Yes – Corporate Events Can Be Fun!!

So, you are absolutely positive that there is probably nothing more boring under the Sun than a corporate event? Speaker and lunch?

Well, I beg to differ! Provided, of course, you let ME organize it… A Day Like No Other, my wedding and event design and coordination company will convince you otherwise, promise! What’s the trick? A gorgeous venue (e.g. a private estate, a mansion in a park), a fun and engaging speaker, first-rate food and wine, beautiful decor and a lot of entertaining activities to round it out! For a meeting of wedding industry professionals, I pulled together “all of the above” plus a wedding fashion show with professional models, a one-of-a-kind vintage Packard limousine, exquisite party favors and raffle prizes everybody loved! Enjoy…

The Ultimate California Seaside Wedding: Kimen and Rob

California seaside wedding – what’s your first association? Rolling breakers, sea foam, rocks, sunshine and a slight breeze? Yes, yes, and yes! Kimen and Rob had it all yesterday, on a perfect Autumn day under a warming sun and a cloudless sky … right above the Pacific Ocean, on the seafront terrace of storied Moonraker Restaurant in Pacifica.

Have a look  yourself:

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No wonder the two fell in love with this place instantaneously! When they hired my company, A Day Like No Other, to help design and coordinate their wedding, I jumped at the opportunity to be part of their Great Day.

For the bride -as always! – the day started off with a hair and makeup session, here with Loren and Sataya of Primp and Proper Hair and Makeup Design:

getting ready… and her Mom, as well – a wonderful Mother-Daughter occasion!

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Then it was time to pick up her gorgeous coral-colored bouquet starring Gloriosa lilies…

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… and to get dressed – with a lot of help from all her bridesmaids:

getting dressedRadiant in a ruched sateen dress with crystal embellishment and an impressive train, and a crystal-embroidered double veil, Kimen was ready to meet Rob – here’s their First Look high above the crashing waves of the Pacific, captured by Robert of George Street Photography:

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I was meanwhile already busy with the ceremony setup on the oceanfront terrace – the aisle decorated with bunches of flowers in the couple’s signature coral and blue hues (created like all the wedding flowers, by Soulflower Designs ) …

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… with “trees” of gracefully bending branches adorned with coral orchids forming a living arch under which to say their vows.

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The ceremony was officiated by Judge Allan Gropper, a family member, with a bridal party of nine groomsmen and four bridesmaids, all siblings and closest friends of the couple.

ceremonyWith Victoria Hauk’s ([email protected]) woodwind trio playing Bach’s cantata “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and Mendelssohn’s Wedding March, the sounds of the Ocean and the cries of seagulls above, it probably doesn’t get more impressive – and more romantic than that! The bride’s cousin Collin videotaped it all.

husband and wifeJust Married! And now it’s party time in the beautifully decorated Moonraker Restaurant where tables adorned with coral-and-blue centerpieces were overlooking the gorgeous view of the Ocean:

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centerpieceGuests feasted on Lobster Bisque with Truffle Foam and Twin Maine Lobster and Grilled Flat Iron Steak, entertained by DJ Jessie‘s music. And a major “guest magnet” was of course the photo booth by Expression Events!

After dinner, Kimen and Rob enjoyed their First Dance to Billy Joel’s “The Way You Are” and, perfectionists as THEY are, it was a perfectly choreographed dance sequence that had guest clapping and cheering with sheer joy!

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First Dance 3

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After the traditional Father-Daughter Dance…

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… everyone joined in on the dance floor.

Then it was time to cut the cake, a little masterpiece in coral and ombre blue, complete with coral pieces and sea foam bubbles, by The Cakery:

cake cuttingSmall wonder that nobody wanted to leave! So we extended the party… and extended… and as the sun was setting over the Pacific…

sunset… everyone headed over to Nick’s across the street – the historic Pacifica bar and night club – for an after party. Everyone had a fantastic time, me included! And that’s why I love my job so much…

love my job!Congratulations, Kimen and Rob, and many happy years together!

 

If You Are Going to San Francisco… Sherri and Zenon’s Joyful Wedding Celebration

Sherri and Zenon had already spent a whole decade of their lives together when they took the plunge – to plan and get married! One thing was clear: it had to be something special. Really special! A destination wedding… and what would it be? “If you are going to San Francisco, be sure to wear – flowers in your hair…” That was it. San Francisco. Quite a distance from their “home base” in Canada! And since that was so, they needed a coordinator to help them plan it all from afar – and that honor fell to my company, A Day Like No Other!  We started planning at the beginning of the year, and yesterday all our efforts were rewarded with a beautiful, memorable wedding celebration at the historic General’s Residence at Fort Mason.

