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Rudy and I wanted our fun-loving and quirky personalities to shine through in every aspect of our wedding. We chose the California Academy of Sciences as our reception venue not only for its beautiful modern setting but also because the museum itself embodied our two backgrounds- Rudy has a science background, I love animals, and we both believe in living a green, sustainable lifestyle.

I was born in the Philippines and wanted to incorporate a few aspects of the country’s magnificent beauty into the wedding. As a result, my wedding dress was made in the Philippines by the couture designer, Randy Ortiz, and we had our cocktail hour in the Aquarium among the Philippine Coral Reefs. Rudy wanted to share his geeky love for science with our guests by allowing them to explore the museum and watch a show about our fragile planet in the world’s largest interactive planetarium.

As for our table decor, we both love to entertain so we wanted to create a warm, inviting atmosphere for guests. Each centerpiece looked slightly different, with a very cute animal/creature theme for each table.  We thought of clever little phrases for each of the creatures.  A couple of my favorites were “Let’s monkey around”, “Iguana get to know you”  and “You’re sweet and I’m not Lion.”

Event Design & Planning: Jess Flood Event Design / Wedding Photography: Jerry Yoon / Wedding Cinematography: Cinematt / Wedding Ceremony Location: Shakespeare Garden / Wedding Reception Venue: California Academy of Sciences / Catering: La Bonne Cuisine / Floral Design: Sebastien Sanges of La Bonne Cuisine / Event Lighting: Got Light? / Event Rentals: Wine Country Party & Events / Reception Music: DJ Seven / Ceremony Music: San Francisco Conservatory of Music / Officiant: Minister Maggie / Wedding Cake: Denise Schannon / Wedding Invitations & Paper Goods: Remilla Arcega / Cable Cars: Classic Sight Seeing Adventures / Transportation: Red Tie Transportation / Photo Booth: Party Booths / Hair: Gina Nguyen / Makeup: Amy Chanthaphavong / Wedding Dress: Randy Ortiz / Reception Dress: Valentino / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jessica Simpson Collection

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bay Area, Bay Area Wedding, Burgundy, CA, California Academy of Sciences, Cinematt, Denise Schannon, DJ Seven, Got Light, Jerry Yoon, Jess Flood Event Design, La Bonne Cuisine, Manolo Blahnik, Minister Maggie, Northern California, Party Booths, Pink, Purple, Randy Ortiz, Red Tie Transportation, Remilla Arcega, San Francisco, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Sebastien Sanges, Shakespeare Garden, Succulents, Valentino, Wine Country Party & Events
Post categories: Contemporary

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Michael and I met and fell in love in San Francisco.  We live and work amongst its landmarks and wanted very much to make them a part of our story.  We were engaged at the Palace of Fine Arts, pass the Flood Mansion on nightly walks, and frequently visit and dine at the Ferry Plaza Building.  Seeing these everyday landmarks made up especially for us, helped to wed us not only to each other, but to the city itself and symbolized our putting down roots as a family in our adopted hometown.  Each day, we are reminded of the happiness of our wedding as we pass by and interact with these landmarks that have become interwoven with our lives.

It was important to us that our ceremony be personal and honest, and that our reception be a party from start to finish all the while showcasing the best that San Francisco has to offer in terms of views, music and food.  To that end, our officiant and readings were all done by friends and family amidst the Flood Mansion’s sweeping views of the Golden Gate bridge from the top of the Pacific Heights neighborhood.  Flowers were chosen not only for their beauty, but particularly for their fragrance with heavy accents of bay leaf, gardenias and lavender.  Afterwards, guests enjoyed a picturesque cable car ride from Pacific Heights to the waterfront Embarcadero for a reception at the Ferry Plaza Building. Given the Ferry Building’s reputation for leading the organic food movement, we decided to forego a traditional sit down dinner and instead offer various food stations, allowing the caterer to highlight offerings from independent farmers and purveyors including locally roasted coffee, line caught fish from the Bay, and Humboldt and Sonoma county artisanal cheeses.  San Francisco’s famous Jazz Mafia Realistic Orchestra, a 22 piece Jazz band, provided the musical backdrop for an evening of nonstop dancing.

