february 9, 2005 - | palo alto online · 2005-02-14 · page 2• w ednesday,february 9,2005 •...

Vintage gownsPage 3

Custom gowns makea perfect fitPage 4

Getting around in thegownPage 5

Artistic wedding cakesin new flavors, designsPage 6

Spectacular outdoor venuesPage 8

Butterfly releases for amagical beginning1

Cover her in rosepetalsPage 13

February 9, 2005

• WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2005 • TOGETHER

Images Of WoodsideBeauty Salon

3040 Woodside RoadWoodside, Ca.

(650) 851-7103

We offer Wedding and formal hair styles, Family haircuts, Hair colors, Perms, Manicure, Pedicure, Silk or Acrylic,

Facials, Make Up, and body treatments.

Open: Tues.–Fri. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Located near Buck’s Restaurant)

H I S T O R I CWoman’s Clubof Palo Alto

❖ Historic reception site❖ Beautiful hardwood dance

floor❖ Large ballroom with stage

for ceremony❖ Expansive windows allow

natural light

475 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto650.321.5821

Contact Event Coordinatoremail: [email protected]

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S ometimes, the perfect weddinggown can be somebody else’s. AtAges Ahead, brides-to-be can findtheir ideal dress; one-of-a-kind,

classy and with a sense of history.The small bridal boutique in downtown

Palo Alto features a few hundred vintagewedding gowns as well as new gowns bylesser-known designers.

“One-of-a-kind is very popular becausein this mass, crowded, busy world, we’rejust looking for a niche,” said KatherineManzini, owner of Ages Ahead for over 30years.

A bride’s desire for a singular gown re-

flects the nature of today’s educated class,Manzini said. “Educated and well-traveledpeople want to be more individualistic anddon’t want to follow the crowd,” she said.“They don’t want to just look in a magazineand look like someone else. They want tolook like themselves.”

A vintage gown is distinctive and bringswith it a romantic past that sparks the imag-ination. Customers at Ages Ahead canspeculate as to how the previous owner feltwhile she wore the gown back in the 20s or30s.

“If a dress is beautiful, it just emanatesthe happiness of the moment of the personwho wore it,” Manzini said.

Sandra Learned Perry of Napa Valley toldher husband that the two should renew theirwedding vows so she could buy a vintagewedding gown at Ages Ahead.

A vintage gown appeals to Perry becauseof the “history that comes with it that wedon’t necessarily know, but you can kind offeel it with the dress, the romance of it,” shesaid.

Vintage gowns also reflect the trends oftoday.

“It’s Hollywood that affects taste. It’s‘Sex and the City,’ ‘The Notebook,’ ‘TheMajestic’ — all darling 50s dresses. It allaffects people’s tastes,” Manzini said. “Dur-ing the Titanic movie, everyone wanted anearly teens ragtime dress.”

When Caroline Bisset wore a simple1930s sheath at her wedding, Manzini sawa boom in sales of 30s sheath dresses. Butright now, the 40s and 50s are hot, mainlybecause of Sarah Jessica Parker’s style,Manzini said.

Ages Ahead occasionally sells to the fa-mous, not just to those trying to emulatethem.

“We sold Betsey Johnson her wedding

dress a few years ago. Very 50s, veryGrace Kelly, very frothy,” said Manzini, de-scribing a William Cahill gown. Cahilldresses are very popular. Manzini has soldalmost every one she’s stocked.

A vintage gown offers a high quality ofworkmanship that does not exist today. Adress from the 30s may hold up better thana dress bought new off the rack, Manzinisaid. “We’ve gotten into such a throw-awaysociety. You can’t pass (a modern gown) onto someone because you’re lucky if you canwear it two or three times.”

Manzini scours estate sales and antiqueshows across the United States to supplyher store with gowns. “I try to restore themand recycle. It’s good for everybody,” shesaid. “Don’t let it rot in a closet. Let some-one enjoy it.”

In search of a vintage gown, PeggyNutsch of Santa Clara came to Ages Ahead.She has observed the individuality of to-day’s bride.

“I know a lot of people that I’ve workedwith who’ve gotten married in the past fiveyears or so and they’re more into individ-ual-type shopping, not, ‘Oh, I’m going togo wherever everybody goes.’ People arekind of branching off and trying to put theirindividuality into their weddings. It’s like,how different can you be?,” Nutsch said.

Nutsch would rather pay for a high quali-ty vintage gown than a new dress. Gowns atAges Ahead range from $500 to $2,000.

“They’re very pricey but to me they’reworth it. You can pay the same price for anew one but they’re just not the same,” shesaid.

