Country Style BBQ Rehearsal Dinner by Alchemy Fine Events
Americana Country Style BBQ Rehearsal Dinner
Whether having a destination wedding or a local wedding, creating a fun and relaxed rehearsal dinner to welcome your guests and kick off the festivities is a great way to set the tone. For Melissa & Scott’s La Quinta Resort wedding we featured here we created a down home country style bbq rehearsal dinner complete with checkered table clothes, sunflowers and of course some sweet cherry pie to get the weekend started right.
For this summer time rehearsal dinner we created a country Americana style BBQ complete with bandana & checkered linens, pulled pork sliders, BLT’s and corn on the cob for a truly down home, casual celebration before the big day.
To create this look we combined a ton of bright sunflowers in galvanized buckets and watering cans accented with bandanas and tossed around salted peanuts to give the guests a colorful yet fun and relaxed vibe. We worked with the chef’s at La Quinta resort to create a fun country menu including pulled pork, french fries with dips, corn on the cob, grilled cheese and other fun small bites which were easy to grab and mingle at the same time.
Guest’s were welcomed to cool off from the desert heat with pink strawberry lemonade we served in mason jars as well as buckets of icey cold coca-colas in vintage glass bottles.
For a super down home country style dessert bar we offered guests an array of mini-pies in apple, blueberry, cherry and blackberry along side big fresh slices of watermelon and fresh strawberries.
Mix in some country tunes and bales of hay for a perfectly fun and casual way to welcome your guests to your wedding weekend!
Event Design, Flowers & Planning by Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations
Photography by Justin Lee
Venue & Catering La Quinta Resort
Linens by La Tavola
Modern La Jolla Beach Wedding by Alchemy Fine Events, part 2.
Under the Sea Asian Zen La Jolla Beach Wedding: The Reception
With the vision of an ‘under the sea’ inspired Asian zen ocean, we created a magical setting to completely transform Scripps Forum into a living aquarium where coral reefs were recreated onto each table and waves lapped above their heads on the waving ceiling. Lights sparkled all around them and danced about as the sequin and grey silk curtains brought a modern seaweed influence around them as they dine on canvas covered tables and danced on grey-washed floors. 
An Under the Sea La Jolla Beach Wedding worthy of being held at Scripps Aquarium
As guests entered the reception they were greeted by over sized floating origami cranes that led them to a custom seating card table made out of rustic beach wood bases and layered lucite which housed hundreds of colorful flowers and succulents. Guests were escorted to their seats by a miniature origami cranes with purple calligraphy by Kathryn Murray.
To completely transform the room from an auditorium to WOW we re-carpeted the entire room in a soft gray and created a gray-washed wood dance floor to follow the curvature of the room which we draped in a custom designed grey and white drapery with a splash of silver sequins to create the ‘under the sea’ feeling. In lieu of traditional tables and linens we custom wrapped square tables in white canvas and grey silk bases for an ultra clean and zen vibe and then paired them with canvas benches and sleek leather chairs. For a completely unique centerpiece idea wanted to replicate the ocean floor by designing flowers that would emulate gorgeous coral and sea life on a reef. To do so and also stay in line with the recurring square theme (square table, plates, centerpiece, menus) on the table I custom designed square lucite trays which overlapped each other in a cantilever position which boasted the bright blooms and succulents Isari Flower Studio so impressively created. White matte sea urchin votives, white coral and nautilus shells created a textural ambiance and accented the purple coral napkins we also had custom designed which presented a polished abalone shell for each guest and a letterpressed menu.
For just a touch of vintage guests dined on their 5 course meal including a bread cart, 2 salad choices, sorbet intermezzo served on Chinese soup spoons and cornish game hens on heritage silverware as well. Guests danced to the R&B sounds of Ground Control and then were surprised by the groom’s pick of Freeze Frame, an awesome 80’s band that took over later in the evening.
Wedding Photography: Photography: Samuel Lippke Studios | Wedding Venue: Scripps Forum | Event Design, Planning & Stationery: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations| Floral Design: Isari Flower Studio | Catering: Urban Kitchen Catering | Furniture & Production: Hire Elegance | Draping, Lighting & Chuppah Production: Your Bash! | Furniture & Decor Rentals: Revelry Event Design | Tabletop Rentals: Classic Party Rentals & Casa de Perrin | Calligraphy: Kathryn Murray | Desserts: Sweet & Saucy Shop, The Cravory, Sweet Lucies, Images Printed on Chocolate, Cappuccino on Call | Entertainment: Elan Artists & Freeze Frame | Dress & Bridesmaids: Monique Lhuillier |Beauty: Fiore Beauty
Destination to Celebration: An Intimate Chinese Wedding at the Raleigh Hotel in South Beach Miami
Shanghai meets South Beach for a Chinese wedding
Happy Valentine’s Day to all! In honor of this day of love I wanted to share a wedding I designed for some of the most darling love birds. I love working with couples that are madly and deeply in love with each other and with their heritage, this was the case of Julia and Rendy. High school sweethearts that even work side by side, these two were so adorably young and in love and excited for me to plan their destination Chinese wedding. For the inspiration of this intimate affair we dreamed up the idea of 1940′s Bankgok with art deco influences with traditional Chinese elements. With that idea in mind, the art deco district of south beach, especially The Raleigh Hotel, in Miami was the perfect location!
For my first Chinese wedding, it was so cool for me to learn all about the traditions including the giving of gifts and Chinese tea ceremony which was so beautiful and respectful of their families.
This wedding was featured in The Knot Florida!! Thank you Matt of Our Labor of Love for your gorgeous images!
Event Design, Planning & Stationery by Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations
Photography by Matt Miller of Our Labor of Love
Ceremony Location The Spanish Monastery
Reception Location The Raleigh Hotel
Flowers by Karla Events
Home Decoration & Colorizaton to Celebration: Modern Parisian Event Inspiration
Gilded Modern Parisian Apartment Event Inspiration
As a designer that is passionate about interior design, art history and art I am constantly torn as to what eras and genres to be inspired by in addition to trying to create fresh twists to conjure up new ones. It’s like choosing what child is your favorite, what type of cuisine to dine on, or for me, red or white. I adore the femininity of the renaissance, the opulence of baroque and of course, the bold, clean lines of modernism, so when I came across this modern Parisian apartment featured in Elle Decor my jaw dropped and obsession began. With a name like Alchemy, you already know I’m obsessed with GOLD, so throw in some muted bone, soft dusty blue and a pop of poppy and I’m already designing the event.
To illustrate the inner workings of my imagination after perusing this interior design feature, here are some choices I’d love to play with for a modern Parisian fete! Blending more delicious modern decor items from Form Decor as well as some Parisian prints and some still life inspired flowers by Saipua that look like they fell out of a renaissance painting. Plus some amazing Marie Antoinette worthy Tory Burch heels for a ‘something blue’ for a bride to be.
