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

i absolutely loved working with amy & wil on their wedding celebration earlier this year. i still remember meeting them both for the first time. when wil excused himself to the restroom, amy whispered to me that i was as good as hired and she was sure wil felt the same. whenever a client has that kind of on-the-spot reaction, i know it is meant to be!! what followed was a fabulous experience working with these two lovebirds in creating a beautiful, joy-filled day celebrating their union.

the wedding ceremony and reception took place at the recently renovated sheraton universal hotel in universal city. i had a great experience with their staff, not to mention i loved the bonus of working at a site that is mere minutes from my home. amy & wil shared their vision for a classic, elegant, understated yet unabashedly fun celebration. most of the guests were coming in from out of town (and out of state!), so it was important to them that the guests really enjoyed themselves. the couple also wanted to honor their Chinese and Japanese cultures in the design & styling of the event. after months of planning and preparation, the big day unfolded flawlessly and i am so thrilled to share some photos with you!

many thanks to the dashing & talented men of COBA images for producing such lovely photos! it was my first time working with this photography trio (yep, trio!) and not only were they an absolute blast to work with… they really delivered stunning work. (hi cody, baldemar & sean!) i just picked up my cd of images a week ago (over brie sandwiches with at zinc cafe, no less! thanks, b!) and had the chance to check out some new photos from a destination wedding the guys shot in hawaii. seriously jaw-dropping work. you need to check them out; tell them angel says hello!

looove this pic of amy getting prepped! doesn’t she look so glamorous with the big hair?? in the background you can spy FABULOUS hair & makeup artist, joyce luck.

the lovely amy looking quite ethereal.

the bride’s bouquet, composed of eggplant callas and looped bear grass.

the debonair groom, decked out in his officer’s uniform. wil is a major in the US army, and there were many servicemen and women in attendance that evening. i’ve always had a soft spot for those in the armed forces, as my father is a highly-decorated veteran. wil seriously embodies the word integrity and oozes kindness; he is such a perfect example of the men & women serving our country across the globe. thank you for your sacrificial service, wil!

something about this bridesmaids photo just speaks to me

wil & his men!

the lovely couple

ceremony florals were clean, crisp & modern: tufts of hydrangea anchoring curly willow and stately calla lilies (not fully seen in the photo).

the ceremony took place in the starview room @ the sheraton, which is a 21st story ballroom with 180 degree views (windows with retractable shades on all sides!).

a military tradition: the newlyweds passed through a saber arch on their way to cocktail hour.

the two pics above are two of my favorite cocktail hour candids EVER. amazing captures that are full of life & emotion.

for the maximum enjoyment of kids & parents alike, wil & amy asked me to help them enlist 6 nannies for the dozens of kids that were to be in attendance. near the end of cocktail hour we made an announcement for parents to drop off the kids with their respective nannies. each child was greeted with a special bag of goodies & toys just for them! three adjoining hotel suites, equipped with TVs and dvd players, made the ideal spot for nearby babysitting.

champagne linens and chocolate satin napkins were embellished with gold metallic origami cranes, carefully crafted by the bride’s family. menus emblazoned with the wedding logo (the chinese character for double happiness) were tucked into each napkin pocket.

a stunning display of 1001 origami cranes (carefully mounted and arranged in the form of Chinese characters) was highlighted in the reception room.

a sweet little arrangement of orchids on the sweetheart table

grand entrance! amy looked incredible in her 2nd dress of the night: an exquisite sequined chi pao

some timeless b&w snaps courtesy of coba

sweet tooths were in heaven at this wedding, featuring both a decadent spread of mini cupcakes and icebox dessert shots from vanilla bake shop as well as piping hot mini donuts à la fry girl!

a packed dancefloor (thanks to my friend tony of red shoe la) and crowd-pleasing photobooth (thanks to cheesy photobooths!) rounded out the evening.

wil & amy: i have the utmost respect and love for both of you!! thank you for inviting me into your lives and allowing me to be a part of this fabulous day. thank you for the many laughs along the way, and for being so easy going throughout the process! i’m saving up my miles and hope i can visit you while you’re stationed out in asia.

the vendor roundup:

