Bella Weddings & Events

Happy Anniversary Rana & Josh!

2011-09-25T19:00:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st Anniversary to Rana & Josh! Rana and Josh were lucky enough to both wear two outfits on their wedding day. They started in traditional Sri Lankan wedding attire and then after the ceremony they changed into traditional American wedding attire. They looked so gorgeous in all of their outfits, so I had to share both looks with you.

Rana & Josh - I hope you had an amazing first year of marriage and that you are celebrating in style today!

See more details on Rana & Josh's wedding here and their fun engagement session here.

photos courtesy of mi belle photography

Published in Inside Weddings Magazine!

2011-09-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to have Rana & Josh's wedding published in the Fall 2011 issue (on newsstands September 6) of Inside Weddings magazine! It's been very hard to keep the details of this gorgeous wedding a secret for almost a year, so we are very excited to finally share! Stay tuned for more blog posts with all the details. For now, we leave you with the 8 page spread from the magazine! Oh, and be sure to visit InsideWeddings.com and read the Groom's Story featuring Josh!

This wedding couldn't have come together so perfectly without the fabulous team of vendors we worked with!

Bridal Gown - Mirage Boutique – ceremony & Casablanca – reception

Bridal Salon - Mirage Boutique – ceremony & Jinny’s Bridal Center – reception
Bridesmaids - Twobirds Bridesmaids

Cake - Vanilla Bake Shop
Calligrapher - Gary Mond - invitations & Laura Hooper Calligraphy - escort & place cards

Caterer - The Food Matters

Consultant - Bella Weddings & Events

Entertainment - de Bois Entertainment

Favors - Luna Bazaar – parasols & Old Navy – flip flops

Floral Design - JL Designs

Invitations - La Bonne Vie Studio - wedding & Lucky Orchid Invitations by Laura Hooper - rehearsal dinner
Jewelry - Tiffany & Co.

Lighting Design - Classic Party Rentals

Linens/Rentals - Chameleon Chair Collection & Classic Party Rentals

Photographer - Mi Belle Photography

Registries - Crate and Barrel; Honeyfund; Macy’s; Williams-Sonoma

Shoes - Jimmy Choo

Venue - Church Estate Vineyards

And many many thanks to our wonderful publicist Leila Khalil of Be Inspired PR!

Happy Anniversary Nicole & Jared!

2011-08-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe it's been a year since Nicole & Jared were married at a beautiful private estate in Lake Sherwood! See all the gorgeous details on the mi belle photography blog. Happy Anniversary!

photo courtesy of mi belle photography

Happy Anniversary Ally & Jon!

2011-07-24T21:32:00.000-07:00

Happy First Anniversary to Ally & Jon!

We had such a beautiful day at the Bel-Air Bay Club in Pacific Palisades, CA - I have a full post coming very soon with all the gorgeous details. Be sure to check out a special feature on their wedding on the Bride's Cafe, and more of Ally & Jon's fabulousness here, here, and here.

photo courtesy of mi belle photography

Happy 1st Anniversary ~ Lauren & Stephen

2011-07-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st Anniversary to Lauren & Stephen (and a happy July 4th to everyone)!!

What a great time we had helping Lauren and Stephen plan the perfect July 4th celebration for all of their friends and family. I plan to share all the details in a full post later in July - wait till you see the gorgeous flowers and all the amazing details (including the 1000's of homemade cookies by Lauren and her mother)!

Love Lauren's gorgeous gown and Stephen's dapper tux against the sand in Marina del Rey!

The firework display right off the balcony of the Marriott in Marina del Rey.

Photo's courtesy of Beautiful Day Photography. Be sure to check out their fun Venice engagement pictures here.

Happy 1st Anniversary ~ Jennifer & Jeremy ~ Sunset Restaurant, Malibu Califronia

2011-06-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy First Anniversary to Jennifer & Jeremy!

We had such a beautiful day at the Sunset Restaurant in Malibu, CA - I have a full post coming very soon with all the gorgeous details. Be sure to check out pics from their engagement session here.

Photo courtesy of Next Exit Photography.

Happy Anniversary ~ Monica & Jonathan ~ Calvary Church and Bel Air Bay Club, Pacific Palisades

2011-05-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

As I sat down to prepare a Happy 1st Anniversary post for Monica & Jonathan's May 22nd wedding, I was scrolling through our blog looking for the original wedding post to link back and show you some of the great pics from their beautiful wedding. Low and behold, I realized that I never did their wedding pictures.

So, without further ado, please join me in wishing Monica & Jonathan an amazing 1st Anniversary. Check out some of the pictures from their beautiful day!

Loved Monica in her stunning wedding dress - Susan and I couldn't agree on our favorite shot of the bouquet - so we just included both of them. (Who likes which one??)

Jonathan with his groomsmen - and my favorite all their great cuff links (check out those Texas Longhorns)!

Monica fell in love with a cake from one of the many wedding magazines, and Leslie and her team from Fantasy Frostings did an amazing job creating this beautiful (and tasty) cake!

Jonathan had such a great idea to honor and include all of their guests in the wedding celebration. We asked guests to return a photo from their own wedding, and we decorated multiple manzanita tree's with these images for all the guests to enjoy. I was so moved that I had to share the idea ~ check out the heartfelt blog from Tic Tock Couture Florals on the idea. Loved how they thought of all the guests throughout the planning process!

We had the most incredible day, and Stephanie from SDK Photo was able to get some gorgeous outdoor photos of Monica & Jonathan. Here are a couple of my favorites.

Be sure to check out both of their fabulous engagement sessions with SDK Photo and with TinyWater Photography.

We wish you a lifetime full of the love and happiness you shared on your wedding day.

Many thanks to all of the fantastic vendors who made this day perfect!

Ceremony ~ Calvary Church, Pacific Palisades
Reception ~ Bel Air Bay Club, Pacific Palisades
Photographer ~ SDK Photo

Cake ~ Fantasy Frostings

Florist ~ Lucky Bamboo Florists, Downtown Los Angeles

Entertainment ~ Project Entertainment & DJ Andrew Bowden

Hair & Makeup ~ Kacee Geoffroy

Frosting Friday ~ The Royal Wedding Cake!

2011-04-29T15:49:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I've been a little obsessed with the Royal Wedding details today...from the first look at Kate's gorgeous dress to the surprising 2nd kiss on the balcony, it's all been very exciting! So when the photos of the wedding cake were released, I just had to feature it on Frosting Friday!

Source: usmagazine.com via Susan on Pinterest

William, 28, and Kate, 29, chose a traditional multitiered fruitcake with cream and white piping designed by prestigious British baker Fiona Cairns.

Beginning in February, Cairns worked closely with the couple in secret on the concoction.

"Catherine wanted a traditional wedding cake with a modern twist," Cairns told Us Weekly. To that end, Cairns and her team used "scroll work, lattice work, intricate piping techniques, sugar flowers" to decorate the treat.

"We've used Catherine's list of the 'language of flowers," Cairns added. "The 'language of flowers' is something that was used in Victorian times to express, in a coded way, emotions that couldn't easily or openly be expressed in words but [could be] conveyed in flowers. So all the flowers have meanings."

For example, the bridal rose symbolizes happiness, ivy leaves marriage, and "Sweet William" flowers, which represent gallantry.

Like any engaged couple, William and Kate tested several different flavors. "We sent over samples of different fruitcake types and they picked their favorites and commented," she said.

Adds an insider, Catherine loved the design. "When Catherine saw the first sketches, she clapped. She is so excited. It's something she has always dreamed of."

What if there's a cake disaster before it's time for dessert? Cairns' team has prepped a duplicate cake just in case there's any damage during transit.

Many thanks to Us Magazine for all of these yummy details!

Happy 1st Anniversary Maria & Derek!

