Sweet Things.

The Sweetest Occasion.

2008-10-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

In light of my complete neglect of Sweet Things over here in the last month, I wanted to belatedly announce a temporary (and hopefully short) blogging hiatus on the Sweet Things front. The move and relocation have pulled a few fast ones on us and I am just now getting back to tackling things on the Sweet Occasions pursuit. I hope to have lots of updates soon!

In the meantime, you can always reach me via email at sweetoccasionsevents @ gmail . com with any professional or wedding-related inquiries and additionally you can follow my personal wedding planning progress at The Sweetest Occasion. Thanks!

xoxo

Image of the Day.

2008-09-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

I promise to share more details from Michelle's wedding in the next few days, but in the meantime I had to share this incredible photo I found today. Taken by the incredible talent Michelle Moore and featured on The Wedding Photography Project, it takes my breath away every time I look at it....which has been quite often today.

And, seriously, is not that dress absolutely amazing?

Michelle & Michael [13 September 2008]

2008-09-16T05:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend was an absolutely outstanding experience, finally having the opportunity to serve as Michelle's Day of Coordinator after months of correspondence. Michelle and I are a bit of kindred spirits - we love things to be straight, clean-lined, exact and orderly. We also share a huge love of candles and the romantic ambience of candlelight, which we worked into the day in abundance. I intend to share further details in an upcoming post later this week, but for now wanted to share a few highlights and a big heartfelt congratulations to the newlyweds!

A couple of obligatory "before" shots of the reception venue.

The vendors we were fortunate enough to work with came together seamlessly in order to carry out Michelle's vision for her wedding day. Chuck Kendall of the gorgeous Logan Ridge Estates was an absolute gem and was there with us for much of the day in order to ensure we had everything we needed for the day. In fact, Chuck was still there with us when we were packing up to leave at 1 o'clock in the morning! The sensational food was provided by Deb Whiting and her incredible staff from Red Newt Bistro and while I could go on for hours about the quality of the food and the professional and friendly nature of her staff, I will leave it simply described as delicious and exquisite.

Pulling it all together with ivory linens, wine-colored cloth napkins, Michelle's DIY projects [more on those in the next post], and the amazing centerpieces.

Marcia Horn of Vine Garden Designscame in at nearly the last minute to save the day when Michelle unexpectedly found it beneficial to change florists. Marcia and Michelle actually never met in person, communicating solely by phone and email, and Marcia came through with exactly everything Michelle had been looking for in way of centerpieces, floral garlands, and multiple hydrangea wreaths. I'm not sure how she did it, but the floral arrangements were intoxicatingly gorgeous in sight and smell and added so much to the ambiance of the event.

The full collection of centerpieces amassed on one table at the end of the evening. Simply gorgeous!

The cake was a four tier fondant confection by Kristi's Kakes featuring, among others, a chocolate kahlua tier and a divine carrot cake layer. The cake was designed to mimic the alternating horizontal bands of lace and satin ribbon along Michelle's dress and the result was a simple, yet highly detailed, white on white design that left the guests wide-eyed. It was absolutely stunning! What's better? Every single flavor of cake was delicious and moist, everything a cake should be and more.

Music was provided by the Clinton String Quartet during the wine tasting and ceremony. Mike and the other guys were friendly, courteous, really fun to work with, and the music was heavenly. During the cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing hours, DJ services were provided by Frank and his assistant Jake of Bobby K Entertainment and they were fantastic. Frank was fun, extremely helpful in aiding me in keeping the evening running alongside the timeline of Deb and her staff in the kitchen, and a great addition to the evening's atmosphere without being obtrusive in any manner.

Last but not least, photographer Megan Dailor was fantastic from start to finish, and by the end of the night we were laughing and joking around like old pals. She already has a handful of amazing photos up on her blog that you must check out. I'm looking forward to working with Megan and all of the other vendors again and have nothing but rave reviews for my entire experience working with Michelle and the vendors she pulled together to execute her day.

We love candles! We put them everywhere, including the guest book table where guests signed quilt squares made by Michelle's mother as seen above.

The evening Michelle and Mike planned was unique and a lot of fun for guests. Commencing at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the groom and groomsmen hosted a lively wine tasting int the downstairs tasting room of Logan Ridge, overlooking Seneca Lake. Due to inclement weather, the original plan for an outdoor ceremony was nixed and guests moved into the room adjacent to the tasting room for the ceremony where we had decorated with dozens of candles and gorgeous fabric Michelle had already purchased. Following their sweet and tear-worthy exchange of vows, guests moved up to the outdoor patio off the room where dinner was to be held before finally moving in for dinner. The different events and locations throughout the evening kept everyone entertained and mingling for hours. The dancing fired up right in between courses and went well into the night. All around, despite some lack of cooperation on Mother Nature's part, it was an unforgettable evening.

