A Midsummernight’s Dream for Katherine and David

Posted on April 16, 2015 by jlammerts

When Katherine and David, then just engaged …

… chose my company, A Day Like No Other, for their wedding coordination and design more than a year back, Katherine’s guideline was, “a Midsummernight’s Dream celebration.”

I loved that idea! Just a few stumbling blocks on the way… among others, that the wedding wouldn’t happen in summer, rather – in late spring. And that the venue needed to hold 200 guests, the original number envisioned by the couple. And that their first choice venue didn’t work out. So… I had a chance to jump into action right away! I happened to know a venue that was quite similar in ambiance, just a little further away, but in a geographic area with a very stable, warm climate, as our guarantee for the “midsummer” weather: Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley! This romantic, beautiful property amid rolling hills and vineyards was love at first sight for Katherine and David.

Once that was in place, the hard work started in earnest. First off: choose catering! The two wanted a relaxed dinner with food stations, “honest, yummy food” and free seating, and they found Paradise Catering, providing them with a BBQ station, salad station, and grilled cheese and tomato soup station (my total favorite!!), delicious hors d’oeuvres and a full bar, of course. The seating – wooden benches and coffee tables along with traditional dining tables – came from Chic Event Rentals (as did the professional lighting). Wedding cakes and cookies on a beautifully decorated buffet were provided by Nga.Che ([email protected]).

Speaking of decor… here we tapped into the couple’s shared profession! They are both pharmacists, so table decor consisted of a variety of apothecary jars serving as terrariums as well as antique medicine bottles…

… and for wedding favors, guests received miniature mortars and pestles, the tools of the pharmaceutical trade!

Katherine chose stylist/florist Natasha Kolenko for her flowers to complement the lush greenery and blooming rose hedges on property and to evoke a feminine, romantic feel in muted colors of apricot, silvery green, and ivory.

And here is our bride, in full hair and make-up by Hanh Nguyen of Beauteme ([email protected])…

… and a dramatic dream wedding dress by Galia Lahav. Time to meet her groom: First Look!

Guests were meanwhile arriving at the ceremony lawn, welcomed by a refreshment station, guestbook and gift table.

Finally the great moment had come: the bride was escorted to the ceremony by both her parents.

After their “I Do’s,” the couple went off for photos with acclaimed photographer Clane Gessel and videographer Doug Davis (DPWeddings) who captured the whole day from start to finish. Just wait until you see their photos and video!!

Guests meanwhile enjoyed cocktails under a beautiful arbor and lawn games…

… music by DJ Darion Bonnet and entertainment at the Photo Booth with Nick Napoli (both: DNA Entertainment). Meanwhile all the little ones (a lot of them!) had fun in the game room playing and doing craft projects with babysitter Rachelle Parrs ([email protected]).

With dusk and then night falling, the atmosphere turned downright magical, and after dinner everyone was in the mood for dancing in the historic Carriage House! They were directed there by the signage I had designed in exactly the same style as the wedding invitations…

First, of course, went our couple:

… opening the dance floor to everyone. The rest of the evening went by way too fast with dancing, cake cutting…

… bouquet and garter tosses, a Grand Exit with glow sticks and a decorated getaway car … “a true whirlwind,” as Katherine put it. Exactly the “Midsummernight’s Dream” she had wished for!

Many happy years together, Katherine and David, and our best wishes on your way!

WIPA Kickoff Meeting 2015 – Food, Wine and Education at Tank18!

Posted on February 26, 2015 by jlammerts

Not to forget the fun and the networking, of course! As the Regional Director of Programs for WIPA, I had – again! – the pleasure to put together a great start into the year, our annual kickoff meeting. This year, the meeting was hosted by Tank18, an urban winery in San Francisco (yes, that does exist!), whose motto is “Food, Wine and Fun!”

That about sums it up – except that WIPA is all about education, and so we have a speaker at every meeting. This time was no exception – except: we had none less than the famous Sasha Souza!

Event planner to the “rich and famous,” frequent speaker and book author (she signed her new book for us!)

