Sip, Surf, and Say "I Do"

There's a new adventure in the La Jolla wedding scene! Thanks to Paige Nordeen for sending us this custom crafted message for you guys, announcing the new package.

If soon-to-be brides and grooms are looking to celebrate an over-the-top wedding in La Jolla, a newly released adventure, ‘Sip, Surf and Say ‘I do,’ will definitely fit the bill. We wait our entire lives for this one day, so why not indulge?

As if the beautiful beaches of La Jolla and high-end boutiques aren’t enough to satisfy couples, Kimpton’s Hotel La Jolla has added a few additional perks to celebrate matrimonial bliss in style. Helicopter rides, Rolls Royce cruising and surf classes, oh my! The Southern California wedding package, designed to complement the special day, offers newly-to-be-weds unique adventure elements while keeping things upscale. The best part? A perpetual anniversary, where married couples can return to the hotel every year to celebrate their anniversary in a deluxe suite. This will take the worry (and cost) out of planning future romantic getaways to celebrate the day the couple said ‘I do.’

An intimate rehearsal dinner for up to 30 people with views of the Pacific Ocean is also included. The wedding party can dine on delectable bites on the hotel’s 11^th-floor Starlight Ballroom and pop a little bubbly to toast the bride and groom. Ever taken a surf class? Well, why not start days before your ‘I do’s’ with the included lessons from Surf Diva for two at La Jolla Shores Beach. Hanging ten with your honey will offer a new and fun way to connect, and what better place to do so than La Jolla Shores. After a little action, couples will be delighted to take off in a scenic helicopter ride and two-hour wine tour to enjoy before or after the wedding. Making things even more special for the two, a full day of Rolls Royce transportation is included as needed.

Surf Diva Photo

Guests will also find fun amenities stocked in their rooms like champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and a personalized gift, to keep the pair smiling during their stay. Also, perfect for the out-of-towners celebrating the two, the hotel offers special rates. The coastal chic town of La Jolla is a romantic wonderland where couples can enjoy moonlit strolls along the coast, dine at exceptional restaurants and peruse countless art galleries featuring internationally acclaimed artists. So if soon-to-be brides and grooms are looking for something over the top, keep the ‘Sip, Surf and ‘Say I do’’ package in mind.

Contact 858.551.3627 for bookings and information.

Wedding Workbook Giveaway

I am currently giving away a copy of my spiral bound workbook The Romance of the Wedding Ceremony!  Enter to win here.

It's a 130 page collection of memorable ceremonies, unique exchanges, readings, prayers, promises and traditions from over 4000 weddings performed by myself in beautiful Southern California and beyond.

This book gives couples a focus on the words and promises for their wedding ceremony with a step by step guide to compose a personal ceremony.

Use this collection and your imagination to create your perfect ceremony! Check it out on amazon here.

Recipes for Lovers: Baked Orange French Toast

The recipe for lovers series provides a fun and easy activity for newlyweds to do together, or for each other as a nice gift... tested and tried, straight from the Powers' Kitchen!

Baked Orange French Toast

Prepare the night before and just cook bacon in the morning!

8- Slices French Bread cut ¾ to 1 inch thick

6- Eggs

Grated rind of 1 large Orange

2/3- cup of orange juice

1/3- cup of orange liqueur-we use Grand Marnier!

1-cup half & half

3-tablespoon sugar

Image from floridasnatural.com

Optional: 4Tablespoon butter
Butter a 9” square pan LAY BREAD SLICES evenly in pan
Combine eggs, orange rind, orange juice, liqueur, half &half and sugar. Pour over bread dot with butter if desired. Refrigerate overnight.
In the morning preheat oven to 350degrees Bake 30-35 minutes or until puffed and set.

Serve with powdered sugar or a mixture of marmalade and melted butter mixed together.

*I many times double this for larger groups

Kids will like this too-the alcohol evaporates during cooking and they love it –we have four little taste testers and they always ask for more! Enjoy!

Passion and Promises

Well, we have passed Champagne on silver platters and enjoyed the splendor of "Summer wedding season".  Now with Autumn on the mend, it is time for reflection and vision ahead for holidays and Christmas cheer and a new year before us with untold promises.

 
Passion and Promises! That's what life is about. In reflection, two days ago, while San Diego was experiencing our first "winter storm", of high winds and rain, I enjoyed an invigorating and vitalizing experience of officiating a "Power Filled" wedding on the beach and in the surf on my
10' 0"Stewart surfboard out at 11th Street in Del Mar. 

In another two weeks, as the Vickor for the Santa Fe Hunt, I shall once again present the traditional "Blessing of the Hounds at the hunt" at the annual first hunt of the season, held at the Garner Valley Ranch, an actual working cattle ranch. This is my 20th season, many times I have "ridden to The Hounds" A blessings in itself for yours truly as I am surrounded by 50 -100 baying bloodhounds, on a chilly November morning, sometimes in a driving rain, snow flurries, or peaceful sunrise; blessing rider, hound, and land we are privileged to use.

