{List #3: Favorite Flowers for May Weddings}

Since May is a day away, we think this list will be very helpful for brides who want to know what's a great bloom are available in May. We asked Nancy of Nancy Liu Chin Designs to help us make this list. So here's what she gave us.
Dogwood
Hyacinth
Lilac
Mock Orange
Passion Vine
Peony
Poppy
Ranunculus
Sweet Peas
Viburnum 'Snowball'

*Keep in mind that these flowers may appear in May but may not be available in all markets.

{Resources: One Lovely Day by Project Wedding}

Look who's talking about the Pink Blossom List!

One Lovely Day

We thank our friends over at Project Wedding and their new blog, One Lovely Day, for their shout out! It's a mutual love feast as we are also great fans of Project Wedding's new look. We've seen it evolve over the years and we take inspiration from its redesign. Many of our PBL resources are also favorites of PW which means that great minds think alike. Wink Wink!

{Real Weddings: Lucky Blossoms Chapter Three}

The bride made her own invitations and place cards. These lovely cards were mounted on fine paper that featured a blossom motif.

Here's that wonderful Katrina Rozelle cake with blossom details over soft green fondant.

Nancy Liu Chin helped Melissa pick out the lovely Pink Satin linens from Classic Party Rentals that went nicely with the dark wooden Chiavari chairs and uplighting by Elle Decor. A soft pink gel created a warm look. The bride and groom sat at their own table for two!

Photography by Ken Buck
Technorati Profile

{Real Weddings: Lucky Blossoms Chapter Two}

This is the elegant Bridge's Golf and Country Club in San Ramon where both the ceremony and reception took place.

And the bridal bouquet incorporated lovely spring blooms like ranunculus, lisianthus, sweet peas, mini callas and roses with a contrasting soft celadon green.

The ceremony took place in front of the grand fireplace for the ceremony that was decorated candles and florals.

Heron Freed Toor presided over the ceremonies. What a lovely ceremony filled with beautiful and personalized vows. (The groom cried more than the bride!)

{Real Weddings: Lucky Blossoms Chapter One}

Given our namesake, this sweet wedding submitted to us by photographer Ken Buck seems like a perfect PBL wedding. Here's the lovely story behind Melissa & Greg's March 17th, 2009 wedding.

Before the bride had picked her wedding gown, the couple had selected the venue, and the invitations were chosen, Melissa and Greg had 3 must haves. First they wanted a cake with blossom details made by Bay Area renowned cake maker, Katrina Rozelle. Check! Second they wanted to get married on Tuesday, March 17th(it's Patrick's Day). Check! Lastly, they wanted Pink Blossoms in as many details as possible. Hmmmm? Since neither Melissa or Greg were familiar with flowers, they asked their good friend who use to freelance for a wedding floral designer to help them. Their friend, Michael S., just so happened to have worked for San Francisco floral and event designer, Nancy Liu Chin of NLCD.


During their first meeting, one of Nancy's first question was "why did they pick a Tuesday wedding?". The answer was easy. St. Patrick's Day is a very auspicious holiday and the idea of getting married with the luck of the Irish behind them seemed like a great idea(though neither was of Irish decent). Even if it wasn't about luck, Melissa and Greg would have picked March 17th because that was when this couple had their first date.


After picking the date, Melissa especially wanted to pay tribute to her mother's Japanese heritage by having as many cherry blossoms in the wedding. Melissa's DIY invitations, place cards, favors all incorporated little pink blossoms. The table numbers were named after San Francisco parks in honor of their love for all things gardens! As you can see, they knew that one of the colors had to be pink. So what should the other color be? Obviously, given that it was St. Patrick's Day, the couple suggested that they add a soft spring green for a little luck.

Weddings are symbols of hope, love, commitment and in this case, luck! The PBL thanks Melissa & Greg for sending us this message of luck!

{Décor : Daisies}

Our Decor expert, Gloria of Gloria Wong Design, is looking for fresh trends and we love what she wrote for us this week. Gloria writes, "ever since Marc Jacobs introduced his perfume line “Daisy” about a year and a half ago, I’ve seen daisies in a whole new light".(Image courtesy of Neiman Marcus Department Stores)

To be honest, the Pink List Panel can be snobby sometimes. We're more blossom fans less daisy enthusiasts. We aren't usually fans of any types of daisies though Nancy Liu Chin loves gerber daisies(and we can see their benefits). Gloria mentioned that she "found them to be a bit too cutesie" and we couldn't agree more. But now, they’ve taken on this whole new casually sophisticated Boho vibe. We can envision, for instance, a barefoot Nicole Ritchie walking down an outdoor aisle in a free-flowing empire waist gown with her hair braided around the crown of her head, holding a loose bouquet of garden-plucked white daisies. Her bridesmaids would don hippie-style daisy printed dresses. Her daughter Harlow would be the flower girl and she would wear a vintage denim dress with daisies in her hair. A ring bearer would hold a denim ring pillow with an embroidered daisy. Nicole’s engagement ring would not be of a diamond. Rather, she would have a sketch of daisy tattooed on her ring finger. Can you picture it?!!!(Imagine courtesy of InStyle Magazine)


