As we always say...

Live Luxuriously! In honor of not just luxurious events the Luxe Life team welcomes a new member! Sarah Brianna has come on board to help us actually talk about what we always preach! Sarah is taking the new position of Lifestyle commentator and with her help the Luxe Life Blog will now not only be about events but everything luxurious, trendy, fashionable and all around fabulous; from event trends to exclusive travel and destinations to the latest and greatest by the best designers and must have shoes and handbags Sarah is our (and your) new source for what is hot! Welcome Sarah we are so excited!!!

The Perfect Wedding Shoes

One of my favorite things that a bride can do is choose a really stunning shoe. Lets be honest, shoes are not just another accessory. When wearing the right shoes (especially Louboutin, pictured above) your stride is greater, your posture better, and your smile bigger. So why not, on your wedding day, choose something to add to the all over fabulous feeling you should already be having?

I think when choosing a wedding shoe, white should be the last thing you look at! Why not find something that matches one of your accent colors? It makes for a great look when you pick your dress up while dancing or while gracefully descending down a flight or stairs, as many brides do, or even for a fun photo capturing you raising your dress a bit for a "peek a boo" view to show the contrast between your white gown and your amazing heels. Also, many photographers on your wedding day will take detail shots of things such as the wedding bands, the gown while still hanging, and most often, the wedding shoes. What better than a pair of your prized Manolos to grace the pages of your wedding album??

Some of my favorite Weddings Shoe Colors: Teal, Pink, Eggplant and Olive, preferably in Satin or Silk

Aris, for the "heiress" in all

One of the most amazing things about living and working in such a wonderful place like Laguna Beach, California is the beat of the town. Only small in size standards, Laguna offers world class dining, resorts and shopping. Adding to the repertoire of great boutiques in town is one located on North Coast Highway that really stands out from it's neighbors. Aris offers everything from furnishings for a luxurious home environment to a high end consignment "closet" where you can find the best of labels. Adding to the quality and variety of merchandise is the alluring atmosphere and the shop's keepers who are knowledgeable about all they sell. Whether you are looking for an evening gown for your next event, attire for your honeymoon or the perfect scented candle for a little honeymoon at home you can find it here. Also check out their write up in the Los Angeles Times!

"They call me 'Choosey'..."

Growing up I always knew, sometimes too specifically, what I did and did not like. Needless to say, I still have that discerning eye today, which seems to be both a blessing and a curse. While having a specific opinion and taste I many times have to bite my tongue in regards to choices that my clients make for their weddings and events. Every so often, however, I will have a client that really allows me to take the reigns. I believe that it comes from the trust they have in me (and my eye), that I will make their day unforgettable in multiple fashions. This proved true with my wonderful client Rachel. Married just a few weeks back she really allowed me to design, create and build her event and I am so thankful for that. Staying within her budget, and with her preferences always in mind I feel as though we really made a good team, and it is my hope that the pictures speak for that. Click here to enjoy the photo journalistic style of her pictures by Steven Orlick of Wedding Story Photo... I am really just in love with this album.

Practice Makes Perfect

... Just a little update for you all. A great rehearsal dinner set up we did in Laguna Beach last weekend. The couple was amazing and we had the joy of working on both this event and the wedding! A former chef from the Montage Resort prepared the three course meal, and of course Billy planned, coordinated and designed the event... flowers and all!

Wedding Season Specials!

Hey all!! In celebration of summer time and wedding high season, here at Luxe Life we are offering 20% off all of our services!!! How exciting! Call or email today for more info! Also check out the almost finished new website!!! Copy and paste this link into your browser, www.brentdundore.com/lsquaredevents keep in mind this is the rough draft but have a sneak peak anyways!!!

Shopping Event at the legendary Fred Segal

If there are two words that I love putting in the same sentence it is "shopping" and "party!" Above are a few shots from an event in collaboration with Fred Segal and Studio Beauty Mix. Luxe Life had the opportunity to not only plan and coordinate the event but we did some florals, ordered some couture inspired linen and had an amazing Photo Opp Backdrop by Platinum Peaks Entertainment! Photos courtesy of Huey Bui Photography.

Rachel and Chris: Modern love with vintage inspiration

My clients Rachel and Chris had their engagement photo session last week at a few different sites around Laguna Beach. I set the couple up with my good friend and visionary photographer Steve Orlich of Wedding Story Photography who shot this wonderful couple with vintage inspiration using his creative flair and obvious talent... The outcome: An amazing grouping of pictures that the couple will cherish for years!

Open Air and Super Luxe

Check out the pics of this great "tent alternative". We love the way the fabric is pleated; it adds a wonderful texture and feeling of luxury and class. This canopy is is from an event at Shady Canyon Country Club by our friends over at AK Johnston.

