 3 was written on their Escort Card:

Clue 2: "What do all the table names have in common?"

This clue forced guests to walk around to the other tables to see what the other names where, can you guess the answer to this based on the escort cards below? The bride and groom thought it would be clever to have every guest seated at Table Number One so the tables were identified by the word "one" in all different languages.

The next clue was on the table number itself, a word scramble:

Clue 3: "Unscramble the letters to reveal your secret message YBASHYOUROUTOKE

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _"

Can you unscramble it? "Shake your booty" !

Finally on the desert display guests ran into the fifth and final clue, the tie-breaker clue,

Clue 5: "Guess how many candies in the jar?"

They were then instructed to find the white birdcage and place their clues inside.

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the full birdcage but out of 150 guests there were at least 30-40 total entries - not bad!

Here's the winning card, above! Fun!

11.11.11 Mission Wedding & Trash the Dress Session

2011-11-19T17:06:00.000-08:00

This wedding was such an absolute pleasure to be part of, so quirky and fun and outside the norm. April and Sam decided that instead of having one big wedding they would have three small weddings all over the world! The first was in Bali, the second in Venice and the third here in San Francisco.

April & Sam live in the Mission and wanted to give their out of town guests a real taste of the city. They love art, fashion & technology, and dig the Mission graffiti style so much that they commissioned an artist to use the foyer & staircase to their amazing loft as a huge canvas to go wild (above). Check out pictures of their amazing place:

That's me going over the wedding plan with the groom, his sons & his Dad

The Bride designed this dress for her friend to wear

Obsessed with the Bride's closet!!

April's amazing Alexander McQueen dress and incredibly cool and daring veil! Not to mention her drop dead gorgeous Maid of Honor, Anastassia who's wedding I planned this past summer.

Guests were told to come to a parking location and were picked up on a bus and transported to the ceremony site, a chic Mission loft that we transformed into a beautiful ceremony location.

That's me getting the Bride down the aisle!

Guests were then taken downtown to Water Bar for a delicious meal with views of the bridge.

Then on to the afterparty at the couple's super cool apartment.

The next day, a trash the dress session with their incredible photographer they flew out from their Italian wedding, Mauro Pozzer

So different and so much fun, thank you April & Sam!

This week at Shannon Leahy Events

2011-11-15T13:46:00.000-08:00

Feeling a little like Carmen San Diego this week. If you ever wondered if I travel for events, the answer is a big, fat YES (and it's less expensive than you may think!). This week took me to New York City for a client meeting, Greenwich, Connecticut for a site visit and back to Los Angeles for a small event.

It was so gorgeous to see all the Fall leaves in New England this time of year.

So glad to have my assistant, Claire, back in San Francisco to hold down the fort. Here's a shot of her on her wedding day in North Carolina!

Black & White Wedding Inspiration

2011-11-08T19:58:00.000-08:00

Hope you're having a great week! Enjoy these black and white inspirations spotted on Pinterest....

New Private Event Space: AQ

2011-10-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

There's a great new restaurant opening in SOMA this week called AQ (and a good friend of mine happens to be the owner/GM, which is beyond exciting!). They have a local, seasonal menu that changes every season and the best part is that so does all the decor in the restaurant! They're opening with their Autumn theme (copper, branches, Fall leaves, golds warm oranges and rusts) but come the Winter solstice, everything will turn to white and then again the restaurant will change in the Spring and Summer.

The restaurant is available for full buyout but they also have a great private event space that can hold up to 60. Check out http://www.aq-sf.com/ for details and treat your guests to a little taste of the season at AQ for a great party anytime of year!

Chic Luggage Tag Wedding Favors

2011-10-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

I'm kind of obsessing over the amazing luggage tags as wedding favors for guests from Of The Fountain. I think they would make such fabulous favors, escort card holders or even bridesmaid or groomsmen gifts. They have such an expensive and timeless feel to them. Rather than write "Emma & Jake's Wedding" on them so no one can use them, how about personalizing them with each guests name, or going with a saying like "Not all those who wander are lost" or how about "It's not the destination, it's the journey" which is kind of a cool sentiment about love and marriage in general.

These (above) would be a great wedding gift for the bride & groom to send them off on their honeymoon.

And these are super cool that mark the longitude and latitude (again of the wedding location for a bride & groom gift?).

Rosebrook Meyer Wedding Invitations

2011-10-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

I'm really in love with the clean lines and sophistication of these invitation suites from Rosebrook Meyer. They are so simple yet really stunning, I would love to receive one of these in the mail!

Romantic Gowns for Rustic Weddings

2011-10-06T14:17:00.000-07:00

I just love a rustic Fall wedding in Northern California. I recently came across a newish designer out of NY that creates dresses that look like they were sewn specifically for a rustic barn setting. I love the juxtaposition of a wooden barn with the most elegant flowers. Sarah Seven designs dresses that mirror the flowers and add a touch of sweetness.

Beautiful delicate sweetheart necklines and cinched waists. The fabrics she uses, mostly silk with taffeta for shape, flow when you walk creating a goddess-like entrance; one people are sure to remember!

Some of the shorter dresses are perfect for a rehearsal dinner (or a wedding!). Check out the accessories too. How about a little added sparkle for someone going for a more vintage look?

The Wedding Emergency Kit

2011-09-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Wedding Emergency Kit aka The Big Pink Box

This week I thought I would write about my can't-leave-home-without-it, absolutely amazing, handy, dandy Wedding Emergency Kit! I'm going to do this as part of a series of helpful posts I hope to create for aspiring wedding planners and people who are just generally curious about what goes into the business of what I do for a living.

This kit is a total work in progress, one that's taken me years to assemble and yet at nearly every event I think of something new to add. For those of you who don't really care about the history of my Wedding Emergency Kit (I'm guessing everyone?) skip ahead to the list of included goodies.

When I first started this business I carried around a little pouch the size of a make-up bag filled with some of the bare essentials (band-aids, clear nail polish, stain remover, safety pins, sewing kit, etc.). As I started to outgrow that I moved it to a small box and finally bit the bullet and made a trip to Target where I created my current system. Right now my Emergency Kit is made up of four small pink boxes that fit into one large pink box that also holds my trusty steamer.

When I first arrive on-site I bring in my pink box and I put it in the bridesmaids room (assuming the ladies are getting ready at the wedding site). I let everyone know that the box is there for their use if they need anything throughout the entire night. Even though letting the girls dig through the kit results in more lost/used items, I figure that's what the kit is for and I want them to feel like they have anything they need at their finger tips. Nothing makes me happier then when someone calls out "does anyone have [insert product here]" and I get to shout out - Got it! I know that's lame, but it's true, totally makes me giddy.

