Balboa Bay Resort Wedding
I don’t often post pics of the bridal bouquet but this one was colorful and so different to most I see, I couldn’t help myself. Beautiful florals by Flowers by Cina xoxox
So gardeny, Soy’s vision brought to life!!
I love a glass base to a cake and florals amass under
Floral reuse – from the arch to the sweetheart table, works fabulously right?? The cake design was very special, Suzanne took their invite and put key elements on to the cake and if you look carefully you will see a 3rd wee item which is for their wee boy! So sweet.
Yes we did, As a nod to their culture plus she liked the idea, a RED dancefloor!! Looked awesome later when she had her red dress on.
the tiffany blue was her pop, cake and napkins. A pretty view from the sheart table
Pics above are all mine so sorry for them not being the best.
Till next time
Lisa
http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com
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714 305 7112
lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com
Add a comment June 11, 2017
Tags: balboa bay club wedding, balboa bay club weddings, balboa bay resort preferred wedding planner, balboa bay resort wedding, balboa bay resort wedding planner, newport beach wedding, newport beach wedding planner, Newport coast wedding, oc beach wedding planner, OC wedding, Oc wedding co-ordinator, OC wedding planner, Ocean backdrop ceremony, ocean view wedding, ocean wedding, orange county ca wedding planner, Orange County wedding, Orange county wedding planner, orange county wedding planners, wedding, wedding at balboa bay club, wedding at balboa bay resort, Wedding co-ordinator, wedding planner, weddings, weddings at balboa bay club
Island Hotel client appreciation event 2016
I don’t do none wedding events very often. I have done some parties for past couples and last year I was asked if I could do the Island Hotel’s client event. they were expecting around 400 guests (think on the night it ended up being closer to 500) and the original theme was glitz/glam and I was to take it from there. A couple of weeks into my getting a plan going/pulling the vendor team together the theme became ‘speakeasy’. Hmmm, what to do what to do.
Well the pics here show what we did……… on arrival at valet guests were asked for a password that the GM had email blasted to all attendees about 30 mins pre start time, then they were sent in the direction of the location but there was no signage, only a symbol that was connected to the password at the reader board outside a door by the ballroom. When they opened that door and most did it not sure if they were supposed to, they saw a dark tunnel that looked like an alley with the neon sign at the end pointing them to the next area where registration was. Standing in the dark alley was a security guy who asked the password, normally startling the guest!!
I didn’t even think about it, so didn’t have a professional bring a camera, so these pics are all from my iPhone and don’t do the look any justice. It was really dark and lots of candles. So as a speakeasy was all about prohibition/drinking something illegal in dark corners, we had a double luge for whiskey drinks, black bars, the ballroom was draped in black by the hotel av department who did an awesome job, we created some booths/cabanas on one side, and they did the amber uplighting I needed. Lots of black furniture sitting areas, low and high cocktail tables with black chairs and they entered the room through a mass of candles right onto a black dancefloor that went all the way to the black stage where our awesome band, Full Spectrum who for the first couple of hours played jazzy music, then went into dance mode and got that dancefloor full. Frank Salas had a photobooth with props that were ‘in theme’ and was very popular.
The furniture came from Signature Party rentals, TMMPRO did the dancefloor and black chiavaris for me, Found had the items I needed to create the mood/alleyway and their delivery guys are really fabulous. Karla and the EBD team lit many many candles and had really great pieces on all the cocktail tables all over the room, no flowers!!
Kim of the Sugar Philosophers did a wonderful candy/dessert station that as always was beautiful and elegant to look at. The hotel had fabulous food stations, no one left needing to go and get food that is for sure, and at the exit the guests got to take a split of Prosecco, just to prove prohibition is something we don’t have to deal with, lol.
The GM of the hotel said guests were telling him it was their best party ever, so that was awesome to hear. Thanks to everyone at Island Hotel for helping me make that happen, it was a pleasure!!!
