Annie Siu | Floral & Events

Wedding Teasers | angela & tony

2010-04-26T17:14:00.001-07:00

Ceremony Nestldown, Los Gatos
Reception Nestldown, Los Gatos
Photography Jay Tsai Photography
Coordinator 8 Events
Caterer Thomas John Events

Here Comes the Guide!

2010-04-22T10:35:00.001-07:00

We've been extended an invitation to become a part of Here Comes The Guide, a book and top online resource for brides planning their weddings. For those of you who don't know, it's a huge honor to be invited to become one of the best professionals in your respective category. It's not as easy as other magazines where you just pay for an ad space. You have to be certified first by The Guide, which means submitting a reference list for certification and then conducting reference checks on your company.

Check out Here Comes The Guide website at http://www.herecomestheguide.com/ and for information on the book at http://www.herecomestheguide.com/book/

Vote for us!

2010-03-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

Annie Siu Floral & Events has been nominated for the 2010 SFGate.com BayList Best contest, competing for BEST Wedding Flowers!
Cast us a vote at:
http://baylist.sfgate.com/annie-siu-floral-and-events/biz/111554
Thank you!

Another article on the Olympic Flowers!

2010-02-25T12:23:00.000-08:00

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic bouquets revealed
Written by Amanda Ryder

With just one week to go until the Vancouver 2010 Olympics kick off, the official Olympic and Paralympic bouquets have been revealed.

June Strandberg of Just Beginnings in Surrey, B.C. and Margitta Schulz of Margitta’s Flowers in North Vancouver are the two florists who were awarded the contract in 2008 to create the 1,800 bouquets required for the Olympics. The florists were part of the design process and pitched 23 sample bouquets to the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) panel. The final selection contains flowers that are grown in B.C. and Canada, but cannot be sourced from the natural outdoors in February. The predominately green bouquets contain eye-catching green hypericum berries, delicate green spider mums and broad leaf greens. The foliage consists of leatherleaf fern, loops of monkey grass and aspidistra leaves. A simple royal blue ribbon is hand tied around each bouquet and the handles are also wrapped in recycled paper.

Here's a list of facts about the bouquets:

•The inspiration behind the Vancouver 2010 athlete floral bouquets is to showcase flowers and greenery grown in British Columbia and Canada. The plants chosen can and do grow in B.C. in the summer months but not in the winter. Local greenhouses also could not guarantee a consistent supply of the foliage used in the bouquets in the quantities needed. The bouquet’s green spider mums are produced by Quik’s Farms Ltd. in Chilliwack, B.C. while the remaining product is supplied by farms in Ecuador.

•For the 2010 Winter Games, 1,800 bouquets in total will be made with 1,707 awarded to athletes (1,055 Olympic and 652 Paralympic). All of the flowers and greens will be carefully hand selected and shaped into the bouquets by marginalized women, who may be recovering from addiction, leaving prison, exiting the sex trade, or who have been victims of violence, as well as by other women they train with who are changing careers to become florists.

•This group of 22 women have learned the floral trade through the Just Beginnings Flowers Society, a non-profit social enterprise located in Surrey, BC. The flower shop and floral design school is run by Strandberg and also employs women with physical and mental challenges to prep the flowers for the designers. This experience not only connects the women with the world’s top athletes but provides employment experience in a true and lasting legacy of the Games.

•The bouquets are presented to the top three athletes by members of the international sport federations shortly after they compete in venue. The majority of medallists, who do not receive their medals at their competition venue, will receive a second bouquet at nightly Victory Ceremonies held at Whistler Medals Plaza and BC Place in downtown Vancouver.

•The bouquets are designed to showcase British Columbia and Canada and be taken home by the athletes as a cherished keepsake, or tossed to spectators who are cheering them on as they receive their bouquets and medals.

•The bouquets will be delivered every second day in the first week of the Games, and every day in the second week of the Games, to all the city venues in Vancouver, West Vancouver and Richmond. Bouquets will be delivered every second day to venues in Whistler. All the delivery vehicles are fuel efficient and low-emission models.

•The athlete bouquets are a required element for Victory Ceremonies by the IOC at all Winter Games. At Summer Games, medal-winning athletes receive a bouquet, as well as an olive wreath. Under IOC technical and protocol rules, the bouquets must be 20 centimetres to 30 cm in length and about 25 cm in diameter.

•Organizing Committees are encouraged to design and use plants that represent the region where the Games are being held and that reflect the Look of the Games colour palette.

•Flowers and greenery with little fragrance and pollen count are generally preferred since they lessen the chance of allergic reactions. VANOC wanted to wrap the bouquets in dried cedar but learned some people can have severe reactions to the oil found in the bark so the idea was nixed. Long stems of grey and white pussy willows, known for their furry catkins, that grow wild across the country were also considered but dropped because of safety issues ― when a bouquet is tossed into the crowd it could cause injury if it contains pointy materials. The longevity and durability of the bouquet and the hardiness of the greenery in wintery conditions for an extended period of time were also determining factors in the selection.

•Packaging of the flowers is also minimal for delivery to the venues. Heavy duty cardboard cartons of biodegradable recyclable material are used rather than plastic. The cartons are lined with a biodegradable recyclable material that holds moisture. Each carton holds 10 Vancouver 2010 athlete bouquets individually protected with a biodegradable sleeve.

SurreyLeader.com put together a video interview with Margitta Schulz and June Strandberg. The two florists talk about the process of putting together the bouquets for the Olympics. Check out the story by clicking here.

Article taken from:

http://www.canadianfloristmag.com/content/view/2886/57/

The story behind the Olympic Flowers!

2010-02-19T12:02:00.001-08:00

Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:30 am EST
There's quite a story behind the Olympic flowers
By Trey Kerby

After every Olympic event, rather than receiving their medals, athletes are given a bouquet of flowers. At the Beijing Olympics, roses dominated the bouquets. In Turin, it was rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias. This year, it's green mums and hypericum berries.

The bouquets come from Just Beginnings Flowers and Margitta's Flowers in Surrey, British Columbia. Their entry was chosen from 58 contending florists. June Strandberg, the bouquet designer and owner of Just Beginnings, teaches floristry to women who have left prison, are recovering from addiction, or have been victims of violence. It's a pretty amazing program, and Strandberg has even taken it behind bars, where she educates convicts. She believes it's her work with these correctional programs that secured the Olympic contract.

For the Vancouver Olympics the florists made 1,800 bouquets, 1,707 of which will be given to medal-winning athletes in the Olympics and Paralympics. The flowers are grown locally, but they aren't in season during February, so additional supplies were flown in from Ecuador.

The flowers were chosen to represent British Columbia and Canada, and are intended as keepsakes for the athletes. There are even strict regulations for the bouquets presented at the flower ceremonies. Per IOC protocol, bouquets must be 20 to 30 centimeters tall and about 25 centimeters across

Though these flowers might look like something you give your mom at a homecoming football game, a lot of thought and planning goes into choosing and making these bouquets. When you consider the societal benefits behind these flowers, it almost makes the bouquets as valuable as the medals.

For more, click on http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/There-s-quite-a-story-behind-the-Olympic-flowers?urn=oly,220230

Yelp!

2010-02-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

We recently received the "People love us on YELP" sticker!

Image borrowed from www.endorsementmarketing.com

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-25T17:33:00.000-08:00

Testimonial | from the bride

2009-10-21T13:52:00.000-07:00

Driving to my studio from the flower market this morning, worrying about this weekend's 2 big weddings, and I get an email from my bride from last last weekend's wedding at the Marines' Memorial Club, San Francisco:

Hi Annie,
I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful job you did on the flowers! They were absolutely gorgeous! Thank you! I don't think I could have envisioned anything more beautiful!
Thanks!

Completely made my day and this will get me going this week!

Pictures to come! (I'm slowly getting them from photographers, but then I have to sift through all of them (sometimes 1000+ pictures) to get the ones of the details. But I promise I will post them here soon!)

Real Wedding | tina & bo

2009-09-22T16:40:00.001-07:00

Ceremony Marines' Memorial Club, San Francisco
Reception Marines' Memorial Club, San Francisco
Photography Vincent Au Photography

Testimonial | from the bride

2009-09-21T17:58:00.001-07:00

New review on Yelp! for Annie Siu Floral & Events and it's 5 STARS!
Click on http://www.yelp.com/biz/annie-siu-floral-and-events-burlingame to view or for your convenience, it's been copied and pasted below:

I've waited a long time to write this review for Annie - That's because it's taken that long for me to find that special someone to marry and I've known all along that I would hire Annie to do my flowers. Annie did the flowers for my wedding last month, and you know how you hype up a [really good] movie and when you finally get to see it, you're often disappointed because it didn't live up to your expectations? Not the case here. Annie and her floral creations were everything I imagined it would be. From the bouquets, boutonnieres, and decorations... Each flower was perfect, as if she hand picked each one herself that very morning. No bruises, wilting, or smashed flowers. And all the flowers she used! No foliage and unnecessary greenery here - just gorgeous flowers beautifully and perfectly arranged. If you look at the pictures, you'd think that someone only did that for the photographer - but I can tell you that all her flowers look like that all of the time. I asked for circus roses (orange w/red tips) and orchids ... the colors were vivid and gorgeous. I kept expecting the roses to wilt... instead they lasted for at least a week without water, looking as fresh as it did the day of my wedding. It probably would've lasted even longer - but I had to start preserving them. Annie is also very easy to work with. She's punctual, calm, attentive, down-to-earth, takes the time to listen to your vision and works hard to turn it into reality. It was one aspect of my day I did NOT have to worry about at all.

