32-Feet Long, 650 Blooming Branches and 50 Hanging Votives – This Is the Head Table of All Head Tables.

Lauren Megerdichian
October 27, 2019
Categories: Real Weddings, Romantic, The Blog

Go big or go home, are we right?! For today’s glamorous wedding, Rebecca Reategui, Nancy Liu Chin and The Vessel SF created a jaw-dropping 32-foot long structure to complete their head table that featured 650 cherry blossom branches, 50 hanging votives, and delicately hand-painted details – now that’s one dedicated vendor team!! You’re just going to have to see it to truly appreciate its splendor. Don’t miss the full gallery captured by Larissa Cleveland Photography to see all the heavenly moments.

From Rebecca Reátegui Weddings and Special Events… As we worked with our couple, Akane and Aaron, to establish a design direction for their wedding day, Akane was consistently drawn to white blooming branches, especially cherry blossoms. Once Akane had selected her wedding dress, which was a stunning, ethereal gown by Oscar de la Renta with delicate blossom detail throughout the bodice and sleeves, our design inspiration was solidified! Wedding guests were given the first hint of the wedding design when they received their save-the-dates and invitation suite. The custom stationery, designed by Studio Luzance, featured a delicate monogram in matte gold foil with blooming branches encircling their intertwined calligraphed A’s. We loved the design with the joining of the two A’s, both for its visual interest and its symbolism, with the two A’s – Akane and Aaron – joining together in marriage.

To complement the monogram design, a variety of custom cherry branch illustrations were woven throughout the invitation suite, including a subtle white-on-white design on the vellum wrap, a blossom on the wax seal and a small branch on their custom stamps. For the ceremony design, Aaron and Akane liked the concept of a floral structure visually framing them for the ceremony, and their monogram design was the perfect source of inspiration for the shape and floral elements. Our wonderful florist, Nancy Liu Chin, created a lovely wreath of white blooming branches as the ceremony backdrop, with a second floral ring that greeted guests at the beginning of the aisle as they were seated for the ceremony. To create a focal point on the open dining lawn, we planned for a grand head table with a standing structure overhead. Working with The Vessel SF, we designed a custom 32-foot long gold structure, which Nancy Liu Chin’s team laced with 650 blooming branches and adorned with 50 hanging votives. Nancy’s incredibly dedicated team painstakingly hand-painted the wires from which the votives hung, so that they would match the structure’s gold color.

To echo the splendor above, the center of the tabletop was replete with romantic florals which featured the bride’s favorites: sweet peas, ranunculus, peonies, garden roses, lisianthus, and bleached Italian ruscus. The guests sitting at the round tables, which encircled the head table, also enjoyed dining under a canopy of blooming branches in the form of trees, which also featured hanging votives and lush florals at the base. On the tabletops, the blossom motif appeared in the table linen overlays, embroidered with delicate blooming branches in soft white and gold, as well as on the custom gold foil-pressed menus with the couple’s monogram. Even the scalloped, gold-edged china gave a nod to the blossom design. Specialty glassware edged in gold and linen napkins with a metallic thread completed the look. After dinner, guests were invited into the ballroom for dancing and dessert. Lounge furniture from Urban Parlour added sophisticated seating to guests who needed a break from dancing to their fun 8-piece band, All Access. Later in the evening, guests were surprised with the couple’s favorite late-night snack: a ramen bar, which was a huge hit, complete with Miso and Shoyu Broths, Volcano Kimchi, Bok Choy, Bean Sprouts, Thai Basil, Green Onions and Sweet Chili Sauce! Sugarfina favors added a sweet ending to the evening.

From Akane, the Bride… Even though it was our wedding day, it just didn’t truly feel like it was “our” day until I finally got to see Aaron at the first look. It made me feel at ease to see him just as nervous and excited as I was with the idea of finally walking down the aisle together after more than a decade since we first met in New York. After our first look and some family photos, it was time for us to walk down the aisle. I would have to say, it was such an indescribable feeling to walk down the aisle filled with all our close friends and family with my father by my side. At that moment, we officially knew that the day was happening! Every piece of the wedding was a dream come true from the scenery to the decor, floral arrangements, music, and food as well as the heartfelt speeches from the closest people in our lives. I have to admit however, we never fully understood the joy of doing a first dance until we experienced it on our wedding day and found it was one of the best parts of the day for us. It was one of the moments we got to fully enjoy ourselves together while surrounded by the people that are truly special to us. One of my dreams for my wedding was to fill up the venue with cherry blossom branches. My vision for the wedding was to have floral arrangements that were airy and delicate yet a design where you could still see the strong structure that was supporting the delicate arrangements. The elements of cherry blossom branches just had the perfect balance of what I was looking for. I do find it to be a bit of a coincidence that I wanted to incorporate cherry blossoms (known as “sakura” in Japanese), which is a flower that has such a strong cultural connection to Japan, into our special day. Perhaps part of me wanted to subconsciously incorporate my heritage into an ultimate California style wedding.