So… you can imagine what it’s like to have a person such as me as a friend, right? Well, here’s a bit of insight for you! My husband’s long time friend, Jesse and his wife Renae are expecting a baby boy this September. Renae is from Bakersfield and her family had planned a great baby shower up there for her, but Jesse’s mom and I really wanted to celebrate in Jesse’s home town with a co-ed bash for guys and girls alike. Seeing as Jesse is a very social person- I knew the guest list would make for a great soiree. I went with a cowboy theme [cuute] and gave them a great monogram for the event- a C, for their last name, that looks like a horseshoe. Too cute, right? I know. Here’s a glimpse at my hub and I making their invites on our screen printer [the two inner pages for the invite were just printed on a color printer and cut at Kinko's]. This project has been an emotional roller coaster for me [I'll give you some other details farther down on that] and the event isn’t even until August! Since my August is so crazy with weddings [which I love!], I want to get as much done for it now as possible! So, here you go…

This is the Gocco. My amazing, amazing best friend. The brown sheet is the back page of the invite. This is Day 1 of our project.

The handsome husband who, in these moments, becomes the Gocco master.

This is the FRONT of the back page of their invite. The back of this card also, eventually, gets printed. The top half is their registry info and the bottom half is a postcard RSVP [which I hand-perforated.... shoot me for my brilliant ideas!].

Yours truly, partying hard.

Before I forget, here are pages 2 and 3 of the invite [these are 5"x7" so they aren't huge. I put them in paragraph form to get down with the western feel and lingo. They're pretty cheesey, I'll admit, but they were a darn hootin' good time!]


[Thank you, thank you for HAND drawing that map in Adobe Illustrator!]

Night 1 continuing…

And, at this point in the evening, I realize we are out of flash bulbs. So, I’m left waiting for my shipment to arrive and the ink to dry. It took the bulbs an extra 5 days to make it so these things were annoyingly sitting all over my condo and I was annoyingly waiting to finish it [you know when you find your momentum and then loose it?]. Anyway, here’s Round 2 [and yes, it involved screening onto fabric...]:

Of course.

This is the back of the postcard. Since I kinda sorta forgot to put a place for them to write their names and number attending… I just ammended the design to make it work [not my ideal- remember, I said it was an emotional roller coaster] and it took me an extra two days to get my butt to Kinko’s to print this new design out, yadda yadda. Anyway, I perforated right above this so they can rip it off and mail it back! Here’s me on Night 2:

And, last but not least, the FRONT page of the project. I thought it would be super cute to use red canvas material, to make it earthy an a little cowboy-y, so I used Gocco fabric paint to complete the project:

And the final product [dun dun dun!!!]:





[Just a close up for you of the back- unfortunately that's a mark in the actual SCREEN itself so the white box was never perfectly filled in... which, I am so so so anal about. But, I am letting it go. I promise!]

Here were my hang ups with said project [and thus reasons for my emotional breakdowns in the course of]:
1. Had to order more masters and fabric paint before the initial process began [took 2 weeks for shipping]
2. Ran out of flash bulbs on first night [another 3 day hang up]
3. Had to change the back of the post card to accomodate my incompetance, oh me! [2 days]
4. Lost 5 casualties when perforating… sometimes a straight line is harder than we think.
5. The rope for tying- it took me one FULL night to tape the ends of the rope in order to pull it through the holes, because the rope kept seperating and not all of it would make it through.
6. Did I mention I had to hole punch through 4 layers [one of them a canvas?] talk about hurting my hand.
7. The post office was KILLING me. I went in to mail the darn things [and to check postage- good thing I did because I was just going to throw a stamp on 'em]. The first guy tells me it’ll be $.94 to mail them [because the rope knot prevents them from laying flat- but they're STILL a 5''x7''!!], the second guy tells me it’ll be $1.19 a pop [um, times 52 of them that I'm mailing YIKES], then asks the manager who tells me it’ll be $.58- thank goodness. But, that in and of itself was a roller coaster.

