About Nancy: Happy Halloween

Halloween is an essential DIY/Craft opportunity.  Whether you are dressing up for a soiree or getting ready to entertain some zombies and vampires guests, this year, I am going to my Pinterest for new twists to Halloween fun.  Pinterest has ample ideas plus that magical spark to get you motivated and excited.  I'm so obsessed with Pinterest because the images are amazing and the navigation could not be easier.   My favorite sections are "DIY and Crafts" and "Architecture" and this mood board was created in just a few minutes through it's wonderful search function.

I love the pumpkin ice bucket and that fabulous "bat" hairpiece.  So fun.

Wishing all of you a stupendous Halloween.  Hope you get lots of treats and sweets.

Best Thing Ever: Cake And Bouquet

Cakes and Bouquets should go together like peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti and meatballs, and Kelly and Regis.    When both pieces come together - it's a symphony of color and textures.  I just love it.

This gorgeous combination makes me smile.  It's everything right about a wedding.  Colorful.  Beautiful.  Striking.  This fabulous floral basket style cake looks delicious, I could never cut into it.  And the bouquet looks equally festive, colorful, summery.  I love how each of them are not quite exact but certainly complementary.

Don't you agree that there is something wonderful when a wedding cake and bouquet works together in harmony!  It's why I call it the Best Thing Ever.

Preston Bailey Bouquet

ps: Though many magazines have mentioned this trend , I rarely see many which leads me to ask the question, "have you thought about your cake and bouquet coordinating?".

Inspiration Board - From Pink Blossom List

To tell you the truth, I'm not a great mood board maker.  I mean, I can do it but I'm just impatient.  Searching the internet for ideas can be daunting.  That's why I love and prefer pinterest because it gives me quick assess to myriad images.  

For now, here is another wonderful inspiration board from our sister blog, Pink Blossom List,  It is just so lovely that I have to share it with all of you.  

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Summer is over and the soothing coolness of fall is here.  Change is in the air.  But no matter what season it is or was, there's something lovely about Neutrals.   This inspiration board is representative of a trend that is seasonally universal and seasonally classic.

Inspiration: Contemporary Neutrals

Colors: Khaki, Bone, Ivory, Caramel

Textures: Rich fabrics, Roping, Metallic details

Photo Credit: 


Top: Martha Stewart Wedding, Style Me Pretty, Trendhunter
Middle: Stitches on 8th, Robert Mc Nary Photography via Style Me Pretty
Bottom: La Maison via Potato Boutique, The Brides Guide via Martha Stewart Wedding, Not Your Ordinary Bride

Press: Real Wedding in Private Napa Estate on Style Unveiled

I'm blown away by these images by fellow wedding photographer, Sara Atkins, who captured these fabulous images from Molly and David's summer wedding.  All the elements were carefully selected by one of our fav planner, Kelly McLeskey-Dolata of A Savvy Event.  Details included a sign in vignette featuring old medicine bottoms, herbs, succulent, antique doctor's bag, and faux prescription pads.  It was all the personal touches that made this wedding so very special and well deserving to be on Style Unveiled.


Thank you Style Unveiled for picking yet another stunning wedding.    


And lastly, to Molly + David, all you need for a happy marriage are 2 pills of love, 1 spoonful of tolerance, 1 tablet of laughter, and 1 capsule of patience.  Put all that together and a box of CUPCAKES would make anyone smile and feel better!!!! 

Best Thing Ever: Anemones Flowers

Seriously - this cake is way adorable.

3 tiered, soft pink, fondant, sugar flowers.  Perfect.  What's there not to love about it?

Thank you Peggy Porschen Cakes

One reason why I picked it as Best Thing Ever is that it features sugar Anemones flowers.  As a floral designer, I strongly recommend that your cake designer make sugar flowers as the real anemones are not as large or perfect.  And frankly, I'm not too excited about fresh flowers on a cake for many reasons.  There are times in which fresh flowers are necessary but in general, my favorite floral cakes are made with sugar or faux ceramic flowers.

There's two reasons why I prefer the beauty of the sugar Anemones flowers versus real ones. Here's why:

1. Anemones are not available throughout the year and definitely not during the summer after June. In fact, these white or light pale pink ones are very rare. I hardly see them at the flower market. There is one grower in the market, Santa Clarita Wholesale Flowers,  who had them for about a week or so in late May/June. That's it.  Seriously - do I look like I kid around?

2. Anemones are like Iceland poppies and hellebores. Sometimes they just don't want to open. Sometimes they go limp. Sometimes they have very transparent petals so they show tears, flaws, bruising easily. For the most part, getting anemones to open is harder than one thinks. Some just never open at all. In order for me to get 10 good anemones, I have to sometimes buy 20 to 30 blooms.   The reality is that they look more like the flowers above.  Some are just really tight.

