The Fabulous Five

Gianna SanFilippo, Christina Wright, Candice Bradley, Gloria McCune and Me

The event planning world has given me an opportunity to meet some special people, quite often my competition. Competition doesn't threaten me. Instead I look at these professionals as an asset to my business. I prefer to cultivate relationships with my "friendly competition". By sharing resources, advice, and support, we raise the level of professionalism to the entire industry.
 
One of these planners Candice Bradley of De Lovely Events became the Event Planning Chair of The Southern California Chapter of Wish Upon A Wedding. She asked me to be a part of her EVENT PLANNING COMMITTEE. She invited three other planners, Gianna SanFillipo of Chic Celebrations, Christina Wright of Simply Modern Weddings, and Gloria McCune of Grand Engagements, to join her, and BAM a DREAM TEAM was born.

Wish Upon A Wedding grants weddings to couples facing life threatening illness. Our committee plans the events that raise awareness and funds for this worthwhile charity. The five of us put our talents and strengths together to design and execute spectacular events.

Wish Upon A Wedding LAUNCH PARTY at 7Degrees in Laguna Beach

I've added some photos to show off what we've done together. These events have been successful and beautiful. Planning them has been challenging and intense at times. But more than anything we've had fun. I mean how hard is it when you're working with five girlfriends...often times over wine. Ah good memories!!

We are currently planning the 2011 Blissful Wish Ball. It takes place next week, on September 21st. We have all been working furiously to create a Gala with a ROYAL AFFAIR theme, at The Richard Nixon Presidential Library. Our 200 guests will be blown away AGAIN!

This event will be bittersweet for me. We five, will stand together HAND IN HAND. We'll be filled with pride at this GALA we've created. But,  I'll be heartbroken. For this will be the last event the five of us plan together. I've come to love and respect each one of these women. We share the same experiences in our careers, yet we are all from different back rounds. Different ages, different cultures, different family dynamics. We're different. However, we're alike in our passion for our work, and in our affection and support for one another.







Our support of this organization will remain constant. Candice becomes the Vice President of our Southern California Chapter. Gloria McCune becomes the new Event Planning Committee Chair. I am thrilled to become the Fundraising Chair. As Board Members we will still be working towards the same goal of raising funds for Wish Upon A Wedding. But it will be different. I know change is good, but I can't help but feel sentimental.

This post may seem a bit self indulgent to some. Others will say I'm crazy for bringing attention to my competition. But I write it with affection, recognition, and honor to these four women. Candice, Gianna, Christina, and Gloria...THANK YOU. Thanks for the friendship, support, laughter and love you've brought to my life. The best thing that has come out of this committee for me, besides knowing I'm doing something for others, is that I know you'll be my FRIENDS for a life time.

Escort Cards & Originality

Escort Cards are something I've posted about in the past. I think it's time to revisit the topic. I encourage my clients to think original with their escort cards. The same old white folded cards, placed alphabetically on a table? Come on...you're more fun than that.

I'm not going to talk about this in length. Enjoy a few pics of how Wedding Jeannie does it, and be inspired to come up with your own idea. My favorite is from Molly and Travis' book themed wedding. We rented a vintage bookshelf, filled it with gorgeous books, and placed the escort cards in them. You know like a book mark! Cool right?

There are inexpensive tools available all around you. Create something and watch your guests be impressed.

Book Themed Wedding - Sneek Peek

Photo Courtesy: http://www.cheriefoto.com/

I love a good book. Don't you? Molly and Travis started their romance through their love of books. When they began planning their home wedding, all they knew was they wanted a garden theme with purple flowers. Once I learned more about them, I proposed the idea of incorporating their love of books into their day. They fell in love with it, and gave me carte blanche to have fun with it. Molly's father owns hundreds of beautiful books. We raided his bookshelves, and used them on tables instead of table numbers, filled them in a vintage bookshelf with place cards, even made a base for their cake on books. The images are gorgeous. For now, I can only give you a little teaser.

The image was provided by Cherie Steinberg of CherieFoto. She's not just a photographer, but an artist. I dying to share all the images with you. Check back soon.

Wedding Ceremony - Who Stands Where

Rachel & Jeremy's ceremony at Churon Winery. Photo: Dave White of Photo Catering

The Wedding Ceremony. It's the reason why your family and friends gather on your big day. So much attention and time are spent on making sure the reception is flawless. But what about the ceremony itself? Have you thought about how it will go smoothly? Who stands where? What is the processional order? How should your bridal party enter? Who is going to make sure it's flawless?

