Sneak Peek : Dayna & J.C : Santa Monica, CA

After a bit of blog stalking, I snagged a few images from the super duper talented Samuel Lippke of one of my recent weddings at Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica. He is such a huge talent and I was honored to work with him. Be sure to sneak over to his blog and website to get the full experience. There is so much more to come, but here is a sneak peek of Dayna & J.C.'s over-the-top Latin inspired wedding. They had everything from Mariachis to a 10 piece Latin Salsa Band to Cucumber Mojitos. And, the flowers, by the too good to be true, Sunny of White Lilac, were out of this world! Again, enjoy this teaser. I promise to share more once they are in my hands.

Loving This: Amanda Marsalis Shoots Polaroids

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Amanda Marsalis at the wedding of Zoe and Griff. She was walking around taking polaroid pictures of the event as the rest of the guests were having watermelon lemonade and mini meatball sliders. I was wondering what the heck she was doing. I mean, she was shooting with the same eye and attention to detail as I see from my other wedding photographers, so I could tell this wasn't her first go around, but, being that I have NEVER seen even a remotely decent polaroid picture, I kind of thought she was wasting her time a bit. Boy, was I wrong! Little did I know that Miss Amanda is a well known artist in the photography world who has captured the likes of Juliette Lewis, Dennis Hopper, Beck and many, many others. Her images are breathtaking, and Zoe and Griff were so lucky to have another pair of creative eyes capturing their day. Here are a few of my favorite shots from Amanda Marsalis.

In Print: BHE in Inside Weddings

If you haven't picked up the latest copy of Inside Weddings, you should do so immediately. Not only is it overflowing with lots of juicy details and information for your upcoming wedding, but you can see a few shots from one of our recent weddings. If you can't make it to pick up a copy, in the meantime, you can view some of the details of Louisa and John's wedding along with their story online.. This was probably my favorite event of 2008 and I'm so honored that one of my favorite publications seemed to agree. To see more about Louisa and John's wedding and what I had to say about it, click here, here and here. This couple also inspired my blog post about maintaining perspective, which is an appropriate read no matter where you are in your planning process.

Planning Tidbit: Must Knows about Private Estates

Private Estates are sneaky little devils...they promise privacy, intimacy and even offer a blank slate to create a world that is all your own. But, with that blank slate comes a cost and one you should definitely figure into your budget BEFORE committing to a private estate. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE private homes...They are perfect for the type of events I usually plan and the brides that invite me to be a part of their day. You don't have to worry about hotel guests crashing your reception or bumping into another bride all dressed in white, on YOUR wedding day. You can usually bring in any type of caterer you like and even save a few dollars on alcohol if you want to bring in your own. For these reasons, they are the perfect match for a lot of couples, but very often, I'm brought onto a wedding for a couple who have already picked their venue. They've chosen a popular private estate in Southern California and couldn't be more excited. Sure, they know they have to bring in the tables, chairs, forks, glasses, etc. but rarely do they know how this can add up. Here are some of the added expenses you may run into while planning your private estate wedding:

~Rentals: Yes, I know they told you about this, but did they tell you that rentals alone can cost from $60 to $100 per person when all is said and done? This includes chairs, tables, linens, forks, knives, dessert plates, bread and butter plates, coffee cups, martini glasses, oh and those super cute double shot glasses that you want to see your desserts displayed in.
~More Rentals: If your private estate will not allow your caterer to cook in the existing kitchen, which 95% of them will not, plan to rent items like convection ovens, heating racks, fryers, prep tables, trash cans and even things like astroturf to protect the floors of the venue and to protect the staff.
~Portable restrooms: I know you hate them, but you need them. Even if you can use the home's existing restrooms, if the venue recommends adding a portable restroom, or if you are working in a home where you are simple not sure of the plumbing system's capabilities, then spend the couple hundred dollars it costs to get a portable restroom. Best case scenario, it can be used for the vendors so they don't have to track through guests and your home during potty breaks. Worst case scenario, it acts as a back up plan if all of the sudden, the homes restrooms can't handle your crowd. Oh, and if the portable restroom is your only outlet, I would recommend upgrading to a VIP restroom which can rent for $1000 to $2000. They come in on a trailer and look just like the bathroom in your very own home inside, complete with sinks, mirrors, etc.
~Parking: Homes are not designed to park 100 cars. There's no way around it. Plan to spend a couple hundred to rent a nearby parking lot if street parking is not an option.
~Valet or Shuttles: Well, if the parking lot is not attached to the home, chances are the guests are going to need to get to the venue somehow. Make it easier on them by either offering valet service to take their car to the lot for them, or by shuttling the guests from the lot to the venue. This can run from $750 to $2500 and up depending on how many guests you are trying to transfer.
~Lighting & Generators: Again, most homes aren't designed to host parties of 200+. They might have track lighting to light pathways, or enough power to run a small sound system, but chances are, they don't have enough light or power to run the event. I recommend checking the venue out at night to see exactly what type of basic lighting you might need. I'm not talking decorative lighting here...I'm talking the necessary light that will ensure your guests are not eating in the dark. Once you determine the amount of light you need to bring in and the amount of power necessary, check with your band, DJ and caterer to determine how much additional power they need. It is very rare that I get by without a generator at a private home, so do plan for the worst budgetwise, but you never know...if you go super basic on lighting and then just have a DJ, you might be able to get by on the home's existing power, but if there is any question at all, don't risk it. There would be nothing worse than all of the power going out just when the dance floor is getting started.
~Lastly, and you'll rarely here me plug the services of a wedding planner, but if you are going the private estate route, do yourself a favor and get a wedding planner. At minimum, you'll need one to double and triple check your rental order, power needs, ensure the valet is going smoothly, etc., etc., etc. Don't put this added stress onto yourself by being bogged down with the logistics.

