Ten Important Tips to Know When You First Get Engaged, Plus Our Picks of the Week

After planning weddings for over 11 years, I have discovered a large percentage of men like to pop the question around the holidays.  I can relate, since my husband popped the question 10 years ago this month. XO

Our Company offers a variety of different services, so we may accommodate all of our clients.

We have access to over 4,000 private estates, mansions and venues in the greater Los Angeles area.

Here is our link to our Private Estates and Venues.

In addition, we can help with the wedding or event planning, whatever works best for your needs.

For a stress free wedding, we have listed our top tips for brides and grooms to avoid costly and time consuming mistakes.

Happy 2014


Let the Planning Begin -
1. Talk with an experienced and reputable planner before you start the process.  Event planners can run through your numbers (guest count and budget) and make great recommendations. The last thing you want to do is start on the wrong course and end up spending more money then you have in your budget.

2. Choose the best date or dates before you book a venue. Start with family and close friends to make sure there are no conflicts.

3. Take some time at the beginning and talk with the groom about the type of wedding you both would like to have, such as will it be formal, elaborate, chic, casual, themed, beach style to name a few ideas.

4. Wait until you secure your venue before you start your search for your event professionals and your dress.

5. Ask your planner to verify all of your event agreements before you sign. We look for important details such as timeline, contact, pricing and other information that are necessary to keep things running smoothly on the event day.

6. Make sure that your event planner creates your timeline (we create one right after we are hired), before you negotiate your start and end times with your event professionals. This saves valuable time and money.

7. Check out all of your prospective hires on Google and Yelp before hiring them.

8. Start collecting your favorite photos on Pinterest. This will help your florist, event planner and others be more in tune with your style, plus creative meetings will stay on target.

9.  Before you purchase your wedding dress, verify how it bustles. If they break or they are complicated, it can delay your time on the dance floor!

10. Create a wedding web site so your guests can access important wedding information in regard to such things as travel and hotel accommodations. Make sure this is done before the save the dates go out.

Inspired by Color and Pretty Things - What I Am Into This Week: 
Here is an unique and great idea to check out for a gift or special card by talented artist Debra Alouise.
Each drawing is done by hand and with water colors with high quality glitter dust.

Debra's Etsy Shop ~   http://www.etsy.com/shop/grandhorse?ref=seller_info

Many times our caterers advise us that due to the menu, we won't have room for florals on the tables  - below is an option that is different and beautiful.





Lavender adds a nice touch to the escort card table and beverages. 

Fun, fearless and being different - white gowns are stunning, but not everyone wants to wear the traditional white gown at their wedding.   



A dark blue gown may seem wild, but trust me it could be stunning. You could ask the bridesmaids to wear ivory (make sure your table cloths are not solid ivory to give some contrast) and the groom and groomsmen to be dressed in sharp looking black tuxedos.   XO



Live, Laugh, Love, 
Gianna 

Our Top Ten Holiday Event Planning Tips, Plus Our Picks of the Week

Happy Holidays!

I thought it would be fun to highlight our favorite holiday party planning tips in this week's blog.

The holidays can be magical when you surround yourself with loved ones and what better way to enjoy them, but with great food and drink.

My husband and I love to entertain. One of my favorite ways of entertaining is creating the small touches to make it special. 

This could be anything from mistletoe above the door, to colorful votive glass or small candy canes placed on martini glasses. 




A few years ago, my husband, who loves to cook, introduced me to Epicurious.  They have great recipes, as well as a plethora of information, such as stating the start to finish time to make a recipe and little forks as their fork user ranking system.

The recipe link below is Bloody Mary Shrimp - it ranked very high on their web site and it looks delicious.


