f. Duncan Reyes Events by Design bio picture
  • ABOUT DUNCAN

    His successful career all began as a Corporate Event Planner until his tenure as Catering Manager for luxury hotels such as The Portman Hotel and The Pan Pacific Hotel San Francisco, The Fairmont Hotel San Francisco & Chicago, General Manager and Director of Events at The Julia Morgan Ballroom at the Merchants Exchange Building, and at the historic Westin St. Francis Hotel San Francisco as their Catering Manager for Weddings and Social Events.

    His impressive accolades have given him credentials to recognize him as an Independent Food Editor, Restaurant Critic and a Contributing Writer for San Francisco, Chicago and New York media publications. Spanning over 30 years in Wedding, Corporate and Social Event Planning, his passion has taken him to new career heights that led him to create F. Duncan Reyes Events By Design and is renowned as the Event Industry’s most Premiere Wedding and Event Planner Extraordinnaire. In January 2009, he was honored by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Top 100 New Businesses for 2009 and as published in their “Book of Lists 2009”. Duncan is a member of the National Association of Catered Events both for the San Francisco and Silicon Valley Chapters, and was voted in April 2010 as NACE’S “Member of the Year”. And just recently in January 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, was recognized by WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards for Wedding Planning. Committed to creating special events that are as distinctive as his clientele, he creates and executes flawless affairs with sophistication and panache yet with a personable approach that represent your own unique style, exceeding expectations for the planning and design experience. The myriad of Weddings, Corporate and Social Events accommodate all requests large and small with a touch of class. With years of experience conceptualizing ideas, themes and budgets for all events, his capabilities and resources are endless in an effort to create memories that will last a lifetime.

    . . . . Hundreds of Dreams . . . Thousands of Details . . . Millions of Memories

    Contact F. Duncan Reyes Events by Design

One of the best parts of my job is being able to witness fantastic life moments through my clients, Mona & Dave.  It sure makes me feel pretty blessed to be able to do this! They are so sweet together, unmatched and they speak love to each other without saying anything. I absolutely love how they love.  They are the kind of couple who always brings a smile to your face when you think of them.  The kind of people who hugs everyone repeatedly.  And like them, their friends & families were just as charming, beautiful and gracious.

Humble, heartwarming, enthusiastic, fun and loving – these are all the key elements to a wonderful marriage.  And for Mona & Dave, they embody all of them.  It was a spectacular evening filled with romance, magic and love … lots of it. Flawless and fabulous, just like them!

Thanks to my “Wedding Dream Team” for helping me create the Wedding of their Dreams!

Wedding Planning and Event Design: Duncan Reyes and NeNe Nemenzo – F. Duncan Reyes Events By Design

Photography: Clane Gessel, Chloe Cahill and Suxiao Yang – Clane Gessel Photography

Catering and Hotel Accommodations: Jennifer Rowe and Kristy Liang-Barraza – The Fairmont San Francisco

Entertainment: DJ Jason Mitchell and DJ James “JJ” Smith – Last Wave Productions

Floral Design: Orna Maymon – Ornamento

Hair and Make-Up: Danielle Gamache

Patio Heaters: John Hayes – Patio Heaters R Us

Persian Desserts and Pastries: Kandoo Patisserie & Cafe

Persian Wedding Rice (Shirin Polo): Maykadeh Persian Cuisine

Printing and Stationeries: Jacques Oskanian and Munnie Tran – Hyegraph

Rentals: Noelle Pashby – Bright Event Rentals

Videography: Justin Ferrar and Georgina Szabo – Weddings On Film

Wedding Cake: Kelly Zubal – Inticing Creations

Wedding Gown: Galia Lahav at Kinsley James

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DAVID MERKOW + JORDAN SCHER

Photos by Clane Gessel with Clane Gessel Photography

Wedding Highlights Videography by David Ethridge of AVR Films

https://mediazilla.com/cnwbgbaG2?autoplay=1

WHEN THEY MET

This couple met in Chicago back in 2010. The groom was a professional golfer at the time and the bride was pursuing medical school. On May 5, 2010, David’s 25th birthday, he convinced Jordan to meet with him on a first “official” date. Although Jordan paid the tab (David always has to point out ‘it was his birthday!’, it was very clearly love at first sight and their relationship blossomed despite career changes, long distance, and attending different medical schools.

THE PROPOSAL

Jordan’s golden birthday was February 27, 2014. David had been planning to propose since October and had ample time to create the perfect engagement. On February 28, 2014, he had arranged for his family from Wisconsin and Baltimore, and her family from the San Francisco Bay Area, to fly out to Chicago where they were living together at the time to celebrate the proposal with them. David proposed by giving Jordan three gifts the day after her birthday – claiming that some gifts were “delayed by the mail.”  The first, a pillowcase with the phrase “Mr.” embroidered on the front, followed by “Mrs.” and then the ring in multiple boxes that Jordan had to unwrap. The ring itself was symbolic – David designed it to sit atop the letter “M,” the first initial of his last name. After the proposal David told Jordan that there were more surprises- family had flown in to celebrate. We all spent the weekend together at some of the couple’s favorite Chicago eateries.

View More: http://emiliajane.pass.us/jordan-david

MAZEL TOV, MR. & MRS. DAVID & JORDAN MERKOW!

WITH GRATITUDE

“My husband and I are both medical students across the country, so planning a wedding several time zones away was going to be challenging. Additionally, I am a self-described personality type “AAA” so I knew I wanted to be as involved as I could in the wedding planning process but also have someone on my team that I could entrust with all other details when my wedding could not be prioritized. As a thorough individual, I wanted to do my due diligence in researching a wedding planner who would protect my vision, understand my neuroses, and be flexible with a demanding schedule. In the end I made a spreadsheet of 46 wedding planners – spoke to most of them over the phone and eventually landed on Duncan Reyes. Duncan was truly the brains behind our entire wedding- not to mention a complete genius when it comes to knowing who’s who in the Bay Area wedding scene. In the end Duncan did so much more than plan our wedding; he introduced us to vendors that I never would have found, answered thousands of e-mails (responding to all of them with lightning speed!), and kept meticulous records of budgets, payments, and meetings. To those of you weighing whether or not to have a wedding planner – it was an absolute must for us and really allowed us to enjoy the wedding planning process and most importantly our wedding day. Duncan Reyes truly has our highest recommendation and is a pleasure to work with. He coordinated our wedding, dealt with crazy nuances (and personalities), and handled all stress and anxiety with poise and grace. Several weeks have gone by and we are still getting endless compliments on our wedding and wedding weekend. Duncan absolutely knows how to make YOUR special vision come to life in the most vibrant and fabulous form. Most importantly, my husband and I were beyond floored our wedding day and would not have changed a thing.” – Jordan Scher Merkow

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THE “DREAM TEAM”

“It was crucial to have vendors that I trusted and could be myself with. The wedding planning and photography were two areas that I really cared about – and I am thrilled that throughout the planning and the wedding I really feel like both the photographer and planner are true friends. On the actual wedding it was great to see the dance floor packed and people inhale their appetizers and dinner – so clearly a major applause must go to the entertainment (strings, band and DJ) along with the catering team. What left me the most speechless were our florals, they are absolutely breathtaking and completely magical. David is most excited about seeing our wedding video, and we have loved getting to know our videographer Dave Etheridge throughout the past year as well. We’ve been so lucky with our vendors!” — Jordan Scher Merkow

Wedding Planning & Event Design  |  Duncan Reyes along with his Wedding Associates Halina Brown, Heather Vaughan and Tam Garner – F. Duncan Reyes Events By Design

Bridesmaids’ Dresses  |  Monique Lhuillier

Cake  |  Gabrielle Feuersinger – Cake Coquette

Cake Pops  |  Lauren Martin – Sweet Lauren Cakes

Catering  |  Jane Hammond, Ceanna Stephens, Naomi Ages – Jane Hammond Events

Choreography  |  Cynthia Glinka

Shriver Chair Rentals  |  Beverly Yip – Especially Yours Chair Covers & Rentals

Entertainment (12-Piece Band)  |  Dick Bright – Dick Bright & His Orchestra

Entertainment (DJ)  |  Jason Mitchell – Gatsby Entertainment

Entertainment (String Quartet)  |  Su Buchignani – Golden Gate String Quartet

Floral Design  |  Jeeryn Dang – Tanjeeryn Designs

Hair & Make-Up  |  Sherrie Long

Honeymoon Travel Agency  |  Amy Tam – Planet Hoppers

Hotel Accommodations (Wedding)  |  Stephanie Otter – The Fairmont San Francisco

Hotel Accommodations (Honeymoon)  |  The Resort at Pedregal

Jewelry (Engagement & Wedding)  |  Douglas Jeweler

Jewelry (Bride’s)  |  Family Heirlooms

Ketubah  |  Alexandra Mink

Lighting Design & Drapery  |  Michael Kuhlmann – Got Light?

Men’s Grooming Services  |  Julie Moore

Officiant  |  Carolyn Sorensen Balling (Aunt of the Bride)

Photography  |  Clane Gessel, Alex Lexson, Danielle Barnum and Marie Normandin – Clane Gessel Photography

Post-Wedding Brunch  |  Stephanie Otter – The Fairmont San Francisco

Specialty Linens & Napkins  |  Diana Cardenas – Napa Valley Linens

Tablescape Rentals & Specialty Linens  |  Mindy Roark-Aldridge and Nicole D’Andrea – Classic Party Rentals San Francisco

Transportation (For the Welcome Reception)  |  Jennifer Jaciw and Aisha Best – Lone Star Transportation

Transportation (For the Wedding Party & Families)  |  Jeff Thorpe – Classic Cable Car Charters

Transportation (For the Bride & Groom)  |  Carl Payne – Carl Payne Rolls Royces

Tuxedo Rentals & Sales  |  Michael Davenport – Black Tie Tuxedos

Tuxedo (Groom’s)  |  Hugo Boss

Venue (Rehearsal Dinner)  |  Casey Hunt – Waterbar

Venue (Wedding Ceremony, Cocktail Reception and Dinner/Dance)  |  Jim Bruels and Diane Lo – The Bently Reserve

Videography  |  David Ethridge, Jim Snow, Phil Sheffield and Noah Clark – AVR Films

Wedding Invitations  |  Paper on Pine

Wedding “Day Of” Stationeries  |  Mercurio Brothers Printing

Wedding Gown Design & Veil  |  Mark Zunino

Wedding Shoes (Bride)  |  Manolo Blanik

Wedding Website  |  Riley and Grey

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To Jordan & David,

So many paths to choose from — yet a moment here, a different turn there, and you may never have met to experience a love so right!  Isn’t it amazing the way life works?  Here’s wishing each new day finds your hearts closer, your lives fuller, your love deeper.  May your love bloom brighter and your companionship grow sweeter with each passing year.  To a beautiful life together!” 

MARC AARON GOULD AND REBECCA BLAIRE HORTON

MAZEL TOV to the new “Mr. & Mrs. Marc & Rebecca Gould” who tied the knot in the Imperial Floor of the historic Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco.

One of the best parts of my job is being able to witness fantastic life moments through my clients, Marc Gould and Rebecca Horton.  It sure makes me feel pretty blessed to be able to do this!  They are so sweet together, unmatched and they speak love to each other without saying anything.  I absolutely love how they love.  They are the kind of couple who always brings a smile to your face when you think of them.  The kind of people who hugs everyone repeatedly.  The fact that they have been together for over 13 years since grade school is a testimony in itself of their love and devotion for each other.  And like them, their friends & families were just as charming, beautiful and gracious.

My sincerest gratitude to an amazing group of talented wedding professionals who helped me create for them their dream wedding.  Because I am only as good as the People I work with.  BRAVO!!!

MY DREAM TEAM

Wedding Planning & Event Design  |  Duncan Reyes and Amanda Peralta – F. Duncan Reyes Events By Design

Photography  |  Clane Gessel and Linda Tran – Clane Gessel Photography

Cake  |  Susan Morgan – Elegant Cheesecakes

Catering, Hotel Accommodations, Ceremony and Reception Venues  |  Selma Santoyo – The Westin St. Francis

Chuppah  |  Carol Attia – Under The Chuppah

Choregoraphy (First Dance)  |  Cynthia Glinka – Dance With Glinka

Entertainment (Engagement Party)  |  Mike McCall – Montara Music

Entertainment (Ceremony Music & Sound, DJ & Lighting)  |  Jason Mitchell – Gatsby Entertainment

Entertainment (7-piece Band)  |  Green Light Band c/o Jason Mitchell – Gatsby Entertainment