Testimonial | from the bride

2009-09-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning still feeling a little sick. Started last Wednesday - first was a sore throat, then a cold, then feverish, then running nose - all this happened while producing this past Saturday's wedding at the Green Hills Country Club in Millbrae. But when I woke up to this email from the bride, it was all worth it!

I just wanted to send you a quick email to let you know how absolutely blown away I was by your flower arrangements. They were everything I had hoped for and more. You did such an amazing job and we appreciate all of your hard work. I couldn't have asked for more.

Thanks again for everything!!

Pictures to come!

Real Wedding | sheryll & philippe

2009-08-25T16:18:00.000-07:00

Ceremony Ruby Hill Golf Club, Pleasanton
Reception Ruby Hill Golf Club, Pleasanton
Photography Chung Li Photography

Real Wedding | crystel & juan

2009-08-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

Ceremony St. Ignatius Church, SF
Reception The Westin, Burlingame
Photography Chung Li Photography

Real Wedding | crystel & juan

2009-08-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

SLIDESHOW! http://www.chungliphotography.com/w/crystel_juan/slideshow/

Ceremony St. Ignatius Church, SF
Reception The Westin, Burlingame
Photography Chung Li Photography

Real Wedding | debbie & ryan

2009-07-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

Ceremony Saints Peter and Paul Church, San Francisco
Reception Marines' Memorial Club, San Francisco
Photography Carmen Alvarez Photoraphy

Testimonial | from the bride

2009-07-20T19:10:00.001-07:00

The very next day, our bride so graciously sent us a quick email of her thoughts already:

Thank you so much for doing such a beautiful job on our flowers yesterday...I loved the colors and flowers in the arrangments. Everyone was fighting over the center pieces at the end of the evening last night...

Pictures to come!

Events | Regency Center Centennial Celebration!

2009-07-13T18:12:00.000-07:00

A night that I thought I would only stay until 8PM, at most 8:30PM, I stayed until 10:30PM! If it wasn't because my husband had to pick me up, I would've stayed till the end! What a night! What a night! The newly renovated 100 year-old Regency Center was gorgeous and jaw-dropping, especially with all the live performances throughout the night in the Grand Ballroom and The Lodge!

Whenever I go to these networking events, I tell myself to meet at least one person. I met many, but among them, that one person turned out to be another Florist, but one that has been in the business for 20 years and services mostly Sonoma County.

We immediately clicked! The more we talked about our individual businesses, the more similar we found our business models and even philosophy in life! It was like talking to an old friend, and I felt so open to tell her my hidden qualms, frustration and basically everything under the moon! It was so refreshing to let it all out and having someone in the industry COMPLETELY understand you, because they probably went through the same thing just last week! =P

We spent the rest of the night basically partying it up! And even on the dance floor too!! I don't know if i was too young or too old, but when i got whisked onto the dance floor, I felt like I was too YOUNG to know how to swing dance. And after trying to catch up to my partner who was so gracious to put up with my two left feet, my lower back was hurting, then I thought I must be too OLD! =P

Real Wedding | liza & eric

2009-06-29T16:15:00.000-07:00

The bride and I met more than a year ago to start planning the flowers for her wedding. She was the first bride to book with me in 2008 for her 2009 wedding, and her wedding date 6/27/09 turned out to be one of the two most popular wedding inquiry dates for us this year. We had to turn down so many weddings for this one wedding, so it goes to show it pays to book early. =P

The wedding took place at the beautiful sun-beaming Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton - the ceremony in their outdoor oval terrace and the reception in their Grand Ballroom. Chic, black and white - linens, chair covers and sashes, completely accented by our red-delicious perfectly round balls of blooming roses and carnations. Also are dahlias, tulips and hypericum berries found in the bouquets and galvanized buckets along the aisle. A quick peek from my camera:

Events | Challenge of the camera lenses

2009-06-27T08:58:00.000-07:00

A table made out of camera lenses...what (kind of arrangement) would you make?

Post update: Unfortunately, I cannot post pictures of the arrangements that I ended up making for this penthouse suite due to the Confidentiality Agreement I had to sign. But I can tell you the "camera lenses" table turned out to be indeed made out of lenses, but more like magnifying glasses side-by-side with crisp white edges along the four sides of the long table. The table was a lot narrower too than I had imagined, but the three low cylinder vases that I ended up designing -- flax leaf-wrap inside each vase with a cluster of curved miniature vibrant yellow calla lilies curving out of it (so curved that the end of the stem is not even in water) fit perfectly in this modern, chic space.

Real Wedding | sharon & carter

2009-06-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

Happy and vibrant were the 2 words the bride used often when we initially talked about her wedding flowers. These two words slowly translated into rich hues of hot pink and cantaloupe orange, with pops of lime green.

My creative juices completely poured out for this wedding. It was truly unique because it was the first time my good friend from high school (the groom) and my husband's good friend also from high school (the bride), were getting married. They crossed paths themselves initially in college, then through the years, with my husband and my help (we like to credit ourselves forever for this union), the two finally started dating. I can still remember the time when they were telling us how they finally got together, and the four of us happened to be sitting on these couches at Macy's. I will never forget when he told me how happy he was - like Tom Cruise jumping on the couch on Oprah. And now, the two were getting married.

So I had to give them my all and more. Pink calla lilies, tulips, hydrangeas, with cantaloupe roses, dahlias, and pops of cymbidium orchids, snowball viburnum, AND KUMQUATS! Ribbons, ribbons, and ribbons tied the theme of these vibrant colors - thick hot pink ribbon outlining the aisle runner sprinkled with orange rose petals, pink and orange ribbons on the lip of the altar vases, ribbons wrapped around the guestbook and centerpiece vases. Because they were working with a budget, using these ribbons was an inexpensive way to add so much color and vibrancy, while using minimal flowers - all to set the stage at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame with the reception following at Hong Kong Flower Lounge in Millbrae.

Here are a few teaser photos from my camera, can't wait to get the photographer's pictures!

Events | Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce mixer at Wente Vineyards

2009-06-20T16:54:00.000-07:00

Sweet summer, picnic-ky theme set the stage for Pleasanton's Chamber of Commerce mixer at Wente Vineyards. As one of Wente's recommended vendors, we were invited to sponsor the flowers for this event. The simple mix of white daisies and seeded eucalyptus in glass vases were the perfect accompaniment to the red-plaided, green linens and white wooden folding chairs on Wente's new ceremony setting, The Vineyard Lawn.

It was refreshing to meet some local businesses that were NOT in the wedding industry:

(1) Amelia's Gourmet Deli-Bistro - freshly baked breads daily and is venturing into the cupcake side of the wedding business, coming soon online

(2) Sue Evans Photography - refreshing to meet a photographer who does NOT do weddings, but focuses on "nature and you"

(3) Cynthia Safdari Realtor - buy or sell with cindy (buyorsellwithcindy@yahoo.com) at J. Rockcliff Realtors, Pleasanton location

(4) Red Door Restoration - Z Safdari, Cynthia's husband, has been in the business for 20 years and does everything from new construction to construction management and mold remediation (reddoorrestoration@yahoo.com)

Real Wedding | catherine & dan

2009-06-08T15:15:00.001-07:00

The wedding this past Saturday at Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park really reminded me of why I love what I do. It was a beautiful outdoor setting with the perfect weather - not too hot, a little sunny, with a tiny breeze. I will never forget meeting with this bride at our initial consultation, she said "I didn't come here to chat, I came to buy some flowers!" Needless to say, she signed with me on the spot.

The photographer promised me his team of three will definitely take pictures of all the details, but I can't wait for them, so for now, here are a few teasers from my little point-and-shoot camera:

Q&A | Submerging flowers

2009-06-02T20:08:00.000-07:00

A student from the floral demonstration I did last month at the College of San Mateo emailed me with a question and I'd like to share my response with you all in case you were trying the same thing:

Hi Annie,
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your demo at CSM and sharing some of your trade secrets. You have that God given talent of creating something majestic out of the simplest materials. I was mesmerized.

QUESTION: I was wondering if you have some simple method of keeping flowers submerged in a tube vase...especially if you want to float a candle. Example, 3 roses or 3 dendrobium stems. I tried wrapping the bases with plenty of the deco wire but wasn't enough weight. Any hints? Thank you again for sharing your talents.

ANSWER: Here are a few methods to try:
(1) Use a small pin holder (the ones used in Ikebana) at the bottom of the vase, stick your rose or orchid stems to it and place rocks/pebbles on top to hide the pin holder. That should keep the flowers in place. If you don’t have a pin holder, you can also try to keep the flower submerged with just the rocks/pebbles. That is the more traditional way of keeping flowers submerged.

