I'm a happy-go-lucky do-gooder and owner of Va de Vie Events. Through this blog, I hope to share inspiration, budget ideas and DIY tips on how to pull off a budget wedding. {Savvy shopping, a bit of craftiness, and flexibility is what it takes!} I would love to hear from real brides, vendors, photographers, and more with their budget savvy tips or real weddings. Please email me at vera at vadevie-events.com.
You can also check out my underground dining adventures on Canvas Underground, by clicking here.
NOTE: In accordance with new FTC regulations, vendors I spotlight on my blog have not sponsored me or their post in any way -- it's strictly editorial and because I admire their work. I also credit photography as best I can and will gladly take it down if necessary. Thank you.
Masthead and profile photos were taken by Davina plus Daniel Photography (c) 2010. All rights reserved.
With 6 weeks to go, we've just begun to get our act together in getting our details wrapped up. (Not to mention, I've got 4 more weddings to coordinate before ours!)
Tonight, we have our last meeting with Reverend Wilson to review our ceremony. I'm very excited, not only because Reverend Wilson is tons of fun (it's hard not to smile around him) but also because I'll finally get started on printing our programs.
In the last few days, we've been able to check off the following and feel a little bit more sane:
Mail our invitations -- Genevieve Walker created a fabulous custom wedding map for us to enclose with our invites (will share once our guests receive the invites first!)
Ask our uber-talented friends, Jessica, soprano, to sing me down the aisle (to the song that always brings tears to my eyes) and Jard, classical guitar, to mesmerize us with his mad guitar skills for our ceremony at Christ Church of Sausalito
Order uplights from ImpactSF - blue for the stage (where we'll dance) and amber for the reception hall
My friend, Patrina, introduced me to Ava Le of Le's Kitchen Catering a couple years ago and ever since, I've been a fan and have even hired her for a couple events. If you're looking for contemporary Asian cuisine, look no further. [By the way, the banh mi, or Petite Asian Chicken Baguettes (see above; sliced and marinated chicken in five spices served with pickled cucumbers, carrots and daikon radish over buttered French baguette) are amazing!]
Here's my interview with Ava:
1. Why did you decide to go into catering? What are you passionate about?
I was very fortunate to grow up in a large family where the culture of food was a staple in and of itself. My mother has been a chef ever since I can remember, so growing up, I consistently found myself in the family kitchen or at my mother's restaurant watching her create delicious meals that brought so many people together. Even after graduating from college with a degree in business and economics, culinary arts continued to play a large role in my everyday life. So it was natural that I ended up back where it all began for me and ventured into business with my mother. With my business and management background, and her culinary excellence, we created Le’s Kitchen (she is the Le of Le’s Kitchen!); a boutique family-run catering company with a passion for bringing together the very best flavors from my childhood memories and her rich history. In my experience, nothing brings people closer together than warm and inviting meals, whether you are creating them, or simply enjoying them together.
2. How would you describe your style? What do you think sets you apart from other caterers?
Traditional yet Elegant and Simple. I believe Le’s Kitchen has been successful because we have been able to bridge together the gap between today’s chic generation of Asian Americans with that of our parents and ancestors. We are one of the very few offsite Asian wedding caterers, and we are able to take the traditional Asian wedding banquet out of the restaurant and bring it into our couple’s beautiful venue of choice, whether it is a winery, grand ballroom, art gallery, museum, or even their backyard. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. We allow our couples to honor their families with a traditional banquet, and at the same time, the couple can bring in their own contemporary style and sophistication.
3. What is your favorite part of a wedding?
For me it would have to be the dancing portion. When all the “I do’s” are said, people are fed, drinks are served, and cake is cut, it’s time for people to let loose and just relax. By this time of the evening, the bride and groom are fully relaxed with most of the day's activities behind them. Everyone just gets on the dance floor and you can feel the energy, love, and relief of pressure exuding from the dance floor.
4. What has been your favorite wedding so far? What made it so special?
I don’t know if I can pick a favorite wedding, but I definitely have favorite moments from the weddings we’ve catered over the years. I catered a wedding where the couple was probably the most reserved people you’ll ever meet. But when the day came, they surprised their guests with a live serenade while both playing the guitar. Both had been taking lessons! All the guests were shocked and amazed when they took the stage. It was a great gift from such an unlikely couple!
5. What would be your dream wedding to cater?
Over the years we have catered for so many wonderful clients and in many beautiful venues. But I would have to say any destination wedding would be lovely.
Most wedding reception venues require that you get special event insurance ($1 million liability coverage). I was searching for that and I came across "Protect My Wedding." I was surprised that in addition to liability, there's a whole lot more covered for only $360 (according to the premium calculator on Travelers Insurance):
Ruined attire (dress, suit)
Lost deposits
Lost rings
Severe weather
Transportation shutdown
Ruined photos
Stolen gifts
No-shows
Accidental injury or damages
According to Claims Magazine, 40% of wedding insurance claims were because of vendors or venues going bankrupt. Twenty-two percent of claims were a result of key family members not being able to attend due to sickness, untimely death and travel delays.
So, did you consider wedding insurance or did you actually buy the premium?
With all that could potentially go wrong, it seems like a small price to pay after all -- even for this bride on a budget.
I was on my way to rendezvous with Guitar Fred, when I walked by a cute store that beckoned to me with a wall of succulents. Yes, a wall. My jaw dropped and I wandered in and to the right, I saw a wall of jewel-toned vintage glass and plenty of fine white milk glass (which is what we're using in our 10/10/10 wedding). I then realized that this was the new retail shop for Gorgeous and Green Events by Pilar Zuniga that I had heard about from three of my bride-clients!
I have admired Pilar's work from afar and I was excited to get up close and personal. Brides -- if you're looking to bring inspiration you see on Style Me Pretty or 100 Layer Cake to life, you must stop here. If you decide to DIY, you can purchase or rent pieces from Pilar. Or, just hire her! The following is my interview with Pilar.
Q. How did you get started?
A.I've always been crafty and creative and grew up doing floral design with my Aunt, but I really jumped in to wedding and event design with my own wedding. My husband and I wanted to plan a celebration that would be sustainable and not as polluting as most weddings and events. So, I did a lot of research and started to become my own green wedding expert. After helping a few friends, I decided to start a business.
Q. What do you love most about designing events? What inspires you?
A. I love being creative. A full day of work will go by and I won't realize it, because I get to use my brain and make things with my hands, it's what I love. I try to get inspired by the people I work with and their stories. Of course, I also get inspired by living things, plants, flowers, animals, the forest, etc. I also like most things vintage, so I'm partial to the 1940's and 1960's and everything kitchy about old eras, like Candy stores from Willy Wonka or Diamonds, Pearls and Silk and Black and White movies from Hollywood.
As a wedding coordinator, a lot of my clients ask me for recommendations for bridal makeup and hair. One of my recent “discoveries” is Dianna Perona of I-Do’s Wedding Hair, based in Palo Alto.
Since I’m getting married this year too, I had Dianna give me a hair trial. Our wedding style will be vintage, with a dash of Southern bluegrass goodness. I’m planning to wear a birdcage veil and Dianna recommended I go with finger waves. It turned out very cute!
I asked her to share what brides should bring to a hair consultation and perhaps this might help you in your search for a hair stylist:
My trial-run appointments are 2-hours long. We would have a thorough discussion about all of the details of the day and then choose different hair looks to try. The end result is a custom hair design for their signature bridal look. I would ask that they bring a camera, any veil or headpiece that they may have, any magazine pictures of styles they like, a picture of the dress, and invite a girlfriend, a mom, etc. - Dianna Perona, I-Do's Wedding Hair
As for pricing, brides can save money by getting their hair done at a stylist's studio versus on-site. For example, some stylists, like Dianna require a minimum (usually $1,000) for on-site hair and makeup (that's $200 for the bride and $150 for all others). Otherwise, if the bride and her attendants get done up at the stylist's salon/studio, they aren't held to a minimum (as is the case with Dianna). This can also allow you to be flexible in choosing a makeup artist; if you do your homework, perhaps you can find a makeup artist that works for Benefit, MAC or She Uemura and gigs on the side (and may possibly charge less than a stylist who does both hair and makeup). In the end, it's helpful to have a wide range of options for bridal makeup and hair.
