Real Weddings Share-Taber Ranch Fall Wedding

Love reminders of past weddings! I was just reminiscing of Christina and Chris’s wedding yesterday with amazing florist, Erin De Young, with Scarlett & Grace. This wedding had extra special meeting to me because Christina was my son’s Second Grade Teacher and there is nothing like sharing my expertise with someone I appreciate so much!

As seen in Real Weddings Magazine, http://www.realweddingsmag.com

http://www.realweddingsmag.com/sacramento-wedding-inspiration-christina-christopher-from-the-summerfall-2015-issue-of-real-weddings-magazine/

Thanks Angelee for the great photos!

Angelee Arceo Photography

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Marriage of Metals with Real Weddings Magazine

Thanks Real Weddings Magazine for blogging about our Marriage of Metal shoot!

http://www.realweddingsmag.com/marriage-of-metal-a-decor-inspiration-story-the-sweets-from-pretty-sweet/

Hello dear Real Weddings Readers! Have you seen the newest issue of Real Weddings Magazine? In it, we have an amazing decor inspiration story called, “Marriage of Metal.”

For this feature, we teamed with an extremely talented group of professionals inspired to, well, mix some metals. Katie Edwards from Ambience Floral Design, on the inspiration:

“I’ve always loved metals, all metals. I’m not a ‘gold’ girl or a ‘silver’ girl—copper is actually my favorite metal. A popular wedding trend over the past several years has been a lot of crystal sparkle, which is gorgeous. But it’s always good to have a fresh approach, and metals can offer a whole different kind of shine and sparkle—metals have beautiful depth, richness and warmth. Metal is so versatile: matte, shiny, rough, smooth, bright, dull….the combinations are endless.”

In the feature in the magazine, we promised you more photos―photos where you can get up close and personal…to really see more of the detail and all of the hard work that these dedicated wedding pros devoted to making this idea come to life―and we’re ready to fulfill that promise! We simply cannot thank the contributors to this feature enough for all of their amazing work―we think that you’ll agree, the results were pretty darned cool!

For this installment of our blog series, “Marriage of Metal,” we decided to focus on the sweet stuff…that’s right, dear readers, all of the yummy goodness that not only looks good but also tastes great. For this feature, Musarrat Afshan from Pretty Sweet produced these spectacular sweets, which we think you’ll agree, truly are works of art! So without further ado, we present “Marriage of Metal: A Decor Inspiration Story {The Sweets from Pretty Sweet}:

Tune back in to our next blog post to meet our real bride model, Vanessa, and to see more from our “Marriage of Metal: A Decor Inspiration Story!”

Thank you to all of the vendors who contributed to this piece:

Real Bride Model:  Vanessa Sevart

Photographed on location:

M!X Downtown

916-442-8855  |  mixdowntown.net

Photographer

Lily Rose Photography

916-204-3708  |  lilyrosephotography.com

Design, Styling, Décor and Floral Design

Ambience Floral Design

916-786-6851  |  ambiencefloral.com

Design, Styling, Décor and Coordination

Catrina Maria Designs

916-276-5080  |  catrinamaria.com

Bridal Gown

Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo

530-755-4282  |  alwayselegantbridal.net

Accessories

Macy’s

Arden Fair Mall | 916-925-2845

Country Club Plaza | 916-485-3885

Downtown Plaza | 916-444-3333

Sunrise Mall | 916-962-3333

Westfield Galleria at Roseville | 916-771-3333

macys.com

Hair and Makeup

Special Event Hair and Makeup

Lea Buehler

916-705-5827  |  specialeventhairandmakeup.com

Cakes and Desserts

Pretty Sweet

916-952-3043  |  prettysweet.co

Paperie

Angela Dal Bon Custom Invitations and Announcements

916-759-4428  |  sacramentoinvitations.org

Décor Rentals

Dogwood Party Rentals

916-505-4250  |  dogwoodpartyrentals.com

Celebrations! Party Rentals and Tents

916-773-2133  |  celebrationspartyrentals.com

Linens

Mimi & Co.

916-525-1235  |  mimiandcompany.com

“Marriage of Metal: A Decor Inspiration Story” produced by Katie Edwards {Ambience Floral Design}, Catrina Arcularius {Catrina Maria Designs}, and Caitlin Herrera and Wendy Sipple from Real Weddings Magazine.

Photos by Lily

 

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Villa Florentina Photo Shoot in Coloma, CA

Last month, the CMD team had the incredible opportunity to stage a photo shoot at the breathtaking Villa Florentina in Coloma, CA. We worked with some fabulous vendors who truly helped make this shoot a complete success! You can bring the destination to your wedding instead of bringing your wedding to the destination. The Villa Florentina is the perfect venue to bring a Mediterranean theme into play without flying halfway across the globe.

The most important part of any Italian wedding reception is the food! With large rectangle tables, you can capture the warmth of Mamma’s kitchen while serving a delicious family-style dinner. Dress up the tables with richly colored linens, place vibrant flowers in wine bottles, or use funky pasta shapes in unique jars to further enhance your Tuscan theme.

