Karen Axel
Tapestry Flowers

     Karen Axel, the owner of Tapestry Flowers in the City by the Bay, can make a small seed of an idea blossom into an entire wedding. Since 1991, her designs have ranged from the traditional, and what have been called the opulent, romantic, and unforgettable, to her more innovative creations, often referred to as whimsical, playful, offbeat, and unexpected. An example of the latter would be the giant floral striped and polka-dotted beach balls she floated in the swimming pool at one recent wedding.
     All this creativity was once unplumbed, during Karen’s former career in computers. She began studying floral design just as a hobby—a way to introduce some freshness and originality into her life. Finding that she had a liking and a talent for the field, Karen continued on to become certified in Floriculture and Design. This eventually led to a prestigious, hard-to-achieve membership in the American Institute of Floral Designers, and today Karen’s designs, both traditional and fanciful, are sought after by top-of-the-line San

Francisco hotels, wedding venues, and wedding planners.
     In addition to florals, Tapestry offers a variety of rentals, including custom arches and chuppahs and such table décor as hand-blown glass bowls and rustic copper chalices.
     When it comes to floral designs for weddings, Karen sums up her work in this way: “I just need one tiny idea, a little spark, and I can design a whole wedding.”

San Francisco
(415) 550-1015
Tapestryflowers.com

Eddie Zaratsian
Tic-Tock Couture Florals

    Eddie Zaratsian, the owner and Creative Director of Tic-Tock Couture Florals, is the first one to admit that his company name is unusual. His explanation is that the company began as a watch and gift shop, established by his family in the 1980s.
    When young Eddie displayed great talent in creating the gift shop floral arrangements, his clients encouraged him to pursue that endeavor. Fortunately for today’s brides and grooms, he listened, and began training with the international floral design master Phil Rulloda. All of Eddie’s studies paid off when at age 25 he was accepted into the American Institute of Floral Designers as the association’s youngest inductee. One reason for such success, Eddie believes, is that he “pushes the envelope” with his one-of-a-kind couture designs; hence the addition of “couture” to the Company name. “In floral and event design, ‘couture’ to me means that we create a look or environment and never repeat it again,” he explains.
     Known as “the celebrity florist,” Eddie attributes his “A-list” clientele to talent, design, and good service. He is well known in the entertainment industry, working with such clients as Walt Disney, Fox TV, HBO, MCA Records, and MTV. His movie and television credits include Swordfish, Vanilla Sky, Arrested Development, The Wedding Planner, and Grosse Pointe.
Perhaps one of Eddie’s most interesting assignments was Grace’s wedding on the Will & Grace TV program. “We got a call one day letting us know that we had to produce this project in two days,” Eddie recalls. The short notice was not the only challenge: because actress Debra Messing is allergic to flowers, he had to work with botanically correct silks.
     The designs created at Tic-Tock Couture Florals are unforgettable, and consulting with Eddie on the flowers for your own wedding could be an experience you will always remember.

1603 N. La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles
(323) 874-3034
(800) 893-6688
tictock.com

Cheryl Mac
Super 8 Girl / Pure Image

     One of the most challenging weddings that photographer/cinematographer Cheryl Mac can recall was a Newport Beach event where she had to keep from falling off a vintage yacht while shooting both photography and Super 8 film.
     “There were 32 guests, and absolutely no room to navigate freely on the boat without the risk of tripping and falling overboard. I had to hold on to anything and everything!” she says.
But Cheryl is used to challenges. Her second still photography wedding, nearly five years ago, was for celebrity clientele. Her work immediately appeared in Wedding Bells magazine and on Oxygen TV.
Although based in Santa Barbara and Ventura, Cheryl travels the world to film and photograph weddings. She attributes her success, in part, to her love of history. “I shoot mostly in black and white, converting it into sepia if my client wants a true turn-of-the-century look. When I use color, it is to introduce and preserve the color of the day, such as the flowers, the sky, the beach.” She adds, “History inspires me. That’s what drew me to photograph weddings.”
     Having achieved the archival quality and historical preservation of still photography, Cheryl says it was only a matter of time before she incorporated in her work the raw, gritty feeling that Super 8 can deliver. “I wanted to begin filming weddings in motion pictures to further capture and document history. After all, it’s my clients’ history of their wedding day.”
    Cheryl believes that this approach, plus her photographic composition skills, is what sets her Super 8 work apart. “Compositionally, I’m not afraid to move, to dance with the day.”

