Sausalito, California

A small town by San Francisco, it’s an ideal West Coast getaway. Many artists, such as Howard Behrens, paint this quaint town at an elevation of 13 feet.

 

 

They have the expanse of water to one side, and steep hills to the other. Being right on Hwy 1, you have plenty of fantastic attractions to explore nearby without even putting San Francisco on the list!

With a few searches, I found several lovely places for a honeymoon stay. Number one bed and breakfast of the area is The Gables Inn. From the property you have a view of San Francisco across the bay. It has excellent reviews and offers cooking classes!

 

 

You can see the prices for this lovely room et al at this link http://www.gablesinnsausalito.com/rooms.html

 

They really make an effort to provide you with plenty of information to have a wonderful stay, here are a few excerpts from their site:

 

Stinson Beach: A 30 minute drive along Hwy 1 and a great place for barbecue oysters. Stinson Beach is a three mile stretch of white sand and the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Mt. Tamalpais: This is where mountain biking originated. On a clear day, visitors can see the Farallon Islands (25 miles out to sea), the Marin County hills, San Francisco and the bay, hills and cities of the East Bay, and Mount Diablo. On occasion, the Sierra Nevada’s snow-covered mountains can be seen 150 miles away!

Golden Gate National Recreation Area: The Marin areas of GGNRA offer a vast expanse of wild and open terrain – rolling hills; small coves, large beaches and rocky coastal cliffs; and redwood valleys. Included in the GGNRA are the Marin Headlands, Kirby Beach, Fort Baker, Rodeo Beach, Muir Beach, Marin Headlands.

 

 

Interested in touring wine country?

This site shows you several tours that leave from Sausalito.

http://www.extranomical.com/HTML_PAGES/SAUSALITO_WINE_TOURS.htm?utm_source=sausalito.org&utm_medium=banner

 

For a great seafood meal when you get back of a day touring wine vineyards and roaming the redwoods, stop by Scoma’s of Sausalito!

They have some fantastic reviews and some great looking dishes for you seafood lovers.

 

Sausalito would be a wonderful place to vacation or honeymoon. Within driving distance for many, and those that it’s not you can fly in to a nearby airport and rent a convertible for your time there!

Until next time,

Brooke

 

Rhoades-Franks Wedding

This wedding took place on one of the most beautiful days I have seen yet for an outdoor wedding! It felt amazing outside, and the soft breeze blew through the vines making it serene. Shonna wanted the wedding to be simple and not detract from the park or river, so I kept the decorations strickly red roses on the arbor…

…. and the chair ties themselves were her aisle markers. My sister-in-law who works alongside me occasionally invented this style, so in her honor I call these sideways bows “Ashley” bows. 😉

The clear sky made for great picture weather for the wedding party, especially with the river as the backdrop.

The riverfront pavilion where the wedding party got ready.  They came down through the trees on the side of the stone.

As the sun was setting and I was about to do the tear-down after the lovely afternoon wedding I wanted to grab one last picture…

I hope you enjoyed seeing this wedding as much as I enjoyed doing it! What did you think of the simple design and red aisle runner?

Brooke

Kolb-Sheridan Wedding

I know I usually only post events I do entirely, but I really enjoyed working with Britta and I want to show you how  her flowers turned out! This wedding I was only involved for the flowers and planning of the aisle markers, but I would like to show you how they turned out anyways! I have a few shots of things they did themselves I’ll show you so you get a taste of the feel.

Britta set a budget of $100 for her bouquet, 3 bridesmaids bouquets, 10 centerpieces, and petals for 3 flower girls. She was okay with silk, but to me they all had to be fresh because she deserved it! Whew! If that isn’t a tall order, I don’t know what is!

A few of the centerpieces were used as aisle markers and moved back to the tables when the wedding was over.

I used delphinium, dyed sage, carnations, and wheat for all the flowers.

The entryway greeted guests with warm sunlight, and small take home jars of jam.

They went sans the traditional on their guest book, and did a fingerprint tree. My favorite kind of guest book!

Britta was a beautiful bride who decorated her wedding with care and made it very personal.

Her groom certainly expressed his style at the wedding, as well! With the cowboy hats and boots and small touches at the wedding you could tell he took care to put his mark on their special day to make it truly theirs.

