WEDDING BLOG

Elegant White Wedding at The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel – Amanda and Pat

July 2, 2012 | editorial team

Amanda and Pat’s elegant wedding day perfectly blended their individual interests and tastes to make something great! Surfer Pat loved the striking view of the beach from The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel; and the soft blush colors, lush peony and rose arrangements by Nisie’s Enchanted Florist, and sparkling accessories completed Amanda’s romantic vision. Obviously, the couple is a perfect match!

The Couple: Amanda and Pat

The Wedding 6.25.11 – The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel – Orange County, CA

What three adjectives best describe your wedding day? Romantic, Elegant, Joy

Was there a decor theme that ran through your wedding? What was the inspiration for that particular idea and how did it reflect you as a couple? I wanted a very classic and elegant theme. When everyone walked into the ballroom I wanted them to feel the romance. Using champagne, ivory and a soft shade of pink gave the warm feeling I was looking for to the reception. The reception probably reflected me (the bride) more than my husband. Hes not really into style or design so he just went with all of my ideas…lucky me!

Where did you choose to hold your wedding, and how did the location influence your decor decisions? We chose to hold our wedding at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. It was an easy choice for us. We were able to have the ceremony outside overlooking the beach, which my surfer husband loved. They had recently remodeled the inside of the hotel with a more coastal theme, so there were a lot of soft creams, browns and light blues. When we walked into the ballroom I was smitten by the crystal chandeliers. It was so beautiful and romantic! And not only was it a beautiful hotel but everything they provided was amazing. Everyone loved the food and the wedding cake!

Looking back, do you have a favorite project or successful decor idea from your wedding?Everyone was a fan of the surfboard we used as our guestbook, which reflected my husband’s love of surfing!

The Wedding Team

Photographer: Focus Photography
Event Planner: Lisa Simpson Weddings
Ceremony Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Reception Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Videographer/Film Maker: Prince Weddings
Officiant: Paul Uhlar
Catering: The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Florist: Nisies Enchanted Florist
Linens Fusion Linens
Cake: The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Wedding dress: Nazzy Nazari, Sash – Vera Wang
Bridal accessories: Jewelry and Veil – Erin Cole, Shoes – Jimmy Choo
Hair and make-up: Holiday Salon
DJ: Vive Entertainment
Favors: Candee by Sandee

Congratulations Amanda and Pat! What a beautiful wedding day!

Readers, stop by our Inspiration Gallery for more pink and white wedding inspiration!

Romantic Playa del Carmen Destination Wedding From Del Sol Photography – Inna and Daniel

June 29, 2012 | editorial team

champagne coral light pink orange

Be prepared to wish you had been there! Inna and Daniel’s destination wedding in gorgeous Playa del Carmen was a fun-filled three-day event with as many fantastic activities and moments as they could possibly squeeze in. Add in sunset-colors, serious pampering for their guests, and a lot of romance, and I’m totally dreaming of Mexican vacation myself! Enjoy this glimpse of the beautiful wedding celebration from Del Sol Photography!

The Goals: Providing their guests with a relaxing, fun-filled weekend filled with special touches was a priority for the considerate couple. The celebration was a three-day affair of wedding festivities which kicked off on Friday evening with a welcome party; Saturday’s wedding included a cocktail hour and formal reception, and on Sunday they held a morning-after brunch and celebratory dinner. Rather than traditional favors, they gave each guest a jute welcome beach bag that was filled with a personalized seven page wedding newsletter, a local map with information on the area and attractions, personalized playing cards, mints and other treats, sunscreen, and a starfish bookmark. At their ceremony, they gave bamboo fans to all the ladies, and each wedding guest had flip flops so that they could dance the night away in total comfort!

Inna and Daniel chose a modern Jewish ceremony that included a memorial (for those family and friends who have passed), personalized vows, and a beautiful sand ceremony. They adored their location, the Paradisus Playa Del Carmen – La Perla the moment they saw it, and knew it was the perfect spot for the romantic, fun, chic wedding they dreamed of.

