Urban Chic and Elegance at the Four Seasons, SF

Posted on May 31, 2015 by jlammerts

We have a special treat to share with you all today in the form of this elegant styled shoot at the Four Seasons, San Francisco, just published on myhotelwedding.com. It’s a collaboration between my company, A Day Like No Other (styling and planning), and my photographer friend Shhivika Chauhan, and it’s chock full of red wedding inspiration and also ideas for those looking for an intimate yet stylish celebration. We wanted to create a visual inspiration for a same sex wedding that was equal part elegance and creative. And, we wanted to create a few inspirational looks for any same sex couple looking for gorgeous ideas for their own intimate wedding.

The shoot focuses on two grooms, Brad and Tom (also a couple in real life!), and takes place in the Presidential Suite of the Four Seasons overlooking the twinkling city lights of San Francisco. We hope you like the cool, chic city style and the sweet intimacy of the celebration. Truly the perfect combination!

red wedding inspiration

Hotel – Presidential Suite at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco / Model Couple – Brad And Tom / Hair And Make-Up – Nicole Perez / Wedding Props – Everything But The Wedding Dress / Calligraphy – Sarah Hanna / Custom Diamond Wedding Rings – VAS BIJOUX / Dessert – A Spoonful Of Sugar / Event Design Rentals – Classic Party Rentals / Grooms’ Attire – Selix Formalwear / Invitations – Bella Figura / Floral Designer – Janelle Jacky / Event Planning & Design – Jutta Lammerts at Day Like No Other / Photographer – SHHIVIKA CHAUHAN PHOTOGRAPHY

“How I Do it All” – by Alison Howard

Posted on May 29, 2015 by jlammerts

Alison Howard is a fellow wedding planner (and a wildly successful one!), speaker, coach and mentor and fills a lot of other roles on top of that – among other things, she’s a wife and mother, too. I admire her to no end! How on Earth can she do it all? She lifted her secret on her blog, the Alison Howard Blog, on May 13 of this year. And she was generous enough to let me re-print it.

HOW I DO IT ALL…

First of all, I don’t.

Maybe it’s because you see that I’m a wife, a mom of three, a wedding planner and a business coach, I make videos here and there, I speak at conferences, I cook, I clean my own house, I work out fairly regularly and I occasionally do my hair and make-up that leads you to wonder “How does she do it all?” (Which just so happens to be one of the questions I am asked the most.) But the truth that I hope most of you know deep down in your gut is that no one does it all.

I do all those things listed above, but not all at once and not all the time or nothing would be done well. For example, as I write this, I am in sweats, unshowered, and a general mess. No amount of money would draw me out into public in my current state. But that’s because I chose to spend an hour cleaning my kitchen this morning (which I didn’t have time to clean on Monday – seeeeee…..!!!) instead of getting ready. Also, writing this post doesn’t require that I get ready, so I didn’t. And that’s pretty much what it boils down to. Priorities and choices. Cleaning my kitchen and writing to you trumped vanity today. Tomorrow I am coaching two new wedding planners, so vanity will trump and I will choose to get ready and be presentable for those meetings (you’re welcome Amber and Diana!).

I’ve gotten used to this balancing act in my own life but for those who are new to juggling so much responsibility, here are a few tips that I discovered and clung to when I realized that I had two choices: sink or swim. I hope they help you to keep your head above water as you wear more hats than you thought possible, with a measure of elegance and grace.

Get Up Before The Sun

I absolutely know how difficult this is and how not fun it is to wake up early, but this is a total game changer if you can will yourself to do it – I promise! Most mornings I get up early, around 5am, while everyone else is asleep (except my husband, he gets up early too). Depending on my schedule that day I workout for 30 minutes then read my Bible and pray (and have coffee!) for 30 minutes – my hour of power is what I call that! This helps me get into the right mindset as I prepare for the day. Working out early in the day leaves me with so much energy and just makes me feel positive as I go through the morning routine with the kids. Do I do this every day or perfectly? No. Some mornings it is more beneficial for me to get an extra hour of sleep. On the weekends I don’t get out of bed before 7am unless I have to. But most mornings the early bird thing is my jam and my productivity is so much higher those days.

