earthy, boho berkeley wedding

My last wedding of 2018! Ah, what a way to round out the year with the beautiful wedding of Kelsey and Boone. This wedding couple was so special to me because I’ve had the opportunity to work with Kelsey’s mom, Eileen, for about two years nows. Eileen owns and runs the stunning Lost + Found Vintage Rentals out of her home in San Jose, so with the both of us being Bay Area natives it’s been so fun working together on events and photo shoots! Kelsey and I also went to the same high school, one year apart — so this wedding was full of so many little small world connections! Brian of Rustic Atlas took these gorgeous photos of their wedding at the Piedmont Community Center. Even though it was October, the weather was near-perfect!

I loved how tucked away their venue was. The ceremony made you feel like you were in a secluded enchanted forest and then transitioned into the perfect, intimate courtyard experience for dinner and cocktails. Kelsey’s family DIY’d the entire wedding, from start to finish; chalk-full of all of Eileen’s vintage inventory. I think my favorite moment was watching her dad put her shoes on for her before the ceremony started. That, and of course the surprise FLASH mob dance the bridal party had choreographed! This wedding was nothing but J O Y.

a modern princess wedding at the SF palace hotel

Nicki and Greg’s wedding took place on September 1st, 2018 at the glorious Palace Hotel in SF. This wedding was EVERYTHING. The perfect mix of utter elegance, class, and a pinch of modern sprinkled in. Huge shout out to Greg Petersen for capturing these epic photos.

My favorite part? The fact that Nicki and Greg decided to eat dinner on their own in private while guests attended cocktail hour. They got all their portraits taken care of prior to the ceremony (thanks for first look) and opted to take the time for an intimate moment between the two of them before the party started. So special!

destination wedding in white sands national monument

Back in September I met Tiago and Ines virtually. Them in the UK, me in the US. Since then, we had been planning their destination wedding remotely which took place last weekend of March in New Mexico at the GLORIOUS White Sand National Monumnent. 

This experience was unforgettable for me and to see all the planned pieces come together is something I will always cherish. What a milestone as Naseem Events creeps into season 3. From booking their accommodations (check out this casita, yo!), designing their tablescape post-wedding, booking vendors, and coordinating all the details in between -- this was such a valuable experience for me and I have now checked off remote wedding planning off the list! Huge thank you to Golden Days Photo for capturing these images. 

indigo xx succulent dreams [[styled shoot inspiration]]

This week I had the honor of being published on the highly coveted White Magazine for a styled shoot I had been dreaming up all summer long. SO exciting! Before jumping to the gallery, I wanted to share the inspiration for what led to my initial vision for this shoot. This is hopefully right up your alley if you're all about organic, boho style and your spirit animal is a succulent ;)

The initial inspiration for this photo shoot came to me in a very simple form; texture.

I had just finished taking a Ginny Au styling course and felt led to start creating a mood board based off of particular textures that spoke to me. I ended up with a palate whose end result birthed in the shoot below. I wanted to showcase a “bohemian meets Anthropologie” aesthetic, if you will. There are so many couples who fit this look/demographic and I wanted to create a set of vignettes to cater to this particular vibe. Enter DIG Gardens in beautiful Santa Cruz. This space brought my vision to life the moment I stepped in. Every where you turn, there’s something to marvel at. 

The vessels I picked out were all from DIG and each unique in their own way. Even in constructing the dessert table vignette, I wanted to showcase multiple tables of different sizes and shapes. I think there’s something so enamoring about aesthetics you don’t see every day. We’re so used to seeing one cake on one table at weddings, so this look was so fun for my team to put together. 

The table set up was personally my favorite part of this shoot because of all the elements I was able to incorporate. We used DIG Garden’s beautiful farm table and chairs, and topped the table with Rachel Wadlow’s beautiful hand-dyed indigo napkins, a gorgeous set of mismatched Anthropologie plates I picked out, and natural wood cut flatware. Angie of Bobo Design Studio came alongside my vision and created these stunning vellum menus and laser cut name cards for each seat.

