Top 10 Questions to Ask at Your Venue Walk Through

Photo by: Albany Katz

You are newly engaged and looking for your dream wedding venue. OR- You may be on the hunt for the venue for a baby shower, birthday, or other celebration. You have found the right place to start! Searching for a venue can be tiresome and thrilling all at once because you want to make sure you’re getting the best venue for your event needs. After narrowing down your top 3-5 venues based on what fits your style/dream, location, and budget, the next step is to schedule a venue walk through or formal site visit. Note: If you have multiple locations to go to, I would recommend scheduling each on the same day.

Having an event planner by your side is so helpful as we make sure to ask questions and think through logistics for your event. We want you envisioning your event not worried checking off the questions to ask. In some cases, maybe you plan to have an event planner for partial planning after you’ve selected your venue or coordinator for the last few months before. Either way you do it, we understand and we got your back!

It is common to show up and look around, take pictures, maybe ask a few general questions and move to the next venue. You may be missing out on crucial information that slips the mind that day and you find out the hard way when you already book the venue that can't accommodate a certain dream, need, or request. Here are the top 10 most common forgotten questions that MUST be asked at your wedding venue walk through.

Photo by: Lauren Cate Photography

1. What time is vendor access? What time do vendors need to be out of the venue?

2. Where are the bathrooms for guests? How many? Can this accommodate your guest count? Will they be serviced during the event?

3. What is the parking like for the guests? Valet/self-parking/shuttle?

4. Is there security? Will we need to provide any security, if so, do we book them through you (the venue)?

5. Are there any noise restrictions? If so, how do you enforce this?

6. Are you allowed to throw petals, confetti, rice, fried flowers, etc.? (biodegradable) If so, do you charge additional clean up fees for this? How much is this charge?

7. Is there a bridal suite to get ready on site? What time will I have access to this room? Does the room lock/need a key?

8. Can we bring our own alcohol? Is there corkage fees for alcohol?

9. In the venue's “XYZ package” does it include lighting, or AV (Audio/Video) Equipment that can be utilized? Note this down for the DJ/Musicians.

10. Are there any renovations that will be done before or during our wedding occasion?

    Check below for a Bonus!
    
    

Photo by: Morgan Cesario

BONUS: We (the couple) want to do a haze on the dance-floor during the first dance, do you. (the venue) have any restrictions on this?
Some venues have restrictions on some special effects but not all, make sure the one(s) you want are approved some can include: Sparklers, Cold Sparks, Haze/Fog, Real/Fake Snow, Specific decorations/floral to hang from the ceiling or walls, or any additional Special Effects that may be questionable.

I hope these questions are helpful at your venue walk through! Let me know your walk through goes!

Comment below more questions that you would recommend asking that the answers surprised you after booking.

Venue Tour at The Christmas House Inn

Why am I now just finding out about this amazing gem in the middle of the Inland Empire in CA?

Where has it been all my life? What a wonderful location to host a fun wedding! Here is my rundown!

• Janice, who runs the venue is a total sweetheart! She makes you feel right at home! Literally!

• The historical home was built in 1904. on a 1 acre land. It’s well taken care of. Clean. Central AC. 7 fireplaces. 6 comfortable and well-designed bedrooms. All original wood. Beautiful antique furniture.

• The venue comes with rentals (chairs, tables, etc.)

• They provide the catering through Spaggi’s (local caterer who is amazing as well)

• The couple gets a complimentary stay in the house. Along with breakfast in bed in the morning!

• You can also host an after-party for 12 guests after the wedding is over. Pizza & Jacuzzi included!

• Comes with Valet service as well

• My favorite part was the garden! Green and lush and it isn’t even spring yet!

• My other favorite part was the black and white checkered dancefloor! OH my! Just a dream!

• The groom’s room was really cool too. Wine cellar equipped with all the things gentlemen love!

• This place is a photographer’s dream with so many nooks and unique pieces to take pictures in!

• Pricing for 100 guests including venue, catering, cake, and DJ is only $17,200. This is a bargain in So. California.

I can’t wait to do a wedding here or a glamorous tea party! Just another wonderful gem in beautiful California!

Real Wedding Feature-Bessy and Miguel

You know how it is when you meet someone for the first time and they exude kindness and goodness? Well, that's what I felt when I met Bessy and Miguel for the first time. Just good people with great intentions! They really wanted to host a fun dance party for their family and friends!  These are my favorite highlights of what happened at their wedding:

• They donated food baskets to the church so they could pass out to the homeless. (Love this idea!)
• Bessy walking with her parents down the long church aisle while an 8 piece mariachi band played Ave Maria.  (Breathless!)
• The way we transformed the reception venue with pipe and drape and simple white decor including a white seamless dance floor. As a result the view of the venue was highlighted. 
• Bessy changed into a wedding dress that her aunt had handmade.  
• The couple surprised their guest with an impromptu choreographed performance to get the party started

Their goal was to make sure their guest had and blast and they certainly did! 

Bakery: Doughboy LA

Church: Cathedral of the Lady of Los Angeles

Cinema: Astro Video

Dessert Station: With Love Bakery

Dj & Lighting: Freelance Events Sounding & Lighting

Florist: Butterfly Florals & Event Design

Hair & Make up: Kat Laskey

Photography: Lin and Jirsa

Transportation: Byrd Limo

Wedding Day Soundtrack: BriAnne and Chris's Wedding

BriAnne and Chris had the most epic dance party EVER!!! I mean, dance your face off type of night. During the planning process, BriAnne was pretty clear that she wanted as much dance time as she could get. And the results were - INCREDIBLE!

