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

today i’m delighted to share a lovely wedding with you that serves as a beautiful contrast to marie & kevin’s event, shared earlier in the week. i met martha and hector way back in 2007 when they were guests at a wedding i coordinated for martha’s cousin. imagine my joy when nearly a year later, martha followed up with me and asked me to assist her in planning her own special day! i love “keeping it in the family” with my clients and am always so honored when guests or bridal party members from weddings i’ve coordinated end up contacting me when it comes time for their own special events!

martha has a timeless, classic style that definitely leans more traditional, feminine and romantic. the palette included champagne paired with soft pastels and the florals were lush, fluffy and garden-inspired. hector was on-board throughout the process to weigh in as well, and i loved having his feedback! they are both attorneys with very busy schedules, but it was a priority for them to both be involved as they planned the wedding. i have so many great memories of our meetings together, including a detailing meeting over amazing sushi and a late night final meeting with martha in her kitchen. adore this couple to pieces and am thrilled to share the event with you!

many thanks to my dear friends, michael & emi of evoke photography, for their boundless talent and work ethic. seeing them on a wedding day makes me so happy!

the stunning bride

love this portrait snapped at the millennium biltmore downtown

the beautiful bridal party! i had the pleasure of getting to know martha’s bridesmaids at the rehearsal dinner and must say they are a fabulous group of gracious, intelligent, kind-hearted ladies! you can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep, and martha keeps some excellent company. how precious are the two flower girls??

bouquets captured the essence of spring in shades of pink. kristin of the treasured petal worked her magic again on every piece on this wedding.

one of the angelic flower girls, topped with a perfect floral headpiece. i love this photo.

a glimpse into their traditional Catholic mass at the awe-inspiring Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. i’m pretty sure i always call it “awe-inspiring” but there is really no other adjective for it. a striking, modern and minimalist church in the heart of downtown l.a.

some ethereal portraits of the bride & groom. love the reflection on the bridge shot.

the bridal party! hector had just his best man, while martha had four of her closest girlfriends in the wedding. it is perfectly acceptable to have an “uneven” number of attendants! i always advise not simply trying to “fill spots” but keeping the selection personal.

cocktail hour hors d’oeuvres. the reception took place at friendly hills country club in whittier.

a superb latin trio provided cocktail hour music

into the ballroom! tables were swathed in champagne satin, set with blush pink satin napkins and surrounded by gold chiavaris. the centerpieces were showstoppers, alternating tall and short, filled with roses, orchids, lilies, and hydrangea, and dripping with crystal adornments.

a closer look at one of the centerpieces.

a simply lovely cake!

during their first dance

cheers!

martha + hector: thank you for entrusting me with your plans and preparations for your beautiful wedding! it was such a joyful, lovely celebration and i was honored to play a part in it. your mutual respect and kindness toward one another made such an impact on me; i loved admiring your tender interactions. best wishes for a life filled with amazing experiences and cherished moments. keep in touch!!

the fab vendors…

• evoke photography
• studio west videography
• the treasured petal for the charming floral design
• elegant designs specialty linens – linens & chiavaris
• rainbow lighting
• nicole deanne – hair and makeup

hope you all have a delightful weekend! today i have the pleasure of attending a wedding of two good friends. the groom was actually in our wedding in 2005! to make things extra special, erik is officiating. looking forward to a lovely evening. much more blog goodness to come next week! i’m back in blog-writing mode and loving it!

xoxo, angel

too.much.good.stuff. that sums up this wedding and this blog post! when i was able to review the hundreds of proofs from this wedding, i told photographer travis hoehne that i was unable to narrow it down beyond about 50 photos (i usually pick only 20-30 MAX from a given wedding). even for this post, you’ll see that i could barely get under 40 photos to feature. it’s just that everything about this wedding was so photogenic! from the gorgeous bride and groom, to the sleek and stylish venue, to the colorful and funky décor… travis had a field day with this event!

i previously gave you a sneak peek on this wedding but there is still so much to share. you can revisit that post for a recap on the vision for the event. today, let’s allow the amazing images to speak for themselves as they transport you to the fabulousness that was this wedding! much love to travis hoehne for these dazzling photos; he is a great talent and a great guy. can’t wait to work with him again soon!

marie’s STUNNING dress! do you see that fluffy, ruffled confection of a bolero at the top? marie MADE it herself!!!! yes, i’m serious. i would immediately commission her to make one for me, too, if i only had somewhere to wear it!!

this delicate floral belt was also created by the bride!

those red soles = fabulousness.

the ideal accessory: a twigs & honey hairpiece! i was honored to let marie borrow this hairpiece as i felt it was TOO perfect for her wedding, with the turquoise petals and peacock feathers!

i love this getting-ready photo! gotta get those stretches in! (sidenote: i’ll take one of marie’s gorgeous kimono robes for Christmas. thanks )

the stylish bride herself!

marie’s colorful bouquet included purple vanda orchids (one of my faves!), orange mokara orchids and green dendrobium orchids.

the bm bouquets were similar and looked incredible against their dresses, which were handmade by marie’s mother. talent runs in the family!!

the beautiful invitation suite was also designed by marie, and sent in a box lined with kelly green sour candies.

this beautiful hand-painted map was the pièce de resistance! can you believe it??

marie & her bridesmaids! their darling headbands were homemade floral waist sashes they decided to repurpose. i thought they looked fabulous; everyone knows i’m a headband-obsessee.

kevin and his groomsmen, hanging out at the ceremony site.

a joy-filled first look!

i could post portraits of this couple allllll day! how fantastic are all of these shots?? there’s so much joy in each & every frame.

marie’s dramatic entrance to the ceremony!

