Wedding: Jillian + Patrick

Meet Jillian & Patrick.

This fun-loving couple was married on April 2nd, 2011 at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Now, to honor full disclosure, I should explain how this wedding was a quadruple-honor for me: 1) The bride has been one of my best friends for 20 years. 2) Not only was she one of my bridesmaids, but I was deeply honored to be one of hers as well. 3) I was so proud to be Jillian's coordinator and help her create her dream wedding... as little girls dream to do. 4) I was able to witness one of the most crazy-in-love couples I know promise their lives to one another. How sweet it is!

Jill is super cool, smart, funny, and gorgeous (obviously). Patrick, to put it simply, is one of the greatest guys I've ever met. And more importantly, he and Jill are just perfect for one another. PERFECT.

Their wedding was young and fresh, yet had a delicate sophistication to it. Jillian chose a beautiful color combination for their big day: minty, ice blue and vibrant, rich orange. I love it! The bride carried a bouquet of orange tiger lilies, unique roses, and tulips. Her bridesmaids carried tulips, eskimo roses, lisianthus, and ranunculus, all in ivory tones, with a bright orange ribbon wrap.

The wrap around the bride's bouquet was not a simple ribbon. It was the headpiece her mother wore at her own wedding. And that wasn't the only "something old" the bride had - her engagement ring was originally the groom's grandmother's ring. The sapphire pinky ring wasn't just her "something blue," but it too is a heirloom of the groom's family. Originally a pendant and later turned into a ring, many brides in the family have worn it on their own wedding days.

During the ceremony, a friend of the couple read a poem originally written by the bride's father for the bride's mother. There were laughs, there were tears, and after the officiant announced the couple as husband and wife, the bride danced and strutted down the aisle.

Before the reception kicked off in the ballroom, guests were treated to a cocktail hour on the balcony with delicious tray-passed hor d'ourves and fabulous drinks. The string quartet played contemporary tunes and the pink sunset lit the sky, setting the mood to uber-romantic. It was breathtaking!Inside the ballroom, the fireplace glowed and guests were welcomed by the fragrance of fresh flowers and the sugary aroma of Sprinkles cupcakes. The decadent treats, along with a full candy buffet, were waiting for guests to dive into after their three-course meal.

Old family wedding photos and the bride's parents' original cake topper were displayed in the reception area. In lieu of a tradition guest book, the couple chose to have guests write messages on a photo mat to hang in their new home.

Now let me tell you one more thing about this couple, their friends, and their family... they like to DANCE! The dancefloor was packed all night, showcasing some of the most unique moves and entertaining performances. You could feel the joy radiating in the room!

To call these folks my clients was an honor, but to be able to call them my friends... well, that just makes me lucky. I love them dearly. Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs!!

{ VENDOR CREDITS }

Wedding Coordination: Krista Malinin for KGM Weddings

Venue: Troon North Golf Club (Scottsdale, AZ)

Photographer: Diana Elizabeth Photography

Flowers: Flowers by Jodi

Band: Affinity

Quartet: Sweetwater Strings

Cupcakes: Sprinkles

Hair: Kortni Harting & Debra Kiernan

Make-Up: Heather Wilson & Debbie Verver

Paper Products: Paper Source

Wedding Gown: Demetrios

Bridesmaids: J. Crew & Caparros

Groomsmen: Geoffrey Beene & The Tie Bar

Officiant: Ted Baird

Shuttle Transportation: Arizona Corporate Coach

Hotel Accommodations: Intercontinental Montelucia Resort and Spa & Hilton Garden Inn Old Town

Honeymoon: Kauai, Hawaii

Extra Special Thanks to the Moms: Annie & Ruth!!

(Between the bride, the moms, and myself, we spanned four states!)

To read the Q&A with Jillian and Patrick, click here.

Q&A: Jillian + Patrick

My dear friend and former client/bride Jillian (whose wedding you can read about HERE) recently took time to answer my post-wedding questionnaire, which not only helps me with bettering my wedding planning skills, but may also offer some insight to future brides (and grooms) everywhere! So here's what she and her husband Patrick had to say!

