Ana + Gina’s Colorful Rustic Handcrafted Wedding (07*14*12)

As you can see by the date in the blog title, I’m just slightly behind in sharing the weddings I’ve been working on. 😉  But in truth, I realized that I’d started this blog post a while back.  I was encouraged to publish it finally after last week’s marriage equality ruling.  And see?  I’m trying to keep my promise for moar!blogging!

Ana and Gina are one of my favorite couples.  They have such wonderful energy and chemistry, and I immediately liked them.  Mind you, I have a LOT of incredible couples that I like immediately – it’s something I am proud that I can say about just about everyone – but I still remember our first phone call.  Ana had just e-mailed me and set up a time to talk.  They lived in the Bay Area and couldn’t meet in person.  She hadn’t mentioned anything about Gina at all.  “My fiancé is here and wants to meet you too!” she said, as we were introducing ourselves on the phone.  I heard Gina’s voice, and my heart leapt.  It seems a bit silly now, but in 2011 marriage equality was still such an uphill battle.  I’d always wanted to do weddings for everyone, but you can’t really pick and choose your clients.  So I had to wait for someone to choose me.  I remember getting off that phone call and dancing around.  They liked me!  They really liked me!  And I liked them!  This was happening!

Over the next several months, we worked together on decor plans for their wedding.  We always had the most fun when we were together; it felt comfortable, like we had been friends for a long time.  The venue, Hidden Valley Retreat and Spa (which is no longer), was one where literally everything was do-it-yourself.  It was lovely, but challenging, especially given their tight budget, so we had to get creative!  You can see the results in the photos – lots of paper and streamers…  But it was so very lovely.  I’m so proud of the way their whole day looked!  I loved how colorful it was (they were inspired by a painting they loved), and how many fun details we were able to bring in.

On the wedding day, I had a team of four working from 10 am to 7:30 pm (when the reception was already starting, we were still finishing up the cake table that was, thankfully, in the other room), hanging lights and lanterns, setting up tables and chairs, doing table settings, putting together a DIY Photo Booth, and so much more.  We’d have been there sooner to get started, but we were running last-second errands for the wedding!  It is actually because of this wedding that I require additional assistants for venues that aren’t “set up” for weddings, since simply placing, setting up, and dressing tables for 60 guests took two of my staff several hours to complete!

At any rate, the wedding itself was incredible.  Happy and gorgeous couple, happy friends and family, heartfelt vows, beautiful decor, and a great party!  Kaysha Weiner took the most stunning photographs (more on my website).  It’s no wonder that Ana and Gina were featured on Equally Wed!

Ana + Gina’s Colorful Rustic Handcrafted Wedding (07*14*12)

• Wedding Design + Coordination: Events by Elisa
• Stationery: Paper Doll Design | Studio
• Photography: Kaysha Weiner Photography
• Cake: San Diego Desserts
• Cupcakes: Calculated Whisk
• Ceremony Music: Ocdamia Strings
• Reception Music: DJ Carmin Wong
• Hair and Makeup: Charlyn Sanchez

I’m Back, and I’m Thrilled!

“Where have you been?” you might ask…  And with good reason.  I haven’t written a blog post in over a year.  To tell you the truth, there have been some personal things bringing me stress, and I can’t really talk much about them yet.  But I have taken the last week to really reflect on what is important to me, and I am resolved to blog more often.  At least a little more often.  I have SO MUCH to share!

What ultimately spurred me into motion this morning, though, was the news today.  I’m so thrilled to share in the celebration of marriage equality!  I just can’t help but think how this was a long long long time coming.  In twenty or thirty years, it will probably feel to our children like “interracial marriage” does to those of us who grew up in the 1970s and 80s.  Or, as we say, “marriage.” If you look at my website and blog, it’s dotted with couples whose marriages would have been frowned upon or even illegal 50 or 60 years ago.  Today they are simply couples in love.  It’s my sincere hope that we will continue to make strides, as a nation, supporting love and partnership.  In the mean time, I think it’s time for a party!

Photo from Ana + Gina’s Colorful Rustic Handcrafted Wedding, by Kaysha Weiner.

Belated Happy Anniversary, Michelle + Dave!

