Category: Vendors

November 17, 2013

Oh.my.goodness!  I am here, I’m alive, I made it through the busiest week of my year!  Thank you Lord!!!  And, despite the fact that I got 10 glorious hours of sleep two nights in a row, I am still feeling a bit shell-shocked.  But in a good way.  😉  Have you ever been so physically exhausted that you felt like a strong wind or gentle nudge might knock you over?  And then you’d be too tired to even pick yourself back up from the ground??  So that’s me today.  But I’m giddy, I’m thrilled, I’m bursting with joy and gratitude for everything that has happened in the last 10 days.  I thought I’d jump right back into the blogging with a bit of a random catch-up post.  Consider this a summary of many good things; each of these abbreviated updates is a preview for detailed posts in the queue…

Olive discovered and fell in love with cereal

I stayed with my mom for a few days which means I was spoiled rotten with lots of Korean food! 멸치볶음 (stir fried dried anchovies) is my fav side dish without a doubt.

I became the new owner of this stunning AVGVSTA necklace.

We admired all the flowers and fruit growing in Halmunee and Nana-ji’s garden

I enjoyed a magical evening at Malibu Rocky Oaks for the Casa de Perrin dinner party.  Such a special night with people I love and admire.

You can see my pal Jose Villa couldn’t help himself with the gorgeous details… Everything was stunning!

Every little thing about the night was perfect, including the cotton candy sunset.

me and sweet Libby from Casa de Perrin!

Diana + Libby + me!

I traipsed around the LA Flower Mart with two sweethearts getting married next month!  (Hi J&G!)

I had the sweetest catch-up date with my beloved friend of 8+ years, Rebecca, at Moon Juice!  I had the Deep Chocolate with a shot of shilajit; she went for cucumber, pineapple, jalapeño!

Olive and Dumbo just hanging out at our villa at Pelican Hill.

My fabulous Love & Splendor team on Friday, all dolled up for a rock ‘n roll fairytale glam wedding!  Many thanks to Christin of 1011 Makeup for prettifying 3/4 of us.

Apparently Olive (with some killer bedhead) wanted some makeup, too!

Olive had a ball getting sandy at Camp Pelican.

And we wrapped up our weekend with breakfast with my Dad, sis, and brother-in-law (pictured here)!  Olive loves her “Unc Shah” = uncle Sean!

Now that the cat is out of the bag, I can also share that Friday’s wedding was for none other than Van Ness Wu and Arissa Cheo!  I met the beautiful couple in the fall of 2010 at another wedding I did in Taipei, Taiwan (for T&B — one of my fave couples ever!).  I was truly humbled and honored to work with them on their own event of love and splendor.  😉  Their big day was nothing short of SPECTACULAR; I cannot wait to share more of their real-life-fairytale wedding with you in the future!  For now, here is a teeny tiny peek courtesy of the one and only Mike Colón.

pure magic.  I love these two.

Many, many thanks to the phenomenal team of vendors that day including Mike Colón, Jose Ortiz Films, White Lilac and Casa de Perrin…

I hope you’re having a lovely start to your week; I am ready to begin tackling my inbox this morning!  Thank you for stopping by and see you again soon!

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November 6, 2013

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  It’s not a typo up there — the wedding I’m posting today is actually from over a year ago!  I am not quite sure why it has taken me so long to get to this post, but I am thrilled to finally share these colorful, culture-infused celebration with you!  You see, Judy and I were destined to work together.  She initially contacted me when she was beginning to plan her Smog Shoppe wedding and we must have spent an hour excitedly chatting on the phone the first time we connected.  I felt a great connection with her and was ready to jump on board.  Unfortunately, budget got in the way and I mourned the loss of a potentially fab client.  Fast-forward nearly 8 months and I received an eleventh-hour call from Judy.  It’s sufficient to say she was in need of a new planner and I still had the date open.  Fate!  😉  I came into the picture at a hectic time for Judy and it broke my heart to see how much she had on her plate at that point.  But in a few short weeks, we got down to business and pulled everything together.  It was magic!  And it was a labor of love.

