hello everyone!  it’s already halfway through “sweet november” (remember that movie??  lol) and i couldn’t be more thrilled.  it’s my favorite time of year.  on any given day you’ll catch me sporting knee-high boots, a nubby woolen scarf, mustard-colored tights, and a ruffle placket peacoat! as kristin (my bff and owner of the treasured petal) likes to say, i am a fan of wearing everything in my closet at once. and that tends to work out well in the cooler months. in addition to my autumnal wardrobe, fall conjures thoughts of pumpkin pie, warm apple cider and best of all… a big feast that centers around stuffing and mashed potatoes.  :)  i am really looking forward to all of our family celebrations, fast-approaching in the next few weeks. (thanksgiving is next thursday???)

i have one more post to share with you from jessica & jeff’s stunning october wedding. hope you don’t mind a bit more eye candy!  ;-)  today i’ll be sharing with you an extended vendor roundup. since my first two posts only linked & hinted at the many fabulous people we had on board this event, i thought i’d give you a better look at the people behind the scenes who made this wedding something out.of.this.world!  NOTE: all photos in this post courtesy of jose villa, with the exception of four photos by becker (which are marked with a watermark… like the one below).  :)

venue: 3 stones in pope valley, ca

i can’t say enough good things about this location and its site managers, brian & briana.  the first time i stepped onto the property, i just gasped.  it could be considered the quintessential napa vineyard setting in one sense (with its rolling hills covered with vines), but it also has such unique sub-locations on the property that make it a truly versatile venue.  the overgrown beauty of it all really appeals to my soul.  briana and brian could not have been more helpful and accommodating, either! if you are looking for a fabulous new location for weddings in the napa valley, please check it out.  and then book it.  and then call me, because i would LOVE to work there again!  :)

photography by jose villa

i have worked with jose before and being a rational human being, i am obviously madly in love with his work.  everyone who sees jose’s gorgeous imagery falls in love.  it is dreamy, romantic, fine art photography at its best.  he truly stands alone in his style, in my opinion.  every photo that he produces is frame-worthy, full of light, sparkling with whimsy and that certain je ne sais quoi…  his work is timeless and i could not imagine a better photographer to capture jess & jeff’s wedding.  to top it all off, jose is the sweetest, most gentle man you will meet.  i adore him!!  many thanks to jose for doing a phenomenal job documenting the day and more than that, capturing its spirit on film.  (p.s. joel serrato came along as jose’s assistant and i can’t wait to work with him soon!  he produces the most beautiful super 8 wedding films — check him out!)

videography by elysium productions — contact: alex & julie

there is hope for a part 4 post on this wedding because of these two.  ;-)  can we say highlights video???  i cannot wait to see the beauty of this day captured on film.  alex and julie are THE videographers in southern california (and beyond!) and their work is always stylish, fun, and artfully edited.  i always tell my clients there is nothing like seeing your day on video.  you can hear the laughter, see smiles and reactions, and in my case…replay your husband’s tearful vows over and over and over again!!  julie shot my wedding wayyyyy back in ‘05 and then shot my mother’s fab wedding last fall.  i couldn’t be more pleased with our videos and would recommend them to anyone.

florals by gilly flowers — contact: neil/gilly or sharon

ohhhh how i love gilly!  neil and sharon, along with their fabulous team, did an unbelievable job in creating and embellishing the environment for jessica and jeff’s wedding.  finding the ideal florist for this event was quite a daunting task, and we went back and forth about bringing a southern California florist up to Napa, or just using an established northern California florist who was closer.  although many options were weighed, once we had a quote drawn up by gilly, we knew that we had found the person to bring jessica’s wedding vision to life.  i remember our mockup a few weeks before the wedding, when we went in to the shop to preview a tablescape, a prop piece (the filing drawers), and one of the ceremony windows.  we were dying of anticipation all day long and when we walked in and saw how they presented everything, we were floored.  he had truly captured the spirit, the mood, the feel of this magical wedding.  on the day of the event, the team was tireless in perfecting every single arrangement, bouquet and piece of décor.  i was sincerely MOVED by their work…  it was whimsical, playful, colorful, wild, romantic, lush, textural and dripping with detail.  everything seemed very naturally brought together, but i know there was so much intention behind the placement of each stem, petal and leaf.  i can’t gush enough about them and their marvelous work.

catering by alex’s catering — contact: rolando

i heart rolando soooo much.  i could just leave it at that and it would say it all, but i know that doesn’t satisfy the average blog reader who doesn’t know who in the world rolando is.  :)  rolando was our event manager from alex’s catering and he walked with us through the process of creating an inventive and tantalizing menu, laying out a smooth-flowing event, and coordinating rentals with classic in napa and st. helena.  he was my eyes and ears in so many ways throughout the planning process (while i was down in SoCal and he was up there!) and i enjoyed every exchange via email and joyful phone coversation we shared.  rolando is passionate about creating stunning, inspiring events for his clients and he has fantastic taste to boot.  on top of the pleasure of working with rolando, i also had the delight of eating the food at the wedding.  and let me tell you … the food was superb.  from plating & presentation to seasoning and serving, alex’s was en pointe the entire meal.  alex’s does events all over CA so make sure to give rolando a ring if you’re looking for an exquisite experience.

the final product and the artist’s rendering pre-wedding.  :)

cake by perfect endings — contact: angela

perfect endings is THE wedding baker in napa, and as far as many are concerned, the country.  oprah has long been a fan of the masterful work of chef/owner sam godfrey  (calling him the Michaelangelo of baking!!) and his mouthwatering and stunning confections.  when jess and jeff settled on their napa location, i told her there was only one stop on her cake tasting tour up there.  they chose a scrumptious selection of cake flavors (including candy bar… yum!!) and then left the design of the cake up to me + perfect endings!  i sent lots of inspiration to angela (love her!) and sam, including photos from our mockup, an inspiration board jess had made early on, a save-the-date and invitation, and a picture of jeff’s infamous shoes.  :)  the final product featured three tiers, one each inspired by jeff’s shoes, the wedding china and the beloved skeleton keys.

