Tips to Save Your Sanity While Planning a Wedding, Plus What is Trending

We receive calls every day from potential clients needing help with the planning of their weddings.  Some clients don't have the time to plan, while others are doing this for the first time. We appreciate our clients and our ultimate goal is to assist them reach their goals.

We understand that weddings have changed dramatically over the years.  When I was a kid growing up in our family floral business, I remember how easy it was for our clients - they went to their favorite hotel or venue, hired their parent's caterer, florist, and bakery and even chose their own attire. Today's wedding is much for involved, which includes at least 150 hours to plan.

Here are some quick and easy tips to help you navigate the planning process -

1. Sit down with your planner and determine a realistic budget based on your style, wedding date (e.g., will it be a holiday weekend, what percentage of your guests will be traveling, will weather be a challenge, etc.) and guest count.

2. Choose a realistic date for the wedding.  You may wish to keep in mind school, work, financial obligations, plus other competing family and/or friend commitments.

3. Make sure your guest count matches your budget.  It is not unusual for a client to call us with a 250 guest count and 25 K budget.  These two numbers don't match and here is why:

Most venues and hotels have a food and beverage minimum of $30,000, especially on a Saturday night.

In addition to the above mentioned minimum, the following depicts a partial list of further items to budget for:

Coordinator
Attire
DJ or Band
Ceremony and Cocktail Music
Save the Dates and Invites
Transportation - Shuttle and Valet
Hair and Makeup
Video
Flowers
Photographer
Rings
Cake or Other Dessert Options
Officiate
Decor - Table Linens, etc.

4. Talk with reputable professionals who will be straight forward with you about your budget and expectations.  Sometimes clients want us to guarantee an out-the-door budget and I know it would be unrealistic based on the client's style and/or guest count. For an example, if our client's floral decor costs 30% of their overall budget this could be slippery slope for the planner to try and guarantee.

This ceremony set up could cost $1,200.00 and up.

5. Hire a planner who understands decor and design, budget, timelines, transportation, and contingency plans with access to a plethora of event professionals.  Keeping these expectations in mind, pair that with someone who is reputable. We recommend checking out your event professionals on Yelp and various social media sites.

If you need assistance, please call our office for more information.

ESTATE PICK OF THE WEEK -

Estate 7230 Palos Verdes















PICKS OF THE WEEK -









Beach wedding idea.















Wishing everyone a great day.  XO

What is Trending, Plus Planning Tips for a Successful Wedding

Many of our brides want a wedding that is unique and private.

Since we have access to over 4,000 private estates and mansions in the greater Los Angeles area, we are able to offer a variety of options.

We allow our clients to use their own licensed and insured event professionals or we can recommend our favorites.

Here are my top five planning tips for a private estate wedding:

1. Establish an overall budget before deciding on the venue.
2. Determine your guest count and date preferences.
3. Talk with an experienced and reputable event planner to make sure you are moving in the right direction.
4. Once you establish that this right type of wedding for you, then begin looking at private estates.
5. Hire an experienced and reputable event planner before you sign any agreements.


Private Estate Ceremony

Estate Pick of the Week -
8430 Palos Verdes














Spectacular Views from this Beautiful Estate


Photo Picks of the Week -

Private Estate Wedding with Rustic Ambiance - Gianna and Company


All About the Details/Gianna and Company

Unique Cake - Love the Cake Base

Private Estate Wedding - Bar / Gianna and Company

Have a beautiful week! XO, Gianna

Trick or Treat- Give a Great Halloween Party

Happy Wednesday!

Thinking about throwing a Halloween party for a few of your friends?

This week's blog has some fun ideas. Whether you live in an apartment or a home, your next party can be a success.

Since Halloween is less than two weeks away, you may want to consider a fun Evite.

We recommend mixing up your guest list with an even amount of guests...there is nothing worse than having a party with uneven numbers. xo

If your home or apartment is small, you can move your furniture into your bedroom(s) to allow for space.  For additional seating, place big pillows on the floor to give your guests a place to sit.  I love to add nice serving trays, so guests can place their drinks down and don't forget the cocktail napkins.

For the bar, check with your favorite liquor store or caterer to make sure that you have enough ice, alcohol, mixers, sodas, beer, water, wine and bottle openers, glassware, shakers, stirrers, plus fruit garnishes.

Make sure you have a " good friend" that can help you while you are entertaining or you can call us at 818-246-2288 and we will connect the dots.  So many times we hear about the host or hostess working non-stop that he or she does not enjoy their own party.

Set the tone of the party and gather up your favorite music that can take the party from cocktails to dinner to high energy if you want dancing. If your place is small, please make sure that your guests are not blasted by the speakers.  Allowing your guests to have conversations is key to having a great party.

Items to have on hand - plenty of TP, scented candles and hand towels for the bathroom(s) and trash bags.

If you are not into cooking or don't have time, you can pickup food from your favorite fast food chains such as hamburgers or fried chicken and serve on cool serving platters.  We have had some great parties where we have had catering trucks on site such as In and Out.  If you love to cook, we recommend checking out the TV Food Network - their recipes range from easy to difficult and some dishes are inexpensive to make.  XO

No need to be too meticulous when wrapping these spooky versions of pigs in blankets; the raggedy look suits the mummy theme to a "tee."

Ingredients

• One 16-ounce package bun-size hot dogs (8 hot dogs), each halved crosswise
• 2 ounces Cheddar, cut into 16 thin slices
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 8 sheets phyllo dough
• 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• Ketchup, yellow mustard, barbecue sauce or your favorite dipping sauce, for serving and decorating

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut a slit in each hot dog piece and stuff with a slice of cheese. Set aside. Combine the salt, garlic powder and pepper in a small bowl.

Working with one sheet of phyllo at a time and keeping the rest covered under a damp towel or paper towels, lay a phyllo sheet on a large cutting board or counter and lightly brush with melted butter. Lightly sprinkle with some of the spice mix and fold in half lengthwise. Brush the top with more melted butter and cut into 1/2-inch-thick strips. Using 2 pieces of stuffed hot dogs per phyllo sheet, wrap half of the strips around each piece of hot dog to create a mummy look. Leave a small section of hot dog exposed towards the top so it looks like the top part of the face peeking out from the phyllo wrappings. Don't worry about frayed edges or tears-- it will add to the mummy look.

Place on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining phyllo, melted butter, spice mix and hot dogs. Remelt the butter if it cools down too much while forming the mummies.

Bake until the phyllo is crisp and golden brown, about 25 minutes. If desired, dot ketchup or mustard eyes on each mummy using a toothpick and serve with extra sauces for dipping

Pretty and Simple Decor Ideas

Colored ribbons.

Gianna's Picks of the Week -

Shopping is a sport - I learned that from my Aunt Jean.

I spend time on the internet seeing what is in style and then, make time to visit Nordstrom Rack  and TJ Maxx to see if I can recreate the look for less.

The savings can add up - sometimes up to 60% off, but it is important to allow enough time to go through the racks when you shop at these stores...

Fendi

Cool lighting and white balloons. Who knew? xo

Gianna's Wedding Picks of the Week -

Love the detail on the back of the gown.

Have a great week!

Gianna