Congratulations, Michelle and Mike!

Michelle and her dad, Dennis, about to head down the aisle.

All photo credits belonging to yours truly.

Current ipod Obsessions.

2008-09-10T15:55:00.000-07:00

Decor8 is one of my favorite blogs, featuring snippets of inspiration from a variety of sources that make me smile. As it turns out, no, I am not the only person out there who is absolutely in love with all things design, blogging, reading blogs, chasing dreams, making smiles, and cherishing moments with loved ones. Holly wrote a great post today about her music picks of the moment, encouraging others to blog about their musical loves of the day. How could I resist? Anyone who knows me well knows that one of the [many many] things I love best about my VW Rabbit is the [amazing] integrated ipod adapter in the center console.

Because I could list for hours, if not days, I will stick to my top 5 picks of the week....some of which have been in heavy rotation for months now.

A Fine Frenzy, One Cell In the Sea
Ingrid Michaelson, Girls and Boys and Giving Up from the forthcoming Be Ok
Sara Bareilles, Little Voice
Michael Bublé, Call Me Irresponsible
Britney Spears, Blackout

You probably thought you had me all figured out until I tossed out that Britney Spears, didn't ya? I admit. I am a complete closet Britney fan and a sucker for a comeback story to boot. I'm rooting for you, Brit! Didn't she look amazing at the VMAs by the way? I can't remember the last time I watched the VMAs, but I'm a People junkie and she looks positively radiant in every photo.

Anyway, just as Holly tagged the other bloggers out there, I in turn tag you. What are your current top picks?

Jennifer & Grant [6 September 2008]

2008-09-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

My close friends from college, Jenni and Grant, were married last December in a quiet, intimate ceremony at Grant's family home. Surrounded by only the closest of family and a sprinkling of a few friends, nieces and nephews running about gleefully throughout the brief exchange of vows, it was everything a wedding should be. A quiet, introspective, sincere celebration of love, honor and devotion. This past weekend, they hosted a beautiful reception for 170 family and friends at The Old Library a divine venue that is just that, an old library converted into a fabulous restaurant with delicious food and banquet facilities on the second level.

As a guest, everything about the night was magical. Grant was in the United States Air Force for four years prior to attending college. Since graduating college, Grant has been training to become a pilot with the Air National Guard. His demanding training schedule has taken him across the nation and back several times in the last year and a half. Just the day before the reception, Grant had tested and received his pilot's wings, making the night a double celebration as he was able to rejoice in the accomplishment of a lifelong goal. Friends from across the country, from all the different moments of their lives, came together alongside their families to wish them the best of luck as they continue chasing dreams and building their lives.

Every wedding is special in innumerable ways, but Jenni and Grant's wedding was a true testament as to why weddings are such wonderful occasions in our lives. On that evening, a groom took the microphone, announced to the crowd that he was officially a pilot and in doing so turned the spotlight on his wife, recognizing without her it would never have been possible. "When I met Jenni, he said, "I had finally met someone who was willing to make my dreams her dreams." And isn't that, after all, what love and marriage is really all about? I believe so.

Congratulations, Jenni and Grant!

xoxo

Another photo by yours truly.

Gay Weddings by the Knot.

2008-09-09T17:02:00.001-07:00

Am I the only one who somehow missed Gay Weddings by the Knot until today? I officially feel as though I've been living under a rock. Or perhaps this mecca of marital equality in the form of brilliant wedding inspiration is, indeed, new to others aside from myself? At any rate, you should skip right over and check it out. Featuring etiquette tips, real weddings, and inspirational ideas, just like The Knot we all know and love, it is not to be missed. My new favorite website!

Oh Happy Day!

2008-08-27T13:56:00.000-07:00

I am really far too excited about today's post. My new logo for Sweet Occasions is finished and ready for viewing! After much deliberation I opted to work with Sarah McCormick whom I found via an alchemy request on Etsy. If you're in the market for custom logos, invitations or wedding stationary, you should definitely check out her shop The Paper Door. Sarah was an absolute pleasure to work with and I could not be happier with the finished product.

Megan & Andrew [16 August 2008]

2008-08-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

Life has been quite hectic here for me with multiple weddings and a relocation all taking place over the last few weeks. In the midst of the organized chaos that is my current existence, I wanted to quickly post a few images from the wedding of one of my closest lifelong friends, Megan, and my beloved cousin, Andrew.

