DESTINATION: TECH SAVVY WEDDINGS

WhatsApp. Facetime. Skype. Who knew that modern-day technology would find itself elevating modern-day destination weddings.

My team was elated to work alongside Nahid Global Events to design a grand multi-day wedding celebration for Pav and Akal at the gorgeous Ritz Carlton in Orange County, which is known for its luxurious five-star rating and sweeping panoramic views of the coast. With five back-to-back events to plan for this couple, we knew there could be challenges, being that the bride and groom to-be lived halfway across the world in India. I am a firm believer in establishing a solid relationship with my couples to guide them through the design process, so this was a job for the world wide web.

ENTER THE APP STORE.

After meeting the couple and their family briefly during their initial site visit and planning trip, we decided to communicate via WhatsApp, which conveniently translates languages, to share inspirational images and video samples from India. This was a game changer to help us connect despite any language barrier. We took it one step further and began sharing a design deck of color palettes I created. I uploaded it to Google Slides to share with them for comment, collaboration; it was a transcontinental conversation. Our meetings occurred over Facetime, naturally.

We had five events to execute for the 3-day wedding weekend, including:

1.    Welcome dinner at Club 19 at the Monarch Beach Resort (formerly the St. Regis Monarch Beach) on Friday evening.

2.    Mehndi Luncheon on Saturday morning on the lawn at the Ritz Carlton.

3.    Sangeet at the Ritz on Saturday night.

4.    Ceremony at the Ritz on Sunday afternoon.

5.    Reception in the Pacific Promenade, following the ceremony.

Each event had its own design scheme.  We started with the welcome dinner for 70 guests and created all the tabletop centerpieces and arrangements for the food stations. The Mehndi luncheon was a slightly bigger event, up to 125 guests, where we installed hanging strands of marigolds as well as large floral pieces  to the outdoor buffet and tent lounges. Those were interwoven with all the tabletop decor designed in eccentric bud vases, interweaving fresh florals and paper flowers.

The Sangeet celebration was a grand affair in rich jewel tones with tall lanterns and candelabras embellished with floral centerpieces in deep burgundy and gold shades.

For the official wedding day, we designed an elaborately lush mandap framed in an array of ivory and pantone-approved coral roses mixed with specialty eucalyptus, and Phalaenopsis orchids in 4-column tiebacks. We included two front arrangements leading up into the mandap to balance out the blooms. Then the reception was yet another showstopper. It featured a candlelight backdrop draped in orchids with a textured blue and gold linen from BBJ that became the foundation for the sea of white floral table runners and globed centerpieces, with warm, romantic candle lighting all around.

It really came as no surprise when we saw this elaborate 3-day affair featured in DESTINATION: I DO Magazine. It was quite a prize to see that press because we put so much into making Pav and Akal’s destination wedding a dream come true for them. And we have to thank the power of technology for seeing this one through from start to finish.

Plus, of course, this wonderful team of vendors:

Photographer: Duke Images. Wedding Planner: Nahid’s Global Events. Florist: Adorations Botanical. Hair: Hair by Rami Haddad. Bridal Makeup: Dolled up by Lulu. Makeup: Makeup by Souad and Makeup by Samia. Mehndi Artist: Henna San Diego. Stationery: Calligraphy Katrina. Videography: Russell John Films. Linens: BBJ Linen. DJ, Lighting and Ceremony Music: Special Occasions. Chairs: Chiavari Chair Rentals. Rentals: Hire Elegance and SYNX Events. Catering: Monsoon Catering and Natraj. Bar Service: Hello Barman. Photo Booth: The Foto Box. Dance Floor: Platinum Pro. Carpeting and Mandap: NFP Events. Event Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Paper Flowers: Paper Ave.

eDESTINATION WEDDING PLANNING … FROM AFAR

Renita & Martin

How do you plan a wedding from afar? The thought of a DESTINATION can seem like so much work, but for Londoners, Renita and Martin, the process crossing the pond (and the country) was seamless. 

This wedding celebration was extra special as our bride was Indian American but her Groom, not from the United States, so highlighting both cultures was very important to personalize this couple’s special day.

Melissa Robles from Styling Starts Here had produced a wedding for the bride’s friend a few years prior, while our current couple was living in San Francisco. Being that the bride’s family also lives in Irvine, there was a California connection in the planning process. However, in today’s digital and virtual world, communication was key and platforms like SKYPE and FACETIME became our new normal. And it certainly helped that Renita was a girl who knew what she wanted, on point with the trends, colors, and environment desired for the day. Plus, she was conscientious of her investment, which can help keep expectations and design in check.

Having the traditional Indian ceremony at Bella Collina was already decided upon when we got on board, with the venue boasting the most gorgeous views.  The bride wanted her décor to complement their wedding attire so a bold mix of burgundies, reds, gold, and greens were celebrated in their color palette. Renita was also a very traditional American bride in the sense that she wanted a huge party, open bar and all of her college and American friends to have a wonderful time.

The wedding mandap truly stunned, draped flawlessly with flowing sheer chiffon that gracefully swayed in the gentle wind. We trimmed the top with green ivy tendrils falling at various lengths to frame their ceremonial vows. Each of the four pillars were bound with rich botanicals made of dahlias, roses, peonies, hydrangea, stock, and natural greens.

Moving into the reception décor, our couple wanted the modern styling in the ballroom at Bella Collina with arrangements of varying shapes and sizes playing more with a peach to tangerine palette of florals that accented the gold linens and candlelight. We set each arrangement on elevated pedestals, which gave a contemporary sophistication to the tablescapes.