The Design: Inna chose a sunset-inspired color palette of tangerine, blush, and ivory. They incorporated beachy elements throughout their decor, beginning with elegant paper accents that featured a tangerine colored starfish. Their delicious almond cake made with fresh berries was also decorated with seashells, and they danced the night away under a thatched palapa!

The Look: Inna’s bridal style was romantic, chic and sophisticated – much like the style of the wedding! She chose her Marisa gown for the beautiful ruffled skirt, and complemented it with a gorgeous handmade Russian veil accented with silk flowers. Her girls worn sunset-colored tangerine chiffon gowns that were breezy, fun, and elegant all at once!

The Moments: From bride Inna – The most amazing moment was when my groom and I saw each other for the first time! The photographer orchestrated this on a beautiful bridge at the resort. It was also a great moment when my father saw me for the very first time! Not only did he and I break out in tears, but so did the rest of the bridal party who was witness to this very special and unforgettable moment. For Daniel and I both, exchanging our vows and our first dance were the most romantic moments of the day. It seemed like the world stopped, and we were the only ones there! A dream wedding in Mexico, surrounded by surf, sun, and sand; marrying the man of my dream…what more could a girl ask for?

The Pros: Please visit Inna and Daniel’s page in our Real Wedding Library for details on the talented team that contributed to their Playa del Carmen Wedding!

Thank you for sharing your beautiful beach wedding with us, Inna and Daniel! Our very best wishes in your new life together!

Readers, be sure to check out our Real Wedding Library for more inspiration from real couples!

Coco Chanel Inspired Wedding Decor in Pink, Lavender and Platinum

June 28, 2012 | editorial team

lavender light pink silver

What a treat we have today – some of the prettiest tabletop decor ideas I’ve seen, and all inspired by the one and only style icon, Coco Chanel! Los Angeles based wedding planners Nikki and Madiha Khan of Exquisite Events worked with an ultra-talented team of professionals to bring their vision to life in this inspiration photo shoot, and the photographers at Callaway Gable captured every stunning detail. Read on to learn about the team’s design inspiration and to see a practically endless amount of wedding decor eye candy!

It all started with Nikki’s Chanel obsession. Her love of all things Coco Chanel sparked the inspiration for the Ode to Coco photo shoot, a chic collaboration with Revelry Event Designers, Wildflower Linen and The Hidden Garden Floral Design.

Nikki designed Ode to Coco as a 1920-1930 period tone-on-tone tabletop, with color being present in the flowers only. She chose soft greys, silver and platinum for the base of the design. The table linen was made of a luxurious crushed velvet and Youngsong Martin of Wildflower designed quilted chair covers to look like Chanel bags, complete with crystals and fabric-woven chains.

Matias Doorn of Revelry created a backdrop in various shades of grey with rows of hanging glass globes layered over fabric and two stunning silver globe chandeliers adorned with crystals hung from above. The table was embellished with pieces from Nikkis just-launched handmade silver collection; items like ornate silver chargers with lapis stones and silver peacock napkin rings. The Hidden Garden Floral Design created floral arrangements in pink, lavender and green, arranged in silver vases, which are also part of the new Exquisite Events product line.

The photo shoot was embedded into 1920s-30s Paris with the addition of hosts Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald, who naturally invited their friends to the dinner party. Cole Porter, Gertrude Stein, and Ernest Hemingway all dined at the Ode to Coco table at their assigned seat, next to the elegant place cards designed by Copper Willow Paper Studio.

The table glimmered in soft candlelight and a palatable menu was featured on beautifully simple cards that sat atop silver charger plates. Brian from Callaway Gable Photography captured amazing shots and brought the table to life. We think Zelda and Scott would have been very happy with this elegant and timeless table setting; a perfect ode to Coco Chanel!.