… and vote for us! Couldn’t be easier – just click the link!
We Are Going for the Gold Again!
Author Archives: jlammerts
VENDOR SPOTLIGHT: Gavin Farrington, Photographer – a Man of Many Talents
If you first meet photographer Gavin Farrington with his boyish, slightly rugged good looks, you’ll probably associate “the movies” or expect him to step right out of a high-gloss magazine. Well, you’re not wrong – he has modeled here and there! (And you’ll see him doing exactly that, in Ceremony Magazine Norcal, 2016).
But that’s not how I first met him. I met Gavin in his capacity as a very special and highly successful wedding photographer – one who is traveling the world to provide photo coverage at high-class wedding events, and, more importantly, one who is truly passionate at what he’s doing. Curious as I am, I wanted to know whether Gavin had wanted to be a photographer all his life? And how he became an acclaimed wedding photographer? And so many other things!
Little did I know what surprises he had up his sleeve.
Did he plan to become a professional wedding photographer? “Not at all!” is the response – although even as a schoolkid, Gavin’s favorite toy was his little Kodak box camera with its flash cube. Already then, Gavin was equally fascinated by snapping pictures as he was by the technical side of things. He learned all the mechanics that were then still an integral part of photography, including teaching himself how to develop film in a darkroom. In High School, he became the Yearbook photo editor with the added privilege to use the school’s professional darkroom. He bought his film material in “bulk” and rolled his own film cartridges. Because of him, the school’s long-abandoned photography curriculum was revived.
But still – making this his profession didn’t occur to Gavin. In College, he double-majored in Design and Multimedia/Web design. He worked throughout his College years, and all his jobs took him into the computer/IT field. He drifted more and more into the tech area – “I’m a tech nerd at heart,” he confesses with a smile – and while wrapping up his College degrees, he was approached by the Dean who had unsuccessfully tried to fill an IT/administrator position in the department from which he was about to graduate. Would Gavin be interested? He was! And that’s how he became the Systems Administrator for the graduate and undergraduate art departments of his College – and stayed on for a full five years. Still, that job wasn’t enough. He studied Japanese on the side, just out of interest in the culture and the language.
Eventually, he became restless, seeking new challenges. In a radical change of careers, he moved to Japan to teach English. He became totally immersed in this new world, and he is fluent in Japanese to the present day… another thing I would never have expected! During a visit home to California, a photographer friend of his asked Gavin to quickly help out with one of his assignments – shooting a wedding. And all of a sudden, Gavin knew what he had subconsciously been seeking all these years: the beauty of human relationships, the intensity and at the same time the intimacy of the moment, all revealed on this festive day, the sheer joy of the occasion.
For Gavin, there was no turning back from this sudden revelation. He wrapped up his job in Japan, returned to California and started preparing for the new career he had become so passionate about on that momentous day, helping his friend. There was no holding back for him – and let me tell you, if Gavin has made a plan, nothing will stop him. Constantly striving for the highest quality – technically and artistically – Gavin the wedding photographer has made his way to the top over the past years. His unique style has gained him an enthusiastic followership. He is the master of the tender moment, capturing these priceless images that his couples will cherish for the rest of their lives.
Looking back, what has changed in photography since his early photo adventures and darkroom work? “Digital photography has liberated us,” muses Gavin. “It allows us to shoot as many photos as we want, unencumbered by handling physical film and no longer limited to composing every single photo with deliberation. Digital photography allows us to take a lot more risks and enables us to capture the fleeting moments we might have missed with conventional technology. It gives us so much more flexibility in perfecting every single photo “after the fact.” It does not, however, cut down on the work.”
In fact! For every single wedding event, Gavin (including assistant) takes 6,000 to 8,000 photos. It’s mind-boggling! Then come the long hours of sorting through and perfecting what passes this test – 120 to 180 hours easily. It truly takes dedication, perseverance and passion to do this gargantuan task for every single couple.
I asked Gavin what his favorite wedding locations have been over the years, given that he has done so many destination weddings. His response came as a surprise to me – or maybe not. “Maybe India, or Cancun… or San Francisco City Hall,” he said, and added: “It’s not so much about the location for me. It’s much more about the personal relationships between the bride and her closest family, the groom and his family. My most beautiful weddings were those where the closeness of the families became palpable, and where I felt so privileged and honored to be included in such a pivotal moment in these families’ lives.” And in return, Gavin gives them the lifelong memories of their most beautiful and tender moments, condensed in breathtaking photos. Here are a few of his own favorites. Enjoy!
Shirley and Kevin’s Wedding at the Palace of Fine Arts
Shirley’s and Kevin’s wedding celebration was one of the most unusual ones my company, A Day Like No Other, has ever planned. First, we had a full nine DAYS to pull together what was already in place and fill in what was missing. So that was quite a challenge in itself. Then, Shirley and Kevin are totally unconventional, non-conformist personalities. They do things their way! Let me share with you just how unique their wedding vision was.
For their ceremony, they chose one of the most famous San Francisco landmarks, a staple in every tourist guidebook (I’ll show you which one in just a moment!) – but for their reception, it was a rustic microbrewery in a gritty part of town. Lots of flowers? Nope. Only a bridal bouquet – and that was anything but standard: teal and turquoise-colored orchids with peacock feathers! A traditional wedding cake? Nah…the two were cutting a pie, yummy and messy! A dignified sit-down dinner for their reception? Forget it! Beer and a taco bar, and lots of fun with all their friends!
So here we go. For their 11 am ceremony, the bride (and Katye, her hair and makeup artist) had to get up literally before sunrise.
At least the view from their room at the St. Regis Hotel SF was absolutely spectacular!
Once hair and makeup were in place, Shirley got in her gorgeous dress: a champagne-colored, pearl and crystal-encrusted gown with quite a train…
…isn’t it spectacular? And her wedding shoes were a perfect match: golden strappy sandals fit for a princess!
It took the assistance of all her seven bridesmaids, all in color-coordinated purple dresses, to get the bride dressed:
Here she is in all her finery! What’s missing? That glamorous cascading bouquet by Bella Fiora:
… and now Shirley is ready to go meet her groom Kevin for their First Look at the famous Palace of Fine Arts,
– a Roman-ruin-style edifice that was built by none less than Bernard Maybeck for the Panama-Pacific World Exposition in 1915 as a monument to the survival and vibrancy of the City of San Francisco that had been devastated by a horrible earthquake and raging fires in 1906. The setup for the couple’s great moment had been provided by YPR – and so everything was ready and in place for them.
The ceremony took place under the Rotunda:
… with only parents and siblings as guests, and with the couple’s closest friends as their attendants. Again, Shirley and Kevin defied convention: they had a total of fourteen attendants but only five guests, all seated around the Bride and Groom in a circle of love and closeness. A longtime friend of the couple officiated a ceremony that could not have been more personal, in a setting that could not have been more spectacular. Harpist Erica Messer accompanied the ceremony on her instrument and sang for them, and everyone was moved to tears.
Just married!
Then, of course, it was photo time with Huy Pham and his team – first at the Palace of Fine Arts,
then on nearby Crissy Field close to the Golden Gate Bridge, with an executive bus by Sonoma Sterling Limousine taking everyone around town:
… to the Sutro Bath ruins…
… and to the Northern Waterfront:
Meanwhile, reception preparations were under way at Triple Voodoo Brewery:
… where wine and champagne had been added to the regular offerings of a multitude of specialty beers, in recognition of this very special occasion.
A welcome table – in the couple’s bold wedding colors of teal and purple – displayed their vows for all the reception guests who hadn’t been at the ceremony, and a dessert buffet…
… with pies and cupcakes stood in for the standard wedding cake. Wedding favors – playing along the teal-and-purple color scheme – were set out for the guests:
Here are the newlyweds, happily toasting –
They are truly a fun couple! Everyone had a blast at their relaxed beer-and-taco dinner (OF COURSE without seating assignments!) followed by a wild dance party to the tunes of DJ Kevin Combs of Elite Entertainment – with the DJ enthusiastically singing along! The energy was really contagious, and guests only took a break for the bouquet toss (yes, the bride did toss that huge bouquet!), garter toss, and cake cutting (or rather: finger-licking pie-cutting!)
