See Inside Signature Sasha: Magnificent Weddings by Design

We're so excited that our new wedding design book Signature Sasha: Magnificent Weddings by Design will be on bookshelves shortly after Christmas!  We've updated our website with lots of new information, too!

You can see all the confirmed scheduled speaking engagements on our tour...if we're not coming to your city, but would like us to...please email pr {at} sashasouzaevents {dot} com to schedule a Souza-palooza event in your city!

You can see the buzz surrounding the book, the blogs are starting to talk about it and the excitement is building! 

We now have an short three page excerpt from the book on the site - just a little bit of the eye candy that will be in the printed version.

If you're interested in providing information on your blog or in print, please contact sasha {at} sparkliatti {dot} com.  We're thrilled to give you information to share with your readers. 

Some stats about the book & the website:

• The Signature Sasha website is the only place you can pre-order signed copies of the book! 
• You can now also pre-order online at Amazon, Borders & Barnes & Noble booksellers.  The book will be available at all of our upcoming speaking engagements also!  For the speaking events in November 2009, the book is available for pre-order.  
• The book is 9 x 12 and 256 pages with hardcover & a dust jacket - a gorgeous coffee table size
• Sasha wrote the entire book herself - and did not use a ghost writer...just a very patient editor.
• Sasha has a line of product available soon on the site including invitations & tools for planners.
• Team IDo is now linked to the Signature Sasha site, for information on our coaching program

She's Pretty {& Romantic}

Photo by Alisha + Brook Photography

Event Design by Sasha Souza Events

That Looks Good Enough To Eat!

I am a stickler for pretty food - food that looks like you want to eat it right off the picture.  When I was writing our book, I scoured probably a thousand images of hors d'oeuvres, salads, entrees, desserts, cake.  You name it.  What I realized is that I have a LOT of food pictures!!  I'm always making sure the photographer "got the food shots" - because they often tell the story of the couple, but through food. 

Where I live, in the Napa Valley, food is an important part of our lifestyle and our culture.  It's through food that we express ourselves and our wine.  The food doesn't need to be gourmet, it just has to be tasty, well thought out and presented well. Even if you don't think you will put the food pictures in your album, on Facebook or on your wedding blog, if you've put any thought whatsoever into the meal you will want to make sure that the images are captured.

There are many blogs out there that are amazing and showcase food so beautifully.  Food styling is an art in and of itself with amazing stylists like Rori Trovato taking the images to the next delicious level - not to mention her husband, Luca Trovato is a phenomenial photographer in his own right and all of his images are amazing.. 

When I look back at the food pictures of our weddings, I can almost taste it.  Taste the pulled pork, the lamb or the tomatoes.  They bring back memories of the heat of the day, the look of the couple and the magic of the moment.  Look at the pretty food below, I think you'll find it as appetizing on the computer screen as it tasted in person!

Photos by:  Briana Marie Photography, Sherman Chu, Elizabeth Messina

                  All bottom images by Briana Marie Photography 

Signature Sasha: Magnificent Weddings by Design - Exciting News!

For quite a while we've been working on a design book which will debut in January 2010. 

The wedding design book Signature Sasha: Magnificent Weddings by Design is a stunning, hard cover wedding design book featuring beautiful photography of all aspects of wedding design including never before seen Weddings by Sasha Souza Events.  The book will have a cover price of $50.

The four color, hard bound book will be available at all major bookstores and online through our website:  http://www.signaturesasha.com  Which will feature the most up to date information about the book release, speaking engagements and book signings and information about our line of products including the Team I Do Business Coaching program. 

As the release gets closer, we'll share on the site information from the inside of the book and probably even a sample chapter!  Keep an eye out for these updates by following us on Twitter & becoming a fan on Facebook! 

Kristen & Todd's Fabulous Vintage Photo WALL!

I know this has made the rounds of blogs and websites and even twitter over the past week, so I figured I might as well post something that we created.  It was created for Kristen* & Todd's wedding which was recently featured in Modern Bride but also on Kiss the Groom and I've seen it popup on the Knot & Weddingbee. 

The top one showcases the creativity of my staff Galen & Mel along with Mel's husband Matt. 

 

 

 

I'm holidng Giada for Alisha + Brook so they could have a family photo. 

PURE BLISS* NUPTIALS {via Kiss the Groom}

The always amazing photographer Elizabeth Messina featured my good friend Kristen's wedding today on Kiss the Groom.  The wedding is currently in the Fall issue of Modern Bride Magazine {thanks to Tony, et. al}  and Elizabeth showcased even more of the lovely, lovely wedding!  Kristen is the owner of Bliss Video Productions a boutique film company based in California. 

it is with great happiness that i share with you the intimate photographs of kristen* & todd’s elegant summer wedding….you simply must pick up the newest issue of MODERN BRIDE, which has a beautiful four page spread on this truly unique & inspiring wedding….all the elements of this special day were brilliantly executed by sasha souza, an amazing event planner in northern california…..

 

the couple exchanged vows at nestledown a stunning location, literally “nestled” in lush foliage & beautiful redwood trees….it was the perfect backdrop for kristen’s vision of a wedding inspired by nordic mythology & art nouveau….their wedding felt like a A Midsummer Night’s dream soiree…..

 

this vintage london taxi was the stylish couple’s get away vehicle

 

kristen’s wore a beautiful hand crafted shrug over a stunning lace la sposa gown….the shrug was not only a work of art but a very special momento for the bride….it was made by holly stalder from lace that belonged to kristen’s great great grandmother….such a stunning and meaningful piece….

 

kristen* also wore a stunning one of a kind headpiece made by leah c…..todd wore a vintage suit, made by al’s attire…. kristen* & todd are such a beautiful couple…so sweet & incredibly stylish….

 

todd shielded his eyes as he waited to see kristen* for the first time….and at the ceremony, sasha souza created the most adorable “toss me” table for the couple…….the guests filled little cups with an array of  beautiful flowers & herds & tossed them at the stunning couple as they walked down the aisle…

 

the amazing florals were created by northern california based leah lowery for sasha souza events

the guests dined on locally grown organic cuisine at stunning tables designed by sasha souza

kristen’s hair was an amazing nordic inspired updo with braids woven throughout….

 

at the end of the evening, the couples & their guests danced and celebrated inside a barn, adorned by sasha souza with beautiful fabric & candles…their art nouveau cake was created by san francisco based i dream of cake….and guests enjoyed hundreds of homemade cookies made with love by the bride’s mother and grandmother…. i hope this incredibly beautiful blissful event inspires your own….

Say I Do With: Alesia & Charles compliments of Alisha+Brook Photography - Dinner & Dancing

BRAVO!! to the Vendors Who Created this Wedding!
Planner/Designer Allison Van Every: Allison Weddings

Caterer: Outstanding in the Field

Band: Five Second Ride

Lighting: AV Solutions

Invitations: Ceci New York

Other printed items: Heart Paper Soul
Venue:  Pie Ranch

Dressmaker:  Catherine Martin

Say I Do With: Alesia & Charles compliments of Alisha+Brook Photography: The Dress, The Couple!!

I am so in love with this bride's gown made by costume designer Catherine Martin.  What an amazing gift to be able to creat something so timeless. 

When I talked to Brook about this wedding, he spent about 10 minutes total photographing the couple and it looks as if it took him hours!

And because I can't show enough of her gown...and I love her wrap and the old barn.  I love it!!

   

oh wait...there's more :)

Say I Do With: Alesia & Charles compliments of Alisha+Brook Photography: Welcome

When I first saw this wedding, my mouth was agape -- the event was very chic and the amazing photographic details is what makes it so much fun.  I love Alisha+Brook Photography {& so does Oprah!}.  Their website is fully of exactly this kind of blog candy.  And can I just say... I want this bride to be my best friend because she ROCKS that frock!

Enjoy the three posts to follow today and the details of the vendors in the last post! 

Say I Do With: Nicole & Michael : After Party

Whew!  We made it to the afterparty and what a surprise there was a for the guests.  The after dinner lounge tent was filled to the brim with crystal & mirrored bars, black leather banquettes with crystal inserts, a 7 foot tall wedding cake and black dancefloor with a mirror ball chandelier. 

The party was flanked by an amazing candy bar & taco station provided by Someone's in the Kitchen (who also provided the  catering).  I've never seen a candy bar like this one -- 24' long with every imaginable piece of chocolate or confection -- even Ms. Gnomer overheard a guest ask for a trash bag so that he could load it up to take home to his kids.  We cut him off from the bar after that one!

