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: 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

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