Green Orchid Events

New blog

2009-01-20T23:10:00.001-08:00

Our new blog is up and running! Please bookmark The Vegas Wedding Planner. We will no longer be updating on this blog.

Adorn Brides - Bag Borrow or Steal your Jewelry!

2009-01-19T15:44:00.000-08:00

Remember when Carrie was fascinating by her assistant Louise's Louis Vuitton bags that she "borrowed" from Bag Borrow or Steal in the Sex and the City movie?

Well, this trend is also available for fine jewelry for your wedding day! Adorn Brides offers fine jewelry that is available for rent for your special day. Green Orchid Events is in partnership with Adorn Brides to provide 20% off your jewelry rental for your special day. So delight your mother, future mother in law, bridesmaids, and sisters with diamonds on your wedding day - even if it is only for one day.

Book your wedding vendors now!

2009-01-17T21:32:00.000-08:00

I was reading one of my favorite blogs today and The Food Whore was discussing her encounter with a mean Mother of the Bride. The Food Whore has a way with words and she is hilarious at discussing unfortunate incidents that take place.

It seems that this dear lady has decided to wait until three weeks before her daughter's wedding to book a caterer. Food Whore turned the wedding down and proceeded to inquire the MOB on why she had waited until three weeks before the wedding to book a caterer. The story continues and then mean MOB is "pissy" and says "Just so you know, you weren't even first on my list! You are the 4th on my list. So don't think you are special!!"

Food Whore responds with, "So I assume the first 3 turned you down then?"

Lessons learned: Don't wait until the last minute to book your vendors. If you decide to wait until the last minute, please be understanding AND polite when the vendors tell you that they're booked. Then, ask if they have any recommendations they can provide you with. Chances are good, they know more wedding professionals than you do and will be willing to assist you IF you are as sweet as pie.

Check out The Food Whore here for entertaining stories from the life of a caterer.

Wedding Ceremony in the Round

2009-01-16T12:13:00.000-08:00

My very first concert about 12 years ago was the Celine Dion concert at the peak of her career. She chose to perform "in the round" so that she could feel the energy from the crowd from all different sides. As an attendee, I also felt the amazing energy that came from this set up.

This style of seating that is away from the traditional theater set up has made its way to the wedding industry as well. I love when ceremonies are performed in the round. Guests are closer to the couple and there will not be a bad seat in the house. It is also symbolic in that you start your married life in an unbroken circle.

Personalized Sugar Cubes for Coffee and Tea Service

2009-01-15T21:54:00.000-08:00

It's the little details that matter the most!

Last month, I blogged about adding Honibe's Honey Drop to your tea service. But...not a tea drinker? Well, another nice idea I have for you is the use of personalized sugar cubes on saucers. It's a great way of adding a little personality to your coffee and tea service.

Keep in mind that most venues do not allow outside food and beverage though, so I would check with your venue first about the best way to incorporating this into your coffee service.

Happy planning!

Wedding at Taco Bell!

2009-01-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

Caragh Brooks and Paul Brooks, already with the same last name, exchanged vows in a local Illinois Taco Bell. Caragh wore a hot pink dress and their friend Ryan Green, who was ordained online, officiated the ceremony.

While I don't suggest all couples do something quick like this because I would be out of business, Mr. and Mrs. Brooks know the true meaning of why we celebrate weddings. This story outlines the most important thing about a wedding day: the bride and groom and the celebration of their union.

Happy planning!

I'm the newest member of the Royal Tea Society!

2009-01-12T11:50:00.000-08:00

"The Royal Tea Society celebrates friendships, social enjoyments, culinary delights, and historic and educational moments presented in the proper Victorian tradition of afternoon tea."

I am honored to be one of the founding members of the Royal Tea Society! The first event is the Signature Tea Tasting on February 15th and I'm excited to be participating in the designing of "Her Royal Highness" signature tea blend.

Certified tea expert Pamela Schaefer is owner of Special Tea Shoppe and the woman behind the Royal Tea Society. I am delighted to join the Royal Tea Society to further my education in tea and hopefully be able to assist my brides in planning tea parties for their bridal showers or conduct Chinese Tea Ceremonies for my Chinese brides!

A White Wintry Wedding

2009-01-11T18:15:00.000-08:00

I celebrated my birthday this year in Big Bear, California where I enjoyed the fresh air while snowboarding down the Snow Summit mountain. The mountain was packed full of people and it made me realize how popular the winter mountains truly were.

I love the idea of unique wedding locations. For the snow loving couple, getting married by the snow is ideal. The snow capped mountains make for a beautiful backdrop for wedding photos. Locations such as Banff and Whistler offer spectacular locations and I look forward to one day attending or coordinating a wedding in a ski resort!

Happy Birthday to me...I think I deserve some Teuscher truffles!

2009-01-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

Today is my birthday and what better way for this chocoholic to celebrate than to have some fine chocolates...or at least blog about them. I don't have time to make my way over to the Teuscher Chocolates store today but wanted to share a lovely idea for wedding favors.

I was introduced to their specialty all-natural Champagne Truffles when this beautiful green box landed on my desk by a former manager for Christmas one year. Sixteen truffles and I believe I finished them all in two days! Teuscher's signature Champagne truffles are filled with Dom Perignon and received the honor of "the best champagne truffles on the planet" by the Zagat Survey!

A two piece favor box is just $6.75 each and comes in a variety of colors to match your wedding or special event. Delight your guests with this special gift to thank them for sharing your special day!

Something Blue Dress House in Las Vegas is offering 50% off sample dresses!

2009-01-07T20:16:00.000-08:00

Something Blue is a lovely dress shop in Las Vegas where brides are treated to a VIP private party experience while shopping for their dream gown. Champagne and hors d'oeuvres are served while you enjoy a relaxing experience.

Something Blue is currently offering sample gowns at 50% off. Check out their myspace page for photos of sample gowns!

Tracey of Las Vegas Wedding Concierge featured in Bride and Bloom!

2009-01-06T19:35:00.000-08:00

"Planning a Destination Las Vegas Wedding with style!" is an article in the latest Bride and Bloom Magazine beautifully written by my friend Tracey Kumer-Moore of Your Las Vegas Wedding Concierge. I love that Las Vegas is becoming a destination of "weddings with style" and Tracey touches on a number of different ways to hold a destination wedding weekend in Las Vegas from spa options at Canyon Ranch to private dining room receptions in various restaurants.

Pick up a copy at your local bookstore and read Tracey's article for yourself.

Happy Planning!

Happy New Year!!

2008-12-31T10:48:00.000-08:00

Have a happy and safe new year! May all of your wishes come true in 2009!

Shoe Jewelry!

2008-12-29T22:13:00.000-08:00

I love these shoe clips by Emmerson! Shoe clips are temporary clips to add a little extra sparkle to your shoe. I'm not sure where she purchased them but my friend Samantha over at soireebliss! added a rhinestone clip to her own wedding shoes on her wedding day!

At $35.00 to $55.00 each set, these also make a great gift for your bridesmaids. It's an excellent way to dress up your wedding party attire.

Snowman Proposal

2008-12-25T14:49:00.000-08:00

Wedding Paper Divas blogged about such a sweet video that I had to repost the video on my blog.

Congratulations to Jenny and Sean!

Merry Christmas to all!

2008-12-25T12:44:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! I hope this holiday season is filled with plenty of love and laughter, health and happiness.

I wish you all a safe and happy holiday.

These are a few of my favorite things...

2008-12-24T08:03:00.000-08:00

"My Favorite Things" is a song sung by Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. This song was also one of the first songs I learned during voice lessons as a child.

