Category: Announcements

October 14, 2010

Hello lovely readers!!  I’m alive after 3 AMAZING weddings last weekend, and am currently gearing up for another splendid event on Sunday.  🙂  I have another post planned before the weekend but I wanted to quickly share with you an event that I’m attending on Saturday: The 2nd Annual L.A. Times “Beauty, Health and Wellness” event!  It’s taking place this Saturday (the 16th) at the stunning Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes.  I did a wedding there last month and if you’ve never been, you need to see this place.  It reminds me a lot of Bacara in Santa Barbara in terms of layout and design.


Here’s a little snippet from the LA Times:

This Saturday, October 16th recharge your mind, body and soul at the Los Angeles Times Magazine’s 2nd annual Beauty, Health, and Wellness event at the beautiful Terranea Resort. The day includes energizing activities like boot camp, yoga, facials and talks from the top minds in the fields of medicine, nutrition, and fitness including experts from The Doctors, Dr. Susan Love, Terrell Owens and much more. Breakfast and lunch are included to power you all the way to the closing cocktail reception at sunset. We hope you, your friends and family will be able to join us on this fabulous day and would like to extend a 40% off discount code to make that possible. Please visit  http://events.latimes.com/beautyhealthwellness/ for further details and a complete schedule.

Enter discount code LATFF for 40% off the ticket price.

The original price of a ticket is $175, but my readers can take advantage of the discount code so your final price is only $105.  🙂

This price includes a breakfast buffet, lunch, and sunset poolside reception!  It also includes a swag bag filled with goodies worth $200+, all the speaker sessions and two fun activity sessions in which you can choose from things like yoga and boot camp! Fun fun!  I’m personally really excited to hear from keynote speaker Terrell Owens (NFL Wide Receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals).  It’s going to be an educational and exciting day in a gorgeous setting — great way to spend a Saturday!!  I’d love to see some of you there.  🙂

P.S. I feel obliged to say I have no affiliation with the Times, nor am I making any profit or commission off of any of my readers attending!  LOL  I am attending the event and thought I would share it with all of you  — and was able to get a great discount, too!  Feel free to share the code with anyone you’d like.  🙂

Hope you’re all having a fabulous day!  xoxo, Angel

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September 10, 2010

Happy Friday evening, everyone!  Congratulations to the winners of the {elude} $100 gift card giveaway, selected via Random.org.  🙂

–Aileen

–Weezermonkey

-Bethany

Ladies — I’ll be emailing you shortly to get your info and will send off your prize right away!  😉  Thank you to everyone who entered; I hope you all get the chance to visit {elude} soon!  I will be doing more contests down the line so keep an eye out.

And as a consolation prize, let’s all admire this adorable photo that has kept me laughing for over a week.

Dying!!  (I tried finding the original source of this photo but it is all over the internet.)

Enjoy the marvelous weekend and make sure to come back on Monday for a very special post.  Hint: It involves lots of adorable childhood pics…

xoxo,

Angel

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September 2, 2010

Hello everyone!!  I hope your week is going well!  Last week was the exciting launch of my sister-in-law’s new med spa in Pasadena: {elude}.  It was great seeing some of you at the launch, but I know many of you were unable to join us.  I thought I’d give you all a peek at the sleek and modern interior of the space!

Megan (my sister-in-law) envisioned a crisp, mostly-white interior with pops of bright color and lots of fun and graphic décor.  I watched her spend hours upon hours planning, shopping for the perfect pieces and putting in the elbow grease to put everything together (literally — there was some assembly involved!).  The result was FABULOUS.  The one thing I kept hearing over and over at the launch party was, “Ohmygosh this place is soooooo cute!”  And it is.  🙂  Meg — you did an incredible job and {elude} is a truly a beautiful destination.

Here are some non-pro pics!

This first photo was snapped by Meg herself!  This is the waiting area and main lobby downstairs.  Lots of natural light!

Tchotchke central!  I love all the quirky and playful pieces Meg brought in for décor.

Reception area.  My sunglasses are not part of the usual décor.  🙂

This is the nurses’ lounge upstairs where they have their files, a work station, etc.  There are two private treatment rooms upstairs as well.

