Hot Trend: The Bundt

Goodbye cupcakes, helllllo bundt cake! Nothing makes us happier than mixing things up, doing something fun and different. One of our very creative 2010 brides-to-be informed us that she will be using a variety bundt cakes at the wedding reception.

This might immediately take you back to the scene of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but stop your thoughts there! Nothing Budnt Cake is taking the old school version of 'budnt' to a whole new level! Nothing Budnt Cake now has two locations in San Diego {Scripps Ranch & Del Mar} along with ten other shops across the country.

After hearing about this new craze, I couldn't wait to taste one for myself! Pumpkin Spice, Red Velvet and White Chocolate Raspberry made the grand appearance to a recent party I helped host.



These simple little cakes were outofthisworld incredible! Seriously, some of the best cake I have ever tasted. And we taste a lot of cake! Not only does it taste amazing, but would make a killer dessert station for your guests with a variety of flavors, and the price is RIGHT. Sizes range from baby bundlets to large tiered cakes. The 10" cakes serve approx. 18 people, which rounds out to $1.50 a slice. Such a bargain!


Hot Trend 2010....Bundt Cakes. Watch for it!

Seasonal Inspiration: Joy

Many famous Christmas carol tunes all proclaim the theme JOY during the holiday season. We are certainly blessed to work with couples who are so joyful in the season of their engagement, and especially on their wedding day. Wedding day's are surrounded with joy on so many levels and in so many forms. So is Christmastime, for this we rejoice!

"JOY to the world, the Lord has come, let earth receive her King!"

"O tidings of comfort and JOY, ...Comfort and JOY...O tidings of comfort and JOY"

"Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o'er the plains, And the mountains in reply Echoing their JOYous strains"

" Love and JOY come to you. And to you glad Christmas too."

"JOYful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies."

Here are a few inspired images that proclaim great JOY!

{including a few DIY projects that are oh-so-great!}

Choose Joy Print, DIY Book Page Wreath, DIY Fabric Pom Poms, Mini Trees, JL Designs Holiday Collection, Wrapped Gifts, Baby's Breath Tub

Wedding Decor in Italy, In Love, Rainy Day Wedding, Sunday Suppers, Promise

Exquisite Weddings Magazine: Top 10 Reasons...

Exquisite Weddings Magazine recently asked us to chime in to an article they were writing on the Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Wedding Coordinator. You may remember the article we wrote on our top reasons back in October. [You can read that here.] Other talented coordinators around San Diego contirubted to the article and the answers were right on! Make sure you read this article...we're #7. :)

Love,
Ashlyn+Heather
C&C

C&C Featured!

We were so thrilled to have Kate & Daniel's wedding featured on the wonderful Inspired Bride blog last Friday as well as Bridal Inquirer over the weekend. Thank you ladies for featuring the lovely wedding and dessert bar! Check out both features here, here & here. For our brides-to-be, these two blogs are wonderful for fresh ideas, and hip inspiration.







Love,
Ashlyn + Heather
C&C

Real Wedding: Kate + Daniel vol. 2

Now for the details! Kate + Daniel's reception was held at The Thursday Club in Point Loma, a charming little Spanish house with 180 degree views of the ocean.

The escort cards were strung across old white shutters {found at a local thrift shop} by twine and close pins. As you walked into the house, you were greeted by a table full of various colors of mums wrapped in burlap. It was such a sweet touch an the guests loved being able to take home their very own mum! Such a great idea for a favor that will be a lasting memory!

We took all the lavender potted plants that were at the ceremony and moved them to The Thursday Club. You can see them in the background below. It was a great way to re-use something from the ceremony, and it made a big impact at the reception site.

The tables were covered in gray linen and each centerpiece held a variety of vintage, wildflower looking florals in old various glass. The Floral Lab did a fabulous job pulling together the theme.

The dessert bar was a labor of love. The bride's grandmother made her famous chocolate chip cookies that were quite the hit, and a friend who is a baker made the red velvet and carrot cake cupcakes. Azucar, a local bakery in San Diego, made a darling two-tier chocolate cake for the bride and groom to cut, and had wonderful lemon bars.