All in all, I’m happy with the product and can’t WAIT for the shower. I love being able to be a part of things for people who I care deeply for. Jesse and Renae know I am SO excited for their lil sweet patater to arrive!!!

Well, have you been in suspense for a few days or WHAT? Sorry this has taken me a bit to get up on my site, but I’m still adjusting to my new blog!
Now, about Krissy and Andrew- this couple has been together since either grade. That means that this year is their 10th year together, and in celebration, they finally tied the knot. Actually, from the moment I met with Krissy she was so hysterical- her email address was actually “finally.krissy.and.andrew.marry”! After being together that long, she knew exactly what she wanted and was such a radiant, happy bride! They really showed the meaning of what it means to grow and change together. Truly, they’re an inspiration for all couples founded on “friendship first”! I’m actually a bit disappointed in myself for two reasons: one, there was a ton ton ton of set up to do and I struggled in getting it all done in time even with TWO assistants, and secondly, I got to take hardly ANY pictures. I don’t think I got a good one of the bride and groom together at all. Really, in that sense, I failed myself! So, here’s my schmappy ones I could come up with to piece together their unique event [apologies, Krissy, I know your photographer won't let you down!!]:

Those paper lanterns we hung from the ceilings! She had 4 different colors of lanterns and all different sizes. Here’s some of her table decor, starting with her custom runner for the head table:

Krissy opted for long banquet tables pushed together for a “family style” set up. On each double-table were 3 centerpieces, one fishbowl and two vases with orchids:


In the fish bowl she had the table names, which were all places that her and Andrew had traveled together, since they LOVE to travel [did I mention their honeymoon is a 30 day trek through Europe and ends with a Mediteranian cruise??]


Also on the table she had laminated “programs” with the wedding party info, which on the other side has random wedding facts:


Their plates were black and looked great against the custom “runners” that were made by Andrew’s family. I didn’t get a good shot of the runners but esentially they were silk “diamonds” of fabric and 5 of them were laid across the table. It was pretty amazing. They rotated between black and silver. Here’s a picture of the plate with their favor “bag” on it, because they had a candy bar. In the back corner you can see their “sweet” poem about the candy bar area, which we’ll get to later.:

Some pictures of the cocktail area / centerpieces:

Here’s the signs Krissy made for the buffet. Their buffet idea was so great- they got their event catered by three of their all time favorite restaurants and treated their guests to their favorite dishes. Pasta Bravo, Pick Up Stix and El Torito provided delicious food that was so personal and fun for the event!:


Here’s a picture of their card box [these next few pictures were taken much later in the evening after everything was a bit ruffled from the guests, so my apologies!!] Their box was 4 sided. One with their monogram logo, and the other 3 with the couple’s graduation pictures. 8th grade, highschool, and college [when Andrew proposed!]:

And here’s their guestbook [which was made by Krissy from snapfish, I believe]:

Place cards [terrible, ruffled picture]:

Their personalized napkins, which they had in pink and black:

Their cake and cake table details:

Their candy bar…:

And, last but not least, a few pictures of the bride and groom! Here’s some of Krissy’s details:


Bridesmaids:

The only events I was able to capture were the garter/bouquet and cake cutting, so here they are!:





Look at the trust in that man’s eye!!

And that’s about it! The only thing I’ve got left to show you is pictures of the aisle decor that we put together. Unfortunately, since I didn’t get any of the ceremony, you can’t really see it the way it’s intended. BUT, these bamboo poles lined the aisle and the black chiffon was draped between. It looked so elegant and perfect- and led up to a bamboo arch draped with black chiffon and seashells as well, which of course I didn’t get a picture of!:

That is the last of them! I hope that Andrew and Krissy are enjoying their relaxing travel-filled honeymoon, and that the new horizons they experience together, both emotionally and on this earth, are everything they ever hoped and dreamed!

