Real Weddings: Mina & Chris

I had the wonderful privilege of planning and designing Mina & Chris' intimate, but fabulous 2011 Fourth of July nuptials. Their wedding was suppose to occur in May 2012...but with a quick change of plans, I had to plan their dream destination wedding in just three weeks! Funny how things fall into place.

This wedding was pretty unique for me, and it seems to be the trend with other couples I am working with as well. I never met the Chris and Mina until, literally, two days before their wedding day. I didn't even know what they looked like...but I did take a peek at their Facebook pages, just so I would have a clue and get a sense of their style. We did not friend each other until after the wedding. Let's just say I had some anxiety at some of my choices for them, especially the estate they were having their wedding and staying at, which was booked solely on my recommendations! 

I picked up Mina on the curb near Nordstroms in Santa Barbara to get her dress pressed...she had literally just gotten off the plane and was walking around downtown SB with luggage and dress in hand! Mina and Chris lives in VA. The planning and design was all done through email...literally! I think we spoke once on the phone and that was before they hired me! Everything from the estate to all the selections were done with the email approval process...some things they just left up to me to do and trusted my judgement...scary considering I've never met them as a couple...but I was also confident in my ability to create a fabulous event. I am just happy they loved their wedding and was pleased with the outcome.

Their wedding was held on a beautiful Fourth of July Day, clear in Santa Barbara, with beautiful 360 degree views all the way to the ocean from the estate. The wedding took place during the early evening just in time for them to sit down and enjoy a sunset dinner! The party ended with two firework shows which the family enjoyed while having s'mores at a firepit on the estate.

Their wedding was surrounded by immediate family only and it made such a touching moment throughout the day. It was great to be part of their family for the day and to see the love they have surrounding them! Congratulations Mina and Chris!

 

The Vendors:
Planning and Design by Percy Sales Events
Flowers by Wendy Smith Tremiti of Your Image Floral Design
Photography by Shelly Vinson Photography
Catering by Tamara's Catering
Hair and Make Up: Ja'Nice Estrada with DeVenir Beauty
Ceremony and Dinner Music by Anthony Ybarra
Officiant: Gail Kelley Murray
Location and Accommodations: Fair Hills Estate, Santa Barbara
Cupcakes by Whodelicious
Linens by La Tavola
Rentals by The Tent Merchant

Songs You Will be Hearing at 2011 Summer Weddings!

We all know how music can make or break a wedding...better yet the party...but how do we know what songs are going to make your guests BUST A MOVE? Well it's hard to say, really, as every wedding/party/event has it's own vibe and guests. But choosing the type of music you want your DJ or band to play is an important detail as you have a better insight on what your guests like to party too.

Most DJ's and bands also have a great way of feeling out the crowd and finding ways to keep the dance floor packed and moving. Personally, I have worked with fantastic DJs that really know how to make a party a party and keeps the tunes coming and the dance floor hopping! But it is important to give your DJ or band some background on what your guests are like and what they may be in to music wise! I realize you can't make everyone happy with your music choices, but I guarantee you will help elevate the party to the atmosphere you are hoping to achieve by giving some background on your peeps.

With that said I am listing the songs you will hear at almost every wedding in the 2011 Summer Wedding Season. Hope this helps you with your own party playlist! Here's my "guaranteed to hear songs" and my suggestions on when they should be played:

Non-Traditional Ceremony Recessional: Lady Gaga - The Edge of Glory

Grand Entrance: Taio Cruz - Dynamite

First Dance: Lady Antebellum - Just A Kiss

Father/Daughter Dance: Rascal Flatts - I Won't Let Go

Mother/Son Dance: Adele - Love Song

Bouquet Toss: Beyonce - Run The World (Girls)

Garter Toss: Far East Movement - Like A G6

Cake Cutting: Flo Rida - Sugar

Other Songs You Will Hear This Summer on the Dance Floor at Weddings and Parties

Jennifer Lopez - On the Floor



Britney Spears - Till the World Ends



Ke$ha - We R Who We R



Cee Lo Green - Forget You



Enrique Inglesias - I Like It



Rihanna - S & M



Lady Gaga - Born This Way



Nikki Minaj - Super Bass



Bruno Mars - Just the Way You Are



Chris Brown - She Ain't You



P!nk - Raise Your Glass



Justin Bieber - Baby

Real Weddings: Leilani & Josh - TLC's Battle of The Wedding Designers - Aloha Wedding Bells

That's right...I won TLC's Battle of the Wedding Designers Aloha Wedding Bells Episode (Season 1 Episode 4)! I had the pleasure of competing with two of America's Best Designers and my friends and colleagues, Steve Kemble and Michelle Buckley. I am happy to have beaten the two of them and have the opportunity to design and plan Leilani and Josh's dream wedding!

