March 31, 2011

Beijing, Here I Come!

Vacation to me means getting rejuvenated, refreshed, and re-inspired! I love to travel to new places, and am looking forward to absorbing all the history and culture that Beijing has to offer. If all goes well with my internet access there, I will definitely keep up with my blog from afar.



March 25, 2011

The Importance Of Lighting At Your Wedding


I can't emphasize enough to my clients how important it is to have the right lighting for their wedding. What is considered the right lighting? That depends on your wedding venue, the mood you want to create, the time of day your wedding will take place, as well as many other factors. It is important to work with a professional, experienced lighting designer to help you assess all of these factors and design the perfect lighting to fit your event.

In a nutshell, everyone wants to look and feel good, and creating the perfect ambient lighting at your wedding can certainly help with that. Think of the times you had fun at a particular club, or felt especially eerie at a haunted house. Besides the music, the main influencer is the type of lighting that was set to infuse a specific mood. It's the same for weddings and events. When you walk into a room full of candlelights, it naturally evokes the feeling of romance and warmth, doesn't it?

Lighting also enhances all the beautiful elements you incorporate at your wedding. Beautiful floral arrangements are brought to live when illuminated by a pinspot. A soft wash or pattern across the dance floor gives it texture and dimension, and makes for amazing photographs. Vibrant, moving pinspots on the band certainly raises the crowd's energy level by many notches. These are just a few examples of the way lighting can impact your wedding in the most magical ways.

Event lighting can certainly be costly, especially if you are looking to transform a large room with lots of special lighting and hanging pieces, such as crystal chandeliers. A lot of what you pay for goes into the labor. For those who don't often get to see the behind the scenes production of a wedding, I can assure you that setting up lighting and drapery is definitely hard labor. Nothing is ever as easy as it looks, and lighting, in particular, is MUCH harder to set up correctly than you would think. It takes a lot of manpower, especially when there is a limited window of time to set up a space, and lighting technicians need to be skilled at moving and setting up complex, fragile pieces of equipment around all the other vendors that are trying to set up. It is also common for them to be the last people to leave after breaking down for an event.

Below are some pictures of the fabulous San Francisco based Enhanced Lighting team in production for one of our weddings at San Francisco City Hall last year:

Careful precision is required to make sure each drapery piece is balanced well with the rest of the other pieces
Bulky lighting equipment can sometimes take 2+ hours just to load in, before they can start setting up! The type of lighting equipment required for your event would be determined by your venue and your wedding design.
See how the lighting and draping were key components in transforming this room into a sexy, sophisticated lounge for dancing and dessert after dinner?


Without the lighting, you would not have been able to see the beautiful sparkles
of the crystals hanging from the branches
I love how lighting can hide the things that make a space unattractive, and enhance/highlight the elements that we want to show off. It's definitely become a necessity for ALL of our events, big or small, and we really hope that every couple can see the importance of hiring a professional lighting company like Enhanced Lighting. Thank you to the entire Enhanced Lighting team for always going above and beyond for us and our clients at our events!

I do realize that not everybody can have the budget for lots of lighting and draping. However, I would encourage you to not eliminate it altogether. Work with your planner and the lighting company to concentrate the lighting efforts on a few areas for your wedding space that would make the most impact. Even simple uplighting around the parameter of a space, or drapery for the main entryways can make a big difference.

The New York Times had an excellent article on this topic as well! Be sure to check it out!

March 18, 2011

Get The Michelle Walker Experience!


Have you ever fallen in love with a dress, or handbag, only to find that it's way over your budget and you simply cannot afford it? What about that moment when you find out that the very dress you're in love is actually ON SALE?

We all love a good sale, especially when the sale does not mean the quality of the product is compromised. With the way the economy has been going, and the heartbreaking disasters around the world, we all need some good news to brighten our day. (Grooms, for you to relate, perhaps you can imagine the IPAD going on sale one day...)

Michelle Walker, an amazingly talented photographer whom I adore, is now offering a BASIC package to enable more couples to afford her wonderful photography! Now that's great news for brides and grooms out there who simply need to stay within a strict budget, but still want the fabulous Michelle Walker experience--fun, relaxed, "real' photography. For $3500 you get 6 hours of photography, an online gallery, and a web-resolution CD.

Click here to view images of a recent wedding Michelle Walker and I worked on together at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay!

March 17, 2011

The Wedding Salon Is Back in Southern California

Most people seem to dread Mondays. Not when there's a great event to look forward to! Brides-to-be, The Wedding Salon is back in L.A. and they are hosting a fun, resourceful bridal event to fill your Monday evening up on March 21st with some serious eye candy and fun times.

Two names immediately caught my eye when Sarah emailed me this flyer. St Regis and Pinkberry. Two of my favorite brands! Ofcourse, there's more.....and if you are one of the first 10 readers to email me at jubilee@jubileelauevents.com, I can send you a code for complimentary tickets.

Have fun on the town...on a MONDAY NIGHT!

March 15, 2011

The Getaway Car For Your Wedding

It is so much fun when we get to plan a formal 'send-off' for our brides and grooms at the end of their wedding reception. The traditional 'getaway car' has now evolved into the getaway bikes, the getaway carriage, and my new favorite found on Southern Weddings blog--the getaway canoe! What a creative ending to a fabulous party!

Photo above from Southern Weddings Magazine Blog
Left photo from Martha Stewart Weddings' Bride Guide | Right photo from Southern Weddings Magazine Blog

Left photo by Gertrude and Mabel Photography | Right photo by Lisa Lefkowitz Photography

Photo above by Gertrude and Mabel Photography

March 10, 2011

Cake Pops For Weddings

I'm all about sweets, and if I were to get married again, I'd probably spend half my wedding budget on multiple elaborate dessert stations. I love that collectively as an industry, we are placing more creativity and talent into the dessert stations at events. Perhaps we should thank Amy Atlas, who made a big name for herself from the extraordinary dessert stations that she creates for her clients! If you ever need some inspiration for your dessert stations, you must visit Amy Atlas' website and blog!

While we are on the topic of sweets, I want to introduce to you a company that specializes in the ever-so-popular cake pops! Personally, I LOVE cakepops. They are not only cute to display, but they're so easy to eat! In fact, dangerously easy, thus, the chances of overconsumption are quite high.

Trends come and go in the wedding world. 8 years ago when I first got into the business, chocolate fountains were THE thing to have to wow your guests. Then, people shifted to cupcakes and macarons. Now, it's about creating custom 'everything' to go with your overall design.....custom chocolate, custom petit fours.....naturally, there has to be custom cakepops, right?

Lauren Martin is the owner of Sweet Lauren Cakes, and she creates one of a kind, custom cakepops for special events. I had the pleasure of 'interviewing' her when she first contacted me to introduce herself and her creative company. I am delighted to be able to share this with all of my readers:

Jubilee: Tell us about you! Where are you from, and how did you decide to start a business specializing in cake pops?

Lauren: I'm originally from Atlanta (a southern girl at heart!) but moved to the bay area 3 years ago with my then boyfriend, now husband. Until moving here, I couldn't bake a thing. But as soon as I started, it came very naturally to me and I particularly love the rewarding experience of creating something essentially out of nothing and the smiles it brings to people's faces. I grew up sketching, drawing, and painting, but never found the right artistic fit until now! I started experimenting with cakepops a few times and immediately saw the possibilities for fabulous designs and saw how excited and amused people were when they saw them. The cakepops are such an avenue for creative design- the possibilities are endless!


Jubilee: Do your clients bring their designs to you, or do you collaborate with them to create the designs for your cakepops for their events?


Lauren: Both! Often brides come to us with a vision in mind and we help taylor that to work perfectly with their theme and feel of the wedding. If the bride doesn't come to us with a vision, then we collaborate with them, providing suggestions inspired by their color palettes, their invitations or other design elements that they are drawn to and then develop a design for them. 


Jubilee: What is your personal favorite flavor? Which flavors are most popular amongst your clients?


Lauren: My favorite flavor tends to change often depending on what recipes we are working on! We spend a lot of time perfecting recipes so that you will always crave more after your first bite! But right now, I would say my favorite is Lemon. I just love how much punch it has! Our most popular flavors are Red Velvet, followed by Chocolate Cinnamon, Vanilla Bean, and Peanut Butter. We also do seasonal flavors, so our Brown Butter Pumpkin and Gingerbread in the fall are super delicious and popular as well!


Jubilee: What are some creative ways that you or your clients have presented the cakepops at their events?


Lauren:  particularly love the wedding stand that we had custom fabricated- it allows the bride to do something non-traditional in place of the wedding cake, but it still has the traditional feel. We can also have the stand custom made in other colors or shapes to fit the feel of each wedding. We have also displayed the cakepops as bouquets in flower vases, presented them in flower boxes or metal pails for more rustic weddings, pop down on cake platters and even large blocks of chocolate, displayed in suitcases and boxes, in gift bags, used them in place of seating cards or as a small favor at each plate. We can use all different kinds of fillers from grass to stones, to candies to paper. The display options are endless!


Jubilee: How do you price your cakepops?


