Their Vendor Team:
Event Planner : Aurienne A.M. Krozendijk, Meeting & Special Events Manager The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba
Ceremony Venue: Palm Beach The Ritz-Carlton Aruba
Reception Venue: House of Mosaic
Design and Decor: Letz Aruba Decor
Floral Designer: Shar's Flowers
Photographer: Bob Hoffman Photography & Video
Videography: VH Video
DJ: Swingmasterz
Band: Sunny Ray Entertainment
Dress Store: White Flower Bridal Boutique
Veils and Accessories: Justine M Couture
Lighting: High Performance Audio Visual Company
Cristie and Jimmy's wedding was so beautiful, it's been picked up all around the internet at some of the top wedding blogs in San Diego and beyond! Their epic party was picture-perfect from start to finish with gorgeous details like hand drawn calligraphy, stunning pink and cream florals, a perfectly draped tent for dancing, and a stunning sunset complete with romantic hot air balloons off in the distance. Their big day wasn't just beautiful, however, they also managed to throw a wild dance party to the tunes of Encore Event Entertainment, and their guests were LOVING IT! Amid the fog and lights, even the bride and groom were getting down and letting loose, and things got a little wild! Check it out, with other great moments from their day below:
Cristie's bridal accessories in muted tones of snow white, pale pink, and creamy ivory popped perfectly against the colorful background of the Santaluz Club in Black Mountain Ranch. Her gorgeous gown from Mia Bella Couture, with its bedazzled lace and stylish silhouette, looks right at home amongst the rustic, yet modern surroundings.
The girls got ready in the CUTEST matching PJs you'll ever see, sipping on drinks while the superstar makeup artists from A Toast to Beauty made them look their very best. Soon after, was time to take some seriously cute portraits of Cristie and her girls having a great time all around Santaluz. We had a blast with the bridal party while their second photographer was hanging with the guys:
Clearly, Jimmy and his friends are a bunch of goofballs who know how to have a good time! They were looking sharp in their grey suits and navy accent pieces as they romped around the club taking pictures. After taking some shots, both silly and sweet, of the groomsmen, the big moment of the couple's first look was upon us!
There were smiles and happy tears all around as the happy couple saw each other for the first time in their wedding attire. After a group shot, they started preparing to head to the church and down the aisle to become husband and wife!
After a sweet exchange between Cristie and her dad, the two took their places at the end of the aisle for that special walk, and the anticipation was tangible in the air as Jimmy waited patiently for his beautiful bride to come through the doors.
Their traditional Catholic ceremony was heartfelt and beautiful, and the setting itself, with its open, airy feel and vaulted ceilings, was almost as beautiful as the vows. The newlyweds looked absolutely overjoyed as they turned to face the congregation of friends and family as husband and wife, and they smiled constantly as they made their way back down the aisle. After some family photos at the altar, everyone headed back to Santaluz to get the party started!
We loved these huge wooden doors as a backdrop for some amazing couples portraits!
The cocktail hour was glamorous and perfectly styled, and the photo table was such a cute and personal touch!
The reception tent at Santaluz was draped and decorated with beautiful blooms, chiavari chairs, gorgeous glass peices, and cute personal touches galore! The custom designed paper goods by Just Jurf were an amazing upscale touch and looked fantastic on the tables, adding a pop of pale pink to the classic white linens.
After a sweet first dance, the party started! Encore Event Entertainment was getting the crowd going with fog, lights, and great music, and everyone was in the party spirit.
After a quick break for some breathtakingly gorgeous sunset photos, the newlyweds headed back in for more dancing and fun!
Amdist all the craziness, the lovely couple managed to sneak away for a few moments of quiet to take some romantic night shots around the venue. It was a perfect way to cap off the night!
Their Vendor Team:
Event Planning and Design: Wynn Austin Events
Venue: Santaluz Club
Entertainment/Live Music: Encore Event Entertainment
Florals: Organic Elements
Decor/Rentals: Raphael's Party Rentals
Cake: Flour Power Custom Cakery
Hair/Makeup: A Toast to Beauty
Custom Paper Goods: Just Jurf
Dress: Mia Bella Couture
Transportation: Highline Charter
]]>
The countryside surrounding Temecula has long been well known as San Diego County's "wine country," and, like most wine producing regions of the world, its natural beauty is hard to surpass, with rolling green hills stretching on for miles and clear, bright blue skies giving the area an inherent sense of peace. Nestled among the vines, up on a hill overlooking the valley, is Falkner Winery, the charming venue where our next featured wedding took place. Sweet, spunky Bess and her handsome groom Braedon chose Falkner as the place where they would become husband and wife, and really incorporated the essence of wine country into their big day, from getting ready at a gorgeous estate nearby with its own very own vines, to their DIY wine bottle table toppers, cork name card holders, and wine bottle stopper favors, and of course, their gorgeous ceremony site which overlooks Falkner's expansive vineyards.
Home base for wedding day prep was this incredible Temecula estate with amazing sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, sparkling pool, and its very own vineyard. We'll move right in, thanks!
Loving the lavender and light blue color scheme!
Bess's shoes were the perfect mix of cuteness and comfort, perfect for both traipsing through grapevines and dancing all night long!
Bess is so funny and cute! We loved seeing her react to her bridal makeup and hair look with such joy.
With a little help from her sister and her mom, Bess is ready to walk down the aisle in her beautiful gown from 2000 Dreams Bridal and Dress Shop. She ties everything together perfectly with a lovely lavender and light blue bouquet from MFG Floral Designs.
Lovely arrangements from MFG Florals continue the color palette and set the stage for Bess and Braedon's big moment.
The two then slipped off into the sunset for some truly amazing portraits overlooking the vineyards at Falkner Winery.
More purple and blue florals continued the theme in the reception area, and the wine bottle table toppers made for a cute DIY touch, and we absolutely love the personalized wine bottle stopper as a favor idea! Also, the cork name card holders are fun and functional, not to mention cost-effective!
A gorgeous cake with adorned with lavender and orchid accents was centrally displayed in the ballroom, serving as both a decoration and a dessert.
Their choreographed first dance kicked off the party to thunderous applause and tears of joy, and guests loved the couple's lifts and spins they rehearsed and performed perfectly for this amazing moment.
We ended the night with some portraits of the new husband and wife in Falkner's barrel room, for the authentic winery wedding look, and then headed back to the ceremony site for a romantic backlit shot that we absolutely love. These shots were a perfect way to cap off the day, incorporating this fun, feisty couple's love for wine and each other. We're so honored to have been a part of their amazing wedding!
Vendor Roundup:
Venue: Falkner Winery
Event Planner: Krissy Komlenic with Falkner Winery
Dress: 2000 Dreams Bridal Shop
Florals: MFG Floral Designs
Officiant: Joel Pemberton
DJ: Hevrock
Caterer: Stacy Tessier
]]>These high school sweethearts finally tied the knot on February 27, 2016 on the idyllic grounds of Wedgewood Fallbrook. Since the two been dating for over 10 years, their families were pretty well intertwined to begin with, but their wedding officially sealed the deal, and the two families became one, and partied the night away with a custom photo booth, a tempting dessert table, and lots of dancing! Their classic, romantic details and intimate setting combined with such a timeless love story made for a truly unforgettable evening for everyone in attendance.
Stunning florals in classic ruby red and ivory were provided by Lovely Stems Floral of Oceanside, CA. Check out the personalized tags! What a cute touch.
Special details included a handmade ring box inscribed with the newlyweds' initials and their wedding date, and a handkerchief that has been carried down the aisle by women in Elizabeth's family for generations. That tradition is a darling example of the importance family played in their special day.
The heartfelt ceremony started with a violin performance of Pachelbel's Canon in D by Elizabeth's sister and nephew, a sweet tribute to the two lovebirds. The two promised to love and cherish with the gorgeous greens of Wedgewood in the background, and then walked back down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. through a huge cloud of bubbles!
The following reception included fun favors, a photo booth with props, plenty of sweet treats, and a chic gold cake topper atop a gorgeous buttercream white cake, decorated with roses and crystals made by BoCakes Bakery. They also chose to include such personal touches as a framed letter of appreciation and love to their parents, and a printed version of their marriage certificate, as decorative elements on their table displays. Guests had a blast dancing the night away on the dance floor and munching tasty treats!
]]>
We were recently honored to be the studio of choice for San Diego Style Weddings Magazine's wedding cakes and desserts feature for the Spring Insert of their April/May 2016 Issue, and we couldn't be more excited! You can find the issue on stands NOW at local stores, and if you pick it up, you'll be glad you did.
There are pages and pages of yummy, beautiful wedding desserts to inspire you and make you wish you could dig your fork right in! We feel even luckier than most because we got to witness these amazing creations firsthand, and even got to sample a few ;)
Check out the magazine to see the finished product, and scroll down to see some bonus images that weren't used in the article as well as some fun behind the scenes moments!
We want to thank each and every person who helped make this fun project a reality, including the bakeries:
and the florists:
and last but not least, the amazing team at San Diego Style Weddings Magazine!
This darling couple was SUCH a joy to work with, and their story couldn't be sweeter! They met while working in the youth ministry at the very church where we captured their heartfelt ceremony, and they were surrounded by what seemed like the entire church community as they lovingly said their vows.
We loved all their cute details, their intimate daytime reception at the church (complete with their favorite snacks), and most of all, their DONUT BAR! They danced the night away at the Doubletree Golf Resort with friends and family and had a blast!
This "memory bench" that their guests signed was such a cute touch! We love the idea of keepsake furniture.
All the places Carolyn and Rich have visited together. Adorable!
Mmmm....cronuts.