For our bride, the day began with a beauty session at the Omni Hotel: Marine Vaisset of Belle by Marine enhanced Sherri’s beautiful features, her milk-white skin and reddish-blonde hair, into an ethereal, classical style – and into a radiant bride! And of course, she “made sure to wear – flowers in her hair…”

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Here is Sherri’s impressive all-red bouquet by Tutti Fiori:

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Final touches…

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Sherri had chosen a dramatic silk dress with delicate lace appliqué and a regal train:

stunning dressHere she’s taking a peek immediately before the “First Look:”

stunning dress 2Coming down the stairs…

first look 1… to a very emotional moment for both of them!

first look 2Then it was time for pre-ceremony photos on a tour across the City in a vintage red-and-silver Rolls Royce – which made for a decidedly stylish entrance at the couple’s ceremony and reception venue, the General’s Residence at Fort Mason.

arrived 2The ceremony was held on the back lawn overlooking the San Francisco Bay…

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… with a good fifty friends and family members in attendance, all of whom had come all the way from Canada; and officiated by Rev. John Sullivan. And here comes the bride, escorted by her proud Dad:

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“I do!”

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“…. and pronounce you – husband and wife!”

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A golden evening glow over the Bay turned the scene outerworldly beautiful…

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… while guests enjoyed cocktails and, soon enough, a plated, French inspired dinner by La Bonne Cuisine, accompanied by soft music provided by Love in the Mix.

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Every detail contributed to the elegance and glamour of the evening, from the mantelpiece decor…

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… to the display of wedding favors (fragrant artisanal soaps)

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One last photo with their very happy wedding planner…

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and then Sherri and Zenon  invited their guests to an after party (transportation courtesy of City Express Limousine Service) where they would be dancing the night away.

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Cassie and Jason – Nature and Elegance, Fun, Family and Friends

What do you think are the ingredients for the perfect wedding day? Beautiful setting? Check. All the people around you who matter in your lives? Check. Great food and drink AND a wild dance party afterwards? Check!

Which means that Cassie and Jason did, in fact, have a perfect wedding yesterday!

They had chosen a secluded private estate in the Santa Cruz mountains where they could have their ceremony on a manicured lawn, their reception under towering mature trees and could follow up with dancing under the stars. And they had chosen me – A Day Like No Other – as their wedding coordinator. When the great moment finally came, it turned out to be the perfect autumn day, warm, sunny, and under a cloudless sky.

Here is the radiant bride in hair by Laina Ross and makeup  by Llyndara and Cheryl (802-999-2022 and 530-400-2314) …

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… with her bridesmaids (including one “brides-guy!”)…

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… and here is her beautiful bouquet  (created like all the floral decor by her cousin Tara – a professional floral designer) playing on her wedding colors of ivory, sage green and eggplant…

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For the ceremony, the couple had chosen an arch handmade from natural twigs and decorated with bouquets of blue and green hydrangea, ivory roses, and deep purple lisianthus and calla lilies.

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The ceremony setting couldn’t have been more beautiful. Rev. Donna Gardner of Honey in the Heart had created a very personal ceremony for Cassie and Jason.

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The two said their vows surrounded by more than 150 friends and family members many of whom had traveled far for this occasion.

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Bride and groom incorporated in their vows very personal promises like, “I will always let you sleep in,” and “I will promise to get ready so we can go out in time.” Definitely honest and heartfelt and reason for quite a few chuckles!

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour followed by an early dinner at long rows of elegant dining tables under the canopy of mature trees…

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The glamorous table settings (as well as all other rentals) came from Alexis Party Rentals.

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The newlyweds presided over dinner from their sweetheart table…

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…while guests were enjoying delicacies from Feel Good Foods.

All the time, husband-and-wife team Erin and Jeremy Hohengarten of Still Music Photography were busy capturing every precious moment.

Then it was time for the First Dance…

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… accompanied by music of DJ Frankie from Sound in Motion.

But the sensation of the evening was still to come: the Robot Dance Party!

