Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… When we first got engaged, hitting the blogs and creating my “vision” was clearly my first task. I’m very detail oriented (or OCD, as my husband says) and soon created a Powerpoint presentation, a Pinterest page and started the “Wedding” bookmark tab on my Macbook. But since then, I’ve learned two things: (1) my vision must really be our vision, and (2) despite any planning you do, whatever happens on that momentous day will be an exact reflection of the two of you … and it will be perfect. 

Our goal was to create an experience that was distinctively Californian as 80% of our guests were flying in for the event. We’re both from the Midwest (Chicago and Detroit), but we met in LA and fell in love in there.  A stunning ocean view coupled with the backdrop of the Malibu hills and canyons served as a perfect Southern Californian setting. Our charming little venue captured our fondness for wine country with vineyards and an olive orchard in the backyard. The farmhouse cottage where the ceremony was held topped the Malibu hills and married our enchanted-garden-meets-vintage-ranch vision seamlessly.  Although it was a sweltering day that had us practically melting, by the time the ceremony started, a cool breeze wafted through the ceremony space and I knew everything would be perfect.

Since this was mainly was a DIY event, I relied heavily on my friend/planner/visionary to execute my plans. Another dear friend designed our save the dates and yet another, the flowers. My mom sewed our burlap runners and wrote the most amazing and funny speech. Our photographers were outstanding. Justin picked the caterer (a work friend whose food rivaled 5-star restaurants), created the all-important drink menu and stocked the bar with his favorites.  He also handpicked every song outside of the dance section, so the music we love and live our lives to filled the day. Our dear friends played acoustic guitar and cello and sang our favorite songs during the procession, which ended with Big Star’s “I’m in Love with a Girl.” We wrote our own vows and cried and beamed through every word. As I slipped his grandfather’s ring on his finger, I looked out to the crowd and saw four generations of our family, sitting together in the shade and knew I would never forget this moment. Overall, I think we achieved the rustic California garden feel with little effort and minimal day-of stress. Since we both have insanely busy work lives, many of the ideas we originally brought to the table were cut from the show — but it simply didn’t matter. We were so thankful to have both of our families together at our sun-filled venue and to share our love and happiness with them that we didn’t notice the little things that fell through the cracks. And to hear from our guests, that it was the most beautiful wedding they had been to, with the best food and music, still makes us smile. After six years together, we thought getting married wouldn’t really change our day-to-day life, but it absolutely has. Marriage is truly utter bliss.

Wedding Photography: Erin Hearts Court / Wedding Venue: Rancho del Cielo in Malibu, California / Wedding Design + Coordination: Billy Burgess, Friend of the Couple (billy_burgess@sbcglobal.net) / Catering: Bruce’s Catering, Friend of the Groom (818-376-1288) / Wedding Invitations: Bella Figura / Wedding Dress: Legends by Romona Keveza via MaryLinn’s Bridal / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Shoes: Fendi / Hair: Mia Shin, Friend of Bride, of Anastasia Beverly Hills and B2V / Makeup: Vanessa Ceballos at Anastasia Beverly Hills / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew / Cake + Desserts: Magnolia Bakery / DJ: Paul Layton / Ceremony Music: Wendy Wang (Vocals and Guitar) + Gabe Noel (Cello), Friends of the Couple / Cake Toppers + Save and Date Cards: Christina Pierson, Friend of the Bride / Bouquets: Danielle Renee Thompson of Flowers Underground, Sister of a Friend of a the Couple

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Post tags: Al Fresco, Anastasia Beverly Hills, B2V, Bella Figura, Billy Burgess, Bruce's Gourmet Catering, California, Christina Pierson, Danielle Renee Thompson, Erin Heart's Court, Fendi, Flowers Underground, Gabe Noel, J. Crew, Legends by Romona Keveza, Magnolia Bakery, Malibu, MaryLinn's Bridal, Mia Shin, Outdoor, Paul Layton, Pink, Rancho del Cielo, Tan, Vanessa Ceballos, Wendy Wang, White
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog, Traditional Elegance

And because I might just be the biggest fan of  Elysium Productions in the entire world (this is no exaggeration), I would be remiss to not share yet another one of their wedding cinematography masterpieces…hold onto your hats folks, this one is breathtaking…

Click here for the FULL Wedding!

