Category Archives: Festivities

A Lot to Be Thankful for… Kate and Aaron at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay

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All weddings are joyous occasions (one of the reasons I like my job so much!) – but Kate’s and Aaron’s wedding, last Saturday at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Half Moon Bay, was truly exceptional in the joy and gratitude it celebrated.

The bride had suffered a near-fatal accident a few months ago (at her Bachelorette Party, of all occasions…) – and against all odds, she survived – paralyzed down from her chin. The unanimous verdict was that she would never be able to walk again. It was, by all measures, a catastrophe. But what none of the experts had factored in is that Kate is a fighter, determined and strong. She learned to walk again. She wore a neck brace for months. When her Mom booked my company, A Day Like No Other, for help with planning the wedding that would nearly not have happened – Kate said she might have to wear her neck brace with her wedding dress. And that she’d be perfectly content just lounging by the dance floor and watching, grateful for having a wedding and just being there.

Well, let me tell you – even since then, she’s made giant strides, and no one would have suspected what this radiant and happy bride had gone through to get to this point! But, of course, I am getting way ahead of myself. First things first…

The couple’s venue, the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, is dramatically perched high up on a cliff overlooking the Pacific, a gorgeous setting with endless views.

For their wedding day (close enough to the Thanksgiving Holiday), the hotel was resplendent in pumpkin decor:

… and the weather was a perfect “golden October” with blue skies under a warming sun and a slight breeze.

For Kate and her six bridesmaids, the day began with hair and makeup services by Teri Lacro of The Charismatic Bride.

Everyone was in high spirits! Christina Averkin of A Bud and Beyond delivered gorgeous bouquets…

… in Kate’s favorite colors of blush pink and pale peach, in a loose, feminine style, finished with fluttering silk crepe ribbons. She also brought boutonnieres for the gentlemen and the most gorgeous ceremony decor and centerpieces – you’ll see!

While Kate and her bridesmaids were having their hair and makeup done, Aaron and his groomsmen were already dressing up…

Kate had chosen a glamorous, nearly transparent, very form-fitting Lazaro lace dress (and with her supermodel figure, she pulled it off to a stunning effect!)

 

She did need some help from her Maid of Honor and bridesmaids, though, to put on her golden Jimmy Choo heels…

… but with that done, she was ready for her First Look with her groom, Aaron.

 

 

Photographer Cooper Carras and videographer Spencer Sarson captured it all, from start to finish…

Meanwhile, preparations were underway “behind the scenes” to get everything ready for the great celebration.

Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts

Wedding and Special Events manager Sophie Lelievre, banquet managers Joseph and Juan and their teams set up the ceremony chairs …
 …and welcome bar, cocktail tables and linens, and the dining setup in the ballroom; the Stuart Event Rentals crew set up chairs and elegant lounge furniture around the dance floor; florist Christina installed a semicircular wall of flowers as a ceremony backdrop … … Jonathan Metcalf and assistant Taylor of PSAV set up a sound system for the ceremony, and my assistant Annie Chang and myself were busy organizing and putting finishing touches on things.

Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts

Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts

Guests arrived by shuttle (from Le Grande Affaire) and were treated to their first glass of champagne right there on the Ocean Lawn. Guitarist Jay Alvarez serenaded them while they were finding their seats for the ceremony and accompanied the festivities with beautiful wedding standards and a few of his own compositions.

Then finally, the great moment was there: Here comes the bride!

The very personal ceremony was officiated by Andrew, the groom’s uncle – and as a close family member he, of course, was keenly aware of what a miraculous moment this wedding actually was.

It was very, very touching and emotional. And full of joy, of course! Here they are, just married!

 

Off to many more photos and video shots… especially as we were getting closer to Sunset, the light turned a magical rose gold color. Kate and Aaron were so beautiful together, literally bathed in a golden glow.

Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts

Time for dinner! The grand ballroom of the Ritz was aglow with shimmering linens, candles, uplights and elegant floral centerpieces…

Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts

Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts

with the Head Table of course getting the extra special treatment!

And – Drumroll! – Grand Entrance of the newlyweds:

Over dinner, the bride’s 93-year old Grandfather gave a song performance in honor of the newlyweds – his way of toasting to their future!

Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts

More guest entertainment: The Laugh Box photo booth – a total hit with everyone.

And then it was time for the First Dance:

Against her professed plans,  “Amazing Kate” did NOT just lounge and watch her guests dancing – she danced herself and was right in the middle of everything!

What else? Cake cutting! Gabrielle Feuersinger of  Cake Coquette had delivered a glorious classic four-tiered wedding cake…

… and Kate and Aaron accomplished their first official task as husband and wife – cutting that cake together – with bravura.

 

Photo credit – Jutta Lammerts

Then it was off to the dance floor again, where Dan Meblin and the Pop Fiction band was heating it up for the crowd!


Everyone was having a great time, and Kate and Aaron especially were overjoyed and happy. Next up: their Honeymoon on Kauai and Lanai. Have a wonderful trip together, starting off your shared journey of a lifetime!

Let us create YOUR unique wedding celebration, too!

♥ Visit A Day Like No Other and enjoy our brochure!  ♥

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Karin and Andy, a Celebration with Friends and Family at Allied Arts Guild

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When Karin and Andy decided to tie the proverbial knot, they realized pretty quickly that with their busy professional lives they would not really have the time to plan their celebration themselves. They brought my company, A Day Like No Other, on board early on to help with planning, logistics, design and decor. A few priorities were clear from the get-go: an intimate venue for their 70 guests, elegance but without the usual “frills,” a cozy celebration with good food and good company. When looking for the perfect venue, the couple fell head over heels for Allied Arts Guild, a lush garden setting with a beautiful Spanish-Mediterranean style building and adjacent courtyard – all conveniently located, yet a little world of its own.

Design-wise, we complemented the impressive architecture with a “farm style” outdoor dinner setup of long rows of bare wooden tables with antiqued cross back chairs, a rustic floral decor based on shades of green with dark eggplant-color accents, and string lights and candles.

For the celebration, Karin and Andy focused on what is so essential to them: a Jewish ceremony, contributions of their closest family members and friends – and having a good time! Speaking of family members: the couple’s super cute doggie “Sawyer” would of course be attending!

Photo credit: Elizabeth Murray

 

Photo credit: Elizabeth Murray

 

Last Saturday, all our planning came together on a glorious Autumn day, under blue skies and a warm golden October sun. For Karin and her Maid of Honor, Andy’s teenage daughter Julia, the day began with hair and makeup by Jessica Morton of Miabel Artistry.

The bride complemented her classic lace dress with an elegant bouquet of sculptural flowers by Ingela Floral Design (who supplied floral decor throughout)…

Ready for her First Look!

All these precious moments were captured by Juan Pinnel of  Pinnel Photography – wait until you see HIS photos! Right now, we are grateful to have the first snapshots of the Great Day by my assistant Lisa Siyuan Li (thank you, Lisa!)

Meanwhile, preparations were underway for the ceremony on the lawn to the left of the Rose Allee. AAG manager Tiana Wong and her team set up ceremony chairs, Carol Attia of Under the Chuppah installed a beautiful rustic birch chuppah …

Photo credit Carol Attia

… and Ingela Ruschin of Ingela Floral Design decorated it with an asymmetrical arrangement of dark eggplant and wine red flowers. The Day Like No Other team, led by Mary-Kate Greenberg with assistance by Lisa Siyuan Li, was busy putting the finishing touches on everything.

Ceremony music – acoustic guitar – was the contribution of Andy’s neighbor Roger Jones, a truly heartfelt wedding gift to the couple!

The Processional began with Julia, the Maid of Honor, accompanied by ring bearer Sawyer:

Here comes the radiant bride, escorted by her father:

The traditional ceremony was officiated by Rabbi Lisa Kingston (of the Peninsula Temple Beth El) with the prescribed seven readers and the ritual of breaking a glass at the conclusion. Mazel Tov! Here they are – just married!

Photo credit: Elizabeth Murray

Time to party! TJ Solarski of JW Catering and his team was waiting for the couple and their guests with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the Courtyard… 

Doesn’t that look delicious?!

