For a day like no other

Megan and Justin at River House

Posted on July 10, 2026 by jlammerts

When this couple approached my company, A Day Like No Other, for help with planning their wedding, they had already done a lot of venue search and identified a number of constraints. No wedding in Fall, out in nature, preferably under towering Redwood trees, with sufficient shade against the California sun, a polished event venue, close-by accommodations for their numerous out-of-town guests, not too far away from Silicon valley… and if that wasn’t tricky enough, their respective parents had overlapping date conflicts. In short, this was not easy! Until… enter River House, a fairly new event venue in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It checked most of the couple’s requirements, AND it had suitable event dates still available. BOOKED!

With just under nine months to go (and demanding work schedules for both bride and groom), we had our work cut out for us. The wedding planner provided by the venue helped with local connections and vendors. After a whirlwind of sourcing, comparing and booking vendors, food and cake tastings, showroom visits and lounge furniture selection, organizing a Tea Ceremony preceding the Western festivities and an afterparty close to the wedding venue…. the Big Day had finally arrived!

Given the mid-morning Tea Ceremony to start the day, the bride and her bridesmaids and the mothers had to get up VERY early to have their hair and makeup done (DesignHerImage).

The traditional Tea Ceremony was held at the Hilton Scotts Valley hotel which served as the “home base” for the couple, their family members and many of their guests.

After that, the Western part of their wedding day started… with transit to River House, the local wedding planner taking over and bride and groom getting into Western wedding attire.

Beautiful romantic bouquets in pastel Spring colors (Laurel Canyon Farms) were waiting for the bride (and her bridesmaids…)

… who were themselves wearing assorted pastel Spring colors.

The groom and groomsmen were dressed up for the celebration as well:

Ready for their First Look – all captured by the One Love photo team and Curio videographers.

Always such an emotional moment…

This should be their official wedding photo, don’t you think?!

But there was still the ceremony to come! Guests were arriving via shuttle (Corinthian Ground Transportation)

Here comes the bride…

… for her romantic wedding ceremony in the outdoor pavilion, serenaded by Innocenti Strings.

Just married!

YESSSS!!

And while guests got to enjoy not only the usual cocktails and hors d’oeuvres (by Love Creek Catering), but also ice cream and a veritable British High Tea (!), lounging on vintage furniture pieces by White Rabbit Event Rentals, the newlyweds went off to take even more photos.

Isn’t that pretty?! Guests were then invited to dinner in the lavishly decorated Barn with tables, chairs and tabletop items from Alexis Party Rental...

… where they also had their choreographed First Dance to tunes by Santa Cruz DJ …

… their ceremonial cake cutting…

… and a LOT of wild dancing with their guests!

And the Grand Send-off with sparklers …? That was just the send-off to an afterparty!

Keep partying, Megan and Justin! Wishing you continued happiness!

Andrea’s and Alex’s dream come true – a wedding at Kohl Mansion

Posted on July 8, 2026 by jlammerts

Andrea and Alexander had found their absolute dream venue – the historic Kohl Mansion in Burlingame – and then they realized that a lot more had to be done to actually host their wedding there… so they turned to my company, A Day Like No Other, to help them fill in all the myriad details that, in the end, come together to a great wedding celebration.

We had eight months to make it happen – and this time went by very quickly. On a breezy, sunny Friday in April, the Big Day had finally come!

For bride Andrea and her bridesmaids, it began with hair and makeup services (Beauty by Cherie); then, with the help from her bridesmaids, she stepped into her elegant wedding dress… and look how radiant she is!

Time for photos (by Frank J. Lee Photography)!

What’s missing? Her bridal bouquet, of course! (All flowers by Narose).

Now she’s ready for her First Look…

… on the main staircase of the Mansion.

Every single time, this is such a special, intimate moment between bride and groom. Truly priceless.

And now, it’s couple’s portrait time! Having fun …

Peekaboo!

On to more official wedding photos…

… like this…

… or this…

… or that one!

Soon enough, guests were arriving (all 200 of them!!)…

… and the ceremony began in the elegant Green Room of Kohl Mansion, with a friend of the couple officiating.

The Kohl Mansion staff under the leadership of Events Director Denise Severi had done the complete setup – not only for the ceremony, but for cocktails and dinner as well, florist Narose had prepared impressive altar arrangements, and our DJ/MC Paul Burchfield of Big Fun Disc Jockeys provided beautiful music – while photographer Frank Lee and videographer Martin Meyer of martinFILMS captured it all.

