Enchanted Al Fresco Dinner Party

A lush and textural Spring centerpiece by Los Angeles Florist Winston & Main, created with sophisticated of yellow and moody burgundies.
 
You might not think of January as the time of year to indulge in a decadent al fresco dinner party. But in Los Angeles? We’re spoiled and the weather is *almost* always perfect. 
 
An outdoor tablescape overflowing with wild & whimsical floral centerpieces.
 
So after multiple years pandemic-ing, it was a joy to gather with fellow vendors and friends to bring this beautiful day to life. And then to really ENJOY it, together.
 
A moody, lush, and abundant table scape featuring local blooms in shades of lemon yellow, blush and burgundy with blue accents and taper candles.

Something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, and trying to be really intentional around, is treating myself (and my team) to the same beauty we create for our clients.

It’s a wonderful thing creating and curating beautiful experiences for other people, but it’s also A LOT of work. Effortless takes SO much effort, and without intention, it’s easy to get exhausted and have nothing left for our own celebrations.

I always want to create for my clients from a place of inspiration, abundance, and ease, and this means being mindful to create beautiful experiences for myself too. Even if it’s just the perfect cup of coffee!

So this year, sign me up for all the opportunities to connect, uplift, and encourage my fellow creatives, as we celebrate our unique talents and enjoy the beauty we create in community.

A lush bar arrangement featuring garden roses, sweet pea, and lisianthus sits on a vintage bar cart.
 
A unique floral centerpiece made for an outdoor al fresco dinner party by Los Angeles Florist Tabitha Abercrombie, and the outdoor tablescape.

It’s always such a pleasure to collaborate with Jessica from Art & Soul Events because she is so intentional, generous, and creative. I really enjoy collaborating with planners who appreciate my styling background and let me lean into the styling aspect of floral design. More is more, and I loved bringing the flower magic to everything from the bar cart to the cake.

Two photos, one showing a bar cart featuring a romantic arrangement, and the other featuring Tabitha Abercrombie holding a cheery mug of flowers.

I brought plenty of lush local flowers from our neighboring flower farms & the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market, as well as some beautiful Japanese Sweet Peas from Mayesh at the LA Flower Market. Fun fact: our studio is located just upstairs from Mayesh!
Sweet peas on speed dial FTW.

A bird's eye view of a bold floral centerpiece with a unique color palette that includes sweet peas, anemones, and garden roses and a delicious shot of beautiful tray passed appetizers by Fundamental LA styled with fresh blooms by W&M.

Gotta love a bird’s eye view of some epic blooms! And it goes without saying that all of the food from Fundamental LA was both delicious AND beautiful, but I’m saying it anyhow.

A whimsical/romantic cocktail arrangement by Los Angeles Florist Winston & Main in shades of burgundy, cream, and butter yellow.
 
This time of year brings out the best of the winter/spring florals for Los Angeles Florists, and so our table featured plenty of sweet peas, anemones, even garden roses! I loved creating this unique palette- both pastel AND moody, and used lots of shades and textures to add depth & drama to the design.

A romantic garden-style bar arrangement in shades of peach and soft yellow with accents of burgundy anemones.
 
Sliced citrus, persimmons and crystals brought even more visual interest to the table and bar, and really help reflect the winter (and witchy!) season.

In the first image our moody cocktail arrangement accentuates a beautiful place setting featuring a custom menu by Roseville Designs and a winter citrus accent. The second image is a tablescape detail featuring our unique palette of cream, yellow, peach & burgundy with blue taper candle accents.

A candlelit family-style dinner featuring lots of small cocktail arrangements scattered among the platters.

I’m honored to have had the opportunity to collaborate with my fellow creatives to create + enjoy this beautiful dinner party!

A candlelit family-style dinner featuring taper candles and close up of the centerpiece created by Tabitha Abercrombie from Winston & Main.

There’s nothing I love more than a good dinner party (or marathon recipe) and so I’m looking forward to many more enchanted evenings cultivating community with my fave event pros, while we enjoy our own creations.

A chocolate naked cake by Nicole Bakes Cakes is adorned with fresh florals, chamomile blooms, and citrus accents.
 