Plus: when these white or light pink colored anemones with black center open their pistils can drop. Yet another reason why I don't like to put them on cakes. Can you image black lent like pistils on your cake?  Not a good thing at all.

Hopefully when you are planning your own wedding, you will use flowers as an inspiration for a beautiful cake like this cake designer.  I just love it.

Press: Real Wedding Carmel Valley in Grey Likes Weddings

This beautiful Carmel Valley(one of my favorite places in California) wedding designed by the talented planner, Julie Briggs Dunn of JBD Events and photographed by Bay Area's Allyson Wiley deserves to be featured.   When you have a gorgeous setting, near perfect weather, beautiful and charming couple, seersucker details, spring hues, what could be more lovely.

Thank you to Summer Watkins of Grey Likes Weddings for featuring the timeless and classic wedding of Carrie and Chip.  For more information regarding this feature and to read the full article, I invite you to take a look at the fabulous Grey Likes Wedding blog.  It's fantastic.

Inspiration: From Pink Blossom List - Bouquets without Flowers

My job as as floral designer is evolving.  It's no secrets I love flowers in all shapes and sizes.  I love things organic and natural like foliage, branches, twigs and more.  But my job is changing and I'm learning new things like making fabric leaves, tissue paper garlands and felt flowers.   Incorporating paper goods, brooches, shells, feathers and much more can be so exciting.

For me, I'm guilty of liking new things especially pretty new things.  And though I will always prefer floral designs with flowers only, I do see the beauty and excitement of new trends.  There is room for bouquets and centerpieces that utilize non florals.  Absolutely.  And yes, it might be a trend but it's still something newsworthy.

Today, I am featuring another article from our sister blog, Pink Blossom List.  I love how Erin M. of PBL featured non florals in tasteful ways.

I mean no disrespect to all the floral designers out there.  Whether you like non floral pieces or not, it's still inspiring and I hope you will embrace some of these ideas.

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Bouquets without any flowers? Yes, you heard us correctly. This week PBL is taking "floral" inspiration outside the box. Check out these amazingly unique and fun bouquets that are made with all kinds of non-floral materials. These bouquets are anything but dull!

So fun!

Photo Credit: VM Events, Martha Stewart, Poptastic Bride, Bright Bold and Beautiful, Martha Stewart, BellzandWhistelzblog, Simply Perfect Weddings

Lessons: Talk to Me Clearly

Misunderstandings happen every day because often in our communication it's not what we say but how we say it that can and may be misinterpreted. Too often we say too little or in my case, too much.

Communication skills are one of the most important and powerful tools that we can develop.  A successful business owner knows the value of communicating clearly.  Developing strong communication skills is essential to building a success business and solid reputation.

Our language may be the same but often the meanings are different.

Avoiding Pitfalls
In our communication with our clients we need to be careful that we overuse "common" industry terms.  We know in the wedding world that we have our own language but for a client these terms and words might mean something else.  Even simple wedding words used in our every day communication like contract, design, planning, setup, delivery, consult, consultation, invoice, proposal, agreements may have different meanings in their world.

For me, this is something that I am consistently working on and though I've worked in the business world for 20 years, it still doesn't mean that I have it all figured out.  In fact, the other day, a client completely misunderstood a simple email response because I made assumptions.  I automatically assumed that he would understand my message which I thought was so clear. Using common wedding terms doesn't mean anything if the groom is new to the world of weddings.  What it says instead is that you are unsure about yourself.  And in this case, that was probably correct. 

Any inner uncertainty showed. It turned into one pitiful note with obvious ambiguity, over communication, and potentially confusing assumptions.  

Once again, know what you are trying to say before saying it.  We can't assume that they know our "wedding vocabulary".  We can't assume anyone is a mind reader.   Avoiding short cuts, abbreviations, insider terms is best.

Too Much Fluff

Being a woman, I tend to be gentle, flowery in my communication.

For example, when we are booked for a particular day and am not available,  I often say to the client that "I am not available as I am already "engaged to another client".  Sometimes instead of using the word engage I interchange it with committed.

But for some clients, our "flowery language" might be easily misinterpreted.  Does that mean that I am not available because I am engaged to be married on the same day of their wedding and that's why I can't do a wedding on that day?  Why couldn't I just say.  I am not available and another client has already booked our service.  Period.  Why do we find ourselves in the position that we have to make this long explanation?

The lesson is easy -  when we talk, we must be wise in our language choices.   We must be clear and choose words with care.  As a woman it is especially hard to communicate clearly because I often try and attempt to bond, comfort, appease people when I communicate.  So often, I want to please the receiver of the message, thus, I'm too quick to fill the email with "fluff" and flowery words. Like the example above, I try to let clients down gently when it's not positive news.  And it's unnecessary.  Frankly, I was using words that are meant to soothe. But every now and then, when it was best to use silence and less words, I added more confusion by using language that was too flowery.

