Celebrating Life | An MB Wedding Design and Events Blog

SEVEN DAYS OF ROMANCE | LOVE QUOTES

2012-02-14T21:20:00.000-08:00

We hope you enjoyed reading our blog during the past "Seven Days of Romance", a celebration in honor of Valentine's Day. Today we're keeping it simple and featuring some of our favorite love quotes.

Enjoy!

"There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved."...George Sand

"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections."...unknown

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”...Helen Keller

"Don't chose the one who is beautiful to the world, but rather, chose the one who makes your work beautiful."...unknown

"True love stories never have endings."...Richard Bach

"Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking together in the same direction."...Antonie de Saint-Exupery

"Accept the things to which fate binds you and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart."...Marcus Aurelius

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever."...Alfred Lord Tennyson

"What Women Want: To be loved, to be listened to, to be desired, to be respected, to be needed, to be trusted, and sometimes, just to be held. What Men Want: Tickets for the world series.",,,Dave Barry

"I don’t wish to be everything to everyone, but I would like to be something to someone.",,,Javan

Happy Valentine's Day!

SEVEN DAYS OF ROMANCE | BOUDOIR

2012-02-13T21:17:00.000-08:00

What is boudoir? It's sexy, sophisticated, and tasteful art! Boudoir photography has become popular for brides who are looking to surprise their fiancé with a special gift on or before their wedding day. This intimate session can also make for a great Valentine's Day gift, one that will keep your honey content for a VERY long time.

Often times women don't feel comfortable enough in their own skin for boudoir, but I think what makes this form of art so unique, is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Whether you only share these photos with your special someone or simply take them for yourself, they give you a sense of empowerment and self assurance, that otherwise you may not have had.

An experienced boudoir photographer is professional and easy going. The key is to feel comfortable with the person capturing your beauty on the other side of the lens. Here are some of my personal recommendations for photographers that offer exceptional boudoir photography. Each have a distinct, signature style.

Jennifer Skog Photography

Melinda Le' Photography

Tanja Lippert Photography

Danielle Fletcher Photography

Couture Boudoir by Critsey Rowe

SEVEN DAYS OF ROMANCE | DINNING WITH A VIEW

2012-02-12T22:08:00.000-08:00

I live in a city known for fabulous food and stunning views. Create a romantic setting for you and your sweetheart by dinning at one of these top San Francisco spots, that not only offer picturesque views but a delectable cuisine. After all, who doesn't love to be wined and dined?

The Cliff House: A historic landmark with soaring views of Ocean Beach and the Farralon Islands.

Waterfront at The Embarcadero: Situated along the Embarcadero, this restaurant has been around for a long time, and with good reason. It's hosted Presidents, dignitaries, celebrities and more throughout its 40 years in business. It maintains a level of service unparalleled to most.

Sinbad's at Pier 2: This classic establishment serves-up one of the best oven-baked Lobster Tails I've ever had, hands down!

Top of The Mark: The Top of The Mark's restaurant and lounge is situated on the 19th. floor of the Mark Hopkins Hotel, a Nob Hill landmark with 360 degree views of San Francisco. Dinner and cocktails with a view...need I say more? Check out their special Valentine's Day package, which includes a 4-course dinner and a bottle of Moet Chandon Rose...yum!

Alioto's: A Fisherman's Wharf classic, Alioto's has been around for over 80 years serving-up some of the best seafood in San Francisco. Fresh fish is purchased on the daily and reservations are highly recommended for this local landmark that is a tourist favorite.

Enjoy!

SEVEN DAYS OF ROMANCE | THE CLASSIC MIXTAPE

2012-02-11T20:43:00.000-08:00

If you've ever been in love, I'm sure you've received a mixtape or two in your life. What ever happen to the classic mixtape? With tape decks out and iPods in, no one seems to make mixtapes anymore, but I say their not dead.

Whether your dating, engaged or married, a mixtape filled with fun, quirky and meaningful songs will sure to delight that special person in your life. Your playlist can be filled with love songs, pop, rock and even country, depending on what your sweetheart likes.

So go on, get creative, make a mixtape and show your special guy or gal how much they mean to you. If I were to make a mixtape for my hubby, here's a list of some of the songs I'd like to include:

Spandau Ballet - True
Journey - Open Arms
Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is
No Doubt - You Really Love Me Underneath It All
Citizen Cope - Sideways
The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a Home
Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt - Don't Know Much
Brenton Wood - I Like The Way You Love Me
Mr. Big - To Be With You
Chicago - Will You Still Love Me
Coldplay - Yellow
Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
KC & JoJo - All My Life
Extreme - More Than Words
Gwen Stefani - 4 In The Morning
Confunkshun - Straight From the Heart
Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of The Heart
The Beatles - In My Life
Bruce Springsteen - Secret Garden
311 - Love Song
Sade -Kiss of Life
Peter Cetera & Amy Grant - Next Time I Fall in Love

What can I say, I'm a sappy, cheesy, and hopeless romantic. I love the feeling of being in love and doing things for love. I don't think one mixtape would be enough to share my feelings and sentiments towards my hubby through music, so I would probably have to make two to celebrate the 9 years I've spent with this wonderful man.

Happy Valentines Day!

SEVEN DAYS OF ROMANCE | I HEART THE BEATLES

2012-02-10T13:16:00.000-08:00

I love The Beatles!

When I tell the older generation this, they often reply back with an "Oh Michelle, what do you know about The Beatles? You're so young, and they came out way before your time"! This is true, but I do know my mother named me after one of their most romantic love ballads, "Michelle", which also won them a Grammy for song of the year in 1966.

The Beatles have graced us with music that will last a lifetime. From classic rock & roll to pop, and songs that always seemed to talk about love and peace, they've composed some of the greatest songs of all time. In honor of Valentines Day I give you my Top 10 favorite Beatles love songs:

1. In My Life {A song often used at weddings for the first dance or a non-traditional ceremony processional/bridal entrance.}
2. And I Love Her
3. All You Need Is Love
4. Something
5. Hey Jude {This song came in at #8 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 greatest songs of all time...that's pretty sweet if you ask me. It was written by Paul McCartney for John Lennon's son, Julian...which also happens to be my son's name.}
6. When I'm 64
7. Michelle
8. Do You Want To Know A Secret
9. Till There Was You {The song was originally created for the 1957 musical, "The Music Man", and while it wasn't an original Beatles song, there rendition was a fan favorite.}
10. I Wanna Hold Your Hand

As you can see, The Beatles knew a little something about that four letter word we like to call LOVE!

SEVEN DAYS OF ROMANCE | LOVE LETTERS VIDEO

2012-02-09T01:18:00.000-08:00

We hoped you enjoyed yesterday's romantic feature and all the little details that were infused into our shoot and inspired by love. Today we continue to celebrate Valentine's Day with a video that was created for "Love Letters" by my good friend, Andrew Hsu of Studio MSV,

Dream away!

Love Notes from andrew msv on Vimeo.

SEVEN DAYS OF ROMANCE | LOVE LETTERS

2012-02-08T01:28:00.000-08:00

With Valentines Day right around the corner, love is in the air. To get you prepared for this day for which long stem red roses and heart shaped boxes filled with chocolates have become a staple of what Valentines Day is all about, we will be doing a blog series called "Seven Days of Romance". We will feature a new blog post inspired by love for the next 7 days till its V-Day {Tuesday, February 14th}. Our first post features images from a stylized shoot we designed for Style Me Pretty two years ago entitled "Love Letters". The challenge was to bring an inspiration board that an SMP user had created to life. I chose a board called "Vintage Love Letters" because I was inspired by the sweet, subtle romance that it evoked. When developing a design for this board, I definitely knew I wanted to create something dreamy, almost ethereal. To read more about our shoot and view the complete gallery, click here: Style Me Pretty, Inspiration to Reality: The Design Part I and The Design Part II.

Stay tuned, because tomorrow we'll be featuring the video that accompanied this romantic shoot!

Event Design, Planning and Styling: MB Wedding Design and Events
Photographers: Gertrude and Mabel Photography
Videographer: Studio MSV
Floral Design & Vintage Furniture: Asiel Design
Hair & Makeup: Get Your Do Up
Stationery: Cards de Luxe
Cake: Cake Coquette
Couture Bridal Accessories and Shoes: Haute Bride
Couture Bridal Gowns: Nouvelle Vogue
Model: Celeste Rodriguez
Vintage Dessert & Jewelry Stands: Amour Ame

JENNIFER SKOG WOULD LIKE TO BE YOUR VALENTINE!

2012-01-19T13:24:00.000-08:00

Our friends over at Jennifer Skog Photography are offering a special gift for brides & grooms to be if you book with them by Valentine's Day. We heart Jen...her work is elegant, stylish & romantic and we've had the pleasure of working with her and her team on numerous occasions. Each and every one of my couples have been completely happy and the images she delivers are filled with love and laughter, both key ingredients to a happy and healthy marriage! So...what are you waiting for? Head on over to her site and tell her MB sent you, and see for yourself why she's one of our favorite photographers to work with!

WPPI LAS VEGAS | BOUDOIR WORKSHOP

2012-01-12T16:41:00.000-08:00

Looking for a reason to head to Vegas? Look no further, we got you covered!

I am co-hosting a boudoir workshop for photographers in Las Vegas during WPPI in collaboration with Melinda Le' Photography.

When & Where:
February 21 2012 (6-8:30pm)

$399 per person - click to make a payment

WPPI, Las Vegas – MGM Grand

Capturing Her Curves – What is it?
Capturing Her Curves is an exciting NEW LOOK at boudoir photography. Our focus is on working with ALL WOMEN of ALL BODY TYPES!!! This hands-on workshop will show you how to create beautiful, sexy portraits for all of your clients. We will discuss the secrets of gaining your clients trust, so she feels beautiful and connects with you and the camera. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn Melinda Le’ Photography’s boudoir techniques.

As an added bonus to this already exciting event, we will be co-hosting this workshop alongside a very talented San Francisco based Event Designer/Wedding Planner, Michelle Barrionuevo-Mazzini.
Michelle is the owner and creative force behind MB Wedding Design and Events, a boutique planning + design firm providing custom tailored celebrations locally and abroad for the affluent bride. Michelle’s work has been featured in numerous publications, such as Grace Ormonde, The Knot, Today’s Bride, New York Bride & Groom, Get Married and Brides, just to name a few.

Capturing Her Curves – A Note from Melinda of Melinda Le’ Photography.
I’ve always been enamored with beautiful, sexy photos of women, so when I became a photographer I was immediately drawn to boudoir photography. Although, I’d seen many beautiful portraits created by some amazing photographers, I had a hard time relating to them. I mean, they were taking gorgeous photos but the women in them were already “model perfect.” I thought to myself, what about all of the women out there (like myself) who don’t fit into what society projects as the perfect prototypical woman in a boudoir photo. It went even deeper than that. I thought of the many women I knew who were beautiful (in my eyes) but lacked the confidence to take these type of portraits. Their reasons varied but were largely based on their age, size or lack of self esteem. I realized that there were SO MANY women being alienated from the beauty of having a work of art taken simple because no one was appealing to them. NO ONE WAS TAKING PHOTOS OF WOMEN THAT LOOKED LIKE ME! That’s when I decided to do something about it.