Ask For Help

I ask for help when I need it. I started my business when my daughter was two years old and I have had two more children in the past 8 years. I juggled and did my best on my own, which is what I think most of us do because when you start a business you’re usually broke as a joke from investing into said business. At least this was the case for me, but I made it work. Emails were answered during naptimes; meetings happened in the evenings when hubby was home, weddings on weekends. For vendor meetings or speaking engagements I’d get a sitter, but I just made it all work because I had to. I was in hustle mode. Honestly, it’s really kind of a blur. ; ) Once things got so busy I didn’t think I could do it on my own I hired a nanny for a period of time because I desperately needed the help. There is zero shame in asking for help. Zero. Whether it’s hiring a nanny for a season, a cleaning lady a few times a month or bartering something you do well (like cooking) with something someone else can do (like carpool). Get creative and make it happen.

Know Your Limits & Just Say NO

My personal rule: no emails or calls after 5pm. This is my family time and that time is so precious to my soul. I need it. It trumps any email or phone call. However, life happens and there have been times when I’d have a big project that required extra time and so, yes, I would work after 8pm when the kids were in bed, but it be wouldn’t answering emails. If you send emails at 10pm that sends the message that you are available for your clients during that time and that is a boundary that I just had to have in place. I never booked more weddings than I thought I could handle (which was 15, 20 max, but my sweetest spot was 10 weddings). I never overcommitted or felt that I had to attend every networking meeting or luncheon that I was invited to. I have said ‘no’ to several opportunities because they didn’t fit in with my life even though they seemed cool. Embrace the fear of missing out professionally so you don’t miss out on your life personally.

Calendar EVERYTHING

Your blog schedule, video schedule, deadlines, kids appointments, date nights, your own appointments (personal and professional), workouts, errands, and even time for rest…get it all on the calendar. I always schedule a few hours a week just to read, get a massage, grab lunch with a friend, paint (painting with watercolors is a fun new thing I’m learning); this gives you some margin to exhale and enjoy something that isn’t work-related. I have two separate calendars; one for work and one for family. They both hang on my wall in my office so that I can glance over and see everything that is going on. It’s also all on my calendar on my phone, but I like being able to see it without opening my phone because we all know how easily we can get sucked down the rabbit hole that is the phone. If it’s not on my calendar, it doesn’t exist for me. Once upon a time I could get away with not being a slave to my calendar but that is not the season I’m in anymore and even though I don’t particularly like it, I know I’m lost without it.

Domesticated Duties Day

Monday’s are my day “off” to get my house in order for the week. I am the person in our family who does all of the cooking and most of the cleaning. Let me be really honest and express that this part of ‘doing it all’ was the hardest for me to embrace mostly because of my ego. That’s right, I said it. I used to struggle with thinking that I was too good to be cleaning the house…I mean, I could be spending my time doing more important things. Other times I’d think that it was unfair that my husband gets to work 8 hours uninterrupted while I cart the kids around, work, cook, clean, AND have to be pretty while I do it all! This is where I had to check myself and adjust my perspective. I am so dang BLESSED to be able to work from home and do all the things I do. And as you already know, I don’t even get ready most days, so there goes the whole pretty thing. : )

Let’s talk cooking first: If cooking for your family is something you do (or want to do), meal planning is essential. I meal plan for the week every Sunday evening and grocery shop every Monday morning. I cook a lot in the beginning of the week so I don’t have to cook Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. As for cleaning: I don’t like cleaning house any more than you do BUT I do love a clean home. Few things feel better than everything being clean, in its place, smelling all good…it’s like jumping into a Pottery Barn mag and it just makes me feel happy. Monday’s I deep clean the bathrooms and kitchen after I grocery shop. Laundry is done daily and the kids have been taught to do their own (praise the Lord). Vacuuming, dusting, mopping, changing bed linens is done Saturday mornings. The kids have been taught to clean their own rooms (yes, we do have to help occasionally and re-teach this as they are just so dang forgetful ; ). We pick up things left out daily so that clutter doesn’t consume us. I really stress teamwork in our home and the kids are (mostly) on-board. I have this part down to a system that works really well for us. Again, if you are not domesticated or don’t have time to be, outsource! There is zero shame in this. Because I work from home and make my own schedule I am able to do it with a (mostly) joyful heart. If you want to know more about meal planning or keeping house just ask in the comments and I’ll share in another blog post.

