An image says more than a thousand words – and consequently, a movie should speak volumes!
Enjoy a selection of our wedding movies here on LoveStoriesTV, and get inspired…
starting with a teaser of Iris’ and Roger’s wedding at Thomas Fogarty Winery.
Let us plan and design YOUR Great Day, too!
Contact us today at [email protected].
Delia’s and Chris’ union is a match – well, made in Heaven. Delia has two beautiful grown daughters from her first marriage and had not expected to get married again in her lifetime. And for Chris it would be the first time EVER.
When Delia called my company, A Day Like No Other, for help with planning her dream wedding at Thomas Fogarty Winery in Woodside, California, I jumped at the opportunity.
I LOVE this venue! And I loved Delia’s “vision” for the design and decor as well. After many months of planning, vendor sourcing, designing and curating, developing floor plans and timelines, all our “labor of love” came together last Saturday on a perfect California summer day under blue skies, a warm sun and a light breeze, on top of the mountain ridge where this beautiful venue is located, overlooking all of Silicon Valley with views up to the San Francisco city skyline.
Delia arrived at Fogarty Winery together with her Maid of Honor, her “flower girl” and her two daughters Alivia and Madeline, in full hair and makeup done by her personal friends Connie Cook and Sofia Collazo. Photographer Megan Reeves and Videographer Justin Ferrar of Weddings on Film captured that precious moment of the bride getting dressed for her great moment… (and everything beyond that, too!)
… and here is a detail of her extraordinary veil, embellished with stunning embroidery and beading…
… plus “Cinderella slippers!”
Florist Jeffrey Adair of J Floral Art delivered an elegant, feminine bridal bouquet in shades of ice blue, ivory and silver…
… with bridesmaids’ bouquets and boutonnieres to match. Next, he went on to install an incredible wrought-iron arch and to decorate it with matching floral arrangements for the ceremony, complement this with large arrangements flanking the aisle, and finally covering the aisle with a thick carpet of fresh ivory rose petals.
Harpist Erica Messer played prelude music (she brought her newest harp out for us for the first time!)
… as guests were arriving via shuttle bus (by Destination Systems) and welcomed…
… to an incredible setup with endless views.
Fans to combat the summer heat did double duty as ceremony programs.
Groom Chris was also preparing with the help of his brother and Best Man …
At 4:30 in the afternoon, the great moment had finally come! Delia had been adamant: following strictest tradition, she did not want Chris to see her before the ceremony. 
And here comes the bride, accompanied down the aisle by her daughters.
The ceremony was officiated by a close friend of the couple who found the most personal, moving words for them.
Just married – and so happy! While guests were enjoying Fogarty wines at Cocktail Hour on the deck…
… accompanied by delicious hors d’oeuvres courtesy of Toast Catering,
Chris and Delia had many more photos taken – among them, of course, their official wedding photo!
Soon enough it was time for dinner (by Toast Catering) in the open-air Pavilion, at dining tables beautifully set with silver Chiavari chairs, elegant ivory-moiré linens and stunning china, glassware and silverware from Hensley Event Resources, and with centerpieces from J Floral Art.
See’s chocolate candy favor boxes, menu cards and little herb bundles of rosemary and lavender, hand-tied with color-coordinated light-blue ribbon by the bride’s sister, completed the look.
Of course, the newlyweds’ Sweetheart Table, from which they were presiding over the congregation, received special treatment!
Guests were guided to their assigned tables by a whimsical, charming escort card board custom-made and hand-painted by A Day Like No Other.
Next up: the Grand Entrance of the bridal party and of the newlyweds!
After feasting on delicious salad and entrees, guests were treated to a mouthwatering selection of pastries and chocolates by Toast Catering.
The last highlight of the evening was Delia’s and Chris’ First Dance to the rousing tunes of DJ Stefano Bortolin of Big Fun Discjockeys.
Outside, as darkness fell, the scene turned downright magical…
Fogarty Winery is a very special place for very special moments – like this unforgettable wedding. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness, Delia and Chris!
Please meet one of my favorite clients EVER: Cristina and Dmytro – or Dima, as he is called by his friends. After more than a year of wedding planning with the two of them, they are now Cristina and Dima to me, too!
Cristina and Dima hired my company, A Day Like No Other, last year – to put together a really memorable celebration for them, including decor in a vintage French Country theme. I jumped at the opportunity to do that project! Taking my cues from Cristina’s favorite color – a soft French Blue – and a few Pinterest inspirations, I let my imagination take off, and the most wonderful thing happened: Cristina and Dima were thinking in the same direction, approved my ideas and let me “run with them.” It was a wonderful, shared creative process, bringing together many of my favorite vendors, and culminating yesterday in one of the most memorable weddings I’ve ever done.
I had the opportunity to design their invitations – which set the tone for their decor theme…
For their venue, the two had chosen Thomas Fogarty Winery – a spectacular location with endless views all over Silicon Valley.
Their “home base” for their wedding day was the Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto, where both bride and groom and their attendants were getting ready. The ladies started early with hair and makeup styling by Miabel Artistry – and emerged as drop-dead gorgeous, red-carpet-worthy beauties.