Meanwhile, Lucia’s Bar Company had set up the bar in the Courtyard, ready to serve guests right after the ceremony, and Ginger Cafe Catering was ready to serve hors d’oeuvres.

The newlyweds had, of course, even more photos to take:

Time for dinner in the double-height Great Hall at Kohl Mansion!

The dinner table centerpieces by florist Narose were literally glowing in fresh Spring colors, and the Sweetheart Table got special treatment.

What’s happening after dinner? Cake Cutting! The cake and an impressive dessert buffet had been provided by Always Your Bakery Cafe – look, how pretty!

There was one more highlight of the celebration, of course: dancing – and for those who’d take a break, a photobooth.

One thing’s for sure: Andrea and Alexander GOT their dream wedding! Congratulations!

Shall We Dance?

Posted on May 21, 2026 by jlammerts

Catherine’s and Jacob’s one-of-a-kind wedding at Kohl Mansion

A bagpipe band for the processional? Check.

A Scottish Highland dance performance to entertain the guests? Check.

Authentic Scottish-only flowers for all bouquets? Check.

All the gentlemen in kilts? Of course!

And so on, and so forth. This wedding was “one for the ages!” Bride Catherine, of Scottish-Danish heritage, and an accomplished professional Scottish Highland dance instructor, pulled all the stops for her authentic, traditional nuptials – and historic Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, with its double-height Great Room and dark wood paneling, was the perfect setting for her vision. And Jacob, her groom, was fully onboard with this vision from Day One!

So we (at A Day Like No Other) got started, with nine months to go. Selecting authentic Scottish Highland flowers took intense, deep research (by Laurel & Vine) – sourcing these flowers (or their closest substitutes) in California was yet another story… Bride Catherine took responsibility for all other things Scottish, especially the gentlemen’s traditional attire (kilts in the bride’s family tartan!), a bagpipe band (complete with kettledrums!), a Scottish Highland dance performance … AND a traditional Danish wedding cake (to honor the “other side” of her cultural heritage). Suffice it to say that planning this wedding was very intense and involved, and we just made it to the finish line!

Finally, the big day had arrived, and Catherine began the day with hair and makeup services by Tiffany Chiang of Design HER Image, then getting into her classic, very feminine wedding dress.

Here she is, at Kohl Mansion, in timeless beauty – and poise:

She could easily be royalty, don’t you think? Time for a very emotional First Look with her Dad…

… followed by a First Look with her groom, Jacob.

Had you told me that this was the wedding of a Scottish duchess at her castle – I would have believed it!

Next came a lot of photos of the happy couple, all by RK Honey Photography…

Of course, there were also photos of the bridal party…

… and of the radiant bride with her flowers!

Soon enough, guests were about to arrive, and they were greeted in style by the Macintosh Pipe band:

… something definitely so far unheard-of at this venue! As the wedding fell in the colder season in California, Catherine and Jacob held their wedding ceremony indoors, again accompanied by bagpipe tunes.

“With this ring, I thee wed…”

The mandatory signing of the marriage license literally “sealed the deal…”

… and the newlyweds had more photos to take…

… while their guests enjoyed Cocktail Hour outdoors, protected by a tent (from Hensley Event Resources)…

… and entertained by more bagpipe music!

All the while, dinner preparations were underway behind the scenes – fast and furious! The team of Continental Caterers had the dining room set up (with beautiful rental items from Hensley Event Resources) and the kitchen going; florist Marie of Laurel & Vine set the long rows of dining tables with green garlands and a profusion of candlelight; DJ Paul of Big Fun Disc Jockeys was setting up sound and light both for speeches over dinner and then, of course, for dancing; and my production team of A Day Like No Other orchestrated it all.

It was a feast of epic proportions, hearkening back to times long past… and utterly romantic!

But the highlights of the celebration just kept coming – the next one being the authentic Danish wedding cake, a “kransekage” (from Copenhagen Bakery) – a delicious tower of marzipan-like layers, topped with a heart-shaped cookie for the newlyweds.

Having cut and shared this gorgeous cake, the newlyweds went on to what they love most: dancing.

Of course, their First Dance was a highly choreographed routine (by the bride – who else?!), and the same held true for the Father-Daughter Dance.

Guests were invited to join in the fun with a traditional ceilidh…

… and they left the dance floor ONLY to help themselves from the huge dessert buffet (also from Copenhagen Bakery)!

The rest of the night was spent just dancing, dancing, dancing – and celebrating!