From Angel of Events of Love and Splendor… Vipula and Dan envisioned a quintessential Indian wedding, embellished in vibrant hues and dripping with luxurious exotic details. With a large guest count and the blank slate of Saddlerock Ranch’s Oak Grove, we embarked on creating three unique settings for their day of celebration. Their wedding was held under a custom-created mandap by the floral and event designers of R. Jack Balthazar. The wooden structure was draped with floral garlands and hanging lanterns for a lavish look. Cocktail hour was held on a nearby lawn, featuring a bar staffed by professional mixologists offering signature cocktails with exotic ingredients such as earl grey-infused vodka, thyme, tamarind syrup and mango puree. Upholstered lounge furniture and embroidered pillows made for a luxe yet warm setting for imbibing. I especially enjoyed working on the escort card table design that played on Vipula’s love of elephants. Escort cards were cut using a custom-made elephant-shaped die, and then nestled in shallow bowls of fragrant and colorful spices. The entire table was covered with elephant figures and statues to further play on the theme.

Dinner and the reception were held in a grand “village” of tents. Instead of a single tent structure, we utilized “destination” tents for dining, a custom-built bar, and a dessert and chai lounge. Sumptuous fabrics, abundant florals and plush furniture made for a spectacular setting that was decidedly extravagant while also intimate and warm. Per usual, my dear friends at R. Jack Balthazar pulled out all the stops for this wedding and did not overlook a single detail in setting each opulent table. The overall setting was nothing short of spectacular. It was pure magic to watch Vipula and Dan’s guests, many adorned in splendid saris, mingling in the lavish scene. 

Wedding Photography: The Image is Found / Wedding Planning + Design: Events of Love and Splendor / Floral + Event Design: R. Jack Balthazar / Weddng Venue: Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu, California / Wedding Stationery + Printed Materials: Kristin of Events of Love and Splendor / Wedding Cinematography: Elysium Productions / Catering: Chakra Beverly Hills + Huntington Catering / Mixologists: The Cocktail Consultant / DJ: Anthony of Red Shoe LA / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Linens: La Tavola / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Sweet and Saucy Shop / Photobooth: Smilebooth / Entertainment: Bollywood Step Dance / Security: Sandman Security / Valet Parking: Premiere Valet

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Post tags: Bollywood Step Dance, California, Chakra Beverly Hills, Classic Party Rentals, Colorful, Elysium Productions, Events of Love and Splendor, Huntington Catering, Indian Wedding, La Tavola, Malibu, Premiere Valet, R. Jack Balthazar, Red Shoe LA, Saddleback Ranch, Sandman Security, Smilebooth, Sweet and Saucy Shop, The Image is Found
Post categories: Cultural Beauty, The Blog

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And to make the day even better, the film by Ponderosa Films…

From the bride… Patrick and I met on August 1, 2008 — my first day at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. He was volunteering as a knowledgeable second-year student, and I was a wide-eyed first-year student. After a couple years of memorable Marshall tailgates and long study sessions after work, we got engaged on Labor Day 2010. We immediately picked 9/10/11 for our special day and the planning was underway. As an avid deep sea “fishercouple,” we wanted to incorporate our love for fishing into our wedding, but also wanted the event to be elegant. We also knew we wanted the relaxed feel of a backyard wedding, but still keeping the formality of the event. Our dreams came true with the help of all the amazing and creative vendors who delivered beyond our expectations.