rentals by classic party rentals, st. helena & napa — contact: deva

classic party rentals is a national chain of event rentals and having worked with them many times here in SoCal, it was easy peasy to connect with their napa and st. helena teams.  our main contact was deva and she was lovely as  can be.  from our initial walkthrough, to dozens of changes to the order, to 3-day installation and post-party issues, deva was calm, resourceful and eager to deliver excellent service.  they provided the majority of our rentals, including the rough hewn wooden dinner tables, the too-perfect mismatched china (via unique tabletop, trucked up from los angeles!), and the etched glassware.

rentals by town and country event rentals, van nuys — contact: cindy

although we had a great local rental company up in napa (see above), we wanted every last rental to be carefully selected for the big day.  in our endless research we made a visit to town & country in van nuys and found a few pieces we knew we had to have.  after finding no suitable substitute anywhere else, we decided to truck some of these pieces all the way up to napa ourselves.  and that we did!  i love working with T&C, especially with dear cindy.  the special pieces we took from t&c included their distressed 1942 chairs (mixed in with ceremony and reception seating), copper chargers, and vintage mother-of-pearl handled flatware.  although we found quite a bit of mother-of-pearl flatware elsewhere, i have to say the pieces from town and country are (in my humble opinion) far superior in detail, quality and all-around loveliness.

lighting by got light? san francisco — contact: jon & levon

oh, how i love got light?!!!  my experience with this company from start to finish was nothing short of fabulous.  at our initial walkthrough and first meeting with levon (who personally oversaw our event), we fell in love with his ideas and sweet demeanor.  i also had the pleasure of working with got light? owner jon via email, and every exchange we shared was a total crack up.  he is HILARIOUS and wanted to do everything he could to make this wedding spectacular. love these guys and can’t wait to work with them again soon.  xoxo  :)

stationery by two upon ten — contact: kari dyas (kadyas@aol.com) — **due to some issues with her website, i took the link down.  please contact kari via email with any inquiries!**

kari is a masterful artist, working with all things paper and otherwise, and creates the most thoughtful, unique, heart-wrenchingly gorgeous stationery i have ever seen.  collaborating with kari was a true pleasure and i loved working with her on everything from ink colors to fonts to wording and artwork.  she is a brilliant mastermind, pushing the envelope of creativity and carefully producing (by hand!) the most sublime pieces of art.  i treasure my copies of the save-the-date and invitation kari created, as well as my copy of the letterpressed dinner menu.  thank you, kari, for lending your artistic genius to this event, and pouring your heart and soul into the pieces you created!!  (kari is also the creator of the escort card door, finishing one side in chalkboard paint and the other with brass hooks for hanging the number tags.)

michael, performing the couple’s first dance and wearing my scarf… courtesy of the borrow-a-scarf rack.  :)

dj – mark of denon & doyle

mark did a fantastic job working a pretty complicated event.  :)  we had 3 set-ups (one for ceremony, one for cocktail hour, and one for reception) and mark was great in assisting all the talented musicians who lent their gifts to the event.  we had singers at the ceremony, michael norwood’s performance for J&J’s first dance, and kyler’s sets.  mark has lots of experience supporting musicians (and has traveled with various bands on tour!) so he was an ideal fit for the event.  after dinner, he knew just what to play to get the crowd on the dancefloor.  and that’s where everyone remained until the end of the night!!

special performance – kyler england

jessica told me early on that having kyler sing at her wedding was a MUST.  kyler is one of her favorite singers and she thought a live performance would be fabulous during dinnertime.  kyler ended up doing 3 sets during the evening and i was moved (more than once!) by the sound of her voice.  it is SO pure, crisp, soft and lovely.  you’ve gotta hear some for yourself.  :)  her rendition of “the scientist” (my all-time favorite song) by coldplay brought tears to my eyes. amazing.

hair and makeup by nicole deanne

nicole is soooo talented!  she has all of the important marks of an excellent stylist: great personal style, a genuine love of what she does, innate skill and efficacy!  she and her assistant beautified all of the bridal party, both moms, PLUS a few random folk (like me and anna… lol) and still had time to get ready for the big wedding themselves.  nicole is also popular with my brides and it’s no wonder why!  she is so fabulous with what she does and i love working with her. check out her latest work at her website and blog.

custom linens by sin.dee.gee

kabrel found sin.dee.gee (aka Cindy G.) and commissioned the production of all of our napkins (burlap and cotton squares) and runners (burlap with velvet and silk dupioni trim).  cindy was quick, efficient, and very well-priced.  check out her etsy for some of her creations, and feel free to contact her with your own custom linen orders.

custom signage by family attic signs

the beautiful, chippy, antique-feeling signage all over the wedding was created by family attic signs.  i’m a big fan of signage, even if we know most guests are going to find their way around just fine without directions.  :)

vintage candy girl by peachy’s puffs

i was elated to find peachy’s puffs just a few weeks before the wedding.  although some of our early brainstorming sessions had touched on the possibility of bringing a vintage candy girl to the wedding, we had let the idea fall to the wayside while other more pressing items surfaced.  as i was finalizing plans for the big day, i came back to this idea in my notes and found the perfect company to facilitate our little fantasy!  peachy’s puffs provided us with a lovely candy girl, complete with tasteful retro costume!, to serve guests an assortment of vintage candies.  though there is the option of having them provide the candy, i decided to handpick all of the items myself to ensure a wide selection of flavors and (just as importantly) fanciful packaging!  i found candy heaven on earth in burbank at rocket fizz.  it’s a MUST-STOP for anyone who loves vintage soda pop and candy.  i called my dad while i was shopping and gushed to him about the taffy flavors and old-school candies…many of which he recalled from his youth!  while you’re there, make sure to get a zagnut for me.

photobooth (@ RD) by foto cabina

jess & jeff’s retro-carnival-esque rehearsal dinner wouldn’t have been complete without the fab foto cabina brought all the way up from soCal!!  many thanks to the fine folks from foto cabina for facilitating so much fun!  it was a total crowd pleaser.  :)

save the date calligraphy by laura hooper

the save-the-dates were addressed by the one and only laura hooper… in record time, i might add!!  she did a fantastic job and i think her stunning script was the perfect addition to the first ‘taste’ of the wedding that guests received.

