I had the pleasure of meeting Simone at a bridal show earlier this year and to say we instantly clicked is an understatement. I knew when I agreed to take on this couple that it was going to be one of the fun-nest weddings I have ever done.

During Simone’s first meeting she was a little apprehensive to hire a planner they were on a srtrict budget being that she was a student full time and Chris would be paying for their entire wedding. After our meeting she said exactly what I thought she would say, “As much as I would LOVE to have you as my planner I just don’t think it will be in our budget, but I will talk it over with chris and get back to you”  So when I got the phone call that they wanted to hire me I was excited, excited to show them what I could do for them and to show future couples that having a planner on a budget can be a fantastic opportunity…as long as you keep it real about the things you can have and can’t have on a budget…..and well after lot’s of starbuck’s and meetings that turned into outings. This awesome couple is finally married! We used wonderful details that spoke to the couple, Simone’s favorite color being Turquoise we used that as our main color and enhanced it with a green and teal. We decided on a desert table full of goodies, like Cup cakes and cake pops from this awesome Gal Rosie from Cake-a-Mania and lots of other candy goodies displayed and gifted to her from a close friend. My husband @ IncolorMedia handled the printing on the tables, We decided that with the vibrant display of colors throughout the wedding we would keep the flowers chic and classic using all white blooms, orchids, Hydreanga, and Roses, big shout out to  Marci @ Entwined Design florals for creating those awesome pieces  . . Desiree @GBS Linens for being able to make the colored aisle runner, Mikasa Linens for the beautiful table linens. Central Parkfor hosting their wedding day, Affordable elegance catering for creating the wonderful entree’s and Matthew & Amber @ Still Life Cinemafor taking these amazing photos…YOU all ROCK!!! Simone & Chris I wish you lots of Love, wealth and Happiness, I couldn’t think of a more deserving couple

XOXO,

Courtney!

His reaction to seeing her for the first time...Priceless!

The awesome desert table!!

The cutest cake toppers I have ever found...so glad she bought them!!

Having fun picking out some candies before the guests get their paws on it!

Mr and Mrs. sharing a private moment......

We are always working our brains to think of new ideas and inspiration for our couples and our readers so a few months back I put together what I believe to be a perfect team (my dream team) of professionals to help me create a masterpiece!  Marci with entwined design florals using phelonopsis orchids, Hydranga, callas, all my fav flowers to create this eye popping piece. Combined with all the pefect elements, Paul with Cean One Photography  was able to make our masterpiece shine through his creative photography techniques.

 I had, had the pleasure of meeting a fabulous artist not to long before the shoot and I really wanted to incorporate something we haven’t really seen, I had been racking my brain and one night it came to me, I called up Bethany with Commemory fine art and asked her to do what she does best, paint for me and what she did was amazing!

A big shout out to all that helped in making this shoot fantastic I had a wonderful day!

Check out the photos here: http://www.californiaweddingwave.com/2011/06/02/tabletop-inspiration-purple-passion-2/

It is always an honor to get some press on weddings we have helped our couples to create. This next wedding got some love over at A Million Little Details.

We love when our brides want to take a more nontraditional approach to their wedding, be it a cocktail reception, an all outdoor black tie affair or even a simple backyard BBQ. Well my latest bride Ali wanted a sexy, sultry and just out right glam wedding! Well, we gave it to her!  From gorgeous eye-popping red and white florals to a not-so-common aisle runner, and let’s not forget to talk about the bling! If it wasn’t on the bride you could find it adorned around the room and even on the cake. A special thanks Sea Cliffs’s Country club for hosting the affair, Marci @ Entwined Designs for the gorgeous florals, James @ All The Above Events for rockin` the dance floor and providing the room with sexy uplighting, Rossmore for the yummy cake, and last but certainly not least Karin @ On-location Photography for all the great photos.

I have been blessed in many different ways, being able to do what I love, sharing my passion with so many wonderful couples and seeing their undying love for each other always moves me to tears. No, really, I still cry at every wedding. Sappy, I know but I am really a hopeless romantic!

I just celebrated my third year anniversary with the most amazing man in the world. I have two beautiful, amazing, smart children. We live a modest life and I am truly happy! I am grateful for all the things in my life that make me the woman I am. I want to tell my hubby how much I love him and thank him for the most amazing 7 years together, I am who I am today because you have been by my side, you are my best friend.

To all my couples, thank you for entrusting  me with the most important day of your life, I hope to be doing this for many more years to come!

xoxoxo,
Courtney

Today I thought I would talk about cakes, they are so on the brain (and making me hungry), more than likely because I have a tasting with a wonderful couple this weekend. Simone and Chris are a having a modest modern beachy style wedding in September and have decided on cupcakes. Whether you’re like them and want cupcakes, round or square tiered or an over the top 6+ layer piece of art, make sure that it not only looks beautiful but that it taste great too!

Are you having a hard time finding a great bakery that can do what you want and still make it taste great?  Have you heard the horror stories from others that the tasting went so well that they booked but when they got their cake on their wedding day it looked nothing like it was suppose too or it tasted horrible?

First thing, always bring pictures of the stlye cakes you like. This gives the baker an idea of what you want and make sure the cake matches the theme of the entire wedding as well. For instance, if you are having a shabby chic wedding I don’t suggest ordering a sqaure tiered cake as this is a very modern. Check out their work ahead of time on their website, etc. When you call to set up an appt for a tasting be specific as to what flavors you are interested in and if you have any food allergies so the baker can avoid even bringing out a sample that could put you in the hospital! :0 Or if they can even accomodate your specific needs. And last, if you want fondant make sure your baker even uses it, fondant is not very friendly to our taste buds so some bakers might avoid it all together.

So here is a shout out to some of my top bakeries:  Some Crust in Downtown Claremont, Hansen’s in LA, Bakers Oven in Riverside, and Rossmore Pastries in Signal Hill. These bakeries not only have some of the most amazing looking cakes but they also taste so yummy you can’t have just one piece.

Some random pics of different style cakes, for your enjoyment!

Happy Tasting!!!