One catch is that vintage gowns tend tobe available in small sizes only. A size eightin the 50s is a size four today, and manywomen are larger than the original ownersof the gowns. Families will donate or selltheir too-small heirloom gowns and holdonto larger sizes, according to Manzini.

But Ages Ahead can alter and re-sizedresses.

“We’ve learned to open them up and sizethem up. So if somebody loves a dress, youdon’t give up,” she said.

Ages Ahead also sells new, one-of-a-kindgowns with a retro look, for those with theirhearts set on the classic look of a vintagegown. A new gown can be ordered in anysize.

“We deal with small designers. They dotheir own things. They’re very detailed, notmass-produced,” Manzini said.

Ages Ahead is located at 524 BryantStreet at University Ave. in Palo Alto. Theboutique is open Tuesday through Saturday,11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; appointments are neces-sary on Saturday. Call (650) 327-4480 orvisit www.agesahead.com for more infor-mation.♥

TOGETHER • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2005 • PAGE 3

TOGETHER

Everything old becomes new againVintage gowns offer style, step back in timeBY MOLLY TANENBAUM

private top floor room • outside patio diningpanoramic bay views • full cocktail service

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487 Seaport Court, Redwood City

(650) 568-0211www.arrivederciandbella.com

as your backdrop...breathtaking views of the bayImagine

Peggy Nutsch of Santa Clara assesses a 1930s Art Deco reproduction wedding gown at Ages Ahead in Palo Alto.

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Ages AheadCustombridal

accessories

•Modern •Silk•Elegant & VintageBridal Gowns

524 Bryant St. • Palo Alto • 650.327.4480 • www.agesahead.com • Open Tues – Sat, 11am-5pm

Now featuring couture gowns for any occasion and fine antiques.


TOGETHER

C an’t find the bridal gown of yourdreams? A custom-made gownmay be a perfect fit. With ahand-made dress, brides can

piece together elements of their favoritedresses.

What’s important is finding a dress thatflatters a bride’s body and fits her personali-ty, according to Grace Jung of Grace JungCouture in Los Altos.

Off-the-rack gowns can be adjusted with afew nips and tucks, but a custom-madegown’s fit is specific to the bride.

Custom designs also offer flexibility, espe-

cially for the older bride. While youngerbrides may want “the whole nine yards, theveil, the white dress,” older brides tend to bemore practical, Elaine Goldman of Elaine’sCustom Gowns and Attire in Palo Alto said.

Older brides “want something they canwear again. I’ll make a two-piece, chiffonskirt and lace bodice, so they could weareach piece again, so they have multiple uses.I actually recommend that,” she said.

Both Jung and Goldman begin with amuslin fit to make the dress perfect for eachbody. That way, clients can see how thedress will look and make adjustments beforethey use the real fabric.

“It’s sort of a work in progress, a labor oflove. You see it as it happens, and there’s al-ways room for change. It evolves,” Goldmansaid.

For a custom gown, brides should come inat least three months before the wedding andbring ideas from magazines, sketches, orfriends. This will give the designer a place tostart, and enough time to create the gown oftheir dreams.

“We don’t have a dress here so we justplay with the ideas until it’s yours. You cantry anything. That’s the beauty of custom fit-ting,” Jung said.

Hot trends right now are a drop waist,frayed edges, cut-outs, pleats, and tiers,Goldman said. Avoid “too much beadingand big sleeves.”

Lace is making a comeback, although thepreferred fabric is still satin. Strapless dress-es attract many brides, especially youngerones, but strapless isn’t attractive on every-one, she added.

Additionally, train lengths have becomeshorter. Twelve to 36-inch trains are popularnow, Jung said.

Goldman’s custom gowns range from$800 to $3,500 depending on the complexityof the dress. Bringing one’s own fabric adds$200 to $300 to the price. Jung’s gowns arecomparable to a designer dress, between$2,500 and $5,000 including fabric. ♥

A perfectfitCustom gowns can offer the best fit, styleBY MOLLY TANENBAUM

The modern wedding gown is clean, simple,but sophisticated, with details focused onthe back, according to custom designerGrace Jung of Jung Couture in Los Altos.

Sources:Elaine’s Custom Gowns and Attire3332 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto(650) 493-1433

Grace Jung Couture322 State St., Los Altos(650) 559-0400

Magic Stitches343 Cowper, Palo Alto(650) 326-7343

Nouvelle Bridal Boutique117 Town and Country, Palo Alto(650) 326-6230

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Theodore H. MockPhotography

415 University AvenueDowntown Palo Alto

(650) 321-5574By Appointment

Please visit our website at:www.mockphotography.com


TOGETHER

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Specializing in bridal luncheons,showers and small intimate receptions.