We started with Rancho del Cielo in Malibu, California. To match the natural beauty of the venue, we chose a palette of deep purple and slate grey. My bridesmaids wore floor length Jenny Yoo gowns in slate grey crinkle chiffon, and the groomsmen wore grey suits with different purple ties. As a lover of arts and crafts, I set out on an ambitious list of DIY projects. We started with our own save the dates, invitations, and programs themed “Gone Fishing, back 9.10.11.” Instead of a traditional guestbook, we cut out individual fish shaped cards for people to write messages and put them into our DIY treasure chest with our initials and wedding date. Also, each table was assigned a different species of fish with photos of us with our catch as evidence. Then I found our fishhook-shaped table cardholders from etsy.com. To complete our fishing-related details, we made our own favors by stuffing burlap sacks with fish shaped gummies to imitate a fisherman’s catch. Our florists, Holly Flora, were also an integral part of the overall feel and beauty of the day. They not only created my dream bouquet, but also incorporated fishing props and textures into the overall feel of our floral arrangements and set up.

After planning for a whole year and carefully selecting and trusting our vendors, Patrick & I sat back to bask in every fabulous part of our wedding day. With Amber of Amber Events in command, not only did she make sure we had the necessary last minute heat lamps because of a surprise 10 degree temperature drop the day of the wedding, but she also flattened any “speed bumps” along the way so Patrick and I truly enjoyed everything. Our videographer, a very talented friend from business school, (Vu Thai of Ponderosa Films), surprised us with a same day edit trailer during the reception! It was a phenomenal gesture that touched all and really allowed me to see everything I missed as the bride. As we danced the night away, DJ Roderick of Vox DJ’s played hit after hit, and I had never seen so many wedding guests on the dance floor!  During the final song (Piano Man) all our guests gathered in one big circle, arm and in arm swaying altogether and singing at the tops of our lungs as one big happy family. The entire day from start to finish was more than we could have dreamed of!

Wedding Coordination: Amber Events / Photography: Brandon David Photography / Videography: Ponderosa Films / Venue: Rancho del Cielo Malibu / Flowers: Holly Flora / Officiant: Pastor Peter Kang /Music: Vox DJs / Catering: Auntie Em’s Kitchen / Makeup: Fiore Beauty / Hair: Rene Agurcia of Starr House

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Post tags: Amber Events, Auntie Em's Kitchen, Brandon David Photography, California, Fiore Beuaty, Holly Flora, Malibu, Pastor Peter Kang, Ponderosa Films, Rancho del Cielo Malibu, Rene Agurcia, Starr House, Vox DJs
Post categories: The Blog

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Our inspiration for our wedding was that we wanted a day that was naturally romantic, and fun. We decided on who we were as a couple and what was important to us, and then went from there.  We love the outdoors, old world rustic charm, candles, flowers, good food, better drinks, great music, but above all great photos (which is why we chose Katie Neal)!  Our detail inspirations came from the property with its naturally growing succulents and rustic feel.  We love ribbons & trims, dark wood, burlap, sexy glassware, full place settings, the “color” ivory/white, wine barrels, ruffles, and doing things ourselves, which lent us the opportunity for creativity. We worked our nails to nubs both on the property and reception, but wouldn’t have wanted it any other way!

My groom, Phillip, gave me free rein to do pretty much whatever I pleased in regards to the wedding.  However, he stood his ground on not seeing each other until he was on one end of the aisle and I was on the other with my dad. The moment I hit the the aisle, I lost it! It was such an emotional, overwhelming, and special time. It felt like no one else in the world existed.

From Katie of Katie Neal Photo … The property where the ceremony was held was extremely special to this couple, as it is where their future house will be built. What better way to memorialize the start of your new life together than to get married in the spot where you plan to build your house, have babies, run a vineyard, and retire! Such a sweet concept! Also, the bride did her own flowers, her own hair, her own cake, and came up with all the paper designs for the day.

