Wedding Univ: Wildflower Linens

Lily Yeung

Wildflower Linens

How important are linens and chair covers to the overall look of a wedding?

An event will come to its full potential when colors and textures are used appropriately… and linens and chair covers are the way to maximize this effect.  Venues that have neutral backdrops are a blank canvas to accentuate linens and chair covers, setting the entire mood and style of the wedding. A ballroom can become a tropical oasis in vibrant tones of citron greens, fuchsia, and mandarin, or become an elegant affair with a subtle stardust toned bustled chair cover.  Once you have the right linens, everything will follow accordingly.

Can a client really afford linens if they are on a tight budget?  

Of course! It's all about distributing the budget for decor and flowers.  We have a large inventory of many different linen options.  We have no set packages; everything you order is a la carte.  You can order a specialty overlay just for your sweetheart table or overlays for all of your tables.   All the account managers at Wildflower Linen have a design background and can assist you in choosing your table décor.  And, with price ranges starting from $15, you are sure to find something that will fit your taste and budget.

Where do you get all your inspiration from when creating unique linens?  

We get our inspiration everywhere from as common as our surroundings to the extreme fashion runway. Youngsong Martin, a former fashion designer, gets new ideas constantly and has a visionary eye to forecast up and coming trends.  Wildflower Linen is a trendsetter, not only in table top and chair covers, but also design in general. We are always up to date with current and future trends/colors and love sharing our fashion ideas and style with our vendors and clients. 

What’s the difference between Wildflower Linens and other linen companies? 

Wildflower Linen has exceptional customer service and is a fashion forward company.  We are always adding to our linen collections and Young is always on the cutting edge of design.  We also are known for customizing linens to match the client's taste. No other linen company can design custom linen just for you. This also shows how close and personal we get to know our clients.

 What are today's trends of colors and tablescapes?

We are always coming up with new trends and colors. For this year, it's all about soft, bright colors and similar shades put together.  For instance, a combination of tone on tone shades of pinks, from pale blush to hot pink, are very in right now!  Other colors like champagne, mauve and blush rose are also making their way to table tops.  Accents like ruffles, ruching and chiffon swirls play a large part in pulling this whole romantic look together. 

Come see and feel wildflower Linen's luxurious table linens at Wedding University.

Wedding University

Sunday, February 8, 11 AM - 5 PM

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

2050 University Avenue

East Palo Alto

$25 for 1 | $40 for 2 guests

At Wedding University, well-respected professionals will guide you through the fundamentals of planning your wedding.  Topics include floral and tabletop design, music and dance, catering and menu planning (and tasting!), wedding coordination,photography and videography.

Wedding Univ: Kevin Chin

Kevin Chin, Kevin Chin Photography

Where do you derive your creative inspiration? 

Life…living life to the fullest is what inspires me.  Good, bad and everything in-between, I breathe it all in everyday and I am inspired by all of the joy, emotions of the day.  I have always felt that I can’t take an honest picture until I can feel the emotion of the moment.  

What makes you and your services different from other photographers? 

beauty, art…film.  My tagline emphasizes that I shoot real film.  I also shoot digital but it’s my love and dedication to film that makes it my true passion.  My clients come to me because they appreciate the fine-art look and quality of film.  Film, especially b&w film has wonderful grain and texture that gives the photos a beautiful and organic quality. 

What are the biggest challenges you face as a wedding photographer? 

The most common problem I run into is not having enough time to get all of the photos that I want to tell your wedding day story.  Hire a great wedding planner and work with your photographer to make sure they have enough time to get all the photos you want.

 Why is there such a wide rang of pricing when it comes to photography?

 Photographers offer anything from “a la carte” pricing to “all-inclusive” packages which range from inexpensive to very expensive.  Usually the price a photographer charges will depend on their experience, reputation, creativity and quality of product and service.  Because photography is an art form and art is subjective, it can sometimes be difficult to compare pricing.  Just remember that you get what you pay for. 

 What is the best advice you can give to couple when planning their wedding?

Your wedding day will fly by before you know it and hopefully you have hired a good photographer to help you remember your day.  Make a promise with your fiancée that you will take a few minutes out of the wedding day to step back and soak it all in.  My fondest memory of our wedding day is when Nancy and I stepped away from our reception and snuck up to the balcony of the Great Room at Kohl Mansion. We spent a quit moment alone and observed all of our friends and family from afar.