More than half of weddings in Southern California are not held at a religous site, such as a church or synagogue. Do you know if your venue manager is going to work out the logistics? A wedding rehearsal is the time and place to work out all the details.

I give all of my clients a ceremony diagram they can fill out long before the rehearsal. This takes all the stress out of deciding who will stand where, and the order in which they process and recess. By doing so, the rehearsal will only last one hour, and you and your loved ones can get to dinner. The best part is..everyone knows exactly what to do on the wedding day.

The reason I wrote this post is to save your sanity. At a recent wedding, there were 24 members of the bridal party, not including parents and the bride and groom. They did not decide the logistic prior to the wedding. Therefore the rehearsal was chaos. Many of the groomsmen didn't attend, many members were late, and no one knew who should stand where. I learned alot that day. I don't want you to go through the same experience. If you have a planner at your venue or church, provide them with the information they need to ensure your rehearsal is efficient and a success. Need some help? Check out this link http://weddings.about.com/od/yourweddingceremony/a/Processional.htm  to plan ahead.

Tips for a successful ceremony:

• Have a rehearsal.
• If your rehearsal is at 5pm, tell everyone it's at 4:30 pm. This ensures you start on time, and get to dinner on time.
• Decide prior to the rehearsal who will stand where, who will escort your grandmother and mother, etc.
• Have a plan for flower girls and ring bearers. If they have a meltdown on wedding day, plan for it. Seat their parents close to the front row. They may need to sit with them instead of standing front and center.
• Who will hold the rings?
• If possible, have your officiant attend the rehearsal to help facilitiate their way of doing things.
• Bring a stand in bouquet. Your maid of honor will need to know when to take it from you.

Practice makes perfect.You take so much time to plan all the perfect details of your dream day. Make sure that the reason your guest gather "to see your union" goes smoothly.

Erica O'Brien Cake Design

We all know that wedding cake is delicious. It's smells of butter and sugar and melts in your mouth. But did you know it can be a piece of art? Many thanks to Erica O'Brien for her talents and eye for detail. She created this artful cake for our Tuscany Wedding Shoot, at Serra Plaza in San Juan Capistrano. Don't you love the non-traditional shape and height? Erica definately thinks outside the box. This cake has elegance, modern styling, and a vintage feel. My favortie part is the lace feature. She actually replicated a piece of lace from a photo I sent her. Now that's what I call talent.

Images Courtesy of Chris Grffiths of Imagery Immaculate

Many thanks to Heather and Kimberly of Style Unveiled for showcasing Erica's talents, and recognizing all the vendors who contributed to our Dream of Tuscany.

Tuscany Wedding Photo Shoot

Enjoy this Tuscan Style Ceremony Site, from the talented lens of Chris of Imagery Immaculate I had the absolute priviledge to design and create a photo shoot at Serra Plaza. It's a stunning venue in San Juan Capistrano. The goal was to showcase the beauty and details of this new venue. Filled with warm adobe colors, tile roofs and a bubbling fountain, I saw Tuscany. The challenge was to create it!

The photo shoot was visually amazing from every angle. In fact it was featured on The Style Unveiled Blog this week. Since it was featured, we've had such amazing feedback. I even received an email from another planner from South Florida. I would love to hear your comments. And if you want a wedding that feels like Tuscany, call me. I can make it happen.

I have to give kudos to the amazing team of professionals that made this vision come to live. If you want a dream team for your wedding, call these peeps.

Venue: Serra Plaza in San Juan Capistrano
Photography: Imagery Immaculate
Catering: Jay's Catering
Floral Design: Sussanna Davidson of French Buckets
Stationery: Paula Estes of Petalos Di Pauli
Bakery: Erica O'Brien Cakes
Bridal Stylist: Hope Stanley
Bridal Beauty: Design Visage
Bridal Gowns: Mary Me Bridal
Tuxedos: Friar Tux
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals, Orange County and Chameleon Chair Collection

Miranda Lambert's Gown - Something Borrowed

Photo courtesy of US Magazine

Country Music stars Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton wed a few weeks ago. There are so many things about their wedding that I love. Cowboy boots for the bridesmaids, a barn ceremony, and Blake wore jeans! I love that he was true to himself.

