Planning Your Dream Event and Not Losing Sight of Your Budget

Having a budget in place, whether it is $50,000 or $150,000 is important.  Establishing a realistic budget will help determine how much you can spend on each line item such as the venue, attire, band and/or DJ, invites, cake, menu, decor, flowers, and the list goes on...

When you are setting your budget, first determine how much money you have for the event, and what you can realistically set aside until your event takes place.

Ask yourself - are you willing to go into debt for your event or wedding?  If so, what is the limit and can you pay it off in a reasonable amount of time? Will this affect a down payment on a new home and/ or the honeymoon?

Finally, how much will your loved ones contribute to the wedding or special event? We recommend that you don't guess when it comes to this line item, since you could get in trouble by estimating.

Be careful which budgets you use to estimate a budget.  Some of the budgets found online or in magazines are great for different parts of the country, but not here in Los Angeles.  XO

Mishaps to avoid -

Avoid doing a cash bar. We recommend having wine, beer and champagne and maybe a signature drink. Guests will spend money on your gift(s), a new outfit, travel, and if you charge for drinks, it could be a very unpopular decision.

If your budget is very specific, consider having less guests.  This way you can have a really nice event, rather than a lot of people - it comes down to quality versus quantity.

Avoid having the dance floor in a room not connected to the dinner reception because this makes it hard for your guests to know if there is a special toast or dance taking place.  If you don't have any choice in the matter, then make sure that your coordinator writes a great timeline to avoid this from happening.

Estate Picks of the Week -

Estate 3162 in Santa Monica
Panoramic ocean views, with inside and outside access, plus a screening room for an after party.

Estate 8063 in Los Feliz
Sweeping views of Los Angeles. Ideal for a smaller wedding or event.


Picks of the Week -

A memorable exit for the couple. If fireworks are not in the budget, consider sparklers for your guests as you depart. xo

Candles.

Mercury glass with peonies and ghost chairs.

Beautiful shot. xo

Personalized bridesmaid gifts.

Cute.

Late night snack or appetizers.

Vintage Rentals.

Signature drink - great for a spring event or wedding.

Orange Mint Julep
2/3 cups of sugar
1 cup snipped fresh Mint
1 teaspoon shredded orange peel
2 cups orange juice
2/3 cups lemon juice
1/3 cups of Bourbon (or Vodka)
2 cups water

Directions: Mix sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; pour over mint leaves. Stir in orange peel, orange juice and lemon juice. Cover. Let stand at room temp for one hour. Strain mixture through a mesh strainer and add liquor. Cover and chill up to 24 hours. Serve over crush iced and garnish with a sprig of mint and slice of a ripe orange.



Have a great week!  XO, Gianna

Survival Planning Tips for the Newly Engaged Couple

Getting engaged can be exhilarating and stressful at the same time. When we hear from a newly engaged bride or couple, most of the questions are the same.

How should we budget?

Where do we start?

Why hire a planner?

Budgets and Where to Start:

There is no fool proof plan, but there are steps that people can take to avoid costly mistakes and losing valuable time when trying to secure a location or venue.

Estimating budgets can be a slippery slope.  I always tell potential clients to have one in place before they make any decisions or sign any contracts.

One of the biggest mistakes we see is when a client relies on one of the standard budgets that are found on popular wedding web sites.

These budget estimates can be very misleading if someone is planning a wedding in Southern California.  Recently, we had a lovely couple want to fit a $70,000 plus wedding (all in including the rehearsal dinner and band, plus hotel rooms for their parents) into a $60,000 budget. They told me that they were using a formula from a popular wedding site.

Venues in Los Angeles start at $175 per person and go up. High end venues, can start at $230 per person for food, beverage, service charge and tax.  Most hotels and popular venues have a food and beverage minimum for a Saturday night ranging anywhere from $30,000 and up.

Renting an estate or venue where everything must be brought in from the food, wait staff, rentals, kitchen, heaters, linens, flatware, plates, glassware, alcohol, lighting and sometimes bathrooms can be 30-40% more.

Once your budget and guest count are established, please consider having your numbers run by a professional event planning company. We offer this service for a flat fee. Having this done, will give you peace of mind that you are on the right trajectory to planning your event.

Reasons to Hire a Planner:

He or she can help find the location.

Plan the entire event or part of it.

A reputable planner has access to service professionals that will fit your style and budget.

Save you time - you will not be planning your event from scratch. Your planner will know when, how and what needs to be done.

