Over the years, Jose Villa and I have become friends. Good friends. The kind that can be totally honest with each other and have sleepovers and stuff. But without fail, every time I get a Jose Villa ding in my inbox, I STILL get the celebrity butterflies. And I dork out completely knowing that I get to write about a wedding photographed so beautifully, it can only be called art. And this one, my lovelies, is Jose at his finest. Add to that the prettiest stationery I’ve ever seen crafted by le Bride herself and a design by Amy Kaneko that is both culturally rooted and wildly chic and you have…yep, you guessed it. Perfection. Click here to see the whole mess of gorgeousness.
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From Amy of Amy Kaneko Events… Julie and Sam’s wedding, which took place on a grassy estate (interestingly, on the grounds of a convent!), was incredibly elegant and understated. At the same time, it had so many delightful artistic details sprinkled throughout. Julie, the bride, is a graphic designer who runs a studio specializing in paper and wedding goods. It was really wonderful to collaborate with someone who has such raw talent. She really personalized all of the wedding’s printed materials — from the watercolor invitation suite and wood-burned escort coasters to the hand-painted signs and custom menus.
Julie and Sam were married in the woodsy Sunken Gardens in a ceremony officiated by the groom’s father. The décor was fairly simple because the surroundings were naturally beautiful. The aisle was accented with gardenias and dahlias, and the guestbook table was adorned with beautiful centerpieces from Chestnut & Vine. After a cocktail hour sipping on Dark & Stormys and Bay Breezes, guests dined beneath bistro lights and palm trees. Strands of colorful paper cranes hung from a central tree — Julie’s mom had folded 1,000 paper cranes for good luck! The tables were adorned with an eclectic mix of succulents and lush flowers in shades of coral. Air plants on each guest’s plate doubled as favors. After dinner, guests went inside the Best House, where they ate Swedish Princess cake and watched Julie and her father dance the tango — a highlight of the evening!
From the Bride… I’m still deliriously happy about our whole wedding experience. It was a blast designing wedding materials that would be elegant and quirky but useful, such as program fans and a watercolor map to help guests find the ceremony (and not accidentally wander into the convent like I did when I first visited the grounds). I had also wanted the event to somehow look as exuberant as I felt. Since Sam and I both have art backgrounds, I had also hoped for Sam and our guests to experience something really special and creative — and then remember it fondly. I was so excited to find a company that excels in artistic events. I think Amy Kaneko Events’ unique background (including high-profile event planning, architecture and art) made all the difference — not only were there gorgeous and meaningful details, but they were able to weave it all together into this amazing, flowing experience (including turning my mom’s 1,000-crane labor of love into an origami wonderland)! Amy gave us tireless guidance in all aspects, big and small — from the centerpieces and event layout/vision, down to details like linens, chairs, and lanterns to thoughtfully light the path for guests as they left. Everyone savored each minute of the day, which was 100% sheer joy and zero stress thanks to Amy’s creative and organizational genius, and calming presence. That kind of trust on such an important day is priceless. For all of this to be beautifully captured by the famously talented Jose Villa — I am the luckiest girl. Can we have our wedding every weekend, please?
Wedding Photography: Jose Villa / Wedding Venue: Palmdale Estates in Fremont, California / Event Design + Planning: Amy Kaneko Events / Floral Design: Chestnut & Vine Floral Design / Wedding Invitations: Julie Song Ink (The Bride) / Wedding Cake: Schubert’s Bakery / Ceremony + Cocktail Music: Synchronicity Strings / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Linens: La Tavola / Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca / Hair + Makeup: Su’s Hair & Makeup (sykim721@comcast.net)