Your special day with Style & Grace

2009-02-14T19:34:00.000-08:00

S & Q: A Match Made in Heaven

We had the pleasure of working with S & Q as they planned their wedding. When we first met with S, we knew instantly we wanted to be part of her special day :) She is such a warm and FUNNY person and not to mention, a dead-ringer for my high school BFF.... I am talking twins-separated-at-birth, lookalike... it was crazy :)

S & Q had many DIY projects for their wedding including all paper goods (invites, programs, menu cards, table numbers, etc.), as well as all floral (bouquets, bouts, centerpieces, pomanders). The quality of their work was stunning...... some of the best DIY projects we've seen.

The two celebrated their nuptuials at S's childhood church. The reception followed at the Hilton Hotel in Pasadena. This was our first time working at the Hilton and oh-my, the staff was truly amazing! (Thank you Shalom and team :))

Zenia of Zenia Photography (http://www.zeniaphotography.com/) was there to capture all images of the event. Zenia, was a superstar! She is preggo and did not let that slow her down. She took some amazing photographs- thanks for sharing Zenia :)

S & Q, it was a true pleasure working with you and we are honored that you let us be part of your special day- many, many thanks!

2009-02-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

Family..........

Jill and I had the opportunity to work with the incredible Kim Fox of Kim Fox Photography (http://www.kimfoxphotography/) at W & L's wedding back in May. I instantly connected with Kim as I was oh-so-pregnant, and Kim was a new mom herself :) Once I saw how absolutely amazing W & L's wedding photographs turned out, I KNEW I wanted Kim to capture photos of our newest addition once she arrived.

Kim came to my home just a few weeks after Avery Claire was born. (She's now 6 months old.... time is flying!!!!!!!) I was a hot, hormonal mess, but Kim put me at ease. She was so calm and soothing and made taking pictures of a newborn, an energetic 2 yr old, along with my husband and I, seem like a breeze. Thank you, thank you, thank you Kim! We absolutely LOVED how they turned out :)

2009-02-14T18:01:00.000-08:00

Catching Up.............

2008 has come and gone and we were busy, busy bees. Now, it's time to play catch up and share some images from these fabulous events!

Rebecca & Rick celebrate 25 Years: We had the pleasure of working with Rick and Rebecca to plan their 25th Wedding Anniversary Celebration. Rebecca wanted to go all out for the event, and that's what they did!

The day began with a vow renewal ceremony at The Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA) in Long Beach, shared with their closet family and friends.

After the ceremony, the party continued at Alegria Cocina where friends and family enjoyed an AMAZING meal while listening to guitarist Roger Espinoza, then danced the night away to the live music of Margarita Luna and her band. A fun time was had by all..... what an amazing event! Marlin Munoz of Marlin Munoz Phography, and his wife Marelene, captured some fantastic images of the event. Thank you Rebecca and Rick for letting us be part of your special day :)

Marlin Munoz Photography (http://www.marlinmunoz.com/)

All in the family.....

2009-02-10T15:27:00.000-08:00

The end of the year brought a flurry of trips to Arizona to help with a family wedding.
Jill's sister got married at Estrella Golf Club ( http://www.estrellagolf.com/index.html).

It was a true family affair with both Stephanie and Jill planning from afar, Jill helping on the big day, and Jill's new sister-in-law working as the florist. The day was perfect...so exciting to see two fabulous people come together to begin their new life.

I'll blog more later, including pictures of a fun S'More's bar and an elegant dessert buffet, and of course invitations hand made by Jill. But for now, here's a few pictures from a fantastic AZ based photographer, Tami Martin. Tami mentioned that she has family in Los Angeles and is always interested in shooting CA weddings! http://www.az-weddingphotography.com/

Picture Perfect Pair!

2008-10-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

September left me without a voice. We were busy busy bees!

At the end of the month, we had the pleasure of working with Mr. D and Mrs. M.