If you're on a budget and willing to go to a salon in the same town you're getting married, I suggest you look into it as it usually costs a little bit less than hiring a makeup artist to go on location. At the same time, definitely schedule a consultation regardless if the stylist works out of a salon/studio or independent (on-site) -- you want to be sure whomever you end up choosing is the right fit in terms of being able to execute the look you want to achieve and also if their personality and professionalism suits you.
P.S. In case you're wondering, I'm going with a makeup artist who will be doing my makeup and hair on-site (at our hotel). I'll reveal who in a future post!
This is really lovely, isn't it? And it's only $110! Local San Francisco designer, Christine Aiko Beck of Aiko Designs creates necklaces, earrings and bracelets such as these by hand. She describes her style as "sophisticated and elegant, organic yet ethereal." Her designs are "thoughtful" and she places great value on the details. Read my interview with Christine on the Bay Area Bride Guide. And check out more of her lovely designs, many under $150! The Stars earrings are my favorite! I can see that being a sweet gift. :)
I'd like you to meet Elizabeth Hurley. No, not Hugh Grant's ex. I'm talking about a talented San Francisco wedding photographer with an exquisite eye, organic and earthy style and easy on the budget (I couldn't believe my eyes) without sacrificing quality!
I met Elizabeth (Beth) at a wedding fair at the Four Seasons a couple weeks ago. I was immediately impressed by her style: vintage wire baskets held 11x14 mats dedicated to three unique weddings and the tables were accented with branches and peonies. Beth was also very friendly and flipping through the photos, I sensed that her clients were relaxed and clearly felt comfortable with Beth's direction.
Guitar Fred and I have been staycationing a lot. While most people have their 3-day weekends planned in South Lake Tahoe two-hours away or down south in Los Angeles, we have been sticking around the San Francisco Bay Area to save money. It's apt that this 3-day weekend, Guitar Fred and I are meeting with a travel agent (and former grad school alum) -- Guisselle Nunez -- of Mundi Travel to start planning our honeymoon, especially since we're setting up a "honeyfund" as our registry.
I've been dreaming about honeymooning in Southern Spain, especially Barcelona, and Fred is excited too (especially since he's a Spanish and flamenco guitarist). However, my best friend just got back from a week in Hawaii. I haven't been since I was 2-years old and I don't think that counts. Fred's never been to Hawaii and since it's much closer, we might get more bang for our buck staying domestic.
So that's where Guisselle comes in. I know we could book our travel on our own with the plethora of travel sites, like Expedia, Orbitz, etc. but I don't want to leave my travel to the hands of an impersonal automated system especially when I'm too busy entertaining our families and friends in the days before the wedding.
Guisselle sent us these questions to start. How would you answer these? (I'll answer them in a few, gotta run to our appointment now!)
What kind of trip experience do you seek, relaxation, active, etc?
For the San Francisco brides, every Thursday on the brand-new Bay Area Bride Guide, I'm going to introduce you to local vendors you should consider in your search. I've found these vendors on my own, probably like you have -- combing wedding websites, blogs, online review sites, Craigslist, you name it.
In the coming weeks, you'll be meeting an affordable jeweler with ethereal tastes, the most outgoing hair stylist I've ever met to date, and a down-to-earth photographer with a great eye.
On this inaugural post, I'm pleased to introduce you to Aaron Lee, of Aaron Lee Films, based in San Francisco, whom my colleague, Corina Beczner of Vibrant Events recommended. I've enjoyed Aaron's videos, as seen on his website, and his amiable personality shines through!
Wow, it's tough to choose one part of the wedding day as my favorite. But I'm going to go with the vows. That's truly the moment. Up there, in front of everyone, eye to eye with each other, and you make that commitment, you say those words, tears roll, and you cross a threshold in life.
What has been your favorite wedding so far? What made it so special?
One of my favorite weddings was Heatherose and James. I think that the couple's clearly unique style, and intense love for each other and their circle of friends made for such an emotional day. Add in the dramatic setting of the Scottish Rite temple in Oakland, and the pure good luck of working with Ben Chrisman and I can't think of a wedding that inspired me more. Heatherose and James are fearless people. They take life seriously, and celebrate love.
What would be your dream wedding to film?
I want to film a Philippine wedding. Like, "in the Philippines" Philippine. I don't know if you're familiar with the weddings there, but I love the culture, the architecture, the family bonds, and the desire of the clients to have amazing videos. It's a big deal over there. Videographers are hired before the photographers. Imagine that!
One of my passions is gardening and I love tea parties. But I don't want the traditional English tea party you can have at ultra-girly tea parlors around the San Francisco Bay Area. Since most of my girl friends live in the area, I didn't want to go very far for my bridal shower and unfortunately we all live in apartments or condos without gardens of our own. And there's where Flora Grubb Gardens comes in. I've put in an inquiry to see if she'll let my gals host an intimate bridal shower, and I'll keep you posted. Here's some photos that will show you why I'm digging Flora Grubb Gardens (pun intended).
I find myself drawn to design that makes me smile, and I'm glad Erin Jang's work is available on Bella Figura, an eco-friendly wedding letterpress company. Granted, this is not for the $10K bride's budget, but definitely The Indigo Bunting gives me some ideas on how to possibly layout the menu cards, etc.
I used to work at a design firm, but I'm by no means a designer and instead a project manager. It seems that the most successful bride DIYers are also graphic designers so I was starting to feel a little discouraged with the prospect of committing myself to DIY projects until I stumbled across Two Yellow Shoes. I was excited to learn that founder and creative director, Laura Larson, offers custom digital templates in your color palette for a fairly reasonable price. Using the templates, you can print the files on your own at home or have the flexibility to choose a local vendor who offers competitive pricing on paper stock and printing.
Since we have a bird motif, I liked the Custom Scrolls and Bird template (top 2 images, ranging from $20 and up depending on what you pick and choose). But I do also like the Wildflower digital package (bottom 2 images, $55). Any thoughts?
Boo. Carol Hannah didn't win Project Runway, but at least we can still count on her bright, colorful designs (unlike Irina's somber all-black fashion)! Although they aren't on a $10,000 wedding budget, I thought you might want to check out these fun bridesmaid dresses by the Southern belle turned New Yorker for a bit of inspiration in your search. My favorite is the pink one because it's flirty like the dresses I got for my bridesmaids.
Last week, I introduced you to Alison O. of Two for Two Cakes. Here's a real wedding she was happy to share with us:
The cake was for a couple who were having a very traditional but fun ceremony. They are young and wanted their cake to represent that, but also to be a little bit elegant. This is why they went with a muted color palette of ivory, pearl, gold and a light terracotta. Surrounding the cake on the table were favors that Alison made for the guests. Each box contained a miniature sized cupcake in one of the four flavors that the cake consisted of: Aunt Chickie's Red Velvet, Bea's Banana, Aunt Jean's Chocolate Chip, and Traditional Wedding Cake with Organic Strawberries.
We've started our search for our wedding cake and our ideal price point is $8 and under. Alison O. of Two for Two Cakes is a wedding vendor we found via Yelp and I'm totally excited to meet her at our tasting on December 6. The three cakes we're sampling from her menu of 9 signature flavors are the Aunt Chickie's Red Velvet (Red Velvet with Cinnamon & Cocoa, Toasted Pecans and Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting), Bea's Banana (Banana Cake, Heath Bar Toffee Bits, Vanilla or Chocolate Buttercream) and German Chocolate (Fudgy Chocolate Cake, Coconut-Pecan Custard, Dark Chocolate Ganache).
I asked her to share a little bit about herself and she was happy to oblige. (P.S. You can follow her on Twitter @242cakes.) I'll also share a recent Two for Two Cake creation later this week! Stay tuned.
1) How did you get started?
I started Two for Two Cakes while I was in culinary school because I realized that what I truly loved about baking was that when I did it, I always felt like I was making something for someone else and it was going to make them happy. It was a very different feeling than when I cooked. And a wedding is the ultimate expression of happiness so I was really drawn to creating them for others. The creative outlet was something that I have always needed in my life and this business allows me to express that energy.
