8Events

Baby Shower at a private home in Hillsborough

2011-06-12T23:32:00.000-07:00

It's very easy to host a fabulous home party, a few tricks like getting some nice linens and rental items from party rental stores: Hartmann Studios, Classic Party Rentals, Stuart Party Rental, and provide some good food, entertainment and a comfortable setting will guarantee a great party . If you have extra budget, decor your place with some candles and flowers for a finish look. Here is a baby shower that I helped to designed for a friend at a private home in Hillsborough, it only took us very little time and money to get everything setup! You can do it too!

::: J + J ::: Stonepine Estate in Carmel

2011-06-09T23:46:00.000-07:00

With all of this talk about Royal wedding, I think this next wedding I am going to blog about was pretty close to one! This spectacular wedding was hosted at the stunning Stonepine Estates in the heart of Carmel Valley. Stonepine Estates is named after the towering Italian stone pines that surround the property. Bought in 1983 by Gordon and Noel Hentschel as a wedding gift to each other, Stonepine is a dream location for any bride.

The bride and groom live in Asia, so the bride's sister who lives in the Bay Area was in charge to plan out the wedding, in which we did it in 4 months! The bride was hoping for a unique wedding location and the goal was to create an unforgettable experience for her guests traveling from all over the globe. Carmel is a memorable place for the couple because it is where the groom popped the question, so ultimately it was also where they wanted their union to take place. I had always known the very special Stonepine Estates, which is one of the most exclusive locations situated in the rolling hills of Carmel Valley. It's so seclusive that when you step in the estate, everything becomes like a fairytale. When I showed the venue to the bride's sister, she knew this is the "it" place!

It was a four day affair with a rehearsal dinner at the Estate's Black Smith Barn for an authentic southern BBQ, complete with a visit to the horse carriage house beforehand. The fairytale wedding took place at the Estate's Chateau Noel. The next day, a Monterey and Carmel tour with a lunch at the Passion Fish Restaurant. All finish off with a departure brunch on the final day at the Estate.

On the wedding day, the weather cooperated for the very in-love couple. The Central California Coast weather can be unpredictable, but we were prepared with many backup plans just in case. Luckily, it was a beautiful day that provided an experience with the most unique peninsula weather--a little breeze, a little rain, a little sun, and a little fog.

The couple woke up and got ready at the stunning Chateau Noel. The bride looked gorgeous with her hair and make-up done by Taylor Pham of Thi Cosmetics. The formal ceremony took place at the English Garden, the bride arrived elegantly in a vintage Rolls Royce, escorted by her proud father. Floral designer Nancy Liu Chin created romantic and picture-perfect floral arrangements that gave just the perfect touch to the space. The guests enjoyed a cocktail hour on the lawn before heading into the greenhouse for the reception. The greenhouse was decked out with billowing white chiffon drapery and hanging crystal chandeliers to create a luxurious but cozy setting, with a colorful mixture of lighting fixtures reflecting all over the estate. From afar, it looked like a glowing light house, all provided by Enhanced Lighting. The white dance floor had style with white lounge furniture and gold accents supplied by Hartmann Studios. Guests enjoyed live music played by Magnolia Jazz Band, while dining on a five course meal paired with extraordinary selected champagne and wines, all carefully prepared by the Stonepine Estates chef. Cake superstar Marina at Just Cake created an eye-catching ivory cake with cascading flowers.

There were so many things I loved about this wedding, such as the couple’s personal vows, gorgeous stationery handwritten by Papineau Calligraphy, a displayed grand piano played by the couple’s best friend, open mic for guests to make speeches, and much more. The wedding was so dream-like and definitely a memorable event for all involved! All of it was captured by the talented Andrew from Studio MSV and Anna from Anna Kuperberg Photography.

More beautiful pictures from Anna Kuperberg: http://kuperberg.com/ss/Stonepine/

Andrew from MSV captured the beauty and emotion of the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Oroe7UpFE

Read about the wedding on Style Me Pretty & The Flirty Guide:

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2010/07/21/carmel-valley-wedding-by-anna-kuperberg/

http://theflirtyguide.blogspot.com/2010/01/fantastic-wedding-video-at-stonepine.html

::: J + L::: Intercontinental Hotel in SF

2011-06-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

I want to share some photos from this special wedding at the Intercontinental Hotel in SF. The beautiful bride is my sister in law, and she has to be the most relaxed bride there ever was and I felt lucky to be a part of her and Leo's big day! Time flies, it was a while ago but still seems like yesterday!

Photography: 39 East Photography
Videography: Cinematt
Planning & Floral Design: 8events
Cake: I Dream of Cake
Makeu/ Hair: Wowpretty
Dress: Vera Wang
DJ: Big Fun DJ

::: J + J ::: St. Joseph's Cathedral

2011-06-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

Some more flowers that I did awhile back for this lovely wedding at the St Joseph's Cathedral Church in downtown San Jose. It is one of my favorite churches in the South Bay! The groom is a professional photographer, and it was a good surprise for me to see him again at another wedding that we did together a few weeks ago! Check out his work: www.jasonwphotos.com. He takes amazing photographs!

Beautiful Photos from PhotosTM Bay Area Photography

‎:::T + A::: Nestldown wedding featured on Glamour & Grace Blog

2011-05-31T20:57:00.000-07:00

We are so thrilled to have one of our weddings from last year featured on Glamour & Grace blog! In case if you would like to read the full story, here is the link: http://glamourandgraceblog.com/2011/real-wedding-angelaandtony/

Photographer | Jay Tsai Photography
Venue | Nestldown
Event Planner | 8events
Flower | Annie Siu Designs
Caterer | Thomas John Events
DJ | BIG Fun DJ

Wedding at Oceano Hotel In Half Moon Bay

2011-04-12T05:35:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some old files, and found these pictures that I took awhile back for a wedding at the Oceano Hotel in Half Moon Bay. I stopped taking wedding floral assignments for awhile, surely, I miss everything about it!

We've Won Weddingwire Bride's Choice Awards 2011

2011-03-07T00:56:00.000-08:00

We are excited to be awarded with the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards 2011! This honor means so much to us, and we want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us!

Press Release

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce 8events has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Wedding Planning & Design!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

8events stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud 8events for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that 8events is among the very best Wedding Planning & Design within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

My Cousin's Wedding

2011-03-06T22:30:00.000-08:00

My cousin got married awhile back, and it surely took me awhile to get all the pictures together! The fun western bbq rehearsal dinner took place at the Gundlach Bundschu Winery with a gorgeous sunset as a backdrop. The main affair was hosted at the enchanting and timeless romantic Beaulieu Garden in Napa Valley. It was definitely a dream wedding, and they made it even more special by going on an around the world honeymoon dream trip!

