The Bride's Cafe - We made the Creme de la Creme!

I'm back from The Special Event conference in San Diego loaded up with great ideas and great new design products to share. More on that later...

Today, I am proud to announce that The Brides Cafe has selected Rosemary Special Events as one of their Creme de la Creme Wedding Planners for the San Francisco region. If you haven't checked out Janie Medley's blog, it is one of the best.... loaded with the beautiful inspiration and ideas for wedding couples. I am truly honored to be among her elite few. Thanks Janie!

Year of the Ox - Happy New Year

In honor of the start of Chinese New Year, I have posted a couple of the many Chinese inspired favors they have on beacoup.com

I'm off the a Special Event Conference in San Diego to soak up some inspiration. I'll be posting again on Friday. Have a good week!

Ises Design Competition

One of the many perks of being a wedding planner is that you get invited to great events planned by super talented event professionals. We really know how to throw a party... especially for ourselves.

On Tuesday I attended luncheon and design showcase of an industry group that I belong to (ISES) the International Special Events Society. I wanted to give a shout out to my friend Morgan Doan of Morgan Events for winning top honors for her table design this year.

She teamed up with Blueprint Studio Collection who custom upholstered these chic chairs and matching tablecloth in slate grey, the fun and talented floral designer Neil Hunt at Hunt-Littlefield who crafted these stunning architectural arrangements in stainless square containers and super invitation designers Hello! Lucky Letterpress who graced the place-setting with fabulous citrus green and grey menus from their new wedding stationery line. The menus were presented in green Japanese book cloth photo frames created by bookbinder Stephanie Haney. What a beautiful and chic tabletop design.

Congratulations Morgan and team for a well deserved honor.










Images from Hello! Lucky Blog

Oh Happy Day! - Break Out The Bubbly...

Image by Elizabeth Messina

ok, I do love cupcakes but this occasion calls for the bubbly!

Obama Inaugural Cupcakes

I'm always looking for an excuse to eat cupcakes! I can't remember a more special Inaugural in my lifetime... and what a reason to celebrate!

If you want to find out how to make these cupcakes, here is a link to Alpha Mom where you can find some inaugural party planning ideas and download the templates for these Obama cupcake toppers.

Martin Luther King Day

It took 46 years but I believe this day has arrived. You can read his
1963 speech here. It's also my Dad's birthday. Happy Birthday Dad.

Hello! Lucky - 2009 Stationery Line

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a stationery preview of the 2009 line of Hello! Lucky wedding stationery. Hello! Lucky is well known for their beautiful and creative letterpress designs, but this year have made a budget-friendly digital option available as well as adding convenient on-line ordering.

It was a great event filled with many bright stars in the Bay Area wedding industry. Eunice & Sabrina Moyle, sisters and co-founders of Hello! Lucky are not only incredibly talented but gracious and charming ladies.

Check out the 2009 letterpress and digital invitation line at their newly launched site www.hellolucky.com. Their invitations are gorgeous! Here's one I love "L'Oiseau"

Inspiration - Field of Light

Ok, I know it's not local, but this lighting installation I came across today is so cool and is such great design inspiration for an ultra modern wedding.

The following description was taken from the website of this project's UK lighting designer Bruce Munro

"Field of Light was originally conceived fifteen years ago, when Bruce Munro took a trip through central Australia. The red desert had an incredible feeling of energy; ideas seemed to radiate from it along with the heat. The field of light installation was one idea that landed in Bruce’s sketch book and refused to dislodge from his mind.

Field of Light can be seen at the Eden Project in Cornwall from 1st November 2008 - 31st March 2009. Bruce Munro and five assistants worked over three days to install it on the grass roof of the visitor’s centre, between the Rainforest and Mediterranean Biomes. It is made of 6,000 acrylic stems, through which fibre optic cables run, each crowned with a clear glass sphere. There are 11 external projectors; the stems themselves hold no electric power at all. The installation covers an area of 60 x 20 meters, using 24, 000 meters of fibre optic cable. It’s best viewed after dark."

And apparently Mr. Munro knew that event planners would eat this sort of thing up because check out these awesome chandeliers he did at a UK special event.

(4/2/09 Update: I was contacted by Jenny Hall, a representative of Mr. Munro today who corrected me on this... these chandeliers were created by Mr. Munro for New York's famed event designer Preston Bailey for use at an event in our fair city of San Francisco! So exciting to know that he works in the San Francisco Bay Area! And I also found out that these 26 chandeliers are available for hire. No need to just be inspired, you can rent Mr. Munro's very chandeliers at your own event! Thank you for the information, Jenny)

You can see more photos and learn more about Bruce Munro at www.brucemunro.co.uk

Sweet Spot - A little piece of Cocoa Bella

CocoaBella Chocolates is one of San Francisco's special little treasures. They call themselves the ultimate Chocolate Lifestyle Shop.... Not sure I can live a completely chocolate-centered life (my husband and my waistline thank me for this) but a little taste of heaven on occasion from Cocoa Bella is definitely a treat. The chocolates are truly little works of art and a great option for a wedding favor.

