The Wedding University

For those that know me well, they can tell you that creating wedding planning workshops for brides and grooms have been a dream and fantasy of mine for quite a few years now. I've always loved to teach. Before I became a wedding planner, I taught a lot of HR courses on conflict management. Two years ago, I was invited to the Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica to teach and certify a group of wedding planners. For the past 6 years as a wedding planner, I have certainly taught A LOT of brides and grooms on many aspects of wedding planning from designing concepts to creating a fabulous menu to dealing with tricky family dynamics. Okay, you get it--I love to teach.

Well, I've dreamed about it and talked about it....now I'm finally ready to act on it! On February 8, 2009 I will be co-hosting a very unique and special event call THE WEDDING UNIVERSITY.

What exactly is it?

Imagine being a first time bride. You're newly engaged and super excited about that dynamic ring that he chose for you. You share the incredible news with your family in their living room, then with your girlfriends over cocktails. Your next stop is the bookstore, where you purchase every single magazine with the word WEDDING on it.

The first month is probably a whirlwind as you pour through tons and tons of magazine and online photos, fantasizing about that dream wedding of yours. You may have even purchased one of those wedding organizers, determined to stay calm and organized.

But then, reality kicks in. You start to become overwhelmed by question marks floating around your head.

1. How much is all this going to cost?
2. OMG, there are thousands of photographers in the area. Which one is right for me?
3. How do I get the most value for my money?
4. What's a Banquet Event Order?
5. What's an escort card versus a place card?
6. Who helps me create a timeline?
7. How do I personalize my wedding with special touches?
8. What hairstyle looks good with my dress?
9. How can I tell my bridesmaids that they have to pay for their own dresses?
10. What's the proper wording for my invitation?

Yes, there are A LOT of decisions to be made for a wedding. Most people have not planned an event of this caliber before so feeling overwhelmed and lost is normal. The Wedding University is designed to help newly engaged couples with their wedding planning by providing them the knowledge, tools, and resources that they need to make wise decisions. It is an all day event, in several different classroom settings, with topics varying from photography, videography, makeup + hair, budget, etc.....all the way to learning the steps for a fabulous first dance! In the midst of all that, you can sample extraordinary food and wine from the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley and interact on a personal level with some of the very top wedding professionals in the Bay Area.

In other words, it is an event NOT to be missed!

For more information, keep up with our Wedding University Blog or our website.

It Takes a Village

Most couples will never know what went on behind the scenes in preparation for their wedding day. The fact of the matter is, you shouldn't have to know! You should only enjoy the end result--which hopefully is a fun, smooth, and happy day.

However, for those that are curious, I thought I'd blog about the production process of a wedding. Ofcourse, the level of complexity is dependent on a lot of factors--how difficult the load-in process is at your venue, how much time there is to set up, how many vendors are involved, etc. What doesn't change for my team and I though, is that no matter how simple or complicated the set up is, we take it seriously and work hard to do the best job for our clients.

A lot of times, it does take a village to produce a beautiful, seamless wedding. For a recent June wedding that I had at the Kohl Mansion, we began set-up on Friday morning even though the wedding was on Sunday. A tent was involved for that particular wedding, so that always takes more time and labor. We were dealing with some unpredictable factors--gusts of wind at 40mph(!) but we pulled through. From the structure of the tent, to the lighting inside, to the fabric lining, to the furniture, to the tabletop items....it took a whole lot of manpower to bring all the elements together.

Ofcourse, this is the part of my job that I love most! And that is the part that you must love the most about having a professional, experienced, and competent Wedding Coordinator!

I won't bore you with the technicalities of the setup, but I want to acknowledge the wonderful, dependable team of vendors who worked so hard for the clients and I that weekend. I shouldn't single out this particular event, because this group of vendors have worked on many, many other events for me and have always been amazing!

Componere Fine Catering (all food and beverages)
Enhanced Lighting (all lighting and draping)
Carl Mindling Music (DJ music and Master of Ceremonies)
Stuart Party Rentals (tenting and heating)
Classic Party Rentals (furniture and tabletops)
Napa Valley Linens (dinner table linens)
Nancy Liu Chin Designs (all floral and decor)
Rudolfi Artists in Music (brass quintet and harpist)
Cakework (wedding cake)
Todd Rafalovich (photographs)
Pure Luxury Transportation (all shuttle buses)

You must wonder why I am not posting the photographs of the final result for this fantastic wedding. Well, stay tuned! I will be posting that soon!

She's making a list, and checking it twice....

