Jul 6, 2012
If you feel like this is deja vu’, yes, a Lake Tahoe wedding is elegantly represented again in the Knot Northern California Magazine but this wedding is nothing like our last. Different style, color and inspiration but equally inspiring, fresh and breathtaking!
Susi and Brian met through mutual friends at a birthday party one night in San Francisco. After talking for two hours they each had a special feeling about where this might lead. Two years later, both connoisseurs of food and wine, Brian popped the fateful question after a gourmet dinner in the new house they just bought together.
Both avid outdoor sports enthusiasts, Susi and Brian love Lake Tahoe and naturally turned to this scenic location for the backdrop to their wedding. With the help of Merrily Wed, they selected a breathtaking private lake view venue to host their 114 guests. Top of their priorities was serving the best food and wine with a scenic location. We think they succeeded!
Guests will be talking about this charming, warm and stylish wedding for a long time to come. Congratulations Susi and Brian!
Tahoe Signature of Style,
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Jun 21, 2012 |
If there was a nursery rhyme that summed up Erin and Shawn’s Lake Tahoe wedding, it might go something like this:
What are little grooms made of?
What are little grooms made of?
Flasks and skulls
And skateboard wheels,
That’s what little grooms are made of.
What are little brides made of?
What are little brides made of?
Lavender and white
And dresses so nice,
That’s what little brides are made of.
Only the best lakefront wedding site could draw them from their tropical Hawaiian home in Maui to wed on the mainland and that is what they had. Maybe the little fact that they also met in Lake Tahoe might have had something to do with it!
From all things sweet and feminine – white orchids, sprigs of lavender, blushing bridesmaids to all things masculine and daring – ring bearer skateboard, personalized flasks (filled of course), a skull groom’s cake and cake toppers; the contrasting details really made their wedding uniquely them! But isn’t that what a wedding is all about? The blending and union of two separate personalities to become one. Aaaww, yes a little sappy and sentimental but must be the mood I am in!
Congratulations to our Maui Ohana, Erin and Shawn!
Floral artistry by Bellissima Floral.
Tahoe Signature of Style,
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May 23, 2012
Several posts ago I introduced you to Michelle Van Otten, a respected San Francisco Bay Area author, international public speaker and consultant with expertise in personal peak performance, business image, first impressions and body language. Here is our second in a series of guest posts in which she will give you valuable hints, tips and clues – helping you to become the most magnetic, radiant, confident version of you possible.
This time around it is all about how to speak confidently and deliver a wedding toast others won’t tune out after the first sentence. Whether you are a maid of honor, best man, mother or father of the bride or groom, or just speaking at a non-wedding event, remember these six tips (or pass them on to someone who needs them)!
6 Powerful Tips for Speaking with Magnetic Confidence and Delivering an Unforgettable Speech or Toast
Jerry Seinfeld said it best…”People at a funeral would rather be in the coffin than delivering the eulogy!” Public speaking may be top on the list of all human fears, but what I am about to share with you will help you eliminate any fear and step into your innate ability to deliver a powerful, unforgettable speech. You can do this and with a little practice you can become a master. Here’s what you need to know…
1. Let’s begin with the basic fact that 93% of our communication with others is non-verbal. That’s right! Only 7% of communication is what you actually say. Non-verbal communication is the single most potent form of communication there is and it’s the very first thing you need to know about how you show up to others. Your 93% comes through your mood, emotions, body language, tone of voice, facial expressions and appearance before a single word is spoken. Knowing that you are already going to be filled with positive emotions and looking and feeling your best, you can relax about the what to say part because you know that the majority of what you are conveying is already being said.
2. The most important thing you must remember about speaking with a group is that connection matters more than anything! When you grab the mic, take a deep breath as you make eye contact with each and every person you can. Taking them in and connecting with them through your eyes first. Let them feel your heart and your emotions and you will move them to tears.
3. Convey confidence and presence with your posture and body language. Stand tall and ground yourself through your feet first. Then lift up through your collar bone as if there were strings attached to your collarbone and those strings were lifting you straight up to the sky. Not only will you appear elongated and graceful, you’ll look elegant and self-assured.
