Bella Wedding | Kasey + Tyler | Whonnock Lake

This wedding was from March, but I thought better late then never when it comes to posting photos- right?

It was a little less than a year before their wedding when I first met with Kasey. She had loads of wonderful ideas for her 2010 wedding, but surprisingly, her fiance Tyler had many ideas as well. It was important for him to incorporate the 4 elements of the earth into their wedding- and many ideas were tossed back and forth. Everything from having a fountain inside, to centerpieces that included the elements, to the colour scheme consisting of their 4 representantive colours (yellow, red, blue and green I believe.) After much deliberation and many hours of planning, we had altered this theme to make it more classic and elegant (which still honoured them as a couple) and I think we merged both worlds very well. Originally planned to happen on July 17th at Minter Gardens, Kasey and Tyler had a change of heart and fell in love with the incomparable surroundings of Whonnock Lake (for those of you who love nature and pretty much beauty in general, it's worth the trip to visit this little Maple Ridge gem).

One of my favourite pieces was the wreath we hung from the centre of the ceiling. It was a labour of love made by Kasey's parents, and the dripping crystals shined like rain drops on this romantically overcast spring day. Officiated by my all time favourite, Jordan Bateman, the ceremony brought almost everyone to tears and even incorporated a very old fashioned hand-tying ritual.

Happy 6 month Anniversary Kasey and Tyler!

Cake: Anna Elizabeth Cakes

Photography: Right Out Studio

Decor Rentals: All Occassions Chic Decor Rentals

Flowers: Ah Perfect Petals

Invitations/ Favour/ Stationery Design: Hello Bella

Celebrant: Jordan Bateman

A Peacock Affair | Hello Bella Bridal Shower

Flowers by Ah Perfect Petals

Flowers by Ah Perfect Petals

Flowers by Ah Perfect Petals

Flowers by Ah Perfect Petals

Cake by Anna Elizabeth Cakes

Flowers by Ah Perfect Petals

Nothing makes my job more fun than when a hostess like Sandie comes along. Sandie, the sole bridesmaid/MOH for her best friend's wedding wanted to throw the bride a very special shower. Something as beautiful as it would be meaningful, and a party she would never forget.

A very pregnant Sandie left the design in my hands and let me run with it, and knowing that she was stylish and loved attention to detail as much as me made the planning process easy and exciting. (It's hard coming from a creative standpoint and having a vision- if my clients don't share that vision or have dissimilar tastes, I of course work within their parameters- however it's much more rewarding getting to do something creative and pretty! So thank you Sandie!)

An eager and charming client wasn't the only part of this event that made it such a blast to design and plan. I lined up an excellent team of my favourite vendors knowing that they would share my vision, and boy they did not fall short! The shower was held at the renowned Italian Kitchen (part of the Glowbal Group) in the upstairs section that isn't used during the day (THANK YOU Italian Kitchen and our INCREDIBLE server/bartender Mark who let us take claim over the entire upstairs). Mark, by the way, was so amazing and made the most succulent mock mojito I have ever ever tasted. Vanilla Apple Mojito - To. Die. For (definitely stealing this drink recipe for my upcoming housewarming). Ok, sorry about that little tangent- back to my amazing vendors!

Once deciding on our colour scheme I phoned up my florist Kari of Ah Perfect Petals. Kari is a hidden gem in a world of countless florists, and if you're lucky enough to work with her you'll know what I mean. She really really cares about her clients and that is so pivotal in a client/vendor relationship. And her flowers- oh her flowers! Her creative eye is spot on and her design skills impeccable. I sent her about 5 inspiration photos prior to the shower, some outrageously intricate, and some more simple. She absolutely blew the roof off of any expectations I had, and I can't thank Kari enough for her part in creating this gorgeous event.

Another vendor I love to work with (and who you'll probably see often on my blog and facebook page) is Anna of Anna Elizabeth Cakes. An up and comer with an incredible eye for detail, this young talent is sure to garner a lot of attention in the cake world. I let her know the theme/colour scheme we were working with, and that same day she came back to me with an assortment of design renderings to help us decide on our cake design. I loved how our cake turned out, and her fondant work and handpainting is amazing. Her cakes are always original- no boring copies here! And if you think these cakes are just pretty, wait until you try one! She pays as much attention to what's on the inside as she does on the outside with flavours like vanilla bean cake soaked in raspberry simple syrup with rapsberry coulis with white chocolate buttercream. DELISH!

My vendor trifecta I've affectionately dubbed AAA (Ah Perfect Petals, Anna Elizabeth Cakes, and All Occassions) was rounded out by the wonderful rentals at All Occasions Chic Decor Rentals. Carolyn is awesome to work with, and was extremely accommodating with my last minute orders and changes! The gorgeous wishing tree, peacock feathers, brown and turquoise linens were all rented from All Occassions (pink runners were generously supplied by Kari of APP).

There's a slew of inspiration out there for peacock weddings/events. Both Sandie and I shared the vision that although the theme was peacock, we didn't want it to overwhelm and take away from everything else. A touch here, and splash there was all that was needed. In addition to the gorgeous jewel tones throughout the room, we used peacock feathers to accent the table settings and I designed a peacock menu inspired by a wedding invitation I spotted on etsy. The same peacock graphic was also echoed in the wishing tree notecards and the he said/ she said game cards. Sandie ordered customized Jones sodas online that featured a picture of the bride and groom and was a much enjoyed guest take home favour.