I wanted to send a special thank you to the vendors who helped me out on TLC's Battle of the Wedding Designers. I appreciate all your help and for being there to make sure that I came in budget for Leilani and Josh's wedding. You are all incredible people and I could have not done this without your support and friendship. Here's to many years of working together and giving all our clients what we do best...quality service with a smile!

The Battle of the Wedding Designers journey was such a great experience and I met some wonderful people along the way. I hope that I can do more of the shows in the future, because I would really love to show more of what I am capable of doing. Plus the challenges are fun. There's a lot of design in me that's wanting to come out and be seen.

What I am most thankful for though is meeting Leilani and Josh and having the opportunity to design their dream wedding with an incredible group of vendors that I love working with! Here's a few photos of some of the details, taken by the incredible Vanessa Honda and Sheena Sales (yes my cousin) of Vanessa Honda Photography, on Leilani and Josh's wedding day.

This was the final product for the floral. Leilani and Josh wanted the pink and green concept. The original plan was to do really plain (black and white with a splash of color - yellow was the original splash for my pitch) which is below.

For the guest book, I opted to do a painted guest book that is now a piece of art that hangs in Leilani and Josh's home. Additionally, I used Capiz shells for both the escort cards and for the wish tree. The wish tree was shells were later transformed into wind chimes for Leilani and Josh's home.

 We had two types of cake due to Leilani's food allergies. The smaller of the two cakes was vegan and gluten free. The cake was designed after my overall inspiration of a Hawaiian Quilt.

 The Plumeria wedding ring was made to reflect Leilani's favorite flower which was used throughout the wedding space as well as accent flowers.

Thank you to the following individuals and companies for bringing my design and concepts for Leilani and Josh's wedding come true! For TV purposes we had to produce this wedding for $12,500 and we could not have done it without the help of some of my wonderful friends. These are the individuals I have to thank with all my heart! All of them incredible to work with!

Floral: Wendy Smith at Your Image Floral Design
Food and Beverage: Doug Biggs at DJ's California Catering
Location: Robert Cassar and Laura Schneider at Rancho de Las Palmas
Cake: Jana Richardson at Jana's Creative Cakes
Rentals: John Leenhouwers at The Tent Merchant
Linen Rentals (Pitch and Wedding Day): Dick Thomas at Sitting Pretty Chair Covers
Linen Rentals (Pitch Day): BBJ Linens
DJ and MC Services: DJ Luke Ferro
Hair and Makeup: Ja'Nice Estrada at Devenir Beauty
Hula and Hawaiian Music (Pitch Day): Kawika Valoria at Halau Hula a Kawika laua 'o Leinani
Hula and Drummers (Wedding Day): UC Santa Barbara's Iorana te Otea Polynesian Group
Photography: Vanessa Honda and Sheena Sales at Vanessa Honda Photography
Photo Lounge: Miguel and Solana Torres at Star Photo Party
Ceremony Pedestal Stands: Hans Lammersdorf at Rotoluxe
Aisle Runner: Stephanie Laudani at Starry Night Designs
Floor Decal: Lauren Atwaters at Ten23 Designs
Custom Garter and Dress Tag: Victoria Joanne at Hand Crafted Creations
Bride's Shoes: Mary Robertson at Nina Shoes
Tattoo Booth: Melissa Perez and Ross Beardsley
Painted Guest Book: Jana Brody at Paint Jam USA
Cookie Favors: Cary Goldberg at Luv Bug Cookies
Coordination Assistance: Gerri Sevilla
Wedding Dress: Prince Charming of Prince Charming's World
Orchid Lei's: Amy Vongpitaka at Amy's Orchids
Hotel Rooms: Tawny Byron at Grand Vista Hotel Simi Valley
Ministers: Deserae Tyae and Chris Kai'aokamalie
Special thanks to Michelle Ah Mook Sang for sharing her Hawaiian culture insights with me.

My deepest appreciation to all of you. Leilani and Josh says Mahalo for making their DREAM WEDDING come true!

Leilani & Josh were married on 5/22/10. Happy One Year Anniversary Leilani & Josh. I love you both very much! Mahalo!

