Halloween Inspiration

I'm so excited about putting together a Halloween party this year!  My mind has been overflowing with creative ideas!  Although I'm looking forward to the party as a whole, I'm most excited about doing a fabulous table spread of yummy desserts!

I found a few pics on the 'net that gave me just the right amount of inspiration that I needed:

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My creative wheels are spinning out of control now and I can't wait to see how it all comes together...and I promise to share the pics!

The Bride Wore What?!

Do you want to up the "wow-factor" on your big day? Maybe you should consider a bold, dramatic color for your wedding gown!  Traditionally, brides wore white to symbolize purity and joy, but in this day and age it's all about personalization.  Couples are looking to create a wedding that reflects their own unique, personal style.  By choosing a gown in a not-so-typical shade, the bride is sure to stand out and give guests something to talk about long after the "I do's".  Whether it's a color that has a special meaning (i.e the color you wore on your first date) or simply a shade you feel compliments you best, the key is choosing a gown that makes you feel your absolute best when you walk down that aisle.

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So, break all the rules and dare to be different in a colorful gown that has "you" written all over it!

Let the Groom Have His Cake (and Eat It Too)!!!

Trying to figure out how to incorporate your groom's style into the wedding? Why not surprise him with a groom's cake!

The grooms cake has long been a tradition of the south and is becoming an increasingly popular trend in other parts of the country.  It is usually given as a gift from the bride to the groom, and is the perfect way to showcase the groom's interests and hobbies. It is usually displayed next to the traditional wedding cake, then cut and boxed for guests to take home (makes an awesome wedding favor!).

Side note: As the story goes, single women are supposed to sleep with the slice of cake under their pillow so that they can dream of their future husband!

Here is a roundup of some creative groom's cakes:

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So, let your groom have his cake and eat it too (pun intended)!!!

"The Platinum Planner"

White by Vera Wang

Budget brides rejoice: Vera Wang is bringing her new collection to David's Bridal! The new collection,White by Vera Wang, will feature gowns affordably priced between $600-$1100, as well as bridesmaids dresses, headpieces and veils.

Here is a sneak peek of the collection:

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White by Vera Wang will hit David's Bridal stores in February 2011.

PTE Review: John's Incredible Pizza

We have a new feature on the Platinum Touch Events blog: Hot Spot Reviews!  In the upcoming months, I will be checking out some of the hottest, most talked about places in LA and blogging all the fabulous (and not-so-fabulous) details to help make your planning experience THAT much more simple.  From clubs, hotels, restaurants, etc., I will be checking them all out.  So, if you have a Hot Spot that you have been hearing about and would like to check out, please email me at nikola@aplatinumtouchevent.com.  You never know, your location just may end up on the blog!

The first Hot Spot that I had the pleasure to check out was John's Incredible Pizza.  Nestled in the heart of Orange County (Buena Park), this little gem is located near some of the OC's most popular attractions, including Knott's Berry Farm, Medieval Times, MovieLand Wax Museum, etc.  I had been hearing about this place all over the net, so I decided to grab my little ones and see what all the hype was about.  I loved the family atmosphere of this place, and my daughters had a blast! Check out a few pics of our outing:

The girls enjoyed trying out the rides...

...and the games (bowling was their favorite!)

They won plenty of tickets to redeem for prizes at the end.

At the end of the day I had two happy two-year olds on my hands!

John's Incredible Pizza is a great alternative to the standard Chuck-E-Cheese party.  Not only do they have great games, but they also have rides and bowling too! Their party packages are pretty reasonable, and I love the fact that they have separate party rooms that you can rent (not just a reserved table like most places).

If planning a HUGE party is not in the budget, but you would still like to show your children a good time on their next birthday, then consider John's Incredible Pizza!

On-Site Coordinator vs. Wedding Coordinator

As you begin your wedding planning journey, you are bound to run across a wide range of questions that you may have never considered.  One question that is sure to arise if you're having your wedding/reception at a venue that provides an on-site coordinator is: "What's the difference between a venue's on-site coordinator and a wedding coordinator?"  The simplest and short answer is: "An on-site coordinator works for the venue, while a wedding coordinator works for you!"

Since this is a first time experience for most brides and grooms, it would be a fair assumption that the venue's on-site coordinator will take care of everything related to the wedding.  However, that is not the case.  Now, don't get me wrong, I am NOT in any way bashing onsite coordinators or looking to take away from their overall importance.  In fact, I think they are an excellent help in making sure everything goes smoothly on the big day.  I just wanted to share the difference between the two roles so that there are no surprises if your venue coordinator says he/she will not, or cannot, perform a specific task for you.

