Graduation season is here and I can’t wait to see all the celebrations. I am one of those people who will tell graduates in restaurants “Congrats” when I see them still in their cap and/or gown. I remember that immense feeling of pride and accomplishment and I am so excited to see others reach that space too.

Last year, we got to help our dear friends celebrate their daughter’s college graduation. I feel bad that so many of these students had such drastically different college experiences these last two years than they probably expected. I give them all the kudos for sticking through it and reaching their goals.

Emily graduated from UCI with a degree in Biology. She’s a lucky girl since her mom is also just as amazing and owns a gorgeous venue in Fullerton, RSVP Event Space and is an event designer and coordinator, Pleasant Surprise Events. We’ve worked with Nellie on a bunch of different events, but this one of course was extra special.

Despite an incredibly challenging year, full of changes in her plans, Emily graduated. Nellie was beaming with pride and she pulled out all of the stops for her. I think for those of us who are lucky enough, a college graduation can be a family accomplishment. Our families can help support us, mentally and financially, they can encourage us, pick us up when we are down, and sometimes even help with those big and scary adult decisions. Emily is incredibly fortunate with an amazing support system in her parents. I’m so glad Nellie had Per Pixel Photography capture all these gorgeous moments.

After your child gets through some of the toughest years our generation has experienced, you gotta go big! Nellie got these stunning balloon garlands form Michelle Rodgers Styling, and they adorned the stage and marquee letters from Create-a-Party Rentals. This beautiful little spot makes the perfect photo booth for everyone to commemorate the special celebration!

From the blooms nestled within the balloon garlands, to the giant luscious arrangements around the stage, to the tiny bud vases are all from Lovestruck Blooms. They really feminize the party and you can pretty much smell them in these pictures.

RSVP is such a gorgeous venue that is the perfect size for an intimate wedding or graduation party. I’ve been super lucky to see it set up for all the different type of events they can host, it’s so versatile. It’s also immaculately clean. Nellie and her team go above and beyond to make sure the space is in the best shape ever!

We were so excited to be able to help with the celebration. Nellie asked us for some signage, stir sticks, and cake toppers. I gotta say, the mimosa bar sign we did is my absolute favorite. I prefer my mimosa the “graduate way”.

The UCI cake topper was also a favorite. Like I said, I’m a sap for graduations. I know how much hard work and sacrifice it can take to get to this point for a lot of people and families. It is one of my absolute favorite reasons to celebrate someone.

The cakes were from Hapa Cupcakes, follow them on Instagram if you want to torture yourself with delicious yummy pictures of sweets daily. They make the most amazing cupcake combos ever and I love their specialty themed cupcakes and cookies for whatever season or holiday that’s coming up.

Crepes Bonaparte offered sweet and savory crepes for the guests and I mean…I’ll take one of each right? They all look and sound so good! Crepes are perfect for a party, they are made to order, lots of varieties, easy to eat, it’s a great idea! And now I want one…

The graduate also had 7 Leaves Boba there to have a self serve boba bar for her guests. Yummy!

Graduation season is coming to a close around here and soon school will be back in session, however for those graduates who have just celebrated, their lives are really just beginning. My advice is always to never stop being a student. Always be open minded to learning new things and new ways. Take the risks, and don’t settle.

And lastly, never forget where you came from and who helped you get there.

Congratulations to all the grads!

Venue: RSVP Event Space

Design/Concept: Pleasant Surprise Events

Photography: Per Pixel Photography

Balloons: Michelle Rogers Styling

Florals: Lovestruck Blooms

Stage & Marquee Lights, Linens & Glassware: Create-a-Party Rentals

Catering & Mimosas: Crepes Bonaparte

Cakes: Hapa Cupcakes

Signage, Cake Toppers & Stir Sticks: Delovely Details

Boba: 7 Leaves

It’s the holiday season so the calendar is filled up with tree decorating, Christmas light gazing, and of course, gingerbread house decorating!

I was so excited when Sally from Pretty Little Events invited me to be apart of this ADORABLE shoot for a gingerbread house decorating party! Everything she does is always just stunning and gorgeous and I knew she was going to slam this one out of the park as well! And boy did she deliver!

Sally did an amazing job of layering all the details to make this whimsical, lush, and cohesive look that just challenges you to find every single little detail. The placement, colors, textures, they are all so deliberate and intentional. All of these details were gorgeously captured by the ever talented Erin J Saldana Photography. She is so amazing at capturing those smaller details while showing how they all pull together as a whole to create a vibe.

LV Floral Events did all the florals that instantly gave me those “Sugar Plum Fairy” vibes. The pinks and purples just tie in the back drop and the table top perfectly. I love how many textures she uses in her florals too, they are so rich and exquisite. The rentals from Sweet Salvage Rentals just hit everything perfectly as well, like a perfect storm. They have some of the cutest vintage rentals for kid parties I’ve ever seen.

