Couples planning to be married can bid for wedding-related auction items online starting in October or at a Blissful Wishes Balls Nationwide in November, with all proceeds benefiting  Wish Upon a Wedding .This new organization is the world’s first nonprofit that provides weddings for individuals facing life-threatening illness.

Wish Upon a Wedding is currently seeking donated products or services in 46 cities, ranging from wedding gowns to tuxedos, invitations to cakes, and limousine services to honeymoons. It only takes a moment to register and make a difference in someone’s life at  https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?auctionId=115386483

Be sure to add your item to the correct category (city), and don’t forget to include your company logo and URL.  What a great advertising opportunity~ and you’ll be making a positive difference in someone’s life who truly deserves it!

Have you heard about Wish Upon A Wedding? If you haven’t, allow me to introduce you. As the World’s first nonprofit wedding wish granting organization, Wish Upon a Wedding provides weddings at destinations across the United States for individuals facing life-threatening illness.  It is a chance for couples to enjoy a very special day, without any thoughts of existing health issues, while surrounded by their closest family and friends.

Officially launched in January of 2010, Wish Upon a Wedding currently has 15 chapters to serve Wish Applicants. We service couples residing in or wishing to get married within 300 miles of any one of our chapter locations.

What a lucky life I lead. I’m blessed with an amazing family, a fulfilling career, happiness and great health. But there are many people who suffer life threatening illnesses. They should be able to enjoy the same life celebrations as everyone else. So, I’m happy when I can give of myself and my time to a great cause like this. I was asked to be on the “Event Planning Committee” for the Southern California Chapter of this great organization, along with four other incredible wedding planners. Our talents and vendor connections were brought together to create the Wish Upon A Wedding, Southern California Lauch Party in April.

The fabulous committe: Christina Wright, Gianna SanFilippo, Candice Bradley, Gloria McCune, and Me!

The goal of the launch party was to introduce the wedding and event industry in Southern California to the cause. Wish Upon A Weddings founder, Liz Guthrie and our So. Ca. Chapter President, Kevin Covey, spread the word about donating time and services to couples in need. 7 Degrees in Laguna Beach was the venue for this dazzling event. The party was a line-up of the best vendors Southern California has to offer. Each one generously donated their services.What a show of support. I’m happy to share photos of the hard work of each of the Committee Members, Board of Directors, and the individual vendors.

Many weddings have already been granted across the country, and we can’t wait for Southern California to grant one. Please visit the website at www.wishuponawedding.org to learn more about this great cause. Perhaps you know someone who is in need. Please share this information with everyone you know. Spread the word of this worthy cause. And, please consider the generosity of the vendors involved, when it’s time to hire the best of the best for your wedding. Here’s the list:

Venue: Seven Degrees, Laguna Beach, CA
Florist: Heavenly Blooms
Rentals: Designer Specialty Linens & Lounge Appeal
Photography: Brian Khang Photographer & Onelove Photography
Band: Blue Skies Events
DJ: Red Shoes Productions
Videographer: Imagique Cinema
Lighting: DPS
Catering: The Fry Girl
Caricaturist: Ron Rubin Events
Cake, Candy, Favors: Cake Coodness, Candee by Sandee, Raise the Cake {stand}, Balloon Divas, Sunshine Cakes & Catering
Hot Air Balloons: Balloon Divas
Stationery/Raffle: Studio EMP

Ending BREAST CANCER that is. In September I’ll be walking with thousands of other walkers in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer . We will walk from Santa Barbara to Carpinteria Beach. That’s 40 miles in two days. Not only am I required to walk, sleep in a tent and shower in a semi-truck, I must also raise $1800. That’s not a big sacrifice, compared to struggles that those who are suffering from this disease face every day.

We all have mothers, sisters, nieces and BFFs. I’M WALKING FOR ALL OF YOURS AND MINE. I’m committed to walk until a cure is found. Won’t you  join me in my journey by donating to the cause? You can make an easy online donation at my Donation Page.

Thank you to Avon for continuing to fight for all of us. I’m happy to participate and do my part. Got my walking shoes on! I’m hitting the pavement to train. Thanks for your support.

Last week this is where I had lunch. How lucky am I? My wonderful clients from New York will be getting married at The Huntley Hotel. The Penthouse restaurant is where the reception will take place. They actually had their first date here.

I met my colleague, the amazing florist Chris Crisolongo of Paradise Delight Florist. We were brainstorming on creating a design that will enhance the penthouse and give our clients that “Organic-Urban Chic” direction they desire. So we sat and feasted in the very place our clients and their loved ones will be sitting.

It’s so bright and airy. You can see the ocean in all it’s magnificence. Wow, what a great way to work. We’re not only designing florals. Instead we are creating an experience. We walked away with fresh ideas inspired by all that we saw around us. I’m so excited to share it with our wonderful couple. This wedding takes place in August. Stay tuned….I’ll definately be posting pictures.

Wedding Jeannie is welcoming 2010 with open arms. Let’s face it 2009 was a tough year for so many people. Weddings were impacted in a huge way. Engaged couples decided it wasn’t wise to get married in 2009 and have held off for 2010. For those of you who waited and are ready to marry in 2010, WE’RE WAITING FOR YOU!

There is so much to be excited about. We have some very interesting weddings coming up. Veronica and I are thrilled about what is to come. Some Cultural weddings include Indian, West African and Latin. We love the rich traditions that cultural weddings bring to our lives. Some of the venues where you will find us this year include Arbor Terrance in Fallbrook, The Huntley in Santa Monica, The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, The St. Regis in Laguna Beach, and the historic Park Plaza in downtown Los Angeles. Wow! I’m excited thinking about it.

2010 also brings another new beginning for us. We created THE CONFIDENT BRIDE WORKSHOP in response to the confusion brides have told us they are experiencing. Wedding Jeannie believes that every bride should be a CONFIDENT bride. The World Wide Web has made wedding planning more confusing than ever. There are hundreds of websites available. It’s where YOU look for advice and vendors. Unfortunately those vendors are not always reputable. Our workshops strip planning down to the basics. We teach you how to choose qualified vendors, budgeting for your particular needs, organization and the critical 30 Day countdown. Join us as we bring you the best vendors in Southern California sharing their expertise with you. Our workshops are NOT a bridal show. Nothing to buy, no hardsell. Only free advice! Why would we do this? Because there is alot of bad advice out there and we want all brides to have a positive planning experience, whether they decide to use a planner or not.

Wedding Jeannie is renewed and ready to take 2010 by the tail. Why not come along with us? We accept a limited number of weddings per year. This means we are booking up quickly. What does that mean to you? It means we can focus our energy and expertise on your wedding and individual needs.

We wish to congratulate you on your engagement. You have an exciting 2010 ahead of you. If you find that you need the assistance of a qualified, creative and enthusiastic team of wedding planners, call us today. We can’t wait to be your partner in planning.

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CONFIDENT BRIDE? Join us for an intimate gathering of the best professionals in the industry, giving YOU the advice you need to plan your wedding with confidence.

Wedding Jeannie is proud to announce our first offical CONFIDENT BRIDE WORKSHOP. Visit the official blog to learn more about this One-Of-A-Kind FREE event.

Once a month our workshop will move to different cities, in order to give all BRIDES an opportunity to take part in this intimate and free workshop. This is not a Bridal Show. It’s a small and intimate workshop where YOU will interact with the best wedding professionals in Southern California. Each month three premiere vendors will share their knowledge with you, in an open forum where you ask the questions. Only 50 brides are allowed to attend each workshop. That means the workshops fill up fast. RSVP TODAY AT rsvp@weddingjeannie.com to reserve your seat.

Our first workshop takes place at Bella Collina in San Clemente, on January 12, 2010. Bella Collina is the newest and hottest venue in Orange County. This workshop brings together the experience and expertise of Wedding Jeannie, Jay’s Catering, Photojenic Photography and Music On The Move. 

Enjoy learning from qualified wedding vendors, meet other brides and share your experiences, receive a wedding planning packet and a generous goodie bag. We can’t wait to meet you and help you to be a CONFIDENT BRIDE.

October’s Couture Bride Workshop was a wild success. We had a full house of Brides to Be, and even one Groom! There was magic in the air, as Wedding Jeannie, Alina Pizzano and Mary Lallande of Jay’s Catering shared an interactive and open forum with our attendees. Featured Guest Mary Lallande, Venue Concierge of Jay’s Catering provided valuable information, sample proposals and her joy and love for all things food. In typical Jay’s Catering style, Mary created a visual feast of scrumptious treats, including Jay’s own Designer Candy Apples, a gourmet fruit and cheese tray, and yummy Coconut Vanilla cupcakes with Bavarian Cream Filling, accompanied with a refreshing lemonade.

 Jay’s Catering is consistently voted Orange County’s #1 caterer. Mary is a pivotal reason for that. Her blog titled “Food For Thought” is read by  wedding industry professionals nationwide. She was recently recognized by LA Style Unveiled as a Social Media Maven you should follow on twitter. I’m a dedicated follower of her tweets.

(I love this shot of Veronica and I polishing off our presentation)

Our October Brides learned the “insider” secrets to “simplified” wedding planning, the value in a custom wedding gown, and experienced the joy of creating a menu that reflects their personality as a couple.

Thank you to the wonderful brides who attended. We do this for YOU! We hope our advice is helpful to you in your wedding planning adventure. Of course, thanks goes to Alina Pizzano for sharing her beautiful salon with all of us. And finally, Mary Lallande….thank you for all of your generosity, talent and expertise. You are simply the best.

Meet Shanelle Doughlin. She is not new to the Wedding Jeannie team. Shanelle has been with us for a year. She is so much more than an intern. Shanelle graduated from Biola University last year. One of her projects was to research a career. Wedding Planning was the choice and she researched it vigorously. She approached me and said she would love to be an intern. As a professional, whenever we get a request from a young lady to “help” we get a little twitchy! Well we were proved wrong. Shanelle is a hard worker, smart, resourceful and reliable. Wedding after wedding, she has been such a pro. Her professionalism and attitude are impressive for such a young woman.

Last Saturday’s wedding was the day we knew she was ready to handle all that came her way. We tested her again and again, and she has always risen to the occassion. Wedding planning is hard work. 12 hours on your feet be difficult. But Shanelle is there to make us smile and enjoy what we do even more than I thought we could. She is hilarious and her humor is contagious even to the guests at our weddings. We love that she brings a sense of youthfulness and fresh ideas to Wedding Jeannie.

Shanelle we love you. We’re so glad that you are part of our team. We can’t wait to turn you loose on your own events.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. My life has never been personally touched by Breast Cancer, but by other forms of cancer. In the past I’ve done my part and walked 5 times in the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. Over the last few years, wedding planning took all my time, and I feel badly that I’m not taking action. How could I “marry” giving of myself and weddings? BRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER.

What is Brides Against Breast Cancer? It’s a non-profit organization that provides women suffering the effects of breast cancer, precious time with their loved ones, when insurance is exhausted. How do they do this? Through the donation and sale of used wedding gowns. This amazing group of individuals, many volunteers, take this “show on the road” throught the country. Sales of gowns are held in major cities throught out the country. Want to know where you can buy a beautiful designer gown at a fraction of the cost of a salon? Visit their Gown Sale Calendar.

“But Jeannie”, you say, “I’ve already bought my gown, how can I help”. There are many ways. Once your wedding day has passed, you can donate your gown! Simply send it to the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. No only are you helping in the fight for breast cancer, you are being “green”. By recycling wedding gowns, instead of manufacturing new ones, we lesson our carbon footprint on the earth. Now that’s a cool thing to do. And…..it’s a tax deductable donation!!!!! You can also donate your time to a local event,  or have a Pink Envelope Bridal Shower.

Another way to make a difference, is at your reception. Instead of a favor, provide your guests with a donation on their behalf. After all, how many gel candles or soaps do people really need? Visit the Pink Envelope Project to learn more.

I’ve decided to make a vow right here on my blog (for all to see). I’m going to call Brides Against Breast Cancer today and donate my time to the next local gown sale. I hope to see you there. Stop by and say hi! Let’s do something together to make a difference.

I just received an email from The Langham in Pasadena. What an absolutely amazing hotel. This little tag was attached. I thought I would share it with all of you brides to be. I absolutely love having tea. Tea Parties with my sisters as little girls was one of my favorite past times. A pretty pink plastic tea set was heaven to me. It became my obsession as an adult woman. I began collecting tea pots as a young bride and never stopped. Last Valentine’s Day I hosted a tea party for my sisters and their daughters. We had such a fabulous time. Everyone left with their own tea cup and saucer.

There are two beautiful tea rooms in Pasadena that I frequent. One is The Chado Tea Room introduced to me by my lovely client Cindy Ayala, and the other is The Scarlet Tea Room. Now The Langham is offering Chocolate Afternoon Tea. Chocolate? Tea? Together? Be still my heart. I have a free day on Tuesday, if you need me…..you know where I’ll be. Who wants to come? Send me an email.

Wedding Jeannie in conjunction with Alina Pizzano Couture Bridal, is proud to announce our monthly Wedding Workshops. Do you need advice on planning the perfect wedding? Alina Pizzano is a custom couture designer that will share her secrets to choosing the perfect gown for your figure and budget. The Wedding Jeannie team of Jeannie Ward and Veronica Medrano will give you insider tips on how to design and plan a magical wedding that is everything you’ve wished for. Imagine the finest wedding vendors in Southern California presenting you with their knowledge, in the luxury of Alina’s glittering salon.

The workshops are held the 3rd Thursday of every month, at Alina Pizzano’s salon in Pasadena. Each month a premier wedding professional, will educate you in saving time and money when choosing your vendors. We are excited for you to meet Brian Alexander of Brian Alexander Photo, on August 20th. Future speakers will focus on catering, invitations & calligraphy, videography, floral design, specialty linens, music, wedding cakes, and more. Our years of experience have allowed us to line up a dream team of vendors to bring to you. Can’t make it to the first one, simply check back to my blog to find out who will be featured the following month.

Our workshops will be small, intimate and personalized. Since we only accept a limited amount of brides each month, the focus is on you. You will have one on one time with each Alina, myself and our guest speaker. This means our workshops are filling up quickly. RSVP right away in order to be included in this exclusive opportunity. We look forward to meeting you and sharing our experience and expertise.

Weddings are constantly changing with the latest trends. The newest trend in decor for weddings is paper flowers. Before you say “that’s so cheap”, take a look at the latest in paper flowers for weddings. You can use them for ceremony decor, reception centerpieces, favors, backrops for you cake table and so much more. Have I peaked your interest? Let me give you two more reasons to think paper……they are eco-friendly and they are much less inexpensive than fresh florals.

Paper flowers make me smile. They remind me of my youth. As a young girl in a large Latin family, our lives seemed to revolve around weddings. There was always a cousin or sister who was getting married. As young ladies, we were kept busy by making paper flowers. Who knew we were ‘trendy’! We spent days creating crepe paper flowers in vibrant colors. We then strung them together for ceremony decor and even decorated all the vehicles that would be escorting the bridal party to the church. No one is more please than me. to see the pages of the latest bridal magazines like Martha Stewart Weddings, filled with the most beautiful and creative design ideas using paper flowers. I can’t wait to dig in and channel my inner child and make some today.

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