An old flame – that is to say, Brian’s ex-girlfriend! – brought these two together on a blind date where sparks flew and the two found themselves chatting the night away. Three years later, they were dreaming of their wedding day on the sunny coast of California where we would help them pull together all of the fun details at Rancho Valenica Resort.

As Lisa + Brian hail from Hong Kong, we wanted to tap into the beauty of the combining elements and how our couple brought people from different areas of their lives together, so guests were greeted by soft terra-cotta romance woven with subtle nods of earth, air, water, and fire elements as symbols of enduring love where East meets West. This day was intimate and romantic with soft cozy touches and elegant accents in a beautiful neutral palette of taupe, grey, blush, and peach.

Our couple loves spending time by the fireplace and inspired our “a warm reception” backdrop where guests found their names in calligraphy on wooden baking boards to help lead them to their seats, and were prompted to give our couple advice by a beautifully calligraphed sign reading “tell us how to keep the flame alive.” Tables were appointed names such as fire, stone, mist and stars labeled in calligraphy on sandstone, and dressed up with gorgeous blooms in terra-cotta vessels done by Oak and the Owl. After dinner, guests were welcomed to lounge by terra-cotta chimineas, or adorn themselves with flowers from a bohemian flower cart done by The Dainty Lion.

As the evening came to a close, our bride and groom showed their friends and family love by gathering by the fire, dancing the night away, and sending them off with copper candles – a light to guide them home.