Pretty Paper meets Snap Dragon

While doing my daily research for crafty, inspiring, chic, and anything interesting, I stumbled upon Satsuma Press' website. Satsuma Press is a letterpress and design studio based out of Corvalis, Oregon. Their work is beautiful and has a lot of personalized touch.

Beyond the images of their work, I came across a very touching story about their son, Liam, who has a neuromuscular disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. He is a gorgeous little boy who seems to be as ambitious and outgoing as your typical 6 year old, but the poor thing has a disability that prevents him from using his legs. He gets around in his "Snap Dragon" - a fantastic nickname for his mobile chair, which also reflects the character of this ambitious fellow! Due to his condition, his parents are in the process of raising money to make their bathroom fully accessible for the little man. If you would like to read about Liam's daily adventures and/or donate, you can go to his site - We Love Liam.

Sassy Chair Covers | Wild Flower Linens

Just like a lady needs a dress, so do the chairs! Standard, plain slips are now a thing of the past as Wild Flower Linens has raised the design bar by producing formal wear for chairs. They have a wide selection of styles and colors - some simple and contemporary, others bold and elegant! They are a perfect way to sass up any event or even to distinguish the bride and groom's chairs! Here are few to tickle your fancy - you can view the entire collection on Wild Flower Linens' site!

Bay Area Bride Guide Give Away!

Bay Area Bride Guide is offering a great give away to everyone who becomes a Facebook fan throughout April and May! The 2 fantastic prizes are: 1) A night out in San Francisco at the Hotel Griffon and a $50 gift card to McCormick & Kuleto's

2) A Canon PowerShot SX200 IS

To read more, click here!

Costanoa Lodge | Eco Friendly Wedding Venue

I was recently invited to the Costanoa Lodge in Pescadero. The second I turned off the main road and drove through a tunnel of eucalyptus trees, the surroundings forced me to leave my busy day behind and relax in the peaceful setting. It is such a beautiful place and so well designed. Costanoa offers the outdoors lover an excursion indoors and out with a variety of unique lodging accommodations, a delicious restaurant, and an infinite amount of outdoor activities. In addition, they have designed the property to be eco friendly with an onsite reclamation water plant, tv-free rooms, organic sheets, recycling containers in each room, onsite garden, and the list goes on. The three different lodging styles are filled with character. The lodge rooms are luxurious; the log cabins are the epitome of rustic elegance; and the bungalows allow you to be one with nature. As bathrooms are not included in the cabins and bungalows, comfort stations are provided. Not to be confused with a campsite restroom facility, the comfort stations are oozing with style. These consist of an outdoor fireplace with Adirondack chairs, heated floors, toilets, private indoor and outdoor showers, and a sauna.

As I walked around the property on my tour, I was so captivated by the various features, especially the wedding space. A beautiful, fresh and lush lawn overlooking the canyons serves as the perfect ceremony and reception venue. The adjacent patio and outdoor fireplace offers a romantic setting for the dance floor and/or lounge area. I was surprised to discover that Costanoa provides most of the necessary furniture and all of the catering. This really cuts down on additional wedding costs, labor fees, and permits. Plus, their furniture is very fitting for the green wedding style - natural wood folding chairs, banquet tables, canvas umbrellas, linens, glassware, and dinnerware.  The onsite restaurant, Cascade bar & Grill, is also available for weddings to use as a late night venue or even to hold the dinner and reception. The setting is intimate and romantic!

The company's motto is "Discover the pace of nature." I couldn't find a better way to describe the surroundings, the facilities, and the atmosphere. Guests come to the Costanoa Lodge for an experience unknown to anywhere else. They will find themselves pleasantly surprised with the unique design and style of vacationing.

To learn more about this beautiful property, become a fan of Costanoa Lodge on Facebook!

Mike Larson Photography | Engagement Love!

Here's a little intro to my next Real Wedding. I feel Jon & Jessica's engagement pics really show their fun, happy, and super "in love" personalities. Thanks to Mike Larson & his team for the fabulous pics! Real Wedding pics to come soon.

Design Inspiration from Wedding 360

As promised, here are a few pictures from the Wedding 360 design seminar I attended a few weeks ago. I don't want to say too much about the first collage, as the pictures speak for themselves. The images walk you through the Museum of Petals dinner, which was held at the St. Regis San Francisco. The theme was 5000 petals, which is the amount of petals used to create this beautiful room. Gloria Wong and her team did a fabulous job.

Clockwise: Top images ~ the entrance to the Museum of Petals dinner. A modern display of white couches, floating candles, silver tables, and pink lighting create a fun and unique setting. The ice bar, courtesy of Chisel It, consists of beautiful arrangements on top of the bar as well as frozen inside the waist of the bar - super creative!

