Yesterday I threw a party for one of my professional organizations, and that was tons of fun! As most of my dear readers already know, I am a wedding coordinator and designer, and the founder of A Day Like No Other, and I am a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Pros. That’s a Facebook group – but what a group!

A year and a half ago, fellow event planner Jacin Fitzgerald of Lovely Little Details created a closed group on Facebook for all wedding professionals in the area as a forum where colleagues help colleagues, with advice, recommendations, and even standing in for one another in case of sudden emergencies. That was not only a good idea – it was an instantaneous, immense success: our group has gone from zero to 700 (!!) members, and counting. We meet in person a few times a year, and since I happen to be renting out a hidden gem of a SF wedding venue, the Forest Hill Clubhouse, I was in the lucky position to play hostess to yesterday’s meeting.

Since in our SFBAWPs group I am literally surrounded by everything and everyone needed for a party, and since everyone is so helpful, generous and enthusiastic, all it took me to throw our “Spring Fling”  were a few phone calls and emails. Jacin helped behind the scenes, and the Forest Hill Association, owner of the venue, graciously invited us all to party in that beautiful historic building!

As only a few of our guests were familiar with the Forest Hill Clubhouse as an event venue, my friend, graphic designer Rachel Lopez Metzger of The Desk Set, created elegant information cards with all there is to know for booking an event here:

Punctually as announced, doors opened at 5 pm yesterday, and revelers kept arriving – probably around 75 altogether – and wouldn’t leave at all… so our party went a good hour into overtime, and that’s probably the best proof that it was, indeed, fun for everyone! Since our theme was Spring, and as the venue has such a unique storybook charm,  I based my design on ivory, spring green and a few yellow accents, garden accessories and all natural materials.

Janelle Jacky of Green Petal Designs played up the mood with fresh and elegant floral arrangements in our signature colors:

Cake artist Gabrielle Feuersinger of Cake Coquette teamed up with florist Janelle to create the perfect decor on a luscious, delicious cake, recreating the natural flowers and the basketweave containers exactly in buttercream! Take a look – she definitely outdid herself just once more:

But – we didn’t “eat cake first!” We first attacked the buffet…

… where organic appetizers from Kristin Houk’s All Good Pizza entered into a healthy competition with fresh-from-the-oven gourmet Goat Hill Pizza, accompanied by a selection of red and white wine, courtesy of the Forest Hill Association:

Before we cut “The Cake,” guests were treated to the prettiest presentation of vitamins imaginable – a fruit display from Susan Leigh by Edible Arrangements:

“Too beautiful to eat!” was what everyone kept saying… and then they did it because it was so delicious!

Then finally, Birthday Bay Sam Soto-Suver of Bowerbird Photography cut the cake, revealing one layer of vanilla, strawberry and raspberry flavor alternating with another layer of sheer dark chocolate bliss spiked with espresso aroma, and guests enjoyed first-rate coffee to go with it – courtesy of Bill Choy of Travelin’Joe Coffee Bar (who had totally caught me by surprise – addressing me in fluent German!).

When darkness fell and a big fire in the oversize fireplace created a cozy atmosphere, guests were all in lively conversation with friends old and new, and certainly felt even more homey, surrounded by all the pretty rental items that made up the backbone of my party design: La Tavola had provided pretty white-and-tan checkered tablecloths, YPR Party Rentals generously sponsored all our china, stemware and flatware, and Hartmann Studios contributed pretty showpieces for our buffet.

Today WIPA – Wedding Industry Professionals Association –  held their 2013 kickoff meeting at the iconic Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. As a member of the WIPA Events Committee, I had the pleasure and the honor to organize this event together with my co-chair Kimberly Roberts – a fantastic collaboration between A Day Like No Other and LVL Events. It was a great party!

The Westin St. Francis Hotel, the “Grande Dame on Union Square” in San Francisco, had graciously offered to host our luncheon – but not only that, they invited us to use their “Imperial Floor!” It’s so “VIP” that the elevator doesn’t stop there unless you are in possession of a special key!

The famous 32^nd floor, high above the City and with killer views of the Bay and the Marin Headlands, holds two Ballrooms, the “Alexandria” (think cream and gold opulence) and “Victor’s Palace” (cream, powder pink and light blue accents) and a generous foyer. We were overjoyed! But the Westin’s generosity didn’t even stop there. General Manager Jon Kimball, Catering Director Bill Hedgepeth and Wedding Sales Specialist Lauren Schardt went on to provide a cocktail hour with free-flowing Champagne and hors d’oeuvres, a three-course lunch and a surprise after that; more of it later.

To announce our kickoff meeting, we turned to Gusto Lopez of Life in Digital Videography who created a special e-Save-the-Date for us – his own invention! That’s how tech-savvy couples can now let the world know they are getting married – Gusto will post a custom Save-the-Date videoclip on all the couple’s Social Media channels, and voila!

