Amber Events

Pretty Pictures: Temptation

2012-01-24T23:27:00.000-08:00

The holiday season seems now, long gone. I reminisce all the good feelings and warm thoughts. The generosity and happiness seeping through our pores ... Sigh... Yet this is not always the case. You and I alike are allotted our moments of greediness and temptation and I am sure we all had a moment or two of it. Hence my longer workout sessions these days.

I remember being so organized and having all my gifts done before Black Friday! Then, Black Friday rolls around, and I feel inclined to shop. For who? Well me of course!!!! Like many women who work hard, I said to myself, "I deserve this." It's kind of a greedy way to think I guess. I'm still not so sure of it myself.

My finances don't really allow me to splurge the way I wish. After all, saving is very important this day in age. As I look down the strip of high end stores and ready to seize them, I have a feeling of temptation to splurge. Can I do it? Yes. Should I. No.

All creatures on this earth are tested the same way, as displayed here below by Anita Meezen.

This cute kitty, is so patiently savoring the idea of getting to that gold fish. Just as I stood gazing down at my empty arms. I took a moment to imagine myself coming home with armfuls of goodies and do like the many other consumers that would pass me by.

Temptation is just a seizing few fleeting moments. If one actually took the time to stop and THINK, a lot of catastrophes in history would be avoided: like my maxed out credit card bills.

Let's just say I was a good girl this past holiday season...Mr. Kitty however, I'm still not so sure.

Julian & Summer featured on Ruffled Blog

2012-01-24T15:10:00.000-08:00

Brace yourself, for another blog feature, hooray! Please meet Summer and Julian here and on the Ruffled Blog. This couple envisioned an Art Deco inspired wedding and Cicada seemed like the perfect place! We had a custom built stage, cigar girls, pin up dancers, big band, and oh so many spot lights. Our bride, Summer, even surprised her hubby with a sexy pin up dance! Oooo La La.

Enjoy!

The Team that made the magic:

Venue: Cicada

Event Design and Coordination: Amber Gustafson of Amber Events
Photography: Natalie Moser

Florist: Holly Flora

Videography: Isabel Gonzalez

Cake & Dessert: Fantasy Frostings

Pin Up Dancers: Satin Dolls

Big Band and DJ: No Vacancy Orchestra

Stage Construction: Joe Edelson

Hair & Makeup: Steve Ratliff, Alix Druckman, Rebecca Netzel

Lighting: Aspect Lighting

Linens: La Tavola Linens

Ron Ruben: Cigar Girls

Photobooth: Papermoon Vintage

Rancho del Cielo wedding: Chia-Ming and Patrick

2012-01-18T22:50:00.000-08:00

Chia-Ming attended her friend Eva’s wedding (also at Rancho del Cielo) two years prior to her wedding and found me that way. When I first met with her and her then fiancé Patrick at our first meeting and I asked them what their hobbies were and they told me they loved to fish, I was tickled. When they then told me that by fishing they meant 3-4 days out in international waters deep sea fishing I was awed. They were so damn cute!

Chia-Ming and Patrick wanted a romantic and organic wedding on the mountaintop Rancho del Cielo, but they also wanted to bring their love of fishing into their wedding décor. Check out their wedding featured today on Style Me Pretty to see the loveliness that was created!

The team that made the magic

Planning- Amber Events (with special thanks to Nira & Rozie & Katelynn)

Venue- Rancho Del Cielo

Photography- Brandon David

Videography- Vu Thai

Music- Vox Dj's

Floral-Holly Flora

Catering-Auntie Em's

Rentals-Smart Party Rentz

Makeup/hair-Fiore Beauty & Rene Agurcia

Bar- Sunseris

Pretty Pictures-Pretty China

2012-01-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm turning a bit obsessed with this photographer: Carmen Moreno.

Tea and Coffee seem to be a universal reason to get together and chit chat. A business meeting or even a casual date can call for such an event. In the US, this goes way deeper, especially with .... coffee. It is an obsession for most. Getting up and making a cup of Folgers at home. Pouring it in your overpriced Starbucks tumbler you impulsively bought while waiting in line. A minute later and you're out the door for your 9-5.
For the connoisseur, a very detailed espresso machine may be available to you. Frothy cappuccinos and lattes. Yes quite expensive, but are to die for sometimes.

What better way to celebrate energy in a cup but with the prettiest of cups! The look of it can revive you and set a mood. Fancy tea with Duchess Kate? Or are you feeling a bit more modern and bold today? Either way, it can be enjoyed with others or better yet, cozied up to a good book.

Pretty things like pretty cups really make me happy. It's all in the simple things I guess.

Post Wedding Survey: Colleen & Roger

2012-01-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

The wonderful Collen and Roger took time out of the busy schedule to write this for us. Much love to the happy couple. Enjoy!

Q. What was the best part of your wedding day?

A. By far, the best part of our wedding day was getting a moment alone right after the ceremony. We were able to be lovey-dovey and share in the excitement of being husband and wife without any cameras or interruptions. It was SO important to have this time together because it was the only time we were able to spend alone the whole night. The rest of the evening was full of chatting with guests and posing for pictures.

Q. What do you feel was totally unnecessary?

A.Spending so much money. Every detail that we put together during our eight month engagement was, without a doubt, absolutely perfect. The tables, flowers, lighting, and rentals were divine, but what made the day perfect was marrying each other, not the setting or the amount of money that we spent creating such a gorgeous event.

Q. What would you change, if anything?

A. I would change our vision of the day. I would have put more focus on making the day about our marriage and our family and close friends and not on the décor. I also wish I would have put my foot down more to only invite guests that we, not our parents, wanted to invite.

Q. Who was your dress made by?

A. My dress was called Detalle and made by La Sposa. I got it at Pebbles Bridal in Woodland Hills.

Q. What was unexpected that you loved?

A. That a lot of our bridal party had never met before, but are now SUCH great friends!

Q. What are your fondest memories of your wedding day?

A. Aside from actually getting married and spending time alone together immediately after our ceremony, we loved our first look. It was so special to the two of us – it calmed us down and got us excited for the day. It was such an emotional moment to be with each other all dressed and ready to marry each other.

Q. Is there anything you wish you had spent more time or money on?

A. Nope.

Q. Is there anything you wish you had spent less time or money on?

A. Overall, I wish we had spent much less money!!

Q. Were there any unexpected surprises or issues?

A. Nope, the entire day ran INCREDIBLY smooth!! All thanks to Amber and her team for this!! Our main goal for hiring a wedding planner was to allow us to enjoy our wedding day and not have to worry about putting all the little details together. It was truly amazing how well-organized the day was; even our guests after the wedding mentioned how everything was so well planned!

Q. What's your number #1 tip for future engaged couples?

A. I know this is obvious, but really try to plan your wedding around your marriage and what makes you as a couple so undeniably perfect for each other. Think about what will make you happy and not how you can throw a perfect party for your guests.

Q. How did you feel after the wedding?

A. Utterly in-love and so unbelievably happy! It is such a wonderful feeling to call your best friend your husband or your wife!

Callaway Gable

Pretty Pictures: A timeless woman

2012-01-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

Jacques Henri Lartigue is notable for photographing cars, planes, and amongst many other possible subjects.... women. The photo below, depicts one the many women he was able to memorialize. This one happens to be a stunning Parisian woman at the turn of the century. I don't know who she is and that's fine. I like a little mystery. For all I know, she could have been a stranger that caught his eye, and so willingly posed for the camera.

I love how she gazes away, pretending she didn't know anyone was looking. Every girl is guilty to that. Look at her big floppy hat and matching trousers. It seems so simple, yet not so modest. This girl was looking to make a statement!

Without words she's telling the world: "Look at me! I am a woman! A confident, beautiful woman with a figure and I'm proud of it."

Pictures like this really make me smile. I become conscience of the fact that a woman is like a super hero sometimes. The power being her delicious charm .What a burden to have such abilities. Horrible, I know.

Post Wedding Survey: Kelly & Nick

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

Photo by Aileen Secord

Q. What was the best part of your wedding day?

A. Getting married! Honestly, everything was fantastic.

Q. What do you feel was totally unnecessary?

A. Maybe the heat lamps. I thought it would be cooler- at the same time, I think there were a few people who were sitting throughout the evening who appreciated them.

Q. What would you change, if anything?

A. My painful shoes during the ceremony…loved the shoes, hated the pain. Nick helped me out of them immediately after the ceremony.

Q. Who was your dress made by?

A. Vera Wang. It was love at first “site” (as in, saw it on the website and was hooked)

Q. What was unexpected that you loved?

A. Our friends requesting the song “Sweet Caroline” and singing it all around us.

Q. What are your fondest memories of your wedding day?

A. The ceremony, the dancing at the reception, the crowd of guests looking at our cake toppers (I adore them!) We’re just so happy that all the little details we did by hand flowed together so perfectly. The day truly was a representation of who we are.

Q. Is there anything you wish you had spent more time or money on?

A. Not at all- it was absolutely perfect. I spent a lot of time working on the place cards, table numbers, programs, etc. I don’t think I needed any more time to make them even cooler!

Q. Is there anything you wish you had spent less time or money on?

A. No. Judging by the rave reviews we got on the wedding, we wouldn’t have changed a thing. I also spent a lot of time working on the place cards, table numbers, programs, etc. It turned out so well though, I’m happy to have thrown myself into those projects.

Q. Were there any unexpected surprises or issues?

A. Not at all!

Q. What's your number #1 tip for future engaged couples?

A. Let your creative self shine! Have fun with your planning and stick to your guns! If you have a vision, do it and don’t feel pressured to do more or less than what is right for you and your spouse to be!

Q. How did you feel after the wedding?

A. Like I want the wedding day to keep going! Also, like we now need to figure out how to fill in all the extra time we have (wait…I can focus on studying now!)

L.A. River Center & Gardens Wedding: Kelly and Nick

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

Kelly and Nick had this summer wedding at Los Angeles River Center and Gardens. It's a hidden jewel in the middle of Los Angeles. A location filled with wrought iron gates, arched entry ways, and walls covered in ivy. What a dream! I loved how this union was able to happily unite families of different cultures, races, and religions. I have to say, one of the biggest hits that night was their adorable cake topper! Aileen Secord captured the images below. Congrats Kelly and Nick! May you have a long and happy marriage!

The team that made the magic

Planning- Amber Events (with special thanks to Nira & Keithlyn)

Venue- L.A. River Center & Gardens

Photography- Aileen Secord

Music- Hey Mr. DJ

Floral-Butterfly Floral

Catering-Auntie Em's

Rentals-Town and Country

Makeup/hair-Stacey Herman

Bar- Sunseris

Linens- Designer Specialty Linens

Vibiana Wedding: Colleen & Roger

2012-01-04T16:45:00.000-08:00

In my opinion, featuring Colleen & Roger’s wedding is the best way to ring in the New Year! Not only are they the sweetest couple who had a spectacular wedding, but I’m so excited that Style Me Pretty thinks so too and is featuring their wedding today! Click HERE to see all of pretty!