Our favorite detail was not only Renita’s striking red bouquet, but the incredible flower garlands for both her and Martin. This traditional floral accessory dressed their outfits with such a fresh and powerful statement – one that we’d like to see more of!

It was a pleasure to work with Renita and Martin from London to plan their Southern California day. We encourage couples to embrace the technology we have at our fingertips to make the planning process as easy as can be! 

VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Linda Arredondo Photography. Event Designer & Wedding Planner: Styling Starts Here. Venue: Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club. Floral Designer: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Catering & Desserts: Delhi Palace. Rental Décor: OCLA. Lighting & DJ: Sound Nation LA. Videographer: The Whys. Additional Rentals: Signature Party Rentals. Hair/Makeup: Hollywood Make Up Studio.

ADORATIONS HEARTS OUR WEDDING CHICKS FEATURE

“You got me in chains, you got me in chains for your love…”

And we couldn’t be more in love with our feature on Wedding Chicks and the collaborators who made it all happen!

While it’s true that Nick Jonas’s CHAINS song did inspire this styled shoot, the Andaz San Diego, more so. As one of our favorite downtown venues, the Andaz is a glamorous and sexy hotel, best known for their rooftop nightclub and event space overlooking the city’s stunning skyline. The Andaz logo set the tone as the our team of vendors sought to complement this modern luxury hotel with a dramatically different affair with chains, of course, binding the design in detail.

Spearheading this conceptual shoot was the dynamic duo of Coastyle Events with us doing what we do best – floral design. For us, the Andaz’s living wall of greens inspired our contemporary chic styling starting with the reception tabletop. Our combination of café au lait, coral, burgundy and spiky orange dahlias, David Austen Chippendale garden spray roses and Tess merlot garden roses, pink-tipped snowberries, poke weed, dusty miller and eucalyptus exuded great depth in texture, color and style with a dramatic addition of vibrant phalaenopsis orchids

The industrial tabletop, came courtesy of the Andaz’s modern furniture styling while the centerpiece design WOW’d with a voluptuous mixture of fleurs, Coastyle hand gilded the gold glassware, pairing the setting with lovely plates from Anthropologie. Chains draped alongside the table with the juxtaposition of the silver fur underneath to add to our “Chains of Love” theme.

For the “I Do’s” the Coastyle ladies chose a simple wood arbor accentuated with cascading mirrors to reflect the natural light and chains dripping from the gorgeous floral palette. In lieu of traditional seating, mixed reclaimed wood benches, concrete chairs and tree stub stools with not only a fur runner aisle, but a bed of red rose petals.

Sweet Cheeks Baking Company not only designed an architecturally-inspired three-tiered cake with geometric and orchid embellishments but also introduced the dessert pairing station with crafted cocktails meant to complement their sweet treats. How perfect for guests to have their cake and drink too!

This shoot wouldn’t have been so perfectly complete without the incredible photos by Cavin Elizabeth Photography. Her style, professionalism and innovative technique make her truly one of the best in San Diego. I am so honored to have worked with her and our incredible team of talent on this shoot, as seen on Wedding Chicks!   

VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Cavin Elizabeth Photography. Design & Coordination: Coastyle Events.
Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Venue: Andaz San Diego. Cake: Sweet Cheeks Baking Co. Rentals: Lauren Sharon Vintage Rentals. Dishware: Anthropologie. Gown Designer: Houghton. Bridal Salon: The Dress Theory. Models: Andrei Razmeritsa & Natalia Fulto.

COVER GIRLS Adorations Botanical Artistry & White Lace Events

Featured on Ceremony Magazine’s April Cover

I knew deep down at our photo shoot that THIS would be a cover.

We were cutting it close to deadlines for Ceremony Magazine’s 2015 print edition when I was asked to partner with Elizabeth & Krissie of White Lace Events & Design.

This was to be their first styled photo shoot with Ceremony, as they were in the midst of launching their very own wedding coordination and design company. Since I knew these vibrant girls well, as they were certainly no strangers to the wedding industry, coming direct from one of my favorite properties, L’Auberge Del Mar, I was thrilled for the collaboration!

Right away, E & K (as the White Lace girls are known) knew they wanted to incorporate a SWING, and I was all for it! This is the kind of work I feel eternally grateful to get to design. The shoot was a representation of that “loose, handpicked from the garden” vibe that doesn’t always get expressed within magazine editorials. Mixing unique elements like berries and pomegranates (which were in peak season) added another level of depth and texture to the styling, which is very much in line with our personal design philosophy at Adorations.

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe was the perfect location for this shoot as the natural romantic landscape lent so well to our entire design scheme. As E & K selected the farm table, chairs and tabletop accessories, including that signature “White Lace” runner, we built the swing to act as the “sweetheart seat” at the table for the bride and groom. We created the swing in bay laurel, seeded eucalyptus and Italian pittosporum leaves with a found vintage plank of wood.  The bountiful centerpieces and bouquet were crafted with lush peonies, dahlias, ripe red roses, garden roses, and ranunculus, all in various shades of burgundy, pink, and white with touches of pale gold for an unexpected lean in color.

I remember thinking when the talented Pam Scott took the shots of the bouquet on the swing, that Ceremony would love it! This really was a “fruits of love” moment for all of us and such an amazing debut of two very creative ladies.  I look forward to many more COVER-worthy designs with Elizabeth and Krissie as I know they’ll find much success with their business, White Lace Events & Design!

VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Pam Scott Photography. Coordination & Styling: White Lace Events & Design. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Stationery: Posh Paperie. Escort Cards: RLH Creations. Rentals: Classic Party Rentals. Location: The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe.