Anyway, this song always seems to play in my head during the holidays so I thought I'd list some of my favorite things...

1. Hot tea (green, chai, peppermint with a hint of chocolate, ginger, lavender)
2. Breakfast
3. The lovely scent of pumpkin, vanilla, hazelnut, and coffee
4. Breakfast and lunch with Derek at either Panera Bread or a cafe in Boulder City
5. Late night dinners with Derek
6. Brownies
7. Chocolate Covered Strawberries
8. Pumpkin Pie
9. Molten Chocolate Cake
10. Beautiful wedding photography
11.Dinner parties
12. Good music
13. Ferraro Rocher
14. Tomato Bisque and a grilled sandwich
15. My dad's teriyaki sauce (but we're Chinese not Japanese. He had a great Japanese chef for a teacher)
16. Lavender (the plant). I love it in milk tea and I love the scent.
17. The day it snowed in Las Vegas for over 8 hours
18. Snowboarding once a year
19. Live music
20. Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics and Christmas albums
21. Messenger bags
22. My UGG boots
23. Hoodies
24. A big warm comforter
25. Water fountains (the décor item, not the thing you drink out of as a kid)
26. Orchids
27. NYC
28. Afternoon tea
29.Truffle oil (even tough my tennis player husband says they smell like a can of tennis balls)
30. The sound of my nephew's laughter

What are some of your favorite things?

The Grand Opening of Encore at Wynn Las Vegas

2008-12-23T21:38:00.000-08:00

Steve Wynn's Encore hotel opened last night at 8 pm and I was there to witness the grand opening! The $2.3 billion 2034 room hotel is adjacent to Wynn Las Vegas. I am in love with Encore Las Vegas and cannot wait to plan an event there!

The Esplanade at Encore is home to 11 boutiques including only the best shops such as Chanel and Hermes.

Wazuzu, an Asian bistro, includes a crystal dragon made of 90,000 Swarovski crystals.
Other restaurants include Italian restaurant Theo's by Theo Shoenegger, Marc Poidevin's Switch, Mark LoRusso's Botero Steak, Kim Canteenwalla's Society Cafe Encore, and Sinatra.

Following dinner, guests can head over to Victor Drai's XS nightclub. I'll be making a visit this weekend with my sister to see their 10-foot rotating chandelier in person.

Guests can also relax in the Todd-Avery Lenahan designed spa which includes 37 treatment rooms and maybe one day I'll treat myself to an entire day there.

And of course, the 60,000 square feet of banquet space will be an excellent location for some of the best weddings and events in Las Vegas.

Below are some photos I took during my visit.

p.s. We caught a glimpse of Mr. Steve Wynn there last night along with Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.

Colin Cowie Wedding Chic is released today!

2008-12-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

During the ABC conference last month, Mr. Colin Cowie gave us a little preview of his book "Colin Cowie Wedding Chic: 1001 ideas for every moment of your celebration". Today is the big day of the book release!

I hope Santa brings this to me!!

Happy Hanukkah!

2008-12-22T12:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Hanukkah to all of my friends celebrating this special holiday!

The November Wedding of Heather and Jason and Bananas.

2008-12-20T23:10:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, November 18th, we had the pleasure and honor of coordinating Heather and Jason's gorgeous wedding. The ceremony took place at the Venus Garden in Caesar's Palace. LTeventions provided the lovely floral arrangements and red draping of the gazebo. Heather and Jason were attended by Heather's sister, Jason's brother, and "Bananas", their ringbearer (their son, the stuffed monkey in a tux).

Following the ceremony, guests were transported by Earthbus to Red Rock Casino where guests enjoyed a dinner reception in one of the Veranda ballrooms and an afterparty at the VIP Bowling Lanes. The talented John Michael Cooper of Alt F captured stunning images of their entire wedding day and Ms. Dalisa Cooper made an appearance at the afterparty to capture some additional images too. Here are a few of their photos:

Ceremony: Caesar's Palace
Reception: Red Rock Casino
Afterparty: Red Rock VIP Bowling Lanes
Photography: Alt F
Transportation: Earthbus
Floral and Décor: LTeventions
Hair and Makeup: Lori White

Thank you to all the lovely people who worked with me to pull off a beautiful event. Congratulations to Heather and Jason!

It's snowing in Vegas and that brings me to wedding insurance...

2008-12-17T22:52:00.000-08:00

Las Vegas experience a snowstorm today where it snowed nonstop for hours! It is expected to be the biggest snowstorm in Las Vegas since 1979 where we experienced over 7 inches of snow!

Clark County School District will be closed tomorrow so I'm sure all the Henderson and Las Vegas students are pretty happy. Some flights have been canceled coming into Las Vegas and several freeway exits are closed. Of course some events have been canceled for today and tomorrow.

This leads me to the great topic of wedding and event insurance. Fortunately, I did not have a wedding today but there are so many holiday parties going on all around town. I know that some events have been canceled as a result of this snowstorm. In the event of cancellation, a client who has purchased wedding or event insurance would be covered.

I encourage everyone planning an event to get wedding insurance. Contact a company such as WedSafe for more information. I believe the few hundred dollars that it may cost is only a small investment for that added peace of mind.

Canyon Ranch SpaClub in Las Vegas at the Venetian and Palazzo

2008-12-17T11:23:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I visited the Canyon Ranch SpaClub at the Venetian and Palazzo. The Sales & Marketing Coordinator had contacted me to let me know about their spa amenities focusing on the wedding day: full service salons, a Barber Suite, and a private Bridal Suite. She mentioned that she would act as their "personal bridal concierge" from reserving the appointments to tying up the bride's dress.

During our meeting, we were treated to lunch in the Canyon Ranch Grill serving healthy and tasty cuisine including the best artichoke fries! A private dining room is also available for parties!

Recently, I was also invited to experience the spa for one day. I enjoyed the "Aquavana" experience which is a "journey through an astonishing range of multisensory experiences, or explore the comforting, rejuvenating power of alternating hot-and-cold treatments with one of our classic Spa Circuit sequences".

Below are a few of the experiences:

Igloo – Cool air and three Arctic Mist experiences enhanced by twinkling fiber optics
Snow Cabin – Fresh powder snow falls gently from the ceiling
Four HydroSpas and multiple heated loungers – a variety of massage fountains providing gentle massage are surrounded by radiant lounge chairs designed for ultimate relaxation
Herbal Laconiums – Gentle warming of the body through warm, herbal-infused steam
Experiential Rains – Invigorating, multi-sensory cooling showers
Finnish Sauna – A classic dry-heat sauna environment lit by colored light refracted by crystals
Crystal Steam Rooms – Cleansing aromatic steam environment with a large central crystal to inspire and focus meditation

I encourage everyone to take advantage of a Canyon Ranch SpaClub near them for at least one day to recharge. Our lives are filled with appointments and work that we sometimes forget to take time for ourselves. The Canyon Ranch way of living is a healthy one filled with fitness, wellness, and healthy eating.

A nice added touch to your tea service

2008-12-08T11:14:00.001-08:00

Coffee and tea service following dinner is an area where some venues get it right and others consider as an afterthought. I've seen some venues offer coffee and tea service to all of their guests at their tables immediately after dinner and then serve their coffee and tea on a silver tray. It's a nice way of continuing the fine service that has been offered throughout the evening.

Sugar sticks and maybe a mint on the saucer is a nice little addition to the service as well.

