Northern California Wedding Planner | The Palms Chico - Nikki & Justin

Woo! We are excited to share the images from Nikki and Justin's wedding day at The Palms in Chico, it was a really fun wedding! Thanks so much to Essence Photography for sending over the gallery, we've been in la la land ever since!

If you need us we'll just be dreaming of those cupcakes! Check out all of the event partners who contributed to Nikki & Justin's wedding day, congrats again to these newlyweds!

Photographer: Essence Photography // Venue: The Palms, Chico // Coordination: The 530 Bride // Catering: Kinders // Cake: Cinful Desserts // DJ: Northern California Productions
// Florals: North Bloom 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Lauren & Jordon - Bella Rosa

Have you ever felt like there was magic in the air? Lauren and Jordon's wedding was an evening full of laughter and two families really coming together in support of these two wonderful people.  Both bride and groom's families shared beautiful toasts that brought happy tears and really showcased how proud they were of this new chapter for Lauren and Jordon.  

If ever there was a chill couple who seemed to just float through wedding planning without showing much stress or jitters, it is these two.  It could be because they both work in the medical field and can stay cool in high stress situations, or it could just be that they weren't sweating the small stuff! In either case, they chose a beautiful wedding venue and a solid list of event partners to ensure that everything ran smoothly. 

A special thanks to Lauren and Jordon's photographer a long-time friend of theirs, Emma who was a blast to work with.  We hope you enjoy these photos! 

Photographer: EMK Photography // Venue: Bella Rosa Farms // Coordination and production: The 530 Bride // Catering: Special Times Catering // DJ: Northern California Productions 
// Cake: Upper Crust // Florals: Little Red Hen Floral & More // Transportation: Northstate Limo

Northern California Wedding Planner | Chico Backyard Wedding - Becca & Blake

Have you ever met two people that are so pure and beautiful, inside and out? This intimate backyard wedding of 7 people was simple, elegant, and meaningful. This my friends, is why wedding planning is such a beautiful career. 

North Bloom impressed us again with stunning arrangements throughout the entire venue. Becca's gorgeous bouquet complimented her contagious smile, and simple dress from Lulus.com. 

Katelyn Owens Photography captured these blooms perfectly (as always) and created memories for Becca and Blake that will last forever. From photographing very personal moments, to happy moments, we were in awe. 

Here are some of our favorites from Becca and Blake's intimate backyard wedding!

We've said this before, but we are so honored to have been a part of Becca and Blake's wedding day, especially with all of our amazing friendors!

Photographer: Katelyn Owens Photography // Florals: North Bloom // Coordination: The 530 Bride // Rentals & Decorations: We Do Designs

Northern California Wedding Planner | Gale Vineyards - Jennifer and Stephen

Love is the best adventure! If there was ever a couple who live to the fullest it would be Jennifer and Stephen.  These two have a contagious energy about them so it was no surprise their wedding was so much fun.  

North Bloom was spot on with the floral design, all of the colorful flowers and decor complimented the beautiful setting of Gale Vineyards.  Daffodil Hill Photography captured Jen and Stephen's smiles and their energy so perfectly that it takes us right back to their wedding day.   

We are so excited to share highlights from their wedding with you!

Every wedding that we are a part of means the world to us, and working with a fabulous event team like these folks below makes our job even better!  

Photographer:  Daffodil Hill Photography // Venue: Gale Vineyards // Caterer: Panighetti's Eatery // DJ: Northern California Productions // Florals: North Bloom // Rentals: WeDo Designs // Hair and Make-up: Salon Diamond // Photobooth: Chris Armstrong Photobooth // Planning: The 530 Bride

Northern California Wedding Planner | Real Talk - Catering Budget

With food trucks, interactive dining options and a whole host of traditional "wedding caterers" to choose from how should couples hone in on what they want for their wedding menu? More importantly, how much will it cost?

Food and beverage is going to be one of the largest expenses overall for your wedding simply because you are hosting a large number of people in most cases.  Our advice is to compare apples to apples.  Couples may hear of a caterer who is much less expensive per person, but their package is itemized differently so what they aren't factoring is tax, gratuity, labor for staff or rentals that are not included with caterer A vs caterer B.  

