Event Design Inspiration

2. PopFlowers (Handmade synthetic flower arrangments)

So you are planning an event but you or a guest is allergic to flowers? Do you ditch using flowers in your centerpieces? If you love flowers, I say no! Check out PopFlowers with their colorful, synthetic bouquets that are dirt resistant, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and have easy to mold wire stems for molding into varying arrangements they are the perfect subsitute for the real thing. I'd recommend this choice for a no-fuss wedding or event where you don't want to worry about the flowers wilting in the sun. They can even be raffled off or given away to one guest at each table at the end of your event for an extra surprise. They add a whimsical feel to your event and can be reused for a future celebration.

Beautiful Iris and Lili mix bouquet: $52.oo, Pink baby green mix: $32.00 (great for a new born baby gift too for hospitals where they don't allow fresh flowers), Poinsettias in a silver pail: $36.00 (Use them at your Christmas dinner or as a hostess gift)

Try these adorable Make-Your-Own kits for a fun birthday party activity at your child's next spring or summer time birthdays. ($22.95/$17.50 each)

www.popflowershop.com/

Busy summer of weddings

I've spent the summer so busy with weddings that I haven't had a chance to sit still and blog about them! Here's a brief recap of my favorite moments and ideas to get you inspired for your upcoming wedding or special event. :)

One wedding I enjoyed working on was a unique equestrian themed wedding complete with personalized menus and invitations with a horse silhouete motife designed by Katie Lee from Bella Destinee (whom I frequently assist with her beautiful upscale weddings). Katie incorporated their love of horses into every aspect of the wedding including a white picket fence box filled with grass where horse shaped lolipops were placed holding the escort cards for each guest. The location was also well picked at Calamigos Equestrian in Burbank with the wedding ceremony set up in a u shape on the lawn with horse stables in the background. Kerim from My Wedding Blooms made a fabulous nature inspired arch at the entrance of the ceremony and stenciled large shapes on the ground with flower petals. It was a beautiful sunny day for this equestrian themed wedding!

Check out my friend Katie at: http://www.belladestinee.com/
Don't forget to contact Kerim for a quote on his beautiful floral creations and look at his website for pictures of the floral decor I mentioned above: http://www.myweddingblooms.com/

Me and my good friend at her milangi, pre-wedding ritual ceremony.

Another of my favorites was my good high school friend's wedding in the outskirts of New York. I helped her coordinate the Indian wedding ceremony which consisted of 24 bridesmaids and groomsmen including junior bridesmaids and groomsmen, two adorable flower girls, and a tiny tot pulled up the aisle on a wagon carrying the rings on a pillow.

The large wedding party awaiting the bride

Gorgeous tropical colored bouquets and traditional Henna art on all the women's hands

Me with my two high school friends/bridesmaids in their Indian Saris

At the cocktail hour with other guest in traditional Indian attire under one of my favorite decor details at this venue-the flower balls of white roses hanging down from the arc at the entrance

Candles also hung amongst the flower balls added to the romantic atmosphere

Enjoying the delicious dinner and wonderful attentive service at the reception with friends

I have many more great memories from the weddings I worked on this year and looking forward to sharing many more "big days" this Fall and in 2010 including a Korean wedding in Guatemala, an intimate low key affair in Northern California, and an all out celebration in Vegas. Check out my blog for updates and inspiration from these and other real weddings.

Have Your Cake

1. Jean Philippe Patisseri

After a relaxing afternoon strolling through Bellagio's Botanical Gardens and a quick glimpse of the gift shop, we ended up at the hotel's fabulous bakery, Jean Philippe Patisseri. If you want some fresh ideas for your wedding or birthday cakes, check out what their masterful chefs came up with!

There's something stunning for every style of event here-from this modern and funky tea pot cake, to this fantastic cake perfect for a golf loving groom, to this Sponge Bob cupcake cake which is sure to be a hit with the kids, and many more. These cakes are so cute you might have a hard time cutting into them!

Here's a glimpse of their yummy pastries which you can choose to have at your event in place of cake. These beautiful desserts are sure to satisfy any one's sweet tooth and are stunning as well.

Visit their website to see Jean Philippe's other creations and check out their chocolate fountain, which is officially the largest one in the world!

http://www.jpchocolates.com/

Photos by my husband, Joshua Vick (Warner Brothers cinematographer) :)

Event Design Inspiration

1. Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Inspiration for your next party can be found anywhere you go. Check out these whimsical floral designs created by the expert horticulturalists at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas. I was there this weekend just before they finished the installation of their summer exhibit for a sneak peak. It is free and open to the public, so I would recommend you see the gardens for yourself to get some ideas for your summer or spring wedding or special event. Go to their website for more details: http://www.bellagio.com/amenities/botanical-garden.aspx

But if you can't get to Vegas, here are the highlights...

Here I am taking a stroll by the Ferris wheel that had seats filled with sunflowers!

The hot air balloons soaring over the greenhouse were just as impressive. Can you just imagine saying your "I do's" flying over a sea of flowers in the spring time? How romantic!

Nothing says summer like a cold glass of lemonade! Make your guests a tall pitcher served from a lemonade stand to keep them cool during your summer ceremony before you arrive for your walk down the aisle.

This cute as a button bear wearing a bright vest of flowers brought up memories from my youth of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. You can give your guests a similar sense of childhood wonder by incorporating story tale characters that fit your party's theme in to your decor.

Although live birds may not suit every event, imagine using a bird cage full of colorful parrots as the center of an exotic flower arrangement at a tropical themed party? Your event planner can find animal trainers to rent them from who will make sure they are comfortable while your guests admire their beauty.

Borrowing one element for your floral arrangements, such as the adorable ladybugs, below, created out of bright red roses nestled amongst a garden of beautiful purple hydrangeas in full bloom, will surely make your party the talk of the town!

If your floral budget doesn't allow you to go as big in scale as these magnificent Bellagio Botanical Garden creations you can ask your florist to incorporate a fun touch such as a small lady bug perched amongst your centerpieces or go for the same ideas as these but substitute in less expensive flowers. Your florist may be able to come up with a completely unique idea that will be even more spectacular and fit better in your budget, so be open to their suggestions and have fun getting creative with your arrangements!

Gorgeous Wedding Locations

2. Hakone Gardens

Located in the beautiful and exclusive hills of Saratoga, CA this Japanese Garden is perfect for an outdoor wedding. I brought my mother and grandmother here for a stroll on Mother's Day and we were leaving just as a weekend wedding was setting up. With a beautiful lawn for the ceremony near a Koi pond and many areas going up the hill where you can take gorgeous wedding pictures amongst the blossoming flowers in so many amazing colors, this is definitely a place you should check out!

Here are a few photos we took there so you can see what I mean. Visit their website to see more and stop by for a tour. It'll be a relaxing way to spend a weekend, even if you don't chose it for your wedding location. http://www.hakone.com/

Dōmo arigatō for visiting with us!

Messages of wisdom from the Paper Crane Planner

2. Don't underestimate the importance of your event planner

I just came back from my cousin's beautiful wedding in sunny Florida. Despite having to use an event planner that was a part of her new family to not offend her, she probably would have rather had a wedding planner who was more in sync with her vision and style. This caused great friction in the decision making process and disconnect with the final outcome and her requests since the planner wanted to do one thing and my cousin had in mind something completely different. Luckily we were all there to help her and she was strong enough to put her foot down on things that mattered to her, but certain things, like her bouquet, which she specifically requested to be a certain way came out completely different. Fortunately it all came out beautiful anyway and the celebration of the marriage went off without any major hitches. It was truly an amazing day for a wedding on the beach and the important thing is that everyone had a great time celebrating their wedding day.

My cousin the beautiful bride and I toasting to her marriage on the limo ride to their ceremony on the beach.

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Roache and family!

Lessons to be learned:

A) Make sure you have a solid contract! Don't think that things will naturally be done by your wedding planner. Ex. If you expect her to set up and tear down the wedding ceremony sites and the reception hall you should clearly specify it in your contract.

B) Meet with your wedding planner well before any preparations are made to make sure you are on the same page. You don't want her to start planning how your flowers are going to look without you getting to tell her what you had in mind and then it may be too late to order the flowers you really wanted, etc.

C) Ask to see samples of any work the planner is doing on her own. Ex. If she is making your bouquet, see if she can show you examples of her work or at least provide her with pictures of what you want so there is no confusion. Your idea of classy and understated could be completely different from hers!

D) Remember, the bride comes first! If she is not seeing things the way you are, ask to meet with her and figure out where you are not communicating your desires and make sure she realizes this is your day, so if you want something she doesn't agree with you still get what you want. She has more experience than you with planning events so hear out her advice, but in the end, you and your fiance should make all the calls because this is your big day.

E) If things don't go exactly according to plan, relax and enjoy the moment. You only get married once and the little things you think went wrong won't matter in the long run. No one will remember the bubbles that weren't passed out for your exit or the wedding programs that got left at the back of the church and no one got to see (the later happened at my wedding and I still have all the programs). What matters most is you and your fiance's commitment to each other and the joining of two families on this blessed occasion.

So pick your planner wisely and try to enjoy the occasion with your fiance, family, and friends. Everything will come together and as long as you have fun, everything else is just icing on the cake!

My gorgeous and delicious wedding cake by Torrance Bakery.

Unique Gift Ideas

2. Rabbit Corkscrew Gift Set

For a wedding, anniversary party, housewarming, or even your boss' birthday...this gift is well suited for just about every occasion. Just make sure the person you're gifting it to drinks wine! But even if they will use it only from time to time to open up a celebratory bottle of wine, they will be happy to have it. We got one for our wedding and I have to tell you it makes you wonder why anyone would want to open a bottle with out it; it's that much easier! It costs $69.95 and is well worth it for the years of hassle free bottle opening to come. Bonus: It even puts the cork back in the bottle too!

Cheers!

Buy it at most speciality home stores including online at CrateandBarrel.com: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=210&f=23609&q=rabbit&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1