Colleen & Roger hired me shortly after they booked one of my favorite venues, Vibiana, and we went to work creating the classic and traditional wedding that Colleen dreamed of. If you’ve seen my same day flipvideo at Vibiana from my website you’ll understand what a logistical undertaking it was to transform the ceremony space from the romantic ceremony set up to the dramatic reception for 300 guests complete with custom made rectangular Alencon lace tablecloths, a sexy lounge area, and a fun interactive photo-booth where guests could immediately upload their photos to Facebook Twitter.

The wedding unfolded perfectly and I was so thrilled not only to have such a flawless day, but to have that happen for such a gracious and genuinely incredible couple. Colleen was the type of bride who, amongst the flurry of planning a huge formal wedding, took the time to have flowers waiting for me on my doorstep when I had eye surgery 6 weeks prior to her wedding.

Classic, traditional, timeless. Enjoy Colleen & Roger’s wedding day! I sure did!

Venue: Vibiana

Event Design and Coordination: Amber Gustafson of Amber Event
Photography: CallawayGable

Florist: Holly Flora

Rentals: Town and Country

Catering: The Food Matters

Cake: Vanilla Bake Shop

DJ: Nahchey Storer of Dash Entertainment

Sound: OC Audio Visual

Manicures and Hair: Fiore Beauty

Makeup: Bobbi Hayes

Lighting: Aspect Lighting

Bar: Pacific Coast Bar

Linens: Designer Specialty Linens

Amber says adios! (for a while)

2012-01-02T15:16:00.000-08:00

My husband and I consider ourselves travelers. We try to not sound like those pretentious people who start every story with something like "...when we were trekking in the hill-tribes near Chiang Mai..." , but travel is extremely important to us and it's made us the people we are. We're forever dreaming about the places we're going to go to next and reminiscing about the places we've been and the people we've met.

Being self employed has its pros and cons in that technically, we could travel as much as we could afford to, but when you're self employed, you're forever hustling to get business. Not only are you not getting paid for the time that you're gone, but you're also missing out on the jobs that you could be booking at that time. He and I consider it worth it though. Tomorrow we leave for Peru for three and a half weeks! These 3.5 weeks of travel coming up took me six months of prepping for as I had to block my calendar properly to ensure that everyone and everything is covered while I'm gone. The blog will continue to have some exciting things thanks to some per-scheduled posts and my wonderful associate Nira!

So for now I'm taking off my high heels, putting on my hiking boots, and going out to explore the exciting world out there! Adios!

Amber Events top planning posts of 2011

2012-01-01T15:24:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012! It's that time again on the blog to link to some of (what we think) were the best Amber Events blogs of 2011. Enjoy!

How to have a raging dance party

What to do when your parents get crazy

Home Weddings

When in doubt, Adorn

Planning Tip for the Ceremony

And if you want more, peruse through the top posts from 2010 and 2009!

Rancho Del Cielo Wedding: Michelle and Ben

2011-12-28T08:38:00.000-08:00

Michelle and Ben decided to get married off of what feels like the top of the world: Rancho Del Cielo, a mountain top with views overlooking the Pacific Ocean. How could you go wrong?
These two love birds had met back in 2009 at a Harvard/Yale game, became facebook friends and devoted much of their time flying back and forth to see one another... until the inevitable happened. These two were meant to be together! That's where Amber Events comes into play.

Michelle's exquisite taste in well, everything, and Ben's intelligence and kind demeanor made them a dream to help plan a wedding for.
Michelle is a superb writer with a new book out, These Days Are Ours, and was even was kind enough to write lovely reviews of her dream team on their wedding website. Many best wishes to the lovely couple, It was a pleasure working with you!

The team that made the magic

Planning & Design- Amber Events (special thanks to Nira, Michelle and Keithlyn)

Venue- Rancho Del Cielo

Photography-Llanes Weddings

Videography-Alan Larsen Films

Music- Jon Brown Unite Entertainment

Floral-Holly Flora

Catering-Along Came Mary

Rentals-Smart Party Rentz

Cocktail Music- Cale Music

Hair & Makeup-Fiore Beauty

Transportation-Corporate Coach Charter

It's been a GOOD, good year!

2011-12-16T16:09:00.000-08:00

Woo!

Pretty Pictures- Vino

2011-12-12T17:18:00.000-08:00

Brrrr it's getting cold outside! Yes, always warm always sunny Southern California is hitting us with a cold front. Low temperatures and lots of rain today.

This is the perfect time to reflect on the things that make us feel all cozy and warm inside: Soft throw blanket on the couch with a sweetie to cuddle up to. A good movie and always always some wine. Borsalino is the amazing Italian photographer to capture the simple beauty of Vino.

Red Wine by the fireplace this winter will definitely take your worries off. I know holiday stress can be killer. White white can be crisp on your palette as you enjoy viewing a sunset in some far off place.

Wine is a universal symbol of sophistication.

Wine is better when shared with someone you love.

Age appears to be best in few things, one of which is wine.

This holiday season don't forget to take some time to un wine. I mean.... unwind.

Cynthia & Terry's Wedding: Team Member POV

2011-11-29T12:00:00.000-08:00

Heather is such a cutie pa-tootie! I met her just a handful of weddings ago. Her fancy updos and make up perfection make her one of my favorite gals to look at. I mean, .... work with! No really, joking aside, Heather it's great to have you on board. Read below for her experience at Cynthia and Terry's wedding!
{Nira}

Q. How did you learn about Interning or Assisting for Amber Events?

A. I recently moved from Boston to Los Angeles to fulfill my dream of working towards a career in the wedding industry. Prior to my relocation, I really researched my options and in doing so, I discovered (and fell in love with) Amber Event’s. I reached out to Amber Gustafson with fingers crossed, to ask if she had any advice on where to begin in the industry. She was kind of enough to respond with very helpful suggestions and an internship application. Lucky for me, it was a match!

Q. What tasks did you complete for this wedding?

A. For ceremony set-up I helped to arrange seating cards and tie them on the appropriate chairs with ribbon. I helped to welcome (and keep count of) friends and family and have them sign the guest book and be seated for the ceremony. I was instructed to untie the bow at the start of the aisle (eee!) and cue the DJ to begin the processional music. The guests were then guided to the villa for cocktail hour while final touches of reception set-up ensued. This included lighting candles and double checking each table was set correctly. As the night came to a close, I assisted in clean-up, treasure chest duties, and packing up the couple’s car with their belongings.

Q. What surprised you?

A. How quickly and smoothly the construction and deconstruction of the whole thing happens. It is almost magical to watch so many elements fall perfectly into place in only a matter of time. In a few short hours an empty space is completely transformed, and then just as easily put back to normal afterwards. It becomes obvious just how much time, preparation, planning, and attention to detail must go into each event. Everyone works side by side but comes together as a team on the big day and it is amazing to see it all before, during, and after.

Q. What is your favorite part of this wedding?

A. After the ceremony ended, the groom’s father led the parade of guests to the villa while playing the bagpipes. The music was wonderful and you felt it deep inside.

Q. What shoes did you wear?

A. Black Mary Jane flats

Q. The uniform for the Amber Events staff is a black button down shirt and slacks. What did you do to Jazz up your look?

A. With such a blank slate to begin with, I really had to resist the urge to over accessorize! I stuck to my usual string of pearls, red lips, and fun pin-up hairdo.

Q. What is your favorite wedding scene from a movie?

A. I’d have to go with Rachel Getting Married. The entire wedding weekend, from rehearsal dinner to reception, is full of every type of music and tradition imaginable. My favorite scene though is during the ceremony, when the groom scraps his vows and sings an a-cappella version of Neil Young’s “Unknown Legend” to his new wife at the alter. The party to follow takes place outdoors in a large tent with strands of colored string lights above and festive Indian themed décor. The vibrant, eclectic vibe that is given off is just delicious!

Q. Do you have any words for anyone wanting to join the wedding industry?

A. I think becoming a wedding planner is definitely a dream job and there are some common misconceptions to be aware of. (I.e. Weddings are just flowers and lace; anyone who likes pretty things can be a coordinator!) This job is not as glamorous as one would imagine, but it is fun! I would encourage you to do your research and gain as much experience as you can. The best way to educate yourself is to get your hands dirty. Work a few weddings beside a coordinator, a caterer, a florist, etc. Be on your toes. Have thick skin! Be prepared to work long hours and be forced into high-pressure situations. The work is physically and mentally demanding and it’s not for everyone. My advice is to know what you’re getting into before you put all your eggs in one basket!

Final Comments:

I would like to thank Amber Event’s for this blessed opportunity. I was warmly welcomed by the team and never once felt like the “new girl.” Through this experience I have grown and been deeply inspired. For this I am grateful beyond words. Amber Gustafson is simply the best at what she does. She runs the show with absolute grace and her positive energy is a joy to be around! She has become someone I truly admire. 

Post Wedding Survey: Miri and David

2011-11-22T16:13:00.000-08:00

The wonderful Miri & Dave took a few minutes out of their busy schedules to fill out my survey. I love reading these. Enjoy!

photo by Asgeir Fotographica

What was the best part of your wedding day?

The best part of our wedding day was having all of our close friends and family together in one place. Since we live on the east coast and our parents on the west coast, it was a wonderful experience to bring all of our friends from so many years and families together to celebrate.

What do you feel was totally unnecessary?
We put a lot of time and thought into every aspect of our wedding and we were very cost-conscience along the way. For these reasons, we didn’t really feel like anything we chose to have at our wedding was completely unnecessary.

What would you change, if anything?

We wouldn’t change a thing! All of our vendors were fantastic and the wedding was as beautiful as we each imagined it. We also had a fantastic time, which is all we could have asked for.

What was unexpected that you loved?
We loved watching the transformation of the inside of Vibiana from the ceremony to reception. It looked like a totally different space for each part of the wedding and we loved seeing the inside so beautiful and glowing.

What are your fondest memories of your wedding day?
Having all of our close friends and family members together was the highlight of the wedding and added something special to every memory of the day. From getting ready with our bridal party to experiencing an incredible ceremony officiated by Dave’s father, every part of the day was special in its own way. We really enjoyed the alone time we spent together to digest all that had occurred.

Is there anything you wish you had spent more time or money on?
We wish we had spent more time visiting with our guests at the different tables since we didn’t get a chance to speak to them all. As time was running out on the night, however, we realized we couldn’t enjoy ourselves and greet all of our guests.

Is there anything you wish you had spent less time or money on?
Although the band we selected was amazing, we wished we had spent less money on a live band and had just chosen a DJ. Even though the band was fantastic and enjoyed by everyone, we didn’t feel like it was totally necessary and we could have spent less money and been fine with a DJ.

Were there any unexpected surprises or issues?