We went all out on the head table! Using bright oranges and deep purples in the decor plays off of the venue beautifully. Those Coloma hills sing when the sun sinks down. Bellisima!

It will be pleasantly warm in the fall months, but it’s always nice to offer guests a beverage upon their arrival to the wedding. This beverage greeting station takes the theme to the next level by allowing the guests to make their own Italian sodas!

The cocktail space can mirror the reception area by implementing the wine bottles with lush flowers, candles to keep up with the romantic mood, and plenty of lounge seating for wine sipping.

Dress-up your ceremony space with a gargantuan flower chandelier. This theatre-in-the-round (square, really) seating allows you and your hubby to literally be the center of attention.

Mini Olive Oil bottles personalized with your guests’ names could serve as your favors. They’re useful and in uniform with the Italian theme.

The Villa Florentina also offers a carriage house that can be used in case of rain. There are so many spaces that can be utilized or left alone at your discretion. This is the perfect venue for those who want understated elegance or lavish decor. Either way, you can have the destination wedding you’ve always dreamed of without even leaving the Sacramento region!

We wanted to give a very big shout to all of the vendors that made this photo shoot possible.
Photographer: Jennifer with The Memory Journalists
Venue: Villa Florentina in Coloma, CA
Venue Owner: Loren
Rentals: Celebrations
Flowers: Katie Edwards with Ambience Floral Design
Paper Goods: Invitations Ink
Bride and Groom Models: Maria and Eric Bardet
Makeup: Shana Beals
Bridal Gown: Nicole with La Soie
Photo Shoot Designers: Catrina Arcularius, Katie Nielsen, Emily Mufich, Jessica Little, Ashley Douglas

 Written by: Emily Mufich

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Quoted in The Knot Wedding Magazine

It is so much fun to open a magazine and see us quoted!  Great tips in The Knot’s Wedding Magazine, ‘Inside Scoop’ advise column in the newest issue.Click on the image above to read the article.

http://www.theknot.com/Vendors/Catrina-Maria-Designs/Profile/WCS/271/417206/profile

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Trend of the Week: Flowers!

For many years we have seen bold and bright flowers making a statement. However soft and decadent colors are making their way back in. Think of magical and fantasy type movies such as “Snow White” . Look for cabbage roses and peonies!

Photo by: Watson Studios Photography

Courtesy of The Full Bouquet

If you are looking for something extravagant!

Courtesy of Sheri Martin Interiors

 

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New Year, New Trends!

Happy New Year!! Each new year brings fun and exciting new trends. Colors, flowers, decor, gowns, entertainment, and more! Where to begin? No worries, we are here to help! Each week, yours truly will keep you updated with what’s hot and what’s not!

For my first trend of the year…color! What do you think is hot this year? This may throw you off a bit, but tangerine is the way to go. It’s bold, bright and beautiful. This color can definetely make a statement and bring a lot of life to your big day. Tangerine would look great with lime greens, pinks or even purples. I am loving the teal and tangerine color combination.  Here are a few ideas of how this bold color can be used.

Photo courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

Photo courtesy of theswishlist.com

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Beloved, no longer bewildered. River Highlands Ranch Smartsville, CA

Marianna and Darwin, June 4^th, 2011

I adore each wedding we plan, but is there a more memorable one than your own little sister’s? Unlikely.  This couple, high school sweet hearts, have been together for the past 7 years.  Choosing a theme of family traditions was so clear for them.  Details shots to come will showcase their theme and feel of their special day. Be sure to check back for photos of their guest favors: an old family recipe of pepper jelly. Marianna hand made the jelly with her future mother in law.  From the old photos of grandparents on their wedding day displayed in the barn to the table names of past and present family pets, this day was comfortable, classy, and pulled on every heart string.

Marianna and Darwin’s wedding was held at River Highlands Ranch in Smartsville, just outside of Grass Valley.  What was planned as an incredible summer day wedding utilizing the perfectly groomed ceremony tiered lawn turned into the most incredible rainy day wedding.  I wouldn’t be surprised to hear guests recounting this event and forgetting that the rain was even a factor.  We had enough time (3 days!) to regroup and find one of the last tents available in our area.  This afforded us some additional space and the ability to use the ‘outdoors’ for the ceremony.  Thank you clear sided tent for that!

Simply changing ice cold lemonade to hot coco with marshmallows and whipped cream created an intentional event that appeared to be planned for rain (never in the plan!). From the tent, heat lamps, and fire pit to the incredibly warm and comfortable group of guests, this day is sure to be remembered.  I learned how useful market umbrellas can be in the rain as they were placed to keep the s’mores station by the fire pit dry from the sprinkles.

The barn is a dream space to create a perfect flow and we did just that.  The cocktail hour was filled with the sound of shakers at the specialty martini bar, and the photobooth by Mr. DJ Service was a hit even before dinner.  Dinner was spectacular with paired wines and family style food service by Chris Jackson Catering and Events.  The bride claims the food was even better than the food at their tasting which almost never happens for anyone!  The dinning portion of the barn made my heart skip a beat and felt just like Marianna and what we had envisioned early on.  Martha, with Blooms by Martha Andrews, was given some basic ideas and then allowed floral designer freedom to create what we described without boundaries.  We trusted her whole heartedly and she knocked it out of the park. Though the vineyards were supposed to be the backdrop to the incredible dining room in the barn with the doors flung open, we improvised and added a backdrop, moss lettering, and up lights for a breathtaking effect.

