Category Archives: Wedding Cake

Singin’ and Dancin’ in the Rain: Christina and Cuyler

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Christina and Cuyler met at work – a full eleven years ago – as colleagues. Over the years, they became friends… and started dating… and then they realized that they wanted nothing more than to marry their best friend! For their wedding, they envisioned a Spring day at Thomas Fogarty Winery, perched high above Silicon Valley, with endless views… and so they started planning with me and my company, A Day Like No Other.

As we were getting closer to Wedding Day, the weather forecast turned gloomy, and unfortunately, this time the meteorologists were right. We were taking precautions: two dozen huge umbrellas for the couple, the bridal party and their guests were in place, and Christina and Cuyler took it all in stride!

For Christina and her bridesmaids, as well as for the Moms, the day began with hair and make-up services by Sarah Hyde of sHe artists – and all those pretty ladies emerged as stunning Hollywood-worthy beauties! Everyone looked their very best, carried herself with confidence and was just simply happy.

With that, Christina was ready to put on her gorgeous Hailey Paige wedding dress – a modern take on lace with a geometric pattern, a chic little shrug and a feminine tulle bow at the waist:

Florist Indelisa Montoro of Royal Bloom Boutique had delivered a vibrant bridal bouquet …

and matching bridesmaids’ bouquets, boutonnieres, ceremony decor and centerpieces – you’ll see! The winery was transformed into a summer garden…

Meanwhile, Cuyler had dressed up as well, and bride and groom were ready for their official “First Look:”

Photographer Janae Shields and her assistant took the couple around for photos. Meanwhile, a small army was hard at work to get everything ready in time for the celebration. Kaitlin Brinton, one of the venue managers at Fogarty, was our guardian angel throughout the day and the evening and supported us diligently behind the scenes. The Toast Catering team under leadership of My-Dung and Gio set up all tables and chairs, put on the table settings and got the kitchen and the bar going. Florist Indelisa installed an incredible arch seemingly overgrown by summer flowers. Ivy Hill Entertainment set up sound systems and provided a duo for ceremony music. Guests arrived via shuttle buses from Corinthian Ground Transportation. We were ready for the ceremony!

Here comes the bride …

The ceremony was officiated by a longtime friend of the couple’s, and it could not have been more personal!

The ceremony was short and sweet – and here they are, JUST MARRIED!

For Cocktail Hour, guests were treated to hors d’oeuvres paired with special wine selections – a really unique idea!

Meanwhile, my assistant Alexandra put the finishing touches on the elaborate setup of place cards and favors on the dining room tables …

Wine corks served as table card holders, and the color of a little flower on top of each cork was the indicator for each guest’s entree choice. So elegant!

Together with the subtly structured linens, silver-rimmed china and Indelisa’s gorgeous centerpieces, this setup was simply perfect. The Sweetheart Table got, of course, extra-special treatment!

BUT we have not yet introduced the unspoken star of this wedding: doggie Gigi! She lives with the bride’s sister but is truly the darling of the whole family – and became the darling of the whole wedding as she made her appearance, dressed up with a flower collar, and accompanied by her “Doggie Mom for the Day,” my assistant Melinda.

She is simply too cute for words! (And she has more Instagram followers than most people. Small wonder…)

After a delicious meal…

… the couple cut their cake, a classic white wedding cake by Studio Cake, adorned with flowers exactly matching the bridal bouquet.

After that, there was no holding back from dancing! Christina (a former competitive ballroom dancer) and Cuyler had practiced their elaborate, highly choreographed First Dance to a true classic, Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” sung live by Erin Honeywell, bandleader of “Family Funktion” (through Ivy Hill Entertainment).

Then there were the parent dances and just simple fun on the dance floor! These two were literally “singing and dancing in the rain.” Nothing could dampen their spirits! What a party that was…

Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together, rain or shine!

Iris and Roger – the Ultimate Party in Ultraviolet

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Iris and Roger’s wedding celebration was as funky and as elegant as their wedding color of choice – ultraviolet, Pantone’s color of the year. Given that they had taken care of the “legalities” beforehand, these two were free to focus on sheer fun and party on their Wedding Day! They took full advantage of it. Iris wore a succession of no less than THREE dresses. For her nails, she chose an ice-blue polish, and in lieu of the standard (highly uncomfortable) wedding high heels, she wore plateau sneakers! The ceremony was sheer fun and laughter, and a good part of the reception was reserved for wild dancing.

They had chosen a spectacular venue – Thomas Fogarty Winery in the hills high above Silicon Valley – for an indoor/outdoor celebration. Given that their date was in early October, we were hoping for great warm and sunny weather, but there were no guarantees. We got lucky! It was a glorious Fall day, as beautiful as they come!

Iris arrived for photos fully made up (by Urban Beauty Loft) and dressed in a traditional Chinese dress, picked up her elegant purple bouquet by Green Petal Designs …

… and had her bridesmaids put a few finishing touches on her (after all, that’s what you have bridesmaids for!)

