JL DESIGNS

2011 press features

2012-01-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

we are SO HONORED and grateful to have been included in the following magazines this past year...in a day and age where print publications are struggling we feel super blessed that we had so many features in 2011...

what i love about this past year is that the press has been so varied...real weddings, bridal showers and rehearsal dinners...bouquets and tablescapes for styled shoots...florals for home and office features...being hand picked as "best of the best" and "trendsetter"...it's so important to show versatility and i feel that JL DESIGNS has really done that in 2011!

the "euro-cirque" wedding of erin and brent...

the florals for a romantic, pink bridal shower (which i will be blogging soon!) plus an air plant cake collaboration with sweet and saucy...

white + metallic florals, gold succulents and our signature balsa wood bouquet, seen here collared in black feathers...

chosen by brides magazine as one of the best of the best in southern california...only 3 floral designers were chosen so this is a BIG honor!

bouquets for the quarterly fashion spread in the national issue...

bouquets for the quarterly fashion spread in all of the regional mags, as well as the nautical wedding of alison and chris in the southern california edition...

oh and don't worry, YES THAT IS BOSSY GRACING THE COVER OF ALL 16 REGIONAL ISSUES!!! bossy was about 3 months old and when i showed up to the shoot with the bouquets, the knot girls immediately asked if i was okay with her appearing in some of the photos...i had no idea they would choose one for the cover shot! this is probably one of my proudest moments to date ;)

a "desert mod" tablescape for 944's wedding issue...

soft, classic florals for a private home feature...

a rehearsal dinner in los olivos...

a "vintage garden" bridal shower and an indian inspired wedding in malibu (which i will be blogging soon!)...

a fuschia and periwinkle wedding in palos verdes...

2 avant garde bridal bouquets...the first is a white metal orb accented with green succulents and the second is hot pink protea and black ti leaves...

another appearance of our white + metallic florals...

and we can't forget the features in some of our favorite online mags, like utterly engaged and rue!

soft, feminine florals for a "sew in love" fashion shoot...

chosen as a 2011 trendsetter...

a "darko-weirdo" dinner party...

florals and decor an office makeover...

we know that all this press has partly to do with our designs but ALSO partly to do with our amazing publicist, leila khalil from be inspired pr...she goes above and beyond for every one of her clients and i cannot thank her enough for her loyalty and support this past year - we love you leila, ashley, lauren and the rest of the be inspired team!!

the highlight of 2011...

2011-12-28T10:40:00.000-08:00

by far the best thing to happen to us this year (and really in our lifetimes!) was the birth of our first baby, decker august jowett...he was born on november 8 at 11:28pm and we could not be more in love with this precious guy!

when we weren't installing weddings, we spent most of the summer months preparing for his arrival - building a deck outside his nursery, painting the room, putting together furniture, choosing artwork for the walls, washing all his new clothes, installing the car seat, assembling the stroller, etc. everything we did and every wedding we completed brought us that much closer to the debut of our little man!

here is a little video i put together of the months leading up to his arrival plus his actual birth day :) it was the most intense, surreal and AMAZING experience i could ever imagine...brian and i were both a ball of emotions and tears when we finally saw his face for the first time...i hope this video gives you a glimpse into the anticipation and joy we felt for our baby boy!

thank you for all the love and support you have shown us this past year...2012 is going to bring a lot of "firsts" to our family and we cannot wait...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

a modern, coastal christmas in california

2011-12-20T23:51:00.000-08:00

sooooo, i am a little behind in blogging this party..."california christmas" actually happened LAST YEAR but i got so busy i didn't have time to post it before the holidays were over...well, the photos are so insanely gorgeous i HAD to blog it this time around...so better late than never right? :)

i co-created the dinner party with one of my favorite wedding designers - cortnie purdy from canvas and canopy and it was hosted by my favorite publicist - leila khalil from be inspired pr...it started out as a lovely "christmas in california" inspired photo shoot but we figured, as long as we're setting it up, why not enjoy it and invite some friends? so that's just what we did...we held the party at my house in costa mesa, which fit the coastal, modern vibe perfectly...it was such an amazing evening to just relax and enjoy the beauty that we created as well as the company of sweet friends...

style file: coastal, modern, natural, breezy, calm with pops of red, festive touches

color scheme: mint green, tan, white, cherry red

flowers: succulents, air plants, peonies, balsa wood flowers

elements: white coral, capiz shells, smokebush branches, quartz, mercury glass, sea urchins, braids, seersucker fabric, cork

guests were treated to a "california holiday glow" by danielle from plush tan...we all left the party feeling ready to banish those winter blahs!

i created a sand blasted manzanita and capiz shell chandelier that hung directly above our dining table...

the table was set with white birdsnest coral, mint green air plants, smokebush branches, chunks of quartz and white ceramic sea urchins topped with succulents...it was all very tranquil and zen looking...so to make it more festive we worked in mercury glass votives and white ceramic vases wrapped in metallic beaded trim and filled with stunning red peonies!

the desserts were amazing!! cupcakes in flavors like winter mint, hot cocoa and gingerbread, as well as macarons, peppermint cake pops and beautifully decorated ornament sugar cookies that we actually strung and hung from branches!

the cake was a simple white fondant wrapped in red berry branches...

cortnie and i found some red and white striped seersucker fabric and we thought it was perfect for a coastal look as well as festive for the holidays! so she hand sewed every seersucker napkin and then she created those killer mint green and white braided napkin treatments!

the party took place a couple weeks after we got bossy...it's so crazy to look back at how small she was! i am so grateful for these adorable photos of her as a puppy :)

the beverage station was set with cork vessels that we topped with white boards and our specialty cocktails - icicle mint mojitos and jingle berry (on the) rocks...get it? ;) we accented the table with succulent christmas trees and quartz pieces topped with more succulents...

at the end of the night, we needed something warm to drink so we had apple cider with a gingerbread cookie "gift tag" customized with each girls name (from "cali claus")...we also had hot chocolate with snowflake marshmallows...

besides the spray tans, each guest also got to leave with a signature scent! courtney from kamilyin was there to guide us in mixing the right blend and then she created a hand soap, lotion and sugar scrub set for us to take home!

i accented the scent station with my grapewood stumps, topped with moss and balsa wood flowers...

once we lit the candles and started a fire in the hearth, the mood was warm, soft and magical - SO...MUCH...FUN!

although christmas is only for one month out of the year, i feel like there are definitely elements to this design that could be re-worked into a wedding day...so hopefully it will inspire you not only for this year's yuletide celebrations, but it will spark some design ideas for your 2012 nuptials!

here is the AMAZING team of vendors for the party...so much talent!!

photography: leo patrone

event production and hosting: be inspired pr

event design and styling: canvas and canopy

event design and floral styling: JL DESIGNS

catering and beverages: contemporary catering

desserts, cake, marshmallows, icicle stir sticks: cupcakes couture

printed goods: wiley valentine

dining table, benches and scent station dresser: found vintage rentals

scent station: kamilyin

"let it glow" spray tans: plush tan

dessert banner: joyful, joyful

and a huge thank you to all our friends who attended the party and blogged about it:

green wedding shoes

hostess with the mostess

100 layer cake

grey likes weddings

a texas meets california wedding - the villa, san juan capistrano

2011-12-12T11:15:00.001-08:00

wimberley and brian are dear, sweet friends of mine and when they chose the villa in san juan capistrano as their wedding venue i was so excited! it is such a gorgeous location and it totally inspired the design of the day...guests could mingle inside the nostalgic home, complete with the original furniture from that turn of the 20th century era, or soak up the sun in the outer courtyard...a perfect mix of indoors and outdoors...

