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Dara + Danny – 10.8.11

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Hey everyone!!  Wedding season is in full swing here and we are backed up with some great posts.  ;-)  We look forward to sharing LOTS of prettiness with you in the coming weeks.  To start, I am excited to finally share this lovely Saddlerock Ranch wedding with you!  If you’ve been reading our blog for any length of time, you know that Saddlerock is one of our “sweet spots” — we know it inside and out and work there constantly.  I loved working on this sweet wedding for Dara and Danny — they are such a kind and wonderful pair.  <3  They referenced the vineyards on the property in the design of their celebration, so we utilized fresh grapes and hanging amaranthus for a verdant feel.  Lots of dahlias made their way into the arrangements as well, while bouquets were on the softer side of the color spectrum, composed of pastel roses and crisp orchids.  The palette of lavender, slate blue, sage, and grey was refreshing — it felt light and fun, just like the couple!  A decadent dinner al fresco, courtesy of the ever-delicious Heirloom LA, along with a great dance party under the stars, made this evening unforgettable.  LOVE you, D&D!!

Here’s a look at their day, through the lens of the lovely and talented Chenin of Boutwell Studio.  :-)

{ fabulous vendors }

Hope you all have a wonderful day!  xoxo, Angel

Vipula & Dan – 8.20.11 {part 2}

Monday, February 13th, 2012

Happy Monday, everyone!!  I’m back with part two of Vipula and Dan’s fabulous and over-the-top gorgeous wedding… and you are in for some SERIOUS eye candy!

Let’s pick up post-cocktail hour and move straight into the reception, where guests encountered bright fabric tenting, colorful lanterns with clutches of orchids, exotic feathers and flowers grouped into eclectic vessels, a sultry custom-built ‘destination’ bar and of course… an incredible chai & dessert tent, with cabinets overflowing with sweet treats and cozy settees and cushions for snuggling up with a warm cup of tea.

texture everywhere…

some dining tables were wooden tables topped with intricately beaded runners…

while other tables were draped in sumptuously colored fabrics

the “napkin rings” were tri-fold menus that had three sections listed: drink, eat, sweets!  guests could review the signature cocktails available at the bar, read about the decadent dishes they’d feast upon during the traditional Indian dinner, and whet their appetite for a selection of sweets.

i spy… custom-designed stationery (by love and splendor) and elephants galore…

lounges surrounded the dancefloor

sweet and saucy provided the magnificent cake and always-mouth-watering desserts :)

table for two…

i can’t get enough of these over-the-top florals!!  r. jack balthazar ALWAYS brings the magic.

and the most stunning bar you’ve ever seen…

…turned on the drama when the sun set

grand entrance & first dance

i love these two a lot.

and as the sun set, the colorful scene seamlessly evolved into a jaw-droppingly sultry celebration with the perfect mood lighting for dining & dancing!

I hope you loved soaking up all the details of this wedding as much as I enjoyed dreaming them up and now reliving them through these amazing images.  :)  Another round of applause and deepest thanks to a team made up of some of my very favorite people…

photography : The Image is Found // planning, design & coordination : Events of Love and Splendor // floral & event design : R. Jack Balthazar // venue : Saddlerock Ranch // stationery & all printed materials : Kristin, in-house graphic designer for Events of Love and Splendor // cinematography : Elysium Productions // catering : Chakra Beverly Hills + Huntington Catering // mixologists : The Cocktail Consultant // DJ : Red Shoe LA // rentals : Classic Party Rentals // linens : La Tavola // cake & desserts : Sweet and Saucy Shop // photobooth : Smilebooth // entertainment : Bollywood Step Dance // security : Sandman Security // valet parking : Premiere Valet

And of course, lots of love to Vipula & Dan whose trust in me gave me the inspiration to put this day together for them!

I’ll wrap this post with some fun “on the job” photos of the Love and Splendor ladies… because we truly love what we do and it shows!!!  :)

me getting some help adjusting my sari… i now own two of my own saris (gifts from clients — LOVE!!) and can honestly say wearing a sari makes me feel like a million bucks.  i would wear one all the time if i could!

me and anna banana, snapped by niki of r. jack balthazar

 

love and splendor.