The couple’s friend Carla Helmbrecht and her Jazz combo entertained and delighted guests with hours and hours of music – another very personal touch in this celebration of family and friendships. Guests left their good wishes and marital advice in the guest book:

Everything was lovingly put together and accessorized for an elegant yet relaxed, summery rustic look…

Doggie Sawyer, having fulfilled his ring bearer duties with bravura, and having starred in scores of family photos, then took some leisure time with his Doggie Mom of the Day, dog walker (and dog enthusiast) Liz Murray – for walking, playtime, dinner and a nap, until his humans would be done partying and take him home with them.

Dinner tables with matching Hickory Crossback chairs (from Stuart Event Rentals) were set up in the Sunset Patio …

… for a rustic yet sophisticated ambiance with eucalyptus garlands running down the length of the tables, interspersed rustic lanterns and  amber water goblets – and with string lights hung overhead…

As guests were dining, darkness fell, and the scene turned downright magical. After dinner, everyone moved inside to the Sunset Room whose whole back wall had been converted into a family photo gallery…

… and where the wedding cake (from Susie Cakes) was holding pride of place:

Bride and groom tackled their official first task as a married couple – cutting the cake together – with gusto!After that, there was no holding back the guests from the dance floor…

Everyone was having a really great time, and nobody wanted to go home… Many happy years together, Karin and Andy! Again – Mazel Tov!

 

Let us create YOUR unique wedding celebration, too!

♥ Visit A Day Like No Other and enjoy our brochure!  ♥

 

 

 

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A Palace right out of a Fairytale for Deanna’s and Jeffrey’s Glamorous Wedding Celebration

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After a full ten years of courtship, Deanna and Jeffrey took the plunge and decided to get married, and they brought my wedding planning company, A Day Like No Other, on board right at the beginning. We had about a year to put together a celebration for their 300 guests, and of course the two wanted it to be extra special!

They would have their ceremony in their home parish, but then, for their reception,  we would “put on the glitz!”

Finally, on my birthday (!!), it all came together in a memorable celebration. Have a look…

For Deanna and her bridesmaids, the Great Day began very early with hair and makeup services …

… expertly done by bridesmaid Merica and by the Mother of the Bride herself! (Just the first one of so many personal touches at this wedding… you’ll see).

 

Photo credit: Jutta Lammerts

Florist Natasha Kolenko delivered the most beautiful bouquets for bride and bridesmaids, soft and feminine, with unexpected touches like bicolor lilies and snowberries, the handles finished with antique silk ribbon…

Photo credit: Jutta Lammerts

The gentlemen got matching boutonnieres…

Photo credit: Jutta Lammerts

.. and while the ladies were busy with hair and makeup, the gents helped one another with their bow ties…

Deanna meanwhile got into her breathtaking, form-fitting lace dress with the help of her Maid of Honor…

Photo credit: Jutta Lammerts

… slipped into her golden high heels…

… donned her jewelry…

… and was ready to head off to Church! They had chosen their home parish, Our Lady of Peace in Santa Clara, where Church Coordinator Genevieve Van Tuyl organized the processional and guided the bridal party.

And here comes the bride, escorted by her parents… 

One hour later: Just married!

Photo credit: Jutta Lammerts

Off they went to many more photos by Tuan and Bradley of Tuan B. & Company and video footage by Kien Nguyen of Kien Pictures! (Have a look at that beautiful wedding movie here!)

Meanwhile, frantic preparations were underway to get their reception venue ready for their reception: Dynasty Seafood Restaurant in Cupertino, a fixture for fine dining in the local Asian community. Terry Dudley and her team from Fine Linen Creations transformed a standard dining room into a fantasy of golden glitz and glamour – with miles of draperies, uplights, linens, gilded chairs and and and…

an impressive walkway for the couple …

… a custom white dance floor personalized with the couple’s names in gold script …… a Sweetheart Table fit for royalty, complete with gilded thrones …

… a matching dessert table……  and a dramatic flower wall as a “selfie backdrop!”

 

My assistant Myrtle Ventura and I were busy setting out the various decor elements, completing the candy bar, and putting finishing touches on the table settings with beautiful centerpieces by Natasha Kolenko in the center of the traditional “Lazy Susans…”

The groom’s cousin Bernard Balaoing, a professional DJ, had offered his services “within the family” and was busy putting together a sound system and stage lighting.

