Favorite Farmhouse Fete Shots

Fri, 5 Apr 2013 16:59:44 +0200

Just a few more fabulous photos that didn’t make the cut from our spring feature on Once Wed and Flutter Mag today! Great calligraphy by the incredibly talented Linea Carta and food from the delectable SBB Gourmet Catering! Yummmmmy!

Farmhouse Fete Spring Shoot by KT Merry

Fri, 5 Apr 2013 16:30:50 +0200

Our ode to spring, a bright happy inspirational shoot was featured on Once Wed and Flutter Mag today! The Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse stood as a perfect backdrop for the cheery colors so beautifully captured by KT Merry Photography. Check out the Flutter layout below!

Santa Barbara Hacienda Chic Shoot featured on the Pretty Blog

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:29:43 +0200

The Santa Barbara inspired Hacienda Chic shoot we did with Emme Wynn Photography was featured on the Pretty Blog! We used the amazing Santa Barbara Historical Museum and the historic El Presidio Chapel as backdrops for the shoot. To see the whole thing, check out the Pretty Blog here!

Bacara Wedding Featured on Style Me Pretty

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:20:52 +0200

So excited to share Dainee and Steves amazing Bacara wedding photos, featured on Style Me Pretty today!! Our favorite lighting installation ever! We hung 21 gorgeous crystal chandeliers with Bella Vista designs for the most amazing lighting fixture ever! Modern Day Design did a fabulous job with the florals, Amazing photography by Michael & Anna Costa captured it all! See the rest here!

Sunstone Wedding Featured on Style Me Pretty

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:08:36 +0200

Laura and Masons beautiful Sunstone wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty today!! Adored designing every inch of this wedding with the sweet bride, who met her groom in high school! The evening was magical! Such dreamy photos by Michael & Anna Costa and sweet video by Lola Film & Video!!! Check it all out here!

Bohemia Africana Shoot for Flutter Mag

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:13:18 +0200

Incredibly proud to share this African inspired photo shoot I did with the incredible Jose Villa for Flutter Mags newest issue. This shoot was near and dear to my heart, as I am half Swazi, and was born in Africa. Check out Style Me Pretty and Flutter for the full feature!

Sunstone Villa Shoot with Jose Villa

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 22:35:16 +0200

It is with sheer elation and excitement that I post these photos. Have been waiting for months to share them and am so excited that I finally get to be able to do that now!!! The honor of getting the cover of the first Style Me Pretty book is unreal. The book will be out in store December 18th, and is available for pre-order on Amazon.com now.

Joy de Vivre featured on the cover of Style Me Pretty Weddings

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 20:17:24 +0200

I cannot begin to describe the sheer elation and pride I feel while writing this post. A photo from a shoot I did with Jose Villa was chosen for the cover of the very first Style Me Pretty book, Style Me Pretty Weddings. The book will be out in store December 18th, and is available for pre-order on Amazon.com now. Its not secret that Style Me Pretty is my favorite wedding blog and online resource for brides. To have my work chosen for the cover is more than a dream come true. I am honored and incredibly thankful for the amazing team of vendors that helped make the shoot what it was.

First and foremost, I owe this all to the incredible Jose Villa, whose photography is like music. Not only is he a beautiful person, but he went above and beyond for this shoot - helping move tables and chairs, and assisting in the grunt work that goes into a shoot like this. Without his talent, this cover never would have been possible, so from the very very bottom of my heart, I thank him.

My good friend, and stunning florist, Kelly Kaufman of Florette and I make a fabulous team. She is meticulous about her work, and continues to be one of my very closest partners and friends. Sunstone Villa was the backdrop for the shoot, and set the mood in a way no other venue could - a big thank you to Anna Rice for allowing us use of your incredible property. Found Vintage Rentals supplied the stunning tables and chairs, which were the perfect fit for the shoot. I had to stop myself from trying to rent their full inventory. Casa de Perrin literally set the table in the most beautiful way possible. From their heirloom china, cut glassware, to the hand polished silverware, the table wouldn’t have been the same without them. Bella Vista Designs hung the most beautiful set of chandeliers in the oak tree - they worked tirelessly with me to hang the chandeliers at the perfect height. The result was a beautiful glowing effect that looked like one large chandelier hanging from the tree. It goes without saying, but the right models can truly make or break the shoot. Erin Gomez, was more than we could have dreamed of. She was stunning, gracious and a dream in front of the camera. She and her boyfriend Scott brought the shoot to life with their love. Luna Bella Makeup Art did an incredible job with Erins makeup, providing a super fresh and soft look highlighted by a sweet side fishtail braid. The dresses by Samuelle Couture literally couldn’t not have been a more perfect fit for the venue and shoot. The colors, the fabric, everything was spot on and were an absolute dream to work with! Mission Tuxedo was sweet enough to provide the tuxedo and shoes for Scott, they asked the perfect questions, and helped us choose the best tux for our groom! 33 Jewels was kind enough to offer us use of their incredible gems, which complimented the look perfectly! Invitations by the talented Betsy Dunlap added whimsy and charm in a way that still romantic and elegant. The cake from Sweet & Saucy Shop was to die for - perfectly molded with intricate details. Thank you, thank you Melody for your time & for believing in our shoot! Last but certainly not least, I have to thank Lola Video for the truly stunning film she created for the shoot. Ginas work is magical and I am honored that she was a part of the shoot.

