Blog by Kerrie » Weddings

JoAnna + Jeff’s The Oaks at Calamigos Ranch Wedding, Revisited

Kerrie — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:17:13 +0000

This is actually a two-for-one post, as JoAnna and Jeff are celebrating their one-year anniversary this coming Monday. So happy anniversary to them! And in honor of the occasion I felt it only appropriate to take a look back at their classic black, white and red wedding photographed by the lovely Sarah (at Sarah K. Chen Photography).

Kevy + Nick’s Wedding, Corona del Mar Community Church and Private Residence

Kerrie — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:20 +0000

Kevy and Nick have so much fun together and they share an incredible joy for life. This was apparent to me from the very first time we met. They channeled this excitement into their carefully laid wedding plans- which made for one heck of a party! Hosting the reception in their own backyard seemed a daunting task at first, but they put their heart and souls into every decision made for the Big Day, and it all came together perfectly if I do say so myself. I loved getting to know the two of them and their amazing friends and family (some of which traveled from as far as New Zealand to attend!). Thanks to Duane Peck (of Duane Peck Photography) for passing along his photos from the day.

Kevy’s Monique Lhullier gown was glamorous and elegant- just like her.

One of the many personal touches throughout the day- Kevy’s bouquet was wrapped in her family tartan.

Kevy’s twin sister was her Matron of Honor- they look so much alike, it threw me for a loop when I first saw them both together. They have such a great bond- nothing like the love between sisters.

After getting ready and having their first look at the Balboa Bay Club, it was time to head to the Church!

It was a must-have for Kevy to include a bagpiper during the ceremony. Gave my goosebumps- the music is just so incredibly moving and powerful.

This group picture makes me laugh; one of Nick’s ‘must haves’ during their photo time was a wacky family picture. Everyone obliged without even a second glance- it only made sense that their families would both be as much fun as they are.

Guest escort card tags were hung from an antique bottle dryer. Kevy and Nick are just too creative for words…

The floral designs were all a little bit of rustic, a little bit of romantic, and a whole lot of pretty with lots of greenery and shades of ivory and white with touches of blush.

There was a whole lot of laughing….and a few sweet tears- all of happiness, of course!

Kevy’s dad surprised everyone with a performance by a traditional Maori dance group. It defnitely kicked off the dance party on a great note, and the band took it from there!

A special thank you to the following fabulous vendors:

Duane Peck Photography
Cuisine by Jeanine
Designs by Tricia
The Noize Machine
The Pipes, Dave Champagne (bagpiper)
Signature Party Rentals
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Laurel Nelson (make-up)
Lizzy McNeill (hair)
California Coast Limousine
Reverand Chip Fisher, Corona del Mar Community Church
Bette with the Corona del Mar Community Church

Maria + Jake’s Wedding, Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

Kerrie — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 05:42:19 +0000

From the get-go Maria won me over with her sassy personality and love of all things fabulous. And when I finally met Jake, I adored his easy-going personality and smooth charm. They complement each other so well- it became very clear as I got to know them how much sense Maria and Jake make as a couple. We planned their entire wedding seeing each other only twice for in-person planning meetings, as they are based on the East Coast. Lots of e-mails! That seems to be a trend among many of my clients this year for some reason- quite a few out of state couples I am lucky to be planning with. Maria had a few elements of the day that she knew we had to include- lots of bling (LOTS) and a palette of teal and silver. Beyond that we had a wonderful time piecing together the look. It was only natural that Maria fell in love with the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, which served as the perfect elegant coastal backdrop with a contemporary twist. Once that was decided on the rest of their all-star vendor line-up fell into place with ease, including Joe (of Joe Latter Photographer) who was fantastic to work with. Thanks to him I have these gorgeous images to share with you of this luxurious beachside wedding.

Figured I would start with some of the ‘guy details’ for a change! Jake was outfitted in a custom tie and vest created to complement Maria’s gown by Kleinfeld Mahattan Men.

Of course, there were shoes (plural); part of Maria’s bridal bling came courtesy of her exquisite Rene Caovilla heels…

…and the other part came from, well, BLING!

Maria’s Pnina Tornai gown and custom veil were both selected at Kleinfeld Manhattan (of ‘Say Yes to the Dress’ fame). When she first mentioned she was considering going there to try on gowns, I told her she had to- seeing as she was so close, why not? Lo and behold, she found the one; and it was stunning.

