Luxury Wedding Workshop in Lake Como Italy

Italian Photography & Design Wedding Workshop in Lake Como

With much excitement we are proud to announce L’Arte del Martrimonio, a luxury photography and design workshop being help November 11- 15 on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. Brought to you by Alchemy Fine Events, we are offering photography students the chance to learn under the talented shutterbugs Jana Williams and Mike Larson and designers and planners to learn under the direction of Vanessa Van Wieren of Alchemy Fine Events with beautiful styling and florals by Krista Jon and Archive Rentals. In addition to these creative talents we are also very excited to announce that Rebecca Crumley, photo editor of The Knot Magazine will be there to critique, trend forecast and talk about how to get published in this competitive market.

Students will be staying at the luxurious Hotel Imperiale and shooting at the incredible Villa Passalacqua, vacation home to Elton John, Victoria & David Beckham to name a few,  in addition to outdoor and lake locations. Student’s will get to work with each teacher in smaller groups as well to learn not only technical skills but also how to communicate more clearly with each other as the designer photographer relationship is crucial. We also be offering specialized breakaway groups such as boudoir shooting with Jana and portraits with Mike while planners and designers will be able to talk about the details the clients love, styling tips and tricks and walking through the creative process with ultimate goal being client success and of course getting published! Students will get to work with an incredible level of talented models and couture fashion designers such as the swoon-worthy gowns by Galia Lahav and other beautifully crafted works of art.

While staying at Hotel Imperiale breakfast, lunch, aperitivo and dinners will be held in group settings for more one-on-one teacher time for Q&A over dining as well as glamourous styled dinners each evening with a black tie gala the last evening to wrap up the week.

What Vanessa will talk about…

With a plethora of creative details going into each of my events people always ask where do I even start this tedious process? The creative process is far too often taken for granted and really should be a methodical practice of starting with creativity and letting your visions soar as a whole before starting the smaller details. Approaching each event from a creative direction standpoint rather than coordination of smaller details not only will allow you to expand your creative vision but allow you to communicate visually with your clients and vendors.

In addition to the creative design and styling skills, I’ll be working with the photographers so that they learn to shoot with a design perspective while spotlighting each vendor involved in the wedding to ensure as much exposure for your work as possible to promote future collaborations for years to come.

What Jana will talk about…

Many people have asked me how I stand out in the wedding industry.  Above all, it’s about the work. However, I have found social media and precise branding to be one of the biggest catalysts for my success.  I am very excited to share my insight about developing, cultivating, and living your brand as well as specific way to use social media to get noticed and book jobs in the wedding industry.

What Mike will talk about…

Mike will have presentations and then open discussions for each topic section.  We’ll chat about these concepts: “how to be different in a sea of photographers”, shooting right the 1st time, the power of specializing & unique positioning, designing your business to fit your life (with freedom), how to brand yourself, well, walk through the images a full real Mike Larson wedding, Review top mistakes most photographers make.  Why and how to wow your clients.

Then we will go into the details:  Lighting - Curating - Personal Style Development - Marketing/Branding - Specialization - Presentation/Perception - Simple Album Design - Pricing - Building Client Relationships - Getting published & Submitting to blogs & magazines - Advertising - Lightroom, packaging, assistants, associates - yay or nay , speedy systems for editing in Lightroom, simple workflows.  How to keep having fun.

What  Rebecca will talk about…

Editors and designers have tricks and needs to what gets published. In our sessions, I’ll reveal how editorial content varies from what your clients want to see. Particularly, we’ll cover telling a story with your images and the subtle differences to get your shots noticed. We’ll go behind-the-scenes analyzing photo variety and necessary data to deliver a strong submission. I’ll also share my favorite tips for perfectly styled shots.

The chance to shoot inside of the famous Villa Passalaqua is like non other.. With masterpieces hanging on the walls and the history of famous composers in its past this is truly an opportunity like non other and would be in invaluable addition to any portfolio. Please view more images of this historic gem below and visit  L’Arte del Matrimonio for more details.

Ci vediamo in Italia!!!

Estancia La Jolla Wedding Spanish Boho showcase

With the recent revamping of Estancia La Jolla’s ballroom we were invited, along with their other favorite wedding vendors here in San Diego, to showcase our work at an industry and bride mixer. Along with our talented pals over at Isari Flower Studio and Hostess Haven we created our interpretation of a California Spanish Boho look that goes perfectly with Estancia’s luxurious Spanish style for an understated elegant Estancia La Jolla Wedding.

Farm Tables and more brought in the organic element via their beautiful raw wood picnic table and cabana on which we draped romantic sheer cheesecloth for a more intimate look. We paired the bench that comes along with this table set with linen and wicker backed chairs by Hire Elegance for a more glam effect and seating options. This would make for a beautiful and stunning long head table as well! Just because you are inside of a ballroom don’t let that limit your potential of hanging and draping over your tables to make a dramatic statement in or outdoors.

Paula of Luna Photo came out to capture these delicious details as well as some stunning pics courtesy of True Photography.

Event Design, Styling & Invitations and stationery by Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations

Flowers by Isari Flower Studio

Tableware Rentals by Hostess Haven

Farm Table, Bench & Cabana by Farm Tables & More

Dining Chairs by Hire Elegance

Ocean in the Desert Scottsdale Wedding

Deserted Ocean Private Estate Scottsdale Wedding

We are so so excited to finally show off one of our favorite weddings we designed and planned for a lovely couple in Scottsdale, Arizona on Martha Stewart Weddings today!!  When Kari the bride first called me we were discussing  a cool Sedona elopement after her hectic previous attempt at wedding planning which she scratched for an easier, less stressful route. With so many people to coordinate and schedules to consider she was wanting to just ‘do it!’ with out the worry. When her family friend offered her gorgeous Scottsdale esate after hearing of her woes, we jumped at the chance to move it there to accommodate her guests easier. The only catch? The season was getting hot soon and we had 4 weeks to plan the whole thing!! We jumped into action and made this spectacular back-yard wedding a hit!

Kari and Charlie both loved the ocean but also the desert. I came up with the creative vision of a ‘deserted ocean’, a dried up ocean bed in a magical desert. After bringing on the fantastic Luna of Arrangements Floral Design we whipped up this fantastical evening which turned out to be pure magic. Gina Meola did a fabulous job of capturing the day’s beautiful details and was such a pleasure to work with!

Arrangements Floral & Party Design crafted a stunning bouquet of coral charm peonies, king proteas, ranunculus, astilbe, and tulips. Wrapped in gold sequined trim, the finishing touch was a skeleton leaf.  Kari worked with stylist Alex Evjen of Ave Styles to create her stunning ensemble. After trying on the blush pink Monique Lhuillier “Candy” dress at Destiny’s Bride in Scottsdale, Arizona, Kari knew it was her gown. A custom sash, veil, and earrings by Paris were added to the ensemble, which was rounded out with nude Jimmy Choo pumps.

For the invitation I hand illustrated a jellyfish and had it foiled onto a croco embossed glossy paper for a fun contrast of styles. More to come on this invitation as well!

Boutonnieres were made with ivory roses, brunia, and dusty miller—a heart-shaped charm once belonging to Charlie’s late mother was attached to his as a special way of honoring her memory.

The matron of honor and best man carried seashells housing the wedding bands. Kari’s sister Lori carried a clutch of coral charm peonies, king protea, yellow roses, brunia, and dusty miller. Kari’s other sister Susan’s bouquet was comprised of a king protea surrounded by white roses, brunia, dusty miller, and coral charm peonies.

Guests were treated to cool lemonade as they arrived. Since we knew the day was going to be so hot we dip-dyed fans to match the decor and tied on feathers and beads with leather cord.

To work with a backyard and actually have the ceremony on their driveway I knew we had to transform the space. I designed a geometrical wall to be built on which we applied mirror to reflect the gorgeous desert landscape. 

In lieu of a traditional guest book I created a ‘Message in a Bottle’ table were guests could write their sweet notes to the couple and float them in the infinity pool. They’ll be read at their one year anniversary which is coming up soon! We also created a wall of photos with fun facts about the couple that guests would be quizzed on later.

To bring in the ocean vibe we had to serve fresh delicious seafood!

To create the feasting style dining table I built a structure which we mirrored and then hung shelves of floating candles and flowers for a seemingly floating tablescape.

I wanted to create a beautiful tablescape that seemingly floated in our modern mirrored structure so that you saw nothing but the desert around you and make you forget you’re dining on a driveway.  The open structure built around the long feasting-style table allowed for showcasing the landscape, while adding drama and romance with candles hanging overhead on white-washed wood shelves also filled with floral arrangements and gnarled grapewood. Constructed with help from a framing contractor, mirror acrylic panels were added to created the illusion of a disappearing structure. Trailing down the middle of each table was a collection of oceanic elements, including ceramic sea urchin votives, air plants, and aqua sea glass. Ombré napkins tied with leather cord and sea urchins topped geometric plates and silvery placemats. The petite cake, by Classic Cakes and Confections, was inspired by the bride’s gown. To bring in more of the ‘ghost-like’ creatures that used to live in this ‘deserted ocean’ I found these incredible jellyfish lanterns from designer Roxy Russel which I hung in front of sheer panels of fabric and twinkle lights for our Jellyfish Lounge.

Photography: Gina Meola
Event Design and Planning, Stationery, and Napkins: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations
Catering: RendezVous Catering
Flowers, Lighting, & Draping: Arrangements Floral & Party Design
Cake: Classic Cakes & Confections
Music: [string trio] Simply Three; [Flamenco guitarist] Miguel Rodriguez from Jim May Productions
Rentals: [furniture] Pacific Event Productions; [linens] La Tavola; [china and glassware] Classic Party Rentals
Hair and makeup: TEAM Hair & Makeup

Scavenger Hunt for Love Valentine’s Day Engagement

The ultimate Valentine’s Day Engagement Design

With the day of love approaching fast we wanted to share a Valentine’s Day engagement shoot we designed with some gorgeous friends of ours that are on their way to say “I do!”

We present the ultimate luxury Valentine’s Day inspiration with a collaboration of design, stationery and styling by us, Alchemy Fine Events,  Chuao Chocolatiers and Isari Flower Studio. Follow a bride-to-be on her scavenger hunt for love from clue to clue discovering sweet notes, a fab outfit, chocolates and even a piñata to bust open to discover the final clue leading her to a stunning cliffside proposal and a 5 carat bauble hiding in a rose. Chock full of lush flowers, chocolates and champagne, we deliver a gorgeous modern glam setting capture by Luna Photo sure to leave you dreaming about the day-of-love to come. Whether it be for a super special Valentine’s Day engagement celebration, or even for a Valentine’s Day wedding, this colorful palette is sure to inspire!

Read our poem below to follow our bride to be Cachel from clue to clue that eventually led her to this stunning cliff-side proposal site below.

The day started off with our stunning bride-to-be finding a colorful new dress with a tag that read “Wear Me.”

 Clue #1 was framed nearby, that she read as she sipped bubbles and held onto her darling pooch Little Guy.

 “You’ll find me in in the fragrant leaves.. Where Little Guy often pees” read clue #1, she smiled as she knew this day was going to be fun!

After finding Clue #2 amongst the ‘fragrant leaves’, she discovered it was exactly what she was told.. It WAS where Little Guy  often  pees!

 With a quick change, and a coif and a spritz and a spray, Cachel was off and on her Scavenger Hunting way!

 “You’ll find me in the grass.. under our favorite shady patch” read the clue, so with the snap of a leash, off to park they jetted to!

At the seaside park she discovered a pinata overflowing with flowers that read “Bash me to See…” and on a side table the note continued “… The Reasons Why I Love You and Clue #3!”

 She swung and she swung with all of her might, to see what her future held, fight or flight!

When bashed open, inside the pinata she found the reasons why “he loved her”, some fragrant blooms, and a bunch of scrumptious chocolates, which she immediately consumed.

 Amidst the notes she read that landed on the ground, “Meet me at our favorite place to watch the sunset” and clue #3 was found.

 They skipped off to the bluff in Del Mar overlooking the sea, where she found her love, her man, and her fiance to be.

In the distance she spotted him holding an over sized heart reading “Be Mine?” Her heart set a flutter, she ran, almost leaving Little Guy behind!

Behind him stood a gorgeous table set for two that boasted beautiful flowers, heart shaped chocolates, and then after spotting the beautiful bauble we heard a loud “I DOOOOOOOO!!!!”

Valentine’s Specials!!

Design, Styling & Stationery by Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations

Photography by Luna Photo

Flowers by Isari Flower Studio

Makeup and Hair by Beauty by Stacey

Chairs and tables by Hire Elegance

Chocolates by Chuao Chocolatier