(2) But if you’re like me and you don’t like the look of the typical rocks/pebbles at the bottom and would like a more clean look of just the flowers with the floating candle on top, place the flower in the vase FIRST, THEN fill with water to just the TOP of the flower (BEFORE the flower starts to rise in the water). At this point, place your candle so that it holds the flower down too. Then you can proceed to fill with more water until flower may start to float again. The only problem with this method is that the top of the waterline can only be as high as the length of the stem of the flower.

(3) To combat the problem in (2), you can place a piece of clear cellophane, crumble it and place in the vase between the flower and the candle. That way, you get your space between the flower and the floating candle.

(4) If all else falls, you can also try to get a cylinder vase that is thinner, so that the diameter of the vase is the same as the diameter of the flowers, so that the flowers should fit snug in the vase and not float to the top.

If you're reading this and will be trying this out, let me know what you try and tell me what worked for you! Good luck!!

Events | Luncheon at The University Club, SF

2009-05-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

What was supposed to be a casual dim sum for four turned into an intimate luncheon for eight, including Beverly of Especially Yours Chair Covers, Gloria of Gloria Wong Designs, Jubilee of Jubilee Lau Events, Nicole Ha of Nicole Ha Designs, Nancy of Nancy Liu Chin Designs, Laura of Poppy's Petalsworks and of course Barbara Lewis, Catering/Events Manager of the University Club who so graciously offered to host the luncheon for us. Located on Nob Hill, specifically at 800 Powell St, the University Club is the best kept secret in San Francisco!

Real Wedding | wennie & dave

2009-05-19T20:56:00.001-07:00

Ceremony St. Regis San Francisco (Conservatory, Level four)
Reception St. Regis San Francisco (Gallery Ballroom, Level two)
Photography Martin Lam Photography

Events | The Knot Industry Networking Event (recap)

2009-05-18T16:47:00.001-07:00

It turned out to be a fun-fun-FUN night! Seeing a lot of familiar faces and meeting new ones!

Here's Fu of F.C. Wong Photography (above)

Here's Elley of Elley Photography (above)
Here's Janae Shields of Janae Shields Photography, Gabby of Cake Coquette, Duncan Reyes of events by design (above)
Here's Mary of Very Merry Events, who's that trying to get in our picture? (above)
Is it Andrew of Studio MSV? (above)
IT IS ANDREW of Studio MSV! (above)

And here's the mastermind of this event, Michelle of MB Wedding Designs (above)

Real Wedding | lisa & keith

2009-05-15T15:23:00.001-07:00

Ceremony Sts. Peter and Paul, San Francisco
Reception Marines' Memorial Club, San Francisco
Photographer Cohn Frankel Photography

Events | The Knot Wedding Network's Industry Networking Event

2009-05-13T16:13:00.001-07:00

WHEN: Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Galleria at the San Francisco Design Center

101 Henry Adams Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

www.sfvenues.com

I'll be here tonight! Hope to see you all there!

Events | Filoli's Kaleidoscope of Flowers

2009-05-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

Filoli, had its annual Mother's Day weekend Flower Show event last weekend, this year called the "Kaleidoscope of Flowers". (View earlier post of my initial thoughts and inspiration here). Literally at the eleventh hour, I was still searching for inspiration. I went back to IKEA, still nothing stood out. The initial idea of the hanging utensil holders were not going to "hold" well because they couldn't be hung against the wall, thus the flowers would most likely fall out and even if they didn't, it would literally just be hanging buckets of flowers. What's the big deal?, I thought.

Then I thought to browse around Macy's kitchen department since I was starting to form a "baking scene" in my head (mostly because in real life, I've been baking and loving it!). As I neared Martha Stewart's kitchen collection, her distinct signature turquoise color hit me with a "ah-hah!" moment - that color completely matched the distinct turquoise colors of the cabinetry in the Butler's pantry! I can't believe I didn't think of that earlier!

Then the rest is history and I went to town, drawing also from the red, grey, green, a lighter shade of blue, and another shade of the turquoise blue of MS's ingredient cups, and came up with my design, titled "A baking scene in a modernized kitchen, inspired by the same turquoise blue of Martha Stewart's kitchen collection as in the blue of the cabinets in the Butler's Pantry", see below:

Events | Floral Presentation at the College of San Mateo

2009-05-11T22:06:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to give back to the school that's given me so much - College of San Mateo - the school that's taught me the fundamentals of floral design and where I received my certificate in Floristry in 2003. So when asked if I would like to be a guest speaker for their monthly meeting, I immediately said YES! I've been bursting with so much knowledge from the past 5 years of being in the business that I wanted to share it all with all the new aspiring students!

I wanted to do my program that's focused more on the practical, everyday techniques of wedding design, instead of designs that are so "out there", (although inspiring) it's not applicable to everyday wedding design. While demonstrating and explaining the techniques, I also talked about the wedding business as being a business, making sure the students know that it is beyond designing - the realistic side of the flower business.

Featured | www.brides.com

2009-05-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

San Francisco City Hall featured on Brides.com's front page! It's their feature on wedding dresses of the season shown in scenes from San Francisco's City Hall. The photos are all courtesy of Chung Li Photography, which are photos from the same City Hall weddings we did together. If you click through the pictures, you'll see our florals in the background!
Here are some screenshots:

Featured | Classic Party Rentals SF website

2009-04-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

During Happy Hour last night at Genki Ramen with my gals, Gwen from Classic Party Rentals and Jamie, my infamous assistant, Gwen let me know our tablescape from the CPR Open House (3/10/09) was one of the chosen ones to be on their website's "Featured Projects" slideshow! Check it out at:
http://sanfrancisco.classicpartyrentals.com/special_projects/open_house
(Wait for the slideshow to load and we are picture 8 of 10!)

Vendors | New PREFERRED VENDOR LIST

2009-04-20T16:34:00.000-07:00

Our new PREFERRED VENDOR LIST is up on our website!! You can view at http://www.anniesiu.com/, click on "CONTACT' then click on "VENDOR LIST".

OR, you can view the list below. Click on these preferred vendors' links to view more of their work on their website. Be sure to let them know Annie Siu Floral & Events sent you their way!

Cake .. www.cakemaker.net
Chair Covers .. www.eychaircovers.com
Coordinator .. www.mbweddingdesigns.com
Coordinator .. www.stacymccain.com (*new!)

DJ .. www.yabata.com
DJ .. www.thespinheads.com (*new!)
Gowns .. www.uniquebride.com (*new!)
Invitations .. www.amberchic.com
Lighting .. www.elle-music.com (*new!)
Makeup and Hair .. abbeauty.blogspot.com

Photographer .. www.kurtyphotography.com
Photographer .. www.photographybyjonathan.com
Photographer .. www.chungliphotography.com
Photographer .. www.diarao.com (*new!)

Venue .. Memorial Club and Hotel, San Francisco (*new!)
Venue .. San Francisco City Hall, San Francisco (*new!)
Venue .. San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose (*new!)
Venue .. Wente Vineyard, Livermore (*new!)
Venue .. The Westin and The Sheraton, Palo Alto (*new!)

Portfolio | Magazine submissions

2009-04-14T21:26:00.000-07:00

Received an email from one of our favorite wedding magazines reminding us of their upcoming deadline to submit pictures for their next publication, so that's what I've been doing the past 2 days, gathering photos of our 2008 weddings to submit to this magazine and others. Here are our top four favorites of 2008 that I've decided to send in (shown here are spreads from our print portfolio, in no particular order):

#1 Charmaine & Paul / Palace Hotel, San Francisco / Pink Fog Studios

#2 Grace & Dennis / Silver Creek Valley Country Club, San Jose / Gene Higa

#3 Mike & Jeff / San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose / Emmy Jeanne Photography / Stacy McCain Event Planning

#4 Sue & Andrew / San Francisco City Hall, San Francisco / Chung Li Photography

Networking | Martini Madness

2009-04-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

Martini Madness, held by the "who-doesn't-know" Duncan Reyes of events by design, is a chic, fun networking event for wedding industry professionals, usually at the newest lounge/venue in town. This time though, was held unusually at a DANCE CLUB, Infusion Lounge, one of San Francisco's hottest and newest, and also to celebrate Gene Higa's (Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World) birthday.

My assistant and partner-in-crime, Jamie Reyes, and I went and painted the town red and met some new industry friends along the way. Lilia and Raymond of Lilia Photography and Eric Yee of Spintronix with his fiance, Geri. Remember, I have not been in this scene for 3+ years (since being pregnant with the bb and now him at 2.5 yrs old) that it was such an eye-opener for me! I can't believe what the girls are wearing these days! It's either low in the front, lower in the back or high from the bottom. WOAH! And it was funny joking about how since everyone there was not necessarily in the wedding industry, should we still go up to them and introduce ourselves as such? Then to find out they're not in the industry and that you've just picked up on them. HA!

Picture courtesy of Duncan Reyes, events by design.

Events | Bouquets to Art

2009-03-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

Bouquets to Art (3/17/09 - 3/21/09) came and went at the De Young Museum, just like how it was for me when I attended this show because of so little time I had there. Getting in only 15 minutes before Paula Pryke's lecture at 1:30PM, the demonstration lasted a good 2 hours, and a total eye-opener for me because a lot of questions I had with some of her techniques were openly revealed to me...at last!

