Hollywood Romance in SF Set!

"I recently coordinated an incredibly unique wedding in San Francisco, on Treasure Island, which had such a wonderful story behind it that every detail of the design incorporated part of the story. Gloria Wong, the designer, Nancy Liu Chin, the florist, and Peculiar Pair Press, the stationer, were the design team who took the couple's vision and made their dream come true in the details....." This is a quote from my October blog post about Felecia and Jim's October wedding in San Francisco.

I have just received Catherine Hall's SLIDE SHOW of Felecia and Jim's wedding; I invite you to enjoy the images of a Hollywood-themed wedding with a San Francisco "set".

I also have some new images from Catherine which capture the joy between the bride and groom, as well as the dramatic surroundings and decor which served as a backdrop for each part of the wedding day.

Felecia and Jim at their wedding reception

Perfect Endings Wedding Cake with edible feathers!

Felecia and Jim's guest book was a tribute to Classic Hollywood.

Above and below, Paparazzi from A Cast of Thousands, greeted Felecia and Jim as they arrived at Casa de la Vista, and just before they were introduced into dinner; what could be more "Hollywood" than paparazzi, clamoring for a shot of the arriving "stars!"

Drama was included in the decor...black, white, silver, feathers and bling, as well as the view of the Bay Bridge and San Francisco Bay!

The menu and table settings dripped "over the top Hollywood glamor"!

Every escort card was hand addressed and embellished with a bling encrusted feather!

Felecia and Jim considered the guests comfort on a cool San Francisco evening.

A Sunset Shot to remember, thanks to Nature's dramatic wind and clouds

Felecia and Jim's Wedding Programs; another tribute to the world of theatre.

The next four images show the pre-ceremony shots of Jim and Felecia with the old world beauty and drama of Grace Cathedral, the Historic Intercontinental Mark Hopkins.

Jim, sporting his beloved Texas Cowboy boots, waits for the first look at his bride, in the most famous corner of the Top of the Mark, at the Mark Hopkins hotel on Nob Hill.

A perfect day and a perfect moment for the first meeting of Jim and Felecia; as you can imagine arranging the private use of this space with the hotel management and restaurant guests was nothing short of miraculous. (This is a story for another day, with the title: What Wedding Coordinators Coordinate "Behind the Scenes"!)

Felecia and Jim ready to leave for Treasure Island, and their official wedding celebration!

Thanks for the Memories, Jim and Felecia! You both win an Academy Award in my book for starring roles in your real life love story!

Thank you Catherine Hall!

Stacie and her father as they were entering the ceremony; so much warmth and connection captured by Catherine Hall!

I am so grateful for the relationships that form within the wedding community! As a planner, I enjoy becoming close to the brides and grooms whom I serve each year; at the same time, I develop strong ties of respect and love for the colleagues who work alongside me during the months of planning as well as the day of the wedding.

Please enjoy the blog post by Catherine Hall, describing our beloved Stacie and Ron, whose Fall Thomas Fogarty Winery wedding I featured in my previous blog.

A huge thank you to Catherine, who has given Stacie and Ron incredible memories of the wedding of their dreams. It was my privilege to grow closer to Stacie, Ron, their family members, Catherine and all of my fantastic team as we shared the joy of serving well a couple we treasured. Enjoy the reminders of family connections, enduring love, and a beautiful wedding celebration!

The "first look", arranged before the ceremony by Catherine and me so the special moment could be savored with a moment alone.

Stacie and Ron at Fogarty...Sigh!

I had the privilege of helping Stacie and Ron plan their elegant Fall wedding at Fogarty Winery, as well as the joy of getting to know them in the process. What an exquisitely beautiful bride is Stacie, and so in love with her handsome groom. Usually I would take time to describe the amazing decor, elegant dinner, and the details of the day; for this wedding, I will allow Catherine Hall's pictures to tell the story. Please enjoy the "eye candy" and know that the inside of this wonderful couple is as beautiful as the outside.

Thank you to my wonderful team who worked so hard to plan and carry out the wedding Stacie and Ron had been dreaming of; and thank you Catherine for capturing the beauty so lovingly!

Location: Thomas Fogarty Winery

Caterer: Componere Fine Catering

Florist: Precious and Blooming

Stationery: Rachel Hanson Design

Ceremony Music: Mori Achen Trio

DJ: Big Fun DJ's

Officiant: John Sullivan

Cake: Elegant Cheesecake

Hair: Alli Dunnam

Makeup: Jenna Perry

Transportation: Lone Star Limousine

Rentals: Hartmann Studios

Wedding Day: Janece Shellooe

My family experiences Peppoli

When Shannon Gurley, the Floral and Event Design Manager for Pebble Beach Resorts invited my family to join her for dinner at Peppoli I had no idea the kind of extravagant and totally delicious meal we were about to experience!

