Ceremony Magazine - Maritime Wedding

Last summer we shared in the joy of Julie and Sean's wedding at The Balboa Yacht Club. Of course I love every one of my amazing clients, but Julie was even more special. We are "industry" friends. When Julie asked me to be her coordinator I was deeply humbled. She knows every planner in Orange County, and she chose me. Julie and Sean focused on a Maritime Theme because of Sean's love of boats. It was an homage to his father, and very meaningful. Ceremony Magazine acknowledged that this was a WEDDING OF DISTINCTION, and published it their new Orange County 2013 issue.



As if Julie and Sean aren't thrilled enough to have their wedding featured, one of the images of their day is also soon to be featured in Ceremony's OC April cover. We just happened to snag a sneek peek of it from the fabulous Joel Maus of Studio EMP. He is a master at capturing stunning images, and this one is no exception. Isn't it lovely? CONGRATULATIONS on this achievement Joel.
Drool over all the NAUTICAL details. The ceremony was so meaningful, and the reception was a great party. So many fun moments to remember. The dance floor was packed all night. The photo booth was a wild party itself. Julie and Sean treated their guests to a late night taco bar. To top off the night, their guests gathered in a tunnel that led to the couple's awaiting limo, and sent them off with sparklers.What a wedding indeed.

Of course all these elements don't happen on their own. It takes an army of creative professionals who come together and work as a team. And what a dream team this was. It was so fun to work with the best in the business, who happen to be my friends as well. How can you call this work? When looking for vendors, please consider these outstanding professionals:

Venue: Balboa Yacht Club
Coordinator: Wedding Jeannie
Floral Design: Sussanna Davidson of French Buckets Florist
Photography: Joel Maus of Studio EMP Photography
Videography: Mike McCaleb of Mission Visual
Specialty Chairs & Dance Floor: Fusion Linens
Specialty Linens: Designer Specialty Linens
Event Rentals: Signature Party Rentals
Bridal Fashion: Hope Stanley Bridal Stylist for Mary Me Bridal
Groom Fasion: Friar Tux
Wedding Cake: It's All About The Cake
Entertainment/DJ: Invisible Touch Entertainment
Photo Booth: What A Blast Photo Booth
Late Night Taco Bar: SoHo Taco
Beauty/Make-Up: Courtney Boyle
Beauty/Hair: Angie Pham

The Look of Love - Video

I'm not a bride, but I'm obsessed with wedding magazines, just like you. My favorite is California Wedding Day magazine. It's luxurious and filled with inspiration and drool worthy images. I'm so lucky to have a long standing relationship with the editors. They consistently choose me to design for their events. In November of 2012, they hosted a Bridal Show called The Look of Love, at Chuck Jones Center in Costa Mesa. The event boasted the best and brightest wedding professionals in Southern California. I had the honor of creating a set for the show. We called it Chevron Chic. Our set was bright and sunny, utilizing colors of tangerine, yellow, white and gold. Accents of Chevron pattern were used in the linens and paper products. The magazine just released the video recap of the day by Russell Fowler Studios. I hope you enjoy what we created. I can't stop watching it. I'm gushing with pride.

This stunning set didn't happen by itself. The talented vendors that brought my vision to life were a dream team. If you want the best for your wedding, please consider them.

Vendor Love:

Venue: Chuck Jones Center
Photography: Christopher Todd Studios
Videography: Russell Fowler Studio
Floral Design: Jenny B Floral Design
Paper Suite: Copper Willow
Catering: 24 Carrots Catering
Event Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Specialty Rentals: Luxe Event Rentals
Linens: Designer Specialty Linens
Lighting: The Event Company

Wedding Jeannie Knows - Groom Style

Wedding Jeannie knows Grooms Style. And we want to share what we know with you. Never before have grooms been more fashion savvy. They cringe at the thought of renting a traditional tuxedo for themselves and their groomsmen. In fact, many are buying a quality suit that they can wear again. How many bridesmaids can claim that luxury? And why not? The bride shouldn't be the only one in the spotlight.

