French Riviera Luxury Wedding Design
Cap Estel Luxury Wedding Design
So we’ve showed you what an incredible wedding venue Cap Estel would make but what could I create here? This is the fun part; “Dreaming in design” as I like to refer to it. Since this would be MY top choice, I decided to create what I would consider to be my own dream wedding. It would go something like this:
Wedding guests would enter the villa through its white marble lobby and walk out onto the expansive terrace overlooking the lawn. A classical string quartet would be playing remixed classics while guests sipped on bubbly rosé from gold-rimmed crystal goblets and nibbled on caviar canapés before being escorted down to their seats for the ceremony.
Soft white suede and rose gold chairs would be lining the aisle on the lawn that led up to the altar. The altar would would be fluttering with lush white peonies and an abundance of white butterflies and oversized paper flowers. These bright whites would contrast perfectly with the azure sea in the background.
The bride clad in a lace Yolan Cris gown would float down the aisle and be set against the magical setting of fluttering white and aqua sea background.
After the ceremony, guest would explore the rose garden during the cocktail hour. Beautiful performers with theatrical butterfly headpieces would play stringed instruments while walking between the guests. An impressive cheese table and gourmet appetizers from Cap Estel’s Michelin-starred chef would serve as a preview of the amazing meal yet to come!
After cocktail hour, guests would take their seats in a black-and-white-striped tent dripping with an eclectic display of chandeliers and pendant lights. A palette of blush and salmon centerpieces would be offset by the bold canopy, striped linens and blue-and-white place settings.
The guests would eat off beautiful gold flatware, sip wine out of crystal goblets, and savor course after course of delicious food.
During the reception, the guests would dance under the stars to a combination of live musicians playing over deep house electric tunes. When the party ended, the guests could retire to their 800-thread-count sheets. A frisky few could take a midnight dip before turning in if they wanted.
So there you have it! That’s my ultimate wedding vision for what I consider to be the French Rivera’s best events venue. What would yours be? Stay tuned for more incredible venues and our wedding visions.
1st Page Credits
Venue Photos: Tony Gigov http://tonygigov.com/
2nd Page Credits
Fine Jewelry by Leviev Jewelry http://www.leviev.com/
Shoes by Oscar de la Renta http://www.oscardelarenta.com
Dress by Yolan Cris http://www.yolancris.com/
3nd Page Credits
Tent & Lighting by @Revelry Event Designers http://www.revelryeventdesigners.com/
Cake by Hey There Cupcake http://www.heythere-cupcake.com/#!cakes/c1tuc
Dish by L’0bjet – http://l-objet.com/
Sea Bass by Chef James Montejano of La Valencia Hotel. http://www.lavalencia.com/
ass=”p1″>4th Page Credits
Tablescape by Alchemy Fine Home http://alchemyfinehome.com/
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Luxe Valentine’s Dinner
Shot Through The Heart…. Valentine’s Dinner
THE DESIGN
With this ultra saucy and sexy inspirational design we wanted to create the ultimate Valentine’s dinner for two with dark design undertones of slithering serpents and spellbinding epicreations to nibble and sip on as you gaze across an arrow shot heart at your eternal Valentine. I started by setting the table with luxurious pieces by L’Objet including reptile printed elements such as their embossed Alencon collection, serpent twisting black trays and bewitching snake napkin jewels around snakeskin printed italian linen napkins. I want to show my clients how you can create an ultra romantic, luxurious and intimate Valentine’s Day dinner at home with a few key pieces.
THE Flowers
For this luxury Valentine’s dinner Isari Flower Studio created a texturally rich heart shaped arrangement with lush blooms in deep reds and raspberries for the perfect centerpiece to pour your heart over… The heart shape was studded with large bloom amaryllis, miniature blooms garden roses, ranunculus, 2 shades of ruffled french carnations, deep shade parrot tulips, astrantias, burgundy anemones and hellebores, with clematis and it;s foliages and flowering Japanese magnolia. 
THE COCKTAILS
Snakeoil Cocktail Company created three bewitching cocktails to help lure your sweetheart under your spell for your romantic Valentine’s dinner.. For an extra dose of drama molecular mixologist Mike Yen also created a ‘Beeting Heart’ which includes a cocktail encapsulated into a human heart shaped gelatin shell..not for the ‘faint of heart’… “Sipping on a beautifully crafted concoction will set the mood in any love den, especially one as lovingly crafted as these sultry cocktails” says Michael Esposito of Snakeoil Cocktails. Read below for the recipes for three of these spellbinding cocktails!
Old School Crush Cocktail
(served in an old school sour in coupe glass)
2 oz Wild Turkey Bourbon
0.5 Oloroso Sherry
5 Muddled Black Cherries
1.5 oz Fresh Pressed Lemon Juice
1.5 oz Fig Infused Honey Syrup
1 Cage-free Egg White
Garnished with a black cherry heart
Tops and Bottoms Cocktail
(layered in a double old fashioned glass)
1.5 oz Espolon Silver Tequila
1.5 oz Fresh Pressed Lime
1.5 oz Black Lime Syrup
1 oz Mulled Wine Float
Garnished with Splayed Vanilla Bean and Star Anise
SEEDS OF LOVE
(layered in a goblet)
1.5 oz Titos Vodka
2 oz Basil-Pomegranate Juice*
0.5 oz Fresh Pressed Lime Juice
3 oz Ginge Beer
Garnished with pomegranate arils and bloomed basil seeds
THE FOOD
Brilliant Chef Andrew Spurgin created an intoxicating Valentine’s dinner menu of salt crusted abalone and octopus with a lapsang souchang tea consommé, Gravlax and iberico ham with a squid ink sour cream and hazelnuts. An artists rendition of crudite was presented 2 ways atop a gold starburst and standing to attention… making vegetables once again very sexy… “Food is and can be very sexy, from the textures, the aromas and aphrodisiac effect” says Spurgin, “even the slightest gesture of feeding your love a sumptuous oyster can be an incredible turn on”.
CREDITS:
Design & Styling Vanessa Van Wieren of Alchemy Fine Events
Chef Andrew Spurgin
Photos by Luna Photo
Flowers by Isari Flower Studio
China by L’Objet
Napkins by Huddleson Linens
WANT TO SHOP THE LOOK?
Read More »Holiday Celebration: Modern Glam Thankgiving Decor Inspiration
Modern Thanksgiving Decor Inspiration at Cucina Enoteca
With time flying faster than ever, Thanksgiving snuck up on us once again. With the cold weather and long nights, my passion for food and wine emerge stronger than ever. What better way to celebrate a day full of feasting than with a super stylish table? Along with Cucina Enoteca at their fabulous new Del Mar location, we wanted to create our version of a modern glam Thanksgiving tablescape + updated gourmet menu showing you how you can ditch the traditional for an even more fabulous affair. Paula Luna of Luna Photo never fails to get the most gorgeous photos and was there to capture all of this sparkle and delicious food beautifully.
We started by layering on gorgeous gold, cobalt and white vintage china by Hostess Haven and served champs, wine and water in her to-die-for amethyst, crystal and gold goblets. In lieu of the more traditional reds/rusts/oranges you tend to see this time of year, we wanted to go plum/purple/raspberry and black for a more updated, striking and savvy style. Isari Flower Studio helped us bring this vision to life with their lush full blooms full of texture and style, including peonies, dahlias, black mini calla lilies and exotic leaves for a super lush and decadent design.
We then layered on white pumpkins, modern gold vases and horns with super sleek lucite to accessorize the ultra long feasting style table scape. For a fun twist and reminder on what the holiday is all about, we even hand-painted eggplants with the words ‘Grateful,’ ‘Thankful’ and ‘Blessed’ to mix into the design. In lieu of traditional place cards, we created custom wire place cards for a modern yet fun twist!
