Love Notes Valentine’s Day Romantic Seaside Wedding

Romantic Seaside Wedding Inspiration

In honor of Valentine’s Day we are looking back at a shoot we designed a few years ago full of romantic seaside wedding inspiration. Inspired by some of our favorite love songs throughout history we incorporated vintage decor, pastel floral arrangements as well as a blush wedding dress and accents to tie the romantic theme together in a beautiful seaside setting with the iconic La Jolla Cove as the backdrop.

The Bachelorette’s, Kiptyn Locke was our groom in training for this special Valentine wedding shoot with a little help by our gorgeous model, friend and stand-in-bride, Ren.

The Beatles said it best with “All you need is love, love, love is all you need.” Whether you are dating, engaged, or getting married, it is all about sending the right message with good old-fashioned love notes. Hit even higher notes by playing on love notes by infusing musical lyrics into your sweet Valentine’s weekend. We created a play on Love ‘notes’ by handwriting actual song lyrics throughout the day.

The Setting: For this Valentines Day Soiree we created a romantically wild seaside garden with overgrown roots, driftwood and birch wood in a forest of twisted trees overlooking the pacific blue. This was truly a sweetheart table for two. The white washed wood and birch leg table was covered in anemones, spray roses and dusty miller leaves. Simple candles, sticks, shells and skeleton keys were placed in the center for a dreamy, romantic effect.

Cake table – A love ‘note’ made an appearance with “How sweet it is to be loved by you” – James Taylor. The table was adorned with a peach cake accented with textured flowers and an antique silver pitcher filled with a wild gathering of peach and rose toned blooms. Also making an appearance were sweet little bumps on a log made of gourmet chocolate truffles.  Recognize that cute groom face? It’s Kiptyn Locke from The Bacholerette!

The menu sang it’s own love song with items labeled… To Drink: Love Potion #9 “I didn’t know if it was day or night, I started kissing everything in sight” – The Clovers; To Eat: Cheeseburger in Paradise “Heaven on earth with an actual onion slice” – Jimmy Buffet; For Dessert: Cherry Pie “Tastes so good make a grown man cry, sweet cherry pie” – Warrant

A rustic teak trough on the side of the table was propped on a moss covered frame and served as the wine bucket. A decanter was perched on a sea of beach rocks and filled with strawberry wine with a hand written love ‘note’ tied with twine around the neck that read “My first taste of love oh bittersweet, green on the vine, like strawberry wine” – Deana Carter

A Book of Love was also propped on the sweets table, with another love ‘note’. “I love it when you read to me and you, you can read me anything. I love it when you sing to me And you, You can sing me anything The book of love is long and boring And written very long ago It’s full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes And things we’re all too young to know But I love it when you give me things And you, You ought to give me wedding rings And I, I love it when you give me things And you, You ought to give me wedding rings” – Peter Gabriel, Book Of Love

Event styling, coordination and stationery: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations / Flowers: Isari Flower Studio / Photography: John Schnack Photography / Gown & Head Piece: Alisa Benay / Jewelry: Noaki Jewelry / Wedding Cakes: Truly Scrumptious / Makeup by Jennifer Budner / Girard Avenue Collection for chairs & I love you blocks. / Gourmet Chocolates: Dallmann Confections/ Hair Styling: Orange Blossom Salon; Jamie Rosa 760-889-5062

Radiant Orchid Wedding at Viceroy Santa Monica

A Cocktail Style Radiant Orchid Wedding Reception

For some unknown reason we haven’t gotten around to blogging this fabulous cocktail style wedding reception we designed for one of our favorites at the Viceroy Santa Monica and now we know why, we were ahead of the trend! With Radiant Orchid being announced as the wedding color of the year by Pantone we knew it was just the right time!

