{happy anniversary} josh + marci 6.26.10

seriously... it's already been a year since you guys became man + wife??!?! 

where's the time gone?  and how has it taken me this long to blog their wedding...? 

better late than never right?

... on to the real message of this post ...

:: Josh + Marci :: 

like a said above, how has a year already zoomed past us since the day you two said your vows?  

i sure don't know, but what i do know is that my life has been greatly blessed having the two of you in it!  not only did i have the honor of helping plan your most special day {to this date at least}, but i am even more honored to have gained a friendship with you both.  Josh, i know how valuable your friendship has been to my hubby through the stressful law school years and now carving out legal careers for yourselves. and Marci, you have been a bright ray of sunshine in my life ever since we began planning your big day, i thank God that our friendship continued on past our planning together, you make me laugh and i love that we can spend hours on end chatting about life, marriage, future plans and our terrible addiction to wedding blogs!  ok, ok, enough with the sappy stuff, but honestly thank you both for the opportunity to not only take part in the planning, and to be able to witness the start of your marriage, but to also have the great pleasure of watching your marriage grow this past year... love you guys!

now here are some highlights from their wedding at Rancho Capistrano on 6.26.10

....and the piece de resistance, their dessert table =)

i'll leave you with my favorite two images of j+m on their wedding day....

....here's to us all growing old together!



{vendor talent}
*photographer: Hugh Forte {and some images were from a personal friend who shot for me that day}
*catering/cake/desserts: the fabulous Jay's Catering
*floral designs: Jayne at Bits of Whimsy
*dj: Goodtimes Entertainment {my favorite, Tony}
*videographer + love story: Tom from AquaVivus
*all paper goods + jewelry + bridal hairpiece: Joie de Vie Design


{features} thanks to the following bloggers for featuring this wonderful couple's event!
*Amy Atlas - Sweet Designs - p. 1, 2, 3
*Mary Lalande - Jay's Catering
*The Wedding Chicks

i'm still here!

i'm stopping by real quick to show you what i'm working on at the moment...

here's the inspiration behind the wedding i've been working to design 

for the bride Tracy + her groom Lee... congrats you guys!

i just adore all the color and the fun details we'll be showcasing, i'll be back after next weekend to start catching you {my fabulous readers} up on recent events, since so much has been going on!

hang tight till next week =)

{inspiration} black, gold, & white wedding

This week was our floral meeting for my upcoming January Bride's wedding... I love when we do the floral meeting because I believe that the floral design elements play a huge role in communicating what the overall personality of a wedding will be.  In the case of this wedding it will be a sleek black, white and gold affair with elements of timeless glamour... with some hints of the show Mad Men to further communicate this wedding vibe.

After the meeting I pulled together a lot of the eye candy the bride, her mom, and I have been sifting through and here's what I've put together!

Just to give you a little bit more of a sneak peek at this wedding I'll share with you the wedding invites, which were created by my sister business Joie de Vie Paperie.  They're keeping the event primarily black and white with touches of gold, so we did the same for the invites.

 The monogram tag shape was a last minute change up, we had originally planned to use a circle shape, and then I realized this bracketed frame die shape would be far more swanky... and then their monogram was stamped onto it.... I just love the way the gold pops off the black!

And here's the whole suite laid out... sorry these photos are just from my digital camera right after production.... I really need to have them professionally shot to do them justice!

Their invites were initially inspired by Kristina's invites {of Lovely Morning and 100 Layer Cake}... but we made some modifications and voila!

Now I don't want to spill all the details about the event, but I really am falling hard for this wedding style... the floral designer said it best the other day...

"I seem to fall in love with the wedding I'm currently working on"

.... and I am falling hard for this one!

:: :: photo credits :: :: left to right, top to bottom

{1} Martha Stewart Weddings

{2, 5-6, 8, 10-14,} Jl designs  

{3} Lori Beth Events

{15} OC Prop Girl

{16} Ikea

la vita e dolce

.... the sweet life or life is sweet ....

I have to say a big thank you to Carlie of gabriel ryan photographers for posting the photos from last month's wedding, they just made my day!  Meagan {the bride} is a long time friend of mine, who married her knight in shining armor on 8.28.10... I had the honor of being one of her maids for her wedding day, but I just couldn't help myself, my design business did their paper goods for the big day, and you know I had to assist in throwing in a little event design love too!

So here's the dessert table we did for their big day

The overall wedding look was very classy and elegant, and since Meagan had spent a summer in Italy, she really wanted to bring a few touches of Italy to their day.  So JDVpaperie created the banner, which we attached to the frames, along with photos from Meagan + Erik's {sweet} lives, and then of course the table was finished off with the actual sweets!  