Shannon in the middle and our family in front of the gorgeous Christmas tree in the lobby at Inn at Spanish Bay; this is just one of 17 Christmas trees Shannon and her team were responsible for decorating on the Pebble Beach Property!

Shannon and her team at Pebble Beach want to let SF Bay area wedding planners know what a wonderful experience their resort can offer a couple hosting their wedding celebration at any of the Pebble Beach properties. I for one was not aware of all the beautiful and luxurious options available to my clients...but now I am eager to recommend the properties!

Since my family was already planning to be in Pacific Grove, which borders Pebble Beach, for the Christmas week, Shannon graciously invited all 4 of us to join her for a personalized, chef's choice multi course dinner at Peppoli.

Asilomar Beach on sunset when we arrived; we could have walked to the Inn at Spanish Bay from our B and B across from Asilomar, but that would have been a bit difficult after dark!

I can truly say that the fresh taste of each dish, the authentic Italian presentation, and impeccable 5 Star service would win my recommendation to any bride and groom considering hosting their wedding reception with Peppoli!

Me with Justin, Kim and Jeff at the entrance to Peppoli, in front of the oil painting of the villa in Italy owned by the family who provides wine for Peppoli...a family of wine makers that goes back over 15 generations!

For my friends who are foodies, and often post photos of the incredible foods they have enjoyed, I have a few to share! This 4+ hour meal was a gastronomical tour through Italy, served in 5 delicious courses, and my photos only present a few of the multiple plates served to our table for each course!

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House-made Sausage, polenta, and braised chard

Tuna sashimi with a delicate sprout/white bean garnish

Antipasti plate including house made salamis, imported olives and cheeses from Italy, and fresh artichokes, marinated by Peppoli for 72 hours.

Wild mushroom risotto with grilled scallops

Pasta with fresh bacon, Parmesan, and Alfredo sauce; note there were 2 other dishes in the background!

Beet salad with Arugula, Carmel Valley greens, and battered goat cheese on top; butternut soup in the background...it was amazing too!

Caesar Salad, the REAL thing!

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Breaded local pork chop soaked in wine and spices, garnish of fresh greens with lemon juice.

Also in this course were Beef Tenderloin with port reduction sauce and Sea Bass with a garlic butter glaze...we are now heading into a food coma, but here comes DESSERT!!

Flourless warm chocolate lava cake with espresso gelato

Italian cookie selection...all great, but we liked the macaroon best!

Fresh fruit with mint gelato and a house almond biscotti

The Finale...three flavors of Sorbet, lemon, strawberry and blackberry...plus the empty bottle of estate wine from Italy we consumed during the meal...WOW!!!

Our family has never had this kind of dining adventure before, so we have been reminiscing about the amazing flavors, beautiful presentation, and welcoming atmosphere ever since! Thank you Shannon, and all of the staff at Pebble Beach Resorts, for treating us so royally!

I would love the opportunity to work with Shannon and her colleague Julie Bullas, the Catering Manager at Pebble Beach, to serve brides and grooms with the same personal care and flawless service I experienced at Peppoli and throughout the Pebble Beach Resorts.

An Evening in the Sky!

An evening in the sky, (the 32 floor feels like you are in the sky!) overlooking Union Square, in a sparkling San Francisco at Christmas time..what could be better!?

Victor's Palace, as it might be set up for a wedding ceremony

It was a delightful gift to be one of the wedding planners attending the Unveiling of the Imperial Floor at the Westin St. Francis this week! A special bonus for me, was having time with my good friend David Beahm, who flew out from New York to be a part of the celebration.

I met David for the first time last March, when he taught at Wedding 360; we forged a strong friendship at that time which has lasted across the miles and months.

David spoke briefly at the beginning of the evening activities directly to planners and designers like himself. He wanted to remind us that our most important gift to our clients is good service and sincere caring. He emphasized that what we give always comes back to us a hundred fold. The Golden Rule is his basis for life and creative work: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and Life is Golden! This is loving advice we can put into practice every moment of every day...Thank you, David!

For a visual feast of photos and a superbly written description of this Night in the Sky, please click on Stacie Tamaki's blog entry from the Flirty Guide

Ellie Platis, Bill Hedgepeth, Director of Catering at the Westin St. Francis, who planned this event, David Beahm, and me during the reception in Alexandra's, the other part of the Imperial Suite.