Marsala Color of the Year

Pantone Color of the year: Marsala

With the release of Pantone’s trend shifting color of the year designers and fashionistas alike are drinking up all that is marsala, like the wine. This rich wine hued tone lends itself to some fabulous winter and fall palettes but can you foresee it in a spring or summer wedding? Definitely. Just add in softer colors such as aquas, soft grey and ballerina pink to lighten it up for the occasion of your choice. Not ready to take the full marsala plunge? Start with a marsala lip or nail color for a soft segway into the color trend.

The above boards work great for dramatic colder weather inspiration but let’s flash back to our Art History for Brides Renaissance shoot for some spring or summer worthy marsala inspiration. 

Photos on design board via Pinterest

Photos from Renaissance Shoot via Paula Luna

Nutcracker Birthday Party

 Luxe Nutcracker Birthday Party in Beverly Hills

Twirling ballerinas, menacing mice, sugar plums and some Christmas magic swirling around in a symphony of music are all of the reasons that make The Nutcracker Suite a little girls fantasy. What better theme to use for a luxurious little girls 1st birthday party when it’s right around the corner from Christmas?  Last year I had the pleasure of working with Jina of Plush Little Baby for another one of her darling children’s 1st birthday parties. And in true Korean tradition, the first birthday celebration, or dol, is nothing to be shy of!

We created this fantastical setting at the beautiful Mr. C Hotel in Beverly Hills and had the talents of Troy Grover, Sweet & Saucy Shop and more on board to make this darling vision come to life.

See more of this luxurious baby party over at 100 Layer Cakelet here!

This whimsical Nutcracker ballerina cake by Sweet & Saucy shop stole the show! 

Venue: Mr. C Beverly Hills
Event Design and Graphics: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations
Cake: Sweet & Saucy Shop
Desserts & Styling: Cake Creamery
Centerpiece, Backdrop, Party Favors, Tutus: Plush Little Baby
Photography: Troy Grover Photographers

Midnight in Paris Holiday Party

Midnight in Paris Party

Last holiday season we were asked by Gen Next to create a creative and introspective holiday party for their distinguished members. I immediately thought of one of my favorite movies Midnight in Paris. The story goes like this… An American writer in Paris is looking for inspiration and ends up going back in time to meet his favorite artists of that bygone era. But what he soon learns is that even the artists of that era looked back to the era before them.. creating the endless cycle of always admiring the elegance and mystique we always longingly look towards history with instead of living in the now.  My vision for the party was to give the guests the chance to slowly step back into time, era by era as the party progressed.  The Carondelet House, an Italian style villa built in the 20’s  in the middle of downtown Los Angeles, was the perfect setting…

In the first courtyard of this 1920’s villa we offered guests a sip of the ‘Green Fairy’ at our absinthe bar. As guests ventured further through the party they found a gallery we created with canvasses of the artists featured in the movie such as Toulouse-Latrec, Picasso and Dali. Holiday go-ers nibbled on a candlelit dessert display and helped themselves to an over the top whiskey and spirit bar  in the ‘Starry Starry Night’ courtyard we created where a cult-level whiskey aficionado gave guests tasting lessons and the backstory on some of their favorite spirits and liquors. Josephine Baker had to come make an appearance on the dance floor of course to do her famous banana dance which kicked off the evening of  electro jazz mixed with acoustical musicians such as bongos and saxophone.

Event Design & Planning Alchemy Fine Events

Photography Heidi Ryder

Venue Carondelet House

Flowers  Isari Flower Studio

Rentals Archive Vintage Rentals

Entertainment On Demand Lifestyle Staffing

Holland Wedding Design Workshop

Holland Wedding Design Workshop

Last spring I was lucky enough to be invited to venture over to Holland to teach and speak at a design workshop for the European Wedding Congress along with Mike Larson, Jana Williams and Lawrence Chan, aka Tofurious. Being half Dutch, this was my first trip to Holland and I was over the moon excited! We shot at the magical Kasteel De Hooge Vuursche and got to work with photographers and planners from across Europe.

My inspiration for the tablescape design was inspired by the famed Dutch designer Marcel Wanders who takes his heritage to the next level by taking the classical delft blue and Holland inspired designs into the 20th century with an ultra modern tongue-in-cheek attitude. Enjoy Mike Larson’s beautiful shots of the workshop and some of the behind the scenes!