How gorgeous are these two?
And since we can’t officially celebrate their leap year wedding anniversary for another 2 years- here we go. Happy Second Anniversary Dian & Kenny! 😜
And here is Dian’s beautiful modern cascade bouquet. It features orchids, tulips, mini-callas, ranunculus, tiny kumquat cuties, and fragrant tuberose, lilac and orange blossom.
Scent is such a powerful memory trigger and I LOVE incorporating it into wedding work- in just the right amount of course.
Which brings us to the cutest photo ever! I was so thrilled to see ALL the beautiful photos Miki & Sonja captured, but this one is definitely a favorite.
This veil by Julie Harris Designs needs its own moment though. Sigh. 😍
The gorgeous invitation suite by Bella Figura + ALL the citrus and citrus-hued blooms.
A beautiful bridal portrait- The Ebell of Los Angeles has SO many amazing spots for portraits!
And a super stylish groom!
Love love love Kenny’s whole wedding look.
The cutest baskets for all the flower children.
And flowers for all the family & friends.
Again, the cutest.
The Lounge at The Ebell of Los Angeles is absolutely stunning, and a dream to flower! We created two large foam-free arrangements featuring olive and eucalyptus to flank the altar, and lined the the aisle with large & airy arrangements of greenery, delphinium, and dahlia.
Love a casual amount of greenery. 😉
These organic & textural greens are the perfect contrast AND compliment to this room. Also, those windows. 😍
I know I said the bouquet sniffing was my fave…but this photo is ALWAYS a personal fave, and Dian & Kenny’s recessional does not disappoint.
For their reception we created a few different styles of centerpieces: large & low floral pieces, fresh hand-laid greenery, bottles and bud vases, AND these large elevated pieces that are full of textural greenery and accented with birds of paradise- a bit of nostalgia from Dian’s childhood.
I love a meaningful DIY, and how Dian & Kenny chose to highlight Black love by featuring some of their favorite couples in place of table numbers.
February is the perfect month for fresh mimosa and ALL the winter citrus.
A mix of centerpiece styles, late winter/early spring flowers, and textural greenery brought the dining room to life at The Ebell of Los Angeles.
I mean, look at this star. She *almost* stole the show.
But then this happened.
The end.
Perfection.
It was so much fun to work with Dian & Kenny, Dian’s Mom, Jeannie, and of course, Renee of Moxie Bright Events to bring all this magic to life.
Wanna see more?
We’re Published: Check out Dian & Kenny’s Wedding feature on Martha Stewart Weddings!!
Venue & Catering: The Ebell of Los Angeles / Planning & Design: Moxie Bright Events / Photography: Miki & Sonja / Floral Design: Winston & Main / Invitations: Bella Figura / Bride’s Gown: Lihi Hod / Veil: Julie Harris Designs / Hair: Carla Sorenson Farmer Jackson / Makeup: Shea Hardy / Grooms attire: Zegna & J. Hillburn / Music: The Half Moons of Dart Collective / Cake: Susie Cakes / Linens: Luxe Linens / Photobooth: Hashtag Photobooth
Dian & Kenny’s Modern & Polished Wedding at The Ebell of Los Angeles
Julia & Jackson’s Bright & Fun Tropical Disco Wedding
Originally scheduled for 2020, and then rescheduled, and then rescheduled again (thanks Covid), we were so thrilled to finally get Julia & Jackson to the altar.
And what an altar it was!
We created this suspended tropical installation with #nofloralfoam, as per usual, and incorporated disco balls, dahlias, and a few veeeery special anthuriums from our friends at Haus of Stems.
How cute is this flatlay? The paper goods- designed by Julia Walck herself, were incredible, and they were styled to perfection by Mary Costa Photography.
So, let’s talk about Julia’s super eclectic bouquet. It features a hot pink phalaenopsis orchid, local dahlias, rudbeckia, and sunflowers, AND those ridiculously amazing anthuriums from Haus of Stems, AND tropical accents like ginger, monstera, and birds of paradise.
Color, texture, personality- this bouquet has it all, and then some!
It’s my maximal tropical garden dream bouquet. For real.
We kept the personals bright & fun, in sunset sherbet shades of yellow, pink, orange, & red. Those tiny air plants in the bouts? Chef’s kiss for the cuteness!
Fun fact: when you incorporate air plants or tiny succulents into your personals, you can keep them post wedding or event.