The day after the wedding, Judy emailed me this:

Hi beautiful Angel,

I wanted to send  a heartfelt thank you to you and Anna.  You both made it all happen and I truly appreciate all your hard and tireless work.  Yesterday was so crazy & beautiful — it was a day I will never forget.  I cried so much I was so happy!  You are the dream team!  Thank you again and you will forever be a part of our lives. 🙂

As if that wasn’t enough, she wrote me again when she received her photos and said…

Hi Angel,

Happy New Year my beautiful friend!  I just got our photos from Suthi and had a chance to look at our wedding with a new set of eyes.  I look at everything and think of you!  If it wasn’t for you I don’t know how we could have pulled it off.  Thank you again for stepping in and bringing everything together in a few short weeks.  We love you so much & talk about you all the time.  Every bride needs an Angel that is you!  The link to my photos is below; enjoy and know that those smiles on our faces are because of you my sweet friend.

Yeah, it made me cry.  Honestly, every wedding planner needs a Judy: a beautiful and spirited client who refreshes you with her words and reminds you of how blessed you are to do what you do.

Although I wish I could’ve spent an entire 8 months working along this sweet and stylish lady, I treasured our time putting together this beautiful day.  Judy — your sincerity and kind heart are such a blessing.  It was a joy to work with you on your wedding and I wish you and Shawn only the best in your life together!!  <3

Now here’s that long-overdue peek at the day through the lens of my talented friend, Suthi Picotte…

This bouquet ranks among my all-time favorites.  Stunning textures and I LOVE green!

 

And a beautiful video by Joel VanZ!  Seeing that dress move and flutter… it takes my breath away!

{ vendor round-up }

Planning + Coordination: Love & Splendor // Photography: Suthi Picotte // Videography: Joel VanZ // Ceremony site: St. Victor’s // Reception Site: Smog Shoppe // Floral Design: Hollyflora // Rentals: Town & Country // Linens: La Tavola Linen // Catering: Chichen Itza Restaurant // Cake: Rosebud Cakes // DJ: Garth Trinidad of KCRW // Valet: Jeffrey Valet // Bridal gown: custom made Vera Wang // Bride’s Shoes: McQueen // Mariachi: Mariachi Voces de Mexico

Thanks for stopping by; I hope you’re having a beautiful day!

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October 29, 2013

Hello everyone!  I had to share this beautiful preview film with you all from a wedding we did in September with my friends, Ben and Drew of The Cana Family.  These two guys are brothers to me — we have worked together for years and they are truly my favorite cinematic storytellers.  Their signature preview films, edited and shown during the wedding reception, always bring me to tears.  ALWAYS.  I just love the emotion of the cinematography, the heart wrenchingly beautiful music (composed and played by Drew himself), and the pure and honest way they capture a couple in love.  It’s inspiring.

video still by The Cana Family // still can’t get over Tiffany’s Jenny Packham gown!

This couple couldn’t be more precious, either.  I love Tiffany and Leo dearly — they are two incredible people and it was a joy working with them on their wedding celebration.  I can’t wait to visit them in Austin, soon!

If you want to see more of The Cana Family’s work with our couples, or if you just want to fill up on lovey dovey feelings right now, check out:

Brian & Natalia at Saddlerock Ranch

and

Jess & Scott at Flying Caballos

and

Richard & Shue-Ping at Bel Air Bay Club

More from Tiffany & Leo’s wedding is coming soon.  😉  Thanks so much to Ben & Drew for sharing your gifts with us; it is a special blessing to work alongside my friends.  Enjoy your evening!

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September 16, 2013

What a weekend!!  We had a splendid Paso Robles wedding so my Thursday, Friday and Saturday were dedicated to seeing the event go off without a hitch.  I’m pleased to report it was a magical day from start to finish.  My assistant Michelle was by my side (and stayed at our house for the weekend!), along with the newest member of the Love & Splendor team!  (More about her coming soon — Hi K!)  We had a great first wedding with her and I am really excited about the future ahead.

