Bijoux Events

E + P Twin Peaks Ranch Wedding

2012-02-11T00:31:00.000-08:00

This wedding was located at the fabulous, and always stunning, Twin Peaks Ranch, in Ojai California this past July. This couple had such a fun, flirty, and eclectic style, that I just had to share. There are some amazing inspirational pieces that are not quite what one would expect to see at a wedding, including a large antique spotlight. But that is why I loved it so much! The large turquise urns used for the ceremony altar alone took four grown men to move up the ceremony lawn!

Thanks guys over at Ventura Party Rentals for helping with that BTW.

It was a truly unique wedding, and I just fell in love with the bride and groom.

Introducing Elise and Philip...

All Floral was done by Curly Willow in Ojai, California.

The bridal bouquet included succulents from the brides grandmothers garden as well as peonies, roses, lambs ear, brunia hydrangea, and ranunculus.

The bouquet stems were wrapped in eggshell satin ribbon.

The 'icing' on Elise's bridal motif was this elegant hair comb and chunky Vintage bracelet.

He stared at her like this the entire day.

He just couldn't keep his eyes off of her...

Beautiful ring. Good job Philip!

I don't think it can get much cuter with these two. Both of them wore a hair wreathe of orange roses.

Boys will be boys!

The groom goofing off with his groomsmen before the ceremony.

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina, and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina later that year with a group of family, friends, and staff with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers. The bride works for Toms Shoes and wanted to incorporate their movement into the movement of their wedding.

I love when couples give back!

How awesome are thesedresses?! I can't tell you how refreshing it is to finally have somegirls that liven it up and aren't afraid of a little color...or a lot!

Did I say how much I loved these dresses?!

Philips parents married them, adding an extra special personal touch to the ceremony.

Here are those fantastic urns!

Cocktail hours signature cocktail was an Orange Mint Julep.

Appetizers during cocktail hour were flatbreads made fresh in the wood burning oven and served on the wood boards straight from the oven!

Zucchini with Goat Cheese

Pistachios, Basil Pesto, and Pounded Parsley

Oyster and Leeks with Smoked Mozzarella

Lamb Sausage with Oranges!

Guests were directed to their seats with a chalkboard seating assignment.

The bridal party choreographed a really fun Grand Entrance. I got goosebumps when they came out holding parasols and dancing to "Dog Days Are Over', by Florence And The Machine. Crouching down together, they hid the bride and groom right until the climax of the song. They then burst open to showcase the new Mr. and Mrs. Massey!

String lights were provided by Bella Vista Designs.

Tables were named after cities that represented a significant place and time in their lives that meant something special to them.

Long feasting tables were perfect for Family Style Dinner. They wanted their guests to feel comfortable and at home with a casual dinner service.

The Menu Included:

Grissini

Fried Green Tomato and Goat Cheese Salad

Arugula Salad with Hazelnuts and Figs

Grilled Skirt Steak

With Meyer Lemon and Sea Salt

Braised Rabbit with Root Vegetables

Halibut with Shell Beans

Roasted Okra and Sweet Peppers

Smoked Fingerling Potato Wedges and Aioli

Summer Beans

Radishes and Lavender Sheep’s Milk Cheese

The cake was adorable!

Done by the lovely Miss Jana at Janas Creative Cakes.

The intricate details were identical to the wedding invitations!

Flavors included:

Lemon Cake with Passion Fruit Filling and Fresh Raspberries

Chocolate Cake with Passion Fruit Filling and Fresh Raspberries

Thank you Shannon Leith Photography for your beautiful photos!

Why didn't I think of that?

2012-02-08T16:02:00.000-08:00

"Ok everybody, on the count of three. One...Two...Thr... what? Nooo! My battery just died!"

How many times have you been at a wedding, or special event when you realized that your phone was about to die, or your camera battery starts flashing red right at that moment when everyone has choreographed that perfect pose, smile, and is begging you to hurry up and take the photo already! What is a person to do? Well check out the new ‘Juice Bar’!

The "juice bar" from Pink Powered by Moss, is a standalone table with charging units stored in its base, enabling guests a convenient place to recharge their portable electronics. The unit can be accompanied with or without an 8-foot-tall sign that is ideal for branding opportunities as well as optional lights that can be installed into the fabric.

