9.27.2011

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7.27.2011

Wedding Wednesday: The "Should-Haves"

This Wedding Wednesday is going to go out to the "should haves" from past brides. When planning a wedding the budget and vendor search can be such a hassle that one compromises or doesn't stop to ask a past bride for advice! Here is a little run down for future brides to ease into planning with and think about all their options.

When asking past brides what they would change here are the top 3 items:

1. Wish I would have hired a coordinator
2. Wish I would have had a videographer
3. Wish I'd have spent less on flowers to afford the top two items

Reality is, many people believe thy can plan a wedding themselves, but even a fellow coordinator wouldn't want to hand the task of their own wedding. This is an event that is once in a lifetime that you should enjoy and not work for! Secondly you should not designate all the work to close family and friends because odds are they are going to wish they could have enjoyed this time also!
Allie and I at our last wedding during a moment to breathe!
Videography is the one vendor many people look past because they believe pictures will do justice. Quite frankly the opposite, video can grab the moments that you wish to replay or even moments you never saw! Our friends at 618 Studios www.618stidios.net capture a wedding so amazingly that it never fails to bring me to tears! I honestly didn't have video and it's my number one regret.
Husband & Wife Videographers = super cute!
Weddings are my favorite event, that may be obvious since I'm a wedding planner, but that means I care for how they turn out, but more so for how the bride and groom will look back on their special day.

Mention this advice to any bride-to-be's! And have a very happy Wedding Wednesday!!

-Brittany & a shout out to Kelley Gilster, from 618 Studios, as our twitter convo is what sparked this blog post :)

7.20.2011

Wedding Wednesdays: Brittany+Kiel

Hello Friends!!!
This past weekend was a good one for Rooted in Love.  We got to coordinate Brittany & Kiel Peterson's wedding! Not only is Brittany a good friend of mine (this Britt) but now we have the same name!! We actually remember talking about this possibility about 4 years ago and it's so great to be able to say it is now a reality. It was awesome receiving all this confused looks when guests would read my name tag and have the look of "why are you wearing the bride's married name?"  Besides all of that, Brittany is the most detailed bride we have had and she got so amazing with all her details! I named her DIY Bride of 2011 :)


The setup went so unbelievable well that we actually had moments of rest before the wedding started, which never happens!  I have so many pictures of the details to share that I'm bursting with joy!


The great thing about Leo Carrillo Ranch is it's canvas like quality.  Everything is there to create something extremely beautiful and this bride took full advantage.  From chandeliers at the ceremony site to making the cabana fireplace feel like home, this wedding did not have a detail left out.  
The other random fact about Leo Carrillo is the Peacocks! Yes, free roaming Peacocks... just over 40 of them.  They squawked their way through the intimate ceremony, crowded the dessert table and owned the night! At first they are cute.. and second thought they are obnoxious! Very pretty birds but loud birds and these ones did not mind humans.












Congratulations to Brittany and Kiel! They are great people and I could not be more blessed that to have been involved in their wedding the way I was!

There will be more pictures to come! And possibly even video since we got a ton of that at the wedding :) Let's consider this a sneak preview!

-Britt

7.01.2011

Philanthropy Fridays: Avon Walk 2011

Well, as most of you may know.. Allie and I are involved in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, which is taking place September 17th & 18th up in Santa Barbara.  We are so excited and really need to get back into training mode.  But more than that, we need to vamp up our fundraising!  We really love to give back and this year the walk is our way of doing so in a big way, with just a little help from our friends and family.
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Go Country 105 Team
We would love to hear some great ideas on ways to fundraise, or at least get feedback on the ideas we have come up with.  So far we have thought of doing:


-A workout class, either TKB or Body Pump


-Fundraise day with Whole Foods (we get a percentage of sales for people who come in with flyers)


-Cover charge to a dinner party held at one of our homes


-Breast cancer or "Beat Cancer" bracelets


So far we have done one of those and it has been pretty successful.  We are selling our "Beat Cancer" Bracelets and so far so good.  We still have a bit left to sell so if you want one please let us know!