invitation calligraphy by mara of neithersnow

i am a bigggg fan of mara’s unique calligraphy and was thrilled that jess wanted to use her for the invitations!  i sent mara a bunch of labels (these from paper-source, with a little brown border) and she did a wonderful job with them.  the labels were affixed to craft paper packages since the invitations were.. BOOKS.  if you don’t know about the fabulousness that was jessica & jeff’s invites, check out this post.  :)

—-

i think that’s all the J&J goodness i have for now!  i will definitely be posting a teaser video from elysium when that is debuted.  :)  hope you all have been inspired and delighted by these photos and this wedding, the way i have been.  i can’t tell you what a joyful and rewarding experience it has was to see this beautiful day come to fruition.

enjoy the rest of your beautiful wednesday!  i’m feeling a bit icky (you know when you *start* feeling sick?  the painful throat, enlarged lymph nodes and popping ears??  is the popping ears thing just me?  lol) so i’m off to comfort myself with some udon & california rolls… one of my ultimate comfort meals. hoping that copious amounts of emergen-C and my favorite tea ward off whatever’s ailing me before it turns into something full-blown.  :)

xoxo, angel

I love to cook.  I love to eat.  Anyone that knows me knows this about me.  In another life I would be the next Food Network star, wearing vintage patterned aprons and chatting about organic produce while I braised some fennel.  Or something like that.  :)  As busy as life gets, it is so therapeutic for me to wind down in the kitchen, stirring a pot of tom kha gai or mincing cloves of garlic.  I love trying out new recipes, creating my own, and watching the delight on Erik’s face as he bites into something extra delicious.  And of course, I love those moments when *I* bite into something and sit there, mid-bite, in awe…shocked that *I* could have made this tasty morsel!!

I experienced one of those fabulous moments last week when I made (for the first time!) this banana cake and passionfruit icing.  It all started with these two passion fruits I found at my local market.  I happen to LOVE passion fruit-flavored anything, but I had never eaten (or even seen!) a real passion fruit.  It was a fairly unattractive thing, all purple and wrinkled (apparently the wrinkles mean the fruit is ripe!), but the sweet perfumed scent of the fruit was intoxicating. It won me over.  I put two in my basket with no idea of how I might use them.

After scouring the internet and discovering a dozen recipes I’d never want to make, I read an article about bananas and passion fruit making an excellent flavor pairing. And suddenly, a light went on!  I looooove bananas. Banana milkshakes, frozen bananas, deep-fried bananas, banana cream pie!  If it has bananas, I’m all about it. Combining two of my favorite fruits of all time into one tasty dessert?  brilliant.  I set to work to tweak a few recipes I found online for banana cake, and then went to town. The result was phenomenal. Seriously, I’m allowed to say that because I am not suggesting that I am somehow responsible.  In some wonderful twist of serendipity, my banana cake with passion fruit icing turned out to be the most delicious cake I’ve consumed in recent memory.

If you like to bake, or if you want to try your hand at it!, give this recipe a whirl and let me know what you think.  :)

sweet & simple banana cake

you’ll need…

• 1 ¼ cup of flour
• 1 ½ tsp of baking soda
• pinch of salt
• ¼ cup of unsalted butter (softened at room temp.  don’t try to cheat and put it in the microwave… it will melt and get gross!)
• ½ cup of white sugar  (i used turbinado sugar)
• 1/3 cup of brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/3 cup of buttermilk
• 1/3 cup of walnuts (“optional” — i see them as essential)

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, mix both types of sugar and softened butter.  Cream until well integrated and smooth.
4. Add egg and mix.
5. Mix in mashed bananas.
6. Little by little, add a little of the flour mix, and then a little buttermilk, and then a little flour mix, and then a little buttermilk, until fully incorporated.  I like to do three “rounds” of integrating…  It’s one of my crazy kitchen tendencies.
7. Add the walnuts and mix well.
8. Pour your batter into an 8″ round pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.  Check at 20 and 25 minutes just in case…  Mine was done in exactly 23 minutes.

While the cake is cooling, make your icing!

tart & juicy passion fruit icing

you’ll need…

• one “bar” of cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup of icing sugar (aka powdered sugar, confectioner’s sugar)
• 2 ripe passion fruits

1. Rinse the passion fruits and cut in half.  Scoop out all the fragrant pulp and put into a small bowl.  Pour all the pulp into a fine mesh strainer and strain out the seeds.  Use a spoon (or similar tool) to get every last bit of juice from the seeds.  (Note: the seeds are edible but I prefer a smooth, seedless icing.)
2. Make sure your cream cheese is COMPLETELY softened and at room temp.
3. Mix the cream cheese, icing sugar, and all the passion fruit juice (your yield will vary depending on the size of the fruit and your elbow grease! ) until smooth and completely integrated.
4. Taste and add additonal sugar to taste, if necessary.  (You will need more sugar if you don’t like a true cream cheese taste to your cream cheese frosting. My passion fruits were soooo ripe and sweet that their flavor took over and I did not need additional sugar.)

Once the banana cake is completely cooled, frost your cake and enjoy!  (Note: I like to keep my frosting separate and frost each slice as I consume the cake, little by little.  LOL.  It keeps my frosting fresh since I knew I wasn’t taking the cake to a party.  Nope… I am just eating this cake slice by slice on my own!  haha) **Update: the cake is now gone.  Come to your own conclusions.  :)

The recipe will yield an 8″ round cake, but feel free to double the recipe and make two round 8″ cakes for a layered cake. There is probably plenty of icing for 2 cakes. I like to slather mine on, thankyouverymuch.  :)

Hope you all are having a wonderful week!  Coming soon: vendor roundup for Jessica & Jeff’s wedding!

