A Simple Wish, LLC

Best Of Northern Virginia 2009

2009-06-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

Best of Northern Virginia 2009

Thank you so much for making us Best Event Planner 2009! Northern Virginia Magazine polled readers and A Simple Wish was voted #1.

We could not be successful without the support of all of our clients, vendors, and cherished friends in the industry.

The magazine is on newsstands now and is filled with other great categories for "Best Of."

For more information, visit the website at http://www.northernvirginiamag.com/best_of_2009/.

Meridian House Wedding

2009-06-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

Meridian House Wedding, Washington, DC
June 13, 2009

Jaye and Ben

What a beautiful day it turned out to be! Although the rain was threatening all week, we ended up with gorgeous weather for this 300-person wedding reception at the Meridian House in DC.

The day started with the bride and maids getting ready at the bride's parents' Georgetown home and continued with the ceremony at St. John's Episcopal Church in McLean. There were 24 people in the wedding party, including 12 groomsmen, 8 bridesmaids, 1 flower girl, 1 ring bearer and the bride and groom!

The 300-person reception was hosted at the Meridian House and R&R Catering catered the event. The multiple buffets included an Asian stir fry station, raw bar, gourmet macaroni and cheese bar, and a 12 ft. long table full of sumptuous foods.

Paul Morse Photography provided the beautiful pictures. What a lovely photographer! With his calm and pleasant demeanor and eye for detail, Jaye and Ben will have beautiful pictures to last a lifetime. http://www.paulmorse.com/

Spectrum Band entertained the guests all night long and the dancefloor was never not full. The band rocked the house with a mix of classic and contemporary music and much to the guests' delight, they never took a break.

Dave Millspaugh with Ultraviolet provided the flowers and decor--crisp hydrangea, hanging lanterns, and a chic white lounge area with a lit-up bar.

Sweet endings were provided by Just Cakes--my favorite baker in Bethesda!

This was a party that no one will forget!

For more pictures, check out Paul's blog! http://www.paulmorsecode.com/

Jamaica Mon

2009-05-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

Honeymoon in Jamaica anyone?

Destination wedding in Jamaica?

You could be here......

I just recently returned from a trip to Sandals Whitehouse in Jamaica and I am so excited to blog about it! The purpose of the trip was a FAM tour of Sandals/Beaches properties in Jamaica.

The flight from DC was very seamless. It took 5 hours including a short layover in Charlotte. Because I left DCA at 5:45am and was in Jamaica at 10:00am (their time, they are currently 1 hour behind us) I was able to enjoy an entire day in the sun before our first "work commitment."

The drive from Montego Bay airport to Sandals Whitehouse was about 1 1/2 hours. We drove through the countryside and saw houses and little towns along the way.

When I arrived at the resort we were given cool, wet cloths and champagne. We were taken to the concierge lounge and just sat on couches as we were checked into our rooms. The rooms were amazing! They are all suites with king beds (Sandals is a couples only resort) with a fully stocked bar and refrigerator.

In the evening we were invited to a welcome dinner. When we first arrived we were treated to an open bar cocktail hour and a serenade of lovely cello music.

When they unveiled the dining room we saw that they were showcasing the Preston Bailey wedding collection for Sandals Resorts. Just look at how gorgeous the designs are. Let me tell you, the pictures don't do the designs justice. They are truly stunning.

The second day there we toured Beaches Negril, Sandals Negril, and Beaches Sandy Bay. They can all do destination weddings and each resort wined and dined us. We were greeted with a chocolate buffet complete with a chocolate fountain at Beaches Negril.

Our second stop was to Sandals Negril, which was my favorite resort that we saw in Jamaica. It is a truly romantic place and the staff at Sandals will go out of their way to give couples the experience that they are looking for--be it a romantic private dinner on the beach, butler service, a drawn bath with rose petals, a special drink, or whatever your heart desires.

Imagine saying your wedding vows here.....

My favorite rooms at Sandals Negril were the swim up suites and the suites with the private plunge pools. Honeymooning my style.

Our third stop was at Beaches Sandy Bay. The Beaches properties are great because if you have kids in the family you can bring them along and still have a wedding in paradise. We were treated to a cake tasting that included different options that couples can choose from. They all tasted great! And the scenery was amazing--imagine getting married here on the beach.

