Christina and Kyle are one of the cutest and craftiest couples I’ve ever seen! Not only were they both heavily involved in planning their charming Portland, Oregon wedding, Christina even took a metalsmithing class so she could make Kyle’s wedding band as well as the bridesmaid’s earrings AND she made her bouquet using vintage flower brooches she collected for months. After their ceremony a fleet of pedicabs picked up the entire wedding party to transport them 7 blocks to where the reception was held. Brenton Salo was on hand to capture all the memories of their big day!

Photographer: Brenton Salo

Ceremony Location: South Park Blocks

Reception Venue: The Cleaners

Caterer: The Clyde Common

Wedding Dress: J Crew

Grooms Suit: J Crew

Grooms and Groomsmen Ties: Me and Matilda

Birdcage Veil: August Veils

Cake and Cupcakes: Finales

DJ: Eric Hedford aka DJ Aquaman

Transportation: Portland Pedicabs

Florals: DIY by bride and family

I few months ago the ladies of Martha Stewart Weddings gave me a wonderful opportunity! They asked that I help coordinate and produce a photo shoot for their blog based on their Fall 2010 issue. Of course I said YES, who says no to Martha?! Our office started putting together a dream team of designers and vendors and the end result was an amazing Hollywood Regency inspired shoot using a metallic color palette. You can check out the Special Metallic Series: “California Luxe” feature on the Martha Weddings blog, and for your viewing pleasure I included some of the stunning images below. Thanks to all the amazing talent that helped make this happen!

Design and Styling: Canvas and Canopy

Floral & Design: JL Designs

Photo: Jose Villa

Stationery: Momental Designs

Confections: Cupcakes Couture

Props: OC Prop Girl

Venue: Shade Hotel

Tableware: Small Masterpiece

Hair/Makeup: 10.11 Makeup

Clothes & Accessories: Stylish Silhouette

Models: Troy & Aimee Grover

I LOVE tulips! They can successfully work their way into several settings and look completely natural. They pop up at elegant dinners, playful parties, in a garden, and on your kitchen table. I like to think I have the same adaptive abilities :- )

My favorite tulip is the parrot and no surprise to my devoted readers, green is my favorite. I love their modified mullet appeal-business on the bottom and party on top. I love that even when you cut them they continue to grow! They seem to have a resolve all their own. What  a nice reminder for us in business and in life. Go on… be resilient, be beautiful, be you. Have a great weekend!

By Rae Florae

The Below Images were designed by JL Designs, Photographed by Stephanie Williams and Featured in Utterly Engaged

Photographed by Jose Villa

Love this by Elizabeth Messina

Beautiful image from Martha Stewart.com

For as long as I can remember I have loved the color green, for certain, it is my absolute favorite color! Lime, Chartreuse, Emerald oh my! There are so many beautiful shades. However, green has more than surface beauty. It symbolizes living and thriving, it is growth, abundance and forward motion. You see it daily at traffic lights signaling people to move ahead, on a vine finding its way out of an old rock wall, and in tiny stems pushing their way upward from the earth.

Green is inspiring! Every winter the cold and the elements strip the trees of their leaves and the fields of their grasses, but then heroic spring sweeps in and the hills and meadows erupt into verdant expanses. Green is everywhere: Symbolizing life is fresh and new and full of beginnings!

Some lush green shots from the ever inspiring Jose Villa If you’re on Twitter, Follow him!

I love Green Wedding Shoes! Not just because my favorite color is in the title of her business name, but because Jen consistently showcases new and unique ideas, images from gorgeous weddings and fresh, inspiring breakout vendors. Follow Green Weddings Shoes Blog on Twitter!

This is my very favorite inspiration board from Snippet & Ink. I love love love it! She’s on Twitter too!

Love THIS: The Greener Side (a spin off from their parent special event lighting company The Lighter Side) They are “green” in more ways then one and I think you should check them all out for your event lighting needs. Plus the green forest on their website is so inviting. I want to get lost in there for awhile.

Thanks for everyone’s support this first week, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it!! In closing I’ll end with this quote..

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘thank you’ it will be enough….”- Meister Eckhart