Real Wedding Inspiration: Rebecca & John's Romantic Red & Black Wedding

It's time for a little more real wedding inspiration for you from our past brides & grooms!

This wedding was for a super sweet couple & lovely family... 

Rebecca & John decided to go with a very romantic red & black color scheme for their wedding.

For the seating chart, they went a more modern, less fussy route opting for a seating chart list of names, instead of the usual individual seating cards (grouping guests under the first letters of the last names to make it easier for everyone to locate their names).



A fun touch to decorate the area around the guest book-The groom used his artistic talent to sketch the couple's images on these canvases that were propped up around the reception table. The red rose petals & candles also helped to set the mood from the moment the guests arrived at this romantic affair.



The white arbor got a black tie upgrade with black fabric draped over the front & two large arrangements on the side & top corner. I like that it's not symmetrical because it made it look very chic & modern. Elizabeth at Van Nuys Flowers (one of our preferred vendors who did all the flowers for this wedding) always knocks it out of the park!



That walk down the aisle sure looks pretty with red rose petals tossed on the bright green grass leading up to the arbor! Outdoor weddings are so picturesque...

Case in point, this killer view! I took this photo with my simple point & shoot camera, so just imagine what your photographer can capture on your big day!

Normally I don't show photos of our clients, but this photo is abstract enough to keep the bride's identity private & the train on her dress just has to be seen! Such a gorgeous & happy bride too!

(By the way, that's Julie, our Private Events Director, on the left sending the bride off with her dad for her big moment!)

The room, looking sophisticated & stylish with black chair covers, black linen table cloths to the floor, white napkins with a pocket fold, & all red roses in the arrangements...

The square vase of the arrangements & candles made for a clean, streamlined look.

For the favor, the couple gave each guests a heart shaped wine bottle stopper with personalized ribbon with their names & wedding date. A perfect parting gift to remind guests of their loving celebration!

The sweetheart table had the prettiest white draping that really made it stand out from the rest of the tables.

And for the couple's wedding toast...personalized flutes of course!

Now moving closer to the cake, one of the most anticipated elements of every reception...

Served with no less than this elegant personalized server & cake knife...

And what a gorgeous cake it was! Notice all the detailed scroll work by Jaqki's Bakery? No wonder our brides love her cakes. The black ribbon & red roses topping the cake are the perfect touch.

Would you like a piece?

Congratulations again Rebecca & John!

Thank you for celebrating your special day at Porter Valley!

Real Wedding Inspiration: Kyoko & Patrick's Detailed Japanese & Greek Culture Infused Wedding

The last wedding we had in August this year was definitely worthy of the beautiful weather we had that day. Kyoko & Patrick's Wedding Reception at Porter Valley Country Club was one to rival the best this Club has seen. They took a great deal of pride & care in planning every aspect of their wedding & it showed. Check out the highlights below!

The escort table welcomed guests reflecting Kyoko's Japanese heritage with a gorgeous Asian purple paper umbrella (in the couple's color scheme) & wooden frames with photos of the couple to add a personal touch.

The escort cards were perfectly in theme with tiny origami paper cranes that Kyoko made herself perched on each card. Paper cranes are a symbol of peace & it is said whoever folds a thousand paper cranes will have their heart's desire. Perfect for her to start on that quest with this happy occasion!

Next the guests were escorted out to our terrace to enjoy wine, champagne, & a multitude of hors d'oeuvres selected by this gracious couple for their family & friends to enjoy.

After going outside for refreshments & appetizers, guests began moving in to the lounge that Patrick & Kyoko designed in our Homestead Room which incorporated their wedding colors with purple throw pillows & white modern lounge furniture. Plus some extra tables for seating were set up for those who wanted to mingle inside.

Guests were then welcomed in to our grand banquet room to be seated for a lovely dinner. The couple decided to go the extra step to make the room look customized & upscale by renting natural wood chivari chairs. The usual white chair covers with colored sashes look very nice too, but the chivari chairs change the whole look of the room & make it much more complimentary to the Asian Zen feel they wanted.

No details were overlooked in this wedding, even the linen was upgraded to this gorgeous textured ivory linen rented for a minimal cost. (insider tip: Ask your rental company or venue to find out how much they would charge for an upgraded linen with a texture or pattern that compliments your decor style. Prices can range from $10 and up to the hundreds for custom made linen, so the sky is the limit of what you can create depending on your budget. The overall effect of this upgrade makes a wedding look so much more luxurious, it is certainly worth the extra amount to get this result for your wedding.)

The couple's table setting with special coordinating ivory napkin linen for the bride & groom

At each place setting guests found a menu card designed by Kyoko along with the traditional Greek favor, Jordan Almonds, that are usually given in an odd number which are as indivisible as the new married couple should be

The table numbers were also chosen by the couple & looked adorable resting on their small easels with an added bow with pearl detail that matched the menus perfectly.

The sweetheart table was given the royal treatment with speciality linen & swagging across the front to create a dramatic effect. Also the three floral arrangements & purple votive candles brought in the couple's color scheme & made the table look especially romantic. (insider tip: Votive candles are very inexpensive but add such a warm, romantic mood to the room that all couples should consider using them for their evening weddings.) Not to be left out, their chivari chairs were further dressed up with matching upscale sashes tied sweetly with a rose on top of the bows that matched the detail of the table swagging. A table fit for a queen & king!