I've recently stumbled across a new product that can be added to your tea service. Honibe's Honey Drop™, is "the world's first pure, non-sticky honey that you can hold". I think wedding guests dressed in their nice attire would all approve! I know I do! Maybe, someone can even add that to my stocking as a stocking stuffer this year!

Gray is the new Chocolate Brown!

2008-12-03T23:17:00.000-08:00

Chocolate brown and Tiffany blue. Chocolate brown and pink. So...yesterday.

Don't get me wrong, I still love those colors together but it's been done and redone. How about using gray with these colors?

In the August 2008 issue of Event Solutions, Ms. Audrey Blankenship writes about gray being the new "it" color. I have officially fallen in love with the color gray as an accent color! I'm seeing more and more gray in recent events and I'm loving it!

p.s. It's one of the colors of my alma mater UNLV (scarlet and gray) so I have to love it. Go Rebels!

Cyber Monday Deals!

2008-11-30T14:08:00.000-08:00

Not done with your shopping??

Green Orchid Events loves internet specials and Cyber Monday so we're extending the same deals to you! Book an event with us on Monday, December 1st between 9:00 am PST and 7:00 pm PST and get 10% off your planning package!

Happy Shopping!

Angelica and Antwone are married!!

2008-11-30T13:16:00.000-08:00

Our very own Wedding Coordinator Angelica Taormina tied the knot yesterday at Siena Golf Club!

Here's a sneak peak while we wait for professional photos from their photographer:

Pimp cup champagne "flutes". The other side was personalized with their names. I wish I got a shot of that too.

An elegant fall reception...

Congratulations Angelica and Antwone!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

2008-11-27T11:27:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! I love cooking and have not done much cooking lately so I'm glad that I'll be able to spend the entire day making this feast!

Here's what I'm thankful for:
My parents and sister
The best husband I could ever ask for who makes me laugh daily
The coolest in laws (and yes, they live across the street from me!)
My good friends - old and new
A beautiful home
Dinner on the table every night

I'm a simple girl.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Candice at Jubilee Events has announced the winner of her Full Service Package Give-a-way!

2008-11-26T01:23:00.000-08:00

My friend Candice at Jubilee Events decided to run a contest to give away a full service wedding package! Read this charming little story of Jody & Eric here. I know you'll enjoy the planning process with Candice! Congratulations Jody & Eric!

Email Down

2008-11-25T08:16:00.000-08:00

My Microsoft Outlook is down at the moment and I don't know when it will be back up. The computer is fixed but I'm hoping to get the email fixed ASAP. I'm still responding to emails as they also get forwarded to my alternate email. Since there is a delay with the emails getting forwarded, please email my alternate email if you do not get a response in a timely manner. The email address is greenorchidevents (@) gmail.com.

I apologize for any inconvenience.

Computer Problems

2008-11-23T08:48:00.001-08:00

My computer is currently experiencing some problems...I'm currently running a virus scan because it has been infected by so much spyware and viruses. Also, my email has not been sending emails to ANY Yahoo addresses. I'm using an alternate email address in the mean time to send to Yahoo addresses.

Please be patient with me while I fix this problem. Thank you!

My idol Christina Aguilera celebrated their anniversary yesterday!

2008-11-20T01:39:00.001-08:00

I love Christina Aguilera! She and hubby Jordan Bratman were married three years ago in Napa Valley! Congratulations!!

See some of the beautiful photos below:

Business of Brides: Association of Bridal Consultants in Newport Beach, California!

2008-11-17T15:20:00.000-08:00

Last week, I had the pleasure of heading to Newport Beach, California for the annual Association of Bridal Consultants' Business of Brides Conference. Not only was it educational, but I had a blast networking with wedding planners and vendors from around the world.

The highlight of the conference was a couture luncheon where Colin Cowie was our keynote speaker! He's a fascinating man and we all enjoyed listening to his stories of planning parties all over the globe!

Here are some of the photos I took throughout the conference:

The Flower Girl

I'd love to have my tea served like this every morning!

I love when there are fresh blooms at each place setting!

This cake was served at the opening party. DELICIOUS!

With friends from CoordinatorsCorner.com, an online forum for Wedding Planners.

Courtesy of Photoboof.

Green signature drink.

One of the displays at a food station. Unfortunately, none of my food photos came out nice.

Cupcakes, Chocolate, Cinnamon, and...Chipotle?

2008-11-16T11:36:00.000-08:00

Chocolate warms my soul. I love everything about it: the look, the texture, the smell, and of course the taste. A few years ago, I was introduced to a beautiful creation: the Red Fire Bar from Vosges. I was in heaven.

Anyway, our brilliant friend Bakerella has taken this one step further to create a yummy treat called "Fire and Ice" Cupcakes. It combines everything I love: Chocolate, chipotle, and cinnamon! Chocolate Chipotle Cupcakes with Chili Chocolate Ganache and Cinnamon Dulce de Leche Ice Cream. She also made Chocolate & Vanilla Chipotle Cream Cheese Frosting. DELICIOUS! I don't bake. Will someone make this for me?

I love when chocolate is paired with non traditional and exotic ingredients such as chipotle, vanilla, chai, wasabi, green tea, and event Absinthe!

Don't forget to vote for Bakerella for your favorite recipe here.

Proposition 8 and ART!

2008-11-15T22:59:00.000-08:00

The passing of Proposition 8 has created quite a stir around the nation. While I'm not here to discuss politics, I feel very strongly about this issue and would have considered joining the rally in California...

Anyway, Shepard Fairey, the artist behind the well known "Obey Giant" has been creating art throughout the whole election process.

His most recent creation is centered around Proposition 8 with the words "Defend Equality" and "Love Unites". Check it out on his website and be sure to watch the video with moving commentary from Keith Olbermann.

HUGE SALE at All About You Bridal Galleria in Henderson, NV!

2008-11-14T23:57:00.000-08:00

All About You Bridal Galleria in Henderson, NV is holding a huge sale! Everything in the store is 40-60% off! All About You is a family owned upscale bridal salon that offers excellent customer service and beautiful gowns and accessories.

All About You
2470 E Pebble Rd
Henderson, NV 89074
Phone: (702) 269-9333

Back from the ABC Conference: Business of Brides!

2008-11-14T08:38:00.001-08:00

Newport Beach, CA was host to the 2008 Annual ABC Business of Brides conference. It was wonderful to meet up with colleagues in the industry. Colin Cowie was the keynote speaker and he was fabulous as usual!

I will post photos in a later post...

Candace Simpson from Elegant Images has a new website!

2008-11-07T11:20:00.000-08:00

I am in love with their new website! Check it out here. Candace is a wonderful photographer with the sweetest personality. Her new website really showcases her work well.

It is the most unique concept I've seen in a long time: Antique looking chandeliers in bronze with old fashioned picture frames, a postcard with a feather and "wax seal" as their contact section, a typewriter typing out her bio...my husband (the web guy) also commented on how unique the website really is!

Also, click on "Sang" under the wedding albums section. That's my sister! And if you enter the wedding galleries section, I'm the 5th and 7th pictures!

My little tip on the blog of TopWeddingGuides.com

2008-11-06T23:12:00.000-08:00

My tip on wedding day coordination is featured on TopWeddingGuides.com! I was reading the blog and started reading this tip (not recognizing it) and then scrolled down to see my name. This is so cool!!

I got some blog love from Candice of Jubilee Events in Connecticut!

2008-11-05T22:23:00.000-08:00

My friend Candice of Jubilee Events mentioned me in a blog detailing a list of blogs that inspire her everyday! How cool is that?! Check our her blog too! She's pretty amazing herself!

I hope you all voted today!

