Happy Holidays!!

Christmas is coming to town!!
Hope you all will have a warm holidays with your love ones and a healthy 2009!

Amy's Wedding & Events is closed for the holidays and will return on January 16th, 2009. However, I will have limited access to email, so feel free to email me if you have any questions regarding to our packages or wedding related questions. We look forward assisting your on your wonderful events!

Cheers,
Amy :)

Meet the Venue

Today 'Meet the Venue' will take you to a hidden hotel of contemporary American hospitality combined with a chic French twist inside the peninsula area in the bay area - Hotel Sofitel

Hotel Sofitel located near by the San Francisco Airport, very convenience whether you are from the out of town or around the bay area. This hotel has just recently remodeled with a very modern style of look right the first step you enter the lobby throughout the entire building. A lot of good picture spots for couple who are looking for an elegant hotel setting but don't want to go all the way to the city.

They have two outdoor ceremony locations which not that many hotels will provide. Whether you are having an intimate wedding or a big celebration, their Champagne Room, Bordeaux Room, and Grand Ballroom can accommodate all your needs.

Contact Tiffanny Aurelio, their Social Catering Manager to get more information of this stunning hotel!
Email: tiffanny.aurelio@accor.com
Phone: (650) 508-7104
Address: 223 Twin Dolphin Drive, Redwood City, CA 94065

Tell her I sent you. ;-)

Yan & Essam's Wedding, Half Moon Bay

Yan and Essam, a very fashion and stylist bride and groom which I enjoyed having them around. It was an intimate wedding with 50 guests around the world to share their joyous day at the Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay with a beautiful sky on their wedding day. It was a bit windy but no cloud at all! This is one of my favorite weddings with a very clean, unique, and elegant yellow and brown colors to set their tone next to the ocean. It blended in so well with the outdoor and indoor look.

Time for photos: Special Thanks to Claudia Akers Photography to provide all the beautiful shots! I had a great time working with Claudia and her 2nd photographer-Julie, who is also a pro at the wedding and create some funny shoots. :)





I always encourage my bride and groom to be creative! And this time, they named all table in the well known fashion brand! Fun!! Prada at the sweetheart table :)


Oops...a small accident happened in the middle of the cocktail hour. Some golfers just had too much fun and hit the glass up on the Observatory room instead of the hold. Glad that we were safe in the double pane glass room, and no one was hurt. *Broken glass will bring Good Luck!* ;-)



An email I received few days after the wedding:
"Hi Amy,

Thank you so much for making our dream come true :). We cannot have this memorable wedding without you. You connected all the dots together! Thanks again for everything.

Yan and Essam"

Jackie and Tosh's Wedding, Cupertino

Jackie is an ABC and Tosh is an ABJ. Jackie's grandma wanted to follow some Chinese traditions from day one of the planning, so she asked for help on picking the date from the Chinese Calender. Neither of them know much about the tradition but want to be respectful to their parents and grandparents. I still remember the first time we met, they were not sure what to do. During the planning with Jackie and Tosh, I'm so happy to see them growth and the support of each other. I'm very glad they both enjoyed the planning and the traditional elements incorporated into their wedding. By the end of the night, this is one of my favorite parts of the whole day: "WE DID IT!" And they did it so well! :)

Ceremony Location: Cypress Hotel, Cupertino
Reception Location: Dynasty Seafood Restaurant, Cupertino

Here is a slideshow provided by This Is It Photography. Just in case it if doesn't show, here is the link to Jackie and Tosh's Wedding Day Capture

Sweet words from my lovely couple:
"Hi Amy,
Tosh and I would like to Thank you for all the help that you provided for us in the past year! A full year of work, dedication, and planning have finally paid off and we are very happy that our wedding day went smoothly. We actually do not know how we would have been able to have our wedding day go smoothly without your help and expertise. We would definitely recommend you to other couples and would let them know that you will make sure that Bride & Groom will enjoy their wedding day instead of stressing out. Thanks Again! :)
Love,
Tosh and Jackie Takeda"

I almost cry after I read the letter! :)

October!!

Hello everyone...I'm back!

Sorry for having delay on posts...but I promised, I will be posting very soon! :) Meanwhile...I hope everyone is enjoying our nice October just arrived.

OOO

Finally I made it here after all the wonderful September weddings. It's been a great month and I'm happy to see all my wonderful couples got to another stage of their lives. I got lot to share!! :)

Before I make it to my wedding posts, I'll be out of office this week to Phoenix for my MBA...j/k. I'll be attending a conference in Phoenix that called "Wedding MBA" (Wedding Merchants Business Academy). I really look forward to the conference and ready to learn more! I have my computer and phone with me and will check email daily but with limited of time.

Stay tune for all the good news and new trends!

Meanwhile...Enjoy our beautiful Fall weather. (Can't believe Fall is here!)

Hugs,
Amy

Real Wedding: Carolyn & Vincent

Congratulation once again to Carolyn and Vincent on their wedding!

I know it's been a delayed post and promised to show your few of their photos. Finally here you go for a peek~ (they are from my camera, but sure will post some pro. ones once I received it from the photographer.)

Carolyn and Vincent plus their family are just one big and friendly group to work with! I still remember when I first met with Carolyn and Vincent, Carolyn did most of the talking (as usual) and Vincent was just sitting there and listen (as usual). Once we met for second or third time, Vincent was all excited to discuss about the decoration and his idea on bringing his own equipment for their welcome guests station. And I'm so happy to see a groom to be that active on the wedding planning! (well a wedding shouldn't be only a bride idea, it's both bride and groom's idea!)

Toward their wedding day, I also got to meet Carolyn's big family with her mom and all uncles and aunties! They all are very nice and friendly people to be around. I don't feel like I'm only there to coordinate the day. I feel like I'm part of their family already since the rehearsal day. I still remembered during the rehearsal dinner, Carolyn's mom shared a few stories of Carolyn and Vincent, and when Carolyn's mom and Vincent got mad with each other, they would make a funny face..etc. I just have so much fun with this group!

Alright, back to the wedding...The wedding ceremony took place at the gorgeous church - The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph - in downtown San Jose.


The wedding reception took place at the next door - San Jose Museum of Art. A very convenience location where guests do not have to travel far from one place to another. You may think: 'Wow, you can held a wedding at a museum?' To answer it, YES, you can! Often time people would lie museum is just too boring for a wedding if they are not an art person. But to tell you the truth. A lot of people (whether they love art or not), they have chosen museum as their wedding location. With the already interesting art work and some creative ideas of the decoration, surely, once you and your guests step into the museum, it will give you a 'WOW'! If you think the white wall is too plain, do an additional touch by using some lighting to keep your original wedding color and create the tone that you want your wedding to be.



I always suggest my couples to be creative! Create a name for each table that is meaning for to the both of you. Your guests will have fun finding their table and knowing where they will be sitting!




Do something special with your wedding favor! I love the ideas of using the luggage tag as the escort card and wedding favor. This set the theme of your wedding once guests enter from the entrance and also make it useful of what you a giving your guests!


And finally, a photo with my lovely and fun couple inside one of the art galleries.


And yes, there are so many photo shoot point that you can take amazing photos inside the galleries. So don't worry if there's no way for photos. :)

Registry on Invitaiton?

I received a call from a Kentucky Groom this afternoon and asked the following question:

Q: Can we put our wedding registry info on our invitation card?
A: Yes, you can and why not? Some people would think, so you are asking for gifts? Not really! It depends on your guests if they want to get it from the registry or not. It's only to inform your guests, they can also purchase present from your wish list. The reason why you setup for the registry is because you want to receive the item you want for your new home (if you are doing gift registry) instead of receiving something your guests randomly picked or something that may not be as useful as what's on your registry list. This will save your guests money by going off your list, and you as a newly-wed, be able to receive the present you want. If you think putting the info on the invitation is too much to ask for or for your guests to remember, create an additional card and attach it with the invitation. And other way to do is if you created your own wedding website, include the link on the invitation and direct guests to the registry page upon their willingness.

Speaking on wedding website, it is another easy way for those guests who are computer savvy, and have them do the RSVP through the web. Make it green and convenience for your guests instead of mailing back your RSVP~ Sometime, some guests will forget to write their respond or name, and it takes time for you to find out who he/she is toward your wedding day. Save yourself the time and enjoy before your wedding day! :)

Got any questions? Feel free to email or give me a ring~

Life is full of excitements!!

I'm THRILLED!! I'm THRILLED!!!
I know, I know... this is suppose to be a wedding blog with posts regarding to weddings but I just can't wait to share a great news with everyone how HAPPY I am!

Just 30 minutes ago I received an email from my previous couple Kelly and Richard with two cute little pictures attached and guess what? They are expecting a new member to join the family early next year! Same month of last year, I saw them walk down the aisle happily and having fun at their reception. Exactly one year later, they are having more excitement for the family! I'm so happy for them and seeing them doing so well!! It seems like their wedding wasn't too long ago?!?! But it was definitely a meaningful one to me especially I got to do a wedding for someone (Richard) who studied at the same high school as me. And now with this great news, I am trilled!

Best wishes to the Lu's family with happiness and great health!

This is one of my favorite updates after each wedding. Seeing my couples (and always become my friends) are doing so well and starting their fabulous new journey together!

Life is full of excitements! Take your time to relax and enjoy~ and...Have a marvelous weekend! :D

Left or Right??

Question: "Which side should the bride and groom be seated?" or "Which way should I be when we walk into the reception?"

Answer: After you got married, the seating etiquette of how bride and groom walk, hold hands, and be seated has a meaning. Remember at the ceremony, the groom stand on the left hand side of the bride. So at the recessional, he will be holding his bride's left hand as they introduce as Mr. and Mrs.. By that said, he is to hold his bride's ring hand to his heart. You may ask, but I've seen people where the groom is on the right hand side of the bride at the reception? Maybe one of them is left handed and the other is right. This is totally up to you on how you feel comfortable.

This is a most command question I got asked on the wedding and I would always remind my couple. I think this is such a sweet thing to do for the groom to hold his bride with the ring closer to him. Don't you think? ;)

Real Wedding: Tanya & Jamil...7.12.2008

Congratulation to the new Mr. and Mrs. Tanya and Jamil King!


This is such a dream comes true wedding for Tanya and Jamil. I still remember I received a call from Tanya last year while she was planning her 'destination wedding' here in San Jose. She didn't have all details straighten out yet but she knew that she didn't want to worry anything on her wedding day. We customized a package for her based on her budget (*who say you can't hire a wedding consultant if you are in a budget??) and this is how we started.

Since she lived in Goleta (near Santa Barbara) by then, and didn't come up so often, we were only be able to talk on phone until few weeks prior her wedding. Tanya is such a sweetheart and I knew we clicked instantly by the time we first met. :)

Because they were in a tight budget, I'm so glad their parents supported them on part of the wedding expenses and make this became reality! Yes, not too much of fancy and high-end decoration, but this is what they want. A celebration with family and friends!

Tanya told me she wanted to have a unity candle ceremony the third time we talked. But since they were having the ceremony outdoor with great sunshine, a sand ceremony is prefect! You got to choose your wedding color(s) and mix it together (which also stand by a similar meaning as the unity candle). If you are having an outdoor ceremony and want to incorporate the idea. You know what to do. ;)




Of course, always a picture with my lovely couple

Beside Slideshow...

Wow, time files!! It's almost the end of July and I haven't been updating since the beginning of the month! How can it happened? Sorry for not being up-to-date. I was paying 100% attention to my July brides and grooms and that's why I've been gone for awhile. :) (this is how I treat my couples, no matter which package they pick, they will have my full attention. This is what I'm here for!~)

Alright, I want to share a video with you all of my newly-wed couple who just got married on last Saturday (yes, just few days ago and I got a video to show you!) My couple hired Lumitone based in Concord. Within the package, they had the 'same day edit' which they can produce a video within an hour after your ceremony and right before your dinner meals begin to serve. That night, all guests got to see the video with the preparation of the bridal party, photo session beforehand, ceremony, and the formal introduction at the beginning of the reception. This is one cool thing I think is so worth to get a videographer!!

