Eunice and Daniel's Wedding, finally!

We are SO excited we are to FINALLY be sharing photos from Eunice's wedding! Eunice, as many of you know, is our co-founder and Creative Director and her wedding last May 9 was one of the most unbelievable days ever!

Eunice looked stunning in a dress of her own design, hand sewn by multi-talented Hello!Lucky London office head Iain Harris Bartlett, with makeup by Meaganne McCandess and headband by pal Jennifer Behr (available right here!).

Tons of our creative friends helped out with the details, including Tricia Roush (top left) of House of Nines Design. Magnolia Photo Booth was one of the highlights - guests had a blast taking mugs with all kinds of hilarious props!  Bottom row, Eunice and Sabrina celebrating the best day ever, and bridesmaid Erin Murphy trying on a tissue paper crown.

A high point was a Tim Walker-inspired parade featuring animal shadow puppets designed by Eunice, fabricated Jillian and Toast at Because We Can, and then hand-painted!

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. James!

Oh, yes! And the reason for the delay in sharing these pics!? The wedding is on the cover of the Spring 2010 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings!!  Check out the full gallery on their website here, and stay tuned for behind-the-scenes blog posts on The Bride's Guide. We'll also be posting lots more behind-the-scenes photos on our blog -- there's just so much great stuff to share!!

Stay tuned for more to come!

Stunning photos by Gia Canali and Sara Remington.

Real Wedding: Amy and Adam

We're so pleased that Amy and Adam's gorgeous Sonoma Wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty this week!  Choosing the beautiful B.R. Cohn Winery as their setting, the couple (best friends since college!), treated their guests to a celebration inspired by the bountiful Sonoma fall harvest.

We love the rustic simplicity of chalkboard directions.

The couple said their "I do's" under one of the oldest trees at the winery.

We customized Amy and Adam's wedding invitation to reflect their California fall theme. Escort cards and save the dates brought the clean, playfully preppy touches together.

Simple autumnal flower arrangements by Kathleen Deery Design popped against the white table settings. A beautiful color palette that continued into the night [courtesy of Got Light?]:

The event was catered by Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, where Amy works. Divine! Our congratulations to Amy and Adam!

Photos courtesy of Elle Jae Photography

Real Wedding: Marnie and Brian

We were super excited to be involved in designing for this ceremony! Marni and Brian's wedding is the stuff plush Gothic romances are made of! We love the dark color palette interspersed with more traditional details.

The couple began their ceremony taking a lovers stroll through the labyrinth at San Francisco's hallmark Grace Cathedral, lighting candles as they passed.

They then met up with their guests, who had only been told they were to be driven to the woods, instructions awaiting. Each guest was then welcomed with "survival kits" of edible treats and well-stocked flasks. The understated ceremony took place beneath a simple white canopy in the redwoods of beautiful Muir Woods.

We started by creating custom designed letterpress invitations which summoned the Victorian details Marni knew she wanted--redwood trees, roses, birds, and Victorian embellishments.

Carrying Marni and Brian's Victorian Gothic theme throughout the events of this two day affair, we also worked to design letterpress programs, menus, seating cards, and cocktail napkins.

One of our absolutely favorite parts? The couple even had the redwood tree graphic from the invitation etched onto whiskey flasks! Cheers to that!

The following night, Marni and Brian gathered everyone together again, this time for a reception party held in San Francisco at Hamlin Mansion. We love the playfully rich palette of rich green and purple fabrics for the table settings. Built in 1901 in Italian Baroque style, this venue offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Decked out in whimsical charm, feathers, and purple and magenta accents, we're loving the floral arrangements by Cherries Flowers.

We adore the cigars and doughnut bar by Erin Bell!

Thanks to Erin Beach, who did an amazing job on photography and Moira Gubbins, the wedding coordinator from Hamlin Mansion.

