Venice Italy Proposal

One of the most romantic cities in the world? Venice, Italy! Yes, and a wedding proposal happend here and I can not help but feel all giddy today. Oh my goodness, when I first viewed the image of Thomas getting down on my knee with the beautiful waterfront city in the background, I almost died. This is so romantic and sweet! What is even more amazing than the location? The photographer, Luca, Wedding Photographer in Venice was behind the scenes capturing this special moment. I love when proposals are captured on film, so the moment can be kept forever.  This beautiful proposal kind of makes me want to pack my bags and head to Italy with my husband for a little getaway. How can you not want to travel to this city and enjoy the stunning views and lovely ambiance.  Enjoy the gorgeous images, and get ready to be swept away to Italy!

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From Luca, Wedding Photographer in Venice

A surprise engagement in Venice. Thomas is a firefighter from California, and this time in ignited the perpetual love of Heather by a surprise marriage proposal in Venice. I assisted in suggesting a quite and romantic place (San Giorgio island, conveniently located in front of their hotel near San Marco Square). He told her that it was a good idea to go there to have a view from the Church’s tower (that indeed is a remarkable one), I was waiting in the planned place with a dozen of red roses and an assistant and hidden cameras ( more from the rain than from them as they woudl be quite focused on the engagement to notice anything). They took the ferry ( one of the first images), he reached the roses and gave them to her one by one together with sweet words. Then he took the ring, kneed and made his marriage proposal. I left them some privacy and they actually visited the tower of the church, then after a quick change we have a short photographic walk around the area of Castello.

Top Five Ways to Say ‘I Love You’ to Your Fiancé

Do you feel that love in the air? Or maybe you feel that ring on your left hand? Either way, tis the season to celebrate the most fun thing in the world- LOVE! You don’t necessarily have to do a grand gesture (but if you feel like it, our holiday splurges would work just fine!), sometimes it’s the little things that mean the most. We’ve got five sweet ways for you to say ‘I Love You’ this weekend that are sure to get you brownie points.

Snack Attack

Have you heard the phrase “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”? Yeah, it’s an oldie but a goodie for a reason. If your fiiancé is a snacker, swing by the store and grab his favorite snacks. Keep a stash in a secret place like in your car or in your purse, and surprise him with them. Sneak them into his lunch (if he brings it to work), into the center console of his car (as long as it doesn’t melt), or surprise him while he’s at his computer or watching tv. It’s one of those little things that reminds them you care and you like spoiling your sweetie.

But First… Send Him a Selfie

If you’re feeling cute, write down something cute like “I love you!” on a piece of paper, hold it up, and shoot a selfie to send to him. It’s a more personal way of getting your message across, you remind him how adorable you are, and it’s something easy on your end. Just remember, keep it safe for work in case he’s in public. Always keep it classy, ladies. Just saying!

Do Some Leg Work

It must be a guy thing- so many guys have a TON of clothes that they love that they will never get rid of that are covered in holes and patches. Why do they do that? A lot of guys are sentimentally attached to some outfits or pieces of clothing and will wear them into the ground. So where do you come in? Go ahead and sneak them out to get them patched up by a tailor. Get those hems fixed, those zippers replaced, just go ahead and refurbish the beloved pieces that your fiancé just can’t let go of.

Treat Him to a Guy Date

You always get to go on dates with him, why not let him have a date with his buddies instead? Hint- you may not want to phrase it like that, but the sentiment is there. Something fun you can do is order a big fight on pay-per-view and some beer for your man and his men to enjoy. You can set them up with dinner at a wing joint. You could even (if they’d be up for it) get them manly manicures at a guy-friendly salon (they do exist, and they’re awesome).

Have a Date Night In

You know what every guy loves? Staying at home and enjoying it. Even if they won’t admit it or claim to be outdoorsy, there’s nothing wrong with being at home and having a good time. Tell him it’s date night but stay in. This is the time to get your inner chef on (or even better- order in!) and cater him in the comfort of his own home. Stream a movie you both love, have a good meal, and keep it simple. Sometimes that’s the best way to spend a night with the person you love.