On the way back to Sandals Whitehouse we stopped at the famous Rick's Cafe in Negril. Here they party all day and all night complete with cliff diving from the locals and daring tourists.

On our third day in Jamaica we attended an all-day workshop and learned about booking destination weddings and honeymoons at Sandals and Beaches Resorts. I'm proud to say that I am now a Certified Sandals Specialist and can book weddings and travel to Sandals/Beaches properties all over the Caribbean. If you've ever been curious about Jamaica or Sandals Resorts, please contact me. I'd love to share my experience with you. Happy vacationing!

Beach Wedding

2009-04-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, Maryland, beach wedding.

With the weather that we had this past weekend, I was inspired to share some pictures with you from a beach wedding that we did in August on the Eastern Shore in Maryland.

The bride's beautiful hair was done by Giselle http://www.hairbygiselle.com/.

Makeup was done by the talented Carl Ray who is with George Salon at the Four Seasons in DC. Both Giselle and Carl Ray travel to provide on site hair and makeup.

The flowers were done by Jack Lucky http://www.jackluckyfloraldesign.com/. The bridesmaids bouquets were stunning, combining cream roses, lisianthus, mini callas and spray roses with a touch of bright green. The bride's bouquet incorporated white and cream garden roses, mini white hydrangea, with an accent of seeded eucalyptus.

The chuppah was beautifully designed by Jack Lucky's team. The arbor at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club is just stunning to work with. It was a perfect day for pictures, as you can see a few white clouds in the sky and bright blue sky.

After the ceremony was over, the bride and groom took a walk down to the beach.

This photo was taken at sunset.
The bride had a vision of sunset colors in the reception room. We created this look by using soft pink and orange lighting. Lightolutions http://www.lightolutions.com/ was just amazing to work with.

Jacky Lucky also helped embellish the sunset look by using a combination of high and low centerpieces with amber, peach, gold, dark orange and hot pink flowers that included mini callas, mokara orchids, pincushion protea, roses, spray roses, gloriosa lillies, green hydrangea, bells of Ireland, cymbidium orchids, dahlias, hanging amaranthus, and crocosmia.

Guests were invited to leave "well wishes and words of advice" in this gorgeous little glass box. You can find these at http://www.perfectweddingbox.com/.

The chef at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club is amazing. The bride and groom offered a dessert buffet in lieu of a wedding cake.

Summer is right around the corner! If anyone is looking for ideas or inspiration for a summer or beach wedding, please contact us anytime!

Pictures for this wedding provided by the ever so talented Steve Canning http://www.stevecanningphotography.com/. Video was provided by Jessica Piscitelli http://www.jessicapi.com/.

2009-03-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

It's cherry blossom season in DC! The peak bloom period is April 1-4 so if you can, get out to the Tidal Basin to see them. They are stunning. The cherry blossoms represent the first sign of spring and I know that we are all ready for the warmer weather that it brings.

If you are having a pink and white wedding in late March/early April, there is no prettier bloom (in my opinion) to incorporate than cherry blossoms. Check out these gorgeous arrangements from one of my favorite florists, Jack Lucky. http://www.jackluckyfloraldesign.com/ The way that he incorporates the cherry blossoms is stunning.

This is one of my favorite cherry blossom cake designs, courtesy Amphora Bakery in Herndon, VA. http://www.amphorabakery.com/

I love these invitations from Chantal Claire http://www.chantalclaire.com/. They are so bright, modern and fun!

You can get really creative with favors. I love these tea favors and little mint tins from http://www.favorideas.com/.

I also love these mini candy jars and cherry blossom candles from http://www.favorideas.com/. And, to top it all off, they are really affordable!

The Sugar Cube

2009-03-19T22:05:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was in Old Town Alexandria and I came across the most adorable candy shop. With the trend being candy buffets at weddings, I couldn't help but ask for more information from them.

Here's how they describe who they are and what they do.

Who We Are

A gourmet chocolate and sweets boutique, The Sugar Cube specializes in custom-designed candy buffets, centerpieces, and favors tailored to any event. Believing good sweets are like any fine food, sisters Alyssa and Kim Theodore strive to exceed expectations. Our extensive knowledge of the gourmet food and confection industries gives us unparalleled access to the best chocolatiers, pastry chefs, and confectioners. We work one-on-one with our vendors to ensure that our clients receive the best possible product coupled with the best design.