My team and I started shooting boudoir sessions for women of all backgrounds, ages & sizes. We were able to expand our business and create a positive, empowering experience for our clients.
And now, for the first time, we will be revealing our boudoir techniques on:

Photographer/Client Interaction – How To Connect And Create Trust.
Effective Esteem Boosting – How To Promote That “Vixen” Feeling
Posing A Curvy Woman
Private Home Studio vs. Hotel
Boudoir Boutiques – What Are They
Building Relationships With Hair And Makeup Artists
The Curvy Woman Portfolio

BONUS MATERIAL – Michelle will also share her knowledge on:

Styled Shoots – Getting Published In Magazines & Blogs
Branding – How To Brand Your Boudoir Business
Partnering With A Planner/Designer
What Planners Really Want From Photographers – Getting On Their Preferred Vendor List

Live Curvy Model Session
This workshop will feature a live “curvy” boudoir model. Please bring your cameras, as I will be demonstrating some of the techniques that I use. You may create images for your own portfolio. You must be at least 18 years old to attend the Capturing Her Curves Workshop.
You will walk away from this workshop with a wealth of information that every boudoir photographer should have. This is not one you want to miss!

REAL WEDDING | CHRISTINE & DERRICK

2012-01-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

Event Design, Planning + Coordination: MB Wedding Design and Events
Venue: Julia Morgan Ballroom
Church: Mission Santa Clara
Photographer: Jennifer Skog
Videographer: Burkart Studios
Caterer: Betty Zlatchin
Floral Design: Spiralhand
Rentals: Hartmann Studios
Linens: Napa Valley Linens + Hartmann Studios
Lighting + Drape: Enhanced Lighting & Sound
Cake: Cake Coquette
Stationery: Cards de Luxe
DJ: Ruben Palma
Caricature Artist: Jon Casey and Rhoda Grossman
Cotton Candy + Popcorn Machine Rentals: SF Party

Christine + Derrick's wedding can be seen in the current issue of The Knot, Northern California and online at The Knot.com

I AM STILL ALIVE!

2011-11-19T14:45:00.001-08:00

Image courtesy of Tinywater Photography

I realized I haven't actively blogged in over a year now and that definitely has to change. I am still alive and kicking and producing beautiful weddings for my stylish couples and working on a few other fun creative projects. While I know I promised you all a new website and blog back in June, both are not quite ready yet and I won't be launching my new brand till 2012. In the meantime I wanted to fill you all in (hoping I still have a few followers & fans of my work) on what I've been up to in the past year. Over the next two months I will be posting real weddings, events, styled shoots, press features, and more. For now I leave you with a photo of the new addition to my family, Julian Alfonso Mazzini, who was born on July 29th. of this year.

Stay tuned for more...
MB

Coming Soon | New Website + Blog

2011-06-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

We hope you'll stick around for the unveiling of our new website and blog...coming soon!

Events | Promises and Pearls

2010-06-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

News | Wish Upon a Wedding partners with Get Married

2010-03-24T09:38:00.000-07:00

We are so incredibly happy to announce our partnership with Get Married Media. It is an unparalleled union to support the mission of Wish Upon a Wedding and starting today Wish Upon a Wedding will be the charity of choice & the National Media Partner for Get Married Media, Inc.

Get Married Media will increase the organization’s exposure both nationally and within local chapters on behalf of Wish Upon a Wedding by supporting the organization & the wish recipients! Get Married will provide ads in their quarterly magazine to raise awareness and we will be shooting PSAs for their weekly TV show on WE!

Wish Upon a Wedding and will also be featured on the Get Married Blog on Stacie’s page. And if that isn’t enough…they have agreed to consider features on our wedding wishes & videos shot by our wish granters including showcasing our wish recipients weddings on their TV show.

And there’s more!! Get Married will also provide products for our launch parties and printed products branded for WUW for our events.

This partnership is so amazing; we could never have imagined it. Stacie Francombe and the entire Get Married Media family have worked so hard on our behalf, and this just goes to show that they truly believe in our cause and mission. As America’s first non profit wedding wish granting organization, it’s important to us to have such great endorsements from the best of the best and Get Married does that for Wish Upon A Wedding.

Thank you so much to Get Married Media & Stacie Francombe for choosing Wish Upon a Wedding!

Contest | Couture Shoot with Jennifer Skog & Maria Chang

2010-02-08T20:04:00.001-08:00

Jennifer Skog and Maria Chang are pleased to announce their Couture Shoot Contest | Hearts for Haiti. They will be contributing to this cause by giving a Couture Shoot anywhere in the nation to one lucky winner. Participants may enter by making an online donation of $50 or more to UNICEF. The winner will be determined by random drawing.

Details | Donate $50 or more to UNICEF and enter for a chance to win a Couture Shoot {Boudoir, Couples, Maternity, Family, etc.} with Jennifer Skog and Maria Chang. Simply complete the online donation form , make a donation and wait to receive a donation confirmation email. Once you receive the confirmation email {it takes a few minutes} forward it to studio@jenniferskog.com The confirmation email will be your official entry form for the contest.

They will be accepting entries through February 14th, 2010 {Valentines Day}

Couture Shoot | A Couture Shoot is an editorial style photo shoot with Jennifer Skog, wardrobe styling, and hair & makeup design by Maria Chang of PMA. The photo shoot may take place in your neck of the woods or ours in the SF Bay Area - it's up to you!

For complete terms and conditions, please visit www.skogasinvogue.com

A Dose of Wisdom via Seth Godin

2010-01-31T22:49:00.000-08:00

How do you market yourself? What does your brand say about you? Are you telling the right story?

These are just a few of the questions I've asked myself over the past year. Fortunately I have the internet to turn too, that's filled with a plethora of advice and wisdom directed to small business owners such as myself. Since I have a much smaller marketing budget than that of a large corporation, I am very conscious of the way I spend my marketing dollars. As a small business owner I am constantly aware of the need and importance to market myself to my target clientele or my "niche" as some may refer to.

Here are some helpful marketing tips I found from a post entitled "What Every Good Marketer Knows", via Seth Godin's blog.

- Your best customers are worth far more than your average customers. {SO true, never settle for less. As creative forces behind our own businesses we should be able to hand pick our client's and choose the people we want to work with. Your best clients are the ones who value you and your work.}

- People don't buy what they need. They buy what they want. {Remember this when developing a marketing plan; let your product or service speak quality not quantity.}

- Making promises and keeping them is a great way to build your brand. {Good news spreads like wildfire, so when you have a great product or service people will know as others will be talking about it. Remember to not take on more than you can handle as it will affect your brand in the long run.}

- Obviously, knowing what to do is very, very different than actually doing it.

- What people want is the extra, the emotional bonus they get when they buy something they love. {This couldn't be more true. Consumers like to make a personal connection with the brands they invest in. Being authentic is key.}

- Choose your customers. Fire the ones that hurt your ability to deliver the right story to the others. {Easier said than done, right? Wrong, it's as simple as sticking to your guns and keeping the client's that allow you to be you and letting go of the ones that affect your ability to be creative. Trust is the key in any successful relationship. If your client's don't trust you or believe in the story you have to tell, then let them go, simple as that.}

- Blogging makes you a better marketer because it teaches you humility in your writing.

- Living and breathing an authentic story is the best way to survive in an conversation-rich world. {What you see is what you get...that's my motto. I can't sell something I am not because eventually people will see that I am a fraud. Being authentic will not only deliver you client's that respect and admire the product or services you provide, but that value them as well.}

Events | The Academy for Planners & Designers

2010-01-25T13:31:00.000-08:00

The Academy for Planners + Designers is a boutique-style conference tailored specifically for wedding planners, wedding designers, and floral designers, hosted by Wedding 360. Limited to only 180 attendees, this is an excellent opportunity to get up close and personal to leaders in the industry. I've recently joined the Wedding 360 team as their media liason/local ambassador and I couldn't be more excited to attend this conference and welcome all the amazing speakers, sponsors and attendees that will be joining us in March for this conference.

Sean Low and Rebecca Grinnals will be teaching us real-life, applicable tools to help our planning and design business grow and thrive. Tara Guerard will teach all about spatial planning, and will be designing a southern-inspired vignette for our Design Showcase. Designers Todd Fiscus and David Beahm will be teaching their individual approaches to design, as well as deliverables to clients, operations, and production. Media leader Grace Ormonde of Wedding Style Magazine, will be presenting as a part of a panel that discusses the important relationship between a designer, photographer, and an editor. If you are interested in learning how to create amazing weddings and photo shoots that are worthy of publication, you will surely get the best insight from this panel. In addition, our 'Forward Thinking' class will have the masterminds behind 'Two Bright Lights' and 'Style Me Pretty', to talk about the next best thing in the wedding industry, involving wedding planners and designers!

Other classes include a panel of 4 amazing designers who will reveal their design process for their individual vignettes in the Design Showcase, food and wine expert to teach us the newest culinary trends, and a mixologist to share incredible cocktail recipes!

As icing on the cake, all attendees will be invited to experience a number of perks on top of the education! Be prepared to be wow'd and dazzled by two over-the-top social parties at the luxurious St. Regis San Francisco -the 'Emerald Underworld' welcome cocktail party, and the 'Museum of Petals' dinner, both designed by the incredibly talented Gloria Wong of Gloria Wong Design. Enjoy having a complimentary professional portrait shot taken by the stellar team at Orange Photography. Get your copy of some of the newest wedding books autographed by their respective authors, including Grace Ormonde, Tara Guerard, and Leila Khalil. Be totally awe-inspired by our Design Showcase, featuring four distinctive designers - Linnae Asiel, Grant Rector, Nancy Liu Chin, and Tara Guerard.

If you are serious and passionate about taking your wedding planning/design business to the next level, and you are interested in meeting and learning from top industry experts, you do not want to miss this!

Real Wedding | Rocio and Nick

2010-01-21T12:37:00.000-08:00

Wedding Planner/Event Designer: MB Wedding Design and Events
Photographer: Jasmine Wang
Videographer: Lorimer Works
Venue: The Kohl Mansion, Burlingame
Caterer: Thomas John Events
Cake: Cake Coquette
Floral Design: Asiel Design
Lighting/Draping: Enhanced Lighting & Sound
DJ: Ruben Palma of IMentertainment
Band: Orquesta Borinquen
Rentals: Hartmann Studios

Events | Wedding Floral Academy

2010-01-19T12:29:00.001-08:00

My good friend Nancy Liu Chin is at it again. She's hosting another 3 day professional workshop, called the W edding Floral Academy. For more information on this event, see below and for daily floral inspiration visit Nancy's blog, the Brown Bag.

