Family-style feast by HeirloomLA

For their intimate wedding in the Palm Springs desert, Kristen & Adam felt strongly that they wanted to treat their guests to a wonderful meal. They ended up hiring HeirloomLA as their caterer, which was a fantastic & very delicious decision. Heirloom’s food is what everyone wants to have at their wedding — food that is out-of-this-world tasty but unfussy, perfect for a family-style feast with lots of wine. Sometimes it’s tricky when you want really upscale food without the pretension, but that is exactly what Heirloom delivered. Kristen & Adam’s guests enjoyed a wonderful meal that included an heirloom tomato Greek salad (the bride’s favorite), prime-ribeye cap steak with roasted tomatoes and fennel, aqua pazza served en papillote, lasagna cupcakes (the caterer’s signature dish), and large bowls of roasted vegetables. Kristen her mom were so impressed by our pre-wedding tasting with Heirloom that they even asked them to cater the welcome party the night before the wedding. (That menu, by the way, had a totally different palate — think fresh ceviche and plantains — but was equally as delicious).

I also had a lot of fun thinking of small details to make the presentation really stand out. I like to design events down to the details, so that all the small touches support the overall look & feel of the event without being frivolous. So, for example, I always think of each cocktail that is being served and choose the most beautiful (and appropriate) glass for it. I also work with the caterer to choose a simple but eye-catching garnish for each cocktail, if it’s appropriate and enhances the flavor of the drink. For the “Sunday Punch” cocktail, we did a sprig of fresh rosemary to enhance the drink’s grapefruit-rosemary lemonade flavor.

Here are some photos by Joy Marie Photography to help you visualize the feast.

See more mouth-watering FOOD PICS from Kristen & Adam’s wedding on Heirloom’s beautiful blog.

www.amykaneko.com

Palm Springs wedding

I’m very excited to share these beautiful photos by Joy Marie Photography of Kristen & Adam’s spectacular Palm Springs wedding. Their wedding was incredibly intimate (just over 60 guests) and they were such gracious hosts to their friends & family. When I first met Kristen, we were at the true beginning of the planning process — she & Adam were engaged, but didn’t have a wedding date or location. They weren’t sure of the details or the look, but they knew they wanted a really relaxing weekend for their guests, and they wanted something that was unfussy but special & elegant.

Kristen & Adam found themselves drawn to the Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs, an incredibly romantic and relaxed B&B filled with eclectic antiques from Morocco and the Mediterranean. Since the Korakia is such a special place & not at all your typical wedding venue, I let it serve as inspiration for the event design. From the eclectic mix of benches & chairs for the ceremony seating to the incorporation of succulents and Mediterranean fruits into the centerpieces, the wedding was a wonderful cross between elegant and rustic, with layer upon layer of gorgeous design details.

Without further ado…

Two oversized floral arrangements in antique urns flanked the stone entryway to the intimate ceremony. It was a hot desert day, so Moroccan tea glasses and large jars of cucumber-mint water, citrus iced tea, and grapefruit-rosemary lemonade were set out for guests to enjoy before the ceremony.

Kristen and Adam were married in front of a grand antique Moroccan double-door. After the ceremony, the large wooden doors opened and the bride and groom’s family led the way to the cocktail reception, which was held in a romantic courtyard surrounding the Moroccan pool. The decor was kept understated to showcase the natural beauty of the property, which included built-in stone seating around a waterfall.  Stone ledges were simply decorated with passion vine and gardenias, and lily pads of gardenias and succulents made an existing antique fountain even more exquisite.

A bountiful station of farmer’s market vegetables and homemade cheeses, by HeirloomLA, was displayed on a rustic wooden table. Servers also passed hors d’oeuvres of mini short-rib grilled cheeses, springtime agnolotti pasta, seasonal fruit gazpacho, and battered tourbot and Kennebek Fries with malt vinegar and creamy cournichon sauce (an elevated version of fish and chips).

