Stylization to Publication: Alchemy Fine Events for Roche Bobois in Riviera Magazine
70’s Modern Glam Styling Comes Alive with Roche Bobois for Riviera Magazine
We were recently asked to come on board an amazing collaboration for the To Dine For feature in the September 2013 issue of Riviera Magazine where they combine San Diego’s top designers & artists with notable chefs to create inspired designs and culinary creations that complement each other. Talented interior designer Nicole Webb of Roche Bobois in La Jolla and I worked to create a cocktail style setting with the famous mah jong passiflora sofa that chef Fabrice Hardel of The Westgate Room was also inspired by for his passion fruit and lemon grass pana cotta which topped off his delectable menu. We also worked with Isari Flower Studio to design a super sleek styling of multi-hued flower balls, flush mirrored flowers boxes and even brought in florist extraordinaire Tam Ashworth’s homegrown passion flower vines to drape around the stylish decor we infused into the setting. While no dining setting would be complete without some seriously stylish pieces to serve off of, Hostess Haven brought in some glam with her amazingly chic 70’s dinnerware, serving trays and goblets for the lucky diners to sip and nibble off of.
Enjoy the photos below taken by yours truly in addition to the sneak peaks I leaked on my Instagram which you can follow here!
Furniture & Decor by Roche Bobois
Styling by Vanessa Van Wieren of Alchemy Fine Events
Tableware by Hostess Haven
Flowers by Isari Flower Studio
Photos by Vanessa Van Wieren
Read More »In the Press! Alchemy’s Luxury Picnic in Riviera Magazine
Luxury Picnic: The Ultra Indulgent Way to Dine al Fresco
With summer upon us and the weather warmer, it’s such a shame to take your date nights indoors. Take advantage of the late setting summer sun and bring you and your beau to an al fresco glam picnic! (P.S. Gents: This would be an amazing way to propose to your lucky ladies!! Wink wink..)
Riviera Magazine San Diego recently paired me up with the talented Andrew Spurgin to bring our over the top picnic vision come to life & to catch up with all that’s been going on in the world of Alchemy Fine Events. For this summer time shoot I wanted to create an intimate design for 2 that you could recreate in your own backyard, local park or beach with a few easy upgrades to infuse into your luxury picnic. As a die-hard foodie myself, I was so excited to get to work with Andrew who created the most delectable gourmet & gorgeous bites… including spoonfuls of caviar we washed down with rose champagne. My kind of photoshoot! With a little help from my friends… we brought an over the top sexy, splashy luxurious picnic to the lake shores of Fairbanks Ranch in Rancho Santa Fe.
Here are my top 5 picnic essentials to make your glamorous picnic a huge success!!
TOP 5 LUXURY PICNIC STYLE ESSENTIALS
1. GO BIG – the luxury of what makes a picnic so fun is the unexpected. Anyone can have wrapped up PB&J’s in a basked but bring out the caviar, champagne and amazing cheeses to nibble on al fresco. Forgo the paper plates for a few beautiful serving pieces such as these gorgeous tiles by Tuo Sogno or some sassy vintage china & glassware by Hostess Haven. The contrast of luxury in the outdoors is what makes it so fun!
2. Super Soft Blanket & Pillows- I’d suggest an ultra soft cashmere throw from Missoni to snuggle up on when the sun sets.
3. BUBBLES –Beau Joie Brut Rose- the gorgeous copper laden bottle will impress even before letting the crisp, sweet bubbles hit your palette. After all, the only thing better than bubbles is pink bubbles. Bonus point: when served ice cold the copper keeps the bottle cooler longer! Style & purpose.
4. THE ULTIMATE CHEESE PLATE- from truffle laced Goudas to creamy Bries served on chewy nutty crackers with a dollop of goose liver pate. Vennissimo is my favorite go-to cheese shop in San Diego.
5. LUXURY PICNIC LUGGAGE - I am obsessed with vintage cocktail cases that make your perfect dry martini with a blue cheese olive very do-able! I also LOVE gourmet trotter cases out of the UK for a complete set of your essentials all on a gorgeous stacked case set of roll-able luggage.=
Photography by Robert Benson
Event Design & Styling by Alchemy Fine Events
Catering by Andrew Spurgin
Tableware by Hostess Haven
Flowers by Isari Flower Studio
Fashion Stying by Hall & Saks
Furniture by by Pow Wow , Hire Elegance, Ligne Rosset & My Own Space
Tiles by Tuo Sogno
Beauty by Beauti On The Go
Models provided by NO Ties
Pillows by La Tavola
Location Fairbanks Ranch
Read More »Modern Luxe La Jolla Beach Wedding by Alchemy Fine Events, part 1
California meets Asian Zen La Jolla Beach Wedding at Scripps Forum: the Ceremony & Cocktail Hour
When a Manhattan based client approached me for a four-day destination wedding weekend in San Diego, although she had never even visited America’s Finest City and basically gave me free reign design wise, I knew this would be fun! From an Old Town Mexican rehearsal fiesta, sailing day on a 150 ft antique sailboat, golf at Torrey Pines and a post-wedding brunch on the sand in La Jolla, this was quite an unforgettable affair! For this La Jolla Beach wedding I wanted to create a look that was still very chic and sophisticated with beachy and zen undertones, so with understated Asian and oceanic influences we did just that. I wanted to make these mainly East Coast based, out-of-town guests feel as if they were under the ocean in a not so classic California beach inspired seaside setting.
