The Bride and I

2010-07-06T19:32:00.000-07:00

Andi & Jarrett
Get Hitched
May, 1st 2010

Ask anyone who was been to an Ace wedding and they will tell you it is unlike any wedding they have ever been to. This Ace wedding was by no means the exception to that rule! Andi and Jarrett are a super stylish couple who brought so much of themselves to every aspect of the wedding! I loved assisting them with the planning of this wedding and was close to hiring them just to hang out with me! Sweet, genuine, and amazingly down to earth Andi and Jarrett made the planning process fun and I was happy to be a part of their big day. I hope you enjoy the photos sent over by Max at Max Wanger Photography. Max..........you are amazing!!!

Cheers,
April

2010-07-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

Martha and Brian
Get Hitched
May, 28th 2010

This will be the first of 3 wedding celebrations Martha and Brian will host to mark their union. I was honored they choose Palm Spring as the "official" wedding ceremony location. Martha and Brian choose to be married at a beautiful Palm Springs Estate. They did so in front of 18 of their closest friends and family. It was a touching and meaningful day for all. Thank you to Shannon Wilsey Photography for sending over these amazing photos!

XOXO
April

2010-07-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

Colby+Kyle
*Married*
March 20th 2010

Perhaps the most beautiful couple ever, Colby and Kyle were married on a perfect day in sunny San Diego, Ca. What a treat it was for me to get out of the desert for this amazing wedding. A big thanks to Colby and Kyle for allowing me to be apart of their special day. I enjoyed every moment with this fun loving couple and wish we could do it all over again. Hope you all enjoy some fantastic photos courtesy of Unveiled Wedding Photography who did a great job at capturing the day.

Cheers!
April

Byrnes and Hirsch Get Hitched

2010-01-10T12:15:00.000-08:00

Bridget and Craig
October 10th 2009
Colony Palms Hotel

Bridget and Craig are by far one of my favorite couples of all time!

Byrnes and Hirsch (as they affectionately refer to each other) selected one of the most amazing venues in Palm Srings to host their special day. The Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs is simply phenomenal in every respect.

Enjoy a few snap shot of their amazing day courtesy of James Carson Photograph

Getting Ready

The Big Reveal

Bridget and Craig had an emotional yet theatrical ceremony complete with a walk down the aisle from the couple’s beloved pooch Sophia and a live rendition of the famous cafe scene from "When Harry Met Sally". I wish I had a video clip to share. It was a ceremony like none I have ever seen before.

The Wedding Party

The Details...................

<

A Night to Remember!

Planning for Bridget and Craig was such a positive experience, I feel so blessed to have meet them and to have been involved in making their wedding day as special as they are.

Jesscia and Ryan Say I DO

2010-01-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

Jessica and Ryan
September 12Th 2009
Indian Canyons Golf Resort

Jessica and her ladies started out the day with some fabulous Hair and Make up at the Riviera Hotel and Spa.

Indian Canyons Golf Resort provided an amazing backdrop for the ceremony and 200 of Jessica and Ryan's closest friends and family.

The Details...........

The Party

Jessica and Ryan payed homage to his Cajun roots with an amazing dance/march strait from the streets of New Orleans!

I was so happy for Jessica and Ryan, they were a great couple and I wish them many years of happiness together! A big Thank you to them for letting me be apart of their special day!

Cheers!!!!

A must read for all brides!!

2010-01-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

I came across this blog post from www.weddingchicks.com (one of my favorite wedding blogs) and I just had to share it! This post make so much sense and is quite possibly the greatest advice I have ever seen! I can absolutely identify with the planner Amber and the heartache she feels for the bride who does not fully understand the impact of the decision she has just made. Amber articulated what every bride needs to know about what her wedding coordinator will do for her perfectly! The post is a bit lengthy but absolutely worth the read!

Cake tastings/consultations, florist meetings, venue walk-throughs, oh my! All these things have me thinking about how valuable my wedding coordinator, Amber, of Amber Events, is to me. While I am not a stranger to event planning and pretty weddings, Amber knows things that one only learns by professionally coordinating weddings.

