Thursday, October 27, 2011

Real Weddings: Christine & Dan

I had so much fun working with Christine and Dan on their dream wedding. What a lovely couple they are. They have such a wonderful support system and their family and friends really reflect who they are...plus they really knew how to party!

Christine gave me creative freedom in designing her wedding. During our first meeting I told her that her colors would be black, light gray, and pale pink and that we would have floating black crystal chandeliers on the rooftop and she said, Okay. Everything else developed from there. All she wanted to do was approve everything and see samples before she committed to them. I really appreciated that she trusted me in capturing who she and Dan are and reflecting that in one of the most special days in their lives.

Their wedding took place in Santa Barbara on a beautiful August day. Let's just say the Khardashians' may have been partying on the same day, but they had nothing on this couple! The ceremony was held in the Mural Room at the Santa Barbara Courthouse and their wedding reception was held at the beautiful rooftop of the Canary Hotel.

I had such a great time creating this wedding and even had a better time celebrating with Christine and Dan. Thank you both for letting me be a part of your wedding day!

Here's a preview video of their wedding day by Lola Video who captured this wedding beautifully.





The Vendors:

Design and Coordination: Percy Sales
Floral: Wendy Smith, Your Image Floral Design
Lighting: LBPS Events
Ceremony Location: Mural Room at the Santa Barbara Courthouse
Reception Location: Canary Hotel
Photography: Henry Chen
Cinematographer: Lola Video
Ceremony Guitarist and Reception Trio: Anthony Ybarra Music
Gospel Choir: Inner Light Community Gospel Choir
Cake: Montecito Confections

Linens: Sitting Pretty Chair Covers and La Tavola

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Real Weddings: Racquel & Lynn

I had the wonderful opportunity to plan and design Racquel and Lynn's destination wedding in Riviera Maya Mexico!

On the day of their engagement, year to date of their actual wedding, the bride called me up to book me and start the planning of her destination wedding. She told me she wanted it to be a unique destination, but also somewhere they love. As fate may have it, the week after she called I was going to Riviera Maya Mexico for a wedding conference...so I doubled up and did site visits for her while I was down there. One of the places that I visited was Xcaret and once I was on the grounds and saw the venues I knew this place was it. I sent pictures via text while I was there and within a day we had a signed contract and started planning the destination wedding of her dreams!

Racquel and Lynn's wedding took place on September 27, 2011 at sunset in the gorgeous St. Francis of Assisi church that overlooks the Caribbean Ocean in Xcaret followed by a reception at La Isla an underground cave venue with a river running through it...also located at Xcaret. Their guests dined on a gourmet four course meal (don't think your typical banquet food) that was one of the BEST meals I have had in a long time. The presentation, the flavors, everything was perfect. When the entrees were served, we surprised their guests with a full 30-minute Mayan stage show that brought the region we were in alive. Their guests partied well past midnight....and they didn't let the humidity stop them from enjoying themselves. We were all soaked at the end of the evening from dancing, but it truly was a memorable experience for all.

The staff at Xcaret, especially Gabriella and Graciela in the events department, were so dedicated and truly loved what they do that they executed my vision to the book and for the first time...in a long time, I actually got to enjoy and be part of the wedding festivities. I loved all the vendors that I worked with in Riviera Maya Mexico and also glad that I have formed a great working relationship with some new US vendors too. I can't wait to work with them all again!

Thank you Racquel and Lynn for letting me be a part of your special day!

Here are some photo previews of their beautiful wedding taken by the FABULOUS San Jose Photography, a group of 5 brothers who are photographers and cinematographers based out of McAllen, Texas. It was a pleasure to work with them and so happy that we were able to connect!

{CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE}
we had such a great time during hair and makeup at the Occidental Grand Xcaret. Lots of laughs with Racquel and her siblings as well as their mom.




Racquel went from the Occidental Grand Xcaret hotel to Xcaret via a traditional "trajinera." It really added to the feel of the event.

I absolutely love this photo. I remember this vividly as we were about to open the church doors for Racquel and her parents to walk in, Racquel got teary eyed...as her parents joyfully anticipated the walk down the aisle. This picture captures that moment perfectly!





One of the performers from the Xcaret Mayan stage show during the dinner portion of Racqul and Lynn's wedding dinner.