So – one thing is for sure: this was unforgettable. Keep dancing, Catherine and Jacob, and celebrating your happiness for many, many years to come!

Bridal bouquets of all styles!

Posted on November 10, 2025 by jlammerts

When choosing your bridal bouquet you might think of the “classic” styles first and foremost – the round hand-tied style…

… or a feminine cascading (“waterfall”) bouquet:

Green Petal Designs; photo credit: Studio Ma

Both are so beautiful! But… maybe you desire something more unusual and unique?

If so, you could think of incorporating unexpected “florals” into your bouquet, like here:

Who would have thought a cabbage could be SO pretty?!

Or, you could go “minimalist” with just one huge, extraordinary flower instead of a whole bouquet of regular-sized ones – here: a coral peony.

More alternatives: a hypermodern style, for example a floral hoop!

Or no flowers at all, but feathers or jewelry instead!

Ostrich feathers (above) or a bouquet made from individual brooches (below).

Now it’s only up to you which style to choose! And that’s the most difficult part, right?

New wedding cake trends 2026

Posted on November 5, 2025 by jlammerts

Fashion repeats itself cyclically – don’t we all know that? The same holds true for wedding cake trends, and so many, many of my past couples’ cakes are “of the moment” again! Here’s a walk down wedding memory lane – and at the same time, a preview of next year’s hottest trends!

Nostalgia and kitsch

YES!! The kitschy cake topper is back… (if it was ever really gone!)

Cake by Studio Cake; Nathan Worden Photography

Artistic pleats and sculptural decor

There is renewed appreciation for technically complicated, highly artistic cakes – we’ve had quite a few of those over the years, spectacular ones!

Cake by La Vie Douce Designs; Danny Dong Photography

Cake by Avocado Catering; Sandra Fazzino Photography

Fruit decor

A perennial classic!

Cake by Krumbs Cakes; Frank J. Lee Photography

Huge, towering cakes

This one certainly “takes the cake!”

Cake by Cake Expressions; Toanven Photography

Unusual shapes

These are really fun cakes – from vintage suitcases to ladies’ slippers…

Cake by Cake Coquette; Maria Hedengren Photography

Cakes and Petit Fours by Morgane Ric; Vicens Forns Photography

Floral decor – from edible flowers to sugar confections

Needless to say – the more elaborate the decor, e.g. a whole cascade of handmade sugar flowers, the higher the price tag…

Cake by Krumbs Cakes; Megan Reeves Photography

Cake by Cake Coquette; Tuan B Photography

And “all that glitters:” metallic accents!

Sheer gold never fails to impress…

Cake by Ritz-Carlton SF Patissier; Usman B Photography

And now YOU have the very difficult task to decide which one YOU want!!

Wedding invitation trends for 2026

Posted on October 22, 2025 by jlammerts

For a while it looked as if printed wedding invitations might become a thing of the past – with an increasing number of couples going “fully digital.” But – the tide is turning, and for an elegant wedding, beautifully designed printed invitations are still the gold standard.

We asked our all-time favorite wedding stationer – Jacques Oskanian of Hyegraph in San Francisco – which trends to expect for next year. In-house designer extraordinaire Munnie Tran breaks it down for us.

Sculpted Embossing

Texture and tactile impression is everything these days, and sculpted embossing has
emerged as a luxurious touch to add to custom wedding invitations. While standard
embossing creates a raised impression, sculpted embossing adds another dimension
with even more depth and detail. From delicate flower petals to intricate monograms,
the results of sculpted embossing are quite literally like a sculpture. Every fine detail
appears hand-carved and is crisply defined on heavyweight paper stock.

Vellum

Vellum is a lightweight material that is semi-translucent. It is very versatile and is
frequently used to embellish wedding invitations, whether by adding a belly band, gate
fold wrap, or a folder. Thinking beyond the invitation suite, it can also be used for the
wedding day of stationery, on items such as menus, programs, place cards, and more.
Its sheer appearance adds a touch of softness and romance to any style, and the
possibilities are endless as you can print any design or color on it.

Unique materials

Traditional paper invitations are both timeless and classic; you can’t go wrong! However,
if you are looking for something that is sure to wow your guests and stand out amongst
the crowd, consider utilizing unique materials. Some examples include acrylic, wood,
velvet, suede, handmade paper, and so much more. Keep the traditional paper
invitation, but use these special materials in other areas, such as envelope liners, belly
bands, pocket folder, or enclosure cards.