Here are a couple of Gloria's favorite wedding-related daisy items… Gloria found this yellow and white cake from Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine. My oh My - it's beyond cute. We can see this for weddings and even a baby showers! The daises look so delicate and refined in this cake. Who would have thought that this country flower could be spruced up. It's chic now!
(Imagine courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine)

And this lovely Eyelet Daisy note card from Vera Wang is modern and fresh. It makes us want to go out and write thank you notes, they are so fresh! You can order these at Fine Stationary.com. A set of 10 will cost you $32.00 not including shipping and taxes. (Imagine courtesy of Vera Wang On Weddings)












Thank you Gloria....you always do us proud!

{Resources: Style Unveiled Arrives!}

San Francisco brides, you are in for a treat. Style Unveiled has arrived in your town!

We know that the economy has hit all of us pretty hard. And yes, everyone needs to be more practical and scale their wedding back if needed. But isn't it refreshing to see a new online wedding magazine and blog that focuses on glamour, eco-chic, style and all those things that made us wedding obsessed in the first place.

Keep reading those DIY blogs, figuring out ways to downsize your wedding, and being your own wedding planner. We are 100% in support of all of those things....However, for up-to-date inspiration we need substance and San Francisco Style Unveiled is about that!

Hooray! PBL loves you!

{List #2: The Do-Not-Play List at a Wedding}

This week, for our 2nd List, we asked former bride, Lisa S., a fellow Pink List Panelist compile a list. Since last week, Nancy #1 did her favorite first dance songs, Lisa S. is following suit with a rather funny list of her own. Lisa S. writes..."A week before my wedding, I made a “do-not-play list” with songs that were not appropriate for a wedding crowd. I forgot to give the band the list. And sure enough, several guests requested songs that were on the list.

Here are the songs that were on my list that never got submitted…."

Losing My Religion, REM
Gold Digger, Kanye West
You Give Love a Bad Name, Bon Jovi
Love Stinks, J Geils Band
Oops I did It Again, Britney Spears
My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion
I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor
Smack That, Akon
YMCA, Village People
Chicken Dance
Macarena

We hope we didn't offend anyone but seriously, the Macarena should be banned....forever!

{Décor : Printed Candles}

Many of you were first introduced to Gloria Wong(GW) of Gloria Wong Design in a previous post. We've asked Gloria not only to write this one post but also to stay with the Pink Blossom List(PBL) indefinitely! She's here today to share with us her latest and greatest finds. Of course, like Gloria, the PBL is equally obsessed with everything candles lately. Candle containers, candle colors, candle sizes, candle shapes (excluding heart-shaped candles which really should only be reserved for Valentine’s Day, an 80s Flashback scrap booking party, or a little girl’s pink heart-themed birthday party), and all kinds of candle embellishments.
Gloria was recently introduced to this new company called Imageglow Candles that offers printed candles. These printed candles can make such a statement on your reception tables. These are some of her favorite prints from the collection! Very Southern California Happy Chic!
Gloria recommends combining these candles with white geometric chairs from Hartmann Studios, white square plates also from Hartmann Studios, a candy apple green linen, white ceramic square vases with wheatgrass centerpieces in different heights! Throw in some green apples and oranges to make this an even more upbeat table.

Ooh, we love it. And we love you, Gloria!

{Real Brides: Case Study #1}

Bridezilla…NOT!

We wanted to kick off and try a new twist on PBL with this series about real brides planning their wedding. We present Case Study #1 for your review. We are documenting a real life bride and her path in planning her wedding…from choosing the venue to designing the décor. She is not a “bridezilla” and there is no drama. Instead, we have a lovely and thoughtful bride that loves details, details, details!

Our featured bride is Marylou. She was engaged on Valentine’s Day! Classic! Her fiancé, John, has given her creative license (since men seem to fear the details) for this momentous event.

Now Marylou has the exciting task of choosing her wedding décor and flowers…what the Pink Blossom List is all about. Stay tuned….

{Invitations: Signature Linda & Harriett}

We recently saw this lovely and inspiring invitation by Linda and Harriett which was featured in one of our favorite wedding magazines, Elegant Bride and had to share it with you.

What we love about this invitation is its stylish look thanks to beautiful yet informal script and great floral motif.

Don't you love the simple uncluttered style of the text? Isn't the hand-lettered names that bleed off the edges of the card so fresh? One can imagine the striking effect this invitation has in real life, where one can feel the texture of the paper and the mark of the fine letterpress printing bleeding off the card.