Before you book your caterer look closely at what your venue requires as far as licensing, insurance and the kitchen/clean-up duties.  Venues that have a hard stop time (example everything needs to be cleaned up and everyone out by midnight) are going to require extra manpower compared to a venue that allows you to set-up on Friday, and clean-up the following day. 

If your affordable caterer is focusing on serving the food only, and then leaves after dinner service you need to consider who will provide the dinnerware, buss the garbage and or dishes from the tables, wash dishes or re-rack them in the rental crates, who will return the linens, pack up tables and chairs etc.  Full service caterers also will assist with cake cutting, and some will have bar services available under their catering license & insurance so it can be great to have one team handle food and beverage.

Full service caterers also will assist with cake cutting, and some will have bar services available under their catering license & insurance so it can be great to have one team handle food and beverage.  Another detail that gets missed is who is responsible for garbage? Does the venue have garbage cans and bags onsite, do they have a dumpster that all of the garbage goes in or is the party responsible for removing all garbage from the premises? 

In addition to the cost, you will want to choose a caterer who is experienced with weddings and events so that dinner service runs smoothly and according to the timeline.  Communication in the months prior to the event is crucial for not missing any of the important details & wishes of the couple.   If you have been trying to communicate with a caterer and they aren't getting back to you in a timeline manner this can be a huge red flag.  

Enter wedding planner: Lets look at those contracts! Having an understanding for who does what will make the whole event much smoother and help ensure that at a minimum you get your deposit back for clean-up; but also that you aren't stressed at the end of your wedding reception. 

We've heard from so many couples that were in wedding parties of their friends and family and felt like they worked more than they were really able to relax and enjoy the event with the couple.  This becomes a strong case for hiring wedding professionals to handle these elements rather than relying on wedding party.  

If you have questions on catering or you are looking for a quality caterer in Northern California please contact us for a complimentary consultation! ~ Happy Planning!~

Northern California Wedding Planner | Thomas George Estates - Chelsea & Ryan

We are unbelievably lucky to have had the opportunity to plan a gorgeous wine country wedding in the heart of Healdsburg at Thomas George Estates in May of 2017. From the ceremony being on a ridge overlooking vineyards, to the reception being inside a cave... we can say this was one of our most adventurous weddings to date! 

Carlos, with Oliveira Foto, created magic through his lens on this beautiful summer day. As did Maisoue Yang, how she and her assistant captured their love through video. 

One of our favorite moments during Chelsea & Ryan's First Look captured by Carlos.

It all began when the girls and guys divided into two separate houses located in the front of the winery. Let's just say... the guys had it easy! We can thank Wash & Brush up for the beautiful hair and makeup on the ladies! Enjoy some of these getting ready photos...

As the day progressed, we had the chance to peek at Chelsea & Ryan's first look... and all we can say is AW. Grab a tissue, because these are adorable. 

“A good husband makes a good wife. ”

— John Florio

Let's take a moment to appreciate the amazing bridal party... We had a blast with them!

Anyone there? Oh, they're sleeping!

They said I do, and then the party started! Cocktail hour was up on the ridge, and quickly after, all of the guests walked down to the reception, which was in a gorgeous wine cellar cave! The walk looked like the best part... 

A La Heart Catering impressed us with their delicious menu for the evening. After we had a taste of the appetizers, we knew it was going to be a fantastic evening of feasting! 

Who's ready to dance? We sure enjoyed seeing everyone having a blast with a cup of coffee in our hands to keep warm with the chilly air swarming the venue! 

Again, we cannot explain the gratitude we have for Chelsea and Ryan. Our presence at their special wine country wedding was spectacular, and we wish all the best for their future as Mr. and Mrs. Howard!

Vendors:
Wedding Coordination: The 530 Bride
Photography: Oliveira Foto
Videography: Maisoue Yang (Pixel Pluie)
Venue: Thomas George Estates
Catering: A La Heart Catering
DJ: Sky's The Limit Music & Entertainment
Beauty: Wash and Brush Up
Florals: Farmgirl Flowers
Rentals: Grapevine Rentals

Until next time,
 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Bucket List - Couples Choice Awards

Over coffee we like to chat about the "some days" and the dreams we have of going on a planner's retreat or designing a wedding on a beautiful island somewhere - you know, like a bucket list of sorts. 