We met Mr D. and Mrs. M through a favorite client, J & T. J and Mrs. M work together. You would think that both J and Mrs. M work in an artistic field based on their fabulous sense of style and constant flow of fantastic ideas. Each time I saw Mrs. M during planning, I would note her fantastic hand bags. Great sense of style :)

As a couple, Mr. D and Mrs. M were spot on. What a pair!!

As seen in the following pictures, they compliment each other like salt and pepper. Like Lucy and Desi. Like a sandy beach and the cool ocean waves.

Mr. D is the sweetest guy ever! Mrs. M is smart and thoughtful. Together, they were a dream client. Well planned. Full of artistic touches. And a joy to be around!

We were equally excited to work with the fabulous Michael Norwood. http://www.mnpblog.com. I've been a long time fan of Michael's work but this was the first time we worked with him. His portfolio is fantastic. I was an avid reader of his chronicles from Africa. I expected a serious and quiet artist. But we soon learned that although Michael is a very serious artist, he's also a ton of fun!

We'll soon share more pics, including details from the reception at Cicada. (Fantastic venue, btw!).Until then, enjoy these pics. They capture the beauty of a truly lovely couple, the drama of a beautiful church ceremony, and the joy of Mr. D and Mrs. M.

The Power of Etsy

2008-09-20T07:29:00.000-07:00

As a lover of unique and hand made crafts, I've been a long time devotee of Etsy.
I've watched it grow from a small depot of crafters to a on-line mega fair of artists as evidenced by the hand made golden hammered rings above from BeyondtheRockz.

Some of my favorite wedding details have been found on Etsy. Each craft lends individuality which is so important to many brides.

Ring pillow to accent wedding palette from SewBride

Custom orgami cranes to bring happiness and luck to the happy couple from LocalColorist

A lace shrug to cover shoulders during a church ceremony courtesty of artist Rohm

Custom linens from ArtfulBeginnings

Hair accesories for short (artist DaintyDiety) and long hair (artist Portobello).

Unique paper goods to make your day special. This design is from Kissandtellcards.

And for the rare reader who doesn't know Etsy, check it out!! http://www.etsy.com/

Back in the saddle....

2008-09-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

Stephanie and I are back in the saddle again...and not a minute too soon!
We are ecstatic to be organizing an amazing event at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center!=

Every time we visit the Equestrian Center I get giddy seeing all of the horses. I so could be a horse person. Maybe in my next life. For the time being, we are keeping busy. This weekend, we'll be entertaining sea horses at an amazing venue on the cliffs in Palos Verdes. And then we are on to swing dancing and glamming it up for the fantastic Cicada! What a fun month!!

We are still getting proofs back from some of our favorite summer events. I promise eye-candy real soon.

Until then, let me give a shout out to two of my favorite vendors that came way of L & W early in the summer. The first pic is of our favorite paper stylist, Anne, and her sweet husband, Rob.

The picture is courtesy of one of our favorite photographers (she's FAB!), Kim Fox. Check out her blog...I am in love with her recent pics of daughter. What a cutie! http://kimfoxphotography.com/blog

Anne recently introduced her new paper stylist site appropriately named The Paper Stylist.
Check it out. http://thepaperstylist.blogspot.com/

Coming full circle, here's some recent work that Anne did for our couple getting married at the LA Equestrian center.

And she's here!

2008-07-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

Avery Claire is here! Steph, Mr. Steph, and brother Owen are doing great....
As true event planners, we've already laughed about Avery's wedding....
What?? we only have twenty-some years to plan it!!

~ Little girls are the nicest things that happen to people. ~

Allan Beck

F-U-N

2008-07-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

Quick....check out pictures of J & T on Crissy Farah's blog:
http://itsjustsillyme.blogspot.com/2008/07/art-of-love.html

I'll blog more about this wedding soon...I just couldn't wait
to preview it. And for the records, it was F-U-N!
J & T wanted to create a fun day....and they succeeded. Enjoy the preview!

Pacing the hallways...

