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]]> Hello to all our Blissful Beauties,We wanted to share with you our latest feature on Style Me Pretty! The Bride Kearsley Lloyd, a Graphic Designer made custom monograms that adorned certain decor elements throughout! One in particular design that stood out was the Groom’s custom designed tie, which the bride and groom had given guests at the rehearsal dinner as gifts to wear for the wedding! Check out the beautiful detail shots below by Rupert Whiteley and don’t forget to check out the full feature on Style Me Pretty!
Click on the “Style Me Pretty” for the full feature and gallery! Style Me Pretty
Wedding Planner: Blissful Events
Tent Decor: Exquisite Events
Photography: Rupert Whiteley
Tent Rental: Newport Tent
Venue: Private Residence
Florist: Candace Morgenstern
Caterer: Preppy Pig BBQ
Band: Young Love and The Thrills
Custom Monogram & Logo: Kearsley Lloyd
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]]> Blissful Events is now offering event planning for Corporate events, Birthday parties, Engagement parties, Bridal Showers, and Baby Showers! If you have a party in mind, we are here to plan it!
Carnival themed inspo
Happy Planning!
Blissful Events
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]]> Happy 4th of July/ Birthday to Uncle Sam! Blissful Events is taking the weekend off and celebrating the 4th of July in style! One of our team members will be in Mexico, while the rest of us celebrate in the good ol’ USA! See below for our 4th of July inspiration.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 4th in 2015 wherever you are…
Cheers to all the engagements, weddings, birthdays and baby celebrations ahead!
xo
Blissful Events
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]]> “Newport Beach House”We have been working like busy bees over here at Blissful Events! Last week we talked about Brandi’s stay at Ocean House along with what we foresee as the hottest new trend in wedding gowns going forward. This week we want to talk about venues!!!
Blissful Events specializes in Newport and Block Island weddings, with that said we are always open to help you plan your day in other locations!!! We received an email last week from one of the hottest, most exclusive Event and Wedding venue companies in New England…Longwood Venues and Destinations. For those of you unfamiliar with this company they own Belle Mer Newport, RI; State Room Boston, MA; Wychmere Cape Cod, MA; to name a few.
Longwood has just acquired Newport Beach House formally known as the infamous Atlantic Beach Club in Newport, RI. They are in the process of renovating the space and are booking weddings out to 2017! We are here swooning over the inspiration behind their renovation and can’t wait to suggest this venue to future clients!
Click here to view their inspiration deck and press release:
http://www.longwoodevents.com/Venues/newport_beach_house.shtml
http://blog.longwoodevents.com/2015/02/17/newport-adds-beachfront-luxury-event-venue/
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Read more...The post The Ocean House appeared first on Blissful Events.
]]> My InviteIt was a normal day in the office…phone calls, scheduling events in the calendar, and emails, upon emails! There was one email in particular that caught my eye “The Ocean House, VIP Event and an overnight stay”. Say what?! Bright eyed and bushy tailed, I continue to read on… “We are so excited to announce our annual 2015 Wedding FAM. We hand selected a group of industry friends to get away with us to highlight all of the incredible features of the Ocean House, Weekapaug Inn and Watch Hill Inn locations”.
All I could think was… little ol’ me just got invited to attend a two day event at The Ocean House, how exciting!? But, how and who did they decide to invite? Where does Blissful Events fall into the radar? Blissful Events has been up and running for four years now… people keep saying to me, “Girl, you’re running with the big dogs, when are you going to realize that”?! My response now: When Ocean House sends you a VIP invite!? With that said, I am truly blessed and more than happy with where the business is now- especially in regard to how fast it has grown. It all began after a lot of thought, long conversations with my husband and let’s not forget several glasses of wine; we decided it was time, time for me to go out on my own. I had lived in Rhode Island long enough, have a plethora of experience under my belt and strong relationships with Rhode Island vendors, it only seemed fitting to start my very own Event Planning business. After the initial startup, I remember sitting at my dining room table on quiet September day, thinking to myself…WHAT HAVE I DONE??
That very same question applied when I received my invite from The Ocean House. They were offering the Wedding FAM event on two different dates, so I checked my calendar. Determined the March dates were going to work best for me, I then sent my rsvp. Needless to say… the day of, I woke up knee deep in snow. A snowstorm was headed our way… who would’ve thought we would be getting MORE snow in March? Seriously?! Considering all the snow we had received thus far…I should have planned for it. Just another chapter to add to the book! Yes, one day I will write a tell-all about the crazies, and the craziness that comes along with being a Wedding Planner (there are some doozies!).
