Engagement Session: Tatiana & Ryan

All photos courtesy of Barnet Photography

I am so excited for the opportunity to be a part of Tatiana & Ryan's wedding! Tatiana & I are former co-workers. Back in the day, we would share stories of our wedding dreams and aspirations, and gush over the latest episodes of Who's Wedding is it Anyway? and Platinum Weddings! Then I got a text message late, late one night (it had to be after 1am!) with the wonderful news: her sweetie had proposed and she was gonna be a Mrs!

When Tatiana asked me to be her Day-of coordinator I was thrilled. Not only because I love, love, love weddings, but because she believed in and put her trust in me to take care of them on their special day. You see, Tatiana was there when Platinum Touch Events was just a dream. I would confide in her my love of all things weddings and share with her my desire to one day start my own wedding/event planning business.

So, thank you Tatiana and Ryan for letting me be a part of your special day! Rest assured that I plan on giving your wedding an extra special "Platinum Touch!"

Check out their wonderful engagement photos, courtesy of Barnet Photography:

Aren't they the cutest?! Counting down the days!

Nikola

Real Wedding: Candy & Josh

Everyone knows I love a good challenge. So during our first meeting, when Josh and Candy uttered the statement "if you can handle this wedding, you can handle anything", I instantly took them up on the challenge. They were planning an intimate (75 guests), yet over the top affair (Beverly Hills ceremony, city tour of LA, Pasadena reception) that was sure to be on everyone's lips for years to come.

Then came another revelation: this would be a vegan wedding...and the couple was on a mission (check out the story of how it all began here).

Check out these photos of the couple's special day, courtesy of Toki Cavener Photography:

The DIY couple hand-made these pretty pomanders...

Simple, yet elegant ceremony decor...

There wasn't a dry eye in the place as the handsome couple made their way down the aisle...

Immediately after the ceremony, guests were whisked away to a private area to enjoy food and refreshments...

And to enjoy the smooth melodic jazz duo Beauty & the Bass

The reception was a red-carpet affair...

Guests enjoyed their moments of "fame" as they were photographed on the red carpet...

Inside, guests were treated to a delicious spread of appetizers...

Josh and Candy were all smiles as they made their grand entrance...

An AMAZING 6-course vegan meal...absolutely delicious!

And yummy vegan cupcakes! (Unfortunately I didn't get a pic of the vegan cheesecake provided by the bride's Vegan dessert company Earth Cafe)

One of the highlights of the evening: Bellydancers!

The super-talented bride even performed a routine with them!

The reception decor was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

The 6ft Manzanita tree centerpieces were a hit!

The sweetheart table...

As the reception came to an end, guests were presented with their red-carpet photo as a keepsake favor.

I was very grateful to be a part of such a fabulous event and was extremely proud of how things came together. Thanks Candy & Josh for letting PTE give your wedding a "platinum touch".

Nikola

Venue Spotlight: Castle Green

Photo courtesy Castle Green website

When I first started my wedding/event planning business, I had the opportunity to coordinate a wedding reception at the historical Castle Green in Pasadena. It was an "Old-Hollywood/Red Carpet" themed wedding, and this unique landmark was the perfect setting! Check out some of the magnificent images capture by the amazing photographer Toki Cavener:

What a welcoming entrance to the grand lobby:

Most of the sitting rooms contain their original furniture and beautiful fireplaces:

Another sitting room that emanates that "old-hollywood" charm:

The breathtaking grand lobby with it's mosaic tile floors and marble staircase:

The perfect setting for an elegant affair:

The venue is on the pricey side, but for photos like these it will definitely be money well spent! A bit of caution: check with the venue regarding Pasadena's fire/candle laws. Who knew it was illegal to use real candles without obtaining a permit?! If tea lights aren't your thing, you might want to rethink your options! Nevertheless, I would give Castle Green a thumbs up simply for the ambience.

Stay tuned for photos and a post on the fantabulous wedding I was fortunate to be a part of for a very special couple: Candida & Josh!

Engagement Shoot-Out

Earlier this week, I came across a FABULOUS photographer by the name of Jen O'Sullivan. She is the owner of a boutique wedding photography business based out of Beverly Hills, CA.