The music was off da hook!  Not only did we have a celebrity DJ, Clinton Sparks, but also the band Camp Freddy.  Who is comprised of four regular members Dave Navarro (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction), Matt Sorum (Guns 'n Roses, Velvet Revolver), Chris Chaney (Alanis Morrisette, Jane's Addiction) and Donovan Leach (music legend Donovan's son).  They then brought on the guest stars which included Steve Jones (P.I.L), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), Cory Taylor (Slipknot - without the mask), Royston Langdon (Spacehog), Paul Cook (Sex Pistols), Duff McKagan (Guns 'n Roses, Velvet Revolver) and as the big surprise Paul Stanley from Kiss.  They performed for around 45 minutes and then did a meet and greet for 50 people with photos.  Many people were interested in kissing on one of the musicians and I'm just gonna say -- get your rabies vaccine checked, girls.  He was oozing ick.

What a crazy night.... 

Say I Do With: Nicole & Michael : Dinner for 300

I had told you about this wedding a while back...I feel like I've brought sexy back!  That is exactly what the wedding dinner was -- incredibly sexy with rich fabric, 15,000 red Ecuadorian roses, black crystal chandeliers, three kinds of custom linen and crystal buckles on the menus and chair backs. 

The ceiling also held special meaning as it was a pattern which was derived from the tattoo the bride shares with the other triplets. 

All photos are copyright Elizabeth Messina for Sasha Souza Events

Say I Do With: Nicole & Michael : Cocktail Party

I was totally and completely in love with the cocktail party.  The 16' ice bar that served 5 pounds of Osetra Caviar and Vodka was the centerpiece of the event along with two regular bars and two champagne bars serving vintage Dom Perignon -- all in frosted glassware. 

The rain was gone by the time the guests were able to enjoy the cocktail party. 

Image Credits must read Elizabeth Messina Photography for Sasha Souza Events

Say I Do With: Nicole & Michael : Ceremony

This post should be titled: Rain, Rain, Go Away...but I'm not bitter :)  Ok, I am bitter.  Mother Nature and I are no longer on speaking terms after her little hissy fit on 10/4! 

The ceremony & reception took place at a private estate in Malibu, CA overlooking the ocean -- only the ceremony had to be moved at the last minute to a nearby contingency tent because it started to pour.  We were expecting a little drizzle but it really came down.  So much so that 50 servers moved 325 ceremony chairs uphill 100 yards in the rain.  And they did it in 15 minutes.  Pretty good time. 

I wish that we could have had the wedding outside since we had constructed an amazing structure dripping with crystal & glass beads.  But alas, it is what it is. 

What an amazing crew I work with to try to redecorate the tent to make it as beautiful as possible in such a short period of time to make sure that the bride & groom had beautiful photos and that the guests could stay as dry as possible. 

Someday I'll post on weather and use this as the casestudy. 

Say I Do With: Nicole & Michael : Bouquets

The colors of the event were black, white, red mixed with "chunky" gold and diamonds.  The brides bouquet featured a coque feather collar and gold rhinestone tim.  The bridesmaids bouquets had coque feather and diamond accents and the corsages were accented with black crystals. 

I adore the coque trim because it has such a sexy feel. 

Reminder:  All Images are (c) Elizabeth Messina for Sasha Souza Events

Tomorrow...I bring you the wedding!  A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

Say I Do With: Nicole & Michael : Invitations & Paper

The invitation is the first impression you will give your guests of your wedding style.  And this invitation was a doozie.  Clear lucite boxes etched with the couple's monogram and pattern of the linen -- and the invitation sat on a black satin pillow with black crystal and ribbon. 

Each piece of the suite had the monogram or linen pattern to give it a very cohesive feel.  Escort card pockets with crystals held each of the 305 escort cards for the guests. 

Say I Do With: Nicole & Michael : The Gown - THE SHOES!

The shoes were so yummy, I could just eat them up - they were by Rene Caovilla.  The dress was custom made for Nicole by Baracci in Beverly Hills. 

I cannot describe how amazing Nicole looked in her wedding gown.  It was stunning off the hanger with amazing bead work on the top of the gown.  . 

Say I Do With: Nicole & Michael : The Groom

I love the photos of groom's getting ready - the sweet cards from the bride, gifts for the groomsmen and their details are just as lovely as the brides! 

All photos are Elizabeth Messina Photography for Sasha Souza Events

Say I Do With: Nicole & Michael : Bride's Getting Ready

I promised you an amazing wedding and here it comes.  With so many amazing photographs from Elizabeth Messina, I have to break this up into parts of the day!  The photos are just out of this world and it's so hard to choose from 3,000 images! 

We'll start with the bride's getting ready images.  Enjoy!

If any of the images from this wedding are used on a blog, please credit Elizabeth Messina Photography for Sasha Souza Events and link back to both.  THANK YOU!

