The Art of Marriage

In the Art of Marriage the little things are the important things.
It means never being too old to hold hands, or to say I love you.
It's never going to bed angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon.
Allow it to continue through the years.
It's having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It's standing together facing the world.
It's forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It's doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
It's speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other and yet seeing each other perfect as you are.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor.
It's having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It's giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It's not only marrying the right partner, it's being the right partner.

How to Pose

This is a great article from Martha Stewart. It can be applied to anytime you are having your picture taken

How to Pose for Wedding Pictures

Your hair and makeup are flawless, but your nerves? A little frazzled with that camera lens in your face. Heed these tips to guarantee great shots -- of you, your groom, and your friends

For Your Portrait

Aim to Flatter

During formal pictures, "stand at a slight angle, not straight on," says Donna Newman, a photographer in Miami. And remember the basics: Take a deep breath, exhale, then tilt your chin down and look up. Also, people look slimmer when photographed from an elevated point, so ask your pro to hop up on a chair for some shots.

Bring a Friend

Have her stand off camera to carry on a conversation -- bonus if she's the funniest bridesmaid. "There's nothing more attractive than a sincere laugh," says Thayer Allyson Gowdy, a San Francisco-based photographer.

Hold the Bouquet with One Hand

Rather than clasping both hands around it, clutch it loosely with one and let the other hang naturally by your side. It'll look more relaxed.

Be Nervous -- It's Okay

Everyone's a bit jittery on the big day. Rather than forcing a smile the whole time, let yourself be real. "If I can catch the bride staring anxiously out the window or welling up with her mom, I know I've got a good one," says Gowdy. "Raw emotions make for gorgeous photos."

Just You Two

Ask for Some Alone Time

At the start of your session, have your photographer give you a few minutes while she discreetly shoots, paparazzi-style, from a distance. You're more likely to act natural without a third party right there, Gowdy explains.

Take a Walk

Hold hands and set off on a short stroll, even if it's just across the lawn. "The hair moves, the dress flows, and there's energy to the image," says Gowdy.

Kiss (Yes, Really)

It may feel cheesy at first, but it's your wedding -- go for it. "I joke and tell couples, 'Okay, you two, you can finally make out,' and they always laugh and have an awesome kiss," says Gowdy. "Let your guard down, and you'll get a beautiful image."

Use Props

And no, we don't mean moustaches. (It's official: They've jumped the shark!) Seek out items that are part of the scenery. If there's a statue outside your city venue, climb on. Getting hitched by a lake? Pose in a rowboat.

Your Wedding Party

Find a Backdrop

The ocean is always nice, but a wedding party lined up in front of funky hotel wallpaper or peeking out from the windows of a B&B is interesting, too.

Get Moving

As with the bride and groom, it helps to walk. Newman likes to have giggling flower girls and ring bearers chase the bride and bridesmaids while she shoots.

Use Furniture

Varying the height within a group can look much better than the standard lineup. If you have couches or vintage chairs set out for the reception, take a seat.

Make It Look Random

Max Wanger, a photographer in Los Angeles, often staggers people or asks everyone to look in a different direction. "Group shots are best when they're not so uniform," he says.

Catch the Guys Off Guard

Most men aren't exactly pro posers, so Wanger likes to capture them doing something -- like clinking glasses of Scotch or throwing a football.

Oh, I see it has been 6 months since I posted anything. What can I say. It was a busy wedding season!
We are busy as little bees here in Nipomo. Cleaning, painting, fixing, making pretty for our adorable couples for this next season.
I wanted to share one project in particular since they always elicit comments when people walk in. Yes, that would be our wagon wheel chandeliers. I have wanted to redo them for the longest time but I was not sure of which direction to go. In the end we went for simple and clean.There are now 32 jars on each one and the are permanently wired and have dimmers. I hope everyone likes them.

Embellish Vintage Rentals for your chic occasion

For years now, I have had a small selection of rentals that I offer to my brides. For the most part they have been simple and sometimes utilitarian items that fit our particular site. Namely rustic and garden inspired items.
It has occurred to me that to expand this part of my business would be a great fit as I have a great collection of stuff , love to shop and I love to help brides put together their vision for their wedding day. I am in the process of acquiring even more items that I think would be really fun additions to a vintage look.
I recently returned from Oregon with several boxes of old books, a vintage blue typewriter (soo cute), a darling little desk



lots of coupe champagne glasses (the short ones, all etched), more great milk glass, suitcases, and an amazing candy tin for a candy table display (Its pink!)





Since I do not have a website up and running quite yet, I am posting pictures to Embellish on Facebook so you can get an idea of what I am offering.
We will be offering delivery service from Paso Robles to Santa Barbara.
We will also try to look for specific items that you might want so let me know your hearts desire.

Adding a personal touch of color

I can always tell when wedding season is about to commence. My brides start popping by to check out the venue again and firm up plans for decorations.
I want to share a very quick, simple idea for bringing the color scheme to the outdoor areas .
We have 4 benches that I always have pillows on. I have purposely kept them neutral and natural in green and brown.

Here is a simple treatment to jazz them up
Purchase 45 inch squares of fabric in your color scheme. (softer fabric is easier to do than stiff)
Place (mine or yours) cushion (20 inch square) on the diagonal. (we have 8 for the benches)



place cushion on wrong side of fabric. Points of pillows should not line up with points of fabric. Fold over cushion tucking raw edge under


Then bring the other two corners together and tie those.







Simply flip the cushion over and you have a custom covered cushion.





OR.... if you bring me your fabric. I will be happy to do it for you.
Happy wedding decorating!

We are a preferred vendor!

I am always interested in what going on out there in wedding world and since I rarely get away from the farm, I have found that perusing the wedding blogs is a great way to stay in touch with current trends. Style me pretty, and greenweddingshoes are a couple of my favorites. I love the fact that they have diy sections which is such a strong trend these days. I have been a diy girl forever. There is so much joy to be found in creating. It does not have to be perfect and the fact that you learn how on your own is immensely satisfying. I have taught myself how to sew (my mother refused to sew for me after I left home so I had no choice but to learn) on my grandmothers old treadle sewing machine. Then I took up cooking after my cousins husband made fun of something I had made. (I was 18). I have to say that after lots of trial and error, I can turn out a fairly respectable meal.
I have been decorating since I was about 10. Not a lot for a girl to do on the farm by herself ,so I decorated every nook and cranny I could get my hands on (boys call them forts). It has been a life long love of mine. I paint, garden and flower arrange so when I have a bride who loves to create her own wedding, I know that it will be unique if nothing else. They usually go all out with the cutest ideas, some of which I see the seed of an idea on the blogs.
So take a look. Type in your favorite color schemes, your favorite style. You will be amazed at what is out there and so adaptable to a fun dinner party or an evening with the girls.
And check out our weddings that have been posted to these blogs. Also newsworthy is the fact that we were just listed on green wedding shoes as a preferred vendor. I love the fact that they have done this with out asking for a fee which just becomes advertising. It is an honor.

I Have been waiting for someone to take us up on our rental of the firepit set up for smores and finally...... here it is. Andrea and Tom had a darling wedding yesterday with so many handmade touches. I will share some on them with you in my next post. But back to the smores. We furnished every thing needed including the forks, wood, stools and set up. Toms mother Janis made the individual litlle smores packets which contained 2 marsmallows, 2 graham crackers and a small chocolate bar. Some of them had Reeses in them. As you can see, they drew a crowd and people kept going out all evening. Its a fun touch and not something you are able to do at all locations but it is a perfect touch at our barn.

the wedding of Kimberly and Norm 5.22.10

Even though it was a rather cold day in May, It could not dampen the spirit of Kimberly and Norms wedding. Everything was beautiful from beginning to end and was flawless.

The ceremony took place in the garden with our 100 year old olive tree providing the branches which were hung with lanterns decorated with blue and white striped ribbons and green mum spheres.
The aisles were done with more spheres as were the rose petals up the aisle
Denise of flowers by Denise did all the beautiful arrangements. This one is especially beautiful! This girl is a real sweetheart and so talented. We had so much fun working together
The ceremony was done by Barbara Koenig

Appetizers were served on the Patio. There were 5 cocktail tables set up with yellow ticking stripe cloths


The appetizers and meal were provided by two cooks catering.

These sweet potato fries were too cute!

The mac and cheese was a big hit

Photographer Colleen Rosenthal arranging one of her fabulous shots


The reception was held at the barn. Guests were greeted with custom seed packets with their table numbers. A string of pictures of the bride and groom accented the table. The boxes are part of our inventory of props. Mark filled them with wheat grass.


Our wagon wheel chandeliers were covered in white duck by Mark for a more tailored look


Denise rented my collection of milk glass vases




Beautiful with ranunculus, fern, euphorbia, lambs ears and dusty miller

The tables were beautiful with floor length slate blue linen. Napkins were handmade blue and white stripe. Mark made the super cool table numbers .(They were vintage labels that he added numbers to) He chose an over sized clothespin to display them on. Each table had a lampshade over it with a pin spot lighting the centerpieces.



Our chandelier on the bar with one of Denise's beautiful arrangements

Old time soda bottles in one of our display pieces for ambiance


The dessert bar
The pumpkin cookies were in honor of Kimberlys dog "Pumpkin"

Macaroons were flown in from San Francisco
packets of "sweets for the sweet" filed with the most delicious paso almond brittle. The wheat grass filled boxes were transformed for the dessert bar.


The bride and groom chose ice cream cakes. They were purchased at Coldstone Creamery and kept on dry ice until time to serve them
I cannot tell you what a pleasure it was to work with Mark from Mark Padgett Event Design. He is the consummate professional and obviously loves what he does. Fun, super talented, dedicated are only a few words to describe him. He made us look good and I look forward to working with him again.

Our best wishes to Kimberly and Mark. We are so pleased they chose our home and barn for their wedding day

Dj Kramer entertainment great job Beau!

Lighting provided by Kramer entertainment

My Grandfather in his garden

My roses are in full and glorious bloom.

I did this funky plaque as a tribute to my grandfather whose roses I tend.

This was his rose garden that I have tried to leave intact. He grew mostly hybrid teas which I have to say are not my favorite. I love the english roses, florabundas and David Austin roses. This part of my garden stays true to my grandfather. Only hybrids and teas are allowed in.

I love icebergs for their clean look This is the side of our front porch

my husband built this arbor for me

A fun wedding Saturday. Chad and Maegan celebrated with their friends and Family with lots of laughter and love.

The signature drink was served in these mason jars which were also the favors
Pink flip flops for the dancing girls. How fun! They were put to good use.
Our steel frame with new white curtains. A simple but effective ceremony site.

Catering was done by Sea Shanty. Carol always does a beautiful display
Aprils flowers did gerbera arrangements. Even the outdoor coffee tables got spruced up

Maegan did darling place cards. She is a nurse and Chad is a sheriff.

Perry of Kramer Entertainment furnished music for the ceremony and reception. I really like the way they set up their music for the ceremony at the back of the chairs. Keeps those speakers out of the pictures

The cake was from Arroyo Grande Bakery