An encounter with a View

Brittany Kalter, creative visionary behind the fabulously feminie Britt Productions, and I met yesterday for a little brainstorming and some mojitos at one of my favorite Laguna Beach hotspots, Rooftop. I invited Britt to meet me at Rooftop, because not only is it a great place to meet friends, but a wonderful place to watch the waves crash while hosting your engagement party, shower or rehersal dinner, (there is an area specifically for private functions).

Britt's video productions are truely well done. She certainlly understands what moments to capture and posesses the creative gene to make your wedding day video as fantastic as you had imagined...

Look forward to some wonderful collaborations between Brit Productions and Luxe Life!

Surf meets Swank in Huntington Beach

On Thursday I took a top down drive up Pacific Coast Highway to visit the newly opened ShoreBreak Hotel in "Surf City." The boutique hotel boasts lively colors, wonderful artwork inspired by life at the beach, casual yet stylized furnishings and a beautifully appointed yet intimate ballroom. One of the many things that may not cross your mind when thinking about Huntington Beach is professionalism, in a town known for its "gnarly waves," and "hot chicks," however you have yet to meet the fabulous staff of Shorebreak. I was greeted by Senior Catering manager Stacey Hofflich, who has been with Joie de Vivre, the hotels owner, for some time, and it truly shows. Her excellent advice, welcoming demeanor and friendly persona certainly places ShoreBreak on my list of venue/site recommendations. (And the coffee is great!)

My Inspiration...

In the movie, When Harry Met Sally, Nora Ephron eloquently states,“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” This flawless interpretation of love is the very thing that motivates me in my work everyday. The sparkle in a Brides eyes as she floats across the floor during her first dance, or the chemistry that is so blatantly obvious when two people sit before me to explain their every expectation of the "big day," or the adoring and proud look in the groom's eyes as his bride makes her way down the aisle are the very reasons I am so passionate about creating luxurious, once in a lifetime experiences.

There is something about Nora's words that, as my eyes took them in for the first time, my heart skipped a beat. It is an honor to be an integral part of creating the foundation for a couples' lives together. Someone once said that "passion is what leads people to success." My passion is to build that foundation, to see two people so eager to start "the rest of their lives," and to create memories that will be held so dear for years to come...

Diamonds, A Man's Best Friend?

A growing trend that I happen to love, has got men talking carats. Increasingly more often I have been seeing wedding bands for men like the one above. With the black diamond trend on the rise, men are now finding themselves looking down at a hand that shines similar to their new counterpart, the Bride.

(Pictured above is a band by Jacob and Co. Available at the Jacob and Co. Townhouse Salon, E. 57th St, New York City.)

The Bachelorette, Season 5

Many of you may recongize this guy... you should. Mike Stagliano appeared in this past season of ABC's hit show "The Bachelorette." Mike happens to be one of my best friends from New York where we met about four years ago. Mike was a fantastic addition to the show until Jillian made the grave mistake of choosing someone else.

Mike is rare in the sense that not only does he have the looks, he has got the brains as well. With a book on the verge of being published, a great joke always up his sleeve and a heart of gold Mike is not likely to be a bachelor for long... and we cant wait to plan the wedding! Good luck buddy!

Go Big

There are a few things that should be big on your wedding day. The ring for starters, but secondly, your bouquet. Its the "biggest day of your life," you are allowed to go slightly over board. One of my favorite bridal trends is large full bouquets. I have never really been a fan of "cascading" bouquets, I prefer for my brides to take a more traditional approach when it comes to their personal flowers; lush, round and monotoned. Pictured above (yellow peonies) is a prime example of one of my favorite looks. Not only are these flowers lush and elegant but their fragrance has been sought after by couture perfumers for years. If peonies are not your flower of choice an all rose bouquet also looks phenomenal on a large scale.

J'adore

I had to share this photo with everyone for many reasons. First of all the bride pictured above has followed my golden rule. (Check out the shoes!) Secondly, I love the concept of this shot... the elegance of the store front combined with the harsh city scape and the flowing sophistication of the bride and her dress makes for a delectable art inspired shot in your album. Lastly, THE DRESS! Designed by Cymbeline Paris, it is is the perfect combination of intricate details, elegance and femininity.



You can find locations like this around the globe: Avenue Montaigne, Paris; East 57th, New York; Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills.

Simply Sexy.

With Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Fast approaching this September in New York, my curiosity for 2010's couture is driving me nuts. In an effort to feed this fashion crazed hunger that lingers in my thoughts this time every year I decided to do some research. Much to my surprise, I came across newly published shots from fashion icon Carolina Herrera's Bridal Collection. It goes without saying that the gowns are nothing short of fabulous but there was one in particular (pictured above) that really grabbed my attention.

The chic creation I am speaking of is the "Sandro Botticelli" gown from the 2010 collection. Named after the 16th Century Florentine painter, the design of the dress certainly is not shy of its renaissance roots. The gown flows in an almost liquid fashion. It's comprised of jersey material and immaculately detailed with satin bands resting below the bust.

Simplicity, effortless grace and femininity are a few of the sexiest qualities a women can have, and which all should possess. For these reasons I am drawn to the Botticelli gown, wearing it ensures elegance of angelic proportions on your wedding day.