Our expertise, creativity, and our attention to detail are our guarantee that whether we are creating a lavish affair or playful party all these final details of wedding planning will be seamless and worry-free.

Services

Favors:

The Sugar Cube can provide favors for many different types of events. We handle parties with guest lists as intimate as 20 people and as grandiose as 250. We can incorporate all types of sweets into memorable favors: truffles, chocolate, candy, cookies, fruit, beverages and more.

Pricing is available upon request. Favors generally start at $3.50 each

Candy Buffets:

We provide complete design service, container rental, and delivery, set-up and breakdown. If you are interested in complete dessert bar package, please contact kim@sugarcubesweets.com to schedule an appointment. Consultations are complimentary and take 1 to 1 ½ hours.

Candy Buffets (Candy only) start at $5.00 per person
Sweets Buffets (Candy/Chocolate/Confection) start at $7.00 per person

The Sugar Cube is also happy to work with those who are planning their own candy or sweets buffet but are in need of assistance with final details.
We can source almost any candy and have special pricing for large-quantity purchases. We can also help with determining appropriate quantities to fit your design and with container rental.

Volume discounts begin at 5 lbs. of a single flavor/color

Colors and Themes:

We carry a wide variety of candies separated by color. We are the Metro-Washington-area source for Jelly Belly™ Jelly Beans and custom-color chocolate Milkies (M&M’s, but without the branding). We have 40 flavors of Jelly Belly™Jelly Beans and 25 colors of Milkies available at all times. In addition, we carry 12 different colors of malted milk balls and 10 different colors of licorice twists.

These items are just a sampling of our colorful selections. If you are looking for a specific item, please call (703) 548-2868.

Festive colors, creative design, and mouth-watering treats will surprise and delight guests of all ages. We have worked with Bloomingdales, Kimpton Hotels, and countless happy brides. How can we help you complete your vision for a beautiful wedding?

Videography for Your Wedding Ceremony

2009-03-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

Most of the time when I ask a couple if they want videography for their wedding they respond, "if we have money leftover at the end of planning, 'yes,' if not, 'no." Well, if you know anyone who has ever planned a wedding you know that people don't have money left over in the budget at the end. :)

However, I've always thought that it is important to have video documentation of your wedding day. It is the best way to truly relive the moments. I wanted to take this opportunity to promote an affordable ceremony only videography package from one of my favorite wedding videographers, Jessica Piscitelli.

Here is a description in Jessica's words.

I offer a ceremony only package because my biggest concern is that people will not have a professional video of their ceremony. I really feel passionately about capturing the memories of your wedding day, and one of the few things you cannot capture with a photo is the sound of the bride and groom reciting the vows or saying “I do.”

I understand that video can sometimes be cost prohibitive. We spend several days editing our videos, which is what makes a video expensive. I started offering ceremony only coverage as a way to accommodate those brides and grooms who want to capture dad walking his daughter down the aisle, the vows, and the first kiss but who weren’t necessarily able to pay for a full video package. This way, you can have three DVDs of your ceremony, from start to finish, with high quality audio and professional shooting, without the costs of editing or full day videotaping.

Jessica Piscitelli
Jessica Pi Video
Sight. Sound. Style.
www.jessicapi.com
wk: 703.860.1238
One of DC's Best Videographers
- Washingtonian Magazine

2009 Love Story Contest--Genevieve Leiper Photography

2009-03-11T05:53:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite wedding photographers, Genevieve Leiper, has decided to give back by offering a complimentary photography package to a lucky couple with a great love story. If you have a great love story or (know someone that does) and want to receive a complimentary photography package for your wedding please read below for more information and visit Genevieve's website. http://www.genevieveleiper.com/. Good luck!

2009 Love Story Contest
In Genevieve's words.....

I have been in this industry for over 6 years and have been given so much. I feel that it is my turn to give back. I am looking for a couple who has overcome many odds and has an amazing love story. Tell me when your eyes first met , the courtship and how you decided to spend the rest of your lives together. Please include in your Love Story where your wedding ceremony and reception will be held and your wedding date. The wedding location will need to be within 100 miles of my studio in Ashburn, VA. Couple must agree to have their letter and images published on my website.