Details:

This 3 day workshop is intensive and is intended for those with the ambition of entering the wedding floral business or for those who need to revamp their current brand. Immerse yourself in the world of wedding flowers for 3 full days and learn beyond the fundamentals. A course full of inspiration and practical insights, enabling you to think about your brand in a new way and unleashing your creative floral side. It's key to giving your business an edge from your competitors.

April 20-22, 2010
Classes are from 10am. - 4pm.

Investment $1250.00

For more information and to register for this workshop, please visit the Wedding Floral Academy blog. Below are images from a previous wedding designed by Nancy Liu Chin. As you can see her work is simply sweet!

Images by: Ricky Wong and Lisa Lefkowitz

New Non-Profit | Wish Upon a Wedding

2010-01-17T19:09:00.000-08:00

I am honored and blessed to be a part of a new non-profit known as Wish Upon a Wedding. I've joined the board of directors as the Fundraising Chair and I am eager to begin raising money for a great cause that will grant terminally ill bride or grooms a wedding. Please check out the press release regarding this new non-profit organization.

Press Release

America’s Only Wedding Wish Granting Organization!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Francisco, CA

Wish Upon a Wedding is a brand new nonprofit organization, dedicated to granting weddings and civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States to couples facing life-threatening illnesses. The organization will begin accepting applications for Wedding Wishes in mid January, 2010.

Founded by wedding planner, Liz Guthrie of San Jose Wedding Consultants, with the hope that no couple should ever be denied the chance to marry the one they love, Wish Upon a Wedding is the only organization of its kind in existence today.

By calling on a regional database of wedding vendors known as "Wish Granters", the organization will be able to grant five types of weddings (from simple to more elaborate), some in as quickly as 48 hours. How quickly the services are granted, and how detailed the weddings are, depends upon the Wish Recipient’s health condition.

"Many couples cannot afford to get married, due to overwhelming medical bills, particularly those who have been battling life threatening conditions, sometimes for many years, " says Guthrie."Often a person is too sick to even leave their hospital bed, or they may be in hospice care," explains Guthrie, "If their last wishes include marrying their partner who stood by them through their most difficult times, we want to help make that dream come true. What better way to celebrate love than with their closest friends and family, in one of life’s most significant ceremonies?"

Four chapters will be ready to grant wishes in early 2010, in the following locations: San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Orlando.

Industry leaders who have joined the cause so far, by leading chapters across the country, include renowned wedding planners Sasha Souza (Founding President), Samantha Goldberg, Elisa Delgardio, and Kevin Covey, and author Sharon Naylor.

Official website launches January 15, 2010. For more information visit the Fan Page or follow Wish Upon a Wedding on Twitter.

For questions email info@wishuponawedding.org .

Founding Board of Directors:

Liz Guthrie, Founder & Chief Wedding Officer. Owner, San Jose Weddings Producer, SF Wedding Giveaway

Sasha Souza, President. Owner, Sasha Souza Events. Events Chair SEARCH Foundation

Corinne Phipps, Vice President. Owner, Urban Darling

Richard Markel, Marketing Chair. Founder/President AFWPI

Chrystal Bougon, Medical Outreach Chair, Owner, Bliss Connection, Mentor Hatch Network

Ashley Porta Dicksa, Events Chair. Owner, Creative Events by Ashley, Bay Area Co-director Association of Bridal Consultants

Amy Frugoli, Co-Volunteer Coordinator. Owner Twitterpated Weddings. Board member ACPWC

Amy Mendenhall, Treasurer. Senior Customer Support Scientist at Ingenuity Systems in Redwood City, CA. PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan.

Rhonda Michelle Steward, Secretary. Owner Cedar and Rose

Michelle Barrionuevo-Mazzini, Fundraising Chair, Owner MB Wedding Design and Events

Real Wedding | Stephanie and Jed

2010-01-05T23:48:00.000-08:00

Wedding Planner/Event Designer: MB Wedding Design and Events
Photographer: Jennifer Skog Photography
Venue: The Flood Mansion
Caterer: Betty Zlatchin Catering
Cupcakes: Cake Coquette
Floral Design: Asiel Design
Lighting/Draping: Enhanced Lighting & Sound
DJ: Ruben Palma of IMentertainment
Rentals: Hartmann Studios
Rentals: Blueprint Studios
Chairs: Especially Yours Chair Covers
Hair & Makeup: Maria Chang of PMA
Transportation: Classic Cable Cars
Hotel Accommodations: Hotel Monaco

The Simple Pleasures of 2009

2010-01-01T18:27:00.001-08:00

While I know I've been away for quite some time now, I am ready to welcome in the new year with open arms and a new outlook on life. In the months to come I look forward to sharing all the beautiful weddings I had the pleasure of working on, industry events that I was fortunate enough to attend and new finds I discovered along the way. For now I leave you with the Top 10 things that made me smile in 2009:

1. My Family: Francisco: Thank you for being the most supportive husband anyone could ask for. Lia: Thank you for being the most awesome daughter ever, I wouldn't change you for anything in the world. Alfonso: Thank you for filling my life with memories, love and laughter. Jeff: Thank you for always staying true to what you do best, being my big brother and making fun of me as if I were still 10. Mel: And the award for best sister-in-law in the world goes to...this woman right here because she totally rocks!

2. LOST: Anyone who knows me, knows I am a HUGE fan of LOS T, the TV show. I told my husband the other day if the Dharma Initiative really existed, I would join it, seriously I would.

3. My Client's: A lot of my colleagues always tell me that they have the best client's ever, but that's because they haven't met my client's yet, who are the BEST client's anyone could ask for.

4. My Dog: I must admit, I am one of those people who talks to their dogs. Why? Because they're great listeners.

5. My iPod: I carry my iPod EVERYWHERE, why? Because if I want to listen to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" three times in a row, that's what my iPod is good for.

6. Blogs: While blogs have been around for a few years now, 2009 was the year I really got into blogging and reading blogs. Style Me Pretty, Design Sponge, Green Wedding Shoes, Wedding Chicks, Style U nveiled, 100 Layer Cake, Inspir ed by Th is....kudos to you for being among the top blogs that brought a smile to my face throughout the year by showcasing some serious eye candy that made my heart melt and my eyes sparkle with sheer happiness.

7. The Hangover: I can't remember the last time I laughed SO hard at a movie...."and we're the three best friends that anyone could have".

8. Twitter: Best Twit ter find was the Jon Stewart "Stewart Saves Print" video, following the sad news of Modern Bride and Elegant Bride closing...hilarious!

9. My Wedding Day Emergency Kit: Double-sided tape is the best invention ever.

10. Family Guy: One word; Stewie! I can't believe some of the stuff this show gets away with, but someones got to entertain me, right?

In Loving Memory of Alfonso, my brother....

2009-12-14T20:55:00.000-08:00

On November 6th. 2009 my brother Alfonso was tragically murdered at the age of 39. Since then my life has been turned upside down and the world around me has become obscure. To lose a loved one is one thing, but to have them taken away from you so abruptly is another and words cannot begin to describe the pain and emotions that my family and I have felt over the past 38 days.

While I am no stranger to death having lost my mother 5 years ago to Cancer, I never imagined I'd lose a sibling this way. I was always that person who watched the news and felt empathy for others who lost their loved ones through violent acts of crime and now I find myself being "that person". In the days following my brother's death I received several calls from people who had caught word of his tragic passing via the news and couldn't believe that this had really happened to him and to our family. I too shared in their disbelief and I didn't want to come to terms with his death.....till now.

I've thought long and hard over the past few days as to whether or not I wanted to share this story on my blog and with my readers. After much contemplation I realized my blog is an outlet, a way for me to connect with others through stories, images and fun tidbits. While this particular story is a sad one, it's what makes me human. I can no longer hide underneath my sheets and pretend as if this hasn't happened to me, because it has and I've recently come to terms with that, as hard as it may be. I don't wish this type of pain upon anyone, so while I am sure you've heard this many times before; cherish each day with your family, friends, and loved ones because tomorrow is never promised. We are all currently living on borrowed time and we need to ensure that we make the most of our time here on earth. Live your life to the fullest, laugh more, tell your mother, father, brother, sister or friend that you love them, help those less fortunate than you and always, always be grateful for what you have, whether it's a little or a lot.

I had the opportunity to see my brother one last time before he was cremated and I fell short for words at the time, so here are a few words that I wanted to express to my brother Alfonso:

"I used to think that being your baby sister was the worse thing in the world, now I realize it was a blessing because you and Jeff took care of me. Now I am left with only one brother, when there was two, and the memories we shared are gone but not forgotten. I want to thank you for loving me, even if you had a hard time showing it. I want to thank you for loving my daughter whole heartedly and showing her a side of you that many of us never had the pleasure of knowing. While I can't even begin to think about life without you, know that with each day that passes I will do my best to preserve your memory. Everyone may have known you for who you were on the exterior but I knew you for what you were on the interior. I love you Alfonso and I will continue to Celebrate Life in your memory."

Your baby sis,
Michi

Image of the Week | Cameron Ingalls Photography

2009-11-02T21:13:00.000-08:00

Delightfully sweet is the best way to describe this week's image of the week, courtesy of Cameron Ingalls. I love the angle, the light of the day and the sweet romance this couple exudes, I hope you feel the same!

Fab Find Friday | Ay Mujer's Papel Picado

2009-10-30T23:27:00.001-07:00

Papel picado (perforated paper) is the Mexican art of paper cutting into elaborate designs. A popular art form with roots in the country's ancient cultures, the Aztecs used the bark of wild mulberry and fig trees to make a rough paper called amatl. Amatl was used to make flags and banners to decorate temples, streets and homes.

Ay Mujer is the creation of Yreina Flores, a talented graphic designer I found on Etsy who creates custom papel picado banners and flags for weddings, bridal showers, birthdays and many other celebrations. Her work has recently been featured in the following publications; Martha Stewart and Brides magazine and all of her creations are hand crafted with lots of love and attention to detail. Yreina's desire is to share her cultural pride and bring beauty into the world through her art.

For a fun and festive addition to any celebration look no further than Ay Mujer!

Vendor Spotlight | Firefly Events

2009-10-27T21:02:00.000-07:00

We recently conducted an interview with Nadine Sandeluss of Firefly Events, a company providing bachelor and bachelorette services for the San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego areas. Firefly Events allows you to build your own Bachelor Party, Bachelorette Party, or Bridal Shower package or choose from one of their pre-packaged deals. I just love their tag line "get ready to make memories, not secrets".

