A little over a year ago I started e-mailing with my now good friend, Jess Levin, the founder of Carats & Cake. I kept hearing about C&C and I knew I needed to meet the brains behind this incredible website. These days everyone is all about social media (especially brides) so Jess and her team decided it was time to tap into the industry. Since C&C just celebrated their One Year Anniversary… (whoop,whoop) I thought it would be appropriate for you to get the scoop behind the brains  (and beauty) behind this hot new wedding website!

Photo Credit: Samuel Lippke

Photo Credit: Michael + Anna Costa Photography

Q’s:

You’re a born and raised Laguna Beach girl living in the Big Apple. what difference do you see in brides from the Left Coast vs brides from the Right Coast?

You see the laid back California vibe vs. the more fast paced New York lifestyle everyone speaks of played out in wedding form. So, Left coast brides tend to add more casual elements whether it’s hair down or barefoot where as right coast brides tend to be a little more formal. However, at the moment casual is very “in” especially in the summer so you aren’t seeing as big of a difference.

What inspired you to start Carats and Cake?

I saw what should have been one of the most celebratory moments of my friends lives, turn into one of the most stressful and challenging mostly because of a lack of information. Regardless if they were planning an intimate backyard wedding or a black tie bash, it was difficult to find authentic insight to guide them in identifying the right vendors. I wanted to make it easier for people to get what they wanted.

Words you live by?

Fake it till you make it. Seriously.

What makes Carats & Cake different from other wedding blogs?  

All of our content is straight from the source and we provide brides-to-be with direct access to trusted local vendors reviewed by recently married couples. It’s all about turning your inspiration into reality.

Photo Credit: Manuel Mesarovits

We know firsthand that you love Sockerbit, any other guilty pleasures?

Ha! I have an uncontrollable sweet tooth. I also live for fresh flowers.

What did you think your dream job was before your dream job found you? 

I have always been very entrepreneurial and I loved working in Venture Capital because I was surrounded by amazing people building incredible companies.

Bridesmaid dresses can be tricky, what color do you think will stand the test of trend time?

Personally I am a huge fan of neutrals (shocking I know considering I pretty much live in black white and grey) and I think there is something timeless about an all white wedding.

You see hundreds of weddings on a daily basis. What do you look for when brides submit their weddings to C&C?

We don’t have a traditional submission process at Carats & Cake but the weddings our users really respond to are the ones where the couples go above and beyond and really share their experience in the hopes of making their wedding a resource for brides-to-be. So not only sharing their photos and providing their vendors, but taking the time to add comments about why they chose their florist or how their photographer went above and beyond. It’s this whole idea of “what I wish I would have known.”

Any tips you might have for brides planning their dream wedding?

Try to remember the wedding is just the first day of the rest of your life together.

Photo Credit: Samuel Lippke

Best tip for balancing work and personal life?

So I asked this question once to one of the female entrepreneurs who I admire most, and it’s some of the best advice I have ever gotten “there is no secret, embrace the imbalance” so I try to do what works best for me and the people I love.

Last and certainly not least… you’re stranded on a desert island …what’s the one cocktail you would take with you?

 Aperol spritzer. I love the taste and the color!

Thanks Jess, we adore you and we love watching C&C grow!

xx

KL 

* Be sure to check out our Carats & Cake page and make sure to submit your wedding here!