Middle ~ Petals blanket the dinner tables, while floating candles in clear vases add a warm touch to the setting. A man made tree (courtesy of Gloria Wong and her team) stands elegantly in the center of the room with petals hanging from every angle. It serves not only as an eye catching design, but also as the focal point that justifies the surrounding accents.

Bottom ~ Petals carefully sprinkle the linens including the floor-to-celling fabric, which creates a warm atmosphere and soaks up empty space.

A few of our unbelievably inspiring educators. Pictured here: Youngsong Martin of Wildflower Linens, Catherine Hall of Catherine Hall Studios, Tara Guerard of Tara Guerard Soiree, champagne for our tasting compliments of the Henry Wine Group and Componere Fine Catering, the fabulous Jean Marks and Jubilee Lau (hosts of the event and producers of Wedding 360) pictured with Grace Ormonde of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, our seminar room in the St. Regis San Francisco, and one of the panels featuring Youngsong Martin, Catherine Hall, and Grace Ormonde.

Yikes, Planning a Wedding Is Tough!

Did you know that 43 businesses are involved in the average American Wedding. Forty Three businesses! These are the "post-booking businesses," so your florist, rental company, photographer, permit company, etc, etc. Can you imagine the amount of businesses you need to contact before you get to your final 43? To help narrow down your "pre-43 biz contacts" here are a few tips:

1. Make a budget - first and foremost, this is drastically important. Create a spreadsheet and allocate funds to each category. Even if you are unaware of what a photographer costs, guesstimate. You don't want to realize you spent 90% of your money before even booking your catering company. Google has a great tool for free -

2. Hire a wedding coordinator - many think they can do it all....but after reaching maybe half of your 'final 43' you will realize, planning a wedding for 50, 100, 200, or even 300 or so people is overwhelming. Wedding coordinators spend their days negotiating, advising, and taking care of the many unromantic details involved with creating an organized and lovely celebration. Wedding Coordinators also know the top 50 vendors in their area - so they can assist in vastly reducing the amount of companies you need to contact. Better yet, they can even do it for you!

3. Determine the style of your wedding - Would you like a backyard soiree or a formal ballroom celebration? Would you like your photographer to take mostly candid photos, or do you love the creative posed shots? Would you like elegant, tall centerpieces, or simple wildflowers in mason jars? Think about who you are as a couple and how you would like your event to reflect your personalities. Then, list off each category (photographer, florist, venue, food, etc) and make a few bullet points of the style you are aiming for. This will help tremendously when deciding between vendors and when reducing your list of companies to contact. It will also help your vendors determine how they can taylor their services to your ideal wedding.

4. Ask for help - don't be afraid to ask your coordinator for advice. We are professionals in guiding you to your happy day. Whether it be to review your budget and perhaps give a reality check on the likelihood of staying within it, or to review a few contracts, or even to advise on which accessory will compliment your theme.

5. Outsource - with a full time job, a social life, and the fear of turnig into bridezilla looming over your head, you have to face the facts and realize that you can't do it all. Consider your time and how much it is worth? Do you really want to spend hours trying to create a pretty invitation out of scrap paper, or would it be worth while to spend the money on a professional invitation company that has oodles of experience in designing and producing pretty invitations?

Phenomenal Design Seminar!

I feel so unbelievably inspired after listening to and learning from the creme de la creme of the wedding industry. More to come soon from who we met, our favorite designers, and so much more!

One Fine Day & Bay Area Bride Guide

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of meeting with Elizabeth from Bay Area Bride Guide, a wedding blog about the latest wedding tips, trends, and tidbits. I met Elizabeth and Stacy, owner of the blog and Marry Me Live, at the San Francisco Wedding Fair a couple months ago.Elizabeth asked all about the trials and tribulations of wedding planning, how I became the owner of an event planning company, and my daily duties. To read the entire interview go to Bay Area Bride Guide's site.

Inspiration Board | Accessories

Oh how I love accessories. There are so many ways to dress up a room/space/yard/estate. One of my favorite roles as an event planner is working with my clients to find their vision and design the colors and theme, while implementing accessories to boost the personality of the event. Here are a few of my latest finds: Simple Whimsical Elements

Implementing nature is a very popular theme today. It is especially great for those on a tight budget. Why? Because there are many things you can collect in the forest, on the beach, in your backyard, etc. that are free. They just require a little crafty DIY!