And since I can't just post about the dessert table, here's one of my favorites of them...

a big shout out goes out to

 * Lisa of Double Take Interiors/ jomestic doi for creating the gorgeous silk overlay 

{she's my fabulous SIL and interior designer}

* also, to Collette's Catering for the sweets and pretty cake!

And if you're ever in need of some awesome and large vintage frames I have both of these babies {and one more} available to be rented for your upcoming event! =)

{DIY} another man's trash is my treasure

Hello, I'm here, trying to come out of blogging hiding... this has seriously been quite a summer!

I thought I'd come back with something I have been wanting to share with you for a long time... if you've been keeping up with the sweet blog features showing Marci + Josh's wedding dessert display {amy atlas, wedding chicks, and jay's catering}, you'll remember there was a cute shabby chic-y desk at the center of that design... now if you haven't seen those posts,

this is the cute little desk I'm talking about:

Now, would you believe that this is that same desk... the day I found it calling my name in a local antique store!

{sorry for the shot from my camera phone}


Even with all the junk piled on it, I new that it was special and that it could serve a very important purpose in the upcoming wedding dessert display.  So, I called my mom over to the shop for a second opinion {she's my shopping buddy and confidant}, and she saw the potential that I did.  After mom's approval it was time for the real critic, my pops to come check it out.  He and my mom used to deal antiques in the early days of their marriage, so I knew if he thought it was tacky, I just wouldn't go there.  I also wanted him to kinda assess all the work we would need to do clean it up... as you can see it was in need of some MAJOR TLC and maybe even a tetanus shot!

After some back and forth, a little price haggling, we got a great deal and she was mine.  Here it is right after clearing away all of the junk.

So upon getting the desk home to work on it, my pops said we needed to take the desk totally apart so we could stabilize it. We took a leg off, detached the hutch, sanded, painted, sanded some more, nailed, painted and then sanded some more.... I think you get the gist =)

Here's the desk in the middle of the process laying in the driveway, missing limbs and it's hutch...

Getting fairly close to finishing up the TLC process my engineer{dad} and I decided to add this fun little contrast detail to the back edge of the desktop, just incase I ever wanted to use it without the hutch 

{you can see it's the only part not painted white yet at that point.}

I will tell you that when I bought this desk, I hadn't planned on keeping it, but after the labor of love it was to work on and dress up, I couldn't bear to part with it, after all, as a friend said "she does have nice legs!" =)

Here's the desk again at bridal shower, being used with out the hutch for a totally different look... {yeah, and if you're wondering what the banner said... "showered with love"}

If you're looking for a fun prop like this for an upcoming event, I'd be happy to rent her out to you for a day, evening... er, wow this sounds like a escort service... but, seriously if you are looking for a rental piece like this and you're in the LA, OC, SD areas, feel free to email me and you can rent her for your special event - BlairBrittEvents{at}gmail.com

Stoked{dot}com... Wedding Chicks feature!

Wow, so stoked to see our clients, Josh + Marci up on the Wedding Chicks blog today! I really can't begin to describe how much I enjoyed working on their wedding, and now to see Hugh Forte's images gracing the first page of one of my favorite wedding sites today - that took my wow to another level, so flattered and so beyond blessed!

I was also so happy to see that they posted Aqua Vivus' work too, seriously, if you haven't considered having a videographer... go take a gander at their work - whatever your thoughts were, you'll not only want a videographer... you'll want them! 

What a great day!

{real wedding sneak peek} marci + josh 6.26.10

Ok folks, this past weekend I had the honor of designing and coordinating this wedding for a couple who is very special to me... here are the newlyweds

Josh + Marci

I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed planning their big day with them... they are so mellow, easy going, and fun; which made them a dream to work with!  Josh + Marci are college sweethearts who were looking for a very Anthropology and eclectically inspired day... I'm happy to say we succeeded in that! They were married at Rancho Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano on a gorgeous day here in So Cal, and we were blessed with such beautiful weather! 

{none of the june gloom we've been having here recently}

Anyhow, while we're waiting on the no doubt amazing photos from their photographer Hugh Forte, here are some sneak peek shots captured from their day.  I hope you enjoy these glimpses of their wedding!

gorgeously eclectic bridesmaid bouquets

{dusty miller. cabbage, wild peonies, painted scabiosa, hydrangea, and many other wonderful blooms}

Marci's monique lhuillier dress was gorgeous and so was her bouquet filled with ruffled tulips, dusty miller, freesia, garden roses, peonies {just to name a few} =)

and LOOK at these phenomenal shoes!!! 

