Sneak Peak Editorial Shoot
Here’s a sneak peak from an editorial shoot we did with Jose Villa, Sugar and Fluff and Bunch Studio. Full Shoot will be featured on Ruffled blog soon! Stay tuned!
Here’s a sneak peak from an editorial shoot we did with Jose Villa, Sugar and Fluff and Bunch Studio. Full Shoot will be featured on Ruffled blog soon! Stay tuned!
There is not a single word I adore more than COZY đ I love being cozy, dressing cozy, and decorating my home in a cozy fashion. So, when I saw this cozy, wintery wedding styled shoot, I was super excited about featuring it on Style Unveiled. We’re talking gorgeous BHLDN shrugs, yarn details, spools of thread, cozy winter colors like grey, winter white, and lavender … each and every detail is planned with great thought and attention (when Jill La Fleur is leading the planning, you know it’s gonna be good!). And the fact that it was shot (by the master Jose Villa and his students) at a cozy mountain farmhouse? Makes it a complete success in my book. Love it all below!
XO ~ Heather
PS. Be sure to check out the awesome feature on Green Wedding Shoes, too … She always does such a brilliant job with her posts!! đ
Wedding vendors involved include: Photography: Jose Villa Coordination and Design: Jill La Fleur Venue: Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals Flowers: Flowerwild Dresses: BHLDN Hairpieces: Mignonne Handmade Invitation Suite: Ceci New York Beauty: Mar R. of TEAM Hair and Makeup Linens: La Tavola Linens Calligraphy: Chelsea Petaj
This wedding has a lot of gorgeous things going for it but one thing is for certain Fall and Wine Country are a lovely match. Like peas in a pretty pod those two are and all the fab images from Miki & Sonja Photography have us dreaming of a twinkle light filled dinner with lots of great wine and loved ones alike. And we canât go without mentioning all of the autumnal florals by Jackie Combs Floral Design. Those beauties pulled us in at first glance and all of the fun details coordinated by Mary Sushinski of Occasions kept us coming back for more.  Check out the gallery for the FULL cozy fĂȘte.
Click here to see the entire gallery of images!
From the Happy CoupleâŠWhitney was bored at work on Valentineâs Day, 2005 and decided to enroll in an online dating site. That night, Alex came home from a dinner out with friends, saw Whitneyâs profile and decided it was worth the dollar it would cost to email her â which means Whitney was on the dating site less than 24 hours before finding her match. After exchanging emails and talking on the phone, Whitney and Alex officially met for coffee on February 28, 2005 at a coffee shop near both of their houses. Alex proposed in front of this coffee shop about five years later on New Yearâs Eve, 2009-10. They took their first post-engagement photo in the Rite-Aid up the street because it was the only thing open and, because Alex is a clean freak and a germaphobe, they do spend a lot of time in that drug store. Alex likes to make a silly face, known as âThe Faceâ in our family (and captured on more than one occasion on our wedding day). He proposed by stopping in front of the coffee shop and pulling a box of mints from his pocket. âDo you want a mint?,â he asked Whitney. She said âsure.â Then he pulled out a ring box and said âDo you want to get married?.â Then he made âThe Faceâ.
The first vacation Whitney & Alex took together was to the Santa Barbara area. This is also the first place he said âI love you.â They are also big foodies, so we wanted to have our wedding in a region known for its local flavors and seasonal ingredients. Alex and Whitney also like puns and the sort of idyllic notion of a rustic Americana. So we riffed on the idea of A&W Root Beer to play off our initials. Our wedding invitations incorporated that logo and theme and we placed A&W signs and bottles around the space. We even served root beer floats instead of a cake. But we knew some people would still want cake, so we had the cake designer also make mini treats to go with the Americana vibe, such as small Rice Krispie treats and ring dings.
We also used the A&W theme for our escort cards and we used twine to tie the escortcards around bottle necks of different sodas to note their menu choices. Those who ordered meat got an A&W Root Beer. Those who ordered fish got an orange soda (our fish dish was an orange-glazed black cod). The vegetarians got cream soda.
Alex and Whitney are both writers by profession, so we found a working vintage typewriter on eBay and let guests type their messages instead of using a traditional guestbook. Alex is a bit of a clean freak, so our wedding coordinator thought it would be cute to include handy wipes as part of the table settings. She even found wipes with labels that matched our color scheme! Whitney loves Jelly Bellies. In fact, gifting her with the beloved candy resulted in Alex receiving his first kiss from Whitney. Naturally we had to have jars of Jelly Bellies as party favors. We got colors to match our wedding colors â plus, of course, A&W Root Beer and cream soda flavors.
We also included classic rock ân roll songs in the evening. Whitneyâs mother taught her to love The Beatles at a young age, so her parents escorted her down the aisle to George Harrisonâs âSomething.â We hired a rockabilly band to play our reception, pomodores and all, and our first dance was to Dave Clark Fiveâs âBecause.â The band leader also sang the Beach Boysâ version of âI Can Hear Musicâ during the ceremonyâs processional.