style file: soft, romantic, classic - early southern california history mixed with some masculine texan details

color scheme: gold, white, cream, mustard, beige and gray with hints of chocolate brown

flowers: white and cream garden roses, peonies, veronica, lilac, scabiosa, tulips, lisianthus, spray roses with buttery yellow garden roses and natural green fillers for a lush, slightly undone feel

elements: antlers, lace, rope, suede, dark brown wood, cut crystal vessels, brushed gold votives

wimberley created all the printed good herself and accented them with suede cording...the save the date even came with a super cute antler magnet that guests could keep as a reminder of the day!

this was a second marriage for the groom and his 2 daughters have grown especially close to wimberley...a great way that the couple chose to include his daughters was by giving them lockets that have pictures of wimberley and brian inside...

in wimberley's bouquet, we added those small accents of brown pheasant feathers for textural interest...all the bouquets were wrapped in either mustard or beige velvet...

and the boutonnieres were wrapped in mustard or gray cordouroy...

wimberley wanted to keep the ceremony simple so we left the green trees on the deck to frame the ceremony space and used the fabulous vintage brown wood pews for seating...it wasn't enough seating for everyone but it really defined the space well!

for the rentals, i chose a beige natural linen fabric and we added a border of raw, scalloped to the rim of each tabletop...the rest of the furniture was a mix between dark brown wood benches/tables and tufted, feminine sofas and chairs in either white, beige or yellow...

we also hung cut crystal and antique gold light fixtures from the trees...

wimberley grew up in texas so she wanted to incorporate some "cowboy flair" without going overboard and too themey...so we brought in some subtle hints of her upbringing...worn gray and cream antlers accented lounge tables for an interior design feel...

her dad even made a killer "bar" sign completely out of rope - our take on a lasso :)

to honor her texas roots, the bride's family created a custom spice rub and packaged them in metal tins with suede cording to give away as the favors...

the cake was a simple and stunning white fondant accented with gold braids and a huge white sugar flower - it looked almost like jewelry on the cake! so soft and feminine...

dinner was cocktail-style with menu items like duck confit on cranberry potato pancake, lobster mac'n'cheese and miniature crab cakes with citrus avocado relish...there was also a mashed potato bar and late night snacks of pulled pork sliders and apple cinnamon beignets...the specialty cocktail was wimberley's mom's special recipe for a "ginger-basil sidecar"...

the desserts were set up on a wood console table and melody from sweet and saucy used her amber and glass textured cake stands to give the display height...mini banana cream pies (brians favorite), mini lemon cupcakes (wimberley's favorite), peanut butter and jelly bars (what brian made for wimberley the day he proposed) all had special meaning to the couple...they fleshed it out with red velvet cake pops, mini creme brulee shots and smores bars...

here are the amazing vendors i had the pleasure of working with!

photography: ashley rose

floral and event design: JL DESIGNS

cake and desserts: sweet and saucy shop

linens: la tavola

rentals: found vintage rentals and signature party rentals

videography: stereo waltz films

venue and catering: the villa, san juan capistrano

and a special thank you to leila at inspired by this for featuring wimberley and brian's stunning wedding! to see the feature, click here...

a garden party bridal shower with blueberries, herbs + books

2011-11-03T09:05:00.001-07:00

this bridal shower was held in honor of the gorgeous bride-to-be, ashley!! although her wedding was in may, we still wanted to blog the photos from her garden party inspired affair...it took place in the backyard of a private home and was hosted by leila and lauren...they wanted to take some of ashley's favorite things (herbs, vintage books, desserts) and incorporate them in a way that was sweet and special...

style file: garden party, organic, subtle rustic feel

colors: green, beige, chocolate, hints of blue

elements: herbs, blueberries, wood, burlap, wrought iron, distressed terracotta, wicker, vintage books, twine, rustic copper

here is the stunning bride, ashley...

one of the desserts served was a chocolate pudding with crushed cookies and a mint sprig, made to look like little potted plants!

a cute little flower stand that leila and i crafted for her own "love shoot" last year!

guests sipped on lemonade as well as herb infused cucumber water...

i loved the wooden flatware leila chose! it added that laid-back, slightly rustic vibe...

we potted rosemary, sage and lavender in distressed terracotta and ceramic pots and footed urns...leila and jesi brought in a bunch of vintage books and stacked the herbs on top...

another dessert offered - blueberry pies!

ashley posing with some of her girlfriends, holding an adorable "love in bloom" burlap banner made by courtney from joyful, joyful...

one interactive thing leila and lauren had planned was a "plant your own love garden" station...we provided a variety of flowering plants and herbs and the guests got to pot their own to take home using soil, mini terracotta vessels and trowels...

the potted plants were accented with the cutest wooden stakes that read "love in bloom" or "5.7.11" (which was ashley's wedding date)...

it was so fun to work alongside such awesome people!

photography: dave richards photography

event production and design: be inspired pr (leila and lauren)

co-designer: jesi haack design

floral design: JL DESIGNS

props: oc prop girl

hair and makeup: kacee geoffrey

papergoods: mintwich design

"love in bloom" banner: joyful, joyful

linens: la tavola

thank you to inspired by this for featuring ashley's shower! to see the full write up and some behind the scenes planning ideas, click here...

also, the shower can be seen in the latest issue of inside weddings magazine, on stands now - thanks leila and marilyn for the feature!!

our european babymoon - may 2011

2011-10-27T21:24:00.001-07:00

well since i am 3 days away from my due date (halloween!!) i figured this was a good time to finally blog the photos we took on our european babymoon back at the beginning of may...i was 4 months along in my pregnancy at the time so it was a perfect time to travel! the morning sickness had mostly subsided and i had enough energy again to do a lot of walking...

as brian and i near the end of our days as a twosome it's so special to look back at these pictures and appreciate all the blessings we have...it's gonna be a while before we have the chance to travel internationally again...and some people never get the chance to travel for leisure at all...so we are extremely grateful for the 2 weeks we got to spend exploring spain and italy, eating great food, seeing historic sites and just soaking up each other's company and love...

we definitely have to thank katie from ever after honeymoons for helping to make this trip a reality...i left so many things until the last minute and she came in and did her fairy godmother magic to get decisions made...i can't say enough good things about her services!!

we took an old 80's film camera with us and trust me, we are no professionals but i think we did a decent job considering we know nothing about photography! we just love the way film looks so we thought we would give it a try...

we started our trip in barcelona, spain...being an architect, it was important to brian to see all of gaudi's work...so here we are at parc guell, casa batllo and of course, sagrada familia...

as if the outside of the sagrada familia is not crazy looking enough - the inside was INSANE!!! most european churches look pretty similar on the inside...but the interiors that gaudi dreamed up have no comparison...

next we traveled south to granada, probably my favorite city in spain...the moorish influence in that region is just so fascinating and romantic! the highlight was visiting the alhambra, which in my opinion, is the most gorgeous site in the country...

here we are just roaming the streets of granada...

