Working with Dianna and Andy during the last 14 months has been such a treat, especially because I was able to partner with my wonderful designer friend, Gloria Wong,
Gloria Wong Designs, to provide a complete planning service package for their wedding.
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These photos, taken at the end of the evening, by Dianna's brother, remind me of how happy Dianna, Andy, Gloria and I were with the results of all our hard work...the smiles say it all!
This was my first
opportunity to plan a wedding at
Casa Real, in
Pleasanton;, I was extremely impressed by the level of service and personal attention offered by each and every staff person we met. Plus, the venue itself is beautiful, nestled in the rolling hills and vineyards of the Livermore Valley.
The Sun Garden, at the back of Casa Real, is often use for outdoor ceremonies.I have known the owner, Read Phillips, for years, through her excellent catering company, Beets; about 5 years ago, Read and her husband opened the
Palm Event Center, in
Livermore; just a little over a year ago, they launched
their second property, Casa Real, a well-designed event space, built with wisdom and foresight, based on years of serving brides, grooms, their families and guests, yet always striving to do it better!
This arbor, built into one wall of the Sun Garden, provides the perfect backdrop for a wedding ceremony, when the weather permits. Because Dianna and Andy's wedding was in July, they chose to have the ceremony inside, where air conditioning created a controlled and comfortable climate!
The Amber Room, one of Casa Real's indoor ceremony venues, was designed to seat comfortably over 250 guests, and yet maintain a sense of intimacy.
With the addition of a patterned amber wash on the walls, lots of floating candles, elegant floral displays, and a custom-made silk aisle runner, the room took on the romantic, old world atmosphere, which Dianna and Andy had envisioned.
While the Amber Room was being readied for the 5pm ceremony, the Entrance Hall was being prepared for the guests' arrival at 4:30pm.
The first thing the guests saw as they arrived, was this lovely table, with an
invitation to write a wish or offer some advice for the bride and groom, and drop it into the "wish bowl", for Dianna and Andy to enjoy reading after their honeymoon.
The ceremony went beautifully, and after cocktails, the guests were invited into the Grand Salon, for Andy and Dianna's first dance.
Andy and Dianna moved gracefully across the dance floor, as the guests waited their turn to join in!
As a surprise for Andy and Dianna, there were customized signs welcoming the new Husband and Wife to their places at the head table.
The chandeliers over the dance floor, and the patterned wash of light focused down onto the dancing area, as well as the soft up lighting around the room, provided the warmth and welcome Dianna and Andy desired for their dinner reception. John Woods, and his team from Enhanced Lighting, worked all day to create the lighting effects for the ceremony, cocktail area, and the dinner dancing reception.
The cake, created by Gabi Feuersinger, of Cake Coquette, was made exactly to Dianna and Gloria's specifications. The different designs, seen on each level of the cake, mirror the patterns chosen by Dianna and Andy for their save the dates, invitations, escort cards, programs, and menus. Everything was pulled together visually within in the decor of the wedding cake.
Gloria and I, just before cake cutting time, savoring the beauty all around us!When we brought Andy and Dianna into the Grand Salon, to see it before the guests entered, it was
heartwarming to hear them both exclaim that it was exactly as they had envisioned it!
That comment was all Gloria and I needed to hear; at that moment, every bit of detailed planning, long and involved meetings with vendors, working and reworking the
timeline, was worth it!
As I have said before, I love working in partnership with other wonderful wedding
professionals, to provide "above and beyond" service for my clients.
I can't thank my team enough for all they did to serve Dianna and Andy with the highest level of excellence!
The team:
Casa Real Staff,
www.casarealevents.co.Gloria Wong
Tritasavit,
www.gloriawongdesign.comDorothy of Mints Flowers,
www.mintsdesign.comGabrielle
Feuresinger,
www.cakecoquette.comGeoff and Lara White,
www.geoffwhite.comJohn Woods,
www.enhancedlighting.comDJ Jody Amos,
www.amospro.comSherry Lewis, An Elegant Touch of Strings
Taylor
Phan,
www.thicosmetics.comPure Luxury
Transportation,
www.pureluxury.com
Jubilee and I spoke to a "full house" last February, at the Four Seasons, Silicon Valley, for The Inaugural Wedding University; my topics were "Creating a Timeline that Works", and " It's All about the Experience". I will be enlarging on these topics, providing more details and handouts this year.
After the day was over, I enjoyed chatting with couples who attended The Wedding University. 
Please visit our new website:
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