Northern California Wedding Planner | Backyard Durham California Wedding - Alie & Brian

A beautiful Durham, California wedding wouldn't be complete without an incredible couple who worked their booties off getting this property ready to go for their special day! 1 Year ago in April, we had the opportunity to take a look at the property that they wanted to re-vamp into a wedding venue for their big day a year later. They were concerned that we wouldn't have seen their vision; but automatically, we did. 

We saw their wedding come to life on April 28th. With hard work and perseverance and of course love, they made it happen! From knee high grass and houses planted on the property, to a beautiful open space with designated areas for specific moments, it was magical!

Alie and her ladies were pampered and were getting ready to go for the wedding at the one and only Hotel Diamond, in downtown Chico. We're always so giddy when we get to drop off flowers to our couples there! 

Tyler and Mayela with Ranalla Photo and Films captured their love so beautifully in a way that is hard to explain... so here are some highlights that we absolutely love!

We wish we could put this entire album on this one blog post, but we will leave you with these! Thank you to all of our incredible vendors for making their day absolutely beautiful!

Makeup: The Powder Room // Hair: Julia LynnFox // Photographer: Ranalla Photo & Films // Venue: Durham Backyard // Coordination: The 530 Bride // Getting Ready Location: Hotel Diamond // Wedding gown: Always Elegant // Rentals: Chico Party Rentals // DJ: The Wedding DJ // Catering: Truckaroni

Northern California Wedding Planner | Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

Hey there Spring! It's been an exciting last few weeks of wedding prep for our spring weddings and now that we are in full on wedding mode we also have planning sessions for our fall 2018 weddings and our 2019 couples.  So what that means is we are working on finding the perfect event partners for our couples from caterers, florists, bakers, DJ's and everything in between.  

If you've been reading our blog you know that we feel strongly about connecting with your wedding team, and that when you are making these decisions it truly is not just a matter of price.  Photo and video teams are going to spend a significant amount of time with you on your wedding day so it's important to vibe with them.  

Photo by Felix Russell-Saw on Unsplash

Regardless of how many months or even year(s) out you are from your wedding day, you may start hearing this phrase quite often "it is your day" or "whatever you like" because it's true we can't simply pick a list of people that we like and expect it to match all of your specific preferences.  However if the process of making all of these decisions feels overwhelming than by all means ask your wedding planner to give you their narrowed down preferred vendor list.

For this example, we will assume you are starting from scratch in the photographer search and we will take you through our process for finding the right photographer for your wedding!
 

Photography Style/Editing 

When our couples are looking for photographers we send them a list of several styles of photography to see which direction they are leaning towards, that could be a natural light photographer who has a lot of light/bright and colorful photos or a photographer who does a darker moodier edit. 

Photo by Petr Ovralov on Unsplash

Sometimes we find that couple's aren't set on a specific type of edit but rather the style in which the photographer shoots portraits (posed vs more candid shots) etc.  If you love that one photographer gets really unique angles and uses dramatic lighting and editing techniques then we know your list of photographers to meet with will be much different than a couple who really prefers soft natural light photos with minimal editing. 

Coverage

Now that you have narrowed down the style of photography that you are interested in, it is time to start thinking about your wedding day coverage and what your priorities are for photos.  This is important when you are comparing the number of hours included in wedding collections that you are considering. 

For example if you are looking at photographer A who you really love but are thinking of a 7 hour package, you will need to decide when their coverage would begin.  If sunset portraits are important to you then you can also look up with when the sunset is on your date and assume you will do sunset portraits 15-20 minutes before the sun actually sets.  Then work your way backward for the coverage start time.

If you ask us, we always recommend having at least 8 hours of coverage on your wedding day.  This allows you to plan your reception without feeling like you are rushing through all of the formalities to squeeze everything into a 6 or 7 hour photography timeline.

Pricing

We understand that your wedding budget is a real thing, and we want to provide you with options that make sense for your specific needs.  We help you narrow down the options to then reach out to the photographers and schedule a consultation or phone session so that you get to know them and understand more about the value they provide.  

