I Do...Weddings!

Pinky loves Martin

2012-02-06T16:09:00.000-08:00

We absolutely adore everything about this wedding! The photography...the incredible food (inspired by authentic Indian dishes)....the florals....and the beautiful lighting. The wedding took place in January at the Scripps Forum, and it was one of those beautiful winter days we've been blessed with lately. While the ceremony was traditional, the remainder of the party was anything but. Pinky and Martin had a packed dance floor all night, and it was a blast to see so many ladies in their saris rockin' it on the dance floor! One of Melissa's favorite details of the day was the PINKy MARTINi, which was a hit all around. Pinky and Martin, thank you for allowing us to help plan your wedding celebration. It was truly unique and amazing!

Here are the vendors that helped make the day:
Catering: Waters Catering
Photography: Justin Lee Photography
Rentals: Concepts Event Design
DJ and Lighting: Tim Altbaum
Florals: Organic Elements
Baker: Sweet Cheeks

Mireille loves Allan

2012-01-30T14:46:00.000-08:00

Mireille and Allan got married on November 13th, 2011 at Scripps Seaside Forum in La Jolla. Since Mireille was a doctor at UCSD, and Allan was in Canada most of the wedding planning process, I got to enjoy piecing together some fun ideas for this couple. The whole theme of this wedding was fun! They wanted their guests to feel like they were invited to a big party, and not just a wedding. Well thanks to Mireille's great openinness, and some amazing vendors, we made this a reality. Some of the items that made this wedding the Party it was meant to be was a great lounge space, an Awesome band, a photo booth, mini desserts, a private room for football watching, and Champagne giveaways! Come on who sets up a room just so that guests don't miss the football games??? Mireille and Allan really made this wedding an event that guests did not want to leave. The only thing that was missing was a magician!(just kidding). At the end of the night guests even got to enjoy some In and Out before heading on their way. If every party detail was not thought of here, I would be surprised. Thank you to Mireille and Allan for including me in their amazing adventure.

Thanks to all the wonderful vendors who made this day possible.

Venue: Scripps Seaside Forum (Brady McFarlan)
Photographer: Michael of True Photography
Videographer: Shawn Lloyd of Lloyd Films
Florals: Botanica
Desserts: Michele Coulon
Band: The Heroes
Rentals: Concepts Event Design
Classic Party Rentals
San Diego Party Rentals
Catering: Giuseppe Catering
Transportation: Masterpeice Limo
Hair and Makeup: Kara Roberson: 619-246-3563
Lighting: Tim Altbaum of Tap Productions
Photo Booth: San Diego Photo Booth Rentals
Oficiant: Father Rowland

Laura loves Chris

2012-01-24T14:14:00.000-08:00

Laura and Chris got Married on August 13th, 2011 at The Estancia Hotel in La Jolla. From the minute that Laura told me she was getting married she knew what the vision of her wedding would be. She had a Whimsical and Vintage style that she wanted to capture. I was luck enough to know just the right florist to help implement Laura's design dreams. Melissa Barrad my partner took on the challenge. Together they created a whirlwind of manzanita branches, hanging candles, lanterns, chalkboard table signs, succulents, mason jars, burlap overlays and much much more. The Estancia was a perfect location for this Vintage masterpiece. Soft greens and pale ivory color splashed across every table. Amber uplighting created the illision of being surrounded by 1000 glowing candles. It was the perfect romantic setting. Knowing Laura and Chris personally made this wedding even more special for me. I love that I got to be part of their special day.

Thank you to all the amazing vendors who helped put this day together:

Venue: The Estancia, Adrienne Almario
Florals: Melissa Barrad of "I Do...Weddings!"
DJ: John Gillion of Events by Design
Photographer: Marissa and Weston of Boucher Photography
Videography: David Oleary of Snaps Films
Cake: Shirley Resnick, The Cake Lady
Rentals: Chivari Chair Rentals.com
Hair: Beauty Ever After by Erica
Makeup: Sara from SoCal Makeup
Officiant: Rev Christopher Tuttle

Sarah loves Rob

2012-01-12T12:20:00.000-08:00

Sarah married Rob on August 6th, 2011 at the San Diego Botanical Gardens. This was the perfect setting for her intimate wedding. Sarah was very creative in her detailed touches to make the day memorable for her friends and family. Everything from the handkerchiefs she gave out to the mini bottles of Champagne bubbles made her guests feel special.

The ceremony was very special because Sarah's stepfather performed it for the couple. He surprised her by dressing in his uniform. You could see the tears in her eyes as she walked down the aisle. The Walled Garden at the Botanical Gardens gave a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony, and the arch covered in pink roses was the perfect accent.

The reception was held at Sarah's parents residence. The pool overlooked the ocean, and the sun set right as the couple had their first dance. They lit up the sky. Every table was accented with beautiful centerpieces of pink and white flowers, the brides favorite. The tables glowed at night with votive candles sprinkled all about. Sarah thought of everything. She even got her bridesmaid's sandals so that they could dance the night away. This was a beautiful wedding and I was luck to be part of it.

Thank you to all the amazing vendors that made this day possible!

Ceremony Venue: San Diego Botanical Gardens
Reception Venue: Private Estate
Officiant: Chuck Wright (Family Member)
Florals: Twigs by Teri
Ceremony Music: Robert Szajkowski
Reception Music: San Diego Party Time DJ's (Greg)
Photographer: ABM Photography (Brian)
Cake: VG's Bakery
Catering: On Fire Food ( Deena)
Rentals: Raphaels Party Rentals

Bridgett loves Bill

2012-01-02T15:00:00.000-08:00

When Bridgett and Bill reached out to my over a year before their big day, they already had a strong vision in mind. A beautiful, traditional day that was a ton of fun. They are so sweet together, and I was so excited to be on board! When the married last fall, Bridgett and Bill had peeked into several of my other Forum weddings earlier last year. The weather seemed to change each time--cold, hot, overcast, sunny....so we were holding out hope for their wedding. And guess what? They literally got the perfect day. I feel very blessed to have a part of it. Bill and Bridgett, thank you for everything--Lindsay and I had a blast working on the details of your big day!

Vendors that helped make the day:
Coordination: Melissa Barrad and Lindsay Cross
Catering: Giuseppe Catering
Rentals: Concepts Event Design and Classic Party Rentals
Bakery: VG Bakery
Photography: Photo by Chana and Don
Videography: Jeff Roldan
Guitarist and DJ: Dennis Bergstrom, B Entertained

Heather loves Nick (Featured on Style Me Pretty!)

2011-12-28T16:28:00.000-08:00

Oh how I love this wedding! I was originally approach this time last year by the Mother of the Groom, Joanne. Immediately, I fell in love with this entire family. Heather and Nick compliment each other oh so well, and the creative forces of Mother of the Bride Debbie and Joanne were quite the combination. The entire family chipped in to hand-create many of the items you see here. Most of the details, including all of the stationary, the brooch bridal bouquet and the hand-painted chargers (for 200 guests!) were created by Debbie. Melissa helped tie together all of the details, and designed the florals. All of the hard work and attention to details truly paid off! It was a beautiful day, captured by Acqua Photo. We were so excited when the wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty! See the feature, and all of the beautiful pics below. Heather and Nick, you are an incredible couple on the inside and the outside. Thank you for allowing me to help plan your celebration!

Style Me Pretty Feature:
http://www.stylemepretty.com/2011/11/11/vintage-san-diego-wedding-from-i-do-weddings-acqua-photo#comments

Click here for additional gallery images from the day.
Click here for Acqua Photos' blog post.

Vendors that helped make up the day:
Ceremony: Church of the Immaculate Concepcion
Reception: Marina Village
Florals and Coordination: Melissa, I Do...Weddings!
Photography: Acqua Photo
Music: Daniel Peterson

Renee loves Leland

2011-12-26T15:26:00.000-08:00

Renee and Leland got married on August 6th, 2011 at First United Methodist church. I had the special privilege of knowing this couple personally, so helping them with their wedding was like no wedding I had planned before. To be honest it was like meeting and hanging out with friends the whole time. They are such a cute couple and this wedding was a long time coming....Leland:)

The ceremony was held in the same church that Renee's family had been attending for over 30 years. It was a special and memorable place. All of her family had been married there, even her parents, so traditional was the way to go. The amazing window that looked out onto the hillside out side the church made the perfect backdrop to the beautiful wedding. The ceremony was about the only thing that was traditional for the couple though.

The reception was huge! It was all outdoors at the Shelter Island park near Humphry's on the bay. Strung market lights light up the night like stars. Guests crowded the lawn and mingled to great music provided by Joe Woosely. The Hawaiian style feast was a huge hit by Encore catering, and the guests had no idea what was in store for them. Leland did a fire dance for the reception that left the crowd on their feet. The couples first dance was a sassy salsa that they had been practicing for weeks. The small touches of bright colors added to the beautiful water view that everyone got to enjoy. None of this wedding would have gone as smoothly if it weren't for Courtney Young the day of coordinator for the wedding. She made things smooth as silk. This was a party like no other. Renee and Leland were so great to help, and it was awesome to be part of their special day.

Thank you at all the great vendors!

Church: First United Methodist Church

Reception Venue: Shelter Island

Officiant: Molly Vetter: 619-297-4366, Mvetter@fumcsd.org

Florals: Melissa Barrad

Ceremony/Reception Music: Joe Woosely: 619-459-9080, djjoewoolz@yahoo.com

Photographer: Scott Lawrence

Cake: Euro Pastry

Rentals and Catering: Encore Catering(Christine)

Coordinator: I Do...Weddings! Rachel Leber and Courtney Young

Rochelle loves Rob

2011-12-16T14:58:00.000-08:00

Rochelle and Rob married this past September at the Scripps Forum on one of those magical fall days where the sunset is just perfect. And, a perfect day it was! It made me so happy to see the bride and groom beaming all day. Although, it was the flower girl that stole the show--their beautiful daughter Gia is the cutest thing ever!

Rochelle and Rob wanted a fun, semi-formal day, with bright colors and decor. Though shells, starfish and sand dollars made an appearance, we worked together to ensure the details were fun, and not too beachy!

Rochelle and Rob, you throw a great party! I so enjoyed seeing you both out on the dance floor, and your reactions to the slideshow. Thank you for your trust, humor, patience and communication throughout the planning process!

Vendors that helped make up the day:

Photography: Kristina Chartier

Videography: Jeff Roldan

Coordination and Florals: Melissa, I Do...Weddings!

