Heather + Nick - 10.10.09 Meridian Vineyard

There simply is nothing like the turning vines of a vineyard and the golden sun to bring on the instinctual need for celebration.  There is no better setting in California for a fall wedding than a robust vineyard and on the Central Coast, Meridian is a classic and all artfully captured by Mike Larson at Mike Larson Inc.

Working with Heather and her fabulous mom Karen on this wedding was such a pleasure.  Heather's choices for color and Karen's penchant for classic elegance were a really beautiful combination set against the setting sun, old California oak trees and acres or rolling vineyards.

Bright green, pink and orange blooms vibrated against the elegant black dresses worn by the bridesmaids.  Natural elements of manzanita trees with clusters of green flowers framed the bride and groom through the ceremony, while velvety moss balls with clusters of colorful blooms hung on each side of the aisle. Stunning simplicity ruled the reception with several versions of centerpieces.  Tall white calla lilies, one of the bride's favorite flowers were incorporated into tall cylinder vases, bound together with vibrant green wire and surrounded by smaller cylinder vases with floating candles in them.  Another version worked three callas around the same tall cylinder vase, grouped with two vases of green hydrangea and more floating candles.  The last version brought together a beautiful bouquet of bright mixed blooms and fun greens, again surrounded with candle light.  One of my very favorite cakes, designed by Yarrow at the Cakery - black swirls on a classic square stacked cake accented with a profusion of our green cymbidium orchids atop our green silk boxes as a riser.

Harvest celebration menu and cuisine by Epic Weddings at CateringUnlimited.com.  This day was beautifully orchestrated by the lovely Laura Robertson and her team at TOS Events - so great to work with you always!

 

Christine + Simon 8.29.09

Really sweet & simple wedding at Chateau Phillipe this summer - the video was put together by my friends at Mike Larson Inc. - always a great pleasure to work with their team.

We helped Christine and Simon with their personal flowers and very simple centerpieces - the rest was the natural beauty and the clever styling of Kristin at Jour Parfait Events.

Enjoy. (Click where is says "Video" below)

 

 

Video

Heather + Nick 10.10.09 - Sneak Peek

It's always a great day when we get photos back from our friends next door at Mike Larson Inc.  This past weekend we had the pleasure of working with Mike and Rachel at Meridian Vineyard for Heather and Nick's day.  I know there are more details shots to come - but I'm so excited about this sneak peek!  Day of coordination provided by the lovely Laura Robertson at TOS Events

Jake & Necia - 9.4.09

I have known Jake for the past two years as a fabulous associate photographer of Mike Larson Inc. - one of my partners at Broad Street Event Group. Jake has also done some graphic design work for me, including a redesign of our logo and corp ID. It was an incredible honor to be asked to help Jake and Necia with their flowers. On our first meeting, I could tell - Necia was a creative force all on her own and she definitely had a vision.

Jake and Necia shared my silly penchant for making up new words for different styles or combining two words to become one - my favorite one they came up with was "Frasion" for French with Asian influences - watch for it in the next edition of Websters!

Their wedding though, we decided would be "Anthropologie Chic".

This is a sneak peek from a crazy awesome photographer - Mike at Mike Larson Inc.

Peacock Tablescape

One of my favorite work activities is creating a tablescape for a dinner party or wedding head table. Coming up with a combination of linens, flowers and elements that create an experience - I just can't get enough of it. The possibilities are truly endless and it just takes one little thing to get me headed down the path of no return.

In this case it was a dinner gathering at our office and studio - and my beloved peacock feathers. When I announced the colors to my mates at the office - there was a slight hush and a look of "OK?! here she goes again". But, the evening of the gathering, once the linens and feathers were in place - they got it.

Bright turquoise chair ties, eggplant napkins and chartreuse linen with elegant golden lace overlay, accented with regal gold candlesticks and urns. I especially liked how there was a "lightness" about this combination - sometimes if you rely on the darker colors, it can come off as really heavy and overdone.

Many thanks to my incredibly talented crew at Mike Larson Inc. for some wonderful photos as always. And, one of our steadfast linen sources BBJ Linen for their donation of our whimsical combinations. You always come through and we love you for it.

Wedding & Party Magazine 2009

So fun to thumb through and see our work through the magazine! Thanks to all that used images that included our work - AND - one of our all time favorite couples is on the front (see Vineyard Gathering on our website). Where is your bouquet darling??!!! Yeah Lacey and Jason!! Dreamy picture by Colleen Rosenthal.
















Many thanks to the Monarch Club at Trilogy for enlisting us to help them in this shoot and to the Courtyard Marriott for using images from the grand opening that we showcased our work at. The cake picture is from a wedding we did in a barn this summer - the cake was beautifully designed and created by The Cakery.




















Lastly our 2009 full page ad - photograph by Allyson Magda, designed by Jake & Chloe at Mike Larson Inc.

Thanks to all!

Eagle Castle Winery - Destination Wedding Bliss

Tami and Matthew decided that the wine country of California's Central Coast was the perfect place for a destination wedding. The rolling vineyards of California is a vast change of scenery from Milwaukee and the fairy tale setting of Eagle Castle Winery was the perfect venue for both families to enjoy for their fun and intimate wedding. This couple was so easy and fun to work with for us and it was a true joy to bring flower details to their special day. Many thanks to Chloe and Sophie at Mike Larson Inc. for some really great photos. Jennie at Trumpet Vine Catering provided an exquisite menu that was a true treat, all paired with Central Coast Wines.

Denise & Ben - Santa Barbara, CA

These two are the epitome of a beautiful collaboration. Having met this couple early in the year - some major changes in their plans came about. We all stayed flexible and it worked out so beautifully. I am so blessed to work with meet such lovely people. Their wedding day took place in Santa Barbara in the midst of burn season - and it was burning. Denise was one of the calmest brides I have every encountered the morning of her wedding. Thank you Denise and Ben - for teaching me much! Thank you too to my good friend and colleague Mike Larson


and team for your
stunning talents and for all that you share - your photos are truly art.

Panacea rocks Hearst Castle

It was a huge honor for us to be invited by Friends of Hearst Castle to flower up their annual Holiday Feast Event this year. Honor because it was the 50th Anniversary this year and we have long admired this philanthropic organization for their significant effort in the preservation and conservation of this American historic venue. Mark Padgett Event Design was our guiding light in the intricate details of making this happen and as always it is a complete pleasure to share Mark's vision and see it come to life. Truly at several times during the day I found myself pinching myself - to make sure that this was really going on and that we were a part of it! Big thanks to Mike Larson Inc. for these off the hook photos too!



The little brown shack out back of the Castle was Julia Morgan's (the renowned California architect) office - it was the historic backdrop to our prep station - pinch!