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Natalie & Pat wanted nothing more than to provide an intimate and unique experience for their wedding celebration and bringing together their family and friends from both coasts to Napa, offered just that! After many a trips to Napa, Natalie & Pat thought there would be no better a location for their day. Natalie’s never ending passion for interior design fueled the process with me and her design team referencing architecture, restaurant design and the like for inspiration for her day. She certainly didn’t want a day that looked like any old wedding and in the end, I think we accomplished just that. Sleek and modern with just the right amount of charm played off of the juxtaposition of the venue’s industrial meets rustic design. For the ceremony, Natalie chose the Apple Orchard as the place to exchange vows and kept the area understated with simple black X back chairs and shepard’s hooks. The main statement piece at the ceremony was the black baby grand piano that played Coldplay’s Reign of Love as Natalie walked down the aisle.

During cocktail hour, the pianist continued as guests enjoyed elderflower champagne and wines selected during several trips to the Napa area by the bride and groom. For dinner, we had a true Napa Valley inspired menu that included seasonal ingredients straight from the valley. For design, based on a color story inspired from the interior of a cathedral that Natalie couldn’t get enough of, we worked with a pale slate blue as the base for everything from the invitations to the linens. To keep the look clean and streamlined, Natalie had her heart set on ghost chairs designed by Philipe Starck and the design team was happy to oblige. Clean vessels filled with soft white flowers added romance to the look while maintaining the sophisticated vibe and touches of whimsical yet mod butterflies for everything from place cards to random moments on the drum shades to the picture display.

The evening ended near the outdoor fire place surrounded by modern meets romantic lounge furniture and an elaborate S’mores display. Guests enjoyed, cocktails, cocoa and sweets until the wee hours of the morning when Natalie & Pat said their goodbyes to all of their guests that traveled so far to celebrate with them in true Napa style.

Photography: Jose Villa / Event Planner: Beth Helmstetter / Floral Designer & Rentals: Kathleen Deery / Linens: La Tavola / Venue: Carneros Inn / Cake: Perfect Endings / Stationery: Village Invites / Entertainment: Patrick Numair / Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Music: Michael Udelson / Piano Rental: Santa Rosa Music Center / Calligraphy: Laura Hooper / Macarons: Paulette Macaron Dress: Oscar De La Renta / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale

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Post tags: Beth Helmstetter, California Weddings, Carneros Inn, Jose Villa, Kathleen Deery, La Tavola, Laura Hooper, Michael Udelson, Napa Valley Weddings, Patrick Numair, Paulette Macaron, Perfect Endings, Santa Rose Music Center, Village Invites
Post categories: California Weddings, Napa Valley Weddings, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance

click here to see the full gallery!

This beautiful rehearsal dinner, designed by Beth Helmstetter, took place in the Wine Cellar at Westlake Village Inn in Southern California. Beth kept the decor simple playing off the natural beauty of the room using tons of candles to give the room a beautifully soft glow. Florals in shades of blush pink and ivory from Holly Flora added to the the look, and rattan chargers and a simple champagne linen completed the room. The cellar had enclaves that opened onto the lake where Beth left seating for guests to enjoy the view.

The printed materials included custom invitations, individual place cards with various icons representing the dinner entree options, and a hand painted menu board to be displayed on the stone mantle in the cellar.

The groom’s family even shipped in pralines in the shape of Texas (his home state) as a favor for each guest! All of the out-of-towners also received a tote bag featuring a custom map created for the couple’s wedding invitation suite.

Beth Helmstetter: Planning and Design / Laura Hooper: Calligraphy / Steve Steinhardt: Photography / Flowers: Holly Flora / Venue: Wine Cellar at Westlake Village Inn

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Post tags: Beth Helmstetter, California Weddings, Calligraphy, Holly Flora, Laura Hooper, Rehearsal Dinner, Steve Steinhardt, Wine Cellar at Westlake Village Inn
Post categories: California Weddings

click here to see the full gallery!

Jeremy and I had moved into our home about 8 months ago but still hadn’t had a “housewarming” of any kind, so after we got engaged we thought this would be the perfect time to have our friends and family over to celebrate! Since our wedding is taking place in later this year in Hawaii and will be full of bright colors, we wanted to keep the engagement party in metallics – think gold, silver, sparkles and black.

