Your Wedding, Your Way - Tips and Money Saving Ideas

What is the role of a wedding and an event coordinator these days?

Today's experienced coordinator understands that his or her role is to help with everything from being a family mediator to etiquette expert to understanding budgets. I believe the strongest characteristic we can have is staying calm and eventually it rubs off on our clients and everyone else.

Tips of the week -
When hiring event professionals, consider them very carefully before you hire them.  We always suggest hiring someone that comes highly recommended.  Try and avoid second guessing yourself. Communicate with your fiance and your family and let them know your needs - don't be afraid to ask for help.

Lighting -
I believe in lighting 100%. Great lighting can take an ordinary hotel or banquet room and transform it.  I like to add lighting even if the room is beautiful.  Great lighting sets the mood and tone of the party.

Timeline -
Try and keep your ceremony to 20 minutes.  Cocktail hours should run 1 hour and not much more.  Keep the toasts to a minimum - under 3 minutes for each toast with no more than three persons going up at a time.

Our office is running a special through April -
$199.00 includes
in person meeting at your chosen venue (Los Angeles) where we do a walk through and create your timeline and email it to you at the end of the meeting.  Total time is 2 hours. Call us for details.

Wedding on a Beach -


I love intimate weddings on the beach, especially Malibu.  A few years ago, one of our brides chose a simple, but elegant dress for around $200 at J. Crew and she dressed it up with a gorgeous coral necklace. I think the necklace cost more than the dress:). Guests were welcomed with a shoe check-in.  We love having a long dinner table with tons of candles and fresh flowers, surrounded by couches and bonfires.  Add live music for ambiance and enough waiters, so everyone gets served dinner at the same time.  XO

Estate Pick of the Week -
Estate 3162


Gorgeous patio for dinner or dancing.


Private driveway. Lighting on tree no longer exists.



Views are stunning.


Estate is located behind gates.

Beautifully decorated.

Room for the bride to get ready.

Great room for the groom to hang out and an after party. Also, has a pool table and bar.

A few photos of an intimate wedding we produced earlier this year in Santa Monica - photos by Scott Lamoreaux. 

Gianna's Picks of the Week -

Mimosa bar for the bride and bridesmaids.




Love the lanterns 






Fun way to exit.

Have a great week! XO

Private Estates - Hiring the Right Creative Partners Whom You Can Trust

Renting out mansions and estates gives me the advantage of seeing how different service professionals work from all aspects of the event business.

Since many of our clients are event producers and planners, more than often, I am on site as the location company.

I have a great of respect for caterers and how they can make an event successful.  I have seen the best and the worst.  Some caterers do great tastings for two or four people and then at the wedding or special event where there are 200 guests, the food is mediocre or served cold.

An experienced caterer understands how to manage their wait staff, so the event runs smoothly and guests are being served dinner at the same time.  When we are hired to produce an event, we work with the caterer and the clients on the timeline, so everyone is on the same page.

On more than a few occasions, the caterers have served vendor meals that did not look appetizing and no one wanted to eat the meal. I have a hard time understanding this way of doing business, since the service professionals usually have really long days (15 to 18 hours) and can't leave the estate to eat dinner.

I recommend reading reviews on Google, Yelp and other reputable internet sources, plus, asking friends and professionals whom you trust for their recommendations.

A personal thought about budgets -

Please don't spend what you don't have on your wedding and,
remember it is about the person you are marrying.  XO

Check out this wedding show - one of our favorites!

Favorite images from one of our estate weddings -

 Private beach is equipped with an outdoor shower. 

Groom and his friends hanging out on the estate's private beach. 

After a day of hanging with friends, the groom is ready for the ceremony. 

Our bride got ready at Shutters before arriving at the estate. 

The caterer placed truffle oil infused popcorn at the bars. 

 Whipped goat cheese (special recipe from the Chef) served with bruschetta. 

Shrimp corn dogs served with sweet chili dipping sauce. 

 Fish option for guests - salmon and garlic mashed potatoes. 

 Filet Mignon with lobster tail served with mashed potatoes topped with carrots and string beans, and mac and cheese on the side. 

We asked the musicians to play next to the dance floor for the first dance.  xo

The couple hired their favorite local band to perform. 

We turned the ceremony canopy into a lounge. 

Couple's getaway - white Rolls Royce. 

Estate Pick of the Week -

Estate 1368 in Malibu

Wishing everyone a fun St. Patrick's weekend!

XO, Gianna

A Dream Estate, plus Q&A with Photographer Henry Chen & Expert Tips

We believe that every client needs to be able to express their heritage, values and beliefs.

Your wedding needs to be a reflection of you and your fiance.
The process should be fun as the day itself. Our team works hard to make your vision come to a reality our clients mean the world to us.

Gianna's Estate Pick of the Week or a Lifetime....xo

This week's blog we are highlighting one of our favorite photographers Henry Chen.  

Henry, entering his 5th year as a wedding photographer, thrives on the challenges and adrenaline of capturing lifes greatest moments. With a photo journalistic approach, Henry aims to capture the raw emotion of love through unique compositions and a stylish blend of lines, shapes, and light.

When not photographing weddings, Henry enjoys spending time with his family, friends, and amazing fiance Charlene.  He loves exploring the different cultures this world has to offer and aims to travel to a new destination every chance he gets.