2008-07-17T20:35:00.000-07:00

We are now officially "on maternity leave" as Stephanie and her husband prepare to bring into the world another wonderful child. I am pacing the halls...or at least waiting to hear the exciting news! I can't wait to hand out virtual cigars. They are all the rage now, right!!

In baby news, we all celebrated her sweet boy's second birthday just a few weeks ago I'll have to sneak a few pics from the party and post them to the blog. Until then, I've added a picture

Crissy Farah took last year. http://itsjustsillyme.blogspot.com/

I can't believe Steph's little man is 2!

Any day now, Steph should have baby #2. I promise pics as soon as I have them!

While Steph is busy being a mom, I will be covering all be covering "the office"!
Please send all email to us at styleandgraceevents@gmail.com.

As a teaser of things to come, let me share pictures of Rick and Rebecca. Pictures are compliments of Marlin Munoz Photography.They'll be celebrating their anniversary with a vow renewal at the vibrant Museum of Latin American Art in just a few weeks. They have a passion for dance, a passion for their culture, and a passion for EACH OTHER. What an inspiration!

Pictures are compliments of Marlin Munoz Photography. http://marlinmunozphotography.blogspot.com/

Stay tuned....during "maternity leave" time, I plan on sharing some of my favorite new finds...including the best darn lanterns in LA, Hazelnut Photography and Anne K LA Designer. The latter are two fabulously sweet LA gals...their stories will come soon enough! Promise!

Catching up....

2008-06-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

Well, we are now on "maternity leave"!

Yes, since half of Style & Grace Events is VERY pregnant, it's time for a short hiatus called "maternity leave". I am sure my mom would be thrilled to have me on maternity leave...unfortunately, I don't think this is the kind of leave she expected! Ha-ha!!

Well, we've been busy bees....I can't wait to share pictures. We've been to Santa Barbara, we helped pull together a "blank canvas" in Pasadena, and we've had fun with Latin chic at MoLA. It's been a fun June! I also planned a beautiful (so I am told) baby shower for Stephanie at Long Beach Museum of Art. I loved how the invitations turned out...I'll have to share a pic or two!

A favorite client of ours, J, was a guest at W & L's wedding in Agoura/Malibu Hills. She was kind enough to share a few pics. J must be a budding photographer....she's got quite an eye! We are utterly impressed with "her work". Here's a preview of W & L's wedding, courtesy of J!

W's smile is infectious, and her dear husband L is completely in love with her!

What a beautiful couple!

Cake from yummy Porto's Bakery!! Fantastic!

A new favorite vendor and friend, Anne K! designed all of the beautiful stationery. She's a real talent...and since she was a guest at W & L's party, we can now say she's a sweetheart too!!
What a fabulous new vendor find! http://annekinla.blogspot.com/

Stay tuned...I'll have new pics soon and I'll be sharing the exciting news of Stephanie's newest addition!!

Sneak peek?

2008-06-10T08:04:00.000-07:00

Does a sneak peek count if it's a painful two years late?

Well, there's a story here but I'll save it for "in person" meetings.
Instead let me share with you MY wedding album. It's two years old but it's soon to be finished.
Here's a sneak peek...if Pictage is cooperating:

http://www.pictage.com/client/album.do?event=295330

It seems so long ago but I still get butterflies looking at my pictures.

A sneak peak of what's to come......

2008-05-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Steph and I had an amazing time at W and L's wedding.

It was rich in culture, love, and fun.

From out-of-country guests to a fun photobooth to "Romeo and Juliette" cigars....It was fabulous.

We were both too busy to snap pics so we'll wait for a few from the amazing Kim Fox.

Until then, here's a snapshots of the venue....Villa de la Vina

PS- I have never seen so many amateur photographers taking advantage of the beautiful scenery at this wedding. Everywhere we turned, I saw photos snapping. The wannabe photographer in me really wished I'd had the time to join in!

A Recipe for Love

2008-05-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

A little bit of me and a whole lot of you

Add a dash of starlight and a dozen roses, too

Then let it rise for a hundred years or two

And that's the recipe for making love.