P.S. Happy Veterans Day! I am so grateful for the service & sacrifice made every single day by our service men and women. My father is a highly decorated Vietnam War veteran (who served three tours there in the Big Red 1) and he is a true example of an American hero.  Love you, daddy.

xoxo,

angel

i have been waiting and waiting to share this very special wedding with you, and i am SO thrilled the day has finally arrived that i can!!  :)  nancy & eddie were wed in june of this year and once the photos came back, we knew we had something very special on our hands.  i held off on blogging as there was a high probability of the wedding being published in a magazine, but when the magazine shut its doors, beautiful bride nancy wanted to send this wedding to one place and one place only: mecca of all things gorgeous, style me pretty.  abby is featuring the wedding today (eeek!!!  our 2nd SMP feature in 3 weeks??? someone pinch me please!) and i am finally able to share the L&S view as well!  make sure to click over here & here to see the SMP feature.

when anna and i met nancy and eddie, it was seriously love at first sight.  these two are SUCH a darling pair!  nancy came to that meeting so excited and enthusiastic about her big day, and i could see right away that this wedding was going to be three things: bursting with details, a joyful celebration, and SO much fun to work on!  although i knew i was going to be out of town the weekend of nancy’s wedding, we suggested something very special (for the very first time) for her.  i asked if she would be open to having me *and* anna work with her on the planning side, and then have anna lead the coordination efforts on the big day.  our consultation was one of the most memorable yet.  after our hour-long meeting, gushing over ideas and inspiration, we gave our hugs and saw nancy and eddie head back to the parking lot.  anna and i were still sitting at the coffee bean, enjoying the last bit of our coffees, when i received a phone call.  it was nancy and eddie IN THE PARKING LOT!!!, ready to book.  :)  i was overjoyed.

over the course of the months of planning, anna and i developed a wonderful friendship with nancy and eddie.  she is one of the most thoughtful and kind people you will ever meet, and her anticipation for the big day paired with her overwhelming sweetness to us) made working with her a true pleasure in every single way.  on the morning of nancy’s wedding, i texted her from palm springs (where i happened to be) and told her i had prayed a little prayer for her wedding day and upcoming marriage.  she texted me back saying that she knew she was in great hands with anna and could not wait for the wedding! around midnight that evening, i received another call from nancy, who left me a thankful voicemail.  could she be any sweeter???  we met for lunch a few months ago and we’re already planning another get-together.  i know we will continue to share a beautiful friendship for years to come.

i hope you enjoy a glimpse at this beautiful, romantic, absolutely adorable wedding.  nancy poured her heart into so many DIY projects and the result was simply lovely.  the UTTERLY FAB photos were captured by two of my very favorite photographers (and people!), amelia & justin lyon.  they were the perfect pair to capture the joy on this special day.

the sparkling shoes, by giuseppe zanotti.

nancy’s two dresses: the one on the left for dancing @ the reception, and the one on the right… a custom-made rental (yep, you read that correctly!) from tomato weddings in koreatown.

nancy getting final spritzes courtesy of the super talented nicole deanne.  how happy does nancy look???

cool groomsman shot… not taken from the top of a staircase, but above a mirror!

two of my favorite shots from the day.  pure nancy.  :)

PERFECTION.

nancy’s fluffy springtime bouquet (with touches of delicate lily of the valley — a fave of mine!), featuring a locket with a photo of her late father.  so beautiful.

this couple is sooo in love.  and it makes me love my job that.much.more.

perfect programs.

these dashing young heartbreakers escorted the bridesmaids down the aisle.  too cute!

PRICELESS ceremony shot!!!

recessional.  love this shot — the vantage point and all the movement.  now off to the reception!

a stunning twist on the iconic cover of fête, by jung lee

nancy + eddie: anna and i love you both so, so very much. thank you for inviting us into your lives, sharing your wedding plans and dreams with us, and allowing us to be a part of the magical day. every meeting we shared was filled with so much laughter; it was a joy spending time together. we are so grateful for the friendship we’ve built with you and look forward to many fabulous times together in the future. can’t wait for our next lunch date soooooon <3

the vendors who made this day so delightful:

• planning & coordination by events of love and splendor
• ceremony: bel air presbyterian
• reception: skirball cultural center
• photography by amelia lyon
• videography by dvartistry
• florals by commerce flowers
• dj PK of prokreation
• chiavaris from chiavari chair rentals
• lighting by the lighter side
• hair & makeup by nicole deanne

enjoy the rest of this beautiful tuesday!!  xoxo, angel

claudine & david are a very special couple to me; i adored them from the moment i met them at our consultation.  the first thing that struck me about the two of them: they are one good-looking pair!!  the second thing — they share a deep love and respect for one another, and a companionship that i truly admire.  i love falling in love with my clients, and being inspired by their relationships.  it’s just another joyful part of this job i am blessed to have.  :)

claudine and david were wed in september in a beautiful, traditional Catholic ceremony at Sacred Heart Chapel, on campus at LMU (where Claudine is an alum and lecturer!).  the reception took place in roski dining room, also on campus at LMU.  it is a sleek, modern space that was re-done literally *weeks* before their big day. what timing, right??  :)  the space is adjacent to a lovely contemporary garden (shea terrace), with abstract sculptures and water features, as well as the perfect raised area for dancing under the stars.  the evening unfolded beautifully and i am delighted to share a glimpse of the day with you through the lens of my dear friends, amelia & justin lyon.  to know them is to love them!  they are both wildly talented, tons of fun, and wonderful to work with. the images they captured for claudine and david are simply stunning.  make sure to click over to their blog for more pics & a slideshow!

claudine’s gorgeous shoes & dress.  i was sooooo enamored with her ethereal, glamorous gown; it was one i would actually want to wear myself!

how beautiful are they???  claudine gets her incredible eyes from her lovely mom.  :)

super sweet & fun bridal party!

claudine’s bouquet featured calla lilies, stephanotis, and hydrangea.  the bridesmaids carried cymbidium orchids and roses with looped bear grass.

i am smitten by this photo of the couple exiting the church.  the way david is looking at his bride, the way claudine’s veil is blowing in the wind, the cascade of the ruffles on her dress…  pure beauty.

this portrait is so hauntingly perfect, too.

i can see this one blown up, printed on canvas and hanging over a mantle.  :)

stunners!!!!

this playful set is one of my favorites.

some sweet details…

how fantastic is this shot of the outdoor dancing area??

and just for fun… anna, me & amelia!  clearly amelia and i have ESP with our polka-dot connection.  ;-)

claudine & david — thank you for inviting me into your lives and sharing your wedding planning process with me!  i loved getting to know you both, sharing laughs and inspiration together, and watching you come as husband and wife.  you are both so blessed with support and love from your fabulous families and friends and i know your love will only grow, deepen, and strengthen with time.  i look forward to years of friendship!  taco night double date soon??  xoxo

vendor roundup!

