Bonne Mariage: Pasadena, CA New Years Eve Wedding Winter Wonderland

This New Year's Eve Winter Wonderland Wedding took place a number of years ago but I look at the pictures almost every day. The wedding location was Pasadena, California. The wedding lighting was in shades of blue and purple and also complimented the ice presentations on the terrace. The perimeter of the tent was lined with white light strewn birch trees and giant white-flocked icicle trees flanking the corners.

Guests danced the night away on a clear plexiglas dance floor that covered the family pool. Lovely!

Happy New Year! Dream Big My Friends!


Joanna

Credits: Party Planner , Photographer

Happy Happy Christmas Everyone!

Have a Rosy Pink Day!

Credits: Making It Lovely

Bonne Mariage: Bridal Couples' Real Weddings - Let me Spotlight Your Wedding.

I adore spotlighting real weddings that embrace something unique – an idea, environment, venue, inspiring details, or the couples’ own unique spin. I absolutely love to spotlight Southern California Weddings – and I love great photographers.  I would like to feature your wedding - wherever you are. 

Please send me an e-mail: joannahendrie@gmail.com with your photographs with at least 650 pixels in width. Please include all the fine points and details of your Wedding or any thing you would want to see featured.

Thank you - I look forward to talking with you soon and linking your website to our blog.  Merci! Joanna

Bonne Mariage: Vintage America

Credits: Love Me Do Photography

I was bowled over when I saw this beautiful bride, with stunning red hair, striking face and a vintage gown reminiscent of the early 1950’s. The new and up to date cupcake display is a whimsical sight – red and pink, black polka dot trim - I call this wedding young and fun. The extremely luscious photos are brought to us by Nadine at Love Me Do Photography.

Cuisine: Christmas Peppermint Bark - Joyeaux Noêl!

Here is a simple and easy little gift to make for all your friends and family. Fast and so Colorful, Peppermint Bark – I love the taste of Chocolate and Peppermint together - the richness of the Chocolate and the sweet, refreshing and crackly crushed pepperminty taste of the Candy Canes.  They're easy and exhilarating to make and great fun smashing and bashing the candy canes into linen napkins. All the ingredients are organic and can be found at Whole Foods Market. This recipe is enough for one cookie sheet of Christmas Peppermint Bark and makes enough bark for six "Peppermint Bark Gift Boxes."

Christmas Peppermint Bark Recipe

• 24 ounces white chocolate chips
• 24 ounces milk chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 20 candy canes

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with a vegetable cooking spray.

2. Pour all the milk chocolate chips onto the pan and spread them around. Bake for a couple of minutes until they look a bit melted. Then take the pan from the oven and spread the chocolate around with a spatula. Put the pan in the refrigerator to cool and harden for about 30 minutes.

3. Next open the candy canes, place them on a cookie sheet under a clean dishtowel and crush them with a hammer (as I said this part is fun). Sort the larger candy cane pieces from the candy cane dust (set aside).

4. Melt the white chocolate chips in a double boiler (I used a small glass bowl over a pan of hot water) and stirring constantly. Add the peppermint extract and stir in the candy cane dust which will color your chocolate a light shade of pink. Let it cool a bit, and then pour it over the top of your milk chocolate layer.

5. Sprinkle this last layer with candy cane pieces and press them down gently so as to not stick.

6. Refrigerate pan for several hours, shake off the excess candy pieces, and then break the bark into chunks. Best to keep Peppermint Bark refrigerated.

Pack pieces of Peppermint Bark in Cellophane Bags and place bags in small box cushioned with tissue paper.

Close box up and tie with a Big Fat Red Satin Bow.

Merry Christmas!

Fleur & Decor: Roses in November

In Canada, my birth country – it is very rare to see roses blooming in November. Look at what’s been going on in Toronto (where I lived and was raised as a toddler). Freshly blossomed roses are springing up in several parks and green spaces around the city. This picture was snapped yesterday - November 26th! - amid all the fallen leaves of the surrounding shrubs.



Credits: Andy Ritchie

Peace This Thanksgiving!

I am wishing all of you a beautiful, peaceful and loving Thanksgiving Day. I'm very grateful to have friends and family such as you.  

As a gift please accept this lovely Princess Cake from Miettes Patisserie located in San Francisco, California.

 Enjoy!

