Things That Make Me Say OMG....

Every once in awhile things happen at "live" events that make me think that there must be a hidden camera and someone will jump out from behind a bush and say "gotcha".

Unfortunately, that has not been the case and it is just real life playing out in front of me.

Some of these stories show that excessive drinking can mess up what should be the one of the happiest days of someone's life.

Here are some examples of what can go wrong.  xo

• An intoxicated bridesmaid who gives a toast that includes tales about her good friend, the bride, in front of all the guests, bride's mother, bride's new in-laws and new husband. Our sweet couple sat silently at their sweetheart table, which was right next to the dance floor watching. It was like watching a car accident in slow motion.   The groom finally gave the DJ the sign to cut her mic and the bridesmaids dragged her off the dance floor.  The wedding ended up a happy wedding, but that moment will forever live in my mind. 
• An intoxicated bride jumps on stage to sing and dance with the professional female performers.  Then when the bride thought she had a handle on her performance, she pushed the female performers off the stage. I can replay this scene in my mind whenever I need to smile:)
• The bride and groom have the DJ play, "Let's Get Physical" by Olivia Newton John repeatedly through-out the night. This happened in 2007...omg.:(
• The bride and groom left with their photographer immediately after the ceremony.  The cocktail hour was planned for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The caterer had enough appetizers for 1.5 cocktail hour.  The couple arrived after 2.5 hours.  Nothing really bad happened, but it was just myself and my amazing team, the caterer, security personnel and 300 of their closest family and friends waiting while they captured "memories".  There is a happy ending to this story - their dinner was delicious and the couple and their guests partied the night away until 1:30 am. 
• One last story -  the photographers (who were friends of the bride and groom) drank and partied all night with the couple and the guests while randomly deleting some of the digital photos to make room, so they could take more photos of the wedding. 

There is never a dull moment in the life of an event planner.    XO

Downtown Wedding -

Last month we had the pleasure of producing a wedding reception for Kimi and Adam.  

Their reception was a lot of fun and everyone had a great time including the couple.  I love downtown LA for many reasons and one of them is when people don't want music restrictions.
Wishing this lovely couple all my best. XO

The book. xo

The couple.  xo

This little guy likes to dance. 

Gianna's Pick's of the Week - 

Garden Wedding. 

Eve of Milady Gowns

Jimmy Choo

Pretty cake.

Love her bouquet, robe, the bedding, pretty garter, her hairstyle and the lampshade. XO

Tips of the Week -

If you want to save money and still  have a beautiful wedding, check out having a Thursday wedding at one of your favorite venues. 

Last month, we produced a Thursday wedding that had a 12 piece band. I could not believe my eyes - their guests danced until 1 am and the wedding was a huge success. The hotel and service providers gave great deals since it was not a prime day. 

Line Items To Consider When Thinking About an Estate Wedding - 

The rental of the estate should not be more than 20% of your overall budget.

Caterer - food, service charge, staff and tax - could run $120 and up per person - depends on your menu and guest count. If your guest count is high, then the caterer might cut you a break in price per person.

Rentals - expect between $80 and up person.  Depends on your style - type of chairs, table settings, weather, dinner courses, etc. We have seen clients spend $150 per person when someone has expensive taste. 

Cake - Really great cake shops charge anywhere from $7.00 and up per slice. Cakes will vary depending on how many flavors and art work. 

Attire:

Dress - $1000 and up.

Shoes - $250 and up.

Tux or Suit - Suits start around $300 and go up and tuxedos start around $1000 and go up. 

Rentals are the least expensive route when trying to save a few dollars.

Lighting - $1700 and up.  You can have your rental company provide the lighting if you want pretty but more simple lighting - maybe up lighting with a few chandeliers. 

Alcohol - will it be premium or top shelf?  Are your guests big drinkers?  Costs will depend on your guest count.

As the host of your party, please remember to provide shuttle and/or cab vouchers if you expect your guests to drink. We recommend having the bar close about 45 minutes to an hour before the end of the party and consider serving late night snacks (grilled cheese and fries or pigs in a blanket) to keep your guests well fed and safe.

Music - Do you want a DJ - rates start around $2000 for four hours. Or do you want a band - prices will vary depending on how many musicians and singers.  Plus, music for the ceremony and cocktail hour.

Photography - packages start mid 2000's and go up.  

Video - packages start early 2000's and go up.

Floral - will depend on your style (ceremony, cocktails and how many tables will you need for your guests).

Invites/Paper - costs will depend on your style - do you want flat printing or embossed? Will there be place cards and or escort cards? Do you want thank you notes to match your paper selection plus, menus and programs?

Site reps and off duty police officers - we require them at all of our events for the safety of our clients, their guests and the property. Rates generally run around $45.00 per hour / per person.

Insurance - $250 with deductibles. 

An experienced and reputable event planner or producer can provide guidance and recommendations to help you navigate these waters and give you a very special event. xo

There are more line items, but these are core. Please let us know if we may be of an assistance to you.

Have a wonderful day!

Gianna