Then the dining room doors opened, and guests simply marveled at the golden opulence awaiting them.

More cousins of the bride’s and groom’s pitched in as greeters at the sign-in table. Anna Tran and Jamal Fedalizo, friends of bride and groom, performed MC duties throughout the evening (on a professional level, at that!)… so there was lots of help from friends and family to make this celebration both perfect and very personal.

After cocktails, guests were treated to a traditional 10-course Chinese banquet accompanied by an open bar. Entertainment? Plenty. Jacqueline, the sister of the bride gave the first song performance of the evening…… followed by a dance performance by the Flower Girl (yes! At a mere four years of age she mustered the courage to step on the dance floor and dance in front of 300 guests!), and another song performance by the groom’s talented cousin KC Frando…

In between, the couple changed into Vietnamese attire as a nod to the bride’s heritage…

What else? Cake cutting, of course!

What a glorious cake that was… Another piece of edible art from Gabrielle Feuersinger of Cake Coquette, pale yellow, flecked with edible 24 karat gold and decorated with artistic sugar flowers…

 

… accompanied by a song performance by the bride’s aunt. Two very musical families, indeed!

Throughout the evening, caricature artists Michael Rosenthal and his Dad, working as a duo, sketched caricature drawings of all guests – as special wedding favors for the guests to keep.

Photo credit: Jutta Lammerts

The waiting line literally wound “round the block!” And the newlyweds got THEIR portraits done even without sitting for the artists – Mike can do that from afar and just from an iPhone snapshot, adding the serious “BLING” on the bride’s finger, of course, with a big arrow pointing to it. So much fun!

The couple’s First Dance…

 

… followed by Father-Daughter, Mother-Son and Money Dances…

… opened the dance floor to the crowd, and then there was no stemming the flood any more. Dance, dance, dance!!

At the conclusion of the event, nobody wanted to go home. Everyone agreed – that was, hands down, one of the best parties ever!

Wishing you, Deanna and Jeffrey, many more parties and a lifetime of happiness!

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Deanna and Jeff’s Wedding Highlight from Justin Thach on Vimeo.

Let us create YOUR unique wedding celebration, too!

♥ Visit A Day Like No Other and enjoy our brochure!  ♥

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A Love Fest for Shannon and Brian at the Santa Lucia Preserve

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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!

Let us create YOUR unique wedding celebration, too!

♥ Visit A Day Like No Other and enjoy our brochure!  ♥

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An Homage to San Francisco – Olivia’s and Jake’s Nuptials

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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!

Let us create YOUR unique wedding celebration, too!

♥ Visit A Day Like No Other and enjoy our brochure!  ♥

 

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Stephanie and Josh: Family, Friends, Food and Fun

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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!

Let us create YOUR unique wedding celebration, too!

♥ Visit A Day Like No Other and enjoy our brochure!  ♥

Summer of Love at the Fairmont SF

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This was the place to be for all wedding planners today! An invitation you do not turn down… The Fairmont team – Emilie Lynch, Heather Pfeiffer, Jennifer Rowe and colleagues treated us all not only to a great cocktail party in one of the most spectacular venues in all of San Francisco – in addition to great company and great views we also got to enjoy a selection of the Chef’s best dishes.

Here is the famous Crown Room:

… with its “million-dollar views:”

Chef Oscar Gonzalez had pulled all the stops…

… and Natasha Miller of Entire Productions had contributed live music for guest entertainment.

Inhouse florist Orna Maymon of Ornamento had again outdone herself with gorgeous flowers:

… and the proverbial “icing on the cake” of this party was – a true “Summer-of-Love, hippie, tie-dye” cake in a riot of colors and flavors, courtesy of Inticing Creations.

Everyone had a great time, and we all took home a lovely goody bag, on top of everything else. We love the Fairmont!!

Liz and Nicco – Sheer Elegance at the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins

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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!

Let us create YOUR unique wedding celebration, too!

♥ Visit A Day Like No Other and enjoy our brochure!  ♥

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Ann and Ed’s Wedding – their Once-in-a-Lifetime Event!