Top 3 reasons why we needed a wedding coordinator:

1. My honey is often traveling for work, I am finishing my Master’s degree. We barely have time to do laundry so that we have clean underpants.
2. I like logistics and details. I need someone who gets the same amount of sick pleasure from logistics and details.
3. My maid of honor, best man, and best friends, are not my work mules or my assistants. I want them to actually have fun with the bits of wedding planning that they take part in. (Not to be misunderstood: My coordinator is also not my work mule or my assistant.)

Top 3 reasons why we are so totally, completely, 110% happy that we have a wedding coordinator:

1. She literally makes it her job to be there for you.
2. She is always on top of it and one step ahead.
3. And most importantly, she believes me when I say things like: “I-have-three-weeks-to-plan-as-much-of-my-wedding-as-possible-because-I-will-fall-off-the-face-of-the-Earth-once-the-next-semester-starts; only-to-reappear-one-month-before-the-wedding. *Smile*”
Still not convinced that a wedding coordinator will be some of the best money you’ve ever spent? (At least while you’re in wedding world.) What if I tell you that the three other weddings your maid of honor has been a part of, does not a wedding coordinator make? The giant binder of wedding goodies you’ve passed on to her doesn’t much help either. Still a no? What if I tell you that the coordinator your venue has included in your “package” or “quote” is not at all equal to an independent coordinator that you choose to hire?
Let me share these valuable words from my own wedding coordinator. It is one of her best blog posts:
Recently a potential bride with whom I felt that I clicked with emailed me to say basically: “thanks for your follow up, but we booked Venue X and they provide a wedding coordinator and so I don’t need your services.” I was sad for her because I really liked her and she has no way to know that the wedding coordinator promised to her is a venue coordinator, not a wedding coordinator. I’d like to explain the difference between the two.
A venue coordinator works for that venue. That is where their loyalties lie, and that is not a bad thing or a good thing, it just is. Their job is to sell the venue to brides, give out a list of preferred vendors, answer questions about the venue, assist with room layout and tasting, and make sure that your wedding follows the rules and regulations of the space. They may or may not help with the master Timeline of the wedding day and rarely do they help decorate or design for your reception. They do know what works and what doesn’t in a space, so trust them if they say “that won’t work!”. Depending on how large the venue is, they may have four or more weddings they are juggling that weekend. On your wedding day, they may not even be the person you have been talking to all of these months, as it is a very challenging job and some venues tend to have high turnover.
Don’t get me wrong, a venue coordinator’s job is very, VERY important, but they are not your wedding coordinator. Neither is your DJ, a photographer, or florist. Yes, they all coordinate things that directly relate to them (a photographer will help with the Timeline as that affects pictures, etc), but they are not orchestrating every single detail of the event like an independent coordinator will.
As an independent wedding coordinator, our loyalty is to you, our client. Not your parents, photographer, videographer, DJ, florist or venue. An independent coordinator’s job is to assess what level of service you need and to go above and beyond that. And to do it in a timely manner, with patience, and with a smile. Whether hired for “month of” coordination or full production, an independent coordinator will become the adviser and orchestrator of the entire production and how all of the vendors tie in together, as well as all of the millions of details that need to be dealt with. And this is just the logistical stuff. Then we have the emotions that come into play during the planning of a wedding. I’m not kidding when I say that half of what I do as a wedding coordinator is to act as a good old-fashioned shoulder to cry on! An independent coordinator will help you with wording of your invitations, encourage you to let your personality shine through, debate the pros and cons of the shades of Bashful vs. Blush roses, give you advice on sticky budget questions, advise you how to seat your divorced parents during the ceremony, remind you to hold your bouquet low as you walk down the aisle, and hug you goodnight at the end of the day.
A venue coordinator and an independent wedding coordinator are both extremely important as they each have a specific job that they are good at doing. A wedding with strong coordinators working hand in hand usually provides a seamless and stress free wedding day for all involved!

So Short But Soooooooo SWEET!

2009-08-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

Phoenix and Neal “Hey babe let’s go get married”…………….this is what I imagine Phoenix and Neal said to each other just before jumping in the car and heading to Palm Springs for their impromptu June wedding. It was only two days earlier that I received an anxious call from Phoenix looking for some much needed assistance in making this dream day happen. Plan a wedding in Two days???………..NOT A PROBLEM!!!! The next few days were filled with quite a few phone calls, e mails, text messages, and a LOT of fun!