THE CEREMONY: As guests entered onto the seaside grassy setting they were offered guava cocktails in vintage champagne coupes sprinkled with flower petals as well as a tasty little chicken mousse cornetts. For the ceremony we wanted to create an organic, natural feeling beachy vibe so we designed a custom driftwood chuppah to be constructed, which we then layered on a ton of various shaped origami for a fun Asian element. In lieu of a traditional white aisle I wanted a more fluid, natural feel that would flow with the color of the grey sand on the beach so we constructed a custom grey-washed wood aisle built on site for the bride to walk down. Flanking the aisle was rustic wood podiums topped with seashell vases overflowing with big blooms and greenery to emulate the wildness of underwater plantlife on the seafloor. A pianist played Cannon in D on a white baby grand piano as the bride clad in Monique Lhullier was escorted down the aisle by her parents.
At the beginning of the aisle stood rustic wood pillars with mother of pearl vases boasting underwater inspired flowers including pink peonies, orchids, wild greenery and other textures emulating an underwater wild coral reef.
For this modern La Jolla Beach wedding we created a custom designed driftwood chuppah with colorful origami that stood atop a platform at the end of a custom build light grey washed aisle for a natural and organic feeling.
THE COCKTAIL HOUR: After the ceremony guests were treated to jazz music flowing through the air as they nibbled on hors d’oeuvres and relaxed in the outdoor living room style lounges which featured California modern style of furniture blended with modern marble pieces which made a recurring appearance throughout the food styling. The cozy upstairs lounge designed with white velvet couches, marble coffee tables and a modern mirrored bar to reflect the sunset behind them also featured a Japanese sun ice sculpture glowing among the raw bar stocked full with Dungeness crab, oysters and shrimp. Marble slabs featuring a variety of California cheeses greeted guests as they sipped on California wines paired with them.
Guests were treated to a downstairs bar and lounges as well as an upstairs lounge full of white velvet couches and ottomans, sleek chrome belly bars anda raw bar with a Japanese Sun ice sculpture.
Stay tuned for more blog posts of the reception, the food and the over the top dessert extravaganza from this La Jolla Beach Wedding!! The details were just too over the top to not share!
Wedding Photography: Photography: Samuel Lippke Studios | Wedding Venue: Scripps Forum | Event Design, Planning & Stationery: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations| Floral Design: Isari Flower Studio | Catering: Urban Kitchen Catering | Furniture & Production: Hire Elegance | Draping, Lighting & Chuppah Production: Your Bash! | Furniture & Decor Rentals: Revelry Event Design | Tabletop Rentals: Classic Party Rentals & Casa de Perrin | Calligraphy: Kathryn Murray | Desserts: Sweet & Saucy Shop, The Cravory, Sweet Lucies, Images Printed on Chocolate, Cappuccino on Call | Entertainment: Elan Artists & Freeze Frame | Dress & Bridesmaids: Monique Lhuillier |Beauty: Fiore Beauty
Read More »El Cielo Ibiza Beach Wedding by Alchemy Fine Events for Bonder & Co.
Alchemy Fine Events presents their 3rd Ibiza Wedding Collection Design for Bonder & Co.
Last but not least, we are exited to present to you our third design of our luxury Ibiza Beach Wedding Collection for Bonder & Co.With these preset designs brides are offered the simplicity of having a luxury beach wedding in Ibiza all planned and created for them including catering, venue and entertainment.
EL Cielo IBIZA Wedding Collection
For the more romantic and ethereal bride we created the El Cielo Ibiza wedding. El Cielo features lots of white with soft colors and textures including periwinkle, soft pinks and peaches. Inspired by the white island of Ibiza itself as well as the gorgeous azul sky above it, El Cielo is bright and fresh with a seemingly ease of a floating cloud or fluttering butterfly.
CEREMONY
Our El Cielo (the sky or heaven in Spanish) look captures raw wood with a Spanish lace alter, floating butterfly’s and textural flowers in white and pale pinks with pops of texture and fragrance in the form of dripping jasmine and tuberose. Spanish elements including colored glass and lanterns add character and color while the lucite ghost chairs allow guests to admire the view without distracting the view.
The BOUQUET
Soft and romantic creamy roses and white garden roses and lisianthus are surrounded by peach tulips and pale green eucalyptus leaves wrapped in a vintage lace trim.
THE TABLESCAPE
For the El Cielo Ibiza wedding table design we wanted a seemingly floating appearance of soft, romantic flowers, butterflies and soft blues to replicate the colors of the sky and clouds
Design & Styling by Alchemy Fine Events for Bonder & Co.
Photography by SLS Studios
Flowers by Isari Flower Studio
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