La Costa Resort Wedding from Perfectly Made Weddings and Events

November 20, 2012 Leave a Comment

Weddings are the heart of what I love to do and be a part of. It brings me such joy to share a fabulous wedding which I had the pleasure to help plan and coordinate. Perfectly Made Weddings, together with an amazing and fun loving couple, created a unforgettable day. Working with some incredible vendors, it all came together just perfectly. I love a perfect day! Set at the gorgeous La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California, the Mexican themed wedding brought together tradition with a touch of modern chic. The couple really wanted to incorporate some Mexican traditions into their wedding. They had a mariachi band play during cocktail hour, Mexican personalized paper banners hung on tall palm trees, maracas available for guests, and lovely talavera table numbers on all the guest tables. I really loved that they also added many personal touches.  A song written and performed by the groom’s cousin and uncle for the mother/son dance, each guest table featured photos of the guests that were seated at that table, and handmade paper flowers by the bride and her sisters which hung on the ceremony chairs. The ceremony and cocktail hour overlooked the beautiful lush landscape. Different shades of pinks and whites were all over the ceremony, cocktail space, and reception which gave a very soft romantic feel. Just lovely. The couple had 17 groomsmen and bridesmaids. It was the largest  bridal party I have ever had at a wedding. They were such a fun group of people and I  had such a blast with them! They definitely knew how to have a good time.  The bridal party together with the bride and groom brought lots of energy and love to the day. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves from the moment they walked in. The bride and groom had smiles on their faces all day.

 I absolutely loved working with Carlos Hernandez at CCH Photography and Manny Vargas at Manny V Productions. Even though it was the first time we had all met, we all came together as one super team, creating the most perfect day.  Thank you to CCH photography for capturing the most amazing photo shots!  Thank you to Manny V Productions for putting together a wonderful video which brings me to tears every time I watch it!
Congratulations to Adriana and Julian!

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Reception Tables that Work

November 19, 2012 Leave a Comment

Round tables can be dull and boring. If the space is right, and the guest count is low, why not sit everyone at one long dinner table? Why not enjoy dinner with all your guests? Its like a dinner party! How fun is that? You can be seated in the middle with all your guests seated around you at the same table. It is a wonderful way to spend time with your guests. Each seating can have place cards with the names of your guests, so they can be properly seated where you like. That way you can ensure that your parents or bridal party can stay close by to you.  Of course, this table look does not work at all venue spaces, and round tables may be the only option.  However if you check out the venue space and see if there is room for a long table or possibly two long tables, then why not? It can be unique and beautiful creating a grand dinner table. This works perfectly for an intimate wedding!

 

Elegant and lovely table seating for your guests. How beautiful is this?

 

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Tips for Planning a Bachelor Party

November 18, 2012 Leave a Comment

One of the most important duties a friend can bestow on another friend is to ask him to plan a bachelor party. In an ideal world, you only get one of these in life, so it’d better be something special. While many people might assume the worst (watch “Bachelor Party” with Tom Hanks) or the worst case scenario (see “The Hangover”), chances are the Bachelor Party won’t be all that crazy. Why? Because more often than not the Best Man does something smart – actually plans a bachelor party that the groom-to-be wants. That’s a good thing because nobody wants a miserable and awkward bachelor party. Here are some good tips if you are planning a big night.

Don’t Surprise Anyone

While everyone loves a surprise birthday party, chances are not everyone is going to like a surprise bachelor party. A lot of the fun behind the party is just the anticipation that it’s coming. Why deny yourself and the attendees the enjoyment of that? Also, there’s no way to accurate plan a party and know how it’s going to go without proper intelligence work beforehand. Maybe the groom won’t be psyched for your idea of his perfect bachelor party. Maybe some of the guests are allergic to the food you plan (or the restaurant) on serving. Maybe something comes up at his job and he can’t even make it! Be a bro and plan things out the right way and embrace the countdown while considering all the details that make for a successful event.

Ask the Groom What He Wants

This is the absolute most critical thing you should do if you’re planning the bachelor party. Asking the groom what he wants to do will allow you to create the perfect party for him (not for you). It might be that he wants to have one last crazy night, but chances are, it’ll be some activity that you haven’t even thought of only to be shared between him and his close friends. Maybe he just wants to go fishing for a weekend. It could be that he wants to go tailgate, attend a local sporting event (baseball, football, basketball, hockey, pro wrestling), and head back for a game of poker with the boys. Whatever it is, chances are you don’t know what it is off the top of your head, so don’t try to live to a stereotype and throw some wild night “just because” – just give the guy what he wants.

Plan it Well in Advance

Try not to throw something together at the last second. Guys really look forward to these things and being able to plan out well in advance is a huge factor in a successful party. This way, the guys can make their plans (both personally and professionally) to ensure that they can attend. It’s a huge bummer if one of the groom’s best friends can’t attend because of poorly put together last-second plans!

Have Fun and Be Smart

Have fun. Just not too much, right? Whether you plan a wild night out or just decide to kick it at your home for a poker night, make sure if you’ve planned the party you remain in charge. This means watching out for potential drunk drivers and arranging for cabs if someone’s had a few too many, which is practically inevitable. Also make sure everyone is behaving, because a visit from the local police department will ruin (and end) any bachelor party.

Filed Under: General

Eiffel Tower Proposal

November 17, 2012 Leave a Comment

Recently I took a trip with my husband to Paris, France! One of the most romantic cities in the world!

One of my favorite sites was the Eiffel tower. This is the tallest building in Paris, and is the symbol of France. When I got close to it, I was so drawn to it, and could not believe how tall it was! I stood under it, and it was massive!

As we took the long elevator ride up the tower,  I wondered how many proposal’s have taken place here?  I thought how cliche  it is and not so special, as so many people have done it.

When you get to the top, I see how romantic it can be, as the whole city beneath you, and you are all alone on top of the world! Well not exactly, there are about thousand other people too. It didn’t matter, as it was a wonderful view with a wonderful person.  We watched the sunset drop behind the city, and shared a kiss. I did see how so many have chosen this spot to propose.

If you  plan to propose…make a trip to Paris, France and do it on the Eiffel Tower. Yeah, many have done it, but now I see why.  So romantic!

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TLC’s Four Weddings Episode Recap: November 15th

November 16, 2012 Leave a Comment

Did you watch last night’s episode of “Four Weddings” on TLC? Here is a recap of the episode:

TLC’s “Four Weddings” November 15th Episode

Who are the Brides?: 

  • Julie loves everything that is Hollywood glamour.  She had an intimate black tie event set at a luxurious farm house. The ceremony took place outside the gorgeous estate with tiki torches lighting the pathways. All the groomsmen were dressed in tuxedos and the bridesmaids in simple grey dresses. The reception was also set outside with a large table set for her fifty guests. The centerpieces were vases with light toned colored flowers. Julie showed off three different dresses throughout the day.  All the guests had a lobster tail entree.
  • Brittany a passionate and loving bride who had her wedding set in the gorgeous hills of the countryside. The ceremony was set in a lovely small chapel hidden in the canyon hills.  The reception was held on a beautiful veranda overlooking the stunning views of the canyon. The reception was full of love and featured a heartfelt speech by her father.  It was so touching. The cake had a personal cake topper which was her in her bridal gown with her groom in his duck hunting outfit, and a duck sitting close.
  • Stacey is a city girl bride who married a country cowboy. Her wedding took place on the fourth of July weekend. The ceremony was on a stretched lawn featuring a beautiful wooden archway. Her dress was A-line one strapped dress which fit  her beautifully. The reception was outside in a backyard barbecue style.  Stacey loves shoes, and so all the tables were named after shoes.  Dinner was buffet style with cupcakes as dessert. The dancing took place inside the barrel room and guests go country with some line dancing.
  • Natalie is a quirky bride who loves the mountains. Set on a mountain top surrounded by redwood trees, her ceremony was magical. The couple shared personal vows with each other which made it even more magical.  The cocktail hour  had lawn games for all the guests to enjoy and have some fun.  The outside reception featured purple and white floating lanterns, purple linens, and a vase of  beautiful flowers at each guest table.

Cool factor:  There was one detail from each wedding that stood out for me. Julie’s edible flowers in the drink was such a great idea. It is very unique as it is not everday that you have a flower in your drink. One that you can actually eat! I thought it went great with her elegant affair theme. Brittany had a guest bench which had their names and the date of the wedding on it. Instead of a traditional guest book, their guests signed this personalized bench. I thought it was such a cute idea that I have never seen before. It was perfect for their countryside wedding.  Stacey’s wedding had all the groomsmen and the groom dressed in cowboy attire. Even the officiant went country! What a great touch to the city loving and country loving wedding theme. What I loved at Natalie’s wedding was the impeccable service during the dinner hour. The dinner was buffet style, and when guests were ready to return to their seats, a waiter would carry your dinner plate and walk back with you. I think this was so elegant and lovely and made the guests feel like a star. They can walk back with a personal escort, how nice!

Who won? Congrats to Brittany for winning!  She and her husband won an all expenses paid honeymoon to the British Virgin Islands.  I was not surprised about Britanny winning at all, she seemed to deserve it! While I can not account for the food since I wasn’t actually there, all the other details – venue, dress, and originality – were owned by Brittany’s wedding, easily exceeding the rest. I thought that every detail of her wedding reflected her canyon loving theme. The great love that she shared with her groom definitely  showed at her wedding. It looked like a happy, fun, and lovely wedding to be at, and I’m sure viewers (like me) could tell how in love the couple was. Great job Brittany!  So how did the other three brides score? Natalie came in second, Stacey in third, and Julie in fourth place. Were you surprised by the results?

Stay tuned to Bridal Hot List for more TLC updates on wedding themed shows!
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TLC’s Four Weddings Sneak Peek: November 15th

November 15, 2012 Leave a Comment

Are you ready for this week’s sneak peak of  “Four Weddings” which airs on TLC? This show features four completely different brides who attend each other’s weddings with one wedding being deemed “the winner” at the end. The brides rate the food, dress, venue, originality, and overall experience of each wedding, except for their own. At the end, all the scores of each bride are tallied, and the one with the highest score wins an all expenses paid honeymoon.

On tonight’s episode the four brides are: A glamorous bride, a canyon loving bride, a city girl bride, and a mountain loving bride. Each of these brides share their unique style and taste on their wedding day. Which bride will be your favorite? Which bride’s detail’s will you like the best? Which dress will stand out the most? What ceremony will be the most touching? Which bride do you think will win? What do I think? You will have to wait until Friday where I will provide a re-cap on this episode. All I can tell you know is that you do not want to miss this episode, it will blow you away!

TLC’s Four Weddings airs tonight at 9/8c. So set your DVR’s, or watch it live tonight!

For more information on Four Weddings, check out the website: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/four-weddings

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The Perfect Gift from Bottega Louie

November 14, 2012 Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago my sister and I headed to downtown LA to go to a concert at LA LIVE. Before heading over to the show, we stopped by Bottega Louie, a nice restaurant in downtown LA. This was highly recommended by a friend, and so we decided to go. We walked in and something caught my eye. A tower of macarons.  I was mesmerized! Then I saw a huge glass case of colorful macarons displayed for my tasteful eyes to see. It was so amazing. I could not stop staring at all the different colored macarons. Here we are taking a photo with the beautiful display behind us. We were very happy! We were so distracted, we forgot we were hungry for dinner and were ready to order some dessert instead. After some time of drooling over the delicious treats, we decided to sit down for a nice dinner. A nice dinner indeed. We made sure to save room for dessert, so we can go back and order some macarons. Bottega Louie has more than just macarons. They have a huge array of pastries. I felt like I was back in Paris where I had some of the best pastries.

Everything looked so good, I could not decide what to order. I knew for sure I was going to order macarons. That was already decided on when I walked in earlier that evening. There was so many other yummy treats that I wanted to try as well.  As I was trying to decide what to order, my sister noticed the cute gift boxes of wrapped sweet treats behind us.

I loved how they were packaged, very elegant and stylish.

These make for a perfect gift for your guests at your wedding, or for those out of town guests, you can include them in the welcome guest bags. These also make great gifts for bridal shower favors, or rehearsal dinner treats. Whether is is chocolate, macarons, or any other declicous treat, they are great for gifts!

So what did I order? Well, I ended up ordering a pistacho macaron, a salty caramel macaron, and  a vanilla macaron. Oh I also got an eclair, they looked too good to pass up.

Did they taste good? I took one bite, and my eyes rolled in the back of my head. It was fresh, and tasted like heaven. Yes, if I could taste heaven, it would taste like a macaron. I recommend stopping by and trying it out. You will see why they make the perfect gift.

!bon appétit!

 

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Carmel Apple Wedding Treats

November 13, 2012 Leave a Comment

Remember as a kid at the carnival or amusement park you would get a Carmel apple? They tasted so good and was so much fun to eat! Well you don’t have to be a kid to have one! Actually you can have them at your wedding.  Yes, its true. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, this is a really cute idea. It is unique and something that you and your guests will remember.  These delightful apples can also be given as wedding favors for your guests to take home and enjoy. What a great idea right?

What is great about these apples, are they can be designed specifically for you. Whether you want  the “classic” Carmel apple, or something with some colors and designs, these apples look and taste great. Who would have thought that you can have Carmel apples at a wedding, I sure did not!