Le Vallauris in Palm Springs offered the couple their spectacular garden patio for the intimate ceremony and dinner. Cathy with Celebrations of Joy delivered an exceptionally touching ceremony and Shannon Wilsey Photography was there the capture every amazing moment. While it may have been a whirlwind planning session I had a fantastic time working with Phoenix and Neal. It was apparent from that very first phone call what a special couple they were and I only wish I could have had more time with them!

Enjoy these phenomenal snap shots courtesy of Shannon Wilsey Photography

2009-06-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

A Very Special Offer!

The Bride and I in conjunction with Tasha Rae Designs would like to announce a very special offer for all booking clients.

Complimentary Save-The-Dates

These beautiful post card style Save-The-Dates are custom designed for each couple and are the perfect way to announce your special day!

Over 100.00 in savings!!
*****************************************************

The Bride and I Welcomes..............

2009-06-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

**********************************************

Bridget and Craig - October 10th 2009
Colony Palms Hotel
www.bridgetandcraig.blogspot.com

Minnelly and Tony- November 21st 2009
Colony Palms Hotel
www.tonyandminnelly.com

We are thrilled to welcome both of these amazing couples to The Bride and I Family and look forward to celebrating with them.

Cheers!

Inspired Ideas

2009-05-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

As a wedding coordinator it is part of my job to stay on top of the latest in wedding trends and offer my brides fun and inspireing ideas. Thus I sepnd a lot of time brousing the internet for the latest and greateset. Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

Be Flexible on Flowers
You've just discovered the centerpiece of your dreams is prohibitively expensive. No matter. Think about the color, height and texture you'd like and ask your florist to suggest another option. French tulips may be your first choice, but gladioli would give you a similar look for half the price, says Jung Lee of Fete, an N.Y.C. planning service. And remember, you can get away with fewer stems if you display them dramatically. Rent tall containers, fill them with water, and submerge a few French tulips, cymbidium orchids or amaryllis, or a branch of berries inside, says Bill Heffernan of Chicago's Flowers by Heffernan Morgan.

Go for the Glow
Candles are one of the simplest and least expensive ways to enhance the ambience in a room. However, the cost of tall, thick pillar candles can add up quickly, often running $10 to $20 each, says Heffernan. He advises making the most of votives, which are significantly less pricey. If you wear a dress without a train, you can even use votives in glass hurricanes to line the aisle, suggests Lee. "They give off beautiful light as the bride walks in."

Economize on Favors
During dinner have the staff set up a table with your favorite desserts, along with extra servings that guests can box and take home. "I'm partial to dessert buffets," planner Marcy Blum says, "and people are just tickled by them." For a few recent New York City weddings, Blum gathered goodies—including cookies, cupcakes, cream puffs and key lime tarts—from local bakeries the couples liked to frequent. To dress up and personalize the boxes, have stickers printed with your names and wedding date, and tie packages with ribbon.

Greet on the Cheap
The escort-card table is the first thing guests seek out at the reception. Blum recommends creating an inexpensive, eye-catching pattern they won't miss.

Set Your Reception Seats Apart
To be sure his newlyweds' chairs stand out from the rest, planner Tony Schubert of Event Eleven, located in Los Angeles and Miami, decorates them with real flowers and vines or with covers embroidered with the couple's initials.

Jeremy and Megan

2009-05-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

Jeremy and Megan were married on a beautiful November day here in the Coachella Valley. The Classic Club in Palm Desert provided a spectacular setting for the big day. The Waterfall Terrace with its breathtaking views of the Bob Hope Classic Golf Course and Little Santa Monica Mountains made for the perfect ceremony backdrop. I would recommend the Classic Club to any of my clients. Not only are they a pleasure to work with but the facility is so beautiful (not to mention the amazing food)! Jeremy and Megan's wedding was all about family and fun, highlighted by a touching and meaningful ceremony, a sunset cocktail hour, and fantastic dinner reception. The couple’s relaxed approach to the planning process helped them rely on me and enjoy their day to the fullest. I loved working with them and won't soon forget what an amazing night they had!

2009-05-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

Thursday May 14th 2009

Welcome!