potatobear_marriage's Xanga

[13] The Events: Reception [Party Time!]

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:27:19 GMT

Kicking off the party right.

[Please ignore the plastic cups. The caterer provided the wrong ones. However, I didn't end up caring much since most guests really didn't notice, especially after a drink or two or more.]

My attention-loving mom had to get a dance in with all the guys.

Love this black and white film shot

Like I said, our DJ was awesome and kept the party going. Time to get down to business.

The kid 'n' play must always happen at weddings in our circle, for some reason.

[Photo by friend + guest Cee. ]

A friend gave me good advice. She said that if you stay on the dance floor and have fun, people will join you. Not sure if it was our fault or our great DJ's, but the dance floor did have a decent crowd on it all night.

We decided to go ahead with the bouquet and garter tosses as many of our friends are not married yet.

My mom caught the bouquet.

Oh dear.

We also had a nice little prize (gift certificates) for the lucky catchers.

A special shoutout to a bunch of my lovely college friends who came out from all over the country, mostly from the east coast. Yeah, the hubs was getting a little sloppy happy by that time.

Getting a dance in with my baby brother.

The party went strong 'til the end.

Whew! We made it AND had fun!

All photos are copyright M. Norwood Photography unless otherwise noted.

You can never have too many pro photos!
[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride's Attire
[3] The Details: Bridal Party Attire
[4] The Details: The Venue
[5] The Details: Paper
[6] The Details: Decor
[7] The Details: Food
[8] The Details: Ring Shots!
[9] The Events: First Look
[10] The Events: Pre-Ceremony Photo Shoot
[11] The Events: Ceremony
[12] The Events: Reception [The Calm Before the Storm]

Don't worry, I'll be back to post the rest of my vendor reviews, whether you want to read them or not. ;)

Zesty Vendors, Part II - Party Pieces

Tue, 27 May 2008 18:51:53 GMT

Venue
The Clarke Estate [Tamra Wilbur]
Highly Recommended
10211 Pioneer Blvd.
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
562.868.3876
www.santafesprings.org/depts/history/Clark_estate.asp

As soon as I pulled up to this venue, I knew it was perfect for our wedding. The well-kept grounds, the charming courtyard, the splashes of red, all the bamboo, the Modern architecture, and the expansive outdoor areas met our aesthetic criteria. On the practical side we loved the relatively reasonable rental fee (it's more of a steal if you are a city resident) that includes use of chairs and tables for up to 300 guests, 10 hour use of the estate (7 hours of which guests can be on the grounds), city-required security, a site coordinator, and ceremony sound equipment. ample parking is provided a short walk from the main gate of the estate, only one event is held at a time, and the expansiveness and variety of the grounds allows you to hold both ceremony and reception at the same venue, a must on our list, while still varying the feel of each portion of the wedding. There are a few regulations that must be respected due to the historic designation of the estate and its residential neighborhood, but none of the stipulations were deal breakers for us. Their BYO policy for food and alcohol allowed us to save quite a bit on catering costs as well. The estate's events coordinator, Tamra Wilbur, was professional, pleasant to work with, accommodating of any special requests, and wonderfully organized in her dealings with us, our wedding coordinator, and our caterer.

Coordinator
Events of Love and Splendor [Angel Swanson]
Highly Recommended
angel@loveandsplendor.com
www.loveandsplendor.com

We initially thought our budget did not have room for a coordinator. However, we wanted to insure that things would run smoothly, we did not want to impose too much on guests, and we wanted to be able to enjoy the day ourselves. While I was very happy with all top three coordinators (on my list) I met with, Angel stood above the rest. Her poise, genuine enthusiasm for her clients and weddings, and amazing, current sense of style set her apart. No matter the look and feel you are going for in your wedding, she has an adaptable and keen eye for what will (and will not) contribute to the big picture. She is organized and professional but also has an ideal personality, in my opinion, for a coordinator - sincerely sweet and affectionate toward her clients, diplomatic, and nice but firm + assertive when required.

When my original alcohol vendor flaked out two weeks before the wedding, she went over and beyond her contractual obligations in helping me make sure our guests did not go thirsty. On the day of, she and her assistant, Anna, made sure everything ran smoothly and on time while being everywhere and nowhere at the same time. She cued all of the vendors, the bridal party, our families, and us subtly and at appropriate times. Our other vendors commented on what a pleasure she was to work with. many of our guests commented on what an organized yet fun and laid-back wedding ours was, and that is due in large part to Angel's work.