You can check our our Avon pages and see what you think :) Visit them below:
Brittany or Allie


We appreciate any advice, feedback or ideas so let us know at info@rootedinloveweddings.com


Happy Friday (of a 3 day weekend!)
-Britt

6.28.2011

Vendor Spotlight: Wilson Creek Winery

This may be a new type of post, but it necessary to the planning world.  We will start to talk about vendors we have worked with or encountered to show of their spirits and beauty so you can see what we see.
For this weeks vendor spotlight, it's a venue!!!


We wondered upon Wilson Creek Winery one weekend while attending the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival.  Knowing I had never done a tasted, I felt it was time.  Little did we know we would be finding a beautiful wedding venue :)
 WC Winery has multiple options of where the ceremony and reception can take place, either outside or inside.  It holds anywhere from small parties, up to 400 guests!
We happened to be there on a day a wedding would be taking place and got to peek into the bridal room which is located upstairs near the windows where you can watch wine be made.  It's a pretty incredible venue and gorgeous for pictures!  Just imagine a background of grape vines and barrels...



Thank you Wilson Creek Winery for being so welcoming and hospitable!! We enjoyed our time and hope to be using the venue in the future :)
-Brittany & Allie

6.15.2011

Wedding Wednesdays: Derek+Kim

This blog is a long time comin' but hey! It's finally here.


The Greene Wedding was great, the couple couldn't have been sweeter and we had a blast coordinating this wedding.  That could be do to the fact that we knew the bride & groom, but none the less, it was fun.
Creativity:  When it comes to having a wedding anywhere, the fun part is always the getting ready aspect.  As the dress arrive early, it has to immediately be hung extremely high (which being an average sized girl make it difficult).  So we got a little crafty and hung the dress from the ceiling tiles inside a High School Room located on the church property.
Style: I am a huge sucker for calla lilies and orchids, and my favorite color is purple so I may be a bit bias.. But how great are these floral arrangements!?! They had some much texture and contrast, they really spoke for themselves.
All said and done: The wedding went down with barely any of a hitch, minus one tiny detail.  That's the beauty of coordinators, we take the blow and make it work no matter what the cost.  My tip from this wedding you ask? Make sure to have detailed routes from one place to another to make sure a vendor does not fall behind since they run the show!


Happy Wedding Wednesday!
~Britt & Allie

5.18.2011

Wedding Wednesdays: Joe+Kali

We made it through our very first wedding :) I am so happy to say that things went on (almost) without a hitch.  Is it considered a hitch if the guests aren't aware of it?!  
Joe + Kali were an adorable couple and they were so easy to work with. I can't forget to mention how calm the parents were, it amazed me! The photographer we worked side by side with is Melissa Vossler and she rocked! You should definitely check her out sometime because she is a sweetheart www.melissavossler.com
The ceremony was officiated by the groom's father and it couldn't have been more touching, funny or sincere.
 Our lifesaver for the wedding: Emergency bag!!! Not only was it extremely useful for us, but it was quite a hit :) Things to add to the bag.. bottle opener & straws.
 One wedding down and so many more to go.. This is proof we were still alive at the end of the night!
Happy Wedding Wednesday,
-Britt & Allie

5.17.2011

Website is up and running :)

So the day has come when the website is finally published... It definitely took us long enough! I hope you enjoy it, I sure don't think I need to say much about it :) See for yourselves..


-Brittany & Allie

4.29.2011

Philanthropy Fridays: 31 Bits

One of the companies that is near and dear to my heart is 31 Bits.  Many of you who are reading this probably know of it because I literally wear a piece of this jewelry daily.  I went to college with the 5 girls that started this company and my explanation of what they have created wouldn't do justice to their website. [www.31bits.com]  I encourage you to check them out, read their story, follow their blog and if you like them, buy some Bits! (I actually have a bunch with me now, so e-mail me if you want some).
 