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And in addition, our boutique is brimming with a lovely selection of gifts.A fter saying “I do,” many cou-

ples, relieved to no longer beon stage with the spotlight onthem, get ready to let loose and

party.But newlyweds with stage fright might

also be concerned about the first dance.Even for couples with skills that rivalBaryshnikov and Britney Spears, formalwedding attire can pose new problems forthe traditional dance. Luckily for brides andgrooms, area dance studios offer private les-sons just for preparing for the first weddingdance.

Students in these classes not only get tipson dance steps, but also learn about properetiquette — such as how to traditionally en-ter and exit the dance floor — and how tomove gracefully in formal attire.

Directors of local studios recommend cou-ples come in a few months before their wed-ding, but also do crash courses for thosewho realize a week before the big day thatthey do not know how to tango, foxtrot orrumba.

Couples should start planning dancing les-sons at the same time as scheduling theirdisc jockey or band, Alice Louise, directorof Arthur Murray Dance Studio in RedwoodCity, said.

“You don’t get an instant replay on thisone, so we need to get it right,” said Louise,whose studio offers private lessons for cou-ples.

For those who have some dancing skills,moving gracefully in formal wedding attirecan create new challenges. A big weddingdress can sometimes weigh up to 40 pounds.

And most women do not have experiencewalking — let alone dancing — with a trainat their back. While many women bustle uptheir train before dancing, area studios stillspend time dealing with the challenge of for-mal attire.

At Beaudoin’s School of Dance in PaloAlto, owner Flo Beaudoin encourages bridesto-be to come to class in a dress or skirt sim-ilar in length to what they will wear on theirbig day.

She also recommends brides practice inshoes similar to their wedding shoes, but notto wear their wedding shoes. “If the man isnot up to it, he may be stepping all over thenew shoes,” Beaudoin said.

Her advice for ladies on danceable wed-ding attire: wear a dress that is not too tightbelow the knee and shoes with backs. And,she says, either skip the shawl or practicedancing with it a lot.

At Arthur Murray, couples get a weddingconsultation in addition to dance lessons.There, Louise takes down information onthe shape and length of the wedding gown,and passes it along to the teacher, who willfine-tune steps to accommodate the dress.

And men also go under the microscope.For them, the studio focuses on sleevelength. A man’s bare arms should not showwhen he is dancing. “It’s not all about stepsand patterns,” Louise said. “It’s about the to-tal package.”

Both studios work to accommodate theschedules of professionals. Arthur Murrayoffers classes from 1 to 10 p.m. Mondaythrough Saturday. Beaudoin’s School ofDance has time slots before work, duringlunch hour and in the evenings. At both cen-ters, dads also can get in on the fun — theyalso offer courses on the traditional father-daughter dance.♥

Putting your best foot forwardDance lessons ease getting around in the gownBY JAMIE SCHUMAN

TogetherIs an annual section on relationships

produced by the Palo Alto Weekly and The Almanac

Editor: Sue DremannDesigner: Diane Haas

www.paloaltoonline.com

Copyright (c) 2005 by Embarcadero Publish-ing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction with-

out permission is strictly prohibited.

Sources:Arthur Murray Dance Studio,Redwood City (650) 216-7501

Beaudoin’s School of Dance, PaloAlto (650) 326-2184

T he thought of a triple-tiered,black chocolate mousse cake or500 individual heart-shapedvanilla cakes with apricot frost-

ing may make some couples forget aboutplanning their wedding dinner. With somany delicious and artistic wedding cakeoptions, choosing dessert can be much morefun.

Nearly all local bakeries are offering non-traditional flavors such as lemon poppy seedor tiramisu, rivaling the standard chocolateand vanilla. And the outsides of many cakesalso are getting more risqué these days: realflowers are replacing buttercream ones; andsquare shapes and architectural forms suchas Coit Tower, are supplanting the tradition-al, tiered circles.

The Coit Tower cake is a creation ofKathy MacDonald, owner of Kathy’sKreative Kakes in San Mateo. Her store hasmade custom-carved wedding cakes since1976. MacDonald also has designed the 500heart-shaped cakes, as well as tasty versionsof the Taj Mahal and the Leaning Tower ofPisa.

The most common order she receives isfor tiers of fondant-covered, rectangularcakes that are meant to look like stackedpresents. Fondant, a smooth icing that Mac-Donald says makes the cake look “blanket-ed,” is becoming the “in” icing at manyweddings, she said.

