One Big Fish March News

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Hello!
Hope you have been enjoying our spring weather! We wanted to share what have we been up to this month...

Thursday, March 2nd Amie assisted at the International Ocean Film Festival's gala "Off The Reef". The evening was attended by a well-heeled crowd that enjoyed champagne and hors d'ouvres while perusing the silent auction before being seated for the evening's program. Ana Blanco, director of the IOFF, gave an inspiring presentation about the importance of film in communicating to large audiences the value and preciousness of our oceans. It was a wonderful night and the organization raised over 50K to support the film fest!

Some fun ideas for your St. Patrick's Day feté!

St. Patrick's Day Playlist
Contemporary Irish Music for an authentic cultural touch, on Spotify

Make your own reusable Irish Coaster party favors! 

Irish Coasters
For this craft you will need:

• Cork Coasters
• Acrylic Paint in Green and White
• Gold metallic paint
• A paint brush
• Clear Gloss Paint

Directions

To start, draw a shamrock on your coaster by outlining four hearts with the points joining together in the center. Festively paint your shamrock green. Outline and decorate with gold paint for embellishment. In the center of the shamrock have fun and write “Happy St. Patrick’s Day” OR your guests names OR your own message! Seal with Clear Gloss Spray Paint or Varnish. Grab your drink of choice and enjoy!

This is a great project to add a little “luck o’ the Irish” to your St. Paddy’s Day festivities!

Venue Match Making!
Having a tough time finding the perfect sustainable venue for your celebration? LET US HELP! We have worked all over San Francisco and the Bay Area, and would love to find the perfect venue match just for you! A few of our current favorites...

Golden Gate Club
 
We can't say enough about this local treasure - The Golden Gate Club is surrounded by the lush green of the Presidio and features views of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Presidio forest. The graceful Spanish Colonial Revival-building offers a spectacular setting for weddings, private parties, meetings, and conferences. Their on-site team and in-house caterer make vendor selection a breeze! 

Oakland Zoo - Snow Building
 
The Oakland Zoo offers a unique venue for the animal lover to hold a fantastic event! There are a wide-array of amazing indoor and outdoor locations for any size group. Host a company meeting, family picnic, birthday party, or a wedding. The Snow Building offers the largest space with a 250 max capacity.

Please let us know how we can help with your next celebration or event.
Looking forward to working with you in 2017!

One Big Fish February News

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We have some exciting news to share! 
Our team is growing as we expand our services to include more non-profit events.  Amie Miller, a friend and collaborator of One Big Fish Events, is joining the team to help us further support our local non-profits and activists.

Amie brings with her a wide variety of skills for supporting fundraising & non-profit events. She kicked off her event planning career working with the coastal conservation non-profit Save The Waves Coalition and has tackled numerous fundraisers, auctions, and special events in both the public and private arena. We are delighted to have Amie officially on board as part of our team. Please help us welcome her! You can read more about Amie on our website.

After several years of working on private events and weddings, we are excited to be increasing our reach and re-capturing our non-profit roots. We are adding services that support a diverse group of clients and non-profit businesses, including public relations, story telling and documentary film making. One of our closest non-profit relationships is with Kitchen Table Advisors and their annual fundraiser, Grazing at the Kitchen Table. Read on to learn about their amazing work...

Grazing at the Kitchen Table 2017
We have been working with Kitchen Table Advisors since their inaugural fundraiser in 2015 and are excited to be a part of their talented team again. One Big Fish Events will be producing "Grazing at the Kitchen Table 2017" taking place at Dogpatch WineWorks on Thursday October 5th.

This event is one of our favorites as it brings together food lovers from all over the Bay Area. Keep an eye on the Grazing web page for updates on our participating chefs, ranchers and farmers, who will be bringing together the very best in produce and top-notch culinary talent. Tickets go on sale this summer, we promise to keep you posted!

Venue Match Making!
Having a tough time finding the perfect sustainable venue for your celebration? Let us help. We have worked all over San Francisco and the Bay Area, and would love to find the perfect venue match just for you! A few of our current favorites...

Dogpatch WineWorks, SF
 
Dogpatch WineWorks is fantastic urban winery with collective wine making & classes, plus a weekend tasting room with rotating labels. this venue is the perfect spot for a fundraiser or private event. Kevin, or K2 as he is affectionately known,  the venue manager, is so accommodating and easy to work with we love coming back here!

Indian Springs, Calistoga

Indian Springs offers a full weekend of activities and fun for the whole family. Their Olympic-size mineral pool - refurbished last summer (2016) - is a super place to spend the afternoon. Borrow a bike and peddle into town, where you can enjoy a small collection of restaurants eager to share their latest creation, featuring locally grown produce.

