March & April Wedding Planning Checklist

Now that the engagement is on it's time to start the planning process.  The family is happy, your future is bright and filled willed endless possibilities.  To make the dream come true requires time, effort, and major doses of the "three Cs" of wedding planning: consideration, communication and compromise, and more compromise.  You are approaching major decisions; however, don't forget to relish in this time.  It's your opportunity to explore your wedding fantasies---and those your loved ones may share.  Happy Wedding Planning!

 

• Inform out-of-town guests of wedding date and/or send save-the-date email.
• Locate a bridal salon and begin trying on wedding gowns and veils.  Make sure you bring stockings, heels, a strapless bra, and a hair clip to each appointment.
• Get in shape for your wedding gown by starting an exercise routine.
• Get ideas for honeymoon locations and research pricing. (This could a project for the groom)
• Start looking at floral designs and interview florists for style and cost.
• Search for menu ideas and start meeting with caterers.
• Research wedding photography and interview wedding photographers/videographers.
• Get ideas for music and interview bands/DJs.
• Finalize flower and decor ideas, and select a florist.  Include specifics of each floral arrangement in your contract.
• Sign a caterer.
• Order your wedding gown.
• Shop for and select the perfect bridesmaid dress.
• Book your honeymoon.
• Find out if your ceremony location requires liability insurance.
• Finalize contracts with your wedding protographer and videographer.
• Book your DJ/band.
• Browse and purchase wedding dress accessories, including shoes, lingerie, purse, and gloves.
• Choose officiant and discuss ceremony ideas.
• Start thinking about all of your gift registry options.
• Select three hotels in varying price ranges and reserve rooms for out-of-town guests.

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

ASK BEVERLY: How can I make my soon-to-be husband feel special?

1. Order a Groom’s cake, but make it really unique to him.

2. Let him pick some of his favorite songs for the DJ or band to play at your wedding.

3. Do something unique with the “garter” – use his favorite scent or put a special treat in the garter for him to find.

4. Have snacks and drinks for him and the Groomsmen before the ceremony

5. Direct questions to both the Bride and Groom – ask questions specifically of him when profiling

6. Let him give suggestions and incorporate those ideas

7. Pick some part of the reception or ceremony and ask him to “surprise you” with his own idea. Let him design it and put his ideas into play! You may be surprised!

8. Send a gift to his hotel room the night before your wedding or to him the morning after his bachelor party.

9. Let him pick the menu – the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, after all!

10. Send his parents or his mother flowers and a card thanking them for raising such a wonderful son.

11. Send him a sweet text before the ceremony.

 

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

ASK BEVERLY: Are there any special rules to selecting my wedding colors?

Normally the colors you select will set the tone that you want to convey, so be sure to think about it.  You should consider the setting and style of your wedding and to stick to just two or three complementary colors.  Usually, it's best to stay away from dark colors or jewel tones for summer weddings and to avoid pastels or other pale shades in the winter months.  White and taupe work all year round.

But remember, this is your wedding, try new things and incorporate your own style!

If you need help, call Beverly Weddings & Events at (310) 487-9698.

Brand New Wedding Package Offered: Personal Bridal Assistant

We are so excited to be offering our brand new Personal Bridal Assistant Wedding Package.

This package offers a personal bridal assistant to the bride and groom to assist with personal errands throughout the wedding planning process.  We understand how busy you are and do not want this special time in your life to become a nuisance.

• Wedding accessories or bridal party gifts brought for engraving
• Warehouse or Beverage Store runs
• Drop-off/pick-up items from parent's house
• Pick-up invitations
• Walk the dog
• Deliver final payments, supplies or instructions to vendors
• Return tuxedos, party rentals and cake supplies
• Drop wedding dress off at dry cleaners
• Grocery shop before you’re back from the honeymoon
• And so much more!

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

ASK BEVERLY: What are the Maid of Honor responsibilities?

Pre-Wedding Day Responsibilities:

• Help the bride shop for her wedding dress
• Visit reception sites with the bride as a "second pair of eyes"
• Help the bride choose the wedding flowers and reception decorations
• Shop for the bridesmaid dresses
• Ensure the bridesmaid dresses are ordered well before the wedding
• Address wedding invitations
• Help make wedding guest favors
• Purchase, address and send out bridal shower invitations
• Host a bridal shower
• Keep track of the gifts during the bridal shower (who gave what)
• Host a bachelorette party
• Attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
• Help out during the rehearsal dinner
• Buy the couple a wedding gift

Wedding Day Responsibilities:

• Decorate the reception site (and clean up at the end of the night)
• Help the bride get dressed
• Either pick up or receive (if delivered) the wedding flowers from the florist
• Distribute the bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages to the wedding party and the couple's parents and grandparents
• Ensures all the bridesmaids are ready (hair and makeup) and arrive at the ceremony on time
• Adjust the bride's veil and train before she walks down the aisle
• Hold the bride's bouquet during the wedding ceremony
• Hold the groom's ring until the exchange of rings
• Witnesses the signing of the marriage license
• Participate in the wedding photos
• Bustles the bride's wedding dress for the reception
• Help the bride in the washroom
• Give bride's gift to groom if bride wishes
• Stand in the receiving line
• Give a maid of honor speech and toast
• Dance the first dance with the best man
• And anything the bride wishes, within reason

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

ASK BEVERLY: Do you have any bridal gown shopping tips?

