My 30th Birthday Party

I mentioned on the 8th that it was my birthday and that some family and friends were throwing me a cocktail party in my honor. We had about 40 guests come and celebrate my 30th birthday on Saturday, June 9th. The theme was pink and gold and there were all sorts of glittery decorations, pink flowers and fun details. We had tons of finger food appetizers and desserts as well as a champagne bar and fun mixed drinks! Here's a few pictures from the big event;

All sorts of tasty appetizers!

Dessert bar. . . Yes those are oversized champagne glasses filled with pink hydrangeas!

That's me in the pink dress in the middle

My sparkly gold shoes!

The champagne bar was a huge hit!

. . . And so were the pre-made mixed cocktails. Raspberry Mojitos and Sassy Strawberry Lemonade

Hydrangea centerpieces in gold spray painted bottles

A million thanks go out to Melissa, Michele, Jean and especially Carol for all your hard work and for throwing me such a fun party!!! Love you girls!
 

Party Decorations!

This weekend we had a birthday party for my step-son who turned 16. Thank goodness the weather cooperated, the rain moved out and sun shining skies made it possible for us to use our outdoor living  room and backyard for most of the party. (Our small little house only fits so many people!) Anyway, the party was a success, lots of family and friends and a good time was had by all. I decorated the dining room as well as the entire patio in navy blue and lime green balloons, streamers, banners, the works! Of course I turned to Pinterest while party planning for a few ideas. Here's some great inspiration for you if you are planning any type of party and want to get creative with the decorations or make your dollar stretch further;

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The possibilities really are endless when it comes to using inexpensive supplies like crate paper, tissue paper, balloons, cardstock, ribbon and fabric to create awesome, affordable party decorations!

The Vista Ranch & Cellars

A couple of months ago I was asked to help execute a plan for an elaborate, 250 guest wedding at The Vista Ranch & Cellars in Merced, California. I immersed myself in 100's of yards of burlap fabric and strands upon strands of lights in order to help create this gorgeous tent for a glamorous, country-style wedding on 11-11-11!

I love featuring snippets of gorgeous wedding inspiration that I find on the web, or details and pictures from events that I've planned or attended from time to time. But I've been wanting to feature more local wedding and party related stuff on the blog for a while. California's Central Valley really is home to so many awesome locations that are ideal for hosting parties and events and I feel like there really isn't a solid web presence for all of them. I thought today I would kick off the new series of highlighting great venues and vendors with a feature on The Vista Ranch & Cellars located in Merced, California!

The Vista Ranch & Cellars is an ideal location for hosting weddings and special events in the Central Valley. Their spacious venue consists of 20 acres and is home to 400 year old oak trees, lavish gardens, huge green lawns and even a private lake. They can accommodate 350+ guests on their outdoor patios and eye catching grounds.

Their large event center is perfect for indoor events year round as well! The facility also has a commercial kitchen, full staff and in-house caterer.

The property features a bridal cottage in a newly redecorated 1950's ranch style house that offers privacy for the bride and bridal party. It is furnished for relaxation and socialization before the wedding and even includes a salon area! 

In addition to being a one-stop-shop wedding and special events venue, The Vista recently opened up their new wine tasting room! You can experience ten varieties of The Vista Cellars wine in a historic 1910 farmhouse that has been converted into a gorgeous, rustic style tasting room. They are open to the public daily!

The Vista Ranch & Cellars will also soon be expanding and opening up a farm market that will feature local produce including fresh vine and tree ripened fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and dairy products. Coming later this year!

all images via me, Natalie Galasso Designs & The Vista Ranch & Cellars

To book your wedding or next special event at this ideal venue, or for more information, visit The Vista Ranch & Cellars online here or check out their Facebook page for current events here!


Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and that I was not paid or endorsed  to promote their facility. However, if you are a wedding vendor or venue and would like to advertise your company on this blog, please contact me for more information. 

JPM Design Event Styling Services!

The weather is warming up and Spring is definitely in the air here in California! The trees are in blossom, the sun is staying out longer and flowers are beginning to sprout. I'm finding myself so inspired  by beautiful bright colors and pretty pastels, what about you?

 All images via here

As Spring is fast approaching and wedding season is just around the corner…. think of JPM Design to help you style your event! We have the expertise to bring any decor style to life and to help you create a wedding that is truly a reflection of you! If you live in or around the Central Valley, Bay Area or Northern California and would like the assistance of an Event Designer, please contact me! For more information go here.

Birthday Party Inspiration Board!

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I saw this image (above) on Pinterest and thought it was such a gorgeous centerpiece for a party! I loved the gold, magenta and pink color pallette so much that I thought it would make a great theme for a birthday soiree! Check out the inspiration board I came up with:

A certain someone (as in me) turns 30 in a couple of months. Is it lame to throw yourself a birthday party?! Because I would LOVE to go with a theme similar to this. Either way, I really love this color combo, so much I can almost taste the champagne and pink macaroons! What do you think?

Quicky!

I know, I know. . . I have been a little absent around the blog lately. I have been up to my eye balls in work (which is a great thing!) Here's a couple quick shots of a wedding that I was hired to help decorate on 11/11/11. . . We spent three days getting the tent ready for a guest list consisting of 325 people.

I'll share more details from this fabulous, rustic-inspired wedding with you later, I promise!