Music: Earl Henry

Catering and Baker: The French Gourmet

Shani loves Derek

2011-12-14T15:46:00.000-08:00

Shani married Derek on September 23rd, 2011 at Paradise Point Resort. This couple were like two peas in a pod. Made for each other, and stuck close together. They couldn't have picked a better location for their intimate wedding of 40 guests. Shani was adamant about making sure that her friends and family had a good time, and boy did they.

The ceremony was held on the Sunset Lawn, where the aisle was lined with peacock feathers, and gold sheer swagging from each chair. The weather held out for us and made the later afternoon wedding absolutely gorgeous. A family friend Mike Mischke performed the ceremony while soft guitar music played in the background. Shani did a lot of the design planning on her own and made the ceremony very personal. Not a dry eye was in the crowd as the couple said their vows...especially Derek.

Soon after guests were invited to the dockside terrace to enjoy some amazing food and music, while the couple took photos along the water. It was a romantic and magical night for the Shani and Derek. The Dockside ballroom was covered in bright colored florals provide by Bethany from My splendid sentiments. The soft glow of the room made the whole reception the intimate space that Shani had hoped for. Great food, music, family and friends made the couples dream come true. I was truly honored to share in their special day!

Thanks to all the amazing vendors who made this wedding possible!

Venue: Paradise Point Resort(Julie)

Officiant: Mike Mischke

Florals: My Splendid Sentiments(Bethany)

Ceremony/cocktail music: Miles Moynier

Reception music: Sound Prodigy(Pat)

Photographer: AS Photography(Aaron)

Cake: Flour Power

Coordinator: I Do...Weddings!(Rachel)

Introducing Nicole Montzingo!

2011-12-12T17:30:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to announce another addition to the I Do...Weddings! team. Nicole Montzingo has been assisting at I Do…Weddings! events since the company’s inception in 2003. She officially joined the I Do Weddings team as a consultant in 2011. With a bachelor degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Human Behavior, Nicole loves working with people and being at events. Nicole's background is incredibly diverse, and if can think of any task to be completed at a wedding, we are confident that Nicole has done it. At one of her most recent events, Nicole and Lindsay organized a late night food run to In and Out for 200 guests. We are so glad to have her on board--welcome Nicole!

To learn more about Nicole's services, please click here, and check back often for some of Nicole's recent events.

Introducing Lindsay Cross!

2011-12-02T15:25:00.001-08:00

We are excited to announce the newest addition to the I Do...Weddings! team! Lindsay Cross has coordinated all different types of events and weddings throughout Southern California. She recently received a degree in Interior Design from San Diego State University, and has been an integral part of our coordination team this fall. Lindsay will couple her great eye for design and attention to detail for her own events in 2012. We are so excited to have her on board--welcome Lindsay!

To learn more about Lindsay's services, please click here. Be sure to follow her on Facebook, and keep up-to-date on all of her projects for next year. And, of course, be sure to check the blog to see some of her events coming soon!

Jenille Loves Robin

2011-11-30T15:16:00.000-08:00

Jenille and Robin were married this past spring at the Coronado Community Center. Over an eighteen month period, each detail was coordinated to reflect the couple's wedding theme "Distance and Time." This represented their long-distance romance, as well as the many places they had traveled together. With catering by Personal Touch and Manila Food, the entire meal was not only stupendous, but honored the couple's heritage. Tables alternated between floral arrangements and a "shadow box" created by the bride and groom. These unique tabletops included a photo of the couple in a place they traveled together, as well as trinkets and memories from the location. The couple certainly had fun in mind. With a photo booth by Chaz Cruz, magician Kevin on hand during cocktail hour, and the lego cake topper made by the groom, the day was a really fun party! Jenille and Robin, I so enjoyed getting to know you and your families during the planning process and on the wedding day! Thank you for putting your faith in me.

A listing of vendors that helped make the day:

Catering and Rentals: Personal Touch Dining

Florals, Decor, Design and Coordination: I Do...Weddings!

Photography: Chaz Cruz

Entertainment: Isle Entertainment and Daniel Peterson

Hair and Make-up: July Chanthamart

Miranda loves Russell!

2011-11-07T16:44:00.000-08:00

Miranda and Russell married last month in Mission Bay during an intimate three-day affair. They arrived to San Diego and celebrated with an engagement session and dinner at the Prado. On their wedding day, they rented a really unique and modern rental property on the bay in Mission Bay. They married with their toes in the sand and a rooftop cocktail reception in their rental home. The weekend was topped off with a cruise, where guests set sail with the newlyweds! AS Photography was on hand to document all three occasions, and it was a unique challenge and fun challenge, as we did not get to meet the bride till the wedding weekend. But, it was a lovely day with warm beach weather. Above are a few beautiful photos from the weekend.....we especially love the touch of the parasols that traveled to us from New Orleans for a little southern flair!

The bride wanted a vintage feel, with shades of champagne, tan, peach and ivory, and we gardenias and orchids to soften the bride and groom's extremely modern venue.

Vendors that helped make the day:

Photography: AS Photography

Florals, Design and Coordination: I Do...Weddings!

I Do...Weddings! and Melissa Barrad featured in Exquisite Weddings

2011-10-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

This past summer, Melissa was invited to design a tabletop for the fall issue of Exquisite Weddings magazine at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. However, instead of designing a round or a long table, she looked towards the new trend of cocktail-style receptions, signature drinks and extended cocktail hours!

She partnered with Blush Botanicals, and created a simple, yet impactful spread for the magazine. She collaborated with mixologist Craig Allen of Shake Bartenders and Jessica Shebby and Giusesppe Ciuffa of Giuseppe Catering to create a unique pairing menu for the shoot. The showstopping bar and rentals you see here are from Concepts Event Design.

Many thanks to everyone that participated in this shoot! We had a blast! Many thanks to the entire EW team for the opportunity.

Honeymoon Planning

2011-09-13T15:06:00.000-07:00

When I think honeymoon, my thoughts almost always go somewhere warm, tropical....where you can lay on the beach with a cocktail in hand. Luckily, since we are on the west coast, we are lucky to be so close to Hawaii and Tahiti. Sure, the internet is helpful, but there is a lot to think about when planning your honeymoon...it's almost like wedding planning in itself!

Well, enter Jenifer. She's not only super knowledgeable about Hawaii and Tahiti, I've known her for over twenty years. We went to elementary school, junior high and high school together. SaveOnAloha.com has been around since 1955, and gives you all of those great connections for free upgrades, free champagne and VIP amenities. She and I essentially have the same job, to put you in touch with people we have trusted relationships with, and will give you a honeymoon that is relaxing and effortless. She can help answer questions about the best "off the beaten path" places to eat, and whether travel insurance is right for you.

Right now, they are also designing special deals for your honeymoon package. I love that the company is a smaller operation, meaning personal attention, lowest prices, responsiveness and people like Jenifer picking up your call directly. Need some help? Consider calling her, drop my name and she will put together a complimentary quote for you.

Jenifer Snyder, Save On Aloha

jenifer@saveonaloha.com

direct line: 800-728-3668

http://www.saveonaloha.com/

Maria Loves Xerxes! (Featured on True Photography's website)

2011-07-27T16:16:00.000-07:00

Maria and Xerxes are a sweet, fun and loving couple--which is definitely reflects in their fun wedding photos. They married this past spring at the Torrey Pines State Reserve, with an intimate reception at Pacifica Del Mar. They wanted to rely on the natural beauty of Torrey Pines and Del Mar, and keep their celebration simple, but with lots of personality.

Like most couples, Maria and Xerxes wanted an incredible photographer. So, they brought on True Photography. But, because their group was small, Team True was on hand for six hours. So in order to capture the day on film, we decided to go out of the box. Because they got beautiful at their hotel suite, which was several miles away, we opted to make the best use of our photo time. I came up with the idea to have the getting ready photos done outside! The newlyweds brought furniture and a mirror from home, and I brought several props to help covey the feel of getting ready photos. The bride arrived in her robe, and we hung her gown from a tree. This also gave us some time to do a private first look before guests arrived. I also loved how we used Del Mar Plaza for some of the portraits. I love this space for the view and the ambiance!

Instead of dancing, a guitarist came to provide vocals throughout the day. The day ended with an after party in La Jolla. Maria and Xerxes, it was a pleasure!

To see more images from the day, please visit True Photography's blog.

Vendors that made up this celebration:

Photography: True Photography

Venue: Pacifica Del Mar and Torrey Pines State Reserve

Florals: Jolie Fleur

Baker: Flour Power

Music: Isle Entertainment

Marie Loves Eric!

2011-07-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

Eric and Marie were married in June. They are an absolutely lovely couple, who did a destination wedding in reverse! Since they live in Maui, they married at sunrise with a simple ceremony. The following week, they returned to Eric's hometown for a celebration at Scripps Park and Tower 23. Marie requested a "simple wedding, with lots of pink peonies" and it was a breathtaking day! Marie serendaded her groom with a rockin' hula, too.

Marie and Eric, it was an honor. I so enjoyed your updates from Maui while I was here on the mainland. Thank you for your generosity and kind spirits!

Vendors that made up this day:

Venue: Tower 23

Photography: Aaron and Samantha Thompson

Florals: Melissa, I Do...Weddings!

Cake: Flour Power

Kendall Loves Chris!

2011-07-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

My first surprise wedding! Yes, you read that right:) Kendall is originally from San Diego, so when Chris' parents came over from Austrailia, they thought it would tie the knot. So, I worked with Kendall's mother and sister and briefly chatted with the bride once on the phone. It was both exciting and nervewracking to not meet the bride until right before she walked down the aisle, but it was a beautiful day! An intimate group gathered at Alcazar Garden for a beautiful ceremony that definitely showed the couples' personality. As a surprise to the bride, the newlyweds' recessional was the guests playing kazoos! We headed over to Island Prime for an incredible dinner in their cabanas, and additional friends and family joined throughout the evening. I had the opportunity to sit down with the groom's mother and chat a bit during dinner. She remarked that this wasn't her first surprise wedding--and that she'd been a surprise Mother of the Groom once before! :) Kendall and Chris, thank you for putting your utmost trust and faith in me! It was a pleasure working with you and your lovely families!

Vendors that made up this celebration:

Photography: Aaron and Samantha Thompson

Florals: Melissa Barrad, I Do...Weddings!