And just look at her “princess slippers:” sparkly golden Jimmy Choo heels.
Stretch limousines from Le Grande Affaire – a white one for the ladies and a black one for the gents – pulled up, rolled out that proverbial red carpet (literally) and took everyone up that long, winding country road to the winery.
There, both Dmytro and Cristina put the finishing touches on their attire…
… with Cristina’s bridesmaids and mother very much involved!
Florist Natasha Kolenko had prepared the most beautiful bouquets for bride …
… bridesmaids…
… and boutonnieres for the gentlemen, too …
… evoking a summer day in the French countryside.
Ready for “First Look!”
Outside, not only the onsite events team, but many other vendors were already busy to get everything set up for the great moment – working hard at temperatures over 90 degrees! A glorious, sunny day, with blue skies, but really, really hot…
The catering team of La Bocca Fina set up all the tables and chairs. Linens and napkins – custom-made from blue-and-white Toile de Jouy fabric just for this event – from Wildflower Linens set the light blue French country theme …
… and china, flatware and glassware from Hensley Event Resources completed the look, down to the tiniest details.
Florist/stylist Natasha Kolenko provided centerpieces reminiscent of French country gardens – light blue, in loose, effortless arrangements, incorporating wildflowers and greenery for an overall charmingly nostalgic, feminine and soft effect. She even had a structure of untreated slender tree trunks custom-made to surround and frame the couple’s Sweetheart Table, with more summer flowers seemingly growing up and around this frame in the most natural fashion.
The arch for the ceremony mirrored this style perfectly; vintage-inspired vignettes of wine barrels and French wrought-iron garden chairs completed the “look.”
Guests were greeted by a custom-designed “Welcome” sign which I calligraphed myself – along with all the other signage for this wedding.
To add a little whimsy to their guestbook, I found a vintage typewriter for Cristina and Dmytro – with a time-worn sheet of typing paper asking guests to leave the couple a note…
Time for the ceremony! The Mersonacta String Quartet provided beautiful music for prelude and ceremony… and here comes the bride, in an elegant lace wedding dress from Nouvelle Vogue Bridal Salon, accompanied by both her parents.
The setting for the ceremony was nothing short of spectacular.
Our photographer Maria Hedengren, who had flown in from Finland just for this wedding, captured every precious moment.
“Minister Maggie” Beretz found the most personal and heartfelt words to unite these two in marriage.
“You may now kiss your bride!”
And here they are: JUST MARRIED!
Off to many more photos with Maria,
… while guests were directed to Cocktail Hour via custom signage mounted on an authentic vintage French bicycle (from Found Vintage Rentals) with a matching, flower-filled antique basket…
On the open deck, a well-stocked bar and a variety of hors d’oeuvres was waiting for the guests who enjoyed the sunshine and the views from vintage lounge furniture (from One True Love Vintage Rentals).
And then there was, of course, Night Owl Photo Booth for added entertainment!
Soon enough, guests were asked to find their dinner table assignments on yet another custom sign by A Day Like No Other…
… as dinner was ready – courtesy of Teri Menchini and her crew at La Bocca Fina, who had incorporated the couple’s favorite childhood foods from their home countries (Romania and Ukraine) into the menu.
Guest tables were not numbered, but named after famous algorithms; after all, Cristina and Dmytro are software engineers!
The newlyweds presided over the congregation of their 80+ guests from their elaborately decorated Sweetheart Table…
Photographer Maria whisked the newlyweds away for sunset photos – after all, we had a spectacular sunset on Wedding Day!
After dinner, guests were invited to the Hill House where Cristina and Dmytro performed their official first task as a married couple: cutting their cake. And that cake was a piece of art as none of the guests (or us vendors, for that matter) had ever seen before! Playing on the couple’s love for traveling and for math, patissier Gabrielle Feuersinger of Cake Coquette had made them a cake in the shape of a vintage suitcase, complete with travel stickers of their favorite destinations, topped with a stack of their favorite math books – and all of that so realistic-looking that more than one guest tried to pick up the books and leaf through them!! Needless to say that the cake underneath was super delicious, too…
Next stop: dancing!
Cristina and Dmytro presented their guests with an elaborate dance routine in the tradition of Russian ballet, dancing their First Dance to Shostakovich’s Valse no. 2 (remember the famous movie Doctor Zhivago? That’s when you swooned over that dance for the first time…) – in an expertly abridged version that DJ Woody Miraglia of Big Fun Dic Jockeys had created especially for them.
With that, the dance floor was officially opened for everyone, and DJ Woody kept the crowd going – and what a wild dance party that was!
But eventually even the best party has to come to a close… and guests took home little succulents as favors…
… to see love grow.
Jay of City Express Limousine service chauffeured guests back down the winding mountain road back to their hotels, and George Rose of Elegant Journey Limousines brought his “flagship” – a stunning 1927 Stutz limousine – as Cristina’s and Dmytro’s getaway car. We sent them off to their married bliss with a sparkler parade – that’s what I call an exit in high style!