They were calling for 1-3 inches, possibly 6 near the coast. No problem, I can do this! I’ll take the hubby’s 4-wheel drive. A little snow isn’t going to stop this Kansas girl! Umm… Let’s just say it didn’t stop snowing and almost stopped me! I white-knuckled it all the way there; in what usually is a 35 minute drive turned into over an hour. When I arrived I was greeted by two very kind gentlemen, they asked me how I was feeling and the only word that came out of my mouth was, “Stress”! They helped me out of the truck, retrieved my bag, and walked me to the front door. From there I was taken to check-in where they asked me if I would like a bottle of water or a glass of champagne. “Champagne please!” I mean who doesn’t love a glass of champagne? Clearly I needed something to relax!
Due to weather, the day was naturally running behind. I was escorted to my room in a gorgeous elevator cart. The interior of the elevator was from the original hotel that was built in 1868. Walking down the hall to my room, I noticed all the beautiful art work and how quiet and cozy it felt. My room was absolutely beautiful! A king size bed, sitting area with a view of the ocean, and Taylor Swift’s house. I waived, but I’m not sure anyone was home? There was an opening in the wall with beautiful shutter doors showcasing a deep soaker tub, marble sink and glass closed-in shower. The honeycomb tile work on the floor was impressive, making it feel like a part of history, in a modern day design of course.
Once everyone was settled, we met in the lobby and were greeted by Tonianne Scotto, Senior Manager of Meetings and Special Events. Toni was an absolute delight; her personality was warm and welcoming. We started our afternoon in the Club Room with a wine and cheese tasting; three local wines paired with three complimenting cheeses, provided by local purveyors. Cheese and wine!…You are talking my language! At this time we were able to learn more about the hotel, the history and what they offer to their modern day guests. After the tasting we went on a tour of the hotel; viewing some of the residential suites. All I have to say is AHHHMAZING! The design, the layout, the views; were all meticulously thought out and executed to the highest degree.
We ended our evening with dinner in the ballroom. Cornel Mustard you may ask? No… the Butler service. Again, we were offered champagne and white wine. The room was beautiful! An orange glow from the uplighting provided by Jack Falvey Associates, instantly made the room feel warm and welcoming – exactly what everyone needed on that cold, snowy night. A long banquet table was draped in “Eden” and “Lane Venice” linens accompanying “Belle “elongated chairs from Rentals Unlimited. Beautiful flowers were arranged by Broadview Florist. Each place setting featured a menu card, showcasing not one but four courses we were about to experience from The Ocean House’s renowned banquet Chef, Michael Shields.
As we were wined and dined, the glowing lights slowly changed from one color to another, like magic. The presentation of the food was immaculate, showcasing exactly how they present during an event. The courses were not only pretty to look at but absolutely delicious! A conversation was had by all. I got to know Toni, Cindy and Bruno much better and more about their roles at The Ocean House as well as the many other vendors invited to the event; Amazing Celebrations, C&G New York & Falvey Associates.
The next morning we gathered bright and early to be shuttled over to the Weekapaug Inn, (the Ocean House’s sister property) for breakfast and a tour of the Inn by Mark Bullinger, Naturalist & Director of Recreation. Mark had a wealth of information about activities that the Inn offers; offering to both the guests of the Weekapaug Inn and The Ocean House. Having spent a lot of time on Block Island – living, working and marrying a BI local, it feverishly reminded me of the coast, the historical island itself, and made everything that much more personal!
On our way back to the Ocean House we had about an hour before checking out. I decided to soak up that last hour to myself and enjoy the beautiful room I had the pleasure of staying in. At the appointed check out time, I grabbed my belongings and headed down to the lobby. Upon check out I was given a large packet of information to take home and review. This included everything you need to know about hosting a wedding or event at The Ocean House.
As the sun was shining and the roads cleared, I drove back home feeling refreshed, and pampered with much more knowledge about what The Ocean House and it’s sister properties have to offer.