Be Kind To Yourself

You have to have grace for yourself. I’m sure you have all heard the popular adage “progress, not perfection”, but it’s totally true. Some weeks I’m insanely motivated and do all this really well. Other weeks I’m just off and half of this doesn’t get done. That’s life. Balancing marriage, parenthood, and being an entrepreneur is hard and no one expects you to move mountains. So deep breath and do your best and when you can’t, give yourself permission to stop, recharge, and ask for help. Ultimately, know that you aren’t in those beautiful trenches alone (and that this season won’t last forever). : )

Shine on,

Alison

Timeless Elegance and Luxury: A Stylized Wedding Shoot at the Westin St. Francis

Posted on May 19, 2015 by jlammerts

Both my friend, photographer Shhivika Chauhan, and myself cannot sit still. Ever. We both always have ideas… so during the short “lull” in wedding season – between December and January – Shhivika suggested we do a Styled Shoot together – A Day Like No Otherand Shhivika Chauhan. Theme: timeless high elegance and City lights at dusk. Great! I love high elegance. I love the City. And I love the Westin St. Francis. We were so lucky that Catering Director Lauren Schardt invited us to the gorgeous Alexandra’s Ballroom on the Imperial (32nd) Floor high above the lights of the City. So I set out planning and designing… And here is the result (published today on The Black Tie Bride blog). Hope you love it!

Let’s start with a dress fit for a princess…

… and a bouquet to match…

… as well as an Art Deco diamond and platinum bracelet and a South Sea pearl necklace.

Custom-made wedding bands…

… and timelessly elegant, luxurious invitations.

A stunning altar piece with matching aisle decor …

.. and a gilded harp to serenade the couple.

China, flatware, glassware and linens were chosen to complement the blues and golds in the ballroom decor…

… and a glorious, towering centerpiece of orchids, roses and hydrangeas anchored the look of the sweetheart table.

Elegant bride and dapper groom:

And here – comes the bride!

Just married!!

After that, it was time for THE CAKE! For that, the bride changed into a more modern, yet equally stunning dress, complemented by an antique brooch worn as a hairpiece:

For me, the dessert table was sheer designer bliss and fun…

Thanks to all who collaborated with us and made it happen!

The Art of Lighting – WIPA at the Omni SF

Posted on May 18, 2015 by jlammerts

In my capacity as the Regional Director of Events for Wedding Industry Professionals Association (WIPA), it is my honor and my pleasure to create four festive events per year. After all, my business, A Day Like No Other, is all about wedding and event planning and design! Our meetings are always elegant luncheons with a speaker presentation, beautiful decor and a “WOW!” factor for our members and not-yet-members alike. And this time, we had more than just one WOW factor!

But I am definitely getting ahead of myself. This time, on May 12, it was the venerable Omni Hotel in San Francisco’s Financial District, that played host to our meeting. Our videographer, Spencer Sarson Visuals, prepared a little preview for you to enjoy:

Originally built as a bank, it exudes the grandeur of a bygone era…

… with a grand lobby, rich textiles, gilded crystal chandeliers… and a newly renovated ballroom. This ballroom actually became the “playground” for our speaker, Kim Martin of Impact Lighting – a live lab of lighting options.

The festivities began with registration…

… and Cocktail Hour …

… and that’s where the “WOW!” surprises for our guests started. Our photographer, Loic Nicolas of Loic Nicolas Photography (who also provided the whole photo coverage, thanks to the help of Colson Griffith Photography) had brought a demonstration of his new 3D wedding photography technology…

… and obviously, guests are STUNNED by the possibilities!

As you see – WIPA events are always a lot of fun!

But, as promised, that was just the beginning. In accordance with the elegant new “Great Gatsby” style decor of the Omni’s function rooms, Magnolia Jazz provided music fitting to Great Gatsby times:

And if that hadn’t already been enough to transport guests into celebration mode, the strolling “Champagne Skirt” by CatalystArts definitely did exactly that:

Mimosas, anyone?!