US GRANT LUXURY WEDDING SHOW & LUNCHEON

Photography by Garrett Richardson Photography

A few Sundays ago, the US GRANT Hotel showcased their annual Luxury Wedding Show and Luncheon for brides-to-be to experience four ballrooms brimming with styled vignettes from Southern California’s elite wedding specialists.

Adorations was so honored to create SEVEN of these amazing décor setups. And yes, you did hear right. SEVEN. We think that’s a lucky number.

It all began when Thomas Bui Lifestyles and Wynn Austin Events asked me to work with them on tabletop designs for the Grand Ballroom, which would be where the Luncheon and M Bride Couture Fashion Show would be held. I so adore working with both Thomas and Wynn that I said YES. When the US Grant also asked us to style Palm Court as well – you can guess it – I said YES as well.

While that may sound like three vignettes, both Thomas and Wynn were responsible for three tables EACH! Upon meeting with both of them to discuss the designs, Thomas decided to go for three completely unique tabletops while Wynn wanted to connect hers quite literally with a gorgeous ribbon of translucent gold magnolia leaves draped from each high centerpiece. Her lovely color palette of blush, cream and gold, which remains to be many bride-to-be’s favorite, was luxury at its finest with garden White O’ Hara roses, palest blush Quicksand roses, with pieres japonica and trailing jasmine vine woven throughout.

Thomas was thankfully placed right beside Wynn, front and center of the stage, with his three tables. My team joked a bit that the space in-between the two rows of tabletops was the “Adoration’s Alley” since we all had worked so hard to make these grand floral pieces for such a luxury show.

Thomas’s first tabletop design was “The Blossoming Tree,” fairytale in style, with floral groupings seeming to grow organically out of the base of a true birch trunk. The tree was blossoming with purple lilac, lavender sweet pea and purple clematis with rising white and lavender hydrangea, camellia leaves, sweet peas and roses in various stages of bloom. White and lavender clematis weaved ethereally throughout while the crown of the tree trunk featured branches of white cherry blossoms and blooming magnolia.

 The “Marsala Masculinity” was Thomas’s 2nd tabletop that we took a modern yet whimsical approach to highlight the Pantone color of the year with several shades of sultry red, bronzed copper and pops of peach. The crescent-shaped centerpiece cascaded with French tulips tight clusters of Tess and Piano garden roses, deep red amaryllis, coffee break roses in a copper hue, red and peach ranunculus, Juliet roses, and dark spray roses were infused with anemones, poppies and dahlias. The design was made complete with mercury votives in a distinctive regal pattern, gold chalices, golden charger plates, rich linens and floating candles for a debonair styling. 

“The Golden Halo” was the third in our series with Thomas, rising 4 ft above the tabletop with a golden halo ring atop a vessel of vibrant blooms. As one looked up, they saw the flowers reflecting through glass globes in this artfully designed installation. The dramatic yet romantic ring grew in size from 36 to 48 inches in diameter with the lush display of fleurs, featuring the famous David Austen roses, Juliet garden roses, Phoebe roses, clematis, hellebore with antique green hydrangea suspended with pepper berries and dripping with jasmine vine and purple clematis creating a visually stunning art piece. 

Our final installation was in the Palm Court, right off the lobby at the US Grant that boasts a grand piano in the very center of the room. We wanted to highlight not only the stunning musical instrument, but also the musician himself. As one entered the room the piano was set in a floral frame with bunches of mono-floral bouquets angled with movement to direct the eye towards the piano. We set a vibrant centerpiece on the piano tall with blooming magnolia blossom branches, antique hydrangea, purple lilac and cascading purple phalaenopsis orchids, reminiscent of the floral groupings from our poised bouquets. It was such a stunning visual impact as quests entered into this beautiful space at the US Grant Hotel.

I’d love to give such a special thanks to my entire TEAM at Adorations Botanical Artistry. We not only had an actual wedding that weekend but worked around the clock to make these show installations so over-the-top! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!!

And of course to the US Grant, Thomas Bui and Wynn Austin – we are truly blessed to not only work with the very best wedding professionals, but also consider you friends! Thank you for all that you do for Adorations Botanical Artistry! We look forward to many more grand events!

Adriana & Chris: Two become One

It’s what we live for in this industry – when two hearts genuinely become one.

My first encounter with Adriana & Chris was endearing. My good friend and colleague, Thomas Bui Lifestyle invited me to send his couple an Adorations Botanical Artistry signature arrangement in shades of the soon-to-be-bride’s favorite color: purple. This was our first introduction (and impression) as we sent her a lovely centerpiece crafted in purple kale, succulents, garden roses and those enchanting botanical elements that we’ve become known for.

Later I had the pleasure of meeting this elegant couple, who were to celebrate their second marriage at the magnificent Rancho Valencia Resort. Chris was the most dotting and sincere fiancé, who was so lovingly protective of this woman that he wanted to indulge her with her heart’s desire. It was like a storybook romance we dream about as he treated her the way a gentleman should – like his queen.

While they were in the midst of renovating their home, Adriana and Chris wanted that same custom approach to their wedding day celebration. Choosing a palette of deep plums and ivories, their outdoor ceremony was rich in vibrant shades of lavender as the lightest chiffon fabric draped their canopy in a symmetrical fashion. The arbor and ceremonial bureau were created with the bride’s favorite Picasso calla lilies, Carmel Antik roses, lavender and white hydrangea, dahlias, clematis, succulents, tulips and varieties of roses allowing for movement and a gorgeous styling. The added allium gave that special touch of whimsy to the flowers making it one stunning ceremony site.

