Aiko Designs | Inspirational Interview

This week we interviewed Aiko Designs. Owned by Christine Aiko Beck, Aiko Designs is a jewelry company producing fresh, gorgeous works of art for weddings, celebrations, and everyday life.

Tell us about your company

My jewelry is a combination of opposites - simplicity and richness, ethereal and organic, strong and subtle.  I'm mostly self taught in jewelry design, and am always creating new pieces and seeking out the best stones and materials. My work has been included in exhibitions in the United States, Hong Kong and Japan. You can find my pieces at stores in San Francisco such as Egg & Urban Mercantile in Cole Valley, Circle & Square in Laurel Heights and Adorna Bella in North Beach.

What inspired you to start a jewelry company?

It all started when I was working in the tech industry and going to grad school -- jewelry was a creative outlet for me, something I did purely for fun. Generally I get bored with things or just move on to another hobby or interest, but jewelry stuck with me and turned into a passion. It took a while to go from the hobby to the business, but it grew organically and got to the point where I just wanted to do what I love -- create pretty things that other people love as well.

Tell us about your style of jewelry

I describe my style as sophisticated and elegant, organic yet ethereal. My designs are very simple and subtle, but strikingly pretty and feminine.

What is your favorite style/stone/etc?

Oh, such a hard question to answer! I love labradorite, tourmaline, moonstone, sapphires and diamonds!  I also love topaz, kyanite, green amethyst and lapis lazuli. It really depends on the quality of the stones -- I have a hard time choosing one favorite.

Do you ever custom design jewelry for clients?

Yes! Most of the custom pieces I have made have been for brides and bridal parties.

What differentiates you from other jewelers?

There's something about my jewelry that is quite thoughtful -- details are important to me and those who notice this understand what I put into my designs. The subtlety and simplicity of my jewelry is special. It's not always easy to create simple designs that are unique, interesting and pretty -- some designers just can't do simple and tend to over-design.

What type of event do you feel your jewelry is best suited for?

My designs are quite versatile and generally can be worn by someone going to a black tie event to someone going to a picnic in the country.

Who is your typical client?

My clients tend to be women with a sophisticated sense of style that are looking for something special and unique.  My customers have ranged between girls in their teens to women in their 70's and they appreciate the little details and simplicity and beauty of my designs.

After our interview, I did a little research and discovered that in addition to producing stunning jewelry, Aiko Designs also contributes to The Princess Project and Nest. The Princess Project is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes prom dresses and accessories to teen girls in the Bay Area that couldn't otherwise afford them. Nest is a non-profit that provides micro-credit loans to women artists and artisans in the developing world to create and maintain sustainable entrepreneurial businesses.

You can find Aiko Designs at the following places:

Personal Website

Facebook

Egg & Urban Mercantile

Circle & Square

Adorna Bella

Inspired by Green Wedding Shoes

I discovered this wedding today and just had to share it. It's fun, unique, and beaming with style. You can view the rest of the wedding on: Green Wedding Shoes or Erik Clausen.

The Box SF | New Venue in San Francisco

I recently discovered this new venue in San Francisco located on the 3rd floor of the historic 1920's William Randolph Hearst former printing plant. It has a New York loft like feel to it with floor to ceiling windows, high ceilings, and gorgeous wood. An antique table, seating up to 30 people, proudly reflects the culture of the building. The surface of the table is made up of 2 doors that are over 300 years old and originate from a Chinese village. Clear globe lighting hangs above creating a fun, romantic ambiance. The space is urban, historic, and complete with antique posters and pieces. The design and decor make for a very unique and warm environment.

The building can hold up to 200 people for cocktail parties, weddings, wine tastings, fashion and film nights, seminars, speakers, conferences, social networking event, meetings, concerts, and the list goes on. The possibilities are endless! The owners of The Box SF have an extensive personal network and a fantastic track record in promoting and producing events around the country. They are incredibly easy and friendly to work with!