What makes Firefly Events so unique from the rest? Hmmm... it's not James' winning smile... so it must be because we eliminate the stress of planning a high class bachelorette or bachelor party. We spent a lot of hours finding the best vendors for each bachelorette package we offer. We've made the calls, visited the venues, and simplified the process for our customers. After deciding on a package, The Maid of Honor or Best Man can send out an email invite through their custom event page. Each guest can then log-in and pay for their own seat and contribute toward the bride or groom's seat. In addition, we give them access to a deals page full of discounts from our favorite bachelor/ette boutiques, information on the area (late night munchies, pharmacies to buy headache pills at 3 in the morning, clubs ,pubs, etc), and a list of who's going. They can also print off their itinerary for the day(s). Our job is to handle the details so they can have some FUN!

What is your most popular bachelor package? Our most popular Bachelor package is probably False Starts, it's a mini grand prix on go-Karts then a tour of some local breweries and yes, they have to go racing BEFORE the drinking. You'd be surprised how many people ask that.

What is your most popular bachelorette package? Our most popular Bachelorette package is: Platinum - Chocolate Vixens - Chocolate Making and Pole Dancing - Who can turn down that much chocolate and a little female empowerment? Can you mix and match services? YES! We're here to put together a bachelorette package that you want. We're not going to force feed you something we think you want.

Do you create custom packages? YES, you can customize any bachelor or bachelorette party package free of charge. If you don't see what you don't see what you are looking for or the location, just ask. If we don't have it, we'll find it!

How did Firefly Group Events get started? Coming from England, stag and hen weekends are massive, everyone organizes their bash through a company like Firefly. I really wanted to work for myself. I love event planning and I have a background in Team Building and travel. This business seemed like the perfect fit. James works on a lot of ropes courses when he's not programming or designing. He mentioned that we could run bachelor/ette parties through the ropes courses. Once I told him about the bachelor party businesses in England we started devising our plan to conquer the world. We brainstormed, researched, and then James started building the website. While he worked on that I tracked down all the vendors that we use today. During all that we also met with the owner of a similar company in London. He helped point us in the right direction. It was a LOT of work but we wanted to make sure we could offer a solid product.

What new trend have you seen or started for bachelor/ette parties?
A lot of people are interested in joint bachelor and bachelorette events (Jack and Jill) - cooking parties and ropes courses are the most popular. They have a joint party in the day and then go their separate ways in the evening. We're also seeing a lot of people that are trying to avoid the traditional drunken mess. They're looking for a way to have some fun and make some memories, not secrets. Lately there's been some interest in documenting the party by having a professional photographer along as well.

Image of the Week | Poser Image

2009-10-26T15:12:00.001-07:00

This week's image comes to us courtesy of Poser Image, another talented professional who was at Engage09, the Encore. While our encounter was incredibly brief, Erik sent me a very nice email last week to say hi and introduce his work. I had a chance to check out his website and blog, where I found this very cool shot.

Enjoy!

Lovely Details | Bridal Bouquets

2009-10-19T23:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new series: "Lovely Details", where I will feature items that make me feel all warm and tingly inside. This week's lovely details are bridal bouquets, one of my personal favorites....enjoy!

1st. pic: Image by: Tu Photography, Bouquet by Asiel Design
2nd. pic: Image by Stephanie Williams, Bouquet by JL Designs

1st. pic: Image by Lyndsay Undseth, Bouquet by Amy Burke Designs
2nd. pic: Image by J ennifer Skog, Bouquet by Asiel Design

1st. pic: Image by Lisa Lefkowitz, Bouquet by Nancy Liu Chin
2nd. pic: Image by Angie Silvy, Bouquet by Hunt Littlefield

Fab Find Friday | BE WED, A Modern Wedding Planner & Organizer

2009-10-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

I often times get asked by my brides; should I purchase a wedding planner even though I have you? I always say yes, because while I will keep them on track from the time they hire me to the moment they walk down the aisle, a good planner keeps them personally organized and allows them to create their own personal to do list for the wedding. While perusing the web for fab finds I came across Evotive, a website that offers BE WED, A Modern Wedding Planner & Organi zer.

BE WED is the first eco-friendly wedding planner that helps couples ensure their wedding planning process is strategic, sustainable, and personal. A snippet from their website; "Whether you’re planning the wedding yourselves, or working with a consultant, this creative system has everything you need to be inspired, informed, and organized while you design a meaningful event that’s a true reflection of your relationship and commitment."

This statement could not be more true, as I am a firm believer of creating unique events that are a true reflection of who my clients are as a couple. For those brides looking for something clean, fresh and modern, BE WED is the planner to buy!

Image of the Week | Brandy J Photography

2009-10-15T15:45:00.001-07:00

I recently got back from Engage09, the Encore in Las Vegas where I had the pleasure of meeting a slew of talented professionals, one of them being Sticky Rammel of Brandy J Photography.

While we only chatted for a brief moment, I made a mental note to self to check out his website upon my return home. After checking out the work of Sticky and Brandy, who is his wife, I came across the most charming image I've ever seen of a flower girl with the ring bearer.

This husband and wife duo sure know how to pick em and who knows maybe they'll be capturing the wedding of these two 20 years from now...enjoy candidness at it's finest!

Events | Most Ridiculous Event Ever & Engage09 The Encore

2009-10-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

I have a busy week ahead of me....I am beyond excited to be attending the Most Ridiculous Event Ever, hosted by Mindy Weiss in L.A. and then I am off to Las Vegas for Engage09 The Encore, a luxury wedding business intensive hosted by Rebecca Grinnals and Kathryn Arce.

The Most Ridiculous Event Ever: I am very much looking forward to hearing such talented professionals whom I've admired in my industry for quite some time now speak. I am eager to learn from such pros and get to know what sets them and their events apart from the rest. I am hoping to broaden my knowledge in this industry by learning from those who are considered experts or trend setters in their field.

I am very much interested in the design aspect of a wedding, since aside from planning and coordinating events, I also offer event design. This is a passion for me, as I am most proud of creating events that are a true reflection of who my client's are. While I am looking forward to hearing all of the speakers, I think the two people I am most excited to hear speak, are Antonia van deer Meer, who will be discussing Upcoming Trends for 2010 and Elizabeth Messina, who's work I've admired for several years now. I was quite fortunate to hear Elizabeth speak last year in Las Vegas at WPPI and she was so inspiring. Another important topic being discussed that will help me as an event designer is “Getting your Wedding into a Magazine”. As I continue to build my brand and submit weddings with my photographers for editorial consideration, it is important to understand what editors look for when publishing weddings.

For those seeking personal and business development, Engage09 the Encore is the place to be. This luxury intensive offers a more intimate setting to engage and network with experts in our industry. I will be joined by 100 other wedding professionals from around the world, who like me seek to continue success in their business by means of personal and professional development. I am very much looking forward to seeing Sean Low again, who I had the pleasure of meeting a few months ago at my local WIPA meeting. His talk was so inspiring that I made immediate changes to my business plan and the services I offer shortly after. Sean made me realize that what we do is an art, and we need to define and own our art. Joining Sean on the panel of speakers will be other seasoned professionals, such as Marcy Blum, world renowned event planner and entertaining expert and Simon T. Bailey, author of the book Release Your Brilliance, the Four Steps to Transforming Your Life and Revealing Your Genius to the World.

Simply Wed | Stacy and Mark

2009-10-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Stacy and Mark....stay tuned for images of their beautiful day!

Image of the Week | F.C. Wong Photography

2009-10-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

This week's image comes to us courtesy of my good friend, F.C. Wong Photography. The shot was taken in Aruba and the expressions on the bride and groom's face are quite priceless.....I love a couple who will do anything for the perfect shot!

Vendor Spotlight | Melons Catering

2009-10-01T23:46:00.001-07:00

Another vendor we use quite frequently; Melons Catering & Events, and it's no wonder... their food is delicious! Melons will work with you to create the perfect menu for your wedding. Whether you are planning a multiple course meal or a cocktail reception, their experienced staff will work with you every step of the way. Melons has been in business since 1983 and is a preferred vendor at many of San Francisco's premiere venues.

Visit their website to view sample menus including Asian fusion, Mexican fiesta, bbq, and dessert buffets all of which are sure to make your mouth water. Don't see what you are looking for? Melons will work with you to create an innovative personalized menu using the freshest ingredients. They also provide many other services such as beverage service, rental equipment and wedding cakes to help assure your day goes smoothly.

We love Melons and look forward to many more fabulous events with them!

Image of the Week | Janae Shields Photography

2009-09-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

This is why I love little ones in the bridal party! Talk about a kiss....this little guy sure knows what he's doing and the bride seems to be enjoying every moment of it. This delightful image comes courtesy of my dear friend, movie buddy and talented photographer, Janae Shields.

Fab Find Friday | Luna Bazaar Parasols

2009-09-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

If you are having an outdoor summer wedding, you gotta have parasols! Your guests will thank you for the shade... plus there just darn cute! Luna Bazaar has over 100 different styles in over 40 colors so it's impossible not to find one you love. And at $8 buck a piece they won't break the budget.

Luna Bazaar also carries paper parasol lamp shades, a cool alternative to the traditional round paper lantern. The lovely lamp shades come in various colors and would look great hanging over a dance floor! Check them out!

I love how parasols made for these great shots...images courtesy of Jennifer Kloss Photography

Happy Friday!

Real Wedding | Mai-Anh and David

2009-09-23T23:55:00.001-07:00

I love working with couples that have a true sense of style, one that is clean, fresh and modern. Mai-Anh and David where no exception to that. Their wedding day started off with a traditional Vietnamese ceremony in the morning and ended with a fabulous affair at the Bentley Reserve banking hall in San Francisco.

Originally part of the 1924 Federal Reserve, the Banking Hall is now a prestigious and versatile event space or a designers playground as I call it. Mai-Anh and David's wedding was filled was lots of fun details, such as an ice bar that displayed ceviche shooters, a bamboo martini luge serving cosmos and apple martinis, red velvet cupcakes, a gelato bar featuring green tea and mango gelato and cream puffs from one of my local favorites, Beard Papas.

Other fun elements included a photo booth where guest got to snap candids dressed in silly hats and glasses and a scrapbooker who helped guest create a custom guestbook for the bride and groom featuring well wishes and images taken in the photo booth. I truly enjoyed working on this wedding and designing an affair that was a true reflection of who Mai-Anh and David are as a couple; foodies with a passion for all things sweet, fun loving, silly and charismatic.

Here's a lovely review that Mai-Anh and David left for me:

"So I hear that planning a wedding can be incredibly stressful and chaotic, but with Michelle (a.k.a. MB) in our corner, not a drop of sweat graced my forehead. On the days leading up-to our wedding, the most common comment wasn't "Congratulations", but rather "You two look sooo relaxed!"

For a time-crunched and creatively-challenged couple, MB proved to be a true live saver. We opted for MB's full wedding package and over the course of 13 months we met with MB on numerous occasions to plan our Big Day. MB put a ton of energy into understanding the dynamics of the relationship between now-wife and I, and ultimately crafted an event to match our unique personalities. MB and her team handled everything from scheduling vendor meetings, contract management, design/theme/decor, day-of time line, etc.

