Happy Monday everyone!  I’m back with another installation of {the nuptial primer} – my little guide to planning your wedding with both substance and style.  :-)  I expect to pick up the pace with this series now that I’m blogging more regularly, so I hope that these entries will be helpful to anyone out there preparing for their wedding (or any party, really!).

photo by Ryan Ray // venue: Flying Caballos Ranch in San Luis Obispo, CA

In a previous entry, I went over the importance of setting a budget.  Once you have determined the size and scale of your celebration, you have the exciting task of selecting the setting.  What will it be: a chic seaside soirée or an elegant garden luncheon?  Will you dance the night away under ornate chandeliers in a dramatically tented canopy, or beneath the stars in a wild and overgrown field??  The possibilities are endless.  I often tell brides that as multifaceted individuals, we may be drawn to many options.  I know that I could plan a dozen weddings for myself: from a clean and modern affair at a loft, to a charming Cape Cod clambake, to an opulent fête at a French chateau, to a snowy mountaintop celebration complete with post-dinner s’mores…  I am drawn to many types of scenes and settings.  My style isn’t singularly defined.  That said, most of us are only going to have one wedding.  (Can I get an amen on a vow renewal, though?  I keep telling Erik that we’re having a 10-year vow renewal…  Sweetie, if you’re reading this, we really are.  ;-))  You will ultimately have to choose what type of wedding you want to host, and where it will be.  Here are my tips on how to hone in on the perfect place to say, “I do!”

photo by The Image is Found // venue: Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu, CA

photo by Jose Villa // venue: San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, CA

1) Budget: First things first, you have to check the budget.  If you know your overall wedding budget is $20k, it is probably unwise to look into sites that charge $10k rental fees… unless you’re having 50 people and the In-N-Out truck (and hey, that sounds grand to me!).  Ideally you are embarking on this process with a great wedding planner who will have helped you draw up a realistic budget.  Some magazines or books will give percentages on how much to allocate for the venue rental, but you can guess how I feel about their arbitrary guesstimates.  ;-)  Until you build a complete budget based on your priorities and expectations, you can’t really know how much you can spend on your venue.  It is going to vary widely based on what you value most for the big day.  Nonetheless, you need to start with an idea of what you can spend on the site rental fee, and take into consideration what it includes.  Some venues include tables, chairs, and catering, while others provide nothing but permission to celebrate on their gorgeous property.  Determining the allocation for the budget requires you to know what it takes to actually hold an event at that property.  Are there “hidden” fees like required shuttles, valet parking, and/or security?  Do you have to bring in your own restrooms and/or power?  These things need to be taken into consideration before you sign on the dotted line.

2) Guest count: How many people do you want to have with you on the wedding day?  While some say “the more the merrier,” others yearn for a more intimate celebration.  I encourage clients to write out a thorough guest list together, then go through and revise a couple times before settling on a guest count.  If your priority is to have the most people possible there with you, your venue selection will include consideration of space, cost per head, etc.  If your priority is to get married at an ultra luxe resort property, you may want to trim back the guest list to accommodate the budget.  If others are contributing to the wedding budget (e.g. parents), it is wise to consult them on their guest list expectations before you set your heart on a venue.  Trust me — handling these kinds of conversations as early as possible is the way to go, to avoid as much drama and heartbreak as possible.

3) The Scene: What type of site do you have in mind?  Do you desire particular views or a certain setting?  I think seeing so many fabulous weddings over the years has given me an appreciation for all types of venues.  Whether it’s a coastal private estate or a perfectly worn-in rustic barn, a five-star hotel or a sleek “blank canvas” warehouse, there is something for everyone out there.  Narrow in one the type of space you’d like for your wedding.  Some couples may prefer a venue that can accommodate both indoor and outdoor celebrations.  If you are worried about inclement weather and are averse to tenting (because you honestly just never know…), you may want to seek out a site that has an indoor space as a back up plan.  Other couples prefer the convenience of having a resort host their wedding because their guests can simply walk from their hotel rooms to the festivities.  This also is helpful for a destination wedding where guests are going to enjoy successive days of events.  Perhaps it is vital for you to marry at a certain church.  You will need to consider the distance to your reception venue from the church, how guests will get there, and how long it might take for that post-ceremony travel.

4) The Rules & Restrictions: Make sure to carefully review ALL of the paperwork that comes with any venue.  Here is another place a planner can assist you in reviewing the site restrictions and relay any information gained from experience at the property.  You will want to understand the amount of time you have access to the site (for set-up, strike, and the event itself), any forbidden items or vendors (e.g. amplified music after a certain hour, open flames, sparklers, smoking, hard alcohol, etc.), any required vendors (e.g. valet, security, additional site management), extra fees (e.g. cleaning fee, use of kitchen or other optional spaces, dancefloor rental, etc.), upgrade costs (e.g. different linens or chairs, cost of bringing in your own cake vs. the one made by the in-house caterer), etc. etc. etc.  I really could go on and on here!  Before you commit, make sure that you are OK with the rules and restrictions for your favorite site. I’ve had clients hire me after securing a venue, only to be shocked by the “hidden” fees we uncover (that were actually plainly written into their contracts).  If you don’t understand the legalese of some of the paperwork, ask!  :)

5) The Reaction: After you’ve confirmed that your dream site is within the budget, has acceptable rules and restrictions, will comfortably accommodate all of your guests and has just the look you are going for, you’re ready to book.  And for many couples, the venue hunt starts + ends with a reaction.  I will never, ever forget the first time I drove up the driveway at Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu in 2005.  I was speechless as I drove past the beautiful zebras and horses galloping…  The rolling vine-covered hills and idyllic white picket fences… It actually brought tears to my eyes!  haha  Now after planning dozens and dozens of weddings at this special site, I STILL get that magic feeling when I pull through the gates.  I had a similar reaction visiting the Montage Laguna Beach last week, where staff greets you with a tray of champagne, a sample of gourmet cheese from their in-house fromager, and sweeping views of the ocean everywhere you turn.  I can recall the excitement that filled my heart as I first stepped into the courtyard of Smog Shoppe in Culver City, like I was entering a secret club in this urban oasis.  I was instantly obsessed with their wall of succulents and reclaimed wood furniture.  Those first reactions are going to tell you if it’s the right place for you and your love to make the most sacred vows to one another.

Although there may be many places that catch your eye, I hope that all of you ultimately find *the place* that is perfect for you!  :)

photo by Ryan Ray // venue: Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, CA

photo by Jose Villa // venue: 3 Stones in Napa, CA

photo by Trista Lerit // venue: Bacara Resort in Goleta, CA

photo by Braedon Flynn // venue: Smog Shoppe in Culver City, CA

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I hope this was helpful to some of you out there!  (If it was, please let me know! ;-))  If you are still planning your wedding, let me know if there is any topic you’d like to hear about.

If you’re already married, I’d love to hear in the comments where you got married and why you picked the place that you did!

See you all again soon!  xoxo, Angel

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope you all took a peek at Olive’s 1st bash on 100 Layer Cakelet yesterday.  Today I’m back with more details + pics of a truly special day for our family!

Most of you know that our darling Olive was a long-awaited child so we knew we wanted to celebrate her 1st birthday in style!  In the Korean culture, the 1st birthday is traditionally a momentous and grand occasion, and many families throw lavish parties to herald it.  Since I am half Korean (and Olive is only 1/4 Korean), we went with an in-between celebration: plenty of details to make it feel special but with a casual vibe to still feel like a children’s party.

Our initial venue was on the beach, so we started out with a watery palette of blues. Although we ended up moving the party to another location, we stuck with that original seaside inspiration.  The party integrated soft shades of pool, sky, and aqua blue, along with complementary shades of mint, peach, and coral.  Gold was a subtle accent.  The lovely and talented Chelsea Petaja of Oh My Deer Handmades designed the beautiful invitations using swashes of watercolor and floral accents. Envelope liners featured a distressed scalloped pattern reminiscent of fish scales. Tied up in twine and sent off in kraft envelopes with white calligraphy, the invites set the tone for what was to come.

Franklin Canyon Park is a hidden gem tucked away off Mulholland in Beverly Hills, and their auditorium was a great blank canvas to work with.  We dressed regular banquet tables in various shades of blue + aqua linens from La Tavola Linen, and set them with playful pink and blue goblets from the fabulous Casa de Perrin.  Their pink swirl luncheon plates and gold flatware completed the ladylike placesettings. Luscious springtime florals were created by our dear friend Jaclyne from Heavenly Blooms Designs.  The featured flora included garden roses, poppies and anenomes.  I had collected an assortment of vintage bottles and modern vessels to use on the tables, along with some ocean-inspired decor like a glass fish terrarium vase and a classic white Shreve, Crump and Low gurgling cod pitcher.  My husband and I also made 7 lovely papier mâché boats using the lovely Ann Wood’s paper boat tutorial and we hung them up behind the dessert table.

I needed an excuse to pick up a Confetti System fringe garland so the party was the perfect justification!  We hung up the perfectly-hued garland over a lounge area created by {found} rentals, using their amazing vintage furniture, ottomans, and cozy quilts and pillows.

I wanted to provide lunch that was going to be appealing for all of our guests, which included vegans, vegetarians, paleo-dieters and omnivores alike.  I had a wonderful experience with catering through one of my favorite LA chains, Lemonade LA.  Their seasonal offerings were beautiful and scrumptious and we had rave reviews from everyone!  I went with five beloved marketplace offerings (including their watermelon radish ahi salad, Israeli couscous and mushrooms, curried cauliflower), lots of fresh seared ahi, buttermilk battered chicken, and of course their refreshing watermelon rosemary lemonade!  My mom and I also prepped lots of seasonal fruit, along with pouches from Ella’s Kitchen (our fav!) for Olive’s friends.

As a prelude to the sweet treats to come, I prepared a candy display with all of my favorite Asian sweets including Pocky and Milky.  They looked perfect on the round display from {found} and guests tucked their treats into hand-watercolored muslin bags I prepared!