Today I am sharing another hour-by-hour breakdown of a real wedding day.  Tiffany and Leo are such a special couple to me; I can’t tell you how much I loved working with Tiffany and getting to know her over our months together.  In her initial email she said, quite confidently, that I would love working with them.  She was right!!  We were a perfect match and shared that instant rapport that is so crucial between planner/designer + client.  She and Leo share an incredibly beautiful relationship and I felt blessed to be a part of their wedding celebration.

The day unfolded at Denner Vineyards and I can’t say enough about this lovely venue.  The views are breathtaking, the light is golden, the layout is natural and cohesive, and the modern property is stunning.  Here’s a glimpse of their day, hour-by-hour…

6:55a // up & at ’em!  My alarm went off and I jumped up to get ready for the day.  (Yes, I’m using this opportunity to sneak a pic of Olive into the post!)

9:00a // Michy and I grabbing morning fuel for the busy day ahead!  LOL at her little expression!

9:55a // rolling up to the gates at Denner Vineyards, 5 minutes early!  We parked and began unloading the car.

10:00a // another L&S wedding = another chance to work with {found} vintage rentals!  We can never resist bringing them on board for our beautiful events.

10:15a // Setting up the directional signpost at the ceremony lawn.  HUGE kudos to my sweet husband, Erik, who cut and stained the wood for the sign and put it together for me.  🙂  Note my Converse, baggy gypsy pants and flowy blouse (which is not too flattering, haha).  Comfort is key during install, especially on a hot day in Paso Robles!

10:45a // Michy & K hanging these old windows at the ceremony site.  The windows actually come from St. Leo’s church in Murray, Kentucky, which the groom’s grandparents help build.  Did I mention the groom’s name is Leo, too?  😉  The church has been completely renovated so the old windows were passed on to Leo’s grandfather.  The couple thought they’d be perfect to use during their ceremony.  I love integrating bits of family history like this!

11:45a-1:00p // Team lunch at Thomas Hill Organics (one of my favorites!) in downtown Paso.  I like to take good care of my own.  😉  After lunch we made a quick detour to Target to pick up last minute items for a certain special performer.

1:15p // Set-up in full swing.  Pictured here are my sweet friends Libby & Diana of Casa de Perrin (not pictured, Josh!) making sure our tables are set to perfection with their amazing vintage china, glassware and flatware.

2:30p // ceremony work.  You can spy the back of K here, coming up the aisle.  😉

IMG_2008

meanwhile // first look at hotel cheval, photographed by our friend Allyson Magda

3:00p // Michy and K worked hard to set-up these escort cards featuring compasses and wax-sealed cards designed by Le Partie Sugar.  They are displayed on this shoe shelf from {found}, draped with an olive leaf garland.

3:45p // Tabletops looking phenomenal!  Placecards (a surprise from me to the couple!) featured the gorgeous calligraphy of Anne Robin.  I still can’t get over the china from Casa de Perrin (the botanical collection) and the individual jadeite and crystal salt + pepper cellars!

4:00p // Our STUNNING bride, Tiffany, wore the most romantic Jenny Packham gown.  I couldn’t stop staring at it!  Here she is sharing a sweet moment with her niece, Ava.  I spy Drew from The Cana Family in the background!  😉

4:25p // guests arrive by shuttle and are greeted with champagne with rosemary sprigs, water, lavender lemonade and iced tea.  The beautiful clear aperitif glasses from Casa de Perrin add another touch of elegance.

4:45p // Right on-time, I sent this bride down the aisle (escorted by her brother) to her groom.

5:15p // guests signed vintage postcards and attached them to this rustic screen from {found}, dressed with more olive garlands dotted with phalaenopsis orchids (another fav of mine).

5:50p // cocktail hour was on the patio spilling out of the tasting room.  The Get Down Boys provided great bluegrass ambiance as guests noshed on small bites and caught up with one another.  Look at that yummy Paso light!!

6:25p // tabletops looking beyond fabulous as guests began taking their seats for dinner

7:10p // the meal underway!  Music provided by local singer Ray Fortune, as well as a suprise performance by Josh Krajcik!  

8:25p // setting up the scrumptious cake + cupcakes from Enjoy Cupcakes on beautiful stands and trays from CdP.

