This was such a striking wedding held at the St Regis Monarch Beach.  My bride Courtney loved the color red so it was really important that she incorporated this into her wedding.  Courtney and Jake made an incredible couple, they really enjoyed every minute of the day.  Ceremony was on the Grand Lawn at the St Regis and the reception was at Club 19, where they danced the night away. Decor was designed by Jeff from Square Root Designs and photography by Jack Randall Photography.

One of my top photographers Laura Grier “A Beautiful Day Photography“ won the Destination Wedding Mag and American Photo Magazine “Look of Love Contest”!!! 

Laura was hired by my couple Thoa and Glenn to shoot their St Regis Destination Wedding.  In Laura’s word she tells you about her inspiration.

My Couple Thoa Tran and Glenn Cha, from New Orleans and Anaheim, CA, at St. Regis Monarch Beach, in Dana Point, CA, Aug. 15, 2009

Inspiration “The couple literally just walked down the aisle, and I think they wanted to escape their families and make a break for the beach. So they took off! I was chasing after them with a long lens, praying the photos would be in focus!”

How to capture a similar moment “Be willing to have fun and not care about trashing the dress. This gown got sand, salt water and seaweed on it, but she didn’t care — she knew it would make a spectacular photo. Also, the time of day really matters. You can’t get this light midday in a tropical location.”

Best part of shooting weddings away “I love to travel, and I love getting to know my couples and their loved ones intimately as though I were one of their own family members.”

One of my favorite weddings of the year!  Randa and Mina Said, April 18th, St Regis Dana Point.  I had so much fun planning this wedding with Randa and Mina, they always had a smile on their face and really enjoyed the entire planning experience.  This says a lot since Mina was living in San Diego and Randa in Canada.  Their love for their family and friends combined with a beautiful romantic but contemporary feel wowed everyone attending this fabulous event.  Florals by Shawna and incredible pictures by Mango Studios.  I also want to thank all my very talented vendors including Tiffany and her wonderful staff at the St Regis Dana Point.

Finding the right dress is the most important part of the wedding planning so on the Big Day the last thing you want to worry about is having a mishap with your dress just as you are about to walk down the aisle.  As a wedding planner I carry an ER kit just in case its needed.   One of my favorite items is the Magic Wand which can be purchased at Michael’s Craft Store, take a white cloth, dampen it and apply a small amt of Magic Wand onto the cloth.  Make sure you test this on the under hem to make sure it doesn’t effect the fabric before using this on the stain.  Magic wand has taken off lipstick, blood, cocktail sauce, flower stains and much more.  I also say that Magic Wand and a Prayer works Miracles.

One of the great dress Cleaners is Margaret’s, located throughout Southern California (866-454-2375), they not only clean wedding dresses but also do alterations and will press your dress before the wedding.  Below are a few tips from Margaret’s regarding your Bridal Gown Emergencies.

Broken Bustle- A quick fix is to loop-pin it with a safety pin.  We both recommend a French bustle since it will carry the weight of your dress.

Torn straps or ripped hems-Always carry needle and thread, make sure the thread is the same color of the dress, never use tape or staples

If your dress has beads, sequins or pearls-Always have extra so if you lose any of them you can add more to the dress.

Snags-Do Not cut the snag, this can leave a hole in the material. Simply pull the material back and forth gently, moving and flattening the snag until it goes back into place.

Dirt, Grease, Lipstick Marks,Wine Stains and More-My favorite Magic Wand

The type of material the gown is made of will determine how to treat it.  If the gown is made of artificial fiber such as polyester, there is a much less change of damaging the material.  If the dress is silk or rayon it can be water sensitive.  Be careful with shiny dresses, you can rub off the shine of the dress.

For more information contact Margaret’s Cleaners, they also have wonderful ER kits for the wedding day.

I was lucky enough to be invited back to the Grand Del Mar Coordinators Get Together this year.  WoW is all I can say!  They had a Mardi Gras theme the first night which included a girl hanging upside down pouring Champagne as well as a human dessert table. 

 The next day we got to sail on a replica of the Americans Cup Sailboat in the San Diego Harbor while enjoying a wine tasting.  That evening we had an incredible dinner in the Wine Room. 

The Linen and chair covers were provided by Wildflower Linens.  Photos by Boyd Harris, highly recommend him.

 I am so blessed to be invited to these wonderful events, it’s great to be on the other side for a change.

Wedding Showcase News….Have you selected your wedding venue?  We are so excited that The St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point is offering a 1^st Open House exclusively to brides and grooms that haven’t selected a wedding location. Come see an array of lawns and gardens for an outdoor ceremony along with exquisite options for reception locations on Sunday, March 14 from 1 – 4 p.m.  Please call 949-234-3455 to R.S.V.P. with a maximum of 3 guests.  Your dream wedding awaits……

Five Star Weddings & Events was showcased in Winter/Spring edition of Orange County Bride.   This spectacular wedding was shot at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast by one of my favorite photographers Jeremy Lucero.

Rancho Las Lomas is one of the most elegant wedding venue and private estates in America. Weddings here are especially beautiful and picturesque. This restored early California rancho offers a private and intimate atmosphere, set amidst exquisitely manicured botanical and zoological gardens.

My couple Karla and Paul had one of the most relaxed and fun filled weddings I have coordinated.  They picked Rancho Las Lomas because of the uniqueness and Old World Charm.  The couple and their guests were treated to the catering of 24 Carrot and danced to the sounds of Essence Entertainment,  I loved working with two incredible photographers Lindsey and April with Sweet Monday Photography.  Looking for a romantic and one of a kind location, Rancho Las Lomas is your Dream Venue.  Make sure you check out their website www.rancholaslomas.com

I wanted to share this letter sent to me from one of my favorite brides, her wedding at the St Regis Resort in Dana Point, Ca. was really a fairytale come true.  It wouldn’t have happened without all the hardworking vendors coming together, this letter is dedicated to you.

Kimberly Roberts-Stepp

Photos by Leslie Cunningham
Click Chicks Photography
http://ClickChicksPhotography.com

If you’re  looking for a romantic location with a Spanish Flare look no further - The Villa in San Juan Capistrano is the place to get married.  This is one of the most romantic sites I have visited in a long time.  Its located across from the Famous Mission in SJC, perfect place for photos either before or after the wedding.  The Villa is ideal for a small ceremony of 100 and can hold up to 150 for dinner and dancing.  I was invited to their opening where I was able to taste some of the most incredible appetizers and sweets.  This location has an upstairs pool room for the groom as well as a Parlor for the bride to get ready in.  There are whimsical hanging trees along with stone fire pits throughout the reception area.  Guests are allowed to use all the rooms which include a beautiful living room with a fire place and relaxing lounge. 

 I ran into Leslie Cunningham, professional photographer and owner of Click Chicks Photography as well as one of the top in her field.  I recommend checking out her site, she has lots of photos from the Villa and much more.

The following photos are from my camera, didn’t want you mix them with the professional. These were taken at the open house I was invited to at the Villa.