And for those who preferred cupcakes over pie, there were dozens and dozens of cute mini cupcakes from Kara’s!
What an incredible night… and at the end, the two were whisked away to their official First Night at the St. Regis in a black Escalade from City Express Limousine Services.
Everyone had a great time – and the newlyweds were just tired and happy! Congratulation, Shirley and Kevin, and many happy (and fun!) years together!
WIPA Goes Yachting on the ‘California Spirit!’
Isn’t she a beauty? More than 100 ft long, sleek, elegant, and carrying up to 130 guests, the ‘California Spirit’ is definitely the stuff of dreams! As the Director of Programs for the SF Bay Area Chapter of WIPA, I am constantly on the look-out for new exciting venues to showcase to the top-notch wedding industry professionals attending our events, and when I received an invitation to hold one of our Happy Hour Mixers from Yacht Connections International, I literally jumped at the opportunity!
Last night, dozens of the best of Bay Area wedding pro’s flocked to Pier 40 in San Francisco to enjoy the sunset over delicious wine and hors d’oeuvres on one of the elegantly appointed decks of the exclusive yacht ‘California Spirit.’
Just imagine yourselves there for your wedding (up to 100 guests fit comfortably!) out on the Bay with a gorgeous view of the City skyline from the water, with Angel Island, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge just a stone’s throw away!
Elegant Art Deco-inspired interiors add to the charm, with so many decor items lovingly placed all around…
… and the food is just “yummy!” Help yourselves from a buffet with a view…
… and dessert to match!
Our WIPA Board Member and Treasurer, florist Mandy Scott, contributed floral arrangements in vibrant summer colors…
… and new WIPA friend Elisabetta Lilly Redaelli of LillyRed Photography took photos – documenting a truly vibrant party:
All in all – a huge success… everybody had a great time on the yacht and will most definitely spread the word among couples how fantastic it would be to get married by the Captain out on the water, then celebrate and dance the night away like the “jet set!”
What I Learned about Love, I Learned from my Dog
It’s about time to honor the “woof” in “Wedding Woof” again! One of my recent couples provided a gentle reminder… Krista and Ben, at home in Australia, could not bring their beloved dog Sophie to their destination wedding in Big Sur – but they knew to honor Sophie with a ceremony reading dedicated just to her. And that was so beautiful and true that I want to share it with you, my readers.
I will dedicate my version to our beloved Buzz who has shared our lives for 13 and a half years and is still making us smile every single day.
Here it goes:
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride together. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
When you want treats, practice obedience.
Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.
Take naps together and stretch before rising.
Run, romp and play daily.
Be loyal.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.
When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout – run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk together.
Love each other unconditionally.
Nataly and Derek’s Joyful Wedding Celebration at Nella Terra Cellars
A schoolteacher from Bolivia. A product manager (with a bioengineering background) from China. These two couldn’t have come from any more different backgrounds. And yet – they are so much more similar than different, and that is what ties them together. They met five years ago, both foreigners to this country, but with so many shared values and interests… they both care deeply about others. They are immensely curious and love to travel and experience new cultures, adopting the best of everything. They are happy with simple things, love to discover “hole-in-the-wall” restaurants and to walk with ice cream. They both love dogs and have just adopted “Peanut,” a tiny furry bundle of joy.
The two took their time of courtship until it was clear to absolutely everyone that they should stay together forever, and on Valentine’s Day this year, Derek proposed in Puerto Vallarta. Yes, he is a romantic at heart!
Having been a friend of Derek’s for years – and an immediate fan of Nataly’s as well, as soon as we were introduced to one another! – I was so happy that the two entrusted their wedding planning to my company, A Day Like No Other. Hands-on people that they are, they had already found their venue: Nella Terra Cellars in Sunol, a hamlet in the SF East Bay. “Nella Terra,” meaning “into the Earth,” is exactly what Nataly and Derek were looking for. An oasis in the middle of vineyards and rolling hills –
… a curvy white tent to host a big celebration and an adjacent ceremony arbor overlooking a pond and well-trimmed greenery and pathways, and a beautiful patio for cocktails; just the right thing for extended families and friends gathering from as far as China, Canada and Bolivia – two hundred of them!
