ceremony Archives - Page 4 of 8

Weddings at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa

December 2, 2013 Leave a Comment

I do not know about you, but I am still in a food coma after the long weekend. But man was it worth it! Mondays are always tough, but even harder when it follows a long weekend full of festivities. (eating, shopping, sleeping, eating more, enjoying family time, etc). But don’t you worry, we’ve got something that will kick start your day into full wedding loving gear! We’ve got a gorgeous and luxurious venue with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa offers more than just beautiful accommodations. This beach front resort offers award-winning restaurants, a full-service salon, pool time, a phenomenal spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and many more extraordinary services. This resort offers venue locations for your reception and ceremony with the most amazing and jaw-dropping gorgeous details. Oh, and even some with incredible ocean views! Thats why it is the perfect destination for weddings- for out of town or local guests. As soon as you check in, you enter an ultimate paradise.

For appetizers, main courses, desserts, and drinks, the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa 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 mouthwatering, delicious, and oh-so-good! The chefs know how to get to a food lovers heart! You and your guests will be fully satisfied.

If that is not enough, this exceptional resort offers a world class spa for you and your guests to relax before the big day, and a salon where you can have your hair and make-up done, all featuring first class service. If you want to be pampered, relaxed, have access to all the amazing services, gorgeous ceremony and reception locations, and impeccable service, then the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa is the place to be.

Aaron Wilcox Photography

Bleu Cotton Photography

If you want a unforgettable wedding, whether it is intimate and romantic, or an extravagant affair, then you should consider the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa for your wedding event!

For more information on weddings at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa visit their official website.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beach wedding, bride, ceremony, groom, Hotel wedding, Huntington Beach, HYATT REGENCY HUNTINGTON BEACH RESORT & SPA, orange county, reception, wedding

Five Tips for Thank You Notes

November 26, 2013 1 Comment

Tis the season to be thankful! Thank you notes have, sadly, become a lost art. There’s nothing like a hand-written thank you note to make your friends and family feel truly appreciated for their presence and/or presents. Thank you notes can be tricky though, especially if you’re exhausted from all the wedding mayhem. Here at Bridal Hot List, we’re suckers for sentimentality and we have a few tips to make your ‘thank you’s memorable as your ‘I do’s.

Have an Address Sheet

An organized bride is a prepared bride. Hang on to your addresses from your save the dates and invitations so you can use them for thank you notes. If you get any cards or packages in the mail from loved ones who couldn’t make the ceremony, hang on to the return addresses. If it helps, keep all the addresses stored in an excel sheet with the person’s name, then address, then what they gave (so you can thank them specifically for it!).

Personalize Everything

What makes for a well thought-out gift? Making it personal, and the same goes for thank you notes. Don’t be tempted by the easiness of buying a box of fifty generic ‘thank you’ notes and just signing them all before shipping them out. It may be tedious, but the effort will not go unnoticed. Be sure to thank the person specifically for whatever they got you. If they didn’t get you anything, thank them for showing their support and joining you in the celebration. You want to make sure your loved ones do feel like you appreciate them as much as you do.

Make it Fun

Keep it light! The formalities are over (for now). Get personalized cards made from the wedding that remind your loved ones immediately how much fun the wedding was. Including a group wedding picture or fun newlywed pictures is a cute way to personalize your thank you notes. If your style is more simplistic, opt for typography cards similar to your wedding invites. You can order personalized stamps with an image of the wedding if you want to do something subtle, or even add on to make it super personalized.

Opt for Handwritten

When was the last time you got a handwritten note? Handwriting makes notes feel just that more special and personalized. If you don’t want your wrist to cramp up, you can opt to scan your handwriting in and turn it into a font online. Free online tools like MyScriptFont.com make this super easy. At the very least, make sure you and your partner both sign each card and write a quick ‘thank you’ or ‘love you’. If you have time, try to add something specific regarding the gift or your relationship. Inside jokes can go a long way.

Mail it Promptly

You deserve a break after planning the biggest day of your life, but it’s smart to send your ‘thank you’s as soon as possible. If you’re doing your honeymoon immediately after the ceremony, be sure to have your notes in the mail within two weeks of your return, preferably within one week. Your loved ones know that you want to enjoy your time as a newlywed, but it is simply good manners to thank people promptly.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: ceremony, gifts, manners, presents, thank you, wedding, wedding guests

Five Tips for Booking Hotel Venues

November 24, 2013 Leave a Comment

Looking for a property for a wedding can be difficult. If you’ve decided that you want to have your ceremony and/or reception at a hotel- you’re in luck! Most hotels are ready to accommodate weddings and large ceremonies, and in fact are one of the better venue options for weddings. There are, however, so many options and it’s very easy to get overwhelmed. We have a few tips to help guide you through it all, exclusively here on Bridal Hot List.