Featured on the Cover of Flutter Magazine

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 21:46:59 +0200

Such an incredible honor to have been featured on the cover of the very first Flutter Magazine! The image was shot by the incredible Kurt Boomer Photography at the scenic Figuerola Ranch in Santa Ynez. The ranch is home to more than 60 pure bread Peruvian horses, acres upon acres of rolling green hills and a spectacular horse arena. Late spring rains made for a beautiful, green landscape and a perfect backdrop for the warm summer colors to pop. I used the Aqua Tuscany Natural linen from La Tavola for a really soft, grainy texture and paired it with the cane back chairs from Town & Country Rentals to create an elegant outdoor feel. Mixing gold rimmed chargers with ornate gold dinnerware glammed up the rustic wooden menu. Silver and mother of pearl flatware were matched with a playful combination of pressed glassware.

To really highlight the colors of summer I chose a floral palate inspired by sherbet including hot pinks, oranges, peaches and hints of lilac. The invitation suite created by the uber talented Tracy of Lazaro Press were the perfect blend of color and elegance. Seating arrangements were done in orange calligraphy on ivory hang tags, and placed onto sweet striped straws.

A huge thank you to NLC Productions for the beautiful flowers, to Leslee Sipress for the incredible calligraphy and to Lazaro Press for the stunning stationary!!!

Bacara Wedding on the Bluffs by Kurt Boomer Photo

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:55:50 +0200

Beautiful Bacara wedding on the bluffs overlooking the ocean shot by the talented, Kurt Boomer Photo with florals by NLC Productions and linens by La Tavola.

Bohemian Elegance by Kurt Boomer Photo

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 01:25:21 +0200

Had such a blast making sweet floral arrangements for this Bohemian shoot I styled at Villa Verano shot by Kurt Boomer Photo.

Hummingbird Nest Ranch Wedding by Kurt Boomer Photography

Thu, 10 May 2012 22:59:02 +0200

I had the pleasure of planning Kira & Shays sweet wedding held at the beautiful Hummingbird Nest Ranch last year and was so super happy to see the incredible photographs by one of my favorite photographers, Kurt Boomer on Style Me Pretty today! Check it out, here!

San Ysidro Ranch Wedding by Jose Villa Photography

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:31:11 +0200

I’m absolutely in love with the images Jose Villa captured of our sweet couple Julie and Jason who were married at San Ysidro Ranch. Style Me Pretty did a super amazing all day feature of the wedding today. Check out the posts here, here and the most incredible video by Joel Serrato that will bring you to tears, here.

Interviewed by the Wedding Standard

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:30:52 +0200

Had serious fun doing an interview for the Wedding Standard, and thought I’d share it here.

First (music) album you ever bought? I went into the Warehouse and tried to sing Fleetwood Macs “Everywhere” to the cashier, not knowing who sang it. They have me Mariah Carey’s “Emotions.” Go figure.

What or who continues to inspire you? Good people, beautiful design, children, travel, love. Love! That’s really the number one. I am so inspired by love.

What is your favorite flower? Can’t choose just one!! Peonies, anemones, tulips, garden roses and runnunculus. Not necessarily in that order

Favorite part of a wedding? Favorite part to create: the design. Favorite part to watch: the toasts. The couple is so happy and so gracious and their closest family and friends toasting have the opportunity to offer love, friendship and support.

What makes your business unique? Design and attitude. We are easy going, fun girls who love to create beautiful things for our clients. The planning process should be inspiring. And if it is done we way we like to do it, the result is stunning. Period.

What is your ideal couple? A couple who is truly in love is the very very best to work with because they understand the real focus of the day. That said, if that same couple loves beautiful things and wants to have an amazing time with their guests, I know we the right match for them!!