Keep dancing, traveling and calculating math problems together, Cristina and Dmytro, and stay as crazy happy as you were on your Wedding Day!
Caroline and Merrick are a true Silicon Valley power couple, working crazy hours, jetting around for business all the time – a really hectic lifestyle. When they decided to tie the proverbial knot, they realized quickly that they would not have the time nor the bandwidth to do the planning themselves. In comes my wedding planning company, A Day Like No Other! Already in our first planning meetings (e-meetings, of course!!), a few things about the couple’s vision for their Great Day emerged: a traditional Chinese banquet, in honor of their shared cultural heritage and their families, was a “must.” To that end, they had booked one of the “mainstays” of Chinese cuisine on the SF Peninsula, Koi Palace in Daly City. A Tea Ceremony and a Western wedding ceremony at a pretty, picturesque location – also a “must.” And for that, they had settled on the beautiful Allied Arts Guild, a Spanish-Mediterranean compound set amidst manicured gardens, serving as the home to multiple artisans, art galleries – and as an event space. The rest still had to be filled in… and so we got started! Given that we only had three months of planning time, we needed to move quickly. But then – life intervened, and business travel, and the Flu season… and all of a sudden, things got really hectic…
Last Saturday, all our work came together in exactly the wedding celebration that Caroline and Merrick had been hoping for, and despite the end-of-November date, Lady Luck and the Weather Gods were smiling upon us, and the predicted rain held off until a few hours after the Great Day.
For Caroline, her bridesmaids, junior bridesmaids and flower girls, the day began early with hair and makeup services by Tiffany Chiang of Design Her Image.
Florist Shannon LaVoie of Rare Sparrow had made elegant bouquets in the bride’s chosen color of wine red with blush pink and a tiny dose of peach; and altar arrangements to match.
Caroline slipped into the first of her three (3!) dresses, a stunning red-and-gold embroidered Chinese sheath dress, for the traditional Tea Ceremony: serving their parents tea as a symbol of their gratitude and devotion.
Photo credit: Augie Chang
Augie Chang, our photographer extraordinaire for the whole day, and his assistant Luisa captured every moment and shared the first few of their many beautiful photos with us for a little preview (and I will supplement with my own iPhone snapshots as needed, for the moment….)
After that, it was time for the couple’s First Look in a white Western wedding dress..
Photo credit: Augie Chang
…which fit the bride to a “T.” Isn’t she beautiful?
Photo credit: Augie Chang
… and here comes Caroline in her white dress to show herself to her “Prince Charming” for the first time!
Photo credit: Augie Chang
Photo credit: Augie Chang
This could be their official wedding photo, don’t you think? Off they went for many more romantic portraits in the gardens…
Photo credit: Augie Chang
Photo credit: Augie Chang
… with and without flowergirls and junior bridesmaids!
Photo credit: Augie Chang
Meanwhile, frantic preparations were underway to get the ceremony and reception space guest-ready in time. Stuart Event Rentals had delivered chairs and tables; hors d’oeuvres came from Draeger’s delicatessen, and my assistant Quan and I were busy pulling it all together and installing the whimsical ceremony backdrop of suspended paper rosettes …
… setting up gift and guest book tables, signage and a myriad of other things!
Caroline and Merrick had provided a multitude of family photos for a true photo gallery which served as a backdrop to our Welcome Table. Time flew, our guests were arriving, and our ceremony musicians, cellist Stephanie and pianist Jenton, friends of the couple, began playing – their personal wedding present to Caroline and Merrick.
Here comes… not the bride, but the true little stars of the day – our twin flowergirls!
Photo credit: Augie Chang
And now, finally, comes the bride on her mother’s arm:
Photo credit: Augie Chang
Officiant Chris Thielen welcomed the congregation and directed a ceremony that could not have been more personal, warm and lighthearted – everyone was smiling and laughing, and sharing the happiness of the moment.
Here they are: Just married!!
Photo credit: Augie Chang
Photo credit: Augie Chang
What followed? More photos. And for the guests: Cocktail Hour on the patio with a special surprise that made everyone’s (not only the little ones’) hearts skip – a real cupcake food truck (Kara’s Cupcakes’ KaraVan) serving fresh and yummy mini cupcakes, hot chocolate, tea and coffee. Not a crumb was left at the end! Go have a look for yourself:
Photo credit: Augie Chang
As I said – tradition with a twist, and that was not the only one! The newlyweds made their exit in the cutest getaway car EVER -the husband’s vintage Mini…
Photo credit: Augie Chang
Fast-forward to our Chinese banquet at Koi Palace, famous for its indoor Koi pond:
Tables were being set…
… the couple’s Sweetheart Table was being decorated…
… a Sign-in Table and Seat Assignment Board installed…
… and the DJ and our bilingual MC Jackson (from TDE Wedding) completed their setup and got ready.
Maid of Honor Michelle, my assistant Quan and I set up the cake-and-candy table…
…with a cake and French macarons from Paris Baguette and a lot more delicious sweets. What you have certainly spotted in the middle is another one of Caroline’s and Merrick’s personal twists: a Chinese “double happiness” symbol built from LEGO bricks!! The two are LEGO fans… talk about “personal and unique!”