How can your groom customize his wedding day look? We love how our groom Will above chose to wear a wool blend suit with a simple tie. It was a dressed up, but casual look for his beach front wedding on the sand.

If your groom still wants a traditional tuxedo rental, there a many accessories available to reflect his individuality. Socks have been trending for many years, and they are still here, and here to stay. Socks are enjoying a new resurgence thanks to that famous Kardashian, Rob. His new line of men's trouser socks launched just in time for the 2013 season.

The Arthur George by Robert Kardashian Collection boasts a large selection of socks that scream individuality. They are the perfect gift for your groomsmen to wear on the big day. At one of our recent weddings, they did just that. By the time the dancing started, they had all rolled up their pants to proudly show off their socks.

Grooms have their eye on the Red Carpet for wedding inspiration. Fueled by the "hipster" look, bow ties are now the latest trend in showcasing individuality. Let's hear it for the boys at The Golden Globes. They showed that the once forgotten bow tie can be fresh. Our New Years Eve groom wore a black and white bow tie that would make these leading mean jealous. All of his groomsmen wore them too. But each was different in some way. All were shades of black, white and grey to match their theme. Some had stripes, other dots, but all reflected the personality of the gentleman who wore them.

Where can you find bow ties that have personality? Modern Family star, Jesse Tyler Ferguson has a website called The Tie Bar, just for you. Ferguson has a whimsical line of designer bow ties, and an online store to make buying easy. The sales on the site go to charity, in support of same sex marriage. To round out your look, he also carries pocket squares and cuff links. Why not splurge on a polished look? After all, you only get married once, don't let the bride have all the fun. If you're a little freaked out about how to tie one, well Jesse has you covered. He has a YouTube video tutorial to walk you through it. With a little practice, you'll be a pro.

We loved sharing the latest trends and keeping you in THE KNOW.

Enjoy the magic wedding day of Julie & Sean. The beauty of the bay and sail boats captured the lifestyle of this fun loving couple. Many thanks to Mike of Mission Visual for this video recap. It so fun to relive the day.
Newport Beach Wedding Videography - Julie + Sean from Mission Visual on Vimeo.
A dream team of vendors made this day happen. Please consider them for your special day:

Venue: Balboa Yacht Club
Wedding Planner: Jeannie Ward of Wedding Jeannie
Photography: Studio EMP
Videography: Mission Visual
Floral Design: French Buckets
Wedding Cake: It's All About The Cake
Specialty Linens & Rentals: Fusion Linens
Lighting: Signature Party Rentals
DJ/Entertainment: Invisible Touch Entertainment
Photo Booth: What A Blast Photo Booth
Taco Bar: Soho Taco

Venue Spotlight - Bella Collina

Feast your eyes on the beautiful BELLA COLLINA. It's my latest VENUE SPOTLIGHT. This summer I had the pleasure of referring one my couples to this amazing place. It's located in beautiful San Clemente. BELLA COLLINA is a stunning private golf club with breathtaking views. I feel like the luckiest planner in Southern California right now. They enjoyed working with theWEDDING JEANNIE team so much, that they have invited us to be included in their preferred vendor list. Be still my heart. Did I mention I'm in love with this venue?

Tanja Janjic is the Private Events Director at BELLA COLLINA and she is fantastic. She strives to please her couples and their guests. She is detail oriented and her caring personal service is very rare in this industry. I asked her to tell you why she loves her venue, and why you should consider it for your wedding. Enjoy Tanja's answers and fall in love with it too.

What is the history of your venue?
- I am delighted to introduce you Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club nestled in the hills of San Clemente. We are a unique country club that was formerly known as a Pacific Golf Club. It’s the perfect venue to host your wedding and ceremony. Truly unrivaled to other Orange County wedding locations, at Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club every special wedding ceremony and reception is customized to reflect the couple’s unique style and taste. Our ballroom features views of our golf course with brightly colored springtime florals, lush summertime greens, vivid landscape of colors in the fall, out-door amphitheater for ceremonies, and bridge over the lake that can be enjoyed from the outdoor patios.  How many guests can you accommodate?

Reception?

-200 seated dinner inside the Sienna Room including a dance floor

-Outdoors; 500 seated on the Meadows

Ceremony?

- 800 seated on the Amphitheater

-100 seated our beautiful Rustic Organic Farm

Do you provide In-House Catering?

- Absolutely. Our wonderful executive chef Paul Villa can customize any menu to fit your dream wedding.

Is parking provided on-site?
- One of many great things about Bella Collina is that we have plenty of parking spaces available on site, 230 to be exact.

Do you book more than one event per day? How will that affect my event?

- No, we only do one wedding per day.

What is your favorite feature of your venue?

- Bella Collina truly feels like a TUSCAN STYLE VILLA. Our beautiful outdoor Roman amphitheater naturally carved out of the hillside was built for ceremonies in 2010, and is one of my many favorite features about Bella Collina Towne and Golf Club. You also get to enjoy San Clemente’s cool sea-breeze and picturesque rolling hills from the hilltop Clubhouse.


. Give us the top three reasons why couples should book your venue for their wedding/reception.

• Best thing about Bella Collina Towne and Golf Club , as I previously mentioned, is that we only do one wedding per day .This allows the couple to personalize the club house, and really feel like they have the venue just for them and their guests .
• We have some amazing photo opportunities around the golf course , and many vignettes within the venue . This backdrop is the perfect setting for your wedding portrait. Every Bella Collina wedding feels like a destination wedding without having to go too far! 
• If you are looking to have an evening ceremony with a reception that goes late into the night, this is the perfect venue for it because at Bella Collina Towne and Golf Club we don’t have noise, or time restrictions.

I love Tanja's comments about why she loves her venue. If you are looking for a spectacular Orange County venue, with breathtaking views, a TUSCAN VILLA feeling, an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception, you've found the perfect choice. I'd love to take you on a private tour. Please call me, and let's visit Tanja soon.

Beauty And The Bustle

Your WEDDING GOWN. It's the most expensive purchase you'll make in your lifetime for a garment. A lot of dreaming, thought and sometime stress goes into buying your dream gown. Seriously...have you ever watched "Say Yes To The Dress"? You know that buying your gown is not something to be taken lightly.

There are many elements to consider about your gown. What shape should it be? Will you choose lace, silk, satin, taffeta? Will it be long or short? Should the neckline be a sweetheart, halter, scoop neck? Visiting a salon and trying on gowns is a thrilling experience. You are being draped in thousands of dollars of fabric and embellishments. What a true DIVA experience.

Ok...you've purchased your dream gown, and the fittings will begin. Here is where I step in and say to salons and seamstresses...WHY DON'T YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE BUSTLE?! Whew, that felt good. Let me explain why. On the wedding day, there is a short window of time that your gown must be bustled. Your stunning cathedral or sweep train is out in all of it's glory as you walk down the aisle. During the cocktail hour your train continues to be the star of the show as you take photos. It's all so dreamy.

The time has come for your grand entrance and first dance. You can't walk into the dining room and dance with your new husband without being bustled. Tripping over your gown is not an option. Carrying the train around all  night is a chore. You have a good 10 to 15 minutes to get that bustle up and out of the way. Sounds like plenty of time, right? Who's going to bustle you? Trust me, I've had brides tell me, "you don't need to attend my final fitting, because my sister, maid of honor, bridesmaids will take care of the bustle". Listen to me when I tell you, they never know how to do it. They think they do. They have great intentions, but they didn't pay attention to the fine details.

Cindy wore a stunning ballgown, with an impressive Cathedral Train. The bustle had 28 points and required a diagram. It took two of us to bustle her, one on each side. Ten minutes later, she was ready to dance.

No sign of a train now!

I've been part of hundreds of weddings, and I've seen it countless times. The seamstress doesn't sew a good bustle, or the bride doesn't ask any questions about it. In order for you to dance the night away and not worry about a broken bustle, like the stress-free Cindy above, that bustle has to hold.

