Category: Love & Splendor Workshop

Happy Monday!  A second feature from the 2015 Love & Splendor Workshop is on Green Wedding Shoes TODAY.  We can’t wait for you to take a look at another one of our dinner settings.  For this particular evening, we dined outside the main house at Greengate Ranch and Vineyard.  Our inspiration was the equestrian property itself, bringing in rich autumn colors, masculine textures (such as leather, weathered wood and wrought iron), and luxurious details that made the experience truly special.

I never tire of looking at these photos from Braedon Photography — he captured every moment beautifully.

Make sure to check out the feature on Green Wedding Shoes today!  Now that we’ve been able to share some of the workshop on a larger scale, I’m looking forward to putting together some “closer look”  posts of each day of the workshop.  In those posts, I’ll be able to really focus on every beautiful detail and of course, share an overload of images.  Look out for that recap coming soon!

As always, I couldn’t have done a thing without my PHENOMENAL team…

photography: Braedon Flynn // planning & design: Love & Splendor // venue: Greengate Ranch and Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, California // floral: Wilder Floral Co. // furniture rentals: Found Vintage Rentals // tabletop rentals: Casa de Perrin // linens: La Tavola Fine Linen // décor rentals: Theoni Collection // catering: Trumpet Vine Catering // calligraphy: Anne Robin // paper goods: The Romance Between // donuts: Sugar Lips Mini Donuts // cake + mini desserts: Sweet and Saucy Shop // lighting: All About Events

Hope you all have a wonderful week.  I have a busy one ahead, filled with Skype calls, meetings, filming, and tastings.  In just the next seven days, I’ll get to see three of my couples.  Grateful for the amazing clients I have this year and I can’t wait to bring their unique celebrations to life.

Hi everyone!!  Let’s fast-forward through the requisite apology for not blogging in ages.  It has been an amazing yet action-packed season for me and when something’s gotta give, it is always the blog.  But — I am really looking forward to sharing more in this space in 2016.  Writing here is a great joy for me.

Along those lines, I want to share that we have a gorgeous feature on Green Wedding Shoes today!  My 2015 Love & Splendor workshop took place last fall at stunning Greengate Ranch and Vineyards in San Luis Obispo, California.  I’m ecstatic to FINALLY share some beautiful photos from Braedon Flynn.  Check out the post on GWS today, featuring our farewell dinner.  Next week we have the second part of the feature to share (!), and then I will be blogging about the entire workshop chronologically here.  🙂  For now, just a few teasers…

A huge thank you to Jen of GWS for coming all the way to SLO as a speaker (her second year in a row!) and also continuing to support and share my work.  Love you to pieces!

Thanks for reading & stopping by — much more to come very soon!

{DREAM TEAM for L&S Workshop 2015 Farewell Dinner} photography: Braedon Flynn // planning & design: Love & Splendor // venue: Greengate Ranch and Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, California // floral: Wilder Floral Co. // furniture rentals: Found Vintage Rentals // tabletop rentals: Casa de Perrin // linens: La Tavola Fine Linen // décor rentals: Theoni Collection // catering: Field to Table Events // calligraphy: Anne Robin // paper goods: The Romance Between // die cut gingko placecards: Jen Aitchison // ice cream: Negranti’s Ice Cream Truck // Photo Booth: CamBooth by Cameron Ingalls

PS // Today Noah is ONE (ohmygosh ohmygosh) and I have a sappy post in the works.  Too much excitement for one day, clearly, and I am still processing my mom-feelings.  🙂  Happy birthday to the littlest love of my life!

Happy Monday everyone!  I have been so excited since registration opened last week for this year’s Love & Splendor Workshop.  If you are thinking about joining us, don’t hesitate in contacting me with any questions.  I love hearing from you!  You can email me directly // angel@loveandsplendor.com

You can also see details about the workshop & SIGN UP HERE.

photo by Ryan Ray

Today I thought I’d share just a few of the sweet notes and kind words I received from attendees last year.  It sort of makes me blush to share these but I think it’s helpful for prospective attendees to read them.  I hope most of all you can discern how important it is to me to create a truly unforgettable, heartfelt, beneficial experience for everyone.  My heart is in this 100% and I feel honored to share it with you!

Dear Angel,

Thank you so, so much for putting on such an incredible workshop!  Everything was perfect from start to finish, and every detail was so beautiful.  The information you and all the speakers shared was priceless and so helpful for me and my business.  I was able to apply almost everything we covered to my own floral business, so it worked out really nicely; I will definitely encourage my flower friends to sign up next year!  I was an experience I will cherish forever.  You are one of the warmest and kindest people I’ve ever met, it’s no wonder you’re so successful!  My heart is overflowing and I just can’t think you enough!!

Tons of love, Martha
Martha Claire Floral

Angel Darling,

I truly admire and appreciate your organization and attention to detail in planning this amazing and inspirational workshop!  Your talent is true and genuine and that is rare.  I love this about you and hope I can be so lucky to adopt those qualities as my own in my business.  I feel renewed, inspired and passionate about life and the adventures I have ahead of me making my way in the industry.  This workshop was exactly what I needed and I could not be more thankful to you for hosting it and of course, April for recommending it.  I am lucky to know such great women!  Your insight is so helpful, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with me.  Thank you!

