Shirley and Kevin’s Wedding at the Palace of Fine Arts

Posted on October 27, 2015 by jlammerts

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!

Nataly and Derek’s Joyful Wedding Celebration at Nella Terra Cellars

Posted on October 1, 2015 by jlammerts

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!

Creative Business at the Argonaut SF – WIPA Fall Meeting 2015

Posted on September 1, 2015 by jlammerts

“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

Posted on August 16, 2015 by jlammerts

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!

Small Business Marketing Gone Glam: WIPA at the Shattuck Plaza in Berkeley

Posted on October 30, 2014 by jlammerts

As the Regional Director of Programs at WIPA, Wedding Industry Professionals Association, I have the pleasure (and the obligation…) to organize four festive events throughout the year, and we just concluded the year of 2014 on a really high note: with an elegant luncheon in the Crystal Ballroom of Berkeley’s storied Shattuck Plaza Hotel.

As always, we offered both fun and education – our speaker, Carolyn Higgins, founder of Fortune Marketing Company and an expert advisor for small businesses, presented “Four Pillars of Small Business Marketing Success,” and all attendees agreed: they were taking home valuable insights!

But we are getting ahead of ourselves! After registration and a display of our numerous sponsors…

… guests received beautiful program books (by Wedcrafted.com)

… and then the event began with an elegant Cocktail reception:

… with my friend (and recent bride!), Erica Messer, playing the harp for us.

Guests were treated to delicious hors d’oeuvres…

… and to a big surprise: Liz Smith of Beau Ties of Vermont, purveyor of the finest handmade silk bow ties, presented a variety of options for the stylish groom, groomsmen, fathers etc. AND gave away one classic black bow tie to every guest!

That put a big smile on everyone’s face!

As did the elegant decor to match the extraordinary character of the Crystal Ballroom – walls covered in bold black-and-white stripes and adorned with oversized mirrored panels, reminding me of a huge conservatory. With that, the decor idea was born: we decorated with huge palm trees (courtesy of Interior Plant Design) and hedges (from Stuart Rental Company) and added to these charming firefly lights (from Firefly Magic). Centerpieces and smaller arrangements (from Katharina Stuart Floral Art and Design) throughout picked up the “green and white/modern conservatory” theme beautifully…

… and reached truly glamorous heights on the dining tables which were all aglitter in “Paris” silver sequined linens from Napa Valley Linens.

Add to that chic and modern dining chairs (from Hartmann Studios – as was the stunning lounge furniture we used for our dessert lounge; more of that later…) – and beautifully calligraphed menu cards in charcoal and silver (by Sally Laporta of Monks of Age)…

… and handmade traditional Hungarian gingerbread heart favors (by Tunde’s Creations) …

… and you see – it’s quite stunning! Even more so thanks to the elegant ceiling wash (provided by our A/V sponsor, Fantasy Sound):

Then it was time for speeches (here it’s me in action…)

… and of course for the speaker presentation we had all been eagerly awaiting. Carolyn Higgins proved to be not only a highly knowledgeable expert in her field, but also an engaging speaker, with the rare gift of making a “dry” topic come alive and be real fun to learn!

That’s the presentation style everybody just loved!

And then we had a fabulous lunch… and the much-anticipated prize drawing (probably the biggest one in WIPA history!) with chalkboard art (from Steele My Heart) and fused-glass “sun catchers” (from Pat Gibbons) for the home, a wine gift (from Wente Vineyards), a big box of top-of-the-line skincare from my favorite Kiehl’s store at the San Mateo Hillsdale Mall, an elegant bridal headpiece (from Poppyhearts) and beautiful parasols for weddings (by Parasols by Design). There were also coveted “Travel and Leisure” prizes: a “Vine to Wine” experience (at Holman Ranch), a Foursome of Golf (at The Bridges Golf Club), and a stay for two at Purple Orchid Wine Country Resort and Spa, and at two five-star resorts: Cavallo Point and Four Seasons San Francisco. All of our guests decidedly enjoyed this type of lunch entertainment!

