Northern California Wedding Planner | Entourage to Encourage

Your wedding party isn’t just a group of folks who signed up to look amazing next to you in your wedding photos, these are your die-hards who are going to support you through anything! In the years of planning we have seen the most incredible bonds and lifetime friendships that our couple’s are blessed to have and we want to encourage to lean on those friends. Repeat after us, you don’t have to carry the stress of uncertainty on your own or even just alone with your fiance.

Photo by Sarah Tamagni Photography

Silly wine nights (even over Zoom) chatting way too late or getting a nice walk in while talking to your besties will not only give you a chance to connect to see how they are doing but to also take a break from non-stop wedding thoughts. If you are stressed, they can remind you that you are going to marry the most amazing life partner ever and if you are anxious they can talk you down from running off to elope!

Photo by Wild Native Photography

Friends are the most precious gift in life and we love that we get to remain close with our couples, see their incredible adventures and milestones together and reminisce about their wonderful day. We usually aren’t this mushy we promise, but hey we are missing our normal wedding weekend routines over here! In the meantime we hope you will shoot your friends a text or a call to just thank them for being in your lives and for committing to being by your side in your wedding planning journey.

Happy Planning!

Northern California Virtual Wedding Show Series - Bringing the Bridal Show to You!

The new normal may feel strange but we know that it is temporary so in the meantime we can all look for ways to pivot and stay connected & inspired. Our newest project aims to do just that - The Northern California Wedding Show is a virtual series that will begin 4/29/20 and runs through 5/10 via a private Facebook group. This means that couples can celebrate their excitement for their upcoming wedding while also connecting with local wedding professionals in Northern California.

Our goal with the series to give couples an opportunity to see the behind the scenes, in-depth introductions and features from wedding professionals and creatives who are truly dedicated to their craft. This means that each participating business has been vetted and will be committed to submitting quality content to inspire & educate couples.

For more information please join the Northern California Wedding Show Facebook group or visit www.northerncaliforniaweddingshow.com and we’ll be adding more updates daily for who you can expect to see in the show!

~ Happy Planning! ~

Northern California Wedding Planner | Stay at Home & Stay Well

This week we’ve seen the funny #quarantine memes on social media from people getting pretty creative while staying home to flatten the curve of rising cases of COVID-19. The strength in our community to adapt and support small businesses while practicing distancing has been inspiring; we all have friends and family who we know are on the essential front lines. Friends, we wish we could know when we will have normalcy again.

The wedding industry across the globe has taken a dramatic turn as we help couples find alternative dates this fall or in 2021, leaving big questions about wedding insurance & how to move forward for those who decide to cancel. Our team can’t wait to be together again creating beautiful events but for now we have halted all meetings/site visits and will work remotely from our homes. We miss all of our couples & wedding friends!

We want couples to know that it is still ok to be excited about your wedding, to want to create beautiful centerpieces and to dream about your first dance. This won’t last forever but it does require all of us to do our part which means that bridal showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, hair trials, cake tastings and more will be impacted. For those who have a wedding in 2020 and are holding out hope to keep your date, we want to hold out right alongside you but also have a plan B in place with an alternate date that works for all of your vendors. To date, we have been able to successfully move dates while retaining the vendors for close to 20 spring weddings and we know that it is an emotional situation for every one of those couples.

Take the time that you need to press pause on things that are out of your control and give yourself some grace to not have all of the answers on what happens next. Taking that pressure off may help you to also connect with your partner and focus on getting through these next few weeks under the shelter at home order. Who knows maybe you’ll discover a new hobby together! If you need a shoulder or a life line of someone to call - we’re here for any couple who just needs to vent.

Stay well,
Veronica & The 530 Bride Team

Northern California Wedding Planner | What to expect from your vendors during a crisis

Ask any wedding planner about their plan b for a wedding or event and you can bet they have one (or even a plan C!) because it is in our client’s best interest to be prepared in many different scenarios. We plan for inclement weather, guest count changes and site logistic challenges to avoid surprises and mitigate risk for our couple. There are some situations that we can’t always plan for and the past few weeks have given us a challenging set of circumstances caused by the COVID-19 health crisis. Couples across the nation are having to quickly make a decision on how to proceed. If you are engaged and nearing your original wedding date, here’s our take on what to expect from your wedding vendors.

Image Courtesy of Sourced +Co.

