~La Fete~

La Fete Weddings featured on Style Me Pretty

2012-03-01T13:22:00.001-08:00

To view the full wedding feature click here!

Vintage Escort Card Displays

2012-02-24T14:21:00.000-08:00

We are working on an vintage barn wedding this year, and I needed to research some innovative escort card displays. So fun to see how old doors, shutters and picture frames can be transformed into

creative seating guides!

Found on: Elizabeth Anne Designs

Found on: Lifework Media Blog

First Comes Love Photo

Photo By: Kristen Gardner Event Design: The Event Company

Found on: bits and bobs blog

Found on: The Knot

Found on: Inspired By This

Found on: The Knot

Found on: Elizabeth Anne Designs

Location Spotlight: Cielito Restaurant

2012-02-16T16:42:00.000-08:00

Today we would love to introduce one of Santa Barbara's newest hot spots Cielito Restaurant. The reinvented atmosphere and decadent new menu makes this space perfect for a Santa Barbara Spanish themed rehearsal dinner or private party. Stop by Cielito at 1114 State Street located inside La Arcada.

Beachfront Wedding at the DoubleTree Santa Barbara

2012-02-01T11:52:00.000-08:00

Kayla and David were married a year ago in Barcelona spain and wanted to plan a fun destination wedding weekend for their close friends and family to attend here in Santa Barbara. We met with this bride only once and planned and designed the entire wedding via email. We loved the way the orange of the ceremony chair pads contrasted with the Pacific Ocean in the background. The bridesmaids bouquets were created from five unique large shells then flowers cascaded from each one. The table tops were designed with abundant orange flowers atop sapphire blue dupioni silk linens. We brought in custom designed menus, table numbers, and escort cards adorned with blue shell detailing. Brian and Brady from BB Photography captured this event perfectly.

Intimate Wedding at the San Ysidro Ranch

2012-01-17T17:34:00.000-08:00

My son Tim from the Plain White T's sang his new release "Rhythm of Love" during the recessional.

We surprised the guests by revealing the gender of their baby boy during the cake cutting!

Claire and Marcus came to us with the idea of having an small ceremony, followed by an intimate dinner in the wine cellar of the San Ysidro Ranch. Surrounded by 35 of their closest friends and family members the gorgeous couple read their handwritten vows to each other in front of the stone fireplace adorned with flowers and crystals. Claire fell in love with every elegant detail we brought to the table. Beginning with the custom lace table caps, twinkle lights and chandeliers, lace wrapped hurricanes and votives, and the menus made of dark chocolate. This day was filled with amazing toasts, singing by the fireplace, and tons of celebratory laughter! Thank you to our dear friends at BB Photography for telling the story of this day through your beautiful images!

Up up and Away at the Montecito Country Club

2012-01-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

Regina and Michael are the most beautiful people inside and out! I adored every minute of working with them and loved how creative Regina was. She came to me filled with ideas of jewel tone colors and a hot air balloon theme, and we worked together to create an absolutely stunning wedding reception. She worked very long hours during her engagement but still managed to accomplish many DIY projects! She made hand sewn bags for her candy display, as well as a custom frame display she created to incorporate old family wedding photos! Viewing these pictures makes me smile every time, Regina and Michael are so head over heals in love and it shows. They also had a very goofy side as you can see from their photo booth picture as well as when Michael pulled out his scuba gear to retrieve the garter. Many thanks to Brian and Brady from BB Photography for capturing this event beautifully!
xoxo,
Kaitlin

Christmas Tea 2011

2011-12-20T16:36:00.001-08:00

It has been a tradition for many years to gather a few friends around the table for afternoon Christmas Tea, and this year wasn't any different. It is a time to reflect, share our hearts together as busy women, relax and enjoy each other's company. We laugh, cry, eat, drink champagne, and enjoy a few hours of refreshment together. Preparing the tea, sandwiches, scones, cookies as well as setting the table has made such fond memories for Kaitlin and I. This year we had fun finding all the flowers and putting the centerpiece together, buying the ornaments, glassware and designing the table with the eggplant lamour linen and napkin from Creative Coverings , and the pretty topper by La Tavola called Paloma in Platinum.

It is a special time to say thank you to a few friends that we work so closely with.

It has become the highlight of the Christmas Season for us both.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a Healthy and Happy New Year!

See you in 2012~

xoxo

Colette & Kaitlin

Sneak Peak- Intimate Romance at the San Ysidro Ranch

2011-12-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

We wanted to share our table top design from an elaborate yet small & intimate wedding at the San Ysidro Ranch. This enchanting wedding reception took place inside the wine cellar, and the ceremony was held right outside in the garden in front of the fireplace. We designed chocolate menus for each of the 32 guests, as well as custom lace toppers for each of the 3 tables. We can't wait to share more images from this magical day!

Thank You Montecito Journal

2011-12-02T09:54:00.000-08:00

We are so thankful to be supported by one of our local magazines who has chosen to feature us again in their wedding section called "Montecito Matrimony." There are some gorgeous events in the magazine and if you live here in town please make sure you grab a copy off the stands!

Here is a sneak peak of the Michelle and Michael's wedding that took place in the gardens at the historic San Ysidro Ranch. One of the most stunning and romantic places in Santa Barbara!

Feeling So Blessed

2011-11-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

Junebug Weddings has chosen La Fete Weddings as one of the World's Best Wedding Planners and Designers!

Click Here to See the List of Honored Planners

We Have Been Featured on Style Me Pretty Today!!!