True to her Latin American heritage, Nataly wanted vibrant color for her wedding: warm yellow, orange and a little red, and turquoise a a counterpoint. From ceremony decor to favor boxes, from bouquets (from The Flower House) to lanterns – everything displayed her favorite colors for a very cohesive, joyful and upbeat look. Nataly’s Dad had added his own personal contributions –
… a handmade wagon to hold much-needed parasols for ceremony guests, and a whimsical seating chart of antique picture frames. Videographer Martin Meyer of martinFILMS and Photographer Professor Matthias Geiger worked their magic with the camera:
Reverend Dr. Lili Goodman Freitas of Weddings of Heart officiated the ceremony, made intensely personal through readings of poems both in Spanish and in Mandarin, and accompanied by guitarist Bruce Brill.
And here they are: Just married!!
While the couple had many, many more pictures taken all over the property …
my assistant Kelsey and the venue coordinators were busy getting everything ready for dinner in the tent:
… where guests were treated, among other things, to a traditional Chinese roast pig (a contribution from Derek’s Dad) and to live Bolivian traditional songs by the authentic Bolivian band Kumara – again a nod to the bride’s heritage (plus, her cousin Gonzalo plays the charango and guitar in the band!) It was fascinating to see how these two diverse cultural backgrounds seamlessly merged into one warm and joyful celebration! Including the cake from Margaret’s French Bakery, of course, dressed up for the occasion –
– which was accompanied by the couple’s other favorite dessert: Smitten’s ice cream! (Tcho chocolate was my all-time favorite flavor…). Everyone was having a great time –
… among other things, with Night Owl Photo Booth. The evening continued with dancing to the music of DJ Steve McDowell of Fantasy Sound, and as darkness fell, myriad string lights and chandeliers in the tent turned the scene downright magical…
And my favorite photo? Here it is:
“Love does not mean looking into each other’s eyes all the time, but looking in the same direction.”
Next destination for the two: Italy! Have a fabulous Honeymoon, and Arrivederci!
Krista and Ben: a Glamorous “Aussie” Wedding in Big Sur
Big Sur, that stretch of California coastline between the Monterey Peninsula to the North and the Central Coast to the South, is definitely one of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth. It’s famous as a retreat for spiritual seekers, for alternative lifestyle, artists – and celebrities! Model Karlie Kloss comes hiking here to decompress, and actress Natalie Portman got married here at a private estate.
As did my beautiful couple, Krista and Benjamin! When they first set foot on Wind and Sea Estate in Big Sur, perched high on a cliff above the sea, it was a done deal for them… this is where they would get married.
At Wind and Sea, a striking wrought-iron gate opens to reveal a stunning property…
… even with its own beach access! (It’s a bit steep, admittedly…)
I am so happy that Krista and Ben brought me in right away to organize it all for them through my company A Day Like No Other. It would be a “long-distance planning” process, that was clear – because these two are living in Australia! Krista had been working in the SF Bay Area and fallen in love with the beauty of California, when she met Benjamin, an attractive young businessman from Australia, at a conference in San Francisco – and fell in love again, right away… with Ben! It didn’t take her long to follow him to Sydney. For their wedding, they chose this spectacular spot to show Krista’s family from Ohio and Ben’s family from Australia the breathtaking beauty of California. We started planning early in 2015 – Thank God for email, Skype and Pinterest! – and couldn’t even imagine that date of September 26. But suddenly, we were there… and it was a glorious day.
Krista had requested a “rustic glam” style for her wedding. We translated that in: Wooden harvest tables with gold Chiavari chairs (by CHIC Event Rentals), sequined runners in blush and gold (from Napa Valley Linens), cream and blush mixed floral arrangements with a lot of texture and lots and lots of mercury gold votives and vases (by Green Petal Designs). And the “icing” on it? Gilded Australian animal figurines from kangaroos to wombats, doing duty as place card holders and table decor!
