Ashley loves Brandon

Ashley and Brandon married back in late February and got absolutely beautiful weather!

The ceremony took place at Beth Israel, in Heritage Park, in Old Town. The reception followed on the lawn in Heritage Park. I can definitely say that this wedding was truly unique, largely in part to so many unique details....from the foot washing ceremony to the use of peacock feathers, and the BBQ picnic reception and the gorgeous bride, I was honored to be a part of the day. Many of the details you see here are handcrafted by the groom, who is an amazing artist.

All of the beautiful photos you see here are courtesy of the fabulouso Garrett Delph, of Garrett Photography. Check back soon to see photos from another amazing event I just coordinated where Garrett was the photog. Ashley and Brandon, your creativity and love for each other really inspires me! I wish you all the best!

Quinta Loves Karl!

Check out the entire article about Quinta and Karl's wedding in Exquisite Weddings!

http://www.exquisiteweddingsmagazine.com/media/Exquisite-Weddings/Spring-Summer-2009/Sophisticated-Fiesta/

Felicidades Quinta and Karl!

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

Earlier this week, Kasey and I attended the launch party for the Spring/Summer Issue of Exquisite Weddings, at Anthology downtown. The party was especially exciting for us because I Do...Weddings! was featured twice. The team at Exquisite interviewed me about my reality show experience and did a fun Q and A. Also, Quinta and Karl's wedding was recognized by the editors, which was photographed by Suzanne Hansen. If you're looking to get some inspiration from a wedding that is completely unique and different, this is it! And yes, you're right--you are seeing photos of a petting zoo at this upscale backyard wedding.

Be sure to pick up the issue, on newsstands now! Thanks to everyone at Exquisite for all of their support of I Do...Weddings!

Cake Wrecks

A friend in the industry told me about a really funny website last night--Cake Wrecks.

While not all of the cakes on the blog deal with weddings, there are certainly some interesting cakes on there! The two cakes you see above are from a wedding. The first image is what the bride provided, and the second image is what was delivered on the wedding day!

In short, seek out wedding pros that can not only understand your vision, but can also execute! Check references, and ask to see lots of photos--not just photos from other weddings or magazines that they say they can replicate.

I Do...Weddings! Bride featured in Destination I Do Magazine

Two of my favorite people, my Bride Yvana and a photographer Kim Irons, were featured in Destination I Do Magazine. The article details Yvana and her husband Joe's trash the dress session, in Croatia! Be sure to check it out....she and Joe look amazing, and I absolutely love the shots Kim set up.

Being Creative with Wedding Plans during Tough Times

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/03/21/kaye.wedding.ripple.cnn?iref=videosearch

This was passed to me by another consultant, and thought it was interesting. While most everyone is experiencing tough times right now, you can still have a beautiful day that fits your vision and doesn't empty your pocketbook. Stumped? Let's talk and brainstorm how:)

I Do...Weddings! featured on I Do Monday Mornings' blog!

I have a great friend named Loren, who blogs everything weddings here in San Diego. A bit earlier in the year, we met for coffee and talked weddings! She was kind enough to interview me, and you can see the interview on her blog:

http://idomondaymorning.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/03/weducation-wednesday-melissa-barrad-of-i-do-weddings.html

Loren also came to my first wedding of the year, and also featured it on her blog:

http://idomondaymorning.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/01/melissa-tim-13.html

Thanks Loren! You're the best!
Be sure to check out the blog!

I Do...Weddings! receives Wedding Wire's 2009 Bride's Choice Award

I wanted to take a quick moment to thank our past clients for speaking on our behalf and helping us win a 2009 Bride’s Choice Award! Wedding Wire is a great national resource, that offers up a ton of great information and reviews on a local level. Be sure to check it out!

Want to win beautifully designed invites?

I just got a really great email from my friend and past bride Sarah, who also happens to be the creativity behind fuzzynk, a design studio. Want to see how creative Sarah and her husband Rudy are? See a few photos from their wedding day here. Sarah and Rudy's wedding was featured last year in San Diego Style Weddings and is also on the Wild Animal Park website!

She has designed an amazingly hip and elegant signature collection. And to kick it off, she's givng one lucky bride free invitations! All you have to do is check the designs on her website, and comment on her blog.