2011-03-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

Happy First Anniversary to Maria & Derek! See all the beautiful details from their Montage Laguna Beach wedding here, here and here.

Featured on The Bride's Cafe!

2010-10-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

Kathy and I were so excited to see one of our recent weddings featured on The Bride's Cafe! Josh and Michelle from mi belle captured all of the gorgeous details from Ally & Jon's wedding so perfectly. We'll be sharing more of Ally & Jon's wedding soon, in the meantime you can see the full feature on The Bride's Cafe and more of Ally & Jon here, here, and here.

Happy First Anniversary ~ Yasmin & Casey

2010-10-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy First Anniversary to Yasmin & Casey!

Check out additional pictures from this beautiful Terranea wedding here.

image courtesy of Vahe A'ala Photography

Frosting Friday ~ Groom's Cake Month

2010-10-08T11:41:00.001-07:00

Continuing with October's Groom's cake theme, today we are sharing two outdoorsy groom's cakes. I had a hard time deciding on just one, so you are getting two as a bonus today!

First up we have a mountain bike themed cake featured on The Bride's Cafe

And my other favorite of the week is an Aspen Groom's cake featured on Style Me Pretty

Frosting Friday ~ Groom's Cake Month

2010-10-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

It's October which means we will be featuring Groom's cakes all month long on Frosting Friday! Groom's cakes have made a resurgence in popularity and have become a great way for couples to add another element of their personality into the wedding day. Here's a look back at last year's Groom's cakes:

Lakers/Staples Center/Basketball cake
Owl cake (my personal favorite!)
the traditional Armadillo cake
Wine cakes
spooky Halloween cakes

And for today's Frosting Friday feature I thought we'd kick-off Oktoberfest with a couple of beer cakes!

photo courtesy of the knot

photo courtesy of Pink Cake Box

Happy Anniversary ~ Leanne & Jeff

2010-09-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

Happy First Anniversary to Leanne & Jeff! See all the beautiful details from their Greystone Mansion wedding here and here.

photo courtesy of Next Exit Photography

Bella Blooms

2010-09-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

I have seen this picture a couple of times in the past week, and it has me thinking about all the possibilities that Gradient Centerpieces can offer. Having the colors going from light to dark pink is just a stunning show stopper, and definitely not what your average wedding guest is going to be expecting.

photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

As I mentioned, this has me thinking. What if you designed your entire reception ballroom around this concept? Starting on one side of the room with monochromatic bright pink arrangements and gradually going lighter as you crossed to the other side of the room and ended in a very subtle pale pink almost ivory color centerpieces. Oh the possibilities are endless.

Happy Planning!

Happy Anniversary ~ Cindy & Anthony

2010-09-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

What amazing day this was, and what fun we had working with Cindy & Anthony to make their wedding at the Pasadena Convention Center everything that they imagined. To see all the amazing details from this wedding, check out the original post here.

Happy 1st Anniversary!

photo courtesy of Josef Isayo

Happy First Anniversary ~ Keri & Justin

2010-09-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st Anniversary to Keri & Justin. What a wonderful weekend we spent in the Paso Robles wine country.

photo courtesy of Ken Kienow Photography

Danny & Samantha ~ Engagement Session in Venice Beach

2010-09-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

When we first got these photo's, Susan and I were both blown away with how great they were! Absolutely loved how Michael from Evoke Photography captured the love between Danny & Sam.....and found such perfect spots for the perfect pictures.
This past week and weekend were fun finalizing details for their upcoming wedding, flower mock up, signature drink testing, rabbi meeting, and an amazing lunch in Beverly Hills to just laugh and relax!
We are so excited and honored that Danny & Sam have chosen us to help them bring to life their wedding dreams.

....boy when I saw all the pics of Sam in her shorts I knew we had to have a dress change so she could rock those gams at the reception (why hide them under a big white dress) :-)

Love the pictures in 'Danny's Dinghy'...they just found that moored at the pier and got in and shot away!

We are so excited for Danny & Sam's upcoming October wedding, stay tuned for all the amazingness that we will be sharing from their wedding celebration!

Frosting Friday

2010-08-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

I was absolutely delighted when I first saw the beautiful cake creations from Maggie LaBaugh of Maggie Austin Cake in Washington D.C. There is so much beautiful detail, each cake is like art and almost too pretty to eat! I've chosen a few of my favorites for you today, enjoy!

photos courtesy of Maggie Austin Cake

Rana & Josh ~ Engagement Session at Church Estate Vineyards

2010-08-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

Rana & Josh will marry at the beautiful Church Estate Vineyards this fall and I cannot wait… For their engagement session, they spent a little time exploring the gorgeous property and trying the new wine, just released that day. I got to have a couple of sips and let me tell you, it was amazing! Here are some of our favorite shots from our fabulous friends at mi belle inc.!

See more on the mi belle inc. blog too!

Happy Anniversary ~ Anne & Mike

2010-08-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st Anniversary to Anne & Mike.

Check out the details from their wedding here.

photo courtesy of Susan Bordelon Photography

Frosting Friday

2010-08-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

As we are enjoying the last few weeks of summer, I just have to share this adorable strawberry cake. It's almost too cute to eat! Happy Friday everyone!

photo courtesy of Bliss'd Blog

The Knot Networking Bash ~ Video Sneak Peek

2010-08-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

We are excited to share all of the beautiful details of the Knot Networking Bash with you very soon. In the meantime, here is a short video sneak peek from our friends at Pristine Videos!

The Knot's LA Networking Bash from Pristine Videos on Vimeo.

Danny & Samantha ~ Engagement Party at Tin Roof Bistro

2010-08-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

Meet Danny and Sam. Aren't they adorable? They are having a fabulous wedding in October at the Terranea Resort.

Earlier this year Danny & Sam had a fun engagement party at the Tin Roof Bistro in Manhattan Beach. We were so lucky that Tracy Kumono was available at the last minute to photograph the festivities. Here are some of our favorite shots from the party!

The food at Tin Roof is fantastic. My stomach is growling just looking at these photos!

These adorable and tasty cupcakes came from SusieCakes, just a few doors down from Tin Roof.

Carissa from JL Designs brought Sam's vision for bright and cheerful flowers to life!

Stay tuned for shots from Danny & Sam's engagement session, coming soon!

Bella Blooms

2010-08-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Susan found this great article on the Symbolic Meaning of Wedding Flowers on Real Simple's website and I just had to use it for a Bella Bloom post.

Some of my favorite flowers and their meanings:

Peony - Happiness and Prosperity

Orchid - Love and Beauty

Lilac - First Love

Tulip - True Love

Anemone - Abandonment, Forsakenness, Sincerity, Fragility

Rose (red) - Love and Desire

Rose (white) - Purity and Innocence

What about my favorite of all Hydrangea?? Have to do some more digging on that one!

I even loved their suggestion of giving each bridesmaid a bouquet featuring a signature flower that suits their individual personality...Check out the entire article on Real Simple's Website.

Here are some beautiful flower pics to help you get through the week....

Beautiful bouquets designed by Carissa of JL Designs, using Balsa Wood Flowers, love how she uses different textures and flowers with each event.

photos by Anne McElwain Photography and Gabriel Ryan Photography

Gorgeous wedding featured on Green Wedding Shoes, Florals by Enchanted Florist, photo credit to Natalie Norton Photography.

Happy Planning!