We created a walkway of candlelight leading the guests from the ceremony to the reception. And as many know Thomas Bui’s style of grandeur, the reception tent was a high impact open-air celebration draped with chandeliers to perfection. This romantic environment was enhanced with golden table accents sourced by TBL and lush floral centerpieces in the same varietal scheme of bold lavenders and crèmes, all set around a dance floor designed with a heart becoming one.

While the theme lent itself so joyfully to Adriana and Chris’s wedding celebration, this loving couple, donated all of their flowers to Heliotrope for Hospice, which is an organization that repurposes flowers from special events or stores and delivers the little beauties to patients throughout San Diego in hospice care.

It was such an honor to work with Adriana and Chris on their special day and we wish them ALL KINDS OF GOODNESS in their life together!!

VENDOR LOVE
Photography | Victor Sizemore Photographer. Venue & Catering | Rancho Valencia. Coordination & Design | Thomas Bui Lifestyle. Floral Design | Adorations Botanical Artistry. Dance Floor & Rentals | Concepts Event Design. Rentals | Abbey’s Party Rentals. Draping | Pacific Event Productions. Lighting | Amber Event Production.  Linens | La Tavola Linen. Makeup  | James Overstreet. Hair | Salon De Marcus. Videography | Taylor Films. Officiant | Robert Stevens.  DJ | Mike Hogan. Music | Michael Gonzales. Cake & Desserts | Sweet Lydia.  

Brian Malarkey’s GREEN ACRE Restaurant Featured with ADORATIONS BOTANICAL ARTISTY in Ceremony Magazine San Diego 2015

Top Chef extraordinaire Brian Malarkey is clearly a household name. Especially in San Diego, our palettes have had the pleasure of experiencing Malarkey’s “Fabric of Social Dining” in his award-winning haute spot restaurants, Searsucker and Herringbone, while foodie fans across the country have fallen in love with Bravo’s happy-go-lucky reality star. Malarkey seems to be finding more and more success in his restaurant brands, which have expanded into Austin, Texas; West Hollywood, and soon-to-be in Las Vegas; but his most recent SD venue and restaurant Green Acre is adored by us, here at Adorations.

Obviously, in case you haven’t seen the latest 2015 edition of Ceremony Magazine, Adorations is thrilled to see our incredible king-sized “Garden to Table” photoshoot featured in a 4-page editorial spread!

Last year, we were blessed to work with the wonderful Tim Altbaum Productions (now Vario Productions) for his annual industry event, hosted at Green Acre and found such inspiration in the “campus-life” that this organic eatery boasts. Unlike any restaurant dining experience we’ve ever seen, Green Acre is the epitome of farm-to-table dining, as each of the two life science campus locations has its own sustainable garden where much of their produce is harvested. Offering breakfast and lunch “brain food” for neighboring colleagues and researchers, the Campus Pointe location can also double as a venue space for special events. Since we were already twirling flowers for Tim’s elaborate celebration, we decided to repurpose our florals into a Ceremony Magazine photoshoot the very next day.  It only seemed fitting, keeping with the green, sustainable lifestyle assumed by Green Acre, that reusing our gorgeous flowers was a must! For more TAP party pictures.

Our shoot was a play on the “farm-to-table” restaurant concept as translated to the “Garden-to-Table” styling (and name). Since Green Acre boasts a private dining space with a grand 20-person tabletop made of reclaimed wood, accompanied by leather chairs and bookshelves adorned to the walls, we thought this was the perfect location to set our tablescape.  The flower palette comprised of Juliette and Campanella garden roses, pincushion protea, anemones, sweet peas, and ranunculus in sorbet inspired shades of pinks and oranges elevated with greens, which livened up the masculine den-like space.

Because this was such an important shoot for Adorations, we were fortunate to work with two amazing photographers to capture the essence of our “Garden to Table” editorial. As featured in the Ceremony Magazine spread, Alex Hurtado Photography shot the table and details, as did our friend Garrett Richardson for Clove & Kin Photography, who was featured in Ceremony for the cabbage patch bouquet. Our incredible team of vendors also included coordination by Jessica Gillon of Events by Design, Hostess Haven for rentals; linens by Concepts Event Design and stationery pieces by Love Paper Paint.

Thank you to our talented vendors and Ceremony Magazine for this wonderful published feature and of course, to the inspiring Brian Malarkey who just keeps growing his delicious brand of goodness! Want to see more Garden-to-Table.

Editorial Shoot Credits
Photography: Alex Hurtado Photography. Photography: Clove & Kin Photography. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Coordination: Events by Design. Rentals: Hostess Haven. Linens: Concepts Event Design. Stationery: Love Paper Paint. Food & Venue: Green Acre.

50 SHADES OF FABULOUS: Janissa & Sherwin

VALENTINE’S DAY is less than one-month away! While many are counting down the days to the release of the much-anticipated film, 50 Shades of Grey, we here at Adorations are celebrating 50 Shades of Love, all MONTH long. As you know LOVE blossoms in many forms and with that we shower you with passionate couples, sultry shots, and the feeling we all ADORE most…LOVE!  

That kiss… have you ever seen one onscreen as passionate?

Forget about Christian Grey – let’s talk about Sherwin and Janissa’s high-fashion and modern love story, celebrating their special day at the Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach.

In fact, let’s watch the trailer…. 