Caterer
Elegant Affair Catering [Pete + Julie Ortega]
Recommended
800 N. Main St.
Orange, CA 92868
714.532.0114
www.eacevents.com

I love delicious, beautifully presented food. However, with our modest budget and moderate guest count (145), O had to find a caterer who made solid (if not crazy excellent) food for a decent price. With the help of Elegant Affair, we did it! we got a three-course sit-down dinner, all china/drinkware/flatware/linens rentals, some disposable wares (please feel free to clutch your pearls now), a few miscellaneous rentals (bar height tables for cocktail hour, a bar, etc.), cake cutting service, champagne toast service (which we didn't use), cold drink station pre-ceremony, coffee station, bar staff to serve our BYO alcohol, and waitstaff for less than $50 a head.

While their food is not the most gourmet, it is definitely tastier than most wedding banquet food I have had. The presentation was sufficient but didn't wow. However, the food was fresh and tasty, service was excellent, and everything was a really great value.

Cake
For the Love of Sugar [Sarah Witt]
Highly Recommended
sarah@fortheloveofsugar.com
www.fortheloveofsugar.com

Her specialty is cupcakes, but she can do pie, cookie favors, and cake as well. Cake decorating is definitely her forte, but the cakes, fillings, and frostings are all fresh and delicious as well. I gave her an inspiration image, and she took it from there, producing exactly what we wanted. I wanted cream cheese frosting for my outdoor, August wedding, and she agreed as we pushed the delivery back to early evening and promised a shady area for the cake table. While putting together the contract, she threw in fondant over the cream cheese frosting for free, as she wanted to make sure the cake stayed pretty and safe to eat. On top of it all, she is definitely one of the most affordable bakers in the area.

Alcohol Supplier
Wally's Wine [David Othenin-Girard + Judi Wallace]
Highly Recommended
2107 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
310.475.0606
www.wallywine.com

My original alcohol vendor flaked out a little less than a week before the wedding. We wanted someone who could help us calculate quantities of alcohol/mixers/garnishes/ice/etc. to provide a full bar, provide delivery and pickup services, and would also accept returns on unopened bottles. I had frequented Wally's previously for special occasion bottles of wine, but I never knew they also frequently cater parties. They provided us with a quote very quickly and made placing the order very easy for us. Their prices are comparable to other retailers, but they do offer volume discounts depending on what you need.

DJ
Mixterious Force [Joey Inez]
Highly Recommended
jinez@verizon.net

Due to sound restrictions, we had to use a DJ from the venue's pre-approved list. After talking to many cheesy DJ's off the list that were asking for quite a bit fee-wise, my husband finally found Joey. He was everything we wanted in a DJ/MC and more. He is laid back, organized, and completely respects your specific desires. He went over and beyond in setting up for our three different areas--ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. As an MC, he was not cheesy at all, only announced the things we asked him to, and made sure he was on the same page as the other vendors involved in each event he announced to insure smooth flow. As a DJ, he stuck to our lists, edited our long lists down very nicely, did a great job mixing (no awkward transitions or silences between songs--a peeve of my husband's, who used to spin), and also did a good job of reading the crowd and adjusting as needed. An added bonus was that for some of our more obscure, older hip hop, he was even able to dig records out and actually use them as he has both CD and vinyl turntables. Many guests complimented both his MC and DJ skills, and a fellow wedding-obsessed friend and recent bride in attendance even commented that she was so sad she had not hired him as well. You'll see the dance floor moves he inspired in my next entry!

Previously blogged reviews:
Zesty Vendors, Part I - Visual Record

[12] The Events: Reception [The Calm Before the Storm]

Mon, 26 May 2008 22:39:46 GMT

Things remained on the calmer side, at least to our knowledge, while it was still light out. How I love long, warm summer nights, and we had a wonderful one for the reception.

[Grand Entrance]

That's me, tripping on the stairs and my dress during our grand entrance. we did eventually make it to the table in one piece.

No idea how Michael Norwood got this lovely shot, short of climbing the house on the estate or making a ladder appear out of thin air.