A peak inside the Wedding Emergency Kit

In terms of organization, I taped a list onto each box of what's included so that before every event I can go through and figure out what needs to be replaced. There's always a quick trip to Walgreens the week before the event because inevitably something gets used or lost at the last event. In a stroke of not-so-genius I taped over the lists to "laminate" them. This works well for keeping the pages from ripping off but not so well for adding new items to the list without taking off the entire page and staring over. Still haven't figured out a good answer for that... I've separated the boxes into four sections "Utility", "Beauty", "Attire" and "First Aid/Health". Being effective on-site is all about organization and the quicker and easier you can make things for people to find the better. After all, these are items used in an "emergency" like, heaven forbid, a bad breath emergency!

The four little pink boxes that fit into the Wedding Emergency Kit

I really like the current system but I don't know about the durability of these plastic boxes. They're pretty flimsy and when in the sun seem to melt a little bit... they've been with me for about a year so we'll see how long they last.

Okay behind Pink Box #1...


Wedding Emergency Kit First Aid

So I've titled this kit the First Aid/Health kit. Generally that's true but there are some items in here that could easily fit into the "attire kit" or "beauty" kit. It's really a judgment call.

First Aid/Health Box Contents Part 1

First Aid/Health party one, from left to right:

Allergy Medication: I've definitely had cases of hay fever pop up with the bride and groom at outdoor weddings during allergy season in Sonoma/Napa. A beautiful outdoor venue with lots of flowers and vineyards can also mean red faces, watery eyes and sneezing! Unfortunately by the time the symptoms come on there isn't much the meds can do in a short time, but they help a little.

Antibacterial Hand Gel: This is useful if you're helping clean up a wound or injury or if your hands feel just generally dirty.

Chapstick: Great for sunburned/wind burned lips of course

Neosporin: Helpful for nicks and cuts. There's always one.

Band-Aids/Bandage: Again for nicks and cuts.

Blister Band-Aids: REALLY helpful for brides or bridesmaids that haven't broken in their new shoes. They stay on better than a band-aid and they're more discreet.

Bactine: I picked this up after a particularly nasty fall one of the guests had at a wedding to bulk up the kit.

Visine: Again great for those watery, red allergy eyes.

Tums: For nervous tummy butterflies or spicy foods

Advil: Used to have a mini travel Advil but had to keep replacing it after every event so I splurged for a big one. This gets used more than anything else (by my staff and the guests!)

Antibacterial Wipes: Again for cleaning up after helping someone who is bleeding.

Gauze Pads: For particularly messy falls

First Aid/Health Contents Part 2

First Aid Health Box, Part Two:

Toothpaste: For brushing up before the ceremony (or between courses)

Body Lotion: No pasty calves in this wedding party

Nail File: In case someone breaks a nail, horror

Nail Polish Remover: Really helpful for the bridesmaid that shows up with black nailpolish

Gum: In case you had an onion bagel that morning.

Tissues: This is the other item in the kit that gets used more than anything. I always try to remember to pocket these right before sending the bridal party down the aisle and hand them out as necessary.

Sunblock: This gets used more by my staff than guests but it's helpful for all day setups in the sun.

Mouthwash: Again for kissing breath

Tampons: God save the bride that has a surprise "visitor" at her wedding

Bugspray: Used to have little bugspray wipes but after a particularly buggy strike one night we got a big bottle to save our skin (again more for staff than guests)

Deodorant: In case someone forgets. Does anyone have a good method for re-using deodorant after someone uses it? I just throw them away, do you think it would be sanitary to cut off the top layer? I'm not a fan of spray deodorant...

Q-tips: In case someone needs them... can't really think of a time when you NEED q-tips, but you never know.

Breath Mints: Do you see a theme with bad breath? I've got a method for anyone, pick your poison.

Toothbrush: Goes with the toothpaste but I'm such a freak I had to color coordinate the pictures in the style of a rainbow, pretty.

Packed all tidy, isn't that nice...

That's it for First Aid/Health. Now for Attire:

The Attire Box

Attire Box, Part One:

Attire Box Contents

Wine Away: I picked this up after a very full glass of red wine went down the front of the bride's gown, yikes! We'll see if it works...

Tide Pen: Great for little stains

Chalk: A little secret weapon, if the stain won't come out of the white gown, the chalk will cover it...

Extra Socks: Once had a bride who's shoes were too big, or maybe it was that her feet hurt, either way she HAD to have extra socks. Do you have any idea how hard it is to run out and find extra footie socks when you're in the middle of nowhere? Now I keep a pair on hand.

Sole Mates: LOVE these. Used to have a variety of clear and black but now I'm down to only black, need to re-order. These are great for high heels in the grass or on gravel but they don't last the entire night, the heat from your dancing will melt the rubber off and then they become a weird looking hazard on the bottom of your heel. For the ceremony though, these are key.

Hem Tape: To do a quick hem if needed on a dress, not sure how well this stuff works but I picked it up just in case.

Sewing Kit: This is a really tiny one but it will work to sew on a button or fix a dress. I've got some extra thread in popular colors if needed.

Lint Roller: Very helpful. In a pinch duct tape works too.

Static Remover: Great for bridesmaids dresses that stick to your legs. This little one came in a little emergency kit product that I picked up at a store once along with the stain remover and the mini clear nailpolish...

Stain Remover: Just an extra in case the Tide Pen doesn't work

Clear Nail Polish: Great for stopping panty hose runs although I have to say not many people seem to wear panty hose anymore.

Extra Safety Pins: Always useful.

Boob Tape: Missing from the photo because it all got used last weekend when the bride decided to ditch her painful corset bra and we had to tape her dress to her body. Need to replace.

Attire Box, Part Two:

Attire box, the steamer portion.

This is mainly made of up the steamer, steamer instructions and steamer attachments. I LOVE this steamer. It's compact, heats up in seconds and works like a dream. I always have an assistant stationed in the getting ready area to steam bridesmaid, mother of the bride, or the bride's dress. It's a tough job but SO helpful to the wedding party.

Attire box, all packed up

Box Number Three, the "Utility" box:

Utility Box, Party One:

Extension Cord: It's a small one and the lighting company always seems to have extra so I haven't needed it yet, but I figure it's good to have on hand.

Extra Phone Charger: That's mainly for me, but also helpful for other iPhone users.

Three Hole Punch: This is in case I need to put things in my trusty binder last minute.

Double Sided Tape: Very helpful for a variety of uses, gets used most often for taping name cards onto the seats of chairs in the front row of the ceremony in a windy location.

Spray Bottle: If you have heat lamps in a place where there's a fire marshall they will require you to have a spray bottle filled with tap water to test the heat lamps. To be honest I have no idea what they're looking for when they spray them down but they always request it and generally the caterer or florist will have one but I keep one as a back-up. I guess this could be good for table flowers that need a pick me up or spraying down bridesmaids hair before getting it done, but the heat lamp fire marshall test is the reason I have it.

