Squaring the Circle

Inspiration for décor can be found generally anywhere and usually the best inspiration comes when is encompasses an important meaning for our clients. Recently, we were asked to concentrate our design elements on two things: circles and squares. Now fortunately for us we have worked with these shapes in all different ways before but for this specific event we were challenged with “squaring the circle”. For the groom, an architect, this poses a mathematical representation. As I began to dig in and learn a little something about “squaring the circle”, I learned that the metaphorical significance implies impossibility! According to the mathematical representation, it is impossible to create a square with an area close to that of the circle using only a straight edge and a compass. Luckily for us, we had many other tools we could use to create this symbolic representation other than a straight edge and a compass.

Every element of design for this ceremony was pre thought in order to satisfy the square and circle obligations. For example, the personal flowers for the maids were made out of circular disks which followed a detailed circular design completed with green and white mums and orange spray roses. The groom’s boutonniere was detailed with a square shaped wire treatment. Ceremony décor highlighted the consistent theme, with modern columns stacked high with white custom boxes filled with beautiful green mum floral spheres.

What was really interesting about the significance behind the circle and square was not only in its representation of a mathematical conundrum but also it’s symbolic implication of unity. Research finds that the combination of a square and a circle denotes unity between heaven and earth. For our clients however, this was the unity of husband and wife.

Go to http://www.shawnayamamoto.com/ to see more photos from this event!

Venue: Terranea Resort

Coordinator: Carrie from Details Details

Photographer: Sam Lim Studio
Information cited from : http://www.answers.com/topic/squaring-the-circle

Bouquet Watch!

Take a look at some of the most memorable and unique bouquets we were able to create this past year!

Probably my favorite part of the design process for a wedding, THE BRIDES BOUQUET! It is always fun to watch Shawna at her best when creating the bouquet. Each time it’s a new experience and to see the finish product is so exciting. It’s all about the details when it comes to the bride’s bouquet. Shawna custom makes a lot of her handles, pushing for individuality and unique style adding non floral elements to a bouquet to receive that special look for the bride.

I’m so eager to see what she comes up with this year!

Tet: Year of the Cat

Here is a sneak peak of our Year of the Kitty Vietnamese New Year Celebration! If you can catch a glimpse of the bar back, you'll see how we cut out the face of Hello Kitty and then attached amazing hand-crafted paper flowers to her. Colorful cabana's were created using chiffon fabrics in orange, red, and pinks. The furniture is our collection with our custom-made velvet slip covers in hot pink. The hanging lanterns were so much fun too! Amber Productions lite up all the paper stars and lanterns through-out the event for us and provided subtle lighting through out the residence. Do you see the cylinders in the outdoor lounge space? We thought it was appropriate to have fish so the kitty had something to feast on :)

Venue: Private Residence
Photography: Russel Gearhart Photography
Furniture: our private collection
Lighting: Amber Productions

Inspiration: Fields full of wild flowers

For this reception at the Long Beach Hyatt, we were asked to bring the brides mid-western memories to life with a modern flair. With over 400 guests, we created a mix of round and square tables through-out the room. We selected plum colored linens and fruitwood chiavari chairs. The flowers were clusters of flowers you might pick from a field full of wildflowers. Roses and lilac scents filled the air. Romance was created with uplighting around the room and candles at each of the tables.

Venue: Long Beach Hyatt
Photographer: Karen Barnes Photography
Coordinator: Diya Events

Valentines Day: Where did it come from?

I am exploring the history of various celebrations this year and wanted to research Valentines Day as well! I looked all over the internet and found this quick review thanks to Wikipedia:

Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs, Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It was deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, but its religious observance is still permitted. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

So, who is your Valentine this year? If you are sharing this day with someone, it is nice to take the time to do something special for them. Think about what they like. I have always felt that the finest gifts are those that are from the heart and are experienced by the recipient. Meaning, instead of an expensive new purse, consider putting together a wine tasting and food paring experiment for your special someone. Purchase 5 different wines and some complemtary side dishes that help the wines be fully appreciated. Set the scene with nice wine glasses, a single bud vase with a beautiful fresh flower from you (or your neighbors) garden. Put their favorite music on and ...the night is yours.