Love, Kelsey
A Lovely Creative

Angel,

I can’t thank you enough for all the hard work you put into planning the L&S Workshops.  Please know that it paid off!  I left feeling inspired and well-equipped to take on the challenges faced in this industry.  You are truly a force — incredibly talented, but even more kind-hearted.

xoxo, Leah Moss
also at Parsonage Events Floral Studio / Michigan

Angel,

I can’t thank you enough for putting that workshop together.  It was so empowering!  Your love for what you do and your love for others is so strong.  The guests you chose were perfect; they were so honest and open.  Since the workshop I’ve made a big life decision and will be working for Archive Rentals Mexico.  I am so excited for the opportunity to design for them in a beautiful and new place.  I’ve enclosed the Maya Angelou quote you shared at the workshop for you to frame.  It was the perfect quote to sum up the way you and your guest speakers made me feel.  I left with such encouragement to continue in the industry with hope.  Thank you again for everything!  You are amazing!

Love, Jesenia Pena
Archive Rentals Mexico

I was truly blessed by the passionate, creative, encouraging bunch of women I had join me last year in Los Angeles.  I can’t wait to see how this year’s group shapes up and I look forward to making new connections and friendships this September in San Luis Obispo at Greengate Ranch!

Learn more HERE and sign up HERE!  Have a wonderful week!!

UPDATE: REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!  CLICK HERE!

Happy Monday, everyone!  In just two days, I’ll open up registration for the 2nd Love & Splendor Workshop and I couldn’t be more excited.  Today I wanted to post all of the details you’ll need to join us this fall.

LoveandSplendor_WorkshopLogo_Final-LowResolultion

WHEN/WHERE: Monday, September 14th thru Thursday, September 17th at Greengate Ranch and Vineyards in San Luis Obispo, California

WHO: We welcome aspiring and current wedding planners and designers of all experience levels, as well as other event creatives who want to learn more about how to run a productive, profitable, passion-driven business.  Last year I was thrilled to have floral designers, stationers, calligraphers and bakers in attendance at the workshop.  The material can be adapted to many different creative entrepreneurs.

WORKSHOP SPEAKERS + COLLABORATORS: This year’s line up includes Angel Swanson, film photographer Ryan Ray, Jeni of Found Rentals, Diana and Josh of Casa de Perrin, Jesi Haack of Jesi Haack Design, Melody of Sweet and Saucy Shop, Emarie VanGalio of La Tavola Linen and Theoni Collection, and MORE to be announced.  🙂

photo by Ryan Ray

ABBREVIATED SCHEDULE // I love a good surprise so I’m keeping many details under wraps.  For now, here’s a basic look at how we will spend our time.  Of course, schedule subject to change as plans shape up.

  • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH
    • Check-in to your room and get settled from 2-4p
    • 4p Opening session // Angel Swanson
    • 5p Depart for dinner
    • 530-8p Private Welcome Dinner — an exquisite meal shared with new friends, and a perfect time to break the ice and get to know one another!
  • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH
    • 8a Breakfast
    • 9a – 12 noon Speaker Sessions
    • 12 noon Lunch
    • 1p – 2p Speaker Session
    • 230-430p Off-site Visit & Table Mockup Reveal
    • 430-530p Prep for Dinner
    • 530-830p Dinner — a detail-laden immersive experience
    • 830-10p Campfire Conversation // Coffee, Cocoa, S’Mores + a Facilitated Time of Connecting Together
  • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH
    • 8a Breakfast
    • 9-12 noon Speaker Sessions
    • 12-1p Lunch
    • 1-5p Speaker Sessions
    • 5-6p Prep for Dinner
    • 6p-9p Final Dinner — a grand finale you won’t soon forget, with lots of surprises in store!
    • 9-10p Campfire Conversation
  • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH
    • 730-9a Breakfast & Pack up for departure
    • 9-11a Final Sessions + Q&A
    • 11a-12 noon Farewells & Departures

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

  1. Four days filled with actionable information, taught in a beautifully designed learning environment.
  2. A warm and welcoming community of industry-leading speakers and collaborators who will share their unique stories with you.  Questions are encouraged and each collaborator has a sincere desire to see you grow and shine!
  3. An intimately sized group of attendees to ensure a personalized experience.
  4. All workshop materials, including a binder filled with helpful outlines, documents and templates.
  5. All 8 meals from Monday dinner through Thursday breakfast — each meal will feature the best the area and season has to offer.
  6. Plenty of snacks and treats to keep us fueled throughout the day.
  7. Three nights of accommodations at *either* Greengate Ranch and Vineyard (the stunning location for the workshop) or our partner property, the luxurious four-diamond Dolphin Bay Resort (transportation provided daily to/from Dolphin Bay Resort).
  8. Memorable events and experiences, meant to wow and inspire.  You can expect all the love and care you would see go into a Love & Splendor wedding.
  9. Handpicked gifts and surprises just for you!
  10. A continuing “open door policy” — My desire is to be a lasting resource for all of my workshop attendees.  You can email and call anytime for advice and feedback, or even schedule a lunch or coffee date next time you’re in California!  I have loved spending one-on-one time with attendees from last year’s event!