Song that makes you get up and dance? MGMT, “Electric Feel.” That will do it every time.

What do you enjoy doing on your day off? Dreaming. Possibilities are endless.

Something that moved you deeply at a wedding or with a couple recently? Met with a couple today who told me that she was his angel and he was her parachute. Something about that struck me so deeply. I really appreciate when a couple appreciates one another.

How do you sign off on your emails? Was going with “Best” but am moving to “In kindness.” someone sent me an email with that and it literally moved me. Kindness is such a simple, amazing gesture.

If you had to move to a foreign country, which one? Oooooooh. The temptation kills me. While I adore Barcelona and Amsterdam I would have to say somewhere in South Africa or Swaziland.

What’s your favorite wedding food? I die for the rose petal halibut crudo by Duo Events. Can’t beat that.

Sunrise or Sunset? Oooohh. Sunrises are pretty amazing.

Wedding trend that you’re loving right now? Rustic paired with modern. Love that.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
“When you really want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” From the Alhemist by Paulo Coelho

What sound do you love? Horns in bands. Really love that.

What’s the greatest gift you’ve ever given or received? Trust.

What question do you always ask the bride & groom? What inspires you?

Anything else you want to add that we didn’t ask? I really like sushi.

Bacara Wedding featured on Style Me Pretty!

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:32:48 +0200

This wedding was such a pleasure to help coordinate! The bride cut no corners on design and the result was stunning! Totally in love with the images captured by Erin Hearts Court! Check the full spread out here!

Lake Tahoe Destination Wedding featured on Style Me Pretty

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:34:54 +0200

Always a treat to see our sweet couples on Style Me Pretty! This wedding was an absolute blast to design and create. I was so inspired with the natural beauty of the location and all the fun antiques the bride collected! Check it out here!

Danielle & Erik in Modele Weddings Magazine

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:00:27 +0200

Modele Weddings first issue of 2012 is out and beautiful! We were honored to have them feature Danielle and Eriks opulent Parisian inspired Tres Hermanas wedding! Pick up a copy and check out some of the amazing images captured by the incredible Mary Jane Photography below!

Dos Pueblos Ranch Wedding on Style Me Pretty!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:50:21 +0200

Happy 2012 everyone! We were so happy to see Stephanie and Robs beautiful Dos Pueblos Ranch wedding featured on Style Me Pretty! If you didn’t catch it, feel free to take a peek here!

Super 8 Video of Figueroa Farmhouse Wedding

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:24:18 +0200

If you liked the Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse wedding featured on Style Me Pretty, you will adore the sweet video that Lola Film & Video made!

Figueroa Farmhouse Wedding on Style Me Pretty

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:11:41 +0200

So excited to share our feature today on Style Me Pretty! This wedding was amazing from start to finish and it was an absolute pleasure helping the couple plan and design! Check out the features here and here. For the buying guide, click here!

Featured on Grey Likes Weddings

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:09:50 +0200

Jen & Mikes beautiful wedding at the Santa Margarita Ranch was featured on the amazing Grey Likes Weddings! The photography by Cameron Ingalls was nothing short of amazing!

Style Me Pretty Local California Blog

Fri, 6 May 2011 08:24:54 +0200

Everyones favorite wedding blog has just launched their latest and greatest wedding planning tool, the local blogs! We were super honored to have our Spring lilac and tangerine table featured as the first post on the local California blog! Check it out here! Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

Kate and Frank on Style Me Pretty

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 22:40:18 +0200

If Style Me Pretty was a magazine, I’d get two subscriptions. I have no shame in professing my love for what I think it one of the best wedding resources available! While was planning my own wedding, I checked SMP religiously. Now that I’m a wedding planner, theres nothing more flattering than having a weddings I’ve designed featured.

I could go on and on about how amazing this wedding was to work on (and it was!) but I’ll let the amazing photos by Mark Brook speak for themselves.

As usual, all our vendors knocked it out of the park, including Lola Video, who created this amazingly sweet video snippet.

Featured on Style Me Pretty

Mon, 3 Jan 2011 22:53:23 +0200

A super huge Happy New Year to everyone! I was so excited to see Erin and Pauls amazing wedding photos featured on Style Me Pretty this afternoon! We had so many incredible clients last year, and are honored to begin 2011 by sharing some super sweet design details from a beautiful wedding! Check it out here!

