Magnolia Photo Booth

We're sold on the idea that the most spectacular weddings are all about the whimsical details that reflect a couple's unique personality. And being the suckers for nostalgia that we are, we're in love with the endless possibilities and vintage allure of Magnolia Photo Booth.

Instead of a traditional wedding guest book, Hello!Lucky Creative Director and all-around girl genius, Eunice James, opted to document her special day by letting guests take a retro-go inside one of the booths. Guests picked props off a nearby tree and went to town--leaving the bride and groom with a slew of goofy memories. Yes, please!

Set against the stunning outdoorsy backdrop, the photo booth harkens back to those carefree summer days spent at the carnival.

The littlest guests take a peak.

Say "Cheese!"

Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Magnolia Photo Booth recently opened a San Francisco office. Contact them at 415.794.5363, or visit their website for more info.

Photographer Gia Canali

Photographer Gia Canali is one of our favorites in the Bay Area -- we've been dying to blog about the amazing photos she took for Hello!Lucky Creative Director Eunice James' May 2009 wedding for ages (the wedding is featured on the cover of the current issue of Martha Stewart Weddings!).




Her work is ethereal and gorgeous, and she did an amazing job of capturing all the details!





Check out more of Gia's work here and check here, here and here for more of the wedding details!

Gia shot the wedding with the assistance one of our other favorite Bay Area photographers, Sara Remington.

Valentine's Themed Weddings Just Got a Whole Lot Sweeter!

For those of us who are true lovers of love, Valentine's Day weddings can pluck at our romantic heart strings. And, well, why limit us to one day a year? Valentine's Day themed weddings needn't only be for February 14th!

This carnation hand-held bouquet is sweet, romantic, and better still--totally easy to make! (via marthastewart.com).

Hello!Lucky's own Sweetheart design gives your wedding invite some Valentine's pizzazz.

Desserts galore by the talented, Amy Atlas (via amyatlas.blogspot.com).

We love these Vintage X's and O's, and think they'd be super cute for a Valentine's Day inspired soiree. Coupled with this ceramic heart locket, and these Cupid-inspired edible treats by Sweet Paul, your nuptials can be sweet and sugary without costing you a trip to the dentist! (via Flights of Fancy).

Bridesmaid Accessories Round-Up

We've come across some pretty stunning accessories lately, and we've never wanted to wear so many cute things! We've put together a mini collection of our absolute favorites below. Enjoy!

We still can't get enough of you, ban.do! These flowery, feathery designs come to us by the great Jen Gotch and would look amazing on any bride! [Or, let's face it: anyone wanting to be just that much more adorable.]

We've always had an accessories crush on Jennifer Behr's headbands, and love how they can be worn again and again, dressed up or down.

The knotting on this headband would be perfect for nautical themed weddings, and could even be a super cute alternative to the more traditional veil.

Or, perhaps an uber cute veil works, too...

Rachelle D. Jewelry is still one of our favorite places to go for bridesmaid accessories. All her jewelry is detailed and delicate, and we love the quirky, homemade touches.

We can't be emphatic enough about these stunning hairpieces by YuzuRose by June Wee. So pretty and ethereal!

Each one is unique and handmade to order. We love the purple and green feathers.

Babette is back and we couldn't be more thrilled!

We love these chartreuse earrings complete with vintage Czech glass beads.

Patent leather flower bracelets? Yes, please! Each of these make beautiful accents to the bridal party as well as wonderful gifts!

Kathleen Deery Design

There are many talented floral designers in the Bay Area, but one of our very favorites is Kathleen Deery Design. One of San Francisco's most sought-after event professionals, Kathleen is not only amazingly talented, but a joy to work with!







Kathleen's greatest strengths are eye for color and unique composition.



She also has extensive knowledge of rare varieties of flowers, and always gets the best selection of fresh seasonal flowers from the Flower Mart. Check out more of her work here.

Photo credits: Jose Villa, Joe Buissink, Susan Amar

Real Wedding: Marnie and Brian

Grace Cathedral and Muir Woods are two iconic San Francisco venues -- we were so inspired to see how Marni and Brian's wove both into their plush Gothic-inspired nuptials. We love the dark color palette interspersed with more traditional details.