My favorite part of their wedding was that Miranda wore her mother's wedding gown. This is not the right choice for every bride, of course. But if you want to add the ultimate "something borrowed" to your day, take a page from Miranda. Because her mother wore this gown 33 years ago, she felt the gown was a good luck charm.

Is Miranda starting a new trend? Maybe...but so are Wedding Jeannie brides. Two of our brides did it before Miranda.

When our bride Janet, married Greg in Big Bear, she chose to wear the wedding gown her mother wore in The Philippines years before. She had the gown altered slightly to modernize it, and to suit her figure. I love the photo of her parents looking at her lovingly in the gown. Can you imagine the honor her mother felt?

Another example is our bride Mayra. Her mother married shortly before she did, and they shared the gown. She saved money, and honored her mother. That's a smart bride.



There you have it. Stay on the cutting edge with Miranda Lambert and Wedding Jeannie brides. If you're planning to wear your mother's gown, we'd love to hear about it.

Sneak Peek - Wynn Las Vegas Danielle & Terry

We had the honor of coordinating the details of Danielle and Terry's wedding at The Wynn/Encore Las Vegas last Saturday.

Write Shot Photography provided us with a sneak peek of the newly married couple. I had to share it with you, because it exudes the joy they felt immediately after they were pronounced man and wife. Soon you will be experiencing this feeling! Aren't you excited? Ahhh Love!

A million thanks to Tracey Kumer-Moore, the genius behind Las Vegas Wedding Concierge. She designed and planned this wedding for Danielle and Terry who hail from New York. Tracey asked us to finalize the month of details and coordinate the wedding day, while she traveled. We were so proud to care for her clients. The team Tracey brought together, was a superstar line-up. Special thanks to Kassi Weist of Encore Catering, and Jalan Arnold of the Wynn Wedding Salons.

Congratulations Danielle and Terry...may you celebrate a lifetime of magic!

Cultural Wedding Magazine - On Newstands This Summer

I've been planning CULTURAL WEDDINGS for 10 years. A common complaint of cultural brides is that there are never enough resources to assist them in planning these heartwarming weddings. Recently a colleague of mine, told me about the amazing blog WEDDING NOUVEAU. I was so happy to see that there is a blog that focuses on CULTURAL WEDDINGS. The team at Wedding Nouvea, focuses on cultural and multi-cultural weddings. Rich with vendors, photographs and inspirations boards, it's the best representation of information on the web, for couples wishing to honor their traditions.

Excited? Well, it gets better. Better you say? How can it be better? Well Wedding Nouveau announced today that they are coming out with their own wedding publication. Yup...a glossy magazine that will hit the newstands this summer. If you're a proud cultural bride, REJOICE! You now have another choice for inspiration that speaks directly to you. The pages will be filled with brides who look like you. You'll see ideas that come from your culture, find vendors that understand your families, and be inspired by colorful and traditional REAL WEDDINGS!

Check back to get updates and find out when and where you can find this magazine. I'm so happy I could share this happy news. Finally Cultural Weddings are getting the attention they deserve. Thank you Wedding Nouveau. You've made this planner very happy. Imagine all the brides you will touch!

Wedding Bands - Ultimate Personalization

Congratulations on your engagement. I hope that you're enjoying the wedding planning process. Soon you and your fiance will be looking at wedding bands. Besides the gown, the flowers, and even the menu....the most significant symbol of your union will be your wedding rings.

Recently my clients Rita and Charles chose The Fingerprint Wedding Rings. The wedding ring is the ultimate symbol of unity. Origins of the wedding ring can be found in Egyptian history. With no beginning and no end, the circle is unbroken, and like time is eternal. The finger in which the ring is worn, bears emotianal significance as well. The Egyptians and Greeks believe that the vein of the left finger travels directly to the heart. It was considered the "Vein of Love".

Rita and Charles took the wedding ring one step further. Their wedding rings contain each other's fingerprints. Even when they aren't together, they carry each other with them. They have taken the ultimate symbol of love and PERSONALIZED it even further. I can't imagine a more significant way to show your commitment. It goes beyond initials....it touches your heart. LITERALLY!

Style Unveiled Features - Alexis & David

Style Unveiled featured another one our couples last week. We couldn't be more thrilled as this couple was definately one in a million. They are beautiful people inside and out. They welcomed us into their families and shared more than a wedding day with us. Thank you Style Unveiled for featuring them, and the creative partners who's talents made this day unforgettable. Want to see the full feature and see all the great things Alexis and David said about us? Visit the Style Unveiled Blog







Every and every vendor involved put their hearts and souls into this wedding. We all loved Alexis and David, and were so happy to give 150% to them. If you want the best team of vendors for your big day, look to these professionals:

Venue & Catering: Arbor Terrace at Grand Tradition in Fallbrook
Floral Design: Sussanna Davidson of French Buckets
Photography: Joel Maus of Studio EMP
Videography: Mike McCaleb of Mission Visual
Ceremony Musicians: Del Lago Trio
Band: Ramfunkshus
Bakery: Jay's Catering
Linens: BBJ Linen
Ice Bar: Ice Bulb (Isn't that a wicked ice bar?)
Beauty/Hair & Make-Up: Design Visage
Bridal Gown Designer: San Patrick
Bridal Gown Salon: Ferndale's Bridal
Tuxedos: Friar Tux

Venue Spotlight - Ebell Club of Long Beach

Situated in the Art District of Long Beach, sits a historical venue. It's one of Southern California's premiere wedding venues. The Ebell Club of Long Beach, is a venue that is dear to my heart. Recently I asked Liz Palmer, the venue manager to tell me what makes The Ebell so special. Not only does Liz manage the venue, she was married there herself. That should tell you alot. Here is what Liz told me about this very special property.

What is the history of your venue?

The Clubhouse, built in 1924 is the largest example of Spanish Renaissance architecture in the City, a style that was popular among the period revival styles of the 1920’s. The cast stone decoration around the doorways is spectacular, very rich and ornamental. Filled with figurative, imaginary and foliate ornament, the doorways extend up the wall from the door entrances. Most of the Spanish Renaissance Revival buildings in the City have been demolished over time, making the Ebell club the best example of this style now remaining in Long Beach.

The building was severely damaged in an earthquake that ravaged the City of Long Beach on March 10, 1933. The rededication on December 4, 1933 found the Courtyard covered with skylights where it had been previously open air. A center fountain was not replaced.

Renovated in 2003, a beautiful fountain that mimics the one previously destroyed in the 1933 earthquake was recreated to create a beautiful focal point to its interior Courtyard. To date, the Ebell Club women still operate inside the club and the club has been commemorated with a Historic Landmark Designation.

 How many guests can you accommodate? We can accommodate up to 200 for buffet meal, 158 if a sit-down.

The Clubhouse, built in 1924 is the largest example of Spanish Renaissance architecture in the City, a style that was popular among the period revival styles of the 1920’s. The cast stone decoration around the doorways is spectacular, very rich and ornamental. Filled with figurative, imaginary and foliate ornament, the doorways extend up the wall from the door entrances. Most of the Spanish Renaissance Revival buildings in the City have been demolished over time, making the Ebell club the best example of this style now remaining in Long Beach.

The building was severely damaged in an earthquake that ravaged the City of Long Beach on March 10, 1933. The rededication on December 4, 1933 found the Courtyard covered with skylights where it had been previously open air. A center fountain was not replaced.

Renovated in 2003, a beautiful fountain that mimics the one previously destroyed in the 1933 earthquake was recreated to create a beautiful focal point to its interior Courtyard. To date, the Ebell Club women still operate inside the club and the club has been commemorated with a Historic Landmark Designation.

How many guests can you accommodate? We can accommodate up to 200 for buffet meal, 158 if a sit-down.




Do you provide In-House Catering?
Our exclusive caterer, Jay’s A Fine Cuisine and Special Event Company and their award winning staff will create a menu that is a reflection of your event’s style and theme. As one of the largest and most established full-service catering and special event companies in Southern California, you will be amazed with their culinary creations.

Is parking provided on-site?
We use an off-site parking lot to shuttle guests to and from the venue. The parking lot is nearby, well-lit and secure. It’s proximity to the freeway is ideal.

Do you book more than one event per day? How will that affect my event?
No, we only hold one event at a time.

What is your favorite feature of your venue? Our favorite feature is hard to narrow to just one. If we must, then it would be the overall architecture of the building. The Spanish style columns and courtyard create an outdoor feel with old-world charm.

What is your favorite feature of your venue? Our favorite feature is hard to narrow to just one. If we must, then it would be the overall architecture of the building. The Spanish style columns and courtyard create an outdoor feel with old-world charm.