It was such an absolute pleasure to help Erin and Paul on their wedding. Erin was a self professed lover of all things Martha Stewart, and took on a number of DIY projects which she executed to a tee! The ceremony and reception were held in the garden of an historical estate in Santa Barbara, California where Erin and Paul had gone to college.

Erin and Paul used quite a few Martha Stewart templates to craft their decor. Guests were greeted to lemonade and lavender iced tea in mason jars with sweet grosgrain drink flags that Erin and her family made using these. The escort cards flags were created by calligrapher Wendy Ware and hung between fig trees in the garden. Erin used the Martha Stewart banner of flags template. They also sat in chairs with a sweet white doiley swag. Guests were guided to their seats by favor crackers containing saltwater taffy, also created using this Martha Stewart template.

Each favor read the guests name and was placed on to of a yellow and white striped napkin. All guest tables were covered in La Tavola Linens Tuscany Natural linen. The flowers, which were a lovely combination of dahlias, hydrangea, peonies, garden roses and dusty miller, were created by the talented Cody Floral and were placed in a number of different mercury glass vases down the tables. Antique-like garden wire frames held the table numbers, which were printed on yellow and white striped paper.

And a huge thank you to all the vendors:

Photography: Michael and Anna Costa / Florals: Cody Floral / Rentals: Event Rents / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Calligraphy: Wendy Ware / Lighting: LBPS Events / Catering: SBB Gourmet / Location: Las Tapias Estate / DJ: Matt Armor / Ceremony Musician, George Quirin / Cake: Montecito Confections / Officiant: Rich Tobin

Lacey Grey Table How to

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 23:06:26 +0200

I had so much fun designing the Lacey Grey table for my article on incorporating vintage finds into wedding decor. The article was featured on the Santa Barbara Wedding Chic blog, and included the amazing talents of Kristen Bienke Photography and Nico Designs. Check it out here, or read below!

As a designer and coordinator, I certainly have my own style. I am constantly inspired by vintage finds, rustic elements and sweet family treasures. Many of my clients love to go antique shopping, and most of their finds make their way into the wedding décor. Inspired by all the amazing shops and resources available to Santa Barbara brides, I set out on a hunt for pieces to put together a sweetheart table. Since milk glass is one of my favorite vintage pieces, I decided to create a table using white, grey, silver and wood tones. The incredibly talented Kristin Bienke was sweet enough to shoot the table, and Nico Designs provided the beautiful floral arrangements.

The star of the show was the amazing wood farmhouse table I found at at Antiques Center Mall in Goleta. It was perfectly rustic, and a perfect size for an intimate sweetheart table. Rather than cover the amazing wood grain, I decided to use an antique placemat that belonged to my husbands Grandmother, Bessie Lou as a runner. To glam up the front of the table, I cut a bunch of white and grey paper into triangles and used a lace edged scissor to add a neat pattern to the grey triangles. I hung these on the front of the table to create a sweet bunting.

I wrapped a few beautiful old napkins in vintage grey ribbon, which I placed on top of the most beautiful lace rimmed milk glass plates. The milk glass plates were found at Alpha Thrift, a local thrift store with lots of amazing finds including a large silver collection, where I found a silver sugar bowl and creamer. Along with a few milk glass compotes, the silver creamer and sugar bowl served as the sweetest vessels for the amazing monotone flowers created by Nico Designs.

For a sweet candlelit look, I cut a few doilies in half and taped them to the outside of some basic, clean glass votive holders and paired them with some mercury glass votives. I also cut about 50 doilies in half to create a neat bunting to hang behind the table.

I hung three mason jars and white pictures frames from the ceiling above the table. Angel Antiques in Montecito had an amazing collection and served as the perfect place to find the mason jars. They have lots of vintage mason jars and medicine bottles, including really reasonably priced blue mason jars, which are a really popular vintage find. I found some really inexpensive at Salvation Army and spray painted them white to match the look.

To find the perfect hobnail milk glass tumblers, I turned to eBay, which has no shortage of amazing vintage finds. Paired with some fleur de lis glassware, the set was complete. After rummaging through some old silverware, I would a few cool, tarnished pieces to add to the table. The monogrammed fork was one of my favorites.

The stationary was one of the most fun elements of the design. I designed a simple invitation, which I printed on lace edged paper. I made an envelope from a vintage napkin, which ended up being a really sweet touch. Our escort cards were backed in doilies and hung from mini clothes pins from a small jute rope. I hung the table number in one of the picture frames over the table. I also created some sweet “Mister” and “Misses” signs to hang from the back of two wrought iron chairs that sit in my garden.

