Category: Weddings

April 10, 2012

Just last month, the ladies of love & splendor had the opportunity to feature our work at the CREAM event — a fab ‘wedding showcase’ of sorts, curated by the lovely ladies at bash, please.  We were honored to be one of four featured event designers at this great event, which was bursting at the seams with wedding inspiration and creativity.  Many of our other vendor pals were a part of the CREAM l.a. as well, which made it an extra special treat to be partnering with people we love and admire in the industry.

As one of the featured designers, we were paired with one of the featured floral designers to create a tablescape.  We were blessed to be matched with Heather from twig & twine, and together we created a set-up we were really crazy about.  Our inspiration and design direction was industrial-meets-ethnic, outfitted in a neon-tinted palette.  We utilized a funky metal dining table as a base, and integrated a blend of natural and neon textures and objects in the design.  From branches wrapped in yarn and gilded in gold paint, to cement vases and bone-handled flatware, the tabletop was all about texture and color.  There were lots of layers to the look, which I love… Anytime I set a table, I want to imagine guests sitting down and marveling over every little detail, being delighted moment-by-moment as they discover unexpected touches.  I think you’ll see lots of love & splendor’s characteristic whimsy in this tabletop.  A million and one thanks to Heather, our partner in design, whose creativity, artistry and floral design brought everything to life.  I also have to give HUGE kudos to Michelle, whose fingerprints are all over this table.  Since I was *very* pregnant during the weeks leading up to the event (I actually attended the event 6 days before my due date, 11 days before Olive was born!), Michelle really took the reins with many creative projects and I can’t thank her enough for her leadership, hard work, attention to detail and of course, fabulous touch.  😉

Here’s a look at our table, courtesy of some of the fab photographers from the CREAM!

Photos below are from Joie La La

 This next set is from Studio Castillero

these overhead branches were my favorite

 A few from Aaron Shintaku:

and then a couple of my own…

the lovely michelle, and the box of samoas we devoured in literally minutes

me, as pregnant as it gets! + jane, my dearest friend since middle school

{ingredients for our tabletop}

{all the fab folks behind the CREAM l.a.}

venue: Book Bindery / music: the flashdance / Molly Jenson / The Get Down Boys / Dominique Pruitt/ fashion & accessories: BHLDN / ban.do / Twigs & Honey / Antiquaria / Heather Heron / food & drink: Whoa Nelly! / Heirloom LA / Pharmacie / Swanson Wines / forage / Dry Soda / Handsome Coffee Roasters / sweets: Sweet Lucie’s  / Simplethings / Superfine Bakery / Sno-con Amor / Cool Haus / rentals: found / yeah! rentals / Casa De Perrin / Town & Country / photographers: Joie la la/ Aaron Shintaku / Birds of a Feather / The Weaver House / Braedon Photography / Sloan Photographers / The Long Haul / Studio Castillero / Wedding Artist Collective /  videographers: Austin Hendrix / Son of Sharkpig / Landshark /  photobooth: Smilebooth / A Little Scene / event designers: sitting in a tree / Love & Splendor  / Canvas & Canopy / enjoy event co. / florist: The Little Branch / La Partie Events / twig & twine / Honey of a Thousand Flowers / Botany /papergoods: Urbanic Paper Boutique / media: Grey Likes / Green Wedding Shoes / C Weddings/ Rue / travel: EA Honeymoons / Cobblestay  / favors: J and R Foods / calligraphy: Jill Velez/ lighting: The Lighter Side / valet: United Valet / linens: La Tavola / other: Geronimo Balloons/ beauty: Fiore Beauty / Blushington

Enjoy the week, friends!!  xoxo, Angel

CATEGORIES: , , 3 comments

March 27, 2012

Hello everyone!!  It is with great joy that I make my return to the blog… I have missed writing here and sharing with all of you!  If you haven’t already heard or seen (on Instagram — @loveandsplendor), our precious daughter, Olivia Iris, has arrived!  She was born on Monday, March 12th, and I cannot begin to express the unspeakable bliss it has been to have her with us.  I look forward to sharing a little new baby update with you soon, but today I have a special look into the past.  🙂