Here she is posing with her chic entourage, wearing dress no.1.

… all of them in fashionable shades of purple, of course, and Groom Roger and his groomsmen were likewise getting ready…

… sporting matching purple neckties and boutonnieres.

While Bride and Groom were taking many, many photos with photographer Duy Ho  and video, too, with Martin Meyer of MartinFilms  (see Martin’s teaser below!)…

… the teams of Fogarty Winery, Le Papillon Catering, Green Petal Designs and A Day Like No Other were hard at work to get everything ready in time for the guests.

Ceremony chairs were set up and bunches of flowers tied to them,  a glorious arch was set up and lavishly decorated…

… a pretty Welcome sign set up to greet the guests who were arriving via shuttle (by Destination Systems) …

… and the Bride quickly changed into her Western wedding dress and veil for the ceremony.

Ready for the ceremony! The Espiritu Ensemble was playing wedding classics, giving this ceremony a decidedly elegant touch.

Officiated by a longtime friend of the couple, this ceremony could not have been more upbeat and more personal!

Just married! And off to more photos in the golden light of the early sunset…

… while guests were enjoying cocktails on the open deck

– AND picking up their escort “cards”: cleverly affixed to favor bags (light purple, of course!) containing personalized drinking bottles.

Soon enough it was time for dinner with a dramatic view all over Silicon Valley …

… with beautiful centerpieces in purple hues and tree-shaped table number holders with candy-filled globes (additional wedding favors) adorning the tables.

Le Papillon was cooking up a storm…

After dinner, Iris slipped into dress no. 3, and guests were treated to dessert: a delicious (and just as gorgeous-looking) purple wedding cake from Patisserie Gerhard Michler.

For that occasion, the Bride had changed her dress yet another time (part of the fun on this super-fun wedding day!) to a lucky-red party dress!

Nearly too pretty to cut into!

After that – First Dance…

… and open dancing to the tunes of DJ Stefano Bortolin of Big Fun Disc Jockeys. 

What else? Bouquet Toss, of course!

But the best was yet to come! A sparkler exit of epic proportions… have a look:

Keep partying and having fun on your shared journey, and our best wishes on your way, Iris and Roger!

Here you can see it LIVE!! A teaser video by MartinFilms… enjoy!

      Our Weddings on Film

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      An image says more than a thousand words – and consequently, a movie should speak volumes!

      Enjoy a selection of our wedding movies here on LoveStoriesTV, and get inspired…

      starting with a teaser of Iris’ and Roger’s wedding at Thomas Fogarty Winery.

      Let us plan and design YOUR Great Day, too!

      Contact us today at [email protected].

       

      Ali and Rick: Friends, Family, Food and Fun for a Fall Wedding

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      Ali and Rick are wonderfully unconventional. Their wedding would NOT follow the common scheme of “wedding venue, garter toss, bouquet toss…” and a lot of other “frills.” They had their own vision – but they needed help to pull it off. When they asked my company, A Day Like No Other, for support, I was immediately on board.

      They would have their ceremony and reception at a private residence – a “backyard wedding.” Well – until I saw that “backyard!” Perched high on a hillside with endless views and breathtaking sunsets, the Tuscan-style residence is surrounded by a lush garden, sheltered patios and porches, and a large dining patio under dense, mature trees. A dream! And off we went with our preparations. Last Saturday, it all came together on a beautiful, sunny and warm September day under blue skies and with a slight breeze. The Weather Gods were clearly playing along!

      So many personal touches went into this wedding that I don’t even know where to begin… Ali’s dress had been handsewn by her mother and grandmother, and hand-embroidered and beaded – a true labor of love!

      Ali’s mother, an artist, had also created all floral arrangements, had built the arch from birch logs,

      … and put endless personal touches on the decor – from handwritten signage …

      …. to lanterns lining the walkways and twinkling hanging lights in the trees.

      For Ali and her bridesmaids, the day began with hair and makeup by Lindsay and Sarah from Miabel Artistry,

      Then, Ali slipped into her dress, assisted by her bridesmaids…

      … and into her pretty sandals…

      … picked up her summery bouquet of her favorite flowers – sunflowers – in her favorite colors of yellow and light blue…

      … and was ready to meet her “Prince Charming,” Rick.

      Time for many, many photos with photographer Sandra Fazzino – just wait until you see HER photos! (So far, all we have to offer are our snapshots…)

      Meanwhile, my team (assistants Alexandra and Stephanie, and myself), the delivery crew from Stuart Event Rentals, the catering crew from Elaine Bell Catering, and our DJ Henry Kim from BIG FUN Disc Jockeys were all hard at work to get our preparations done before the first guests were arriving.

      The motor court of the residence had been transformed into something resembling an Italian “piazza” with living trees to disguise the garage doors, market umbrellas for shade and string lights for the later part of the evening.

      Soon enough, our first guest shuttle from El Paseo Limousine arrived. Guests were greeted by more handmade signage and much-needed hand fans!

