Just Chic Events Blog

Stefani and Jason

December 6, 2009 · Filed under Weddings · Tagged Adamson House wedding

When I met Stefani last year over coffee, I immediately was over the moon about her beachside wedding. She was the type of bride who knew what she wanted, and had already booked the most amazing venue, the Adamson House, and vendors!

Below are some of the the most fab shots of the day, shot by their super talented photographer, Ryan Jones. I’ve also included an additional link at the bottom of the blog entry of a teaser of their wedding day video, by my favorite videographer, Joe Rosenberger from Today’s The Day Weddings.

Stefani’s dress, perfect for her tiny frame, hung beautifully in the pool house of the Adamson House as she finished getting ready:

Stefani’s bridesmaids, dressed in the most vibrant teal dresses, helped get Stefani into her final touches and then posed for some great girly shots!

Stefani looked impeccable in her mantilla veil, accompanied perfectly by her white cattleya orchid bouquet made by Kate Baker Florals!

I just adore first look moments….how cute is this!

I love how Ryan snuck this shot in of Stefani coming down the long aisle with her dad:

Stefani’s wedding stationary, including the programs, fit into the teal and aqua beach-chic theme of the wedding just perfectly!

Stefani and Jason chose the most intimate spot at the Adamson House to get married…..under the oldest and largest tree I’d ever seen. The ceremony was so touching, officiated by Jason’s aunt….there was not a dry eye in the house!

And after the vows were done, Ryan had a chance to run the grounds with the couple and get some very fun and inventive shots!

One of my favorite escort card setups to date……the printed cards sat in a gorgeous box filled with sand, shells and and sea glass!

Their first dance moment…..I love how they are staring at each other like there is no one else on earth at that moment.

There could be no better backdrop than the Pacific Ocean for their crisp and beachy tablescapes!

I am a firm believer that there is no better favor than something edible!

The actual house on the Adamson House property posed as the perfect backdrop to the sweetheart table:

The beautiful cake sat atop a DIY cake stand and was adorned by the most adorable dachsaund cake toppers:

And I’ll end with a shot of the party in motion…..I adore it when guests get involved like this!

And now…..the reason why I think everyone should get a videographer. Watching their wedding day video teaser gave me goosebumps! Please visit Today’s the Day Weddings blog to see the video!

Please visit Ryan Jones’ blog for more shots of that perfectly gorgeous day!! And please visit Today’s The Day Weddings blog for the full blog entry of the day as well!

Stefani and Jason - Your wedding was the most perfect day…..the weather, the decor, the people, the food, the views!! It was such a pleasure to be a part of it, and I wish you both the most amazing life together!

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Melissa and Rick

December 6, 2009 · Filed under Weddings

I had the pleasure of getting to know Melissa and Rick (and his lovable mother Ada) over the past year during their wedding planning and instantly fell in love with all of them. Melissa is just a very sincere and real person, and she is a fan of telling it like it is just like I am…..while Rick is the jokester/charmer of the duo. We all clicked right away and got on with the planning of their fabulous pink and green wedding at the Luminarias in Monterey Park.

Below are some of their best shots, taken by Sarah Austin from Sarah Austin Photography:

I love this shot because Melissa won’t stop “smeyes-ing” (and for those of you who don’t know what that is, please refer to one of my guilty pleasures, America’s Next Top Model):

The dapper groom and his boys, followed by a shot of the bridal party:

One of the amazing trees that flanked the sweetheart table…..it was dripping in crystals and hanging amaranthus:

Melissa’s rockstar blinged-out cake topper…..so gorgeous!

And I’ll end with one of the reasons why I love this couple so much…..they decided to “bust a move” during their grand entrance/first dance!

Melissa and Rick - I feel so lucky to have gotten to be a part of your day, and to get to call you both friends! The love between you is so evident and I have no doubt that you will have an amazing life together!

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Nora and Amir

November 30, 2009 · Filed under Weddings · Tagged Westin South Coast wedding

My dad taught me at an early age that one should never ever stop learning….and I am so lucky to have a job where this is possible quite often. In the years that I have been blessed with being able to plan and coordinate weddings, I have gotten to see and learn about SO many amazing customs and traditions of dozens and dozens of different cultures. This is why I jumped up and down when I met Nora back in January and she told me about the plans for her Persian/Egyptian wedding. Not only one culture I hadn’t gotten to work with, but a medley of tradition that I would get to immerse myself in!! Nora had decided on the very elegant Westin South Coast as the venue for her burgandy and gold wedding, and had already hired a great photography/videography combo team to document the day.

Here are a few of my favorite shots of their day, by the very talented videographer/photographer, Daniel Boswell, from Imagique:

Nora putting on the finishing touches of her entire bridal look. She opted not to have official bridesmaids, but her besties coordinated with different colored jewel-toned dresses, and acted as her faux bridal party. They all looked magnificent together!

A great shot of the intricate detailing on her dress and veil:

And while the girls prettied up, Amir was hard at work getting ready as well:

I couldn’t get enough of Nora’s striking bouquet, one of the many AMAZING florals of the day by Jen K Floral Design:

Nora and Amir opted to have a first look before the ceremony, followed by a slew of fantastical shots, including this one!

The unbelievably gorgeous ceremony setup, all decor by Jen K Floral Design, was only made more magnificent by the traditional Sofreh:

Their zaffa (grand entrance) was led by belly dancers with candelabras on their heads!

During the reception, the guests were treated to a multitude of special stations, one of which was this lush fruit and ice display:

The decor was breathtaking!

I’ll end the post with a shot of their beautiful cakes……this one, from Rossmoor Bakery, literally takes the cake!!

Please visit Imagique’s blog for more amazing pictures of the day!

Nora and Amir – Your wedding was such a beautiful mix of tradition, customs and love…..I was so happy and blessed to be a part of it! Nora, I will forever covet your amazing hair!! Have a magical life together, you two!

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“What My Marriage Counselor Never Told Me”

November 29, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized

And now, a soapbox moment from your friendly neighborhood wedding coordinator

As we plan, prepare and coordinate the important aspects of our wedding day in the months leading up to the big day, I think it’s also super important to focus on the meaning behind the day: THE ACTUAL MARRIAGE. The wedding is one day, and while for most of us it will be one of the best days of our lives, we need to remember that there are a lifetime of days to follow. So as we focus on the plans for the wedding (the dress, the flowers, the venue, the bling!!), we should also take a moment to focus on the plans for the partnership that we are cementing on that day.

For those of you who are religious, I know that many priests, rabbis and other clergy will gladly (or in some cases this is actually mandatory) offer up pre-marital counseling for an engaged couple…..this is a great option if you have access to someone like this. For those that don’t, I’ve stumbled upon a quick 2-hour (painless!) seminar that will at the very least give you a jump-start into the type of conversations and dialogue that should be happening before the big day. It is called “What My Marriage Counselor Never Told Me,” and it is being offered THIS SATURDAY, at 11am at the LAX Renaissance Hotel. Tickets are $15 a person, or $25 a couple, which is a mere drop in the bucket when you consider the potential benefits it has to a soon-to-be-wed couple.

I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to the seminar leader, Ashida Onrae, on many occasions, and she is one dynamic and passionate lady. I can say with certainty that you will not be bored, and will hopefully even learn something about yourselves or your partner. You can purchase tickets and find more information on Ashida’s site: http://www.ashidaonrae.com

Here is to the happily ever after…..and forever!!

Photo credit: Evoke Photography

Jessi and Adam

October 19, 2009 · Filed under Weddings · Tagged Pasadena Museum of California Art wedding

The day I met Jessi and her mom, I fell in love with the both of them. Jessi’s warmth immediately hits you upon meeting her, and she is just one of those people that you instantly want as your BFF. Her mom reminded me of my own mom….a warm and caring soul who loves to chat and loves to laugh, all tied up in the tiniest of packages! They were both SO excited to get started on planning the wedding and already had a wonderful venue and vision nailed down. Jessi had booked the Pasadena Museum of California Art, and was planning a crisp and modern white, platinum and yellow affair to go along with it.