This inspiration board is made up of fresh accessories that elude an organic feel. The place cards wrapped around a wooden post and held in place with clothes pins is such a simple, yet decorative display; the wooden lantern is used to collect gift cards and decorated with river rocks; a collection of recycled paper hand tied with raffia is used as a unique guest book; potted plants and popsicle sticks create a very whimsical means for seating guests; a beautifully decorated belly belt is used to hold the napkin in place while adding a punch of color to the table; and rustic lanterns hang from tree branches over hay stacks, which are covered with colorful blankets. Each of these images are pretty simple, yet so prominent.

Creative Twist on the Traditional Wedding

Traditionally, weddings were pretty straight forward and the decorations minimal at best. The focus of the wedding was mainly on the ceremonial matters and gathering loved ones together. While these two fundamentals are still huge in today's wedding world, the decorations, theme, and design of the wedding have become almost just as important. You want your wedding to stand out and be memorable - what other way to do so than in your accessories. Thanks to the abundance of magazines, websites, and creative minds there is an infinite amount of ideas at one's disposal. Simple things like signs created out of a plank of wood or chalk boards to direct guests are incredibly trendy at the moment. But, the creative part is not copying a picture, it is implementing this picture and twisting it to reflect your theme, personality, and design. This is the inspiration behind this board. Each item is very simple and somewhat traditional, but they are almost reorganized to produce a fun and different image.

Raffle Winners!

Congratulations to Amber Gurney and Kim Hollar for winning the "New Website Raffle!" Amber has won a floral arrangement from Floramor in San Francisco and Kim has won a floral arrangement from Bellissima Floral in Lake Tahoe.

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Marry Me Live | Inspirational Interview

At the San Francisco Wedding Fair last month we stumbled upon a very interesting and new service to the wedding industry - Marry Me Live! It's a pretty ingenious idea - guests who are unable to travel to your wedding can view a live streaming on the internet. As we are on a role with our inspirational interviews, I saw it only fit to interview owners Stacy and Chris!

1. Tell us about your company - Marry Me Live was founded by Chris Anderson and Stacy Yamaoka (myself). By bringing live video streaming to the wedding industry, Marry Me Live is changing the wedding landscape and breaking down pre-existing barriers, enabling everyone to share in the couple's special day.

2. What inspired you to start Marry Me Live? Our inspiration came from family experience and is constantly reinforced by those who come to us for live wedding streaming. Last year, my partner and I both had very personal experiences with family getting married. These experiences were hindered because family and/or close friends were unable to attend. One of these weddings was for my sister, who was having a destination wedding. She was so disappointed because not a single one of her friends were able to attend the wedding. We immediately set to the task of solving this problem. As we did the search, we realized that there was not an easy solution, nor was it easy to find a company that addressed the problem. That was the birth of Marry Me Live. We could not ask for a more fulfilling job than to connect everyone on such an important day - not just for the wedding couple but those special to them.

3. How long have you been in business? We have been in business since July 2009 with our first wedding in August 2009. In the short time our company has been in business, we have been lucky enough to take on weddings in multiple locations including a private estate in Hawaii, California Coastal Wedding and even a wedding at Ft. Myer in Virginia.  For 2010, we feel very lucky to have calendar bookings that include SF, LA, and DC.

4. What can brides do to customize their Marry Me Live video? Anything that is physically possible! As a start-up, we are nimble and work with clients to come up with a solution that works for them. Everyone has their wishes and we do our best to match those requests. For a wedding in October, we came up with a mobile solution because the bride wanted multiple angles of the wedding ceremony. For an upcoming wedding, we are providing guest book options and chat capabilities for "guests" who login to view the wedding.

5. Do brides get to keep the video? Marry Me Live provides both the live video stream as well as on-demand video so that viewers can watch the wedding for 30 days following the event. The wedding couple can even wake up the next morning following their wedding and experience it all over again. Upon request, we also provide unedited DVDs as a keepsake.

6. What are some unique ways people have used Marry Me Live? Something that has been extremely successful is adding the personal touch of connection that is so often overlooked in web casting. It could be a little "wave" from the bride, or even relatives talking into the camera to loved ones across the world. Or, even a text sent from someone stuck at work, but who is able to connect by watching the video online. There are so many mediums of connection in the world, but it is tying those all together and connecting everyone that makes this service so special.

7. Anything else you would like to tell us about your company? Marry Me Live's goal is to transform the traditional wedding planning process. It isn't just the family or friends unable to come to the wedding, but an upfront guest list solution that is budget friendly and eco-friendly. Marry Me Live is part of the US Green Wedding Consortium and The Green Bride Bride. We support green practices empowering weddings couples to have a large weddings without a large carbon footprint.

