Serena Grace Photo Blog

Esther and Kristine did an amazing job putting together this stylish and healthy dessert/snack table for a children’s party!   As a mom, Esther is always conscious of what her son eats, so she wanted to design a healthier alternative to the ever popular dessert stations & candy bars.  Together with Kristine, the two came up with this fun & stylish fruit & veggie table spread that not only looks good, but is good for you!

I love the beautiful arrangements Kristine made using purple cabbage, artichokes, and brussel sprouts….so creative!  And both the parents & children loved all the desserts & snacks.  I was barely done photographing the food before kids starting swiping all the pumpkin latte shots and yogurt parfaits!

If you’re interested in creating your own fruit & veggie table, Esther will be sharing some tips on her blog this week.

Concept Design:  Esther Kim of My Bride Story

Floral Design & Food Styling:  Kristine Shin Designs

Stationery Design:  Wiley Valentine

Photography:  Serena Grace

A great big thank you to Amy Atlas Events for featuring the amazing table spread Esther Kim of My Bride Story designed for a children’s party, and that I got to help photograph!

Head over to Amy’s blog to see some pictures of the yummy fruit & veggie table, and be sure to check back here later for more pictures of Esther’s great concept!

Viv & Lloyd’s wedding at Cafe Pinot was amazing!  I’m sad I don’t have any pictures of the ceremony since I had bridesmaid duties, but it was seriously so beautiful.  They got married under a tree decorated with pink flowers and ribbons streaming down, and there wasn’t a dry eye as the two of them recited the vows they wrote to each other.  I get teary-eyed just thinking about it!

Their reception was set against the backdrop of the Los Angeles Library, and nestled amidst LA’s skyscrapers.  Viv & Lloyd really wanted their guests to have a good time, so a jazz band (made up of their talented groomsmen & friends) entertained guests with covers songs like “Candy Shop” and “Between the Sheets” during the cocktail hour, and guests were treated to a silhouette artist, photo booth, and a yummy dessert table!  They handed out several Flip video cameras so guests could help record the evening (it was really fun watching the footage afterwards).  The groomsmen surprised everyone with an awesome dance, and Lloyd sang as Vivian danced with her father.

It was all so amazing and wonderful that I wish the night could have gone on forever!

Such a cool chandelier designed by Amber Event Production!

We helped to make custom buttons for each guest.
And it took us forever, but Lloyd & I finally figured out how to do a data merge in InDesign to make the seating cards.

Here are the groomsmen serenading the guests during the cocktail hour.  Yup, that’s my hubby on the far right!

The cake & desserts from the amazing Melody of Sweet & Saucy Shop

Vivian & Lloyd live in Portland, and there were lots of Portland guests, so our friends Janet & Allyson made these Portland cookies for their dessert table!

The paper heart straws and buttons we all helped to make.

I really love this sweet moment between the newlyweds!

These giant letters were made by Lloyd & my hubby Jeremy.  Aren’t they so cool?

Some pictures from the photobooth.  Juli and I made the banner b/c we really wanted to try printing on fabric.  It worked!

Venue:  Cafe Pinot

Wedding Coordinator:  Nancy of So Happi Together

Cake + Desserts:  Sweet & Saucy Shop

Chandelier & Lighting:  Amber Event Production

Linens:  Elegant Designs Specialty Linens

Videographer:  Nate Fu

DJ:  John Villa of Dance Syndicate

Photobooth:  Cheesy Photobooths

Silhouette Artist:  Sylhouettes by Sylvia

These past two months have been such fun, exciting, and busy months!  As I mentioned before, two of our very close friends got married at the beginning of October and we are so incredibly happy for them!

I met Vivian in the dorms at UCI and we ended up being roommates for 3 years, while Lloyd’s search for a place to live eventually led to him moving in with Jeremy.  I wish we could say we played a part in the two of them meeting, but for two years we all went to the same school, Jeremy and I were dating, Viv was my roommate, Lloyd was Jeremy’s roommate…and they never met!

Thankfully they did eventually meet, we all went on a memorable/infamous spring break trip together….and the rest is history!

Their wedding day was beyond beautiful!  They put so much thought into every detail of their wedding and really tried to personalize everything.  And despite some really crazy, unexpected things happening, Viv remained so cool & calm about it all.  I was so honored to be one of her bridesmaids that day!  Of course, the photographer in me couldn’t help but take a few photos throughout the day, so here’s a glimpse into our morning of getting ready at the Viceroy in Santa Monica.

I took some photos at their beautiful reception, too, and I’ll share those in my next post!

Jen Wang did make-up for the bridesmaids, while Nicole DeAnne worked on the bride.  They both did such an amazing job!

Viv & Lloyd exchanged gifts that morning.  Yes, that is a Cartier bag you see!

Viv gave us the coolest bridesmaids gifts ever….two-finger rings from Heist Jewelry!  And don’t you love how Viv wrapped it?

Viv got one for herself, too!

Their first look

Her something blue

Getting Ready Hotel:  Viceroy Santa Monica

Wedding Gown:  Marisa

Florist:  Royal Florist

Hair & Make-up Artists:  Nicole DeAnne, Jen Wang (jwangb@gmail.com), Tracey Wong

Bridal Hair Piece & Belt:  Erin Cole

Rings:  Heist Jewelry

Bridesmaid Dresses:  BCBG

Last week was my birthday and we celebrated in style……Jersey Shore style that is!  Alice and I both have birthdays in October, so we decided to throw a Jerseylicious birthday bash together and it was such a blast!  I have no shame in admitting that I watch Jersey Shore (hey, everyone needs their “reality TV” fix), and that I even made a ringtone of Pauly D saying “Oh yeah…Wake up, yeah!”

We originally planned to throw an 80′s themed party, but at the last minute decided a Jersey Shore themed party would be even more ridiculous and outrageous.  Well, our friends did not disappoint!  Everyone came dressed in their best Ed Hardy shirts, animal print dresses, Snooki poofs, and fake tan!  You all are awesome!

I promise we don’t normally dress like this. =P

Darla showing off her amazing abs, and Lydia with Charlie, the lobster Snooki tried to save from being cooked.

The guys beating up the beat!

The bday girls with our cake

And to top it all off, I got to preview Conan’s new show on my birthday!  It was hilarious!  Can’t wait for his new show to premier this Monday!