Narrowing down some of my favorite shots of this day was near impossible….but I managed! Below are just a few of the ones that blew me away….shot by the ever-talented Nataly Lemus!

I love this shot of Jessi getting ready…..not only is she ridiculously gorgeous, but that giddy happiness that you see in her eyes was present that entire day from start to finish!!

Jessi actually emailed me the day she found her dress and the day she found her shoes, because she was so over the moon about the both of them. Monique Lhuillier accessorized with Manolo Blahnik……..swoon!!

And just down the road….Adam got ready for the big day!

Their ceremony was held in the chapel of Pasadena’s First United Methodist church. While we waited for the last few moments before Jessi was to walk down the aisle, Jessi’s dad was taking it all in. Witnessing the love that he had for his daughter as they walked down the aisle was enough to turn me into a weepy mess!

High school sweethearts, Jessi and Adam were getting married after over 10 years of being together. It was so evident in the way that they would look at each other, how in love they were.

And, as if their ceremony could get any more touching, they had a reading straight out of the Velveteen Rabbit.

After the ceremony, we were off to City Hall for a few pictures. A stylish and fab couple….deserves a stylish and fab bridal party!

The reception was full of amazing details that Jessi and Adam had spent months and months working on. One of the details they wanted to incorporate was the very sweet and unique tradition of the 1001 cranes….which ended up in various parts of the reception decor!

And the florals….as usual, hit out of the park by Kate Baker Florals.

The white cattleya orchids on their cake, made by the Cake Sisters, mimicked the bride’s bouquet. So incredibly chic!!

And I’ll end with a picture of the perfect couple, in front of the perfect sunset. Love it!!

Please feel free to visit Nataly’s blog for more amazing pictures of this truly special day!!

I have been very lucky in the years that I’ve been a wedding oordinator to have been blessed with many clients-turned-friends. They are people that I now get to see on a regular basis and adore dearly. Jessi, however, is definitely a first: a client-turned-friend-turned assistant. Jessi is my newest addition to the Just Chic Events team and I feel so unbelievably blessed to have her on board!

Jessi and Adam: I can’t tell you how lucky I felt to be a part of your day…..and for your year leading up to it! Spending time with a couple that can love each other and tease each other like you two do was SO much fun and truly made me feel like we were meant to meet! Every meeting with you two was always something I looked forward to……and I can’t tell you how honored I felt that you put so much trust in me. Your wedding was spectacular, all in part to the hard work and love that you put into every last detail of it. I am so so happy for you guys, and I am ecstatic that we are friends!

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Casey and Matt

September 24, 2009 · Filed under Weddings · Tagged Malibou Lake Club wedding

I met Casey and Matt about 18 months out from their wedding date…..we had the consult in their home and I instantly knew that these cool kids deserved a cool kid wedding!! They were very modern and hilarious people, who knew what they liked and what they wanted, and already had the gorgeous venue to make it all work….the Malibou Lake Club!! They also had amazing photographers….Evoke Photography, who I hold a little place in my heart for, since they shot our own wedding back in 2007! Below are a few of my favorite shots….it was honestly so so hard to pick through the hundreds of spectacular shots that Evoke shot that day!

I love this shot of Casey’s beautiful La Sposa gown, because she took the time to order that fabulous hanger cover. Such a small, often overlooked detail, but those plastic hangers can be such an eyesore! Wedding planner to the rescue though, I always bring an extra wooden hanger with me in the event that my brides forget a decent hanger!!

This picture of Casey captures precisely why I adore her. She is constantly cracking up and cracking people up!

As Casey got ready at the Four Seasons, Matt hung out at home with his best man and leisurely got ready. While brides take HOURS to make themselves perfect for their big days, guys literally pull together their looks in less than an hour….how is life fair?

Casey did her bridesmaids the favor of allowing them to choose any black dress that they felt fabulous in. The end result was a very chic and pulled together look that was topped off by those gorgeous, bright bouquets!

