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

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)

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

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!

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

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

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

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!"

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

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

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 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.

Dana Loves Chris

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

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!

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

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?

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!