Cheeky French Garden-Inspired Wedding Tablescape at Solage Calistoga
Bold, colorful wedding inspiration from Solage Calistoga, featuring a cheeky French garden-inspired summer tablescape with pattern play, seasonal blooms, and layered design.
There’s something super special about a wedding tablescape that feels both bold and inviting — like stepping into a highly curated home full of color, texture, and unexpected details. That was exactly the vision behind this editorial shoot at Solage in Calistoga, in collaboration with a team of creative Bay Area vendors. Our goal with this design was to inspire couples and planners dreaming of a wedding that’s anything but ordinary.
We set out to create a maximalist summer tablescape that blends the romantic charm of an al fresco meal in Provence with cheeky, modern, layered design elements. The result was a bold and playful look that feels as comfortable as it does elevated — perfect for weddings in Napa Valley, Calistoga, or anywhere in the Bay Area where design matters.
The Inspiration
“The world needs more colour right now, doesn’t it?” — The Liberty Book
This sentiment guided the entire creative direction. Everybody loves the relaxed vibe of a garden dinner in Provence, but what if we put a spin on it and pushed it toward something bolder — more modern, more vibrant, and a little cheeky.
My first non-negotiable design detail: stripes. They set the foundation for our pattern play. From there, I centered the design around the handcrafted, hand-painted vessels from Vaiselle, a contemporary homeware label infused with French heritage and Mediterranean flare.
To make the design feel like a highly curated, well-appointed home set within the garden, we envisioned layers:
Soft, inviting seating via cushions and pillows
Detailed bespoke linens with unexpected textures
Functional but playful lighting via portable tabletop lamps
The result was immersive, welcoming, and full of personality.
The Floral Design
Instead of starting with the flowers, I finalized the color palette and tabletop design first, then turned to the floral design. I knew I’d be sourcing hyper-seasonal ingredients from local farms at the peak of Spring, so I trusted that the right blooms would be available to bring it all to life.
Once I had the vessels selected, I built out color-blocked floral moments to complement their patterns without competing with them. Because the tabletop was already maximalist, I leaned into delicate, traditional blooms to balance the look and keep it rooted in the romantic garden setting we were trying to evoke. Every floral moment was intentional, yet simple. All vessels contained one ingredient. Standout blooms included:
The most charming dusty lavender and blue delphinium
Fresh-cut bearded irises from my own garden
A mixed collection of Poppies, garden roses, sweet peas, and hydrangea from local growers
Tabletop Styling
Styling the tabletop was all about mixing, matching, and harmonizing. I wanted the table to feel like a layered, curated interior filled with personal, beautiful, and unexpected choices.
Some of my favorite design highlights:
Linens: Custom embroidered napkins (the hand-stitched tulips, gah!) in alternating tones with contrast rolled hems made from European linen by Vada Goods, alongside the bold Drayton Stripe Oxford table linen from BBJ La Tavola acted as our foundation for pattern play.
Glassware and Dinnerware: We kept the tableware traditional but complementary to our color blocked moments, pulling from Catalog Atelier’s beautiful collection of stoneware plates, colored glassware, and horne flatware.
Candles and holders: One of my favorite details! Bold wax taper candles in blue-on-blue stripes, with beautifully textured holders. These small details made a big impact.
Placemats: Vada Goods’ bespoke round ruffled placemats with contrast stitching were a FUN visual moment, so we kept the plates simple to let these really shine.
Playful Effortless Paper Goods: Studio Lameraner added the ‘perfectly imperfect’ vibe we were looking for with a layered wavy edge soft scallop menu card with white ink calligraphy — the kind of handmade, one-of-a-kind detail that wows guests.
Seating: Cushions on every chair brought in another opportunity for texture and stripes, while maintaining that inviting vibe. The Paris chair from Theoni Collection was the perfect fit.
From Moodboard to Reality
Maximalism presents a real design challenge to balance and harmonize all of the elements in a way that feels intentional, not chaotic. This was a game of trusting my eye, making thoughtful choices, and editing as we went. Lots of trial and error!
As a wedding florist, I always create a digital rendering in Canva to map out a design. This was my north star throughout the sourcing and planning process for this project to make sure we were properly balancing patterns, textures, and tones leading up to shoot day.
Seeing this rendering come to life made the whole creative process feel that much more rewarding.
The Team Behind the Vision
This shoot came together because of a dream team of creatives who all brought their A-game. Solage was such a wonderful host with such beautiful, welcoming grounds. Adriana Klas has such a positive, collaborative approach to everything she does (along with an amazing eye for detail), and was crucial in bringing this to life from inception. Alyssa of All The Deets coordinated all of the moving parts beautifully and seamlessly, with such a warm attitude. Maddy of Vada Goods and Karina of Studio Lameraner were both DREAMS to work with — down for anything, and bringing such fun ideas to the table.
This was a true passion project — a chance to play, to experiment, and to create something we were all genuinely excited about. We all walked away feeling creatively fulfilled and proud of what we made.
Who This Design Is For
We get it! A maximalist tablescape isn’t for everyone — and that’s the point. This vision was designed with the following in mind:
Brides and planners who want to push the envelope
Clients who value curated, artful, memorable designs
Clients who want to surprise and delight their guests
Planners who aren’t afraid to have fun and go bold
If you’re looking for something that feels personal, elevated, and unforgettable, this kind of design can help your wedding stand out — for all the right reasons.
Ready to Create Something Unexpected and Unforgettable?
If you’re planning a luxury wedding or event in the San Francisco Bay Area and seeking a floral designer to bring bold, artful designs to life, let’s chat! We’d love to hear more about your goals, and collaborate together via our high-touch floral design experience to create something extraordinary together.
Inquire here to get the conversation started!
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR VENDOR TEAM
Florals & Design | @anastasiaandenmatten
Venue | @solageauberge
Photo | @adrianaklas
Planner | @allthedeets_
Video | @koryfilms
Content Creator | @thecandidbride_
Hair & Makeup | @bridalbyjasminek
Bespoke Linens | @vadagoods
Rentals | @theonicollection @catalogatelier
Linens | @bbjlatavola
Stationery | @studio_lameraner
Dress | @eleanorsbridal
A Moody & Elegant November Wedding at Flood Mansion in San Francisco
This moody November wedding at James Leary Flood Mansion was all about creating a vibey, conversation-starting dinner party with florals at the heart of the design.
This moody November wedding at James Leary Flood Mansion was all about creating a vibey, conversation-starting dinner party with florals at the heart of the design.
Bride Hannah of Hannah Aubrey Hair had a strong vision: no two arrangements or tablescapes should feel the same. She wanted bold florals, unexpected details, and an atmosphere that immersed guests in beauty and intrigue. Working alongside Meag Breanne Events, we eagerly embraced the challenge!
Luxury Tablescapes with Monochromatic Florals & Textural Details
For the reception, we curated distinct tablescapes so that each felt like a one-of-a-kind moment, designed to keep guests engaged, spark conversations, and of course provide an Instagrammable moment :)
Tablescapes were designed with an array of both traditional and modern flower varieties, including red roses, carnations, orchids, peonies, hydrangea, hypericum berry, calla lilies, and butterfly ranunculus.
Some key elements of the tables included:
Mismatched vessels sourced and thrifted from all over the Bay Area
Monochromatic floral arrangements as statement pieces
Miniature mono-bloom arrangements in tiny and delicate vessels
Overflowing fruitscapes for rich color and texture
Scattered rose petals for added romance
Silk and velvet ribbons for texture
Plentiful candlelight for a romantic glow
A Romantic Ceremony with Statement Floral Urns
We wanted to embrace Flood Mansion’s timeless elegance and complement the venue’s architecture. We filled the venue’s gorgeous urns with lush overflowing greenery and deep red blooms including red roses and peonies. The ceremony setting felt dramatic and high-impact, a striking combination of traditional yet modern.
The Process Behind This Bespoke Floral Design
From hand-selecting every vessel across local Bay Area shops over the course of months, to spending a full day curating the perfect fruits, every detail was intentionally designed. We even applied individual bows and pearls into designs for an added layer of depth — loved that detail so much! Giving my talented design team carte blanche to push the envelope made this project that much more rewarding.
Florals that Create Unforgettable Moments
What made this wedding truly special was how each table felt like its own world, full of unexpected elements that delighted guests at every turn. It was more than just floral design—it was about creating an experience that felt intimate, elevated, and unforgettable.
If you’re planning a luxury wedding or event in the San Francisco Bay Area and seeking a floral designer to bring bold, artful designs to life, let’s chat! We’d love to hear more about your goals, and collaborate together via our high-touch floral design experience to create something extraordinary together.
Inquire here to get the conversation started!
VENDOR TEAM
Planning & Design: Meag Breanne Events
Photographer: Chelsea Gee Photography
Floral Design: Anastasia Andenmatten
Catering: Foxtail Catering
Makeup Artist: Olivia Garvin Makeup
Hair Stylist: Meg Michel Hair
Music: Dart Collective
Content Creator: Cupid Content Co.
Cake: Cake Coquette
Rentals Theoni Collection & Abbey Party Rents
Linens: BBJ La Tavola
Venue: Flood Mansion
A Dinner Dedicated to Someone Special
When Maxine’s family initially reached out to me in search of a floral designer for a dinner they were hosting, I had this strange feeling that I was meant to support them in some way. And then I read Maxine’s story, which hit so close to home for me.