… Sasha shared some of her insider tips with us: “Vision (the bride’s and groom’s) to Reality” (here is where the event planner comes in!). Sasha is so knowledgable as a planner and at the same time so engaging as a speaker! We all took away valuable insights – how to read between the lines, how to find the right color for those who actually don’t have a favorite color (or so they say…) and generally to express the couple’s wishes in their wedding celebration more elaborately and distinctly than they knew them themselves. Which is an art form in its own right…

Well, in our case the “vision” was triggered by the unique venue we were invited to: a huge space with exposed beams, raw concrete floors and walls exuding “industrial charm,” and wine bottles lining the walls.

My first idea was – we need a huge, striking floral arrangement hanging from the rafters! The highly creative team at Mandy Scott Events made that a stunning reality …

… with a 20-foot arrangement of manzanita branches adorned with countless yellow tulips. These found their match in rows of small, matching but not identical, centerpieces lining the axis of the dining tables …

… and occasional arrangements throughout the event space:

We certainly brought the “vision” of “Spring in the City” to life here!

But an urban winery still has its roots in viniculture, which evoked in me “visions” of harvest tables and simple wooden chairs… Stuart Rental Company made that a reality …

… with rows and rows of wooden tables and chairs, china, silver flatware, Riedel stemware and amber water goblets – it all fit perfectly! To make it look even fresher, we provided a subtle aqua accent with runners and coordinated linens and napkins from Napa Valley Linens.

You might be wondering where these patterned plates came from? Where to Start Wedding and Event Management sponsored them (it works with clings from underneath!) – a really nice touch for our kick-off meeting!

More visions… Cocktail Hour in such an industrial-cool looking space? That needs some “shabby-chic” accents – which came, courtesy of Designer8 Furniture Rentals, in the shape of vintage sofas…

Guests got to enjoy their delicious hors d’oeuvres (by Global Gourmet Catering) here (fantastically juicy little bites – no one could stop noshing!) together with cocktails from the bar:

The menu for our festive lunch? The three gourmet entree choices were created for us by up-and-coming chef Chris Kronner of Kronnerburger, and guests kept raving about the food.

… and a yummy dessert, again from Global Gourmet:

The “menu card,” true to our overall “vision,” took a whimsical shape as well. In true wine-country style, chalkboard artist Ryanne Steele of Steele My Heart painted it on an oversize blackboard …

(just read that and get envious!!) – and threw in some large-scale art on yet another chalkboard, as a striking backdrop to Sasha Souza’s book signing table:

What you haven’t seen yet is the stunning accompaniment to after-dinner coffee:

…and …

… petit fours, both from Chantal Guillon next door, converting our “color vision” of green, brown and yellow into oh-so-delicious reality!

And there was so much more – live music (singer/guitarist Marcus Cappellazzo)

was provided by Entire Productions, and beautiful custom-designed printed programs in our “Wine Country” theme came from Invitation Story:

Photographer Clane Gessel and videographer James Ferrandini of Thomas Hughes Films recorded our 2015 spring celebration on film. Guests were treated to a prize drawing, and many went home with gifts ranging from wine to golf vouchers. And of course everyone got the latest edition of Today’s Bride Magazine (our media sponsor – so that everyone out there always knows what the SF Bay Area WIPA Chapter is up to!) What guests couldn’t decide, though, was what they liked best – the food? the wine? the decor? the networking? the fantastic speaker? But everyone agreed it was a super fun event, and our next one will be on May 12 at the Omni Hotel in San Francisco. Hope you are coming!

Fanfare Wedding Faire at Kohl Mansion: One-stop Shopping for the Elegant Bride!

Posted on February 3, 2015 by jlammerts

Never heard of Fanfare Weddings? No? Then it’s about time!

Fanfare Weddings is a group of luxury wedding vendors in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area whose specialties cover everything a couple might ever need for their wedding celebration – one high-end business of each category (me being the wedding planner/designer). And for more than two decades, this group has hosted its own elegant, well-curated wedding fairs twice a year, mostly at the historic Kohl Mansion in Burlingame.

The Winter Show 2015 took place on January 29 – and it was the best-attended winter show ever. Nearly a hundred brides, grooms, future bridesmaids and proud parents came to sip champagne, find elegant vendors for their upcoming wedding, win prizes and enjoy performances. It was more an elegant soiree than a classic wedding fair and everyone literally wore a big smile along with a goodie bag packed with glossy magazines and little favors.