First and foremost, we recommend to read your existing contracts and local/state ordinances thoroughly as well as seek legal counsel for any areas that you feel need clarification. Second, we in no way are recommending to ignore state/local or federal mandates in response to COVID-19.  Only you can choose what is right for your wedding and your loved ones, in light of this public health crisis. We respect the right of any vendor to decide they do not feel it is safe for them or their staff to uphold their contract if it risks exposure.

Venue:
If your wedding venue is privately owned they may allow you to proceed until they receive an official ban or state/local ordinance prohibiting gatherings. There could be guest count restrictions that the venue recommends to follow in order to follow the order as closely as possible without having to cancel or postpone. If the venue is a hall that is managed by the county for example, they may have more requirements to follow CDC/FEMA guidelines. You should expect communication on these restrictions, and what the venue’s plan is as well as any open dates should you need to postpone.

Photographer/Videography Team
Many photographers are well equipped to have the location change, guest count change and are generally very accommodating. In the case of COVID-19 the photographer will be organizing group shots and being in somewhat close quarters for getting ready shots and dance photos so we want to be mindful of their guidance on how to keep a distance which could include using a different lens and maybe not pose the photos hands-on. If your photo and video team are traveling - also consider how this affects them depending on where they are traveling from and whether or not they have any restrictions leaving.

Image courtesy of Sourced+Co.

Food service & Bar Team
The catering and bar teams will need to have a plan for how to take extra precaution such as only using disposables, implementing a one sided buffet so that guests aren’t directly touching serving utensils or choosing a plated meal. The bar team may recommend to also use disposable cups or bottled/can beers to reduce touching the glasses/cup surfaces as much as possible. Double check your contract about any terms specific to guest count minimums or fees based on guest count so that you can make those adjustments once you have a clear idea of the accurate guest count. If you are postponing - request a new contract or amendment to your current agreement to reflect the new date.

Image courtesy of Sourced+Co

Rentals & Florals
This is an area that can be tricky because if you are changing your date we want to make sure that all inventory on your order is not currently reserved on the new date, and if you are keeping your date but have a drastically reduced guest count a rental company may only offer the difference as a credit depending on how close you are to your date. Your planner can touch base with your rental companies and check on inventory, payment terms, refunds and changes. Anytime we change the table count, we will want to run back through your floral order and adjust based on the new number of centerpieces needed as well.

DJ’s & Entertainment
When it comes to your DJ/Band they are there to create the atmosphere that you have crafted whether you have planned an upbeat dance party or classic & intimate dinner for your closest friends & family. Plan to check in with your DJ to make adjustments to your toasts, announcements and order of events if you have already submitted your music planner - if you haven’t completed they can likely give advice based on your details & wishes. If you are moving forward with a smaller celebration ask about possibly incorporating a live stream or zoom video option for guests who would like to remotely celebrate with you.

Planning & Design
If you have a planner, you can expect them to be wanting to jump in and help you through remaining decisions and any changes that affect the design and guest experience. For instance if you have two bars due to guest count but expect that you will have less guests we could re-allocate the amount you budgeted for the second bar and go down to one bar. The difference could be used to upgrade your cocktails or add another appetizer etc. If you are postponing to another season in the same year, we would want to go back over your timeline and adjust for the sunset timing on the new date and also adjust any seasonal items in your menu or floral recipe that are going to change. For the couple who’s date is further out please note that your planner is working diligently for the each client and will first be securing new dates for couples who need to postpone but will reach out to you for check-ins and to keep your planning on track.

All in all, you have your team of vendors so lean on them for support when you need it. It is perfectly okay to need a minute to breathe and to wait & see. No one expects you to have it all figured out yet but just remember that celebrating your love is not dependent on a physical place or date - and no matter what your friends and family will understand any decision that you make.

Stay well friends,
Veronica & The 530 Bride Team

Northern California Wedding Planner | Wedding Community Support - COVID-19 Response

It’s unavoidable to see updates throughout the day of the COVID=19 virus impacts across the globe, and our hearts go out to everyone who has been directly effected or experiencing the ripple effect of the virus. We know that when planning a wedding the last thing on your mind is social distancing and hand sanitizer, and our focus is on supporting our couples and wedding-pro friends through this.