Then it was time to sit down for lunch…

… at tables decked out in elegant blue-and-gold linens by Classic Party Rentals and centerpieces by Ha Rue Designs (who provided all other floral decor as well) …

… and the speaker presentation. Lighting designer Kim Martin…

… relied on the power of “Show, not tell” and transformed the Omni ballroom by ever-changing lighting combinations:

That does deserve the title “WOW!”, right?! And Spencer Sarson Visuals videotaped it all so all WIPA members can watch this fabulous presentation again.

After lunch, the party was far from over, because – given that we are here all “wedding people” – one highlight was still to come: THE CAKE! And here is that piece of edible art by Maralyn Tabatsky of Have Your Cake:

Oh-so-beautiful outside, and oh-so-yummy inside:

And did people have a good time? Have a look yourself:

I’d say YES! Hoping to see you at our next event: September 1st, at the Argonaut Hotel San Francisco!

Work hard – Play hard at “Bespoke!”

Posted on April 24, 2015 by jlammerts

The SF Bay Area and especially Silicon Valley are famous for their “Work hard/play hard” attitude – and we all got the perfect venue for that lifestyle delivered to our doorstep!

My friend Fernando Ciurlizza of La Bonne Cuisine got me one of the coveted invitations to opening night at Bespoke (Mille merci, Fernando!) and there I was, in the middle of ONE. IMPRESSIVE. SPACE. But I am definitely getting ahead of myself… a few more explanations!

Bespoke is an entirely new concept, bringing together cutting-edge, high-tech work space for 250 and (equally high-tech) party space for up to 1200 (!!) in a super-central, convenient location: the upscale Westfield Shopping Mall in the heart of San Francisco:

Easy to reach, and – while unexpected as a location – just so convenient to shops…

Bespoke occupies a good part of the 4th floor, alongside a collection of restaurants, right under the impressive cupola.

Work spaces at Bespoke offer each and every technical highlight one might require…

from single work stations to small conference rooms – and the design is impeccable. To me, that makes working a lot more enjoyable!

Speaking of which – here’s the party space, tricked out with all the bells and whistles of A/V, lighting and data connectivity:

Fashion show, anyone? Projection? Conference setup? Or rather dining?

And after dining – the party’s kicking loose for good! Look at these light effects…

Isn’t that fun? Throw in some music… and people will refuse to leave. I guarantee it!

While I assume that Bespoke will be the biggest hit with the “hi-tech crowd,” I can well imagine a “techie” couple throwing a wild dance party here for their nuptials… the design and entertainment possibilities are pretty endless at Bespoke!

Whirlwind Planning for a Beautiful Wedding: Catherine and Jithun

Posted on April 18, 2015 by jlammerts

Last December, Catherine and Jithun enlisted my company, A Day Like No Other, to help them plan their wedding in August of this year, complete with traditional elements from Jithun’s native India – a Sangeet (dance party) a day before, for example… and of course a big Western style wedding. The even bigger Indian wedding would then follow shortly after, organized and hosted by the groom’s family in India. We were already right in the middle of all this planning … when the unexpected happened. A serious illness in the family forced Catherine and Jithun to move their wedding date up: to the following Sunday! Suddenly, we did not have another four months for planning, but a mere four DAYS.

Definitely a challenge! And definitely time to call in favors within my network of fantastic vendors – many of whom have become my friends over the years. I started making phone calls, and what happened was nothing short of a little miracle- everyone was immediately on board, and everyone agreed: we will make sure that these two wonderful young people will get more than an “emergency affair.” No, we would give them a joyful, memorable wedding celebration with all the bells and whistles we’d be able to muster!

First order of the day: find a new venue! On our first day of emergency planning, I received three offers, and Catherine chose the elegant Casa Madrona Hotel in Sausalito …

… just across the Golden Gate Bridge …

… and overlooking the San Francisco Bay and the Sausalito Yacht Harbor:

Catering would be provided by Poggio Trattoria next door – they cater all of Casa Madrona’s special events, and their food is simply stellar.