Our favorite part of the dessert bar was the old vintage doors that created the space. They were rented from a local antique store for $30, and that included delivery and pick up! It was so very charming!

As the guests left, they grabbed handfuls of lavender to toss at the newlyweds. I loved the story behind tossing lavender, and the smell was incredible! You can read about the fun tradition here.

This wedding was so much fun. We worked with an incredible team of vendors, and at the end of the day, left smiling and feeling grateful for the opportunity to work with Kate + Daniel. The love in that room was extraordinary, on so many levels, and for that we felt blessed.

K+D, we already miss meeting with you {and you, Jan!} over a cup of coffee, but we know your lives are going to be so blessed and full. We wish you the best in years to come!

Wedding Vendors:

Coordinators/Designs: Carter & Cook Event Co.

Photographers: He & She Photography

Florist: The Floral Lab

Paper Designers: Posh Paperie

Reception Venue: The Thursday Club

Catering: Continental Catering

Wedding Cake&Lemon Bars: Azucar

Love,

Ashlyn+Heather

C&C

Real Wedding: Kate + Daniel vol. 1

This wedding was one of our favorite weddings to date. Kate and Daniel, their families, the vendors, the ceremony and reception sites, the theme - everything combined made for a perfect and beautiful day. We love fall weddings, and we loved working with these two to create a vintage, 'anthropologie' wedding day.

This wedding is so jam packed with goodness. We're going to have to unfold the photos in two volumes, so make sure you stop back for more tomorrow!

Kate was just the most gorgeous bride in her Mikaella lace wedding gown. Here is a series of photos from their first look. As Heather and I were busy running around with the details, Erin and Randy from He & She Photography were able to capture the precious first look. I love this quote from He & She's blog, "Kate & Daniel were so calm before the ceremony. I would almost consider their portrait session beforehand to be a "holy moment" - it was so peaceful and quiet. It was just one of those right moments that was so very memorable." How perfect, and sweet and really an exact picture how the entire day went!

The wedding ceremony was held at McCullough Park at Point Loma Nazarene University, where the two met and fell in love. Old benches were found and painted white, and were lined with lavender plants covered in burlap. It was a darling touch!

Posh Paperie was once again, the creative minds behind the oh-so-darling invitations!

These were the cutest bridesmaid dresses that we've ever laid eyes on. JCrew did it again - and these darling girls wore them well! The dusty/lilacy-pink and shades of gray and cream set the palette for the rest of the wedding.


Okay...look at those flowers. Can we say WOW?! Leigh Anne at The Floral Lab designed all the flowers for the wedding, minus the potted plants done by the wonderful MOB, Jan.


Daniel is an extremely talented musician, and of course, wrote all the ceremony music, which was played by a trio of wonderful musician friends. It was a very sweet and personal touch to the ceremony.

So in love with this image below, peeking through the bridesmaids. Their eyes are so excited!

Photos: He & She Photography

And stay tuned for vol. 2...the reception!

Love,
Ashlyn+Heather
C&C

love, sweet love.

Source: He & She Photography

There are no words for this image. It is by far one of the most incredible photos I have ever seen. It is not only breathtakingly gorgeous, but it speaks volumes of their love and gentleness. Kate & Daniel's wedding was the best. Stay tuned for more of the details to come. Thank you Erin & Randy for capturing their love so perfectly.

Love,
Ashlyn+Heather
C&C

Year One: Full of Thanks.

In honor of the week of Thanksgiving, and the one year anniversary of our very first {official} wedding, we wanted to take a moment to stop, and give thanks for our many blessings. Carter & Cook has come a long way in the last year. We have celebrated so many beautiful weddings, experienced touching moments with our couples, and have had too many good laughs as we began this journey and incredible adventure into Carter & Cook Event Co. Today, we could not be more thankful for where the last year has brought us. God is good and His blessings are beyond what we dreamt.

Photos: Josh Newton Photography. Location: Trump National Golf Club, Palos Verdes, CA

Brian & Alice, we love you both. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your day, and for being our very first wedding. November 30th, 2008 signifies the beginning of not only the new Bohlinger family, but the start of Carter & Cook.