Guests dined at 24-foot-long tables draped with soft, natural-toned linens. An eclectic mix of rustic wooden and iron garden chairs lent a casual, but elegant air. Centerpieces by The Velvet Garden were a splash of color and lushness in the otherwise desert surroundings. Deep jewel-tones, such as burgundies, violets, and dark pinks, paired beautifully with the earthiness of the property. The innovative centerpieces incorporated fresh fruit inspired by the Mediterranean, such as blood oranges and grapes, with succulents, exotic leaves, and lush flowers.

The surrounding palm trees were dramatically lit; a firepit surrounded by carved Moroccan chairs added to the romantic ambiance. A lounge filled with vintage furniture, including rugs and pillows so guests could sit comfortably on the ground, was tucked away in a grove of small trees near the dancefloor. Dessert was a feast, with a huge spread of treats set out on a buffet decorated with vintage glass pedestals and bowls, including chocolate banana trifle, a petite triple-berry wedding cake, mini chocolate cakes, homemade ice cream, and a variety of childhood-inspired cookies and treats. As the sun set, bistro lights strung above cast a warm glow on the tables.

The wedding was beautiful in every way imaginable. Kristen & Adam — thank you & your lovely families for letting me be part of such a special time in your lives!

www.amykaneko.com

Press: Kristen & Adam’s wedding in Style Me Pretty

I’m happy to announce my debut on Style Me Pretty: Kristen & Adam’s beautiful Palm Springs wedding! The writers at Style Me Pretty often speak in superlatives (“we are literally dying over this wedding!” etc) — but that said, they did have some extremely nice things to say about Kristen & Adam’s wedding. Founder & Editor Abby Larson wrote:

If ever there was a wedding featured on Style Me Pretty that I so wished I could have attended…it would be this one. A Moroccan inspired celebration rich in food, family, wine and most of all, some of the most beautiful texture and style I think I’ve ever seen in a wedding celebration.

So, you should probably check it out by clicking here: http://www.stylemepretty.com/2012/03/27/palm-springs-wedding-by-amy-kaneko-events/

And here’s a screenshot to further entice you.

www.amykaneko.com

Press: Destination Weddings & Honeymoons

Hot off the presses….I’m quoted in the current issue of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons. Maryann Hammers wrote an article called “Where to Marry in California” and she asked planners across the state for their favorite spots, from vineyards to forests to beaches (since California pretty much has it all). One of the things I love about planning events is discovering new venues. I think some people like working at the same spots over & over again. To be honest, it’s usually easier & planners and other vendors know what they’re getting into — but I have an explorer’s spirit. Send me off to a foreign island with tons of logistical quirks anytime…

I spoke with Maryann about my recommendations for the California desert…bet you didn’t see that coming since I’m based in the Bay area! I actually think the desert is an amazing space to get married. I don’t think it is associated with romance in the popular imagination as much as the coast or the forest, but it is actually one of the most dramatic and powerful landscapes I can think of.

I spoke specifically about Palm Springs, which is an oasis of beautiful design in the desert with a stunning backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains. I love the mid-century architecture and the clean, crisp design of everything. That said, the venue I recommended has a completely different feel than the rest of Palm Springs — it’s the Korakia Pensione, an eclectic B&B with a romantic Moroccan/Meditteranean vibe.

Take a look at the article here: Where to Marry in California.

www.amykaneko.com

Congrats Kristen & Adam!

Just wrapped up a gorgeous, other-worldly wedding at the Korakia Pensione in Palm Springs. I remember flying down to Palm Springs to help Kristen the bride choose her venue. We looked at a bunch of spots, and she was really torn between the Korakia and another beautiful venue. I know she couldn’t go wrong with either one — but there’s no doubt in my mind that she chose the right place. It was so uniquely relaxing & romantic, and her family & friends got the entire property for themselves. Such a special weekend. Will post photos shortly and you’ll see what I mean. Until then, congrats to the lovely newlyweds, Kristen & Adam!

www.amykaneko.com