 

Top Five Most Romantic Spots in San Francisco

There’s a reason why people keep leaving their hearts in San Francisco. It’s a beautiful diverse city with so much to explore and enjoy- especially if you’re there with someone you love. Next time you’re out there, or if you’re nearby and have some time to kill, swing by our five favorite places in the beautiful city by the bay.

Ghirardelli Square

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Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, parking is bad (heads up- San Francisco is a hard city to park in). But SF’s own Ghirardelli Square is beautiful, romantic, and a fantastic place to be.Ghirardelli Square is right on the pier overlooking the bay and offers free-WiFi (as if you need an extra reason to go). There are a few different places to eat, including Ghirardelli’s own in-house dessert shop. You can get a look at the whole Ghirardelli range, munch on some sample chocolate, and sip on a Ghirardelli hot cocoa while listening to free live music play in the square. Did we mention the insanely beautiful view? This square is a must-see.

Pier 39

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Another tourist-favorite, Pier 39 is a fun spot along the water in San Francisco that you can easily spend a whole day in. There are a ton of restaurants, snack places, and neat niche shops to cruise around in. There’s a beautiful carousel at the end of the pier, and of course the sea lions. Oh, the sea lions. They’re loud, they’re smelly, and they’re absolutely fascinating. It’s a beautiful place to stroll for the day hand in hand with so much to do and see.

Boudin Bread Factory

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Have you heard of the world-famous San Francisco Sourdough? It’s Boudin, and it’s totally worth it. Boudin has a few locations around the city (and even a few outside of San Francisco- there’s one in Disney’s California Adventure!) but the best location is at Fisherman’s Wharf. This location is right on the water and is a working bread factory. Skip the Union Square location for the real thing and watch your food be made. You can pick up a specialty bread (like the alligator or turtle bread above) and an amazing meal. This location offers a full restaurant with specialty seafood dishes to enjoy while you look out over the water. If you have dinner upstairs, you can get free tickets to the bread tour downstairs (which is our tourist-hack). If you fall in love, you can even sign up for specialty sourdough loaves to be delivered to your door (or someone else’s- this makes for a really unique wedding gift!).

Palace of Fine Arts

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The Palace of Fine Arts has probably the trickiest parking on our list, but is one of the most beautiful. This is a gorgeous standing example of beautiful architecture and has a swan pond within (seriously- it’s the most beautiful thing ever). If you’re really craving some romance, swing by on a Saturday afternoon. More often than not you’ll find wedding photos being taken, if not an actual wedding taking place. This writer can name several couples who got engaged here, all of which are still together (one having just celebrated their twenty fifth wedding anniversary!). Do yourself a favor and take your sweetheart here for some pictures- you won’t regret it.

California Academy of Sciences

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The Academy of Science is beautiful, fun, and one of the most unique dates you can go on in San Francisco. The Academy of Science was in the last ten years renovated and become a fixture in the city. It features regular rotating exhibits but also is home to a gorgeous aquarium, butterfly habitat, and many mammal-fixated exhibits. Once a month, the Academy of Science opens its’ doors to the 21+ crowd and puts up bars and small dance areas throughout. Whether you want to learn and explore one of the most unique museums in the country or you want to do so with a margarita in hand, this is the perfect romantic spot in the city for you and your honey.

 

Top Five Tips for Finding your First Dance Song

We all love to dance, but how much do you think about what you dance to? Well, you’re about to. The first dance at your wedding is going to be the most important and most memorable dance of your life- it deserves some serious thought. Your first dance as a newly married couple is a special opportunity to really show some personality and introduce your friends and family to the life you are about to lead together.

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The most popular wedding song of all time? You guessed it, “At Last”. We love Beyonce’s cover from the ‘Cadillac Records’ movie.

