Simply Elegant Weddings is pleased to announce that we now offer Candy buffets and Sweets tables to any event in San Diego!
Love is Sweet!
Give your guests the gift of true love and gratitude with a smorgasbord of tasty candies for your party favor
Or
mix it up with even more options including gourmet desserts, cotton candy, and baked goodies
Our service comes complete with goody bags, personalized thank you notes, signage, set up, clean up, and decor design to tie into your wedding style
Price for all candy selection, including everything above is just $3 per guest!!!
Prices for specialized selections vary depending on guest count and selections. Please contact for specific pricing!
9 Questions to Ask a Vendor
with Kelly Wood Photo
Wedding Photographer in San Diego
Honesty Clause: I am not paid in anyway by the vendors that I have chosen to feature. These are people who I’ve met in the industry who I know to be very good at their job. For that reason, I’ve decided to feature them, to better give the brides that I know more information to assist them in hiring people who are honest, trustworthy, and just darn good at what they do!
Bride Question #1 What is it about your field that requires me to hire a professional Photographer? (why can’t I just have a friend do it?)
This is a great question! Especially since every couple has a certain budget they need to work within, which inevitably means cutting costs wherever possible. However, and I know this is going to sound biased, I don’t think that a place you should try to go cutting costs is on your photography. When you think about it, your photos are going to be the tangible memories of your wedding day, and to trust something so important to anyone other than a professional is taking a big risk! Photographers like myself who do photography as their profession put countless hours into bettering themselves, with workshops, seminars, and investing in the best possible gear. Shooting weddings, and shooting weddings well is what we do and we know how to get the best shots under pressure, and in all the various lighting situations of a wedding day, because we’ve perfected it over time.
Your friend or family member may be a great photographer, but if they aren’t a professional wedding photographer I would give having them shoot your wedding a second thought. Also, do you really want your friend or family member to be working on your wedding day? Going with a professional is the safest way to insure you will get all those shots you want from your wedding day; and not only that, it’s the best way to get beautiful long lasting quality images you can share for generations!
2 What made you start doing weddings?
For me it was a natural and obvious choice, I love photographing people. I started off in concert photography prior to transitioning into weddings, and what I loved about concert photography was the emotion! There was no better place to photograph people and raw emotion then on somebody’s wedding day. The timing sort of just worked out, as I was getting into photography my sister was getting married. After her wedding I reached out to her vendors asking if they knew any photographers who needed an assistant and I went from there!
3 What is your favorite part of a wedding?
Each part of the wedding day is so uniquely different, so it’s difficult to pinpoint what my favorite part is. Personally I love the ceremony, I almost always get chills as the bride is walked down the aisle toward her groom. There’s so much great raw emotion to capture during this time. The groom tearing up as his bride walks towards him, the father-of-the-bride watching on as his daughter stands at the alter, the grandparents looking on with such pride and happiness. All of that makes for great photos!
4 What is one thing that you think every bride can/should DIY?
This one is tough because as a wending vendor I like to say leave it to the professionals and enjoy your wedding day stress free! Although there are some things you can take over for yourself (just make sure you’re not in charge of making sure it’s all handled the day of the wedding). Things such as favors are a great opportunity to create something unique and hand crafted for your guests! Signage is also another place where you can try your hand at some arts and crafts and create signs for your guests to display throughout your wedding.
5 What is the best advise you can give me when booking a Photographer?
Ask yourself do you feel comfortable with this person? Also do you feel like you can trust them? These two are huge, you want to make sure you like your photographer as a person because their going to be following you all day on your wedding. Also last thing you want is to worry about any of your vendors being on time, doing what you asked, and coming prepared. You want to make sure that you trust the person you put in charge of your photography
6 When interviewing Photographers what is one thing that I should always ask? And is there a specific answer I should be looking for?
