We are happy to announce The Professional Wedding, a bi-monthly magazine from Hotelres Wedding,  published an interview from our visit in February.

In the interview we discussed the trends happening in Los Angeles and explained how we custom design a wedding tailored to the individual bride.

We  discussed elements of a romantic style.

We introduced the concept of Rustic Elegance style which was a  new concept.

We also Introduced Retro-style another new concept.  At the bottom of the page, I am photographed with ayame, the first free-lance wedding planner in Japan. Wedding planners are all connected to a venue in Japan.  After studying the system in the USA, ayame wanted to introduce the concept of free lance planners to Japan. ayame brings wedding planners every year to see for themselves how we approach the design and implementation of a party. We will be hosting her group this weekend. We wanted to thank ayame for introducing us to Japan.

ayame

Last night we met a wonderful group of young mothers from the Sherman Oaks Nursery School.

Anne Zimmerman, one of my brides, contacted me and asked if we would like to do a flower arranging seminar for the school fund raiser.

We created beautiful flowers for her wedding 7 years ago at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

We showed the ladies how to do a few easy, quick, and stylish centerpieces for entertaining at home and baby showers.

Then we showed how to make a simple flower arrangement .

We also made fresh herb and succulent planters.

We saw lots of creativity and imagination.

It was a fun Mom’s night out with appetizers, wine, flowers, plants and dessert.

We would like to wish all our Mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day.

Love you Mom!

Sherman Oaks Nursery School

January 2 of this year we had a wedding at the Grand Trianon Room of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

The bridal bouquet was designed with Vendela roses, champagne spray roses and Stephanotis with a dusty miller and galax leaf collar.

Lily is a lovely lady and a sentimental romantic at heart.

She envisioned the cupid’s pierced heart design in roses on the aisle runner.

Her five flower girls had a blast and stole the show.

Many of the guests traveled from Asia to attend the wedding.  After the ceremony, guests were escorted to their own double-decker sightseeing buses before the reception.

The floral arch was re-purposed to enclose the beautiful cake made by The Butter End in Santa Monica.

The centerpieces were filled with Casablanca lilies for our bride, Lily.

Laurel Szeto coordinated a great weekend for this lovely couple and we wish them all the best.

Wedding Coordinator :  Laurel Szeto of   Laurel and Party Events

Photogrtaphy:     Jay Lawrence  Goldman

Cake:    The Butter End

We created beautiful florals and decor for the red carpet launch party of The Client List, Lifetime’s new series, at the landmark Sunset Tower Hotel in Hollywood.

We used hundreds of large white calla lilies in tall white glass vases with La Tavola’s  New York Matte blush Pink Sequin linens. Every time we use this linen somebody want to make a dress out of it.

As reported by Variety Magazine, Cocktail waiters with dirty martinis perched precariously above their heads slithered gingerly through a congested crowd at the Sunset Tower cabana Wednesday for the launch party of Lifetime’s sexy drama “The Client List.”

The series follows Riley Parks (Hewitt), who begins working in a day spa in a local town after being left in financial debt after her husband abandons her and their children. She quickly realizes that the spa gives much more than massages, but works with the parlor’s owner in order to keep food on the table. While helping to run the business, she struggles to discreetly balance two lives – a single mother who must provide for her family and a strong businesswoman working in a unique and frowned-upon business.
The cast includes Jennifer Love Hewitt, Colin Egglesfield, Cybill Shepherd and Loretta Devine.

We were thrilled to work again with Scott Tallman of   Tallman Events.  Scott has produced many striking events and we always enjoy his vision.

This is a bride and groom that we were so happy to see walk down the aisle.  Two Weeks ago on their wedding morning it was drizzling.  This, is what keeps Florists awake all night.

After nearly a year of relationship building, and receiving  freshly baked boxes of chocolate chip scones and biscotti by Sherry , the mother of the bride every time we met, We really needed to make dreams come true. Mother Nature was undecided for a while, but this wonderful family was truly blessed.  The rain stopped long enough to have a ceremony and get everyone into cocktails before the rain returned.

Each bridesmaids bouquet was a different type of white tulip.   Silver Dollar-single form, Honeymoon- Fringed,  Casablanca -double, Super green- parrot , Tres chic- lily flowering and  Weber parrot- parrot.

The bride carried  an all gardenia bouquet with a variegated tree ivy collar.

The famous gazebo at Swan lake became a gorgeous Chuppah with a path of zinc garden lanterns topped with Vendela roses.  The meandering path of white Hydrangeas lead up to a natural garden treatment of cascading California Pepper branches, hundreds of white orchid sprays and flowering dogwood branches.

The beautiful new ballroom was the perfect setting for white French tulips and mercury glass.

La Tavola’s Matte White Sequin New York Cloth was the perfect base for this beautiful cake that was created  in- house, complete with hand made gum paste flower topper.

We are always relieved when there is a great photography team on board. That means I can snap a few shots myself ( above) and I can focus on the decor.

For more fantastic photos of the wedding click here to see Cat and Adi of   Next Exit Photography’s  fantastic Images.

day of coordination: maryam forutan, delicate details

While we were in Kyoto, considered the cultural epicenter of Japan, we visited Kumagaiji, M collection, the business of  Mrs. Masami Kumagi.

She and her daughter were attendees at our wedding seminar last year.  This family’s business opened its doors in 1879.
It was so nice to reconnect with them and see their wedding shop and kimono designs.
First, they graciously showed us, a Shiromuku kimono worn at a traditional Shinto wedding ceremony.

