Mr. & Mrs. Withers

In California, we never get to fully experience the Autumn season. Lucky for me, I spent my Halloween weekend in Chicago to coordinate Dawne & Mike’s wedding at the Cheney Mansion in Oak Park, Illinois. Everywhere the leaves were falling, covering the ground in vibrant colors of red, orange and yellow. This provided a perfect atmosphere for the Autumn wedding that Dawne and Mike have been endlessly preparing for!

The couple lives in Los Angeles, but since Dawne is originally from Chicago, they decided to get hitched in her hometown. We kept a close eye on the weather all last week. Dawne told me that it had to be at least 60 degrees for the ceremony to be held outdoors on the Cheney patio. At the Halloween Costume Dress Rehearsal, the sun was shining and the weather was absolutely perfect so we planned for the outdoor ceremony. Unfortunately, you never know in Chicago, and Saturday arrived with temperatures in the low 50’s. We quickly went along with “Plan B,” and the ceremony unfolded beautifully indoors.

The Cheney Mansion was decorated with Autumn floral arrangements created by Ebony Lashay Smith. I loved the Renaissance music that was provided by harpist Annette Bjorling and clarinetist Kurt Bjorling during the ceremony. Pianist Kathie Nicolet played on the grand piano for the rest of the evening. Catered by Design provided guests with a delightful buffet meal, including festive orange and black pumpkin ravioli and a mini mashed potato/mashed sweet potato bar that was heavenly! Bonnie from Catered by Design was so kind and generous to surprise the couple with the Champagne Tree, something that I have never seen before! It was definitely impressive. The “Cupcake Wedding Cake” and the Red Velvet cutting cake were ordered from Swirlz Cupcakes and were a big hit among the guests.

Congratulations, Dawne & Mike! Have a fabulous time in Antigua!

The following photos have been provided by Mike & Dawne Withers; photographed by Bella Photography.

The People Have Spoken

Congratulations to Barack Obama’s presidential victory!

Unfortunately for me, I had to return home from Chicago on Monday night, and missed out on Obama’s victory celebration in Grant Park last night. I can only imagine how it must have felt to be there. My boyfriend was able to experience all of the excitement first-hand and shared some of his photographs with me…

Cheers to the 44th President of the United States of America! Yes We Can!

Mr. & Mrs. Masuko

I met with Wayde, Alison, and Alison’s parents, Chris and Nancy back in June. This was the first time I had parents join the consultation meeting, and to be completely honest, I was a bit nervous! Fortunately, Chris and Nancy were wonderful and we all got along great.

It’s hard to predict Southern California weather in October. During the days leading up to the wedding, we anxiously kept our eyes on the forecast. It was bright and sunny during the dress rehearsal, but rain was predicted for the big day. Since Wayde and Alison were planning for an outdoor wedding, everyone was definitely a bit apprehensive.  Luckily, there was no rain! It was a little overcast, but as long as the raindrops weren’t falling, we were happy!

The couple were wed at the Fullerton Arboretum in Fullerton, California. The ceremony music was beautifully performed by Batavia Strings. I absolutely loved the rose ball bouquets created by Flower Allie which hung right above the bride and groom as they recited their vows.  The reception was also held outdoors, with luminaries and candlelight creating a romantic atmosphere. Wayde and Alison began the festivities by presenting lei’s to their parents and the entire bridal party. Guests enjoyed their meals from Country Garden Caterers while live music was provided by a San Diego based band  The Mar Dels throughout the entire evening.

Congratulations, Wayde and Alison! I hope you had a wonderful time in Jamaica!

Photos provided by Wayde & Alison Masuko; photographs taken by Drew B Photography.

Mr. & Mrs. Davis

I was especially looking forward to Jessica & Jason’s wedding because it would be my first wedding coordination in Chicago. Since Jessica had gotten in touch with me only six weeks prior to the big day, we tackled every last wedding detail by phone and e-mail.

The wedding took place at the beautiful Redfield Estate at The Grove in Glenview, Illinois. The venue is perfect for a small, intimate wedding. Jessica’s fabulous girlfriends arrived early to assist me with the setup. As Jessica would say, they are truly “indispensable.” Guests followed a candlelit path to the enclosed grassy area for the ceremony. Excerpts from E.E. Cummings, I Carry Your Heart With Me and Carl Sagan’s, Pale Blue Dot were read by the couple’s close friends, Anna and Ryan. As the sun began to set, guests mingled on the patio during cocktail hour. Everyone was encouraged to try the couple’s specialty drinks, which were named after their cat and dog, Ned & Lindy, respectively. So adorable!

The wedding was catered by Hel’s Kitchen. Hydrangeas, candles, and lanterns filled the place and created a warm, cozy atmosphere. Since Jessica has a gluten-free diet, the party favors were gluten-free cookies made by Whole Bakers. The wedding cake was also a flourless chocolate cake from Trader Joe’s. For everyone with a regular sweet tooth (including me!), a delicious assortment of treats was set up at the fruit and dessert station.

The couple was so sweet to send me home with a beautiful hydrangea centerpiece… Thank you, Jessica and Jason! Congratulations to you both! I hope you had a wonderful time in Italy!

The following photos have been provided by Jason Davis & Jessica Manvell; photographs taken by Michael Rastall Photography.

Mr. & Mrs. Mahoney

I was very excited for Tina & Kevin’s wedding, not only because Tina & I have been friends ever since high school, but also because I would be attending their wedding as a guest!!! This was the first wedding in so long where I didn’t have to worry about coordination or bridesmaid duties, and I was able to relax and just celebrate their special day. Now, don’t get me wrong. I have fun at every wedding I work, but I’m always a little jealous of everyone having a blast with their family and friends while I am working all day. I was happy to sit back and enjoy the day, for once!

The ceremony took place at St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point, California. The view of the Pacific Ocean was spectacular! The reception was held nearby at the Chart House Restaurant, which overlooks the Dana Point Harbor. The view here was even more amazing. The restaurant was closed for the private reception and it was quite nice to  have the place all to ourselves! During the reception, Kevin and Tina both changed into the Ao Dai, the traditional formal wear in Vietnamese culture.

Before the wedding, the couple collaborated with DJ Pete Carroll from Generation Entertainment to create a special First Dance song. They pre-recorded themselves sharing some of their most special and funniest moments. As they slow danced to John Legend’s “Stay With You,” their voices were heard throughout the song. My favorite was when Tina talked about how she found a big, value pack of dental floss at Kevin’s place when they first started dating. She was very impressed with his oral hygiene… only to find that same pack of floss months later, still unopened! Hilarious! As the song continued, more sentimental moments were shared, and it definitely brought tears to my eyes.

Congratulations, Tina and Kevin! I’m so excited for Baby Fruit Snack Mahoney!!!

The following photos have been provided by Kevin & Tina Mahoney; photographs taken by Shana Cassidy Photography.

Mr. & Mrs. Kim

It’s always fun attending a friend’s wedding. It’s even more exciting to be a part of the whole extravaganza!

John & Gina have been together for 9 years, so it was definitely time to tie the knot! The beautiful couple were wed at the First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley in Berkeley, California. During the unity candle lighting, we had the pleasure of watching young violinist Doori Na perform. I always enjoy listening to music produced from string instruments, and this was no exception. He was amazing!

The reception was also held in Berkeley at HS Lordships. With the sun shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Georgina Ballroom provided a spectacular view of the San Francisco bay. Guests enjoyed cocktails and appetizers as the bridal party congregated downstairs. Thank goodness the servers brought some food down for us, I was starving!

On every reception table, calla lilies were wrapped inside a large glass cylinder vase, with stones scattered along the bottom and two goldfish swimming around. A very creative twist for centerpieces! The couple had a fun giveaway for these centerpiece “fish bowls,” and even had a goldfish care package for all of the winners to take home. I absolutely loved the cake, which was created by The Cakemaker. Rose petals covered the entire cake table which added to the romantic ambience.

It was very special to watch the dancing… Gina and her father choreographed a Waltz dance, and her mother and grandfather also joined in. It was very sweet. Afterwards, John and his mother danced and grooved along to ”A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men. So old school! I loved it.

Congratulations, Gina & John! Love you both dearly!

Mr. & Mrs. Yoon

Yong and Hee Sun were already married when I first met with them. They wed back in November 2007 but planned to have a wedding celebration with their family and friends during the upcoming summer. Hee Sun is a fellow UCI Alumni, which was exciting to learn. Go Anteaters! Zot! Zot!

The wedding took place at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa. Being an Orange County resident, I have always passed this hotel driving along PCH or walking around bustling Main Street in Huntington Beach. But, I never realized just how gorgeous this venue is! Everyone from the Hyatt, including the Banquet Captain, the Catering Manager, the bartenders, and the bellman were so helpful and definitely made my job easier!

The couple integrated tons of creative ideas for their special day. Instead of a traditional guestbook, they used Yong’s guitar that guests were welcomed to sign, and would be later displayed in their home. Of course, this meant that Yong was able to buy a brand new guitar for himself, which he was very happy about! The party favors were California Lottery Scratchers sealed in gold envelopes with engraved guitar pics. The pics were used to scratch the ticket. There was even a $5.00 winner among the guests! How exciting!

Music was provided by DJ Mark from Epic Entertainment. Although it was an early afternoon wedding, he was great at encouraging the guests to get down on the dance floor. The wedding cake was created by Rockwell’s Creative Cakes and was decorated with fresh flowers by Florist Won Kim. You can reach her for more information at flortistwon@hanmail.net.