Megan and Andrew were married in a Catholic ceremony at the Church of St. Patrick on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. The church was renovated a few years ago and is absolutely breathtaking. Afterward the wedding party, myself included, took a limo out to Thousand Islands Park on Wellesley Island for photos before climbing aboard the Miss Clayton to ride over to the reception at the Edgewood Resort. We were temporarily threatened by a few clouds, but it was a magical sunshine-filled day that brought smiles to everyone's faces. The boat ride along the St. Lawrence River to the reception was a perfect 30 minute hiatus in the middle of the day where the bride and groom were able to share a few moments with those closest to them, and where everyone was able to snack on great local foods like Croghan bologna before dancing the night away. It was the closing weekend of Pirates Days in Alexandria Bay that night and following the reception a limo was provided to shuttle guests to/from downtown where the party went well into the early morning hours. The following day, close family members and friends of the bride and groom, including the newlyweds themselves, jumped on their respective boats and spent the day moored out at Potter's Beach off Grindstone Island as a perfect end to a great wedding weekend.

The beautiful newlyweds in the limo following the ceremony.

The bridesmaids and Megan @ the TI Park gazebo. [Yours truly second from the left.]

Megan's breathtaking dress was by Allure.

The bridal bouquet of ivory roses and hydrangeas.

My bridesmaid's bouquet, wrapped with fabric from the hem of my dress post alterations.

The cake topper I purchased from Wedding Cuts. This is the 6" Partially Decorated Silver Acrylic Mirror topper in Easy Street.

Great favors! Customized beer bottle kozies as seen from the cup holder of my chair @ Potter's Beach the day after the wedding.

All photo credits belonging to yours truly.

Julie & Jared [9 August 2008]

2008-08-11T15:55:00.000-07:00

My stepsister, Julie, was married this weekend to her incredible husband, Jared. I could not be happier for them as they start this new chapter of their lives together. Jared's beautiful daughter, Claire, made a gorgeous flower girl carrying a bouquet of simple white daisies tied with blue satin ribbon. The ceremony took place among an intimate circle of about 40 friends at the lakeside home of a friend in Henderson Harbor, NY with the sound of the waves crashing behind them. A tented reception followed for a larger group of about 150 family and friends at Jared's brother's home where Julie had worked with the caterer to provide an excellent meal of summer favorites including grilled chicken and salt potatoes. The bride opted to wear baby blue, perfectly in keeping with her personality, and the entire affair was joyous, simple, and especially budget friendly. It was one of the simplest and yet one of the most extraordinary weddings I have ever had the pleasure of attending.

The bride, Julie, and her mother prior to the ceremony.
Her dress was an off-the-rack bridesmaid dress from a local bridal shop.

The groom being tended to by his mother. She finished pinning on his boutonniere and he declared, "Ok, let's do this!" It was that simple.

Drift wood, candles, and a simple vase of calla lilies make the perfect altar along the break wall.

The flower girl, Jared's daughter Claire, and the ring bearer, Julie's nephew, make their way down the aisle. The rings were tied to the ribbons streaming from Jaymison's pacifier.

Claire's perfect little bouquet. She carried it with her all day and night.

Husband, wife and daughter for the very first time. Perfectly happy and perfectly tear-jerking.

All photo credits belonging to yours truly.
C

The Magic of Candles.

2008-08-08T06:19:00.000-07:00

I had intended to post about this a couple of evenings ago, but Blogger was down and last evening was spent diverting wedding disaster for my stepsister, so I am just now getting back around to a great love of mine, candles.

I regret that I can't seem to locate my source for the above two photos.

I will be happy to source appropriately if someone can tell me where I found them!

I was having a conversation with the adorable Michelle, a PA born/NJ dwelling bride I am working with for her upcoming Seneca Lake wedding, and her face lit up discussing how much she loves candlelight. I concur. I am obsessed with candlelight, occasionally to nearly a fault, and have long dreamed of a gorgeous candlelit wedding of my own. Michelle's breathtaking reception venue, Logan Ridge features an incredible stone fireplace and when I stumbled upon the above photos I emailed them to Michelle right away. How incredible does that fireplace look covered in simple pillar candles of varying heights? Simple, chic, elegant and romantic. Also known as utter perfection.

Further searching for candlelight inspiration brought up countless images of amazing rooms, events and occasions positively glowing in celebration and love. I could not be more convinced that candles are the easiest, and often times most cost effective way, to dramatically alter the ambiance of a space, morphing it from something ordinary to something spectacular with a few strikes of a matchbook. Here, a few of my favorites, perfectly in keeping with the vision of a romantic, sparkling affair rich in laughter and bubbly champagne.

Our Weddings Plus

Double Exposure

Louie Walker Events

Don't you just love the image of the couple surrounded by their friends and family holding candles? A perfect circle of love, unity and support.

Sweet Invitations.