Earlier this year, Erik and I had the special experience of being photographed by my dear friend, Jose Villa.  I am so grateful that we could take these photos, which highlight such a tender, precious time in our lives.  I thoroughly enjoyed being pregnant and was blessed to have had a smooth one: no nausea, no morning sickness, no complications.  I marveled at every kick and hiccup as this child was knit together in my womb.  Pregnancy brought me closer to Erik in many ways as well… I love that these images capture the final months we shared as a duo, before our lives were altered forever.  🙂

Many, many thanks to Jose for gracing us with his marvelous talent.  We had the best time on this shoot, and we will treasure these photos forever.  Here are just a few favorites…

And for those of you who haven’t seen my (now) 15-day old lovebug yet…

Hope you all are enjoying a lovely Tuesday!!  It feels great to blog again!

xoxo, Angel

CATEGORIES: , 14 comments

March 7, 2012

Hello everyone!!  I hope you are having a splendid week so far.  😉  Today is a special day for many reasons.  First, it’s my birthday!  I’m not a big ‘birthday person,’ so March 7th really just means fancy dinner reservations.  haha  But March 7th took on some extra significance when my doctor told me last summer that my estimated due date was today.  You can imagine my complete shock upon hearing that.  At the time, I was still getting used to the idea of being pregnant.  It seemed all too perfect that she was due on my birthday, too.  😉  Although I never expected her to really arrive today (less than 5% of babies are born on their actual due dates), it was a fun fact.  Olive still has time to be in that 5% minority, if she’d like!  For now, she seems more than comfy in the womb and I’m practicing my patience, awaiting her arrival.

Today I thought I’d share some pictures from my baby shower back in January!  I actually was blessed to have three amazing showers thrown by loved ones, but this one was the largest.  My sister, Anna, and dearest friends, Michelle (of Love and Splendor) and Kristin (of Petal and Thorn), threw this shower for me, along with my mommy (excited first-time grandma!).  The design of the shower was inspired by the whimsical Joel Dewberry fabric I chose in making Olive’s crib bedding.  I was really drawn to the slightly retro patterns and totally fresh colors: saffron, persimmon, aqua and white.

The celebration all took place at one of my favorite LA restaurants: Lucques.  Their lovely courtyard patio made a charming backdrop for the festivities and the seasonal 3-course menu allowed guests to enjoy dishes like a persimmon and pomegranate salad with burrata as well as braised short ribs with swiss chard.  Food is a big deal to me so while I was not privy to the details and design of the shower, I did request that I pick the menu.  😉  Lucques also created a specialty cocktail and mocktail for both guests and mommies-to-be (there were 7 in attendance!) with raspberry and fennel.

Every detail was thought out with love, from handmade felt mobiles (which now grace Olive’s nursery) to a French Dr. Seuss book used as a guestbook (French is my second language).  Tables were covered with aqua patterned linens from La Tavola, and a custom game of “I Spy” was placed at each setting.  Decorations included cheerful centerpieces crafted by Kristin (a former florist) and DIY thumbtack and fabric-covered spheres.  {found} vintage rentals also created a cozy lounge for opening presents.

Guests traveled from San Diego to San Luis Obispo to shower Olivia! Michelle kicked off the shower by reading a poem (“The Love of a Mother”), and the formal meal was concluded with desserts brought in by my dear friend and another mama-to-be, Melody from Sweet and Saucy Shop. After the adorable gifts were opened, each guest departed with a bottle of olive oil (“Olivia Oil,” to be exact!) to commemorate the sweet occasion.

This was one of the most joyful days of my life (I don’t say that lightly) because being surrounded by the love of my favorite women, most of them mothers themselves, was truly a blessing.  Here’s some glimpses of the day courtesy of the lovely Jessica Claire…

and yes, i think i’ll end with this pic 🙂

{ vendors }

  • location & catering: lucques, west hollywood

Hope you all enjoyed this little sneak peek at such a special day for me.  Grateful for each of you who stop by to read & comment on this blog!