Well, I will talk more on my couple at their post but here you go for the link to the video! (it requires to view with QuickTime Player. If you don't have one, simply go to Apple.com and get a free download)

Enjoy!!
Take me to the video
Just in case if it takes a long time to download, you may also want to copy the following link and paste it at QuickTime Player: http://www.lumitone.com/hernandez-sde.mov

Wedding Goes Hi-Tech

Often time, brides and grooms will come up with the following questions when doing invitation:
"What if people can't attend our wedding?" OR "Will guests come if they need to fly from out-of-states / other countries?"

With today's technology, these questions are being solved. A recent article I read from the MSN about "World wide weddings: Couples webcast nuptials" discussed there are companies offering webcasting couples' wedding service for those guests who couldn't be able to attend the wedding but still be want to be part of it at different locations. Ever think of 'webcasting' yourself on your wedding day? Today, you can look for companies that provide this type service if you are having the big question mark over you head on what to do with those who can't go to your wedding. While video will documented your special story, webcasting your wedding ceremony or the most important part and share with those 'cannot make it guests' instantly can be an option. However, some states / countries may not have this type of service to offer yet...hopefully it's coming soon! Should be fun to have a wedding webcasted!

Click the above link for the complete article.

My Friend from Singapore

Joelle Ung from Sedan of Love, my friend from Singapore who is also a wedding planner over there. We met through the training we took from ACPWC back in 2006. (Time files!!!) But we are friend since then and kept in touch after class. Sometime when I visit her blog, I'm impressed of seeing different setting of venues and style oversea. I'm happy to have a friend in the same business to share ideas and learn more from different countries weddings!

And here is a picture with Joelle

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An interesting post that I found from Joelle's blog. It's so true, and it sure apply to every culture / country on why you need a wedding consultant.

"The more weddings I do, the more convinced I am with couples hiring a Wedding Planner! And seriously, we need more Professional Wedding Planners or Specialised Wedding Designers.

Many brides think they have already have a lot of the details worked out and forgo a planner or simply hire for few hours on the day! Well, just wanted to outline a few pro's. To begin with, our duty is not just getting you a good deal or the cheapest deal in town! Most importantly, a planner is there to keep the logistical part of your day flowing. And, this starts at least 2 months prior to your wedding!!

Typically, a planner should provide you with a few vendors in each category that meet your style! There's more than 200 wedding photographers in Singapore. Is it worth your time to call each one of them to see what they charge and if they fit the style you like?

Your planner may think of things you haven't. Typically brides forget about the little details like reminding your JP one day before your wedding, or simply ordering food for your vendors and so forth.

And, in my experience, brides tend to not know where to stand ethically. For example, one bride wanted to go with free seating and the other, in her invitation to include preference of money envelope. Both are BIG NO NO's.

Although your hotel may have a event manager on hand, they are responsible for their venue only. So, if your baker doesn't show up with your cake, they are NOT responsible for contacting your baker to see where they are. If you have a planner, they ensure your DJ is there and set up timely, your photographer is taking the shots you requested and so on..

Every bride deserves a planner to be at their side and take care of what YOU need. Really!

So why would you have someone with no experience or certification, be in charge of the most important day in your life? If you have appointed someone "important" (your friend / your mother / your sister). They might be going to miss an important moment in your day. Looking at you putting on the veil, the small talk etc!

Lastly, u may think a planner will step on your toes and control your day, that's completely untrue. Fire the planner if you meet one!"
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Happy 4th of July and be safe!! :)

Attention!

The New Cellular Phone Laws is effected today. Remember to bring your hand-free with you when you are out to your car and have it set up before you drive! Drive Safe~

Happy Monday...and Happy Marriage!!

After a post on 'Rules for Happy Marriage', here you go for something more to read on and keep a healthy marriage. :)
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New Rules for a Good Marriage
Surprising new marriage rules to help you get closer — or even fall in love again.
By Sarah Mahoney

By the time we reach our 15th wedding anniversaries, most of us know how to handle the ups and downs of marriage. Sure, the wedding china may have a few chips, and perhaps we've had one too many spats about who forgot to bring home the milk. But we've also learned to negotiate holidays with the in-laws, wrangle tantrum-throwing kids, and talk each other through blown transmissions and career crossroads.

Now, instead of having our accomplishment acknowledged, it looks like we're in for a whole new set of marital challenges. Friends, family, movies, and talk show hosts warn us of midlife marriage dangers like husbands ditching their wives for younger women or empty-nest syndrome catapulting couples into divorce court. If getting the kids into college didn't force us apart, it seems, then a 20-something blond will.

Well, maybe not. At last count, America's divorce rate had fallen to 36 percent, its lowest level since 1970. That's because, on the whole, most of us like being married, and so do our spouses. And while there are certain challenges inherent in waking up next to the same guy for 5,379 mornings in a row, many so-called "inevitable" marriage pitfalls are really just unexamined old wives' tales. On closer inspection, two facts become clear: There's only a trace of truth in each fable — but there's also the potential to retool them to make your relationship even closer. Here are five of the most enduring myths, plus new rules to replace them.

Myth: Never go to bed angry. If you don't hash through every conflict right away, it'll lead to resentment and ultimately blowups.

As marriage folklore goes, the idea that it's imperative to settle every disagreement before day's end is pretty well entrenched. (After all, that's the way some people read that "Do not let the sun go down on your wrath" line from the Bible, as well as how others interpret the pop-psychology dictum "voicing grievances clears the air.") And many of us have accepted the premise that if we don't address disputes at once, all that unresolved conflict just festers inside us and we'll wake up angrier each day, until someone finally explodes over an uncapped tube of toothpaste.

Ideally, of course, we would all be able to truly forgive every slight and make up before bedtime. But guess what? No one is that perfect. And, in reality, most spouses don't solve problems well when they're mad. In fact, "the idea that it's helpful for couples to air their grievances in the heat of the moment is probably one of the most dangerous marriage myths out there," says John Gottman, Ph.D., professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Washington and author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. "Often, nothing gets resolved — the partners just get more and more furious." When people are overwhelmed by emotions like anger, they experience what psychologists call "flooding," a physiological response that leaves their hearts pounding and their concentration shot, to say nothing of their ability to resolve arguments fairly or amicably.

New rule: Sleep on it. Conflicts are best dealt with when you have calmed down and are well rested.
Rather than stay up to debate the disagreement du jour, Gottman suggests that couples set aside a moment every night to focus on what's good about their marriage. Then, "no matter what — if you're angry, if he's angry, or if you're both exhausted — kiss good night for six seconds," he advises. "Sure, sometimes you'll be so mad or tired that the kiss will last for six nanoseconds. But it will remind you of your enduring affection, and besides — long kisses often lead to something even better than conversation."

That's not to say that conflicts don't have to be dealt with. To make sure disputes don't get swept under the bedsheets, Gottman recommends having a standing, short "State of Our Union" meeting each week (just not at bedtime). "Take turns telling each other something about your marriage or your partner that you appreciated that week, and then afterward each of you gets to bring up one issue."

Myth: One day the two of you will just realize you've grown apart and fallen out of love.
The fable is that some couples just drift apart as their personalities change or their interests diverge. But experts say if you look closely at most happy twosomes, you'll be amazed at how little they actually have in common. She could spend every spare hour crafting, and he might be the world's most ardent sports fan. Yet they've discovered ways to be themselves and together at the same time: That means sometimes she knits on the sofa to keep him company while he watches the Reds battle the Mets. In fact, experts say, shared interests or even similar temperaments are no assurance of marital longevity. "If these factors were truly important," Gottman says, "couples who meet through matchmaking services, which frequently try to pair singles according to hundreds of points of compatibility, would have a better chance of staying married than those who meet randomly. They don't."

New rule: A marriage doesn't run on feelings — it thrives because both spouses work hard on it.
"We need to give long-term partners credit for their marriages," says Diane Sollee, M.S.W., director of smartmarriages.com. "These couples have probably worked their way through hundreds of disagreements, illnesses, financial problems, kids' issues, maybe even an affair. They survive because they understand that they are a team, and they work to find ways to come together, whether in a crisis or in good times."

The truth is, we all change constantly, and that's a blessing. "If you sprayed fixative on people during their wedding ceremony," says Sollee, "life would just be too boring." But make sure you and your husband are checking in regularly with each other, and that all the little marital compromises and negotiations are making you both feel happy and involved in each other's evolving lives. That way, you can grow together, rather than apart, and, if anything, feel more in love than ever.

Read more...
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The complete article would be little bit long to post it all here. If you want to ready more on the myths and new rules, click on the link above. No matter if you are planning your wedding, thinking of renewing your vows, or if you know some married couples, I'm sure this will benefit to all.

Melt In Your Mouth

I came across on the M&M's site today and thought I should do a post today on this. :)

I love M&M's...well, not a big big fans but I love it. I remember I used to have one or two bags per week when I was in high school (oh..oh... of course share with my friends!!) There's no specific color that I like but as long as they are the milk chocolate ones, I'm good. Okay...so what about today post?

Often time I will have brides ask me what to pick for wedding favors. My first respond, don't pick anything that is useless! Why? 2 main reasons: your guests will either put it aside because they don't know what to do with it, or if it's really that bad, they will throw it away. Make the money you spend worthiness! Usually I would suggest my clients to pick something useful like cardholder, a mug, or USB drive (if you see my previous posts), or even something eatable...etc.!

So this morning, I came across with the custom M&M's website, and since chocolate is so popular as the wedding favor, why not share with those of you don't know you can do it. It's easy. Click on the link above and it will direct to their custom page. From there, you can pick the color you want on the M&M's, have it customize by the message you want to say, and pack it with their creative packages. And here, you have your personalize wedding favor to make your giveaway more meaningful!

And below is a recipe I found from the main website. If you are a mocha or java-chips lover, this is for you. (however, if you are not, may be it's worth to try~)

Ingredients:
1 11-oz. bad M&M's Brand Chocolate Candies
Coffee
Sugar bowl

Directions:
Fill your sugar bowl with M&M's Brand Chocolate Candies. Add a spoonful or two to your coffee instead of sugar of a choloclaty-flavored cup of java!

The weekend is coming up! Have an awesome one!! :)

Simply and Unique

Happy Monday!! I hope everyone has a great HOT weekend and ready for the new week!!

Today's topic, 'simply and unique'. So glad I can finally do this post after received the photos from the pro! heh~ Thank you Gene Higa from Gene Higa Photography, the 'Top 10 Wedding Photographers In The World', provided all the photos for today's post. I had a great fun time working with him and his day of 2nd photographer (aka a popular wedding photographer in the city), Ann Hamilton from Ann Hamilton Photographer.

Color is always the most first thing I will ask my brides during the initial consultation. Through knowing their color, I can then visualize how the wedding will look like and their style. Everyone has different taste and style. Some may have cheerful colors and some may only have 1 or 2 to play with. Overall, pick your favorite color because it's your wedding! :)

And the photos I want to show you today is from my May wedding. The color scheme is based on: navy blue, white, and a little bit of green. Not too loud of the color pick, and I love it's way of simplicity yet unique and elegant.

Real Wedding: May 3rd, 2008

Ceremony: Presido Main Post Chapel
Let's start with a fresh greeny look at the Chapel and the bride's elegant bouquet.



Reception: Legion of Honor


This is something I got to show!! Their yummy wedding favors wrapped in the beautiful Japanese gift paper. (small little thing to touch up the tone)


And here we go! A cake that showed the color scheme very well. Who said the cake has to be fully decorate?? One of my favorite parts throughout the day! This is really a great example of simplicity with an unique touch to make this cake so outstanding. Great work from Carolyn at Carolyn Wong Cakes and gorgeous flowers of the day provided by Michael Daigian.


From the front close-up


A stunning shot from Ann to end the special day!!
Outside of the Legion of Honor

Meet the Venue: Stanford Faculty Club

Did you know you can get married on the Stanford campus? I'm guessing most of us know about the Stanford Memorial Church, and you have to be either a full time student, an alumnus/alumna, a current faculty or staff member of the Stanford University, a present member of the Catholic Community at Stanford and so forth... But you can actually get married on the Stanford campus without being a student or any member at the Stanford Faculty Club!

I had a pleasure to meet Diane Elcan, the Catering Sales Manager at the Stanford Faculty Club yesterday. I was surprise to know that this club is open to public when Diane first mentioned. It's such a great and flexible location where you can have ceremony and reception or reception only at this club. There are two sizes of rooms that can accommodate you rather it's a big party with 250 guests max. or an intimate event for 80 guests max. The rental fee is very affordable. They have on-site caterer that will serve you and your guests, and dance floor is included. They offer different wedding package, if you are interested, give Diane a call. Tell her I sent you. :)

Stanford Faculty Club
Diane Elcan (Catering Sales Manager)
delcan@stanford.edu
650.725.4467
439 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA 94305

Photo time...(I didn't take any photos during my visit, but I hope these give you ideas from their past event)


Ceremony can be held at the outdoor patio

Rules for a Happy Marriage

I made a trip to the Fisherman Wharf for business meeting yesterday. On my way to pick up my car, I found the following poster on one of the souvenir stores' window display. Very true and for sure, this should be something to keep in mind all time!

I want you all, not only have happy planning...but also happy marriage! :)


Just in case if it's not clear from the photo, here you go for the list:
1. Never both be angry at the same time.
2. Never yell at each other unless the house is on fire.
3. If one of you has to win an argument, let it be your mate.
4. If you have to criticize, do it lovingly.
5. Never bring up mistakes of the past.
6. Neglect the whole world rather than each other.
7. Never go to sleep with an argument unsettled.
8. At least once every day try to say one kind of complementary thing to your life''s partner.
9. When you have done something wrong, be ready to admit it and ask for forgiveness.
10. It takes two to make a quarrel, and the one in the wrong is the one who does the most talking.

And of course, a trip to Fisherman Wharf, this is a must have!!!
Yummm Fresh Oysters!!

Happy Monday...

Well, first of all, Happy 'belated' Father's Day to all the Dad!! Thought I had a post on Mom's day, I should as well do a dad's day post. hm...yes, but we don't have any gift for dad beside taking him out for lunch and dinner. So I guess you might get bored seeing us eat, eat, and eat...heh~

Anyway...Happy Monday to you all. I decided to post a clip here from a song that I've been hearing at weddings. Ha, I didn't pay attention when it first show on TV but thought it's a good song with good rhythm. But now that I hear it more and more often, I wanted to share with you all on this beautiful Monday.

Enjoy...I'm sure you all know about this song... Have a wonderful week!!

The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson

Vases for the Centerpieces

Above centerpiece - Plan Decor
When it comes to calculating the budget for flowers, the number of arrangements, of course, is always the number one thing to be consider. After working toward to the budget, you will then think of ways to make your money spend wisely on items you want. Sometime, bride will ask, should I purchase or rent the vases for the centerpieces. It seems like renting vases may cause a bit less; however, I would suggest purchasing the vases (if it's in your budget) in order to avoid any unnecessary confusion and show your kindness to guests.

Here are things to consider if you decided to rent and have it return back to the florist:
1) You will need to go after your guests whoever took the centerpieces so that you can have the right number of vases to return.
2) Time consuming - pack it correctly and deliver back to the florist by a certain time.
3) Or in worse cause, vases might be damaged. You are reliable on any broken vase and end up buying it anyway.

Often time, the centerpiece is serve as a gift by the end of the night and guests love to take it home. Although you won't have enough for everyone, at least you can have a designated person to take it. Or you can do a 'Centerpieces giveaway game'! This way, everyone will have fun playing the game, and how much they love the centerpieces you picked!

Sending Out Invitation

I was assisting my client to send out invitation these days and a question popped up. I thought it would be good to share with you all so when it's your turn, you'll know what to do. :)

Q: How should I address the mailing label if I'm inviting the whole family?
A: For example, if you want to invite your Uncle and his family, simply put, Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and family. List clearly if you are inviting the whole family (meaning children are invited), only the parent, or only that particular person in that family is invited. If you are inviting a family and one of the parent is deceased, you may want to put, for example, if only your aunt and family, it would be Mrs. Mary Smith and family.

It's much easy nowadays that we can stick a label or write the name on the envelope. I still remember when I was little kid, I saw my parent's name was handwriting inside the invitation. And you can see people back then will need to write on each of the invitation and match with the right envelope.

Get In Shape and Look Perfect!

It was a pleasure meeting Carrie Burr, the Certified Personal Trainer, Nutritionist and Health and Wellness coach at Creating Wellness yesterday. After talking to her, we found out, both of us have passion of seeing our bride look healthy, stunning and prefect in her dress on the special day. From her training, you will see a different style of personal training then the one you see in gym. At her studio, she provides a comfort room for you while exercising and a personal attention to keep you on track. She also gives you guideline to eat right so that you can meet your goal. You may think going to a gym could be a bit boring. But for Carrie, I would say she makes the work out fun, and time will flies for each session before you realized. Overall, Create Your Wellness Now.

Carrie offers different type of trainings. So no matter you are bride-to-be, mommy-to-be, or just want to keep it healthy, you know who to call. Tell Carrie I sent you. :)

Creating Wellness
413 Monterey Ave., Suite B, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Phone: 408-375-8850

Stay confident and pretty all time~

Real Wedding: Jennifer & Devin...6.7.2008

Congratulation to my newly wed couple: Jennifer and Devin Jung!!

I met Jennifer and Devin back in last September. During the first meeting, Jennifer has well prepared her ideas of dress, wedding favors, cake, flower, etc. I knew she is an organize bride and knowing what she wants for her wedding by then. We kind of walk together on her planning step and now I can say we really become friend. We used to chat on email pretty often to talk about her wedding, and not until 3 weeks before her wedding, we found out that we both use MSN and facebook. Next thing you know, we picked up very quickly and chat whenever we are online. Although I'll be missing her emails, I'm sure we will chat more after her honeymoon to Hawaii!!!

At her wedding, I got to meet her lovely families and friends!! I felt like I was working on a best friend wedding instead of a client (and this is what I'm really happy to experience with each and every bride and groom from my work). Their wedding was the past Saturday with gorgeous weather at the beautiful Vine Hill House at Sebastopol. Pictures tell it all. Below you will see their wonderful ideas of the wedding. Truly, a fun couple to be around with! :)

Let's start with a jumping one with the bridal party


A gorgeous dress I mentioned from my previous post






The popular "Wedding Cupcake"!! Everyone been asking before the ceremony...'can I take one now??' (I guess I will need to hire a security guard stand next to it next time...j/k)






The cutest wedding favors!!


I tried to get a better shoot...but you can see the back drop of the reception location is a 100% full vineyard view with all the green and blue sky!!


Finally...a picture with my lovely bride!!


Meet the team:
Venue: Vine Hill House
Caterer: Larry Vito Catering Company
Photographer and Videographer: Invision Production
Florist: Viola Flowers
Ceremony and Cocktail Music: BBG Jazz Trio
DJ at Reception: AMS Entrainment
Cupcake: Sift Cupcakery
Makeup and Hair: Joanna Yim--joanneyim@sbcglobal.com