Mothers of the Bride and Groom - Finally an Event for You!

My friend Kathy of Well Rehearsed is sponsoring this event at
Neiman Marcus in Palo Alto. July 25th at 11:30am. RSVP Here

Location, Location, Location! Casa Bella Blanca

I admit I've been a little slack when it comes to posting, but my visit to Casa Bella Blanca was just the thing to kick start me back into action. Entire Productions hosted a wonderful party for event professionals at this private event venue last night on Divisadero near Turk.



I was too busy yacking to take any shots of the actual party, but the decor by Neil Adams of Blueprint Studio Collection was beautiful and chic, Cuban performer Fito Reinoso delivered a wonderful eclectic mix of Latin music, JP Buongiorno was inside on Flamenco guitar and there were two different DJs... DJ Juan Data and DJ Imani... all available through Entire Productions. Barbara Llewellyn Catering & Events made sure that no detail was overlooked, that the the mojitos and sangria were flowing and passed delicious culinary bites... what more could you want?

Check out this great space...



When first I saw the photos I wondered if it would feel crowded for a special event, but it was wonderfully open and spacious. There were 200-300 people there and it didn't feel overly crowded at all.





The home has wonderful classic elements mixed with a modern San Francisco vibe...a gorgeous open kitchen, beautiful upstairs and a wonderful yard with an upper deck and hot tub and a lower patio which was a great event area.



The patio was a spacious concrete space that was covered with clear tenting and kept cozy with heaters. It opened onto a garage of sorts (almost seemed to chic to be categorized as a garage) with a comfortable lounge and bar with urban chic vibe.



Anyway, if you want to check it out, give me a call and I'd be happy to take you over there.

We're Featured on Kiss the Groom!

Thanks so much to Elizabeth Messina for the wonderful feature she did on Rosemary Special Events yesterday on her blog Kiss the Groom. Such kind words...

xoxo to you Elizabeth! I'm so happy to have been a part of the team collaborating on your "Lovely Workshop". It was so inspiring...

The Lovely Workshop on Style Me Pretty!

So happy to share with you a taste of "A Lovely Workshop", Elizabeth Messina's workshop for wedding photographers at the beautiful Kenwood Inn & Spa in Sonoma ... I had the pleasure of being the event planner on the team. I've been giddy about this for weeks... it was so much fun and such an awe-inspiring day. And it is the icing on the cake to be featured on Style Me Pretty.

To say that I'm honored to be part of this wonderful event and team of amazingly talented vendors is truly an understatement. Here are just a few shots to wet your appetite. You can see more here on today's Style Me Pretty and I will surely share more in the near future.



All Images by Elizabeth Messina

Below is a list of the wonderful team of collaborators... I seriously can't say enough great things about every last one of these fabulous talents. They are truly a dream team of artisans!

Photographer and Queen Bee - Elizabeth Messina
Event Planning - Rosemary Hattenbach
Design and Florals - Eden of End Design
Concepts and Printed Design - Viola of Chewing the Cud
Location & The Loveliest Feast - Kenwood Inn & Spa
Hand Lettered Calligraphy - Xandra of XYX Ink
Wedding Cake - Gabrielle at Cake Coquette
Mouthwatering Chocolates - Coco Delice Fine Chocolates
Hair - Elise at Primped Napa Valley 707.254.5050
Make Up - Darcy at Primped Napa Valley 707.815.9097
Cinematography - Kristen* at Bliss Video
Assisting Elizabeth - Kristen Loken
Gorgeous Head Pieces - Twigs & Honey
Wedding Gowns - Kirstie Kelly




Aren't you dying to see more?? Be sure to check out all 4 posts featuring this wonderful event on Style Me Pretty today and check back soon for more shots and a posting from yours truly!

Does a Wedding Video Get Better Than This?

Saw this on A Cup of Jo.... this might just be the most fabulous wedding video ever... and to one of my all time favorite songs....

Love it!

Brian & Eileen's Wedding Music Video. from LOCKDOWN projects on Vimeo.

Signature Details: Rosemary Garden Markers

My friend Viola from Chewing the Cud called this to my attention.... they were featured on Design Sponge yesterday. So clever and very cute. You can buy them on Etsy at this shop.

I guess you can probably imagine why I would love these... I am always on the lookout for cute little pieces with my signature... Of course I'm fortunate to have a name like Rosemary in a profession such as planning weddings... and these little rustic details really speak to my style.