Here are some of the pitfalls I've seen:

• The train is heavy and the seamstress uses only one loop on the outside that will attach to a TINY hook or a button. This never holds. It's guaranteed to tear. It's why I have a sewing kit with me at every wedding.
  
• The seamstress made loops for the hooks with thread...the same color as the dress. Imagine there are 12 - 16 of them. Now imagine, nobody can see them. Welcome to my nightmare. What should take 5 minutes, now takes 15! And the food is getting cold.
  
• The bustle is French with strings underneath the dress. The seamstress did not indicate which strings go with which. Another waste of valuable time.
  
• The seamstress attaches a loop for you to carry your bustle on your wrist. Don't laugh..I've seen it. You can't party the night away carrying a train around all night.

How can you avoid these pitfalls and feel comfortable and secure in your gown when the party starts?

• Obviously you should HIRE ME. I come to your final fitting, and ensure the seamstress is on her toes. This is part of every package I offer. Often, brides take their changes and opt out of this service. Those are the ones that require me to bring my sewing kit.
  
  
• ASK QUESTIONS. Find out if the seamstress will use hooks, strings, stitching, etc. I cannot stress enough stitching should be outlawed. You can't see them, you can't find them, and they always break.
   
• If the seamstress is using strings, make sure they are color coded or numbered for easy matching.
   
• If your bustle is complicated, ask them to draw a diagram. You'll be glad you did.
   
• Can't afford a wedding planner to assist you? Make sure you put your Maid of Honor in charge. She MUST attend the fitting, and bustle you twice, in the salon before you leave with it. When it's bustled, walk around, sit down, dance a little, pull  on it...make sure it's solid.
   
• Pay a little extra for a good bustle. It's a great investment.

There you have it. BUSTLE 101. I'd love to hear your opinion and if this little article helped you. If you decide you need a seasoned expert to help you with your bustle, and all the other little details, I'd love to hear from you. I can't wait to meet YOU and YOUR GOWN

Engagement Ring Inspiration

It sparkles, it shines, it picks up the light. It's mesmerizing. An engagement ring symbolizes the love and commitment a man has for a woman. The holiday season is upon us. Many engagements will take place on Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Gentlemen purchasing a ring for a woman, with the intention of getting down on one knee, and laying your heart out, while asking for hers in return, is not something to be taken lightly. Where do you begin? My wonderful colleague Melissa Allen, the Special Events Director of The Ebell Club of Los Angeles wrote an informative blog post to help you. I'm very excited for you. Read Melissa's Blog Post, and enjoy the thrill and excitement of this moment. 

Good luck on your purchase and on popping the question. You're going to do fine. Share your engagement experience with me. I can't wait to hear all about it.

Say "I DO' to FREE $100K Wedding!!!!!

Say I Do to $100K Wedding

Your Wedding Day Magazine, The Waterfront Beach Resort in Huntington Beach, and Locale Magazine have teamed up to give one lucky couple a FREE $100K WEDDING!

Southern California's most sought after wedding professionals have assembled to produce a wedding that won't soon be forgotten. To call them a dream team would be an understatement. The stunning venue is the WATERFRONT BEACH RESORT in Huntington Beach  California. Imagine yourself taking in the most beautiful ocean views on your wedding day.Visit the icon above to learn about them all.

Not only will this be a Once In A Lifetime Event for the winning couple, but for The Wedding Jeannie team as well. I have the honor of coordinating this stunning event.

If you're a bride reading this post...ENTER NOW. If you're a colleague or a fan, and know of an engaged couple, SPREAD THE WORD. Come back again and again, as I showcase and introduce you to each of our dream team of vendors.

Wedding Jeannie is So Haute

YOUR WEDDING DAY MAGAZINE is California's leader in wedding style and trends. In addition to a spectacular publication on news stands now, you can also visit their interactive website to get inspiration, planning tips, and the best qualified vendors in the wedding industry. WEDDING JEANNIE happens to be one of those vendors and we couldn't be more proud. YWD's vendor list is called THE HAUTE LIST. What does HAUTE mean? It comes from a French word, depicted "high" or "high fashion"....also "high class". Basically what it means to you is THE BEST OF THE BEST. All vendors on the list are pre-qualified by the YWD staff. We must meet a strict regimen to be included on this list. Thank you YWD for the honor of recognizing my hard work and making me so HAUTE.

