Love Notes: The Pacific Weddings Blog

Oh So Pretty Wedding Accessories

Whenever there is talk of a party, a fanciful array of hats dance in my head. A wedding presents the perfect opportunity to don a dressy hat, especially if the celebrants are under the sun. We know that the birdcage veil has been having its bridal moment but would you consider wearing an eye-catching head ornament on your wedding day? [photo by Frank Amodo]

These ornate offerings from I Love Factory are all hand sewn using satin, silk, lace, feathers, flowers and even pearls. It would certainly be a quirky break from tradition! [via Refinery29]

 

Shown here from Collection 2: Ivory scalloped antique lace, ceramic rose sphere, ivory crepe flowers and ivory tulle;  Black crepe flowers, ivory antique lace, jet black Swarovski sew on studs, Chaton Monstor Swarovski sew on crystals.

Wedding Catering Tips À la Wolfgang Puck

For those of us who think reservations are the best thing to make for dinner, planning a wedding menu can be a bit intimidating! We looked to Wolfgang Puck Catering for simple and inspired tips for making your reception distinctive. From serving a favorite custom cocktail and offering mini grilled cheese sandwiches which you shared on your first date, to saying farewell to guests with homemade cookies and hot chocolate, Wolfgang and his catering staff are masters at creating a signature menu that reflects a couple’s style.

Food stations are a popular trend in wedding receptions, setting the stage for guests to get out of their seats to mingle, dance and eat. Newlyweds can choose from menus reflecting traditional American fare to globally inspired cuisine.  A few favorite stations include the Tuscan buffet, offering pear & pecorino salad, branzino aqua pazza, and homemade bresaola with porcini & san marzano tomatoes; and the Tapas station, serving up bacon wrapped dates stuffed with parmesan, port glaze & arugula, and paella royale with shellfish, chorizo & saffron rice. (Hungry yet? We are!)

For brides and grooms who want to offer modern Southern Cuisine, this world renowned catering group can tailor a special menu complete with plenty of "comfort foods".  Tempt your guests with a mini chicken pot pie and macaroni and cheese bite or mini prime beef cheeseburgers and pigs in a blanket. For vegetarians and vegans (like us!), a special menu goes beyond tempeh and tofu, with the freshest natural vegetables and fruits that even omnivores will love—think crispy plantain with spicy avocado mousse and chilled soba noodle nest with crunchy vegetables & garlic yuzu vinaigrette.

Wolfgang Puck's Spago Maui is certainly one of our top choices for a wedding reception in Hawaii, particularly for those of you who consider yourselves part of the "foodie fraternity". If you are planning a unique menu, please comment with your ideas—we'd love to hear from you! And click here for more great tips from Maui's top chefs.

 

Oscar celebrations catered by Wolfgang Puck

Call for Entries: the Photo Contest!

It's time for another photo contest here at Love Notes so... Hit us with your best shot! (Go ahead, you know you wanna sing along with Miss Benatar!) Our previous contests were a huge success, and we expect the same enthusiastic response this time—particularly since the winning image will appear in the upcoming Summer/Fall 2009 Edition of Pacific Weddings.

The rules are simple:
Submit a photograph for a chance to have your image appear FULL PAGE in the upcoming Summer/ Fall 2009 issue of Pacific Weddings! The winning photo will appear on The Last Word page facing the inside back cover of the magazine. It is a truly special page, carefully selected by the editor and dedicated with an inspirational scripture to our readers. 

The Last Word is often the final image that our readers see before closing the book. And for those of you who flip from back to front, it can also be one of the first pages seen. This time we are looking for the most breathtaking image that you've captured at a wedding celebration this year. It can be any extraordinary shot that instantly conveys emotion. Email us your most breathtaking image today and you could be chosen for publication in the upcoming issue!

Here's how it works:
Email your photo(s) to contest@pacificweddings.com. Tell us why the image(s) stands out to you, then we will post our top five selections and let our readers vote!