Sneak Peek: Real Wedding

I haven't featured a real wedding of ours in a while, so I thought I would do a series of posts on the last wedding we had for the year.  Images are by the incomparable Elizabeth Messina and I cannot get over the beauty she captured.  I'll be showcasing it over the next few days since it was such an amazing extravagaza. 

Enjoy the sneak peek below!

Say I Do with Jeanne & Chris

Jeanne & Chris were married on a gorgeous May day in Sonoma, CA.  The ceremony was in the Sonoma Mission (Mission San Francisco Solano) which is the very last mission built in California.  This has to be one of my very favorite couples of all time.  Kind, good to each other and decisive they had a style they wanted to show to their guests and the couple planned this wedding 100% together.  They definitely wanted an amazing wedding & experience for their friends and family but they also wanted to infuse some fun into the event. 

In order to show respect for her favorite Aunt, Rosemary, we infused it into the groom's boutionierre and later into the dining tables.  The bride's dress by Pnina Tornai was GORGEOUS (unfortunately, the bustle stunk, so this dress tore the rump out of the dress when it was stepped on).  As a cute alternative to the kissing ball or tossing petals, the three flowergirls carried organza bags with scented gardenia.  I adored Jeanne's bouquet, it was light and fresh and perfect for a May wedding and included frilly & beautiful white peonies.

Guests were transported by motorized trollies to the cocktail party. Moments before the flowergirls walked down the aisle, one of them threw up on the stoop of the Mission...nerves got the best of her.  Jeanne & Chris rented a classic car to bring them to the ceremony & reception and I thought it was so cute how Jeanne was checking her face in the back of the car before heading down the aisle with her father.   

A clear top tent was the home of the cocktail party high over the Sonoma Valley and surrounded by 2,000 acres of privately owned vineyards.  We are always trying to do something a little different with escort cards.  Do you like the middle picture?  Do you hate carnations?  Think again!  I think I've said this before, but the hors d'oeuvres are my weakness at a wedding and these are making my mouth salavate right NOW!

Dinner was so much fun to do.  Using white chairs against saturated green toned linens with white and yellow flowers looked fresh.  Trying to keep the carpet clean during setup (since it was white and had rained the day before) required me to give all the vendors who were doing the setup a few pairs of booties and threaten death if they walked on the white carpet in their muddy boots!  Part of the fun was the groom's cake -- a fishing basket with edible fish and a little sign that say "Chris has caught the catch of his life" - there were bait and hooks on the wood board.  So crazy, the guests were floored that it was completely edible -- the wedding cake was scrumptious too with fondant and fresh flowers. 

For the guests, the couple provided cigars for the boys and pashmina wraps for the girls.  They were all gone at the end of the night - there were also flip flops at the lounge in the main tent for dancing.

I love to set things on fire.  I've won at least two awards for it and this part was no different.  When we found out that there could be rain, the outdoor built in firepit was no longer an option. So what do you do?  Make an indoor firebar with s'mores and barstools.  Guests came up, make themselves a s'more and hit the dance floor. 

Hope you enjoyed the photos of Jeanne & Chris' wedding.  I certainly loved remembering it!

K* Gets Married...And All I Have Are These Pictures??

I don't go to weddings often as a guest (thank God because I'm dangerous)...so when I normally take pictures it's self-portraits of me with somebody else.  I've perfected the angle and where to hold the camera, but I can swear that I took many more pictures of Kristen's wedding last Friday.  Imagine my dissappointment when I realized all I had to show for it was a bunch of self portraits! 

Never give me three glasses of champagne and two glasses of wine.  It leads to me doing the Rock Lobster with the groom (down, down, down) and a camera full of nuthin'.  Any other vendors have photos of all the real stuff like flowers, bouquets?  Setup?  Anybody?  Anybody?  Bueller?  Bueller?

I am very excited to see the actual wedding pictures when they come around and hopefully, I didn't take the photographer's camera and do any self-portraits...but who knows!

Pictures are top:  me & our assistant Galen, me & my lighting designer Jon

Middle:  me & Kristen -- how HOT is she? 

Bottom:  *what* was I thinking? At least I'm wearing my signature sunglasses!

Next up...Overheard by Miss Gnomer

Update!:  There ARE photos of the event!  Check out the blog of Alisha & Brook!  K* also sent me these this morning, blurry as they may be, I can't wait to see the photos that Elizabeth Messina took!    Thankfully others were on the ball :)

Today's the Day...