Think Back

Do you have any special songs that have always been “your song”? That’s a good place to start. Even if it’s a more pop-py song, don’t be discouraged! Almost as soon as a song is released, a slowed down romantic cover is posted on the internet. Even if the song you fell in love to is more at home in a club than a church, you’ll be able to find an appropriate and romantic version of it.

Think Forward

Do you have a song in mind that gets you excited for your new married life? Some love songs mean that much more when you have shared goals in mind that you as a couple are working towards achieving. It may not have even come up yet for the both of you, but if you find something special in a song it’s worth looking into! Be sure to write down the lyrics to make sure that it is something that you really relate to.

Define your Vibe

Are you classic, no-nonsense, and romantic? Are you modern, progressive, and trendy? Have your song match your wedding by stylizing it to your profile! If you’re not super music savvy (or you STILL have the Grease soundtrack playing in your car… from fifteen years ago), do some research on songs that match your wedding. From your style profile, you can really narrow down what kind of songs to look into.

Do Research

We’ve got a homework assignment for you- settle in your jammies and turn on Netflix. Totally serious. Just start looking through your favorite TV wedding episodes and write down what music they’re playing, and if you like them. For example, on Parks and Recreation, Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt got married walking down the aisle to an opera song and later had a friend play guitar to some of their favorite songs. On Modern Family, an instrumental version of “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros played over their wedding. Saddle up for a marathon of wedding episodes from your favorite shows and take notes. You could find a new favorite that you didn’t even realize you already loved!

Spot a Spotify Playlist

Look online for playlists that other people have created for their weddings. A common way to narrow down music now is to create music playlists on Youtube or Spotify, and they’re free to browse. Just search for “wedding playlist” and you’ll be able to get some insight into other people’s wedding songs. Keep an eye out for artists that you also listen to so you can match your taste to the playlist.

Valentine’s Day Cookies and Milk

Happy Valentine’s Day!

When you think about V-Day, what comes to your mind? C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E! Chocolate gets the spotlight, front and center of every possible dessert creations. However, there are many other dessert-like dishes that can be created on this sweet day. Here is one of my favorites. Great for couples to share, for single friends to sip and enjoy together, and for families to slurp with children. It is super fun, easy, and cute!

COOKIES AND PINK MILK

This is what you will need:

  • 1 Gallon of milk (choose your favorite nonfat, 1% or 2% or whole)
  • Sugar cookie dough (buy your favorite brand. Just make sure that it has direction for making it into a rolled out cookie dough).
  • Red food coloring
  • Heart shaped cookie cutter
  • Round shaped cookie cutter (or anything other round shaped item that you can use to cut out cookies)
  • Milk bottles or shooter glasses or vintage looking glass
  • Vintage paper straws

 

Directions:

1)     Preheat oven by following the directions on cookie dough package

2)    Follow cookie dough directions for rolled dough.

3)    Roll out your dough and cut your cookies. I made round cookies and then cut the center with a heart shaped cookie cutter.

4)    Bake your cookies and once done set aside to cool.  PS: you can also bake all the heart shaped cut outs and freeze them. Use them to decorate cupcakes or any other dessert at a later time.

5)    Pour your milk in a pitcher.

6)    Add one drop of red food coloring.

7)    Mix. If too light of a pink, add one more drop.  Go slowly so that you can achieve your perfect hue.

8)    Pour the milk in the individual glasses.

9)    Place straw and place 2-3 cookies on the straw.

10)  Repeat for each glass.

A perfect treat for a day filled with love, no matter who is by your side.

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Five Romantic Honeymoon Destinations

The wedding is over!  That means it’s time for some well deserved rest and relaxation… it’s time for the honeymoon!   No matter what time of year your wedding there is a honeymoon location perfect for you.  Maybe that’s a snorkeling in clear waters, taking in the rich history of a city or visiting the happiest place on Earth.  Here are 5 of the most romantic honeymoon destinations from BHL to you.