8events Made the 2011 Wedding Professional Hot List on Mometville

2011-01-26T19:58:00.000-08:00

We are excited that we made it to the 2011 wedding professional hot list on Momentville!

::: M + S ::: Yank Sing Rincon Center Atrium

2010-12-14T23:18:00.000-08:00

Margaret and Stewart were married on the last Saturday of September and it was a gorgeous day. Their ceremony was held at the St. John’s Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. Cocktail hour and the reception were held at the gorgeous Rincon Atrium exclusively catered by Yank Sing Restaurant. A few highlights of the day were when Margaret and Stewart surprised their guests with a traditional Chinese lion dance performance, followed by their choreographed first dance in Michael Jackson's music! It was such a delight to be a part of this!

Coordinator: 8events

Photographer: Erica Berger

Videographer: Studio MSV

Lion Dancer: YKM (Yau Kung Mon Inc.)

Photobooth: PHOTOBOOTH Royale

Flower: Bluume

DJ: Amos Productions

Video:

Margaret and Stewart highlights from andrew msv on Vimeo.

::: R + J ::: Half Moon Bay Golf Links

2010-12-09T00:18:00.000-08:00

Ricah and Jeffery exchanged their vows at the breathtaking Golf Links in Half Moon Bay. Ricah was 6 months pregnant at the time, but she was glowing in her lace beaded dress that fitted her so perfectly and beautifully; Jeffery couldn't take his eyes off her. The sweetest part of the evening was when the groom surprised his bride by singing a love song which he personally composed for her! I couldn't help but also get teary eyed like everyone else there who was touched by their love.

Photography: Augie Chang
Planning & Floral Design: 8events
Harpist: Lifebeat Harpist
DJ: ImageSource Entertainment

And, a few pictures from my camera :)

::: S + P ::: Fairmont SF wedding

2010-12-08T22:57:00.001-08:00

San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel is a perfect place for a dream wedding. Beautiful marble pillars and floors greet you as you enter the revolving front doors. Stephanie and Ping were married at this stunning venue. The wedding ceremony was held on the Roof Garden with a cocktail reception following at the Pavilion room. The dinner reception was located in the Crown room which overlooked all of San Francisco. The bride looked gorgeous in all four of her gowns, and the newlyweds blew their friends and family away when they took to the floor for their choreographed first dance as husband and wife!

Photography: Mark Kuroda Photography | Dave Getzschman of Ben Chrisman Photography
Officiant: Weddings by the Sea
Planning & Floral Design: 8events
Makeup/ Hair: Jessie Weng
Lighting & DJ: Elite Entertainment

:::K + J ::: First United Methodist Church & Dynasty Wedding

2010-12-08T21:11:00.000-08:00

I will be posting several weddings in the next few days! Here is a belated post from a wedding that I had the honor to be a part of last year. Karen and Joe got married at the beautiful First United Methodist Church in Palo Alto. It was a formal ceremony followed by a traditional Chinese banquet at the Dynasty Restaurant in Cupertino. The ceremony and reception were beautifully decorated , and exceptional seafood courses came one after another. The large dance floor was packed with over 300 guests until the very end. The couple were so in love that everyone could feel the love in the air.

Photographer: Junshien & Scott Robert

Coordinator: 8events
Hair and Makeup: Wowpretty
Floral: Christine Dea Floral Designs
Bakery: Ana’s Creative Baking

:::D + J::: Wedding at Hakone Garden

2010-08-10T15:59:00.000-07:00

8events had the pleasure of being part of this lovely wedding at the Hakone Garden. It is a gorgeous Japanese garden in Saratoga Hills, and a perfect venue for an outdoor wedding! For this wedding, the very creative bride and I came up with some interesting designs combining fuschia pink/purple and a hint of aqua blue into the floral arrangements. The gorgeous wedding was captured by the very talented photographer Jeff Newsom.

Jeff Newsom's signature shot!

Bridal Shower

2010-07-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a backyard bridal shower that I put together a while back. The whole setup was under $250 after all the rentals, flowers, favors, drinks and food! It's becoming a trend to have a backyard wedding, not only to create an intimate and personal affair, but it's also good for your wallet!

There's no events too big or too small for 8events! We love parties and like to think outside the box :)

Time flies!

2010-07-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since my last update and during that time a lot of great things have happened! One of our weddings, Joyce and James's at Stonepine, was featured on Style Me Pretty, which is one of the most popular wedding blogs out there. Also, 8events was interviewed by the World Journal and appeared on their daily newspaper for three straight days. What an honor!

Outside of the recognition, we were involved in several charity events and weddings that I cannot wait to share more details about.

Last, after being in the wedding planning business for 4 years, it was finally my turn to be the blushing bride! It was such a magical day and I am lucky to marry my best friend ! I will share my experiences as a bride here with some pictures and video soon! Meanwhile, if you're curious, SF Style Unveiled selected me as their "bride in the city" to share my experience as a bride planning a wedding. The website is so resourceful with many great wedding news and ideas, so check it out!! Before throwing out more updates, here is the wedding that was featured on Style Me Pretty

Gallery

http://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/gallery/1836

Read about the wedding

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2010/07/21/carmel-valley-wedding-by-anna-kuperberg/

Video:

Vendors

Photography: Anna Kuperberg Photography / Event Design: 8events Event Planning & Design / Makeup and Hair: Taylor Pham of Thi Cosmetics / Florals: Nancy Liu Chin / Video: Studio MSV / Lighting: Enhanced Lighting / Rentals: Hartmann Studios / Music: Magnolia Jazz Band / Stationary: Papineau Calligraphy / Cake: Just Cake / Venue: Stonepine

2010-02-02T21:23:00.000-08:00

Our good friends, a very talented photographer Jennifer Skog + fabulous makeup artist Maria Chang of PMA just announced their Couture Shoot Contest to benefit Haiti relief. For more details, please click the image below to enlarge.

November wedding in SF

2010-02-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

My good friend Matthieu from Cinematt just sent me this highlight from a wedding that we worked together in November last year at the Intercontinental Hotel in SF. The highlight captured the day perfectly and the essence of those involved.

Photography: 39 East Photography
Videography: Cinematt
Planning & Design: 8events
Cake: I Dream of Cake
Makeu/ Hair: Wowpretty
Dress: Vera Wang
DJ: Big Fun DJ

Jenny & Leo, Intercontinental Hotel San Francisco from Matthieu Meynier on Vimeo.

