I'll have the Coral with a side of Pearls & Feathers, please.

Chelsea and Ryan truly set their day of love aglow from start to finish- corals and candles to sparklers and getaway cars...

Bride's bouquet ~ wisps of feather, creamy cymbidiums and soft apricot garden spray roses.
Lace and pearls romance the ring of history, majolica roses drape gracefully.

Sumptuous, right? That shade of coral and the wrap bodice- bouquets of hydrangea, monkey tails, and roses complete the vision.

Hi cutie with orchids in your hair!!

Ok, I love my job, but Brant Bender, you photographer, you.. the flowers are awesome through your lens!!

Fragrant casablancas for the ceremony - and so crisp looking against that coral.
Hello romance, can I get married under you?
Passion vine and big ol' garden roses.. what better way to frame the ceremony?

What a view! Note the difference a pinspot can make and the generous wood dancefloor- benefits of a great venue!
Dahlias, james storey orchids, hydrangea, monkey tails, coxcomb, feathers, candles, do go on...
Low florals to mimic the tall arrangement style with a variation in height.
Befitting stylish sweethearts ~ Bride & Groom chairs adorned by strands of pearls and rose blooms.
Mmmm spun cake n' petals on a gorgeously swirled linen..
Blingety bling bling. Bedazzle me a dessert server, baby!
SWAK! Congrats Chelsea & Ryan!
Venue: Prado at Balboa Park
Photos: Brant Bender Photography
Coordination: A Dream Wedding by Sharon Cole
Linens: A Perfect Table

Shades of Orchid

For Bianca and Darren~ To combine softness of dusty miller, smoothness of deep purple callas and mokara orchids, uniqueness of Picasso callas, fluff of dahlias, and dazzle of crystal studded stephanotis and cymbidium orchids.... to what do I owe the pleasure..

Bianca's bouquet is only the beginning. The wedding was beautiful, the ceremony traditional and sincere, attended by so many family and friends traveling from the US, Canada, and South Africa!

Bride & Bridesmaids smiling...

Bouquets smiling, too. Now you can really see those Picasso callas- the white with purple centers, and how they pop when set in among the greens.

Chuppah from behind, waiting patiently for everyone to arrive. I love the green dendrobium orchids banded around the posts to tie the fabric. The two tallis hanging above are from both Bianca's & Darren's families for special sentiment.

Chuppah from the front- plenty of orchids, roses, and hydrangea create a romantic space on the Fairway Pavilion at Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines.

Escort cards nestled in wheatgrass with unique bombay dendrobiums that blend the borders of white and purple.
Overview of the reception room.. The nearest centerpiece is a grid of different shaped vases each with orchids and floating candles.

Head Table shots...

Tall centerpieces of submerged green dendrobiums in the throat of the vase, a lush and wild bouquet of long white Hawaiian orchids & purple hydrangea on top.

The third centerpiece style: floating orchids and candles in a bed of wheatgrass and more orchids of course..

THE MOST DECKED OUT CAKE I have ever done- flowers and candles everywhere, live it up.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your wedding. Congrats Bianca & Darren! xo
& of course many thanks to Ann Strobel of Ann's Plans (fellow Wedding of Distinction member!) for keeping it cool and smooth.
all photo credits to Carrie McCluskey Photography

2009 New Year's Wedding Glammified

Brittany & Erik wanted their destination wedding to not only embody San Diego's beach vibe, but take it up a notch with festive glamour for the holiday sensation. Saying "I do" on the cliffs, overlooking the Pacific, with vintage style feathers and shimmery glass ornaments to decorate the occasion suited them just right.

Our flower girl and her knock out ensemble: Pearl necklace, check. Diamond studs, check. Hair fascinator (like Mom Brittany's :) check. Rose petal basket on red satin ribbon, check check!
Bridesmaids carried a contemporary version of the classic pomander kissing ball- white ostrich feather tufts in amongst Black Beauty roses on red satin ribbon.