Icon Bride: Kate Middleton aka HRH The Duchess of Cambridge and HRH Princess William of Wales

Kate Middleton just got married a few hours ago, but I know there are brides clamoring to get her wedding day look. The new Duchess of Cambridge/Princess William of Wales wore a beautiful A-line ball gown designed by Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen had signature McQueen all over it with it's contrast of traditional and modern and stunning beauty. Duchess Silk mixed with Lace and hand embroidery on the skirt transformed a simple gown to a gown fit for the future Queen of England! This is the look of the modern bride - simple elegance, understated beauty, timeless styling, couture, and beaming with joy. HRH The Duchess of Cambridge topped off the ensemble with a Chantilly Lace veil, diamond earrings given to her by her parents, and a borrowed Cartier tiara halo from the Queen.

In capturing this look for the non-royals'...here's my suggestion for getting the "Kate" feel for your own wedding.

Gown: White by Vera Wang for David's Bridal (VW35103) Retails: $1300 Size 0 to 14 in Ivory

Violette Halo Tiara by Halo & Co. Retails $365 (converted from 217 Pounds)

Wide Chantilly Lace Two-Tier Veil by Designs by Kristen. Retails $475

1/3 CT. TW Pear-Shaped Diamond Earrings in 10K White Gold from Zales. Retails $279 on sale for $237.15

For her second gown, for the black tie evening celebration, the Duchess of Cambridge donned another Sarah Burton designed gown, this time, a strapless A-line dress with a diamante waist line and a white angora bolero. She kept it simple and elegant all day long.

Here's my suggestion for achieving this look:

Alvina Valenta A-Line Silk Duchess Satin Gown with Natural Waist (Style #AV9952)

Diamante Sash from onehappygirl on Etsy. Retails $80

Vintage 1950's Saks Fifth Avenue White Angora Shrug/Bolero from leewayshop on Etsy - Sold

  I hope these inspiration pieces brings out your inner princess!

The Royal Wedding of Prince William & Catherine Middleton

Congratulations William and Kate!

For many of us, we have since Prince William literally grow up before our eyes...he's sorta like the true child of the world! On this momentous day, when the Prince marries his Princess, we celebrate with Will and Kate as they share their devotion of love and commitment for one another to the world.

The wedding itself was every brides dream come true. This kind of fanfare and the frenzy doesn't come around too often. I don't remember anticipating a wedding like this since Princess Diana wed Prince Charles...and I am a wedding planner!

From the time that Catherine arrived to Westminster Abbey in the Queen's 1950s Roll Royce...the world waited with bated breath on what she looked like and more importantly what her wedding dress looked like and let me tell you the wait was well worth it!

Kate's dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and it perfectly reflected the brides style. It was a modern interpretation of Princess Grace's wedding gown. This gown though is 100% Kate! Nothing over the top but absolutely stunning! The ivory and white Duchess satin A-line ball gown with full skirt and and 8' 10" train, highlighted Kate's look rather than distract from it. The hand-embroidery on the skirt was equally understated but made a beautiful impact. The lace bodice with a v-neck, long sleeves, and collar really made the dress. She topped off the look with a Chantilly Lace veil. Kate's 1936 Cartier halo tiara is borrowed from the Queen. This particular tiara was given to the Queen on her 18th birthday by her mother. The brides diamond pear-shaped drop earrings are a gift from Kate's parents and the only piece of jewelry that adorned her body, besides her engagement ring and later, the Welsh gold wedding band.

Kate carried a simple, yet beautiful bouquet that had Myrtle, a royal tradition, Ivy, Sweet William, Lily-of-the-valley, and Hyacinth.

Pippa, Kate's sister and maid of honor, wore a simple ivory column gown with a cowl neck, cap sleeves, and button detailing on the back, also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

The bridesmaids wore pleated tea length gowns with puffy capped sleeves. Perfectly appropriate for the royal wedding...very simple. The page boys reflected the look of Prince William/little drummer boys.

The Queen wore yellow! A bright and cheery outfit with matching hat designed by Angela Kelly. She looks great.

The brides mother, Carolyn, wore a simple white dress with a pale blue coat over it and matching pale blue hat by Catherine Walker, a favorite of the late Princess Di...very simple and almost ordinary...though it gave us great insight to the understated elegance we would see in the brides gown as well.