Jen and Brian were married in Mexico in a smaller intimate ceremony and wanted to save the larger celebration until they got back home. We worked with Jen to create a fabulous evening where guests could let loose, celebrate in style and dance the night away.  In true LA style, we decked out the pool’s cabanas and created styled out VIP areas for guests to lounge in. We designed custom throw pillows, bold signage, creative food displays, and with a modern display of vibrant flowers, a radiant orchid wedding was created.

Looking for a creative color scheme for your radiant orchid wedding? We loved teal and aqua as a wonderful complement!!

These colorful radiant orchid wedding invitations we designed featured fun illustrations and teal, aqua and a limey yellow for a fun color scheme. 

Event Design  & Invitations by Alchemy Fine Events

Photography by Zoom Theory

Venue The Viceroy Santa Monica

Flowers by Pastel Florist by Diane

Cakes by Vanilla Bakeshop

Lighting by Lighten Up Inc.

Alchemy Fine Events’ Highlights of 2013!

Alchemy Fine Events’ 2013 Year End Wrap Up

2013 was an incredible whirlwind of a year! We got to work with some amazing clients, travel to some incredible locations around the globe, get our feet wet filming our first videos for E-how and push our boundaries even further. I even got the chance to fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming an art teacher by volunteering to teach drawing classes to kids at the Monarch School of San Diego with the After-School All-Stars.  I am so blessed by the challenges that have come my way as they are making me so much more inspired and motivated to push even harder in 2014.

I am super excited about the adventures to come in 2014 including speaking in the Netherlands, working on a home decor line and really exploring my passion for modern, unique, fresh, colorful ways to make your life and it’s special celebrations full of style, beauty and grace.

Here’s a look back at some of our favorite moments of 2013.

Alchemy Studio Shoot

Ashley Keleman was kind enough to take some wonderful photos of me and Jill, as well as my girly-glam studio. I have yet to share these for some reason and must share soon!  She is an incredible photographer if you haven’t seen her work yet, you must!

The US Grant Bridal Show

Our interpretation of a Boho-Glam California Winter Wedding. See the blog post here.       

Hollywood Meets Bollywood at La Costa Resort

Blog feature coming soon!

DREAM 2013 at The W Hotel San Diego

See our feature in Exquisite Weddings Here

Deserted Ocean Scottsdale Wedding

Feature coming out in March!

Garden Glam Baby Shower with Lounge Appeal

Ibiza Collection for our partnership with Bonder & Co in Ibiza, Spain

See our Style Me Pretty feature here and a ton more details on our own blog:  El Sol here, El Mar here and El Cielo here!

Luxury Picnic Shoot for Riviera Magazine in Rancho Santa Fe

Riviera magazine teamed us up with the amazing Chef Andrew Spurgin for a collaboration of our interpretation of the ultimate luxury picnic and interviewed us for all the happenings in the world of Alchemy Fine Events. See the article and post here!

Styled a 70’s Glam Inspired Dine + Design vignette with Roche Bobois for a Riviera Magazine competition

See the article and post here!

Garden Glam Wedding at Ponte Winery in Temecula

A fragrant garden of herbs and flowers mixed with sparkle for a gorgeous winery affair. See the feature coming soon!

Since 1955 Birthday Party at Rancho Valencia

The best Rat Pack and Marilyn came out to visit our Drive-In Movie Theater style mid-century dinner party in Rancho Santa Fe.  See the video from this event here. Blog post and feature coming soon!

A Modern Glam Wedding in Mascota, Mexico

An absolutely amazingly beautiful modern, unique and romantic wedding at a small lake resort inland of Puerto Vallarta. I can’t wait to share this one with you!

Thanksgiving Glam at Cucina Enoteca in Del Mar

See the Hostess Blog post here and even more detail on Alchemy Blog here

Butterflies and Besos Santa Monica Wedding

Look for this one coming out in 2014. We used the 2014 Pantone of the Year and didnt even know it! We are so ahead of the trend 😉

Gen Next Midnight in Paris Holiday Party at the Carondelet House

Feature coming soon!

Cirque du Cates Sexy Circus Party in San Diego’s Gaslamp District

Feature coming soon! This one was incredible… So many amazing details to show off!!