Frosting Friday

2010-08-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

Melody from the Sweet and Saucy Shop referred to this cake as her favorite of the year and I have to agree. This cake definitely makes my top 5 cakes on Frosting Friday for 2010! The single bloom that cascades down the cake is so bold and the monochromatic color scheme keeps it simple yet chic at the same time, I just love it. Thanks for sharing Melody!

photos courtesy of Annie McElwain via My Sweet & Saucy

Lauren & Stephen ~ Engagement Session ~ Venice Beach

2010-08-11T11:12:00.000-07:00

I am excited to share some of these gorgeous pictures from Lauren & Stephen's engagement session with Laura of Beautiful Day Photography. Lauren & Stephen got married on July 4th in Marina del Rey, and what an amazing day they had celebrating their love with family and friends.

I just love how they used all the amazing nooks and crannies throughout Venice!

These pictures all made an amazing guest book that guests spent the entire night looking at...

You can check out more pics from this fun session directly on Beautiful Day's blog.

Stay tuned for pics from their July 4th blow out celebration coming soon.

Ashley & Danny ~ Sacred Heart Chapel at LMU and Bel-Air Bay Club

2010-08-08T16:29:00.000-07:00

Ashley and Danny are celebrating their one year anniversary today, so I thought this would be the perfect time to share all of the gorgeous details from their wedding! Click here to see a short video of the day and here to see photos of their engagement session.

Ashley was a gorgeous bride and looked stunning carrying her "Carrie Bradshaw" bouquet and wearing her Jimmy Choos!

Ashley picked unique broaches for each of her bridesmaids' bouquets.

Ashley & Danny are huge Beatles fans so each table was named after a Beatles album and included an image of the album cover and the release date.

Many thanks to all of the fantastic vendors who made this day perfect!

Ceremony ~ Sacred Heart Chapel at LMU
Reception ~ Bel-Air Bay Club

Cake ~ Vanilla Bake Shop
Photographer ~ Cean One Photography
Videographer ~ Pristine Videos
DJ ~ Dubgypsy Entertainment
Florist ~ The Hidden Garden
Beauty ~ Lips and Locks
Transportation ~ Classy Chassis
Linens & Chairs ~ Elegant Designs

Dance Floor ~ Hayden Dance Floors
Lighting ~ LightenUp Inc.
Calligraphy ~ Gary Mond

Bella Blooms

2010-07-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

I wanted to provide a little summer inspiration for all of our readers. We recently had the pleasure of collaborating with the amazing Gina at Mille Fiori, and she and her team delivered for our clients. Lauren & Stephen got married on July 4th, and Lauren's colors were a watermelon pink with accents of orange & corals. She really wanted to create an amazing summer vibe for her Marina del Rey wedding, and Gina surpassed all of my expectations!

Here are a couple of sneak pics of the gorgeous florals by Gina and her team, courtesy of Laura at Beautiful Day Photography, be sure to stay tuned for the complete wedding post, so many gorgeous shots to chose from will take me a little longer to get the whole wedding together.

What a bright color palette for this beautiful Southern California Monday.

Frosting Friday

2010-07-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

The inspiration for today's Frosting Friday came a few days ago when I received a gift of the most beautiful box of french macarons from Bottega Louie. It was a gorgeous pink box filled with brightly colored macarons, and they were so delicious that I gobbled them up before I even thought to take a picture, so you'll just have to imagine how beautiful they were :) But I will leave you with this photo of a fantastic macaron tower wedding cake from Bobbette & Belle in Toronto. Enjoy!

photo courtesy of Bobbette & Belle

PS - I am making this cake over the weekend, wish me luck!

Jennifer & Jeremy ~ Engagement Session ~ Santa Monica

2010-07-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...where have Susan and I been, all I can say is we have been the busiest we have ever been, which of course is a good thing, but the blog has really felt neglected. (We know our regular readers are also feeling neglected, so after what feels like an eternity we promise to get back to our regular posting schedule. We are excited to share all the exciting events and weddings we have been working on over the past few months, so stay tuned.)

Today, I am happy to share with you the engagement session for Jennifer and Jeremy, who got married the end of June at the amazing Sunset Restaurant in Malibu. We are can't wait to see all the amazing photos that the team from Next Exit Photography captured on the wedding!

For their engagement session, Jennifer & Jeremy who live in Vegas wanted a mix of both urban and of course beach, what better place to go then Santa Monica. Hope you enjoy!

Photo's all courtesy of Next Exit Photography.

Happy Anniversary ~ Brian & Victoria

2010-07-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st Anniversary to Brian & Victoria.

Please check out all the amazing details from the wedding here, and the Bride & Bloom Celebrity Real Wedding Feature here.

photo courtesy of Jasmine Star Photography

Frosting Friday - Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

Wishing everyone a very happy Fourth of July weekend with these festive and patriotic wedding cakes. Enjoy!

photo courtesy of Oh Joy! ~ cake design by Whipped Bakeshop

photo courtesy of Bridal Guide ~ cake design by Cakeline

photo courtesy of Jacques Pastries

Frosting Friday

2010-06-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

Continuing with June's series with my favorite cake recipes, today's recipe is my all time favorite go to recipe that works for any occasion and is always a crowd pleaser - plus, it's so easy! Unfortunately I don't have a picture, so you'll just have to use your imagination to create a picture of the wonderful golden butteryness this recipe makes. Enjoy!

Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

1 box pound cake mix
4 eggs
2 sticks of butter – softened to room temperature
1 box powdered sugar
1 8oz. package of cream cheese – softened to room temperature

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Using an electric mixer combine pound cake mix, 2 eggs, and butter. Spread evenly into a 9x13 buttered pan.

In another bowl with an electric mixer combine powdered sugar, cream cheese, and remaining 2 eggs. Pour over the cake mixture.

Bake for approximately 50 minutes, until golden brown and center is set. Towards the end I usually check it every 5-7 minutes. Depending on the oven, it may take more than 50 minutes.

Cool completely before cutting into squares.

And if you are adventurous, Paula Deen has a Pumpkin version of this recipe: Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cakes

Happy First Anniversary ~ Sara & Alex!

2010-06-07T11:40:00.000-07:00

Happy First Anniversary to Sara & Alex! See all the beautiful details from their Montage Beverly Hills wedding here.

photo courtesy of Christine Marie Photography

Bella Blooms

2010-06-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the lack of Bella Bloom posts the past couple of weeks, in the middle of a very busy May I had to fly back to Texas to be with my family. Working on final wedding plans a couple of time zones away has set me behind just a smidgen...but rest assured, all is back on track as we enter an even busier June!

As I think about my recent trip to Texas I am reminded of the Yellow Rose of Texas. While this post is not about yellow roses, it is a tribute to amazing yellow flowers. We have been seeing yellow all around the wedding world, and can't wait to incorporate it in some of our upcoming summer weddings. Hope these yellow blooms brighten up your Monday morning.

Gorgeous flower market finds courtesy of The Hidden Garden

Bouquets courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Image found on Forget Me Knot Wedding blog photography by Aubrey Trinnaman

Images found on Southern Weddings blog, flowers by Branching Out Events and photography by Kari Crowe

A gorgeous yellow wedding at a private residence courtesy of The Hidden Garden

Frosting Friday

2010-06-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

I have been baking a lot the past few weeks, so the month of June is going to be dedicated to sharing some of my favorite cake recipes on Frosting Friday! First up is this fantastic Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake from Smitten Kitchen. I made this for a friend's birthday last year and it was heavenly!

The recipe:

Sour Cream-Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze
Adapted, only barely, from Sky High: Irresistable Triple-Layer Cakes

Makes an 8-inch triple-layer cake; serves 12 to 16

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch process
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup neutral vegetable oil, such as canola, soybean or vegetable blend
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottoms and sides of three 8-inch round cakepans. Line the bottom of each pan with a round of parchment or waxed paper and butter the paper.

2. Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk to combine them well. Add the oil and sour cream and whisk to blend. Gradually beat in the water. Blend in the vinegar and vanilla. Whisk in the eggs and beat until well blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and be sure the batter is well mixed. Divide among the 3 prepared cake pans.

