Introducing Alison!

The breathe team has grown to 2! After 3 years of working as a one-woman show with my fabulous gurus to help out on event day, I have found a planner who I believe exhibits the professionalism, work ethic and creativity that is breathe. event planning. :) Plus, she's got the credentials to back her up.

I'd like to introduce .... Alison!

Alison and I met back in my days of corporate event planning for one of the Big 4 accounting firms. While I was neck deep in tax seminars and receptions, Alison on the other side as my Catering Sales Manager for the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner. Together we planned countless events for my firm at her hotel and discovered that we have the same tireless work ethic and passion for event planning.

I was wow-ed by Alison's professionalism, creativity and calm demeanor. And so in late 2007, Alison officially joined my team and since has provided her "day of" coordination services to many pleased brides and grooms.

She's currently booking "day of" coordinations for 2009 and would love to be there to help out on your big day!

Me and Alison

Flashback... A Truly Elegant Affair

Okay, as promised, this blog goes in no particular order :) I wanted to share some images of one of the weddings that I worked on from November 2007. For about ten months, Narie and I designed her wedding day to her long-time boyfriend, Mike. From the start, she said that she wanted elegance and romance. I think we did a pretty great job accomplishing that!

Below are some pics of the stunning bride and her romantic day, taken by the very talented team of Hyon Smith Photography...

Again, couldn't do it without our incredible vendors:

Venue - Lansdowne Resort

Photography & Videography - Hyon Smith Photography

Florist - Growing Wild Floral

Lighting - Atmosphere Lighting

Band - Elan Artists, Urban Guerilla Orchestra

Decor - A Vista Events

Rentals - Select Rentals & Elegant Decor

A Rooftop Bash for Stacey & Sean

Stacey and Sean and I met completely by chance back in September 2007 while I was on-site setting up for another's wedding reception. It was with much surprise when Stacey contacted me one afternoon months later and asked that I help her in the weeks leading up to her wedding.

She and Sean were such a fun couple to get to know and to be part of their big day was really special. Having met in DC, but neither from the area originally, the two created a very "DC" wedding which started with the ceremony at a beautiful downtown Catholic church - St. Peter's Capitol Hill and ended with a rooftop bash at 101 Constitution.

The view from 101 is absolutely stunning, and while the day started off BLAZING, by evening it had cooled off slightly and we were entertained by our very own light show... an incredible lightening storm coming in from Alexandria, Arlington and Maryland. This wedding was all about FUN. Two of my favorite moments of this wedding were, first, the best groom & mother of the groom dance that I've ever seen! and second, watching the bride and groom cut the cake... you had to see it to believe it :)

Check out some of the pics taken by Carlos and his team at Freed Photography:

Thanks to the vendors!

Reception Venue: 101 Constitution

Caterer: Katie Llewellyn @ Haute on the Hill

Florist: English Rose Garden

Band: Marquise

Lighting: Frost Lighting

Cake: Watergate Bakery

Photography: Carlos with Freed Photo

Videography: Jen with Dolce Video

Hair & Make-up: Andre Chreky salon

Cheryl & Corey are Featured... again!

Very exciting! One of my favorite couples, Cheryl & Corey, were just featured in the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of Brides Maryland.

Cheryl and Corey did such a fabulous job in capturing and achieving the true purpose of the day - a loving, welcoming, and comfort-filled celebration of not only their love, but their appreciation and love for their friends and family.

This wedding was also featured in The Washington Post Express for their efforts to make it a "Green" event, as well as the Zip Car newsletter for their unique send-off!

A Fairytale Princess Wedding

I met Shannon and her mother, Pat, back in September 2007 to initially discuss the option of day-of coordination. Instead I was very fortunate to be brought into the planning process as her wedding planner and for the past 11 months had the opportunity to work very closely with Shannon and her family to prepare for her and Peter's big day.

Having already picked their venue, one of my very favorites - Whitehall Estate in Bluemont, Virginia - Shannon knew from the start that she wanted to make her dream fairytale princess wedding become a reality.

So, after 11 months of keeping our fingers crossed and offering up our first born to the weather gods, we were blessed with one of the most beautiful August days that I've ever experienced!

The guests were greeted with lemonade and custom-labeled water bottles, and then invited to be seated for the ceremony under the trees on the Whitehall front lawn. With the sun beginning to set behind the Virginia hills, Shannon and her father made their grand entrance on a horse-drawn carriage greeted by two ushers. After the ceremony, guests were invited into the Manor House for cocktails and soon after dinner. Shannon and Peter danced their first dance to one of my favorites - "Better Together" by Jack Johnson - and later in the night treated guests to a home made "Pink & White" candy buffet (the guests tore it apart!! :)), a very entertaining cake cutting and were sent off by their friends and family waving sparklers as they departed.

Their fantastic photographer, David Burke of Pittsburgh, has shared a preview of the pictures on his blog. Below are a couple I snagged :)






It was such a fun day and I got to work with some of my favorite vendors as well, which is such a plus! Kudos to everyone involved...

Venue - Whitehall Manor
Photographer - David Burke Photography
Flowers - Barbara von Elm, Growing Wild Floral
DJ - Kirk of Kirkabee DJs
Cake - Rocio Diaz, A Piece of Cake
Officiant - Rev. Wesley Peyton
Ceremony Musicians - Capitol Strings, Bialek's Music
Horse & Carriage - Shenandoah Carriage Company

Kimberly & Alex's Garden-Style Wedding

Okay - so I probably have the most out-of-order, out-dated blogs ever, but it's the best I can do right now while in the midst of wedding season! :) Better than nothing, right??!

Over July 4th weekend, Kimberly and Alex were married at the beautiful Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, Virginia and then partied the night away with their friends and family at Airlie Center in Warrenton, Virginia.

Kimberly put a great deal of thought and consideration into every aspect of the "Garden Party" design and it was so evident in all of the fantastic details. What a party this was! Her friends and family were entertained from start to finish with special touches such as flip flops and parasols for her guests comfort, a photo booth to capture wildly silly pictures, a surprise guest performer to perform with the 7-person band (The Source), a candy buffet and endless supply of desserts provided by Amphora Bakery, and cigars and brandy to end the night. Below are some of the pictures taken by the wonderful Tisha McCuiston.

The happy couple

Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Yours truly, hard at work

The Vendors:
Reception Venue - Airlie Center
Photographer - Tisha McCuiston
Videographer - Dolce Video
Band - The Source
Flowers - Heaven on Earth Flowers
Cake & Desserts - Amphora Bakery
Production - Boyd & Parker
Photo Booth - Party Booths
Ice Sculptures - Ice Kristals
Guest Singer - Jeffrey Gaines