It goes without saying that our wedding day went off without a hitch and far surpassed each and every one of our expectations. MB created a truly stylish, modern, and contemporary wedding event that I think about everyday and can't help but smile."

Thank you to Mai-Anh and David for allowing me to be a part of your special day!

Fab vendors involved in their wedding:
Venue: Bently Reserve, San Francisco
Photographer: Augie Chang
Videography: Andrew Hsu, Studio MSV
Hair & Makeup: Maria Chang, PMA Style
Caterer: Melons Catering
Florist: Asiel Design
Lighting & Draping: Enhanced Lighting & Sound
Rentals: Hartmann Studios & La Tavola Fine Linen
Lounge Furniture: Blueprint Studios
Ice Bar: Clear Memories
Cupcakes: Cake Coquette
Cream Puffs: Beard Papa's
Photo Booth: Light Sky Booths
Paper Luxuries: Cards de Luxe
DJ: Shammy Dee

Fab Find Friday | Buttercream Bee

2009-09-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

Another great find courtesy of Etsy....yes we heart this website, there's no doubt about that...

Personalize your cupcakes with a custom beaded cupcake flag! Buttercream Bee has come up with the perfect way to set your cupcakes apart... these little flags are custom-designed, printed, hand-assembled and topped with a coordinating bead. They can be stuck atop cupcakes, cake slices, or other sweet treats.

So cute!

Happy Friday,
Mel

Image of the Week | Ed Pingol Photography

2009-09-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

Sometimes words aren't necessary when you have such an amazing image, such as this one. This week's image comes to us courtesy of Ed Pingol Photography.

Enjoy!

Simply Wed | Stephanie and Jed

2009-09-13T22:54:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Stephanie & Jed...stay tuned for images of their beautiful day!

Fab Find Friday | Vacations to Go!

2009-09-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

Want to go on a fabulous honeymoon but spent all your money on the wedding?

Now you can go on an amazing honeymoon without the crazy price tag. Check out Vacations To Go which lists hundreds of cruises on major cruise lines, all for at least 50% off the original price. They offer cruises all over the world, everywhere from the Caribbean to Alaska, the Mediterranean to Asia. Browse the website for a complete list. All cruises depart within 90 days so booking is a bit last minute, but so worth it to save big bucks!

Happy Travels,
Mel

Vendor Spotlight | Hartmann Studios

2009-09-03T11:07:00.000-07:00

We love Hartmann Studios!

We use them for many of our events and they are amazing! Hartmann is a full service design center and rental company located in Richmond, CA. They have anything you could possibly need from linens to lounge furniture, lighting to tenting, to make your event a memorable one. You name it, they have it!

Visiting their warehouse is really an awesome experience. Their design center allows you to play with linens, china, glassware, flatware, chairs and many more accessories that will help you create the perfect tabletop design for any event. It's truly a designers playground, as I've spent countless hours in their design center creating fabulous tablescapes for my clientele. You can also walk through their warehouse to view all kinds of lounge furniture, props and decor. They even have a 9000 square foot greenhouse that holds everything from topiaries to evergreens to palms. It's impossible not to leave inspired!

Hartmann's friendly staff is always willing to go above and beyond to help make your ideas become reality. Our extended tagline is: "taking your visions to the next stage using our stylish interpretation", and Hartmann Studios definitely allows us to do that for our client's. They do a great job of giving personal attention and we can't thank them enough for providing us with great stuff over the past few years. For more information on Hartmann Studios, check out their website to view their vast selection of rentals and learn more about how they can help you on your next event.

Simply Wed | Rocio and Nick

2009-09-03T10:51:00.001-07:00

Congratulations Rocio & Nick...stay tuned for images of their beautiful day!

Image of the Week | Jerry Yoon Photography

2009-08-31T22:41:00.000-07:00

This week's image is full of sweetness and comes to us courtesy of Jerry Yoon.

The bride in this image is actually the sister of one of my current brides and her facial expression says it all, but if I had to guess what she was thinking at the time and pick one word to describe that thought, it would be....gotcha!

Fab Find Friday | Brownie Pops

2009-08-28T14:39:00.000-07:00

Another delicious find...brownies dipped in dark, milk or white chocolate all wrapped up in a neat little package on a stick. A great late night sweet for your guests to munch on! Back in March of this year I had the pleasure of attending Classic Party Rentals' Open House. One of my favorite treats was the lollipop garden created by Catered Too! They made brownies, cheesecake, and rice crispy treats into lollipops, dipped them in chocolate, covered them in sprinkles and put them on display. What a fun and creative idea, not to mention appealing to those with a sweet tooth.

If a whole lollipop garden isn't in the budget, these fabulous brownies can also be found on beau-coup.com. You can customize them with monograms or your choice of several different designs. Just don't forget the milk!

Happy Friday,
Mel

Real Weddings | 2008 Favorites

2009-08-25T14:40:00.001-07:00

Sorry I've been missing in action, but I took a few days off for some much needed R&R time. Now that I am back, I thought it would be nice to share some of my favorite images from my 2008 weddings.

Enjoy!

Main image by Tu Photography
1st. row images by Jennifer Skog and Tu Photography
2nd. row images by Jennifer Skog
3rd. row images by Angie Silvy
4th. row images by Jennifer Skog
5th. row images by Angie Silvy
6th. row images by Jennifer Skog
7th. row images by Lisa and James
8th. row images by Angie Silvy
9th. row images by Jennifer Skog
10th. row images by Jennifer Skog

Image of the Week | Lisa n James Photography

2009-08-11T14:21:00.001-07:00

Strike a pose!

That's exactly what Lisa of Lisa n James told these lovely ladies to do when she captured this fun shot. When I saw this image, I knew I had found my next candidate for "Image of the Week". The photo was taken on the day of the wedding during the the time the bride and her bridesmaids where getting pampered and they couldn't of been more ecstatic to strut their stuff.

I simply love all of the facial expressions that were captured in this photo and I could not wait to share it with all of you...hope it brings a smile and a bit of laughter to your day, as it did for me.

Tokyo Lounge | Part 2

2009-08-11T00:55:00.001-07:00

Earlier this year I brought you Tokyo Lounge, a photo shoot I collaborated on along with Asiel Design, En hanced Lighting & Sound and Blueprint Studios for YWD magazine. In the initial blog post I included a video, that was created by AVR Films and now I'd love to share with you some beautiful images taken by Tara Arrowood.

Enjoy!

Fab Find Friday | Annie Girl Couture Creations

2009-08-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

Last week we featured some fabulous bridesmaid dresses! Continuing the theme of bridal party attire, this week our spotlight is on Annie Girl Couture Creations. If you have a flower girl in your bridal party, you have to check them out! Seriously some of the cutest flower girl dresses I've ever seen! You can find the dresses at Bella Bridesmaid in San Francisco, or you can find them on their website. The dresses come in tons of colors but if you don't find what you are looking for they will custom color match or order specialty fabrics for you. Each dress is a truly one of a kind creation any flower girl would love to wear!

Happy Friday....Mel

Denise and Paul | Simply Engaged

2009-08-06T00:31:00.001-07:00

Denise and Paul have to be one of the cutest couples ever, or maybe I am just biased because I've had the pleasure of working with them over the past year and helping them plan for their special day. It's been a lot of fun creating all the little details that will make their wedding unique and special, not to mention utterly stylish. Their wedding will take place next month at the beautiful Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, CA and there will be lots of lovely details to compliment their chic style and fun personalities.

Here are some shots from their San Francisco engagement session with Kelvin of Geoff White Photographers....enjoy!

Image of the Week | Tinywater Photography

2009-08-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

How do you get a shot like this?

Simple...your name has to be Caroline and Dan, the creative force behind Tinywater Photography. These two are not only amazing photographers but they are incredibly humble people, down to earth, who have a profound love for saving dogs...they have four fur babies of their own. After viewing this photo I couldn't help but gasp, I was literally in awe trying to figure out how one could capture such a beautiful moment.

Thank you Caroline and Dan for the eye candy. I couldn't be more happy to feature your shot as our "image of the week"....you guys totally rock!

For more jaw dropping images, visit Tinywater on the web at www.tinywater.c om

Fab Find Friday | Chloe & Reese

2009-07-31T09:26:00.000-07:00

Looking for dresses for your bridal party that will please even the pickiest bridesmaid?

Check out Chloe & Reese! They just launched Ardour by Chloe and Reese, a new line designed specifically for bridesmaids and the bride to wear to weddings, rehearsal dinners, engagement parties or special events. The Ardour Collection features a range of party frocks, full length-dresses and high-waisted skirts. With a variety of stylish and chic silhouettes; from a flirty one-shoulder silk faille party frock, to elegant floor-length taffeta gowns, sweet silk dresses trimmed in feminine ruffles, to classis strapless sheaths.

They also specialize in helping guests find attire to wear to the wedding. Their dresses are very customizable coming in a variety of colors and fabrics ranging from brocades to classic wools, of the moment plaids, lush velvets, silks and satins. Ardour's customization will offer something special for every bride, and every budget. Plus they're just adorable! Your bridesmaids will definitely want to wear these dresses again! Customize your bridal party here.

Happy Friday!

Mel

Image of the Week | Scarlett Lillian

2009-07-27T12:55:00.001-07:00

What do I love about this picture? Ummmm, let me think....everything!

This blissful image was taken by the talented Scarlett Lillian, who I had the pleasure of meeting a few weeks ago at my Promises and Pearls bridal soiree. Scarlett was visiting from Florida and she had emailed me ahead of time to see if she could attend my soiree while in town, since she had heard about it through a mutual videographer friend of ours. I had actually heard of Scarlett Lillian back in February when I attend WPPI in Las Vegas and happened to be at a party she was hosting inside the MGM. At the time I had no idea who she was, but it sure was a great party. I hope she doesn't mind that I crashed her party...but then again it's not crashing if someone else who is invited invites you, right???? :0)

Scarlett's tagline is Stylish.Glamorous.Passionate and that couldn't be more true of her work. For more on Scarlett, click here for her website and here for her blog.

Enjoy!

Fab Find Friday | Family Attic

2009-07-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

Another great Etsy find! Family Attic specializes in creating vintage style signs which are handmade by creator Nana. Nana is a 5th generation carpenter and says "sawdust is in her veins" She's right, she's got a knack for these gorgeous signs!

Don't let your guests get lost going from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception... These fabulous signs will point them in the right direction. There are many different styles to choose from and Nana will customize your signs to say whatever you would like. Plus you get a deal when you purchase multiple signs. A great way to add a personalized detail to your wedding!

Happy Friday!

Mel

Vendor Spotlight | Cake Coquette

2009-07-23T00:04:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a cake designer look no further than Cake Coquette! They specialize in wedding, birthday and theme cakes. We absolutely love working with Cake Coquette designer, Gabrielle Feuersinger. She is a real sweetheart and works closely with our clients to give them fabulous cakes. Gaby trained in baking and pastry at the California Culinary Academy and worked for the prestigious Cake Divas in Los Angeles before opening Cake Coquette in San Francisco in 2007.