Die Cut Shapes

When you think of a wedding invitation, you may picture a 5” x 7” rectangle, as it is
pretty standard. However, you can definitely think outside of the box and do all sorts of
unique sizes and shapes. Whether it’s a simple geometric hexagon, or detailed shapes
of states, animals, and more, this is a great way to add character and dimension to your
wedding invitation suite.

Well – what’s your favorite? Are you even able to choose? At least you’ve gotten a LOT of inspiration for your own totally unique invitation design!

New Bridal Couture from New York Fashion Week

Posted on October 16, 2025 by jlammerts

Top Trends for 2026

In short: corsets (sometimes with dropped waistline); everything that glitters; bold textures (from 3D appliques to feathers) and the return of the tulle skirt – plus the eternal lace!

Corsets:

Every collection had at least one – open or hidden, giving the upper body a sculpted silhouette. Examples below from the new brand Wiederhoeft, from KYHA and WONÁ Concept.

Drop waist/basque waist:

A U- or V-shaped dip at the waistline for a sculpted, nipped-in look thanks to the curve of the fabric. Enaura showed it with finely beaded styles and Galia Lahav with lace-covered gowns. Rime Arodaky incorporated the silhouette in fabrics like duchess satin for a softer, yet still sculpted look.

Crystals, pearls and other sparkle:

Embroidered jewel designs by Marco & Maria, crystal-covered dresses by Hermione De Paula. and all-over silvery shimmer with every movement at Francesca Miranda.

Bold texture:

Heavier fabrics like damask; but then also sculptural additions, 3D applique and House of Gilles‘ fringe and beading in couture constructions.

Tulle skirt, ballerina look:

At Vivienne Westwood with a chic, drop-waist corset, or as a removable tulle overskirt at Mark Ingram Collection with a Mikado sheath underneath.

And again and forever: lace.

For the romantic bride at Monique Lhuillier; full-lace (some even dramatic and sexy) at Jaclyn Whyte.

Lastly: party dresses for dancing!

Shorter or asymmetrical hemlines are good for “all-wedding” but especially for dancing – look up Elie Saab; lingerie-inspired designs e.g. by Milla Nova and shimmering disco looks by KYHA.

Texas wedding venues: Commodore Perry Estate

Posted on October 9, 2025 by jlammerts

An incredible discovery today: a historic mansion, literally minutes away from downtown Austin in a quiet neighborhood – and once you pass through the wrought-iron gate onto the flagstone driveway, you find yourself in a different world.

The Mediterranean-inspired architecture of the mansion with its neoclassical influences, the surrounding manicured park with mature trees (many magnolias among them!) and the peace and serenity of the 10-acre estate transport you in a zen-like state of mind; I guarantee it.

An additional building of the same vintage – the 1920s – houses a gym and spa, and then there is a hotel building with 52 rooms which looks and feels exactly the same; hard to believe it’s just a few years old! Designer extraordinaire Ken Fulk managed the nearly impossible – both for the mansion which was gently renovated while preserving its historic charm, and for the new hotel building which was constructed using historic materials including encaustic tile and reclaimed wood floors and a classical architectural vocabulary like this interior courtyard surrounded by arcades. Nothing is “fake” – it all breathes authenticity and luxurious understatement.

And then – did I already say that it’s the most exclusive wedding venue in all of central Texas? With just over 30 wedding events per year – maximal 6 of them buy-outs – the venue makes sure that each couple and their guests receive the full attention and effort of the dedicated staff. In short, they are treated like royalty!

Indoors, the mansion exudes the quiet charm of its beginnings a century ago, with period furnishings and decor, but without the feel of a museum; rather like a well-aged private home, handed down through the generations and lovingly cared for.

The property, under the umbrella of the luxury hotel group Auberge, prides itself on extraordinarily good food: from the same kitchen and the same chefs who run the onsite Michelin-starred restaurant.

For all its elegance and sophistication, it’s a cozy, warm and welcoming space with a French-Mediterranean atmosphere – and it even has a patio with outdoor seating.

Back to weddings! There are several outdoor ceremony areas to choose from…

… all equally beautiful and with the option to use the back facade of the mansion as the gorgeous backdrop for your vows!

Just imagine the possibilities… with draping and flowers and and and…! And if you’d rather not chance the weather, you can have your ceremony in the former chapel which otherwise serves as a stylish space for dancing. In short… you can have it all, and all here, onsite – a complete, unforgettable wedding weekend with your guests. For me, Commodore Perry Estate was a true revelation. I’m charmed!