No, I'm not singing the Santa Claus is Coming to Town jingle in June. I'm referring to what my team and I do the most during the last few weeks leading up to a wedding!

Aka 'Crunch Time' for us at the office; we are likely found doing the following tasks as we get close to a wedding:

1. Scrutinizing the master guest list that we are given to make sure nothing looks out of the ordinary.

2. A lot of cross-referencing between the guest list, seating assignments, transportation routings, hotel rooming lists, etc.

3. Triple checking rental orders!

4. Religiously making calls to vendors to confirm load in/load out time, setup specs, and other logistical information

5. Extra dessert breaks

6. Running errands like picking up place cards from the calligrapher

7. Going to final dress/tuxedo fittings

8. Creating a Production Schedule for my team, so everybody knows what they're responsible for on the wedding day

9. Taking phone calls and emails from guests with questions

10. Calming whoever has the wedding jitters

I do sooooooo much for my clients that I honestly don't know how brides without coordinators make it! Do they really do ALL THIS on their own and still show up glowing and excited on the wedding day? It's A LOT of details, but it's what I thrive on. I do everything I can to make sure my clients and their families get to relax and fully enjoy the week of the wedding. It makes a big difference. A calm, relaxed and happy bride sets the pace for everyone at the wedding, and also makes for beautiful photos and video!

This week we're getting ready for a very eventful weekend for my Denver couple Erin and Nick. With nearly 200 guests traveling here for the wedding weekend we've got a lot of fabulous activities in store for everyone from spas to golf courses to wineries. I will definitely share pictures on my blog after it's over!

I just had to share this cute picture of Erin and Nick enjoying their last dance lesson with the amazing Cynthia Glinka (www.cynthiaglinka.com) before the wedding. It's my mission to take over all the work from my clients so they can do fun things like this!

Meet my new Production Coordinator!

I am so excited to share with you that I have brought on board a new Production Coordinator for my company. Amanda comes from the world of architecture, which makes her a pro at space planning and schematics. She is also a lot of fun, super creative, and incredibly talented. We really hit it off after our first meeting, and I am so thankful that she has accepted this position. I know we will work well together, and our strengths in different areas will make us a fabulous team. I can't wait for everyone to meet her, and to work with her. Welcome Amanda!

Where are they now?

It always amazes me that I am lucky enough to participate in one of the most special days in people's lives--their wedding day. What amazes me even more is that I get to continue the friendship, and be a part of their journey after the wedding. Whether it's the purchasing of a new home or the beginning of a new business venture, I love staying in touch with my clients and finding out what's new with them from time to time.

I thought I'd dedicate this post to a few of the wonderful, wonderful couples that I have had the good fortune to work with......to share with everyone their exciting lives after the wedding.

Karen and Marc Liu--They got married at the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco on September 25, 2004. Today, three and a half years after their wedding, Karen and Marc are proud parents of Trevor Jet Liu, who will be turning 1 this June. They are also owners of Dream Dinners in San Bruno, a great place (especially for newlyweds) to depend on for your healthy dinner! At Dream Dinners, you can easily assemble healthy and delicious dinners for your family. They supply the pre-cut ingredients and step by step instructions, making it very convenient for their customers. Check out their website at www.dreamdinners.com

Yehbin and Brian Lee--They got married at the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco on July 16, 2005. Today, nearly three years after their wedding, they are enjoying parenthood with their beautiful daughter Cara.

Sylvia and James Chen--They got married at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga on March 25, 2006. Since then, James has been working diligently on an online business venture. He recently launched his website www.utoopia.com which is a website to help consumers make smart purchasing decisions. I just have a feeling that in a few years time, I will see James on the cover of Forbes magazine, or Entrepreneur magazine!

Brittina and Gee Chuang--They got married on March 12, 2004 at Cypress Hotel in Cupertino. Today, they are proud parents of 5 months old Ethan Chuang! Brittina works for Apple as an Analyst, and Gee is working hard on an online business venture at home while being the primary caregiver to little Ethan. Way to go Gee! Just spoke with them today, and they're traveling for the first time with Ethan tomorrow, bringing him to Taipei to visit his grandparents.





Linda and Mike Kuo--They got married at the beautiful St. Ignatius in San Francisco on October 7, 2006. They recently became parents to their first newborn, Cori. Congratulations Linda and Mike!

Teresa and Nathan Chan--They were married at Thomas Fogarty Winery on August 6, 2006 and they are expecting their first child this summer!



More to come in a future posting......

Presentation Matters

I love accompanying my clients to their tastings, not because I get to eat great food, but I love to see how excited they get and how the wedding becomes more 'real' to them. My cute Denver couple, Erin and Nick, recently came back for the tasting with their fabulous caterer and Erin's parents as well as sister Shannon from Honolulu joined us.

