We are moving...

Dear Blogger Readers,

We have a mix feeling today! We are happy to announce that we are moving to a new blog but at the same time, we are sad to say bye to blogger... This blog has been with us even since we started in 2007. We will miss all the great features here but we are excited about our new blog on the other hand.

Readers, please keep follow us to our new blog at amysweddingevents.com/blog. We look forward seeing you there, and hope you will like it. =)

Love,
Amy's Wedding & Events and Team

Inspired Wednesday

Summer Color Inspiration Board

The Color: White + Brown + Green
The Mood: Earthy Green

A palette of white, brown and green, with a hint of peaches in the bridal bouquets and dresses makes this a beautiful casual garden wedding. The colors are neutral and the earthy tones are perfect for a relaxed and intimate gathering in a garden, where you can enjoy nature’s natural beauty and fresh air.


Photo Credits:
Pam Scott Photography, Langham Pasadena Wedding Photography, Style Me Pretty, Lane Dittoe Photography

~Jenn

Inspired Wednesday

Summer Color Inspiration Board

The Color: Eggplant + Black

Stylish, Chic and Posh are all words that describe the look of this wedding. With black vases and accent pieces accompanying a rich color like eggplant, this wedding is very modern, unique and beautiful.



Photo Credits:
Trevor Vieweg Photography, Stephanie Williams Photography, Etsy, Wedding By Color

~Jenn

Inspired Wednesday

Spring color inspiration board #3

The colors: Silver peony and silver cloud...

This board presents a very country, vintage and casual wedding for spring time. Great for a garden wedding and a casual atmosphere that is fun, relaxed, and feminine.



Photo Credits:
Wedding Flowers, Santa Barbara Chic Blog, Elizabeth Anne Designs, Sara Gray Photography, Oh So Beautiful Paper, Wedding Inspirasi, Life with a little cheers blog, Erica Obrien Cake

~Jenn

The Knot - 12 Worst Pieces of Wedding Advice

Reading today on MSN Lifestyle and found something interesting for the newly engaged couples when planning the special day. Here's the article:

12 Worst Pieces of Wedding Advice
Brides share the most awful tips they've been given while planning their wedding.

By Anne Roderique-Jones

1. Bad advice: "My grandmother told me that I must wear a white dress or else people will start thinking that I'm not a virgin. I'm a 30-year-old bride who has been living with my fiance for six years."

What you should do: This "rule" is completely antiquated. In fact, there are probably quite a few engaged virgins out there who will choose to wear ivory (gasp!) on their wedding day. Wear whichever color you love that looks best with your skin tone. In fact, white works best on darker skin tones, and ivory shades flatter lighter skin.

2. Bad advice: "It's YOUR wedding, and this day is all about YOU!"

What you should do: It is your wedding day, but don't forget the little people. Treat your wedding party (and guests) with respect. For instance, let your bridesmaids help choose their dresses, and don't have a cash bar.

3. Bad advice: "Type up and print generic thank-you notes ahead of time, and just slap a label with your names on them instead of signing them."

What you should do: Your guests took the time to choose (yes, even if it was on a registry!) and pay for your gifts, and it's your job as a gracious couple to get your thank-you notes out in a timely fashion (it's easiest to write them right when the gift arrives). Make sure they're handwritten and heartfelt.

4. Bad advice: "You don't need a wedding planner; let your mom handle it."

What you should do: Unless you want your wedding to be officially mom-themed, ask your mom to help you plan some of the important and personal details, but leave the big stuff to the pros.

5. Bad advice: "Send invites to people you know will not come."

What you should do: Those hopeful no-shows may decide to make an appearance. You may get the gift, but you'll also be over capacity and over budget. Invite the people whom you actually want to be at your wedding, and enjoy the day with those who matter most to you.

6. Bad advice: "If it's not a diamond, then it's not a real engagement ring."

What you should do: Kate Middleton rocks a sapphire, and ladies in Greece wear pearls. Bottom line: Wear what you love ... or at least what was given to you.

7. Bad advice: "Someone told me to ship the gown to New Jersey to avoid paying NYC taxes. Umm, no, that's tax evasion, and I don't look good in stripes."

What you should do: If you're planning to have your dress shipped, then inquire about discount codes. But picking it up at the salon is usually the most cost-effective option.

8. Bad advice: "My future father-in-law said not to bother getting my wedding band sized down to fit because I'll just have to get it sized up one day."