Pro pictures from Garrett Photography

2010-01-11T01:59:00.000-08:00

My July bride sent me her wedding pictures few days ago, and I just can't wait any longer to post them! Garrett from Garrett Photography did an amazing job capturing the emotion and beauty of their wedding day! Garrett is based in San Diego, and a good friend of the groom, who is also a great photographer based in the Bay Area, check them out!

August wedding in San Francisco

2009-12-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

The couple tied the knot at the Stanford memorial church, and had their reception at the beautiful Green Room in SF. Two of my favorite wedding venues!

Todd Rafalovich captured the emotion of the day, the beauty of the venues, the excitement of all who were there, and the love and happiness between the couple.

July wedding in Palo Alto

2009-12-16T18:30:00.000-08:00

What a year! I just finished my last wedding in November, got happily engaged, moved to a new place, got a puppy, and now started working with my 2010 brides! I am excited and I love how it has been a busy winter for me so far! Although I am a bit behind with my blog posts, I will slowly catch up soon!

Here is a wedding that I coordinated back in July. The groom is actually a professional photographer, so obviously, the couple knows ALL about weddings, BUT, it's a BIG no no to worry about your own big day. I ensured the couple that it would not feel like another "working" day, but they would truly feel like guests at their own wedding! It was a beautiful day with lots of fun and joy!

An Evening of Glamour by Jade Studio Productions

2009-11-11T20:36:00.000-08:00

8events is honored to sponsor two of Jade Studio's events this week. If you missed today's Building Bridges, an LGBT Community Open House event, make sure to check out An Evening of Glamour tomorrow! RSVP is required! Hope to see you there :)

Sponsors for Wednesday's event:

American Airlines

Blueprint Studios

Corinthian International Parking Inc.

Curve Magazine

Disney ABC Television Group

DJ Olga

8events

Empty Kingdom

Golden Gate Business Association

Hartmann Studios

Jade Studio Productions

jux.ta.pose

Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants

Knight’s Catering

Leftwich Event Specialists Inc.

Napa Valley Linens

North American Theatre Technology

Out & Equal Workplaces Advocates.

Sponsors for Thursday's event:

Blue Angel Vodka

Blueprint Studios

Charleston Pierce

Diane Tong Travel Mgmt & Events

Elle Music

Empty Kingdom

Hartmann Studios

Jade Studio Productions

jux.ta.pose

Montclair Bistro

Napa Valley Linens

Leftwich Events Specialists

North American Theatre Technology Phucket Beer USA

8events

July Wedding in Palo Alto (Pro Pictures)

2009-10-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

Jonathan from ENCARNACION PHOTOGRAPHY just sent me these beautiful pictures! Be sure to check them out: http://www.encarnacionphotography.com/!

July 4th BBQ

2009-10-13T17:50:00.000-07:00

What better way to celebrate the 4th of July than with a patriotic BBQ party! Go Red, white, blue! Even better to finish off with Fred's steak from Schaub's Meat and donuts from Krispy Kreme.

May wedding in Pleasanton II

2009-10-09T17:14:00.000-07:00

Some more flower pictures from the Casa Real Wedding

May wedding in Pleasanton

2009-10-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful wedding at the gorgeous Casa Real in Pleasanton. The bride is an interior designer and has an extraordinary taste! Enjoy it!

Special thanks to Kamran Zohoori from Picture2000 for sharing these great shots!

May Wedding in San Fracisco Part II

2009-09-03T16:05:00.001-07:00

Here are more photos from the May Wedding in San Francisco. Special thanks to the talented photographer Julie Weisberg for sharing these gorgeous pictures with us! Check her out!

(click image to enlarge)

(guess where I was in this picture??..... Answer: I was hiding inside the elevator to keep the door open and close until we got the shot!)

May Wedding in San Francisco Part I

2009-08-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

Here is a wedding that I was fortunate to be part of. It was a beautiful classic San Francisco wedding with a blend of old charm and elegance. The couple tied the knot at the Swedenborgian Church, a San Fransisco gem that is designated as one of the National Historical Landmarks in the city. The warm setting, wooden flooring, and quaint fireplaces are some prime highlights of this heritage church.

The reception followed at the Argonaut Hotel in Fisherman's Wharf, and the night ended perfectly with a happily married couple, a perfect setting, excellent food, top notch service and dancing guests.

Special thanks to the super amazing Julie Weisberg for sending me these beautiful images! Sneak peak here:

(I always try to hide from the camera...Julie caught me in action!)

Photographer: Julie Weisberg

Church Ceremony: Swedenborgian Church

Reception Venue: Argonaut Hotel

Dress: Monique Lhuillier

Makeup & Hair: WowPretty

Flower: Outburst

Cake: Baking Arts

Things 8events Adores

2009-08-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

Popcorn! Give your guests a treat with your very own popcorn bar! Guests can be treated with a slide show of how the happy couple met while snacking away on gourmet popcorn! With some of these packages, guests can even take away a vintage popcorn bucket to remember the special day! Check out these packages

{image source: Country Living}

{image source: Weddingstar}

{image source: Amy Atlas}

{image source: Bliss Wedding Market}

Things 8events Adores

2009-07-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

I love all of the beautiful stationery designs from Modern Press. The company is based in Brooklyn New York, and have been featured in many publications! Here is just one of my favorite designs from their website! What a classy way to dress up your get-away ride with these wooden block letters!

{image source: Modern Press}

Things 8events Adores

2009-07-08T00:03:00.000-07:00

A napkin ring can come in many shapes, colors, sizes. Don't underestimate these little rings, they represent your style and will make a statement to your already well-dressed tabletop! Whether you want to create the rings yourself or want to find an already made style, here are a few ideas to get you started.

{image source: Remarkable Buttons}

For the bride who loves antiquing, vintage buttons made into napkin rings

{image source: A Cottage Industry}

An easy, yet elegant creation; crystal drop napkin rings

{image source: Z Gallerie}

For the nature enthusiast. Also comes in a wood stain

{image source: Z Gallerie}

The beauty of peacock feathers

Things 8events adores

2009-07-02T22:50:00.000-07:00

The other day, I came across this cute paper goods called, “The Writing was on the Wall”. This tag can be used in multiple ways: use it on favors or create a custom signature cocktail and tie it on a novelty straw or drink stirrer! It could even be an escort card! $4.98 for 24 at Wedding Star.

