Special Event Planning – Mira {Weddings Events & Design}

The Sustainable Table – Your Holiday Table Style Guide

December 15, 2017December 14, 2017 by Boss Lady

sustainable table decorations for the holidays

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! We love the holidays for a variety of reasons: the food, the family, the jolly spirit, and of course, the decor! Helping clients design their holiday tablescape is one of our favorite ways to get into the holiday spirit, and this year we decided to do something we have never done before to get into the mood.

Welcome to first ever holiday table style guide! We have taken some of our favorite designs and broken them down to show you how to recreate the same style in your own home. Furthermore, we have worked hard to embrace sustainability in every aspect of the design. Each element shown has some sort of sustainable feature- whether its environmentally friendly, sourced from a local small business, or has a social responsibility factor. This consciousness is something we aim to include in all future designs and events, one of the exciting changes happening for MIRAwed in 2018!

For now, sit back and enjoy some fun holiday inspiration!

Urban Glam

Everyone who lives in the city will tell you that they love the energy that comes with the location. Whether its San Francisco, Phoenix, or somewhere in between, we love integrating the industrial feel of a big city with cozy elements to create something multidimensional, trendy, and of course glamorous.

Associate Planner Kristan Shamus took the lead on designing this urban glam holiday table, complete with fabulous copper touches and modern, earthy elements. Imagine a table full of fine glass and crystal details softened by wooden and pine greenery while your TV broadcasts the yule log in tune to classic holiday music and you sip a delicious holiday cocktail… perfection!

Sustainability notes: In addition to being stunningly gorgeous, copper can be recycled 100%, which means that even if the dishware gets tossed after a few years it can still be put to good use. Soy candles are both trendy and sustainable with a cleaner burn that traditional wax candles. Dried lunaria can last for several uses if properly cared for, and looks great in a wide variety of designs.

Como Copper Flatware from Pleasanton Party Rentals
Copper Charger from Pleasanton Party Rentals
Ivory Dolce Napkin from Pleasanton Party Rentals
Soy Candles
Cranberry Moscow Mule recipe found on Joyfully Healthy Eats
Pure Glassware from Pleasanton Party Rentals
Personalized gift box from Sugar & Chic Shop
/ 12. Glamorous Decor from Your Vintage Affair
Oak Leaves, Seeded Eucalyptus and Oregonia Garland from Pacific Coast Evergreen
Snowflake Wine Charm from Lamas Creations
Hand-Blown Glass Decor from Allison Kreft Designs
(see 8.)
Dried Lunaria
Dried Thistle
Sola Wood Flowers from The Wooden Menagerie

Mountain Boho

Nothing says winter like a cozy cabin in the mountains. Tahoe winters are truly magical, and we wanted to bring some of that inherent beauty into the design of this table. Our fall intern, Tesia took the lead on sourcing many of the elements for this bohemian inspired, rustic design.

Pine and wood are two favorite elements to integrate into any holiday design table. By adding a little bit of local charm you can transform your table into something that is both calm and bright.

Sustainability Notes: Gauze and silk, when made organically from a local source, are some of the most sustainable materials out there. They can transform any table design to add a whimsical and/or romantic touch. We love using them for any season, but cozied up next to some locally sourced pine twigs and under the glow of a soy candle might be our most favorite of all!

Gauze table runner, such as available from Tan Weddings & Events
“Fiddle” Stainless Steel Flatware from Celebrations Party Rentals
/ 7. / 8. Pine garland, modern autumn wreath, and woodsy white mason jar arrangements, such as available from Twine & Dandy
Hand-made ceramic dinner plates, as available from Jered’s Pottery
Hammered Copper mugs from Stuart Party Rentals
Scented soy candles, locally made by Once Upon a Candle
(see 3.)
(see 3.)
Wood stump seating cards, as available from Menakshee Designs

Winter Desert

Even if there is no snow, the desert can be a magical place in the winter time. The frigid air over a subtle colorscape makes for an inspired view. For this design, compiled by lead designer Miranda Meisenbach, we wanted to showcase some of that natural inspiration.

Using elements native to Arizona, we created a design that would fit into any southwestern home with a simple color palette and light texture. We didn’t want to just go for the iconic saguaro motif like most typical desert designs, but that didn’t stop us from integrating our famous cactus in smaller details.