With that, we were ready for the guests and for an epic seafood banquet, many speeches and toasts… and for a lot of fun with the next surprise of the evening: Giggle & Riot photo booth producing cute little flipbooks as wedding favors!
Then it was time for Caroline’s and Merrick’s first official task as a married couple – cutting the cake:
And finally – the couple’s First Dance, of course!
Photo credit: Augie Chang
It was a long day filled with happiness, warmth and laughter, and everyone went home with a big smile… Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together, Caroline and Merrick, and may you always find the time for shared laughter and a LEGO project!
As seen on Carats & Cake!
Watch it live on video here!
Shifteh and Hassan were truly meant for one another – their families have been best of friends for ages, and the only surprising thing is how long it took the two to progress from “just friends” to dating and engagement! Fast-forward four years, and the two were ready to tie the knot – elegant Persian style, of course! They had booked their venue – the storied Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco – when they realized that they’d need a lot more elements to make their celebration festive and unique, and that they did not have the time to do all the necessary research, come up with the design and so many more things. They approached my wedding planning company, A Day Like No Other, for help, and we jumped right in. Design decisions, color palette, inspiration photos, vendors, entertainment ideas… a true whirlwind in the scant five months we had!
Finally the Great Day had arrived – and the Weather Gods were looking upon us very favorably with one of those golden San Francisco October days with clear skies, a warming sun and a slight breeze.
Shifteh’s day began with hair and makeup by Adelina Eidelman …
…who transformed a pretty young woman into a radiant, glamorous exotic beauty. Mr. Siasi of Rose Express Florist delivered a lush cascading bouquet of pink roses and white Phalaenopsis orchids, a perfect match for Shifteh’s luxurious Rosa Clara wedding dress …
… with exquisite beading and a breathtaking illusion back:
… here is the veil…
… and the princess heels to go with it!
Not to forget: headpiece, earrings and of course – the rings and other jewelry …
Hassan was meanwhile busy getting ready himself…
For their First Look, bride and groom were allowed into the famous Fairmont Penthouse – where so far every president of the United States has stayed when visiting San Francisco.
This is the view a president would enjoy from the patio…. Definitely a very, very special spot for a First Look!
From there, Shifteh and Hassan went onto an extended photo tour with their photographers Evonne and Darren and videographers of Mario & Fran Productions.
Meanwhile, frantic preparations by the Fairmont team led by Jenni Rowe, my assistant Lisa and myself were underway to get everything ready for the Persian wedding ceremony, Cocktail Hour and dinner reception.
The ceremony was held in the Pavilion Room, with a sofreh by Lili Ghazian of Aroosi by Lili, centered under an enormous Beaux-Arts chandelier.
Here comes the bride on her father’s arm, preceded by Persian violinist extraordinaire Pourya Khademi:
The traditional ceremony was officiated – bilingually! – by Dr. Payman Amiri, with a very lighthearted touch that made everyone smile!
Following tradition, the bride’s sisters and sisters-in-law showered the couple with “sweetness” by rubbing sugar over their heads.
After the ceremony, the couple was showered with precious gifts – mostly jewelry – another beloved Persian custom. Guests were meanwhile enjoying cocktails in the adjacent Rooftop Garden, a little urban oasis, to the accompaniment of violinist Pourya – whose familiar Persian tunes literally touched the heartstrings of all guests with sweet memories.
Dinner was served in the Crown Room on the top, 24th floor of the Fairmont Tower, all decked out in champagne linens, gold toned draperies, and glorious tall centerpieces of roses, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums and orchids from Rose Express Florist…
… and chargers and chairs from Hensley Event Resources. Everything came together just perfectly.
For favors, the Mother of the Groom had prepared glittery organza bags filled with white and gold Jordan almonds, tied with personalized ribbon – a true labor of love! A memorial table was also part of the arrangements.
A mini sofreh adorned the room…
… and another table was literally bending under trays and trays of delicious Persian sweets:
As dusk fell outside…
….guests found their seats with elegant escort cards lined up in the foyer of the Crown Room:
… and with that, we were ready for the Grand Entrance of the newlyweds. These two gave a whole new meaning to the “grand” in “Grand Entrance!” Like royalty, they were accompanied by violinist Pourya…… and dancers from Niosha Dance Academy, one of them the bride’s younger sister, dancing in honor of the couple.
After that, it was time for a lavish four-course dinner, toasts and speeches, while darkness fell and the City below began to sparkle like a box of jewels:
The couple quickly stole away for a few dramatic photos …
… on the Grand Staircase. When they returned, it was already time for their First Dance as a married couple:
With that, the dance floor was officially open! Guests had the choice between rousing music by DJ Alireza and fun at the SnapFiesta photo booth. Most of them did, of course, both!