I have been SO busy lately, most notably dealing with an internet outage at home that really knocked me off my game (three weeks without internet = a VERY tough time getting anything done!).  My mobile data is almost used up for the month (I’ve never done that!!) and I’m thisclose to my maternity leave…  But I had to leave a little love note for Michelle + Dave, since it’s been a year since their wedding (their anniversary was Sunday)!

They found me on Yelp and hired me sight-unseen to plan their wedding for them, long distance, from Chicago.  From the minute we had our first phone call, I knew they were going to be the kind of clients planners always wish for; the kind that have their own mind about things (you’d be surprised how difficult it is to plan for someone who has no opinion!) but have lots of trust in the people they hire to do the best job they can.  We had so much fun planning and creating their wedding together, and assembled a dream team of vendors.  And THIS happened.

Yup.  Pure bliss.  Nothing makes a planner happier than to see her couple so happy that they don’t care who else sees them nuzzling. 🙂

This is another one of my favorite photos from their wedding:

Seriously?  When the groom tears up seeing his bride coming down the aisle?  This planner melts.  I was behind the bride, way in the background, and didn’t see this happening.  When I saw the photos later on, it took my breath away.  It’s also a great reminder that the First Look (which they had) does not spoil the Coming Down the Aisle.

You can see more photos and videos on my blog:

• The Ceremony
• The Details
• The Stationery
• The Reception
• The Video

And on my website Gallery.  You can also read what Michelle had to say about my services in my Happy Clients section!

I’m lucky enough to have been able to stay in their lives this year and I’m thrilled to say that things are going well for them – and I hope that next year we can celebrate their anniversary together, with our daughters! 😉

Michelle + Dave’s Classic Beach Wedding at La Jolla Shores Hotel Wedding Details:

• Venue: La Jolla Shores Hotel
• Planning, Design, Stationery, Styling: Events by Elisa
• Hair/Makeup: Audra Rene Studio
• Florals: Diane’s Flowers Please
• Linens: Classy Covers
• Lanterns: Concepts Event Design
• Cake: San Diego Desserts
• Cake Pops: Calculated Whisk
• Officiant: Rev. Christopher Tuttle
• DJ/Emcee/Lighting: Hit It Music Productions
• Videography: Porcelain Rose Productions
• Photography: Bryan N. Miller Photography

No, seriously… The Boho Glam Shoot was Featured AGAIN.

I’m flabbergasted.  Seriously.  I feel like Sally Field.  “You like me!  You really like me!!”  It’s hysterical.  This little shoot that Desiree of Penny Blooms Floral Design and I put together in a week…  The one where I dragged my sister in to be our model in the biting January wind (it doesn’t look like it but the poor thing was shivering!)…  The one where I designed the stationery suite in less than a day…  It’s been published again.

This time on Kiss My Tulle, where owner Cris commented specifically on Desiree’s fantastic purple painted horses (and here I was last year questioning her choice…  Not after I saw them, but I kept thinking before they were finished that they should be gold).  Yup.  They’re still gorgeous.

Yes, this makes six features for this one shoot.

I think I need to find an appropriate way to celebrate. 🙂  More photoshoots, anyone? 😉

My Enchanted Unicorn and Rainbow Birthday Party (Featured on Hostess With the Mostess!)

First of all, let me say how much of a thrill it is to be featured on Hostess With the Mostess…  And to see the great responses!  There are certain blogs I’ve been reading since I started my business…  Style Me Pretty, Every Last Detail, Hostess With the Mostess, Kara’s Party Ideas…  And I’ve been featured in them all over the last year.  Oh my, yes, do I feel blessed!  In this new year I look at what I accomplished over the last year and think, “I can hardly believe I did all that!”