Jade Studio Grand Opening!

2009-06-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Jade Studio Productions just opened their second studio on Treasure Island! The grand opening will take place on July 16th, 2010. 8events is honored to be part of the team planning this special event! Come and join us to checkout this never-before-seen studio with multi-themed sets in the 8,000 sq.ft.warehouse space on Treasure Island.
Participating vendors & sponsors:

Avista Rentals
Anna Ji Design
Best Beverage Catering
BFL Productions
Branch Out
Corinthian International Parking Service
Dave Kim Music
Desired Temptations
DJ Zita & DJ Dmadness
8events
Enhanced Lighting & Sound
Hartmann Studios
jux-ta-pose
MB Wedding Design & Events
Napa Valley Linens
Patisserie Philippe
Red Mango
San Francisco Brides
San Francisco Magazine
Thomas John Events
Treasure Island Wines

{click the image to enlarge}

February Wedding in Fremont/ Pleasanton

2009-06-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

The weather was not cooperating the entire week, and we started to get worried and preparing for plan B. Miraculously, on the morning of the wedding day, the rain stopped and the sun came out just right before the bride arrived to her outdoor ceremony site at the Palmdale Estates in Fremont. The rest of the day, the weather stayed warm and beautiful. The perfect day ended with a formal reception at the Castlewood Country Club.

Sense Spa at the Rosewood Hotel

2009-06-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege to try the Sense Spa located in the newest five star Rosewood Hotel in Menlo Park. I love everything about it and had a wonderful experience there. The day when I was there it was completely empty and I had the whole space to myself!

They offer many packages and treatments. For weddings, they have packages designed just for the groom and for the bride, as well as a package called girlfriend's fun time, which is perfect for a bridal shower. Not sure what kind of gifts to buy for your bridal party? Why not purchase some gift certificates? I am sure they will love it! Currently, they are offering a special package called Sand Hill Retreat: Two Night Package for Two at $599. Take your love one here for a mini getaway!

Sample Sale at Unique Bride!

2009-06-05T19:15:00.001-07:00

Our friend Unique Bride is hosting a 2 day sample sale on June 13& 14!

UP TO 75% OFF ORIGINAL PRICE
Gowns size are mostly size 10 with only a couple of size 0, 8, 12, 16.

It's an event you don't want to miss.
Call for an appointment 650 347-7001

8events was on San Mateo County Times!

2009-06-04T22:52:00.000-07:00

I would like to share this press mention, which was written by Carolyn Livengood, it was published on 04/10/2009 .

Bridal show in Menlo Park

A bridal charity show called "Bella Intima," will be held 1 to 5 p.m. April 18 at the Allied Arts Guild, 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park.

The event is being organized in part by Patty Lee, a certified wedding planner and founder of 8events in Mountain View.

"Together, Allied Arts Guild and I have gathered 45 amazing Bay Area wedding professionals who have passion and love for what they do," Lee said, adding that all proceeds from Bella Intima will be donated to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.

The event will feature complimentary hors d'oeuvres, desserts and champagne. The latest wedding trends, a bridal show, decoration ideas and raffle drawings also will be featured. Free admission and special goody bags will be available to the first 300 brides-to-be who RSVP.

For information, visit www.bellaintima.com.

January wedding in San Francisco

2009-06-04T16:33:00.000-07:00

In January, 8events provided the planning and flower arrangements for an intimate celebration with a color scheme of browns and sage with splashes of pale pink. The bride’s Japanese heritage added an extra beauty to the wedding with Japanese line dancing, favors, and the beautiful kimono she wore as she entered the reception. The couples family and friends flew in from all over the world just to be there for this special day.

The bride and groom prepared for the day at the chic Westin Hotel in San Francisco, and we were able to arrange a memorable "revealing for the first time" for the bride and groom in the Westin’s modern lobby. The Ceremony was held at the Chapel of Our Lady in the Presidio. To set the mood, we had a trio playing music softly in the background. Following the ceremony, the guests enjoyed exceptional food and service at the Mandarin Hotel in downtown San Francisco.

Vendors:

Photography: Kali Karum Photography
Ceremony: Chapel of Our Lady Presidio
Reception: Mandarin Oriental SF
Flower & Coordination: 8events
Wedding Gown: Amy Kuschel

Here are some gorgeous pictures taken by Kali Karum.

Bella Intima Recap

2009-05-29T00:00:00.001-07:00

Details, details and more details! It was such an incredible afternoon together with several amazing wedding professionals and of course happily engaged brides! I cannot find the words to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who put together this amazing event benefiting the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, on a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon at the Allied Arts Guild. Our main goal was to create a relaxing, informative, educational, fun event and pamper our brides!

(Photos by Elley Photography)

I created several different mood boards for each of the tables, rooms and areas, and led the vendors to work together as a team or individually on their own project. It all started at 8am, with vendors arriving and setting up their tables. At 1pm, the bride’s started arriving. Our staff ensured that the check in process was no hassle for our guests. Once they checked in, they received a goodie bag, magazines and beautiful program designed by Marivic from Marizette Paperie. Guests were able to enter raffle prize at the door. The winners of the raffle prizes have been announced on our event blog: http://www.bellaintima.blogspot.com/.

Upon entering, the guests were greeted by the full bloomed garden through the arbor, decorated by Christine from Outburst (former Bluume), and enjoyed a glass of champagne. A soft melody was heard in the background played by a very talented harpist, Esther Lee. A ceremony area was displayed with help from A Bed of Flowers, chair sashes provided by Blanca from A Touch of Elegance, unique fan programs provided Susanne from Cards de Luxe. I wanted to make sure the brides would be able to find all the high qualify vendors in one place, so we made sure to cover everything, from very classic vintage car pulled in handsomely by George from Elegant Journey, delicious food from Cassis catering, to drapery and lighting from one of my favorite lighting companies; Megan and John from Enhanced Lighting are true magician and can transform any venue into a wonderland! Outside the lounge area, we had Kiehl's from Stanford Mall generously giving out their amazing 1oz grapefruit body scrub samples, and allowing the brides to try on different skin products. Lydia from Classic Party Rental was there to show off their extensive party rental guidebook. Special thanks to Classic Party Rentals for providing many of the high quality rental items seen at Bella Intima! It was such a warm, beautiful day, perfect for frozen yogurt. Henry and Susan from Red Mango were working hard to make sure every guest would be treated with a delicious and healthy yogurt sample!