We used a gorgeous gold crinkle paper for our round invitations and I also glued crystals onto each one to add a little bling!

Beth transformed our small backyard into a comfortably elegant lounge area using hanging lanterns to help set the mood. We thought this would create a nice balance of casual and chic for our friends and family to enjoy! Guests headed inside for our heavy hors d’oeuvres display and Beth also created a fabulous champagne cocktail bar complete with our custom cocktail napkins! We made adorable swizzle sticks to tie it all together and everyone indulged in the delcious skewers, champagne, wine and strawberry margaritas.

The evening flowed like a cocktail hour, with everyone mingling, chatting and catching a glimpse of our photo slideshow which we had up on our tv to brighten up the room (big thanks to Steve Steinhardt for producing our engagement photos so quickly!), and at the end of the night we all enjoyed desserts out in the lounge area…we of course had comfy blankets and heaters to keep warm on the cool night.

Event Design: Beth Helmstetter Events / Photography: Steve Steinhardt Photography / Calligraphy and Paper Details: Laura Hooper Calligraphy / Hair + Makeup by Summer Noelle / Catering: Joan’s on Third / Desserts by Vanilla Bakeshop / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

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Post tags: Beth Helmstetter, California Weddings, Classic Party Rentals, engagement party, Joan's on Third, Laura Hooper, Los Angeles, Steve Steinhardt, Vanilla Bakeshop
Post categories: Real Parties

If you just can’t wait, grab a sneak peek at the FULL wedding here!

A bit about the day…

Stella and Peter’s Parisian meets Old Hawaii inspired destination wedding weekend was definitely a highlight of the year for us. With Stella living in Hong Kong, we did our best to bridge the distance by working hand in hand with her on designing a day that was sweet, understated and charming, just like her. We started off by invited guests with custom Laura Hooper invitations with a whimsical but sophisticated design which had an occasional butterfly moment to let guests know they should prepare themselves for not only a lovely and approachable weekend but also one that was bound to be a ton of fun!

The first day of celebration included Stella and Peter taking their guests on a Sunset Sail on the Pacific Ocean so guests could relax in true Aloha style. Local beers, Mai Tais and Pacific Rim pupus were on the menu for the evening while guests took in one of the best sunsets they’ve ever experienced.

For the wedding day, Stella wanted a soft palette that was still a little fun, so we worked with paler shades of what I would consider candy colors including blush pink, peach, lavender, pale aqua and an occasional touch of soft greens and butters in there as needed. To help create her soft and much tamed down vintage Hawaii look we found what I believe to be one of the most beautiful venues on earth, Haiku Mill. Visiting this venue is almost a spiritual experience. What used to be sugar mill ruins only years before, is now glorious with it’s vintage fixtures, original cobblestone floors and walls and attention to detail like no other venue. We all felt very lucky to be holding and hosting an event there.

Sit tight ladies and gents because we have a ton more gorgeous where this came from. Coming up later is a Maui Reception that dreams are made of…

Photography: Jose Villa / Event Designer: Beth Helmstetter / Florals: Holly Flora / Venue: Haiku Mill, Maui / Cinematography: Russell Fowler Studios / Linens: La Tavola Linen / Invitations & Calligraphy: Laura Hooper / Furniture Rental: Pacific Event Group / Catering: Aloha Events / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang / Shoes: Christian Louboutin

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Post tags: Aloha Events, Beth Helmstetter, Christian Louboutin, Haiku Mill, Holly Flora, Jose Villa, La Tavola Linen, Laura Hooper Calligraphy, Maui, Pacific Event Group, Russell Fowler Studios, Vera Wang
Post categories: Destination, Destination Weddings, Real Weddings, The Blog

Click here to see all of the gorgeous pics…perfect for a rehearsal dinner or a sweet, casual wedding. Which just happens to be my favorite part about featuring rehearsal dinners. One girl’s rehearsal is another girl’s wedding! Love that. Here are a few details from Beth Helmstetter…

The night before Liz and Chris’s wine country wedding, they had a traditional Vietnamese feast with their closest family and friends. The event was a true labor of love with the mother of the bride cooking all of the family’s favorite Vietnamese dishes. Flowers and decor were Asian inspired with the centerpieces being created in vintage tea tins and each guest receiving chopsticks in the color palette at their place setting. While the evening was all about family and celebration, Steve Steinhardt found a few minutes to take the couple out for some amazing portraits at the Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse, one of the most special locations in California.

