This picture gives me goosebumps. How about you? I was thrilled when Jen Bierman of Photogenic made it available to me. It was from our recent wedding of Asia and Bryon at The Legenday Park Plaza in Los Angeles. I’ve seen so many photographs of this venue, but never from this angle with the couple framed in this manner. Jen Bierman is an amazingly talented wedding photographer to be sure. Her eye for detail is stellar.

It takes my break away, the way Jen captured the doorway, the chandelier, the silhouette of Asia and Bryon. Can’t you feel the love? I’m waiting in breathless anticipation for more photos of this wedding. They were a beautiful couple who had a Los Angeles meets New Orleans themed wedding. The venue had that old New Orleans ballroom feel, smack dab in the middle of Los Angeles. Wait until you see the pictures of the 2nd Line Brass Band. They surprised all the guests and led them down the grand staircase and outside for a traditional New Orleans Parade! And…no New Orleans parade is complete without embelleshed umbrellas and handkerchiefs. Stay tuned for more pictures of this amazing day.

Allow me to share with you the visually and spiritually beautiful wedding of Sonia and Danny. I met Sonia through a referral from a trusted colleague. We met in late December 2009, and we hit it off instantly, and I couldn’t wait to starting working with her to create an Indian/American wedding, that reflected a sense of love, family and respect for tradition and customs.

There was only one catch. We had to do it all in THREE MONTHS!! The only thing she had was her venue. The magnificent St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point. I knew I needed every vendor to be the absolute best to pull this off. I went to my database and chose the creme de la creme of Southern California wedding professionals.

It was a wild ride and here are the pictures to show how TRULY SPECIAL this wedding was. They images of the day were captured beautifully by Jen Bierman of Photojenic Photography. What was more amazing was these two beautiful souls and their families sharing this union. Sonia and Danny share their hearts with everyone they know so completely. They did with me. and I feel blessed to have not only been a part of their celebration, but I’m looking forward to the precious friendship that has come from it.

Venue & Catering & Cake: St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point
Photography: Jen Bierman of Photojenic Photography
Videography: Thomas Buckley of Buckley Videography
Floral Design & Decor: Chris Crisolongo of Paradise Delight Floral & Event Styling
Lighting: PSAV Presentation Services
Entertainment/DJ: Ajay Mantakala of Special Occasions DJ & Lighting
Bhangra Dancers: Bhangra Regiment
Stationery: Artiface

Our fabulous couple Jayann and Perry were featured on the cover of Shutterbug Magazine. It was all thanks to the fabulous photography of Cherie Steinberg and Hedley Jones of CherieFoto. Last June, Cherie and Hedley captured our client’s wedding day beautifully. Little did we know then that Cherie’s artistry would be featured twice. The beauty of her images landed this wedding on the pages of Your Wedding Day Magazine, and now this. How amazing for Jayann and Perry. And….for WEDDING JEANNIE. Because of Cherie, our work is being seen by so many.

Congratulations go to CherieFoto for not only the cover, but their feature article in the magazine titled “The Art and Craft of Wedding Photography”. Cherie is a master in her field, and we couldn’t imagine anyone else speaking about the importance of getting it right.

 
Bridget & Alex - Mexican Tradition

Southern California is a melting pot of beautiful people. We are a collective group of various races, cultures and religions. It’s one of the things I love about my job. With every new couple I meet, I learn some new tradition they want to incorporate into their wedding. I’m consistently challenged with blending cultures together, while respecting the traditions of each family. It got me thinking about how many beautiful rituals we’ve seen along the way. I decided I would share them with you. From time to time, we will feature a tradition from one of our real weddings. You’ll learn what that tradition means. Perhaps, you’ll be inspired to come up with a new tradition of your own. After all…..every tradition had a beginning. We hope you embrace the beautiful cultures we’ve had the honor to experience. If you have a tradition you want to share, please comment or email me. We’d love to share it with our readers.

In honor of my Latin culture, I would like to begin with THE LASSO, which is celebrated by both Mexican and Philipino cultures.

As part of the ceremony to symbolize unity, a large loop of rosary beads or a cord is placed in a figure eight shape around the necks of the couple after they have exchanged their vows.  

A special person/couple (usually called Sponsors or Padrinos), places the lasso around the shoulders of the bride and groom, groom’s shoulder’s first. The couple wears the lasso throughout the remainder of the service. (The loop is symbolic of their love which should bind the couple together everyday as they equally share the responsibility of marriage for the rest of their lives.)

At the end of the ceremony, the lasso is removed by either the couple which placed the lasso on the couple, or the priest. The lasso is given to the Bride as a memento of her becoming the mistress of the groom’s heart and home.
Courtesy of http://www.weddingdetails.com/lore/mexican.cfm

We recommend purchasing your Lasso at Para Ti Novia.

Wondering how to incorporate your love of color into your wedding? Dress your maids in the same shade and let them each carry different bouquets. We share how to make it work from our “real wedding” of Jennifer and Ian. Our delightful bride, Jennifer wanted her wedding to  have an essence of whimsy. Her girls all wore beautiful champagne, knee length gowns. No matching shoes for these gals. Their personalities came alive when wearing shoes in their favorite color. This spunky bride chose bouquets to match their shoes. The posey style bouquets were bright and fun, just like the girls who wore them. You can see from these photos taken by CherieFoto that Jennifer’s plan of whimsy and individuality pleased her maids.

Not to be overshadowed by her bridesmaids, we’ll share photos of Jennifer and Ian. Such a special couple and such a beautiful wedding.

Jennifer’s love of color comes through again in her shoes and her bouquet. Great contrast against her diamond white gown.

Many people don’t know that I was a floral designer before I was a Wedding Planner. Alot of So. Ca. brides have walked down the aisle holding a bouquet that I lovingly made for them. The other day, I was looking at pictures from previous weddings. Rachael’s bouquet jumped out at me. This one holds a special place in my heart, because she was such a wonderful cleint to work for. Rachael and Jeremy were married at Churon Winery in Temecula. What a great Fall Winery Wedding. The colors were rich and warm. She wanted her bouquet to be wild and yet elegant. I can still remember how hard I worked on the handle. To make it sexy, I fashioned the handle after a corset. What a great memory. I hope you love this bouquet as much as I do.

Last Saturday we had the pleasure of working for Jennifer and Ian. This picture is a teaser of another blog post to come. It’s honestly one of the most incredible images of a bride that I personally have ever seen. And I see alot! Thank you to Cherie Steinberg of CherieFoto for getting this image to me within two days. She was so excited about it that she sent it this morning. If you love it, see Cherie’s work at www.cheriefoto.com

I’m using this photo to showcase my newest bargain. Jennifer was a very smart bride. Her wedding was gorgeous and had so many unique touches. She was able to provide her guests with a photo booth, an interactive scrap booking experience, an art wall where guests could paint on a canvas. The canvas will be a permanent piece of art they will have forever. How was she able to do all this without breaking the bank?

Instead of spending thousands of dollars on her gown, she purchased a very affordable gown at David’s Bridal. She then took the gown to a trusted seamstress who added beading, appliques, pleating and rouching. It was magnificent. The seamstress took the one point, hook and eye bustle, and created a unique 18 point bustle that made the back of her gown look like cotton candy.

In my opinion, Jennifer is a trend setter. She thought outside of the box and found a way to have a custom couture gown without breaking the bank. What did she do with the money she saved? Upgraded her menu….and treated her guests to one amazing meal. Now that’s what I call a smart bride.

The incredible wedding of Ivette and Joe. Ahhhhhh it was breathtaking, emotional, happy and so so so so much fun. Joe and Ivette and truly a love story. The have faced many obstacles in their lives, yet it made their love stronger. Joe has a handicap in his life, but you would never know it. He and Ivette live their lives to the fullest, with no complaints or excuses. I learned alot from them throughout the planning of their wedding. They are a true testament to unconditional love and I was thrilled to be a part of their wedding day. This couple made me feel a part of their story and their lives. Thank you Ivette and Joe, may your life together be magical always.

Enjoy the photography by the wickedly talented Henry Chen. If you don’t already have a photographer, RUN, don’t walk to the phone to book him. Check back soon. When Henry has the detail shots ready, I’ll blog again. You will be blown away by the beautiful decor and details that made up this wedding. The ceremony took place at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Pasadena and the reception at the lush Los Angeles River Center and Gardens.

WeddingWire.com and 104.3 My FM are giving one lucky couple a free Wedding! The contest officially begins Monday, October 12. Would you like to win a free wedding? Maybe you know of a deserving couple. Visit the 104.3 My FM contest page for more details.

On the heels of the I DO ReDo Wedding of Jayann and Perry Hampton for WeddingWire and KTLA5 earlier this year, we’re ready to do it all over again. The Wedding Jeannie team together with Megan Hermeling of WeddngWire have assembled a dream team of vendors that will make this wedding a dream come true for the winning couple.

The Belamar Hotel in Manhattan Beach will be the venue for the nuptials and reception. It’s one of the hippest spots in the South Bay. What an amazing place for a wedding. It’s my first thought when the phrase “Retro-Chic” is used. I’ve been wanted to do a wedding here for a very long time, so you can be sure I’m am tickled pink.

This wedding package includes photography by Jen Bierman of Photojenic. Jen is one of the most sought after and talented photographers in Southern California. Not only does she shoot weddings in California, but has traveled the world for destination weddings. Lucky couple!

The rest of the dream team includes:

Thomas Buckley of Buckley Videography, Rebecca Salimpour of Natural Charms Florals, Dress My Party, Charles Kerr of Music On The Move, (He is SIMPLY THE BEST), Bridal Elegance Salon in Torrance, Rossmoor Pastries, Reverend Clint Hufft, Yana Beauty Studio, Friar Tux, Icing on The Ring,  and FINALLY…the honeymoon package is from The Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica.

If I wasn’t already happily married, I’d register for this contest today. Be listening Monday morning and hear all the details.

Kelsey & Todd were married on August 7th at The Point Vicente Interpretive Center. The Wedding Jeannie team thoroughly enjoyed working for the couple and the family. They are from Colorado and wanted marry in Southern California. Planning an out of state wedding is not easy. They did the right thing in trusting the referrals they received from their key vendors. After choosing the venue that was perfect for them, they chose a florist. The amazing Devynn’s Garden was the perfect choice. Cindy at Devynn’s and her entire team are so talented and bring a fresh approach to floral design. Devynn’s recommended TGIS Catering, TGIS recommended me, I recommended Music on The Move and Rossmoor Pastries and we all worked together as a team to give Kelsey and Todd their dream wedding.

Christine Lee Smith Photography captured the day beautifully. In the ten years I’ve coordinated weddings, I have never experienced a more moving ceremony. The sun was in the perfect place, causing the water to shimmer behind them like diamonds. Whales went by to the delight of everyone. Even a flock of pelicans flew by in perfect formation and slightly paused behind them as they exchanged their vows. What a majestic feeling. I got goosebumps. It was as if nature wanted to be a part of the celebration as well as the guests.

This was a dream couple, a dream family, a dream team of vendors and I was so proud to be a part of this celebration so full of love.

The wedding of Jayann and Perry Hampton took place on Friday, June 26th, at The Ebell Club of Los Angeles. The lucky couple won the KTLA I Do ReDo contest, sponsored by WeddingWire. Wedding Jeannie was honored to be the planner chosen to create a dream wedding for this lucky couple. Enjoy the amazing photography of Cherie Steinberg of CherieFoto.com









What a “once in a lifetime” experience this was for me and my entire team. We work for the best clients anyone could have. But this was special. Jayann and Perry’s first wedding was a real disaster. We were able to give them a dream wedding, in only one week! I couldn’t have done it without the support of every vendor involved. Their amazing talents and willingness to give of themselves and do it NOW, made this wedding perfect. Nathan Prince of Prince Weddings Video, gave us a sneek peek http://princeweddings.net/blog/ We hope you enjoy it.

You chose Jayann and Perry as the winners of the KTLA, I Do Redo. Now, you get to choose the gown Jayann will wear. View today’s segment below to see the three stunning choices. Vote for your favorite at www.ktla.com/wedding I have a favorite, but I’m not telling. I’ll just wait and see what the public decides.

Wedding Jeannie was on hand to discuss the progress of the plans of this wedding so far. Jayann and Perry are making great progess toward their Friday wedding. Together we’ve helped them put together their wedding website, compile the guest list, work on their ceremony vows and choose their musical selections.

Watch tomorrow when we introduce Jacks and Bellas. They will present the floral arrangement you can vote for your favorite.

Thank you to Scott, Jennifer and Suzanne of Mon Amie Bridal Salon. You rolled out the red carpet for Jayann and made her feel like a princess. I’m so appreciative of everything you’ve done to make this contest so special for the winner. We can’t wait to see her walk down the aisle in a Mon Amie Gown.

Congratulations to Jayann and Perry Hampton. They are the lucky winners of the KTLA I Do ReDo Contest. The public heard all the wedding disaster stories and decided they were most deserving of a dream second wedding. Their wedding will be televised live on KTLA, Friday, June 26th at 9:00am. Stay tuned every morning to see the progress of the planning. Wedding Jeannie is proud to be the coordinator who will put this wedding together for this fabulous couple.

After the announcement, we whisked Jayann to Mon Amie Bridal Salon to try on gowns. She narrowed her choices down to three and the public will decide which she will win. If you want to vote, visit www.ktla.com/wedding

I’m happy to share the pictures of our latest wedding at The Museum of Latin American Art, in Long Beach. They are provided courtesy of one of the most talented and creative photographers we’ve had the pleasure of working with, Natalie Moser of Natalie Moser Photograhy. Erin & Khaled brought together their Latin and Afghan cultures in one stunning wedding, that honored both of their families. The amazing florals were provided by the talented Chris at Paradise Delight. Just beautiful. Thanks also to TGIS Catering for the amazing meal. Not only was it delicious, it was gorgeous.

Khaled’s parents peformed a magnificent traditional Afghan henna ceremony. It’s a lovely way to end this post. Don’t you think?

On June 21, 2008, Catherine and Salil celebrated their nuptuals in the backyard of Catherine’s family home in Thousand Oaks. It was a modern wedding with traditional touches. This wedding had many challenges for the couple and Wedding Jeannie. The couple resided in Boston, yet were marrying in California, they wanted to have a ceremony and reception for 80 people in a private home,  and everything had to be planned and executed in 6 months! With experience and talent, we pulled it all off with amazing results.

When Holli Ehrlich of Wedding Podcast Network decided to feature a Podcast on the complexities of planning a home wedding, she turned to the “home wedding expert”, Wedding Jeannie. She called me to discuss the possibility of interviewing one of my couples. I immediately thought of Catherine and Salil. This wedding contained all of the elements that Holli was looking for. After she spoke to Catherine, she realized this wedding was exactly what they needed for their programming.

Holli’s interview with Catherine was fantastic. Follow the link  http://weddingpodcastnetwork.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=406997 to hear it. Catherine was a natural. From discussing planning a long distance wedding, planning it quickly, incorporating two cultures into a ceremony and reception and the complexities of making it all happen in a private home, she articulated all of her thoughts, hopes and fears about the process, as well as her great joy at the result of all of our hard work.

The Podcast is enhanced with photos for ITunes users. All of the talented vendors who worked with us on this wedding are listed. Please visit their websites to learn more about them as well. I hope it inspires you to think outside of the box. This wedding was so unique in it’s touches. I don’t want to give it all away. I encourage you to listen to Catherine yourself. She will inspire you to do things “your way”.

Enjoy.