Cake: Sweet Cheeks

Nicole Loves Dan

2011-07-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

Nicole and Dan were married back in June at beautiful St. Malo in Oceanside. It was such a lovely and meaningful day, and one of the details that stood out was Nicole and Dan's wedding ceremony. During the ceremony, they discussed meeting at a tough time in their lives, and specifically thanked and acknowledged many of their family and friends. This was certainly one of the most interactive and touching ceremonies I've ever witnessed, as well as one of the most unique! It was so refreshing to see a bride and groom speak throughout their ceremony, and add meaning in a variety of different ways throughout the day.

The ceremony took place at a private residence on St. Malo, with a view of the ocean. Dinner and dancing continued at a second estate, with an amazing garden. To see more images of their beautiful garden-inspired day, please visit the photographer's blog:

Many thanks to the vendors that made this day complete!

Photography: Daisy Varley

Music: Tony Slater

Florist: Passion Flower Studios

Cake: Extraordinary Desserts

Catering: The Abbey

Vanessa Loves Justin!

2011-07-19T11:03:00.001-07:00

Vanessa Married Justin On April 22nd, 2011 at The Glen Abbey Chapel. The couple had decided on a 1940's theme for their wedding and it carried through from the ceremony to the end of the reception. The creative details that Vanessa put into every aspect of her wedding day played perfectly into her 40's Movie star theme. The theme played through from the hair styles of her bridesmaids to the suits the groomsmen wore. You felt like you were in an old black and white film.

My favorite details of her wedding day were so numerous I can't even name them all, but here are a few. The vintage car the couple rode in absolutely gave a throw back feel to the end of the ceremony. The Cigarette girls at the reception who passed out old fashioned Coke bottles during the black and white film the couple created was an added surprise for her guests. The Big Band that played during the reception kept the guests on their feet for most of the night. Vanessa even created a movie star dressing room effect for the ladies in a parlor space, with boa's, lighted mirrors, and hand gloves. She really thought of every detail to make her 1940's theme come to life. The couple even had movie style posters made of themselves, and guests got to take home vintage picture frames with stylized shots of the couple in 40's garb. It was quite the sight to see.

If ever there was a period style wedding this one took the cake....No pun intended:) Even the deserts created for the reception had the color theme and style in mind. Guests were treated to a stroll down 1940's memory lane. And what a stroll it was. Thank you Vanessa and Justin for putting on such an elaborate event, and allowing me to be part of it!

Special Thanks to the Vendors who made this day possible:

Wedding Venue: Glen Abbey Chaple

Reception Venue: Womens Club of Chula Vista

Photographer: True Photography (Bob)

Band: The Buzzbombs

Catering: Top Hat

Deserts: Yum Desert Decor

Videographer: Snaps Films (David)

Rentals: Anar Party Rentals

Jennifer loves John (Featured in San Diego Style Weddings!)

2011-06-07T21:56:00.000-07:00

This wedding is definitely not like any other wedding I have ever done. It was AMAZING, and a show stopper.

It's got style, personality, and most importantly--Jennifer and John, two of the nicest and most creative people I've ever met. So, when I sat down with them for coffee nine months before the big day, I was super excited to work with them. I really enjoy when couples take what is really important to them, and run with it. It may not necessarily be a "themed" wedding, but when you can create the perfect vibe, people really do love it and respond to it. In this case, the groom was an architect and the couple love to dance, both of which are certainly reflected in this celebration.

How cool are these tables? I love being able to say that Jen and John didn't use a single table cloth the entire day. But, they did include Jen Cole's rockin' arrangements, a really sweet slideshow, a dove release and a really creative send off (they gave me glow sticks, which I passed out during the last hour of dance where Kris Valentien really kicked it up a notch!). Tables were named after night clubs the couple have been to, and we switched to electronic music for the last hour.

Jen and John, it was a pleasure and and truly an amazing day. Thank you so much for the opportunity!

Itching for more of this wedding? Well, look no further than.....

Jen and John's feature in San Diego Style Weddings.

A highlight video, courtesy of NR3 Video Productions.

A video, of the last hour of the wedding.

The blog post from their very talented photogs--Felici Photography. All of the beautiful images you see here are courtesy and copyright of team Felici.

The blog post from their DJ, Positive Energy DJ.

Vendors that made up this wedding:

Venue: Scripps Seaside Forum

Photographers: Felici Photography

Videographers: NR3 Video Productions

Florals: Jennifer Cole

Catering and Rentals: Coast Catering

DJ and Lighting: Positive Energy DJ

Consultant: Melissa, I Do...Weddings!

Karen Loves Chris--Our 200th Blog Post!

2011-06-01T17:01:00.000-07:00

The timing is perfect! I can't think of a better wedding to celebrate our 200th blog posting. Karen and Chris married last month in Palm Springs. I've planned several events in the area, and each time I go back, I realize just how much I love the desert. It definitely reminds me of visiting my husband's family in Scottsdale. But, I digress...

Karen and Chris are a laid-back couple that have a love of music and the outdoors. I believe their wedding was a beautiful representation of this. Simple, clean lines, with pops of color and succulents and moss highlighted their venue beautifully. This hotel is definitely worth checking out! Retro, fun and laid-back, Karen and Chris rented out the entire property for their closest friends and family to lounge for most of the wedding week. The cherry on top was a beautiful Saturday wedding reception, following a really touching ceremony at a private estate.

Chris designed all of the stationary for the wedding, and even included Palm Springs' famous windmills (as seen in the third photo of this post). Dinner was not a sit-down affair, but was catered by a taco truck that had food made to order. Dessert was incredible, out of the box cupcakes (especially the ones with chocolate covered potato chips!). The signature drink was an Orangesicle, poured with fresh squeezed OJ by the Shake Bartending team. It was certainly much needed as temps topped 110 that day! I loved the challenge of picking spring-y, impactful florals that were modern and wouldn't be affected by the heat.

Karen and Chris, thank you so much for having me and putting your trust in me. PS Is it incredible how flawless they look in the heat???

Vendors that made up this unique celebration:

Catering: Border Grill
Beverage Service: Shake Bartenders
Rentals: Signature Party Rentals
Cupcakes: Over the Rainbow
Photography: Annie Tsai Photography
Florals: I Do…Weddings!
Venue: Movie Colony Hotel

Additional photos and a slideshow can be seen at http://www.annietsaiblog.com/!

Chelsea Loves Jimmy!

2011-05-05T10:24:00.000-07:00

Chelsea married Jimmy on January 22nd, 2011 at the La Jolla Bridge Club. If there were such a thing as a fairytale wedding, this would definitely be it! Chelsea and Jimmy put so much thought and detail into how they wanted their wedding to be. The intimate wedding allowed for their family and friends to really share in their wedding experience. Chelsea and Jimmy made their wedding day an event to share.

The wedding day couldn't have been more perfect. For January weather we absolutely lucked out. The day was bright and beautiful, and 78 degrees. Chelsea absolutely put her heart and soul into the details of her wedding. The colors of bright orange and teal played so well off of the beachy atmosphere of the bridge club. The canopy draped in soft white satin flowed in the breeze, as they said their "I Do's!" It was like watching a movie play out. The little details definitely made a difference in the ambiance of the day. Even the candy M&M favors were teal! Chelsea thought of everything. All the guests enjoyed amazing food by Continental Catering, and they Danced to amazing music by DJ Spencer Bezy! Chelsea and Jimmy were an amazing couple to get to experience.

Thanks to all the vendors who made their day amazing!

Coordinator: "I Do...Weddings!": Rachel leber

Photographer: True Photography: Mike

Florist: Simply Adina Floral Design

Videographer: NR3 Video Productions: John and Norma

Rentals: Concepts Event Design

DJ: Spencer Beezy

Venue: La Jolla Bridge Club
Catering: Continental Catering

Transportation: San Diego Luxury Transportation

Jenny loves Drew

2011-03-23T20:43:00.000-07:00

Jenny and Drew’s wedding is very near and dear to me. I first met her mom Faye at the Scripps Seaside Forum at the beginning of the planning process, and I instantly fell in love with this great family! Jenny and Drew moved from back east to La Jolla a few months before their wedding, giving us a lot of time to get to know each other over email, phone and best of all in person.

4th of July can be a really tricky time to marry. Do you go full out red, white and blue, or simply pay homage to the day in small nods? Also, how do you give a group of out-of-towners the full San Diego Independence Day experience? Well, first, you start with an incredible venue. We tied in Giuseppe’s incredible eats and gelato (my personal fave), Concepts rentals and florals by yours truly, for a unique, yet traditional day. I especially loved the inclusion of Sadie—Jenny and Drew’s dog. My dear friend Diana brought Sadie for photos and the ceremony, and she is the best behaved pet to date at an I Do…Weddings! wedding. I am also very thankful for the help of the ever talented Rachel Leber and Mike Finn for their tireless help that day. The night was topped off with a beautiful fireworks show, all captured by the talented Kristina Chartier. Jenny and Drew, thank you for everything and Mazel Tov to you both!

Jenny and Drew’s wedding is definitely a show-stopper. Please check out the links below to see where it’s been featured. If you are a fan of the incredible Scripps Forum like I am, you will love these details like floor-to-ceiling draping by Concepts! I combined the design of one incredibly large and long head table to house the entire bridal party and immediate families. In addition, we used round and square tables of varying heights and sizes for the remainder of the guests. We reserved tables for families, and let the remaining guests sit as they wished. We served the meal as food stations and it certainly encouraged mingling throughout the evening.

Bridal Insider: (thank you Lori and the BI team for the beautiful collage!)

http://bridalinsider.com/index.php/san-diego-weddings-eye-candy/160-eye-candy-scripps-seaside-forum-wedding

A Paper Proposal:
http://apaperproposal.com/?blogID=156

You can also see their wedding highlights video here, along with more wedding images here.

Special thanks to the vendors that made this day amazing!
Photography: Kristina Chartier
Officiant: Rabbi Satz
Ceremony and Reception Music: Pete Goslow and Steve, The Trip
Cake: The French Gourmet
Rentals: Concepts Event Design and Classic Party Rentals
Catering: Giuseppe Fine Catering
Hair and Make-up: Jill Powell and Laura Robar

Anna Loves Ryan

2011-03-01T14:52:00.001-08:00

Anna married Ryan on September 5th, at the OmniHotel in Downtown San Diego. The wait for this wedding had been almost a decade in the making! Ryan sure took his time(Anna said it was worth it!) The location, the vendors and the day couldn't have been more perfect for their wedding! The wedding was a combination of sweat, tears, and lots of glue and paper! Anna had a hand in most of the personalized decorations for the wedding. She absolutely gave her guests a very personal touch.