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Post tags: Beth Helmstetter, Rehearsal Dinner, Steve Steinhardt
Post categories: Real Parties

click here to see the full wedding!

A few more details from Beth Helmstetter, SMP friend and planner behind the day…

Liz and Chris celebrated their religion by marrying at a mission in Solvang, which was not only historical but a breathtaking backdrop for the vows. After the ceremony, guests were invited to a wine, cheese and olive oil tasting at the farmhouse before the official festivities began. Liz and Chris had selected their favorite wines from the region, while Duo paired the perfect cheeses and accoutrements for the tasting. Following the wine and cheese tasting, we had a cocktail hour complete with four of Liz and Chris’s favorite beverages from a Chocolate Raspberry Martini to Traditional Sangria prior to sitting down to a family style feast. In the background, Spanish Guitars played and Chris & Liz took in every moment they could by taking walks alone, chatting with close friends and even spontaneously bursting into their first dance when they heard the guitars playing a meaningful song. This type of natural flow for the day led the way for the guests to have a more comfortable and less contrived experience which was perfect for the vibe the couple was trying to create.

After dinner, guests danced, mingled and enjoyed even more culinary treats. From port paired with homemade truffles, to cakes inspired by the wine region, to Laura Hooper’s calligraphy donning every little detail, nothing was left out! In the end, every guest walked away truly feeling what it was like to live in Liz and Chris’s world for a night, and I can speak for many guests when I say, we were all lucky to experience the beauty and love that is this couple.

Ceremony Venue: Santa Ines Mission / Reception Venue: Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse / Planning: Beth Helmstetter Events / Photography: Aaron Delesie / Videography: Joel Serrato Films / Catering: Duo Events / Florals: Flower Wild / Linens: La Tavola / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Lighting: Bella Vista Designs / Invitations: Bella Figura / Calligraphy: Laura Hooper Calligraphy / Cakes: Enjoy Cupcakes / Pies: Marcie’s Pies (805) 688-0597 / DJ: Dash Entertainment / Spanish Guitars Bolero Soul / Transportation: Classic Car / Bride’s Gown: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino

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Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Bella Figura, Bella Vista Designs, Best of 2010, Beth Helmstetter, California Weddings, Chandeliers, Classic Party Rentals, Dash Entertainment, Duo Events, Enjoy Cupcakes, Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse, Flower Wild, Joel Serrato Films, La Tavola, Laura Hooper, Los Olivios, magazine, Outdoors, Rustic, Santa Ines Mission, Valentino, Vera Wang
Post categories: California Weddings, Santa Barbara Weddings, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

A few details from the FABULOUS Beth Helmstetter, the planner behind the day…

Liz and Chris are one of those super amazing couples who couldn’t be better matched for each other. Between Liz’s impeccable style and Chris’s uncompromising taste in food and wine, their event was destined to be an amazing experience for each and every guest! They choose to marry in Los Olivos, which was the backdrop for many wine tasting weekends for the couple. Wanting a relaxed environment that was still special enough for a wedding, they opted for the Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse where we let the rustic venue do most of the talking while adding touches of formality from crystal chandeliers to Dupioni silk linens. Kate from Flower Wild brought her wild and organic look to the florals in soft shades of blush pink, peaches and ivories. In the end, the overall look was effortless, approachable and very Liz.

Part II coming up next but if want to cheat, click here to see the full wedding!