Alexia Benrezkellah, who took over own-ership at the Palo Alto Baking Company lastJuly, also expects to use much fondant thiswedding season. She spent last summer fill-ing the former owners’ orders, which weremore traditional. Now she is excited aboutputting her distinctive touch on cakes. “Ilike the idea of the uniqueness of creating

something for each individual bride,” shesaid.

Her California Avenue store now special-izes in French desserts, and her weddingcake types are based on French pastries.Flavors include Opera Cake (almond cakewith mocha buttercream and chocolateganache), After Eight (chocolate with mint),and Empress (white cake with hazelnut and

PAGE 6 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2005 • TOGETHER

TOGETHER

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Wedding cake designer Alexia Benrezkellah of Palo Alto Baking Company likes to createsomething individual for each bride.

Let them eat cakeArtistic wedding cakes offer new flavors, bold designsBY JAMIE SCHUMAN

A display wedding cake created by Kathy’sKreative Kakes in San Mateo shows a typi-cal fondant frosting.

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chocolate buttercream, and caramelized al-mond slivers).

Woodside Bakery only uses traditionalbuttercream frosting, but its ten cake typesare all exotic. It offers flavors such aschocolate mousse, tiramisu and raspberryganache instead of the traditional vanillaand chocolate. Couples get the luxury ofsampling the ten cake types before choosingwhat they like best.

Woodside, like many other area bakeries,has been decorating many of its cakes withreal flowers instead of iced ones in recentyears.

But some couples forgo flowers entirelyand choose more sentimental toppings. Pro-lific Oven cake decorator Renee Apostolousaid one of her favorite cakes used icing thatlooked like a simple string of white pearls.

And MacDonald of Kathy’s KreativeKakes remembers one time when a motherwanted a traditional cake, but the couple, aJapanese woman and a Jewish man, pre-ferred a more whimsical and personal de-sign. The compromise: half of the cake wastraditional and half was covered with frostedmotifs of sushi, chopsticks, gefilte fish, catsand faces of the bridal party members.

“It made everybody happy,” MacDonaldsaid.♥


TOGETHER

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Sources:Kathy’s Kreative Kakes,San Mateo (650) 348-5253

Palo Alto Baking Company, Palo Alto (650) 321-3234

Prolific Oven, Palo Alto (650) 326-8485

Woodside Bakery, Woodside(650) 851-7247

Additional sources:Hong Kong Bakery,Mountain View (650) 969-3153

Los Altos Baking Company, Los Altos (650) 559-0382

Wedding cakes come in all shapes. This six-tiered cake by Kathy’s Kreative Kakes is de-signed to look like a stack of presents.

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TOGETHER • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2005 • PAGE 9PAGE 8 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2005 • TOGETHER

TOGETHER

(continued on next page)

FORMALHakone Gardens, Saratoga

Modeled after an early 19th century Japanese “sanso”or country villa, the stunning 18-acre gardens are said tobe the oldest Japanese gardens in the western hemi-sphere.

Water lilies float gracefully while koi wriggle in apond awaiting reflection. Waterfalls whisper andgush in the presence of stone spirit temples; andwhite wisteria cascades from a reception pavilion.

Morning or evening, winter, spring, summer orfall, each season beckons lovers down Hakone’swinding paths dotted with ancient lanterns andinto its verdant nooks. Every month offers some-thing different: flowering plums in January; wiste-ria, rhododendron and camellias in April; iris andpeonies in June; and brilliant fall foliage through-out autumn.

Nestled in the hills of Saratoga, Hakone was re-cently the backdrop for filming “Memoirs of aGeisha.” Hakone has several choices for weddings.The outdoor reception area can handle 150 people,with indoor accommodations for up to 70.

Outdoor settings include the “Madrone Mound,”“Wisteria Pavilion” and “Pond Garden.”

For indoor weddings, the Cultural Exchange Center, areplica of a tea merchant’s house, has a deck that over-looks Silicon Valley. The “Lower House” sits next to a clas-sic Japanese meditation garden, and is perfect for dancing.

Hakone Gardens does limit the time for weddings to morn-ings and evenings when the gardens aren’t open to the generalpublic. Fees range from $600 to $5,000. A preferred list ofcaterers is available to ease wedding planning. Weddingsshould be booked at least six months in advance. Currently, thisApril and May are at capacity, but July is still open.