Janissa & Sherwin are unlike many couples and wanted to express their love through modern design, artistry, fashion, family, friends, and of course, one another. “Being in the industry, our goal was to provide a rather non-traditional wedding for our guests to experience,” says our gorgeous bride Janissa. “All of the events throughout our engagement leading up to the wedding and even there after, have been nothing short of memorable.” 

With a color palette of greys, creams, and pops of crimson red, their wedding scheme completely lent itself to the venue’s natural design. The chic Shade Hotel was actually the one and only ceremony and reception space the couple viewed. Knowing they had found the one, the question became, “How do we make the wedding exude a simplistic yet modern design that exudes high fashion and sexiness during the day?”

The answer was simple – bring in event designer & coordinator Charmae of Bellz & Whistlez and Adorations Botanical Artistry to collaborate with the talented bride. Charmae wanted to play with the use of textures influenced by Janissa’s wedding gown and made a custom backdrop for the altar with hanging ribbons and lace embroidery hoops. The dramatic faux fur aisle runner set focus on the red dahlia and dusty miller–filled boxes leading up to the aisle adorned with wooden pedestals with arrangements varying in white and red.

To transition from the “I Do’s” to the “Brilliant Party” in the same space, tables were set in crimson linens while we repurposed the ceremony décor into white centerpiece arrangements full of crimson linens, dahlias and dusty miller. The ceremony altar became a stunning sweetheart table and cake display with a plexi-glass base set overtop of florals to showcase their sweet puppy-love toppers.

Janissa and Sherwin’s wedding began long before their actual wedding day – we loved hearing about their pre-wedding bridal luncheon and photo/film shoot with their absolutely gorgeous bridal party that not only made their save-the-date wedding invites so fabulous but also turned into one phenomenal grand entrance film and photo memories set amongst the reception. We thought Janissa’s sense of extraordinary style was even more striking with the quote she included on her invitations regarding her guests’ dress:

"What makes a brilliant party? Clothes. Good clothes. A frumpy party is nothing more nor less than a collection of badly dressed persons." ~ by Emily Post

Not only were each of her bridesmaids donned in uniquely different cream dresses but each groomsman in a different shade of grey. The guys also wore distinctive boutonnieres to show off their individual style, all of which were carefully curated by our high-fashion couple. And the guests adhered to the “good clothes” dress code, making this one fashionably fabulous wedding celebration con amore! 

Photography: Mark Brooke Photography. Event Design & Coordination: Bellz & Whistlez. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Venue: Shade Hotel. Videography: Ren  & Rob Productions. DJ & Entertainment: DJ Tanner, Love Rockers. Cake: Cake & Art. Ice Cream: Manhattan Beach Creamery. Makeup: Makeup by Pam SD. Hair: Rose Hair Design.

HOTEL DEL WEDDING: UNDER THE NIGHT SKY

There is that moment of twilight after the sun has long set and the night sky turns to dusk. This is when Christina and Sean said, “I do.”

Set beachfront outside of the legendary Hotel Del Coronado, with the glowing iconic turrets as part of their scene, Christina and Sean had the romantic setting that Christina had always dreamed of. 

When I had first met with the beautiful bride-to-be to talk about her wedding décor, she had brought with her an inspiration board from a summer wedding she wanted to recreate with large dinner plate dahlias as the basis of the floral palette. Being that her wedding was a pre-winter affair in November, we had to tailor the plan to include seasonal flowers that could give the same grandiose effect and opted for large china mums to take the place perfectly.  David Austin garden roses dominated the design with natural foliage that lent a handpicked styling, with subtle hints of metallic gold. Queen Anne’s lace, maidenhair fern, and white veronica imbued movement, peaking amongst the garden roses. We were able to weave in smaller varieties of dahlias to keep the bride’s original vision at play, but let the china mums do their job to emphasize the scale.

Our favorite design element in Christina and Sean’s wedding was the crochet chuppah that added such unexpected personality to the décor. With nightfall, the chuppah illuminated in ambient lighting that complemented The Del’s iconic radiance making this one unique and gorgeous celebration. 

VENDOR: Photography: Pam Scott Photography. Location: Hotel Del Coronado. Coordination & Styling: Monarch Weddings. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Rentals: Concepts Event Design. Linens: La Tavola. Lighting: San Diego Events Lighting. Menus: Whimsique Invitations & Stationery.

RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A ROOFTOP WEDDING

As we ring in the New Year, Adorations Botanical Artistry would love to thank every one of our amazing vendor collaborators and couples for making 2014 such a successful and inspiring year of innovative design. I am truly humbled to look back on our incredible event décor and am so grateful to continue to share the collective work of many talented artists and professionals in our industry.

This rooftop wedding celebration is no exception. In fact, it is one of my favorite events from this year, being with one of my extremely creative and stylish friends, Thomas Bui.

Our modern couple chose one of San Diego’s most notable downtown haute spot’s for their ceremony and reception celebration, the Andaz Hotel. Keeping with the ultimate city-vibe, Thomas came to me with a vision to create elevated arrangements with suspended elements. While our couple was invested in their rooftop affair, Astrid, our bride, was transferred to Africa for a job and her husband-to-be Peter took over the final planning details. We all wanted her to be wowed with the final result… and that she was.

The overall color palette was pure white boasting a dramatic grouping of florals, very Jeff-Leatham style with verdant greens brought into the reception décor. The bride carried a chic asymmetrical bouquet mixed with peonies, garden roses, and string of pearl succulent strands, lady slipper orchids, and ranunculus and cymbidium orchids. 