Photo by Ryan Ray

INVESTMENT: $3400 for a private room OR $2900 for a shared room + bed (shared rooms are only for friends/colleagues who sign up together and indicate their roommate at the time of registration)

ACCOMMODATIONS:

  • Private rooms have either a Queen or King bed, with your own full bathroom.  These rooms are available at Greengate (the breathtaking site of our workshop) *and* at Dolphin Bay (within a 2-bedroom suite which is 1600 sq feet and offers stunning ocean front views, washer/dryer and shared kitchen).
  • Shared rooms have one King or Queen bed to share, with one full bathroom to share.
  • Both private + shared rooms are available at both host properties and your room will be assigned by Love & Splendor.  Preferences can be noted at registration, but are not guaranteed.  Trust me — you can’t go wrong with either property!

FAQ:

  • Can I come for just one or two days? // No, unfortunately there are no day passes available for the workshop; it is meant to be a complete experience.
  • Are there any discounts available?  // If you sign up with a business partner or friend and are willing to share a room (and king-sized bed) with them, you can opt for the shared room tuition of $2900/ea.  You must sign up with that person (on the same calendar day); roommates will be confirmed upon registration.  Shared rooms are available at both Dolphin Bay *and* Greengate and will be assigned by Love & Splendor.  All rooms are quite large and have PLENTY of space for two friends!
  • Can I room with a friend or colleague but have my own bed?  // Yes!  In this case you would each pay $3400 and will be assigned as “suitemates” for a 2-bedroom suite at the Dolphin Bay Resort.  You will each have your own room, bed, and bathroom.  Simply purchase a “private room” ticket and indicate your suitemate’s name via email to angel@loveandsplendor.com
  • What if I have food allergies or dietary restrictions? // No problem!  I will collect this information before the workshop and will make sure to accommodate your needs.  🙂
  • Which airport is closest to the workshop location? // The closest airport is San Luis Obispo, a small regional airport a mere 10 minutes away.  If you fly into this airport on Monday, September 14th and depart on Thursday, September 17th, we will provide ground transportation (Uber or similar) for you.  Other major airports (e.g. LAX and SFO/OAK) are 2.5-3.5 hours away.  Upon registration, I can assist you with making travel arrangements and connecting with other attendees (to potentially share a rental car, etc.).

If you have any lingering questions, please don’t hesitate to email angel@loveandsplendor.com and I will get back to you as quickly as possible.

class of 2014!

Don’t forget — registration opens this WEDNESDAY 6/10 at 9a PST / 12 noon EST.  I will post a live link on the blog that morning, and also have it in my Instagram profile.  Seats are limited to ensure an intimate, personal experience so if you’re thinking of joining us, don’t delay.  😉  I can’t wait to meet you in September!  Have a great day!

I’m SO excited to round out my 2014 Love & Splendor Workshop recap series (Welcome Recap / Day 2 Recap / Day 3 Recapwith this look back at our beautiful farewell dinner.  I wanted to send off my attendees with a grand final experience: an incredible meal, an inspiring environment, and surprises around every corner.  Although I’m biased, I felt we achieved just that.  🙂  I loved planning and designing this evening alongside some of my dearest friends.  Going through the images for this blog post made me SO nostalgic and simultaneously excited.  I cannot wait for this year’s workshop, coming September 14-17 to San Luis Obispo, CA.  I plan on announcing all the details NEXT WEEK (ahh!) and registration will open on Wednesday, June 10th at 9a PST.  Here’s hoping that we’ll have another fabulous group of creative, joyful and energetic attendees!

i love this arrival/reaction photo!

missing a few but i love this photo of these beautiful ladies!

For this special farewell dinner, I invited attendees and speakers/collaborators to join me for dinner at a secret location.  I didn’t reveal the dinner location until the night of the event itself, and provided direct transportation for my attendees to keep the excitement high.  With the help of The Venue Report, I landed on The Washbow as the perfect backdrop for this celebration.  This modern gem in Culver City has a sprawling indoor space that is an ideal blank canvas for any event.  For my more intimate dinner, however, we kept the festivities outside in their beautiful urban garden.  There is a striking metal “pergola” on-site at the Washbow that was perfect for hanging charming bistro lights, along with foliage-draped chandeliers from JL Designs.  It set the tone for the romantic autumn feel I was hoping for, inspired by a magnificent mountain lodge.  To foster conversation and a feeling of camaraderie, we all sat down to one feasting table (made up of multiple wooden tables from Found Rentals) in beautiful bentwood chairs.

I embraced a jewel-toned palette of mostly oxblood, burgundy and crimson, with texture everywhere, from wooden tables and chairs, to fabrics like wool, tweed and velvet, to sprawling fall foliage used alongside the most sumptuous blooms of the season.  Once again, Carissa from JL Designs made the perfect collaborator as she brought my visions to life.  I especially loved her use of dramatic amaryllis (a fav of mine!) and whole pomegranates in her design.