In addition to the passion for the ministry God has called me to which possess my spirit, I also embrace another passion; Formula One motor racing. I have been a fan for more than three decades. If you want a taste of F1, may I suggest you see "Rush" a recently released film produced and directed my Ron Howard. It is a must and very authentic in content. 

 
Next month, I shall sojourn once again to Austin, Texas for the second United States Grand Prix to be held at this venue. Last year was the inaugural race for this magnificent venue. Spent a week in Austin, visiting the Long Horn university and of course BBQ and an outrageous Willie Nelson concert, ahh yes, another favorite....Willie Nelson. A true gypsy troubadour, one of a kind and a legend. God bless Willie!! 

When I return from Austin, it almost be Thanksgiving, then another month and Christmas. Christmas, we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. This is a special time for our family, as we enjoy the blessings of being together in a snow covered chalet in Mammoth. Last year we enjoyed over 10' of snow as it was the "worst" blizzard in a decade. What a blast!! More snow and conditions you would absolutely not believe!

So here are my passions and promises for just a few of God's blessings for which I am so abundantly grateful and very thankful.

The Lord tells us in the beautiful Psalm of Thanksgiving; Psalm:100 to be thankful to Him and bless His name;further we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
However, one of the Lords promises which was penned by King David,
Psalm 37;1&3 says it very clear for me; "Do not fret & Trust in the Lord and do good." Simple instructions and directions to follow.

Living in an attitude of gratitude ~ enjoy the changing of the seasons and ignite the passion of Gods promises!

Susan & Nelson

Just a few photos from the beautiful L'Auberge in Del Mar, with a wonderful couple.

Do Me a Favor? Wedding Favors Your Guests and Budget Will Love

Please enjoy this guest post from Make Some Plans.

Thank your guests with wedding favors that express your personality and gratitude, without spending excess time and money.

The long-standing tradition of gifting wedding guests a token of your appreciation can be both a fun, creative experience and a stressful one. Whether you’re leaning toward a do-it-yourself approach or saving some time and ordering them finished, take a breath and enjoy the process.

No Shame in Stealing
Browse magazines, stroll through stores, and crawl around websites taking note of ideas and looks that speak to you. Think about weddings you've attended as a guest and the wedding favors they gave out. Pay attention to any packaging you find especially appealing. It can go far in how happy you are with the finished gifts.

It's not really stealing anyway. It's more a scavenging for inspiration! It's a great idea to keep some notes or copy and paste pictures into a file to reference when deciding on your own favors.

They'll Eat Up Practical Favors
If you'd rather your wedding favors stick around longer than your guests' next spring cleaning, think practical. Want them to enjoy it rather than trash it or stick it on a shelf? Go edible. Though I'm sure you and your fiance are gorgeous, the hard truth is that nobody, besides your mother, want a coaster or coffee cup with your mugs smiling back at them from their drink.

Gifts that express your personalities or share a passion are great idea. If you're avid bikers or runners, for instance, personalized water bottles may be a good idea. Cake pops that bear some resemblance to your wedding cake or personalized candy bars are great edible options.

Never Enough of a Good Thing
Okay, maybe there can be enough, but better a few too many than not enough when it comes to wedding favors. If you're working on a budget, consider giving one favor per couple rather than each individual. Though you'll need one for every single person, one favor per couple can nearly half the number you need.

A good rule of thumb is to have ten extra for every hundred guests. This takes the stress out of the nearly inevitable occurrence of some getting lost or broken. Some guests are bound to take more than one and you'll want at least a few left over to keep for yourselves.

Going it Alone
While do-it-yourself wedding favors may seem like a fantastic way to save some bucks, don't forget the time commitment involved. Time and frustration saved might be well worth the extra expense, especially with everything else you're doing to plan you wedding while maintaining some semblance of a normal life.

Make sure too that you're adding up all of the elements involved. Hot glue guns and glue, each element, and any wrapping can add up to more than wholesalers can offer the same finished product for. On the other hand, if crafting is a de-stresser for you, go to town!

Don't Commit
No, I don't mean to call your wedding off! Don't commit to buying 200 wedding favors sight unseen. You may have found something that looks adorable on a website with a price that works with your budget, but until you have it in hand to inspect or taste hold off on dropping hundreds of dollars.

Some merchants offer free samples – take advantage of that to ensure you'll be happy with your wedding favors. Likewise, make certain to ask for a proof if you're ordering anything with personalization. You don't want to end up with a a bunch of favors that announce you're getting “varried.”

As-Sign Them
You'll obviously to busy to set your wedding favors out yourself. When you assign this task to someone, preferably someone you have confidence in, be sure they know exactly how and where you want them placed. You'll save yourself some headaches if you do one better than explaining and give them a picture as an example instead.