Define Before you Find

‘Hotel’ is a blanket term, and that covers a whole lot of different types of properties. This can include resorts, beach front properties, historic buildings, and boutiques. A wedding venue should reflect the couple, so narrow your options based on your couple personality. If you’re big readers or trivia buffs, look for a historic property in your nearest downtown area. If you’re laid back and like to relax together, a nice beach-y hotel near the water would make for a beautiful back drop. It can be easy to get wrapped up in going to whatever property is trendy, newest, or even closest, but in the long run you will want to find a place you are proud to tie the knot.

Have a Headcount

Have a ballpark number (within 15 people, max) of how many people will be attending. The more accurate you are with your numbers, the more accurate will be with their numbers. You may want to book the grand ballroom, but you may not be able to fill it. If that’s the case, there’s no point in spending extra money on it. You should also have an idea of how many out of town guests you have coming in who will need a hotel room. Some hotels will be able to work with you to factor in hotel room nights in addition to your wedding area. In dealing with hotels, I’ve found more often than not, bundling hotel rooms in with a meeting space can save you a bit of money.

Follow Up

If you start with looking online, shoot an e-mail to the sales manager saying you’re interested. If you’re going to properties to look around, ask for a business card. It’s smart to start building relationships with hotels as soon as possible to be able to get great rates. Hotel people tend to be loyal to clients they have histories with. If you’ve seen a property before or had a great time, mention it and they will absolutely appreciate a return customer! Plus, having a friend in the hotel business can definitely be beneficial to you. You can ask them for recommendations later on for trips and fun destinations.

Do a Test Run

If you’re in the finalizing process, it could be helpful to ask if you can do a walk-through of the property at the time of your wedding. If the lighting at night is awful, it will probably sway your mind. If the mornings are loud due to commutes or trains or anything else, you’ll want to know before you sign a check. If you can afford to, stay the night and make sure you absolutely love it. You may even be able to get a great discount if you explain that you are strongly considering having a ceremony there!

Negotiate

Rates are not always black and white. If you’re getting ready to draft contracts, work with the salesperson to get your rates as close to your budget as possible. Work with them on bundling to save costs, like having a few friends staying at the same hotel or even booking both the ceremony and reception in the same place. Work with their catering department and see if the property can lump all your expenses together. Little things you can help save you venue money overall. You can even ask for other discounts, such as AAA, student, or anything else you can come up with. Being creative can result in some surprising savings!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: ceremony, honeymoon, hotel, reception, resort, venue, wedding, wedding event

Top Three Winter Venue Ideas

November 19, 2013 Leave a Comment

Winter is a time of celebrating with family and friends, keeping warm and cuddling by the fire. Though winter often gets a bad reputation for chilly weather, that doesn’t make it off limits for hosting a wonderful wintery wedding. There are plenty of ways to have your dream winter wedding but here are our top three favorite ideas for choosing a winter wedding venue.

Estate and Mansion Weddings

Winter is the perfect season for an estate or mansion wedding. Since the weather outside is cold and dark, create a warm and inviting haven for your guests. Candlelight is key in the wintertime. The warm glow will softly illuminate your space giving it that romantic feel essential for a winter wedding. An important thing to remember about winter nuptials is that your venue may already be beautifully decorated for the holidays. Be sure to visit your decorated venue to see what you have to work with.

Break with Convention

Since winter is not the traditional wedding season, why not choose a nontraditional venue? Instead of hosting your day at a hotel or church how about a library? Old stone libraries can provide the same gothic look as a church but in a refreshing new way. I have also seen weddings at theaters, museums and at the zoo! Treat your guests to something new and different and share in those special memories for years to come.

Christmas in Hawaii?

Before you set out venue shopping decide how wintery you want your wedding to be. Are we talking New England with five feet of snow or 70 degree beach weather in Hawaii? The great thing about a wedding in the off season is off season prices! Many vendors offer discounted prices during the winter months and venues are more likely to have a wider selection of available dates. If you are planning to travel be careful around the holidays since fares increase closer to Christmas and New Years.

Enjoy planning a spectacular winter wedding!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: ceremony, estate wedding, reception, venue, winter, winter wedding, winter wedding venue

Five Drinks to Avoid Before Your Wedding

November 16, 2013 Leave a Comment

Bubbly

Put down the diet soda and step away from the table. Any form of carbonation can make you bloat, and that’s not something you want to remember forever in your wedding photos. That mimosa may be the perfect thing for brunch, but that bubbly won’t leave you feeling bubbly. Darker carbonated drinks can also leave your teeth stained over time, and that’s never a good look. If you want something sweet, opt for an all-natural juice. An even healthier option is to slice up some fresh fruit and chill it with your water.

Red Wine

Two words: stained teeth. Even if you’re trying to pair something with a steak, it may be better to save your glass for a white wine with your salad and appetizers. Even if you’re a few days out from your wedding, you want to make sure your teeth are as white as possible for all your pictures. If you can, hold off on alcohol as much as possible all together. Drinking can affect your skin through dehydration, and also cause your immune system to suffer. With a wedding coming up, you can’t afford to risk any of these things happening.

Meal Replacement Drinks

Meal replacement drinks may sound like an easy way to cut back on your eating overall, but they can mess with your system. It’s best to stay healthy the old fashioned way- fruits, veggies, and water. Cutting corners can not only affect the way your body processes food, but also it can affect your brain. If you’re not eating a true meal, your body may feel more tired and get agitated more easily. Hunger can do crazy things to your brain, and that’s not something that you need to risk right now. Treat your body to what it wants.

“Diet” Drinks

Diet sodas can be just as harmful as regular sodas and the same goes for diet juices and drink mixes. Your body processes and breaks down traditional sugar a certain way, and artificial sugars another way. However if you drink enough diet drinks, your body will end up processing artificial sugar the exact same way it processes traditional sugar. You may think you’re saving a few calories here and there, but in the long run it will be just as harmful as regular soda. It’s best to just avoid them and opt for a healthier choice.

Dessert Drinks

A Frappuccino may sound fantastic right now, but even if you skip the whipped crème those calories still add up. If you get yourself a caramel mocha you have to factor it into your dessert calories, and not just as a drink. It can be so easy to forget how your delicious smoothie can be more calories than a bowl of ice cream. If you’re working on slimming down, be smart about your drink choices. Those calories you’re sipping can add up quicker than you imagine!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bride, ceremony, diet, drink, food, health, wedding

Five Ways to Use Your Extra Hour

November 3, 2013 Leave a Comment

Happy daylight savings day! Today we are granted a whole extra hour. Sure, it may be tempting to sleep in, but you could be productive. If you’re up and about and ready to take on your extra hour, we’re right there with ya!

Go Over Your Budget

Crunching numbers can be boring, but you’ve got an extra hour so hey- buck up and get it done! Excel sheets are one of the easiest ways to have a financial snapshot of your wedding. If you’re not great with excel, grab a tech savvy friend or watch a few tutorials. It’s quite easy to make spreadsheets that will calculate all your expenses so you can keep track of spending.

Practice Your Looks

Do you know your best angle? Do you know your best smile? Take some time and check yourself out in the mirror! Have a set go-to pose for photos that you know you will feel great doing. If you’d like some tips on how to get your best photo-ready look, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Primp, Primp, Primp

You can use this extra hour for something that will make you feel better now- taking care of yourself! Deep condition your hair or give yourself a sea salt scrub. Doing something small like a blackhead removal strip on your nose can make your face feel instantly fresher. If you want to get more and more detailed, try a more advanced move like a lip exfoliator.

Partner Up

Take some time with your fiance to talk wedding talk. It can be crazy times right now, and you don’t want to get wrapped up in the chaos of it all. Go out for omelettes with your extra hour and talk about what you love about each other. Treat each other to love letters. Take time to slow down and enjoy being in love with each other.

Plan Ahead

Remember that there’s still wedding work after the wedding! Plan ahead for thank you cards early so you can really kick back and relax after you’re married. If you’re going to use a photo from the wedding ceremony on your thank you cards, plan for it. Think about doing customized stamps with your rings to add a sweet touch. It could also help to have all of your guest’s names and addresses all in one place, like a spreadsheet. that way you can cross off their names when you write thank you cards. Some small prep now will save you time (and maybe a headache!) later.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bridal, brides, ceremony, planning, prep, wedding

Five Tips for Building Your Wedding Menu

October 27, 2013 Leave a Comment

One of the more fun parts of planning a wedding is getting to test run the menu! The most biggest day of your life should automatically come with the best meal of your life. Here’s a few tips to keep you en route to the dinner you deserve!