Since the Andaz is set in sections, as it doubles as a high-end nightlife venue as well, we had just one hour to turnover the orchid-infused ceremony site into a 65ft king table with the elevated tabletop installation during cocktail hour, transforming the space into an enchanting floral paradise. The tabletop of contemporary Lucite was the dwelling of sandblasted grapevine that rambled organically above guests’ heads with lush with foliage and hanging glass globes. Garden roses, scabiosa pods, brunia, hanging strings of pearls, succulents, fresh Spanish moss, and lotus pods comprised the table botanicals making this one OVER-THE-TOP table setting of 2014. 

VENDORS: Photography: Luna Photo. Location: Andaz, San Diego. Coordination & Styling: Thomas Bui Lifestyle. Rentals: Chiavari Chair Rentals. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Invitations and Stationery: Wendy Ware. Hair: Audra Rene. Makeup: Ann DeNicolo.

Ode to Peonies

Oh sweet peony, how we love you so! We truly despise having to see you go…

It is that season! The most sought after flower has been in bloom since about mid-May and carries through till the end of June. While we floral designers are known to pull a few tricks out of our sleeve, the precious peony is only available for just a few more weeks, and then we must bid farewell to the most popular seasonal wedding fleur of all time!

Last weekend, I purchased peonies from a grower in Oregon and they were the last of his crop. The shipment arrived on Tuesday morning and the flowers looked more like marshmallows tightly bound up in shape. As the week progressed I watched, as the blooms started to magically unfold exploding into their femininity like that of a woman. By Saturday they had opened up into their magnificence and were such a sight to be seen! As if I didn’t know before, I completely understand why us ladies adore this very, VERY, special flower.

We were in Vegas for a wedding and as you know, there is a lot of heat in Sin City. The temperature had its effect on the flower and I mean that in a positive way. The heat caused the phenomenal bloom, allowing the luscious petals to exude its full beauty. These peonies were so spectacularly gorgeous that I just had to pull a few out of the arrangements (after the wedding, of course) and left them in my hotel room overnight, hoping the maids took them home to enjoy!

There are so many varieties of peonies, some single, double or multi-layered, like the Sarah Bernhardt, which is the classic, double-bloomed, frilly pink peony that resembles that of an old-fashioned rose. Coral Charm Peonies are also quite popular, as they open into a bowl-shaped bloom revealing a glowing mass of stamens in a deep coral-peach shade. The Cerise Peony is more fuchsia in color and has an outer guard petal that protects the fluffy petaloids insides. Yellow tree peonies are one of my favorite kinds and actually grow trees as opposed to bushes so they aren’t quite as dense. It amazes me the number of peony varietals there are—over 3,000 cultivated types are known throughout the world!!

So enjoy these seasonal beauties while they last… I know Trader Joe’s has been quite a haute spot to pick up a bouquet of stems for your home at an amazing price!!! And while we can’t get peonies all year, we do see some varieties return in the winter months, like the Coral Charm in October, white in November and the deep burgundy blooms in December, right in time for the holidays. However, these lovely pink petals are on their way out, which does make me wonder if that’s why June has become known for weddings…it MUST be because of the picture-perfect PEONY season!

Photography by Gene Higa, Rodrigo Mendez, Samuel Lippke, Schnack Studios & Victor Sizemore

Into the GLAMOROUS Woods: Exquisite Weddings Magazine Feature

The new Spring/Summer edition of Exquisite Weddings Magazine is now OUT on the newsstands and we are thrilled to be included in a stunning tabletop feature with A Joy Forever!

This gorgeous a la natural-chic shoot was conceived, styled, and coordinated by Krista Morrison, the founder and designer of A Joy Forever. As one of my long-standing colleagues and genuine friends, I was more than happy to work with Krista on this stylized décor editorial and knew that she would go above-and-beyond, as she does with every project or special event she produces. Wanting a classy and opulent look for this shoot, she was inspired by the Hidden Oaks property, which is known to host very casual and rustic affairs. However, Krista’s fresh perspective chose to “glam” up the styling to create a sophisticated yet whimsical outdoor setting.

Of course Krista informed me of the color palette she was going for and I chose to incorporate luscious crimson dahlias, rich pink peonies, antique blue hydrangea, and scabiosa flowers into our arrangements. The crystal chandelier was a focal point in the design so we played with the luxurious lace table runner and included many crystallized elements for added sparkle.  Our “something blue” tea lights popped perfectly up against the wood farm table and picked up the contrasting color of the hydrangea and dusty miller.

To complete our shoot, we added two sets of models to act as our bride and groom, along with their best man and maid of honor. It is always so rewarding to see people around a tabletop that you create for an editorial shoot — it breathes new life into the design and truly shows off what it would be like to have your loved ones breaking bread together surrounded by that beauty. 

As always, it was such a great pleasure collaborating with Krista on this shoot. Her sentimentality and thoughtfulness goes into every project and client she works with, and her ongoing quest to make a difference in people’s lives truly inspires me. I am truly blessed to have her wide-eyed optimism and love for discovery in my life and I can’t wait for our next shoot together!! 

TABLETOP CREDITS

Coordination & Styling: Krista Morrison for A Joy Forever Weddings & Events. Venue: Hidden Oaks Private Weddings & Events. Photography: Taylor Abeel Photography. Florals: LaVonne Crawford for Adorations Botanical Artistry, Paper Elements: Wendy Ware Calligraphy & Design. Furniture: Concepts Event Design. Tabletop Decor: Classic Party Rentals. Linens: La Tavola Linen. Gown: Danielle Berg D’Marie Bridal. Hair & Makeup: Natalie Bohlin Makeup.