I left the actual desserts to the experts, so we had Melody from Sweet and Saucy Shop create the beautiful cake (with rock sugar “sea glass”) along with mini desserts like candy bar cupcakes and passion fruit panna cotta.  As an extra sweet surprise, I had Geri from Sweet Lucie’s bring her party cart for our guests, and they served up three flavors of their amazing organic ice cream: pistachio, strawberry mint lemonade sorbet, and my special request of bananas foster: banana ice cream with caramel swirl and toasted almonds!!!

Perhaps the biggest hit of the party was the “bubbleologist” from Bubblemania and Company.  They were amazing to work with from start to finish.  Jilbert was our performer that day and he was INCREDIBLE.  Check out my faces in the photos… I think it’s plain to see that I was his biggest fan.  His fun show kept everyone entertained — he was funny, educational, friendly and a consummate professional. After his magical show (which concluded with him putting willing volunteers into giant bubbles!), he had set up equipment in the courtyard for the kids to play with themselves.  It made me so happy to see everyone rush out there to take their turn with the big wands and toys.

The afternoon ended with a slideshow that Erik put together.  It chronicled my entire pregnancy (from announcing it, to a montage of me growing everyday, to the parents  to the delivery room!) a well as Olive’s first year.  It was definitely a tear-jerker and was the perfect ending to a lovely day.

We were so blessed by everyone who came out to celebrate Olive with us! The day flew by but we are grateful for the gorgeous photos captured by Courtney of Erin Hearts Court; we will cherish them forever!!

Okay… now on to more photos!!  :)  Here are lots and lots (and lots) of photos from the beautiful day.

Again, a million thanks to the people who made this day a reality…  I cannot say enough about each of these artists and purveyors of fabulous wares.  I am blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people in this industry!

• planning, styling & design: Love and Splendor (www.loveandsplendor.com)
• photography: Erin Hearts Court (www.erinheartscourt.com)
• invitation: Chelsea Petaja (www.ohmydeerhandmades.com)
• floral design: Heavenly Blooms (www.heavenlybloomsdesigns.com)
• china + glassware + flatware: Casa de Perrin (www.casadeperrin.com)
• vintage furniture: {found} vintage rentals (www.foundrentals.com)
• ghost chair rental: Chiavari Chair Rentals (www.chiavarichairrentals.com)
• catering: Lemonade LA (www.lemonadela.com)
• cake + desserts: Sweet and Saucy Shop (www.sweetandsaucyshop.com)
• organic ice cream: Sweet Lucie’s (www.ilovelucies.com)
• linens: La Tavola Fine Linen (www.latavolalinen.com)
• bubble entertainment: Bubblemania and Company (www.bubblemaniaandcompanyla.com)
• fringe garland: Confetti System (www.confettisystem.com)
• gold letter banner: Mint Loves Social Club (www.etsy.com/shop/MintLoveSocialClub )
• my hair and makeup: Fiore Beauty (www.fiorebeauty.com)
• venue: Rosenfeld Auditorium + Courtyard at Franklin Canyon Park in Beverly Hills, CA (www.lamountains.com/planning_franklin.html

I have one final post about Olive’s party that I’ll share sometime next week or so.  It will focus on the planning process and my tips & lessons learned from the big day! Also in the posting queue: Olive’s 13 month update (by popular demand, they’re continuing!), a wedding post, and another installment of {the nuptial primer}.

Hope you all have a marvelous weekend!!  xoxo, Angel

Hello everyone!!  I hope you had a great weekend.  :)  We definitely did, with a quick trip to visit family and celebrate our nephew’s 5th birthday.  Olive had the best time trying to run after the “big kids” — the excitement certainly wore her out!

I’m excited to announce that the winner of the Casa de Perrin giveaway is Selena — congratulations!  I sent you an email already.  ;-)  Thank you to everyone else who entered; I have more fun giveaways in the works so stay tuned.  I am grateful to each of you who takes the time to visit this blog, and your comments mean so much to me!  xo

Today I wanted to share some sweet photos of me and my Olive, taken by my generous friend Cameron Ingalls.  You might have seen a handful of them in my Wedding Standard interview, but there were many more I just had to post.  A million thanks to Cameron for taking these photos, which were snapped in under 30 minutes on a random weekday afternoon.  I will always cherish these precious images!!

Thank you again to my friend Cameron Ingalls for shooting these wonderful photos! Olive is changing so much these days and I am grateful for these moments frozen in time.

Olive’s dress + sandals are from Zara Baby.

Hope your week is off to a great start!  xoxo, Angel

Psst: If you’re reading this before 9p today, you need to scroll down to the next post and make sure you enter our Casa de Perrin giveaway!

I hope you are all having a lovely week!  Today I’m excited to share an interview I did with the Central Coast Wedding Standard — a great blog/site all about the fabulous wedding community here on the central coast of California!  I had answered the interview questions last fall so re-reading my answers today made me smile.  I like how I predicted Pantone‘s color of the year!  (Not joking… you can ask my friends Ryan, Jeni and Diana who know I was fixated on emerald green last year when we starting planning our winter gathering shoot last October!)