Window seats <3

Erik and I put up most of the decals the night before the launch.  It was a very slow and painstaking progress but they were worth it!  The birch poles in the main lobby really define the room.

I went in for my first treatments at {elude} yesterday and honestly could not have had a better experience.  🙂  Although of course I am supportive of my sister-in-law’s endeavors in a general sense, I would never share something with my blog readers that I didn’t personally believe in.  If my experience had been anything less than amazing, trust that I would have simply thanked my sis-in-law and never mentioned a word on my blog.  LOL In addition, I want to note that my treatments were carried out by registered nurses (not my sister-in-law), as are all the treatments at {elude}. They have two staff RNs and an MD who operate all of the lasers and administer things like Botox, Juvéderm, etc.  Now that I’ve had the personal experience of being a client at {elude}, I can confidently rave about their services.  Everything was seamless, simple, and most importantly… painless!!  I even took 10 joules (level of energy on the laser) on my legs and experienced not a pinch of pain.  I promise I’m not some crazy robotron with an unnatural pain tolerance, either.  😉  If you’re curious about laser hair removal, photofacials, or any other medical aesthetic procedure, you need to check out {elude}!

Your first laser hair removal session is always 100% free at {elude} (up to $300 value!) so I highly encourage you all to give them a ring and set up an appointment! I also wanted to give out a few prizes on my blog as a little contest!  I have 3 $100 gift cards to pass on to 3 lucky readers. Remember that your first treatment at {elude} is totally free (no strings attached, no further treatments required… seriously free!) so your $100 g.c. can be used toward the purchase of additional treatments or products (e.g. Latisse).

{elude} 626.304.0633

380 S. Lake Ave. Ste #104, Pasadena, CA 91101  (between del mar and california)

To enter, just comment below and let me know how you like to escape!

Since {elude} means “to cunningly escape,” I want to know what you guys like to do or where you like to go to get away from it all.  You have until Wednesday, September 8th at 12 noon PST to enter!  Winners will be announced on Friday, September 10th. I will also throw in a fabulous find (a surprise!) bonus in each package I send out to the winners.  🙂  Good luck!!

xoxo,

Angel

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August 20, 2010

happy friday, everyone!!  as i prepare for another beautiful wedding this weekend (in malibu, at my home away from home), i wanted to share a little announcement and invitation with you all!  this is an atypical post here on my blog but i thought it was appropriate because 1) it’s for my sister-in-law and i would do anything to support her endeavors, 2) i’m planning the launch party and 3) you’re invited and you get free stuff!!

{elude} – to cunningly escape (**NOTE: the website under construction and will launch next weekend!!  :))

you ALL are invited to a very special launch celebration for {elude} — an incredibly stylish, innovative, top-of-the-line med spa now open in Pasadena.  my beautiful and brilliant sister-in-law, Megan, recently quit her job in corporate America (a job in which she was extremely successful and had promise of continued security and advancement) to become a full-fledged entrepreneur!  {elude} is the product of her intense research, planning, and preparation to open the most technologically advanced, creative, forward-thinking medspa in soCal.  i have loved watching her spread her wings with this new endeavor and seeing everything come together has been so inspiring!  {elude} offers a wide range of skincare solutions for men and women including botox and dermafillers, laser hair removal, laser skin tightening and resurfacing, and photo facials.  all of this in an airy, ultra-modern, ultra-inspiring space in a bustling area of pasadena.

it has been a pleasure for me to help her plan a fabulous launch party and i’d love to see lots of you there!  here’s the skinny on the party:

  • it’s taking place on thursday, august 26th, from 5-9 p.m.
  • it’s an open house, so feel free to swing by anytime that evening during those hours!
  • we will have some lovely cocktails and refreshments, a tour of the (totally hip!!!) modern facilities, stations where you can “try out” the cutting edge lasers and see for yourself that they are indeed painless!!, and participate in free raffles for prizes and gift certificates!

EVERYone who attends the launch will receive a free $100 gift card for services at {elude}.  be present at 5:30p and/or 8:30p for a chance to win even more free stuff! great music, great food, great times!!  i would love to see lots of my local readers come out and support!