Her cakes are not only delicious but breathtakingly beautiful. I swear, every time she delivers a cake to one of our weddings I am more and more impressed! She also makes a mean cupcake! Just recently she was kind enough to make cupcakes for our annual bridal soiree Promises and Pearls. Her brightly colored mini cupcakes were the perfect finishing touch to our candyland themed desert bar. I had the pleasure of sampling a few cupcakes that night, and I must say her red velvet cake is to die for!

Check out Cake Coquette to view photos of Gaby's fabulous work and check out her blog for photos of her most recent masterpeices.

Image header by Sabine Scherer
First row images by Elizabeth Messina
Second row images by Augie Chang & Angie Silvy

Image of the Week | Jasmine Star

2009-07-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

I think it's time for a new dog!

Hubby and I have been wanting a new dog for quite some time now and we think we're ready to go to our local SPCA and adopt one. We think it's time our little Bichon-Frise (bonds) has a cuddle buddy to snuggle up to, since we currently fill that void. Don't get me wrong, I love the snuggling she offers but I can't be home all day to cater to her needs, so I think having a companion to keep her company would be nice.

Soooo, without further ado I bring to you my favorite image of the week courtesy of Jasmine Star Photography. The image below is of Jasmine Star's dog named Polo. I've been a fan of Jasmine's work for quite some time now and I follow her blog religiously. Jasmine is a Southern California based photographer and her work is colorful, artsy and sinfully sweet!

Enjoy!

Jasmine's website
Jasmine's blog

Blog Love

2009-07-19T18:09:00.000-07:00

MB Wedding Design and Events has been getting some serious blog love lately and we thought we'd share with you, our readers, all of the sites we've been featured on over the past few weeks.

Promises and Pearls, A Bridal Soiree featured on The Flirty Guide Blog

Josey & Christian's Wedding featured on San Francisco Style Unveiled

Candy Land Dessert Display featured on The Flirty Guide Idea Gallery

Promises and Pearls, A Bridal Soiree featured on A ugie Ch ang's Blog

Fab Find Friday | Ice Cream Truck Rental

2009-07-17T18:33:00.000-07:00

Remember those hot summer afternoons from your childhood, playing outside in the scorching sun when suddenly... you hear a familiar song! And there it is like an oasis in the desert... The ice cream truck! People of all ages love a visit from the ice cream truck, so why not surprise your guests with a sentimental treat?

That's right, you can rent an ice cream truck for your wedding thanks to Ice Cream Truck Rental of San Francisco. Trucks can be rented for the day, or if a truck is out of the budget you can rent an ice cream cart. You can even rent a server for an additional fee. Escape the ordinary dessert bar... serve up a cold creamy treat!

Till next Friday,
Mel

Image of the Week | Jennifer Skog

2009-07-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

I heart Jennifer Skog!

Not only is Jen a good friend of mines but she's an AMAZING photographer. She was recently nominated by Blu Domain for their photographer of the year award and you can clearly see why....because her work is stunning to say the very least.

In the image below Jen not only manages to capture the beauty and grace of this mother-to-be, but the image itself is very angelical. While natural lighting may have played a factor in this photo, it was Jen's eye that created this masterpiece.

To view more images from this shoot, click here.

Events | An Invitation For Mom

2009-07-12T15:25:00.000-07:00

My friend Kathy Goodman of Well Rehearsed is partnering with Neiman Marcus to design a fashion event for MOMS.

The event is specifically for Mothers-of-the-Bride & Groom to help them in selecting their rehearsal dinner and wedding day attire. Kathy says "I typically find that moms have such a difficult time finding "just the right dress", so I wanted to create a special event just for them."

Details about the event:
When: June 25, 2009 at 11:30am.
Where: Neiman Marcus, Stanford Shopping Mall - Gift Gallery, Level 3

For more information please visit: www.wellrehearsed.com/moms

Fab Find Friday | Emma Gordon London

2009-07-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness for Etsy! Without it I might never have found these fabulous clutches by Emma Gordon London.

All pieces are handmade in London and can be found in boutiques around the world. Thanks to Etsy you can have one without traveling the globe. Creator Emma Gordon describes her style as "ladylike with a twist." I couldn't agree more! I am in love with this satin clutch with the gorgeous flower embellishment. So cute!

She will make all of her clutches in any color combination to match your wedding colors. Plus she offers special pricing when you order multiple pieces, so you can deck your whole bridal party out with these hot clutches! Your bridesmaids will be lucky to get such a great gift! Check out Emma Gordon London's store on Etsy to see more styles and colors.

Happy Friday!

Mel

Events | Promises and Pearls

2009-07-07T00:25:00.001-07:00

Join us this coming Wednesday for a bridal soiree not to be missed. Promises and Pearls is a boutique soiree hosted by yours truly MB Wedding Design & Events and Especially Yours for bride and grooms.

Register at www.promisesandpearls.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

Image of the Week | Augie Chang

2009-07-05T22:49:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to bring you a new blog series entitled "Image of the Week." Every Sunday I will post an image that either inspires me, makes me cry or simply brings a big smile to my face. This week's image comes from a very talented photographer and a dear friend of mine, Augie Chang.

The image below is of my couple April and Joemar, taken two weeks ago on their engagement shoot in SF. April and Joemar will be getting married in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in October and Augie and I are very much looking forward to working together again.

Click on image for larger view......enjoy!

Fab Find Friday | Ossai Couture

2009-07-04T00:14:00.000-07:00

I met Zalikha and Liza of Ossai Couture a few months back at A Five Star Afternoon at The Four Seasons. They were so sweet and WOW are they talented! Their work is amazing and even more stunning in person. They custom make sashes, invitations, veils, headpieces and accessories and will work with you to create exactly what you are looking for. Looking for a bold and unique statement on your wedding day? The ladies of Ossai have you covered!

Visit their website to check out more of their beautiful designs. And be sure to sign up for their mailing list to be notified of bridal fairs and trunk shows they are participating in!

Mel

Cool Spots | uWink

2009-07-03T23:42:00.000-07:00

I've been in L.A. for the past week and while here I've come across some interesting spots, one of them being uWink. uWink operates interactive restaurants that allow customers to order food, drinks, games and other digital media at the table through touch screen terminals.

uWink is the creation of Nolan Bushnell, best known for being the founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theaters, and is justifiably revered as the "Father of the Video Game Industry". I stumbled across uWink on my way to visit the Chinese Theatre from my hotel, which is in the area. My family and I were hungry and my daughter suggested we pop into uWink because it looked cool. Cool indeed.....as we sat down we were given a 2 minute tutorial from the lovely hostess who guided us through the touch screen terminal and helped us order our drinks.

As she left to get our drinks we continued to order our food and we also began playing games. The terminal has a wide variety of games, from adult trivia to kid trivia and group games that can be played with the person sitting across you or with another table. Two hours later we found ourselves hooked and I must admit I didn't want to leave until I won a full round of millionaire trivia, since my hubby was beating me. Next time you're in L.A. I suggest checking out this cool spot, it's casual and fun and it could make for a great outing whether your with friends, family or that special someone.

Happy Travels,
MB

uWink's Hollywood location - main dinning room

uWink's easy to use touch screen terminal

UWink's Hollywood location - bar

Fab Find Friday | Luggage Tag Placecards

2009-06-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

I was flipping through Brides magazine this week when I stumbled across this great idea for a place card... Luggage tags!

They're colorful, fun and think of how great your place card table would look! These fabulous tags do double duty making a great favor as well. How perfect for a destination wedding!

Your guests will thank you for making their luggage easy to spot with these bold tags. The luggage tags pictured to the left can be found at Baekgaard and the one pictured below can be found at Vera Bradley.

Till next Friday!

Mel

Fab Find Friday | CMB Sweets

2009-06-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

We all know the best wedding favors are edible ones. And who wouldn't want to snack on a delicious all natural jam?

CMB Sweets makes over a dozen flavors of jellies and jams using only locally grown seasonal fruits. They come in 8oz and 2oz jars, both perfect gifts to give your guests. CMB Sweets' founder Carolina says the idea behind the company is, " to make fancy California food without the fancy California food price." A great idea indeed!

And if that wasn't enough to convince you, they're just plain cute! Get your jam on here.

Fab Find Friday | Flock Together

2009-06-12T00:47:00.000-07:00

As I've said in previous posts, I love feathers. And I love them even more as a fabulous hair clip! Flock Together designer Nadio Wahhab has done and amazing job creating hairpieces that can be worn casually or dressed up.

Imagine how stunning your bridesmaids would look wearing one of these gorgeous pieces, or what a great accessory they would make for the bride!

There are so many styles to choose from, you're sure to fall in love with one. Find your feathered hair fashion here.

Till next Friday!

Mel

2010 San Francisco Dream Wedding Giveaway

2009-06-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

San Francisco's top wedding vendors are giving away a Dream Destination Wedding valued at over $60,000. One lucky couple in love will win the wedding of their dreams. With a date set for May 14, 2010, prizes include everything a bride and groom need for the perfect dream come true.

Over 30 of the Bay Area's most sought-after wedding professionals have gathered forces to create a lavish wedding at one of San Francisco's most historical landmarks, for the winning couple along with their friends and family.

The winning couple will receive the following goods and services: wedding planner/event designer, rehearsal dinner for 25 guests at a popular San Francisco restaurant, wedding ceremony and reception venue, catered dinner, specialty rentals, shoes and dresses for the bride and her bridesmaids, spa treatments, hair and makeup, wedding cake, photography, videography, classical guitarist, jazz band, DJ/emcee, custom invitations and wedding stationery, specialty lighting, limo transportation, photo booth, wedding favors, and more...

The contest opens August 4, 2009, but information is available at http://www.sfdreamweddinggiveaway.com/.

Good Luck!

Events | The Boudoir Fashionista

2009-06-07T21:01:00.000-07:00

The Boudoir Fashionista
Where Elegance meets Lingerie on the Runway
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco
9:00pm. to 2:00am.
$7 entry fee

Hosted by:
MB Wedding Design and Events
DreamGirl Makeup by Tacha Scott
Melinda Le' Photography

Featuring the sounds of "7" with DJ Ruben

Video provided by Studio MSV

Drink Specialties and a Prize Giveaway

You can register for this event at:
www.boudoirfashionista.com

Fab Find Friday | Party Poms

2009-06-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

Party poms.....I love these!

I just purchased a few to hang on my patio for a barbecue, and what a difference! My boring patio now has spunk! You can hang them inside or outside on a patio or from a tree. They come in a ton of different colors and a variety of sizes. They don't come fully "bloomed" but are very easy to assemble and directions are included. What a fabulous addition to your wedding, shower, bachelorette party or a Sunday afternoon BBQ!

Party Poms can be found here.

Till next Friday!