Q: What was the best part of your wedding day?

A: Reading our “promises” to each other during our ceremony. It was important to us to make personal touches to our ceremony in addition to reciting traditional vows. By far our favorite part of the entire day. Second best: letting loose on the dance floor, of course.

Q: What was unexpected that you loved?

A: Seeing so many important people in our lives mingling, dancing and having a blast together throughout the weekend. It was so fun seeing people so close to us – who had never met each other – celebrate together as if they had known each other for decades. And, completely unrelated, there was a rattlesnake that shocked everyone during the photo session, causing a few colorful pictures.

Q: What (if anything) would you change?

A: We spent a ton of time trying to come up with an answer for this section and came up dry. We wouldn’t have changed a thing. ☺

Q: Is there anything you wish you had spent more time or money on?

A: We might have considered adding a videographer to capture the moments we weren’t able to see, e.g. the bridal party processional, the grand entrance, the sunset at cocktail hour, etc. Our photographer did an amazing job of capturing the special moments, but seeing it live on video would have been an awesome keepsake.

Q: Is there anything you wish you had spent less time or money on?

A: We’re really happy with how much we spent. We feel like we cut on things that weren’t absolutely necessary – menus, favors, etc – so we could provide our guests with transportation, great food and a rockin’ band.

Q: How did you feel after the wedding?

A: Giddy. Relieved. Thankful.

Q: What is your #1 tip for future brides and grooms?

A: Consider a “first look.” We struggled with whether to see each other before the ceremony – on one hand, we wanted to spend time with our guests immediately after the ceremony during the cocktail hour, but on the other hand we didn’t want to take away from our special moment by taking pictures ahead of time. Krista and our photographer, Diana, convinced us that we wouldn’t lose a thing by seeing each other before the ceremony – in fact, it could be a very intimate moment, and it was. Our photographer coordinated a secluded, beautiful place for us to see each other alone for the first time. It was an incredible, intimate moment AND we were able to capture a lot of the photos ahead of time, allowing us extra time to spend with our guests immediately after the ceremony.

Q: What part of my service was the most important to you?

A: Uh, tough question. You were such an important part of our wedding that it’s hard to identify just one or two things. The first thing that comes to mind is vendor coordination. We researched and hired our vendors, but that was the easy part. As our month-of coordinator, you stepped in at the most stressful time and made it all come together. You created the most detailed timeline I’ve ever seen (seriously – EVER seen) and made sure everyone from the band, make-up artist, photographer— even FAMILY— knew exactly where to be and when. No one had to ask “where should I be” or “who is taking home the gifts” or the million other questions that pop up in the final hours of planning because you covered every detail. I also want to point out that you rescued me (Jill) from a mini-crisis just two weeks before our wedding day. The hair stylist I had hired from a random Google search needed to be replaced (long story) – no easy task given the extreme short notice AND the fact that I live in Chicago and don’t know any of the stylists where we were getting married in Scottsdale. While I was at work, Krista hit the phones and identified several options for me, finally nailing down an amazing stylist at the last minute.

Q: How would you rate the quality of my service?

A: An 11 on a scale from 1 - 10. Krista is a consummate professional. She has the ability to instruct people and get things done while at the same time being completely fun and hilarious to work with. And, even though she is one of my lifelong best friends, she told me from day one she’d be treating me as a client when it came to the details. She kept me on track with worksheets that documented each vendor and piece of the wedding, and asked questions that I didn’t even know to think of.

Q: Would you recommend me to another bride or groom?

A: Yes, and I’d be happy to talk to anyone who is considering working with you about the million reasons they need to bring Krista Malinin into the mix.

[Editor's Note: Gosh, I love these two! Thanks Jillian and Patrick for your kind words and your true, honest friendship!!]

Wedding: Liddy + Cody

Meet Liddy & Cody.

This adorable couple was married August 14th, 2010 at Smog Shoppe in Culver City. L&C are insanely fun-loving, happy, and silly. They are super LOVED and supported by their family and friends... making their wedding a true celebration. And that made my job as their wedding coordinator all the more enjoyable.