- Harry Connick, Jr.

At the recent wedding celebration between R and B I think I found it.....the recipe for love. Sure starlight and a dozen roses may help but there's more to love than "things".

Start with a beautiful and intelligent woman....

Add a caring man who adores this wonderful woman...

Parents and family who love and adore them....

A sprinkling of strong friends to cheer them....

Add spiritual faith to guide them....

A dash of traditions to enrich them....

Lots of respect for one another....

A dash of fun....

And you are sure to have the perfect recipe for a love to last a lifetime....One that will keep the couple dancing through life.

Stephanie and I feel truly blessed to be part of unions such as this one. R & B's love for each other and their families is plentiful. The warmth between them is obvious, and their excitement for this adventure called married life abounds.

Congratulations R & B!

Photos courtesy of Brian Crane
Venue: Los Angeles Athletic Club

Service courtesy of Rabbi Dan

Wedding Season!

2008-05-04T19:28:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's officially wedding season!
Stephanie and I were happily trotting about town this weekend with clients and vendors and dreamers alike. And, wow...the weather was spectacular! While this weekend was filled with meetings, I envy the lucky couples who wed this weekend and had spectacular Southern California weather. Absolutely perfect!

Everywhere you look, weddings are blooming.

Los Angeles Times is no exception.

In the May issue of LA Times Magazine, the LA Dream Team is for weddings is listed.

Alas, Style & Grace was once again beat out by Mindy Weiss.

She gets all the good gigs, doesn't she?! She must be out-bidding us! Ha!!

(For those of you not familiar with Ms. Weiss, her client list runs from Andre Agassi to Steve Wynn.)

While I joke, it was fun to read how LA's elite plan weddings. If you are interested in reading all of the "hot vendors of 2008", check them out at http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/magazine/.

A fun find while reading the article and perusing on-line was Mindy's on-line shop. First off, her site is adorable, as to be expected! But her fun finds are, well, FUN!https://www.mindyweiss.com/store/

Lastly, I was impressed to see that LA Times is caving to the constant pressure that the enviable NY Times has set.....actual WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENTS of sorts.
LA Times is posting on-line wedding pictures with captions. Not quite the announcements which are devoured in New York, but, hey...it's a start. We are in relaxed California after all!

http://www.latimes.com/features/magazine/la-tm-0428-weddingpix-pg,0,4948865.photogallery?1

Enjoy the season!! It's here...and we're here....and it's going to be the best!

I'll toast to that!

2008-04-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

Vineyard weddings = Romance.

Perhaps it's a Californian thing. I am a farm girl at heart. My uncle tried his hand at growing grapes when I was in Junior High School. For a moment in time, I thought I might end up part of famous winery family. Girls can dream, right!

When I was getting married, my first thought was I wanted to have a reception in Wine Country. I wanted a rustic yet romantic summer affair. That didn't happen but since then we have had the privilege of working with clients that lived out my dream....a romantic vineyard wedding.

Enter E and B. A fantastic couple that turned client.
They may be the sweetest people we've ever met! Full of smiles and completely up beat and in love.

E & B "stumbled" across an amazing find in the Southern California area: Bella Victorian Vineyard.

The main house, "The Painted Lady" serves as a beautiful backdrop to terraced yards and open vineyards. The Painted Lady has a beautiful bridal suite, and a welcoming front porch.

The grounds are split into several different levels.

The proprietors, Kim and Jerry Monahan, built the estate with parties in mind. I am finicky about bathrooms. I think most brides are concerned but it's rarely discussed! Bella Victorian has beautiful bathrooms in a stand alone building. Tile work, vintage hardware, pedestal sinks. As silly as it sounds, the "facilities" could sell me on this venue!

One of the unique aspects of the Bella Victorian is that it feels isolated....parties are transformed to a country vineyard away from the rest of the world. To achieve this quiet serenity, all parking is off site and guests are shuttled via old cable car trolley. It's adorable and makes for a fun experience and fantastic pictures!

If you are looking for a unique opportunity to celebrate at a working vineyard, Bella Victorian Vineyard might be the venue for you! For more information: http://bellavictorianvineyard.com

Whether day or night, Bella Victorian will be full of romance......

Professional Photography courtesy of Janice Trowbridge Photography. Snapshots from Style & Grace.

Floral artistry by Janet Webb, Greenwich Floral.

1-2-3....CHEESE!

2008-03-06T17:17:00.000-08:00

Flash back.....

Eighth grade graduation. Someone asks Jill, "What do you want to be when you grow up?".

Jill says, "A neonatologist or some other kind of doctor".

Flash forward to today....

Someone asks Jill, "What would you do if you could do anything you wanted in this life?".

Well, I could answer with a philosophical retort, or I could say I'd want to save animals or children, but to be perfectly honest, my secret passion is photography. I am one crazy photography blog stalker. I love pictures. I love weddings. I love looking at the art which is wedding pictures.

In today's entry (yes, I know I am overdue for blog entries of actual weddings....) I salute some of my favorite local photographers. I send you all my love and respect!

I "met" Crissy Farah when she was new in the biz. She took my Godson (aka Stephanie Janisse's baby's) first year photos. I fell in love with her work and my admiration has grown. http://itsjustsillyme.blogspot.com/

Jonilyn Photography is a new find. She was the fun photo-artist (sometimes you've got to salute the artist within) at J & C's rehearsal dinner. Genious work! http://jonilynphotographyblog.com/?p=33

Cameron Ingalls is my new crush (along with Rob Holley but he's out of the area now).
Cameron took amazing pics at a wedding at Villa del sol D'Oro. His work is genuine and emotional. http://cameroningallsphotography.com/ Even his choice of music on his website evokes an indescribable sense of love.

Sarah K Chen I've not yet worked with Sarah but I love her work! We've chatted about my own wedding picture woes and she seems like a doll. http://sarahkchen.com/blog/

Janice Trowbridge is a fabulously warm and personable photographer. While she's not one of the regular names thrown around on WeddingBee and The Knot, she deserves a cult following. The picture above, the vineyard shot, is just one my favorites from a wedding last summer. She's super sweet and fun to be around. http://www.janicetrowbridge.com/

A local girl, done good is none other than Felicia Perry. Felicia is another photographer I've watched and admired from afar. When I got married, Felicia was just getting started and she made my "short list". I am so impressed with her work and I can't wait to work with her in person! http://www.feliciaperryphotography.com/home.html

LA is such a lucky town to have such photography resources at hand. Brides (and grooms!) have so many great choices at varying price points. I know that I am missing so many talented names on my short list. I salute your talent, photographers and I dream of living your lives....tucked behind a camera.

PS- Here's a favorite of mine that Crissy took of my dear Godson (aka Steph's baby boy)! Does it really get any cuter than ten chubby toes?

Life shouldn't be printed on dollar bills. ~Clifford Odets

2008-02-22T07:23:00.000-08:00

Pinching pennies. Wise investments. Budget weddings.

Aside from meeting with brides planning for their Spring weddings, I have been obsessed with finding bargains in the wedding world.

My lovely sister is getting married in November. I am so excited! This is a second wedding for Lisa and for Greg. In this union, I get two adorable step-nephews. They are fabulously funny pre-teen boys!

Lisa and Greg are both financially savvy and they hope to keep the total budget of their wedding under, well, I guess I'd better get their blog blessing before I share their budget.

While we enjoy working with brides who appreciate their budget, this is a new challenge. The budget is small....and this is my sister who has immaculate taste. (I did chose the word immaculate because that truly describes her life and taste!) Again, this is my sister.

While I have many budget friendly ideas, I thought I'd embark on seeing what others are saying about budget wedding planning. (By the way, I hate the word budget. Does anyone have any other suggestions?!?)

In my searching, I found the typical suggestions.....