Supporting local businesses was also a highlight of this design, most strikingly in the custom wood table pictured in the collage. No dining room table is complete without a striking table, and we cannot resist good craftmanship. One of our preferred vendors, Stems & Style, has teamed up with local craftsman Neft Pichardo on a line of high end wooden tables available for rent. Neft has over 25 years of experience and specializes in high end woodwork and custom finishes.

Sustainability Notes: Sourcing local goods reduces greenhouse emissions caused by the entire consumer marketplace. The less distance a product has to travel to get from manufacturer to retailer to customer the more environmentally friendly! Shopping local is the best thing and individual can do for the local economy. Utilizing locally foraged elements such as octotillo bones, pine, cotton, and pinecones is fun, sustainable, and available closer than you might think!

Small succulents (painted or not) act as great place card holders
This adorable stone saguaro, along with other amazing decor, available from Olivewood Designs
/ 9. Ocotillo bones with locally foraged pine and pinecones created by MIRA Events + Design
Custom built wood table by Neft Pichardo via Stems & Style
Ceramic Dinnerware, as available from CatsEyePottery
Gold Cactus Mug from Practical Art
Cotton inspiration, as shown by Only Deco Love
Hemp or organic cotton napkins, as available from A Well Worn Story
(see #3)
Ceramic Tiles and other local artisan crafts, as available from Arizona Gifts
Gold modern flatware, available for rent from The Confetti Studio

Let Us Help!

We LOVE bringing a vision together. The holidays are hectic enough, let us step in and help! We offer custom design services, as well as small piece decor rental and installation services. Contact us today- its not too late to get the holiday table of your dreams!

Happy Holidays!

Love, Team MIRA

Melissa + Gus California Chic Avila Beach Wedding

August 13, 2018November 11, 2017 by Boss Lady

Life has a beautiful way of bringing people back into your lives at just the right moment. That’s what happened when Melissa (or Missy, as I had known her for most of my life) sought us out to plan her wedding to long time boyfriend, Gus. It was such an honor to be asked by not only someone you had known forever to plan their wedding, but someone of such style and taste. Working with Missy and Gus was going to be fun, that was for sure.

Besides being a super fun experience, working with Missy and Gus was easy. Missy was organized and decisive, without being overbearing. She knew what she wanted and trusted us to find the right resources. She was flexible and collected while remaining steadfast on her vision. Gus was perfectly resourceful as well in helping source the videography team and selecting the photographer (incredibly talented and oh so charming Ginny Silver). They were a perfect example of a couple working together, and working with them was an absolute dream.

Missy and Gus’ California wedding was a perfect fusion of lively outdoor and beachy romantic vibes. Modern, boho inspired touches gave the whole event a chic and carefree air with lots of attention to small details.

Romantic Beach Wedding Venue

The entire event was held at Avila Beach Golf Resort in Avila Beach, California. This property is extremely diverse and well laid out, so guests really had a chance to migrate through event spaces and have different experience for each section of the day. The ceremony took place on a grass meadow next to a peaceful estuary, with just the right amount of ambient noise from the beach. The cocktail hour was held in the venue’s Beach Clubhouse, a charming space that featured an outdoor patio for guests to enjoy a bit of the California summer sun. For dinner and dancing, guests were seated at long rows of farm tables under the stars on the venue’s main lawn area. Adirondack chairs flanked firepits down towards the estuary, giving guests a peaceful respite from the energetic dance floor.

California Chic Wedding Design

Missy wanted to keep her palette classic and neutral, sticking with ivories, creams, beiges, with just a touch of blush pink and warm gray. We decided to lean heavily on greenery with statement blooms for a looser, more organic feel. To add in a touch of modernity, we punctuated the design with gold and champagne gold elements such as the geometric accent arrangements used in cocktail hour and during dancing.

We found a true gem in Adornments Flowers when we met and started working with Laurel and her team. With great craft and care, Laurel and her team elevated our vision with their impeccable installations, including one of the most gorgeous flower arches I have ever seen! Along with romantic silk chiffon runners from Party Crush Studios, as well as custom signage from our in-house designer Menakshee Designs and top-notch rentals from All About Events, we were able to help Missy and Gus realize a wedding that truly represented embodied their vision.

