hundreds of dreams, thousands of details, millions of memories
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
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)
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.
The F5 Tower and The Sanctuary
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.
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!!!
Once again, F. Duncan Reyes Events By Design created another fabulous “Game of Thrones”-inspired Holiday Party for a very prominent corporate clientele showcasing the latest season’s fantasy drama taking it from the screen to the spectacular Redwood Room and the Velvet Room at The Clift Hotel in San Francisco. The penultimate season focuses primarily on the convergence of the show’s main plotlines, featuring major events such as Daenerys Targaryen arriving in Westeros with her army and three dragons, Drogon, Rhaegal and Viserion waging war against the Lannisters; Jon Snow forging an alliance with Daenarys in an attempt to unite their forces against the White Walker army; Arya and Bran returning to Winterfell and reuniting with their sister, Sansa; and the army of the dead breaching The Wall, entering the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.
With this in mind, we transformed the Redwood and Velvet Rooms to this magnificent era replete with a Weirwood Tree (for Escort Cards), which is a species of deciduous tree found all over Westeros, that has a white bark with five-pointed, blood-red leaves and sap. The focal point of the event was the Iron Throne, a metonym referring to the monarchy that rules the Seven Kingdoms, and the authority of the monarchy.
Special KUDOS to my incredible team of “Fantasy Makers” for helping me create the Client’s holiday vision, bringing the “Game of Thrones” from reality to life!
I first met the “DIVA” 16 years ago when she was only 10 weeks old from a Shiba-Inu Breeder I had met through a mutual friend. She was still nursing with her Mother and couldn’t pick her up until her 10th week. I visited her Mother who was feeding a litter of 7 Shiba pups. As soon as I arrived, Mother and puppies all scattered about the room and hid . . . except for BELLA. She came running towards me, grabbing my ankle and leg, frantically jumping and begging to be carried. As soon as i picked her up, I knew she was the one. You know it’s true when they say that you don’t choose your dogs . . . your dogs choose YOU! At that time, the Breeder named her LEXI. I said, “Oh hell no – you don’t look like a Lexi. You’re definitely DIVA in every word – I will call you BELLA!” (which of course means “beautiful” in Italian).
With black button nose, little pricked ears and a curly tail, BELLA knows she is superior. Whether with intrepid boldness, squinty-eyed cuteness or regal calm dignity, she is QUEEN! She is aloof, alert, confident and courageous with a spirited boldness, good nature, and an unaffected forthrightness, which together yield dignity and natural beauty. She has an independent nature, stubborn and willful, and is loyal and affectionate to those who earn her respect. In a lot of ways, she and I share the same characteristics, which is why we are such a good match. And if she could utter one word, it would probably be “MINE”. She always regards herself as stronger-minded, and can become stubborn at times as she believes she needs to make up her own rules. She’s a “stud muffin” with a butch attitude.
Owning a Shiba-Inu needs a lot of time and attention, but they repay the effort 10 times over in loyalty and affection. And for me, it’s a way of life. She is, after all, Daddy’s girl . . . my girl!
HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY, BELLA-GIRL!!!!!
The Birthday Girl!!!
I love spoiling my girl
Lucia (10 weeks old) & Bella – their 1st time meeting, Bella took on her motherly instincts
Bella at 5 years old
Bella at 4 years old
Bella at 3 years old
Bella at 2 years old | Photo by Ann Hamilton Burgermyer
Bella at 2 years old
Bella at 2 years old | Photo by Ann Hamilton Burgermyer
Bella at 2 years old | Photo by Ann Hamilton Burgermyer
Bella at 2 years old | Photo by Ann Hamilton Burgermyer