Our good friend, Kristen* is getting married today (Friday, August 1)!!  She has the wedding dream team planning and managing her event.  Four Modern Bride Top 25 Trendsetters will be on the job...Sasha Souza Events (2004), Bliss* Video Productions (2006), I Dream of Cake (2006) and Elizabeth Messina (2008).  Should be an amazing event.  Can't Wait... setup started Thursdaynight and rentals are being delivered starting at 7 a.m...should be a long, but fun day.  Maybe I'll Twitter about it as the day goes on.  Miss Gnomer will also be "on the job" reporting everything she overhears - and with this group, we should have some DOOZIES!

Here is her beautiful inspiration board... I'll be back on Saturday :)

Say I Do with Casey & Mac

I can't describe this party without using the word ::cute:: -- 'cause that's what the party was and exactly what the couple was...Casey and Mac were married in Napa Valley in the month of June...married at a private estate surrounded by vineyards with lush trees, white flowers and weeping willow trees all around.  The wedding had a preppy feeling to it and included a chiffon draped ceremony with gerber daisies and handmade leaf cones suspended throughout suspended from pink ribbons. 

Galvanized lanterns with custom made shades in tones of green and pink were hung from the trees surrounding the cocktail party and guests were lead to the ceremony by following signs encased in fragrant jasmine vine. 

Editor's Note:  {Cut to the week prior when there was rain forecast for the wedding.  Dinner was always in a tent but ceremony was outside...it was threatening rain up until the day of.  The groom asked me to call him in the morning with an update -- he was about 2 miles away when I called and said.  "Hey Mac, I'm standing in your tent and lookin' at the weather and guess what?  It's pouring"   Strangest thing...it was clear as a bell where he was at his resort.  Yeah for global warming...}

The women in the bridal party wore tones of pink and the men wore khaki pants, blue blazers and pink shirts with navy & pink striped ties.  There was a total of 26 bridesmaids and groomsmen which made it fun to make each bouquet a little different than the others.

The rehearsal was a bit like herding feral cats -- try and get 28 people plus the family all together at once to be a) on time and b) pay attention...yeah, good luck with that!  They bussed the bridal party over to make sure they would be on time which was  helpful..but the paying attention part?  Bribes work best.   

Galvanized tin buckets were repeated at the cocktail hour to mimic the galvanized lanterns.  Whimsical centerpieces were displayed in milky glass and white containers at a variety of heights and included fabric covered boxes filled with peonies, white milk glass bowls and tall thin vases filled with coordinating flowers. 

The dinner was in a Sperry {as in Top Siders fame} sail cloth tent {could it be more perfect for a preppy wedding?} with turned wood poles and chairs used were intended to mimic wine barrel sides and were wrought iron and wood.  The cake was a simple tinted buttercreme cake with a single handmade composite rose on top and wide bands of thin stripes coordinating with the tones of the linen along the bottom.

You can watch their wedding film here:  sashasouza.tv

Photography:  JT Weddings

Bridal Gown:  Carolina Herrera

Cake:  Fleur de Lisa Cakes

Rentals:  Classic Party Rentals

Bridesmaids Dresses:  Thread

Invitations:  Gaddis Design {defunct}

Flowers & Decor:  Leah Lowery for Sasha Souza Events

Design:  Sasha Souza Events

Tent:  Zephyr Tents

Video/Film: Bliss* Video Productions

Say I Do with Max & Victoria (courtesy of Chic Events)

The lovely and talented Rachel Hollis from Chic Events in LA submitted this very colorful wedding.  I thought it was so eclectic and cute that I had to post it here. 

Rachel says "Max and Victoria are a young "LA" couple, there style, while elegant, is a reflection of a youthful funky spirit. They wanted the day to be romantic and represent their beachy location in a fresh way. We utilized the bride's love of bright colors in every aspect of the design... from the a-symmetrical centerpieces, to the sherbet colored escort cards and kiwi flip flops everything was a bright, and happy... just like the bride and groom."

I'm a sucker for shoe shots and the shoes and dress pictuers are super cute and make them look surreal.  I also love the apple green dresses with the pink flowers and the yellow bridesmaids bouquet. 

The bridal pictures are so important and to capture the unique personality of the couple along with the more artistic images.  I love the black and whites and the old driftwood style chairs used for the ceremony.

With beach weddings can be so difficult to walk on the sand but the aisle runner and flip flops make it easy for the guests to get to the ceremony.  They can also take off their Jimmy Choo's and feel the warm Southern California sand under their feet. 

The colors of the reception are so unexpected for a beach ceremony & reception.  I also love succulents in the centerpieces and the whimsy of the cake.  Lovely!