Available at most Saks Fifth Avenue Bridal Salons, Kleinfelds and The Carolina Herrera Boutique, Madison Avenue, NYC or Melrose Place, West Hollywood

A Laguna Beach Affair

I had the pleasure to attend Riviera Magazine's Party last night in Laguna Beach at the Cavallari Estate in the gated community of Three Arch Bay. The party was in coordination with Smart Water who is currently putting efforts fourth to aid children's charities by giving the gift of education in third world countries. The event was flawless, the 7,000 square foot estate was a phenomenal venue to host the party, catering by Chili Co made sure that everyone was fed with unique and delicious hours d'evours and DJ Milo Rock spun great classics all night. This luxurious event was certainly a destination for fabulous attendees and Orange County's glitterati.

Susie Cakes

Today I had a cake tasting with Susie Cakes at their Newport Beach location. I don't know where to begin... Susie Cakes is styled after an old fashioned all American Bake Shop. The space itself is clean, lacks unattractive clutter, and decorated in soft tones that reflect 1950s Kitchen Aid appliances. They have a great selection of small gifts, paper products and greeting cards that are great if you are picking up a birthday treat or gift.

The tasting itself was phenomenal! I tried three different flavors, Red Velvet with cream cheese frosting, Chocolate Cake with vanilla butter cream frosting and Vanilla cake with vanilla butter cream frosting. All of which were so good it makes it hard to choose. If it were my cake I would go with the red velvet, its by far the best I have had, and I must admit I am kind of a bake shop snob. The other two flavors were also irresistible and when I brought the left-overs home to my fiancé; lets just say there was nothing left!

The wonderful taste of Susie Cakes and the pleasant atmosphere was accompanied by friendly smiles and a great knowledgeable staff. Lindsay (Susie's Newport Beach Manager) was as sweet as the cakes and definitely made my experience wonderful. Even if you have ordered your cake, feed your sweet tooth at this great little bakery by grabbing a cupcake or one of their amazing cookies.

A Couture Wedding Event

Here are a few shots from a Couture Wedding Show I took part in right after Valentine's Day. I was solely responsible for the color and theme development as well as all the floral work. With this table I really focused on small details to give an overall Luxurious look. From a Crystal Chandelier to a rhinestone backdrop to match the gorgeous teal/blue color scheme.

The debauchery of your Wedding "do"

Even if you do not have long hair naturally, extensions can be a great way for you to achieve the look. In my opinion, long loose curls are the best way to go. A bride should be elegant and flawless but look like it took no effort at all. Many hairstylist, especially those that you will find on a smaller budget tend to go all out, its my opinion that its WAY too far out. Remember the golden rule of planning any event, "You get what you pay for."

Wedding hair should not consist of globs of gel and three cans of aerosol. It should be light, full of life and body, not "bling'd out" or give your dress a run for it's money.

If you must have an up-do for your big day then go for something less tailored; a loose pinned look or something feathered and "wind kissed." Do without all of the product and spray or try half up, half down with a vintage inspired flower for something more romantic looking.

In conclusion, one more Wedding hair mistake I constantly come across is Tiaras (or Crowns). In my book this is a HUGE "no, no." This is the most important day of your adult life, not your Sweet 16 or Senior Prom. If you want everyone at your wedding to know your a Princess (or a Queen) then shock them with your stunning elegance, class and poise; let the dress and YOU do all the talking...

With Love,

Billy

Toasting to New Beginings

Last night I had the pleasure to meet with my wonderful clients Thuy and Michael. July 10th, 2010 is their date at the wonderful Fairmont in Newport Beach. This incredible couple just celebrated their FOURTEENTH year together, I could not be happier that I will have the chance to share in their "I Do's."

Couture Gowns, Good Prices

Pronovias (pictured above) is an innovative, stylish design house, based in Barcelona Spain. The beautiful hand made gowns are reasonably priced (usually between 1,500-2,500). The reason I take such a liking to Pronovias is due to their attention to detail, designs and vision for what an elegant bride should be. Two of the dresses pictured above are a couple of my favorites but the show stopper for me is a dress by the name of "Fanal." I was not able to find a decent picture of it, however take my word for it. Find a Bridal Boutique that carries the "Fanal" gown, and try it on. Once you have it on you won't want to take it off.

Luxe Cake

A great and inexpensive way to have an amazing cake without paying too much for the look of it is to do a traditional white cake and add some fresh flowers that match your theme. I suggest flower "clusters" as you see in the picture above, rather than the more dated flower "cascade." In this picture I arranged Burgundy Cymbidiums and Schwartz Calla Lilies on the cake with Black Magic rose petals and votives to add to the elegance of the table

Need personalized Favors?

Definitely Check out this Site for all things personalized! This is great for cocktail napkins, drink stirs, wedding/party favors and so much more.

www.foryourparty.com

Welcome!

Hello from Luxe Life Events,

Thanks for stopping by! Please check back in the next couple days for posts on my favorites of all things nuptial, from dresses to flowers and much more...

Cheers,

Billy Folchetti

Founder/ Event Strategist

Luxe Life Events