Hope you all have a lovely Valentine’s Day tomorrow…

xoxo, Angel

Vipula & Dan – 8.20.11 {part 1}

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

NOTE: This wedding was beautifully featured last Friday on Style Me Pretty!  Check it out over there — we thank the lovely team at SMP for always being sweet supporters of our work!  xox

Hello everyone!!  Today I’m kicking off a two-part post of a vibrant Indian wedding I planned and designed last year.  I remember meeting Vipula and Dan for the first time at a local coffee shop and soaking up their vision.  They both desired a quintessentially Indian wedding, embellished in vibrant hues and dripping with luxurious, exotic details.  They were getting married at Saddlerock Ranch (my home away from home), but at a different venue — the Oak Grove.  It was the perfect setting for their larger guest count because it provided a blank slate for the layout of the celebration, as well as lots of open, flat space (which was important for the tenting they eventually decided on).  We capitalized on all that space by creating three unique ‘venues’ on their wedding day.

Their traditional Hindu ceremony was held under a custom-built mandap made by the floral and event designers/geniuses at R. Jack Balthazar.  Rene & Niki are two of my favorite people in the wedding industry and they and their team always over-deliver with their incredibly creative work.  The wooden structure was draped with floral garlands and hanging lanterns for a lavish look.  Cocktail hour was held on an adjacent lawn, featuring a bar staffed by professional mixologists offering signature cocktails with exotic ingredients such as earl grey-infused vodka, thyme, tamarind syrup and fresh mango puree.  Upholstered lounge furniture and embroidered pillows made for a luxe yet warm setting for imbibing.  I especially enjoyed working on the escort card table design here, which played on Vipula’s love of elephants.  Escort cards were cut using a custom-made elephant-shaped die, and then nestled in shallow bowls of fragrant and colorful spices.  The entire table was covered with elephant figures and statues to further play out the motif.

Guests were moved to a grand “village” of tents for dinner and dancing.  Instead of a single tent structure, we utilized “destination” tents for dining, a custom-built bar, and a dessert and chair lounge.  All of the tents surrounded an inner ‘courtyard’ of sorts, which featured more tables, cushy lounges and the dancefloor.  Sumptuous fabrics, abundant florals and plush furniture made for a spectacular setting that was decidedly extravagant while also intimate and warm.  Per usual, my dear friends at R. Jack Balthazar pulled out all the stops for this wedding and did not overlook a single detail in setting each opulent table.  The overall setting was nothing short of spectacular.  It was pure magic to watch Vipula and Dan’s guests, many adorned in splendid saris, mingling in the lavish scene.

Because there is just *too much* deliciousness to share in just one post, I’ve decided to break up this wedding posting into two parts.  Today I’m sharing photos of the couple, the ceremony + the cocktail hour.  I’ll be back soon with the reception images, so make sure to come back to check them out.  ;-)  In the meanwhile, cozy up with your cup of chai (I like mine with milk and a hint of vanilla) and enjoy the gorgeous images courtesy of Nate and Jac Kaiser of The Image Is Found — two of my favorite people and photographers on the planet.

meet vipula and dan :)

i was completely in love with all THREE of vipula’s saris that day…

a sheet separates the couple before they can see each other for the first time

absolutely adorable kiddos <3

sari #2 — possibly my favorite :)

cocktail hour!

since dinner would be an all-out Indian feast, cocktail hour featured vip & dan’s favorite American-style bites

tented cards are much more fun when they’re elephant-shaped :)

Lots and LOTS more to come!!  :)  In the meanwhile, I hope you have an inspired Wednesday.