The day was full of the ‘dream team’ in action.  This included the vendors above in addition to photography and video by the Memory Journalist (huge team! Thank you Jen, Kelly, Keith and Kirsten), entertainment, MC, and lighting by Mr. DJ Service, wedding cakes by Sweet Cakes by Rebecca, and rentals though both Classic Party Rentals and Celebrations Party Rentals.  The ceremony was officiated by one of Marianna and Darwin’s high school teachers whom they both admired tremendously. Last, but not least, an extra shout out to our adorable paper pieces by Bella Vita Invitations and Invitations Ink…can’t have just one, right?!

I suppose I forgot to mention that Catrina Maria Designs did plan this event; I was of course, also a Matron of Honor.  Being the smart planner that I am, I handed over the reins to my long time best friend and planner, Michaela Rodgers of Plush Weddings.  With my assistant, the amazing Katie, they teamed up to allow me a stress free day with my family. I will be forever grateful for being able to fully enjoy this time and be the best MOH possible.

I imagine Costa Rica is warm and amazing and each day will be sunny for these two! Wishing Marianna and Darwin a perfectly sunny life together!

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All You Need Is Love. Chateau Summerset, Ione, CA

Christen and Paul

Married: May 28, 2011

It was a cloudy Saturday afternoon when the first shuttle of guests arrived at a private residence in Ione, Ca. The guests were ushered onto the front lawn where they sipped on lemonade from mason jars, and were given the opportunity to write a message to the bride and groom using a vintage typewriter.  While the guests continued to arrive, the skies saw it fit to open up and let down a little rain and the group moved indoors.

The skies broke clear and the guests began to take their seats on the hay bales and the ceremony got under way. The bride and groom stood surrounded with bouquets of white flowers, billowing sheets of gold fabric, and the ambient music of Millington Strings; it was a picturesque moment.

Just as everyone began to move toward the tented reception area beautifully adorned with gold dusted floral arrangements from Blooms By Martha Andrews, the rain would not wait. The guests began to settle into their seats and when Christen and Paul entered, DJ Buddy Holly played The Beatles “All You Need Is Love”   and everyone started to sing along! It was such a sweet moment, the group was ready to enjoy the day no matter what, they were there to celebrate Christen and Paul, and no amount of rain was going to change that!

The unbelievably hard working staff of  Beth Sogaard Catering passed delectable appetizers and Chef Beth herself prepared from-scratch Cioppino and mountains of mouth watering entrees. Toasts, tears, dances, and even a special song from the brides father were all captured by Charleton Churchill Photography. When it was time for cake, a custom  “Nighmare Before Christmas” Jack and Sally  creation was brought by Sweet Cakes by Rabecca, a flawless red-velvet way to let the dancing begin! The rest of the evening was non-stop good time. A port and cigar bar, photo booth, gaming tables, beer pong, and even nachos for a midnight snack!

Despite a little splash of rain, this was a day to celebrate family, friends, and Love. Its true that you don’t need perfect weather, or even an in-tact hairdo, all you need is love! Congratulations Christen and Paul it is our hope that your life together is full of love, love, love!

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Love and Lust Design Event, Downtown Sacramento

Our “Isla Azul” Love Table for the Love and Lust Blog Event Presented by Mimi & Co. happening TODAY at the Sacramento Convention Center.

More to come soon!

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Tea for Two. The Firehouse Restaurant, Old Sacramento

Jeff Maltz and Gillian Garrett: Married May 1, 2011

It was a cloudless May morning as guests began to take their seats on the patio of The Firehouse in Old Sacramento. As Gillian made her way down the aisle wearing a gown passed down from her mother it seemed as if time stood still. When the ceremony got underway, Jeff and Gillian stood embracing each other as they spoke their vows, and exchanged their rings.

The huge shade trees, and branch covered brick on the patio was splashed with spring color thanks to Cheryl with Accents by Sage. The guests enjoyed a signature cocktail while the new couple posed for pictures in the cobblestone alley behind The Firehouse with photographer Mike Greener with Greener Visuals. A breathtaking spread of artfully crafted appetizers was presented by Shannon and The Firehouse staff.

This no-nonsense couple had succeeded in their mission to have a “no-fuss” wedding in all respects but one, the sweets!  They began at the hotels where the out of town guests were greeted with a custom cookie creation. For Dessert an amazing and decadent spread of confectionery was assembled even miniature root beer floats! The finale was a send-off with a lavender handmade marshmallow all thanks to Carissa from Sugar and Spice Specialty Desserts.

Family and Friends lined the alley way and waved good-bye as the couple rode away in a  Silver Ride PT Cruiser. Jeff and Gillian are headed to Africa for three weeks and we wish them all the happiness in the world! Thank you both for letting Catrina Maria Design be a part of your special day.

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