Mel

YMCA Urban Services | Wine Tasting & Silent Auction

2009-06-03T21:51:00.001-07:00

Join me on Friday, June 12th. for a wine tasting and silent auction event benefiting YMCA Urban Services of San Francisco. Proceeds support over 38,000 at-risk youth and their families throughout the Bay Area.

I've had the pleasure of helping Urban plan for this event which is sure to raise funds for a great cause, so I hope you will join us next Friday at RF80 located in the Potrero Hill area of San Francisco.

Participating vendors & sponsors:
MB Wedding Design & Events
Gustavo Fernandez Photography
Thomas John Events
Studio MSV
Brassfield Winery
Cards de Luxe
Ron Grandia, A Different Kind of DJ
SVB Financial Group
Esurance
Hartmann Studios

To purchase tickets for this event, please click here.

Cheers!

2009-06-02T23:40:00.000-07:00

As I celebrate another birthday, I take a moment to reflect back on everything I've accomplished over the past year and I'd like to share the top 5 things I am thankful for and blessed to have in my life:

1. A loving family...my family is my biggest fan...my husband is very supportive of my business, my daughter is extremely patient with my work schedule and my dog loves me unconditionally, even if I occasionally forget to fill up her bowl with water in the morning.

2. Melanie and Annie, my two lovely associate coordinators who have helped MB Wedding Design & Events grow over the past year.

3. Friends...I am most thankful for the relationships I've developed and nurtured in the past year and for the countless amount of support and love I have received from people I consider my friends.

4. My client's....I've been fortunate enough to work with some amazing couples who put all their trust and faith into me when planning for their special day

5. Lost (the TV show)...for keeping me highly entertained and on the edge of my seat every Wednesday night.

Cheers to another great year!

MB

Fab Find Friday | Long Winter Farms

2009-05-29T10:24:00.000-07:00

If you know me, you know I am a chapstick FREAK!

I can't go ten minutes without applying a layer to my lips. And I'll take a handmade beeswax chapstick over a store bought brand any day. So of course I love Long Winter Farm's chapstick wedding favors. They come in tons of delicious flavors like peach, raspberry lime and orange honey or you can choose to develop a custom flavor and label to match your wedding colors.

You can also have a custom message added to the label. Your guests will think of you every time they chap up and have soft tasty lips for months to come!

Check out Long Winter Farms here.

Till next Friday!

Mel

Real Wedding | Amanda and Frank

2009-05-27T23:57:00.001-07:00

Could there have been a more perfect couple other than Amanda and Frank?

Well...I am a little biased because they were one of my favorite couples of 2008. From the moment I met Amanda I could tell she was a compassionate and caring person. Now meeting Frank was another story....business man on the outside, softy on the inside. Frank has a big heart and you could always see a twinkle in his eyes when he looked at Amanda.

Frank and Amanda came to me about 2 months prior to their wedding date with lots of details left to be finalized...from the venue to the decor, they needed some serious help getting their ducks in order and I was more than happy to assist them. They knew they wanted to have a classy and sophisticated affair to share with their loved ones, and I was more than happy to oblige. With a stellar team of vendors on board, Frank and Amanda's wedding turned out to be everything they wanted and more.

On a side note.....

While I don't normally share the personal issues that my couples often times face when planning a wedding, I do think it's important to note that in Frank and Amanda's case they both had more trials and tribulations than anyone should ever have to endure leading up to their wedding day. Frank's mother had grown ill in the process of planning their wedding and about 3 weeks away from their big day we almost had to postpone the wedding because her health had deteriorated even more. Then a day or two before the actual wedding Frank's dad fell and seriously injured himself, leaving him in the hospital and also unable to attend the wedding. Needless to say this was a very tough time for Frank and Amanda was by his side every step of the way.

I strongly believe the love they have for one another is what helped them pull through and make it to the alter.

Here's an email I received from Amanda a few weeks after their wedding:

Hi Michelle,

Thank you for the kind note. I'm sorry for the delayed response. Frank's mother passed and things have been chaotic. Although this has been a sad journey, I'm glad it's come to some closure. We attend her burial tomorrow and move forward from there. On a lighter note, thank you for your support in making our wedding such a very special day. It was so beautiful and we could not have achieved such an event without your help and the help of your staff. We are still receiving compliments on how beautiful the wedding was. Every detail was thought through and executed perfectly.

Thank you so very much!

Venue & Catering: Fairmont, San Francisco
Photographer: Michael Corsentino
Videographer: Justin Fone Productions
Florist: Amy Burke Designs
Cake: Fairmont, San Francisco
Lighting & Draping: Enhanced Lighting
Rentals: La Tavola Linen
DJ: Access Music DJ's
Harpist: Katherine Honey

Vendor Spotlight | La Cocina

2009-05-25T23:21:00.000-07:00

Last week we received a yummy package from La Cocina. La Cocina is a group of women-owned small businesses that operate out of a non-profit food business incubator kitchen in San Francisco.

The goodies can be custom made for wedding and party favors. They sent us a box full of delicious handmade treats, so of course I had to sample them all!

My personal favorites were Clairesquares's shortbread squares covered in milk chocolate and carmel and Gabrielle's Delight made by Sinful Sweets, pecan pie topping over a shortbread crust.

Check out their website to view all the mouthwatering treats made by La Cocina Entrepreneurs!

Sinful Sweets, Gabrielle's Delight and Clairesquares's Shortbread Squares

Featured Blog | Pink Blossom List

2009-05-22T22:29:00.000-07:00

My dream wedding is the featured blog post today on the Pink Blossom List, a modern guide to all things wedding decor and flowers. The Pink Blossom list consist of a panel made up of wedding experts, wedding fans, and just a bunch of great women who love to talk about all things beautiful, all things fun, and all things wedding related.

If you have not already visited the Pink Blossom List, I definitely suggest dropping by and adding it to your list of blogs to read. For more details on what my dream wedding would be like, click here.

Have a great weekend!

MB

Fab Find Friday | Absolutely Audrey

2009-05-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

I ran across Absolutely Audrey's website this week and fell in love with the newest form of jewelry... shoe jewelry. At first I was a bit skeptical, I mean, do shoes really need their own jewelry?

After browsing through the gorgeous vintage, chic and bridal collections of shoe clips I was convinced. Your shoes definitely need their own bling! The clips can be used on stilettos, wedges, sandals or flip flops. What a great way to dress up a plain shoe for a bride or her bridesmaids! They also make a great bridesmaid gift. Most pairs range from $20-$25.

Check out the photos and browse the website for more!

See ya next Friday!

Mel

MB Wedding Design & Events | Featured

2009-05-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

MB Wedding Design and Events has been featured on the following blogs this past week:

San Francisco Style Unveiled

Blog Post: Team Wedding - Jenny and Leo

Wishpot Wedding Blog

Blog Pos t : Guest Blog Post, Mee t MB Wedding Design and Events

Have a great weekend!

Fab Find Friday | Me and Matilda

2009-05-15T00:51:00.000-07:00

Spice up your groomsmen attire with a fabulous tie!

These classic ties with a twist come in many hot colors and styles and are made of linen, cotton or silk. Me and Matilda also makes bow ties for the little ones in your wedding party. Just think how adorable your ring bearer will look! Plus everything is handmade and very reasonably priced. Me and Matilda also offers ring bearer pillows and flower girl baskets.

Check out a few of the pictures below or cl ick here to view their site.

See ya next Friday!

Mel

Wedding Mapper | Ask-A-Bride

2009-05-09T15:39:00.000-07:00

Weddingmapper.com the people who brought you the ingenious way to map your wedding, have just launched a new interactive community called "Ask-A-Bride." The new community allows you to get wedding planning advice from professionals, brides and couples who are all local to the area. Through the site you can view tons of photos of real weddings, and get suggestions about local vendors, attractions and accommodations. It also features some helpful vendor management tools. It's a great site whether you are planning a local or destination wedding!

Fab Find Friday | Emplume

2009-05-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

I like details that are unusual and unexpected so when I saw these gorgeous couture feather bouquets by Emplume, I was in love! What a fabulous alternative to the traditional fresh flower bouquet.

Each bouquet is custom made to match your style. They also custom make bridesmaids bouquets, boutonnieres and ring pillows. These stylish bridal bouquets go for around $225 each... It's a splurge but it will last forever! Check out their website emplume.com for more amazing accessories.

See ya next Friday!

Mel

Introducing | Melanie

2009-05-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

A Bay Area native, Melanie Leinweber graduated from Sonoma State University with a degree in Communications emphasizing in Public Relations. She is currently working on a certificate in Event and Meeting Planning from San Francisco State University.

Melanie discovered a passion for event planning in college as an Events Intern for a non-profit after school program. After graduating, she started her career planning fund raisers and events for a non-profit high school for several years. Many crab feeds and golf tournaments later, Melanie decided to make the switch to planning weddings.

Melanie is one of our Associate Coordinators and I have had the pleasure of working with her for over a year now. Melanie has been a great asset to my company and I am very happy that she's offered to contribute to our blog. Beginning today, Melanie will have a weekly post called "Fab Find Friday", we hope you'll come and visit us every Friday to see what new treats Mel has in store for us!

photo by Melinda Le' Photography

Real Wedding | Starla and Jimmy

2009-05-01T23:35:00.000-07:00

Starla and Jimmy 's wedding took place last September on a beautiful and clear day in San Francisco. I met Starla about 9 years ago when I was in college, her and I had an anatomy class together and she was my lab partner. After college I lost touch with Starla and ran into her again during a site visit with a client back in 2006. At the time Starla's mom was getting re-married and she was helping her mom plan for her wedding and was conducting a walk-through at the venue I was at. I told her I had become a wedding planner and I gave her my card without any expectations that she would call. Lucky for me Starla saved my card and called me about a year later for her own wedding.

During one of our initial consultations I found out that Starla and Jimmy both had a profound love for Air Jordans....how profound? During one of my visits to their home they gave me a tour of their closets, which were filled with shoe boxes....Air Jordan shoe boxes....about 80 or so of them and it doesn't stop there. Additional shoe boxes were also stored underneath their beds. If I'd have to guess, Starla and Jimmy both have over 100 pairs of Jordan shoes combined and this is how profound their love is for Air Jordans.

While we didn't carry over the Jordan theme throughout the entire wedding, because Starla and Jimmy still wanted to maintain a classy and elegant look for their special day, we did manage to sneak in the infamous Jordan logo onto the cake. A big thanks to Gabby of Cake Coquette for creating such a unique and fun wedding cake, that was admired by many. I know it was a challenge, but you pulled it off with such style and grace....thanks lady!