Give us the top three reasons why couples should book your venue for their wedding/reception.
1. We are a hidden Gem-We are am amazing venue that is tucked away on a quiet street. When people find us they feel that they have discovered something different and unique. Guests are awe-inspired by the building and the romantic atmosphere.


2. Service. Service. Service.-At The Ebell Club, we pride ourselves on our service. Our Event Director’s goal is to ensure that every guests walks away from an event stating that it is the best wedding they have been too and that is a lot to live up to. Our staff work to ensure that your event is just as you imagined and then some!

3. We are a Historic Southern California Landmark. We are a building rich in history for both women and our great city, Long Beach.

Design Inspiration - Lavendar and Pink @ Ebell LA

On January 19th, The Ebell of Los Angeles hosted a tasting for their clients, called "Taste of The Ebell". I was asked to design all of the tablescapes. I created 5 themed tables for the event. Here are the final two tables. They are called Antique Lavendar and Guns and Roses.

Antique Lavendar was designed to be a mix of modern and vintage. We used an lavendar satin linen, with a lace overlay. To futher the vintage feel, we used the modern Chameleon Chair with a 20's retro design, and a velvet chair pad in lavendar.The china had an old world feel with the silver design. The floral design consisted of antique roses in lavendar, deep purple, stock and ornamental cabbage.



And finally, Guns and Roses. A gunmetal satin linen was topped with a lace overlay. Hot pink napkins and roses gave the table a pop of color to liven the senses. Accents of metal were carried through the charger plate, china, silverware, and glassware. I love how the floral design was made in a metal footed container.



Designing is where I live. It allows me to showcase my talents. There's nothing more exciting to me than showing my clients how they can bring many elements together to create a cohesive reception. I hope you found some inspiration for your own wedding.

Your guests spend the majority of their time seated at the dinner table. Make sure it's dressed for the party.

VENDOR LOVE:
Photos courtesy of Marianne Lozano of Studio Lozano
Floral Design: Commerce Flowers
Linens & Chairs: Elegant Design Specialty Linens
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Lighting: G2 Audio and Lighting

Style Unveiled Features - Mayra & Tramon

In November, Mayra & Tramon were married at The Museum of Latin American Art, in Long Beach. Their wedding was a colorful homage to their Latin American cultures. If you're looking for inspiration for your Latin themed wedding, look no further.

Style Unveiled, the award winning blog that provides inspiration for brides and grooms, featured this beautiful wedding. The photographs provided by Natalie Moser, express Mayra & Tramon's love of each other, and their cultures.



VENDOR LOVE:

Venue: Museum of Latin American Art
Catering: TGIS Catering
Floral Design: Commerce Flowers
Photography: Natalie Moser Photography
Bakery: Rossmoor Pastries
Beauty: Design Visage

Design Inspiration - Twist of Lime @ Ebell LA

On January 19th, The Ebell of Los Angeles hosted a tasting for their clients, called "Taste of The Ebell". I was asked to design all of the tablescapes. I created 5 themed tables for the event. Here is the third feature called "Twist of Lime".



Glamour was my inspiration for this table. From day one, I knew I wanted it to be a black and white theme. But I wanted it to have a pop of color. I was debating on what color to use. I looked over at my glass of sparkling water with a lime wedge, and BOOM. Light bulb moment.

Isn't the linen fantastic? A black glimmer charger created the bold contrast against the linen. White china assured the look wasn't to dark and heavy. The "Twist of Lime" came out in the lime green silkari napkin and matching chair pad. We accented the look by using black water goblets and a cut glass wine and champagne class. The glassware really set the formal tone for the table. To take the look one step further I used a black handled flatware set. It has a curly edge, that adds a little whimsy.

With such a bold table, I needed a showstopping centerpiece. A grand black candelabra graced the table and was filled with a mound of white flowers. It consisted of hydrangea, roses, gardenias (my personal favorite), and orchids. I wish you could smell it. Oh it's glorious.

Do you love this table as much as I do? I hope so, I really enjoyed creating it.