(Photos by Wing Hon Films)

Entering through the double opening doors, Enhanced Lighting transformed the room with luxurious door treatments and sunset up-lightings. Inside the room, guests would first see two tablescapes. One was a modern table what we called the Vivo designed by 8events, floral provided by Outburst, stationery by Cards de Luxe, chair sash by A Touch of Elegance, rentals and linens by Classic Party Rentals. It was in black, yellow and white, and was perfect for brides who like to be out of ordinary and want to have a little fun! The second table the Romanza table, was all about romance and glamour. Designed by 8events, together with Outburst, Cards de Luxe, and Classic Party Rentals, Romanza featured elegant Chameleon Chairs, a high centerpiece with hanging crystal beads and ostrich feathers. This table was designed to be girly, romantic and with a lot of soft feathers and sparkles!

Inside the Sunset Room, we featured many talented photographers such as; Dorothy Hatchel, Jade Studios, Jerry Yoon, Tanja Lipperts, Jennifer Skog's and Michelle Walker's. Nick from Fantasy DJ was so professional and helped us by making announcements throughout the event. All day long, he helped everyone to know what was happening and announced winners of the raffle! We had two gorgeous fashion models there to impress the brides with top of the line designer dresses carried by Unique Bride. Their flawless makeup and hair were done by one of the most sought after makeup artists Taylor from thi cosmetic, and the look was completed with beautiful custom jewelry and fasinators from One World Designs and IWomDesigns. Last but not least, the models were holding beautiful bouquets by DK Designs and Outburst. Photographers were taking pictures of the models throughout the event, and models Mylen and Priya definitely rocked it!

(Photos by Jerry Yoon Photography)

(Photos by Jade Studio Productions)

8events decorated the fireplace area with purple, raspberry and touch of copper gold colors, the theme was inspired by summer of Morocco. We used over 50 stems of phanelopsis orchids and dendrobiums, ti leaves, fiddleferns and accent with peacock feathers and lanterns from Morocco. For my own booth, the theme was Paris Love. Some of the flowers used were imported David Austin Juliet garden roses, novelty hybrid tea roses, ranunculus salmon, and antique garden spray roses. Next to my booth was the very resourceful, bride's best friend Stacie from the Flirty Guide! For everyone reading, Stacie is hosting a bone marrow donor drive now, please help and learn more about it here: www.helpingtami.org for more info.

(Photos by FC Wong Photography)

Before exiting the Sunset Room, there was the highly respected Thomas Hughes Video, and next to it, the brides would find many cute little wedding favors made by Terri from Precious Memories Our Designer. Then, right by the beautiful fountain area, there's an exquisite tablescape designed by Wildflower Linen. I was more than happy when they asked me to provide some floral arrangements for the table. I created a few square plate pillows made by antique garden spray roses, and create some interesting arrangements with peach fancy carnations, ivory calla lilies, fragrant lilac, and a mixture of spring flowers of sweet peas, ranunculus, rice flowers, French tulips and tweedias. Next to it, brides saw photos by Myrtle & Marjoram hanging down from a large tree.

(Photos by Jay Tsai Photography)

(Photos by Jade Studio Productions)

At the back side of Allied Arts Guild, brides would discover the impeccable floral arrangements done by Cheryl from Flair. Brides also welcomed by two talented photographers Adi Nevo and Kevin Kramer at the Blue Garden.

(Photos by Elley Photography)

(Jade Studio Productions)

After strolling through the garden and shops, brides would find two more tables. The table Amor was very colorful with turquoise, red and white; it was designed by 8events, flowers by Outburst, stationery by Marizette Paperie, rentals by Classic Party Rentals, and chair sash by A Touch of Elegance. My goal was to create a very cheerful, fun, and refreshing table that had a hint of vintage chic. The table next to it was the wine country table, called the Destino. I was able to find interesting fruit sculptures, which worked perfectly with the floral arrangement provided by Outburst, stationery by Marizette Paperie, and the table top rentals and chairs by Classic Party Rentals.

(Photos by Jay Tsai Photography)

(Photos by Wing Hon Films)

A bridal fair cannot complete without a full room of desserts! Music was playing throughout the entire afternoon by Music by Daphna in the dessert room. The center of the room held the gorgeous canopy and lighting from Miracle Chuppahs. The setting was designed by 8events and there were hundreds of beautiful flowers constructed by Snowflower Design. Gorgeous stationery was also provided by Marizette Paperie. Underneath the canopy were sculpture like artisan cakes and desserts provided by Audrey from Dolce Belle Chocolates, Mojgan from La Patisserie, Jennifer from Satura Cakes and BethAnn from Studio cakes. Brides were able to taste all the delicious cakes and desserts, and even take some samples home! Two of the most popular attractions at your event are definitely the Photo booth and Chocolate Fountain! Stacey from California Chocolate Fountains setup a neat display with smooth silky flowing chocolate, and Kao from PHOTOBOOTH Royale was so busy helping the brides trim their photos! Inside this room, we had two more talented photographers, Elley from Elley Photography, and FC from FC Wong Photography. Next to FC is the fashion fiesta Jira from WowPretty, she was there to consult and give her beauty tips to the brides! At the same time Rasbarri from Rasbarri Jewelry talked about fashion trends with the brides.

(Photos by Jay Tsai Photography)

(Photos by PHOTOBOOTH Royale)

(Photos by FC Wong Photography)

Special thanks to all the vendors who donated prizes for our raffle including: The Allied Arts Guild, FC Wong, WowPretty, 8events, One-World-Designs, PhotoBooth Royale, Dorothy Hatchel, Adi Nevo, Myrtle and Marjoram, Jerry Yoon, Jennifer Skog, Elley Photography, Bluume/Outburst, MvideoM Productions, Alumiere Studios, Enhanced Lighting, Marizette Paperie, Cards de Luxe, Original Runner Co, Red Mango, A Touch of Elegance, La Patisserie, Esther Lee, Kiehl’s, Precious Memories, Our Designer, DK Designs, Rasbarri Jewelry, Iwomdesigns and Colour Room.

For more pictures from our wonderful photographer friends, please click here: http://picasaweb.google.com/bellaintima09

and more pictures:

http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/album.sfly?fid=1ecbc9a3c873e985&startIndex=0&sid=8CbtWzRw5Zs34 (Kelvin Khoo Photography)

http://www.photoboothroyale.com/v/20090418B (PHOTOBOOTH Royale)

Chung Li Photography Intro Workshop!

2009-05-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Our Friend Chung Li Photography is hosting another fun, interactive and informative digital photography intro class!

How much fun would it be to see a pro photographer in action, and learn all the tricks and techniques on how to take beautiful photographs!

A brief description about the workshop:

Fee: $250 per person

Date & Time: Sunday, 6/21/09 from 9:30 to 5:30pm

Location: Chung's studio located in Belmont .

Prerequisites: Student who has little/or no experience on using a DSLR ( Digital Single-Lens Reflect camera ) or a beginner in photography.

For more info or sign up, please visit: http://chungliphotography.blogspot.com/2009/05/2009-5-17-live-to-shoot-shoot-with.html

email: chung@chungliphotography.com

Huckleberry Karen Designs DIY workshop!

2009-05-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

Our friend Karen from Huckleberry Karen Designs is hosting a DIY Workshop in June! If you're planning to DIY your wedding flowers, you should definitely check it out! Here are the details.

Date: Sunday, June 14, 2009

Time: 10am-12:30pm

Location: Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA

For more information or to register you can email Karen at : http://us.mc6.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=huckleberrykarendesigns@gmail.com

Gabrielle's sample sale!

2009-05-28T01:57:00.001-07:00

Are you a Vera Wang bride? Melissa Sweet? or Anne Barge? You definitely do not want to miss this deal! Our friend Gabrielle Bridal Atelier is moving to a new location next month, and will be hosting an amazing sample sale this weekend at their Los Gatos location. You may just find your dream dress there for a fraction of the price!

Detail from the website:
May 29 - 30 @ los Gatos location: 104 University AveLos Gatos, CA 95030
Help us move to Campbell a bit lighter, by buying some of our sample gowns at a great discount.

Best of Proejctwedding 2008

2009-05-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

I am really behind on my blogging. I would like to first share exciting news that 8events has recently been named one of the "Best of Project Wedding 2008" in both the floral deisgn and wedding planning/coordination categories. It's an honor to be listed with the other top 5% of wedding professionals in SF Bay Area. A big THANK YOU to all of our wonderful brides who left feedback for 8events, and many thanks to the team at Project Wedding for providing such a wonderful online community for wedding professionals and newlyweds-to-be.

Bella Intima Video Clip!

2009-05-11T23:30:00.000-07:00

This video captured the essence of the event. Special thanks to Wing Hon Films (a good friend of Elley from Elley Photography!)

Here are some amazing pictures taken by Wing Hon:

Bella Intima- Behind the scene

2009-05-10T18:38:00.001-07:00

Here are some behind the scene pictures that I would like to share...more pictures are coming soon!

Tiana's assistant stuffing the goodie bags

Bottles and bottles of champagne

At 8:00am. It was a beautiful day!

That's me right there setting up the fireplace area

Busy busy...

My lovely assistant helping out the vendors

Lily from Wildflower Linens setting up the table

Me again arrranging flowers

Miracle Chuppahs setting up their gorgeous canopy!

Elley setting up her booth

Snowflower Design setting up her flowers for the canopy

My assistants helping to organize the gift bags and sign in table

Raffle drawing table

Tiana (site coordinator of the Allied Arts Guild) and I goof around before our show opens!

Taylor from thi cosmetics styling model's hair

(photo credit: Jerry Yoon Photography)

Models Mylen & Priya waiting for the show to start

(photo credit: Jerry Yoon Photography)

Bella Intima 04.18.09

2009-04-12T23:10:00.000-07:00

A lot of my friends were wondering why I have been MIA (Missing in Action) during this time of the year, which is typically a slow season for the wedding industry. The answer is that I have been dedicating all my time to the bridal show that I am hosting together with the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park! From designing the tablescapes, laying out the floorplan, selecting and meeting vendors, advertising the event, planning the logistics, and interviewing models, I want to make sure everything is perfect! Being a wedding/event planner, we are there to make sure no details are missing, and we love taking charge to make sure the event will run smoothly and beautifully. I am so excited that the date has finally come, and on April 18th, more than 45 premier wedding professionals will come together to present you Bella Intima, a bridal charity event to benefit Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.

(Invitation designed by Cards de Luxe)

It will definitely be an exciting event for the brides, as we are ready to pamper you with food, desserts, champagne, goodie bags,free magazines and there will be raffle drawings! You could win:

A full production bridal photoshoot from FC Wong, WowPretty, One World Designs, and 8events!
A free photobooth from PHOTOBOOTH ROYAL
A 1 hour engagement session donated by Myrtle & Marjoram/ Jerry Yoon
A 1 hour boudoir session with Jennifer Skog
Gift certificates donated by Red Mango
A gift basket donated by Kiehl's
A beautiful clay bouquet by DK Designs

... and many more amazing prices donated from our wonderful vendors!

At this event, you will see how pictorial the Allied Arts Guild is--it's definitely a hidden gem! The very tasty hors d'oeuvres will be provided by Cassis Catering and you don't want to miss them! You will get to talk to the vendors in person and look at their products and services closely. There will be a delightful dessert display, exquisite tabletop designs, floral arrangements, and a ceremony setup. There will be an elegant vintage car for you to sit in and feel like royalty, and you can take pictures in the photobooth. We have very talented musicians and painters, along with fashion models who will be totally dolled up by thi cosmetic and Unique Bride! There is this and so much more, so be sure to come and check it out!

It's free if you register at http://www.bellaintima.com/!

December wedding in Taiwan!

2009-04-06T01:07:00.000-07:00

My sister found the love of her life in Michigan. The bride and groom decided to have their wedding in Taiwan to allow other family members to attend. It was a grand celebration for both sides of the newly formed family. One month before her wedding date, I flew into Taiwan and started the planning process as soon as I landed! It was quite a challenge as we anticipated 450 guests and the gorgeous venue that we booked was brand new. It took a few trips to her venue until we could envision how the wedding would turn out! In one month, we did the food tasting, had several dress fittings for the four wedding dresses she would wear during the lavish ceremony & reception, visited the floral market to pick out her flowers, compiled a music playlist, attended makeup/ hair consultations, accompanied her and her fiance to ballroom dancing classes, handled countless details and worked on design concepts!

The wedding turned out so beautiful, and made all the sleepless nights seem worth it! The lighting and the extra props that we brought in created a phenomenal space. Chairs were gloved in gold covers to match with the table linens. The giveaway roses, choreographed waltz, and elegant piano music were a few highlights of the event.

Most importantly, my sister was so relaxed and looked completely flawless and divine throughout the ceremony and reception! I am very happy for her!

My Birthday Bash

2009-04-03T16:37:00.000-07:00

It was my BIG 3-0h birthday two weeks ago, so I decided to host a garden party at my house with some close friends. It was exactly what I wanted, intimate, relaxed and nothing extravagant.

November Wedding in Fostery City

2009-04-01T00:36:00.001-07:00

For this stylish bride, The Hotel Sofitel was the perfect location for her November wedding. Located in Foster City, The Hotel Sofitel is trendy, modern and has a French flair that will add sophistication to any event.

The bride, who was referred to me by a good friend, chose a stunning color scheme of burgundy and pink with touches of green and white.

I always suggest that my brides re-use ceremony flowers. For this wedding, we created cone pews and were able to turn them into fabulous centerpieces.

Gorgeous pictures are from Jay Tsai Photography!

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Pre-Opening!

2009-03-31T21:22:00.001-07:00

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is a new 5 star luxury hotel nestled in the hills of Menlo Park. The grand opening date is April, 09. It will be one of the newest and hottest spots to host your wedding ceremony and reception! I am invited to attend Rosewood Hotels & Resorts' pre-opening, and will keep you posted with all the features soon! Stay tuned!

Wedding video clip from Memory Tracks!

2009-03-31T15:33:00.000-07:00

Dave from Memory Tracks sent me this video clip from a Monterey Wedding that we did together in November, 08! It's beautiful! The video brings tear in my eyes and smile on my face!

November Wedding in Monterey Part II

2009-03-24T01:17:00.001-07:00

And, here are some pictures that I took from my camera. Enjoy!

November Wedding in Monterey

2009-03-23T23:51:00.000-07:00

I instantly had a connection with this couple at our first meeting! Although they planned their Monterey wedding all the way from Las Vegas, they fully put their trust in me and allowed me to plan and create floral arrangements for their wedding. It was a very rainy day in November, but the bride and groom were in good spirits. You could see the love this couple have for each other radiate off of everything they said, did and touched. Friends and family were excited to take part in this magical event and the reception saw guests dancing all night long. The money dance was so long, the couple was covered in bills from head to toe!

The wedding was a formal Catholic ceremony at the Sacred Heart Parish in Salinas. The reception took place at the gorgeous Club Del Monte at Naval Postgraduate School. The large ballroom with beautiful chandeliers hanging down from the tall ceiling added royal charm to this space! It was perfect!

Many details went in to planning this wedding, from a wishing tree, to a candy buffet, choreographed first dance, lighting, personalized love music CD favors, photobooth and slippers for your tired feet. All in all, a wonderful wedding filled with love and laughter!

FC Wong captured beautiful moments and documented the day! We coincidentally happened to work in 3 consecutive weddings in November!

Classic Party Rental Open House 2009

2009-03-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

It was an honor for 8events to be one of the 25 florists invited to provide their creative works for Classic Party Rental Open House. The event was a smashing success full of detailed work and creativity. The production team did a wonderful job of transforming a warehouse into an elaborate hip display floor. It was an impressive feast.

Special thanks to Cards de Luxe for providing beautiful stationery.

Here are some pictures taken from Gene XHwang/Orange Photography

November Wedding at Hakone Gardens

2009-02-22T14:18:00.000-08:00

FC from F.C Wong Photography shot these amazing photos from a wedding that I did (both floral design and coordination) in November.

Bella Intima Saturday, 04.18.09

2009-02-17T11:41:00.000-08:00

You're invited to.....

(click to enlarge)

www.bellaintima.blogspot.com

Invitation designed by the very talented Susanne Wong from Cards de Luxe

Save the Date!

2009-02-10T01:43:00.000-08:00

4.18.2009 Bella Intima...more details coming soon!

November Wedding in Saratoga

2009-02-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

We knew it was going to be a wet day, perhaps one of the heaviest rain in the year 2008. The day before, we were lucky to have a gorgeous day for the rehearsal at the Hakone Gardens, and the bridal party was out and about, dressed up in their hand-crafted costumes for the Halloween. The day of the wedding, it was a gloomy morning, then dark clouds came soon after and were followed by a heavy downpour. But the bride and groom were in good spirits, and they enjoyed the "moment" under their little red umbrella. Although we had to quickly make a last minute change by moving the outdoor ceremony to an indoor room, but it was still just as intimate and beautiful as any wedding ceremony could be.

FC Wong, a very talented photographer, captured some amazing shots, and the pictures turned out vibrant and filled with emotions (will post soon). The color scheme was orange, red and chocolate brown, and what I love the most was that the bride put together many little touches of their Chinese and Japanese cultures into this wedding. The atmosphere of the wedding was just divine.

I am back!

2009-01-12T17:53:00.000-08:00

Happy 2009! Wishing everyone a healthy and prosperous new year! I just returned from a 4 week trip to Asia. It was quite a trip. One of the best memories of this trip was that my lovely sister got married, and I, of course, was her wedding planner/ florist. I will post some pictures soon... I admit that I am a bad blogger, so one of my 2009 resolutions is to start blogging more!

I was asked by a bride to plan her wedding in 3 months back in October. From the start, I knew it would be a challenge, but even with such a short time frame, we were able to find the vendors that we wanted, and at the end, the wedding turned out beautifully. Of course, the wedding could not be done without the great help from all of the vendors! Marriott did an outstanding job and was very accommodating by providing an extra ballroom for the cocktail and a larger reception room at no additional charge!

The bride and groom were so awesome to work with! The bride created the most beautiful stationery, and it's always wonderful when the groom is also very involved with the wedding planning. They decided not to include too many programs during the reception, which allowed them to enjoy the time talking to their friends and family. Since the ballroom carpet has very busy patterns on them, I suggested peach, ivory, champagne and accent with brown as their color schemes, which helped to balance the room in harmony. There are many things that I love about this wedding. The couple has extraordinary taste in music, the tea forte wedding flavor, the Korean traditional dress that the mothers were wearing, the beautiful chandeliers hanging down from the ceiling, and much more.

Vendors:
Ceremony& reception: Walnut Creek Marriott
Wedding planner: 8events
Photographer: Todd rafalovich
Hair & Make: Wowpretty
Invitations: Wedding paper diva
Chair Covers: A touch of Elegance
Limo: Reliable Limo
Flowers: Bluume
Cake: City of Dlight

Here are some amazing photos from the very talented photographer- Todd Rafalovich

October Wedding in Dublin

2008-11-19T14:36:00.000-08:00

Here are some wedding pictures from the very talented photographer FC Wong. It was really my honor to plan and do flowers for this beautiful wedding at the Dublin Ranch Golf.