And of course, I can’t leave out a shot of Casey’s beautiful bouquet….a lavish combo of callas, orchids and roses put together by my favorite florist, Kate Baker!

And before we knew it, we were on to the ceremony!! Casey decided on some bright pops of color with those vibrant pomanders lining the aisle, and nothing but a simply dramatic circle of petals for them to stand in while they recited their vows.

And after the ceremony, we had some time for bridal party shots and some amazing bride/groom portraits.

And now…a few details of the day! Casey and Matt decided on a black and white damask theme, brought to life with these bright pops of color all over the room. Uplighting and linens by Flowers by Mars, and florals by Kate Baker pulled together this fabulous look.

And a few close-up shots of the two centerpieces, framed menus, donation bookmarks, table numbers, and matching placecards. Damask heaven!

Their sweetheart table was just as damask-fab, additionally adorned with those uniquely stunning black toasting flutes! And just behind the sweetheart table was this crazy-long ledge that we wanted to add some color and pop to. Casey, her mom and mother-in-law spent countless hours wrapping up empty boxes in damask paper to match the wedding theme.

A fun and funky couple deserves a fun and funky cake. This rad mad-hatter cake was designed by the ever-fab Joeleen at A Sweet Design!

And I’ll end with one of the best grand exit shots….I’m a huge fan of the grand exit!! It’s just so much fun to leave on such a high from your wedding night, before any of the icky breakdown begins

Casey and Matt – I already miss talking to you guys…..you two are so much fun to be around and I really loved our meetings! I hope you had an amazing time on your honeymoon and please promise to keep in touch!!

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Stephanie and Seth

August 20, 2009 · Filed under Weddings

I met Stephanie and her mom back in January, when they had already gotten plenty of their planning behind them for the big day in June. Steph had already booked several of her vendors, including the venue, the Four Seasons Westlake Village. She definitely had a clear vision for her wedding, that incorporated her love of fairy tale Europe, and also the colors eggplant and gold…..and the day came together to a T! Below are a few of my favorite images from the day, shot by Michael Brannigan from David Michael Photography:

I love this picture for two reasons. One, it shows the adorable pajama outfits that Stephanie bought for all of her bridesmaids. Two, it shows how AWESOME her bridesmaids were at every turn…..helping her put on her shoes was just one of the many many things they were on top of!

After their first look, Stephanie and Seth took some time out for some couples portraits. The Four Seasons has such gorgeous grounds, there are a million backdrops to choose from…..my favorite being the pagoda below:

Steph and Seth had such a chic-looking bridal party…..that deep rich color of the eggplant dresses made me swoon!!

Lindy at Commerce Flowers really did an outstanding job with the florals…..I couldn’t get over those eggplant mini callas tucked in Steph’s bridal bouquet!

I found that huge smile on Stephanie’s face coming down the aisle so endearing…..she was SO excited to finally marry the man of her dreams!

And Seth waited for Stephanie, equally as excited!!

A great fishbowl shot of the gorgeous gazebo area!

The brand new Mr and Mrs!

A few of Steph’s DIY ceremony details…..her and her mom put thought into every last aspect of the wedding!

I just had to fit this picture in somewhere……Steph’s dad holding on to God’s perfect food: the mini-slider:

I’ll start the reception details off with Steph’s DIY castle that sat atop of the escort card setup. Steph has a special place for Europe, specifically Prague, in her heart…..she even get engaged there! So she knew she definitely wanted to bring in some of that old European feel into her wedding vision.

Steph’s DIY table names…..black and white photos of different cities in Europe:

The DIY menus sat inside napkins that topped off the gold-rimmed chargers. It was all finished off by a tiny sprig of greenery, bringing in a bit of color pop onto each placesetting!

Her awe-inspiring centerpieces, made by Commerce Flowers, complemented the tablescapes and room perfectly. The amber uplighting really added a warm glow to the ballroom, while letting those AMAZING chandeliers do their sparkly thing!