Come hear more of Kevin's good advice at Wedding University.

Wedding University

Sunday, February 8, 11 AM - 5 PM

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

2050 University Avenue

East Palo Alto

$25 for 1 | $40 for 2 guests

At Wedding University, well-respected professionals will guide you through the fundamentals of planning your wedding.  Topics include floral and tabletop design, music and dance, catering and menu planning (and tasting!), wedding coordination,photography and videography.

Wedding Univ: Jean Marks

Jean Marks

Jean Marks Wedding

Do you always have assistants working with you at your weddings?

Yes! Having at least one assistant for every wedding I coordinate is an essential facet of providing the high quality of service, which is a hallmark of Jean Marks Weddings. By having one or more well-trained assistants who manage the set up for the ceremony and reception, make s

ure the limos are on eimt, etc., I can essentially be in "two place at once" by maintaining close phone or radio communication.  This allows me to focus on the bride's and groom's needs as the day unfolds.

Providing the relaxed, yet well orchestrated day I promise my clients requires that I am also relaxed.  And I am, knowing that my team and I have everything under control.

Do you have any tips for brides and grooms?  Things that are often overlooked?

It is very important for the bride and groom, but particularly the bride, to make time to eat some simple protein and drink lots of water during the day.  I always take a "lunch order" for my brides, and provide exactly what they would like to eat on their wedding d

ay, even though they will be excited, distracted and busy. I have provided everything from a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to fresh sushi. If they neglect to eat and drink water, a massive headache may be awaiting them after the ceremony, just when they need to be flying high in the celebration.

What is your favorite way to spend a day off?

First, I have a leisurely cup of strong coffee, with a yummy walnut sticky bun, in my P.J.'s.  Then I put on my old gardening clothes, gather my gardening tools and fertilizer and head out to my garden to pamper my roses and other perennials.

I take off my watch and leave my cell phone inside to create a "mini vacation".  By dusk I am ready to come in, make a simple dinner of perhaps salmon, vegetables and salad, and enjoy it with my husband Jeff.  After dinner, we take a walk in downtown Palo ALto, stopping for a decadent dessert or ice cream cone, depend

ing on the weather.  I really like a simple, quiet day off!  Sigh.

Do you keep in touch with your clients after the wedding day?

I try to reconnect with my couples a month or so after the wedding just to reminisce, look at photos and get any feedback they have for me about my service or the service of any of their professionals.  It is heartwarming to see how we have developed strong friendships during the planning process and that we all want to stay connected.

What do you enjoy most about being a wedding planner?

I smile a lot at Christmas time when I receive the photos of all the babies who have come into the lives of my previous clients...somehow I feel like an Auntie, and that really makes me smile!

To meet Jean and hear more tips for planning your wedding, come to Wedding University!

Wedding University

Sunday, February 8, 11 AM - 5 PM

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

2050 University AVenue

East Palo Alto

$25 for 1 | $40 for 2 guests

At Wedding University, well-respected professionals will guide you through the fundamentals of planning your wedding.  Topics include floral and tabletop design, music and dance, catering and menu planning (and tasting!), wedding coordination,photography and videography.

Project Wedding, Project Elegance

'Tis the season to be jolly.  Oh wait!  Didn't that just pass? No! We woke up to another Christmas morning when we saw that Project Wedding had written a flattering blog post about us.  Go here to see what they said.  We're blushing!

This is one of our favorite wedding websites because it is the complete package.

1.  The website is nicely designed, visually streamlined and easy to navigate.

2.  Project Wedding has a very complete list of wedding professionals.

3.  It has a lot of reviews of wedding professionals BY BRIDES! It's like Yelp for Weddings.

4.  They present fresh, creative ideas in 'the Guide', 'What's New' and the 'photos' sections.

5.  They offer free wedding websites to brides.

6.  It has a chat room so you can discuss what's important to you.

7.  It has a wholly calm and positive energy. Love it, love it, love it.

If we had just one word to describe Project Wedding it would be elegance, where elegance is the attribute of being unusually effective and simple; frequently used as a standard of tastefulness and refined grace.

Project Wedding = Project Elegance.

P.S.  Thanks to Events by Evonne, our secret Santa who brought us to Project Wedding's attention.

Wedding Univ: Carl MIndling

Carl Mindling

The Only DJ

What is your most recent favorite wedding moment?