These last few months we've felt so incredibly blessed to have experienced the excitement of meeting goals, everything from finally finding an office space, growing a team, connecting and networking with other event professionals, but most of all receiving feedback from our couples.  

We made our number one goal focusing on the client experience and learning where we can help couples alleviate any undue stress and improve on the overall planning process.  Asking for feedback and learning from it, after every single wedding.

Thank you!!

We met a major milestone in our business with the Wedding Wire Couple's choice awards for 2018 and it was a bucket list moment for sure!

The topic came up in one of our wedding industry groups and we thought it would be fun to list a few bucket list ideas for 2018: 

1. Wedding on Water - Maybe one of the river cruise, or heck a yacht why not (just putting it out there) 
2. Military/Law Enforcement - We would love to be a part of a special day for a very special hero out there who has done so much for our country and community, so if you know someone who is planning a wedding and has served or is serving in the military or in law enforcement please send them our way! 
3. Pop-up wedding - Okay how cool would it be to get to assist multiple couples with a petite wedding just right for them and their intimate group of guests?! We are going to make this happen!

We'd love to hear about a fun bucket list idea you have or that you share as a couple! Now, we are going to go look at some cruises or travel websites for that retreat idea!

~ Happy Planning!~

Northern California Wedding Planner | TJ Farms Wedding - Dara & Nick

One of the best perks of the "job" is getting to step into such a special world with each couple and learn about their love story.  We meet family members, wedding party and close friends of the couple who are all there to support two people on their big day.  With Nick and Dara we shared morning phone sessions, emails, site visits & text messages throughout the months of planning their TJ Farms wedding.  

We were so excited that Dara and Nick were working with Matthew Lim Photography as we had been following his work on Instagram and loved his eye for detail.  Their engagement session photos literally made us a little misty eyed because he just really "got" them and brought their love story to the photo so perfectly.

One of our fav's from Nick and Dara's engagement session, captured by Matthew Lim Photography

Dara and Nick chose Hotel Diamond for getting ready before their ceremony, and we love all of the beautiful shots of the details.  Her dress, those shoes and hey we'd say Nick cleaned up pretty nice! These quiet moments leading up to the first look are just what the couple needs to gather their thoughts and prepare for the big day.

If you're on the fence about doing a first look, we think these next few images are a perfect example of the beauty of having these few extra shots before the ceremony!  The lighting and architectural details of Hotel Diamond set the scene for Dara and Nick's first look.

To say that Dara and Nick's guests came to party in an understatement! These folks danced, they laughed and they celebrated with the newlyweds all night long!

We are so thankful to have been a part of this day and that we had such a fabulous team of event partners to support Dara and Nick, each element came together seamlessly thanks to their hard work!

Photographer: Matthew Lim Photography // Wedding Venue: TJ Farms // Catering: Panighetti's Eatery //Hair & Make-up: Salon Diamond // Florist: Cambray Rose //Cake: Mims Bakery //DJ: Netsound Pro // Rentals: WeDo Designs and Party Dogs // Planning & Design: The 530 Bride // Videography: Jordan & Trevor Clavery of World CTZN // Transportation: Bus Man Holiday Tour
 

Northern California Wedding Planner | TBS Ranch - Bri & Chad

Ahh... a beautiful Fall wedding hit our inbox and we're so excited to share some of Bri and Chad's highlights from their gorgeous wedding.

Jeff Hall really puts an effort into making each photo absolutely stunning, so when we saw these we were blown away! 

Bri and her girls were tucked away in the cutest little bridal suite at TBS Ranch. With champagne, makeup and hairspray, they were good to go from the early morning until the ceremony! When we saw ETC florals pull up, we saw a gorgeous burst of fall colors in her hands... we screamed a little inside. 

When it was time for the ceremony, we had the opportunity to see the beautiful Bri come down the quaint stairs of the bridal suite. We can only imagine how Chad felt! Our hearts were even pitter patting.. 

We're very thankful for such a great team of vendors who made this wedding possible!
The romantic atmosphere was just what we needed for one of our last weddings of 2017.

Cheers to our 2018 weddings!

