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Garden, Home & Party

Tag Archives: weddings

{GHP} A wedding on my mind

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Family, Misc, Party Planning, Personal Information

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

weddings

George (Steve Martin) from Father of the Bride:

GEORGE
I used to think a wedding was a simple affair.  A boy and girl meet, 
they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say "I do."  
I was wrong.  That's getting married.  A wedding is an entirely 
different proposition.

If you’ve read my blog for a year or longer you may remember that I’ve talked about the upcoming wedding of our youngest son and his wonderful fiance HERE, HERE and HERE.

Garden, Home and Party, a wedding on my mind 11.1.12A dress has been selected…

Shoes have been considered…

Garden, Home and Party 11.6.12

and a few surprises may still be in the works…

(isn’t this a cute idea?)

Garden, Home and Party 11.6.12

The date is rushing at us faster than any of us might like, and we’re excited and a bit stressed all at the same time.  We’re in countdown mode.

Garden, Home and Party, a wedding on my mind 11.1.12The venue will be unique and wonderful, The Los Angeles Museum of History will host our smallish wedding of 100 guests.  When Son #1 married we enjoyed a family-only event overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the home of some dear friends in Emerald Bay {Thank you, Glenys and Jim}.

Garden, Home and Party, a wedding on my mind 11.1.12The African Mammal wing will be the backdrop for the wedding.  The North American Mammal room will be where the reception takes place.  The pre-reception will be here…

We’ll mingle with dinosaurs, sipping our drinks and enjoying an appetizer or two.

Garden, Home and Party, a wedding on my mind 11.1.12This scene in a Harry Potter movie will be similar to our dining experience with a table to accommodate 100 guests, 50 on each side, sans Christmas trees, but lots and lots of candles.

There are details to attend to.

Since the wedding will be just prior to winter’s official start, we will all enjoy the warmth of the candlelight,wood floors, soft lighting and of course our mammal-friends alongside our dear friends and family.

I realize it’s still almost a month away, but I’m really getting excited.  I’ll post some pictures of the venue after the big day.  Have any of you attended a wedding at the Natural History Museum?

{Garden, Home and Party} Exciting news…an engagement

20 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Designer, Entertaining, Family, Flowers, Party Planning, Personal Information, Traditions, Trends

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

weddings

Friends and readers (one in the same) will know that hubby and I have 2 sons…one is happily married and living with his lovely wife, and my very first granddaughter, in Austin.  Son #2 just proposed and she said “yes”!  We’re thrilled for many reasons, not the least of which is we love this girl and believe she and Son #2 are a good match.  Reason number 2, at least for me, is we get to be a part of planning a wedding!  Weddings encompass all manner of great things where HOME is concerned and can cross over into GARDEN and certainly PARTY.

via 100 Layer Cake

As I was typing those very words one of my favorite quotes from one of my all-time favorite movies came to mind.  Father of the Bride, 1991, staring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, when George Banks (Steve Martin’s character) says,

“I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. Boy and girl meet, they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say I do. I was wrong. That’s getting married. A wedding is an entirely different proposition.

  I know. I’ve just been through one. Not my own, my daughter’s. Annie Banks Mackenzie. That’s her married name: Mackenzie. You fathers will understand. You have a little girl. An adorable little girl who looks up to you and adores you in a way you could never have imagined. I remember how her little hand used to fit inside mine. Then comes the day when she wants to get her ears pierced, and wants you to drop her off a block before the movie theater. From that moment on you’re in a constant panic. You worry about her meeting the wrong kind of guy, the kind of guy who only wants one thing, and you know exactly what that one thing is, because it’s the same thing you wanted when you were their age. Then, you stop worrying about her meeting the wrong guy, and you worry about her meeting the right guy. That’s the greatest fear of all, because, then you lose her. It was just six months ago that that happened here. Just six months ago, that the storm broke.”

There are so many options for planning and inspiration, from the ring to the reception, the world wide web now hosts blog sites that feature amazing ideas for every tiny detail of the big event.  As I perused sites that came recommended, my head began swimming.  I was overwhelmed with beautiful images of every imaginable event and all the trimmings that are tied to a wedding, no matter how small and simple.

Snippet & Ink is such a fun blog site where any upcoming bride, or groom for that matter, can find real wedding photos as well as Inspiration Boards created by Snippet & Ink’s author, Kathryn.

 

In fact, when Son #1 got married bride-to-be choose a seaside location and desired a “family only” wedding.  At first I was slightly disappointed because I had hoped to share the day with close friends but in the end, this tiny 11 person wedding was so beautiful and intimate I was happy our DIL had wished for it.  We later hosted a reception for dear friends and enjoyed celebrating the marriage a couple of months later.