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4. Remember to breathe! Pausing to breath helps your oxygenate your brain and body and also serves you in being more powerful with your delivery.
5. Use cue cards and make bullet points rather than painstakingly writing out a long speech you have to read. Remember that as long as what you say comes from your heart and is a true reflection of your authenticity and uniqueness, people will always be moved and inspired by you. You can’t get that wrong!
6. Relax and know that the difference between being a mediocre speaker and a great speaker is simply knowing that it’s all about the energy you give and the experience you create for others rather than focusing on getting the words right or saying it perfectly. Just be your glorious, beautiful self and speak from your heart. You’ll receive a standing ovation every time.
Follow these steps and Michelle Van Otten will help you give the most magnetic, radiant, confident speech possible! Success in any endeavor is always an inside job first and an outside job second. You’ve got to have the inner game in order to reflect a stellar outer game. She is the master at showing you how easy it is to achieve your ultimate self!
Tahoe Signature of Style,
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Mar 21, 2012
Destination I Do Magazine features stunning real life destination weddings from around the world in their glossy, beautiful publication. In their Spring 2012 issue, they couldn’t pass up the chic, yet classically tailored, Lake Tahoe wedding of Cameron & Matthew. This wedding at a private Lake Tahoe lakefront wedding estate flirted with the preppy side, spell bounded the guests, rocked the night away and was unquestionably unforgettable to all.
Cameron & Matthew’s spring green, navy and white color palette complimented the Tahoe setting perfectly, but also kept a fresh feel to the tailored wedding style. Not only did she wear her mother’s vintage wedding gown (32 years waiting) but Cameron also carried the family bible down the aisle adorned with flowers.
Cameron also loves monograms, so we echoed theirs from the napkins, to the menus, to the invitations to their wedding cake to even the dance floor. Fun elements were not limited to decor and included their gyrating band, retro neon sunglasses, vintage coke bottles and blue cheese late night sliders. As DIDO so eloquently put it, the devil is in the details…
Thanks to Zorn Photography for doing what they do so well! If you were a wedding crasher at this wedding, here’s a glance of what you might have seen:
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Tahoe Signature of Style,
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Feb 29, 2012
With so much wedding inspiration on the world wide web these days, it is very easy for a bride to become overwhelmed with all the design choices and styles. And I am just talking about the dining tables! Having a beautifully set table at your wedding can be something to look forward to or a daunting task. The great joy of designing a stylish table-scape is to have fun with it. Start small in your own home with your own dining table and engage in a little table-‘E’scape.
A few simple tips can make your own cupboards a bin of inspiration. An organized pantry will allow you to access items easily and you will be more likely to remember these settings and use them. Stack collections of similar colors on open shelves. Baskets can store table linens, napkins, napkin rings and candles.
First rule is there are no rules but just a few simple guidelines to observe…
- Begin with stocking your pantry with basic white dishes. More the better with oversize bowls and platters… Food pops off white plates but don’t be afraid to accessorize with colorful accents.
- Silverware can vary from your grandmother’s antiques to flea market finds. Mix and match is a ‘do’ as well if you don’t have complete sets.
- Collect place mats and napkins in different colors to compliment your china. Napkins can match or contrast. They can be folded a million ways, be placed on top, next to or under the plate. Napkin rings are further embellishment and come in a variety of styles and materials.
- Runners are great on a bare wooden table top or placed on a linen tablecloth. A tablecloth creates a sense of formality and helps define the mood.
- Candles. Lots and lots of candles – votives and pillars – create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
- Use color as your organizing principle. A single color can have a terrific impact too.
Add your own personal style to your table by looking around your home for inspiration. After a few nights of reenacting Top Chef with your favorite friends and breaking in different place settings, your own dining table will be a breeding ground of ideas. Start to play with china shapes, complimentary color families, different textures – the sky is your limit!
Now it is time to tackle the table-scape for your wedding reception!
Tahoe Signature of Style,
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