Unconventional Venues

On a tight budget? First-choice venue booked? Looking to have that one-of-a-kind wedding? Whatever your circumstance, everyone wants their big day to be unique and memorable. Consider some alternatives to take advantage of potentially lower costs and unique photo backdrops.

• Ballpark/Stadium/Arena - Dodger Stadium
• Barn - Locate in the Gathering Guide
• Brew-house - The Brewery Artist Loft
• Commercial Rooftops - The Standard Hotel
• Library - http://www.lapl.org/newsroom/central/hi-res/Central_pool.jpg
• Museum/Gallery - Skirball Cultural Center
• Parks/Arboretum - Arboretum.org
• Performance halls - The Music Box/ (also rooftop)
• Rooftop of parking structure or empty parking lot - Example Photos
• Un-used lofts or commercial buildings - AT&T Center
• Vacation rental property

Keep in mind, that opting out of the all-inclusive hotel package means that you’ll have to do a lot of legwork yourself and costs of hiring independent vendors yourself can be pricey. In addition, it’ll take some negotiating and lots of creativity to use venues that do not normally host large parties or events.

This post is provided by Winnie Phung

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

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Wedding Inspiration Board: Vintage Theme - Color Palette: Soft Blue, Teal Blue, White and Cream

Dress can be found at http://my-weddingdream.com

Vintage Couch can be found at http://cafeinteriordesign.info

Wedding Bouquet can be found at http://kaboodle.com

Vintage Invitations can be found at http://invitationcrush.com

Vintage Ceremony Chairs can be found at http://elizabethannedesigns.com/

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

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Engagement Session: Maya + Ron

Photos provided by Ezra at Kiss The Bride Weddings

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

Wedding Inspiration Board: Urban Wedding Theme - Color Palette: Red, Black and White

The other day, I met with a friend and we were discussing the beautiful inspiration boards I see featured on so many wedding blogs. I got to thinking, “What is an Inspiration Board”? 

Well, it's anything you want it to be! But, basically it's a photo collage that inspires you, drives you, helps you reach your goals, keeps you focused, organizes, makes you happy or just makes you laugh! 

I look at it as a small work of art made up of fabulous wedding items that link incredibly together.

So today, I decided to create my first inspiration board.  Below are the 4 steps that made this happen.

Step 1: Think of a Theme

Think of something—no matter how abstract—that you’re drawn to or which holds a special meaning. It could be a wedding location, song, food, painting, anything.  I decided to go with an Urban Wedding Theme. It's been something I've wanted to do for a while.

Step 2: Collect Inspiration

This is the fun part. Over the course of a week or two, start collecting anything that makes you think of your focus point and put it into a little folder or envelope.  You can even go to Google image searches and stroll through sites like Amazon, Overstock, Crate & Barrel, etc.  If you get a catalog in the mail, cut out related pieces that you're drawn to. 

Once you’ve got a nice little collection, lay them all out in front of you. My collection is small, but it will do.

Step 3: Focus

Now that you have it all right in your face, it’s a lot easier to start answering some questions about your theme that you can translate into something much more tangible. The questions I've come up with are a great way to put a spotlight on what you’re really drawn to—and what might be perfect for a wedding!

Is there a color story that pops out at you?  With my small little collection of inspiration, the color story is Red, Black and White. These colors will work with everything from invitations and flowers to suits and table decor. Bright lights, big wedding!  A Red, Black and White palette blends classic elegance with dramatic fashion - absolutely perfect for a downtown, big city lights wedding. 

Are there any textures or fabrics that show up again and again? Satin shows up a lot in the pictures I collected!

Is there anything else that stands out? I can’t help but notice the crystals in the bouquet, the bride’s dress and floral centrepiece.  Also, when you think of red, you have to have red roses.  Lastly, to add that “pop” the Damask on the Save the Date and wedding cake really stands out and pulls the solid Red, Black and Whites all together.

