Wedding Planning

Wedding Planning Wedding Planning || A Fashion Blogger’s Perspectives on Bridal Gown Trying-On Home Life, Lifestyle March 3, 2017 0 CommentsCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comUpdated 3/31/17* See bottom of the post!  As a bride-to-be, this is perhaps THE MOST exciting part of the entire wedding planning process! This is the part that I wish would NEVER end: and it’s the bridal gown hunting and selecting process! I knew I had to document this part of wedding planning on the blog and share the experience with you.In this post, I will show you bridal gowns from 5 different designers in various price points. I let my consultant,  Stacey, pick these out knowing what I like and don’t like and really enjoyed the process of trying on different gowns. At the end of the post I’ll reveal the designer of my ACTUAL GOWN but, of course, not the actual dress. I will have to reveal it after the wedding!As far as the type of gowns I have been looking for, this is what I like and don’t like: I don’t have very clear and defined collar bones (I know, the weirde st body part to be NOT confident about…) so I try to avoid all strapless/tube tops. I also prefer tulle/organza over satin in any scenario. I wanted something airy and fluffy, but not overly princess-y. I wanted something that will elongate me and give me a very “bridal” silhouette, but also have something that will be memorable and not just “a bridal gown”.The White Flower Bridal Boutique turned out to be the boutique that really understood my vision and had everything that I wanted in stock. They are located in downtown San Diego. If you’re a bride to be and are shopping for a gown, don’t forget to make an appointment and visit them!P.S. This s not a sponsored post in any way, shape, or form!Cavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comThe White Flower Bridal Boutique in San Diego, CACavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comThe White Flower Bridal Boutique in San Diego, CAStacey Kerr is my wedding consultant at The White Flower.   She’s been SUPER helpful, knowledgeable, responsive, and patient with me throughout the whole process. I’m SO glad I got to work with her!!Cavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comSo, here are Stacey’s picks that I tried on!  I also brought my own shoes (The Jimmy Choo’s you see to the left of the picture below!)Cavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comSo, here are some of the pieces that I tried on thought I thought would be entirely and thoroughly ME, and a great fit for a fashion blogger’s bridal gown!!1.  Two Piece Outfit: Lea Ann Belter Top Arabella Wtoo Skirt- EffieI knew going in that I wanted to have something that’s less conventional. A two piece gown from different brands definitely checked that box! I love the top that hugs the body (super flattering!) and the bottom that is everything you can ask for a fusion ballgown/A-line skirt!  Cavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photogra phy â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.com  2. The Vintage Elegance:  Wtoo- Lenora GownI also wanted to make sure I tried on something that I just wouldn’t even think of trying if someone didn’t pick it out for me. I wanted to make sure my pre-conceived notions were not blinding me from finding the perfect gown. So this was the one that Stacey grabbed for me â€" I loved the vintage and elegant design. But, as you can probably see on my face, it ultimately wasn’t something that I felt like I could be myself in.Cavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.com3. The One That May Have Gotten Away: Essence Of Australia 2292 GownI had a little episode before I finalized the decision on THE dress. The first time I went with my entourag e to the first boutique (which will remain anonymous), I actually ended up putting down the deposit toward an Essence of Australia dress. It wasn’t the one I’m wearing in these photos because it was a sample dress and they didn’t allow photos. But, I kind of got suckered into the “deal” because it was during a trunk show, and that they were offering something like (don’t remember exactly) 50% off. So, the next morning, I literally woke up and KNEW I made the wrong decision. Thank goodness it wasn’t too late and I was lucky enough to be able to reverse that decision. But I learned the lesson of listening to my heart and not my brain, and eventually found the dress that I LOVED at The White Flower boutique and hadn’t changed my mind since!!Cavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.com4. The Unexpected Contender: Martina Liana 822 Gow nThe moment I put the dress on I knew my first impression about the dress was wrong. This is one of those dresses that fit SO well and accentuate all the right parts of your body. It sounds weird but I felt like a goddess in this dress! The only caveat was that I wasn’t looking to look like a goddess… if that makes sense. I still needed my dress to be a tiny bit more conservative, and not show so much