Well…I’ve been featured in Life & Style Magazine and what am I most excited about??? Gwen Stefani and I are in the same magazine!!!! Page 15…Gwen. Page 29…Jess. For those of you who don’t know, I have a bit of a Gwen Stefani obsession…and have since the early 90’s. I think it’s time she and Gavin renew their vows! 2012 will be their big 10 year wedding anniversary. Gwen, you know where to find me! 
I usually suggest that a favor be something edible OR something useful. Nothing makes me more sad than watching my staff gather the left over favors a client has spent hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars on! A guest will usually dive right into something edible.
This is one of my favorite favor ideas! I found this vendor last year and I love them! Bedazzle My Bon Bons! They are yummy truffles that are covered in edible glitter! Seriously, edible glitter! They are gorgeous and delicious! They come in 24 different colors, 6 different flavors and can be boxed and personalized or displayed on a Sweet Station. They also have chocolate glitter covered lollipops! They can be delivered anywhere in the United States! They are based out of Florida and I had some shipped to my client’s wedding in San Diego! They arrived in perfect condition. How great is that!
This is a shot from Elise and Giovanni’s wedding. I blogged about them a couple of weeks ago. We sent Sasha over at BMBB a jpeg of the couple’s logo (which we used everywhere including the emblem on the bar) and she created custom truffles boxes for them. Aren’t they great!?
Here are the awesome colors to choose from!
How fun are these candy displays! It’s definitely a fun way to bring some BLING into the mix!
These dazzling babies can be boxed individually, in pairs, by the dozen…the list goes on and on. And how whimsical are these lollipops!?
This is a great favor that is sure to “dazzle” your guests! So, go to their website and check out all they have to offer!
Question of the week: What cool color combo of glittery goodness can you come up with??? Share with us!
So the time has come! The Lighting and Entertainment divisions of Events by Design are branching out on their own! I would like to introduce you to EbD’s newest offspring… La Luz Events and PurDigital Entertainment!!!!
Living in America’s finest city, with its rich Hispanic influence, inspired us to use La Luz (the light) as the name of our special event lighting company. We will continue to produce beautiful events for our clients and fellow industry professionals, we’ll just be doing it with a new name! We provide elegant up lighting, LEDs, dramatic and textured wall washes, pin spotting, charming paper lanterns and personalized monogram lighting.
Our technical designer, Jon Krauss makes me soooooooo happy! Giddy happy, in fact. I am all about paying attention to detail. It might be technically right, but does it look good? Are there wires showing? Does the par can stick out like a sore thumb? Is the color just right? As a coordinating designer, I do NOT want to see these eye sores and that’s one of the many reasons I love, love, love our technical designer, Jon! He is meticulous, detail oriented and he doesn’t leave set up until it is PERFECT! Aaahhhh…a coordinators dream. Thank you for all you do, Jon. La Luz Events is proud to have you on the team!
If you haven’t worked with us before, check out our website to see our work. http://www.laluzevents.com/
PurDigital…that’s what we are! You won’t be seeing these guys flip through CD’s! It’s 2011 people…there’s no excuse! Do we have DJ’s that can run an event like a professional, and mix it up, club style later in the night? Of course we do! With top notch equipment!
Many people ask how a company that started off with Coordinators, ended up with DJ and Lighting services??? So here it goes…as a coordinator I was REALLY tired of bad DJ’s. It was very disheartening to see a beautiful and seamless wedding destroyed by a DJ who simply lacked experience. And I’m not talking club experience…wedding experience!!! There is a huge difference! I wanted DJ’s that were raised by wedding coordinators, not technically of course, but I wanted them to dress appropriately, act appropriately, speak appropriately and take this monumental occasion in a person’s life, very seriously. One of our partners had worked in the industry as a DJ for years. He trained our DJ’s from a technical point of view, we trained them from an etiquette point of view. And voilà a wedding coordinators dream came true.
Our DJ’s have been with us for 6 years and they continue to become masters of their craft. I am so proud to have them on our team. The PurDigital Entertainment blog will occasionally feature our DJ’s, including our hot female DJ who has entertained with celebrities such as The Black Eyed Peas, Britney Spears and most recently performed at the wedding for the winner of Bridalplasty on E! So keep your eye open for those Blog entries!!!!! http://www.sddiscjockey.com/
Living in the constant hustle and bustle of Las Vegas, this couple decided to bring their nuptials to beautiful, laid back San Diego. These two new exactly what they wanted…and. what they didn’t want. The result…just like the couple, this wedding was beautiful, elegant and sexy!
Elise and Giovanni wanted a breath of sophistication to the design of their wedding. No theme, no gimmicks, no regular run of the mill traditions. They wanted the design to reflect them and their style.
The Ceremony took place at Sea Grove Park over looking the Pacific Ocean while the festivities went well into the wee hours of the morning at The Hard Rock Hotel in downtown San Diego.
Wedding Planner
One of my favorite details of this wedding…the shoes!
I love this shot! Giovanni and his dad enjoying a cocktail while grandpa is closin deals! ABC…”Always be Closin!”
Giovanni said the first time he laid eyes on Elise, he was captivated by her classic beauty. He’s right. She definitely has a classic, Audrey Hepburn way about her…with the most unbelievable arms I have EVER seen!
By far one of my favorite shots of the day. Giovanni is definitely a man’s man, but if there is one thing that will make him crumble, it’s Elise. Love, love, love this shot. It says it all.
Giovanni and his family are Cuban and let me tell you, those people can move! I’ve seen a lot of salsa, tango and merengue in my life, but these people were incredible! So it was only fitting that Elise slipped into something a little sexier for their sassy first dance! It was a sight to see! They were amazing and their guests loved it!
Elise and Giovanni hired an amazingly talented musician from Las Vegas named Dave Ritz for their entertianment. We brought in a baby grand and as you can see, Dave, Giovanni and the groomsmen put it to good use!
This was a cake and a half! Even the pillow is made of cake!
The favors were cutom boxes filled with chocolate truffles covered in edible glitter! You’ll see a blog in the near future about this vendor…Bedazzle My Bon Bons! So fun!
So in closing, what do I have to say about these two? They’re a power couple…who are CRAZY about each other…and are going to make incredibly beautiful babies together! Thank you Elise and Giovanni for allowing us to be part of your special day!
Thank you do our unbelievable vendors! You are the best!
Venue: Hard Rock Hotel – www.hardrockhotelsd.com
Photographer: Sara France Photography – www.sarafrance.com
Floral/Decor Design: Bradley Snyder – Fun with Jack www.funwithjack.com
Cinematography – Taylor Films www.taylorfilms.com
Invitation/Event Stationary Design – eitak Design www.eitak.com
Musician – Dave Ritz www.daveritzmusic.com
Favors – Bedazzle My Bon Bons www.bedazzlemybonbons.com
DanceFloor-Concepts Event Design www.conceptseventdesign.com
DJ – Alex Lopez – Round Midnight Music
Pauline Parry – Good Gracious Events!
There just isn’t enough I can say about this woman… and this company! I like to call Pauline the “British Paula Dean”. You know how Paula Dean always makes food sound so fun and exciting? Pauline has her own way of doing just that…making food fun and exciting…in the most beautiful sounding way! I love the way she says (insert British accent here) “strawwburry”! I could listen to her talk for hours! She in an innovator and continues to inspire me every time I am in her presence.
What I love about this company is the fact that they have managed to master both quality of food AND quality of service. Sigh…a wedding planners dream. The service is quick, thorough and elegant. The staff is well manicured and the food…de-lish-ous!
Pauline has been kind enough to treat us all to the recipe of my favorite cocktail designed by GG!…the LOVE Martini. When I first read the ingredients to this drink, I thought there was NO way I would like it. The white balsamic threw me off! But let me tell you…I LOVE IT! The pairing of all these different flavors is amazing when they fuse together! Give it a try, you will be pleasantly surprised. It takes some effort but it is well worth it!
LOVE Martini
by Good Gracious! Events
Inspired by a chef’s pairing of
strawberries, balsamic vinegar,
and a hint of black pepper!
RECIPE
Rim:
white balsamic pomegranate reduction (a gourmet store purchase)
granulated sugar
Martini:
2 tablespoons strawberry base and 1 ounce of its nectar (recipe below)
2 ounces premium vodka
Ice
Method:
Moisten martini glass rim with white balsamic reduction and rim with sugar and put 1 tablespoon strawberry base in glass. In a martini shaker, combine ice, vodka, 1 tablespoon strawberry base and the nectar. Shake until icy cold and strain into martini glass.
STRAWBERRY BASE & NECTAR
(for about 20 drinks)
Combine:
2 pint baskets of strawberries, diced
2 cups simple syrup
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Stir and let soak at least one hour and up to 24 hours, refrigerated
Pauline has created an amazing book that that depicts the art of throwing a party! It’s called FOOD FUN LOVE and everyone should have one!
Thank you Pauline and the Good Gracious Team! I look forward to many more events with you!
http://goodgraciousevents.com/index.html