Well, that was a long so I shall stop here! Hope everyone enjoys their April and check back soon for more blog posts!

Pink Eye Candy ... or is it Eye Cake?

I just HAD to share this adorable cake from Martha Stewart. It's pink, it's ruffled, and it's cake, so it pretty much doesn't get any better than this!

Cakelicious!

All photos from the wonderful Martha Stewart

After the post on cake stands, it only seemed fitting to follow up with a lovely collection of pretty cakes to feast your eyes on. Not to mention that designing a website for a local cake designer has also caused me to have cake on the brain!

Let them eat cake! But only on a pretty stand...

Above: Clara French

Above: Whitney Smith Pottery

Above: Rosanna Inc

Above: Country Living

Above: Found this on a "wanted" etsy listing. Let me know if you know where these are from, because I LOVE THEM!

Above: Spice and Lore

Above: Butter Sugar Flour

DIY Cake stands from Once Wed

Above: The Knot

Above: The Tea Pot Shoppe

Above: Cottage Chic Shop

If there's one thing I can't get enough of (really, we all know it's far more than just one thing) it would be cake stands. I'm not quite sure what it is about them, but if I see one, I buy it. Cake stands are to me as shoes are to a fashionista. I feel like they are my babies, my sacred collection, and I promise you one day they WILL be displayed on some gorgeous shelf in my office. I love single tiered ones, ones that stack in graduated sizes; I love cupcake towers, and I especially love individual glass cupcake stands. There's something about a cake or cupcake stand that completely transforms any baking, candy, or everyday item from mundane to magical. Must be the pedestal!

The collection of pretty stands above range from low to high prices, and for those of you looking for a shabby chic way to present your creations, here's a fab diy project over at Once Wed that uses terra cotta pots! Ingenious idea. Any style, any colour, and size- cake stands WILL improve you event, whether you're using for your wedding cake, or to hold cookies on a dessert table for a baby shower. And by all means, if you happen to see some pretty stands while out and about, feel free to think of me!

Oh Sweet Heaven!

You thought a candy buffet was just a candy buffet, didn't you? Wrong! Anyone can toss some candy into a few jars and call it a candy buffet, but just a peak at the work of the talented Amy Atlas of NYC will open your eyes to the true art of the dessert table.

These gorgeous tablscapes of sweetness look almost too pretty to touch, and are comprised of everything from candy (duh!), to cookies, cakes, cupcakes, chocolates and other tempting treats. The key to creating your own work of yummy art is to stick with either one colour combo or a certain theme (such as vintage or retro). Love the custom "Something Borrowed" cookies? Check out the great local company www.thestevestoncookiecompany.com for your very own personalized treats.

For an inexpensive way to make your table look fab, create different levels of interest with cardboard boxes covered in craft paper or wallpaper. Add some ribbon and pretty labels, and a great backdrop to showcase your work of art, and presto! You might have yourself a candy buffet worth drooling over.

If you want to check out some more fabulousness, go to www.amyatlas.com and you're in for a treat!

Barbie Bridal Shower "Barbie-Que"

It all started with a bride with an extreme fascination with Barbie. So extreme, in fact, that she had an entire room in her house dedicated to the iconic Mattel doll. The amazing "Barbie Room", complete with a pink chandelier, pink walls, black and white damask accent wall, framed Robert Best Barbie sketches, and a white bookcase full of Barbies, served as the inspiration for a bridal shower for an equally amazing bride-to-be.

The thirty-ish female guests were welcomed with a "wishing tree" sign in with vintage-style Barbie note cards. After jotting down some well wishes to hang from the tree, the girls were welcomed by a "Ken doll" server and offered an assortment of pink refreshments. Among the signature drinks were: Barbie-tini, Pink Sangria, Barbie Bubbly (Pink Champagne), Barbie Blush Wine, and for the non-drinkers Pink Lemonade and Pink Cream Soda. Drinks were served in either a pink martini glass or a wine glass accessorized with custom made pink Barbie shoe wine charms.

The barbeque-style dinner served up mini-burgers, mini-paninis and sushi with plenty of salads and appetizers to nibble on throughout the evening. The true indulgence of the night, however, belonged to the signature Barbie dessert table: a pink-fondant covered Barbie cake, a display of cupcakes topped with three flavors of buttercream icing in different shades of pink (french vanilla, banana and mint), pink cake pops (recipe courtesy of Bakerella), a pink chocolate fountain, and finally a pink candy buffet.

Decor for the event consisted of pink tablecloths (obviously!), Barbie busts, pink and white peony arrangements, strategically placed Barbie dolls in pink convertibles, and pink damask accent pillows for the lounge area. After opening many Barbie-esque shower gifts, along with some more traditional ones, guests made their exit and were thanked with a of set of four hand-made wine charms in Barbie gift bags.

If you'd like to view more photos from the event, check out the "Events" section of my portfolio at www.hellobella.com