Ceremony Venue: Santa Ines Mission / Reception Venue: Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse / Planning: Beth Helmstetter Events / Photography: Aaron Delesie / Videography: Joel Serrato Films / Catering: Duo Events / Florals: Flower Wild / Linens: La Tavola / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Lighting: Bella Vista Designs / Invitations: Bella Figura / Maps and Envelope Calligraphy: Nicole Black of The Left Hand Calligrapher / Calligraphy: Laura Hooper Calligraphy / Cakes: Enjoy Cupcakes / Pies: Marcie’s Pies (805) 688-0597 / DJ: Dash Entertainment / Spanish Guitars Bolero Soul / Transportation: Classic Car / Bride’s Gown: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Valentino

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Post tags: Aaron Delesie, Bella Figura, Bella Vista Designs, Best of 2010, Beth Helmstetter, California Weddings, Chandeliers, Classic Party Rentals, Dash Entertainment, Duo Events, Enjoy Cupcakes, Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse, Flower Wild, Joel Serrato Films, La Tavola, Laura Hooper, Los Olivios, magazine, Outdoors, Rustic, Santa Ines Mission, Valentino, Vera Wang
Post categories: California Weddings, Santa Barbara Weddings, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

Kurt and I were both living in Manhattan Beach, literally on the same street, about 10 blocks from each other when we first met. We were both watching football at a local sports bar, sitting right next to each other. I was rooting for my beloved Michigan Wolverines, and apparently he was intrigued because his parents also grew up in Michigan. He called me a couple of days later, and we’ve been together ever since!

After a year and a half, Kurt got my Dad’s blessing and completely surprised me with his proposal! It was a typical Monday evening… I got home from work and we went for a run along the ocean. We ended up walking around the Manhattan Beach pier to cool down from our run, where Kurt got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was so caught off guard and thought he was being completely spontaneous. Then he pulled out the most amazing ring I had ever seen, and I realized it was for real!

We were both so excited, and started the planning shortly after! I knew I would need a lot of help with our wedding, so after receiving a referral for a planner from a friend, we met with Beth Helmstetter. She helped us so much throughout our planning and gave us so many wonderful ideas. We knew that we wanted our day to be romantic and beautiful, and Beth helped put it all together. One of our favorite parts of our wedding were the long wood tables with the eclectic mix of vessels and flowers. And the candles!!!! We had candles EVERYWHERE! They really warmed the room (which was necessary because it was a bit cold and rainy!). We also had beautiful lanterns with candles that hung from the ceiling above the dance floor. They were so stunning and another one of our favorite parts of our wedding.

Our photographer, Chelsea Elizabeth, did such an amazing job too.  She also shot my sister’s wedding, and as soon as we saw their pictures, we knew we wanted Chelsea to shoot our wedding.  Whenever we show people who weren’t at our wedding our pictures, they always seem to comment about what a beautiful, sunny, typical California day it was…  which is quite funny because it POURED!  Somehow Chelsea captured the moments when the sun came out and made it look so sunny and beautiful!  Even though it rained, we were able to get some great pictures before the ceremony.  Our first glance was such a special moment.  Kurt was standing on the Strand (where we went running the day we got engaged), and I walked up behind him.  I was so excited to see him and excited for him to see me and my dress because it was the one thing during our planning that I couldn’t share with him.  We have a great picture of our wedding party walking up Manhattan Beach Blvd — it’s one of my most special memories from the day.  We were in the middle of the street and the pier and the ocean are in the background.  As we were walking up the street, people were hanging out of the restaurants clapping and cheering.  It was so much fun, and then the sky opened up, the rain starting coming down, and we ran to the nearest building!  It was so much fun and I didn’t even care at all that it was raining!  The entire day was so beautiful to me, and I wouldn’t change a thing if I could.

Sounds like an amazing day!  Thanks Michele!

xoxo Chantale from La Belle Bride

Vendors:  Wedding Planner: Beth Helmstetter / Make Up: Jami, Flore Beauty / Flowers: Holly Flora /Getting Ready: The Belamar Hotel, Manhattan Beach / Ceremony: American Martyrs Church, Manhattan Beach /Reception: La Venta Inn, Palos Verdes Estates / Photography: Chelsea Elizabeth / Calligraphy: Laura Hooper

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Post tags: American Martyrs Church, Beth Helmstetter, California Weddings, Chantale Montgomery, Chelsea Elizabeth, Flore Beauty, Holly Flora, La Belle Bride, La Venta Inn, Laura Hooper Calligraphy, Manhattan Beach, The Belamar Hotel
Post categories: Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance