Let Them Eat Cake!
And more on the cake subject... (pardon that the photos below were taken with my little digital camera) I recently attended a wonderful event called Let Them Eat Cake - a delightful Marie Antoinette/French inspired afternoon at Antiquite Maison Privee in mid-town Sacramento. Kristine Smith of Wish Bridal organized the event - wonderful concept!  Brides sipped glasses of champagne and walked around the cakes on display and then judged the magnificent, unique designs of several bakeries. The masterpiece above was created by Sugar and Spice Specialty Desserts.  The above is the fun top of the elegant cake by The Sweetest Things bakery.  The elaborate design above was by Village Cake Shoppe... such detail!  The attendees selected this awesome cake created by River City Cake Co. as the winner for overall design concept. Congrats Tanya and staff!  The stunning cake on the left was by Sweet Cakes by Rebecca and again, on the right is by Sugar and Spice. I'm sorry that I missed photographing a lovely creation by Shelton's Wedding Cake Designs.  Pastry Heaven showcased this fun design.  Each bakery displayed even more beautiful creations at their individual tables, and offered samples to taste. The sweetness in the room was very evident! So yummy. And the guests went crazy over all the small bites and individual desserts that Carissa of Sugar and Spice was offering. I had a huge need to eat French Fries after the event! Labels: Antiquite Maison Privee, Calligraphy Cakes, Sacramento Wedding Planner, Sugar and Spice
Dream Wedding Show Television Commercial
 The Dream Wedding Show will be held in Sacramento, CA on February 28, 2010. Footage of one of my beautiful clients was included in a 30 second commercial spot to be aired on cable and the local television stations promoting the upcoming show. Very fun! Click the link here to view the commercial. Thanks Ryan, of Heritage Video, for selecting this gorgeous Napa Valley wedding of Sara and Kyle. Not only are you a great wedding videographer, but you do a mighty fine commercial, too!! Labels: Amy Squires Photography, Dream Wedding Show, Heritage Video, Napa Valley weddings, Sacramento Wedding Planner
A twist to the ceremonial "alter"
-781139.jpg) Rather than the expected wedding arch to frame the ceremonial alter, consider setting up a simple banquet table (4' or 6') and cover it in a beautiful linen, and then add one stunning floral arrangement. Other items can be added to the table, such as a Unity Candle, vessels for a Sand Ceremony, Honorarium Candle, a Bible, or a chalis for a private communion. This is a simple but impacting design. This wedding was held at Avio Vineyards in Amador County. Having the alter table designed like this did not block the stunning views of the vineyards and distant hillside. Photo by Ryan J. Lane.Labels: Alter, Avio Vineyards, Sacramento Wedding Planner
Anca & Chris - Part 2
After the serious religious wedding ceremony held at The Saints Archangels Michael & Gabriel Romanian Orthodox Church, Chris & Anca enjoyed fun and frivolity at their reception at Granite Bay Golf Club. When guests arrived, they enjoyed noshing at the chocolate fountain and the newlyweds spent a little quiet time on the golf course being photographed by Monica Neumann Lunardi. Anca had purchased a darling faux fur cape to keep the January chill at bay. Very smart!   In our planning discussions, Anca advised that it is a Romanian custom that she circle three times around a bucket of water (originally milk) and then kick the bucket over! The symbolism is carefree abundance and good luck. I happen to own a vintage milk bucket... here it is - with some water.   After this, the newlyweds, parents and godparents gather with a glass of champagne, gave a toast to the bride and groom and to themselves as a family, and then threw their glasses into a pile, smashing them with great enthusiam. This photo is a little dark as I (very smartly) laid a black cloth on the ground so as to make it a bit easier to clean up 12 broken champagne glasses!   Remember I said the Romanian gentlemen kiss the ladies' hand? So cool!!   Chris requested that each table have one bottle of Slivovitz so the guests may enjoy (another tradition in Romania). This is a very sweet plum brandy.  The lovely cake was created by Shelton's Wedding Cake Designs. And as you can see, Chris was so enjoying himself when feeding Anca.   Chris' brother blindfolded the eager groom prior to the removal of the garter.  Then slipped in a "ringer," which Chris was very surprised to feel quite a different leg then his sweet bride!  Other antics occured throughout the evening, such as steeling Anca's shoe and then auctioning it off to the highest bidder. Lots of laughs and good times. Congrats to Anca & Chris, and to Baby Christina due April 2010. You are a great couple, and you'll be wonderful parents. Noroc! (translation: good luck and good health. Labels: Granite Bay Golf Club, Granite Bay Wedding Planner, Monica Neumann Lunardi Photography, Romanian ceremony, Sacramento Wedding Planner, Shelton's Wedding Cake Designs
Lisa & Darren's wedding photo album
E-Session for Becca & Dustin
Check out the delightful images that the uber talented Beth Baugher of True Love Photo took of my June couple, Becca and Dustin. We're creating save-the-dates for this couple which include fun magnets. Three poses need to go onto the magnet, therefore an e-session was scheduled in December to get the required images. It was a rainy day, so Beth worked her magic inside her very cool studio.   Then, she took Becca and Dustin around the corner to her other "studio" - a laundry mat!   I haven't seen this side of Dustin, my groom... but I like it!!  And on the way back, the trio passed a taco truck. Wonder what they ordered?  Beth, you blow me away! What creativity! Do you dream these cool concepts? I can't wait for the wedding day. Labels: E-Session, Sacramento Wedding Planner, True Love Photo
Color coordinated aisle runner
