Desserts In Style – The Sweeteasy

While we are all impatiently waiting for The Great Gatsby opening tomorrow (I’m curious to see if Baz Luhrmann will enchant me or make me love Robert Redford and Mia Farrow even more in the movie from 1974 ), I am pleased to show you one of my dessert tables with a Roaring 20′s feel – The Sweeteasy.

I designed the table for the annual Helen Woodward Animal Center Spring Fling. The theme was “The Kit Kat Club” with a fabulous art deco palette: black, white and gold.

I created the exclusive geometric pattern for all the tags and the poster sign, provided candy in matching colors and vases and containers in different sizes and materials (gold and black urns, clear jars, white stands). Candy included: anise gummi bears, jelly Champagne bubbles, rock candy, caramel swirl taffy, and violet mints. Each candy type was named after famous people from the 20′s: Louis Armstrong, Coco Chanel, Rodolfo Valentino, Louise Brooks, Gloria Swanson, and more.

Eric and Bernadette of Bouchee made the irresistible cake decorated with gold fans (I was in heaven when they delivered it!), white feathers and couture beading; they also made macarons finished with gold foil, cake pops accented with pearls and black feathers, madeleines,  and meringues.

The final touch was by Laura with Sweet Ribbon Events: she provided a swanky black linen with an amazing floral texture, and she made the tall centerpiece.

Needless to say, the table won first prize at the event for Best Decor!

And not only that: the table was featured in the Fall 2012 issue of Aroos Magazine:

A huge thank you to Stewart Bertrand Photography for taking these fantastic pictures!

Are you thinking about adding  a “wow” factor to your wedding or special event? Contact me and let’s create the perfect candy station or dessert table for you! Take a look at The Sweeteasy gallery on my website and browse for more ideas!

You are cordially invited to… The Spring Luncheon

I am proudly serving on the Board of The Country Friends, a non-profit organization founded in 1954 by a group of charitable women to provide needed funding for San Diego based charities. It has now grown to over 2,000 dedicated individuals who volunteer their time and services to support The Country Friends through their membership, sponsorship and attendance at fund raising events.

As their Hospitality Co-Chair, I organized their Annual Spring Membership Luncheon which will take place at the Sheraton Carlsbad Hotel on May 1st.

10:30 a.m. REGISTRATION/SOCIAL/BOUTIQUE SHOPPING

12:00 p.m. LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW PRESENTED BY MAGGIE B & MISTER B

$70.00 PER PERSON

Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa

5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008

Complimentary Parking Available

CALL (858) 756-1192 ext. 4 TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

TICKETS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE

A variety of vendors will be available for shopping, and we will also have fabulous raffle prizes.

Remember, Mother’s Day is just around the corner!

Please feel free to bring friends and family to this wonderful event.

See you there!

What I liked about… Amalis and Houman’s Wedding

Be prepared for a WOW wedding!

Amalis and Houman chose La Costa Resort for their one-of-a-kind wedding. The newly built ceremony site (Valley Promenade) was by far the best location to host their 230-person international wedding. They are a Persian couple so they kept to traditions yet added modern and unique elements.

They first started their theme with printing their invitations on Plexiglas (which they made themselves!)  and continued that theme throughout the event along with a purple / lavender / silver color palette.

The sofreh was designed by Amalis’ good friend Ladan by using clear glass and incorporating the wedding color scheme, it was a dream!

Amalis’ best friend, Shai officiated at the ceremony and she performed a hybrid of Persian and American traditions. After being pronounced husband and wife, Shai surprised the couple with a flash mob dance with thirty various guests from around the country. They danced to their favorite song from when Amalis and Shai were 16 years old!

Guests entered a lavender/purple and glass themed ballroom with a variety of table sizes and lounge furniture placed around a glossy white dance floor. The ballroom was back dropped by wide photos of Amalis and Houman from their engagement shoot.

The reception room included a candy station, a 24-feet serpentine dessert bar (both styled by me) with mouth-watering sweets by Elizabethan Desserts, and a three-tiered cake with Lucite boxes filled with crystals. The cake table was by kool Party Rentals.

The sweetheart table featured a mirrored top and rhinestones accented with orchids and baby’s breath. All the flowers and decor including the linens were provided by Floral Works.

The Teagan Taylor Trio played live music during dinner and then the dancing continued until 2am.

DJ Julius of E.E.I. rocked the house; Amalis and Houman ordered glow sticks to make the experience more fun. Guests were also entertained with a fun photo booth by Shutterbooth.

I have to thank Tim and Louise Wirick with 8twenty8 Studios a million times for the incredible pictures! They were amazing not only at the wedding (the images truly speak for themselves) but they also helped Amalis and Houman make their theme of  “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” for their engagement shoot come true. They used those photos for their save-the-date cards to remind their guests to get here in San Diego however they could (the couple loves travelling so it fit their personality). After the wedding they also decided to do a trash-the-dress photo session as well.

