We are Nick and Aleah Valley of Valley & Co., the award-winning husband and wife wedding + event planning and design duo™ since 2003. We’re just thrilled to offer our planning tips and advice that we’ve found invaluable over our years to Style Me Pretty readers!

In no particular order of importance, these are some of our most cherished tips that we encourage our couples to incorporate into their big day and planning process:

1. Delight in the simplest of ways. Greeting your guests with tray passed wine and cocktails is a wonderful way to start off your celebration, but don’t forget simple things like tray passed iced water. Dress it up by infusing with lemon or cucumber or garnish with frozen grape skewers. Welcome your guests to their place settings with a fresh fruit plate or gourmetcheese board. It’s all about unexpected {simple} ways to delight your guests.

2. Give thanks. Thanking your guests for coming to show their love and support is such a sweet and important thing to do. It can be as simple as printing up {or hand-writing} thank you notes that you slip into each place setting. If friends or family have traveled from afar, give thanks to them in your toast.

3. Divide and conquer. Talk to your fiancé about what’s most important to each of you during the wedding planning process and on your big day. Divvy up tasks based on what you both love and enjoy and come together for duties like your cake tasting, menu planning, and logistics. Spice up the planning and let each other plan one surprise for the big day.

4. Appease the senses. When designing the flow and ambiance of your wedding, bring inunexpected textures, flavors, and scents in subtle ways to create a true experience. Ta pinto the senses: an abundance of candlelight is always aesthetically appeasing. Enhance taste with fresh seasonal dishes and a palate cleanser like a basil lemon sorbet before your entrees. Bring in beautifully textured linens and napkins and incorporate natural elements in your centerpieces.

5. Break the rules. While some wedding traditions should always be, break the rules and go with what you enjoy and love.

6. Entertain. Surprise your guests with entertaining elements like a steel drummer during cocktail hour, a raspy jazz singer during dinner, or fire or hula dancers to kick off your dance floor. Tie in a fun and funky piece of entertainment based on your hobbies, places you love to travel, or something quirky you both enjoy. If you’re on a tighter budget, source local schools for musicians or tap into your neighborhood community center.

7. Roll with the elements. Sometimes the most wonderfully planned weddings are thrown a curveball with the weather. Plan ahead as best as you can: for chilly or windy evening celebrations, gift the ladies in attendance rolled up shawls cinched with fanciful ribbon or place vintage blankets stowed in oversized wicker baskets to encourage cozying up to enjoy the night. For hot summer soirees, stage galvanized tubs with Limonata drinks and sparkling water to keep guests cool. Provide paper parasols for them to use while they wait for you to sashay down the aisle.

8. Bond with your team. Bring on talented, experienced wedding artists who understand your vision and whom you click with. You’ll be spending a lot of time with each vendor so developing a comfortable relationship will ensure a fun planning process and a smooth,beautiful day. We typically spend up to a year with our marvelous clients and know how important it is for them to click with us and for us to enjoy them as well. These relationships will play an important role in your big day.

9. Savor every moment. Enjoy the planning process and document it! Take photos, keep menus and swatches, and have fun! The planning process is an experience in itself and,when done properly, you’ll be left excited for your big day! This is the start of your new adventure together so savoring and enjoying the planning process is a key to kicking off your marriage on the right foot.

I certainly could have used some advice like that when I was engaged!  I especially love the tip about enjoying the engagement and planning process.  It all goes by so fast!  You know what else went by too fast?  This month’s segment with Nick and Aleah.  But don’t dispair!  Leave a comment with your ultimate wedding planning question and Valley & Co. will be back in October to give you the lowdown!

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Post tags: Advice, California, Planners, planning, Q + A, San Diego, Tips, Valley & Co., wedding
Post categories: California Weddings, Wedding Planners & Designers, Wedding Resources

1. Location: Keep your location in mind when deciding on style, color, and decor. The aesthetics of your wedding or event should coordinate with it’s surroundings. This might sound odd, but don’t forget about parking or local events occurring on your wedding date.

2. Budget: Keeping your guest count to a minimum is a great way to save money and keep within your budget. It allows you the opportunity to splurge on a few things that will make the day special for you and your  guests. The small, we’ll thought-out details are what connects your guests to you and this milestone in your life.

3. Inspiration: Finding inspiration on blogs and tearing out pages of wedding magazines is a lot of fun and very useful; however, don’t be afraid to look outside the box. Inspiration can come from anywhere — a piece of fabric, furniture or even an article of clothing.

4. Details: Speaking of details, paying attention to the small things will set your wedding apart from the rest. Serving a signature cocktail as guests arrive in your color palette, a unique escort display, or the prettiest paper details awaiting guests on the tables are all examples of details that will have your guests talking through the night. Guests appreciate seeing in the time and effort you spent to entertain them.

5. Dress: There are so many gorgeous gowns out there making it even harder for brides to find “the one”. Find a bridal salon and let the sales staff help you find a gown that fits your body perfectly. Be sure not to forget proper undergarments.