xoxo, Angel

CATEGORIES: , , 7 comments

March 2, 2012

Happy Friday!!  Today’s installment of {the nuptial primer} is all about one thing: the budget.  Now before you cover your ears and run off in another direction, hear me out.  😉  Everyone has to face the facts about their wedding budget, and the sooner you do it, the better.  One of the biggest stressors in wedding planning (or life in general!) is money.  Signing thousand dollar checks during the first few weeks of booking can be overwhelming.  You could toss and turn in bed every night, wondering if you’re getting a great deal or the wool pulled over your eyes.  You might even be tempted to put a red pen to your guest list and consider if you really need to invite those last-minute additions…  Before you endure any unnecessary budget woes, I hope to preemptively alleviate some of them here with this post.  If you’ve already begun planning your wedding, my goal for this post is to inform your remaining purchasing decisions.  You should feel confident and satisfied with how you allocate each hard-earned dollar you spend on your wedding.

 jose villa photo

To start, here are my 5 ‘golden rules’ of wedding budgeting.  I will expand on each below.  Remember, I am not your financial advisor.  My advice comes from the knowledge I’ve gained in helping 120+ couples plan their weddings, and assisting them in staying within a budget.  Your mileage is gonna vary depending on your determination to stay within a budget.  😉

1) Don’t go into debt for your wedding.

2) Establish a budget ceiling early on in the process.

3) Prioritize and conquer.

4) Be realistic.

5) Ultimately, only YOU can determine if you stay within budget.

First, don’t go into debt for your wedding.  I’ll keep this short and sweet. I don’t think it is worth it to go into debt over your wedding day celebration. It’s like your kicking off your new life together with a gloomy stormcloud looming overhead.  You don’t want to worry about how long you’ll need to subsist off ramen before your bills are paid off.  😉  Chat with your sweetie and make a pact that you will spend within your means on your wedding.  Trust me — you are saving yourself from a lot of headache in the end.

Secondly, establish a budget ceiling early on.  If you read my last installment of {the nuptial primer} on what to do once you’re engaged, you know that this is important.  Discuss who is going to contribute to the wedding budget.  It could be just you and your fiancé, your parents, your fiancé’s parents… etc.  Have a serious convo with each party involved and get an *accurate* and *specific* amount that they plan to contribute.  Sometimes well-meaning parents will say things like, “We’ll just try to get the best deals we can along the way.  Don’t worry about the costs.. We’ll figure it out.”  As sweet and wonderful as that sounds, they are not going to be happy when they quickly learn that your understanding of “a deal” is worlds apart from theirs.  Most people do not have an idea of what things in the wedding world cost.  I have heard people balk at the price of everything from photography to food and beverage minimums to flowers.  I know that I am jaded to an extent, having been desensitized over years of exposure.  😉  That said, this is why it is ESSENTIAL that you get a specific number from each contributor.  You want to know from the get-go how much you really have at your disposal in order to make those initial booking decisions.

Third, prioritize and conquer.  I always tell my clients that they need to create a list of their “must haves” and “could do withouts.”  Everyone has their priorities when it comes to their wedding. What is worth the splurge, and what is a definite ‘save’?  You and your fiancé should chat over this before any vendors are booked, and then book your vendors in that order.  Why?  Because if you know you MUST have that photographer, even if it means 25 guests in your backyard, you should know that up front.  If wearing that dress has been your childhood dream, then snap it up early on.  I have only ever heard brides lament *not* going with their “must have” vendors… No one has EVER told me, “Gee, I wish I had saved the money and used a cheaper photographer”… but I hear “Man, I wish I splurged on [insert dream photog here]…” ALL.THE.TIME.  If you aren’t into your dress, or linens, or whatever, then save those for later and you can book them with the money that is “left over,” per se.  Here is where I interrupt myself to highly, highly recommend that you work with a wedding coordinator/planner at this stage.  While I believe prioritizing is vital to happy budget spending, I also see many uninformed but well-intentioned brides spend 60% of their budgets before they realize that they still need a venue, food, and beverages… Oops!  This is where the next point comes in:

Fourth, be realistic.  I cannot stress this enough.  In order to work out a meaningful and useful budget, you need to know what things cost.  As aforementioned, I think the best way to get “in the know” is to work with an excellent wedding planner who can guide you from the beginning.  I cringe when I flip through a wedding magazine that tells a bride that she should spend no more than x% on this or that vendor.  What if your wedding budget is $30k, for example… and the magazine says dedicate 8-10% of your budget to photography?  Well, that amount won’t take you far in the saturated pool of talented photographers here in southern California, especially if this is a priority item for you (which it SHOULD be — more on that in another installment!).  That said, if you are having 20 guests, you have nothing to fear… You have plenty of room to hire a photographer for double that (or more) and still get the necessities.  If you wanted 200 guests, however, you may need to re-think the priorities.  Where you are getting married will play a huge role in how your budget is appropriated.  Obviously, urban markets like LA and NY have much higher prices in general.  An experienced planner can give you input as to what the “going rate” is for an awesome photographer, florist, DJ, cinematographer, etc. etc. etc.  Before you snub your nose at your proposals, make sure you are being realistic about the market you’re in.