      Time for the ceremony! Again, a personal touch – the ceremony was officiated by the groom’s younger brother. It couldn’t have been more personal and more lighthearted.

      Just married!

      Party time, and time for dinner! While our guests were enjoying their cocktails, the decor,

      the views…

      … and the sunset,

      the ceremony area was quietly transformed into an open-air nightclub. A professional dance floor was installed, the string lights overhead came on, and DJ Henry had his disco lights ready before our guests even sat down to dinner on the back patio.

      Inspired by the Tuscan atmosphere of the residence, guests were dining at beautiful bare wooden tables…

      During dinner, dusk fell, and the twinkling lights in the tree made the scene truly magical.

      And the glorious food served by EBC made this dinner all the more memorable!

      Next up – dessert! Mini cupcakes and fruit accompanied the couple’s presentation cake (again lovingly decorated by the mother of the bride).

       

      After that, there was no holding back! Without further ado (like a First Dance, or Special Dances, or the like…) the dance floor was opened, the disco lights came on, and the party went into overdrive!

      We even had wedding crashers!! A bunch of eleven-year olds had escaped from their slumber party next door (in their pajamas!!) and snuck right onto the dance floor… Of course they were welcomed and invited to stay on until 10 pm when the music had to conclude (per local noise ordinance…) – otherwise everyone would gladly have stayed on!

      Congratulations, Ali and Rick, to a truly unforgettable wedding celebration! Party on… and stay as unconventional as you are!

       

      “At Last….” – Nana and Raymond are Getting Married!

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      Nana’s and Raymond’s courtship had been long and anything but straightforward… Fate definitely played tricks on those two! Having known each other for more than a decade, having lived and studied on the same university campus for several years without even being aware of one another, striking up a friendship – then ending up on different sides of the continent, until finally, at long last, they did find one another. As Nana said in her vows – she suddenly realized during their long-distance relationship that she wanted nothing more than being with Raymond, even if it meant moving from Boston to San Francisco. From then on, nothing held the two back any more. Fast-forward to wedding planning: Here is where my company, A Day Like No Other, came in. After all that wait time, Nana and Raymond jumped into preparations in high gear!

      After eight months of high-intensity planning and more than 600 emails back and forth, all our hard work came to fruition last Saturday on a perfect Bay Area September day – sunny, warm, blue skies, a slight breeze. A dream!

      For Nana and her bridesmaids, the day started with hair and makeup services by Wowpretty Salon – owner Jira personally took care of the bride who otherwise never, ever wears makeup… and transformed her into a classic beauty with an embellished updo and a very natural-looking makeup.

      This style fit perfectly with the gorgeous wedding dress Nana had chosen at Novella Bridal Salon: heavy ivory silk duchesse in a ballgown style, its only embellishment (in addition to its perfect proportions) a long row of tiny buttons running the whole length down the back of the dress and unto its impressive train.

      With that, Nana became a modern-day Grace Kelly!

      Photo – Jutta Lammerts

      What else?

      Bridal slippers…

      … and the rings, of course!

      Nana’s bouquet, as well as the bridesmaids’ bouquets, boutonnieres, ceremony decor and centerpieces, had been created by Marie Krick of San Francisco Bay Blooms, in a summery palette of ivory, peach and orange, with David Austin roses the stars of the flower lineup …

      … and with her updo, dress and flowers Nana resembled a fragile porcelain doll!

      Of course, Raymond and his groomsmen were likewise dressing up for the occasion!

      For their ceremony and reception venue, Nana and Raymond had chosen the Peacock Gap Clubhouse (on the Peacock Gap golf course with endless views of green rolling hills) in San Rafael. Fittingly, the bride traveled to her First Look location in an embellished golf cart!

      Photo: Jutta Lammerts

      Photo: Jutta Lammerts

      Photo: Jutta Lammerts

      First Look! That one “butterfly-fluttering” moment when the bride presents herself to her groom in all her finery…

      While the couple was out for photos with their photographer Frank J. Lee and video team of Love Unique Studios, the Peacock Gap venue crew under leadership of events director Moira Gubbins, DJ Ron Israel of Spotlight Occasions, and my assistant Trisha and myself were busy putting the finishing touches on the setup. The ceremony area needed to be prepared, and florist Marie and her team adorned the wooden arbor with gorgeous summer flowers.

      Soon enough, the first guests were arriving.  Ceremony time! Here comes the bride on her father’s arm…

      … and then comes the moment for her Dad to “let go” and “give her away” to Raymond.

      Officiant “Minister Maggie” (Maggie Beretz) had prepared a very personal ceremony text for the couple and conducted the ceremony in her typical warmhearted, charming way with a dose of good humor.

      Nana and Raymond had both prepared their own vows in the format of a personal letter which they read to each other – for the very first time! – during the ceremony.

      Just married – and giddy with happiness!