 

CREDITS

kathy & phil's wedding, conservatory of flowers SF

A month ago I got to watch Kathy and Phil tie the knot in front of their family and friends at the GORGEOUS Conservatory of Flowers in SF. This wedding was super special to me since Kathy hired me on as her planner back in the fall so we had naturally grown super close during the course of the months leading up to the wedding. 

One thing I loved was that Kathy did not care at ALL about taking creative control over the decor/ design of the wedding; that's why she hired me! (#plannergoals). So I took the liberty of helping shape the aesthetic of the wedding from A to Z. Kathy and Phil are not traditional in the slightest so we dreamed up ideas that were special to them as a couple. For instance, I suggested a message in a bottle idea for them instead of a regular guest book for guests to leave them. I also helped Kathy create little disposable utensil packets (we skipped traditional plateware altogether and saved a TON), for their guests to pick up at the food trucks as they licked their fingers clean of the gourmet goodness. The lovely Keegan of Petal Atelier adorned the long dinner tables with different sized floral arrangements for a simple and clean look. With the stunning backdrop of the conservatory at our fingertips, there was so much natural beauty to play with. 

A highlight for me was the ice cream taco cart we had for dessert. I can't suggest this idea more in lieu of a traditional cake.

Guests were able to wander the conservatory during cocktail hour, wine in hand. One fun project I took on was co-designing all of Kathy's signage for the wedding. She told me straight ahead that was not a fan of calligraphy (to each their own!) and so I worked with Nicole of Penny Lane Papery to make my modern, minimal signage vision come to life.

Best part was guests were able to enjoy the light show that takes place at night on the actual conservatory walls -- peep the photo below to see just how beautiful that was! 

Huge thank you to my friend and amazing photographer, Yasmin Roohi, for capturing these images.

roya's pretty in pink bridal shower

Planning and styling this bridal shower was so special to me as the bride is a dear friend. Roya's mom was the main powerhouse behind this shower. When she first met with me she told me her goal was to throw a pink-filled, joyful bridal shower fit for a princess. She had already booked the venue, Faz Restaurant's Tea Room in Sunnyvale to pay homage to their Persian roots. After hearing her vision, I got my creative juices flowing and the rest is history!

Indoor venues can sometimes present a challenge aesthetically so my goal was to create a focal point to really steal the show. Thanks to Lynn Jones at Jones & Posy, we were able to conceptualize and create a stunning paper flower backdrop (all handmade by Lynn!). This mix of vibrant hues contrasted against the white draping made for a perfect backdrop not only for photos but for our dessert bar. 

Guests were treated to a gourmet Persian buffet of kabob and saffron-spiced rice, along with traditional pastries and a mix of cake pops, candy, and of course -- a wedding cake fit for a princess. 

See all the vendors below the gallery -- each of whom contributed their phenomenal talents to make this day possible. Special thanks to Sunshine Shannon Photography for these gorgeous images.

Vendor Team:
Event Planning/Design:   Naseem Events

Photography: Sunshine Shannon Photography

Floral Design: Petal Atelier

Venue and Catering: Faz Sunnyvale
Paper flowers: Jones & Posy
Cake Pops: Just Bakecause
Cake: C'est Si Bon
Calligraphy: Britni Chon (little things everywhere)

 

forest fête amidst redwoods and succulents

This late spring wedding celebrating the union of Nadia and Eddie was so special to me. This was Nadia's second wedding so the highlight for me was seeing her joy with her two daughters and how close the family of four had become. Not to mention her DRESS. She got it from Anthropologie and totally redid everything herself. Even the color lining to make it more bridal. She had a vision in mind and brought it to life perfectly.

Nadia and Eddie got married at Walden West in the hills of Saratoga. Total cabin in the woods vibes (not the horror movie lol). The couple absolutely loves the outdoors and hiking, so everything was centered around wood textures and greenery. You might know by now how much I love details, so it was a treat for me to work with Nadia on brainstorming how to make her venue pop -- from those gorgeous oak crossback chairs, to the table numbers named after trees, to the lawn games during cocktail hour. Her daughter is such an artist and created the corn hole and ring toss games all on her own. I loved how much the colors popped with the venue. Other notable mention are those centerpieces created entirely from scratch by Nadia's florist Marci Hayden of RockStone Gardens. Succulents galore! 

It was such a special evening. Something else that was a treat for me was getting to meet and work with Sunshine Shannon Photography  -- who is Nadia's coined "second daughter" :) How gorgeous are the photos she captured?! Enjoy. 

muted baroque x classic romantic styled shoot

Crisp winter air. The perfect sunset. This shoot was an absolute dream. The vision was to create a modern baroque aesthetic with whimsical elements of a romantic wedding reception. Often times when we think "baroque," the words "gaudy" and "luxurious" come to mind. But I wanted to stay true to my personal style which is much more modern so I came up with a muted baroque aesthetic, if you will. You can see that present in the dessert options, created by the ever-talented La Vie Douce Designs, and the intricate wedding gown by Ju.Lee Collection. I absolutely loved how different the dress was from what we're used to seeing; the details are so beautiful.

I think the small details go a long way in setting yourself apart as a stylist / designer. I went with the vintage handkerchiefs instead of napkins to add some character & I loved that we were able to give so much life to the tabletop with something as simple as a blush pink. And those FLOWERS - Petal Atelier worked her magic as usual! 

One of my favorite elements that really inspired me from the beginning of the planning process was finding the vintage scale from the lovely Lost & Found Vintage's collection. We had this displayed on a side table during the reception as as symbol of the couple's love outweighing anything that life might throw at them. I chose to have the ring weighed down on the scale by rice, which has symbolized prosperity in weddings from the beginning of time.

It was so ethereal shooting at the SSS Ranch in Calistoga in the crisp winter air. The sun came out at the very end, making for some gorgeous candid moments for the couple on the Persian rug in the grass. Huge shout out to Michelle Chang for these amazing photos. See full vendor team below the gallery. 

Vendor Team

Planning/ Design: Naseem Events

Photography: Michelle Chang Photography

MUAH: Bun Bun Bridal Lab

Cake and desserts: La Vie Douce Design

Wedding dress: Ju.Lee Collection

Florals: Petal Atelier

Rentals: Lost and Found Vintage Rental

Calligraphy: Shasta Bell Calligraphy

Venue: Triple S Ranch

Ring: Susie Saltzman

Linens: The Linen Bar

Videography: Carisma Films

Ring box: Secret Keeper Box

botanical bliss // greenhouse styled shoot

There's something so calming about greenhouses. I always thought a wedding held within one would be so beautiful because the couple is coming together and growing into the next season of their lives, surrounded by botanical life which is constantly growing as well. It truly is love personified. And that's where this vision stemmed from - the venue! 

My vision with this styled shoot was creating an absolutely ethereal moment for the couple. I wanted to go with more neutral, earthy colors (deep reds, grey, lavender) that were more on the muted side so the true beauty of the venue itself (all that plant life!) could speak for itself. I didn't want to limit the scope of the concept by categorizing it under a specific season, but the colors and dress are definitely geared more towards the winter aesthetic. 

 I wanted to include some unique details, and one of my favorites was serving coffee in these vintage Turkish coffee cups and saucers that belonged to my great grandmother. That, paired with the romantic calligraphy decor incorporated really brought the entire look together. The entire day was simply magical. 

These stunning photos, both film and digital, are courtesy of my talented friend Yasmin Roohi Photography -- See our full vendor list under the gallery! 

Full vendor team: 
Styling/ Design/ Planning: Naseem Events
Photography: Yasmin Roohi Photography
Venue: Shelldance Orchid Gardens
Florals & Wreath: Petal Atelier
Rentals & linens: Chairs & Cups
Calligraphy: Danika.Ink
Makeup: Neda Abootorabi
Cake: JustBakeCause
Wedding dress, veil, accessories: Dean & Willow
Models: Sohrab Fatemi and Jessica Johnson 
Men's Suit and Shoes: Tuxedo Wearhouse
Hair: Nicole Jamora (One of a Kind Beauty)
Turkish Coffee Cups and Saucers: Naseem Events (personal collection) 

 

styled shoot basics // my top 3 tips

Hello lovely readers! I'm so pleased to share part 2 of a recent styled shoot I put together with an amazing team of vendors who all came together to make my vision a reality last month. (See below the photos for the full list of creatives!). For this shoot, the vision was more girly/classic and romantic; more focus on pinks and gold, + tulle as you can see in the bride's gorgeous two-piece skirt & crop top. We had such a fun time shooting this; so much laughter and also so many things to learn.

That being said, I wanted to share the wealth! One of the biggest takeaways for me from planning this shoot was not to underestimate the amount of work that goes into one of these. From start to finish as a planner your role is Indian Chief/ Ringleader. I'd love to share the three tips I think are the most beneficial when planning a shoot (good for those who might not even know where to start!) --

1) Build your vendor team: this is one of my favorite parts of being in the creative world because there is such a big network of talented folks to collaborate with. I absolutely love building relationships and getting to know new people so this kind of came as second nature. If you're having trouble nailing down lets say a florist or something, one thing I found that helped (might just be my creeper social media stalking abilities, but hey who's labeling it) -- is that I would search via hashtags for the right vendor. I.e. "#bayareaflorist" or something along those lines and then see who had an aesthetic that really resonated with me and my personal brand.

2) Nail down the venue: this is HUGE. I honestly think this is the hardest part of planning a styled shoot. Big lesson for me was to do my research ahead of time. For example, we had scoped out a certain park in the North Bay and come to find two weeks before the shoot it's strictly open to residents of that city. Always do your homework about the permits needed and whatnot.

3) Finally, the biggest piece of wisdom - be prepared for rejection and take it with a grain of salt. Whether it's a vendor who can't work with you on this shoot or a blog who declined you from publishing the shoot, I think it's super important to remember that we're all hustling; and that will often times include rejection or maybe things not always turning out your way. What grows your character is how you respond to that sudden left turn. I never really understood the weight that the world "hustle" really carries but I can confidently say as a business owner who is only six months in, I am dailyyy pushing myself above and beyond what I'm used to in order to make my business successful. And sometimes that might even mean you don't have the support you expected but a wise friend once told me that it's not others' support that will matter in the long run or bring in the big bucks ;) You have to hustle because YOU believe in your craft and you visualize that long term goal coming to fruition. 

Ok that's all from me! Enjoy xx

fall inspo // styled shoot

While we in the Bay Area are currently stuck in the middle of Indian Summer at its finest, autumn is quickly upon us. When I think about color trends and inspiration for styling fall events and weddings, I really see shades of jade being prominent this year. There's just something so poignant about the color that makes everything pop. 

With this recent styled shoot I put together, my vision (that played out perfectly I might add!) was super boho, airy, and intimate. I love the freedom planners have with styled shoots because it's your chance to really showcase your own personal aesthetic and encapsulate your brand. 

Currently booking for fall weddings, photoshoot styling, holiday parties, and more. Please reach out. See below for all the amazing vendors I partnered with on this shoot. xx

beatrice & mike's wedding

The photos from Bea and Mike's June wedding are here! I'm so stoked to share these photos (how perfect is Lucille Lawrence's work?!) because this wedding was so memorable for me and truly a day I will never forget. I had the privilege of working with Bea to coordinate all the logistics for her wedding about two months out. I love thinking back to our text sesh's debating about the final details and to finally see everything come together the day-of. It was so special to me to be able to spend the morning with her & the bridal party. I delivered them some much needed grub before the festivities began; her favorite, In N Out. Being a part of the whole getting ready process (that's me steaming her veil below, hehe) was unforgettable. The wedding itself was a dream. Rancho Yerba Buena is off the beaten path and boasts such stunning views, not only lush greens but a very whimsical back drop. We were treated to seeing all the horses come out right at sunset, which made for some perfect golden hour photos. The little things really added to the wedding too; from their band playing some bomb covers with a live saxophonist and all, to the homemade cake baked by Bea's close friend -- you could really feel the love. Not to mention that posh poolside cocktail hour, am I right?!

 Bea and Mike had been together for almost a decade so this was really a celebration in the making. What I love most about them is their swag; how cute are their matching Lover Jackets that they put on when it got chilly? Smiling so hard as I relive that day with these gorgeous photos! #bealikemike

Photography: Lucille Lawrence

Florals: Wild North Flowers

Venue: Rancho Yerba Buena

Catering: Karen Bevels

 

 

the art of calligraphy

Calligraphy and pretty hand writing have always been big in my book. When I was in 5th grade, we had a mandatory calligraphy course (private school times lol) and since then I think the passion for it just remained in me. I didn't keep up with practicing the art, unfortunately, until early this year. I took a refresher course at Paper Source back in January and it slowly came back to me.

I was lucky enough to do all the calligraphy for my friend Lindsay's wedding back in May. How soothing are these earthy tones? She added such a special touch to the wedding by writing personalized notes to each wedding guest in their escort cards as they walked into the reception. Can you imagine how long that must have taken? It was so worth it though, just seeing all the guests' faces as they opened their notes and read the memories to themselves; unforgettable. 

In addition, Lindsay opted to number her tables as names of pasta instead of actual numbers. I loved that her and Mike decided to do this, as cooking pasta together was one of their most frequent date night activities. This added such a unique touch to the wedding; something you really don't see much of! For me it was hilarious too because I had no idea that there were so many different names for pasta, haha! :) Doing the art work for this wedding made me realize how much I love it and that I want to keep it up. For anyone who is interested, I offer an a la carte option for calligraphy in all my wedding packages. Thanks for reading! 

Florals: Second Street Flowers

Photography: Foot Candles Photography

wild & free

One of my goals/desires when I decided to start my own business was not only to help my clients throw that perfect event they've been dreaming up, but also to inspire the community of creatives that I'm now a part of. To shed light on the importance of vulnerability, the danger of comparison, and to create a safe place for women to share their life lessons and revelations. 

I began reading this book last month, Wild & Free, with two friends and it has been such a breath of fresh air. I encourage everyone reading this right now to click and order it! (no, I'm not affiliated with them but I'm that crazy about the book hehe). I'm only half way through right now but it's already challenged me so much that it's made me tackle some issues I struggled with in the past. This has led to such an increase of confidence and joy in my life. 

Being the lover of writing that I am, I decided to publish my experience on Medium earlier this week. If you're interested to read further, simply click here.

Little teaser for those curious: 

…I didn’t get a job because the manager said I was “too much.” How that statement has impacted me 4 years later.

---- 

Once we cut off those strings of expectation, pride, and insecurity we stop allowing others to define us. That’s when living can actually begin.

<3

 

 

 

Source: http://thewildrevival.com/wp-content/uploa...

the sun does come out eventually

 
 

I'm stoked to finally share one of the biggest changes going on in my world at the moment. You've probably already caught wind of it with the new domain name, but without further ado, I am pleased to announce that I'm embarking on a new venture of starting my own wedding and event planning business! 

I've been obsessed with planning & hosting events for as long as I can remember. That, paired with being a bridesmaid more times than I can count + my Type A overly-organized personality + watching The Wedding Planner at an age when I was easily influenced and there we have it! I can't think of a better way to expand my career than taking on this new path. Working at a tech start up was one of the most invaluable experiences I've ever had. And now I see the beauty in my last role which was so heavy on client communication and making sure my vendors were satisfied 247. I can't wait to translate that over to my love for weddings and events. Weddings especially are so dear to my heart: what the union means for the couple on a deeper level, for the extended family, and all the emotions that come with it. It's seriously such a pivotal moment in one's life and I'm stoked to be a part of that for my clients.

For those of you who have been so supportive of my lifestyle/travel blog, first off: THANK YOU. I can't tell you how much it means to hear from friends I don't see regularly but yet hear that they love reading my posts. Fear not: This blog is going no where. In fact, I'll be updating it regularly alongside this new business website so any potential clients have a better chance of getting to know the real me and what I'm all about :) 

On that note, I wanted to have a tiny soap box moment and encourage anyone out there who is in a transition period of their life. I can honestly say going through that in your mid-twenties and dealing with the up and downs of soul searching can be exhausting; both mentally and emotionally. However, I wouldn't take this time back for a second because of how much it's helped me grow both as a person and as a working professional. And the sun does eventually come out "tomorrow." I never thought I would be starting my own business, but during this down time, I've realized how much I want to break that mold that we're so forced to fit in: that you have to go down the tech path if you're in the Bay Area. That's great, but it's not for everyone. And especially for me, I want to spend this next part of my life making my own dreams come true vs. someone else's. Best of all, I love that I'll be able to give back to my clients and help remove the stress for them during a joyous season.