Photographer: Katie Neal Photo / Dress: La Sposa via Pebbles Bridal / Flowers + Paper Design: The bride / Shoes: Sam Edelman / Catering: Command Performance Catering / DJ: Bruce Barrios /Cake: Bread Basket  (self-decorated) / Photobooth: Photo Booth Los Angeles / Ceremony Venue: Private property in Malibu, CA / Reception Venue: Private property in Moorpark, CA

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 21 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bread Basket, Bruce Barrios, California, Command Performance Catering, Do-It-Yourself Inspired, Katie Neal Photo, La Sposa, Malibu, Outoor Wedding, Pebbles Bridal, Photo Booth Los Angeles, Sam Edelman
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog

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From the Bride…Sam took me to Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes for a special night on May 25, 2010.  I arrived to our room filled with all my favorite flowers. We had heard the sunsets were beautiful from the bluffs so, before dinner we went for a walk along the bluffs.  As we watched the sun set, Sam looked down to the beach below and said, “looks like something washed up on the shore.”  Spelled out in drift wood down below was “Marry Me Stephanie.” Then, I looked over and Sam was down on one knee! We had a blast celebrating at the resort. Amazing!

My vision was a romantic, intimate and personal wedding where all the guests felt at home.  The Adamson House was so beautiful on its own so, I wanted the wedding to feel like an extension of the vintage touches, colorful gardens and the peaceful sound of the ocean waves.  The vintage furniture and wooden dining tables felt like they belonged at the house and the amazing flowers felt like they had been picked from the gardens. The blues drew on the ocean and the flowers were the colors of the sunset (pinks, peaches) along with vintage silver touches.

I had always dreamed of getting married under a big beautiful tree or by the beach so when we found the Adamson House, it was a dream because I would have both!  There was something so magical and peaceful about the location.  When I would visit it during the planning process, all the stress would melt away, just the most beautiful place.

Kate Holt’s (Flowerwild) flowers are art to me.  They looked like she just picked the flowers from a magical garden. Kate also has a style all her own and I love that they have a natural organic feel.

The cocktail hour was held in a courtyard of the house and the guests took tours of the home which is a museum. The reception was held on the back lawn of the Adamson House with incredible views of the coastline and the beach. The ocean waves could be heard from everywhere on the property.  The mix of long and round tables made the reception feel like a dinner party so, every table was a part of the celebration.  The blue and sand colored linens drew on the ocean and sand and the sunset colors of the flowers popped on the tables.  We really wanted everyone to feel at home at the reception so, we did family style food with comfort food like mac and cheese.  Everything was outside so, we also provided an ivory pashmina for all the ladies that was draped over their chair wrapped in a ribbon that said “With Love”.

We also infused my mother’s French heritage with fresh macarons as favors. Vanilla Bake Shop made the cake. Vanilla also did the mini desserts. The dessert table was something I was very excited about.  I went to flea markets looking for the perfect vintage cake stands for the table.  Then, Found Vintage Rentals filled in the rest!  This was a favorite of mine. I have to add that I think my favorite part of the wedding was the ceremony.  The vintage tables down the aisle, the colorful flowers, the tree and all the guests. Walking down the aisle with my dad, knowing Sam was at the end. The best way I can describe it was.. it felt like a warm beautiful hug.  I will never forget that feeling and how it was the most beautiful setting I have ever experienced.

Wedding Photography: Jasmine Star Photography / Floral Design: Flowerwild / Event Planning: Kelley Gin of Picture Perfect Events / Ceremony + Reception Location: Adamson House / Invitations: Urbanic Paper / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza via Panache Bridal / Belt: Monique Lhuillier / Veil: Panache Bridal / Earrings: Borrowed from 23rd Street Jewelers / Sapphire Ring: Mother of the Bride / Bracelet: Etsy / Wedding + Engagment Rings: 23rd Street Jewelers / Groom’s Attire: Zegna / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo / Hair + Make-up: Sheree Pouls of Lips and Locks / Calligraphy, Chalkboards, Placecards, Programs, Petal Tags & Drink Signs: Laura Hooper Calligraphy / Vintage Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals / Linens: La Tavola Linen

