Sweet summer favors

Summertime often means more light and refreshing local foods for wedding dinners and parties, like grilled fish, fresh garden salads, and smaller bites for hors d' oeuvres like ahi, snapper, and shrimp. We often recommend pairing light and refreshing dinner entrees with complimentary desserts (think short cake, light lemony wedding cake, fruit tarts, and whipped mousses), rather than heavy and rich wedding cake flavors.
For a gorgeous wedding last year we had specialty vanilla and lemon/raspberry cakes crafted for each of the 22 guest tables so that guests could share in the fun of cutting the cake as a group and dishing up a portion that was to their liking. It was a super fun take on the traditional wedding cake, and the individual cakes were incredibly fresh.
We also paired a delicious lemon and basil sorbet as a palette cleanser in between courses!
To make your own spin on wedding desserts, think about incorporating fresh berries in berry cobblers baked in small ramekins, light cheesecakes, or single servings of lemon tarts. Your guests will appreciate the unique take on one of the oldest wedding traditions. If you don't want to completely balk the tradition of having your own wedding cake, why not go with a small head cake for the bridal party table that you can cut.
Fresh baked pastries from San Diego Desserts or the French Gourmet will be sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Summer Inspiration: the South of France

I love to get event design inspiration from places I've been to and have photos of to refer to, like the South of France. I've been there a few times and the colors are incredibly stunning and have inspired many an event. The atmosphere is stunning and the people of Nice in particular are so amazing! The snapshot below is of the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France.

Here is a fun and summery inspiration board for a summer party or wedding reception -focusing on the hints of true ocean blue and a touch of a sunshine yellow. Focus on incorporating Southern France and Provençal items like specialty linens, soaps, olive oils, or gift wrap for your wedding favors. Accent these lovely gifts with Midori gift wrap and ribbon, as seen on my board.
I found these wedding party jewelry accents from Banana Republic at a super affordable price, and the skirts from J. Crew - all items are under $100 so they make the perfect gift. Think unique when naming your tables - go with exotic locales you've traveled to or your favorite restaurants or wines; things that aren't always seen at weddings...

Orchids are a tropical detail that will tie it all together. From delicate white dendrobium orchids scattered down your aisle to thick, lush clusters perched above the guest tables, this selection would be stunning with hints of Mediterranean blue and a splash of cheerful yellow in the place cards or bright roses. Think Cotes du Rhone or Chateauneuf du Pape wines and a rich, yet light and delicious menu featuring shellfish and pastas. Top the night off with gourmet desserts or tea cakes and cookies, like sweet Madeleines, my favorite.
Célébrez!

Happy Easter!

In addition to being a religious holiday, Easter signifies spring and great brunch!
Here's a recipe for a fantastic and refreshing lavender bellini that will be sure to have your brunch guests wanting more:

Ingredients:
1 part peach puree
2 parts Prosecco or another sparkling wine
1 pinch of edible, nontoxic, dried or fresh lavender

Directions:
1. Place the puree in the bottom of a champagne glass
2. Carefully pour in the sparkling wine
3. Don't stir, but use a spoon to pull the puree up along the sides of the glass, so that you won't lose the bubbles
4. Decorate with the lavender
5. Enjoy!

For another special treat, stuff pastel gift boxes with Easter truffles and place on each place setting for guests of all ages. I had fun decorating these eggs with bling!

Expert Advice: Fabulous Invitations from Izzy Girl Press

We love working with Janet Maples from Izzy Girl Press to create gorgeous wedding invitation suites and birthday invitations for our clients. Not only is she incredibly creative, but she's sweet and fun to work with! We went to her to ask about what's new for fall invitations. Here's what she says:

Summer isn't even here and I'm already looking forward to fall and the color inspiration it will bring for weddings. It's a fun time for couples to plan a celebration that really stands out from the rest ...and it all starts with the invitation.

Purple is going to be a popular color for the fall season. From lilac and lavender, rosy mauve to deep purples - it's a wonderful color to set the tone for a glamorous event. Think dreamy deco! We used a deep purple in this invitation set and added a pop of vibrant orange. Embellished with a dose of feather-y design, the invitation had a touch of whimsy.

Other purple pairing ideas: pair with rich, rustic brown or shiny metallic for some added glitz. Think charming + inviting and pair lavender with olive green.

Regardless of the colors you chose for your invitation, remember to be creative and be true to your personality!
Thanks, Janet! Stay tuned for other vendor advice from other talented wedding artists we love.

A Refreshing Approach to the Signature Drink

While the "signature drink" has long been a staple at weddings and events, why not offer guests a bevvy of fun signature drinks at stations to sample while celebrating your nuptials?

From an espresso and tea cart to a scotch bar, a wine tasting station, a brew lounge, and a martini bar, you will give all of your guests something they'll enjoy and talk about for years to come! Wanting tropical flair? Why not offer pina coladas or mint juleps for a hot afternoon soiree? What a great chance to allow the bride and groom, their wedding party, and families, to all make fun suggestions based on their favorite drinks as well!