VENDORS (because it takes a village to create a sumptuous ‘village’ like this one!)

photography : The Image is Found // planning, design & coordination : Events of Love and Splendor // floral & event design : R. Jack Balthazar // venue : Saddlerock Ranch // stationery & all printed materials : Kristin, in-house graphic designer for Events of Love and Splendor // cinematography : Elysium Productions // catering : Chakra Beverly Hills + Huntington Catering // mixologists : The Cocktail Consultant // DJ : Red Shoe LA // rentals : Classic Party Rentals // linens : La Tavola // cake & desserts : Sweet and Saucy Shop // photobooth : Smilebooth // entertainment : Bollywood Step Dance // security : Sandman Security // valet parking : Premiere Valet

xoxo, Angel

Jess & Scott – 10.15.11

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

Today I am SO delighted to share this charming, woodland-themed wedding with all of you…  It is a wedding that is dear to my heart for so many reasons.  :)  First – Jess & Scott are two of the loveliest, most creative and wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.  (I know I always share a lot of love for my clients but honestly, can you blame me when I work with the best clients in the world??  You’ve seen this couple on my blog already HERE and HERE and HERE (which you MUST click to see their wedding video)!  Working with these lovebirds was a dream from start to finish, because they had an incredible artistic vision and the most insane vintage-hunting skills ever.  ;-)  Most of the unique decor and furniture was individually sourced by them at flea markets from here to Indiana! 

Secondly – this wedding vendor team was made up of some of my very favorite people.  It is always an extra blessing to work alongside people I love, who inspire me!  In this case, I was fortunate to have both Ryan Ray Photo & Cana Video Productions along for the celebration.

Finally – everything about this celebration is both stunning yet approachable.  Truly, I was obsessed with every detail and aspect of this wedding because the warm, intimate, rustic and oftentimes quirky (love!!) design made me smile all night long.  Likewise, I loved watching the joy spread over the faces of guests, unexpectedly discovering gnomes, forest creatures and enchanted mushrooms nestled amongst the flowers and candles on their dinner tables.  From heart-warming ceremony to tearful wedding preview video showing, to late-night bonfire s’mores-roasting… being at this wedding was bliss.  Thank you to Jess & Scott for allowing me to be a part of the magical day…

Today we are honored to have this lovely celebration featured *all day* on Style Me Pretty, one of my favorite places on the web to be inspired.  :)  Enjoy checking out Jess’s inspiration boards, as well as these feature posts (HERE and HERE) for all the beauty you can handle.  Photos are courtesy of the painfully talented Ryan Ray Photography, whose imagery moves my heart.  It is a blessing to call him friend.

 

guest tables were individually themed after woodland creatures: bear, owl, fox, and you know… dinosaurs!!  :)  each table featured miniature toys and trinkets in the shape of the highlighted animal.  you would not believe the goodies jess and scott discovered!!

{ Vendors }

Enjoy your Tuesday, loves!! 

xoxo, Angel

Natalia & Brian – 11.11.11

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Well here it is, everyone: the wedding you’ve been waiting to see in all its “perfection” and glory!!  :)  I am bursting with joy to share these phenomenal images with you, courtesy of my dear friends Nate & Jac Kaiser of The Image is Found.  If you haven’t already, make sure to watch the two videos from Cana VP in conjunction with this post.  I promise they will only add to the enchantment.

Since my other blog posts about this couple have given you the background about the day, I’ll keep this blog short and simple.  (Well, the writing will be short..I’m about to OVERWHELM you with incredible images!!)  Just a little list of fun “midnight” treats guests enjoyed at this non-stop party: singalong mariachi, quesadillas and esquites, fresh fruit with lime + chili powder, and a taco cart…

Enjoy soaking up a little of Natalia & Brian’s bliss via these photos.  They will transport you straight to the day and I can assure you: the day was just as fun as it looks.  ;-)  (more HERE)

nat & brian have the most amazing group of friends!  loooved this bridal party.

if you haven’t guessed, brian is a total character.  :)

all the guests had a BLAST… the energy was incredible that night!

love.

watching the wedding preview vid that the Cana boys made… ALWAYS a tearjerker with those guys!!!

parent dances

their thank you toast made me cry…

brian’s band played an amaaaazing set

anna, demonstrating the proper use of an inflatable guitar

the cana boys

the untouchable talents themselves: nate & jac.  i love these two like cah-ray-zee.

and us.  i LOVE these.  me & a couple that changed me forever.