Catherine’s childhood Rabbi made himself available for an evening wedding ceremony, and florist Deidre Rastelli of Tutti Fiori provided a beautiful antique chuppah which she decorated over and over with the flowers of the bride’s choice.

And of course she made a bridal bouquet exactly as Catherine had envisioned it, in a saturated maroon color (her second accent color, together with an aquamarine blue). And boutonnieres. And bridesmaids’ bouquets. And centerpieces. Everything!

Jira of Wowpretty Salon sent two senior stylists…

and a wedding dress (the original one won’t get ready until May…) and pretty sandals were rush-ordered; the bride would wear her own stunning aquamarine jewelry… here we go! Catherine, more beautiful and radiant than ever…

And what a dapper groom she has!

My assistant Kelsey jumped in at the last minute and accompanied bride and groom and their families and guests throughout the day, from setup and hair/makeup session to ceremony, dinner and dancing – and provided our first photos of the day, until we get all the “real” ones from our photographer, Shhivika Chauhan. (We got a few from her already as a little preview – you see how fantastic they are!). Shhivika was already booked by another couple until early afternoon of that same day, but for her there was no question whatsoever: she headed over directly from her morning job to shoot Catherine’s wedding!

The Casa Madrona staff under the guidance of catering manager Stacey Turner did a beautiful job setting up the ceremony with a view of the yacht harbor, with the chuppah outside and the guest seating sheltered, inside.

Cellist Suellen Primost gathered her Espiritu Ensemble for elegant ceremony music, and then the great moment had come…

Thomas Hughes Films live-streamed the ceremony for all those who hadn’t been able to attend at such short notice (and of course, they covered the festivities following the ceremony as well…)

Just married!

Aren’t they a handsome couple?!

Cocktails were served on the adjacent patio, with guests watching the golden light of the sunset.

Meanwhile, my assistant Kelsey, catering manager Stacey and her team set up the dining room…

complete with Catherine’s dream cake by Cake Coquette and favor boxes with French macarons from Chantal Guillon, all in her favorite wedding colors!

DJ Paul Burchfield of BigFunDJs got his equipment ready first for soft background music during dinner and then exuberant dance music, ranging from Frank Sinatra to Bollywood hits (yes!) and, of course, the Hora Dance:

It was a magical night…

Thank you to all who made it possible, and congratulations and many happy years together to Catherine and Jithun!

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!

Spring Awakening at the Bently Reserve

Posted on April 2, 2015 by jlammerts

One of the most prestigious San Francisco event venues, the venerable Bently Reserve, and the go-to event entertainment company in SF – Entire Productions – had both something to celebrate (their new look!), and they joined forces and did it together… beautifully so, as was to be expected!

Yesterday night, their “Spring Awakening” party drew a prestigious crowd, a true “Who’s Who” of the top Bay Area event professionals. (Wasn’t I lucky to be invited?!). Just in the first hour I met hostess Natasha Miller of Entire Productions, who had brought a whole army of her entertainers –

starting with a violinist on the mezzanine, looking down on the Great Room…

… where the “415s” kept the crowd going.

Who else was there? My friends and fellow wedding planners Duncan Reyes of Events by Design, Fred Sullivan and Jaime Botello of Sullivan & Botello Events; caterers John Silva of Culinary Eye and Fernando Ciurlizza of La Bonne Cuisine, while Ranjan Dey’s New Delhi Restaurant was busy serving delicious paneer bites, as were Janet Weisberg of Ladies Who Lunch and 49Square:

To wash it all down, guests could help themselves to a glass of champagne from the strolling “Champagne Skirt”, again provided by Entire Productions:

Guests might go on watching the stunning contortionist performance courtesy of Entire Productions…

… from a comfortable lounge area provided by Blueprint Studios and decorated with floral arrangements from Michael Daigian Design and Amy Burke Designs:

Susan Sheinkopf’s Party Staff made sure all guests were perfectly taken care of, and I and all my other friends that I met – catering managers Mariell Rahmani of the Fairmont SF, Chrissy Wolfman of the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins, Helen Wu of the Presidio Trust; photographers Misti Layne and Clane Gessel, florist Pat Gibbons and videographer extraordinaire Thomas Hughes – we helped ourselves to all the delicacies including yummy mini cupcakes from The Whole Cake.