Don’t Starve Yourself

You should meet with your caterers with an appetite- but if you’re too hungry it’ll change the way you remember food! At the very least, have breakfast that fills you up but isn’t carb heavy. By giving your body something to run off of, you’ll meet your caterer much more level-headed.

Take Notes

In instances like this, it is completely acceptable to instagram your food! Take notes with each bite, writing down what the dish is, its’ consistency, flavor, and if you liked it or not. It can also help to take pictures so you can imagine how it will look against your linens and color palette. Make sure you write down whether or not your partner likes it too- it may be your big day, but you have to (at least) try to agree on food.

Bring a Friend (or two!)

Your wedding should be all about the couple, but just remember it’s an event for all your friends and family as well! As a couple, it could be a good idea to bring a friend (the best man or maid of honor, for instance) to call tie breakers on the menu or offer insight on appetizers. Just don’t bring too many people, you want to keep how awesome the food is close to heart until the big day!

Don’t Rush

Even if you’ve got your heart set on one specific caterer, it’s a good idea to ‘shop around’ and see what kind of caterers are out there. It can be easy when you’re stuffed full of crab cakes to want to say yes to the first caterer you see, but waiting can pay off. Make sure you make your most informed decision before putting down a deposit.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

If you hate spicy, speak up! If you’re seeing lots of steak and are more of a seafood gal, let your caterer know. A wedding as a whole should accurately represent the couple it is celebrating. Your partner may have to have their favorite comfort food, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for yours! You and your partner should have say in the food and both be happy with the menu.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bridal, bride, ceremony, food, reception, vendor, wedding, weddings

Five Tips for Having An Organized Wedding

October 26, 2013 Leave a Comment

Your wedding is going to be one of the most amazing experiences of your life- but also one of the most hectic. If you really want everything to go smoothly, you need to be prepared. Here at BHL, our goal is to always keep our brides taken care of and prepared for everything wedding related. We’ve got a few quick tips for all you blushing brides out there looking to avoid stress and be organized for their big day.

Hire A Planner

The best advice we have to give here at BHL? Hire a professional! Professional wedding planners are absolutely the best way to go for putting a wedding together. Not only will they take care of all the heavy lifting for you, they will guide you down the right path for organizing your perfect wedding. Our go-to gal? Niloufar Gibson, the mastermind of Perfectly Made Weddings in Southern California.

Create a Calendar

Grab yourself one of those huge desk calendars that have plenty of space to write in itineraries. This way, you can check to see what’s coming up at a quick glance. It keeps all your dates straight and helps give you and your fiance a sense of a timeline. Bonus points for keeping it color coded.

Keep It Together

Don’t keep stacks of wedding stuff here and there and everywhere! Many brides have binders that hold things like contracts, ideas, photos, everything wedding-related. Binders are easy because they can expand and tabs make it super easy to keep everything organized. You may want to consider getting a “bride bag”, or something similar, as well. That way, if you want to stash whole books, fabric samples, magazines, anything that wouldn’t fit in a binder.

Don’t Be Afraid to Let Go

Feel free to delegate! Yes, it is your day, but you should feel free to let go a little bit. For example, let yourself trust your maid of honor to keep your bridesmaids in check. Let your mom take over checking on family RSVPs. Feel free to trust your loved ones for your most beloved day.

Have a Countdown

Have something to remind yourself of what you’re working towards! Set an online countdown to your wedding date as your homepage up until the big day. Remember you’re working towards a goal date- it’ll keep everything in perspective and keep you looking forward!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bride, ceremony, organization, wedding, weddings

Weddings at Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

October 22, 2013 Leave a Comment

As we say goodbye to summer and the ever popular beach wedding, let’s take a moment to consider an often over looked type of bride. What about us city girls? The trick is to find a city venue that is just as romantic as the beach but has that unmistakable energy of the city. Nestled in the heart of one of the most colorful cities in the country, The Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is a spectacular wedding venue. Surrounded by fabulous entertainment, shopping and history, weddings by the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills are definitely unforgettable.

The Four Seasons offers wedding planning services to take care of every last detail. From the wedding license to the flowers, décor and even guest transportation, let your wedding specialist make all the necessary arrangements. They conveniently offer two wedding packages, including one for newly legalized same sex weddings. In true LA fashion, the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills offers endless ways to treat yourself before you say I do. In the days before your wedding arrange for a special visit to the hotel spa where you can choose from a variety of packages for the bride, groom and bridal party. You may want to treat your bridesmaids to free flowing champagne and a signature mani/pedi all in preparation for the big day. The spa also offers a romantic couples package including a couples massage, facials, manicures and champagne. What a perfect pre-wedding relaxation regimen!