When the little ring bearer snagged the garter away from all the big boys and then laid flat out on the dance floor like he had just scored a touchdown to bask in his glorious catch.

What is the best toast you've ever heard?

When the groom stood up and toasted the bride's parents.  He simply said "I want to thank you for trusting me with Julie's future."

What have you seen that makes a wedding the most memorable?

Anything that is unique and creative.  Many of my clients have been bold enough to REALLY personalize their event regardless of the rules or etiquette books.

How do you jump start a party that is stalled?

I focus attention on someone who I know will want to be the lampshade.  It can be a bridesmaid, guest or certain table who will lead the pack.  I make them the vehicle for putting the party in gear.

What's the best advice you can give a bride and groom?

NEVER leave your reception.  You are the reason for the celebration, the common denominator and  the catalyst for the event.

Want a chance to see Carl in action?  Come to Wedding University!

Wedding University

Sunday, February 8, 11 AM - 5 PM

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

2050 University Avenue

East Palo Alto

$25 for 1 | $40 for 2 guests

At Wedding University, well-respected professionals will guide you through the fundamentals of planning your wedding.  Topics include floral and tabletop design, music and dance, catering and menu planning (and tasting!), wedding coordination, photography and videography.

Wedding Univ: Gloria Wong Tritasavit

Gloria Wong Tritasavit

Wedding Designer

Who is your ideal client?
I love working with couples who are eager to share their personalities with me. An important part of my job is to offer ideas on personalizing wedding details. The more I know about the couple, the better equipped I can be with ideas! My ideal clients are couples who want their guests to discover details throughout the wedding that 

are reflective of their taste and personalities. For example, I once worked with a fun-loving bride with the last name Chao. Her groom's last name happened to be Fung. They had always had a good laugh with the combination of their names... Chao-Fung which sounds like the Chinese noodle dish "Chow Fun". So, we had a pyramid of Chinese takeout boxes filled with Beef Chow Fun for guests to take home at the end of the evening as a late night snack. We posted a sign and listed all the ingredients for "Beef Chao-Fung". At the end of the ingredients list was "and lots of love". Guests were endlessly amused.

Do you think you'll ever run out of creative ideas?
The answer is no. There are a ton of ways 

one single theme can be carried out and executed. My primary source of inspiration is the couple. Since every couple has different tastes, different interests, different personalities, and different love stories that make them unique, I'd like to think that I will never run out of ideas!

What do you most enjoy about your work?
I see wedding design as a puzzle. There are so many pieces that need to come together seamlessly in order to make a design work. Not only does everything from the shape of a candle container to the gobo projection on a ceiling need to work harmoniously together, but they need to be reflective of the couple's style and taste.
I become really excited after I've established a design concept that represents the couple's vision for their wedding. I ca

n never wait to brief trusted vendors on a concept. I love brainstorming with the wonderful invitations designers, floral designers, lighting companies, and cake makers that I've been fortunate enough to partner with. We feed off of each other's creative energy. And the results are magical! I'm always blown away by their superb execution. It's very gratifying to see all the pieces of the puzzle fit perfectly together. It's even more gratifying to see the looks on the faces of couples on the day of their wedding as they marvel at how well the details have all come together and celebrate their union in an environment that completely represents them.

What style of weddings do you like to work on?I honestly do not have a favorite style! Whether it be a casual "Rustic Country Garden" wedding at a winery, a hip "Urban Modern" wedding in a museum, or a formal "Hollywood Glamour" wedding at San Francisco City Hall, I like them all. Carrying out any specific style with all the details is what is most exhilarating to me.

How do you know when you have succeeded on a project?
When a couple finds the time on their special day to pull me aside, give me a big bear hug, tell me that the wedding turned out better than they could have ever imagined and that I've made their dream come true. 

Come hear Gloria tell you more about how to beautifully design your wedding at Wedding University.

Wedding University

Sunday, February 8, 11 AM - 5 PM

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

2050 University Avenue

East Palo Alto

$25 for 1 | $40 for 2 guests

At Wedding University, well-respected professionals will guide you through the fundamentals of planning your wedding.  Topics include floral and tabletop design, music and dance, catering and menu planning (and tasting!), wedding coordination, photography and videography.

Wedding Univ: Cynthia Glinka

Cynthia Glinka

Dance Instructor

Are ballroom and social dancing the same? 

No. Ballroom dancing usually involves extensive training and competition. The goal of social dancing is proficiency and fun, which are quickly achieved.

photo credit: Herman Privette

How are you different from traditional dance studios?
I offer a less formalized approach to partner dancing than that offered in most traditional dance studios.  My method focuses less on footwork, more on proper upper body posture, the closed position hold, and simple variations that can be easily led and comfortably followed. My goal is for you to feel confident and have fun, rather than memorize steps and patterns. After just one session, I guarantee you’ll be dancing out the door.  If you can walk, you can dance. 

What can we expect in a lesson?

I don’t clock the hour, so once we get together, we will accomplish a beginning, middle and end of a dance.  The lesson usually lasts 90 minutes, but our session can be extended if needed.  You’ll be provided with a personalized GLINKA GUIDE to recap your lesson, to help you retain the personal instruction and you will receive digital photos taken during our session.  I find it is a helpful tool to enhance the opportunity of snapping that perfect shot on your wedding day. 

How will we remember after only one lesson?
It only takes 24 hours for the instruction to get from your brain to your feet and for you to retain and recall what you’ve learned. Once you establish muscle memory with our simple tips and tricks, your subconscious will start blending the music with your body movements. 

Why is it important to learn to dance?

You will become aware of opportunities to dance to the music as you journey through life now that you have my simple road map.  Muscle memory will easily recall the variations we explore and those that you create on the spot.  You’ll be amazed how your perception of music changes and instead of sitting and listening, you will get up and dance - together.

Can you help us find the perfect first dance tune?

Yes. I’ve collected an eclectic list of tunes available upon request. I suggest an upbeat tempo for your first dance; you’ll have more fun on the dance floor as your guests cheer you on. 

Come see Cynthia burn up the dance floor.  In fact, come dance with Cynthia!

 

Wedding University

Sunday, Feb 8, 1- 5 PM

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

2050 University Avenue, East Palo Alto

$25 for 1 | $40 for 2 people

At Wedding University, well-respected professionals will guide you through the fundamentals of planning your wedding.  Topics include floral and tabletop design, music and dance, catering and menu planning (and tasting!), wedding coordination and photography and videography.

Look Who's Smitten

smitten [smit-n] - adjective

1. very much in love

Smitten.  That's how we feel about Smitten Invitations and Melissa's Smitten Blog.  We've been fans for a long time of this very talented invitation designer who has a very stylish line of custom 'couture' letterpress invitations, STD cards, note cards, and all things to do with stationery and pretty paper.  

She also has a big heart.  She understands brides who crave style, but are on a budget.  So, she has came up with an incredible idea.  She created artwork which you can purchase to design your own invitation.  You personalize the design (STD, note card, or program), send it in and it will be reviewed by a typographer.  The final art will be mailed to you on a CD.  Then you print the invitations.  Mission accomplished! Style on a budget. What a thoughtful lady!  

We were thrilled to be mentioned in Melissa's Smitten blog this morning and we thank Evonne of Events by Evonne in Hawaii for mentioning us to Melissa.  Evonne's blog is also full of wonderful ideas that any bride could adapt to her own wedding.  We are so lucky to know so many wonderful people in the wedding industry who understand brides and grooms and genuinely care about them.

Wedding Univ: Peter Rudolfi

Peter Rudolfi
Musicians and Entertainment

How do you know which and how many instruments to choose for the ceremony music?
Whether its Brass, Strings, Keyboard, Harp or Guitar the actual color or character of the sound is less important than what they play. The tune titles express both a mood and tell something about the bride and groom--their personality and experiences. Within the 30 minutes prior to the Processional March, try and define those qualities.  The type of instruments that best express those qualities will follow naturally.

Can the same ceremony musicians play during cocktails and dinner?
This is an important question when trying to stretch your entertainment dollars. Some instruments play certain styles better than others.  A Harp does not play much jazz but does play contemporary ballads. Brass does great Fanfares but is not really appropriate for Latin music. A single instrument can work for a ceremony but will get drowned out during the later functions. 

How important is it for the dance band to play a wide range of styles rather than just a few?
Think of it as a window through which you can control how much is seen. Will your horizon include: Opera, Motown and Country Western or a more narrow slice of the sound spectrum? Will it include only Big Band, add some 1950's Rock, or go way beyond that all the way to Today? And will you want to dance to each style presented, including Tango? At the end of the day how will you want to feel about the experience you had with your guests?

Come hear more of Peter's insightful comments at:

Wedding University

Sunday, Feb 8, 1- 5 PM

Four Seasons Hotel silicon Valley

2050 University Avenue, East Palo Alto

$25 for 1 person | $40 for 2 people

At Wedding University, well-respected professionals will guide you through the fundamentals of planning your wedding.  Topics include floral and tabletop design, music and dance, catering and menu planning (and tasting!), wedding coordination and photography and videography.

Wedding Univ: Nancy Liu Chin

Nancy Liu Chin
Floral Designer

How did you get started in the business?
After planning my own wedding, I loved the whole aspect of wedding décor. Since I married a top notch Bay Area wedding photographer I got to see first hand how passionate, committed, and gracious the wedding industry was and I knew that I wanted to be a part of a group of passionately, creative people who get to help other couples make their wedding day as special as my own.

What do you love most besides your job?
I am an avid reader and I usually read about 100 novels a year. My favorite books vary. They range from classics like Pride and Prejudice to contemporary fiction like the Twilight series. Beyond that, I am often teased that I am a perpetual traveler. Being from the Bay Area, you’ve got to be inspired by food and I am. On the weekends, you will find me exploring the many different neighborhoods within the City and walking my dog, Chin Chin.

What is your favorite flower to work with?
I go through phases and each season I fall in love with a different flower. For me, it’s about newness. It’s about what flower looks best and how well they hold up. Of course the more unusual it is, the more I tend to want to try to incorporate it into design. For many years, hydrangea was a favorite. Viburnum is also up there. During the spring time, I fall in love with buttercups and anemones. This past year, the Phalenopsis orchids were just stunning. Sometimes, it’s the color of a flower that surprises me. And even the modest carnation can be a dream flower especially when it’s a deep plum hue.

Any advice to brides on how to save money?
I have several suggestions. If you have a beautiful church, put more of your flower budget towards your reception flowers. Instead of doing all tall centerpieces, I often suggest a mixture of tall arrangements interspersed with some medium to lower arrangements. Work with a florist who has a lot of props or rental items so you can avoid purchasing containers and props.
One sure way to save is to get married off season in the winter months. Possibly the simplest solution is to get married on a weekday (non-holiday).

Come hear more of Nancy's suggestions at:

Wedding University

Sunday, Feb 8, 1- 5 PM

Four Seasons Hotel silicon Valley

2050 University Avenue, East Palo Alto

$25 for 1 person | $40 for 2 people

At Wedding University, well-respected professionals will guide you through the fundamentals of planning your wedding.  Topics include floral and tabletop design, music and dance, catering and menu planning (and tasting!), wedding coordination and photography and videography (taught by yours truly, Savadelis Films).

2008 Weblog Awards

What's the best way to usher in the new year?  By celebrating the best of the old year.  So, for those of you who don't read enough blogs, here are the 2008 weblog awards. A blog you never dreamed of may catch your fancy.  Enjoy!

Wedding University Instructors: A New Series

I've been inspired for a long time by Liene Stevens' blog, Blue Orchid Designs. She has fresh, daily information for brides and for wedding professionals. No wonder she is so popular! She started a series in late 2008, Wedding Vendor Hiring Guide, in which she poses and answers 5 questions pertinent to each specialty. She's already blogged about catering, churches, DJs, florists, officiants, photographers, planners, venues and videographers. What a great idea!

So, I modified the idea slightly and asked the professionals who will be instructors at the Wedding University, Feb 8 at the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley in East Palo Alto to pose some questions they WISH a bride and groom would ask, and then provide a brief answer. These questions will go beyond the necessary questions about hours of service provided, pricing and what the professional will be wearing to reveal a little more about the way these top-notch professionals think.

In the coming weeks, you will read about:

Nancy Liu Chin, Floral Design
Cynthia Glinka,Dance Instructor
Ron Grandia, A DIfferent Kind of DJ
Carl Mindling, The Only DJ
Peter Rudolfi, Artists in Music, Live Musicians and Entertainment
Gloria Wong Tritasavit, Sash & Sugar, Wedding Design
Lily Yeung, Wildflower Linens
Chuck & Jewel Savadelis, Savadelis Films, Cinematographers

Stay Tuned. Nancy Liu Chin will be featured on Monday.

Elizabeth Anne Designs

There are two ladies, Ami Elizabeth and Rebekah Anne who have been friends from childhood. They see the beauty in life all around them. They share their observations, insights and the submissions of many like-minded ladies in their two wonderful blogs about design in weddings and design in everyday living. We are not alone in admiring their sense of style because they are, without doubt, one of the Top 50 Wedding Blogs in the country.

They have also compiled a Library of the Best of the Best professionals in the wedding industry and surprise! We woke up on New Year's Day to find we were added to Elizabeth Anne Designs' illustrious Library! We are honored to be in the company of people we admire in our own field and in other fields.

Best Picture of 2008

In a never-ending quest to find thought-provoking content for my blog I searched for "The Best of 2008" and came up with...nada. I would have put Jib-Jab's 2-minute video of 2008 Year in Review here, but, it's well, a little gross. So, let me leave you with one of the most extraordinary images ever taken. Here is an erupting volcano which generated an explosive electrical storm 800 miles south of Santiago, Chile. Here are some other photos of the same volcano which are strangely beautiful.

Memorable New Year's Eve

What are you doing New Year's Eve?  How about catching a limo from your home to Michael Mina's restaurant for a five-course dinner with complimentary wines and a magnum of Schramsberg '99 Reserve.  Then, be driven to the hangar where your private Airship awaits for a two-hour flight over the Bay Area. Enjoy the fireworks from the ultimate skybox.  Just you and 11 friends for $25,000.

Chuck and I wish everyone a very healthy, lucky and Happy New Year!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Part III: Reactions

Have you ever wondered what a movie would be like without reactions? It would feel more sterile, less real. In this roundtable discussion with the moviemakers and actors who made 'Benjamin Button', the talented actress Taraji Henson (who played Queenie) describes a scene in which she explains to a young Benjamin that he was born under special cicumstances and people will react in different ways to him.

It made me reflect for a minute. We are all the product of our experiences AND we are the product of how people have reacted to us throughout our lives. The popular kids in high school experienced positive reactions. The kids in high school who were on the fringe may have experienced much less positive reactions, which reinforced their status and their view of themselves. Reactions matter a great deal. And they are ubiquitous. You experience them in every conversation you have every day, even if it is just an "uh huh" of a friend acknowledging that they are listening.

Cate Blanchett says "The hardest thing in the world to do as an actor is to react." She goes on to say that Benjamin's reactions to the events that sweep him along give a lot of insight into his character.

We try to capture as many reactions of guests at a wedding as possible. This requires a third cameraman whose main task is to catch the fleeting reactions. Not only does it seem more realistic, not only does it feel more like a movie with a story, but it allows you to see many of the guests behaving in a natural way, rather than being stood up before a wall and shot as though they were in front of a firing squad.

So, the next time you watch a feature film or a personal wedding movie, observe how often you see reactions and how much they enhance your movie-going experience.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button III: Polishing

In a recent interview Kirk Baxter, the editor of 'Benjamin Button', mentioned it took almost a year to polish the film. "We revisited every scene to see how we could make it better. In some cases we might adjust a take for timing or add a bird flying in the sky from a different take, just to add that little something special."

We do the same.

"The script worked in a linear fashion so we didn’t have to rearrange scenes in post to make the story work. In fact, we removed one scene that foreshadowed an event the audience hadn’t seen yet. It was better to let the story reveal itself in a logical fashion. David is very protective of the story, so our trimming involved losing unnecessary lines.”

Once again, we do the same. We pare scenes down to their essence so there is an understandable flow of great images, great conversations, and great feelings. We strive to have no "filler" that dilutes the quality of a fine movie. This, of course, takes a lot of time. So, we are grateful that our brides and grooms feel it is worth the wait.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Part II: Special Effects

The story of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was written by F Scott Fitzgerald a long time ago. Many directors considered making the movie, but it wasn't until recently that the technology was available to produce the story convincingly. Extensive special effects were used, but they were virtually invisible because they were used in the service of the story and not just to announce that the FX guys had a big budget and the smarts to do it!

Did you wonder how they accomplished the remarkable aging effect of taking Brad Pitt from a shrunken old man to a robust 20-something hunk? Well, from a technical standpoint, the Benjamin Button character is a composite of a body actor and a computer-generated (CGI) face. First the body actor delivered temporary dialogue in the scene with other actors. Then, Brad Pitt recorded temporary dialogue that was used for pacing in the rough cut. Once the scenes were edited and were close to the final version, they shot scenes of Brad’s face performing. His performance was then mapped onto a CGI head which was then mapped onto the body actor’s torso.

The only mis-step in the film was in a scene in which Cate Blanchett was telling a fable which was given a movie-within-a-movie look. It was overdone and distracting to the point of interfering with the story. At times, we feel wedding videography filmed in super 8 mm suffers from the same malady. At its best, super 8 mm can convey a sweet, nostalgic timelessness. But too often super 8 mm just looks like shaky, out-of-focus, poorly exposed home movies.

Whether it's in a dramatic feature film or a personal wedding movie, special effects should be used to further the story and not just for their own sake.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button I: Short Review

Let's just start by saying this is a fantasy that feels real. You buy into the premise right away that Benjamin Button is born an old man and youthens, dying as an infant. But that is just the window dressing.

What matters more is that this is a love story. The story suggests that the soul of a person is more important than their appearance. That forgiveness is the path to being able to put your past behind you and fully enjoy today. That only when life is in balance can you truly appreciate it. As Benjamin (Brad Pitt) was growing younger and Daisy (Cate Blanchett) was growing up, it was only when they met in the middle that their relationship could fully flower.

This is a beautifully filmed movie with a story that is beautifully told. Two of the major ingredients in a piece of art that will touch you every time you see it.

Christmas Light Show

It's so hard to balance good taste with over-the-top synchronized lights. This Christmas light show seems to have achieved it.




Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Chuck and I are sitting on the sofa, watching the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree, sipping hot apple cider and counting our blessings.  

We are grateful to have met and been befriended by an unbroken chain of wonderful brides and grooms and their families.

We are humble in the shadow of the prodigious talents of our wedding industry colleagues who inspire us.

And we are indebted to our family and friends who love and support us all year long.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas Yule Log III

For a humorous take on how to ever-so-pompously direct a movie, take a look at this 2-minute video:

Santacon 2008, San Francisco Style

The Cacophony Society began SantaCon in San Francisco way back in 1994.  It has spread to the the farthest reaches of the world since then.  During the month of December, you can see hundreds of Santas running amuck in Beijing, Belfast, Honolulu, London, Melbourne, Montreal, Munich,  New York, Paris, and 50 other cities.  

There were 70,000 Santas at the Moscow Santacon this year.  There's no holding back the Red Tide! 

As my good friend Viola Sutanto (the super-talented graphic designer of invitations) at Chewing the Cud said, "You can never have too many Santas!"

Here is a taste of what a portion of the San Francisco SantaCon 2008 looked like.

Santa Is On His Way 

(running time: 3:03)

To see this l'il movie in better resolution, click on Quicktime orWindows Media.  Enjoy!

My good friend Duncan Reyes of f. duncan reyes events by design sent me this photo of SantaCon 2006 taken by Bradford Shepherd.  As the bride and groom emerged from St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, they were indeed surprised to see Santas everywhere!

You Be the Judge

Chuck and I have been tapped to join the Silver Telly Council.  As winners of multiple Telly Awards for excellence in filming and editing creativity, we were among a small pool of people being considered to be judges of this prestigious 30-year old award.  We were selected and we are honored!  So, within the next year, we will judge video entries submitted by ad agencies, corporations, TV stations,  production companies to see if their work meets the exacting criteria of the Telly Awards.  Last year they received over 14,000 entries. Past winners include the Oprah Winfrey Show, Universal Studios, and the Discovery Channel.

When it rains it pours.  We were also asked to judge the new EMPixx awards, newly established by David Carter, a multiple Emmy and Clio winner who has a long history of innovation in the creative world.  I was curious as to why he picked us to be a judge.  So I asked.  He said that over the last 3 years he had viewed over 6000 websites.  From the ones he saw that he liked, he made serious inquiries about the people and their businesses from their colleagues.  He said our colleagues had many fine things to say about us.  There's nothing like attaining the respect of your colleagues - since they know exactly what it takes to do an outstanding job.  Again, we are thrilled and honored.

Let the games begin!

Wedding University Coming Soon!

Learning is a lifelong pursuit...so here's your chance to learn much more about how to choose wisely when engaging wedding professionals.  

We are honored to have been selected to represent the category of videography and cinematography at the First Annual Wedding University of the Bay Area.  And, we were the first professional Jubilee Lau, the organizer blogged about in The Wedding University blog.

This is by no means a wedding fair.  It is an all-day seminar filling with practical, useful, HONEST information on how to stretch your wedding dollars regardless of budget.  You have direct access to great wedding professionals from 19 different companies.  We've worked with most and can recommend them to you on a professional and personal level. Plus, you will get to sample great Four Seasons Hotel food, drink and cakes; see examples of excellent wedding design, learn how to dance, and see a runway show of men's and women's fashions.

Here are the details:

Sunday, February 8, 11 AM - 5 PM

Four Seasons Hotel, Silicon Valley

2050 University Avenue, East Palo Alto

$25 for 1 person | $40 for 2 people

Free Self-Parking

Please RSVP to Cassie Conching, 650.470.2894 or 

     Jubilee Lau, 408.235.8889

Space is limited, so please call early to avoid disappointment.

The assembled experts are:

Event Planning: Jubilee Lau | Jubilee Lau Events and

     Jean Marks | Jean Marks Weddings

Event Design: Gloria Wong Tritasavit| Sash & Sugar

Catering, Cakes and Venues: Julie Kiendra | Four Seasons Hotel

Invitations:  Viola Sutanto | Chewing the Cud

Floral Design: Nancy Liu Chin | Nancy Liu Chin Designs

Tabletop and Furniture Rentals: Heidi Bianchi | Hartmann Studios

Linens and Chair Covers: Lily Yeung |Wildflower Linens

Lighting:  John and Megan Woods | Enhanced Lighting

Cinematography:  Chuck & Jewel Savadelis | Savadelis Films

Photography:  Geoff and Lara White | Geoff White Photographers 

     and Kevin Chin | Kevin Chin Photography

Beauty: Armando | Get Your Do Up

Bridal Gowns:  Gabrielle Medrano-Contreras | Gabrielle's Bridal Salon

Tuxedos: Dan Thomas | Eli Thomas for Men

DJs: Ron Grandia | A Different Kind of DJ and Carl Mindling | The Only DJ

Dance Instructor: Cynthia Glinka | On the Dance Floor

Music Agent:  Peter Rudolfi | Artists in Music

Publicity for Silicon Valley Wedding Professionals

A local lifestyle magazine is featuring a wedding issue in Summer, 2009.  Not just any wedding, but a vow renewal ceremony. They are looking for San Francisco Bay Area (specifically Silicon Valley), event planners, florists, set designers, wedding apparel specialists, venues, and anything else related to weddings for a photo spread and article.  If you would like to contribute to this actual ceremony (not a staged shoot), contact the Features Editor, Erin Robison, at  erin@everymommagazine.com.

Favorite Wedding Blogs

Winter has arrived in San Francisco!  It was raining yesterday so I decided to make the most of such a dreary day.  I gathered up the lists of blogs I had been wanting to peek at.  So I looked at over 300 wedding- and design-related blogs!  At the end of the day I found many which I enjoyed and which have a well-deserved reputation for their fresh content, pleasant voice, and good ideas. I've listed my so-far favorites in the side bar and will keep adding to it. Have fun!

Who's In the Doghouse Now?

Christmas is approaching.  It's a season fraught with pitfalls - particularly for the man in your life.  He 's searching, searching for just the right gift for you.  Every now and again he takes a misstep.  For anyone who recognizes this scenario only too clearly, you have just got to see this terrific little video!  It's called Beware of the Doghouse and it is hilarious!  You can put people "in the doghouse" and announce to the world how they done you wrong.  Although it's an ad for buying jewelry, it will touch a chord with any woman who's ever been given the wrong gift by the man in her life.

San Francisco Brides Magazine Coming Soon...

Just four more days until the debut issue of San Francisco Brides hits the newsstands on December 15.  It is rumored that this highly anticipated sleek magazine published  by Modern Luxury (same folks that publish San Francisco Magazine) contains some over-the-top weddings by the Bay Area's best wedding designers as well as ideas for brides of all budgets.  Mary Jo Bowling, Editor is on top of all things stylish and luxurious.

I can't wait!  I'm planning to scarf up my copy and relax in the hot tub while  savoring every page.

It's high time San Francisco had a great brides magazine.

Name the Bride Contest

You've heard me talk about my good friend Stacie at The Flirty Guide before.  She's always so full of great ideas. Now she's done it again. She's running a contest through December 15 and all you have to do is name this bride.  Click here to enter the contest.  

The winner walks away with an amazingly life-like sculpture of a flower arrangement by DK Designs.