Ethan Mantle, the owner and chef of Componere Fine Catering, is amazing. He's never failed to impress my clients, not only because of his impressive training and experience but because he is so passionate about helping his clients customize a menu that is perfect for their unique wedding. You can feel his genuine interest in creating your menu, and he takes great pride of his phenomenal quality of food and service. Although he has only been in business for a few years, he has received much recognition from Event Planners, reputable Venues, and many publications like the San Francisco magazine for his success.

One of the reasons that I love working with Ethan is because he understands that it is just as much about food as it is about presentation. His food is like a work of art, but not in an artificial kind of way. It creates awe, and becomes a conversation piece, sometimes even an ice breaker! There's a lot more that goes into it than one can see. Ethan has a lot of different plates and platters to present his food on, making the presentation perfect-o! Erin, Nick, and their family could not have been happier with the tasting. Because many of their guests are vegetarians, it was of utmost important to them that the vegetarian entree is just as fabulous as the filet mignon and the halibut. They did not want their vegetarian guests to feel like they were an after-thought. Ethan understood this, and worked hard to design several ultra special vegetarian entrees for them to choose from. It was NOT an easy decision. They loved all of them!

I'm not going to reveal too much more about this wedding, as it is coming up in June and I have no idea if any of their guests may come across my blog! I will definitely post pictures of this wedding when it is over--stay tuned!

www.componerefinecatering.com

A Delightful Afternoon

Last week, one of my brides from 2007 invited me to afternoon tea at Lovejoy's Tea Room in San Francisco. Eileen got married last November at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay. To thank me and her team of Event Professionals for helping to make her dream wedding come true, she organized this tea for us. What a delightful surprise when I received the invitation!

Unfortunately, many of the Event Professionals whom she invited were not able to make it that day but Debra Hertzog, Senior Catering Sales Manager at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, and Susan Morgan, owner of Elegant Cheesecake, and I happily joined Eileen for tea at the adorable tea house. Lovejoy Tea Room is located in Noe Valley in the city. It's a really cute, intimate tea house filled with eclectic furnishings. We were seated comfortably on plushy couches in a cozy corner, and we enjoyed a blend of delicious teas with an astounding mix of tea sandwiches and pastries. My favorite were the scones with the double devon cream--YUMMY!! The toasted crumpets with lemon curd were also mouth-watering! Directly across the street is Lovejoy's Attic, where one can buy any (or all!) of their tea, china cups, teapots, and a lot of little nick nacks. It would be awfully hard not to bring something home from there!

Eileen is an amazing woman. She was the first female firefighter in San Francisco and is now a fire investigator for the fire department. She has such a great balance of strength and sensitivity, and is one of the most genuine and gracious person I've ever met. I am so honored that I got to be her Wedding Coordinator, and to help make her wedding day as perfect as she remembers it to be.

http://www.lovejoystearoom.com/index.html

My Clients, My Friends...

I met Samantha and Alvin a little over two years ago when they hired me to plan their wedding at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay. We clicked instantly, and had so much fun during the wedding planning process. Every single vendor, including the staff at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, agreed that they were one of the BEST couples to work with...ever! They had a very clear vision of their wedding, yet they were so open to ideas from the Professionals that they hired. They were also incredibly fun, considerate, and appreciative. What more can you ask for from a client? Most importantly, they had their priorities straight. They never lost sight of what their wedding was about--two very in-love people committing to one another for life, and two very loving families joining together as one. I still remember their wedding day as if it was yesterday, and the way everybody cried as Alvin read the vows that he wrote.

Needless to say, we remained good friends even after the wedding. This past weekend, they invited my husband, my daughter, and I to their new home in Redwood Shores for dinner. Joining this dinner party was Chuck and Jewel Savadelis, the fabulous cinematographers that shot their wedding, and another couple Atsuko and David. It was a wonderful evening....good company, delicious food, and serene setting (they live right by the water side!). I feel so lucky to be in this profession, because I get to meet so many special people. I never lose sight of the business aspect of the relationship as I plan their wedding, because I expect myself to act professionally and to do the best possible job for them....but at the same time I really value and appreciate the bond and friendship that is developed along the way.

Thank you Sam and Alvin!!

Wedding Planning can be fun!

Are you a newly engaged couple that is dreading the wedding planning process ahead of you? Are you overwhelmed by the infinite number of vendors on all the wedding planning websites and magazines out there? Are you terrified at the thought of having the wedding planning consume your lives for the next year?