Right at the entrance, they were greeted by a shiny white Maserati courtesy of Club Sportiva – the ultimate getaway car for the newlyweds!

And they were invited inside in style by Gabriel’s Trumpets Trio (Brassworks) – a truly regal sound.

Step into the grand mansion, and find gorgeous flowers by Plan Decor (and many more breathtaking arrangements to come – you’ll see!)…

Right in the first room, I was waiting at my booth with armfuls of roses for those brides …

… and photo books of my many weddings for inspiration.

I was flanked by Jessica Morton of Miabel Hair and Makeup Artistry and by Aria Bella, a classical trio of harp (Anna Maria Mendieta), Violin (Joyce Lee) and soprano (Gloria Mendieta Gazave).

Then there was a display of breathtaking wedding dresses by my friends Saida and Chantal from Nouvelle Vogue Bridal Salon:

Guests admired the beautiful light effects by Enhanced Lighting and got to enjoy yummy food by La Bocca Fina…

… accompanied by wine and champagne by Mills Wine Group, with dessert (cake bites) from Have Your Cake:

… the exact same delicious cake that’s hiding under these gorgeous wedding cake confections:

Bill Choy of Travelin’ Joe served the most delicious coffee varieties to go with these cakes, and guests then proceeded to meet officiant Minister Maggie and the team from the nearby Westin SFO hotel, and to swoon over classic invitations by Hyegraph …

… and a beautiful dining table designed by Classic Party Rentals …

… with flowers from Plan Decor:

Then it was time for the vendor presentation in the mansion’s soaring double-height Great Room – with Woody Miraglia of BigFunDJs as our MC – but not just some presentation!

There were musical performances by Gabriel’s Trumpets and Aria Bella Trio, there was a mini dance lesson by choreographer and dance instructor Cynthia Glinka of Dance with Glinka (get ready for your First Dance, brides and grooms!) …

… Plan Decor raffled away a dreamy white bridal bouquet…

…and Have Your Cake gave away a cake… and, yes, the Westin gave away a weekend stay for two! Of course we also have a world-class videographer (Thomas Hughes) and photographer (Teresa Halton) to round it all off – as I said, one-stop shopping for the luxurious bride… and now we’ll all go to work planning these elegant weddings, and that’s the most fun work ever!

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!

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!

Chic in Teal, Cobalt and Hot Pink: Laura and Tyler’s Wedding

Posted on July 20, 2014 by jlammerts

After five years as a couple and another year of engagement (and wedding planning!), Laura’s and Tyler’s Great Day was finally drawing close, and I am so honored they chose my company, A Day Like No Other, to coordinate their wedding. To make it easy on their guests, many of whom had come from far (and a good number even from Europe) to share their joyful occasion, the couple opted for a hotel where everyone could simply stay and be pampered: the Marriott in San Mateo.

Laura had chosen a bold and striking color combination to go with her dramatic ivory-and-silver wedding dress: teal (for the bridesmaids’ dresses), hot pink (for the bouquets by Floravida)

and a dash of cobalt (chair sashes and napkins) to round it off.

For Laura, her four bridesmaids and the mothers, the day began with a beauty session in the two-story bridal suite with hair by Char Petersen ([email protected]) and makeup by Lanay, the Makeup Girl. Photographer James Everett and the Less Than Three Video Team captured the ladies getting ready – and then the bride was being helped into her voluminous dress.

Off to photos with bridesmaids …

… and the bride’s family – especially with the bride’s brother Lane who was also the officiant!

The groom and his groomsmen were meanwhile treated to a grooms’ party by the groom’s Dad …

… to make sure they wouldn’t try to get a peak at the bride, because… Laura absolutely did not want to be seen by Tyler before the ceremony! Everybody played along, and so the last moments before the ceremony became very emotional…

The ceremony took place in a courtyard with a beautiful gazebo, and the aisle decor matched the bride’s favorite colors perfectly:

Here they are, with Lane officiating (and doing a wonderful job with a deeply personal ceremony).

