Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Ryon:Lockhart…We were fortunate enough to be flown out from NY to CA to photograph this beautiful wedding weekend! Lauren and Matt are two incredibly loving people full of warm hugs and laughter and their wedding was nothing short of just that. We began our day getting ready at the gorgeous Hotel Sofitel. Lauren has such an incredible group of women in her life and it was so fun to watch them all interact and capture all the love and excitement in the room!

The Portola Valley Community Center is such a beautiful place to host a wedding! Super spacious and clean with trees as far as the eye can see. Lauren and Matt had a hand in just about every aspect of their wedding and their hard work and keen sense of  ‘laid back California style’ paid off!  The theme of the day was Rustic Romance and everything from the flowers to the cake to the ceremony were just perfect. Thank you so very much to Lauren and Matt and their families for including us in the weekend.  Your warm demeanor and genuine love and kindness remind us of what we love most about our job.

Wedding Photography: Ryon:Lockhart / Flowers: Karen Froniewski of Nature’s Alley / Event Design: DIY / Event Planning: Kimberly McCann / Ceremony + Reception Location: Portola Valley Community Center / Hair: Lisa from Rocket Salon / Make-up: Elba at The Beauty Lounge / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo + Loft

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Post tags: California Weddings, Jimmy Choo, Kimberly McCann, Loft, Nature's Alley, Palo Alto, Portola Valley Community Center, Rocket Salon, Ryon:Lockhart, The Beauty Lounge
Post categories: California Weddings, Casual Elegance

Event Design and Styling by Sweetchic Events, Inc. Floral by Vale of Enna. SWOON.

From Sweetchic Events … A few months ago, Kenny Nakai and Grace Ha-Kim of Vale of Enna Floral Design moved into their brand new shared studio in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. During a visit, it dawned on me that their loft-style studio – which features amazing hardwood floors, brick walls, exposed ducts, and wooden beams – was the perfect location for a photo shoot! Between the three of us, we had a venue, a photographer, a floral designer and an event planner. Voila! A photo shoot was born.

Luckily, already in the studio were Grace’s amazing wooden work table and Kenny’s vintage factory cart, both of which played a key role in the shoot. The concept for the shoot was to bring a bright, lush, springtime garden into an urban loft. The three hanging globe lights and the rounded curves of the glass candle holders Grace suggested, served as inspiration for the use of glass globes on the table, the escort card holders, draped on chairs, under the table, and especially the bubbles!

The color scheme grew from a wish to see spring colors – corals, pinks, peaches, and yellows – to briefly escape the seemingly endless months of Chicago’s gray winter. Grace’s lush designs truly brought a springtime garden indoors. The fabric draping by Art of Imagination brought a sense of intimacy, softness and romance to the spacious loft.  Mirror and chrome accents were used throughout the tablescape and on the escort card arrangement as a key element.  Accents included a mirrored table runner, chrome cube risers, and one of our favorite details, the mirrored table number which we hung from the beams. I envisioned reflective menus and escort cards and discovered mirror surface paper, on which I asked calligrapher, Mike of Write by Mike to lend his skillful handwriting.

Event Design and Styling: Sweetchic Events, Inc. / Photographer: Nakai Photography / Floral Design: Vale of Enna / Draping: Art of Imagination / Food: Pure Kitchen Catering / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Calligraphy: Write by Mike

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Post tags: Art of Imagination, Chicago, Classic Party Rentals, Illinois, Loft, Mirrors, Nakai Photography, Photo Shoot, Pure Kitchen Catering, Sweetchic Events Inc., Vale of Enna, Wedding Inspiration, Whimsical, Write by Mike
Post categories: Little Black Book Blog, Photo Shoot