Upcoming events:

Saturday | 1-16-10 | 8pm - Midnight - Fundraiser for Jessica Ann Bucher

Monday | 1-18-10 | 6pm - 9pm - Active Networking

Wednesday | 1-20-10 | 7pm - 11pm - The Matt Eakle Band

Monday | 1-25-10 | 6pm - 9pm - Active Networking

Tuesday | 1-26-10 | 6:30 - 9pm - Eco Tuesday

For more info on upcoming events and renting the space go to The Box SF.

The San Francisco Wedding Fair | Four Seasons Hotel

The San Francisco Wedding Fair was a tremendous success. I was really impressed with the overall design and our fellow exhibitors. Hartman Studios, the Four Seasons, Connie Kearns, and Karla Tibbets created several looks in the various rooms - each reflected possible wedding designs and the high caliber of this event. The main ballroom featured a modern lounge in the center of  the room - a perfect place for the guests to relax. One of the adjacent rooms featured "Late Night Munchies" by the Four Seasons - I didn't have a chance to walk through here, but there was a consistent long line of hungry brides. The remaining room featured several unique table setups ranging in design from rustic elegance to modern classic. I was really happy with our table, which was complete with yellows, greens, and chocolate brown. We displayed our portfolio, a few collages of past weddings, magazines that we are currently featured in, and our raffle. Thank you to Bellissima Floral for the fabulous flower arrangements. The 3 lucky winners of the raffle will be notified on Wednesday!

The Julia Morgan Ballroom | San Francisco

I love this venue! The staff - personable and friendly without losing an ounce of professionalism; the aesthetics - stunning and unparalleled; the wow factor - huge!

Named after the famous architect of the Hearst Castle, this recently renovated ballroom is stunning. Yet, describing the Julia Morgan Ballroom as simply stunning is a vast understatement. It is an architectural gem tucked into the upper floor of the Merchant Exchange Building. It is chic, classy, and booming with style.

The lobby, which is often used for ceremonies, features gold leaf, polished marble walls, and a vaulted-barrel ceiling.  It has a very fresh and graceful feel, which allows for a variety of styles and colors for décor. Couple's are invited to personalize their wedding by displaying interchanging pictures of themselves on the LCD screens, which are located at the entrance to the ceremony. The tall ceilings and gleaming marble provide an exquisite backdrop for a romantic event.

The reception space has quite a different feel, yet is equally as grandeur. As guests arrive, they walk into a warm and inviting foyer. It feels as though you are walking into the living room of an affluent friend's home. Leading from the lounge is the Daniel Burnham Bar and the Ballroom. Deep mahogany wraps around the perimeter of the ballroom, arching floor to ceiling windows reveal the city's sites, and the honeycomb ceiling creates an unprecedented romance.

When I first walked into the ballroom I fell in love! It is simply breathtaking and unlike any other venue I have come across. The dark browns and deep golds create a rustic, yet classic feel.

To top it all off, owner Clint Reilly has recently opened Credo, a Northern Italian restaurant just down the street from The Julia Morgan Ballroom. After completing such a work of art, it would be uncanny to open a standard restaurant. As expected, the restaurant and private dining room are booming with style and eye catching accents. The wall is covered with inspiring quotes from historical figures and celebrities. Each quote begins with "I believe," which is Credo in Latin. The Chef is Mario Maggi, who also oversees catering at the Julia Morgan Ballroom. His Italian upbringing compliments the urban trattoria perfectly.

Save the Date Collage | The Knot

I found this Save the Date Collage on theknot.com. It's a brilliant idea. Thank you to Erin Hearts Court Photography for the inspiration!

The San Francisco Wedding Fair | Four Seasons Hotel | San Francisco

The Ritz Carlton Highlands | Northstar, Lake Tahoe

The Ritz-Carlton Highlands has most recently become Lake Tahoe's premiere luxury hotel. Nestled amongst the Sierras and situated on the mid-mountain of Northstar at Tahoe, this stunning property provides comfort with sophistication, service with first class staff, and design with contemporary mountain-home elegance. The fine attention to detail and architectural design throughout the hotel is phenomenal.