our last stop in spain was sevilla...we toured the royal palace and ate delicious olives - but it was pretty hot there and by the time we left i was giddy with excitement for the italian food to come :)

although we stayed at an amazing villa in the tuscan countryside, we did a day trip into florence to climb to the top of the duomo, sample some gelato and walk across the ponte vecchio bridge...

we loved florence but the rest of tuscany was TO.DIE.FOR...we rented a car and drove the back roads to some of the most beautiful medieval towns like siena and san gimignano...

probably my favorite picture of bri from the whole trip...

we even had some time to get to pisa to see the leaning tower...i honestly could not believe how much that thing is leaning!! so crazy to see it in person...it kinda blew me away!

we finished our vacation in the stunning region of the amalfi coast...it was a long trip to get down there but worth every second! it was completely amazing in every way...

we stayed in the adorable town of positano and took a day trip over to the town of amalfi as well...

this was the view from our hotel suite - simply magical and like no where we have ever been!!

we will never forget the memories we made on this trip...and it was pretty surreal that our baby was there with us :)

and as for you, baby jowett - we can't wait for your official arrival and to someday take you on family vacations, watch you travel during your post college years and then take your own honeymoon and family vacations someday! we love you and are so excited to meet you!!

a mod california citrus wedding - bel air bay club

2011-10-17T09:42:00.001-07:00

lindsey and aaron's design style started with the idea of paying tribute to the city they love - los angeles...they chose a venue right on the ocean to really highlight one of LA's best features...

when we met to talk about the look of the wedding, jesi haack had come up with the idea of incorporating the colors of the sunset - orange, peach, coral...so we let that be our color guide...i threw out the idea of using some citrus elements, like baby orange trees, mini clementines and a citrus chandelier for them to say their vows under...and when lindsey mentioned that she would love to work in some jonathan adler type elements, we knew we were on the right track!

style file: mod, vibrant, california cool, retro J. Adler, sunset over the water

color scheme: orange, peach and coral with tons of white and hints of yellow and green

elements: citrus fruit, moroccan lanterns, , orange trees, white ceramic props (blanc de chine vases, artichokes, finials, etc), wood and sheer white fabric cabana, chevron pattern

flowers: dahlias, garden roses, ranunculas, succulents, lemon leaf, gardenia foliage, tulips, craspedia

amber from pitbulls and posies came up with the genius idea of using the couple's first initials to create the "i love LA" theme in all the stationery items...loved this!

bridesmaids bouquets were made up of orange dahlias, peach parrot tulips, yellow craspedia, orange ranunculas and green fuzzy succulents...

little boutonniere composed of a succulent and some white pieris...

how gorgeous and amazing did lindsey look in her gown?!?!?

one of my favorite bouquets to create all year...white japhette orchids, pieris and lisianthus accented with fuzzy green succulents - kinda beachy, kinda natural - soooooo LA!

the ceremony was set against the backdrop of the pacific ocean and palm trees...we brought in a wood cabana with sheer white fabric for an airy, coastal feel...we then lined the aisle with some baby orange trees, set in pots with green moss...

it does not get more LA than this!!

we then created a "citrus chandelier" composed of lemon leaf and baby oranges!! it was one of my favorite elements of the day and made such an awesome statement...plus it's much more cost-effective than using all flowers...

for the tablescapes, we used a couple textured white ceramic vases or urns filled with our theme colored florals, along with various white props for a Jonathan Adler feel...we then popped in some little clusters of baby oranges and gardenia leaf to pay homage to LA's roots...

jesi found an amazing retro, graphic linen from la tavola and this really helped set the tone of the reception area...doesn't it make all the difference?!

the menu cards with the palm trees and sunset colors were the perfect touch of california...

adorable peach jam favors made by the couple's family served as favors AND placecards for the day! i LOVED the little sign that said "jam over to your seat" - so cute!

a killer dessert backdrop made by jesi! yellow and white chevron panels with hand sewn and stuffed white fabric letters...

amazing desserts by sweet and saucy, all done in shades of yellow, orange and white!

the cake had different layers of really cool textured fondant and an orange gloriosa lily (made of sugar!) accenting the top...

lindsey and aaron were so kind, so fun and let's be honest, had great taste - we LOVED working with them on their special day!

here's the list of fantabulous people who i got to work alongside:

event design and planning: jesi haack design

photography: gabriel ryan photographers

florals: JL DESIGNS

cake and desserts: sweet and saucy shop

stationery: pitbulls and posies

videography: shark pig

entertainment: dj smiles davis of the flashdance (reception) and supernova quartet (ceremony)

linens: la tavola

rentals: signature party

makeup: nicole deeanne

hair: the dry bar

venue: bel air bay club

and thank you to 100 layer cake who featured this wedding last week! to see their post, click here...

an air plant bouquet

2011-10-14T11:04:00.000-07:00

here's a little air plant bouquet and boutonniere we whipped up a couple months ago...we wrapped them in oatmeal colored linen ribbon and tan velvet...

the beautiful photos were shot by carlie from gabriel ryan photographers and the bouquet was recently featured on green wedding shoes...to see the feature, click here...

a dark, weird dinner party just in time for halloween

2011-10-05T19:13:00.000-07:00

this shoot was a feature for rue magazine that focused on the home and lifestyle of noa from featherlove photography...noa has such crazy rad style - a unique blend of bohemian, gypsy and 1960's hippie...with some dark, unique elements thrown in...

when anne sage and jesi haack set out to create a party that reflected noa's flair, the girls came up with ideas that they coined "darko-weirdo"...at first i was confused but after a couple emails i totally understood what they were looking for with the tablescape and florals...when you see the photos it all comes together ;)

in fact, i think the styling and design ideas actually make for some killer halloween inspirations! skulls, taxidermy, feathers, tarot cards, crows, macrame, ferns, face painting, dreamcatchers, furs, antlers and jello molds!?!!? i meeeaaaan...it was literally one of the weirdest but most genius shoots i have ever been a part of...

jesi used all of noa's existing furniture to to set up an al fresco dinner table, complete with bohemian rugs and that crazy dreamcatcher in the background...

i found a ton of vintage green and amber glassware at local thrift stores so we used them not only for vases but for drinking glasses as well...

i used some twine to hang some of noa's animal skulls, antlers, bones and teeth from one of the trees...

to give the table texture and dimension, i found a killer gray fur coat at a salvation army and we bunched it up to create a runner down the center of the table...

instead of florals, i stuck with all types of ferns, and accented a couple of the pieces with feathers...

here's the lovely noa - how fab is her outfit?! the perfect bohemian hostess :)

jesi came up with these crow placecard holders...the perfect dark touch for our table...

little fortune teller menus made by amber from pitbulls and posies...jesi found the 70's dishware at a goodwill...

i saw this glazed ceramic frog at the thrift store and couldn't resist nestling him into the fur runner...

jesi worked with jay's catering to come up with these insane throwback foods - grasshopper pie and a tomato jello mold?!?! they fit the 60's vibe so perfectly...

these are some shots of the inside of noa's home - her interior design is so funky and unique! it was such a great inspiration for our shoot...

a brilliant idea from jesi - using a retro lightbrite!

after dinner, guests entertained themselves with tarot card reading, music, fondue, face painting and of course, dancing!!

this was such an awesome shoot to collaborate on! jesi, anne and noa had a super crazy vision and it was so fun to feed off their energy and ideas!