The Omni Hotel held a gorgeous ceremony on their roof top deck. The location gave such a perfect backdrop for their wedding. Ryan and Anna even got to play around the hotel and downtown to take some awesome pictures before and after the wedding. This couple knew how to have fun! Their guests got to enjoy their fun side as well, when during the reception they were treated to a movie made by the couple. It was a great personal touch to the day. Anna and Ryan made their wedding not just about themselves, but also about their family and friends.

Special Thanks to all the vendors who made this day amazing!

Coordinator: Rachel Leber, "I Do...Weddings!"

Venue: Ryan Hurd, The Omni Hotel

Photographer: Aaron, True Photography

Florist: Dawn, Embellishmint

Videographer: Lloyd Films

DJ: Effrin, Tap Productions

Rentals: Concepts and Raphael's

Shontay and Brian

2011-02-23T17:10:00.000-08:00

Shontay and Brian were married last October during that not-so-fun few weeks of dreary weather. So, her bright and cheery palette at the Mission Valley Marriott was such a treat! Decor was kept very simple and impactful, and was highlighted by a gorgeous back drop by Concepts Event Design. I love getting to give my brides a reveal before guests come in, but Shontay was the first bride to ever bounce up in down in pure happiness all while saying how excited she was for her vision to come together!

This absolutely gives you lots of insight to Shontay and Brian as a couple. What a loving and fun group! Between the newlyweds, they have 7 (yes, you read that right! seven) children that were all involved in the ceremony. You can even see their adorable faces on the photo cake. I have seen many little kiddos at a wedding, and I have to say, Shontay and Brian's little ones were amazingly well-behaved and just so much fun. When I think back to their wedding, I have a smile on my face. Shontay and Brian, may you and your family be blessed with the best life has to offer! It was a pleasure!

Some of the great vendors that made up the day:

Photographer-Jackie Van Hatten

Dessert Display-A Sweet Addition

Make-up-Fashion Valley MAC

Reception-Mission Valley Marriott

Decor-Concepts Event Design

Colleen Loves Eric!

2011-02-22T20:23:00.001-08:00

Colleen married Eric on Saturday, November 27th, 2010 at the Darlington House. Colleen has been a close friend for several years. We worked together as event planners and she helped me with all the details of my wedding 3 years ago, so I was more than happy to return the favor! From the very beginning, Colleen wanted a vintage inspired wedding, we would wander Anthropologie for inspiration, and I knew their wedding would be full of personal touches! Over the 2 years of planning, Colleen focused on the details and captured so many different elements of both her and Eric's personalities -- and it all worked beautifully. Every detail was done by hand including the family tree guest book Colleen's sister painted, the tree stump her dad cut for their gorgeous cake, and the handmade crocheted flower favors Colleen's mom made during their engagement!

The Darlington House was the perfect background for Colleen and Eric. As soon as you walked in, you could feel such a warmth, there was so much love there! Market lights hung above the dance floor, and each table had brightly colored flowers in eclectic vases Colleen had collected from thrift stores and vintage shops. Wine bottles were used for the table numbers. It was truly beautiful to see all the details come together. I don't know how the fantastic photographer got all the detailed shots, but they did! Such an awesome couple, I was honored to be part of their special day!

Thank you to all the vendors who made this day amazing!:

Coordination: "I Do...Weddings!: Kasey

Venue: Darlington House: LJWClub@aol.com

Event Design: White Lotus Productions: holly@whitelotuspro.com

Photographer: Betwixt: http://www.betwixtstudio.com

DJ: Daniel Peterson: mail@discofriend.com

Flowers: Sharon Mintz: sharon@organicelements.com

Catering: Chile Co. Catering: swagner@chilecocatering.com

Make-up: Jennifer Bueno: beautytobe@mac.com

Yvonne Loves Andreas!

2011-02-10T17:16:00.001-08:00

Yvonne and Andreas got married on November 20th, 2010 at The Grande Del Mar. It was my first time getting the opportunity to do a wedding at The Grande, and this wedding definitely lived up to my expectations of what a wedding should be like at The Grand Del Mar resort. Yvonne and Andreas took great care to make sure that their wedding was a memorable event for not only themselves, but also all of their wedding guests. Yvonne was a very DIY bride. She made the invitations, the save the dates, the programs, and even her beautiful veil! Come on... she made her own veil!

The Grande Del Mar was an immaculate setting for their special day. The Capplla on site was where they held their ceremony. It was beautifully ornate, and carefully decorated with candles and florals. It was the perfect romantic background for their intimate vow exchange. After the ceremony guests were treated to cocktails on the terrace and then invited into the Manchester Salon for dinner. The room was immaculate! Soft candle light gave off a romantic low glow to the whole room. The entire experience of Yvonne and Andreas wedding was one of great intimacy. You really felt like you were part of their family when you were at their wedding. Yvonne even pulled me out onto the dance floor for the bouquet toss! I had such a blast being part of this wedding, and I am thankful for the opportunity.

Thank you to the amazing vendors who made this day possible!

Venue: The Grande Del Mar(Paige Levy)

Photographer: Troy Mayer

DJ: APC Entertainment(Allan)

Florals: Kathy Wright an Co.

Rentals: Fusion Linens

Classic Party Rentals

Officiant: Rev. Powers

Hair and Makeup: The Haim Salon

Grace Loves Eric

2011-02-03T16:10:00.000-08:00

Grace and Eric were married on a cold weekend back last December at the Riverwalk Golf Course. I remember that during the wedding rehearsal, we were all huddled under big jackets and heaters, while I cheerily ran through the rehearsal and hopes for beautiful weather. While the wedding morning was a bit brisk, the skies opened up for some incredible cloud cover (see above) and the sun even peeked through during photos, the ceremony and cocktail hour.

Tess accented the bride's DIY projects with simple, yet elegant arrangements and I especially loved Grace and Eric's bathroom signage--pictures of them as little ones.

Grace and Eric are both warm and genuine people, but they also know how to have a great time--and their wedding reception certainly reflected that. The dance floor was packed to the hilt the entire time, and Eric's groomsmen were a blast to interact with all day. Grace and Eric, I wish you both many more beautiful days. It was a pleasure! Ben and Kirin, thank you for sharing the beautiful photos.

Some vendors that made up their day:

BKM Photography, http://www.bkmphotog.com/

Sweet Cheeks Baking Company, http://www.sweetcheeksbaking.com/

Tessilk Florals, http://www.tessilk.com/

Injoyent Entertainment, http://www.injoyent.com/

Elite Image, http://www.eliteimagelimousine.com/

Melissa and Tom-Bride and Groom on Halloween

2011-02-03T15:23:00.000-08:00

I often get the question "What made you choose wedding planning?" and "Why did you choose to specialize in weddings, not all different types of events?" My response is that I've always had a spot in my heart for weddings, and now I have proof!

My mom just unearthed this photo of my brother Tom and I. Tom was 6 months old, and I was 5, sitting on our couch for Halloween. My son Bennett looks an awful lot like Tom, don't you agree? The photo of Ben was taken by Aaron and Samantha Thompson of http://www.iheartas.com/.

MaryLynn Loves Flippo!

2011-01-24T19:52:00.000-08:00

MaryLynn married Flippo back in September at the Immaculata Church. This couple spared no expense when it came to their wedding. They had gorgeous flowers, decorations, music and more. Marylynn's color of choice was pink and it showed in all aspects of her planning, from the flowers, to the favors, and even the cake, which by that way was quite a sight to see. It was a fantastic bed with wedding clothes laid out on it. You could definitely see the that great thought and effort went into every detail of this wedding from the favors to the vintage car they drove off in.

The wedding reception was held at the Hyatt Manchester. The ballroom was an elaborate space created just for the two of them. There were pink and white flowers everywhere. Their guests were treated to a Coffee cup that had an Espresso cup with espresso beans in it as their favors. Each table had sees candies on them, and the head table had decadent cupcakes! They even had an espresso bar for guests as an added treat. The entertainment for the evening definitely matched up to the grandeur of the wedding, with The Heroes as their live band. The music played, and the night ran on into the very late hours of the evening. The ceremony was early in the morning, so I was happily shocked to see the newlyweds rockin' out on the stage at 1 am!

MaryLynn and Flippo were a couple that was meant to be, and their wedding was a wedding that was meant to be special. They made sure of that. Thank you to both of them for allowing us to partake in their special day! Your families are just wonderful!

I was also honored to coordinate MaryLynn's sisters wedding just last month--yup, both sisters married in the same year. Photos of another show-stopper coming soon!

Special Thanks to all their vendors:

Ceremony Venue: The Immaculata

Reception Venue: The Manchester Grand Hyatt

Photographer: Sutography(Holly and Mat Sutor)

Florist: Flowers of Point Loma(Penn)

Ceremony Music: Krishan Oberoi :619-309-7762

Reception Music: The Heroes

Videography: rA-creations(Ruben)

Rentals: A Perfect Table

All Seasons Party Rentals

Hair and Makeup: Fredrick Michael Salon (Faryel): 619-277-7339

Beverage Service: Euro Bar

Transportation: Simply Elegant Limo

Emily Loves Gene

2011-01-20T17:36:00.000-08:00

Emily married Gene on October 23rd, 2010 at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. This was a wedding full of fun and surprises. Gene and Emily are from the East coast, and they wanted something different for their wedding. Well what better place than the Wild Animal Park to set your wedding apart! Emily and Gene certainly had a wild side to their wedding style and it showed throughout the day.

There were so many great moments at this wedding, but one of the more special moments that come to mind is when Gene's cousin sang a song she wrote just for them. His cousin just happened to be the lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's. It was such a fun piece of their wedding experience. Although a very close runner up to this moment was when they had the live animal presentation for all of their guests to enjoy. I mean come on who doesn't want to have wild birds and small wild cats running around their wedding???

There was really nothing that Emily and Gene didn't think of when it came to their guests enjoying sharing in their whole wedding experience. Candice the event manager for the San Diego Wild Animal Park was a big help in making the day run smooth from start to finish. Their outdoor space was filled with hanging market lights so everyone could dance all night to great music provided by Bob from Artistic Productions. Now let me tell you there was no short supply of sweets at this wedding. Each guest was treated to lollipops from See's Candies at their table setting, and even the kids had a fun animal inspired fun pack to play with at the tables. Sweet Cheeks Baking co. provided some great individual deserts for guests to try, along with an edible bird on the wedding cake! There was enough sugar to keep this party going all night.