Ski-in, ski-out access, a downhill mountain bike park, hiking trails, a swimming pool, full service spa and salon, and an exquisite restaurant provide endless possibilities for guests and visitors.

I could write at length about the ever-impressive features throughout the lobby, living room, hotel, and restaurant, but my main objective here is to tell you about the event space. However, I will tell you this - the designers have done an incredible job of implementing all things Tahoe throughout the hotel. Corporate hotel chains tend to instigate the oh so familiar, plain, and lack of personality connotation, but the Ritz-Carlton Highlands has pushed that aside with a unique, stylish, and unparalleled resort that all guests will thoroughly enjoy.

Manzanita, the resorts on-site restaurant is a culinary delight! Reclaimed wood beams straddle the ceiling, various muted shades and textures of leather adorn the overstuffed booths, and an open kitchen stretches along the restaurant showcasing the chef's at work. The San Francisco renowned chef, Traci Des Jardins, sources an organic and sustainable cuisine with entrees for $30 or less.  Private dining space is available for parties up to 25ppl and a semi-private space is available for parties of 40 or less. In the summer, the outdoor patio is also available for dining and cocktail receptions. Fabulous furniture, atmosphere, and food will make for a perfect rehearsal or welcome dinner!

The fine attention to detail doesn't stop there - the banquet space has been carefully designed and structured allowing for ample storage, a large banquet kitchen, prep-space, an array of setup arrangements, and loud music! Everything a customer, event planner, and banquet team longs for to provide a perfect evening of dining, wining, and entertaining!

Indoors, the two ballrooms (The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom and the Pines Ballroom) offer floor to ceiling windows, fruitwood chivari chairs, lounge furniture, cocktail tables, round and rectangle dining tables, staging, and up-scale linens. The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom is 6600 square feet, comfortably seating up to 300 people with a dance floor; the Pines Ballroom is 3000 square feet, comfortably seating 120 guests with a dance floor. Both ballrooms can be partitioned off for more intricate planning options, as well as to create a smaller space for fewer guests. In addition, both ballrooms offer separate outdoor patio space with panoramic views of the Sierras. The banquet space was strategically built on the opposite side of the hotel from the lodging rooms to prevent noise complaints and allow groups to rent the space until 2am!

To compliment Lake Tahoe's outdoors, The Ritz also offers two outdoor ceremony locations: the Meadows, accommodating up to 300 people; and the Woods, accommodating up to 120ppl. Both spaces have hard ground, a path accessing the location, handicap access, and furniture for your ceremony.

It is possible for the sales staff to book two weddings in one day; however, both the indoor and outdoor event spaces are completely separate from one another. Rest assured, you will feel like the one and only bride on your wedding day!

Weddings at The Ritz-Carlton Highlands aspire to be complete, hassle-free, elegant, and seamless. The staff is dedicated to providing you with the utmost professional service.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2010 everyone! We hope you all enjoyed the holidays and are ready for a fresh start to the new year.

We are very excited for the many great things to come this year, including our new website and our features in The Knot Magazine and Grace Ormonde Wedding Style. In addition, you will find us next Sunday, January 10th at the San Francisco Wedding Fair in the Four Seasons Hotel.

Our new year's resolution is to blog more!!! We love hearing from our viewers, so leave us comments on our posts, your requests, inquiries, and any questions you may have about the features!

So go make your new year's resolutions, a few wishes, and of course indulge in your favorites, as there is only one 2010!

Best wishes to you all,

One Fine Day

Bellissima Floral | Inspirational Interview | Lake Tahoe Florist

Bellissima Floral Creations has been part of the Lake Tahoe, California community since 2002. They are a full service wedding and special event floral design company, creating distinctive arrangements with unique and personal touches for clients' most treasured occasions. Bellissima was founded by Sara Spurlock, who takes great pride in providing thorough, hands-on service for her clients. She is the lead designer and is involved in all aspects of the design and creation process. She considers her design style to be whimsical and resonate with updated elegance.