From my very first meeting with Liddy, I knew she had an easy-breezy vibe. She is so chill and mellow that I wondered, "When is she going to stress out?!" She never did. She embodies the phrase "go with the flow." And I love her for it.

As a San Diego bride planning a wedding in Los Angeles, Liddy had to put A LOT of trust in her vendors. Due to her long-distance planning and lack of time in town, she never had a floral preview. She showed the ladies of Holly Flora a couple reference images and told them she wanted the florals to have a "loose, organic, just-picked" design. Bright and happy. Boy-oh-boy, did those gals get it right! The flowers were bursts of vivid colors... as if the blossoms were jewels or colorful lollypops. Peonies, ranunculus, dahlias, garden roses, French marigolds, lisianthus, craspedia, scabiosa, poppies, and other wildflowers overflowed from their vintage tea tins, wooden bowls, colorful glass, and brass containers. Whimsical vintage animal figurines were incorporated into the centerpieces, while oil lamps glowed and illuminated the reception.

One floral touch that was thoughtful and unexpected was the orchid lei their friend/officiant wore during the ceremony instead of a traditional boutonniere. What a fresh, modern concept!

There were plenty of handmade, custom touches throughout the venue space. Colorful personalized paper flags and banner, which mimicked the invitation design, were displayed. "Heehaw" signs with sayings like, "You're the cream in my coffee" and "I love you like biscuits and gravy." The bride created the placecards herself, which were strung on twine along the Smog Shoppe bookshelves and secured with miniature clothes pins.

When the happy couple, who have been together for seven years, danced their first dance to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by IZ, a Hawaiian beach scene played on the movie screen above them. During dinner, the movie screen showcased western movies featuring John Wayne.

The place settings at each reception table were just another fun and casual aspect. Liddy told me she didn't want formal china or basic white plates. So we decided to go with Bamboo plates and utensils (an eco-friendly option in disposables), accented with colorful napkins with bold patterns. I couldn't imagine it being more festive and fitting to the rest of the decor.

For food, Liddy chose the super-awesome option of bringing in a taco truck, where guests could custom order their favorite tacos... from carne asada to shrimp, from chicken to vegetarian. Servers tray-passed gourmet tamales and each reception table has bowls of fresh tortilla chips, guacamole, and salsa fresca. Delicious, fun, and very SoCal. For sweets, the bride's talented aunt created a tower of cupcake heaven. Each treat was individually designed to reflect the color scheme and playful vibe of the event. What a crowd pleaser! And as for drinks, guests sipped on Cadillac Margaritas, Pink Grapefruit Margaritas, Cucumber Gimlets, and Thyme Lemon Drops.

During the reception, Cody and his friends grabbed their instruments and jammed for a short set, whipping the guests into a frenzy. It completely set the tone for an energetic night ahead. At the very end of their set, Cody stood alone with his acoustic guitar onstage and sang a song he wrote for his beautiful bride. It was incredibly heartfelt and truly one of the most romantic moments I have ever witnessed. After wiping away the tears, the guests were back in action, busting it out on the dancefloor. DJ Smiles kept that floor packed up until the very last song.

When not on the dancefloor, guests popped into the photobooth adorned in the many disguises and props... Mexican Wrestler, Playboy Bunny, Darth Vader, and anything in between!

As a coordinator, I find it easy to fall in love with my clients and these two are no exception! Their wedding was filled with so much joy and happiness that it radiated throughout the space. It was contagious! I'm so proud that I was able to collaborate with Liddy (and our amazing vendor team!) to bring her vision to life. Congratulations to the very happy couple!