Whitney and Alex were both close to our grandparents and older relatives. But, as is often the case, most of our grandparents had passed on before our wedding. Whitney incorporated her âsomething oldâ by binding a ring from her grandfather and a necklace charm from her grandmother around her bouquet.
Coordinator: Mary Sushinski of Occasions / Venue: Firestone Vineyard / Wedding Photography: Miki & Sonja Photography / Catering: Duo Catering / Ceremony Music: Festival Strings / Music: Memphis Music Entertainment / Rabbi: Rabbi Eugene Levy / Wedding Cake: Decadence / Hair + Makeup: Jenny of TEAM Hair & Makeup / Floral Décor: Jackie Combs Floral Design / Lighting: Ambience Event Design / Linens: Elegant Designs / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Invitations: 8 Illustrations / Transportation: EOS Transportation / Shuttles: Road Runner / Tuxedo: Rik Ducar / Sitters: Westside Sitters / Wedding Concierge and Event Resources: The Bridal Bar
This afternoon we are off to the Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse â in reality as Jason and I are driving there to speak at workshop â AND in this gorgeous fall inspiration shoot captured by the one and only Jose Villa and designed by the talented Jill La Fleur. The inspiration for this shoot started with big rolls of fluffy ivory yarn. With the feeling of fall in the air, Jill wanted to create an environment where you would want to sit down, relax, snuggle up, and enjoy the beautiful outdoor views of the farmhouse. Filled with soft fabrics, tons of yarn, and fall colors of soft greys, creams, and lavenders, Jill collaborated with Found Vintage Rentals and Kate of Flowerwild to build some unique spaces. The beautiful dresses and soft wraps are from BHDLN (and some of my personal faves!) and the custom-made headpieces by Mignonne Handmade.
For the ceremony, Jill tied bunches of yarn that streamed from the white washed benches where guests would sit, and asymmetrically placed some large spool tables on either side of the âaltarâ area.
The beautiful invitation suite by Ceci New York brought knitting and yarn elements into the pattern that appeared on the envelope, table number, and address label. And keeping with the fall feel, they printed the actual invite and RSVP card on a light wood.
Thanks so much to all these talented vendors for sharing some lovely fall wedding ideas with us today! Iâm definitely ready to snuggle up with my sweetie outdoors this fall. đ And if you love this venue (who wouldnât!) check out this real wedding we shared a few weeks ago that took place there.
vendors
photography:Â Jose Villa // design + planning: Jill La Fleur // venue:Â Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse //Â rentals: Vintage Found Rentals // floral design: Kate of Flowerwild // dress: BHLDN // hairpieces: Mignonne Handmade // invitations: Ceci New York // hair + makeup: Mar R. of TEAM Hair and Makeup // cake: Maggie Austin Cakes // napkins: La Tavola Linens // calligraphy: Chelsea Petaj
Entertaining in the Santa Ynez Valley
Event and wedding planner Jill La Fleur, Chef Leonardo Curti and a talented team of professionals create a smashing engagement dinner on a gentlemanâs ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley, with photography by Jose Villa.
WHEN CREATIVE SPECIAL EVENTS PLANNER AND LOCAL, JILL LA FLEUR, came up with the idea of creating an intimate & romantic engagement celebration, she knew just what to do. Often working with her equally talented teammate,photographer Jose Villa, Jill and Jose are two of the most sought-after wedding professionals in their fields. But their work often begins long before a bride walks down the aisle.
Case in point: a country-inspired celebratory engagement dinner party set on a gentlemanâs ranch located in the heart of Santa Barbaraâs world-famous wine country.
The dynamic duo often draws inspiration for the creation and documentation of a special event from their home base: Santa Barbara wine countryâs rolling, oak-studded hills dotted with vineyards and wildflowers. For this setting, Jill wanted to take advantage of the amazing location and the incredible Mediterranean-style hacienda.
âThe olive trees framed a perfect setting for a dinner party and I immediately visualized a long, rustic, wooden hand-carved table and seating with comfy pillows,â said Jill. To get in the mood, Jill âchanneledâ Ralph Laurenâs casual, yet elegant, style that fits right in with the Santa Ynez Valley lifestyle.
Popular chef, and restaurant owner, Leonardo Curti created the menu. His restaurant, Trattoria Grappolo is a favorite of Santa Ynez Valley residents and visitors alike. He is also a top-notch caterer who prepares delicious, artfully presented cuisine, utilizing fresh, locally grown produce.
Each course of the meal was paired with a different Santa Ynez area produced wine, and the selections included Brander Sauvignon Blanc, Arthur Earl Nebbioli II Re, and Epiphany Grenaches Blanc. âI encourage couples to select local wines when planning a wedding or having an event in wine country. For guests coming from other locales, this is an ideal way to introduce them to the wine tasting experience,â notes the party planner.
The menu crafted by Leonardo Curti started with Antipasti e Insalate Caprese (sliced local organic beefsteak tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella julienne basil seasoned with estate grown extra virgin olive oil, dried oregano, sea salt and freshly ground pepper) and Insalata di Mare (calamari and scampi tossed with roasted sweet bell peppers, kalmata olives, capers, parsley and finished with estate grown extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and freshly ground pepper).