I melt just looking at them...

the centerpieces incorporated 5-6 different containers filled with all sorts of florals, and the centerpieces sat on piece of burlap to anchor them - all the tablescapes really were a feast for the eyes. 

We used three varying sized vintage frames, which we attached chicken wire to and painted white, 

then clipped on the vintage shipping tag escort cards with painted mini clothes-pins.

This is one of their 3 cakes, Jay's catering did such a wonderful job implementing the style we were going for.. we gave them burlap to cover the cake bases so that it would coordinate with the burlap on the tables and to echo the brown tones from the wedding invite envelopes {which were made from kraft paper}.  Also, the crocheted ribbon was a used to secure all the pieces of the invite suite, so we used it again to help add some interest to the satin ribbon wrapped around the base of each cake tier!

Don't you just love that sugar flower peony?!?

Here's a little look at some of the mini desserts that were served in addition to the cakes!

Jay's really outdid themselves with the color coordinated lollicakes, petit-four-esq cheescake bites, and chocolate covered cream puffs!  Trust me, they tasted just as yummy as they look - yep, 

I had to sample of course!

And here's a glimpse of the sweetheart table - we used the "M and J" initial mugs as containers for their table... We also plopped these amazing dinner plate dahlias around to help give texture and color to the table... I also added this pedestal & cloche to give them their own little dessert display, that way they could have their sweets without having to leave their table!

Well, that's all for now, but I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of the wedding... I still can't believe how wonderfully well all the details pulled together for such a truly beautiful day! 

Big thanks go out to the following wonderful vendors I was so blessed to work with that day!

Catering & desserts: Jay's Catering

Photos courtesy of Mary Lallande

Paper goods, jewelry & bridal accessories: Joie de Vie

Floral Design: Jayne Hallaian of Bits of Whimsy

DJ: Tony Boldi of Goodtimes Entertainment

Cinematography: Aqua Vivus Productions

Professional Photography: Hugh Forte

{sneak peak} 6.26.10 - Rancho Capistrano

Ah... I'm still so overjoyed with the way yesterday's wedding turned out, and how we made the bride & groom's vision come to life, but for now I'll leave you with yesterday's {love story} created by the amazing Tom of Aqua Vivus... I think this sets up and introduces yesterday's couple so perfectly...enjoy, I know I did and so did the rest of last night's guest!  I'd like you to meet this wonderful couple... Josh + Marci

Josh + Marci Love Story//Same Day Premiere from AQUA VIVUS on Vimeo.

{featured} by Style Unveiled

Just wanted to say thank you to the fabulous ladies behind Style Unveiled for featuring mine & Justus' wedding {the event that inspired me to create Blair Britt Events}.  They put together a gorgeous spread of photos from that day... made me really wanna relive our wedding day all over again! =)

 

I just love the above photo {of our ceremony arch}, the way they cropped it looks so cool!

Thanks Heather & Kim for all the great things you contribute to the wedding world, and I know I've said it before, but keep doin' what you gals obviously do best! 

{meet} Josh & Marci

One of my 2010 brides just shared some of their awesome e-pics with me! Not only are they a cute couple but their fantastic photographer {Hugh Forte} captured some beautiful shots, even considering the gloomy weather we had been having in So Cal last month.

We're working to create an Anthro-styled wedding with touches of their Japanese and Mexican heritage throughout their day... I'm really excited to see the whole day pulled together, it's going to be fabulous!

Thanks for the honor of working with you both to create your special day! I can't believe you two are only about 6 months from becoming Mr. & Mrs. =)

here are a few more of my favs of Hugh Forte's shots from that day:

{sneak peak} 9.19.09 - Saddlerock Ranch

Nope... I haven't forgotten about this blog, I've just been awaiting the arival of photos from the September wedding we did in Malibu... While I'm trying to decide which photos to share I'll leave you with these which are some of my stand-out favs... thanks to Brent & Mel's fabulous photog Lawrence Lau {of Havard Photography} for sharing!

love, love, loved the parisols!

isn't the sky just amazing in this ceremony shot? btw, that tree played a very important role in inspiring many of the personalized details of the day.

reception under all the lit oak trees

Loved being able to tie in the vineyard style by using wine bottles 

to display the custom menus & table numbers!

and lastly, when I saw this photo it gave me goosebumps! 

just beautiful....

More to come soon.... =)


*blair