Shawna Yamamoto Event Design Tabletop Design:

Here is a video clip of our tabletop from last nights Grand Opening Reception for Designer Specialty Linens.

They have really put together an amazing new line that is sure to be atop many of my table designs this year! The linen I was provided with is called Lady Grace and its a chiffon tablecap with a tafetta underlay. Amazing detail on the linen and I haven't seen anything like this one before!

Inspiration..where does it come from?

I have been very fortunate to travel to many countries and experience a wealth of visual knowledge. When you travel - even if its just up and over the hill to Ponte Winery, if you keep an open and clean mind you will see things..inspirational things. I think that is why all designers can communicate and connect - whether you are a photographer, clothing or textile designer, jewelry designer or like me, an event designer - you communicate using the same language.

Foreign countries if traveled with your eyes and senses can be completly non-verbal (if you can't speak the languages, I speak only English..sorry!) yet completly fullfilling.

Seeing the Mona Lisa from across a room, the brick minaret of the Turkish Hagia Sofia or simply the Amalfi Coast full of lemon trees...inspirational. Color, texture, blending, molding, merging...

Daniel Ost is a Belgian Artist like no other. I came across his work in another international magazine I subscribe too several years ago. He transforms flowers and gardens into soulful 3-D artforms. I simply adore his works and he takes me away to a foreign country every time I visit his site or read one of his books.

Which is why I am writing today....I am feeling inspired by his latest book "Invitations II". Available on international bookstores online today.

Rhiba and Peter, Taglyan Cultural Complex

This wedding was a lot of fun! Merging elements of Chinese and Indian cultures was sure to create an interesting look! The Mandap was made out of a custom embroidery fabric and hundreds of roses in a spiral affect across the top facade. The cocktail hour was a blanket of red and gold. Dozens of red lanterns were hung from the ceiling and kissed a center table full of golden cubes and white orchids.

Inside the bride wanted all white flowers and was inspired by free-flowing tulips and the simplicity of simple stems in vases surrounded by votives. The venue is so amazingly beautiful all by itself and with the colors changing with the ceiling every few minutes- it made sense to keep the flowers all white.

Event Coordination: Sonia Sharma

Photography: Andrena Photography

Venue: Taglyan Cultural Complex

Flowers/Decor/Mandap: Shawna Yamamoto Event Design, Me!

Designer Specialty Linens Open House!

Shawna Yamamoto Event Design has been asked to participate in a tabletop design for the Open House celebration for Designer Specialty Linens. They recently opened a second store in Orange County and will celebrate the continued success of their Los Angeles County Showroom this week!

We will be at:

188 East 17th Street, Suite 201, Costa Mesa, CA

Thursday: 5pm to 8pm.

We will adorn a new introductory red and gold linen line in a romantic, modern and chic way! You have to come to check it out!

Battle of the Wedding Designers: Season One

We were so honored when Sonia from SoniaEvents.com asked us to help bring her vision of one of her clients to life. It wasn't just any client. It was a client she hadn't even met before and one that she was only told a wee bit of information about. From who? The producers of a new show "Battle of the Wedding Designers" coming out this fall on TLC.

Ultimately, we discussed her interpretation of the clients vision and she showed us what she would like for us to do. And, we did it! We did a day of shooting wherein the client was introduced to the entire look that Sonia and her team put together..one of which was our tabletop.

Here is a sneak peak..I think I am allowed to do this! :)

South Asian Bride Magazine

We've been spoted! Here is another image of that bouquet we just blogged about! South Asian Bride Magazine published an article by Sonia's Events wherein she talks about how to make your special event luxurious. Our purple bridal bouquet was featured to help demonstrate how luxurious your bouquet can become by adorning the handle..don't forget about the handle~photographers love a beautiful handle to shoot!

Event Coordinator: Sonia Sharma of Sonia's Events
Photography: Dina at Andrena Photography

Monthly Bouquet Preview

I absolutley loved this bouquet. We mixed shades of lavender, plum and fushia to create a luxurious collection. The handle was wrapped in a beautiful silver beaded trim from the top all the way down to the base.

Your bouquet should be an accessory - consider it to be like jewelry. It should coordinate not only with your dress, but the rest of you as well! It's also an area that you can have fun and push yourself to go bolder, bigger and perhaps bring out that last bit of wild and crazy that will be tamed oh so soon :)

Special thank you to the amazinly talented photographer, Dina with AndrenaPhotography.