Category: [hour-by-hour weddings]

October 15, 2013

This weekend we had the joy of returning to our home away from home (Saddlerock Ranch) for another lovely wedding at the intimate hilltop site known as Chateau Le Dome.  This wedding was particularly special for us because the groom is the brother of our darling Michelle!  We were honored to be a part of this special day for our extended Love & Splendor family.  😉

Since Michelle had bridesmaid duties, this was a two-woman job for me and my newest assistant, Kourtney (aka Koko!).  You will learn all about her very soon, but let me just say that after only two weddings together, I know she is the perfect fit for L&S.  <3  She and I had a blast getting things done together, and with some of our favorite vendors to boot!

Lots of love to Ian & Aaron from Red Shoe LA, Jaclyne from Heavenly Blooms, Justin & co. from Huntington Catering, Herman Au, Nathan from Lighten Up and the team at Vanilla Bake Shop for such a smooth and wonderful day!

Here’s a peek at the day, hour-by-hour:

Koko & I met at Starbucks at 9a to get some fuel and prep for the day ahead.

another beautiful day at Saddlerock!

Koko in our team Hedley & Bennett apron + her too-cute pink Nikes

It was Koko’s first time at Saddlerock so we started the morning off with a site tour.

10:00a – Discussing the delivery schedule with security.

10:15a – Lighting review with Luis

10:30a – rentals loading in.  You can see some tables + turf off to the side, where they build out the kitchen.

11:00a – dancefloor is in position and chiavari chairs are unloaded.  Koko was working on setting up the escort card display, and I was working on some signage.

12noon – lunch break @ Urbane Cafe.  This turkey + brie + cranberry sandwich was SO delish.

1:30p – I’m no calligrapher, but I have pretty neat handwriting.  As a result, I make lots of simple chalkboards for my clients!

2:30p – the reception area is taking shape.

3:00p – caught a sneaky pic of the bridal party taking photos on-site

3:45p – the adorable ringbearer posed for me!

4:50p – ceremony underway!

5:30p – cocktail hour from afar

6:10p – I’m so glad Koko caught this pic of me and Michy.  Doesn’t she look beautiful??

6:15p – reception nearly prepped for guests.  I loved the napkin accents: either lavender, seeded eucalyptus or rosemary graced each setting.  

The grand entrance took place at 7p, followed by a first dance and a welcome by the bride & groom.  A family-style meal was served under the stars!  Toasts took place in between courses. Parent dances kicked off dancing and as always, DJ IG of Red Shoe LA kept everyone on their feet. SO fun!

9:15p – (photo taken earlier) Cake was cut and scrumptious desserts from Vanilla Bake Shop were snatched up by guests.  Yum!

11:00p – the end of a beautiful evening!

I had to throw in these pics of me and Koko having a ball…

🙂 🙂 🙂 we have fun on the job; that’s for sure!

I hope you’re all having a great Tuesday night!  Today was such a full, enjoyable day.  I just got back from the park where Olive rode down the slide, oh, 32 times?  I also ran errands, wrote lots of emails, made some work phone calls (thank you, Olive, for still taking a 2+ hour nap!) and finished the last of the laundry.  I’m off to make dinner now but I’ll see you again soon!  As always, thanks for stopping by!

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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.  😉

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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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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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July 30, 2013

Hey everyone!!  I am still in maaaaaajor recovery mode after an intensely packed wedding weekend, but I am bursting with joy and gratitude beneath all these sore and achy muscles!  The thank you texts and voicemails I’ve received in the last few days have been such a blessing!

Today I wanted to start a new type of post called [hour-by-hour weddings].  I thought it would be fun to share how a wedding day unfolds by the hour, with brief descriptions and photos along the way.  I purposely did not shoot lots of details because I want to save that reveal for professional photos!  😉  I hope it is helpful to those of you who may be planning weddings and are curious about how a wedding day plays out.  It is also probably eye-opening to those who wonder about what I do on a wedding day; it’s not exactly the glamorous job you might imagine.  😉  All that said, I truly love what I do and I know it shows.  My favorite compliment of the night on Sunday was from a waiter who told me, “Every time I see you, you’re smiling!  I’ve never seen a wedding planner who is so happy!”  It cracked me up but I know a cheerful attitude and some hustling always goes far on a long (20 hour, in this case!) wedding day.

Here’s a look at Jill & Sep’s gorgeous day, hour-by-hour:

Site: Saddlerock Ranch, my home away from home!

8:00a – Classic Party Rentals is ready to roll!

9:00a – ceremony lawn, awaiting set-up

9:30a – dressed down in cargos, an embroidered Anthropologie tunic + my fav old Converse for install.  Bride Jill said to me upon arrival, “I think this is the most casual I’ve ever seen you dressed!”

10:00a – building a cocktail kitchen on the lower lawn for a more efficient service!

11:00a – {found} vintage rentals on-site = gonna be a beautiful day!  Jeni has an amazing team.

11:12a – sending a little hello to my sweet bride!

From 12 noon – 1p, I picked up lunch for my team + the security guys and we ate, unpacked décor and staged the favor table. 😉

2:00p – chairs all set in perfectly curved rows

3:00p – two of my favorite ladies: Becky & Holly of Hollyflora, beautifying everything in sight!  Gasping over those peonies + dahlias…

4:00p – using gorgeous furniture from {found} rentals to display kippot and programs.  I added a pillow to the chair later! 😉

4:30p – Anna and Michy… my stylish & beautiful team!

5:00p – ceremony set-up! florals by my dear friends from Hollyflora

6:00p – sending a stunning bride down the aisle // she met her parents at the back row of chairs

6:30p – a mouth-watering crostini station by Heirloom LA

6:30p – outrageously scrumptious & beautiful fish and chips being tray-passed

7:00p – faraway view of cocktail hour

7:30p – soundcheck + final touches on the dinner area during cocktail hour

8:00p – band ready to welcome guests for dinner

My phone died at this point, so from 8:00-10p I don’t have fun pics to share!  I participated in a Bollywood flash mob performance (woohoo!), there was a joyful hora, and a fabulous meal by Heirloom LA featuring wild salmon, jidori chicken, and a wild mushroom pappardelle that I’m still dreaming about…

11:00p – post dinner service selfie in the kitchen with the one & only Chef Matt Poley of Heirloom LA // cracking up because catering captain Dennis tried taking 7 pics of us and each one was blurry, hence the one-arm shot! haha

12:00a hour – packed dancefloor courtesy of the AMAZING J.B. Project

From 1:00-3:30a, we were taking care of strike: tearing down, packing up, reviewing the inventory, loading it up, etc. etc.!  No photos 🙂

3:32a – packed and ready to roll out 😉

When all was said and done, I was out working for 20 hours before my head hit the pillow!  I had lots of fun chronicling the day this way and I look forward to sharing more hour-by-hour weddings with you soon.

For now, it goes without saying that I am taking things easy on my body.  I am catching up with emails & blogs over the next few days so thank you for your patience!  Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday, loves!

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