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]]> With the new year in full effect and most of the award shows broadcasted; from the Golden Globes, to the most recent Oscars…It is time for Blissful Events to provide a compilation of what is trending right now for dresses. This is for all you brides who haven’t quite picked out a dress or the newly engaged obsessively pinning.Plunging necklines are all the rage right now and we foresee this trending carrying throughout the year, or possibly becoming a staple for years to come. We saw this jaw dropping style spread throughout the award show season as well, from the likes of the sophisticated J. Lo to the unconventional Nicki Minaj. See what J. Lo, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and Nicki Minaj all have in common:
We have picked our favorites from this year’s shows and have chosen our top 4 plunging neckline wedding dresses. ”I die” as Celebrity Stylist, Rachel Zoe would say… which one would you die for?
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]]> I want to introduce myself to all our Blissful beauties out there. I have recently joined Brandi Lacoste and her team at Blissfull Events – my life has been at bliss ever since! First and foremost my name is Jennifer Gee, I am a Rhode Island local with a Bachelor’s degree in Textile Marketing from the University of Rhode Island. Although Rhode Island born, Rhode Island bred, I have lived in the wonderful cities of Manhattan and Boston previous to my move back to Rhode Island. I have an extensive background in textiles and visual merchandising, with a proven track record of success in brand identity and team management. I have been featured in Style Me Pretty as well as 100 Layer Cake previous to joining Blissful Events. I am beyond ecstatic to be a part of this team and the wedding industry, in general. I live in Jamestown with my boyfriend, Felix. Together we have two children: English Bulldogs-Bentley and Victoria, who are literally the loves of my life (sorry Felix). With that said, I couldn’t be more excited to start this new chapter. I am eager to meet all you Blissful beauties and take part in one of the most memorable days of your life!!! Let’s get Blissful everrryyybody.
Bentley & Victoria
Last weekend I attended the Newport Bridal Expo in Newport, RI with my beauties. We were greeted at the door by the ticket booth to be asked who the bride was. Well, that was a good question because I thought I was going to be the bride – Blissful thinking, but no cigar… (Background: my boyfriend and I met four years ago on Valentine’s Day. The show was the weekend after- I thought it was perfect timing but who am I)?
So… Plan B – Thankfully for Felix’s sake, my wedding planner position with Blissful Events came into play; perfect excuse to still attend the bridal show without completely embarrassing myself or freaking out. I set out to meet potential local vendors to suggest to brides that I’ll be working with, gain a little knowledge on how the show works and network. Perfect opportunity to do so!!! I met so many amazing vendors from photography, to catering, bridal gown shops, photo booth vendors, you name it. The show was super informative; some vendors had raffles for potential brides and some provided discounts to those who attended the show, if you chose to book with them. Alexandra’s Boutique put on a bridal fashion show mid-day showcasing jaw dropping gowns and flower girl dresses.
The event was held at two locations this year, Oceancliff and Rosecliff – both seriously stunning wedding venues! If you are looking for a location on the water in Newport it’s a no brainer! There was free transportation to and from the venues provided by Viking Tours of Newport. This is a great transportation option for large bridal parties and wedding guests.
Blackstone Catering provided delicious flavored grapefruit rose’ champagne cocktails and Atlantic salmon mouse. The booth was set up at the end of all the vendor booths – so I carefully bee lined my way through the crowd for an adult beverage – we might have hit this booth up more than once! The deliciousness was mouthwatering and evidently irresistible!
Blackstone Catering
My highlight of the show was Sea Bags Maine vendor booth. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this company they design and manufacture one of a kind, handmade tote bags and accessories from recycled sails. This is a serious must have for any Newport wedding!!! They just recently launched a new option for totes. Sea Bags will provide an interior sail of your tote to be signed by guests at your wedding. Your guest-signed sail becomes a part of your tote- this is a unique option for the bride that is looking to divert from the traditional guest book.
Sea Bags Maine
For all you Blissful beauties that got engaged this year, I highly recommend attending the Newport Bridal Expo next year. The Blackstone Caterers’ booth alone was well worth the admission fee. Now… for all you Blissful brides that attended the show this year … we would love to hear from you, drop us a line… Who was your favorite vendor?
Happy Planning!
Jenn
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]]> Question: “When should I mail my save-the-dates”?Answer: Brides ask me this all the time! I tell them that it really depends on the date and location of your wedding. Where you will be tying the knot, the time of year and the distance your guests will be traveling are important details that help determine the best time for you to send your save-the-dates. If you have set up a wedding website, be sure to include it on your save-the-date! This allows you to direct your guests to a more comprehensive outline of your celebration, including details that you may not be able to fit on a postcard such as accommodations, gift registries and timelines.