to see the rue magazine feature and write-up on noa and her aesthetic, click here (page 142)...there is also an awesome video of the day, shot by son of sharkpig...seriously, watch it...it's a total reflection of the vibe of the day!

here is the full list of everyone involved:

event design and styling: jesi haack design

photography: braedon flynn (who is SO talented by the way)

florals and tablescape decor: JL DESIGNS

stationery: pitbulls and posies

food styling: jay's catering

videography: son of sharkpig

face painting: body art by allison

a mockup for a wedding at the london hotel, west hollywood

2011-10-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

this is a table mockup we did for today's wedding, taking place at the london hotel in west hollywood...the linens and chiavari chairs are going to be white and we have custom made all the gray and white "chain link" runners...

each table will have a combination of white ceramic pieces filled with white, eggplant, plum and gray theme flowers...so pretty for fall but also inspiring for a winter celebration!

i have to give it up to mr. haack, who took all the gorgeous photos, including the 2 below of my favorite girl in life - thank you ryan!!

to the ladies of details, details - see you soon!

a robot-space invader baby shower for our little guy...

2011-09-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

this post is super special to me because it's a baby shower thrown for me by, and attended by, some of my favorite wedding industry friends!

when coming up with a concept, i mentioned to leila that i was going with a subtle robot/space invader feel to the nursery...so we took that and ran with it!

style file: bright, techy, fun, modern, masculine, galactic

elements: ceramic robots, space invaders, graphic linens, pixelated font, acrylic, foil, tin cans

color scheme: yellow, orange, gray, white with pops of turquoise, green

flowers: succulents, dahlias, ranunculas, craspedia, double tulips, dianthus

for the flowers, i used a mix of textured white ceramic vases filled with colorful dahlias, ranunculas and tulips, finished by "antennae" made of yellow billy balls...

all the adorable printed items were created using a pixelated font for a "techy" feel, accented with either robot or space invader graphics...adrienne from cherish paperie did such an awesome job!

the invite said

"greetings earthlings...our circuits are overloaded with excitement for the arrival of a new species!"

it then went on to list the objective, launch date and coordinates of the party...

in addition to the main florals, i also bought some white ceramic robot coin banks online and filled the slot on top with succulents or billy balls, etc.

and dontcha just LOVE the graphic yellow and white patterned linens from la tavola?!

we set up a beverage station outside and served:

"rocket fuel" (lemonade)

"liquid hydrogen" (mango juice and sprite)

"anti freeze" (mini bottles of nicolas feuillate champagne)

we also had some theme colored crazy straws in case guests wanted to spruce up their drinks...

when we asked jesi haack to create a backdrop for the food display, we KNEW she would come up with something killer! she hand sewed all those individual turquoise "pillows" and then attached them to a backdrop in the shape of a space invader! so rad huh?

we displayed the food in front on all white platters and called it "mega bytes"...

when thinking about food, leila and i wanted to stick with stuff that didnt require a lot of utensils...we also wanted small bites because we didn't have room for a sit-down meal...so we served:

"tri-colored laserbeams" (carrot, bell pepper and green bean crudite with edamame dip served in shot glasses)

"micro chips" (variety of potato chips served in small tin cans)

"comet particles" (wild rice salad served in bowls we made out of foil)

"UFO's - unidentified flavorable objects" (chicken salad sandwiches on round buns)

for the dessert display, i found a local vendor who custom created some gray space invader wall decals...they actually were super affordable and easy to apply/remove! melody from sweet and saucy then used all her awesome acrylic dessert stands to keep the look modern and fresh!

here are some of the desserts we served:

"asteroids" (white chocolate dipped donut holes)

"flying saucers" (custom sugar cookies)

cupcakes with the most adorable robot toppers

robot cake pops (let me tell you...mel made THE BEST robot cake pops i have ever seen - and trust me, i googled a lot of others!)

i told melody i wanted a space invaders cake and to just do whatever she dreamed up! so she created a round white fondant cake accented with the RADDEST pixelated topper i have ever seen! in fact, i kept it for about 2 weeks after the shower because i couldn't bear to throw it away! ;)

leila bought a space invaders mold for mel so she could make those cute little gray, yellow and orange candy accents for the cake and the rest of the display...

courtney toney made the SWEETEST party hats using that insane silver glitter paper, orange robot cutouts and turquoise looped ribbon on top! you can buy some from her etsy shop, joyful, joyful...she will even make you new designs to fit your party theme!

we had two party favors for guests...the first one was a canvas bag with an ombre effect of space invaders, custom made by the lovely ladies of wedding chicks...i swear i am OBSESSED with these! i use my bag almost every day and get so many compliments, i hope the girls start selling these particular bags in their shop :)

there were 4 different colors (yellow, gray, turquoise, orange) and they each said one of the following phrases:

"beware the invasion"

"take me to your leader"

"resistance is futile"

"we come in peace"

the second favor were some gray robot and white space invader soaps i had custom made from a couple etsy sellers...we packaged them up in white boxes that said "baby shower objective - destroy all germs!"

i am normally not a huge fan of shower games but i told leila i love the game taboo...so she found a baby shower version online! and she worked with jesi haack to create some outer space/robot key words too...they even had the cards printed to fit the theme of the shower!

both teams actually did REALLY well! plus it was a lot of fun :)

i have to thank a couple ladies who made this event so special!

leila khalil from be inspired pr - who spent hours with me planning and scheming and is the best friend and hostess a girl can have!

carlie from gabriel ryan photographers - who took all the beautiful pictures and documented such a special day...

my mom - who had thrown me an amazing shower for family and friends just a couple days prior...it was so nice that she could just show up and enjoy after all the hard work she had done for my other party...

my sister-in-law and mother-in-law - who traveled all the way from the midwest to be at both showers! it was so awesome to have them back in town one last time before the baby gets here and to share in the festivities...

jesi haack - who dreamed up that insane space invaders background for the food display...

melody from sweet and saucy - who blew.me.away with her gorgeous, whimsical (and of course delicious) desserts!

oh and no personal post is complete without a picture of bossy, my favorite french bulldog!

here is a full list of the talented people who made this party so fab!

hostess and planning: leila of be inspired pr

floral and event design: JL DESIGNS

photography: carlie from gabriel ryan photographers

cake and desserts: sweet and saucy shop

space invader backdrop: jesi haack design

stationery: cherish paperie

linens: la tavola

custom canvas bags: wedding chicks shop

party hats: joyful joyful

rentals: signature party rentals

champagne: nicolas feuillate

and thank you to onto baby for featuring the shower today!! to see the post click here...

it's also being featured on inspired by this...to see the post click here...

a modern green and white wedding - shade hotel, manhattan beach

2011-09-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

erin and morgan were, without a doubt, one of the sweetest, warmest, most easy going couples i have ever worked with...and just soooooo obviously in love...even though their wedding was last summer, i love how crisp,fresh and modern it looks compared to what's going on in a lot of wedding design right now...a good change of pace!

style file: modern, clean, sleek, soft, fresh

color scheme: white, gray, green

elements: glass vessels, soft sheer fabric draping, white lounge furniture, green throw pillows, monobotanical floral arrangements

flowers: succulents, hydrangea, orchids, mini calas, tulips, brazilia berries, protea

each bridesmaid carried a bouquet composed entirely of one type of green theme flower so all were different from one to the next...