Wedding: Dusty Pink and Black New Years Wedding 2011

Mood boards are a great help to a bride to be, graphic designers and film makers. The board is used to enable a bride to illustrate visually her style direction or the point of view, which she is pursuing. A wedding is a story and the mood board sets the stage for an imaginary setting for the wedding storyline. They serve as a visual tool to quickly inform every one of the overall 'feel' and “flow” that a bride/designer is trying to achieve. Creating mood boards in a digital form may be easier and quicker, but the tactile feel of physical objects (fabric, paper stock) often tend to have a higher impact on people because of the more complete palette of a sensational physical mood boards offer, in contrast with the black & white or color-prints of a digital mood board.

For a New Years Wedding 2011 – still a work in progress - the beginnings of a blush pink and black 5:00PM cocktail wedding in the bride’s parent’s Laguna Beach home over looking the Pacific Ocean.

Wedding Champagne and French Cheese Buffet - First Things First - The Tasting.

We are happy to lend our wedding planning expertise to a most beautiful bride for 2010 Autumn Wedding. The bride and groom love great food and wine. So I set aside an entire evening last week and started the planning for the French Wine, Champagne and French Cheese tasting. Had lots of fun. All the while kept in mind the theme of the wedding “A Shimmering Champagne Wedding” .  The bride has chosen a monochromatic color palette of Blush Gold. The bride loves French Champagne and wants the wine and Champagne paired with French Cheeses.  French wine is similar to Champagne - it is processed the same way. However, the wine grapes are not grown in the Champagne region.


As a work in progress – The Shimmering Champagne Wedding Tasting Menu is taking shape. 

Au Votre Sante!

A Vineyard Tasting

• Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux
• Chardonnay from Burgundy
• Pinot Noir from Burgundy
• Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley

A First-Class Tasting

• Bordeaux Grand Cru Classe
• Burgundy Grand Cru and 1er Cru
• Chateauneuf du Pape
• Champagne Grand Cru or Millesime

A Champagne Tasting

• Champagne Blanc de Blanc
• Champagne Rose
• Champagne Millesime

A Select Cheese Pairing

French Muenster (considered the Best and called Munster) is a farmhouse and cow’s milk cheese. Authentic Munster cheese is made only from the milk of cows that graze in a designated area in the Vosges Mountains in the east of France. It is a soft white cheese with a reddish-orange washed rind and is noted for its strong smell and pronounced taste

Double Crème French “La Brie” is a soft cows' cheese named after Brie, the French province in which it originated.

Epoisse a cheese from Burgundy, France. Epoisse is firm, moist and grainy with a fresh taste.

Come back often - next up the buffet layout and design.

Wedding: Happy Halloween Wedding - Skibo or Malibu?

Planning a Halloween Wedding. Take inspiration from Wedding Wire’s Opulent Mood Board. If not this weekend – why not plan next year's wedding in October - now the new June. Start early and start the Holiday Season 2010 off with your wedding either choreographed here at a luxe mansion on a hill in Malibu or Santa Barbara. - or, and this is my fantasy get going and dream up the ultimate Scottish Destination Wedding at Skibo Castle.  The dress – think rich, ornate, lots of layers, and - add a soft orange tartan cashmere wrap with lots of jewelry.

Credits:

Mood Board: Wedding Wire

Skibo Castle: Scotavia

Musique: Michael Bublé for Your Wedding Reception

Did you know that  Michael Buble http://www.michaelbuble.com/ is the only performer who can can touch audiences aged 8 through 80? That’s right – even the little ones know who he is. Michael's silky, lush voice and music is a must have at any Wedding Reception - his music is perfect for everyone's "dance moves". He has it all - handsome good looks, nostalgic music for grandparents (Stardust), oldies for Moms and Dads, and for Friends and Family.  

He'll be performing the week of November 1 (need to confirm the date) at Morongo Casino Resort Spa in Cabazon, CA in a swanky concert. I adore Michael – his music will make you wilt and swoon - believe me there is no one - well, perhaps the Beetles - who can touch your heart, your guest's heart on your day - a day made for memories and ceremony. Michael may be booked but please rush out and get his new CD "Crazy Love" (# 1 on Billboard) and listen to what I am talking about. Just a thought - Perhaps a "Michael Buble Looping Session" can be created - on your day especially for you and your guy! Just a thought!

Destination and Holiday Weddings' Save The Date Cards - Have You Sent Yours?