Floral Design  |  Katharina Stuart – Katharina Stuart Floral Art and Design

Hair and Make-Up  |  Jira – Jira Couture Salon

Hotel Accommodations (Overflow)  |  Lauren Vojvoda – Sir Francis Drake Hotel

Officiant  |  Cantor Linda Hirschhorn

Printing & Stationeries  |  Jacques Oskanian and Munnie Tran – Hyegraph

Rentals (Specialty Linens)  |  Diana Cardenas – Napa Valley Linens

Tuxedo Rentals & Sales  |  Michael Davenport – Black Tie Tuxedos

Venue (Engagement Party)  |  Alexis Garhammer – Claremont Club and Spa – A Fairmont Hotel

Venue (Rehearsal Dinner)  |  Michelle Cheng – Le Colonial

Videography  |  Dakota Baylacq – Thomas Hughes Films

10525717_10203280276942161_8610174773378063698_nSTEF YBARRA & MATTHEW ARCHAMBAULT

It was a picture-perfect day, replete with sunny and blue skies, followed by a romantic sunset, then a full moon to end their magical evening.  Their celebration was full of love and great energy – what a wonderful way to start a fabulous new life together.

” It goes without saying, but THANK YOU again for everything pre/during/post-Wedding.  You truly were our Fearless Leader during the whole process and would not have been able to pull everything off without your guidance. ” — Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Archambault (Bride & Groom)

Wedding Planning & Event Design:  Duncan Reyes & Heather Vaughan, F. Duncan Reyes Events By Design

Photography:  Brian MacStay, Scott Mosher & Barbara Yasuhara, Brian MacStay Photography

Beverage Catering:  Amanda Krentz, BevMo (Santa Rosa)

Cake:  Andrea Koweek, Crisp Bake Shop

Catering:  Laura Dunn, The Girl & The Fig

Entertainment:  Ceremony String Trio – Prohibition Strings c/o Jason Mitchell, Gatsby Entertainment

Entertainment:  Ceremony Sound & Reception DJ:  Jason Mitchell, Gatsby Entertainment

Floral Design:  Jeeryn Dang, Tanjeeryn Designs

Hair & Make-Up:  DeeAnna Reese, It’s A Date In The Powder Room

Hotel Accommodations:  Judith Perkins, The Westin Verasa Napa

Lighting Design:  Stefania Contreras, Atmosphere Lighting

Officiant:  Gary Engnes (Friend of the Bride & Groom)

Printing & Stationeries:  Minted

Rentals:  Julia Wojciechowsky, Wine Country Party & Events

Transportation:  Christina Wall, Beau Wine Tours

Venue (Ceremony & Reception):  Brooke Clemens-Mrella, Gundlach Bundschu Winery

Venue (Parents’ Chef’s Table Dinner):  Judith Perkins, La Toque at The Westin Verasa Napa

Venue (Post-Wedding Brunch):  Judith Perkins, The Westin Verasa Napa

Venue (Welcome Reception):  Jonathan Wendorf, Torc

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Brian MacStay Photograhy-1

 

HAPPY 2ND ANNIVERSARY, LOTTE HOTEL SEATTLE!!!!!

I was honored to work for Lotte Hotels & Resorts as their Pre-Opening Wedding Consultant, to develop and design unique packages for their Weddings and Special Events for this Flagship Hotel. I have had the privilege of meeting many “Superstars”, but the Staff, the Management and their Vendor Partners were all in a singular category of excellence second to few, if any. Their ability to let me do my job to the best of my ability makes it even a pleasure. And with their help and continued support, here are the fruits of my labor.

Photography by Clane Gessel Photography; Floral Design by Pearl Studio; Event Rentals by CORT Party Rental; Lighting Design by LightSmiths; Bridal Gowns by Cicada Bridal; Hair & Make-Up by Kay & Co. Hair Studio; And a special thanks to our fabulous Models – Caleb and Christa Treat, Ha-Young Lee and Wan Choi, Ksenia Usher, Dr. Ali Ravanpay and Dr. Ellie Tabaraie, Kevin and Meg Sakuda, Seol-Young and Inho Young.

Discover the allure of the Pacific Northwest’s newest “Crown Jewel”, the Lotte Hotel Seattle.  Its charismatic and vital setting offers the grandeur of the past, coupled with contemporary luxury and style.


GUESTROOMS AND SUITES

The F5 Tower – Located in Downtown Seattle’s 5th tallest building, it is replete with 16 floors of spacious layouts and expansive bathrooms where you can retreat in the opulence of their 189 modern luxury rooms that include 33 suites, embracing the serenity of enhanced amenities and impeccable service.