To all of the lucky ladies who are tying the knot on Block Island, the Caribbean or any other “destination” location it’s customary to send out your save-the-dates well in advance! All of the typical deadlines are extended! Plan on mailing them between eight months to one year prior to your wedding date. If your wedding falls on a holiday, or long weekend when accommodations could fill up quickly, earlier is always better!
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Minted
For example, if you’re tying the knot in September you should be finalizing your save-the-dates and getting them in the mail by the beginning of February. This will give your guests plenty of time to book their travel, save a bit and plan for any days off from work so they can join the celebration! Behind a bit? Invite those bridesmaids over for some wine and a little help stuffing, addressing and stamping!
For non-destination weddings, couples typically send save-the-dates between four to six months prior to their wedding date. Plan on sending save-the-dates to everyone you would like to invite to the wedding (your “A” list). Don’t forget your VIP’s like mom and dad, your bridesmaids and any siblings!
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
If you haven’t nailed down the design for your invitation suite or wedding palate, don’t worry! Instead of choosing a specific theme or color use a photo from your engagement session (what’s cuter than that!?!). There are several great online vendors such as: Wedding Paper Divas, Paper Source and Minted. The best part is you can always find coupons which make them super affordable!
Happy planning!
Brandi
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]]> First, I want to start off by saying “thank you” to all of the amazing couples and wonderful vendors with whom I had the opportunity to work with throughout 2014. My “baby”, Blissful Events, has grown so quickly and risen to such a high level of success that I am practically speechless (which if you know me well, doesn’t happen very often!). The business and I would not be where we are today without the love and support of my family, friends and amazing co-workers in the industry.With that said, I thought it would be nice to reflect on my favorite moments from 2014..
Thank you to all of my brides who took the time out of their day to share their “blissful” experience so that future brides can have a glimpse into what Blissful Events can do for their big day! What an honor to be recognized among the best of the best. You rock!
The Knot Best of Weddings 2015 (and 2013) – I love what I do and especially enjoy taking the time to get to know my bride’s vision for their day: “Brandi took my vision, ideas, thoughts, and dreams and brought them to life in one of the most beautiful reception tents I’ve ever seen.”
Wedding Wire Couples’ Choice Awards 2015– Comments like this make it all worthwhile: “She was responsive, kind, creative, and in the end hiring her was the best thing I did.”
Southern New England Weddings: Destination Edition – Sweet South County, Rhode Island: A Gorgeous and Intimate Wedding Destination”. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing your weddings in print. I was beyond thrilled when Southern New England Weddings featured Blissful Events in their 2014/2015 Destination Edition! I was elated that this edition was set in the picturesque area I call home, South County, Rhode Island!
The Knot New England Magazine: “Venues with a View” – It was very exciting to be asked to contribute towards this article. I was asked to submit two of my top picks of a venue with a view; Castle Hill Inn and Mt. Hope Farm. These top New England wedding locations will make your jaw drop.
South County Life Magazine: “Avoiding Wedding Day Disasters” – The September 2014 feature was definitely one for the books! Two pages of questions and answers about the specifics of wedding and event planning, giving you a sneak peak into the life of a wedding planner.
WPRI Channel 12 Feature: “Event Planning Offers ‘Blissful’ Weddings”. Back in June, I was lucky enough to stop by WPRI Channel 12 for my first on-screen appearance to discuss 2014 wedding trends and how to choose the perfect wedding location. My full interview covers all of the details; hopefully you can’t tell I had the on-screen jitters!
WPRI – 2014 City Bride Event at Newport Vineyards – We love every aspect of a wedding, from planning to execution, which is why when WPRI asked us to help with the City Bride event we just had to say “yes”!
WPRI – The Rhode Show – We stepped away from the traditional hues of Halloween by incorporating metallic colors and textures to liven up the set!
May 2014 – Mount Hope Farm – Bristol, Rhode Island
I simply loved this wedding! The couple, their family and the bridal party were all so lovely, kind and enjoyable to be around. You truly felt the love and happiness of their day. Their color scheme and a few rustic touches perfectly paired with the rolling hills and ocean backdrop. Blues, whites and yellows always remind me of a true, classic, coastal Rhode Island wedding.
Photographer: Channing Johnson Photography / Flowers: Sayles Livingston Flowers / Rentals: Rentals Unlimited / Tent: Newport Tent Company
June 2014 – Providence Public Library – Providence, Rhode Island
Wow, this was the stunner of the summer! When this couple came to me wanting to incorporate personal details of their big day I assured them they came to the right place! Your wedding is just that, YOURS! Check out the fun ways to we tied in their pretty pooches and his love of football.
