As Seen In: Martha Stewart Weddings

I was honored and excited when the ladies at Martha Stewart Weddings asked me to contribute to the Expert Advice feature on The Bride's Guide. Rehearsal dinners are such a fun way to kick off the wedding weekend, but planning one can raise a lot of questions. From the guest list to making it memorable, here are my tips for hosting this special night.

Weekly Inspiration: Royal Wedding Receptions

Didn't you just fall in love with William and Kate's wedding? Perfection in every way. From the bride's impeccably designed gown (and that veil!), to the adorable flower girls and pages, to the light-hearted words whispered at the alter, I was impressed that such a grand and traditional affair also felt so modern and personal.

If you’re feeling inspired by the royal wedding, I wanted to share some of my favorite venues for regal receptions.

The Breakers, Palm Beach

The legendary Breakers is a spectacular Italian-Renaissance hotel overlooking the ocean in Palm Beach. Its grand old world feel is just magnificent ~ a truly special place with so much rich history that each of their beautiful ballrooms transports you to another time and place. In addition, the service is outstanding, making each guest feel like a king or queen.

Photography by Abby Ross. See more from this event here.


City Hall, San Francisco

San Franciscans are truly lucky to have such a stunning and impressive building for our City Hall. Even a small elopement feels so significant and special when the couple steps onto the grand staircase in the Rotunda. But I love City Hall for large receptions, with dinner and dancing under the gilded dome or in the spacious North Light Court. With its marble floors and grand archways, City Hall is a wonderful venue for feeling like American royalty.

Photography by Gertrude and Mabel. See more from this wedding here.


The Palace Hotel, San Francisco

The iconic Palace Hotel is a landmark in San Francisco, reminiscent of turn-of-the-century grandeur. The Garden Court, with its spectacular stained glass dome and crystal chandeliers, is perfectly befitting a royal reception. Isn't it breathtaking in candlelight? I also recommend taking a page from Prince Harry's wedding playbook by hosting an after-party in the Ralston Room, giving guests a chance to really cut loose at the end of the night.

Photography by Suzy Clement. See more from this wedding here.

Laurie Arons Special Events is a preferred vendor at all of the venues listed above. Please feel free contact us if you'd like to plan an event.

Weekly Inspiration: Brides + Bonnets

If you love weddings as much as I do, I'm sure you're up early to catch every minute of the Royal Wedding coverage. I'm most looking forward to seeing the bride's gown, but also the colorful assortment of custom hats worn by revelers.

In honor of William and Kate, I just had to share this picture of a bride who loved unique headwear as much as our neighbors across the pond. Commissioned by a milliner in France, she donned this miniature Swedish-style crown for the ceremony. It was made specially for her to replicate the one her mother wore on her wedding day. She then had a little fun by putting on a festive fascinator of greenery for the cocktail reception.

The Royal Wedding is sure to spark trends in the industry. I wonder if American wedding guests will adopt this British tradition in the months to come...

Photography by Michelle Pattee

Love This: Boys Choirs

There are few things more charming than the sound of children singing. Boys choirs are such a touching addition to a wedding ceremony, whether in a church or a more natural setting like this beautiful redwood grove. These boys from Ragazzi Boys Chorus sounded absolutely angelic, guests couldn't stop talking about how special the ceremony was.

Photography by Thayer Allyson Gowdy.

Napa Valley Wedding: Joanne + Daniel

Joanne and Daniel wanted their wedding to reflect their sophisticated, yet fun style and to share their passion for great food and wine with friends and family across the globe. The couple, two Brits who met and fell in love in Houston, chose the Napa Valley for their destination wedding.

Joanne and Daniel exchanged "I-dos" amongst enormous Weeping Willow trees on the grounds of a gorgeous private estate in Calistoga. After cocktails on the lake, guests were led up to dinner and dancing by a bagpiper. Joanne's family kicked off the evening with two hilarious toasts, including one from Joanne's sister that was an all-out Fresh Prince of Bel Air style rap about the couple. (A first!) Guests spent the evening laughing, dancing, and indulging in special treats like a cigar bar and bananas foster station from Paula LeDuc Fine Catering.

