A PERFECTLY BREEZY WEDDING (AGAIN…HI MARTHA)!

Photos courtesy of Breezy Decor

A wedding at a private home and former celebrity hunting lodge in Benedict Canyon in Beverly Hills, California.(above)

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Update 6/11/10 – Was so excited to learn that a story I did last year on a summer wedding caught the attention of Martha Stewart’s “people”…although I’m not so sure it was in a good way….hmmm…

Martha Stewart’s magazine or website just published this wedding this month. And this post I am doing today is actually a re-post of the story I did on this same rustic canyon wedding last year in September 2009. I think Martha’s team wanted me to take down my story or something….they emailed someone or something…I guess the website or magazine wanted Martha to have the exclusive or something like that (all very vague)…and I guess they asked/demanded that my story come down a few months ago…I was traveling so I really didn’t understand what was going on…all I knew was that Martha’s team was not happy I think…or something…even though all my pictures are different from theirs and gotten before they got theirs…hmmm….

Anyhoooo….I didn’t take down my story. As a matter of fact I am re-posting it! 🙂 Great excuse to go back into the archives – this is a first for me…going into the archives and all for a full story…Martha Stewart warranted a first!

As it turns out, all is well and we all have the story of this lovely wedding…I think all is well at least…hmmmm….I hope….(I like Martha but maybe I’m a little scared that she’ll come to my house or something…)

La dee dah…It is June…it is wedding time…and I love this wedding…hope you “re-enjoy” this re-post too. Read on ! Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

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September 2009

Was on Facebook for a brief moment the other day for no apparent reason except to continue the endless cycle of connecting with old acquaintances who I haven’t seen in dozens of years but who I am now calling “friends”…when all of a sudden something interesting finally popped out at me on this social networking site.

I saw that friend Breezy (a.k.a. Bryan Ream) of Breezy Decor had posted some AMAZINGLY SUBLIME photos of a gorgeous wedding he had just planned. Breezy does interior decor, fashion design, event planning and anything to do with design. I knew about the interiors and fashion part but before seeing the Facebook photos, I had no idea that this style maven included events in his repertoire.

When I saw these exquisite photos…all I could think was that this wedding decor is impeccable in taste, perfection in style and oozed flawless casual grace. The overall sensibility, the color scheme (greens, whites and deep purples – my favorite) and the easy but dignified decor are the perfect blend of the rustic and the elegant.

Anyhooooo, when I wrote to Breezy and asked if I could post some photos of this event, he said yes. So here we are…in the beginning of BATH WEEK, doing a wedding post!

With the help of top flower aficionado Ariana Lambert Smeraldo who owns the chic Los Angeles flower boutique Lily Lodge and with the assistance of table design specialist Jason Murakawa of Small Masterpiece, Breezy pulled off an elegantly rustic nuptial affair for 150 guests.

Close up of custom designed outdoor light fixtures that glow with vintage inspired light bulbs (above)
Here’s a brief Q&A with decor and design expert Breezy:

COCO: What was the inspiration for this wedding design?
BREEZY: Organic, we tried to avoid the ‘Event’ look.

COCO: Where did you find the great light fixtures?
BREEZY: They were custom made on site from Edison bulbs, porcelain sockets, and an assortment of vintage globes.

COCO: The hay as seating is great [see picture below], why did you decide this instead of traditional seating?
BREEZY: The terrain is very vertical, and chairs would have tilted…the straw bales moulded to the terrain, and can be used for erosion control and landscaping after.

COCO: From a design standpoint, what is your favorite decor element from this event and why?
BREEZY: Definitely lighting, the Edison bulbs give off a magical warm glow and made everyone look and feel sexy!

The custom chandelier blends in perfectly with the rustic canyon landscape and hangs over two beautifully decorated long tables that provide guests with a picturesque view of the hillside. (above)

An elegant flower arrangement flows endlessly and seamlessly down the center of the two long tables. Floral design expert Ariana says that the goal was to create “an enchanted garden of wildflowers with a nod to traditional wedding.” (above)

The table is beautifully set with a mix of vintage plates, silverware and glasses. Tabletop decor expert Jason gives advice to those who would like to do the same at home, “Use different periods for the china, glassware and flatware and make it deliberate and confident. You can put a $1 glass with a $60 dinner plate and have it look fantastic if you do things with a creative mind.”(above)

The bar! (above)

Seating wedding guests on hillside terrain can be challenging…to solve the problem Breezy cleverly used bales of hay and colorful Mexican blankets for seating for the guests.(above)

Hope you enjoyed these beautiful wedding photos as much as I have. I think when I get married (not planning that anytime soon mind you), mine would look something like this!

Thank you Breezy for sharing this wedding story with COCOCOZY!

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DETAILS
Flowers:
Austin garden roses, Helleborus, chocolate geranium leaf, chocolate cosmos, shrimp flower and sweet pea.

Centerpieces:
Along with the flowers, the “fruit bowls” had persimmon, fig branches, raspberry branches, passion vine and black plum leaves.

Garland:
California bay with all of the components of the “fruit bowls” at the point.

Table Setting:
Antique Haviland Limoges China, Early American Pressed Glass Goblets produced from the 1820-’25, Vintage Damask Dinner napkins, Sterling and Silver Plated flatware with Bone and Horn Knives.

CREDITS
Lighting and Decor – Bryan Ream aka Breezy, Breezy Decor
Flowers and Garland – Ariana Lambert Smeraldo, Lily Lodge
Vintage China, Flatware and Linens – Jason Murakawa, Small Masterpiece