If you are thinking about a central coast wedding, you’ve gotta check out Central Coast Wedding Standard.  It has an incredibly thorough venue search tool, a blog full of inspiration and real weddings, and lots of artist interviews, helping you get to know the fabulous vendors out here.  I have to say that this stretch of California coast is home to a lot of industry giants and I am truly humbled and honored to join this vibrant community of creatives.

Take a peek at my interview and hopefully you’ll learn something new about me!  There are also lots of pics of me and Olive shot by Cameron Ingalls, the site’s creator and curator.  ;-)

Thank you again, Cameron, for this great feature!  Grateful to know you and call you friend!

Everyone else — I’ll be back soon to announce the giveaway winner *and* will share more photos of me and Olive from this impromptu shoot with Cameron!  And you know those post-partum baby hairs??  I’m finally doing something about them today.  It’s time for a new look!

xoxo, Angel

Hello everyone!  I hope your week is off to a lovely start!  Today I am excited to share with you the long-anticipated launch of the webstore of Casa de Perrin!  If you’ve seen my recent post of Anna’s wedding (and other fabulous weddings I’ve done in the past), you know I am a huge fan of Casa de Perrin.  They curate the loveliest collection of vintage china, glassware, flatware and more (tea cups + saucers, salt cellars, apothecary bottles, etc.!) and rent them for weddings and events.  But now, you can bring some of that gorgeous tableware into your own home via Shop Casa de Perrin!

Just try telling me that your family parties and everyday meals don’t taste better served off of gorgeous plates, with gold flatware and a rainbow of colorful goblets.  :)  Afternoon slices of cake (yes, it’s a thing… haha) and fancy holiday dinners alike deserve special presentation.

I am truly excited for their new shop launch and I hope that you mosey over to check out all the goodies for sale.  Next time my birthday rolls around, feel free to pick me up some colored goblets.  Ask Diana and Josh and Libby — they’ll know what I’m currently obsessing over.  ;-)

To celebrate the shop’s grand opening, I am giving away a pair of sparkling cut crystal salt cellars from their store!  If you don’t know what salt cellars are, let me acquaint you.  Diana calls them “jewelry for your table” and I couldn’t agree more.  They are the perfect finishing touch to a well-set table and allow guests to enjoy tactile interaction with special finishing seasonings.  Why shake from a shaker when you can display your gourmet salts + peppers in these beautiful cellars for guests to marvel over, pinch and savor?  There are lots and lots of cellars in the shop so you will want to get a set for your next gathering.  One per person is great, but I love having two per person for a pairing of salt + pepper, or even two beautiful and unique types of finishing salt (French sel gris or Himalayan pink salt, perhaps).

To enter this giveaway, just visit SHOP CdP, browse their gorgeous offerings, and come back here to comment & let me know your favorite item (or two).  I won’t blame you if they all end up in your shopping cart.  ;-)  Make sure you are also following this blog + LIKE us on Facebook.

I’ll kick us off and let you know my 3 faves (so hard!):

• My dream china – its swirls of turquoise and gold make my heart swell!
• A vintage-meets-modern gold-trimmed cake plate
• These sweet delphite blue salt cellars — perfect for spring and summer!

Can’t wait to see what catches your eye!  You have until Thursday, April 11th, 2013 at 9pm PST to enter.  The winner will receive one pair of clear cut crystal salt cellars plus some of my favorite salt to enjoy in them!

Good luck to all of you!  And congrats again to my dearest friends Diana + Josh (and Libby!) for this new chapter for the Casa!

xoxo, Angel

Remember how my sister’s wedding was published in the spring/summer issue of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine??  Well today we are thrilled that a lot more of its gorgeous, vibrant, citrus-hued details are featured on Style Me Pretty!  We couldn’t be more excited about this extra exposure and are so thankful to Abby for sharing it with her readers!

I have been chomping at the bit to share more about her wedding with you — from the design process to the fine point details.  I look forward to highlighting some of those items in coming posts!  Today, it is going to be a lot of eye candy.  Lots and lots of scrumptious eye candy.  If you love photos of people in love, gorgeous florals and pretty settings, you are in for a treat.  :)  Thank you (again and again!) to my dear friend Ryan Ray, who perfectly captured the beauty and emotion of the day.

Here’s my little write-up, for those of you interested in the background.  I promise not to mind if you simply skip to the photos!!  ;-)

Anna and Sean are an extra-special couple to me, because Anna is my beloved younger sister!  It was a complete delight to plan and design her intimate Ojai wedding to Sean, my now-brother-in-law.  The two of them had been friends in college years ago, and I remember her telling me about her freckled crush back then.  They reunited in the fall of 2011 and knew right away that it was “it.”  Only a few months later, they were engaged and we began planning their springtime wedding!

do you see that tear that ryan captured??!

They decided early on that they wanted to have a semi-destination wedding: a celebration that was close enough to their native Los Angeles for easy guest travel, but unique enough to feel like a getaway.  They landed on the charming hillside town of Ojai, known for an excellent farmer’s market, quaint shops, and organic produce.  Ojai is also famous for their dramatic pink-tinged sunsets, created when the sun is setting across the Topatopa Bluffs.  Anna and Sean selected the fabulous Ojai Valley Inn and Spa as the setting for their nuptials because it is the perfect balance of luxury and that signature Ojai charm.  The sprawling property features an incredible full-service spa and wellness center, great golf (Erik may or may not have gone everyday that we were there!), meandering bike baths, beautiful gardens and fabulous dining.  Most of the wedding guests ended up staying with us at the property and I think I speak for everyone when I say no one was ready to leave!

Anna envisioned a small, intimate wedding set in the Herb Garden, where they would exchange vows and then dine al fresco under a gorgeous vine-covered pergola.  She and Sean drew up a guestlist of closest family and friends, and then really gave me the reins to create the beautiful day for them.  I was completely ecstatic to run with my vision for their wedding; I can’t tell you how fun it is to plan a wedding for your sister, a person you know so well!  Anna has worked with me planning and designing weddings for years, so I had picked up on her style over time.  Anna has a vibrant and vivacious personality, so I knew that we wanted to embrace a bright and cheery palette for the wedding.  She completely entrusted me with most of the details, which allowed me to really get creative.  We began with a lovely range of citrus-inspired hues: coral, raspberry, tangerine and yellow.  Ojai, the setting of the celebration, is known for their citrus (especially their pixie tangerines — in season now!), so I wanted to reference that in the design of the wedding.  I enlisted talented illustrator and graphic designer Julie Song, of Julie Song Ink, to create a beautiful watercolor stationery suite for their invitations.  She incorporated images of lemons, coral charm peonies, sunflowers (a nod to Anna’s favorite bloom) and of course the magnificent pink-tinged Ojai sunsets in her pieces.  The hand-lettering and whimsical feel of the stationery really set the tone for the playful look of the wedding.

Guests arrived at the Herb Garden for the ceremony, and discovered an enchanting set up of vintage settees and sofas in lieu of traditional chair seating.  With the gorgeous inventory of vintage furniture of {found} vintage rentals, we were able to design a much cozier and elegant space for exchanging vows.  Each settee was unique, but the arrangement felt cohesive in feel, with lots of feminine and neutral colors, luxe fabrics like velvet and linen, and button-tufting and gilded details.  Small side tables were placed amongst the upholstered seating for guests to set down their watermelon lemonades once the ceremony was underway.  In keeping with the residential feel, a stunning vintage mantel from {found} was the focal point of the ceremony, covered with framed photos of the couple and copious candlelight, flowers, and garland from Heavenly Blooms.  With such an intimately-sized group, it felt like a gathering at someone’s home.

A vintage vanity was used as a guest sign-in station, and guests tucked handwritten well wishes into the drawers.  A welcome beverage station was decked out with stunning citrus topiaries and featured fresh watermelon lemonade, iced tea and citrus & cucumber water.  Classical guitarist Brandt Jacobus played in the background, completing the idyllic scene.

There ceremony was a traditional Christian ceremony, and the bridal party was made up of only siblings: me and Sean’s brother.  I walked in with my husband and 3-month-old daughter (their new niece!) and Anna was escorted in by my mom and stepfather.  Brandt played Beatles songs including “Across the Universe” and “Here Comes the Sun” for the processional.  There were joyful tears shed as they exchanged vows, and they recessed to “Better Together” by Jack Johnson, also performed by the guitarist.

Cocktail hour took place on a lower lawn where guests could enjoy a phenomenal spread of California artisan cheeses, truffle honey, local citrus chutneys, nuts and more.  Passed hors d’oeuvres included some of Anna and Sean’s favorite treats, including bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with gorgonzola and double smoked bacon-wrapped scallops with maple glaze (sensing a trend?).  Bocce ball and croquet were also set up for guests to enjoy as the sun slipped behind the mountains for that magical “pink moment.”

As the sun set, guests were invited back up to the garden underneath the long covered portico.  We had a local singer and guitarist, Ray Fortune, play for this portion of the evening.  His beautiful voice was the perfect accompaniment to the setting we created.  All 39 guests were seated a long table (created using multiple vintage dining tables) in an eclectic mix of upholstered and bistro-style vintage chairs.  Overhead, delicate crepe paper blooms (which I handmade) were strung alongside glass spheres sparkling with light.  The scene was positively enchanting.  A citrus “chandelier” was suspended over the cake at one end of the portico, and the bar was placed at the opposite end.

