Margie & Dave – Married!

Margie and Dave met one year ago.  As luck would have it, after a few months, they fell in love, Dave proposed, Margie said YES!, and they set their wedding for the anniversary date of their meeting – August 28th.  Then Margie contacted me to assist with the planning… with a three month time frame.  Easy! 

A very private wedding ceremony took place in their backyard – a lovely home on the bluffs of Rocklin, California.  Those present for the nuptials were their adult children, a set of parents, a best friend, and Margie’s only bridal party attendant – her cute little granddaughter as the flower girl.  A total of 8. 

 Then two hours later, the celebration of their wedding took place when 75 guests arrived for a fun filled, happy and loving evening .  Family and friends, good wine and excellent food was the importance of the day. You can’t go wrong by starting off with Margueritas as their signature cocktail!

Sarah with Cuttings Floral Design worked with Margie’s relaxed Mediterranean vision, as well as using ”sustainable” flowers.  Wooden boxes were used for garden bedding plants of begonias, celosia and fresh herbs (to be planted later); fresh stems of dahlias and sunflowers were added to the boxes for more of the Tuscan feel.  An incredible feast was prepared by the talented Chef Josh of All Seasons All Reasons Fine Catering, and beautifully set up and displayed by Monty (he can make a buffet so darn interesting and stunning).  The menu consisted of  Wood Fired Beef Tenderloin, Sardinian Pesto Salmon with Ziti Pasta tossed with grilled artichokes, baby spinach and shaved Romano, Caprese Salad, Citrus Brined Chicken with baby leek butter sauce… I can go on and on – DELICIOUS!

This pair love, love dessert and especially chocolate.  Carissa with Sugar and Spice Specialty Desserts knocked it out of the park with a small bites dessert table.  Margie & Dave wanted the cutting and feeding tradition, so a small “rustic-home style”  cake was  included .  Yummm-o!

Candles and market lights added to the festivities as Doug with Music on the Move kept the guests entertained and happy on the dance floor.  Margie changed into a cute little summer dress and continued partying - but gosh darn it, those 10:00 p.m. sound ordinances are such a drag (we cheated and took it to 10:30 p.m.).  What a fun evening! 

Thank you to Jordan with Jordan’s Photographic Designs who was on hand for all the happy moments and capturing so many details (and I didn’t post all the details that I could!)  I wish Margie & Dave a fantastic life together.  Best Wishes.

Becca & Dustin – More! (Part 2)

Because of Beth’s (True Love Photo)  extreme  photographic talent, and never missing a design detail, I have so many fantastic pictures to share of Becca & Dustin’s June 19th home wedding.  Sit back and enjoy!    Becca envisioned a little bit of Southern Elegance (she and her sister spent a few Saturdays on  ladders hanging  Spanish Moss from the trees), and wanted to upscale the vibe by adding lots of color, crystals, and hanging lanterns.  Check, check and done!

Tables were named and peacock feathers added to compliment the table linens selected.  It’s always a pleasure to work with the great gals at Celebrations Party Rentals.  And thank you so much to my pal Sarah with Cuttings Floral Design for the perfectly coordinated flowers.  Love ‘em!

To compliment that Southern feel,  The Zebra Club, our fun and accomplished bartending service, created Mint Juleps.  Hummmmmm (oh, I only sampled!)

This picture has histoy to it… Beth and I have been setting up this shot for a few years.  Becca and Dustin enjoy a great cold beer… thus their toasting goblets were filled.

And, have you ever seen a wedding cake that followed with the theme so beautifully?  Carissa with Sugar and Spice Specialty Desserts really outdid herself!  What a focal piece!

Becca ‘s mom and dad love to garden and the entrance to their property had a long driveway lined with all sorts of flowers.  Daisies, cosmos, dahlias and a beautiful crop of just beginning to bloom sunflowers.

I gave Becca the suggestion of making a bride & groom scaregrow, as it seemed so fitting with the garden.  She had the best time shopping in thrift stores for what she referred to as “the ugliest ’70s style wedding gown.”  Rather than a top hat for the groom, they used a Billibong logo baseball cap.

After a scrumption and plentiful buffet dinner prepared by Bravo Pasteria, wedding cake, fun at the photo booth (complete with goofy hats) by Jensen Films, then the dancing began, under the light of paper lanterns.  Doug & Dara with Music on the Move added some wonderful special touches and a little interactive frivolity, and then the p-a-r-t-y dancing began.  Crewful at 10:00?  NOT!

Thank you Becca and Dustin, and also your wonderful families.  It was a delight to work with you over the year.  I’m going to miss you!  You’re great parents to baby Coralynne. Enjoy your wedded life and your beautiful family.  Also a huge thank you to all the vendors who worked so hard and so caringly to create a fantastic day for this couple.

Hot August Night-Part 2 (it's all about Sean!)

Sean is a fireman… every girl’s dream guy ! He is enthusiastic, fun-loving and so happy to marry his true love, Ashley. I thought I’d give some special recognition for Sean’s involvement at this fantastic wedding held in August (on a fairly hot night!) at Granite Bay Golf Club. More photos of this vibrant wedding were posted last week.

Sean and I cooked up a surprise for Ashley. When she reached for the lovely cake knife at the cake cutting, Sean reached under the table to pull out his very clean, highly polished fireman’s ax. Look at Ashley’s expression!

Even funnier, is Sean’s expression as they actually did cut the cake with the ax. Pure joy! This whimsical cake was designed by Sugar and Spice and…

A very special moment during the reception was the inclusion of a bagpiper and drummer from the Sacramento Fire Department Pipes & Drums Corp. These two musicians marched into the reception room, just ahead of Ashley & Sean. The crowd went wild with applause, cheering, and quite a few had tears in their eyes. It was moving, touching and Sean was beaming with pride.

At the perfect moment, the newlyweds enjoyed some quiet time on the golf course and took photos in front of a great sky-on-fire-sunset.

When we detailed the music with DJ Doug LeVine of Music on the Move, Sean told him that he had a special song to end the evening with -For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) by AC/DC. At each one of the four canon-like sounds within the song, the crowd was surprised with four confetti launches – WOW! (Thanks, Doug!!)

Ashley had envisioned a sparkler exit, but Sean, being the cautious fireman, felt a bit uneasy about that, and so we compromised with a pathway of candlelight (contained in glass).

And finally, what better send-off but to leave the wedding reception, riding on the back of an antique firetruck from the Rocklin Fire Department.

Have a wonderful life you two. Your wedding was spectacular (in Sean’s words… “Epic”) and most memorable!

Hittin' the State Fair

Saturday’s wedding was the usual 12 hour day (rolled in at 1:30 a.m.!), but am I a glutton for punishment? Well, yes, ‘cuz it was the opening weekend to the California State Fair, and the weather was lovely, so with achy knees and feet, my sweet husband and I took off for corn dog land.

Here I am with the State Fair mascot – the Golden Bear (how many people have stood in front of these and posed?) And how many more have struck goofy poses by sticking a head through a hole in a scarecrow?

And, here is my handsome rugged husband… ahh, Jim is the one on the left. Seems like I’ve read a trashy romantic novel with a pirate as the dark, mysterious, furred chest, hunk of burning love. Oh, sorry, I digress…

You’re lucky my digital camera battery died mid-way through our outing, or you’d see me chomping on my favorite fair food, corn dogs. If you’re heading out, stop by the Wild & Wacky exhibit in Building 3. Very fun! My buddy, DJ Doug LaVine with Music on the Move has a display of his wacky Pez Collection.