{ VENDOR CREDITS }

Wedding Coordination: Krista Malinin for Amber Events

(with special thanks to my assistant: Kelsi)

Venue: Smog Shoppe (Culver City, CA)

On-Site Management: TACT Management

Catering: Jalisco's Taco Grill

Cupcakes: Jane William (Bride's Aunt)

Cupcake Stand: The Cupcake Tower

Photographer: Picotte Photography

Videographer: Dan Padgett (Groom's Uncle)

Flowers: Holly Flora

Rentals: Huntington Catering Company

DJ: DJ Smiles Davis

Photo Booth: Photobox LA

Hair & Make-Up: Mariah Nicole

Paper Products: Various Etsy Shops

Wedding Gown: Saja Wedding Collection

Officiant: Dan Caroselli (Friend of the Couple)

Valet: Jeffrey Valet

Shuttle Transportation: Bus Bank

Hotel Accommodations: Hotel Erwin (Venice, CA)

Honeymoon: Costa Rica

To read the Q&A with Liddy and Cody, click here.

To read about this wedding's feature on Style Me Pretty, click here.

To see their four-page spread in Wedding Magazine UK, click here.

Q&A: Liddy + Cody

My sweet bride Liddy (whose wedding you can read about HERE or see as a Style Me Pretty feature HERE or see their four-page spread in Wedding Magazine UK HERE) recently took time to answer my post-wedding questionnaire, which not only helps me with bettering my wedding planning skills, but may also offer some insight to future brides (and grooms) everywhere! So here's what she and her husband Cody had to say!

Q: What was the best part of your wedding day?
A: Cody's Surprise Song, Dancing with EVERYONE I love, Seeing Dan [the officiant] cry at the ceremony

Q: What was unexpected that you loved?
A: Grandma Wanda wandering around the bathroom lost in her Lucha Libre mask from the Photobooth

Q: What (if anything) would you change?
A: Less wine, more tequila!

Q: Is there anything you wish you had spent more time or money on?
A: I really can't think of anything

Q: Is there anything you wish you had spent less time or money on?
A: Everything was so perfect, I would not have changed anything! Everything that we splurged on was completely worth it in the end.

Q: How did you feel after the wedding?
A: Loved

Q: What is your #1 tip for future brides and grooms?
A: Pick great vendors and let them do all the work! Don't micromanage and give too much direction - if you pick vendors you trust and know you like what they have done in the past, they will do a great job withougt too much input! Just give them a sense of what you want and let them roll with it. These people know what they are doing way better than you do. And...Hire Krista! :)

Q: What part of my service was the most important to you?
A: Everything, seriously! I don't know what I would have done without you. Your amazing ability to make the day perfect and exactly what I wanted.

Q: What part of my service was the least important to you?
A: Everything you did was important!

Q: How would you rate the quality of my service?
A: Amazing Amazing Amazing

Q: Would you recommend me to another bride or groom?
A: Without a doubt! THANK YOU KRISTA!!!!!

Q: Anything else you'd like to say?
A: Hiring Krista was the best decision I made during my wedding planning process. She took over six weeks before my wedding day, and in this time took all the pieces I had gathered and made it all WORK! Before Krista came into my life, I was becoming more and more confused and frightened the closer my wedding day approached. The moment she started working on my wedding I was confident in her ability to make my wedding exactly what I wanted – she knows what she is doing, knows my venue, and is oh-so-organized. She went along with all my ideas, and gently molded them into a way that made sense and made everything work together.

Her performance during the wedding was also incredible. She kept me calm, made sure everyone knew what was going on, and provided an overall sense that nothing could go wrong because she was prepared for absolutely anything. I had so much fun at my wedding and I credit Krista for allowing me to relax and enjoy it because I knew that everything was under control in her hands. It was the best wedding ever. THANK YOU KRISTA!! xoxo

[Editor's Note: Wow, Cody and Liddy! Thank you so much for those wonderful words and for always oozing joy and happiness! It was contagious!]

Featured Wedding: Wedding Magazine UK

I always knew Liddy and Cody's wedding was special, but now we've gone international! Wow! I'm so honored and pleased to see this beautiful event make a splash across the pond in the current issue of Wedding Magazine UK! Check out the four-page spread below:

To read my original blog entry about Liddy and Cody's big day, click here.

To read the Q&A with Liddy and Cody, please click here.

To read my blog entry on their feature in Style Me Pretty, click here.

To see the feature on Style Me Pretty, click here.