Our E-Save-the-Date obviously worked: we had a record attendance of 120 guests for our function. Guests walked right into an elegant cocktail reception where tea-smoked tuna edamame tartar, salt-roasted pears in prosciutto and lobster gougeres accompanied rose Champagne.

What a start to a great event! Classical guitarist Julio Reyes set the festive mood with his music, and when guests walked into the dining area, they were greeted by an elegant table décor inspired by Vintage Victorian Valentine’s cards.

Sharon Dexmier of Napa Valley Linens had provided exquisite linens: an ivory jacquard with antique gold napkins, topped by gold menu carsa and Victorian Valentine’s themed notepads from custom stationery boutique The Desk Set as favors.

Centerpieces were stunning arrangements of ivory hydrangeas, pale pink and mauve roses and dark berries by Ornamento – some in low urns, some crowning towering candelabras. It was definitely a setting fit for royalty.

The whole elegant affair was masterfully captured by photographer Kevin Chin of Kevin Chin Photography and Cinema – for our WIPA newsletter; I am positive, everyone will look their very best, viewed through Kevin’s lens!

WIPA luncheons always blend networking, sheer fun and education; and so we had two speakers today: Lara Burnap, editor of California Wedding Day magazine, and Summer Watkins, editor of  a circle of blogs – Grey Likes Weddings, Grey Likes Baby and Grey Likes Nesting.

Both presented Online and Off: Trends in Wedding Media. These two prominent members of the wedding media gave insider advice about trend forecasts, how to position wedding design for best editorial coverage, how to recruit ideal clients and vendors, and how to approach media in a way that will get noticed. The audience was riveted! So much hands-on, practical information from the real insiders is a rare treat, and over lunch everyone was in animated conversation on how best to make use of all this professional advice.

Lunch was an exquisite succession of a mixed lettuce with roasted grapes and pickled radish; mushroom-crusted Angus beef filet and a mignardise plate of a selection of pastry chef Jean-Francois’  confectioner’s delights.

Following lunch, our guests were treated to a raffle – one lucky winner took home one of Ornamento’s stunning centerpieces,

another one won a tray of luxurious European chocolate favors, lovingly decorated  to fit into our Vintage Valentine’s theme, by ChocoVogue;

and the main prize was a dinner and a night at the Westin St. Francis hotel. Speaker Lara Burnap played Lady Luck and announced the winners. You can imagine the excitement! And yet – one of the high points of our event was still to come: a presentation of four wedding cakes, prepared by the cake bakers affiliated with the Westin, and a tea-and-coffee bar, displayed in the adjacent “Victor’s Palace” ballroom – an extravaganza in cream, pink and baby blue with gilded accents, furnished with antiques from One True Love Vintage Rentals.

Guitarist Julio Reyes generously gave encores to serenade the revelers who were happily digging into their cake!

Chef Bala, the “Cakemaker,” presented melt-in-your-mouth chocolate and vanilla layer cakes

Chef Bala, the “Cakemaker,” presented melt-in-your-mouth chocolate and vanilla layer cakes;

“Pretty Please” beckoned with cupcakes in exotic flavors…

“Elegant Cheese Cakes” for guests to take home

I can say with confidence that everyone had a good time, and even those who did not win a raffle prize went home with personal cheesecakes and to-go boxes filled with cupcakes, classic chocolade layer cake and more. And each and every one went home wearing a big smile!

I just came home from the Ritz in San Francisco where I attended the Modern Luxury Weddings Bridal Faire – and I am still totally speechless, overwhelmed and trying to sort all my impressions! So many fabulous vendors, beautiful displays, endless possibilities… where to start?

Maybe with what comes first when embarking on the trip to the altar: an engagement ring! Derco Jewelers offers your tailor-made  solution with a myriad of settings to choose from for another myriad of “rocks” to set in them… and if that’s not enough “one-of-a-kind” for your taste, they’ll even create a one-of-a-kind, entirely-yours design for you!

Here is one example of their work for one of my recent brides, a gorgeous sapphire engagement ring, combined with a diamond wedding band:

And then – what’s next? You need a date, and you need invitations. Hyegraph offers a wide range of calligraphy-style options (it’s machine calligraphy but absolutely looks like “the real thing!”), also in letterpress and heavy-stock varieties – very beautiful and very polished:

And then you need a venue, of course! Let’s start with the gorgeous venue hosting today’s event, one of San Francisco’s most distinguished wedding addresses, the Ritz-Carlton! ([email protected])

Choose their beautiful patio for your outdoor ceremony for up to 250 guests and one of their ballrooms (capacity up to 500 guests!) for your reception. Nothing says “luxury” and “elegance” in the City like the Ritz!

If “exotic” is more your style – and maybe you have a special relationship to the Indian culture, here is your insider tip: Ranjan Dey’s New Delhi Restaurant – Ranyan has been an ambassador for the Indian culture in America for decades, and he is, hands-down, the undisputed specialist for Indian catering and weddings!

But there are, of course, so many more options around San Francisco, first and foremost in the wine-growing regions.

There is Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery and Palm Event Center in Pleasanton, accommodating big weddings in a mediterranean-upscale rustic setting;

there is the Vintage Estate and Villagio in Napa, with guest accommodations and complete catering services, if desired;

Vintage Estate

Villagio

the famed Solage in Calistoga, also with guest studios, catering and a Spa (and it’s surprisingly affordable!);

there is Lake Tahoe Golf Course ([email protected]) in South Lake Tahoe (offering complete packages and literally unlimited guest count – you can celebrate on the golf course!)

and all of Carmel Valley with Bernardus Lodge (offering complete ceremony and dinner setup, exquisite cuisine, hotel accommodations and a spa)

and the totally new, completely renovated Quail Lodge – with a ceremony lawn for up 1,000 guests (!), award-winning cuisine, golf-course, guest accommodations and entertainment. And all of that, also, at affordable rates.

BUT do you know what’s by far the best about all these wonderful venues in the Greater SF Bay Area? You’d never guess it – they are all dog-friendly! Couples may bring their beloved canine companion with them for their Great Day. I love it!

Now that you know where you’ll celebrate, you need to make your Great Day special: with flowers, unusual desserts, and the totally unexpected touch:

Floramor floral and event design provides the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons hotels in SF with their floral arrangements – that should tell you something already! Their bouquets are just so elegant!

And the centerpieces on the “for show” tables at the Ritz (go back and look at them again – and look at the closeup below) were all by Laura, owner of Floramor, above center. Special touches: a few drops of blue coloring in the water filling the clear vases – for a discreet hue matching the elegant tablecloths – and pearls suspended therein… simply gorgeous!

Should you be looking especially for a romantic, fragrant, pastel bouquet, you might also want to check out La Martine:

Looking for that special touch for your dessert buffet? Here’s one beautiful option: cake pops from Sweet Lauren Cakes – so pretty, so tasty and totally customizable to your wedding style and colors!

Last not least, the WOW surprise for your guests, the charming and totally unexpected idea, the perfect backdrop for those one-of-a-kind photos: a glittering rickshaw from Cabrio Taxi! Here I am being treated to a free joyride around the Ritz ballroom:

Don’t forget a photographer to capture all those precious moments! He/she needs to be an artist with a perfect technique, with the gift to be totally invisible during your event and with a sunny disposition at all times! Take for example my friend Auey Santos of photograffiti: “shooting with open eyes, an open mind & an open heart!” Here she is:

What’s still missing? Right – the perfect Honeymoon! For me personally the ultimate Honeymoon destination is Polynesia – and maybe Fiji and a detour to Australia or New Zealand thrown in. When I visited the region first, nearly 30 years ago, it was all still very quiet, dreamy, romantic, and un-touristy. Things have changed and are still changing at a rapid pace, with more hotels and resorts coming to the islands every year. So what you need is an expert with an intimate knowledge of those romantic hidden gem islands, so far overlooked by mainstream tourism – in short, the remaining pockets of Polynesian paradise.

May I present: Rick Garrett of weddymoons is your specialist. He’ll put together your complete trip including airfare, accommodations, local transportation, excursions – you name it. He must know: he’s going to Polynesia at least once a year to check things out. Lucky guy!

What a day… and what an incredible selection of vendors! Happy planning, dear 2013 brides!

For a recent wedding with a black-and-shocking-pink color theme, I designed welcome bags for out-of-town wedding guests. It was such a nice idea of the couple to greet them with a very personal welcome bag, waiting in their hotel rooms. (Their response was overwhelming, by the way!) I just thought of what they might enjoy most after a possibly long trip: water, snacks, something typical of the area, a local map, some advice regarding sightseeing and restaurants, and, of course, some personal words of welcome from the bride and groom. Here is what went into my bags:

The local flavor of the San Francisco Bay Area comes from the Ghirardelli chocolates, and even the water bottles are from the nearby Sierra. A walking map of the area where the wedding was held rounds out the local information – ask at your local Chamber of Commerce. Mine were free!

And here is my material:

High-gloss black paper bags, hot pink tissue paper and sateen ribbon and personalized hang tags in a decidedly modern styling: bold with lowercase lettering.

Here are my bags, rows and rows of them, filled with goodies, decoratively stuffed with color-coordinated tissue paper on top…

… and of course a nice bow, tied with the hang tag.