Mayacamas Ranch, Calistoga

Set on a hilltop ridgeline above the town of Calistoga in Napa, CA and surrounded by spectacular 360-degree views, Mayacamas Ranch provides an awe-inspiring, natural setting for a variety of group gatherings and workshops—including corporate and non-profit retreats, family celebrations, and destination weddings—making it an ideal place to renew, reflect, and connect.

Please let us know how we can help with your next celebration or event.
Looking forward to working with you in 2017!

Venue Spotlight: Bull Valley Roadhouse

Tucked within the rolling hills of Martinez and Crockett and overlooking the Carquinez Strait sits a brick emporium of Victorian décor and sustainable food. A golden bull marks the spot where Earl Flewellen, Samuel Spurrier, and chef David Williams convene with the rich history of Port Costa to provide a sublime dining experience highlighted with an array of local farm products.

Complementing the exquisite food is the whimsical Victorian beauty of the Bull Valley Roadhouse. As a wedding venue, the space offers the charm of Port Costa, the culinary genius of Chef Williams and his high quality ingredients, and a stunning environment to be in love. The venue is ideal for couples with between 100 and 120 guests and in the words of owner Earl Flewellen, “...adventurous types of folks who love good food, good company and a relaxed, beautiful atmosphere.”  

The venue space is broken into four basic areas.  An ornate Victorian bar of dark oak marks the first chamber and is adorned with Eucalyptus branches, gorgeous antique sofas, and authentic old-time photographs of patrons past. This room lends itself well to appetizers and cocktails at the beginning of the event, and a dance floor later on. Second is the atrium (my favorite), where dried flowers hang from the ceilings, butterflies dance on the bouquets, and light shines through the translucent walls. The atrium accommodates the mingling guests throughout the night, can house dessert and coffee, and leads to a third space, an outdoor patio space where guests can relax next to a trickling stream and a small wooden bridge. The final chamber is the newly remodeled wood lodge. Complete with a redwood bar and ample seating inside and out, the lodge is rustic chic (emphasis on the chic) and is ideal for a seated dinner.

Overall, the space is stunning. The farm to table design of the restaurant allows couples to use their wedding as a platform for sustainability while supporting farms like Prather Ranch, Llano Seco, Water 2 Table, Full Belly Farm and more. The gorgeous and eclectic Burlington Hotel is situated just to the right of the roadhouse —separated by a picture-perfect alley of ivy-lined walls and colorful string lights—and can easily house bridal party primping and out of town guests alike.

The Bull Valley Roadhouse is so uniquely beautiful in all of its individual parts, but the synergistic effect of the food, service, décor and town makes Bull Valley Roadhouse an unbelievably magical place for you and your partner to commence the adventure that is your life together.  

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Unique Wedding at Hidden Gem

Sara and Francisco’s wedding was an unconventional celebration of love. There were no bridesmaids, no groomsmen, the bride didn’t hide away before the ceremony, and it was entirely perfect. In stripping away many of the conventions from their wedding, a beautiful simplicity and sense of intimacy were created that allowed for their personalities and inspiring love to really shine. Coming together in the very charming and delightfully quirky Port Costa, a tiny gem of a town tucked between rolling hills of Martinez and the Carquinez Strait, the ceremony was held in a eucalyptus framed meadow next to an old school house, and the reception down the street at the Bull Valley Roadhouse. From the boho blankets that guests sat on while watching the ceremony to the New Orleans style parade that moved guests from the ceremony to the reception (complete with a trumpet player), Sara and Francisco shared their unique and colorful love and it was nothing short of enchanting. 

Special thanks to our wonderful vendor team!

Ceremony Venue: Post Costa School House
Reception Venue: Bull Valley Roadhouse 
Flowers: Mother and sister of the bride
Live Music: Tumbledown House 
Wood Carving: Planks For The Memories
Photography: Purple Fig Photography 
Transportation: Mexican Bus 
Hair and Makeup: Whittany Robinson 
Additional Photo Venue: Theater of Dreams 

And lastly thank you so much to the couple's very helpful friends and family!

Modern Wedding at Cavallo Point

Jessica and Lucas's wedding was no fairytale. It was sophistication and charm and humor and vastly more enchanting than anything you’ve ever read in any children’s book. Here are the elements that really made the magic happen:  

1. Sparkles. We're talking lots of sparkles and in a very positive way. The sequined champagne table cloths lent both elegance and flare to the affair, transforming the space and dazzling the guests as they entered the Callipee Ballroom foyer. If you're on a budget, snag some sequined table cloths and do so quickly. Another excellent decision by Jessica, the bridesmaids wore (gorgeous) beaded dresses that pulled the theme together. Best of all though, was the Pom-pom garland in the photo booth--no explaining necessary, it's adorable.  

2. Print materials.  The couple really took advantage of their print materials to communicate the personality of their relationship. The programs were laugh out loud funny, (“Zoe, Jessica, and Colleen will enter to “Marry You” by Bruno Mars while simultaneously trying to not get their heels stuck in the grass”) the chalk drawn signs were cheeky, and the San Francisco districts themed tables cards featured funky birds acting like priests and hippies. While unfortunately funky birds might not fit into everyone’s table themes, incorporating your go-to places into the wedding can be a beautiful showcase of your relationship’s uniqueness.    

3. Flowers. The marriage of vintage pewter and soft pink peonies with delicate anemone and rich David Austins was as swoon-worthy as the couple themselves. A bay leaf garland emphasized the San Franciscan glory of the venue with its sweeping Golden Gate Bridge views, and the flowers placed throughout the grounds delivered the perfect dose of whimsical romance to the venue, which prior to becoming a certified green business served as a military base.   In the end, the curtains closed on a day of stunning taste and love as they rode off into the sunset on horseback…or was it a golf cart covered in flowers?  

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Our Delightful Vendor Team - as always thank you!

Venue/Catering/Cake: Cavallo Point
Flowers & Event Design: Angella Floral Arts & our bride!
Vintage Decor: Tinroof Farm House
Napkins: La Tavola
Lighting & Ceremony Sound: A-Town Booking Agency
Live Music: Lucky Devils Band
Photography: Simply Jessie Photography
Hair & Make up: Lee Stewart

Written by Whitney Witthaus

Palace of Fine Arts & Jardiener

Sunshine and Don wanted a simple wedding.  So at Palace of Fine Arts, they met and enjoyed a lovely gathering of close friends and family.  The location was beautiful, albeit a public location, to tie the knot.  Sunshine also became my first bride to arrive early for her wedding; she said she couldn't wait any longer! So sweet.

Angella of Angella Floral Arts created a lovely piece to frame the ceremony. Tall branches secured in heavy pots of geraniums, mirroring the Romanesque grandeur of the venue.

Our Officiant, Lauren, created a lovely ceremony touching on many personal elements of the couple’s relationship. Her warm and upbeat demeanor was most enjoyable and I highly recommend her to those who want a ceremony that is both brief and heartfelt.

Music was provided by Golden Gate Music, who did a phenomenal job and followed the ceremony with a lovely array of music, all of which was naturally amplified by the rotunda. 

Once our couple had tied the knot, Diane Jones led them off for a short photography shoot to capture their post-wedding bliss, before returning them to the rotunda for their first dance. Then off to the stunning art deco French restaurant, Jardinière for a lunch time reception. 

A friend set up a photo booth and kids were given crafts to keep them busy while guests enjoyed a variety of passed hors d'oeuvres and mingled.  All in all, it was a great way to spend a day, low stress, high enjoyment and another loving couple moving on towards a lifetime of experiences and happiness.

Ceremony Venue Palace of Fine Arts, SF

Reception Venue Jardinière Restaurant, SF

Flowers; Angella Floral Arts

Photography Diane Jones Photographer

Ceremony Music Golden Gate Music

One Big Fish @ Love Sick Expo!

At One Big Fish Events we are always looking for new and creative ways to help you celebrate your unions, so when we found out about Offbeat Bride and their non-conventional ways we had to get on board for their Love Sick Wedding Expo!  

The expo was held on February 22 at the Rock Wall Wine Company on Alameda island. The day was bright and sunny with a crisp and slightly chilly breeze! But as soon as we got to working setting up our booth, we quickly warmed up.

The team was of course was our go to team of favorite wedding gals - Jenna, JennaBeth Photography and Angella Garrett, Floral Arts. We were lucky to also partner up with Erica Henderson, Tin Roof Farm House again. Erica shared several vintage rental pieces to give a classy and elegant feel to our booth. Angella designed a moss covered set of doors that could be used for hanging signage, escort cards or even photos.  She also recreated our logo in chalk which was framed by Jenna to create our booth signage. Jenna chose a collection of her soft and romantic images, using wide ribbon to hang them.

Wedding planning is a thirsty business so we supported our visitors with a delicious pomegranate and mint lemonade to keep them going. It was served in a glass apothecary, complemented by a dear collection of cocktail glasses from Tin Roof Farm House. Special thanks to La Tavola for providing the blush colored sparkly linen on our cocktail round - we are looking forward to seeing a lot more sparkle and glamour during the 2015 season!

Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

Picking the right photographer for your event is one of the most important vendor decisions you will make. The images your photographer captures are the memories you will share for a lifetime. Here are a few tips for selecting your perfect photographer.

Sixteenth and Broadway

Getting a feel for the photographer’s personality.  You will be spending most of your day with your photographers so it would be a good idea if you liked them! Do they make you feel comfortable and relaxed? Your photographer should be able to meld in with their environment; whether you are getting ready with your close friends or sharing a loving look with your partner. Your photographer shouldn’t be a strong force, but capture the moment without disturbing it.

How many photographers do I need? - If it’s in your budget, you should have two shooters. With two shooters they will be able to capture both parties getting ready at different locations. You will also be able to capture the individual reaction of the couple when they first see each other and are experiencing the emotions of their ceremony. In my opinion this is priceless!

JennaBeth Photography

How many hours of photography do I need? You need 7 hours of photography to cover your event - don't think you can get away with 6 and take on a lower price, you will end up adding on the additional time later on.

Image sharing - You will want to make sure you will have access to the digital images your photographer takes, even if it's for a limited time. Make sure to verify with your photographer about sharing the images they have taken, especially on social media. They may request that you use a branded version for platforms such as FB.

Julie Mikos Photographer

To purchase an album or not to purchase an album…? Talk to your photographer about the types of albums they have to offer - ask where they are made, materials used, and how environmentally conscious they are. Ask about the longevity of the binding and the effect of the paper on the prints. Your wedding album is a family heirloom for many generations to enjoy. Albums are a great item to put on your gift registry too. If you are undecided about the investment, see if there is a time limit.  Can you order your album for your anniversary gift to each other? The first year is paper after all!

Shot List template - Your photographer should be able to provide you with a simple shot list to help you identify the important people you wish to capture. Get them to show you an example photo list - will they provide you with a template to work from, how will they insure to capture all the photos (specific family members) you need? And don’t forget the little details! Make sure to have your invitation on hand for them to capture, let them know if the cake knife or topper is a family heirloom you wish to remember.

Chrissy Lynn Photography

What if your photographer can’t be on site? Ask about their back up plan if for some unforeseen reason they can't be at your wedding - people get sick, have babies, family issues. Who would be taking your photos if they are not there? If needs be, will they still be editing the images?

Back yard wedding with Jenna and Ben

What a treat to be able to share in Jenna and Ben’s wedding. I met Jenna when I was pregnant with our first son, Thomas, she was our nurse practitioner and patiently couched me along the way to motherhood. I was honored when she contacted me to help plan her intimate union to Ben at their home in Berkeley. Using all local vendors from the east bay we created a simple, fun, family gathering that was intimate and elegant. Hugh Groman Catering was amazing as always with their experienced staff and tasty bites; and I had the pleasure to working with Sweet Adeline, a well know Berkeley cake shop – their cake was delicious and the owner herself came to deliver, pruned flowers from Jenna & Ben’s freshly landscaped garden to create a lovely display. 

Catering Hugh Groman Catering, Flowers Gorgeous & Green, Dessert Sweet Adeline Bakeshop, Sound Ditch Whisky Productions, Dianne Jones, Photographer

Tiffany Blue with Flowing Ribbons

Our groom, Brad was fully in charge of planning their celebration. I have never seen a groom take on this task with such energy and enthusiasm, very refreshing! Brad had many BIG ideas with lots of moving parts, and fortunately many friends to help out. 

Inspiration for their wedding came for our bride's name, Tiffany Blue with a twist of vintage melding with the rustic feel of Campovida.  No tree was left unadorned! We had ribbons hanging from every branch catching the afternoon breeze.  Many elements used for the decor were designed and created by Brad, using family heirlooms. The cross that hung at the ceremony was made from two yokes, one from each of their family farms. Congratulations Tiff & Brad, who are expecting their first family member any day now!

Venue Campovida, Catering Chef Stephanie Culinary Mistress, Flowers by Madeline Trait, Officiant Mark Eldridge, Band Tommy Roxx, Video Alex Trudeau Viriato, Photography Aurora Meneghello Productions

Cake Toppers by Madeline Trait

Nothing personalizes your dessert time a cake topper! These hand crafted cake toppers by Madeline Trait are beautifully crafted from hand draft designs onto this wood sheets using a laser cutter. Madeline then hand paints each piece to create an unique, personalized, design.

I have worked with Madeline a number of times on wedding and event design. You will see her work in many of my wedding galleries. You can see more of her work on her site by Madeline Trait. Happy shopping!  

Urban Wedding with an Art Deco Vibe

Maureen & Steve

Set in the heart of San Francisco, a location which has grown in its trendiness, we recently had the pleasure of coordinating a wedding for a family from the East Coast.  It was clear that all in attendance reveled in the the occasion to gather in one of the West’s finest cities, and enjoy all that the City had to offer.

In addition to a truly San Francisco feel, the joining of Maureen and Steve was highlighted by letterpress invitations, do-it-yourself décor, specialized lighting, photographs of the couple at various ages, and Art Deco attire and cake.

Cocktail hour and the dinner reception took place at the Conservatory of Flowers in The City’s renowned Golden Gate Park. The original Art Deco building was an amazing and ideal space for hosting the post-ceremony libations and dining portions of the evening. The variety of extraordinary and uncommon botany set an elegant and romantic tone, where guests could wander and explore the intimate seating areas. One end of the conservatory provided a tropical zone, which made for a fantastic space to warm up after a stroll through San Francisco’s distinguished fog!

A do-it-yourself feature unique to Maureen and Steve’s wedding was their handmade box in which guests were encouraged to share secret messages of support and advice using invisible ink. A supplied black light allowed guests to see what they were writing prior to their slipping of the messages into the box for Maureen and Steve to read later.

One of the more memorable moments was when the bridal party walked in harmony down San Francisco’s Haight Street on their way to the shuttle, essentially capturing the wedding’s inspiration, San Francisco, in a single moment.

Wedding Tip: A great way to soften a space and make a large room feel more cozy is to incorporate up lighting and overhead hanging lights in your décor plan.

Images courtesy of Chrissy Lynn Photography

See more images from Maureen & Steve's wedding in our gallery. 

Get to Know One Big Fish Events

Sadie Waddington

Tell us a bit about yourself and your company.

I am from England originally, however my family and I lived in Germany, Texas and Italy from the time I was 1.5-12 years old. My parents finally settled down in California and I have been in the Bay Area ever since. After completing my physical geography degree I knew the work I would do had to involve taking care of our environment. Co-founding Locally Grown Weddings allows me as a Wedding and Event Planner to work with an amazing collective of female owned, sustainable businesses.

How did you get into wedding planning?

I started my company in 2008, in response to a freshly finished Master’s degree and the collapse of the economy (see: No jobs for new Grads…). I had experience as a fundraiser and event planning in both the corporate and non-profit worlds, and it seemed I could provide needed service in the private sector while being my own boss. My hope was that in focusing on sustainable event planning, I could merge my environmental aspirations with a successful business model. While weddings are the main thrust of what I do, I hope that I can get more corporations and businesses to embrace sustainable practices for their holiday parties, corporate events, and meetings.

What’s your favorite part of the job?

It is a great feeling to help two people bring a large scale wedding in on time, and on budget. I always love watching new couples enjoy all their friends and family on their wedding day, knowing that any complication that arises will be taken care of by my team. We have helped make sure that all their decisions have been made, and that they are free to revel in all the fun of their special day.

What’s the biggest lesson you've learned, and would pass along to other new wedding planners just getting started?

Listen to your clients, make sure you are telling their story, not your own. Take the time to connect with your clients and make sure they feel supported and invested in the planning path you have mapped out with them. Be diligent about calendaring, and spreadsheets, they make things so much easier in the long run.

(c) Kip Evans

What are your hobbies or non-work-related activities?

Pre-kids, I loved bike riding. Hopefully I can get back into that, but with 2 young children, it may be a different kind of ride. I love to scuba dive and have my dive masters, although I haven’t taken the plunge in a couple years I’m looking forward to continuing my exploration of our underwater world. Spending time with my family, gardening, and eating chocolate are always great too!

 

Any great stories from working with a client?

I have been very lucky to have had the pleasure of working with a large number of wonderful couples. I have also had the privilege of working with a solid team of amazing wedding professionals. My favorite part at each wedding is that very special moment just after the couple has completed their ceremony and are walking together with these amazing grins on their faces. Full of excitement and a bit of relief after making the transition to being a couple.

What is your current favorite color combination?

I’m a big believer in many shades of green, surprise!

Are there any trends that you absolutely love or would love to see brides leave behind?

I love that couples can personalize so many details of their day. Incorporating design ideas that truly reflect each couples’ journey makes the event personal. I have been enjoying seeing the mixing of styles, vintage meets popping saturated colors, couples are breaking all the rules and I love it! The cake in the face smashing tradition is dated and should be retired.