This Blog is Moving on up!

Hello All,

I know most of you have figured this out already but I just wanted to let you know, it's offical. Heidi and I are doing all of our blog postings from now on on the following (and very popular blog site)

www.couturecelebrations.blogspot.com

There is a new post Mon.-Thurs. every week and sometimes we will surprise you with a Friday post as well.

Please shoot on over there and eat up all the wonderful advice, pretty pictures and of course see all the fabulous shoes that Heidi posts on Thursdays!! That alone will keep you coming back for more.

Big hugs and warm sunshine ways to you all


www.couturecelebrations.blogspot.com

More details please!!!!!

We were so excited to share our big news this week that we didn't get into the details! We thought we should tell you a little more about Coastside's new direction. In addition to the fabulous weddings we plan and coordinate, we are excited to expand our services to all events from anniversary parties, baby showers to corporate retreats. We are still available for daily concierge services, from errand running, modified house sitting and personal assistance to thank you cards. We give you only the best and most trusted customer service.

The newest addition (and our big excitment!!!) is the Couture House, our Wedding Lounge and Library. Beginning in January, Engaged Couples (or Bride's and their families) can book a two hour appointment, where while sipping champagne they can find all the Sites, Vendors and Services that fit with their budget and style. They will have a personal Event Concierge at their disposal throughout the appointment while sampling cake, looking through photo albums and listing to band demos. By the end of the appointment they will leave with a personalized budget breakdown, to do timeline/checklist and scheduled appointments with the vendors they chose in their Couture Bag.

Sound interesting? Call us for pricing information, to buy Gift Certificates (great Christmas Present for those Engaged Couples) and to make your appointment today- 831-600-8206.

Big News!!!!

Hi All,

I am super excited to share this big fun news!!!

Coastside Concierge has partnered with Couture Celebrations to bring you, Coastside Couture!

A bit of background:

In 2004 when I started Coastside Weddings and Events, I was thrown together in the weirdest way with fellow event planner Heidi Hughett of Couture Celebrations. We bonded, needless to say and have been friends ever since. Heidi has been a competitor, yet a dear friend and since we met we have relied on each other on numerous accounts over the past five years.

Fast forward to about nine months ago when Heidi and I helped to found the Monterey Bay Wedding and Event Professionals Board. With all of our trips to the board meetings we realized that us coming together to combine forces made so much sense!

So I am very happy, pleased and extremely proud to announce the merging and coming together of Coastside Couture! www.coastsidecouture.com

Heidi and I  have always regarded ourselves as friends and colleges. We have always said that there was plenty of room for competition, but we were both so busy that we needed the ability to take on more. This just seemed like the perfect fit for both of our businesses.

For the past four plus years we have worked separately, referring business we couldn’t take towards each other. In this business where it seems like there is a new event planning company popping up every month or so, we have stuck it out, supporting each other’s businesses.

Coastside Couture is excited to add to our services, The Couture House.
We have been  looking for a way to offer more than your typical event planning and concierge services. We are filling this need by offering The Couture House. The Couture House is a boutique for planning resources where with the guidance of a personal Event Concierge you can plan your event in style. This by appointment only event library, is an opportunity for our smaller budget clients to get the guidance they need. We are thrilled to extend this opportunity to the Monterey Bay Area, displaying the finest local wedding and event professionals. We know all the best local resources and we love sharing them with all of our clients.

Please stay tuned for our new updates and our new website and blog.
We are so excited to share everything with all of you. Let us know when you are nearby as we would love for you to see the amazing Couture House and get a chance to be a part of the new, exciting things going on with us!


Thanks for all of your support!



Karissa

Karissa and Heidi at the Alexis Bridal show Feb. 2009

Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Since my last post I have had my 2nd anniversary, planned two beautiful weddings, the 20th anniversary gala of the '89' earthquake, the launch of the MBWEP party (so much fun!).  I turned 33 (I can't believe it) and went camping with my Dad and Brother in Big Sur. Not to forget that I am planning some BIG changes to Coastside Concierge and have been working night and day (in my dreams too) on that! Needless to say, I have been a busy girl.