{elude} 380 S. Lake Ave. Suite #104, Pasadena, CA 91101  (between del mar and california on lake.)

plenty of free parking in the back (east side of the building).  🙂

i would love to see lots of my local readers come out and support the launch of {elude}!  save-the-date and see you soon!!!

xoxo,

angel

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August 5, 2010

Mark your calendars for next Saturday, August 14th, and plan to join me and many of my industry friends as we put on a “Designer Swap Meet!”  Like most event designers and florists, I’ve amassed quite a collection of “wedding stuff” over the years.  These are lovely things like candles, vases, craft supplies, and random décor items that I just.can’t.toss.  Help us clear our shelves and find something perfect for your wedding (or even just your home!).  Many of the participants also create hand-crafted goodies that you might want to peek at as well: stylish accessories, adorable signage and MUCH more.

Participants include…

Hope to see lots of you there!  🙂

xoxo, Angel

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March 22, 2010

Exciting things have been happening here at love and splendor.  🙂  In addition to the incredible weddings we have in store, we are thrilled to be growing and building in new ways.  Part of this included me bringing on a brand new assistant!  (Don’t worry — of course Anna is still here!!  With Anna taking on some of her own weddings, I needed a new assistant of my very own.)  For years it has been unfathomable to me that I would discover an assistant that would meet my sky-high expectations and desires.  My ideal new assistant had to be FAR FAR FAR beyond competent and enthusiastic.  Those are givens.  I wanted to find someone terribly intelligent, effortlessly stylish, innately driven, genuinely warm, with a magnetic personality and fierce loyalty.  Someone who could rival me in terms of the love and passion I have for the job, and who could even (gasp!) one-up me with their personal style and business savvy.  I wanted someone who wouldn’t just be a great addition to love and splendor… but someone who would be a magnificent ASSET to the company.

I knew in the back of my mind that I would eventually need to hire someone to manage the growing needs of the business, but I feared the actual search + hiring process. Luckily I did not have to go through such a search.  As often happens to me, the Lord decided to just drop something into my lap.  And that “something” came in the form of someone — a very special someone — who sent me a sweet email and résumé. Before I wrote her back to say I wasn’t hiring, I decided to sneak a peek at her résumé.  And that’s when my jaw hit the floor.  And my heart started racing. And I knew that God had brought me someone truly special.  🙂  After our first in-person meeting, I immediately called anyone who would listen (e.g. Erik, Krissy, and my mom!  LOL) to gush about Michelle.  I truly couldn’t dream up a more perfect candidate to join the love and splendor team.  She comes to us with an INSANE level of experience in the industry (events, non-wedding), as well as that extra special ‘x-factor’ that just can’t be taught.  She’s got IT and I am blessed to have her join me and Anna this year!

I could go on and on about Michelle, and I probably will in coming months.  🙂  But for now, I thought I’d introduce her to my darling readers in a fun format we already love: 20 questions!  Enjoy this little snapshot into the life of the newest face here at love and splendor.  I can’t wait for all of my clients to meet her and fall in love with her, too!!

the lovely michelle!  hellooooo cheekbones!

1) Where did you grow up?  Tell us about your childhood.

I grew up in the city of Orange in the OC! We moved there when I was 3 and left when I was 16, but I consider it my hometown for sure. I have 2 sisters and a brother so my childhood was always filled with laughter, love and adventure. My older sister and I loved our Barbie dolls with a passion! We had a 3-story home for them to live in, a burger joint for them to grab a bite from, a big yellow RV for road trips (aka to the family room) and two corvettes (red and silver!). Our aunt did a lot of traveling so she was always bringing us Barbie clothes from all over. They were everything to us then and now they’re just packed away in boxes!! My brother and I would spend hours playing War (card game that I couldn’t tell you how to play now even if given a million dollars!!) and we also loved the board game Battleship. Whereas with my little sister I spent most of my time playing cops and robbers with her (she was the cop, I was the robber). She did not share the same love for Barbie as my older sister did with me. She was the tomboy and swore she’d be wearing shorts on her wedding day under her dress! My family has always been my childhood. They have been there to celebrate every occasion with me or comfort me when something didn’t go my way. They’re the best things out there and my complete world. =)

2) What was your favorite subject in school?