With all of this said, I don't want to talk you out of a private estate in any way, shape or form. I L-O-V-E, love them! Some of the most amazing events I have ever planned have been in beautiful courtyards, mansions overlooking the pacific, or even just quaint and historic plantation houses in the Hawaiian Islands. So, while I 100% believe they are worth the extra work, make sure you do your research both on your needs and expenses you will face before signing on the dotted line of your venue contract.

Quick Design Tip: Don't overthink the color palette

So many brides out there spend lots and lots of time hunting for the exact shade of ribbon that matches the envelopes of their invitations which also matches the stitching on the bridesmaid's shoes and so on and so on, but I say, no more. Not only will this make your head spin in circles, but in the end the focus of your design becomes these one or two colors that have now vomited on your event. The colors rule you and your design instead of you ruling the design. All of the sudden you are buying hot pink toe nail polish for the bridesmaids and purchasing items like purple pens for favors just because they are in your color scheme. Instead of having the romantic glamour you were going for, you now have a pink mess that includes pink favor boxes tied with the perfectly matched pink ribbon enclosing the perfectly matched pink macarons which now match the pink napkins at the cocktail hour and the pink ties on the groomsmen. Rather than forcing yourself to choose a strict color palette, plan on choosing a color story along with bringing in elements that you simply just like. You don't have to have pink lemonade just because your wedding colors are pink and yellow. But, if you love a certain palette then plan to feature these colors without overdoing it. For example, if your "colors" are lavendar and green, don't be afraid include a variety of purples in the palette to make things look more natural all the while relying heavily on the lavendar. Add some texture to printed items and even some of the accessories for the wedding party that feature hints of the palette without forcing it down your guests throats. Make your focus more on creating an atmosphere or a feel more so than anything else. Don't worry if the paper on your placecards is not the exact color as the signature cocktail, because no one else will be. In fact, if you do overly match these types of things, guests might start to notice the slight OCD that you have been developing since the planning process has begun and that's not good for anyone :). But seriously, in the end, the event will look more interesting and more sophisticated by not taking the obvious path to an overly matched event.

Blog Love: Beth Helmstetter Events on Hostess with the Mostess

I absolutely love Hostess with the Mostess and their amazing blog! She provides readers with realistic inspiration that you could really do at home for your next party that everyone can enjoy. As I am a sucker for the art of entertaining, I love that she makes throwing an amazing party possible no matter where you live and what your budget is. So, of course, I was more than honored when she featured the recent baby shower I planned on my last trip back to the Midwest. It was a Cowboy themed shower that was pretty much DIY all around and anyone could replicate or spin it and make it your own the next time you are looking for a relaxed but fun theme. Click here to see the love, HWTM gave us. Click here to see all of the pictures posted on my previous blogpost.

Real Wedding : Adamson House : June 7th, 2009

I recently had the honor of planning and designing a wedding for a couple that prefers to remain anonymous, but they have allowed me to provide some beautiful pictures from the day. The event was at the Adamson House in Malibu and shot by the too good to be true, Jose Villa. It's ashame you can't see the emotion he captures on a wedding day in this post, but his detail shots have captured my heart as well!

The bride wanted a very low key, backyard dinner feel to her wedding. She wanted the day to feel approachable and effortless, which just so happens to be my specialty, so we were definitely the perfect fit!

The breathtaking flowers were by Holly Flora (of course!). She's too talented for words.

Calligraphy was by my girl, Laura Hooper of LH Calligraphy. Again, she is at the top of my referral list when it comes to adding custom designed charm to the day.

Linens were by La Tavola, who I also love for making me look so good!

Cake was by Vanilla Bake Shop. So yummy!

Enjoy the pics!