Why Hire Us? EXPERIENCE

Photo Courtesy of Cean One Photography

When it comes to Wedding Coordination, you have hundreds of choices. Especially in Southern California. So why should I be your choice? Based on the photo above, you can see that myself (left) and Veronica, 2nd in command (right) are super fun. Of course fun doesn't get the job done. To back up our fun factor we have something that many planners in the area don't have.....EXPERIENCE.

I've been in business since 2000. Veronica has been working with me for 8 of those. Both of us had event or wedding experience for many years prior to that. Our combined EXPERIENCE is 35 years. That's alot of EXPERIENCE right? Together, we've been part of hundreds of weddings. Not only that...WEDDING PLANNING is my only job. This is not a hobby or part time fling. It's my passion. I breath it, eat it, dream and LIVE it.

When interviewing coordinators, ask them about their EXPERIENCE. Talk to their previous clients, research them online, and read their reviews on websites such as Wedding Wire, Project Wedding, and The Knot. There alot of beginners out there offering their services far cheaper than we do. They may have a cute website, and a clever tag line, but EXPERIENCE is more important than anything. Experienced planners have seen everything that can possibly go wrong. We have the knowledge, confidence and real experiences to handle anything that comes our way. But more than anything else, our expertise allows us to see the pitfalls before they occur. We're professionals and it shows.

EXPERIENCE + REPUTATION = PEACE OF MIND for you. Because we've been in business for 10 years, we've worked at hundreds of venues throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Palm Spring and Las Vegas. We've worked long and hard to build rewarding relationships with the finest venues and vendors Southern California has to offer. When a venue manager, or a vendor hears our name, they get pretty excited. They love working with us, and often offer you THE CLIENT discounts because of it. Knowing that the Wedding Jeannie Team is on board means their job will be made easier.....and FUN!

I know you have many choices available to you. As you do your research, make sure whoever you choose has EXPERIENCE. Ask the tough questions, and don't expect anything less than the best for your special day. EXPERIENCE may cost a little, more, but I think you're worth it.

Home Wedding Inspired by Books

In July I was honored to design and plan the wedding of Molly & Travis. The lovely Yorba Linda home of Molly's parents was the setting for this "book inspired wedding". The couple shared a love of literature. They knew they wanted their wedding to reflect a garden feel, and chose a color palette of lavender, purple and blue. Their love of books created a road block for them. Lightbulbs went off for me, and I came up with some fun ideas. With their blessing....the rest is history. Enjoy the images from CherieFoto. Many thanks to Jaclyn Breault the talented owner and designer of Heavenly Blooms. Her luscious floral designs, took this wedding over the top.

Wedding bouquets in blue, purple and lavendar.

Bamboo chairs add rustic charm to a garden wedding.

Vintage Bookshelf from Found Vintage Rentals filled with books. Bookmarks served as Escort Cards.

Flower girl carries the couple's favorite book, Moby Dick

Favors were small books with personally chosen verses from Molly & Travis' favorite books.

What a fun day. I loved how their garden wedding, with a touch of elegance finally came together. The best part...books were everywhere. When designing you own wedding, don't be afraid to take a risk and share your own personal interests with your guests. After all your wedding should reflect you and your style.

Vendor Love:

Photography: CherieFoto
Floral Designer: Jaclyn Breault of Heavenly Blooms
Catering: Colette's Catering
Rentals: Signature Party Rentals
Entertainment/Band: Essence Entertainment
Photo Booth: PhotoWorks Interactive
Custom Booklet Favors: Petalos Di Pauli
Bridal Gown: Mon Amie Bridal

Wedding Ceremony - Who Stands Where

Rachel & Jeremy's ceremony at Churon Winery. Photo: Dave White of Photo Catering

The Wedding Ceremony. It's the reason why your family and friends gather on your big day. So much attention and time are spent on making sure the reception is flawless. But what about the ceremony itself? Have you thought about how it will go smoothly? Who stands where? What is the processional order? How should your bridal party enter? Who is going to make sure it's flawless?