To satisfy their guests with a sweet tooth, Kyoko & Patrick thoughtfully picked out their favorite sweets from both of their cultures. Not only were they delicious, but also the mini sized treats made for a beautiful display...

The mouth watering close-ups...

Yummy Greek Baklava!
Photo credit: Allen King

Another Greek fav, Kourabiedes (sugar cookies) were amazing as well.
Photo credit: Allen King

Japanese wafers called Monaka with intricate flower designs looked perfectly elegant.
Photo credit: Patrick Martin

Next, the cake table! This time I was thrilled because it was so fancied up, I could faint! I love the extra effort they put in to make it special with the upscale linen & lace billowing over the cake stand like a cloud of fluffy gorgeousness! Ah! Love!

Ok I am calming down a bit now, but wait! I almost left out the bride's beautiful bouquet! Van Nuy's florist, which is one of our recommended vendors, did a lovely job on all the flowers for this wedding & I think this delicate all white bouquet was the perfect choice for the bride's glamorous, princess like gown.

The dinner was marvelous, the dessert table with yummy Japanese imported & Greek desserts was the perfect cultural addition, & of course the whole party was fantastic! Now that this wedding is over, I truly am sad to say good bye to the new Mr. & Mrs. They were so involved with the wedding planning from day one & visited us often to make sure it was perfect. They were a pleasure to work with & we wish them all the best in their picture perfect life together.

Congratulations Kyoko & Partick!

Real Wedding Inspiration: Personal Touches At Blanca & Elfego's Reception

Our packages at Porter Valley do a great job of covering all the bases for catering, setup, & even including linen color choices & chair covers, but we leave the extra decor & creative elements up to the bride & groom so they are able to put their own personal touch on the wedding.

Blanca & Elfego's wedding is a perfect example of how adding your personal stamp to the reception can make your wedding day more memorable.

Right off the bat, they set the tone with their seating chart (which had the creative table names I mentioned in my previous post) that called to mind all the positive traits of a loving marriage. All of which we are sure this sweet couple will have!

Also they chose a guest book with photos from their engagement photo shoot. This is a beautiful keepsake for them (which reminded me of the yearbooks of my youth, but with much better photos & upscale leather binding). The bears in a tuxedo & wedding gown greeting the guests were also a nod to the couple's softer side, or at least another cute memento for Blanca to keep to remind them of their wedding.

Yet another fun keepsake for the couple to take home...At the registration table, the couple placed these champagne bottles dressed to the nines in wedding attire!

This time I can't wait to show you the cake until the end. I love the color choices of pink, white, & brown. Plus the large R, their new shared last name initial, was just subtly sparkly enough to add a bit of a wow factor without being too gaudy. I am not a big fan of bling though, so just my opinion, but this couple did it right!

This was a fun moment when the bride revealed the groom's cake, which she had made as a surprise for her new husband. He was loving the fact that the cake was modeled after his own vintage car. This is a great way for brides to infuse a bit of their fiance's style into the wedding because, let's face it, the pink flowers don't really reflect his essence! With the groom's cake, you can add that manly element & share with everyone one of your fiance's favorite hobbies, sports, or other passions.

The details on this groom's cake were amazing: From the lights to the bumper to the license plate to the cans being pulled over the asphalt base to the Just Married! written on the back window...nothing was overlooked!

A glimpse of the room, ready for the first guests...notice the sheer white draping and lights on the pillars? They added a lot of warmth to the room and a bit more personal style which was, again, the couple's idea to enhance the look of our country club. I am a big fan of lighting & draping as they can really transform the look & feel of a room.

The couple brought in their own toasting glasses, which had a heart design that will also be a lovely keepsake of their marriage. The crystal glasses along with a larger centerpiece made for an understated, but beautiful sweet heart table.

 

We want to raise a toast to Blanca & Elfego!

We were so happy to see you both enjoying your special day & we know all the extra details & time you put into your wedding will make for gorgeous pictures & memories that will last a lifetime. Now you can relax & enjoy your married life!

Congratulations!

Lucy & Patrick's Wedding Reception With Floral Flair

This lovely couple had a friend help design their flower arrangements, though as he told me, "I'm just a friend who likes to play with flowers". But I say he did an awesome job & should consider making this his day job!

I loved the 3 levels of arrangements, especially the monochromatic ones with roses of all the same pink & white hues. Very classic & modern at the same time.

The menus were also professionally printed with an elegant design & tucked in to an ivory napkin with a traditional pocket fold.

 

How cute are these little shot glass favors doubling as seating card holders? The flower in the "pots" tied in the couple's pink color scheme.

The sweetheart table with a Garden of Eden style makeover.

Just gorgeous!

And yes, there was a stunning cake! It was adorned perfectly with pink & white colored flowers. Also, I have to point out how cute the cake by Delicious Bakery was with its bows, just like a gift box! That's one gift I know I'd like!

Have A Great First Year of Marriage Lucy & Patrick!

We hope you had a wonderful time with your loving family & totally amazing friends here at Porter Valley. It's definitely good to have friends like yours! Congrats!