Susan and Mark were married last summer at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by one swank reception at The Citizen Hotel in downtown Sacramento. Set to the tones of silvery shimmer and crisp summer white, Susan and Mark’s wedding was oozing with beautiful details. Once the sun went down, the lighting design and entertainment by Extreme Productions took the energy to a whole new level and the dance floor was as packed as I’ve ever seen one.

After over a year of planning and designing this wedding alongside Mark and Susan, seeing this wedding come together was a dream. And, thank you so much to The Memory Journalists, who captured every detail flawlessly.

Congratulations Susan and Mark! You are truly one of the sweetest couples I’ve ever worked with!

Venue: Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, The Citizen Hotel

Event Planning and Design: 2Chic Events & Design

Photography: The Memory Journalists

Floral Design: Botanica Floral Designs

DJ and Lighting: Extreme Productions

Cake: Sweet Cakes by Rebecca

Paperie: Etsy

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals, Mimi & Co Couture Linens

Earlier this month, Aubrey and I packed our bags for Las Vegas to attend the Event Solutions Idea Factory. This is the 2nd year in a row that 2Chic has attended this amazing conference and once again, I was incredibly impressed with the education, the presentations and the new products showcased at the conference.

 
Why is this important to our clients? Well, we were the first planners/designers in Sacramento to see the 2012 product releases from La Tavola, Wildflower and many other amazing companies. We had the honor of teaching and attending event design courses geared towards the latest trends…and we got a little hang time with some of the industry greats like Preston Bailey, David Tutera and Sahsa Souza to hear their take on what’s hot for 2012! While all of these designers knocked my socks off, I do have to say that I was quite partial to Warner Bros. own Special Events Planner, Hillary Harris, who wowed me with her presentation the latest trends in celebrity events {OK, so I might just be more partial than most to my previous employer and co-workers at The WB!}
 
All in all, it was an amazing conference! We can’t wait to implement some of these new trends in our events. And, we’re so thankful for new memories made with some of our great friends that we run into there every year! Enjoy a few photos from the show!

David Tutera's Presentation {it was mind blowing!}

A few of my faves from LaTavola's New Collection

Mmmmm...Glitter Bon Bon's - Yes, they are edible!

Winner of "Most Creative" Tabletop in the Tabletop Contest. This table rocked!

Three weeks ago, thanks to my wonderful friend Cho at The Wedding Planning Institute, I was beyond blessed with an opportunity of a lifetime – to attend the Wedding Faire and Symposium as a member of Preston Bailey’s team. Preston, to me, is THE industry leader when it comes to event design. His creations are awe inspiring and he, himself, even more beautiful ~ which explains his worldwide notoriety. After being greeted at the door by Preston with a big hug and hello {can you say chills up my spine…}, I spent the weekend attending sessions presented by Preston, Nikki Khan, Sasha Souza, Brian Rafanelli and Philippe Lee.

And Now, I’d like to share what I learned from Preston Bailey with you. The following are Preston’s “Top 10 Event Must Haves” that he shared with us. According to Preston {and I have to agree!}, these are the elements that each wedding should have to make it fabulous and wow your guests:

1.) A Dramatic Entrance: Wow your guests upon arrival.

2.) An Elaborately Decorated Aisle

3.) One Large Statement Piece {an ice sculpture, floral sculpture or structural piece}

4.) Exciting Bars and Cocktail Areas: There’s always a ton of guest activity in these areas

5.) An Amazing Escort Card Table {Amen! This is our favorite!}

6.) Unique Food Service {Preston once had soup served in turtle egg shells}

7.) Classic Tablescapes {even at a modern themed wedding, warm those tables up!}

8.) Table Details: Textures, variation and decor accents

9.) The Overall Room Decor: It should evoke feeling

10.) Fun After Parties {And be sure to feed them!}

I loved Preston’s 10 Must Haves! He also mentioned that your wedding should be a reflection of how you entertain in your own home. This will make guests feel the most comfortable and also create an event that is truly you!