and that flower girl? SERIOUSLY?!?! cutest thing ever...

bouquets of rustic green hydrangea and fuzzy succulents...

another succulent bouquet...the flower girl even got to carry her own bouquet of white mini calas...

erin's bouquet was made up of all white japhette orchids and green succulents for a modern beach feel...

we created a simple gray and white canopy structure for the couple to stand under as they exchanged vows...the bases were filled with fluffy white hydrangea and green orchids...

orchids were strung on fishing line and hung from the back of the canopy to add visual interest...

simple glass vases filled with green and white florals were used to accent the aisle and the hotel lobby...

we swagged sheer white fabric panels across the courtyard to soften the space and give it a romantic feel without looking closed off...

sheer happiness...

how gorgeous is this couple?!

while guests cocktailed in the hotel lobby and terrace, we flipped the ceremony space and gave it a lounge feel...no formal sit-down tables for 10...just a cool, hip party where guests could flow freely...

we brought in white lounge furniture, gray linens and green throw pillows...

the tables had a variety of glass vases filled with monobotanical white and green florals...just crisp, fresh and calming to the eye!

we set the cake on my acrylic base and filled the base with white crushed glass and orchids...

as the night wore on, the amber lighting kicked in and really set the mood for a sexy party!

a big thanks to the following people who helped make this day amazing!

venue: shade hotel, manhattan beach (jolise is the BEST EVER!)

floral and event design: JL DESIGNS

photography: erin hearts court (they did such an amazing job!)

linens: wildflower linens

lounge furniture/lighting: level 4 international

hair and makeup: nicole deanne

entertainment: vox djs

videography: living cinema

favors: gotta have s'more (which i ate at least 3 of...so delish!!)

and thanks to style me pretty for featuring this wedding back in november of last year! to see the feature, click here...

an elegant and classic wedding - the london hotel, west hollywood

2011-09-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

charlene and steve wanted something very light, classic and elegant to fit the vibe of their urban glam venue, the london hotel in west hollywood...

style profile: pretty, classic, elegant, glamorous, romantic

color palette: white, cream, black, blush, gold

elements: lace, footed glass vases, gold filigree, cut crystal vessels, pleated black ribbon

florals: hydrangea, ranunculas, anemones, garden roses, lisianthus

i think everything turned out gorgeous!!

these miu miu shoes...i meeeeeeaaaaan.....

and how stunning is this bride?!

soft, feminine bouquet of all blush garden roses...

the rooftop ceremony was kept super simple (just a lush aisle of cream petals) so guests could take in the views of LA...you could see all the way to downtown that day!

the event planner, carolyn chen, went with 2 large rectangular tables with white linens and gold chiavari chairs...we brought in the lace runners to add texture to the tables...

florals were monobotanical arrangements set in glass vases...

every so often we used blush garden roses in cut crystal vases to add a touch of color...

we wrapped every napkin in a black pleated ribbon and added a gold filigree brooch to each one to tie in with the gold chairs...

how amazing is the tent at the london hotel by the way? with the specialty lighting it really created an awesome atmosphere!

it was so great working with the following vendors:

event planning and design: carolyn chen from the special day

photography: samuel lippke studios

floral and event design: JL DESIGNS

linens: wildflower linens

dj: dash entertainment

printed goods: mintwich designs

lighting: g2 audio and lighting

cake: nancy kay confections

and thanks to style me pretty for featuring this wedding back in june! to see the feature click here

baby love - carissa and brian

2011-08-31T00:38:00.000-07:00

brian,

so today is our 3 year anniversary and i cannot think of better photos to post than these...it's kinda hard to believe that in about 2 months we will become a mommy and daddy to this tiny little person growing inside of me...

i would say "it seems like only yesterday we just started dating" but to be honest, i feel like those days seem forever ago...in a good way...we have both changed and matured so much over the last 7 years and in particular over the last 3 years of marriage...as long as we continue to grow together and support each other's rises and falls, it will only get better...

and i know it's cliche but i really do love you more than i did on our wedding day...i cannot even begin to imagine how much more i will love you once our little boy arrives...it's gonna change everything...and i CAN...NOT...WAIT :)

happy anniversary babe!! i love you more than you know...

xoxo,

carissa

the BOSS...

probably my favorite photo of the whole day...

you guys have NO idea how excited i am to see this man holding our son - i tear up just thinking about it sometimes...he is going to make the cutest dad!

i have to thank our dear friend, ashley rose, for gifting us with these gorgeous photos...to have this moment in our lives documented by someone we adore just makes me smile inside! she did an AMAZING job and we will cherish these photos for years to come - and so will baby jowett!! big hugs ash!!

lauren and brian - the four seasons, santa barbara

2011-07-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

this wedding took place at the gorgeous four seasons resort in one of my favorite southern california cities - santa barbara...the bride and i clicked from the moment we started chatting about her wedding decor and i knew right away she was going to be the kind of bride who really valued my opinions and my experience as a designer...bottom line - i loved her!!! :)

client style: pretty, feminine, soft, classic

color scheme: white, cream, gray, pale buttery yellows

elements: apothecary jars, lace, mirrored surfaces, hemstitch napkins, russian linen tablecloths, glass candlesticks, cut crystal drinking goblets

isn't the bride a dead ringer for isla fisher?!

lauren's bouquet was composed of white and cream peonies, ranunculas, spray roses, double tulips and lisianthus...all wrapped in a raw edged vanilla colored lace...

seriously this is probably one of the most gorgeous couples i have ever worked with!!

for the ceremony, instead of a traditional arch or canopy, we chose to go with a pair of mirrored console tables, each lined with a lace runner and accented with glass apothecary jars, floral arrangements and various height glass and white candlesticks...we then lined each side of the aisle with a lush border of white and cream rose petals...

how great are those hanging programs with lace?

every other row held a tray wrapped in gray fabric, lace and filled with rose petals to toss upon conclusion of the ceremony...

the stunning grounds of the four seasons...quintessential santa barbara style...

the placecards were set on top of strips of gray lace and fluffy white hydrangea lined the backside of the table...

for the dessert display, we brought in two mirrored console tables along with a lace runner and white candlesticks...for the backdrop we hung various width strands of gray, ivory and pale yellow satin ribbon, as well as white and ivory laces...

centerpieces were a composite of glass footed vases filled with monobotanical arrangements of hydrangea, lisianthus, sweet peas, garden roses, peonies and ranunculas...we also added in a couple cut crystal drinking goblets filled with a mixture of those theme flowers, as well as 2 cylinder vases wrapped in a cuff of cream lace and filled with a pillar candle...so elegant and clean but still romantic and soft...

a classic cake encircled by white hydrangea and votives...

i loved how those beautiful russian linens in the butter yellow tone offset the white chiavari chairs and white hemstitch napkins!

lauren actually created the entire photo booth design...she searched for special pieces and touches that would make it killer like the fabric backdrop, the chairs, the coat racks, clocks, cameras etc...total vintage vibe without feeling overdone or cluttered...i loved it!

for the favors, lauren had a custom canvas totes made for all her guests with a killer map of santa barbara on it...i still have mine and use it all the time actually! such a great idea!

this wedding has such a soft spot in my heart and i love that the bride will be able to look back on it for years to come and still think its timeless and beautiful without being overly trendy - i know i will!