3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a cake tester or wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. Let cool in the pans for about 20 minutes. Invert onto wire racks, carefully peel off the paper liners, and let cool completely. (Deb note: These cakes are very, very soft. I found them a lot easier to work with after firming them up in the freezer for 30 minutes. They’ll defrost quickly once assembled. You’ll be glad you did this, trust me.)

4. To frost the cake, place one layer, flat side up, on a cake stand or large serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup cup of the Peanut Butter Frosting evenly over the top. Repeat with the next layer. Place the last layer on top and frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. (Deb note 1: Making a crumb coat of frosting–a thin layer that binds the dark crumbs to the cake so they don’t show up in the final outer frosting layer–is a great idea for this cake, or any with a dark cake and lighter-colored frosting. Once you “mask” your cake, let it chill for 15 to 30 minutes until firm, then use the remainder of the frosting to create a smooth final coating. Deb note 2: Once the cake is fully frosting, it helps to chill it again and let it firm up. The cooler and more set the peanut butter frosting is, the better drip effect you’ll get from the Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze.)

5. To decorate with the Chocolate–Peanut Butter Glaze, put the cake plate on a large baking sheet to catch any drips. Simply pour the glaze over the top of the cake, and using an offset spatula, spread it evenly over the top just to the edges so that it runs down the sides of the cake in long drips. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes to allow the glaze and frosting to set completely. Remove about 1 hour before serving. Decorate the top with chopped peanut brittle.

Peanut Butter Frosting
Makes about 5 cups

10 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2/3 cup smooth peanut butter, preferably a commercial brand (because oil doesn’t separate out)

1. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl often. Continue to beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.

2. Add the peanut butter and beat until thoroughly blended.

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze
Makes about 1 1/2 cups

8 ounces seimsweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup half-and-half

1. In the top of d double boiler or in a bowl set over simmering water, combine the chocolate, peanut butter, and corn syrup. Cook, whisking often, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.

2. Remove from the heat and whisk in the half-and-half, beating until smooth. Use while still warm.

photos courtesy of Smitten Kitchen

Maria & Derek ~ Saint Catherine of Siena & Montage Laguna Beach

2010-06-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

This year's wedding season started with Maria & Derek, a very sweet and adorable couple! Maria was completely giddy as we planned the wedding and was absolutely glowing on the wedding day. Throughout their relationship, Maria & Derek fell in love with Laguna Beach and spent many weekends visiting friends and exploring the area, so when Derek proposed they immediately knew where they would get married. The Studio Restaurant at the Montage Laguna Beach was a amazing setting for the evening and the staff were amazing! I hope you enjoy these gorgeous pictures from Mi Belle, as much as we enjoyed working with Maria & Derek to plan their beautiful day!

Maria practically floated on a cloud of ruffles in her dress and she had some amazing bling to top it off!

Gorgeous bouquets from Maria's friend Kim at Collage Floral Design.

Many thanks to all of the fantastic vendors who made this day possible!

Ceremony: Saint Catherine of Siena
Reception: Studio Restaurant at Montage Laguna Beach
Coordination: Bella Weddings & Events
Photographer: mi belle inc. (see more images on the mi belle blog too!)
Videographer: Nick Kova
Cocktail Entertainment: Jason Feddy
Dinner Entertainment: 123 DJs/Dubgypsy Entertainment
Florist: Collage Designs
Cake: Sweet and Saucy Shop
Chair Rental: Fusion Linens

Happy Memorial Day

2010-05-31T19:02:00.000-07:00

Growing up in a military family, Memorial Day and all things patriotic have always had a special place in my heart. I have always proudly raised my American flag, pledged allegiance to the flag, and sang the Star Spangled Banner.

As you take this day to relax with your friends and family, please take a moment to think about all of the men and women that have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country... Please also take a moment to say a prayer for all of the soldiers currently serving in the military, in order to protect the freedoms that we take for granted each and every day, that they can return home safely to their families!

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy First Anniversary ~ Sarah & Kevin

2010-05-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

What amazing day this was, and what fun we had working with Sarah & Kevin to make their wedding everything that they imagined. To see all the amazing details from this wedding, check out the original post here.

Happy 1st Anniversary!

And one of their super cute engagement photo's!

Images courtesy of Josef Isayo Photography

Frosting Friday

2010-05-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that I have a vicious sweet tooth (clearly since I write about cake each week!), so when I saw this candy cake on Hostess with the Mostess I was so excited to feature it on Frosting Friday! The bright colors and variety of candies are so much fun for summer. Check out more details from the Sugary Sweet Love Wedding part 1 and part 2!

photo courtesy of Red Ribbon Studio via Hostess with the Mostess

Maria & Derek ~ Engagement Session ~ Montage Beverly Hills

2010-05-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

Maria and Derek are such an adorable couple and we had such a great time working with them! A couple of months ago, they braved the rain and had a really fun engagement session with Josh Beller of mi belle inc. at the Montage Beverly Hills. Here are some of our favorite shots!

Check back soon for all of the beautiful photos from their wedding!

Happy First Anniversary ~ Jen & Mark!

2010-05-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Happy First Anniversary to Jen & Mark! See all the beautiful details from their Bel-Air Bay Club wedding here.

photo courtesy of mi belle

Monica & Jonathan ~ Engagement Session ~ Silverlake & Griffith Observatory

2010-05-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

As we gear up for what is sure to be a very busy weekend celebrating Monica & Jonathan's wedding, I thought it fitting that we take a peek into the love they share. Please check out these gorgeous pictures taken by Stephanie of SDK Photo & Design. We are looking forward to working with her for the first time on Saturday.

I just couldn't decide which one I liked better!

I love these shots, the purple flowers so remind me of my beloved Texas bluebonnets.

Umm, seriously how often do you get grooms that are willing to get this into the photo session??

You can check our more pics from this great engagement session on Stephanie's blog.

Victoria & Brian ~ Trump National Golf Course, Rancho Palos Verdes

2010-05-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...it is Monday and that should mean a a regular Bella Bloom post, but instead we are blogging about the much talked about, long awaited pictures of Victoria and NBA player Brian Cook's wedding. After the Bride & Bloom Celebrity Feature, I promised our readers a much more detailed look into the amazing wedding that took place over July 4th weekend last year. As we are in the middle of a busy busy May wedding season, this is at least a few weeks overdue. I hope that you enjoy these gorgeous pictures, as much as we enjoyed working with Brian & Vicki and their friends and families to plan this amazing fete!

We had a gorgeous day, with amazing views of the Pacific...a little bit of wind as we were setting up, but perfect for the start of the ceremony.

Vicki's fabulous sky high Christian Louboutin, and the gorgeous diamonds provided by Adorn.

Susan found a picture of the Picasso calla lilly in a magazine, and Victoria fell in love with them. They were the perfect way to incorporate a little purple into the bridesmaids gorgeous bouquets.

The custom made letterpress invitations with Swarovski crystal buckle ~ the artwork was designed from the beadwork on the train of Vicki's dress and utilized throughout the wedding. From the invitation artwork, the flower petal design down the aisle, the piping on the cake all the way to the custom gobo on the dance floor.

Love all the bling!

Seriously, who has more 'Swagga'??

Love these pictures with Vicki's son Gavin. Brian helping him with his tie, a truly priceless moment.

Brian and Vicki working it with their bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Brian and his best man Luke Walton and groomsmen Kareem Rush, and Richard Jefferson of my own San Antonio Spurs. :-)

The ceremony set up, with picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean.

It is time to kick it up a notch and get the party started.

Some of the amazing ballroom details, Brian had a few requirements early on in the planning process ~ flowers couldn't look like 'brain's' and the lighting had to be amazing!