The cake had an elegant glass topper that pulled together the feel she created with her cakes colors and it’s wood slab tiered  homemade stand.

I loved how her flowers turned out, they were just her style and certainly just her budget as I came in exactly at $100 for the flowers, jars, and my fees for creating and transporting and setting up the decor.

What do you think of the wedding? Do you like the non-traditional pairings of flowers?

Brooke

Lexi’s Graduation Party-Part 2

The party turned out pretty well. I ended up having an incident with a table and my foot which pretty much incapacitated me on any ladder activity, so I disappointingly didn’t get to do everything I wanted to on the ceiling. I did a different centerpiece on each table, and kept the ties simple as bows.

I set up a photobooth as entertainment between dinner and dancing for the evening, and lines of photos on the wall of Lexi growing up and with her friends. Popcorn and cotton candy was served along side the Mexican deserts and cupcakes (her Mothers special recipe).

We started off the dancing with musical chairs for the little ones, and they had so much fun the teens and adults requested a game of musical chairs for each age group.

This party was the end of her graduation celebration day, the entire afternoon was spent on inflatables outside. There was a wet obstacle course and a 2 story slide!

Lexi truly loved her party, and everyone had a blast. It was a day full of friends, fun, and her favorite foods and tunes.

This party had a budget of $800 for everything excluding the venue which was paid for in advance by the family. I came in at $720.

Would you be interested in having your party planned by us? Give us a message below! We can do everything you need over the phone, sans the day of decorations. So why not? We only charge our gas/flight and hotel fee for coming to you! We work all over the U.S. as we’re known for saving you money and stress more than any other Event Planners around.

What did you think of this event? Is it your style?

Lexi’s Graduation Party-Part 1

I’m currently working on a high school graduation party. It’s style has been morphing so much, I’ve been holding off on posting! But now that everything is in motion, I’ll show you what I’m doing. After the party, I’ll be posting pictures of how it all turned out.

The party is going to be an all day event. It’ll start at 3, and go until 10. From 3-6 will be the open house portion, where there will be inflatables, a table of board games and cards for the adults, and food will be served. From7 to 10, it’s the dance party. There will be a photo booth and I’ll be dressing up the tables a bit more during my buffer hour, as well as there will be a few different small things to separate the two parties.

The party is in a large white metal building with brown and tan tile floors, it’s the only building that was available in the right price range with the set up we needed (a kitchen, electricity and water hook ups for the inflatables, etc) so I’m trying to make it work!

The main area of the building, where everything will be set up.

The entryway

The theme is basically a soft goth vibe with a touch of batman. You read that right! It’s a pretty crazy theme that has been unusual working on. Right now I’m doing chocolate base clothes on the tables to tie in the floors since they’ll be so visible, with white garden chairs and cardinal red ties. For the dance party, black overlays will go on. My centerpieces are black bacarra roses with lily grass, and I’m playing around on the containers for them still.

A black bacarra rose, basically a really deep red.

Over the dance floor I’m draping it with red tulle, and making a column at each corner with lanterns. I have a 30” lantern I’ll be hanging from the center, and will possibly be lit depending on if I get a light the color/weight/intensity I want for it in time.

The tulle I’ll be using

Classic white even ribbed paper lanterns like this one is what I’ll use for around the dance floor.

As far as the touches of batman, there will be a few props for the photo booth batman related, and the 30” lantern may have bat cutouts in it if I get it glowing. The favors will most likely have something with batman as well.

This party is definitely going to be really different. Let’s just hope it is in a good way!

What do you think? What would be cool for this party? What would you do for it?

Brooke.

Brookings, Oregon

A honeymoon destination for those west coast beach lovers! Brookings’ town motto is “Where flowers meet the sea.” And boy, is it true! This is a beautiful and unique place to go. It’s a small town with a population of 13,000. It sits at the mouth of the Chetco River.

If you plan to visit in the winter, they hold the annual Winter Art and Chocolate Festival in February, featuring local artists and chocolatiers.

The largest celebration held each year is the Azalea Festival. According to the Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce, it is, “a four-day community-wide festival featuring Art, Flower, Quilt and Car Shows; a Parade, Street Fair, Kiddie Carnival, Food Court, Beef BBQ, Party at the Port, and lots more throughout the Memorial Day Weekend.” Each year, young women from the local high school compete in a scholarship pageant for the title of “Azalea Queen.” The Azalea Queen participates in the parade and chooses a favorite entry from each of several of the shows that make up the festivities.

