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
Inspiration to Destination: Boho Luxe Ibiza Wedding Inspiration for Bonder & Co.
Boho Luxe Ibiza Wedding Inspiration: Violet, Aqua, White Crochet & Copper
With my recent collaboration with Bonder & Co., THE go-to source for the the go-to source for the luxury lifestyle on Ibiza and beyond, I am so excited to explore a whole new realm of Ibiza wedding inspiration. As an ocean lover and beach bum with bohemian roots myself, I immediately felt drawn to this soulful island.
With a lifelong passion for art, design, entertaining, music and traveling, I am thrilled to bring my designs to white island of Ibiza where I am inspired by the sol y mar as well as the passion for music, architecture and overall love of life which the people of and on Ibiza love to express. Set against the backdrop of the luxury villas that Bonder & Co. proudly offers its clients, we are proud to bring you luxury weddings in Ibiza.
If you don’t already follow Bonder & Co.’s Facebook page, DO! They are a must-follow for boho-jetsetter set and lovers of luxury alike.
WARNING: Do not look at these luxury Ibiza villas unless you are prepared to get swept away in a daydream…
Something that inspires me about Ibiza is the way that people seem to float about so effortlessly chic, relaxed yet refined, and bohemian without bore. The perfect balance where style meets soul. With the blue waters, boho appeal, passion for luxury and all things beautiful in mind, I created my vision of an idyllic Ibiza wedding which combines Spanish, oceanic and modern influences for the perfect alchemy of style.
Fashion Credits: K Brunini Jewels, Bottega Veneta, Pucci Crochet Dress, Lanvin Clutch, Jimmy Choo, Kotur Clutch
Education to Destination: Italy Wedding Workshop by Alchemy Fine Events & Claudine Grin at Tenuta di San Giusto
Italy Wedding Workshop Student Spotlight: Claudine Grin
One of my favorite part about designing for the Mike Larson Italy Wedding Workshop every year is getting to see how fantastically different each student’s interpretation of my design work is. Each person, and artist especially, sees life through a fresh set of eyes and that definitely holds true in the case of photographers.
Claudine Grin is a wedding photographer based in France that definitely blew me away with her soft and romantic style that captures light in such a delicate way. Her colors, softness of skin and almost dreamlike quality is one that I absolutely adore. If you are planning a wedding in Italy, wedding in France, or wedding in Europe for that matter, she should be a definite consideration to capture your big day.
See more of Claudine’s photos (along with our next student spotlight star) featured on 100 Layer Cake here!!!
Photography by Claudine Grin
Art Direction, Design, Styling, Flowers & Stationery: Vanessa Van Wieren of Alchemy Fine Events
The Luxury Villa: Tenuta di San Giusto
Fashion Styling: Stefania Warren
Bridal Fashion & Accessories: BHLDN
Groom Fashion: Zara Men
Bride Model: Carolina Rosini
Tuscan Wedding Inspiration by Alchemy Fine Events & Mike Larson at Tenuta di San Giusto
Modern Seaside Tuscan Wedding Inspiration by Mike Larson at Tenuta di San Giusto
Last spring we held our 2nd annual Mike Larson Wedding Photography Workshop that we designed and styled at my dear friend Francesco’s villa in Chianti, Tuscany dating back to 01AD. This beautiful villa served as the perfect backdrop for a modern yet beachy interpretation of what our ideal Tuscan Wedding would look like by marrying our greatest passions in Italy, both the Tuscan hillsides and the Tuscan coast.
With inspirations of an Italian love story in mind, we created the vision of Terra e Mare, or Land and Sea for a new twist on a Tuscan Wedding for the Mike Larson Tuscany workshop. The story is this… a seaside beach beauty in love with a dapper polo player wed amidst the vineyards in Tuscany, bringing together the land and sea for a juxtaposition of styles.
The invitation to this intimate Tuscan wedding featured modern typography on a textured cardstock that was carefully nestled inside of a dove gray silk invitation box with a seashell adornment on top.
This vintage green gem was tucked away in Francesco’s garage and was actually given to him by his father as a teen. It was truly a piece of art and was so perfect for our shoot!
Dressed for a casual yet romantic ceremony, our bride was styled in an ethereal ruffled skirt and vest by BHLDN. Our ‘sposabella’ cradled an eclectic bouquet featuring lush white peonies, lisianthus and gords with sea urchin shells nestled inside of them. Clad in a nautical inspired casual yet preppy attire, our groom’s garb boasted a royal blue blazer. After changing into casual glam evening look our ‘bella’ bride boasted a 40’s inspired beaded gown by BHLDN and dangled rhinestone and fabric earrings to make her eyes sparkle as she gazed upon her.
Set against the backdrop of the rolling vineyards of Chianti in a Romanesque villa, Tenuta di San Giusto was the locale for this magical Tuscan wedding shoot designed with modern, classical, seaside and rustic elements. For an updated twist we paired white mid-century modern Arne Jacobsen chairs with a rustic wine tasting room wood table and layered on vintage battenburg lace napkins, sterling silver chargers and bone inlaid flatware. To combine the romantic and modern inspirations onto the tablescape we painted leaves and greenery an opaque white and mixed them into the arrangements of white roses, lilies and lisianthus along side sea shells and neo-baroque candleabras.
Stay tuned for future updates on the next European workshop coming soon! This Tuscan wedding inspiration workshop shoot was featured on Style Me Pretty seen here!
Photography by Mike Larson
Art Direction, Design, Styling, Flowers & Stationery: Vanessa Van Wieren of Alchemy Fine Events
The Luxury Villa: Tenuta di San Giusto
Fashion Styling: Stefania Warren
Bridal Fashion & Accessories: BHLDN
Groom Fashion: Zara Men
Bride Model: Carolina Rosini