6. Lighting: Light can really change the overall look and mood of your wedding. The difference between candlelight and overheard fluorescent lighting is obvious. Lighting can create a mood where people want to interact and connect with one another Remember lighting when planning your decor. If your budget doesn’t allow you to do an elaborate lighting schematic, speak with your  florist or event designer about  doing one focal point, and make it special.

7. Music: If there’s one area where a couple can express themselves freely, it’s with music.  Give the event a dose of your personality. Whether you make a playlist for your ipod, or select songs to be played by a band,  and make sure it is played at the appropriate volume for the reception space. Your guests shouldn’t have to shout or whisper to carry on a conversation.

8. Love your vendors: Choosing the right vendors is key in planning your wedding. Let me say that again. Choosing the right vendors is key in planning your wedding. You will enjoy the process if you have vendors  who understand you, and that you like. When they understand you and your vision, they will produce the wedding you want, and probably make it a lot more than you ever thought it could be.  Wedding vendors are creative people. Their energy and passion is in everything they do. So if you “connect” with a vendor, but are still shopping around, don’t discount that connection. There are times when a vendor’s personality, sense of humor, or quick wit will lift you out of the planning trenches. Most of all, trust the people you’ve chosen to deliver. You’ll be amazed at what they can do.

Planning tips: Shelby Peaden Events / Photography: Lauren Kinsey Photography, Candice K Photography, Meg Baisden Photography, Pure 7 Studios, Loving Legacy Photography

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Post tags: planning, shelby peadon, Tips, wedding
Post categories: Florida Weddings, Wedding Planners & Designers

Spurred by the thawing of winter, the blossoming of spring, and the gorgeous silhouettes of oak trees in the Sonoma area, this shoot focuses on blending natural textures with bright, bold colors and details. The result is an soft and inviting combination of light-hearted playfulness and serene sophistication, which maintains an authentic, personal feel.

Photography: MEF Photography / Vintage Rentals: One True Love Vintage Rentals / Planning and Design: Esla Events / Flowers: Leigh Okies Design / Hair and Makeup: Betten Chaston / Rentals: Hartmann Rentals / Venue: Running Rabbit Ranch

If you missed any, here are all of our pretty posts from the week:

the most romantic, beach wedding we’ve ever seen
a stunning bouquet and oh-so much more
a chic, modern garden party in La Jolla
the latest trend in summer colors
our favorite groom’s central coast celebration

Some fabulous links from around the web:

my new favorite wedding activity?  hula hooping, of course!
all-american BBQ inspiration perfect for the holiday weekend
so many cute ideas at this barn bash!  cowboy hat wall, hello!

Have a glorious weekend and we’ll see you back here on Monday! xoxo.

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Post tags: Backyard, Betten Chaston, Esla Events, Hartmann Rentals, Inspiration, Leigh Okies Design, MEF Photography, Modern, One True Love Vintage Rentals, Paper Chain, Running Rabbit Ranch, Summer, Vintage, wedding
Post categories: California Weddings

{Check out all this crazy gorgeousness in one tidy little place.  No words.  Just pictures.}

A few words from Gia Canali:

Planning such a formal affair here in Los Angeles, where we are known for our laidback outdoor weddings, borders on the avant-garde.  This made Negar & Peter’s wedding a rare treat to take in: it was so very sensual–with an intimate fireside ceremony, the lacy softness of baby’s breath, and flickering candlelight to set the mood.  Plus, everyone was really dressed to the nines.  I loved that Peter nabbed a dahlia from one of the centerpieces for a more playful boutonniere at the reception.  It matched his polka-dot tie perfectly.

And some from the bride, Negar:

The Ceremony was an ancient Persian ritual of getting married while seated in front of  a spread of symbolic items, such as honey, pomegranates, spices and family heirlooms.  During the ceremony the bride’s girlfriends hold a silk lace fabric over the couples head and shower them in sugar flakes.  A traditional Persian tea and sweets table and a lavish fruit table were other Persian accents.  The Ceremony was meant to look like the club did in the 1930s with tall candelabras and champagne coupes.

Thank you Gia, Negar and Peter, for sharing what is without a doubt one of the most gorgeous weddings we’ve seen in quite some time!

xoxo, Alison of The Knotty Bride

Photography: Gia Canali / Venue: The California Club, downtown LA / Cake: Sweet Lady Jane / Invitations: Tiny Pine Press / Bride’s gown: Monique Lhullier / Bride’s jewels: Neil Lane / Bride’s shoes: Valentino

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 43 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Ballroom, california wedding, Gia Canali, Invitations, Monique Lhullier, Neil Lane, regal, romantic, Sweet Lady Jane, The California Club, Tiny Pine Press, wedding
Post categories: All Real Weddings, California Weddings, Cultural Beauty, Los Angeles Weddings, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance

The sale ends tomorrow, but seriously, I wouldn’t wait. Head on over to the sale now, because the merchandise is flying out the door quickly and you want to make sure to get your little pickers on something completely fabulous.

Update…we are extending the  big Bluefly Giveaway for one week (remember…$1000 big ones to outfit your maids!) so make sure you get your entries in!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 1 comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bluefly, Nicole Miller, wedding
Post categories: Wedding Fashion