2008-11-04T19:52:00.001-08:00

Photo courtesy of Bakerella.

I try to keep my blog post wedding and event (or food) related but I hope everyone went out to vote today.

As a reward for voting, Starbucks offered free cups of coffee, a local cupcake shop Cupcakery offered free cupcakes, and a few others offered free goodies when you showed your "I voted" sticker.

A few of my friends says today is like Christmas. I agree, it's exciting to see history being made!

Scents for your Wedding or Special Event

2008-11-03T15:48:00.000-08:00

I received an email in my inbox today introducing Vera Wang's new fragrance "LOOK". And while it should prompt me to discuss creating a fragrance for your special day, it actually reminded me of another topic. I'll discuss perfumes and colognes another day...

Anyway, I remembered that while I was on my own honeymoon in Whistler, Canada staying at the beautiful Westin Resort & Spa, I was constantly greeted by a delicious smelling aroma as I entered the hotel. Finally after a few days, I asked the front desk agent what I was smelling. She told me that the hotel has "white tea diffusers" placed throughout the hotel. Now whenever I hear of "white tea" or smell that scent, I'm brought back to my honeymoon in Whistler!

After some research when I returned from from my honeymoon, I learned that the white tea scent is the Westin signature scent and available for purchase on their Westin At Home site. Many different hotels have started branding themselves by having a signature scent.

In recent years, event designers have also been incorporating that sense of smell into their events. The sense of smell is so strong that it can quickly bring someone back to their childhood or a special time in their life. For example, during my sister's December wedding last year, we placed a reed diffuser in a winter scent on the guestbook table. We also placed cinnamon candles on the sweetheart table.

For more information, also check out Scent Events, whose tagline is "We make scents for your event".

I encourage all event planners/designers as well as brides and grooms to consider incorporating a special scent into their weddings!

MTV is Looking For Couples Getting Married!

2008-11-02T02:18:00.000-08:00

MTV is currently working on Season 3 of their popular "Engaged and Underage" show! See additional information below:

ARE YOU ENGAGED AND BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 22?

ARE YOU ENGAGED AND BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 22???

MTV News & Docs is casting for the third season of its popular documentary series "Engaged and Underage." Let MTV tell your love story -- the excitement of the engagement, the ups and downs of the planning, the fun along the way, and, of course, THE BIG DAY!!! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity...

You and your future spouse should both appear to be between the ages of 18 and 22. Best case scenario: you're getting married in November/December.

TO APPLY FOR THE SHOW, PLEASE DOWNLOAD THIS CASTING QUESTIONNAIRE, FILL IT OUT IN DETAIL AND EMAIL IT TO: engagedandunderage@mtvstaff.com. Be honest and write from the heart -- we really want to know what you're all about. The more we get to know you, the better!

INVITE MTV TO HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT ON YOUR SPECIAL DAY!!!

Halloween Wedding #2: Orange, Blue, Black

2008-10-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

Here's another possible Halloween storyboard. This time, we're going with orange, blues, and black. Personally, I could never do black flowers but I'm definitely a fan of the black wedding dress. Blue tinted champagne and a blue chuppah are definitely awesome ideas too!!

What do you think?

Halloween Wedding #1: Orange, Purple, and Black

2008-10-28T20:18:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, Halloween is the start of all the wonderful festivities. It’s non stop partying into Thanksgiving, Christmas, Kwaanza, Hanukkah, New Year’s, a few weddings, and my birthday!!

I enjoyed putting together a fun Halloween storyboard for a Halloween themed wedding. A Halloween wedding doesn’t have to be all ghosts, goblins, and vampires. It can be elegant while still keeping with the theme.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

NACE meeting at DragonRidge Country Club!

2008-10-22T23:52:00.000-07:00

Of course, I forgot my camera. Bummer. Not a night to forget the camera. Tonight was the October NACE meeting held at DragonRidge Country Club. The Catering and Events Director Carrie Key and her entire staff pulled off a fabulous event! Andy Ebon of The Wedding Marketing Blog was an informative speaker as usual discussing "Marketing and Selling to the 21st Century Bride". I always learn something new from him.

And because I ran my mouth all night talking to all the new friends I've made over the past year, I am now hungry even after a delightful tapas meal, two espresso amore martinis, and a dessert-o-chocolate galore.

Can't wait for the next NACE event!

Wedding Hairstyles: No longer your old fashioned updo!

2008-10-21T22:29:00.000-07:00

Just as every bride looks beautiful in a different style of wedding dress, the same can be said for bridal hairstyles. Not every bride can wear their hair in the traditional updo. Personally, I like the "half up half down" look. I drew upon a few of these photos for my own wedding a few years ago as inspiration. I gave them to my hair stylist at Robert Cromean's Salon and told her to get creative. The end result was amazing and generated compliments all night!

A Beautiful Wedding at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas!

2008-10-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Green Orchid Events had the honor of coordinating a lovely wedding at the Venetian. Congratulations to Rosa & Steve!

Only a few traditional Chinese elements were incorporated into this Chinese wedding with a truffle & creme color scheme. On the doors in their suite, "double happiness" or shuang xi characters were taped on. A private Chinese tea ceremony immediately following the wedding ceremony was held in their suite in honor of the groom's parents. I believe our bride also changed into her Chinese qipao at this time. Rosa also followed the tradition of changing several times throughout her wedding (white wedding dress, Chinese qipao, and pewter "going away" dress).

Below is a sneak peak of their photos from my personal camera:

Chinese "guestbook" scroll.

Table names of cities with special meaning to them were used instead of numbers.

Cake table with Vera Wang cake cutting knife and server.

Thank you to:
Venetian Wedding Chapel
Harp Music by Lisa Coffey
Postrio Restaurant
Floral by LTeventions
DJ by Sight N Sound
Sheraton Weddings for Hair/Makeup & Photo

Congratulations on your wedding Rosa & Steve!

Blushing Bride Falls In the Pool!

2008-10-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

A Wedding Video and Trash the Dress session all in one!

Purchase a dress in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

2008-10-18T00:11:00.000-07:00

Thread is giving a 10% discount towards all orders placed in October. A portion of the proceeds will also be donated to Breast Cancer Awareness. Now isn't this a great way to start your pink wedding shopping?

I have fallen in love with Fall weddings.

2008-10-17T17:33:00.000-07:00

October is one of the busiest wedding months in Las Vegas. We have gorgeous weather and the colors, decor, flowers, food and beverage associated with this time of year is just too hard to resist!

I think of deep oranges and reds, browns, olive green, bronze, pumpkin pie, velvet, satin, sugared/marzipan fruit, orchids, berries, squash, maple, hot apple cider, gold, hot cocoa, turkey, cinnamon, cherry, spice, caramel, and the list can go on.

Anyway, I made a story board.

Henderson's Best Kept Secret (in my opinion): Bonefish Grill is my new favorite restaurant!

2008-10-13T14:40:00.000-07:00

Last night, the family and I went to Bonefish Grill for dinner. It is a "chain" restaurant specializing in seafood and fish. Bonefish Grill opened their doors in 2000 in St. Petersburg, FL and already they've got restaurants in over 30 states.

Anyway, enough of the boring stuff.

I can't get enough of the "Bang Bang Shrimp". The Bang Bang Shrimp is a signature appetizer dish of all shrimp tossed in a creamy & spicy sauce. It has a hint of crispiness as well and is scrumptious! (See top center photo)

For dinner, the hubby and I split a Caesar salad and the "Pistachio Parmesan Crusted Rainbow Trout". This dish is garnished with artichoke hearts, fresh basil chiffonade, and lemon butter.

Yummy.

I will be heading back very soon.

Martinis

2008-10-09T14:43:00.000-07:00

An evening out with friends last night at Sedona where we sipped Chocolate & Midnight Martinis prompted me to write this entry. A signature cocktail is a quick way to add that little extra detail that will get your guests talking as well as really allow you to play with your wedding color scheme. I always suggest that a cute menu card gets printed out to place at the bar with a custom name like "Bridal Bliss" or "Love Potion #9".

How about matching the cocktail to the season as well?

For a Fall cocktail, try an apple martini with a caramel sugar rim or maybe a pumkin spiced cocktail.

A winter cocktail can be a Hot Buttered Rum or perhaps a spiked hot chocolate with a chocolate swizzle stick.

I love these ingredients for a "dessert in a drink" signature cocktail. I'm no bartender but talk to your catering manager to concoct something unique for your wedding day! Martinis just add so much to your swanky affair!

My loves:
Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka
Mint Baileys Irish Cream
Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
Starbucks Coffee Liqueur
Frangelico
Chocolate syrup

Garnishes:
Mint leaf
Oreo crumbles
Cinnamon stick

Photo courtesy of Elegant Images.

Dress the Drink!

2008-10-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Cindy McClure at Dress the Drink yesterday and absolutely fell in love with their product! A signature cocktail for a wedding is a must in my opinion and Dress the Drink has really made it easy to make a unique and fun drink for your wedding!

My favorite is the edible silver flakes to add a little bling to your wedding. Other flavors include toffee, red hots, toasted coconut and two rimming sugars in various flavor options. The kit only costs $50 and will "enhance" up to 150 drinks!

Cufflinks

2008-10-04T00:42:00.000-07:00

So much thought gets put into weddings as it relates to the bride such as flowers, favors, placecards, etc. One important detail that the groom can focus on and one that often gets overlooked are cufflinks for the groom, fathers, grandfathers, and bridal party. This tiny but important detail can be a nice way for a groom to express himself on his special day.

For my own wedding, I purchased brushed chrome clover cuff links for my husband in honor of his Irish heritage. He loved it!

A great website to explore is CuffLinks.com. There's a wide variety to choose from including various sports, careers, flags, and animals.

Below are a few of my favorites (snowboard, Starlight mints, tennis, billiards, clapboard, and microphone):

Happy Anniversary Marisol and Rob Thomas!

2008-10-02T21:37:00.001-07:00

Nine years ago today, Matchbox Twenty lead singer Rob Thomas married his beautiful bride Marisol Maldonado. Those two make a great match and I'm a sucker for a great love story.

Some wedding highlights:

The wedding took place on a ranch in Santa Ynez, California.
The guests feasted on roasted chicken with black truffles by Wolfgang Puck. Yummy.
The newlyweds danced to Edwin McCain's "I'll Be", one of my all time favorite songs.
Marisol carried a nosegay of black beauty and red garden roses, with red pepperberries
Rob wore a Gucci Tuxedo; Marisol wore a Vera Wang gown

Happy Anniversary Marisol and Rob!

Support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

2008-10-01T20:59:00.000-07:00

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Green Orchid Events will be donating $200.00 in your name for booking a wedding in the month of October. We’ll be donating to Susan G. Komen for the Cure so please join us in the fight against breast cancer!

Remember to make an appointment for your annual mammogram. Early detection is key!

My Favorite Irish Pub - Fadó

2008-09-30T23:48:00.000-07:00

Fadó is the perfect place to visit when you crave a little taste of Ireland but can’t afford the extraordinary travel expense. Their authentic décor and atmosphere is where I like to unwind after a long day with a pint of Strongbow Cider or Guinness while munching on traditional Irish dishes.

Fadó’s warm hospitality and surroundings makes it a popular stop for locals. The second level is also a perfect spot for private parties and one day I will plan a rehearsal dinner there!

To help you get through a night of fun at Fadó, here are a few Irish terms you may need to be familiar with.

Baileys Coffee – coffee with Bailey’s Irish Cream. Fadó serves the best Bailey’s Coffee in town with fresh whipped cream and topped with cinnamon in swirls (for the Fadó logo)
Bangers – Sausages
Boxty – traditional Irish potato pancake.
Craic – friendly conversation; fun, enjoyment
Fadó (pronounced f’doe) – long ago
Football – not the American kind
Irish Coffee – coffee with Irish Whiskey
Rasher – a thin slice of fried or broiled bacon
Soda Bread – quick bread which uses soda as a leavener

Must try menu item:
Cheese Dip and Wedges - A creamy blend of three cheeses served with boxty wedges for dipping.

If you’re free on Thursdays, stop by after 9:30 pm to watch Darby O’Gill and the Little People perform at Fadó!

Hope to see you there!

Vendor Spotlight: Memory Lane Video

2008-09-29T19:45:00.000-07:00

I've had the pleasure of working with the gentlemen over at Memory Lane Video and I have to say that their service is impeccable! Below is an interview that I conducted so people can learn more about the men behind Memory Lane Video.

Name: Ricky Gulati & John Sanchez Jr.

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Company Name: Memory Lane Video

Number of Years in Business: 5 years (Las Vegas)

Website: www.mlvnv.com

How did you get started in video? John previously created wedding videos in FL and wanted to expand his business in Las Vegas.

What are some of your hobbies? Movies, Food, Music, Friends, Networking, Travel.

What is the craziest wedding experience you’ve ever had? The Groom passing out at the alter.

What is the best wedding experience you’ve ever had? Mr. T was the minister at the ceremony, very funny!

Name an exotic location you’d like to visit soon. Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas

If I decide to take you out to dinner one night, what is the most adventurous dish I can find you ordering? I can eat anything, I'm interested in trying new things. It would be fun to go to dinner with you, food wouldn't matter.

Why do your clients choose you over some of your competitors? Different, Custom, Style, Professionalism, and level of Service.

What is the best piece of advice you can offer a bride and groom on their wedding day? Relax, enjoy your day, it goes by so FAST. Let the professionals do what you hired them to do, make it Perfect!

And now, I'll leave you with their promo video.

Congratulations Jennifer & Alex Dunphy!

2008-09-28T10:41:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, a mother of the bride contacted me for wedding coordination services. She's the sweetest lady ever and yesterday, we coordinated her daughter's beautiful wedding at the Red Rock Casino.

Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of the lovely couple since I was a little busy with the details. Thankfully I brought 3 assistants with me who helped tremendously. One assistant brought the gentleman (groom, officiant friend, best man) to the ceremony site to take their places when the music started, one assistant lined up the bridal party, I was with the bride, and another assistant was in the ballroom putting the finishing touches to the reception! Because of this, we started promptly at 5:00 pm sharp!

The Red Rock team is amazing and we all worked together as a unit for a successful wedding! I look forward to coordinating another wedding there!

Here's a sneak peak from my camera until the photographer can get me the images:

Congratulations Jennifer & Alex!

The Emmy Awards - Favorite Fashions (Warning: all photo post)

2008-09-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

This is completely unrelated but congratulations to Jeremy Piven for winning the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series as Ari Gold in Entourage. He's amazing!

Unique Venue Spotlight - Brooklyn Bridge in Las Vegas?

2008-09-22T18:42:00.000-07:00

One of the most common requests I hear from brides and grooms is, "I would like an outdoor event. The last resort would be to rent a ballroom in a hotel because I can do that in my home town". I also hear, “I want a venue that is fun and unique and something that will be new to my guests.”

Because of this, I’m always on the search for interesting and unique venues. We are unfortunately not the home to historic museums, venues rich in history or ornate architecture, or beautiful natural gardens and vineyards. However, I think that if we dig deeper, we can find a few venues to satisfy the taste of distinctive individuals.

The Brooklyn Bridge at New York New York Casino is a location that I think would be perfect for a great party. I know that native New Yorkers (including my cousins) would scoff at this idea but know that this venue is for the truly open minded and most likely NOT for native New Yorkers. I don’t blame you! I probably wouldn’t get married on a Golden Gate Bridge replica (or maybe I would)!

Anyway, the Brooklyn Bridge is situated high up so that people will not walk into your event but will see you and your guests having a good time. It is located outside (which satisfies most of my requests), is spacious and flexible and is not subjected to the noise ordinance like some venues are. I can’t wait to plan a party at The Brooklyn Bridge at New York New York!

Vegan Ice Cream for your Green Wedding

2008-09-22T01:01:00.000-07:00

With many people getting more and more health conscious and environmentally aware, people are creating desserts to satisfy the sweet tooth while keeping the waistline and environment in mind. I love the idea of low fat, low calorie desserts and I don't think flavor needs to be compromised in creating delicious desserts. Believe it or not, soy based desserts can be very tasty.

A few days ago, I blogged about a Gelato Bar at your special event. Today, I wanted to introduce the idea of Vegan Ice Cream for your "green" wedding. Wheeler's Black Label Vegan Ice Cream produces ice cream using soy, coconut, rice, or almond milk and absolutely no animal products or bi-products. The best part is that you can design your own ice cream! Check out these flavors:

Chocolate Hazelnut, my favorite!
Peppermint
Almond Fudge
Oreo Cookie
Irish Coffee
Biscotti

Unique flavors:
Jalapeno
Earl Grey
Rootbeer
Pink Bubblegum
Cotton Candy
Peanut Butter & Jelly

Holiday inspired flavors:
Eggnog
Pumpkin

Wedding Websites

2008-09-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

Wedding websites are a great way to keep your guests informed on all the details of your wedding. Instead of 50 guests calling you to see if there are any discounts at surrounding hotels, simply let them know that they can visit your wedding website for more details on your wedding. Guests can also learn more about "your story", your bridal party, view photos, and even find out where you're registered (it is appropriate to add registry information here).

There are many websites that offer free websites such as The Knot or Wedding Channel. For my own wedding day, I personally used Wedding Window and purchased the domain julietandderek.com. I recommend all couples to at least create a simple one through The Knot or Wedding Channel. There are templates and instructions that even the most computer illiterate can do this!

With that being said, I'd like to show you a great website that one of my clients put together. Rob and Michelle will exchange vows next May at Planet Hollywood Resort. Their theme will be a movie premiere. The name of the movie is "The Las Vegas Wedding". They are, of course, the stars and I am the director! Check out their website here.

Laura Hooper Calligraphy

2008-09-19T15:38:00.000-07:00

Wedding Calligraphy. I love the elegance of calligraphy on wedding stationery from your Save the Dates to invitations to your cocktail hour coasters. A lot of couples do not place enough importance on their stationery. Your Save the Dates and/or Wedding Invitations really set the tone for your entire wedding day or wedding weekend.

I was greeted with a surprise two nights ago with a beautifully packaged album from Laura Hooper Calligraphy. Not only am I impressed by her exquisite work, but the packaging just shows me that she is attentive to every detail. As a wedding planner, I like that! Check out additional work on her blog as well as for any news and updates.

My "gift":

I don't think anybody can go wrong by hiring Laura Hooper! 818-259-7605

Gelato Bar

2008-09-17T01:02:00.000-07:00

I love Gelato! I don't claim to be an ice cream fan but there is just something about Gelato that I love. If I could rewind time, I'd have a gelato bar in the middle of my own wedding reception.

Gelato Cafe here in Las Vegas can provide a gelato bar for your wedding or special event. Choose from either a display with bins of various flavors or prepackaged cups. My favorite is a chocolate hazelnut flavored gelago. It's like a cold creamy Ferraro Rocher candy. Yum.

Donuts Anybody?

2008-09-15T14:45:00.001-07:00

Since I don't have a major sweet tooth like the rest of America, my craving for donuts usually occurs only about once every few months. But I love talking about sweets and I love them even more for parties!!

I came across this company awhile back on another planner's blog I believe. It's a brilliant way to send your guests on their way after the party with a pack of donuts or even as a focal point sometime during the party.

A mini donut machine from The Fry Girl can be booked for your next special event! The machine can produce 100 dozen donuts in an hour. That's a lot of happy little kids and big kids! For even more of a special treat, top your donuts with any number of special toppings they offer and seal the bag with a sticker of your monogram or company logo!

Gwen and Gavin - Happy Anniversary

2008-09-15T00:39:00.000-07:00

I've been slacking on my blog. I didn't make my goal of blogging everyday for 31 days but I'm going to continue to try to blog as often as possible!

Anyway, six years ago today (well, yesterday technically), my fashion and music idol Gwen Stefani married Gavin Rossdale in a church ceremony at St. Paul's Covent Garden in London. Her Dior wedding dress designed by John Galliano is probably the best wedding dress I have ever seen. I love how it fades from white to a light pink and then into a darker pink. Very fashion forward yet still classic and elegant looking.

Happy Anniversary Gwen and Gavin!

Not A Boy Band

2008-09-12T16:20:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of watching Mosaic perform at the CaterSource Conference held at the Las Vegas Hilton this past February. About three months ago, while attending a concierge event with my sister, Mosaic was a surprise guest performer. The beauty of their music lies in the fact that no instruments are used in creating their sound. Every instrument sound is produced vocally by a different member of this group.

Mosaic currently performs at the Flamingo Las Vegas with George Wallace but can be booked for your special event. Check out their website for more information!

Business 2 Business Mixer

2008-09-11T22:44:00.000-07:00

My colleague Angelica and I attended a mixer this evening sponsored by 1st Place Marketing at Mimmo Ferraro's Restaurant here in Las Vegas. I love love love old Italian family restaurants. It just makes me feel so warm and cozy inside. I'm not sure the networking aspect of it was so great for us personally, but we were able to catch up with a few friends and taste their scrumptous food. Their Mozzarella Caprese was absolutely delicious!

9/11

2008-09-11T22:42:00.000-07:00

I will never forget this day seven years ago. I can't believe it has already been this long. My heart still goes out to all the families of the victims.

The Color Purple!

2008-09-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

For the bride (or groom) who isn’t afraid of a little splash of color, purple is a great color to pair with many colors for a truly unique look. For a modern and clean look, I think it goes well as an accent color to a black and white color scheme. With a bright yellow or even orange, purple can also pop.

Inspired by a recent dinner outing to The Grape at Town Square Las Vegas where their walls were painted a beautiful deep purple, I created my first "storyboard". I hope you like it!

Natasha Bedingfield is engaged!

2008-09-10T01:12:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Natasha Bedingfield and her fiance Matt Robinson on their recent engagement!

A New Entry Everyday!

2008-09-10T01:07:00.000-07:00

I'm going to attempt to do what my friend Ashley Bartoletti did many months ago - blog everyday. She was lucky to be able to use her beautiful photographs. I, on the other hand, must come up with witty and interesting stories to write about everyday. I love challenges. If I succeed, somebody can buy me a cookie.

Kari and Anthony's Engagment Session!

2008-09-02T14:18:00.000-07:00

Alt F took our contest winners Kari and Anthony over to a beautiful location for their engagement session this weekend. Below are some gorgeous photos that they shot!