So many things come to mind, but the thing I come back to is: “What is your approach on the wedding day?” You want to know what to expect from your photographer. Will they be hovering over you all day, will they take a more photojournalistic approach and stay back and give you space, will they be able to direct you if need be, can they handle all the directing of family photos. It’s great to know what you should expect the day of so there are no surprises!
7 What are some ways that I can save when booking a Photographer?
As I said earlier, for me it’s a slippery slope when trying to cut costs on your photographer. While a cheaper photographer doesn’t always equal a bad photographer, there’s still truth to you get what you pay for. You can always ask your photographer about any payment plans they may offer to help make affording the photographer you really want easier. Saving money is important, but you want to make sure you’re also happy with the final product. You can also ask if your photographer has any referral specials or discounts for Friday or offseason weddings. Everyone is different, so they may not, but it doesn’t hurt to ask!
8 What is one thing that you offer that is totally worth spending the little extra to get?
I think it’s important to invest in the album of your wedding. For me I want every couple I work with to walk away with an album because it is the tangible finished product of their wedding day. If you are like me, I’m bad about displaying my personal photos, and that can easily happen to your wedding images if you just put them on your computer and never print them out. Also when we print your albums, we’re using nothing but the best companies to have them printed, no Shutterfly here, so you know you will be getting a beautiful album that you can share with your family now and forever!
9 What sets you apart from the other Photographers in San Diego?
My professionalism, hustle, attention to detail, and the quality of my work. You want to know when hiring your photographer, that they are first and foremost a professional. That you can count on them to do what they say, and be there on time the day of your wedding, and work your wedding with the upmost professionalism. That is something I pride myself on at Kelly Wood Photo! I work hard to make sure that each couple I work with feels comfortable, confidant and excited about what I’m doing for them. The experience I provide is very important to me. I want every couple to walk away feeling like they made the right choice!
Thank you so much Kelly! I could look at your photographs all day long, and never stop crying!
I hope you found this segment helpful. Tell me what you think by leaving a comment on the Facebook page CLICK HERE
Happy Planning! <3 Juliette
Thank you for the wonderful photos! Can’t wait to share more of that day!
Photography: John DeFiora Photography
Floral Designer: San Diego Floral Design LLC
Dress Designer: Iselle Design Studio
Cake Designer: Lovely’s Sinfully Sweet Creations
Makeup Artist: Grace Montano (The Doll Service)
Jewelry: Diamond Boutique
Location: The Bradford Ranch
Spring is here, and I’ve put together a great pin board of ideas for your spring fling shin dig!
I was recently invited to design a table scape for Farm Tables and More, an awesome rental company that specializes in rustic furniture event rentals! The theme for the bridal show was “Champagne in Paris”, and using a mixture of my own items and theirs, I came up with the following design! It was so much fun to create, I hope you enjoy!!!
(Photos are courtesy of Pages Photography!)
I hope this lends some inspiration! If you would like to know where to rent these items, please contact me at jf.weddingplanning@gmail.com and list the particular item you wish to rent for your event!
Happy Planning!
-Juliette
2014 is Here! and it is bringing with it a lot of hope and excitement for many, including myself! Lots of changes will happen this year for Simply Elegant Weddings, and I can’t tell you how excited I am for all my new clients to get hitched! There is always a lot of talk on the major wedding blogs about drastic changes in wedding trends. Sometimes they are right, and sometimes they are quite off base. Although we are all influenced by trends in almost everything that we do as a society, varying wedding trends from year to year don’t always make a big impact right away. It may be a couple years before we see some of these trends happening in every wedding. That being said, they are still fun to follow! I’ve compiled some of my predictions for this new year of weddings and events. They are based off of pretty much everything around us, because when you think about what you want from your wedding, you think about the things that you are drawn to in your everyday: Fashion, Music, Food, Games, Movies, Interior Design, and Advertisements.