Photography by Meg Smith. Catering by Paula LeDuc Fine Catering. Florals by Kathleen Deery Design. Cake from Perfect Endings. Dance music from Pop Fiction and Ceremony music from Golden Gate Strings through Innovative Entertainment. Bride's hair and make-up by Jim Avila. Antique convertible from Antique Tours Limousine and Teal Rolls Royce from Mosaic Transportation. Invitations and menu cards from Union Street Papery. Escorts  from PS Paper. Linens from LaTavola. Videography by Lola Video. Calligraphy from Barbara Callow.

As Seen In: Style Me Pretty

Woop Woop! Style Me Pretty featured Joanne and Daniel's Napa Valley Wedding last week and we couldn't have been more thrilled! Check out the full feature here and check back here for more photos later this week. Thanks Abby! Photo by Meg Smith. *Update: we're experiencing some technical difficulties, but should have this post ready soon. Thanks for your patience!

Vintage San Francisco: Kathryn + Ryan

We've been dying to show you the images of Kathryn and Ryan's winter wedding for months! Martha Stewart Weddings did a wonderful job of featuring all of the spectacular details that went into Kathryn's wedding yesterday and now it's our turn! I must say - working with Kathryn was a dream. It was such a pleasure to collaborate with her on all of the details and to work with someone as into weddings as we are. She's incredibly sweet and sincere and all around just the loveliest person. It was such an honor to be a part of Kathryn and Ryan's big day. We hope you enjoy all the photos of the wedding as much as we enjoyed planning it!

So on to the wedding...

After searching for the perfect venue, Kathryn and Ryan fell in love with Swedenborgian Church in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. We had done a gorgeous wedding there a couple years back and have always loved its cozy feel. It's really magical - think roaring fire and tons of taper candles- and ideal for a winter wedding. With the church in place, Kathryn and Ryan decided to host their reception at The Presidio Social Club, a fun vintage-inspired restaurant housed in an old army barracks in the historic Presidio neighborhood of San Francisco.

Kathryn chose a color palatte of red and white with accents of charcoal gray and silver. I loved how it felt perfectly seasonal and how it worked seamlessly with the decor at the Presidio Social Club. We incorporated subtle seasonal references throughout the wedding - a simple wreath on the invitation, a pinecone rosette at each place setting, a "Poinsettia" signature cocktail and even eggnog on the dessert buffet!

After a sweet and emotional ceremony, guests recessed out of the church to find the Golden Gate Boys Choir singing "Joy to the World" and other Christmas carols. (We couldn't resist outfitting them in matching plaid scarves and navy peacoats!) Kathryn and Ryan headed to the reception in a vintage Checker taxi complete with a "Just Married" sign. At the Presidio Social Club, guests sipped vintage cocktails and enjoyed comfort food favorites, like french fries, served in custom paper cones from PS Paper. Kathleen Deery Design did a knock out job of outfitting the Club. Kathleen created a boxwood garland that lined the entryway to the club and hung miniature boxwood wreaths from the interior windows. The tables were adorned with white cyclamen in handmade vases (exclusive for Kathleen Deery Design) and just the cutest white pom-pom napkins. The whole look was timeless and elegant. After dinner, guests dug in to an incredible dessert buffet with desserts from Perfect Endings and gelato from the Noci Gelato Bike. It was a spectacular night! Be sure to check out Snippet & Ink for more photos, as well as Kiss the Groom!

Photos by Elizabeth Messina. Ceremony location Swedenborgian Church. Reception location Presidio Social Club. Floral design by Kathleen Deery Design. Personal Flowers by Michaele Thunen. Printed materials, escort buttons and dessert buffet styling by Jill Sassa Poole for PS Paper. Calligraphy by Betsy Dunlap and Maybelle Imasa-Stukls. Ceremony music by Lawrence Strings. Dinner music by Crystal Monee Hall and Jazz Mafia. Photobooth from Magnolia Photobooth. Boy's Choir from Golden Gate Boy's Choir. Wedding cake and desserts from Perfect Endings. Gelato Bike from Noci Gelato. Cocktail tent from Classic Party Rentals. Select linens from LaTavola. Sound by Delicate Productions. Valet from Soiree Valet. Bridal Party Transportation from Bauer's. Vintage Taxi from Marin Checker Taxi. Bride's gown by Angel Sanchez from Jin Wang. Hair and Make-up by Jim Avila.