• ceremony site: sacred heart chapel @ LMU
• reception site: roski room  & shea terrace – university hall @ LMU
• event planning & coordination: events of love and splendor
• photography: amelia lyon
• florals: flowers by felicia (felicia could not be sweeter!  her shop also has a darling coffee shop connected, so make sure to swing by if you’re ever in playa del rey.  really glad to have met her.  :))
• linens: elegant designs specialty linens
• favors: icing on the cookie
• dj: DJ Soulrane (aka Lars) who you’ll find spinning all over Vegas
• lighting: LRS event services

coming soon to the blog: part 3 of jessica & jeff’s wedding (vendor spotlights & more jaw-droppingly beautiful photos) and a taste from my kitchen!

xoxo, angel

hello dear readers!!  i still have one fabulous post remaining from my jessica & jeff series, so hold tight for that soon!  :)  in the meanwhile, i wanted to share some exciting love & splendor news with all of you!

most of you already know my younger sister (aka asSIStant), anna.  some of you have met her in person and have already heard her unashamedly enthusiastic laugh, seen her show-stopping smile, and envied her ridiculous collection of handbags. others of you may have read about her when i did a little game of 20 questions with her on my blog.  for all of you, and everyone in between, i want to reacquaint you with anna.  get to know her, because you’ll be seeing a lot more of her around here.

after working by my side for over 4 years, anna is absolutely ready to begin a new chapter here at L&S.  effective immediately, anna is now available as a *lead coordinator* for my darling package clients.  although i will still be handling a few darling packages each year (and of course will be managing all of my current clients!), i will begin transitioning into handling lovely & splendid packages exclusively. this year anna was able to branch out and do two weddings without me (one in june and one in september — both of which were FABULOUS affairs and the brides could not have raved any more about her…).  it began innocently enough, when we met a client we looooved but who had  wedding date during my annual vacation.  we offered her the opportunity to meet anna and work with her for her big day, and she was sold! we did the same thing a few months later and both clients were a perfect fit for anna. after hearing such wonderful feedback from those two brides (not to mention the raves from the vendors who worked alongside anna for those two events) i knew my gut feeling had been confirmed: she was ready to fly!

anna is already booked for a handful of weddings in 2010 and i cannot wait to see her grow & flourish on her own.  note that she will still be my #1 assistant anytime she isn’t handling her own wedding.  we love  working together too much to forsake that altogether!  ;-)

anna and i have a lot of great things in common: attention to detail, self-motivated drive, a passion for all things fabulous… but i’m thrilled for you to also get to know what makes anna unique.  she’s sassy, has a bold sense of style and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.  many people say we’re like night and day.  i invite you to get to know her and see for yourself.  :)

when i started L&S back in 2005, i never imagined that my endeavor would blossom into what it is today.  i know it is all by God’s grace that i have come this far and i am truly eager to see what the future holds!  that said, i am 100% more confident about that future with anna coming into her own, so to speak, and opening up the door to new possibilities for L&S.  i know you will fall in love with her when you meet her!

and now for a glimpse at the doll that is my baby sis, here are some gorgeous snaps captured by the one & only jasmine star.  we both love jasmine to.the.moon! and i have to say, these photos truly embody the spirit of my spunky sis!  (you can see more on jasmine’s blog!)

anna, in an outfit i adore.  ray ban aviators, ann taylor top and sweater, burberry scarf, j. crew skirt, bcbg heels.  bracelets are from j. crew and BR.

we both LOVE coffee.  anna’s order at starbucks?  chai with one shot of espresso.

the one on the left is my hands-down favorite.  it completely captures anna’s spirit.

beautiful!!  i’m no pro but i did her makeup.  it’s pretty easy beautifying someone this naturally stunning.

outfit number 2: banana republic dress and marc by marc jacobs heels.

you can’t really see in these pics, but anna has the most perfectly, blindingly white teeth you have ever seen.  it’s one of the first things people comment about when they meet her.  :)

most people say we look very different.  i think that’s common in hapas — we all sort of get a unique blend.  do you see any family resemblance?

if you are interested in working with anna for your special event, please contact me for more details!  angel@loveandsplendor.com

have a fabulous wednesday!

xoxo, angel

I’m back with more fabulousness from Jessica’s big day!  The feedback we have been getting has been astounding; thank you all for your immensely kind words!  Make sure you check out Jessica’s blog for her personalized recaps of the day, as well as the feature posts by awe-inspiring photographer Jose Villa and blogger-extraordinaire Abby @ Style Me Pretty.  (Follow-up posts on SMP here, here and here.)

I last left off at the end of cocktail hour…  Guests were mingling and noshing on crab cakes and heirloom tomatoes with chèvre, basking in the sun-dappled shade of an immense tree dotted with chandeliers.  Sound about right??  It was a magical scene…  :)  At dusk, guests were invited along another winding path to the reception area…

Reception…

Guests collected their seating arrangements on the most fabulous escort card display, created using a salvaged door, some metal hooks, vintage keys and tea-stained tags.  Each guest’s name was written on the door in metallic gold ink, and stationer Kari Dyas installed hooks next to each name.  On the hook, a guest would find an aged skeleton key attached to a tea-stained tag simply noting their table assignment.  The door was propped up against an old piano for the perfect seemingly makeshift (yet so very intentional…) stand.

The entryway to the dinner area, which had been mowed out of a wild area of tall grass… The site owners at 3 Stones graciously went along with our request to let the rest of the meadow run wild with the growth of the tall grass so it was like an outdoor “room” surrounded by walls of wispy stalks of grass.  Incredible.  Guests entered the area by crossing the threshold of an old door (still attached to its frame!), completely bedecked with magnolia leaves and florals by Gilly and his team.

This little arrangement makes me SO happy.  It encapsulates all of the genius of Gilly, the man behind the flowers.  :)  Delectable textures, unique floral elements, whimsy and playfulness paired with a rustic romance.  Adore the jeweled bugs nestled among the mounds of moss!

