Category: Vendors

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!

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 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 have been dying to share this special celebration with you, and I am thrilled that the day has finally arrived!  Tina and Brian’s incredibly creative, colorful, and detail-laden 5-year vow renewal is featured today on Green Wedding Shoes (thank you, sweet Jen!).  Make sure you scoot on over to feast on all the eye candy, courtesy of my talented friend Braedon Flynn.  It is always an honor to be featured on Green Wedding Shoes and I think it’s the perfect venue to debut these stunning images.

I couldn’t resist sharing my own post today, whittled down to some of my favorite images from the day, as well as some extra background and details.  I had the hardest time selecting photos because this event was seriously jam-packed with gorgeous.  Everywhere you turned, there were layers and layers of beauty and visual interest.  I hope you’re pulled up in a comfy chair and ready to dive into all the goodness.

Tina and Brian are a very special couple to me, because we go way, way back to 2009.  Tina had been a blog follower even before her engagement, and I was blown away when she contacted me to help her style her nearly 800-guest wedding in Taipei, Taiwan (!!!) *and* her stateside reception in Los Angeles.  We clicked from the very start, and I can tell you that she truly become one of my most precious friends since then.  When she told me she wanted to throw a 5-year vow renewal celebration, and wanted me to be a part of it again, I was over the moon.  Tina, for you — any party, anytime, I’m there.  😉  It is a dream working with a friend/client who is so creative and stylish herself, yet also yields to her vendors an amazing amount of trust.  She had such a strong sense of vision from the get-go, and all we had to do was embellish and breathe life into it!

For this occasion, I had the pleasure of collaborating with  my dear friend, Tori Hendrix of Sitting in a Tree Design, on the design for the celebration.  We had a perfect creative synergy and had a blast working together!  The vow renewal was drenched in rich colors embracing a jewel-toned palette (inspired by Tina’s background as a gemologist) that included sapphire, emerald green, deepest purple, oxblood, onyx and metallic accents.  Texture also played a big part in the overall event design, and elements such as leather, ponyhair hide, herringbone tweed and velvet all made their way into the look of the day.

Tina blew us away right out of the gate by setting the tone with her one-of-a-kind invitations.  You guys, it was the kind of invitation that you wonder how you can display forever.  (No wonder, since Tina is a gifted calligrapher and hand lettering artist that goes by Miss Multee.)  A custom black acrylic box was topped with a geode “handle” like a sleek jewelry box.  Inside upon a velvet pillow, an agate slice was hand-lettered in gold ink.  Accessory cards were also done in Tina’s calligraphy, letterpressed and foil stamped by Copper Willow.  A black leather tag wrapped around the entire box on a length of black suede cord.  It took my breath away!  Best of all, Tina had thoughtfully chosen each geode and agate slice to match the style and sensibilities of the recipient.  No two were alike.

They invited 30 of their nearest and dearest to be present for this momentous occasion.  Though the celebration was intimately-sized, the details were larger than life and styled for maximum impact.  Upon arrival, guests encountered a station with an array of floral crowns and boutonnieres to adorn themselves.  They grabbed a beverage and followed a path through a set of striking green vintage doors to enter the ceremony space, where sumptuous upholstered furniture from Found Vintage Rentals faced a bougainvillea-draped arch by Siren Floral Co.  Overhead, hundreds of agate slices were strung as linear garlands, creating an aerial “cloud” (one of our earliest design ideas).

The incredible dinner, artfully prepared by Chef Matt of Heirloom LA, was entirely vegetarian (and mostly vegan).  Tina and Brian, both vegetarians, were excited to share an inventive meatless meal with their guests.  Creative courses included beet greens ravioli, coddled eggs and potatoes served in miniature mason jars, and the tiniest casserole dishes filled with vegetarian bibimbap: a spicy and savory Korean rice dish.  Sweets were plentiful, with macaron ice cream sandwiches by Sweet and Saucy Shop and Sweet Lucie’s, as well as an assortment of mini desserts and cakes by The Scootabaker.

Guests enjoyed the evening at one of four uniquely-designed tablescapes.  Each table featured a unique color story and design details.  It looked like a veritable showcase of the Casa de Perrin inventory, because we were able to play with so many incredible pieces from their collection.  One table featured ponyhair, succulents, airplants, cement, clear glass, corrugated zinc and wood.  A second table was topped with black leather placemats (made by Tori), sapphire blue glassware and milkglass budvases filled with bursts of berry-colored florals.  The third table showcased green glass demijohns from Found, filled with bougainvillea.  Black taper candles in brass candlesticks completed the moody look.  The couple themselves joined their friends at the fourth vignette: a breathtaking green wooden table topped with dazzling gold details, aubergine glassware and a literal treasure chest overflowing with florals.  Rachael of Siren Floral Co. beautifully executed the floral vision to capture the wild, romantic, lush feel of the day.  Although each table felt distinct, they were tied together in the scale of their design.  I spent most of the day debating which one was my favorite and I think I changed my mind 100 times!