While our local area has not had any positive cases - we are keeping a close eye on CDC and World Health Organization recommendations for gatherings. Please see the most current update as of March 15th regarding social gatherings of 50 guests or more. (click here for direct link to CDC update)

It should be noted that the current CDC recommendation is not an official ban, but that could change, pending updates from Governor Newsom. In the meantime for couples who have an upcoming wedding in the next 8-10 weeks we encourage you to take time and discuss with your family about what is right for your wedding and loved ones.

With that being said we have compiled the following tips regarding some of the main questions that couples may have:

1. Will my event/cancellation insurance cover COVID-19
   Each policy writer will have specific clauses relating to provisions and exclusions, so it is important to review your policy documents and refer to the company’s website for further instructions. Please note that we have seen strong advice to not attempt to purchase any new cancellation policies related to the COVID-19 outbreak, as a known occurrence at the time of purchase would be excluded from coverage.

2. Are vendors cancelling any dates?
   As of now, the consensus we have seen from the majority of vendors is the intent to honor all dates and will make adjustments as they relate to hand washing, sanitation, staffing, etc as recommended to take every precaution for your safety. There may be fees for moving your date, refer to your vendors/venue agreement for clarification.

3. Will my guests be able to travel to my wedding?
   Travel impacts are expected however we are seeing several updates indicating that domestic air travel is relatively safe due to cabin air pressure and at this time we haven’t seen airports specifically discontinuing flights. We do expect guest counts to be lower in the earlier months of wedding season especially with older groups or families with small children.

We will continue to stay updated on press releases as well as local impacts to assist our couples and the local wedding community. If you have an upcoming event and do not have a planner to assist you, please reach out as we will always offer a complimentary time to discuss your plans & how we can best help you.

Our team will be working to reach out to all of our scheduled couples and their vendors to establish a working plan B as well as taking precautions so that our whole team stays healthy in order to best serve our couples. This will include scheduling virtual meetings with our couples and vendors for the next few months.

Stay well,
The 530 Bride Team

Northern California Wedding Planner | Wedding Planning is Easy

Hey friends! Thanks for checking out our blog and today we are sharing a little about our planning approach, because when you have a team behind you - wedding planning is easy! Ok so picture a newly engaged couple who has been soaking up the excitement of their news and are eager to get planning underway asap! Yay we love this stage because there is simply nothing better than two folks who are completely smitten with each other and want to say I do!

via GIPHY

Naturally, we have all sorts of questions from what type of venue are you looking for, how many guests do you plan to invite to whether or not you will see each other before the ceremony a.k.a “first look”. lots of questions! Ultimately a consultation with a planner is a getting to know you process, and making sure that our team has a good handle on your wishes & expectations. Then we move on to the logistics, we talk about things that work well and maybe some small adjustments that we could see helping avoid any timing issues - stay with us because this is the part where couples can start to gloss over on us - logistics aren’t always sexy!

The good news is that once you get the planning process started and you have the framework of what you hope to experience on your wedding day combined with a planner who knows the local network of wedding professionals; it comes together pretty quickly. Did you know that we use an online planning dashboard to help our couples organize the details allowing them to access all of their wedding information 24/7 - we love seeing the progress bar go up as items get checked off the list!

So there you have it, wedding planning can be done around your work or school schedule still allowing you to have those fun date nights because you will have a team to support and guide you through all of the phases of planning. We are so excited to help so many amazing couple’s plan their wedding and we get to hang out with some pretty awesome wedding pro’s too!
~ Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | 2020 Winter Weddings

We’ve had a fun start to 2020 with two beautiful winter weddings, so naturally we had to share a few sneak peaks! The weather has been pretty incredible which made for some stunning portraits and we can’t wait to share more with you from both of these beautiful wedding days.

January ~ Ana & Orlando - Married at Sacred Heart Church, Gridley CA - Photos by Diane Nicole Photography

February ~ Anna & Will - Married on family property in Willows, CA - Photos by Amber Enos Photography

Shout out to Amber for catching a couple behind the scenes moments too while we gathered around to bustle Anna’s gorgeous wedding gown, and Jackson of The Wedding DJ Company lined up the wedding party for their big introduction!

Stay tuned for more 2020 weddings and for the full blog posts with all of the details.
~ Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Reading Between The Lines

Wedding planning is not black and white with stringent rules, nor is it a cookie cutter package that works exactly the same for every couple. Instead it is a very personalized, fluid experience that differs for every couple. That’s why we feel it is so important to try to really gauge each couple’s expectations and preferences for the best possible experience, and to be able to proactively avoid scenarios where something goes wrong due to lack of planning or the foresight into what simply works well for hosting a large number of guests.