Single? Celebrate by yourself and the love you share for yourself. It's important to take time for yourself too! Treat yourself to what you love most. If you love ice cream..then pick up your favorite flavors, scoop it up into a nice bowl (tonight is not the night to be on that diet), turn on a great movie and ..the night is yours.

Inspiration: Blue Bubbles

A beautiful blue, white and silver reception. When this client said she wanted something unique and different, she wasn't playing around! This St. Regis wedding reception consisted on creating multiple environments within the main ballroom so the guests would have plenty of eye candy. There was a total of 6 different centerpeices ranging from high to low, to square tables to king style tables. We mixed up the linens between blue and white and the flowers between blue and white. Their was over 600 stems of blue hydrangea imported from Holland for this event and yet there was only 8 tables that had the blue hydrangea.

Each centerpeice was hand-crafted by our staff here at Shawna Yamamoto Event Design. These amazing white chandeliers/candleabra's were purchased just for this event and are now available for your special day!

We hope you enjoy and are inspired!
Enjoy!

Venue: St. Regis
Photographer: Victor Sizemore
Coordination: Details Details
Lighting: Amber Production

Tet: Vietnamese New Year

Happy New Year~

Tet, which means the first morning of the first day of the new year, is the Vietnamese New Year. The celebration lasts for 7 days. Like the Chinese, the Lunar New Year is one of the most celebrated holidays.

A special ceremony called Le Tru Tich is held at the mid-night hour (Giao Thua) on New Year's Eve. The ritual involves firecrackers and gongs and other festive items that make loud noises to usher out the old and welcome the new.

Family members exchange gifts and pay homage to the Kitchen God. They also visit local temples to pray for prosperity and good health.

During Tet, Vietnamese families plant a New Year's tree called Cay Neu in front of their homes. A bamboo pole is often used as a Cay Neu. All the leaves are removed from the tree so that it can be wrapped or decorated by good luck red paper. Legends have it that the red color scares off evil spirits. On the seventh (the last) day of Tet, the Cay Neu is taken down. This is the last ritual of the New Year celebration.

One of my favorite clients has invited Shawna Yamamoto Event Design back for the 3rd year in a row to help with this celebration! We are so excited for this year as it is the year of the Cat! What do you do with the year of the cat? Design a modern up-scale Hello Kitty themed lounge.

And here was the color inspiration:


Stay tuned for images from this amazing party!

Bouquets: Let's have fun with them, shall we?

Check out these amazing colors I used for Mona's bouquet! We worked off the colors from her Lengha (Indian wedding gown) and carefully blended them into a romantic accessory!

What you cannot see here is that the handle was made out of lucite - it was clear! We embeded a small white lite into the handle so when she introduced into the reception, her flowers lite up! It was fun!

Photo Credit: Victor Sizemore Photograhy
Venue: St Regis Monarch Beach

Inspiration: Organic Citrus

For this couple, we used the palette of yellow, deep orange, white and brown. Yellow was carried into the design by way of the bridesmaid dresses and further placed into the floral selections. The evnet was held at an Italian restaurant and the couple wanted to have somewhat of a Tuscany feel. We selected the Shimmer crush orange satin linen with coordinating chair sashes. Carafes of wine were placed at each table for the guests to enjoy anytime they got thirsty!

The flowers selected for this wedding included cymbidium orchids, hydrangea, and roses. One of my favorite flowers to use for a yellow flower is the cymbidium orchid as it is so truely yellow and always vibrant.

Shawna Yamamoto used a textured, rich satin ribbon to wrap around the handle. The ribbon is embellished with small jewels in copper to accent the colors and not create a fussy handle. We love our handles and always try to make them extra special for our bride and her maids!