The magnificent table was overflowing with stunning floral arrangements nestled in pressed glass goblets and footed bowls.  Tangerines and lemons were nestled amongst peonies, amaryllis, garden roses, bougainvillea, craspedia and more.  The look was lush and abundant, feminine and romantic, yet also youthful and fresh.  Of course, tons of candlelight added drama and mood to the table.  The entire setting was sparkling!  Placesettings featured the white-on-white lacy designs of gorgeous Spode Jewel china, via Casa de Perrin tabletop rentals, as well as their clear pressed glassware.  Guests found their assigned seats via dainty paper “lemon slices” affixed to each wine glass like a little garnish.  Cherry yellow and white patterned napkins from La Tavola added a touch of fun.  Guests also discovered an amazing menu atop their plates.  I teamed up once again with Julie Song on these labors of love.  Her charming illustrations and hand-lettering were designed in a menu that was over 2′ long printed on crisp white linen.  I handcut each menu and then sewed them along the top to roll up as a scroll on porcelain branches (actually drink stirrers I repurposed from BHLDN!).  I hand-dyed lace trim as a tie to each scrolled menu.  I loved hearing the gasps of delight as each guests unfurled their scrolls at the dining table, stunned at the dramatic display of the feast to come!  The memorable meal included a crab and corn chowder with green chile corn fritters, a composed tomato and burrata salad, merlot braised short ribs with garlicky prawns, a berry trifle and a delectable wedding cake made with Ojai’s signature pixie tangerines.

The meal was punctuated by a welcome by our stepfather, a prayer by my husband, Erik, and toasts by both siblings (me and Brian).  Anna and Sean shared a simple first dance to Ray Fortune’s creative rendition of “Honeybee” by Blake Shelton.  After the meal, guests lingered over coffee and cake, enjoying conversation and laughter with one another in the magical setting.  It was a natural ending to a truly impeccable day.  I remember stepping back and feeling so overwhelmed with the beauty of what I saw.  The setting was dripping in details and aesthetic beauty, but it also radiated with the unspeakable joy of the newlyweds and their loved ones.  The night was unforgettable in every way, and I am so grateful I could be a part of creating it for my darling sis!

{vendors}

Location, Catering, and Cake: Ojai Valley Inn & Spa  – Sarah in catering is AMAZING.
Event Planning and Design: Events of Love and Splendor
Photography: Ryan Ray  – our talented and dear friend, who is more like family to me!
Flowers: Heavenly Blooms  – Jaclyne always goes way way above and beyond!
Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals  – Jeni’s beautiful furniture set the stage.  Her styling is impeccable!
Tabletop Rentals: Casa de Perrin  – CdP’s wares made the tabletops shine.  I wish every meal was served on their beautiful china, and every toast made with their gorgeous glasses!
Stationery, Menu, and Calligraphy: Julie Song Ink  - such a sweetheart and a brilliant artist!
Videography: Elysium Productions – Julie shot my wedding, my mom’s wedding, and now Anna’s wedding!  The circle is complete!
Music: Brandt Jacobus and Ray Fortune  – two people you NEED to hire.
Linens: La Tavola Linen  – always my pick for lovely linens!
Hair and Makeup: Nicole Deanne  – our cherished friend helped us look our best!  Loved her being there on the big day!!

Hope you guys enjoyed this special & more detailed look at such a special day for my family.  If you have any questions, let me know!  See you all very soon — enjoy your Thursday!!  xoxo, Angel

Oh man, this wedding is a long time coming (to the blog)!  With the arrival of my daughter last year, I had a *fairly* (major understatement) busy 2012.  Love & Splendor continued working with lots of amazing clients and celebrations, planned and coordinated by our fabulous associates Michelle and Anna.  I continued to work as well, handling all of the wedding design and as much of the planning as time would allow.  Well, this wedding is special because it is the first one I did after having Olive.  In fact, Andrea and Jeremy met Anna (my sister) for their consultation the night Olive was born!  In the two short months we worked together, we pulled together the final details for a truly unforgettable day.  I love-love-LOVED their venue (Demetria Estate winery… you need to check it out!) and the casually elegant celebration they envisioned.  Although Anna was assigned lead coordinator on this wedding, I ended up at the wedding because I couldn’t wait to see it all come to fruition.  Plus I live less than an hour from the venue.  ;-)

The wedding was simply beautiful, filled with so much joy and laughter and dancing… oh the dancing!  As usual, “Entourage” via De Bois Entertainment kept the dancefloor packed.  New West Catering presented a beautiful meal utilizing gorgeous local and seasonal ingredients and hand-crafted cocktails from Pharmacie LA were a hit all night long. As the sun set over the vineyard, the carnival-style market lights overhead created the most magical reception scene.  I am so glad I was there to see it all with my own eyes.  :)

Enjoy these photos, courtesy of the awesome Roger of EP Love.  We had lots of fun working with him that evening!  And if you prefer a video, you can take a peek at this beautiful highlights reel from Lola Video.

