Weddings

“A Day to Remember” Wedding Showcase at Rancho Las Palmas

| kristencastillo

I recently attended the “A Day to Remember” wedding showcase at Rancho Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage, near Palm Springs. 

It’s a stunning site for local and destination weddings in the Coachella Valley. This luxurious venue offers much to enjoy, including well-appointed accommodations, 27 holes of championship golf, a world-class spa, and much more.

Here are some of the wedding spots at Rancho Las Palmas that I visited during the showcase: The ceremony site, the Las Palmas Lawn, is surrounded by palm trees and fits 100 guests, with 700 seated. We had cocktail hour on the sunrise terrace, a two-tiered outdoor space that features views of the fifth fairway. Next, we enjoyed dinner on the starlight terrace, a 10,000 square feet rooftop space boasting stunning views of the surrounding Mount San Jacinto. The rooftop accommodates 1000 guests or 600 for dinner.

We finished the night with dessert at the Spa Las Palmas pool, a poolside area that’s intimate, private, and accommodates 60 guests. Here’s a video of my visit.

Perfect for a desert wedding, the Southern California venue has many other places to say “I Do.” For example, the Las Palmas Ballroom has 30,000 square feet of flexible indoor space. The Sixth Tee Box showcases a beautiful pond and waterfall and is a cozy venue choice for 100 to 150 guests. Check out the venue’s wedding brochure.

Thanks to Rancho Las Palmas and its parent company, Omni Hotels, for inviting me. After the wedding showcase, they hosted me for a one-night stay in a lovely room near the Las Palmas Lawn. 

This resort is an excellent getaway for a vacation, weekend visit, or a special event, like a wedding. I’m already looking forward to returning to this sunny, luxurious resort.

2021 Wedding Trends

| kristencastillo

The pandemic’s impact can be seen in weddings this year.

My Creators Syndicate article looks at 2021 wedding trends, including wedding size, meals, the honeymoon and more.

Here’s an excerpt:

Earl McCoy at Penny Photographics has noticed couples, especially brides, are getting more comfortable and less formal within their respective weddings.

“Brides are choosing comfortable shoes over high heels and not just wearing them for the dancing afterward, but wearing them throughout the day,” he says. “They want to be comfortable and most of them know that wearing heels for 12+ hours would be exhausting on their feet.”

He says many brides, instead of veils, are choosing simple headpieces or nothing at all, explaining, “This allows for more movement and freedom to hug, dance and move around without worry.”

📷: Penny Photographics

Cheers to Life’s Celebrations

| kristencastillo

Whether you’re celebrating the big game or an upcoming event like a wedding, this is a pretty cool way to toast the special occasion.

Thanks Sans Wine Co. for sending me these wines to sample. #gifted

These stylish canned wines are convenient, tasty and available in choices like Rosé Bubbles and Carbonic Carignan.

They’re sans additives, sans chemicals, naturally crafted, old vine and vegan-certified.

The wines are the passion of husband and wife team, Jake Stover & Gina Schober. Cheers to all the big days ahead!

💍 Ready for the Royal Wedding! 💍

| kristencastillo

The Royal Wedding is days away and I’m swooning over wedding details for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

I love weddings and royal weddings are no exception. They’re large events where no detail is overlooked! I’m looking forward to the Markle’s dress, accessories and her hair/makeup. She’s always very stylish and I’m sure her wedding look won’t disappoint.

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Oleg Cassini and David’s Bridal are celebrating the royal wedding too. They sent me this sparkly crystal cupcake along with this wedding book, “Oleg Cassini The Wedding Dress.”

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I’ve had fun looking through the book and reminiscing about past royal weddings and other notable I Do’s.

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The 320-page book details Cassini designs over the years, including runway looks, the history of wearing white, the significance of wearing a touch of blue, and the history of bridal styles.

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Cassini was also the personal stylist to former first Lady Jackie Kennedy throughout her life. After she wore his strapless empire waist design, the style became a hit. It’s a still the number one dress choice for brides.

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The royal wedding happens this Saturday, May 19. It’s an early day with tv coverage of the nuptials starting at 4:30 am EDT, which for me is 1:30 am PDT. Maybe I’ll just stay up Friday night so I won’t miss a thing!

Are you planning to watch the royal wedding?

Chocolate + Caramels = Yes, Please!

| kristencastillo

Chocolates are my favorite treat. They’re a great dessert, especially for parties and events, like weddings.

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Recently Fran’s Chocolates sent me their famous salted caramels. These Gray and Smoked Salt Caramels are available in dark and milk chocolate, paired with soft buttery caramel and topped with gray and smoked sea salts.

The caramels look pretty and taste delicious!

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An added bonus? The presentation – box and bow – can be color coordinated.