The pretty invitations already set the tone for the celebration to come:
… and finally, the Great Day had arrived. The forty “nearest and dearest” guests who had come from all over the world to be with the couple on their wedding day, were brought in from Monterey by shuttle bus (from Discovery Charters) and welcomed in style:
For Krista, the day began with a hair and makeup session with Jessica Morton of Miabel Artistry who transformed a pretty young woman into a glamorous beauty. Krista had chosen a sequined, diaphanous Jenny Packham dress from Nouvelle Vogue, and with that, her crystal-encrusted headpiece and her romantic bouquet (also from Green Petal Designs), she literally moved Benjamin to tears…
And here come the real stars of the day: the couple’s children! Macy wore a romantic flower crown:
… and her brother Toby dazzled in an all “grown-up” outfit matching his Dad’s:
Here’s Krista’s dapper groom Ben getting ready, boutonniere and necktie and all …
The ceremony was held at a natural amphitheater in the expansive garden of the property, overlooking the endless Pacific, and officiated by a longtime friend of the couple.
It turned out to be a glorious, sunny day with a light breeze – simply perfect!
Finally, it was time – Krista was escorted to the ceremony by her Dad…
The moment could not have been more beautiful and more intimate.
And then it was definitely time to party – on the wraparound patio that follows the house from North to South end with unobstructed views of the Ocean and of the sunset:
The bride had requested an oyster bar to accompany cocktails on her special day:
… and that was followed by a farm-to-table dinner by Amy Padilla of Feel Good Foods Catering.
Together with the oyster bar, it was, hands down, the ultimate dining experience! The cake was “imported” from Layers Sensational…
… and it was cut as the first official “joint venture” of the newlyweds!
Guitarist Richard DeVinck serenaded the wedding party from ceremony through Cocktail Hour and dinner and then transitioned seamlessly to DJ’ing for a joyful dance party inside, while dusk fell…
… and the garden, illuminated by myriad lanterns, turned downright magical.
On their special day, the couple and their guests were even treated to a technicolor sunset:
Photographer extraordinaire Sandra Fazzino captured it all for us … including the couple dancing the night away:
Congratulations on a truly memorable wedding, Krista and Ben – and enjoy your Honeymoon in Paris!
Tobi and Yasser – Nature and Elegance at Quail Lodge
Tobi and Yasser were college sweethearts. They had met at UC Riverside early on – in their Freshman/Junior year, respectively – and became inseparable very soon. Despite their very different family backgrounds – Tobi is from a Korean-American family and Yasser from a Persian-American family – they found so much in common that there was never even a doubt that they would stay together. They were both family people, both love nature and animals. And wherever they were not already sharing the same interests and hobbies, chances were they would very soon! Yasser had always been big on playing sports, and soon enough Tobi picked up exercising as well – she would even begin her wedding day with a run! But more of that later…
One of the things they always shared was a love for the outdoors. Hiking, camping in Big Sur, and an engagement in the rain forest in Costa Rica – that way it was pretty clear that their wedding celebration would at least partly take place in beautiful nature. However, for that special day Tobi did not want “rustic” but “classy and elegant.” The solution? Quail Lodge in Carmel.
Set in the softly rolling hills of Carmel Valley as far as you can see, Quail Lodge has it all: a gorgeous outdoor ceremony site, elegant event space at the Clubhouse, and cozy accommodations at the Lodge. I knew it well, and I was overjoyed when Tobi and Yasser chose my company, A Day Like No Other, to plan, design and coordinate their Great Day.
For Tobi, wedding day began (AFTER her morning run!) with a hair and makeup session…
… in the bridal suite at Quail Lodge …
under the expert hands of Anna and Soyeoon from Wowpretty Salon. Next step (literally!) – get into her elaborate strapless Maggie Sottero wedding dress, with exquisite lace detailing and crystal embellishment…
Tobi’s bridesmaids, all in midnight blue crepe dresses, had quite some work to do lacing the bride up! Then: jewelry!
… crystal-embellished bridal shoes…
… and her bridal bouquet (from Janelle Jacky of Green Petal Designs, who created all the gorgeous floral decor throughout)
– and ready for First Look on the picturesque bridge at Quail Lodge!
While the couple had many, many photos and video footage taken (by Patrick Ang‘s photo and video crews), we were all busy getting the ceremony site at Quail Meadows set up for an outdoor Catholic Mass officiated by Tobi’s uncle.