Bellissima has been featured in Modern Bride, Today's Bride, Destination I Do, brides.com, and San Francisco Bride Unveiled

What inspired you to become a florist and start your own business?

Artistic talents run in my family and I've always been drawn to creative and crafty activities. As friend's started to get married, I wanted to contribute to their special day. I decided to put my creative drive to work as "florist" for these engaged friends. All it took was one time and I was hooked! Considering all the different varieties of flowers, vessels, presentations, and each client's unique personality, I realized the possibilities are endless.

Do you have a unique style or specialty?

These are some catchphrases that characterize the Bellissima Floral style: unique, personalized, unexpected, whimsical, organic, festive. I love to think outside the box and to create something different each time. I spend hours researching and brainstorming for ideas that either might match a client's personality or may pose as interesting ideas that I can present to future clients. I also pride myself on getting to know my clients and the personality for their event so that their vision can be understood and translated into an amazing reality.

After working with hundreds of clients, I am sure you receive an eclectic variety of requests. What is the most interesting? What is the most common?

I've definitely had some interesting visions to translate: ostrich feathers in the centerpieces, enchanted elegance, black and white wedding, vintage Hollywood Glam, woodland chic, contemporary whimsical, "007" theme.

These nontraditional concepts have been some of the most fun to brainstorm and create because the clients really wanted something unexpected that pushed the limit.

The most common request I receive is that the flower decor reflects the Tahoe surroundings and contributes to the setting. I find that this is important regardless of the theme. I never want anything to look out of place. It needs to compliment and be cohesive with the venue and personality of the event.

What do you love about being a florist?

Since Bellissima specializes in floral designs for weddings and parties, I get to meet a lot of different people and get to know my clients pretty well. Because I am trying to make sure that each even resonates with the client's personality, I am always creating original designs and arrangements. The work is never dull and always innovative! I love that I can contribute to such a memorable day in people's lives.

Do you have a favorite event that you designed?

I have so many, it's hard to choose. One that sticks out is a wedding last fall at PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn. The clients wanted the florals to come across as organic, yet contemporary, warm, and elegant. The colors were eggplant, white, and green with accents of matte silver and brown. The floral and design elements were eggplant calla lilies, white orchids, gardenias, white tulips, dark purple lisianthus, green grasses, moss, polished natural stones. It was important to the clients that the dining tables be welcoming and warm, while articulating their modern, simple style. The tables were set-up in long, family-style rows. Flowers spilled down the center of each long table, individual types of flowers filling various sized clear glass, cylinder vases. The centerpiece layout included TONS of votives scattered among the florals. Half of the votives were presented in taller footed candle holders so the candle-light was dimensional. Half of the tables were dressed with ivory satin linens, and the other half with a beautiful brocade "oyster shell" (soft grey).

The menus, tucked into the deep plum napkins at each place setting, were printed in brown on ivory cardstock and we used mahogany brown chivari chairs. The seating cards were displayed on soft beds of moss stuffed into dark brown wooden boxes. The guest book/memory table was edged in dark brown wooden boxes planted with wheat grass. For the cocktail tables and powder rooms, we floated gardenias, orchids, and floating candles in bowls lined with little river stones.

Due to the thunderstorms, the ceremony had to be pulled indoors at the last minute. Luckily we had ordered some up-lighting, originally intended for lighting some large arrangements in the corners of the room during the late night, dancing portion of the reception. Instead, we used the up-lights to highlight the altar arrangements: square matte silver urns stuffed full of moss, pampas grass, and steel grass. This, along with a lot of extra candle-light, really added drama and romance to the indoor ceremony. Regardless of unexpected circumstances caused by the weather, the event came out beautifully: romantic, warm, welcoming, lush, elegant, and organic.

Inspiration Board | Place Cards of all shapes, sizes, and designs!

