Five Important Tips for Keeping Your Event Safe, Plus Our Hot Picks of the Week

When you are planning a wedding or special event, it is important to consider how to keep your guests safe.   You want your guests to remember the wonderful details of your wedding - from the stunning views, unique venue, to the amazing decor and the reason for celebration - but, the last thing you want them to remember is a guest getting injured or injuring someone else, or worse, in a drunk-driving accident.

Here are five important tips to consider, plus one bonus tip - xo

1. Hire shuttles to transport your guests to and from your venue; this is especially helpful if your guests will be drinking.

2. Make sure that your servers are licensed professionals who are trained to know when a guest has had too much to drink.  Never agree to a self-serve bar - this will guarantee trouble.

3. If you want to offer your guests alcohol shots, please make sure that this option is not available for the entire duration of the event.  Shots are a recipe for disaster.  We have seen guests become extremely ill, and the last thing you want are paramedics at your wedding because someone is unconscious.

4. If you know that you have a relative or friend who has a serious drinking problem, please make precautions ahead of time.

5. Please consider having "last call" about 45 minutes to one hour before your event ends, your caterer can serve delicious late-night snacks to your guests.  I love when our clients offer their guests sliders and fries or grilled cheese sandwiches with tiny root beer floats as an end-of event treat.

Bonus tip - If there will be young children at your wedding or special event, hire a licensed, insured, and reputable baby-sitting service to be on-site to supervise the children.  Their parents will thank you and the children will be entertained with games and movies, so you can rest assured that everyone is safe and has a great time.

Estate Pick of the Week - Estate 1646 

This private estate is amazing for a wedding or special event - it has stunning views and features an AMF two-lane bowling alley, 3500 square foot ballroom with gorgeous chandeliers, and private screening room.  

Gianna's Picks of the Week -

Simple but elegant.  

Have a great week. Gianna XO 

The Work-Out Update and Why and How to Hire an Event Planner, Plus Our Picks of the Week

As event planners, we constantly talk with and listen to prospective clients about event-planning and the services we offer, and the perfect vision and desired outcome of the client's event.   

I truly believe that there is a planning service for everyone.  Event planners take on many roles - from designers and logistic coordinators, to talent managers, vendor brokers, financial advisers, agreement advisers, and even, yes, bridal therapists.

Here are a few reasons to hire an event planner: 

1. You have a heavy work or school schedule and you have little or no time to plan your wedding or special event. 

2. You are planning an event from a great distance from your venue, or you will have more than 200 guests attending.

3. You are not a "detail person" and need assistance with the logistics and the development and creation of your vision.

4. You are getting hitched in less than a year.

5. You are on a strict budget, and need to make sure that you don't make costly mistakes.

Different package options - these are estimates only. We customize each package to work with our clients' budgets and needs. 

1. Full Service Planning:  A skilled planner will handle everything from venue recommendations, design, logistics, transportation, vendor recommendations/selections, communication with vendors, RSVPs, arranging the weekend activities, rehearsal practice and dinner, and event-day support from start to finish.  This package is not needed by everyone, but can be helpful for busy individuals who have a destination wedding or large event with little or no time to plan.  Packages are $10,000 and up and you can rest and be assured that ALL details are covered. 

2. Medium Packages - The planner handles the logistics, vendor recommendations, transportation, design, hotel-room blocks, appointment-setting, RSVPs, phone and email support, communication with vendors, logistical and design walk-through meetings, conducting the wedding rehearsal, creating the save-the-date, and invite logistic / design for review with event-day support. Packages start at $5000 and up. 

3. Day-of Coordinating - typically starts a month before your wedding or special event.  The planner reviews all of your agreements, creates a timeline, ensures that she or he attends your logistical walk-through and that everything is in order, gives you phone and email support, confirms your vendors for final payments, and other timeline details.  Prices start around $2300 and up. 

Work-out update:

So here is my "before" photo - I am honestly truly terrified to post this photo, but promised my work-out trainer Danielle at Pasadena Elite Fitness (so amazing and dedicated) that I would do it so we can track my journey. I am at my heaviest, but very excited to keep training with Danielle and to get into fighting shape. Stay tuned ! XO

Estate Pick of the Week - 1646 Beverly Hills

Beautiful home in Beverly Hills - Great for a Special Event or Wedding.

Picks of the Week -

Mercury Glass. xo

Have a great weekend! Gianna xo 

Important Facts to Know When Planning a Private Estate Wedding

Several times a week, we receive inquiries from clients asking for a "day-of" planner for a private estate wedding.

The best way to imagine this type of event is to think of it as bringing a restaurant to someone's home. Every detail must be covered, from safety to comfort.

An experienced planner knows how to review the rental orders to determine what is missing and what is not needed.  In addition, the event planner confirms the insurance certificates with the event professionals and ensures that the transportation grids are correct, so neighbors aren't blocked into their driveways. Our job to make sure that every "i" is dotted and "t" is crossed for a successful event.

Experienced event planners have seen several scenarios play out at off-site events, so we know how to prepare for the event.

Planning an estate wedding takes over 200 hours.  When the planner arrives on the setup day, it is important to have a full understanding of all of the moving pieces, so that he or she does not end up putting out fires, but instead, can focus on making the client's day special.


Our Estate Pick of the Week -  A New Venue in Beverly Hills:

Beverly Hills Private Estate

Stunning views with no noise ordinance due to its location, please call our office for details.

Images from a recent party we produced in Malibu  - party with a Caribbean vibe. XO 

Colorful cocktail tables added fun to the design.

Trending Colors in 2014 -

Wishing everyone a great weekend!  XO, Gianna