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Ann and Ed approached my company, A Day Like No Other, more than a year ago for help with planning their wedding. Their BIG wedding, actually. They both have large, extended families, and with their wonderful cultural tradition (both are of Filipino heritage) of relatives sponsoring weddings – acting as primary sponsors, secondary sponsors, veil and cord sponsors… – and many children participating – as ring bearers, coin bearers, sign and bible bearers, flower girls – the guest list quickly went way beyond 200!

The two had chosen their home parish, St. Elizabeth’s Church in Milpitas, for their wedding ceremony, and the elegant San Jose Downtown Marriott hotel for their reception. With that as a starting point, we began pulling things together. Fast-forward to July 8: finally the Great Day had arrived, and everything was coming together beautifully.

For Ann and her bridesmaids, the day began with hair and makeup services by Fiona Tsang of Imagi and assistants.

Ann had chosen an elegant lace dress with illusion back and complemented that with bridal shoes fit for a queen:

Her breathtaking cascading bouquet (by Janelle Jacky-Litt of Green Petal Designs, who created the floral decor throughout) featured white and blush garden roses, peonies, dahlias, orchids and wisps of climbing jasmine, trailing and fluttering in the breeze.

And here is Ann, being helped into her dress by her bridesmaids (many, many tiny buttons…)

With that, Ann was ready for church, where Ed and his groomsmen were already waiting.

The two had a full Catholic wedding mass, with an impressive defilee of sponsors, attendants, coin bearer, ring bearer, sign bearer and flower girls. And when they exited the church as newlyweds, their two doggies Koni and Bear were waiting for them with their “Doggie Mom for the Day” Liz Murray in tow! The videographers from Collideskope captured it all throughout the day and evening.

From there, it was off to photos in a nearby park with their photographer extraordinaire Duy Ho (he already shared a few of his artistic photos with us for this feature – see his signature on the bottom – and the rest are just snapshots from me… just wait until you see Duy’s whole collection!).

 

 

Meanwhile, frantic preparations were under way at their reception venue, the San Jose Marriott, with Emily Heiler and her team setting up the ballroom and foyer for cocktails and dinner, Terry of Fine Linen Creation draping the entire walls of the ballroom, all three entrances and the Sweetheart Table, and setting up lighting…

… and florist Janelle Jacky-Litt of Green Petal Designs installing her gorgeous centerpieces on the dining tables.

The Day Like No Other team was busy putting the finishing touches on, from distributing the pink, navy and gold-colored macaroon favors…to setting up signage (all by Ryanne Steele of Steele My Heart)

Oran Cohen of Night Owl Photo Booth and DJ Eugene Macala of Macala Entertainment were ready as guests were arriving for Cocktail Hour, and the fun started right there!

Next up: dinner! And what a dinner that was… in between, the newlyweds stole away for sunset photos…

… then joined their guests again for this joyful celebration…

What else? A cake from Cake Expressions. And ice cream! Ann and Ed are huge ice cream fans, and so they invited Tucker’s Ice Cream, their all-time favorite vendor, to serve their best flavors:

And, of course, dancing, dancing, dancing! Including the traditional Money Dance where guests “pay” for dancing with the bride and the groom, by pinning bank notes on them. But the best of all was Ann’s and Ed’s First Dance. So romantic… 

It truly was a “once-in-a-lifetime” celebration. And from there, our newlyweds went on to their “once-in-a-lifetime” Honeymoon: to the St.Regis in Bora Bora!

Wishing you a lifetime of happiness, Ann and Ed!

Let us create YOUR unique wedding celebration, too!

♥ Visit A Day Like No Other and enjoy our brochure!  ♥

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Cristina and Jason – Glamour and Caribbean Spice at Cavallo Point Resort

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Cristina is a powerhouse, a force of nature, a whirlwind. She has a stellar career. And she had finally found her soulmate and was ready to commit herself to that relationship, heart and soul. What I didn’t know when she first approached my company, A Day Like No Other, for help with planning her wedding: once Cristina has set her mind to something, she’s unstoppable. She wanted to get married within three months. We started planning. A family emergency forced her to put all her plans on hold and postpone to June 24th. When she was finally able to get back into planning mode, months later, we had about four weeks left to pull everything together.

Almost every bride I’ve been working with so far would have given up. Not Cristina. She was undeterred and more determined than ever! So was I. And we pulled it off – beautifully!