Open Air Romance

With summer time just around the corner, we can already begin to feel the warm air sweeping up the cliffs of the California Coast. One theme we hope to see a lot of this Spring and Summer is "open air" events (think tents instead of ballrooms). Not that we don't enjoy a palatial ballroom complete with crystal chandeliers but nothing captures the senses and says romance like a white draped tent lightly flowing in the breeze of a just cool enough Summer evening in California. Candle light that flows over tables filled with china and crystal and floods the intimate space, elegent summer time colors, and the perfect tune of a wonderful string quartet or your first dance song could not be paired better than by hosting your guest in the open air.

(Pictured aboved: An Wonderfully Luxe outdoor ceremony at L'Auberg Del Mar).

Featured in Riviera Magazine

Check out the article about my Partner and I and our businesses as told by Kathryn Romeyn of Riviera Magazine... (Page 56)

http://digital.modernluxury.com/publication/?i=31336&p=59

In Honor of Valentine's Day!

With Valentine's Day around the corner and the height of Engagement Season just about to come to an end Billy is offering TWENTY PERCENT off any and all services!! Call or email today for an appointment and let Luxe Life Events start planning the Luxe Wedding of your dreams!

Sneak Peek

A mock up arrangement for Rachel and Chris for their June 2010 wedding... They loved it!

One of 2009's Best (and most Luxe)!

This month I received the honor of being name one of OneWed.com's 2009 Vendors of the year! Please feel free to check out the website for testimonials from previous Luxe Brides! Hopefully you will be next!

(Direct link to Luxe Life Events' Profile on One Wed: http://www.onewed.com/vendor/1759002 )

S Fine Dining

This evening I had the pleasure to attend a Bridal show at S Fine Dining in Westminster, CA. I was pleasantly surprised by the venue. Clean, modern and beautiful, the space is very much a typical of a traditional chinese/vietnamese seafood restaurant. In addition I had the opportunity to mingle with some wonderful vendors and industry professionals. My assistant and I had a wonderful time mingling, sampling the sweets and meeting potential new Luxe Brides!

Flowers too!

So excited to see my client Rachel this weekend. All the hard stuff is done and now its time for fun! We are going to be checking out fabric samples for her table linens, talking about the design and floor plan for her venue and she will also get her first peak at the centerpieces that I designed and will make for the big day! A small yet fabulously lush arrangement of almost black roses and mini calla lilies with dahlias! SO Luxe. Can't wait to see what she thinks

He's what Picasso was to art...

Preston Bailey may be for weddings, what Picasso was to art. Preston's work is often referred to as an "Art insallation," rather than event design. His lavish and couture visions come to life nothing short of sheer genius. One of a kind designs, arrangements and color palettes are just a few of the reasons that his work stands out so far above the rest. A true event connoisseur Preston Bailey is by far one of the event industry's most influential and inspiring individuals.

Raise your glass to Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine

For the first time this month the Magazine, Martha Stewart Weddings published it's first ever coverage, of a same-sex wedding. Cheers to the publication for putting the right foot forward and recognizing a need for equality and shedding light on such a joyous and wonderfully done occasion!

Press Release from the "Look Good, Feel Better" Gala

I have no idea how it took me so long to find this, but I am SO glad I did. The following is the official Press Release from the Charity Masquerade Gala I planned in October benefitting "Look Good, Feel Better," in collaboration with Riviera Magazine:

A ‘Fabulously Haunted’ Night for Charity!
- Orange County beauty industry party-goers look good in many ways -

(November 5, 2009 – Laguna Beach, CA) Everyone was a star as they hit the red carpet at the 5th annual Orange County beauty industry charity masquerade ball held October 24th at the residence of hosts Vince Spinnato and Billy Folchetti. According to Event Planner Folchetti, over 250 VIPs, executives and socialites attended the ‘Fabulously Haunted’ themed gala. “It was a great night,” says Folchetti. “And it was especially nice this year as we were able to incorporate a beauty-related charity into our party.” The charity – Look Good, Feel Better – is a national program that helps individuals with cancer offset appearance-related changes due to cancer treatment such as chemotherapy where often hair, eyebrows and eyelashes fall out. The organization, founded in 1989, helps cancer patients improve their self-esteem and manage their treatment and recovery with greater confidence through their own beauty.

Door prizes, an Art Auction featuring and the first night of filming a beauty-related reality show pilot, were all part of the night’s highlights. Sponsors of the event were Vincenzo Skincare, McKenna Labs, Riviera Magazine, Stockholm Krystal Vodka and Luxe Life Events.