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At the conclusion of the evening, The Santa Cruz Experience bus company provided safe trips home (or to a swinging after party…) for the guests.  Everyone had a great time, myself included!

Jutta copyThanks for letting me be part of your celebration, and many happy years together, Cassie and Jason!

 

An Andy Warhol-themed Bachelor Party by A Day Like No Other

Here is a short video clip of an Andy Warhol-themed bachelor party – complete with three beauties styled like Sixties fashion icons (think Twiggy!) whom our bachelor took around town in his fire-engine red original 1965 Mustang convertible and who went partying with him afterwards in one of San Francisco’s hippest bars – all decorated with Andy Warhol artwork – where everyone went dancing to the top hits of the Sixties and Seventies. The master himself (we admit it was a look-alike…) was around to take photos – have a look!

That party was a huge success!

A film by Michael Loeb.

Stacy and Ian – Coastal Elegance at the Intercontinental, Monterey

I just returned from coordinating a wedding that qualifies for the “Dream Wedding” category on all counts – a beautiful couple, a spectacular location, incredible weather… and then some!

So, let’s start at the beginning – with Stacy and Ian: both of them seasoned singles, wildly successful in their respective careers, independent spirits. They had everything in their lives except for… well, that “significant other.” And then, on January 27 of 2013 (yes, 2013!!), Love struck. Suddenly, unexpectedly. Stacy met Ian – and later that same day, she called her mother and said, “I have met the man with whom I want to share the rest of my life.” Love at first sight, nothing less! From then on, the two had a true whirlwind romance.

engagement photoJust eight weeks later, on April 1st, Ian proposed in a historic castle outside Rotterdam, the Netherlands – beginning with: “This is not an April Fool’s joke…” and putting a huge “rock” on Stacy’s finger. Another four months later, the two got married, and I had the honor of being their wedding coordinator.

For their venue, they chose a spectacular waterfront setting in Monterey: the Intercontinental The Clement Hotel, literally built on the water’s edge.

The morning of Wedding Day was dedicated to pampering and hair and makeup appointments at The Spa at Intercontinental, and the results for the bride, her mother and her bridesmaids were simply beautiful!

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The ceremony, officiated by John Kelly,  was held on the oceanfront terrace at 5 in the afternoon, in the presence of 70 of Stacy’s and Ian’s closest friends and family members.

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An arch, beautifully decorated by Stems Floral Boutique, with the Pacific Ocean as backdrop, and 725 roses in a symphony of sunset colors lining the aisle provided a truly glorious ceremony setting.

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With the Abbott Brothers, a bluegrass band, performing Beatles classics for the processional and recessional, bride, groom and all their guests were immediately transported into a festive and joyful mood.

IMG_1426“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da…” (with the lyrics ever so slightly modified to “Ian and Stacy”) and for the guests to sing along – I’ve never seen a couple happier than these two, dancing down the aisle!

And that was just the beginning… while Stacy and Ian went off for their requisite photo session, guests were enjoying …

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cocktail hour in the ballroom…

IMG_1386… lovingly decorated in the couple’s maritime wedding theme: corals, starfish and sand dollars!

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And the icing on the cake: a quirky, one-of-a-kind “sardine tin” photo booth!

IMG_1384For the newlyweds, it was still “photo time!” And look, what incredible photos they got from their photographer, Randy Tunnell…

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And then it was already time for dinner under the stars – out on the patio with a view of the sunset over the Ocean.

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The couple, breaking with tradition, enjoyed their First Dance right then and there!

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The couple presided over dinner at their rose-bedecked sweetheart table:

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Guest tables were decorated with beautiful antique lanterns from the bride’s extensive collection and with nautical rope, sand dollars and corals. Guests were guided to their tables not by conventional escort cards, but – true to the wedding theme – by sand dollars with their names and table numbers tied on:

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Every table setting was topped by a favor: a pretty burlap pouch, decorated with – what else? a mini sand dollar! …and containing chocolate bars to satisfy any sweet cravings until cake-cutting time.

When night fell, the ambiance turned romantic…

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Following dinner, everyone congregated in the ballroom for dancing to the tunes of DJ Darion of DNA Entertainment, beginning with the traditional Father-Daughter dance. One of the bride’s earliest and dearest memories is her Dad teaching her to dance when she was perhaps five years old, with her feet resting on his to learn the steps – to the sound of “New York, New York.” Needless to say that this was the song chosen for this special dance, and it became a truly magical moment!