135 East de La Guerra Street
Santa Barbara
(805) 701-2281
super8girl.com

Cecile Grady
Cakework

    Cecile Grady, the owner of Cakework, designer of custom wedding and party cakes, says she got into the business because “it just kind of happened.” When friends gave dinner parties, they always wanted her to bring the dessert—especially one of her cakes. Cecile says she just had a “feel” for baking, and that innate quality paid off, quite literally, when someone offered to pay her to make a dessert.
     One thing led to another, and soon Cecile was offered a job making desserts in a restaurant. In 1985 she decided to open her own business, and thus Cakework was born.
Since that time, Cecile’s success has continued to grow. She is known for enchanting her local San Francisco-area clientele with uniquely designed cakes, such as the newspaper-stack design she created for a couple who met while working for the Wall Street Journal. And then there was the six-foot-tall Eiffel Tower!
    It is designs such as these that bring others, besides her clients, to Cecile’s doorstep, too. In 2001, she was invited to enter a Today Show competition in which she won several awards. This fall, she’ll be on Food Network’s “The Secret Life of Cakes.”
     Cecile believes that several factors contribute to Cakework’s success. “I think what sets us apart is that we’re really innovative,” she says. “When people come to me with an idea, I twist it and shape it so their cake will be a really show-stopping experience.” Another factor is the taste. “Our cakes taste great—rich, creamy, buttery. You can taste all of the separate flavors.” In the opinion of the YWD staff, Cakework’s flavors, including their signature flavor, banana truffle, are show stoppers too!
And you don’t have to live in the Bay Area to enjoy one of Cecile’s cakes: Cakework will actually deliver your cake almost anywhere, and their delectable creations are also available through the Dean & DeLuca gourmet foods catalog.

613 York Street
San Francisco
(415) 821-1333
cakework.com

Robert Boyd
Boyd Music Services

     Robert Boyd, recognized as one of the world’s premier Flamenco guitarists and composers, is the owner and founder of Boyd Music Services; a company of concert-level musicians and top-recording artists who provide music and entertainment to include Spanish guitarists, Flamenco Music and Dance, Brazilian, Cuban, Classical, Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, and even DJ’s.
     Robert’s musical training began with the piano at age five. “I began with the piano but decided by the time I was ten, the piano was for my sister, and the guitar was for me,” he said. “I wanted to be able to play anywhere and everywhere, so I picked up the guitar.” 
Robert studied Classical guitar and composition for several years, but life changed when he was forced to attend a Flamenco show. “I had a date with someone I was dying to go out with that night,” Robert reminisced, “but my mother said ‘Get ready, I’m taking you to see Flamenco.’” When Robert resisted, she reminded him who paid for his lessons and his strings. “I canceled my hot date,” he said. But he got an even hotter musical career. 
    “At the concert, my life flashed before my eyes,” explains Robert. It became evident that Flamenco was for him because next, Robert found himself studying extensively throughout southern Spain. “I played and played, then came home and locked myself away for the next three years and practiced 14 hours a day.”  After emerging, he went right to work aligning himself with the finest musicians throughout the U.S. to contract for concerts, festivals, weddings, private parties, corporate events, and unique special occasions.
    Word of his talent and his company’s talent spread quickly, and now his music and his company’s concert-level musicians are in demand for weddings and other events nation-wide. 
With Boyd Music Services as a part of your entire wedding, Robert’s customized bridal march, Bridal Chorus for a New Century, escorts the bride down the ceremony aisle; for the reception, the ensemble Ritmo Gitano, creates the experience for the newlyweds and their guests of fiery, passionate music from Spain which could include professional Flamenco dance performance, where enthusiastic guests can learn a few steps and join in on the fun. Boyd Music Services will ensure that your guests’ memories include having a very, very good time.

Santa Barbara
(805) 216-0406
boydmusicservices.com
bertoflamenco.com

Michelle Barrionuevo-Mazzini
MB Wedding Design and Events

    Michelle Barrionuevo-Mazzini made the leap from corporate America to planning weddings after she quit her job to care for her ailing mother. During that time, because Michelle had worked on trade shows and other corporate events, she also assisted a friend in planning her wedding. When Michelle became engaged and planned her own wedding, she realized that wedding planning was a business she would love to do full-time.
    Four years later, MB Wedding Design and Events continues to expand, now offering brides and grooms three wedding-planning packages. The first, which could be called “Day-of-Wedding Plus,” begins four to six months prior to the wedding. “It’s much more than ‘day-of’ coordination,” Michelle explains. “We make sure all of the vendors are on board and take care of the millions of details to make your day smooth.”
    MB Wedding Design and Events also offers “Full Wedding Planning.” “With this package, we do everything,” says Michelle. Because she’s trained in design and décor, she will even include the wedding design.
    The third wedding-planning package, known as “Destination Wedding Planning,” is becoming increasingly popular. “The destination wedding involves more logistics,” Michelle comments. For instance, she researches different states’ and countries’ licensing requirements, confirms that all needed documentation is in place, arranges for the officiate (often difficult for nonchurch weddings in certain countries), and even handles the travel arrangements and accommodations.
    Actually, there’s little that MB Wedding Design and Events can’t do! One of Michelle’s very first events was a full-service destination wedding in India for which she did the planning and arranged the accommodations for 350 international guests. And, for one of her “Day-of-Wedding Plus” events, she miraculously came up with a “Plan B” when the venue the couple had arranged fell through the day before the wedding!
    To sum it all up, MB Wedding Design and Events offers all the creative ideas, design advice, and reliable services needed to provide you with a timeless and elegant wedding.

San Francisco
(415) 706-1677
mbweddingdesigns.com

Carmen and Andrea Popa
Andrea’s Fashions

    “We have a love affair with mothers,” says Andrea Popa about the clients that she and her mother, Carmen Popa, serve at Andrea’s Fashions of Beverly Hills. The “affair” began when Carmen went to New York in 1969 and developed a knitwear collection there. Carmen was passionate about fashion even as a child, and that continued passion led to many designer and celebrity contracts. After relocating to Beverly Hills, Carmen opened her own store, focused on the mature woman.
“Less and less do stores understand the mature woman and how to fit her,” explains Carmen’s daughter, Andrea, the other half of this mother-daughter team. “Unless they were a size zero, there was no one for these women to turn to. Mothers are the second most important women at a wedding. They need to look special, too.”
     Andrea adds that today’s mothers are different, though. “They’re hip and young—younger at heart than chronologically,” she points out. “And, no, they do not want a dress and jacket! Mothers today want something young and fresh.” Andrea’s stocks 500 dresses in hundreds of colors, and modifications can be made. “We can change laces and beading in the blink of an eye! We customize our gowns to each woman’s needs.” And these custom orders are specific: “We don’t believe in ten fittings,” says Andrea.
     Acknowledging that the dressing of wedding mothers is sometimes viewed as challenging, Andrea disagrees. “Mothers are not a challenge,” she declares. “Mothers are a pleasure. The only reason anyone might describe a mother as a challenge would be because she’s mature and knows her own mind.” 
     As a team, Andrea and Carmen do it all. With her understanding of design, Carmen can fit any figure, and Andrea, a self-described “color geek,” can mix and match any fabric or color. 
     Who better to understand the needs of a nuptial couple and their mothers than this mother-daughter team? “No one else in this city can say that they specialize in mothers the way we do,” Andrea affirms.

450 S. Robertson Blvd. 
Los Angeles
(310) 652-2680
andreasfashions.com