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

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

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

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

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

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

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

another iPhone snap: Ryan in action before the day began

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

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

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

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

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

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