I love vintage suitcases and I thought holding fans would be so cute.

I tied grosgrain ribbons in two colors to the base of the fans to add some color.

For the flower girls I found these copper candles holders that were the perfect scale for their baskets.

I tied each side with grosgrain ribbon and filled them with baby’s breath.

The flower girls were too cute!

For favors, Santa Barbara Preserves made rose jelly and put these in adorable mini canning jars.

We used the same dashed pattern on the napkin as a border for the label. Santa Barbara Preserves custom made rose jelly, but she can make any flavor (her habanero raspberry jam is so good!)

Photos: Kirsten Ellis of Beaux Arts Photographie

Favors: Santa Barbara Preserves

Design: Kelly Oshiro Events

Dos Pueblos Ranch is a beautiful 3000 acre ranch that can host Santa Barbara weddings on its own private beach. For the ceremony, there are two options: one is on the beach itself, and the other is high on the bluffs overlooking the beach.

The jagged cliff side makes a stunning backdrop, and the white beach is the ideal location for a couple looking to get married with their toes in the sand. The bluff location is equally as beautiful, but requires a bit of a walk to get to (a staircase followed by a short uphill walk). For the elderly, renting a golf cart would be ideal.

For receptions there are again two options, each adjacent to one of the ceremony locations. By the beach is a parking lot that could be used for the reception as is or tented (I would recommend a clear tent), and carpeted for a more finished appearance. Alternatively, the bluff reception location has a large grassy field that would be ideal for a daytime event. Once night falls, the bluffs and hillside can be quite dangerous for guests (especially for those who have enjoyed too much wine).

Some notes:

• All items need to be brought in, including bathroom/tables/chairs/kitchen/lighting/power.
• Small & large events are welcome.
• Music can go until 10pm.
• Candles in glass are allowed as long as they are set on tables.
• There is guest parking on site.
• Valet is not required but suggested due to length of walk to beach.
• No dressing area for bride available.
• Please call for the site fee.

For more information for pricing and availability please email me at: kelly@kellyoshiroevents.com.

The house on the Rancho Dos Pueblos has a relaxed elegance and old world charm that is entirely one of a kind. The drive up to the house is something out of an old movie, there is a long circular drive, a large magnolia tree greets guests, and then you proceed down and around the palm tree lined drive. The home itself has lovely chandeliers and a relaxed (not fussy) elegance to it. Truly the jewel of this location is the stunning backyard lawn. Surrounded by a grove of Morton Bay Fig trees (the facility manager believes them to the be oldest in the states) the lawn is just like taking a step back in time.

The front lawn is another option for Santa Barbara weddings, and could be a great place for the ceremony or reception (that magnolia tree would be so gorgeous in photos!)

The house can be rented for the weekend and can sleep from 8 to 10 people. So you could have your rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch at the the house– truly the ideal location for a Santa Barbara destination wedding! The rooms are furnished in a relaxed and elegant style as featured in the rest of the house, and there’s a lovely room for the bride to get ready in.

The elegant dining room.

The master bedroom and getting ready area for the bride.

One of the guest bedrooms with a very nice view!

Some notes:

• A kitchen would need to be rented.
• Guests would need to be shuttled from the guest parking area.
• Power for the DJ & lighting will need to be brought in.
• Bathrooms must be brought in to accommodate for the older plumbing in the house.
• All rentals including tables/chairs will need to be brought in.
• Valet is recommended, but not required.
• Music can go until 12am.
• Site capacity is at least up to a 1000.

For more information for pricing and availability please email me at: kelly@kellyoshiroevents.com.

Last week, I had the opportunity to tour a brand new private estate in Montecito. The property features a formal lawn with a fountain for cocktail hour, and a lush tree lined lawn for the ceremony and reception.

On the upper half of the picture is the area for cocktail hour and welcome drinks.

This is the ceremony/reception area from above. Instead of using the lawn, you can also use the adjacent walkway and setup one long feasting table for dinner.

And this is a close up of the ceremony/reception area. The trees are magnificent.

The property is incredibly, serene, lush, and in a private gated community in Montecito.

Some notes:

• Max guest count is 200.
• For guest counts over 50, additional bathrooms need to be rented.
• Guests would need to be shuttled in and can be dropped off right next to the formal lawn.
• All rentals, catering, kitchen, power & additional lighting need to be brought in.
• Music must be off at 10pm.
• The property only allows 3-4 weddings a year.
• At minimum, a day of wedding coordinator is required by the estate.
• Rental pricing starts at $10,000.
• A dressing area for the bride is available at the house (which is above the event area).
• The house is not available for overnight accommodations.

For more information for pricing and availability please email me at: kelly@kellyoshiroevents.com.

I’ve had quite the yellow obsession lately and with the official start of spring it seemed appropriate to do an board inspired by the yellow wallet photo (second row, second picture) taken by Trine Thorsen. I picture this wedding taking place at an adorable bed and breakfast with the scent of lemon and roses in the air.

Description: lemon yellow, white, yellow roses, milk glass, rustic chic elements

Images from top to bottom left to right: {Row 1} 1. Cheri Pearl 2. Laura Novak 3. Jose Villa {Row 2} 1. Paulette’s macarons 2. Trine Thorsen 3. Johnny Miller 4. Jose Villa {Row 3} 1. Lizette Bell 2. Daria Bishop 3. Ellie Miller

The brochure comes in a small box that’s usually used for jewelry. I wanted the the brochure to sit flush with the top of the box so Megan made a false bottom by wrapping foam core in a darker gray book cloth.

Underneath the brochure are my cards and a little envelope filled with photos of my work (cards by Moo).

I love how the belly band looks wrapped around the gray book cloth.

The perfectly tucked edges, yay for bone folders!

The accordion fold:

The page with event design information:

And of course the page about Santa Barbara Wedding Chic!

I love the sheen of the book cloth.

I’m so in love with them, I kind of don’t know how I’ll be able to part with them!

Kate Spade shoes in wine country, sounds like my kind of party. Photo by Whitebox Weddings.

I’m taking a page from Kathryn at Snippet & Ink and Cassandra from Coco & Kelley and posting my first inspiration board on my blog. Every Monday I’ll be posting a board so if you have any specific color requests or themes please leave me a comment!

Here’s the photo that inspired the board.  Photo by Chris Everard.

And here’s the board:

Description: Gold, Holidays, 40s vintage, candlelight, glamorous

Images from left to right: {Row 1} 1. Vintage car by Parker J Pfister 2. Winter Couple by Jenna Walker Photography 3. Tabletop design & photo by Kelly Oshiro Events {Row 2} 1. Gold Cake by Jeff McNamara Photography via Brides 2. Bella Figura invitations 3. Bouquet by Michelle Rago Ltd. via Brides 4. Bass by Jose Villa {Row 3} 1. Gold Shoes by Jasmine Star 2. Candles by Artfool 3. Ring shot by Leigh Miller Photography

There is nothing more classic than a pure white palette for a wedding. I’m a big fan of playing with proportion and textures in order to make a classic white wedding more contemporary.

A bunch of white hydrangea is always pretty and timeless.

Images: 1. Mark Lund 2. Lisa Lefkowitz

Pink flowers are so soft and romantic, and are the perfect accent to a garden wedding.

I love this bouquet with three different types of roses.

For this poesy, the florist wired together pink cymbidium petals to create a large “flower” called a composite.

I love the simple footed white vase against the different shades of pink flowers.

This arrangement features only one large pink dahlia, but the crocheted cozy around the simple glass vase creates such an interesting and pretty texture.

I love the subtle contrast of the pink cymbiums of this bouquet paired with deeper jewel tones and the subtle purple accents.

Images: 1. Sandra Lane 2. Once Wed 3. The Green Vase 4. Jo Tyler 5. Rose and Radish 6. Camilla Svensson Burns Couture Floral & Event Design

Hi Kelly and Kelly Oshiro fans!

Thank you for the opportunity to guest blog!  My name is Katie Moos and am going to chat with you about what you can do to make the most of your wedding day from a photographer’s perspective.

Here’s a list of tips along with some images for you to enjoy…

1.  I suggest you allow an extra hour for hair and make up then needed.  Example the stylists need 3 hours, allow 4.  REASON:  Buffer in case the hair and make up take a little longer which it often times can as you want to be sure it looks absolutely fantastic!! Worst case scenario your hair and make up run over and you allowed time for it so you are totally relaxed or your hair and makeup is done when expected and now you have extra time to relax before putting your dress on…maybe even eat a little something! You want to start the day off calm…not rushed.

2. Consider what time of day your wedding will be at.  To do that start with sunset and work back (if at all possible).  Example:  Sunset is at 7:30pm, so that’s when it’s going to be pretty dark…so cocktails outside enjoying the sunset from 6:00-7:00.  This is also when you get nice warm sunset light for the photos of you with your husband (or wife).  So the ceremony (if it takes between 20-30 minutes) would start at 5:30.  By doing this you are allowing the best light for your ceremony, photos and cocktail hour.

3. Consider where you are getting married.  Let’s say you decide to get married on the sandy beaches of Santa Barbara…at 5:30.  You may have sun directly in your eyes or your quests eyes…what to do?  A canopy with sheer white fabric will diffuse the light on your faces (making you look great) and reduce the squinting.  As for the guests consider a paper parasol for them…creates great light (for cheap) not to mention a great little favor or prop to use in photos. If you are getting married out at a vineyard often there is a wonderful tree for shade…shade is your friend…. it will keep people cool and provides soft even light for photos.

4. If you want to hang with you friends at the cocktail hour and are worried about spending all of the time taking family photos consider either cutting back your list or simply extending your cocktail hour to an hour and twenty minutes.  You will have all the photos on your list and spend some time at the cocktail hour!

5. Determining how much time to allow for photos…here’s what I suggest…allow 2 minutes per group photo + 10 minutes for the wedding party + 20 minutes for the bride and groom shots.  For example, your list has 10 groups on it…10×2= 20 minutes + 10 for the wedding party= 30 minutes + 20 minutes for the bride and groom= 50 minutes all together.  This is realistic.

This week I will be featuring a series of wedding photographers giving us their thoughts on different aspects of wedding photography. Amongst them, they have had their work featured in magazines such as Martha Stewart, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Your Wedding Day, Inside Weddings, In Style, and Town and Country,  just to name a few. I hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes look with these talented wedding photographers!

[photo by Elizabeth Messina]

I found these chic mini ottomans over at Absolutely Beautiful Things. I think they we work great either as a box for envelopes on the present table or you could leave out 5″ x 5″ cards for guests to write their best wishes for the couple.They come in three colors, tidepool, poppy, and moss.

These would be particularly cute at a Morrocan-ish wedding, don’t you think?

I was flipping through the latest Domino magazine and saw an ad for My Deco File. I went online to check it out and I’m pretty sure this little puppy is going to change everything.

Basically its a place online to collect your favorite images, put them into books and share with friends. But that’s not the best part, you can save any image on the web and the ease with which you can do it is freaking awesome.

Basically, you just add a bookmark to your browser and any time you like an image click on your bookmark.

A square will pop up which follows your cursor. Click on the image you want to save and then you will automatically be taken to your decor file.

Save and file the image however you wish (it also remembers where you got the image, handy if you plan on making inspiration boards and crediting your source).

Then click “I’m done” and it takes you back to where ever you were on the web. So simple, so easy, and I think I have a new hobby and business tool.