Hmmm. My favorite subject was definitely NOT history. How can you remember all that stuff? I never understood how my dad could spout out things about the past without having note cards next to him! I would say my favorite subject is art. I loved drawing and painting as a kid. I remember a painting I did in kindergarten like it was yesterday of a bunny. I think I still draw bunnies the same way!! I love looking at things in different ways. That saying beauty is in the eye of the beholder…I think the same about art. It’s a personal thing and that’s probably why I’ve always loved it so much. Because nobody can tell me what to see – it’s what I want to see.

3) Where did you go to college and what did you study?

I went to college at USC. I graduated with a degree in Communication (emphasis in the Entertainment Industry).

4) What do you do in your free time?

If I’m not watching a movie, reading or by the beach, I want to spend every waking moment with my nephew, Brayden! He’s is almost 8 mos old and just the joy of my life. He’s completely changed how I look at babies!! Up until him I didn’t understand all the hype, but I’ve been sucked in! He’s the cutest thing on this earth and every move he makes I smile. Shout out to my cute little man!!

awwww!  michelle + her nephew, brayden!

5) If you could only buy 5 groceries this week, what would they be?

Beets!! I’m obsessed!! I just discovered they sell ready to eat beets at Trader Joe’s so the other night I sliced them and mozzarella up, drizzled it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a dash of walnuts. DELISH!!! It’s my new obsession.

My other 4 groceries would definitely be – hummus, cucumbers, tortillas and oranges! You could live off all this for definitely a week. Spread some hummus on the tortilla (which I heat up on the stove to give it the perfect consistency!), throw some cucumbers in there and bam – nice yummy wrap! With a side beet salad…I mean, come on! And oranges are just always so tasty to have around.

6) What is your favorite “guilty pleasure” food?

I love Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream!! I really just love the chunks of cookie dough, but I figure it’s better to eat it with ice cream than to just make a batch of it to eat out of the bowl! I’ve always been sort of an ice cream builder if that’s what you’d call it. As a kid, I’d take a huge bowl fill it with ice cream then crush cookies (Oreos’, Fudge Stripes, or whatever delectable item my mom had in the cabinet) on top of it then cover it with chocolate syrup. I still do that to this day when I do actually have ice cream in my freezer. I think I kept the ice cream companies in business as a kid….I seriously ate gallons.

7) What is your favorite city in the world and why?

New York! Just like Jay Z says – there’s nothing you can’t do! The city has great energy and there is so much to see and do. Between going down to Battery Park to look across at the Statue of Liberty, walking on Wall Street, moving in and out of all the bodies in Times Square or eating a gyro from a street vendor it’s just filled with magical moments. I could never handle the weather enough to live there (I’m a SoCal girl forever), but I love to visit.

8 ) What artists would we find on your “most played” list on your iPod?

I’m a fan of all music! The other day I was in a restaurant and heard a country song that I totally knew the words to. It’s surprising because I haven’t listened to country in years! I love Keri Hilson, Jay Z, Modest Mouse, Paramore, MGMT, Kings of Leon, Kanye West, Michael Jackson, Prince, Lady Gaga, TV on the Radio, Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles. I can listen to mostly anything. It all depends on the mood I’m in and what I’m feeling that day. I love the radio, actually. I prefer to listen to it if I’m in the car or at home.

9) Describe a perfect saturday.

A perfect Saturday would consist of sleeping in! Then getting up and doing some form of fun fitness. I love going on hikes. I recently just went to Griffith Park for the first time and loved the scenery and views. In the summer time I love going to be beach and lying in the sun with my feet in the sand. I can go to the beach and never so much as put a toe in the water! That would be a perfect Saturday. Sleeping in, working out, going to the beach and then eating a yummy beet salad. 😉

10) What is your favorite flower?

Sunflowers!! I love how big and bright they are. Plus they always just look happy. I love the brightness of a sunflower and how it’s so simple yet beautiful. It can brighten up any day!  (**note from Angel: Sunflowers seem to be a trend with my assistants!)

11) What drew you to {love and splendor}?  Why are you excited to join L&S?

I actually found Angel on Junebug Weddings (I knew she was top-notch from the beginning!) and was instantly hooked by what all her clients had to say about her. She’s not just named Angel – she is an Angel! The words of praise and thought that went into each of their responses sent goose bumps all over my body. She has a specific vision for each wedding and her personality is reflected into every detail. She loves what she does and that was very important to me. I wanted to know I was joining someone that did everything from the heart. She truly does. I’m elated to be joining L&S! I can’t wait to help out with any and every detail possible. I’m really excited to be on board to help Angel and L&S with so many special days!!