If you have questions about choosing your wedding photographer feel free to reach out to us, we're always happy to help out!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Real Talk ~ Budget Breakdown

With the recent news of Style Me Pretty closing it had us thinking a lot about where couples find inspiration for planning their wedding.  If you are engaged and starting to dive into the rentals, decor and design aspects of your wedding you might feel unsure of pricing or how to even go about putting together the overall look.  We're going to break down the budget of a wedding reception and talk real numbers!

Let's take two side by side wedding tables for example and see if anything jumps out.  At first glance, they are both round guest tables with white linens.  But the full drop linen on the left is double the price of the linen on the right.  

Will your reception chairs be pre-set at the tables or are you using the same set of chairs for ceremony and moving them to reception?  Consider the cost of doubling the set of chairs vs upgrading to full drop linens and see which is a priority to you.  In some cases couples choose to use standard linens on the tables and only have one set of chairs so just make sure you have a plan for getting chairs moved over. 

Now, let's move on to your place settings and visualize what you would like to have on your tables.  The first question we would have is if your caterer will be providing china and flatware or if they use heavy chinette disposables.  If the caterer gives you the option or you are considering renting dishes just make sure to work out the numbers for rentals, and labor for bussing the dishes.

Image: Matthew Lim Photography 

So let's ball park the numbers for a wedding reception of 150 guests assuming we are using round guest tables that seat 8 guests and basic polyester linens. *Keep in mind the pricing is based on average rental pricing in Northern California and it can vary quite a bit depending on the company* 

148 guests + the couple

1 48 inch round wood table (sweetheart table) 8.00 ea
1  108 inch round full drop polyester linen (sweetheart table) 10.95 ea
19 60 inch round wood tables  8.95 ea
19 120 inch full drop polyester linen 12.95 ea
150 White resin padded folding chairs 2.50 ea
150 China package (dinner plate, flatware, water goblet, wine glass and champagne glass) 2.60 ea

This would bring us to $27 per person and a subtotal of $3,996 for the guest tables and then $4,014.25 including the sweetheart table + linen before tax, delivery and maintenance/wear & tear fees (typically 10%) We would also want to add a welcome table, buffet tables, bar tables, dessert tables etc along with linens for all of your service tables. 

Depending on if you are renting through a full service rental company or your caterer, you will also want to factor in set-up and breakdown fees for ceremony and reception items.    
 

Image: Bloom Portraiture 

Choosing a caterer is a big decision not only because it is such a large portion of your wedding budget but because choosing the package can determine the service level for the event.  If you envision passed appetizers, staff going around to keep the beverage glasses full, having champagne poured at the tables and staff to handle cake cutting then you will want to look into a full service caterer.  {For more tips on choosing a caterer check out our recent blog post.}

If you are choosing a buffet and would like to keep costs down, consider using heavy chinette disposables to reduce the rental costs and labor for bussing tables.   You can also have stationary appetizers instead of passed as it will be less labor intensive. 

Hopefully this was helpful to see some line items but if you need some assistance with getting your overall budget together, feel free to reach out and we would be happy to chat!

~ Happy Planning ~ 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Engagement Session Giveaway

You still have time to enter into the Engagement Session Giveaway by Julia Lukash Photography!  Head over to our Instgram and follow the giveaway instructions, entries are valid until Sunday 4/22 at 5 pm.

Image: Julia Lukash Photography

We've been swooning over Julia's work since we first met years ago and we cannot wait to work with her for upcoming weddings.  We love Julia's fun personality, and her passion for photography.  You can check out her website to see more of her work or follow her on Facebook or Instagram.  
 

Don't forget to enter for this awesome giveaway, or feel free to share with other engaged couples!

~ Happy Planning!~ 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Sneak peeks - Michelle & Eric

Miners Foundry Wedding - Sneak Peeks from Cassie Mae Photography

If you want to see a wedding planner do a happy dance, it's definitely happening when we see sneak peeks posted after a wedding day.  It is so neat to see the highlights from the day and the happiness in the photos.  We know Michelle and Eric had a blast at their wedding and they are loving all of the photos from Cassie Mae Photography.   

