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Things We Love |
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With the trend of destination weddings on the rise, brides-to-be are constantly in search of that perfect wedding weekend locale. Palm Springs gives the destination wedding vibe.
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She left her heart in San Francisco. Melissa A. Panico, with MAP Events, swoons over the elegance and the urban Bay Bridge views.
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Janice S. Casacca explores the Central Coast’s effortless beauty and the flavor of old California where the sprawling countyside meets the deep blue Pacific Ocean.
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In the words of the Brooklyn-based premier perfumer Christopher Brosius, “We live because we breathe, and with each breath we smell. This is inevitable. The sense of smell is our first and most immediate link to the world around us....
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On her A-List, Linda Pitelli of Eventful Designing is captured by the magic and imagination of Los Angeles and it's major star factor.
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Northern California’s wine region is ranked as one of the nation’s top five destination wedding locations. Robbin Montero unites the wedding, wine, and tourism industry of Northern Califorina.
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RANCHO SOL DEL PACIFICO, MALIBU, CA

Fola and Alvin had an awkward chance meeting at a conference of medical students in April 2004. Although both had attended Harvard Medical School, they had never met. When they did, Alvin was tired from the conference and could think of little to say—an unusual circumstance for him. Fola informed her conference roommate that she had met “a really rude guy.”
The roommate insisted that Alvin was great and arranged another meeting. From then on, the couple sought each other out at the conference and phone numbers were exchanged. Back in Boston, Fola was thrilled when the name “Alvin” flashed on her Caller ID. “And the rest, as they say,” says Alvin with a laugh, “is history.”

Two years later, as Fola stepped off a plane to meet Alvin, she had no idea her life was about to change. After a yacht ride across San Francisco Bay and dinner with Alvin’s parents, they wound up alone on the top floor of the St. Francis Hotel, with its 360-degree view. Fola turned to see Alvin kneeling down. Shocked, she buried her face in her hands and said, “Oh my gosh . . . now?” then kneeled down, too, to hug her fiancé.

Fola and Alvin wanted a “magical and unique” location, so they chose Rancho Pacifico del Sol. The 280 guests were shuttled along the scenic California coastline and up the Santa Monica hills to the wedding site.
To honor Fola’s Nigerian culture, her aunt, Arin Oladapo, blessed the couple with a wedding admonition, in Yoruba, then presented them with the Yoruba interpretation of marriage and family.
To celebrate the couple’s heritage, a special guest performed a traditional African-American broom ceremony. Alvin explained, “The broom ceremony pays homage to our rich African-American traditions and acknowledges a time, not too long ago, when our ancestors were not given the legal right to marry. During slavery, jumping the broom represented the joining of two families and symbolized the beginning of a new life as a married couple.”
Although Fola and Alvin chose traditional Western wedding attire—she, a Pronovia A-line gown with delicate asymmetric crystal and pearl beadwork, and he, a Larry Cooper custom-designed long-cut tuxedo jacket—the couple changed into traditional Nigerian attire during the reception, and surprised guests by dancing to Nigerian Yoruba wedding music.

Fola and Alvin stayed at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel on their wedding night, then spent a week at Victoria House in Ambergris Caye, Belize.
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RED LOFT STUDIOS
Event Producer/Designer: New York Food
Company, Jeannie Nero
Wedding Director: Darian Patterson
Ceremony & Reception Site: Rancho Sol
del Pacifico
Photographer: Red Loft Studios
Officiant: Pastor Jim Welch
Bridal Salon: Mon Amie Bridal
Lingerie: Victoria’s Secret, Macy’s, La Perla
Shoes: Mon Amie Bridal, Stuart Weitzman
Hair Stylist: Style and Company,
Michelle Daniels
Makeup Artist: Kelly Williams
Jewelry: Giraux and Macy’s
Bridesmaid Dresses Salon: Allegria Bridal
Formalwear: BCBG Maxazria
Caterer: New York Food Company
Cake: New York Food Company
Invitations: Herman’s Invitations
Programs, Table Cards & Menus:
Custom Copy Central
Florist: The Hidden Garden Floral Design
Trisha Haner
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Lighting/Event Design: King Dahl Event
Design, Carol Matteson
Entertainment: Essence Entertainment,
Robin Kelly
Videography: DreamPost, Jack Winch
Transportation: DoubleTree Suite
Rehearsal Dinner: The Lobster
Wedding Night Accommodations: Loews Santa
Monica Beach Hotel
Honeymoon Accommodations: Victoria House,
Ambergris Caye, Belize
Guest Accommodations: Doubletree Hotel
Gift Registry: Macy’s, Crate and Barrel, Target |

  
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Tray-passed hors d’oeuvres
Tomato Concasse on Roasted Garlic Polenta Rounds, Ahi Tartar in Sesame Wonton Cups Topped with Fruit Salsa, Tenderloin Crostini Topped with Red Onion Marmalade and finished with Crumbled Cambazola, and Wild Mushroom and Warm Brie Toast
Starter
Crab cake duo atop teenie greens on a chili mayo painted plate
Salad
Mixed field greens, mandarin oranges, maui onions, and fresh raspberries, finished with a champagne Vinaigrette
Entrée
A flat iron steak, teamed with banana wrapped halibut with papaya salsa. Served with saffron butter rice, sautéed green beans, water chestnuts and fried ginger crisps with a purple orchid plate garnish
Pre-cake dessert
Family style platters at each table with hand-dipped milk chocolate strawberries and brownie bites dusted with powdered sugar
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For the reception, Jemie changed into a Chinese Chi Pao dress which, in keeping with the ocean theme, was custom-made by Helen’s Chi Pao in blue instead of the traditional red...
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“Hindu weddings have rituals that have evolved since early times,” Monica says, “and they differ in many ways from the modern Western wedding ceremony.”...
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After a yacht ride across San Francisco Bay and dinner with Alvin’s parents, they wound up alone on the top floor of the St. Francis Hotel...
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On the eve of her birthday, Maria was with friends at the Spotted Pig restaurant in New York, standing alone at the bar waiting for her drink....
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Tips |
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#16 COMFORTABLE RECEPTIONS
Reception spaces are taking on a comfort
theme nowadays. Rather than using cocktail tables alone, couples are
creating a lounge effect in their reception areas by adding cozy
furniture groupings of sofas and coffee tables, along with tenting and
draping, lamps and lanterns, lit up trees and dozens of candles. You
may want to hire a jazz quartet or flamenco trio to create a sultry
ambiance. Some couples are even hiring cigar rollers! You can also
use this set-up outdoors for a living room beneath the stars!
Jill La Fleur, The Wedding Planner
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#21 LA FLEUR TABLE
Cover your entire table top with a single bold color of petals. Not
just a scattering, but the entire top of the table with a thick layer
of petals! You can purchase them at a farmers market or order them
through your florist. Place your chargers, place settings, glassware
and centerpieces in a contrasting color and lots of candles directly
onto the petals for a stunning, romantic look!
Jill La Fleur, The Wedding Planner
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# 1 - LOUNGING ANYWHERE
Wonder what to do to a resort ballroom to make it more interesting and intimate? You can create individual lounge areas by renting tents of sheer flowing fabric and adding sofas and coffee tables with lots of candlelight in them. You’ve suddenly created that romantic lounge atmosphere in a standard ballroom and given it more intimacy. Your guests can move to different “rooms” during the cocktails hour or or they can dance the night away. Jill La Fleur, The Wedding Planner
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