Best of Both Worlds

Reylena was my first friend I met at Biola University over seven years ago and she quickly became one of my dearest friends. Reylena has the most beautiful heart for serving those in need, is an incredible listener, and woman of grace. When she met James in grad school where they were both working on their Master’s in Social Work at USC, I knew there was something different about this guy. She would call me and tell me about this amazing man and the conversations they were having. I knew it was only a matter of time until he would pop the question and we could start planning her wedding together!

During their engagement, James finished school, Reylena worked full time, completed her internship, moved, planned a wedding, and finished school a few months after James. Needless to say, this woman is amazing! Their wedding day in the desert where Reylena grew up was the absolutely perfect day! Every detail fell into place, the weather was beautiful, and Reylena was the most calm bride. Her family coming together with James’ family was so special to witness.

Not only did I have the privilege of being Reylena’s coordinator, I also got to be a bridesmaid and stand next to one of my best friends on the most exciting day of her life! I got to celebrate with her in her bridal party, but also serve her doing something I love! What a special gift it was to part of her day! It truly was the best of both worlds for both of us!

A Couple that Lifts Together...

Dani & Mike

7/30/16

In July Dani and Mike got married and it was just the best day! I met Dani and Mike where we used to all workout doing Crossfit down in Mission Viejo. They are two of the strongest (literally!) people I know with the biggest hearts. Mike used to coach us and Dani was unstoppable in the gym! These two brought so much to our community and it was so sweet to watch them workout together and do life with one another in and outside of the gym. They met in college and had been dating for years. Mike is now a special education teacher and Dani just finished her doctorate and works as a chiropractor.  They are such fun people to be around and I absolutely loved getting to be a part of making their vision come to life!

For almost a year we worked together dreaming up each perfect detail for their wedding day. We shared many dinners and laughs as we talked through everything leading up to the big day. They got married at Walnut Grove in Moorpark and it was gorgeous with farm tables and oak vineyard chairs, string lights, and an intimate ceremony in the cool shade of huge trees.

Their reception had hundreds of candles, flowers arranged by a longtime family friend, signature cocktails, and lots of dancing! I don’t know many people who like to have a good time as much as these two! They are always dancing, adventuring, and celebrating together and their friends and families were overjoyed to finally share in their much anticipated wedding day!

Dani and her mom were extremely organized and thought of every little thing. From each table having its own box of décor to fans for their afternoon ceremony, they were on it! I had so much fun getting to know Dani’s family throughout the process of planning for their wedding and we had such a blast on their wedding day!

A week after Dani and Mike got back from their honeymoon Dani volunteered to assist me at another wedding…how sweet is that?!

xoxo,

Amanda Grace

Wedding Tip Wednesday: Dessert Tables

There are so many different ways to do dessert at your wedding these days! You could go classic with cake, trendy with cupcakes, fun with mini desserts or sweet and personal with homemade goodies!

If you're not a cake person, consider pie, cookies or homemade treats you grew up eating at grandma's house. I love the idea of cutting a small sweetheart cake and allowing guests to enjoy something that people will love like a mini dessert station. People always like options and giving guests the choice to choose from several options makes dessert time interactive and a piece of your wedding people are sure not to forget! 

I've seen "fake cakes" with sheet cake precut in the back, Ben & Jerry's ice cream cart, classic cake, donuts, varied desserts brought from friends at a local bakery, and even a churro cart! Below are some yummy desserts the sweetest couples have enjoyed and shared with their guests!

xoxo,

Amanda Grace

Love is Sweet

Maddy & Caleb

2/6/16

In February I got to be a part of one of the sweetest of weddings for a dear from college. Maddy and I met freshman year and have been friends ever since so getting to help create the day she envisioned to marry William Caleb Parker was such a treat! There were the most darling personal touches in every detail from the people that helped set up to both of their fathers officiating the ceremony to the dessert that was made in Tennessee and flown to California.

Early in the morning several people, young and old, came to the reception to help set up tables and chairs for 250 guests and carefully place handmade centerpieces. As we pulled everything together it was a true picture of community coming together to show love to two people we are all lucky to know. With both of their dads being pastors, they each got to play a role in the ceremony and together they spoke words of wisdom and love as Maddy and Caleb exchanged vows and promises to serve and love together forever. There was not a dry eye in that church!

Probably my favorite detail from the wedding was the dessert! Caleb’s family has a secret cookie recipe that Maddy wasn’t allowed to have until they got married. Maddy swore she wasn’t just marrying him for the recipe but I know it was a huge perk for that sweets-loving lady;) For their wedding Caleb’s grandma and aunts baked dozens of these magic cookies and flew them to California for the reception. At the rehearsal dinner Maddy was given the recipe as she was welcomed in the Parker family. With these sweet, melt in your mouth, cookies, Maddy and Caleb served brownies (made by the famous Mrs. Clarke!) and had a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream cart! Maddy would eat ice cream for every meal if she could so it was perfect and guests loved it!