12) Name a movie you could watch over and over again.

Moonstruck with Nicholas Cage and Cher! As many odd messages as the movie sends, the bottom line is love. And I could watch it over and over again because it makes me feel good about love!! You truly never know where you’re going to discover love and when. Just be ready!

13) Best restaurant(s) in L.A.?

There are so many places in l.a.!! It’s funny, but I don’t really have a “go-to” restaurant at all. My ideal scenario would be visiting the Farmer’s Market at The Grove. So many options for so many moods! Really, I just love food. There isn’t a lot out there that I don’t like to eat. I love having options. There are a lot of delicious places out there, but I don’t think I’ve come close to naming any the best. Maybe that will change in 2010 and I’ll find a place (or two) I can’t live without!

14) Favorite book(s)?

First of all, I love to read. I used to work at a library and I loved having access to all those books! I would read any book that hit the shelves – fiction or non-fiction. But again, I don’t have a favorite book. I’ve been in a book club for about a year and while there have been some great books to discuss, I’m still holding out for that book that will become my all time favorite.

15) What inspires you?

Life inspires me! I know this may sound weird…but, for me, inspiration comes in many forms.  It could be a quote, a fortune cookie, a person, a song, a picture or the color of the sky one evening. Inspiration can be found anything. It’s just about opening up to not only see it, but feel it.

16) Hidden talents?

Well if I told you them they won’t be hidden anymore!!! 😉

17) Any 2010 goals or resolutions?

Be happy. Buy everything with cash. Do something cultural every weekend (museum, movie, theatre, show – anything that makes me feel like I’ve learned something about myself or the world).

18) 3 random facts about you…

I love to mix my food together especially when there are mashed potatoes involved. Call me weird.

My first job was at Boston Market! I was the person who put your yummy sides into the lovely containers that you took home while I stayed behind scooping out more food.

I love Horchata!! It’s the rice milk drink most commonly found in Mexican restaurants or El Pollo Loco and now even at the supermarket (Kern’s has a delicious one!).

19) 5 places you want to visit in your lifetime

Wow! There are so many more than just 5!! Here in the U.S. I really want to see the Grand Canyon, New Orleans, St. Louis, Seattle and Alaska! One day I’d love to take an Alaskan cruise because it just seems like one of those lifetime experiences to me. I think it would be absolutely beautiful. I’d love to visit Italy, France, Japan, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, Cuba among many many others. I recently saw an Amazing Race episode where they were in Chile and the contestants rode these cable cars down a hill. I guess this city is their version of San Francisco so all the streets are really steep. It looked like an absolutely beautiful place to be so I’ve added it to my list of places I want to visit!

20) either/or…

sweet v. salty: Oh salty v sweet! Tough one. I love me some of both!

ninjas v. pirates: Pirates. I imagine pirates to be barefoot most of their life or maybe I rode Pirates of the Caribbean one too many times as a kid, but it just looks like their lives are filled with adventure!

summer v. winter: Summer all the way! I love sandals, sundresses, sunny days and me with a tan! 😉

dogs v. cats: Dogs. Sorry cat lovers, but I just don’t understand them! They stare at you too much and it freaks me out!!

movies v. TV: Movies!! I LOVE all movies. Seriously. Try and find a movie I won’t enjoy.

——-

I hope you all enjoyed reading the interview as much as I did!  Much, much, MUCH more to come about Michelle soon.  In the meanwhile, make sure to leave her some love in the comments section!  Let’s make her feel nice & welcome here.  🙂

Have a fabulous Monday, everyone!

xoxo, Angel

CATEGORIES: 15 comments

October 28, 2009

hello dear readers!!  i still have one fabulous post remaining from my jessica & jeff series, so hold tight for that soon!  🙂  in the meanwhile, i wanted to share some exciting love & splendor news with all of you!

