Nadine and Frank’s wedding “Tuscan Rose Garden” Pelican Hill Resort
Nadine and Frank are a couple that truly have it all! Good looks, great personalities and the most wonderful friends and families. Nadine is one of the loveliest woman I have ever seen. She was first in line when all the “good stuff” was handed out! She is beautiful, funny, and classy and has most beautiful blue eyes and I cannot forget to mention, absolutely gorgeous hair.
Nadine and Frank did not at all want a traditonal wedding with a traditional setting or traditional events like a DJ/MC making announcements or a bouquet toss and garter toss. Nisie, thee amazing floral designer, from Nisie’s Enchanted Florist and I rolled up our sleeves and off to the drawing board we went with the couple to brainstorm ideas to create the perfect decor. For a celebration that was supposed to be furthest from a wedding, this was one of thee most beautiful and memorable wedding celebrations that I have ever produced or seen. That says alot since I have been doing this for over 17 years now. I just loved this celebration!
After much brainstorming of many ideas and careful thought, a European Rose Garden was created that included the most beautiful and largest topiaries that I have ever seen. Nisie, I cannot believe how big these topiraies were. Nadine and Franks’s guests were invited to gather in an intimate, garden setting adorned by iceberg rose bushes, lush plantings and topiaries.
There was not a traditional center aisle to divide the guests, but instead the guests were brought together with seating in an intimate garden setting. When the ceremony started, Frank walked around the right side of the garden with his children and Nadine walked around front the left side of the garden, joined by her adorable nieces and nephew. They met in the middle at the Rotunda and joined together to exchange their vows.
The couple always had their guests comfort in mind throughout the entire planning process and so white parasols were placed on the guests’ ceremony chairs so that they could shade themselves during the ceremony.
The couple sat during most of the ceremony in special wrought iron chairs that Nisie brought in from her own garden.
After exchanging vows, the couple, instead of recessing down the aisle, stayed right where they were and and were immediately met with congratulations from their family and friends and started to celebrate with them. Refreshments were brought to the garden and champagne served on carts and included a refreshing iced dessert that Frank remembers having as a child. The couple spent an hour with their family and friends enjoying the garden and Joe and Myrta, from Barnet Photography, took candid photos and stood by to take any photos that the couple wanted to take with their guests. It was a very relaxed and happy celebration.
The couple allowed their guests to take their time and have a break to change or enjoy the Resort before the official Cocktail Reception started. The Cocktail Reception included a sommelier and interactive food stations instead of only the typical tray passed hors d’ oeuvres. When it was time for dinner, Nadine and Frank, personally welcomed their family and friends to join them at the dinner table as they would in their home. They greeted each guest as they entered the beautiful Ballroom which was transformed into the most beautiful, intimate setting. We had one very long, exposed wood table that all 50 guests sat around together. A lush, floral runner whimsically covered the center of the table and one yellow rose was strategically placed in front of the beautiful Bride.
During dinner, it seemed as if every single guest took the time to make a very personal toast of well wishes and blessings to the couple and some even shared some entertaining stories.
After the guests enjoyed their dinner, we pulled back the delicate drapes and unvelied an amazing and impressive assortment of delectable desserts such as: miniature Tiramisu cups, a variety of homemade Gelato and beautiful, miniature, ornate wedding cakes which were created especially for the Bride and Groom by the Resort’s fabulous pastry chef. Each cake was truly a work of art! Bravo!
A DJ/MC did not ask the guests to dance, but instead the guests were drawn naturally to dance by the lively Italian music that played.. The guests danced, laughed and enjoyed the evening. It was a magical night full of real family and friends sharing in an amazing celebraton of love together.
I am sure that this is how it is at Nadine and Frank’s family dinner tables all the time and it simply blew me away and made me miss my family and the East Coast where I am from. Nadine and Frank brought a touch of the East Coast with them to Southern California and certainly left an impression as to what a wedding celebration truly is about and the true meanings behind it all.
I know that Nadine and Frank are going to have an amazing life together and I thank them for sharing such a magical event with us. It was truly an amazing celebration. Nadine and Frank, you are blessed and your family and friends are equally blessed. I do hope I get to see more true celebrations of love and family like this in days, months and years to come. It does not get much better than this.
I wish Nadine and Frank a thousand more family celebrations together with each other and all those that love them sitting around a festive dinner table, breaking bread, sharing great food, wine and conversation! Salut!
Special Thanks to:
…and, as always, to my Fabulous Team