There are several cozy seaside lodging options in town, but the number one rated according to Trip Advisor is “Port Side Suites”. With their many choices to choose from, you can have an in room spa, kitchenette, fireplace, and harbor views.

With the seasonal attractions, welcoming lodging, and endless list of outdoor activities and close proximity to the mountains, beach, and California for a fun day trip, I hope you’ll consider this quiet town for your honeymoon destination!

Brooke

Branson, Missouri

This destination has a world famous amusement park! Silver Dollar City is a must if you’ll be in Branson. They have water rides, roller coasters, unique food and shows, and a lot of unusual souvenirs!

Take a ride on the train, or watch a show. They have old west style saloons with family friendly entertainment. Going to the parks oldest rides is a must, too! Fire in the Hole is an indoor roller coaster that is still with the original theme of the park of the no-good Baldnobbers! You’re on the coaster, rolling through the scenes and hearing the story. There is some unexpected turns to this ride!

Don’t forget to go to Grandfather’s Mansion while you’re in the park! It’s been a favorite of my family since I was a kid. It’s a bit tucked away, so be sure to ask as you enter the gate where it is if you aren’t familiar with the park. It’ s one of the best Topsy-turvy fun houses you’ll ever see!

There are a ton of shows to see in Branson. Comedians, musicians, comedies, musicals, impersonators, and some of your favorite entertainers from days gone by. Branson is definitely the family oriented Las Vegas! Below is a shot from the New Shanghai Circus.

While you’re in town, check out the outlet malls! Nothing like spending a day getting fabulous deals. The Branson Landing stretches a mile and a half alongside Lake Taneycomo is a fantastic place to spend a day, with their new shops, popular restaurants (including an Irish Pub), water shows (schedule and pictures here http://www.bransonlanding.com/fountains.html ) and end your evening on the Landing Princess with dinner and dancing.

Pictures and booking information: http://www.bransontourismcenter.com/shows/info/main-street-lake-cruises-landing-princess

Or for a cruise and show, consider the Showboat Branson Belle. It cruises on Table Rock Lake, and I have yet to hear anything but a great experience with an evening there.

http://www.showboatbransonbelle.com/

There are many options to consider for during your stay. The Yellow Rose Inn is in a great location, and quite economical. The king suite pictured below is $89 a night! They have glowing  reviews, have a continental breakfast, and are newly renovated.

For a place smack in the middle of it all, try the Hilton on Branson Landing. You can even request a room overlooking Lake Taneycomo, and you’ll have the 240+ boutiques and restaurants of the mall right outside your window. The room below is $169 a night currently.

With so much to do, and all the affordable places to stay, Branson rounds out to a great destination! And the view is nothing to sniff at. This destination is surrounded with rolling hills, and lakes and rivers as far as you can see.  Just scroll though these pictures of the surroundings you’ll have on your visit to this little spot in Missouri, and I’m sure you’ll be scrambling to book your stay.

The deep blue waters of Lake Taneycomo

You’ll see some amazing colors in the fall!

A lodge a few miles outside of Branson.

Marvel Caves, you can tour them from Silver Dollar City.

Don’t forget the golf courses!

Let me know what you love about Branson! Have you been before? Do you plan on vacationing or honeymooning there soon?

Brooke

Cruising for a Honeymoon!

If you’re like many people, you feel cruising is beyond your means. Think again! A cruise is actually an inexpensive all inclusive honeymoon that every couple can find one to fit their interests and budget. I’m a fan of cruises, as you can experience a variety of places and activities with minimal planning and stress on your part.

There are many different cruise lines, but for the sake of ease and my familiarity with them, I’m going to show you Carnival Cruise Lines. I’ll walk you through the process of how to plan a budget one, and what a typical cruise with Carnival is like.

All information in this article can be found on Carnival’s site, http://www.carnival.com and my personal experiences with them.

When you are looking to book one, first check MapQuest and see what port is nearest to you.

If you’re driving: If there is one within a distance you’re comfortable with driving, look at it’s cruise port first. I personally live in Southeastern Oklahoma, so I choose Galveston, Texas versus New Orleans just off of personal preference since the distance is pretty much the same to drive.