Till next time
Lisa
http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com
lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com
714 305 7112
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Add a comment June 6, 2017
Tags: Island Hotel, newport beach hotel, newport beach wedding planner, OC wedding planner, Orange county wedding planner
Move inside, it’s rainy/cold, oh no!!
This is just a wee blog to say, if you are worried about rain and sometimes it should just be about it may be really cold/uncomfortable for your guests, then plan on an indoor wedding where you can control the environment and then you won’t be stressed if on the day you have to move in and the look is not what you had envisioned. If you start to feel a few days ahead its not going to be as planned then you can get a tent ordered to keep the same spot/view but of course that may be cost that you were not prepared or willing to pay for. But if you are planning on an outdoor ceremony and mother nature is not co-operating then be okay with the fact that there will be a location to move inside to at your venue, and things happen for a reason (sometimes it takes a long time to work out what, lol).
The picture above, this was an intimate wedding for 25, they had come from Russia and all over the USA, the pacific ocean and the venue was the reason they came. We moved the arch inside, we circled the chairs around, through the windows you could see the sky and we dimmed the chandelier which gave a lovely romantic feel. My crappy pic doesn’t do it justice but the guests were comfortable, the bride was not wet or shivering through her ceremony, and then got to go and have pics around the property.
I have moved weddings to overhangs with courtyards as backdrops, rooms with ocean views and we opened the doors as the backdrop, and four walled rooms that weren’t great but by bringing the lights down/adding candles were able to give a more romantic feel ceremony than would have happened outside. For a couple where we knew they were longer ceremonies and we were going to be outside for long length of time which even if it was not going to be raining would be very uncomfortable for the guests and they would probably get up and move inside anyway, we made the decision a few days ahead to move ceremony inside and paid to have draping done in the ballroom section we were able to use, the florist tweaked the vision to match being inside now/adjusted things, and they have turned out beautiful and not a whole lot of extra cost.
Till next time
Lisa
714 305 7112
lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com
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Add a comment May 28, 2017
Tags: lisa simpson wedding, lisa simpson wedding celebrations, lisa simpson wedding co-ordinator, lisa simpson wedding coordinator, lisa simpson wedding planner, lisa simpson wedding planning, lisa simpson weddings, OC wedding, Oc wedding co-ordinator, OC wedding planner, Ocean backdrop ceremony, ocean view wedding, orange county ca wedding planner, Orange County wedding, Orange county wedding planner, orange county wedding planners
Barbados wedding or honeymoon
I have actually been a certified Sandals specialist for the past 12 years and have sent many couples to the resorts in the Caribbean on their honeymoon. On my recent trips I noticed a huge change, many more couples on vacation-young to older, groups of couples travelling together, and adult family groups staying. So its time to open it up to everyone, let me take you there for whatever your reason is, vacation, wedding, honeymoon.
Here’s a couple of great options for a Barbados wedding. These pics are the current Sandals Resort ( 2nd one is coming). Above a lovely space for an intimate wedding dinner celebration if you have a group of people that come with you, and the other pics are maybe my fave accommodations at the resorts, the walk out into the pool rooms.
View from the swim out room and looking at the patio area, love love love
Its not a wedding setup, but the chandeliers in this intimate room for an indoor wedding reception where you can have dancing until late, and air conditioning, are quite lovely. The cake pop picture is actually the cake tasting plate all couples get to enjoy/make their wedding cake decisions from
A ceremony setup on the beach and a view a bit further down the beach as the sun was setting.
I loved the coloring of these cabanas and could imagine a good photographer getting some great pics of a B&G in these.
Here is another resort I have stayed at in Barbados, the Crane. I love love it, on the east side of the island past the airport. So grand and very English looking/feeling to me. Its on a bluff so very high up giving great views. The pool above is actually a Jacuzzi with awesome views
Some of the accommodations and another pool area
One of the top beaches in the world. The sand is just beautiful and the building above is a really lovely restaurant with views that amaze
A banquet room with views and a stage that rumor has it a very famous rocker has one of his homes down the hill and his band came over and had a session on it one night!!!
That elevator is how you get down to the beach if you are lazy like me!!
