Real Wedding – Chantel & Anthony

Last month I had the pleasure of coordinating, a long with a long list of amazing  wedding professionals here in San Diego, the wedding of the sweetest couple I have met in awhile.

Chantel & Anthony were married on a beautiful May day in our gorgeous city with 150 of their friends and family. The ceremony took place at The Founder’s Chapel at the University of San Diego, the perfect setting because the bride is a USD Alum.

The bride and groom were surrounded by old friends and close family. Some from faraway to see these two very fun-loving people get married in one of the most beautiful places on the west coast, San Diego!

I met Chantel for the first time this past winter. She had a few days to pick her the remaining vendors and get back to her home in NYC. The connection there was immediate because that’s my hometown!

We met only once. I knew at first glance, that this bride was not going to go for the cookie-cutter, run of the mill wedding. It was going to be chic, edgy, urban as well as romantic.Tall order! How can all those elements come together to create a chic Downtown San Diego wedding, you might ask? Just perfectly!

Chantel & Anthony’s engagement photos gave everyone and Idea of their tastes which happens to blend together seamlessly. With that they were able to create a wedding that was uniquely Chantel & Ant’s.

I loved every minute of helping Chantel bring all the details together to create the happiest day of her life (those are the brides words!). Take a look at some of the photos taken on this amazing day and enjoy! Oh and isn’t she gorgeous?

  How dapper do these ring boys with their vests and chinos?

I love the shot above…it’s just perfect!

Doesn’t that smile on Chantel’s face says it all!

Pictures where taking in our famous Gaslamp Quarter and…

in the amphitheatre located at Balboa Park, San Diego.

And now for the creative genius behind this gorgeous day…

Attire
Wedding Dress – Vera Wang
Bridesmaid  & Matron of  Honor Dress – Vera Wang
Grooms Suit -  Menswear House 
Groomsmen & Best Man – Menswear House 
Ladies Shoes – Christian Louboutin

Venues
Ceremony – The Founder’s Chapel at USD
Cocktail Hour/Reception – The Prado, Balboa Park

Vendors
Wedding Coordination – Enchanted Dream Weddings & Affairs  (me!)
Photographer -  Michael Svoboda & Janis Foley (via True Photography)
Florist – Rae Florae (Paula Anderson)
DJ – Music Phreek (Vynce Pham)
Trolley Car – Old Time Trolley
Music Trio – Caprice Strings
Wedding Cake – Flour Pour
Linen – A Perfect Table

Thanks for stopping by! Naomi

Real Engagement & Real Wedding Teaser

I cannot wait to post photos of Chantel & Anthony Ventolieri’s wedding I helped coordinate a few weeks ago with some fantastic local vendors here in San Diego. The wedding ceremony took place at The Founder’s Chapel at the University of San Diego and the reception at The Prado in Balboa Park. The couple, who resides in New York City, wanted a very chic yet edgy urban feel to their wedding. With only one meeting in person and many phone calls, the result was beautiful.

Chantel is not only GORGEOUS she is also one of the most fashion forward brides I have worked with. For their rehearsal night, Chantel wore her mother’s 1960’s ivory and lace wedding dress that she turned it into a very chic mini. Anthony was the definitely coolest groom I have met thus far. It was easy to see why these two make the perfect pair.

Here are a few photos of their engagement session in Chicano Park taken by Michael Svoboda of True Photography. The wedding photos are gorgeous, fun, and sweet. Stay tuned for more!

Naomi

Real Weddings – Varanasi, India

At EDWA we celebrate all that brings beauty into our lives. Our world has always celebrated the joining of two people whether it be a small ceremony at the Justice of the Peace or an extravagant affair with hundreds of people. A wedding, no matter where or how celebrated, brings out the beauty in all of us. Sharing photos of weddings in other lands, allows us to see and understand how weddings are celebrated all over this vast and diverse world we share.

I am so happy to share with you this wedding photographed by Christophe Viseux, a talented photographer from France. Anyone who visits Christophe’s blog understand that Christophe loves people and his enjoys his work. That love transcends from his lens to paper to share with us how he sees the world. Lucky for us, he sees the world beautifully. Here is what Christophe had to say about shooting this spectacular Hindu wedding in Varanasi, India…

 “For photographers, the major difficulty is that the Hindu wedding takes place at night. We must shoot all evening between different ambient sources (city lights, the hotel, the video team. …) And flash (used sparingly). Working in high sensitivity, slower speed and a higher aperture means more ‘waste’ but the result is sometimes very surprising. It exudes an atmosphere more intimate. A very rewarding experience …”

Naomi

Vintage Glam Axioo Photography

I love it when I am looking for something on the net and find something that just screams GORGEOUS. I was visiting San Diego Bridal Insider, when I saw this post originally posted on Ever Ours. Axioo Photography shot the couple’s photos and they are beautifully done.

