Allyson & Jason's Glamorous Beach Wedding!

Well, I know some of you think I have taken FOREVER and a day to post this wedding but, honestly, there was soooo much to it and I couldn't whittle down what I wanted to share so, hey, it's my blog and I'll post as many pictures as I want to! ha! (photos donated by both Aaron Wulf and untagged photos by Jillian Mitchell - thank you guys!). The wedding was held October 9, 2010 at Dreams Puerto Vallarta.

Seriously awesome, amazing couples to start off the wedding season - first our multi-cultural sweet as honey couple Adam and Perla and, then, the dynamic, absolutely gracious Allyson & Jason - so blessed! Allyson came and basically told me she wanted BLING she wanted BANG she wanted WOWZERS and I said "SWEET!" Definitely a detail bride, everything she came to me with which she had already chosen was EXACTLY what I would have recommended had we started at the very very beginning (which we sortof did :) ...

Monogram

After discussing it a bit, we decided that the colors would be shades of pink with accents in silver and black. We were going for a hollywood glam but in a bit more vintage style. This was Allyson's design board:

THE CEREMONY

Can I heart heart heart my own ceremony? Of course I can! ;) Nothing says "vintage" to me more than roses, so we selected white roses for Allyson's bouquet - I found this amazing vintage brooch when I was out and about and it ended-up matching Allyson's gown - we had a lot of those "coincidences" going on through-out this wedding which was cherries and more cherries. Allyson had one maid of honor and we decided to do pale blush pink roses to really off-set against her beautiful silver-gray bridesmaid dress. Miniature pale pink roses were chosen for Jason's bout and I am an accent girl - so anytime I can find a cool accent and have a place to put it I do, which is how that beautiful crystal accent found its way on Jason's bout. We made flower girl purses out of beautiful pink hand-beaded lace. The stage was set!

Bridal Bouquet

Bridesmaid Bouquet

Groom Bout

Flower Girl

As guests arrived they were greeted with a sign and some flip-flops to change into so as not to get their heels dirty and full of sand ;).

Hand-painted clear plastic fans with black handles were placed on top of the ceremony programs one of Allyson's friends made-up for her. I wanted an amazing ceremony aisle and I think the boys did a fantastic job ...

All leading up to this absolutely amazing chuppah - seriously one of the prettiest ones I think we've ever done ... the chandelier base, believe it or not, I brought down from the States in my suitcase in pieces and we created it once I got home. I heart heart everything about this ceremony set-up.

THE COCKTAIL

We were intending on having part of the cocktail down below Oceana - but we hadn't really counted on the turtles hatching down there - so we moved it all up underneath the palapa and I think it worked out even better. A sign announced the event being held there that day. Silver vintage looking couches were brought-in, accented with black and pink and silver pillows and silver candle sticks were filled with miniature blush roses and surrounded by candles. We used the maracas as a decoration favor piece ;).

TEQUILA TASTING/ESCORT CARDS

I decided to kill two birds/one stone and we used the tequila shot glasses as containers to hold the escort cards. Signs introducing various tequilas, as well as the history behind it, were perched in silver photo frames.

THE RECEPTION

Six chandeliers filled with roses and crystals lined the center of the reception area. We also had candles with strung crystals hanging off to the side and gray curtains framing the entire space. Table marker names were based on Cold Play songs, as Allyson & Jason have a long history and their relationship story is tied-into Cold Play. Silver candlesticks went down the center of each table as well as floating hot pink roses. I found this amazing black/silver patterned napkins and we perched the hand-detailed crystal place cards inside each fork. Silver chivari chairs were brought up from the ceremony to complete the look.

THE DANCE FLOOR

Unfortunately, I can't seem to get my hands on a good photo of the dance floor chandelier which a local florist, Francisco, was kind enough to lend us. It looked awesome! We also transformed the wall behind the DJ with a cut-out which looked nice during the day but, at night, it was lit-up and looked spectacular. Down below the dance floor a cigar roller was in place along with a small cigar lounge for all to enjoy their cigars.

THE CAKE

I HEART HEART HEART this cake - I found a picture of something similar once and fell in love - I like the simplicity yet the absolute elegance of it and Memo, once again, outdid himself. Many of the crystals adorning the cake came from some old vintage jewelry of Dolores del Rio, a famous Mexican actress.

At the end of the evening Allyson and Jason had a bonfire and an ice-cream gathering out on the beach which was a great, relaxing way to end the evening. It was one of those picture-perfect weddings and I'm super happy we were a part of it. Coming-up Sanyu & Deke's Beach Bohemian Wedding and not long after Jennifer & Kent's Sayulita Vintage Wedding! Forward and onward!