Proprietor Michael Freeman literally searches the world looking for the highest quality, best tasting chocolates. The chocolates they carry are from small, family owned and operated artisan chocolatiers featuring chocolates from makers in Belgium, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Canada and the United States and are not only delicious but some of the most beautiful chocolates I have ever seen.

They have jumped on the dessert table bandwagon and offer dessert table at weddings calling them "mini-CocoaBella's". The bride and groom select their favorite chocolates, and then CocoaBella works with the caterer to set up a dessert table featuring the world's finest chocolates, complete with description cards. They figure on 5 chocolates per guest, and the price is $10 per guest.

They offer 2 and 5 piece box favors. They allow you to choose any 2/5 chocolates (respectively) any color ribbon and enclose a menu/message. The 2 piece is $5/box and the 5 piece is $10/box.

This Saturday, January 17th from 8:00-9:00 pm, three of the world's top artisan chocolatiers (Christopher Elbow of Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates, Fritz Knipschildt of Knipschildt Chocolatier, and Jeff Shepherd of Lillie Belle Farms) will be at Cocoa Bella on Union Street presenting their favorite chocolate and spirit pairings.

Tickets are $20 per person, including drinks and chocolate, and are available at CocoaBella stores or by phone at (415) 931-6213

CocoaBella Chocolates -Flagship Store
2102 Union Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
415-931-6213

Hours: Monday -Thursday 11:00 am - 6:00 pm; Friday & Saturday 11:00 am - 8:00 pm; Sunday Noon - 6:00 pm

2nd Location:

CocoaBella Chocolates - Westfield San Francisco Centre
845 Market Street (Between 4th and 5th Streets) Street Level
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-896-5222

Hours: Monday - Saturday 9:30 am - 9:00 pm; Sunday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

Style Inspiration from the Golden Globes

Maybe it's my background in film production, but I just love awards season. What better place to get style inspiration for your wedding? The pink/ neutral palette is everywhere! I loved all of these:

Olivia Wilde in Reem Acra looked AMAZING!



Demi in Dior. She is always gorgeous (Ashton ain't bad either!).


Penelope Cruz in Armani Prive looking elegant.


Drew Barrymore in Dior (the hair, not so much... very "Ice Storm")

Thoughtful Details

Photo by Isabel Lawrence Photographers

As I said yesterday, the most wonderful weddings are the most personal ones.... and personal details can be created at any price point.

How to weave these personal elements into your event? Focus on each other and what is meaningful to you. What's your story as a couple? How do you have fun? Convey your personality and your story on every level in sights, sounds, tastes... Remember your guests. What do they mean to you? How can you honor them and ensure that they are active participants in the day? Make them feel welcome, comfortable and invested in your celebration...they will share your joy and have a blast.

My friend Pauline Parry at Good Gracious! Events in L.A. has a great slogan for her catering company. "It's about Food, Fun & Love" If you can create a wedding day filled with thoughtful, fun and loving elements, you will create a magical day and experience that your guests will be raving about for a long time...regardless of whether you're sitting on chiavari chairs or folding chairs.

Love and Money

I read a great blog post the other day. Liene Stevens from Blue Orchid Designs in Scottsdale, Arizona wrote an article in her blog entitled Your Wedding Budget Does Not Define You which I highly recommend as required reading for all engaged couples.

I, too, have seen stress on the faces of many wedding couples as they quickly realize the price tag attached to all the wedding details they have dreamed of. I have participated in some remarkable productions, but the most wonderful weddings I have attended have had little to do with how gorgeous the flowers were or how big the band was, but with thoughtful, meaningful details and the energy and love in the room. Sounds hokey, I know, but it's true.

Embrace your budget and create something that works within it. Trying to deliver a $100,000 look on a $10,000 budget will most often deliver stress and disappointing results. Be realistic and make the most of what you've got!

A Chilly Reception - Mr. & Mrs. Snowmen

I had something entirely different planned for my post today until I saw these fun wedding cakes created by Edith Meyer, a cake baker based in Santa Cruz.

How fun and so cute for a chilly winter wedding! I have not worked with Edith, but I hear her cakes are delicious and these cakes are adorable! Click on her blog Fresh From the Oven to see more details about this snow couple. She is now on my list of vendors to meet this season! So cute!

Etiquette Expert Anna Post at Williams- Sonoma, San Francisco

Etiquette Alert!

