Category: Food and Drink

When I was planning my sister’s bridal shower, I knew I wanted to make centerpieces that were more fun and unique than the obvious vases of flowers. My inspiration came when I went to pick up the dessert I had ordered for the shower. While I was at the shop, it dawned on me that those 3 dozen delicious cupcakes from Icing on the Cupcake in Rocklin would make whimsical centerpieces for the party. This was also a budget-friendly idea, since my dessert was going to double as décor!

Napa and Sonoma may have made California wine famous way back when, but there are world-class wineries up and down this state’s varied valleys.

Whenever I want to plan a weekend vacation with my husband Phil, all I have to do is choose a region and then start browsing the wedding locations we feature on the Here Comes The Guide website that also double as fabulous weekend or honeymoon getaways (hint: there are a lot). On a recent trip to California’s Central Coast, I was practically stumbling over one great location after another. Some of the highlights:

When we last left me, I was reveling in the tranquil charms of Capitola’s Monarch Cove Inn… But another sublime experience awaited me in Carmel-by-the-Sea. I was welcomed to L’Auberge Carmel by a smiling host proffering a fresh watermelon cooler, and I easily settled into the laid-back luxury of this European-style hostelry. The lavishly appointed guestrooms embrace a charming garden courtyard where intimate events are held, but now all was quiet, save for the trickling of a fountain.

My colleague Jan Brenner and I recently combined business with pleasure in Half Moon Bay. With its fun and artsy downtown, exhilarating coastal hikes, and water sports, Half Moon Bay is a day tripper’s delight and a wonderfully easy and rewarding wedding destination—just ask our very own Meredith, who wed her sweetheart on a Half Moon Bay beach!

The Lark Creek Inn has charmed me every time I’ve been to the restaurant, but now there’s another excuse to go: half-price bottles of wine for the whole month of July. If you haven’t thought about your rehearsal dinner location yet, try out a meal this month at this sweet old Victorian in a redwood grove.

I’ve never been to an Indian wedding, but I’ve seen pictures of them and they are a feast for the eyes. I’m fascinated by the rituals and all the color: lots of bejeweled women draped in gorgeous saris, vibrant flowers in abundance … That’s why when I heard about this upcoming event—a “scintillating evening of fun and information, focused on the Bay Area Indian wedding market,” I signed up right away.

Everyone’s talking about InStyle Weddings’ recent report of celebrity-driven wedding trends…but I have my own opinion!