9:05p // watching their preview video by The Cana Family.  They ALWAYS make me cry; this wedding was no exception.  Ben & Drew are the best.

10:05p // last kiss at Denner before heading to their afterparty!

10:10a // and they’re off!!

Not pictured: a crazy dance party thanks to the Spazmatics.  The 80’s are alive!!  😉

It was such a lovely day from start to finish!  We packed up, headed to pick up & drop-off some In-N-Out for the after party, and then made our way home.  Something else happened on the way home but I’ll save that for another post!

Hope you enjoyed this look at another one of our weddings.  We LOVE what we do and we are grateful for the phenomenal team of vendors who made this day a joy.  Much love to Tiffany and Leo as they head out on their honeymoon!!!  <3  I hope to take them up on their offer to visit them in Austin sometime soon!!

Enjoy the rest of your Monday~

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September 5, 2013

Hello everyone!  It has been a busy week around here but I am grateful for one more day and a half to finish up some work before the weekend.  I feel like September arrived before I was really finished with August.  🙂  Amidst all the busy-ness, I was able to partake in a delightful afternoon menu tasting on Tuesday (did you see my VIDEO on Instagram?) with some June 2014 clients (Hi L&B!).  Although the life of a wedding planner + designer isn’t exactly glamorous, it certainly has some fabulous perks… and accompanying clients to tastings is one of them!  I don’t always attend tastings but I love when I can join.  I relish the opportunity to introduce my clients directly to the catering company + Chef, the scrumptious food, and the philosophy behind it.  My dear friends at Heirloom LA were behind this tasting so I had some extra motivation to be there…  Put Chef Matthew Poley in the kitchen and I am pretty much ready to pull up a chair anywhere!  I also loved getting to squeeze sweet Tara and our catering manager extraordinaire, Portia.

Today’s post will be both educational and visual — I want to review the process of hiring a caterer as well as feed you some yummy photos from the tasting on Tuesday!

When my clients are ready to look into caterers, I begin by chatting with them about how they envision their wedding reception.  Things like desired formality, setting, time of year, guest count and décor all come into play in this discussion.  My goal is always to plan and design a wedding cohesively from start to finish.  I strongly believe that the food is part of the “feel” of your wedding.  A wedding in a barn where you’re eating platters of buttermilk fried chicken (yum!) has a different feel than a wedding in that same barn serving beautiful plates of grilled lamb chops (double yum!).  As a serious lover of cuisines of all kinds, I love the chance to help my clients choose a caterer and craft a menu that fits the style of their aesthetic and palate!  For L&B, they are looking at an early summer wedding in wine country, with sweeping vineyard views paired with striking modern architecture and design.

Once we have a general idea of what the wedding will look/feel like, we begin brainstorming the ideal nuptial meal.  In this case, L&B told me they were going for upscale comfort food; they wanted to see some familiar dishes and flavors elevated by a talented chef.  Macaroni and cheese in some form was a must for them, as well as a standout pasta dish (the favorite of the groom).  With guests coming to California from all over the country for their wedding, they also wanted to wow guests with lots of local fare.  Finally, they opted for a plated meal rather than family style or buffet service.  With this information in hand, I went to Portia to create a proposed menu and quote.  Upon review of the first iteration, L&B made a few additions and updates and we scheduled our tasting!

Although some catering companies vary in their tasting policies and practices, this tasting was not for the purpose of solidifying what they would be serving at their wedding next summer.  The goal was to taste a sample menu that demonstrates what it’s like to dine with Heirloom LA: fresh and seasonal offerings, always creative, locally-procured ingredients, conscientious, beautifully-presented.  The clients are getting a sense of how they cook and deciding if they want to work with them.  The specific menu may change over the course of the planning process.  My clients may taste something phenomenal from the Heirloom LA truck between now and then that sparks the imagination for a new dish.  Chef Matt may find some incredible purveyor of (insert ingredient here) and suggest integrating it into the menu.  Still, the tasting often helps clients determine some of their favorites to consider serving to their wedding guests.