Another highlight of the evening was cake cutting…
… which in the Persian tradition is by far not as easy as it sounds: the groom first has to obtain the cake knife from a succession of dancing ladies who are teasing him and expect to be paid off generously before surrendering the knife! Eventually, after an extended Knife Dance, they let Hassan have the knife, and the couple’s first official task of cutting the cake together proceeded without a hitch. What else? Bouquet Toss, of course!
Shifteh tossed, and a single young lady caught it – so she is next in line for a celebration as glorious as Shifteh’s and Hassan’s. The evening came to a close far too soon, and everyone went home tired and happy.
Many happy years together, Shifteh and Hassan, and dance on…
Shifteh and Hassan Wedding Day
Published on Carats & Cake
Shannon and Brian are not people to rush into things. So – when they decided to get married after three years of courtship, they took their time finding the perfect venue for their celebration. It should be set in beautiful, untamed Nature, but still have a certain elegance. It should be large enough for the 270 guests they were going to invite. It should offer accommodations for their closest family members to stay there for an extended wedding weekend. Together with Shannon’s mother, they visited a number of venues… and when they first set foot on the Santa Lucia Preserve, it was love at first sight, head over heals. Nothing else could compare. A private nature preserve on 20,000 acres nestled in the mountains above Carmel Valley, untouched forests and rolling hills with endless views, a historic Spanish-Mediterranean mansion (the “Hacienda” )…
… with a flock of deer grazing on the front lawn…
Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts
… and wild turkeys as well…
… and an adjacent guest house to accommodate their nearest and dearest, a subtly renovated barn for their party and a majestic Redwood grove for their ceremony – it was simply perfect! When Shannon and her mother enlisted the help of my company, A Day Like No Other, for the planning of their Great Day, I jumped right in!
Fast-forward nearly a full year… and finally all our planning came together last weekend on a perfect autumn day, warm, sunny, under blue skies and with a slight breeze. We could not have chosen a better date! Shannon’s and Brian’s wedding celebration, anticipated for so long, was to incorporate many, many very personal touches which made it unmistakably “theirs” and gave it all a deeper meaning.
For Shannon, her bridesmaids (her two sisters), the two mothers and Shannon’s grandmothers, the day began early with hair and makeup services by Sarah and Kami of the Hair and Makeup Company.
The ladies emerged looking their best ever – in a very natural and elegant way. Everyone was just glowing!
Britt Waddell of Britt Rene Photo and her assistant captured every precious moment from beginning to end.
Darcy Craig of Seascape Flowers delivered an abundance of beautiful blooms for the bridal party (and also for ceremony and reception)…
Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts
… to complement the bride’s breathtaking Carolina Herrera dress from Jin Wang Bridal …… worn with her mother’s veil:
Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts
Then there were Shannon’s princess slippers…
… and, of course, the rings.
Even more excited than the bride herself was her flower girl!
The groom, meanwhile, was busy getting ready as well.
Ready to go….a real mother-daughter moment…
Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts
To me, this is the epitome of classic beauty.
A fleet of shuttle buses from Main Event Transportation then took the couple’s guests from their hotels in nearby Carmel up into the mountains, into the Preserve and to the ceremony at the majestic Redwood Grove where the Preserve team under Catering and Events Director Aubrey Yeakel and Banquet Manager Francisco had set up for the ceremony. Sound was provided by Peter Burkhard of Kelly Productions, and the ceremony was accompanied by solo guitar music by Rich Armstrong.
Guests were handed elegant program books which the mother of the bride had hand-bound with leather – the wedding flowers were modeled after the floral motif on the invitation suite:
Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts
The elegance and natural beauty of this program (by Ruby the Fox and Papineau Calligraphy)set the tone for the whole celebration and especially for the ceremony which was officiated by the couple’s friend Michael who had actually brought them together – talk about personal touches here!
And here comes the bride, on her father’s arm:
Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts
The couple said their vows flanked by two huge flower arrangements set on natural tree stumps, and the only other floral decor were hand-tied wreaths on the back row of chairs – wreaths are a traditional symbol of wedding celebration in Lithuania, as a nod to the Groom’s cultural heritage (and again, more of that to come!)
After the joyful ceremony, guests were shuttled to Cocktail Hour on the expansive lawn adjacent to the Hacienda where they enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres (like Ahi tuna tuiles…) to go with their libations. The sun cast a golden glow over the scene… and flower girl Helen, a mere four years old, took her job very seriously to call everyone to dinner with a handbell:
The newlyweds had meanwhile gone on a “photo date” with photographer Britt and arrived for dinner on foot, hand in hand…
Guests took a leisurely walk over to the Barn where the venue staff and my two wonderful assistants Myrtle and Lisa had set everything up for dinner.
When the doors opened, guests were greeted with more – oversize! – wreaths:
… and an elegant setup under twinkling lights:
As yet another personal touch, guests found little bags of Lithuanian cookies (from Mama Papa Lithuania bakery) as their wedding favors. Dinner was served family-style and accompanied by heartfelt speeches by the sisters of the bride, the brother of the groom, and the father of the bride who disclosed how intertwined the couple’s lives had been from the get-go… unbeknownst to them, their fathers had shared college days!