This party is very near and dear to my heart.  It’s because it’s mine.  I decided last year that I hadn’t had a proper birthday party in a long time (although I had invited friends over when I first started my business to sort of play at setting up a party) and that it might be my last birthday before having a little one (and I found out a week later that I was, in fact, pregnant with the little one who has been repeatedly kicking my bladder this morning!).  So why not celebrate it with pretty things? 🙂

I also decided that I wanted to celebrate with rainbows and unicorns party because of this post.  An inspiration board I created way back when I officially started Events by Elisa (almost two years ago now!) that, for whatever reason, has been bringing people to my blog consistently every month.  It’s been one of my most popular posts and one of the most pinned photos from my blog on Pinterest (along with some pictures from Natalie’s Under the Sea Baby Shower…  By the way, Natalie is getting married today and I’m a bridesmaid!!!)!  I decided I had to do something with it.  My inner eight-year-old demanded it.

I gathered together a bunch of my favorite people and rolled up my sleeves and went to work.  Like anything else I do, I trusted my vendor friends to come up with the most amazing interpretations of what I wanted – and boy did they!!!  Desiree of Penny Blooms Floral Design went especially above and beyond, crafting the huge paper flowers, putting together those phenomenal rainbow arrangements, and painting the Pin the Horn on the Unicorn (by hand, in front of me!).  Mark of San Diego Desserts couldn’t possibly give me a plain white frosted cake (especially after I gave him such trouble to tint each layer separately!), so he airbrushed away…  Jenny of JennyWennyCakes did such a beautiful job of making the colors on those macarons pop (even though I know that they spread more than she wanted because of all the color!), and the cake pops by Nicole of Calculated Whisk were gorgeous!!!  Alyssa of Hybrid Photography captured all the elements beautifully!!!  But I think you really just need to see them to get the full effect! 🙂

A HUGE thank you to everyone who was involved with helping me to make this a fantastic birthday party!!!  I know this is going to be another extraordinary year!!! 🙂

My Enchanted Unicorn and Rainbow Birthday Party Vendor Credits:

• Planning, Stationery, Happy Canvas, Food, Design & Styling: Events by Elisa
• Florals, Paper Flowers, Pin the Horn on the Unicorn, Design & Styling: Penny Blooms Floral Design
• Photography: Hybrid Photography
• Custom Pinwheels: Pinwhirls
• Rentals: Classic Party Rentals San Diego
• Rainbow Cake: San Diego Desserts
• Cake Pops: Calculated Whisk
• Macarons & Sugar Cookies: JennyWenny Cakes
• Straws: The Baker’s Confections and SerendipityPartyShop
• Bamboo Dinnerware: Sucre Shop
• Twine: Sweet Estelle’s Baking Supply
• Cups: Smarty Had a Party
• Plates: Party City

Happy Anniversary Emily + Jeremy!

I can hardly believe it’s time for another anniversary post (one day late)…  It seems like such a short time ago that we were hanging the lanterns in the pool house at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe!  Emily + Jeremy’s day was chic, whimsical, and romantic, and the photos are to die for!  You might recognize these two as being all over my website, blog, and Facebook page…  I can’t help it – they’re just so gorgeous!

Wishing you two the sweetest of anniversaries and another year of happy marriage! 🙂

See the full gallery of photos from Emily + Jeremy’s wedding on my website!  And read the blogs about their ceremony and reception!

Emily + Jeremy’s Modern Handcrafted Inn at Rancho Santa Fe Wedding Details:

• Venue: The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
• Design+, Styling: Events by Elisa
• Florals: Suzan M Florals
• Linens: Classy Covers (I’m so sad that these girls are out of business now)
• Dessert Buffet: Tailored Sweets
• DJ/Emcee/Lighting: YES Productions
• Photography/Videography: Chaz Cruz Photography

Happy Belated Anniversary, Marisa + James!

It hit me at this weekend’s wedding that it was already the end of October…  Which meant I had been so busy last week that I totally missed wishing Marisa + James a happy anniversary!!!  Of course I was at a wedding and without my laptop, so this post had to wait until after my wedding “hangover” passed yesterday in order to wish these two lovebirds a belated happy anniversary…  I can hardly believe it’s been a whole year since their Harbor Island wedding.  Marisa was so lovely and they were both so full of happiness on that day…  I just can’t help but grin when I see the photos!  And when I remember James’ dad’s speech: “You’re flying out to Hawaii tomorrow… Tomorrow night you’d best get to workin’ hard! We’re behind the curve on gettin’ grandchildren!”