Black Accents....

Well, September has come and gone and we're into October and you know what that means? It's the new season! Before I start inundating you with our own special orders and wedding designs, I thought I would share real quick a little research I did on black accents .... everywhere I went I was reading that "black is the new brown" ;).

INSPIRATION

I drew my inspiration from several different black/color combinations. I think there is something very powerful about black - so powerful, in fact, that, if not used wisely, I think the design starts to look too heavy and, thus, takes away the "romance factor." There were two color combinations that I just couldn't find good examples of - that was purple and black and orange and black. I just couldn't get away from images of Halloween .... although I do think an eggplant with black and white or the peach inspiration board I found with black and white would work.

Top Row: Loved the black plate and the bling bling on the pink napkin - just really love black/white/pink combinations, really. Something very retro about it :). {Wedding Wire} Speaking of retro, I love these dresses as bridesmaid dresses - would love to see an edgy/50's combined with Spanish flair wedding - Puerto Vallarta West Side Story, so to speak ;). {You and Your Wedding}

Middle Row: Of course, when thinking black accent, damask is everywhere. I love the combination with this olive green ribbon. {Monterey Wedding} Also love the ocean blue with black/white combination and these invites are divine. {Wed Printing} I also like a silver/black/white combination and I think these invites are perfect for the bride who loves handmade, stylish invites. {ScrappyKy at Etsy}

Bottom Row: Bottom we have two fab cakes - the first black/white/red cake I love for the leaf design. {Sedona Wedding Cakes} The second cake is a great floral design with wonderful pink floral accents - yum! {Bridal Inquirer} At bottom we have some great white/black accent wedding shoes. {Meg Belanger} I adore this simple, yet elegant centerpiece (and I think Gerbers are a little tricky to make elegant, but they really pulled this off!) {Stellina Events} Up top, we have an Asian inspired invite - really great ribbon touch. {Formal Invitations} And lastly, this is just a heart heart place setting with the black design plates and the dark pink flowers. {Pacific Weddings}

Touches of Red

I'll start with one of the trickiest combinations - because black and red are such dark colors, it takes a sleight of hand to ensure that neither one of these colors overpowers the whole setting. I was just thinking about this when I realized we have a black/white/red combination coming in November, so stay tuned ;).

I started with this picture because it was just too fabulous and deserved it's very own mention. Heart heart the dresses, love the bouquet - just fab {Brides}

This next design board is luscious and a perfect example of being just over-the-top awesome without going that just a bit more into the not-so-awesome. My heart goes pitty-pat with those bridesmaid dresses/wedding dress/bouquet combo. *sigh* {Vow Weddings}

I absolutely adore when someone can take something that could come-off cheesy and turns it into something that's worth kisses and hugs and that would go to this next design board. For those of you who think hearts and love are "oh so whatever", I dare you not to like this one! {Green Wedding Shoes}

Touches of Pink

One shade over and we have the pink/black/white wedding - I think silhouettes, given a touch of Mexican flair, could be a great touch. {Totally Tabletops}

A Touch of Peach

Tricky but doable is what I say about this color combo. I'm not completely sold, but this design board did make me stop and say "maybe....it could be done...." {Banquet Event}

A Shout of Yellow
I mean, could yellow be anything else?! Wowzers, there it is! I mean, a color that takes after the sun is a color to get your attention. I personally think there is a bit too much damask in this table setting but, over-all, this is a great presentation. {Bride CA}

This is just a great design board. I absolutely heart heart both the cake and the centerpieces! {Prima Dona Bride}

Touch of Green

I love using green accents - I don't know why exactly, other than it's just a great color and there are so many options that go along with it. This is a triple heart design board - I'm not sure which is better - the bouquets and bouts with black and white feathers or that amazing invite, the birdcage, the cake.... {Prima Donna Bride}

Just a touch of damask really makes this design board stand-out. I was surprised to find that the invite in this design board is the same invite design as my black/white/red wedding in November - I checked - it's not their name on the invite ;). {Life Love Lipstick}

A Touch of Blue

A very simple, yet remarkably powerful design board. Creative, artistic, whimsical... {Style Me Pretty - Of course!}

We have a month chock-full of maracas, shake me tags, and, of course, Mindi & Morgan's Candlelit Wedding design/decor which we have been working on for about a year! I also have some surprises in store for you this wedding season that we've been working on during the summer - so, hop on and let's ride this wedding season wave together!