Father Daughter Dance 1

Then there was more dancing, and a cake to cut – a little masterpiece by Freedom Bakery, decorated with rope motifs, seashells and sand dollars – so beautiful and so delicious!

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cake cuttingStacy’s and Ian’s first official task as husband and wife: cutting the cake and feeding each other! Guests loved it… and photographer Randy Tunnell recorded every precious moment throughout the day.

It was a beautiful, elegant, joyful, romantic wedding- and I was reminded one more time why I love my job so much!

IMG_1459Thanks, Stacy and Ian, for letting me be a part of your Great Day, and a long and happy life together!

 

 

“Building a Brand” with WIPA at Villa Montalvo

Yesterday, WIPA (Wedding Industry Professionals Association) welcomed SF Bay Area wedding professionals to a festive luncheon at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, a beautiful venue for weddings, private events, and concerts alike. I had the honor of chairing the event and of seeing many months of planning coming to fruition! We were blessed with a gorgeous late-summer day, and the historic villa presented itself to its most beautiful effect under blue skies, a warm sun and a light breeze.

villa carGuests arrived at the Villa’s stately front stairs where an original 1933 Packard limousine by Elegant Journey was parked – and “transported” everyone back to the times of Great Gatsby and his exclusive country estate!

car stairs

Our guests then checked in on the covered patio and entered through French Doors into the Villa’s Great Hall where a display of gorgeous wedding dresses by Nouvelle Vogue Bridal Salon was waiting to be admired.

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Gown detail

Gown detail

With an elegant letter-pressed program by Reb Peters Press in hand…

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…guests proceeded to the romantic courtyard for cocktail hour …

cocktail hour

… where wines by Soda Rock Winery …

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…were served and Krista Strader‘s harp music set a festive tone.

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Tables were decorated with elegant linens by Napa Valley Linens and late-summer flower arrangements in Tuscan urns by Tutti Fiori.

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Four beautiful models – Aryan, Emily and Lauren as the radiant brides and Marguerite as the proud “Mother of the Bride” brought the elegant bridal fashions to life:

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… strolling through the courtyard and the gardens…

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Hair and makeup were expertly provided by Marcia Omar, Sahar Omar ([email protected]) and Tiffany Chiang ([email protected]).

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model aryanFollowing Cocktail hour, guests were invited to the lecture that is at the core of every WIPA luncheon – after all, WIPA’s mission is education! After an official welcome from WIPA president Carol Rosen …

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and myself…

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… it was lecture time! Our speaker today was renowned wedding planner and TV personality Kristin Banta who, in her uniquely engaging, funny and entertaining way,  presented “Building Your Brand.”

kristin banta

We all took so much away from Kristin’s insights – find out what you and your business stand for; what your strengths and weaknesses are;  how you present yourself and how you are perceived; how to be consistent in message and presentation to clients. What a fun way to learn! After a lively Q & A session, everyone was ready for…

patio lunch

… lunch, of course! It was served on the beautiful covered patio, outfitted with stylish furniture, china, glassware and flatware by Abbey Party Rentals, and with a view of the extensive park surrounding Villa Montalvo.

lunch tables

What’s on the menu? Let’s see …

menusOne-of-a-kind, hand-calligraphed menus in pentagram shape by Monks Of Age Calligraphy listed a delicious three course meal by Culinary Eye Catering

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… followed by equally delicious cake from True Confections

cake… and accompanied by world-class coffee from Travelin’ Joe’s Espresso Bar.

coffee bar

Guests enjoyed these treats in the Villa’s solarium and dining room…

dining room

… and were surprised with a whole basket full of raffle prizes – CDs from harpist Krista Strader, a membership and concert tickets from Villa Montalvo, as well as organic handmade soy candles from Authentic Common Scents. And to round it off, every guest received a very special party favor – prepared organic seeded paper, ready to plant and bloom,

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hand-calligraphed again by Monks Of Age Calligraphy.

Auey Santos of Photograffiti and Michael Loeb captured every moment of our festive luncheon on photo and on video. It was a beautiful event, and everyone left with a big smile!

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High Style + Latin Spice = Natasha & Fabian!

When I first met Natasha, I was not only blown away by her charm and beauty – I was also deeply impressed how organized she is. She had been planning her dream wedding for more than a year, and she had dozens of spreadsheets to show for it! So I felt very honored and happy that she and her fiance, Fabian, decided to entrust the coordination of her Great Day to me.

For their wedding ceremony, the two had chosen Mission Dolores Church, the oldest church in San Francisco…

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… and for their celebration with 200 guests – all family members and close friends – they had picked the historic Golden Gate Club on the Presidio of San Francisco, a former military outpost.

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Lots of local history and high style! And lots of family ties to celebrate on this special day… Both bride and groom had six attendants, there were four flower girls and one ring bearer, and many “padrinos,”  family members who had contributed to this very special day.

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The bridesmaids, in hair by Le Burget Salon and makeup by Susy Gonzalez of Piera Beauty Salon, wore elegant pale purple ruched dresses with an asymmetrical neckline, and the bride was radiant in a crystal-encrusted lace mermaid gown:

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Before heading to Church, Natasha and Fabian posed with their cute doggie while Photographer Lyndsay Undseth and Shtiv Valencia of ReViewlutionary Visions recorded every moment.

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Here they are, the new “Mr. and Mrs,” back from Church in high style in a snow white vintage Rolls Royce from NSL Limousine  …

rolls resized… and ready for a huge party!

Their guests, having signed a beautiful personalized guest book with the couple’s engagement photos…

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… were already awaiting them over cocktails (by Barbary Coast Catering) with cheese and fruit (by Ulisess Catering).

fruitWhile Natasha and Fabian were mingling with their guests at cocktail hour, an elegant dinner reception had been prepared, starting with rental furniture from Lush Party Rentals and escort cards in a bed of rose petals…

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… and luxurious flower and candelabra centerpieces by Amy Burke Design:

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Guests found picture frames on their place settings – to be filled with snapshots from Kyle Mills-Bunje’s photo booth (which proved to be a true guest magnet throughout the evening!).

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table resizedAs a nod to their shared cultural heritage, bride and groom had designed table symbols in lieu of table numbers – all inspired by game cards for the beloved “Lotteria” board game, and paired these with escort cards cleverly displaying the table symbol in back. After guests had found their seats...

IMG_1345… the newlyweds followed them into the dining room – with a spectacular flourish: a Grand Entrance of sorts! Parents, padrinos, bridesmaids and groomsmen in couples all entered, each dancing to their own specially chosen songs – and finally, Natasha and Fabian with a whole Mariachi band in tow! What a start to a spectacular evening!

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Tito Arias from Ulisess Catering and his crew kept feeding the crowd while family members and friends shared memories and hilarious stories about the young husband and wife, and cheers and laughter often drowned out DJ Hugo Gomez‘ carefully chosen dinner music! And then it was time for the newlyweds to share their First Dance:

first dance resizedThe dance floor and walls were illuminated in glowing gobos by Just De’Lights, magically transforming the space. Latin dance music brought everybody to their feet…

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… and guests only took a break from dancing to enjoy Chef Bala’s (aka the Cakemaker‘s) delicious wedding cake.

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More high points of the evening were still to come: the bouquet toss…

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… garter toss…

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… and the traditional Money Dance!

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After the dance, a beaming Natasha and Fabian – both covered in Dollar notes big and small – retrieved their “Honeyfund” and handfuls of pins from their wedding gown and tuxedo…

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Most guests stayed right to the end of the festivities, and they would have gone on and on all night! Everyone agreed it was a great party, and I was reminded once more…

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… why I love my job so much!

Thank you, Natasha and Fabian, for allowing me to be a part of your Great Day – and again, congratulations, and many happy years together!

 

 

 

 

Andy Warhol & The Factory @ Infusion Lounge!

As a fitting – and upbeat! – tribute to what would have been Andy Warhol’s 85th birthday (on August 6, 2013), the San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Pro’s met for their August party in the spirit of the Master… at Infusion Lounge, a super chic, hip bar in dowtown San Francisco. Gwenn Connolly created our logo (and more…you’ll see!):

logoTo kick off the festivities, “Andy” (aka model Diana) posed with 3 “go-go girls” (models Brittany, Ryann and Maria, all expertly made up and styled by Marine Vaisset of Belle by Marine) in an original 1965 Mustang convertible – driving around San Francisco …

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taking “photos” of his girls, and then pulling up at the iconic Sir Francis Drake Hotel…

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…and posing in front of his own artwork, displayed on a billboard ad.

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After all that fun, it was time for the party to get started!

Infusion Lounge, bathed in purple, turquoise and orange mood lighting, was decorated with Andy Warhol posters…

IMG_1303…and matching floral decor by Ornamento (think Warhol’s  famous “Daisies” serial prints…)

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To round it out, video installations by Metamora Designs and by Michael Loeb photography displayed iconic Andy Warhol artwork. All the while, DJ Jerry Schultz of Portable Party kept the energy going with the most famous Sixties/Seventies pop hits – on his karaoke machine!

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Guests dressed up to the nines (or better: the Sixties!) danced the night away…

IMG_1318… and I took the opportunity to finally wear my vintage Courreges dress!

Jutta in CourregesGuests only took a break from dancing to nibble on Chicken Wings and Spring Rolls (courtesy of Infusion Lounge), accompanied by a glowing red “Triple Andy” (a specialty cocktail created for our party by Triple9 Vodka), followed by a handful of Ray Richmond’s purple, turquoise and orange “Super Accurate Fortune Cookies” containing a variety of Andy Warhol quotes – rather than the usual fortune cookie “wisdom!”

Auey Santos of Photograffiti and Michael Loeb of Michael Loeb Photography captured our Swingin’ Sixties party on film and video – and guests went home smiling, swinging and humming! It was a great party… thanks to all who contributed! (And so that you can connect to all our wonderful party sponsors, Gwenn Connolly also created a sponsor list in true Warhol style!

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Country Club Elegance and French-International Flair: Valerie & Andrew!

Valerie and Andrew are true citizens of the world – they met in New York City, and then they  lived in many different places all over the world: Paris, Denver, Vancouver and Toronto  only a few of them. And since they are the most kind and charming young couple you can imagine, they made a lot of friends wherever they were living. When it came time to get married, I had the pleasure and the honor of being their wedding coordinator.They chose a beautiful country club in one of the most beautiful landscapes you can imagine to celebrate their love with their extended families and with all those friends, many of whom had come from Canada, the East Coast, even Europe.

And where is that magical spot where the two ultimately said their vows?

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Inland of Monterey – the Pasadera Country Club, an exclusive golf club whose Clubhouse is actually a Spanish-Mediterranean estate dating centuries back. Impressive architecture, original wood beams, frescoes, antique furniture and cobblestone courtyards surrounded by mature trees and the lush, rolling landscape of the Monterey Peninsula combine to transport you to another place and another time.

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front door resizedThe wedding celebration began with the ceremony under the iconic Big Oak Tree behind the mansion…

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The bride, resplendent in a one-shoulder trumpet dress

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with cathedral train and veil, and in hair and makeup by Jonathan Reisfeld, walked in on her mother’s arm,

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preceded by the couple’s two doggies, Pastis and Milo. Valerie and Andrew were officially married by a longtime friend of theirs, under a gauzy “chuppah” of organza draped across the branches of the oak tree.

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They came dancing down the aisle as “Mr.” and “Mrs.” and were immediately whisked away for photos, photos, photos – by another longtime friend and artistic photographer, Prof. Matthias Geiger.

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Their guests meanwhile enjoyed cocktails in the romantic courtyard with a whispering fountain in the middle… and white camellias gently floating in the water. It doesn’t get much more romantic than this!

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With the evening chill rolling in, guests gathered inside the artfully furnished mansion…

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and nibbled on hundreds of delicious handmade sweets – dozens of trays filling a whole table, a labor of love of the Mother of the Bride, until it was time for dinner and dancing!

In accordance with Valerie’s elegant color scheme of eggplant hues and silver, the dining tables were adorned with tall arrangements of gladiolus, curly willow, and hydrangeas, all artfully created by her closest family members. Talk about everyone contributing!

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Dancing began right away with the Hora Dance to the rousing melody of “Hava Naguila”- with the newlyweds being hoisted high up in the air on chairs while the wedding guests were dancing around them, picking up speed (and joy) by the minute!

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And dancing continued throughout the evening – expertly paced by DJ Kevin O’Scanlon from Sound in Motion.

The only little break the new husband and wife took from visiting tables and from dancing was – cutting the cake! The cake – an exquisite confection by the local Parker-Lusseau bakery, airy, moist, and intensely flavored – a true revelation!

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And here is why I love my job so much:

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Congratulations, Valerie and Andrew, and many happy years together!

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