Wow! This is going to be a big one. Ashley and I have fortunately been working together on the detail ideas on this for months now. The whole theme for the evening was old Hollywood- romantic details infused with the modern clean ideas that Drew is so into. It was the perfect mesh of Drew and Ashley! With the help of her bridesmaid and a close friend of mine, Allison, the wedding really came together in SUCH an amazing way. For me, the payoff of seeing the months of ideas and planning was so amazingly moving. So, yesterday afternoon Ashley arrived at Presbyterian Church of the Master in Mission Viejo [my hometown!], and she was ready for some pictures!

And of course, she had these on:

And the church was looking something like this:

The aisle [by the way, this church sanctuary is pretty much brand new, so, it's amazing]:

Close up of the pew decor:

And one of the candelabras that were on the stage:

Programs:

Before the ceremony was on it’s way I got just a bit of time to sneak about a million photos of Ashley while the photographers were working with her. This girl does NOT have a bad side and I love it. Here’s just a “few” to preview what is sure to be more from the photogs:

[Um, P.S. her ENTIRE bridal party was gorgeous!]

Cute!!!

And, of course, the “come hither” look:

A few shots of her mother in law and step-mother in law:

Here’s a few close ups of the bouquet, which had these gorgeous rhinestone braclets:

And the bridesmaids bouquets details- rhinestone pins!:

Just before the ceremony, Ashley and Drew played a slideshow that Drew had edited of photos of their years together. The guests loved it and it was really so great to be able to see them and their love grow and blossom:

Now, onto the ceremony. About a minute before the ceremony it really started to sink in for Ashley- she really hated the idea of being stared at by all of those people- but I told her just round that corner and LOCK eyes with your man. After she did, she was just fine. She did GREAT [despite the fact that she said her knees shook the whole time!]:

After the ceremony, the guests headed onto the cocktail hour. Ashley and Drew had so so many great details for their reception, we’ll go over them first. I actually had the pleasure of working with the groom’s mother on their outside cocktail patio and together we designed the whole idea top to bottom! Here’s a few shots of the area as a whole:

And some of the furniture and other details:

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[Thanks to my previous bride, Alicia, for giving me the ideas for these cocktail tables with the ties! Love it!!] Gorgeous Chandeliers:

Other details…

[Those menus were such a hit! I can't believe how many guests I saw with those blue drinks in their hands!!]

And of course we HAD to have some customized M&Ms:

Guests walked the red carpet and then “checked in” to get their table assignment. Great touch and added to their celebrity theme!

Guest book was located on the table where they waited for their seating cards:

An engagement picture was placed by their book. Their engagement photos were taken by Dave Tosti, who is a wedding photographer himself- but actually is married to the groom’s sister. Both he and his wife were in the wedding party:

[They used a TON more of these pictures to display on the back wall of their room inside]. Speaking of inside, let’s move in doors. But, not before ONE more sneak picture of the bride while she was busy taking pictures at the reception site:

Here’s that picture wall I was speaking of:

Their table numbers were simple and elegant. They honored their families by putting those tables in more detailed frames:

Rice, each place setting got a bottle of rice for their grand exit later in the evening:

Favors were wrapped “crunch” bars:

Close up:

Their centerpieces were half tall, half short and they were really gorgeous. She wanted a “garden” feel to them- and I think they did a really perfect job at hitting that!

The whole “area” with the cake was to DIE for. Ashley had rented these great candelabras and then has flower centerpieces made for the area as well. It was really breath taking! Plus, the cake itself was truly gorgeous!!

Here’s a few of the table and the room:

They hung these paper lanterns over some existing pendant lamps. It was a GREAT detail:

Cute details on the Bride and Groom chairs:

Now, onto the night’s events! Unfortunately, and I am so so bumemd about this, I didn’t get any pictures of the grand entrance! BUT, I can tell you about it: A limo pulled up and introduced the bridal party onto the red carpet couple by couple. Then, all of the guests [who were lining each side of the carpet] raised these GORGEOUS glasses to toast the bride and groom. Perfect photo op. I was too busy being hectic, so I know that I’ll be depending on Mandy [from Jim Kennedy Photography] for these ones.