Can we have a moment for this perfect creation by my cake bestie Nicole Bakes Cakes?
It was a pleasure to flower, fruit, and crystal another one of her beautiful cakes, and even more fun to eat it!

If you’ve ever heard/thought/read that wedding cake can’t be both a work of art AND ridiculously delicious, you need to get a cake from Nicole immediately.

Two pictures of a slice of a chocolate naked cake by Nicole Bakes Cakes. Adorned with fresh florals, citrus accents and an extinguished candle.

And finally, a little editorial cake styling FTW.

Event pros enjoy a candlelit dinner party, toasting with wine over a table full of family style dinner.
 
Here’s to a beautiful 2023: More dinner parties. More connection. More flowers. More cake.

Planning + Design: Art & Soul Events // Photography: Amber Gress // Catering & Cocktails: Fundamental Events // Floral Design: Winston & Main // Pastry Chef: Nicole Bakes Cakes //  Tabletop Rentals: Casa de Perrin // Menus: Roseville Designs // Natural Wine: Buvons // Napkins: World Market

To see more of our floral designs, head to our portfolio.

 



Dian & Kenny’s Modern & Polished Wedding at The Ebell of Los Angeles

A wedding portrait of the couple on the steps of the historic Ebell of Los Angeles, featuring a modern cascade bouquet in fresh white & green with orange and yellow accents.
 
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! 😜
 
A lush and organic white cascade with pops of orange and yellow accents, featuring garden roses, peonies, ranunculus blooms, designed by Winston & Main.
 
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.
 
Our couple enjoying the fragrant wedding bouquet full of delicious lilac, tuberose, and orange blossom.
 
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.
 
A wedding portrait on the staircase at The Ebell of Los Angeles, featuring a stunning veil by Julie Harris Designs.
 
This veil by Julie Harris Designs needs its own moment though. Sigh. 😍
 
An artistic floral flat lay with ranunculus, olive leaves, and citrus accents for a modern orange wedding.
 
The gorgeous invitation suite by Bella Figura + ALL the citrus and citrus-hued blooms.
 
An outdoor portrait of our bride holding a luxury bouquet with white flowers, accented by fresh citrus, and yellow and orange blooms.
 
A beautiful bridal portrait- The Ebell of Los Angeles has SO many amazing spots for portraits!
 
A portrait and close up of our groom wearing a custom boutonnière made of white ranunculus and olive leaves, wrapped with dark green, velvet ribbon.
 
And a super stylish groom!
Love love love Kenny’s whole wedding look.
 
Adorable flower child baskets, accented with greenery and filled with fresh white rose petals for tossing.
 
The cutest baskets for all the flower children.
 
A close up of boutonnières and brass cuff corsages made of white flowers on a tray, custom designed by Winston & Main.
 
And flowers for all the family & friends.
 
The couple smiling at each other with groom gently holding her waist, and bride holding a lush white and citrus accented bouquet designed by Tabitha Abercrombie of Winston & Main.
 
Again, the cutest.
 
The historic setting of The Ebell of Los Angeles' ballroom is transformed into a modern ceremony space by floral designer, Winston & Main.
 
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.
 
The couple and their officiant stand in between two large, foam-free installations featuring olive and eucalyptus branches in gold urns.
 
Love a casual amount of greenery. 😉
 
A wide view of the ceremony from back of the room. Our couple holding and facing each other at the altar and surrounded by nature-inspired lush greenery and white flowers.
 
These organic & textural greens are the perfect contrast AND compliment to this room. Also, those windows. 😍
 
The couple's first kiss with guests cheering on while our bride holds on to the luxury bouquet, designed by Winson & Main, at her side.
 
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.
 
A tall centerpiece both wild & composed, is full of textural olive and eucalyptus, and has bird of paradise accents blooms.
 
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.
 
Photos celebrating Black love marked the tables instead of table numbers.
 
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.
 
A bright & textural centerpiece features lush spring blooms in shades of white, orange and yellow with mimosa and citrus accents on the table.
 
February is the perfect month for fresh mimosa and ALL the winter citrus.
 
The reception featured a mix of long and round tables decorated with a variety of lush and textural centerpiece styles: high, low, large, and bud vases plus fresh citrus on the tables.
 