Final entries must be in by April 8, 2009 and I will be announcing my final decision April 15, 2009.

Please email your story to me at 2009LoveStory@genevieveleiper.com

This is the package that you will receive:

The Magnolia

Wedding Day
One photographer (Genevieve Leiper)
6 hours of coverage
Unlimited amount of exposures
Unlimited locations
600 edited and retouched final images
Dvd of all 600 images with a print release
Online private gallery for one year for family & friends

One 12x9 Coffee Table Book-includes 80 images and 40 pages

Engagement portrait
Up to two hours of Photography
Studio or outdoor setting
50 final images edited and retouched
DVD of all 50 images with a print release
One make-up application by http://www.victoriastilesmakeup.com/

Total value-$4500

Chocolate Strawberries

2009-03-07T06:31:00.000-08:00

Yes, we've all seen chocolate covered strawberries at weddings. They are adorable, delicious little bite-sized treats and even though they may be overdone, they are still fun to do. But, maybe you are looking for a new way to present a chocolate strawberry.....check out our idea at the bottom of the page.

You've got your traditional dipped strawberry.

Your chocolate covered strawberry rolled in confections.

Your tuxedo and wedding dress covered strawberry.

Now here's where we get a little innovative, yet back to basics. Why don't you serve individuals their own bowls of melted chocolate with a strawberry floating on top? It's absolutely decadent and fun too!

Who We Are

2009-03-07T03:40:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our new blog! It's been a long time coming and I finally caved. After six years in business I decided that it is finally time to take our website to the next level and provide our brides and prospective clients with a valuable resource for information, ideas, and examples of our work.

For the first blog I thought it most appropriate to take this opportunity to introduce you to A Simple Wish. Who we are, what we do and why we love our jobs so much!

A Simple Wish was started in 2003 and I can honestly say that I had no idea where the business would go. I am a big believer in taking control of one's own destiny and that if you have a dream you can make it come true with hard work, dedication, and a little bit of luck. However, little did I know that I would be here today. I was not one of those girls that dreamed about her wedding day her whole life. When I got engaged in 2002, people had to tell me about The Knot.com. I probaly bought 2 magazines during the entire time that I was engaged, I looked at 2 potential wedding venues before deciding on the location, and I bought the 2nd dress I tried on (I only tried on 2). Don't get me wrong; I loved planning my wedding. I thought through every detail and planned the wedding down to a "T." My husband's groomsmen even made fun of me the whole weekend for having sent them "a detailed schedule and instructions on do's and don'ts" prior to the wedding weekend.

During the time that I was planning my wedding I was also working as an event planner. I kind of fell into the job. Coming out of college I wanted to work on Capitol Hill; my first job landed me in the conferences/seminars department of a local political think tank. From there, I took a job at a local Chamber of Commerce as their events manager. While at the Chamber I was planning my own wedding and I realized that because I had the background in event planning and I enjoyed weddings more...I could start my own company! I came up with the name of my company in the shower one morning and hired a graphic designer the same day. Within two months of my own wedding I had a company established! The rest, they say, is history.

In June, 2008 Ashley Gordon joined the team. Ashley comes from a background in hospitality and "party guru." Growing up in a small town in Southern Virginia, Ashley and her mom always got creative when it came to putting on parties at theirs and their friends' homes. Ashley learned how to make her own floral arrangements, design her own menus and prepare the food, negotiate deep discounts on tent rentals, find local bands to perform, and bake and decorate cakes. Her flair for creativity is what appealed to me most when I brought her on as a second wedding planner. When Ashley would plan a party for a friend she'd handle every detail: make the cake, make the food, decorate, invite guests, host and clean up! Ashley also comes from a background as a flight attendant for a "big National airline." Her attention to customer service and hospitable approach is an asset to our company.

If you love weddings and parties (who doesn't?), it's easy to see why we love our jobs. The most fulfilling part, though, is when everything comes full circle and you see the result of your hard work on the wedding/event day.

This is a picture of the first wedding that we ever coordinated! Thanks Jen and Eric.