      Time for many more photos with photographer Frank…

       

       

      After conclusion of Cocktail Hour, guests were invited into the dining room. Even the escort card table had received a little sprinkle of rose petals in the couple’s wedding colors.

      Tables were resplendent in ivory and peach…

      The rest of the evening went by way too fast… with a surprise slideshow that the couple’s friends and families had put together for them, table visits and a lot of fun for everyone with the infamous “Shoe Game!”

      What else? Cake cutting, of course! Krumbs Cakes had created a mouthwatering confection topped with fresh berries…

      … and Nana and Raymond performed their official first task as husband and wife – cutting that cake – with bravura.

       

       

      The cake was a huge hit – at the end of the evening not a crumb was left!

      Once  Cake Cutting was done, Nana and Raymond enjoyed their First Dance as a married couple, and they actually performed a complicated routine. At the last moment, it turned out that this dance routine was hard to execute in Nana’s “big” wedding dress – so she quickly slipped into a simple short dress. It looked a bit plain without embellishment… but: we were surrounded by the most beautiful flowers! A ribbon and an exquisite orange rose were our friends, and voila: here they are!

      The couple’s First Dance opened the dance floor for everyone, and the ensuing dance party to the tunes of DJ Ron Israel completed the evening. Guests agreed: it was beautiful. Everyone left with a big smile on their faces.

      Nana and Raymond: may you forever be as happy together as on your wedding day, and keep dancing!

       

       

       

      Lovefest under Majestic Redwoods: Julianne and Grayson

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      Bride Julianne contacted my company, A Day Like No Other, ten months ahead of time for help with coordinating her wedding – and even then she already knew exactly what she wanted. She and her fiance had just chosen their venue – Deer Park Villa in Marin County, a secret garden, hidden behind a long driveway, and shaded by tall Redwood trees:… and they had also decided on the overall style of their celebration: rustic-elegant, with an outdoor ceremony and reception and a dance party inside the “villa” (mostly because of the local noise ordinance), relaxed and fun, but with some formal elements: metallic rose gold accents to complement their wedding colors of grey, blush pink and dark red.

      Aside from that, guest experience was very important for them, and they added a lot of fun elements into the mix.

      Last Friday, it all came together on a balmy summer evening.

      Julianne and her bridesmaids began the day with hair and makeup services (by Girl with a Curling Iron), while Grayson and his groomsmen had free time. When their black SUVs arrived to take them to Deer Park Villa, they were in high spirits and, inspired by those “presidential” looking vehicles, mimicked a bunch of Secret Service agents!

      Meanwhile, the Deer Park Villa team, my assistant Myrtle and I and most of our vendors were already busy getting all the elaborate decor set up that bride Julianne had pulled together throughout her planning time – from various signs..

      to a Polaroid guestbook station…

      Then there was the ceremony setup to be completed, with seat assignments for guests and with a chuppah that got draping and gorgeous flower decor from Angella Floral Arts.

      The bride had requested to reserve a special seat for her mother whom she had lost way too early… such a sweet touch, and so moving…

      The team of Ray’s Catering was busy preparing food and pre-setting the dining tables, the venue team readied the bars, our DJ (Runaway DJs) set up sound for all ceremony areas. Our photographer (Alexander Richardson of Love Tribe Weddings) and videographer (Ron Tse of FilmorePro) were capturing every moment, from First Look on throughout the evening. (Just wait until you see THEIR photos and video – until then, all we have are snapshots by me and my assistant).

      Here is the impressive lineup of bridesmaids and groomsmen…

      … with the bridal bouquet, bridesmaids’ bouquets and groomsmen’s boutonnieres likewise created by Angella.

      Here is one beautiful snapshot of the couple:

      Then guests began arriving, and the great moment had come, the ceremony was about to begin. DJ Amin of Runaway DJs played all the wedding music the couple had personally chosen. Julianne was escorted in by her father.

      Quite a dramatic dress, I’d say!

      Here comes the bride:

      The ceremony was officiated by a personal friend of the couple, under the beautifully decorated chuppah.

      Following tradition, the ceremony was concluded by breaking a glass – and contrary to tradition, that was done by bride and groom together!

      “You may now kiss the bride!”

      Just married!

      What followed was a long and joyful party – starting with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a delicious sit-down dinner under twinkling string lights …

      … and with elegant place settings of rose-gold plates and cutlery on soft-grey linens…

      Photo credit: Myrtle Ventura

      …. and then: THE CAKE (by Kara’s Cupcakes).

      Guests were then treated to ice cream sandwiches with fresh-baked cookies prepared onsite by The Pink Turtle Shoppe. Then it was time for dancing, and DJ Amir kept the crowd in high spirits! For additional guest entertainment, the couple had booked a Say Ya! photo booth which proved to be a real hit. And for those who needed a break, a S’mores station was set up outside around the fire pits…

      … while in the now-deserted dining area a “special guest” made his appearance to pick up any dinner leftovers!