If your answer is yes to any of the above questions, you should really consider a wedding planner!

I strive to make the wedding planning as fun as possible for my clients. After all, this is a very exciting time in their lives and the excitement cannot be lost before the Big Day arrives! I'm not going to lie though. There will be stressful moments, such as trying to trim down the guest list. However, my clients have a lot of fun throughout the planning process. A few highlights that you can look forward to are, ofcourse, the tastings (with caterers and cake designers!), the selection of linens, chairs, and other rental items, and the walk through at your venue to finalize all the details!

With my clients, I like to have them focus on the areas that they love most. Everything else, they trust me to take care of. Ofcourse, they always make the final decisions on everything but it sure helps to have an expert guide the way. I'm not going to go on and on bragging about how great my services are (even though it sure is!) but I think the best gift any couple can get themselves is to hire an experienced and reputable Wedding Coordinator.

Last week, I accompanied my clients Emily and Leonard to a fabulous tasting with their caterer McCall's. They had so much fun tasting all the food that they were considering for the wedding. At the end, one of McCall's exceptional bartender worked with us to mix the perfect specialty cocktail for them....in the exact shade of color they were looking for. Talk about details and perfection--love it!

Today, Emily, Leonard, and I met with their amazing floral designer Kathleen Deery at Classic Party Rentals to pick their tabletop settings. We got to PLAY--that's what I like to call it. We played with different linens, napkins, chairs, chargers, and had a fun time pulling the decor elements of the wedding together. Kathleen is one of the most talented floral designers I've had the pleasure to work with in the industry, and I just know this wedding is going to be extraordinary!

Heartfelt Gratitude

I'm still on a high from Julie and Jay's wedding two weekends ago. There was so much love at that wedding that it was truly contagious. All of us that were working at the wedding felt like a part of the family, and I was reminded of why I love my job so much. Julie has a natural grace to her, and she was so beautiful and calm that day...which ofcourse put all of her families and friends at the same pace. The weather was absolutely perfect and at a setting like Fogarty, you feel like you're in heaven. We had a fabulous harvest theme for this wedding, with pumpkins, gourds and squashes lined at the end of the ceremony chairs. The large pumpkins were carved and flowers spilled out of them, trailing to the lush rose petals down the center aisle. It's too special to describe in words, so I will have to wait for the photos from the awesome Gene Higa!

Yesterday, I received in the mail a letter from Julie's mom:

Dear Jubilee,

Thank you for all that you did to make Julie and Jay’s wedding a most memorable and wonderful occasion.

From the very beginning, Julie placed her confidence in you, and it was a choice well made. You graciously and efficiently guided her through the entire wedding planning process. Your vendor references were outstanding, and you and your staff are simply the very best. Everything—setting, flowers, food, music, photographer, videography, and, ofcourse, coordination, was absolutely perfect. It made me so happy to see Julie totally at peace and glowing on this most important day in her life. It would not have been so were it not your meticulous attention to each and every detail. When our youngest daughter gets married, I think we will have to insist that she get married in California so that you can be her coordinator (smile)

Please convey our deepest appreciation and heartfelt thanks to all your staff, Fogarty’s staff, and to all of the vendors. In just a few brief hours, James and I came to regard each of you as friends and people whom we care deeply about. We wish all of you the very best in your business and personal endeavors.

With much appreciation,

Nancy Lipscomb

Boy, did that make my day!!!! Thank you to my wonderful team:

Nellie Muganda of Neja Cosmetics
Tom Henderson of Thomas John Events
Gene Higa
Nancy Liu Chin Designs
Royal Weddings Video
Carl Mindling
Rudolfi Music
Classic Party Rentals

Behind the Scenes Part 1

What does a Wedding Coordinator do on the wedding day? I get asked this question a lot. Since every coordinator works differently, I can only speak for myself here. I will have to break this up into several postings to avoid making this a novel-length post! Let's start with the morning of the wedding day!

I usually arrive at the bridal preparation location early morning, when the second or third girl is getting their makeup/hair done. I like to arrive early because I know if the schedule is off track in the morning, it will have a domino affect on the rest of the day. I need to try to prevent that from happening, or react to it when its truly unavoidable.

Another reason I like to arrive early in the morning is to make sure my bride is in good spirits! She must have happy music on and be completely carefree and relaxed. I usually advise my brides to allow only her closest families and bridesmaids in her suite when she is getting ready, so she doesn't get overwhelmed with a big group of people snapping photos and bustling around her. Ofcourse if the bride desires otherwise that's totally fine as well. I'm certainly not a controlling coordinator and will always respect the bride's wishes. I once had a wedding where the bride and groom got ready in the same suite. It was what they wanted so that was what they got!