The couple began their ceremony taking a lovers stroll through the labyrinth at San Francisco's hallmark Grace Cathedral, lighting candles as they passed.

They then met up with their guests, who had only been told they were to be driven to the woods, instructions awaiting. Each guest was then welcomed with "survival kits" of edible treats and well-stocked flasks. The understated ceremony took place beneath a simple white canopy in the redwoods of beautiful Muir Woods.

We started by creating custom designed letterpress invitations which summoned the Victorian details Marni knew she wanted--redwood trees, roses, birds, and Victorian embellishments.

Carrying Marni and Brian's Victorian Gothic theme throughout the events of this two day affair, we also worked to design letterpress programs, menus, seating cards, and cocktail napkins.

One of our absolutely favorite parts? The couple even had the redwood tree graphic from the invitation etched onto whiskey flasks! Cheers to that!

The following night, Marni and Brian gathered everyone together again, this time for a reception party held in San Francisco at Hamlin Mansion. We love the playfully rich palette of rich green and purple fabrics for the table settings. Built in 1901 in Italian Baroque style, this venue offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Decked out in whimsical charm, feathers, and purple and magenta accents, we're loving the floral arrangements by Cherries Flowers.

We adore the cigars and doughnut bar by Erin Bell!

Thanks to Erin Beach, who did an amazing job on photography and Moira Gubbins, the wedding coordinator from Hamlin Mansion.

Four Seasons Wedding Fair

We're looking forward to the San Francisco Wedding Fair this Sunday, January 10 from 11 - 4 at Four Seasons Hotel. Let's face it: bridal shows can be overwhelming. However, they also can be a great place to get a lot of good ideas and contacts at once. This one consistently attracts some quality vendors. If you're thinking of only hitting one of these events, it's the one to check out.

A few vendors to definitely check out at the show:

Cakes & Sweets

Sibby's Cupcakery

The Buttercream Studio

Cocoa Bella Chocolates

Calligraphy

Papineau Calligraphy

Florists

Floramor Studios

Event Designers

Alicia K Designs

Rentals

Classic Party Rentals

Hartmann Studios

Hello!Lucky will also be there with partner Magnolia Photo Booth, an awesome photo booth company that just launched in the Bay Area.

Check out the San Francisco Wedding Fair website for a full list of exhibitors. Enjoy!

Happy 2010! A few favorite venues...

Happy New Year! With so many engagements happening over the holidays, we thought it would be great to kick off the new year one of the very first things on the wedding planning to-do list: choosing a venue!

The Bay Area is a fabulous place for local and destination weddings, and has venues for just about every wedding style, from vintage to modern. Here are a few of our favorites.

Vintage



We love Marin Headlands Center for the Arts (both photos above) for its rustic charm. The drive out there is short but scenic - perfect for wowing out-of-town guests.


Swedenborgian Church, nestled in Pacific Heights, is full of vintage charm. Head to one of San Francisco's classic hotels or reception halls for the post-ceremony bash.



Perched on a bluff overlooking the Bay, Old St. Hilary's in Marin is a one-of-a-kind, historic ceremony site.


Modern


Nestled in Golden Gate Park, the DeYoung Museum features stunning modernist architecture.



With its slightly Asian-contemporary-inspired notes, the St. Regis is an uber-stylish venue - perfect for creating a lounge atmosphere, with luxurious rooms for out-of-town guests.




For a more industrial chic look, check out Foreign Cinema in Mission. Dine on gourmet local organic fare, and project a favorite film (Casablanca, anyone?) on the big screen in their outdoor courtyard.


Wine Country





There are literally dozens of stunning venues in wine country - too many to do justice to here! A couple of our favorites: Calistoga Ranch (above).




Beaulieu Vineyard in Napa.



Annadel Estate Winery in Sonoma. And of course, don't forget Bear Flag Farm!

Stay tuned for more wine country venues in a future post!

Photos, from top: Marin Headlands; Swedenborgian Church; Old St. Hilary's; Foreign Cinema 1 and 2; Calistoga Ranch 1 & 2; Beaulieu Vineyards; Annadel.