Happy veterans day!

2008-11-11T23:53:00.000-08:00

My June bride just sent me an email to let me know that her wedding is featured in the leading wedding blog "Style me Pretty"! The post is in honor of Veterans Day! Click here for more detail: http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/11/11/military-wedding-by-myrtle-and-marjoram-ii/

Thanks to Our Veterans and Active Military for Serving!

October Wedding in San Francisco

2008-11-11T15:04:00.000-08:00

It was an honor to be the event coordinator and floral designer for this wonderful couple. The bride was as stunning as any bride could be, and I knew the wedding was going to be beautiful after seeing her flawless makeup and hair done by the bride's fairy "god father," Jonathan Nguyen. The bride wore her traditional Chinese Qi Pao for the tea ceremony and slipped into her dazzling wedding gown and the famous Manolo Blahnik d'Orsay heels from SATC. She looked absolutely gorgeous!!

The two very in love people tied the knot and exchanged their vows at the beautiful Rincon Center Atrium, with a soft melody played from the grand piano, skylight windows and a waterfall backdrop. And if that wasn't already amazing enough, the reception was definitely the highlight of the day. The traditional Chinese banquet was transformed by the touch of our fantastic vendors, as the room was fully decorated with chair covers, lighting, drapery, lanterns, and floral designs all in pink and lime green! This wedding could not be so perfect with the help from the amazing staff from Yank Sing, the joyous bridal party who were truly hands-on, and the amazing family and friends of the couple. I also love how they strongly embraced their culture heritage and showed their love for each other and those around them.

October Wedding in Cupertino

2008-10-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

The bride and I met at the wedding planning certification program awhile back, and we have become friends since then. The couple tied the knot at the beautiful Home of Christ Church in Saratoga and and had a traditional Chinese reception at the Joy Luck Place in Cupertino. The color schemes were rustic red, orange, and a splash of brown, green and yellow.

Sprinkles Cupcakes~

2008-09-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

Sprinkles just opened this week, and it's already attracting a lot of customers! Be ready to wait for 30 mins to get these heavenly, fresh, fluffy and moist cupcakes! The frosting is not overly sweet, and I absolutely love the signature dot design. For weddings, they do not offer free tasting and have limited designs to choose from. They will deliver the cupcakes to your wedding venue, but they do not offer set up. I tried 4 different flavors: Mocha, Black & White, Vanilla and Red Velvet. They were all good, but Mocha definitely gets my favorite vote! Strawberry is one of their most popular flavors now, but it's only available on certain days of the week. Here is the detailed schedule: http://www.sprinklescupcakes.com/flavors.html. You can get a dozen for $36 or individually for $3.25 ea. The mini cupcakes are $2.50ea.

September Wedding in Berekely

2008-09-23T16:30:00.000-07:00

The bride was referred by her friend from a non-profit organization, which I volunteered and did flowers for a charity event a year ago. The wedding colors were dark purple with splashes of gold and green. Since the bride wanted to bring a garden feeling to her reception site, she asked me to incorporate some fillers, berries, vegetables, and unique looking seasonal flowers. The wedding ceremony took place at the beautiful Lady of Lourdes Church in Oakland, and the reception was at the HS Lordships.

September Wedding in San Jose

2008-09-19T16:24:00.000-07:00

I clearly remember Terri (the bride) from a wedding that I set up in Sep., '07. She came up to me and said "I'm Mary's sister (bride's sister), I will definitely call you to do my wedding flowers." A few months later, she called and I feel honored to be able to provide flowers for two happy couples in the same family.

The wedding colors were purple and green. It was at the beautiful Corinthian Event Center in San Jose. Sorry for the blurry pictures ;P

Big sale at Michaels!

2008-09-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

For brides out there, here is a good time to buy your wedding items at Michael's! Michael's is having a big sale now celebrating their 1000th store opening, and also giving out printable 50% off coupon here: http://www.michaels.com/coupons/1000thstore/coupon.html

Happy shopping!

August Wedding in Saratoga

2008-09-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

Villa Montalvo is one of the most prestigious wedding sites in the bay area, and one of my favorites. The couple were fun and friendly, with little direction given by them, they put their confidence in me to coordinate and do flowers for their wedding. The color schemes were sunset colors--peach and orange and splash of yellow and white. They wanted a very relaxed wedding with no groomsmen or bridesmaids, no garter or bouquet tossing, and cupcakes instead of traditional wedding cake (They were a big hit! All the cupcakes were gone before the actual cake cutting!). It was a gorgeous day with a beautiful couple, happy guests, and perfect arrangements provided by all the vendors. Everyone put forth effort far and beyond the norm to make this wedding so special! I always write Thank You notes to my newlyweds 2-3 days after the wedding, however, the bride and groom were so sweet that they called me the next day to thank me! ;) This kind of little gesture always make me feel touched for days!

Vendors:

Venue: Villa Montalvo

Coordination: 8events

Flower: 8events

Lighting: Enhanced Lighting

Caterer: Le Papillion

Cake: Margaret French Bakery

DJ: Prosound Entertainment

Photographer: Michelle Walker Photography

Makeup/ hair: Wedding by Jessie

Wedding Officiant: Veronica Presedo-Floyd

Apperciation bouquet

Groom's boutonniere

Detail shot of the centerpiece

Cake table
Ringbearer box Enhenced lighting changed the lighting color from amber to blue at the end of the night!
Setting up bridal suite arrangement for the bride & groom

Your favorite moment during the ceremony?

2008-09-11T17:31:00.000-07:00

What's your favorite moment during the ceremony? People often say it's when the bride walks down the aisle. Some would say it's to see the groom's teary eyes when the bride walks towards him. For me, I have the privilege to see the most precious moment. That is the moment when the bride is hiding in back, waiting with anticipation to see the groom for the first time while the proud dad or the honored escort holds the bride's hand with a comforting grip. That tender moment is often missed in the photographs. When I coordinate weddings, I always try to stand behind the bride and capture this "moment". The walking out scene always make me feel very emotional (giving away the bride) and filled with joy (bride's walking into her happiness).

Teaser August wedding pictures from Ed Pingol

2008-09-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

Here are some teaser pictures from the very talented Ed Pingol. The pictures are truly amazing!! Aren't they a beautiful couple?!

June wedding pictures from Myrtle & Marjoram

2008-09-05T16:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some professional pictures from one of the June weddings that I coordinated. Thanks Ingrid from Myrtle & Marjoram for sharing these beautiful pictures! She is super talented and shoot everything on film!