Bottle Opener: Used most often for groomsmen having a beer before the festivities, always gets lost. I don't have one in the picture but I usually have a wine bottle opener as well for the same reason.

Pocket Knife: My assistant picked this up for me because she said I needed it but to tell you the truth it kind of terrifies me.

Duct Tape: Ah, my best friend, duct tape, what don't you do? If I were stranded on a deserted island and only got to take one thing it would be duct tape. Or deodorant... or sunblock... you know what, forget it, I hate this analogy, just know that duct tape is SUPER useful.

Utility Box, part two:

Lighters: I haven't found a brand I'm absolutely in love with but I always carry a few lighters for lighting candles. They always seem to be low on lighter fluid.

Razer Blade: Can't remember if I've used this yet but it seems useful.

Measuring Tape: Need to get a larger one in here but this one works for measuring small things like once we were moving this HUGE table and we had to see if it would fit through the doorway. A larger one would help with making sure tables are centered in the room or for lining things up in a straight line, like the chairs for the ceremony.

Scissors: I always have lots of scissors because these seem to get used a lot and I put them down places and forget them.

Screwdriver: Again not sure if I've used this yet but I'm sure one day I will be so happy it's in there...

Massive Stapler: This has definitely gotten some use when installing ribbons or fabric or fixing a board, etc.

Pens/Markers/White-out: For writing notes, coloring in chips and dings or fixing important docs.

Head Lamp: Great for packing up boxes or striking at an outdoor event. Yes there's great lighting around the party but when you're loading up your car in the woods you'll be so happy you have this.

Extra ribbon: I always throw in a spool or two of ribbon in the colors of the wedding and it always gets used whether it's fixing a flower girl basket or someone's personal flowers or sprucing up a dessert display, extra ribbon is a must.

Hole Punch: I got this when I was making a welcome note packet at a wedding and it lives in the kit now... who knows maybe I'll need it on-site one day.

Extra Business Cards: Because if you've thrown a good wedding someone is definitely going to ask for your card in the course of an evening, yay marketing!

The utility case, bursting at the seams

Lastly the Beauty case:

Hair Dryer: Really helpful for quick drying table linens after a vase has tipped over and water goes everywhere OR for drying someone's hair OR for drying someone's clothes after they've fallen/jumped into the pool!

Bobby Pins: Extras for when the brides hair falls down throughout the night.

Brush/Comb: Again for fixing hair.

Hairspray: For late night fix-ups

Dry Shampoo: Okay this stuff is AMAZING. This once saved an entire wedding party when they all showed up with hair that had been rinsed (not washed) in the shower that morning. Note: this is the WORST thing you can possibly do before getting your hair styled. Either you wash and clean your hair that morning or you arrive with dirty hair from the day before. Somehow people get this advice confused and think that showering and just wetting their hair in the shower is the way to go but that just means you'll show up with totally GREASY hair. We used an entire bottle of this once when all the girls showed up that way and now I know to send a letter out before hand making sure they know the protocol. It's also helpful for me at the end of the night when I'm looking a little ragged for a quick pick-me-up or the bride after she's been dancing and sweating all night to spruce her up for the grand exit.

Black Waterproof Mascara: This isn't a must-have brand or anything, just some mascara I picked up in case the bride needs it.

Tweezers: Helpful in a pinch. Ha. Ha. Ha.

I could probably add some concealer and more make-up in this box, but truthfully that's something I have the hair and make-up artist leave behind or I tell the bride to bring. It would be kind of crazy to invest in the amount of colors I would need for different skin tones, colors. Maybe someday.

The Beauty Box, the lightest of all the pink boxes

Well that's it! Hopefully this will help you build your own wedding emergency kit or maybe was just generally interesting to read. Is there anything you found you needed on your wedding day that you didn't have? Or anything you've used that you think I'm forgetting? Would love your ideas, I'm always trying to make it better!

Naeem Khan

2011-09-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

I love Naeem Khan's take on modern Indian women's formalwear. Above is the sari I would wear if I were invited to an Indian wedding, and I would LOVE to see this on one of my Indian brides. I also think the following three dresses would be fabulous for a non-traditional American bride, dreamy!

Same-day Edit - Video of Wedding at City Hall

2011-09-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Binh and Lexie's Instant Gratification Short from alanjosephsilva on Vimeo.

Congratulations to Lexie & Binh! And thank you to Alan J. Silva of Silva Stills and Cinema for the same day edit of the wedding. We showed this film of the tea ceremony and pre-wedding shots for all the guests at the dinner on two giant big screens at the top of the City Hall stairs. I was amazed they were able to pull this all together in under two hours!

Wedding This Weekend.... San Francisco City Hall

2011-09-15T21:57:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to be coordinating a wedding at San Francsico's famous and historic City Hall this weekend. The architecture and beauty of the space are unparalleled and I fully expect the guests to be awed by the magnificent rotunda. Hope you're having a great weekend!

JiHyung and Richard's Wedding - The Photos

2011-09-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

JiHyung and Richard were a dream to work with. You could just tell JiHyung was the type of girl who was so excited to plan her wedding and Richard was so supportive and excited for her. JiHyung loves fuschia so that was the basis for our beautiful, happy colorful wedding at a rustic wine country barn estate. Her love of gardening and flowers filled in the details from the potted plant ring bearer pillow to the garden in a bag favors. Max Gill was in charge of bringing her love of flowers to life, and he did not disappoint. Thank you to Nicole Paulson for the gorgeous photos!

Wedding This Weekend....

2011-08-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

Very excited for a wedding this weekend in Napa. The decor for this event by Atelier Joya is going to be beyond fabulous. Can't wait to share pics after the wedding!

Congratulations JiHyung and Richard!

2011-08-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

JiHyung and Richard were married last weekend in Napa. I can't wait to share all the pictures from this fabulous event but here is a sneak peak of the happy couple.

Margaret & Aaron Engagement Shoot!

2011-08-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Gosh how much I love this couple! Margaret and Aaron's photoshoot with the super talented Sasha Gulish. I can't wait for their wedding at the Ft. Mason General's Residence this Fall!

Awesome Portraits of Gay Marriage

2011-08-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all those who were able to get married in New York since they passed the new law! Here are some fabulous portraits from Buzz Feed, I had to share my favorites...

