Wednesday, July 1, 2009

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!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Wedding Dress Sample Sale in Southern California

To any brides who are going to be in Southern California, a favorite bridal boutique of mine, The White Dress, is having an amazing amazing sample sale. The dress selection is fabulous and the rates are even better.

The White Dress
2853 Pacific Coast Highway
Corona Del Mar, CA 92625
949 723 0121
www.thewhitedress.net

Tell them Daughter of Design sent you and you might get even better rates!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Daughter of Design on Style Me Pretty today!

Check out Laura and Eric's beautiful Studio 450 wedding featured on today's Style Me Pretty's site! Laura in addition to being wonderful person, beautiful bride and loving wife is also a very talented graphic designer who started her company Make Merry! She also makes these stunning hair pieces from vintage buttons, feathers and fabric as seen in the Style Me Pretty post. Recently she helped create beautiful custom maps for a wedding Daughter of Design planned in Lake Como, Italy. Check out her work at Make Merry!

First post: Laura and Eric on Style Me Pretty1
Second post: Laura and Eric on Style Me Pretty2
Third post: Laura and Eric on Style Me Pretty3
Fourth post: Laura and Eric on Style Me Pretty4
Fifth post: Laura and Eric on Style Me Pretty5

Friday, May 15, 2009

Meredith and Philip - St. Xavier + Gradisca, NYC

Meredith and Philip had a beautiful Catholic ceremony at St. Xavier followed by a very intimate, small dinner for their 50 guests. They wanted a very cozy and DELICIOUS, Italian restaurant in NYC and Gradisca was just that!


The back room of the restaurant is also ideal for rehearsal dinners. The staff and food are A-MAZING and at a great price point with reasonable minimums.


BORROW THIS IDEA: Why buy more paper for place cards if there's already kraft paper on top of the table linens (common of bistros and trattorias particularly). Be resourceful and creative and write the guests' names directly onto the table top next to their setting.




Friday, May 1, 2009

Karen and Jonathan - The Altantis Yacht, New York

Karen and Jonathan, two real estate agents who deal with the buying and selling of land for a living, opted for a wedding on water. They held a beautiful ceremony aboard The Altantis Yacht before setting sail on the Hudson River and East River!


I heart these I heart pictures (wall to be found in Meatpacking District, NYC)


Umbrellas, always a great idea for a sunny day!


Instead of numbers, NYC neighborhoods were used to name tables as a nod to their real estate careers.


Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Daughter of Design on Style Me Pretty

Check out Amy and Sean's beautiful Beverly Hills Hotel wedding featured on today's Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book Blog! More pictures to come on additional SMP post on 4/20/09 (stay tuned!!!) and on our blog as well!

Link: Amy and Sean on Little Black Book Blog

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Oscar Party 2009 at Mr Chow, Beverly Hills


It's not just weddings for Daughter of Design! I recently helped produce the "Night to Make a Difference" Oscar Event at Mr Chow Beverly Hills hosted by Leeza Gibbons, Olivia Newton-John, and David Foster. It was an Academy Awards viewing party with a purpose. The evening showcased several celebrity charities like Hilary Duff's Blessings in a Backpack and Jessica Biel's Make The Difference with proceeds from the event and its auction going back to help these causes.

The evening started with red carpet arrivals followed by a 10-course dinner. After dinner came the after party with live performances by Olivia Newton-John, David Foster, Two Spot Gobi (now touring with Jason Mraz) and Michael Buble and tunes spun by DJ Steve Aoki in the tent which we built over the Christie's and Mr Chow parking lots. It was an intensive project but was completely worthwhile and an evening I will never forget. Here are a few photos from the event!

Hilary Duff

Forest Whitaker

Tony Hawk

Paris Hilton

Jessica Biel

Michael Buble

Teri Hatcher

This evening was also a family affair. We brought in my sister and the other daughter of design, Kahi Lee of Kahi Lee LIFESTYLE to help deck out the after party tent. The drapes for the stage were an awesome backdrop for some amazing performances. Fabulous big sister however could not stay for the event though since she was attending the Governors Ball at Kodak Theater with her equally fabulous husband, Jason Bentley who was DJing the event!

Check out the ABC coverage of the event: ABC Live Coverage





I also have to post the performance by Michael Buble who is one charming and sexy mother in person. Are wedding planners allowed to say things like that? In this case, yes. I think the highlight of my evening was when he thanked me, gave me a hug and a sweet compliment. Next time I hear one of his oh-so popular wedding songs at a wedding, you may see a big ol' smile on my face.

Also special thanks to Atelier Isabey who in a pinch created beautiful table numbers and menu folders that went with the black and white chic decor of Mr Chow and to Eat Whatever Mints for making sure after party goers who didn't join for dinner didn't have to smell it on everyone's breathe!


For more general information on the event check out: www.leezagibbonsoscarnight.com.