Tina and Brian are a truly unique couple, inspiring those around them with their impeccable taste as well as their generous and loving hearts.  Everyone present, myself included, felt blessed to be a part of such a special celebration.  Sitting down as a guest that evening was the ultimate gift, because I am thankful to be invited into their lives after all these years.  I wish Tina and Brian only the best for the future and am already counting down until their 10-year anniversary!

Vendor Dream Team

photography: Braedon Photography // wedding planning + design: Love & Splendor // venue: The couple’s home in Los Angeles, California // wedding design + styling: Sitting in a Tree Events // florals: Siren Floral Co. // videography: Elysium Productions // invitations, favors + calligraphy: bride, Miss Multee // printing studio: Copper Willow Paper Studio // makeup: e2beauty // hair: 1011 Makeup // furniture rentals: Found Vintage Rentals // tabletop rentals: Casa de Perrin // welcome drinks + dessert bar rentals: The Hostess Haven // table linens: La Tavola // geodes, agates + crystals: All sourced by bride // concrete planters: Concrete Geometric // bar: Please & Thank You Bar // catering: Heirloom LA // desserts: The Scootabaker // macaron ice cream sandwiches: Sweet & Saucy Shop + Sweet Lucie’s // bride’s gowns: Rachel Gilbert // bride’s shoes: ValentinoStella McCartney // bride’s headpieces: Twigs & Honey // groom’s suit: Club Monaco // shirts: Club Monaco(multee)project // shoes: Cole Haan // watch: Rolex // live musician: Kevin Miso

And I can’t end this post without sneaking these personal photos of us at the celebration.  See that ridiculous swing that Rachael made??  Braedon snapped a dozen photos of Olive on it and they’re easily some of my favorites of my little girl!  Thanks also to Erica of 10.11 Makeup who did my hair and makeup as a gift from Tina (!!!).

 

Happy Friday, everyone!!  I thought I’d send us off into the weekend with some beautiful engagement photos from one of my 2015 couples, Makenna and Tyler.  Although I’ve yet to meet Tyler, I just ADORE Makenna!  She is an absolute joy and I feel truly blessed to be working alongside her (and her darling mom!) on her wedding next year.  Clients like Makenna remind me how very fortunate I am to do what I do.  After nine + years in this industry, this is what keeps me going: the sincere connections I am able to build with incredible people.  It is a privilege and joy.  Can’t wait for this beautiful day to unfold next fall… it’s going to be one for the books!

Makenna — thank you for entrusting me with the planning of your special day.  Love you!!

Here are some sneak peeks of their recent engagement session with I Heart My Groom.  Although Madison and Felicia aren’t shooting the wedding, they did a stunning job with these heartfelt images.  <3

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  My big tasks are to  finalize my Thanksgiving menu (can’t wait to be hostess for the first time!), do some grocery shopping, and deep clean the kitchen.  See you soon!

It’s true — I haven’t blogged in ages!  As things got busy around here with my final weddings of 2014, the blog took a backseat.  Then, I spent the majority of the last month finalizing preparations for the very first Love & Splendor workshop.  I’m here to report that by God’s grace, the event was a smashing success.  I am still floating on cloud 9 from the experience, and I know it will be a few weeks before I can fully process the beauty of it all.  It will also be a bit before we see the professional film photos from Ryan Ray (eek!!) so these iPhone snaps will have to do for now…

This past Sunday, as I scurried around the Heirloom LA Salon with Michelle, prepping for the welcome dinner, I confessed that my heart was beating wildly in my chest.  She couldn’t fathom why I’d be nervous.  After all, I’m definitely not afraid of public speaking, and I was totally prepared and ready for the workshop itself.  I told her that I thought my nerves were a mix of excitement, anticipation and maybe even a bit of self-imposed pressure.  I spent nearly a year thinking about hosting a workshop, and then planning every last detail.  I wanted to present a workshop that was impactful, educational, and inspiring.  Once we had our attendees locked in and registration closed, I think it became real to me.  There were 15 incredibly passionate, intelligent, creative women coming to this workshop — would I meet their expectations?  Would I be “worth” the journey some were making (from as far as Greece, Canada, Detroit, Pittsburgh…)?  In the end I knew all I could do was my very best, and all I could give them was myself, genuinely and freely.