An on-site coordinator will usually:

• Provide a list of preferred vendors that have previously worked at the venue
• Consult with you on food/beverage selections
• Create a floor plan for your ceremony/reception
• Detail your banquet event order
• Act as the liason between you and your wedding vendors
• Oversee ceremony/reception setup, food, etc. provided by the venue

A wedding coordinator's list of duties is far more extensive, and includes:

• Working with you during all planning stages of the wedding planning process
• Researching vendors that fit within your budget
• Scheduling and attending vendor appointments
• Negotiating contracts 
• Providing design and decor ideas
• Assisting with questions regarding proper etiquette
• Helping you stay within budget and creating a vendor payment schedule
• Creating a detailed timeline of the day for you, your bridal party, and vendors
• Confirming all vendors prior to the wedding day
• Arriving early to ensure timely and proper setup
• Providing an "emergency kit" in the case of unforeseen incidents
• Overseeing the event through its finality

When planning an event as big and special as a wedding, it would be ideal to have both an on-site coordinator AND a wedding planner.  The on-site coordinator is a wonderful asset to making sure all venue-related bases are covered, but make sure you have a wedding coordinator on your side to help make sure ALL bases are covered.  When these two professionals work together, your chances of  having a wonderfully orchestrated, stress-free event are doubled!

Don't Go It Alone: Hire a Wedding Planner!

The two largest purchases a person will probably make in their lifetime are a house and a car.  In many cases, paying for a wedding rounds out the top three (sometimes even coming in at number two!).  The average homebuyer will hire a real real estate agent to assist in the home buying process, while a person looking to buy a new car will seek the guidance of a car salesman.  Why not also hire a skilled professional when it comes to planning your wedding?  After all, this is the day most brides have dreamed of since they were little girls...and with so much money being spent on this special occasion, you wouldn't want to be so stressed from planning the wedding that you don't have time to enjoy it.  Forget about the myth floating around that wedding planners are only for the wealthy.  In this day and age, wedding planners are common and affordable to the everyday working-class professional.  Not convinced?  Well, here are just a few reasons why you shouldn't go it alone, and should consider hiring a wedding planner:

1. Peace of Mind - Planning a wedding can be a long and stressful process.  There are so many decisions to be made and so many little details to be considered.  With that being said, wouldn't you like to have peace of mind that everything has been taken care of, no stones are left unturned, and all you'll have to worry about is showing up, saying I do, and enjoying one of the most special days of your life?  A wedding planner can give you just that.  After all, your job is to be the bride, not the wedding planner!

2. Time - Did you know that the average wedding takes over 200 hours to plan?! Can you imagine researching vendors, scheduling appointments, doing follow-up phone calls, and keeping up with contracts all while handling you regular day-to-day obligations: work, school, family, etc?  When would you find time to sleep?!  An experienced wedding planner can save you countless hours by doing the legwork for you.  They know the best venues and the perfect vendors that can make your special day everything you imagined it to be.  Most likely, the planner has worked with the venue/vendor and can vouch for the quality of their service.  Can you imagine how much time you'll save by not having to run around all over town trying to narrow down your choices?!

3. Savings - If you've never planned a wedding before, chances are you're unfamiliar with the going rate of many of the products and services you'll need to obtain for your wedding.  A planner can help you avoid costly mistakes and shield you from the risk of being taken advantage of.  Not to mention, most planners are skilled in the art of negotiation and will go to bat for you to get the best rates on services.  Also, wedding planners often have access to deep discounts that are not always available to the general public.  If a planner provides continuous business to a vendor, it is not uncommon for the vendor to show their appreciation in the form of discounts that can be passed onto their clients.  In most cases, the wedding planner's fee more than pays for itself in terms of the amount of money you can save by hiring an experienced planner.

4. Problem Solving - Sure, you could ask a family member to be the go-to person on your big day, but think about it: your guests should be just that: guests! They are there to help celebrate your most joyous occasion.  Don't they deserve to sit back and enjoy the festivities?  Secondly, your wedding is one of the biggest investments you will make in your lifetime.  Would you want to run the risk of a serious problem arising that will put a damper on the entire day? An experienced planner will be able to think on their toes and solve problems without your knowledge that there is even a problem.  Knowledge and experience play a key role in solving last minute problems without panicking.  Also, a good planner will come equipped with a "Bridal Emergency Kit" in the event an unforeseen problem arises.

5. Guidance - There is a big misconception that hiring a wedding planner means you'll lose all control of your wedding.  That couldn't be further from the truth.  In fact, it is a wedding planner's job to advise you of the best options available to you, then carry out your wishes.  A good planner will be your go-to person for etiquette advice, wedding-related questions, and assistance with timelines.  In fact, wedding planners often wear several hats throughout the planning process, acting as your counselor, financial advisor, middleman, mediator, therapist...the list goes on and on!