Natalia & Brian — I will never be able to tell you how deeply your love touched me!  I thank God for the opportunity to have met you both, and to now call you dear and treasured friends.  Thank you for the ridiculous laughter we shared over the past year (seriously, we have the best stories!!), and for the tears of joy you brought to my eyes on your wedding day.  I couldn’t be happier to see two such wonderful people be united in marriage.  Your love inspires us all <3  xoxoxo, Angel

{ vendors: it sure helps to work with people who are amazing! }

PHOTOGRAPHY // THE IMAGE IS FOUND
PLANNING, DESIGN & COORDINATION // EVENTS OF LOVE AND SPLENDOR
VIDEOGRAPHY // CANA VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
VENUE // SADDLEROCK RANCH – malibu, ca
FLORAL DESIGN // HOLLYFLORA
RENTALS, TENTING, & LIGHTING // CLASSIC PARTY RENTALS
DJ // IAN with RED SHOE LA
VINTAGE RENTALS // FOUND VINTAGE RENTALS
STATIONARY // KRISTIN, in house graphic designer for LOVE AND SPLENDOR
DESSERTS // SWEET AND SAUCY SHOP //  CATERING // HUNTINGTON CATERING COMPANY // MARIACHI // MARIACHI MEXICO EN AMERICA

Rachel & Dustin – 9.10.11

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Just under 3 months ago, we had the absolute pleasure of seeing the culmination of this very special wedding… the marriage of blogger (and friend!), Rachel and her high school sweetheart, Dustin.  I’ve known Rachel for years because she grew up with my best friend, Kristin.  I got to know her better via her incredible lifestyle blog, Heart of Light, where she regularly posts about food, family, crafting…  She lives her life beautifully, I savor each post she writes.  I was both floored and honored when she reached out to me about possibly helping with the planning and coordinating of her wedding day this fall.  I knew without a doubt that the day would be a special one.  Rachel’s creativity and eye for design are inspiring.  Pair her up with Dustin, a talented architect, and you have the recipe for a fabulous celebration.

Rachel and Dustin get all the credit for the incredibly beautiful, handmade, colorful and playful décor they created for this wedding.  From the gocco’d invitations to the hand-dyed napkins… to the carefully crafted paper flower centerpieces to a festive fringed and ruffled crepe backdrop… Rachel and Dustin poured their hearts into designing a wedding that celebrated THEM.  Anna and Michelle, my ever wonderful assistants, simply carried out Rachel and Dustin’s designs on the big day.  It is always a treat to work alongside such creative clients and although we here at Love & Splendor adoooore being a part of the design process, we are also eager to collaborate with our brilliant couples on their own phenomenal visions for their weddings.  What a privilege.

Rachel & Dustin’s beautiful wedding has already made a splash on the net after a series of features were posted on 100 Layer Cake (one of my very favorite wedding blogs).  Enjoy this look at their whimsical, vibrant, bliss-filled day, courtesy of images from Fresh In Love Photography.  xoxo

 

i LOVE this one.  simple and perfect.

<3

We hope you all enjoyed this cheery celebration as much as we did.  The bright colors feel like a bit of sunshine on this chilly winter day.  :)  Enjoy your Tuesday!!

 xoxo, Angel

{vendor round-up}

sneak peek vids – brian & natalia 11.11.11

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

Happy Friday, everyone!!  December is here and Christmas is just around the corner… I feel like the air is just buzzing with excitement and joy for the impending celebrations.  Today I want to help you kick off your weekend with a double feature of Brian and Natalia, the couple I mentioned in my last post about the “perfect” wedding.

I have been DYING to share their preview video with all of you since I saw it the night of the wedding.  Now you’ll be able to get the smallest idea of what I meant when I said this wedding was drenched and saturated with love and emotion…

And yes, that’s me in a little cameo around 0:27ish.  That little part always makes me beam; I so cherish the precious friendships I built with this pair.

As a second serving of amazingness, you get to hear the intro to their ceremony, as masterfully told by their friend Johnny Irving.  This was just the introduction!!  He had us all laughing and crying throughout.  I was covered in goosebumps by the time they shared their first kiss as husband and wife.