Lingering after to further analyze all the mechanics just presented, then realizing I had only one and a half hour to visit the rest of the museum - to see all the art-inspired floral designs of Bouquets to Art, Yves Saint Laurent, and Andy Warhol - I finally had to come to terms that I was not going to be able to make it to Andy Warhol. I had to stay on course to be able to go through at least all the flowers and YSL (since they are ending in April).

Even with that limitation, I still had to sadly breeze by all the floral arts quickly so that I made sure I caught full glimpses of all of YSL's amazing pieces, finally in person! The question I have is if floral designers get their inspiration from fashion, where do fashion designers get their inspiration?

Here are some of Paula's signature pieces and a picture with Paula herself. I couldn't resist getting a "hot-off-the-press" copy of her la test book, "Simply Pink" and of course a picture together and an autograph too! (I LOVE her autograph, literally, see top left picture)

Wente Vineyards, Livermore e-postcards!

2009-03-23T20:05:00.001-07:00

A few weeks back, I blogged about my sales presentation at Wente Vineyards. Needless to say, the meeting went well, that quickly following, I had my graphics guy rush to put together a "venue postcard" for all the sales managers to send to their clients. It's in a similar format as the one we had designed for our San Francisco City Hall ad, (so that it's easily recognizable as one of our marketing campaigns), but the pictures were swapped out and wording added, so that this new postcard specifically featured the florals we had done at Wente Vineyards.

For now, this new postcard is in pdf format only. I am embracing the fact that Wente and myself don't feel the need to send out traditional packets of information/postcards. Packets mailed out just means wasted paper, wasted time and wasted postage, especially when the same information can be sent faster, with less waste and probably better received via email/internet anyway. GO GREEN!

Photographer Martina Konietzny Photography

Chung Li Photography Gallery Opening!

2009-03-17T15:14:00.000-07:00

Chung Li, my awesomest photographer, now great friends. We've been through so much and it's great to see he's finally moved to a new place - a chic and quaint studio in Belmont. The aesthetic is so pleasing, sharp and clean, just like his work, a great new place for meeting his clients. I bet all brides walking in will be "love IT at first sight", because it was for me!

The Gallery Opening last Friday night was fun and casual, just like Chung himself. Everyone enjoyed themselves of great food (especially me! - fat-sized, bottomless Japanese rolls!), meeting new friends (especially a fellow Floral Designer who, the first thing she says is "I LOVE your work", as we're first meeting) and looking for the first time at the published albums of weddings that Chung and I did together. What pictures would be better to post than ones from Chung Li himself:

SJMA Council of 100 Annual Dinner

2009-03-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

Didn't get a chance to blog about an event we did last last week on 3/6/09. It was a sponsorship event that we gladly did for the San Jose Museum of Art's Council of 100 Annual Dinner. The night was themed around the guest speaker, Tony Oursler - an internationally reknowned video artist - and his piece, Slip, 2003. Fiberglass sculpture, which is currently displayed at SJMA. Here is a picture of the piece taken from SJMA's website, but it's definitely something you have to see in person to appreciate...because it's alive and it talks!

So of course we drew our inspiration from such a unique piece and artist. Worked closely with the Director of Individual Giving and one of the committee members, brainstorming and going to town with picking out very interesting textural materials to use. In the end, we decided to be minimal and use succulents, thistle, kale, an orb, waterproof lights and of course gels! That is our final product for each the centerpieces and the registration table.

Classic Party Rentals Open House

2009-03-10T16:36:00.000-07:00

I was so excited about the tablescape I created for Classic Party Rental's Open House this morning that I wanted to just quickly post up some pictures before the party tonight:

Hope to see you at the party tonight!
Classic Party Rentals Open House
Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Time: 5:30PM - 8:30PM
Place: 1635 "A" Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA 94010

Will post more after the event!

Post update:
When I got there, of course I was so excited to show my colleagues my table, but when I got to where my table was, it was NOT THERE! I thought, "was it THAT bad they had to take it away?" So I kept walking around, pretending to be looking at all the other wonderful tablescapes from the other Florists, while secretly looking for MY TABLE of course! But soon enough (TG!), I found it! It was actually at an even better location! It was "center-staged" in the "silver room" with a silver-charcoal backdrop, which went even better with my tablescape, especially since it was next to the oh-so yummy tray of SLIDERS, provided by Hugh Groman Catering! (Oh...SO GOOD! I can still taste it in my mouth!)

The rest of the night was just plain FUN! Especially hanging out with my CPR Gwen-e-GwenGwen! We toured, ate and drank! The best part was everytime she introduced me to a fellow CPR, they all said they loved my piece the best (but hush! hush!).

These wonderful guys from Precision Parking 650-620-0095 (the valet parking sponsors for the night) graciously offered to help me take down my display and carry the boxes to my car! Gets my car AND helps with my things? What more could I ask for?

Here are pictures (SO FAST!) from Orange Photography, the sponsoring photographer for the night!

To view the event slideshow with a "kickin soundtrack", click http://view.orangephotography.com/2009/events/classicopenhouse/
To view complete gallery of pictures from the night, click http://www.orangephotography.com/public/refer.jsp?id=3571&pwd=classic

Recommended Vendor of Wente Vineyard!

2009-03-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

With 125 years of history and still family-owned, Wente Vineyards has the ultimate wine country setting for weddings and events...AND it's only in Livermore!

In the last 2 years, we've done a few weddings in their beautiful outdoor terrace lawn. Because we've kept in touch with their ultra-nice sales manager during this time, I've recently been invited to meet their other 4 sales managers in the office to do a sales presentation. Bringing them (including the sales assistants and director) each a little squared shaped vase arrangement - inside leaf-wrapped, of green spider mums, midnight-blue thistle with just a touch of eucalyptus - each laid in a 3X3 squared formation. The whole could be used for a centerpiece but then taken individually as favors - serving double duty in this day and age of reduce, reuse and recyle - this idea was easily well-received by all the managers for going-green! LOVE IT!

(not pictured very good here, but you get the idea!)

Below are some weddings we've done at Wente, which are also clips from our new print portfolio (that we've slaved over to finish within a one-month deadline for THIS meeting and other marketing events in the last few weeks, well-worth it because we are now one of their recommended vendors!):

Photographers
Martina Konietzny Photography (top)
Todd Rafalovich (bottom)

Introducing Oceano Hotel & Spa

2009-03-02T11:21:00.000-08:00

I've recently heard so much about Oceano that when I ran into their booth at the Hillsdale Bridal & Expo Faire, I had to introduce myself and learn more about this most-talked about, newest wedding venue in Half Moon Bay! After chatting up a bit, the wedding and event planner graciously invited me to their wedding event the following Sunday to view their venue first-hand.
The "Wedding Event/Fashion Show" was for brides, grooms and families to enjoy a fun and informative day at Oceano while viewing their different event spaces. The ballroom was filled with event professionals displaying their services and a selective panel of vendors spoke about "Unlock(ing) the Secrets to a Successful Wedding" in the Atrium. The room that I fell in love with is The Galleria, (above left), whose original intent was not for weddings, but a street that lined the hotel's boutique shops. But after one bride's request to have a wedding in this indoor (but with an outdoor feel because of the skylight roof), the rest is history!

Some vendors I met are:
Studio Cake - love her business philosophy as well as her complete packaging, from the dainty boxes that held her sample cakes to her logo and website. The cake pictures on her website are as divine as they are in person! You have to check it out at: http://www.studiocake.com/. Here are some of my favorites (below):

That Takes the Cake - love her friendly personality and enthusiasm, plus she's on Union Street Wedding Ring! Located in a high-end location, her cupcakes are surprisingly quite affordable! Cutest red velvets (below):

Cakework - wealth of experience, continued innovation, inspired from just about anything! She is the inventor of those famous and flawless stripes you see on cakes. When asked, she wouldn't reveal her secret! =P Hates fondant and uses only white chocolate. The most renowned stripes (below):

BAWN First Quarter Event!

2009-02-26T14:25:00.000-08:00

Something old, something new, that was the ongoing theme for BAWN's (Bay Area Wedding Network) First Quarter Event, held at the historic San Francisco building, Marine's Memorial Club & Hotel. As a preferred vendor there, we were graciously asked to sponsor the flowers for this event.

The old for us is definitely having worked at the Marine's multiple times and seeing the other preferred vendors of the Marine's as well - Pete and Terry of The Spinheads (below left), Bala and Mandy of The Cakemaker (not pictured) and Beverly of Especially Yours Chair Covers (below right).

But the "new" is multiple too:
(1) Working with Gwen at Classic Party Rentals and going to town with the ceremony and reception tables, the Crystal Lounge has never looked so "enchanting" and magical!

(2) coming up with new aisle decor - using napkins matching to the chivari chair cushions without having to sew or cut, but just with double-sided tape and pins, making it seamless! (I will reveal my sources/mechanics if you ask! =P)

(3) meeting loads of new friends:
Jean of Jean Marks Weddings (my new blogging/picture taking buddy!), Amy of Amy Wedding & Events, Julie of Four Seasons, Adrienne of Adrienne D. Keats Calligraphy, me!

me!, Mary of Very Merry Events and Dia of Dia Rao Photography - my partners in crime for the night!

me! and Janae of Janae Shields Photography

(4) And other noteables are Jennifer of Jennifer Skog (can't wait to get pictures from you for this event!, Maria of Professional Makeup Artistry and of course Gwen of Where to Start and Maria of Creative Occasions, co-founders of BAWN!

Hillsdale Bridal Expo & Registry Faire

2009-02-23T07:33:00.000-08:00

What's more fun than going shopping while it's raining outside?

"Shopping" for a venue of course! (well, that is, if you are a bride and groom-to-be!) We were so lucky to be asked to sponsor the flowers for The Westin Palo Alto and Sheraton Palo Alto Hotels' table at the Hillsdale Bridal Expo & Registry Faire this past Sunday.

We did a centerpiece, leaf-wrapped vase of light blue hydrangeas, creamy lisianthus and white with buttery-centered spider mums, twined with beargrass. A bridal bouquet of the same buttery-white spider mums with folded-leaves around the edge and a matching miniature spider mum for the groom.

There's me (right) with my friend/Catering Manager (left)! We have now partnered up and are officially on their Preferred Vendor's List!

SJMA Open House!

2009-02-21T22:15:00.000-08:00

San Jose Mu seum of Art's Open House, "Art-inspired Events" was more than a networking event, it was FUN, inspiring and exhilarating! We were asked to sponsor the flowers for the martini room - be inspired from Andy Warhol's very famous martini glass - the glass itself was green, with a purple olive and yellow background. We studied and studied the picture and decided to do something abstract - tall, slender cylinder vases of sleek stems of green calla lilies, curved to shape like martini glasses, with purple flowers and olives around the lip of the vase. As for the registration and coat check area, we did six smaller cylinder vases of green/yellow spider mums in purple water with a curvy toothpick pierced through a rich purple aster flower on top, as to mimic an olive.

My photographer friend, Chung Li and new wedding coordinator friend, Amy Tam of Amy's Wedding & Events were having so much FUN (but maybe it was because of the three martinis for me =P) that we stayed till the end!

Here is me with my wonderful assistant, Jamie!

The night ended finally when the wonderful Louise of SJMA graciously gave me a brand-new copy of the museum's permanent collection. What a way to end the night!

San Francisco City Hall Preferred Florist!

2009-02-13T14:14:00.000-08:00

We are officially on San Francisco City Hall's Preferred Professionals' List! I've just received an email from the publication announcing San Francisco City Hall wedding & special events brochure is off press and should be at the venue already, to be distributed to all engaged couples and event planners.

Here is an electronic link to the e-brochure: our ad is on page 24!

http://ebrochure.hawthornpublications.com/go/sanfrancityhall

But you can see MANY pictures in the pages prior to the ads - pictures specifically to feature City Hall were chosen from pictures I had submitted on behalf of Chung Li Photography. Page 3, Page 5, Page 12, Page 13 (that's our bride!), Page 14 (that's our flowers and cake from www.goldleafconfections.com), Page 15 (that's our centerpieces and our bride again!). There must be a reason why SO MANY of Chung Li's pictures were chosen - maybe because he IS that good! LOVE LOVE LOVE his stuff, at first sight!

All pictures on our ad (Page 24) were also courtesy of Chung Li Photography. Thanks Chung!

We are also listed on http://www.elegala.com/ as a preferred professional on the feature page for San Francisco City Hall: http://resources.elegala.com/venues/125-san-francisco-city-hall

And also listed on http://www.elegala.com/ within our industry in the venue's state: http://resources.elegala.com/local_search/search

Filoli Meeting

2009-02-09T20:38:00.001-08:00

The visit to Filoli this morning was splendid! After a short informational meeting for the 2009 Filoli Flower Show - Kaleidoscope of Flowers - we were set free to choose our site location. A little background first - this event is a premiere showcase of floral arrangements in the beautifully furnished and preserved historic mansion and gardens at Filoli and is a long established tradition four-day event, to take place on Mother's Day weekend, May 7 - 10.

From the meeting, I was already leaning toward the "Butler's Pantry," but when I got there, I wasn't so sure anymore. The room instantly spelled of fresh breads when I walked in and the tiffany-blue cabinets were striking. But these two elements alone did not inspire any ideas. All I could do was stand there and wonder, what to do with a sink counter?

I knew I wanted repeated elements, something that lined down the counter, something clean, something sweet, something that brightened up the sink counter like the incredibly bright ray of light shining through the windows above on this seeping cold winter day. Then the idea hit and I went running. So fast that quickly afterward, I went to IKEA, and more ideas formed as I was inspired by all their "metal" kitchen items/gadgets. Ideas/construction/flower choices are still brewing in my head, but looks like I will be creating a "modernized version of our everyday kitchen counter."

The Flirty Guide

2009-02-06T23:56:00.000-08:00

This post has been long overdue. I was going to wait until I've been blogging for about a month, that is everyday for a month, until I contact Stacie Tamaki of The Flirty Guide. But when I ran into Stacie at the Congregation Beth Sholom Open House, I had to introduce myself in-person and let her know she had inspired me to finally continue blogging.

I started my blog about a year ago and from that time on, blogged rarely, here and there, and eventually stopped and was really never going to start it up again...until I heard Stacie speak at the BAWN event. Stacie, of The Flirty Guide, an online wedding resource with "the coolest ideas from the Flirtiest Professionals", of course has a blog. In her talk, she highly encouraged all the wedding industry professionals to BLOG, even if it's just something short, even if it's just posting a few pictures - something, it's part of the business and it's not going away.

And since then, I've been addicted to blogging! I used to say, if you don't have a website, you don't have a business. Now I say, if you don't have a blog, you don't have a website, which in turn, you don't have a business.

San Francisco's Newest Event Venue

2009-02-04T21:22:00.000-08:00

The Congregation Beth Sholom, indeed San Francisco's newest event venue, with its ultra-modern design throughout that you don't even realize you're in a congregation! I've actually passed by it (during the construction) many times while walking the baby (yes, I live in the Richmond District, but work out of Burlingame!). So when invited to their Open House, I was of course excited, as I had been so curious about the inside from all the construction on the outside!

The exterior was captivating, with its uplights at night, while the immediate interior entrance, the Rainbow Courtyard, was inviting. Stairs led up to the Sanctuary and the hidden-jewel, Koret Hall - with its dramatic ceilings, white-oak flooring and large floor-to-ceiling windows and drapes - really a to-die-for event space for weddings!

Congregation Beth Sholom
301 14th Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94118

415-221-8736

bethsolomsf.org

For inquiries, contact Beth Jones, BJones@bethsholomsf.org

Tasting at Marine's Memorial Club & Hotel

2009-02-03T18:32:00.000-08:00

About every other month, the Marine's Memorial Club & Hotel hosts a Tasting, which is a where the bride and groom and their families are invited to try out their delicious menu; in the end to pick out their own menus for their wedding. As part of their Preferred Vendors' List, we too are invited to this event to introduce brides to try our services as well.

That night, I was delighted to have met Gabrielle Feuersinger of Cake Coquette. Besides her friendly, quirky personality and intricately-decorated cakes, what stands out most about her cakes is that unlike every other cake places out there, hers are not covered with fondant (she actually hates fondant!). Gabrielle's butter cream work is so unbelievably smooth that she doesn't need fondant to hide any flaws - because there are none! You can check it out for yourself on her cake gallery at http://www.cakecoquette.com/gallery/ and her upcoming display at Gump's Wedding Chic Bridal Event this coming Sunday, February 8, 2009.

Here is Gabrielle and I (chilling out):

Meeting at Classic Party Rentals

2009-01-26T17:46:00.000-08:00

Last Friday's meeting at Classic Party Rentals was SO fun! Their showroom is definitely a funhouse for us Florists, wedding coordinators, and brides-to-be. Since CPR is also a Sponsor for the upcoming BAWN (Bay Area Wedding Network)'s First Quarter Event, we collaborated and came up with "I-got-the-chills" ideas for the ceremony scene we'll be doing on the 11th Floor of the Crystal Lounge at the Marine's Memorial Club & Hotel (the venue and also another Sponsor for this Event).

We decided to play off the floor-to-ceiling gold-trimmed, rich red-velvety curtains in the Crystal Lounge with rows of striped red-and-gold cushioned gold chivari chairs. Hanging from them will be containers of the same striped fabric (to be made from matching napkins) filled with white flowers. A crisp white aisle runner will lead up to the ceremony area, which will be placed a narrow-sleek table, draped with gold fabric. Atop this table will be three tall vases/or one larger vase of red dogwood branches. I'm still undecided whether to have pops of white blooms tied/hung/tubed from the branches or various sizes of vases of lush white flowers lining down the table.

You probably noticed the trend of WHITE FLOWERS here, and that is also where we had the "I-got-the-chills" moment, when we decided to use only white flowers, as it is the trend for this year to go white-white-white and all white. And it works perfectly for this room as it completely pops from the rich reds and golds.

Dates to Remember!

2009-01-26T01:06:00.000-08:00

We've all of a sudden been asked to do so many sponsoring/marketing events that I thought I should start a list so I don't forget: (like all moms, I can't remember anymore, and it's NOT because we're getting older, but because there's just too much to remember! =P)

1/27/09 - Our usual Tasting at the Marine's Memorial Club & Hotel
2/18/09 - SJMA's (San Jose Museum of Art) Open House - "Art-Inspired Events"
2/22/09 - Bridal Expo & Registry Faire at Hillsdale Shopping Center - partnering with The Westin & Sheraton Hotels, Palo Alto
2/24/09 - BAWN's (Bay Area Wedding Network) First Quarter Event - held at the Marine's Memorial Club & Hotel
2/TBD/09 - Chung Li Photography's new studio Grand Opening
3/6/09 - SJMA's Premier Annual Event - sponsoring table decor
3/10/09 - Classic Party Rentals' Open House
5/6/09 - CSM's (College of San Mateo) SAIFD (Student Chapter of American Institute of Floral Designers) monthly meeting - GUEST SPEAKER!
5/7/09 - 5/10/09 - Filoli Flower Show 2009 - "Kaleidoscope of Flowers"

Cooking! Crab cakes with red chili mayonnaise

2009-01-25T11:44:00.001-08:00

For those of you who know me, I love to cook. I'm not a great cook (yet) by any means, I am just learning and I live by recipes. I still can't say I know how to cook yet because to me, following recipes is not really knowing how to cook, it's being able to follow directions. And I follow recipes to the T. I never deviate, not even with recipes I've done many times. Plus, for some reason I can't remember ingredients, I always have to refer back to the printed sheets. =P

In any case, that is how I currently cook and I ENJOY every minute of it! And last night's meal turned out to be a huge success! It's my first time making crab cakes with red chili mayonnaise over a bed of wilted spinach. The crab cakes were a tiny bit dry, but the hot chili sauce made up for it, and can you believe it was just mayonnaise, lemon juice, and sriracha?

You can find the recipe here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Crab-Cakes-with-Red-Chili-Mayonnaise-107053
Here's how mine looked like:

Graphic Design

2009-01-23T09:40:00.000-08:00

I am SO excited to be working on our new print portfolio! Graphic design (besides flowers) has always been another medium of art that I loved. But because I can't do everything (although I try so hard to all the time!), my outlet to continue to do some kind of graphic design work are these "small" projects for my business. Besides our earlier business cards, letterhead, and website, I've designed our past 2 years' Holiday cards as well. Even though it was a LOT of work, but like other graphic designers, once you see the final print outcome, it is all worth it!!

Here is our Holiday 2008 card, done in Illustrator, printed with Costco prints, then set ontop of a cute photo-corner Holiday card from Paperchase (not-shown):

Best of 2008 Holiday cards:

Photos Chung Li Photography..kim and niki, photographers..Jeanine Brown Photo Design..Akiko Photo..Pink Fog Studios

I woke up excited to be working on this project (with a ONE month deadline! -- so it can be used for all our upcoming marketing/sponsorship events) because last night while thinking of how to do the layout...should it be like past years' where it's all photojournalistic OR more of a clean collage of pictures (similiar to the Holiday cards) but with only one wedding per collage, set on their own individual pages, with the venue/vendors' names credited just below. Yah! I can't wait to get started! Will continuously update my progress!

Guest Speaker!

2009-01-22T15:39:00.000-08:00

I am so excited and HONORED to be asked to be one of the guest speakers for College of San Mateo's SAIFD (student chapter of American Institute of Floral Designers) monthly meeting this Spring! Many of my designers know, as I'm sharing my experiences with them, how I've talked so much about wanting to give back to the school that's taught me to be the designer I am today. It is there that I received my Floral Design Certificate. And now I've been asked if I would possibly be interested...are you kidding? OF COURSE!

I got SO excited that I've already started brainstorming on ideas of what to talk about and share, even before getting all the details from the head teacher. Stay tuned for more details!

Art-inspired Events 2/18/09 at SJMA

2009-01-15T17:30:00.000-08:00

We are honored to be one of the Sponsors for San Jose Museum of Art's 2009 Open House - "Art-inspired Events" to be held on February 18, 2009 at 6-9pm, where many of the finest event professionals will be showcasing their "art", inspired from none-other-than (happens to be my personal favorite too!)...Andy Warhol (which is SO fitting since we just visited Andy Warhol's collection at the Jewish Contemporary Museum on "Family Appreciation Day"). All brides, event coordinators are invited to this night of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and an exclusive private viewing of The Prints of Andy Warhol, so if you haven't received a personal invitation from us, please email at annie@anniesiu.com.

More to come on how we're going to showcase floral art, inspired from Andy Warhol. Currently inspired by the very famous green martini glass with the yellow background...

Half Moon Bay Golf Links

2008-10-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

Like everyone else in the wedding industry, I haven't had any time to blog, just working hard to finish up the wedding season and ending with a BANG! I've just had some time to get pictures from the photographers of recent weddings. Here is the first batch, KI Photography, who was so generous to send us ALL the pictures without hesitation.

Even though there were just a handful of pictures, (which I much rather look through than the hundreds of pictures that other photographers take) they were all individually purposeful and succinct. I’ve really enjoyed each and every one of them, and hope you do too. These are just a few of them here...a beautiful bride and the most easy-going groom, their wedding at Half Moon Bay Golf Links:

LOVE the negative space in this picture (above)

LOVE this picture (above) in black and white - looks like they are walking in snow

This is one of the better "bridesmaids-and-groomsmens-in-the-background" shot...most other ones I've seen are so cheese

LOVE the mild play of coloration of this shot and of course the angle of the shot too!

Paula Le Duc event at City Hall

2008-09-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

Usually for a corporate event, there is no professional photographer hired. Although this event at City Hall was smaller, it was still elaborate enough that I asked my photographer friend, Chung Li, as a favor to come and photograph it. As if Chung needs more pictures for his portfolio of City Hall AND of my flowers in it (this will be the third time we've teamed up together at the same venue), but without hesitation, he ecstatically agreed to come along.

I am so spoiled once again with pictures from Chung Li Photography, who's turnaround time is just impeccable! By the very next morning, he's already emailed these pictures to me. How does he do it? Just ask him at chung@chungliphotography.com.

Annie Siu Floral & Events is nominated for the San Francisco Chronicle | SFGate.com BayList Best

2008-09-15T13:54:00.000-07:00

We've been nominated for the San Francisco Chronicle SFGate.com BayList Best for BEST WEDDING FLOWERS in the Bay Area!!

Please click on the following link to cast a vote for us! http://baylist.sfgate.com/annie-siu-floral-and-events/biz/111554

If you've already voted for us, please forward this link to all your friends/family/coworkers as well! THANKS SO MUCH! It's because of your vote that we've already inched up to 10th place!

Starbucks collector

2008-09-02T17:25:00.000-07:00

First there were gift cards, then there were bags...now there's Starbucks. I'm still collecting the recyclable grocery bags (currently at 8) and the gift cards (currently at 54), but now I'm into Starbucks cups/mugs/and even their Starbucks barista bear (SO cute! =P).

It all started when I was at Starbucks on a normal day and was just peering at their gift display shelves, and I briefly noticed the plastic cup with the green straw. It's just like the grande plastic cups that they use to fill your ice cold drinks/frappaccinos, etc, but it's made out of hard plastic, (even the green straw) so it's reusable. I thought, 'I'll just get it another day. I'll look at it more closely then.' And from that day on, I've been to at least 10+ different Starbucks and have NOT found it ever since. Unlike most people who go to Starbucks everyday to get their cup of coffee, I go to each and every Starbucks I happen to walk by, not to get their coffee, but to look for that cup. I even take the time to ask the barista, but all I get is the same answer, 'those sold out fast. Maybe they'll send us another shipment soon.'

And to this day, that shipment has not come.

So to compensate for the 'should've bought it at that moment and not being able to get it later' syndrome, if I see another Starbucks cups/mugs that I like, I buy it, without hesitation. I just can't deal with another 'not being able to get it ever 'cup. But don't worry, I haven't gone too crazy yet, like with the gift cards. I only buy ones that evoke a 'I have to have' feeling. Although every time I go into a Starbucks, I always find something different and unique and one that I think I won't see again, so the IHTH feeling just takes over. But I only allow myself to get ONE per day, not per visit.

Currently, I've collected 4 Starbucks items. I didn't even know they are collector's items...are they?!

City Hall Wedding

2008-08-17T23:01:00.000-07:00

After setting up a wedding, I can never resist to take a million pictures. Everything always turns out SO NICE at the end that I still take pictures as if it's my first wedding! But at this particular wedding, I knew I didn't have to take too many pictures because one of my favorite photographers Chung Li was photographing the wedding. It was at the same venue, City Hall, where we met at around this time last year. He already has pictures up on his blog and I've grabbed some for here: (can't wait to see the rest of the pictures, Chung!)

www.weddingchannel.com

2008-08-17T00:44:00.001-07:00

One of our best remembered weddings last year just got featured on www.weddingchannel.com! Check it out on their main page under "Real Weddings" and "explore June and Greg's San Fran City Hall extravaganza." Here are a few screenshots:

A Cinderella Story at the Palace Hotel

2008-07-28T23:42:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday's bride already wrote us a review on Yelp!...faster than I could post pictures on my blog. Check it out at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/annie-siu-floral-and-events-burlingame#hrid:RyEOB68qEwJI0vTjPzLL-Q

The bride had also sent me a personal THANK YOU email and she couldn't have said it better:
Thank you SO SO much!!! Our fairytale wedding was perfect and more than we could have ever dreamed of. Thank you for being there for us and making our wedding a great success. You were truly instrumental in making our dreams come true and we are deeply appreciative of all your hard work. You were absolutely amazing and I couldn't have asked for a better person/friend to do our flowers. You are truly stellar in what you do. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. When we first saw the arch, it took my breath away! It was nothing short of MAGICAL. You really captured what we wanted and made our wedding so whimsical. All the flowers were amazing and you did such a superb job on the cake! It really was PERFECT! Again thank you Annie!!!

Here are a few favorite pictures of my own:

Saturday, July 6, 2008 Wedding

2008-07-10T08:06:00.000-07:00

The past Saturday's wedding, 7/6/08 was at the Presidio Main Chapel with the reception following at the Golden Gate Club just down below. Lush flowers of mainly whites and creams with touches of apricots fill the room of tall ceilings and floor-to-roof grandeur windows. Finished with touches of apricot uplights surrounding the perimeter of the room, dance floor wash and pin-lighting on the cake - all from Elle Music & Events.

But these aren't the things I'll remember...

It's when the Mother of the Groom (who helped coordinate a large part of the wedding) announced...Annie Siu "IS THE WORLD'S BEST FLORIST!" to all her friends and family...that is the moment I will never forget.

In the Mother of the Groom's own words:
You did a great job for us - the pew flowers were affixed to the stage, the centerpieces looked great with the nice expensive flowers, the altar arrangements on the columns looked impressive, the chapel awning poles were wrapped with ribbon and ivy and your timing and punctuality with installation was much appreciated.

Don't hesitate to use us as a reference at any time and don't be surprised if you get calls from prospective brides in the near future.

Walking and Wah-ing

2008-06-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

I finally know what they were all trying to say to me...

"you just wait...when they start walking, they'd be walking everywhere and you'd wish they hadn't"

It's evident that the baby doesn't like to be in the stroller anymore, that's why we bought the Radio Flyer wagon last weekend to change things up. But you can't use the wagon everywhere, especially around tight spaces like the supermarket, so we have to resort back to the stroller.

There's no more of the leisure strolling around, running errands in a stroller. Now he wahs and he wahs until you get him out of the wretched stroller and you know it's because he'd rather walk. You let him walk around because you'd rather he not wah, but he's walking everywhere, and of course always in the opposite direction. Is this what they were saying about walking?!

Second Obsession...

2008-06-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

So my first obsession is bags, my second is cooking. As everyone obsesses over which restaurants to go to and reads and makes reviews, I am obsessed with finding recipes, reading reviews on them and trying them out. I never really had such an enjoyment with cooking until I was without a kitchen for 2 years. Then when we were toying with the idea of buying a house, we decided to stay where we are at for the time being and put in a small kitchenette instead. Our place is the typical San Francisco in-law unit - small, yet livable - and surprisingly, putting in a full sized refrigerator, stove AND oven, plus a sink and full-sized cabinets actually made the place a lot more cozier!

I love it!

I love spending the time to find recipes online, watching the foodnetwork and trying other's people's recipes. I love buying all kinds of kitchen gadgets, especially from Crate & Barrel, that make life easier in the kitchen. It's the one-hour time in a day that I have complete bliss from the baby and am not working. It's a new venture for me that I think I will keep at until I feel like I've got it - when I know why you add certain ingredients to certain things and where I can just whip up a meal without referring religiously to step-by-step recipes.

Bags!

2008-05-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

Besides being obsessed with the color green, cooking (more about that another time) and gift cards, I am now infatuated with recyclable canvas bags! I've been conscious of "BYOB" (bring-ing your own bag) for sometime now - especially to the grocery stores - because I have been so tired of getting an endless supply of plastic bags everytime coming out of a store. I've even made it a habit to have used paper bags handy in the car. (Plus, some stores give you .03 or .05 cent back for every bag you bring!)

But now, I'm even more conscious of the kinds of recyclable bags they have at the stores. They're the ones that you can purchase at the checkout for usually 99cents. The first bag I bought was the greenbag, one that folds into the size of an index card, so you can put it in your purse, in case of those unexpected buys when you forget to bring a bag. Then I couldn't resist the khaki tote that looks like my friend's yelp.com bag (which I'm still hoping to get a hold of one day), because those have become my favorite type of bag - with the long handles, it's sturdy and even has a backing for the bottom. Then I was at Whole Foods, who I think are the ones who made this whole revolution a phenomenon, and I was going to just check out their original dark green "Whole Foods" labeled bag, but I fell in love at first sight with their lime green "-1" bag instead. "-1" meaning one less plastic bag used to bag my grocery! I had to have it!

I think these grocery bags have become more than just recyclable bags that you use. It has become such a fad that you don't just use them to carry groceries. SO many stores have produced like bags of different sizes, colors, styles, that I think it has become my new collectible item!

So far to date, I have 3 bags...and 32 gift cards collected! More to come! =P

We got Yelp!-ed

2008-05-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

Is this what turning 30 is all about?

Technology illiterate?!

Am I already that kind of mom who doesn't know what my son knows? =P (Good thing he's only 17-mos, but he loves clicking on the mouse and keyboard already!)

I am on Facebook, but not really really on it like most people, and one of my past clients just suggested that I create a Facebook page of my business. It took me so long just to figure out yelp.com and now I have to figure out another website? Is all this technology just too much for someone old like me?! There are a million things I would love to do for my business and I wish I had all the time in the world to do them. I wish I could be online all the time too, like I used to before the baby. But now, all moms would probably agree that we just don't have that kind of time anymore.

But after some nights of yelp!-ing around, we have 5 star reviews!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/annie-siu-floral-and-events-burlingame.

Re-launching www.anniesiu.com!

2008-04-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

Finally it's here! The re-launch of our website - http://www.anniesiu.com/ - with many new features, including a new gallery of our best of the best, the press page, and of course our blog! Unlike all other blogs, our blog will not only be about recent weddings/events, but the real life of being a mom, a wife, AND a business owner. So ENJOY!

This was the best birthday present ever! Thanks so much to http://www.cambridgeomnimedia.com/, whose work I've always admired since 5 years ago when I created my first website. I wanted to keep him a secret, but his work is just phenomenal that I had to give him his well deserved credit!
On a side note, good luck to your wife with the birth of your first baby girl, due tomorrow!

...Balance...

2008-04-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

I always thought I had a good balance - I have a baby, who I take care of and I have my own business, which is still running strong (actually, even stronger after having the baby). So I have both, unlike other moms who are either full-time mothers and longs to work, or moms who go to work and longs to be taking care of the baby.

But today at my annual visit to my obgyn, she is the ONLY person who, after this whole time of having the baby, I was able to completely confide in. She made me realize that although I have that balance with work and baby, I don't have that time for me. I thought I did - because I do still go out occasionaly without the baby - but at the same time, when I am out, I subconsciously feel guilty for it. I need some truly alone time, where it's all about me, and not running errands, but maybe sitting at a coffee shop, reading a book, riding a bike - those are just some of the ideas we came up with during our meeting.

On a side note, how many doctors do you know, whole-heartedly listens to you? She's the only one - my midwife, my friend and I love her!

Monday night grocery shopping

2008-04-23T23:27:00.001-07:00

Did you know you can get cheaper groceries on a Monday night? I don't know if that's really the case but we happened to go grocery shopping this past Monday night and EVERYTHING was on sale! It felt like everything was half off! It was a great night to stock up the pantry! =P

FOREVER Stamps

2008-04-18T17:52:00.000-07:00

Did you know that you can purchase stamps called "Forever Stamps"? I was just over at the post office today and was asked if I needed some extra stamps. I thought outloud that I would get them again after the price increase, which is in about another month or so, but then the postman said I could purchase FOREVER STAMPS - which I had no idea what it was until I was told they are stamps that you can purchase at the price now (41cents) and if and when the price of stamps go up to say even $5 in the future, you would still be only been paying 41 cents! What a phenomenon! I was so excited about this that I had to buy 100 of them, which I don't think it's even enough, but I had to get back and write it on my Blog. I think it's the best thing - like stocks - but this one, the price won't ever go down! =P

Millbrae Library

2008-04-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

I think out of all the activities I've done with baby - walks, museums, parks, child observation classes, shopping, running errands, etc., going to the library has been and still is the most enjoyable.

Today we wanted to go to the Millbrae Library to check out their storytime because I just found out they have it in English AND Cantonese! But of course with my luck, the lady that does it is in China, and will resume class on 4-24. But I did get a glimpse of the newly renovated library on my way out. I haven't been there since high school, (which is more than 10 yrs ago!) and my breath was taken away! The best description I could give it is it looked like a college library! There were those rooms along the side for studying, with the glass windows and doors, and the entrance was so grand with a rotunda and automatic sliding doors! It's smaller than the Burlingame library, but the feel was so spacious and so much more contemporary.

I really was just blown away. But as I was on my way back to the car, I was thinking that I was hoping to see some glimpse of the old library, to reminisce the past, but no part of it had remained the same.

