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
 

Northern California Wedding Planner | A Full Service Wedding Experience

From IPSY, to Hello Fresh, Birch Box, Dollar Shave Club, StichFix, Blue Apron & Fab Fit Fun to name a few; let's talk about how awesome it is to have a box of curated goodies arrive at your doorstep.  Or furthermore, that companies and retailers are consistently adding more personalized options for consumers.  It makes sense, people are busy and would prefer to have the things that they like come to them.

Credit: Forbes Article 

In the wedding world we have the same basic elements, our couples are busy but instead of receiving wardrobe items or skincare products, we are using our experience and extensive networking relationships to present them with the best of the best in the local wedding industry to curate their wedding experience. 

Photo credit: SC Stockshop 

When couples are beginning their search for a wedding planner they might wonder what the differences are between the planning packages and which one is the best for them.  If we were going to use the subscription box analogy to lay it out, think of it this way:

The Foodie Couple
Two busy working professionals recently got engaged.  The bride-to-be is working on finishing up her masters program so their time together is already very limited.  Food is their love language so their favorite thing to do together on their one night off a week is to cook.  Lately, they find that it's challenging to make the time to plan the meals and go to the grocery store to get all of the ingredients for their date night dinners. 

They've heard about a cooking/meal subscription service and love the idea of not having to plan it all out but still get to enjoy cooking together.  They've narrowed down their search to two options:

Option A - The couple will speak with the meal concierge service who will ask them questions about their schedules, likes & dislikes on spices, any cultural preferences/traditional cooking styles, , seasonal favorites, allergies or food restrictions etc.  Then the concierge asks them about fun dates or travel destinations they'd been to in the past, so that she knows enough detail to curate and preselect the meals for them based on their food preferences & budget/initial price point selection.  

Option B - The couple will fill out an online survey to get started, and then for each meal that they would need to preselect the type of meal and then choose from 1 of the 10 recipes for that meal the prior week.  Some of the recipes have reviews so the couple can try to read the reviews prior to deciding, but selections will need to be made the 2nd Tuesday each week by 4 pm for the corresponding delivery.  The subscription fee is lower than in option A but the meal price will depend on their selections with each order. 

Which option do you think the foodie couple should choose to make the most of their date nights together?  If you said Option A, then it sounds like you totally get how valuable time really is and that it makes sense pay a small premium in order to receive such personalized service. 

Photo by Bloom Portraiture

If we relate this back to weddings, we could say that some couples would enjoy taking the time to research the recipe's themselves, shop at the grocery store and prepare the meal themselves; where others would prefer to have that personalized date night experience done for them so that they can both be immersed in the cooking and dining experience instead of the prep work. 

No one way is better than the other but we want to give the best service we possibly can and that means being from beginning to end to create a seamless wedding experience.  

- Anyone else hungry after all of that meal selection talk? You can read more about our service options right her on our services page. 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Our 2017 Wedding Season is Wrapping Up

2018 Is Just Around The Corner - Here's How 2017 is Winding Down For Us

We've been so busy with consultations and meetings for 2018 couples the last few weeks but we wanted to take the time to talk about just how amazing 2017 has been for us thus far.  Not only have we worked with awesome couples, we've also launched our sister company The 530 & Co. allowing us to help businesses create beautiful websites, branding & SEO services  and virtual assistance.

Oh and we can't forget the shiny new ring on Delphine's finger! - She's engaged and will be saying her I Do's in September of 2018. 

Engagement Session by TreCreative

A little photobooth fun with Six Rivers Photography at one of the recent bridal shows!

We'll be creating a full wrap-up blog post at the end of this month, but here is just a sprinkle from our season! Click the photos below to scroll -->

Last year, we set a goal to make 2017 the year we focus on education, training & team development.  We believe that investing in education and professional development is really important because we want to continually improve on what we can offer to our couples.  Staying up on the best practices in business, planning & design will translate into being more efficient with clear systems and processes in our business and an even better service for our clients for years to come.  

We've asked our clients for their feedback on their planning experience because it is ultimately the best way we can measure our growth and success.  It means the world to us to know that we have helped couples enjoy their wedding day and that the investment in having a planner was more than worth it to them.  Their words gives us the warm & fuzzies, and their referrals to friends & family are a cherry on top!

You can read more from our clients on Wedding Wire, Yelp & Facebook!

2017 Wouldn't have been so sweet without our couples but also our fabulous team of ladies that we appreciate so much! We celebrated with a team appreciation dinner at the delicious Panighetti's Restaurant on Friday & had so much fun recapping the highlights of year. 

Mely, Maxine & Delphine

Both of our Jasmine's and Mely 

We're no photographers but we try to catch some behind the scenes shots every now and then because we love these ladies!

Veronica and Madison

Mely lint rolling the tables

Delphine and Maxine

Veronica and Kat 

Stephanie, Wedding Assistant

Delphine and Brittany

Delphine and Mely!

Delphine & Stephanie

Stephanie and Mely, Wedding Assistants

Make sure to follow us on Instagram to keep up with the latest happenings with The 530 Bride, and subscribe to our blog for updates right to your inbox.  

~ Happy Planning! ~ 
xoxo Veronica & Delphine 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Planning Authentically

If you're knee deep in checklists and wedding magazine's you might be getting tired of hearing what you should and shouldn't do when it comes to planning your wedding.   There's a lot of contradicting advice you've heard along the way and likely a lot of pressure to get it right.  Today's blog post is all about less worrying about all of that and more about finding ways to be authentic and present in your wedding day. 

Life happens and work gets busy, vacations & holidays or getting the keys to your new place.. it's normal to have things come up and have to sideline planning for a bit.  We promise it will be fine, take a breathe, and take a long walk with your fiance! (we know it still sounds funny to say fiance right?!) If you were to take this long walk together, what would you talk about? What would be the fun memories that make you laugh, or the best food you've ever had together? Those little memories and quirks are what make your relationship so unique and fun, THAT's the good stuff right there.

Now the question is how can we infuse those quirks and those great stories into your wedding day to make your guests feel like they have been invited into the celebration of the most important story of all; your love story.

Hold that thought..you are going to be surrounded by your closest friends and family on your wedding day and likely the few days before or after as well.  How can we create a wedding weekend timeline that makes the most of the time you get to spend with them?  We certainly don't want you to be worrying about centerpieces or chair sashes when you could be drinking mimosas with your girls while getting dolled up.  The answer? Trusting in the professionals that you've hired to produce the event and let them focus on the logistics to ensure everything is set in place just as you've imagined.  

Such a fun tribe at Cate & Chris's wedding, captured by Julia Lukash Photography

Imagine being invited to a friends house for her birthday dinner and everyone is sitting in the dining room while your friend is slaving in the kitchen and buzzing around trying to make everything perfect.  Sure the table settings are beautiful, and dinner smells delicious but it's hard to celebrate your bestie's birthday when she's stressed or MIA. 

So here are our top tips:
1. Keep your guest list in check - An intimate wedding allows you to connect and interact with your guests and allocate more of your budget on guest experience. 
2. Highlight one of your favorite treats or drinks - You and your sweetie love craft beer? Host your favorite craft beers during cocktail hour or name some of your tables after your top choices.  Guests will get to experience a little more of what you share together.
3. Curate your playlist - Work with your DJ to highlight some of the music that brings back memories that you've shared together or with your guests.  
4. Personalize your Wedding Vows - Naturally we've been to a lot of ceremonies in our day, but we're such a sucker for those sweet vows an notes about what it is that you have found in each other to forge this beautiful union and that you will share the rest of your lives together.  Ugh...tissues please!
5.  Stay Grounded - Keep busy with your normal day to day lives without letting wedding planning and all of the articles cloud your mind, spend time with friends and family doing non-related events.  If you need to vent, get it out but give your friends the ok to let you know if you're borderline bridezilla...


~ Happy Planning! ~

Northern California Wedding Planner | You Set Your Date, Now Share The News

If you've been staring that beautiful ring on your finger, and wanting to share the news with an official save the date then check out some of these beautiful options and take advantage of special pricing at Minted.com

Nostalgia Save the Date Cards

float + celebrate Save the Date Cards

Oak Tree Save the Date Cards

Pop of Color Save the

Flourish Save the Date Cards

Nostalgia Save The Date Minibooks

We're so excited for engagement season, and thrilled to share some of these great options for couples who are looking for predesigned stationery options.  If you are hoping for something custom be sure to send us a message or drop a comment below and we can schedule a time to chat!  

We only share information and promotions from companies that we know and use, the promotion above are affiliate links to Minted.com.  

~ Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Rancho Victoria Vineyard Wedding - Kaleigh and Chris

Rancho Victoria Vineyard stole not only our hearts, but clearly the hearts of these two newly weds! Kaleigh & Chris's love for each other, is a love that is so amazing and so pure.

Ashley Teasley & her fantastic team of photographers truly mesmerized us through their photos. As wedding planners, it's difficult to see all of these special moments. That's why we get SO excited when we receive photos in our inbox... for images like these, tell a story that we will always remember.  

Venue: Rancho Victoria Vineyard
Photographer: Ashley Teasley Photography
Florals: Flowers On Main
Makeup: Molly Isaacson
Hair: Cierra Shea
DJ: J Crew Productions
Catering: Back Forty Texas BBQ
Rentals: Simply Country Weddings
Dress: Miosa Bridal
Coordination: The 530 Bride
 

Northern California Wedding Planner | How To Organize Your Wedding Details in Under 30 Days

Forget the countdown to Christmas, you're counting down to your wedding day and it is coming up fast.  Aside from watching the forecast you aren't quite sure what else you can do to prepare.  Often we come into the picture when a couple or their family decides that an extra set of hands and some organization would really help ensure that everyone can just enjoy the day without worrying.

Timeline - We love pretty things we do, and organizing the decor details will come but first it is so important to see all of the variables together on one timeline.  We take a few things into consideration: 

• Getting Ready - Where do you plan on getting ready before the ceremony? Will you put your dress on there or at your ceremony venue?
• Transportation - Are you taking transportation to the venue, if not how and when will you arrive to the venue.
• Photography Coverage - If you would like photos of your gown, shoes, accessories and invitations, this will need to happen prior to getting dressed.  So we look at how many hours of coverage you have and prioritize what they will cover if we are limited.  If you have a huge family - make sure to have a clear shots list with your photographer and account for that on your timeline.
• Access to Venue - We'll look at decor load in times and if any set-up can be done at the time of rehearsal, if not then we put together an outline of what items are arriving and where everything will be set-up.  This also includes what time everything needs to be cleaned up at the end of the night, so thorough communication with all event partners is key.
• Food & Beverage for Guests - Everything from what time ice needs to arrive for the kegs/bar items and water, to what appetizers are being served if any and if any additional items need to be brought in by the couple (example: ziplock bags or to-go containers for leftovers, disposable plates and forks for cake if caterer is not providing) 

Ceremony - This often comes together in the last few weeks so don't feel like you are too behind.  Now is the time to start deciding on the processional order of how your wedding party and any escorted guests will come down the aisle, and what music they will be accompanied by. 

• Any Special Readings/Traditions 
• Who will have the rings
• Who are your witnesses and when would you like them to sign the license
• Who will mail the license after the ceremony? - Make sure to get this in within 10 days of your ceremony!

Schedule a phone session with your officiant if needed to get an idea of how long the ceremony will be.  You don't want to give yourself 30 minutes on the timeline for the ceremony if its going to be done in 11 minutes flat! There are some great guides to planning your ceremony vows, we've linked to some here if you want to check them out.  (Download Link) 

Confirmations  & Final Details - You met with your caterer what 6 months ago? Did you have the correct dinner time listed on the consult sheet? Maybe something has changed, and now is the time for the timeline and confirmation calls with each of the event partners you've hired for your wedding day.  If you don't have a wedding coordinator yet, we strongly urge you to consider one even if only for the prep and hourly for assistance.  Otherwise, appoint a very organized friend who can assist with covering all of the bases.  Final headcount, rental numbers, song selections and announcements to shuttle pick up times and arrival time for hair and make-up - you name it, it needs to be confirmed.

Design - Alright, now to the pretty stuff! We'll sit down with the couple or go over their rental orders of what items they are having brought in and identify if any other items need to be on their packing list such as AA batteries for LED Pillar candles.  We encourage couples to take a mock picture of any tables they would like set-up in a specific way or make notes/instructions on the boxes they pack in.  So if you want 4 votive candles, one frame per table in addition to the centerpiece and table number - write it down.  This also helps for clean-up because the boxes will be labeled and super easy to pack back up.  So make sure you have even a basic sketch/idea of: 

• Floorplan and or seating chart layout
• Special items (toasting flutes, cake cutting set, card box, guestbook, memory table items, chair signs for newlyweds, etc) 
• Signage & Frames - Do you want these in a particular place or can these be styled at the discretion of who is setting up?
• Florals - What time are your bouquets arriving? Where - to your hotel room or the venue? Are your ceremony florals being used after the ceremony in another spot after the ceremony? If so, where are they moving and who is moving them?

Did you know that The 530 Bride offers a la carte services like set-up and break down for weddings, just to make this process a little easier? If you're 30-45 days away from your wedding date (or less) and could use some help, shoot us a message and we'd be happy to schedule a free consultation/therapy session haha.  In all seriousness, it's going to be fine!