Ah, the bride... gotta be blackest of black mini callas, Black Magic roses, and a plethora of fiddlehead ferns, nice and shiny with a softening cuff of white feathers.
Welcome to the party! Oversize ornaments pop in those magnolia leaves supporting a combination of preserved and fresh leafy manzanita + burgundy cymbidiums and mercury glass votives = complete.
Vavoom feather centerpieces and rose petals galore were so fitting in the tent with string lights.. the head table fit for fancy- floating candles mingle with flowers and mirrored spheres.
Up close and personal with the feast flowers.. dark dahlias and roses with safari sunset and bright lisianthus.

talk about up close and personal.. love the laundromat shoot :)
Many gracious thanks to Gabrielle Fox Photography for her stylish capture of the day's work and love. Brenda Swann of Swann Soirees pulled off another fabulous affair at the Ocean View Villas!!

Flowers in Paradise

Veronica & Anthony were married in the lavish setting of Grand Tradition Estate's new Arbor Terrace Pavilion - tropical and lush, the flowers needed to not compete with the color palette, but enhance the richness of deep green leaves surrounding their wedding... Veronica's desire for shades of warm reds and rust orange with a ton of play in texture turned out beautifully.

Veronica's bouquet of wildly colored calla lilies, dark milva and rouge basier roses, with mocha cymbidium orchids.

The gorgeously relaxed and happy couple..Bridesmaid bouquets of bright hybrid callas and cherry brandy roses in a cuff of italian ruscus.Love the softness of her veil and hair flowers in contrasting combination with her highly textured and boldly hued bouquet!

Table centerpieces of safari sunset, orange dahlias, roses, and seasonal mums in glass squares.

Can you say vivid color saturation point??!! Overdye sunflower with red rosehips..What a fun surprise when I saw Veronica & Anthony Natividad's holiday e-card in my inbox! Love the photo and the perfect play on words :)

Congratulations!

& many many many thanks to
Heather Moreau - Vallentyne Photography
for her amazing talents at capturing those colors!

Coral & Aqua

Julia & Michael wanted a romantic and luxurious feel to their wedding getaway. As a destination, La Jolla, California isn't too shabby ;) especially when staying and celebrating at The Grande Colonial hotel... with a color scheme that blended unbelievably well with the hotel's own palette, the flowers covered a spectrum of warm corals to cool aquas...

Julia's bouquet knocked the color into place with it's deep flame and mango miniature callas, dahlias, proteas, orchids, and echinachea pods, all tied with two shades of rich turquoise ribbon.

The Maid of Honor bouquet was subtlety in comparison- softer shades of peach garden roses with golden coxcomb with a ruffly cuff of sheer turquoise.

Sweet simplicity for the mothers- corsages of white miniature cymbidium orchids and tiny peach ribbon wrapped in teal satin.

Guests were welcomed to the ceremony area by a bubbling fountain filled with floating dahlia blooms.Detail shot of the ringbearer box of moss, ribbon, shells, and orchids that held the rings securely down the aisle..

Funky pomanders awaited the couple, dangling in the tree above their heads to add color and fantasy to their ceremony..

Now you see what I mean with the color pops! Check out the gorgeous rings contrasting with the flowers!!!

The feast table for all wedding guests elaborately decorated from end to end...Miniature sea biscuits and shells in glass with fragrant garden roses.Burnt orange-red tiger lilies in crackling gold vases, turquoise and brown cone shells submerged in aqua glass with a floating candle, and a pillar candle set upon a bed of neon green moss safely guarded in a cylinder hurricane.

Mossy branches mingle with orchid blooms in a "cloche" glass dome.

Detail shot of spotty yellow gold mokara orchids on a wide piece of driftwood...Kiwi branches, dahlias, berzilia, and majolica spray roses in an antiqued urn assist in that organic, old world feel that suited Julia & Michael's taste just right! That and their smart party favors: petite bottles of herb-infused olive oil! mm mmm....
Coordination without a hitch by Mia & Bek at Red Letter Days
Photography of beauty by Helene Cornell