      The party went on into the wee hours of the morning, and all guests agreed – that was unforgettable! For bride and groom, the festivities were not over yet – they were off to their Honeymoon on the Maldive Islands and to Thailand. Call that a “once-in-a-lifetime” occasion!

      Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and many more celebrations together, Julianne and Grayson!

      And here you can see it live, thanks to Fillmore Productions!

      And here you can see it live, thanks to Fillmore Productions!

      Julianne & Grayson from Filmore Productions on Vimeo.

      Wuhong and Yingjian: Sweet Southern China Memories at Thomas Fogarty Winery

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      When Wuhong and Yingjian booked my company, A Day Like No Other, to help with planning their wedding, I found out very soon that they are a very special couple to plan a wedding for. For both bride and groom it was important to honor their Chinese heritage, but in a modern way. They both are very discerning when it comes to food and wine. AND we just had a scant three months for our planning!

      Needless to say, it was quite intense! From securing a beautiful venue to brainstorming colors and design elements, we were quite busy day after day. And yesterday it all came together beautifully at Thomas Fogarty Winery, high above Silicon Valley, with endless views under a clear blue sky and a warming sun.

      For Wuhong and Shelly, her Maid of Honor, the day began with hair and makeup services by “Princess Sarah.” Once done, bride, groom, their mothers and their children all boarded a white stretch limousine (from Charmed Limousine Service) to take them up a winding mountain road to their wedding venue.

      There, my assistants Quan and Stephanie and myself were already busy preparing everything for the great celebration. The Melons Catering team was setting up tables and chairs and preparing food in the kitchen. Florist Katharina Stuart delivered gorgeous flowers and began decorating the ceremony area.

      We set up our personalized signage – we had incorporated  Wuhong’s and Yingjian’s custom wedding logo…

      into a design featuring Southern Chinese motifs and also created matching table numbers (all designed by A Day Like No Other.)The gift/and guest book table also got a little nod to Chinese traditions with an authentic vintage birdcage.

      Meanwhile, Wuhong was getting dressed, including high heels fit for royalty:

      … and with that, she was ready to present herself to her groom for their First Look.

      Photographer Gavin Farrington and his assistant captured every precious moment – just wait until you see THEIR photos! For the moment, you have to make do with our snapshots…

      Then the great moment had come – time for the wedding ceremony. Serenaded by guitarist Chris Adgar-Beal, Wuhong walked down the aisle, toward her expectant groom.

      The ceremony was officiated by Rev. John Sullivan who included a Chinese Tea Ceremony and his blessings and congratulations spoken in Mandarin (!) into the very personal  ceremony.

       

      Following the ceremony: Off to many more family photos – while guests were enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the open deck. When it was time for dinner, guests found their table assignments in a sea of escort cards…

      and then the newlyweds made their Grand Entrance:

      Everyone then sat down to a veritable culinary feast, and the newlyweds of course presided over the congregation from their elevated Sweetheart Table.

      More deliciousness was awaiting guests after dinner with a gorgeous dessert buffet and wedding cake by La Vie Douce Design.

      But the party was by far not over yet! The couple performed their (well-rehearsed) First Dance to “La Vie en Rose,” sung live by the groom’s daughter, to the music provided by DJ Henry Kim of BIG FUN Disc Jockeys.

      A dance performance by the “bridal team” (of junior bridesmaids and groomsmen) followed to entertain the guests…

      … then funny games and, to conclude the evening, a festive sparkler send-off for the newlyweds.

      It was a spectacular celebration! Congratulations and our very best wishes to Wuhong and Yingjian!

       

       

       

      French Country Charm at Thomas Fogarty Winery: Cristina’s and Dmytro’s Dream Wedding

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      Please meet one of my favorite clients EVER: Cristina and Dmytro – or Dima, as he is called by his friends. After more than a year of wedding planning with the two of them, they are now Cristina and Dima to me, too!

      Cristina and Dima hired my company, A Day Like No Other, last year – to put together a really memorable celebration for them, including decor in a vintage French Country theme. I jumped at the opportunity to do that project! Taking my cues from Cristina’s favorite color – a soft French Blue – and a few Pinterest inspirations, I let my imagination take off, and the most wonderful thing happened: Cristina and Dima were thinking in the same direction, approved my ideas and let me “run with them.” It was a wonderful, shared creative process, bringing together many of my favorite vendors, and culminating yesterday in one of the most memorable weddings I’ve ever done.

      I had the opportunity to design their invitations – which set the tone for their decor theme…

      For their venue, the two had chosen Thomas Fogarty Winery – a spectacular location with endless views all over Silicon Valley.

      Their “home base” for their wedding day was the Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto, where both bride and groom and their attendants were getting ready. The ladies started early with hair and makeup styling by Miabel Artistry – and emerged as drop-dead gorgeous, red-carpet-worthy beauties.

      And just look at her “princess slippers:” sparkly golden Jimmy Choo heels.

      Stretch limousines from Le Grande Affaire – a white one for the ladies and a black one for the gents – pulled up, rolled out that proverbial red carpet (literally) and took everyone up that long, winding country road to the winery.