But our event was far from over: it concluded with coffee and dessert in our elegant dessert lounge …

… where a glamorous silver and white multi tier cake from Torino Baking was waiting:

Pastry artist Julie Durkee herself cut her creation to reveal an oh-so-delicious super-rich chocolate cake underneath:

I can say, all our guests…

… were having a good time! It definitely was a special event – documented in photos by Gustavo Fernandez and videotaped by Level 2 Productions.

Our next festive event will be on February 24 of 2015 – we sure hope to welcome you there!

The Perfect Performance: Marissa’s and Jordan’s Wedding at Studio Trilogy

Posted on October 12, 2014 by jlammerts

What’s the most unusual, most hip and chic wedding venue you’ve ever been to? I bet you’ve never been to a wedding at a professional recording studio!

Well, I was the lucky one! When Marissa and Jordan approached my company, A Day Like No Other, for help with their wedding coordination, they had already booked Studio Trilogy in San Francisco – a professional recording studio with a long list of illustrious clients, among others Willie Nelson, and every free spot on the walls adorned with photos of pop and rock luminaries “in action.”

To my great surprise, Studio Trilogy offers much more than the recording studios themselves – there is a dramatic double-height Great Room with exposed wood beams and a fireplace, a cozy media room, a secret room hidden behind a movable built-in shelf, a gallery, a bridal preparation area complete with a separate bathroom, a patio, two kitchens… in short, a spacious, chic venue with all the bells and whistles!

The couple had made sure there were many personal touches and a lot of consideration for guests throughout: arriving guests left their cars with California Valet Parking (no hassles with that) and, instead of signing a guest book, took Polaroid snapshots and clipped them to wire frames in the foyer.

Speaking of photos – the guests got to see a lot of those! The built-in library shelves of the Great Room had been filled with at least a hundred family and couples’ photos, interspersed with as many candles…

Embroidered handkerchiefs “for your happy tears” and yarmulkes (the traditional Jewish skullcaps) were set out for the guests..

For her great day, the bride had chosen an exquisite lace Empire dress with a crystal-encrusted sash and straps …

… with a feminine bow in back, complemented by gorgeous strappy, glittery high heels…

…and an artfully “undone” updo. The proud Mother of the Bride placed the veil herself on her daughter.

Marissa’s good friend Jo Newman was the hair and makeup artist for the day for bride, mothers, and bridesmaids, and all looked equally radiant! Another good friend, acclaimed wedding, portrait and lifestyle photographer Laurie Smith, had come all the way from Los Angeles to capture every precious moment of her friends’ wedding.

For the ceremony, Marissa’s Dad had handcrafted a Chuppah …

… which was then decorated with a lush flower arrangement by Aili Ice Designs:

… and the bride carried a beautiful bouquet to match:

The ceremony was officiated by the brother of the groom, with parents, closest family members and a good hundred friends surrounding the Chuppah. The star of the day? Ringbearer dog Max! Here he is, front and center, sporting a white bow tie and cuffs, in the official wedding photo:

He really did a good job, assisted by two more ring bearers, Avi and Mikayla.

Marissa’s niece, 14-year old Allie, a gifted pianist, contributed in her own way – she played the bride’s processional, Pachelbel’s famous Canon in D, on the grand piano:

and for the couple’s First Dance it was their friend Steve playing.

Guests mingled in the gallery and on the patio …

… with cocktails from two bars, hors d’oeuvres from TipTopTapas …

… and traditional Jewish music by the Stanford Klezmer Band who went on to intonate the time-honored melody of Hava Nagila for the mandatory Hora Dance – and the crowd exuberantly danced along and lifted the newlyweds high up on chairs.