If you're leaving them on the tables or in one central place instead, make sure your guests are aware that they are meant to be taken. This can be achieved by placing a tags on each favor. Alternatively, you can put a nice framed sign that says simply “Please take a favor” or just a nice “Thank You.”

One final note: how much or how little you spend on your wedding favors is completely up to you. Traditionally, one to two percent of your total budget is relegated to favors. For instance, on a $10,000 wedding with one hundred guests, one or two dollars on each guest's favor would be customary. More important than cost though, is that you are happy with your favors and feel they are a token of thanks that represents your personalities and feeling.

Bryan Driscoll lives in Pittsburgh, PA with his wife and son. Bryan is the one who came up with the initial idea to create an event and wedding planning website. When he was planning his own wedding, he realized the difficulty in finding vendors that he wanted to be a part of his own wedding day. He brought the idea of an event and wedding website to Brad, and soon after, Make Some Plans was born. His background in SEO and internet marketing has birthed many of the creative ideas behind Make Some Plans.

Illustration 1: http://pinterest.com/pin/479140847826329335/

7 Tips To Planning Your Perfect Theme Wedding

Please enjoy this great guest post written for my blog by Kimberly Seeherman of Events By Fabulous.
#1 - Choose a theme that highlights your unique couple style.
The best themed weddings are those that say something personal about the bride and groom. Paris is a wonderful place, but it shouldn't be your wedding theme unless it’s a meaningful part of your history. In the planning process, I ask my clients to dig deep into their relationships for defining memories and shared passions. Whether it’s a kind of music, a special trip, or a fairytale romance, the successful execution of theme wedding starts with stories close to the heart.

#2 - Start with a detailed inspiration board. 
Wedding clients are often overwhelmed with the amount of choices they have to make. A great way to get started in the planning process is to put all your ideas into one place, and literally see how the details come together. Pinterest is an amazing tool, but you can also go “old school” by building a wedding binder with picture clippings, color swatches and other materials that inspire you. Take time doing your research and building a collection of ideas, a detailed inspiration board is your road map to success.

#3 - Find the perfect setting for your story.
Finding the right venue is arguably the most important aspect of your theme wedding. You’ll need to find a place that works with your theme, not against it. The last thing you want to do is spend money covering up venue elements that don't work with your design plan. It’s important that you fully flesh out your theme concept and wedding budget before beginning the search for locations, so that you can make an educated decision that fits both your taste and financials.

#4 - Set the tone with a themed wedding announcement. 
Stir your guest’s excitement by creating an interactive save-the-date or invitation that boldly represents the theme. Fun ideas I’ve recommended in the past included a pair of 3D glasses, a puzzle, a code to unlock a website, or a costume element for guests to incorporate into their wedding attire. Asking guests to dress up is a sure way to enhance the theme experience, as the guests become part of the theme concept.

#5 - Walk down the aisle in style.
When planning a theme wedding, you want to create a consistent experience throughout the entire affair, which of course includes the ceremony.  Even if your service is held off-site or in a house of worship, make sure to incorporate elements that to tie your nuptials to the reception. Consider themed aisle décor, a colored carpet runner, a unique Bridal March and ceremony music or stylized wedding party attire.

#6 - Create a focal point for your themed space.
While the best-case scenario would be customizing each aspect of reception décor to your theme, that’s not a feasible solution for every couple, especially when budget is a factor. I always recommend creating at least one “wow-factor” within a space that really brings the theme to life. Then make sure that everything else in the room is neutral, as not to distract from that focal point.  Whether you go with an awesome entrance piece, a custom stage, a themed vignette or specialty table-top design, spending your budget on a few choice theme elements is much better then a watered-down execution across the entire wedding design.

#7 - It’s all about the experience.
When creating a themed wedding, equally important as décor elements are the experiential aspects that transport guests into the realm of your imaginary theme. I always recommend focusing on arrivals, how guests are welcomed into the space. Unique concepts I’ve executed are themed methods of distributing table cards, or specialty entertainers that set the mood. Customization of Food & Beverage is another great way to incorporate theme, such as specialty cocktails with a look or a name relevant to the décor concept. Other ideas to consider are themed guest activities like a stylized photo booth that can also serve as a take home favor.  Let guests leave with a symbolic piece of the party, and the magical experience of your theme wedding can live on far past the conclusion of the event.

About Us: Events By Fabulous is an innovative event design and production company. Over the past 10 years, we’ve established a reputation as a trendsetter in the industry, creating cutting edge events for major brands and celebrity clients alike. From extravagant social gatherings to national brand campaigns, Fabulous takes a unique approach for each project, striving to capture the identity of our clients in immersive event experiences. From atmospheric design, to experiential marketing, Fabulous provides a comprehensive range of  event production services including  a la carte options such as lighting design, party rentals, custom prop fabrication, and specialty entertainment. 

Links: 

www.youtube.com/eventsbyfabulous (event videos)

facebook.com/eventsbyfabulous (portfolio gallery) 

www.eventsbyfabulous.com ( more info)