Photographer Colson Griffith and cameraman Patrick Sedillo captured it all, while wedding media queen Cristine Thomas of Today’s Bride certainly found a lot of news and eye candy to report on! And what’s so great about events like this – not only do they give us the pleasure of coming together with our longtime friends and colleagues outside of our work environment, not only are we being pampered to no end (as described!) – every time I make new discoveries! There is always a business I haven’t worked with yet at my wedding events but that’s so fantastic it immediately lands on my “radar,” and, of course, new contacts and friends. Last night, for example, I was introduced to Bailey Nakano of the Regency Center, and we immediately hatched a plan to do an event there together. Such is the vibrancy of the SF Bay Area wedding pro’s community! I love it…. Thanks again, Natasha, for having us all, and for having me last night!

Casa Madrona – a Hidden Gem in Sausalito

Posted on March 25, 2015 by jlammerts

If you are familiar with the San Francisco Bay Area, the name Sausalito will definitely ring a bell – former fishing village turned chic residential and shopping district just across the Golden Gate Bridge, with killer views of the City, Mediterranean flair, yacht harbor, millionaire villas. Right? And its most revered historic hotel is the Casa Madrona. Situated just across from the yacht harbor, it started out as a mansion built into the steep hillside 125 years ago, by and by added on with adjacent buildings, likewise climbing up four, five stories on the hill.

What’s new? A lot! I personally have known “the Casa” for a long time, but today I literally met her again for the first time. General Manager Sietse Nabben and Senior Sales Manager Stacey Turner-Bruckert had invited the leading wedding industry professionals of the Bay Area to a cocktail reception showcasing the result of a recent $25 million remodel. Let me tell you – it’s awesome! The “Casa” presents itself true to its historic charm…

… with cozy seating areas on the levels between buildings, yet fresh and inviting and with all the amenities of the 21st century. And the flagship of it all is its “Alexandrite Suite” with breathtaking views…

But I am getting ahead of myself. As a wedding planner, I first needed to know where a ceremony could be held, and here it is: on the 3rd floor balcony overlooking the Bay and the harbor:

Room enough for up to 70 guests, for an intimate wedding ceremony with a truly breathtaking backdrop.

And for cocktails following the ceremony, guests would be asked into the 4th floor Alexandrite Suite, a dream of elegant modern design and cutting-edge amenities, including its own workout room, its own office…

… a huge media wall…

… and its own professional kitchen …

… where the chefs of nearby Poggio restaurant prepared mouthwatering hors d’oeuvres and desserts for us.

Floral arrangements from Mill Valley Flowers beautifully complemented the blue of the Bay and the green of the hills, adding just one more visual joy to the overall design.

Up here, there’s space enough inside and out on the expansive patio for wedding guests to hang out, chat and enjoy the sunset over cocktails…

… and of course a private yacht charter can be arranged, and a send-off brunch the next morning! The new Casa Madrona wedding packages don’t leave any wishes open. Bride, groom and their guests will be pampered in the utmost luxury, serenity and tranquillity – and that may well be the greatest treat of all. One thing is for sure: a wedding here will be unforgettable!

Jessica and Eric: A Truly EPIC Proposal!

Posted on March 12, 2015 by jlammerts

So here comes, hands down, the most creative, elaborate and meticulously planned proposal I’ve ever seen! Planned and executed by groom Eric who is herewith officially awarded the title EPIC!

In his own words (as I couldn’t put it any better) here is what happened – from his earliest planning stages to his actual proposal to his beloved Jessica.

Here we go:

“I wouldn’t have expected anything less!” – is something that Jessica and I have been hearing a lot lately after telling friends our proposal story. However, before I spill the beans, I’ll give you a snip-it of our pre-engagement life together. #TeamAdventure is the name we were given after our very first time meeting each other in person. Jessica flew from New York to sail my homemade raft that supported 4 hammocks, a fire pit and a huge pirate flag, 45 miles down the Green River in Utah over a period of 3 days. She ended up moving out to California, and after many more dates with similar flair, it was clear to me that I had found a beautiful gal who not only thirsts for nature and adventure like I do, but more importantly has a giant heart for helping people in need. I knew that Jessica’s passion, character and kindness were very rare; so I began planning for the next big step in our relationship.

