Happy Tuesday! We have another guest blogger today! Enjoy!
“Josh and I got married in May, 2009 at the beautiful St. Regis Resort in Dana Point, CA. While we met and fell in love in California, the vast majority of our guests were from the Midwest and East coast. Therefore, it was especially important to us that our location be at a vacation resort, our weekend be packed with events, and that everyone walk away happy that they had made the long journey to join us in California for our big day.
The festivities started off with a bridal luncheon on Friday at Las Brisas restaurant for the girls and a golf tournament at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Golf Links course for the boys. Following a fabulous rehearsal dinner in the St. Regis’ wine cave for the wedding party, we hosted our version of a welcome open house in the presidential suite at the St. Regis. Guests enjoyed hors devours and cocktails in the spacious indoor/outdoor setting while enjoying the fabulous view of the St. Regis pools, golf course, and the stunning ocean. Saturday morning, wedding day, began with an early morning 5K “Dash to the Altar” run/walk for our guests that took them along the St. Regis grounds and the beautiful Laguna bluffs and coastline. Saturday evening’s ceremony on the Grand Lawn at the St. Regis was immediately followed by cocktails on the terrace to an instrumental medley of California music and then a fantastic fun-filled reception in the Monarch ballroom. Since our focus was on our guests having a fabulous time, we arranged the timing of our reception to reflect a dance party with food rather than the traditional dinner party with dancing. What a fantastic decision! The California wedding weekend concluded with Josh and I sending our guests off with a full belly :) and a giant thank you at our al fresco “Morning After Champagne Brunch” held Sunday at Club 19 at the St. Regis. We could not have been happier with the entire weekend and the opportunity to share our love with our friends and family.
Our most cherished memories include watching the triplets walk ALL the way down the aisle, our unbelievable band that kept everyone both amazed and dancing all night long (who knew they could play songs that just came on the radio one week prior to the event!), our fantastic silhouette artist’s favors, our adorable welcome bags complete with whimsical Laguna Beach maps, the navy skirts on our head table chairs, the lighting and draping, all the AMAZING flowers, and finally, ending our night dancing to the song California encircled by our guests. We were just so fortunate to begin the rest of our life together at such a fabulous and beautiful party surrounded by our most cherished friends and family. The weekend was nothing short of perfect!! But perhaps my most fantastic memory of all was having both the opportunity and solitude to watch the guests arriving at the wedding and Josh and his groomsmen lining up undetected from above in the presidential suite. It is both a feeling and a memory that I will never ever forget: one of sheer and utter gratitude.
Thank you to all of my unparalleled vendors that made our wedding day beautiful, elegant, and most importantly, fun for all whom attended. Thanks to our wedding planner, Jeannie Savage, the day went by smoothly, neither Josh nor I had a care in the world, and I can honestly say we had the time of our life!! THANK YOU!! And thank you to each and everyone of our family and friends who chose to share their time with us on our biggest day. We love you!
Now it’s time to enjoy our life as husband and wife… with fantastic photographs from Ben Chrisman, a gorgeous ceremony painting by Rich Flynn (he finished it by 10PM!!), and an unbelievable video from Elysium productions to continue to remind us of our love, commitment, and our fabulous wedding day from this day forward!”
by Jennifer Grabiner
Elysium Productions: Stylish & Contemporary Wedding Video in Orange County and Beyond!
Vendors:
Event site: St. Regis, Monarch Beach
Wedding Planner: Jeannie Savage of Details Details
Florist, Dance Floor, and Event Decor: Christopher Aldama of Fiori Fresco Special Events
Michigan Based Consultant: Carolyn Hefner of the China Closet
Videographer: Elysium Productions
Photographer: Ben Chrisman
Reception Band: James Gang of West Coast Music
Cocktail Hour Band: Voodoo Lounge of West coast Music
Ceremony Music: Angelica Strings
Officiants: Pastor Duanne Wuggazer and Rabbi Arthur Rosenberg
Caterer: St. Regis Resort
Cake: St. Regis Pastry
Welcome Open “Suite” Caterer: Christopher Aldama of Fiori Fresco Special Events
Custom Linens: Wildflower Linens
Invitations, Save the Dates, Programs, Thank You Cards, and other Paper Goods: JoAnn of Cartoleria
Dash to the Altar T-shirts and Welcome Map Art (so cute!): Laura Hooper
Welcome Tote Bags: Diana Phillips of Artisan Chocolates
Lighting: Shine
Draping: The Finishing Touch Wedding Design
Painter: Rich Flynn
Silhouette Artist Favors: Karl Johnson of Cut Arts
Wedding Dress and Veil: Carolina Herrera from Ultimate Bride, Chicago, IL
Bridesmaid Dresses: Vera Wang
Tuxes: Friar Tux
Hair and Makeup: Vogue Salon
Beautifully touching wedding. I love the idea of the painting. What a wonderful momento to have of your beautiful day.