Richelle + Matthew’s Modern Whimsical Balloon-Filled Wedding (11*18*12)

Yet another 2012 wedding I have yet to share…  But I can’t just skip over it.  It’s so delicious.  So much fun!

I met Richelle for the first time at her venue; she said she was pretty convinced she wanted to hire me, so if it was ok with me we should meet there so we could brainstorm.  I think we talked for three hours (my normal “first meetings” are usually about one)!  She had some big ideas –  I mean, BIG ideas…  Balloons cascading down the side of the wall ideas.  But in the end we created just the wedding to make both Richelle and her husband Matthew smile, while interpreting some of her big ideas in a way that wouldn’t put too big a dent in their new home fund!

Richelle is, probably above everything else, FUN!  She loved the idea of incorporating balloons into her day, in a way that wouldn’t look cheesy, but would make a big impact.  She also insisted on having a cake, a doughnut cake, a chocolate fountain, and a sweets table.  If you follow my Pinterest, you’ll see that she’s my kind of girl. 😉

So we played.  And we played and we played.  I designed a custom stationery suite for her based on a rabbit figurine she loved.  We created an I Spy game.  We made a cocktail area inside the venue with sweets galore, comfy couches, and a photo booth.  Outside in the courtyard we decorated with twinkling lights and hung an installation under the pergola.

I will admit it: balloons are not my favorite wedding accessory.  They can look amazing.  They can also look tacky and strange.  I am pleased to say that despite the wind wrecking our first plan, I felt like the balloons we used at Richelle and Matt’s wedding were elegant, fun pops – get it? – of whimsy, just as they were intended to be. 🙂

Richelle + Matthew’s Modern Whimsical Balloon-Filled Wedding (11*18*12):

• Wedding Design + Coordination: Events by Elisa
• Stationery Design:  Paper Doll Design | Studio
• Sunday Romance Photography (now Stacy Alberto Photography)
• Catering: Encore Catering and Events
• Florals: Flowers by Coley
• Balloons: Balloon It, 3-2-1 Smile
• Cake: Ranch Events
• DJ: Unique Technique

Where Have I Been and Other Catching Up…

Oof.  It’s been over six moths since my last post.  Yeah, that wasn’t intentional, I swear.

You may have been wondering where I’ve been (although if you follow me on Facebook – and if you don’t, you really should – you probably know).  The short answer is that I’ve been EVERYWHERE.  I’m pulled in about a zillion directions right now.  It’s fantastic, and I’ve never been happier, but it’s definitely left very little time for blogging!

The long answer, of course, is that I had a baby girl in early April.  She was an eagerly-anticipated member of our family, but any new parent will tell you that it’s a big adjustment!  Baby A has grown so much in the last several months; it’s almost impossible for me to imagine that she was ever just 7 lbs!   We used this fantastic photo from Chrystal Cienfuegos Photography for our Christmas photos last year:

Before she was born, I had some beautiful maternity pictures taken by Melissa McClure Photography, and did a Baby Wishes video with Murasaki Media.  If you or someone you know is expecting a baby, I highly recommend doing both photos and a video before the baby is born; I am so happy we did!

Once she arrived, we had more photos taken, this time by Gabrielle Fox Photography.  She’s so tiny here!!!

Most recently we had photos taken of Baby A by TWO fantastic photographers (it just sort of happened that way!), Sarah Layne Photography and flutter glass PHOTOGRAPHY:

Gah, I can hardly stand the cute!!

She sits up consistently now, is eating some solid foods, and is learning to crawl (exciting and scary at the same time) and teething (awful).  She also wants constant attention!  Baby A is quite the demanding boss, so Mommy hasn’t had much time for blogging.

In the mean time, of course, the first anniversaries came and went for Julianna + Kyle, Soila + Steven, Chris + Emma, Stacy + Tyler, Alexis + Chris, and Ana + Gina!  And next week will be the first anniversary for Cindy + Neal, followed by first anniversaries for Diana + Julian and Richelle + Matthew…  It’s hard to believe that a year has flown by!  Unfortunately I am still missing quite a few photos from the weddings above (something about last Spring, especially, and getting pictures from photographers), but here’s one of my favorites, by the lovely Stacy Alberto Photography (formerly Sunday Romance Photography):

Richelle, this is easily one of the best faces I’ve seen in a wedding photo! 😉

Fun fact; I actually had three weddings scheduled this past spring, two for fellow wedding pros.  I was thrilled to find out last summer that I was pregnant with Baby A, but sad to have to miss out on Alia, Jenna, and Liz’ weddings!

Then, of course, I’ve been working on this year’s weddings.

First, we had Megan + Mike at Condor’s Nest Ranch, with a photo by Faithfully Focused Photography:

I did all their decor/design, and boy was it gorgeous!  It was recently featured on Rustic Wedding Chic, and I love how the feature shows off all the lovely details we came up with!

Then was Damaris and Omar’s wedding at 94th Aero Squadron, with beautiful photography by Jessica Chavez.