So bottom line, do you. I used to be so stuck on what people would say/ how so-and-so would react to what I'm doing. But now as I'm getting older and specifically in this season, I just see how much freedom there is in simply doing you. No second guessing. No over analyzing. You might have 20 people supporting you or only 1 in your corner. No matter what, if you feel at peace with what you're diving into then DO it. In my personal life, I've learned that God wants us to take that risky step first before He'll unveil the whole picture. So, here goes :)

wedding adventures

My holiday weekend was a whirlwind of events. Starting off where I left off in my last post, I was in the airport on Thanksgiving night about to board a flight for Michigan, to join my extended family for my cousin's wedding. I'm back home now and finally adjusted from the jet lag and ready to tell-all!

This past weekend was seriously one of the best times of my life. It's so funny how the little things end up mattering the most. Of course a wedding is nothing little -- but simply the notion of being amidst your entire extended family for three full days was something else. I tend to forget how priceless moments like that are. It was so fun because the entire wedding party, the aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents; ALL of them, were in the same hotel. So the night before the wedding we had a huge suite where we had a little soiree for all the guests. It was perfect because so many family members from the bride and groom's side were meeting for the first time so it was a good mini ice breaker for everyone.

The funnest part for me was being able to take the elevator up and down at any hour and visit my uncle, visit my cousins, and just simply have all of us able to hang out all together for 3 full days. It's almost like when you go on a huge trip with a bunch of your family or close friends; you're together in a tight space for the full duration of the trip that once you get home you're stuck feeling a little lonely from missing them.

The wedding itself was breath taking to say the least. My cousin and aunt are masterminds at DIY and party planning and they executed one of the most creative and beautiful wedding ceremonies I have ever seen. It took place at the Detroit Institute of the Arts which is a museum, and so the wedding itself was amidst one of the exhibit halls.. It was almost like a rustic dungeon type of feel; very enchanting. I loved it.

This also marked the first time that I was a bridesmaid maid of honor! It was so fun and such a legit honor to be a part of my cousin's wedding. She and her husband only had 4 people in their bridal party; their brothers and their 2 cousins (me!) So it was truly an honor to be included above all their close friends and colleagues... I saw how much family means to them. Some of the highlights included helping my cousin as she was getting ready in the morning, taking photographs of her (which turned out amazing if I do say so myself), and catching the bouquet! It was such a touching moment for both me and for the bride. She said she felt like I was going to get it and inside of course I wanted it too! It seriously came right to me. It was so sweet seeing how happy our grandparents and moms were too. Such a memorable moment for me <3

Other than that, my biggest take away is just sitting back and reflecting on how important and irreplaceable family is. No matter what. It's funny because my older cousin (the bride), and I have never been "the best of friends." She's 4 years older than me and her brother & I are the same age so it's always been us two who usually hang out more. But over this past weekend I saw how untouchable the bond is between cousins. Especially for us because I only have 4 first cousins, and the other two live in Iran. So these two are literally like my siblings. Being able to take part in her wedding and on her side for the entire thing was such an honor to me.

Included are some of my photographs for your viewing pleasure. Truly an amazing weekend spent with my family. I will never forget it!!

g.l.a.m.

 

Can't wait for the start of wedding season. All I can think about these days is helping my beautiful brides-to-be prepare their save the dates, try on bridesmaids dresses, and talk color palates. Not to mention there are about 5 in the works right now. I love nothing more than spending hours by my fireplace, reading bridal magazines and picking out my favorites...and of course nowadays Pinterest does the job too! All in the hopes that my special day to come will be exactly what I'm dreaming it up to be too <3