Forage Bow Ties

2011-07-27T17:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know me, I went to college in the South. For those of you who don't know about Southern college style, it means mixing East Coast prep with Southern charm. If those two styles had a fashion hallmark, it would be the preppy bow tie. I love Forage's take on the preppy bow tie because it mixes in one other style that I love and that's vintage San Francisco. In short, I think these would be fabulous for groomsmen or just stylish for wedding guests in general. The variety of beautiful pastels makes them perfect for almost any color palette. Here are a few shots of the ties and my favorites below.

Caroline & Dixon's Wedding - The Photos!

2011-07-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to share pictures from Caroline and Dixon's beautiful June wedding in Napa shot by Anna Kuperberg. If you've been reading my blog you will remember their wedding inspiration post and their engagement shoot & party as well as my discussion of the monogram process which shows up on their paper materials, the ribbon on Caroline's bouquet and their menu cards. So here you have it, an entire wedding from engagement to marriage in photos and how beautiful they are...

Maria & Jordan

2011-07-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

Two sweet friends of mine were married in Italy last summer and their wedding was recently featured in Martha Stewart. I think this is one of the most beautiful, elegant weddings I've ever seen. Doesn't Maria make a stunning bride?

Gorgeous Sonoma Home

2011-07-18T13:58:00.000-07:00

I recently helped with a private party at this amazing home in Sonoma and I had to share the pictures of the property. Walker Warner were the architects and I think they did such a fantastic job. I would move in in a second!

Costanoa Wedding

2011-07-13T19:07:00.000-07:00

Laid-back California wedding this weekend for a very cool and creative couple, Erin & James. Costanoa is the perfect spot for this couple with it's campsite vibe and great accommodations for family and friends around the property. So close to the ocean I'm hoping we get some great shots of the bride and groom on the beach. Home-made jam, pies and potted plant centerpieces will give this affair a homespun, backyard quality. I especially love the mad libs the bride and groom made for their rsvp cards below that will be on display at the wedding. I can't wait for the guests to see all the funny and creative stories in celebration of their marriage!

Beautiful Baby Shower

2011-07-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

I just adore this baby shower from Grace Happens. The country check tablecloth with the beautiful French napkins and typewriter font and the blue pottery with hydrangea all work together to create a gorgeous, sophisticated look. I've been really trying to cultivate this idea of an updated Southern style with traditional elements and a modern twist and I think this shower does that perfectly. I could really see this working for a wedding as well.

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

Spent a wonderful weekend in Tahoe for the 4th of July and actually went skiing in 80 degree weather! What an experience. Had a little dinner for the big day and wanted to share some silly pictures of the tabletop I threw together from some things hanging around the house and a trip to Target. Resources were limited, so limited I felt like I was on some kind of entertaining version of Project Runway, but it all turned out just fine. And we're all just going to play pretend that those are not (gasp!) silk flowers! :)

Snippet and Ink

2011-06-29T05:42:00.000-07:00

Is it me or are Kathryn at Snippet and Ink's boards getting better and better? I *die* (Rachel Zoe moment) over the last four boards. I think she is really hitting her 10,000 hours of inspiration board making since she was one of the first (if not the original) inspiration board blogger, and it shows.

These two are so punchy, fresh and summery. Anyone who has seen my first studio apartment (bragging moment: Apartment Therapy smallest coolest contest 2008) knows that I love a good Navy/White/Orange combo and I think the subtle touches of soft french blue give it a sophisticated twist. Oh and did I mention that for my birthday on Sunday we had a crab feast in Baltimore? Love!

And the green and white wide stripes featured in this board feel so *now* to me. Aren't the little tea sandwiches and the fruit in the arrangement divine? We all know I love a good apple green.

And there are these two, which are the polar opposite but also equally beautiful. Soft sand and sea glass is exactly what I would do if I were having a destination wedding at the beach. So chic. I could live in this board. It's also interesting because I can't tell you how many clients have a love of old maps that they want to incorporate into their wedding, but it can be really tough if you're not going with a soft, neutral palette like this one.

And this one is so subtle and sophisticated for a Southern girl. You can tell Kathryn spent some time in Mississippi and really picked up on that gorgeous Dixie style.

Keep up the good work Kathryn, I'll be watching!

Moroccan Wedding Blankets

2011-06-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

Taking great inspiration today from Moroccan Wedding Blankets. I love their story and their sparkly, neutral texture. What a wonderful wedding present or even something that could be incorporated into your wedding decor.

From Apartment Therapy:
"Known as Moroccan wedding blankets, handira are woven out of sheep's wool, cotton and linen by Berber women in the Middle Atlas mountains of Northern Morocco...

Berber wedding blankets are woven in anticipation of, you guessed it, a wedding, by the bride's female relatives. It can take many hours — even weeks — of work to attach those hundreds of mirrored sequins once the weaving is complete; it is thought that during this collaborative task, the bride's relatives teach her all about the birds and the bees, among other marital duties and expectations. After the wedding ceremony, the bride wears the blanket tied around her neck as a kind of cape. It might be associated with her trip to her new marital home, which could be a chilly ride.

For Berbers, objects and visual motifs contain myriad meanings and purposes. The process of hand-weaving, itself, when undertaken mindfully, is thought to endow the textile with baraka, or blessings. When complete, the wedding blanket serves not only as warmth and decoration for the bride, but also to ward off evil and to bestow fertility and good luck upon the newlyweds."

Wedding this Weekend, Hollywood Chic

2011-06-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Fabulous wedding this upcoming weekend for my favorite Russians. Inspired by the restaurants Sur and Villa Blanca in Los Angeles, the design for this wedding will be the epitome of Hollywood Chic. Lots of white draping, pink peonies, lush green ferns, sleek white lounge furniture, and of course, a red carpet entrance. Can't wait to share the photos!

Photoshop me!

2011-06-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

Not sure if you notice anything changed with last week's post which originally featured this picture (above) and not sports this one (below). The photographer, Sasha Gulish, e-mailed me the new shot. The outlets were just bugging her and she wanted to make it perfect. Isn't that amazing? Such a little thing but attention to detail is so important when you're choosing a photographer and isn't photoshop just an incredible little tool? Vast improvement, thanks Sasha!

Farmstead Rehearsal Dinner

2011-06-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Shoshana and Jeremy had their casual, laid-back rehearsal dinner at Farmstead Restaurant in St. Helena. What can I say, this was such an incredible evening. Sheamus Feeley, head chef at Farmstead prepared an amazing menu including ham and biscuits; deviled eggs and hash-brown appetizers. Smoked steak; tuna and porchetta with fresh asparagus and beets for dinner. Finished off by an assortment of desserts served in mini mason jars; chocolate pudding; lemon custard and more. There was an incredible blues band and lots of thoughtful toasts. A great lead-in to the couple's wedding the next night at Durham Ranch (for which I posted the inspiration photos here!). All photos by Sasha Gulish.

Head Chef, Sheamus Feeley

Me with the Flower Girl

Featured on Style Me Pretty: Allison & Ian

2011-06-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Allison and Ian's Holman Ranch wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty Friday. You remember all her lovely inspiration for her wedding day that I posted about here? And Allison's super cute blog, Engaged and Inspired? I'm so excited to see it all come to life exactly as we planned.

The funny thing about the day is that it rained and hailed all afternoon and evening except for about 40 minutes when it let up so we could have the ceremony outside. We had to move the entire party inside the barn and I'm so glad we did because I think it turned out really romantic and rustic, exactly like Allison wanted. Also, a lot of these portraits were shot in the rain and you can't tell in the slightest! Ah, the magic of photography.

Oh and a fun fact, Allison made almost all of the decor elements HERSELF! We came up with the idea of keeping the palette neutral and having pops of color. Allison and her father completely concepted the entire wardrobe escort card display and did a fabulous job with it. Allison and I debated a lot about the table linens. We came up with the idea of a white table cloth, lace runner and stained book pages on top. Allison spent months collecting old books, tea-staining them and cooking them in the oven to get that lovely antiqued effect and then she taped them all together in long runners.

The biggest challenge in pulling all of this together was that, having her amazing blog, Allison had LOADS of inspiration and lots of style. My job was to try to help her pair it down into a cohesive look and I really think we achieved just that. What a beautiful day, I'm so happy I got to help her bring everything to life!

This Week

2011-06-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

A little late getting my Wednesday morning post out there this week but that's because I've been very busy! I'm taking on a middle school mentor once a week for a program called Spark in San Francisco. It's an amazing program and I'm very excited about the opportunity. Faith and I will be working on a sweet 16 party for her final project and I may be posting some updates as we work on it. I'm very excited to be paired with such a cool, creative young lady.

This weekend I'm off to a debutante ball in Sonoma that I'm very excited about and then back to prepare for more summer weddings. Happy week!

All the pretty dresses...

2011-06-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Pretty dresses spotted on Pintertest. Exhausted today after a long (good!) weekend. Hope you're having a wonderful Monday!

Oscar de la Renta runway

Wedding at Beaulieu Gardens

2011-06-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Very excited for a big wedding at Beaulieu Gardens in Napa. Caroline and Dixon are getting married and as they are good friends and great clients I've been blogging about them a lot. Remember their engagement photos with the crazy talented Anna Kuperberg? And Caroline's long process of putting together a beautiful monogram for their wedding and registry. And finally the engagement party I threw for them at our friend's loft? Needless to say it's been a long time planning and we're all extremely excited about the big weekend. I can't wait to share photos with you soon but here are some inspirations for the big day.

The groom proposed at The Met in New York which will play a big role in the wedding day.

Today Feels like Pink Champagne

2011-05-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Diana Elizabeth Photography

Don't know why but I'm craving a little bubbly of the rose variety today....

Gala Darling

From Pinterest

Kate Webber Photography

via The Glitter Guide

Surprising the Bride

2011-05-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

A wedding slideshow, often prepared by friends of the bride and groom and played at the rehearsal dinner, can be a really cute way to share the story of a relationship through photos for the guests. It's a little egotistical for the bride and groom to put it together themselves so often a best man or maid of honor or sibling of the couple will take on the task of collecting photos of the bride and groom as babies, in high school, in college and throughout their relationship and compiling it to music.

A word of advice though, not everyone likes surprises! Especially surprises involving nude baby photos or drunk college photos shown to all their loved ones.

While it might seem fun for you to poke a little fun at the bride and groom an ill-timed surprise at what can be a stressful and emotional time is not the best way to kick off the weekend. I'm just saying, double check with the bride and groom that they're OK with you putting together something special for them as a surprise before you spring it on them.

I'll never forget a wedding I planned a few years ago where the bridesmaids decided to surprise the bride (unbeknownst to their planner) with live karoke. Apparently (as they told the audience) she was too embarrassed to get up and sing it on their bachelorette weekend and said she regretted it the next morning so they wanted to give her a chance to make up for it (AT HER WEDDING!?). They dragged her on stage with a microphone and told the DJ to play Tina Turner. I've never felt more helpless in my life and career as there wasn't much I could do once that train wreck got going. Thankfully the bride held it together through the song but you could just tell she wouldn't be speaking to the ringleader for a few months after that.

So just know your audience. Personally I love surprises and if I were the bride to be, I'd be very happy with a slideshow set to the tune of this song:

Anthropologie Decorator Shop!

2011-05-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

I just heard the news and I'm a wee bit excited. On March 24th, Anthropologie is launching 12 new "Decorator Concpet Shops" within Anthro stores accross the US and UK. There is one opening in Corte Madera just over the bridge from me and I am extremely excited to check it out. Just look at the sneak preview shots - heaven!

Durham Ranch Wedding

2011-05-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Very excited for a wedding this weekend at Durham Ranch in Napa Valley for a fabulous client. Here is some of our inspiration for the big day. Can't wait!

Unique Veils

2011-05-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

BHLDN dotted voile veil

A veil can be such a beautiful addition to a wedding gown. It can make a white off the rack piece instantly turn into a wedding dress. There are many beautiful styles to choose from, here are a few of my favorites... Will you be wearing a veil?

Twigs & Honey French Inspired Bridal Lace Cap with Veil

Twigs & Honey Silk Tulle Bridal Pouf

Twigs & Honey Silk Tulle with Lace Trim Veil

2011-05-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Hannah H, the winner of a new pair of Lucy Yoga Pants! Thank you so much to everyone who entered. It was really exciting to see so many new commenters on the blog and I do hope you'll stick around to read more.

Also, last week I was published in Hostess with the Mostess

for Caroline and Dixon's engagement party. Very cool!

Akimbo Save the Dates & Party Invites

2011-05-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Library Inspired Save the Date

Perhaps a little too cheeky for a wedding invitation, these paper materials from Akimbo make wonderful save the dates and party invitations. So creative and fun for a theme party.

Victorian Period Inspired Response Card

Foam Party Invitation

Banner Save the Date

Mix-Tape for 80s Theme party

Giveaway: Lucy Yoga Pants

2011-05-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

In honor of my new office in Cow Hollow I'm giving away one pair of Lucy Perfect Core Pants to a lucky reader!

My new office at 1862 Union Street is in my most favorite part of town. There are so many great restaurants, fantastic shopping and lots of wedding industry neighbors. One funny thing about the neighborhood is that the dress code for women seems to be stylish athletic gear. In fact, my boyfriend dubbed this neighborhood the "yoga pants district" and a more than a few men have been known to grab a sidewalk cafe chair to enjoy the sights.

Lucy makes my favorite yoga pants and since they are my new neighbors I thought I would honor my big move with a giveaway for one lucky reader.

Details: Comment on this post and on Wednesday May 4th at 10 AM I will use an online tool to randomly select and announce the winner who will receive a pair of Perfect Core pants in their size. Retail Value: $98

Advice for Young Designers

2011-05-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Found at How Magazine . . .

From John C. Jay, Wieden+Kennedy’s executive creative director:

1: Be authentic. The most powerful asset you have is your individuality, what makes you unique. It’s time to stop listening to others on what you should do.
2: Work harder than anyone else and you will always benefit from the effort.
3: Get off the computer and connect with real people and culture. Life is visceral.
4: Constantly improve your craft. Make things with your hands. Innovation in thinking is not enough.
5: Travel as much as you can. It is a humbling and inspiring experience to learn just how much you don’t know.
6: Being original is still king, especially in this tech-driven, group-grope world.
7: Try not to work for stupid people or you’ll soon become one of them.
8: Instinct and intuition are all-powerful. Learn to trust them.
9: The Golden Rule actually works. Do good.
10: If all else fails, No. 2 is the greatest competitive advantage of any career.

Specialty Cocktails from Food & Wine

2011-04-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today I wanted to share some amazing cocktails from Food & Wine magazine. These would be so much fun to serve as a specialty cocktail at a wedding. With restauranteurs focusing on cocktail menus as much as dinner menus, wedding cocktails have to catch up. Offering a few fun drinks can be a great way to add a little variety to the common bar drinks and surprise and delight your guests. I really like how these four recipes offer something sweet, something salty, something sour and a non-alcoholic option. Great selection

Above: Porch Crawler

from Frankie's Sputino

5 cherries, pitted plus 1 cherry for garnish

3 mint leaves, plus 1 sprig for garnish

1 hot chile, such as serrano, halved and seeded

Ice

2 ounces white rum

1 ounce fresh lemon juice

1 ounce Simple Syrup

2 ounces chilled club soda

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the 5 pitted cherries, mint leaves and chile. Add ice and the rum, lemon juice and Simple Syrup; shake well. Strain into an ice-filled collins glass, stir in the club sda and garnish with a cherry and a mint sprig.

Silver Monk

from Mayahuel, NYC

2 cucumber slices, plus 1 cucumber spear for garnish

8 mint leaves

Pinch of salt

1/2 ounce Simple Syrup

Ice

2 ounces blanco tequila

3/4 ounce yellow Chartreuese

1 ounce fresh lime juice

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the cucumber slices with 7 of the mint leaves, the salt and the Simple Syrup. Add ice and the tequila, chartreuese and lime juice and shake well. Fine strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with the cucumber spear and remaining mint leaf.

Almond-Fennel Cooler
from Slanted Door, San Francisco

3/4 ounce orgeat (almond flavored syrup)
3/4 ounce Fennel Syrup (recipe follows)
Ice
6 ounces chilled club soda
1 fennel frond for garnish

In a collins glass, combine the orgeat, Fennel Syrup and fresh lemon juice and stir well. Add ice. Stir in the chilled club soda and garnish with the fennel frond.

Fennel Syrup: In a spice grinder, coarsley grind 1 tablespoon fennel seeds. In a small saucepan, combine the ground fennel seeds with 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 20 minutes. Pour the fennel liquid into a jar through a fine strainer. Add 1 cup granulated sugar, cover and shake gently until the sugar is completely dissolved. Refridgerate the fennel syrup for up to 1 month. Makes about 12 ounces.

Tea Thyme
From Kathy Casey Food Studios-Liquid Kitchen

Tea Vodka
12 ounces vodka
1 English Breakfast tea bag

Cocktail
2 thyme sprigs
Ice
1 1/2 ounces Tea Vodka
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey mixed with 2 teaspoons of water

1. Make the Tea Vodka. In a jar, combine the vodka with the English Breakfast tea bag. Let stand at room temperature for 2 hours, then discard the tea bag. Makes 12 ounces, keeps for one month, stored at room temperature.

2. Make the cocktail. In a cocktail shaker, lightly muddle 1 of the thyme sprigs. Add ice and the tea Vodka, lemon juice and honey syrup and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass or coupe and garnish with the remaining thyme sprig.

Wedding Hairstyles from Vogue Paris

2011-04-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, today I want to share with you some chic hairstyle inspirations from the runways in Paris via Vogue Paris. How about a slick chignon or a wrap around braid for an updated twist on an up-do for your wedding? Have you figured out how you will be wearing your hair? Most of my brides choose to go very natural and down, a timeless choice, but these are some fun ideas if you want to go pure fantasy on your wedding day.

Pumpkin & Gingerbread Ice Cream Sandwiches

2011-04-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

For a Fall wedding, how amazing would these be to pass out as guests are leaving the party? Pumpkin & Gingerbread ice cream sandwiches. From Cannelle et Vanille.

Hermes

2011-04-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

So at $400-700 a pop, these might be a little over the top on a wedding table, but how amazing would these Hermes scarves be down the center of a table to form a very unique table runner. I love all the different patterns.

What to Wear to Weddings this Season

2011-04-13T08:00:00.001-07:00

I'm headed to a wedding in Long Island this weekend so I was very happy to stumble upon this article from High Gloss magazine. They are spot on. Happy weekend!

Urban Outfitters Window Inspiration

2011-04-11T08:00:00.000-07:00


Link

I was out doing a little shopping the other day and noticed a stellar display at Urban Outfitters. I love the way they take one element and repeat it to make a big impact. Very inspiring.


Link

Link

First wedding of the year!

2011-04-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my first wedding of the year at the lovely Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley. I'm very excited for this wedding and keeping fingers and toes crossed we have beautiful weather for this outdoor affair.

Here are some kind words from Friday's bride, Allison O'Grady (pictured above, insanely gorgeous, right?) from her blog, Engaged & Inspired...

Shannon Leahy was one of those pipe dream vendor crushes that I have had forever. I never thought she would be the planner for my very wedding, but I am so incredibly happy that she is. If there is anyone that has had to deal with me being crazy, setting my sights too high, and going through the stress of this whole thing, it is her. But she never says no and just makes it happen. Totally incredibly both as a company and as a person, Shannon is the best planner/designer I could ever ask for.

I couldn't believe how sweet that was, it made me blush! I'm very excited for Allison to become a MRS and to share the photos from her sure to be gorgeous day with all of you. Here's a sneak peak of some of her inspiration...

That's her invitation!

Beautiful Wedding Programs

2011-04-05T00:31:00.000-07:00

Two very different, very beautiful wedding program ideas. From Michelle Rago (above) and Tara Guerard (below).

Bowls

2011-04-03T00:25:00.000-07:00

Martha Stewart

Bowls can make such a lovely centerpiece grouping and can be used in so many ways. Stacked on top of each other and filled with flowers. Grouped with fruit or filled with water and just a few blooms as below. More unique than vases they encourage you to think outside the box (or vase) when creating a centerpiece.

Janne Peters Photography

via craftybride blog

Design Crush: Bernard Maisner

2011-03-31T00:19:00.000-07:00

Not only does he make lovely invitations with his beautiful calligraphy, but I found this drawing so compelling I just had to share. From Bernard Maisner.

Balenciaga at the De Young

2011-03-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the opening of the Balenciaga exhibit at the De Young museum in San Francisco. As I walked through the exhibit of beautiful dresses I just couldn't help but think how beautiful and unique they would all be as wedding dresses.

Oscar de la Renta agrees....

IMOW Annual Gala by Shannon Leahy Events, March 10th, 2011

2011-03-27T20:28:00.000-07:00

This past summer I was approached by a fabulous women's charity organization, The International Museum of Women (IMOW) about designing their annual Gala. I was beyond excited for the opportunity and pitched them an idea of doing all the decor out of colorful duct tape. Needless to say I was met with a lot of quizzical looks and for the better part of the last year I've been known as "the duct tape lady" to all involved with the project. Luckily the organization took a chance on me and I'm so proud of the event we created together.

I worked with Melissa Howden Productions who produced all the incredible logistics for this complicated evening and made the event absolutely smooth and seamless. The organizaton's goals for the decor were for it to be modern, fresh and forward-thinking to reflect the work that the online museum does every day. I'm really pleased with the way everything turned out.

Guests were lead up the driveway at Terra with a white carpeted entrance studded with colorful duct tape leading the way to the registration tables. IMOW photography hung from the covered walkway that Hartmann Studios constructed.

Upon entering guests were greeted with a 20' x 12' wall of duct tape spelling out the IMOW logo that members of my amazing crew spent most of the day creating.

Walking into the cocktail hour you saw the bottom half of a 15' sculpture of a woman made out of painted cardboard created specially for the event realized by Joshua Short.

Her other half placed upstairs to create the illusion she was going right through the floorboards.

For the upstairs dinner a modern white palette was accented with the colorful springtime colors of the duct tape we selected for the event. Atelier Joya created beautiful centerpieces of clustered carnations and mums in sleek white vessels.

I'm so pleased with the way the duct tape made such a stunning backdrop for the presentation.

Downstairs, in the lounge, live artists created pieces to auction off at the charity. The genius chair of the lounge event, Paige Sprincin, came up with this concept as a way to engage guests in conversation with real women artists and I think it really helped break the ice.

My team made duct tape corsages for the committee members to wear that were attached to their dresses with magnets.

For a sweet finale, I worked with Courtney & Casey of Help me Get Hitched to make a decadent dessert display for the lounge that incorporated my duct tape theme.

Nicole Paulson captured the event with great lighting by Impact. Oh and you can even see my duct tape pillows here! Hurrah!

Shannon Leahy Events published in Style Me Pretty

2011-03-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited that Louise & Jay's wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty. They were an amazing, inspiring couple and have become great friends. I feel so lucky to have been part of their wedding day - it was truly special!

Shannon Leahy Events published in On To Baby Blog

2011-03-08T13:34:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited that the baby shower for Charlotte, aka "Charlie" was published this week in On To Baby.

From the blog:
Today’s shower proves you can have a beautiful baby shower for a little girl without a drop of pink. Shannon Leahy planned and designed this light, modern shower with a pale pool, white, and green color palette. It’s so fresh, and I love the clean, elegant feeling. All of these photos are by Kristen Loken, who also designed the gorgeous invitation.

When guests first arrived, they were greeted by a baby rattle made of flowers on the front door before being led back to this modern backyard luncheon. In lieu of a traditional guestbook, guests signed a copy of the beloved classic, Charlotte’s Web. They enjoyed a specialty drink served in mason jars wrapped in fabric attached with diaper pins. My favorite details are the glittered initials on the food table, the clean row of large white balloons, and those beautiful patterned table cloths! See more in the gallery at the bottom of the post.

IMOW Event

2011-03-02T17:42:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to be working as the event designer for a fabulous event coming up on Thursday, March 10th for the International Museum of Women at Terra Gallery.

This year's benefit celebrates the 100 year anniversary of International Woman's Day.

I.M.O.W. represents global social change for women and gives people around the world an outlet to discuss women's issues. This organization has greatly impacted the lives of women all over by using arts and cultural programs to inspire and educate communities on human rights and gender equality.

The event begins with the Patron's reception, a dinner that includes art installations and a performance by Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo, a renowned poet and recording artist. Ticket prices for the dinner begin at $300.

Following the dinner is an Art Live Lounge that includes music, cocktails, dessert and live art installations. Artists will be painting at the event, creating jewelry, sewing a dress and creating a live floral installation. Tickets are for sale right now with prices starting at $85.00, for the Art Live Lounge. Buy here!

In attendance will be an amazing group of IMOW board and committee members as well as Lieutenant Governor of California Gavin Newsom and Paige & Patricia Sprincin.

I am absolutely excited and honored to be a part of this wonderful event!

Inspired by: Book Covers

2011-02-15T07:33:00.000-08:00

I'm a big reader. A recent book I read, called Little Bee by Chris Cleave (fantastic book by the way), and it's just-released sequel, Incendiary, got me thinking about book art. I just love these two covers (above). Inspiration for event design can come from ANYWHERE and it's so important to constantly be looking.

I could build a wedding or event around each and every one of these designs...

Anthro's BHLDN (Beholden)

2011-02-14T19:26:00.000-08:00

Get out of here BHLDN, your dresses are just TOO cute. Flattering, appropriate, stylish - these are not your mother's bridesmaid dresses. They're kind of like your grandmother's bridesmaids dresses, but in a chic, modern, updated way. I love them!

The best handwriting ever

2011-02-11T10:59:00.000-08:00

Betsy Dunlap

I've always envied the girls in school that had amazing handwriting but I never had the patience to take my time, my brain is always on to the next thing. My handwriting totally depends on my mood, some days it's scrawls loosely across the page and other days it's tight and small.

These days it doesn't matter as much because good handwriting is quickly becoming obsolete. With my new iPad I hardly have occasion to pick up a pen and paper. I'm beginning to worry my children's children won't know even what a ballpoint is!

When it comes to addressing formal invitations though, the computer just won't do. Because there are so many great free online cursive fonts I've seen a recent trend emerging in the world of calligraphy to be as wacky and non-typewriter like as possible so that people KNOW it was penned by hand.