VENDOR LOVE:
Photos courtesy of Marianne Lozano of Studio Lozano
Floral Design: Commerce Flowers
Linens & Chairs: Elegant Design Specialty Linens
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Lighting: G2 Audio and Lighting

Adorn Jewelry - Valentine's Day Contest Winner

Congratulations to Maureen & Marco. Maureen was the winner of our Valentine's Day - Adorn Brides Jewelry Contest. Lucky Maureen will be dripping in diamonds, as she weds her fiance Marco. I asked Maureen to tell us a little bit about their engagement story, and upcoming wedding plans. Enjoy their story in her words.

"Marco and I had been dating for just over 3 and a half years when we closed on our first
home. We spent the first couple of weeks after closing cleaning, tearing
wallpaper down, and painting to get it move-in ready. Just as we were ready
to move out of our apartment and into the new house, Marco and I woke up one
morning and he said "I think we should see other people... those people
being a priest." He got down on one knee, opened the ring box and said those
words I had been *dying* to hear "Will you marry me?"
I was so shocked, it took me a couple of minutes to compose myself enough to
say yes!

We have been excitedly planning the wedding for the past few months
and set the big day for September 4th, 2011 at the Grand Ballroom at the
Rochester Plaza Hotel in Rochester, NY. We are focusing on making the
wedding a true expression of ourselves. Marco is a Chef and will be planning
and preparing most of the food for the reception (I hope I can keep him out
of the kitchen on the big day!). I am a Graphic Designer www.maureenmanley.net)
and will be designing our wedding invitations. Ourgoal is for our guests to be
amazed by great food, tired from endlessdancing, and smiling about all the fun
they’ve had. I'm ecstatic to be wearing Adorn's diamonds on my wedding day
to make it even more special!!"

Wedding Jeannie would like to extend thanks to Nadine Zuan of Adorn for collaborating with me on this contest. I enjoyed hearing the beautiful Valentine stories and spreading the word about the valuable service Adorn offers.

Design Inspiration - Tablescapes



Ebell LA Dining Room Decor by Wedding Jeannie

The Ebell of Los Angeles is a crown jewel of wedding venues, in Southern California. I'm honored to be one of their preferred vendors. When Melissa Allen, the director of Special Events at the Ebell approached me to design tablescapes for their new tasting series, I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into it. "A Taste Of The Ebell" took place, January 19th. It gave couples the opportunity to partake in inspired decor, taste The Ebell's culinary delights, meet qualified vendors, and enjoy everything this legendary venue has to offer.

Melissa gave me the task of creating 5 different tablescapes for the Dining Room. My design themes were Champagne Lace, Antique Lavender, Guns & Roses, Twist of Lime, and Spring Sherbet. It was a blast coming up with the themes. Using The Ebell's preferred vendors, I chose centerpieces, linens, specialty chairs, china, glassware and even flatware, and even stationery to make each theme come to life.

Champagne Lace was my first design theme. Luxury and Elegance were the key words when I dreamed of this table.

Champagne Lace Table Decor

A satin ivory lace linen graces the table, accented by a lace overlay with gold stitching. The glass with gold edge charger plate was complimented by china with a gold scroll pattern. Polished gold flatware gave the table setting a formal feel. Even the glassware had a gold rimmed edge. We topped it off with a beautiful crushed ivory satin napkin, in a beautiful pocket fold. My luscious floral centerpiece consisted of white hydrangea, roses, and a phaleonopsis orchid cascade, in an elegant gold cylinder. To finish the look, I used a fruitwood chiavari chair covered in a sheer organza chair cover, and a satin ivory chair pad.

Don't you agree that all of the elements combined, brought CHAMPAGNE LACE to life? The look is elegant and formal enough for a Royal Wedding. I think this table is worthy of William and Kate.

Thank you to Marianne Lozano of Studio Lozano Photography for captured the details of our work. Check back soon, there are four more table designs to come.

Design elements provided by the following vendors:

Floral Design: Commerce Flowers
Linens & Chairs: Elegant Design Specialty Linens
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Lighting: G2 Audio and Lighting
Stationery Accents: Petalos Di Pauli

Cultural Wedding Traditions - Persian Sofreh Aghd

Persian Wedding at The Westlake Village Inn

Wedding Jeannie welcomes you to the recurring blog feature, called CULTURAL WEDDING TRADITIONS. Living and working in Los Angeles has given me the opportunity to work for clients from many interesting cultures. Most often, our clients are blending two cultures, and rely on me for advice in doing so. They understand that I embrace my own Latin Heritage, and I encourage them to incoporate their culture into their wedding. You're invited to come by from time to time, and learn about the beautiful traditions my clients have shared with me along my journey as a wedding planner. So grab a latte, or a glass of wine and let's begin with a Persian Wedding tradition.