2008-08-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

I have been drooling over the amazing eco-chic letterpress creations of Bella Figura for months. I have trouble finding words to express how much I love their work, and I was so delighted when I made the connection that Bella Figura is actually a local company to me, located in Syracuse, NY. To know our region boasts such an incredible company was such a treat!

Close up view of the Guild invitation design.

The entire Guild invitation suite.

The entire Tuilieres invitation suite.

Close up of the Tuilieres design.

Unknown to me, my incredible best friend nominated me for a contest on Weddingbee and last evening she called to inform me that her entry had been selected as the winner and I had won my choice of 200 Save the Dates or 100 invitations from Bella Figura. Wow. There are no words. I am absolutely floored, humbled and honored. And really, excited beyond words. I can't believe we're going to have wedding invitations designed by the incredible Bella Figura!

Check out their breathtaking wedding gallery and tell me, which do you love best and which would you pick?

My sincerest heartfelt thanks to Weddingbee and Bella Figura. I am so very appreciative and honored.

Emerson & Michael.

2008-07-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

I believe it is no secret that I am an avid Weddingbee stalker. What may be less well known, however, is my deep passion and commitment to all causes related to gay rights, most especially those related to marriage. I could write at length about the matter, but instead I will let my new heroes Emerson and Michael do the talking for me. Thanks, gents.

Thanks to Miss Sweet Tea for pointing me in the right direction.

Carnations Revisited.

2008-07-28T06:17:00.001-07:00

In light of my recent post about reconsidering carnations, I was delighted by Mrs. Flamingo's post on Weddingbee this morning. Seen above is her recent DIY carnation bouquet and I could not be more enthusiastic with the results of her $14 investment. Simple, chic and lush, this bouquet is an easy task for even the most novice of DIY florists. I'm convinced!

J.Crew Final Sale.

2008-07-25T04:30:00.001-07:00

Desperately seeking something cute and chic to wear to a late summer wedding? J.Crew's Final Sale is going on now and with the promo code EXTRA20 at checkout, you can score an extra 20% off of already super low prices.

Casbah-print Mia Dress now $29.99 before 20% off

Originally $150

Printed Linen Antonia Dress now $49.99 before 20% off

Originally $165

Deco-dot Zoey Dress now $59.99 before 20% off
Originally $88

I myself picked up the now sold out Deco-dot Embossed Sundress in the gorgeous soft fuchsia for just $75 after tax and shipping, originally $120.

C

Papyrus.

2008-07-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

I was in Target recently and stumbled upon a cute card for a girlfriend's bridal shower. I flipped the card over and caught my breath slightly at this:

The Hummingbird

Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. Hummingbirds open our eyes to the wonder of the world and inspire us to open our hearts to loved ones and friends. Like a hummingbird, we aspire to hover and to savor each moment as it passes, embraced all that life has to offer and to celebrate the joy of everyday. The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation.

Not only does Papyrus embody everything that inspires me, but they also have a lot of really cute designs including cards, stationary, thank you cards, and stamps.

Thank you!

2008-07-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

To everyone on Weddingbee and Etsy who have replied to my posts about a logo, thank you so much! The response has been overwhelming and I am completely in awe trying to decide who to pick. To say the least, I am beyond excited to have this underway. I look forward to unveiling the new logo design as soon as I can decide on one of the many talented designers who have contacted me.

Somehow, in one day, this suddenly became wonderfully and beautifully real. Amazing.

C

Seeking Graphic Designer.

2008-07-17T17:39:00.001-07:00

Obsessed with everything design related? Absolutely. Graphic designer? That I am not.

Currently, I am seeking a great freelance graphic designer to help with the logo design for Sweet Occasions. I have an idea in mind based on my late grandmother and her tremendous spirit, but do not feel entirely capable of adequately relaying this into a visual product on my own. Additionally, I hope to incorporate an element of the logo as a motif throughout our wedding planning process. Page layouts, invitation design, basic website design - those are things I can handle and look forward to tackling. Developing the main graphic for the logo is not something I am comfortable taking on myself so I would love to work with a talented, reasonably priced graphic designer to get the job done. My preference would be to offer an opportunity to a freelance designer who is newly established or continuing to grow a personal business. Any suggestions? Please let me know if you know about a great designer/artist who can help me out.

C

My Aquamarine Dilemma.

2008-07-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

Aquamarine hues and all associated shades of soft ocean blues and rich teals undoubtedly represent my favorite color family. I am immediately drawn to soft aquas in home decor, clothing, accessories and shoes. One would assume, as my mother did, that it was a no brainer that my wedding color palette would be heavy on aquamarine. On the contrary, I have been somewhat forcing myself away from aqua for the simple fact that it has been my favorite color and will continue to be my favorite color long before it was trendy. Many years prior to the advent of the Tiffany Blue wedding, I was in love with Robin's egg blue.

In my quest for a timeless, classic, beautiful and breathtaking wedding, the thought of anything overly trendy makes me shudder. The ladies of today opting for bright, bold palettes incorporated with bold damask patterns and overly retro hairstyles have made decisions resulting in gorgeous weddings. Yet I know this is not for me as I would be remiss were I to look back and be able to pinpoint mine as a wedding befitting only the year 2009. I have posted about this before when I introduced my first two palette ideas. Yet the harder I push myself away from aqua, the more I seem to gravitate toward it every time I see a photo that captures my eye in a magazine or one of the many bridal blogs I faithfully stalk every morning over coffee at work.

My quest now shifts to determining whether or not I deem it possible to incorporate aqua in my wedding without the result being too today. The fact of the matter, being my favorite color it is a certainty that aqua will always be timeless to my eye so carefully editing myself is where it would become vital to ensure things not get too trendy. This is my first attempt at a color palette based primarily on various monochromatic shades of aquamarine. Any thoughts on how it worked out?

Other color palettes I hope to work on include aqua combined with a great charcoal gray, one featuring soft monochromatic shades of layered whites, creams, ivories and soft yellows, and another of charcoal paired with a deep rich purple. Check back and let me know what you think!

Save the Date(s).

2008-07-14T19:33:00.000-07:00

After much deliberation and assorted venue visits (details forthcoming) our wedding dates have been set. Yes. Wedding dates, as in multiple dates. On Friday, July 17, 2009 we will be wed in a private 5:30pm ceremony among only our closest friends, immediate family and grandparents. We will follow our ceremony with an intimate dinner with those closest to us. The following day, Saturday, July 18, 2009 we will be sharing a day full of sight seeing fun throughout the Thousand Islands with our friends, family and any out of town guests who wish to join us. That evening we will host a reception for 175 in a beautiful room with panoramic views of the St. Lawrence River. Our weekend will be somewhat atypical, especially personalized, and exactly what we hoped to achieve by creating a budget-friendly event allowing us to spend ample time with our loved ones. Add in a trip to Long Island the weekend before when one of my closest grad school friends gets married on Saturday, July 11, 2009 and July is booking fast in terms of obligations of the wedding goodness variety.

This summer is also packed tight with matrimonial celebrations. I am in, attending or assisting with weddings on a minimum of August 9, August 16, and September 6 with multiple bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and engagement parties tossed in for good measure. In the meantime, I am digging through the treasure troves of wedding blogs and Martha Stewart Weddings sweetness in effort to capture every potential source of inspiration I can. As the pieces of our own plans begin to fall into place, I promise posts in the near future on our choice of venues, photographer, additional inspiration boards and more sweet wedding ideas than you knew possible, all while keeping you up to date on the development of the website I am hoping to have up in the next few months.

Have I mentioned how very much I love weddings?

Newspapers & Emails.

2008-06-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

The latest of ideas is slowly beginning to form in my brain, but it has yet to take any definite shape or form. Perhaps someone out there will have some ideas to help me along in my brainstorming process...

The guy I happily refer to as my future husband has a passion for newspapers. On the weekends his morning paper and bowl of Quaker Oh's cereal are the highlight of his day. During the week he reads the paper with his afternoon snack after a long day of teaching. When we are traveling he will inevitably gravitate toward newspapers in stores, left behind in cafés, and in the homes of family and friends. It recently dawned on me that it would be really great idea to incorporate his love for newspapers in our wedding, but I have yet to think of a great idea on how best to do so. Any thoughts?

The other element I would love to somehow incorporate includes select excerpts from the many dozens of emails we have exchanged during our long distance courtship. Thanks to the archiving powers of Gmail I literally have copies of every single email we have ever exchanged. Those emails have played a large part in keeping us sane, keeping us connected and seeing us through to the day when we will finally be in one location. As that day quickly approaches, I would love to find a way to use these emails as inspiration during our wedding planning process. Any suggestions on how to include our love notes via email in our wedding?

I am usually a wealth of ideas. On these two points I am stuck beyond the initial concept of finding a way to include them. Suggestions welcome and appreciated!

New Favorites.

2008-06-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

My daily adventures across the vast expanses of wedding blogs has introduced me to some new favorites this week. Needless to say, my Google Reader list is expanding daily. Anyone else out there finding themselves increasingly enthralled with wedding blogs as you get deeper in the planning process? Share your favorites!

Without further ado, my latest finds in the genre of inspirational blogs...

Peonies and Polaroids

Ritzy Bee

Wedding Chicks

Sweet Things.

2008-06-20T18:47:00.000-07:00

It seems an appropriate time to explain the origins of my Sweet Things theme. If you feel so inclined, please join me for a short walk down memory lane to my earliest recollections of falling in love with life's small moments and oft overlooked simple pleasures.

In January, I lost my beloved maternal grandmother somewhat unexpectedly. It is impossible to articulate accurately all that this incredible woman meant to me. In her slight 5' frame she embodied a pure love for life that was innocent in its unwavering consistency and contagious in the radiant manner she emanated her shining spirit outward into the world. Her small home was surrounded by lush and expansive gardens featuring blooms of all colors, shapes, and textures. As a child I spent weeks at a time at her house, running outside in bare feet to collect tomatoes from the garden for fresh tomato sandwiches on sourdough bread for lunch. In the evenings we would take tall glasses of milk and cookies to the back porch where we would watch fireflies flickering for hours, just the two of us. In the mornings we would sneak up to the windows in hopes of catching a glimpse of a hummingbird or two fluttering about the feeders she had strung about the exterior of the house. Life with her was simple, pleasantly aromatic, delicious and delightful in a manner than involved no fanfare, no pomp nor circumstance.

My grandmother was one part flower child, a lover of nature, flowers and animals, and one part fashionista. By day we would roam around outside in cut-off shorts and tank tops in bare feet and undone hair. In the evenings, she would be cleaned up, made up with perfect hair and makeup, in outfits perfectly accessorized from her jewelry to her perfectly coordinated shoes. Her house was an ever-evolving abode of beautiful colors and patterns executed by way of her sewing prowess. She was passionate about life, laughter, family, throwing parties, eating good food, creating her own floral arrangements, and decorating top to bottom for Christmas. Everything she was she bestowed upon my mother and the two of them passed that spirit, that love for life, that longing for all things beautiful and delightful to myself.

In the far northern regions of upstate NY, there is a grave beneath a giant maple tree marked with a beautiful headstone carved with a hummingbird in mid-flight. While she may no longer be with us, Sweet Occasions is my dedication to my grandmother. In the months following her passing I have become acutely aware of just how precious life is, and just how short. Even in her death she inspires me still. This time she has inspired me to chase my dreams, follow my heart and shoot for nothing less than the extraordinary. Once the decision was made that, yes, I would finally begin to start the process of undertaking this venture of establishing my business as an event planner, the name came along rather quickly. My mother's maiden name, my grandmother's last names was Sweet. Sweet Occasions is essentially a play on words including both my grandmother's last name and celebrating those simple, sweet moments that make life worth living. Along the way, my own engagement has coincided with my new undertaking, making this time in my life especially meaningful. Sweet Things is a collection of random inspiration and day dreams as I journey down the path of all things weddings.

Currently, I am in the process of developing a logo and designing a beautiful website. As those details come together I will share them here. Additionally, I will share the process of planning my own wedding and various inspirations of note along the way. Basically, Sweet Things is a blend of all things beautiful and happy. I look forward to sharing with you the inner workings of a girl obsessed with beauty and weddings. In return, I hope you enjoy my craziness for any little smile it may bring you.

Chaussures à hauts talons!

2008-06-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

Yes! Gorgeous heels - what bridal trousseau would be complete without them? One part of my shoe-loving self relishes the idea of buying a dress for less on ebay and accessorizing with a grand pair of shoes I would never otherwise allow myself to purchase. The other part of my shoe-loving self is a queen for a bargain. What's a girl to do? As it turns out, there are quite a few options. My recent forays into shoe shopping turned up some stunning discoveries and I opted to pass along the information on my favorite picks of the week.

Up first, these gorgeous white satin Stuart Weitzmans. I have always wanted Stuart Weitzman bridal shoes! At just $70 these are not only gorgeous, but highly affordable for many budgets. Bonus - they are simple enough to be worn time and again far beyond the wedding day. Paired with a simple skirt or a cute summer dress, they could be enjoyed well into the future.

At some point after I had long ago decided I had to wear Stuart Weitzmans on my wedding day, I fell in love with Christian Louboutin and the rest is history. While I have yet to own a pair of the artistic genius that is this man's incredible work, I cannot help but dream that some day I shall be able to do so. In the dream world inside my head I find a killer dress on ebay for $50 and pair it with these knock-out shoes as my "something blue." No...at $760 they are not affordable for most people, but they make extremely delectable eye candy. I can picture myself busting them out for regular occasions afterward. With dark wash jeans for a dinner out on a weekend? Yes, please! As far as I am concerned, the world of shoes starts and ends right here. I am in love.

Sweetest Wedding - Southern California.

2008-06-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

I have to share this breathtaking wedding featured today on Style Me Pretty. This wedding is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and romantic affairs I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. I was on pins and needles all day today as I waited for Style Me Pretty's amazing Abby to post further details. I encourage you to take a visit and check it out for yourself. Everything about this wedding is utter perfection. From the favors to the barn décor to the wide smiles across the happy couple's faces, it is everything I hope for my own wedding to be. Here are a few of Abby's featured images by Leigh Miller to start you off...