photography courtesy of Jennifer Images

from Crystal …
When I first met Valerie & Chris, one of the very first things I noticed was how classic and elegant they were. Their style was understated but beautiful and I really wanted their wedding day to reflect that. With a clean slate, I literally wanted to translate that into a monotone but uber-textured wedding so we chose a palette of pure white and silver. The bouquets were kept seasonal in tulips and peonies. Perfect for a summer wedding in the city. The cocktail décor included a patio covered in faux turf, tones of lounges and bright pillows in royal blue and fuschia set off by pink peonies in silver buckets. Inside the room was filled with 3 long rows of dining tables where guests sat as if in a large holiday supper. The meal was a delectable six courses with each course being served family style to the table in tapas portions. We used photographs of the Bride & Groom’s parents and grandparents to decorate the ceremony space and we hung custom accordion style programs on the backs of each chair. These programs included both ceremony and reception itineraries! From the bread breaking to the cake cutting to sweet ice cream cookie sandwiches for late night this couple truly celebrated in a white wonderland of chic.

from the beautiful bride …
Chris and I met through mutual friends. Both of us had attended the same university in the same program and year but had never crossed paths. He lived an hour a half away, but pretty quickly we were taking turns driving to spend the weekend together. We did this for 2 full years until Chris finally proposed.

We wanted a wedding that represented us and the things we love, good food and wine, beautiful decor and fashion, and a little sparkle and shine. The idea of an all white colour scheme seemed perfect especially when we found our venue which featured all white walls, huge windows and grey painted hardwood floors.

The weekend that Chris and I got married was an interesting one in Toronto. It was the weekend before the G20 summit, and police officers had already started shutting down major streets in downtown Toronto. Although this could have put a major damper on our day, luckily Toronto’s finest have a soft spot for Brides & Grooms and we were able to bypass much of the traffic and were allowed to drive on the closed streets in our vintage Rolls Royce.

Chris and I were married beside the stage that featured photos of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days which will serve as our role-model for a successful marriage. After the ceremony guests were invited to join us outside on the rooftop patio, which featured faux lawn, pink peonies and brightly coloured cushions which acted as our pop of colour for the day. Outside, Chris and I were able to mingle with our guests and enjoy the passed cocktails and food. While we were enjoying the gorgeous weather, our Wedding Planner worked with our vendors to quickly get our ceremony space ready for dinner. I was absolutely stunned with how gorgeous the space looked when it was done with the textured linens, fluffy peonies and votive candles. Dinner featured a 6-course meal based on some of our favourite meals and restaurants that we had been to together. It was served as small shared plates which allowed us to serve some slightly out of the ordinary options, including cold soup shooters, watermelon and feta salad, rosti potato, a trio of risottos and tuna and beef.

During dinner, our photographer stole us away from the party to do a few more photos just as the sun was setting. This gave us a welcome break and a chance to just enjoy each other and our new status as husband and wife.

The day itself was a blur as previous brides had told me it would be. But what I remember the most was the amazing feeling of having all our friends and family there to share in our special day, and feeling as though all of the planning over the past year and a half had paid off as we were living our perfect wedding.

Congratulations Valerie and Chris!

More photographs …

Jennifer Images: White Wedding Wonderland, (Gorgeous Badgley Michka Shoes, Closer Look At Bridesmaids Dresses)

Distinct Occasions: Edelweiss White Wedding (The Table Setting!)

SMP Photo Gallery: Valerie & Chris’ Wedding Gallery

Wedding Planning & Design: Distinct Occasions
Photography: Jennifer Images
Decor/Floral: Petals, Stems & Leaves
Venue: Andrew Richard Designs
DJ: Prodigy Entertainment
Harpist: Andrew Chan
Caterer: Marigolds & Onions
Stationery: Bride’s Own Creation

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Post tags: Andrew Chan, Andrew Richard Designs, Distinct Occasions, Jennifer Images, Jim Hjelm, Loft, Marigolds & Onions, Petal, Prodigy Entertainment, Pronovias, Stems & Leaves Inc, White Wedding
Post categories: Contemporary, Little Black Book Blog, Traditional Elegance, Wedding Planners & Designers

This wedding was held on the 11th floor of an industrial building in downtown LA; guests entered the space and took their seats for the ceremony (marked by a gorgeous grey tufted sofa and clear acrylic pedestals holding asymmetrical bouquets of white florals); after the ceremony, guests mingled and watched the sunset and the amazing cityscape through the walls of glass. Drapes were then drawn back to reveal a dinner reception, set in the center of the space. The entire celebration was meant to be a fusion of masculine and feminine; bringing warmth and personality to a very raw, urban space.