I want to thank Emily and Gene for allowing me to be part of this amazing wedding. I had such a great time, and I will never forget the look on Gene's mom's face when they brought out the live animals....Priceless.

Thanks to all the great vendors who made this day happen!

Venue: San Diego Wild animal Park(Candice Trantor)

Photographer: Nariko's Nest (Beth)

DJ: Artistic Productions (Bob)

Florals: Artistic Florals (Patrick)

Desserts: Sweet Cheeks Baking Co.

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Hair: Emily Benitez: 619-823-2029

Make-up: Socal Makeup: Sara

Transportation: Balboa Transportation (Shuttles)

Masterpeice Limos (Towncars)

Dessert Buffet Workshop

2011-01-18T12:12:00.001-08:00

Dessert Buffets are becoming more and more popular in the wedding world. If you want to give your guests some variety when it comes to what they get to eat as a dessert at your wedding then a Dessert Buffet is the way to go. This Saturday from 2pm-4pm you can be part of a Dessert Buffet Workshop at the Bridal Insider located at 305 Laurel Street San Diego, CA 92103. It's going to be really relaxed and fun and....there will be free samples! How can you say no to that?

You can find out more info and RSVP here: http://www.bridalinsider.com/index.php/san-diego-wedding-events/details/37-bi-workshop--dessert-buffets-with-tailored-sweets

Win a FREE Bridal Gown!

2010-12-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

Josie, from Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses just let me in on a really incredible opportunity for one lucky bride!

Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses is giving away a bridal gown, valued at $2,000. The contest, which began on 1/1, continues through the 31st of January.

Brides can enter by clicking here, and also on Facebook for bonus entries.

The site, which currently has over 6,000 new, gently loved and sample dresses is a fun resource! You can view dresses by designer, style or even location! Check it out--what a great way to begin 2011. Cheers!

New Years Inspired Elopement on the Style Me Pretty Blog!

2010-12-27T18:03:00.001-08:00

When Scott and I did a wedding up in Mammoth in August we had discussed putting together an inspiration shoot together. Little did we know that it would take us 4 months to try and get the right concept and then implement it to the degree of excellence we wanted it to be. Then we decided on a New Years inspired elopement shoot. It was perfect! The color scheme we chose was mainly all white on white with touches of Fuchsia, and sparkly silver. This made our New Years Inspired shoot so fun to create. We were extra excited to learn that the elopement would be featured on the incredible Style Me Pretty Blog! To see the blog post on SMP please click on this link!

Concepts Event Design allowed us to use their showroom for the venue space, and all the fun goodies that came along with it! The sleek clear tables, and bright white chairs and linens made it a perfect New Years Eve elopement. We added touches of sparkly silver bowls, disco balls, and strands of mirrors hanging from manzanita branches. We even gave our couple sparklers to ring in their New Years together. The yummy sugary white cake pops, cupcakes, and mini wedding cake were provided by the lovely ladies Sydney and Sarah of Tailored Sweets. We definitely wanted to make sure there was a little pop of color so we went bold with Fuchsia Peonies for the flowers, and fuchsia and purple socks for our groom. A couple that gets married on New Years definitely want to party and celebrate!

Our Bride and Groom get the best out of their wedding experience by getting married on New Years! Great champagne, a hang over kit (just in case), sparklers, noisemakers in the bouquet, and also as a corsage! This couple had it all. And to top it all off they glammed it up in a convertible Jaguar as their get away car! What better way to bring in the New Year then saying "I DO"!

Thank you to all the vendors who made this shoot amazing! We couldn't have done it with out you! Vendors who made this amazingly fun shoot happen!:

Photography: Scott Lawrence Photography

Coordinator: "I Do...Weddings!"- Melissa Barrad and Rachel Leber

Floral Design: Melissa Barrad

Deserts: Tailored Sweets- Sydney and Sarah

Venue/Rentals: Concepts Event Design

Jewelry: Crown Jewelers

...and Carol Barrad for the use of her car:)

Kate Loves Ross

2010-12-09T13:39:00.001-08:00

Kate married Ross in May at Scripps Seaside Forum in La Jolla. This couple were very hands on when it came to the decor of the event. The artichoke and lemon theme, a nod to their honeymoon location, was seen everywhere. The details that were put into this wedding definitely stood out. Wine corks held the place cards for guests, and table frames were made out of the corks as well. Even the lemon trees that flanked the aisle were the brides idea, and a surprise for the mother of the bride to take home.

The day might have started out as May gray, but Kate and Ross made the most of it. They took huge group pictures and even got up on the Lifeguard tower there by the pier to take some amazing shots. The food was plentiful, the music never stopped, and their guests danced all night long. It was a day of elegance, wine, and fun. The couple couldn't have been happier and it showed. Thank you to Kate and Ross for letting us be part of their wedding experience.

Special Thanks to the following vendors who made this wedding amazing:

Venue: Scripps Seaside Forum

Catering: Culinary Concepts

Rentals: Abbey Rentals

Photographer: John Schnack of Schnack Studios

Ceremony and Reception Music: The Heroes

Cake: European Cake Gallery

Hair: Alex Souza from Model Call

Makeup: Ellen Lazner 612-961-6837

Officiant: Holly Skinner

Debbie loves Luca

2010-11-18T22:21:00.000-08:00

The fabulous Debbie and Luca were married this fall at the Scripps Forum, and the day was incredible. I liked these two instantly. It was completely evident from our first meeting during those torrential storms earlier this year, that they are passionate about food, wine and most importantly each other! I love how Luca's creative side and Debbie's analytical side meshed together incredibly well for a beautiful day. Throughout the process, we were able to stay true to the vision they shared with me from our rainy first meeting.

As the day grew closer, we learned that the groom's father would be unable to travel the distance to the wedding. Luckily, technology was on our side! The entire wedding was Skyped. Yes, Skyped. The Father of the Groom was able to view the entire ceremony, and congratulate the newlyweds. I carried the laptop around to show him details of the day, and dad was "sat" down on the DJ table for guests to come up, chat and offer well wishes. One of my favorite parts of the day was seeing Luca's father pop a bottle of champagne. Also, when the DJ Jay Brannan acknowledged the parents and asked them to rise at the reception, dad did as well. Finally, a friend of the bride's family sang during the ceremony and the couple recessed to a Star Wars song.

Many of the guests flew from overseas, so I was thrilled that we got an incredible sunset. Uplighting the palm trees was a perfect choice, as many guests lingered outside--they don't have a beach where Luca's family is from:)

Debbie and Luca, it was an honor and a pleasure! I loved your approach to the planning process, and I am so pleased looking back at Melissa's incredible photos documenting the day!

Catering: Tapenade Restaurant

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Photography: Melissa Koehler Photography

Florals: Jennifer Cole

DJ: Jay Brannan

Hair and Make-up: Susie Beyer

Michelle Loves Kilp

2010-11-17T14:54:00.000-08:00

Michelle and Kilp married on August 7th, 2010 at the Twin Oaks Golf Club in San Marcos. The backdrop for this wedding was a gorgeous lush green landscape. Mountains drifted in the far off distance and gave way to some awesome pictures. Let me tell you that not everyone can pull off a canary yellow wedding, but Michelle and Kilp did it with ease. Of course with the help of their florist Adina from Simply Adina's Florals. Soft yellow touches graced everything from the bouquets, to the chair sashes, and even the candy favors. There was a lot of time and detail put into this wedding.

I think one of my favorite items at the wedding was the scrapbook that Kilp made for Michelle as his way of proposing to her. Guests got the chance to flip through the pages of the book at the reception. It was a big hit! Almost as big as the choreographed dance the couple did for their first dance. The guests were floored when the music changed from a soft slow dance to an upbeat dance mix. You couldn't keep guests off the dance floor after that! To top the night off the couple had a fantastic cake from Christopher Garren who is on the WE TV show Amazing Wedding Cakes. I was so happy to have the opportunity to be apart of Michelle and Kilp's special day. Rachel and I had a blast! It was one of the first truly beautiful days weather-wise of 2010, and I think it couldn't have worked better for a nicer couple. Congrats you two!

Special Thanks to the awesome vendors who made this day possible:

Venue: Twin Oaks Golf Club(Michelle)

Florals: Simply Adina's Floral Design

Photography: Photography by Chana and Don

Music: JMC Events(Joe Comstock)

Videography: Crisp Video & DJ(Joel Crisp)

Cake: Christopher Garren's Cakes

Hair: Kiwi Salon (Emily)

Makeup: Sarah Price: 619-992-2980

Joanie Loves Marc

2010-11-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

A blog post from Rachel....

Joanie and Marc got married on October 16th, 2010 at Sea Grove Park in Del Mar. It was a day to remember. The weather gave us a scare for a little while, but the clouds never let the rain out so we had a very nice and dry wedding. Marc was so excited to marry Joanie and it was written all over his face! They had a beautiful Intimate ceremony with close friends and family at Sea Grove Park in Del Mar. By standers stopped to watch the ceremony from afar as guests were treated to acoustic guitar played by Dennis from B. Entertained.

After the ceremony guests were led to The Power House just a bit down the street from the ceremony site. Guests were treated to yummy food and drinks from Crown Point Catering while Joanie and Marc spent some much needed alone time. Hanging lanterns were scattered across the outdoor cocktail hour to give a whimsical feeling to the beachy setting. All of the centerpieces were created by Joanie's bridesmaid's on the morning of the wedding. The white roses and hydrangea gave the reception room a soft feeling, while teal and green sea glass caught the flickering candle light. It was the perfect beach style wedding. To top off the night Cupcakes Squared provided a delicious variety of cupcakes for guests to enjoy. Not one cupcake was left by the end of the night. The food, the cupcakes, the music, the beach, it all made for a memorable night.

Joanie and Marc, I hope you have as much fun in the rest of your lives together as I got to see you have at your wedding!

Thank you to all the awesome vendors who made this day possible:

Ceremony Site: Sea Grove Park Del Mar

Reception Site: Barbara: The Power House

Catering: Kimberly: Crown Point Catering

Photography: Chris Huntington: Huntington Images

Music: Dennis: B. Entertained

Personal Flowers: Melissa Barrad: "I Do...Weddings!"