For additional information, check out this link:

http://fuzzynk.wordpress.com/2009/02/08/fuzzynk-website-give-away/

Good luck!!!

Brandi and Angie

Brandi and Angie married last fall on a gorgeous day at the La Jolla Cove Bridge Club.

They picked their wedding date, as it fell on "The Sweetest Day" of the year.

It was a very small, intimate affair, with yummy goodies from Roppongi. With the fab photogs from SheWanders, and florals from I Do...Weddings!, we had a great time being able to spread out and enjoy the club. Brandi and Angie took some private time before dinner and hopped up street to their amazing suite at La Valencia, with photographers in tow. They then hopped on a bicycle fit for two, for some great shots.

Brandi and Angie, hope all is well! I loved getting to know you and your families, and I loved how much laughter filled your wedding day. Congrats!!!!

Corinne and Sean

Corinne and Sean were married last year at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. It was my first experience there, and it was a blast! I've know Corinne for over a decade, as she went to high school with my husband Brett. I was honored to be asked to help with their day, and also be a guest!

Because the museum's focus was photography, several photo elements of photography and movies were infused in the day. In particular, a short slideshow prior to the ceremony (which took place in the theatre) as well as a slideshow during the reception. Guests had a blast in the photobooth, and all of the tables were named after the couple's favorite movies.

All of the eye-catching photos you see here are courtesy and copyright of Photos by Chana and Don. Thanks guys! Corinne and Sean, thanks for having me! I had a great time, and I loved getting to know your families better.

Leslie and Sean

Leslie and Sean were married back in October at Paradise Point. Some of my favorite vendors were on hand to create a beautifully rich fall wedding--Haydee's Creative Flowers and Concepts Event Design. Jerry did such a great job with music that we decided to extend the reception an extra hour! My favorite detail of the day was the personalization of the menu. Leslie's father gave the chef the family recipe for meatballs and coffee cake, which were especially delicious!

Leslie and Sean, I loved working with you over the past year and a half to design your wedding day. I always smile when I see you together, and I know you will be happy together forever. Thank you so much for having me at your wedding, I had a blast!

All of the wonderful photos you see here are courtesy and copyright of Narrative Images. Rick and Bernadette, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed working with you!

Mirelle and Pat's wedding featured in Ceremony Magazine!

Mirelle and Pat,who married last summer at the La Jolla Shores Hotel, have their wedding featured in Ceremony Magazine!

http://ceremonymagazine.com/featured.html#sdwod09

To see photos of the event, created by the amazing team at Studio Z, be sure to click on the link above!

Erin and Aaron

A blog post from Kasey.....

Erin and Aaron were married in October at the US Grant in true fairytale style. I loved getting to know this super romantic and thoughtful couple. They are from San Luis Obispo and planned their San Diego destination wedding after visiting and falling in love with the US Grant.
We created an enchanted winter wonderland with ice blue lighting, trees dripping with ice crystals, and even chilled the room to give guests the wintry effect as they entered!
Two of the groomsman got the party started with a surprise Napoleon Dynamite choreographed routine that was hilarious! It was great to work with some great new vendors such as Andre Niesing who took the beautiful photos you see here and was a blast to work with! Matt Grauman provided fantastic ceremony and reception music and kept the party going. It was a pleasure getting to know you both and being a part of your wedding day!

Melissa and Tim

Melissa and Tim's wedding was a great way to start 2009. Not only are they friends and clients, they are also wedding photographers! Their wedding guest list read like a who's who of some of the best wedding photgs in town. I loved being able to see many of the people I get to work with, groovin' on the dance floor while eating cupcakes!

But seriously, this wedding was amazing! Bill was on hand with some rocking tunes--I even jumped on the dance floor for a few. Everywhere you looked, there were details that were definitely Melissa and Tim. From the beautiful table names names of different types of cameras, of course!) to the photobooth, to Melissa's warm wrap and her sending out a Twitter update during the ceremony, it was a beautiful day! I can honestly say that I've never been to a wedding where the bride was taking photos! Melissa's love of cherries and cherry blossoms was definitely infused throughout the day.

Even though we were outside, and the weather was quite chilly, we kept warm with Brenda's famous cherry blossom drinks and having a tv on to watch the Chargers win! The images you see here are courtesy of Michelle Terry. The first two images, shown collage-style are courtesy and copyright of Loren, of I Do Monday Mornings. She has an amazing new local blog, so check it out

Melissa and Tim, I am so thankful to have been a small part of your day. I loved working with you, and am thrilled to have made new friends in the process.

To see additional photos of the day, click on the links below. Cheers!

http://mterry.blogspot.com/2009/01/melissa-and-tim-wed-in-s-t-y-l-e-this.html

In addition, Melissa's wedding was featured on a local wedding planning blog

http://idomondaymorning.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/01/melissa-tim-13.html

The brides' very own blog:

http://melissamcclure.net/?p=831

Oh, and a few others...

http://www.melissakoehlerblog.com/?p=1151

http://jasminemariephotography.blogspot.com/2009/01/one-with-melissa-tims-wedding-010309.html

http://bryantrish.blogspot.com/2009/01/wedding.html

New Episode of The Wedding Planner Now Airing

Great News! For those of you that live in San Diego, Cox now has the WE Network (Channel 337)!

This is perfect timing to coincide with my second episode of the The Wedding Planner. For additional information on the episode, check out this link:

http://www.wetv.com/wedding-central/episodes/wedding-planners-2

This episode is extra special to me as it features I Do...Weddings! in San Diego's finest city, for Kasey and Will's wedding. Kasey, of course, is now my partner, and her wedding was beautiful. This episode is a great opportunity to see both of us in action.

The image you see above of Kasey is courtesy of Luna Photo, who was also featured in the episode.

WeTV "The Wedding Planners" featuring Melissa Barrad airs tonight

Tonight, at 10pm local time, check out "The Wedding Planners" on the WE network (WeTV).
The show airs locally on Time Warner (Channel 54), along with Dish Network (Channel 889) and DirecTV (Channel 260). Check your local listings!!!

http://www.wetv.com/wedding-central/episodes/the-wedding-planners

The show will re-air at the following dates and times:
Monday, December 8 at 2am | 1c
Monday, December 8 at 11pm | 10c
Tuesday, December 9 at 2am | 1c
Sunday, December 14 at 11pm | 10c
Wednesday, December 17 at 4pm | 3c
Sunday, December 28 at 12pm | 11c
Monday, January 5 at 1:30pm | 12:30c

Come see me plan Rosie and Nandi's wedding, which was in March at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf Course. Like what you see? Leave your comments here!

Ali and Max

Ali and Max's wedding is very special to me, as they are very good friends of mine. In fact, Max was a groomsman at my wedding, and we also work together as he and Ali are wedding photographers. The wedding, which took place at The Dana, was a really neat experience for me, as I was both a guest and the wedding planner! My husband Brett was also a groomsman.

Ali and Max's wedding was the windiest wedding I have ever attended or planned, but you certainly couldn't tell..the newlyweds looked goregous and happy in every photo! I also loved Sharon, of Organic Elements' showstopping florals! To see details of the day, be sure to visit Gabby Fox's blog at:http://www.gabriellefoxphotography.com/blog/?p=440

Gabby, thanks again for the photos! Ali and Max, Mazel Tov!!!

..

Jenae and Indra

Jenae and Indra were married back in October at St. Andrew's, just down the street from my childhood home! The reception took place at Admiral Baker, and with some help from the band, The Heroes, we had a blast all night long! Jenae looked breathtaking in her mom's veil--I loved the retro touch! Jenae and Indra, it was an honor geting to know you! To see the slideshow from the wedding, click on this link: http://bkmphotog.com/Indra_Jenae/.
The gorgeous photo you see of Jenae above is courtesy and copyright of BKM Photography. Ben and Kirin, I really loved working with you and getting to know you.

I Do...Weddings! featured on NBC San Diego

Local writer and NBC Anchor Marianne Kushi was so kind to write an article about me and my show, which begins airing this Sunday at10pm.

To see the article, click on this link:

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/around_town/the_scene/La-Jolla-Wedding-Planner-Says-I-Do-to-Reality-TV-.html