After his Welcome speech, the bride’s father and the bride shared a dance, all by themselves…
Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts
… followed by the Mother-Son dance and then – the official First Dance of the newlyweds:
After dinner, there was no holding back the crowd from the dance floor! The 415s band (through Entire Productions) literally “let it rip,” and, as one guest aptly put it, “I’ve never been to a party where not a single person was in their chairs, but everyone on the dance floor!”
Guests only took a little break for Cake Cutting – the bride’s younger sister had made a small cake with cute decorations; talk about personal touches! And then the ice cream bar was opened, with delicious toppings and fresh-baked cookies – a true crowd pleaser!
One more unexpected (and likewise truly personal) highlight was to come as a surprise to everyone: one of the bride’s grandmothers, 93 years young, led the groom on the dance floor for a Tango! She danced beautifully – and got a well-deserved standing ovation from all guests.
For those in need of a bit of fresh air in between, blanket-cushioned hay bales (by LA Hearne Company) surrounding two brightly lit fire-pits were beckoning in front of the entrance.
One thing is sure: everyone was having a great time… what a party! It was a true love fest for bride and groom.
Wishing you a lifetime of happiness, Shannon and Brian, on your journey together!
If there is one thing that ties Tina and Paul together (aside from their love for one another, of course!) it’s traveling and good food. They have been to places most people can only dream of: Iceland, Galapagos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kilimanjaro. Always out for an adventure! So when they decided to tie the proverbial knot, it had to be at a special place, of course. They found it at Thomas Fogarty Winery in Woodside – a spectacular venue with endless view of vineyards and all of Silicon Valley in the distance.
Needless to say, they also chose a great caterer – Toast Catering – and to add to their impressive gallery of photos taken all over the world, they picked a fantastic wedding photographer, Todd Rafalovich. My company, A Day Like No Other, helped with all these myriad choices and details and with pulling it all together into that one Great Day with my Coordinator Mary-Kate in charge – last Sunday!
It turned out to be an unusually warm and sunny autumn day, blue skies, a slight breeze – just perfect for Tina’s and Paul’s celebration. For Tina and her bridesmaids, the day began with hair and makeup styling by Elizabeth Chang of Skyla Arts.
The bride had chosen a classic white lace dress, strapless, with a “Sweetheart” neckline and rhinestone belt:
Her bridal bouquet and all other flowers were provided by her personal friend Sarah Fisher – a true labor of love!
… and with that, Tina was ready to meet her “Prince Charming!”
Paul had likewise dressed up with the help of his groomsmen…
… made sure he had the rings…
… and so – the First Look of the couple could happen!
The ceremony was held on a lawn with endless views, officiated by a personal friend of bride and groom, and with soft music provided by DJ Kevin Combs of Elite Entertainment.
Guests then enjoyed Cocktail Hour on an expansive patio, followed by an alfresco dinner in the open-air pavilion. In lieu of a conventional guest book, Tina and Paul had chosen artwork showing a tree, with guests signing along its branches.
For their table assignments, Tina and Paul got inspired by another shared passion: Lego! Each guest got to take home a little Lego figurine. Let’s see who else gets “bitten by the Lego bug!”
And here is the dining pavilion, from above…
… with beautifully set tables awaiting the couple’s guests:
Table numbers? Quirky, whimsical and “original Tina and Paul” of course! Simple table numbers would not do for these two world travelers – they named their tables after their favorite destinations! Have a look:
The favorite of all guests was the Dim Sum station with a constant waiting line of at least 20 people!
Tina and Paul snuck out one more time with their photographer for sunset photos…
… before it was time to cut their super-cute “Wanderlust” cake by Cake Expressions:
… and everyone got to dig into delicious cupcakes!
After that, there was no holding back the crowd from the dance floor where DJ Kevin “let it rip”.. what a party!
Many happy years and exciting travel adventures on your journey together, Tina and Paul!
Olivia and Jake love their city. They are living in a historic neighborhood, they are exploring the city via bike, they are fully immersed. Small wonder then that for their wedding day, they chose iconic locations to make it truly meaningful to them and to their loved ones – some of whom (the bride’s parents, to start with) had come as far as from Taiwan.
When Olivia approached my company, A Day Like No Other, for help in her wedding planning, I realized very quickly that this would not be a “run-of-the-mill” affair. It would be very personal, very intimate, and very “San Francisco.”
And finally, last Saturday, it all came together beautifully on a glorious autumn day under a blue sky and a light breeze – San Francisco at its very best!
For Olivia and her Matron of Honor, the day began with hair and makeup services by Chau of A-List Hair and Makeup. She transformed two pretty young women into drop-dead gorgeous red-carpet stars! Olivia had chosen a classic ivory lace dress and a bouquet from Le Bouquet Flower Shop in elegant dark reds, blush pink and eucalyptus greens:
Ready to present herself to her fiance with a First Look! Adam of City Express Limousine chauffeured her to the Legion of Honor Museum – one of San Francisco’s most iconic institutions, with one of the largest collections of Rodin sculptures worldwide:
What better spot for their First Look but the classic colonnades of the courtyard…
Photographer Frank Lee with assistant and the video team of Amor in Motion captured every moment, as Olivia gently tapped Jake on the shoulder…
And here they are!