Cupcakes: Cupcakes Squared

Officiant: Rev. Powers

Deanna loves Jimmy

2010-11-03T16:26:00.000-07:00

Deanna and Jimmy were married back in August at Founder's Chapel and the Lodge at Torrey Pines. It was the perfect backdrop for the Bride and Groom's love of everything golf! From the groom's cake, to the golf ball placecards and even the table names--the day was a beautiful representation of the couple. I especially loved Deanna's choice of bright colors and her hommage to "golf turf," with wheatgrass and Green Kermit mums.

Their signature drink was a "John Daly" which was sweet tea vodka, lemonade and iced tea. Deanna and her family run and own the incredible NewBreak Cafe in Ocean Beach. Handmade desserts were made as favors.

They had an absolutely incredible slideshow and the dance floor was packed till the very end!

Deanna and Jimmy, you, your families and your bridal party were truly a pleasure! Thank you for allowing me to join you on your wedding day! It was flawless! Many thanks to Mat and Holly of Sutography for allowing us to share these images. An extra special thanks to Eve Harrison--you were such an immense help to Deanna and Jimmy's wedding day.

Here are a handful of vendors that made their day extra special:

Flowers: http://www.sdflorals.com/

Photography: http://www.sutography.com/

Cake: http://www.flourpower.com/
Reception Venue: http://www.lodgetorreypines.com/

Julia Loves Scott (wedding featured in San Diego Style Weddings!)

2010-10-28T11:58:00.000-07:00

Julia and Scott married on May 1st, 2010 at The Dana Hotel on Mission Bay. The day couldn't have been more perfect for this perfect couple. The couple had a fun and unique day planned for all of their guests. The ceremony was held on the lawn of the Dana Hotel, overlooking the bay. Bright pink petals led the way down the aisle to were Julia and Scott were married in front of friends and family. Their backdrop couldn't have been more beautiful, with the bay in view behind them, and palm trees framed the ceremony! Additionally, the wedding was just featured in the new San Diego Style Weddings!

After a beautiful ceremony, guests were led to a beautiful cocktail hour where they mingled and snacked while Julia and Scott took some creative and fun pictures with photographer Justin Lee. The ballroom doors opened to a beautifully decorated reception. Purple and white tulips lined the tables, and each guest was treated to a personalized candy bar from the couple. Guests enjoyed some great music, and the nights festivities began.

The biggest surprise of the night was when guests began to exit the ballroom and they were treated to In and Out burgers from Julia and Scott. Julia and Scott enlisted me to sneak out of the party, pick up 150 burgers and return back to their hungry guests. Such a fun wedding task! The manager, who knew I was coming, yelled the order back to his team and the whole restaurant started clapping:) I love In and Out--they even hooked me up with their signature paper hats! What a fun way to send your guests off! Family and friends even got to take home mini vases of flowers from the reception. This wedding was definitely one I would have loved to be a guest at! Julia and Scott we wish you the most happiness in your new life together!

Thanks to all of the vendors who made this wedding memorable:

Venue: The Dana Hotel

Florist: Shannon Mintz: Organic Elements

Photographer: Justin Lee Photography

DJ: Blake Miller: Promotion Entertainment

Bakery: The French Gourmet

Rentals: Concepts

Hair: Peggy Rogers: 619-312-7020

Make-up: Diane Rose: 619-997-0243

Jenny loves Drew (Video from their July 4th Wedding)

2010-10-05T16:21:00.000-07:00

I've said it once, and I will certainly say it again--I love the Scripps Forum.
Below is a link to Jenny and Andrew's highlight video, complete with the hora, fireworks and lots of dancing. A full post of this incredible event will follow soon!
www.vimeo.com/15410661

Yasmin and Brian featured on Ceremony Magazine's Blog

2010-10-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

www.californiaweddingewave.com/2010/09/15/real-wedding-yasmin-brian/

Yasmin and Brian's celebration at the beautiful Inn at Rancho Santa Fe was just featured on Ceremony Magazine's blog! All of the images you see here are courtesy of Aquario Studio. Florals were designed by the lovely Hannah of Modern Bouquet, and the night was amazing in large part to The Heroes and Marianna, of the Inn. Please view the link above to see more stunning photos of the couple! Happy anniversary newlyweds!

Lauren Loves Collin on Style Me Pretty!

2010-09-28T16:44:00.001-07:00

I was lucky enough to get to be apart of this Destination wedding in Mammoth. Lauren and Collin got married on August 21st, 2010 at The Convict Lake Resort. This was no typical wedding! Lauren and Collin had friends and family travel all the way up to Mammoth to celebrate almost a full week of events that led up to their wedding at the end of the week on Saturday. Their guests got to enjoy the beauty of Convict Lake, and all the fun that came with it. The couple planned everything from group hikes to the guest gift bags and guest signs that hung from each cabin. Lauren was a truly detail oriented bride, and you could tell by all the amazing details that were put into this wedding.

I was lucky enough to get to stay in one of the cabins at The Convict Lake Resort. Mike Melin the coordinator there made it easy to help Lauren with whatever needed to be done. I had the pleasure of working with some amazing photographers, Taryn and Shelby of joie lala photography, and Scott Lawrence of Scott Lawrence Photographs. They really captured the wedding day in all of it's beauty! There were some unforgettable shots out on the lake. Their creativity gave breath to some fantastic memories! The videographer Robert Bush from HD Invision had no trouble finding enough to fill his video with.

The wedding ceremony was beautiful. The lake was an unforgettable backdrop and DJ Michael Tiernan played acoustic guitar softly in the background. After the ceremony the guests were invited to a rustic cocktail hour on the front lawn of the resort. The reception was held in an elaborate white tent lined with twinkling lights, hanging lanterns, gorgeous rustic centerpieces and candlelight supplied by Patricia of Red Lilly Flowers. There were two very memorable events at this wedding. The first was when Collin sang a song he wrote for Lauren as he played his guitar on the dance floor. The second was when Lauren's father pulled out a "shot ski"! This was the first time I have ever seen a ski with six shot glasses glued to it! Guests took turns at the shot ski all night long! This was truly an entertaining evening, but the party didn't stop there. Guests moved from the tent into the restaurant bar where Collin and friends played live music for everyone to enjoy.

I was amazed at this wedding, and I was even more excited to see that it has been published on Style Me Pretty! For more amazing images and stories from this wedding go to http://www.stylemepretty.com/2010/09/27/mammoth-wedding/.

-Rachel

Natalie Loves Robby

2010-09-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

Natalie married Robby on April 10th at L'Auberge in Del Mar. They had a sunset ceremony on the gorgeous private deck of the L'Auberge hotel. Soft Pinks, creams, and greens were the colors that filled the ceremony and reception. The whole wedding had a feeling of an antique style that was matched by the couples contemporary choice of location. Even the flowers were were a perfect match for the couples antique style and color choice.

Natalie and Robby started off the day with a beautiful ceremony on the lower outdoor deck of the L'Auberge hotel. Cocktails followed, with soft acoustic music that accompanied the sounds of the crashing waves. The couple snuck away with Photographer Marice Jane to capture some amazing sunset photos, while guests enjoyed the cocktail hour. Their dinner was held on the upper deck of the hotel, and the view was magnificent. There was a soft glow from the damask candles that created a romantic feel, as you heard ocean waves charging up to the beach..

After some fun toasts from family and friends, guests were invited down to the ballroom where guests danced and partied to great music from DJ Bryan Lee from Atmosphere Entertainment all night. This was a fun and eventful night for all involved! Rachel and I had a blast!

Thank you to all the great vendors who made this amazing wedding possible:
Venue: L'Auberge hotel
Flowers: Suzanne M. Smith Designs
Cake: CAKE
Photography: Marcie Jane Photography
DJ: Bryan Lee from Atmosphere Entertainment
Cocktail music: Miles Moynier: 619-461-9032
Hair: Alison Luth: 714-350-4940
Make-up: Jasmine: 949-929-5383

Christine Loves Patrick

2010-09-10T17:44:00.000-07:00

Christine and Patrick married on July 3rd at The Immaculata at USD... FINALLY! These high school sweethearts were made for each other. Krysteena the site coordinator for the Immaculata helped to make sure that every detail was taken care of for Christine and Patrick. The Immaculata was gorgeous backdrop for their ceremony. The amazing stained glass windows sprinkled color all along the aisle as Christine took her walk down the aisle with her parents. The flowers that lined the aisle and the alter were provided by the brides Aunt, and they added the perfect touch to the perfect day. The husband and wife duo Josh and Ariel from Anika London Photography did a fantastic job of capturing all the details of the day.

The happy couple held their reception at the Coronado Island Marriott in the same ballroom that they had their senior prom. How perfect! Christine and Patrick took a moment to practice their first dance in private before the doors opened for their beautiful reception. Friends and family crowded the room in excitement as they awaited the couples Grand Entrance. Ryan Marty from Visual Essence Videography caught all the excitement of the night as the group danced the night away! The highlight of the night was a surprise performance from the Pasacat Dance Performance Group. They even got Christine and Patrick involved in the dancing! What an entertaining, and romantic evening for not only the couple but all of their guests as well. This was truly an exciting wedding. Now how they are going to top this for their anniversary, I have no idea! I hope Christine and Patrick have the most amazing married life together. Thank you to all the amazing vendor who helped make their day special!

-Rachel

Sarah Loves Brian

2010-09-10T16:43:00.000-07:00

This was truly a romantic fantastic day! Sarah and Brian got married back in June at the Hotel Del In Coronado. It was a beautiful outdoor ceremony, held under a white flowing canopy. The weather at this June wedding couldn't have been any more perfect. Friends and family joined Sarah and Brian to celebrate their love for each other, and the whole day was captured by Melissa Koehler, whose photos you see here. Sarah and Brian even sang to each other during the ceremony. It was amazing!

Once the ceremony was over guests were invited to the Mission Valley Marriott for a gorgeous Old Hollywood themed Reception. Each table was named after an old Hollywood movie, and they even had old street lamps and a vintage microphone as decor. The tables were beautifully set with decorations from Tessilk florals in white, and teals. Gorgeous linens draped the tables in a sea of teal by A Perfect Table. Every little detail was thought of even down to the personalized candy bars at each setting. One of the fun moments of the day was when they cut the cake--you can definitely tell how in love they are. Sarah and Brian, Rachel and I enjoyed every minute with you both. It was such a great experience!