Our role as a wedding planner is to take the couple’s preferences, site logistics and all contracts/proposals and read through all of the details including what isn’t stated in a contract.. So not only will we look for what each vendor is providing, we seek to understand what is NOT included or provided by all of the vendors to ensure that nothing is missed.

For instance, if your DJ package includes only one sound set-up we may work through your site logistics and determine that it’s sufficient or we may see that having the second sound system set for cocktail hour & reception is necessary. We may also see that you need a lapel microphone for ceremony rather than a stand microphone. Or perhaps your bartending service does not provide the alcohol or ice, cups, straws, napkins or garnishes but they do provide the bar kit (cocktail shakers, lemon slicer, bottle openers, ice bucket etc.) We go through all of these details and confirm before your wedding so that nothing is left to the day-of to improvise.

We’ll confirm pricing for overages so that if you decide to extend your DJ for an hour or your photographer stays late for that epic moonlight portrait you are aware of any additional fees as well as how those will be charged (check or cash the night of, invoiced the following day, etc.) Our couple’s best interest is always at the forefront of our planning and you have our team to advocate for you.

One area that we feel strongly about is keeping our couple’s budget on track so that none of our client’s ever feel like they are over extending what they originally budgeted. Instead the planning process should be transparent and information should always be accessible at all times. All of our couples have access to their own custom planning dashboard which gives them full control of their planning details 24/7! If you are feeling stressed about your upcoming wedding and feel like you could benefit from having another set of eyes to help you read between the lines - we’d love to chat!

~ Happy Planning! ~
The 530 Bride Team

Northern California Wedding Planner | Paul J. Wines - Plymouth, CA ~ Clarice & Raul

When we first met Clarice, we could tell that she was so excited to be Mrs. Velasquez. There was such pure and wholesome energy that came from her presence, the anticipation was contagious! With loads of collaboration from their family and friends, an amazing group of creative professionals, it was a perfect October day! Enjoy these highlight images from Dani Padgette Weddings!

Before the festivities began, Clarice got ready for their first look at her grandparent’s estate up the road where vineyards that produced the wine provided for the wedding was grown. Look at those smiles and tears of anticipation!

Their perfect fall wedding day was held in the backyard on the stunning property of her uncle’s winery in Plymouth, CA; Paul J Wines. With florals designed by her best friend, Olivia an altar constructed by Clarice’s dad and brother, and a view to die for, each element came together to create a truly sentimental wedding.

No eye was left dry after witnessing Raul and Clarice’s sweet vows to each other.

To kick off the party, DJ Or asked guests to join the dance floor group by group by the amount of years they’d known the couple and within a couple minutes it was packed with guests ready to break out their best moves. The night was filled with great food, drinks, and so much dancing all night long.

Shout out to the rockstar team who made this magical night happen!

Wedding Management @530bride
Venue and Bar Service @pauljwines
Photography @danipadgettweddings
Catering @chandostacos
DJ @andrmusic
Floral @svyatovia
Rentals @jspartyrentals
Hair @stephaniezinna

…and all of Clarice & Raul’s family and friends involved.

Northern California Wedding Planner | Friends Don't let Friends Stress On Their Wedding Day

Thinking back to some of the most fun weddings that we’ve been apart of we can see the common thread - the intention from day one to just let go of unnecessary stress. That is so much easier said than done in many scenarios but planning your wedding doesn’t have to be stressful or scary, we promise! Friends and family are there to help you live in the moment and enjoy making memories! The rest is where we come in..

Photo by Matthew Lim Photography

Being days away from 2020 we know that a wedding party is no longer tied to old traditions and is instead there to support you and enjoy in the celebration with you. If we can avoid having your wedding party or family feel like they need to work at your wedding then even better because they’ll be focused on being by your side.

Photo by Matthew Lim Photography

The sweetest gift is when we see siblings, friends, and members in the wedding party stepping forward to encourage the couple to at the bare minimum hire a coordination team if not full planning. Having referrals from past clients, their family members and wedding party means that absolute world to us because we know that we were able to contribute to everyone having nothing to stress over on the wedding day.