Weddings with a View

BY SUE DREMANN

Blessed with morethan 310 sunnydays annually andspectacular scenery,the Bay Area pro-vides the perfectbackdrop for anoutdoor wedding.From mountains tocoast, there are amultitude of natu-ral canvases onwhich to create apicture-perfectwedding. Here arefive venues, fromformal to casual, forthe dream outdoorwedding:

The gardens will host bridal faires in April andSeptember. The next faire will be April 24 fromnoon to 4 p.m. Tickets are $5 per couple, with raf-fles for discounts on various wedding-relatedservices.

Hakone Gardens, 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga95070; Call (408) 741-4994; www.hakone.com.E-mail: [email protected]

MOUNTAINSThe Mountain Terrace at Woodside

Rustic, beautiful Mountain Terrace is a moun-tain retreat tucked into the forests above Wood-side. “It’s like a secret garden — nobody knowsit’s here,” said owner Terri Shearer. “On a clearday, you can see all the way to the East Bay.”

Oaks and majestic redwoods ring a three-acremeadow where up to 300 guests can partake in anoutdoor ceremony or reception.

The redwood lodge, complete with mahoganybar and big stone fireplaces, can accommodate125 seated guests, and an additional 150 on thepatio deck. Mountain Terrace can’t accommodateamplified music, but acoustic music is allowed.

The secluded mountain retreat has ample park-ing for all guests. Though there is a preferred listof caterers, guests can bring their own.

Most weddings take place Fridays through Sun-days, with booking up to a year in advance. Satur-days are in the highest demand. July and Augustare the busiest times of the year at Mountain Ter-race, but weddings through October are also pop-ular, she said.

With fees ranging from $750 during the week to$3,750 on weekends, Mountain Terrace fills a

Spectacularoutdoor

venuesoffer a

range of romantic

options

Top left to right: Featured outdoor weddings include thedramatic coastal bluff at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay;a feast at a forest meadow at Mountain Terrace in Wood-side; and a view of the Bay Area from atop the paviliondeck at Thomas Fogarty Winery in Woodside.

Bottom left to right: A bride and groom steal an intimate moment in the flowering garden at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga; ValleyPresbyterian Church provides a window onto the redwood forest in Portola Valley.

Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay

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niche, offering spectacular, affordable outdooraccommodations, Shearer said.

The Mountain Terrace at Woodside, 17285Skyline Blvd., Woodside 94062; Call (650)851-1606; www.themountainterrace.com E-mail: [email protected]

BAY AND VALLEYThomas Fogarty Winery, Woodside

Perched on Skyline ridge, the 320-acreThomas Fogarty Winery offers expansiveviews of the bay and valley for an on-top-of-the-world wedding. Pillow-y fog can fill thevalley below, creating an atmosphere of float-ing above the clouds. At night, twinklinglights fill the valley below. On clear days,guests can see San Francisco. A flower-deco-rated lawn area for ceremonies looks out overthe entire Bay Area and the winery’s vine-yards.

Thomas Fogarty’s reception accommoda-tions include a 4,400 square-foot redwoodpavilion built to “flow” down the hillside, forceremonies and summer receptions, and twoindoor dining facilities.

The same stunning views for which ThomasFogarty Winery is known can be had indoorsas well. The main indoor banquet facility, HillHouse, a redwood and stone structure withdance floor, looks out over acres of attractivechardonnay vineyards. It accommodates up to200 guests. For smaller weddings, the Red-wood Room holds 40 people. Fogarty haschanging rooms for both bride and groom.

Alcoholic beverages are restricted to thevineyard’s wines and champagne, and the fa-cility offers a preferred list of vendors and mu-sicians. Amplified music is allowed indoors,

but is restricted to one acoustic instrument inthe lawn area.

Facility rental fees for an eight-hour block,range from $3,000 to $7,500, with a specialwedding rental rate of $4,500 for Mondaysthrough Fridays. Currently, the winery is offer-ing special rates for June and July weekendweddings.

Thomas Fogarty will offer a “Taste andTwirl” event for up to 30 couples on Feb. 18from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Couples can learn towaltz, taste wines and foods and meet vendorsat a panel discussion. Cost is $20 per person,plus tax.

Thomas Fogarty Winery, 19501 Skyline Blvd.,Woodside 94062; Mailing address: 3270Alpine Road, Portola Valley 94028; CallBrooke or Dana, (650) 851-6772; www.fogartywinery.comE-mail: [email protected]

COASTAL VIEWSThe Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay

Breathtaking views of 50 miles of Pacificcoastline are the hallmark of The Ritz-CarltonHalf Moon Bay. A gazebo lawn wedding siteon a bluff overlooking crashing waves canhold 900 guests, or a smaller bluff weddingsite offers spectacular views of the Pacific.

“Couples are not disappointed even on acloudy day,” said Diana Gil-Osorio, director ofpublic relations.

The Ritz-Carlton is a destination spot, offer-ing a 261-room hotel, golf course, tenniscourts and spa resort. A six-story main build-ing is modeled after the grand seaside lodgesof the 19th century. Couples often book hotelrooms, most of which overlook the coastline,for out of town guests.

Coastal weddings can indeed be fickle


TOGETHER

4269 El Camino RealPalo Alto, CAwww.tradervicspaloalto.com

Celebrate in Styleat Trader Vic’s

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♦ An array of menus featuringTrader Vic’s famous cuisine

♦ Accommodations at Dinah’sGarden Hotel for your out-of-town guests

♦ Experienced catering staff toassist with your plans

For help planning awedding, reception,rehearsal dinner or bridalshower, call 650.798.1306

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You don’t have to go to Napa for a romantic vineyardYou don’t have to go to Napa for a romantic vineyardYou don’t have to go to Napa for a romantic vineyardYou don’t have to go to Napa for a romantic vineyardYou don’t have to go to Napa for a romantic vineyard

wedding! The perfect spot is right here on the Peninsula.wedding! The perfect spot is right here on the Peninsula.wedding! The perfect spot is right here on the Peninsula.wedding! The perfect spot is right here on the Peninsula.wedding! The perfect spot is right here on the Peninsula.

Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyards

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650-851-6777 www.fogartywinery.com

(continued on page 15)

Weddings with a view(continued from previous page)

M ost people probably associ-ate but terf l ies and wed-dings with flutters in thestomach. But butterfly re-

leases are adding colorful life to the wed-ding party.

Imagine the moment when bride andgroom say “I do,” to the release of dozensof orange butterflies. Attracted to vibrantcolors, they land on bouquets of flowersand bridesmaids’ dresses. It beats clean-ing up rice.

“Many churches and reception areasdon’t allow throwing rice, birdseed orconfetti outside anymore,”said Chris Hundley ofMagical BeginningsButterfly Farms inLos Gatos. “Withbutterflies, there’s nomess, no clean-up.” Butterfliesare recommended as a substitute forthe rice-throwing tradition by Villa Mon-talvo in Saratoga, according to Hundley.

Hundley sells only monarch butterflies,which are the hardiest and are found nat-urally in most parts of the United States.The large orange and black butterflies arecarefully selected and inspected to makesure they are 100-percent disease-free, hesaid. And Hundley gets a permit fromeach state to which the company delivers.

Each butterfly is hand fed before ship-ping. I ts wings are careful ly foldedagainst i ts body, and the butterfly isplaced into its own origami-like paperpacket. All of the packets are placed intoa protective box and packed in ice. “Iceprevents dehydration, and the dark, coolconditions keep the butterflies in a com-

fortable resting state,” Hundley said.The butterflies are shipped overnight,

timed to arrive the day before the wed-ding.“They can last for five days without food.At release at the wedding, they’re readyfor dinner. They’re attracted to vibrantcolors, and will land on bouquets anddresses,” he added.

Hundley recalled one elaborate wed-ding where the groom, a Realtor, wantedto highlight his spectacular garden during

his outdoor wedding.“He released 500 but-terflies right before

the guests arrived, andthey could be seen flut-

tering throughout the gar-den.”

Weather can affect thebutterflies’ performance. The

best time to have them performtheir magic is in spring or summer,

and during warm autumn weddings, whenthey fly about in the sunshine. Duringcloudy and cold weather, they gravitatetoward places to hunker down, often highin the shelter of trees.

Butterflies can be tricky to photograph.The easiest shot to take is when they’reresting on a flower. To catch them infl ight , s tage a background such as abuilding or a tree, otherwise, they tend toget lost against the sky, notes the compa-ny Web site. Butterflies are cold blooded,and 10 minutes in the refrigerator willalso slow them down. They will “pose,”gently flapping their wings to warm up.

They can be purchased individually, orin wedding packages. An individual but-


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Butterflies create an euphoric moment at weddings.

A magical beginningButterfly releases add splendor on wedding dayBY SUE DREMANN


Courtesy of Magical Beginnings


TOGETHER

4

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terfly costs $8. Discounts are available forlarge quantities. The company also offersa mass-release box where up to 75 butter-flies can be released.

Four special wedding packages areavailable: “The Intimate Affair,” with 16monarchs packaged in four packets, forbride, groom, maid of honor and bestman; “The Elegant Affair,” of 25 butter-flies; “The Spectacular Affair,” including50 butterflies; and “The Grand Affair,” of100 or more.