      There, both Dmytro and Cristina put the finishing touches on their attire…

      … with Cristina’s bridesmaids and mother very much involved!

      Florist Natasha Kolenko had prepared the most beautiful bouquets for bride …

      … bridesmaids…

      … and boutonnieres for the gentlemen, too …

      … evoking a summer day in the French countryside.

      Ready for “First Look!”

      Outside, not only the onsite events team, but many other vendors were already busy to get everything set up for the great moment – working hard at temperatures over 90 degrees! A glorious, sunny day, with blue skies, but really, really hot…

      The catering team of La Bocca Fina set up all the tables and chairs. Linens and napkins – custom-made from blue-and-white Toile de Jouy fabric just for this event – from Wildflower Linens set the light blue French country theme …

      … and china, flatware and glassware from Hensley Event Resources completed the look, down to the tiniest details.

      Florist/stylist Natasha Kolenko provided centerpieces reminiscent of French country gardens – light blue, in loose, effortless arrangements, incorporating wildflowers and greenery for an overall charmingly nostalgic, feminine and soft effect. She even had a structure of untreated slender tree trunks custom-made to surround and frame the couple’s Sweetheart Table, with more summer flowers seemingly growing up and around this frame in the most natural fashion.

      The arch for the ceremony mirrored this style perfectly; vintage-inspired vignettes of wine barrels and French wrought-iron garden chairs completed the “look.”

      Guests were greeted by a custom-designed “Welcome” sign which I calligraphed myself – along with all the other signage for this wedding.

      To add a little whimsy to their guestbook, I found a vintage typewriter for Cristina and Dmytro – with a time-worn sheet of typing paper asking guests to leave the couple a note…

      Time for the ceremony! The Mersonacta String Quartet provided beautiful music for prelude and ceremony… and here comes the bride, in an elegant lace wedding dress from Nouvelle Vogue Bridal Salon, accompanied by both her parents.

      The setting for the ceremony was nothing short of spectacular.

      Our photographer Maria Hedengren, who had flown in from Finland just for this wedding, captured every precious moment.

      “Minister Maggie” Beretz found the most personal and heartfelt words to unite these two in marriage.

      “You may now kiss your bride!”

      And here they are: JUST MARRIED!

      Off to many more photos with Maria,

      … while guests were directed to Cocktail Hour via custom signage mounted on an authentic vintage French bicycle (from Found Vintage Rentals) with a matching, flower-filled antique basket…

      On the open deck, a well-stocked bar and a variety of hors d’oeuvres was waiting for the guests who enjoyed the sunshine and the views from vintage lounge furniture (from One True Love Vintage Rentals).

      And then there was, of course, Night Owl Photo Booth for added entertainment!

      Soon enough, guests were asked to find their dinner table assignments  on yet another custom sign by A Day Like No Other…… as dinner was ready – courtesy of Teri Menchini and her crew at La Bocca Fina, who had incorporated the couple’s favorite childhood foods from their home countries (Romania and Ukraine) into the menu.

      Guest tables were not numbered, but named after famous algorithms; after all, Cristina and Dmytro are software engineers!

       

      The newlyweds presided over the congregation of their 80+ guests from their elaborately decorated Sweetheart Table…

      Photographer Maria whisked the newlyweds away for sunset photos – after all, we had a spectacular sunset on Wedding Day!

      After dinner, guests were invited to the Hill House where Cristina and Dmytro performed their official first task as a married couple: cutting their cake. And that cake was a piece of art as none of the guests (or us vendors, for that matter) had ever seen before! Playing on the couple’s love for traveling and for math, patissier Gabrielle Feuersinger of Cake Coquette had made them a cake in the shape of a vintage suitcase, complete with travel stickers of their favorite destinations, topped with a stack of their favorite math books – and all of that so realistic-looking that more than one guest tried to pick up the books and leaf through them!! Needless to say that the cake underneath was super delicious, too…

      Next stop: dancing!

      Cristina and Dmytro presented their guests with an elaborate dance routine in the tradition of Russian ballet, dancing their First Dance to Shostakovich’s Valse no. 2 (remember the famous movie Doctor Zhivago? That’s when you swooned over that dance for the first time…) – in an expertly abridged version that DJ Woody Miraglia of Big Fun Dic Jockeys had created especially for them.

       

      With that, the dance floor was officially opened for everyone, and DJ Woody kept the crowd going – and what a wild dance party that was!

      But eventually even the best party has to come to a close… and guests took home little succulents as favors…

      … to see love grow.

      Jay of City Express Limousine service chauffeured guests back down the winding mountain road back to their hotels, and George Rose of Elegant Journey Limousines brought his “flagship” – a stunning 1927 Stutz limousine – as Cristina’s and Dmytro’s getaway car. We sent them off to their married bliss with a sparkler parade – that’s what I call an exit in high style!