Though he graduated with an engineering degree, Henry’s interest in photography manifested in the Summer of 2006 when he served as an intern for his beloved NBA team, the Los Angeles Clippers. His desire to make an impact on the lives of others affirmed his decision to transition to wedding photography full-time in July of 2009.

The thrill of a day for Henry now rests in those pivotal, decisive moments at a wedding, and he feeds off the love that a bride and groom have for one another. But Henry’s passion extends beyond capturing remarkable, timeless moments, as he values nothing more than the amazing relationships he has created with individuals from all over the world.

Gianna What do you love most about what you do for a living?

There are so many things I love about weddings that it's hard to name just one. However, getting to know the bride and groom and capturing their special day through my own eyes is certainly at the top of the list. It's those little moments that take place between loved ones that get to me. Be it a dad seeing his daughter in her dress for the first time, a groom and his mom during the mother-son dance, kids simply being adorable, or guests dancing their hearts out at the reception, those personal, unique, and intimate moments are what makes photographing weddings such a rewarding profession.

Gianna When interviewing photographers, what questions should potential clients ask?

The very first question to ask yourself is how important photography is to you and your fiance.  It's hard to get everything you want for your wedding, so you'll need to prioritize and see where photography stacks up. Hopefully it's at the very top of your list :). After you've done your research on photographers and narrow down the search to your favorites, it's time to see if they're available on your wedding date. If so, meet with them, either in person or over Skype/phone.

Some questions you can ask your photographer are, "What's your approach to photographing a wedding?" "Have you shot at venues similar to mine, and if so, can I see some examples?" "Could I see your albums, and what types of covers/page materials are available?" "Do you have liability insurance and back-up equipment?" "What's required to book you? What's the deposit amount?" There's many questions you can ask your photographer, as it really depends on their reputation and how comfortable you're feeling. I've had couples that book me after literally two e-mails with almost no questions to ones that didn't after meeting me in person and several dozen questions.

Gianna And what is important for them to know?

You should have an idea of the photographer's style from looking at the website/blog. The bride and groom should also have a rough idea of how much they want to invest in photography and possibly what package/collection they might want after seeing the photographer's pricing before meeting them. That way the time spent with the photographer can be more on getting to know each other, looking at things that couldn't be viewed over the web (albums, prints, etc.), and discussing the details of the wedding.

Gianna What are your favorite times of day to shoot?

My favorite times of a day to shoot are generally in the early/late mornings or late afternoons/early evenings, usually about 2-3 hours after sunrise and 2-3 hours before sunset for best lighting. On a wedding day, some of my favorite photos are the ones during the getting ready and portrait session with just the bride and groom. Lighting is certainly key when it comes to the quality of a photo, such as avoiding the mid-day sun hitting the top of the head and creating harsh shadows. But other elements such as the background and mood/emotion of the subjects also play a huge factor in the outcome of a photo.

Gianna How should a couple prepare for an engagement shoot, i.e. clothing?

Most e-sessions are in the 2-4 hour range, usually 2-3 locations and outfits. There's no right number of hours/locations/outfits. It just depends on what you're looking for. Some couples might want it to be super casual, relaxed, and stick to one of each. Others might want to incorporate several elements of their relationship by having props in the shoot. Some might love the beach but also want to do something modern/architectural earlier in the day and then even do some night photos after the sun has set. The best thing to do is to discuss with each other and also with your photographer on your vision as well as theirs, and go from there.

Gianna For people who don't like taking photos, what is the best way to take a photo?

I tell my couples to think of the portrait session on their wedding day, or even their engagement session, as though we're just hanging out with each other. Don't look at taking photos as…well, taking photos :). Instead, treat it as though you're about to go out on a fancy date and thus you're getting to do your hair and make-up as well as get all dressed up. Your photographer should make you feel at ease right from the beginning of the portrait session. If you're on the fence of doing an e-session before the big day, I highly recommend having one so by the time your wedding gets here, you'll be comfortable being in front of a camera. Remember that on your wedding day, things might be a bit hectic and there's almost always never enough time for photos.

Gianna What is your advice to a couple for their wedding day?

 Don't forget that it's YOUR wedding and it's a day to celebrate the love between you and your future spouse, and to have all your family and friends to share this special moment with the both of you. So do what you can beforehand to take care of all the details. Hiring a professional wedding planner/coordinator has/is/will always be my #1 advice to brides and grooms. Even the smallest, most intimate weddings can use one. Having someone else help you with the details will ensure you can focus on enjoying your wedding with all your loved ones.

Here are a few favorite photos from a private estate wedding we did with Henry last summer -

Surprise dessert lounge. 

Expert Tips for Planning Your Wedding -

1. Confirm the number of guests before you sign a venue agreement. Rule of thumb - you will need at least 25 to 30 square feet for every person to account for dinner, dancing, wait staff serving dinner and entertainment.

2. If your wedding or event will take place outside, please have a weather contingency plan in place.

3. Make sure that your wedding does not fall on the same day as a charity walk, etc. Traffic detours can cause delays with your guest arrival time.

4. If you have a specific wedding budget, consider cutting your guest count.  The majority of your budget expenses will go towards food, beverage, service charge and tax.

5. Staff to guest ratios - one bartender to 50 guests and one wait staff to a table of 10 for a seated dinner and one bathroom to 50 guests. 

If you are not planning on hiring a planner, then consider hiring a planner for a Q&A meeting. We do it all the time - clients ask us all their questions and pay by the hour for our time and expertise. 

Wishing you a great week! 

XO, Gianna