Magical Beginnings raises 25,000 but-terflies annually, but don’t wait until the

last minute to order. Just so many butter-flies can be hatched each year, and Hund-ley recommends booking at least a coupleof months in advance.

Hundley segued into the butterfly busi-ness eight years ago after a stint in high-tech sales. He wanted to be involved insomething that would make people happy.“It’s a real significant part of natureeveryone can relate to,” he said. “Youmeet someone, and it’s such a specialthing to do. It’s always been my goal todo something where people are in happymoods.”♥

Magical Beginnings can be reached at(888) 639-9995. www.butterflyevents.com.

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Butterflies(continued from previous page)

Not everyone is happy with but-terfly releases. According to theNorth American Butterfly Associa-tion, mixing up butterflies from dif-ferent locales mixes the butterflies’genetics. A monarch isn’t just an-other monarch, but may have char-acteristics specific to its location.

And their delicate migratoryphysiology may be disrupted, ac-cording to an article “There’s NoNeed to Release Butterflies —They’re Already Free,” written byJeffrey Glassberg, president of theassociation. In addition, Glassbergnotes that existing over-winteringsites are being decimated by poach-ers, and diseases can spread frombutterflies raised unscrupulously.

For more information about theecology of butterflies, and the argu-ments against and for butterfly re-leases, visit North American But-terfly Association’s Web site,www.naba.org or the InternationalButterfly Breeders Association siteat www.butterflybreeders.org.♥

Butterflies andthe environment:a concern

I f butterflies seem too flighty, let rosepetals spice up the imagination. Cel-ebrating with rose petals has been atradition since Roman times, when

rose petals were strewn on ponds and ban-quet tables, according to the AmericanRose Society. Tossed, added to center-pieces, sprinkled on reception tables orcovering outdoor bridal paths, rose petalsremain among the most ardent symbols oflove.

At Michaela’s, formerly Stapleton’s inPalo Alto, people often come in asking forpetals to sprinkle on pillows for a romanticevening, said Steve Wong. He sells freshpetals in mixed colors, but will providepetals of specific colors on request.

For Valentine’s Day, clients often deco-rate a limousine or bedroom, said ChrisHundley of Rose Petal Weddings, an on-line company offering both fresh and driedpetals. “Mostly, it’s men calling. Theywant to spoil their wives or girlfriends bysprinkling the petals on the bed, or makinga rose petal pathway from the bed to thebath, or in the tub.”

“Some men buy bags of roses, not justthe petals. It just depend on how romanticthe guy is,” said Stefanie Soto, flower de-signer at Flowers By Bobbi in MountainView. Soto often uses other fresh petals aswell. Recently, she used stargazer lilypetals for a wedding. “You can mix in all

sorts of fun stuff. You can get inventiveand sprinkle them around the cake. We didone wedding where we had the petals cas-cading down the cake onto the table.”

Rose petals are available from manyflorists, who often save the outer guardpetals from roses when they are cleaningthem up. They are available both fresh andfreeze-dried. But the freeze-dried petalshave the advantage of being non-staining,which means they can be sprinkled indoorson carpets. “Fresh petals can stain carpetsand be slippery, so we recommend they areused outdoors,” Leslie Aldrich, owner ofMenlo Florist in Menlo Park, said. Shesells a dozen large roses’ worth of petals ina bag for $10.

Although not as supple, freeze-driedpetals retain the color, smell and look ofthe fresh variety. They also last longer.“For a hot summer wedding, you can deco-rate the day before,” Hundley said. But ifonly fresh petals will do, consider theywill only last two days. And dried petalscan be scooped up and kept as a keepsake,a fragrant remembrance of a romanticevening or beautiful wedding.

The flowers come in a variety of colors:red, yellow, white, pink, lavender, peach,burgundy and purple. A Bed of Flowers inMenlo Park sells bags of fresh or freeze-dried petals in any color a bride desires —including variegated colors and bicolored


TOGETHER

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For reservations callMelissa Landon, Wedding Specialist

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A carpet of rose petals winds through a garden path for a bride and groom.

Cover her in rose petalsSpark fantasy with flowers from an ancient traditionBY SUE DREMANN


Courtesy of Rose Petal Weddings

petals, said Julia Garcia of A Bed of Flow-ers. A gallon bag goes for $10, but “it’scomplimentary if a bride orders her flow-

ers here,” Garcia said. Give florists ordersfour days to a week in advance to preparean order. Prices vary, from $8.95 for a 12-by-12-inch bag of mixed colors, to $39.95for a shoeboxful of a single rare color.♥


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650.906.9161Consultations at your convenience!

Sources:A Bed of Flowers, Menlo Park, (650) 234-9680

Barron Park Florist and Nursery, PaloAlto (650) 424-9466

City of Flowers, Mountain View (650) 965-4055

Flowers By Bobbi, Mountain View (650) 965-2121

Menlo Florist, Menlo Park, (650) 323-3171

Michaela’s Flower Shop,Palo Alto (650) 321-5390

Palo Alto Flower Garden, Palo Alto (650) 325-0285

Rose Petal Weddings, www.rosepetalweddings.com

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Rose petals(continued from previous page)

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weather-wise, where fog and wind are equallyat home with sunshine. But certain times ofthe year offer more consistency. The busiesttime at Ritz-Carlton is September through No-vember, when the coastal climate is mostlymild and sunny.

For those leery of an uncertain climate, thecrashing waves can also be enjoyed from Ritz-Carlton’s Navio restaurant, offering indooroceanfront dining, and additional facilities in-clude a 7,100 square-foot ballroom and 17,000square feet of event space.

Nervous grooms can unwind at the 18-holegolf course designed by architect Arthur Hills.And brides-and-grooms-to-be and their guestswill enjoy shedding wedding jitters at the16,000-square-foot spa.

The Ritz-Carlton is no stranger to lavishevents, and theme weddings are a specialty,according to Marianne Arata, catering manag-er. “One wedding had an opera singer, and ci-gar cutter and maker for after dinner,” she said.

Arata has booked Tiffany-themed weddings,where everything, from cake to dresses, hadthe glass maker’s signature motifs, and onewhere sea glass was incorporated into the re-ception to capture a certain look.

The only thing they can’t do is fireworks.“But we did a laser light show instead, and itwas spectacular,” she said.

The Ritz-Carlton offers a number of wed-ding packages, including an elopement pack-age. Rates for most reception packages rangefrom $160 to $275 per person, plus gratuityand tax, with an intimate marriage package for15 to 30 guests starting at $140 per guest.

The outdoor ceremony venues rent at$2,000 for the ocean bluff to $4,000 for thegazebo garden lawn.

Large weddings should be booked at leastsix months in advance, but intimate weddingsare accommodated up to 30 days ahead.

The Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay, One Mi-ramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay 94019;Call (650) 712-7000; www.ritzcarlton.com.

REDWOODSValley Presbyterian Church, Portola Valley

Set in a redwood grove, Valley Presbyterianin Portola Valley doesn’t offer receptions, noris the ceremony outdoors. But the soaring red-woods serving as its backdrop create a spiritu-al, cathedral-like ambiance attracting manycouples. The sanctuary’s dramatic solid woodinterior frames a triangular wall of windows,immersing the bride and groom in the primor-dial surroundings. Whether bathed in shafts ofsunlight, or dripping with dew, the giant treesstand like silent ceremonial witnesses.

The ceremony is Christian, but doesn’t ac-commodate communion. A staff minister offi-ciates, but a guest minister, relative or friendmay assist. A pre-nuptial conference is alsoscheduled with each couple.

The wedding ceremony package for $1,600includes a marriage preparation workshop, of-ficiant, wedding coordinator, wedding hostess,organist and custodian. Decorations include acloth aisle runner, white silk floral arrange-ment, candelabra stands with candles and pewdecorations. Weddings are held on Saturdaysand Sundays.

Valley Presbyterian Church, 945 PortolaRoad, Portola Valley 94028; Call Cathy Pani-agua, wedding coordinator, (650) 851-8282,ext. 109; www.valleypreschurch.org E-mail:[email protected]. ♥


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Weddings with a view(continued from page 10)


The Perfect Venue for Small

Intimate Wedding Events

• Outdoor landscaped courtyards for intimatewedding ceremonies

• Luxuriously appointed banquet room forreceptions or rehearsal dinners accommodates50-80 guests

• Stucco archways, wrought-iron accents, andpolished marble provide a Mediterraneanambiance

• Award winning Chef offering unique menucreations

• Special overnight rates for out-of-town guests• Complimentary fireplace suite for the bride &

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We’ll Capture the Joy WhileYou Cherish the MomentsWeddings Are Our Specialty

• Two indoor/outdoor ceremony & reception facilities for 75 - 350 guests

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with chilled champagned and breakfast inbed the next morning

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625 El Camino Real • Palo Alto, CA 94301

(650) 328-2800

february 9, 2005 - | palo alto online · 2005-02-14 · page 2• w ednesday,february 9,2005 •...

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