Rachel put together a very talented group for the couple -- you can find them online:

Event Planner/Designer:  Chic Events

Photographer: Susan Bordelon

Floral Designer: Fiore Designs

Dress Designer: Carolina Herrera

Caterer/Site: The Jonathan Club Santa Monica

Say I Do with Allison & Steve (Destination Bahamas)

Allison & Steve were married on the tiny Bahamian island of Harbour Island.  It takes at least two planes and a five minute boat ride to find this little enclave of beautiful pink sand beaches, cracked conch and friendly people.  Known as "Briland" to the locals, there's not much there except for golf carts (cars are VERY expensive) and chickens/roosters to wake you in the morning.  The entire island is 2 miles long by about 1/2 mile wide.  Not a lot of real estate, but what they do have they pack full of beauty. 

The couple rented two amazing homes which were the base of operations (read: drinking Kalik beer). They also brought their red Labrador, Kai.  The flower girl's ball was made by our designers to replicate a sailor's valentine.  We used miniature shells and coral in all the arrangements and the groom's boutonniere. 

The wedding was held on the ocean side of the island behind a little luncheonette - the Sip Sip -  and the reception was on the bay side of the island at the famous Rock House.  Allie walked the 200 yards from her house to the ceremony where we had built a structure on the beach and draped in coral toned scrim, handmade shell wind chimes and beaded tassels.  Guests were escorted on golf carts from the ceremony to the Rock House by a local band.   

At the Rock House scrumptious drinks like the Bellini were served.  This wasn't just any ordinary Bellini -- heck no...it was vodka and OJ and a bunch of other stuff that knocked your socks off! 

The colors of the wedding were mocha and coral/watermelon.  We put clear Plexiglas over the pool and then hand sewed pieces of straw mats to cover the water.  Dining table sat on the mats and were graced with bamboo chairs and darling centerpieces of peony, coral, orchids and tropical leaves.  We had huge bamboo boxes filled with flowers hanging from the clear top tent (covered with tarp during the day to keep cool) and lit with golden light.  Guests danced to outrageous tunes -- some even on the tabletops until 3 a.m.!

The chargers were purchased by me and shipped over for the event.  The Rock House now owns them -- they bought them off me and I was glad not to have to ship them back home :)

We always travel with our floral design & decor team but this time we took 21 vendors including tenting, lighting, flowers and decor, event planners and even paramedics. Why paramedics?  The last time the couple was on the island there was a golf cart accident and it took a number of hours to evacuate the injured, so she wanted to make sure her guests were taken care of  -- she figured there would be a lot of drinking :)  -- she was right.  The paramedics were used for an injured ankle, somebody tripped on the sand in a drunken stooper and needed assistance -- they were there to help and the person didn't need to get additional assistance until they were home.  We all also shared a house and a chef and it was magical! 

Anyway -- hope you enjoyed Allie & Steve's wedding.  Below is a video by Bliss Video Productions.  What a great trip we had with all of our vendors.  Images by Alisha & Brook. 

Bahama Bliss from bliss productions on Vimeo.

Say I Do With: Steven & Jordan

In honor of the California Supreme Court Ruling on Gay Marriage... I share with you a commitment ceremony which should have been a legal wedding.  The wedding of Steven & Jordan.

A few years back, we planned a fantastic commitment ceremony for two great people - Steven & Jordan.  It was a loving, friend and family filled evening where food & people were key.  Steven looked fantastic in his Wilkes Bashford vest -- I loved how they wanted to incorporate the colors in their home into the event. 

We planned the entire event around an arts & crafts style rug the guys had at their home which was tones of burgundy accented with soft greens.  It was a lot of fun to get inspiration from them.  The ceremony was held on the balcony over looking the lawn and vineyard of a private estate in Sonoma County.  Jordan was flanked by his girls who all wore tones of burgundy and Steven was flanked by his friends in tones of black and green.   

The guests dined on a three course seated meal including a chilled gazpacho and oxtail ending with miniature baby cakes on tea cookies.  They danced all night in front of the villa which was lit in tones of light green and amber.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I've loved reliving it. 

photos by Billy Winters, Invitation by Dauphine Press, Baby Cakes by Fleur De Lisa Cakes, Decor by Sasha Souza Events, Floral by Leah Lowery for Sasha Souza Events

Say I Do with Michelle & Nate (in Cabo)

We have been really lucky to have worked many weddings in Mexico and this one is at the One & Only Palmilla - a very exclusive celebrity haunt that often hosts the most sought after weddings.  Michelle & Nate were married before 80 guests on the chapel followed by a cocktail party on the chapel deck and dinner on the beach in a custom built tent along with dancing in the ballroom into the wee hours.