Details of reception guest tables with petite arrangements in gold vases, and glass bud vases with flowers in white and orange.
 
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.
 
A cheerful centerpiece with white flowers and citrus-colored accent blooms in a gold bowl. Whole & halved oranges were artistic touches placed next to the bright arrangement with votive candles.
 
A bold centerpiece at the head table in front of the wedding reception room's stage, features dramatic Birds of Paradise and full white, orange and yellow flowers.
 
I mean, look at this star. She *almost* stole the show.
 
A dramatic first dance is set against a lush green and white floral installation at the base of the stage.
 
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



Julia & Jackson’s Bright & Fun Tropical Disco Wedding

Our fun couple share a first kiss under our bold, colorful, & tropical hanging floral installation.
 
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.
 
A super fun floral flat lay featuring a collection of colorful paper goods designed by our client & bride Julia Walck.
 
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.
 
The bold & bright tropical bridal bouquet features phalaenopsis, anthurium, and sunny yellow rudbeckia.
 
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.
 
A colorful clapperboard and a line up of cheery orange boutonnieres were just a few of the colorful details for J&J's disco pop wedding.
 
Tabitha Abercrombie of Winston & Main designed these fun wedding party blooms.  The bouquet features mini monstera, ginger, and rose and the bold boutonniere features a tiny air plant, orange ranunculus, & oncidium orchid.
 
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.
 
A cool & modern signature Winston & Main cuff corsage featuring an air plant and colorful pink & yellow strawflowers.
 
I think the chamomile on this wrist cuff corsage also understood the cuteness assignment.
 
This hanging tropical floral installation served as the wedding arch and was created without floral foam. It features anthuriums from Haus of Stems, alongside bold blooms, disco balls, and festive carnation and marigold garlands.
 
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?
 
Just married! J&J share a quick kiss as they recess down the wedding aisle.
 
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!
 
Tropical Greenery, Bold Blooms, & Disco Balls create this suspended wedding arch  at Valentine in DTLA.
 
Kinda like it just grew there, huh?
 
The cutest quintessential wedding portrait at Valentine- the bride wears a fab fringe jacket and holds a colorful tropical bouquet and the groom holds giant colorful balloons.
 
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.
 
A cute wedding portrait at Valentine DTLA, featuring a bold fringe jacket by Rachel Burke, a teal wall, our colorful bouquet and our cute couple.
 
A portrait of the stylish couple: The bride wore cobalt blue boots and the groom holds her colorful tropical bouquet.
 
Julia’s boots are everything. And as a boot bride myself…all the heart eyed emojis.
 
A bold and brilliant balloon installation by Balloonzilla is suspended over the colorful reception space.
 
The color continues…all the way to the ceiling in this fabulous balloon installation by the one-and-only Marla, of Balloonzilla.
 
Bold & colorful tropical bar flowers by Winston & Main paired with fabulous paper goods by Julia Walck.
 
More fabulous paper goods. More colorful blooms. And the custom drink stirrers?
Best day ever indeed!
 
Bold, colorful, & tropical centerpieces featured pink and orange dahlias, a touch of cobalt, and mixed tropical greenery.
 
We mixed these cute and colorful tropical mini arrangements with bud vases of bright blooms, and of course, more disco balls!
 
Colorful and fun details including bold florals, and a pressed-flower cake by Nicole Bakes Cakes, from J&J's colorful, tropical, disco pop wedding at Valentine in DTLA.
 
An incredible fresh-pressed flower cake by Nicole Bakes Cakes, styled with a yellow bird cake topper, disco balls &  bright tropical blooms.
 
More pressed-flower cake perfection from my pal Nicole of Nicole Bakes Cakes.
 
The perfect place setting featuring vintage plates, beautiful paper goods, disco balls, and our colorful florals.
 
 
Our colorful, tropical wedding bouquet is full of unique, luxe, and textural flowers in shades of pink, orange, yellow, and red.
 
And one more gratuitous bouquet shot.
Because Mary Costa really is the best.
 
J&J dancing under their hanging tropical disco floral installation by Winston & Main.
 
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 /