The Maldives

Couples are flocking to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean where the crystal blue waters and private resorts make for a true honeymoon heaven.  There are numerous resorts to choose from on the Maldives archipelago, most of which offer private bungalows suspended right over the water!  After a relaxing couples massage you may want to jump right into the warm water from your room’s private deck.  The resorts at this destination are truly luxurious and surrounded by the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Paris

Paris, the city of lights,  is undeniably one of the most romantic cities in the world.  Imagine a sunset cruise on the river Seine as you watch sparkling lights bring the Eiffel tower to life.  The sights and sounds of the city will dazzle you as you are immersed in the rich history of France.  There are so many parks, museums and monuments that you will never run out of things to see.  And who can forget that Paris is know as one of the top culinary destinations in the world! Paris is a wonderful place to celebrate your marriage as all of the sights will definitely make your honeymoon special.

Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is the ultimate honeymoon destination for any Disney couple.  The resort boasts 4 parks for you to enjoy and explore as man and wife.  No matter where you stay you will be immersed in the Disney culture that has become world renowned.  Here fairy tales are expected so what better place to celebrate your union?  Walt Disney World resorts offer a wide array of honeymoon accommodations and packages, including parks tickets and Bahamas cruises.

Italy

Consistently topping best honeymoon destination lists, Italy is a spectacular place to visit as husband and wife.  The best way to capitalize on your Italian adventure is the take a tour of the most romantic cities in the country.   Begin your trip in Venice by being serenaded on a romantic gondola ride through the canals.  Next, hop over to Florence  where you can enjoy delicious meals and take in the grandeur of the architecture.   Finally,  finish the trip in Rome with a visit to the Coliseum and Vatican City. It will be the trip of a lifetime!

Vail Colorado

Of course, we can’t forget the winter wedding honeymoon spots.  Vail is a beautiful winter town nestled in the mountains of Colorado.  A true winter wonderland, Vail offers luxury ski resorts and lodges for active couples.  Spend the day on the slopes skiing, snowboarding or even hiking on the picturesque mountaintops.  At the end of the day curl up together in front of the fire and toast to a long and happy life together.

 

Lucca, Italy:Your Honeymoon Destination

When it comes to preparing for your wedding, there is nothing more exciting than choosing the place where you will spend your first moments together as husband and wife.  If you are anything like me, you will probably make a long list of exotic locations which will make your choice even more difficult. Allow me to make it easier for you. Let me do the picking. I choose ITALY! Why you ask? Well, let me tell you why a honeymoon under the beautiful Tuscan sky will make the beginning of your life together even more memorable. Italy is synonym with romance. This is the country of Romeo and Juliette. This is the country of eternal love. Everything in Italy screams “romance.” As you walk through the old towns, you will live and breathe history together and you will partake in some of the most beautiful sightseeing that you have ever seen.  Every day you will feel like you are in a dream, and what better way to live a dream but next to the love of your life. Italy’s food is an aphrodisiac. Your palate will indulge in flavors that you have never experienced before. From the beautifully hand-crafted pastries, to the hand-tossed pizza, you will share the culinary beauties of Italy while looking into each other’s eyes. Guiltless. Free to indulge.  Can you already picture yourself, holding hands, and staring into each other’s eyes? Do you need more convincing? If yes, let me also show you a possible location and accommodation. If you have never been to Italy and would like to have a more romantic-quite vacation I would like to suggest to you to go and stay in Lucca. Awww, Lucca! Only thinking about it gives me googley eyes.

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Lucca is a Roman city surrounded by 10 feet tall walls on which you can walk, stroll, run, bike. It is surrounded by Tuscan hills on one side and by the Tirreno Sea on the other side. It is the city of Puccini (for all you Opera fans!). It is close to Florence, but not as hectic, and it is perfect for a romantic, quiet and intimate honeymoon. You can take day trips to different destinations such as Pisa (only 15 minutes away), Siena, Florence and the Chianti. Depending on the season of your travels, you can explore vineyards, taste different Chianti specialties and indulge in the great flavors of Tuscany. And, if you are more adventurous, you could hike the mountains and trails, and explore the small villages on the hills. I am telling you, it is a perfect destination for your honeymoon. You have my word.   Lucca has everything for everyone. And how about staying at your own apartment-villa? Here is your accommodation.

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{Villa Rosa Dei Venti}

The Villa is immersed in Lucca’s verdant country side ideal for walking or biking. The historic downtown of Lucca and the central train station are only 2 km away, thus reachable even by walking. The owners of the Villa have different luxury packages available, and everything can be customized to your personal liking. From private dinners, to wine tasting, to shopping at luxury brands stores, your vacation will not skip a beat. For more information please contact Bridal Hot List.

Whatever your dream honeymoon may be, there is nothing better than Italy to begin a new journey with the love of your life.

Soft Romance Wedding Florals by Enchanted Florist

At BHL we go a little crazy for pretty romantic things, so when we received this floral treat we were beyond excited. When there are colors of combined hues of  pink, white, and grey, it screams soft romance! We love a soft romantic look for a wedding as it brings sweetness, a touch of elegance, and a whole lot of romance. When you see the amazing florals by Enchanted Florist, you will feel the romance.

Romantic Look

This ceremony setting is so simple, yet so elegant at the same time. The lush flower arrangements at the entrance is so inviting and sweet. The soft rose petals down the aisle feels like you can walk on a cloud of romance. What a gorgeous setting to get married at.

Romantic Look

The flower girl looking so cute as she carries her little flower basket with a touch of pink roses.

Romantic Look

White flower trees with gorgeous flower arrangements makes our hearts just melt. What a beautiful setting to say ” I do”.

Romantic Look

The bridesmaid’s bouquets full of different hues of pink and white colored roses together with their grey bridesmaids dresses, adds to the whole soft romantic look.

Romantic Look

The escort table draws you in, with its beautiful white flower tree arrangement and pink and white roses at the base. Simply gorgeous!

Romantic Look

Romantic Look

From the ceremony to the reception, the soft romantic look gets even better. Yes, it is true. The guest tables have a tall and grand centerpiece with lush pink and white roses. So elegant.  Are you gasping at the flower chandelier hanging over? We love how romantic they are.

Romantic Look

A simple wedding cake with touches of pink and white roses creates a real romantic feel. Did you see the cake topper? How beautiful is that? We love it, and as much as we love cake, we do  not want t to cut into this one. We can just stare at this all day. All day.

 

Vendor Information:  

Wedding Flowers: Enchanted Florist
Wedding Coordinator: Paula Laskelle of Champagne Taste
Photography: Triplecord Photography

Fairmont Newport Beach Wedding from Perfectly Made Weddings and Events

Being such a hopeless romantic who adores weddings and all the love that comes with it, had the pleasure to help plan and coordinate the most beautiful wedding. The bride and groom with an amazing eye for design, concept, and colors, together with Perfectly Made Weddings, created a total romantic feel wedding with a touch of tradition.

Set at the beautiful Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach California, sweet love and romance was seen throughout the day. The ceremony took place at the private lawn which featured lush greenery, a beautifully decorated gazebo, and four tables set up with a traditional Sofreh Aghd.  The ballroom transformed into a romantic get away with its lush colors of deep red and purple, gorgeous flowers, tall mirrors, and stunning chandeliers.  The beautiful room featured a ten piece live band, a traditional Persian tea station, and a exquisite dinner and dessert spread. A wedding that combined tradition and culture with all the romantic elements, creating an elaborate look. Simply amazing.

Zaven Photography captured all the love and elegance.  Get ready to fall in love!

 

 

Sofreh Aghd done by Elegant Sofreh Design