I just got back last weekend from the National Stationery Show in New York. Though it was tough to leave during wedding season and though I did get stuck at LAX for 11 hours going there and missed the first night… it was a great trip! I met so many wonderful people and vendors and took away some new ideas I can’t wait to try.

Darcy Miller, Editorial Director of Weddings at Martha Stewart Living spoke on wedding stationery trends. Very glad I signed up for that way in advance, as of course it was sold out. Darcy told us that new exclusive surveys found that these are the most important things to brides today when it comes to invitations… quality, cost, color and font selection, and customization. Brides who describe their weddings today say… classic, romantic, relaxed and modern. Websites and magazines are the top 2 sources brides go to for inspirations. I was excited to take my picture with Darcy and Real Weddings and Editorial Coordinator Shira Savada.

There was this sign posted in front of a bead store with chairs for guys. Absolutely HILARIOUS!  Oh yes, and we had wine and cheese at the Plaza Hotel.  Just perfect! I tried to bring my son home a toy from FAO Schwarz, but got to the doors at literally 7:03 pm and they were closing.  So bummed.  Couldn’t believe they close that early on a weekday when there are tons of people walking around.  There’s always next time.

Vintage Romance with European Botanical flair…is this all possible? Inspired by large birdcages, Lisa fell in love with Sunny’s ideas of White Lilac. Rather than using any wedding magazines, we focused on interior design elements, which brought on the creation of art wall panels. Petit Four Cakes adorned table tops on delicate glass stands, while guests were surprised with their own beautifully wrapped delights at each place setting. Our very own Nichelle from Details A La Carte designed the perfect invitation set, which gave life to the birdcages and hand calligraphered bird escort cards that dangled from branches at the entrance of the ballroom.

Photos courtesy of: Jessica Claire

Joanna & Jason not only make a beautiful couple, but they are also super stylish. Joanna in her Jimmy Choos, romantic wedding dress, and bouquet of peonies…what more could a girl wish for! Then there is Jason who added his personal touches of style wearing a black fedora and had cuff links that were miniature ace of spade cards. It was obvious that both Joanna and Jason had fun showing off their style. The wedding ceremony through the dinner reception truly reflected Joanna & Jason. White Lilac stylized everything to have a romantic/old Hollywood feel with touches of rock n’ roll! Joanna & Jason selected cream and chocolate as their colors, but incorporated peacock feathers to spice it up. This wedding was not your predictable creams and browns affair…it had just the right amount of edginess! Photography was by the talented Joe Latter. Joe captured great shots all around The Beverly Hills Hotel. Thanks Joe for sharing your photos with us!

Photos courtesy of Joe Latter Photographer:

Anyone who has the opportunity to attend a Greek wedding is in for a treat. This is not “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” that you saw on the big screen however, Emily & Niko were one of a kind and oh, how gorgeous they are together. Emily is wearing Monique Lhuillier…would you expect any other designer? Our bride & groom belong on a magazine cover with their stunning looks and impeccable taste, the two are a match made in heaven. St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church was the back drop for their wedding ceremony, and the evening festivities were held at the Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena. With Niko’s Greek heritage, the Orthodox church was the perfect combination that brought both families together. With deep ceremonial traditions, our priest placed golf crowns on the heads of our bride & groom, and these crowns are linked by a silk ribbon which symbolizes the union of our couple. Our photographer, Jon Barber, captured a beautiful moment with our Koumbaro.

Following the ceremony, a black on black Rolls Royce escorted our couple as they travelled in style to the reception. Our guests were entertained by a traditional, Greek bouzouki player while feasting on exquisite hors d’Oeuvres and tantalized by our Cuban Cigar rollers…our hand-rolled cigars and custom cigar bands were a hit. As you know, Greek weddings are very lively events and boy, this wedding held up to its tradition. Of course, there was the famous Greek circle dance and dishes were smashed on the dance floor for good luck. Wow, was it a party! Talking about party, we had the infamous LA Photo Party, the photo booth company without the photo booth, with us and this continued the excitement throughout the rest of the evening. We were wondering why we couldn’t entice people back to the dance floor because they were having way too much fun with Brian and his team.

R. Jack Balthazar, our floral designer, is always such a delight to work with…Rene & Niki made our couple’s dream come true by creating custom linens and runners which gave a richness to our tables. With Emily’s Hawaiian heritage, our floral centerpieces were designed around phalaenopsis orchids, which were set in mercury containers. The lighting component in the ballroom was an extremely important element to our couple. We started the evening with lighting that created a candle lit dinner feel, and following dinner we switched it up a notch to a hip-hop, club type atmosphere. To add to the club atmosphere, R. Jack Balthazar brought in chic furniture so guests could lounge around the reception and sip on their cocktails. Had my share of unique cake toppers this past year, but this one was pretty true to our couple. Don’t you just love the scruffiness of the beard on our groom? Kudos to Cake Divas for thier creativity! This Greek wedding was an event not to be missed.

Photos courtesy of Jon Barber:

Gracie & Kyle are getting married this summer at the Montage in Laguna Beach. I love the concept for their engagement shoot…just darling. Makes me want to have an afternoon picnic on a warm summer day! Thanks Samuel for sharing these engagement photos with us. Stay tuned for their wedding photos!

Photos courtesy of Samuel Lippke Studios:

Molly & Andy are getting married this weekend at the historic SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church, with a dinner reception to follow at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes. For those of you who are not familiar with the Terranea, it is a beautiful resort that has been open for just about one year. These engagement photos were taken by Andy’s sister. Stay tuned for photos of their big day!

Creating a unique dance floor for your special event will make it an event to remember! Platinum Pro specializes in custom dance floors made specifically for your event. If you are looking for any shape, color, custom design logoing, or even pictures or boarders added to your dance floor, Platinum Pro can make it happen! Platinum Pro also provides event lounge furniture, stainless steel space heaters, market umbrellas, portable fire places, and much more! Platinum Pro services throughout Southern California, and has made their mark in the communities of San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles. Be sure to view Platinum Pro’s website to see everything they have to offer.

www.platinumpro.com

These little bow ties & accessories crack me up! I found these fun items from Etsy vender, Me and Matilda. Me and Matilda specialize in “ties for guys no matter what size”! These ties & ring pillows are cute and affordable. Me and Matilda offers many different fabrics to choose from, so shoppers can customize their little guy just how they want. I think these accessories would be great for a couple who loves all things modern! View Me and Matilda’s site and shop away!

To find on Etsy type in “meandmatilda” under the seller option.

Chin-Lu of Chinnylulu Designs could not find the perfect hair accessory to go with her dress for her best friend’s wedding so she made her vision come to life. She had so much fun making it and received so many compliments that she decided to make more! That marked the beginning of Chinnylulu Designs! Chin-Lu’s specialty is couture hair wear for proms, engagement sessions, brides and their bridal parties. The 1920’s and everything vintage are Chin-Lu’s inspiration for making the hair pieces. Her accessories are uniquely named after the special people in her life as a small way to say thank you for the blessings of friendship. There is an exciting year ahead with custom orders for weddings and all occasions!

Visit Chin-Lu’s site: www.chinnylulu.etsy.com
Photos courtesy of Hoffmann Photographer:

Julie from Elysium writes: The beautiful Terranea Resort was the setting for Valerie and Jason’s coastal wedding reception, with their ceremony being held at St. Brendan Catholic Church. We shot alongside the talented Samuel Lippke (you can sneak a peek at his photo preview here). Check out Valerie and Jason’s Same Day Edit complete with a stunning couple, awesome Jimmy Choo’s, and a super cool venue!

Elysium Productions: Contemporary & Stylish Wedding Video in Orange County & Beyond!