Who ever could have thought jewelry made from 100% recycled paper would be so awesome? Here's to creative people, who care for others :)
 They just came out with a new line featuring Promise Tangeman (what a cool name right)? She is also an amazing blogger and designer!  This line stands for everything that the 31 Bits girls have created for the women they help. Watch & fall in love... The Haven Launch
 
Trying to find out a way to be philanthropic on your wedding day? Have your girl wears some bits, hand them out as thank you gifts to your party or don some bits yourself and steal the show even more with your incredible style!
 
Happy Friday as always,
 
And by the way.. It's my birthday today, who wants to buy me some bits? ;) The new Cuff bracelets are my fave!
 
-Brittany

4.28.2011

Why Hire a Coordinator?

I came upon the thought of luxurious weddings, thanks to The Royal Wedding.  As I read through the 28 page program I thought to myself, who has the time to do this and why does it have to be so lengthy?! Obviously they have a wedding planner, and by no means was it a stretch to have in their budget, but whether it's Kate Middleton's wedding or any other bride, having someone to take on the work load can be an amazing choice.
 
When you think of a wedding planner, what are your first thoughts honestly?
A luxury item, I'm not made of money, Jennifer Lopez, an expense you can live without because you can try to be organized for once?!
 
Well ladies & men, although in the history books, a wedding coordinator was a job that only the prestigious used, now-a-days it's a necessity!  And no, I am not saying all of this because I am one, but it's something I truly believe.  If I didn't stand behind it, do you think I would be doing what I do now?  I used to be the Bride that thought my OCD and organizational skills could handle the details of my own wedding planning, but I had to face the fact, on the wake of my own wedding, that it wasn't the job for me, as a bride! 
 
Think about it this way, when you hire someone to do something that they do on a daily basis, many common mistakes are avoided! Not only that, but most of the time, the cost it is to hire a coordinator is money that will end up being saved through their contacts, negotiations and budget calculations that they assist with.  In addition, the many hours they spend working on the wedding alone, that you can now use to enjoy, should be worth it all together!
 
We, at Rooted in Love, have started this endeavor to help out any type of Bride with any type of budget so they can let their ideas come to life without the stress that it can so easily bring.  A coordinator takes on so much background work that can easily go unnoticed and we don't mind! We make a toast to the most important day of someone's life, that they don't worry about the small things, but they can take in the entire picture and truly enjoy their day.  We will take care of the rest.
 
Happy planning,
-Brittany
 
P.S. Why did they have to plan the Royal Wedding on my birthday? Don't they know these things!? Ah, it's okay, I will just go and take the day for myself. Plus I won't lie, I am a little excited to see what Kate will wear!

4.25.2011

Easter Weekend: Freedom

WOW! I love Easter weekend :) It is probably one of the most refreshing times.  As I attended the Easter services on Sunday morning in the gloomy weather, all I could do was sit in awe as the Pacific Amphitheater filled up completely.  Tears filled my eyes knowing they were all there for one reason.
The service was referring to Freedom and it opened with a scene of black walls and workers in a routine, when ONE person came out with a paint can and threw the entire can at the wall and lime green paint splattered it from one end to the other. The act left me emotional knowing this could be our daily lives, filled with passion and freedom, yet we fall into a haggard routine and left unhappy. 
 I encourage you to find that freedom and the joy that keeps your heart in a pure happiness that spreads contagiously.  As we sat through the service and wrapped up with baptisms, it started to mist.  I couldn't help but think it might be God's humor in baptizing us all.  Think what you may, but at least it made me smile.
Don't fall back into that daily routine, find that outlet that gives you the joy you deserve!

-Brittany

4.22.2011

Philanthropy Fridays: Simple Smile

I have a huge heart for working with kids and adults with disabilities. I have been a volunteer coach with the Special Olympics for about 4 years now and I cannot get enough of it.