What you should do: There's no reason that anyone has to gain the "newlywed nine." Plus, if you don't size it properly, you're much more likely to lose it!

9. Bad advice: "My mother suggested having the cocktail hour before the ceremony."

What you should do: Do that and your guests will be sauced before you exchange your vows. Instead, open the bar after the ceremony, and serve nonalcoholic bevs like lemonade and cucumber water beforehand.

10. Bad advice: "Take out a loan for the wedding!"

What you should do: Instead, save diligently and have a personal and meaningful wedding that you can afford. Money fights are no fun, and debt is not the way you want to enter into marriage.

11. Bad advice: "You'll want a short engagement so the groom doesn't change his mind."

What you should do: Shorter engagements leave you less time to find vendors. Most engagements are over a year long, and planning a wedding is stressful. If your groom runs away during this time, he'd never last the entire marriage. It's a good trial.

12. Bad advice: "Cut back on costs and have a potluck and BYOB reception."

What you should do: A wedding is an event that you host, and these are your guests. Don't expect them to provide their own food and drink. If cost is an issue, look into having an early brunch with mimosas or having your event catered by a local restaurant, which is often more affordable.

Watch this video on 5 wedding tips from David Beahm

Have a great planning!
~Amy

Hiring a planner just for the day of?

I recently read a blog entry from the planner guru, the world famous - Preston Bailey on "Hiring a Planner Only for the Day of Your Event". He gave some good points (Pros and Cons) on why people want to hire someone just for the day of the event. I'm sure there are planners out there would provide service just for the day of; however, I think it would be the client's own risk on hiring someone that doesn't know much about the background of the wedding/event and wanted to have the event run perfectly with just the little information that the day of planner received.

Here is the full article from Preston on his thoughts, and also my thoughts on the pros and cons for hiring a 'day' of planner.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Mistakes: Hiring a Planner Only for the Day of Your Event by Preston Bailey

I know I’m going to ruffle a few feathers with this one. There are several reasons clients may opt to only hire a day-of planner, but usually it’s because that’s what their budgets allow. In my humble experience, and please feel free to disagree with me, there are pros as well as cons to hiring a planner only for one day.

Pros

1. Planners get work. In these difficult economic times, it’s essential to stay in motion. Every time you do a job, regardless of how long or short the job is, you meet potential new clients and make new connections that may prove to be very valuable in the future.

2. At a wedding or any other big event, it’s important to have someone who can keep things on schedule. Even though many event spaces employ wonderful banquet managers, a planner you’ve hired personally will have a deeper understanding of what you want and what makes your event unique. A banquet manager is first and foremost the employee of the event space.

3. A day-of planner makes it possible for clients to relax and enjoy their event.

Cons

1. I do not understand how a planner can follow up properly on all of the intricacies of an event in a single day, especially because it usually takes 3 to 6 months to plan an event. For example:

* With the florist – Will a day-of planner know what the florist promised the client? What time are the flowers being delivered? What time are they breaking down?
* With the venue and food – Will a day-of planner know what was promised at the tasting? Has overtime been negotiated?
* And this is only the beginning – What about what was promised with regards to photos, video, music, lighting, cakes, etc…

2. I can’t tell you the number of times clients have come to me and said that since they’ve already hired all of their vendors and therefore done all of the “leg work,” I should lower my rates. But it’s not that simple:

* If clients choose to hire their own vendors that’s their choice. Unfortunately for them, a good planner might have been able to negotiate a better contract on their behalf.
* Hiring vendors is only a small portion of the service a good planner will provide. MANAGING vendors is at the heart of a planner’s work.
* Following up on seating arrangements and handling priority guests such as the guest of honor and important family members is also a lot of work. Often, there is essential information about these guests that a planner needs to be told in advance. It’s hard to learn everything in one day.

3. Client expectations. I hope that if you’re a planner who does day-of events, you realize that your clients are still expecting a very well-run event. This is not impossible, but it’s definitely a challenge if you don’t know all the details. Remember, good planning is about having as much information as possible.

I have a suggestion for both clients and planners that might help this system work more effectively. What if you, as the planner, encouraged your clients to hire you for the entire month of their event instead of just the day? Of course, this also means PAYING you ACCORDINGLY. A full month will give you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with every aspect of the event and will help you do your job more effectively.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After all, it's your wedding/event. Our goal is to make sure you have a well planned wedding/event and run smooth. This way you and your guests can enjoy every moment of the celebration. =)

~Amy

New inspiration for table setting

It's the time again for Classic Party Rentals Annual Open House. This time I have Jenn with me to go visit the warehouse in Burlingame to see some inspired new designs. With their products, the beautiful floral arrangements combined with lush linens and unique dinnerware, really set the mood for every single table showcased at the event. It was really exciting to move from one table display to the next, and see just how extravagant, elegant, and unique you can make your event with a simple plate or table linen.