San Francisco Wedding Fair

We're looking forward to the San Francisco Wedding Fair this Sunday, January 10 from 11 - 4 at Four Seasons Hotel.  Let's face it: most bridal shows are a kind of lame.  However, this one consistently attracts some quality vendors. If you're thinking of only hitting one of these events, it's the one to check out.

We'll be there exhibiting with partner Magnolia Photo Booth, an awesome photo booth company that just launched in the Bay Area. Magnolia will be demo-ing their booth, and we have some brand spanking new save the date designs that use the photos & photo booth pics!  Magnolia keeps a booth at our studio at 977 Howard Street (between 5th and 6th), so you can drop by use it for free to make awesome save the dates, thank you cards & more (just call ahead, as it's sometimes out on loan).

A few vendors to definitely check out at the show:

Cakes & Sweets

Sibby's Cupcakery

The Buttercream Studio

Cocoa Bella Chocolates

Calligraphy

Papineau Calligraphy

Florists

Floramor Studios

Rentals

Classic Party Rentals Hartmann Studios

Event Designers

Alicia K Designs

Check out the San Francisco Wedding Fair website for a full list of exhibitors. Enjoy!

Healdsburg wedding

Once Wed posted this gorgeous real wedding yesterday! The wedding took place at Barn Diva in Healdsberg - such a lovely destination!

The couple, Lisah and Jeremy, came to us for their wedding invitations, a variation on our Heartland design. It's so lovely to see how everything came together!

See all the details here. Congratulations, Lisah and Jeremy!

Photos by Jen Curtis.

Real wedding: Lori & James

Thanks to event planner Morgan Doan and Geoff White Photographers for sharing these stunning photos from Lori and James' recent wedding at the Bently Reserve in San Francisco. For their opulent event, they chose the Chandelier wedding invitation design by EIEIO Studio in coal and a custom berry red. So lovely!

Lori looked gorgeous! (Her makeup was by Neja Cosmetics).

As did James! Elegant minimal bout and floral arrangements by Michael Daigian Floral Design.

For those of you not familiar, the Bently Reserve is a gorgeous neoclassical building near the Embarcadero. Morgan did an amazing job of transforming it into a dramatic event space for the ceremony...

...and the reception.

Lovely cake by Jen's Cakes. Catering was by Taste Catering.

The invitation motif was carried through the seating cards...

and even the lighting (patterned gobos on the ceiling by Got Light?).

Congratulations, Lori and James!

Photography by Geoff White Photographers.

Real wedding: Abby & Ross

Congrats to Abby and Ross, who got married last month at Limn Gallery, a beautiful modern space in San Francisco!

It all began with this custom save the date design that we created for the couple, combining a nod to the fact that the space is a functioning art gallery, and a little bit of wit and whimsy!

Limn provided a chic, minimal backdrop for the reception. The event was catered by Jane Hammond Events.

Emily Dreblow of Soulflower Floral Design created these lovely sculptural boutonnieres, as well as the succulent centerpieces.

We revived the save the date design in a welcome sign carved by Because We Can...and a hand drawn seating chart.

The ceremony was held in gallery's outdoor courtyard.

The bride wore this gorgeous beaded shrug, custom made by seamstress Glenda Pongiglione.

The programs coordinated with their invitations (they chose the Lunaria invitation design in espresso and apple).

Promptly after the ceremony, they left for an amazing honeymoon in Greece (we're so jealous!!). Congratulations, Abby & Ross!!

Photography by Marla Aufmuth.

Style Me Pretty Destination Wedding Giveaway!

We are thrilled to be a part of Style Me Pretty’s exclusive destination wedding giveaway...and, trust us, it's a doozy! One very lucky reader will receive a fabulous gift of goodies worth up to $2100 - FOR REAL!  Prizes include a 1 hour consultation with wedding planner Alison Hotchkiss, beautifully handcrafted cup set from Heath Ceramics, 2 nights stay at the Bardessono Hotel, gift certificate to Bottega Restaurant and so much more.  