COLIN COWIE FEATURES RULA & STEVEN’S LODGE AT TORREY PINES WEDDING

It’s always an honor to be amongst the industry’s most notable stars. Colin Cowie, a world-renowned celebrity event designer, featured Rula and Steven’s stunning Lodge at Torrey Pines affair on their famed site – ColinCowieWeddings.com. While I love being recognized by the extraordinarily talented Cowie, it is the company I kept on this wedding who are the real shining stars. Working alongside the creative and stylish Susanne Duffy is always a pleasure. So much so that I’ve come to expect the glamour and luxury that is synonymous with her business, Crown Weddings.

And this wedding was by no means an exception.

The bride is a surgeon from New York City, so her mother did most of the planning for this destination celebration. Susanne conveyed their overall vision for the design and color scheme consisting of aubergine, lavender and ivory, with touches of gold. Working with a coordinator like Susanne is a blessing. While the design is an ongoing collaboration between creative vendors, it’s so important to have a strong coordinator to direct the production. Susanne Duffy does so flawlessly and our final creation was simply divine.

Guests were greeted with six lush arrangements framing the aisle entrance full of roses in various stages of bloom, hydrangea, dahlias, and tulips with diminutive touches of botanical foliage, like dusty miller for movement and variation in texture. A pathway of white rose petals aligned the chairs leading up to the grand wooden arbor elaborated decorated in a lavish display of the floral palette, making a breathtaking backdrop for this lovely couple’s ceremony.

The bride’s bouquet (featured last week in our first of many ongoing Bouquet Recipe posts) comprised of Carmel Antik and Patience garden roses, Amnesia roses, ranunculus, gardenias, tulips, lisianthus, jasmine vine and dusty miller. Smaller bouquets were created for the bridesmaids and accessorized their deep plum gowns beautifully. 

Candlelight amongst the dark farm tables created an ambient glow to the Lodge for the reception décor, which showcased various table arrangements and centerpieces complementing the royal purple color palette.

It’s no wonder that Colin Cowie chose this elaborate California Lodge wedding to feature on his site. The event was a vibrant and dramatic display of true elegance, and a dream come true for this east coast couple. 

Vendors

Photographed by Braja Mandala. Venue: The Lodge at Torrey Pines. Wedding Planner: Crown Weddings. Floral Design: Adorations Botanical Artistry. Linens: La Tavola.

ALL KINDS OF GOODNESS with Creative Expert LaVonne Crawford of Adorations Botanical Artistry

There is an importance of sacred ritual and ceremony.  As a floral and event designer for weddings and special events, I am seeing a reoccurring trend in the exclusion of ceremony décor from the overall floral budget. Over time, couples seem to continue reducing their investment both personally and financially into the actual ceremony. Now I can understand from a bride’s perspective how this can make sense. Your wedding ceremony is usually only 20-30 minutes long, while the majority of the time is spent at the dinner and reception. However, as couples stand before their ministers, officiants, family, and friends, (and let’s not forget God) declaring their lifelong devotion to one another, could it be that we are missing the point and not focusing our attention to these ceremonial details?

There is a significance to the ritual, hence why it is called the ceremony, and it is human nature to mark special events. This is an opportunity for inclusion, acknowledgement, and creation, not only reflecting the dedication you are making to your partner but the merging of two families becoming one. It’s time we give proper attention and commitment back to what I believe is THE most important part of the wedding day. 

The “I Dos”

Ask yourself these questions to see how much of yourself
you are willing to give to your ceremony.

1. Determine the depth and scope of the ceremony.  How do you plan to reveal yourselves to each other? 

 2. What is your comfort level in expressing and committing yourself in front of your family and friends? 

3. Are you including any significant family members in the ritual of uniting two families as one? 

Making a lifelong commitment in front of others is so much more than just a celebration. It’s what marriage and partnership are all about. While some couples find it hard to expose themselves and their affections in front of others, I urge you to reconsider and suggest that you stretch yourself, perhaps further than you ever have before. This is the beginning of your vow to one another and going the distance reveals the importance and power of your love. 

In our INTIMATE SPRING WEDDING the focus of decoration was in the ceremony aisle and site location. When I say intimate, this beautiful celebration was just the immediate family of four, but the attention to detail proved just how special this union and ceremony meant to them. From lining the aisle with thousands of white rose petals and creating a streaming cascade of hanging orchids, this couple not only chose an elaborate private set-up but decided to recreate their ceremony décor the next week for their reception guests. What I love about this story is that it was most important for these two to be surrounded by purity and loveliness during the moments that mattered most to them. 

We’ve worked with brides and grooms who have personalized their ceremony to fit their beliefs with religious rituals that unite them in their own spiritual style. Many Southern Californian beach weddings incorporate a hand-washing ceremony which represents complete forgiveness in recognition of everything an individual experiences up to the moment they stand before one another and commit their lives to love.  The hand-tying (or handfasting) ceremony, which was part of the SACRED ELEMENTS WEDDING, paid homage to the bride’s Celtic heritage by binding the hands of the couple with ribbon to symbolize “tying the knot.” This, along with the groom’s Native American Indian roots, acknowledged the sacred rituals special to them as a couple so they could honor the four directional compass points.  Their ceremony site was enclosed within a five point floral canopy, which represented the five elements of earth, air, fire, water and spirit. While the hand-tying ceremony commenced, the couple recited their vows and prayers in the sacred space we created for them. 