Here is a list of their song selections.

Wedding Party Grand Entrance: "You Make my Dreams come True" by Hall & Oats

Bride and Groom Grand Entrance: "Now that we've found love" by Heavy D and the BoyZ
**wedding party soul train line for Bride and Groom's entrace.**

First Dance: "Love Song" by Adele

Father/Daughter Dance: Custom Mash up of "La vie en rose" by Louis Armstrong mashed up with "You shook me all night" by AC/DC to open the dance floor

“(Ooh-ho, hoo-ooh, ooh-oo)
You make my dreams come true
(You-hoo, you, you-hoo, hoo, you, hoo)”

— Hall & Oats

The dance floor was hot all night! So glad that we had Kristina Lee Photography to capture the evening. And the jams pumped by Liquid Blue Band kept the guests on the dance floor all night!

Wedding Day Soundtrack: Chelsea and Carlos's wedding

We see each couple go through lots of thought when selecting the music for their wedding day. As I'm preparing their timeline, I will typically play their song selections to get amped for the wedding day! It's a fun and silly custom I have, but it made me realize that music is the unsung (pun intended) hero of the wedding day.

The wedding day music is the ultimate personal touch. The music sets the tone

I hope to make sharing my clients song selection a regular post on our blog. As the debut Soundtrack post - I'd like to share Chelsea and Carlos's song selections from their May 2016 wedding at the Ebell in Long Beach. Enjoy!

Prelude: Drake "From Time" on Live Piano

Processional Christina Perry "A thousand Years" on Live Piano

Bridal Processional: Lana Del Rey "Young & Beautiful" on Live Piano

First Dance: Sade "Kiss of Life"

Father Daughter Dance: Tim McGraw "My Little Girl"

Mother Son Dance: Van Morrison "Have I told you lately"

Open Dance Floor: Prince "I wanna be your lover"

Cake Cutting: Leon Bridges "Coming home"

AND ... My favorite of their song selections - their GRAND ENTRANCE SONG:

Beyonce & Jaz Z "On the Run II"

click below to feel the vibe of Chelsea and Carlos's wedding day:

“Without out you I have nothing to loose”

— JayZ and Beyonce

Picture taken by Kristina Lee Photography

Best of Wedding Planners

We are both so incredibly proud to have been nominated for Best Wedding Planner for California Wedding Day Magazine for the last 3 years in a row. Do you know how many talented and amazing wedding planners there are in the Los Angeles area? A gazillion (is that even a number?)! The point is that there are TONS of wedding planners in LA! The fact that we have been nominated in this category is really humbling! Even if we don't win...that's ok. This nomination reminds us what it means to be the best. It encourages us to continue to do what we love. Being the "BEST" is kinda of a pretty big deal. Before we get all big headed and stuff, here is a reminder to ourselves and to our couples as to what that means to us!  

Being the BEST means:

• Being Compassionate with our couples and their families. We know this day is fueled with lots of emotions. We understand that you want to feel like you are our only client and we want to make sure you know that your wedding is super important to us as well! 
• Having the patience of a saint
• Being authentic and realz. (not a typo)
• Going against the trends. Who wants to see the same ol' design over and over again?
• Making friends with everybody including valet guys, wait staff, security guards, etc.
• Having integrity even when nobody is watching
• Having our priorities in check by continuing to live full-flavored and luxurious life through spell binding books, through thought provoking movies, music that makes you want to cha-cha, amazing friendships, and champagne brunches.
• and finally by being too legit to quit! 

Thanks to everyone who voted for us! It means more to us than you know.  

Furbabies at your wedding

To many of us, our doggies are our babies! They're family! It's only natural that we would want them to be part of the wedding ceremony or at least in the pictures on the most important day of our lives! Not only does it make it extra special to have our fur-babies present but they do make the cutest models! But before your run to buy a tiara or a doggy-bow-tie, I suggest your consider the following:

1. Find out what the venue's pet policy is. Some locations charge a pet cleaning fee, etc. or are restricted to certain areas. 
2. Make sure you bring your pooch to rehearsal. You want to get an idea of how much cooperation should be expected.
3. Assign someone at the ceremony to stand/sit next to your pet. Keep in mind that when your bundle of joy see's you, all sorts of excitement might happen, so that person might have to use the old doggy treat technique and quickly exit the ceremony.
4. Inform your photographer and videographer. After all, you want to make sure you get some great shots (like the one's below!)
5. Please pretty please, hire a pet sitter to pick up the Fur-baby after the festivities.
6. Be prepared that your dog might steal the show. Despite all the cuteness, they might decide to rebel on the day of the wedding. They do have a mind of their own! Noise, lots of people, flashing cameras, might stress them out. If so, don't loose your cool! These situations make for 'ooohs" and "ahhs" and make for funny post-wedding stories! 

Happy Annivesary Courtney and Kyle! 

Here are the vendors who made this day possible:

Ceremony/Reception: Terranea Resort

Photography: Hitched Photo

Florist: Ricardo at Irises Design

DJ/Lighting/Photobooth: Ralph at Vox Djs

Cake: Yuko at Vanilla Bake Shop

Officiant: Lianne Minemoto

Hair/MUA: Kimberly @ Nicol Artistry

Tables: Line 204

Linens: Marcello at Glow Concept Fine Linens