Congratulations to Kim and Steve! This goregous bride and her handsome husband were married at the beautiful Padua Hills in Claremont.  What I love about this couple is they just were so comfortable and so happy with each other.  Each time they looked at each other, they would smile.  You could tell they were happy to just be together.  All the images were taken by George Reyes of S8ved Photography.

About Padua Hills: “The Padua Hills Theatre featuring Chantrelles Catering is a romantic, historic facility nestled in the beautiful foothills above Claremont. For over twenty years, we have been serving only the finest cuisine in one of the most beautiful locations in Southern California.”  Padua Hills Website

Such a stunning choice of colors with the green and orange.  Having a good contrast is important when picking your colors.  The florals and their colors will stand out more if you have a good contrast.  The green looks amazing with the orange!

How adorable are those flower girls?!  Every detail had special meaning and added their own unique touch to their special day.

CONGRATULATIONS again Mr. & Mrs. Sturm!

Wedding Info:

Photography: S8ved Photography

Florals: Petals by Xavi

Location: Padua Hills, Claremont

Our DIY of the day comes from the mega hub all things crafty weddings:  www.do-it-yourself-weddings.com. If you’re trying to save a buck or two, this is an amazing guide of projects to do yourself.

Now we know you love your girls and you want to shower them with gifts, but it’s not exactly as if you’ve got lots of money left over from your pre-nuptial planning. While some might argue that you can’t hand-make a gift for your special gal pals, we disagree. Personalize a bag, shirt, pillow, anything! Not only will this be adorable for pictures, you can even use this idea for other wedding décor items. It’s fast and easy!

Freezer Paper Stencil Bridesmaid Gifts

Materials:

• Freezer Paper – make sure it is freezer paper, not wax paper, it must have wax only one side! I found it next to the plastic wrap & tin foil.
• X-Acto Knife – curved blades work well for round edges, but any standard blade will work fine
• Fabric Paint & Brush – Any brand will do, but I like Tulip Brand Soft fabric paint because it doesn’t bleed but has no texture either.
• Cutting Mat – A self-healing cutting mat is great, but you could also use cardboard underneath.
• Tape
• Iron
• Printer
• Shirt/Tote Bag, Etc – Pick something to put the stencil on! Anything fabric that you can iron will work. A smooth/flat texture of the fabric will give you the cleanest edges. Cotton t-shirt = good       while fuzzy fleece = bad.

·       First, you have to pick your stencil design! Anything from simple monogram initials to famous people! Create your own or use one of the many designs available online. Some cool ones are available for free from This Stencil Site and there is a huge selection. You can also draw directly onto the freezer paper and not print.

·       I found the best results by printing directly onto the non-shiny side of the freezer paper. Cut out the freezer paper in the size of normal letter paper and feed it to your printer one sheet at a time. You can also print on regular paper and just tape it on top of the freezer paper when you cut it out. Tape your design down (shiny side down) on your cutting mat and use the exacto to cut out all the black. Anything that is printed gets cut out. Carefully cut out “islands” such as the center of the “D” and set it aside. You’ll need to set it back in place before you paint!

·       Once finished remove the stencil from the cutting mat. Make sure ALL the tape is removed or you will have a melty mess on your iron! Place stencil on the bridesmaid gift you want stenciled, shiny wax side down. Iron! Just a few presses with a very hot iron will make the wax stick to the fabric, creating a perfect seal. Now place the “islands” where they go and iron those on as well.

·       Next, paint over the stencil. A light coating will do. Don’t water down your paint or use too much, you don’t want it to bleed. Just a coating on the surface. For best results, let dry completely overnight. You can just wait a few hours for it to dry and then remove it, but you are much, much more likely to get bleeds this way. I’ve had much better luck waiting overnight!

·       Next day…carefully remove the stencil!

·       Use a tweezers to remove any tiny “islands” on the design. All done! Follow instructions for your fabric paint, but I’ve washed and dried my designs and they are holding up nicely after several washes still.

·       Your bridesmaids will likely be so impressed with your cool bridesmaid gift idea that they might want you to share your secrets. This could be a fun crafty project to do together while sharing a bottle of wine. Cheers!

For a more sophisticate, and eaiser to change out of, feel, you can use men’s button down dress shirt.