Church: St. Patrick's in San Francisco
Venue: Jill Schnaps, San Francisco Design Center at th e Galleria
Caterer: Nico Martin Presents
Photographer: Hilary Hopkins
Videographer: Andrew Hsu, Studio MSV
Florist: Asiel Design
Cake: Cake Coquette
Band: The All Stars, Elle Music and Events
DJ: The Gomez Brothers
Rentals: Hartmann Studios
Additional Lighting: Elle Music and Events
Stationery: Marizette Paperie and Cards de Luxe
Transportation: Bridges Limousine

San Francisco | Style Unveiled

2009-04-27T21:12:00.000-07:00

There's a new kid on the block and their name is Style Unveiled. I could not be happier that they've come to San Francisco, as I was a follower of their Los Angeles version. Style Unveiled is a wedding resource guide that features the hottest fashions in bridal couture, the latest wedding trends and connects you the bride, with an elite group of vendors.

Click here to visit Style Unveiled

Save the Date | Promises and Pearls

2009-04-26T23:32:00.001-07:00

Jenny and Leo | Part 1

2009-04-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

Jenny & Leo from Justin Fone on Vimeo.

Wedding Planning & Event Design: MB Wedding Design and Events
Venue: Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa
Photographer: Jennifer Skog
Videographer: Justin Fone Productions
Florist: Asiel Design
Hair & Makeup: Maria Chang of Professional Makeup Artistry
Stationery Designer: Susanne Wong of Cards de Luxe
Rentals & Draping: Classic Party Rentals
Lighting: SWANK
Band: Universal Language

The Flirty Girl needs your help.....

2009-03-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

One of my good friends in the event industry, Stacie Tamaki, owner of the Flirty Guide needs your help!

Recently Stacie informed me that her cousin was diagnosed with Mylodysplasia, it's a bone marrow disease very similar to Leukemia and she is in urgent need of a Stem Cell/Marrow Transplant. Please read Stacie's blog The Flirty Guide for more info on Tami's condition or visit Helping Tami.org for more information a how you can help.

Tokyo Lounge | Part I

2009-03-05T17:07:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I was asked to coordinate a photo shoot for Your Wedding Day magazine. Of course I gladly agreed to be involved because I love the look and feel of the magazine. I was asked to partner up with one of my favorite floral designers, Asiel Design and our goal was to create a unique setting for their '09 Spring issue.

The photo shoot is featured in the current issue of YWD, which is on stands now, so make sure you grab yourself a copy. In Part II of Tokyo Lounge I will share details and photos from the shoot and also post the actual pages from the magazine, so you can see how beautiful our 3 page spread came out.

For now, enjoy the video that was created for us by my dear friend David Ethridge of A Video Reflection.

Location, Lighting & Draping: Enhanced Lighting
Photographer: Tara Arrowood, Arrowood Photography
Videographer: David Ethridge, A Video Reflection
Floral Design: Asiel Designs
Furniture: Blueprint Studios

Sweet Love by the Bay

2009-03-02T00:12:00.000-08:00

Joann and Dennis's hot pink wedding took place on a beautiful day across the bay. Their ceremony was held at the chapel on Treasure Island, with a reception to follow inside Casa de la Vista. The couple, who live in San Diego, chose Treasure Island for their destination wedding because of it's soaring views of the San Francisco bay and city skyline.

Joann and Dennis had us create a candy bar display that Mr. Willy Wonka himself would be proud of and they rightfully named their candy bar, the "Candy Shoppe". While I personally was not on board to oversee the day of duties, my two amazing Associate Coordinators Francisco and Annie executed everything perfectly and made sure the day went off without a hitch!

Enjoy the photos below of Joann and Dennis's wedding by the bay!

Venue: Casa de La Vista, Treasure Island
Caterer: Savet Stupin, Union Street Catering
Photographer: Kelvin of Geoff White Photographers
Videographer: Andrew Hsu, Studio MSV
Hair and Makeup: Taylor Pham, Faces by Taylor
Florist: Poppy's Petalworks
Linens and Chairs Covers: Beverly Yip, Especially Yours Chair Covers
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
DJ & Lighting: Denon and Doyle
Officiant: White Robed Monks

Click on image for a larger view

Melinda Le' Photography presents the Boudoir Boutique - Part Deux

2009-02-23T01:44:00.000-08:00

Melinda Le' Photography is hosting another boudoir boutique and I thought I'd help out by spreading the word. If you're interested in a session view the information below and contact Melinda directly to reserve your space.

Hey Ladies and Gentlemen,

Yes, we're doing it AGAIN! We had such an exciting turnout that Melinda Le' Photography and Dream Girl Makeup have decided to team up again and host another Boudoir Boutique! So if you missed it, now is your chance to reserve your photo session.

Fellas, give that special someone a gift for the both of you! She gets an amazing day of pampering and you get a va-va-voom of your beautiful lady! ; )

Ladies, we've added time to the makeovers - you get:

a 90 minute session with the sensational MAC artist Tacha Scott
a one hour session in BRAND NEW studio of Melinda Le' Photography

With all the stress of the day to day grind and trying to make ends meet, wouldn't you like to spend a little time feeling like a "super model" for a day??? Then we welcome you to take advantage of this amazing offer!

Space is limited, so don't delay reserve your session today!

Please contact Melinda Le' Photography at 415.730.0407 or by email at melinda@melindalephotography.com

Wedding Wire 2009 Bride's Choice Award

2009-02-23T01:35:00.000-08:00

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that MB Wedding Design and Events has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

“We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

MB Wedding Design and Events would like to thank our past clients for speaking on our behalf and helping us win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!

Stonetree

2009-02-22T23:28:00.000-08:00

Stonetree Golf Club is located in Novato, CA and is a venue I hold near and dear to my heart. The views alone are one to be desired, as you can see Mt. Tamalpais from afar.

The venue was home to Mark and Melissa's chocolate colored wedding last June and it was also the setting for my own wedding back in the Spring of 2005. Since then I've coordinated several weddings at Stonetree and some of the staff who worked on my wedding are still around. It's always nice to see familiar faces and to work with people who played a part in making my own wedding so memorable. The staff at Stonetree is incredible and on Mark and Melissa's wedding day not only were they attentive but they were efficient. Everything went off without a hitch and the whole day just flowed so seamlessly.

From the martini bar to the cupcake/candy buffet, guests were treated to lots of goodies. Favors consisted of gourmet chocolate balls wrapped in mini organza bags and place cards were displayed on a bed of coffee beans that represented the couple's love of coffee. I had lots of fun helping Mark and Melissa incorporate their love of chocolate and coffee into their wedding day and for that I am grateful.

Enjoy the photos below of Mark and Melissa's chocolaty sweet wedding!

Venue: Stonetree Golf Club
Caterer: Elaine Bell Catering
Photographer: Dekker Photography
Videographer: Thomas Hughes Films
Florist: Passiflora Designs
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
DJ: Russ Catanach of Fog City Entertainment
Stationery: Hyegraph
Cake: Glass Slipper Gourmet
Cupcakes: Sibby's Cupcakes
Hair and Make-Up: Armando Sarabia of Get Your Do Up

Click on image for a larger view

A's inspired....

2009-01-30T22:23:00.000-08:00

What do black, white and green have in common? They are the colors inspired by the A's themed wedding that I designed for Charlene and Chris last October. Originally Charlene and Chris had come to me with just a color scheme of black and white, hoping I'd provide them with inspiration for a 3rd color to be implemented into their wedding.

After several conversations of what they enjoy to do on their free time and what speaks to them as a couple, I found out that they both love the A's. Immediately I was drawn to creating a modern, fun, yet elegant affair with subtle touches of their love for baseball and the A's. As an avid Giant's fan myself, I had a lot of fun designing this wedding, as I enjoy baseball as a whole.

I created the following unique and fun baseball concepts for their wedding day:

guestbook - guests autographed baseballs
escort cards - A's ticket stubs were tucked into a tray full of dirt and gravel

table numbers - single baseballs displaying the table number sat on a bed of grass
table menus - score cards

I had the pleasure of working with some of my favorite vendors for this event as well as some new ones, such as Lisa and James, who photographed the event.

Enjoy the photos below of Charlene and Chris's A's inspired affair!

Venue: San Francisco Design Center at the Galleria
Caterer: Melons Catering
Photographer: Lisa n James
Videographer: Studio MSV
Florist: Passiflora Designs
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Aerialist Act: Trapeze World
Band: Keith Johnson All Stars
Stationery: Cards de Luxe
Cake: Schubert's Bakery
Hair and Make-Up: Sherrie Long

Click on image for a larger view

Featured on Love Notes

2008-12-16T22:55:00.000-08:00

I got an email today from one of my favorite photographers, Lisa Lefkowitz, letting me know that our 7-07-07 wedding we worked on together was recently featured on Love Notes, a blog created by the editors of Pacific Weddings magazine. The wedding was of Jackie and Matt's and it took place at the Fa i rmont Sonoma Mission Inn on one of the most popular wedding dates in 2007.

Visit Love Notes for photos of Jackie and Matt's colorful wine country affair and below is a full list of all the wonderful vendors that helped make this celebration a success!

Coordination & Event Design: MB Wedding Design & Events
Venue & Catering: Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn
Photographer: Lisa Lefkowitz
Videographer: Thomas Hughes Films
Florist: Richard Stuart
Cake: Patisserie Angelica
Rentals: Blue Water Party Rentals
Lounge Furniture: Designer 8
Music and Lighting: Elle Music & Events
Stationery: Paper Source

California Dreamin

2008-12-16T15:21:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know I promised you all that I would start bloggin in mid-November but I got a little side tracked and mid-November turned into mid-December. Now here I am bringing you one of the first of many wedding blog post.......so hopefully this will keep you all content, at least for now.

The first wedding I present to you was actually my first wedding of 2008 and it's the joyful celebration of Donna and Kenneth, who flew in from the tropical shores of Miami to get married in the city by the bay. The title of my post was a cute little phrase that was included in a belly band that was wrapped around their wedding invites. Donna and Kenneth welcomed 22 of their closest family and friends who traveled from all over the U.S to join them in this celebration that took place at the Hotel Vitale. What drew Donna to this hotel were the clean lines, neutral tones and the very modern and urban decor that graced the hotel interiors. Their intimate celebration took place on the 6th. floor terrace, followed by a cocktail reception on the 7th. floor terrace and desserts inside the penthouse suite.

Since Donna and Kenneth both lived in Miami and were only able to make one trip out here prior to their wedding, the couple entrusted me to carry out all of the fine details for their wedding as well as selecting an A-list team of vendors to make the wedding complete. Their wedding day went off without a hitch and it was a very beautiful celebration for all to share.

Here are some great photos captured by Melinda Le' Photography:

Coordination & Event Design: MB Wedding Design & Events
Photographer: Melinda Le' Photography
Venue & Catering: The Hotel Vitale
Desserts: I Dream of Cake
Floral Design: Nancy Liu Chin
Hair and Makeup: Get Your Do Up
Lighting and Draping: Enhanced Lighting
Ceremony & Reception Music: Elle Music & Events
Lounge Furniture & Other Rentals: Blueprint Studios
Linens: Wildflower Linens
Favors: The San Francisco Chocolate Factory
Stationery: Cards de Luxe