This has to be one of my favorite cake table setups of all time…..the cake literally looked like it was sitting in a bed of grass that was adorned with blooms!

A big thank you to Michael Brannigan for allowing me to showcase this beautiful wedding!

Steph and Seth: Thank you SO much for allowing me to be a part of your perfect day…..there was no bigger pay-off than seeing your happy faces when seeing the ballroom for the first time!! I wish you both the very best!!

And Phyllis…….I will miss you dearly, it was SUCH a pleasure to work with you every step of the way as well!!

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Ashleigh and AJ

August 5, 2009 · Filed under Weddings · Tagged Sunset Restaurant wedding

Sometimes you just meet a bride whose wedding vision you love SO much, that you get giddy every time you think of their wedding. When I met Ashleigh last July, all I heard was DIY, crafty, bright bold colors, sunset on the beach and I was SOLD!! Her colors reminded me much of my own wedding vision, with dark chocolate brown linens as the base for amazing pops of raspberry and tangerine accents, and Ashleigh wanted to make sure every aspect of the wedding was personalized in some way.

Ashleigh and AJ were so adorably in love!! AJ would come with Ash to all of their meetings, being her support as we decided between the slight variations of raspberry vs fuschia, which would have driven any other man to madness, but he stayed strong!! His mom, another crafty goddess, was also Ash’s right hand woman…..tearing through the downtown fabric stores with us, as we searched for the perfect items! Their day at the Sunset Restaurant was captured beautifully by the simply fab photography team Louis and Erin at Palos Studio……and below are some of my favorite shots of the day!

I never tire of getting ready shots…..I love that instant transition from gal to BRIDE!! Annie Wolfson from Blushing Bridal Makeup and her hair girl, Helena (shown in the picture, placing Ash’s Twigs and Honey hairpiece), made Ashleigh look and feel A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Kate Baker did her magic again on Ash’s florals….her bouquet took my breath away. I love unexpected additions to bouquets, like those fluttery and bright parrot tulips!

I LOVE this…..boys never get to have enough fun with their outfits, usually having to wear the same dark suits or tuxes. Ash gave them a chance to shine their personalities a bit, with these fun and funky socks! And the Cons were the perfect shoe when AJ decided to kill time waiting for his bride by riding his skateboard around in his dapper suit!

After their first look, they were off to the beach, for some gorgeous shots on the beach. This is my all-time favorite veil picture!!

Their bridal party soon met up with them to get some fun shots on the sand!

One of the many details that Ash incorporated into her wedding day was this precious sign to point guests in the right direction to the ceremony! And in the background, you can spot the super RAD DIY threaded cylinders that Ash and her mother-in-law rocked out for the aisle decor!

The ceremony was everything Ashleigh ever wanted…..getting married to her man on the beach at sunset!! I was already so giddy about it, and then as if on cue, dolphins started jumping out of the water behind them….it was simply magical!!

Love that happy couple moment during the recessional!! That billowy and bright huppah in the backgound was one of my all-time favorites…..Kate Baker took Ash’s vision and inspiration and rocked it to a whole new level!

I just adore this shot of Ashleigh and AJ in the empty reception room! The alternating raspberry and tangerine napkins on the chocolate linens made for such eye candy, and peeking behind the couple you can take a peek at the bright and bold centerpieces that Kate Baker created for the big day, nailing Ash’s vision to a T!

Some of Ashleigh’s amazing details…..her beautifully coordinated wedding stationary was all designed by Melissa at Isabella Ink!

I puffy heart lush cake/cupcake table setups…..this one, with a spectacular cupcake tower by A Sweet Design, decorated with florals by Kate Baker, just couldn’t be more fab!!

Even the candy bar had panache……with it’s color coordinated candy and the super cool oversized barware vessels!

The pair during their first dance…….they were so happy and hopelessly in love that it plastered a Chesire cat grin on my face the entire night.

Please visit the Palos blog for more amazing shots of this utterly spectacular day! PS, I adore the Palos…..they are the perfect combo of sweet and funny, which is what I would want in a photographer that would be hanging out at my wedding all day….not to mention, they take ROCKSTAR photographs!!