Carissa of JL Designs wowed with the amazing flowers, she really helped us bring to life Vicki & Brian's dream of a purple and turquoise elegant wedding!

Check out some additional pictures of Carissa's amazing florals on one of my past Bella Bloom posts.

Brian & Vicki loved the custom made cake base by Carissa of JL Designs ~ it added to the drama of the whole ballroom.

Victoria's surprise grooms cake - a 3D basketball with all of the teams that Brian has played for and his jersey numbers.

Please check out Susan's Frosting Friday posts for even more images of both the wedding cake and the groom's cake (before and after the guys 'decorated' Brian with it).

This might be my favorite picture of Vicki from the entire day! :-)

The happy bride and groom with the Bella Girls!

Brian & Vicki, we wish you a lifetime of the happiness and love that you shared on your wedding day. Thank you for allowing us to be part of this amazing journey.

Be sure to check out the full Bride & Bloom Celebrity Featured Wedding here.

Again, we couldn't have done this without the amazing team! We thank you all once again!

Wedding Planner ~ Bella Weddings & Events

Ceremony & Reception Location ~ Trump National Golf Club

Photography ~ Jasmine Star Photography

Floral Designer ~ Carissa with JL Designs

DJ ~ Patrick with 123DJ's

Lighting ~ LightenUp Inc

Rentals ~ Chameleon Chairs

Linens ~ Wildflower Linens & Designer Specialty Linens

Dance Floor ~ Hayden Dance Floors

Videography ~ Reel Life Pictures

Specialty Food ~ The Fry Girl

PhotoBooth ~ Foto Cabina

Printed Materials ~ Custom Letterpress from LaBonne Vie

Brides Attire ~ Platinum for Priscilla of Boston

Bridesmaids & Flower Girl ~ Bella Bridesmaid

Wedding Jewelry ~ Adorn

Groom's Attire ~ Custom made by Elevee

Groomsment & Ring Bearer Attire ~ Ralph Lauren tuxedo with custom made shirts by Elevee

Featured in the LA Times

2010-05-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Susan and I were thrilled when we were contacted by Debra from the Los Angeles Times to be interviewed as experts in our field. Debra was writing a special wedding series for the Sunday LA Times, and we provided input on the importance of hiring a wedding planner for your big day. We were thrilled with the article that ran in the May 2nd edition, and were honored to be included. We are in amazing company with Sasha Souza who also provided valuable information on the importance of hiring a wedding coordinator.

To read the full article please visit the LA Times website.

Frosting Friday

2010-05-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

This is a little bit of a detour from my normal Frosting Friday post, but I just had to share! Kathy and I have been a little obsessed with a series of books by Nora Roberts called the Bride Quartet. The stories are about a four women who run a wedding company called Vows. Each one has a role in the wedding day, one is the planner, one is the photographer, one is the florist, and the fourth is a baker. So far three of the four books in the series have been released and the most recent book "Savor the Moment" is about Laurel the baker! There's so much detail about all of the cakes and desserts baked for the Vows brides throughout the book, I wish there were photos too! Happy Reading!

Bella Blooms

2010-05-03T15:56:00.001-07:00

April Showers bring May Flowers, more like May Weddings around here! We are officially well into wedding season, and after last week, I needed something light refreshing and energizing to inspire me. I think that this fresh Orange and Navy wedding found on Junebug Weddings really fit the bill. I just love the bright orange flowers against the bridesmaids navy dresses, gorgeous! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Be sure to check out all the other details from this beautiful wedding at Junebug. Photography by One Thousand Words Photography and Florals by Ramonza Floral.

~ Frosting Friday ~

2010-04-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

Following-up on last week's post on Victoria & Brian's wedding cake, I am so excited to share the details of Brian's Basketball Grooms Cake! Brian was very involved with the wedding plans, but this was one thing we managed to keep as a surprise. The cake was a 3D basketball and it incorporated the team logo for all of the teams he played on and all of his numbers on each team, and of course it was chocolate!

A lovely group photo of all the basketball players at the wedding, including best man Luke Walton and groomsmen Richard Jefferson and Kareem Rush.

All of the guys helped Brian cut the cake...and then Brian had cake smashed all over his face.

photos courtesy of Jasmine Star

Bella Blooms

2010-04-26T15:47:00.000-07:00

Seems that here in Los Angeles the weather keeps trying to fool us about Spring and the upcoming summer wedding season. Last night as we left the birthday celebration of one of our amazing assistants we were blasted with an unseasonably cool night. As I start doing prayers and chants to improve the weather for our upcoming weddings, thought nothing could get me more in the mood than with another iconic Spring flower. Lilac, how I love thee! I just wish I had a great place to plant you so that I could enjoy you in my own personal floral haven, and wish you lasted longer than a few short weeks!

Lilac bouquet courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Lilac images courtesy of Hidden Gardens

Bouquet image courtesy of Brenda's Wedding Planning Blog

Be sure to check out some great tips on enjoying lilac to it's fullest from Tik Tock Couture Flower blog here.

Check out Amy from the Hidden Garden's behind the scenes visit to a local lilac farm on her blog here.

Happy First Anniversary ~ Rachel & Jim

2010-04-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

Happy First Anniversary to Rachel & Jim! See all the beautiful details from this wedding here.

photo courtesy of Christine Marie Photography

Happy First Anniversary ~ Gilda & Mike

2010-04-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy first anniversary to Gilda & Mike. Be sure to check out all the amazing blog posts here.

photo courtesy of MiBelle Inc

~ Frosting Friday ~

2010-04-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

Last week we were excited to share Victoria & Brian's celebrity feature in Bride & Bloom and now we are excited to share all of the fabulous details of their gorgeous wedding cake! From the deep plum satin ribbon bands to the couples' monogram on the top layer, this cake incorporated many of the special details used throughout the day.

The detailed piping design on the cake was inspired by the intricate bead work on Victoria's Priscilla of Boston gown and was carried throughout the wedding on the invitation, programs, dance floor, and other printed elements.

The cake pedestal, designed by Carissa from JL Designs, was essential in making the cake high enough for Brian (who is 6'10" tall) to cut.

photos courtesy of Jasmine Star

Be sure to come back next Friday to see the sporty groom's cake!

Bella Blooms

2010-04-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

Last week we were excited to share the Bride & Bloom celebrity feature for Victoria & Brian Cook's wedding...this week we are going to be blogging more of the amazing details that Jasmine Star captured.

For today's Bella Blooms there was no doubt that it would be an opportunity to showcase the amazing talent of floral designer Carissa of JL Designs. We were so excited when Vicki fell in love with Carissa's enthusiasm and design ideas, and so thankful to have collaborated with her to bring to life Brian & Vicki's vision for their perfect wedding.

Stay tuned for additional blog posts throughout the week.

~ Frosting Friday ~

2010-04-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

Today's Frosting Friday cake has been an inspiration for Kathy and I as we are preparing for an upcoming photo shoot. Think apple green, clean white, and a mix of modern and classic style in an amazingly gorgeous venue. It's going to be fabulous and we can't wait to share it with you very soon! Happy Friday!

photo courtesy of Jose Villa via 100 Layer Cake

Featured in Bride & Bloom Magazine ~ Celebrity Feature

2010-04-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

When I say we have been dying to share this wedding, that could be the biggest understatement of the year. Susan and I over the moon with the Celebrity Feature in the newest Bride & Bloom magazine. We had such an amazing journey working with Victoria and Brian to plan their wedding! Please be sure to go pick up the magazine and read about all the amazing details and the team that brought Vicki & Brian's dream wedding a reality.

Stay tuned for next week's blog posts, we are going to be showcasing more of the amazing images captured by Jasmine throughout the week.