Best Caterer in Town

When I first met Heather of Splash Cafe, I can honestly say I was speechless. Her energy and passion (not to mention killer sense of humor) was both refreshing and contagious- I literally could not have asked for a better vendor partner on this project. Heather and her team performed seamlessly, orchestrating the entire set-up, break-down, food production and service of the entire event without a hitch. The food was delicious, with guests dining family style on true California dishes such tri-tip, roasted brussel sprouts, and margherita flatbread.

A Wedding Day Full of Family and Love

Overall, the day was perfect. Missy wore a gorgeous Hayley Paige gown while Gus looked perfect in a Jos. A. Bank suit. Their sweet and moving ceremony started with a friend of the bride’s late mother singing as Melissa walked down the aisle. The couple also included their lovable fur baby, Saint, in the ceremony- although his adorable back wriggling nearly stole the show! The warm, familial energy carried into the evening with heartfelt speeches and toasts before ramping into a full on dance party which included an epic garter removal.

Towards the end of the evening, firepits surrounded by Adirondack chairs were lit and guests were able to kick off their shoes, fire up a s’more, and enjoy the perfect end to a truly perfect day.

Thank you, Missy + Gus, for letting us be a part of your gorgeous day!

We are OBSESSED with the photos from the event, done by the genius that is Ginny Silver of Retrospect Images. Take a look at some of our favorites!

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Venue: Avila Beach Golf Resort

Coordination + Design: MIRA Events + Design

Photography: Retrospect Images

Videography: Steelhead Cinema

Catering: Splash Cafe

Rentals: All About Events

Silk Runners: PartyCrushStudios

DJ: Caliber DJs

Bridal Hair: Hair by Nicole Wasserman

Bridal Gown: Hayley Paige

Groom Suit: Jos. A. Bank

Bridesmaids Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu

Sarah + Jared’s Chic Nestldown Wedding

August 13, 2018October 21, 2017 by Boss Lady

All of our couples have an amazing story to tell. Sarah and Jared’s is just a little bit cooler than most. Meeting in South Africa (hello romantic!) and joining each other on some fantastic travel adventures is one heck of a way to fall in love.

The first time I met Sarah and Jared, I was stunned by how ridiculously good looking they are. They looked like a model couple getting off the train and walking over to me, hand in hand, for our first planning session. It was during that same planning session that I confirmed their beauty was so much more than skin deep. They were kind, thoughtful, funny, and ambitious people who wanted to create a relaxed and beautiful celebrations for their international family and friends.

Location Location Location

When you’ve traveled all over the world, you have a LOT of sites to consider when searching for a wedding venue. Having seen so much natural beauty, it was important to Sarah and Jared to have a venue that had a lot of natural beauty of its own. They found their dream venue in Nestldown. Anyone who has ever been to Nestldown knows that the grounds are truly world class, and our couple was excited to share this gorgeous property with their guests.

A Menu Fit for a World Traveler

Food is an important cultural aspect no matter where you are! Sarah and Jared wanted to ensure that the menu served at their wedding would be delicious, refreshing, and exciting for their diverse group. Matching up with the South Bay Area’s Cafe Primavera was a perfect choice. Erika Garcia worked with the couple to come up with something that fit all of the criteria and displayed beautifully against the Nestldown backdrop.

Organic, Chic, and Clean Decor

Partnering with Darcy and her superteam over at Seascape Flowers was a great choice to accentuate Nestldown’s given beauty. Using fresh, unique greenery and statement blooms (hello King Proteas!), the wedding was an organic chic dream.

Personal Touches

In addition to the solid entertainment provided by MIRA favorite Turner Hayes (aka DJ Jazzy Thunder) from Elite Entertainment, a friend of the couple entertained guests through song during dinner. The bride’s mother helped design the custom menu and table numbers that rounded out the table settings, and the best man gave one of the most heartwarming speeches of adoration we have ever heard. All in all, a perfect evening (complete with hora!)

Check out these stunning images by Rhee Bevere Photography, as well as the wedding highlight video from Love Unique Studios!

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Venue: Nestldown

Coordination: MIRA Events + Design

Photography: Rhee Bevere

Videography: Love Unique Studios

Florist: Seascape Flowers

Catering: Cafe Primavera

Entertainment: Elite Entertainment

Hair and Make-Up: Moderne Beauty

How To Keep Your Fiancé Engaged In Wedding Planning?

September 17, 2017 by Boss Lady

Although planning your dream wedding sounds glorious, many engaged couples lose motivation to make it a picture perfect celebration. There are many factors that make a wedding logistically sound, including; budget, timing, and location to name a few. Can you imagine the stress that couples undergo if any of these factors started to weaken? Insufficient funds and unfulfilled deadlines can send a relationship plummeting. What was once an inspired conversation now turns to arguing and bickering, leaving resentment between two lovers. So the question is, what can I do to keep my significant other engaged in the wedding planning process? Let’s take a look at some helpful tips.

Figure out what you both want.

Communication is an essential part of any healthy relationship. By telling each other what you want, you and your future spouse begin to visualize an ideal celebration. Asking each other questions can help discover both party’s preferences, as well as build motivation. By combining both bride and groom’s ideas early, the planning process becomes clearer and a perfect wedding starts to seem tangible.

As a wedding company we love to understand both our clients and the vision they want for their wedding. Before we begin anything in the planning process we always send out a questionnaire that gets all parties involved in identifying priorities and preliminary ideas for all aspects of the day. These concepts are built upon throughout the planning process.

Divide and conquer.

Don’t do all the work and stress yourself out even more. You and your companion are a team! Make sure your partner has equal responsibilities in the wedding plans, and that you haven’t taken on more than you can handle. Your fiancé may have something different in mind for an ideal wedding, so what better way than to give your spouse a role that he/she wants to be involved with. While you may be interested with floral design and stationery, your partner may be interested in food and music. Divide and conquer is the motto and this method will help relieve your stress.

Give your partner control.

Giving your partner control can be motivating, and provide a new sense of ownership. An easy way to give your partner control is to allow him/her to plan one or two aspects of the event with complete control. Since most men don’t have a particular interested in much of the “standard” planning that comes with weddings, giving your fiance the green light to prepare a surprise is a great way to get them engaged and excited about the details.

At MIRA we encourage couples to plan surprises to take place during the wedding reception. When surprises are incorporated it gives a personal touch of what the groom wants to do and not what he has to do. It sets aside the “sterile” planning and allows him to have fun with a creative idea for his bride-to-be.

Stay in the loop.

We encourage couples to always keep their significant other constantly aware of what is happening. A key factor to mutual agreement is to make sure he/she recognizes all the finer details that are being put into the wedding.

At MIRA we try our best to keep an open line of communication with both the bride and groom to prevent from anyone being left out. Open lines of communication include but are not limited to cake design, transportation, entertainment, etc. We also like to combine all important files (contracts, budget, timelines, etc.) and share it on the cloud so clients can have access whenever they please. This gives each individual the freedom to open up any emails and find any information they need to be included in the wedding.

Bonus Tip: Schedule Wedding Time

If none of the above sound like the right fit for your partner, concede by respecting that they just might not be interested in this whole planning business (that’s ok, you’ve got an amazing wedding planner anyway!) One tip we give all clients is to make wedding planning time a regularly scheduled item. You AND your fiance might find it hard to dutifully select ceremony music or go through the hors d’eouvres list after a long day at work. Scheduling time specifically for wedding planning not only helps both parties prepare for the massive amounts of decisions that need to be made, but also ensures you stay on track throughout your planning process.

Happy planning!

Miranda is Speaking at the La Femme Workshop!

January 25, 2017 by Boss Lady

The La Femme Workshop by Boudoir Collective

Its time for a very special announcement! Miranda is taking her first step into the world of industry education as a speaker for the highly anticipated La Femme workshop happening April 25th-28th at the White Sparrow Barn in Quinlan, TX.

In addition to styling all 6 of the shoots taking place throughout the conference, Miranda will be speaking on the subtle art of story telling through styling.

Too often, forcing details in a shoot can detract from the intended subject- in this case, the woman being photographed. Boudoir photography is about celebrating the female form, and effectively styling a shoot can be deceptively difficult.

Miranda looks forward to meeting lots of new faces throughout this experience! A full list of speakers can be found here, and registration for the La Femme workshop is now open!

All photos by Peaches & Twine Fine Art Photography