Photography: Jeff Hall Photography // Florals: ETC Florals // Venue: TBS Ranch // Hair & Makeup: Amy Ferrell & Shaylee Glaziner // Catering & Cake: Sandy's Specialities // Coordination & Design: The 530 Bride // Music: Netsound

Northern California Wedding Planner | Butte Creek Canyon ~ Mary & Ben

These foggy mornings are so cozy, but we can warm right up thinking back to our weddings over the summer.  We're sharing the highlights from Mary & Ben's wedding day and we hope you enjoy! 

When we saw the first sneak peek from their engagement session with Bloom Portraiture, we were hooked.  Look at this location, and those two lovebirds - right out of a story book.

Mary and Ben chose the iconic Hotel Diamond for getting ready before their wedding ceremony, and it was the day to tie the knot.  Seeing these florals by North Bloom delivered to the bride was pretty special, as the colors and textures were exactly what was on our inspiration board.  Just flawless.  Mary had her sisters and best friend by her side for hair and make-up, such a close knit group of beautiful ladies!

The ceremony was held at St. John's Baptist Church downtown Chico, and we loved how Mary and Ben emphasized their faith within their vows.  They were both emotional during their vows and it was so sweet.

After the ceremony the guests were shuttled up to Ben's family home in Butte Creek Canyon, it was warming up on that August day so nice cold beverages were in order.  Ben's family put so much love into prepping their property for the wedding and it all paid off, as it was truly magical.

We were grateful for the opportunity to work with Mary and Ben to execute their vision from a blank canvas, and to be able to help them share the Chico experience with all of their guests! 

A big thanks to all of the event partners who worked together to bring Mary & Ben's beautiful wedding day together and to Bloom Portraiture for capturing all of these perfect shots!

Photography: Bloom Portraiture // Video: Triptych // Ceremony Venue: St. John's Baptist Church Reception: Private Home // Hair: Envee Salon (Carmen Montero) // Make-up: Powder Room // Gown: BHLDN // Florals: North Bloom // Catering: New Hock Farms // Rentals, Draping & Lighting: WeDo Designs // Coordination & Design: The 530 Bride // Tent: In Tent Events
// Shuttle Transportation: WTC // Music: The Wedding DJ // Cake: Cinful Desserts // Ice Cream: Shuberts // Bar: Star Liquor
 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Hello 2018!

How was your New Year, can you believe it is 2018? I know, we're already almost half way through January but it still feels weird to write 2018 and 2019 dates on our calendar.  Here's what we've been up to since the first of the year!

1. Logo refresh! 

Thanks to Nerissa, our new in-house graphic designer!

2. We grew ~ Formal Introductions of each of our new team members coming soon! 

A few of our newest additions to our team after rocking set-up of a beautiful winter wedding at Patrick Ranch.

3. Featured on Cake and Lace - Romantic Barrel Room Styled Shoot

View the Full Feature on Cake and Lace here!

4. First Wedding of 2018 ~ Congrats to Cambria & Tyler! 

We can't wait to see the beautiful images captured by Morgan Chantelle Photography!

5. Checked off a major goal! Your feedback is so important to us!

Thank you to much to all of our amazing couple's who shared about their experience, it truly means the world to us knowing that we made an impact on such an important day! 

6. Now offering Wedding Stationery & Signage Design!

We are so excited to offer custom wedding invitations, stationery & design services for couples looking to create something unique and personal for their upcoming wedding. Having an in-house graphic designer (The talented Nerissa Quinn!) allows us to sit down together with couples and work through the design process to bring out the elements that matter most to you, that's the good stuff! {Photo by AnnaMae Photography}

7.  Wedding Planner Intensive Course - 8 weeks of learning the latest best practices for wedding planners.

8. Better Together - We've Officially Partnered!

We've officially partnered, so The 530 Bride will be the force of two planners and a full event team.  We want our couples to know that we have them covered and always have a team approach to our weddings.  This was a dream of ours and to finally make it official is beyond exciting.  ~ Happy Dance!

9. Putting the finishing touches on our office space

We added some of our favorite photos by Matthew Lim Photography from a recent wedding, and will be sharing more photos of our office space soon!

10. We had a blast at the Chico Bridal Show!

It has been an exciting first few weeks of the year to say the least, but our focus is to continually improve the experience for our couples as they plan their wedding.  We've invested in education for our team and for keeping up with the best practices in the planning industry.  