After all things great and small, fine attention to detail really does play a huge role in knocking the socks off your guests! It may seem like a simple and overlooked part of your wedding, but displaying your escort cards in a unique and aesthetic manner is the icing on the cake! Here are a few of my latest favorites.

Thank you to brides.com, theknot.com, marthastewartweddings.com, and the following photographers:

A Bryan Photo

Autumn Lin Photography

Mindy Myers Photography

Red Ribbon Studio

Angie Silvy Photography

Kim Long Photography

Venue Review | Testarossa Winery, Los Gatos, CA

Testarossa Winery is nestled above the hustle and bustle of downtown Los Gatos in a serene and peaceful setting in the historic Novitiate. Testarossa combines a romantic and incredibly unique venue with unbelievable service. Their staff proudly performs as the icing on the cake. Nothing is too much to ask and everyone is very personable.

As you enter the winery, you walk through a grand double doorway into the long stone cave. The brick imprints, arching ceiling, and esoteric design bestows an unparalleled romantic atmosphere. During a wedding, this space is used for the ceremony or the cocktail/reception. Regardless of the event, the cave provides a dramatic, romantic, and unparalleled space.

Ceremony's can also take place outdoors on the patio, which is decorated with wooden wine barrels, clear globe lights, and sandy gravel. It has a modern farm-like feel combining nature with simple elegance.

The Castello Room is used for dinner and can accommodate up to 150ppl. Instead of a standard square or rectangle room, the Castello room has wide pillars (perfect for pin spot lighting), sconces, and an elegant ceiling canopy. Due to the shape and pillars, 60" round tables (seat 7 - 9 people) are best suited for this room. However, there is ample space for a long double-sided head table or family table.

The tasting room, also known as the Palazzio Room, is warm and inviting with a long wooden bar, a glowing wine barrel wall, and tall wooden pillars. The dance floor is long and narrow, but is sufficient for a party of 120 or less. A large wooden antique table, sitting next to the wooden door, is perfect for a guest book or dessert station. But, this table comes with Testarossa accesories and a charge is incurred to remove the items.

Ratings:

Price per person  · $100 - $150

Rental Fees  · $4000 - $6500

Items Included  · 60" rounds, fruitwood chivari chairs, cream floor length linens, 6' and 8' banquet tables, tall and short cocktail tables, white wooden ceremony chairs, votives in square and round vases, hurricane vases, sound system in the Castello room (not equipped with microphone), dinnerware, glassware, dressing room for the band, and room for the catering company.

Food  · Catering company required, which is limited to companies noted on Testarossa's vendor list.

Bar  · Per person packaged pricing for bottled beer and wine.

Timing  · Dinner setup can begin as early as 3pm; ceremony and reception setup begins at 5pm, allowing the event to start as early as 6pm. Events are contracted for 5 hours.

Staff  · Impeccable! Fabulous, friendly, and very easy to work with.

Setup  ·  Easy load in and load out areas with ramp access.

Power  ·  Ample power for bands, dj's, and lighting.

Lighting  · Provided lighting is subtle with dimming options in the dining room and reception room. Hiring a lighting company to up-light the pillars provides a glowing ambiance.

Liability Insurance  · $1,000,000 special event liability coverage is required.

Overall Cost  ·  Pricing is very reasonable. The rental fees include most, if not all of the furniture you will need. There are no hidden fees - all prices are noted in the contract.

Inspiration Board | Fresh, Chic, and Timeless!

I have always been in love with the unique, yet traditional floral combination of green, white, and yellow. It's a classic look that never ceases to impress in both simple and extravagant occasions and settings. It's subtle, elegant, and fresh while still providing prominence.

Bouquet: Fresh, definitive, and stunning - compliments of brides.com and Alea Moore Photography.

Table: Rustic with a touch of modern class. The green and white flowers transform this antique table into a modern plateau!. Compliments of Martha Stewart Weddings and A Bryan Photo.

Top Left: A glamorous seaside wedding blending white, green, and turquoise sea glass - compliments of Danny Weiss Photography and Theknot.com

Top Right: Exquisite calla lilies - compliments of Tana Photography and Theknot.com

Bottom Left: A complex yet elegant bouquet - compliments of Martha Stewart Weddings

Bottom Right: A dramatic yet classy entrance for Timbaland and Monique Idlett's wedding - compliments of Mike Colon Photographers and In Style Weddings

Quintessential modern arrangements - compliments of Martha Stewart Weddings.

A natural collection of flowers and a contemporary floral ball - compliments of Redtree Photography, Thia Konig Photography, and theknot.com.

If you would like to see a particular collage of bouquets, centerpieces, decor, specific colors, etc. let us know by leaving a note in the comment section.

Innovative Invitations | Oh So Beautiful Paper & Chelle Paperie

I just came across these fabulous invitations on Oh So Beautiful Paper's website. The invitations were made by Chelle Paperie who is incredibly talented. Instead of a simple piece of paper, Chelle Paperie created hard-bound books, which include wedding details, lodging, a map, a hand written personal note, an RSVP card, and the itinerary. The creativity and inspiration is phenomenal. Take a look:

In addition to the very unique invitations, Chelle Paperie created double sided posters and mailed them in custom mailing tubes to guests - brilliant!

Some of the guests received their invitations hand delivered in boxes wrapped in wood-grain paper.

I love falling upon fabulous wedding details. Thank you to the bride and groom, Oh So Beautiful Paper, and Chelle Paperie for this inspiration.

PlumpJack Wedding | Mountain Bliss

Sarah and Mike were married at 8200 feet (almost the top of Squaw Valley Ski Resort) and celebrated at the base of the mountain at PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn. The entire weekend was a beautiful celebration, complete with several surprises for their out of town guests. One of which, was the transport to the ceremony - a cable car that traveled over, around, and under a few mountains climbing 2000 feet. The ceremony took place on High Camp's deck overlooking the world...well, at least it felt like that. Mountains upon mountains fell in front of the guests, as the lake glistened in the distance.

The ring bearers were the cutest little boys and so proud to be a part of their Aunt and Uncle's big day. The wedding party, shown above, was made up of the bride's sisters; who were each allowed to pick out their own dress and choose the color. The colorful combo was perfect!

After the ceremony at High Camp, guests were escorted to PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn's pool deck where they were served a selection of delicious appetizers including tasty pizza slices cooked in the wood fired oven.

After the happy couple entertained the guests with their choreographed first dance, Hip Service shook the dance floor with their high energy singing, dancing, and entertaining.

Ceremony Venue  ·  High Camp, Squaw Valley

Reception Venue  ·  PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn

Photographer  ·  Jennifer Riley  ·  917.539.7747

Florist  ·  Heidi Gellerman  ·  530.587.7488

Ceremony Musicians  ·  The String Beings

Band  ·  Hip Service

Hair  ·  Laura Seegmiller  ·  530.386.0444

Makeup  ·  Kiss and Makeup

Rehearsal Dinner  · Garwoods

Candy Buffets ~ The pros and cons of candy favors

The perfect assemblance of a color coordinated candy buffet  will evoke "oohs and ahhs" when your guests first enter the room. The cohesive architecture is intended to portray somewhat of an entertaining decoration. But, consider the alternate vision as the evening ensues and more guests dive into their sugar craving, leaving half full containers and candy spilled all over the table. Before you purchase infinite amounts of candy and varying vases and jars, consider the following pros and cons:

Pros ~

1. The look is dramatic, organized, and colorful - you can easily accentuate your colors in a bold manner.

2. Not only does it serve as a favor, but it can also serve as a late night snack.

3. The cost can be relatively cheap, as you can reuse the vases and jars in your house.

4. Kids will love it!

Cons ~

1. During the reception, the table will look messy and disorganized, which in essence negates the purpose of the display.

2. Requires someone to repeatedly refill the containers and clean up the mess ~ not a task for a guest, as their favorite song may drag them to the dance floor, stealing their "candy attending" attention.

3. Requires you to also purchase coordinating bags or boxes for the candy.

4. If you're reception is outdoors, the animals may devour it prior to your guests!

5. If kids attend your wedding, they will occupy the table.

6. When you run out of candy the look turns from fab to drab.

Inspiration Board | Lakefront Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak of a wedding I am currently working on. The following displays our inspiration photos. I am super excited to see how this wedding unfolds. It will be beautiful!

This couple is looking for a non-traditional wedding with sass, fun, and lots of surprise elements for their guests. Although I don't want to reveal too much, here are a few tid bits and links!

Decor ~ We will decorate the outdoors with lanterns and lights to create a romantic ambiance. The inside will have a candle-lit fireplace, chandeliers hanging from the tall ceilings, and low floral arrangements decorating the long tables. To honor the bride's Chinese culture, we will have accents of red, which symbolizes good luck!

Flowers ~ The very talented Bellissima Floral is creating a unique place card holder made out of tall reeds and floating candles and flowers. The bride's bouquet will be elegant with subtle creams and peaches.

Food and Beverage ~ Instead of a formal plated dinner, guests will be served a BBQ cuisine "family style" in large dishes by Blue Onion Catering. To emphasize the unique theme, guests will be served beverages in mason jars and greeted with a self-serve infused water and juice station.

Inspiration Board | Fabulous Martha

You have to love Martha Stewart for her fabulous creativity. Here are a few of my latest favorites.

1. Elegant program pockets ~ hanging on each chair, these programs perfectly incorporate the couple's invitation design while serving as a pretty accent to the ceremony setup.

2. Ribbons for boutonnieres ~ what a classy and simple way to bring color and uniqueness into the groomsmen's attire.

3. Branches for bouquets ~ these snowberries are booming with originality. Better yet, you don't have to worry about the flowers dwindling or staining your dress!

4. Program Fans ~ useful in multiple ways and great for an outdoor wedding in the heat. I especially like the colorful print on the back of the fans.

5. Fruit for Flowers ~ I love the idea of utilizing fruit for centerpieces. It creates a fresh, colorful, and casual setting for your guests. To top it off, this couple incorporated a yellow themed menu. This look is especially aesthetic on long dining tables.

6. Herbs for decor ~ fresh, natural, and simple. Utilizing bunches of herbs is a lovely way to decorate the aisle. I love this color combination of dark wood chairs, fresh green rosemary, and cream ribbon.

Testarossa Winery Wedding | Sweet Love

Words can't even describe the beauty of this wedding. From the venue to the accessories, everything was perfect!

The ceremony and reception both took place at Testarossa Winery in Los Gatos. The ceremony was outdoors on the patio, which was decorated with string lights, candles, flowers, crystals, and beautiful trees created by Beth O'Hara with Millefiori Floral Designs. The reception was indoors in the cavernous tasting room, which was decorated with wooden signs, a photo booth, candles, and more of Millefiori's beautiful flower arrangements. Lighting, candles, flowers, and accessories created a romantic ambiance in each room.

The bride and groom were a photographer's dream! They devoted 4 hours strictly to photos with Jen Good Photography. A limo drove the wedding party around Los Gatos stopping off at their favorite spots in town to take pictures. They captured the playful, the romantic, and the personality of their relationship. Click on the gallery below to view the pictures larger. I will post more pictures soon!

Vendors:

Venue  ·  Testarossa Winery

Flowers  ·  Millefiori Floral Designs

Photographer  ·  Jen Good

Ceremony Music  ·  Steven Gary

Band  ·  Savoir Faire

Photo Booth  ·  Red Cheese

Catering  ·  Thomas John Events

Thrill of a Find

I stumbled upon this fabulous website today - Design Sponge. They have lots of quirky finds, great design tips and pics, and so much more. In my search, I came across 2 priceless pages:

1. A selection of lanterns all for under $100 ~ all sorts of styles from funky to contemporary.

2. A list of wedding registries ~ from your traditional stores to unique boutiques!