Lux Art Institute Event

Looking for something totally rad to do this Thursday, July 24th? Come visit me at Lux Art Institute in Encinitas where I will be arranging flowers during an awesome event! Live music, jewelry trunk show, tacos, drinks, a ridiculously amazing art exhibit and flowers all in one place??! Yes! The trunk show (aka where I will be hanging out) is FREE! The live music and food and beverage portion is not free but worth the price! Go to Lux Art Institute to find out more information. You should truly experience this hidden gem! 

My flower creations will adorn Ashley Kim's handcrafted vases (as seen in the photo above). With purchase of the vase you get the flowers as well! Tolan Shaw will also be opening for the Brothers Grimm. Beverly Penn's exhibit will be open (which might just change your life). Erin Fader Jewelry will be selling her incredible designs. Add in Bull Taco, Stone Brew, Barefoot Wine & Kill Devil Spirits and you have got yourself one heck of an event!

Parking is available in the lower lot and on El Camino Real. I will be posted up in the Artist Pavilion (go past the first building, up the small hill to the building on your right). 

Hope to see you there!

The Slate Barn and Gardens Video

Holy smokes! There is something about watching video of an event that takes my breath away, especially when it is shot by Kavin Lindgren. Seeing the macrame and flowers blowing in the wind and Erin (our lovely model) laugh is pretty dang awesome. Enjoy. :) 

The Slate Barn

Ok. I don't even know where to begin. Scratch that, let me start out by saying that I am completely overcome with joy and accomplishment from being featured on Green Wedding Shoes!! Jasmine from Let's Frolic Together is so talented and an overall incredible human. Her photos are so good they make me bashful. I feel especially lucky to have had the opportunity to get my hands on The Slate Barn and Gardens, a brand spankin' new venue located in Vista.  Yes people, a new stunning venue in North County! 

The eyes, the pink lip, the hair, the jewelry! I cannot believe this is real life. 

Erin Fader is the reason why this shoot turned out the way it did. Not only did she lend her ridiculously good looks but her custom wedding jewelry as well!! 

It is my personal philosophy that every bride deserves a bitchin bouquet. 

Fringe is probably the best thing on the face of the earth! Especially electric blue tassel fringe. 

In true bohemian style, I did have an exact layout of the ceremony prior to the shoot. I knew I had everything I would need and let the space inspire me upon arrival. Turned out better than I could have imagined. Try not to get too caught up in the exact placement of everything before, it always comes together in the end. :) PS I totally rescued those brass pots up above from my parents attic and no, they will not find their way back. 

Unbelievable. 

Sometimes flowers make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Doesn't that happen to everyone...?

Not 1 but 2 hairstyles!!! 2!

Give me brass and flowers and I am a happy girl.

This guy... 

The macrame dress and cake are by far some of my most favorite creations. I have random notebooks scattered about my house for when my "Ah-ha!" moment hits. These two ideas were dreamed up a while ago, it is almost surreal seeing this in real life. 

Thanks to everyone involved! So much love to you all! Video of the shoot to come soon. :)

Design, Styling & Flowers: The Dainty Lion (click the link to "Like" us on Facebook)

Photography: Lets Frolic Together

Venue: The Slate Barn & Gardnes

Jewelry: Erin Fader Jewelry

Rentals: Pow Wow Design Studio

Videographer: Kavin Lindgren Films

Make-up: My Girls On Film Studios

Hair: Kira Pinski

Stationary: Sable & Snow

Desserts: VG's Donuts & Bakery

Calligraphy: Calligraphy By Lisa

The Salton Sea Engagement

When I decided to do my engagement shoot at The Salton Sea pretty much everyone, including my own Grandmother thought I was crazy. The response I received was usually along the lines of "oh, hmmm that's interesting.. Have you ever been there?" or my favorite "Eww". To be fair the Salton Sea is certainly not your average location for engagement photos and it does have a distinct smell due to the decomposing fish. Hah, off to a great start right? Since Zack and Janet were on board I decided I couldn't be that crazy and pushed along. The Salton Sea is an incredible paradox and proves that unimaginable beauty can be found in the most unexpected of places, even those that are considered a toxic wasteland. 

My first trip to the Salton Sea was one I will never forget. While searching for the perfect abandon house to take photos in I was shocked to see that people still live there! As we began taking photos one friendly local in particular kept driving around in circles to chat with us. He took a liking to Janet's boyfriend and was determined to get Dave to relocate to his desert oasis. The best part of the whole deal was not the incredibly low price but the fact that this property was somehow connected to HIS! Inexpensive land in California and a built in best friend...Sold! According to him it is a very up and coming neighborhood but the house we were taking photos at was probably too much of a "fixer upper"...I would say so. 

Unlike my fiance, I am not a very photogenic person. I don't particularly like being in front of the camera {I am more of a behind the scenes kind of gal}. This is another reason why I decided early on to travel to a unique location and of course to call on my hair and make-up team to doll me up. Add a glass of wine to the mix and wah-la the nerves were no longer a problem. In all honesty though, at the end of this shoot I walked away feeling incredibly empowered. I know, that sounds silly right? I can't really explain it. I think everything sort of came full circle for me. Not only did I feel beautiful but I saw with a fresh set of eyes just how beautiful my life and the people in it truly are. I simply cannot wait to marry Zack. 

Embedded within the shoot are items that I hold near and dear to my heart. The "one life" and "one love" signs play off of the saying that both my parents and grandparents have engraved on their wedding bands while the bomber jacket and war metal are a nod to my granddad {who unfortunately is not with us any longer}. I know he would absolutely love Zack and Jagger of course. 

I have Erin Fader Jewelry to thank for adorning me with ridiculous amounts of jewels.  She is one of the most creative and inspiring women I have ever known, not to mention the absolute sweetest! Can you believe I met her at the dog park? What are the odds?! As time went on and our dog park visits turned into an everyday occurrence I told Erin my idea of traveling to the Salton Sea for my engagement shoot {her reaction was much nicer than the ones described above} and pairing a simple white dress with a ridiculous amount of jewelry. She loved the idea and offered to provide me with jewelry for the shoot. Needless to say I jumped at the opportunity to wear some of her pieces. By mixing her stunning jewelry with ones handed down from my mother and grandmother {along with others found and borrowed from friends} my idea turned into something more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

Can you believe that I bought my first tube of red lipstick just one year ago? Better late than never I guess.

I cannot thank all the wonderful vendors enough for helping my vision come to life! Not many photographers are willing to make the trek out to the middle of the desert but Janet is such a trooper! Not to mention her assistant and wonderful love Dave. Thanks soo much to Ashley for her eternal wisdom about all things make-up and Melissa who did such an amazing job on my hair {as always of course}. Thank you so much Erin for letting me yap your ear off at the dog park about all my ideas and providing me with some of the most gorgeous jewelry I have ever seen!

Photography: Love Janet Photography
Jewelry: Erin Fader Jewelry
Make-up: My Girls on Film Studios
Hair: Style Me Pretty 2013
Styling/Concept/Flowers/Rentals: The Dainty Lion

The Legendary Park Plaza Wedding

Oooook. If this couple and venue does not completely knock your socks off I don't know what will. Michelle and Miguel are literally some of the most awesome people I have ever been around. Michelle is the epitome of grace and elegance yet she has this spunky side to her. And, well she just compliments Miguel perfectly. Let the Oooo's and Ahhhhh's begin!

I am sorry Miguel, but I just have to say it, you and Michelle are absolutely adorable. I am so thankful I was able to be apart of their special day. I had to hold back tears multiple times and had goosebumps on more than one occasion. Ok, maybe I had to hold in the tears while going through these photos as well. These two truly touched me, I can only hope that Zack and I are this happy and in love after 10+ years together. As usual, I had the impossible task of selecting my favorite photos. Janet outdid herself! Thanks sooo much to all the incredible vendors who helped make this wedding spectacular!

Photography: Love Janet Photography
Planning, Design, Florals, Vintage Rentals: The Dainty Lion
Venue: The Legendary Park Plaza
Caterer: Summit Catering
Cake & French Macarons:Sweet and Saucy
Horchata Cake (not pictured): Hot Cakes Bakes
DJ: The DJ Company
Hair and Make-up:Blooming Beauty By Cammy
Harpist: Ted Nichelson
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Stationary: The Dainty Lion
The Dress: Bellasposa Bridal, Pronovias
Shoes: Badegly Mischka
Officiant: The Honorable Stuart M. Rice

The El Cortez Wedding Sneak Peek

Emily and Travis' wedding at the El Cortez in downtown San Diego was stun-ing! There was never any questions that it would be anything less than spectacular because the Emily is an interior designer. O and I am pretty sure she is secretly a Scandinavian model. 

Emily let me run wild and with designing half of the centerpieces {flowers included}. I also have her to thank for feeding my brass obsession! 

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