most of you already know my younger sister (aka asSIStant), anna.  some of you have met her in person and have already heard her unashamedly enthusiastic laugh, seen her show-stopping smile, and envied her ridiculous collection of handbags. others of you may have read about her when i did a little game of 20 questions with her on my blog.  for all of you, and everyone in between, i want to reacquaint you with anna.  get to know her, because you’ll be seeing a lot more of her around here. 🙂

after working by my side for over 4 years, anna is absolutely ready to begin a new chapter here at L&S.  effective immediately, anna is now available as a *lead coordinator* for my darling package clients.  although i will still be handling a few darling packages each year (and of course will be managing all of my current clients!), i will begin transitioning into handling lovely & splendid packages exclusively. this year anna was able to branch out and do two weddings without me (one in june and one in september — both of which were FABULOUS affairs and the brides could not have raved any more about her…).  it began innocently enough, when we met a client we looooved but who had  wedding date during my annual vacation.  we offered her the opportunity to meet anna and work with her for her big day, and she was sold! we did the same thing a few months later and both clients were a perfect fit for anna. after hearing such wonderful feedback from those two brides (not to mention the raves from the vendors who worked alongside anna for those two events) i knew my gut feeling had been confirmed: she was ready to fly!

anna is already booked for a handful of weddings in 2010 and i cannot wait to see her grow & flourish on her own.  note that she will still be my #1 assistant anytime she isn’t handling her own wedding.  we love  working together too much to forsake that altogether!  😉

anna and i have a lot of great things in common: attention to detail, self-motivated drive, a passion for all things fabulous… but i’m thrilled for you to also get to know what makes anna unique.  she’s sassy, has a bold sense of style and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.  many people say we’re like night and day.  i invite you to get to know her and see for yourself.  🙂

when i started L&S back in 2005, i never imagined that my endeavor would blossom into what it is today.  i know it is all by God’s grace that i have come this far and i am truly eager to see what the future holds!  that said, i am 100% more confident about that future with anna coming into her own, so to speak, and opening up the door to new possibilities for L&S.  i know you will fall in love with her when you meet her!

and now for a glimpse at the doll that is my baby sis, here are some gorgeous snaps captured by the one & only jasmine star.  we both love jasmine to.the.moon! and i have to say, these photos truly embody the spirit of my spunky sis!  (you can see more on jasmine’s blog!)

anna, in an outfit i adore.  ray ban aviators, ann taylor top and sweater, burberry scarf, j. crew skirt, bcbg heels.  bracelets are from j. crew and BR.

we both LOVE coffee.  anna’s order at starbucks?  chai with one shot of espresso.

the one on the left is my hands-down favorite.  it completely captures anna’s spirit.

beautiful!!  i’m no pro but i did her makeup.  it’s pretty easy beautifying someone this naturally stunning.

outfit number 2: banana republic dress and marc by marc jacobs heels.

you can’t really see in these pics, but anna has the most perfectly, blindingly white teeth you have ever seen.  it’s one of the first things people comment about when they meet her.  🙂

most people say we look very different.  i think that’s common in hapas — we all sort of get a unique blend.  do you see any family resemblance?

if you are interested in working with anna for your special event, please contact me for more details!  angel@loveandsplendor.com

have a fabulous wednesday!

xoxo, angel

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January 7, 2009

happy new year, everyone! i love the freshness that comes with a brand new year. although every day holds the same opportunities and possibilities that you find with a new year, i find that somehow i am especially optimistic around january 1st. i am looking forward to a spectacular 2009 filled with amazing times shared with people i love. here’s a look back to a very special wedding of two people i love… heijin + dean.

when i met heijin for our consultation, it was a match made in heaven. we were instant friends, chatting about ideas and inspiration for her wedding to dean. she hired me to help with every aspect of the wedding planning and i relished and enjoyed each part of the process! from addressing envelopes to collecting responses, to folding origami cranes and making menus… it was a true labor of love working on this wedding.

enjoy the color, creativity and love bursting from the seams of this wedding via images courtesy of rockin’ photographers the image is found. nate + jac knocked my socks off (per usual!) with these pics and i hope you enjoy!