• wedding planning & coordination by love and splendor
• venue: sheraton universal
• photography by coba images
• music by dj tony of red shoe la
• hair & makeup by joyce luck
• florals by bernie at creative floral designs
• cheesy photobooths
• vanilla bake shop
• mini donuts by the fry girl

have a fantastic weekend, everyone! xoxo, angel

as another warm and balmy summer begins to fade into a crisp and temperate fall, i thought i’d take my readers back to the peak of spring here in southern california. this turn-of-the-season wedding was so special for a number of reasons: 1) the bride met me when she was a bridesmaid in another wedding i coordinated last year. i love direct contact referrals like that!; 2) the photographer, john of john & joseph photography, was an out-of-town star i had always wanted to meet; 3) it all took place at castle green, the stunning & historic site i wed my own sweetie back in 2005! we were already off to a fabulous start for this event.

nisa & aaron live in chicago where they are both physicians. the physical distance coupled with their busy schedules meant we did a lot of coordinating via phone and email. i plan many southern california soirees for out-of-towners and am always happy to be the “in state” liason for these couples. it was especially easy in this instance due to my familiarity with her venue. right from the start, nisa was drawn to rich, deep colors like eggplant, fuschia and burgundy. her vision for the day was romantic and lush, yet fun and accessible. we looked for quirky ways to infuse the celebration with the couple’s personalities, and make the day a true reflection of their relationship. the menu ended up playing a central role in this personalization. cocktail hour featured chicago-style favorites including deep dish pizza (flown overnight from chicago) and genuine chicago-style hot dogs, complete with poppy seed buns and plenty of sweet pickle relish. YUM! to maximize use of the site, we led guests through various phases of the evening throughout the property. the ceremony took place on the verdant front lawn, near a clover-shaped koi pond. cocktail hour allowed guests to explore various rooms of the property, filled with period furniture and tapestries. dinner was held in the marble-clad ballroom on the opposite side of the property, and guests were then invited outside on the front lawn where the space had been transformed into a lounge and dance area. it was the first time i’ve seen a reception at castle green take place outdoors, and it was a huge hit. the entire day was an experience for their out of town guests…and i’m thrilled to share a glimpse of the day with you.

enjoy these brilliant photos, courtesy of john & joseph photography. based out of seattle but willing to travel everywhere, J&J create absolutely stunning images and are sooo great to work with.

delicate dress details

first look!

i LOVED nisa’s vibrant bouquet, comprised of phalaenopsis and cymbidium orchids, burgundy roses, and ruffled fuschia peonies.

adore this joyful photo of nisa and her girls!

bridal party!

some beautiful portraits of the couple. castle green has so many gorgeous nooks for photos!

this photo makes me SO happy!! i have this exact shot, from this exact angle, with the exact same grin plastered on my face, from my own wedding day (at this exact location). maybe i’ll do a side by side comparison later this week. haha

aww! a tender moment right after the recessional. i love this photo.

escort cards greeted guests in the foyer, arranged around the base of a “wish tree.” guests were encouraged to jot down their best wishes for the couple, and attach them to the manzanita tree.

do i spy a budding love connection?? i LOVE when the flowergirl and ringbearer become best friends.

i mean, just look at him! i bet he had her smitten on sight.

a quick nuzzle before the grand entrance. do you spy a certain wedding planner in the background? i’m probably rounding up some bridal party members. wish you could see my favorite airline-stewardessque dress. and yes, i frequently wear 4″ heels on a wedding day.

the ballroom was bedecked with chocolate satin pintuck linens, raspberry satin napkins and gold chiavaris. centerpieces alternated tall and short, and utilized the passionate palette of plums, purples, and fuschias. soft pink lighting lent just the right amount of drama to the room once the sun set.

the lovely (and delicious!) cake, dotted with sugar paste flowers.

swoon!! this classic image needs to be blown up.

after dinner, we invited guests outside for dancing, coffee & sweet treats (including gelato. yum!)…

here’s the outdoor reception set-up during the day…

and night

candy, anyone??

sweet silhouettes

it was such a beautiful day!  nisa & aaron: adore you both!  thank you for making the planning process such a joy.  i wish you all the best as you continue your lives together.  let me know the next time you’re in town for a visit!

the vendor rundown:

• photography by john & joseph
• florals by the always wonderful taka of be buds
• dickenson west fine catering (loooove them! top notch food & service.)
• elegant designs specialty linens
• fiddlestix string quartet
• cake by porto’s bakery (one of my local haunts for lunch, as well)
• dj brian chesters
• rainbow sound & lighting

happy monday, everyone!  xoxo, angel

it’s time for another installment of fab finds — my recurring feature on all things fancy and fun, stylish and special, delicious and delightful! today i wanted to zero in on in a handful of VERY random things i love that happen to be local (within 20 minutes, anyway…) to me! if you’re semi-local as well, you are in luck. take advantage of these wonderful things and thank me later! if you have a few more miles between you and soCal, i have to say the weather is fine and isn’t it about time you took a little vacation??

1) rA organic spa – burbank, ca

fab find #1 is a spot i’ve wanted to blog about for AGES. since discovering this discreet little oasis in downtown burbank, i have been altogether enchanted by it and proudly deem it my favorite spa in soCal. coming from me (a spa connoisseur, if you will… lol), that says a lot. i’ve been to all the ritzy and sprawling marble-clad spots you’ve heard of, as well as the humble (but still fab!!) korean day spas downtown. rA stands out to me because of three key factors: unique and calming atmosphere, excellent treatments and terrific customer service. rA is quite unassuming from the outside, and you could easily miss it if you were driving by. but once you step into the welcome lobby you are transported to an asian-inspired haven. you could never guess the size of the property from the outside — this place is quite large!! there are a variety of relaxation rooms, a sauna, private and group treatment rooms, and wonderful restrooms and shower facilities. everything is pristine, beautiful and pleasing to the senses. i’ve had two massages and two facials there in the past few months and all four treatments were sublime. if you are going for a massage, i highly recommend deep tissue or hot stone treatment with pa — she is insane!!! check out rA on a tuesday or thursday with a buddy, and each of you get $20 off your one hour treatments! OR, treat yourself to two treatments on a tues/thurs and you get $20 off one of them. everyone deserves a little blissful relaxation; enjoy!!

2) le grand orange café – pasadena, ca

photo by alen lin … who, interestingly enough, was an old friend of mine at cal! hi alen!

i have to thank michael & emi (of evoke photography) for introducting me to fab find #2. we recently joined them on a double-date at this cute little spot near old town and had a wonderful evening! we dined on the charming outdoor patio and enjoyed tasty bites like seared ahi and short rib tacos (my order — INCREDIBLY good with their homemade corn tortillas and guac!). erik ordered the burger (he judges most new restaurants by the quality of their burger, if they serve one) and deemed it delish. can’t wait for another visit! check out LGO on a monday or a tuesday night, when you can buy one entrée and get the 2nd for just $5! fantastic!

3) milt & edie’s dry cleaners – burbank, ca

yes, i’m actually blogging about my dry cleaners. i absolutely love my fab neighborhood spot. you will NEVER receive better service at a dry cleaners. there is always an attentive host or hostess to greet you and summon an assistant to take your clothing. they are open 24/7. they can dry clean within two hours for no extra charge. they have free local pickup and delivery. they always have fresh coffee, freshly popped popcorn, cookies and other snacks available…gratis! they send me $10-off coupons when i don’t go in for a while, and another certificate for my birthday. they have 7 tailors on staff, 7 days a week, for instant alterations. they are eco-friendly! they repair buttons (secure or replace) and any seams for free…without asking! they just check for those things as part of their cleaning process! i seriously have nothing but praise for them. if you are even somewhat nearby, you need to check them out. love ‘em! (p.s. since they are so close to all the studios, they do a lot of celebrity clothing and costuming. one time i picked up a jacket and the host asked if it was part of prince’s wardrobe. he wasn’t joking. i took that as a mega compliment. lol. will definitely debut THE jacket — an insane flea market find — when the weather allows!)

to round this post out, here are 3 more random “fab finds” that i recently picked up for myself. i actually had some gift cards to use up, so it was like Christmas in august!

jeanne by lanvin – my favorite perfume of the moment. fruity & feminine. notes include blackberry, peony, pear, citrus, freesia and amber.

kooba “jenny” bag in this yummy lime patent leather. i got it on sale at saks (score!) and i love everything about it: the asymmetrical front flap, funky geometric shape, silver grommets and hardware, side gussets and adjustable strap. it’s big enough for me to stash my old school ibook g4 inside, too!

my perfect converse. i love to live in chucks, and this quirky color combo is so so ME. if i were to customize my own pair, i’d probably pick just this trio of colors! cinder, raspberry and yellow. i had to search all over soCal to get a pair in my size, but am now contemplating buying 2 or 3 additional pairs because i know i’ll be heartbroken when i wear these puppies out. haha that’s justifiable, right??

that’s all for now! many more fun fab finds in the queue. i’d love to hear my readers share one of their favorite “fab finds” with me. clue me in on something tasty, convenient, relaxing, or otherwise altogether delightful!

xoxo, angel