…and the newlyweds’ joyful recessional!

the gallery was staged for a colorful & modern reception. guests sat at long tables set with white satin linens and turquoise satin napkins. centerpieces included zinc trays filled with wheatgrass (grown at home by marie’s mother!!), dotted with white dendrobium orchids and interspersed with silver vases filled with peacock feathers. and as mentioned in my sneak peek, we scattered apples (spray painted in poppy, saturated colors) along the tables as well, for a funky and unexpected décor element.

i love the mini video screens at 7 degrees, encased in these adorable ornament-sized bulbs. we played marie & kevin’s engagement slideshow in them throughout the evening.

marie gave me free rein with the fab dessert display and i love the way it turned out!

michael antonia (aka the human jukebox) was ready to spin some vinyl… yes, VINYL. he is an incredible talent and was so much fun to watch in action!!

the grand entrance!

a beautiful first dance. check out those smiles!! can’t you feel the love between them??

marie’s hand-painted cake toppers modeling their rings.

a picture-perfect grand exit, lit by sparklers.

no one looks good standing next to a glowing bride on her wedding day, but i still adore this photo of me & the happy couple. my dress + belt are from anthropologie. shouldn’t they be sponsoring me by now??

marie & kevin: thank you for entrusting me with the plans for your amazing day! i loved working with such a creative, style-driven couple and was inspired by all of marie’s painstaking efforts to personalize the wedding. (talk about talent!!) everything turned out better than i could have hoped and it was a joy to watch your guests delight in every well-conceived detail. the result was one of my very favorite events ever. looking forward to keeping in touch for years to come! and marie… if i didn’t know how long it took you to make that bolero, i seriously might have been tempted to take it. lol <3 xo

love & appreciation to the following fab vendors on-board for this event:

• venue: 7 degrees in laguna beach
• photography: travis hoehne (love the guy!!)
• dj: michael antonia, aka THJ, of the flash dance
• florals: irvine village flowers

hope you enjoyed this mega wedding post! much more to come! xoxo, angel

hello, dear readers! i hope you all are having a marvelous july and have been enjoying the summertime weather. things have been buzzing around here but i am so sorry to have left you all post-less for so long. so, i return bearing gifts in the form of image-laden blog posts! later today you can look forward to a MEGA wedding post with nearly 40 delicious images from a funky, modern wedding i did in may. later this week, i’ll follow up with another fabulous wedding post. it will be a great contrast to the wedding i’ll post today, as this 2nd wedding was more classically elegant, traditional and inspired by spring. from then on out, i hope to bring you more frequent batches of eye-candy and inspiration via this blog. thank you for sticking with me and leaving me so much love in the comments. i absolutely ADORE connecting with all of my readers through this blog and am grateful to every one of you.

to quickly catch you up on all things angel, here are some abbreviated updates on life around here!

• i have been keeping busy with weddings this summer and will soon have some amazing images to share from events at casa del mar, smog shoppe, and la venta inn, among other fantastic venues.
• my asSIStant, anna, completed her first wedding without me in june! she has another one scheduled in september and will soon be available through L&S as a lead coordinator. so exciting! many more details to follow.
• erik and i took a much-needed vacation earlier this month: a 7-day mexican riviera cruise. we stopped in puerto vallarta, mazatlan and cabo san lucas (my personal favorite). it was a splendid time of sun bathing, mini-golfing and snorkeling. hope to share a few photos with you soon, too! i got a pretty crazy tan (for me, anyway) and am currently darker than i have ever been (which is still not that dark. haha). i LOVE it and wish i could maintain the bronzed look year-round!
• i was hit by a drunk driver on the way home from a wedding (also earlier this month). yep… unfortunately i’m serious! i am so thankful to the Lord to be safe (along with Anna, who was my passenger) but things have been rough as i await the repair of my car (estimated at over $6k – covered by the drunk driver’s insurance – and will take a month) and resolution of the situation. that was one bit of excitement i did NOT need in my life! haha but again, it was a blessing to go through that with very little injury.

i think that’s a good summary for now! to top this mini-post off, here’s a fun pic from an EPIC kickball birthday party i attended last week in honor of the one, the only, my dear friend jessica claire.

serious team photo! i’m in the front row… but can you spy jeff & michael norwood, candice brooke, doug and chenin boutwell, lauren hillary, jd (jasmine’s hubby!) and the bday girl herself in this photo?  thanks to jasmine for this photo!  xo

you can see lots of photos here and here, although i am grateful there are no action shots of me to be found. truth be told, i don’t see a lot of kickball action. i know… hard to believe, right? LOL

keep your eyes peeled for that mega wedding post later today! see you again soon! xoxo, angel