Here's a list I compiled for a past client on what to wear and bring when shopping for a wedding gown.

• A strapless bra to give you the versatility to try on all types of wedding gowns.
• A sheer control-top panty-hose or regular sheer panty-hose.
• Shoes with the same size heel height that you plan to wear with your wedding gown.  If possible, buy wedding shoes to match the style of your dress before your first fitting.
• The hairstyle you plan to wear on your wedding day with hair pieces with hair that will be worn up.
• Lots of photos of wedding dress styles you like.
• Photos and/or description of ceremony and reception site.
  
  

I hope this help.  If you have anymore questions, please email or go to the form on the right sidebar and ASK BEVERLY!



Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

Wedding Shower Themes & Ideas

 

The Color Shower

The premise of the color shower is, of course, the color.  Each guest is assigned a color, and should select a gift accordingly.  For example, the guest assigned with the color “white” might bring white lingerie, wine glasses, etc. By the way, the colors should correspond with the wedding couple's color-theme.  Make it a luncheon.  Design the menu to correspond with colors of the theme.  

The Kitchen Shower

Ask guests to choose gifts the bride will need to establish an ideal newlywed kitchen.  Gifts might include tools, utensils, cookware, bake ware, appliances, kitchen linens, and cookbooks.

A Kitchen Shower is the perfect occasion to go potluck.  If your kitchen can manage, request that a few dishes be brought assembled, but uncooked.  When your guests arrive, pop their culinary creations into the oven, and serve wine in the kitchen while you enjoy the aroma of what is soon to come.  Guests might also bring along their signature recipe, written on an index card.  At the end of the shower, present the bride with a recipe box full of favorite recipes from her favorite people.

Afternoon Tea Party

Bring together the bride's good friends and family to share chit chat and afternoon tea in quaint cups.  Decorate the tables with fresh flowers, candles and pass around mini sandwiches, scones and cookie.  Great favors would be personalized teacups an saucers or even elegant place cards.

Garden Shower

Is the bride one of those people with a gift for gardening?  If so, what could be more perfect than a Garden Shower?  If she loves all things green, request that your guests shower her with lovely potted flowers, plants, ferns, and bulbs.  Guests can also bring garden tools, watering cans, bulb forcers, planters, and arrangements.

Festival of Brides Upscale Bridal Show Coming Soon!

                                     

LA Rocks! Sat. & Sun., March 12-13, 2011

Home of the Grammy Awards Gala
*VALET PARKING-RED CARPET*

Show Designers:Luna Gardens Events & Luna Party Rental


Showcasing Domestic & International
Locations, Locations, Locations! 
Hotel, Restaurant, Banquet Facility,
Country Club

Destination Weddings
From Around The World

Theme Weddings 
i.e. Wine Country, Country Club, Equestrian, Sand, Sea & Garden Weddings, plus
Multi-Cultural Weddings
Judaic • Armenian • Persian • Indian
Asian • Latino

Premier Wedding Resources
Floral Designers • Caterers
Celebrity Event Planners & Designers
L.A's Hottest Photographers & Videographers
Bridal Registries • Invitations
Custom Gift Favours
All the Products and Services
for Your Wedding Celebration!

Live Music • Orchestras • DJs
Classical Music • Bands
Wedding Cake  • Wine and Food Tasting

The Magic of Disney  Sun., April 3, 2011

Kristen & Erik's Greenery Inspired Wedding

Kristen and Erik's wedding took place at the beautiful Calabsas Inn Country Club in Ventura County.  The wedding theme was fresh and clean and surrounded by lots of greenery.  Thank you to the wonderful Gloria Mesa Photography for sharing her photos.

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

Lieutenant J.D & Elena's Wedding

I love a pink and brown color-themed wedding   Lieutenant J.D. and Elena wedding was hosted by the Rincon Beach Club in Carpenteria.  Everyone worked extremely hard to make their wedding day a dream come true. The groom's family flew in from Ohio to join in the celebration.  Thank you Gloria Mesa Photography for sharing your photos.

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

Beverly Hills Greystone Estate

Greystone Estate provides an exclusive, unique setting for your event.  The estate was built in 1927 and registered as a National Historic landmark.  There are lots of rules and regulations, but nothing an experienced coordinator can't handle.  A beautiful estate for your next event.

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

My 10 Best Weddings for February 2011

It's all about the BLING! BLING!

There are some brides who tend to stay away from the BLING and there are other brides who just can't get enough.  Which bride are you?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Another Fabulous Venue: The Majestic Halls

This past weekend I met with Ashley Cole, Marketing Director at The Majestic Halls in downtown Los Angeles.  Ashely took time out of her busy day to show me around and I was absolutely speechless. 

The stunning Majestic Halls is Los Angeles' premiere event venue.  With a timeless elegance and refined grandeur, it is the ideal backdrop for any occasion.  Built in 1921, and designed by the world-renowned architectural firm Schultze & Weaver, who have a portfolio of historic landmarks across the country.  The Majestic Halls occupies the former Los Angeles Bank of America.  The building was the bank's headquarters from 1930-1972. 

I suggest that you schedule an appointment with Ashley or myself to tour the venue.

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

Ashley Cole

Marketing Director

(213) 278-7162

info@majestichalls.com