Adding signature details to your wedding is a must for creating a cohesive and well-thought out event that exudes your personality and style. What do you love and what details are you using to sign your name on your event?

Overwhelmed with Loveliness

Just reflecting on "a lovely workshop" with wedding photographer extraordinaire Elizabeth Messina at the Kenwood Inn & Spa in Sonoma Valley. A truly inspiring day working alongside the most talented in wedding design professionals. Elizabeth shares a little taste of the day here.

Looking forward to sharing more with you in the future.

Nie Nie Dialogues

Today a departure from weddings...

Just stumbled upon this blog again. I remember back in August when I read about her in the New York Times; a tragic story of a couple (one of them Stephanie Nielson, mommy blogger/author of the Nie Nie Dialogues) fighting for their lives after a plane crash which burned both she and her husband badly.

Well she's on the mend. I didn't know she was blogging again, but spent the last hour reading all her posts since the accident. Wow... she's amazing! Keep fighting Stephanie! I , for one, am pulling for you! You so courageous and inspiring.

Helping Tami - Bone Marrow Drive

I only recently met Stacie Tamaki of The Flirty Bride but I wanted to help Stacie get the word out because I also learned that she is feverishly working on a drive to find a bone marrow match for her cousin Tami. Tami was diagnosed with a bone marrow disease/blood cancer very similar to Leukemia called Myelodysplasia and needs a stem cell transplant. Her possibility of finding a match is best among the Asian community, and apparently, there are very few Asians in the National Bone Marrow Registry.

I hope that I never am faced with such a situation, but if I was, I would sure want someone to spread the word for my loved one. Please check out this website www.HelpingTami.org to learn more about Tami and how to register for the National Marrow Donor Program.

New Blog: The Decorated Letter - XYZ Ink

I'm reluctantly letting you in on a little secret... and hope that when she gets even busier than she already is, she will still leave a little room in her schedule for my wedding clients.

Xandra Zamora of XYZInk is simply the best calligrapher that I've come across... Her work is truly exquisite. She's located in L.A. but despite the miles, I will happily send lettering work to her from San Francisco... she's that good! I've included a few shots of work she did for an event I produced at a Santa Barbara hilltop estate. For the escort cards shown below, Xandra watercolored table numbers in moss green and finished each card with the guests name in chocolate brown ink. She also hand lettered the menu shown for letterpress. Everything she graces with her lettering is a little work of art.

Xandra has just started a brand new blog The Decorated Letter which I'm sure will be packed with gorgeous work she's done for many high profile wedding planners and invitation designers out there. Check it out!

Photos by Elizabeth Messina

"Elemental" by Waterlily Pond Studioat Bouquets to Art

Back in mid-March, I went to the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park for a little floral inspiration at the Bouquets to Art. The Bouquets to Art is an annual celebration of floral design where noted floral designers are invited to create a floral art piece inspired by a particular work of art within the museum. The floral works are displayed next to their inspired art works.

I haven't been before, but I had been looking forward to it since I heard from my friend Natasha Lisitsa of Waterlily Pond Studio that she had been chosen to create the feature installation in Wilsey Court. At that point, she was waiting for that "lightbulb moment" and hadn't completed the final design. She must have had one bright shining moment because her extraordinary installation, "Elemental", a 20 ft x 15 ft, 800 lb masterpiece made of Manzanita Branches, Forsythia, Curly Willow and Anthuriums made my jaw drop as I entered the Wilsey Court... just absolutely breathtaking.

Natasha is a fabulous floral and event designer, a true artist and a lovely person! She has a very interesting background... she originally came to this country to work as an engineer and during the Dot.com bust, found a new direction in life... design. I am completely in awe of her creativity and so happy for her and all the attention she's getting for this creation.

The most exciting part? You can hire her to create your wedding florals or to design your entire event. Check out these photos of her installation below. They were taken by the talented Erin Beach, a wedding documentary style wedding photographer from San Francisco.




Here's the official description from the de Young.

Elemental, by Waterlily Pond Studio
Natasha Lisitsa, Daniel Schultz, Carla D’Agostino

Materials Used:
500 blossoming branches of Forsythia
30 Manzanita trees
200 trunks of Curly Willow
500 stems of Anthuriums
100 feet of copper tubing, inspired by the De Young architecture

Dedicated to the Grand Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Bouquets to Art.