thanks to all the awesome vendors who participated in this lovely day!

photography: aaron delesie

florals and event design: JL DESIGNS

event coordination: go get it events

linens and napkins: wildflower linens (reception) and elegant designs (cocktail hour)

furniture rental: luxe event rentals

mini desserts: sweet and saucy shop

dance floor, chiavari chairs, lighting: chiavari chair rentals

venue: the four seasons - biltmore resort, santa barbara

and special thanks to style me pretty for featuring this wedding! to see the spread, click here

a summer wedding photo shoot - the ace hotel, palm springs

2011-07-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

this photo shoot was a brainchild of jesi haack...she wanted to do something bright and funky at the ace hotel in palm springs...when she sent me the color scheme i was so excited - fuschia, orange, navy and pale blue - yes please!! a desert vibe was incorporated with chevron patterns, tumbleweeds, denim and canvas twine...overall an awesome blend of classic palm springs with a modern, vibrant edge!

to see our shoot featured on design sponge, click here!

how amazing are these hot pink chiavari chairs?!

i alternated monochromatic orange and fuschia floral arrangements...jesi planted baby pink cacti with wood hearts to serve as the placecards AND favors...

the bridal bouquet was a mix of hot pink garden roses, orange and fuschia ranunculas, blue thistle, yellow acacia and salmon colored anthirium...

some of the vases were textured white ceramic that i wrapped in fuschia thread...

and the other vases were glass cylinders that i wrapped in denim jeans - pockets included!!

super adorable menu created by amber at pitbulls+posies...also, a close up of a "denim pocket" vase i made...

all of the awesome chevron fabric used for the custom table runner and napkins was sourced by jesi...

i wrapped the bouquet in a burnt orange rustic ribbon and a braid i made out of come canvas twine...

the boutonniere was blue thistle, yellow acacia and canvas twine...and how rad is that bolero tie that jesi asked the groom to wear?!

cactus coolers were the drink of choice...a combo of vodka, pineapple juice, mint and cucumber!

jesi brought these cute pink soda bottles and i wrapped them in some extra denim fabric and canvas twine to give it that desert feel...

ooooohhhhh....this cake...it has to be one of my favorites EVER! melody from sweet and saucy hand painted the stunning chevron pattern and topped it with an orange gloriosa lily sugar flower...amazing right?

another highlight of the shoot was the heart shaped ceremony arch that jesi created out of tumbleweeds - so creative AND cost effective!! i loved it!

all the stationary had abstract pink tumbleweeds on them to fit with the theme...and i adored the laid back font that amber chose...

super cute guest book idea from jesi, using perler beads...amber's signage for it was also genius..."i'll stop the world and melt with you"?? i mean, come on!

it was a blast working with the following talented people!!

design and coordination: jesi haack design

photography: gabriel ryan photographers

florals and design: JL DESIGNS

cake: sweet and saucy shop

printed items: pitbulls and posies

venue: ace hotel, palm springs

hair/makeup: fiore beauty

brides hair accessory: ban.do

bridal gown: mary me bridal

a modern succulent wedding - the luxe hotel

2011-07-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

melissa and jason got married at the luxe hotel in april and we were design soul mates right from the start! their style was a perfect mesh with mine and i love the kind of client that lets us have creative control to just do what we do best!

client style: modern, sleek, sophisticated, fresh

color scheme: white, gray and all shades of green

elements: quartz, succulents, textured white ceramic vases, glass candlesticks from cb2, floating ranunculas, acrylic, wheat grass, chevron

melissa's bouquet was made up of white peonies, white japhette orchids and 2 types of green succulents (including my favorite - fuzzy succulents!)...

each boutonniere was a different type of succulent wrapped in gray faux suede trim...

bridemaids bouquets were composed of green ranunculas, rustic hydrangea and succulents...

cocktail tables held a small white ceramic vase with green vibernum and a quartz vessel with a green succulent...

for the placecard display, we created a backdrop of "floating" white ranunculas...the structure was set in gray fabric wrapped bases filled with fluffy white hydrangea...

the cards were set in an acrylic tray filled with quartz cubes (also known as selenite)...we accented the tray with green succulents for a pop of color...

instead of a pillow, the ring bearer held a white tray holding a variety of textured succulents...

we swagged a piece of sheer white fabric across the courtyard to serve as the couple's chuppah...we then hung a variety of glass orbs and test tubes filled with candles, green succulents and white ranunculas...

set on the ground down each side of the aisle was a series of low white trays filled with white pebbles and green succulents...

the ballroom was completely draped in white fabric for a clean, sophisticated feel...tables were a mix of rounds with gray linens and white lacquered rectangles...

each centerpiece setup was a composition of glass candlesticks and quartz vessels holding green succulents, along with textured white ceramic vases filled with lush white florals, succulents and modern green foliage (curled tea leaves and hosta leaves)...

we even added a green succulent to every napkin treatment to get more color in the room...

we went with a white dancefloor, as well as some white lounge banquettes and end tables for resting between dance sets...

for the cake, melody and i decided on a gray chevron pattern, accented by a green fondant succulent...i created an acrylic box filled with green wheat grass and white quartz in order to elevate the cake a bit...

all the desert stands were funky shaped acrylic pieces (actually designed by one of my past brides and custom created by a vendor of mine!)...

here's to the amazing team of professionals that made this wedding so memorable!

photography: meg perotti

event design and florals: JL DESIGNS

coordination: LRS event planning

cake and desserts: sweet and saucy shop

linens: wildflower linens

lighting/pipe and drape/lounge furniture, dancefloor: designer event rentals

venue: the luxe hotel

a bowtie baby shower

2011-06-22T08:47:00.001-07:00

speaking of baby boys....

this is a baby shower we co-designed with courtney from joyful weddings and melody from sweet and saucy shop! it was held in honor of our dear friend jesi haack and we actually celebrated AFTER the arrival of her son, maverick - which was so special because then everyone got to meet him for the first time :)

courtney came up with the idea of bowties - which i LOOOOOVED!! so manly and whimsical at the same time...kelly green, bright yellow and powder blue was our color palette, as well as some accents of white, gray and brown...

posh paperie designed all the adorable printed goodies...

courtney hand made these cute little ribbon bowties, which i wrapped around some of the flower vases...i stuck to yellow and white ranunculas, dahlias and hydrangea...

as the guests arrived, they could sport a bowtie of their own either in their hair or attached to their clothing...

and how rad is that custom "baby haack" tote that the wedding chicks designed?!? check out their online store for more fun stuff!

we didn't want to play any traditional games at the shower but to keep us all busy, we came up with a mad-libs sheet about jesi and maverick (how she found out she was pregnant, her trip to the hospital, naming her baby etc)...it was pretty fun to read some of them out loud!!

the sweet little guy we all came to love on...

courtney accented every mason jar drinking glass with more of her adorable ribbon bowties...

and she even created a bowtie garland using diapers and ribbon - so genius!!

little ribbon flags accented our sandwiches at lunchtime...and the jesi haack onesie is another super-cute wedding chicks creation...

for lunch we made everything ourselves - courtney did chicken salad sandwiches on mini croissants, melody did a yummy pasta salad and i did those tomato soup shooters with a crouton, shaved parmesan and fresh basil on top!

and ahhhhhh, the desserts!!! melody did a killer display of mini cupcakes, macarons, cake pops and bowtie sugar cookies...and of course accented the top of the cake with a fondant bowtie!

i gave maverick this little onesie that had sketched bottles and said "my skyline"...i also gave him that little hand-crafted owl from a local seller - gotta keep the small businesses alive guys! ;)

overall it was such a sweet, intimate day and we were so honored to shower jesi and maverick with love and blessings...and i cannot wait for our own little one to get here so he and mav can be buddies!!

planning and design: joyful weddings

floral design: jl designs

cake and dessert display: sweet and saucy shop

stationary: posh paperie

baby jowett - we can't wait to meet you!!!