2) What do you love most about making wedding cakes?
Two Things: I love meeting couples, learning about them and coming up with a cake design to reflect their personalities and their reception. Having spent years working in education and with families, I really do value making personal connections. Weddings, by nature, are very personal so getting to know the couple and allowing them to get to know me is a highlight. My favorite part of the actual cake creation is when the cake is "naked" or unadorned and I get to sit down and put the final touches on it and see it become what I had envisioned it would be.
3) What's your fave part (or moment) about weddings?
I love to see how all the elements come together: the flowers, the room, lighting, fabrics. Setting that cake up on the table and stepping back to look at it is incredible.
4) Sky's the limit, what would be your dream creation?
My dream is to have creative control over an entire cake table. There would be a couple of tiered cakes, different from one another, but complimentary. There would be mini cupcakes and French macarons, candies and pastries, flowers and petit fours, all displayed on beautiful vintage glassware. Very fanciful, very whimsical.
5) What sets you apart from others?
I believe strongly that what I am creating is food. Both taste and design are equally important in making a wedding cake, or any other type of special occasion cake. For this reason, I make sure that our cakes are made using only high quality ingredients and organic fruits, never frozen, and made with only pure butter (no shortening). But what really sets us apart is customer service. Since we are small and I am hands on in every aspect, I really believe in ensuring that clients are heard and that their vision is realized, and that they can call, email, or text me directly with any questions or concerns they have. I meet with customers for additional consultations and tastings to ensure they get exactly what they want. And I offer resources when they are having trouble finding vendors for other aspects of their event.
{Above is a mock-up of a design they did for me using my own vintage white milk glass vase.}
Here are a couple ladies you should meet: Imogene and Luzelle of IdeaL {floral art and design} based in the East Bay. I've met with them a few times to see if they're a good fit for our wedding floral design, and I sure do like 'em...and their pricing is affordable since they are still building their portfolio -- as I am with Va de Vie Events. I asked them to share a little about themselves:
1. How did you get started? How did you meet?
We are cousins! We grew up together...and are best friends too! We both have always had a creative itch....we helped with friends'/families' weddings and parties, and even did my own wedding (Luzelle). After a couple years we realized that we should just start our company and go for it! We always had it in the back of our minds but never really did anything about it. One day I asked Imo if she wanted to start the business...when she said,"yeah!" Then we took off from there! We were official in May 2009! Yay!
2. What's your favorite moment in a wedding?
Watching the couple do their first dance...you see so much love and emotion between the newlyweds! A lot of times it is so sweet it makes you melt!
3. What's your inspiration?
Our inspiration is the client's personality and the style that she/he describes....it's so much fun to explore different ideas and pick at the clients' brains! So our inspiration truly differs every time.
4. What should brides look for when selecting a floral designer?
Brides should make sure they are working with someone who is personable and easy to deal with. We think that it's important that you have a good connection with your florist, as well as with every other vendor you decide on. You want to work with someone who can suggest different ideas but and also cater to the style that you want. You also have to feel like you trust your florist. Flowers are an important aspect of a wedding and will set the tone of the event so you want to make sure they know what they are doing. We also believe it is important to work within a client's ideal budget. We understand the value of money and if there is something that a client truly has to have, we do our best to make that happen by helping them choose other options that will allow them to.
5. What's your favorite flower?
We really love dahlias and peonies! They are fun and can bring a lot of life to an arrangement. We also love how romantic they are.
You might have already sat through a bunch of video clips trying to figure out whether or not hiring a videographer for $3,000+ is worth it. I had just about given up on hiring a videographer when I met the wife-husband team, Christy and Mike Wohlert, behind W. Video Productions. Their video of Jeff and Heather is splendid. I honestly have never been riveted by other wedding videos online (okay, except for that infamous dance-down-the-aisle to Chris Brown Youtube video) until I watched Jeff and Heather's!