This example is decorated with a design of cranes, who mate for life and are symbols of longevity.

Before joining her family and friends for the reception, the bride would exchange the white outer-kimono for an elaborate and brightly-colored one.

This is an elaborate and traditional Wedding Kimono.

The patterns that adorn kimono are very significant, for it is through choice of color and, most importantly, decorative motifs that the wearer’s gender, age, status, wealth, and taste are articulated.

The cloth used to make a kimono is traditionally all one piece of fabric, that is hand-stitched together.

Historically, kimono worn by women, particularly the young, are the most richly decorated. It is generally this style that are collected by museums. Such kimono were the designer clothes of their day.

Then they showed us some of their original designs from a recent collection which I thought were very modern, young and stylish.  A great way to be contemporary and traditional at the same time.

This kimono reminds me of  something that English designer Paul Smith might come up with .

The choice of obi, ( fabric belts) and accessories, such as combs and pins worn in the hair, are also important. Historically only the elite regularly wore luxurious kimono; the majority of people would only have donned silk garments on special occasions and were sometimes forbidden to do so all together.

We also visited a shop specializing in hair ornaments.

These incredible hair ornaments were hundreds of dollars some made with semi-precious stones.

With high speed travel, and internet communications, the world is getting quickly homogenized. Everywhere you go you see the same tennis shoes, designer bags and fast food. I think as time goes on, we will culturally share more and more in common. It is my hope we will also value what makes us different and unique.

Last week we were asked to create simple and chic florals for one of our favorite clients who was hosting the Kaufman Franco Sacks Fifth Avenue  luncheon for the Lupus foundation at their home.

The all white tent and carpet contrasted beautifully with the Gunmetal Grey linens from La Tavola Linens.

We created a floating Sphere of Vendela Roses in a bias-cut glass bowl.

Steel grass loops circled the roses for a clean and beautiful centerpiece.

The luncheon was prepared by the wonderful , Celestino  Drago

Thanks to Alex Berliner for capturing the  afternoon with his beautiful photography

We were recently asked to create flowers for the Groundbreaking ceremony luncheon for
Emerson college’s new Los Angeles Center.

We used pink sweet peas, melon colored Ranunculus, Fiesta roses and Stickerus flabellatus or Umbrella Fern

The new building will be located at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Gordon Street in Hollywood, and has been designed by world-renowned architect Thom Mayne.
The luncheon was held in the ballroom at the W hotel in Hollywood.

This will be a great addition to the college and we can’t wait to see the progress of this beautifully designed building.

Feb. 25th we were fortunate to be in Kyoto and get tickets for the Baika-sai or Plum Blossom Festival.

The festival is held at the Kitanno-Tenangu Shrine built in 1592. The shrine was built for devotion to the God of Learning and to enshrine Poet, Michizane who was about to be exiled to Daiziafu. He wrote the following poem.

When the East wind blows,
For even without their master,
plum blossoms should never forget spring.

Leading up to the shrine, was a market with food stalls, where we sampled delicious  Japanese street food.

My favorite was Takoyaki, which is a savory octopus fritter topped with dried Bonito fish shavings, so yummy.

The shrine has over 1500 Plum Blossom trees.

If that wasn’t enough, there was a Nodate, or outdoor tea ceremony preformed by Geisha and Maiko ( apprentice) geisha where they serve tea to the public.

I thought the rain was going to detract from the event, but the tent became a interesting background.

This was a great thrill to have between 20-30 geisha at close range.

I could have photographed them all day.

We just returned from a two week wedding planning trip in Japan.
We were thrilled to plan a “Beverly Hills” style wedding with wedding coordinator, ayame , for a Japanese celebrity and her producer fiancé in Tokyo.

During our time there, we met with many wonderful people and were delighted to be asked to return in July.

We visited the  beautiful Happo-en Gardens in Tokyo.

Even in early spring this garden is stunningly beautiful. The trees without leaves in the photos are either Japanese Maples or Pendulous Cherry blossom trees so this garden has four beautiful seasons.

Happo-en, (beautiful from all angles) is a former Samurai residence originally built in 1600.
It is located in the Shirokane, (Platinum district) in the Minuato ward of Tokyo.

This 12.5 acre property was built in a valley with gardens and spring fed Koi ponds. At one time, this district was all private estates. Now, totally surrounded by high-rises, this garden retreat is a rare gem in the city.

We were given a tour of the property and gardens.

We were so excited to see the bonsai collection some of which are as old as 500 years.

Mr. Inoue, the General Manager, invited us to a dinner at Kochyuan, the private Japanese style dining room later that week.

We were greeted by a welcoming staff dressed in beautiful Kimonos.

We were treated to a multi-course seasonal Kaiseki gourmet dinner overlooking the manicured garden.

Each course a feast for the senses. Fantastic presentation

The entire evening was a magical delight .

Yes, That’s Kobe beef for Sukiyaki.

The name of the restaurant, Kochyuan, means an experience of paradise from a vessel filled with all types of delicacies.

This is truly what we experienced.

During our visit, we were interviewed by the top wedding magazine 25ANS wedding, and Trade magazine, HOTERES Wedding, for the hotel and restaurant trade.
There is so much to share about Japan and how it has inspired me. Look for more entries soon on Kimonos and wedding dress fashion, The Plum Blossom Festival in Kyoto where we were served tea by the young Meiko Geisha,  and a visit to the Ikenobo school of Ikebana.