A&J — we love you and are so glad we could be a part of your big day!  xoxo

{ vendor round-up }

• Venue: Demetria Estate
• Photographer: EP Love
• Videographer: Lola Video
• Event Planning & Coordination: Love & Splendor
• Floral Design: Juniper Floral Designs
• Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
• Ceremony Musician: Bob Ryman
• Cocktail Hour Musician: Russell Long (loved him! Contact me if you want his info.)
• Reception Band: Entourage from De Bois Entertainment
• Catering: New West Catering
• Cake: Decadence Fine Cakes and Confections
• Cocktails & Bar Service: Pharmacie LA
• Hair and Makeup: TEAM Hair & Makeup
• Lighting: LBPS Events
• Caricature Artist: James Malia
• Favors: J&R Foods
• Balloons: Geronimo Balloons

I’ll be back Friday with Olive’s official 12-month update!  Hope you’re all having a great week!  xoxo, Angel

Happy Monday, everyone!!  First things first, congrats to the 3 winners of Olive’s birthday giveaway: Vivian, Delia and May!  I’ve contacted the three of you so check your email so we can get your goodies out to you!  I’ll be sending out all the giveaway prizes (these 3 + the 2 winners of the Martha Stewart Weddings giveaway) on Thursday!

Today I’m thrilled to have a guest post up on the WhatToExpect.com Blog “Word of Mom.”  It’s a fun blog with original content from the WTE editors as well as real moms like me!  I was so honored when they reached out to me in January (I was in Big Bear at the time and remember squealing on the couch, in fact) and really enjoyed writing this post for them.  The post centers on 5 lessons I learned during my first year as a mom, and I’d love if you went over to check it out!

I’ll be back later this week with some wedding sneak peeks (yay!  So overdue!) and Olive’s official 12-month summary post!  Enjoy this beautiful day!

xoxo, Angel

Happy Monday, everyone!!  I am SO excited to let the cat officially out of the bag today and let you all know that we were PUBLISHED in the latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine!  { pinch me! }

Yes, the Spring 2013 issue features one of our beautiful weddings on its pages… and it happens to be the wedding of my baby sister, Anna!  My love & splendor clients and colleagues all know and adore Anna, as she has been an assistant coordinator for me since the very beginnings of the company.  Anna was married to my wonderful brother-in-law, Sean, last June, and it has been sooooo hard to keep this gorgeous wedding under wraps for so long.  But, we knew this stunning wedding was destined to be shared somewhere special.  It is a true honor (and honestly, one of my proudest biz moments ever!) to see this wedding on the pages of Martha Stewart Weddings — it is a dream come true.  The fact that the wedding is my sister’s takes it over the top because the event held so much personal meaning to our family.  I will never ever forget that day… It was filled with so much beauty and love and emotion.  I kept looking over at Anna throughout the evening and her expressions were filled with so much pure joy.  Designing this day for her and Sean was a true labor of love and I hope it shows!

photo by my dear friend, Ryan Ray

When we found out that the wedding would be featured in the magazine, I nearly keeled over!  I have been counting down to this date for months!  Okay so I’m already thrilled, I am pushed to the limits of my excitement, and then imagine when I found out that a photo of my precious family was included in the magazine as well!  Yes, a photo of me, Erik, and a 3-month old baby Olive are featured in the magazine, too!!  AHH!  

I cannot tell you how much my heart is exploding.  It’s a business-personal-family-press milestone all wrapped into one big ball of joy and now I want to celebrate with YOU!

To mark this fabulous occasion for love & splendor and my family, I wanted to host a little giveaway!  The prize includes a fresh copy of the Spring 2013 Martha Stewart Weddings magazine to enjoy, a Starbucks gift card (because we all know reading magazines is always better accompanied by a latte) , and a few surprises.  ;-)

To enter, just comment below and let me know either your favorite thing about spring.  It could be a flower, a tradition, a local event…  I can’t wait to read about your seasonal favorites!  One of my favorites has to be fresh English peas.  They are like tiny bubbles of happiness!  I love their mild sweet flavor and I try to eat as much of them as I can while they’re available!

Good luck on the giveaway — you have until WEDNESDAY, March 6th at 6p PST to enter.

P.S. I highly recommend grabbing the magazine in all its printed glory, but right now you MUST get the gorgeous iPad version.  It’s currently FREE (woohoo!) with the code GEhhNG.  Just go HERE, fill out the info and the promo code, and they will email you instructions on how to obtain your free iPad copy.

I will eventually be sharing a LOT more of this wedding so stay tuned!  For now, here are the incredible vendors who made this day what it was.  I am truly thankful to every single one of these amazing folks…

Location, Catering, and Cake: Ojai Valley Inn & Spa  – Sarah in catering is AMAZING.
Event Planning and Design: Events of Love and Splendor 
Photography: Ryan Ray  – our talented and dear friend, who is more like family to me!
Flowers: Heavenly Blooms  – Jaclyne always goes way way above and beyond!
Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals  – Jeni’s beautiful furniture set the stage.  Her styling is impeccable!
Tabletop Rentals: Casa de Perrin  – CdP’s wares made the tabletops shine.  I wish every meal was served on their beautiful china, and every toast made with their gorgeous glasses!
Stationery, Menu, and Calligraphy:Julie Song Ink  - such a sweetheart and a brilliant artist!
Videography: Elysium Productions – Julie shot my wedding, my mom’s wedding, and now Anna’s wedding!  The circle is complete!
Music: Brandt Jacobus and Ray Fortune  – two people you NEED to hire.
Linens: La Tavola Linen  – always my pick for lovely linens!
Hair and Makeup: Nicole Deanne  – our cherished friend helped us look our best!  Loved her being there on the big day!!

And THANK YOU, to the wonderful editors at Martha Stewart Weddings who gave us this incredible feature.  I’m off to enjoy this beautiful Monday!  Thank you for sharing in my joy today!!!

xoxo, Angel

In early November, I had the pleasure of working with a fabulous team on a winter-inspired shoot.  Yesterday the fruits of our labor were featured on Style Me Pretty, and we couldn’t be more thrilled!  Make sure to mosey over to see both of the posts (HERE and HERE) which take a peek at two unique “takes” on the same table.  And lots of love to the team at SMP for their support of our work throughout the years.  <3

I don’t do a lot of staged shoots, but the idea for this unique project was borne out of a desire to capture the holiday spirit and bring it to life with REAL people, REAL food, and a REAL gathering.  Instead of perfectly manicured models traipsing around opulent tables that are big on WOW and short on practicality (i.e. tables you would never have at an actual wedding), our shoot would feature real people (including me and my husband and some of our dear friends from Cana VP) sitting at a rustic table that you could easily recreate at home.

The hearty winter menu featured beautiful seasonal produce including a ribolita (a Tuscan bean and cabbage stew), fig and chipotle stuffed pork loin, herb and parmesan-crusted pumpkin wedges, cider-braised brussels sprouts dotted with pomegranate jewels and warm farro with grilled raddichio, pistachios, dried cherries and a white truffle shallot vinaigrette.  The meal was presented on my favorite Spode Jewel china from Casa de Perrin (did you know you can rent their wares for more than just weddings?  Their gorgeous tabletop décor is perfect for intimate dinner parties, holiday festivities and more…) — a subtle and lovely white-on-white pattern that gets me every time.  Gold flatware added a touch of luxury, and emerald goblets paired with clear pressed glass made for a festive tabletop.  Simple pine boughs draped along the center of the table, punctuated by pinecones and potted olive trees (hint hint) brought a touch of the season in, without going overboard.  The endlessly talented Julie Song of Julie Song Ink created lovely placecards, menus and placards for the food using reclaimed wood and gold ink.  The coasters she made from wood slices with gilded edges are my favorite!  Our friends from Enjoy Cupcakes provided the sweetest ending with a gorgeous cake (the sugared cranberries were show-stopping!) and scrumptious cupcakes in flavors like gingerbread, cranberry cobbler, and spiced pear butter chardonnay.  YUM.

To really showcase the versatility of the tabletop, we ended up doing two set-ups: the original vision as described above, along with one more luxe and lush that could translate beautifully into a wedding.  Our wintery elegant tabletop swapped the branches for creamy textural florals in ceramic glazed trophy cups and striking pillar candles.  The greyish green tones of natural air plants added a bit of modernity to an otherwise classic look.  Our cozy lounge vignette featuring pieces from {found} vintage rentals made the perfect accompaniment, using flokati pillows and a warm cable knit throw.  The entire look was luxurious yet accessible.  The floral designer, Camilla of Camilla Flowers, is a true artist.  Her creativity and talent blows me away…  (She did my mother’s wedding back in 2008 and I am still in awe of her work from that day!)

Here is a peek…

you can always gauge how happy I am when i smile by how much of my gums I show.  so… I’m pretty darn happy here.  :)

yes, that is my adorable husband above on the right!

cheers!

As we sat down to wrap up our “shoot,” we realized that the inspired setting we had created was more than just a still-life for eyes only.  Our intention all along was to design a table that could actually be enjoyed, food and treats that could actually be consumed, a place that would become an actual venue for laughter, conversation and holiday cheer.  As the sun set and we clinked glasses and passed dishes across the table, I couldn’t help but marvel at what we had created.  It was more than a tabletop.  It had become an event.

My hope is that this Christmas, this season, at your wedding or at your next gathering with those you love, you would turn your table into an event. Even a casual dinner can become an occasion when you set the mood and incorporate a few well-conceived details.  In the end, what set this shoot apart (in my mind, anyway) was the warmth and love of all those involved, coming together for something more than just a pretty picture.  Of course thanks to Ryan Ray we got the stunning images, but more than that, they evoke a lovely day filled with laughter and good friends.  Your setting is just the stage for creating beautiful memories.

Here is a roundup of the fabulous team that brought this gathering to life…

• photography by Ryan Ray
• design and styling by Angel Swanson of Love and Splendor
• florals by Camilla Flowers
• stationery & calligraphy by Julie Song
• tabletop rentals by Casa de Perrin
• furniture rentals from {found} vintage rentals
• catering by Trumpet Vine Catering
• cake & desserts by Enjoy Cupcakes

Thank you for stopping by!  With Christmas and the end of the year rapidly approaching, I have a handful of blog posts coming your way.  ;-)  Keep your eyes open for 1) Olive’s 9 months post, 2) A gorgeous Santa Ynez wedding feature, 3) Another great giveaway and 4) An exciting announcement!

Let me know in the comments: what are YOUR plans for gathering during the holidays?  Enjoy your weekend!!  xoxo, Angel