Sweet Deetails created this yummy cake. I love clean cakes like this, that can be such a statement piece. This cake just takes it’s place among all the bright decor and takes command of the scene. I love it! It looks absolutely delicious too!

We were so excited to have a part of this shoot and when we heard the theme, I was even more excited. We did stir sticks, gingerbread tags, name tags, a cake topper, and a personalized hanger. I am ridiculously obsessed with this little gingerbread mascot we’ve got now. I’ve already got ideas for him next year. Do we name him?

It’s been proven by research that a hot chocolate with a gingerbread man stir stick actually tastes better. Come at me.

Sally styled some of our products for gifting. I love how they turned out! Its a nice way to kick up your gift without going crazy. She used the stir sticks with a mug, some ornament hot chocolate bombs, these delicious meringues from Little Meringue and Co and a few of our stir sticks for one gift. Such a cute idea! She also used the gingerbread tags as gift tags and our new Blair gift tags with beautiful ribbon on some simple packages.

Of course, no styled shoot involving Delovely Details would be complete without some hangers, right? I did two hangers for Sally, one with her own logo on it and the other personalized for the star of the party. When you have party dresses as pretty as this one, you have to display it properly. They make great favors as well!

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait till I can plan a gingerbread house decorating party at this level. This party just gets you in that magical Christmas mood and I am here for it.

Sally once again, knocks it out of the park and does an amazing job of bringing in a range of vendors and making it all cohesive and tied together in a brilliant way.

And with that, here is a gingerbread joke to leave with:

What did the doctor tell the gingerbread man with a sore knee?

Did you try icing it?

Planning, backdrop, balloon garland: Pretty Little Events

Photography: Erin J Saldana Photography

Florals: LV Floral Events

Cake: Sweet Deetails

Meringues: Little Meringue & Co.

Laser cut drink stirrers, Tags, & Hangers: Delovely Details

Rentals: Sweet Salvage Vintage Rentals

I’m not sure about the rest of you but I am so excited for summer this year. Summer is already my favorite season but this summer has me so pumped! For most people, summer starts at one of two holidays. For some it starts Memorial Day weekend and for others it starts on Fourth of July. Either way, most of us kick off the sunny season with a patriotic bash!

A couple of years ago, we did this adorable shoot with Deets and Things and I hope it inspires you as much as it inspires me for this year’s holiday celebrations!

With parties and gatherings coming back in full swing, planners are kicking things up a notch from your average cookout. I love a gorgeous invitation suite, even for a backyard get together! Pigment and Parchment knocked it out of the park with this fun, casual, and gorgeous invitation. I love the lighter hues of that traditional red, white and, blue.

We loved working with this amazing group of vendors to help celebrate this pretty little girl and wish her all the best in her life. There are those who say a first birthday is a waste of time, money, and energy…however I see absolutely no waste in celebrating a beautiful soul and getting together to wish them all the best in life.

Jacqui painted attention to every single detail and the tablescape was no exception. I am just obsessed with all these floral arrangements by the talented Krista, from Not Just in Novels Florals. I haven’t seen prettier red, white, and blue florals ever! It really kicks up this party a few notches and brings it into a level that I think we are all aiming for our parties this summer. We were able to do some fun patriotic stir sticks for the party and we love how they turned out. They are always such a fun addition to a table, elevating the theme to a new level.

No backyard party is complete without some epic desserts and these desserts really steal the show here! Suburban Pies and Pacific Organic Pops just shined through this shoot with all their yummy goodies.

I love when parties consider guests of all ages. This summer, I think everyone is anxious to include their kids in some much deserved fun and games. I love this idea of creating a scavenger hunt for them! Not only are planned games for the kiddos a nice gesture as a host to their guests, but it also keeps them busy! Make sure you have treats and prizes for participants.

We hope that no matter how you chose to celebrate the kick off to summer, you enjoy yourself. Feel blessed to have another season on this beautiful planet and make some memories. Don’t forget to take pictures! Caitlin from Caitlin Alohilani did a fantastic job capturing all the details and fun that this party was. We haven’t been taking as many pictures this past year and this shoot reminds me of why it’s so important to try and capture these special moments.

What are you doing to celebrate the kick off for summer? Do you have any summer kick off traditions?

Photography | Caitlin Alohilani Photography
Design/Styling | Deets and Things
Florals | Not Just In Novels Florals
Hairstylist | Shearly Blissful Hair
Cake and Desserts | Sweet Songbird Bakery
Cookies | Frost Your Cookie Bakery
Popsicles | Pacific Organic Pops
Children’s Wear | Alice and Ames
Children's Shoes | Nina Kids Shoes
Invitation/Signage | Pigment and Parchment
Laser cut goods | Delovely Details
Balloon Install | The Pop Shop
Linen | Wolf and Irving
Rentals | Baker Party Rentals
Mini Pinatas | Lula Flora Designs
Pies | Suburban Pie