Marry Me Live Website Facebook Page Phone: 877-233-4541 Email: info@marrymelive.com

Squaw Valley Wedding in the Winter

Words can't even describe how elated I am for Jon & Jessica. They had the most magical wedding I have ever coordinated! A huge amount of planning, organizing, and strategizing was involved with an outdoor ceremony in the middle of winter during a series of storms. But, it was beautiful and so worth it! Thanks to the fabulous photographer, Mike Larson, and his team, here are a couple sneak peaks. More to come soon!

Venue | PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn Photographer | Mike Larson Florist | A Bud and Beyond DJ | Ty with North Shore Entertainment Videographer | Ever After Creations

T-Party Photo Booths | Inspirational Interview

This weeks inspirational interview is with Theresa Parillo, owner of T-Party Photo Booths. Photo booths are ultra popular right now, providing a unique form of entertainment for your guests. T-Party Photo Booths takes the traditional photo booth and turns it into a professional entertainment center. They are based in San Francisco, but travel throughout Northern California.

Tell us about your company

T-Party Photo Booths offers commercial photo booths built for high-volume shooting. Our booths generate photo-lab quality prints and a high level of print customization, so the photos are a perfect fit for any event. Depending upon the type of event and clientele, we can provide props and customize the design of the prints. T-Party Photo Booths are a great addition to any event providing guests with a souvenir they can enjoy for a lifetime. Our friendly staff ensures a fun, unforgettable, and hilarious event!

What inspired you to start a photo booth company?

I have always loved going to weddings and big parties. When I was little I thought I wanted to be a wedding planner, I changed my mind a few times and eventually found myself in the industry I have always loved. I first discovered my love for photo booths after a wedding I attended with my cousin. We had a great time taking pictures in the booth and I thought it would be so much fun to have one at my house. The man who was running the booth said, "you know you can get your money back in a short amount of time." At first it didn't cross my mind that I would be able to have my own business in an industry that I absolutely love being a part of.

How does the photo booth work?

Different prints are designed for each event based on the event colors or the design that is of interest to the person throwing the party or wedding reception. We have black and white photos or color and you can choose to have 4x6 prints or photo strips. We always have a friendly member from our team to monitor the booth and add to the fun. The price includes four hours of unlimited photos and each guest receives a copy of the pictures within 10 seconds. They can go back as many times as they want throughout the party.

What are the requirements for the photo booth at an event?

My space requirements vary depending on the client. The booth can be made for 2 people sitting and up to about 10 people standing. Standing booths have become pretty popular because you can fit a lot more people in the booth. For about 3-5 people standing I would need about 4 feet by 6 feet. As for power, I just need a 3 prong plug.

Can you customize the photo booth?

I can customize the prints for the booths. There are a lot of sample prints on my website. Each event has it's own customized print with the event colors and special design. I also have a prop box that can be rented for the night. I bring props that fit the event and the people attending.

What is your favorite type of event?

WEDDINGS! I love being a part of weddings because it's so great to see how happy the bride and the groom are on their special day!

T-Party Photo Booths |  415.400.5164  |  Facebook

New Website and Raffle!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new website! Our new logo and design are featured on every page, along with a sophisticated navigation style. We'd love to hear what you think of the new look, so please leave us a comment! As an additional incentive, all commenters will automatically be entered into our New Website Raffle. Just tell us what you like/love/dislike about the new site and you'll be eligible to win a flower arrangement from Bellissima Floral or Floramor. We will put all the names of the commenters into a hat and draw a name on February 15. The winner will be notified via email and announced in a new post. Stay tuned to this spot, and please join the conversation!

Thank you to Claire Anderson Creative for a fabulous website!

Inspiration Board | Winter Part II

For part II of our Winter Inspiration Board, I decided to focus on the dinner table. More specifically, three different types of Modern - Classic Modern, Rustic Modern, and Modern Glam. Everything shown below represents a different style, yet still captures the warm, inviting, romantic feel.

Classic Modern - the pure and subtle color palette combined with dark wood and candle light creates a soft and romantic feel.

Rustic Modern - incorporating elements of the outdoors while dressing them up with color and sass.

Modern Glam - multi-colored and textured linens, dramatic decor, vivid lighting, and a touch of Hollywood!

Inspiration Board | Winter Part 1

My office today consisted of a desk in front of floor to ceiling windows overlooking Squaw Valley Ski Resort. Whenever I needed a break, I looked up to see skiers and riders carving turns down the mountain - not bad! As I was watching over the joys of winter, I decided to put my view to work and create a Winter Inspiration Board. For whatever reason I feel winter weddings tend to have a much more intimate feel. Perhaps it's the frost on the windows paired with a warm fireplace, or the rich warm colors, or even the comfort foods that are common of a winter wedding. Whatever it maybe, here are a few ideas and images that inspired me today!