If you’re flying: Carnival offers packages for airfare, which is really great because if something happens weather wise, your flight is covered by Carnival. That’s the way I recommend to go if you’re flying.

Driving or flying, try to be there the night before so you aren’t exhausted. Definitely check for hotels on Trip Advisor if you haven’t been the the area before. Speak with the hotel about shuttle service to the cruise port. Some charge, some don’t. But it’s much safer and almost always cheaper to leave your car at the care of the hotel versus the port.  If you’re flying, be sure to arrange for a shuttle ride to the hotel.

What to take with you: You need a photo I.D. as in your drivers license or passport, and take along a copy of your birth certificate. Try to have all three. If you’ve changed your name for the marriage or one of you is under 21, you MUST take your marriage license. Pack formal outfits (like a suit and cocktail dress) for the formal night on the cruise, and an extra shirt and tie for your guy and a spare dress for you in case you want to go to a fancy on board restaurant or go to both formal nights.

Tip: Bundle your gratuity into your cruise tickets, it makes it way easier! You are given the option when booking online or over the phone.

What is there to do on a cruise ship?

Swimming, sun bathing, dancing, ice skating, watching a theatre show, seeing the latest movie releases, hanging out in the comedy club, doing karaoke, playing mini golf, poolside games, live bands, giant Jenga, shopping, dancing classes, you name, it’s there!

Most people feel overwhelmed because there is so many exciting things to do! Should you go to the midnight chocolate buffet? Captains cocktail hour? Learn the newest line dance? Enter the hairy man competition? Compete to perform as Aretha Franklin in the on board talent show? The list is endless and so much fun!

There are a lot of options on your rooming, as well. You can start out with an inexpensive interior room (no windows) then step up to a port hole room, a window room, a balcony room, and a suite. There is something for every price range.

You may want to choose your ship off of it’s activities, or off of it’s destinations! Some common stops with Carnival if you’re going tropical are Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Progresso, and the Bahamas to name a few. Carnival offers the option of booking shore excursions through them online before your cruise. This is a great way to go, because you know you can trust this excursion to not only to get you back to the ship on time, but you also know it’s a legitimate licensed excursion, and you can read reviews. You can also book these on the ship either from your room or at the desk on board if you want to wait.

There are many different kinds of shore excursions, but some favorites are swimming with the dolphins, para sailing, and scuba diving.

I’m about to go on a cruise myself for my anniversary, so I’m pretty excited! We’ve also got a couple going with us that are on their honeymoon. Going with another couple is always a ton of fun.

Have you been on a cruise before? What lines have your cruised with?

Check out Carnival’s site for pricing and availability. http://www.carnival.com

Brooke

Edwards-Lovell Wedding

Meghan Edwards chose the Robert S. Kerr Conference Center and Museum, or as it’s known to the locals Kerr Mansion, of Poteau, Oklahoma for her wedding and reception. Her colors were champagne and guava. The budget was $10,000.

The wedding took place on the lawn of the mansion, overlooking the drop off.

She chose to use artificial flowers for the bouquets and centerpieces, and smaller tables for intimacy for the dinner time reception.

A collage of the wedding day!

Top left-aisle marker, top right- the wedding set up, bottom left-bubbles for the guests, bottom right-fans for the guests.

I realize this is a wedding that took place nearly a year ago! But I thought I would bring it out for my new category of past events, as it was one of my favorites. Kerr Mansion was a gorgeous back drop for this wedding, and the colors were perfect for the weather and the brides personality.

Have you been to an event at Kerr Conference Center? Was/is guava or champagne in your wedding?

Brooke

Summerlin-Ward Wedding

Amy Summerlin was a laid back bride. She knew she wanted shades of purple, fresh flowers, and barbeque! The wedding took place near a local lake. There wasn’t really a budget, we just knew we had to keep it small. It came out around $2,000 for the entire wedding.

There was touches of more feminine things around the room to soften the stone walls of the reception, so it all blended well with her dress.

Her seating tables for the reception were rectangle, so we went with white cloths, and purple runners to keep it simple with touches of purple. Her centerpieces were fresh flowers in jars.

The couple cutting their cake!

I love doing shades of one color to break from the traditional color scheme. I think her wedding was a great combination of country laid back, and feminine.

Is this wedding your style? Will you be using any of these elements?

Brooke