Archive for the ‘Just Jen...and James!’ Category

Just Jen and James…The Dress

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

As I mentioned in the previous Jen and James post, Jennifer has a clear cut vision for what she wants her wedding to be, and she shares that same clear cut vision of what she wants her dress to look like.  Keeping with her art deco theme with a 1930’s feel, she wanted something with the antique look of lace and beading.  She had found a Lazaro gown that she loved, but it was $6000-a little more than she had wanted to spend!  So with that in mind, she set out to find a gown that was everything she had dreamed of.

I asked her if she wanted to go to Kleinfeld’s as everyone is very in to “Say Yes to the Dress” and she said “I got the itch to try on dresses-I just couldn’t wait to make an appointment!”  And I guess it’s a good thing she got that itch because in the end it all worked out.

Jen found her dream dress at Angela’s Bridal in Albany.  She originally chose the shop because it was the only place that carried the dress she originally wanted and it was close to where she was meeting with her florist, David from Renaissance. On the day of her appointment it was Jennifer’s lucky day! She had no idea there was a trunk show that day for a new designer, Lucia Aguiar.  This was the premier of her new line, D’Amour.   Known for cutting edge, high fashion gowns, this collection is really taking off.

Jennifer truly hit the jackpot in this appointment, not only did she receive personal attention from the women at Angela’s Bridal, but also from the designer herself.  She happened to purchase a dress from the trunk show, and it is now being custom made for her.  The designer is also making a custom hairpiece for her to match and is featuring her on the launch of her new website!  (Be sure to check back, we’ll let you know when it goes live!)  Jennifer was so overwhelmed and so happy, when she decided to purchase the dress the staff brought out champagne, toasted her, and really seemed genuinely happy for her.  She even got her jewelery and veil at the store because she was so impressed with the expert staff.

You may be wondering, what does the dress look like?  Well Jennifer’s not giving any details! And definitely no photos!  It is still within the style and atmosphere of the period she’s going for, though it’s not exactly what she originally thought she wanted.  I asked if we could have any hints at all, she said “Think glam, art deco, and crystals! That’s all for now!”

Her advice for brides trying on dresses; ” Try on as many as you want!” and “If the bridal shop will let you, bring a camera.  Pictures help you see what you really look like, how it photographs, and helps you remember what it looks like weeks and months later!”

Dying to know what it looks like?  You’re going to have to wait for the Real Wedding Spotlight in January….

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Posted in Fashion, Just Jen...and James!, Winter Weddings | No Comments »

Just Jen and James…The Vision

Saturday, June 12th, 2010

So, I know you are all dying to know what comes next for Jen and James so here it is!

You may all remember they’re getting married at The Hall of Springs this New Year’s Eve.  Jennifer has a clear vision of what she wants, and I am very excited to share it with you!  Think glam, glitzy, late 1930’s art deco vibe with a modern twist.  For Jen (and James) it’s all about the bling with crystals, crystals, and more crystals!  Very dark midnight blue with silver accents and of course ropes of crystals will play off the chandeliers in the ballroom of the Hall of Springs beautifully.  This winter wedding doesn’t include snow and trees, or even many flowers for this bride and groom; this wedding will be all about the glam!

The 1930’s was the height of the Art Deco period.  Based on mathematical geometric shapes, Art Deco is usually characterized by zigzags, sunbursts, similar geometric patterns, streamlined modern design, sweeping curves, gold accents, and symmetrical repeating patterns.  These little details can be seen everywhere at the Hall of Springs between the sweeping curves of the ceiling, the twelve tall marble pillars in the ballroom, and the sunbursts on the porticos surrounding the building.  The building was built and opened in 1935 as part of The New Deal Project, and this wedding will be like a return to it’s roots.

When I asked Jennifer what made her want a 1930s wedding she told me ” In those times (the 1930s) ladies would go to the grocery store in their best clothes, hair done, and full makeup.  As a banquet manager, I am always moving tables and chairs, lifting things, getting dirty, I want to look like a lady!”   And she certainly will.  Stay tuned for an update on Jennifer’s Dress!!

~Emily

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Just Jen…And James!!

Saturday, April 10th, 2010

You all met Jen and James a couple of weeks ago and as promised I am now delivering on the adorable proposal story…

AF: How did it happen? How did you propose?

James: Jen’s family has a Christmas pickle that her mother hides in the tree each year. It’s mainly for the younger kids but whoever finds it gets an extra gift.

So on Christmas Eve, before the family party, I drove to her Grandfather’s house and asked him if I could have Jen’s hand in marriage. Then I found this really nice poem expressing my love to her wrapped it around the Christmas pickle jar. On top of the poem I wrote a note instructing her to read the poem to herself facing the tree and not to turn around until she was finished.