Welcome Doshic Bliss!

2008-08-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

My mother in law is officially a Certified Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant! She is a Spa Aesthetician with over 20 years of experience. She was also a model and modeling instructor and makeup artist many years ago. As a makeup artist and aesthetician, she worked at the Las Vegas Hilton as well as opened both the Treasure Island Hotel and Bellagio Hotel, where she is still currently employed.

The question is what is Ayurveda? Since, I still cannot explain it to you in my own words, I've looked it up on About.com.

By Subhamoy Das, About.com

How Do You Define Ayurveda?:

Ayurveda can be defined as a system, which uses the inherent principles of nature, to help maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.

What is the Meaning of Ayurveda?:

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit term, made up of the words "ayus" and "veda." "Ayus" means life and "Veda" means knowledge or science. The term "ayurveda" thus means 'the knowledge of life' or 'the science of life'. According to the ancient Ayurvedic scholar Charaka, "ayu" comprises the mind, body, senses and the soul.

What does Ayurveda do to you?:

The aim of this system is to prevent illness, heal the sick and preserve life. This can be summed up as follows:

To protect health and prolong life ("Swasthyas swasthya rakshanam")
To eliminate diseases and dysfunctions of the body ("Aturasya vikar prashamanamcha")

Sallie is available for Ayurvedic consultations as well as spa appointments. There is also limited availability for bridal makeup on wedding days! Just ask me!

My sister on her wedding day. Sallie did makeup for the girl in the back left and back center.

Ellen and Portia are officially married!

2008-08-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Ellen and Portia.

Their wedding pictures are beautiful. I wish them much happiness!

My signed Mindy Weiss book!!

2008-08-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

I've got an autographed book from Mindy Weiss! Staci, Catering Director at Anthem Country Club came back from the NACE convention with a gift for me!

Lake Las Vegas Dine Around

2008-08-21T21:05:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about tomorrow!

2nd Annual Fundraiser at Lake Las Vegas Resort (NACE)

6:30pm – 7:30pm – Wine and Hors d’oeuvres Aboard the La Contessa Yacht
7:30pm – 8:00pm – Silent Auction at the Loews
8:00pm – 9:30pm – Dinner at the Loews
9:30pm – 11:30pm – Desserts and After Party at Reflection Bay Golf Club

Your Wedding Day Magazine

2008-08-20T20:43:00.001-07:00

Green Orchid Events is the latest company to be offered a Preferred Listing on Your Wedding Day magazine's website!

Your Wedding Day is a beautiful magazine that is being compared to Grace Ormonde's Wedding Style magazine. Your Wedding Day recently went national and can be found in your local Barnes & Noble bookstores. We are so proud of this honor!

Green Orchid Events is in the Elizabeth Anne Designs Library!

2008-08-15T00:41:00.000-07:00

Green Orchid Events has been added to the Elizabeth Anne Designs Library! What an honor and a complete shock! I'm sharing this space with my colleague Tracey Kumer-Moore, JWIC of Las Vegas Wedding Concierge. How cool is that?!

888

2008-08-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all the 8-8-08 brides and grooms out there! Best wishes to you all!

Congrats to the winner of our Wedding Day Coordination Contest!

2008-08-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

A winner has been selected and we are happy to announce that Kari and Anthony will be getting married on Saturday, June 13, 2009! In addition to a complimentary wedding day coordination package, they have also won an engagement session from AltF as well as a photo montage from Memory Lane Video! We are looking forward to assisting them on their dream wedding day!

Here's their story told from the groom's point of view:

I never thought I’d meet a woman who would love me and appreciate my childish sense of humor and most of all be a fitting candidate for the hardest job in the Marine Corps, being a wife. She’d have to be strong and intelligent to take care of herself and keep our affairs in order while I’m away. She’d have to be incredibly independent to pass the time while I’m out in the field fighting or away at training. Most of all she would have to be full of love to properly share the time we have. By accident I stumbled upon this perfectly balanced combination of qualities wrapped up in the most beautiful package I’ve ever seen.

I met Kari on St. Patrick’s Day after my friends wedding in Las Vegas. My father had invited her to Thanksgiving dinner with us after 30 minutes and I knew by the end of the evening that I was falling in love with her. In the beginning she lived in Las Vegas while I was stationed in San Diego and our love was able to grow despite the 321 miles from my barracks to her doorstep. Since she moved to San Diego in February I’ve spent half of the time away from her in training for my upcoming deployment. She has been planning our wedding tirelessly since I proposed to her on “our” beach one starry night. We plan to get married on June 13 when I return from Iraq, and I want so badly to give her the wedding of her dreams. She deserves it for standing by me when it would have been easier to walk away a long time ago.

Kari found a picture of a firefighter in his turnout gear standing next to his wife who’s in her wedding gown. This photo resembles our relationship more than I can put into words. The man willingly risking his life for others, and his love standing by his side. You know she’s scared, yet she stands by him with unwavering bravery that only he can truly appreciate.

The Chandelier Craze

2008-08-03T14:37:00.001-07:00

My friend and fellow wedding coordinator Samantha at soiréebliss! LOVES ZGallerie.
And although I've heard of this store before, she was the one who has really reintroduced me to it. This is where she purchased chargers for her own wedding. Anyway, I found the chandelier that I'll need to purchase for the front room in my home which will be transformed to a spa like relaxation room. I'll have to wait a bit since it's out of stock but for now I can just look at the pretty picture. I'd love to use this for a wedding too!

Wedding Day Coordination Contest Ends!

2008-08-01T07:13:00.000-07:00

Winner to be announced in a few days!

Wedding Day Coordination Contest Deadline tomorrow!!!!

2008-07-30T19:17:00.001-07:00

Check out details here. It's really not that difficult so don't miss out on this chance!

Studio ATG slideshow

2008-07-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

Check it out here. You can see me acting goofy about halfway through in a red dress.

Congrats Studio ATG

2008-07-24T23:37:00.001-07:00

Congratulations Studio ATG on their new studio! It was fun attending their grand opening party and seeing their gorgeous work on the walls. They took photos of course so I can't wait to see them!

Congrats Lori and Tim!

2008-07-24T23:04:00.000-07:00

My husband's friend from high school has a little sister who just got married last week. We reconnected at my sister's wedding where she was the 2nd shooter for their photographer Candace from Elegant Images. She had grown up so much that my husband didn't recognize her! That was purely a coincidence!

Anyway, we were invited to their lovely wedding reception and it's always nice to see two people so much in love. Here are some of my "un"professional photos:

Me and the hubby.

I need a bride for a photoshoot!

2008-07-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

My colleague Kelly McWilliams over at Weddings by Socialites is putting together the 2008 Blog Showcase. We'll be showcasing something. I haven't decided on what that something will be but it will obviously be a wedding element. But right now I need a bride!! Check out details here and let me know if you're interested! Deadline is sometime in August so we don't have much time!

New Wedding Planner!

2008-07-22T22:22:00.000-07:00

Angelica Taormina has recently joined Green Orchid Events and will be planning wonderful weddings with us! I'm really excited about our mini expansion!

The Countdown begins...

2008-07-20T23:33:00.001-07:00

Eleven more days until the deadline for our big giveaway! Don't miss out on your chance to win a Wedding Day Coordination package along with an engagement session and photo montage. This package is priceless!

View details here.

Green Orchid Events featured in Las Vegas Bride magazine!

2008-07-13T23:56:00.001-07:00

Click here to see the beautiful two page spread!

