Planner: @taylorraeweddings // Venue: @alliedartsguild // Catering: @cafewisteria // Photo: @allison__stoddard // Florist: @idablooms // DJ: @brandonbeachsound // Photo Booth: @vivid_memories_photobooth // Linens: @ampartyrentalsinc // HMU: @dreamcatcherartistry // Dessert: @thegivingpies // Shuttle: @corinthian_transportation
Restaurant Wedding at Comal in Berkeley
Date: 9.30.23 // Venue: Comal // Coordination: Alysa Monet // Photographer: Jacki Potorke Photography
Classy & Coastal: Rachel and Gurt
Date: September 4, 2022 // Flowers: Ida Blooms // Photos: Malaya Images // Ceremony Venue: Palace of Fine Arts // Reception Venue: St. Francis Yacht Club
A Covid-19 Wedding: Steph + Vincent's Quaint Ceremony
Date: October 10, 2020 // Flowers: Ida Blooms Full Service Design // Photos: Jamie English Photgraphy // Venue: A Noe Valley Backyard + Lands End
Like so many couples in the last two years, Steph and Vincent had to pivot their wedding plans when Covid hit to keep their friends and family safe. Rather than postponing, these two decided to keep their wedding date and downsize to a tiny ceremony, broadcasted to family and friends via zoom.
It was such an intimate set up, hosted in their own backyard, and happened to be one of the first weddings I worked after Henry was born. I’ll remember it forever!
Oracle Park Sand Ceremony
Date: Nov 3, 2019 // Florals: Ida Blooms Full Service Design // Photos: Jenn Justice Photography // Dress: BHLDN // Tux: Generation Tux // Venue: Oracle Park
Kelsey and Kostya had a very fancy winter wedding at the end of 2019, but before that awesome affair came this sweet and unique sand ceremony at Oracle Park. The sand ceremony is a Jewish tradition, symbolizing the permanence and commitment in a marriage. & this one was EPIC.
Kelsey donned the most gorgeous boho dress and Kostya looked sharp in his tux as they toured around an empty ballpark and declared their love.
It was fun to put together a Giants colored flower crown and boutonniere to help them celebrate.
Megan & Zeke's Dreamy Coastal Elopement
A few short days into 2020, Megan and Zeke snuck away to Bug Sur to tie the knot. Their witnesses: immediate family & The Great Pacific Ocean. Megan is a very talented wedding photographer and I was so honored she chose me for her wild winter bouquet and Zekes boutonniere.
Florals: Ida Blooms Full Service Design // Photography: Shannon Yen Photography // HMUA: Beauty on Set // Dress: Madi Lane Bridal from a and bé bridal shop // Suit: INDOCHINO // Venue: Big Sur
Golden Hues: Maddie & Jake's Northern California Wedding
I file this one under my personal boho dream wedding.
Maddie and Jake’s wedding was a three day affair at the Straus Home Ranch in North Bay. They had full use of the property, including a beautiful house for the bride and bridesmaids, a cafe-light-strung patio, several smaller buildings, a massive barn, and the greatest overlook of Bodega Bay.
We leaned into the Golden Hues of California for her October wedding and utilized everything from bouquets to bud vases, huge Boston Ferns to dainty boutonnieres, and — my personal favorite — a massive growing install on the Chuppah. Long tables in the barn were lined in italian ruscus + eucalyptus garlands & spotted with bud vases for the reception.
It’s been over a year since this outstanding wedding, and I still look back so fondly at what we built.
Flowers: Ida Blooms Full Service Design // Photos: Kindred Weddings // Planning: Cotton & Oak // Venue: Straus Home Ranch // Makeup: Lips n’ Lashes By Elise Bigley // Hair: A Jane Designs // Dress: Kinsley James // Suit: Ted Baker London
Intimate Oceanside Wedding: Erin & Zoltan's Almost-Elopement
After working with Erin & Zoltan, I fell in love with small weddings. Rather than elope, these two invited immediate family members to a long weekend getaway outside Santa Cruz. They rented an awesome house on 22 acres of property, with a few small cabins on site. That Friday, bright and early, the caterers arrived to cook a light breakfast as everyone got ready for the ceremony. I came in a few hours later with the floral delivery - the house was oozing with love & relaxed excitement.