Once the ladies arrived on Sunday and the introductory hugs were given, my nerves naturally calmed.  I felt truly humbled to spend a few days with this beautiful group of women, just sharing my heart, my story, and the lessons I’ve learned in the 9 years I’ve worked in this business.  With such an intimately-sized group (the perfect size!!), I got to spend time chatting with each of them, too.  I got to hear about their goals, their struggles, their desires.  We laughed together, I cried (haha! at least 3x on Tuesday — all happy tears!), and we shared some unforgettable moments.  When I walked into the farewell dinner at The Washbow, I burst into (joyful) tears.  I felt like I had finally given birth, in a way… something I had dreamed of for so long had finally come to fruition and I felt so blessed.  I am SO thankful I put on this workshop.  I am SO grateful to have met each of these hearts.  I can’t wait to keep in touch with each of them, following their journey in the years ahead.  Look out for these ladies — I think the L&S “alumni” are the best of the best for the future of this industry.  😉

I could not have put on this workshop alone and I plan to blog a bit about each of the speakers, collaborators and sponsors for this workshop in the weeks ahead.

Our amazing team included: Ryan Ray // Heirloom LA // Green Wedding Shoes // Jesi Haack Design // JL Designs // found vintage rentals // Julie Song Ink // Casa de Perrin // The Venue Report // Elysium Productions // La Tavola Linen // Sweet Lucie’s // Sweet and Saucy Shop // Financially Wise Women // The Washbow // 10.11 Makeup // Flipbooth LA // Jacobsen Salt Co. // Rosy Rings // Il Fustino // Pinch Provisions // Herbivore Botanicals // Malvi Joy // Solstice Canyon // Vanesa Rey // Rifle Paper Company

For now, let it suffice to say that I had the BEST team of people behind me for this workshop and that made all the difference.  Above all, I have to give all glory to God.  Anything good in me, any gifts that I have, come from Him.  I am so grateful for the opportunities He has given me.

I also have lots of general blogging catch-up (life, Olive updates, real weddings) to do.  Now that my 2014 season has come to a close, you’ll be hearing more from me here again!

I’ve already been asked many times — will you do another workshop?  I think the answer is a resounding yes.  But, before diving into that process, I will be taking time to relax, recharge and pray about it.  It’s important to me that each workshop has the same level of intention, purpose and attention to detail as this one did.  Once I have some information to share, you’ll hear about it!  If you would like to join the interest list for the next workshop (and have priority pre-sale for tickets before they are released), feel free to email workshops@loveandsplendor.com.

Thank you to each of you who has followed along here on my blog (or on Instagram) as I embarked on this inaugural workshop journey.  Your love, support, prayers and encouragement mean the world to me.

Have a wonderful weekend and chat again soon!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  I’m back with another edition of Workshop Wednesday and I am thrilled that we are now just shy of TWO MONTHS until the Love & Splendor Workshop in downtown Los Angeles!  If you are thinking about joining us, don’t delay and grab your seat HERE.  We’d love to have you join us and the inspiring attendees from all over the country and world ( gasp! — we just had our first international attendee register all the way from Greece!  Hi V!).

Today I wanted to whet your appetites with some additional information about the fabulous speakers who will be joining us for the workshop in October.  I wanted to bring on speakers who were excellent communicators, experts in their field and passionate about what they do.  I also wanted to make sure that the content of their presentations was useful, informational and inspiring.  While I expect to have tons of fun during our time together at the workshop, my main goal is to fill our days with really practical, eye-opening, spark-igniting KNOWLEDGE and then a breakdown of the tools needed to get things into motion.  😉  So without further ado, here is a rundown on the all-stars (and my dear friends) who will be presenting at the workshop this fall…

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Ryan Ray, Film Photographer // Ryan is a highly sought-after photographer who shoots film exclusively.  He creates consistently stunning images that are full of emotion and natural beauty.  Ryan will be sharing about his experiences working with planners and designers, and what he finds to be their ideal and most helpful qualities and characteristics.  He will explain his creative process and how he collaborates with a designer on a shoot or a wedding day, styling each shot to perfection. Ryan exemplifies the importance of vendor relationships and aligning yourself with like-minded creatives as you hone in on your target clientele.  You will also get to witness the talent and passion of one of the industry’s foremost photographers and learn about his own story of finding success in a saturated market.

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Jen Campbell of Green Wedding Shoes // Jen Campbell, a formally trained graphic designer, started Green Wedding Shoes in October of 2008. GWS was born out of Jen’s desire to help couples dream up and plan weddings that reflect their personal interests and sense of style. GWS has since grown to become one of the most popular wedding blogs.

As the Editor and Creative Director of GWS, Jen works closely with top wedding industry talent and creative brides to showcase innovative and unique weddings, style photo shoots, share DIY ideas, and identify trends that give brides-to-be daily inspiration as they plan their big day. Green Wedding Shoes is widely recognized as the go-to wedding blog to find the most creative wedding ideas and vendors along with always keeping a high standard for gorgeous photography.