Enjoy these fabulous videos, courtesy of my dear friends Ben & Drew of Cana Video Production.  I’ve already watched both videos TWICE this morning.  :)

I hope your weekend is fabulous!  My immediate plans include trimming our fresh cut Christmas tree, priming the bookshelf for babygirl’s nursery, and finishing up Catching Fire (the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy).

xoxo,  Angel

The “Perfect” Wedding

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Happy Monday, everyone!  Thank you so much for all of your kind words on my last post — I love sharing the joy of my pregnancy with you!

Today I wanted to write a special entry about my last wedding of the 2011 season, which took place on 11.11.11.  It has been 10 days since the incredible celebration and I am still daydreaming about it.  Honestly.  This wedding affected me deeply and powerfully.  And although it is dangerous to use the word, I would dare say it was perfect.

(hauntingly beautiful image by The Image is Found)

When most people think of the “perfect” wedding, what do you think comes to mind?  A dazzling couture gown or the score-of-a-lifetime vintage frock?  Over-the-top florals, luxe linens, and a five-course dinner?  Or maybe a day where everything goes smoothly… without a single hiccup… with nary a hair out of its perfectly-coiffed place.  Of course, the perfect weather — warm and glowing sunshine with a cool breeze — is a given.

What if I told you that none of these things made my 11.11.11 ‘perfect?’  It rained.  It POURED.  It was dark and stormy.  We had to get a tent a few days prior to the wedding — the dream of a glorious outdoor wedding was going to be impossible to achieve.  We tried to start the ceremony outdoors and it started to rain, on the guests, sending everyone running for the tent.  Twice. Things got muddy.  I’m sure some ladies ruined their designer stilettos.  It was freezing cold once the evening was underway (outside the warmth of the tent, anyway).  Trips to the bathroom became treacherous jaunts through lawns-turned-marshland.  We had to fashion ponchos out of trashbags to escort umbrella-less guests to the shuttle stop at the night’s end.  I am sure that for some couples, it would have been more than they could have handled.

But not this couple.  Not these guests.  Not this wedding.

Meeting Brian and Natalia for the first time was like the perfect first date.  It was easy, natural.  We were perfectly matched in terms of style and vision.  They were planning an amazing wedding to celebrate 10+ years of love and companionship.  I fell in love with their love.  For months and months we dreamed and planned together for a day that would be warm, personable, festive and unique.  From the placesettings to the dinner music, everything was intentional.  Every detail seeped with their love for each other and the people they share their love with.  I felt truly blessed to be a part of it all.

When the weather forecast turned grim the week before the wedding, the couple was steadfast.  We carefully went over the options and they were able to wisely opt for the safest rain plan.  And then we waited to see what the day would hold.

And it was perfect.

When I greeted each of them on their wedding day (separately — they didn’t see each other until the ceremony), we shared huge hugs and undeniable excitement.  They were both just yearning for the night to unravel.  After two false starts with the ceremony, we DID get to hold the ceremony outside (praise God), underneath the great tree they fell in love with when they first picked the venue.  The bride’s dramatic entrance was heralded by shouts of joy and thunderous applause (and the festive shake of tambourines, of course).  Their truly personal ceremony, officiated by one of the most passionate and uniquely gifted ministers I have EVER seen/heard, was perfect.  I mean, I literally got the chills.  Multiple times.  I teared up throughout their vows.  I almost lost it at the end…  Their blissful kisses as the ceremony concluded (under the most dramatic sky) just MOVED you.  Forget the weather.  I don’t think anyone present could believe the heart-wrenchingly beautiful ceremony they’d just witnessed.

I was accompanied by some of my all-time favorite vendors that evening (Hi Nate, Jac, Ian, Ben & Drew!) and we all kept looking at each other, bug-eyed, throughout the evening… It was like we couldn’t believe what we were seeing.  It was the most beautiful, emotional, love-filled wedding I had ever seen.  As the night progressed, we saw the fruition of a warm and insanely romantic reception inside the tent… a first dance that made me laugh and cry… toasts that filled my heart up with so much happiness…  Brian and his AMAZING band (The Brian Buckley Band — go check them out; you’re welcome in advance.  I can’t stop listening to Hysterical Blindness) performed a set that had us all mesmerized.  More of their musically-gifted friends performed throughout the evening as well…  It was, simply, perfect.

At the end of the night, as I gave hugs and kisses to the departing couple, their heartfelt thanks reached me way down deep inside.  I was still processing all the enchantment and wonder of the evening.  It was like a dream…  And even now, as I try to recall every detail to mind, it is like a too-perfect dream.  Brian and Natalia’s wedding was perfect not because of external circumstances, but because of their powerful, one-of-a-kind love… and the beautiful people they celebrated with only amplified that love.  I will truly never, ever forget that evening and the way I felt as I watched it unfold before my eyes.

I wanted to write this post to remind any of you out there who are still planning a wedding: what makes a wedding “perfect” is the love you share, and those with whom you share it. Sometimes, we all need to be reminded to look beyond everything else and just be inspired by the core, the heart of a wedding.  Love.

Dying to share the images and video with you, and promise to do so as soon as I can.  ;-)  Until then, trust me.  It was perfect.

xoxo,

Angel

sneak peek vid – jess & scott 10.15.11

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Hello dearest readers!!  I am back after an incredibly busy two months and am excited to get back to regular posting.  ;-)  I have over a dozen weddings that I still need to blog from THIS YEAR — can you believe it?  Keep your eyes peeled for lots of beauty and inspiration coming very very soon.  In the meanwhile, I thought I’d ease back into blogging with an inspiring preview video from a wedding I did last month in gorgeous San Luis Obispo.

You may remember this stunning couple from a post I did on their engagement shoot by Ryan Ray (btw — Ryan Ray is as amazing a person as he is an artist).  I am dying to see the film he shot on that magical day.  The wedding was truly one-of-a-kind lovely.

Now grab some tissues (no seriously, you might need them if you’re anything like me) and enjoy this beautiful video prepared my dear dear friends Ben & Drew from Cana VP.  Watching it on the wedding night truly moved me.. and it still hasn’t lost its captivating effect after multiple subsequent views.

Hope you have a marvelous day — stay tuned for another post this week catching you up on where the L&S team has been lately!

xoxo,

Angel

Borami & Anthony – 7.2.11

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

Hello dear readers!  Happy September!!!  (It is crazy to see that typed out…  This summer was gone in the blink of an eye!)  I absolutely love the fall and am looking forward to the cozy season, but it still feels like summer with this heatwave we’ve been having in soCal.  So, let’s sneak back to a few months ago when the summer was ripe and these two lovebirds were married!

Borami & Anthony first made an appearance on my blog when I shared their engagement session, but I actually met the couple back in 2009.  I planned Borami’s sister’s wedding (Hi Naomi!!) and was overjoyed when Borami reached out to me when she was engaged.  It was truly special to be a part of two weddings in this beautiful family.  Borami’s father told me that evening that he was sad he didn’t have any more daughters so I could plan their weddings.  ;-)  Speaking of Borami’s parents… a romantic moment I caught that day: Borami’s mother was getting ready and asked her husband if she looked OK.  His reply: “My baby always looks beautiful!”  I was so touched in that simple moment.  I know that Borami and Anthony will have a rich and loving marriage due to the wonderful example they have in their families.

This wedding took place at my beloved Saddlerock Ranch (where I still have 4 weddings left this year — woohoo!) and I truly never, EVER tire of the place.

Enjoy these dreamy photos from my dear friend, Amelia Lyon.  Working with her and Justin is always a joy, and these photos speak for themselves.  She is incredibly talented and these images bring back all the beauty and wonder of the day.

pure sweetness.

loooove these two images.

{ Lovely Vendors }

I hope you all have a lovely Labor Day weekend!!  My plans include a fabulous wedding in shades of eggplant, plum, sage and olive.. as well as attending The Taste!
xoxo, Angel