Help you plan a long distant event - say you are in NY and your wedding is in
Los Angeles.

Wedding etiquette recommendations.

Having someone on the event day to handle all the details and service professionals.

Some planners work from a percentage. We estimate our fee based on the services needed and when work commences.

Estate Picks of the Week:

Estate 8063 Los Feliz

Beautiful estate in Los Feliz, California. Great for private events. Stunning Los Angeles views.

Estate 2906 Malibu

Beautiful modern home with ocean views.

Photo Picks of the Week:

Keeping the bridesmaid dresses simple, but elegant.

Arriving and departing in a vintage car.

Cute.

Lanterns and twinkle lights - twinkle doesn't mean they twinkle:)

Sweet.

Grey with the pale pink.  Check out the clear table numbers.

Kate Spade.

Love this design for a larger decor budget.

Have a great weekend! XO
Gianna

Tips for Enjoying Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is right around the corner.

I was thinking about planning tips to help make Valentine's Day fun, romantic, and save time.  xo

If you have not made a dinner reservation, or you can't go out for dinner, then try checking out this link to TV Food Recipes for Valentine's Day . xo

Frankly, going out for dinner on a popular night like Valentine's Day can be a challenge - late night reservation openings that start at 11 pm, food that is not prepared the way you like it, and menus are limited.

If you don't have time to whip up something fabulous, and trust me, we get it, then call your favorite take out place and order dinner.  Before you pick up dinner, decorate your dinner table with colorful candles, (a great time to pull out your pretty candle stick holders), and your favorite glassware to match.  Instant fabulous, without all the time, fuss and expense.

Valentine Picks of the Week -

Using a real bow tie for your gift. Cute.

Cookie cutter to make these work.

Peppermint whipped cream.

Add flowers through-out the house.

If you are looking for tips for an upcoming event, here are some of my favorites:

1. Write out checks for your service professionals ahead of time.  Please refer to their contracts to confirm their terms.

2. Don't try any new creams or procedures on your face right before your wedding or special event.  You want to make sure that you don't have any reactions or break outs.  Most professionals recommend starting around six months before the event.

3. Confirm your wedding vows with your officiate the week before you walk down the aisle.

4. Hire a "day of" coordinator, so she or he can finalize all the details at least two months before the wedding or party. This will give you enough time to do a walk through and hand off responsibilities.

5. Start working on your dinner reception seating chart a month before your wedding or special event. This will give your calligrapher ample time to address your escort cards with the table number, guest name and food selection.  Please don't skip on assigned seating.   I heard about one wedding where there was open seating, and there was no place for the VIPs to sit. :(

6. Put together a labeled box to give your planner on your wedding or event day containing your escort cards, place cards (if you are doing place cards), table numbers, copy of your toasts, your vows, wedding license, guest book, pens, etc.

7. Break in your shoes before your big day and if you want to dance the night away, bring a cute pair of second shoes.

8. Lay out your clothes so you don't forget anything at home.

9. Prepare a shot list for your photographer - these are the must have photos - from before the ceremony to family photos. You don't want to have to think about it on your wedding day.

10. Review the "do not" play list and special dance songs with your band or DJ ahead of time.

11.  Remember, if something does go wrong, let the professionals handle it and enjoy your day! xo

Estate Picks -

Estate 6981 Malibu

Ideal property for corporate and private events.  Justin Bieber celebrated his
16TH birthday at this home. 

Estate 5062 Chatsworth

Great for a wedding or private party.
This gorgeous home has a lot of history. Lucille Ball and her two children once lived here, as well as Frank Sinatra.  The swimming pool was used in Marilyn Monroe's last photo shoot and parts of this home was used in filming Dream Girls and the feature Bewitched.  Sinatra loved this home so much, he had a similar home built in Palms Spring.

Estate 1646 Beverly Hills

This estate is ideal for a wedding or corporate event.  This home has a ballroom with several gorgeous black chandeliers, a two lane AMF bowling alley and the views are spectacular.  Michael Jackson once lived here in 1993.

Estate 9059 Simi Valley

Beautiful property located in Simi Valley. Spectacular views and a great setting for a wedding or special event. Area works really well if you have a great band. xo

Gianna's Picks of the Week

Essie Nail Polish

Shade your guests. 

Bridesmaid dress. xo

Mercury glass, wooden tables with chandeliers - love the white speaker in the corner,

a black speaker would stand out.

Have a great day!
-Gianna