Last Wednesday was the track and field portion of the games. The day started off with the opening ceremony where one representative ran the torch around the entire track while everyone cheered and encouraged Bobby as he ran around with a beaming smile! 
When Bobby finished, the wheelchair races, walks and runs began! 

During one of the running events I met a sweet girl named Taylor. She was so excited to be able to participate and was truly full of life. She would smile and laugh and I could not help but smile too. I spent the majority of the day with her and was amazed by her outlook on life.

I walked away with a greater appreciation of my own life. It put my little complaints and everyday problems in perspective. I think a lot of us lose sight of the many blessings we have each day. The simplicity of walking and speaking are taken for granted each day.
Even though I was volunteering my time, I truly felt that each one of them impacted my life and made me remember to be thankful for every blessing in my life. 

I challenge each of you to never take anything for granted and be thankful for every blessing in your life!


Happy Good Friday,
-Allie

4.20.2011

Wedding Wednesdays

Weddings are one of my favorite things. I love everything about them. Whether its planning a wedding, attending a wedding or hearing about someone elses wedding experience, I cannot get enough of it! 
On April 9 I got to attend one of my longest friends wedding. I have known Her since we were 4 years old and we lived 2 blocks away from each other. When we were younger you could always find us together.. Whether it was selling lemonade or having sleep-overs that turned into campouts in the living room. 
As the groom and guests anxiously wait for her to walk down the aisle, I caught myself experience tons of emotions. I sat there wondering where in the world does time go. It feels like only yesterday that we were kids playing endless games of hide-n-seek! As I look at the groom and see the overwhelming look of happiness and love on his face and I am overcome with joy for my friend. Knowing that she has found someone who loves her and will take care of her for the rest of her life is truly an amazing feeling as a friend who also loves her dearly! 
The wedding took place at a ranch in the mountains of San Diego. It was an absolutely beautiful day filled with happiness and love!
Happy Wedding Wednesday from Rooted in Love!!!
-Allie

4.15.2011

Heart of a Child

The other day I saw the cutest thing, but before I tell the story, here is a little background...

Brittany and I are going to participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in September, where we will walk 39 miles in order to raise awareness and money towards a great cause.  One of the ways we are raising money is by selling pink wristbands that say B(r)EA(s)T  CANCER.


To continue with the story... I had a pile of the wristbands sitting out and 7-year-old Ashton asked if he could buy one with his own money to wear around.  He did and that's not even the best part! A few days later I went to his little league baseball game and Ashton's mom noticed something strange about the bottom of his pant leg.  That's when I realized Ashton decided to ear his pink wristband around his ankle and over his the top of his baseball pants all throughout his game.  He later explained to me that he had to wear it like that because he was wearing a long sleeve shirt and it would have been hidden on his wrist... How else would people have seen it?

As I sit here with the news blaring, it's funny to realize you can't turn the TV on without being discouraged by the craziness in the world.  It was refreshing to see the innocence and heart of a child so beautiful because they seem to understand the true importance of life better than we do.


Happy Friday,
-Allie

4.08.2011

Getting Started

Hello everyone! It's time for our fist official post :) Enjoy..

So, over the course of the last few months, Allie & I have been really ramping up our business.  What started as a New Years Resolution has turned into an incredible journey.  We always knew we wanted to get into this business, but had no clue it would happen so fast!  We really must thank all the people who support us and our hard work, it truly does not go unnoticed.

We have been working on six weddings this year to build our portfolio and we are so happy for all these incredible couples.  The first of them only being 5 weeks away, we decided it is time to start getting ourselves ready.  This means investing! Investing in our coordinator garb, walkie talkies and these awesome name tags so everyone can know our place at the wedding.  (I sure hope they are useful).


So as we say goodnight, we will wake up to more planning this weekend... I can say for the both of us in all honesty, we LOVE our jobs!

~Brittany

1.20.2011

Website Coming Soon!!

Just an FYI.. We are in the middle of having a website created so hold tight! &Thanks