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 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!
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!
TheMidili Brothers Band 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.
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 Turtleset 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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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
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!
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!
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 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!
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!
We are a Southern California based event planning firm, and yes, We Do Weddings! Our full-service event and design team includes Melissa Barrad, Rachel Leber, Lindsay Cross and Nicole Montzingo. Please visit our blog often to view recent events and happenings of I Do...Weddings! Be Beautiful. Be Inspired. Be in Your Element.
We look forward to connecting with you.
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