Suspended within the austere, angular space of the Wilsey Court, a vibrant infusion of color and dynamic form initiates a celebration of life and all things Elemental. A radiant central composition of yellow forsythia and red Manzanita branches alludes to the sun and earth, the combined vital energy common to us all. Orbiting this form is an ascending spiral, which presents allusions to the building blocks of nature: the earth orbiting the sun, the atom, DNA, and to the continuous path of life along which we travel.

Rose and Radish - Hayes Valley

Rose and Radish A flower shop and gallery. Yet another gem in our beautiful city by the Bay... just right up my alley. Gorgeous designs, clever presentation, lovely things. I just fell in love with the shop after seeing another post on Housemartin. As a matter of fact, I think I'll stop in on Friday when I go to the City. Something to look forward to .

460 Gough Street in Hayes Valley. 415.864.4988

Neiman Marcus $3,000 Christian Louboutin Shopping Spree

This will put a bounce in your 2009 budget conscious step...

Enter here for your chance to win a $3,000 Christian Louboutin Shopping Spree from Neiman Marcus.

Wedding Don't: Taking Out Loans

image from The Knot

Forgive the preach, but I just had to speak up when I came across someone's blog post encouraging couples who are short on cash to take out a wedding loan to cover the costs of their dream wedding. Say what? Haven't we put these days behind us?

Trim costs, lower your guest count, give yourselves some extra time to save, but puleeeeeeezzz... don't do this to yourself!

You'll thank me later...

Something Sweet

Just finished movie night with my boys...their first time watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It was so fun to see their jaws drop as they laid eyes on the candy factory and the chocolate river. So, in honor of my boys, here's a little eye candy (pun intended)...dessert buffets created by the talented Amy Atlas. I really never get tired of looking at her creations. They are works of art.

Now that my son has discovered that there might be candy involved, he wants to be wedding planner... (won't Daddy be proud!)

Event: Bouquets to Art 2009

Wondering what your floral designer does when he/she is not designing your wedding flowers? The Bouquets to Art is an event not to miss... This popular floral art show will be held this year at the de Young Fine Art Museum and features the artistic talents of many of the Bay Area's most creative floral designers as well as lectures by some of the world's big names in floral design. Here's the list of distinguished exhibitors.

March 16th - 21st, 2009. For more information check out the Bouquets to Art website.

The Cherry on Top: The Marriage License

Photo from Brides

Ahh... the marriage license. It's certainly not the sexiest part of wedding planning, just a quick bureaucratic trip to the County Clerk, but this is one detail that cannot fall through the cracks because without it, you will not be legally married. For me, this was the point when it all felt like it was real. Sort of like the cherry on top of all of the planning right before you're about to dig into that delicious wedding sundae.

However satisfying and essential, even my most "Type A" couples seem to avoid handling this important detail until the very last minute... I can't figure it out! Admittedly, you must obtain it within 90 days of your wedding because beyond 90 days it is no longer valid, but waiting until the final week is definitely out of my comfort zone!

Each state has different requirements... so if you're not getting married in CA, check the state where you will be married for info that applies to you. Here's the scoop (no pun intended) about obtaining a marriage license taken directly from the State of California Public Health Dept.

You do not need to be a California resident to marry in California.

To marry in California, the two parties may not be already married to each other or other individuals.

Marriage by proxy is NOT allowed in California. Family Code, Section 420(a) requires the two parties, marriage officiant and witness if applicable, be physically present together in the same location for the marriage to be performed.

Blood tests are NOT required to obtain a marriage license in California.

Both parties must appear in person and bring valid picture identification to the County Clerk’s Office to apply for a marriage license in California. Valid picture identification is one that contains a photograph, date of birth, and an issue and expiration date, such as a state issued identification card, drivers license, passport, military identification, etc. Some counties may also require a copy of your birth certificate.

If you have been married before, you will need to know the specific date your last marriage ended, and how it ended (Death, Dissolution, Divorce or Nullity). Some counties may require a copy of the final judgment if your previous marriage ended by dissolution or nullity.

Marriage licenses are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. If you do not get married within 90 days, the licensewill no longer be valid. You must purchase a new license.

Many County Clerks in California perform civil marriage ceremonies in their offices. For further information regarding civil marriage ceremonies, please contact the County Clerk’s Office directly to see if they provide this service.

California Family Code, Section 400 states the persons authorized to solemnize marriage ceremonies in California are as follows:

A priest, minister, or rabbi of any religious denomination.

A judge or retired judge, commissioner of civil marriages or retired commissioner of civil marriages, commissioner or retired commissioner, or assistant commissioner of a court of record in this state.

A judge or magistrate who has resigned from office.