•PLEASE DO NOT SEND HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES AT THIS TIME
•Send no more than 5 images per photographer or event.
•Photos should be 72 dpi and no larger than 8x10".  (High resolution images will be requested if your image is among the finalists. A photo release will also be required if your image is one of the five posted for voting.)

The Last Word Photo Contest Deadline is Friday, April 3, 2009.

[photo by Fred Egan] Thanks, Fred!

Soft and Romantic Peonies

I swooned over this gorgeous bouquet of pale pink peonies and feathers last week on Brooklyn Bride. And that dress— Vera Wang Luxe, of course! More sensational photos here.

[photos by Nashan Photographers]

Pacific Weddings on Get Married!

Last fall I had the pleasure of sitting down with Harmony Walton, Editorial Director of Get Married on Lifetime, to talk destination wedding fashion and beauty during the bridal Market in NYC. I wanted to share the segment with you today. Enjoy! xo Shaunna

Wedding Stationery: Retro Polynesia

Mimi Payne is a collector of sorts. She has acquired an impressive mix of island-style vintage postcards, hotel brochures, menus, drink coasters and matchbooks from her travels, all archived here. These printed pieces from the 1950s, '60s and '70s depict romantic images of tropical flowers, alluring hula dancers, classic island tourism and kitsch sand and surf scenes. It would be fun to create a save-the-date card or invitation with Polynesian pop imagery and graphics for a modern-day celebration, don't you think?

 

From top to bottom: coffee shop menu from the Sky Room, Honolulu Airport, 1952; Mai Tai drink ad from China Trader, Toluca Lake, CA, 1960; drink coaster from Queen's Surf, Waikiki, HI, 1950; hotel amenities booklet from the Ilikai Hotel, Honolulu, HI, 1964; table card from Hilton Hawaiian Village, Waikiki, HI, 1960.

[via Real Card Studio]

Spring Fever at Tiffany & Co.

How gorgeous are these Paloma Picasso Sugar Stack rings at Tiffany & Co.? The luscious colors are designed to be stacked or worn alone. Which bold hue do you desire?

Ring Pillows We Adore

Love the ring pillows by designer 5eizen featuring pretty blossoms, whimsical feathers and smart buttons. 5eizen's Etsy shop also features gorgeous hair clips, birdcage veils, and modern belts and sashes to adorn any bridal gown. The designer will be expanding her wedding collection soon to include bridal shawls, flower girl dresses and invitations! From top to bottom, left to right: the monochromatic lili pillow from the Alana Series, a classic chocolate brown and champagne satin ring pillow from the Elle Bloom Series, an ivory satin ring pillow from the Claira Series (the light sheer fabric has a twig pattern burned away to reveal the third layer of satin), and a cool gray pillow from the Chrysanthemum Bloom Series.

I especially love this sage satin pillow from the Lee Series featuring silver (or gold) leaves for a naturally elegant look. xo Shaunna

Bridal Jewelry: Prismera Design

For jewelry designer Laura Su, inspiration lies in nature's fine details: the imperfect curve of a leaf, the soft layers of flower petals, and structural botanical silhouettes. For the Hold Collection, she turned her focus to love. "The Hold Collection is a reminder to cherish the hard times along with the joyous and passionate moments— the culmination of those experiences is what makes our relationships richer and more meaningful," she says.Su, who designs under the name Prismera, has recently expanded the collection offering the Cherish bangle and Embrace ring, pictured here, with set cubic zirconia stones. Her offerings have a delicate, bohemian look and are created with layering in mind.

Vintage Wedding Cake Topper

How precious is the wedding cake topper and stand from Nancy and Ethan's wedding featured on Once Wed today? The bride says, "the cakes were baked by four of our great friends as our wedding gift. One was chocolate beet and the other white chocolate with fresh rasberries...I requested a simple decoration of organic flowers and they chose lavendar…" View more of this beautiful wedding here.

Photography by Kirsten Ellis Beaux Arts Photographie