An old coat rack proffered various shawls and scarves, as well as vintage hats, to “rent” for the evening.  A vintage suitcase sat at the rack’s base to collect the accessories at night’s end.  Kabrel and I brought an assortment of our own personal scarves and shawls for this display, and the owners of 3 stones added these delightful hats!  This was a way to play up the eclectic feel of the evening (instead of going out and buying 20 orange shawls, for example.) Both plaid scarves in this photo are mine — it’s sort of wild seeing them in this photo, making up a part of the magic.  :)

I could just live in this photo.  Something about all the colors, the textures, the glass bottles, the tiny silver bee in the corner… Everything is utter perfection.  Our goal with the tablescapes was to inspire the guests and spark conversations over the incredible treasures laid before them.  Each item was a one-of-a-kind piece of history and the “collected” feeling of the various floral vessels added a sense of charm to the tables.

When the right linens can’t be found, what do you do?  Have them custom-made, of course!  Cindy did a fabulous job creating these runners from burlap, backed in pumpkin-hued dupioni silk and edged with the perfect teal velvet ribbon.

This photo is my new computer desktop display.  I feel like I’m drawing a chair up to this majestic table for dinner everytime I turn on my computer.  :)

Guest seating was at a mix of long and square rough-hewn wooden tables, topped with custom-made burlap runners edged in lengths of wide velvet ribbon.  We brought in a playful selection of mismatched china for the placesettings, where guests discovered personalized menus that had been aged with tea, letterpressed and designed with burned edges and a wine glass stain.  It was yet another genius element brought to life by stationer and artist Kari Dyas.

Lush tablescapes brimming with whimsical details graced each table.  An astounding collection of vintage tins, copper vessels and apothecary glass were was pieced together for months (purchased one by one by event stylist and designer Kabrel Polak — kabrel@me.com) and Gilly Flowers filled each one with wild, organic-feeling arrangements using uncommon blooms, branches and foliage.  Jeweled bug brooches were gingerly poised amongst the florals as another layer of delightful design.  There was a fabulous detail everywhere you turned!

The decadent dinner menu featured butternut squash soup, roasted halibut, and lamb chops with a pomegranate orange reduction.  A masterful cake created by Napa’s own renowned bakery, Perfect Endings, was an ideal dessert paired with fresh milk shooters and an assortment of freshly baked cookies.  The cake’s fondant design was inspired by the wedding china, Jeff’s shoes, and the ubiquitous skeleton keys.

Jessica’s favorite singer, Kyler England, entertained guests with two live music sets and DJ Mark of Denon & Doyle kept the dance floor packed until the couple’s formal grand exit at the end of the night.

It was a perfect day from start to finish and guests were truly immersed in an extraordinarily styled environment that oozed inspiration.  Not a single thing was left undesigned.  Watching Jess and Jeff sway back and forth during their first dance (performed by Jeff’s brother, photographer Michael Norwood!), lovingly gazing at one another, is a poignant memory. It was a joy to be a part of and I will never forget the way I felt as the sun set and we dined under the stars.

Their beautiful first dance brought tears to my eyes.  It is truly powerful to watch two people so blissfully in love get lost in one another, surrounded by nearly 100 of their friends.  It was as if they were all alone in that meadow in that moment…

Here are some of my absolute favorite portraits of the couple from the big day!

glowing!!!

You can check out Jessica’s blog for all the details on their fabulous attire!  Jessica’s Amsale dress is very remniscent of my own wedding dress, and she accessorized it perfectly with her floral crown & necklace.  Jeff’s Armani suit was the epitome of style.

I’ll be back with one more installment of inspiring images tomorrow, featuring highlights on the amazing & talented team of vendors who brought this day to life. I’ll also be sharing a bit more about my experience in working on this dreamy wedding.  Thank you again for all of your feedback; the true joy is knowing that Jess & Jeff were beyond thrilled with the outcome.  That is always the measure of my success at the end of the night (i.e. total and utter DELIGHT), and the fact that all of you are equally inspired & moved by these photos is just the icing on the cake!

xoxo, Angel

It’s HERE!!  I’m delighted to finally share the ultra-fabulous wedding of Jessica Claire & Jeff with all of you!  A million thanks to Abby @ Style Me Pretty, who is featuring the wedding today, and the incomparable Jose Villa for his amazing photography.  I love working with Jose and his images always transport me straight back to the wedding day, feeling and experiencing every moment a 2nd time.  Adore him!  Although this entry began as a MEGA post, I quickly realized you just *can’t* do 100+ images at once.  I’d overwhelm you all with too much beauty!!  Instead, let’s savor this wedding, chock full of delightful details and whimsical touches, in a two-part series.  :)  Truly, this wedding one I will never, ever forget.  <3  Enjoy!!!

When Jessica came to me early this year for help planning her fall wedding to Jeff, I was thrilled.  (And flattered, jumping-up-and-down-excited, instantly buzzing with inspiration, etc… LOL)  Jessica is a wonderful friend as well as a peer in the industry, so I was delighted to come on board in putting together what I knew would be an incredible event.  Jessica sees weddings day in and day out, and has photographed some of the most amazing weddings to date.  For this reason we knew that her wedding day had to be extremely unique and special, and a true reflection of her personal style and sensibilities.  She and then-fiancé Jeff sent me an inspiration board that was at once dramatic and whimsical, charming and rustic.  Jessica wanted rich, saturated colors, vintage-inspired details and a true feast for the eyes with over the top details, luscious florals and one-of-a-kind décor.  Once the awe-inspiring Napa Valley venue, 3 Stones, was locked in, the design just poured out.  It was like a flood of inspiration that kept running down until the day itself!

While I was the wedding planner on this event, the design side of the wedding was a collaboration between me and event stylist Kabrel Polak (kabrel@me.com).  She and I spent hours upon hours together creating each and every detail, going over the way guest’s would experience the day, ensuring that every.single.moment. would be accompanied by some stunning visual and sensory experience.  She and I could not have been more thrilled, overwhelmed, moved and affected by the final outcome.  It was incredible……  Recurring design elements and motifs included locks and keys, branches, velvet and burlap, vintage timepieces and cameras, jeweled bugs and tea-stained stationery.  Every single piece of furniture and décor had a sense of history to it – there was the feeling that each treasured item had been carefully picked out of an amazing vintage estate.  These photos by Jose are absolutely breathtaking and actually brought me to tears.  Our incredible vendor team pulled together an intensely styled event and the wedding is instantly one of my all-time favorites!