Westminster Abbey was decorated very simply with the additions of trees that brought the outside in...continuing the view that Catherine had on her ride to Westminster Abbey

Prince William was stunning in his red military outfit. What a perfect looking groom! Prince Harry is just as stunning and debonair as his groom brother.

William and Kate, the future King and Queen of England, will now be known to the world as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and will also be known as Prince and Princess William of Wales. Though I am sure the media will still call her Princess Catherine or Princess Kate...but officially she is HRH Princess William of Wales.

For the black tie evening festivities with a guest list of over 300 of their closest friends and family, the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge donned more manageable attire, that was still stunning. The Duchess wore another Sarah Burton designed gown. This time a strapless A-line white satin gazar gown with circle skirt and diamante embroidered detailing around the waist. She topped it off with a white angora bolero...which again was simple yet elegant and stunning. The Duke stayed with the standard double breasted black tuxedo.

William and Catherine...may your marriage be everlasting and full of joy. Congratulations and many blessings!

Icon Bride: Elizabeth Taylor

In memoriam of Elizabeth Taylor's passing (February 27, 1932 - March 23, 2011) I thought I would re-start my Icon Bride postings with one on Dame Elizabeth Taylor.

Elizabeth Taylor the iconic movie star and philanthropist sure had a knack for making a memorable moment even more so! On her first marriage to Richard Burton held at the Ritz Carlton in Montreal, Canada on March 15, 1964. The wedding was attended only by nine people. The gorgeous movie star and now bride opted for a nontraditional wedding gown in daffodil yellow. The knee length empire-style chiffon gown, designed by academy award winning designer Irene Sharaff, was a defining moment for the 60s bride. Her hair adorned with lilies of the valley and white hyacinth made a bold impact. Known for her jewelry, the newly married Mrs. Burton, topped off her wedding look with a diamond and emerald brooch given to her by her husband.

In modernizing this iconic bride, this is how I see the Elizabeth Taylor bride of today.

Gown by Aire Barcelona (Style: Bohemia 147): This beautiful silk organza empire-waist gown is simple and not too fussy, just like the gown that Ms. Taylor wore on her wedding day. When paired with this beautiful lace embroidered sleeveless jacket it transforms the gown to a vintage feel for the ceremony. After the ceremony the jacket can be removed to modernize the gown for the reception.

The complete the modern Elizabeth Taylor Wedding Look, I suggest using these details!

Vintage Look Floral Headband: This wonderful head piece will add the flowers and the sparkle to your wedding coif and make a bold statement.

Crystal Encrusted Shoes: These Benjamin Adams Charlize Shoes is a great throw back to Ms. Taylor since she loved WHITE DIAMONDS!

Bouquet of Daffodils is a perfect accessory and a perfect shout out to the color of the gown that she wore and the bouquet that she carried on the blissful day in 1964.

The Emerald and Diamond Ring would make a perfect statement piece for your wedding day if not for the rest of your life. Why not use it as your wedding ring! It's also a great way to add a nod to the brooch that Ms. Taylor had on her wedding day.

Hopefully this brings out your inner movie star!

RIP Dame Elizabeth Taylor!

Here Comes the Bespoke Groom!

Who said that the bride should be the only one to get a custom-made outfit for their wedding day? With  more and more grooms being involved with what their wedding day will look like - it's only fitting that the groom should also get some bespoke clothing for his big day as well!

You no longer have to go to Italy or get an appointment at Ascot Chang in NYC to get custom-made shirts. Once only attainable to the wealthy, bespoke clothing brand J. Hilburn has brought custom clothing to the everyday man! Which is a perfect solution for the groom who wants to stand out!

Launched in 2007,  J. Hilburn delivers high-quality custom tailored men's apparel at affordable prices. So what does this mean for the groom who wants custom? J. Hilburn can help you design your wedding apparel from an array of fine Italian fabrics and style options, all from the convenience of your office or home! Giving you the opportunity to make sure you and your groomsmen look perfect for your special day. An added bonus for the groom is...since J. Hilburn sells directly to you...you are able to choose from the same exact fabrics offered by other luxury clothiers at significant savings and I mean SIGNIFICANT! This is the J. Hilburn advantage.

Need help? With J. Hilburn, planning what the guys will be wearing and how to get them outfitted is an easy task. J. Hilburn Style Advisor, Kathy Everitt can help with you with all your wedding style needs and how to best achieve them. And get this...you get a PERSONAL style consultant for NO CHARGE - imagine that! A full personal tailoring experience at the convenience of your own office or home AT NO CHARGE! Talk about moving on up! 