Off to many more photos and video footage – to Fort Point (at the Golden Gate Bridge) and the Lyon Street Steps (with breathtaking views of the Bay) – a whole picture book of San Francisco scenery!
Meanwhile, frantic preparations were underway to get both the ceremony site – a lawn in the historic Fort Mason area overlooking the Bay – and the reception venue – the Captain’s Room at the iconic McCormick & Kuleto’s restaurant at Ghirardelli Square – ready on time. The team of YPR delivered the ceremony chairs. DJ Ron Israel of Legendmakers made sure we had sound and music both out on the lawn and at the restaurant. My assistant Myrtle held out in the cold (wind and fog came up in the afternoon) guarding the fully set-up ceremony site. I was busy at the restaurant setting up decor. Team captain Larissa at the restaurant had the tables set up perfectly and the bar going.
Finally, Bride and groom arrived at their ceremony site shortly before their ceremony which was officiated by Minister Maggie Beretz – so personal and so warm! Here comes the (windswept) Bride:
Just married! Now we’ll have a photo with each and every guest:
After the ceremony, guests walked over to McCormick & Kuleto’s for cocktails and yummy hors d’oeuvres (Tuna tartare wontons and crab cakes – need I say more?!), and for the incredible views of the Aquatic Park with the historic tall ship “Balclutha” and of Alcatraz.
It was the “Golden Hour” before sunset, and the newlyweds took their time walking over with lots and lots of more photos.
Guests were meanwhile busy finding their table assignments by Olivia’s handmade chart…
… sharing their words of wisdom on prepared Q & A cards…
… and admiring Olivia’s and Jake’s engagement photos displayed in a huge, impressive coffee-table book.
Grand Entrance!
Dinner time!
Everyone swooned about the fresh seafood for which McCormick & Kuleto’s is famous. But that was not all. In addition to the elegant dessert (a rich espresso custard), there was THE CAKE! This beauty in the bride’s favorite colors, ombre from blush pink to deepest wine red, came from Cake Coquette:
The new husband and wife were clearly reluctant to even cut into it – but when they did, they revealed a luscious red velvet cake with buttercream filling underneath. So delicious!
To the amusement of all guests, Olivia and Jake sat down for the traditional “shoe game” of guessing their similarities and differences as a couple. Each one held one shoe of the bride and one of the groom in their hands and answered questions by holding up the appropriate shoe: “Who of you takes longer in the shower?” “Who is the better driver?” “Who is the better cook?” – Let’s say, Olivia and Jake did well in that game – with just a few very funny disagreements.
And when the party came to a close, everyone went home happy. It was a great celebration of love and togetherness.
Many, many years of shared happiness to Olivia and Jake!
When Stephanie and Josh approached my company, A Day Like No Other, to help them with their wedding planning, they had set a date and booked their venue… and we had five months to go. They would have their ceremony at the spectacular Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley, the bride’s home parish. And then they would celebrate at the nearby Portola Valley Town Center, a modern event hall with stunning architecture.
So far, so good! Bride and groom are both super busy – both are physicians – so the time they could realistically devote to planning was limited. And so… our planning and design work got quite intense! Luckily we were able to pull together a stellar team of vendors, and yesterday all that hard work paid off, big time! The weather gods were also smiling upon us with blue skies and sunshine. It was a glorious summer day.
For Stephanie and her five bridesmaids the day began with hair and makeup services by Nancy and Kathryn of Wowpretty Salon – and the six pretty ladies and two mothers emerged ready for the red carpet – just glamorous!
Stephanie complemented her classic white wedding dress …
… with a summery, feminine bouquet in ivory, blush pink and peach …
… by Vicky of Queen Bridal – not only our florist for all floral decor throughout, but also our decorator who worked true magic on the reception spaces inside and out… more of that later.
Then there were her “pretty-in-pink” shoes …
… and the rings, of course!
Josh was also getting ready with some help from his Dad …
… and he was very moved by his bride’s early-morning love letter.
Next: pin on one of Vicky’s beautiful boutonnieres, and – ready for First Look!
Meanwhile we were joined by Dusty and Amy of Drozian Photoworks and by the team of Pure Devotion video. They captured all the precious moments during the day.
At the church, our hostess Becky Preimesberger was waiting for us, organizing the bride’s party, the groom’s party, parents, flower girl and ring bearer with poise and calm precision, while the church musicians played prelude music for the arriving guests. And here comes the Bride! A wonderful mother-daughter moment…
… shortly before Stephanie was walking down the aisle …
… toward the spectacular, all-glass altar space where her groom was waiting.
The service was officiated by Jeff Gaines, a Presbyterian pastor, and James Baraz, a Buddhist monk – and it was one of the most personal, heartfelt and joyful ceremonies I’ve ever seen. Just beautiful!
And here is the official wedding photo!!