Remember - when we speak and communicate with others, we are simply trying to tell others what is on our mind.  Let our minds speak firmly, professionally, simply, precisely.

Edible Trends: Biscuits Lovin' from Pink Blossom List

A week or so ago, I announced that I would be featuring some of my favorite posts from Pink Blossom List. Today, I'm featuring some of Erin's Food posts.

Being a lover of biscuits, this article makes me hungry which is so appropriate as fall is a season for restoring the soul.  With the fall harvest, Thanksgiving, and other end of the year parties, it's time to enjoy some good eats.



Inspired by New York Times article You are Making Your Biscuits Wrong, we couldn't help but feature the homemade biscuit as our food of the week. With ingredients as simple as flour, baking powder and little milk, who could imagine that there countless ways to make them "wrong". Whether you use heavy cream or milk, salt or sugar, a fresh baked biscuit is certain to be a crowd pleaser if styled correctly.

Here is some eye candy that proves how this classic treat can be the sweetest addition to any affair, once you get your recipe perfected, that is...

Biscuits can be classic...or cutesy!

Happy baking!


Photo Credit : The Paupered Chef, The Sweetest Occasion, New York Times, Petit Chef, Etsy

Press: Summer Yellow and Gray Wedding on Style Me Pretty

I cannot tell a lie. Getting a real wedding featured in a magazine, blog, website is such an honor. Thank you Orange Turtle Photography for sharing this wedding with Style Me Pretty. Thank you to our lovely couple Lina and Henry who never once hesitated when I said, "you should do this...". Every idea that I suggested was transformed into something meaningful.  And every inspiration that Lina gave me was spot on.  For a designer and business owner, such faith is admirable.

Make sure to read the entire article at Style Me Pretty.  The images are crazy adorable.

About Nancy: Oct 2001

In the mid 90's, I had dabbed in wedding planning and floral design but I truly had never made it an official career until Oct of 2001 a month after 9/11. The realization that life indeed was unexpectedly shorter than one hoped hit me like a ton of bricks. The meaning of 9/11 was not lost on me and an opportunity to pursue one of my life's dreams had been presented to me. I was ready and I was going to start my own floral and event design business. And I did.

I knew than what I have always known that you have one life to live and that those who want a chance at a remarkable life, plunge head first into the vast unknown.

Since that first step in October of 2001 I have had very few regrets about my life's path. The few moments of regret have only been because I burned a bridge or two or that I missed too many gatherings and celebrations. Now, 10 years later, I am wiser. I've learned to cherish the craft, respect my mentors, and celebrate the milestones.

Never could I have imagined on that lukewarm Autumn day that I might one day do 100 weddings. When the 100th wedding mark passed, I wasn't even aware of it. Too busy was I just trying to work work work that I didn't celebrate or rejoice in that achievement.

Photography by Kevin Chin

However, this summer, I became fully aware that we were reaching another huge milestone -- our 400th wedding. The day couldn't have been better as our wedding was for one of our many great staffers, close like sister friend, Karen Lam. Karen and Steven were married on a beautiful Saturday afternoon surrounded by their parents near a willow tree. I was lucky to have observed it as I was not only her floral designer but one of her many guests.

Photography by Kevin Chin

I'm truly thankful for those who had the faith in me. No one walks this journey of life alone and there are countless cheerleaders who put their hands together and cheered me on. I have had the best experience of my life and there has never been a need to look backwards as I look forward to 400 more weddings.

Photography by Kevin Chin

Inspiration: Summery Sonoma At Quarry Hill

Summer is slowly becoming a dream. To honor this summer, I'm loving this wonderful short film by my darling hubby, Kevin Chin Photography + Cinematography.

All the vendors worked so hard on this Botanical Garden photo shoot at Quarry Hill.  A Savvy Event did the wonderful planning.  I love partnering up with Kelly and her team at ASE. They have the best ideas (plus, it's such a fun relationships when everyone just laughs the whole day!).




Quarry Hill, garden theme photo shoot. from Kevin Chin Photography + Cinema on Vimeo.

Industry News: Smitten Magazine

Yes, I am Smitten! Smitten with everything about this new glossy e-magazine, whose tagline is aptly titled, "The Lookbook for Wedding Fancy"!  It's completely true --- everything is beautifully crafted in that Southern, charming way.  Editor and co-founder Della MacNicholas first started in the wedding world as a wedding blogger and slowly evolved her blog, Wedding Row, into a regional blog.  Her quietly subtle and soothing sensibility is very well appreciated from this wedding professional

I absolutely adore it!  There are currently two issues so it's not to late to catch up on all things Smitten!

ps: One of my buddies is featured in Smitten, can you spot which Bay Area mogul is featured in Issue 2? I'll give you a tip - she has a great sense of style! Random winner will get a nice sparkly surprise. Leave a comment with you mailing address and full name! Thanks! One random winner will be announced shortly.