My point, although you may be wondering at this point if I have one, is that the wedding of Son #1 and now DIL, took nearly as much planning as a larger version would have.  You still plan for invitations, flowers, food, table settings, music, photographer and all the icing that goes on wedding cakes and receptions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above images: (left) Style me Pretty; (right) 100 Layer Cake

So, we’re off to begin what I believe will be a bonding experience for me with my future DIL #2.  I’ll keep you posted.  We are hosting an engagement party at our home and shopping invitations has begun.

via tiny prints (sample)

via Style me Pretty

 

 

{Party}A Napa wedding #2

22 Friday Jul 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Flowers, Food, Party Planning

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Napa valley, weddings

We attended a beautiful wedding in Napa last September HERE and were lucky enough to be invited to another.  Who doesn’t love a wedding, especially in the wine country of California?  Warning, there are no pictures of the wedding/reception in this post.  I just couldn’t bring myself to take my camera to such a formal affair.   Once there, I realized it would have been perfectly fine since lots of folks had their cameras.

The mother of the groom did send me this image…the bride had arranged for her and her groom to sit on this loveseat during the dinner/toasts.  How romantic is this?!

Instead, I’ll share with you our road trip to Napa and some of the highlights of the incredible weekend.  First off, those who live in California probably know that the wine country can be pretty hot in July.  We lucked out…I’m convinced Mother Nature knew to comply with the lovely bride’s day!  It was a pleasant 72 degrees and never warmed more than 75 degrees during the entire weekend.

First stop…Bakesale Betty’s

We live in Southern California and the road trip, while not for everyone, happens to be fun for Hubby and me.  We love to stop in North Oakland (Temescal District, adjacent to Berkeley) to grab a favorite fried chicken sandwich from Bakesale Betty’s.  This quirky bakery only sells this sandwich and an array of baked goods that could add 10 pounds to anyone in a very short time.

The only sign for Bakesale Betty is the had written sign taped to the glass door.

This is even more delicious than it looks.  I think I could duplicate the slaw but the chicken is a challenge.

Alison Barakat, an Aussie, cooked at Chez Panisse Café for 3 years before meeting her husband and opening the bakery.  There is always a line for lunch and Alison has set up tables (ironing boards) around the entrance to the walk-in bakery for dining.

Next stop…4th Street, Berkeley

This is a wonderful diner and I have never been there when there wasn’t a wait…so worth it.  Oh, and just so you know, there is no ocean view!

We then hit 4th Street in Berkeley for a quick stroll up one side of the fabulous shopping/dining area and back down the other.

Mulholland Brothers have been making quality leather bags for years…I liked all of them but especially the 2 bags below…

On to Napa…

The rehearsal dinner was held at Silverado Vineyard.  I felt as though I was standing on the patio of a pensione in Italy.

The food, ambiance and wine (of course) were delicious and we enjoyed the evening.

On Saturday we decided to visit one of my favorite Napa Valley towns, St. Helena.  We started by enjoying an all-American breakfast at Gillwood’s Cafe.  We then walked the main street.  One of my favorite stores is Vintage Home.   I wish there was a location closer to Orange County.

Love the Hermes lamp, even if orange wouldn’t work in my home.

The wedding began at 3:00 PM at a historic Catholic church in St. Helena.  The church was dressed in beautiful white peonies and trees at the entrance, planted in zinc planter boxes, added beauty to the venue.  (Kate and William started something having trees at Westminster Abby, a really effective addition).  Bride, groom, groomsmen and bridesmaids all performed perfectly.

We were shuttled to the estate of Beaulieu Vineyard, the private home of the Beaulieu family heirs, where all of us were wowed by the formal gardens, European arbors, fountains and mature trees and vines.  I really wish I had taken my camera!  Anyway, the wedding was beyond lovely and fun.

Along this walk were places to take pictures to be put in a book for the bride and groom, there were stations offering appetizers and drinks.  By the way, the beverage offered as we disembarked the shuttle was a St. Germaine.  Elderberry liquor, vodka, club soda and a splash of grapefruit juice, refreshing and delicious.

This area was set up with long, black, wooden tables which bordered the perimeter of this garden.  On each of the tables, down the center, were glass/crystal footed pieces that floral arrangements were sitting on that consisted of white peonies, white hydrangea and white dahlias.


I’m afraid these Googled pictures don’t do the site justice but it was truly beautiful and I’ve since found several photographers that have photographed weddings at Beaulieu.  If you are planning a wedding this is a magical venue.


The following morning we were invited to Yountville Inn for breakfast.  Yountville Inn was recently remodeled and I think it is my new favorite place!  See for yourself.

This is the courtyard off the main lobby…so inviting.

The grounds of the Yountville Inn are filled with white, flowering plants…lots of hydrangea.

Love this fountain/sculpture.


All in all it was a magical weekend.  Truly memorable.  Thank you Jim and Glenys for including us.

Have you attended a wedding that will forever remain in your memory?

 


Napa on Dwellable

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