Here is the website for more information on sweet gourmet treats click this

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Weddings at the St. Regis Monarch Beach, California

November 12, 2012 Leave a Comment

Southern California has some of the most beautiful shorelines in the world. Along this shoreline, you will find a luxurious and lavish resort set in the city of Monarch Beach, California. The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort offers four star restaurants, golf, pool time, a private beach club, spa, and beautiful accommodations. The St. Regis resort is a perfect venue to hold a wedding, offering a variety of wedding locations to choose from.

You can have your ceremony on a expansive lawn overlooking a grand pool and views of the Pacific Ocean, or  have your ceremony immersed in a beautiful botanical garden featuring lush trees, flowers, and a romantic fountain, or an intimate outdoor terrace with ocean views.

Imagine your reception in one of the grand ballrooms featuring magnificent chandeliers, mirrors,  stunning staircases or choose from one of  the resort’s four star restaurants with ocean views. Whatever  location you choose, it will be nothing short of exceptional.

For appetizers, main courses, desserts, and drinks, the St. Regis offers a wide variety of menu options offered for you and your guests. You and your guests will be very satisfied! Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you that the food is amazing.

If that is not enough, this exceptional resort offers a spa for you and your guests to relax before the big day, a salon where you can have your hair and make-up done at, all featuring signature five star service.  If you want to be pampered, relaxed, have gorgeous ceremony and reception locations, and impeccable service, then the St. Regis resort is the place to be.

What is unique about having your wedding at the St. Regis resort is the opportunity for a one year  St. Regis Monarch Beach membership offered to the bride and groom. This membership includes benefits such as full access to the resort’s three pools, full access to the fitness facilities, salon and spa discounts, exclusive guest-room rates, Monarch Beach golf links, and exclusive dining discounts. This is a great deal to take advantage of if you live in the area! So the resort experience does not have to last for just one day, but for one year. Amazing! This is a wonderful chance to enjoy all that the resort offers for you and your new love.

If you want a unforgettable wedding for you and your guests, then you should consider the St. Regis for your wedding event!

For more information on weddings at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort visit their official website.

 


 

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How a Groom Can Prepare for the Big Day

November 11, 2012 Leave a Comment
Nice Car

Going for a nice cozy drive in a nice car might be a nice way to prepare for your wedding day!

The day of the wedding, a bride has approximately 8,410 things to do simultaneously. For this reason, she’s surrounded by her friends, family and hired help to prepare her for the big day. Typically, as the groom, you might have three or four things to do. As the joke goes that might be two or three too many with the one single responsibility being to actually show up! Kidding aside, let’s take a look at how a prospective groom might want to prepare for his big day.

Don’t Party the Night Before

The Big Day is also a very long day, so get a good night sleep and don’t go out with the boys painting the town red. The boys are welcome to hang out, kick it, play some video games and watch a movie from the confines of your home, hotel room, or other local spot. Some grooms even have a poker party the night before, ordering food, watching sports and just hanging out which is a great way to spend the night before the wedding. The worst thing to do is have “one last night” on the town going wild. You can just rent The Hangover, you don’t have to live it.

Don’t Go Watch a Movie That Morning

Speaking from personal experience, the popular movie “Batman Begins” was out in IMAX and my groomsman did their best to try and convince me that it would be a great idea to catch the first showing of the film. Thankfully, I didn’t give in, but I’m a little ashamed of how tempted I was! Nevertheless, the point is, don’t make commitments before your wedding if it doesn’t directly involve the wedding. Need to go to the barber for a haircut or shave? That’s good! Want to go out for a nice breakfast or brunch with the guys? No problem. Take up a round of golf? Bad idea – you’ll strain yourself out, get too much sun and use up all the time before your wedding. Be smart!

Don’t Exercise

Normally the best advice is to get a little run in, but you need to think like you’re the Quarterback of the Super Bowl team. Would you really want to risk injury the day of your wedding? Do you really want to stand in front of everyone on a cramped leg or twisted ankle? How are you going to dance if your abs are killing you? The best thing to do is workout the day (or two) before the wedding and do some light stretching in the morning instead of a regular (or strenuous!) workout.

Relax, Have Fun, Take Pictures

Some of the best memories of my wedding day weren’t at the wedding, they were before the wedding getting ready with my best friends and groomsman. We joked around, got dressed together, took pictures – it was really a wonderful and memorable piece of a special day. There’s no reason to get nervous or freak out. You’re about to be the center of attention, go to an amazing party and eat all the food you want. Sounds good to me!

Final Thoughts

The point is, you’ll want to take it easy to prepare for the big day. Make sure you have all your duties taken care of – meaning you have your tux, you have “the ring” safe and secure, and you are completely aware of the timeline so you know when and where you need to be. Don’t do it alone, bring your friends along for the whole day and just have a lot of fun!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: ,
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