Nisie and her team ROCK; no explanation necessary.

Elements throughout the day were carefully selected as a representation of either Maria and Jake as individuals, or together as a couple. The five-piece Mariachi band was a nod to Maria’s cultural background- and as a surprise they serenaded Maria and her father as they shared their Father-Daughter dance. He loved it!

A special thank you to the following fabulous vendors:

Joe Latter Photographer
Elysium Productions
Nisie’s Enchanted Florist
DJ Peter with Vive Entertainment
Angelica Strings
George’s Mariachis, provided by The Event Consultants
Shine Lighting
Fusion Linens (linens and chiavaris)
ChiavariChairRentals.com (white dance floor and chiavaris)
Rabbi Barry of Weddings with Spirit
Flawless Faces (hair and make-up)
Kiwi Cards (invitations and paper details)
And last but certainly not least, Martha and the fantastic team at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

Min + Jason featured in The Knot Southern California Magazine

Kerrie — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 04:58:42 +0000

Min and Jason got a whole ‘lotta love in the Fall/Winter 2010 edition of The Knot Southern California, on stands now. Crissy and I were so thrilled when we first got the news, as we both know Min and Jason worked hard to make the day personal, beautiful, and full of special touches. So getting recognition for all their hard work beyond the joy of the wedding day is icing on the cake! The team at The Knot was nice enough to send over full versions of the four page layout; check them out below. But I definitely recommend heading on over to pick one up for yourself as there is a lot of eye candy goodness within the pages. Enjoy!

Tawny + Brent’s Wedding, Seven Degrees, Laguna Beach

Kerrie — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:47:18 +0000

Tawny and Brent are kindred spirits for sure. They both have this totally unique appeal to them- not just because of their personal style (which, I might add, rocks), but because they are both just super cool and one-of-a-kind. They are the type of people that are so much fun and so easy to talk to; their fabulously sarcastic personalities would crack me up every time we would meet, and they had such incredible ideas about how they wanted to make their day THEIRS. I loved that about them! Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun when a client lets me have a ton of say in the look and feel of everything. But when you have such an amazing vision as Tawny and Brent did, it’s awesome to see it all come together in a way so perfectly fit for them. And just as perfect a fit for them was their choice of photographer- Dana (of Dana Grant Photography). Here is a glimpse into their wedding, Tawny and Brent-style.

Tawny loooooves hot pink, if you couldn’t tell:) These neon pink Christian Louboutin platforms were ri.dic.u.lous! So sassy!

The girls’ bouquet wraps coordinated with their shoes, which coordinated with their paired groomsman’s tie and socks. Fun fun fun!

I loved everything about Tawny’s look- her pin-up inspired hair and make-up perfectly complimented her gorgeous and vintage feeling gown by Matthew Christopher. With some hot pink thrown in for good measure, naturally.

As a nod to Tawny’s Filipino heritage, several traditions were incorporated.

Tawny and Brent love music- so it played a huge role in the evening from the song titles as table names to the carefully selected music choices.

Tawny is a graphic designer by trade- so of course all her self-designed invitations and paper details were over-the-top awesome.

A special thank you to the following fabulous vendors:

Dana Grant Photography
DJ Christopher Quevedo
Gena Aguilar (Flowers)
Some Crust Bakery
Cheesy Photobooths
Steve with You May Kiss the Bride
Tara Alexander (Hair)
Anthony Nguyen (make-up)
California Coastal Limousine
And of course Alyssa and the fantastic team at Seven Degrees

Jaclyn + James’ Wedding, St. Malo Beach, Oceanside

Kerrie — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 06:32:10 +0000

I have the coolest clients, hands down. Not only are Jaclyn and James the epitome of effortless elegance, with ridiculous style and charming personalities; but they put together a wedding that was such a breath of fresh air. First off- the location. James’ family owns a vacation home (and have for all of James’ life) in the gated beachside community of St. Malo. I had no idea St. Malo even existed- but was delighted to learn the ins and outs of this amazingly tight knit community. Walking around the streets you feel like you have been transported into a beautiful European village- time seems to stand still. When it came time to plan their wedding, the decision was easy to have it in the place that has held such a special place in James, his family, and now Jaclyn’s heart. So they started planning, and they put together an affair that surely etched itself deep in the mind of all the guests lucky to attended. From the barefoot on the sand ceremony, to the dancing that took place under the stars late into the night- every part of the day held meaning. And the exquisite food, awesome music, and fabulous people made for an absolutely perfect combination. Daisy Varley (of Daisy Varley Photography) was so fun to have around, and took beautiful pictures on top of that! Check out some of my favorites:

The ladies all got ready in a lovely cottage with a courtyard that perfectly suited the getting ready festivities.