Casa de Perrin tabletop wares stole the show in a variety of textures: walnut florentine chargers as a base, white collection china, gold flatware and a mix of red and cut crystal goblets for an extra pop on the tables.  The look was unabashedly luxurious while still feeling accessible.  Linens from La Tavola added even more color but the natural linen texture kept it subtle.  I set each seat with a wooden box filled with curated treasures like a name tag by Anne Robin, travel candle from Rosy Rings, beautiful matches, my homemade gluten free granola packed into Weck Jars, handmade Malvi marshmallows and Solstice Canyon almond butter.  It was a final opportunity to spoil these precious new friends.

Heirloom LA blew us all away with a phenomenal family style meal featuring all the best the season had to offer: a red grapefruit salad with speckled lettuces, fresh figs and sunflower seeds; grilled coho salmon and crispy pork belly served alongside roasted root vegetables and a warm sunchoke salad.  It was easily one of the most wonderful meals I’ve had, thanks to Chef Matthew Poley and his unparalleled team.  I loved looking up and down the table, watching new friends share in this meal together.  It was magical.  Heirloom LA put together a decadent mini dessert display, accented by ice cream cakes made by Sweet and Saucy Shop with Sweet Lucie’s ice cream (what a collaboration, right??).  My friends from Sweet Lucie’s even came out with their signature cart to scoop their ice cream in person.  Guests mingled in stylish lounges by Found Rentals and hopped in and out of the fun Flipbooth (a photobooth that prints out perfect flipbooks!) until we had to say farewell.

For a special takeaway station, A Rental Connection hung my favorite Edison bulbs on a vintage arch from Found Rentals.  This beautiful display featured seasonal apples from my favorite local orchard.  Apples are one of my favorite things about summer and fall, so I had to share some with my guests!

Without further ado, here are the stunning photos from my dear friend Ryan Ray.  I am so grateful I had him behind the camera, capturing every detail with such an artful perspective.

me & Ryan himself! Grateful I got him in front of the camera for this snap!

obviously this was before I changed, but I love this snap of me and Cary (Ryan’s wife), my soul sister

Michy, Lauren from Found, Erica from 10.11 Makeup, me, Jeni from Found, Carissa of JL Designs

my precious friend Tara of Heirloom LA

I always love seeing Mike from Sweet Lucie’s!

My Dream Team… event planning + design + styling: Love & Splendor // photography: Ryan Ray // venue: The Washbow Culver City, California // catering: Heirloom LA // florals: JL Designs // furniture rentals: Found Vintage Rentals // tabletop rentals: Casa de Perrin // linens: La Tavola Fine Linen // lighting: A Rental Connection // ice cream cakes: Sweet and Saucy Shop x Sweet Lucie’s collaboration // ice cream: Sweet Lucie’s // photobooth: Flipbooth LA // hair + makeup:10.11 Makeup // calligraphy: Anne Robin (placecards and menus) and Miss Multee (apple station signage) // venue scouting: The Venue Report

I hope you’re all having a great week!  How is already Thursday??  Look out for all the workshop details next week & don’t forget to set an alarm for Wednesday, 6/10 at 9a PST when registration will (finally) open!  Hooray!!  Thank you for stopping by; I am truly grateful for you.

In anticipation of my 2015 Love & Splendor Workshop (registration opening SOON!), I’m working my way through a recap of last year’s event.  (Welcome Recap / Day 2 Recap) I have loved revisiting the images from this special experience; it all flew by too quickly so these pictures help me savor all those special moments and memories one more time.  Thank you again (and again) to my dear friend Ryan Ray, who captured everything in such a beautiful way.

On the final day of the L&S 2014 workshop, we had another full schedule of speakers + instruction.  Day 3 speakers included Brittany Castro of Financially Wise Women, Carissa Jones of JL Designs and Jesi Haack of Jesi Haack Design.  I felt like we had a great mix of practical presentations (lots of nitty gritty facts and info) as well as anecdotal accounts, shared experiences, street smarts kinda stuff.  😉  There are so many unique paths people have taken into this industry and I am glad my attendees were able to see a handful of them!

Also it was very important to me that the workshop remain mostly instructive on a practical, replicable level.  I know there are a lot of fun sessions we could have filled our day with, learning various creative skills or participating in artistic lessons.  But, ultimately, I don’t think it serves my attendees to dabble in things that will not add value to their services.  I will never be a florist or a calligrapher for my clients because there are so many people who excel in those areas — I want to leave it to the experts.  My primary roles include designer + planner + curator.  So, while I had a floral designer and a calligrapher work with me on the event, I chose to skip the ‘classes’ and keep the workshop syllabus more planning + design + business-strengthening focused.  If you are looking for a workshop that is heavy on the info, presented in a setting/environment/experience that will inspire, this is the one for you.  😉

the lovely Erica of 10.11 Makeup, who made me look & feel fabulous everyday

I was so blown away by my intelligent, creative, passionate attendees.  Love you ladies!