The Presidential Suite – You can enjoy the natural sunlight pouring in the room through the glass window walls and the spectacular views of Seattle and Puget Sound, and the vibrant downtown city view. This majestic 2,097 square-foot Suit with floor-to-ceiling windows, features design details of the Pacific Northwest, a luxurious yet comfortable sitting room, bar lounge, formal dining area, priva kitchen, a baby grand piano and a spacious bedroom and luxury bathroom.  It is also the perfect venue for intimate Weddings and Celebrations creating memories that will last a lifetime.




FACILITIES

With its historic charm and elegant venues, Lotte Hotel Seattle offers 13,000 square feet of event space with unlimited possibilities providing an exquisite blend of something old and something new.  Committed to creating distinctive Weddings and Special Events, their stellar Catering and Conference Services Team will create and execute flawless affairs with sophistication and panáche yet with a personable approach that represent your own unique style, exceeding expectations for the planning and design experience.

The Sanctuary Grand Ballroom – Formerly Seattle’s First United Methodist Church, this Beaux-Arts Pantheon-style Church founded 109 years ago boasts a magnificence of architectural detail and elegance in time-honored splendor.  The Sanctuary has now been reincarnated as Seattle’s most iconic venue for Weddings and Special Events.  It is crowned by a spectacular Dome that embraces this majestic hall flanked with beautiful stained glass windows.  With an unparalleled design pedigree and an unmatched legacy of hosting the city’s most important events, it is the quintessential venue fully tailored to any event.  It’s where old-world-charm meets chic glamour.  There is so much history, tradition and grand architecture here that it rivals some of the world’s best wedding venues.

The Ballroom – This modern Ballroom features large artwork by a world-renowned French architect, leaning against the ballroom walls gallery-style and can be modified to serve various events and is specialized for high-level conferences and luxury events.

4th and 5th Floor Meeting Rooms – These are small to medium-sized banquet halls that are suitable for various meetings such as seminars, banquets, and various events.

16th Floor Private Dining Rooms – Located at Charlotte Restaurant, each event space is an exclusive private dining venue that boast panoramic views of Elliott Bay and downtown Seattle and suitable for smaller events such as Meetings, intimate Weddings, Cocktail Receptions and elegant Dinners.




Le Spa de L’hotel Lotte – This luxury spa with holistic therapies and treatments also provides a state-of-the art Fitness Center and Dry Sauna.


DINING

CharLotte Bar & Lounge – Indulge in an exquisite culinary voyage while enjoying an expansive view of downtown Seattle from the 16th floor, alongside the ocean and mountains.  Executive Chef, Alexander La Motte reflects his signature contemporary American style cuisine curating upscale menus that utilize seasonal, local ingredients.  CharLotte will captivate both your eyes and palate with a range of culinary offerings and curated wine lists that will elevate your dining experience to a gastronomic level delighting the most discerning palates and imaginative presentations that transform a meal into an unforgettable memory.


WEDDING CONCEPTS

For those seeking to host the ultimate Wedding, the Lotte Hotel Seattle offers three distinguished Wedding Concepts for a sophisticated reception, complete with elegant tablescape design. As you promise to love and cherish each other for the rest of your days, their promise to you is to make every moment of your Wedding exquisite.  Their dedicated Staff is committed to providing top-drawer excellence, white-gloved service, and seamless attention to detail in concert with the personal touch that will ensure your Wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Blanc de Blanc – A modern crisp White Wedding for the minimalist.  It’s elegant, it’s luxe, it’s intentional.  It’s everything you want a chic Wedding to be – warm, inviting, modern and romantic all in one.


Regal Reverie -A majestic Royal-inspired Wedding theme that is fit for a King and Queen, replete with rich shades of Black, Red and Gold with accentures that is understated as it is awe-inspiring and beautiful.


Blush Bliss – Subtle and sophisticated,  this delicate hue evokes feelings of love and romance and makes for a classic, traditional Wedding with a timeless design aesthetic.


Our Executive Pastry Chef, Artis Kalsons, creates awe-inspiring Wedding Cakes that take center stage and certainly deserving of praise.  His Wedding Cakes are as artful as they are delicious and will curate a sweet experience that will offer delicacies for the most discerning palates.


MICRO WEDDINGS AND ELOPEMENTS

The beauty of your love story will be reflected in the tapestry of events and shared experiences before, during and after your Wedding creating stories you will joyfully share for years to come.