Love!! Happy Crafting!

1.     Basic cake with real flowers-the most popular wedding cake. Simply because most venues now offer a basic white cake with their packages.

2.  Basic cake with edible flowers-so gorgeous and sophisticated. Your cost will come in with the amount of work your baker puts into those fondant flowers. We recommend using real flowers on a basic cake ( see #1)

3.  Square-A bit more traditional. Add a ribbon or decorative design for more detail

4. Tiered- Create a bolder statement with different cakes on different height stands. This typically could cost you more since each cake is individually frosted and decorated. But perhaps not if you go with a basic design but just order 5 of them or however many you need.

5.  Writing-choose your favourite poem, song lyric or verse to wrap around the cake-again the labor cost may be higher but it is definitely an eye catcher!

6.  Cupcakes- Yum! You and your groom still get a small cake to cut for pictures and your guests enjoy a tasty cupcake treat. No mess here! Customize flavors just as you would with teirs of the cake.

7.  Artsy-I love an artistic flair! Tie in your wedding colors or pattern into the cake for extra décor in your wedding palate, yet still a tasty treat!

8.  Cake Pops- Adorable and so delicious! These little lollipop treats can be costly because of the amount of time they take to make (Trust me, Iv’e made them and they are not easy!) Some brides give them as favors as well as cake or instead or slicing one up.

9.  Cake Balls- This will definitely cost you a pretty penny but it is so stinking cute! And unique! Remember how I said your cake is on display? You’d be surprise how many guests will be snapping photos. This is def camera worthy!

10.     Decorative-wow! You can have a show stopper with some of these ornate masterpieces. Definitely the highest in price range, these cakes will complete your whole wedding ensemble with the colors and design.

Whichever you chose, don’t skimp and display something cheap looking that will take away from your whole look and fell. Especially don’t use twinkies! LOL! I came across this website of all twinkie cakes!

As taken from Orange Hill’s Website: “Uniquely situated on the hills of Orange with a mesmerizing view from Orange County to Catalina, Orange Hill Restaurant
is the ideal location for your next Corporate Event, Wedding, Social, Themed Event or Private Party.”

If you look closely at the manzanita trees, you will see the hanging crystals that really dress up the trees and make for an elegant and memorable touch to each piece.

Mason jars are making a comeback and are all over Pinterest! I saw this easy DIY idea and went hunting for a how-to blog. Thanks to  Lauren Elise Crafted we have easy guide:

February is the month of love ♥…and todays DIY is the perfect Valentine’s or wedding décor nugget.

What you’ll need:

- mason jars

- paint (I got sample sizes at Home Depot of the Behr Coy Pink 140A-2 and Behr Botanical Tint 480A-2 )

- paint sponges and/or brushes

- Avery sticker project paper

- printer paper & double stick tape (if you don’t have Avery sticker paper)

- x-acto knife or scissors

- multiple types of ribbon and lace for decorating

- tags for labeling and decorating

Instructions:

Step 1: Figure out which images or text you plan on painting onto your mason jars and graphically arrange them on your computer using Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Word, etc.  Measure your mason jars and size your images/text accordingly.  I tried to not exceed 2”-3” (length & width) but it all depends on the size of your mason jars and the look you want to achieve.

Step 2: Print out your images/text onto Avery sticker project paper.  If you don’t have this paper, you can print on regular printer paper and just double-stick tape the image to the jars.  Cut out your images/text either as a silhouette or as a stencil.  I used an x-acto knife because it works better with finer details but scissors would work also.  Stick the image/text onto the jars.

Step 3: Paint the mason jars and allow them to properly dry.  I let them sit overnight.  You may decide to paint a second coat.

Step 4: Once the jars are completely dry, remove the stickers.  If some of the paint has seeped in under the edges of the sticker and dried, just use the x-acto knife to scrape away at the paint.  I had to clean up a few edges but the knife quickly does the job.

Step 5: Adorn your jars with ribbons or lace.  I added round tags for the names.  You could accessorize your jars in numerous ways, in whatever colors or themes go with your event.

Want more ideas for Mason jars? Click here and go Pinterest Crazy!

Happy crafting!