Bum it out Mondays

2008-04-07T12:52:00.001-07:00

I don't have any kind of routine in my life. That's the beauty of it because I could never stand doing the same routine everyday of the week. It may also be why I could never do a 9-5 job. =P

We've unnoticeably been doing this for a while now, so that's why today, I've declared Mondays to be our "Bum it out" day. It's where the baby and I don't go out at all, we just "bum it out" at home. Every day of the week, including weekends, I am either working, or he is running errands with me, so we're always on the go. Mondays have been the only days that's been a bit slower, no baby activities either, so we really enjoy lazy-ing ourselves at home - not having to change, not having to pack our bags, not having to drive, no walks, not having to pull out the stroller...it's our day of bumming it out.

But now that it may become a routine, let's see how long that lasts! =P

We got our new car!

2008-04-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

Finally! We were so tired of our white Pilot that we decided to cancel the lease early and get our new car! This time no more leasing, but financing a top-of-the-line Odessey Touring with automatic trunk, sidedoors, 8-passenger, dvd, navigator AND mp3 player, and not only one disc, but SIX! PLUS, THE BEST PART...it's in my Baltic Blue color!

Of course I'm the type that could wait until the lease is up to change cars, but now I understand why people say when you see the other person happy, you are happy too. I've never seen BA wanting something so bad, especially a mini-van! I've never stepped back far enough to see that if I let go a little sometimes, it would make the other person so happy. But I know that deep down he only wanted the new car for me.

Sitting there...

2008-03-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

I sat at the optometrist's office sometime last week and had my eyes dialated and you're supposed to wait a good half hour to see the doctor again. I've never wanted this kind of quiet time more.

The old me probably would've wanted to be doing something - reading a magazine, checking email, talking on the phone. I could never stand silence and now, I savor any treasurous minutes to myself. Just to think or even to clear my head and not think. Hearing no background noise, like everything's muted, is something you don't get anymore. Having a baby changes your life - like EVERYONE says - and this is one of the ways. You no longer have time to yourself.

And so I sat there, closing my eyes, and just sat there.

I caved.

2008-02-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

I am the non-medicine type. I'm the kind that when I get sick, I just hack it through - take no medicine, drink lots of water and sleep it off. (Maybe that's why I went through labor with no epidural.)

But then on Friday, after Thursday's 4-hour episode waiting in the ER to make sure baby was okay because his lips had turned greyish-blue from vomitting, I felt so sick myself - the headache, the cold chills and worst, the feeling of wanting to (but couldn't) throw up. Did I catch the baby's virus? Like my old self, I naturally wanted to just sleep it off and hope it would all go away. But with the baby crying and crawling all over you, sleep was not an option.

And so, I caved. Because medicine was not an option either.

I ended up spending the night at my parent's place, in my old room and BA took baby home. The first whole night off without the baby, and my mom took care of me. It felt good being someone else's daughter again.

Gift cards!

2008-01-30T22:42:00.001-08:00

I never collect anything. I never liked anything long enough to continue buying, searching and collecting that one item. It would just be a fad, come and go.

But today, I am claiming to start collecting GIFT CARDS! I think they're just so awesome! These days, they are endlessly creative - all kinds of shapes (especially the ones at Target), all kinds of colors, for all kinds of occasions. The original idea came from seeing Nordstrom's newest gift cards for Valentine's Day - it's luscious hot pink with a stylish heart cut-out in the middle. I have to go back and get one.

How I'm going about collecting these, I'm still unsure of. Would it just be the ones I have and when it goes to zero balance, I put them in my collection, or do I "take" ones from the store? Since they are not worth anything anyway until an amount is put on them, then technically it wouldn't be stealing. But as I was first sharing my newfound one-of-a-kind idea to my friend earlier today, she hands me my FIRST collectible - her recently used up Target gift card, which I LOVE! It's a Christmas one, iridescent with three puppets moving their mouths open, up and down, as you flip the card at certain angles. LOVE IT!

However I decide to go about this, we will have to see. I'm already thinking about the big collage of gift cards I can put together in a sleek matted frame. No one copy my idea please, but if you would like to contribute to my new fad, please send them my way! =P

I hate being sick!

2007-12-06T07:37:00.000-08:00

That's the worst thing you can do to a mom. I was sick the last 2 days and couldn't do a thing! I couldn't even rest to get better because I had to take care of the baby. The little naps I tried to steal when the baby was taking his nap, I laid there thinking of all the things I needed to be doing (work-wise). Now, with having a baby, it takes twice as long to get better.

But yesterday, I didn't care anymore. I couldn't stay home another day to hopefully get better. The more I was trying to just lay there and rest, the more work I wasn't getting done, which meant the more sick I probably was feeling from thinking (stressing) about it. So, I just braved it and went out, and it felt so good to get so much done!

My iPhone

2007-11-21T09:08:00.001-08:00

I never thought I would need/want an iPhone. I always believed that a phone should be a phone, a camera should be a camera, and the internet/emails should be left to the computer. That is until my husband secretly bought me an iPhone for our two-year anniversary (11.12.07). I'll admit, I was completely unappreciative of it at first, not thinking that I needed all these new functions. I thought having emails so handy would mean I could never get away from my work, when I was already on my computer enough.

But it turns out I love my iPhone and it’s going to be one of those things I can’t live without, and that’s okay because I am not dependent on it (not yet =P). It’s great to be able to check emails (set at every 15 minutes automatically =P) so that I don’t have to run to my computer and check it all the time. I can be free from sitting in front of my laptop and run errands and never be worried that I’ll miss a client.

Plus, I am addicted to You Tube! You can find all kinds of videos on there, SO easily, and it’s been such a new concept that my husband and I have stayed up past 2AM just watching videos of Raymond Lam, Charmaine Tse, Linda Chung, etc. If it had full episodes of our current Chinese soap opera, then we’d be set, and maybe then, I’d be dependent on my iPhone. =P

So if you don’t have an iphone, your phone is so out…that’s what I tell my husband all the time! =P But once you have it, you can’t go back. I can’t even imagine using my Sony Ericsson anymore. =P

PS. Of course I jinx-ed myself (see last posting). He napped all day that day, but yesterday, was a big struggle. I just won't mention n-a-p-p-i-n-g anymore. =P

He naps more than ever now (every mom's dream)!

2007-11-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

Somehow we got into this routine and it’s great! He would wake up at around 8, eat, play for an hour, then nap for an hour or two. Then at 11:30ish, he'd wake up, eat, play for an hour, then nap for another hour or two...and repeat... But this only works flawlessly if we are at home/work by ourselves, without any interruption. If I take him out running errands with me, it's harder to get him to fall asleep. I do feel bad for robbing him of his naps, but I swore I would never be one of those moms who purposely stays at home or has to go home by a certain time so that he can nap.

We’re staying at home today and I’m working during his naps. Of course this is not going to work today because I’ve said this. (Every mom knows once we proclaim it, it'll jinx itself...but I'm crossing my fingers!)

I really enjoy what I do.

2007-10-06T23:56:00.001-07:00

I really enjoy what I do. As long as there is no time constraint, no one bothering me, no baby crying in the background, I can do it all day long. It's like doing one of your hobbies, without a care in the world, time just passes by.

I can do anything!

2007-09-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

I feel like I can do anything!

Having been pregnant for 9 months, of which, I limited (or had to limit) myself to doing only bare minimum, that once the baby was out, I was up and about in no time (well, thanks to not having a c-section or an epidural for that matter! =P)

So without the baby in my stomach, I wanted to get back all the time I had lost. I got back into work with only one month off, I went back to eating (or rather, not eating) at irregular hours, I carried heavy things without thinking twice, I resumed bending over backwards for my Brides and slithering through tight spaces.

I never thought I would be this career-driven woman. I always thought I would want to be that typical stay-at-home mom. I'm not sure if it is because of how society is now that it requires both to have incomes, but I do completely enjoy my career.

(But I did promise myself that with the next one, I will give myself at least 3 months off - no consultations, no weddings, no nothing - purely 3 months of time with the new baby, enjoying my time, especially with breastfeeding).

No one wants to take care of babies!

2007-09-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

My sister and I have a theory.

No one wants to take care of babies (well, maybe except for my good friend, Karen's parents =P).

We all want to work. We would much rather work than to stay home. Anything than to stay home with the baby!

This generation has changed. For grandparents who are not yet retired and for new parents who have been working, they just want to keep on working. Is it that with taking care of a baby, you just don't feel that sense of accomplishment that you do with working?! Don't get me wrong, taking care of a baby is definitely hard work (anyone who's been a parent would not argue with this). But because you have to take care of your child and that it's an everyday lifelong task, you see it as something that you just do.

So for grandparents alike, they would much rather keep on working until they HAVE to retire and for those new parents, (who are probably still in shock that their lives have changed forever - I still am =P) they would do anything than to lose their previous career-driven lives to a baby.

What took me to writing this Blog is that I feel so lucky I can have both. With having my own business, I can take care of Baby myself and sometimes with help from the grandparents. But it's when I want, I mean "rather", work that I feel so guilty for it. And it seems like the grandparents would take care of Baby only bare miniminally (when I REALLY need them) that I can hardly imagine having a second baby anytime soon.

Maybe this Blog stemmed from my sister having her second child on Tuesday, 09.18. Congratulations!