We couldn't have done this without the amazing team! We thank you all again and again~

Wedding Planner ~ Bella Weddings & Events

Ceremony & Reception Location ~ Trump National Golf Club

Photography ~ Jasmine Star Photography

Floral Designer ~ Carissa with JL Designs

DJ ~ Patrick with 123 DJ's

Lighting ~ LightenUp Inc

Rentals ~ Chameleon Chairs

Linens ~ Wildflower Linens & Designer Specialty Linens

Dance Floor ~ Hayden Dance Floors

Videography ~ Reel Life Pictures

Specialty Food ~ The Fry Girl

Photo Booth ~ Foto Cabina

Printed Materials ~ Custom Letterpress from LaBonne Vie

Bride's Attire ~ Platinum for Priscilla of Boston from Mon Amie

Bridesmaids & Flower Girl Dresses ~ Bella Bridesmaid

Wedding Jewelry ~ Adorn

Groom's Attire ~ Custom made by Elevee

Groomsmen & Ring Bearer Attire ~ Ralph Lauren with custom made shirts by Elevee

Huge thanks to Leila and the Be Inspired PR team for making the feature a reality

Bella Blooms

2010-04-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

Susan and I spend a lot of our time working with our clients on creating a budget for their weddings...and we spend even more time helping clients stay within their budget. I thought today's Bella Blooms would be a good opportunity to discuss setting your floral budget.

You should expect to spend on average 10% of your overall wedding budget on flowers, however the sky is really the limit when it comes to flowers and overall decor. And I really mean the sky is the limit!! This budget amount should include your personal flowers, which are your bride and bridesmaids bouquets, groom and groomsmen boutonniere, as well as flowers for mom, dad, grandparents, and other honored guests. Ceremony decor would include arrangements at the altar, pieces on your aisle and an aisle treatment such as rose petals. Reception decor could include your table centerpieces, napkin treatments for each place setting, and cake table flowers. There are endless possibilities when thinking about ways to incorporate flowers in to your wedding.

As a huge fan of all things floral, it is really easy for me to get lost in the beauty of the flowers and really want to have flowers at each and every turn. I always try to work with our couples to get the most bang for your buck, given the budget I always suggest using a larger percentage of the money available on the reception decor, as this is where guests will spend up to 4 or 5 hours, rather than just an hour at the ceremony.

I leave you with one of my favorite photos, hope you love it as much as I do.

Photo courtesy of Evoke Photography, Floral designed by Carissa of JL Designs

There are a number of ways that you can watch your budget while still maintaining the elegance and beauty of your wedding. We will discuss ways that you can save money on flowers in a future Bella Blooms post.

Happy Planning

Cindy & Anthony ~ Holy Family Catholic Church & Pasadena Convention Center

2010-04-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Cindy and Anthony are such a great couple and their wedding was truly a reflection of their personalities! From the double-decker bus to donuts at the end of the night, this day was all about fun for their family and friends! Here are some of our favorites images of the day courtesy of Josef Isayo.

The bridesmaids wore gorgeous Vera Wang bridesmaids dresses.

Look closely at the tree trunk...Cindy & Anthony's initials and wedding date were carved by a friend.

One of the most popular activities was a custom silhouette for each guest cut on site by Karl Johnson from Cut Arts.

And of course hot donuts at the end of the night from The Fry Girl!

Many thanks to all of the fantastic vendors that made this day a huge success!

Wedding Coordinators ~ Bella Weddings & Events

Ceremony Venue ~ Holy Family Catholic Church

Reception Venue ~ Pasadena Convention Center
Photographer ~ Josef Isayo

Videographer ~ Pristine Video
Entertainment ~ DJ Cito-C
Florist ~ Blossom Floral

Lighting ~ LightenUp

Rentals ~ Hayden Dance Floors and Designer Specialty Linens
Cake ~ Cakery Bakery
Dessert ~ The Fry Girl
Silhouette Artist ~ Cut Arts
Transportation ~ Starline Tours

~ Frosting Wednesday ~

2010-04-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

We are changing things around on the Bella Blog this week and today we have a special "Frosting Wednesday" post so that we can share some urgent information. Sadly, last week the Cakegirls shop and bakery in Chicago was destroyed by a fire and everything was lost. Many of you may be familiar with the Cakegirls from their appearances on Amazing Wedding Cakes and from seeing their work featured in a variety of wedding related publications. They are definitely leaders in the wedding cake industry!

So you may be asking, how can you help? Well, the Cakegirls are selling t-shirts to help their employees "bridge the gap" while they rebuild - click here to purchase the t-shirt.

And of course we can't have a post without some of my favorite Cakegirls designs!

photos courtesy of The Cake Girls via Modern Romance

photo courtesy of The Cake Girls via JuBella

photo courtesy of The Cake Girls via Instyle Weddings

Bella Blooms

2010-04-02T15:05:00.001-07:00

Growing up, I always remembered Easter as being the official start of Spring. As we all welcome Spring (per the Brown family traditions) with celebrations of Easter and Passover, there is nothing that symbolizes renewal to me than Cherry Blossoms.

When I saw this spread in Martha Stewart Weddings I just fell in love. How oh how can we plan a reception with all these amazing cherry blossom trees in full bloom? Just loved the details down to the flower girls with their cherry blossom wands.

Above images from Martha Stewart Weddings

Cherry Blossom Centerpiece from GetMarried.com

Image found on Cousins Photo Blog

I can remember my first visit to Washington DC to see the cherry blossoms, which were given to the United States in 1912 as a gift symbolizing the growing friendship between Japan and the US. Seemed that all the visitors walking through the rows and rows of trees were falling out of their deep winter slumbers, such an amazing symbol of renewal and rebirth. If you are lucky enough to have planned your wedding in the 2 week window that cherry blossoms are blooming, late March to early April, how will you plan to incorporate them? Hope you find this as inspirational as I do.

Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC

Image found on Wikipedia, Cherry Blossoms in Newark, NJ

~ Frosting Friday ~

2010-04-02T09:19:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday Kathy and I attended the fabulous Unveiled event. We had so much fun seeing many of our favorite vendors and meeting some great new vendors too! The BEST part though, was right when we arrived I saw signs for a Cake Gallery - how perfect for me, a room full of cakes! Of course I had to take a few pics and share some of my favorites with you for today's Frosting Friday, enjoy!

On the left, Fantasy Frostings and on the right, Cake Monkey Bakery

On the left, Sweet and Saucy Shop and on the right, Erica O'Brien Cake Design

Monica & Jonathan ~ Engagement Session ~ Viceroy Hotel

2010-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when Monica mentioned that she and Jonathan would be having an impromptu engagement session with TinyWater Photography out of San Francisco. I was even more excited when she told me they were going to the Viceroy in Santa Monica. I just love pictures that come from the Viceroy...so much for the eyes to enjoy. Here are some of my favorite shots from the session.

Check out even more of the cool pics from their session on the Tinywater Blog.

We are so excited about Monica & Jonathan's May wedding!

Bella Blooms

2010-03-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

There are so many reasons that I LOVE hydrangea...let me count the ways. I must have upwards of 15 plants throughout my front and backyards and in pots on my patio. I can't wait till they all begin to bloom in the next few weeks.

My love affair must have started when I was 7 or 8 years old, the house where we lived at the time had the most gorgeous blue hydrangea bushes that were taller than me and bloomed more profusely than anything I have seen to this day.

The hydrangea could be one of the most versatile wedding flowers around, the range of colors that the hydrangea comes in and the fact that is available year round makes it perfect compliment to many other blooms.

Courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings, this is a great image showcasing hydrangea bloom colors.