We're also crazy in love with the floral pattern in the envelope's lining which sets the tone for the garden party wedding. Anne Millett of Mira Aster, one of our favorite invitation resources mentioned that "envelope liners are a great way to introduce a pattern or color, or another place to personalize as with a monogram or quote". We couldn't agree more with Anne! Hint: envelope liners also add a nice weight to your invitation (announcing it's importance), and extra protection of your invite for mailing.

The image on the right shows the simple and elegant place cards over a bed of flowers. We love how the same hand writing as the invitations is repeated. Many brides ask friends and family members with lovely penmanship to address their invitations. We find this suggest not only practical but also touching. What a nice gesture.

How sweet is that?

The occasion of a wedding is always marked by the unique combined energies of many people- of the bride and groom, of families and friends, and of trusted event professionals who help them realize their vision for their special day.

Thanks Anne for your great find and lovely ideas! It's definitely PBL worthy!

{Resources: Project Wedding}

Project Wedding…if you think about it, it’s one of the biggest “projects” you’ll ever plan!

We here at the Pink Blossom List love Project Runway especially the episode in Season 5 when the designers had to create a wedding gown. OMG! Fabulous! So, image how we feel about Project Wedding!!!

Project Wedding is a great resource for brides in finding vendors recommended by former brides. These vendors are tried and true. Each of us who’s planned a wedding cannot let all their hard work, planning, special vendors and unique finds go to waste. Let’s share them with other brides.

The site also has photos where you can find so many creative ideas and beautiful inspirations. My favorite is the “Real Weddings” so you can see other happy couples and their special wedding “project.” Each “real” wedding tells a story. What story are you going to tell for your Project Wedding…

We borrowed one of our favorite images by Aaron Delesie with Oh How Charming wedding planning! We love ERYIN + HARRY's chabby chic wedding on Paradise Island(Bahamas) wedding.

{List #1: Favorite First Dance Songs}

We've decided that every week we should have a list. After all the women on the Pink List Panel(the brains behind the Pink Blossom List!) are busy people. We are designers, business owners, former brides, new mothers, new wives....so due to our busy lives, we need to make a list. Lists are our friends! We all make lists - shopping lists, to do lists, and on and on. So, here's to our first list....This week was Nancy #1's 9th anniversary so we've chosen to have Nancy give us a list. This is her list of...

Favorite First Dance Songs

At Last - Etta James
Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Love is in the Air by John Paul Young
Only You by Yaz
More Than This by Roxy Music
Northern Sky by Nick Drake
Reasons by Earth, Wind and Fire
Someone Like You by Van Morrison
Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Time After Time by Everything but the Girl

Photo by Love Kills

{Invitations: Merci to Hello! Lucky}

Thank you Hello! Lucky.

In all the years that we've been a part of this wedding industry we have met countless of talented people, amongst the kindest and most generous are the folks at Hello! Lucky. Sabrina Moyle, co-founder and co-partner, has graciously designed the Pink Blossom List banner.

How do we ever thank them for their contribution. The Pink Blossom List banner embodies all that we believe in - fun, vibrant, naive, adorable, feminine, warm, happy, classy, whimsical, fresh and so much more. We've added one of their Signature invitation suites for you to enjoy.

What do you think of our new look?

{Real Wedding: Calistoga Ranch Chapter Two}

Simple cocktail arrangements feature tulips, hydrangea, and wheat elements.
Liquid refreshment is always a great idea for guests on a summery afternoon.

My favorite image by Suzy Clement is of the couple in front of the cave where the dinner reception was held. Alison Events coordinated all the details. Nice!

My favorite thing was the cake by I Dream of Cake which was highlighted with matted lavender linens. Got Light did a soft amber lighting.

{Real Wedding: Calistoga Ranch Chapter One}

It's always fun to work with great vendors. This wedding features several of our favorite Pink Blossom Resources including Alison Events, Got Light, I Dream of Cake, so we simply had to feature it as testament of vendors we LOVE.

This wedding is positively understated. Restraint and serenity define this couple wanted nothing remotely over the top or glitzy. Beside a few "bling" elements it really was about the understated charm of Calistoga Ranch. Of course the mag(nificent) Suzy Clement always does a great job in capturing simply refined weddings.

Intricate detail on the dress. So elaborate and delicate. Fab!

10 strand rhinestone cuff on bouquet. Nice added touch. Lisianthus buds with Mini Calla lilies for the groom. Flowers by our very own, Nancy Liu Chin.

Nice brown draping by Got Light.

{Real Wedding: Summer Crush Chapter Three}

Lisa Wong Jackson of Good On Paper Designs did the invitations and these lovely table numbers. Adorable!

Deliciously plated food. Yum!


We love the twinkle lights above the orchard!