As the morning progresses I continue to monitor the time, occasionally giving the hair/makeup stylist a headsup on how much longer we have. I don't like to 'talk timing' around the bride though, as it tends to make her nervous. Once the bridesmaids are finished with their hair and makeup I make sure they get dressed right away while the bride is still finishing up. Why? Because when it comes time for the bride to be dressed she will need her bridesmaids to help her get into her dress and it makes for much better photos/video when the bridesmaids are fully dressed and beautiful!

I like to cushion in some extra time in the schedule so the bride has a chance to relax and take everything in once she is fully dressed and ready to go. It is the beginning of an incredibly special day for her and she is likely to feel a bit nervous and jittery. Therefore, it's important that she never feels rushed!

Stay tuned for Part 2.....

Yah Mon!

I was recently asked what the biggest highlight was for me this year. Well, nothing beats being pregnant (I'm expecting a baby girl in February, 2007!) but I have to say, my Jamaica trip comes to a close second! In October this year, I was invited to give a training class on behalf of June Wedding Inc. to the Romance Team at the luxurious Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Knowing that this was one of the greatest locations for destination weddings, I was both honored and excited at the opportunity.

Being a first timer in Jamaica, I was amazed at the wonderful hospitality that I received the moment I arrived at the airport. Greeted by welcoming faces, fresh wet towels and sunny weather made a fantastic first impression. The Half Moon Resort is a 5 star luxurious resort featuring private villas and breathtaking oceanside suites. For the first two nights, my husband and I stayed in one of their magnificent villas with a butler, maid and chef all to ourselves! Talk about being pampered. It's a perfect place to stay with groups of friends or even a family reunion as each villa has up to six individual rooms, large spacious common areas, and a private pool with bbq. We felt a little TOO spoiled being in such a large villa by ourselves so we exchanged that for a more contemporary seaside suite for the next 4 nights. Waking up to crashing waves and ocean scent is just unbeatable!

The Romance Team at Half Moon consists of an amazing group of ladies and gentlemen who are all dedicated to providing the best experience possible for their brides and grooms. There were a total of 4 of us from June Wedding, Inc. that conducted the training to their group of 15. We went over topics of Marketing, Web Design, Wedding Consulting, Public Relations and Business Strategies. The group was extremely attentive and interactive, asking many wonderful questions and contributing greatly to all the various topics. They were so gracious and appreciative of the knowledge that we provided to them, and were very eager to be certified as Wedding Consultants.

Outside of the 2 day training courses, the Romance Team at Half Moon provided wonderful hospitality for our stay. We were treated to lavish dinners and cocktails, and there's nothing like fine dining with great company and interesting conversations. Each experience was thoroughly enjoyed and cherished. We also got to witness an amazing birth of sea turtles by the beachside during one of our cocktail parties!

If you're looking for a beautiful location for your destination wedding, elopement, honeymoon, or even your next vacation, you should definitely consider Half Moon. There are a ton of activities such as horseback riding (in the ocean!), swimming with the dolphins, scuba diving, and rafting on the Martha Brae river just to name a few. The hospitality is beyond five star, the culinary is excellent, and it's right by the oceanside! They offer several different locations on-site for weddings, including a gazebo on the water! Check out their website: www.halfmoon.com

Wynn Las Vegas

I want to share some fun photos from my recent trip to Vegas. Let me tell you though....this was no ordinary Vegas trip! The new Wynn Las Vegas extended a very generous invitation to 30 Wedding Coordinators around the country to experience the Wynn as a bride would. Boy, it was 48 hours of incredible pampering. From the moment we stepped out of the airport, we were greeted by our own limousines, whisking us to the beginning of the most amazing journey! Along with the wonderful people at the Wynn Wedding Salon, we fine dined, enjoyed spa treatments, toured the backhouse of the hotel to see their operations (which was fascinating and jaw dropping!), watched the new Le Reve show, and experienced an over the top, extravagant mock wedding setup as guests! It was definitely opulent and lavish and I got some fantastic decor ideas for my clients! Talk about fringe benefits of the job......we never left the Wynn during the two days that we were there but we didn't feel the need to. The food was superb and the service was first class. The rooms we stayed in had a panaromic view of either the golf course or the Strip, plasma tvs, and remote controlled draperies. Forget the traditional drive-thru weddings that Vegas is known for. Now you can have a top notch, extravagant celebrity-style wedding at the Wynn Las Vegas!