Make Up - Our Event Professional Pick of the Week, Plus Tips for Having a Fab Fourth of the July Party!

I love summer!  Hard to believe that July is already here.  





If you are planning a get together with friends and family on or around the Fourth of July, 
here are some fun ideas to get you ready for the celebration -

Heat the pool a few days ahead if needed. 

Turn off the sprinklers if you will be entertaining on the lawn.

Stock up the pool with rafts, inner tubes and beach balls.  If you want to play pool games, how about a volleyball net and a scoreboard. 

If you don't feel like cooking or barbecuing, check out the popular food trucks in your area.

Talk with your neighbors and see if they will be having a party on the same day.  Make sure you are prepared with parking options for your guests or consider hiring a valet service. 

Lighting - do a lighting test at night to make sure you have sufficient lighting. If you want to add color to your up lights, try and keep blue and green off of your guests - not the best colors for people.

Stock up the bathrooms with hand towels and supplies.

If you are having a swim party, place towels out for your guests. 

If there will be dancing, hire a DJ.  If you only want ambiance, then your favorite tunes will do the job.  Note:  If you hire a DJ, please have a small generator to avoid power black outs. 

Check out firework ordinances in your area and take safety precautions.


Setting up the bars - stock up on bar items (ice, alcohol, sodas, mixers and wines) and check out this fun web site for your friends who don't drink alcohol - Mocktails

Raspberry Lemonade


Event Professional of the Week:
When it comes to makeup and skin care, I only work with the very best in the industry.  

We are highlighting Jennifer Charm of Carabella Cosmetics and Skin Care in this week's blog. 

Carabella is a semi-private eco-friendly skin salon, providing state of the art and preservative free skin care, organic bath and body products, mineral cosmetics, clinical facial treatments, body treatments (aromatherapy polishes, infra-red cellulite wraps, back facials). We are the #1 award-winning Brazilian bikini and body waxing salon in Los Angeles! Carabella offers customized makeup lessons, lash services and even teeth whitening! Carabella clientele range from local men, women & students to Hollywood celebrities, who all share one thing in common: they all expect professional, customized treatments in a friendly, comfortable atmosphere and to feel nurtured, pampered and see real results from their visits. 

Jennifer Charm is a makeup artist, who has worked on Hollywood's most famous faces in film, TV awards shows and weddings.

Salon clients include -
JLo, Lauren Holly, Marisol Nichols, Jenna Elfman, Erika Christiansen 

Makeup clients include-
Kirstie Alley, Kelly Preston, Anne Archer, Danny & Chris Masterson, Judy Norton, Alex Breckinridge

Jennifer was not content with simply having another facial and waxing business, therefore, after receiving her California Esthetician license in 1991, she furthered her education by studying chemistry and ingredient courses under Rebecca James Gadbury at UCLA and ethnic skincare with Betty Odem, the country’s leading Black educator in Aesthetics. 

Jennifer was educated in the relationships between pharmaceuticals, illness and skin care treatments with Rachel Furman, noted skin specialist and Pharmacist. She became certified in advanced chemical peels 1994. She trained on the first microdermabrasion machine approved by the FDA before it was sold to the industry.  Carabella is an industry leader in advanced microdermabrasion treatments, pulsed LED light and chemical peels.

Aware of the dangerous side-effects of drugs and toxins stored in the body, she did a detoxification program called The Purification Rundown. Amazed at her results, Jennifer decided to carry the high quality holistic & organic product lines which create positive effects on the skin. Many lines call themselves “natural” because they contain an essential oil or two, but are made up of bases loaded with chemicals (containing petroleum distillates), harsh preservatives, perfumes and dyes. She carries a great selection of holistic products, as well as her custom line of organic bath and body products. She advises her clients to clear any toxic products from their homes and instead she offers a line of body cleanse products.

She understands the essentials to living a healthier and longer life.

Jennifer actively works in her community as a volunteer training at-risk teens and their parents on improving their skin and appearance, and working in hospitals helping patients take care of their skin. 

At Carabella, the skin care products reflect and harmonize with the body’s own chemical make up. Jennifer gives facial treatments that combine the newest proven technologies with good old fashioned pampering in a luxurious spa setting. Jennifer, a highly trained Aesthetician is trained in make up and she can create a complete line of cosmetics that are custom blended from pure mineral powders tinted with natural iron oxides. Carabella carries the Valley's most extensive collection of pure mineral cosmetics. This is also the only salon where clients are numbed for delicate waxing services. Carabella does complete bikini hair removal and designs.  Jennifer’s eyebrow styling enhances some of Hollywood’s most famous faces.  

Many clients who come to Carabella work in the film industry and many are referred by area dermatologists and health related fields who have benefited from the salon’s programs.

The goals of Carabella -

Help elevate self esteem and empower women by teaching them how to take care of themselves aesthetically, with correct skin care regimens and customized makeup lessons.

Create beautiful brides and bridal parties, using natural and long lasting cosmetics. 

Enhance the quality of photographic experiences by creating fabulous makeup looks in a professional and safe environment.

Create an environment where all people can get help with problems in life, both physical and spiritual, without evaluation, invalidation and drugs, and be guided towards healthy solutions that work.

Here are few samples of Jennifer's makeup work-

For more information, please check out Jennifer's beautiful web site -

Carabella

Gianna's Estate Pick of the Week -Estate 9349











Gianna's Picks of the Week -












Salted Caramel Apples...Yum.

Have a beautiful day and a safe holiday!