Contact: cpe.events@aubergeresorts.com

Expert interviews: Wedding cakes by Cake Coquette

Posted on September 26, 2025 by jlammerts

Cake baker extraordinaire Gabrielle Feuersinger and I as a wedding planner and designer go back more than a decade. I deeply admire Gabrielle’s talent, enthusiasm and unrelenting perfectionism in creating the most wonderful wedding cakes for my couples. Who better to ask about all aspects of “wedding-cake-decision-making” – than HER?!

So here we go…

– How did you get into wedding cake baking and design?

I make cakes for all and any occasion, but making wedding cakes is my favorite because I get to work with fun, inspiring couples to design something original, meaningful and something that will be in their memories forever. It has to be perfect and I put a lot of extra love into my wedding cakes.

A charming basketweave design (all piped in buttercream!) with buttercream flowers – for a garden event

A true “labor of love” in Wedgwood blue.

– What makes an exceptional cake?

An exceptional cake is a cake that looks amazing and tastes excellent. Wedding cake got a bad rap for a long time, but my cakes are delicious and I am really proud of my flavor offerings. I get a lot of positive feedback.

Photo: Shhivika Chauhan; Gabrielle made this cake literally overnight for an emergency wedding, and it’s glorious!

– Which factors should couples consider when choosing their cake and its decor? E.g. transportation, ambient temperature, setting, style…

I encourage cakes to be displayed indoors for overall safety. I think the venue and guest count should be considered when deciding the size of a cake. A wedding for 450 people in SF city hall for example shouldn’t be a 2 tier displayed on the steps. I’m not pushing for a 450 display cake, but something in the middle looks better.

– Which factors influence the price of a wedding cake?

Price reflects time. If I am making details that are time consuming and intricate, like fine lace piping details or detailed sugar flowers, this will be the biggest factors in pricing.

Handmade floral motifs and gilded detail

Photo: Tuan B. Photography – a cake with handmade sugar flowers and gold accents

– What are the latest trends in wedding cakes?

Right now, 2025, the look is vintage, Lambeth style buttercream piping. I love it… so easy and quick (for me). It doesn’t break the bank.

– Anything else you want to add…?

When coming in for a meeting I love to see all the details you have been working on; the invitation, dress, plates, linens, venue….all these details get my creative juices flowing and I can bring something fun to your cake.

Here are two examples of Gabrielle’s incredible creativity: for a couple of mathematicians who love traveling (!!), she designed a wedding cake in the shape of a vintage suitcase, complete with stickers of the bride’s and groom’s favorite travel destinations, and topped with a stack of professinal math books that looked so lifelike that their fellow mathematician guests tried to pick them up and leaf through them!

And for another couple with a “Tiffany” wedding theme, she designed a cake in the shape of stacked Tiffany boxes, held together with a bow – incorporating (at the groom’s request) a REAL Tiffany box containing a pearl bracelet (do you see it in the photo?). This cake had to be guarded until cake cutting time!

Round or rectangular – that is the question!!

Posted on August 27, 2025 by jlammerts

When planning your wedding reception, you might be in doubt what’s better, more beautiful, more practical – round or rectangular dining tables?

While there is certainly no “right” or “wrong” and no “one-size-fits-all” solution – there are several aspects to consider.

1.) How much room do you have, relative to your guest count? Rectangular tables are more “space-economical” than round ones.

2.) What’s the shape of your dining/ballroom? Square or very open spaces (like, e.g. a lawn) look better with round tables, narrow rectangular floor plans look better with rectangular tables.

3.) How formal is your event? Round tables signal more formality, while rectangular tables, especially if arranged in long rows, are considered more informal.

4.) What’s your design vision? Tall, round floral centerpieces are best displayed on round tables;

floral/greenery garlands look best on long rows of end-to-end rectangular tables.

5.) Practical necessities: aisles need to be 36 inches wide for guest movement and for waitstaff/service.

Advantages and disadvantages of round tables:

They facilitate interaction between guests and feel more intimate, but as we stated above, they take up more space than rectangular ones.

Advantages and disadvantages of rectangular tables:

Guest interaction is more limited to the persons seated to the immediate left and right and to the person across the table. Rectangular tables are great for buffet set-ups, food stations and bar set-ups and for very structured dinner layouts, but they might need some extra dress-up in order not to look too basic.

Can you mix round and rectangular dining tables?

YES! But it should not be done haphazardly, but preferably in a symmetrical pattern. Look how beautiful this can be:

I hope this all will help you in envisioning YOUR perfect dinner setup!