      Keep dancing, traveling and calculating math problems together, Cristina and Dmytro, and stay as crazy happy as you were on your Wedding Day!

       

      Joan and Jim: They Did It Their Way

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      When Joan and Jim approached my company, A Day Like No Other, for help with planning their wedding, one thing was immediately clear: this would be a very unusual wedding planning project, indeed! For starters – only 8 weeks to go. Then: wedding day would not be a weekend day, but a Monday. The bride would not be wearing white. There would be only 3 guests – the couple’s adult children. No DJ, no dancing, but an extended photo tour through San Francisco. And so it went…

      I was immediately on board, and, given the short time frame, jumped  into planning right away. What had initially looked like an easy, super-small project soon turned out to be trickier than expected. A dinner reservation in a San Francisco restaurant with a view? Not on a Monday – all leading restaurants are closed! The solution? An intimate dinner in the couple’s 21st floor suite at the Fairmont, with, hands down, the best views in the City. Wedding flowers – a gift from the couple’s rose-growing friends in Kenya – were supposed to arrive in time for the wedding, but the logistical challenges proved insurmountable. In the nick of time, we had to switch to “Plan B”, and florist Janelle Jacky-Litt of Green Petal Designs worked her magic on beautiful “replacement” roses very similar to those that didn’t make it to San Francisco. In short – the proverbial devil was in the details, and I had my hands full every single day of our 8-week planning phase!

      Time flew by, and yesterday was Joan’s and Jim’s Great Day – expected to be an overcast, cold “SF summer” day, but turning out to be glorious and sunny.

      As their “home base,” the couple had chosen a suite in the tower of the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel,

      with 270 degree views of the City, the Bay and three bridges…

      For Joan and her daughter-in-law Jordan, the day began with makeup application by Adelina Eidlman of Glam by Adelina who had an opportunity to show off the whole spectrum of her abilities with a bride who is rarely wearing makeup and asked for a natural look – and her daughter-in-law who was going a little more glamorous. The result? Fabulous in both cases!

      The bride then slipped into her wedding dress – a soft lilac formal dress by St.John accompanied by sparkly Jimmy Choo heels –

      … picked up her spectacular rose bouquet (by Janelle Jacky Litt of Green Petal Designs – more of that later), and with that, she was ready for the day!

      Fiancé Jim had meanwhile donned his elegant tux and matching boutonniere…

      … and here they are!

      First off: an extended tour around San Francisco in a stretch limousine by City Express Limousine Service, chauffeured by Jay, the owner, himself, who took the bridal party to Union Square ….

      … for photos with the iconic heart sculptures; then to the Palace of Fine Arts …

      and even up a winding country road on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge for the most spectacular views of the Bridge, the Bay and the City.

      Photographer Gavin Farrington was riding along with them and recorded every precious moment.

      3 o’clock sharp – we all had to be at City Hall for Joan’s and Jim’s 3:30 ceremony.

      The two had fallen in love with the spectacular architecture and the vibrant atmosphere of City Hall, and while waiting with me …

      …  they witnessed quite a few other weddings taking place. Then it was finally their turn…

      and here they are, JUST MARRIED! Raising a glass with their nearest and dearest…

      After their ceremony, the limousine took the bridal party to Joan’s and Jim’s sailboat at the South Beach Yacht Club for more photos – a very special moment for them, given how much time they are spending on the water!

      While the bridal party was on photo tour, enjoying this sunny and windy San Francisco day, preparations were underway at the Fairmont…

      … to get everything ready in time for their intimate dinner for five in their suite. A table was set by the picture windows, with incredible views of the City…

      … and adorned with the most beautiful roses, all arranged by Janelle of Green Petal Designs. These roses were a wedding gift from Joan’s and Jim’s friends whose Tambuzi rose farm in Kenya provides spectacular rose varietals to the British royals for THEIR weddings –  it does not get any better than that! Getting the roses from Kenya to San Francisco, however, proved much more complicated than getting them to Westminster Abbey – little did we know about the obstacles and regulations of international flower trade… In the end, we had to resort to a little ruse – since the Kenyan originals couldn’t be delivered to us in time, Green Valley Florals (local friends and colleagues of the Kenyan rose growers) stood in with their, very similar product – and it was glorious!

      David Austin rose varietals in all shades of peach and pink, with enticing fragrance, adorned the dinner table, presided over the bedroom, and, of course – were the stars of the bridal bouquet. Florist Janelle took all these twists and turns in stride and made the room “shine” with her arrangements.

      Time for a toast!  Joan’s and Jim’s cut-crystal champagne flutes were another present from dear friends…

      An impromptu “First Dance” right then and there…

      … and then it was time for dinner, accompanied by wines… you guessed it! also gifted by friends (Vidovich Vineyards). Joan and Jim are so well-loved!

      And after that, the last highlight of the day was THE CAKE:

      The newlyweds accomplished their first official task as a married couple with bravura:

      Joan said it was an amazing day, shared with their children in a relaxed atmosphere, exactly how she and Jim had hoped it would be. They did it their way… keep on dancing, smiling, and sailing together, Joan and Jim, with the same happiness as on your wedding day!