Any of the following judges or magistrates of the United States.

A justice or retired justice of the United States Supreme Court.

A judge or retired judge of a court of appeals, a district court, or a court created by an act of Congress the judges of which are entitled to hold office during good behavior.

A judge or retired judge of a bankruptcy court or a tax court.

A United States magistrate or retired magistrate.

A legislator or constitutional officer of this state or a member of Congress who represents a district within this state, while that person holds office.

All fees and hours of issuance for a marriage license may vary by county.

The person solemnizing the marriage must return the original marriage license to the County Clerk or County Recorder as applicable within 10 days of the date of the ceremony. Addresses should be on the county site.

You will NOT receive a copy of your marriage license after you have been married unless you request and pay for a certified copy from the County Clerk or County Recorder as applicable.

ALL information on the marriage license MUST be legible, unambiguous and reproducible. DO NOT change any information on the license, cross out information, use white out, etc., as that will require the payment for and issuance of a duplicate marriage license. Contact the County Clerk’s Office if you have questions about completing the marriage license and/or incorrect information contained on the marriage license.

There you have it! Now go forth and be married!

Baby It's Cold Outside...

This week is what we affectionately refer to in the Bay Area as "ski week". Kids are out of school for mid-winter break and many have headed out of town to Lake Tahoe for skiing on some of that fresh powder. We've had a few days of stormy weather here in Marin County and I'm finally getting in the winter mood. I've got snowy winter weddings on my mind so I spent some time today searching for some winter wedding inspiration. Here are some gorgeous shots I found on Brides. I'm in love with the sleigh getaway and the bouquet (I've yet to see a Michelle Rago design I don't like)

I'm crossing my fingers for a winter wedding in the Sierras!

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Photos by: Miki Duisterhof, Florals by Michelle Rago, Cake by Irene's Cake by Design

Great New Blog: Kiss the Groom

Elizabeth Messina is not only one of the world's top wedding photographers but such a sweet person. I absolutely love working with her. She is a wonderful presence to have at a wedding and I am in awe of the images she captures... truly romantic and beautiful!

I can't think of a more appropriate day for Elizabeth to launch her new blog Kiss the Groom than Valentine's Day. Check it out... visit the "kissing tree", pour through her always inspiring images and discover the other great things Elizabeth has to share. It's sure to be a favorite in the world of wedding blogs. Congratulations Elizabeth!

Here's Some Sugar for your Valentine

Stumbled across the cutest thing on the Wedding Style Guide blog... How about this sugar for your Valentine's morning coffee? Available through Cox & Cox in England.


Happy Valentine's Day

Inspiration: Happy Valentine's Day

Image from Rebecca Thuss.com

Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, I thought I'd post this fabulous Scarlett and White table setting that Rebecca Thuss created a few years back. Perfect for Valentine's Day. Hope you'll be spending it with the one you love.

Cool Stuff: SF MOMA Museum Store

While seeking inspiration and when sourcing different elements for a wedding, I try to look to resources beyond the usual wedding suspects (mags and wedding sites) and floral supply houses. Some of the coolest things I've found have been at museum stores. Here are a few interesting things uncovered at SFMOMA that could easily be used as creative elements or just inspiration for your wedding decor.

Descriptions are taken from SF Moma online.

Wallflower Set:
Designed by Marion Lanktree. A dynamic addition to any space, this set of 25 plastic flowers have embedded magnets that allow them to mount with a simple tack or magnet. Five sizes of flowers ranging from 2.5" x 2.5" x 1" to 4.5" x 4.5" x 2. $38





Nest Glass Bowls
A splash of molten glass, frozen in time, forms an airy bowl worthy of display. Signed on the bottom by Bay Area glass artist Heather Palmer. Available in plum, clear, or steel blue. $60.00-$180.00





Dot Pressed Vinyl Placemats
The latest design break through from Chilewich, Pressed Vinyl is a completely new category that opens the door to infinite possibilities. It is created using a revolutionary interpretation of an outdated manufacturing process, and the result is a product remeniscent of fine linen but with the benefit of easy care for everyday use. Measures 14" x 19". Available in smoke or citron.
$7.00


and I just love this bicycle basket... I can see it brimming with flowers.




Carrie Bicycle Basket
Inspired by the Swedish crochet tablecloths on which her grandmother used to serve tea, Marie-Louise Gustafsson has designed a unique bike basket for the urban cyclist. Can also be used as a shopping basket, canvas strap included. $50.00