And equally as important: be realistic about your expectations.  If you are reading wedding blogs daily, tearing sheets out of magazines, and pinning inspiration galore to your Pinterest account, keep in mind that many of these weddings may be out of the reach of your budget.  I get inquiries on occasion where a bride will say, “Can I get your source on those [insert décor item here]??”  or “How can I DIY the [custom stationery] you had for this wedding??”  I have to carefully and kindly reply that, well, that bride spent well over six figures to hire the best-of-the-best to create, build, make, and design those things for her.  Unfortunately, some things cannot be duplicated on a dime.  Disclaimer: I have done weddings for 22 to 600+ guests, and I have worked with budgets of $18k to $500k…  There is no price threshold for a beautiful wedding.  The key here is to remember that some things, however, do come at a cost.  If you’re obsessed with the work of a certain photographer that charges $10k and up, it’s important to remember that while that may be far out of your budget’s reach, they have clients who pay that much for their work, and it is well-deserved.  You can’t expect to find a $1k photographer who creates that level of work.  You can’t pull tear sheets from MSW to show your florist and demand that they recreate the look for a fraction of the cost.  Be realistic, adjust the budget based on your priorities, and plan the most personalized wedding possible.  <3

Finally, only YOU can make sure you stay within budget.   I feel like Smokey Bear typing that.  😉  It’s true, though — the way your budget pans out is up to you and only you.  Sometimes my clients will ask me, “Can you help me plan a wedding for 100 people for under $X?”  My answer is usually, “Yes, most definitely… but it’s up to you to stay within the bounds of what that budget will look like!”  I can create a custom budget based on a client’s priorities and available funds, but when they see *that dress* or *that photographer* or *that venue,* sometimes things get thrown out the window.  In some cases, the couple decides that it is worth going over the initial budget to secure this newfound vendor.  😉  Other times, they will have to pretend they never saw it and move on.  (But as I mentioned… that is easier said than done.  Limit your wedding blog/mag intake if you are easily sidetracked or swayed by what you see.  You don’t need to be a wedding masochist and pore over images that torture you!!  LOL)  When some clients say their budget is $50k, they mean $45k and they will whittle away at everything to make sure they don’t go a penny over.  Other clients really mean $75k, and they start to loosen the reins as they find what they want costs more than they expected. Be honest with yourself, discuss every expenditure with your sweetie, and sign contracts confidently.  At the end of the day, you need to feel GREAT about who you book for your wedding.

Whew!!  That was a ton of info, but I hope it proved helpful to some of you out there.  😉  Based on the stats I saw, I think these educational posts in {the nuptial primer} are quite popular so far.  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, and also learn what you want to read about next!  Thanks, as always, for stopping by.  

xoxo, Angel (who is 5 days away from her EDD!)

CATEGORIES: 4 comments

February 23, 2012

Hello lovely readers!!  We are thrilled to share that Love & Splendor will be at THE CREAM event next week on Thursday, March 1st!  This unique event is a one-of-a-kind curated wedding  showcase of fabulous vendors in the wedding world, all put together by the lovely ladies of Bash, Please.  We are honored to be a part of this event’s “crop” of vendors and share some inspiration amongst our peers!

There are endless reasons why you want to be at THE CREAM next week, but here’s our Love & Splendor top ten…