It's a nice quiet Thanksgiving morning at my house and I started thinking that this would be a good time to blog.Yes, I guess in a way this is a blog about what I am thankful for but it's also to give you more insight in my life and so you understand how lucky I know I am.

If you would have asked me 10 years ago what I wanted to do with my life, I can almost bet you that I never would have thought I'd own my own fairly successful business.  10 years ago I had just met this guy named Lyle, I was starting to study under a Master Sommelier to become a Sommelier myself. I was running a lovely restaurant in Pismo and having a lot of fun.

Flash forward 10 years and here I am, married to that guy Lyle, owing my own business, not a Sommelier but a wine drinker ;-) and running my own business. It's been tough but I have never been happier!

I am so blessed to have so many people who are good to me and give me so much support. My Family, Friends and Client's are amazing! Thank you!

With that being said, I can say that I am thankful for following my dreams and making them a reality. I am so thankful for my Husband who has supported me and encouraged me to have my own business. I am thankful to my Parents (all four of them)  for their wisdom, experience, hard work ethic, patience, funny stories and support. I am so thankful for my little Brother who picks up the phone night or day and continues to tell me how great I am,  moitvate me and make me laugh. My entire family has always made me feel like I can do anything!

My Friends, I am am so thankful for! Each of you mean so much to me. Your love, support, hugs and girls nights are always just what I need.

And last but certinaly not least, my Clients. Thank you for your trust and support. I am honored to work with each of you. No matter what it is I do for you, planning your special event, taking care of your business or home, I love that you trust me to do it. I am so thankful that you have spread the word about Coastside. Thank you!

So now I better go for a run (thankful I can run) with my puppies (super thankful for them) so I can feel good about eating lots of amazing food (thankful)  that my Mother-in-Law (thankful for my in-laws, love them) is preparing.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, I hope you all have a wonderful day and realize how lucky we all are!

Time flys when your having fun!

Two years ago, 10/6/07, I married my best friend Lyle.

In celebration of our two years years of being married, I thought it would only be appropriate to share some of the memories of our special day in Big Sur, CA.

We were lucky that we were surrounded by so many family and friends and the love that surrounded us that day will be remembered and felt for a lifetime.

Thank you Lyle for being my rock, giving me your heart and supporting me through everything. Thank you for your love, your thoughtful advice and keeping me laughing at and with you.

I am so honored to be your wife. I love you more each day. Happy Anniversary!





* All photos are property of Karissa Paxton and were taken by Craig W. Smith. If you would like to use any of these images please contact me directly. Thank you!

Dress making 101 continued

Emily and I drove down to Marina to add the finishing touches and finalize all the little details. Check out her smile when she gets her first look at the almost finished dress.

The layers of ruffles that were to start at her mid-thigh all the way down to the end of the train, had to be hand stitched together before they could be attached to the silk overlay of the dress. I would have lost my mind. And yes, I did ask "can't you just buy that somewhere?"

The amount of time that was put into placing the lace correctly over the ruffles was amazing but it was so worth it!















The very talented Miguel Angel who designed this dress really put lots of thought into how he wanted to create it. Here he is talking about the lace placement on the back of the dress and if black lace should be attached to the straps for a more dramatic black effect.
In the end we decided on no lace for the straps and added a thin black silk band around her waist really showing how tiny she is. It brought the dress together so well.

I was so honored to have Emily ask me along to her fittings and design meetings. She really has such a great sense of fashion and taste for vintage. Congratulations to Emily and Jeremy, they had a fantastic wedding this past Sat. 10/3/09 in Half Moon Bay.  I can't wait to share their wedding photos soon!

Just me.....

This is me, the ultimate party girl, about 20 years ago at a wedding.
I guess we all knew me being a party planner would be inevitable. The funny thing is that every time I do a wedding,I look and feel like this after (when I get home).

In my mind, I am always going to be that girl, having fun, entertaining people and making things happen! Enjoy!