French Inspired Photo Shoot

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 20:11:49 +0200

Super excited that Style Me Pretty posted the French inspired shoot I did with Florette Designs, Anna Costa, Town & Country Rentals, La Tavola Linen, Leslee Sipress Calligraphy, Sweet and Saucy and The Tent Merchant! Check it out here!

Featured on the Wedding Chicks

Thu, 9 Sep 2010 22:44:04 +0200

The darling sweetheart table I designed around the fabulous Monique linen from La Tavola Linen was featured on the Wedding Chicks Blog today! I was lucky enough to have the most amazing set of vendors on board for the shoot: Shannon Jayne Photography, Florette Designs and Classic Party Rentals. Check out more pics here!

Twigs & Honey

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:08:53 +0200

My darling bride Megan introduced me to Twigs and Honey a few days ago and I adore their stuff! Love the sweet combination of white feathers and fabric flowers placed on the side of a romantic up-do. Tres chic!

My Favorite Wedding Destinations

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:07:14 +0200

A few days ago I ran across the insanely beautiful Haiku Mill property in Maui, which was quickly added to my list of favorite destinations around the globe. If you are thinking about planning a destination wedding out of the country, please don’t hesitate to call or email us to chat.

Here are a few more destinations that are sure to knock your socks off!

Cortijo Bravo in Malaga, Spain

Cap Juluca on the Caribbean Island of Anguilla

Chateau de Robernier in Provence, France

Pearl Beach Resort in Moorea, French Polynesia

Four Seasons Resort in Florence Italy

Featured on Style Me Pretty

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:45:30 +0200

Totally excited to share this fabulously gorgeous wedding we coordinated last year! The bride was a former wedding planner herself, who had since gone on to to create some of the most lovely letterpress stationary (including all the great stuff featured here) at her company Atlas & Campbell. Check out all the drop dead loveliness shot by the uber talented Abby Ross at Style Me Pretty!

Check out the incredible video by Lola Film & Video here:

Heels by Badgley Mischka

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:36:46 +0200

Feeling fabulously fashionable? Try these on for size! Badgley Mischka has a fabulous assortment of gorgeous heels to add to their lovely dress collection! I adore the sweet bridal shots where the bride lifts the bottom of her gown to reveal her over the top heels!

Loving the Randee in Gold satin, the Hyde in white satin, and the Xavier in Lavender. All above are available at Piperlime.

Jewelry by J Crew

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:40:35 +0200

I am loving all things JCrew recently, especially their jewelry! There is something so sweet about having all your bridesmaids wearing the same necklace, or earrings! Since so many brides are now opting to let their bridesmaids wear a dress that compliments their figure, why not have their jewelry be the thing that brings them all together.

As an aside, one of the most cute things I ever saw a bride do, was to order a bridesmaid dress for herself and wear it to her rehearsal dinner!

Crystal earrings, Metallic Blush earrings and Lavender Mist earrings. Ooh la la.

Crystal Parade necklace, Pearl Cluster Bib necklace, Crystal trilogy necklace (love that ribbon tie.)

Lux Cocktail Bracelet, Stoneset Bracelet, Crystal Milano Bracelet.

Haiku Mill, Maui Hawaii

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:22:29 +0200

Holy cow ladies, have I got an amazing venue for you. While I adore Santa Barbara, and all the amazing venues and vendors it has to offer, I’ve got to share this Hawaiian gem with you. Haiku Mill has to be one of the most stunning venues I have ever seen. I’ve been drooling over their site for about an hour now. Anyone looking for a gigantic coordination discount, book this space and call me. Seriously.

Exhibit A: The fabulous venue. This place is stunning. If you really want to be impressed, check out their virtual tour, or check out these stunning pictures I found Photographer Mike Adrians awesome site.

Exhibit B: the stunning home. Ladies, this place is the picture perfect location for pre-ceremony bridal shots and the most romantic place to stay on your wedding night.

Diamond in the Rough

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:41:19 +0200

I am totally and thoroughly obsessed with the newest take on diamond rings: leaving them unpolished! I first saw Diamond in the Rough’s work on one of my sweet (and lucky!!!) brides and was totally blown away! Their pieces are so elegant and unexpected and are amazing as engagement rings or cocktail rings! Check out some of their amazing work:

Their stuff is available at Neiman Marcus.