Why Hire a Wedding Planner

2008-07-13T18:35:00.000-07:00

Written by celebrity wedding planner Sasha Souza

As couples begin thinking about their wedding, they are often confused as to how much to spend, where to obtain specialized services, and how to choose vendors. These worries often mount as quickly as the cost of the wedding. After the euphoria wears off and the reality settles in, it's shocking to discover of how much preparation is involved. Couples are faced with decisions about everything from invitation wording to planning their honeymoon. Couples often find they want experienced professional help.

Not long ago, a wedding coordinator was thought of as a luxury, only used by the wealthy. Now a coordinator is essential to the well planned affair. It is no longer "trendy" to engage a coordinator. Being experienced in negotiating contracts with caterers, florists, photographers, and other suppliers, the coordinator saves valuable time and money. The coordinator can take advantage of discounts not available to private parties and avoid costly mistakes, while turning your dreams into reality.

The average wedding can take more than two hundred fifty hours just to plan. With today's hectic lifestyles, you may not have time to compare all the options, making sure you get the best deal, and make sure all the details are in place.

Wedding coordinators are not here to make decisions for you, but to guide and assist you in making informed decisions.

Their training, knowledge, and experience will turn your dreams and expectations into reality. They want you to host a beautiful and distinctive event which you can enjoy.

A wedding coordinator will save you time and enable you to get the most for your money! A wedding coordinator can serve in many other capacities. They can act as the family counselor for apprehensive brides and the mothers, a wedding coordinator can become as close as your best friend.

How do you know you're hiring the right coordinator? Trust is important in any relationship. You should feel completely comfortable with the coordinator and feel assured that he or she completely understands what your needs are. Your personalities should match. It's important to find out how long the coordinator has been in business. Be careful of coordinators who are not members of any professional organization. These organizations have a code of ethics that the consultant must follow in order to be a member, some also require some sort of continuing education each year to stay a member.

Heather and Jason and a Monkey!

2008-07-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to be working with a fun couple Heather and Jason from Maryland. They will be getting married in November at Caesars and then celebrating with a dinner at T Bone and an after party at the VIP Lanes at Red Rock.
Anyway, Heather told me that she had been stalking AltF for years so she knew she had to have them as her wedding photographer! Their engagement photos have been posted on the AltF blog and I absolutely LOVE the monkey they brought to their engagement shoot!

Wedding Cinematography

2008-07-10T11:34:00.000-07:00

Wedding videos have come a long way. They are no longer your home videos and I am certainly happy about that! I love the films that are being created by these truly talented artists and have a soft spot for the vintage ones especially.

I "met" a great wedding videographer (or wedding cinematographer/filmmaker as they all rightfully preferred to be called now) and I'm amazed by their work. Check out Mason Jar Films. The even have an awesome name!

I was hooked once I saw this video:

Hiring a Professional

2008-07-09T00:46:00.001-07:00

By the time you realize that you should have hired a professional for your wedding day, it may already be too late. Brides always say they should have hired a wedding planner or spent a little more for the more qualified photographer, etc. They don't realize it until the wedding is over that hiring a wedding planner would have allowed them to enjoy their wedding day without "sweating the small stuff". Premier Bride has put together a video titled "Hiring a Professional". View it here.

Reminder - Wedding Coordination Contest deadline is the end of this month!

2008-07-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

Wedding Coordination Contest

Green Orchid Events is giving away a Wedding Day Coordination package, a Photo Montage for your wedding from Memory Lane Video, AND a free engagement session from the talented team at Alt F Photography to a lucky couple getting married in 2009!

How to enter:

Send an email to us with the following information:

Bride’s Name

Groom’s Name

Wedding Location

Wedding Date

Wedding Website (if applicable)

Please write a 350 word essay on your story, how you fell in love, your engagement, details of your wedding, how you are unique as a couple, and why you should be chosen as the winner. Be sure to include a photo! The entry deadline is July 31st. Blog readers will vote on the top five entries and the winning couple will be announced on August 15^th!

Also answer the following question:

What is your favorite wedding picture and why? Photos may be selected from websites such as Grace Ormonde, The Knot, Brides, or blogs such as Style Me Pretty.

Prize Package:
*Wedding Day Coordination package from Green Orchid Events worth over $1500.00!

*A one and a half hour Engagement Portrait Package from Alt F Photography with an online gallery of all images. Package is worth over $650.00!

*Photo Montage from Memory Lane Video

About two months before your wedding, we will have a phone consultation to go over the details of your wedding. Copies of all vendor contracts will be reviewed. We will create a detailed timeline to be distributed to your vendors and bridal party as well as contact all vendors to confirm their arrival times. A Wedding Coordinator and an assistant will be at your wedding to ensure proper set up of your reception, greet vendors and receive deliveries, coordinate events such as the grand entrance and cake cutting, distribute final payments and gratuities, and ensure that everything runs smoothly! We will coordinate the wedding from beginning to end so that you will be able to spend time with your friends and family and have a stress free wedding!

Rules:
*Entries must be 350 words or less and include a photo of the couple. Include the wedding date, location and any details about your wedding.

*Winner selected must have all vendors booked by the time Green Orchid Events steps in to work with you. Use of our list of preferred vendors is highly recommended.

*If wedding is outside of the Las Vegas, NV area, winner will be responsible for providing transportation and hotel accommodations for 3 days for two people from Las Vegas, NV to wedding location. Engagement session may be done in Las Vegas, NV. If outside of Las Vegas, NV, winner will responsible for providing transportation and hotel accommodations for our photographers to engagement session location.

*All entries must be emailed to juliet@greenorchidevents.com with the subject line "Wedding Day Coordination Contest”

*Wedding must take place in 2009 and is subject to our availability
*Entries must be received by midnight PST on August 1, 2008.

*Limit one entry per couple

*Winning couple must sign a contract listing our services and our obligations to them as well as their responsibilities to us.

Good luck and let me know if you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletter!

Hamburger Cake

2008-07-02T00:39:00.000-07:00

My father in law will be celebrating a big birthday so we threw a surprise party for him on Sunday! To mark the occasion, I had one of my favorite bakers create a hamburger cake for this hamburger lover. Delicious "Nutty Irishman" flavor. Every single person had cake and you know that people don't normally eat the birthday cake at parties!! Happy Birthday Doug!

Unique Venues

2008-06-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

Brides and Grooms are becoming more and more interested in finding a unique location for their wedding ceremony. Often times I hear, "I really don't want to get married in a casino chapel" and "I don't want to hold my wedding in a traditional ballroom". In Vegas, the perception is that our main venues are hotels/casinos and country clubs. Couples are not limited to just these options. There are many beautiful locations that can be utilized for a truly distinctive wedding.

Consider these options:
Art Gallery
Yacht
Ski Resort
Park
Beach
On a balcony or rooftop
Vineyard

Believe it or not, Las Vegas offers most of these options!!

Anyway, two days ago, I stumbled across this blog while doing some research on San Francisco wedding photographers. Brian Ng is a wonderfully talented photographer from my hometown of San Francisco. I love the below image of a ceremony taking place at the AT&T park. The couple really saved on ceremony seating! Yes, the possibilities are endless!

New Venue

2008-06-27T13:12:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, I went to a grand opening party at the View 215, a new banquet facility on the west part of town in Las Vegas. The View 215 had a view of the 215 highway (naturally) as well as a view of the city. Of course, I forgot my camera.

We don't have too many free standing venues for banquets so I'm glad that I was able to visit this new space for possible large weddings. For couples who do not want to get married in casinos or country clubs, this is a nice alternative for them. I look forward to planning parties at the View 215.