2011-06-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

last tuesday i went in for my 20 week ultrasound - ummmm, how did i hit 5 months already?!!?

everything tested normal and healthy and during that time they were also able to determine the gender of the baby...instead of finding out then and there, brian and i asked the ultrasound technician to write it down and place it in a sealed envelope, which i then gave to one of my dear friends, melody from sweet and saucy shop...she baked us the most adorable cake that was going to be either pink or blue inside...i honestly don't know how she was able to keep the secret but she did!

since no one is going to be in the delivery room with me and brian when our baby is born, we thought this is the best way for our friends and family to see our genuine and true reactions to finding out what we are having...a way for them to experience our emotions as we get one step closer to knowing this little person we have created...

as soon as we cut the cake, i was trying to contain myself but hormones and emotions got the best of me and of course i starting crying...thats why you see me waving my hands around non-stop, trying to hold back the tears...yeaaahhhh, didn't work ;)

here's a peek at how our lives are about to change forever!

baby jowett! from carissa jones on Vimeo.

ps. and that's NON-alcoholic champagne i am drinking ;)

a cape cod inspired wedding - allison and chris

2011-06-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

this was a wedding we designed back in april of 2010 but we haven't been able to blog it because the knot magazine was going to be featuring it!! the issue has just hit newstands so now we can finally share this "hamptons-inspired" fete...

allison and chris decided to get married at the bride's family vacation home on balboa island in newport beach, which they have owned for over a century - talk about history!! she knew she wanted something ocean inspired but nothing too "themey"...no starfish, no sand dollars, no messages in a bottle...

based on the style of the family home, her planner, courtney toney, and i came up with more of a cape cod/martha's vineyard style affair...we wanted to highlight the more natural elements of the seaside while keeping it romantic and pretty...

style file: cape cod, hamptons, martha's vineyard style with a slight nautical feel

color scheme: tan, beige, white, cream, celery, royal blue

elements: grapewood branches, natural khaki linens, wood lounge furniture, dingy boat, sailing trophies, white lanterns

florals: hydrangea, vibernum, ranunculas, garden roses, tulips, peonies, cala lilies, scabiosa, lilac, sweet peas

each bridesmaid carried a different green theme flower in a celery or lime tone...the maid of honor had a combination of the different florals...

ring bearers held a grapewood log accented with white peonies in lieu of a standard pillow...

the groom's boutonniere was a white mini cala, some natural sea grass and a rustic twine wrap...

a gorgeous floral wreath we created for the entryway...

i LOVED these rope spheres courtney brought in! just the right nautical touch...

the ceremony was set on the sand right outside the family home...what a gorgeous view of the waterfront!

flower girls carried rusted pails of green vibernum...

the ceremony structure was a simple canopy of natural bamboo poles, sheer white fabric and green vibernum tie-backs...

courtney was dead set on finding a dingy boat to use somewhere in this wedding - she needed to look no further than the bride's family garage! they had this PERFECT blue dingy boat covered in barnacles...it was a dream! so authentic and special since it belonged to the bride's family...

i gave courtney some beige grosgrain ribbon and her staff strung the placecards across the width of the boat...we added a couple arrangements of green vibernum to give it a touch of floral...all in all, AMAZING!

the cocktail hour was made up of wood lounge furniture and all white florals in glass footed vases...double tulips, ranunculas, sweet peas...

the couple also had a steel drummer playing as a nod to the time the couple spent living in the caribbean (chris is a pilot)...

courtney created that adorable "just married" sign for the back of the bride's family boat...

some pretty mixed floral pieces in shades of white and green accented a wood hutch holding family photos...

we brought in knotted grapewood branches and white lanterns to add a natural, hamptons-esque vibe...

dinner tables were set in the sand and covered in natural khaki colored raw linens with matching napkins and white chiavari chairs...it was such a crisp, fresh base to work off of! we lined up the florals, vase after vase, for a feel that was full but still simple since each of the vases held only one kind of flower...

i love this shot with the dock in the background and cafe lights overhead...

tables were named after places the bride and groom have traveled to together...

a cute little boat that courtney found held bottled waters at the bar area...

allison had just finished school to be a licensed sommelier so of course their favors were custom bottles of wine!

we created a simple little backdrop of some rustic khaki linen to go behind the rustic buttercream cakes from sweet and saucy...i gave her some white peonies and she placed them in strategic spots...just goes to show that cakes don't need a ton of flowers to be pretty!

courtney and i oo'ed and aww'ed over the bride's family sailing trophies from the 1920's and 30's...we used some as part of an entry display inside the home but courtney snagged two low ones to use as the toasting flutes on the cake table - genius!

a cigar roller was brought in to hand-roll cigars all night...

stunning night shot looking back on the house and waterfront with the dock that we lined in white paper luminarias - LOVE!!!

this is actually one of my favorite weddings to date...so simple, clean and sophisticated with just the right blend of natural elements with feminine elements...plus i loved how courtney and i were able to draw from the bride's family home and their stories...it really spoke to us and was such a reflection of their heritage! plus allison and chris were the SWEETEST!! so easy breezy to work with...they kinda let me and courtney get creative and run with it!

i also have to point out the incredibly talented people who helped make this day what it was!

photography: meg perotti (these photos are a designers dream - she captured all the details AND the bride and groom so beautifully!)

coordination and design: courtney toney with joyful weddings and events (i adore you court)

florals and design: me :)

rentals: classic party rentals

catering: 24 carrots

stationary and printed items: posh paperie

cakes: sweet and saucy shop

band: cuesta ridge mountain boys (that dance floor was packed all night - loved them!)

cigar roller: cuban cigar factory

steel dummer: nesta

lastly, a HUGE thank you to leila of be inspired pr who submitted everything to the knot magazine for us! we are so thrilled to be featured on the pages of the latest southern california edition - please check it out!!

and then there were three...

2011-05-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

i am giddy...and about to get really personal on my blog which doesn't happen too often...

cause something crazy is happening inside of my body right now...it's magical and miraculous and all of those warm, fuzzy, gushy things people say it is...

i'm gonna be a mommy :)

this mother's day is taking on a whole new meaning for me...MY LIFE is taking on a whole new meaning for me...priorities are shifting and i am gaining an understanding of what's really important...we love this little one so much already...SO, SO much...of course i'm tearing up now just writing this...

we feel incredibly blessed to have such amazing support from our family, friends, church and of course the wedding and event world!

everyone, meet baby...

baby, meet everyone...