What you can do is communicate with your wedding planner about creating your ceremony design as a starting point and incorporate any sacred rituals that are special to you. Engage your florist into designing with the intention of relocating their décor into your reception space if needed. Budget parameters can be seemingly stretched when a designer knows from the onset that the florals will be repurposed from the ceremony to the reception. Do proceed with caution in the summer months when determining your flower selection for outdoor ceremonies to be certain that the presentation and choice of flowers will translate well in hot weather. At Adorations, we are full service, providing a full day set up and delivery, from the first pinning of the boutonnieres to the very last candle lit.

Your wedding is a joyous day – that moment when you are joined in marriage and commit to a partnership for life. Do not take the ritual of the ceremony lightly and consider that these vows will forever be remembered long after the champagne toasts at your reception.

REAL WEDDING: VALENTINE’S DAY EDITION

Cupid and His Angel: Vincent & Angeliquea

He’s a nightclub manager. She’s a cocktail server. What they say is true. You ABSOLUTELY can meet the love of your life at a bar. 

In celebration of Valentine’s Day – Cupid’s holiday – it seemed fitting to feature one of the most stylish and passionate weddings I’ve had the pleasure to design.

Vincent and Angeliquea are an incredibly gorgeous couple, full of personality and sensual energy. You can just tell that these two are extremely hot for one another. Take a look at their engagement photos. These images by Luna Photo took my breath away that I was certain this wedding would be one steamy night.

When my groom-to-be told me that he works for the corporation that owns Fluxx Nightclub in downtown, San Diego, I knew I was in for a real treat. Being the very location Vincent first eyed his lady love, it made sense they would say their “I Dos” right there, in one of the city’s most notable nighttime hotspots. And like any great man, he wanted to give her exactly what she wanted – the wedding of her dreams.

Working with Kelly Aull of Mint Weddings, we chose to spotlight this glamorous couple in their naturally sexy setting, with an equally sensual surrounding, lush with red roses and massive amounts of petals lining the aisle. The ceremony site, the club itself, is already so captivating that we kept the altar décor very chic and simple with Manzanita trees framing the stage, dripping in moss and hanging candlelight. With a provocative color palette that completely complemented Fluxx, the couple chose black and red with hints of lavender and green for their floral décor. The bride’s bouquet was perfectly plump with red heart’s roses, while her maids, dressed in Betsey Johnson little black dresses, had black calla lilies and lavender roses mixed in for a dramatic affect. The dinner reception was held at the University Club and outfitted to resemble that of a nightclub vibe. The tables were lined with more luscious red roses and petals with candelabras that illuminated the space and highlighted all the juicy red details. 

Happy Valentine’s Day LOVERS!!!

Photography: Luna Photo. Wedding Coordinator: Mint Weddings. Ceremony Venue: Fluxx Nightclub. Reception Venue: University Club.

Ceremony Magazine

Ceremony Magazine is now hot off the press with their brand new 2014 edition. We were thrilled to see Alexandra and Dave in our SOPHISTICATED GARDEN WEDDING featured on a four–page spread with Samuel Lippke Studios and Thomas Bui Lifestyle.

I am also honored that my article, The Color of Expression, showcasing the VIVID COASTAL WEDDNG décor is gracing the floral design section of the magazine, captured by The Youngrens with Crown Weddings. You can view the magazine in its entirely at CeremonyBlog.com/digital-magazines and see many more photos from these events right here on my site.

These gorgeous new press features with Ceremony Magazine are so exciting, as they are practically in-sync with the launch of Adorations.com. Ceremony Magazine is THE luxury wedding publication in Southern California showcasing over 300 pages of pure wedding ingenuity. I have had the pleasure of working one-on-one with the editors at Ceremony and I know that they pour their heart into the publication and it truly shows. I must admit, I am already planning a shoot for the upcoming issue (which you may get a sneak peak here) as I look forward to contributing more to the magazine and continuing our ongoing relationship. Thank you so much Ceremony for the beautiful features this year!

Pantone Color of the Year at Omni Resort & Spa, Montelucia Scottsdale, Arizona

Self-expression comes naturally to artists. At their core is a creative fire that is released into every piece of their work. 

While San Diego is home to my studio and one of the most beautiful wedding destinations in the world, I’ve been recently inspired by our neighboring state of Arizona. Just a short drive east of the Pacific is a whole new world of locations and environments that are much different from the coastal California that I whole-heartedly love. But as an artist and floral designer, I find the need to express my own persona every now and then and venture into a project that feeds my soul.

Much like a bride and her groom planning the wedding of their dreams. 

The marriage celebration must tell the story of the couple. It is a thoughtful reflection of two individual personalities unifying into one complete partnership. It’s the same-shared process for a designer working with the bride and groom, as it is for the collaborating vendors to transform the couple’s vision into a reality.

This photo story set at Omni Resort & Spa at Montelucia in Scottsdale, Arizona is a perfect example of a unified collaboration of artists, spearheaded with purpose, and driven by personality. We wanted this tabletop decor shoot to reflect the venue and designers involved, while paying homage to the culture and architecture that the destination is known for. 

As you begin the planning process, consider who you are, where you are getting married and how you can best translate your story within your décor. Don’t worry about Pinterest and recreating someone else’s boards, discover what you inner self wants to express and work with like-minded creative professionals to make it happen. 

FLORAL DESIGN: Adorations Botanical Artistry.  LOCATION: Omni Resort & Spa at Montelucia  COORDINATOR: Outstanding Occasions. LINENS: Wildflower Linen. RENTALS: Cre8ive Events. STATIONERY: Idieh Design. PHOTOGRAPHY: Melissa Jill Photography.