Photo by Matthew Lim Photography

To those who have been searching high and low for a day-of-coordinator, you may notice that the wedding industry as a whole has shifted the terminology (rightfully so) to a more accurate term of “Wedding Management” because ..well “day-of-coordination” just doesn’t exist. When we come out for a site walk to your venue or property typically 4-6 months in advance to look at the layout & logistics (power, parking, vendor access, signage) we are looking at all of the moving parts and details that need to be cohesive in order to have a successful wedding weekend. This doesn’t happen when someone is handed some notes and a clipboard 24 hours or even weeks in advance.

Over 8 years of planning we have stepped in to many different scenarios and though most everything is correctable (changing rental or floral qty., making sure there are cake plates and extra forks, double checking ice for the bar & water for guests, managing the shuttle schedule and keeping hair and make-up running on time) we know that we save our clients time and most certainly money because we are looking at the bigger picture. Do you have questions about what exactly a planner does or whether or not you need one? Shoot us a message or hop over to our reviews on WeddingWire to read first-hand from clients just like you who are glad they had the extra support!

~ Happy Planning! ~

Northern California Wedding Planner | Real Weddings Magazine - Special Offers!

If you are in need of some wedding inspiration to pull yourself out of the holiday daze be sure to check out the Winter/Spring 2020 edition of Real Weddings Magazine. We are so excited to be a part of the amazing publication and network of the area’s finest!

You can watch a short preview of some of the images from our Country Charm feature below, and also find our Natural Elegance shoot featured in the Style Files of the magazine on pg. 244.

Hoping to score some discounts and promotional pricing? Look no further than the Special Offers page on Real Weddings Magazine’s Website! You’ll see discounts on photography, hair & make-up, florals, gowns, dessert and even 10% our coordination packages when booked before 12/31/19.

Visit the Special Offers page to check out all of the promotions!

~ Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Winery Wedding Sneak Peek ~ Clarice & Raul

Fall is the season of never-ending romance where the feeling of abundance and gratefulness fill the air, we are certainly feeling grateful when it comes to thinking back to each of the beautiful weddings we were a part of this year.

Clarice and Raul celebrated their intimate fall wedding day in Plymouth, CA with their loved ones while surrounded by unforgettable vineyard view. We can’t wait to share more of the details with you! We hope the sneak peek’s captured by the amazing Dani Padgette Weddings will give you all the cozy vibes!

Clarice & Raul’s awesome creative team:

Wedding Management @530bride
Venue and Bar Service @pauljwines
Photography @danipadgettweddings
Catering @chandostacos
DJ @andrmusic
Floral @svyatovia
Rentals @jspartyrentals
Hair @stephaniezinna

Northern California Wedding Planner | Surprise Wedding - Highlight Film

Eeek! We stopped in our tracks when we saw the update from Leslie Berry Productions - Mimie & Bryant’s film from their engagement - turned surprise wedding was ready! Best #weddingwednesday ever!

Bryant and Mimie {Cinematic Wedding Highlight Video} - Chico, CA from Leslie Berry Productions on Vimeo.

We are so thankful for the team that helped make this special day happen!

Planning & Design @530bride / Venue & Catering @canyonoaksevents / Photography @shannonrosan / Florals @north_bloom / Beauty @chicosalondiamond / DJ @elitesounddj / Rentals @wedodesigns / Cake @cinful_desserts / Cinema @leslieberryproductions

Northern California Wedding Planner | Feeling Lucky? Enter to Win $10K

We don’t know about you but an extra $10K sounds pretty sweet if you ask us! Well in you are in luck because WeddingWire has monthly sweepstakes and you can receive multiple entries just for meeting, booking and reviewing your wedding vendors!

If you’ve worked with The 530 Bride for coordination & design we would love your feedback which not only helps us reach more amazing couples like you but allows us to implement improvements for future couples as well!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Top Tips of 2019 - Wedding Planning Advice

Sometimes the short and sweet version is all you need so here’s our top wedding planning tips of 2019!

1. Do it for you!
Your wedding plans are yours alone, meaning that you really don’t have to try to please everyone. Keep it authentic to you as a couple and you can’t go wrong. Play the music you love, get married in the setting that feels right whether that is a church, a backyard property or a traditional wedding venue! Related post: Planning Authentically

Butte Creek Canyon Wedding - Photo by AVH Photography

2. Invest in Experience
We can’t drive it home enough - on your wedding day time will fly by! We want you to feel present and that can only happen when you are comfortable enough to trust the professionals that you have on your creative team.

For us, we really try to make a point of recapping with our couples after their wedding and over the years we can really see the difference in the client experience for those who hired professionals - timelines stayed on track making the most of your photo coverage, announcements & music on point, the flowers and decor details were impeccable, food was delicious and beyond that everyone had an amazing time! That doesn’t happen without a team working together. Related posts: Pricing vs Value and Why Experience Matters

Bella Rosa Farms - Photo by Shannon Rosan

3. Don’t be shy
Pinterest can send you down the rabbit hole and before you know it you are looking at weddings in New York or L.A with luxury budgets so you aren’t sure how to set a realistic expectation for your wedding. In the wedding world we have to be open with our couples about the real cost of planning a wedding in their local area. If you are receiving quotes and feeling the sticker shock, you have to pump the breaks and have a transparent conversation with your fiance/parents or anyone contributing to the budget. It is totally ok to discuss the pricing and make sure that you understand all costs before booking. Related budget posts: Service Fees and Real Talk - Budget Breakdown

Almendra Winery & Distillery Styled Shoot - Photo by Ranalla Photo & Film

4. Keep It Simple
Choosing what decor to incorporate into your wedding day can feel sort of daunting, but our rule of thumb is to keep it simple - choose focal points to maximize the impact of your design. This point goes back up to Tip #2 above, but the less decor your buy on your own the less you need to pack out afterwards so if you can rent rather than buy it’s often worth it. Linens are a great example, couples may find good deals online to purchase linens but these will often not come fully pressed an will also need to be washed & pressed afterwards which can add up quick. An elevated design for your sweetheart table, dessert display or lounge seating areas make great focal points. Related posts: Keep it Simple

Photo by Shannon Rosan

5. Plan ahead
Life doesn’t hit pause once you say I Do, so give some thought to what you want your first week or even month or so of “normal life” to look like after your wedding. If you have been spending a lot of time on wedding planning you are going to want to re-channel this energy somewhere and the best advice we have is to spend focused task-based time with intention. Look into trying out a yoga or spin class with a friend (many gyms and studios even have a few free trials!) or plan on a room in your house to rennovate/update. You can see our full blog post on avoiding the post-wedding blues here!

Photo by Sarah Tamagni Photography

Our 2019 season is a wrap, but we are busy working on planning details for our 2020 weddings and continually streamlining the way that we run our planning company, this means more efficiency & consistency for all of our couples. Be sure to catch up with the latest happenings by following us on Instagram at @530bride

~ Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Featured - Real Weddings Magazine

Monday morning is so much sweeter when we get galleries back from weddings and styled shoots, so this morning our happy dance was in full swing thanks to Real Weddings Magazine! Sharing a few of the highlights and links so that you can check out all of the details from the shoot, but be sure to catch the newest issue of Real Weddings Magazine for more inspiration and resources - on stands now!

The inspiration for the shoot was to bring an elegance and softness into a rustic space to show that contrast & balance is possible in any setting. We were so thrilled to have such an incredible group of creatives come together so seamlessly and to be able to highlight the new venue Lone Wulff Ranch. Ashley Baumgartner Photography & Calligraphy is an absolute queen of flatlay’s so we will forever bow down to her skills both behind the camera and with her creativity in everything she touches!

THE DETAILS

VENUE

Lone Wulff Ranch

lonewulffranch.com | @lonewulffranch

PHOTOGRAPHER, CALLIGRAPHER AND PAPERIE

Ashley Baumgartner Photography and Calligraphy 

ashleybaumgartner.com | @ashbaumgartner

DESIGN, STYLING AND COORDINATION

The 530 Bride

the530bride.com | @530bride

STYLING AND FLORAL DESIGN

Strelitzia Flower Company

weddingsbystrelitzia.com | @strelitziaflowerco

CAKE DESIGN

Above & Beyond Cakes

aboveandbeyondcakes.com | @aboveandbeyondcakeseg

CHARCUTERIE

Off the Vine Catering

otvc.com | @off_the_vine_catering

CUSTOM DESIGN COOKIES AND DARK CHOCOLATE SEA SALTED CARAMELS

Rising Simplicity

risingsimplicity.com | @risingsimplicity

MOBILE BAR AND CURATED COCKTAILS

Belle Aventure Mobile Bar Co.

belleaventureevents.com | @belleaventureevents

HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTIST

Lisa Harter Hair and Makeup Artist

lisamharter.com | @lisaharter_hmua

GOWNS

a&bé bridal shop

aandbebridalshop.com/sacramento/bridal-shop | @aandbe_sacramento

Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo

alwayselegantbridal.net | @aebridal

SHOES

DSW

dsw.com | @dsw

JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES

Hair Comes the Bride

haircomesthebride.com | @haircomesthebride

Macy’s 

Moka Davis, My Stylist@Macy’s Roseville Galleria | macys.com/mystylist

@macys

Stella & Dot

stelladot.com | @stelladot

CUSTOM SIGNAGE

Swoonable

swoonable.net | @swoonable

RENTALS

Celebrations! Party Rentals & Tents

celebrationspartyrentals.com | @cprandtents

PLANT-DYED SILK RIBBONS

Tan Weddings & Events

tanweddingsandevents.com | @tanweddingsandevents

VIDEOGRAPHER

JB Wedding Photography

jbweddingphoto.com | @jbweddingphotography_

AS SEEN IN

Real Weddings Magazine

realweddingsmag.com | @realweddingsmag

Special thanks to our real bride model, Andrea, and all of the professionals who contributed to this feature!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Hello December - Making it count

What a whirlwind, the holidays always seem to send the year into warp speed where we see countdowns posted on how many days until Christmas and New Years. That countdown combined with your wedding countdown can feel like a weight on your shoulders but with gentle reminders I think we can keep you off that anxiety ledge! First, try to reflect on how you’ve grown from where you were at this very time last year and give yourself some grace to appreciate those milestones both as an individual and as a couple!

From new chapters of graduating college, or accepting a promotion at work or maybe even just the growth in learning more about yourself through life experience in general allowed you to become more well rounded in from 2018 to 2019. Here we are about to turn the page into 2020, that growth will carry forward into the new year. The ability to recognize strengths and weaknesses in ourselves translates into being a better partner, better friend, sibling/daughter/parent or just a good human!

As wedding planners we are with our couples through not only the planning process but also alongside for what life throws at you during that time. For my couples, I can offer my perspective of having been married for over 9 years because I am well aware of what it feels like when learning how to navigate challenges as a couple. The stress of choosing napkin colors or your signature cocktail menu is much different then being in limbo during escrow on a home, dealing with family dynamics, managing finances or even becoming new parents. This isn’t to minimize the stress or anxiety that a couple may feel during their engagement but instead we encourage couples to focus on communication and finding ways to stay present in the experiences.

Practicing good self-care, limiting screen time when you are with your partner and giving yourselves permission to take breaks from wedding planning when you need it can help you stay present. Reach out to your planner when you feel like you want to hit pause over a long weekend, or maybe you need a little extra help on the details. That’s what your planning team is here for!

With 2020 so close, we feel an excitement and welcome the growth that it brings for our team. We too can reflect on what changes we wanted to make in 2018 and how we dug deeper into our strengths and weaknesses during the course of 2019. If we didn’t look inward on how we can do better, we wouldn’t continually be able to improve the value for our clients who are trusting in our abilities for their celebration. So cheers to making these last few weeks of 2019 count and staying present for ourselves and those around us!

Happy Planning!
XOXO - Veronica

Northern California Wedding Planner | White Ranch Events - Chico, CA ~ Claire and Devin

When we think weddings in Chico, one of the first venues that comes to mind is the classic White Ranch Events venue! You see, the moment you are at White Ranch, the owners Donna & Tom will welcome you and instantly make you feel at home. That hospitality carries over into the wedding day allowing your guests to be a part of this welcoming environment, and just look at the beautiful backdrop for Claire & Devin’s wedding! TreCreative absolutely nailed it with these photos capturing the essence of Claire & Devin as a couple, check out some of the highlights below!

You can follow all of these amazing creative partners on Instagram!
Photographer - TréCreative @chels_diaz @steezdiaz / Venue - White Ranch Events @WhiteRanchEvents / Wedding Management led by Delphine Jespersen of The 530 Bride @The530Bride / Catering - Special Times Catering @specialtimescatering / MUA - Powder Room Beauty Bar @powderroomchico / Hair - Brittney Ritchie - Hairstylist @Brittneyritchiehair / Flowers - Carrie Thengvall Floral Design @carriethengvallfloraldesign / Dessert - Lovely Layers Cakery @lovelylayerscakery