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Wooden Shoe Rather Be Dutch? Delft Dutch Blue Revamped for Modern Day Inspiration

Classical blue and white delftware is an iconic look in the Dutch culture. As a Dutch person myself (hello, Van Wieren?) I feel a sense of heritage and pride when I look at these detailed and ornate pieces ranging from from china to vases to even miniature ceramic windmills. The shades of blue ranging from cerulean to azul to royal to cornflower always flow in such a soft and regal feeling palette. Why not take these European classics and give them an updated twist by pairing them with say a blue ikat linen or napkin, a modern minimalist chair from a neighboring Scandinavian country. Throw in some classic silverware for a stately look or glam it up with a few pops of gold and some contrasting luxury textiles in similar hues. However you pair it, we think delftware could make for a very cool and interesting pop of design and culture in your home or event.

 

Monopoly Korean 1st Birthday Party at the London West Hollywood

Last spring I was fortunate enough to design my first Korean 1st birthday party. In the Korean culture, the 1st birthday is a highly celebrated special time in their babies life that symbolizing great health, luck and also to help forecast their life to come. When Jina Parks of Ultimately Plush  asked me to create this creative and luxurious bash at the London West Holllywood I knew I’d be in for a treat!

Here are some sweet words from Jina herself regarding the special day:

Jina Park, founder and creator of PLUSH, the posh little urbanites show in Los Angeles just celebrated her second son’s 1st birthday this past April.  Always looking for the best and most innovative ideas, Jina wanted Brendan’s 1st birthday party to be an event never seen before, so she decided on a Monopoly-themed party with an elegant twist.

“We knew right away that a Monopoly themed birthday party would be perfect for Brendan for various reasons.  First, he looks just like a baby version of that jolly Monopoly man!  And since Brendan’s dad is a real estate developer, it was perfect!  I also knew immediately who I wanted on my team to make this dream party become reality.

First, I had no doubt that Vanessa of Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations was the perfect person to help me create that elegant Monopoly party.  Vanessa is incredibly creative and is also a very gifted graphic artist, so I knew she could take my ideas and create the most gorgeous party even beyond my wildest imaginations.  Second, I chose Melody of Sweet and Saucy Shop to create the dessert table I envisioned, with the perfect mix of elegance, charm and a delicious combination of goodies that no one else can imitate!  And let me just say, her cakes for SO DELICIOUS, and the beautiful dessert table that Vanessa put together was something I’ve never seen before!  Finally, what’s the point of all this planning if we didn’t have the perfect photographer to put this together?  I’ve been admiring Corbin of Corbin Gurkin Photography for a long time, and just had to have her photograph this party!

From the very beginning, I knew what I wanted in terms of invitation pieces that I created to look just like a Monopoly board but customized to depict Brendan’s first year of his life.  There were also some must-haves like dessert iterations, such as the money bag cake pops, the color theme of pale blue, black & white and gold, and customizing verbiage to go along with the Monopoly theme.  But I must say that all these ideas would not have been possible without the collaboration of Vanessa, Melody and Corbin to make this dream a reality!”

Credits:
Theme idea & Concept:  Jina Park (PLUSH, LLC)
Event Design, Dessert Tablescape & Graphics:  Alchemy Fine Events and Invitations
Photography:  Corbin Gurkin Photography
Desserts & Cake:  Sweet & Saucy Shop
Invitations:  Jina Park (Ink Monster Invitations)
Florals:  Isari Flower Studio
Rentals:  Elm Concierge
Head Table Rentals:  Kiki Events

Summer Dreamin’: Bold Colorful Modern Glamour Beach Wedding Inspiration

Summer Dreams are in my head… A few months back when the weather was warm and the sun was shining, I designed what I consider to be a shoot so expressive of my own personal style and taste that it screams me! Lounge Appeal had just released their new Luxe Collection and asked me to design a shoot to showcase their modern new pieces. I have always been a huge fan of Diane Von Furstenberg and when her home collection came out I was jumping with joy. Bold, splashy colors, contrasting patterns and textures, and most of all…. GOLD! For me the most important thing about working with color is balance. The bright and daring color palette could easily look garish if not done correctly, but its the balance of the soft sea, sand and natural woods and burlap that help balance out this vivid tablescape.

So as you start to plan your summer wedding or event, here are some not so shy design ideas for your beach (or city) bash!

To offset the bold DVF china palette I infused a lot of warm and native feeling china in the form of exaggerated tortoise shell and hand painted vases in shades of amber to sand. Isari Flower Studio worked their magic again and  brought in dinner plate dahlias, peonies and orchids ranging from hot fuchsia to raspberry to peach for a warm feminine palette.

For a natural and soft base to the centerpiece I lined up sun bleached planks of wood, complete with mossy green details on them natural from aging.

I love the contrast of the gold paint details on the dark wood napkin rings. The contrast of modern glamour with raw, natural materials is a design trick I live for.

For a modern yet clean touch, I brought in mirrored cube risers and sleek lucite votive holders to elevate and accentuate our centerpiece pieces.

Design & Styling by Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations

Photography by Scott Lawrence

Furniture by Lounge Appeal

Flowers by Isari Flower Studio

China by DVF courtesy of Bloomingdales

 

The bauble is on your hand. You’re engaged, Now What?! The top 9 Wedding Planning steps to take once you’re engaged.

Congratulations!!! You’re engaged! You’ve dreamed of this day your entire life and it’s finally here!  You’re ready to say “I do” to the person of your dreams at your ideal wedding, hop on a boat and then sail into the sunset to live happily ever after… but not so fast. There are so many details, to do’s, checklists, contracts and organization that go into each wedding that you may not have a clue about! On average, a wedding can easily take more than 100 hours of design and planning time, and that is from a team of professionals.  Dedicating so much time to your wedding while working and still having a social life can become stressful, which is why we recommend hiring a skilled planner to coordinate… US!

Alchemy Fine Event & Invitations will work with you to take your vision and turn it into reality, so that you don’t have to bother with contracts, hidden fees, late nights and migraines.  We want you to enjoy the excitement and anticipation leading up to one of the most memorable days of your life, so relax and let us do the dirty work.

Below are the top 9 wedding planning steps that we suggest to get your wedding planning off to a great start!

•    Hire a Wedding Planner. With Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations as your wedding planner you know that you are working with a team of professionals that have as much passion for your wedding as you do. From design to planning to invitations, Alchemy will gently guide you through each step of the planning process to ensure that your vision is never lost and you never become stressed.  Make sure to hire Alchemy Fine Events before you start booking any other vendors or venues as this is where we can benefit you the most with our negotiation and money saving skills. After signing with Alchemy we will provide you with a budget breakdown to work from as a guideline to ensure that your wedding stays on track financially from start to finish. We will also provide you with a detailed ‘Bride’s Guide’ timeline showing you what tasks are to be completed each month to keep you on track and stress free. From when to have your dress fittings, to mailing invitations, to obtaining your marriage license and even getting your color touched up, we’ll make sure you never skip a beat.

•    Set a Date. Do you want to have an outdoor summer wedding or do you prefer an indoor autumn celebration?  Do you want to have your wedding on a holiday weekend or do you envision yourself in the snow? Once a date is set then the fun part starts; the vision & location can come to life!

•    Get Inspired.  Alchemy will meet with you and your fiancé to learn about your passions, likes and dislikes from design to food to entertainment.  We’ll then create a cohesive inspiration board with the endless details that will make your wedding extraordinary. From catering ideas, to décor and even fashion styling for you and your wedding party, we will creatively direct the entire vision from start to finish.

•    Find a Dream Venue.  With so many endless options, Alchemy will narrow down several choices that are within your price range that will enhance the theme of your wedding. Whether it be a tropical secluded beach, a lavish ballroom or a beautiful outdoor vineyard, we will find the most unique and special location to suit your needs.

•    Find a Photographer.  One of the most important aspects of your wedding day is your photographer. These are cherished photos that you will hold dearly for the rest of your life and should be a careful decision.  Alchemy Fine Events works with some of the most talented photographers in the industry and will provide you with recommendations to fit your budget and style. Remember to book them fast as most photographers are booked up to a year out!

•    Invitations. You’re in luck!  Alchemy Fine Events creates exquisite, custom invitation suites designed specifically for you and your wedding.  From Save-the-Dates to Invitations to Programs to Dessert Tags, we do it all! And most importantly, we do it with the same cohesive vision as your wedding.

•    Find a Florist.  With thousands upon thousands of different types of flowers, it’s hard to know what you want and the choices can be intimidating! Alchemy will suggest notable florists that fit your style and then work with them to create the perfect table scape designs, vase and décor selections, ceremony backdrops and even the perfect bouquet. After working with the florist of your choice to create the vision, we will create an actual table mock-up of your look to view in person to make sure that you are 100% ecstatic with every petal that will go into your special day.

•    Entertainment.  Whether you want a well-known DJ, acoustic performer or a 20-piece band, we can get it done!  Alchemy uses its connections with top entertainment companies to ensure that you are getting the cream of the crop for the best price possible.  Don’t settle in this area; it’s important to make sure you AND your guests are having a good time and dancing the night away.

•    Food & Drinks.  What will your guests dine on?  From canapés to cocktails, Alchemy loves to work with the best caterers to create scrumptious personalized menus sure to impress your guests. Don’t forget about the cake! The artists here at Alchemy will sketch up a personalized design to present to a cake designer to ensure that your vision is carried through.

So for now relax, breathe, and relish in this moment. And then… let the wedding planning begin!

Credits: Ring photos courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings