We finally did it!!! The long awaited opening of our new design studio took place last Thursday and it was a success! After 4 months of hard work, Crystal of Amazáe Special Events & I welcomed folks to the opening of our unique office space in Santa Clara. It was an opportunity for us to thank our vendors and clients, and share our new space.

Crystal did an incredible job designing and planning our grand opening party.  Thank you, Crystal, for putting this fabulous event together for us!

If you can imagine, being in the industry, we couldn’t just throw an open house it had to be a whole event it itself. Greeted by valet parking and a glass of champagne at the door, guests knew they were in for an exquisite treat! After walking into the studio filled with beautiful floral designs and lighting, you then proceeded on past mouthwatering desserts into a tent filled with magnificent décor, delicious food, and open bar! Everyone seemed to be having a blast. We sure did. Take a look at this picture with some of our favorite vendors (special thanks to David Etheridge of A Video Reflection for the photo!):

top left clockwise – John Gomez, Jennifer Skog, Linnae from Asiel Design, Claudia Akers, Augie Chang, Crystal with Amazáe, Michelle, and David with AVR:

We want to give a HUGE thank you to our wonderful sponsors:

Asiel Design Floral Couture: for exquisite floral design

Classic Party Rentals:  for the variety of great rentals

Corinthian Parking International Services: for professional valet service

Enhanced Lighting and Sound:  for awesome interior and exterior lighting, drapery and sound

Jen’s Cakes: for the to die for raspberry bars

Naomi’s Chocolate Catering: for the best chocolate drink

Nicole Ha Designs: for magnificent florals, design and support

Satura Cakes: for their specialty strawberry cake

Marizette Paperie: for their unique stationary

Thomas John Events: for extraordinary food, and beverage service

Wild Flower Linen: for their amazing linen

Additional thanks goes to Armando from Get Your Do Up who arrived early to do our hair and makeup for the event. And to Stacie from The Firty Guide who took this picture of Crystal & I:

Of course a BIG thank you to all of our clients, vendors, and friends for the wonderful support in making the event such a positive turnout!

Here’s a few more pics from the event:

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I realize I’m blogging a little bit out of order, but I never had a chance to write about Kate and Daniel’s engagement session.  When Kate first approached me about shooting their engagement session at a pumpkin patch, I thought it was such a great idea!  The only catch was we had to wait for the pumpkins to grow.  So, two weeks before their wedding, there we were …  at this awesome pumpkin patch Kate found in Half Moon Bay.  We had such a great time playing around the pumpkins, hay maze and and corn fields.

Note to self … the next time we decide to do a hay fight … wait until the end of the session!!

Kate & Daniel
October 18, 2008

Ceremony: Valley Presbyterian
Reception: Sheraton Palo Alto
Hair & Makeup: Bloom Beauty Boutique
DJ: Soundworks

Kate and Daniel were married at the beautiful Portola Valley Presbyterian Church. Following the ceremony, we went over to Stanford for a few bridal portraits. Not only are Kate and Daniel a wonderful, sweet couple, but their family and friends were pretty amazing, too! We had a blast at the reception photographing everyone having a great time. Here’s just a few of my many favorites from their day …

I love the fall colors of Kate’s bouquet

Sylvia & Sergio
October 4, 2008

Ceremony: Santa Clara Mission
Reception: The Sainte Claire Hotel
Hair & Makeup: Swirls & Curls
Floral Design: Flowers by Ann
Cake: Cake by Annette
DJ: ProSound DJ

After getting desperately behind this past month, I am finally starting to catch up on my blog posts!  Now that our studio grand opening is over (which I’ll be blogging about soon!), I promise to get caught up, and blog about all the amazing October weddings we shot. Starting with Sylvia and Sergio!

Sylvia and Sergio were married at the beautiful Santa Clara Mission church. We had a momentary panic attack when the day started out raining … but luckily the rain stopped that afternoon. Just in time for our portraits at the church.  We were so lucky!

Gotta have a shoe shot!

There is something so romantic about the candlelight mass at the Mission.

Sylvia and Sergio surprised their guests with a performance by the Ballet Folklorico. It brought back so many memories of when I was growing up! Yes, I actually had a couple of dresses like these as a little girl!

Caitlin & Joe
Nov 7, 2008
Ceremony & Reception: Sir Francis Drake Hotel
Event Design: Donnie Brown
Hair & Makeup: Armando, Get Your Do Up
Floral Design:  Rossi & Rovetti Flowers

Last week, I photographed Caitlin & Joe’s wedding at the beautiful Sir Francis Drake Hotel.

This was not your ordinary wedding. Caitlin and Joe were actually married a year ago, at City Hall. Soon after, they were blessed with the most adorable triplets ever. Although they were very happy together, they weren’t able to have the wedding they’d always wanted. Until now. Thanks to the Style Network who chose their wedding to be featured on their show, “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway”, they were able to have the wedding they’d always dreamed about.

It was a whole new challenge having to work around the producer, and film crew. Here’s Caitlin being interviewed while getting her hair and makeup done:

Never a dull moment with Armando

Then it was off to City Hall for their portraits …

Caitlin looked stunning in her gorgeous Reem Acra gown.

Karen Sandau of Wedding Cake Canopies created this beautiful cake canopy.