We ate like queens (again) thanks to the Ace Hotel’s LA Chapter.  My favorite items of the day were a baby gem lettuces salad, a treviso and arugula salad, fresh grilled fish with tomato and ginger relish, curried pork loin with capers and roasted broccoli and for dessert… cereal milk panna cotta and bruléed pineapple with coconut and banana mousse!  We also made sure to have snacks like olives, nuts, flatbread, crudité and fruit in the afternoon (along with the requisite restock of Stumptown coffee) because I love a good noshing station!

A fun part of Day 3 was an inspiration-to-reality tabletop design that I created with Carissa from JL Designs and many of our incredible sponsors.  I wanted to give the attendees a glimpse of the creative process, and how I work with a client in pulling together various elements and ideas and produce a cohesive design that WOWs.  For this special tabletop, I was instantly drawn to Delftware.  I have long loved the iconic white and blue patterns of traditional Delft pottery.  With Carissa’s help, we designed a table that was Dutch-inspired, mixing in things like mango and acacia wood, monobotanical arrangements of blooms (many indigenous to the region of inspiration) and modern candlesticks.  I loved the way the table looked and felt: layered, textural, lush and feminine yet natural and almost pastoral… with a breath of fresh modernity.  Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE to play with patterns and am drawn to things with a sense of whimsy.  This is true in how I dress, how I decorate my home, and I how I like to design an event.  This tabletop was totally ‘me’ in every way and I had the best time putting it together with Carissa and our creative colleagues.

The foundation was created by a gorgeous wooden farm table from found vintage rentals, set atop a gorgeous blue rug and surrounded by unique but complementary wooden chairs.  The table was topped with the most beautiful blue garden collection china by Casa de Perrin.  Chic teak flatware kept the tabletop from looking too traditional, as did the mix of floral vessels (traditional pottery mixed with the clean lines of the wood bowls).  Cut crystal and dark blue goblets, along with sparkling salt cellars, added the perfect finishing touches to each setting.  La Tavola‘s linen in Wedgewood (one of my very favorite colors) was the perfect shade of inky blue to create an “anchor” with a runner and napkins.  I added my own sourced Delftware napkin rings (two patterns), too.  Sweet and Saucy blew us away with her hand-painted masterpiece of a cake, mimicking the patterns of Delft pottery, adorned with spectacular white sugar flowers.  I still can’t get over how incredible the cake was!  There were even hand-painted macarons to match; exquisite!  Get ready for photo overload in 3, 2, 1….

 

 

We wrapped the day with a Q&A session; I wanted to make sure everyone felt like they had a chance to ask about anything still left undiscussed.  The truth is we could have spent 3 more days together and still have a long list of questions.  Each attendee had their own vision, their own goals, and their own ideas of what they wanted to walk away with after the workshop.  My hope is that the attendees continue to look to me for any encouragement, support, direction and mentorship they may desire.  I have LOVED catching up with many (most!) of the attendees in the time since the workshop.  My door is always open to these ladies and that’s how it’ll stay.

There’s one more finale post in this recap series: the magnificent farewell dinner!  That post is coming soon so stay tuned.  🙂  Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

I’m still in the middle of re-capping 2014’s Love & Splendor Workshop (HERE and HERE), but I had to share a little post of excitement about the location of this year’s workshop: San Luis Obispo, California.  I grew up in southern California but have made California’s gorgeous central coast my home for the past 3.5 years.  It is truly a magical place and as I tell people, it’s everything I love about California (stunning beaches, lots of natural beauty, varied landscapes, incredible food, sunshine and perfect weather) minus everything I dislike about California (traffic, smog, hustle and bustle).  While I am still in LA/OC frequently (with our families still living there, plus weddings), I feel an immediate sense of peace when I cross through the Gaviota Tunnel into the Santa Ynez Valley.  I feel truly blessed to live in a place where many people choose to vacation.

San Luis Obispo county is home to numerous microcommunities, each with its own unique look & feel.  If you love to see rolling hills of vineyards as far as the eye can see, head to Paso Robles (or parts of Arroyo Grande).  If the beach is more your style, my favorites include Shell Beach and Avila Beach.  Nearby Morro Bay reminds me of Monterey, with its charming embarcadero, docks, and wildlife (you can always spy an otter or sea lion nearby).  You can hike the Nine Sisters, bike in the city or the country, kayak along the coast (my husband’s favorite), and surf along Pismo Pier.  The farm to table concept is highlighted beautifully here, with easy access to locally grown food, local wild caught seafood and locally raised livestock.  Can you tell I love it here?

You may know that SLO was named as the “happiest city in America” by Oprah and highlighted as one of the top 4 happiest cities in the world by National Geographic and Reader’s Digest HERE but more recently, the New York Times did a piece on how to spend 36-hours in this idyllic area.  If you have 5 minutes to spare, check out their fun video with some glimpses of local favorites.  Also, the companion article shares many more fabulous recommendations, including my favorite local restaurant, Ember in Arroyo Grande.  Big hint: a good handful of things mentioned in the video and/or article will be incorporated in this year’s Love & Splendor Workshop.  I cannot wait to share the beauty and JOY of this area with new friends.

