DREAM Bridal Affair : San Diego’s Dream Team of Wedding Experts
We are so excited to announce our upcoming bridal show DREAM. Being held at Luce Loft in the East Village of downtown San Diego, DREAM is an event produced by me, Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations, alongside Luna Photo, Isari Flower Studio and Exquisite Weddings Magazine. With this show and our dream team of vendors, we aim to showcase one cohesive affair with some of the best talents San Diego has to offer. If you are a bride that needs to complete their dream team of vendors, or are looking to find your entire team at once, please come and join us for a dreamy evening full of design, photography, food, music, invitations and more!
Check back to our DREAM page to see the current vendor list and updates about the show.
Don’t forget to check back on our DREAM page for more additions to our DREAM team!
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Inspiration to Publication: Los Olivos Winery Wedding in Martha Stewart
Last week we were a bit too exited and premature in showing off the images from the recent Martha Stewart Weddings feature. So here is another peak at the article and the inspirations that went behind it.
We love showcasing the inspiration and work behind the creations that we work on so we wanted to show you some of our original ideas and sketches that we illustrated before the wedding took place. This is such a great way to illustrate your ideas to brides that may not always have the same visionary skills as a designer would. Some elements were changed, some stayed exactly the same!
Cover photograph by Christopher Baker/Martha Stewart Weddings, Spring 2012. Copyright © 2012.
Story photographs by Jose Villa/Martha Stewart Weddings, Spring 2012. Copyright © 2012.
Monopoly Korean 1st Birthday Party
Monopoly Korean 1st Birthday Party at the London West Hollywood
Last spring I was fortunate enough to design my first Korean 1st birthday party. In the Korean culture, the 1st birthday is a highly celebrated special time in their babies life that symbolizing great health, luck and also to help forecast their life to come. When Jina Parks of Ultimately Plush asked me to create this creative and luxurious bash at the London West Holllywood I knew I’d be in for a treat!
Here are some sweet words from Jina herself regarding the special day:
Jina Park, founder and creator of PLUSH, the posh little urbanites show in Los Angeles just celebrated her second son’s 1st birthday this past April. Always looking for the best and most innovative ideas, Jina wanted Brendan’s 1st birthday party to be an event never seen before, so she decided on a Monopoly-themed party with an elegant twist.
“We knew right away that a Monopoly themed birthday party would be perfect for Brendan for various reasons. First, he looks just like a baby version of that jolly Monopoly man! And since Brendan’s dad is a real estate developer, it was perfect! I also knew immediately who I wanted on my team to make this dream party become reality.
First, I had no doubt that Vanessa of Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations was the perfect person to help me create that elegant Monopoly party. Vanessa is incredibly creative and is also a very gifted graphic artist, so I knew she could take my ideas and create the most gorgeous party even beyond my wildest imaginations. Second, I chose Melody of Sweet and Saucy Shop to create the dessert table I envisioned, with the perfect mix of elegance, charm and a delicious combination of goodies that no one else can imitate! And let me just say, her cakes for SO DELICIOUS, and the beautiful dessert table that Vanessa put together was something I’ve never seen before! Finally, what’s the point of all this planning if we didn’t have the perfect photographer to put this together? I’ve been admiring Corbin of Corbin Gurkin Photography for a long time, and just had to have her photograph this party!
From the very beginning, I knew what I wanted in terms of invitation pieces that I created to look just like a Monopoly board but customized to depict Brendan’s first year of his life. There were also some must-haves like dessert iterations, such as the money bag cake pops, the color theme of pale blue, black & white and gold, and customizing verbiage to go along with the Monopoly theme. But I must say that all these ideas would not have been possible without the collaboration of Vanessa, Melody and Corbin to make this dream a reality!”