The bride is an accomplished writer and the groom is an avid photographer; this inspired their coordinator, Emily Kelly, to set up a vintage typewriter for guests to type out their well wishes for the couple. Meaningful love quotes were also displayed on the walls of the space. The groom’s photos were used on the escort cards and table numbers. Residentially-inspired bookshelves were set in the space, filled with family photos and collected bud vases with gathered florals.

We’ve SO enjoyed spending the day with Niki and Rene of R. Jack Balthazar, one of the country’s premier event design firms. They have a super-cute story about how they started out in the biz on their website {about them}. Really goes to show you that passion has no boundaries! Thanks, Rene & Niki for indulging us in your creations!

Photography: Tyler Boye
Flowers: R. Jack Balthazar
Event Design: Emily Kelly of Unscene Inc and R. Jack Balthazar
Event Planning: Emily Kelly of Unscene Inc.
Ceremony & Reception Location: The Cooper Building, downtown Los Angeles
Dress: Monique Lhuillier (the sweetest tea-length dress you’ve ever seen!)

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Post tags: California Weddings, Cooper Building, Loft, Los Angeles, Modern, Monique Lhuillier, R. Jack Balthazar, Tyler Boye Photography, Unscene Inc
Post categories: Centerpieces, Contemporary, Little Black Book Blog, Real Weddings, Wedding Planners & Designers

{click here for the FULL uber cool wedding gallery}

Traci and Chris had the *coolest* DIY wedding at a loft space in downtown Los Angeles. The entire event was flower-free, as Traci was committed from the beginning to not spend a fortune on florals. She had a very Anthropologie wedding vision, in a yellow, black and white color scheme.

The ceremony entrance was such a fun reflection of who they are. The guys walked in to Final Countdown, and the groom walked in through the draping right when the song reaches its ultimate peak. The entire crowd roared with laughter!! Then the girls walked in to Dancing with Myself by Nouvelle Vague. Not a traditional song by any means, but so perfect for this very *indie* type wedding. Then cute tiny Traci walked in to I Melt With You by Nouvelle Vague…again, non-traditional, but oh so perfect! They met up at the ceremony altar and their friend officiated the entire ceremony from his Iphone.

For her bridal party personals, Traci decided to use Etsy to get the most adorable bouquets and bouts, made entirely out of buttons! For the centerpieces, she handcrafted each of the 16 centerpieces from vintage pieces and sewed her own table runners. The centerpieces ranged from antique bird cages, to a stack of vintage books covered in fabric, to shabby chic candelabras. No two centerpieces were alike, but they all played well into the theme and color scheme. She also created her own table numbers to go along with the feel of the tables, as well as her own menus and placecards. The placecards were the most adorable little die-cut pieces in the shape of the entrees, a fish, a lamb, and a tomato!

She outfitted her bridal party in prints, from the bridesmaids’ gorgeous floral black and white dresses, to the guy’s striped black and white shirts, and their amazing ties (including the groom’s)!!  She bought her amazingly stylish wedding accessories, (i.e. her black lace necklace and her feather headpiece) on Etsy.

Traci and Chris are just two of the most amazing people you will ever meet, and their wedding was a perfect reflection of who they are as a couple. Super fun, super relaxed, and super cool!!