I think the chamomile on this wrist cuff corsage also understood the cuteness assignment.
In the before times, we actually didn’t have any ceremony decor on our order! Site-specific installations are my jam though, so I was thrilled when Julia & Jackson added this hanging floral installation a few months before their wedding.
Even more so, because they let me do my thing when I politely inquired if they would mind if I hung a bunch of disco balls in it. I know, I know…who can say no to a bunch of disco balls?
I probably say it in every blog post, but this shot is always one of my favorites! That post-ceremony, superexcitedwehavetostopandkiss moment when the couple is recessing up (down?!) the aisle.
Aren’t they just perfection- the dress, the crown, the makeup, the suit, the tie, the love. Every last detail!
Kinda like it just grew there, huh?
THE FRINGE. I bow down to you Rachel Burke.
And now would be a good time to talk about hiring a wedding planner who really gets you.
Holly of Anything But Gray Events always understands the assignment. AND how cute is it that she surprised Julia & Jackson with these perfectly colorful & coordinated fringe balloons on their wedding day?
Get yourself a Holly.
Julia’s boots are everything. And as a boot bride myself…all the heart eyed emojis.
The color continues…all the way to the ceiling in this fabulous balloon installation by the one-and-only Marla, of Balloonzilla.
More fabulous paper goods. More colorful blooms. And the custom drink stirrers?
Best day ever indeed!
We mixed these cute and colorful tropical mini arrangements with bud vases of bright blooms, and of course, more disco balls!
More pressed-flower cake perfection from my pal Nicole of Nicole Bakes Cakes.
And one more gratuitous bouquet shot.
Because Mary Costa really is the best.
It was so much fun to bring the flower magic to this colorful wedding day.
Julia & Jackson- we’re wishing you a lifetime of dancing with joy (and disco balls)!
Published!
Check out more of Julia & Jackson’s Tropical, Disco Ball, Colour Pop Wedding over on Rock n Roll Bride!
Magic Makers:
Venue: Valentine / Planning: Anything But Gray Events / Photography: Mary Costa Photography / Videography: Elevate Films / Floral Design: Winston & Main / Catering/Bar: Border Grill / Cake: Nicole Bakes Cakes / DJ: RedShoe / Balloons: Balloonzilla / Paper Goods: Julia Walck / Rentals: La Pinata Party Rentals / Photobooth: Classic Photo Booths / Valet: White Label Valet / Shuttle: Riz Transportation / Dress: Willow by Watters / Alterations: Deborah Lindquist / Jacket: Rachel Burke / Crown: Carbickova Crowns / Boutique: Lovely Bride / Wedding Party Beauty: Face It Sugar / Family beauty: Betsy diFrancesca / Suit: Friar Tux / Officiant: Great Officiants /
You Deserve Joy Too!
Hey event pros! And especially my solopreneur friends…
You deserve joy too.
You know, the kind you’re SO good at bringing to your clients.
So as 2021 speeds by in a sleepless blur of beautiful events-
Take a moment.
Close your eyes and picture something that brings you joy or makes you reeeeeeally happy.
Then ask yourself:
How am I making space for joy in my life AND my schedule?
Wedding boom or not…
What do you want 2022 to look like?
You have the power, and you get to paint that picture for yourself.
But you gotta do it now.
You gotta get joy on the calendar.
Maybe you want to jump on this wedding boom full force and book 80 events next year.
If that’s what you really want- awesome, do it.
And start setting up all the systems you need to support your own joy in making that happen NOW.
BUT
If that’s not in your heart, if that thought doesn’t thrill you, if you’re exhausted now and quickly headed for burnout…
Please don’t do it.
In the event industry, we’re in the business of amazing customer service.
Not good enough service.
Not lukewarm service.
Not so-so service.
Not “I guess they were okay” service.
We’re in this is the best day of your life, everything has to be perfect, we are going to blow your minds and then some service.
So it’s hard to say no.
But please start saying no.
No to unrealistic budgets.
No to meetings you don’t have the time to follow up on.
No to booking multiple events per weekend and then feeling sick over how to do it all.
No to working every weekend, if that’s not what you want.
You do an amazing job– you bring + amplify joy in this world and that is not a little thing.
So please take the time to serve yourself in the same way.
You deserve joy too.
Do this now:
1. Identify 3 things that bring you joy. Keep them small. Write them down.
2. Put one of them on your calendar for this week now.
I’d love to hear what you just put on your calendar.