An Eco Chic Table

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:23:37 +0200

This Saturday was a blast at Williams Sonoma! It was a great showcase of amazing vendors and incredible products. We put together an eco chic table using some beautiful Williams Sonoma products including their stunning Queen Anne dinnerware, their hemstitch napkins, stunning glassware, Absolu flatware and a few sweet cake stands. To keep it eco chic, I created some small glass terrariums with succulents, threw in some white iron urns with plants and placed a few live orchids on the table. The result is something that could truly last throughout spring!

The amazing Gena Susan was kind enough to take some beautiful pictures of the table. I am seriously in awe of her work!!!

Ban.do

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:03:27 +0200

I was lucky enough to meet the fabulous ladies behind Ban.Do for the Bride at the Unveiled event this weekend! They offer exquisite and unique headpieces including everything from oversized flowers, simple beaded headbands to bows and barrettes. They are super hip and cutting edge and we can’t help but spread the word about them!

Here are a few of our favorites:

Beach Chic Photo Shoot

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:50:08 +0200

As promised, here are the pictures of our super fun, super beachy photo shoot. I spent the beginning of the week in Vegas for the Event Solutions Conference. I can’t even begin to tell you how many amazing people I met and how many amazing and inspiring things I saw and learned about. Next week I’ll fill you in on all the excitement as well as showing you tons of pretty pictures!

Without further adieu, the shoot:

Nico, owner of Nico Designs and I wanted to put together a table that really highlighted the beauty of Santa Barbara. We were inspired by the beautiful coastline and the incredible views the area offers. Our color palate developed around our decision to use drift wood as the foundation for our centerpiece. Nico added succulents and moss to the driftwood, making it feel organic and natural. To keep the look clean and beachy, Nico used an all white floral palate with dried poppy pods. We added abalone shells, big pieces of white coral and blue sea glass in between the floral arrangements to glam it up. We chose a light blue taffeta linen to mimic the ocean, paired with a steel blue silk napkin to capture the oceans darker tones. For glassware, we chose a set of complementary steel blue goblets, using a smaller wine glass for water to keep things pretty and fun. We used a mixture of gold glass and ornate silver chargers, over which we placed neat bubble glass plates that looked like water, and a gold banded bread plate. We sat the escort cards in a scallop shell bed of coral and sea glass, topping it all off with oversized orchids that Nico hand glued petal by petal! We chose an ornate silver flatware to help keep the look sweet and romantic. We hung strings of white orchids and succulents from each corner of the natural wood chiavari chairs which we chose to mimic the driftwood. Our fabulous stationary designer, Tracy Lazaro of Lazaro Designs made the cutest favors, complete with urchin shell and pearl decorated boxes. The invitations, escort cards, and table numbers were all printed on blue paper that matched our table linen. To keep them elegant, yet beachy, Tracy used a ornate font and added beach shells and pearls by hand.

During the process of the shoot, we decided to try out two looks: one with a fabric canopy over the table and one without. Lani from LBPS Events created an amazing sheer fabric canopy over the table from which he hung an amazing sea shell chandelier that Nico handmade! Our awesome photographer Tim Halberg literally worked until the sun went down to get all these amazing shots. KariAnn, the owner of the Santa Barbara Beach Club was kind enough to allow us to shoot on her breathtaking property, which she frequently rents out as a vacation rental for weddings.

 Thank you to the amazing team of vendors who worked on the shoot:

Photography: Tim Halberg
Design: Joy de Vivre Wedding Coordination and Nico Designs
Floral Design: Nico Designs
Invitations: Lazaro Designs
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Drapery construction: LBPS Events
Location: Santa Barbara Beach Club

Inspiration Board: Farmhouse Sweet

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:28:01 +0200

Todays board is inspired by the sweet simplicity of the beautiful lilac flower, paired with rustic and vintage elements - all wrapped up into one fabulously fun party! The wedding would be held at an old farmhouse, perhaps even a farm owned by the bride or grooms family. Guests would sit on old wood rocking chairs and benches to watch the ceremony that would take place on the front porch of the house. An old upright piano would sit in a field, around which a great bluegrass band would play all night. Guests would drink apple cider brewed locally, and would dine on grilled meat and veggies that came from the surrounding farms. They would sit at an eclectic mix of old wood dining room tables, strewn throughout the barn and outside under the stars. Lilac and white garden roses would sit inside antique bottles, and candles in jars would light the barn roof overhead.

Fun guy with cup. Sweet antique bottles & lilac. Band photo from Giddy Tuesday. Lilac vingette from Martha Stewart. Candles in mason jars from The Knot. Dress from Vintage Wedding Dress Company. Barn from The Knot. Lilac bouquet from Martha Stewart. Chair on porch.