If you are looking for an inspiration, informative workshop experience that will also double as a soul-refreshing retreat, I can think of no better place to be than this fall’s Love & Splendor Workshop.  More info coming soon!!

I hope you’re having a fabulous Thursday — thank you for stopping by!

I’m back with another recap of last year’s Love & Splendor Workshop — an inspirational & informative time of learning for current and aspiring wedding planners and designers.  Many, many thanks to my dear friend Ryan Ray for all of these beautiful photos…  It meant the world to me to have you there! ((In case you missed it: Recap of the Welcome Dinner 2014))

I was so thrilled to host my first workshop at the Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles.  For this initial experience, I was looking for a venue that was centrally located (in LA), stylish, with fabulous in-house dining (knowing that breakfasts and lunches would take place there).  The Ace in DTLA fit the bill perfectly.  I was very pleased with everything from the space to the service and loved hosting my workshop there!  I had a good number of attendees staying on-site (from as far away as Greece and Canada, and three US states) which made it extra convenient, too.

We set up in Segovia Hall (the main meeting space at the Ace DTLA) and brightened up the industrial-inspired space with colorful La Tavola runners punctuated with coral charm peonies (one of my favorite blooms of all time).  My workshop logo by Julie Song Ink prominently features this very bloom, so it was fun to see my logo “come to life” thanks to JL Designs.  Each guest was greeted with a placecard penned by Anne Robin.  I hung a custom tote bag from each chair, filled with some curated gifts gathered just for them:

  • Jasmine body oil by Herbivore Botanicals — one of my favorite all-natural products; an everyday luxury
  • Mini-Mergency kit from Pinch Provisions — filled with all the essentials you need for your purse or on a wedding day!
  • A colorful watercolor print by Julie Song Ink
  • Two beautiful notebooks from Rifle Paper Co.
  • Stylish crossbody cell phone cases by Vanesa Rey
  • Marble-papered clipboards (which I  made for each attendee)
  • My signature heart sunglasses
  • A beautiful linen binder I filled with templates and information for our time together
  • Pens by Le Pen

In addition to the classroom seating, I had my friends at {found} vintage rentals set up a perfect lounge in the back of the room.  Comfy chambray & indigo upholstered furniture, cement & wire tables and cushy poufs created an ideal setting for mingling during meals and breaks.  I loved how the bright and colorful flowers (again, inspired by my logo) popped in that space.  Carissa, you are magic!

We kicked off our first day of instruction bright and early with a scrumptious breakfast buffet, complete with a mini-fridge stocked with Stumptown Coffee.  Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE coffee, so this was a special “must have” for me.  We emptied that fridge (with re-stocks) two days in a row!  On the menu that morning: soft scrambled eggs, a seasonal frittata, bacon, chorizo, and a decadent waffle station.  YUM.  Then we dived into a packed day of learning, including guest speakers Jen Campbell of Green Wedding Shoes and film photographer Ryan Ray.

iPhone snap with Jen // love this lady and am so grateful for her support!

another iPhone snap: Ryan in action before the day began

Our beautiful lunch spread featured a bibb heart salad with radishes, blue cheese and pumpkin seeds, a roasted vegetable + kale salad, hanger steak with balsamic onion and fingerling potatoes, and buckwheat soba with fresh seafood…as well as a surprise treat of Sweet & Saucy x Sweet Lucie’s organic ice cream sandwiches.  I take my meals very seriously…

Our first day topics laid the foundation covering things like: starting your business, contracts, attracting and booking the clients you want, building strong vendor relationships, handling paperwork, branding, social media, and more.  I loved engaging with the ladies, fielding questions, and sharing my passion and experiences with each of them.

a photo of all the ladies in their new heart sunnies!

I gave attendees the evening to mingle and enjoy on their own, so Michy and I headed to Bäco Mercat (soooo yummy) for a little celebratory dinner.  I completely knocked out when I got back to my hotel room; it was such a full, magical day.

I’ll be back soon with a recap of Day 3, and lots of images of the gorgeous Delft-inspired tablescape I put together with Carissa of JL Designs.  I hope you have a wonderful week!!

**If you’re interested in learning more about how to start, build, elevate and nurture your own wedding planning business, I hope you’ll join me for the next Love & Splendor Workshop taking place this fall, September 14-17, 2015, in beautiful San Luis Obispo!  Save the date; more details coming soon.  Registration will open later this month!!

I am getting SO excited about doing another Love & Splendor Workshop this fall in beautiful San Luis Obispo, California.  I catch myself daydreaming constantly about it, and have been working hard to put together another incredible experience filled with instruction and inspiration.  If you missed the announcement post about this year’s workshop, click HERE!

There are lots of details to share soon, and I hope to open registration in a few weeks.  Today, I wanted to give you a better look at what happened at last year’s inaugural workshop.  You may have seen glimpses of the workshop on Green Wedding Shoes (Part 1 and Part 2), but today I’ll be sharing a more unabridged recap of the event.  I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to look back on these beautiful images by my dear friend, Ryan Ray.  The entire workshop experience was magical, from start to finish.  I loved meeting these creative women and sharing my heart with them!