Rules of the Road - Helpful Tips

Here are a few tips to consider -

1.  Avoid wearing white to the rehearsal and wedding.  White is reserved for the bride!  Wearing white is okay if the bride decides to have the wedding party wear white and you are in the wedding party. xo

2. If the bride is stressed and wants to talk or vent, try and be a good listener.  Sometimes, that is all she wants is someone to listen.  Most of the time, as an event planner, my clients just want to blow off a little steam.  They don't want me to get involved in a family quarrel, they just want to vent without judgment.

3.  If the wedding invite is addressed to you and a "guest", then it is okay to bring a date.  However, if it is only addressed to you, please don't bring a guest.  Bringing a guest could throw the seating chart off.  If you are in a serious relationship and the invite is addressed to only you, then I think it would be okay to call the bride or groom.  Let them know that you are in a serious relationship and ask if it is okay to bring your significant other.

4.  If you are buying a gift, we recommend purchasing from their gift registration.  Some people like to buy something unique, but most couples really prefer the items that they chose, since it helps them to complete their registry.

5. If you like to party, please avoid getting hammered at all costs.  There is nothing more awkward than seeing a friend of the bride or groom give an intoxicated toast or do something obnoxious in front of their friends.  A few years ago at one of our estate weddings, I was looking for our bride, (who BTW happens to be a popular TV actress) and when I finally found her, she was sobbing and not making any sense.  Her faithful friends were trying to do damage control with coffee, but at this point it was too late.

Think about You Tube - nothing stays private these days.

6. Planning a wedding can average 150 hours of planning time.  Our company is here to help make it easier.    We have planning packages that start at $1800.

Please call our office to find out more information about how we can assist you at 818-246-2288.

Gianna's Pick's of the Week -

All White Wedding.

Romantic.






Way too cute.

Great for the photo booth.

XO

Property Pick of the Week - 

Estate 7316 LA - Loft










Fashion Picks - XO

Have a beautiful weekend!  XO, Gianna

Wedding Traditions - Keep Them, Lose Them or Somewhere In-Between?

Growing up in my parent's floral business and running an event planning business has taught me a lot about wedding traditions.

Here are some thoughts to consider -

Getting engaged - when you think about it, the whole process starts with a couple getting engaged.

The question becomes who to tell first and how to announce it?

If it is done in true tradition, then the groom will probably ask his girlfriend's parents for permission to marry their daughter.  This would mean that they are technically the first to know.

Years ago, when my mother and father got engaged, an announcement was made in the local newspaper. Today, we still see these types of announcements.

Whatever route you take, make sure that you tell both sets of parents, along with your close friends and relatives before you post it on Facebook and change your relationship status. xo

The wedding dress - styles and designs have come a long way.  Not too long ago, some of the top designers launched couture black wedding gowns for non-traditional brides.  Before you decide to make that step, please keep in mind that wearing a black gown on your wedding day will make a huge statement, especially if this is your first wedding. If you want to kick it up a notch without the shock, check out the latest pastel colored gowns - they are beautiful.



Garter toss - if you really want to follow tradition and have a garter toss, please remind the groom that your parents and relatives will be watching and it could end up on You Tube.

Cutting the cake - feeding each other cake can be sweet.  However, there have been a few times where I have seen the bride and groom paint each other's faces with cake.  Since the grooms are not wearing mascara, eye liner, foundation and false eyelashes, it is easy for them to clean up - this is not the case for the brides.  Plus, the cake could end up on your wedding dress. Wedding Cake Cutting Disaster.

Wearing white - it is okay to wear white, even it this is not your first marriage or you are over 40. Enjoy!

Thank you notes - please try and get these mailed out within three months.

We have more tips, but I would be writing this blog for days.  If you need more assistance, we are happy to help.  XO

Estate Pick of the Week  - Estate 7997 - Frank Sinatra's Former Home


Marilyn Monroe had her last photo shoot in this swimming pool.





Guest house.

Guest house swimming pool.

Gianna's Picks of the Week - 

Elegant.
















Tasha Clutches - Love the Prices

Have a beautiful and safe week!  XO, Gianna

Top 10 Planning Mistakes Every Bride Should Know

From time to time, I get together with a group of friends, who work in this business and we talk about our experiences and the latest trends.

Recently, a few of us got together and swapped stories.  I thought it would be fun to list the top planning mistakes in this week's blog.

I hope they save you time and money in the long run. Happy planning. XO

1. Read all of your agreements very carefully - please do not browse over the terms. Imagine if you overlook a detail on your wedding gown agreement and end up with the wrong color or size.

2. Don't assume that your venue comes with ample parking for your guests.

3. Don't sweat the small stuff on your wedding day. If something goes wrong, let the experts handle it and enjoy your day.

4. Don't skimp on hiring a professional photographer.  The photos are your lasting memories, so make sure that you hire someone who knows what they are doing.

5. When shopping for your dress and shoes, keep in mind that you will be in them for several hours.  Make sure that you will be comfortable, so you can have fun.

6. Have a hair and make up trial before your wedding day and make sure that both you and your stylist take photos of the final look.

7. Don't hire your event professionals until you book your venue, so you have your day confirmed.

8. Never print your wedding registry on the invite.  Most couples publish it on their wedding web site.

9. Don't start planning without a budget in place - setting a budget will help keep you on track.

Last but not least, my personal favorite -



10. Don't skimp on hiring a planner - a great one is worth every dollar.  Our packages start at $2200 and we offer a la carte services.  An event planner can handle everything from helping you plan through family drama to saving you from costly mistakes.

An Elegant Art Deco Wedding -

Gianna's Picks of the Week -



Love the style of this gown.

Speechless...


Clean and natural.

Have a great day! XO, Gianna