It’s been a while since I’ve posted. And time has both flown and stood still these last six months. With so many events postponed, I’ve had some quiet time. I’m discovering it’s a chance for me to spend time with my business and take a look at all that has been accomplished these past few years. I rarely have time to stop to take stock- so here we go! I’m browsing through my photos and going to spend the next few months celebrating my clients and their joy and the events we created. I’m bringing the past into the present to remind us all from where we’ve come so that we can look toward the future, together, with hope.
I was thrilled with this event! I am so proud to say this is a legacy client of mine. Haley is the youngest and forth daughter of the family and I’ve done all other three of their daughter’s weddings. We have been working together since 2012! I’ll never forget the first wedding I did for this family. Since it is a family business, my daughter, Ana, my youngest, joined the family while we cleaned up and dismantled the event. I went looking for her, as a mom does and found her sitting in their kitchen, eating left-over wedding cake with the mother of the bride. The mother of the bride was doting over her in the sweetest way. That was the beginning of a very long relationship of working with this family, and for that I am grateful.
We’ve gotten to know one another and our design aesthetics really are a terrific match. They love a natural garden style, opulent, timeless and classic in style, as do I. Monograms for life with classic shades of blue and white.
Haley and Ben’s wedding ceremony was hosted at the family’s Rancho Santa Fe residence with close to 300 guests and a sit down dinner reception. I adore doing flowers in that very traditional and classic style, with monogrammed linens, tall centerpieces, a flower adorned chuppah, and thousands of gorgeous roses, hydrangeas, gardenias, and ivy draped out of every arrangement, everywhere the eye turned. candles and the warm, cozy, loving glow they provide. This wedding had over 2000 candles!
We also were invited to be creative. We used a dormant wisteria vine, already in their garden, as a base and transformed it into a lush, blooming climbing rose bush! Anywhere there was an arch of roses that weren’t in bloom, we created an in-bloom arch. (The secrets of the trade-- embrace the greens you have on site!) This wedding was not excessive in design. It was simply, tastefully decadent.
With every event I try to include one special item for the couple - that little sentimental moment, just for them. I’d been given a piece of fabric from their maternal great great grandmother’s wedding dress when I did the first wedding, many years ago. Since I’ve worked so closely with this family, they’ve trusted me with this fabric and every daughter’s bridal bouquet has been wrapped with this fabric of their history. This was the final daughter, so the final piece was carefully tied to her bridal bouquet as a memento of love and hope.
Coordinator: Merilee Hennings, Ever After Events | Venue: Private Residence | Photographer: Paul Barnett Photography | Flowers: Flowers Annette Gomez | Dessert: VG Donuts & Dolce Donuts | Catering: Giuseppe Catering | Music: Rinaldi Strings & West Coast Music | Videographer: Taylor Films | Rentals: Hostess Haven, Bright Party Rentals, Hire Elegance, Joes on the Nose, Royal Restrooms | Hair: JDM Salon | Make Up: Sara Stewart