The day turned out to be perfect, summery, sunny under blue skies with a light (and sometimes stronger) breeze that blew away the petals on the aisle… and the bride and groom were all smiles! DJ Dan of Love in the Mix provided wedding music, Pachelbel’s traditional Canon in D followed by “A Thousand Years.” And everyone needed the tissues the bride wisely provided for the guests!

Just married…

Immediately following the ceremony, our photographer took a group shot of everyone attending the wedding – more than a hundred friends and family members!

While the couple had their traditional post-ceremony photos taken, guests enjoyed cocktails and snacks, followed by a lavish sit-down dinner in the elegant “Engage” ballroom.

Once guests were seated, the newlyweds were introduced …

… and enjoyed their (beautifully choreographed) First Dance:

Toasts and speeches punctuated a delicious meal, but Bride and Groom had one mandatory task waiting for them: cutting the cake (by Studio Cake):

(“T” for Tyler, “L” for Laura, and “C” for the initial of both their last names – isn’t that perfect?!)

Another highlight of the evening was a special surprise by the Mother of the Groom: a musical slide show to accompany the Mother-Son dance!

Then the dance floor was officially opened to everyone, kicking off a wild dance party! Guests just took a break for the bouquet toss and garter toss …

and then later on to enjoy a surprise sundae buffet.

In lieu of a conventional guest book, guests signed a matted and framed engagement photo of Laura and Tyler – ready-to-go artwork for their home and a forever-cherished keepsake for sure!

And here is why I love my job so much:

Many happy years together, Laura and Tyler, and our best wishes on your way!

Angie’s and Michael’s Dream Wedding at Kohl Mansion

Posted on June 2, 2014 by jlammerts

Angela and Michael are not only deeply in love – they also share values and many common interests. They are both deeply connected to their families. They are both music lovers; Angie is even a violinist in a community orchestra and devotes a good part of her free time to practicing and rehearsing. They both appreciate good food. And on and on…

When they embarked on their first big common project – their wedding! – my company, A Day Like No Other, was honored to be booked for the wedding coordination. Bride and groom are very organized and systematic and had a good part of all the “wedding puzzle” pieces in place already, first and foremost their gorgeous venue: Kohl Mansion in Burlingame.

On Wedding Day, May 31st, all weather gods were smiling broadly upon Angie’s and Michael’s outdoor celebrations… the day was summery, warm but not too hot, under a cloudless blue sky with a light breeze. Simply perfect!

For the Bride, the day began with a beauty session for herself and her bridesmaids with hair stylist Elaine Nicdao and makeup artist Ally Kennedy. And look what a fabulous job they did:

The bride wore a diaphanous, etherial, crystal-embroidered couture dress by Rosa Clara from Nouvelle Vogue Bridal Salon, complemented by an elaborate, sparkly headpiece, also from Nouvelle Vogue.

And the bridesmaids were lovely, too!

In accordance with her wedding colors of blush pink and ivory, Angie chose her bridal bouquet…

… as well as ceremony flowers, an elaborate chuppah and centerpieces from Floral Design Studio, and they were all equally stunning.

The couple’s more than one hundred and fifty guests from all over the world were greeted with music by Turnaround Jazz Trio and DJ CAMS Scott Campbell, and the very personal ceremony was co-officiated by their friends Laura Shih and Suneel Gupta, incorporating elements of both the bride’s Chinese and the groom’s Jewish cultural backgrounds.

Here comes the Bride!

No Jewish wedding would be complete without breaking a glass (which Michael did) and the guests’ shouting the traditional blessing of Mazel Tov (which they all did)… and here they are, just married:

While the newlyweds disappeared for their mandatory family photos…

…. with photographer Sandra Fazzino, guests enjoyed Cocktail Hour with delicious treats from Toast Catering – and that was just the beginning of all the fabulous food provided by Toast! To keep everyone entertained, the couple had provided a special guest book: a scrap book with cards, markers, stickers… to be completed by the guests; and Say Ya Photo Booth, which turned out to be a true guest magnet.