Pour Your Heart Out is an annual dinner benefiting Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford and dedicated to everyone who battles heart disease. The dinner was inspired by Maxine Liezel, who was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (CHD) pre-natal and had her first, but not last, open heart surgery at Lucile Packard.
When Maxine’s family initially reached out to me in search of a floral designer for a dinner they were hosting, I had this strange feeling that I was meant to support them in some way. And then I read Maxine’s story, which hit so close to home for me.
At birth, my twin sister Allie was diagnosed with a rare and critical CHD called Tetralogy of Fallot — a combination of four heart defects, including a hole in the heart. At just five weeks old when her heart was the size of a penny, she had her first open heart surgery. Research studies made possible by contributions as well as the care of the doctors and nurses at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have made it possible for her to live a healthy and very full life. Her most recent and second open-heart surgery was at age 26 and last year she gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl named Emilia. Her strength and determination inspires me every single day.
It was an honor contributing to the third annual Pour Your Heart Out, this year’s pop-up dinner hosted at The Laundry SF. All profits benefited the Heart Center of Lucile Packard and the many families who travel there for cardiac care for their loved ones.
“Every year, 1 in 100 babies are born with a heart defect, making it in the most common birth defect. Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are problems with the heart’s structure that are present at birth. Common examples include holes in the inside walls of the heart and narrowed or leaky valves. In more severe forms of CHDs, blood vessels or heart chambers may be missing, poorly formed, and/or in the wrong place. An approximate 100-200 deaths are due to unrecognized heart disease in newborns each year, and nearly 40,000 infants in the U.S. are born each year with CHDs. Approximately two to three million individuals are thought to be living in the United States with CHDs.”
For more information: my.supportlpch.org
Venue: The Laundry SF
Planner: One Sweet Soiree
Photographer: Mark V Reyes
Catering: Merienda
Floral Design: Anastasia Andenmatten
Paper: Tiny Paper Lab
28 SF Restaurants Ideal for a Small Celebration
Dreaming up a distant celebration once things are back to normal? Here’s a list of some of the best spots in San Francisco for private events AND ways to support them through this time. Whether it be an intimate wedding, anniversary party, City Hall elopement celebration, or wedding rehearsal dinner you’re planning, you won’t go wrong choosing any of these.
The truth of the matter is, pandemics can’t stop us from celebrating life’s most special moments. While events may be postponed as we focus on our role in social distancing, they are not canceled altogether. The fun will go on. In fact, I have a hunch post-pandemic celebrations will be even more special.
Dreaming up a distant celebration once things are back to normal? With the help of industry friends, past and current clients, and *personal* research (meaning I personally ate all the foods and drank all the drinks) I’ve compiled a list of some of the best spots in San Francisco for private events.
The list isn’t limited to restaurants, but also includes cafes, bars, and intimate private event spaces. Whether it be an intimate wedding, anniversary party, City Hall elopement celebration, or wedding rehearsal dinner you’re planning, you won’t go wrong choosing any of these.
NOTE: Given many small businesses are truly hurting during this time, please consider supporting any of which you’re a big fan. Below I note specific ways some of these local San Francisco spots need our help, but a few general ways to support local businesses right now include:
Ordering take-out or delivery
Purchasing gift cards to gift others or use for future date nights
Submitting a 5-star review on Google or Yelp
1. OCTAVIA
Neighborhood: Pac Heights
Known for: the chef’s table situated in the middle of the kitchen for prime mealtime interaction
No. Guests: 12-70
Website: www.octavia-sf.com
To help, donate to their employee fund here
2. ABV
Neighborhood: Mission
Known for: cocktails that are simply out of this world
No. Guests: 20-150
Website: www.abvsf.com
To help, donate directly to a fund established for their team members here
3. BERETTA
Neighborhood: Mission
Known for: the inventive cocktails and thin crust pizzas that make this a true San Francisco staple
No. Guests: 45
Website: www.berettasf.com
4. CENTRAL KITCHEN
Neighborhood: Mission
Known for: the industrial loft space feat. family-style meals by Chef Thomas McNaughton of Flour + Water (remember P+C’s springtime wedding here??)
No. Guests: 16-100
Website: www.centralkitchensf.com
5. CERF CLUB
Neighborhood: Tenderloin
Known for: an artistic and eclectic backdrop just begging for a modern minimalistic wedding
No. Guests: 60-108
Website: www.cerfclub.com
6. CHE FICO
Neighborhood: Nopa
Known for: handmade pasta and Neapolitan pizza in what was once an auto body shop
No. Guests: up to 16
Website: www.chefico.com
To help, support their efforts to buy up to 120 dinners for those in need EVERY SINGLE night here
7. COOKHOUSE
Neighborhood: North Beach
Known for: the blank slate, state-of-the-art loft kitchen that will have you plotting to move in full time
No. Guests: 8-30
Website: www.cookhousesf.com
To help, donate funds to support their staff here
8. ANGLER
Neighborhood: Embarcadero
Known for: the taxidermy-filled Game Room feat. a life sized bear and top notch oceanic fare
Website: www.anglerrestaurants.com
To help, donate directly to a fund established for their team members here or purchase gift cards to Saison and Angler on their website
9. DEL POPOLO
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Known for: the cozy heated garden patio and the wood-fired pizza made famous by their truck
No. Guests: 50-125
Website: www.delpopolosf.com
To help: donate to their employee fund here
10. THE DORIAN
Neighborhood: Marina
Known for: Stylin digs in the heart of the Marina
No. Guests: 10-250
Website: www.doriansf.com
11. FIORELLA
Neighborhood: Richmond District
Known for: the ‘grammable Bay Area Toile wallpaper and thin-crusted Neapolitan pies
No. Guests: 20
Website: www.fiorella-sf.com
12. THE SNUG
Neighborhood: Pac Heights
Known for: comfy vibes (hence the name), small-producer beers and wines, and upscale California comfort food
No. Guests: 10-135
Website: www.thesnugsf.com
13. FOREIGN CINEMA
Neighborhood: Mission
Known for: their outdoor heated courtyard in full view of the nightly ‘drive-in’ style film (remember M+K’s winter wedding here?)
No. Guests: 12-350
Website: www.foreigncinema.com
To help, donate funds directly to their employees here or order their cookbook here
Image by Hillary Jeanne
14. LE MARAIS BAKERY
Neighborhood: Marina & Castro
Known for: canapés, champagne, patisseries … and my personal favorite, raclette
No. Guests: 20-150
Website: www.lemaraisbakery.com
15. LEO’S OYSTER BAR
Neighborhood: FiDi
Known for: Have ya seeeeen the interiors? The raw bar and speakeasy ain’t too shabby either
No. Guests: 14-110
Website: www.leossf.com
16. MARIANNE’S
Neighborhood: SoMa
Known for: the beautifully appointed speakeasy style salon behind The Cavalier
No. Guests: 20-50
Website: www.mariannessf.com
17. MARLOWE
Neighborhood: SoMA
Known for: the neighborhood bistro ambiance and definitely the burger
No. Guests: 16-90
Website: www.marlowesf.com
18. STARBELLY
Neighborhood: Castro
Known for: the heated patio and casual friendly neighborhood vibes
No. Guests: 20-110
Website: www.starbellysf.com
19. MISTER JIU’S
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Known for: beautifully executed Chinese cuisine and their new Moongate Lounge
No. Guests: 80
Website: www.misterjius.com
To help, donate directly to a fund established for their staff here
20. QUEENS
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset
Known for: Korean classics and a communal table for a cozy celebration in this superette
No. Guests: 8
Website: www.queenssf.com
To help, purchase gift cards here to directly benefit employees and neighborhood businesses
21. STABLE CAFE
Neighborhood: Mission
Known for: the gorgeously manicured garden smack dab in the middle of hustle and bustle
No. Guests: 100
Website: www.stablecafe.com
22. SCHOOL NIGHT
Neighborhood: Dogpatch
Known for: hand-crafted pisco, agave and whiskey cocktails and Latin-inspired bites
No. Guests: 85-120
Website: www.schoolnightsf.com
23. TROU NORMAND
Neighborhood: SoMa
Known for: The heated patio and host-your-own-charcuterie parties
No. Guests: 12-100
Website: www.trounormandsf.com
24. UNGRAFTED
Neighborhood: Dogpatch
Known for: the fancy wines in an approachable setting
Website: www.ungraftedsf.com
To help, order a meal kit with paired bottle and tune in for virtual Monday Blind Tastings here
25. WAYFARE TAVERN
Neighborhood: FiDi
Known for: the multitude of well-appointed gathering spaces (and their burger)
No. Guests: 16-80
Website: www.wayfaretavern.com
26. WILD SEED
Neighborhood: Marina
Known for: an approachable plant-based menu crafted by omnivores
No. Guests: 40-60
Website: www.wildseedsf.com
27. TWENTY FIVE LUSK
Neighborhood: SoMa
Known for: its vibbbe (previously a meatpacking and smokehouse facility), cocktails, and rooftop terrace. Remember L + A’s black tie wedding here??
No. Guests: 15-650
Website: www.25lusk.com
Image by Dani M Photography
28. PARK TAVERN
Neighborhood: North Beach
Known for: their private Eden Room and the deviled eggs
No. Guests: 50-60
Website: www.parktavernsf.com
Okay so tell me, what did I miss?
Please share your favorite SF spots for private events in the comments below!
Mister Jiu’s image by Buena Lane
Cerf Club image by Olivia Marshall
Stable Cafe image by Lauren Crew
Trou Normand image by Vicki Grafton