I loved so much about this couple -- and the bride & groom both had a very defined sense of style and were very gracious and they're both gorgeous!  I adored working with them.   We brought all the linen, chair pads, decor, candles and flowers from the US and worked with our team to create a really beautiful ambiance for the wedding.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we do :)

Thought I'd share their wedding -- shot by Meg Smith.

Michelle's gown was so beautiful for the location and we paired it with a gorgeous white and green bouquet.  The bridesmaids were super chic in their gowns carrying similiar white bouquets.

The bride arrived at the chapel in a horse drawn carriage lead by a mariachi band.  I loved the rustic feeling of the church along with their more modern touches. 

Out on the beach we constructed a tent for dinner which hosted long tables and tones of chocolate, mocha and pistachio with touches of key lime and white flowers. 

After dinner, fireworks and silt walkers and drummers entertained the crowd before they went to the ballroom for a night of dancing and lounging. 

We Want You!!

Even though I'm writing this blog, I'd love to hear from others who have stunning weddings to share.  We're looking for fun, colorful events to fill our pages and inspire our readers - sasha@sparkliatti.com.  So, send 'em in y'all!

I've Been Waiting For This...

I'm going to do a mood board for a goth wedding and use Kate Moss as my inspiration! 

According to Lovetripper.com:

Friday, May 9, 2008

Gothic Garb for Kate Moss Wedding?

Kate Moss has ruled the runway in a number of fashionable frocks over the years, and it seems only fitting that the catwalk queen might chose the royal color purple for the most important designer silhouette she will ever slip into-- her wedding dress. According to the Daily Star, the supermodel will either be eye-catching in aubergine or a beauty in black when she sashays down the aisle in a full-skirted gown accented with charms featuring a musical motif in honor of the groom, guitarist Jamie Hince of the indie band The Kills.

Attracted to the avant-garde, the bride-to-be has reportedly requested conceptual artists Dinos and Jake Chapman to create unconventional centerpieces for her wedding reception. When Kate's wedding day arrives, artist Jake Chapman, among the masterminds to concoct Agent Provocateurs latest ad campaign, which features the mesmerizing mannequin, will undoubtedly think back to his own special day back in 2004 when the supermodel sat in a pew at London's Christ Church to witness his exchange of vows with model Rosemary Ferguson.

The reception, which is said to take place following a wedding in the Cotswolds, will be held at Wapping Project. Formerly a hydraulic power station, the venue will be an industrial idyll for the bride and groom's Gothic gathering.

Celebrity Wedding Announcement - Charlie Sheen

According to brides.com - A source close to Charlie Sheen revealed to In Touch that the Two and a Half Men star and his fiance Brooke Mueller will tie the knot on May 30. Although Charlie proposed to the actress and real estate agent with a $500,000 ring last July, the wedding will be casual and relaxed. "No ties at my wedding," he recently said. "It's going to be hot. I want people to be comfortable." But laid-back doesn't necessary mean small! Brooke, who met the star at a party in June 2006, told People that she definitely wants to have a big wedding.

Hey Charlie... wanna get married in Napa????  Call me :)

Fernando Allende/New York Post/Splash News

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Say I Do with Sarah & Patrick

Sarah & Patrick were married at her family estate in Sacramento, CA.  What I loved about Sarah & Patrick's wedding was that she wanted to combine the rustic beauty of the redwood grove behind the house, have a French market style cocktail party, lounge on hay bails and have an elegant family style meal and dancing with a 14 piece band.  Talk about eclectic taste...  I know you're scratching your head and wondering how we pulled this one off.  Well, the photos are below - see for yourself. 

The bride wore a custom designed Jin Wang gown and carried a bouquet of hydrangea, sweet pea, orchid and calla lily.  The bridesmaids wore very light tones of pink and carried apricot and green toned bouquets of roses, hydrangea, Camellia leaf and lambs ear.

Upon arrival, guests were escorted through the wrought iron gates decorated with floral wreaths.  Escort cards in wheat grass and fastened with lavender bunches for the cocktail party.  Letterpress escort cards by Dauphine Press.

The ceremony set in the redwood grove provided a shady area for the ceremony.  Very light tones of pink and white and cream were used for the red dogwood arbor and ceremony flowers.  Copper entry pieces greeted the guests and provided an interesting contrast to the wrought iron chairs and rose toned pads.

The French country marketplace featured a hay bail lounge covered in blue and yellow fabric, his & hers food stations, and linen in coordinating tones with yellow and green flowers. 