This couple really knew how to throw a party. They left in style in a classic Rolls Royce from Simply Elegant Limos. They drove off in each others arms! They are such a cute couple, and I am so happy for them!

The Newest Addition to "I Do...Weddings!"

2010-08-17T18:15:00.000-07:00

Hi All! My name is Rachel Leber and I am excited to be apart of the "I Do...Weddings!" family. I have had the amazing opportunity to work as Melissa's assistant this past wedding season. I have loved every moment of the fun and hard work that goes into the behind the scenes job of wedding planning. I have been lucky enough to learn from the best! With three years of event planning under my belt, I have grown to love the personal touch that comes with wedding planning the most! There is nothing like being apart of peoples best day of their lives, and helping create that perfect day for them. Now I look forward to growing more and more with Melissa, and helping more brides than ever have that memorable experience they crave. Look out brides of San Diego, here I come!:)

Erin Loves Nick

2010-08-16T18:06:00.000-07:00

Erin and Nick had such an amazing day that all began at the Mission De Alcala.The beautiful historic church was filled with friends and family to witness the love of Erin and Nick. Soft music filled the air, as the couple walked hand in hand out of the church as Mr. and Mrs. Z!

The reception was set at the Coronado Community Center, and let me tell you it was a fantastic setting! Every detail was thought of, from the signature drink in mason jars to individual wrapped biscotti favors for guests to enjoy. No detail was left out for this party! All of the fantastic florals of peach, soft pink and ivory were provided by Diane from Whimsey Florals. And all of it was captured by our fantastic photographers Meurer Image and our Videographer Jason from Garner Films. Guests dined on amazing food from Giuseppe Catering, and then were treated to an assortment of delicious deserts from Extraordinary Deserts. Our beautiful bride even surprised her groom with a gelato bar! It was a decadent evening, and filled with a ton of great Italian-inspired touches. I especially loved hearing guests sing to "That's Amore!"
And to top it all off the couple had a sparkler send off that light up the night! What a way to send the newlyweds off to Greece for their Honeymoon. Congrats Erin and Nick!

Tricia Loves Bill

2010-08-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

I was super duper excited for this wedding, as the groom is the brother of one of my close friends--the lovely Kasey Shephard. This was a beautiful wedding held at the St. Vincent's Church in Mission Hills, and the reception followed at the Brides family's home in Bankers Hill. There was a great amount of detail to this wedding so, we enlisted Sheri from Elegant Touch Floral to create arrangements and a floral canopy with an assortment of flowers. I love the vintage and retro touches that were infused into the celebration. The front yard had belly bars, and low rounds for guests to drink and mingle around. The back yard had a pool that was covered by Atlas Pool Decking and turned into a fantastic dance floor. The home was beautiful and it shined at night with hundreds of twinkling votive candles all about. With all of this beautiful setting Taylor Abeel from Ventana Photography had no trouble shooting some amazing shots of the wedding!

The Midili Brothers Ban d played fantastic music all night, while Tapanade served fantastic treats for all of the guests. It was a night to remember, and Trisha and Bill were definitely the stars of the show! Congrats newlyweds! Rachel and I had a blast assisting with your dream day.

Dana Loves Chris

2010-08-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

On August 11th, Dana and Chris married at Breakers Beach in Coronado. It was a beautiful day in Coronado and Rachel and I really enjoyed the whole event! The decor was simple but elegant with touches of orchids, and candles, and rose petals! Florals by yours truly. You didn't need a lot of decoration with the beautiful surroundings! There was live music provided by Manny Cepeda, and the guests danced the night away!
The great photographic team of Cindy and Daniel from Orange Turtle set up some amazingly beautiful shots for our couple! All of the images you see here are courtesy and copyright of Orange Turtle. Dana and Chris were a fantastic and fun couple to work with. You can tell how much they are made for each other by the way they look into each others eyes! Thank you for letting me be apart of this great wedding, and thanks to all the vendors who made this event special.

Marathon Boudoir Sessions--June 6th

2010-05-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

Please support an I Do...Weddings! bride!

Melissa McClure, who is both a past bride and colleague of I Do...Weddings!, is offering an incredible option for a boudoir session--a perfect gift for your guy. She is even offering package inclusive of hair and make-up to make the process even easier.

As an I Do...Weddings! bride and reader of this blog, you'll receive 10% off any package. Be sure to check it out and contact Melissa.

Hurry! There are only a few spots left!

The Look For Less--Wedding Shoes!

2010-05-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

Today, I was a featured poster on www.preownedweddingdresses.com. I discuss some fun options for wedding shoes. Be sure to click on this link and check it out! Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses is a great resource, especially for recent brides who may want to recycle and sell their dresses!

I Do...Weddings! featured on Bridal Insider Blog

2010-05-03T16:07:00.000-07:00

Laura and Ralph married last summer--we actually share an anniversary!

So, it was really great to be able to share a small part in their wedding celebration by designing the florals. Their wedding was just featured on BridalInsider's blog:

http:/bit.ly/9N67Qo

Many thanks to Laura and Ralph for the experience, as well a Lori of BI for the great shout out!

Why are Engagement Sessions So Important?

2010-04-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

Julia and Scott are getting married this weekend in Mission Bay. Some of my favorite wedding folks will be joining me that day, including Justin of Justin Lee Photography. Last year, when Julia and Scott were looking for a photographer, I suggested Justin and it was a perfect fit! Here are a handful of images from their engagement session, in downtown San Diego.

Why is an engagement session so important? I decided to go directly to an expert and get Justin's take. Here are his words.....

"Personally, I LOVE to photograph engagement shoots and I believe them to be a very important part of the entire wedding planning process--it really breaks the ice on the big day! It gives my couples a chance to show off many amazing perspectives of their love for one another. I approach my e-sessions as an editorial piece, and I love when my bride and grooms really get into it and are game for a lot of creative shot ideas with fun themes. I LOVE to tap into the "inner supermodel!" It is impossible to capture a bad image with two people deeply in love with each other." Justin Lee

All of the images you see here are courtesy and copyright of Justin Lee Photography. Many, many thanks to Julia and Scott, who are not only incredibly photogenic but have graciously allowed me to share some of these images! I can't wait for this weekend!

Please be sure to check back for other expert advice in upcoming weeks and months!

Rachel Loves Zach

2010-04-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Rachel and Zach married at the Dana in Mission Bay. This wedding celebration was a fantastic display of two families and joining as one. The Sunset Lawn at the Dana was a gorgeous backdrop for the ceremony, with the sun setting in the background and the wind lightly blowing through Rachel's veil. Soft pink accents added some glam in all aspects from the ceremony to the cocktail hour, to the reception. The icing on the cake was the Hora, where Rachel and Zach were lifted in their chairs by friends and family to celebrate their union. The Dana hotel provided fantastic service from set-up to food. Meurer Image Photography did an amazing job of capturing every detail of their special day. The music provided by Sunset Mobile Music was upbeat and fun, keeping guests on their feet dancing til late into the night. All in all Rachel and Zach's wedding was a sight to see! I wish them all the best in their future together!

Boudoir Sessions!

2010-04-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

I wanted to tell everyone about a wonderful photography company here in town--Mirelle Carmichael Photography! Please support this wonderfully creative, former I Do...Weddings! bride. She is offering an amazing deal at a local San Diego hotel on June 12th and 13th. The session includes hair, make-up, hi-res images and online hosting, not to mention a handful of prints. Are you an I Do...Weddings! bride? Please mention this to Mirelle, for IDW extras! Thanks Mirelle, for this incredible offer.

Dianalee Loves Robert

2010-04-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Dianalee and Robert married at Scripps Park and the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla. I really enjoyed every aspect of this wedding celebration...from the color palette (a very modern orange and bright blue--perfect for the MCASD!), to the bunches of mokara orchids, to the gelato bar from Giuseppe and rockin' tunes from Daniel Peterson, it was a blast from end to end. A seamless event and a happy couple really takes the cake (pardon the pun!)!
The fabulous team of Norma and John from NR3 Video Productions put together two videos--a highlights reel and a teaser trailer of the event. If you know a lot about videography and editing, you'll know that having a teaser less than a week after a wedding (where over 8 hours of coverage was shot on three cameras) is nothing short of stupendous. Thanks to Norma and John for your work, not to mention all of the great vendors below.

Dianalee and Robert, I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with you! I am excited for you and your brand new adventure--your first home! Congrats again!
Many thanks to Rachel, my assistant-with-the-mostest, who helped me at this event.

Highlights Video:

Dianalee & Robert Wedding Highlights 4.17.10 from nr3videoproductions on Vimeo.

Teaser Trailer:

Dianalee & Robert Teaser Trailer 4.17.10 from nr3videoproductions on Vimeo.

All of Dianalee and Robert's vendors were fabulous! They are listed below:
Decor: Concepts Event Design, Photographer: Kim Irons Photography, DJ: Daniel Peterson DJ, Caterer: Giuseppe Catering, Reception Location: Museum of Contemporary Art La Jolla

Angie Loves Manuel

2010-04-05T15:08:00.000-07:00

I spent yesterday visiting my grandmother and got to see some wedding photos from her and my grandfather's wedding. It truly amazes me how much things are the same, yet so very different from today's weddings...

My dad's parents were married on December 7, 1947 (the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor).

They were married a little over 60 years when my grandfather passed two years ago.

My grandma always jokes that her wedding dress only cost $12! Also, she gets a real kick out of my wedding stories as of course, wedding consultants weren't around back in the 40s.

The first photo you see here is that of my great grandparents--my grandmother's parents.

All of these photos are photos of photos, and were snapped yesterday on my iPhone. I loved seeing shots I hadn't seen before of their wedding, and it got my extra excited about wedding season--as it officially kicks off for I Do...Weddings! this week!

Cheers!

K Squared Equals LOVE

2010-03-10T18:04:00.000-08:00

K and K were married last September at the breathtaking Scripps Forum.

This is my third wedding at the Forum, and I am excited to be back several times this year!

I was super duper excited for this wedding, as the bride really has an eye for design and color. The overall vibe we were going for was an eco-friendly version of the store Anthropologie:) So, we enlisted Jennifer Cole to create arrangements with a ton of texture. Instead of traditional round tables, we opted for three feasting tables--a small table for the bridal party and immediate family, and two larger tables for all of the newlywed's loved ones. A single peacock feather was at each place setting, and the bar menu, table numbers and table assignments were on really great oversized chalkboards.