Starting with the topical theme...





Then something European...


And then something fresh and elegant...




And of course, the modern and classic white...






~Amy and Jenn

Inspired Wednesday

Spring is finally here! That means Easter will be here soon! We put together an inspiration board for you to get ready for your Easter party for this week. Hope you will like it. =)


Used in this board are pastel colors, with dominant uses of purple flowers. Everything from the playful stuffed bunnies to the buckets filled with pretzel snacks, chocolate bunny display, and paper bunny cutouts makes this Easter party playful, childlike, and traditional.

Photo credits:
Martha Stewart.com for tablescape, spring arrangement , name tags, egg flowers, and bulbs
Pottery Barn Kids for Bunny and tree
Cupcakes and Crinoline for Wheat grass centerpieces
Snippet and Ink for Colorful lanterns
It's My Party by Ashlie for Kidsnacks and crayons table

~Jenn

Amy's Wedding & Events on iPhone / iPad

Hello Hello!

I'm sure if you visited our new website, you will realized it is on Flash. So what if you want to view us on your phone like iPhone or iPad? The answer is YES! You can come visit our website on iPhone or iPad!



You don't have to type anything just our URL at amysweddingevents.com, it will direct you to our mobile page. OR, if you want to type in, here is our mobile URL: amysweddingevents.com/mobile.

Hope you'll like our second look! =)

~Amy

Inspired Wednesday

Spring color inspiration board #2

Color: Fuchsia and lime green make a great combination especially for an outdoor garden wedding. Because both colors are very bright and strong, brides should be careful spreading these colors around throughout their wedding. Use one color as the main focal point and the other color in minimal accents. Combined in the right way, you have a palette that is fun, unique and great for Spring!



Photo Credits:
Indoor Reception / Outdoor Garden Location: Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery
Indoor Reception / Outdoor Garden Photos: Jennifer Skog Photography
Wine Bottle Cork Escort Cards: Something borrow Something fabu
Bouquet: South Lake Tahoe
Bridesmaid Dress: Jcrew
Bride Dress: Joyful Weddings

~Jenn

Our website new look is now LAUNCHED!

I'm very excited to announce today that the new look of our website is launched!!




With the new look, you will be able to view more of our recent works, more about us, a video of what wedding planner do on the wedding day and much more about our services. I invite you to our website, check out what's new, and let us know how we can assist you and create your dream wedding to live!

I like it very much and hope you will like it! =)

Special Thanks to my wonderful friends for helping me to make our new site pretty and live:
Ricky Wong from W Photography
Wing Hon from Wing Hon Films
Susanne Wong from Cards De Luxe

~Amy

Inspired Wednesday

Spring color inspiration board #1

Colors: Navy and Peach. A bright and fun color like peach adds a very soft and feminine touch to the bold and classic navy blue. The board provides a very country, vintage and rustic feeling.



Photo Credits:
Outdoor reception and hair accessories: Projectwedding.com
Jewelery: BHLDN
Bridesmaids dress: J L M Couture
Menu, Rolls Royce, and Sign: Projectwedding.com
Parasol: Parasol Paradise
Shoes - Badgley Mischka 'Randi' Sandal: Nordstrom
Floral bouquets: DK Designs

~Jenn

Inspired Wednesday

Are you looking for some unique colors for your wedding? Take a look at the Pantone 2011 Fashion Spring Colors and get inspired!

Stay tuned for next week Inspired Wednesday with some eye catching inspiration board for Spring wedding!

~Amy

Happy Valentine's Day

~Wishing you all a sweet and memorable day of celebration~

With Love,
Amy's Wedding & Events' Team

Inspired Wednesday

Valentine's Day is right around the corner! Are you GUYS ready and prepared to pop the question?

If not, I have the last minutes guide to help you pick the perfect ring and get ready!

I recently asked my friend who is in the jewelery industry on how to find the perfect ring/diamond. She gave me a site to look for, and oh boy! There are a lot to learn from picking the perfect diamond!

First of all, you need to know your budget (how much should you spend on the ring). Then choose the ring she'll love. After that, choose the right diamond with the perfect color and shape. Then you will have to choose the right jeweler and then the pop the question.