The hotel offers a variety of venue options depending upon the size of your event. Wetherly gardens is the perfect location for an outdoor ceremony. The hotel garden space seats up to 250 guests while still maintaining an intimate atmosphere. The venue landscape is encased by beautiful greenery interspersed with luxurious flowers. Dance the night away in the warm Los Angeles weather and celebrate being husband and wife in style. As we travel inside the hotel, the beauty and luxury of the Four Seasons is best displayed in the ballroom reception venue. With the ability accommodate 250 guests, the ballroom is the epitome of reception grandeur. The venue is classically romantic and chic with arched French windows, Venetian crystal chandeliers all warmly lit by the soft glow of crystal wall sconces. Once dressed with your theme colors and floral arrangements the space becomes breathtaking.

Also, your guests are in for a particularly delicious treat when it comes to dining at the Four Seasons. I was lucky enough to sample some of the chef’s cuisine and it is simply divine! They are able to create a menu around any cultural or religious preferences. No matter what you choose from cocktail hour hors d’oeuvres to a full four course meal it will be some of the best food you’ve ever tasted!

For more information visit the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills website.

More about the Four Seasons…

Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills features a stunning Ballroom, which is the perfect backdrop blending timeless elegance with the bride’s unique vision to set the scene. The Ballroom comfortably seats 250 guests for a customized four-course dinner prepared by our talented culinary team. The beautiful windows give natural light to this grand ballroom. A palette of creamy neutral tones amid the standing traditional architecture with delicate shears, and a contemporary garden-inspired carpet design, hone in to sophistication for the perfect wedding, along with our unrivaled personal service. Our staff prides themselves on attention to the finest detail.

The ceremony location is a stunning Wetherly Garden with Italian tiles and built in stage, with a lush lawn surrounded by flowering plants and trees. Executive Chef Ashley James is a culinary talent, who prides himself on customizing every menu to suit each guest’s specific tastes and preferences. The wedding space offers grand outdoor gardens and tiled patios, offering a true California experience for ceremony and receptions. The ballroom is intimate, chic and elegant, and features paladium windows which overlook trees and gardens. Our catering and banquet teams are experts in their field and manage each and every aspect of the planning to the wedding day to ensure a wonderful, personal and memorable experience.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Beverly Hills, bride, ceremony, Four Seasons, Los Angeles, reception, venue, wedding, wedding venue

Seven Tips for Being Picture Perfect

October 20, 2013 Leave a Comment

Stand Up Straight

Posture can be a fifteen pound difference! If it helps, try to pull your shoulders back and keep your spine straight. Think long and tall and you’ll look lean and graceful.

Relax Your Eyes

You want to look happy and relaxed when you’re smiling, not like you’re trying to read a sign sixty feet away. Don’t try too hard to look awake or alert, just focus on keeping your face relaxed and your mood up.

Know Your Angles

Standing at a three-quarters angle is typically regarded as one of the most flattering angles for women. This angle can be very slimming and create a curvy silhouette, particularly if you angle your shoulders to be a little lower towards the camera. However, if it isn’t in your comfort zone, don’t feel pressured to do it! You should feel as good as you look, and look as good as you feel. If you love the way you look facing front, go for it!

Show Off Your Arms

Try to avoid leaving your arms down by your side. It can make your shoulders look low and your body look slouchy. Place your hands gently on your hips to show off your long limbs, or around a friend’s shoulders to hide anything you don’t love.

Fluff Your Hair

If you suffer from limp hair, take a second to flip your hair around for product-free insta-volume. Run your fingers through the sides of your hair quickly to ease fly aways that may have developed. Finally, pull some of your hair over your shoulders to frame your face. You spent time on your hair getting it ready- you should show it off!

Do A Foundation Test

Before you head out for the day, make sure your foundation is the right shade. Your skin tone can vary depending on your sun exposure throughout different times of the year. This means that if you only do one shade of foundation year round, it may not always match your current skin tone! Take a high-res picture of yourself in light similar to that of the wedding (if it’s outdoor, go outside. If it’s at night and inside, try inside with the flash on) to ensure you’re wearing the right shade. Make sure your neck and your face are not contrasting colors.

Don’t Raise Any Brows

If you color in your eyebrows, make sure they work with your skin tone and hair color. Full brows are in right now, but don’t let that sway you into overdoing your brows!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beauty, bridal, ceremony, photography, style, tips, wedding