For further information on how you can rent this, please check out Pink Powered By Moss!

What will they think of next?!

2012-02-08T15:38:00.000-08:00

We all know how hard and fast the cupcake trend hit the Special Events industry. I still have my designated "Cupcake Allowance" for Enjoy Cupcakes of Los Olivos, Ca. As most things do, the trend has become a bit stale...no pun intended there. So, we began to see the cupcake trend morph into new and innovative ways of eating them. I have seen Cupcake Decorating Stations, Cupcake Buffets, Gigantic Cupcakes, Mini Cupcakes, Cupcakes In A Jar, and Cupcakes On A Stick. But now, there is yet another creative way of eating your cupcakes!

Introducing CakeShooters by Sprinkles!

I was reading the current issue of Special Events, when I came across CakeShooters! The CakeShooter is a portable push-up pop, filled with the perfect cake-to-icing ratio, and is available in a variety of flavors and colors. They are available for shipping nationwide! This could be great for any special event, especially weddings, children's birthday parties, heck, even ADULT birthday parties. I have attended events before where I may have indulged in the bar a bit too much and really could have used this convenience. They even offer vegan or gluten-free pops!

Stay tuned for what Bijoux Events staff has to say about these mini-indulgences...ring ring ring. "Hello?" "Ah yes, we would like one of every flavor you have to offer please!" Yum!

Sprinkles Signature, this classic creation features vanilla cream and white icing

Yellow Raspberry Swirl, swirled into the mix are cream cheese filling and icing. Piña Colada, taste the tropics with this mix of vanilla cream, pineapple coconut filling, and icing. OMG, that’s what you’ll be saying when you taste this delicious combination of raspberry swirl and chocolate buttercream icing. Vanilla, vanilla cake with a choice of vanilla or chocolate icing. Chocolate, chocolate cake with a choice of vanilla or chocolate icing.

For further information, please visit CakeShooters.

Bijoux Events Featured on Style Me Pretty!

2012-02-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

Michael + Anna Costa might need to enter the SMP Hall of Fame. The weddings that they send us are pinned, favorited and commented on like crazy with brides and grooms that are always madly in love, flowers that scream romance and a photographic style that is all together kind of delicious. So when we spotted this beauty, we knew we had to have it. Something about the pretty pinks all in a row and the jaw droppingly gorgeous Los Olivios backdrop had us at hello. Throw in the photographs that Michael + Anna snapped…and well, you have the definition of wedding perfection.

Photography By / Michael + Anna Costa Photographers
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Flowers By / Juniper Floral Designs
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Photography By / Michael + Anna Costa Photographers
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Flowers By / Juniper Floral Designs
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Photography By / Michael + Anna Costa Photographers
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Flowers By / Juniper Floral Designs
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Photography By / Michael + Anna Costa Photographers
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Flowers By / Juniper Floral Designs
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Photography By / Michael + Anna Costa Photographers
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Flowers By / Juniper Floral Designs
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Photography By / Michael + Anna Costa Photographers
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Flowers By / Juniper Floral Designs
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Photography By / Michael + Anna Costa Photographers
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

Flowers By / Juniper Floral Designs
Event Planning By / Bijoux Events

From the bride… Brandon and I met five years ago through a setup by a mutual friend. I was living in San Francisco at the time but planning to re-locate to San Diego, where Brandon was currently living. We instantly hit it off and, because to the distance, we were able to develop a wonderful friendship over the phone for the first few months of dating. Upon moving to San Diego, our relationship grew even through two moves, including one to a new state for both of us: Arizona. When planning our wedding, we knew we wanted to have our wedding at a winery, not only because wineries offer such beautiful scenery and landscape, but because we both very much enjoy wine and wine tasting trips. With Brandon’s family and friends from Southern California and mine from Northern California, the Santa Ynez Valley and Firestone Winery offered us a central spot to host our big day. Firestone Winery has the most amazing vineyard mesa with an enormous oak tree that provided the perfect backdrop for a sunset wedding. The day couldn’t have been more perfect. While the early evening breezes did sweep my veil away a few times, it made for some wonderful photos and some laughs that eased wedding nerves!