Cristina and her fiance Jason had chosen a spectacular venue for their celebration: Cavallo Point Resort in Sausalito, with unobstructed views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline. That’s what Cristina saw when her wedding day began…

… with hair and makeup by her longtime stylist Terrell Mullin.

In accordance with her glamorous champagne-colored, jeweled wedding dress from Nouvelle Vogue Salon, Cristina opted for finger-waves and a classic “Hollywood style” makeup…

Spectacular, isn’t it? A true “silver screen goddess!” And the cathedral-length veil made Cristina look like a real princess.

And of course, there was THE RING.

Then there were the accessories: her bridal shoes! With a color palette of ivory, blush pink and merlot, Cristina went all out with her merlot suede stilettos:

… and, not to forget, her garters!Florist Janelle Jacky-Litt of Green Petal Designs created Cristina’s dream bouquet of blush and ivory roses and peonies, merlot dahlias and a few wisps of greenery …

… and her church and reception decor as well.

Groom Jason was busy with his own preparations – and getting his son prepared, as well!

The ceremony was held in the onsite chapel – Cavallo Point Resort is housed on the site and in the buildings of a historic military outpost, complete with a beautiful chapel.

The bride was escorted by her brother…

For this special day, the chapel was transformed into a garden with blooming trees; the aisle lined with ivory and blush rose petals and lanterns. Guests found little paper cones filled with merlot rose petals on their chairs – you’ll see!

DJ Aykut and the bride’s son Brent – a DJ himself – played all the music that Cristina and Jason had enjoyed together during their courtship, and the ceremony was officiated by a longtime friend of the couple, Rev. Lynne Herod-DeVerges.

And here she and her groom are saying their very personal vows to one another:

“You may kiss the bride!” (and he did… )

 

Just married and SOOO happy! The newlyweds are leaving the chapel, showered with handfuls of fragrant rose petals..

The couple had a lot of photos to take with their photographer extraordinaire Tuan Bui.

Meanwhile, the Cavallo Point Crew under the leadership of Cheryl Fleming, myself and my two tireless assistants Kelsey Holtzinger and Myrtle Ventura had our hands full with preparations for Cocktail Hour and reception in the Callippe ballroom and patio where the onsite crew of PSAV had installed extensive lighting…

… and tables were gleaming in a variety of shimmering and glittering linens (from Napa Valley Linens). Taking inspiration from the couple’s invitation cards of rose-gold print on pearlescent ivory card stock, we used rose gold as metallic accent throughout…

… with chargers, flatware and even dining chairs playing along (all from Hensley Event Resources). The gorgeous centerpieces and large and small flower arrangements, mirrored chargers and mercury-gold votives came all from Green Petal Designs.

 

Guests found their table assignment on a calligraphed mirror and on mirrored table numbers by Mariko Giverink of BeeCurious Designs,

and while all tables looked fabulous, the couple’s Sweetheart Table was, of course, the best! In between, the couple stole away for a few moments for sunset photos…

Over dinner,  Cristina’s and Jason’s sons proposed the first toasts to their newlywed parents, expressing gratitude for making each other happier than they had ever seen them… listening to that, we all had to dab our eyes. It was very emotional, and very beautiful – and then many more impromptu toasts and speeches followed, a veritable love fest for Cristina and Jason! They were both beaming, visiting tables and way too excited to eat. But they did cut their cake (from the in-house patissier at Cavallo Point).

Their first official collaboration as a married couple: completed with bravura!

 

Guests had so much more to enjoy even after that: the photo booth (by Photo-Matica) was a huge hit, with everyone crowding around it; dancing to a mix of tunes – heavy on Reggae as a nod to both Cristina’s and Jason’s heritage – by DJ Aykut, and late-night snacks… and sitting around the fire pit on the patio under string lights and a huge moon light… Everyone loved this party!

Photographer Tuan Bui and Videographer Andrew Hsu of Studio MSV captured every precious moment – make sure to watch the wedding video here!

While their guests were still lingering around the fire, Cristina and Jason snuck away, hand in hand… Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and priceless memories of this day filled with joy and laughter!

Let us create YOUR unique wedding celebration, too!

♥ Visit A Day Like No Other and enjoy our brochure!  ♥