Anticipation

Crackled copper leather Louboutins!!!  If you know Jess, you wouldn’t expect anything else from this shoe-lover!

my absolute fave pic of jess from that day.  STUNNING.

my.favorite.bouquet.EVER.  this delicious, luscious, wild and slightly crazy bouquet is the stuff dreams are made of.  Gilly outdid himself!

bouts featuring wheat, fiddle ferns, acorns, craspedia (aka billy balls), celosia (aka cockscomb) and hypericum berries.  i loved the nubby yarn adorning these unique lapel adornments…

adoooooored the flower girl outfits.  not gonna lie — i’d wear it.  haha

The bridesmaids wore a unique mix of dresses in various textures and colors that complemented the look of the day.

the dapper groom!

The men wore ensembles that included suspenders and vests… a stylish nod to a bygone era.

Welcome Area…

Guests arrived to 3 Stones through a covered trellis leading into a welcoming courtyard.  A refreshing beverage station greeted guests with southern sweet tea, French pomegranate juice and sparkling berry lemonades, served with twisty straws and fresh fruit garnish.  An old library filing cabinet (an incredible find we discovered at a salvage yard!) was dressed with tufts of moss and floral accents, as well as fresh fruit for ‘picking’ as a pre-ceremony treat.  When the ceremony was about to begin, guests were ushered as a group to the site.  Along the winding path to the ceremony, guests encountered such conversation pieces as a 6’ wrought iron bird cage (another salvage yard treasure!) filled with florals resembling a majestic bird and its plumage.

Ceremony….

The ceremony was held in a beautiful clearing overlooking a lake and the rolling vineyards at 3 Stones.  Florist Neil Gilly of Gilly Flowers created an incredible “outdoor chapel” by defining the space using a series of vintage windows, embellished with lush sprays of branches, leaves and florals in autumnal shades.  Scraps of an old wooden fence lined the back of the ceremony space, and antique locks were strung on lengths of velvet ribbon along various posts for a whimsical touch.  A series of Persian rugs lined the aisle leading up to another dramatic window display.  For guest seating, we used mis-matched wooden chairs (half of which came from an abandoned 1940’s schoolhouse) dressed with turquoise dupioni sashes and vintage brooches, mixed in with mini vignettes of vintage furniture.  Stacks of vintage luggage and antique trunks, overflowing with florals, were also featured throughout the seating area.  Many of these pieces came directly from the personal collection of Jessica’s cousin, event stylist Kabrel Polak (kabrel@me.com).

Cocktail Hour…

Cocktail hour took place under an immense tree with a canopy that almost formed a natural tent.  Golden chandeliers were nestled among the branches for soft light.  Guests noshed on delicious gourmet bites, courtesy of Alex’s Catering, but the highlight of the cocktail hour was a Dwelly Farms Heirloom Tomato Exhibition Bar.  A staff chef was there to slice fresh heirloom tomatoes and dress them with the guest’s choice of oils, balsamic vinegars, artisan sea salts and cheeses, as well as freshly-snipped herbs!  They even put out brioche rolls and crispy pancetta for those who wanted to make a mini-BLT!  It was a fabulous display.  Seating was dispersed among more mini vignettes with fabulous tufted armchairs and low wooden coffee tables, as well as linen-covered cocktail tables with bar stools.  Vintage timepieces swayed in the breeze, suspended from tree branches with lengths of oatmeal-textured twill tape.  A collection of vintage cameras and family portraits, along with unexpected groupings of unique blooms and foliage, adorned tabletops in this area.

Stay tuned for part 2 this afternoon, which will cover the reception & our mega vendor list!  And make sure to swing by Jessica and Jose’s blogs for their POV posts!  Style Me Pretty will continue to post up eye candy from the wedding all day.  What  fabulous day!!!!!  I am positively giddy to share this with you! xoxo, Angel

hello, dear readers!!  i hope you are all as excited as i am to usher in the autumn and fast-approaching winter.  :)  this time of year is my absolute favorite, as i get to plan and anticipate family gatherings for the holidays, wrap up another incredible season of weddings and of course…wear my favorite knee-high boots and vintage coats! although i am a summertime girl at heart, there is something about the cooler weather that appeals to the romantic in me.

i just returned this weekend from a completely fabulous week in northern California. the main purpose of the trip was the wedding of Jessica & Jeff in the stunning Napa Valley.  months and months of dreaming, planning, preparing and styling came together perfectly and i cannot express how thrilled i was with the final result. everything was BEYOND stunning and i got the chills multiple times that day!!  i knew it was going to be amazing but honestly, the culmination on the day-of took even *my* breath away!!  LOL  cannot wait to share photos with you from the one and only jose villa.  :)

after tuesday’s wedding, i dropped anna off at the airport and picked up my sweetie! we spent wednesday through saturday on a much-needed mini vacation in napa, berkeley and san francisco.  it was something of a nostalgia-palooza as we visited many of our favorite haunts from the college days at cal.  the weather was perfection and i came home refreshed and full of promise for the final months of 2009!  here is a little glimpse at our getaway…

in napa we stayed at the avia hotel — a boutique hotel downtown.  we loved the décor, the stylish and spacious rooms, and the excellent service.

adoooored these funky canopy chairs in the lobby, as well as the oval mirrors on the walls.

i would highly recommend the avia and definitely would stay there again on another visit to the napa valley!

the hotel was very close to the new oxbow public market in napa.  imagine a scaled down version of boston’s faneuil hall (aka quincy market).  i loved walking around and exploring the unique shops and restaurants at oxbow.  the creative merchandising was really impressive; proof you can be inspired anywhere!  take a look for yourself.  :)

how anthropologie-meets-grandpa’s-garage is this???  LOVE IT.

of course we spent some time in napa touring a handful of wineries.  we weren’t able to swing by far niente or nickel & nickel (mom & raj’s favorites), but we did drop in at mumm, frog’s leap and castello di amoroso.

mumm napa has a lovely new outdoor terrace.  we enjoyed browsing their ansel adams photography gallery.  :)

frog’s leap is a quaint & quirky winery that stands out for their use of organic grapes & wholly sustainable farming practices.  i love the sweet vegetable garden they have, just steps away from the wraparound porch.  i got positively giddy eyeing the perfect, tiny little peppers and strawberries.  there’s a part of me that loves all things rural…  sometimes i think i could definitely move out and live on a farm.