2011-11-11T17:02:00.000-08:00

There may not be a uniform in sight, but the Military Groom is present in this Santa Barbara fete. Soon to be sent over seas, this couple set out to plan a gorgeous wedding full of LOVE and worthy of every single last squeal heard around the office today. Bliss Photography captured all the monochromatic flower gorgeousness crafted by NLC Productions, not to mention the overall design perfection by La Fete. There’s really nothing not to love in this modern and drop dead gorgeous day. Click here for more.

From La Fete…When Ashley first met with me, she told me she wanted her wedding featured on Style Me Pretty. She had wonderful taste from the start and always held on to her vision from start to finish. She wanted an open-air canopy with flowing white fabric overhead, with the works! Crystal chandeliers, candlelight, a big white dance floor, along with abundant yet simple white flowers. As the designer and planner I had a fabulous time working with Ashley, she knew exactly what she wanted which made decision making and the planning process a dream. But don’t get me wrong we definitely ran into a few hiccups. Due to a high profile event, her wedding was FORCED to change locations, and as if that wasn’t enough, she found this out on the day her fiancé was being sent overseas in the military!

So it was up to me and the old location to work something out for my poor bride and that is when the sun comes out in this story. We were able to get her the most INCREDIBLE location. Honestly a dream location with a huge private polo field and an extraordinary compound off in the distance. We are talking 360 degree views of mountains, mansions, and the Pacific Ocean. I knew she would love it and the second she walked on that property she knew she had really lucked out! We went with a simple color palette of slate grey, and white but added all the glamour with the overhead fabric and chandeliers. We were working with a tight budget on this event, and I would say she really got a BANG for her buck. These images were provided by Mishelle Lamarand from Bliss Photography, and honestly she is insanely amazing. She calls herself one of the only “natural light photographer” and its really incredible to see how she works with lighting and I’m sure you can tell. I really hope you enjoy this event!

Click Here to see the Full Feature!

Classic Elegance at the San Ysidro Ranch~

2011-11-10T16:02:00.000-08:00

The San Ysidro Ranch is the perfect place to have an intimate wedding in a garden setting. Each space is filled with lovely trees, flowers and sprawling green lawns. We so enjoyed helping Caroline and John on this wedding filled with love, family and friends.

Caroline's dress gave us the inspiration for all the lace details incorporated into this classic elegant affair. I loved the lace inlay on her train! The bouquet wrap, pretty little bags for the flower girls, petal cones, boutonnieres all had the lace details, created by Mindy Rice. I loved the lush flower arrangements she designed for the cocktail hour and the the Hydrangea Cottage all accented with the tiny elegant green vines. The room looked so lovely with the tall candelabras.

For the second time this year we have had the wonderful treat of using Aurora Ensembles for our ceremony musicians. I have asked them to play their beautiful music while processing either up the aisle or around the guests before the ceremony is to begin. It is such an awesome moment, and the guests love it.

The whole event is beautifully captured by Stephanie Hogue Photography!

Simplicity at Bacara Resort

2011-11-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

When you are surrounded by so much natural beauty at the Bacara Resort & Spa, it is not necessary to overemphasize the decor at your wedding. We loved the structure design that the in house florist designed, it complimented the bridesmaids dresses, yet did not take away from the stunning backdrop of the pacific coastline.

A Special Thank you to Nikki Ryan Photography for providing us with these incredible pictures!

Jill and Josh's Santa Barbara Estate Wedding

2011-10-20T16:47:00.000-07:00

We met and within 4 months we organized and designed this intimate family style tuscan wedding!

Jill had amazing taste and wanted many items personal and custom. We found Archive rentals and they made our tables and provided the different china patterns for each of the tables. Good Gracious provided the delicious food stations and served the guests table side with a gorgeous family style platters.

Her father helped with the making of her cake, since he had made her birthday cakes for her as a child. It was the most beautiful Summer day at the estate on the ocean called Terra Bella! The guests mingled wine tasted and enjoyed the fun music provided by Dwight Kennedy. Josh is a singer/ songwriter, and instead of dancing with his bride he took the stage and sang the song "All Shook Up" to her, which as you can see she loved!

Thank you Joe Bussink for the amazing images of this fun event, we did sneak a few in of our own we shot that day too.

La Fete's Design for The Neighborhood Clinics Fundraiser

2011-10-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

The Honored Health Care Heroes from this year Eileen Bunning and Dr. James Tamberello.

The Neighborhood Clinics hosted their 13th Annual Health Care Heroes Fundraiser this year on October 2nd, and we were honored to be asked to create the design for this wonderful cause for the second year in a row. We were thrilled to be given the creative freedom to design this room within their budget. There is no way we could have done this without the immense help from some of our favorite professionals who volunteered their time and labor to help on this extremely successful benefit. The elegant black menus were designed by Tracy from Lazaro Press. The perfectly coordinated flower arrangements and props were provided by Michael from Louloudi Design. Ambient Event Design was able to drape out the room as well as providing us with gorgeous perimeter uplighting as well as pin-spotting our centerpieces. Stemware and black chargers we found at Town and Country Rentals. The table linens were generously provided through a combination of BBJ, Creative Coverings, La Tavola. Of course we have to thank Melissa Musgrove for capturing these stunning detail shots of our design, she is a dear friend of ours and we were so lucky to have her on board to shoot this.

A Chic Contemporary Affair at the Bacara Resort

2011-10-04T13:18:00.000-07:00

A beautiful intimate ceremony was held on the Miro Lawn, our weather couldn't have been more perfect for this very special couple. Steve and Christine celebrated the whole weekend at the luxurious Barcara Resort and Spa. Christine in her gorgeous Monique Lhullier was simply stunning! Camilla Svensson Burns provided the beautiful ceremony table and dressed out the chuppa with a silver grey dupioni fabric. Her arrangements for our table top were perfect with our color palate. Christine loved anything Channel. We chose a tufted white banqettes for 1/2 the guest seating and also designed her cake with that in mind too. She loved the idea of fabric draping which was covered in hanging crystals all the way down the walls. The custom round silver dance floor was the perfect touch for our design. Both were provided by Barker Design. For the invitation designed suite we loved working with Lazaro Press, Our first time working with the fabulous Yvette Roman she was not only a delight, she blew us away with how she captured this event. The party rocked out with 11H Entertainment. We had such a fun team on this one! Thank you all~

Christine sent us the sweetest note after the event that we will keep forever~

"We and all of our guests had a fabulous time. Our family and friends tell us the ceremony was the most beautiful and intimate wedding they have ever experienced, and the reception was one of the best parties they've attended. We couldn't have done it without you! Thank you for your patience, dedication, and guidance. You carried us throughout the entire process, from decor decisions to sensitive family members, and everything in between. Your talent, expertise, and words of wisdom made our wedding the most joyful and loving experiences of our lives."

Congratulations Christine and Steve, We adore you both!!!

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics- Health Care Heroes #2

2011-09-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

"The mission of Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics is to provide high quality, affordable, comprehensive healthcare to all people regardless of their ability to pay, especially those uninsured and otherwise underserved, while maintaining a welcoming environment and treating patients with compassion, dignity, and respect. We strive to achieve excellence and to maximize the potential of each employee, volunteer, and board member through a respectful and supportive organization

Over the past year, SBNC was responsible for over 70,000 total patient and health education visits. Our average cost to deliver a patient’s visit is $154, but the average payment/reimbursement is only $65; we rely on grants and donations to fill this considerable funding gap. Our medical services prioritize preventative strategies and health education, even as we continue to serve 400 new patients each month."

Last year we were able to help this wonderful charity out by donating the flower arrangements, some of our decor ideas, and providing gorgeous linens and napkins for the guests tables. The event is held again this year at the luxurious La Pacifica Ballroom at Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara. This year we were given full control of the design and budget! It has been such a joy to work with such caring and giving people throughout the planning process and we can not wait to see this event come together! Please enjoy this inspiration board that we put together for this event, and we look forward to sharing more photos afterwards.

Photo Credits:

Black Glassware

Linen

Black Menu

Black Candlestick Centerpiece

Modern Silver with Orchids

Oceanfront Bliss at the DoubleTree

2011-09-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

I love it when couples trust us and go with some of the ideas we come up with from the design and colors to the intimate details. JJ and Joe were so fun to work with~

On this wedding we started with wanting to bring the color of the Pacific Ocean into the plaza at the Fess Parkers Doubletree. We chose a beautiful teal blue colored linen with two different elegant textures and iridescence. The mocha fabric overhead added the soft romantic feeling and provided some shade for the guests from the Summer sun. After dark the rod iron candle chandeliers were the perfect touch.

JJ and Joe met at a club downtown, and so we decided how fun it would be to put the whole wedding party and their dates/spouses at a bar height table with stools. The flowers were to be romantic and fluffy with gardenia's one of JJ's favorite flowers. The Church Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was the perfect setting for their intimate ceremony.

The McCleod tartan is yellow, black with a touch of red~ so with JJ being a school teacher we decided how fun it would be to do escort/favors with the double stick tape, which had exactly their McCleod tartan pattern on it, This design was used on their programs and grooms and groomsmen's ties and pocket squares. We also hired a bagpiper to play at the end of the recessional for them.

They danced and had the best night ever on the perfect Summer night in the Plaza in Santa Barbara.

All photography by bb-photography Thank you Brian and Brady for capturing another beautiful day for our clients~

Congratulations JJ and Joe~

La Fete Weddings Featured on Style Unveiled this week!

2011-09-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

http://styleunveiled.com/larealweddings/santa-barbara-ca-wedding-santa-barbara-polo-and-racquet-club.html

San Ysidro Ranch-Romantic Elegance-

2011-09-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

I met Michelle and her Mother one afternoon last March, and we instantly connected. They hired me on the spot, and within 5 months we planned this wedding with gorgeous details from start to finish. What I loved about working with this client is her excitement and trust throughout the process of her planning her big day with us. Once I saw her gorgeous wedding gown the inspiration began.
We wanted a soft palate that would match the elegance and sophistication of her dress, yet go with the casual elegance of the San Ysidro Ranch and style of their upper garden. We had 218 guests attend and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. I think the images which Boyd Harris captured for us will give you and idea of why this bride said "It's Stunning, it's more than I ever imagined it's just like a Fairy Tale". The upper garden at the San Ysidro Ranch has gorgeous mountain and beautiful ocean views which were the perfect back drop for this celebration.

Michelle carried a delicate hankercheif that was also worn by her as a baby bonnet. This hanky her mother had saved until her wedding day. In Memory of her Grandmother she used her cameo pin.

The programs each opened up to reveal the order of the ceremony and the wedding party and family. On the back was a velum envelope filled with petals for each guest to toss after the ceremony.

The upper garden at the Ranch~ We embellished the trellis' with fabric and lighting to add elegance to the garden and to compliment the head table canopy.

The escort/boxes were filled with lavender buds...they smelled wonderful!

I rented a golf cart and driving them to the upper garden was such a highlight of my day. Michelle and Michael were so excited!

The pastry chef at the San Ysidro Ranch did such an amazing job decorating the cake to match the monique linens. Congratulations' Michelle and Michael! xoxo

Pink, Black & White Wedding

2011-08-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to share this gorgeous wedding with you today, I had the most fun planning this wedding with Jessica and her parents. She was absolutely crazy about pink and so we introduced the hot color in every way we could. The canopy created to enclose their ceremony was designed with black fabric for the first time ever and I absolutely loved it! This created a formal and dramatic statement to set the tone for the day. I just received a thank you note from the brides parents saying "The event was magnificent and they have received many compliments on how well the event flowed. They greatly appreciated the professional job we did and extremely enjoyed working with us" It fills me with joy to know that I was able to make Jessica's wedding day perfect and I am so pleased with the way the event all came together, Enjoy!

xoxo, Kaitlin

The Ideal Santa Barbara Destination Wedding Weekend!

2011-08-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

When planning a destination wedding in Santa Barbara, we encourage hosting multiple events in order for your guests to really develop new friendships and to fully experience this beautiful city. This past weekend we were able to plan a series of three events for our Bride and Groom.

In February of this year Kayla and I met only the weekend she came into town. She and her fiance David live in Barcelona Spain. She told me she loved great food, wine and color~she then informed me that she would not be back in Santa Barbara until five days before her wedding. We picked out her linens together, and the rest we planned via the internet. They were thrilled with the weekend of events we planned for them.

On Friday, we held a barefoot rehearsal on the beach, then transported all the guests up through wine country to Sunstone Winery for a wine tasting, and rehearsal dinner soiree.

On Saturday the guests gathered on the beach for an intimate wedding ceremony right on the water. Then walked across Cabrillo Blvd to the reception which was held at the DoubleTree.

Then on Sunday we held a farewell brunch for the happy couple in the Plaza of Chase Palm Park. The guests gathered between 10 and 11 am and were welcomed to an omelet station, pancake station, and fruit and yogurt along with a large selection of home made danishes.

Mimosa's and Bloody Mary's were served and they relaxed in the beautiful setting.

We cannot wait to see the images of the wedding that Brian from BB Photography captured.

We will share more then!

Congratulations to Kayla and David!

Fiesta is here in Santa Barbara!

2011-08-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

Paper flower images www.barnettphoto.com

passed drinks and appetizers www.hoguephoto.com

Historical Museum at night www.melissamusgrove.com

VIVA LA FIESTA~

Rainy Day Romance

2011-07-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

When you hire La Fete as your Wedding Planner, we can guarantee a stress-free and relaxing day for everyone involved... but unfortunately we can not control the weather. A few days prior to this event we made the call to put up the tent in Vanessa's parents backyard, and we are so thankful we did! Although the last minute changes like these can be a burden on the budget, it always pays to have your guests stay dry and to maintain the dream of getting married in your parents backyard!

Congratulations to Vanessa and Ryan, your wedding was absolutely stunning!

Vanessa & Ryan's Wedding Video by Cloudless Cinematography

2011-06-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

This was our first time working with Cloudless and we were extremely impressed with working with them. We received this edited clip of their wedding within 2 weeks, which is a wedding planners dream. This wedding took place on a very rainy day and we were forced to put up a tent last minute. We also were blessed by being able to hold her expected outdoor ceremony, inside the beautiful El Montecito Presbyterian Church. We were able to give this gorgeous bride the wedding of her dreams, in spite of the bad weather! We hope you enjoy this short wedding video, and we look forward to working with Cloudless again.

Our Vision for July 2nd Wedding~

2011-06-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

We are so excited about this event coming up next week! JJ and Joe have been so much fun to work with over the last year. We cannot wait to see our inspiration and planning come to life!

Photo Credits:

Backyard Bridal Shower

2011-06-09T14:56:00.000-07:00

We had the honor of hosting a lovely bridal shower for a dear friend of ours in our own backyard. When we first began dreaming of what this party might look like, we were inspired by the gorgeous Tribal Thread Linen by La Tavola. We loved the color theme of yellows and blues and began designing around the idea. Here is the inspiration board that Kaitlin had originally put together before the event:

And now, I am very pleased to share these gorgeous images from Michael & Anna Costa Photography with you of the finished product. It is truly amazing to see our designs come to life, especially when I feel we have really captured our vision.

A very special thank you goes out to Nico Designs for providing us with such abundant and lovely flower arrangements. We would also like to thank Michael & Anna Costa for sharing these stunning photos!

Vote For Colette For Social Event Planner of The Year!

2011-06-02T18:22:00.000-07:00

What an honor it is to be recognized as one of the nine nominees for "Social Event Planner of the Year." This award goes to an industry leader who consistently meets the needs of their social clients through organizing, managing, and executing events. Help Colette get the recognition she deserves by showing your support for her by: Clicking Here to Submit Your Vote!

Voting Closes on Sunday June 12th at Midnight and the winner will be revealed on Tuesday June 14th!

Remember: You can vote one time a day so PLEASE keep voting for Colette.

Elegant White Wedding Inspiration

2011-05-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

Here is the inspiration for one of Kaitlin's weddings coming up in July! The wedding is taking place on a private polo field on a gorgeous estate in Summerland. We will be incorporating all of these details and cant wait to see the full event come together it is going to be absolutely gorgeous!

Vases With Modern Florals

Platinum Lamour Linen

Ring Shot

Cake Pops

Wishing Tree

Bride and Bridesmaids

White Fabric and Lounge

Cake

Table Set up

Outdoor Lounge

Shelving Units

(Couldnt find the Link for this one)

Chandelier

All White Details

Villa Esperanza

2011-05-17T16:13:00.000-07:00

This California dream house is available for your wedding of up to 100 guests! We had the pleasure of touring this amazing property and the photos don't even compare to the breathtaking views this house has to offer. If you would like to make an appointment to view this property contact us at info@lafetweddings.com. For more information about Santa Barbara estates for your wedding or event please visit Santa Barbara Exclusive Rentals.

Summer Loving Inspiration

2011-05-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

We have always been head over heels for the "Dandelion" Table Linen from La Tavola! So I created this inspiration board to show what La Fete would do with this fun table design! I love the contrast of the Grey, Yellow and Turquoise and think this look would be perfect for an outdoor brunch or bridal shower!

Images Found Here:

Grey, Yellow and White Centerpiece

Turquoise Dishes

Invitation Suite

Turquoise Vase with White Flowers

Dandelion Linen

Cake

Engagement Shoot

Wedding Rings on Billy Balls

Daffodils in Blue Glass Bottles

Blue Ceramic Pots

Lemonade Champagne Cocktail

Special Events Magazine on Royal Wedding Trends, Quotes La Fete Weddings

2011-05-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to be quoted in this great International Magazine:
http://specialevents.com/weddings/five-top-style-trends-to-watch-for-from-the-royal-wedding/

Santa Barbara Bridal Shower

2011-05-03T14:23:00.000-07:00

This Saturday we are hosting a bridal shower for a dear friend of ours and we wanted to share our inspiration for the design! We chose Blue, White and Yellow as our cheerful color tones and are super excited to be working with Nico Designs on the florals & Decor. More images to come from this fun event!

Images Found Here:

Yellow Ranunculus in White Containers

Forever is Today

YAY Flags

Lemonade & Tea Station

Real Wedding Featured on Style Unveiled

2011-04-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

When we first met Nadia and Joe we were intrigued by the fact that they were both in the fashion industry and felt it needed to be incorporated into their wedding as much as possible. Both Nadia and Joe were so passionate about their wedding details that it made the planning flawless. The concept of constructing a fashion runway for the ceremony aisle was a great way of getting the wedding party involved and the crowd loved it. We upgraded the Four Seasons Biltmore's chairs which made a huge difference to the overall design of the room. The white wedding was accented with touches of blush to create depth in the floral arrangements which were provided by Ambient Event Design. A special thank you goes out to BB Photography for capturing such beautiful images. To see the full post, please visit Style Unveiled for more fabulous wedding details!

Wedding Bliss at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa

2011-04-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

I adore this photo of our bride and groom right after their ceremony! There is so much happiness, excitement, and joy on her face and as a planner that is what we hope for with every client. This couple chose to hire us for our finishing touch package, so she hired her own vendors and then we made sure that everything went smoothly on her wedding day! Working at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa was fabulous, the grounds are spectacular and make amazing backdrops for photos. Ojai Valley Inn is the perfect getaway for your destination wedding.

Wedding Photos by: BB Photography

Site Photos Found Here

www.ojaivalleyinn.com

Some Escort Ideas~

2011-04-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

We always are looking for creative and fun ways to guide the guests to their tables for dinner. Here are a few we have done and some others that we found we LOVE~

Sources:

Taupe & Ivory Frame Display

Hair and Make-up~Only with a professional please!

2011-03-31T13:04:00.000-07:00

Today we would like to share with you about the importance of hiring a great hair and make-up artist. We can't tell you how many times we have heard a bride say "My friend is going to do my wedding make-up" and how much that can truly affect the rest of the bride's day. The Hair and Make-up Artists are the first vendors that the bride will interact with in the beginning of the day and if they are late, rushed, or don't know exactly what they are doing, the wedding day is off to a rough start. Often this affects us as the planner, and the bride often looses quality time to spend with her photographer prior to the wedding ceremony. Some photographers refuse to shoot a wedding if the bride does not have her hair and make-up done by a professional, because the quality of their work will not show if the bride is not looking and feeling her best! This is why we are offering a hair and make-up trial to any bride who books our full service planning package in month of April. You will experience the highest quality of service with our favorites: Marci Deming Make-up; and for hair Andrea Ridgell of Mishay Hair Salon. The brides who hire them look absolutely stunning until the very last dance of their wedding night. Marci's make-up NEVER fades, and Andrea's hair styles NEVER fail. Here are a few photos of our very happy brides:

Photography Credits:

1 & 2) BB Photography

3) BB Photography

4) Stephanie Hogue Photography

5) Melissa Musgrove Photography

6) Stephanie Hogue Photography

7) Melissa Musgrove Photography

8) BB Photography

Valentines Weekend Wedding in Santa Barbara~

2011-03-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

I am so thrilled to share with you the first La Fete Wedding from 2011, which took place on the most romantic weekend of the year, Valentines Day. I had the pleasure of working together with Maryam and Greg to plan out this fabulous destination wedding that took place at the Santa Barbara Mission and the Four Seasons Santa Barbara. The majority of their guests traveled from the stormy and cold east coast and escaped to this wonderful paradise we call home. They were blessed with a 75 degree day with clear ocean and island views, and they deserved nothing less. I would like to thank the extremely talented Jessica Lewis for capturing these remarkable photos. As well as Grass Roots who added just the right touch of red flowers. Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed working on this event!

xoxo Kaitlin

A Better Way To Use Mason Jars!

2011-03-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

We all know that mason jars became very popular for centerpieces in the past year... So lets break out of this mold the mason jar has created and use them as a fabulous container for favors! Whether you fill it up with something home-made such as a favorite family cookie recipe (minus the eggs of course!) or filled with honey from a local source, when they are properly labeled and decorated they can be absolutely adorable.

Sources:

4) Granola & Honey

7) Honey Jars

Hot New Color Trend: Lavender, Pewter & Eggplant Purple

2011-03-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

We are featuring another beautiful wedding at the Four Seasons Biltmore today.

Lindsay and Brian were a delight to work with. Lindsay knew exactly what she wanted and we were able to capture her vision. She loved everything romantic, classic and vintage. From the linens,programs, escort cards to the table tops filled with crystal candle sticks and mercury glass centerpieces. The ceremony structure in the garden with the fabric over head was beautiful as the sun was setting on her ceremony last October. I loved the colors especially against the bridesmaids fawn colored dresses. The two families joined together and had the best time dining, dancing and enjoying the evening together.

Special thanks to a great team we worked with that day:

Ambient Event Design, lighting and ceremony structure.

Cody Floral Design, flowers and candle decor

Four Seasons Santa Barbara

Stephanie Hogue Photography

Dwight Kennedy Band

Fashion Jewelry Designer's Wedding at the Four Seasons

2011-03-05T08:37:00.000-08:00

We had the pleasure of working with Nadia and Joe from Adia Kibur jewelry designers last fall. It was so great to see the elements Nadia desired for their wedding, her rhinestone embellished heels, her own necklace she designed for herself, plus each of her bridesmaids had their own collar style.

For the wedding ceremony they wanted us to build a fashion runway~ The music and entrance of each attendant was very fun and the guests loved it. The ballroom was classic white with lots of rhinestone elements on the napkins as napkin rings, votives, and table numbers. They were a pleasure to work with and everyone had the best time at the wedding at the Four Seasons Biltmore

Photography by BB Photography.

Lighting and florals by Ambient Event Design.

A Baby Shower for Isabelle Bridges Boesch~

2011-02-25T14:49:00.000-08:00

After doing the beautiful wedding for Jeff Bridge's Daughter Isabelle, we helped welcome his first Grandchild too by doing this very fun baby shower. Grace Louise is due in April and we cannot wait to meet her. This fun inspiration of classic, black white and honeysuckle pink with mini polka dots and anemones was our theme. 17 women came and enjoyed the luncheon last Friday. Thank you to all those that helped make this event so beautiful. Camilla Svensson Burns provided the themed florals and candles, she also made the dupioni white and black ribbon table runner for us. Tracy Lazaro designed the little booklet style invites and our menu and place cards for the chair backs. Rentals by Town and Country Linens by Wildflower Linens Photography for both the wedding and the shower were by Melissa Musgrove Photography. Anemone cake: Claudia's Cakery.

San Ysidro Ranch Wedding~

2011-02-22T06:57:00.000-08:00

Beautiful jewel tones were the theme for our flowers by Heartsbloom which looked so pretty in the Hydrangea Cottage for our wedding last Fall. Photos by La Fete.

Montecito Country Club Weddings~

2011-02-19T11:28:00.000-08:00

We are excited to be working at the Montecito Country Club this year! Here are a few fun events we have done at this very popular and beautiful location. The first event was photographed by Melissa Musgrove and floral design by Nico Designs

Their Gobo of their initials in lights looked so pretty over the fireplace.

Here is another pretty one photographed by bb-photography and floral design by Cody Floral Design

Beautiful Wedding Captured by JSFilms for Nadia and Joe, Jewerly Designers~Adia Kibur

2011-02-15T07:32:00.000-08:00

nadia and joe from joel serrato on Vimeo.

It was such a pleasure to work with Joel Serrato from JSFilms again. He really captured the romance, joy and details of this very beautiful wedding. Thank you Joel~we cannot wait to work with you again.

Enjoy!

featured on- Junebug Weddings~Santa Barbara Estate Wedding

2011-02-12T06:38:00.000-08:00

This table we used as our pre~ceremony cocktail table as the guests arrived off the shuttles. During cocktail hour it then was perfect for our sushi station.

Besides serving Lemon Grass Soup with Lobster Potstickers as our first course. We also passed warm malasades to the guests~ Duo Catering was amazing!

I loved the flower arrangements designed by cody floral design~so tropical and went beautifully on the twitter pattern from la tavola linens The two shades of blue tuscano linen runners and linens, chair pads and napkins were perfect with the bright orange flowers.

Barnaby Draper was so much fun to work with~he and his team of photographers really captured this event for us. He also photographed the Brunch we did for this client the next day.

The pool decor by Cody Floral looked so gorgeous both in the daylight and then again at night with the lighting provided by Ambient Event Design

This was such a fun wedding with a fantastic local family in Santa Barbara. For more images and the full story click the real wedding section on Junebug Weddings or the link below.

What better place for an intimate, personal and casually chic wedding for this Santa Barabara couple than in the bride's parents' backyard? With help from Colette Lopez of La Fete Weddings and a team of talented professionals that the couple rave about, Katie and Wakefield's wedding was everything they had envisioned and more! Tropical touches honored Wakey's Hawaiian background, great food and wine honored Katie's profession as a person chef, family members were involved every step of the way and guest had tons of fun from beginning to end!

Photography: Barnaby Draper Studios

Wedding planner: Colette Lopez of La Fete Weddings

Ceremony/Reception site: Private Residence

Catering: Duo Catering and Events

Flowers: Cody Floral

Cake: My Sweet and Saucy

Invitations: Lazaro Press

Live music: Dwight Kennedy Band

Shuttles: Limousine Link

Wedding dress designer: Monique Lhullier

Wedding dress shop: Bridal Galleria

Bridesmaid’s dresses: Amsale from Bella Bridesmaid

Hair & makeup: Mishay Salon

Groom's apparel & accessories: suit fromSaks Fifth Avenue, shirt from Banana Republic with tie by Thomas Pink

Groomsmen apparel: Banana Republic

Rings: RP Diamond & Gold Imports

Favors: MMM... Cake

For more on this Real Wedding, please see our blog
What Junebug Loves!

Casting Brides-to-be Whose Stories Touch Hearts Across America

2011-02-11T17:43:00.000-08:00

CASTING: Brides-to-be with stories that will touch hearts across America!

A Major Cable Network and Gay Rosenthal Productions are seeking brides-to-be for a new Docu-Series.

Do you have an emotional or inspirational story connected to your upcoming wedding?
Do you have a particularly emotional or dramatic story that led to your engagement?
Have you always wanted to walk down the aisle in the wedding gown of your dreams?
Do you know someone getting married who has a great emotional story?

Monique Lhuillier is among the worlds leading creators of haute couture bridal wear — brides and celebrities all over the world have sought her out to design their gowns. On this new show, lucky brides will have the opportunity of a lifetime to wear the dress of their dreams

To submit, email CASTINGS@THECASTINGFIRM.COM. Put “MONIQUE LHUILLIER” in the subject line. Tell us your story, and please be sure to include recent photos of you and your fiancé, and your contact details.

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION HERE:

Monique_Lhuillier_application

Break Away From Red and Pink!!!

2011-02-11T15:27:00.000-08:00

Lets face it, we are all a little bored of the traditional red and pink roses and decorations for Valentines Day. So I thought, why not create an inspiration board that breaks out of that shell, but still remains extremely romantic, elegant, and classic. Since neutrals are so popular right now I decided I wanted this inspiration to be blush pink & champagne. With touches of lace, a little sparkle, and hand-painted custom invitations my look was brought together. Now all I need is a bride who wants this look, I'm dying to bring it to life! Hope you all have a fabulous weekend and a very Happy Valentines Day on Monday.

Images Found Here:
Top Left to Right- www.momentaldesigns.com, www.forgetmeknotweddingsblog.com, www.stardustpastry.com, www.nuwoo.blogspot.com, www.projectwedding.com, www.groomsoldseperately.com, www.kissthegroom.com, www.wildflowerlinen.com, www.emicibridal.com,

The Wedding Luncheon - TSE 2011 - WIPA Gallery - Blue Heaven

2011-02-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

BLUE HEAVEN

This was my favorite gallery from the Wedding Luncheon I attended in Phoenix. We are noticing decor is much about lighting this year. Many clients forget how lighting adds so much to the decor, mood and theme. I loved how classic this area looked~

The framed cow is so unexpected, yet so creative and fun!

The menus and placemat were made out of lucite. The menus opened up to a long flat card.

I love the chairs at this table too.

This wasn't a cake, it was all different cheeses stacked and tiered.

The Team

WIPA: tic-tock Couture Florals, Cachet Wedding Designs, Good Gracious! Events, and BBJ Linen

Creative Partners
Raye C Marketing, Barker Decor, Millie Fiori Designs, Impulse Enterprises, Classic Party Rentals,
Dress My Cupcake, Artiface, Kool Party Rentals

The Wedding Luncheon - TSE 2011 - The Cake Gallery

2011-02-02T20:23:00.000-08:00

Here are photos of the cakes displayed at the Wedding Luncheon I attended last week. I love the way the cakes are displayed on the creative cake stands made by Kathy Jo Peterson of Raise the Cake.

Cake Stands by Raise the Cake

Kathy Jo Peterson

www.raisethecake.com

Participating Bakeries

Let Them Eat Cake

Barbara Gardner

www.letthemeatcakeaz.com

Tammie Coe Cakes

Tammie Coe

www.tammiecoecakes.com

Honeymoon Sweets Bakery

Tim O'Connor

www.honeymoonsweets.com

Classic Cakes and Confections

Ella Levinson

http://www.classiccakesandconfections.com/

La Dolce Pesca

PJ South

www.ladolcepesca.com

The Wedding Luncheon - TSE 2011 - In Love with Metallics

2011-01-31T13:40:00.000-08:00

Throughout this week I will be sharing my thoughts on many new things and experiences I had while in Phoenix. It was so wonderful to be with many friends in the industry to hear their stories and desires about what they love and it inspires me. I go every year to learn, discuss, network and bring back to my clients the newest and latest ideas for their events. All I can say is that there is so much talent out there, and I am thrilled to be involved in such an amazing industry!

I loved the entrance to the ballroom!

Sponsor:

I had the pleasure of being invited to have lunch with Rhonda from Raye C Marketing

and many of her friends at her table. Thank you Rhonda for including me!

xo, Colette

La Fete on the Panel at the Ventura~Santa Barbara ABC with Mary Dann~McNamee

2011-01-23T16:56:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night at the Ventura Santa Barbara Chapter of ABC, Mary Dann-McNamee's talk explored the dynamics of working with leaders and followers. She provided insights and tools that will serve the Santa Barbara ABC Community as they journey through any type of intimate event planning situation; such as a mother-daughter planning a wedding, teenager and parents planning a mitzvah or a corporate planner and their team planning a gala or corporate meeting.

The presentation was based on years of experience working with couples in a therapeutic situation combined with her expertise in special events.

The talks’ main objective was to identify the Leadership Personality, Leadership Traits and the ability to motivate and identify traits that make up a good Follower or “Team Member”. She explored how important it is to recognize the balance intrinsic to creating a positive outcome for the team.

She and her panel of experts, Colette and Kaitlin Lopez of La Fete Weddings, and Nikki Khan of Exquisite Events, identified how good leadership affects followers allowing the team to succeed. They also shared how to recognize specific personalities within a planning environment and to leverage each individual’s unique ability to contribute.

Fine Soaps and Fragrances

2011-01-14T14:37:00.000-08:00

Today we would love to share about these gorgeous soaps for favors or gifts for your bridal party. These not only look beautiful they smell amazing! These 3" Handcrafted soaps are made with the finest ingredients to produce rich and creamy lather that moisterizes the skin. Let us know if you are interested in ordering these for your upcoming shower or event.

Farewell to 2010~Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-31T20:01:00.000-08:00

WE ARE SO VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE MANY WONDERFUL CLIENTS WE MET AND WORKED WITH IN 2010~AS WELL AS THE FRIENDS OLD AND NEW WE WORKED WITH THIS YEAR IN THE INDUSTRY. WE WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR THAT IS FILLED WITH LOVE, JOY AND HAPPINESS! WITH LOVE, COLETTE & KAITLIN

photo credits:
party fun shots, shoes, hats, and everything that sparkles: designsponge.com
sparklers: livinglocurto.com
2011 photo: pocketfulofparties.com
fireworks: dealbreaker.com
shoes: designsponge.com
champagne: glass:ticket.leap.com

Thank you to Style Unveiled for sharing our~Holiday Tea

2010-12-21T13:02:00.000-08:00

See the link here~

http://styleunveiled.com/wedding-inspiration/2010/12/20/holiday-tea.html

Welcome to our Home~A Time to Reflect~Remember & Cherish~A Christmas Tea

2010-12-20T09:05:00.000-08:00

For many years it has been a tradition for Kaitlin and I to invite dear friends and family into our home during the Christmas Season to take time out of the crazy busy time of year to rest, relax, have some great homemade treats, hot tea, and toast to another amazing year.

Ever since Kaitlin was about 6 years old she would help me set a pretty table, and then serve each of my guests the sandwiches, cookies and homemade scones. We would bake together, and prepare the table for the special time to reflect and share what has been special to each one of us that year. I believe this began our journey many years ago of bringing us to where we are today. A mother/daughter event planning company. I have watched Kaitlin grow and mature into the woman she has become. It brings me such joy having her work along side me and now helping her own clients enjoy their special day.

Using my Grandmother's china, and other items of my Mother's reminded me of years past and time when my Mom would attend the teas with us.

Laura from Cody Floral Design worked closely with me to create the nostalgic vintage look with all the gorgeous textures of red roses, ranuculus, amaryllis and deep dark ruby red carnations.

Our rotweiller "Shay" had to get into the shoot too.

I was thrilled when I saw the beautiful gift boxed invite that Lazaro Designs came up with for the tea. Tracy you are amazing!

Fresh raspberry tart with creme fresh filling and almond crust. Was a so easy to make and looked perfect on the table.

We wish you a wonderful Christmas and a safe and Joyous New Year!

With love,
Colette and Kaitlin
xoxo

We couldn't have done this shoot without the wonderful people with their amazing talents. Melissa Musgrove photographed and captured the memories for us. Laura Sangas her flowers were stunning and the wreath over the mantle was gorgeous too made from fresh carnations. Tracy from Lazaro Design again showed off her fabulous talent with creating the perfect touches for the tea. Classic Party Rentals so grateful to you too for your help with this table. We used La Tavola for the table linen, and BBJ to create our chair rosettes.

Sunday Brunch in Sunny Montecito

2010-12-03T15:12:00.000-08:00

We work with a lot of couples who are planning destination weddings, where most of their guests are traveling a long distance to attend their special day. So why not plan a series of events to entertain your guests in the beautiful town of Santa Barbara. A wedding is a special time when two families come together as one, and we like to give as many opportunities as possible to build new connections and relationships. This farewell brunch took place in the front yard of a beautiful home in the hills of Montecito. The bride and groom invited all of the guests from the wedding to join them at an open-house style brunch, where the guests could come and go as they please and say goodbye to family members and new friends they had made. We designed this event to accent the luxurious garden setting underneath the oak trees. Good Gracious! provided a mouthwatering spread of breakfast treats along with a create-your-own-omelet station. Barnaby Draper had photographed the wedding the night before and was able to capture these great images for us the next day. The flowers added the perfect touch to our table tops and we could not have done it without Cody Floral Designs.

New Post on the Santa Barbara Wedding Blog today...Gorgeous Pink and Chocolate you have to see this!

2010-11-29T17:54:00.000-08:00

http://santabarbarawedding.com/blog/?p=4901

Photos by Melissa Musgrove.

Thanksgiving~a time to be thankful!

2010-11-19T09:50:00.000-08:00

We hope you are inspired by our inspiration for Thanksgiving. We are feeling so grateful for an amazing year, and look forward to many excitng things happening in 2011. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

xo,
Colette and Kaitlin

Photos: Left to Right
Elizabeth Millay Photography, Pham Fatale, Martha Stewart, Allyson Magda
Jose Villa, Martha Stewart, Lia's Bridal Lounge
D. Jones Photography, The Wedding Vendors, La Tavola, One Dress One Day Blog

Rehearsal Dinner at the San Ysidro Ranch

2010-11-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

We are featured on Santa Barbara Wedding guide again today!

See the link and the feature below:

http://santabarbarawedding.com/blog/?p=4682