Inspiration Board: Lavender, Antique Silver & Burlap

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:39:55 +0200

Todays board is super romantic and totally antique chic. I envision mismatched tables covered with burlap, hemstitch linens and mismatched bits of antique lace. Weathered silver candleabras would sit atop the tables, mixed with silver mercury glass candle holders. Centerpieces would alternate between potted lavender plants and big fluffy ivory garden roses and peonies in silver mint julep cups. Guests would dine on a warm Provencal meal served family style on big stoneware platters with antique monogrammed silverware serving utensils. The bride would wear a gorgeous, vintage style antique lace gown with antique pearls and diamonds.

DIY Mercury Glass

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:46:56 +0200

A few days ago I received the January Edition of Martha Stewart Living. I was tickled to find a DIY tutorial for transforming everyday vases and glassware into beautiful mercury glass pieces! For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term “mercury glass,” it refers to glass objects that have been lined with golf leaf and worn over time. Check out some beautiful examples:

Images from left: Hurricanes, candlesticks.

Now numerous people have tried to create the look and had trouble. It may benefit you to read over some of the mercury glass horror stories before beginning. That said, once you get the hang of it the results are nothing short of beautiful!

Here are instructions a-la Martha:

If you don’t subscribe to this magazine, you are seriously missing out! Martha has so many amazing ideas!

Inspiration Board: Rustic Romance

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:37:50 +0200

Todays inspiration board is rustic and romantic. I wanted to use a color palate inspired by the great outdoors, blending green, brown and other neutral hues. Think outdoor wedding held in a meadow under a big old tree. A moss covered wreath hangs from the tree where the bride, who wears sweet vintage shoes and a beautiful rustic hair comb, and her groom dressed in khaki and suspenders say their vows. The reception is held in a nearby clearing where tables are covered in khaki or burlap linens. The centerpieces are a mix of beautiful ivory and green florals sitting in birch wrapped vases and glass cloche glass covered beautiful moss and succulent terrariums. Candles set the mood in mall mason jars and birch wrapped candleholders.

Top from left to right: Flowers in a birch wrapped vase, Heels by J Crew Table design, Woodsy hair accessory, Moss covered monograms, Woodsy invitations, wooden wedding sign, Birch wrapped candles, Terrariums in glass jars.

DIY Lace Hurricanes

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 19:51:29 +0200

I absolutely fell in love with these lace hurricanes featured on my favorite wedding blog, Style Me Pretty. The wonderful Beth Helmstetter gave a great tutorial on how to make them, and I couldn’t help but pass the beauty along for all you who didn’t see it! Here are her instructions:

Materials

* Inexpensive Straight Cylinder vase or candle holder (can be found for $3 to $10 at craft stores like Michael’s)
* Eyelet Material or material of choice by the yard (We found ours in the fashion district of downtown LA, but there are plenty of resources online as well)
* measuring stick
* Spray Fabric Adhesive
* Scissors

Instructions

1. First measure the height of your glass hurricane and cut the eyelet material to the appropriate width.

2. Spray the fabric adhesive onto the hurricane holder and wrap the candle slowly with the material, being sure to smooth out any wrinkles as you apply the material.

3. Trim the material that isn’t straight or that might be overflowing at the top of the candle holder. Allow to dry for up to 24 hours prior to use.

That’s it! Easy peasy! One last quick tip when searching for the right material for your candle holder. Some people prefer lace or a great sheer, but no matter what make sure to buy fabric by the yard, rather than trim. You will drive yourself crazy searching for a trim that is pre-cut to exactly 9″ wide or whatever the case may be. Also, we intentionally avoided materials with scalloped edging or a delicate trim. This allowed the candle holders to be uniform when we trimmed the final product.

photo by the amazingly talented Jose Villa.

Photo Shoot Finds

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 19:44:23 +0200

The internet is one of the most valuable tools when hunting for wedding decor. Almost all the cute things we used in the photo shoot came from the internet, so today I’ll show you where to get them all! There were a couple items which we borrowed from local vendors such as the solid wood table provided by Discount Party Rentals, the chiavari chairs and silverware from Event Rents and the gorgeous chandeliers from LBPS Events. Everything else we found online!

The antique lace runner in khaki was found on eBay, and draped down the length of the table.

The gorgeous ivory stoneware made by Chris Madden was found online at JCPenny.

The clear Fleur de Lys glassware came from World Market and Kelly found the blue glass goblets on sale at Anthropologie.

The gorgeous peony, garden rose, hydrangea, ranunculus and raspberry centerpieces were displayed in white wrought iron urns from A Rustic Garden and Barreveld.