]]>It's that lovely time of year where birds sing, the sky is bright and blue, and flowers are in bloom everywhere you look. Speaking of flowers, bouquets are a beautiful wedding tradition that we love to photograph at every wedding we attend. We’ve seen it all, from lush tropical cascades of orchids to simply sweet multicolored bunches of billy buttons and peonies, and we want to showcase some of our favorites so we can share the joy of springtime with you all!
1. Multicolored Rainbow by Whimsey Florals
We love how fun and bright this bouquet is! Billy buttons and thistles added a unique whimsical feel.
2. Passionately Peacock by Bouquets by Bonnie
For die-hard fans of all things peacock, there is this lovely set of "toss and keep" bouquets featuring eucalyptus, white roses, and iridescent peacock feathers!
3. Lush Tropical Chic by Bloom Babes
Our lovely bride Jackie got married to the man of her dreams at one of San Diego's most treasured institutions: the Bali Hai Restaurant. Taking inspiration from the polynesian setting, Bloom Babes (@bloombabes) created this fabulous oversized bouquet with bright colors, exotic blooms, and a gorgeous ribbon tail. Amazing!
4. Traditional with a Twist by Jolie Fleur
What would have been a simply gorgeous bouquet of classic red carnations is elevated with the addition of these little star-shaped stephanotis flowers with pearl pins in the middle, making it a romantic masterpiece! We love the way it turned out!
5. Pop of Purple and Blue by Tessfresh
Clean, traditional white and pale pink get a punch of color from vibrant blue and purple orchids in this stunning arrangement. The sparkly bling around the stems only adds to the glamour.
6. Romantic Rose Cascade by Flowers by Coley
We feel like the heart eyes emoji whenever we see this amazing bouquet created by Flowers by Coley. From the blush color palette punctuated by hot pink roses, to the "waterfall" of blooms that gracefully cascade downwards, to the delicate pearl details throughout; it's romance overload and we LOVE it.
That's all for this time! Look for our roundup of the sweetest cakes coming soon!
]]>This year, our team had the great fortune to be able to travel to the little town of Las Vegas to attend The WPPI Wedding & Portrait Photography Conference+Expo along with around 13,000 of our fellow photographers and media makers. We had a blast exploring the seemingly endless rows of gear, album companies, and demo booths, and we attended seminars by top industry professionals like Sue Bryce, Peter Hurley, Doug Gordon, Clint Mautner, and Roberto Valenzuela to name just a few!
Lindsay Adler's awesome lighting effects class. Love her!
Doug Gordon teaches us flow posing with "bride and groom" models.
Westcott's awesome Eyelighter reflector being demonstrated
at the Tamron booth by Courtney Dailey.
Awesome display by Lensrentals. Most expensive chess set ever?
It was truly a photographer's paradise, being surrounded by like-minded individuals and enough lights, lenses, and backdrops to make your head spin. To cap it all off, we trekked out to a nearby dry lake bed for a fashion style shoot with a local model and came back with some incredible shots! Check out our favorites below:
]]>
Dream Team:
Venue: Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
Wedding Dress: The Bustle Bridal Boutique
Florist: Tessfresh Flowers
Cake Artist: Edelweiss Bakery
Caterer: Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
Coordinator: Ann's Plans
]]>As you can see these two love birds had an amazing celebration at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club surrounded by all their favorite friends & family!
Dream Team:
Venue: La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
Florals: Diane's Florals Please
Bride's Gown: The Bustle Bridal Boutique
Cake Artist: Sweet Cheeks Baking Co.
]]>
Venue: Bali Hai
Day of Coordinator: Allison Bartholomew
Cake Artist: The French Gourmet
Florist: Bloom Babes
DJ: Mikey Beats
]]>
Cody & Billy are high school sweethearts who are truly meant to be! We loved that we were able to capture their fun-loving personalities and amazing chemistry. They are such a sweet & loving couple and we had a wonderful time being part of their wedding day! Their ceremony had their guests reaching for tissues and their elegant reception at Twin Oaks Garden Estate was truly magical!
Dream Team:
Church: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church
Reception: Twin Oaks Garden Estate
Bridal Gown: Bride's by Demetrios
Bridal Party Gowns: Henkka
Cake Artist: Cute Cakes
Florals: Simply Adina Florist
DJ: Solid Gold DJ
]]>Sara & Adam had a whirlwind celebration of festivities! The two were married on the East Coast in Sara's hometown. A week later they had their Sangeet & Walima celebrations at the La Jolla Marriott. The two were entertained by family & friends from all over the world!
The excitement continued with a few more family parties and celebrations at the Hilton Harbor Island. All in all Sara & Adam were two of the nicest, most loving couples we have had the pleasure of working with. We wish you both nothing but endless years of happiness, dancing and love!
Dream Team:
Venue for Sangeet & Walima: La Jolla Marriott
Decor: Concept Events Design
Entertainment: Republic of Music
Venue for Night 3: Hilton Harbor Island
]]>From the flowers to the family this was such a beautiful celebration!
Wedding Dream Team:
Coordinator: Francine Turtz
Florist: Sharrie Woods
Venue: La Costa Greens
Hair/Makeup: Cheryl Cowell