The style of this photo shoot along with the clothes and props, give this photo shoot a burlesque, film noir, pin-up, vintage-glam feel. I love the colors, the light, the expressions on the couples face, and the uniqueness of it all.  Oh and check out the brides mustache necklace! Worth a Saturday post for sure! For more of this stunning shoot, click here.

{source: axioo photography}

Multicultural Wedding – Weddings Unveiled Magazine

I love this wedding! The colors, the decor, the tradition rich Hindu ceremony, and the genuine smiles by the bride and groom makes everything about this wedding featured in the Spring 2010 Weddings Unveiled Magazine perfect!

Oh, and how lucky is this couple? There were two ceremonies and two receptions! Click here to read about the proposal and to see more of this beautiful wedding and couple!

Parisian Country Wedding

Even before I began blogging, I would cut or print out weddings that I found most beautiful. I came across this particular wedding online at Veranda Magazine last spring.

The bride, interior designer and stylist Kelly d’Halluin, was inspired by an 18th-century pastoral festival called the fête champêtre. The wedding was held at the seventeenth-century Château de Breteuil in the countryside near Paris with cocktails in the gardens, candlelit dinner on the terrace — at a single long table set for three hundred guests — and music and dancing in the grand salons.

This wedding is definitely in my top ten all time favorite weddings.

Now for the gorgeous photos…

“Fuzzy baby almonds, pepper berries, and porcelain doves accompany birch-bark vessels and white and green florals down the length of the reception dining table.”

“Bouquet of sweet peas, roses, mint, mushrooms, and dainty grass racemes gathered in leaf-lined crystal compote.”

Nosegay of sweet peas, ferns, mushroom, and lamb’s ears.

“Menu cards were sealed with a wax impression from the d’Halluin chevalière, or family crest ring, banded with velvet ribbon, and embellished with a lamb’s ear.”

“Stéphane Chapelle mixed butterflies from Deyrolle, grouse feathers, orchids, ferns, mint, and peonies tied with antique ribbons.”

“The bride and groom.The bride wears a white plumed fascinator and a 1950s sculptural collar by Line Vautrin, while the groom dons a vest in Gainsborough velvet from F.Schumacher & Co.” Tres chic!

Source: Veranda, floral design by Stephane Chapelle,. styled by Kelly D’Halluin, produced by Carolyn Englefield

Another Perfect Wedding Shoot by Jasmine Star Photography

 I absolutely love this wedding shoot. Not only is the couple gorgeous, the photographer, Jasmine Star is phenomenal. She has an amazing eye for detail and what she wrote about the couple on her site is absolutely heartfelt and genuine. I am a huge fan.      Take a look why…

Photo credits: Jasmine Star Photography

Sunday’s Best – Multi Cultural Weddings

Source: Project Wedding

Two years ago, when I decided to leave corporate America to start my own event business I did a year of research. In doing so I realized there were many multi-cultural couples engaged, yet there weren’t many planners focusing on multi-cultural weddings or adding a service to their repertoire that would assist these couples. I decided, along with creating beautiful weddings for all couples, I would also help couples from diverse cultural backgrounds design weddings that would honor the culture and traditions of both partners in a respectful and beautiful manner.

This wedding, featured on Project Wedding and designed by Lisa Vorce of Oh, How Charming!, celebrates and recognizes the cultural diversity of the bride and groom. Elements from the Indian and Mexican cultures, respectively, come together to create a wedding  filled with beauty and meaning for the couple and their families.

The brides henna hands, décor, floral arrangements,and color scheme paid homage to the couple’s Mexican and Indian backgrounds.

The bride embraced tradition by wearing the gold wedding jewelry her mother wore 33 years earlier.

The rich colors of the sari and the bouquet match each other perfectly.

The bright colors used on the tablescape perfectly compliment the festivities of the day and the blending of both rich cultures.

Photography – Elizabeth Messina Photography
Coordinator –  Oh, How Charming! by Lisa Vorce
Location – Montecito

Alice in Vintage Wonderland

Source: Green Wedding Shoes

I usually don’t blog on Thursday’s so that I can take the time to work on the business side of EDWA but I had to share this Vintage Alice In Wonderland themed wedding posted on Green Wedding Shoes (click for the entire post).

The bride collaborated with Kate Holt of Flowerchild and Rebecca Stone of Duet Weddings to create an enchanting wedding. There are some planners and photographers that work with a creative bride and just “get it” spot on and make every detail of a wedding a sumptuous feast for the eyes. This trio (bride, photographer, and planner) got it!

Kate Holt summed it up perfectly “… this wedding inspiration is for all brides who are looking for that intimacy, who are in love with the idea of a wedding that blends romance, colors, fun and personalities.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. 

This will remain one of my favorites.

Photography – Styling and Flower Design – Kate Holt of Flowerwild
Additional Styling – Rebecca Stone of Duet Weddings
Gown – Unique Vintage 
Baked Goods – Joy the Baker