C

Priorité.

2008-06-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

As soon as we knew we were getting married and had a rough idea of when, I immediately began to mentally catalog my top priorities with regards to designing the day of my dreams. In turn, I also began to tick off things that were of little to no concern to me. As our plans have progressed these priorities have helped to shape our vision and keep us on track. When I find myself struggling to stay on budget, I remind myself that I've never been a believer in stuffy, formal weddings so there is no reason to wander down that path simply because I love the idea of white glove hors d'oeuvre service.

Our priorities shape up something like this:

Location, location, location.
Date/time.
Photography.
Time with our closest family and friends.

Along the way, I realized I was willing to splurge on the above items and in doing so would be comfortable shaving my budge in other areas. A few of these areas include:

Dress & apparel.
Paper goods. [Save-the-dates, invitations, place cards, etc.]
Cake.
Size of the guest list.
Traditional ceremony immediately followed by reception schedule.
Flowers.

To better understand our vision, I will articulate a bit of why things have balanced out as they have. In the future, I will post specific details about each major component of the wedding as it comes together.

Location

We knew we wanted to secure a waterfront venue, preferably with some significance to us as a couple, near where I grew up. This immediately led us to deciding on a wedding in Alexandria Bay, NY in the heart of the Thousand Islands. It was the simplest of our decisions, but also one that did require us to come to peace with the premium prices charged in this small riverfront village as compared to surrounding towns. We decided early on that we were willing to pay the price.

Date/Time

Naturally, a wedding with a focus on a waterfront location leads one down the path of a summer wedding. Additionally, my fiancé is a teacher so a wedding during the school year would prevent us from having any real quality time together following the wedding unless we were able to coordinate the wedding festivities with a school break. Sure, one of the best ways to cut costs when planning a wedding is to pick a date during the "off season," but for us this just was not a reasonable option so it was quickly cast aside.

Time was also a crucial factor. I have always dreamed of a sunset wedding flooded with candlelight. The standard late afternoon ceremony start time would be a major thorn in my side, so our choice of venues was limited to those where an early evening ceremony would be possible.

Photography.

I am passionate about photography. I could write for hours about all of the ways that a beautiful black and white image captivates my imagination, but for the sake of brevity I will refrain from doing so. With that said, I have always known that breathtaking photography would be a major component when determining the specifics of our wedding day. Heirloom quality photographs to treasure for a lifetime are invaluable to me, so there was zero chance that we would be one of those couples cutting corners on photography.

Family/Friends Time.

I dread the thought of all of our family and friends gathering together in celebration and finding myself so crazed that we are unable to simply take in the moment with those closest to us. I am certain this is true of many brides, but for me it took on special meaning. I would rather forfeit the day all together than make the investment only to walk away without having made new memories with our family and best friends. Finding a way to allow for extended time with those nearest and dearest to our hearts is an essential component in the wedding of our dreams.

Regarding all of the many areas we believe we can sacrifice a bit, it was a simple decision. I am a DIY-aholic and will be gladly tackling as much as I can. Centerpieces, bouquets, all of the paper goods/stationary needs, favors, out of town bags, etc. We are keeping the guest list small to allow us to afford a spectacular venue and I will tirelessly hunt for a bargain on a gown to keep my budget intact and manageable. As much as I desire to look stunning, the fact that I will wear this dress once is not lost on me. I am not willing to look good at any cost - the cost is set and it is meager. Furthermore, I am confident I will pull it off amazingly well.

Details are forthcoming, but I wanted to share a sense of how we began the process and took inspiration from the things most important to us when making the early decisions. Prioritize. There exists nothing more essential than shaping a vision early and allowing it to set the tone and lead the way to the altar.

Carnations Reconsidered.

2008-06-11T17:59:00.000-07:00

I admit to possessing a life long predisposition against carnations. Somehow I have always associated them with that dread adjective cheap, and have never been particularly drawn to their shape as I am to many other flowers. I am a lover of flowers by nature, spending countless hours as a child in my grandmother's lush gardens, and yet this flower has long been at the top of my do not list. It may, in fact, be the only member of the exclusive do not club. Recently, it dawned on me that with carnations selling bulk at just $64 per 150 stems via online vendors such as Sam's Club, there must exist some way to utilize carnations in an upscale, chic and refined manner that would appease even my snotty attitude toward carnations.

Thus commenced my search for inspiring carnation applications. Always placing emphasis on ideas that can be easily translated into successful DIY projects for even a novice, my quest was surprisingly fruitful.