Is there anything you feel is missing from your collection of inspiration? When I think of Red, Black and White, I think of GLAMOUR, CLASSIC AND ELEGANCE. Adding some bright lights and maybe even a black or white city skyline on the invitations may be nice. Also, I would probably drape some light weight fabric in the ceiling. Even with a relatively small list of focus points like this one, you can gain a lot of direction.

Step 4: Shop til You Drop

Here's another the fun part, finding "The Dress".  The first thing the bride should do is look for a wedding gown. Try to find one that is reminiscent of the theme.

So. What do you think? I always thought creating an inspiration board would be hard work, but it wasn't too difficult or time consuming? I think that creating an inspiration board is a great way to help you and your clients get focused!  Stay tuned for my next inspiration board. I can't wait!

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

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Ceremony - Why Do A Wedding Program?

Tell your guest what to expect on your wedding day by including:

• The ceremony site
• The date, time, and place of the wedding
• The names of the bride and groom
• The names of the bridal party and officiant
• The names of the soloists, musicians, and pieces performed
• The parent's names
• Tributes to deceased parents, relatives, and friends
• The words to readings, songs, prayers, and blessings
• Foreign language translations, if needed
• Explanations of religious or ethnic rituals, customs, and military traditions
• Thank-you's to parents

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A Hindu and Traditional Wedding Ceremony

Since I’ll soon be coordinating Shantel and Audel's Hindu/ Traditional wedding, I thought I’d blog about what I've learned for preparation of the Ceremony.

Marriage is one of a series of holy sacraments in the Hindu faith, just as it is in the Roman Catholic Church.  It’s believed that marriage has a purifying quality.

In India, the Hindu wedding ceremony, which is conducted by a priest, can usually last all day.  Here in the U.S. , the Hindu ceremony has been shortened by ninety minutes , even though cultural traditions surrounding the wedding can last several days.  It doesn’t have to be performed in a temple and is often conducted in a bride’s home.

During the ceremony, whether of a duration of ninety minutes or an entire day, the couple is instructed in lessons for married life.  There is a frequent chanting of mantras, or prayers in Sanskrit, which ask for blessings on the union.  A traditional Hindu mantra is “I am the word and you are the melody.  I am the melody and you are the word.”

The bride usually wears a sari made of a single piece of red fabric embroidered in gold. She is also adorned with 24-karat-gold jewelry, presented to her by the groom’s family.  The groom usually wears white trousers, a tunic, and a ceremonial hat.  However, since this groom is Mexican he will wear a Mariachi outfit.

At the beginning of the service, the bride and groom are seated under a canopy, which is called mandaps where garlands of flowers are exchanged.  After emphasizing the importance of marriage, the priest ties the couple’s right hands together with cord and sprinkles holy water over them.  The bride’s father then gives his daughter to the groom.  A sacred flame is lit, and the bride and groom make an offer of rice to symbolize their hope of fertility.  Here’s the most important part of the service, “The Seven Steps”.  The marriage is not completed until this has been completed.  The Seven Steps symbolize food, strength, wealth, fortune, children, happy seasons, and friendships.  Together the bride and groom either take seven steps around the sacred flame or walk around it seven times. Once married, the bride and groom feed each other five times with little bits of sweet food, and the ceremony ends with prayers and readings.

As a wedding coordinator, this is what I have to look forward to on July 23, 2011 with Shantel and Audel’s wedding.  Can’t wait!

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

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7 Tips On How To Get Guests Involved In The Ceremony

1. If getting married in a church, reverse positions with officiant so you and your groom face guests.
2. Move the chuppah or portable altar closer to pews to increase the feeling of community.
3. At a small wedding, have guests stand around the altar in a semicircle.
4. Stand outside the church to greet arriving guests
5. Welcome guests with bagpipers, saxophonists, or classical guitarists outside the ceremony site; a flutist or harpist can play indoors.
6. Choose a prayer for attendants or guests to say in union.
7. Ask ushers to distribute candles to each guests as they are seated.  After lighting the Unity Candle, the bride and groom walk to the first pew on their sides of the church.  With their own candles they each light the candle of the guest in the first seat of the first pew, who lights the candle of the person next to them, till all of the candles are lit throughout the room.

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698