So much of your online searching and bridal magazine scouring focuses on you and your maids attire (as it should!) but don’t forget about the man of the hour. Most grooms insist on choosing his own outfit-and frankly, I think it’s ok to give him this one thing to choose-but a little nudge in the right direction is always appreciated J

Afraid your guy will show up with his men looking like something out of Dumb and Dumber or better yet, your parent’s wedding photos? Use these ideas to steer him toward the perfect attire for your special day.

The first thing to consider is what type of wedding are having? Formal? Semi-Formal? Causal? Backyard? Here are some top picks from us:

Formal

Our pick: A black tuxedo, white shirt, vest, and bow tie (or solid black tie) is the quintessentially classic groom ensemble for a formal nighttime affair.

*Variation: Pin stripes or white

Vintage Formal

Our pick: Skinny ties for that Mad Men feel. Or a grey suit with embellishments. Keep it simple though, you don’t want the groom steeling the spotlight!

My personal favorite is the dark grey suit for a vintage wedding. It is still formal looking yet a little more spunky than the traditional black tie tuxedo.

Semiformal, Late Fall, 6:30 p.m.

Our pick: Tan or Beige Suit with patterned or colored tie. This look is definitely softer and best for outdoor ceremonies. Paired next to an ivory gown with browns and champagnes is lovley!

The Backyard of the Bride’s Home
Casual

Our pick: Pair a solid shirt a colorful, graphic tie-preferably with a print that coordinates with the wedding colors. Barefoot or flip-flops will give that causual feel-just be sure your girls aren’t too dressy or this will look a little uneven in pictures.

Whatever look you go with, don’t stress. Your guy wants to look good  in the spot light too. The groom’s attire doesn’t have to be determined right away but don’t let him procrastinate for too long. Good luck! Happy planning!

This rustic and elegant wedding was in July of last year and it features Danielle Babb and her groom Harrison.  They were a fun couple who as you can see from the pictures, they were up for just about anything.  Their location was Calamigos Ranch in Malibu.  A goregous backdrop for this wedding and their style.

As taken from their website, here is all about Calamigos Ranch “Established in 1947 with little over 15 acres, The Calamigos Star C Ranch emerged as the premier location for wellness, and healing in the growing town of Malibu. Grant and Helen Walter Gerson foresaw their unique opportunity to immerse and expose guests to an un touched, and elegantly rustic lifestyle that they both loved and lived.

With his families desire to share their unique corner of Malibu, their son Glen and his wife Mon-Li Gerson began creating, restoring, and building what has now become the premier special events location in Southern California.

Now, with over 130 natural acres of Malibu Wine Country, Glen and his family have continued the vision set in motion from his parents, and grandparents for over 60 years. The Gerson Family welcomes you, and your most special guests, to Calamigos Ranch. They are proud to invite you to a different time, and an all but forgotten lifestyle of quiet elegance, and unparalleled natural beauty. As the setting for your next special event, the Gerson Family shares with you over 60 years of hospitality.”

Need a way to display all those concert, beach or anniversary pics of you and your beau at the wedding? Don’t want to spend a lot on fancy frames that you probably won’t use again? We’ve got just the thing! Why not display your photos for your guests on a wired photo frame. It can be as organized or eclectic as you feel. And the best part? Inexpensive!

My absolute favorite way to outfit a wedding is to scour yard sales and thrift stores for old pieces that I can re-purpose and give new life. Go from this:

To this:

DIY Chicken Wire Frame

You will need:

• Scraps of old chicken wire (we had a lot hanging around in trash piles when we bought our homestead. Ask country friends and neighbors if they have extra, or you can also just buy a roll at the hardware store-around $20-$30)
• Old wooden picture frame (any size will work- depending on your preference)*Remember you don’t need the glass!
• Paint (optional)
• Sandpaper (optional)
• Staple gun and staples (You’ll need something slightly bigger than your average “office” stapler)
• Wire cutting tool

It’s pretty easy to handle this DIY project:

1)   Remove everything from the frame (glass, backing, picture, etc) except the, well, frame.

2)   If you wish, paint your frame with a light coat of paint. Once it dries, you can lightly distress it with sandpaper to give it an aged look. (spray paint works too!)

3)   Cut a chunk of chicken wire that is roughly the size of your frame. Staple it to the back of the frame. Trim if needed.