Wedding Photography: Lisa Lefkowitz / Wedding Planning: Melissa Panico of MAP Events / Officiant: Stu Peterson / Ceremony Music: Ambience Trio of Starlite Strings / Floral Design: Torryne of Birch / Catering: Paula LeDuc Fine Catering / Lighting & Audio: Got Light? / Band: Jazz Mafia / DJ: J-Boogie / Wedding Cake: Butterfly Cakes / Rentals: Luxe Event Rentals / Trees, Tables & Chairs: Hartmann Studios / Transportation: Events West (Cable Car) + Pure Luxury (Suburbans) / Hair & Makeup: Sarah E. Hyde / Save the Dates: Carrot & Stick Press / Wedding Invitations: A Day In May Design / Wedding Dress: Selia Yang / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jin Wang / Groom’s Tux: Giorgio Armani / Wedding Ceremony Location: The James Leary Flood Mansion / Wedding Reception Location: Ferry Plaza Building

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 32 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: A Day in May Design, Ambience Trio, Bay Area, Birch, Black, Butterfly Cakes, CA, Carrot and Stick press, Christian Louboutin, Events West, Ferry Plaza Building, Flood Mansion, Giorgio Armani, Got Light, Hartmann Studios, J-Boogie, Jazz Mafia, Jin Wang, Lisa Lefkowitz, Luxe Event Rentals, MAP Wedding & Events, Northern California Wedding, Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, Pure Luxury, Purple, Red, San Francisco, Sarah Hyde, Selia Yang, Starlite Strings
Post categories: California Weddings, San Francisco Weddings, Traditional Elegance

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Five years after being diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, I received the thrilling news I was officially in remission. Immediately I called my husband and asked if he would marry me again on our 2nd wedding anniversary.  I felt like it would be the perfect way for us to celebrate the abundance of life and more specifically, our undying love for one another. Of course he said, “YES!” so we quickly set out to coordinate a vow renewal in three weeks!

Lance and I met and married in San Francisco, but currently reside in Minneapolis where I have established PAPERISTA, a luxury stationery boutique and design company.  We knew we had to go back to the Bay Area for this momentous occasion and so for our venue, we chose the oldest winery in California, Buena Vista Winery, located in Sonoma.  We often frequented Buena Vista during date trips to wine country and knew how lovely the outdoor ambience would be.  The setting was so lush and green, a perfect fit for a stately English garden feel that I wanted to create with decor and paper designs.  The affair was set with lunch and a private wine tasting in their terraced garden area.  Wine Country Party & Events provided all the elegant furniture and decor pieces.  My bouquet, boutonnieres and the arrangement in the wine tasting lounge area were created by the lovely Nancy Liu Chin and accented the bright pinks and orange flowers on the table with hues of blue, white, and purple.  I designed all the paper pieces and through my company, PAPERISTA, had everything Letterpress printed in blue with the faintest pink details.  Minneapolis-based calligrapher, Rosann Konieczny, did the place cards and our marriage confirmation contract in her wonderfully written style.  The styling and remaining floral we did with the help of our Minneapolis-based photographer and close friend, Erica Loeks (Erica Loeks Photography).  The absolutely gorgeous white tiered cake was provided by Fleur de Lisa Cakes and was the most sumptuous carrot cake any of us had ever tasted.

I kept my look simple, wearing a Jean Paul Gaultier sun dress and my wedding shoes from Nina Ricci. My pink Mui Mui ballet flats were a must in the heat of the afternoon.  Also in attendance were our moms and two of our closest friends who were also our best man and a bridesmaid from our wedding. The vow ceremony was beautifully said and heartfelt from my mother who held our original wedding program and an engagement photo in hand. Personal touches were immenient and created a simple event to celebrate our love and commitment for years to come.

The following is the last bit of text from our marriage confirmation contract which we signed and now have framed in our home:

On our wedding day we pledged love and commitment. since that day we have created a home and a life together with promise for the future. Today we joyfully reaffirm our vows and once again promise to love, honor and respect one another through good times and in bad as long as we both shall live.

Wedding Photography: Erica Loeks Photography / Wedding Invitations: PAPERISTA / Floral Design: Nancy Liu Chin / Wedding Cake: Fleur de Lisa Wedding Cakes / Event Rentals: Wine Country Party & Events / Event Design: PAPERISTA / Wedding Location & Catering: Buena Vista Winery / Calligraphy: Rosann Konieczny / Bride’s Shoes: Nina Ricci + Miu Miu / Wedding Dress: Jean Paul Gaultier (Originally Worn During Couple’s Honeymoon) / Limo Service: Prestige Limo / Additional Florals: Spruce

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 28 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bay Area, Buena Vista Winery, CA, Erica Loeks Photography, Fleur De Lisa Cakes, John Paul Gaultier, Miu Miu, Nancy Liu Chin, Navy Blue, Nina Ricci, Paperista, Pink, Prestige Limo, Purple, Rosann Konieczny, Sonoma, Vow Renewal, White, Wine Country Party & Events, Wine Country Weddings
Post categories: California Weddings, Casual Elegance

To see more from this lovely little wedding, click right here!