I previously wrote a blurb on our first dance. Here is just one photo since I've already posted a ton.

[Toast + Tables]

Although we did mingle with our guests during cocktail hour, we are really glad we did table visits + had pro photos taken at each table [even if some guests were missed due to being ~~at the bar~~ being who-knows-where.]

[Cake Cutting]

No smashing here. We love food too much to put it anywhere but in our mouths.

So sweet, that cake! Oh, the kiss, too.

Vendor reviews on the amazing group of people who helped the above happen to come, before the second, rowdier installment of reception photos. 'Til then, link away below, for those who've missed the parade thus far.

[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride's Attire
[3] The Details: Bridal Party Attire
[4] The Details: The Venue
[5] The Details: Paper
[6] The Details: Decor
[7] The Details: Food
[8] The Details: Ring Shots!
[9] The Events: First Look
[10] The Events: Pre-Ceremony Photo Shoot
[11] The Events: Ceremony

Zesty Vendors, Part I - Visual Record

Mon, 19 May 2008 02:58:14 GMT

I am interrupting the pro photo parade to bring you some info on some of my super fantastic vendors.

Videography
HD Invision [Robert Busch]
Highly Recommended
818.825.1054
info@hdinvision.com
www.hdinvision.com

Robert was very responsive, professional, and on top of follow-up from our intial contact. He arrived on time, decided to throw in a second shooter for the ceremony close to our wedding date when I sent him our ceremony setup in order to best capture everything, and was everywhere and very unobtrusive at the same time on our wedding day.

Editing-wise, we like more of an edgy and contemporary style. However, we didn't want our video to get dated too quickly, either. Robert's editing style is a good balance between classic and modern without any cheese. From his other samples, it seems he can adjust more toward one end of the spectrum or the other as well, depending on your taste. He does give you a very detailed questionnaire regarding your style preferences at the beginning, but he was able to extract that which fit us and our event best with very little direction from [lazy] me [who didn't fill it all out]. His turnaround time was very reasonable as videography goes, his packages a great value, and he was such a pleasure to work with throughout the process.

And now, our highlights reel to show you some of his work.

Photography
M. Norwood Photography [Michael Norwood]
Highly Recommended
michael@mnorwoodphotography.com
www.mnorwoodphotography.com
mnphotography.blogspot.com

I was fortunate to have found michael when he was just breaking into wedding photography, especially since we had a beer budget and have champagne tastes as far as photography is concerned. Both my husband and I were instantly taken by his warm, laid-back personality. Despite both being rather camera-shy, we knew that we would be comfortable in front of him on our wedding day. Even with only a few weddings under his belt at the time, his portfolio showed obvious talent, understanding of the types of shots brides and grooms want, and an impressive range.

We loved his enthusiasm and creativity in trying a new venue for our engagement photos. he was present for every moment of our 15+ hour wedding day, and we love both the candid moments and casual portraits he caught of us, our guests, and the event. As evidenced throughout my entries documenting our day and Michael's work, his work speaks for itself. he was also prompt to respond, had our online proofs up in record time, and was another vendor that our other vendors truly enjoyed working alongside.

[11] The Events: Ceremony

Sat, 17 May 2008 22:10:16 GMT

[The Processional]

Waiting...

Our mothers lighting the candles.

My brother surprised me with a HUGE bear hug as he was giving me away.

[The Ceremony]

We were nice and shady while all our guests baked. oops.

We did it!

[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride's Attire
[3] The Details: Bridal Party Attire
[4] The Details: The Venue
[5] The Details: Paper
[6] The Details: Decor
[7] The Details: Food
[8] The Details: Ring Shots!
[9] The Events: First Look
[10] The Events: Pre-Ceremony Photo Shoot

[10] The Events: Pre-Ceremony Photo Shoot

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:18:54 GMT

I know most of you don't care to see a million photos of us (again), our family, friends, and bridal party, but I wanted to show off the awesome shots our photographer got. Also, I love how our more formal portraits are posed yet still feel casual.

[The Bridal Party]

Yeah...none of us pull edgy off too well.

Another wanna-be cool one, just because it's a cool shot, even if we aren't.

