CRYSTALS TO MAKE YOUR WEDDING SPARKLE AND HOLLYWOOD GLAM! AT THE JONES VICTORIAN ESTATE(714) 343-1964

Hi!

The love of crystals and everything that sparkles was the order for the day for Carissa and Lee.

 For Carissa, it was all about the details! And did we have details!

It was so much fun creating vignettes that were not only beautiful and elegant but  playful as well.

The weather cooperated and Carissa and Lee had a fabulous day. 

The Ivory Silk Organza Arch with the chandelier, crystal strands and large floral arrangements made this Wedding Arch just what she had envisioned. 

It's all in the details and these crystals were just what Carissa wanted...

the perfect accent to the drape.

Black and White photos were hand tinted for a beautiful aisle chair decoration. We added ribbon and a broach to complete the look. (Each chair was a different photograph!)

Did she say crystals? Yes she did, so our crystal curtain was just the piece to decorate our Gazebo!  

Crystal cake stand, crystal drapes, crystal vases, pretty flowers in white vessels, white frames  and an adorable paper sculpted cake top finished the look! (The cake topper is in its own glass dome!)

The gorgeous arch was a spectacular backdrop for the first dance!

The clean and crisp French door seating doors allowed the guests to find their special seat assigned by the Bride and Groom.

A special Thank you to Gina and Ryan Photography for these wonderful photos!

Congratulations Carissa and Lee!

Love,

Michelle Gregory

the Jones Victorian Estate

Crystal Cake Stand... Where's the Crystals? the Jones Victorian Estate (714) 343-1964

Hi!

Ah, an inspiration!

 Sometimes an inspiration is spectacular and exciting but a bit out of the budget. That's where I come in. It's my job to find a way around a design to make it reflect the Bride's style, her color scheme and her wallet. 

My Bride, Diana, found this particular cake design (below) that was gorgeous!

 She loved the hanging crystals but was having trouble creating it within her budget.

 This was our start.. our inspiration!!

At the next meeting,  we discussed the picture in detail. I explained the many options available to her,  all of which were a challenge, except one.   I brought out a variety of my crystal cake stands to get a better visual.  Each of them  unique with different styles and sizes. We found two that she loved and that would be perfect for the project and a perfect start.

I dug around my supplies and found crystals from an old chandelier that I had saved. Diana's friend had a bag full of crystals from a garage sale. We now had all of our supplies and a simpler design that would cost her nothing!!  But most importantly, a design that she loved! Wow!!!

One last issue; her pink. She wanted pink flowers added to the design.

 I played with the crystals and on each stand. The top stand had scalloped edges and it was perfect for attaching the crystals. With her approval,   I was ready to go!

 Crystal stand number one!

I began wiring the crystals with clear fishing line and crisscrossing them across the top of the stand. I glued the fishing line on the top and a bit on the side to hold all the crystals in place. I continued around the scalloped edge until all the crystals were in place.

 Waalaa! The first stand ready to go. The second stand was smaller but this stand had a scalloped edge with a lip on it. It was so easy to attach the crystals to that scalloped lip edges with the wires.

Now, I realize from this raw picture it doesn't look like much! Just two stands with crystals hanging off the edges. But just wait.

 Next step, Diana wanted pink flowers on her cake!  It was off to ABC Cakes to help us with that last piece of the design.  

Diana decided on  edible flowers in light  and dark pink. All of a sudden, her dream cake was coming to fruition. 

Here's her cake! All the crystals on the crystal stands, edible flowers on the butter cream frosting on each layer and the black and white damask linen.

Cake cutting at its finest! With the crystal chandelier above, the vintage pink plates and the Mr. and Mrs. forks set, the Bride and Groom enjoyed their cake and ate it too!

A special Thank you to Michael at MemoriesbyMichael.com for the photographs!

What's your design inspiration?  Don't give up to soon!!

Love,

Michelle Gregory

Stylist and Coordinator

Crystal Centerpieces... Are They Vintage Too? YES, YES, YES! the Jones Victorian Estate (714) 343-1964

Hi!

Can a vintage theme also include crystal?

Absolutely!

Check out these crystal centerpieces that were created with our vintage crystal vessels!

OoOoOoOooo, I love them!

How about this double-decker crystal arrangement? ...

Even the bottom crystal was accented by flowers!!!

Here, the crystal ice tea doubled as a fantastic vessel for another centerpiece.

We mixed sizes and styles of crystal for a vintage vignette!

I love the combination of mixed crystal containers!

Here is an up close photo of the detail on the vases.

The flowers are gorgeous and really pop with the crystal. 

What is your dream?

Let's get talking and planning!

Smiles,

Michelle Gregory

the Jones Victorian Estate

(714) 744-1608

The Guest Book/Gift Table

Hi!

The Guest Book/Gift table is typically where the guests "sign in" at a book and retrieve their dinner seating. It's a place for the gift and a general starting point for the event. 

Why not make this table a beautiful focal point while being a practical vignette?

To give an example of what I mean, below are a couple of my favorites. 

Here, Carissa and Lee had a completely separate table for the sign in book. Rather than a table, it was a mirrored cabinet she found on Craig's list. She added a pretty lamp, a special box for the card gifts and  she made two simply gorgeous scrapbooks.   The guests had their choice of page and book in which to leave a their special note. 

I added the window and personalized it to them to complete the design. The finished product was fun, beautiful  and completely functional.

Ashley and Jim went with vintage fun! The table was draped with lace and heart burlap bunting. She made a cute card box and a instagram sign for the guests. I used vintage silverware boxes, tins, crystal, vintage places, stacked tea cups, old pitchers, an old metal arch and of course, a chandelier! 

It was perfect because during the ceremony, we transformed it into a snack table! (I'm waiting for pictures from the photographer!)

Kelly and Joey went with a family theme for their table. Family photos, their engagement photo, old family books, vintage postcards with an old toast holder to display them, her pretty fabric that brought in her colors....

Then I added the flowers, the vintage typewriter with a special typed note from the Bride and Groom, an old purse basket for the safety of the card gifts.  This table was warm, inviting and fun while being completely practical.

Hillary loved the vintage look. Her table was draped in vintage lace and she used an old suitcase with her special finds! Her guest book was created when...

the guests took their picture with the old fashioned backdrop. (Her Father made it!) The camera in the photograph was made to look like the old style! Hillary's mom and dad had a special hand in helping her vision come together. 

Denise and Jeff went with the rustic feel for their guest book table with burlap, a branch framed board for the seating cards (the pins had pebble on top), an old egg basket for the programs, a beautiful apothecary jar for the card gifts, photos in rustic frames and 

a kumquat tree arrangement as the centerpiece. 

It's another detail that you might not have put that much thought into. It's really worth the extra effort! Remember, it's usually the first detail the guests see so have fun with it.

Don't forget the card box for the card gifts! It can be an old hat box, an old sewing box, a decorated cigar box, a trunk or small suitcase, a wrapped box with a slit on the top... whatever you decide, have a safe place for those gifts!

Enjoy the process!!!

Love,

Michelle Gregory

the Jones  Victorian Estate