Colorful centerpiece arrangement @ City Florist

A breathtaking bouquet via Martha Stewart

Rose and carnation pomander from Unique Floral Expressions

Stunning white carnation centerpieces @ The Knot

I must admit to a growing affection for carnations. They possess a great, dynamic texture and clustered together in large monochromatic bunches allows them to pack a surprisingly strong visual impact. Purchased in bulk and assembled in simple arrangements would allow for a sweet, sophisticated look for even the smallest budget. A sleek all white centerpiece as seen above could be assembled from two dozens stems for a bargain at under $10.25 per arrangement.

Sweet, pretty and affordable, the carnation is worth reconsidering.

Inspiration.

2008-06-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

Early ventures into sourcing inspiration for a color palette have produced the following two inspiration boards.

My dream vision of a wedding has always been something timeless, classic, beautiful, romantic, and calming without being overly girly or fluffy. No ruffles or pink roses for this lady. Shades of blue, lots of monochromatic flowers in shades of white and an abundance of candles rank high on my list of musts with regards to a palette. I will work tirelessly to avoid a color scheme that will cause me to cringe years from now. While I love the bright bold weddings that are all the rage right now, I personally dread to imagine what my perception would be years from now. Unlike the embarrassment now surrounding dresses and veils of the 80s, I do not want a wedding that screams 2009. I desire a wedding that is chic and effortless. Think Grace Kelly of the new century with tiny touches of vintage sweetness, while gracefully staying far clear of the line where things simply become a second rate reproduction of the original. Timeless, refined elegance.

Ocean blue, shades of ivory, with hints of chocolate brown.

Navy blue, bright white, and carefully chosen pops of kelly/lime green.

Début.

2008-06-05T16:43:00.000-07:00

And so it begins...

The seed that ultimately led to this day was planted long ago. I cannot remember a moment in my life when I was not fascinated with the aesthetic environment around me. As a child I spent hours with my grandmother in her extensive and lush gardens, smelling and tending to the colorful blooms. Using construction paper and crayons I would sketch out miniature floorplans of my bedroom and instruct my father on precisely how I desired my furniture to be arranged. After a while I had used up so many rolls of film my parents went on strike and refused to continue paying for film development. No outfit was complete without careful regard to the balance between classic design and fashion forward accents.

From childhood the fascination has continued. Harboring a deeply rooted passion for interior design, architecture, photography, fashion and graphic design, a college education in architecture was a natural progression. Since that time I have recognized my love for beauty extends beyond the built environment and largely rests in those rare, minute details that have long been the focus of my lens as an amateur photography. The way the light falls across the fluted column of the porch of a Greek Revival home, the texture of grossgrain ribbon, the faded artwork on the worn cover of a favorite novel, the red lacquer sole of a Christian Louboutin heel, the smoothness of the interior of a lined envelope, the richness of embossed monogrammed stationary. Tiny details brought to life on a grand scale capture my imagination, cause me to bite my lower lip in contemplation, and leave me scrambling to paste cut sheets into a scrapbook so I can be sure never to forget another great idea.

For me, the one venue where all of these remarkable things settle together in happy marriage is in the arena of weddings...

Weddings. As a child I was rather ironically never concerned with nor fascinated by either the concept of marriage nor the thought of becoming a bride. Enter college years spent in the studio, stressed and sleepless, and slowly by way of the companionship of other women, adoration for all things Martha Stewart, and the introduction of bridal magazines into my life weddings became a breath of fresh air in the midst of a pressure cooker of an educational environment. My best friend and I would joke that we should quit school and become wedding planners, always in jest. Over the course of the last several years, my jokes have become dreams, and now I aim to bring those dreams to life.

I have always been an unspoiled lover of celebration, togetherness, and shared moments with loved ones. It was not until recently that I discovered that I have unknowingly spent much of my life planning events. Birthday parties for friends through college, dinner parties, holiday celebrations, housewarming parties, bridal showers, camping trips, dinner out with friends. No sooner is one event in progress and my brain is alight with ideas for the next. From the invitations to the cuisine to the drinks to the décor, my mind is a constant flurry of ideas and inspiration. I love how a wedding, a birthday party, an anniversary party, a bridal shower, a housewarming party all serve to carve out rare moments of togetherness in the fast paced existence to which most of us are accustomed. Smiles, laughter, memories, snapshots of warmth that last a lifetime.

In the coming months, I will be not only planning my own wedding, but also embarking on the first steps toward launching an event planning venture. Sweet Things will follow those adventures, help me to not only track my great finds and inspiration, but also to share those ideas and discoveries with others. A certified fan of wedding and design blogs, I will work to diversify my blog from others, drawing attention to inspiring posts on my favorite blogs as they capture my imagination. Today, it begins.

Bienvenue.