{Real Wedding: Summer Crush Chapter Two}

In continuation of Nancy's last post, we wanted to show you more from that wonderful Beaulieu Garden wedding which was planned by Rebecca Feeney of Custom Event Group. Rebecca is a huge fan of ours and we are so lucky to have worked with her in the past. She is a Napa Valley wedding specialist and one of the most positive people we've ever dealt with. Her weddings have a distinctively relaxed, wine country elegance. Always beautiful.



The flowers includes includes Coral peonies, green Cymbidium orchids, orange 'Sari' roses, Peruvian lilies, textural geranium, and green hydrangea. Linens from Classic Party Rentals(formerly La Bella).



We love how Rebecca used this trick to keep the cards from blowing away. A sign of an experienced planner.

{Real Wedding: Summer Crush Chapter One}

We've asked Nancy to share with us one of her favorite Bay Area venues and she really did outdo herself with this real wedding that highlights one of Napa Valley's most gracious and picturesque wedding venues. Beaulieu Garden off of St. Helena Highway is a hidden gem. Romantics like us love it for its vast gardens, fountains, and its irresistible landscape.

When you see the images by the talented Tara Arrowood of Arrowood Photography, you know that Beaulieu Garden is unlike anything you've ever imagined. Currently, Paula Le Duc(PLD) fine catering manage the property. PLD is one of the area's finest caterers known for their 5 star service and cuisine.

Nancy has selected some of her favorite images from this coral pink, brown, green weddings with a blossom motif for all of us to admire.


The chuppah was 8 ft tall by 6 ft wide. Each of the wooden posts had a garland of foliage made from lemon leaf. The front two posts had coral pink, hot pink, orange flowers tucked from top to bottom. Peonies, hydrangea, roses were just a few of the many varieties of flowers that Nancy Liu Chin used to create this lush chuppah.

The bouquet consisted of open White Peonies with wired rosebuds from Garden Roses with scented Geranium leaves.

{Wedding Planning: Destination Planner by Alison}

We all love Alison Hotchkiss of Alison Events so when we heard about her new wedding planner made especially for Destination brides, we had to pass it along to you! Alison created this artful and inspiring planner called Destination Wedding Planner. It's current in book stores so don't forget to get your copy before it runs out!


Enjoy!

{Invitations: Mika78}

Gloria Wong has honored us by being a guest blogger. We previously mentioned Gloria in our post on new Event Designers. Known for her discerning taste, we asked Gloria to comb the world of wedding professionals to find someone fresh. It's no surprise that she came up with a great new invitation designer. Read on....

I'm so excited to be a guest blogger and share with you a great new talent who has arrived on the invitations design scene. Her name is Mimi Woo, and her company is Mika78. If you're a fan of Style Me Pretty like I am, you may have come across Abby's recent post about Mika78. Trust me, these will be the first of a gazillion blog posts and writeups about this creative soul. Mimi and I were introduced to each other just a few weeks ago by our web designer, Deb Wagner of dstripe (another amazing talent). Just from the Mika78 logo alone, I could tell that this gal was good. As I looked through the collection on her website, my mouth watered from all the eye candy, and I literally said to myself "This girl is more than good. She is damn good. Nope, I take that back. She's AWESOME." Mimi and I soon became online buds. And I have to tell you that not only is her work deliciously inspirational, but she herself is so sweet! I know she would be an absolute joy to work with.

All of Mimi's ready-made designs in her collection are letterpressed on soft thick paper. Just the way I like my paper! Mmm! They all come with coordinating pieces like envelope liners, escort cards, or ceremony programs if you feel so inclined to have all of your paper collateral match! To me, coordinating paper goods are a must!

Each family of designs are to die for, stunning, "bananas" as Rachel Zoe stylist to the stars would say. But, my absolute favorite family in Mimi's collection has to be "Romance." It's perfection. I've attached some photos for you to drool over.



And if you want a one-of-a-kind creation for your special day, Mimi will custom design an invitation suite based on your style. Check out her entire collection and examples of her bespoke pieces on her gorgeous website, and I guarantee that you will become an instant fan!!!

{Event Designers: Gloria Wong}

Nothing gives us more pleasure than finding wonderful vendors especially event designers since this seems to be one of the newer categories within the wedding realm. In the past, it seemed as if only celebrities or society clients could afford an event designer but unlucky for us they are now becoming more main stream.

One of our favorites is Gloria Wong of Gloria Wong Designs formerly of Sash & Sugar. This past week, Gloria launched her new website which is filled with a very comoplete gallery of real weddings that have a very sophisticated look.

Gloria's concepts start with developing a relationship with her clients and asking plenty of insightful questions. It's this attention to the particulars that make Gloria a very talented event designer. We can't wait to hear what you think of her work. We think it's exceptional.

Photography by Andrew Weeks