curves. But I have to say I didn’t expect the dress to make me feel as amazing as it did. I would recommend any bride who wants to look dazzling and sexy!Cavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.com5. Made my heart flutter: Hayley Paige Lorelei GownI CANNOT gush enough about Hayley Paige gowns… She truly masters the whimsical and romantic look in EVERY dress she designs. I am a story teller and a content developer, I feel like I appreciate a ll things that tell stories, too. Hayley Paige gowns do exactly that. This particular dress I tried on was a slightly larger size, so it obviously didn’t fit perfectly. But imagine the sleeves perfectly tailored to my arms, and the top fitting a little more snugly… This dress was SO dangerously beautiful I was scared that I would change my mind about the dress I’d already committed to!Cavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comEven thought I felt SO strongly tempted,  I still didn’t change my mind. Thank goodness. LOL. And you may have guessed by this point, YES, I went with a Hayley Paige gown!! As a designer, Hayley Paige most closely represents my style and ultimately her dress really spoke to me as a fashion blogger. And I will be walking down the aisle in 8 days in it… I CANNOT BELIEVE!!!3/31/2017 Update:It’s been 20 days after the most dreamy day of my life, and here is the actual gown that I wore on my big day: the Hayley Paige Dori gown! It was perfect in every single way:  the color, the fit, the way it moved, the way it made me feel.. I don’t think I could’ve possibly moved a better gown!!Me, in Hayley Paige Dori Gown 3Cavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comCavin Elizabeth Photography â€" http://www.cavinelizabeth.comI hope the searching process of a fashion blogger’s bridal gown was interesting to read. Which gown do you like best and why??All photography by Cavin Elizabeth Photography Wedding Planning Wedding Planning || What To Wear To A Garden WeddingHome Life, Lifestyle February 7, 2017 0 CommentsI am literally writing this during the Super Bowl game on Sunday. Did you guys enjoy the game?  I loved Gaga’s performance and those drones were amazing! Oh and the first ever over time in NFL history? Pretty amazing!!So if this post sends you on a shopping spree, I apologize… JK, it’s exactly my intention, HAHA!Our spring wedding is fast approaching (in just a little over a month…eeeee!!) and I’m getting a lot of question about whether there is a dress code to the wedding. I didn’t want to bog down my guests with needing to shop for a particular kind of dress. Instead, I’m providing a bunch of ideas as to what you COULD wear to my wedding, or any other garden-esq weddings for that matter.Here’s a quick overview of the venue I have here â€" it’s a Southwestern, colonial style boutique hotel in the heart of La Jolla, California. The ambiance of the hotel feels really c ozy and intimate, and has lots, and I mean LOTS of green.   So if you are planning outfits for any future garden weddings, or better yet… if you’re planning outfits for OUR wedding, here is a post for you to book mark!!I’ve broken the price range down into dresses that are  under $80, $80-$120, and $120-$250.Minimal budget: Dresses under $80 Home Life, Lifestyle February 7, 2017 0 CommentsI am literally writing this during the Super Bowl game on Sunday. Did you guys enjoy the game?  I loved Gaga’s performance and those drones were amazing! Oh and the first ever over time in NFL history? Pretty amazing!!So if this post sends you on a shopping spree, I apologize… JK, it’s exactly my intention, HAHA!Our spring wedding is fast approaching (in just a little over a month…eeeee!!) and I’m getting a lot of question about whether there is a dress code to the wedding. I didn’t want to bog down my guests with needing to shop for a particular kind of dress. Instead, I’m providing a bunch of ideas as to what you COULD wear to my wedding, or any other garden-esq weddings for that matter.Here’s a quick overview of the venue I have here â€" it’s a Southwestern, colonial style boutique hotel in the heart of La Jolla, California. The ambiance of the hotel feels really cozy and intimate, and has lots, and I mean LOTS of g reen.   So if you are planning outfits for any future garden weddings, or better yet… if you’re planning outfits for OUR wedding, here is a post for you to book mark!!I’ve broken the price range down into dresses that are  under $80, $80-$120, and $120-$250.Minimal budget: Dresses under $80 NBD $ 178 Get Sale Alert KENDALL + KYLIE $ 228 Get Sale Alert Endless Rose $ 80 Get Sale Alert Asos $ 73 Get Sale Alert Elise Ryan $ 100 Get Sale Alert NBD $ 198 Get Sale Alert Rachel Pally $ 251 Get Sale Alert Asos $ 68 Get Sale Alert NBD $ 220 Get Sale Alert Lovers And Friends Golden Ray Rose-Print Maxi Dress $ 230 Get Sale Alert Asos $ 181 Get Sale Alert French Connection $ 148 Get Sale Alert Billabong $ 74.95 Get Sale Alert Paper Dolls Petite 1/2 Sleeve All Over Lace Pencil Dress $ 94 Get Sale Alert Bang for your buck: Dresses between $80 â€" $120 For Love Lemons $ 303 Get Sale Alert Missguided $ 86 Get Sale Alert Keepsake $ 270 Get Sale Alert ASTR the Label $ 110 Get Sale Alert Womens KISS AND TELL LACE MINI $ 168 Get Sale Alert Lulus $ 82 Get Sale Alert Topshop $ 90 Get Sale Alert Aidan Mattox $ 255 Get Sale Alert Keepsake $ 170 Get Sale Alert Aidan Mattox $ 295 Get Sale Alert Topshop $ 85 Get Sale Alert Lumier $ 120 Get Sale Alert Eliza J $ 318 Get Sale Alert MinkPink $ 119 Get Sale Alert KENDALL + KYLIE $ 298 Get Sale Alert Adrianna Papell $ 160 Get Sale Alert Self-Portrait $ 510 Get Sale Alert Embellished Bodice Gown $ 395 Get Sale Alert BCBGMAXAZRIA $ 338 Get Sale Alert Adrianna Papell $ 240 Get Sale Alert BCBGMAXAZRIA $ 268 Get Sale Alert BCBGMAXAZRIA $ 368 Get Sale Alert Sue Wong $ 348 Get Sale Alert Ellen Tracy $ 218 Get Sale Alert Shop your heart’s desire: Dresses above $120 (and under $250 still) NBD $ 218 Get Sale Alert Eliza J $ 268 Get Sale Alert Keepsake $ 180 Get Sale Alert SWF Clementine Dress in Red. - size XS (also in ) $ 228 Get Sale Alert For Love Lemons $ 358 Get Sale Alert Three floor $ 400 Get Sale Alert Eliza J $ 158 Get Sale Alert Self-Portrait $ 545 Get Sale Alert Nookie $ 249 Get Sale Alert Bardot $ 149 Get Sale Alert Pisarro Nights $ 208 Get Sale Alert Sue Wong $ 422.5 Get Sale Alert Lisa Perry $ 695 Get Sale Alert BCBGMAXAZRIA $ 268 Get Sale Alert Equipment $ 428 Get Sale Alert Wedding Planning Wedding Planning || My Bridal Shower Rehearsal Dinner Outfits Home Life, Lifestyle April 12, 2017 0 CommentsYesterday, we celebrated being an officially married couple for one full month. Time really flies when you’re having a great time!! It’s ridiculous to think that it’s been 31 days since #BestDayEver311 already. Like many people told me, things did start to feel different since we got married â€" we truly are a team now and we’re in this together! That makes everything feel that much sweeter. It’s quite incredible!Gushing aside, I wanted to share with you guys my outfit hunting result when I was preparing for my bridal shower (in February) and rehearsal dinner (the day before the wedding). Both outfits are affordable (under $150), comfortable, super flattering, and most importantly, scream BRIDAL!  Morning Lavender Lynette Midi Dress in Pink    Some of you might find this dress familiar. Yes- I did wear the same dress in green for my Christmas party post back in December! It’s the same exact dress, except in a different, drea mier, and definitely bridal color! I LOVE the dress to pieces.. It’s actually available in a dreamy/mauve-y kind of blue now! GET IT before it’s sold out (they definitely have the tendency to sell out very quickly)!!Eliza J Fit and Flare dressThe other dress was the Eliza J Fit and Flare dress which I wore to the rehearsal dinner the night before our wedding. It was a light dress with bell sleeves and gave me the feminine edge I wanted on the day I got to meet a lot of Victor’s family for the first time. You can find it here.  It’s extremely flattering and yet maintains a demure and proper kind of vibe. I loved every bit of this dress!All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse Wedding Planning Wedding Planning || My Engagement Shoot “What It’s Like To Be Planning A Wedding” Home Life, Life as a blogger, Lifestyle February 19, 2017 0 CommentsWe are officially under 1 month away from the big day! Having just gone through a bit of a crisis (more on that later) in my career, I am so ready to finish the last mile of my wedding planning process on a high note and in 3 weeks, walk down the aisle and marry my best friend!In the next coming weeks, I have a hair appointment, final dress fitting, video shoot to finish up, and an appointment to apply for a marriage license. But I wanted to share some REAL insight and advice on what I’ve learned in the last 11 months with you today. If you’re a bride to be, listen closely.. and if you’ve been there and done that, read on and laugh with (at) me!!By the way, these photos are actually part of my Engagement Shoot, taken by the amazing Jen Fellows from Acqua Photos. We decided to capture something real and AUTHENTIC of what’s actually going on a few months before the wedding â€" looking at details of the wedding and enjoying every moment. Instead of dressing up and trying to act all lovey-dovey (we did that, too, for the record, and I didn’t love the end result), we decided to capture what’s REAL. I can’t tell you how much MORE I love this kind of photo shoot; it tells a story without me having to try at all!So here are the things I’ve learned in the last 11 months that I wish I knew before I started:1) Starting earlier is ALWAYS better than starting laterAnd I don’t just mean the wedding planning process itself, but the bits and pieces of the process. It’s never too late to get that MINTED order in (especially knowing sometimes they mess up!! I had such nightmares dealing with them), start thinking about your guest list, and finalizing your seating charts… These are things that you think you can’t do until later in the process, but start laying them out! You can change your mind later, but at least you won’t be starting from scratch when time is all of a sudden limited. W hich, trust me, WILL happen to you!2) Select the right wedding plannerThis is kind of an obvious one on the surface. Depending on what you need, you may be looking for a day-of, month-of, or full-service wedding planner. Some specialize in ethnic weddings, other specialize in design.  I personally interviewed 6 different wedding planners myself within a 2 month period and eventually decided to go with Nicole George Events.The reason I picked Nicole over all the other ones I interviewed was because she seemed more 1) organized 2) calm and composed 3) stylish when it comes to personal style. Honestly, that’s about how much you can glean from a 30-60 minute meeting with anyone. If you ask me, hiring a wedding planner is such a tricky business because you can’t really “try out” their service. You have 1-2 meetings to determine whether you like them, and after you’ve signed with them there’s pretty much no turning back. I am extremely lucky that Nicole turned out to be every thing she was during our initial consultation. She is always prompt and responsive in terms of communication, and understands my vision, and listens more than she talks. The most important thing has been that she provides feedback at the right moment â€" she understands to complement my vision, and not to overpower it.  These are such important traits for people in the service industry, especially wedding related business because everything is so personal.  I love that about Nicole.So when you’re looking for a wedding planner, I’d say look for people that click with you personally, someone whose demeanor you can work with (they’re not talking too fast, taking 3 days to respond to your email, wearing a lip color that you could never imagine wearing, or proposes ideas that are surprising to you in not-so-positive ways). If you should be judgemental ONCE in your life time, this is the time to exercise judgement.3) Have a theme, but more importantly, tell your storyWith Nicole’ s help, we defined the stylistic theme of our wedding very early on. It was blush and midnight blue in terms of color, and the overall style is romantic, soft, and gardenesque. This was all Nicole’s work, so it was easier on my part.What was more challenging is how to weave the story of how Victor and I met, how we are as a couple, and what binds us together, all into this look and feel. If you’re trying to do the same, I’d recommendA. Work on your vow first, even if you’re way early in wedding planning. Write down the things you have to say to thank and appreciate your significant other. What comes to mind and what is the glue in your relationship.. what holds you together? Go from there.B. Think about the touch points on the wedding day â€" a cocktail napkin probably won’t have as much impact as a sign displayed at the front entrance. Pick and choose the aspects of the wedding day where you want the story to come through. You can’t have EVERYTHING tell your story.. tha t will be sensory overload for your guests!C. Much like what I did for our engagement shoot… think about ways to capture you guys in your most natural and authentic state. Having anything that’s less posted and scripted is always better!4) If you don’t have a vision, tap into Pinterest. But only moderately.Every wedding planner I interviewed said that they have a love-hate relationship with Pinterest. And it’s true! It’s the best tool there is when it comes to perusing the different options out there, but it isn’t always the easiest to organize and keep track of things.I personally liked to go to StyleMePretty.com or TheKnot.com to look for aesthetic inspiration. Or I go to a big/established wedding planner or famous photographer’s websites to get ideas. Unless these people have been paying special attention to SEO, not all of their material land on Pinterest.5) Don’t forget to involve your significant otherDepending on the significant other’s personality, they may or may not be heavily involved in the wedding planning process. I say involve them anyway, but gauge what the “right level” is. It’s very common for the bride to take on most of the responsibilities and make most of the decisions. But it’s BOTH of your big da, so you don’t want him to be surprised about what happens during your wedding, especially financially related items, haha. Yes, be on the same page regarding your budget, and involve him in your decision making process. All Photography by Jen Fellows at Acqua Photo Wedding Planning Wedding Planning || Cake Dessert Tasting With Peggy’s Kitchen Home Life, Lifestyle January 23, 2017 0 Comments  Cake Designer:  Peggy’s Kitchen Photographer:  Cavin Elizabeth Photography Wedding Planner:    Nicole George EventsFrom now till April, I will be sharing bits and pieces of details of my wedding planning that I’ve really enjoyed. It’s an ambitious goal… but I’m going to try to document this process as much as I can. On my list are things like wedding grown selection process, florist selection, and maybe how I found my wedding planner. (this will be a long one!)  Is there anything in particular that you want to see?! Leave me a comment and let me know! First up is the wedding cake and mini wedding desserts. Originally, this wasn’t going to be a significant part of my wedding as neither my fiancé nor I are really into sweets. When comparing to all other elements of a wedding, we both thought cake and desserts weren’t an important aspect for us. BUT ALL OF THIS CHANGED when I met Peggy.Guys, checking out Peggy’s website here and see all the amazing work she’s done!Peggy reached out to me over Instagram/email, and we met up. It turned out we have so many things in common â€" we both went to UCSD, we both grew up in Taiwan, and we share very similar views in what’s aesthetically pleasing! I instantly knew she would be great to work with. Peggys’ the type of person that listens more than she talks, and is very deliberate about her design, and is very thoughtful in her approach to her designs.If you happen to be planning a wedding, too, I highly recommend you having an in-person meeting/tasting so everyone can be on the same page when it comes to the way desserts look, taste, and how important a role desserts play in the wedding compared to every other element. It’s just such a fun type of meeting. And truth be told, and who doesn’t like to chat wedding over some delicious dessert and hot cup of tea? So let met break down in the paragraph next that outlines the way we approached the dessert designing process:P.S. All the photos here are taken by Cavin Elizabeth Photography â€" If you’re still looking for a wedding photographer, you don’t be disappointed with Cavin’s meticulous work!!1. Understanding Aesthetics TasteThis, to me, was probably the most important aspect of it all. In viewing Peggy’s website, it was immediately clear that she shares the clean and crisp colors with feminine touches that I really like. And both coming from Taiwanese up-bringing and culture, I knew she will be able to understand I’m not the biggest fan of most of the typically American desserts simply because the sugar content is usually way too high for my palate. So with these two factors locked in, I couldn’t wait to get into the planning process with Peggy.2. Determine Size of The CakeThanks to my wedding planner, Nicole, I didn’t have to worry about it this much. She provided this chart and between her and Peggy, it was clear how much cake we needed based on the number of g uests we have. Having an experienced wedding planner definitely pays off!3. In Person Meeting and TastingThis was the fun part!! All of the photos you see in this post are taken on the tasting day. It was such a team effort pulling together my wedding planner, cake designer, and photographer to get this project done, it came together seamlessly.Peggy made 4 cakes for me, in mini-forms of course, including an almond cake, Ricotta cheese cake, flourless chocolate mousse cake, and a French strawberry cake. I have to honestly say they were ALL delicious, in 100% honesty. I’m not a dessert person to begin with, so when I say it’s good, it’s REALLY good!! It was hard picking THE one for our wedding, but I settled on the Ricotta cheese cake because I thought it would be appealing to most people. My personal favorite was the almond cake :pWe also had 3 kinds of mini desserts including rose macarons, mini fruit tarts, and these gorgeous looking white chocolate mousse raspberry verrines . I ended up asking her to make ALL of them for the wedding â€" the flavors were on POINT and they all looked so deliciously gorgeous!!  From left to right :  Almonds Cake with Mascarpone Cheese Filling; Ricotta Cheese Cake also with Mascarpone Cheese Filling; Flourless Chocolate Cake With Chocolate Mousse   french Strawberry Cake   White Chocolate Mouse Raspberry Verrines   Mini Fruit Tarts   Rose Macarons4. Adjustment and Post-Tasting Follow UpAfter a wonderful time spent together tasting all the deliciousness, we had candid conversations about the wedding planning process with Cavin and Nicole both sharing their personal experiences with particular weddings in terms of planning and photography.The next day, Peggy sent an email to confirm the type of cake and dessert I was going to have, and we also confirmed the number of each piece that she was going to make. With Nicole’s input too, we also settled on cake stands, delivery time, clean-up and everything related to my wedding c ake.I can’t tell you how much I’d recommend Peggy’s service to all of you in San Diego. I mean, these pictures honestly speak for themselves, right? Pst… she also makes birthday cakes, kids cakes, and any other events. Reach out to her if you need to inquire about her service! All photography by Cavin Elizabeth PhotographyDisclaimer: Peggy has kindly offered to provide tasting and day-of cake and dessert to me free of charge. But all opinion expressed here is with 100% honesty and sincerity.