We know it is going to be an amazing year, stay tuned for more fun updates! 

~ Happy Planning! ~

Northern California Wedding Planner | Let's Talk About Being Engaged In 2018!

Did you just get engaged over the holidays?

If so, which I am guessing that is why you've decided to click this blog post, congratulations! Being recently engaged myself, I understand the stress that comes with planning a wedding. Yes, I still feel it even though I'm a wedding planner!

Photo by Tre Creative 

Today on the blog, we're going to be sharing some of our top New Years resolutions for those of you who are engaged! Our main advice: ENJOY every moment; it's such a special time in your life!

Engaged; having formally agreed to marry.
synonyms: betrothed, promised in marriage, pledged in marriage;

1. Keep A Positive Attitude
Of all people, I know what it's like to have to make several decisions at once, but it's for your special day so you shouldn't take it as a negative thing! Remember that sometimes less is more! Are you a couple who wants to go above and beyond with florals? Or how about the food? Staying in a positive mindset will help you make these hard decisions. But of course, we're here to lead you through them.

2. Take Care Of Yourself
This is really important, but i'm sure you've seen this tip on all of the blogs that you've been to such as The Knot, Ruffled Blog, etc. But this is coming from me, Delphine, the one who is going to MAKE your special day happen. Since I am a wedding planner, and not a personal nutritionist... my biggest advice is to remember that your gut health will ultimately change, not only your appearance, but also your mental health! This goes hand in hand with my last tip. Mental health turns into positivity, which turns into a more confident you on your wedding day. 

3. Choose The Perfect Date
This is a biggie. I'm sure that you know that there are holidays pretty much every single month out of the year. So keep in mind that people make plans on 4 day weekends, especially during the spring and summer months. Obviously if a date is calling your name, then go for it. But remember that aunt Kathy may not be able to make it on that particular weekend due to a hot dog eating contest... or something? Whichever date you choose with your significant other, make sure you're both happy with it!

4. Stay Within Your Budget
This is another big tip I have for you. Remember when you and your significant other were talking about a budget for your future wedding even before you were engaged? Yeah, I've been there too... and now I officially have to back off on a lot of my choices! So learn from me and look at your budget, decide what the most important aspect of your wedding is, and start asking for quotes! 

5. Enjoy Each Other
This may seem like a given, but a lot of couples get so wrapped up in the planning process that they forget they're even getting married! Take a step back, and ask your significant other their input. Take them to appointments! Even if they seem like they don't care, they really do. Even if it's the color scheme of your wedding! 

Happy Planning, and Happy NEW YEAR!
 

XO,

Northern California Wedding Planner | Contract Talk - Vendor Meals

Oh if ever there has been a hot topic amongst wedding community boards and professional network groups, it would be these two words: Vendor Meal.

First and foremost, we ensure that our couples are reading their contracts when booking services and understand all terms and requirements that are listed in the contract language. 

We totally get it, who hasn't breezed through the 8 page terms and conditions when you get your shiny new iPhone or when you update an app.  It is easy to click the button stating you've read and agree to all terms.  However, when it comes to your wedding day and multiple event partners all working on the same event, there are a few contract issues that you specifically need to make notes of; such as office hours/communication clauses, liability, travel fees, cancellation terms, equipment/electrical requirements, turnaround/production times and vendor meals.  

Let us preface this with our philosophy: We believe in having great relationships with your team, and that your event partners should be eating dinner when you eat dinner. Specifically, they should be eating the same dinner that you are serving to your guests.  

1. What's the big deal?  Let's use your photographer as an example: you have a photographer shooting with you on your wedding day for 6+ hours and as expected they aren't going to pack up and leave to go grab dinner and miss out on your toasts, first dance etc.  So when you and your wedding party are released to the buffet or are being served your plated meal, your photo and video team should be eating at this time as well. 
   Your event partners are working in a setting where they are likely traveling or working at venues that can often be remote, so if your event partners need to leave the premises for a meal, they are not liable for lapses in coverage or services during this time. 
   
   Just as in a corporate setting an employer would be required to provide lunch for a working-lunch time meeting or allow employees to leave for the lunch break.
    