Ever wonder how to get featured on blogs like Green Wedding Shoes?  What is the editor looking for?  What makes a submission stand out (in a good way vs. a bad way) and how can you work with your photographer to style & shoot “for” submission?  Jen will address these topics and more, as she candidly shares her experience working with planners and designers all over the world.  She has a truly unique perspective as an industry figurehead and will make herself available for a no-holds-barred Q&A session following her talk.  You’re going to love getting to know the sweet Jen, and will benefit from a personal introduction to her in an intimate, encouraging environment.

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Jesi Haack Design // Jesi Haack is a designer, stylist and unmatched craft specialist.  She is the brilliant mind behind one of the hottest event design studios in the country, now bicoastal with outposts in soCal and NYC.  Jesi found quick success in the industry, making a name for herself with her out-of-the-box design style.  She mixes her fresh, playful style with a bit of irreverence for a modern take on celebrations of all kinds.  You will find her work all over the web and Pinned to no end.

How did she find success in a relatively short period of time?  Why did she quit planning and move toward design-only?  What does her wedding design process look like?  How does she remain ahead of the trends?  I know you will be pumped up by Jesi’s infectious energy as she shares on these topics and more in her presentation.

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Carissa Jowett // Carissa Jowett is the owner and floral event designer behind JL Designs: one of California’s top floral design studios.  Carissa’s incredible eye for design is evident in every wedding she does. She has put together phenomenal designs in every aesthetic, from rustic to classic, and retro-tropical to ultra modern.  With innate talent and creativity, Carissa produces work that is layered and textural, creating lots of interest and drama.  I could stare at her work for hours!

Did you know Carissa once worked for a wedding planner?  Carissa will share about her past experiences in the field, as well as how she now works alongside wedding planners and designers in creating a perfect day for her clients.  In addition to enjoying Carissa’s insightful presentation, we will have the pleasure of soaking up her gorgeous designs all around us at the workshop itself: her stunning florals will be featured at each workshop event.

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Brittney Castro // Brittney Castro is the founder and CEO of Financially Wise Women.  As a Certified Financial Planner who specializes in working with female entrepreneurs, Brittney is well-versed on the pitfalls and mistakes many young business owners make in their first few years.  She will share priceless knowledge with us about starting your own business, pricing, how to manage your money wisely, and creating sound financial goals.  She will also open up for a Q&A so you can ask her about your own business money questions.

I know many people in this industry who work full time and yet barely make more than they might working a minimum wage job.  I believe this is mostly due to poor financial planning.  If you are running a business (and not merely enjoying a hobby), you need to be financially wise.  Brittney is so adept in taking the intimidation out of money talk.  I can’t think of a better advisor in this arena and am thrilled to have Brittney speak at the workshop!

In my own sessions, I’ll be covering the wedding industry from A-Z.  Here are just some of the topics I’ll touch on in my sessions…

  • Starting your business: the nitty gritty steps and priorities
  • Writing a solid contract and what needs to be included
  • Pricing wisely for your market
  • Workflow and time management: how to run the business and not let it run you
  • Advertising & Marketing: getting your name out there without spending a dime
  • Social Media: using it as an extension of your brand; being active and relevant but not obsessed 🙂
  • Event production from start to finish: day-of management and handling the “what-ifs”
  • Client experience and tips for memorable interaction
  • Cultivating priceless vendor relationships
  • The planning process: budgets, checklists, timelines and emails.
  • Targeting your ideal client
  • Hiring and building your team
  • The Illusion of Competition
  • and much, much more!

I feel very strongly that our lineup of speakers represents the industry’s cream of the crop; we will all have so much to glean in October!  Come join us and learn firsthand why it pays “flock together” with these birds.  😉

For more information on the workshop:

Thanks for stopping by today; I hope you’re having a great week!

Happy Monday, everyone!!  With registration now open for the Love & Splendor Workshop, I wanted to share a little promo video about the workshop prepared by my friends at Elysium Productions.  We filmed this a while back on a busy street in downtown LA, not far from the Ace Hotel DTLA, where the workshop will take place!

Love & Splendor Workshops from Elysium Productions on Vimeo.

Thank you to Erica of 10.11 Makeup for making me feel gorgeous that day, and of course to Libby, Julie and the editors at Elysium Productions for helping me with this little project!  I figure if you’re going to come to my workshop and hear me speak for 3 days, you might as well make sure my voice doesn’t annoy you (too much) first.  hahah!  I realize it’s the first time that most of you have heard my voice… was it weird??  I always find it a little interesting to watch someone on video that you’ve only seen in photos.  Now that I’ve set you up to analyze my awkwardness in complete detail, enjoy.  😉

For much more info about the workshop, check out THIS 411 POST.

To register to join us, CLICK HERE.

I’m thrilled about the talented women who have already signed up to join us; who’s next??  Thanks for watching and enjoy the day!