the castello di amoroso is relatively new to napa (having opened in 2007), but the materials that make up the castle are hundreds and hundreds of years old.  owner dario sattui (who also owns v.sattui) spent 14 years building this stunning castle, importing the materials from old castles in europe.  the materials came from various properties, and not just one old, demolished castle.  :)  the result is truly a sight to behold…  we thoroughly enjoyed the educational tour and agreed our visit to the castello was a highlight of the week.  it’s a must-see when you’re in napa!!

the remainder of our trip was spent in berkeley, sausalito and san francisco.  since we’ve been so many times, we kept the photography to a minimum and instead focused on eating & enjoying!  :)  although there have been some changes to the campus and surrounding neighborhood, everything in berkeley is very much the same.  i love that campus (and city) soooo much.  10 minutes there and i’m 17 again, filled with excitement and anticipation and brimming with dreams.  it’s a wonderful place and  any chance to visit berkeley is a welcome one for me!

i’ll end with this requisite pic of us at the marin headlands overlooking the golden gate bridge.  i’m wearing my absolute favorite “new” dress… a vintage oscar de la renta shirtdress & belt.  it is too too much fun (and covered with peacocks, no less)!!!   i wish i could wear it everyday.

being up in northern california (for this brief visit!) reminded me how much i love it there.  if you are planning a napa valley (or bay area!) wedding, i’d love to hear from you!  i look forward to extending my reach into the napa valley on a more frequent basis in 2010 and beyond.  :)

hope you all have kicked off a wonderful week!  i’m looking forward to a delightful wedding this weekend at one of my favorite venues in pasadena.  there are still a handful of amazing weddings left on my 2009 calendar and i can’t wait to share them with you.  :)

xoxo, angel

hello everyone!  hope your week has been utterly splendid.  to say i’ve been busy lately would be the world’s greatest understatement.  seriously.  i have never been so busy as i have been the past few weeks!!  :)  i happen to be finalizing preparations for the fabulous wedding of jessica + jeff, and am (wayyyyy) beyond excited for the big day!  i promise you will be blown away with how it all comes together.  :)  how’s that for a teaser??

today’s post, however, is about another pair of clients i LOVE and adore: d&c.  from the first time d & i corresponded via email, i knew we would be the ideal planner/client fit.  d is ultra sweet (truly a blessing to me!), organized, creative (graphic designer) and stylish.  as if that weren’t enough, she’s also drop.dead.gorgeous!!  can you say former fiesta bowl princess and red carpet report for E! entertainment??  yeppp  of course clay is a dashing counterpart; they are just too much wonderful in one couple. best of all, their relationship is a beautiful reflection of their own walks with the Lord.  i was so encouraged just chatting with them during our first consultation.  i can’t wait for their intimate, modern rustic wedding this fall at the parker palm springs.  i have been dying to work here for ages!!

here are some photos we  shot at our recent site visit & tasting…

funky furniture in the entryway.  the entire property was designed/styled by jonathan adler.

whimsical, random, and a bit tongue-in-cheek…  the parker doesn’t take itself too seriously.  :)

an indoor firepit is a central attraction in the lobby lounge

lobster salad on slices of toasted brioche — delicious!

composed cobb salad with white & regular balsamic vinaigrette

slow roasted salmon will be one of the entrée options

cupcakes!!  clearly they wanted to make sure we got a thorough tasting of the available flavors.  :)

some shots around the verdant property…

a cute shot of the couple in front of the reception room!

now while i typically do not showcase engagement photos on my blog, i simply MUST give you a glimpse at the amazing snaps captured by their photographer, harrison long.  i adore each and every one of them!!!

yep… it doesn’t get much better than that.  :)

counting down the days until their big day!!!  d&c: you know i adore you both… SO.VERY.MUCH!!  thank you for always making our meetings a blast.  quoting nacho libre over lamb lollipops = my idea of a great time.  :)

xoxo, angel

happy sunday, everyone!! i am spending a lazy afternoon just relaxing and recuperating from a busy wedding weekend. saturday’s event was a fabulous success and i can’t wait to share the INCREDIBLE photos from amelia lyon. i got a sneak peek and was soooo blown away with how she captured the day! for now can i appease you with a blurry shot from ryan seacrest? yeah, you read that correctly.

yep — snapped & “tweeted” by ryan himself. the bride is one of his producers and has worked with him for a decade. fun stuff!

as i get caught up on some backlogged posts, i thought i’d share a few recent features about L&S.

1) “make your day YOU” video interview by THE dane sanders

i was beyond honored when the sweet lindye galloway contacted me about doing a video interview for dane’s new wedding venture. their webisodes are one-on-one featurettes with wedding vendors (and since i know a few other people they interviewed, i can say i was flattered to be in such amazing company!), with the goal of inspiring brides and grooms to make their weddings truly unique and personalized. i will admit it: i was pretty nervous about being interviewed on camera and immediately after dane & lindye left, i called my bff kristin (of the treasured petal) to bemoan what i believed was an extremely awkward interview (on my end!). lol thankfully dane & co. know how to skillfully edit a vid so i appear a lot less awkward.

take a peek and let me know what you think! try not to poke too much fun — it was unscripted and totally extemporaneous. xoxo to dane & lindye for a wonderful experience! so appreciative of the opportunity to chat with you both!

2) southern weddings feature for marie & kevin’s wedding!

thank you to the lovely ladies over at southern weddings magazine for the beautiful piece they did on marie & kevin’s hip & modern wedding earlier this year. all of their colorful photos make me smile — travis hoehne did such a fab job shooting their wedding!

3) junebug feature on my mom’s wedding!

although the feature was posted a few months ago, i thought i’d redirect you there in honor of mom & raj’s one year anniversary yesterday! i can’t believe a year has flown by since their spectacular event at the bacara resort and spa in goleta.

they are currently celebrating (as only they know how) in paris, their favorite city. they go annually in the spring but are now adding a 2nd fall trip. i eagerly await their return this weekend. raj promises to return with gifts in tow…namely ladurée macarons and perfume.

enjoy the photo-laden feature via junebug. there are lots of images i didn’t include in my own recap last year. too many INSANE photos, courtesy of my dear friend trista lerit.

hope you all have a splendid week! i am planning on a fab one, myself!

xoxo, angel