Jessica is a clever gal, and I knew that in order to pull off something epic, something she deserved, I would need to play the cards with a seasoned poker face. For many weeks prior to the proposal, I initiated “date day Saturday,” so that when this particular Saturday came, she would be an unsuspecting victim, oblivious to the chain of events that were about to ensue. On Saturday, March 7^th, I told her that we were going to a fancy breakfast to start the day – a subtle cue to dress up. A few days previous, one of her gal friends “coincidentally” took her for a manicure and she just recently had a facial, so she was looking phenomenal by the time she walked out her front door, expecting me to pick her up in my car… which wasn’t there… neither was I. Instead, she found hanging from her porch a Victorian skeleton key, and a letter. The letter had specific instructions to drive the key to the Toll House Restaurant in Los Gatos and ask the front desk for our reserved table. She drove there, and upon asking for our table, they said, “Sorry Jessica, but your table has been moved to a new location…” and they handed her another letter (and a cup of coffee with a note written on the lid, in MY handwriting, saying “Open the letter now.”) This letter, #2, had instructions for her to bring the key to Villa Montalvo – a grand historic mansion, winery, and art center. As she exited Toll House and walked back to her car, she was surprised to find an apple and a third letter sitting on her hood. The third letter, written in my hand, was a map for her on where to park once she got to Villa Montalvo. She was definitely giggling and looking over her shoulder at this point, waiting for me to pop out of the bushes somewhere.

As she parked in the instructed spot, letter #3 told her to look in the glove box where she found, low and behold, the fourth and last letter: a picture-map of where she should walk from the parking spot. Past the fountains, away from the Estate Villa, across the expansive English lawn, toward the private gated “Love Garden” where the onsite Event Manager was blocking the large Iron Gate. When Jessica produced her key, she was told that TWO keys are needed to open the gate… “but it shouldn’t be long before the other key arrives.” She pointed back up toward the Villa, directing Jessica’s attention to something…what was it? It was me, in a shiny silver suit, riding a horse…. riding… a… horse…. (Funny side note: She STILL had no idea that I was about to propose!)

The iron gates swung open as I dismounted Mickey, the faithful steed, and she fed him the apple (now it finally dawned on her what that apple had been for!)

just before we started to saunter down the garden path together.

We were walking toward a huge white colonnaded Roman temple in the garden where a beautifully set breakfast table was waiting right in front of its steps. Suddenly a violin began playing in the distance. This was my cue. I dropped to my knee, pulled out that ridiculously sparkly ring and asked her to spend the rest of her life with me.

I had a photographer (hiding under the table!!) to catch the candid moments. And she said YES! More photos, and then we had a 5 course, elegant breakfast, serenaded by the violinist who had meanwhile joined us.

After breakfast we took a few more photos around the Estate property.

The photos were great, but in reality this was only a way to “kill time,” because the next big surprise was on its way. The photographer told Jessica he had one specific shot in mind: he wanted us with our hands on the banister of a spiral staircase. I told her that “coincidentally” there was exactly THE staircase at a friend’s home close by, and that this friend was expecting us. Upon pulling up in the driveway, it didn’t appear there was anyone home. So we walked up to the front door and knocked. Both large doors opened in unison and a massive, 45 person “SURPRISE!” was yelled! We hugged and said “hellos” to everyone before walking up the spiral staircase where I told Jessica, “I have one last surprise for you.”

The curtains at the top of the stairs were pulled back, and there, basking in the sun on the back patio was her family from New York who had flown into town the night before.

I’d never seen a gal go weak at the knees, so I had to react quickly to catch her before she fell back down the stairs…

I am so grateful to have amazing friends who helped make the entire day a major success. From one guy disguising himself to place the apple and letter on the hood of her car while she was inside the Toll House, to another who made everyone practice the timing of opening the doors for the surprise, and everyone else who helped coordinate catering, decorations, photography and the rest of the shebang. I am looking forward to our intimate celebration at the wedding and the many years of crazy, adventurous, elaborate shenanigans to come! After all, we wouldn’t expect anything less!”