The party got off to a great and joyful start – and did not stop ever that night! There were, of course, toasts and speeches from so many loved ones, and then the dancing and dining resumed. For the “dance party” of the night, the couple had enlisted a fantastic band, “Love Fool.”

They kept the crowd going – on and on – clapping, stomping and singing along. And – did I mention the candy bar?

It was supplemented by decorated wedding cookies and cake pops in four flavors (a labor of love by Marissa’s Mom) and Jordan’s favorite ice cream sandwiches: “It’s It,” a local SF specialty. To-go bags invited guests to take candy home as their wedding favors, and many rediscovered their “sweet tooth!”

What a wonderful day… and that is why both I and my tireless assistant Kelsey love our jobs so much!

Many happy years together, Marissa and Jordan (and Max!)

Family Fun on the Ranch: Pam’s and John’s Wedding on Mt. Diablo

Posted on July 28, 2014 by jlammerts

After seven years together and a full year of planning and do-it-yourself projects, Pam’s and John’s dream finally came true: Wedding Day! I am so happy they allowed my company, A Day Like No Other, to accompany their journey from first ideas to ceremony and celebration, from preliminary sketches to planning memos and vendor sourcing to final timelines.

From our very first planning and brainstorming session on, one thing was clear: this wedding would be a big fun affair. Both Pam and John are fun-loving, quirky personalities who don’t care a bit for convention, but very much for their families – all just as upbeat and fun-loving as they themselves. There would be lots of kids in the wedding, and of course their own “baby” (or rather: fur baby) Cody. So what emerged was the idea of a carnival-themed wedding on a dog-friendly farm. Now, that’s definitely not your “run-of-the-mill wedding!” Far from it… what else? Lots of DIY projects – hand-crocheted boxes, centerpiece decor, and even little birdies for the wedding cake. Handmade paper flowers for the centerpieces. A color scheme of nostalgically muted, slightly faded pastel colors, mainly mint and peach and a dusty rose. And no conventional catering, please!

Look what we put together:

Our venue: Diablo Ranch, a working ranch at more than 1,000 ft of altitude high up on Mount Diablo in the San Francisco East Bay, with miles and miles of views…

… and a romantic farmhouse with a shady courtyard…

… and real farm animals…

… and a beautiful pool for poolside dining:

On wedding day, we were all tempted to jump in – with temperatures soaring to more than 100 degrees!

The bride (already in full hair and make-up by Nini’s Epiphany) and her bridesmaids were getting ready in a cool tack room…

showing off the dreamy bouquets by Green Petal Designs:

The groom and groomsmen dressed up as well:

The fantastic ranch team …

(and my assistant Angeliki and I) were all busy putting final touches on the setup. Arriving guests were greeted with beautiful Chinese hand fans (their wedding favors) – very much appreciated on this hot day!

Photos of the couple (and more yummy favors, little “honey bears” hand-filled by the bride) led the way…

… to the table assignment board – handmade by bride and groom:

Then it was time for the First Look:

… and bridal party photos (by Majesta Patterson),

The ceremony, officiated by Rev. John Sullivan ([email protected]), took place in a magical spot under an old gnarly tree, overlooking a valley…

… while I was taking care of fur baby Cody:

And here they are: Just married!

First one to congratulate his Mom – was Cody:

It was a glorious day for charming couples’ portraits and bridal party photos:

Time to party! With music by Love in the Mix, guests – young and old! – enjoyed real Carnival games by FunServices:

… and Photo Booth shots by Night Owl photo booth.

As promised, food and drink were “off the beaten path” as well: since “Life is short – eat dessert first!” guests (as well as the newlyweds, of course!) were first treated to yummy ice cream from the Garden Creamery ice cream truck!

And after that – the “Yummi BBQ” Chinese food truck served more substantial fare.

Dining tables by the pool were decorated with centerpieces (of course!) handmade by the bride: pastel-colored jars filled with paper flowers crafted from coffee filter paper… a true labor of love!

Everyone simply had a blast – kids and grown-ups alike! Everything was captured on video by Luke and Pamela Goodman – like the cutting of the cake (and cupcakes by Cupkates):

… the couple’s First Dance and the most glorious sunset ever – a fitting end to an unforgettable day!

Many happy, fun-filled years together, Pam and John – and our very best wishes!

And here is their wedding video – for the fun of it!

WEDDING: Pamela and John Short film at Diablo Ranch from Luke Goodman on Vimeo.

The Beauty of Art and Nature: Alan’s and Miles’ Wedding at the Monterey Aquarium

Posted on July 27, 2014 by jlammerts

This weekend, my company, A Day Like No Other, had the pleasure and the honor to coordinate a really extraordinary wedding – a wedding of two artists, in one of the most spectacular venues imaginable: the Monterey Bay Aquarium. And what a celebration that was!

It meant a lot to them, that’s for sure. Alan had admittedly nearly given up hopes to find his soul mate one day… but as we all know (or at least hope…) miracles still happen. And in this case, the miracle was Miles, and it was love at first sight. They complement each other perfectly. One is quirky and super-energetic, and the other is calm and keeps him grounded; and they deeply care about each other. After four years together, they were both sure that they were, indeed, meant for one another.

Alan and Miles, the grooms, are both incredibly creative (Alan is a graphic artist and designer, and Miles has a degree in Fine Arts), and so they wanted a visually compelling surrounding for their Great Day, AND they absolutely insisted on creating most of the decor themselves. Leave it to the artists!

They came up with a color scheme in hues of lavender and purple which they carried through from the bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen’s shirts and neckties and to the flowers – which Alan handcrafted himself! Each of them a little work of art – he made his own bouquet (a giant rose)

and a toss bouquet; bridesmaids’ bouquets with the most delicate “wax flowers”

and elegant boutonnieres

and a cake topper

and and…

Here is Alan with his “grooms maid” Lisa:

Hidden behind Lisa’s bouquet is her gift from the grooms: a golden filigree pendant in the shape of their initials, designed – of course! – by the grooms themselves for all members of their bridal party.

Which was as unusual as nearly everything about this wedding: defying any rules and traditions, the grooms had picked a “Best Woman” and a “Grooms Maid,” along with more traditional roles – and they had a super-cute ring bearer (dressed up in a miniature version of the grooms’ suits!) and flower girl:

Their ceremony under the “fish dome” was officiated by Miles’ Godmother Gail who has played an integral role in his life since his childhood – and so their ceremony was a deeply personal one.

When it came to the vows, Alan surprised Miles with something literally “unheard of:” he expressed his feelings in a song. In his beautiful, mellow, professionally trained tenor voice, he sang the lyrics to the melody of Eva Cassidy’s “Songbird:”

For you/the sun will be shining/’cause I feel that when I’m with you…

To you/I would give the world…

And I love you, I love you, I love you…

interspersed with everything else he wanted to say and promise to Miles. Needless to say, we all had moist eyes… So beautiful!

Just married!

The eighty guests – handpicked closest friends and family members, every single one a trusted companion in the grooms’ lives – formed a spontaneous receiving line after the ceremony – and then proceeded to a delicious dinner (by in-house 886 Catering) in front of the huge shark tank. A truly spectacular setting!

And more was to come – cutting the cake in front of the giant orange jellyfish exhibit…

…. and a traditional bouquet toss (equal opportunity for gals and guys, in this case!)

and a beautifully choreographed First Dance to the music of “A Thousand Years:”

After that, the dance floor was open to everyone, and DJ Collin from DNA Entertainment kept the crowd going!

Those who took a break from dancing had a chance to admire the gorgeous exhibits, from the puffins…

.. to the jellyfish:

…and there is also the “hanging overhead” version – artificial and very artistic:

All that beauty was captured in lasting memories – by Breeann Hollon Photography and by Alan’s nephew on video.

Before they left, guests signed a very unusual “guest book” (well, nothing was “usual” at this wedding!) – a double portrait of the couple, painted by Miles:

… and as wedding favors, they took home wood blocks, all designed and hand-made by Miles:

What an abundance of beauty, both from Art and from Nature – and what a deeply moving experience that celebration was for everyone attending, me included!

Many happy years together, Alan and Miles!

WIPA 2014 Kick-Off at the Mandarin-Oriental, San Francisco

Posted on February 25, 2014 by jlammerts

It doesn’t get much more elegant than that, you agree, right? The Mandarin-Oriental Hotel in San Francisco’s Financial District is truly the epitome of sleek East-meets-West sophistication… plus: it offers, hands down, the best view in all of the City!

As the Events Chair Northern California for WIPA (Wedding Industry Professionals Association), I jumped of course at the opportunity to hold our first festive luncheon of the year at this prestigious venue. Together with my co-chair Melanie Leinweber and with Emily Cross,our gracious hostess at the Mandarin Oriental, I dove headfirst into planning – and finally the Great Day arrived, and we found ourselves manning the registration desk!

The festivities began with a Cocktail Hour up on the 40th floor Sky Deck with views of the San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and with the Transamerica Pyramid seemingly at arm’s length.

Contrary to all forecasts, the Sun came out, and guests thoroughly enjoyed the incredible setting, enhanced by delicious hors d’oeuvres (by the Mandarin-Oriental chef),

a selection of top-notch wines (courtesy of Foley Family Winery)

and wedding-themed music by the Espiritu Ensembles.

Adding to the delightful experience was a jewelry show with stunning pieces by Gleim the Jeweler…

… artfully modeled by the gorgeous Aryan Omar:

Following Cocktail Hour, guests were treated to a welcome by new Board President Kevin Dennis…

and an inspirational lecture by “radical educator” Cindy Novotny.

Her theme was, “Building YOUR Brand –

… more important than ever in the increasingly competitive landscape of the Wedding Industry. How do I set MY business apart from the competition? “Treat all your clients as if they were the only ones, and give them your full attention;” “Follow up and recap immediately after a client contact;” “It only takes one client encounter with a thoughtless or inconsiderate associate of yours to ruin your reputation…” many valuable insights to take away! And her engaging and entertaining style earned Cindy an instant fan club..

All of it was captured real-time by Thomas Hughes Films:

… and by Indulge Wedding Photography (whose beautiful photos you are admiring right now!)

Then it was time for a formal luncheon in the Embassy ballroom:

… set with elegant linens by Napa Valley Linens and dramatic floral arrangements by Mandy Scott Flowers:

Place settings were adorned with menu cards by Gwenn Connolly Designs (who also created the chic program books) and chocolate favors by ChocoVogue.

And the food was simply stellar…

Cindy, our speaker, was my “Lady Luck” at the biggest raffle in WIPA history…

with prizes by Poppyhearts, Nikki Boyle Fitness, Mandy Scott Flowers, Sweet Lauren Cakes, and two hotel stays at the Claremont Resort in Berkeley and the Mandarin-Oriental, San Francisco. That made people smile!

We wrapped up the joyous occasion in the Library, outfitted with chic lounge furniture by Hartmann Studios…

… over coffee and delicious European mini pastries by Patisserie Gerhard Michler:

It was a wonderful event, thanks to all our charming guests and generous sponsors, and that made the hostess very happy!

Tara and Michael: Elegance Choreographed to Perfection

Posted on November 27, 2013 by jlammerts

“Come Dance With Us!” was the motto of Tara’s and Michael’s exquisitely elegant wedding in Carmel-by-the-Sea, last weekend. And their celebration was, in fact, a perfectly choreographed affair – in every sense.

Tara and Michael have so much in common, their love of dancing only one among many things. As Michael said, “Tara and I – we are of the same feather…” And what “feather” is that? To start with, each of them is a Math wiz. They love the perfection of numbers. They are super smart. They are both perfectionists. They are extremely organized, analytical and detail-oriented. Small wonder they expected their wedding day to be just as perfect and organized! I feel really honored that they entrusted that all-important “project” to my company, A Day Like No Other, as their wedding planner.

The two met only in February this year, but they both knew right away that they had met their perfect mates (unbeknownst to each other, that’s what they told their best friends that same evening!). A true whirlwind romance ensued. Following time-honored tradition, Michael formally asked Tara’s father for her hand in marriage – and got it! After that, nothing held them back to set their wedding date. As Tara put it so aptly (on her sign explaining her puzzle piece “guest book”), “It may have taken us a while, but we finally found the perfect fit.” Just 9 months from their first date, the two got married last Saturday in one of the most romantic places I know – Carmel-by-the-Sea. After the bride’s mandatory Hair and Makeup session (Caitlin at Spa on the Plaza),

… both bride and groom were busy getting ready…

… at Quail Lodge Resort in Carmel Valley…

It was a glorious, golden late Autumn day, and the pond full of the namesake quail was glittering in the sun…

The two had their “First Look” moment on a bridge crossing the pond… it could have been right out of an Impressionist painting, Monet perhaps, and it was most definitely the pinnacle of romance. Photographer Ken Kato and videographer James Ferrandini of Thomas Hughes Films captured all those special moments throughout the day – First Look:

… and a stroll through Carmel-by-the-Sea with storybook charm:

Then it was time for a stretch limo transfer to their wedding mass in the historic Church of the Wayfarer in Carmel-by-the-Sea…

… The bride carried a breathtaking bouquet (by Swenson and Silacci) in her wedding colors – purple hues from pale mauve to lavender and a deep eggplant color.

The Bride had chosen ceremony music with very special meaning and memories attached, all flawlessly performed by BellaQuattro Strings and rounded out by a soprano solo – sung by bridesmaid Landra.

It is official:

Following the wedding mass, a couple “official wedding photos” were in order:

While the new Mr. and Mrs. had their photos taken, an elegant cocktail reception was awaiting Tara’s and Michael’s more than 100 guests at Quail Lodge…

… on the patio overlooking the extensive park and golf course surrounding the venue.

Guests enjoyed browsing a veritable photo gallery of the couple from babyhood to engagement photos (see above) along with three signature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Tara and Michael were meanwhile rehearsing one more time the intricate steps of their First Dance – as a surprise for their guests, they had prepared and practiced over and over a choreographed dance performance on a medley of songs, accompanied by DJ John of DNA Entertainment…

… which was literally jaw-dropping proof that these two are, indeed, a perfect match AND professional-grade dancers!

The ensuing elegant sit-down dinner took place around the central dance floor – with tables dominated by tall centerpieces of large mauve roses, white orchids and hydrangea, purple lisianthus and and… just have a look for yourself:

In lieu of conventional table numbers, tables were named after the couple’s favorite dances.

In accordance with her purple wedding colors and the elegance of her whole celebration, Tara had designed a suite of classic wedding stationery – from invitations to programs, menu and escort cards to favor wrappers and various signage – in purple and ivory colors, and she had accented every single piece with a hand-stamped border of romantic scrollwork.

And after dinner? More dancing, of course! And cutting the cake (by Patisserie Bechler), too…

Guests enjoyed creamy, berry-studded cheesecake and coffee, more dancing, and finally – a whimsical sendoff of the couple! During the reception, groomsmen and bridesmaids had sneaked away to secretly decorate the couple’s car with paper flower garlands, purple tulle ribbon and “Just Married” signs, not to forget dozens of empty soda cans tied to the rear bumper… So the whole merry party sent the two off right into their Honeymoon – “down under!”

And here is why I love my job so much…

Congratulations, Tara and Michael, and keep dancing together for many, many happy years to come!

Wedding Woof

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