Maddy and Caleb are two of the sweetest people I know and it was such a blessing to get to be a part of making their vision for their day come to life!

xoxo,

Amanda Grace

Wedding Tip Wednesday: DIY Centerpieces

Pinterest has revolutionized wedding décor in today’s world. Lots of people have chosen to do DIY centerpieces to add a personal touch and also to save money. I think it’s a great idea and I love seeing brides and grooms and their families working on projects for the wedding together! If you choose to make your own centerpieces, they don’t have to be expensive, over the top or extravagant. Sometimes less is more! Ask your family and friends to start saving wine corks, bottles, jars, cans, frames, etc once you decide what you want to do. If you know someone who does beautiful woodwork or has great calligraphy skills, ask if they’d be willing to help! Having people you are close to be part of making your vision become a reality is so special.

Check out some of the DIY centerpieces from the sweet brides I’ve worked with in the past!

xoxo,

Amanda Grace

Wedding Tip Wednesday: Guest Seating

Creating a seating chart for your guests can be confusing and overwhelming in the final weeks leading up to your wedding as you collect RSVPs. But it doesn’t have to be! It can be fun to group people together who know each other well or friends you know will get along sitting at the same table. Making your escort cards can be a fun little project for you and your friends or family. Make sure when you decide what you want to use for your seating assignment, it’s something that is easy to change quickly as people add and drop last minute. And always make extra! Once your layout and table assignments are done, group your cards together in ziplock bags for your coordinator to easily display on your wedding day. If you are doing a choice-of dinner, it’s important to have an indicator on your escort cards for the catering staff to identify who is getting what entrée for dinner. This can be as simple as a colored ribbon or different colored marking that your guests will barely recognize but the staff will know.

Another idea is doubling your escort cards as your favors! For their desert wedding, Ashley and Drew used mini succulent plants as their escort cards for guests to find their tables and then had guests take them home to remember their wedding weekend in the desert. For Meagan and Cory’s wedding, Cory custom built a rack to hang all the escort cards on at cocktail hour that matched the venue perfectly. The possibilities are endless and it doesn’t have to be complicated!

Check out some of the cute escort cards brides have created below:)

xoxo,
Amanda Grace

Steve and Lindi Hit It Outta The Park!

Steve & Lindi

1/17/16

Steve and Lindi’s wedding at Angel’s Stadium was by far one of the most exciting venues I got to work at! They invited 200 of their closest friends to join them in the Diamond Club and celebrate God’s faithfulness in their relationship. It was an evening of laughter, good food and dancing, complete with the announcer from the stadium as the DJ!

After their ceremony at King of Glory Lutheran Church, where Steve and Lindi attend church, guests made their way to Angel’s Stadium to continue the celebration! As guests arrived they signed the calendar guest book filled with Lindi and Steve’s engagement pictures taken on the field by Antonio Espino Photography. It was a simple evening with BBQ sliders, toasts, a custom Steve and Lindi bobble-head cake topper, and peanuts and ballpark snacks for guests to enjoy! It was great to see a room filled with so much love and joy as we celebrated the union of Steve and Lindi!

Xo,

Amanda Grace

More pictures in the gallery of Steve and LIndi!

Wedding Tip Wednesday: Choosing a Venue

Once you’ve settled on a budget, the first thing to get squared away is a venue. It’s important to know what your wants and needs are before you start the search. Consider things like if they’ll let you choose your own caterer, how long they give you for set up, do you get along with the venue manager. All these things will really affect your wedding planning and wedding day experience. Once you reach out to venues and get preliminary pricing, I recommend only visiting venues in your price range. You don’t want to fall in love with a venue you can’t afford! Keep in mind some places may be higher in price but include more. Be sure to thoroughly read through the contract before you sign anything! And although a venue will tell you they provide a "wedding coordinator" keep in mind this coordinator knows the VENUE well, not necessarily every detail you've been dreaming of. They will know where light switches are, when it was built, what the name of that tree is, but if you hire a wedding coordinator they will know EVERY SINGLE DETAIL about your entire day from the minute you wake up until you leave for your honeymoon. A venue coordinator knows details pertaining just to the venue. When you hire a day-of coordinator they work solely for you! Their main goal is for you to have the most seamless, relaxing, and wonderful day possible. Obviously I'm a little biased but I always say a day-of coordinator is a priceless piece of your budget;) 

Here are my top 5 things to consider when choosing a venue:

1.       Price Range: Is it within your budget? What does the price include? Is it reasonable compared to other places you’ve looked?

2.       Atmosphere: Do you absolutely love it? Can you envision your wedding pictures (that you’ll have FOREVER!) being taken there?

3.       Location: How far will the majority of your guests have to travel? Do you need to do a room block at a local hotel? What about unexpected weather options? Heat? Rain?

4.       Size: Is it big enough for your guest count? Comfortably? Is there space for you to get ready? Do a first look? Are there separate cocktail and reception areas?

5.       Catering: Is catering included? Do they have a preferred list you must choose from? Can you bring in your own? If you’re set on a certain restaurant/caterer, make sure the venues you look at allow outside vendors to be brought in.

xoxo,

Amanda Grace