Dutch tulips

This is where the flowers for your wedding may be coming from.  Images from Mail Online.

Come Celebrate with Us!

Last week we attended an event hosted by Janet Flowers.  Come Celebrate with Us! was an event to honor Janet Flowers for winning the Special Events Gala Award for Best Dining Table Design.  Janet looked just stunning and her warehouse was transformed into a really cool environment with a band, chocolate fountain and some amazing champagne.  Congratulations Janet and thank you for inviting us to celebrate with you! Images from Janet Flowers.

Jessica

Over a five week period you’ll meet our staff – this week it’s Jessica!  Each lady has answered some fun questions with answers you won’t find in their bios.

If you aren’t working a wedding on a Saturday, where can we find you?
Running errands! I love to be on the go…. and somehow I always find a way for my errands to take me to the mall!

What are your favorite bars or restaurants in the DC area?
I am a HUGE fan of Jaleo and Rosa Mexicano (for Sangria of course!)

What can I get you to drink?
Mojito.

What design elements do you like to see at a wedding? I love anything with a romantic or vintage feel. I think it’s interesting to incorporate antique furniture or china into your décor, as well as family heirlooms. I also like to see a neutral palette and pops of color. I always find that eye-catching.

What is your favorite venue and why?
The Mellon Auditorium. The ceiling feels sky high!

What is the most memorable moment from a wedding you’ve worked?
I would have to say the ceremony at Briar Patch. It was such a beautiful day in the Fall. The service was especially unique and the bluegrass band fit the scene perfectly.

What is your favorite part of the wedding day?
I love the emotion when the bride walks down the aisle. The excitement on everyone’s faces is so real and feels new no matter how many times you see this moment.

How do you relax after a wedding?
Well, I keep asking for one of those foot Jacuzzis but no one seems to catch on. Usually, I just go straight to bed and sleep in.

The Source

After the event at the Corcoran last week, we headed over to the The Source, Wolfgang Puck’s latest DC experience.  We enjoyed small plates of hand cut French fries, margherita pizza, Kobe sliders and pomegranate mojitos.  The decor is simple and clean, and I would highly recommend the lounge for drinks!  Image from The Source.

Who pays for what?

A question I used to get asked a lot by couples, but not so much anymore, is “who pays for what?”  It used to be tradition that the bride’s parents paid for everything except the rehearsal dinner, personal flowers and honeymoon.  Now, parents are not only contributing equally financially, but the couple is too.

I don’t allocate whose money goes where when I’m working with a client. I’ve found that the clients I’m working with usually have a lump some of money to pay for the costs, but it doesn’t really matter what the money goes to in particular.

While some people are very set in tradition, there is no reason you shouldn’t spend the generous offers from parents, the way you want to. Maybe a rehearsal dinner isn’t important to you, but a band is.   Maybe a honeymoon isn’t important, but  the venue is.  Kindly explain to your parents what you intend to do with the money they have offered, and see if you can’t come to a compromise.

The Corcoran says “I Do!”

Last week we attended a fabulous little event hosted by the event team at the Corcoran.  The Corcoran is opening their space back up to wedding receptions, and we were invited to learn more and celebrate the occasion. We nibbled on hors d’oeuvres from Design Cuisine and key lime cupcakes from Georgetwon Cupcake and had a glass of bubbly.

I’m so excited and can’t wait to get in there and work with brides at this venue.  The Corcoran is a very cool and modern space – exactly the types of weddings I love!  Image from Corcoran.

Katie

Over a five week period you’ll meet our staff – this week it’s Katie!  Each lady has answered some fun questions with answers you won’t find in their bios.

If you aren’t working a wedding on a Saturday, where can we find you?
Hanging out with friends, going to see a movie, catching up on DVR’d TV shows or doing a little shopping.  And on a very rare Saturday, you might even find me at the gym!

What are your favorite bars or restaurants in the DC area?
Ray’s the Steaks definitely can cook a perfect steak, and it has a nice, relaxed atmosphere.  I also love going to M Street Bar & Grill. They have the best flavored Mojitos! Circle Bistro also has an excellent happy hour and is a fun spot.

What can I get you to drink?
A smoky red wine and if I want something cold, an Amaretto Sour or Mojito.

What design elements do you like to see at a wedding? I prefer brighter, bold colors and un-traditional flower arrangements. I really like bringing in fun rentals like chivaris and unique chargers and linens. Lighting, along with strategically placed pipe and drape can also make one of the most dramatic changes in a room and help to achieve a more modern, chic affair.

What is your favorite venue and why? The National Museum of Women in the Arts. I love that it lends itself to just about any décor you can think of, from very traditional, to very modern.  It’s a very classic, beautiful space.

What is the most memorable moment from a wedding you’ve worked?
When a couple’s bluegrass band, Jackass Flats, played “Hava Nagila” for all the Polish relatives.  It was definitely unexpected but hilarious to see and hear!

What is your favorite part of the wedding day?
Seeing the dramatic transformation of the event space. Turning a blank canvas into a stunning wedding reception with lighting and décor is definitely one of the most fun aspects of wedding planning.

How do you relax after a wedding?
If it’s early enough in the night after a wedding, a nice glass of wine always does the trick.  If it’s late, then lots of sleep!

Bourbon Steak

Last week I visited Kami at the Four Seasons. Kami has recently joined the hotel and works primarily on smaller social and corporate events.  She refreshed my memory on the space (we had a wedding there last summer) and I also got to see the new renovations. I was really excited to see all the change that debuted in January – the completely remodeled lobby with fireplace and chaise lounges and the addition of Bourbon Steak.

We grabbed a couple cocktails and enjoyed truffle oil popcorn in Bourbon Steak’s lounge, while we discussed the endless possibilities  for events at the hotel itself and their new restaurant. Kami is so sweet and you will love working with her.  Thanks Kami for a fun afternoon and we look forward to working with you and your staff again! Images from Four Seasons.

Weddings for All Seasons

Last week we attended a great event at NMWA hosted by Well Dunn Catering, appropriately called “Weddings for All Seasons”.  The evening started off with a short presentation by each of the vendors present. Included were Chris Laich, Rodney Bailey and Marc Parc Valet.  The stations then opened up-four different ones highlighting the four seasons. My favorite was Harvesting Italy, with flank steak roulade, trio of petit salads and Campari Prosecco cocktail.  The dessert station was the home to lemon tarts and miniature mango parfaits-my favorites.  Images from Rodney Bailey.

Grace Ormonde Platinum List 2010

I’m exited to announce that Bash has again been invited to Grace Ormonde’s Platinum List for 2010! This is such an honor as the best planners (and other vendors) are invited to be a part of the list.  Thanks Grace Ormonde and thank you clients for letting us do what we love!  Image from Grace Ormonde.