At the conclusion of Cocktail Hour, the newlyweds and their Bridal Party had a truly Grand Entrance, every moment captured by Ocean Blue Videography …

…immediately followed by another honored Jewish tradition: the exuberant Horah Dance…

… during which the couple is hoisted high up on chairs to the delight of the cheering crowd!

After so much excitement, it was definitely time for dinner – and what a dinner that was! In the candle-lit double-height main hall of Kohl Mansion and within a sea of flowers, guests enjoyed their gourmet food…

… as well as a surprise performance of the groom and the bridal party who sang and enacted a Disney medley for the bride; and a slide show to follow. Dinner concluded with a delicious cake from Cakes by Maggie and an ice cream bar:

After dessert, Angie and Michael enjoyed their First Dance as a married couple:

…opening the dance floor for everyone. The bride quickly changed into an elegant qipao as a nod to her Chinese heritage – and danced the rest of the night away. What a fantastic party!

And here is why I love my job so much:

Let’s wish the couple what they promised each other in their vows – to build a happy, healthy long life together. Mazel Tov!

Shaina and Eric – Sheer Elegance at the Four Seasons

Posted on February 24, 2014 by jlammerts

Shaina and Eric are a super-busy, super-organized young Silicon Valley couple; what they set out to do – they can accomplish! But when it came to their Wedding Day, they wanted to simply sit back and enjoy it, instead of doing it all themselves; and I feel honored that they entrusted their Wedding Day to my company, A Day Like No Other.

Here they are, on an engagement photo:

After a courtship of four years, the two were envisioning a grand affair with 240 guests from all over the world – Hong Kong, Shanghai, Canada… and it would be in the most elegant setting imaginable: the famed Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco. The Four Seasons is not only a luxurious venue, it also boasts fantastic City views from its ballroom floor where the festivities took place.

Charmed Limousine service took the Bridal Party there and around town for photos.

At the party, guests were greeted by a very personal photo guest book and invited to share their thoughts, good wishes and marital wisdom:

The Veranda ballroom provided an impressive setting for their ceremony, with chair covers by Seko Events Decor and flowers throughout by Huckleberry Karen Designs. Gusto Lopez of The Life in Digital videotaped every precious moment.

Shaina was resplendent in hair and makeup by Fiona of Imagi by Fiona, and a lace applique dress accompanied by shimmering pearl jewelry.

The ceremony was officiated by Chris Thielen of Personal Weddings by Chris. And here comes the Bride – escorted by her Dad.. his proudest moment!

For her processional, the Bride had chosen a traditional piece, Pachelbel’s Canon in D – but in a very unusual instrumentation: Julio Reyes Duo played it beautifully with Guitar and Flute.

… ” I declare you – husband and wife!”

While the newlyweds had family photos taken by the Duy Ho Photography team and then observed a traditional Tea Ceremony with their parents, guests enjoyed a Cocktail Hour with gorgeous views, Guitar and Flute music, full bar and hors d’oeuvres – and Night Owl photo booth for entertainment:

David Robinson, Four Seasons Director of Catering, and his crew were meanwhile working behind the scenes to transform the ballroom into a beautiful dining area:

The head table was adorned with the bridal bouquet and bridesmaids’ bouquets – all a dream in ivory hydrangeas, and blush and pink rose varieties:

Once guests had taken their seats for a formal dinner, doors opened to the Grand Entrance of the Bridal Party… and of the newlyweds!

While guests were feasting, the bride changed into a gorgeous traditional Chinese qipao of red guipure lace and then began visiting the many, many tables.

By then, flower girl Josephine was all tired, and it cost a huge chocolate chip cookie from Jutta to cheer her up:

Dinner concluded with a buffet of delicious desserts and cupcakes by Sibby’s…

… and, of course, The Cake by A Spoonful of Sugar:

… expertly cut by the new husband and wife team!

Then it was time for dancing! DJ Woody Miraglia of Big Fun DJs kept the crowd going until way later than originally planned …

… and Shaina and Eric were in heaven!

And here is why I love my job so much:

Many happy years together, and our very best wishes on your journey!

Photo credit: all photography courtesy of Duy Ho Photography except for images no. 2, 12, 18 and 23.

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

Category Archives: Wedding Cake

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Tara and Michael: Elegance Choreographed to Perfection