When I was getting ready, I cut my finger pretty badly and it was bleeding all night! I had to put a bandaid on it the whole wedding so I hope that doesn’t show in the photos. Besides the finger incident, all of the issues or surprises were unbeknownst to us, thanks to our amazing wedding planner Amber!

What's your number #1 tip for future engaged couples?
Our number one tip to engaged couples is to be realistic and upfront about your wedding budget from day one. Communicate frequently with your parents and each other about what everyone is able to pitch in and don’t wait until a few months before to figure it all out. Also, no one vendor or thing will make or break your wedding. It’s about the two of you and not the champagne or the cake or the food. Those are all added bonuses.

How did you feel after the wedding?
Both Dave and myself were elated after the wedding. We felt that everything went smoothly, our guests loved the wedding and how much thought we had put into it, and it was the happy and joyous celebration that we wanted it to be. Thanks to all of our wonderful vendors and Amber, we were able to enjoy every moment of the day without worrying about a thing!

Vibiana Wedding: Miri and Dave

2011-11-21T11:49:00.000-08:00

When I first spoke with Miri she told me that she wanted her 225 person Kosher Jewish wedding to fiance David to be elegant, classy, and traditional. Their faith was very important to them and they would be bringing in some of the more traditional Jewish elements into the day such as a Tisch and a Bedekken. David's father is a Rabbi with a congregation in Seattle and he performed a gorgeous and heartfelt ceremony. The photographer who photographed her Bat Mitzvah, Asgier Bollason, of Asgier Fotographica captured the wedding. I love when things come full circle!

Miri & David live in Washington, D.C. and we had such a good time planning their wedding together. The wedding day turned out as classy and elegant as both Miri and David are.

The Team that made the Magic

Planning - Amber Events
Venue - Vibiana
Photography - Asgeir Fotographica
Videography - Skyline Videography
Music - DeBois Entertainment
Floral - Peony and Plum
Catering - Pat's Catering
Rentals - Town & Country Event Rentals
Lighting - Aspect Lighting
Bridal Beauty - Susie Chhour

And end of the season update from Amber

2011-11-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

WHEW!!!!! The 2011 wedding season for Amber Events is officially over! Last Friday marked the 20th wedding that my team and I did this year and I am humbled and honored to have been a part of so many amazing couples lives. The photos below are from my "Amber In Action" photo file that I collect and post on my Facebook page. They sum up the fun that is had! What they don't show are the hundreds of hours of work that go into each wedding, but it's all about the pretty pictures, right?!

DJing at Colleen & Roger's Wedding with DJ Nahchey. Photo by CallawayGable

Checking the "timeline" at Nicole's Bat Mitzvah. Photo by Leslie Barton

Checking something important with Elayne of Auntie Em's Kitchen at Mason & Jay's wedding. Photo by Douglas Hill

With one of my assistants, Michelle at Mason & Jay's wedding. Photo by Douglass Hill

Bustling Miri's wedding dress. Photo by Asgier Fotographica

Dessert time at Cynthia & Terry's wedding. Photo by Holly of Cakes & Kisses

Working on flowers with Kelly & Nick. Photo by florist Inna Savluk of Butterfly Floral

Michelle & Ben! Photo by Llanes Weddings. Side note, Michelle wrote the sweetest blog about her vendors here. Check it out!

Sending parents down the aisle at A&D's wedding. Photo by my wonderful Nira DeLuna

Allison & Danny getting kissy at their rehearsal. Photo by Allison's mom Julie

Running Christine & Cyrus' wedding rehearsal. Photo by one of the bridesmaids.

Saying something profound, I'm sure. Photo by Natalie Moser Photography

Terrifying Dana, the 2nd photographer, as he was doing detail shots. Photo by Asgeir Fotographica

Making things pretty at Jenny & Jake's wedding. Photo by Justine Ungaro

I was a "friendor" for my last wedding of the year. Anita and Mark are friends of mine and after dinner ended and the heavy work was done, I turned it over to Nira, changed out of my suit and proceeded to tear the dancefloor up! FYI: yes, "US Weekly" did teach me my perfect Hollywood pose. Photo by CallawayGable.

Now it's on to booking and planning next year's weddings! Oh yeah, and in the interim are the holidays and my yearly vacation. 2011 was India, 2012 is Peru!

Pretty Pictures: Ice Cool

2011-11-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles is home to many unique hotels, but nothing can surmount the odd factor of the Ice Hotel.
The Ice Hotel is in the village of Jukkasjärvi, Sweeden. Canbayram was able to photograph this impactful image of one of the rooms. The hotel is actually rebuilt every year due to forces of nature and it's natural ability to melt. However that hasn't stopped business as they are in their 22nd year! Unbelievable how the Ice Hotel began as a small igloo and how it has been able to expand to over 18,000 feet!

The concept came about when a group of tourists raved about their experience in a cylindrical igloo to a local entrepreneur. This entrepreneur monetized on the idea and worked with engineers, architects, and artists. They situated the hotel near the Torne River allowing them to gather water that can create the clearest looking ice: one of their trademarks.

The rooms in the Ice Hotel average a comfortable 23 degree Farenheit and brings world travelers from all walks of life. Most like to plan their trip to see the Northern Lights. A couple reviewers on Trip Advisor wrote:

"Don't bring your luggage into your room. It will literally freeze. Pay for a heated locker block"

"We made the mistake of choosing a double sleeping bag in the ice room. This may sound romantic but each time one of us moved it let cold air in and you can't pull the drawstring tight round two heads and still sleep. We would advise choosing two single sleeping bags"

Thank you folks. Advice noted as I add Ice Hotel to my list of future vacation destinations.

Post Wedding Survey: Jenny and Jake

2011-10-24T13:41:00.000-07:00

Jenny was kind enough to take the time to fill out my post wedding survey and write for my blog readers. Enjoy!

What was the best part of your wedding day?

When Jake and I met under the Chuppah and we allowed the moment to set in

What do you feel was totally unnecessary?

Nothing!

What would you change, if anything?

Nothing!

What was unexpected that you loved?

The ceremony itself and my families’ reaction to the song Jake and I danced our first dance to. Some of the best moments of our lives. We’ll never forget it.

What are your fondest memories of your wedding day?

Waking up in the morning because I was too excited to sleep

Getting ready with the girls and our Moms

Putting on my wedding dress

Seeing Jake for the first look

Posing for photos with Jake

The Katubah signing

Meeting Jake’s eyes under the Chupah

Rabbi Wolpe and his incredible words

Jake and I kissing as Husband and Wife under the Chupah

Hiding out for cocktail hour and just being with my husband

Our first dance, our first dance, our first dance!

Seeing some of the most special people in our lives, some for the first time in a long time, and feeling the love in the room

Dancing with Jake, dancing with family and friends, the dancing was the best

Is there anything you wish you had spent more time or money on?

Nope!

Is there anything you wish you had spent less time or money on?

The Welcome bags

Were there any unexpected surprises or issues?

Everything was an unexpected surprise and it was so beautiful as a result. There was elation around every corner and the anticipation for each new step allowed us to enjoy every single second of the day.

What's your number #1 tip for future engaged couples?

Try not to have too many hard and fast expectations. That way you can just experience the wedding instead of spending the evening marking off an internal checklist.

How did you feel after the wedding?

Walking on air mixed with total bliss. : ) It sounds ridiculous and I’m pretty embarrassed as I write it, but it’s so true. Jake and I both just felt amazing after our wedding was over because we realized that there was no possible way it could have gone better.

Beverly Hills home wedding

2011-10-19T07:00:00.001-07:00

Because they're private people, I've been asked not to share any photos of Jenny and Jake, their guests or their families, but I'm excited to share the details of this beautiful wedding set at a home in Beverly Hills this summer. This wedding was a first for me in that the bride Jenny left all planning up to the groom's mother and I! Talk about trust!

The wedding and reception were held in the backyard of the Spanish style home and we knew going into the planning that the swimming pool would have to be covered to be able to fit anything back there. When you cover a pool you pretty much have two choices: either you use Plexiglass or wood. If Plexiglass, you have a contemporary, modern feeling--exactly the opposite of what we wanted to convey. If you use wood, most people then cover it with AstroTurf or carpet then lay down a dance floor on top. Due to the design of the home and the direction we were going with decor, I didn't like either options, so I came up with the idea of painting a Mexican tile design on the pool covering to make it a bold focal point and a part of the beauty of the day. A muralist was hired to paint the floor a robin's egg blue then freehand the tile design on top. It was gorgeous!

Tables were staged and hidden behind hedging and the space was flipped as guests enjoyed cocktail hour inside to a live jazz trio playing music on the home's grand piano.

The buffet, by Auntie Em's Kitchen Catering, is in my opinion what buffets should look like. The food tasted as delicious as it looked!

Every detail of the wedding from the painted "tile" floor to the candle lit stars hung overhead invoked the feeling of a chic Californian fiesta. It was gorgeous!

The team that made the magic:

Planning & Design - Amber Events (special thanks to my team Nira, Kaylin, and Michelle!)

Venue - private residence in Beverly Hills

Photography - Justine Ungaro

Floral - Holly Flora

Catering - Auntie Em's Kitchen

Officiant - Rabbi Wolpe

Ceremony Music - Strings by Reiko

Cocktail hour music - DeBois Entertainment

Reception music - Dash Entertainment

Rentals - Town and Country Event Rentals

Cake - Rosebud Cakes

Chuppah - Happy Chuppah

Lighting - The Lighter Side

Sneak Peek: Roger and Colleen at Vibiana

2011-10-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Colleen and Roger got married in June and they are just the sweetest couple! Enjoy this short video montage made by Skyline Videography. Photos to come shortly!

Colleen & Roger @ Vibiana from Skyline Videography on Vimeo.

Pretty Pictures- Typewriter

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

I know Pearl Harbor wasn't the best of movies, but I am a sap for the aesthetics of that time period: the clothes, architecture, furniture, and classic look of their everyday items. This photo by Carmen Moreno captured the exact essence I'm talking about.

Let's start with the shoes. Need I say more? The Mary Jane Oxford look is so timeless and classy. I need to find and add them to my own collection. The suit case on the floor, or perhaps the case for that typewriter is just as awesome. Actually pieces like this are great to add to a wedding. Guests can drop their cards in them!

Oh and the typewriter! Well we used one even older than the one pictured for Summer and Julian's wedding (which, writer Julian used as a child). It was a great accent piece. I loved seeing guests typing messages out to the bride and groom.

In the age of apple upgrades, seeing a vintage type writer actually type is a breath of fresh air.

