Stella & Marvin's Beautiful Wedding!

The day could not have gone any better for Stella and Marvin's beautiful April Wedding at Mira Vista Country Club in El Cerrito. The weather was gorgeous; the bride was stunning! I really enjoyed working with Stella and Marvin because they were just so detailed oriented with every aspect of their wedding, and as a wedding coordinator, I can really appreciate that. Certainly makes my job easier!

What really impressed me was the stage that Marvin hand crafted with his father for the ceremony; (I am sorry I don't have any pictures of it!), but it fit perfectly! What a great project for some father/son bonding, too! I also really loved the bride and groom's first dance. They sure did tear it up the dance floor with their ballroom moves and elegant turns. I would have to say, definitely one of the best first dances I have ever seen! Congratulations again to Stella & Marvin!

Location: Mira Vista Country Club, El Cerrito
Photographer: Bea Ahbeck Photography
Florist: Jory Flowers
Chair rentals: Especially Yours Chair Covers
Cake: Cakes Made by ME




















Look at this gorgeous view! What a perfect way to end the day.

I LOVE being a wedding Guest!

No matter how many weddings I attend or coordinate, I still LOVE them! I have been meaning to post for a while this wedding that I attended as a guest for my friends this spring in Southern California. I would have to say, this is one of the prettiest, most fun weddings I have been to. The factors that made it so great: open bar, photobooth with lots of props, entertaining games and excellent food! I love the purple and damask theme, the couple really did a great job planning this wedding.

Everyone knows that there is tons of work and details that go into planning a wedding. But you know what I noticed, as a guest, you really don't notice these things too much. I do, because I love weddings and am around them all the time, but regular guests don't take into account all the details and time one spends in planning it.... soooo if things don't go according to timeline, if things are not done exactly like how you had planned, guests REALLY will never know. Brides and grooms should totally just relax and have fun on the wedding day. No one will remember if something went wrong or if something didn't look right; guests will remember how much fun they had, how beautiful the bride looked, and whether or not the food was good.


Awesome candy bar designed by their wedding coordinator, Betty Lang of Vanda Events.




Beautiful ceremony site; it just got a little hot!



What cuties!

That's a good looking wedding party! LOVE the purple dresses with the green orchids. Very classy.

Centerpiece at the placecard table.

I LOVE this cake; it's so gorgeous! The damask pattern, the fusia orchids, the purple ribbon, it all went SO well together! Sure did taste good, too!

Ahh... sweet love.

The Royal Dress!

I have been so excited this entire month for the Royal Wedding. I have got hours and hours of it taped and waiting for me at home to watch! I can't wait to see Kate's dress, the reception, the kiss, everything! ... and I can't wait to see the wedding trends that are set for this season!

I am so impressed and WOWed by her wedding gown! Kate's dress was top secret until her reveal on her wedding day, and she looked absolutely stunning! Her dress was a huge success, designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen.

The veil is long, sheer, and modern. It features her hair, which she is wearing down. The veil is made of layers of soft, ivory silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers, which was embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. Kate is also wearing a Cartier 'halo' tiara, lent to her by the Queen. It's a simple but very elegant look. Her train is over six feet long. The sleeves are long and lace and the front is cut in a low V.

Kate wanted her dress to "combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen's work. She worked closely with Sarah Burton in creating the design of her dress."

According to the office royal wedding website, the dress is made with "ivory and white satin gazar. The skirt echoes an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats. The ivory satin bodice, narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry and is a hallmark of Alexander McQueen's designs. "

Kate was successful at keeping not only the look of the dress top secret, but the identity of the designer as well. Considering every detail of the wedding was closely watched by a global media circus for the past few weeks, that is quite an accomplishment.

The princess bride wasn't keeping dress details just from the public; she was keeping them from her husband-to-be. Prince William finally saw the dress after many of the spectators. Kate put in a lot of effort to make sure he did not see it until they met at the altar.
Some rumors even say that Kate had three dresses total; two backups in case the favored dress was somehow leaked to the press. Other reports suggested she'd created the gown herself.

Courtesy of Yahoo! news

Refreshing Escort Cards

How cool is this concept?! Have drinks as your escort cards! This is an especially good idea if you are not planning on serving alcohol or if your cocktail hour is earlier in the afternoon when guests will tend to drink less or no alcohol at all. This would be especially thirst-quenching on a warm spring day. Lemonade or ice tea are great choices... better yet, make it an Arnold Palmer! Perfect for an outdoor cocktail hour.

Confetti Program

What a cute idea! I love this confetti program idea I found on Martha Stewart Weddings. Attach a small clear envelope on the back of your ceremony program with a note telling your guests to shower you newlyweds with the colorful confetti as you make your way back up the aisle. Just be sure your venue allows this.

Color Color Color!!

I love bright, vibrant colors in weddings, especially colors that contrast. Bridesmaids usually wear the same color, but now more and more, I see brides who want their bridesmaids to choose their own style of dress but still sticking to the same color palette. Bridesmaids have a choice and don't have to be stuck wearing a dress that may be unflattering for them.

How cute is this rainbow wedding party?!

What to talk about before getting engaged ....

Planning and being around weddings is so much fun, but we can't forget about all the important factors and issues that go into being in a marriage. I really can't say, because I have yet to marry and experience marriage; some people tell me it is very difficult and takes constant work, while others tell me its the same as being in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. But how can that be? I think the latter aren't thinking about finances, kids, and all those other things you really need to talk to your significant other about before marriage is considered. Marriage is a very intimate, sacred thing that should be taken very seriously.

I found a list of questions that a couple should talk about before considering marriage.. yeah, its heavy stuff, but nonetheless important and eventually an issue that you will come upon at some point in your married life.

Family and Children

• Do you want children? If so, how many?
• Do you want to own any pets? If so, what kind?
• When our parents get older, how will we take care of them?
• If families live close by, how often will be seeing them?
• If our families live far away, how often will we go visit them?

Our Home

• Do we want to own a home or rent?
• Where do we want to raise a family?
• Where do we see yourself retiring?
• What type of home do we want to live in?
• How will we take care of the home and divide up the chores?

Jobs and Finances

• Are we both happy in our careers or do we have other future plans?
• What if one of us gets laid off, what will be our options?
• Is a wedding budget necessary/important to us and what are the expenses we should allocate for (new car, student loans, vacation, family)?
• How much have you been saving and how much do you hope to continue saving?
• What current bank and credit cards do you use and should we combine accounts?
  
  
  Hopefully both of you are on the same page about these questions, but it's ok if you're not! That's why it's a good idea to talk about it before getting married. As intimidating as these questions may be, remember that open and honest communication helps to build a solid foundation for a good marriage.