A lot involvement before the proposal right? It's a bit rush if you are still choosing the ONE ring! But take a look at this website: Blue Nile to learn more about choosing the perfect ring and that she will say 'YES"!

If you want to do something non-tradition, how about something like the gorgeous Kate Middleton's engagement ring.


Good luck on shopping and The Proposal! =)
~Amy

Photo Credit:
#1: Diamonds News
#2: The Huffington Post

Inspired Wednesday

After spending the last 14 years with my Valentine, I figured I’d share some of the most romantic and beautiful (not to mention within budget) places we’ve been to. With 2 young kids, a mini vacation and budget friendly getaway is a MUST. For Valentines Day it’s a special treat, because all of these places have special packages to share with that romantic interest in your life.

Five romantic destinations/places to stay for a Valentines Day getaway…where you can even pop the question. *Hint hint*

Avia Hotels Napa. For those that want to stay close to the Bay Area, Napa is the place to go. For someone that’s never been to Napa before, the concierge at Avia was excellent at directing my husband and I on where to go, drink and dine. The hotel itself was a very modern and sheek boutique hotel. Take a stroll through the property and you’ll find beautiful nooks to have a seat with your loved one, share a bottle of wine and whisper sweet words to each other….very romantic. Don’t forget to stop by V. Sattui for the best wine tasting experience in Northern California and eat at Redd’s.



Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa. I love going down south and La Jolla is just 15 – 20 minutes away from Downtown San Diego. It’s a very relaxing oasis away from the hustle and bustle of a downtown vibe. For the couple whose idea of romance is relaxation, this is where to go. They have a beautiful pool, with private cabanas, and a widely acclaimed spa and wellness center.





The Andaz Hotel (formerly called the Ivy Hotel) San Diego. This hotel is located in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. For the couple that loves the nightlife and is looking for a hip hotspot and a seductively romantic getaway, this is the hotel for you. The service is impeccable and the ambiance will put you in a romantic Valentine’s mood.


The Inn at the Mavericks at Half Moon Bay. I’ve never been to this place before, but it’s one we will definitely be visiting soon. I got a first-hand thumbs up from my brother and sister-in-law so I wouldn’t doubt that this place is just as amazing as they say. A picturesque view of the ocean as you step out of your door, the smell of the fresh water, and a cool breeze to whisk you away. Sounds like heaven if you ask me. Their webpage says “Simple, elegant tranquility.” This would definitely be a nice, romantic, and relaxing getaway right in the middle of nature.





As you can tell, my husband and I have nothing but the best taste in hotels. We love to spoil ourselves and it’s time to spoil you and your loved one with a romantic getaway. And if you’re thinking of popping the question, go for it! It’s a proposal she’ll never forget in such a picturesque location!

~Jenn (Jennifer Kabahit)

Introducing!!

We are happy to introduce our new associate, Jennifer Kabahit (Jenn), will be joining our team for this upcoming year! Jenn will be responsible on assisting client and I during the wedding planning and as well, on the wedding day. She will also be the co-writer for the "Inspired Wednesday" blog post to share new ideas, trend, and more about things you will need to know when planning weddings. Actually, our "Inspired Wednesday" on January 12 was written by her. =)

I'm excited to have her join, and I'm sure she will be a great and professional assistant not only to our team, but also to brides and grooms. Want to know more about Jenn, here is a little bio of her...


"After earning my B.S. in Business Administration, I began my professional work history as a Human Resource Specialist, focused on recruiting and employee relations at a Biotech company in the Bay Area. During the time with this company, I not only handled the recruiting responsibilities, but I also managed the corporate functions such as the Annual Board of Directors meetings, the annual Holiday Party, the Winter Ski trip, and monthly team building events. I thrive on details, organization, and design and nothing gives me more satisfaction than seeing an event from start to finish. It was here where I realized my passion and strength in event planning and now, I've decided to pursue this dream with Amy's Wedding and Events. With my patient and easygoing demeanor, and my flair for design and classic beauty, my goal is to assist in making a dream wedding become reality. With two young boys and a very supportive husband, I can’t wait to see where this new road in event planning will take me."