meet the fabulous heijin + dean… always SO much fun 😉

heijin and dean were wed under a dark-stained bamboo arch built by kristin of the treasured petal. delicate strands of orchids along with hand-strung origami cranes (folded by yours truly) made for a lovely backdrop. the cranes were a special project of mine for the couple, as a nod to dean’s japanese heritage. it is believed that one who folds 1001 cranes is granted one wish. 😉

is this the most joyful recession ever or what?? check out the bridesmaids in their vibrant turquoise and purple dresses. they were some of my favorite BM dresses ever.

i love, love, love this portrait of heijin. it completely captures her playful spirit.

there is serious magic when these two get together. i was continually blessed and inspired as i witnessed their love during the planning process. they both have the utmost respect, consideration and adoration for one another.

now off to the party!

behold one of my favorite details of the day! guests were greeted in the lobby by this striking display: a blooming family tree! kristin brought in a fantastically large manzanita branch adorned with various floral accents. i brought in over 70 antique brass lockets filled with photos of the couple’s family members. it was a wonderful way to honor their deep commitments to their families.

tables were draped in chocolate satin pintuck linens accented by bright chartreuse satin napkins. we used half tall centerpieces, half low centerpieces. each contained a lavish assortment of tropical-feeling florals including orchids, coxcomb and bells of ireland.

tables were named after significant spots in the couple’s history. each placesetting include a fragrant tuberose blossom (a favorite of the groom’s) and a box of traditional korean dduk (rice cakes).

here’s a closer look at the tall centerpiece. i love the dramatic sprays of james storei orchids at the top, as well as the orchids that were whimsical additions to the outside of the vases.

after a morning ceremony + luncheon reception, the party reconvened at sunset at the bride’s parents’ home for a rousing afterparty. more lush florals took centerstage, along with an incredible spread of authentic pan-Asian cuisine. late night karaoke also was a hit for these songbirds. i may or may not have been coerced into participating as well… 😉

this darling arrangement graced one of the cocktail tables at the afterparty. the red bromeliad is one of my favorites.

we rented low wooden coffee tables for our lounge vignettes. this one had a lovely re-purposed centerpiece from earlier in the day, along with green pillar candles and votives.

i’ll end with this super sweet portrait of the couple.

i had SO much fun working with heijin + dean on this unique and joyous day. i hope to keep in touch with them for years to come. i also have to throw in a shout out to heijin’s amazing family. i felt like an adopted daughter thanks to the graciousness of her parents. <3

vendor roundup!

press announcement!!

on a totally unrelated note, i was featured in an editorial piece in the latest issue of brides southern california MAGAZINE!! to say i’m excited is a gigantic understatement. check out the spring/summer issue and turn to page 130 to check out “the other parties.” it’s a piece that focuses on some great spots for showers, parties and rehearsal dinners. i was honored to be asked to contribute and am also delighted to be highlighted with industry star jeannie savage (of details details). what fun! much love to heather & jacqueline over at brides!

*you can also see something else me-related on page 54 (“detail oriented”). see that woodland twigs & honey headband?? that EXACT headband was given to me by the lovely myra herself! i wore it in the photo from my Christmas card, too. 😉 congrats to myra for the featured piece!

have a fabulous day, everyone~ xoxo, angel


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September 18, 2008

i had every intention of putting together one more mom-gets-married post but was unable to do so in time.  in just a few hours i will be heading to santa barbara to prep for the big day!  😉  it is surreal that it is finally here.  my mom is actually getting married — WOW!

i am so excited about everything and really look forward to a beautiful, intimate, joyful time of celebration.  you KNOW i will return with a super detailed recap (most likely another series..haha) and lots of gorgeous eye candy.

until then, i will be out of town and without email access.  if you need to reach me, call my cell.  otherwise, i will respond to emails on monday.  😉

thank you to my readers who have shared in the excitement of this big day via the web.  now all that’s left is for the actual day to arrive.  congratulations, mommy!!

xoxo, angel

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August 10, 2008

sooo excited!! after yesterday’s splendid wedding (with two cal alum clients i adore), i will be out of town for a week with my erik. he will be teaching at a youth summer camp monday thru friday, and then we will make a jaunt to our beloved lake tahoe for the weekend!

if you need to reach me while i’m away, feel free to call my cell. i don’t know how reception will be for the first part of the trip, though. my internet access will be limited at best, so expect emails to be returned august 19th or 20th. 😉 have a fabulous week~ i’m looking forward to mine.

xoxo, angel

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