Congratulations to Amalis and Houman, it was truly an honor to be part of their fantastic day!

You can admire more pictures on my Website, and read Amalis’ thank you on my Fan Blog.

I won two awards!

As you all know, I volunteer on the board of the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) as one of the Directors for the San Diego Local Networking Group, and our Annual Excellence Awards took place at La Costa on March 19. It was a very well attended event and we awarded ABC members in 8 categories: Best New Trend, Best Event Design, Best Wedding Detail or Memory, Novice of the Year, Vendor of the Year, Consultant of The Year, ABC Excellence Leader and ABC Rockstar.

Well, I was the recipient in two of those categories: Excellence Leader and Rockstar! I never expected to win such prestigious awards and, most of all, both of them! Thank you to our Excellence Judges who voted for me and to all of my peers who show support every day for me, my business and San Diego ABC, I feel very blessed to be part of our wedding industry!

You can see pictures from the event on San Diego ABC’s Facebook page.

What I liked about… Francie and Ali’s wedding

What a magnificent celebration! Francie and Ali were among my most fun (and gorgeous!) couples of 2012, and I loved every single minute of our planning together.

Francie and Ali got married at Vibiana in Los Angeles, a former cathedral that the couple fell in love with as soon as they saw it. Their wedding style – a luxurious urban theme with deep violet and silver – matched this outstanding venue perfectly (see their Inspiration Board).

Francie’s incredible body was wrapped in an irresistible Monique Lhuillier gown with a beaded bodice, and Ali was the super-handsome groom in a very elegant tuxedo.

Flowers  by Crystal Creations were all-white with purple accents from the bouquets and boutonnieres to the ceremony decor and the reception centerpieces.

After the ceremony, guests were directed to the Garden for cocktails while we transformed the Main Hall into a magical reception site. Lounge furniture by FWR Rental Haus, photo booth by Shutterbox, cigar rollers by Payne Mason and the Champagne Guy entertained the guests during a lovely summer afternoon.

A purple and white main hall welcomed back guests who were treated to a three-course meal by The Food Matters and a five-tiered cake by Vanilla Bake Shop. Black pintuck linens by Sweet Ribbon Events and silver Chiavari chairs (by Signature Party Rentals) completed the sophisticated evening look.

Francie and Ali’s invitation was created by Seaside Papery while their day-of stationery items (programs, escort board and menu cards) were designed and printed by Dolldine Designs.

Cary Pennington was our fabulous photographer (thank you for so many beautiful pictures!) and the wedding is currently featured in the 2013 San Diego edition of Ceremony Magazine. Thank you!!!

Want more? Enjoy the video by Lunch Pail Pictures, you will love it as much as I loved to work with Geoff and Candice!

Married: Francie & Ali from Lunch Pail Pictures on Vimeo.

Want even more? Watch Francie and Ali’s gallery on my website.

You’re cordially invited – Wedding Party Bridal Show

Come see me at the Wedding Party Bridal Show at the Hotel Del Coronado this Sunday, March 17  between 11am-4pm. This is a “not-to-miss” bridal show with lots of inspiration from exhibiting vendors, fashion shows, and celebrities! I’m proud to be a preferred vendor and you are invited!

Monte Durham, host of TV’s popular show Say Yes To The Dress: Atlanta will be in the Beautiful Bride Lounge, while A-MA-ZING Grace Ormonde, editor-in-chief of Wedding Style Magazine will sign copies of her fantastic book in the Ballroom.

Fashion shows are scheduled throughout the day in different areas with themes ranging from Boho Chic to High Tea Vintage to Couture.

My booth will feature an interactive “make your own dessert” table in Champagne, blush and gold shades. You will admire gorgeous embroidered linens by Laura Paglia of Sweet Ribbon Events, floral arrangements by talented Karen Kroemer-Spiess of Karen’s Floral Artistry, cupcakes by Teresa Johnson of Grove Pastry Shop and irresistible macarons by Grace Abdo of La Reine Des Macarons. Geraldine Lapid of Dolldine Designs designed incredible menu cards and signs for the table and I can’t wait to show them to all of you!

Get your tickets HERE or e-mail me for special admissions!

See you on Sunday, it will be so much fun!

Get Inspired – Urban Splendor

Here’s one of my latest inspiring creations: a luxurious deep violet and silver Tavolozza for a sophisticated wedding that took place last August. Stay tuned for the pictures, the gorgeous couple was featured on Ceremony Magazine!

Are you looking for ideas about your wedding? Do you have a vision but you don’t know how to put all the details together? La Dolce Idea can help you! Let’s meet and start designing your once-in-a-lifetime celebration today!

You may have noticed this Tavolozza doesn’t have a protective cover like in the past. I decided to show this boards in its entirety but please DO NOT steal it! If you would like to use it for your own PERSONAL project feel free to contact me for permission. Thank you!