Between the centerpieces we placed lots of little mercury glass and hobnail candle holders and single blooms in antique medicine bottles. The mercury glass candle holders came from Luna Bazaar and the hobnail candle holders came from 100 Candles. Kelly found the antique medicine bottles on eBay.

Vintage Chic Photo Shoot

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 18:40:44 +0200

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a great, relaxing weekend! I’m so excited to share todays inspiration with you! As I mentioned Friday, todays board was created with pictures from the photoshoot I did a couple weeks ago at Firestone Winery. Without further adieu...

I’ll tell you where you can get all the great glassware, china, vases and candle holders tomorrow!

• Design by: Joy de Vivre
• Floral Design by: Florette Designs
• Photography by: Distinct Photo
• Chandeliers from: LBPS Events
• Fruitwood chiavari chairs and Jefferson silverware from: Event Rents
• Wood Harvest table from: Discount Party Rentals
• Location: Firestone Winery

Inspiration Board: Neutrals

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:13:58 +0200

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend! I took a beautiful trip to New Mexico by train, which was amazing! Unlike Santa Barbara, the southwest was cold and the seasons had clearly turned. Though the trees were all leafless, I loved the all neutral palate: the brown earth, the bare trees, the lifeless grass, and the occasional cloud passing by. Todays inspiration board plays off of those colors and the amazingly elegant feel they create.

While a neutral palate doesn’t have to be done in the cooler seasons, it does provide a wonderful alternative to the traditional fall colors. Think late fall wedding held outdoors at an old whitewashed farmhouse where the welcome drink is hot spiced cider and hot buttered rum. The groom wears a khaki suit, the bride a soft wool shrug and the bridesmaids wear gorgeous, mismatched dresses in lace, chiffon and cotton. A beautiful lounge of antique whitewashed furniture sits around an outdoor hearth, where guests mingle and enjoy the beautiful fall sky. Dinner is held inside an old barn, where guests sit at long, family style tables draped in khaki linens and eat off of white stoneware china and antique silver.

From top, left to right: Peony arrangement, Heels from J.Crew, gorgeous sofa from Bee Keepers Cottage, dapper suit in khaki, Wedding table, clutch from Not on the High Street, sweet shrug from ETSY, Invitation from Ceci NY, sweet mismatched bridesmaids from Polka Dot Bride.

Inspiration Board: Parisian Peach, Blush & Gold

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0200

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you had a beautiful, relaxing weekend! Todays board was inspired by peach, blush and gold tones, with a rich, romantic Parisian feel. Think summer night wedding held outdoors at a large Chateau in the French countryside. Voila!

from top left: {Centerpeice from Wiggy Flowers} {Badgley Mischka Carlo heel} {image from Banquet Event} {Emmanuel seat sofa from Sweet Pea and Willow} {Blush dress from the Monique Lhuillier Fall 2008 Collection via Bridal Wave} {Amazing pink diamond from Christies via Luxist} {Gorgeous wedding by Custom Wedding Group via Style Me Pretty} {Oudinot Rose Champagne from Mark and Spencer} {Martha Stewart bouquet}

Vintage Style Luggage

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:25:54 +0200

Gone are the days when happy couples jetted off straight after the ceremony. There was something so sweet about the getaway: the rice, the waiting car, the luggage piled high on the back. While making a getaway doesn’t usually involve showing off your cute luggage, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t leave for your honeymoon in style! Check out these beautiful vintage style suitcases options.

Streamline Luggage seems to have the largest variety of vintage style luggage around. From left, I am in total love with the Aviator Series starting at $266 and available in yellow, pink and brown; the Ambassador Series starting at $409 and available in red, white, black and tan; and the Explorer series starting at $300 and available in yellow and brown.

 

From the left, I adore the Voyager Suitcase from Couverture retailing for 35 British Pounds, this three set piece sells at Target for $200, D’Aosta Loggia makes a great vintage style suitcase perfect for that husband of yours, available for $476 for Mori Luggage.

If you’re looking for something a little more authentic, check out eBay or Ruby Lane for some vintage pieces with character!

Featured on Style Me Pretty!

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:12:56 +0200

I am soooooo thrilled to post that Yasmine & TJ’s beautiful wedding was just featured on Style Me Pretty! Not only were TJ and Yas one of my favorite couples, but the vendors were out of this world! Mary Jane Photography, K Bella Designs, LBPS Events, Firestone Crossroads Estate, Event Rents and Lazaro Designs.