A radiant and expectant bride was waiting upstairs in the “barn” (a rustic-elegant building at Quail Meadows)…
… until the great moment had come. The bride was preceded by her cute flower girl…
… and then her proud Dad escorted her all the way to the ceremony:
Isn’t that romantic? Her processional song, played by DJ John Gregoria of DNA Entertainment (who provided music throughout), was the Jurassic Park theme melody, and throughout the wedding mass, friends and relatives provided live music as well.
Cocktail Hour for the more than 170 guests was held on the patio of the Quail Clubhouse…
… with baby photos of the couple and other family photos for the guests to reminisce about, and with a photo booth (also from DNA Entertainment) which was a huge hit.
Guests looked up their seating assignment for dinner on an elaborate chalkboard chart by Ryanne Steele of Steele My Heart …
… and were then treated to a wonderful Persian wedding ceremony. Lili Ghazian of Aroosi had created an elegant sofreh-aghd (wedding spread) in the golden and blush pink colors of the wedding:
… and officiant Niloufar Nouri brought it all to life, walking the couple and the audience through the time-honored traditional ceremony step by step, explaining the symbolic meaning of all elements.
For example, the mothers rub sugar above their children’s heads to shower their marriage with sweetness.
The couple exchanged vows and rings once more…
It was very moving!
After that, everyone was ready for dinner…
…with tables set in midnight blue shimmering linens, ivory napkins and lots and lots of candle light in mercury glass and rose gold-colored votives…
The couple was presiding over it all from their sweetheart table…
Following dinner, bride and groom were planning to cut their cake from Patisserie Parker-Lusseau, but that’s not that easy for a Persian groom! First he had to negotiate for the cake knife with a succession of dancing ladies who were teasing him with a traditional knife dance…
during which he had to pay them off several times until he could finally snatch the knife from them!
Guests had the choice of dessert – wedding cake or mini red velvet Bundt cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes with ice cream. And then everyone couldn’t wait to get up and start dancing!
Persian and American hits took turns and got the crowd going… and after a stop at the late-night snack bar, everyone was tired and happy, but nobody really wanted to go home. Everyone had such a good time!
And here is a little live preview of their wedding video:
tobi + yasser from Patrick Ang on Vimeo.
Many happy years together, Tobi and Yasser!
Creative Business at the Argonaut SF – WIPA Fall Meeting 2015
“Five Ways Your Business Tells a Story,” was the title of today’s WIPA Fall meeting at the iconic Argonaut hotel in San Francisco.
Speaker Sean Low, former president of Preston Bailey Designs and now president of his own company, “The Business of Being Creative,” had quite some business wisdom to share with the nearly 100 attendees from the Greater SF Bay Area. We all took home a truckload of food for thought!
While WIPA meetings focus on education, they are of course also a lot of fun! We began the day with cocktails – Champagne by Le Grand Courtage, to be precise –
… in the courtyard (a nice way to start the day, don’t you think?!)
A very happy event chair (me…)
…-and serenaded by Brian Bergeron and Zen Zenith of Ivy Hill Entertainment.
Our beautiful ivory, silver and gold linens came from Napa Valley Linens, with bold floral arrangements from Flowers by Edgar complementing the “cool elegance” design theme perfectly.
Engaging all senses, Deborah Moody offered enticing fragrances at a perfume bar…
… by Pastiche Custom Perfume, the perfect bridal shower offering or bridesmaids’ gift.
After Cocktail Hour, guests got to listen to Sean Low’s intense, engaging, and truly “rapid-fire” speaker presentation in the ballroom…
… with rentals provided by SnB Party Rentals and Classic Party Rentals, and A/V services by PSAV.
And then we had lunch, in unexpected “Bento Box” style with chicken, salmon and a variety of salads …
… and refreshing iced tea (AND cute tea favors!) from Taras Teas.
Chic program booklets custom-designed by Jillian Schiavi of JillyInk rounded out our design.
And of course we held our meanwhile traditional prize drawing over lunch with prizes ranging from wine and skincare products to a round of golf and an Italian leather purse!