At Tuesday’s tasting, we feasted.  We savored yummy morsels, were educated on the provenance of marvelous ingredients, were cheerfully greeted by Tara, gracefully served by Portia and wowed and well-fed by Chef Matt.  It was a delicious afternoon with lots of wide-eyed moments, audible gasps, clasped hands and murmurs of satisfaction.  I told L&B to let me know their thoughts later and just an hour or so post-tasting, I received their ready-to-book text!  😉  It was our first and final tasting; HLA hit it out of the park.

Here is just a small sampling of the menu we enjoyed…

An Heirloom LA must-have: the crostini station.  It’s charcuterie, it’s a cheese plate, it’s a mouthwatering display of tasty snacks that will make your guests go crazy.  There’s something for everyone and it is perfect for a snack “grazer” like me.  Cornichons, house-cured grass fed beef bresaola, asian pears, thomcord grapes (a seedless concord!!), castelvetrano olives (some of my favs), spiced pecans, and cheese and more!

flatbreads…

butter lettuce with watermelon, tomatoes, watermelon radish, and a zippy lemon vinaigrette

this honey mustard chicken was a huge favorite.  the shishito peppers on top added great heat; yum!

halibut confit!

pork belly with black beans, green beans, wax beans and tomatoes

wrapping up the meal with butterscotch budino, strawberry hand pies and inside-out s’mores

Not pictured but out-of-this-world delish: coconut ginger and strawberry lavender aguas frescas, gruyère grilled cheese, fish ‘n chips (one of my favs!), chickpea and fennel samosas, BBQ pork sliders, a unique twist on mac-n-cheese bites that was a crispy pocket full of yum, butternut squash agnolotti, and otherworldly short ribs that put my bride into a full-on hands-on-cheeks Macaulay Culkin “Home Alone” moment.  😉

After the tasting, we checked out Heirloom LA’s 1000-square-foot garden.  Lots of what we had tasted was grown here!

Thank you to the family at Heirloom LA that makes my job so easy — I LOVE working with you!!  And thank you for introducing me to these mouse melons, with which I am now thoroughly obsessed.

Is this real life???

I hope you’re having a great Thursday; see you all soon!

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August 21, 2013

Hello everyone!  I’m back with another installment of [hour-by-hour weddings], where I highlight the flow of a real wedding day and share some of the fun behind-the-scenes action of the Love & Splendor team.  This past weekend we returned to our beloved Saddlerock Ranch at another one of their venues: Chateau Le Dome.  It is the perfect space for an intimate event of up to 100 guests, with a dramatic vineyard view from the ceremony point, a lovely al fresco dining lawn, and the cutest octagonal house (lovingly dubbed by me as the “hobbit house”) for getting ready.  Le Dome was a gorgeous setting for Hannah and Matt’s vow renewal & we loved being a part of this special day.  Here’s a glimpse of the day, hour-by-hour:

10:00a — driving up to the site.  You can spot the four-post structure (existing permanently at Saddlerock) in the distance.

10:15a — this is how Michelle rolls up to work!

10:30a — ready to tackle the day, I walk Michelle around the property and go over layout and set-up notes.  Of course we stop here and there to take some silly pics for the blog, like this one.

11:00a — wrapping our site tour to pose in our brand new team aprons from Hedley & Bennett (polka dot denim and custom coral straps).  We are in LOVE with them!!

11:15a — Anna arrives and we are sorting through the wedding day inventory.  We go through all of the items, separate it by area (ceremony, cocktail and reception) and prep things like unboxing napkins and pens, organizing escort cards, etc.  Meanwhile, rentals are being delivered and set-up outside.

12:30-1:30p — Lunch break at Urbane Cafe.  All three of us ordered this incredible seasonal sandwich featuring sriracha ranch sauce, BBQ chicken, bacon, coleslaw and cilantro.  YUM.  Fueled and energized, we head back to the site.

1:30p — Another L&S event, another {found} rentals team!  We love {found} vintage rentals!

2:30p — ceremony site taking shape.  We were alphabetizing escort cards and adding twine to place cards.

3:15p — setting out key items like the guest book (in this case, vintage postcards), a thumbprint sign-in, and a card box.

3:30p — DJ WesLee from RedShoeLA and Dom arrive on-site to get things prepped.

4:25p — Ceremony site, ready for florals!  On a hot summer day like Saturday, we wait until the last minute to dress the ceremony structure to keep flowers out of the sun.

4:48p — the bride made these adorable paper planes for escort cards!

5:10p — yummy basil lemonade + iced tea + water would be prepped here for pre-ceremony.

5:30p — aisle florals included dusty miller, feverfew and peach stock.

6:10p — sending my sweet ‘bride’ (remember, this was a vow renewal) down the aisle right on time!

6:45p — while guests enjoyed cocktail hour, we put finishing touches on the dining tables.  Can you spot Michy in the background?

7:30p — I had to congratulate the darling flowergirl on her excellent job.  Isn’t she a doll??

Look at that beautiful light!!

7:35p — Love & Splendor girls ready to welcome guests into the reception area, still showing off our Hedley & Bennett aprons!

7:45p — grand entrance time!

7:50p — Hannah & Matt did their grand entrance to “Black and Yellow.”  Everyone was roaring!!

7:52p — first dance & a welcome speech

8:10p — dinner is served!  (This menu pic was snapped earlier, as you can tell by the lighting!)

9:10p — father/daughter dance to “Gangnam Style”!

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10:00p — cake cutting!  (Again, this photo was from earlier in the day!)  The beautiful cake was from Vanilla Bake Shop, with pies from Marie Callender’s (groom’s favorite) and macarons from ‘lette.

—insert lots of dancing here!!  I (Angel) headed home and Michy & Anna started the prep for strike—

Last dance was at 10:55p, and then strike began!

11:30p — the sweet florist (SEED Floral) arrives to strike

1:11a — Michelle arrives home after a full day!

We had lots of fun on Saturday with this beautiful couple and their amazing group of family and friends.  What a blessing to work with such lovely people!!  <3

I hope you all enjoyed this little recap of our latest event.  I promise they won’t all be at Saddlerock, although we do work there quite a bit.  😉

Come back tomorrow for a HUGE announcement — you won’t want to miss it!  Enjoy your Wednesday!

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August 14, 2013

Since writing more regularly here on the blog, and sharing more personal posts, once in a while I will get an email from a prospective client who is curious if I am still planning and designing weddings.  😉 The answer is definitely YES!  I am thoroughly enjoying my life and responsibilities as a wife & mother but I am grateful for the opportunity to continue working with wonderful couples across the globe in planning their nuptial celebrations.  The key for me (and any working mom, really) is balance: I want to ensure that I am able to take care of my home and give Olive 100% while also serving my clients with the utmost care and attention.  For this reason, I am quite discerning when it comes to the clients I do take on and the number of events I’ll do in a given year.

Here’s a glimpse at a few of fast-approaching weddings I am currently working on…

… A charming and rustic vow renewal at my beloved Saddlerock Ranch… Lots of burlap, vintage bottles, wildflowers, southern comfort food and apple pie (groom’s favorite!).

Astilbe, dahlias and vintage stamps?  I’m in heaven.

… A vintage-inspired wine country wedding in Paso Robles, featuring some of my favorite industry friends including Allyson Magda, Cana VP, {found} vintage rentals, Casa de Perrin, Enjoy Cupcakes, and FOUR awesome musical acts… #dreamteam

… A glamorous modern fairytale wedding.  Luxury and opulence and drama!  This will be one for the books, and I can’t share anything else for now!  😉

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Are you smitten (like me) with these new antique white Florentine chargers from Casa de Perrin??

Add to this lots of 2014 client inquiries and consultations and our first 2014 brides, and it is quite busy over here!

One thing I have always loved about my job is that it is constantly changing.  Each couple has a unique wedding vision and I love getting to know my clients and helping them edit and develop that vision.  I am constantly inspired by the new venues I uncover, the passionate vendors whom I work alongside, and of course, the people in love who trust me with the plans of one of the most important days of their lives.  I thank God everyday for this sweet and rewarding job.

