an "urban glam" photo shoot - the london hotel, west hollywood

i loved this shoot...period...

thank you gloria for allowing me to take your "urban glam" vision and run with it! i hope you were inspired by what we created!

allison from the innovation companies created this unique accordion folded invitation...i was totally feeling the steel plate between the paper layers and also the way she spaced out the text! it captured that urban vibe so well!

the look of the tablescape was modern, funky and urban...the vases were a silver faux crocodile skin and i packed them full of white hydrangea, white tulips, white mini cala lilies and black/white anemones...i found all the white mod vessels, artichokes, silver balls and crystal votive holders at z gallerie...

as soon as i saw those white leather chairs from classic party rentals i knew they would be perfect! i love the chiavari chair to death but sometimes it's nice to change it up a bit :) to soften the look i added some ruffly aubergine pillows from homegoods and z gallerie...

the steel gray linens and eggplant napkins were from my personal favorite, wildflower linens! desiree also loaned us their new gorgeous rhinestone napkin rings, which they actually sell now! wouldn't they be amazing for a winter dinner party?

for the placecard table, i accented it with a white ceramic trophy, an oversized white artichoke and a silver horsehead (all found at homegoods)...they added a funky, regal-kitsch feel! sometimes you don't even need floral if you have some great props!

i love that allison set up the placecards on a diagonal...it was such a different look and doesn't cost any extra to do!

i also love that she wrote the table numbers in french on the backs of the placecards :)

okay...moment of silence for this cake...

okay i can't contain myself...THOSE RUFFLES!!!!! melody truly incorporates fashion into her cakes!

and what goes better next to a fashion-forward cake than a big silver horse head?! ;) okay so the horse head is an acquired taste but i LOVE it!

for the bouquet i did all black mini cala lilies finished with a black feather collar...

gorgeous hair piece made by the super sweet, linda ly...she is a woman of many talents!

my infamous ikea frames, painted white :) i know, i know...but i can't stop using them!

this shoot would not have been possible without the following amazing vendors:

event coordination + production: gloria mccune, grand engagements

photos: jasmine star photography

cake: melody, sweet and saucy shop

linens + napkin rings: desiree, wildflower linens

invitations, menus, placecards: allison, the innovation companies

chairs, flatware, glassware, plates, chargers: classic party rentals

hairpiece: linda ly

location: the london hotel, west hollywood

jasmine: thank you for always coming through with fantastical imagery! you capture crisp, clean, modern like no other!

gloria: you have such grace, such style and such poise! i cannot wait to see where your talents lead you and the things you do in this industry!

xoxo to all the lovely ladies above!!!

happy thanksgiving!!!

a bouquet i created out of wheat, wrapped in chocolate lace...shot by the lovely stephanie williams...

hope your day is full of yummy food, warm moments and lots of thankfulness for the blessings we have been given!!!

design challenge for bride and bloom magazine

a couple months ago, i was asked to participate in the "design challenge" for bride and bloom magazine...the concept is to take a real couple who is in the beginning of their wedding planning process and allow 3 floral designers to create a bouquet, boutonniere and 2 different tablescapes based off of the couple's color scheme, venue and design style.

here was the mood board the client created to give us an idea of what she liked:

the couple's wedding venue is "craftsteak" inside of the mgm in las vegas. so the photo shoot took place at one of the sister restaurants, "craft" in los angeles...the vibes were pretty similar - masculine and modern with warm tones...so even though the client liked a vintage, feminine feel, we also had to stay somewhat true to the venue as well...

overall, here is what we came up with!

bridal bouquet of eggplant mini cala lilies, lavender parrot tulips, dark purple tulips and plum hyacinth...

stems were wrapped in eggplant satin, pum lace and a band of aubergine velvet...3 mini purple rhinestone brooches finished the "vintage modern" look...

eggplant mini cala boutonniere wrapped in black satin, a band of aubergine velvet and black rhinestone trim...

for the tall centerpiece option, we created monobotanical arrangements of eggplant dahlias, dark purple mini cala lilies, green vibernum and green dutch hydrangea...tall glass candlesticks from crate and barrel, purple vases and short glass candlesticks from z gallerie...

the couple was going to be using all the existing furniture inside of craftsteak, including the chairs and rectangular tables...but we were encouraged to bring in our own runners and napkins, so i decided on the green "russian linen" from wildflower linens...

for the low centerpiece option, fabric wrapped boxes were packed full of dutch green hydrangea, eggplant dahlias, lavender parrot tulips, dark purple mini cala lilies and plum toned tulips and hyacinth...

the couple threw out the idea of lace, so i utilized a plum lace trim around each of the boxes, layered with an aubergine velvet for added texture...

to see the full spread and what the other designers came up with, check out the latest issue of bride and bloom, on newstands now! thanks so much to carol poon and leila khalil for involving me! and to lauren hillary for her awesome images!