At the nearby Town Center, frantic preparations were meanwhile under way. Vicky’s team from Queen Bridal had installed dramatic draperies around the entrance (to hide several unsightly pillars)…
… and on the inside (to hide an equally unsightly extendable partition that marred the middle of the prominent wall in the reception hall).
But Vicky didn’t stop at just hiding. She made everything look elegant and polished, including a lighted canopy over the couple’s Sweetheart Table:
Next: beautiful centerpieces…
… and “Save the Bees” favors made of seeded paper (the nature-loving couple had made a donation to this organization in honor of their guests).
Jessica, Savannah and the whole team from Elaine Bell Catering had set up a large buffet…
… of mouthwatering dinner options – followed by the absolute showstopper: a mini donut machine!
And – not to forget: a beautiful cake was awaiting the guests as well! The cute cake topper actually gave away one of the favorite hobbies bride and groom have been sharing for years: they both love to dance!
On the patio, decorated with string lights by Queen Bridal, a well-stocked bar was waiting for guests to arrive for Cocktail Hour. DJ Sammy Lam provided music throughout, starting with Cocktail Hour on the patio. My assistants Jessica and Lisa and myself were busy coordinating the setup and a lot of personal decor items, from guest book to family photos…
Hand-calligraphed table assignment boards by A Day Like No Other helped guests to find their seats, and fluffy pillows in the wedding colors – ivory, blush pink and sage green – made the built-in benches on the patio cozy and comfortable.
During the evening, Phil’s photo booth was open, and guests had a lot of fun with outrageous props and poses. Over dinner, the bride’s family entertained the guests with an Ukulele performance…
… and the groom’s mother and sister (both professional musicians) gave a rousing rendition of an Andrea Bocelli love song.
The last highlight of the evening: the couple’s First Dance, an elaborate dance routine that they had been practicing for months! (Forgive any blurry pictures – they were twirling so fast!)
It was a true love fest for the newlyweds! And all guests had the time of their lives. It was an unforgettable celebration.
Stephanie and Josh: dance on – into a lifetime of happiness!
When Liz and Nicco asked my company, A Day Like No Other, for assistance with planning their wedding celebration – a Black Tie event for 150 guests, all in ivory, gold and navy blue, at the IC Mark Hopkins in San Francisco – I was immediately on board. This was exactly what I love: a historic landmark and high elegance!
Last weekend it all came together beautifully, and the Weather Gods were also all in favor: we had a glorious, warm and sunny summer day (a rare exception in San Francisco!) with a slight breeze and endless views. It was simply perfect.
For Liz and her bridesmaids, the day began with hair and makeup services by.Kathryn Horen of Bay Area Beautiful and her team in a penthouse suite at the Mark Hopkins – with million-dollar views across downtown San Francisco and the SF Bay. 
Liz had chosen a breathtaking Sottero Midgley dress …
… with lace appliqué and crystal embroidery, a gorgeous veil edged with crystals …
… and matching strappy sandals. Here are the rings…
… and the earrings…
And with the help of her bridesmaids, Liz got ready in time to meet Nicco – who had been dressing up as well, of course.
And here he is – dapper groom!
… and together with his groomsmen.
Ready for their First Look which would take place “in the streets of San Francisco.”
The couple paid homage to their beloved hometown with many more iconic photos…
Meanwhile, preparations were underway to get everything ready in time for the celebration. At the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins, the elegant Room of the Don’s was outfitted for the ceremony and adorned with lavish flower arrangements by Jinger Leonard of The Flower House.
The ceremony was officiated by Father Charles Regal of the White-Robed Monks. His very personal ceremony was warm, lighthearted, and full of joy – a truly moving moment for everyone present!
And for a special “polished” touch, the Mersonacta string quartet played all ceremony music, accompanying the bride’s processional with a string version of Pachelbel’s famous Canon in D.
Afterwards, Liz and her Dad shared a “Proud Dad and happy daughter” moment… Then it was off to many photos with Jackson Tyler Eddy and Amy Stemper of A Frame Forward for the couple, their bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Dakota Baylacq of Thomas Hughes Films was meanwhile capturing every precious moment on video.
Meanwhile, Chrissy Wolfman, Mario Montenero and the whole Mark Hopkins team had completed the setup of the Peacock Court for cocktails and of the Peacock Ballroom for dinner, Jason Nall and team leader Martin of Impact Lighting had installed uplights that bathed the ballroom in a soft golden glow, the Flowerhouse crew had installed centerpieces, and our own Day Like No Other team with myself, Kelsey Holtzinger, Mary-Kate Greenberg and Lisa Siyuan had taken care of all the details, from escort and menu cards to the golden favor boxes (filled with 0h-so-yummy See’s chocolates).
Steve Bloom and his band HipService had set up on the stage of the Peacock Ballroom – in short, we were ready for Liz’ and Nicco’s guests!
After dinner, it was time for Cake cutting – traditionally the newlyweds’ first task together, which these two executed with bravura.
What else? Their First Dance, of course! Such an emotional moment…
… followed by a wild dance party to music by Hip Service!
And as we speak, Liz and Nicco are honeymooning in Italy. Buon viaggio e molta felicita!