Inspired Wednesday

I recently received a wedding website from my friend who will be getting married this coming July in London. Congratulations to her first of all!! When I look at the domain name, I was surprise that it is made out from Google! I know with Google, you can do a lot of things like calls, different kinds of documents, events...etc. But I didn't know that you can now create your website from Google. So for today, Inspired Wednesday, let's be a little bit of IT. =)

Often time I get clients come to me and say, where and how I can build my own wedding website? For sure, there are a lot of different wedding sites where they included an option for you to build your own website, for example, the Knot, Project Wedding or WeddingWire. However, if you have a gmail account, I think this can be an alternative to create your own personal wedding website by just a few clicks from your email account. With that, it will save you time, and you can actually organize everything from one account. Plus they have pre-created templates that you can choose from. I think it will just make it easier if you are thinking of building your own wedding website. For more information, visit Google Sites.

Or here...take a look at how you can create your own website


Have fun creating your wedding website! =)

Inspired Wednesday

As we are approaching the middle of January and going to February, there is another big day coming up that I think a lot of couples need to be prepared especially for the guys! If you are still shopping for gifts or flower bouquets, we have some tips for you when choosing the right number of flowers inside the bouquet and make it meaningful. (Of course, I think it is important for those to know if you are thinking of proposing on this special day!) Take a look at the list below to see different number of flower(s) you give would mean.
Number of Flower(s) and Meaning
1 - Love at the first sight. The single rose, whatever its color, depicts utmost devotion to a single person. "All my deepest affections are concentrated in you"

2 - Mutual feelings, especially if they are in red color. Speak of two people who are deeply in love and together form their own happy little world

3 - Stand for the three words in "I Love You"

5 - I love you very much

6 - I love you, I miss you. Speak of the need - to be loved and cherished

7 - I'm infatuated with you

9 - Long lasting love

10 - Perfect lover

11 - I am your admirer

12 - Heart to heart

13 - Forever friends. Also indicate that there is a secret admirer waiting to be discovered

15 - I'm really sorry

20 - Love you forever

21 - I love you most

22 - Love each other

24 - You're always on my mind. Stand for the twenty-four hours of the day, and say that the loved one is thought of during every hour of the day.

36 - Belongs to you

40 - My love is genuine

44 - Pledge a constant and an unchanging love.

50 - Signify a love that has ripened well, and has never been regretted.

99 - Love you till I die

100 - I'm totally devoted to you. Signify a happy union of two loving souls till death or till a hundred years

101 - Would you marry me?

111 - Long lasting love

365 - Love you every day

999 - Everlasting love

1001 - Never ending love

Wow, when it gets to 1001, it's a lot of flowers but interesting right? So guys, make sure you order the right number of flowers! ;-)
*Information provided by HKFlorists.com
*Photo from Flora F

Inspired Wednesday

To continue with our Wednesday blog post series, with the New Year, we are going to do Inspired Wednesday to fresh up in the middle of the week and look at something inspired, colorful, fun, and happy...you name it.

And this week, we would like to share some party ideas for the New Year! Yes... I know we past all the holidays and celebration time, BUT, we can keep the spirit and plan for the next one, right? =)

A damask themed party will always be a classic. No matter the occasion, whether it’s to ring in the New Year, celebrate a wedding or even the coming of a new baby, the damask theme is so versatile. It can be played up so elegantly; yet can also be very playful when you throw in a little bit of color.

A fun New Year’s Eve dessert table – the purple really pops against the black and white and adds a lot of flair and fun to this New Year’s celebration.


Believe it or not but damask can take you anywhere…even to this fun, rockstar wedding.
I guess this is what it real call "Party like a Rock Star"!

Stay Tuned for more inspired ideas for next week.

Photo Credit:
1st photo: The Couture Cakery, Thomas Beaman Photography, and The Hostess Blog
2nd photo: Continuum Photography and The Party Place

Style Me Pretty eMagazine

The Style Me Pretty eGlossy Magazine is here!


This is a must to have it on your Bookmark no matter you are planning your wedding or just love reading wedding ideas and get inspired!

Have fun reading and a beautiful weekend! =)

Happy 2011!!

Happy New Year to you all! No matter you are planning your wedding or newly engaged, we wish you a happy new year along the way of starting your new journey with your loved ones. Wishing you all with a lot of happy moments together and great health!

With the new year, we've got something for you to start saving!! If you are looking for the prefect dress, check out the Paper and Petals Bridal this weekend as they are having their 1st Annual Extreme Sample Sales this Saturday and Sunday, January 8th and 9th from 9:00am to 5:00pm in their Burlingame location. Check it out when you have time. They've got wedding gowns, dresses for bridesmaids, mothers, and even flower girls on a big saving!



Happy Shopping! =)