Love the lilac purple hydrangea in this bouquet, courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Photo courtesy of Meg Smith Photography, floral design by Ariella Chezar

Photo from Project Wedding

Photos courtesy of MiBelle Inc, floral designed by The Hidden Garden

I have been addicted to reruns of Jeff Leatham's Flowers Uncut on TLC, and it might just be how he incorporates hydrangea into so many of his amazing designs.

Just stunning

One tip when using hydrangea in your bouquets and boutonnieres, keep in mind the weather as hydrangea doesn't hold up well out of water on hot days. Be sure to discuss with your floral designer to ensure no surprises on your wedding day.

~ Frosting Friday ~

2010-03-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

Recently I came across a fantastic bakery based out of London called Maisie Fantaisie Fabulous Cakes. Their name alone says fun to me, but when I looked through the gallery of cakes I was thoroughly impressed! Here are a few of my favorites:

I love ruffles!

Could this be a new cake trend?

Such a classic and elegant look.

And last but not least, I just love these jeweled "mini-cakes"!

photo courtesy of Maisie Fantaisie Fabulous Cakes

Yasmin & Casey ~ Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes

2010-03-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to be sharing the pictures from a wedding from one of our new favorite venues ~ Terranea Resort. Yasmin and Casey had an amazing October wedding day, and their friends and family were in love with the venue that they selected. Here are some of our favorite shots of the day!

The difference between the ladies getting ready and the men getting ready! The ladies are actually getting ready for the hours we schedule, the men usually take about 15 minutes and the rest of the time is spent relaxing.

Yasmin and her bridal party. The saris that Yasmin chose for the girls were the perfect compliment for the beautiful blue skies at Terranea

A couple of detail shots ~ I was in LOVE with these shoes when I saw them. I think I need a pair of my own!

The flowers were designed by Jill at M's Flowers

How gorgeous is the Catalina Point ceremony location?

We headed off in one of the property golf carts to get some shots before sunset.

Yasmin & Casey we wish you a lifetime of the love and happiness you shared on your wedding day! Thank you for allowing us to share in your journey!

Yasmin & Casey Wedding Trailer from TownHouse Media Group on Vimeo.

We want to thank the amazing team we worked with to create Yasmin & Casey's wedding:

Venue ~ Terranea Resort

Photographer ~ Vahe D'ala Photography

Videographer ~ TownHouse Media Group

Florist ~ M's Flowers

Cake ~ Jamaica's Cakes

Entertainment (Trio & Band) ~ David Burrows Entertainment

Hair & Makeup ~ Pro Beauty to You

Officiant ~ Rev George Honn

Bella Blooms

2010-03-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! That extra hour gave me time to catch up on so many things around the house. I was finally able to sit down and read through a stack of my alumni sorority magazine. Susan and I are both members of the same sorority, and used to be very active in the alumni community, which is how we initially meet many many moons ago!

The flower for our sorority is the white carnation....I know, you are thinking carnations, those just can't be amazing enough to use in weddings. I used to feel the same way after remembering a single bloom wrapped with a red ribbon, but wow how an amazing florist can turn this simple bloom into amazing and lush romantic pieces perfect for a wedding celebration. Here is homage to the carnation, that I promise can look so amazing it is worth considering for your floral design.

An example from one of our own events!

Florals by JL Designs, Photography by Ryan Phillips Photography

Bouquet and Cake found on Martha Stewart Weddings

Above images found on Wedding Paper Divas Blog

I hope that this has provided the inspiration to think outside of some of the traditional wedding blooms.

~ Frosting Friday ~

2010-03-12T09:24:00.000-08:00

As Kathy mentioned in Bella Blooms on Monday, we were lucky enough to be able to participate in an amazing trip to The Grand Del Mar last week. They wowed us at each and every event with fantastic food, entertainment, decor and flowers!

Anemones were featured at many of the events and were so beautiful that they became the inspiration for today's Frosting Friday! This beautiful cake from April Reed has a modern silhouette with the variety of sizes of each layer, but also has a vintage look with the lace like detail and muted colors. I am sure this cake tastes just as beautiful as it looks!

photo courtesy of April Reed Cake Design

The Little White Dress

2010-03-11T09:04:00.000-08:00

Being an east coast girl, I have a small obsession with Lilly Pulitzer (maybe it was because my mom's bridesmaid dresses were from Lilly...) and when I saw these dresses in the new spring catalog I just had to share! Any bride would look amazing in one of these at a casual beach wedding or changing into one of these for a getaway outfit at the end of the night!

Here are a few of my favorites, but be sure to check out the entire White Dress collection on the Lilly Pulitzer website.

"Wedding Wisdom" Book Signing Party

2010-03-09T08:45:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to share all of the fun details from Mary Dann & Leila Khalil's Los Angeles "Wedding Wisdom" book signing party at Barnes & Noble in Manhattan Beach. We had so much fun collaborating with Leila, Mary and all of the fabulous wedding professionals who contributed to this event!

Wedding Wisdom Book Signing from Isabel Gonzalez on Vimeo.

A rare photo of the Bella Girls!

If you didn't have an opportunity to come out for the book signing, you can still purchase "Wedding Wisdom" online at Barnes & Noble.

Many thanks to everyone who made this event possible!

Venue ~ Barnes & Noble, Manhattan Beach
Photography ~ Trista Lerit Photography
Videography ~ Isabel Gonzalez

Florals & Styling ~ JL Designs

Rentals ~ Classic Party Rentals, Level 4 International and Elegant Designs Specialty Linens

Cake ~ The Butter End

Bella Blooms

2010-03-08T09:56:00.001-08:00

Today's featured flower takes inspiration from our recent visit to the Grand del Mar in San Diego. Susan and I were wowed during our 3 day visit to the property; from the carnival welcome dinner to the tour of all the amazing spaces to host a ceremony and reception to the fabulous sail boat trip aboard the America. The Anemone was a featured flower on all the arrangements throughout the trip, and I had to learn more about them.

I had always thought that the Anemone (which is a poppylike flower from the Ranunculus family) only came in white...boy was I wrong. They come in a multitude of colors and each one is just prettier than the next; pink, red, purple and even blue!

Hope you enjoy these beautiful shots as much as we enjoyed our stay at the Grand del Mar!

Brides bouquet found on Martha Stewart Weddings; Centerpiece found on Snippet & Ink Flowers by Ariella Chezar Photography by Meg Smith

Above images courtesy of Style Me Pretty, Photography by Studio 28 Photo, Flowers by JL Designs, Styling by The Stylish Soiree

Love the red in the bride's bouquet!

photo courtesy of Trista Lerit Photography

Happy First Anniversary ~ Mari and Trevor

2010-03-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Happy first anniversary Mari & Trevor!

photos by Christine Marie Photography

Check out the details from our original blog post.

Bella Blooms

2010-03-01T07:30:00.000-08:00

What a glorious Sunday we had in Southern California, after yet another day of rain, Sunday opened with clear blue and sunny skies. I knew it was the perfect time to pick up my gardening tools that have been hibernating all winter. As I began to prep my flower beds and vegetable gardens for spring plantings, I was disappointed when I realized that none of my tulips had bloomed this year. The hyachinth, daffodils and many many more were there, but no tulips. Paying homage to one of my favorite spring bulbs, I leave you with lots and lots of lovely tulip images.

Ah spring is coming courtesy of JL Desgins

White Tulips from The Hidden Garden, Ivory Bouquet from JL Designs Photo by Stephanie Williams Photography

Found on Style me Pretty by Details Details

Bouquet found on James Abel Events

Parrot Tulip Images found at Southern Accents and Rossi & Rovetti Flowers

Parrot and Button Tulip Bouquet found on Martha Stewart

~ Frosting Friday ~

2010-02-26T09:04:00.000-08:00

As soon as I saw this cake I knew it had to be the Grand Finale to my series on beautiful cake displays! How gorgeous is the lucite stand filled with a variety of florals and moss and topped with a fluffy bed of orchids? I just love it and I hope you all love it too!

photo courtesy of One Love Photo via Green Wedding Shoes

cake by Konditor Meister

Ally & Jon ~ Engagement Session

2010-02-24T08:56:00.000-08:00

Love, love, love this brilliant engagement session from our friends at Mi Belle Inc.! Ally & Jon, you guys rock and your wedding is going to be amazing!