Mark your calendars! Here's your chance to get all your burning etiquette questions answered.
Anna Post, great-great-grandaughter of the infamous Emily Post will be appearing at Williams-Sonoma on Union Square in San Francisco at 10am on January 25th.

You must RSVP to reserve your spot. Here is more information taken from the Williams-Sonoma website:

Join us for an exclusive event celebrating Anna Post's latest book, Do I Have to Wear White?, and the introduction of Williams-Sonoma's formal dinnerware collection. Enjoy light hors d'oeuvres and cake samples as Anna Post, author and spokesperson of the Emily Post Institute and great-great-granddaughter of renowned etiquette expert Emily Post, answers your questions, shares wedding etiquette advice and signs copies of her book.

Special Offer: Create your Williams-Sonoma gift registry at the event and receive a complimentary copy of Williams-Sonoma Bride & Groom Cookbook. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today - please RSVP by calling your Williams-Sonoma store below.

Williams Sonoma - Union Square
January 25, starting at 10:00 am
340 Post St., San Francisco, CA
(415) 362-9450

How to Shop the Sample Sale @ Saks Fifth Ave. - SF

If you're looking for a place to trim wedding costs, here's one. The Bridal Suite at Saks Fifth Avenue begins their sample sale tomorrow, January 7th, 2009, with savings of up to 50% off.

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
384 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-986-4300
Bridal Suite Hours: T-Sat. 10am-6pm

Several of my former brides (with some pretty impressive wedding budgets) have saved big bucks buying at sample sales and no one has ever suspected a thing (Barney's has a great one too!).

If you've never been to a sample sale, prepare yourself. It can be a little crazy and it's not exactly a red carpet experience (some are more civilized than others). If you can handle the drawbacks, the savings can be significant. Here are a few tips:

1) Be early because others will be.

2) Make sure you have an idea of what style of gown you are looking for so you can narrow it down right out of the gate. Ideally, you should have your location and the time of your wedding set so that you are purchasing a dress that suits your event (a long train dragging through a dirty vineyard just isn't pretty!) You'll also save valuable time if you know your wedding dress size in advance.

3) You will probably not have any sales assistance so bring friends. It's helpful to have someone to give you a second opinion and a few extra hands to gather dresses.

4). Bring some heels to try on dresses with and be prepared with appropriate undergarments in case you need to try it on in public.

5) Be warned, the dress will be dirty and you will need to have it cleaned and altered. Be sure to figure those costs in to your overall dress budget. Try to get the bridal salon to recommend the name of a reputable cleaner and seamstress. Otherwise, a good wedding planner will certainly have those contacts.

6) Be certain that this is THE dress and that you have examined it carefully before purchasing. Sample sales are final and you don't want to be stuck with a wedding dress with stains that can't be removed or that you might change your mind about.

Good Luck!

Great Things Come in Small Packages

Photo by Ann Hamilton

To state the obvious, the economy is a mess. Not to bring a cloud to your otherwise sunny day, but as pointed out earlier this month in this New York Times article, this has hit wedding couples in a big way. Yes, there are many ways to cut costs, but if you're looking for a simple solution, I'll offer this. Guests = dollars, so if you want to keep expenses down and still have a beautiful, luxury wedding: how about a small, intimate destination wedding?

By traveling a distance, you will give yourself a gracious "out" from inviting those extended family and friends who would expect to be invited to a wedding close to home. And what could be more special than to exchange vows and special memories surrounded by your closest friends and family at a romantic "dream" destination?

What about San Francisco, Point Reyes, or the Napa Valley?

Golden Star Sparkling Tea

This Golden Star White Jasmine Sparkling Tea is my newest great discovery...

I stumbled upon a sample of it today at Whole Foods. It's a new product produced here in San Francisco and introduced in early 2008 to rave reviews and multiple awards. Until now it has not been widely available. Anyway, it's light, bubbly and non-alcoholic... truly delicious (and I'm not even a tea drinker)!

The presentation is elegant enough for a champagne alternative at any special event... especially a wedding. Give it a try. It may just be the replacement to the lemonade welcome bar.

Happy New Year!

Every New Year starts with a resolution. This is mine.... to start a blog, something I've wanted to do for some time.

I have compiled much knowledge as an event producer and wedding planner in one of the most beautiful regions of the country. There is so much know when making wedding plans in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Napa & Sonoma wine country and hopefully I can help as you start down your own new road to your wedding day....

My blog will be a mixed bag. Of course we all love beautiful style inspiration, and I'm sure I'll give you some of that. But, I also hope to acquaint you with some of our breathtaking wedding locations, introduce you to the best in local vendors and uncover many of the little gems in our little corner of the world.

Welcome to the Bride's Nest.