This week, we toast to one year anniversaries, being thankful always, great food, family, and looking forward to the years to come! We could not have asked for a better, more fulfilling job. We love and appreciate each of you - vendors, friends, brides, moms, our c&c couples, and of course, our dear and faithful blog readers. :)

Love,
Ashlyn+Heather
C&C

Wedding Websites [via] Showit

So you're getting married.........and for the next 3, 6 or 12 months, it's all about you and your upcoming wedding - right? So why not start a website all about it? We would like to share a little secret with you that's free. Showit is an amazing website that allows you to create your very own customizable 5 page website..for free! Finally! Something during this wedding planning process that is free. Simply download the program and software to your computer and create you special site! You can see what a sample wedding website looks like below, or click here to visit it live.

The possibilities are endless and your guests are sure to love visiting your site, learning more about you as a couple, and getting details for the big day. We can't imagine a better way to start your journey towards marriage, than with a rad, free website highlighting you! Enjoy and if you choose to use Showit or already have, let us know! We would love to see your site.

Source: Beautiful engagement photos on the website by Gabriel Ryan Photography

Love,

Ashlyn+Heather

C&C

Aimee + Colin: Engaged!

Aimee and Colin are the simply the best. Really, we scored with an incredible couple with such a deep, true love for one another, and a bride who makes us giddy with excitement every time we meet. Aimee's ideas for the wedding keep us hoppin' with excitement! Their wedding next April is going to be incredible, and so much fun. Their engagement photos were recently shot by Shawn Kennedy. I love that these photos go along with the theme of their wedding next April. Don't they make such a handsome couple?! Loving that peach....

Love,

Ashlyn+Heather

C&C

C&C Spotlight: InkandButton

Sigh. We are [so] proud. Working with creative brides is such a delight and what makes our job so much fun. You might remember Lisa & Derren's wedding we did last spring. Lisa was the ultimate DIY bride, which included designing each and every felt flower bouquet for their wedding. Lisa has recently opened a new Etsy boutique called InkandButton, which features her latest, brilliant creations! Run over to her online shop and check them out for yourselves...too cute!! And at this time of year, these would make ideal Christmas gifts, look wonderful in your upcoming engagement photos, or even be a creative and unique gift for your bridesmaids. She will also take any custom orders, if you brides would like one for your big day! Enjoy!

I am so, so very in love with this one, the Isabella Fascinator!

Love,

Ashlyn + Heather

C&C

Party with Etsy.

Etsy.com makes party planning just that much better. If you haven't checked Etsy out yet - you're really missing out on all the rage. Here are just a {few} finds the will make your party, holiday event, shower [or wedding!] that much cooler. And if you're a guest at a party this season, be sure to stock up on sweet hostess gifts too!

Row 1: Party Garland, Maple Log Candles, Bird Cupcake Stand Row 2: Linen Banner, Holiday Tags Row 3: Little Vases, Golden Egg Place Card Holder Row 4: Custom Cloth Gift Bag Set, Pinwheel Cupcake Toppers, Party Invitations

Row 1: Tea Towel, 2010 Letterpress Calendar, Vintage Brass Deer Row 2: White Rose Pillow, Keep Calm Print, Gourmet Hot Cocoa Row 3: Vintage Wallpaper Lampshades, Felt Lotus Blossom Set, Fabric Ball Kit

Real Wedding: Jesse + Sheila Ross

Jesse + Sheila are one of the sweetest, kind hearted couples we've been able to work with. Sheila and her mom Liz did a fabulous job in designing the 'bird of paradise' inspired wedding. The wedding was held on the rooftop at La Jolla Cove and Suites, and the view did not disappoint! Turquoise and splashes of orange were found throughout the entire wedding, complementing her tropical theme and vision.

The reception was truly rockin' with live music by The Heros, which were amazing! The dance floor was never empty. We love when the groom gets involved and parts of the day reflect him. Jesse LOVES Phil's BBQ (Who doesn't...right?) so Phil's agreed to do their first ever plated meal. They did a great job, and the food was enjoyed by all! We loved seeing the bride enjoy her ribs! :)
Jesse and Sheila, thank you for allowing us to be involved and help coordinate your amazing day! We know you two will have an incredible and blessed marriage!