Photographer: Chris & Amanda from MemoriesRI Photography / Florist: Studio 539 Flowers / Rentals: Rentals Unlimited
July 2014 – Blithewold Mansion – Bristol, Rhode Island
I had so much fun working with this bride to make sure her “touch of pink” was sprinkled throughout her day. Needless to say, her petal pink theme really shined when it came to her flowers! Now that is what I call show stopping blooms! The table settings perfectly captured her vision – and who doesn’t love a little bling?
Photographer: George Street Street Photo & Video / Florist: Robin Hollow Farm / Rentals: Rentals Unlimited / Tent Decor: Exquisite Events
August 2014 – Aldrich Mansion – Warwick, Rhode Island
This wedding was classic and elegant, but not over the top. This couple was truly meant for each other, and the simplicity of the decor with touches of detail fit the bride and groom perfectly.
Photography: Susan Sancomb Photography / Flowers: Stoneblossom Floral & Event Design
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]]> Yay! He popped the question, congratulations! What an exciting (and slightly crazy) time for you and your hubby-to-be. Many of my brides don’t know where to begin and all of the questions from excited friends and family can be slightly overwhelming. Hopefully the steps below will help you focus on what’s really important and leave you with time to enjoy having a super sparkly finger!1. Enjoy your Newly Engaged Status- If you don’t have one of these already now is a good time to sign up for Pintrest and start pinning! I find that many times even if brides already have a Pinterest page, after they actually get engaged their ideas and visions change. Your Pinterest page gives me a great idea of some various themes and styles that you like, this helps me begin styling your event. (if you haven’t thought about a wedding planner yet, that’s ok, you will need me, you just haven’t realized it yet). Graciously accept those first few gifts you receive as a couple and enjoy the happiness and love! What’s better than to crack open a bottle of the bubbly and start looking through bridal magazines?
Photographer: Hilary B Photography
2. Discuss and Start Setting up a Budget- I know this can be a tough conversation to have, but without deciding on a budget you have no idea where you can have your wedding or if you will have money left over for the fun details you have in mind. Sit down with you fiancé, parents or family members to figure out who is contributing, how much they can contribute and how much the total budget will be.
3. Timing- You don’t need to narrow down the exact date you want to get married and it’s honestly better not to do this just in case your venue isn’t available that day. Rather, think about the time of year you would like to get married. There are advantages to each season and many times during the winter, venues offer discounted rates due to slow season. Think about what the weather will be like, work schedules/vacation time, holidays and yes, even football season (or whatever sport your fiancé might be crazy about).
Venue: Spring House, Block Island, RI / Photographer: Katie Osgood Photography
For my brides looking to get married on Block Island, it’s important to know that venues book up fast; save the dates and correspondence to your guests usually start much sooner since you are more or less having a destination wedding.
Some other things to keep in mind during the pre-planning stages are the seasons of flowers, color themes, and cuisine. If you are dreaming of Peonies, the perfect season is late spring or early summer (May-June). Imagine jewel tones as a perfect color palette for a fall wedding. Warm the hearts of your guest as they arrive with a signature warm apple cider for those chilly, yet beautiful winter weddings.
4. Start a Guest List- We know that putting a list together is tough; of course you want to invite everyone! A good rule of thumb is to evaluate your budget along with your guest list, remembering that if you increase the guest list, you will need to increase the budget. I recommend putting together an “A” list and a “B” list of guest invites. As the planning begins, I will assist on finding the perfect venue for your list of guests, whether you remain with your “A” list or move into your “B” list.
Photographer (L): Snap! Photography / Photographer (R): George Street Studio Photography
5. Decide on Your Style- Knowing and deciding on the style of wedding you want; Vintage, modern, classic, eclectic, handmade, rustic (oh, there are SO many!) is a great starting point. The beauty of “wedding styles” is that they also coincide with decor and details, so having an ideal vision from the beginning will help start the process. There is no need to design your whole wedding right now; this is where a wedding planner can really become your best friend and help you translate the vision of your dream day into a reality.
Photographer: Susan Sancomb Photography
As a wedding planner, I’m here to assist you with your style and make your dream day come true. Allow me to take your vision and transform it into reality, while you enjoy the bliss of being engaged, the joy of wedding showers and the excitement of becoming a “MRS”!
Happy planning!
Brandi
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