Loving all these details.

Seriously, how many people can pull off the perfect mid-air chest bump?

See more on the Mi Belle blog. Counting down to July... :)

~ Frosting Friday ~

2010-02-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

I can't talk about beautifully displayed cakes and not mention the fantastic Sweet and Saucy Shop! Not only are Melody's cakes delicious, but they are beautiful, modern and the cake table is always beautifully styled. I tried to pick just one cake to feature today, but two caught my eye and I couldn't decide! Which one is your favorite?

photos courtesy of the Sweet and Saucy Shop

Bella Blooms

2010-02-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day. As promised, here is the long awaited posting of all things red red red! I just love red flowers, in fact when I was planning my wedding 7 years ago, it seems that all the inspirational photos I pulled out of magazines included red linens, florals, and detail elements.

Pictures from an event at the Beverly Hills Hotel, when I first met the bride and asked her what she envisioned her wedding to look like, her description was gorgeous red florals!

Florals by JL Designs, Photography by Ryan Phillips

One of our brides vision of an elegant reception with the perfect blend of red and turquoise was brought to life by our friends at Hidden Garden.

Florals by Hidden Garden, Photography by Cean One

Some images from a Casa del Mar celebration that we partnered with Carissa of JL Designs ~ what a great opportunity to meet and work with an amazing floral designer.

Florals by JL Designs Photography by Christine Marie

This is a picture that every single time I see it I just swoon! Can I please have a redo on my wedding and re-create this look .... with the gorgeous cuff!

Bouquet by JL Designs

Okay, if you are a flower lover...and have the budget for something like this, how about getting married under this!

Found on Kristin Banta Events, Photography from David Michael Photo

Red tablscape from One Lovely Day

I hope that you find these pictures as romantic and inspirational as I do. Enjoy your Presidents Day holiday.

Until next week!

~ Happy Valentines Day ~

2010-02-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a Happy Valentines Day! We hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend, and spending time with the family and friends that you love.

Sharing a couple of engagement pictures that inspired me with their use of hearts.

Images found on Ever Ours, photography by Kim Le and Adrienne Gunde.

~ Frosting Friday ~

2010-02-12T08:45:00.000-08:00

I love the idea of incorporating organic elements like fruit into wedding decor, and lemons just happen to be one of my favorites! My great aunt's house in Santa Barbara had this amazing lemon tree in the backyard that produced the biggest lemons I have ever seen and every time I would visit her, I would pick a big basket full and rush home to bake something delicious. For some reason citrus grown in Santa Barbara just tastes different to me, but back to today's cake...

This cake has a great simple and elegant style and I love the clean look of the glass cake stand with the lemons and limes underneath. This is a great inexpensive way to dress up your cake and cake table!

photo courtesy of The Knot

And if this post put you in the mood to bake, here is one of my favorite lemon recipes from none other than the fabulous Barefoot Contessa: Lemon Yogurt Cake.

Bella Blooms

2010-02-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

I know that I promised lots of red flowers today....but when I saw that our good friend Carissa of JL Designs just launched a Valentines collection for the gals and girls in your life, I knew I had to feature it.

Carissa is an equal opportunity designer, and she has created 11 amazing looks with all sorts of extras to make it very personal for your valentine. Here are just a few of my favorites.

One of the gorgeous looks for that special guy in your life!

I just can't figure out which ones I want to have my husband get for me. :-)

Carissa is accepting orders now, for delivery within LA and Orange counties. Email her directly at carissa@jldesignsandevents.com to place an order. Be sure to visit her blog for additional pictures (and additional choices) and all the ordering details.

All the photos are courtesy of The Modern Type.

Happy Valentines Week, and I promise lots of fiery red pics next Monday!

~ Frosting Friday ~

2010-02-05T08:24:00.000-08:00

This month on Frosting Friday I am taking the opportunity to showcase creative ways to display your wedding cake. It makes me very sad when a cake is delivered and just plopped on a table without any thought to the presentation. Personally I love cake stands and have a fairly substantial collection of pieces I have picked up over the years, but there are lots of fun ways to display wedding cakes that I'll share with you over the next month.

Today's gorgeous cake has a bit of vintage flair and is artfully displayed on a beautiful antique cake stand. Stay tuned for more ideas for displaying your wedding cake every Friday this month!

photo courtesy of Elizabeth Messina

Featured in Weddings in Houston Magazine

2010-02-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ya'll know Kathy is from Texas (if you didn't before, you do now), so when Susan and I got the opportunity to be featured in the Weddings in Houston Magazine I was like drop everything, lets get them what they need.

Thank you to our publicist Leila Khalil and her entire team with BeInspired PR for making this happen!

Big shout out to our friends Carissa of JL Designs and Carolyn of The Special Day for their input in the article as well.

Enter to Win Free Flowers

2010-02-02T11:10:00.000-08:00

Our friends over at The Hidden Garden are running a super cute contest for FREE flowers!! There is just one special Bella Girls addendum to the rules - we want a little flower love!! So share the beautiful blooms!!
Check out all the details and rules below:

Ever been disappointed on Valentine's Day?
Was yours the most romantic Valentine's Day ever?
Either way, we want to hear from you.

The Hidden Garden announces a Valentine's Day Contest

Share your most memorable Valentine's Day story (the good, the bad & the ugly) and you could win a Valentine's Day arrangement worth $200 to be delivered to your home or office on February 12th. Entries will be judged on humor, romance & fan comments.

How to Enter: Become a fan of The Hidden Garden on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TheHiddenGarden.) & post your most memorable Valentine's Day story on our wall. We want to hear the best, worst and everything in between! We encourage entrants to post photos and video be creative, funny and interesting!

Judging: The Hidden Garden Romance Committee will select five finalists and post their entries on the Facebook page Thursday, February 11th. Entries will be judged on creativity, humor, romance & fan appeal/comments. The five finalists will be notified and contacted for their delivery address. On Friday, February 12th one lucky winner will be surprised with a huge
arrangement just for them!

Rules:
All entrants must live or work in our service area, which includes Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley and Westlake Village. No purchase is necessary. All entrants must become a fan on Facebook of The Hidden Garden. All entries must be posted to the Hidden Garden Facebook page no later than 12:00 pm PST on Thursday, February 10, 2010. Finalists will be announced on Thursday, February 11, 2010. Winner will be surprised on Friday, February 12, 2010. Grand-prize winner will receive a floral arrangement with a retail value of $200 delivered to the address of their choice (within the designated service area.)

I leave you with a couple pics of the gorgeous work that they do! Photos courtesy of MiBelle In c

Bella Blooms

2010-02-01T07:30:00.000-08:00

As we arrive into February, all I can think about is romance, valentines day and my upcoming anniversary. Pink just speaks to me as the symbolic color for romance. Here is some gorgeous pink eye candy for a Monday morning. Enjoy!

How could I showcase pink flowers, without starting with the signature Bella photo.

Photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy

1st photo from Project Wedding, floral by SimplyBlooms 2nd photo courtesy of Hidden Gardens

How lush is this one?

Florals by Hidden Garden

I leave you with a little bit of both Susan and I....great tasting cake, and gorgeous flowers.

photo by MiBelle Inc, Flowers by Hidden Garden, cake by Fantasy Frostings, lighting by LightenUp Inc

Stay tuned next week - we will get all fiery with red, red, red!