There is one major theme that I don’t think will be going away anytime within the next generation or so, and that is PERSONALIZATION!!! Wedding details are getting intimate. More about who the couple is, and less about disco tech party lights. A lot of this has to do with the fact that more couples are starting to pay for the shin dig themselves, rather than the parents. This sometimes means more DIY and tighter budgets, which is code for more creativity! But what it really comes down to, is who ever is paying, does the picking! Instead of the parents footing the bill and having a party they think they are supposed to have, you are coming up with the funds and spending it on what makes you happy. Out with tradition, and in with fun!
First on my pick list: Sleeves, Necklines, and Backs, oh my!
Taking inspiration from Jackie O. and Princess Kate, modesty is making a come back! Lace and Sheer necklines accompanied by some adorable cap sleeves, and some amazing back openings makes for 2014’s sleekest wedding gowns! Check out these favorites:
Beautifully handcrafted gowns available from the Etsy shop of KarenTrends!
Maggie Sottero Collection
Monique Lhuillier 2014 Collection
Karen Trends on Etsy.com
The Color Purple…
Cool, Bold, and impactful colors such as saturated purples and blues will make a big impact on small intimate affairs. Use the colors everywhere to be over the top bold, or use the intense color sprinkled with more natural decor and candles for a lighter, romantic evening. Either way, big color is the way to go, and it will go a long way!
“I’ll be on my Suit and Tie”! The look is slim, ultra tailored, and unique to him. Let your groom take the reigns on picking out the outfits for him and his bros. It might not sound sane to put him in charge of such an important job as fashion, but he will appreciate it! Let his personality shine through, just like you with your dress and shoes. That doesn’t mean that you can’t try out that inception trick and randomly flood his vision with images of sleek and sexy looking men’s fashion before he makes the decision on what to wear! After all, all men, secretly or not, want to be like Justin in that video! Just make sure he thinks that he is doing the picking (wink! wink!)
Pennants and Bunting Banners are still a go! Try out new ways of doing it though. Maybe less of the spelling out sayings and more design, like this lace one from The Glittered Barn Etsy shop!
My last and final prediction: Everything Gold!
From watches, to nail color, to iPhones, everything we want is in GOLD! Traditional yellow and antique style rose gold is and will be for a while a huge hit when it comes to wedding design. You can literally pair it with any color, and it will instantly transform the look to one that will be ooo’d and aww’d over and over and over!
So those are my predictions for this year in weddings. I hope you were able to find some inspiration for your own designs, just remember to do your own thing! Your guests will appreciate how unique and personalized it is. The more you make the wedding about you and your fiancé, the more your guests will be able to Feel the love that you share, and that is what is the most important thing about having a wedding. It is a celebration of your love! So whatever kind of love you share, let it show!!!
Happy New Year everyone! May love and God find you well!
<3 Juliette
Here at Simply Elegant Weddings, we know how expensive weddings can get! All the different pieces to the puzzle add up very quickly, and most people end up over extending their wedding budgets by hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars. Being realistic in your budget planning will help you to stay on track. Before you set a total $ amount on your budget, do one night of research. How much does (venue, photographer, wedding flowers, DJ, rentals, dinner) for 200 guests cost? Once you know get an idea for what these services cost in your area, you can go over who will be chipping in, how much, and what will they be paying for? A good tip on asking loved ones for money is, don’t ask them to pay for the whole thing. If they were going to pay for the whole thing, there is a good chance you would know it already! Instead, ask them to pay for specific items: catering, the dress, the tux, the flowers, the cake, the photos! This blog is all about tips and tricks on ways to save on things for your wedding day. So if you over spend in one area, you can try to make it up in another! So be sure to check back and learn more about how to save on your wedding!
Oh, and here is my biggest advise: Stay true to who you are! If you don’t like cake, don’t have one! If you hate wearing white, do something different! Your guests will appreciate your personality shining through on the day that is supposed to be all about you and your fiancé as a couple! It is your day, and it should be just that!
Here is a wonderful article written by The Insider’s Jenny Creno. In it are some wonderful money saving tricks from the wedding industry’s top professionals!