Leonardo choose Pappardelle con Carciofi Scampi e Ricotta Salata (homemade wide flat pasta with artichokes, scampi finished with grated ricotta salata and white truffle oil) for the pasta followed by Pesce Spada alla Puttanesca (swordfish sautéed with tomatoes, capers, kalamata olives and sweet onions) and Tagliata (grilled New York steak thinly sliced and seasoned with estate grown estate virgin olive oil and sea salt, served with baby arugula and shaved parmesan cheese).
The Mediterranean inspired family-style dining created a intimate, relaxed vibe for the occasion, with small olive trees planted in rustic urns, candlelit lanterns, burlap mixed bread baskets, vintage woven wine jugs, and a three-tiered wooden dessert tray.
Invitations are created to fit each occasion and the invitation âsuiteâ tells a story. It is an important element that pulls the entire look of a wedding or party together. For the engagement party, the menu was backed and tied with leather.
A custom âbrandâ was created to provide the perfect touch that tied-in all of the printed elements together. Ceci Johnson, one of the top invitation designers in the country, created the suite of printed materials.
Minimal, natural looking, handpicked flower arrangements utilized bits of wheat, heather, olive branches and white flowers. âI like to work with my surroundings as well as the coupleâs personal style. Cues for the tabletop design were taken from the ranchâs hand-crafted architectural elements. For a Mediterranean feel, Jill selected colors to complement the cuisine, including place settings in natural tones of whites, browns, stone grays with hints of blue-grey, sage and orange.
Camilla Svensson Burns of Camilla Flowers helped find the perfect combination of flowers and greenery to add to the setting.
Leaving no detail unturned: Jill La Fleur turned her designing eye to help the future bride with her engagement party wardrobe for the event. They settled on a Vera Wang dress in a soft, flowing and delicate fabric that would stand out amidst the natural setting. Jill added a thick leather belt and boots to kick up the ranch feel.
The bride-to-beâs necklace was custom made by Baldazzi & Iacobellis, an Italian jewelry designer. Hair and makeup by Mar Romero.
âThe process of planning a party or a wedding is so rewarding, but what I love most is getting to know the couple or hosts, their friends and families, and working with an amazing team of talented vendors. They are truly what makes my job so wonderful and makes me successful in what I do,â Jill comments.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSE VILLA www.josevillaphoto.com
Catering: Leonardo Curti www.trattoriagrappolo.com
Floral Design: Camilla Svensson Burns www.camillaflowers.com
Event Menu and Invitation: www.Cecinewyork.com
Fashion Resources:
www.teamhairandmakeup.com
www.bhughesbridalformal.com
www.orafojeweler.com
LA FLEUR WEDDINGS AND EVENTS
Jill La Fleur was featured in the fall/winter,2011 issue of Dining and Destinations Magazine.
Pick up a copy at news stands in Santa Barbara, Montecito and Summerland.
Catering: New West Catering
Music: 11H Entertainment
Linens: La Tavola Linens
Hair and Makeup: Team Hair and Makeup
Rabbi: Rabbi Barry Tuchman
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Guitarist: Ybarra Music
Lighting: Ambient Event Design
Wedding Preview: Catherine and Go from The Cana Family on Vimeo.
Planner: La Fleur Weddings
Flowers: Camilla Flowers
Photography: Mi Belle Inc.
Video: Cana Family
Hair and Makeup: Mar of TEAM Hair and Makeup
Mike and Mia met through Match.com thanks to both of their mothers, who were tired of hearing how their son and daughter could never find anyone worth dating out and about. Mia had pretty much given up on the whole thing after a bunch of nice dates with great guys that she just didnât really get excited about. Just by chance, Mia happened to notice an email from Mike. He was funny, clearly intelligent, and just plain interesting so she responded. On their first date, she dropped a piece of raw fish on her face, and Mike broke all her date rules and then got violently ill with swine flu on the drive home. Still, they both turned up for the second date and 9 months later Mia and Mike were engaged.
They wanted a rustic wedding that still felt sophisticated. Mia and Mike really wanted their wedding to feel intimate, which they accomplished by curving the ceremony seating slightly and creating one long head table for everyone to sit at. The intimate seating was contrasted by the big openness of the venue. For the backdrop, they had the gorgeous hills and the farmhouse, which is an actual West Virginian farmhouse that was deconstructed and rebuilt in California wine country. Most of the decor and little touches were made by Mia or Etsy vendors, aside from the pieces they used from their parentsâ homes and weddings.
Mazel tov, Mia and Mike!
Venue- Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse
Caterer and Cake- Santa Barbara BBQ Gourmet Catering
Photographer- Beautiful Day Photography
Florist- Renaeâs Bouquets
Month-of Wedding Coordinator- Donna Romani Events
Rentals- Town and Country Event Rentals
Gown and Veil- Monique Lhuillier
Officiant- Weddings with Spirit, Rabbi Barry Tuchman
Hair and Makeup- TEAM Hair and Makeup
Classical Guitarist and Jazz Band- JSH Music