First Dance to Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are"

Father/Daughter Dance to Barry's White's "My First, My Last, My Everything"

Racquel and Lynn's interpretation of the lift from Dirty Dancing to the Black Eyed Pea's "Time of My Life"

Some Pictures of Racquel and Lynn's Trash the Dress Session




The Vendors:
Design and Coordination: Percy Sales
Location, Food and Beverage, Music and Entertainment, Glass Heart Favors: Xcaret
Xcaret Coordination: Graciela Carmona Rivera and Gabriela Rodarte Medrano
Photography: San Jose Photography
Cinematography: San Jose Filmmakers
Flowers, Centerpieces, and Rentals: Planner 1 Events
Cake: Dolcet Cakes
Transportation and transfers: Your Cancun DMC
Invitations, Paper Suites, Programs: Jocelyn the Paper Stylist
Hair and Makeup: The Spa at Occidental Grand Xcaret
Hotel Accommodations: Occidental Grand Xcaret
Paper Flowers: Tony Cervantez

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Real Weddings: Maya & Eric

What a fantastic time I had planning Maya and Eric's wedding! Their wedding was truly significant and had so many personal touches that you couldn't help but cry on their wedding day...pure love! Everything from walking in to an acoustic version of Sea of Love played by a guitarist to walking out as husband and wife to a full on mariachi band was just magical.

This is the second wedding I have done for this family and the great thing about working with them is that they are all really passionate about the process of being wed. It makes it so much easier for me when you can throw out an idea to the couple and they can vision it either working for them or not. Working with Maya and Eric and their families was filled with lots of laughs, conversations, and passion. I can't wait to plan the next one.

Maya and Eric were truly unique. The road to matrimony for them was a journey so "the journey" was reflected in every aspect of the wedding. From their invitations that included a cd of their favorite road tunes, to vintage postcards for their escort cards reflected that journey. The floral were a mix of of wild flowers and sunflowers, just like it was picked on the side of the road, were placed in mismatched jars, vases, and other vessels found in the home of Eric's mom. We also infused Maya's Mexican culture in the venue and added custom papel picados and luminarias. All in all it was M&E throughout the evening!

Maya had three dresses to wear for her wedding day, but opted for two. She wore a fabulous high low cut gown for the ceremony and than changed to a simple white summer dress for the reception. They walked from the church to the reception venue just so they can have some "alone" time together...of course they had a photographer there too!

Congratulations Maya and Eric! Thank you for letting me become part of your family!







 












The Vendors:
Planning and Design by Percy Sales Events
Flowers by Wendy Smith Tremiti of Your Image Floral Design
Photography by Gloria Plunkett Photography
Hair and Make Up: Tara Fontana, Fairytale Hair and Makeup
Bride's Make Up: Anya Collier
Ceremony Location: Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara
Ceremony Music by Anthony Ybarra
Officiant: Ken Collier
Mariachi: Mariachi Mexicanisimo
Reception Venue and Food: El Paseo Restaurant
Pies by Simply Pies
Reception Music and MC: DJ Luke

Monday, August 1, 2011

Real Weddings: Mina & Chris

I had the wonderful privilege of planning and designing Mina & Chris' intimate, but fabulous 2011 Fourth of July nuptials. Their wedding was suppose to occur in May 2012...but with a quick change of plans, I had to plan their dream destination wedding in just three weeks! Funny how things fall into place.

This wedding was pretty unique for me, and it seems to be the trend with other couples I am working with as well. I never met the Chris and Mina until, literally, two days before their wedding day. I didn't even know what they looked like...but I did take a peek at their Facebook pages, just so I would have a clue and get a sense of their style. We did not friend each other until after the wedding. Let's just say I had some anxiety at some of my choices for them, especially the estate they were having their wedding and staying at, which was booked solely on my recommendations! 

I picked up Mina on the curb near Nordstroms in Santa Barbara to get her dress pressed...she had literally just gotten off the plane and was walking around downtown SB with luggage and dress in hand! Mina and Chris lives in VA. The planning and design was all done through email...literally! I think we spoke once on the phone and that was before they hired me! Everything from the estate to all the selections were done with the email approval process...some things they just left up to me to do and trusted my judgement...scary considering I've never met them as a couple...but I was also confident in my ability to create a fabulous event. I am just happy they loved their wedding and was pleased with the outcome.

Their wedding was held on a beautiful Fourth of July Day, clear in Santa Barbara, with beautiful 360 degree views all the way to the ocean from the estate. The wedding took place during the early evening just in time for them to sit down and enjoy a sunset dinner! The party ended with two firework shows which the family enjoyed while having s'mores at a firepit on the estate.

Their wedding was surrounded by immediate family only and it made such a touching moment throughout the day. It was great to be part of their family for the day and to see the love they have surrounding them! Congratulations Mina and Chris!




The Vendors:
Planning and Design by Percy Sales Events
Flowers by Wendy Smith Tremiti of Your Image Floral Design
Photography by Shelly Vinson Photography
Catering by Tamara's Catering
Hair and Make Up: Ja'Nice Estrada with DeVenir Beauty
Ceremony and Dinner Music by Anthony Ybarra
Officiant: Gail Kelley Murray
Location and Accommodations: Fair Hills Estate, Santa Barbara
Cupcakes by Whodelicious
Linens by La Tavola
Rentals by The Tent Merchant

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