FullSizeRender 32A tasty and eye-catching option for wedding favors.

 

Something to Savor: Wedding Keepsake Solution

| kristencastillo

Wedding planning is a special time, full of personal moments shared between the couple. The relationships is filled with keepsakes like love notes, the menu from a special date and tickets to a movie. Now add in a wedding and bridal keepsakes can include engagement photos, save the date cards and swatches of fabric, as well as tokens of affection as well, including cards, lists and notes taken during wedding planning.

It’s easy to see how a couple’s mementos could easily stack up as clutter, unless properly organized. It’s nice to keep all these mementos together, as souvenirs of the courtship and the planning process.

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One stylish storage solution comes from Savor, manufacturers of keepsake boxes. Their Wedding Edition Keepsake Box features two custom-dyed, cloth-covered “You & Me” and “Us” books that open to store away special wedding objects.

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The five drawers inside are designed to stash wedding-goodies like the ring pillow, dried flowers, the garter and more.

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The keepsake comes with folders, pre-printed labels and stickers to customize the box. The boxes come in two color schemes: blue/peach and slate/cream. Savor sent me the slate colored keepsake to check out and it’s pretty and practical.

What a practical, thoughtful way to commemorate a couple’s love story and wedding day!

Savor also makes keepsake boxes for curating memories of babies and kids. All the colorful boxes can neatly stack on bookshelves as memories to be treasured.

 

Nailed It! Spring Manicure Time

| kristencastillo

I love a pretty manicure! I almost always wear nail polish and in a variety of colors. I like everything from soft pinks and sexy reds to bold blues and vibrant oranges, and everything in between.

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This spring I’m loving pastels. That’s why I was eager to try the “Bridal Bliss” collection from Zoya. They sent me the complimentary set of polishes, which are available in so many sweet and subtle shades, ranging from creams like “Chantal” to a classic pink named “Bella.”

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I couldn’t decide which polish to use first so I tried something new – I created a mix and match manicure. I used five different shades, one for each finger and repeated the look on both hands.

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For my thumb, I used “McKenna,” a taupe shade; for the index finder, “Rue” a mauve shade; “Abby,” a lavender for my middle finger; a pastel “Blu” for my ring finger; and “Leia,” an opal-toned white/pink for my pinky.

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I love the colors and I’m really happy with this look! Plus, the mani has staying power.  I’ve been typing, doing dishes and running errands and the polish has held up well.

Must-Have Accessory: Fashionable & Functional Hairtie Bracelets

| kristencastillo

If you have long hair, you know the importance of having a ponytail holder at the ready. Often times that means keeping hair elastics in your pocket, your purse or on your wrist.

Wearing a ponytail holder on your wrist can pinch and that hurts, which is why I’m intrigued about an inventive product: hairband bracelets from Maria Shireen.

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The concept is simple and stylish – wear a bracelet that has a “channel” to hold the hair tie in place. The silver or gold bracelet is fashionable and functional. They even have plastic ones for kids and teens!

I was excited to try one out. Since I frequently write about weddings, Maria Shireen’s team sent me a bracelet from their wedding collection. It’s silver and comes with a baby blue hair tie. I can picture brides and bridesmaids wearing these bracelets throughout wedding planning and all the celebrations, including the reception and after parties.

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I’ve been enjoying wearing the bracelet which is cute and comfortable. Best of all, finding my hair tie to pull my hair back onto a ponytail is easier than ever!

Think about it: you’ll always have your ponytail holder nearby. No more searching the house, office or your bag for a hairtie because you’ll have one ready-to-go on your bracelet.

The bracelet looks pretty on its own and can be worn separate from the hairtie. When worn together, it’s hard to tell you’re rocking a ponytail with your bracelet.

Feeling Glam in Fall

| kristencastillo

Fall is such a great season. Even in San Diego, the temps are cool(er) this time of year and it’s fun to wear cozy clothes and accessories in rich, autumn colors. I’ve been layering more and wearing knits and velvet.

Wearing Jane Iredale Fall Glam collection. Love this lipstick!

My accessories and makeup have taken on fall tones as well. I love burgundy, crimson and deep shades of brown.

Jane Iredale Fall Glam

Jane Iredale sent me their Naturally Glam beauty collection to try out and I’m loving it.

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There’s a five-color eye shadow palette featuring shimmery neutrals, as well as a bubblegum pink blush which has delicate gold shimmer.

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They also sent this soft makeup mitt, which is so useful to wipe off the day’s makeup.

 

My favorite items? The gorgeous, seasonal lip colors: PureMoist lipstick in Gwen, an apple red and Just Kissed lip plumper in Paris, a sheer light port wine.

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These lipsticks have been the star of my fall. I’ll continue to wear them during the holidays.