Paola Spagnoletti of Just Chic Events

Photography: White Haute / Second Shooter: Ohana Photographers / Event Coordination: Just Chic Events / Venue: Tricot Showroom, Los Angeles, California / Cake: Laurie Mura of I Believe it’s Cake / DJ: Michael Antonia of The Flashdance / Draping and Lighting: Flowers on Mars / Wedding Dress: Jenny Yoo / Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Necklace: Etsy seller Tree and Kimball / Feather Headpiece: Batcakes Couture / Bouquets: Letters 4 Lilly / Ties: Cyberoptix Tie Lab / Bridesmaids: Maggy London via Nordstroms

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Post tags: Batcakes Couture, California Weddings, Cyberoptix Tie Lab, Flowers on Mars, Jenny Yoo, Just Chic Events, Letters 4 Lilly, Loft, Los Angeles, Maggy London, Michael Antonia, Nordstroms, Ohana Photographers, Stuart Weitzman, The FlashDance, Tree and Kimball, Tricot Showroom, White Haute Photography
Post categories: Contemporary, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Real Weddings, Vintage Chic

Luis and I had a singular focus on making our wedding modern, fun, and festive. We didn’t want just a wedding like everyone else’s, we wanted a party that happened to include a celebration of our marriage. As a graphic designer – and coming from a family of graphic designers and artists – there is no way I would ever turn over creative reins to anyone! Between me, my mother, and my sister in law, we designed everything to be beautiful and cohesive, pulling our illustration theme and color scheme throughout all aspects of the wedding.

The color scheme we selected was apple green, dove grey, black, and white – colors which played nicely off the illustration, the polished concrete floors in our industrial venue, and a bright springtime color that warms my heart whenever I see it. Once I had settled on apple green, we knew that apples would play a major part in all of our decor choices. Indeed, there was an enormous vase of apples on the escort table at the entry, and apples adorned all of the tables – a cheap and beautiful decorative choice.

My mom and I decided to save money and keep our creative control by doing all of the flowers ourselves as well. We ordered dozens and dozens of assorted white flowers from an internet supplier, as well as green hypericum berries and Bells of Ireland. We used the berries along with white ranunculus to make the boutonnieres, and the Bells of Ireland made gorgeous and dramatic bridesmaids’ bouquets. My bridal bouquet was entirely comprised of white freesia, and I left the bouquet untied until just before the ceremony so that me and my bridesmaids could complete the ribbon wrapping and tying together as a group effort. Finally, each table received a modern, asymmetrical arrangement in a rectangular glass vase anchored with dark grey river rocks. The overall effect was modern, clean, and beautiful without being overly feminine.

As you’ll see from the photos, the Foundry is a tall space. In order to warm up the space without spending a lot of money or making it lose its industrial character, we relied on candles – some 400 of them! We also wanted a dramatic centerpiece for the room that would frame the “altar” space where the actual ceremony would take place. My mom undertook what I refer to as the great manzanita project, creating gorgeous 8.5 foot tall pieces entirely out of silk flowers and non-perishables. She and my dad assembled everything themselves. They built the “stumps” and covered them with moss. They placed the trees within using cement and sandbags to anchor them. They lovingly glued individual blossoms and leaves to the branches. And they strung tiny white blossoms onto fishing line for the draped effect you’ll see in the photos. They were gorgeous and really helped frame and fill the massive Foundry space.

Music is a tremendous part of our lives. It was incredibly fun for us to put together our entire wedding mix, which was run off of my laptop in the corner. That’s right – no DJ! We got compliments from all of our friends and family on the thoughtfulness of our choices, and how “us” the entire mood of the evening seemed. Luis walked in to the opening strains of “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica. Luis’ sister sang “I’ll Cover You” from the musical RENT during our ceremony. Our reception started to Ozzy shrieking “All aboard” in his song, “Crazy Train.” During dinner, we played Bauhaus and Joy Division.

My gown was designed by Demetrios with a few modifications added by my mother and me. The dress features a tiered ruffle section down the left side – we augmented each tier with added layers of birdcage netting and white feathers. In the end, the dress looked really beautiful but didn’t bust our modest budget.