Also included in the giveaway?  100 digital destination invitation sets from yours truly – Hello!Lucky. To enter and get  more details about this amazing giveaway, check out  http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/09/23/giveaway/ NOW (no dawdling).  The highly enviable winner  will be announced next Wednesday, September 30th.   Enter...and keep those fingers crossed!  

Registry: Heath Ceramics

One of the many wonderful things about being in the Bay Area is the proximity to Heath Ceramics. Their  gorgeous line of pottery, tile and ceramics has been around since the mid-40's and everything is handmade in their Sausalito studio. We love their simple designs, stunning color and dependable quality. If you're not lucky enough to visit their Sausalito Factory store, or Los Angeles boutique, everything is available online. What an amazing place to register at for your upcoming wedding!

And how cute is their kids set?! Perfect for any upcoming baby showers or little ones on the way!

DIY 2nd Anniversary gift

We are swooning over the adorable anniversary gift that H!L designer Shauna made for her husband for their 2nd anniversary. Traditionally, cotton is the suggested gift (ok, so this is wool, but it's still in the fiber family!) so she knit up a tiny heart using this pattern, then embroidered her and her husband's initials on the front and their 2nd anniversary date on the back. So cute!

Marie Antoinette wedding cake

Thanks to photographer Sabine Scherer or sharing these gorgeous photos she recently took of an incredible Marie Antoinette-inspired cake by Cake Coquette!

The cake topper was flown in from La Durée in Paris!

Seriously, this cake (or a reproduction of it!) belongs in a museum. And Sabine's photography truly "takes the cake" (ugh, sorry - we couldn't resist!). Check out more of her work here,  here and here.

Kay Nielsen and a lovely faery wedding

Growing up, we LOVED the sumptuous fairytale illustrations of early 20th century Danish illustrator Kay Nielsen.

Aren't these gorgeous? They've big source of design inspiration to us of late!  So we totally thought of him when we saw these amazing faery wedding photographs by Elizabeth Messina via her blog, Kiss the Groom:

So amazing! See more of Elizabeth's unbelievable photos here.  See more of Kay Nielsens gorgeous illustrations here.

Hello!Lucky: Best Wedding Invitations!

Whoa! We just got named "Best Wedding Invitations" in San Francisco Weekly's Best of San Francisco 2009!  H!L greeting card retailer The Bell Jar also won in the "Best New Gift Boutique" category - double whoa!! (Congratulations, Sasha!). Even though we create wedding invitations for brides all over the country (and world!), it's an extra-special honor to be recognized by our home town, which is so full of talented designers (many of whom we got the chance to catch up with this week at the National Stationery Show). Check out the write-up on our invitations here.

We'd like to thank the Academy, our husbands, all our dedicated, creative and talented employees and clients (you know who you are), Richard Siebert, who taught a couple of cute girls how to print way back when while regaling us with stories of Berkeley in the 70's, chain smoking and wearing a "Bianca's Smut Shack" t-shirt, and all the mentors and friends who have helped us along the way...our mom and dad...blah blah blah...(cue music!!). Thanks again, San Francisco Weekly!

Eunice & Daniel's wedding

Eunice & Daniel's Tim Walker-inspired wedding was last weekend in a valley near Wilbur Hot Springs in Northern California! We're so excited we can barely contain ourselves - it was so amazing and wonderful!

We can't share more at the moment as will be featured in an upcoming issue of Martha Stewart Weddings, but stay tuned for behind-the-scenes blog posts on the Martha blog and look out for the article!

In the meantime, the happy couple is heading out to Europe on their honeymoon. Huzzah!

Perfect Endings Cupcakes

Last week we had the pleasure of savoring these gorgeous and delicous cupcakes from Perfect Endings in Napa - arguably the best and most beautifully designed cakes in the Bay Area! (The occasion was the book launch party for Alison Hotchkiss's Destination Wedding Planner).

Their red velvet cupcake was our favorite - so moist and delicious!

The thing about beautifully designed cakes is that they often look great but taste, um, not-so-great (chewy fondant, anyone?). Perfect Endings' cakes are out of this world because they look amazing and taste even better! Definitely worth splurging for on your wedding day!

Operation Aisle Style

Hey all you Bay Area folk, stop by the W Hotel tonight for Operation Aisle Style! Hello!Lucky will be there!

There will be (count'em) 2 fashion shows, one showcasing the latest work of Austin Scarlett,  Project Runway contestant and lead designer, Kenneth Pool, and the other showcasing work bu the Art Institute of California’s "rising star" fashion students.

The event is co-sponsored by Anti-Bride. Should be a fabulous time!

Read all about it here!

WHEN March 12, 06:00 PM - 11:00 PM

WHERE W San Francisco, Third Floor 181 3rd Street San Francisco , CA 94103

RSVP oas@skout.com

Vera Wang 2009 Collection

We recently attended the preview of the Vera Wang 2009 collection hosted by San Francisco Brides magazine at the Bently Reserve - the event was fabulous, and the collection was stunning!

We especially loved all the ethereal detals and gorgeous romantic ruffles!

This seafoam number was one of our favorites - very Midsummer Nights' dream (and also reminded us of some of the goregeous dresses Tim Walker has photographed)

Some of the models back stage. Vera Wang's gowns are available exclusively at Bridal Galleria in San Francisco.

We created the invitations for the event using the Chandelier design by EIEIO. Photography by Jade Studio Productions.

Modern Creative Bridal Fair

 

We recently blogged about the fabulous Stacy McCain, and are thrilled to be participating in a bridal fair she's organizing with Dekker Photography on February 26th, featuring a collection of wonderful vendors, including Magnolia Floral Design, Cake Work, Best Beverage Catering, Amy Kuschel,  Got Light?, and Papineau Calligraphy.

The party will be on Thursday the 26th of February from 6-9pm and will be a low-key, intimate affair (unlike many of the large, impersonal bridal fairs out there!). There will be an open bar, delicious catering, live music and beautiful decor. So come on by, have some food and drinks with us and have fun! Tickets are available at

www.brownpapertickets.com/event/55135

Stacy McCain Event Planning

Our friend Stacy McCain, an event planner based in San Francisco, just pinged us to let her know about her wonderful new website!  It's so great to see Stacy's fresh, fabulous work all in one place! We especially love this Mexican fiesta she created - love the colors and the mini maracas!

These Mexican paper flowers are gorgeous, too - find similar ones here.

Love this table name and the beautiful, understated table settings...

So many lovely, rustic touches!

Adorable cake and candy bar...

Stacy does everything from weddings to anniversary parties and takes her inspiration from a range of influences, including her international travels.  Speaking of which, the anniversary party above was inspired by the couple's international travels over their 40 years of marriage (so sweet!) -- love the gorgeous Asian details.

She also is very friendly to same-sex couples - like this ultra-modern wedding she created for Mike and Jeff at the San Jose Museum of Art. Stacy's eye for detail is simply wonderful, and she was a wonderful, energetic personality to boot!

Congratulations, Stacy! Check out more of her work here.

Photo credits (from top): Mel Barlow, Alex Johnson, Sasha Gulish, Emily Merrill

Freedom to Marry

We're thrilled to be contributing to the upcoming Freedom to Marry fundraiser at Amy Kuschel Bride benefiting Equality of California. It's going to be a great party, organized by I Do! Wedding & Event Design, catered by Joshua Charles, and featuring a show of Amy's 2009 bridal collection. Here are the details - everyone's invited!

Thursday, February 12, 2009 National Freedom to Marry Day 6 - 8 p.m. Amy Kuschel Design Studio 23 Grant Avenue, 5th Floor San Francisco, California

RSVP to Ruby@amykuschel.com (and if you can't make it, make a donation to EQCA!)

Photo credit: Photomischa