Next month, Jen is hosting an AMAZING charity event called the Engagement Shoot-Out. This is a once in a lifetime chance to get some great photography of you and your fiance from multiple wedding photographers...and it's absolutely FREE!!!

Here is the scoop:

When: Thursday, April 22nd from 2:30-7:30pm

Where: The Sunset Restaurant in Malibu

What: Get photographed at no cost with some extraordinary photographers (up to 6 shooters will work with you for 15 minutes each.)

You Get: All your files from each photographer at no cost! A donation of any size to LETMESAIL will be encouraged. http://www.letmesail.org

The Catch: There is none! You get to test drive some really great shooters BEFORE you hire one with no strings attached.

Rules:
Please RSVP to me no later than April 14th via email.
You must be engaged to be married with an actual date set
You cannot have a photographer already booked for your wedding.
There is limited space so please get your RSVP in soon to jen@jenosullivan.com

Check out some of Jen's work:

All photos courtesy of Jen O' Sullivan

For more info on Jen O' Sullivan Photography and the Engagement Shoot-Out, click here.

Making It Legal: CA Marriage License Requirements

Planning your wedding day will probably be the most fun and memorable experiences of your life (especially if you have a fabulous wedding coordinator to guide you through the process)! You get to shop for pretty dresses and nice tuxedos, sample amazing food and yummy wedding cake, look at tons of awesome photos and beautiful flowers, and when it's all over, you get to take an exciting trip to the destination of your dreams! But perhaps the most important task to be taken care of throughout this whole process is obtaining your marriage license. It is, after all, the key to making your union legal.

Each state has specific guidelines, fees and requirements in place for obtaining the legal document. Below, I have outlined all the information you will need when obtaining your marriage license in Los Angeles County:

How to Obtain a Marriage License

• To obtain a marriage license, which is valid for 90 days, by law both parties must appear together to complete the application and pay the required fee, which is $90 for a public license and $85 for a confidential license. Payments can be made in cash or by check or money order made payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk or RRCC. If paying by check, valid identification i.e. driver's license of the signer is required and must be presented at time of request.
• Both parties must be present together and produce "Proof of Identity" and age documents, such as a driver's license, passport or alien resident card. Photo and age verification is mandatory. A birth certificate or baptismal record may be presented along with a picture form identification. All documents must be in English. Documents in any other language must be submitted with an English translation by a certified translator. Documents that have expired will not be accepted.
• A blood test and health certificate are not required to obtain a marriage license.
• There is no residence or citizenship status requirement.
• Parties must be unmarried. A previous marriage is valid until the final date of dissolution. Written proof of a divorce or the dissolution of a previous marriage is required, if the event occurred within the last two years or less. If the final dissolution was more than two years, written proof may not be required, but the date of the final dissolution must be provided at the same time the license is requested.
• Parties who have entered into a State Register Domestic Partnership must provide proof of termination, if the termination occurred within the last two years or less. If the termination was more than two years, written proof may not be required, but the date of the termination must be provided at the same time the license is requested.
• Parties marrying the same partner, who each entered into a State Register Domestic Partnership must present a copy of the Declaration of Domestic Partnership.
• Parties living together as spouses who meet the required conditions may request a confidential marriage license that must be used in Los Angeles County.
• Proxy marriages (when someone stands in for the absent party) are not legal.
• The marriage license is usually processed in one hour after submitting the application. However, the waiting time will vary depending on the client volume at the location where you are requesting your license.

If you need additional information, you should contact your local county recorder's office.

Source

A Hair Affair - Wedding Hairstyles for the Modern Bride

Every woman on the planet has experienced the dreadful "bad hair day"...you know, one of those days where you wish you could just throw a paper bag over your head and hope no one notices. The last thing you would want on your wedding day is to relive that horrible memory! Not to worry, because today's bride has a variety of options and styles available when it comes to their wedding day mane. Whether you want a classic up-do, long flowing tresses, a sophisticated and sleek ponytail, or a combination of all three, the possibilities are endless when trying to decide on a style that is sure to land you on the "best-tressed" list.

Here are a few of the looks I adore...

Sexy & Sassy Up-Do's

The Classic Ponytail

My personal fave: Long, Curly Tresses

Half Up-Do's

All photos courtesy of Brides.com and Theknot.com