Thank you Andy for being SO much fun to work with and for the FAB photos!

The beautiful bride and her stunning dress by Pronovias.

Jesse and Sheila opted for the "first look" option.

Venue: La Jolla Cove and Suites - La Jolla, Ca
Photogrpaher: Andy King Photography
Florals: Hartworks Floral
Cake: The French Gourmet
Band: The Heros
Catering: Phil's BBQ
Rentals: Raphaels

Fall Inspiration: Seeded Eucalyptus

There is something incredibly charming about seeded eucalyptus. A common "foliage" filler you can find year round, "seeded euc" is rustic, beautiful, adds great texture and is quite fall-ish! I recently bought a whole bundle of seeded euc at Wholesale Flowers and Supplies for $6! I found it in the most lovely shade of a plum purple. You can also find it many times in the more common silver dollar eucalyptus green color, burgundy or even chartreuse! There are a wide variety of shades and colors that look spectacular in any arrangement of flowers, or even your holiday decor! The fragrance is absolutely incredible and will leave your home smelling fresh and fall-like for several days. [Happy Fall!]

[photo source] row 1: Vango Florist, Martha Stewart, The Brides Cafe

row 2: Sunset, Saipua row 3: The Knot, Martha Stewart, Sunset

Love,
Ashlyn+Heather
C&C

Why should I hire an event planner?

Photographer: Cameron Ingalls [Source: Green Wedding Shoes]

A commonly asked question we know that every bride asks, or even just ponders is,"Why should I hire and event planner?" I'm creative....I already know what I want...I've had lots of parties before....I helped with my best friend and sister's weddings....I can't afford it...the list goes on!Today we were asked by an editor at Exquisite Weddings Magazine, what are the top reasons we think why it is important to hire a coordinator, so I thought we might just share with our readers a few of the things we expressed to them...

• You don’t know, what you don’t know. Often times, by the time you figure out the answers to those questions, it is too late. The money has been spent and the contract has been signed.
  
• Have you ever hosted 20-40 people at your home for a dinner party? Try to imagine how it would feel hosting 100, 150, or 250+ and you are the main attraction! How are you going to be the Star and still run around demanding when you want the bread and butter to arrive and let the DJ know when to start the first dance? IT'S NOT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO DO THAT! You are there to enjoy your day and be with your guests.
  
• Family matters. Dealing with your family that day is chaotic and managing them that day is a full time job. It is important to have someone there as a mutual third party that can be that person to bounce ideas off and help you stay calm and do things in a orderly manner.
• We are your ally and advocate. Another important piece a wedding coordinator can offer you is that they act as your advocate. The WC {wedding coordinator} will motivate and manage all the vendor teams. That day we manage nearly sixty people who are assisting with that day.
• Money talks. Money is stressful. You have a budget and think, “well, I can work with that amount." But then you find the perfect dress which is $1,000 more than expected. A WC will help you stick with your budget. A couple may say, “well, its only $100 more." But if you do that multiple times, it adds up. The money you spend with a coordinator will more than make up the amount they help you save, and because of their relationships with vendors, a WC can get you better deals in a variety of ways.
• The home stretch. The last week, the list of details is huge. There is a lot to accomplish that week and the last thing anyone would want is to have their friends and families running around stressed. The last week or more, everything should be communicated through the WC to avoid frustration and pointless questions.
• And lastly, having a planner on board allows you to slow down and take a deep breath and truly enjoy the process of planning your wedding!

Love,

Ashlyn+Heather

C&C

more ::Out of the Box:: party love.

We wanted to share a few more photos from the Out of the Box party with Posh Paperie. If you didn't see the first post with more details...visit here! Much thanks again to Julie from Journey of the Lens for the photos! A few photos are also from Melody at Sweet and Saucy shop, one talented gal! :) Thanks again to the folks at Point Loma Wine Steals! The event space was perfect for the event!

Love,

Ashlyn+Heather

C&C