Vendors: Venue, The Foundry, Long Island City / Catering by Real Food Catering / Photography by Kate & Georgina / Videography by Love In Progress / Cake by City Sweets / Gown by Demetrios / Veil by Artikal Millinery / Hair by Stacy Pitt, Styles on B / Officiant Pastor April, Church of Ancient Ways

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Post tags: Apples, Artikal Millinery, Black, City Sweets, Demetrios, Gray, Kate & Georgina, Loft, Long Island, Love in Progress Video, Modern, New York Weddings, Real Food Catering, Styles on B, The Foundry
Post categories: Casual Elegance, Contemporary, New York City Weddings, New York Weddings

And like many celebrations, there is a life, a story behind the beauty. Here are some last details and a touching note from Laura, the gorgeous bride…

Due to my aforementioned obsessive planning trait, I would have normally chosen to give ourselves plenty of time to perfect every detail and incorporate tons of DIY projects. During our planning, however, life took a different turn: my stepfather, whom I think of my only father as he’s been with us since I was a child, was diagnosed with liver cancer. As many who have dealt with cancer can attest, there were many ups and downs… some times we thought he would beat it, and other times we were scared he wouldn’t make it through the week. Eric and I decided right away that we would do our best to make sure he would be there with us on our day, so we chose a winter date in the same year and ramped up our planning.

photography by Heather Waraksa and event design by Daughter of Design

The decision to move up the wedding turned out to be, far and away, the best one we made, and not just because my father made it to our wedding. In the months leading up the big day, his health began to fail rapidly and life became very difficult for him. But his anticipation of the wedding and his desire to be there to walk me down the aisle kept him going, and when I called him I could hear the joy and excitement in his voice even through the pain and depression he was dealing with.My mom described the day she took him to get fitted for a new suit (and a very dapper new hat and coat to go with it) as one of the happiest he had during that time.

My father passed away just a few weeks after the wedding. Thankfully, we had the warm memories from the wedding and the pictures showing the happiness and positive spirit that he had that day to ease us through this period. Eric and I are so extremely grateful that we were able to spend this time with him, show him the love that we have for each other and the promise of our future so that he could rest assured that I was taken care of. These memories are happy ones and we cherish them… and I know my father would be proud of that.

Near the end of the evening, after the photographers had left and things were beginning to wind down, it started to snow in Manhattan.  We – and our guests – all went out onto the roof deck and reveled in the magic of the city lights and the snow falling around us.  It was so breathtaking… as if the stars were aligned for us that night.

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Post tags: Daughter of Design, Daughters by Design, Eric and Laura, Heather Waraksa, Loft, New York City, New York Weddings, NYC
Post categories: Contemporary, New York City Weddings, New York Weddings

And yet, just when you think that it’s all about the style, all about the chic…there is that bit of handmade charm that EVERY wedding needs to feel complete!

all photos by Heather Waraksa and the gorgeous event was designed by Daughter of Design

As a quick little sidenote, Laura loved the details so much that she launched her own event design company specializing in the finishing touches that turn a pretty wedding into a spectacular one! Definitely check out her new adventure, Make Merry Event Design Services.

A Bit More From Laura…

We served three kinds of really fabulous cupcakes and THE best banana pudding I’ve ever had, period, all from Sugar Sweet Sunshine.  Our caterer Yen Ngo of Real Food Catering, added macaroons and meringues to round out the dessert table.

We gathered wedding photos of our family and friends, printed them in black & white, and hung them from champagne and cream colored ribbons accented by hanging votives (our tribute to them as inspirations for our marriage).

Oh also, we followed the DIY project you posted from Kathleen – the hot chocolate and marshmallow bags. And it was a total family effort: cards printed by me, bags and hot chocolate purchase and put together by my mother, sewn by my aunt, and molasses cookies (family special recipe) added by my mother-in-law. We left these at the hotel for our out-of-town guests and also brought some to the wedding to give away to the others.

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Post tags: Daughters by Design, Laura and Eric, Loft, New York City, New York Weddings, NYC
Post categories: The Blog