       

      Erin and Gabriel – Rustic Elegance with South-of-the-Border Charm

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      Erin and Gabe are super-busy young professionals – both physicians, working long hours. When they embarked on their wedding planning, they realized immediately that they would need support for all the details, the logistics, the design; in short, pretty much everything. I was honored that they chose my company, A Day Like No Other, to organize their preparations every step of the way.

      We started with their exceptional venue, Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, a historic Spanish-Mediterranean compound surrounded by a beautiful, park-like garden. On Wedding Day, all the lush plantings were in full bloom, and despite a serious threat of rain in the weather forecast, we got incredibly lucky with sunshine and blue skies and were able to hold ceremony, Cocktail Hour and dinner outside, as planned.

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Hard to believe that this hidden gem is nestled into a quiet residential neighborhood right in the heart of Silicon Valley!

      Erin and Gabe and their bridesmaids and groomsmen all got ready at the nearby Garden Court Hotel…

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      … with hair and makeup services for the ladies by Fiona and Joey of Urban Beauty Loft.

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      The bride had chosen a beautiful ivory wedding dress with a lace top and flowing skirt – so young and elegant in its simplicity…

      … Helping the bride into her dress is always a true mother-daughter moment…

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Florist Janelle Jacky-Litt of Green Petal Designs brought the bridal and bridesmaids’ bouquets – and they looked exactly like Erin had envisioned them! Not an easy feat as Erin’s favorite flowers are red Bougainvilleas which are notoriously fragile and do not last in bouquets and centerpieces. Not one to ever give up easily, Janelle came up with a master plan to cut these prized blooms onsite from living plants she brought in, only hours before the ceremony… and Erin got her dream bouquet! Here it is…

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      … accompanied, of course, by matching bridesmaids’ bouquets…

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      … and boutonnieres for the gentlemen.

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Groom …

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      … and groomsmen were also dressing up…

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Ready for “First Look!” Photographer extraordinaire Vicens Forns and his second shooter Ana Silva captured every precious moment throughout the day and evening.

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Bride and groom exchanged gifts right then and there – a wristwatch for the groom and stunning pearl-and-diamond earrings for the bride.

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Time for many, many photos, with the bridal party….

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      … and without!

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      All the while, the Day Like No Other team – assistants Lisa, Alexandra, and myself – was working frantically to get everything set up in time for the big celebration!

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      The ceremony was officiated by a close friend of the couple’s and accompanied by live music by the Hit Waves Unplugged duo – “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” for the processional.

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      It doesn’t get much more romantic than that! The bride was walked in by her Dad, as tradition prescribes…

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      During the very personal ceremony with several readings,

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      guests helped to fill a “time capsule” for the couple, to be opened on their fifth wedding anniversary.

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      And here they are, JUST MARRIED!

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Official wedding photo:

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Guests were treated to cocktails and hors d’oeuvres …

      … on the adjacent patio – with a whole menu to choose from:

      … with the pretty signage (including a program sign)…

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      … provided by the bride’s talented friend Jess. Of course, there was more fun waiting for the guests:

      … and not only that: guests were also invited to watch dinner preparations: Two spectacular paellas (by Nora’s Spanish Catering) were cooking in the courtyard…

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

       

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      … and long rows of bare wooden tables (from Stuart Event Rentals) decked out with garlands and blooms in fiery reds and oranges (all by Green Petal Designs) were waiting for the guests.

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Place settings were adorned with olive branches …

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      … and – of course – the Sweetheart Table got “special treatment!”

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Whimsical “escort cards” showed guests their table assignments:

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Everyone was raving about the paella! With background music by DJ Sami Funk of Heart of Gold DJs, lively conversation and free-flowing Spanish wine, everyone was having a great time.

      Next up: cake cutting! A pretty lemon-buttercream cake (from Cake Coquette) with more Bougainvilleas for decor was set up inside the “Sunset Room” on an antique table, alongside chocolates and cookies.

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      The back wall had been decorated with family heirlooms and photos …

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      … and surrounded by all these sweet memories and lots and lots of candlelight, the newlyweds performed their official first joint task as husband and wife – cutting the cake.

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      What now? First Dance, of course!

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Following that, there was no holding back – everyone hit the dance floor to the tunes of DJ Sami …

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      … under twinkling string lights from Stuart Event Rentals.

      Guests took just one little break in between dancing, and that was when delicious fresh churros with chocolate sauce were served!

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      When this party did come to an end – it was on another high note: a sparkler exit to the most beautiful car imaginable, to take Erin and Gabe off to their married bliss:

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      A 1927 Stutz chauffeured by owner George Rose of Elegant Journey Limousines…

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      Photo credit: Vicens Forns

      With our best wishes on your lifelong journey together, Erin and Gabe, and may all your days be as happy as this one!