Think about keeping the costs (and in most cases much less than a standard bar) down by offering one or two types of scotch, rather than an assortment; and don't offer a complete bar with rum, vodka, gin, etc. The key is to offer what you know your guests like. Don't offer liquor that isn't generally popular with your crowd; that's where funds can get wasted quickly. Be sure to offer non-alcoholic beverages at your celebration - whether it's a homemade rosemary lemonade or sparkling water accented with cucumber slices or lemon, offer something that's out of the ordinary. We're still keeping it simple but kicking it up a notch and creating another thoughtful detail for your guests to enjoy.

Natural Elements and Colors for Spring

With robins chirping and trees blossoming, spring has finally arrived! I love spring weddings that use natural elements like fruit, river rocks, curly willow, and woodsy flowers to celebrate the season.
Here are some of my favorite color and element combinations for spring - fresh and simple can be so stunning. Shades of green - from hand-written place cards to hydrangea accents - can be so lovely and elegant, but bright pops of green can be incredibly bold and stunning.Green hydrangeas are gorgeous and add texture
I love bear grass for a unique interest - the grass curls well and holds up to water submersion


The hand-crafted programs are a perfect tone of a cheerful green

Color Inspiration: Navy......

When planning Stephanie and Tom's woodland summer wedding overlooking the waterfalls, the color palette went immediately towards rich colors. Rich purple, navy, hints of cheery pink, and lush green came into play, from the floral design to the bridesmaids' dresses, and the place cards.
Their wedding was not only stunning, but it was great fun planning. We did the majority of the planning while they were in Hong Kong, which proved challenging but rewarding.

1 Year: Congratulations, Erica and Rodney

Erica and Rodney were a super fun couple we worked with last year. As their first year anniversary approaches, we wanted to share some pics from the lovely Kate McElwee

Eugene and Michelle's Gorgeous Mexico Wedding

In December we coordinated Eugene and Michelle's gorgeous wedding in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. It was the culmination of nearly a year of planning - we originally toured the venue the prior January and immediately got to work on the fun details. About 70 of their closest friends and family flew down for the wedding and participated in a week of fun activities. The ceremony took place at sunset on the beach and was accented by Michelle's color palette of cherry red, white, and turquoise; perfect for a tropical wedding.

The girls' bouquets held deep red roses, stephanotis, and white dendrobium orchids and the guys had coordinated bouts. Guests received woven grass fans (which were needed in the heat!) as favors, and were treated to an evening of dinner, drinks, and lots of dancing! It was a great celebration and we were honored to play a part! Congratulations, Eugene and Michelle!

*We were fortunate to have the always awesome Aly and Ben Medina of La Luz Photography capture the special events - it was great fun to work with them in Mexico!

Check us out on Wedding Chicks!

We are proud to announce we are preferred planners with the Wedding Chicks. Check out their awesome site: www.weddingchicks.com

Parisian-Themed Table

We created this gorgeous table for an event and love it! With the rich, jewel-toned flowers in orange, purple, and green, to the gold-rimmed goblets and chivari chairs, the table fit well with the Parisian theme of the event!
The rich aubergine linens and gold matte chargers were stunning against the Eiffel Tower centerpiece.

Inspiration: Color

With winter still in full swing, I always try to think bright, vibrant colors! Here's a lush color combination we're working on with a summer client.
Think rich red roses, corals, and burnt orange with chocolate accents.
Textured gold chargers will flank the tables and luxurious rose mounds in gorgeous vessels, and pintuck linens will bring a bit of a shimmer and interest.
The sample place setting we put together

A lovely thank you note from fabulous clients

Stephenie and Ryan were a joy to work with - Nick and I truly enjoyed each step of the planning process and laughed a lot with them. We were thrilled to get a lovely letter thanking us for our support during the planning process - here's a snippet:

"Thank you so much for assisting in making our dreams come true. We are so thankful to have had you there on our beautiful, memorable wedding day and know that it wouldn't be half as glamorous without your helpful touches and recommendations...The passion you have in this field is incredible and really shines in your personalities. It's such an honor to have worked with people who truly care about the outcome of our wedding rather than just a paycheck and rushing through the day. We are so thankful to have met you and to have had you as part of our new life together and look forward to working with you again someday maybe for a milestone anniversary...."
Thank you, Stephenie and Ryan, you guys are the best!

In doing some searching for a summer wedding bride, I came across some truly whimsical and stunning wedding dresses for the fun spring or summer brides. These amazing designs are unexpected and unique and will garner many compliments from your guests! If you still want to marry in a traditional, floor-sweeping gown, perhaps you can consider changing into a tea-length or shorter confection for dancing into the night!Stephanie James Couture


This dark, dressy number would be perfect for you engagement party or rehearsal dinner - dress by Monique Lhuillier

Think Spring!

Now that the holidays have come and gone, it's time to start thinking spring! Creamy pastels, lush floral, and delicate designs play together well to create beautiful and stunning table scapes. Natural elements like river rock, moss, and willow branches are like a breath of fresh air.
To make your pastel colors pop, add a splash of metallic with silver chargers or gold shoes with your party dress!

For more casual brunches or easy entertaining, build centerpieces with mounds of citruses that guests can also eat. Silver bar accents, like these from the Pottery Barn, lend well to a warm atmosphere. Deck out your dining table with sprigs from your own garden - use rosemary and sage to accent your table and add a special scent. Cheers to spring coming soon and to your fabulous soiree!