Sunday, March 30, 2008

Rainy Days & Weddings - Why you Should Always Have a Plan B!

The past 2 weekends we had weddings that were going to happen "with or without" the rain! Living in Southern California our brides don't always consider the weather when determining the locale of their ceremony site. We just hope that it will be beautiful and sunny on the big day. The majority of the time our brides choose an outdoor setting for their ceremony, however, I always tell brides that it's important to have a "plan b" when you pick an outdoor ceremony during the rainy months. If those decisions aren't made in advance it can add undue stress on a day that should be as stress-free as possible.

Last weekend we had a wedding at a hotel in Pasadena. It was a beautiful setting for an outdoor ceremony but not such a great location for an indoor ceremony. We briefly discussed the possibility of rain with our bride but she was hopeful that there wouldn't be rain and asked us to proceed as planned. The day started off quite gloomy and as we started to set up the outdoor ceremony it started to rain. Our worst nightmare! Our bride really hadn't intended to move the ceremony inside and really hadn't thought of the "rain plan" prior to the wedding so we had to make some quick decisions for the "new" ceremony decor.

It's highly recommended to have a "plan b" in case of weather issues when planning your wedding. Work closely with your coordinator or florist in the week leading up to you wedding to ensure that you have a back up plan in place......just in case. You never know what mother nature has in store for you.

If you are currently planning a wedding outdoors and are not sure what to consider in your "plan B" scenario, feel free to email me.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Chandeliers & Lighting Fixtures Add Pizazz

Adding interesting, elegant, modern or unique lighting fixtures can change the feel of your wedding or event. Local lighting companies or event rental companies offer rental options that will match your every desire.

Imagine a beautiful crystal chandelier hanging from your wedding gazebo or chuppah to create an elegant & timeless focal point.

Or, visualize a cool and modern lighting fixture suspended in the middle of your cocktail hour or wedding reception.







Monday, March 10, 2008

Fresh Color Combinations


This weekend we designed a beautiful wedding at The Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. The backdrop of the hotel garden is already meticulous so it is always a pleasure for us to work there. A bride doesn't have to add much to the amazing garden! Except color!!! This weekend - mission accomplished.

Valerie (our bride) chose the "freshest" pallet. Cool citrus tones. Tangerine, Salmon, Mango, Celadon Green and Butter Yellow. The accent to all the arrangements were gorgeous white cherry blossoms!

Overall it was an amazing color palette and received lots of compliments during the set up.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Spring Flowers

So it's time for the Spring Flowers to start showing up at your favorite flower shops (or garden!)
March is the beginning of an amazing flower season. It's my absolute favorite time of the year. We are starting to see the beginning of some beautiful product roll into the the Los Angeles Flower Market. Now is the time to step out of the box on your flower choices and choose seasonal flowers to grace your tables and events.
Local Growers (Carpenteria area especially) have gorgeous Garden Callas, Ranunculus, Anemones, Sweet Peas and Sunflowers. Blossom Branches in white and pink are starting to pop up everywhere. Daffodils and Hyacinth are in full bloom. Take advantage of the beginning of the spring blooms! Brighten up your home with a bouquet today!

Wait till April hits - Lilac, Viburnum, Dogwood - oh my! My FAVORITE flower month!

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Wedding Colors Set the Mood

Today we had a wedding at the amazing Hotel Bel Air. I find the location to be so breathtaking. It is truly one of the gems in Los Angeles. One of the concepts that I loved most about our wedding decor was the choice of color which helped set the mood for the evening. Our bride wanted to create 2 different feelings for her guests. She loved the traditional, pure white of a wedding but wanted to also have a sexy vibe as well. It's a little bit challenging to have that "pure" white wedding look combined with a "sexy" lounge feel all wrapped into one event.

The day started off with a very traditional ceremony at St. Timothy's church. All white flowers, candelabras lining the aisle, chiffon swagging from cluster to clusters. The same theme continued when the guests arrive to Hotel Bel Air. The ballroom was completely draped by Revelry Decor in all white/ivory Chiffon. The draping created a blank canvas for us to work with. I love starting with a blank canvas. From there you can do anything! Our flowers were also in white. We used white peonies, white roses, white orchids. Everything was very clean and elegant. As the guests dined and danced they were then introduce to the "sexy" part of the evening. The lounge opened up for the guests to enjoy!

The side room was completely draped and carpeted in a sultry sexy red!! So dramatic. The cake was surrounded by red chiffon and sitting atop a bed of red rose petals and red votive candles. The lighting, flowers and fabrics were also designed with deep rich red. This created an unexpected atmosphere for the guests to enjoy.

I think it's fantastic and unexpected to create a different atmosphere throughout the evening for your guests. Sometimes through the planning process you have a couple ideas for your wedding decor. If you find the right vendors to work with they might just be able to help you blend your "wish list" together and help you create the event you were dreaming about!