Although Sarah wanted the look of a French country marketplace...the hors d'oeuvres reflected their favorite things including Duck Confit wontons, sushi, pancetta wrapped chicken skewers, and chilled soup.

Dinner in the tent featured coral toned carpeting and linens in three tones of pink ranging from sunrise to watermelon.  Flowers in a variety of containers graced the tables with tulips, peony, hydrangea, orchids and dogwood.  Square, round and long tables were utilized for guest seating.   The brides' head table featured custom made candlesticks and candles were coordinated to the event's linen. 

The table place setting for the three course family style meal featured letterpress menu cards by Dauphine Press and taupe colored charger plates. 

Got Light?  The cake by Fleur De Lisa Cakes was a modified gift style in fondant and handmade white chocolate roses. 

The 60x100 pole tent set on the front lawn of the estate was lit both inside and out by

The dancing was followed by late night sliders and fries. 

all photos are (c) Sherman Chu Photography

Say I Do with Becca and Drew

I have to say that I really enjoy the clients who hire us to plan their weddings and Becca and Drew were no exception.  As far as I was concerned, they were about as perfect a client as I could have had.  They trusted, they had a great time planning their wedding and they were full of energy. 

BEAUTY:

The gown was made by Amy Kuschel in San Francisco and she did everything right -- it was well made, beautifully simple and very Becca.  She's made several of our bride's gowns now and I just think she takes the right amount of time learning about what the bride loves to create the perfect dress for her. 

Becca's bouquet was joyous and what I loved about it most (aside from the colors) was the huge red peony focal point.  I love the spring for all the flowers that we can get which aren't available the rest of the year and Becca was married at the right time of the year for gorgeous brightly colored flowers. 

Becca and Drew were married on a day in May at a Northern California Organic Farm. When guests arrived at the location, they were greeted by a memory lane -- guests walked down a long row of apple trees through the orchard where photos, which included pictures of the couple's childhood and photos of them with the guests, were strung from ribbons while the trees were strung with dozens of wind chimes.

CEREMONY STYLE:

The ceremony was in the round and we created a structure which made the guests feel "enveloped" and a crucial part of the ceremony.  One by one, guests came forward to tell stories, read poems and participate in the wedding.  The colors were taken from Indian Sari's -- in vivid hues of turquoise, cantaloupe and moss green. 

Chairs circled around the center ceremony riser where the bride & groom exchanged wedding vows.

What was so wonderful about this wedding?  For me, it was the unique aspects of the ceremony design & flow.  There were two aisles guests could seat from and there were fantastic views of the ceremony from every angle.  The 10 foot tall structure & draping was topped with flowers, which didn't detract from the intention of the ceremony but added to the design.

YUMMM....
Anybody who knows me can tell you that the hors d'oeuvres are my favorite part of the event.  Little bites with big flavor.  It's too bad that the cocktail party is only an hour... :)  It's also a perfect place to put a little bit of personality into your meal.  The caterer did a fantastic job doing just that for Becca & Drew.  Mini shots of chilled pea soup with a crab stuffed pea pod, a variety of house made sushi rolls with soy ginger dipping sauce, deep fried calamari shooters with spicy Sciracca and my personal favorite -- won tons of cheve and chicken with a yogurt dip.  Anything I can dip makes me happy and we had a great time coming up with their favorite foods.

Party Time:

I learn a few things about every couple, but I can definitely tell you this... Becca does not like cake and Drew does not like colored glassware (which also came as a surprise to his bride).  Well, Becca got her way and we did a sumptuous pie and ding dong/cupcake buffet -- which could have been on any old table -- but use an old truck bed on wooden stumps for the display -- it was really cool and fit with the organic farm "scene" -- Drew wasn't as fortunate as we did sneak a light blue water glass on the table. 

The tabletop design for me is the most fun I get to have.  Mixing color, texture, metal, glass, paper, flowers and cloth becomes a symphony in my head.   This one was no exception for me.  The tabletop was a copper charger  mixed with a whimsical wrought iron flatware, crystal stemware and fabric in tones of ocean, sea spray and dark walnut chairs.

Keeping flowers low to the table when outside is imperative in case of wind.  I've broken enough Reidel crystal glassware to know now -- it needs to be under 24" at the base.  Since we make all of our own candles in house they were all coordinated to the tones of the wedding and really finished the look of the event. 

Looking back at this event, I can't pick one thing that I would have changed and would invite Becca and Drew to let me know if they ever need to have another party -- I'd love to work with them again.