Let's say your wedding colors are orange... or blue... or sage green... or lavender. How cool would it be to have your ceremonial aisle runner match or compliment your colors? Rental aisle runners come in standard basic white, ivory and sometimes in red. But, if you went to a carpet supply store, and asked for a remnant piece, you would get fairly close to what you're looking for. Carpet colors come in all sorts of shades, and you can piece sections with carpet tape (on the back), and then add lots of rose petals to hide the rough and pieced together edges. Brilliant!  Labels: Aisle Runner, Sacramento Wedding Planner
Joanna & Jeff - Happpy 1st
 Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary to Joanna and Jeff - married November 8, 2008. What a great couple! Joanna was one of the most "laid back" brides I've ever worked with. She lived in Texas and we communicated via e-mail, phone calls and an occasional visit.  Joanna selected Shannon with Flourish as her wedding florist... and Shannon rocked the house when it came to design and the autumnal concept. The huge centerpieces were made up of seasonal flowers placed in tall Annabelle containers with Sugar Baby pumpkins and pears filling the base. So cool!  The wedding was held in the Library of the historic Sutter Club, with the formal dinner reception being held upstairs in the California Room. Guests sat at one long Great Table with varying heights of candles and glittery Sugar Baby pumpkins and autumn leaves creating a runner effect to the table.  A huge multi-paned arched window framed the lovely wedding cake. Another great talent (with an excellent "eye") was their photographer - Beth Baugher of True Love Photo. We four ladies (Joanna, Shannon, Beth and moi) enjoyed our company and friendship and the joy of creating a fantastic event! Congrats Love Birds. I'm sure your first year of marriage has been a wonderful one. You are an awesome couple!  Labels: 1st Anniversary, Flourish, Pumpkins, Sacramento Wedding Planner, The Sutter Club, True Love Photo
Trick or Treat!
Halloween was last Saturday. Earlier in the day I was chatting it up with my neighbor, 8 year old Natalie. I asked her about her costume for trick or treating and she proudly informed me she was dressing up as a "Dead Bride!" Whoa! Hold on there! That's just a little freaky (given my profession), and I asked that Natalie come over to my house early for photo ops.  So, here is Natalie... in a darling couture gown, along with the dried bridal bouquet that once were carried by her own mother for her wedding... love the "presentation" style bouquet! Labels: Halloween, Sacramento Wedding Planner
Meet Tori & Rich
 In March of 2009, I received a telephone inquiry from Tori. She asked questions about coordinating services, we chatted awhile, and the call ended with, "thanks, I'll get back to you." She didn't have a perky voice, she sounded a bit frustrated, but I remember that she was pleasant and sweet. Time went by, and now that it's fall, guess what? Tori called me! She wanted to meet to talk about her wedding plans - for May 8, 2010. Tori and her mom came to my office and hired my services right away. The only step she had taken, back in March '09 was to reserve Timber Creek Ballroom at Sun City Roseville, (that's an excellent first step!) and then, she stopped planning. She got stuck, and just didn't know what she wanted, what she liked, where to start, how to plan. So now we're rolling up our sleeves to get Tori & Rich's wedding planning on track. After our meeting, I received this sweet e-mail from Tori... " ... THANK YOU! I feel 100 times better! I am really excited now!! Today I thought to myself, "THIS is how planning a wedding is supposed to feel." I'm looking forward to all there is to come... YAY!" Labels: Sacramento Wedding Planner, Sun City Roseville, Timber Creek Ballroom, Wedding Planning
Christine & Jason - Married at Avio Vineyards
-722629.jpg) Christine and Jason live in Portland, Oregon. They are students of a divinity-religions college and are both very hip, unique, fun loving, and are totally an on-the-same-page couple. We spent 10 months in a long distance biz relationship creating an awesome wedding held at Avio Vineyards outside Sutter Creek, CA. When I took Christine and Jason to Avio for a site inspection, they knew it was the right venue for their event. They didn't care to see the other locations I had set up to tour. Avio was perfect. -759474.jpg) You can see from these beautifully romantic photos, taken by Ryan J. Lane, that this couple is madly in love. And you can see how lovely the setting is for romance. -778713.jpg) -702982.jpg) The groomsmen wore light yellow vests, and the ladies each had a different style chocolate brown dress, with the flowers being in yellows, orange, and rust. -759652.jpg) Check out the lace touches - Christine took a special piece of lace and created her fun headband, added the lace panel to just one side of the decolletage of her wedding gown, and had another length of lace wrapped on her gorgeous bridal bouquet. -711238.jpg) An alter table was set up at the ceremony site, with just one large arrangement in the color palette, and included a small tray of bread and a single silver challis and bottle of Avio Vineyards wine for their personal and private communion. -796412.jpg) Christine described that she wanted her table centerpieces to be reminiscent of her living room coffee table that friends regularly gathered around . The design was an assortment of different vases and containers holding simple flowers, along with random candles, plus she had purchased an array of wooden boxes, chests and tins that held lots of photographs and snapshots of friends and family, as well as small books of poems. Guests were encouraged to shuffle through the pictures, which promoted laughter, comparison, and conversation. -786720.jpg) -799034.jpg) The elegant cake was quite the show stopper and was created by Ingrid Frasier. -759614.jpg) This post is showing the romantic and sexy side to Christine and Jason. In a few days, I'll put up another post that gives you another side to this wonderful couple. Labels: Avio Vineyards, Ingrid Frasier Baker, Ryan J. Lane Photography, Sacramento Wedding Planner, Sutter Creek
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. Labels: California State Fair, Music on the Move, Sacramento Wedding Planner
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