I love working on my close friends weddings, because all the time and energy I put into it, is manifested with a little more heart and soul. When my college roommate and BFF, Ashley told me she is not passionate about anything in life but the Lakers, her family, and Jeff, it was no surprise when she revealed her wedding theme would most definitely be oriented around NBA team, The Los Angeles Lakers. {And yes, I’m behind on this post, but it’s Lakers Season now…so it’s relevant.}

The other bridesmaids and I tried to convince her to save the casual sports theme for the bridal shower {Check out our Casino Couture Shower we threw for her instead} but she was adamant about a Purple & Gold Championship Lakers Wedding to the fullest. They decided on a combined Lakers + Ravens Sports themed wedding, which highlighted the commonality between both the teams and them. Half the table number photographs were at the Ravens Stadium in Baltimore, and half were taken in Lakers jersey’s in the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

So we were posed with the challenge to create a Lakers and Ravens inspired, Purple & Gold, Indian-esque -but-modern Wedding Invitation set and corresponding stationery, while still being elegantly chic. Last time I went to a Lakers game, I wore Nike’s, distressed jeans, hoop earrings, and a jersey…so far from elegantly chic. It was a challenge we happily accepted.

First, we had to modify the traditional purple & gold color palette associated with the Lakers. We opted for a deep plum and a antique gold with a pearl gold, and Topaz Swarovski Crystals. Once the colors were set, coming up with a design that embodied both their tastes, vision, and aesthetic was our next task. I think it worked out well, because we built a cohesive set with the invitations, labels, program booklets, water bottle labels, escort cards, and food label tags.

And that’s when I thought of one of my favorite ad campaigns. The NBA in the US promoted the 2008 Playoffs and Finals with an epic tagline: “There Can Only Be One.”  This led to an integrated advertising campaign involving interactive, print and film components. The campaign, featuring two players at a time, {Shaq & Kobe below} promoted basketball games on NBA, TNT, ESPN and ABC, connecting with fans online at www.nba.com/therecanonlybeone where users were allowed to submit their own.

It was brilliant. It was timeless.

And while all of this seems so far removed from Paper, Daydreams, and…Weddings… this was actually the inspiration for all of the above for the beautiful couple, Ashley & Jeff. I’ve never met  any couple like Ashley and Jeff. They’re equally complimentary and compassionate, and just like the tagline, there can only be one…like them. They’re brilliant. They’re timeless.

The Escort Cards inspired by  Sporting Event Tickets {read: Lakers Tickets} with the inspirational tagline for the couple.

The creative, clever, and custom table numbers photographed at both the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and the Ravens Stadium in Maryland.

The breathtaking bride Ashley, with her beautiful twin sister, Anisha.

There Can Only Be One.

Um so my friend made us a really beautiful video with our business card to an instrumental rendition of Kanye West’s Blame Game that he’s playing!

The best part: this was all shot and edited on the iPhone!

And the back of my card:

Our business cards are letterpressed on 220# weight paper with rounded edges, each embellished with a Swarovski Crystal AB Clear.

We were so excited to work on the logo and branding concept for Rubina’s Cake Shoppe! {revamp from her shop previously known as “Rubina’s Cakes.”}

After confirming the color palette of a rose pink and chocolate brown, we thought we’d add a touch of a modern-artistic-painterly look. We initially had the logo just include the hand-drawn swirl on top, so it would look like a somewhat abstracted cupcake top, but without the bottom wrapper, it could have easily been mistaken for a ice cream sundae…We obviously added the bottom wrapper extend from her shop name. The polka-dots were a no-brainer. A little mod, a little girly, and totally trendy…and voila, Rubina’s Cake Shop relaunch had begun.

I’m really behind on posting these pictures that her and her hubby so graciously sent over, so my apologies on the delay!

Rubina was a featured vendor showcasing at the “3rd Annual Valentine Romance “Sneak Peek” Oscar® Gifting Party” in Beverly Hills, this past February!

With the event styling by Hello Kismet Events, PaperDaydream designs, and the beautifully delicious Cake Truffles and Fabulously Sculpted cakes by Rubina, I’d say the event looked like a success. Below is the gorgeous Shop Owner and Pastry Chef herself with a few of Hollywood’s familiar faces, including Kevin Eubanks from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Vivica A. Fox {Kill Bill, Booty Call}, and Kiowa Gordon of Twilight: New Moon & Twilight: Eclipse. Everyone loved how amazing her cakes were, Oscar Nuñez from the hit show The Office even commissioned her to create his wedding cake!

Feel free to contact her to sweeten up your day, and your next event.

So humbled and honored to be featured on Beauty and the Feast’s Beauty on the Streets this month! Love learning about all things beauty and food on this blog, and highly value the opinions, reviews and recs! This kinda made my day. Love the love. Thank you =]

Photography Courtesy of Danny Cheung

Looks like you don’t have to be a New Yorker to have an EMPIRE state of mind.  California’s Bay Area Bhangra Empire – Dance Team is working on building an Empire of their own.

When Empire’s Team Manager Omer Mirza asked me to design their business cards, I immediately said “what’s in it for me?”  [just kidding... kinda.]

Mirza was clear with his request: “I want something dope and elegant. Make it Happen.”

Ok, done and done. [I hope!] He wanted to flirt with the use of alliteration on this one – hence the several “E” words to Exemplify Empire’s Exhilarating Entertaining & Entrepreneurial Endeavors.

After being invited to perform at the First State Dinner for President Obama, and winning a myriad of different dance competitions – it was clear that this Empire meant business .  How else better to convey this than through their business cards?

They were able to use them during their auditions for America’s Got Talent!

See them in action as they Exude Energy below.

In other news – you can enroll in dance classes they teach if you’re in the Bay Area.  They’re also available to perform at weddings! [so long as Paper Daydream is doing your wedding stationery =D ]

Street Lights, Big DREAMS all looking pretty… Let’s hear it for…

Team with The First Lady Michelle Obama, and Mr. President, Barack Obama. 

Photo Courtesy of the White House via Omer Mirza

Bhangra Empire Featured in Illume Magazine – On Performing @ The First State Dinner for President Obama @ The White House

OOuooh Wee! …do we like how it shines?      Humor me, and say yes!

I did these in Turquoise, Fuschia, Orange, Violet and Green.  The front logo matches the full bleed respective color on the back. Embellished with a swarovski crystal on each card – I was hoping this would embody Paper Daydream’s brand.

Photo Courtesy of Danny C.