While planning the wedding from Arizona did prove to be logistically challenging at times (flying into LA with a 1.5 hour rental car drive north to Santa Barbara), I was privileged to work with best-in-class vendors, including Michael and Anna Costa Photographers, Jessica Kuipers at Bijoux Events, Juniper Presence at Juniper Flowers, Matt Odom at Rock and Roll Hearts, Pure Joy Catering and Enjoy Cupcakes, among others. Their professionalism allowed us to truly enjoy the day stress-free. I can say without question that was the best day of my life — I married my best friend in the most beautiful setting.

Wedding Photography: Michael + Anna Costa Photographers / Wedding Venue: Firestone Vineyards in Los Olivos, California / Firestone Events Contact: Rachel Korrey (R4orrey@Firestonewine.com) / Flowers: Juniper Presence of Juniper Floral Designs / Planner: Jessica Kuipers of Bijoux Events / Catering: Pure Joy Catering / Cake + Cupcakes: Enjoy Cupcakes / DJ: Morgan William of AMS Entertainment / Transportation: EOS Transportation / Lighting: LBPS Lighting / Cinematography: Matt Odom of Rock & Roll Hearts / Hair + Makeup: LunaBella Makeup Art / Officiant: Rev. Barbara Laughray/ Bridal Suite: Hotel Corque Wedding Gown + Sash: Jim Hjelm via Destiny’s Bride / Bride’s Belt Brooch: 2007musarra / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jim Hjelm

New Look for 2012!

2012-02-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

I recently read a fantastic article on the blog of Melissa Musgrove Photography. She discussed the importance of having current photos of yourself that truly reflect what you look like. Nothing stranger than meeting a person for the first time and expecting to see the face of five years ago. Although I would LOVE to say that I still look like that, it just isn't so. After two babies, mama needed some new head shots! A big Thank you to Melissa Musgrove for capturing this lovely moment in time during this long journey called life. You made me feel beautiful!

Ocean HIll Estate Venue Premiere

2012-01-24T15:09:00.000-08:00

What a fantastic event we had this past week! Our Ocean Hill Venue Premiere went off without a hitch. This was largely due to the fantastic sponsors that we had the pleasure of working with.

Please check out our images of the event taken by the lovely and talented Melissa Musgrove!

A big thank you to our sponsors:

Bella Vista Designs

Bijoux Events

Classic Party Rentals

Marborg Industries

Melissa Musgrove Photography

Rincon Events

Scott Topper Productions

Signature Parking

Soigne Productions
Tricia Fountaine Design

2012 Inspiration!

2012-01-11T00:45:00.000-08:00

I attended such a fantastic event tonight that completely inspired me! The ISES-VSB gathered tonight at the Museum Of Ventura County, where it was decked out by Event Rents beautiful tables, chairs, and linens. Melissa Musgrove Photography sat at our table and snapped photos of the lovely coursed meal made by Gabrielle Moes, Owner and Chef of Seasons Catering. The dessert was insane! Colette and Kaitlin Lopez of LaFete Weddings introduced us to our guest speaker, Rhonda Couchigian of Rayce PR and Marketing. Rhonda has been by far the most inspirational speaker I have ever encountered. My head could not stop buzzing the entire car ride home! We all know how overwhelming our social media can be, Rhonda presented us with a plan for 2012 that literally knocked our socks off. The topics were Dreams, Goals, and Aspirations. We were educated on the importance of building a brand on emotion and the social media tools of blogs, Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, You Tube, Foursquare, and ISSUU. Almost all of which you can find Bijoux Events on. Hey 2012, bring it!

Play with your food!

2011-09-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

I am always looking for new creative ways to reinvent the typical veggie platter or cheese display. Here are a few fun ways for you to play with your food!

Bacara Wedding M + J

2011-09-09T08:25:00.000-07:00

Melissa and Justin wanted to have a mexican flare at their cocktail hour to make it fun and different from their dinner menu selections. They served Jalapeno Watermelon Lemonade Cocktails to compliment their appetizers.

Appetizers included:

Lobster and Shrimp Empanadas with a Yellow Tomato Cilantro Salsa

Crispy Chicken Cakes with Lime Cilantro Aioli

To keep the theme of "fun", they introduced a self serve Mashed Potato Martini Station! Guests were able to customize their "Martinis" with the following toppings:

The Old Standard

Applewood Smoked Bacon, Tillamook Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream and chives

Meat and Potatoes

Braised Beef Short Ribs with Horseradish Creamed Potato, Red Wine Sauce, and Crispy Onions

This structure was one of my favorite elements of this wedding. A friend of the groom custom made this structure with Curly Willow. He drove this structure all the way from Ohio in the back of his truck! Can you believe that this was his first time ever creating something like this? It will be taken to the parents of the brides house to keep safe in their garden until the couple move into a larger home with a big backyard. How wonderfully sentimental is that! Thanks Dakota!!

Cupcake flavors included:

Red Velvet with rich Cream Cheese Filling

Carrot Cake with Rich Cream Cheese Filling

White Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Filling

The groom is originally from Ohio State. A special surprise from the new in-laws for his grooms cake. They even ended up cutting it during the cake cutting ceremony. O-H-I-O!

A big thanks to:

Shannon Renee Photography

The Bacara Resort & Spa

Tenley Young Floral

Swank Audio Visuals

Lazaro press

LunaBella Makeup

Officiant: Jon Ireland

AMS Entertainment

Videography: Soderqvist Inc.

Firestone Vineyard Wedding K + B

2011-07-16T13:09:00.000-07:00

Recognize this couple? Kim and Brandon's wedding was recently featured on Style me Pretty!

Kimberley + Brandon from Matt Odom on Vimeo.

Twin Peaks Ranch Wedding R + K

2011-06-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

A big thanks to:

Rebecca Fishman Photography

Seasons Catering

Bella Vista Designs

Ventura Party Rentals

La Tavola - Santa Barbara

2011-04-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

La Tavola is a fine linen rental company that we are privileged to have here in Santa Barbara. They come out with a new season of linens periodically, and they are showcasing them this month at all of their locations. Here in Santa Barbara, they will be having their event from 11:00am until 4:00pm on April 28th. Find your nearest La Tavola show room and check out their stunning patterns!

The Color of Lemon

2011-03-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

I am loving this warm weather that we have been having. I was getting a bit barn sour indoors watching countless episodes of house renovations and yard crashing on the do it your self networks. So, now that it is so inviting outside, I am eager to get started on getting our desolate yard filled with foliages and flowers.

While researching what colorful and fragrant plants to put around our new home, I came across the color yellow. It is such a warm stimulating color that makes me think of that sweet crisp lemonade that we used to make for our adorable lemonade stands as kids. Being an event planner I began to play around with ideas on how to incorporate the wonderful color of yellow. Here are a few photos that I hope inspire you to be playful and creative with your upcoming outdoor events!

I am an outdoor person from the country, so anytime that I can incorporate burlap and hay bales, I am in!

I think that using the lemons as place cards is just too cute and I love the idea of using a bandana as a napkin. Check out how they used the clothespin to hold the silverware together!

Twin Peaks Ranch Wedding B + F

2011-02-12T18:59:00.000-08:00

A big thanks to:

Braedon Photography

Pure Joy Catering

Bella Vista Designs

Music by Bonnie

Endless Blooms

Enjoy Cupcakes

Breezy and Florent chose one of my favorite wedding venues for their wedding. Twin Peaks Ranch is a breathtaking avocado and citrus ranch in Ojai, California.

Jill Van Vleet with Endless Blooms did a beautiful job at creating exactly what Breezy wanted - Simple, elegant, and romantic.

One of my favorite parts about this property are the old rustic barns. Maybe it is just because I grew up in a home made out of old adobe that my parents built themselves. I just love that Spanish adobe ranch feel.

Did you know that in Italy, it is a tradition for all of the single bridesmaids to write their names on the bottom of the brides shoes in permanent marker? At the end of the festivities, whomever had their name completely rubbed off was the next to be married!

Enjoy cupcakes is my favorite cupcake company. I will literally drive 45 minutes up to Los Olivos just to get my cupcake fix.

Kimball Ranch Wedding R + A

2010-11-20T16:36:00.000-08:00

This wedding was really fun to coordinate. I immediately felt like part of the family during the planning process. The bride and groom live in the UK, so most of the planning was between her mother and I. And plan did we!

The venue was the families avocado ranch in Santa Paula, California. They even used their own avocados for the guacamole that was served with their authentic mexican menu!

They had their entire barn cleaned out for this special occasion. Being a local business in Santa Paula, It was extremely important to them to support their local vendors...

A special Thanks to:

Bread Basket Cake Co.

Classic Party Rentals

Familia Diaz Catering

Fillmore Rents

Marianne Wilson Photography

Angel Vasquez - Mariachi Band

Loud DJ's

Wendee's Occasions Lighting

The guests were greeted by a mariachi band, Coronas, and Margaritas. What better way to start a party!

The bride and groom entered for their grand entrance by pulling in on an avocado tractor. Too cute!

Appetizer Menu

Grilled Pasilla Chile Pinwheel stuffed with Bacon Cheese and Tomato

Crostini Garlic Cheese Bread with Sundried Tomatoes and Basil

Mediterranean Pesto Stuffed Shrimp with Parmesan Cheese

Southwestern Grilled Puerco Adovado Spears

Guacamole Fresca, Avocados from Kimball Ranch

Dinner Menu

Tossed Garden Salad with Radicchio and Baby Greens

Bakers Fresh Garlic Bread with Olive Oil and Basil

Texas Style Slow Cooked Seasoned Chile Beans

Grilled Bar-B-Que Chicken Quarters

Santa Maria Tri-Tip

Fritts Rosenow Bespoke Boutonnieres!

2010-09-29T16:55:00.000-07:00

If I could have every one of my grooms and groomsmen wear these boutonnieres, I would. I just think the concept of integrating your true personality into your wedding in fun and playful ways is just brilliant. Fritts Rosenow in the Bay Area has nailed this corner of the market hands down. So, which one would you wear?

Heart Shaped Sparklers?

2010-09-29T16:36:00.001-07:00

4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. There is nothing better than sprawling out on a blanket covered with a dozen or so of your closest friends and family. Hot bodies sticky with laughter and excitement hold cold beers underneath an exploding rainbow in the sky. Children running around hopping from blanket to blanket with glow in the dark rings and sticks that they string together to make jump ropes and jewelry. The smell of freshly cut grass and barbecues linger in the air as we beg the night to last forever. What better represents those warm summer nights than a scintillating lit up sparkler?! It has been a long time favorite of brides and grooms to say farewell to their guests by running down an aisle of lit sparklers held by all of their wedding guests as they jump into the car and drive into the night. I came across a new concept for you hopeless romantics. They are now making heart shaped sparklers! What will they think of next?

Sea Bags

2010-09-29T16:29:00.000-07:00

How cute are these bags! Well, I am a sucker for not only a fabulous bag, but you can't go wrong when it is made out of recycled items. A company called Sea Bags, manufactures all different styles of bags that are made up of recycled sails from ships that have already sailed our lovely seas! How wild is that. So ladies, if you are looking for a unique gift for yourself, or your bridesmaids, check this out!

Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort Wedding C + J

2010-09-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

I come across couples now and then that just have this crazy energy about them. You just know that this is one of those times that true soul mates found each other. Thank you guys for allowing me to be a part of such an amazing day!

Chelsea and Jason Wedding Movie from Bryan McLain on Vimeo.

Ceremony Venue: Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara
Reception Venue: Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort
Rentals: Affordable Linen and Classic Party Rentals
Floral: Cana Floral
Confectioner: Montecito Confections
Hair and Makeup: Team Hair and Makeup
Photography: BB Photography
Videography: Bryan McLain

Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort's Chef's Table

2010-06-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending an exclusive first time Chef's Table event at the well known beachfront property, Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort. Events like this demonstrate why the Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort is one of the premiere event venues in all of the tri-county area.

The Chef's Table began with a cocktail reception in their fine dining restaurant, Rodney's Steakhouse, where I was greeted by their entire sales and catering staff as well as their general manager, Mathew LaVine. I truly appreciated the interaction with their team as I do many events there as one of their preferred vendors and I always look forward to further building on those relationships.

We were served hors d'oeuvres of their Habanero Tomato Gazpacho and Avocado Puree topped with their Corn Relish. Both were paired with Morgan Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. We were then introduced to, and escorted by, their Executive Chef, Kirk DeLong, into the hotels main kitchen.

We all sat around a demonstration table of food and fire as Chef Kirk, as well as his Executive Sous Chef, Jake Prelas, and Sous Chefs James Marcinonis and Luis Del Mercado, made us a fabulous sampling of a five course menu. Because we were all surrounding his table, we got to experience each and every step as though we were making the food ourselves. We enjoyed the scents of truffle oil and mushrooms as our first course began. This included Santa Barbara's very own blackened Channel Islands Sea Scallops served over a bed of Sesame Oil marinated seaweed salad and topped with Shiitake and Enoki mushrooms which were sautéed in rice wine vinegar and accompanied by an Indonesian chili paste called Sambal. I am very familiar with Sambal, as I married a Dutchmen whose mother was raised in Indonesia. She makes THE BEST spicy peanut sauce that drips with Sambal and brown sugar. It is difficult to get good Sambal in this country. As a result, we have friends and family members who routinely bring extra suitcases of the delicious condiment every time they visit from Holland. We could not live without it!

Our second course was an elegant presentation of Acorn Squash and English Pea Risotto served alongside a Parmesan crisp in a tall martini glass. The Parmesan crisp took the dish to another dimension of flavor. Fantastic!

Our third course was a Rosemary Lamb topped with their Tomato Jam and served with their White Bean Cassoulet drizzled with a Balsamic reduction. And again with the Truffle Oil!

Our fourth course was a Roasted Venison Tenderloin with dollops of Blackberry Compote atop Braised Collard Greens.

Wait, it did not stop there! Executive Sous Chef Jake Prelas, had just returned from a seminar taught by the president of the US Pastry Team, Chef En Ming Hsu, held at the Guittard Chocolate Studios in Los Angeles, Ca. The seminar covered classical French Pastries, technique, and current pastry trends. Using his newly acquired skills he created their Butterscotch Pudding topped with freshly ground Hawaiian Sea Salt. By far the best pudding I have ever had. He even made us hot butterscotch that he individually dripped over our already exquisite pudding!

To top off our evening, we were presented with their Deconstructed Key Lime Pie and two types of coffee. They requested that we taste the two and share our preference. They had recently considered with the idea of changing their coffee to a more well known brand. It was a majority vote, stay with the original! After our applause, we ended the evening with an open table where we had a fruitful discussion about the more recent desires of our clients, current trends that we had been seeing, and suggestions we may have for the hotel's service and food menus. By doing this, they continue to compete with the ever changing industry. This impressed us all because it underscored the willingness of the hotel staff to open themselves to constructive criticism. Executive Chef Kirk DeLong, was most amenable to our suggestions about how he could further improve the hotel's menu. In addition, we informed the sales and catering staff of how they could further communicate to our clients about food and beverage products. This allows us to better cater to our clients specific requests by providing more options, more creativity, and more ways of thinking outside of the 'banquet box'.

If you are considering Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort as your venue, you will find that it's staff is informative, interactive, and dedicated to supporting local businesses so that you are provided with the freshest local ingredients making your stay a memorable one.

Well Done!

Twin Peaks Ranch Wedding H + R

2009-05-23T00:20:00.000-07:00

Twin Peaks Ranch is a beautiful private estate that I have had the privilege to work with. I did the wedding of the granddaughter of the original owners years back, and just fell in love with the place. Additional to a private cottage for the exclusive bride to get ready, this venue has a few different locations on the grounds that layout perfectly for a wedding. The theme this lovely day; Simple, sophisticated, elegant, with a hint of Tuscan.

Guests were greeted by the weeping willow tree with fresh squeezed Cherry Lemonade, Iced Tea Garnished with Lemon Slices and Farmers Market Mint, and Guava Passion Fruit with Golden Raspberries.The ceremony took place on a long hidden lawn that was surrounded by mature trees, bamboo, and a soft gurgling creek if you are lucky enough to be there at the right time of year. Their cocktail hour followed, on one of the lawns overlooking the rose garden, cactus, and the golden beginnings of the sunset. Guests were then escorted over to an additional area for the dinner reception. The grounds were taken over by overgrown trumpet vines, bright colored cactus, and aromatic citrus and avocado orchards. Lighting was introduced to amplify and highlight the existing foliage around the property.

Bella Vista Designs rocked as always!

This wedding was that of Hallie and Rocco in May of 2009. This couple just oozed love. They are one of those couples that you just know are going to make it in this crazy world. They were beautiful people and it was a beautiful wedding.

Floral was created by Ojai's Premiere Florist, Curly Willow. Simple and elegant.

The event was catered by Pure Joy Catering. They incorporated citrus from their very own citrus farm, and they did a fabulous job serving dinner family style!

The Menu included...

Roasted Local Beets served on a bed of Arugula sprinkled with Goat Cheese and Candied Pecans, and drizzled with a Blood Orange Vinaigrette

Baskets of Hearth Baked Breads and Rolls were placed on the tables with Terra Cotta Saucers of Provincial Dipping Oil

Beautiful Platters of Fresh Grilled Summer Vegetables with a Virgin Oil Herb Drizzle

Grilled Parmesan Rosemary Polenta with Sun dried Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and a Fennel Ragout

Twin Peaks Citrus Glazed Split Cornish Game Hens

Lemon Rosemary Pork Loin with Confetti of Garlic, Parsley, and Lemon Zest presented with Balsamic Glazed Chippolini Onions

Their cake was made by one of Hollywood's most sought after confectioners, Sweet Lady Jane Bakery, located in Los Angeles, Ca.

Guests were serenaded by a 19 piece band from the Ojai Music Service. They were fantastic and helped take the event to another level of sophisticated entertainment.

At the end of the evening, guests were treated to milk and cookies by the Fire.
Photography was done by Susan Dean Photography, with whom I have worked with at almost every wedding at this venue. She has the art of capturing the intricate details of the venue and the decor while at the same time capturing the emotions that are often lost and then found again once developed. Thank you Susan!

Kohl Mansion Wedding D + A

2008-08-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

This was probably one of my favorite weddings that I have ever done. Not only was the bride and groom absolutely adorable, but they were open to extravagance! This wedding had over 300 guests and when I say a Persian wedding, I mean a true PERSIAN wedding! Bright color palates, lots of attention to detail, tasty ethnic food, great music, and a whole lot of fun.

The wedding took place at the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, Ca. In the early 1900's, 40 acres of Burlingame's woodlands were transformed into this rare brick estate. With its exquisite gardens and ponds, it has been the host of countless social gatherings since 1914!

Please enjoy the wedding of Delbar and Arash on 8.8.8, a very popular date that year!

I pulled a lot of my favorite vendors together to help bring this wedding together.

The rentals were from Classic Party Rentals.

Floral was from Camilla Svensson Burns. Camilla's talent and creativity can inspire anyone. Always thinking outside of the box, each and every one of her designs, are unique and blow the clients away with her visions. She recently just did a wedding for David Tutera!

The confections were created by Elegant Cheese Cakes, in Half Moon Bay, Ca. The layers of the cake were made up of pistachio butter cake with fresh strawberries, champagne butter cake with fresh raspberries in chantilly cream, and chocolate decadence with chocolate raspberry ganache. YUMMY!

Cheesecake 'Love Bites' with Heath Crunch on a Chocolate crust were adorned with 8.8.8, representing their very special and unique day.

Catering was done by a local Persian catering company.

The menu consisted of:

Beef and chicken kabobs
Ghormeh Sabzi
Ghaimeh Bademjan
Saffron rice
Javaher polo
Lavash and Pita Bread
Mast-o-Khiar
Fresh Persian herbs, feta cheese, and walnuts

Their DJ for the evening was DJ Teymour. The dance floor was the place to be once the sun set. People could not get enough of his current top hits and new age music. There was a definite presence on the dance floor that you could not dance past!

Lighting was courtesy of Bella Vista Designs. Owner, Trevor Zellet, not only lit the place from top to bottom, but he was responsible for the massive structure that was designed to shade the hundreds of guests from the sun.

Videography was the very talented Anton Lorimer with Lorimerworks Productions. Here is the video for you to check out. He did a fabulous job!

Wedding Video

Jose Villa Photography graced us with his presence. He never seizes to amaze me. He is a brilliant photographer. Thank you Jose!