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 23rd Street Jewelers, Adamson House, California Weddings, Etsy, Flowerwild, Found Vintage Rentals, Jasmine Star Photography, Jimmy Choo, Laura Hooper, Lips and Locks, Malibu, Monique Lhuillier, Panache Bridal, Picture Perfect Events, Romona Keveza, Urbanic Paper, Zegna
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

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From Bash, Please…Jennifer and Jason wanted a coastal wedding with the intimacy of a European dinner party. Villa Cascata is a gorgeous private estate overlooking the Pacific Ocean with beautiful gardens and Italian architecture. Jen was open to our design ideas and color palettes, and we wanted to juxtapose the deep, earthy tones of the house with a lighter, more romantic hue for summer.  We created the gradient peach palette with ombre dying of the place cards, favor tags, menus, and Sweet and Saucy mirrored it with the cake in ombre as well. We took cues from the grounds and created floral designs of native succulents mixed with garden roses, olive leaf, dahlias, and astilbe in pewter and terra cotta containers for a coastal California meets Italian countryside feel.

Their dinner menu included a nod to the East coast where Jen is from with an elevated version of fish and chips, as well as short ribs, a nod to Jason’s midwest upbringing. Heirloom LA created signature cocktails that included rosemary and lavender, both found on the estate’s grounds. The bride and groom love cheese, so we wanted to integrate that love in as many creative ways as possible. As guests arrived Heirloom LA created a crostini station of homemade ricotta, goat, burratta, and pizza bread pudding to delight. We also included a local goat cheese as their thank you favor to every guest and draped cheesecloth as their chuppah covering and as their table runners for unexpected design ideas.

DJ Smiles Davis played lots of jazz and indie-pop to keep everyone on the dance floor and Found brought in lounge vignettes to create a cozy outdoor living room. It was such a beautiful Malibu night and the sweetness was even more palpable since the couple is expecting a baby! It was a dream wedding.

Wedding Photography: Charley Star / Designer, Planner, Florals + Paper Goods: Bash, Please / Location:  Villa Cascata / Caterer + Bar: Heirloom LA / Make-up: Fiore Beauty / Hair: Alissa Bird of Neil George / Cake + Sweets: Sweet & Saucy Shop / Music: Strings by Reiko + DJ Smiles Davis of The Flashdance / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals + Found Vintage Rentals

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bash, California Weddings, Charley Star, Classic Party Rentals, Fiore Beauty, Found Vintage Rentals, Heirloom LA, Malibu, Neil George, Please, Strings by Reiko, Sweet and Saucy, The FlashDance, Villa Cascata
Post categories: Traditional Elegance

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From the Bride…We wanted our wedding to reflect a love of nature, art, architecture, music, good food and reverence for family customs… a small intimate outdoor wedding in a unique location, away from the hustle and bustle, with our closest family and friends!  Rancho Cielo, a private contemporary residence atop a mountain in Malibu was a spectacular setting for the wedding we envisioned!  The modern architecture set in a dramatic landscape dotted with succulents, unique rock formations and views to the mountains and valleys beyond was just incredible!

Our wedding day was an unusually hot day from the coast to the valleys in Southern California.  For the ceremony we had parasols placed on the guest chairs to give them respite from the sun.  From where the guests sat, two mountain peaks framed Stephan and I standing in front of an altar table where we placed glass vessels for an earth mixing ritual incorporated into our ceremony.  My father brought earth from my childhood home in the Midwest and Stephan’s relatives brought earth from Bulgaria, where he is originally from.  And with the lingering smell of sage in the air we read our vows to one another. After we were pronounced husband and wife my niece poured a small amount of water and geranium on the ground before us from a Bulgarian copper vessel to send us on a life path filled with health, prosperity, and good luck!