You may recognize Damaris and Omar from their styled wedding shoot that I did back in March (yes, at 9 months pregnant) at Presidio Park with Erica of Les Amis Photography.  It was recently featured on Bisou Bride!

Unfortunately I haven’t gotten photos back from either September wedding I did, but speaking of features, the shoot I did i February with former clients Stacy + Tyler and the ladies at Chris Wojdak Photography, Penny Blooms Floral Design, Unbridled Beauty, and Mili’s Sweets at Condor’s Nest Ranch got a lot of press this summer!  It was featured on Sweet Violet Bride, Things Festive, Trendy Bride, and Storyboard Wedding!

Of course I have a busy few months ahead of me; I have two more weddings and a birthday party (or two) left this year.  And next year I’m already quite booked – I don’t have any availability until late April, and even then I’m pretty booked until the Fall!

Oh yes…  And I have not one but two big things in the works.  To be announced soon.  Stay tuned!!! 😉

Vendor Table at the Inspired Bridal Bowl!

Desiree of Penny Blooms Floral Design and I not only shared an Inspiration Table at last November’s Inspired Events {San Diego} Inspired Bridal Bowl, we shared a vendor table too!  I had to share some pretty photos of our vendor table (featuring Desiree’s florals and linens by Classy Covers) with you, taken by Sunday Romance Photography! 🙂

There was a fantastic caricature artist set up at the show, Julia of JK Expressions.  She offered to sketch some pictures for us!

First, myself and my Assistant Rachael!

Aren’t we cute?

And then me with Desiree. 🙂

Rustic Modern Snow White Inspiration Table at the Inspired Bridal Bowl!

Last November I was honored to be asked to participate in the second Inspired Events {San Diego} event, the Inspired Bridal Bowl.  The intimate bridal show at North County Tavern and Bowl was full of hand-picked vendors from throughout San Diego (all members of the Inspired Network went through a rigorous screening process) and, along with my good friend Desiree from Penny Blooms Floral Design, I was able to design the featured showpiece of the event – a modern rustic table inspired by Snow White!

I’d worked with Desiree a few times already at this point, and when we found out that we’d been assigned to create the tablescape together, we were thrilled!  Nothing is better than the synergy created when you’re working with a good friend who also happens to be a creative partner and an excellent match for your creativity.  I can’t say enough for working with someone you feel truly comfortable with, to design something greater than you could alone!

At any rate, we started discussing our ideas and Desiree hit on the modern rustic trend (this show actually took place the day after Alex + Allen’s wedding, but we started planning before Alex hired me – by luck it was a modern rustic weekend!).  We started thinking of moss and pine trees and acorns and…  The table just sort of built itself.  And then I realized that I’d already done a table based on a fairy tale – my Vintage Cinderella table at the Alfred Angelo show last year.  I guess maybe I’ll always be a dreamer at heart?

We were working with an oversized table – a pool table, to be exact (huge thank you to my husband who stood in line at Home Depot for an hour the day of the show to get the large piece of plywood we used to create a flat surface, and then brought it to us in the rain!).  And an oddly-lit room with lots of busyness behind and around the table, since the bowling alley itself has large windows that look out onto the mall.  That said, I think that the photos taken by Stacy and Melissa of Sunday Romance Photography give you a taste of this stunning table.  And we just might have another taste of it coming up in a few months. 😉

Of course Desiree and I worked together on the design.  She also created the gorgeous floral arrangements (including the fantastic birch-wrapped bouquet!!!).  We also got amazing support from our friends at Classy Covers and Calculated Whisk.  We also made a new friend – the incredible Nicole of paper | scissors | print, who provided us with gorgeous stationery!

So without further ado…  The photos by Sunday Romance Photography!!!

First, the whole table.  Desiree and I spent lots and lots of hours searching for just the right pieces (like our mismatched flatware and glasses, and our fantastic “wood” chargers!

And the details…  Like Desiree’s STUNNING birch-wrapped bouquet and the arrangements in hollowed-out pieces of wood:

And the stationery Nicole created for us!  She’s truly an artist, and came up with this amazing design with just the words “modern rustic.” Love her!

Nicki of Calculated Whisk created the cutest little apple cake pops for us!

And the most.incredible.gem-shaped cake balls.  Seriously they were perfect.  Everyone was amazed that they were cake!

More details!  Desiree and I had a fantastic time decking out the table with whimsical elements!  I adore the moss runners and the little moss squirrels and rabbits, as well as the little acorns we scattered like jewels.  🙂

You’d never know that this entire place setting (not including the napkin, generously provided by Classy Covers) cost under $5 to buy.

I’m so happy to finally be able to share these with you!  Next up, more photos from the Inspired Bridal Bowl!

Modern Rustic Snow White Inspiration Table at the Inspired Bridal Bowl Details:

• Design: Events by Elisa and Penny Blooms Floral Design
• Florals: Penny Blooms Floral Design
• Cake Pops/Balls: Calculated Whisk
• Linens: Classy Covers
• Stationery: paper | scissors | print
• Photography: Sunday Romance Photography