Two backdrops and flower balls on branches

I haven’t draped a wedding in years, so I didn’t know what it would be like to put organza back in my hands again. Thankfully, its like riding a bike — you really don’t forget how to do it. I didn’t need to do any tables, which in my opinion is more work, so doing two backdrops was a snap. The day wasn’t without its complications, as is the case with any other wedding, of course. But all in all, it all turned out well.

The decorators happened to have a personal stake in this wedding — the groom was the brother of Sophia Truong, my brother’s design partner. Above is the photo backdrop, in the lobby outside the reception. The location of this backdrop was a pickle — first it was opposite the entryway, then it was along the far adjacent wall, then we had to move it all the way next to the entryway. That would be why that last column seems to be a little too far from the rest, a fact I only noticed when looking over the photos.

And, I’d like to point out that my sister did the majority of the work on this backdrop. I mostly just finished it off. I think I’ve taught her pretty well!

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Preview: Orange and pink at the Universal Hilton

I draped a couple of backdrops for my brother and his design partner Saturday for the first time in a few years. I forgot how much fun it was to see my work go up!

I ordinarily would not have paired orange and pink together, but it came out surprisingly well. Kind of like a rainbow sherbert backdrop. Anyway, I’ll have more and more photos soon!

Wedding on a New York street

No, I didn’t actually go to New York recently for a wedding. But, technically, this was a wedding on a New York Street. In fact, the name of the street is New York Street — on a TV studio lot.

Let me just make it clear that I did not decorate this wedding. The seat covers did not come from me or anyone I work with, nor did the flowers, table linens or any of that stuff. I could probably get you a very similar look, but this particular wedding — I had nothing to do with. But these are my pictures.

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Overlooking the ocean at La Venta Inn in Palos Verdes Estates

This may be a little late, but better late than never! (Brides, remember that line when everyone asks why the wedding started so late.) Wedding Decorator pal Doris came all the way from Washington D.C. to take pictures of her friends’ wedding just for this lil’ ole blog! Well…not quite.

All photos by Doris. Thanks, Doris!!

As the headline suggests, this wedding took place at La Venta Inn. It so happens I have done a wedding here — a long, long time ago. I remember the place pretty well — spectacular location, as you can see from the photo of the gazebo, although the facility where the reception is a little tight — no 500-person parties here! But if you asked me for pictures, I probably lost them. Oops! Not to worry, Doris has swooped and saved the day.


The flowers, I gotta say, are spectacular. Totally bright and eye-popping, perfect for an outdoor wedding overlooking the ocean. Very summery. These lovely flowers were designed by Be Buds Florist in Torrance. Nice job! The photo above, by the way, is a close up of the gazebo’s centerpiece, and have a gorgeous variety of flowers — orange-edged yellow and pink roses, green cymbidium orchids, pink orchids, pinky-green hydrangeas. There’s just so many!


The pew decorations are simple but effective — red and orangey-yellow roses attached to the chairs. Simple, easy, colorful. Ka-pow! Massive impact. Heheh.


I’ve been meaning to do a post on staircases. Don’t ignore your staircases! I love decorating staircases. They add a lot of drama, without needing a lot of decoration. Think of all the bridal magazines you’ve seen, where the bride’s wedding gown train is spread behind her on the staircase. And those staircases don’t even tend to be decorated! Decorating a staircase is easy, just like in this photo — rose petals, a few bunches of roses, and some draping. Easy elegance.


This photo was labeled a tabletop arrangement — which could mean it was for the gift table, or the sign-in table or a cocktail table. Anyway, here we’ve got more hydrangeas, more of the orangey-yellow roses and — are those coffee bean buds?! How cool are those?! They’re actually called hypericum berries.


This is the sweetheart table. It’s very simple, but in a way, the statement of where the bride and groom are going on their honeymoon — Maui — kind of invokes your imagination.


This guest tables appeared to be set with three different styles of vases, carrying three bunches of flowers, although I’m not clear if all the tables had the same type of trio. I don’t think that’s the case, since in the background, I don’t see the big sprig of orchids at that table to the right. Anyway, I like the asymmetry here — square, tall vase with a green cymbidium orchid sprig in water, topped with a candle, a short cube vase with a bunch of those orangey-yellow roses, and the sprig of bright pink orchids. Really cool. And, I think, looking at the other pictures in Doris’ set, there were other combinations for each table.


Last but not least, the cake. A bakery was not listed on the wedding website so I have to assume that La Venta Inn did this cake, and it is so simple and beautiful. As a wedding decorator, I tend to like wedding cakes that are simple so that they can be dressed up with flowers. I mean, look how this one turned out! And the florist left nothing un-decorated — the cake knives, the wineglasses, everything has blossoms on it. And yet, nothing seems to be dripping with flowers. That’s good decorations, my friend.

Long head table decorations

Decorating a long head table for a wedding reception is tough. Trust me, when I was still decorating, I preferred a small sweetheart table to long head tables any day. However, they’re usually a necessity, because its probably cheaper and many couples want to put their bridal party and sponsors in the spotlight with their own especially designated tables.

Above, you’ve got a combo — two long-ish side tables uncomfortably close to a sweetheart table, decorated with lavender, silver and white draping. I’m not sure who put the bridesmaid bouquets at each point where the draping is gathered and attached to the tables, but its a nice touch. You can click on the above picture for its full size, or keep reading for a closer look at an angle.

Forgive me, I can’t remember the name of the hotel pictured here, but — it was a hotel! Anyway, you see the silver draping was used to accent the lavender (one of my favorite color combos). The sweetheart table is set apart with lights underneath the table, which makes a pleasing glow through the silver and white draping.


I’m positive that this set up is at the Pacific Palms in the City of Industry. This is a double long table set up — a long table on the floor and a long table on a raised tier. If I remember correctly, most long tables seat about 15 or 16 people. However, they are not easy to decorate. You usually need several yards of draping, like 20 to 25 yards, plus, making all those loops symmetrical often takes a lot of pinning and unpinning and pinning again, plus, when you’re working with two long tables, not everything will line up, as you can see from above. (Above, things probably line up from a certain view, but it doesn’t look lined up to me from this picture!) When I first started draping it would take me an hour to do each table. I can do a long table in 20 minutes now.


This reception was at the Courtyard in Baldwin Park, but don’t ask me if it was called a Courtyard at the time — its undergone several ownership changes over the years. This set up was unique. If my memory serves me correctly, this was a big U-shaped table. I’ve done a couple of those setups at this hotel. Anyway, you don’t see the U-shape here, but when it comes to a looooong head table that angles, all you can do is create a big visual impact and try to get everything mostly even. Pink helps a lot in that sense.


Yellow and silver for a silver anniversary celebration at the Glendale Hilton. This long table was not as difficult to decorate, since it was not excessively long — it appears to seat 10. There is a sweetheart table setup behind the long table, and its flanked by two medium sized tables which seat four each. If I must recommend a set up for a lot of people at a head table, this would be it.
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Color indecision at the Ramada Suites in Covina

Look. Do us all a favor. If you’re having a big party, choose one color. If you like pink, go with pink. Or, if you like baby blue – go with the baby blue. Both are great colors. But the two should never be paired together outside of a nursery, but maybe not a personal nursery, since that baby may not know if s/he is supposed to be aligning him/herself with the pink or the blue. Anyway, just choose one, especially since the hotel may not have napkins that are your exact color of pink or blue.

This was an 18th birthday party/debut, but I could’ve sworn it was a baby shower for boy and girl twins.
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