I recently interviewed Style Advisor, Kathy Everitt, regarding the J. Hilburn experience and I want to share with you excerpts from the discussion. 

What makes J. Hilburn special? 

Simply put, J. Hilburn is about value, extraordinary customer service, exceptional quality, great fit at below retail prices, and a welcome convenience for men who don’t have time to shop. J. Hilburn will come to your office or home, take your measurements on the spot, help you pick from a selection of 250 fabrics, design a shirt, and place an order with no minimum required. your measurements and selections are sent to J. Hilburn's specialty tailor. The garment is meticulously crafted to your specifications and will arrive a few weeks later. 

Isn't that level of service going to cost me an arm and a leg? 

With all the high-quality features and personal options J. Hilburn provides, one would expect to pay an arm and a leg. Not so. The fabrics are sourced directly from Italy’s Tessitura Monti S.p.A., where state-of-the-art technology is used to ensure the highest standard of quality. The company's custom products range from $79 for a dress shirt and up to $185 for made to measure Italian wool trousers. 

Since I am looking at custom clothing is it better to go formal or unique? 

What is your wedding style? Are you having a traditional wedding or a destination wedding by the ocean? Do you want a traditional wedding where all your groomsmen wear tuxedos or do you want them in beachwear? From formal to “anything goes” weddings,  J. Hilburn offers men’s attire to help reflect the unique and personal style of the groom and the bride on their wedding day.

Let me give you an example. If you are looking at a formal or black tie event you might want to look at J. Hilburn's bespoke tuxedo shirts which can be worn with any tuxedo style. The tuxedo shirt comes in two styles: (1) the classic point, and (2) the wing tip collar. The front two panels are chosen per the customer’s taste, and the rest of the shirt is made from a standard white broadcloth. Unlike a regular dress shirt, the tuxedo shirt comes with a strip that allows the top four buttons to be removed and replaced with studs.So as you can see - we will make sure these pieces meet your expectations. 

My groomsmen live all around the United States. How can we make sure we get the correct fit and styles for each of them? 

After meeting you for the initial style consultation, J. Hilburn goes the extra mile by scheduling appointments with your groomsmen for personal fittings. With a network of 650 style advisors nationwide, Kathy Everitt can easily coordinate measurements and fittings for the big day - no matter where your groomsmen may be.  Additionally, there's no need to stress out about the groomsmen picking out the wrong shirt or pants since our style advisors will have all the parameters from your consultation on file. 

Can I give these as gifts to my groomsmen? 

J. Hilburn is the perfect gift for your groomsmen. It's a great way to show your gratitude and appreciation. In addition you can give your most important men in your life a J. Hilburn gift card to order a custom piece when they want. Other great J.Hilburn gift ideas for the guys include cashmere sweaters, handcrafted silver cufflinks, exotic belts, and grooming products.

For more information about J. Hilburn or to schedule a personal fitting and consultation, please contact Kathy Everitt at (972) 523-3288 or at kathy.everitt@jhilburnpartner.com

Finally a coupon to use for trying their services!

Real Weddings: Dara & Jorge

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Dara and Jorge, as well as Dara's mom Teresa, on their February 19, 2011 wedding at El Presidio Chapel and Hotel Mar Monte in Santa Barbara. Even though thunderstorms and snow were on the horizon (yes there was snow in the Santa Ynez Mountains), it did not stop this couple from enjoying their wedding day or their love for one another. It was truly a day of celebration, love, and family!

Thank you to all the vendors for making Dara and Jorge's wedding a dream!

Design, Planning, and Coordination: Percy Sales Events
Photography: Alex Neumann Photography
Hair and Makeup: Fairytale Hair and Makeup
Ceremony Venue: El Presidio Chapel
Reception Venue and Food: Hotel Mar Monte
Cake: Montecito Confections
Limousine Service: Executive Limousine & Coach
DJ: Phil Birdsell Entertainment
Dance Lessons: Cliff Housego
Photobooth: PSE Photo Booth
Mariachi: Mariachi Imperial Guadalajara
Linens: Sitting Pretty Chair Covers
Minister: Manny Edgar-Beltran
Bride's Dress: Alfred Angelo
Tuxedos: Friar Tux
Bridesmaids and Mother's Dresses: Alayna's Bridal
Flowers: Palmas Flowers

Now enjoy pictures from their wedding taken by the fabulous Alex Neumann!