As I mentioned before, I'm a reality TV addict. As I watched W. Video Productions work, I felt as if I were watching a show and I compelled to watch it to the very end. Eclectic shots were blended together into a fabulous music video that highlighted the best moments of the day. I also found their shooting and editing techniques to be sophisticated, the music choice not too cheesy and appropriate, and the price just right! In fact, $1,200-2,500 is such a reasonable price. You've probably got friends like mine who paid 2-3x as much for a video, or those who paid less and got mediocre work.
I interviewed W. Video Productions to share a little insight on their style and inspiration:
1. Why did you decide to go into video? What are you passionate about?
We decided to go into video in part because we didn't have a videographer for our wedding and it's something that we really regret. We had a friend with a little hand held who did his best to put together something nice, but when we look back at the day, we wish we would have had something more professional - after all, it's something we'll have for the rest of our lives. Maybe we should have taken the money we spent on chair covers and put it towards a videographer :0).
The thing we're most passionate about is capturing the emotion in a wedding and creating a video that displays that emotion and feeling.
2. How would you describe your style? What do you think sets you apart from other videographers?
We have a very modern and artistic style. We shoot more like a photojournalist than like a typical videographer. We like to be creative with angles, focus, and depth of field, which gives a fresh and engaging look to the video. Anybody can turn on a video camera and shoot video. The thing that sets us apart is the ability to capture the emotion of the day, and from that, create the Art Film. The Art Film is our favorite part of our package, and is an artistic 5 minute "music video" containing some of the best shots of the day. Its our way of creatively interpreting and expressing the couple's wedding day in a piece they can share with all their friends and family.
3. What is your favorite part of a wedding? Is it clique to say that our favorite part is when the bride walks down the isle and we shoot the grooms reaction? It's incredible to capture that moment. We also really enjoy the toasts...we have heard some of the best, most hilarious, most touching, emotional toasts and also some awkward ones. That's a part of the wedding that you really don't know what to expect.
4. How do you know what music to use? Clips?
Weddings give off a certain vibe from the couple, the ceremony and also the location/decor. We try and find songs that express that same vibe. Also, we like to use songs that grab you emotionally. If a piece of music can make you feel something inside, it's a great piece to use.
5. What has been your favorite wedding so far? What made it so special?
This is a hard one. Each wedding is so unique and special in it's own way. We'd have to say that our favorite wedding was one of the first weddings we shot and we were just getting started with the business. We got a call the day before the wedding from a friend of the groom. He shared with us that they didn't have money budgeted for the wedding video and would love to let us come and shoot the wedding to help build our portfolio. The wedding was spectacular. The couple that got married was so in love. They have the kind of love that makes you want to be a better spouse. And, everything about the day was perfect. We'll be talking about that wedding for a while.
6. What would be your dream wedding to film?
Shooting a wedding in another country would be pretty amazing. We love to travel, and you learn a lot culturally from being a part of a wedding ceremony in another country.
Thanks for sharing, Christy and Mike (the happy and talented couple below)!
Apologies for the long break, my darlings. My first post on Weddzilla.com is in the queue and so I can't share with you my tips on throwing a budget bachelorette party in Las Vegas until it's published. I didn't win big, not even a $1 on penny slots in Vegas, but Fred and I did find out we won Davina + Daniel's free photography contest! According to Davina + Daniel, what sold them were keywords such as "romantic glam and crafty chic,” zooey deschanel, “retro-pop whimsy,” vintage white milk glass compotes, guitar pick boutonnieres… but what really sold [them] was their vision for a carnival-themed cocktail hour, “complete with mini corndogs, a gourmet mustard bar, a kissing booth, a ring toss, vintage photo booth, and caramel apples.” Davina + Daniel sold us on them: their photojournalistic style oozes with sophistication and yet balances it with a playful spirit and warmth. We loved Davina + Daniel's wedding photos of Johanna and Noah on July 5 -- it was just what we are hoping for in terms of a balanced mix of lighting, black and white shots, rich/deep color saturation, softness and....sassiness! They are flying all the way from Montreal, Quebec to shoot our wedding next fall. We can't wait to show them around Sausalito, where our wedding is taking place! Above is the inspiration board we submitted to Davina + Daniel that we are continuing to build on it. And thought you should also check out some samples of their work that won us over:
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