Bloody Mary Shrimp Recipe

Top Five Holiday Planning Tips -
1. Check the weather starting 10 days out - this will help you make changes to keep your guests comfortable, such as adding more heaters or creating an area to place their coats and umbrellas.
2. Plan your menu with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices that are easy to consume (I love small bites), so your guests can have a variety of selections. We recommend anywhere from 4-6 different appetizers. 
3. Hire an experienced bartender - they know how to make great drinks. Also,have the bartender arrive about an hour earlier, so he or she can set up the bar.
4. As the host or hostess, please have alternative transportation in case one of your guests has a little too much cheer. Cab vouchers are great or you can even have the phone numbers of reliable cab companies on hand should the need arise.
5. If you are having a large cocktail party, consider hiring a planner to assist with the last minute details.
6. If you want your guests to dance, hire a disc jockey. Professional disc jockeys know how to read the crowd and can play music to make your party fun!
7. I always recommend hiring wait staff (maybe one person or more depending on your guest count), who can pass appetizers and assist with clean up.
8. Create a party list and run it by your event planner to make sure you have not forgotten any important items. Last minute shopping or staff hires can be expensive.
9. Add pretty lighting to your party - it can be votive candles with LEDs or the real thing. Remember to keep the flames away from flammable items and at the end of the night, make sure everything is extinguished.  I grew up in a family with firemen (my uncles and cousins) and this has been rule number one, from day one.
10. Once your team is in place, give yourself a couple of hours to get ready before the guests arrive. Then, right before they arrive, all you need to do is dim the lights, start the music and ask your bartender to make your favorite cocktail.  
XO

Fashion Picks of the Week - Michael Kors Is Our Inspiration This Week -XO
















Wedding Dress Picks of the Week -















Wishing everyone happy holidays!  Love, Gianna 
XO

Top 10 Wedding Trends for 2014 & Our Planning Tips of the Week

Work has been crazy and I am terribly late with this post.

In order to make up for lost time, here is a blog dedicated to trending in 2014.

Wishing you all Happy Holidays! XO





Cookie cutter events are out of style. Give your event your special signature. We fell in love with these photos that are trending on the internet.  
























Here are a few photos from an event we produced last month:

Planning Tips of the Week -
1. Hire a professional event planner.
2. Create a realistic budget and run the numbers by your planner before you start hiring event professionals.
3. Check out all your event professionals on Google and Yelp before you hire them.
4. Make sure that all your event professionals have event insurance and list you and your venue as additionally insured.
5. Confirm your guest count before you book your venue to make sure the numbers will work.
6. Make sure all your event professionals (slide show, florist, lighting, rentals, caterer just to name a few) attend the on-site walk through.
7. Consider where and how your guests and event professionals will park their cars.
8. Hire a bathroom attendant to keep the bathrooms tidy.
9. Start checking the weather 10 days out from your event.
10. On your event day, enjoy your day and let your event professionals handle all the details.

XO

Top Ten Planning Tips Every Bride Should Know, Plus Our Picks of the Week!

I have been gathering my top planning tips over the last 10 years.  Here are my top 10 picks with hopes that they will save you time and stress.  Happy planning!

1. Set your budget and make sure that it matches your guest count. Once you establish both numbers, run them by a professional planner to make sure that they are realistic. 

2. Check with your fiancé and both of your families to ensure that you choose a date that will work before you start planning.  Make sure that there are no other events for family members or your bridal party before you sign on the dotted line. 

3. Before you hire any event professionals, secure your venue.

4. Select your wedding attire after you select your venue.

5. Make sure that you have ushers to help your guests find their seats and let them know where you want family members and guests to be seated.  Sometimes guests are not sure where to sit and this will help make it seamless. 

6. Don't choose flowers that are not in season during your wedding.  You will save money and they will be at their best. 

7. When you interview make-up artists and hair stylists, make sure to book a trial session.  It is important to practice different looks and take photos of the final look. 

8. Start a Pinterest account. Your photos will help your event professionals (florist, planner, invitation house, baker, etc.) understand your style and taste.  

9. Instruct your planner on big decisions that may come up on your wedding day.  Some brides and grooms want to let it go on their day and others would prefer to leave it up to their planner or a member of the bridal party who knows them best. Whatever you decide, please communicate your wishes. 

10. If your wedding is during the rainy season, please have a contingency plan. We always start looking at the weather about 10 days out to determine if extra heaters will be needed. 

Bonus tip - Check out all of your event professionals before you hire them.

Estate Pick of the Week - Estate 8463 Pasadena

This gorgeous home is ideal for a high-end cocktail party or sit-down dinner for up to 75 persons.









Picks of the Week -

Classic Hairstyles for Different Looks