Nutcracker 1st Birthday Party at Mr. C in Beverly Hills

A Korean 1st birthday party for a previous client who we designed the Monopoly 1st birthday party for seen here.  Photo of this precious event coming soon!

What a year! We are so excited to see what 2014 brings. Cheers to a fabulous new year, a fresh start and even more room to soar! Wishing you lots of love and luck in 2014. xoxo

What to Where: Fall Fashion Inspiration & Wine Stained Napkins

 Fall Styling by fierce Fashion Fienes Hall & Saks

With so many fall fete’s to conquer, including Thanksgiving, we not only want to get your tables looking amazing but you too of course! I am always so inspired by fashion in my tabletop and textile designs that this time I asked style mavens Hall & Saks what they would wear to my modern glam Thanksgiving party, turning the tables around a bit.

Adrienne Saks & Dean Hall make up the fabulous styling duo behind  Hall & Saks  and are THE go-to source for style. Adrienne & Dean have been styling Hollywood celebs, models and socialites alike across the globe and we are so in awe of their talents, and very fortunate to call them friends. We are also very excited to bring you our first installation of WHAT to WHERE, where Hall & Saks will be showing you what to wear.. to where!

From Hall & Saks:
What to “Where” to Alchemy’s MODERN GLAM THANKSGIVING DINNER TABLE styled for CUCINA Enoteca, well plaid of course!  Yes, we are totally mad for plaid with a heavy sprinkle of gold!   Holiday time is all about deep tones with shimmering accents and Vanessa displayed it perfectly in every way from wine splattered napkins, over-sized gold goblets, to unexpected cobalt blue plates no attention to designer details were left untouched!  Just like Vanessa’s eclectic table scapes fashion combinations should be unexpected, bold, and daring as well.  We loved adding the edgy Alexander McQueen purse to the more conservative plaid dress, and finishing it off with an unexpected touch of blue on the ear.  For the men this year we think you need to make a grand entrance with your feet like our Jimmy Choo umbre fade loafers!  Also think about keeping it classy on top and party on the bottom or vice versa, like the pairing of the checkered plaid trouser with a clean white shirt.  Well enough about esthetics, we are off to do some major cooking!!!  HAPPY GOOBLE GOOBLE TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES…  Triple kisses H&S

SAKS OUTFIT
Valentino R.E.D. Lace Check Tulle Dress, $1,030; stylebop.com
Courtesy:  Stylebop

Phillip Lim Sheer Applique Dress, $297.50 (on sale); lagarconne.com
Courtesy:  La Garconne

The Skull Swarovski Crystal-Embellished Box Clutch, $2,980; net-a-porter.com
Courtesy:  Net-A-Porter

Giuseppe Zanotti Gold Pump, $650; giuseppezanottidesign.com
Courtesy:  Giuseppe Zanotti

Noir Jewelry Gem Stud Earrings Blue and Gold, $65; shopbop.com
Courtesy:  Shopbop

HALL’s OUTFIT
Zara Checkered Trousers, $59.90; www.zara.com
Courtesy: Zara

And to recreate our fashion inspired Wine Stained Napkins see below for the complete step by step DIY!

MATERIALS

– cotton canvas fabric
– rit dye in red and purple
– scissors
– paint brushes
– wine glass
– fork and spoon
– drying rack

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start by cutting out your napkins into your desired size. We went with 18″ x 18″ because we love how a larger napkin allows you to appreciate the details we’re creating.

2. Mix your dye. Follow the instructions on the back of the box and boil salted water on the stove, add the entire box of red dye and mix in half of the purple. Then, separate a few cups of this blend and add the remainder of the purple for a second, darker hue.

3. Lightly spray down your sink (or a bucket) with water for a bit of wetness but not too much. We wanted the fabric to have a few scattered we spots to help the dye bleed more. If the fabric is too wet, all of the colors will bleed together too quickly and you will lose the details.