Ash and AJ - You two are the cutest couple EVER!! Ash, your constant giggles (even during your ceremony) were so endearing, and AJ’s quiet calm demeanor is a perfect match to you!! It was touching to see how excited and happy you two were, and I am so happy that I was able to bring your dream wedding vision to life! Please keep in touch!!

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Carron and Dylan

July 19, 2009 · Filed under Weddings · Tagged Shutters on the Beach wedding

I met Carron back in October as she was just getting started on her wedding vision…she had been referred to me by one of my fave clients, Paola, and we instantly clicked! She booked me on the spot, and shortly after our meeting she booked her venue, Shutters on the Beach……can I just say, swooooon. That venue has it all…..a gorgeous view, chic decor and AMAZING food!! After we had their tasting, I was so excited for her wedding day, it couldn’t come soon enough!! Below are some shots of the day from their photographer, Nadia Pandolfo:

The gorgous bride coming down the aisle with her dad:

Dylan, the groom, and his best man waiting for everyone to rock down the aisle. Check out that gorgeous oceanview that the guests were treated to in the background!!

The postcard view in front of Shutters, with an exuberant post-ceremony bride and groom!

The manzanita crystal tree decor on the escort card table knocked the guests’ socks off! Yay for Flowers On Mars for bringing the vision to life!

Their awesome tablescapes…..I heart the damask! Flowers on Mars provided the chic centerpieces and the matching napkins!

The cupcake tower, done to match the wedding theme, chock full of yummy goodness by none other than Vanilla Bake Shop! And of course, props to the Nike Air groom’s cake next to it!

The groom, dipping his bride at the end of their first dance…..so cute!

Carron and Dylan - It was SO great to work with you both!! Carron, after our first meeting, and Dylan, after our random first encounter in the elevator, I knew that I had two clients who I just loved being around!! Your wedding was picture perfect and I’m so happy for the two of you!!

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Jennifer and Mihai

July 16, 2009 · Filed under Weddings · Tagged Westlake Village Inn wedding

I met Jennifer and Mihai after they had booked their gorgeous venue (The Westlake Village Inn) and most of their amazing vendors! Jennifer decided to go solely off of referrals she had gotten on Project Wedding and booked me after a few emails…….I was thrilled to be a part of her team! Below are a few of the gorgeous shots from the day, from the kickass husband and wife team, Louis and Erin Palos at Palos Studio!

Jennifer’s amazing Blue by Enzoani dress, alongside a drool-worthy Dana Saylor bracelet:

The beautiful bride…….I wanted to snag that Jennifer Behr headband, TOO fab!!

Jennifer’s gorgeous bouquet, made by Commerce Flowers…..you just can’t ever go wrong with peonies!

I loved her bright and cheerful color combo……a bright teal aqua and hot pink!

And of course, we gotta give props to the dapper guys:

I know this may seem random, but it was a tribute for Jennifer and Mihai’s great love for Taco Bell! I will admit it, I love Taco Bell too, it’s my guilty pleasure.

The blushing bride making her way down the aisle that was lined with fluffylicious pomanders by Commerce Flowers:

Their ceremony, set at the beautiful Meditteranean gazebo at Westlake, was just a picture perfect setting for their touching vows!

There are innumerous places around Westlake to shoot amazing pictures, but the Rose Arbor is by far my favorite!

Honestly, what reception isn’t made better with a little bling? Jennifer bought these amazing blinged-out candlesticks that we set mini pomanders on and set throughout the reception!

Another adorable bird cake topper…..it was just too cute, sitting on that perfect looking cake, made by A Sweet Design! And below that, the couple won the prize for cutting the biggest slab of cake during their cake cutting that I’ve ever witnessed. Smart move……because that cake was AMAZING and their guests kept coming up for seconds!

Please visit the Palos blog for more great shots of this beautiful day!

Jennifer and Mihai – It was such a pleasure to see your wedding come together so beautifully…….especially because of the 5 degrees of separation that we share!! I wish you two all the very best!