Erin & Zoltan got married in the backyard, under a tiny little arch, in the presence of their parents and siblings. Afterward, while those two snuck out to the coast for some amazing portraits, their planner, caterer and family set up an epic backyard brunch.
They spent the rest of the weekend celebrating, sipping mimosas, and just being together. It was the ultimate elopement… plus a few :)
Photos: Love & Wolves Co // Planning: Small Shindigs // Hair & Makeup: Love & Wolves Beauty // Venue: 22 acre airbnb outside Santa Cruz
The Ultimate Backyard Wedding: Emily & Greg
Emily & Greg didn’t intend to have a backyard wedding. For nine months leading to their big day, we planned and prepped the most “organized-chill” three day event at Triple S Ranch in Calistoga. It was a huge wedding for Ida Blooms, with floral components at the Friday night rehearsal/welcome party, the Saturday wedding and reception, and the Sunday farewell brunch.
But, Mother Nature had other plans. The week started off with brutal news that a wildfire was ravaging Calistoga and the surrounding area. We marched on, hoping the fire would divert away from the venue. & it did! Until Saturday morning, that is.
Just after our floral set up was complete, about an hour before the ceremony was about to begin, the Fire Marshall arrived to evacuate everyone. Emily’s amazing planner (Heald Weddings) immediately pressed go on Plan B, & Jake and I packed our car with as many flowers as we could fit. We relocated to a family friend’s backyard, about 20 minutes away in St Helena. I directed as groomsmen and guests unloaded our car, placed bud vases on the deck, made an aisle of ferns in the dead grass, flipped on flameless votives, and turned that backyard into the ultimate wedding venue.
Sure, the bridesmaids forgot their bouquets at Triple S; the dads boutonniere box didn’t make it out of their cabin; we ate tacos off the steps instead of the beautifully laid family style table… but Emily & Greg got married. & gosh if it wasn’t the craziest & coolest experience of my career.
Bride: Emily Merrell // Photos: Jodee Debes Photography // Planning: Heald Wedding Consulting // Catering: LaSaison // Alcohol: Winc & Neft Vodka
Dramatic Winter Wedding: Kelsey & Kostya
Kelsey and Kostya threw the most luxurious, sophisticated, and overall “cool” wedding at the end of November, 2019. It was the biggest event I’ve flowered for to date, and I can confidently say it’s one I’ll never forget.
From my very first conversation with Kelsey, we decided flowers should be romantic, modern, natural, and "colorless." She wanted them to reflect her and Kostya's relationship, in her own words: "Not light, girly, or airy, but also not rock and roll. Modern, but nostalgic. Moody, but not edgy. Romantic."
We leaned into deep greens (camellia and italian ruscus), many shades of white (there are FOUR varieties of rose throughout the design work... Akito, Sandy, Playa Blanca, + spray), dark privet and viburnum berries, and fun moody spillers/floaters, like scabiosa, ranunculus, and anemone. I even got my hands on some peonies from Chile -- the one bloom Kelsey mentioned as a favorite.
Between the moody florals and a total overload of pilar and tea candles, I think we achieved everything we set out to!
Bride: Blondes and Bagels // Photos: On the Times // Venue: Julia Morgan Ballroom // Coordinator: About Joy Events //Dress: Essense of Australia // Tux: Generation Tux
Peony-Soaked Sonoma Wedding: Zinzi & Brian
Zinzi and Brian’s peony-soaked wedding was my second gig. They got married on May 26, 2018 in the winery ruins of Jack London State Historic Park. Zinzi had a beautiful vision in mind - featuring lots of king protea (she is 50% South African!) and tons of peonies. Luckily, her wedding fell right in season!
One of my favorite things about this wedding was Zinzi’s relationship with her bridesmaids. She has such a close bond with each and every one. That relationship even became clear in the flowers. Zinzi requested we create a custom bouquet for each bridesmaid, so six unique bouquets total. Each one featured the bridesmaid’s favorite flower. Then, we incorporated each of those flowers into Zinzi’s bridal bouquet.
We made over 30 vased arrangements for this Sonoma Wedding. The dramatic pops of red peonies, intermingling with overhead twinkle lights, made the ruins a true dream venue.
Photos: Janice Yi Photography // Florals: Ida Blooms // Planning: Desert Child Events // Cake: Natty Cakes // Venue: Jack London State Historic Park