Jaclyn chose a light-as-air Amy Michelson gown- perfect for the casual beach ceremony, and still so incredibly elegant.

Exquisite.

Seeing her dad for the first time as a bride. I couldn’t tell who was beaming more- I love beautiful moments like this.

Jaclyn didn’t have any bridesmaids, so her ‘ladies in waiting’ gathered to see her all done up- so fun! Lots of ooohs and aaahs, and maybe even a few squeals.

It goes without saying that James is handsome- I loved that he wore a classic bow tie. Gave him a debonaire feel that day- very James Bond (the original!).

These guys ROCK!

Married!

The first kiss after the ‘first kiss’. Love…

They walked around St. Malo for their portraits…

Meanwhile guests were enjoying cocktails on the sand.

And some guests enjoyed the swings. Seeing them giddy and swinging made my heart warm- proof that life only gets better as it goes on.

The decor embraced the beach vibe, but on an elegant level with cool aqua and warm taupe hues, tropical flowers, and hints of coastal elements. Soooo right on so many levels.

A special thank you to the following fabulous vendors:

Daisy Varley Photography
Waters Catering and Bar Services
DJ Bryan Davidson
Passionflower Studios
Classic Party Rentals
Wildflower Linens
LightenUp, Inc.
Carlsbad French Pastries Café
Mattson 2
Tom Brennan (officiant)
Jillian at Detour Salon (Hair)
Lindsay Horvath (Make-up)

Stacey + Baker’s Wedding, Surf and Sand Resort, Laguna Beach

Kerrie — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:21:38 +0000

Stacey and Baker came to me under not the most ideal circumstances. Just a little over three months before their wedding, the venue they had originally booked had discovered certain aspects of the site were not up to county code. So that meant no weddings for awhile while things were repaired- including Stacey and Baker’s wedding. I remember getting the initial e-mail from Stacey and my heart just broke for them hearing how they were forced to drastically rework their wedding plans in such a short amount of time. Looking back I see how much of a blessing it all was- them coming into my life, and being able to help them make sense of what could have been a super stressful situation for them. Their wedding day turned out fantastically; the Surf and Sand Resort was the perfect location and their vendor list came together absolutely seamlessly. I loved finally getting to work with Aaron Shintaku (of Aaron Shintaku Photography), who is such a cool guy that takes eqaully as cool pictures- see for yourself!

A special thank you to the following fabulous vendors:

Aaron Shintaku Photography
Flower Allie (who did all the flowers except the personals- those were a gift from a family friend who is a florist)
No Vacancy Entertainment (band)
PropsFX Productions (lighting)
Fusion Linens
ChiavariChairRentals.com
Susie Cakes
On Location Beauty
Kiwi Cards (escort cards and table numbers)
Your Car, Our Driver
And the fabulous Sandy and the whole team at the Surf and Sand Resort

Lana + Chris’ Wedding, The Immaculata and the Lodge at Torrey Pines, La Jolla

Kerrie — Wed, 19 May 2010 06:31:43 +0000

Having never visited the Lodge at Torrey Pines prior to working with Lana and Chris, I was pleasantly surprised to find what feels so much like a genuine mountain lodge only 10 minutes (or less, even) away from the Pacific. Lana and Chris truly embraced the rustic tone the Lodge sets forth, with its dark wooden beams and roaring fireplaces- and integrated it into their overall wedding decor. Mixed with a splash of fresh spring colors, they definitely had a winning combination for a beautiful and elegant wedding. Ian Grant (of Ian Grant Photography) photographed the day- check out my favorites.

Thank you to the following fabulous vendor team:

Ian Grant Photography
Flower Allie
Vive Entertainment
Alexandria Strings
ChiavariChairRentals.com (linens and chiavaris)
Edelweiss European Bakery
Design Visage (hair)
Kelly Jo Grandy (make-up)
Bri and Julie with the Immaculata
The team at the Lodge at Torrey Pines