The only ones who literally didn’t get to sit down were our indefatigable photographer Ryan Carville and our videographers from Studio Arcady. Here is our highlight reel – so much fun! Not to mention the behind-the-scenes support from our media sponsor, Today’s Bride Magazine.
After lunch, everyone enjoyed delicious cake by Kathleen DeManti from A Spoonful of Sugar…
… and everyone left with a big smile on their faces! And that’s the best reward for all that hard work!
Thanks again to our speaker and to all our fabulous sponsors – and we are already looking forward to our next WIPA event on November 3rd at The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon. See you there!
A French Princess at the Julia Morgan Ballroom
All the brides for whom my company, A Day Like No Other, is planning a wedding, are a princess for the day. But none of my brides had so far taken this idea so verbatim – until Tanya requested a “French Princess” theme for her wedding! So together we set out to find the perfect “castle” for her and her Prince Charming (aka Dan) to celebrate with their 200 or more guests.
Tanya and Dan
We found our castle in the storied Merchants’ Exchange Building in San Francisco’s Financial District: the elegant Julia Morgan Ballroom. The bride chose coral and lavender for her wedding colors, plus a lot of sparkle and candlelight. So we began designing to make this vision come true. A full 15 months later, the Great Day had finally come.
Tanya got ready in the nearby Omni Hotel under the expert hands of hair and makeup artist Sunshine from Wowpretty Salon.
The princess wore a gorgeous wedding dress with a shirred bodice, crystal-encrusted belt and full skirt with layers and layers of tulle and a train:
… and she carried a romantic bouquet in ivory, coral and lavender tones by Deidre Rastelli of Tutti Fiori…
The First Look took place on the dramatic sweeping staircase in the lobby of the Omni Hotel…
…. followed by more photos:
And then it was time for Church! The couple had their ceremony at Old St. Mary’s Church just a block up from the hotel…
… and here comes the bride!
Meanwhile, the Day Like No Other team (my assistants Angeliki and Quan and myself) spread out – Church, photo session, reception venue – to get all the family photos done and everything ready in time for the arrival of the guests at the Julia Morgan Ballroom.
First off: photo galleries of the couple…
and then – escort cards, custom-designed, custom-made and hand-calligraphed on silver and lavender card stock, outfitted with an organza bow, and each of them sitting atop a wedding favor box (bottle stoppers with a heart motif) – one of my bigger projects, but certainly very princess-like!
For the dining room design, we chose lavender uplighting and lavender napkin bands with crystal-encrusted buckles (my second-biggest production here…), and together with the centerpieces from Tutti Fiori and lots of mirrors and candle light, it all came together to one unified design scheme:
“Prince” and “Princess” had their own sweetheart table…
During dinner (and throughout the evening), guests were entertained by Woody Miraglia and Andrew Tran from Big Fun DJs, and as dusk fell, Monique Albert’s beautiful lavender uplights (from Just De’Lights) imparted a beautiful ambiance on the grand ballroom.
Throughout the evening, guests were also having fun with a DIY photo booth and – the great hit of the day – with having their portraits done by caricature artist Michael Rosenthal of Caricatures 4 Every Event …
… while the little guests had fun in the game room with babysitter Claire Schimaneck.
What else? Cake cutting, of course! And with Dan being a physician and Tanya a nurse, they cut the cake with scalpels, to the amusement of all their guests… it actually works! Underneath the beautiful modern cake design by Jasmine Rae Cakes a rich chocolate-and-raspberry cake as well as a creamy vanilla cake were waiting…
Then came the bouquet toss and the garter toss – oops, no! No garter… a stethoscope toss! (More merriment from the guests!)
Following the cake dessert, the couple enjoyed their First Dance to the tune of “Lucky:”
And then bride, groom and their attendants treated their guests to a special performance “Gangnam style:”
That set off a truly wild dance party for everyone…
… and last but not least, at the end of the night the guests sent Tanya and Dan off to their married bliss with a sparkler farewell; a glorious fireworks worthy of any princely couple!
Every single moment was captured by photographer Lisha Wang (just wait until you see HER photos!) and videographer Gusto Lopez of The Life In Digital – for lasting memories of a truly unforgettable day.
Many happy years together, Tanya and Dan!