Following cocktail hour by the pool my mother-in-law fed us bread with honey which is another Bulgarian custom.  We sat for a family-style dinner and looked around seeing all the people we love dining outdoors as the sun set in the distance with the most beautiful light filling the valleys and illuminating the mountainside.  The sounds of live jazz later filled the air as guests intimately talked and enjoyed the pleasant evening temperatures.  We also had a scotch bar set-up with descriptions of the various whiskeys.  Stephan has been discovering different types of scotch over the past couple years and many people enjoyed them that evening along with some great regional California wines.  The array of beautiful petite desserts our caterer prepared were a hit as well!

The week before the wedding we had so much fun making our homemade “pucker face” pickles with Stephan’s parents and loved sharing them with our guests as take home gifts at the wedding.  Our wedding was truly beautiful and so meaningful for us!  Many thanks to all that helped make it happen!

Wedding Photography: Patrick Moyer Photography / Wedding Coordinator: Renea Martoff of Sharibella Events / Floral Design: Centia Batz of Petal Floral / Hair + Make-up: Theresa Haung / Catering: Candice Food Couture / Rentals: Smart Party Rentals / Guitarist: Andrew Jackson / Jazz Musicians: Austin Peralta Quartet / Venue: Rancho Cielo

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Andrew Jackson, Austin Peralta Quartet, California Weddings, Candice Food Couture, Malibu, Patrick Moyer Photography, Petal Floral, Rancho del Cielo, Sharibella Events, Smart Party Rentals, Theresa Haung
Post categories: California Weddings

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From the Bride…Tyler and I both grew up in Arizona.  To honor that my father read the Apache wedding prayer. Tyler’s sister read a passage from the Alchemist which is both Tyler and I’s favorite book and Tyler wrote me a song based off of this passage when we first started dating.  Also, our rings are engraved with “Language of Love” which is from this passage. As I walked down the aisle, I had a piece of my family, my best friends, and those who couldn’t be with us, in my hands with me.

There were a lot of details for our wedding. My mom has been saving every flower I have ever received in my life since I was born to make in to sachets for my wedding day. My hair pin was my great grandmother’s. My parents made wine from their vineyard in Oregon to serve at the wedding. Table assignments were in a Rolodex box from Freestyle gifts made from old record covers.  Inside the Rolodex were envelopes with tickets. Each table was a music venue that Tyler and I loved and the placements were tickets to that venue.  Tickets and table names done by Chris Campbell. Our topper on the cupcakes was my grandparents at their wedding and has been used at all grandkids weddings. The guest book was a record for everyone to sign- the record was our last dance ‘All my friends’ by LCD Sound System. Underneath my dress was a piece of her mother’s wedding dress and my nana’s wedding dress.

Wedding Photography: Jagger Photography / Flowers: Patina Prints / Event Planning: All You Need Is Love Events / Ceremony + Reception Location: Adamson House / Invitations: Chris Campbell / Shoes: TOMS / Groom’s Suit: Band of Outsiders, Steven Alan (tie), Barney’s Co-op (shoes) / Sunglasses: Ray-Ban / Bridesmaid Dresses + Bracelets: J.Crew / Groomsmen + Usher Attire: J.Crew, American Apparel + Urban Outfitters / Hair + Make-up: Kacee Geoffroy / Bluegrass Cocktail Band: The LA hootenanny / DJ: Aquarium Drunkard / Cupcakes: Buttercake Bakery / Ice Cream Sandwich: Cool Haus / Catering: Eco Caters / Rentals: Town and Country

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Post tags: Adamson House, All You Need Is Love Events, American Apparel, Aquarium Drunkard, Band of Outsiders, Barney's Co-op, Buttercake Bakery, California Weddings, Chris Campbell, Cool Haus, Eco Caters, J. Crew, Jagger Photography, Kacee Geoffroy, Malibu, Patina Prints, Ray-Ban, Steven Alan, The LA hootenanny, TOMs, Town and Country, Urban Outfitters
Post categories: Casual Elegance, The Blog