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Aft first, the couple wanted a theme suggesting their Chinese heritage and love of travel. But after deciding that trying to include too many destinations would just be confusing, the wedding team settled on a memorable French chateau, then developed the "chinoiserie" theme--a design theme popular in 18th century Europe. Blue--shown here in chair cushions and floral ribbons--suggests both the blue of Chinese porcelain and French blue.
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The planning team faced a challenge with the ceremony space--which was a 40-by-20-foot prefunction area plus hallway. To create a starting point and entry to the ceremony, the team adds a dramatic drape.
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To create a focal point for the ceremony, the team creates a square pergola structure featuring four white pillars wrapped in a blue and white chinoiserie toile and capped with crown molding. The raised platform allows all 160 guests to view the ceremony.
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The ceremony pergola is decorated with Chinese porcelain vases filled with white dendrobiums, roses and hydrangeas.
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A closer view of the pergola floral.
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A closer view of the pergola vases.
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The bridesmaids' bouquets hint at the warmer floral that will appear at the reception dinner.
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Underscoring the couple's memorable travels abroad, the escort cards are "luggage tags" presented in vintage suitcases.
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The dining tables, noted on these "luggage tag" escort cards, are named after the couple's favorite Chinese and French landmarks.
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The dining room leans toward classic French design, with a regal palette of blues and golds.
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The Chinese element in the dining room appears in the centerpieces: a mass of flowers clustered around a manzanita branch in a clear cylinder vase, wrapped with a gold Asian fabric belly band.
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A closer view of the centerpiece.
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A floral detail on chairs.
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A dining table named for a favorite French chateau.
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The meun card features the wedding's motif, suggested by a piece of Chinese porcelain.
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While some tables featured the tall vase, others offered three lower vases of staggered heights brimming with flowers.
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The after-dinner party features glamorous sculptured, tufted sofas in front of a glowing bar.
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Shanghai porcelain toile pillows decorate sofas at the after-party.
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A floral accent at the after-party.
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The wedding's signature motif brands the bar.
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The French Provincial back bar features 25 blue floral treatments.
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A close-up of the back bar floral.
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The stunning wedding cake, featuring Chinese motifs.
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A close-up of the wedding cake.
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The dance floor circles the couple's monogram with the wedding's signature motif.