All of the rockin' images you see here are courtesy and copyright of Melissa Koehler. To see additional photos of the day, click here. Many congrats to the newlyweds!

Heather loves Justin

2010-03-07T21:48:00.000-08:00

I am definitely using this time just before the busy season to catch up on blogging! Heather and Justin were married this past July. They were married at the Admiral Kidd Club, followed by a reception at the El Cortez. It was a warm day, and things went beautifully!
Because Heather and Justin had a very large number of loved ones, we had a slightly unorthodox reception. After the ceremony on base, the newlyweds celebrated with their loved ones with a short cocktail reception, which allowed them to mingle with guests. Towards the end of the reception, they cut their cake, threw the bouquet and garter and sped off towards downtown for more pictures.
A more intimate group joined Mr. and Mrs. S at the El Cortez for a second cocktail hour, dinner and dancing. I loved helping bring Heather's vision to life of a traditional day with tons of modern elements. I especially loved the bright color palette which was perfect for summer! Florals by yours truly!

To top off the evening, I was joined by three of my favorite wedding folks, DJ Mick and Norma and John of NR3 Video.

Heather and Justin, I am thankful to have met you and your families. Thank you for including me on your wedding day!

All of the pics you see here are of the rockin' husband and wife team of Boucher Photography--Marissa and Weston. Thanks to you both for always making IDW brides and grooms look their best!

Jen loves Paul

2010-03-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

Jen and Paul's wedding was my last of 2009, and it was a great end to a fabulous year! The wedding took place at The Crossings at Carlsbad and we were blessed with beautiful weather. Mike Hogan made the room look amazing with uplights. It was a clear, gorgeous day, and while we got a beautiful sunset, the room kept looking better and better as the evening progressed! And just like the room, the dance floor was the same way--it was packed the entire evening.

Jen and Paul, you are an amazing couple! I am truly honored to have been a part of your day.

All of the images you see here are courtesy and copyright of Joseph Guidi. Thanks Joseph!

Chelsea loves Joey

2010-02-15T15:54:00.001-08:00

Joey and Chelsea's wedding last month was my very first of 2010, and it was a great way to kick off the New Year! Planning from afar, first from Arizona, then from Chicago, it was truly a destination wedding. The wedding, which took place at Cuvier Park and the Darlington House, was a blast! You could definitely tell how close Chelsea and Joey are to their families and friends, and you could certainly feel the love in all of the details--most of which were DIY. Florals were by yours truly, and these breathtaking photos are by the lovely Amanda Fales. Amanda is Indianapolis based, but has traveled out here several times for San Diego events. All of the images you see here are courtesy of Amanda Fales.

Chelsea and Joey, every time I think of you both, I smile! Thank you for the wonderful experience and I am so glad you got your gorgeous day:)

A special shot out to Kasey Shephard--I am so thankful for all of your assistance for this wedding, and everything you do!

For more photography goodness, visit www.amandafales.blogspot.com.

Stephanie loves Matt

2010-01-19T14:04:00.000-08:00

I love photography, but sometimes, video really captures the day! Take Stephanie and Matt's wedding back in September at the Coronado Marriott. The entire crowd jammed the entire night to Wayne Foster Band, and it was a really festive, fun and elegant day!
Special thanks to Joel Crisp, who shared this video he created for the newlyweds with me. Steph and Matt, your wedding day was truly a dream! Thank you for including me as part of your wedding plans--I feel very blessed to have met you both and been there.
www.facebook.com/pages/crisp-video-productions/8673707863?v=wall#/video/video.php?v=406631245576&ref=mf
or
www.joelcrisp.com/custom (click on Matt and Stephanie!)

Catherine Loves Matt

2009-12-31T15:04:00.000-08:00

Catherine and Matt were married back in October at the Japanese Friendship Gardens, and boy, was it an amazing day! I've included a few of my favorite images from the day, but wanted to share a really neat link with everyone:

www.atrero.com/blog/2009/12/30/san-diego-japanese-friendship-garden-venue-review/

This is a truly incredible blog post from Ed and Karen Atrero, the amazing ninja photography team of Atrero Photography! All of the images you see on the IDW blog are courtesy and copyright of Atrero.

If you are getting married at the gardens, looking for a garden or outdoor setting, love Balboa Park weddings or are looking for some amazing inspiration, you must check out this link! Ed and Karen also put together tons of images to really showcase the venue. They also offer a ton of insight on the space, from lighting, to photo ops, colors and where to park!

Of course, these images and all of this great information wouldn't be possible without the amazing Catherine and Matt. Catherine and Matt learned of the space after seeing another wedding I had worked with Ed and Karen, at the gardens last year. Everything worked out perfectly scheduling-wise, and we were in business for a fall wedding! Catherine's amazing attention to detail really showed, and I am so thankful that I was able to be a part of their wedding day. I love venues in which have such natural beauty, and you only need to enhance, versus cover up what is already there. Congrats to the wonderful newlyweds!

Introducing Ashley!

2009-12-02T12:59:00.000-08:00

Introducing the newest I Do...Weddings! associate, Ashley!

Ashley Cargill joined I Do…Weddings in 2009, after assisting Melissa during this busy wedding season. Ashley received a degree from San Jose State University in Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Management. She had been working in a broad range of events from the AT&T Pebble Beach Golf Tournament to local events held through the City of San Jose and through her college, but knew ultimately, she wanted to specialize in weddings. Ashley has a creative touch, finding the one of a kind details to help each bride to have a personalized wedding day. Ashley is a high energy, organized planner with an eye for style that will put a bride at ease for her big day!

A little from Ashley....

I love to entertain, and have always had a passion for food and wine. I enjoy the outdoors and I love to camp and travel. Family and friends are some of life's greatest commodities and I love to spend time with them. I recently moved to San Diego to pursue my dream of event planning and couldn't be happier to work with Melissa and Kasey at I Do...Weddings! Graduating with a degree in hospitality and a focus on event coordination has truly given me great opportunities and tools for the wedding industry. I have coordinated a variety of events including golf tournaments, San Jose State University's 50th Anniversary Presidential Gala, community events throughout San Jose, as well as weddings all over Northern and Southern California. I have had a passion for all things wedding and love to be a part of one of the most special days in a person's life. I am looking forward to next year's wedding season with I Do...Weddings!

Many thanks to Justin Lee Photography for this great shot.

Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Wedding Coordinator!

2009-11-02T12:18:00.000-08:00

Below is a reprint of an article from Exquisite Weddings--a magazine I love!

Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Wedding Coordinator

Do-it-yourself brides may think of their wedding as just one more challenge to conquer--until they discover all the little things they never even considered. Luckily, that's where wedding coordinators come in. Here, 10 local experts list the reasons to put your DIY drive aside and enlist their services to plan your big day:
Experience: "Knowledge and experience is power. With years of knowledge, an experienced coordinator is able to solve last-minute problems on site without panicking. Also, with experience, we are able to match the right vendor to the client due to our relationships with different vendors. With every wedding, we learn something new; over time, we help pass off this knowledge for a perfect celebration."
Vision: "The ideal experience for a bride and groom and their guests is a day during which nobody has to think or make decisions. Your professional wedding consultant will execute your vision and navigate all the events of the day so that you are free to enjoy your wedding--just as you've imagined it."
Cost-Effectiveness: "It is a wise investment to hire an experienced wedding coordinator so that all of the money and months spent planning a perfect day will actually be executed to a couple's highest expectations."
The Gift of Time: "Save time by getting valuable and qualified vendor referrals from your coordinator. No need to spend hours researching and wondering if certain vendors are right for you."
Cohesion: "With such a significant investment of time and money spent on a wedding, a professional planner will make sure not only that you have the correct pieces to your puzzle but that they are all put together smoothly. We guide through the labyrinth of options while maintaining the client's goals. Having all of the best vendors in the world is meaningless if the glue is not there to pull it together."
Security: "Having a wedding coordinator ensures less risk of anything going wrong and more security that all the details will be just right!"
Stress Relief: "Having a planner on board allows you to slow down, take a deep breath and truly enjoy the process of planning your wedding."
The Matter of Manners: "Etiquette can play an important role in a wedding, especially for those brides who want a traditional celebration. Wedding coordinators have experience and knowledge necessary to advise bride and families on how to invite guests, on how to deal with difficult family issues, on how to create a processional order at the ceremony, on how to assign seats at the reception, on how to send thank-you notes, and so on."
Creative Inspiration: "It seems there are countless décor ideas out there, but your coordinator can help you narrow them down to fit your own wedding style. They can also help you create customized options to make your wedding truly unique and memorable."
Peace of Mind: "There is nothing like knowing that you have someone to oversee all of the details that you have put in place as well as invested money in."

Rebecca loves Barry

2009-10-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite venues this year is absolutely the Robert Paine Scripps Seaside Forum, located at the beautiful La Jolla Shores! I have had the opportunity to work there 3 times this year, and am looking forward to being back with the fabulous Donna Stout a few times next year! Above are published photos from Rebecca and Barry's wedding--the first ever wedding at the Forum. This wedding was so uniquely amazing that it was featured not once, but twice! First, in a local publication called the La Jolla Light. Second, a spread in the Fall issue of San Diego Style Weddings!

Check out the San Diego Style Weddings article online and be sure to pick the issue up! Click here to read the article in its entirety in the La Jolla Light. Many many thanks to everyone involved in this wedding and these great articles! In particular, the newlyweds, Mother of the Bride with the mostest Sandra, and to the photogs at The Theorie!

Yasmin loves Brian

2009-10-08T13:38:00.000-07:00

Yasmin and Brian married in August at the beautiful Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, and boy, was it a great party! The ceremony took place on the lawn, with cocktails at the pool and dinner on the beautifully lit Azalea lawn. After the first dance, toasts and a belly dancer performance, a singer appeared and began singing "Let's Get It Started!" Yasmin and Brian hopped up and went into the adjoining ballroom, where the room was set up lounge-style and guests rocked out to The Heroes all night. The ballroom was sanctioned off with curtains, so it was a great surprise for the guests.

I loved the subtle equestrian touches we added, honoring the newlyweds' love of horses. From the horse shoes on the cake, to the tables named after horses, it was a great touch! All of the florals you see here are from the gals at Modern Bouquet. Lighting and Decor by Concepts Event Design and Event Party Rentals. Thanks to everyone at Aquario for the beautiful pics, and Marianna at the Inn for all of her help!

Yasmin and Brian, thank you so much for a wonderful experience! I wish you both all the best in the world!