For a super wine-infused modern Thanksgiving dinner, we even created an awesome DIY you can easily re-create at home! We started with a canvas napkin and then splattered on 2 tones of raspberry and plum dye and even stenciled on wine rings for a realistic effect.
With the menu and decor set, the only thing left to decide on is what to wear?! Don’t fret.. Hall & Saks has you covered.. or at least inspired! See this and our Napkin DIY coming soon!
Happy Thanksgiving from Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations!!
pomegranite reviver
gin + cocchi americano + cointreau + pomegranite juice
Formaggi + salumi
Baby chioggia beet + mache
avocado + balsamic reduction + horseradish crema
Butternut squash soup + white truffle oil drizzle
Liberty Farms Duck Conserva
gingerbread polenta + braised chicory + sour cherry sugo
Rosemary + honey pine nut tart
Fig jam + yogurt gelato
And to end off your delicious meal sip on this delicious,
del duomo COCKTAIL - a personal favorite!
Don’t miss part 2 coming next with the DIY wine splattered napkins & What to Wear by our friends and fabulous fashion stylists Hall & Saks!
Event Design & Styling: Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations
Location & Menu: Cucina Enoteca
Photos: Luna Photo
Flowers: Isari Flower Studio
Vintage China & Glassware: Hostess Haven
Epicreation to Celebration: A Wine Tasting Rehearsal Dinner & Cheese Pairing Table
A Wine Tasting Rehearsal Dinner & Cheese Pairing Table Featured on Martha Stewart!
One thing that all of my closest friends know extremely well about me is this… I LOVE CHEESE!!!! Not only do I love to cook with it, I appreciate it with wine, with fruit and basically any opportunity to put out a fragrant spread of delicious delicacies. Pour me a glass of wine, nibble and let the chatting begin.
When working with Jessica and Ilya for their wedding and rehearsal dinner, I learned about their passion of food and wine and we immediately clicked over it! With Italian, Jewish and Persian heritages in play, food was always a top priority and so important to all of their families cultures. Not only does food bring people together over tables, it sparks conversations, memories and new friendships. So when designing Jessica and Ilya’s rehearsal dinner I decided to create the ultimate cheese table that could stand up to the most beautiful wines Ilya’s uncle was providing and to whet their guest’s palette of the weekend to come.
I created this custom designed cheeseboard by painting a plank of wood with chalk board paint for the perfect backdrop . For each cheese we offered, we suggested a bread, a fruit, and spread to be paired with each of the delicious creamy cheeses to create the perfect bite!
Read on to see the details below but don’t miss even more details of our cheese pairing table on our Martha Stewart feature seen here!
For a wonderful variety of cheeses make sure to cover your milks! Cow, sheep and goat milk cheeses all have such wonderful unique characteristics to them and pair very differently from sweet, crunchy or salty components. For our cheese pairing table we offered goodies such as spicy and salty meats, briny green and black olives, sweet spreads and preserves such as quince paste and tangy and spicy components such as dried apricots and crystallized ginger.
Guests were offered cocktails such as The Buckley and Peach Proscecco to sip as they enjoyed lawn games and listened to ragtime music played live on the piano.
For this wine tasting dinner we used pinot grigio bottles as candleholders for a true bistro feel mixed with white blooms in vintage glassware.
Each guest received a pan baguette wrapped in cheese cloth and a lavender sprig tied with the perfectly hued bakers twine with well wishes for their meal to come. 
To create an outdoor bistro atmosphere I hung drum lampshades from the patio rafters to create a cozy and intimate lighting. We mixed black china and black chairs with a mint green ticking striped linen for a clean and bright palette.
In lieu of printed menus we wrote the menus on suspended mirrors for guests to gaze at before taking their chairs.
From cheese to wine to food and conversation, we enjoyed blending our love of food, entertainment and design so much for this spectacular rehearsal dinner! We hope you enjoyed it too!
Event Design, Planning, Invitations & Flowers by Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations
Photography by Scott Clark
Headboard Rental by Pow Wow
Catering by Joe’s in Venice
Linens by La Tavola
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