Chose a non-Saturday wedding date
Rent a town car instead of a limousine
Have non-floral centerpieces
Limit guest list
Have a small wedding cake and use a sheet cake for additional cake
Enlist family and friends talents

Well, those suggestions are neither earth shattering nor unique. In my query for unique and beautiful suggestions, I found very little. Instead I found......

this candy buffet. While the candy looks delicious, what's with the fake burgundy flower petals and the atrocious wallpaper. It definitely isn't the immaculate look of my sister.

I also found this book for sale. While it was discounted on-line, I am doubting it's wisdom.

So, instead, I am embarking on my own journey. I'll be helping my sister analyze pricing and shop around. I hope to answer questions such as are DIY invitations much of a cost-savings, or are there affordable invitations which are made on nice paper that look expensive but are easy on the budget? We'll be on the search for a great dress (lucky Lisa has a knockout figure) at a great price.

I plan on documenting all of my great finds so stay tuned!

PS- For those readers that are interested in seeing another wedding portfolio from
Style & Grace, we've got several in the works including a great wedding at a vineyard. Stay tuned!

Just like Peanut Butter and Chocolate.....

2008-02-11T09:29:00.001-08:00

Some things are better together! And when they meet, perfection is made. That's a modest way to sum up C and J, and their amazing wedding at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
J, manages to combine sophistication, class, and merriment to be a striking two veil bride! C, a love struck groom, croons away to his new bride.

Priceless moments which will forever mark their special day and will be a new standard for beautiful weddings.

Nearly every bride we work with prides herself in her organization skills and attention to detail. J took it to a new and meticulous level! She thought of everything. Nothing was overlooked for this Old Hollywood glamour meets modern fun wedding.

J carried the beautiful essence of a winter wonderland throughout her wedding with punches of brown and cream damask. To play up the winter feeling, willow & birch branches and crystals were used to add an element of drama with the couples chuppah, cake, and even place cards. C & J even added a bit of humor by incorporating part of her new name into the favors.

Organization, details, and execution results in PERFECTION!

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel http://www.hollywoodroosevelt.com/
was fantastic to work with for a wedding. The staff was very accommodating and Ernie, the events director, was easy going and open to great ideas like placing the wedding cake on the piano. (Thanks, C....we may have given you a goofy look when you suggested it, but it was pure genius!) And the location was just about as "Hollywood" as it comes. Not to mention, at T-one minute when the bride was chilled and needed a cup of tea, the Hollywood Roosevelt staff gladly worked with S&G warm up our bride with a quick spot of tea. How proper!

J and C were open to working with the uniqueness of area which would serve as a ceremony room. It was the old lobby with gorgeous leather furniture. Instead of moving out the beautiful furniture, guests lounged on sofas, ottomans, and chairs. How distinctive! We highly recommend the Roosevelt for weddings and post event getaways!

The Dwight Kennedy Band sang the night enhanced with the ambiance set by J's vision & Michele Brue of Floral by Fauna.

While the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, Style & Grace disagrees. Whether it's salt & pepper, peanut butter & chocolate, or C & J....some things are meant to last!

Plus, what's not to love about a stylish bride who knows how to rock red soled shoes :)

PS- Thanks Rob Holley Photography!

And these are a few of my favorite things!

2008-02-04T14:54:00.000-08:00

Yes, the Sound of Music is running through my brain as I type. And yes, I am a nerdy-sing-along type gal.
But while I love raindrops on roses and white colored kittens, I am much more anxious to share pictures from a few of our favorite brides in 2007.

I love the color combination chosen for this November wedding. The bride loved the idea of rich browns and wanted to add an accent color. At first, she was going to use accents of pink but then decided hues of purples would be unique and add a depth to a Fall wedding.

Place cards....we love them! It's such a great opportunity for brides to express their interests and even thank their guests (see picture below). E, a charming bride who chose a vineyard for her reception, thought of every detail down to the cork bed for the place cards. A couple ingenious thoughts about E's placecards....She opted not to pay for a professional caligrapher but rather had her wonderful grandmother write each card. This added a personal touch and a reminder of the importance of each generation of our families. E was also crafty in assembling her bed of corks- she simply used serving trays to hold corks. I can only imagine that her husband is now using the serving tray to deliver breakfast in bed every Saturday!

As mentioned above, a September bride, J, took the opportunity on her placecards to write a personalized "thank you" to each of her guests. J also excited me with her punches of orange throughout her reception. Oh, I can't forget that she did an amazing job on her invitations....two of my favorite colors...green and orange.

This picture is such an intimate glimpse at a young woman moments before her big day begins. While you can't see the brides face, photographer Janice Trowbridge did an impressive job of capturing emotion with just a shot of the brides delicate hands. Janice is a gem to work with and did a fantastic job on this wedding.

All things feminine. Yes, I love all things feminine. High heels, lace, peep-toes. Feminine touches are beautiful.

May I say that I love Cameron Ingalls? We "discovered" Camoron Ingalls, a fabulous photographer from the Central Coast, in 2007. No worries, Mrs. Anna Ingalls, we love you too! Anna and Cameron come as a team. They are a great find. Their work is they type of work that brings tears to your eyes. I want to get married again to have Cameron shoot my wedding!

And my most favoritist thing (and yes, I am married to an English teacher!)of 2007 is knowing that Style & Grace witnessed bonds between couples that will guide them through the rainy days and provide sunshine and smiles. I don't think that there was a single wedding in 2007 that did not leave me misty-eyed. Stephanie and I thank each of our special couples for allowing us to share in your magincal day.

VENUE SPOTLIGHT: Villa del sol D'Oro

2008-02-01T12:58:00.001-08:00

Villa del sol D'Oro, or the house of the golden sun offers a unique setting for couples looking for old world charm and historic architecture.

The Villa, as it's commonly referred to in the wedding industry, is a duplicate of the Villa Collazzi located on the outskirts of Florence, Italy. Villa Collazzi has been occupied for several centuries by the Bombicci-Fomi family, and legend has it that the Villa is the only one ever designed by the immortal Michaelangelo. In 1924, prominent Los Angeles physician Walter Barlow began building his dream house in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains. The Tuscan-style villa reflected the Barlows' love of Italy - The facade a one-quarter scale replica of the Villa Collazzi near Florence. Pasadena architect Wallace Neff was commissioned to create the house that would be called the Villa del Sol d'Oro. The Villa has the elegant black and white tiled foyer with a curving stairway and wrought iron banister that became classic Wallace Neff touches.

Marion Patterson Barlow sold the Villa del Sol d'Oro, after her husband died, to the Sisters of St. Francis in 1942. The Sisters used the house as a novitiate before building the existing school in 1960. Alverno Heights Academy graduated its first class on the Terrace in 1964. The name was changed to Alverno High School in the early 1970's.

Film and television companies frequently use the Villa as a shooting location. Princess Diaries, Legally Blonde, Unstrung Heroes, A Walk in the Clouds, True Lies, and Molly are some of the feature films made at Alverno. The Villa is currently featured in the CBS television show, Cane, and it was the setting for an episode of Sexy, Dirty Money.

Couples chosing the Villa will contract with Santa Anita Gardens, a female owned and operated catering company that also services performers at the Greek Theater and the Pantages.

A few fanastic facts about the Villa:

It's one of the few BYO alcohol venues in Los Angeles which could lessen your overall costs.

Santa Anita Catering staff offer first class service on your wedding day.

The Villa offers a blank canvas which allows brides to create personalized space with lounge sets and special decor.

Santa Anita Catering staff is small enough to allow customization but they have 25 years of experience to ensure a seamless day.

The picture above and to the left is the "cake room". The cake is generally set up in front of the window and makes for dramatic pictures. To the right, is the library. The picture does not do this room justice. It's filled with dark wood and a warm bar area. We encourage brides to fill the shelves with candles and pictures. This is also a logical place for a lounge area.

Style & Grace has coordinated several weddings at the Villa. With each wedding, we hear guests echo the same sentiments, "this is an incredible site. How did the bride and groom find it?".

It definitely transports guests to another time and place. Just like Sam and Grace, featured above, we smile every time we think of the Villa!

NOTE: Photos courtesy of Cameron Ingalls, Heather Cantwell, and Becker Photography

27 Dresses

2008-01-28T12:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I ventured into the rain to meet a girlfriend and see Kathriene Heigel's 27 Dresses.
It was a fun movie. I do hope that the dresses were an exaggeration....I laughed each time a bride echoed the words, "And the best thing is that you can cut it off and wear the dress again".

Um, no.

I did, however, love the signature necklace that Katheriene's character wore throughout the movie. It struck me as the perfect bridal party gift. It was simple and lovely.

And after a little searching, I found the necklace on a great website. I've bookmarked the site and hope to pass it off to my husband and hit that it would be the best Valentine'sDay gift!

http://www.helenficalora.com/pg_Charm_Love.asp

So, in recap, if you are planning a wedding, or if you enjoy weddings, AND you have a free rainy afternoon, grab a gal pal and head over to theater. You'll forever be grateful that your friends did not make you wear the

Little Bo-Peep dress. Believe me...it doesn't get much worse!

Working with some of our favorite vendors!

2008-01-24T20:26:00.000-08:00

Stephanie and I are recovering for a wonderful but busy weekend. I am still on a high from this Saturday's wedding. J looked amazing. Stunning. She's who I want to be when I grow up!
She's the all-American crossed with sassy and stunning beauty!
And C...what a catch! He's funny and sincere. He can sing! And he's a true gentleman.

J thought of every detail! This snapshot is from their ceremony. The entire room was glowing with candle light and sparkling with accents.

I have been "stalking" Rob Holley's photography website. He jokingly said that he'd probably add pictures from the wedding to his website this week. http://www.robholley.net/.
I understand why he's anxious....they are going to be amazing. Old Hollywood glamour meets cool hip LA couple. Rob was fabulous to work with on Saturday. It's too bad he's relocated to Virginia. He's a true talent.

As always, we were thrilled to work with Joe from Today's the Day Weddings http://www.ttdweddings.com/. He's got such a kind way about him and his videos are so timeless.

Michelle Brue outdid herself. The chuppah was amazing. It was made out of birch wood and had crystal votives dangling off and catching the light.

The only other picture I took that I care to share (my other pics just don't do it justice and I'd rather you all see Rob's pics) is of the bridal party's flowers.

Can you see the ostrich feathers attached to the bouquets? Michelle hand dyed them to match the decor. Gorgeous!

C & J have generously offered to let us share all of the fun details from their wedding so stay tuned for an official recap once we have pro pics to share!

Hollywood, here we come......

2008-01-17T20:04:00.000-08:00

We are so excited for C & J's wedding this weekend. Every detail has been carefully thought out and each element has been crafter. C&J have dynamic personalities that light up the room, and so in chosing venues, they had to chose something to match their sparking personalities. Stay tuned for pictures from the bright lights and action from this fabulous, iconic Hollywood site!

It's all about the details!

2008-01-17T19:45:00.001-08:00

Stephanie and I love the details of weddings. Whether it is the subtle bow with your grandmother's cameo tied to your bouquet or suprise violinst that plays your parents wedding song. Over the past few months, some of our favorite details have been the Russian nesting dolls given as favors to guests and the hand-done letterpress menus at a Villa del sol D'Oro wedding.

The picture included in this post are from a wedding in Sierra Madre. We took pictures of some of our favorite details. The Villa del sol D'Oro is a special venue in that it allow for brides to express themselves through the details included in each room.

This beautiful, all white bouquet came from one of our favorite florists, Kate Baker.
She is spunky and fun but has an ear for listening to ensure she delivers the perfect flowers.