I kicked off the 2014 Love & Splendor Workshop with a welcome dinner at The Salon — the private tasting room of Heirloom LA.  If you follow me on Instagram or have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know how I feel about Heirloom.  They are set apart in the industry as champions for sustainable, local, & organic foods.  They put together beautiful menus that feature the best of the season.  They work hand-in-hand with small farms and purveyors to utilize the most interesting and flavorful ingredients.  Most of all, their food is INCREDIBLE and is prepared with a great amount of love, care, and intention.  I frequently say if Chef Matt is in the kitchen, I want to be at the table.  I can never get enough Heirloom LA, and neither can my clients!  My favorite meetings are tastings at Heirloom LA because really, how can it get better than working while eating scrumptious food??  I knew I wanted to share the intimate “tasting” experience with my attendees for this welcome workshop, so there was no better setting than the The Salon.

With the perfect sized group of 15 attendees and a handful of vendors, we were seated at two tables: one large “horseshoe” shaped table and a second dining table.  Chef Matt prepared the entire meal in front of us, in the center of the horseshoe, answering questions about the food as we went.  It was the ultimate foodie experience and I heard many tell me that night that it was the best meal they had ever had.  That makes me so happy!!  I wanted to simply enjoy our first night together in a more casual way, getting to know each other, laughing together, and bonding in that unique way that only comes from breaking bread with one another.

I embraced a black & white palette for this event, with a slight “newspaper” influence.  With such a limited color palette, I knew I’d have to bring in lots of layers, patterns, and textures to add visual interest.  It was fun designing in black and white… especially for a color-lover like me!  Menus read, “Extra! Extra! Eat all about it!” (I couldn’t help myself…) and were formatted in columns like a page out of the newspaper.  A chalkboard was covered with modern b&w typography prints featuring inspirational quotes, offering uplifting “headlines.”  I loved using a geometric b&w patterned rug from found as an anchor in the room, along with a black dining table and industrial bar cart for the welcome drinks.  La Tavola‘s abstract b&w patterned runners and napkins made the perfect statement on the tabletops.  One of my favorite details?  The opaque black and white goblets from Casa de Perrin, white signature collection chargers, and ebony flatware.  So chic!  Carissa from JL Designs topped tables with white bud vases filled with b&w textured blooms (we needed lots of space for food, so these petite pieces added just the right amount of height and interest to the tables) and placesettings were noted with placecards hand-lettered by my friend and favorite calligrapher, Anne Robin.  The look was simple and unfussy but still brimming with playful details.  I can never resist adding a little bit of whimsy when I can…  I even dressed the part, in a black and white dress from Anthropologie topped with a loud & crazy Alice + Olivia embroidered jacket.

As guests arrived, I greeted each one (alongside my amazing assistant, Michelle) and they were offered a beautiful hand-crafted drink.  I was crazy about the “mocktail” we served up which featured passion fruit juice, pear nectar, lemon juice and sugar.  Yum!  As attendees trickled in, they noshed at one of Heirloom’s signature crostini stations: a feast for the senses brimming with artisan cured meats, fresh milk cheeses, olives, organic pickled vegetables, grilled flatbreads, housemade crostini and a variety of dips, nuts and butters.  I made sure we took care of our two gluten free attendees (Hi sweet J & L!), too!

I made a brief welcome and let Chef Matt take it from there!  Our menu was as follows:

White Corn and Radish Salad: shaved carrots, mouse melon and cucumbers,
cherry tomatoes, tomatillo vinaigrette, toasted ricotta cheese and spicy almonds.

Fresh Ricotta Cavatelli: plancha grilled pumpkin, fried sage, crumbled queso fresco,
charred spring onion, swiss chard swerved witha  pumpkin bisque velouté

Heirloom LA Syrah Braised Buffalo Short Ribs (!): served with tuscan kale,
natural jus and tuscan cabbage

Sautéed Baby Broccoli: with citrus vinaigrette, roasted fennel and dandelion greens,
spicy pumpkin seeds and a cilantro vinaigrette

Flourless Chocolate Cake: topped with dark chocolate ganache,
creme anglaise and seasonal berries

My mouth is watering just reliving that perfect meal!

what can I say?  I get excited about food, clearly…

By the end of the evening, I felt like we had all successfully broken the ice and made some new friends.  It was the ideal way to kick off our time together and give the attendees “just a taste” of what was to come…  Each attendee left with a food-inspired gift along those lines, featuring a favorite ascolana olive oil from Il Fustino and artisan finishing salt from Jacobsen Salt Co.

VENDORS: Design & Styling by Love & Splendor | Photography by Ryan Ray | Catering by Heirloom LA | Venue: The Salon by Heirloom LA | Furniture Rental by Found Vintage Rentals | Tabletop Rental by Casa de Perrin | Floral by JL Designs | Linens by La Tavola Fine Linens | Paper Goods by Love & Splendor in-house graphic designer, Kristin

I can’t wait to welcome a new bunch of attendees this fall and make new memories and new friends…

I’ll be recapping the rest of the workshop in 3 more posts coming your way soon!  🙂  Until then, make sure to save-the-date for September 14-17 to join me for round 2 at beautiful Greengate Ranch in SLO!  One thing I can certainly promise is that the food will (once again) be utterly incredible.

I haven’t blogged in ages so let’s just put that aside for a moment.  Life with two little ones at home has certainly kept me busy!  I promise some catch-up posts are coming soon, including some wonderful wedding features and fun family updates.  Today, I am THRILLED to share (here on the blog) that I’m hosting the 2nd Love & Splendor Workshop this fall, September 14-17, 2015, at beautiful Greengate Ranch and Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, California!

I revealed the location of the workshop yesterday on Instagram, but wanted to give you a little more information about the stunning venue I selected for our time together this fall.  In case you are a newcomer to my blog or haven’t heard about the workshop in the past, let me first introduce you to the workshop itself.  Last fall, I had the privilege and joy of hosting my very first wedding workshop.  It took place at the Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles and 15 wonderful women (including one from Canada, and one from Greece!) joined me for a time of instruction and inspiration.  The Love & Splendor Workshop is an immersive educational experience for aspiring and current wedding planners and designers.  Whether you’re still dreaming of taking the leap into entrepreneurship, or have been working in the business for years, I believe that the workshop will facilitate growth, innovation and excitement for all of the attendees.  The workshop covers everything you need to know about starting and building a successful planning and design business, as well as how to continue to elevate your client experience, remain memorable in a saturated market, and develop and nurture incredible relationships with your colleagues and collaborators.  I strive to make the workshop an immersive experience, which means I plan and design every moment (from classroom sessions to spectacular meals together) to feel special.  I am blessed to have some amazing friends and collaborators on board (again! yes!!) and I can’t wait to reveal more details in the coming weeks…

On Monday I’ll be sharing some details about the workshop schedule and how some changes to the itinerary will help encourage even more connecting and learning.  For now, save the dates!!

Today’s workshop focus is a reveal of the location of the workshop: Greengate Ranch and Vineyard in beautiful SLO, located on the central coast of California.  One of the key distinctions with this year’s workshop is that I chose a private property as our home base, rather than a hotel.  I wanted to create a more retreat-like atmosphere and experience, where we had more opportunities to mingle, socialize, dream and share together.  I can’t imagine a more perfect place to do this than Greengate.

Greengate is a working ranch and vineyard set in the Edna Valley, a winemaking region here in CA.  Surrounded by lush green hills, the sprawling property features a variety of settings for special events including two luxury rental homes, grassy open lawns, a pond and a stunning barn and courtyard.  There are chickens and horses on-site, and I’m not kidding when I say the birds just sing sweeter there.  I’ll have to post a video up on IG that I took yesterday morning… I couldn’t believe the beautiful song they sang for my arrival.  😉  Greengate Ranch frequently hosts incredible weddings and events, but their wonderful grounds make it perfect for a workshop retreat as well!  There are a number of accommodations on-site that will facilitate smooth travel arrangements.  I will outline accommodations in a future post but it will be a first-come, first-served basis for accommodations.  The first attendees to sign up with get “dibs” on the magnificent rooms on-site.  But don’t you fret — the other attendees will stay in phenomenal 2-bedroom oceanview suites at a four diamond resort just 15 minutes away (with shuttle provided back and forth each day).  So the real question is, do you want the vineyard or ocean view??

We will spend our “classroom sessions” in the ranch house’s gorgeous library/den or great room, with that golden California light pouring in through the windows.  But with this beautiful setting, I imagine so many more unique and valuable learning opportunities.  I see breakfast around the gigantic kitchen island, sitting on barstools and sharing stories and dreams together.  I see us roasting marshmallows out back (I’ll bring plenty so please don’t let me be the only one… haha), wrapped up in blankets under the sparkling stars.  I know it sounds crazy but there’s something about a bonfire that helps people open up.  I’ve had so many great conversations with friends around a fire… I look forward to the ones I’ll have with you this fall!  To top it off, many/most of our speakers will be staying with us on-site (yes!!) which means instead of just 45 minutes listening to a speaker from a distance, you will have more opportunities to ask questions, get to know everyone, and build genuine relationships.  Someone pinch me, because I seriously can’t imagine anything better than a giant sleepover with my favorite friends & colleagues plus the new ones I’ll be making.  🙂

I’ll be taking advantage of all the unique venues on-site at Greengate to design some magical experiences.  If you want a taste of the scale of the workshop, take a peek at these posts Green Wedding Shoes shared from the last workshop: HERE and HERE.  You can expect the same attention to detail this time; I definitely don’t hold back when it comes to spoiling my attendees!

I have a LOT more to share next week (schedule! speakers! collaborators! a full recap of what we did last year!) but I’m going to wrap up now with some photos I snapped at Greengate yesterday.  You can see much more on their website as well — I thought it was easier to direct you there then re-post them all here!  😉

Enjoy your Friday and see you back here next week!