Miners Foundry is such a neat wedding venue, and was the perfect setting for Michelle and Eric's spring wedding.  We can't wait to share more and tell you all about the details of their day.

Photos by Cassie Mae Photography 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Why You Should Hire A Full Service Wedding Planner

Weddings aren't all champagne and macarons, but our obsession comes from the satisfaction of bringing a concept together that start as notes on a page and transform into real life details.  It is exhilarating to send a ceremony processional down the aisle at precisely the right time, and watching the couple as they are announced into their reception surrounded by their guests just as they are about to enjoy dinner and dancing.  These moments are created with so much love and careful planning! 

Image by AnnaMae Photography 

Many couples come to us a few months after getting engaged and they feel like they can make a lot of the decisions themselves, but once they start looking at the time commitment to plan and communicate with all of their potential vendors they begin to consider how much they already have on their plates with work and day-to-day life.  Did you know that the average couple spends anywhere from 10-20 hours a week planning their wedding?  

Source: Wedding Wire 2017 Newlywed Report

Aside from time, budget is another reality check that can be difficult to get back on track if you have been booking vendors and without an understanding of the big picture.  As wedding planners, we can help you select goods and services that fit into the overall vision of what you are hoping to achieve/experience.  Think of us as a match-maker in a way because we can see a good fit for things like photography and videography based on the personalities and style of the couple, it's amazing to see the relationships that grow and how smooth the wedding day goes with the right team.

While every wedding is unique, some of the typical services that we provide for full service planning clients include: 

• Design concept
• Budget proposal/outline
• Venue research and selection assistance
• Contract reviews
• Vendor research and communication
• Arrange consultations and tastings 
• Source and reserve/manage rentals
• Guest list management and rsvp tracking
• Stationery design or procurement
• Floorplan design
• Payment tracking, insurance documentation and final detail distribution
• Provide event production staff for set-up and coordinate all breakdown
  & so much more! 

As a full-service planner, we love being able to support your wedding planning journey from the very beginning. Not only do we ensure nothing is missed, but we also love the friendships that  are built throughout this amazing process! 

Xo,

Northern California Wedding Planner | Real Talk - Vendor Communication

Happy Spring! Today we're talking all about keeping up with communication during your wedding planning process and how a wedding planner can help you stay organized.  Let's assume you have anywhere from 5 to 10 wedding vendors from your venue, caterer, florist, DJ and rentals to bakers, tent company and stationery designer.  That's a lot of moving pieces!

As a wedding planner, communication is our top priority because when everyone is on the same page for your wedding day we know things will go smoothly as planned.  If details and updates aren't distributed across the board you can bet there will be a snag in the process which can ultimately cost you money if you need to add something that was missed, or an important detail isn't executed as promised.  It is imperative for your wedding vendors to work as a team, and we want to ensure that everyone is set up for success from day one.

Email communication 
As convenient as text messages are these days, it still isn't a professional form of communication and because texts are often very short and sweet it is always going to be more thorough to communicate via email.  This also will be helpful in the long run in case you need to look back through your previous emails to refresh your memory on a decision or update from a few months prior.  

Organized Master Timeline
Without an organized master timeline to serve as the main anchor point for your event, you could easily have several different variations of your wedding timeline with each vendor.  It doesn't seem like 10 minutes here and there make a big difference but when it comes to the caterer pulling lids off of the buffet and food being served fresh and hot, every minute counts.   We also want to make the most of your coverage with your photographer so giving enough time for formal portraits but keeping dinner and toasts running smoothly will ensure you have time for those dreamy sunset photos! 

Efficient Decision Making
A wedding planner can help present options to you in an efficient manner, making side by side comparisons based on your budget and preferences.  This will cut down on the back and forth emails to get the information you are looking for and can also streamline the time that it takes to book vendors.  Decision making was one of the 5 toughest things about planning according to WeddingWire

Details, Details, Details! 
We can only imagine what your day looks like inside your mind until we get to draw this out and break it down detail by detail.  This will ensure that no one is coming to you with questions on your wedding day while you are getting your hair and make-up done.  We will work with your vendors to review set up and breakdown details, and the smallest detail when it comes to your preferences. 

Managing your calendar
We want to assist you with making sure you know when appointments and payment due dates are with your vendors, when you need to have your final guest count, where and when you need to purchase event insurance and if desired we'll follow up on your behalf to ensure you receive your deposit back from your venue after your wedding. 

Planning Dashboard
Our couples have access to their personalized planning dashboard where they can access their wedding details 24/7.  They will have the ability to view and customize their planning checklist, master timeline, budget details, guest list, rsvp tracking, vendor contact info and contracts, design details and more.  This makes us happy wedding planners because we know they can relax knowing exactly where they are in the process. 

Every couple is different with respect to how involved they want to be in their day-to-day planning, so we have different packages and options to serve those needs individually.  We'd love to chat with you about your wedding plans even if are just looking for an extra set of hands on your wedding day.  

~ Happy Planning! 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Patrick Ranch Wedding - Cambria & Tyler

Cambria & Tyler's winter wedding had us feeling all the warm and fuzzies! Not only was it a beautiful wedding day, but it was always so fun to meet with Cambria and Tyler and we loved all of our planning sessions with them along the way.  

It was really special to see the depth that Cambria and Tyler have in their relationship and with their pastors. It makes perfect sense for their first look to take place at Bidwell Presbyterian Church beneath the beautiful stained glass windows among the church pews.  The ceremony was light and happy, focusing on the true dedication and unconditional love that marriage is built upon, Tyler and Cambria's pastors had watched them grow into young adults and were proud to see them through such a big milestone in their lives.

For the reception at Patrick Ranch Museum, the tables were lined with wine bottle table numbers, mixed glassware, loose eucalyptus and linen runners with sprigs of greenery.  It was just the right elements to create the simple elegance that Cambria had described since the first time we spoke about what she envisioned for wedding decor.

We were so excited to work with Morgan Chantelle Photography, she has an effortless eye for the perfect shot and such an easy going energy.  Thank you so much Morgan for sharing these images with us, hope everyone enjoys!

We could go on and on with our favorite moments from this day and from our planning journey with Tyler and Cambria, it means the world to us to be able to work with such sweet couples who allow us to share in such a special time in their lives!

A huge thank you to all of the event partners who contributed to their day:

Photographer:  Morgan Chantelle Photography // Ceremony: Bidwell Presbyterian Church // Reception: Patrick Ranch // Wedding Gown: Maggie Sottero // Catering: Roots // Rentals: Chico Party Rentals // Band: Pat Hull // DJ: Norcal Productions // Bartending: Chico Drinks Bartending // Planning:  The 530 Bride // Transportation: WTC 

Northern California Wedding Planner | Bella Rosa Farms Wedding - Amy & Ryan

Simple, Rustic, Chic.  Bella Rosa Farms was the perfect setting for Amy and Ryan's wedding day and you could really see how their guests enjoyed the relaxed venue location.  We had so much fun working with Amy and Ryan, and seeing this new chapter for their family.  Both the bride and groom work in the medical field so their schedules were very busy, making it much easier to have us work directly with their wedding vendors and finalize the essential details. 

We had a chance to work with Matthew Lim Photography again and it was a blast, not only does Matt have a super easy going personality but he has an incredible eye for lighting, emotion and the smallest details.  It was Matt's brilliant eye that discovered the incredible lighting on the bocce ball court and is our all time favorite couple's shot at Bella Rosa!    

After the reception guests enjoyed chips and salsa during the cocktail hour and for dinner there was a full taco bar spread by Aca Taco.  The cookie shoppe cookies were a big hit after dinner!

We love this epic shot on the bocce ball court at Bella Rosa by Matthew Lim Photography 

Time flies, it doesn't seem like long ago we were planning all of these details together! 

Thanks to all of the event partners who contributed to this wonderful wedding day for Amy and Ryan: 

Photography: Matthew Lim Photography // Venue: Bella Rosa Farms // Coordination: The 530 Bride // Catering: Aca Taco // Florals: Chico Florist // DJ: Mike and Donna // Dessert: Cookie Shoppe // Rentals: Chico Party Rentals 

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