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And they went straight into the first dance:

Then into the cake cutting:

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And the cutest one [if my photography wasn't SO SO bad, you'd be able to tell that they took this cute picture with frosting on their faces!]:

I’m realizing at this point how FEW pictures of Drew that I have. Really, together these two are such a gorgeous and sweet couple! They really spent a TON of their time with open dancing and the DJs did a perfect job of that! They really know how to dance, these guys!! Here’s the toss:

And here’s the garter:

And, already, the GRAND EXIT!

All in all, it was SUCH a great evening! I had so many people come up and say that this was the best wedding they’d been to- the most beautiful, the most loving couple, the funnest time. I know Ashley and Drew loved being there with all of their friends and family! It was so worth all of the planning and stressing!

Last night, Jennifer and Stuart got married at Rancho Capistrano. The evening went beautifully and her details [thought up and created by her, her mother and her sister] were so gorgeous!

When I got there, Jennifer was just about to hop into her dress for pictures:

A close up of that hair:

With them off to take pictures, it was up to me to finish setting up the ceremony:

Their florist, Flower Allie, did a wonderful job! Jenny’s family had bought the trellace and two “urns” for the front and the floral splashes for them fit perfectly and turned out amazing!

Their “centerpiece” really sums up the theme of the evening, which was the monogram “B”.

Their guest book table, located at the entrance of the wedding, was so gorgeous. Jenny’s mother, Lynda, had printd out pictures for me of how the set up went, because the whole table was covered in special details:

Programs:

Bubbles on the chairs:

Quite possibly the classiest, cutest wedding bubbles I’ve seen!

A few shots “down the aisle”:

The guests signing their GORGEOUS guest book, by Jim Kennedy Photography:

Onto reception details! I actually had some help from the on-site coordinator as well as an Aunt to ensure that all of the details were put into place on time. Luckily, their reception site was RIGHT outside the Bridal Suite and right around the corner from the ceremony. Apparently the tables had been set wrong originally and it set us back almost a full 2 hours with set up. But, in the end, it all turned out gorgeous and the guests would never have known!

This is their chair detail. Between Jenny and her mom, they made frames like this for every other chair at the reception.

It was such a small added touch and made a world of difference when looking at the site as a whole. But, Jenny’s parent’s as well as Jenny and Stuart’s chairs were special:

I definately loved it! Here’s a shot of the head table! They made table runners from brown burlap for every table, but Jenny and Stuart’s they had embroidered with a “B”:

Leaf in each guest’s napkin:

Easy, elegant table numbers:

Favors:

Half tall centerpieces, half low centerpieces.:

A shot of the ribbon and detailing on each of the centerpiece vases:

A few shots of the tables and the area:

I cannot imagine how long it must have taken to make these seating cards! Each were paper flowers folded individually. Half brown, hald green, on a bed of fake moss:

The low bowl they used for their cards was this gorgeous hunk of solid wood:

They had 3 “sets” of this candle set up around the fountain, as well as votives in clusters of 3 on the wall of the fountain. By night, this site was gorgeous. We had a ton of extra candles to line the wall which was on the perimiter of the site, with little clusters of candles.

And, by night:

Oh, the cake. I WISH I could explain how much I love this gorgeous cake!

Jenny’s mom is into collection brooches and these are two of her vintage pieces:

The cake was truly perfection. Smooth brown fondant, gorgeous cake stand, gorgeous monogram… wow.

The bride’s serving set:

Here’s a few details I forgot to include early on: The bride’s shoes and bouquet! Her shoes were gorgeous! They were also wedges because, getting married on the grass, she didn’t want her heels digging in and making her trip!:

Good Lord, that bouquet!

Bridesmaid bouquets [LOVE the contrast!]:

Now we’re ready for the ceremony! A string quartet started us off

All lined up [I was actually, as an independant, outside coordinator, not allowed to run their ceremony, so I'm back manning the entrance!]: