You count!

Brides and Grooms, remember to include yourselves in the final guest count!

I often notice on my clients' spreadsheets that their names are not on the final seating chart or guest list. This happens at almost 99% of the weddings I work on. You want to eat too right? :)

SAVE THE DATE! War Memorial Opera House, SF

I rarely write about weddings until it's already passed and I can post the pictures but I just can't contain myself on this one! Next July, Daughter of Design will be doing a wedding at the War Memorial Opera House, home of the San Francisco Opera and Ballet. They only allow two weddings per year so to be one of them is an extreme honor. The couple are season ticket holders and actually came here to an opera on their first date so how perfect is that!

For me this has extra significance in that I started my event career here nearly 10 years ago. I worked in Marketing and Special Events for 2 years and have the warmest and fondest memories of the San Francisco Opera and my old "office". It's like coming home...

Check back here July 2010 for photos!

Amy and Sean - Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills

Amy and Sam were JUNIOR high school sweethearts who finally tied the knot a decade plus later at the ever beautiful and classic Beverly Hills Hotel. It was a gorgeous California summer day and what I LOVE about California summer weddings...no rain plans necessary!

Their wedding was recently featured on Style Me Pretty's blog.

Here comes the bride, all dressed in white (and stunning diamond jewelry set she got on loan from her jeweler friend.)

Love these Renee Caovilla's. See my former post to find out how you can possibly get your very own for half off and with no tax!

Let's play a game: can you find these rings shown below in the picture above?

Amy honored her grandfather by pinning his military star on her bouquet

I thought I was a daddy's girl until I met Amy. Her and her father were so adorable and really had a special bond.

Amy and Sean's entire wedding was very elegant and romantic, starting with this lovely garden ceremony.

BORROW THIS IDEA: Have your florist make fun designs with your aisle rose petals.

HELPFUL TIP: You can have your florist make designs down the actual aisle and not just on the sides, which looks fab for pics before the ceremony but once the wedding party walks down may look like a wreck for the bride's processional, just a note.

BORROW THIS IDEA: Goodbye slide shows, hello framed photos of family

The menus were designed to match their invitations which incorporated their Taiwanese heritage with their garden romance theme.

BORROW THIS IDEA: The napkins didn't actually have lace trim but to give the effect and add that extra touch we tucked a piece of lace around the napkin once they had been folded. Low cost, little effort with high visual value.

This sure as hell beats a standard parquet dance floor (and to be honest I can't stand those parquet dance floors!) Amy and Sean went with a circular shape which complimented the large crystal rose light fixture that the Beverly Hills Hotel is so well known for.

HELPFUL TIP: Putting lounge furniture around the dance floor is a great way to keep guests from sitting way back at their tables and staying closer to where the action is at and keeping the dancefloor area looking more dense.

Heck, if you're doing the custom dance floor you might as well get the custom decor on it for a few hundred more :)

This was undoubtedly the most painful thing I've had to do as a planner. I'm a huge Cal Bears fan so to help arrange the USC band to come perform for this Trojan couples grand entrance went against every bone in my body. This just goes to show what a dedicated planner I am. However I took some comfort in knowing that Amy's little sister shared my pain since she was a Cal cheerleader!

What a cake! Shavings of white chocolate really gave the exterior a great texture.

Now here comes the bride, all dressed in RED! Amy changed into the traditional Chinese wedding outfit, qipao, for the last part of the reception. She's a great model and hopped right on top of that piano. Go Amy!

After dancing for hours, it's always nice to nourish and replenish your guests!

These two really are an inseparable pair and each other's best friend. I wish them the world of happiness!