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Things We Love |
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 Any diamond will carry a romantic message to a beloved bride, but only one will set her heart on fire. A diamond that is so perfectly cut that it has all the classic elements of a diamond’s beauty—brilliance, dispersion and scintillation. A diamond that sparkles like a red-hot fire. A Hearts On Fire diamond.
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SANTA BARBARA has been called the American Riviera, and it only takes one drive through this stunning intimate city nestled between gentle cascading hills and the deep blue Pacific...
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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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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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 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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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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By Nico Cervantes, Nico Designs
Photography by Amy lundstom, Vita Bella PHotography
Have you ever wanted to leave a wedding long before it was over? I know I have. When this happens, it’s usually because the wedding didn’t have a flow, theme, thought, or well-organized plan. Was the ceremony too long, or were there endless speeches? Maybe it was the uninspired music or food?
Planning a wedding is like planning a great party, and it can be just as easy as that: taking special moments, possibly from childhood memories, and recreating them in your décor, food, and music so that your guests have a fabulous time celebrating your love, in style. Think about turning your wedding into an event that all of your guests (and you, too) will want to enjoy for the full experience. Yes, this day is all about you and your fiancé; however, don’t forget about optimizing the experience for the 100+ family members and friends who will help you celebrate and create priceless lifelong memories.
First off, pick a theme. Choose a theme and décor that reflects you both. I tell my couples to go back to their childhood and find something that stands out for them. You can recreate aromas, tastes, and feelings that take you back to a time when stress and congested traffic didn’t exist.
For instance, I was once driving down the freeway when I saw a sign that read “Circus in Town.” It was too tempting to pass up, so I decided to take my niece and nephew the following day. As soon as we entered the gates, a showgirl with false eyelashes and overdone makeup took our tickets. As we walked toward the entrance to the large blue-and-yellow tent, something came over me and I felt eight years old again. As we got closer and closer to the tent, the aromas of fresh popcorn and candy apples drew me in. Just like my young companions, I sat in my seat entranced by crazy clowns, flying acrobats, and smiling faces. This could be one way to recreate a precious childhood memory: with fresh popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy martinis, fishbowl games at cocktails, fire throwers, lollypop centerpieces, barbecue, bright floral arrangements, and moonlit dancing till the end...
And creating fun and comfortable atmospheres doesn’t have to be kitschy and casual. The mood can be set in so many different ways, such as going back in time to recreate the glamour of a famous club like the Tropicana. A red carpet greets guests as they arrive to a venue transformed into a nightclub…they walk into a space filled with small dining tables, covered in shimmery silver scalloped-medallion linens and embellished with silver cabaret lamps…large and dramatic floral arrangements of white blooming cherry branches and gardenia blossoms in every corner. Lastly, a Swing band on a silver stage, overlooking a black-and-white checkered dance floor, completes the mood, sending the guests back 65 years.
Environments such as these take us away from our hectic lives and remind us that it’s okay to stop and have a little fun.
I think it’s important to remember that it’s not just about great music, beautiful flowers, and delicious food. It’s about pulling it all together and creating a great party conceived with your own thought, emotion, personality, and charm. The idea doesn’t have to be taken over the top. It can be as easy as not providing formal tables and seating but, instead, using couches and day-beds to keep guests milling around and socializing. Think about replacing a sit-down dinner with hearty passed hors d’oeuvres and tapas stations. Incorporating small touches such as fire pits, cabañas, lounge areas, candy stations, ice cream sundae bars, and old-fashioned picture booths will make for a relaxed and enjoyable event. Throw away the pew bows, tulle netting, Jordan almonds, seating cards, and chair covers and add in some real fun! You can do it—just remember to loosen up, so that you and everyone else will enjoy every moment of your special day!
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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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#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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#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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# 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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