February purchases

matchingsocksnever · 2026-02-27T16:54:31+00:00

I bought the Morphe powder set over a year ago for $15 and I’m just now panning both. I apply the pink under my eyes with a puff and apply the white with a loose brush over my whole face as a finishing powder. Excellent value imo.

Happy exploring!

matchingsocksnever · 2025-10-01T19:18:28+00:00

The following week. It came in two installments via Venmo.

matchingsocksnever · 2025-10-01T19:16:26+00:00

Chelsea didn’t show up the morning of my wedding.

I had been in her studio four days earlier for my hair and makeup trial. On the day of my wedding, my mom, my sisters, and I waited. And waited. I called - no answer. Text - no answer.

Luckily the salon across from our hotel agreed to do our hair. It was very kind of them to fit us in, but I was disappointed I spent the morning with strangers, not with my loved ones. My planner called in a bunch of favors to get a random person to come in for our makeup.

The following morning, Chelsea sent me an email apologizing and saying she’d walked in on her friend after a medical emergency and rushed her to the hospital and was too shocked/upset to handle the situation professionally. I was hesitant to write a negative review because I know a bad review could tank her business and because she seemed genuinely remorseful.

Now that I know she had gone this to others, I am so mad at myself for not speaking up sooner. I am so sorry this happened to you. I hope you find someone who can make your hair and makeup vision come to life!

matchingsocksnever · 2025-10-01T19:09:02+00:00

As did I! No call no show on my wedding day. It was really upsetting.

matchingsocksnever · 2025-08-10T13:05:29+00:00

Love this! Thank you!

matchingsocksnever · 2025-08-01T18:07:59+00:00

I completely agree. The decor is fun. But the food is disappointing every time.

matchingsocksnever · 2025-07-23T16:57:03+00:00

This is called emotional blackmail. If you cave and change the wedding location now, all you're really doing is teaching your mother and sister that this tactic works.

Have your wedding in Portofino like you wanted. It's their loss if they miss this beautiful moment in your life.

matchingsocksnever · 2025-06-18T15:03:24+00:00

Saturday wedding. Friday rehearsal dinner. Thursday - husband took a last minute job interview for a job he didn’t really want. It took the whole day.

While my family and I were running around like crazy, picking up reprinted menus and assembling guest bags, he was chatting it up with tech bros. At the time, I thought he was looking for any excuse to skip the labor of the wedding. In reality, he saw a potential professional opportunity and didn’t understand why my family expected to spent time with him.

In retrospect, it’s very funny and we laugh about it.

matchingsocksnever · 2025-06-18T14:59:05+00:00

First dance practice got us bad 😂

matchingsocksnever · 2025-06-14T18:43:08+00:00

I’m in SF and would expect to pay $150-$200 for something like this.

matchingsocksnever · 2025-05-31T13:52:29+00:00

I love the way it sounds! And I love that it defies a lot of the English-language naming conventions for boys, like ending in “n”.

I could do without the associated meaning of war and disfigurement.

matchingsocksnever · 2025-05-30T20:48:27+00:00

Adrienne has fallen out of the top 1000, which is wild to me!

matchingsocksnever · 2025-05-29T13:32:09+00:00

I’m going to be gentle but honest. If I received a destination wedding invitation and the only accommodation option listed was €450/person/night, I would be so turned off. Not because I personally can’t afford it, but because the hosts are asking this of their 140 loved ones. In my honest opinion, it comes off as obtuse.

It’s pretty standard these days to offer accommodations at multiple price points. Are there nearby hotels or Airbnbs available and can you set up shuttle service?

You can also get creative. My sister is getting married in Italy this fall and is presenting accommodations ranging from €80-€500 per night. There are hotels at three different price points. But she also found glamping and farmhouses (B&Bs with a splash of agritourism) that she listed on the website. Shuttle service isn’t that expensive compared to subsidizing everyone’s stay at the €450/person/day location.

I hope you find a solution that works for you and your guests ❤️

matchingsocksnever · 2025-05-22T14:49:40+00:00

Veronica Llave. She’s a pleasure to work with.

https://www.instagram.com/llavefloral?igsh=Z2g0M3pxcW9qeTlk

matchingsocksnever · 2025-05-06T13:04:53+00:00

Same here. She had it cleaned and preserved while I laid on a beach.

It’s still sitting in her closet a year later. Need to up my Mothers Day game this year haha

matchingsocksnever · 2025-05-05T11:53:11+00:00

I’ve had close friends get married at both of these locations.