More than half of weddings in Southern California are not held at a religous site, such as a church or synagogue. Do you know if your venue manager is going to work out the logistics? A wedding rehearsal is the time and place to work out all the details.

I give all of my clients a ceremony diagram they can fill out long before the rehearsal. This takes all the stress out of deciding who will stand where, and the order in which they process and recess. By doing so, the rehearsal will only last one hour, and you and your loved ones can get to dinner. The best part is..everyone knows exactly what to do on the wedding day.

The reason I wrote this post is to save your sanity. At a recent wedding, there were 24 members of the bridal party, not including parents and the bride and groom. They did not decide the logistic prior to the wedding. Therefore the rehearsal was chaos. Many of the groomsmen didn't attend, many members were late, and no one knew who should stand where. I learned alot that day. I don't want you to go through the same experience. If you have a planner at your venue or church, provide them with the information they need to ensure your rehearsal is efficient and a success. Need some help? Check out this link http://weddings.about.com/od/yourweddingceremony/a/Processional.htm  to plan ahead.

Tips for a successful ceremony:

• Have a rehearsal.
• If your rehearsal is at 5pm, tell everyone it's at 4:30 pm. This ensures you start on time, and get to dinner on time.
• Decide prior to the rehearsal who will stand where, who will escort your grandmother and mother, etc.
• Have a plan for flower girls and ring bearers. If they have a meltdown on wedding day, plan for it. Seat their parents close to the front row. They may need to sit with them instead of standing front and center.
• Who will hold the rings?
• If possible, have your officiant attend the rehearsal to help facilitiate their way of doing things.
• Bring a stand in bouquet. Your maid of honor will need to know when to take it from you.

Practice makes perfect.You take so much time to plan all the perfect details of your dream day. Make sure that the reason your guest gather "to see your union" goes smoothly.

Erica O'Brien Cake Design

We all know that wedding cake is delicious. It's smells of butter and sugar and melts in your mouth. But did you know it can be a piece of art? Many thanks to Erica O'Brien for her talents and eye for detail. She created this artful cake for our Tuscany Wedding Shoot, at Serra Plaza in San Juan Capistrano. Don't you love the non-traditional shape and height? Erica definately thinks outside the box. This cake has elegance, modern styling, and a vintage feel. My favortie part is the lace feature. She actually replicated a piece of lace from a photo I sent her. Now that's what I call talent.

Images Courtesy of Chris Grffiths of Imagery Immaculate

Many thanks to Heather and Kimberly of Style Unveiled for showcasing Erica's talents, and recognizing all the vendors who contributed to our Dream of Tuscany.

Style Unveiled Features - Alexis & David

Style Unveiled featured another one our couples last week. We couldn't be more thrilled as this couple was definately one in a million. They are beautiful people inside and out. They welcomed us into their families and shared more than a wedding day with us. Thank you Style Unveiled for featuring them, and the creative partners who's talents made this day unforgettable. Want to see the full feature and see all the great things Alexis and David said about us? Visit the Style Unveiled Blog







Every and every vendor involved put their hearts and souls into this wedding. We all loved Alexis and David, and were so happy to give 150% to them. If you want the best team of vendors for your big day, look to these professionals:

Venue & Catering: Arbor Terrace at Grand Tradition in Fallbrook
Floral Design: Sussanna Davidson of French Buckets
Photography: Joel Maus of Studio EMP
Videography: Mike McCaleb of Mission Visual
Ceremony Musicians: Del Lago Trio
Band: Ramfunkshus
Bakery: Jay's Catering
Linens: BBJ Linen
Ice Bar: Ice Bulb (Isn't that a wicked ice bar?)
Beauty/Hair & Make-Up: Design Visage
Bridal Gown Designer: San Patrick
Bridal Gown Salon: Ferndale's Bridal
Tuxedos: Friar Tux