2. Our venue is full service and provides a "Vendor Meal" so we are covered right? Yes and no.  The stories that we've heard about these notorious "vendor meals" being a day old bagged lunch type situation is what prompted this post.  Most often, a contract might state that a hot meal would be provided so even if that means ordering a pizza for your event partners or asking that your venue/caterer provides an alternative hot meal like a chicken or pasta option instead of New York Steak for example.
    
3. Do we need to provide dinner for all of our vendors/event partners? Short answer yes, but again read your agreements first.  Another logic to use is anyone hired for 4+ hours of service that will be present during dinner, or otherwise noted in their agreement.
    
4. When should our vendors eat? When you and your wedding party are released to the buffet or are being served your plates, your photo and video team should be right behind you or provided a plate served by the caterer.  We are pretty confident that you aren't wanting photos of you taking bites of dinner, so this is the best time for your photo & video team to eat.  They should be seated at a table within the close enough to the reception area so they are able to see the event and any special moments that may arise.  Your DJ should also be getting in line in time to be done eating before any announcements need to be made. 
    
5. Who pays for the cost of the meals for vendors/event partners? This cost is allocated to the couple/host paying for the catering.  You might be thinking, "well it's $80 per person, this is going to add up fast!" but discuss this with your venue or caterer to determine if there is a hot meal option at a reduced cost.  
    
6. Should we provide place settings for the vendors as well?  We suggest having a table that is available for your event partners, but some may choose to eat in another area and take a quick break.  It's always a great idea to have extra place settings or some disposable flatware just in case.  

We are here to help couples work through questions like these to make sure that in the weeks leading up to your wedding we are discussing the details that pertain to your wedding and not going back and forth over contract terms and vendor meals.  If you aren't sure on what your event team needs, ask your wedding planner or reach out and ask them ahead of time. 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Getting Back to Basics

Our last wedding of 2017 was this past weekend (yes, two days before Christmas!) and throughout planning this intimate wedding we knew the couple wanted to keep things pretty simple.  As the weeks led up to their big day and the details come together such as finalizing their menu with the restaurant, confirming delivery times and ceremony details..pretty normal.  However with a guest count of 20, the focus was different.  It wasn't about all of the decor, it wasn't about minute to minute timeline details. 

Photo of a recent intimate wedding at Two Twenty Restaurant in Chico

Instead, it was simply a short and sweet ceremony at 5, everyone would enjoy cocktails in the bar and then head down to the wine cellar room for dinner, cake & dancing!

 Two Twenty Restaurant prepared a beautiful dinner and we had Northern California Productions (NCP) playing music throughout the evening.

A few things that stood out to all of us who were a part of the event team:

1. No pressure - Everyone seemed so at ease the whole day from hair and make-up to the light hearted ceremony all the way to the last song of the evening.
2. Guests felt like it was a special treat, and were able to spend time with the couple 
3. Affordable - Weddings are expensive, we totally get it but rather than invite 150+ guests and feel like you are constantly having to cut corners couples should consider keeping the guest list on the smaller side to truly get to allocate their budget to the guest experience without the stress.

Are you considering an intimate wedding ceremony or destination wedding? We can help no matter where you live or where you are planning on getting married.  You can inquire by sending an email to us at hello@the530bride.com 

~ Happy Planning!~ 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Happy Holidays From The 530 Bride

There is something so refreshing about the holidays, a chance to slow down and to spend extra time with friends and family.  We are loving all of the beautiful Christmas cards, adorable photos of kids opening their presents in their PJ's.  We truly wish everyone happy holidays!

If you need us we'll be sippin' on a good cup of coffee and resting up for the next few weeks of Engagement season fun!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Mountain House Estate Wedding ~ Brooke & Austin

We couldn't be more excited to look at images from Brooke and Austin's wedding day because it takes us back to the planning stages, and our phone sessions where we'd cover the various elements of their wedding day.  To say that Brooke was a cool bride is an understatement, she was organized and effortlessly on top of it.   Her dress had pockets, her dad's toast made us cry, and they totally rocked the dance floor.  Our couples are seriously the best! Brooke & Austin chose a beautiful wedding venue and were so much fun right from the start.

When we were first exchanging emails with Brooke and getting glimpses of her inspiration and design concept, we were hooked.  So when we heard that we would get to work with Brooke and Austin we did our happy dance then got right to work on learning more about Mountain House Estate and some of the local event partners on her list. 

We always say that the wedding party and family members have a huge effect on the wedding itself, and Brooke & Austin's wedding could be the poster wedding for being surrounded with love and support from those around them.  Their tight knit wedding party was with them every step of the way and were hands on with wedding details.  Austin's dad made their ceremony altar and we were just blown away with the love & warmth, and how excited everyone was to see this day arrive.  

Brooke and Austin's wedding day was one of those that receptions that could have lasted hours longer as everyone was dancing and enjoying the perfect evening together.  We enjoyed working with such a great wedding venue and highly recommend Mountain House Estate to couples who are looking for a versatile & inviting space for their wedding in the Cloverdale area.  If you missed the highlight video, check out this film by Katie B Images below:

We can't wait to share more with you, so stay tuned!

Venue: Mountain House Estate
Beauty: Studio A Beauty
Wedding Gown: BHLDN
Florals: Fifty Flowers (arranged by the bride!) 
Rentals: Bright Event Rentals
Dessert: Petaluma Pie Company
Videography: Katie B Images
Catering: Nitro Catering 

Northern California Wedding Planner | With This Ring

It's All About The Details - Even The Ring Box Carrying Your Wedding Bands Down The Aisle!

As a wedding planner, we like to see couples get creative with their ceremony details and include the ring box/ring pillow in their details for their photographer to shoot because it really adds to their wedding day story.  Plus, who knows maybe they can pass it down for their children for their wedding day!

We not only ask the couple WHO will carry the rings and have them during the ceremony, but we'll want to also have an idea of what the box/pillow will look like so that we know if there are any extra steps for the ring bearer or officiant etc. 

Here's a few inspiration photos to get you started on your search for the perfect wedding ring box!

Modern Lucite/Acrylic Ring Box 

Personalized Acrylic Ring Box

Classic Velvet Ring Box 

The MRS. Box Photo by @JoseVilla

Rustic Wood Ring Box 

Wood Ring Box hand-crafted by Jacob MccKay Studios 

Simple Ring Pillow 

Mini Beaded Ring Pillow

What style jumps out at you or inspires you for your wedding day? Tip: f the ring bearer is young or a bit of a wild card you can also have them just walk down holding a pillow/box and then have the rings safely in the pocket of the best man or officiant.  Just remember the kids are seriously adorable and they can do no wrong when it comes to the level of cuteness (even if they take off in the other direction - Just have a plan B!) 

~ Happy Planning! ~ 

P.S. We're pretty picky about all the junk people sell on the internet these days, which is why we are proudly an affiliate for Beau-Coup!! We know their products arrive quickly and as represented in their listing. Enjoy!

Northern California Wedding Planner | White Ranch Wedding ~ Caitlin & Grant

Real Wedding - White Ranch, Chico ~ Caitlin & Grant ~

Time flies but it feels like we were just sitting down with Caitlin & Grant to plan their wedding, looking through Caitlin's inspiration photos and attending appointment with vendors.  Now, here we are about to wrap up our 2017 but not without a special blog post about Caitlin & Grant's beautiful wedding day! 

Caitlin and Grant are just one of those couples who are so in tune with each other and just fun to be around.  Caitlin is a teacher and Grant works for PG&E so they already had a lot on their plate on top of trying to plan a wedding.  It was our pleasure to be a part of their day and to make wedding planning as smooth as possible for them! 

Caitlin & Grant's friends and family were the sweetest people and there was a lot of love & laughter around.  Caitlin really thought of everything for her day including lots of games for the kiddos to enjoy out on the lawn.  

We loved getting to see these fun photos from their day, captured by Ranalla Photo + Films!

A big thank you to the amazing White Ranch for always being such a welcoming venue, we absolutely adore this beautiful property! 

Event Partners:
Venue: White Ranch Events
Photographer: Ranalla Photo & Films 
Florist: Little Red Hen Florist
Desserts: Cinful Desserts 
Rentals: Chico Party Rentals 
DJ: The Wedding DJ
Catering: Norcal Catering