Lauren: Cakepops are priced based on the extent of the design and number of color changes needed for each pop. We pay a lot of attention to detail, focusing on perfecting the color, and really achieving the client's vision


Jubilee: Are the cakepops shipped to the clients, or delivered locally? Any geographical parameters when ordering from you? 


Lauren: Cakepops can be shipped in any quantity locally or nationally. We also deliver locally but are happy to go farther if you are! 


Thanks Lauren! The photos below show just a few of the creative cakepop designs that Lauren did for her clients in the past. For more information, please visit her website or email her at lauren@sweetlaurencakes.com









March 4, 2011

The Village People For Your Wedding, Anyone?

Last year, I had the astounding pleasure of bringing the original  Village People in for my client's grand and opulent wedding at San Francisco City Hall, and boy, did they drive the crowd wild!

It was an extravagant black tie affair, but five minutes into The Village People's performance, the men had their jackets and bow ties off, and the crowd was going wild on the dance floor! The energy and vibe was absolutely amazing!

I spent countless hours with Rudolfi Artists in Music and Fortune Entertainment going over the pages and pages of rider for the Village People and working through all the logistics to abide to their riders, but it was well worth it. They rocked the party with their 1 hour performance, and it was definitely a night to be remembered.

Their finale was ofcourse, the YMCA, and they brought the bride and groom on stage to dance with them!




Photos above by Wendy Maclaurin Richardson

March 3, 2011

Winter Wonderland Wedding at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay

I just received the images for Joy and Tim's gorgeous wedding at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay and I had to share them right away! As always, the fun, fabulous Michelle Walker rocked it!

Although their wedding took place in the summer, Joy wanted an over the top, opulent winter wonderland wedding next to the coast, and she sure got it. Tall silver branches with hanging petals lined the long aisle way for Joy and the bridal party to process down to. Gloria Wong and Paige Benjamin created an enchanting winter scene right in the middle of summer!

The sentimental ceremony ended with not only a kiss, but the jumping of the broom (an African American tradition) and a dove release, followed by a stilt artist leading the way to the cocktail hour! As guests enjoyed delicious libations from the resort, they were entertained by a talented contortionist, a strolling magician, and beautiful string musicians.

The minute the ballroom doors opened, the guests found themselves entering another part of this beautiful event. The ballroom was transformed to become a magical, captivating, exquisite wonderland!




















One of my favorite parts of the evening was when Joy's sorority sisters and girlfriends serenaded her on the beautiful white dance floor!




The invitations are the first glimpse that your guests have of what your event will be like (besides the Save the Dates) so Joy and Tim spared no expense to send one of a kind invitations (in boxes!) to make their guests feel special.



Thank you to the talented team of Event Professionals that worked alongside us for this spectacular black tie affair!

Event Design: Gloria Wong Design
Catering: Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay
Photography: Michelle Walker Photography
Paper Goods: Peculiar Pair Press
Floral Design: Passiflora Design
Hair Stylist: Tre Major
Makeup Artist: Yolande Denise
Entertainment: Gregangelo & Velocity
Cake: Montclair Baking
String Quartet: Golden Gate Ensembles
DJ: Tony Sparks
Emcee: Nate Townsend
Lighting and Draping: Enhanced Lighting
Carpeting and Furniture Rentals: Blueprint Studios





March 2, 2011

A Princess Birthday Party

My little girl turned 4 last week, and I couldn't resist throwing a girly girl birthday party for her, themed 'Tulips and Tiaras Tea Party'! I had so much fun planning this, even though we spent several weeks on all the DIY projects. My inspirations came from Hello!Lucky's new book, Handmade Weddings, which is filled with crafty ideas and easy DIY instructions. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves craft projects!

I rented children size white chiavari chairs from Classic Party Rentals, which were absolutely adorable! In the past, we've used bean bags and floor pillows to set up separate kids' areas or rooms at a wedding, which has worked great, but I love the option now to do something a little more 'formal' with the chiavari chairs, so that the kids can feel like grown ups!

Here are some fabulous pictures that the talented Chung Li took at the party:







Chung is a fabulous wedding and event photographer who also happens to be exceptional at children and family portraits. He's got a real unobtrusive approach that makes people feel at ease in front of the camera.

It seems as if everybody owns a DSLR camera these days, but how many people really know how to use it? I know that I've owned mine for 4 years and have used the auto mode all along until recently. Chung offers full day workshops to teach amateur photographers on subjects that includes camera functionalities, lighting, composition, and more. Although I haven't personally been able to take it yet, many of my peers in the industry and personal friends have, and they all tell me it is an amazingly informative and useful class. His next one is coming right up, so be sure to sign up before he is sold out again!