Hope you’re having a lovely week!!

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July 9, 2013

There are sooo many weddings we haven’t blogged yet, but one of these days we’ll be all caught up.  😉  Today I thought I’d make a dent in the queue with this bright, modern & fun wedding from last fall.  We worked with the sweet Aya & Trevor in planning a casual and cheery nuptial celebration with a ceremony at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Los Angeles (stunning views!) and a reception at our beloved Smog Shoppe.  Although I had the pleasure of helping with the planning, my fabulous lead coordinator Michelle guided Aya + Trevor all the way to the big day.  SO grateful for my girls!

I loved the vibrant color palette in shades of citrus and green, and quirky details like table numbers made out of Legos.  Guests were treated to the In-N-Out truck and a surprise (to the groom, as well!) performance by the USC marching band!  You know Michelle (another Trojan) loved that…

Enjoy these photos courtesy of Tyler Branch — so much joy!!

Heather from Twig & Twine was fabulous with the florals, as usual… 

Great mix of colors + styles on these pretty ladies!

This one makes me smile sooo big!

Congratulations, Aya & Trevor!! xoxo

{ vendor round-up }

Planning + Coordination: Love & Splendor // Photography: Tyler Branch Photo // Videography: Son of Sharkpig // Catering: Huntington Catering // Florist: Twig & Twine // DJ: DJ Swon of Red Shoe LA // Food Truck: In-N-Out // Desserts: Porto’s Bakery // Ceremony Site: Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook // Reception Site: Smog Shoppe

Hope you’re all having a beautiful Tuesday.  Don’t forget to enter our dot dot smile giveaway if you haven’t already… Just a few days left!

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June 25, 2013

Hello everyone!  Today we’re delighted to share a beautiful 2012 wedding with you, which was recently featured on Style Me Pretty California!  It is always an honor to have our weddings showcased on SMP — thank you Abby & co. for your years of support!

Since last year was “the year of Olive” for me (Angel), I was incredibly fortunate to pass the reins off to my lovely Michelle (planner extraordinaire!) for most of my 2012 events.  I had the pleasure of meeting Bri & Jeff at their wedding, but Michelle guided them through the planning process and made sure their day was flawless.  Their sweet and rustic celebration took place at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu.  Here is Michelle’s recap, followed by photos from two of my favorite people on the planet: Nate & Jaclyn Kaiser of The Image is Found.

The minute I met Bri and Jeff, I instantly fell in love with them.  their love, their laughter, and their infectious vibe — it was everything I look for when meeting with a couple to see if we “fit” together. I remember calling Angel immediately afterwards saying I couldn’t wait to work with them on their wedding day!  And over the course of the next few months, they not only became a favorite couple, but true friends.  It’s those clients I cherish the most when it doesn’t really feel like work, but just months of fun together.  They were such a joy to work with and so completely laid back which was a blessing in disguise come the night of their wedding!  

Their wedding took place on a Friday evening, the same night as the massive wildfires near the Getty Museum shut down multiple lanes of the 405 freeway and caused hours of delays.  Their shuttles, loaded with all of their guests, were stuck in that horrendous traffic jam.  Yet, Bri and Jeff remained calm despite it all and the wedding couldn’t have been filled with more happiness once everyone arrived and the ceremony was underway.  The photos speak for themselves on how the rest of the night went: a true blast from start to finish!  

Bri and Jeff — I was honored to be a part of your wedding and I’m thankful for the friendship we still have to this day.  

Until next time, find what you love and truly enjoy it — I know I have been!!  xo, Michelle

Bri is the quintessential California beauty!

Vendors: Photography: Event Planning: Events of Love and Splendor |Photography: The Image is Found | Wedding Venue + Catering: Calamigos Ranch | Flowers: Tanya Parker Mitchell | Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: SusieCakes | DJ: Ian Gotler / Red Shoe LA | Shoes: Nina Shoes | Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Hair: Jennifer Ballard | Make-up: Alex George | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff | Guest Favors: Plant a Memory Tree Seeds

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April 19, 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{vendors}

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

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

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