I've culled some of my favorite, most creative hands in the industry to share with you today. No computer could replicate their styles. Leigh Wells, Betsy Dunlap and Love Jenna were the cool girls in school with the best handwriting and I totally still envy them.

Cheers,
Shannon

Betsy Dunlap

Leigh Wells

Love Jenna

I'm just a sucker for beautiful food photography - the Valentine's Day edition

2011-02-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

anna williams

I love food. I could even be called a foodie. I'm not as extreme as the cast of characters in my friend Adam's tv series, Foodies but I love food nonetheless. I also love pictures of food. That's not entirely true, have you ever seen food shots in a bad chinese restaurant menu? I love BEAUTIFUL food pictures, like the ones by the photographers in this post, Anna Williams, Sara Remington, Karen Mordechai and Aran of Canelle et Vanille.

Even though I'm a total romantic, I'm not much for Hallmark's Valentines Day. My honey and I don't even celebrate the holiday. For me, holidays are about food. It's no surprise that my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.

So I'm taking a stand, I'm making Valentine's day about food. It's about tarts, trifles, chocolates, berries and breakfast in bed. It's about shaping foodstuffs like butter into heart forms and eating red and pink. It's about aphrodisiacs like oysters and champagne. Now this is a holiday I can get behind.

No balloons or teddy bears for me this year, maybe just a nice Mast Brothers Chocolate bar and the treats in these photos.

Cheers!
Shannon


anna williams

anna williams

canelle et vanille

cannelle et vanille

karen mordechai

sara remington

karen mordechai

IMOW Launch Party: The Common

2011-02-09T22:21:00.000-08:00

Last week I helped plan an extremely successful launch party for the International Museum of Women's annual benefit held at The Common in SOMA. Fashion designers Hunter Dixon, Margaret Elizabeth and Marine Layer were featured and these great companies donated a portion of their sales to the charity.

Paige Sprincin chaired the party, which was a sold out event, helping to raise awareness for the International Museum of Women and sell tickets for the Gala on March 10th which will feature event design by Shannon Leahy Events (me!). Check out some pictures from the party, photographed by Nicole Paulson.

Me and a former client of mine celebrating a good cause

The Common shop

Great wine donated by Cliff Vineyards

DJ Gabe rocking out

Pizza bites donated by Paxti's Pizza

Flowers and Styling by Help Me Get Hitched

Paige Sprincin leading the cause!

Jewelry by Margaret Elizabeth

Fashion by Hunter Dixon

Hear me Speak! Aha Moment: February 9th

2011-02-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

Aha Moment Live:
The Wedding Industry

An informational Q&A with career coach,
Suzannah Scully

Ever wonder how someone became an event planner or a photographer in the wedding industry? Or thought to yourself that you would love to do that but you could never because of this reason or that?

Now is your time to ask the experts just how they got to where they are. Suzannah Scully has assembled a panel of industry professionals:

Shannon Leahy - Event Planner

Lindsey Stafford - Photographer

Misty Meyer & Kathy Swindle - High end stationary boutique owners

Suzannah Scully will be moderating the panel discussion and then will be opening it up to Q&A from the group.

The Republic

3213 Scott Street

San Francisco, California

Wednesday, February 9th at 7 PM

Buy tickets here

Interview with DJ Josh Dukes

2011-02-01T21:12:00.000-08:00

Rock the party

This month I'm interviewing one of my favorite Bay Area DJs, Josh Dukes about how to get the most from your music experience.

In addition to being an all-around awesome tunesmith, Josh has a pretty incredible tool on his website where clients can go to enter their choices for song requests. It also compiles all the greatest hits from previous weddings and it's no surprise to all of us in the wedding industry that Black Eyed Peas - "I Gotta Feeling" tops the overall most requested song charts. The most popular bouquet toss song? "Single Ladies" by Beyonce of course. If you're stuck on a father-daughter song or a melody to play while cutting the cake, check out his top 50 most requested songs in each category here.

DJ Josh Dukes

Shannon Leahy Events: What's the best way to get the most from your DJ or Band at your wedding?

DJ Josh Dukes: Be very specific about the types of music you and your guests will enjoy. Make sure there is plenty of time allotted for the dance party!

SLE: How many Must Play and Do Not Play songs should someone send you?

DJ: Rarely do i get must play and do not play lists. I recommend requesting 10-20 songs and letting your DJ/Band fill in the gaps with their own style. Let them read the crowd and play what is working at that moment.

SLE: Have you seen any trends emerging for 2011 in terms of people's music selections?

DJ: House music is becoming very popular again. So more upbeat pop/house music seems to work well in most cases.

SLE: What is the best advice you can give to those clients that really want to have a rocking dance party?

DJ: Let your DJ 'do their thing'. Give them creative control to read the crowd and play what they know will work.

The most successful dance parties i've seen are ones that the bride and groom only requested a couple songs and asked me NOT to honor requests. Also, when the bride and groom are dancing alot, their guests will follow suit.

SLE: What type of music would you play at YOUR wedding?

DJ: Haha, thats a tough one. Im the type of DJ that would want to play my own wedding. I'd want 90's hip hop, funky house, 80's classics.

SLE: What are the benefits of hiring a DJ instead of a Band?

DJ: Thats easy. Generally DJ's are much cheaper. They can play ANY song/style of music.

Inspired By: Lizzie Fortunato Jewels

2011-01-31T19:07:00.000-08:00

My friends, Elizabeth and Kathryn Fortunato, twin sisters and owners of Lizzie Fortunato Jewels, have such an amazing sense of color, texture and the ability to tell a story through accessories. I'm always so inspired by their collections.

I could absolutely see each and every one of these pieces being the inspiration for a unique and drop dead gorgeous wedding. And imagine these accessories on the bride or bridesmaids.... bridesmaid gift? yes please!

A seaside affair in neutral grays with pops of yellow-green, sky blue and pale coral....

A preppy East Coast wedding in light blue and navy with pops of gold....

An Old Hollywood wedding in black, white and yellow in Palm Springs...

A punchy orange and green retro wedding in Santa Fe....

A colorful destination wedding in Tulum, Mexico...

Anthropolgie and Urban Outfitter's new wedding line - BHLDN

2011-01-26T18:09:00.000-08:00

From the makers of Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, bridal shop, BHLDN launches on February 14th, how romantic. I can't WAIT to see all the goodies they have in store. Here is a sneak peak from their website...

New J.Crew Bridesmaid Line 2011

2011-01-25T13:11:00.000-08:00

Loving the new styles and colors of J. Crew's bridesmaid line for 2011. I kind of want to buy one for myself!

Outdoor Church Pews

2011-01-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

Jasmine Star

I'm in love with these church pews in an outdoor setting. I love anything that is traditional with a twist. Wouldn't these be such a fun surprise for your guests!?

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