Photos provided by Yong & Hee Sun Yoon; photographs taken by Brandon Park from Kappa Photo Studio. You can contact Brandon for more information at youngleephoto@yahoo.com.

Here are some photos that I took myself…

And here is a photo of me and the lovely bride Hee Sun…

Mr. & Mrs. Zisook

I met Kerry exactly two weeks before her big day. We immediately clicked and I was able to help her crank out the final details leading up to the wedding…

Kerry and Dan’s wedding took place at the Levy Land in Carlsbad, California. The ceremony was first held on the beach, with the Pacific Ocean providing a beautiful back drop for the intimate gathering as guests stood barefoot in the sand and Dan’s father officiated.

The reception had a casual beach theme with sand dollar place cards and seashells adorning the reception tables. The party favors were margarita glasses that guests used to toast the bride and groom. The margarita added a nice touch to the delicious and authentic Mexican food catered by El Indio Catering. The cupcakes were baked by Kerry’s dear friend Emily who worked arduously in the Levy Land kitchen for the three days leading up to the wedding… now that is what you call a fabulous friend!

Music was provided throughout the evening by musician Trent Hancock. His voice was absolutely amazing! Feel free to contact him at trenthancock@gmail.com. At one point during the night, a swarm of mosquitoes came from out of nowhere… Poor Trent stayed outside and finished his performance and got bit everywhere! As for me, I got bit about five times, including two bites on my face! Ouch!

Congratulations, Kerry and Dan!

Photos provided by Kerry & Dan Zisook; photographed by Aaron Thompson at AS Photography.

And a photo of me with the newlyweds!

Gina’s Bridal Shower

Gina & I met while we studied abroad in Korea during our college years… we were actually assigned to be roommates, and she has been one of my closest friends ever since! I was so honored and excited when she asked me to be her bridesmaid! I was especially excited to begin planning for her bridal shower & bachelorette party!

Her bridal shower took place on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at her home in Redwood City, California. I arrived the night before (at midnight!) and the bridesmaids and I worked all night and early the next morning to prepare.

Guests munched on light finger foods and Sunday brunch items including egg quiche, banana nut bread, and refreshing strawberry mimosas. The ladies played a few games, one we called, “Pin the Lips on John!” We blew up a photo of her fiancee, John, and Photo shopped it onto Steve Carrell’s body from The 40-Year Old Virgin movie poster. Hilarious!

Before the bridal shower, I worked on preparing a Recipe Journal for Gina, contacting all of her guests and asking them to contribute their favorite recipes. We filled the William Sonoma Recipe Journal  with a fantastic variety of recipes, and the cover was even personalized with her soon-to-be name, Gina Kim!

Event Planning Business – Market Research

A thorough investigation of the viability of an event planning business in your geographic and specialty area will help you gain an honest sense for your business potential. Market research can even uncover information that will help you focus your business strategies and prevent costly and time-consuming mistakes.

Identify the Competition

It is important to know who you are up against. Check the yellow pages, business journals, specialty magazines, and newsletters for competitors in your area. Research the Web for event planners and take note of the marketing techniques they use. What is something unique that you can offer? Think of a way to put a spin on your company to create more interest or to create a niche market. Prepare yourself to enter this competitive business well informed.

Identify Industry Growth Potential

Research how events are treated in today’s economy. It is essential that you present your services in an appropriate way. In the nineties, budgets were created to support lavish events that represented how much people cared about the way they entertained their guests. Web site premieres and launch parties were everywhere. However, the focus shifted in the twenty-first century. Events were scaled back to reflect the prudence people were showing in their daily lives. Recognize the “whys” of an event in order to do the “hows” in an appropriate way.

Identify Potential Markets

As you begin your research for business opportunities, be aware of areas that are ripe for event services. Match this with your skills and interests. If your local business listings show an excess of wedding planners but no children’s event planner, take note. Your potential market can be based on geographic territories, types of services, types of customers, and even budget levels.

Identify and Quantify Market Share

Take an honest look at what business your competitors are receiving, and what would be left for you. Is there something different that you can provide? For example, are they handling all the hotel events, but none of the country club events? Develop a checklist of potential clients and event locations, and start doing your homework. This will help provide you with a sense for your opportunities. Remember, developing a business takes time; remain consistent and persistent with your efforts.

Consider Your Marketing Plan

It is a good idea to think about your marketing plan now. Start a database of contacts, and keep track of your initial calls and plans for follow-up. Be prepared to make efforts to develop a relationship with a client. You can drop potential clients a note in the mail periodically. It’s also a good idea to develop a personalized incentive item with your company name on it to remind people of your services.