Soon after couples announce their engagement, planning the wedding becomes one of the first financial obstacles that the couple has to overcome together. The best thing to do is to learn about typical trends when it comes to planning a wedding and what mistakes lead to the most financial failures amongst couples during this process. Should you put everything on credit cards? Or create a separate checking account specifically for wedding expenses to avoid overspending? The infographic below highlights information from couples who have gone through this process, wedding planners, and event coordinators to give newly engaged couples a few tips on how to save on their wedding, avoid financial conflicts, and lastly and most importantly the benefits of stress free well planned wedding. Want even more advice? Check out more tips on our community page, and our wedding budget calculator.
Those redundant words, your wedding day is just one day, may very well be the truth. But society has given us Bridezillas, Say Yes to the Dress!, and all the jazz to keep us wanting that one big day, to be one very big day. Don’t get caught up in the fuss, and listen to the advice from people who have been through this process before.
Happy Planning!
-Juliette
Enjoy A Bride’s Night Out and Plan Your Wedding at the Same Time
|
|
|
The One Pound Wedding has been flooding the news in the wedding industry, so I thought I would share the Scotland couple’s story with my readers! This innovative couple was able to spend only one Scottish Pound ($1.56 US) on their entire wedding. What was it that cost them $1.56? Her dress!!! everything else was FREE!
Watch it: Shoestring budget wedding for $1.56
I also found an AWESOME article to go along with this wedding with some major ideas on ways to practically save on your wedding budget! Click Here to go to the actual post, or just read it below. Go to the bottom to find ways for You to cut the cost of your wedding!
The following article is taken from The Association of Bridal Consultants- San Diego Region
A wedding for $1.56
September 5th, 2013 | Author:
A couple from Scotland spent less on their wedding day than most people dole out for their morning coffee.
Artist Georgina Porteous, 36, and 39-year-old singer-songwriter Sid Innes budgeted just $1.56 for their big day. Yep, you read that right. The pair are dedicated to recycling and self-sufficiency, according to the U.K.’s Metro News, so they vowed to keep the day they exchanged vows super simple.
So how did the couple throw a great fête for 70 guests for such a paltry price? Porteous and Innes said their “I do’s” in a barn on their property behind their cottage. Porteous spent $1.56 on a vintage ivory wedding gown that she found on freecycle.org, a network of exchanges and gifting, while Innes wore an old tweed suit. The couple’s rings were handmade by Porteous using antlers she found in her garden. Her mother officiated the ceremony and a neighborhood reverend donated his services for free in order to make it all official.
For the reception, the venue was decorated with locally grown flowers, hay bales, and lanterns that community farmers contributed. The newlyweds asked their guests to bring food and drinks for a potluck picnic and Porteous’s aunt baked the cake. The wedding photographer who captured the festivities bartered his services in exchange for some film editing by Porteous. And the affair’s music came courtesy of the bride’s father, who played jazz on the saxophone.
“We thought we’d do [our wedding] differently and we started to become quite obsessed with it and ways to save money. It was exciting, fun and a challenge,” Innes said in a YouTube video. One fee the couple couldn’t get out of paying? The $109.23 charge for a marriage license. Hopefully, it was totally worth it.
While cost-cutting measures that Innes and Porteous took for their nuptials are certainly extreme, there are plenty of ways to have a budget-friendly wedding. Here are some tips and tricks for thrifty ways to tie the knot.
The dress — If you don’t have a a friend or family member who can lend you a dress (that she probably wore only once), there are a lot of great websites that sell once-worn wedding dresses. “When my clients come to me and are looking to keep costs down, I recommend that they resell their dresses,” Tracy Taylor Ward, owner and principal designer/planner of Tracy Taylor Ward Design, told Yahoo Shine. Sites like NearlyNewlywed.com and Tradesy make the process easy. And if you’re lucky, you might even make a profit if you sell yours. Sample sales, consignment shops, eBay and e-commerce site Etsy, which focuses on handmade and vintage items, are great options as well.
The rings — Not everyone is as deft at ring-making as Porteous is, but Etsy has plenty of artisans with similar skills who sell affordable alternatives to typical gold and silver wedding bands. Titanium and gold-plated metals look like the real thing at just a fraction of the price.
Flowers — In the United States, $1,997 was the average amount spent on flowers and decor per wedding in 2012. Ward suggested working with larger flowers. “Hydrangeas are a good-value flower because they’re always in season and you don’t need as much to fill out an arrangement. You need more roses to fill out the same amount of space,” she said.
Venue — Being able to throw a wedding at your own place or at the home of a friend or family member is the cheapest route, but for those outsourcing to other locations, there are tricks for trimming expenses. Most venues’ rates vary by season, so if you can get a place during the off-season, its prices will be either lower than at peak times or negotiable because it’s not going to have as much business during that period. Avoid holidays because prices tend to inflate. Additionally, tying the knot on a Friday or a Sunday is slightly less expensive than on a Saturday.
Food — Pass on the raw bar and filet mignon and skip food stations, added Ward: instead opt for passed hors d’oeuvres and a sit-down dinner.
The wedding cake — Wedding cakes cost, on average, $560, but you certainly don’t have to spend that much. “Cakes are typically priced per slice, so try to find a bakery in your budget,” suggested Ward. An alternative cost-cutting measure is to ask the bakery for a smaller display cake and have extra sheet cakes in the kitchen for when it runs out.
There is always a way to save some cash on your wedding! The best and most memorable weddings are the ones that are filled with love!
Hope you enjoyed! Happy Planning!
-Juliette
I’ve been planning this party in my head, and on Pinterest, since she was 3 weeks old! I can’t believe that it has come and gone so quickly, it just doesn’t seem like she is a whole year old! And for those of you around the Southern California area who keep saying that you’ve never felt it so hot as the last couple weeks or so. Well, you have! Last year, this same time, I remember precisely how hot it was, and if anything this is cooler! But Monday’s weather, though still hot, decided to give me a little break and be a breezy 87 degrees rather than a stale 96. For which I am forever grateful! I am also grateful for the family members and friends who are always so willing to help with their time and talents! Thank you to you all, you know who you are. And my amazing husband, who was able to get her down for a 3 Hour Nap before the shindig, I can’t even do that when the stars are alined and I’ve found a lucky four leaf clover!
The Carousel Horse Theme
The theme came pretty easy. My mom, when I was a kid, used to make and hand paint carousel horses. So when I was a child, that was the obsession in our household. I even had one of my own, standing in my bedroom on a pedestal with a big brass pole. After a trip to the carousel in Balboa Park in San Diego, I quickly learned that my daughter shares the love of carousels! So, naturally, I hit the ground running, creating the party of my (I mean her) dreams.
- Food for first birthday party
The food was fun and kid friendly! Goldfish in cups the size that tiny hands could easily grip! Pb&J and cheese sandwiches with no crust! I got a cookie cutter in the shape of a carousel horse on Amazon! No one can say no to a horse shaped sandwich. I put popcorn bags filled with the toddler’s version of popcorn – Pirate booty! There was also cotton candy, my personal favorite. And Cracker Jacks, prizes included!
The real food was catered by Chick-fil-A. Best chicken nuggets in the World! The cupcakes held fake candles made out of a paper straw cut in half and a little bit of yellow tissue paper stuffed into the end! So easy, and perfect for a birthday! For drinks, we served old fashioned sodas with fun paper straws!
Old Fashioned Cream Sodas
Jelly Belly Favors for guests
table centerpiece and burlap runner
Photos of the birthday girl’s first year displayed on trees next to the party area
And it wouldn’t be a first birthday without a CAKE SMASH!
Cake smash for first birthday
She’s My Favorite