The time had come; everybody was finished opening their gifts and I said to Jen “To get your gift you have to find the Christmas pickle”. All this time I had been playing it off that I wasn’t going to be able to get her a very nice gift for Christmas because we were kind of tight on money so who knows what she thought it was going to be. She headed to the tree (my heart was racing!!) and with her family behind me in her mothers’ living room I got down on one knee.  When she was finished reading the poem she turned around. Already teary eyed from the poem she saw me on my knee and immediately started crying. I was crying, shaking, and was unable to speak. After a minute or so I finally asked her to marry me.  It couldn’t have been any better!

AF: How did you come up with that idea?

James: I initially wanted to propose New Years Eve but I had the ring for awhile and just couldn’t wait that long. I spoke with her mother and told her I changed my mind on the proposal date. Knowing I wanted to do something with the tree, my mother-in-law mentioned the Christmas pickle and then the idea just came to me.

AF: Tell me about the ring! How did you find it?

James: Summer of 2009 Jen and I were walking down Broadway in Saratoga Springs and went into Gemset of Saratoga. We started browsing the store and Jen spotted a couple of rings she liked. She only tried one on and that was the one I eventually bought for her.  It fit perfectly. It is a half carat 18k white gold vintage ring. November 2009 came a long and I remembered that particular ring she tried on and went back to the jewelry store. I was disappointed when I first went in because I didn’t see it, but then looked a little harder and spotted it. I purchased it and that was it.

AF: What does your dream wedding include?

Jen: James!! Romance, close friends and family, amazing food and lot’s of it!, 1930’s music, decor and Old Hollywood Glamour. Add New Year’s Eve in and to me it’s a dream I couldn’t even fathom as a little girl.

James: Marrying the woman I was meant to spend my life with.

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Posted in Just Jen...and James!, The Engagement | 1 Comment »

Just Jen…and James!!

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

At one of our latest event planner pow wows over cookies and coffee (a must have for any successful pow wow), we were discussing the blog and things that may be interesting for people to read about. Our Director of Sales (and your favorite HOS event coordinator) Kevin Sykes, came up with this brand spankin’ new series.

Jennifer Grogan is Banquet Manager extraordinaire based at the Hall of Springs. Not only that but she is a soon to be bride this December 31st!  Kevin thought, and we all agreed, that she has a really unique perspective on the planning process because she sees around three different weddings every weekend all year round and she is smack dab in the middle of her own fabulous wedding planning process.

What we want to accomplish with this series is to take you a bit deeper into the planning process.  We will touch on inspiration, vendors, attire, hurdles, time lines, decor, anything else these two love birds are willing to share with us.

First things first our stellar intern Emily volunteered for the task of interviewing the soon to be couple to find out how it all began….here is their story….

AF: How did you two meet?

JG: Believe it or not, we met online while I was living in Las Vegas! I  was supposed to go out with friends one night and since I got stuck late at work, they all went out without me. I decided to stay in and when I checked my email I had a message from a guy named James. Newly single, I never opened messages from guys I didn’t know because I thought “Who looks for someone on the internet??”  HOWEVER, I couldn’t see his face on the profile pic attached to the email and something told me to click on it. It brought me to his page and everything was about his friends and family. Not to mention I thought he was VERY cute! Very different from my usual ‘type’ with his piercings and “West Coast” style but none the less, he seemed like a really genuine person.

I emailed him back (all the while thinking, WHAT AM I DOING??) and he responded within minutes. Fast forward three hours later and he had walked me through a very frustrating installation of instant messenger where we talked non-stop about everything.  Usually the stuff you cover on dates 1 through 5! I asked questions I normally never would because I thought, what the heck? I had nothing to lose and in a city as big as Las Vegas. I knew I’d never run into him to feel embarrassed over asking his thoughts on marriage, religion and children!

What surprised me was everything about him was EXACTLY what I wanted in a man. We just clicked. I then had to put it in perspective: Was he lying? Was it a trap? Las Vegas can be a very scary place, and I of course began wondering if he was a murderer trying to lure me to meet him. I never revealed anything over the next couple weeks about where I lived or worked (or even my phone number!) so we just enjoyed emails back and forth while getting to know each other.

AF: What was your first date like?

I finally gave him my number so I could hear his voice. Again, perfect. We decided on week three to meet. I told all my friends the plan and drove out to his house, again so he wouldn’t know where I lived. I pulled up and he was exactly who he said he was. Tall, dark and handsome and wearing board shorts and a t-shirt. We drove to Sunset Station Casino and he was so quiet I started to have doubts. Later he told me he kept stealing glances at me while I drove because he couldn’t believe how beautiful I was!

When we arrived at the casino we ate a very casual meal at Fatburger where he ordered a Turkey burger. That was hilarious to me; so California! We headed in to see a movie (Gridiron Gang, fitting since he played football) and I remember when he reached over to hold my hand…we just fit. He was perfect and I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

I am normally a Type A, fast talking girl and being near him in that moment made me feel like time had stopped and nothing else mattered. I always believed in love at first sight but thought it would never happen to me. Sitting there watching that movie, I just knew I was living a moment most people would kill for. From that day on, we were inseparable.

Stay tuned AF readers for the adorable proposal story…..

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Posted in Just Jen...and James!, Real Weddings | 1 Comment »