  • Come visit us and our playful tabletop display!  We are thrilled about our unique collaboration with Heather, floral designer of Twig & Twine, and cannot wait to debut it!
  • Get dolled up by the incredible ladies of Fiore Beauty, who are going to be doing lashes, lips and neon/metallic shellac nails at the event.
  • Ogle over (and even shop for!) the artistic creations of one of my favorite wedding friends — Myra of Twigs and Honey.  Anyone who knows me knows I’m a huge fan of everything Myra creates.  I’m sure you’ll find me buzzing around her pop up shop.  😉
  • See some of the best-of-the-best in the wedding world, including some of our favorite vendors & friends — {found} vintage rentals, Braedon Photography, Sloan Photographers, Heirloom LA, Sweet Lucie’s, Casa de Perrin, and the aforementioned Twigs and Honey.  So many of our faves under one roof = guaranteed great times!
  • Chat it up with some amazing bloggers like Jen from Green Wedding Shoes, Summer from Grey Likes Weddings, and the ladies behind 100 Layer Cake.
  • Try Sno-Con Amor with us!  My mouth is watering over the idea of their sno cones made with natural handcrafted syrups.  With flavors like hibiscus, prickly pear, watermelon basil and pineapple with lime… I have a feeling one won’t be enough.  😉
  • Watch a gorgeous fashion show by BHLDN.  Love this!
  • Great food and drink from some amazing catering companies = nosh and nibble while you peruse the pretties.
  • The Flashdance spinning tunes for your listening pleasure… and a dance-off where the winner gets a 3-night stay in PARIS — as in, Paris, FRANCE.  <3
  • And finally — come take your bets on when I’ll go into labor (maybe that night?!  LOL) since I will be 39+ weeks pregnant!  Unless I’m in active labor, I’ll be there.  Live on the wild side with me.  🙂

We are delighted to GIVEAWAY a pair of tickets to a lucky reader out there!!  To enter, let us know the top 3 things you want to do at THE CREAM (feel free to use 3 things off of my list above, or write your own!).  You have until this SUNDAY, February 26, at 9pm PST to enter.  The winner will be announced on Monday morning here on the blog!!

If you want to guarantee yourself a spot at this not-to-be-missed event, buy tickets HERE.  Cannot wait to meet some of you there!!

xoxo, Angel

CATEGORIES: , , , 12 comments

February 17, 2012

Happy Friday, dear readers!!

For our inaugural post in {the nuptial primer}, I thought I’d start from the beginning: the engagement.  Your sweetheart has proposed and you are elated; the engagement period is one of such bliss and joyful anticipation.  Once you are engaged, however, I know the instant pressure from loved ones can bring on some serious stress.  You are bombarded with questions about when and where you will have the wedding, who’s invited, who’s not, what you’re wearing, what colors your bridesmaids will wear… and on and on.  I know how overwhelming the initial months of engagement can be.  Although the length of your engagement will vary, here is my advice on how to get down to wedding planning once YOU and your sweetheart are ready.

photo by our dear friend, hugh forte.  bouquet by the always amazing hollyflora.  consider this a sneaky peek of a stunning 2011 wedding you haven’t seen yet…

1. First and foremost, take some time to just enjoy the engagement.  Whether it’s a couple weeks or a couple months, don’t feel like you need to start planning immediately.  Of course, if you want to stop by Barnes and Noble and buy every wedding magazine on the stands on the way home from your engagement, go for it!  🙂  Just don’t think that you have to hit the ground running once the ring is on your finger.

2. Determine a budget.**  I actually think this should come before you decide where the wedding will be or even who will be invited.  Why?  Because your budget is going to give you a reality check on what is really possible.  As with anything in life, it is important to have information before setting up your expectations.  I know better than to drive over to the Mercedes dealership to ogle at G-wagons when I have no means of buying one.  Likewise, before you write a list of 500 of your closest friends and pick the perfect private island for your fête, it is wise to first determine what you want to spend on the wedding.  If you and your sweetie are hosting, plan a chat to discuss an ultimate “ceiling” figure.  I tell clients (especially those who say they don’t have a budget, per se, and will just spend as they go on what “feels right”) that you NEED to determine an ultimate spending ceiling.  Without one, you are going to end up spending a lot more than you would have… If others (like parents) are chipping in to fund the celebration, you may want to politely ask if they can estimate the amount of their contribution.  It would be somewhat heartbreaking to receive an extra $10,000 after you’ve booked some vendors, for example, if you had *just* passed on many of your favorites due to an inaccurate budget estimate.

3. Start writing an initial guest list.  Now that you know how much you have available to spend, you can draft a guest list with your sweetie.  I always suggest starting over-inclusive and then eliminating from there.  Make sure to also check in with your parents to see if there are certain friends and colleagues that they’d like to invite (who you may not think of right off hand).