Witness Protection can't even pronounce our name correctly

2011-10-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry, y'all, there IS an Eric Gustafson (say it with me now: "gus-taf-son") cause I'm married to him. Only he's a lot better looking than this fella:

Rancho del Cielo wedding: sneak peek (Michelle & Ben)

2011-10-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Something about Rancho del Cielo this year has brought the videographers with their A Game and I'm loving it! About a month I go I posted Chia-Ming and Patrick's video highlight that was also a same day edit, and today I'm excited to post Ben and Michelle's wedding sneak peek. I love this video. There is something about the combination of a wonderful couple madly in love, Florence and the Machine, and the stop motion that just kills me. Shot and produced by Alan Larsen Films! Enjoy! I can't wait to share the photos from this one!

Ben & Michelle // Highlights from Alan Larsen on Vimeo.

Pretty Pictures- Looking for Someone

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

This photo by Liz Ham reflects so many things I love: elegant clothes, a beautiful girl, a natural peaceful setting, and a sense of mystery.

I love how her hair looks as if it were effortlessly put together. The braid with loose strands coming down is a subtle imperfection that looks so gorgeous! I love how the dress remains conservative, covering her in the right places yet still oozes a certain sex appeal.

This photo's setting is ideal. It's as if this girl is away from it all. You know what I mean, right? The crazy work hours, the hustle and bustle of city life, the sleepless nights. It's as if her biggest concern is looking for something?... or someone.

Is it a special gentleman that will sweep her off her feet? Is is her child running around picking dandelions?

That's why I love photographs! They tell a story and it's completely left to our imagination to say what that may be. For those with less vision, it can simply be an ad for Ralph Lauren in a magazine. To another: a novel that never ends.

That's the beauty of it all.

Miri & David's Wedding: Team Member POV

2011-10-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Q. How did you learn about Interning or Assisting for Amber Events?

A. I am currently a student at Cal Poly Pomona in Pomona, California and I am a undergraduate student studying Hospitality and Tourism Management at The Collins College of Hospitality Management. I learned about Amber Events through the club I am in and Amber had contacted our club to find a few interns to help out with some of the weddings she had coming up.

Q. Tell us about yourself and how it relates to the wedding industry.

A. I am a very driven, organized, passionate, creative, fun-loving individual. I feel my best when everything is in the place it is suppose to be. Organization is very important to me and I think that if you are going to be in this industry that you should have a good understanding of how to be organized because there are so many elements that in order for you to keep some of your sanity in the process of planning a wedding you need to be organized. I believe that my passion and creativity give me a great upper hand in this industry because I feel I would do anything and everything I could to make an event special and that I could come up with some really great ideas.

Q. What tasks did you complete for this wedding?

A. Some of the tasks that I completed for this wedding was helping the bride with her dress, setting up for the ceremony and then the reception while the guests enjoyed the cocktail hour outside in the courtyard, checking that the floor plan and tables were set correctly, as well as assisting the vendors.

Q. What surprised you?

A. Getting to see and hear the reading of the Torah was a really cool surprise. It was a very traditional Jewish wedding which was interesting to see because it is a different religion than my own.

Q. What is your favorite part of this wedding?

A. My favorite part of the wedding was seeing some of the traditions practiced at Jewish weddings, seeing everyone on the dance floor participating in the Hora was a really great.

Q. What shoes did you wear?

A. Black flats

Q. The uniform for the Amber Events staff is a black button down shirt and slacks. What did you do to Jazz up your look?

A. I always try to have my hair done a different way at every event and I like to put different hair clips and accessories in my hair. Next time I think I might switch up my jewelry.

Q. What is your favorite wedding scene from a movie?

A. The Wedding Planner is my favorite wedding movie!

Q. Do you have any words for anyone wanting to join the wedding industry?

A. The wedding industry is a great industry to get into because there is so much to do and so much room for creativity. I personally love design and being creative and I feel that this industry gives me everything I am looking for in a career and it will allow me to grow and learn so much!

Final Comments:

I absolutely love working with Amber and her team, it has been a great experience for me and I believe we work very well together which is a great feeling.

Cicada Wedding sneak peek

2011-10-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

I am so loving the video "trailers" that videographers are putting together these days! Below is a sneak peek of Summer & Julian's wedding that was put together by videographer Isabel Gonzalez. Just wait until you see the photos from this one!

summer + julian | trailer from Isabel Gonzalez on Vimeo.

how to become a wedding planner

2011-09-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

I remember back when I decided to be a wedding planner in 2006. I remember being so excited that someday I would get to go to a conference and feel all official and whatnot. In 2007 I attended the annual Association of Bridal Consultants annual conference in San Diego and I LOVED it. I felt like I was becoming a true professional surrounded by my peers. I also remember thinking back then "someday I want to be knowledgeable enough to speak at one of these bad boys". I also shut the parties at the conference down every night. I have a tendency to do that.

I am so excited to share that next September, 6 years after that decision of what I was going to be, I will be speaking at an incredible, educational, and fabulous event for aspiring wedding planners! I am beyond honored that my friend and colleague, Tami Brown, of Fabulously Wed asked me to share what I know about logistics with those-who-are-about-to-tread-down-this-somewhat-treacherous-path. For those of you who have not started planning weddings yet: logistics is not the sexy part. This is beverage event orders, circuits and volts, load in, fire permits, and timelines, timelines, timelines. Ow! Ow! My husband suggested I somehow incorporate booze to liven up my 9:00 AM session. I think he's on to something there.

So, do you want to be a wedding planner? Register for Backstage Bridal, take my sexy, sexy session on logistics, and then dance with me as we shut the parties down. I have a tendency (nay, a reputation to uphold) to do that.

Snooze City

2011-09-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

Wow. So I've been reading back over my blogs for the past few months and I look like a proper Emily Post. No sass as far as the eye can see. How boring of me. I would attribute it to the fact that I never drink and blog anymore** (unlike 2010: "the year of the wine blogs"), but that would make me look like I have a problem. I don't--I just prefer to snuggle on the couch with my husband and watch trash TV when I enjoy my glass of wine.

Everything for the past few months here has been professional and non personal. Maybe it's because I'm currently in a stretch of 9 weddings in a row???? ~~Possibly. Probably~~. Yes. But I'll take this time to share what's been going on in my world:

My husband and I did get away to camp for 4 days back in July and it was everything I hoped it would be. Then we went away for another weekend to Twentynine Palms with my sister and her husband and I spent my days hiding in our room (shade! solitude!) reading "The Hunger Games". Do I regret being anti-social? No. Have you read that book???
In August I read "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" series. And I hated it. And continued to read through a series I hated. I'll stay in a book because I think it will somehow redeem itself.
I slept. As much as I can but it's still not enough.
I started Spanish classes and am currently hating and loving it at the same time. Ser & Estar, you are to me what squirrels are to my dog Rita.
My husband and I went to Hurricane Harbor at 6 Flags one hot summer day and I got stuck in an enclosed black waterslide named, no joke, "The Black Hole". Apparently the t-shirt & shorts I was wearing (to prevent sunburns) was too much friction for proper slip 'n slide action. You know how people say when they die and come back to life but in the interim they were peacefully going towards the fuzzy warm light? Yeah. I had the flipside of that story.
I'm going to dance as a participant in a reality show taping for Mobbed this Thursday with my BFF just because we think it'd be a hoot! And because another one of our girlfriends casts it and always invites us.
The husband and I are hiking Machu Picchu in January then spending some time backpacking around Peru & Bolivia. Can't wait!
I had to look at my calendar to see what I've been doing lately because I've been so deep in the belly of wedding season.

**except for right now. My husband isn't home to snuggle with.

Post Wedding Survey: Mason & Jay

2011-09-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

Mason and Jay (aka "my boys") took time out of their busy lives to fill out my post wedding survey. Enjoy!

Q. Who made your suits?

A. We worked with stylist Vincent Castellanos at Sy Devore in Studio City. The suits themselves were made in Italy.

Q. What was the best part of the day?

A. The best part of the day was being surrounded by our families and closest friends in a beautiful setting, and knowing that everyone could feel the love that we felt for them and each other.

Q. What was unexpected that you loved?

A. We both thought it might be hard to relax and not worry about details on the day of the wedding; and we were delighted to discover that the whole day was amazingly relaxing, and we were able to fully enjoy our wedding.

Q. What are your fondest memories?

A. We both really loved the moment when we lined up with our wedding participants in order to walk in together. We both loved the moment when Mason surprised Jay with his ukelele performance of “Longing to Belong.” And we loved the meal (even if we didn’t get to fully focus on it ourselves).

Q. Is there anything you wish you had spent more time or money on?

No.

Q. Is there anything you wish you had spent less time or money on?

No.

Q. What would you change, if anything?

The only thing I would change—and it’s not possible to do so—is I wish I could make the whole day go slower so I could soak it all in even more than I did.

Q. Were there any unexpected surprises or issues?

No. Thanks to Amber's incredible organizational skills, we truly felt like everything unfolded exactly as we hoped. The entire day was completely stress-free and there wasn’t one single time when we wished some detail or another had been handled differently.

Q. What's your number #1 tip for future engaged couples?

A. Hire Amber!! And follow her instructions, step by step; because the more work you do in advance of the wedding (not just days, but weeks and months ahead of time), the more you will be able to relax and enjoy your wedding day.

Thank you guys for your kind words! It was an honor being a part of your wonderful day! xo, Amber

Ojai Wedding: Mason and Jay

2011-09-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

Before I gush about Mason & Jay's wedding, check it out on the today's post on Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book BLOG!

Mason & Jay hired me just under four months before their wedding and right before I left the country for a three week vacation to India. When they contacted me they told me they had two things lined up so far: the date of May 7 and their friends' home on an organic tomato farm in the upper Ojai Valley as their venue. They told me that at one point they had considered holding off on their celebration until gay marriage was legalized in California, but then decided against that as they felt it put too much weight on a piece of paper and not enough on the vows that they were going to promise to each other.

Mason, Jay, and I hit the ground running with the plans for their wedding. They are extremely pragmatic guys who check things off the to do list as fast as it's created. The two things they kept stressing to me during our planning was that they wanted their wedding to be extremely comfortable for their guests and they wanted to have amazing food. The logistics of the property we a bit challenging at first, but the home owners, Sam and Scott, were so wonderful and accommodating that they even did some major landscaping on the property including changing a weed covered driveway into the gorgeous ceremony site!

The wedding day arrived slightly chilly and foggy, but with heat lamps the guests were kept comfortable. The ceremony was incredibly unique as Mason & Jay had asked a number of their friends to assist in officiating the ceremony. In fact, we were one officiant short as their good friend Mala, a midwife, was not able to attend the wedding because one of her clients went in to labor that day! Some of the highlights of the ceremony were the three married couples (both gay and straight) that got up to speak about what marriage means to them. One couple had only been married for one year, one couple married for 7, and the last couple married for 50. Everyone was in tears but those soon turned to laughter when Mason & Jay's French Bulldog puppy Henri was walked down the aisle with the rings a few moments later!

Cocktail hour was held overlooking another part of the valley next to some of the pretty chickens who seems quite pleased with the day.

The reception was kicked off by Mason & Jay welcoming their guests and then Mason surprising Jay by playing the ukulele and singing "Longing to Belonging" by Eddie Vedder. The organic dinner of Salmon, Filet Mignon, vegetarian lasagna and vegetables was served family style at long feasting tables underneath strands of Italian Bistro Lights. At one point Jay had to get up and let the guests know that there was indeed more food coming out so make sure room was saved! The dessert buffet later on became cause for a brief dance break from the rocking dance floor.

The entire day was gorgeous. Gorgeous, flawless, comfortable, and classy. There was so much love in the air that it seemed like it was almost visible. Their family and friends were so happy to celebrate their union. Mason and Jay told me that the day was more than they hoped it could be and they wouldn't change a thing.

The Team that made it happen

Planning & Design: Amber Events

Caterers: Auntie Em’s Catering

Photography: Keith Nelson Photography & Douglas Hill Photography

Floral: Holly Flora

Rentals: Town & Country

DJ: Quinn Callicot

Lighting: Aspect Lighting

Groom’s Stylist: Vincent Castellanos at Sy Devore, suits made in Italy /

Venue: Friend of the couple’s Tomato Farm

Amber Events in Town and Country Magazine

2011-09-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Roger & Colleen were mentioned in fall issue of Town and Country Magazine! They got married in June at the insanely beautiful Vibiana!

More photos coming soon, but here's a teaser to wet your appetite! Photography by the talented team of Callaway Gable.

Summer & Julian's Wedding: Team Member POV

2011-09-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

I met Mahogany last year at Angela & Ashvind's Wedding and haven't seen her until just recently at Summer and Julian's wedding! It's always refreshing to see a familiar face after so long, and with that name, how could I ever forget her! She gave me the update on her brave decision to quit her full time job to focus on becoming a wedding planner!

Great job Mahogany! I admire your determination. I wish you the best in all you do. It was a pleasure having you at Summer and Julian's wedding September 3rd, 2011! {Nira}

Q. How did you learn about Interning or Assisting for Amber Events?

A. Amber was a client for my previous job--she purchases her liability insurance though them. One of my co- workers recommended that I reach out to her while I was still attending school.

Q. Tell us about yourself and how it relates to the wedding industry.

A. Every since I was a young girl I have always enjoyed planning parties for family and friends. I have always had an eye for great things, whether it be fashion, antique items, shoes or even furniture! Being a planner is a dream of mine. I recently quit my full-time job to focus on becoming a wedding planner. I know this is my destiny. It’s my passion and it’s what motivates me. There is nothing better in life than to be able to chase your dream!!!

Q. What tasks did you complete for this wedding?

A. I assisted the bridal party when they arrived to venue, decorated the hotel suite for bride & groom, cleaned up venue, loaded cars with items, and helped with treasure chest.

Q. What surprised you?

A. The live band!

Q. What is your favorite part of this wedding?

A. My favorite part was the ceremony. I loved the décor the old Hollywood glam theme

Q. What shoes did you wear?

A. Black Ballerina flats

Q. The uniform for the Amber Events staff is a black button down shirt and slacks. What did you do to Jazz up your look?

A. I jazz my look up by utilizing fun accessories.. Black rhinestone earrings with lots of bangles!!! A girl can never have enough dazzle!!!

Q. What is your favorite wedding scene from a movie?

A. Tyler Perry- Family Reunion: That wedding was amazing and the vows were even better!!!!

Q. Do you have any words for anyone wanting to join the wedding industry?

A. My advice would be, if it’s your passion and something you love doing go out and reach for your goals! The competition in the wedding field is challenging but I believe there is enough room for all of us!! “Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” William Jennings Bryan.

Final Comments:

Amber is such a rock star and I mean it literally!! She is always a pleasure to work with and I am so blessed and grateful that I had the opportunity to work with her again. Nira is also incredible and she is someone I can look up to and also learn from. Both ladies rock!!!

Rancho del Cielo wedding: sneak peek!

2011-09-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, as in 3 days ago, Chia-Ming & Patrick got married at the spectacular Rancho del Cielo in Malibu. Their videographer, Vu Thai of Ponderosa Films surprised them with a same day edit during their reception! I've been a part of a lot of fun surprises lately and I love it. Enjoy!

Chia-Ming + Patrick | Same Day Edit | Gone Fishing! from Ponderosa Productions on Vimeo.

Pretty Pictures- Childlike Discovery

2011-09-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Exploring the world as an adult can be challenging and scary. Making decisions to go here and there and to do this and that can lay heavy on an adult because we are responsible for everything we do.

However as a child, we could just go for it! Getting dirty with finger paints, catching fire flies, ice cream stains on white dresses, and the ability to explore crevices of this earth without fear.

This is why this photograph by George Malets struck a chord with me. I remember being that kid with no thought of consequence and a sincere curiosity for the world.

I was lucky to have a friend, Dana, come along on my many adventures. Exploring the woods and climbing across logs that fell over creeks. We would find withered piping, like in this photo, and dare one another to look inside. Our imagination was so vivid then!

However, I still must count my blessings, because as an adult, I am in an industry where I can continue to be creative and always think outside the box.

I am extremely grateful for not being limited to a cubicle, and this photo is a pretty reminder of why that is so important to me.

Post Wedding Survey: Cali & Mike

2011-09-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

photo by Picotte Weddings

Cali & Mike took a few moments to fill out my post wedding survey. I so love reading these and hearing about the day from their perspectives! Congratulations, Cali & Mike! I was a pleasure working with you both and I wish you a lifetime of happiness!

What was the best part of your wedding day?

Mike: Cali

Cali: Seeing the way mike looked at me when he saw me for the first time.

What would you change, if anything?

NOTHING

What was unexpected that you loved?
The exact way our tables were going to look and how it all came together

What are your fondest memories of your wedding day?
Taking a step back from our wedding and looked at all of our friends and family having a blast. Also dancing with my dad.

Is there anything you wish you had spent more time or money on?
No

Is there anything you wish you had spent less time or money on?
Worrying about the weather! Seems so silly now.

Additionally the shuttle service was a little high and limiting b.c we could only use one company going up and down the mountain

What's your number #1 tip for future engaged couples?

Secretly save more than you budget for initially, b/c the little things sneak up! Also you won’t enjoy every minute of planning, but try to keep the big picture of why you are planning it in the first place. Marrying the person you love most in the world in front of the people you care about dearly

How did you feel after the wedding?

exhausted and sad it was over. You hear it from everyone but it truly goes by so fast.

Rancho del Cielo wedding: Cali & Mike featured on Style Me Pretty

2011-09-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

Cali & Mike got married in May at the ridiculously gorgeous Rancho del Cielo in Malibu and their wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty! I think there was magic fairy dust all over their wedding because it could not have been a more perfect day that photographed so incredibly. You must click here to read all about it and see more of the photos!

Some of my favorite photos from the incredibly talented Suthi Picotte of Picotte Weddings

The Team that made the magic

Event Design + Planning: Amber Events (special thanks to my team Nira, Michelle, Lindsay + April!)
Wedding Photography + Cinematography: Picotte Weddings
Floral Design: Holly Flora
Ceremony + Reception Location: Malibu Rancho del Cielo
Caterer: Truly Yours Catering
Linens: La Tavola Linens
Ceremony Music: Ceremony Tunes /
Cupcakes: Out of the Oven
Reception Music: Dash Entertainment
Invitations: Sister of the Bride
Bridal Beauty: Susie Chhuor
Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Wedding Dress: Marisa
Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew

Jaci & Nick's Wedding: Team Member POV

2011-08-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

I met Michelle a long time ago at Angela and Ashvind's Wedding. From the start, I could feel her energy and great demeanor. I later learned that evening that Michelle was a friend of Amber's! I could definitely see why! She is smart and able to act quick on her feet. Forward a few months, and I am always still looking to work side by side with Michelle. Thanks Michelle for taking time out of your busy mommy and work life to fill out this post wedding questionnaire. It was great having you for Jaci and Nick's wedding on August 13, 2011! {Nira}

Q. How did you learn about Interning or Assisting for Amber Events?

A. Amber has been a friend of mine for years and one night ( a few years ago) while out dining on Charcuterie with cheese and sipping wine, Amber mentioned an upcoming wedding that was going to be at a larger location and needed help. I simply volunteered.

Q. Tell us about yourself and how it relates to the wedding industry.

A. Well, I love all things crafty and creative. Being involved in weddings allows me to see all my favorite things come together while being outdoors and around people. I’m a Leo and we all love crowds!

Q. What tasks did you complete for this wedding?

A. I was in charge of reception set up. For this wedding that included: Escort Card set up, menu placement, photo booth set up, place card assigned seating at family tables, coordinated with catering to ensure all tables were set appropriately with the correct number of chairs and place settings, table numbers, candles, bathroom accessories set up and maintenance, gift pack up, and finally collecting and packing everything from the treasure chest and placed into a parents car.

Q. What surprised you?

A. Truthfully, every person I had contact with at this wedding was unbelievably gracious, friendly and complimentary. The energy was amazing and that makes for a lovely working experience despite the heat and running around. The Saddlerock property is HUGE! Also, this was my first wedding where I didn’t know the other vendors. Usually working with the same vendors, its easy to take for granted how seamlessly the day comes together when working with a team you know. I had to come at it a little differently - take the time to socialize with the catering manager and staff and let them know I was there to help with it all coming together. In the end everyone worked together beautifully.

Q. What is your favorite part of this wedding?

A. The location and decor by far! So rustic with a fancy twist. Rolling green lawns, willow trees with hanging lights, sofas made of hay, chandeliers, photo booth, vineyards in the background and FARM ANIMALS! Oh, and the fact that one of the house camels gave birth that very same day. Celebrations all around!

Q. What shoes did you wear?

A. Well, that's a funny story :) I had never been to Saddlerock Ranch before so I did not realize the importance of “comfortable” shoes. I normally wear a pair of cute flats or small small wedge-type heels. Really anything you wear by the end of 11 or 12 hours hurt your feet - BUT the distance covered at this location and boxes carried, I really wish I had a pair of “Easy Spirts” five hours in!

Q. The uniform for the Amber Events staff is a black button down shirt and slacks. What did you do to Jazz up your look?

A. Well for this wedding knowing it was mid August in the middle of the Malibu Canyons I knew temperatures could reach high nineties so a few weeks before I had asked Amber if a black sundress and black cardigan would be appropriate. It helped A LOT! (Until night-time when the mosquitoes came out to play)!

Q. What is your favorite wedding scene from a movie?

A. This is a funny question, simply from where I’m at in my life at the moment. I would have to say Cinderella! I have a two and a half year old daughter and we watch the wedding scene from this movie a lot. It is the best part of the movie. Castles, white sparkly gowns, a real horse and carriage, fairy god-mother and prince! What else could you ask for, really? Ask me again in a few years - my answer will probably be different :)

Q. Do you have any words for anyone wanting to join the wedding industry?

A. This is a really fun industry to be a part of. If the words organized, detail-oriented, professionalism, and hard-work are a part of your vocabulary you’ll love it.

Final Comments:

Another great wedding working with a stellar team. I heart Amber Events!

How to have a raging dance party

2011-08-29T10:23:00.000-07:00

So you have a great DJ/Band and that you think is going to make your guests tear up the dancefloor, eh? Not so fast, you need a few other key items in place in order to have a truly insane dance party.

Toasts
Don't have more than a parent and a best man/maid of honor speak. Seriously. And when you ask that person to speak, tell them they have no more than 3 minutes. Nothing kills a party like like three 8 minute speeches in a row. Don't you know that's what the rehearsal dinner is for? Oh, and have said people speak before dinner so after dinner is saved for boogieing .

Lighting
If you read my blog, you know how important I believe lighting is (more important than flowers, sorry, florists!) and I think that any good reception has two lighting levels: " romanticaldinnertime" and "sexydanceytime". Sexydanceytime usually involves me crawling around the room unplugging the uplights if I don't have a standby guy on hand, but it's worth it. People like to get their freak on in dim lighting.

Location
Make sure your band/DJ is right on the dance floor with nothing (like tables) to come between their love. They and the dancers feed off each others energy like rock stars and groupies. Also make sure your bar is in the same room. The closer to the dance floor, the better. And if dancing is really your thing don't dilute your reception with other activities such as photo booths. If you want your guests to be slaves to the beat you have to keep them captive.

Nix the band OR do a band/DJ combo
Bands have to take breaks every 45 minutes. Nuff said.

and last but not least

Cake. That damn cake.
This is my most hated time of the evening: it's 10:15 PM and the dance floor is rocking. There are 1.75 hours left of this party. The photographer has to end at 10:30 or overtime will ensue. I tell the MC that we'll be cutting the cake after the next song and the announcement is made. Dance floor fizzles out and never returns to its original glory. My advice? Cut the cake right after dinner or sneak away with your parents & photographers to cut it then get back to the floor to shake what your momma gave ya.

Proof that the above works? Feast your eyes on the party that was Andie & Doug's wedding reception. They got married one year ago today, actually! Happy anniversary, lovebirds! xo

photos by the talented Studio Castillero

Saucily,

Pretty Pictures- Pink Soda

2011-08-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

This photo here is quite elementary and to the point. No special gimmicks, lighting, or photo shop. This is a pink can of Coca Cola with a matching pale bruised flower sitting on top of it. Still, it's so fascinating to me, just for the simple fact, that it is pink.

I don't normally have such a fixation on the color, though you might think otherwise with my chosen pretty pictures logo.

Coca Cola is the most recognized brand in the United States, and perhaps even the whole world! To normally associate the brand with the classic red can or bottle with red label is natural to us.

Seeing a different color is just so special! It's almost discriminatory, but in a good way.

This drink, is for the ladies.

Source: Tumbledye

Kelly & Nick's Wedding: Team Member POV

2011-08-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

Amber Events Team Member

Post Wedding Questionnaire

I first met Keithlyn directly on site for Kelly and Nick's wedding. Though she had experience assisting corporate events, this was her first time working a wedding! Keithlyn was focused and determined and helped make the night run smoothly. Thank you Keithlyn for taking time out of your busy world of school and life to fill this out. It was a pleasure working with you on Kelly and Nick's wedding on August 6th, 2011. {Nira}

Q. How did you learn about Interning or Assisting for Amber Events?

A. The opportunity came to me through a club that I am involved in at Cal Poly Pomona. The club is Association of Student Event Planners (ASEP) and we are occasionally given opportunities to work on different events to gain experience in the industry.

Q. Tell us about yourself and how it relates to the wedding industry.

A. I like to think of myself as a creative person. I like to plan and I love to see how you can take a raw idea and turn it into something beautiful and amazing that people can enjoy and remember for years to come. Also, I love love, and weddings are the perfect display of two people sharing the love they have for one another with their friends and family.

Q. What tasks did you complete for this wedding?

A. I helped put linens on the cocktail tables, I arranged place cards that the bride made onto an iron gate, I made sure the tables in the reception area had the proper amount of place settings, I set up the kids table, I lit candles, and I directed guests to where the needed to go. It was fun!

Q. What surprised you?

A. I was surprised by how smooth everything went. This is the first wedding that I have worked and I was expecting it to be more hectic, but Amber had all the details covered and it turned out wonderfully.

Q. What is your favorite part of this wedding?

A. My favorite part of this wedding was after everybody entered the reception area and they sat down to enjoy the evening. Not only did it look beautiful, but you could tell everyone was enjoying themselves while celebrating Kelly & Nick’s marriage.

Q. What shoes did you wear?

A. I wore black Pumas. They are the shoes I normally wear to work and I knew they would be comfy to work in.

Q. The uniform for the Amber Events staff is a black button down shirt and slacks. What did you do to Jazz up your look?

A. Not too much. I wore a subtle necklace and a feather in my hair.

Q. What is your favorite wedding scene from a movie?

A. Hmmm…I like a lot of wedding scenes. One of my favorite movies is The Young Victoria. I love how in a time where many were forced into arranged marriages, she stood her ground and married the man she fell in love with.

Q. Do you have any words for anyone wanting to join the wedding industry?

A. It’s a lot of work. There are tons of details that you don’t realize until you actually work a wedding. However, if you are up for the challenge they are also very rewarding. It’s satisfying to accomplish a task that you know has a lot of significance to many people.

Final Comments:

I got a taste of what working a wedding is like and I want more! I had fun working with Amber and Nira, and I would definitely work with them again if they needed me too. I learned a lot from just this one wedding and I am eager to be a part of many more in order to expand my knowledge and experience in the industry.

The Weight of Weddings

2011-08-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

This Sunday will be my 70th wedding. You'd think that by now I would be perfect and wouldn't make stupid mistakes, but I did at a wedding a few weeks ago. Correction: you'd think I wouldn't make stupid mistakes that my clients find out about (if only they knew what I quickly corrected!). I'd say about 98% of mistakes I'm able to catch before they become apparent and mess things up, but sometimes I can't. And the weight of that mistake, (while in actuality was small to my clients, thank God) made me cry on the way home from said wedding and woke me up the next morning with that guilty feeling of "I did something bad". Oh, and don't even get me started on clients who were over the moon happy on their wedding day then after "reflection" send a nasty text or email about the things they disliked. That's another blog/therapy session.

When it boils down to it, as a wedding planner, I'm the couple's insurance policy against anything going wrong. And an insurance policy is, by definition, risky. With every wedding I do I become more seasoned about what can go wrong, how to deal with what is about to go wrong, and how to avoid it going wrong. I also learn more about human nature and mob mentality and can tell you with absolute certainty and if your guests want you to go up in chairs for the hora and the wedding planner stops them because she knows that you don't want to, then there is going to be a riot on the dance floor. And not the good kind either.

However, the weight of weddings is the yin to the yang of the joy there is in being such an instrumental part in the celebration of a new family. The emails, calls, letters, gifts, and reviews that happy clients send my way ease the weight and help me keep on keepin' on.

Riskily,

Union Station Wedding Reception: Christine & Cyrus

2011-08-16T07:45:00.000-07:00

Christine and Cyrus contacted me eight months before their June wedding. They were planning long distance as Christine was in grad school in New York and Cyrus was in the Bay Area about to move out to NYC to start a new job. They fell in love with Union Station to hold their reception in as they spent so much of their relationship long distance that they felt that a train station would be the perfect place to celebrate their new marriage.

Their faith is a huge part of their lives, they held the ceremony at the gorgeous Wilshire United Methodist Church and officiated by their pastor. Many of their friends participated in the ceremony by playing the worship music that was printed in the programs.

The reception format was unique in that we intentionally set it up without a dancefloor--the lounge in the middle of the room was set with board games, karaoke, and a photobooth. It was a total hit! Christine's brother Stephan MC'd the evening and the guests had a great time celebrating the new union. It was a wonderful evening!

Congratulations, Christine & Cyrus! May you have a long and happy marriage!

The Team that made it happen:

Planning & Coordination: Amber Events (with special thanks to my assistants Nira & Rozie!)

Photography: Next Exit Photography

Ceremony Venue: Wilshire United Methodist Church

Officiant: Pastor Alex Van Riesen

Reception Venue: Los Angeles Union Station

Floral: Butterfly Floral & Event Design

Catering & Rentals: Event Professionals

Bridal Beauty: Kelly Zhang Makeup & Hair

Photobooth: Memory Box Photobooth

Sound System & Karaoke: BTS Sound

How much does it cost to alter a wedding dress?

2011-08-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

With summer weddings in full swing and fall brides in the alteration stage of their gowns, many are getting sticker shock with the cost of how alterations are going to be. Most of the time, this sometimes enormous sum was not factored into the budget, because when the salesperson was ordering the gown she was more than likely pretty vague about what it would cost. She was probably vague because she's not the seamstress standing in front of you in the actual dress, estimating the labor hours it is going to take to make it fit flawlessly. She's just selling you a dress.

Salons place the gown orders with the manufacture based on the largest part of your body (for instance, my hips are much larger than my chest) and some salons probably even add on a size or two to make the alterations substantially costly. If a gown comes in too small and the seamstress cannot let it out enough, the salon has to eat the cost of it and they'd rather not do that.

So your gown comes in and it's two sizes too big and 8" too long. This is not a cheap and easy fix, no matter where you take it. Wedding gowns, because of the delicate fabric, lace, beading, and elaborate details are EXTREMELY difficult to alter. You can't just hem a wedding gown like your dry cleaner hems your slacks for $15.00. Most of the time the skirt has to come off at the waist so that the detailing at the bottom is not lost. Only the most experienced tailors & seamstresses (think 20+ yrs of experience) will even touch a wedding gown. Many seamstresses who work for themselves won't take on the liability of a wedding gown because if she ruins it, she probably doesn't have the thousands of dollars to replace it. If the salon's seamstress ruins your gown, the salon has to pay for a replacement.

I always recommend sticking with your salon for the reasons I just mentioned, but if you do decide to take your gown to a tailor/seamstress that is not affiliated with your bridal salon, make sure you get some solid recommendations and ask to see photos of their work. Be very careful and make sure that you aren't just shopping for the cheapest price.

My advice: set aside some money for alterations so you're not frantically scrambling right before your wedding.

Lacily,

Pretty Pictures-Romantic White Crocheted Lace

2011-08-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

When I came across this series of enchanting photos, it automatically brought me back to Amber's recent inspiration shoot that was featured on Style Me Pretty.

Even this model resembles the other!

The beauty of this model, Tuva Heger was captured by Norwegian photographer, Anette S.

I am in love with the monochromatic theme, as it brings me back to Viennese society of the late 1700's.

This has such a romantic feminine look to it! I wish we could still incorporate this style into our every day modern living. I love the fragrant gardenias and white roses in her hair. Her dainty parasol tops off this elegant look.

Now I feel like watching Marie Antoinette!

Jenny & Jake's Wedding: Team Member POV

2011-08-10T07:00:00.001-07:00

Amber Events Team Member

Post Wedding Questionnaire

I first met Kaylin in Amber's office a couple day's before Jenny and Jake's wedding. She was there to put her creative skills to the test as we prepped some of their decor: lacy and festive luminaries! This was Kaylin's first wedding with Amber Events.Thank you Kaylin for taking time out of your school schedule to fill this out. It was a pleasure working with you on Jenny & Jake's wedding on July 31st, 2011.

Q. How did you learn about Interning or Assisting for Amber Events?

A. I am a student at Cal Poly Pomona, majoring in Hospitality Management, and one of the clubs I belong to, the Association of Student Event Planners, had sent out an email that Amber was looking for volunteers for some upcoming weddings and since my goal is to eventually be an event planner, I jumped at the opportunity.

Q. Tell us about yourself and how it relates to the wedding industry.

A. I am a very organized, task-oriented and creative person and I love working with people. Working in the wedding industry allows me to use those skills and traits to make other people happy and help create events and memories that will hopefully last those people a lifetime.

Q. What tasks did you complete for this wedding?

A. As a part of the Amber Events team I helped make the luminaries that lined the front of the house and the reception area the Monday before the wedding. On the day of the event I was in charge of putting together the programs and placing them on the chairs for the ceremony. I also set up and lit the luminaries, greeted guests upon arrival, set up the name tags and favors for the guests as well as assisted any guest needs and helped Amber with anything else that she needed.

Q. What surprised you?

A. I was surprised by just how quick the team was able to flip the ceremony area for the reception. I thought that it was going to take a lot longer than it did.

Q. What is your favorite part of this wedding?

A. My favorite part of this wedding was seeing the bride and grooms reaction and hearing their comments, seeing how happy they were. I also thought that the centerpieces and food was presented beautifully, and warmed up the overall atmosphere.

Q. The uniform for the Amber Events staff is a black button down shirt and slacks. What did you do to Jazz up your look?

A. I pretty much just stuck to the uniform. My hair however was crazy curly that day because it had rained at my house that morning.

Q. What is your favorite wedding scene from a movie?

A. My favorite wedding scene is probably in Letters to Juliet when the main character Sophie runs off and Charlie comes to find her and he climbs up the balcony to kiss her and he falls of and she runs down to make sure he is ok. It’s a little cheesy but I just love the way he looks at her.

Q. Do you have any words for anyone wanting to join the wedding industry?

A. I think that the wedding industry is a very fun and challenging industry to work in. One where you can use your creativity to take someone’s ideas for their dream wedding and make it into an dream come true that they will be able to look back on for the rest of their lives, but be prepared to work long hours, work with your hands, and always be available to your client whenever they may need you whether it be logistical or emotional.

Final Comments:

This was my first time working with Amber and her team, and I have to say it was an absolute blast. I really enjoyed being able to see all of the different aspects of the wedding come together and to be able to observe Amber and see how you should deal with different people such as caters, florists, pastors/rabbis, the bride and groom and their families, wedding party, and guests. I also loved seeing just how happy the bride and groom were and seeing all of the guests enjoy the evening. I hope to be able to have the opportunity to work with the Amber Events team again some time soon!

When your parents get crazy....

2011-08-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

...and you want to disown them, watch this scene. Chances are they're going through some pretty heavy stuff also.

“Who presents this woman” … this woman …. But she is not a woman she is just a kid and she is leaving us…. I realize to that moment that I was never going to come home again and see Annie at the top of the stairs, never going to see her again in our breakfast table and in her nightgown and socks. I suddenly realize what was happening, Annie was all grownup and leaving us... And something inside began to hurt" ~George Banks

Sympathetically,

Pretty Pictures- A Vibrant Home

2011-08-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

This photo shocked my system, when I first saw it. This had to be photo shopped right?
No, This is actually a place and it actually does look like this at sunset. What a sight to enjoy!
Robert Crum is the photographer of this shot, and next time he travels, I might ask him to come along.

Manarola, Italy is the southernmost town of the Cinque Terre and seems to have such a charming quality to it. If the homes are this vibrant, I imagine the people must be too.
I would love to visit one of their restaurants and talk to the locals.
Better yet, have your wedding here and invite everyone in town.

Note from Amber: my husband and I rented apartment in Manarola in Cinque Terre in 2006 and fell in love with it. It truly is that magical! We spent one entire day hiking 4 of the villages and kayaking to the 5th. A bottle of wine and dinner on our rooftop back in Manarola ended the day.

My New Business Cards...

2011-08-03T07:00:00.001-07:00

...are mullets: business in the front and party in the back. Fierce!

Sparkly,

Home Weddings

2011-08-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

After having a break from them over the past few years, in the past few months, I've done two weddings at homes. Not a private residence that is rented out for events: but the home of the bride or groom's family or a close friend. If rented venues are tough, home weddings are three times harder than a normal wedding. It takes a wedding ninja and a team of martial artist vendors to make it all come together smoothly. To pull off a home wedding properly, not only do all of the normal things (Music! Flowers! Invitation! Decor!) have to be dealt with, but all of the items listed below.

Pre-Prep of the Property
Unlike rented spaces, many homes don't have full time landscapers, painters, electricians, and plumbers to make sure that everything is up to par, so everything has to be checked prior to the wedding. Pianos have to be tuned, ovens have to be serviced, drains have to be snaked, AC units tuned and filters changed. Then you have the organizing around the house has has to be taken care of: furniture that has to be moved out in order to allow 100ish guests in your living room. After all of that above? Then comes the deep cleaning: the window washing, carpet shampooing, molding dusting hell.

Parking

Where are your guests going to park? Do you have to bring in valet? Should they be shuttled from the hotel? Is there a parking lot nearby you can rent? All of these questions have to be asked.

Neighborhood
Where you live determines how late you can party or the cops will be on your doorstep in .02 seconds. If you send your invitations out for 7:00 PM but live in Beverly Hills that has a 10:00 PM sound ordinance you're in for some trouble. Also, if you live in an area like Beverly Hills and put up a tent or a generator, you have to get a permit or risk your party being shut down. And then we have neighbors. If you don't want your neighbors to have the cops show up at 9:00 PM you better give them a goodie basket with a note and some booze. It's recommended to invite them, ESPECIALLY the crazy lady that you can't stand. Every neighborhood has one.

Power
Most of the time homes don't have perfect nightscaping built for entertaining, so if you're having any sort of lighting, you will more than likely need a generator or you risk tripping the circuits when the caterers plug in the coffee pot at 9:30 PM.

Flow
Good flow is key. Where will the guests enter? Where will they go? Where are the bottlenecks going to happen? Are they going to be cool or warm enough? Will there be enough chairs to sit on? Where will the bars be placed? The dance-floor? If the ceremony and reception are happening in the same space, are the tables going to be pre-set and brought out during cocktail hour? If not, you better have a darn comfortable space for guests to hang for over an hour.

Amenities
Can your kitchen handle cooking for 100+ people? Where can the caterers set up their prep & scullery area? Can they use your refrigerator or will a rented one have to come in?
Then there are bathrooms. This is one of the most important aspects that people overlook. People need 1 restroom for every 50 people. This includes staff. If you have 100 guests in your home, you'll have 20 vendors working it. That means you need more than 2 bathrooms or you're going to have problems. And your plumbing had better be GOOD or your problems are going to be even bigger. A bathroom blowout will kill a party faster than anything.

Often overlooked Logistics
Who is going to be cleaning up the house on the day of the wedding? You need one person dedicated to refilling toilet paper in the bathrooms and making sure that there is still soap.

Who is going to deep clean the property once 120 people have trampled the grass, soiled the carpet, and stained the couch? All of the vendors will take out what they brought in, but they're not responsible for deep cleaning your house.

On the day
Unless you want a disaster, your caterers had better specialize in coming into homes and cooking with ovens they aren't used to. And you need a wedding planner who knows all of the above and gets a sick thrill out of the most difficult logistics imaginable in the wedding world.

Enjoy this oh so true to life scene from Steve Martin's "Father of the Bride"

Best line: "oh it's vera nice! Ve change it all though, come let's go..."

Your Wedding Ninja,

Annie & Darin's Wedding: Team Member POV

2011-07-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

Amber Events Team Member

Post Wedding Questionnaire

Rozie took some time from her busy schedule (working for Truly Yours Catering and raising a family) to fill out this post wedding questionnaire.

Thank you Rozie, it was a pleasure working with you for Annie & Darin's wedding on July 16th, 2011.

Q. How did you learn about Interning or Assisting for Amber Events?

A. I was working an event for Truly Yours Catering. Amber was the coordinator for the wedding that day, and had the pleasure of meeting her. I asked her for the opportunity to be part of Amber Events because I love being part of an event, especially weddings.

Q. Tell us about yourself and how it relates to the wedding industry.

A. I am a people’s person, and consider myself energetic, fun, and organized. I enjoy working weddings because it really challenges me to bring out my creativity and abilities to make things happen.

Q. What tasks did you complete for this wedding?

A. As a team player that day, I was able to complete all tasks given to me, such as, making sure all tables were in order for guest’s, and seating arrangements. I also made sure everybody signed, the “memory book” for bride and groom, and directed everybody to the ceremony area once people arrived.

Q. What surprised you?

A. I was very surprised on how quick we were able to finish somewhat of a challenging task, for me that is! A crown made of beautiful flowers, and it was my first time!

(Note from Amber: the crown of flowers was made last minute per the request of the groom's Aunt. In the Jewish faith, when a parent marries off their last child they are crowned with flowers, sat on a chair on the dance floor, and the family & guests dance around them)

Q. What is your favorite part of this wedding?

A. My favorite part of this wedding was that it was very traditional. I never experienced a traditional Jewish wedding. I also liked the fact that it had a country, warm home touch, with lots of flowers, and colorful arrangements. Location and weather were also a great part of this special day.

Q. What shoes did you wear?

A. I wore black flat shoes.

Q. The uniform for the Amber Events staff is a black button down shirt and slacks. What did you do to Jazz up your look?

A. I wore a silver chain belt with the same kind of necklace.

Q. What is your favorite wedding scene from a movie?

A. Oh my God! There are sooo many favorite wedding scenes that I can watch over and over and consider all, my favorite!!!

Q. Do you have any words for anyone wanting to join the wedding industry?

A. I feel that if you would like to get into the wedding industry, you have to enjoy what you do, challenge yourself to have the imagination and be creative to make every “fairy tale” a special one!

Final Comments: So far, I have worked 2 events with Amber Events, and I have to say that it has been a great experience. Just to see all guests, especially bride and groom enjoy themselves, gives you a great satisfaction that you are doing a great job, and making the bride, groom and family happy and smile at the end of the day… is priceless! Thank you for the opportunity of working with such an awesome team!