[The Bride + The Groom]

[The Family]

More red + aqua goodness:
[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride's Attire
[3] The Details: Bridal Party Attire
[4] The Details: The Venue
[5] The Details: Paper
[6] The Details: Decor
[7] The Details: Food
[8] The Details: Ring Shots!
[9] The Events: First Look

[9] The Events: First Look

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:34:46 GMT

Another quickie entry. Michael Norwood and Travis Hoehne, who second shot for him, set the scene nicely.

More photos here:
[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride's Attire
[3] The Details: Bridal Party Attire
[4] The Details: The Venue
[5] The Details: Paper
[6] The Details: Decor
[7] The Details: Food
[8] The Details: Ring Shots!

Vendors - Jeweler

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:37:00 GMT

Alrighty, I'm going to break up the massive photo postings with my vendor reviews. To go with my most recent entry, here's my review on our jeweler, who I've raved about before.

World Watch and Jewelry Center [Michelle Lee]
Highly Recommended
650 S. Hill St. #E8 [inside the St. Vincent Jewelry Center]
Los Angeles, ca 90014
213.627.0547

If you’re not quite sure where to start in the downtown jewelry district, try our jeweler. She’s honest, knowledgable, sweet, sells GIA certified stones, helps you get the most out of your budget, helps you stick to your budget, and she never pressures you. There are a lot of great jewelers downtown, and she's definitely one of the more brilliant gems [har har]. We worked with her to custom design my engagement ring and selected our rather basic wedding bands from her extensive, stocked collection. Turnaround time for custom pieces is very quick.

[8] The Details: Ring Shots!

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:17:15 GMT

[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride's Attire
[3] The Details: Bridal Party Attire
[4] The Details: The Venue
[5] The Details: Paper
[6] The Details: Decor
[7] The Details: Food

[8] The Details: Ring Shots!

OK, I lied. ONE more [short] installment of a detail--our cool ring shots by Michael Norwood.

[7] The Details: Food

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:10:40 GMT

[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride's Attire
[3] The Details: Bridal Party Attire
[4] The Details: The Venue
[5] The Details: Paper
[6] The Details: Decor

Mmm...time for food. I am a sucker for delicious, beautifully presented food. However, with our modest budget and guest count, I had to find a caterer who made solid (if not crazy excellent) food for a decent price. We did it! We got all of the below food, all china/drinkware/flatware/linens rentals, some disposable ware (please feel free to clutch your pearls now), a few miscellaneous rentals (bar height tables for cocktail hour, a bar, etc.), cake cutting, champagne toast service (which we didn't use), waitstaff, and bar staff for less than $50 a head. The food wasn't uber gourmet and presentation was good but not wow. However, the food was fresh, good for mass-produced banquet food, service was excellent, and it was a really great value. I will post my caterer's information and a full review soon.

[Ceremony]
Water, lemonade, iced tea station, since it was so hot. It didn't turn out quite as cute as most drink stations as I left it up to my caterer and use of pitchers they already had, but served its function.

[Cocktail Hour]
Tray passed hors d'oeuvres.

Fresh mushroom stuffed with andouille sausage + fresh herbs
Italian pesto bruschetta
Oven-roasted quesadilla rolls with avocado and tomatillo salsa
Crab cakes with fresh mango relish

Mashed potato martini bar with choice of toppings, including whipped butter, sour cream, fresh chives, bacon, shredded cheese, caramelized onions, mushroom bourguignonne, demi-glaze, and sauteed California mixed vegetables.

Bride + groom who don't eat all night? Never in this case! We made sure to join in the feasting.

[photo by family member]

[Reception]
Sorry, no fab photos of this food. It was your pretty standard (but moist!) chicken italiano or vegetarian lasagna entree with grilled veggies and penne on the side.

[Cake]
The Flavors:

Lemon cake with bavarian cream + fresh strawberry filling.
Red velvet cake with cream cheese filling.
Both flavors frosted in cream cheese frosting, then covered in fondant

[both photos by friends who love food + dessert as much as i do]

The Look:
Clean, unfussy, modern, incorporating chocolate-covered strawberries was a must.

[Favors]

Diddy Riese cookies.
Packaged in plastic.
Then packaged in festive, appropriately colored + patterned, food-safe waxed tissue paper.

[photo by a friend]

How I did it here. Adapted from this.

"Enough details already!" you say? The event action starts in my next installment, I promise.

[All photos by M. Norwood Photography unless otherwise noted.]