Remember to send out today your Save-The-Date Cards for your destination or holiday wedding. These notes should be sent out one year in advance of your wedding.  As these to-do items come up -  just keep adding them to your "Ongoing To-Do List.  Try and keep the list in one place- a small binder moleskinus.com -  and in your purse at all times.

Happy Autumn Holiday!

Summer Anniversay High Tea

Nothing could stop a Wedding Anniversary High Tea – not even105 degrees in Orange County this past week. Joanna Hendrie Events and Fêtes set the stage for an iconic High Tea complete with Silver Samovar, linens and tea cups, dessert plates, tea pots and porcelain from Rent A Tea Party. The 75 guests supped on tea sandwiches – a smoked salmon and dill, a sundried tomato and crème fraiche, a sweet onion and mascarpone cheese on raisin brioche and a Madeira and red current chicken. Also, high tea is not complete without the the savories: Mini chive biscuits and country ham, cherry bread and hazelnut port butter, fig chicken pate and cornichons on baguette, and mini croque monsieur. Sweet petite cookies – macaroons, blueberry shortbread, French crème brownies, and bite size lemon squares shared each of the guest tables with Joanna’s trademark organic farm fresh strawberries and Chantilly Crème – the strawberries crowned dessert plates and trays and were scattered among two tiered serveware of savories, sweets and sandwiches. (Thank You Vintage Tea Leaf http://vintagetealeaf.com/) - Tea for the day was a green tea called Casablanca and an Oolong from Ceylon called Peaches & Cream served with fresh apricot scones.

The anniversary gateau was a two tiered chocolate ganache cake with chocolate fudge filling, piping and served with a sparking wine from the South of France.

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Wedding Etiquette 101 – Handwritten Thank You Notes

Writing hundreds of thank you notes takes time. But it is a very important activity. Your guests spent a great deal of time and money searching out the perfect gift. You in return must express your gratitude and the sooner the better.

Here are some tips – to get you started:

Get organized
Start immediately
Write one note at a time
Divide the job up
Set goals – five to eight cards a day
Create a space
– clean off a table in the den or set up a portion of your home office desk or dining table as staging area for note writing
Use dead time
- after dinner or early morning
Delay gratification
– do not use the wedding gift until after you’ve written and mailed the note
Divide list in to categories: family, his and hers, mutual friends
Write difficult notes first

Then – I like to reward myself after a meeting a goal – for me finishing a job is reward enough! Pick your strategy - whatever works. Whatever you crave - have at it!

Christian Lacroix Forever...

My favorite designer - Christian Lacroix - has always been one of the Paris season’s most anticipated shows on the Paris calendar.

Does anyone know if this is his last show? His new collection featured 24 pieces and are said to be dramatic, chic and elegant.

Now, take a look at pieces from his Wedding Collection - Rosa Clara for 2010 courtesy of http://fashionbride.wordpress.com.

Lacroix’s bride looks like a doll - sweet, modern and with the look of a silver screen dream - lots of muslin, organza, crepeline, lace and embroidery, fine stones and mother-of-pearl pailletes.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Rent A Tea Party

My new pet rental firm in Orange County and Los Angeles – a service I now can’t live without – is Tricia Van Doren’s Rent- A -Tea Party. In addition to being extremely nice Tricia is accommodating, friendly and particularly responsive when working within deadlines. She has a first-class collection of Tea Cups and Saucers, Tea Pots and magnificent accoutrements you can’t wait to lay your eyes on – She has it all for your next tea party. Her tea pots are beautiful, big and colorful, with a mix and max attitude of flowers, vines, gold and pastels. Once grouped together these pieces look heavenly on a perfectly set tea table. From a “Tea for Two or for a party of 75 or more (Thanks Tricia - for everything I needed for last weekend’s High Tea), she has what you’re looking for. If she doesn’t have the piece you need I am confident she will find it.

I can’t wait to work with Rent a Tea Party again. Please stroll on over to Tricia’s website at http://www.rentateaparty.com, and give her a call and rent a tea party and create your own tea celebration this month

Picture Perfect Paris Honeymoon.

Cozy picnics in the park. A visit to Paris is never complete without - a gaze upon the Eiffel Tower, and a trip to the market for a lunch picnic in the park or along the Seine. A great little pedestrian market street not terribly overrun with tourists is Rue Cler, just to the southeast of the Eiffel Tower at the Ecole Militaire metro stop. Fruit vendors, cheesemongers, bakeries and boulangeries sell sandwiches, baguettes, quiches, tarts, and of course, macarons, for the perfect afternoon Parisian picnic in the park. Get the royal treatment. A truly classy place to stay during your honeymoon, the Victoria Palace Hotel (6 Rue Blaise Desgoffe) can't be beat for luxury, comfort, and hospitality. Honoured as a Great Hotel of the World, its classically upholstered walls and tapestries bring you back to the 15th century France of Marie Antoinette. Feel like royalty with the hotel's impeccable attention to detail along with extras like bath salts, bathrobes, and dark chocolates on pillows at turndown. Best boutique hotel in Paris. For more modern or artsy romantics, Hotel des Academies et des Arts (15 Rue de la Grande Chaumiere) offers ultra-stylish rooms and luxury all at once. One of the best boutique hotels in Paris, Hotel des Academies et des Arts is located in a small Parisian neighbourhood littered with artists and studios. As if the unique artistic flair of this boutique wasn't enough, Pierre Herme macarons are offered to each guest upon arrival - absolute perfection. Fall in love with the streets of Paris. With both hotels conveniently located in the heart 6th Arrondissement, it makes for perfectly beautiful afternoons strolling through Jardin du Luxembourg and getting lost in picturesque Parisian streets. Hop the Metro for a few stops at a time to yourselves at the foot of Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, and Champs-Elysees. Perfect romantic dinners in Paris. Finally, when it comes to a perfect romantic dinner, there's no better world destination than Paris. For something classically-French and exquisitely prepared, visit Pierre Gagnaire's for the perfect French fine dining experience. If you want the best in modern French dishes, try Atelier de Joel Robuchon where one of the best items on the menu is mashed potatoes. Then again, for top-quality traditional French fare like steak frites, escargot baked in garlic, and moules at low-mid range prices, try La Rotonde - conveniently just steps away from Hotel des Academies et des Arts.

Credits: LeBeast

Trends - Bridal Bows and Color for 2010

I like to follow Bridal trends and where do they always start? - in Europe - -Paris! French fantasy is back and here is just a wee bit of the behind the scenes at the Paris Couture shows this week. Paris Haute Couture Week started at the beginning of July. Among its recession-defying flights of fancy were beautiful dresses, ravishing models, breathtaking locations, diamond presentations, dreamy hats, bejeweled clients and riotous parties ( I was not invited). It was a return to real glamour and rich handcrafts.
It was all about the bow, big and bold on the front of evening gowns; little ones on the heels of candy-colored shoes; and on wrist-to-elbow rhinestone bracelets. It was pure fashion fantasy

Color is big for 2010. Christian Dior was showing his collection of bright colors mixed with shifting chiffon and layered lace, in saucy Fifties corsetry. Like I said earlier the bows - a recurring trend - were on models' heads as hats. Chanel's jewellery salon is showing off expensive bows made of the whitest and purest diamonds in town. And Cartier is displaying a more colorful collection that included emeralds, rubies and pearls in its signature ethnic designs. The 2010 bride’s silhouette is sleek and if one marries in the winter of 2009 she can choose from impeccable tweed day suits to richly embroidered wedding dresses.

Beautiful Shoes for an Elegant Affaire

Bonjour Mes Amies!

Bienvenue à Joanna Hendrie Events & Fêtes a Newport Beach based event planning company for weddings and all social occasions for brides all over the country.

We have "idées fraîches" and an eye for design and we can’t wait to work with you and make all your dreams come true.

Just look at our Event Service Collection!

Le “Á La Carte” Menu – Need just a little bit of help? We have an “a la carte menu” just for you.

Le “Setup” Menu – You have done everything – trust us with the details. We will make sure your vision and details are carried out.

Le “Day of Coordination” Menu – We are there the entire day providing wedding assistance for everything.

Les “Essentials” Menu – Need assistance with vendors, inspiration and design. We will work with you on the overall design of your event – We provide inspiration and ideas and then pull it all together on your wedding day.

Le “Grande Plan” Menu – Please No Stress – We do everything to assist you in giving you a stunning soiree without the stress of planning it. We love to handle the details.

Voici! We will cater your event too!

At Joanna Hendrie Joie De Vivre Catering http://joannahendrie.com/ we specialize in elite dining experiences in Orange County and Southern California. Founded in 2001 to articulate our creative culinary expression – we create elegant French and Cosmopolitan food and design for private parties, custom weddings and corporate events throughout Southern California.

We individually design each menu for every occasion. We then seek out the highest quality local purveyor and create memorable culinary experiences in the comfort of your home, venue, or destination of choice. No soiree is too large or too small.

Just look at some of our Menus:

"Foods & Fêtes” Full Service Catering Menu

Private
BeBe Showers
Bonne Anniversaire Parties
Canapé Delivery
Children's Birthday Parties
Christenings
Cocktail Parties
Cooking Workshops
Dinner Parties
Fondue Soirees
Kitchen Teas
Mariage
Life’s Ceremonies
French Tea Salon

Corporate
Canapé Delivery
French Tea Salon
Corporate Luncheons
Dinner Parties
Fondue Soirées
Product Launches
Staff Appreciation

"Joanna's Delivery Menus"
French Cocktail Hour – “L’Apéritif a la Francaise”
Les Bistro Party
French Tea Salon
French Lunch Box Menu “Les Tartines”

We look forward to talking with you soon!

A Bientot!

Monique Lhuillier Sample Sale

Monique Lhuillier is having a Sunday Bridal Sale In Los Angeles. Beautiful Brides - what are you doing tommorow Sunday. It's a lucky day for those having late summer or fall weddings. Monique Lhuillier http://moniquelhuillier.com is taking 40% to 90% off wedding dress samples and ready-to-wear including evening and cocktail dresses at this downtown sale. Brides-to-be can find deals such as a $3,000 full-lace gown (retail regular price $6,300) and a $2,000 satin dress ($4,620). Evening and cocktail frocks are priced from $200 to $3,000. All sales are final. No appointments or alterations provided. Monique's address is 1201 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 655-1088. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Merci Los Angeles Times!

Sous Le Soleil de la Californie

As the heat of our Southern California summer approaches, its most befitting a bride and her attendants to keep their cool - best done while clasping one of Pamela’s Parasols http://www.pamelasparasols.com – romantic to look at and functional in shape, Pamela's Parasols are available in an array of shades to make it very easy to get a perfect match to your wedding colors. Pamela will match to Alfred Angelo and David's Bridal colors. Tres Belle!

Talented Pastry Chefs

Talented Pastry Chefs - I'm in need of a 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary Tiered Cake. Please contact me - Event Date August 29, 2009. Merci!

Bonne Wedding Ring Pillow

Cherie, it was the Egyptians who chronicled the story that the vein of love (vena amoris) on the left ring finger leads straight to the heart. With this in mind, check out amazing artist Anna Whitford’s site http://annawhitford.com/ and her handmade wedding ring pillows. Her pillows hold the wedding ring in place as it is carried down the aisle to the wedding alter by the ring bearer. Just take a look! Love the purple and pistachio.

Bonne Bridal Trousseau

I recall a conversation I was having with my friend shortly before her wedding in New York. Her wedding was to be small with a quiet dinner with friends at one of Mario Batali's restaurants - I think Del Posto. My friend mentioned that it was time for “out with the old and in with the new” – well perhaps not those exact words - she went on to say she had rid herself of sheets, towels and clothes and was purchasing an entirely new wardrobe and linens for her home. Our conversation made me think of the Bridal Trousseau or Hope chest – a tradition I rarely hear of now – however an important tradition that starts at birth. The French tell the story of the French bride and the trousseau. The bride brings to the marriage all that was needed for her home - the tableware, linens, her clothing, candlesticks, and so on. Each baby girl was provided a "bridal trousseau". Relatives and friends of the family would gift the child with items she would need for her marriage. As she grew she would work on items to go in the chest, embroidery or knitting for example. Over time she would acquire quite a collection - napkins, towels, tablecloths, curtains. By the time she was married she would be fully prepared to set up her own home.

Now the roles are less rigid. Today each half of the couple still brings into the new household a collection of their personal items. This includes their clothing, their personal effects and other items. It’s not too late for you to create your Bridal Trousseau! This can be a simple storage box, or an armoire. The key with a trousseau is that it is added to slowly, one item at a time. At each birthday, holiday - make a list of things you'd like to add to your trousseau. Give the list to family and friends. Slowly you accumulate items you really adore.

Take a look at this book "France -French Romance - Weddings and Courtships" by Lisa Shea - Charming.

French Wedding Dress Inspiration

I saw this bridal dress and was stunned - so beautiful - exquisite hand-made limited one-piece edition blush pink gown made of tulle, organza and silk. Only the very best for "La Mariée". Be inspired by Bordeaux, France courtier http://www.weddingdress-lolitac.com/ .

Tres Jolie!

More Eye Candy:

Little Bit About Me

Hello I am Joanna, I'm the founder, owner and planner at Joanna Hendrie Events & Fêtes the company I founded after planning events in the corporate world as well as catering the weddings, bridal showers and receptions for friends. I started my own events company to serve brides & grooms as well as the social and charity community. With a marketing and advertising background, I have combined years of corporate communications experience with design to create the fantasy driven Joanna Hendrie Events and Fêtes. We cater to the bride on the day of and all the days leading up to the ceremony she has dreamed of forever. Our brides want stunning, elegant and seamless events while at the same time not wanting to think of anything else other than the magical wedding day. What started out for me as a wedding coordination division of my catering company Joanna Hendrie Joie De Vivre & Cie http://joannahendrie.com - has grown into an independent full-service event planning and design agency.

Talented Photographers

Bonjour! Gifted and talented photographers – You know who you are - I would love to showcase your amazing wedding photos on my official blog.
We are looking for breathtaking wedding, wedding party and event photography. It would be my honor to credit you with each and every piece and add a link to your website. We would like to see tables fully set, wedding favors, centerpieces, unique guest books, fleur and décor details, and place cartes - all the items a wedding planner would organize and set up. I would like to know all about you as I am always in need of great phorgraphers. Merci!

Joanna Hendrie Events & Fêtes - Links We Love

Mes Amies! We would love to hear from you. Link to our new blog. We in turn will link back to your blog. Drop an email to Joanna@joannahendrie.com. We will add you to our blog Joanna Hendrie Events & Fetes. Merci!

Le Venue - Villa Del Sol 'd Oro - House of the Golden Sun, Alverno Heights Academy

For a venue in Los Angeles County and in the Pasadena area – consider my beautiful high school alma mater Alverno Heights Academy http://www.alverno-hs.org/about_villa.asp when planning your wedding.

The Alverno Villa is a duplicate of the Villa Collazzi located on the outskirts of Florence Italy. Villa Collazzi has been occupied for several centuries by the Bombicci ― Fomi family, and legend has it that the Villa is the only one ever designed by the immortal Michelangelo. The Villa del Sol d’Oro is one―quarter scale to the original.

Villa del Sol d’Oro is nestled at the foot of the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains in picturesque Sierra Madre, the Villa was built in the Italian Renaissance Style in 1922 by the famous Pasadena architect Wallace Neff and was completed by 1928. The estate was built by Dr. Jarvis Barlow for his wife, who had visited and wanted a house just like the Villa Collazzi. This design was a sweeping departure from the Mediterranean style that that Neff perfected in his other homes.

Originally built on thirteen acres of trees and flowers overlooking the entire San Gabriel Valley, the Villa had five master bedrooms, four bathrooms, and ample help quarters, one of the first electric elevators in the area, porches on three sides, and spacious patios. On the grounds were garages, stables, caretaker’s home, swimming pool, bath house, and tennis courts.

The building is comprised of two stories and a tower. It is said that the walls are made of two rows of hollow tile to keep the building cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The lower story houses the reception rooms, dining room, drawing room, and library. The upper floor includes the living quarters and a spacious ballroom. The tower was built to obtain a better view of the valley.

Dr. Barlow himself supervised the planting of the trees which included: orchids, tulip, Japanese Magnolia, strawberry tree, flaming eucalyptus, monkey tree, camphor, sapoitas, English Yew, coral, and carob. To frame the southern façade, a sunken garden was added, lined on either side by Italian cypress.

Please contact at http://www.alverno-hs.org/ all the details.

More Eye Candy:

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French Tea Bridal Shower

A simple French Tea is a lovely way to send your bride off to her new life with him.

French tea from Hediard or Marige Frere, a simple fresh fruit tart, petite tea sandwiches - exotic crab and dill, tomato, montrachet and basil and walnut, cherry are perfect choices for spring summer shower. For your sweets - Passion fruit drop scones and crème anglais along with petites fours secs. I like to prepare a fresh fruit punch – prepared the day before and chilled - it looks beautiful and makes a terrific focal point for your guests. Greet your guests, as some have driven miles with trays of sparkling water and sliced fruit. Your guests will love you for it.