Of course if you visit my site or my blog regularly you might recognize this photo, but I can’t help it… It’s one of my favorites from the day.

Happy Anniversary Marisa + James!!!  Wishing you another happy love-filled year!

See Marisa + James’ wedding blog post, gallery, and review!

Marisa+James’ Harbor Island San Diego 10*22*2011 Wedding Details:

• Venue, Catering, and Rentals: Sheraton Harbor Island
• Day-of-Plus Coordination: Events by Elisa
• Officiant: Rev. Judy Winkler
• Purple Chair Sashes: Classy Covers
• Cake: Eidelweiss Bakery
• Florals: Diane’s Flowers Please
• Photography and Videography: Sutography, the Evolution of Photography

I got to work with Diane’s Flowers this past Saturday and back in March for Michelle + Dave’s wedding and am looking forward to working again with Sutography in just two weeks! 🙂

Boho Glam Shoot Published on Pretty My Party!!!

I can hardly believe what landed in my inbox this morning!  Our Boho Glam Shoot was published again this morning!!!!!

Yes, it’s true.  🙂  This gorgeous shoot was featured again, this time on Pretty My Party.  I am so proud of it.  Seriously, when I think about how it came together, I am amazed.  I’ve been in love with it from the moment we set it up, but seeing how much the blog world loves it, I’m just blown away!

Check out our feature on Pretty My Party and leave us some love in the comments!!!

Boho Glam Shoot Featured Again on Done Brilliantly’s Blog!

Two features in one week?  AMAZING!!!

Our Boho Glam Styled Shoot was featured yesterday on Done Brilliantly’s blog!  The thing is, Done Brilliantly is THE blog of Two Bright Lights, THE people you want to notice you if you’re a wedding designer.  It’s the website for the wedding industry to share photos with various blogs.  I’m dying over here.  They had such lovely things to say too!!!!

And of course, what is a the top of the post?  MY INVITATIONS.

Check out our feature over at Done Brilliantly!

Happy McAwesome First Anniversary Neva + Rob!!!!

These two get around, at least on my blog.  The photos aren’t always the highest quality (since I took them and I’m decidedly not a photographer)  but it hasn’t stopped me.  I love them and always will.

Actually I love this whole wedding.  I’m SO glad I got to be a part of it.

If there were ever a wedding that was a testament to the statement that you can have a wedding on any budget, this was it.  Spending under $4000 for a fabulous day full of love and personality and celebrating with your 60 closest friends?  Yes please.

Of course it helps when you have a couple that is completely laid-back with no real expectations aside from having a good time.  And that particular couple happens to have a lot of talents.  And talented friends.

Also?  A fun theme rocks it every time.  This is the first time I’ve ever seen a wedding inspired by the movie The Party, but that didn’t stop them.  In fact, they took the basic inspiration and ran with it.  So this is also a great example of not letting the inspiration for a wedding or party limit you.

It’s also a great reminder to let your personalities shine.  After all, not many people would get married by a robot.  But these two?  This was the perfect officiant for them.

Of course if Father Emiglio is the perfect officiant for you, don’t hesitate to contact the couple.  They’d love to program him to marry you too.  No, really.  They made a video about it.

It’s hard to believe that this wedding took place on the couple’s one year anniversary of knowing each other – and only three months after they got engaged.  Neva + Rob, you two truly are McAwesome and I love you both to bits.

I am so proud to have been a part of your wedding and I’m wishing you the happiest of first anniversaries, with many, many more to come!!!

Neva + Rob’s McAwesome Backyard Wedding has been featured on RogueBride!  To read Neva’s fabulous review and see more photos of the day, check out my website!

Neva+Rob’s McAwesome Backyard Wedding Inspired by The Party 07*24*2011 Wedding Details:

• Venue: Private Residence
• Catering and Rentals: Family and Friends
• Day-of-Plus Coordination: Events by Elisa
• White Tablecloths: Classy Covers
• Table Runners: Events by Elisa
• Cupcakes: Courtesan Cupcakes
• Robot Officiant: Bride and Groom
• Human Officiant: Eric Sherman
• Florals and Decor: Bride and Events by Elisa
• Photos by Events by Elisa and Erin of Paw Prints Pet Portraiture