Credits:
Theme idea & Concept: Jina Park (PLUSH, LLC)
Event Design, Dessert Tablescape & Graphics: Alchemy Fine Events and Invitations
Photography: Corbin Gurkin Photography
Desserts & Cake: Sweet & Saucy Shop
Invitations: Jina Park (Ink Monster Invitations)
Florals: Isari Flower Studio
Rentals: Elm Concierge
Head Table Rentals: Kiki Events
‘Once Upon a Bride’ Fairy Tale Wedding Inspiration Shoot for Utterly Engaged
Every little girl has dreamt of becoming one of the the fairy tales that they grew up reading. Whether they wanted to be saved by a kiss from a prince, felt that someone was the Evil Queen in their lives, or just find that fairy tale romance that sometimes doesn’t seem real. I had so yearned for über long hair to throw out of my bedroom window to be rescued when I was grounded!
So when Lucia of Utterly Engaged asked me to design a bridal shoot inspired by the classic fairy tales we all know and love, the little girl in me definitely came out to play . We also spoke of mixing in the feeling of Scandinavian folk art undertones to bring out the textures and laces and patterns of this elaborate artistic style. With an incredible team behind me here are the creative results.
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let down thy hair to me.
Instead of the classic ‘Red Riding Hood’ I wanted to play off of a more updated and stylish version of a ‘Pink Riding Hood’. We paired this ruffled lacy gown by Provence Bride with yards of flowing scarves for a rich and stylish take on this character. Knitted gloves, a suede claret Ferragamo belt and darling porcelain basket of flowers completed this damsel in distress’s look.
You know, my dear, it isn’t safe for a little girl to walk through these woods alone.
…as pure and white as snow, and as red as blood, and her hair was as black as ebony…
When I think of Snow White, I think of the sweet animal loving forest nymph who attracted all things good with her beauty. We actually had another gown planned for this character but a serendipitous moment on Facebook happened after I saw an old friend getting married in one of Tara La Tour’s gowns and I was immediately floored by her stunning designs. This periwinkle ombre work of art (along with the evil queen’s gown) was over-nighted from Minnesota just in time to grace our shoot. The hand work and detail on this gown are simply unparalleled and a true masterpiece! Tara La Tour’s wedding dresses are definitely worthy of a fairy tale wedding.
For our Snow White look Alex wore stunning rough diamond chandelier earrings and a coral rose ring by the talented Leslie Fastlicht Russo.
Snow White wouldn’t be complete with out the Evil Queen lurking in the shadows. This dramatic indigo blue gown worked wonderfully for the dark and mysterious character longingly looking for answers in her mirror. Her dark bouquet of burgundy blooms and spiky succulents created the perfect sinister look for this stunning sinner.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall…
Gretel, sans Hansel, stumbled upon a deliciously tempting trail of sweets by Scootabaker and Elizabethan bakeries while wearing a pale taupe BHLDN gown and basket lush with wildflowers. This would make for such a wonderful intimate wedding at the courthouse dress!
Sweets and treats did tempt the children into the witches house made of bread and cakes…
When I told Heather of Scootabaker of my vision I described elaborate shapes of flora and fauna and woodland creatures in layering textures of white on white. As if she crawled into my head, Heather literally made by elaborate vision come to life with so much detail and precision it was amazing!
Alex wore carved bone earrings and cocktail rings by Leslie Fastlicht Russo. The diamond button detailing on the back of her dress was stunning!
And from this slumber you shall wake, when true love’s kiss, the spell shall break.
Krista Jon created the most gorgeous and interesting florals for each look that could not have portrayed the lightly dark yet romantic look of this shoot. The variety of blooms with vines and greenery and succulents were so forward thinking and stunning.
This vintage Roberto Cavalli jacket donned by our amazing stylist Adrienne Baravetto worked wonderfully to frame our Sleeping Beauty’s gorgeous face.
Creative Direction by Lucia Dinh of Utterly Engaged
Art Direction, Design & Invitation Design by Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations
Photography by Schnack Studios
Flowers by Krista Jon of A Humble Abode
Fashion Styling by Adrienne Baravetto
Jewelry by Leslie Fastlicht Russo
Props & Furniture by Archive Vintage Rentals
Make Up by Devon Duff
Hair by Caitlin of Flawless Face
Cake & Pastries by Scootabaker
Pies by Elizabethan
Model Alex Grace with Elite Models
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