4. Begin the venue search!  There are many ways to research wedding venues far and wide.  Of course I love the site Here Comes the Guide, which is an excellent search engine for various types of locations.  You may also peruse wedding blogs and magazines, chat with recently married friends, or my personal favorite — contact a wedding planner and get signed up.  😉  I LOVE helping clients find their ideal venue.  A planner’s experience at many different sites will be helpful as you weigh pros and cons of each.  My clients will usually ask me about things like associated costs, hidden fees (if any), logistical concerns, etc.  Keep in mind that the venue you select may affect the ability of some guests to attend.  If you have your heart set on a destination wedding, for example, consider who (if anyone) on your guest list may not be able to make the trip (due to travel costs or mobility concerns, etc.).  If there is a VIP guest you need to consider, put that on the top of your venue search list before you fall in love with that out-of-state site.

5. Determine the date + venue + estimated guest count.  This all goes together.  🙂  Once you have honed in on your favorite venue (or even venues), re-evaluate your initial guest list and determine if there is one site that is better suited for your approximate guest count.  Always OVER-estimate how many invited guests will attend.  As I tell my clients… once you invite someone, you can’t uninvite them.  If your site has a max. capacity of 100 guests, I would NOT advise inviting 150 and hoping that 50 will decline.  What if 110 (or even 102) RSVP?  You will have a very sticky situation on your hands.  Likewise, if you know your overall budget is approximately $500 per guest, you may need to pare down your guest list in order to be able to sign with the venue of your dreams.  Only you and your sweetie can make the call on what the priority will be (i.e. location, guest count, budget).  Once you rank those priorities, adjust the other categories accordingly and get your wedding on the calendar.  🙂

**An IMPORTANT BUDGET NOTE: When booking the venue, you may be lost on how much to allocate for the site rental fee.  Some venues (e.g. hotels) may provide the site along with catering, some amount of rentals and staffing.  Other sites (e.g. private estates) charge you flat fees that include nothing but the use of the property.  Before you sign away half of your budget to the magical Napa vineyard you discovered (and find yourself left with barely enough to cover the remaining “necessities,” let the alone gorgeous details you imagine…), it is a good idea to create as complete a budget as possible.  I will write about this in a future post.  For now, let me simply say that many “budget estimate tools” found online or in books are not all that helpful or realistic based on today’s wedding market.  🙂

And then… you’re off!!  Once the venue and date are locked in, you are ready to dive head-first into the wedding planning process.  I look forward to sharing lots more about that along the way in future installments of {the nuptial primer}.

Until then, I’d LOVE to know if you have any wedding planning questions for us to answer here.  🙂  We will do our best to address them here on the blog for the information of all of our readers.

Thank you for stopping by — we hope your weekend is positively lovely!  What will the Love & Splendor ladies be doing?  Consultations with potential clients, some creative projects, and for *this* pregnant lady… practicing my patience as I await the arrival of little Miss Olive!  I will try to squeeze in a final pregnancy update on the blog sometime soon, but for now I’m focused on squeezing into what’s left of my stretchy wardrobe. LOL

xoxo, Angel

CATEGORIES: 9 comments

February 13, 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

CATEGORIES: , 5 comments

February 8, 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

CATEGORIES: , , 5 comments

January 31, 2012

Hello dear readers!  I’m excited to announce the inauguration of a new blog feature here!  I’m calling it {the nuptial primer}, and it will be a category of posts dedicated to practical wedding planning information, insights and tips.  The goal is to address various FAQs and major planning topics encountered by brides, as well as feature the expertise and pertinent input of some of my favorite wedding vendors along the way!

My first entry in the nuptial primer will debut soon, so keep your eyes peeled for it!  In the meanwhile, I’d love to solicit your initial thoughts and questions for future posts in the primer! Let me know if you have a topic or inquiry I can address down the line.  What do YOU want to know about wedding planning?   Or, as a former bride (or even a wedding vendor), what do you think needs to be addressed?  I am hoping to make this feature as educational and profitable as possible, so I look forward to your suggestions.

I hope you’re all having a fabulous week!

P.S. Today I am 35 weeks pregnant, 36 days away from my estimated due date.  🙂

xoxo, Angel

CATEGORIES: , 6 comments

January 10, 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

CATEGORIES: , , 10 comments
« Next page
Previous page »