Now what?

Print out pictures of you and your groom, or your families/friends, anything! If your style of wedding is on the rustic or vintage side (which is a lot of you!) print the pics out in black and white or sephia tone. It’s up to you if you want to all the same size or mix it up.

After the big day?

1)   Use it as a jewelery or earring organizer

2)   Use clothespins to clip notes to the wire for an instant message board.

3)    Leave it bare and hang it as a simple, rustic wall accent.

Keep in mind:

• Once you’ve painted and sanded your frame, try rubbing a small amount of wood stain over the top of the paint for an extra bit of “distressed” flair.
• Choose a wooden frame so you can staple the wire easily onto the back.
• The wider the frame, the easier time you will have with the stapling process.
• Be on the lookout at yard sales and thrift stores for old frames. Don’t be afraid to purchase a piece of undesirable ‘artwork’ just for the frame!
• This little craft project makes a great housewarming gift. (or Christmas, or birthday, or…)

Some alternative-if chicken wire isn’t you thing, use a thicker wire and display photos horizontally:

Or those of you who have just oh so many photos to display and have some space between trees or posts, string up an outdoor photo collage for guests to browse:

So there you have it. Yet another easy DIY project. I am going to make one of these this weekend for my house-gotta love those versatile wedding decorations! Happy crafting!

Tradition states that in 18th century England, if an eligible young lady received a kiss on the cheek under the kissing ball, marriage would soon follow. While this tradition is no longer used, it is still a fun and festive symbol of times past. (ehow.com)

A niece, cousin, or daughter may be your designated flower girl. As part of her flower girl duties, your little cherub may scatter flowers or rose-petals or simply carry a bouquet, a ring of flowers, a pomander bouquet or kissing ball.

We love the kissing ball! If you’re getting married in a church, your little one won’t be able to drop petals inside anyway. Why not give her something cute and fashionable-plus they can hold in pictures!

Many different types of flowers can be used:

ROSES- best for color matching and larger size.  Roses also come in different sizes (large or small) so you can play with it by having all one size or mix the sizes to add depth and contrast to the kissing ball.

Hydrangea- good for smaller more compact balls- doesn’t hold up forever so best for cooler months.

Daisies–great for a summer wedding!

Sunflowers-my personal fave!

Or you can make it a DIY project and use seashells, buttons or any other crafty material that works with your theme.

Our most popular PBX kissing balls is a mixture of the wedding flowers- almost like a miniature mixture of the bride’s bouquet.

If you’re still debating on what to get those adorable little mini bridesmaids of yours-definitely go with the kissing ball! We can even reuse in the reception as décor! Ask us how!

I had quite the pleasure of working with Kiera and Michael for their November wedding. I first met with the couple a few months prior to their wedding. Kiera had a very unique and original centerpiece envisioned and I wanted to make sure to capture it perfectly. After our session, we did some tweaking and came up with a wonderful and romantic cascading pink wonder! I was so thrilled that she loved the way it all turned out!

There are countless amazing things about Kiera & Michael’s venue-Los Verdes Country Club in Palos Verdes. The girls there, Jacklyn & Jordan, were so accommodating and made everything run smoothly. The view! OMG! A panoramic ocean view surrounded by lucious golfing hills. It was such a gorgeous day too! (see the picture below thatI took from my phone that day!) It definitely was a stunning backdrop. I mean where is not pretty in Palos Verdes?!

As we do with many weddings, our team was there to set up the Ceremony decor and then transfer to the room the reception was being held-in this case the Clubhouse. Los Verdes is beautiful yet, hilly! Our team def got a workout transporting up the steep driveway. It was well worth it to see the beautiful white draped reception hall with Kiera’s cascading centerpieces. I was also in love with her entrance decor. Giant manzanita wishing tree and crystal accents.

I want to say a special thank you to Travis from T & H Photography who did an excellent job as well as the second shooter for the day, Cami Donohue from Cami Jane Photography. It was my second time working with Cami and was excited to see a familiar face. I loved working with them and hope to do so again in the future.

All in all it was a very rewarding day. A beautiful and happy bride and another gorgeous wedding floral collection by Petals by Xavi.  Thank you Kiera and Michael for allowing us to be a part of your special day!