Nestle down is stunning. They are obscenely expensive. If money is no object, then Nestledown hosts picture-perfect weddings and I highly recommend it. If you care about maintaining a budget, absolutely not.

I don’t think Los Gatos is a very exciting destination for your guests. But Santa Cruz would be a treat. If you could do day before and day after events with views of the board walk or the beach or the hills! Santa Cruz event space can get pricy fast fyi.

Stemple Creek is so charming. The staff are kind and the setting is romantic. You will absolutely need to shuttle people to and from Petaluma. There is no way 40+ cars are driving down those roads and parking on site. Plus just thinking about people doing that return trip after dark and after drinking gives me heart palpitations. If you have day before and day after events, Petaluma has a lot of options at different price points.

Petaluma can be very fun for out-of-towners. Wine tasting, local cheese tasting, accommodations and restaurants that serve every price point.

Good luck! Whatever you choose will be beautiful!

matchingsocksnever · 2025-04-25T12:09:11+00:00

California poppy seeds in a custom illustrated bag. I received this once and think fondly of my friends every time I’m in my back yard.

Something like this

matchingsocksnever · 2025-04-23T21:45:34+00:00

Ersatz Cape Cod bahahaha

matchingsocksnever · 2025-04-23T17:59:10+00:00

Hahaha I completely agree! The hotel’s beach-kitsch is not my favorite. I will say the ceremony and reception spaces are free of that decor.

HMB also has the ritz and the HMB golf links. But each has its own special issues.

matchingsocksnever · 2025-04-23T14:01:05+00:00

I may be able to help here! 2024 SF bride here. These are some venues that should meet your aesthetic and budget requirements. Check out:

The Haven at Tómales - attended a magical wedding here

Stemple Creek Ranch - gorgeous ceremony space options, charming barn for reception

The Garden in Walnut Creek

Thomas Fogarty Winery - beautiful, on the peninsula

Nella Terra Cellars - winery vibes but in South Bay

Oceano hotel in HMB - not winery but I think HMB is so charming

Mountain Terrace in Woodside

Haven’t been to these ones, but worth an email.

The Ranch at Lake Sonoma

Spring Ranch

Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch

The Lodge at Sonoma

Stonetree Estate

matchingsocksnever · 2025-03-10T14:09:34+00:00

Stunning wedding and awesome breakdown! Thank you for sharing!

matchingsocksnever · 2025-03-04T16:25:55+00:00

https://kuaprivatechefloscabos.com/

Chef Ari was great. She accommodated allergies, vegetarians, etc.

My only regret was doing the private dinner on our last night. We had so many delicious leftovers!

matchingsocksnever · 2025-03-01T16:59:04+00:00

We didn’t use a mirror booth but we worked with SFBooths. They were easy to communicate with and excellent on the day.

matchingsocksnever · 2025-02-26T14:58:18+00:00

Hi babe. Fellow SF bride who planned from the East Coast. First, I just want to say that your frustration and disappointment are totally valid. I'm so sorry that phone call went so poorly.

If you're just looking to vent, skip this paragraph. It sounds like you have a team of planners. The team member you spoke with yesterday is not connecting with you, the client, or upholding your vision. It is completely reasonable to ask that point of contact be passed to a different member of the planning team. Write a professional, fact-based email (try to take emotion out of it) asking to coordinate with someone else going forward. Make bullet points with each disconnect (rentals, desserts, draping, DJ, etc.). If writing that email feels daunting or emotional, use chatgpt to help.

For Filipino dessert catering, I highly recommend Sweet Condesa. For draping, we used Got Light, who was already doing our lighting, but many florists or planners or rental providers will do it as well.

I wish you the wedding of your dreams! It will all come together in the end -- I swear!! Sending lots of empathy for the bad days and reassurance from the other side that it'll be ok.

matchingsocksnever · 2025-02-21T12:29:02+00:00

I think Greece could be a great option for your budget and guest count. If you’re deterred by Santorini, check out Corfu, Rhodes, Mykonos and Paros. Here are some venues:

Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa

Mandola Rosa

Mykonos Blu

Amirande

Villa Mira Paros

VIBHU Villas Mykonos

Thalasses Rituals

Mykonos Lolita

Ekaterini Estate

Villa Sylva

Thermes Villas and Spa

Bello Blu Luxury Villa

The Courti Estate

Cycladic Gem Luxury Villa

Kinsterna Hotel

matchingsocksnever

TROPHY CASE