Persian Wedding Sofreh Aghd

Afsoon & Henry were married at The Westlake Village Inn. They had a very elaborate and elegant Sofreh Aghd. The Sofreh Aghd is the legal ceremony in the Iranian culture. The Sofreh altar (spread) is a detailed display of items believed to bring the bride and groom blessings in their life and marriage. The altar is displayed on the floor, facing the east, with the couple facing the light. Cushions are placed in front of the altar, as the bride and groom are seated throughout the ceremony. Each item on the sofreh has symbolism for the qualities the couple should possess in their marriage. Common items may be honey, coins, spices, candles, a mirror, and The Koran. Traditionally they are placed in a specific order, shown below.

Whether a sofreh is elaborate or modest, is the personal choice of the couple and their families. Symbolism of the items is what carries the most importance. The ceremony itself is filled with meaningful traditions that may not be fully understood if two cultures are being blended. For that reason I recommend a ceremony program that explains the importance of the sofreh, and the ceremony order.

Afsoon and Henry's wedding was so meaningful to me. How lucky I was to experience these amazing traditions. Afsoon's generosity in teaching me about her culture and her family traditions were a gift to me. She gave me the ability and confidence to plan Persian weddings in the future.

The beautiful photos of Afsoon and Henry's wedding and sofreh were provided courtesy of Simon & Martin Photography http://www.simonemartin.com/

Resources: Persian Mirror Magazine http://www.persianmirror.com/

White By Vera Wang

"White by Vera Wang"

The name "Vera Wang" is synonymous with "Wedding Gowns". I can't tell you how often our brides dream of a Vera for their wedding day. Luxury is the key word in describing a Vera Wang gown. Known as the celebrity wedding gown designer of the rich and famous, it seems Vera has shifted her sensibilities.

Ms. Wang has partnered with David's Bridal to launch an exclusive line for their stores, called "White By Vera Wang". The full line will be available for purchase on February 11, 2011. You can see a collection of photographs and videos at The David's Bridal website. The gowns and accessories are priced from $600 - $1400.

Wedding Jeannie finds them to be very haute couture and modern. The designs are soft, flirty and feminine. The Vera Wang brand is represented beautifully. Each on of these gowns says luxury and timeless style.

We look forward to seeing them in person. I'm sure you're excited about it too!

Valentine's Day Jewelry Contest




Wedding Jeannie announces Adorn Brides CONTEST!

 Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday. Wedding Jeannie gets happy about the thought of pretty little cards, with cherubs and hearts. Oh and heart shaped boxes of candy...I wish I could have them all year long. As a little girl, I looked forward to shopping for the perfect valentine cards to give to all of my friends, and of course my secret crush. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VALENTINE MEMORY? If you tell me, you could be wearing DIAMOND JEWELRY on your wedding day!

If you're a faithful reader of my blog, you'll remember that I posted about an amazing jewelry rental company called Adorn Brides. They rent diamond jewelry for your wedding day. Adorn asked me if I'd like to help them in spreading the word about an exciting CONTEST in honor of Valentine's Day. Diamonds? Valentine's Day? Of course I had to oblige.

Adorn is giving the lucky WINNER  a GIFT CARD in the amount of $225.00, towards the rental of ANY JEWELRY found on http://www.adorn.com/! The photos above are only a small sample of what can be found on their amazing website.

How can you be the winner? Here's the skinny:

• Leave a COMMENT on this blog post about your favorite Valentine's Day memory, along with your email address, by February 10, 2011.
• Winner will be chosen in a random drawing..
• Wedding Jeannie will contact the winner on that beloved day, FEBRUARY 14, 2011

Disclaimer:  Winner of the contest will receive a gift card in the amount of $225 towards the rental of any jewelry found on Adorn.com.  Jewelry is subject to availability, we cannot guarantee that all pieces will be available on the date of your choose.  Winner will be responsible for shipping costs and any sales tax.  In addition, winner will be required to pass Adorn's background/credit check and place a security deposit (fully refundable if returned within Adorn's guidelines).  For complete rental details, please read Adorn's Terms and Conditions at  http://www.adorn.com/legal.aspx.

Want to be the lucky DIAMOND WEARING winner. Let the commenting begin. We wish you luck.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!