When John and Kellie were looking for a wedding venue, they knew they wanted a venue which was close to the water because they had met while on the inter collegiate rowing circuit. They also wanted a venue which was in the bay area as they wanted to share their love for the area with their friends and family, many of whom were from out of town. This when the couple came across the Angel Island state park, they knew it was the venue for them. The big plus was the fees to host a wedding there were extremely reasonable as well.

The bride Kellie also love doing crafts and month before the wedding began going about gathering and putting together all the little details for her wedding. Guests were given wedding favors of rosemary salt in  small antique bottles personally baked by the couple. Table numbers for guests were soaked in tea to give an aged appearance and tied to an antique keys sourced from all over the world.

The flowers at the wedding were based on the spring flowers in northern California.  Together with the lanterns, the couple wanted a nostalgic, garden theme to their wedding.

Wedding Photography: 39 East Photography / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Florist: Orchid Florist / Catering: Cove Cafe, Angel Island Company Catering  / Eric McFarland (Event Planner) / Bridal Hair: Festoon Salon / Decorations: Pottery Barn, Anthropologie / Wedding Cake: Victoria’s Pastries

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Angel Island, Bay Area, California Weddings, Intimate, Small Wedding
Post categories: California Weddings, Casual Elegance, San Francisco Weddings

And although I don’t have a ton of the details, I do know this. I am completely obsessed with the chic, laid back elegance. The charm threaded into every detail. The sophisticated but totally approachable style.

I am a little bit in love with the centerpieces. Potted plants in simple white containers with little birds and table names tucked inside. By sticking with mostly greens and whites, they are completely chic and refreshing. They look expensive and yet they are totally doable for a DIY bride. Love that.

Here’s what else I love about this wedding. It’s all about the simple elegance…candles placed on top of coffee beans inside a perfect cylindrical vase. A chocolate table runner that spans the length of the table. An adorable cork board with mismatched place cards pinned to it.  A cake that is literally making me want to dive right into the picture so that I can see it for myself.

It’s the sweet, charming details that just take this one to an all new level. Oh and the FABULOUS color palette. Thank you so much to the so-so-talented Nancy Liu Chin for sending today’s affair. Make sure to check out her site and her fabulous blog for tons and tons of eye candy. And to the forever amazing Lisa Lefkowitz for capturing such stunning photographs. Love. Every. Bit of it.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bay Area, California Weddings, Lisa Lefkowitz, Nancy Liu Chin, San Franscisco
Post categories: Traditional Elegance, Wedding Planners & Designers

The photographs were all taken by a new photography team in the San Francisco Bay Area…Verite. Their work is really beautiful and I have to say, I am blown away by these gorgeous images that we’ve featured today. If you are in need of a little inspiration, check out their website. It’s actually still being developed, but the photographers, Robyn and Maria, have their own sites that are filled with eye candy!

Thanks so much, Tracy, for letting us feature your big day!!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 20 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bay Area, Bridesmaids Dresses, California Weddings, JCrew, Livermore, Murrieta's Well, Verite
Post categories: Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance

From Tracy, the gorgeous bride…

Our wedding was May 31, 2008 at Murrieta’s Well in Livermore, CA.  My husband, Steve, and I wanted an intimate, rich event filled with warm textures, great food and wine and lots of laughter!  We really achieved all three of these (and even more).  I really focused on textures when putting together my look and feel for the day.  Andrea, at Studio AYT, incorporated cork into our invitations to reflect the winery venue, we used white dogwood and orchids to mirror the rough/soft feel of the concrete barrel room and soft twinkle lights.  I wanted to bring in a classic old Hollywood feel to my look and my hair designer really did a great job with the soft waves to match the lace of my dress.   Finally, I LOVE LIGHTING so we really used different shades of up lighting on the outside of the winery and in the vines to give the dance/lounge area a jeweled fabric feel. 

We were so pleased with how everything turned out and are even happier to be married!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bay Area, California Weddings, Dogwood, Livermore, Murrieta's Well, Orchids, Studio AYT, Wedding Hairstyles, Winery
Post categories: Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance