Enamor Events: April 2012

James + Irene

Thursday, April 26, 2012

It's been a gloomy on and off rainy kind of day in Los Angeles, which reminded me of my friend Irene & James' vintage inspired, DIY wedding in San Francisco on eleven 11 eleven. I've been fortunate to see and experience an abundance of weddings but this celebration is definitely among one of my faves! Seriously, there are so many insanely gorgeous details it was hard to choose which gems to share, so here are eleven sets of photos I grouped together. But first, their must-see video, by: Benjamin V. Ho (Director), Alan Gonzales & Scott Sison.

Song: 'Ritual Reunion' - Little Dragon

Meet James & Irene: Story of Us (1 + 1)

Set in the storybook city of San Francisco, where wander and wonder connect on a daily.

Boy meets girl, both in full costume at a halloween party in 2005. His need to collect sneakers met her need to collect ideas. Together, they hunt for mid-century gems from furniture (he) to fashion (she). In the meanwhile, they keep laced with a shared love for beats, eats, travel, football, bike rides and taking pretty pictures in the city where they live and love.

(Excerpt taken from their blog).

(LOVE how ALL of these are) their colors!! "Sunny Block Abstract" by: Melanie Mikecz

For brides curious about James & Irene's inspiration for their day, here's a snapshot of the mood board they created to execute all the details around!

Photo Credits:

A collaborative effort via friends, fam and their phones :)

Ultra Fab Vendors:

Ceremony: St. Agnes Catholic Church, Haight Ashbury SF

Reception: 1045 Divisadero Street

Day-Of Coordinator: Dianne Que, DI&Q

Creative Director & Designer: jrm

Event Flora: Amara Dan

Bride Bouquet & Boutinieres: Bella Fiora San Francisco

Bride’s Dress (Ceremony): XELA of Shewolves

Bridesmaid’s Dresses: All found Pasadena Flea Market, Various Thrift Stores

Grooms’/Groomsmens’: J Crew, All vintage bowties

Bridal Hair: Meli Batimana

Bridal Make-Up: Elaine Fujii

Hand lettering: Aeri Swenson

Marching Band: James Dumlao & Members of Riordan High School Band

Sit Down Family Style Dinner: Chef Danny Bowien and Jesse Koide, Mission Street Food / Mission Chinese Food

Sweet Table: Jennifer Tan, Just The Frosting

Irene & James, thank you sooo much for allowing me to feature the beautiful details of your union on my site. Cheers to a lifetime of love and happiness, and CONGRATS to your 1+1+1= ONE :)

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Jolie's 16 carat e-ring is speculated to cost anywhere from $338K to $1M.

A few days ago, one of my fave celeb couples made their engagement official. Seven years and six kids later, the Jolie-Pitt's are set to tie the knot! Brad says he had a specific vision for the ring to compliment Angie's long, slender fingers and collaborated with jeweler Robert Procop over the course of one year to create a magnificent, custom, emerald cut, multi-stone stunner. I don't know about you but taking one year to complete the ring sounds overly romanticized. Seriously, Brad? And while they are the small percentage of society that can make out of this world splurges, I just wanted to take a moment to remind the rest of us not to get caught up in the appearance of the outward expression (what a ring symbolizes) of an eternal union.

As I talk to more and more men who are in the mindset of proposing, one common concern stands out: they all want the best for their woman. The next thing I hear is, they don't know when they can get married because they can't afford a ring. I've touched on this before in my previous post on engagement rings and it's worth saying again, it's not about how much it costs or how big it is, it's about what it stands for! Don't let the lack of bling on a modest budget hold you back from marrying your best friend. If it bothers you that much, you can always upgrade later.

Gemvara's knockoff of Jolie's ring. Not as sleek but only $1195

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

I'm going camping this weekend and although i'm really looking forward to it, showing you pictures of us sitting around in our beach chairs wouldn't be too exciting. Taking the concept of camping to a whole 'notha level, however, is brilliant! I don't mind roughing it to a degree but how thrilling would it be to experience the breathtaking sites of nature with the modern conveniences of luxury.

I realize camping isn't for everyone... but glamping? Imagine guests under a blanket of stars surrounding a blazing bonfire and roasting s'mores at your reception after party. To be able to share your love for the outdoors with your closest friends and family on your wedding day or a glamping honeymoon off the beaten path, what a magical adventure!