(it had its little hand up to its face in this picture so thats why it looks like its blowing a bubble out of its mouth)

this is the baby onesie i have had stashed in my underwear drawer for the past 6 months...brian always told me he wanted an eames chair but its an ongoing joke that i won't allow him to drop $600 on a chair that isn't even comfortable...so when i saw this onesie on etsy i knew it would be the perfect way for me to share the news with brian someday...

in terms of how things are going, i've been having every symptom of the first trimester except the actual throwing up part (thank goodness!)...but during all that nausea and fatigue, there were definitely things that kept me afloat...and let's be honest, are STILL keeping me afloat ;)

oranges and tangelos

shredded wheat

chewy fruit candies (gummy bears, swedish fish, twizzlers etc.)

TATER TOTS!!

mcd's vanilla ice cream cones

sliced cheddar cheese and almonds

fruit popsicles

lay's salt and vinegar potato chips

watermelon

chocolate milk made with nesquik powder - i actually haven't indulged in this yet but i think about it all the time...trying not to give in and buy the powder cause it could lead to obsessive intake...seriously...

now that i am in week 14, i feel like the nausea is going away and my energy level is coming back...just in time for our europe trip, which we're leaving for this weekend - hooray!

we're assuming it will be our last international vacation for a while so we are going to enjoy every minute of it - baby bump and all! :)

a 1960's mod wedding shoot

2011-05-03T08:34:00.000-07:00

this is a fun little photo shoot put together by jesi haack and jasmine star...when they asked me to do the florals i was sooo excited by the concept! they wanted to design a mid century MOD themed shoot complete with a sequin wedding gown, leather jackets, a whiskey bar and the longest eyelashes you've seen since twiggy!

for the tablescape, jesi chose a graphic back and white linen and topped it with gold rimmed plates and glassware - very liberace-esque!

i chose an assortment of textured white ceramic vases and added a mod yellow woven trim to some of them...

for the rectangle vases i designed a "gradient" arrangement using orange ranunculas, yellow daffodils and black/white anemones...

for the central vases i choses dark orange dahlias and orange tulips accented with kumquats on the vine...

for each place setting, i wrapped the plate with a mod gold trim...i loved the colors and patterns that wiley valentine used for all the printed items!

how amazing are those wood eames chairs?!?! i have been wanting to design a shoot with them forever...i actually showed up with my white bertoia chairs, expecting to use those, and was so surprised to see that memphis has their own stash of eames chairs! so of course we used those since we wanted to use something we hadn't seen done before...

jesi dreamed up a whiskey bar so i brought in my collection of vintage cut crystal decanters, along with some gold rimmed lowball glasses...oh and that random little metal sunburst prop is something i found at a thrift store...it normally sits on one of the end tables in my living room!

another awesome idea from jesi - retro kitchen timers served as the placecards!

for the bridesmaids bouquets, i used a clustering of yellow billy balls, collared by orange ranunculas...

the bridal bouquet was a mix of orange and yellow ranunculas, black/white anemones, yellow daffodils, white fringe tulips and yellow acacia...

the lashes??? i mean, come on!!!

stunning photo!

killer cake from sweet and saucy...i created the "stand" from 2 white greek key inspired letter holders from target!

i love how this next picture seems so "in the moment"...

a huuuuuge thanks to the following vendors who made this shoot possible!

Concept: Jasmine Star - www.jasminestarblog.com
Styling and Design: Jesi Haack Design - www.jesihaackdesign.com
Cake: Sweet and Saucy Shop - www.sweetandsaucyshop.com
Paper Goods: Wiley Valentine - www.wileyvalentine.com
Hair and Makeup: 1011 Makeup - www.1011makeup.com
Dresses: Shareen Vintage - www.shareenvintage.com
Venue: Memphis Cafe Downtown Santa Ana - www.memphiscafe.com
Linen: Latavola - www.latavolalinen.com
China & Flatware - Classic Party Rentals - www.classicpartyrentals.com

Bridesmaid Hair Pieces: Pixel and Hank

Bride hairpieces: Hope Stanley with Mary Me Bridal

to check out the feature on green wedding shoes, click here! thanks jen!!

a spanish hacienda style wedding

2011-04-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

even though this wedding took place last june, i thought it was great timing to blog it just before cinco de mayo...the hacienda venue, jewel toned color palette, papel picado table runners, sangria, bouganvillea ceremony arch and spanish fans for the bridesmaids bouquets all tied together for a festive, hispanic affair!

papel picado was a running theme throughout the day...here it is accenting the invitation...

the bridal bouquet was made up of purple lilac, fuschia peonies, raspberry toned scabiosa, purple sweet peas and gray succulents...we finished it with an heirloom rosary from the bride's family...

the wedding took place at the gorgeous rancho las lomas in orange county...it had so much natural character, it was easy to tie in the hacienda decor...

our wood boxes and wrought iron crosses added to the spanish feel...

a mariachi band to set the mood...

instead of bouquets, the bride wanted each of her bridesmaids to carry a black fan, accented with either a raspberry toned dahlia or a fuschia peony...

this was the cutest ring bearer i had ever seen! he walked down the aisle and waved his little hand saying "HIIIIII" to everyone he made eye contact with...so funny and sweet!

we decided we wanted the ceremony florals to just tie in with the surrounding environment so we created a simple and stunning arch made of curly willow branches and fresh cut bougonvillea...it really made an impact and added just that touch of color we wanted without looking too "flowery" and overdone...

half of our tables were a dark brown wood, accented with a white papel picado table runner brought in by the coordinator, courtney toney...the purple glassware added such a beautiful touch as well!

we used a variety of purple, orange, fuschia and dark burgundy florals - dahlias, peonies, tulips, sweet peas, scabiosa, chocolate cosmos, amaranthus - with purple basil and fresh mint to add a fresh, garden feel...not to mention they made everything smell amazing!!

half the arrangements were designed in wood boxes and the other half were composed in either clear or amber cut crystal drinking goblets...

since the bride is a book editor, stacks of books (collected by the bride herself) served as little pedastals for the flower arrangements and we finished the look with groupings of red grapes, peaches, apricots and succulents...

and how perfect are those tile table numbers that courtney and the bride found?!

besides the wood tables, we also had round tables draped in a champagne shantung silk linen...

to add more color, we went with a magenta shantung silk napkin and the menu of course had the papel picado motif!

pitchers of sangria were set on every table for a family style feel...

courtney made these cute little drink tags for the sangria glasses...again, the orange added a splash of additional color...

after the ceremony, we set up a table underneath the bougonvillea arch and that served as the cake display...melody from sweet and saucy shop created a variety of rustic buttercream cakes which she accented with some fuschia peonies we provided...

that stunning cake on the left was the focal point of the table - a gorgeous fondant cake with pearlescent papel picado sugar banners swagged on the layers, topped with a fuschia sugar peony!

courtney hand made these adorable dessert stand banners describing the flavors of the cakes...they were so cute i wanted to eat the banners themselves!

cool little "dia de los muertos" figurines served as non-traditional cake toppers....

i love this shot of the bride and groom taking it all in...

set on the head table was this awesome wrought iron piece i found and covered in fruit, herbs, theme flowers and succulents...

it was a stellar evening made fabulous by the following other vendors:

coordination and design: joyful weddings and events

photography: tara leigh

dj: smiles davis of the flashdance

cakes: sweet and saucy shop

catering: 24 carrots

video: luvbug films

hair and makeup: nicole deeanne

stationary: kavamore press and tigerette

venue: rancho las lomas

congrats to jeannette and jj!!