a modern succulent wedding - the luxe hotel

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

an organic "desert retro" tablescape for 944 magazine

when i was asked to do a tablescape for 944 magazine's first ever weddings issue, i was ecstatic...944 is a national lifestyle magazine dedicated to local businesses and scenes and i have been dying to be in it...my tablescape would be for their orange county edition so i wanted to really design something that was personal to me...the way i would celebrate here locally...

so i did it at my own home! the tablescape was set up on the deck off my kitchen and i used my own personal set of white bertoia chairs, along with all my own glassware, china and napkins...the deck was built by my husband and we planted all our own landscaping that you see in the background...the candles on the wood wall are up year round, as well as our cafe lights...so as you can tell, this shoot really is the epitome of me and my own style...

i wanted to bring in a very clean and modern aesthetic but give it a bit of a retro vibe...i also wanted to showcase a table that didn't use a lot of florals, but focused more on sustainable elements...

i used white ceramic vases with some curve and shape to them to keep the feel from getting too masculine...i then filled them with all white ranunculas for a ruffly but monobotanic look...

i found these white retro-inspired pieces at the long beach flea market...i actually think they were originally sold at target so they aren't very authentic...but i loved them and they fit the vibe :) they are letter/mail holders but i flipped them upside down and used them to hold some candles and airplants...

green succulents spilled out of white ceramic vases from ikea...

rachelle from wiley valentine did an amazing job with all the printed items! they were the exact vibe i was going for...modern, breezy, fresh and masculine...

i accented chollah wood branches with green airplants so they looked like they were "growing" out of the holes...

i whipped up some signature cocktails that i personally love and drink...my take on a "palm springs mojito" uses muddled mint and cucumber, vodka, fresh grapefruit juice, simple syrup and a splash of soda water...and isn't the color so pretty?

for a "desert margarita" combine muddled cilantro and serrano chilis with tequila, fresh lime juice and raw sugar...strain over ice and garnish with lime, sliced serrano chili and a sugared rim...

the gorgeous wood and metal table was borrowed from my sweet friends over at found rentals...i really did NOT want to return it afterwards...in fact, i was so in love with it, i hosted 2 back to back dinner parties with it while i had it in my posession...that's right jeni and allison...it's confession time ;)

the killer hand carved wood candlesticks were from anthropologie...we popped an airplant on top of each one instead of a candle...

every napkin was accented with a woven braid that i made out of twine and canvas rope...

as the sun set, it just kept looking better and better...

the glass candles hanging on our wall are from cb2 and they are a steal at $2.00 each!

i loved being able to set up the tablescape and then actually ENJOY it with some friends afterward...what a perfect night!

i have to give a HUGE thank you to aaron young (who lives only a couple blocks away from me) for coming over, bringing his little french bulldog kona and blowing these photos out of the water!! they are so amazing and i want to live in them forever...

also to leila khalil at be inspired pr who hooked us up with this opportunity and allowed us to design for 944 - it was a dream!

and lastly to my girls over at

found vintage rentals - for the use of their table

and

wiley valentine - for the printed perfection