Note from Amber: the books on the bookshelf were not only a guest favor, but also the seating assignments as each guest's name was written on the spine and the table assignment on the cover.

New series on the Amber Events blog: Team Member Point of View!

2011-07-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I don't know if it's obvious but I really like questionnaires. I like facts, random snippets, and concise answers. And the not so concise ones. I like words.

There have been some new things introduced on the blog this week: Nira herself, the pretty pictures that Nira finds, and now we're introducing a follow up after every wedding from one of the team members that worked on the wedding. Most of the time it will be "the new girl" (one of the interns) but it might be one of the assistants or myself. We'll see what happens.

Come back tomorrow to hear what Rozie has to say about her point of view on Annie & Darin's wedding day!

Happily,

Pretty Pictures - True Blue

2011-07-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my weekly discovery of pretty. Here is a photo by Tim Walker, London based photographer, who takes fantasy dreaming of wedding dresses to another level.

A dress not too blue

but enough to suit a bride that is true

An extra long train, as she knows the sky is the limit

Harmonizing a new bride in an old world

Please take a moment to inhale this world in. Dream and enjoy.

Follow up from a Mother of the Bride

2011-07-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Below is a portion of an email that I received from last week's Mother of the Bride about her daughter Annie's wedding at the Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve and it so made my day. Graciously, Carol is allowing me to share it with my blog readers. I loved hearing about the day from her perspective and of course, I loved her kudos and kind words. Messages like this are why I do what I do.

photo taken on my iPhone. I can't wait to see the pretty from Sarah Yates Photography!

"Dear Amber,

I have to say when we started this project I was a little stressed over the cost of things out there. I was also surprised at everybody's desire to have all the money up front. I'm so glad I got to spend all day Saturday at the venue with Annie and her friends, not just because it was so beautiful and so much fun, but I got to watch everything unfold and learned a lot from it - the loading and drive time, unloading and set up of the rental stuff plus having to do it all over again at the end of the evening - the designing of the flower arrangements, labor, delivery, set up (I think the Chuppah alone took hours) of same - the travel time and unobtrusive hour after hour of photography by both Sarah and her assistant not to mention the hours of perfecting those pictures after - the hair dresser and makeup artist who spent hours up there with us and did my makeup and hair for fun for nothing and even put some eyelashes on Sarah for free. It was a real eye opener for me. And not having to worry about getting people paid afterward was so great!

I told Annie the first thing she had to do was get a planner. She chose you because she liked you. She felt you would get along and be able to work well together. I also know that people in your kind of business have to know how to read the client and give them what they need and want. It's an art and you do it very well after a fairly short career in it. It's a stressful job and you should not only have a knack for it but enjoy it. You and Nira were unbelievably patient and helpful. I can't imagine fielding and handling that many responsibilities, requests, concerns and questions and all at the same time and for hours. You were also so sweet and so much fun.

I was just going to send you a quick email and write a long letter later but once I got rolling...when you have time, please write me back with your take on the day.

I really can't say enough or thank you enough."

Amber Events introduces: Nira DeLuna

2011-07-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

My name is Nira DeLuna, and I am the other gal here at Amber Events.

I have worked with Amber for over a year in making the magic happen for every wedding. I initially interned for Amber and have grown with her to the position I am in now. I'm currently at about 20 + weddings and I am waiting for the day to say I'm at 200+!

Photo by Andie Green Photography (Andie happens to be a former Amber Events bride that we worked with last August! See her wedding on Style Me Pretty)

A bit about me:

I am originally from New Jersey (no fist pumping please) and moved to Los Angeles about six years ago. The warm sun, loss of my daily nasal allergies, and strong emotional bonds have kept me from going back.

My parents are from Venezuela, and I keep a huge part of that culture with me. I speak Spanish to my family each and every day in order to keep me grounded.

I embrace cultures and languages, hence my attempt at learning French right now.

I love exotic foods and recently realized I don't like sea urchin.

I have a fascination with all things European, and must be a hopeless romantic if I keep saying I will one day move to Paris.

I enjoy a glass a wine after a hard day at work. Actually, lets make that two please.

You may find me riding around town on my red beach cruiser bicycle that I named Florencia. She includes a very cute wicker basket good for bringing back french bread, brie cheese, and some peonies.

I love photography, and keep a collection of photos I just find awe inspiring.

I love Beauty and believe in Love, and know it can be found and cherished.

You'll see me around every week for my postings on Photo Beauty-- my dedicated blurbs on all photos juicy, inspiring, and just plain beautiful!

PSA: be on time

2011-07-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Brides: when you're coming to a meeting with your vendors or your potential vendors, please give us a heads up if you're going to be late OR early. Late arrivals usually know to call or text about the traffic. But you early birds? You're the worst. Arriving early can destroy the tone of an entire meeting because we're not ready for you, and then it just wastes both of our time. Like every other person who works in the wedding industry, I'm balancing running my home life and my business, and when a meeting is set for 6:00 PM, I could be in my workout clothes as late as 5:45 PM or still in a meeting with another client.

While I know it's impossible to rule the 405, it's not hard to send a quick text or a call and say: "I'm running 15 minutes early/late". Let's not waste each others time, shall we?

Anniversary photos

2011-07-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about working in the wedding industry is the friendships that I built with some incredibly talented people. Last month my husband and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary (no, we did not get married when we were 12!) and I asked one of my friends, Adi from Next Exit Photography, to take pictures of us. Adi, being an awesome buddy, spent an hour or so with us at the LACMA light installation and would have spent a lot longer had I not told him that I was "over it" and ready to go eat sushi!

I don't normally wear a lot of makeup, but I couldn't resist taking up a makeup artist on her offer to do a free trial on me. I loved what Stacey did (individual fake lashes!) and so did Eric. Without making this sound like a commercial, she is offering free makeup trials for if brides end up booking her for their summer or fall weddings. That is almost unheard of! Stacey Herman can be reached at staceyslrh at aol.com.

Here's to another 10++ years, babe!

Carondelet House Inspiration Shoot

2011-07-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

Confession: this was my first inspiration shoot, and honestly? It's probably going to be my last. Don't get me wrong, I'm crazy proud of how it turned out but it was a TON of work and was a 12 hr day on my feet. And then there was the whole planning of everything. But! This new venue is so, so, so pretty! I got to design something fun! I got to work with people that I love, respect, and admire! And, I have pretty, pretty, pictures to show! So all in all? Win/win. Read more about it on Style Me Pretty!

One of the aspects I loved so much about this shoot was the fact that we did two shoots with two separate photographers: one daytime and one nighttime. Suthi Picotte of Picotte Weddings did our daytime portion, and Duke Khodaverdian of Duke Photography . I loved seeing the day not only through the photographers different perspectives, but the impact of how lighting changes a room.

Some of my favorite images from Suthi

Some of my favorite images from Duke

Our Amazing Team

Planning + Design: Amber Events
Venue: Carondelet House
Site Management: Tact Event Management
Floral Design: Peony and Plum
Daytime Photography: Picotte Weddings
Nighttime Photography: Duke Photography
Cake: Superfine Bakery
Rentals: Town & Country
Invitations + Calligraphy: Olive Hue Paper Goods
Catering: Auntie Em’s Kitchen Catering
String Trio: Strings by Reiko
Lighting: Aspect Lighting
Wedding Dress: Chantilly by Claire Pettibone
Hair + Make-up: Fiore Beauty
Jewelry: Margaret Rowe
Dresses for Quartet: The Dessy Group
Cinematography: Duke Khodaverdian and Eric Film
Female Model: Monika Zimaniova / Male Model: Mike Thompson

Amber Events Featured on Style Me Pretty today!

2011-07-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to share an inspiration shoot I designed and produced back in May that is featured on Style Me Pretty today. I'll be posting some of my favorite photos tomorrow, so head on over to SMP to see the pretty! Los Angeles Photo Shoot by Amber Events + Picotte Weddings + Duke Photography

Online Reviews in the wedding industry

2011-07-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Last June I wrote the below blog about online reviews. It was looking at it only from the negative side of reviews when they're not so stellar. On the flipside of things? Good reviews keep me in business and they're a huge part of the reason that people hire me. I want to remind you currently engaged couples: as much as you read reviews before you hire your team, please, please, please take the time to write reviews after your wedding. I know you think you will now, but the day after your wedding you're on to other projects.

Online Reviews in the Wedding Industry
(originally published in June 2010)

Don't get me wrong, I love to google a company to see what comes up, but when reading certain sites, I always remember to take everything with a grain of salt and know that angry people tend to be the ones to write reviews.

Why am I talking about this? Recently one of my clients emailed me back after I referred a certain vendor. In years of working with this vendor I have never had a problem and neither have my brides, yet my client asked me what was up with the nasty reviews online? Sure enough, I googled this vendor and was shocked by what I read. Had I not worked with this company, I would steer wide and clear if I were a potential client.

I immediately got on the phone with said vendor and asked for their side of the story. In a nutshell: bride booked services, signed a contract, then 2 weeks before the wedding decided to cancel. Then bride got angry that she was being held to the contract that she signed. So bride and fiance got on the warpath and wrote some nasty and untrue things online. That vendor has lost who knows how much money due to this act.

What many brides don't know is that these "free listing" sites contact us vendors telling us: "you have bad reviews, if you advertise with us, we can 'help' you". In between the lines this means: if you pay us $400 per month, we'll make you look better. Kinda smells like blackmail to me...

Other sites (ones that rhyme with "help") only shows reviews from people who are active "helpers". Meaning, a happy client can open an account, write a few reviews about their vendors, then never log in again. Those good review disappear after a while. The nasty reviews? Those tend to be from perpetually angsty "helpers" who like to "keep it real" and constantly review things. This site won't take anything nasty down, nor will they let a business owner thoroughly refute something, but they still want $400+ per month from us small business owners.

Brides and Grooms, I beseech you: read these sites with a grain of salt, a spoonful of sugar, a glass of wine, whatever. Just because it's on the Internets doesn't make it true.

My weekend in photos

2011-07-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

These two pictures sum up the highlights of my holiday weekend:

#1. Camping in the Sequoias for 4 days sans cell signal, internet, electricity, and running water (unless you count the roaring river right next to us) with our dog, Rita. It's heaven up there.

#2. Me at Holly of Cakes & Kisses wedding at Dodger flippin Stadium yesterday. Dodger Stadium! Loved it! And yes, those are flags on my head thankyouverymuch--it was the 4th of July!

Amber Events office closed for the Holiday Weekend

2011-06-29T17:00:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a few days of R&R for the holiday weekend and will not be answering emails and calls until Tuesday, July 5. Enjoy the holiday and Happy Birthday, America!

Monique Lhuillier sample sale!

2011-06-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Need I say more?