View of the beach by the elevator from above. Suite style accommodation for very reasonable pricing
The high quality balcony furniture, I may have had a nap out there they were so comfy. Apparantly Mick Jagger had been there not long before us and had accommodation like ours but on the lower level where they had their own good size pool!! I would have never left my room waiting to get a glimpse, lol
Living area and bedroom, bed was soooo comfy
Yes that bath got used by me and it was great. The walkway for the upper floor in the area we stayed, very tropical and lovely, no boring hotel hallway here.
The restaurants and food at both resorts are fabulous, amenities high quality/service excellent. Sandals is all inclusive so that becomes hard to beat, but maybe you can be like me and experience both!!
Let me take you to Barbados for your weddingmoon for just the two of you, or an intimate group or a large group. Or if thinking honeymoon or just a vacation because you deserve it, you will love the Sandals Resort, and a new one is opening in December.
Till next time
Lisa
http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com
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714 305 7112
lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com
Add a comment May 20, 2017
Tags: barbados destination wedding, barbados honeymoon, barbados vacation, barbados wedding, caribbean honeymoon, caribbean vacation, caribbean wedding, certified sandals specialist, destination wedding, destination wedding caribbean, destination wedding in barbados, destination wedding planner, destination wedding to barbados, Destination Weddings, honeymoon, honeymoon in the caribbean, let me take you there, same price to have me help as direct with sandals, same pricing as direct with sandals, same pricing as sandals, sandals expert, sandals honeymoon in barbados, sandals resort in barbados, sandals resorts, sandals specialist, sandals specialist for 12 years, sandals vacation in barbados, sandals wedding in barbados, vacation
Sometimes you don’t need rentals!
Sometimes the items the hotel provides work with a brides colors and feel, and this short blog is just to show how this one did. For this wedding at Ritz-Carlton Laguna, the brides colors were blue and the feeling was oceany. Could we have done rentals yes but the new carpet in her banquet room worked with the look/feel/colors and the hotels ivory linens/napkins, blue/green banquet chairs (which they preferred from a comfort level) and the RC charger with the blue worked perfectly, along with the blue water in all the vases and white florals done by Karen’s Flowers. We added blue lighting to frame it all, and it really turned out very pretty.
Till next time
Lisa
lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com
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714 395 7112
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Add a comment May 17, 2017
Tags: lisa simpson wedding, lisa simpson wedding co-ordinator, lisa simpson wedding planner, lisa simpson weddings, oc beach wedding planner, OC wedding, Oc wedding co-ordinator, OC wedding planner, Ocean backdrop ceremony, ocean view wedding, ocean view wedding ritz carlton laguna, ocean wedding, Ritz Carlton Dana Point weddings, Ritz Carlton Laguna ceremony, ritz carlton laguna niguel weddings, ritz carlton laguna plaza room wedding, ritz carlton laguna wedding, Ritz Carlton Laguna Wedding Receptions, Ritz Carlton Laguna weddings, ritz carlton wedding, Ritz Laguna wedding planner, Ritz Laguna weddings, Ritz-Carlton weddings
St Lucia honeymoon, vacation or even Destination wedding
I have been a certified Sandals Specialist since 2005 and have sent many honeymooners to the all inclusive Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean. I have been to nearly all of the resorts but in the past year there have been a lot of upgrades to a lot of them, so I headed out and checked up on 8 of the resorts in Jamaica, St Lucia and Barbados, over the past 8 months. It was great seeing the upgrades but I saw a change in the dynamics of the guests at the resorts. Lots of older couples on vacation, lots of couple groups on vacation, younger couples on vacation alone and of course honeymooners, but such a great diversity now that I can really say the Sandals Resorts are for everyone, so let me take you there no matter who you are, we all need a vacation.
The pics on this post are from ST Lucia, where there are 3 resorts and you stay and get to play at all 3, dine at the restaurants at all 3 and enjoy the amenities at all 3. But the pics on this post are all from the Grande St Lucian Resort.
All inclusive, food/beverage, the resorts water sports, snorkeling and diving if you are a diver, yes all included. Butler to take care of you or not, a variety of accommodations that means you will find something that matches your priorities and when you consider everything that is included, such really good value, and the quality and level of service is hard to beat in the Caribbean.
Let me take you there, whatever your reason.
Lisa
714 305 7112
lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com
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Add a comment May 10, 2017
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Another fabulous Island Hotel wedding
I loved these two, we spent many months planning and had a couple of meetings that turned into dinner and ‘date’ night, lol. Tammy always knew the look/feel she wanted and it all turned out beautifully. In fact when I did room view with her, she cried before she even saw it, she was so excited.
These two pics depict the beginning of the event, and how it ended!! lol they were the only people left in the ballroom with me, they were tired but Miss Tammy did not want it to end so she lay down in a form of protest that if she was lying down she wouldn’t have to leave, our groom went down too, and they wanted me to but I said I had to take the picture, lol. Love them xoxoxoxox
Till next time
Lisa
http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com
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714 305 7112
lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com
Add a comment April 29, 2017
Tags: island hotel newport beach wedding, island hotel wedding, island hotel wedding planner, newport beach wedding, newport beach wedding planner, Newport coast wedding, wedding at island hotel, wedding planner for island hotel
Park Hyatt Aviara wedding
So pleased I got my pals at Square Root to come on board with this one, vendor relationships are so important and that can not be forgotton or misunderstood. I knew they were the only vendor that could pull off the vision and do it for the budget we had which was not grand.
A very modern look and lots of detail
Sorry for the loopy pics, but they were taken by me as I didn’t want to wait for the photographers, lol
When I first mentioned ice martini luge it was okayed, but it turned out even more fabulous than I was expecting it to be, thanks to my friends over at Carving Ice, guests loved it and had their pics taken with it, which happens a lot, and then there was the hanging cake…….. I have never seen an executive pastry chef at a hotel put so much heart and pride into a cake, and the hotel was quite excited, it was their first hanging cake, love to be a first anywhere, lol!!
On the floral sample meeting day which was done through facetime as our bride could not be in town, I started thinking about the placecard table and where we would have had a great display I got a little crazy and it turned out fabulous, thank goodness our B&G went along with a lot of my inspirations or sudden thoughts on what we could do here and there, and even better, later that night the placecard table turned into our fabulous candy station for guests to take on their way out. The Sugar Philosophers did an awesome job and also provided all the custom signs/water bottles and bags (the bags also got used for the donut station which was making lovely hot donuts right there!!)
Draping, dancefloor and decal (which was their initials quite large in gold), lighting, plus the chiavaris we used at the ceremony site were all done by TMMPRO, love working with Jack and his team xoxoxo
You may have noticed, different table shapes and chairs, the family and bridal party tables were white and gold curved tables and had florals above and on the table along with hanging orbs with flowers in them and we got lovely white and gold chairs to go with that look. For the round tables, a variety of centerpieces but all complimenting each other and beautiful white linens along with the hottest wedding rental chair right now which we got through Chiavari Chair Rentals/Steven and he also had a fabulous new charger that we used and I have used a couple of times since now also, its so pretty.
Lots of special components involved, we had strings for the cere, but not a normal quartet I had to do quite a bit of hunting and found a trio that could get an electric violinist to play with them, and it was fabulous. We had Peter/Vive ent as our dj mcee (and he kept the dancefloor full to where we extended for nearly 2 hours, and it was daylight saving night so when we ended and got in our cars it was saying 3am instead of 2am, lol, but there were some relatives of the groom’s that have a band in Nashville and the groom really wanted them to play a bit, they obliged, groom told me they were good, but they were really good, kind of In sinc style and songs, soooo good, they did the first dance song, mother/son song and also a dedication to the B&G where everyone just sat in their chairs and watched/listened, a really nice touch, kudos to The Katina’s.
Design Visage did the prettying up (not that these girls needed a bit of it) and we kept one of the artists on through the end of the main events for touchups, which is always nice if there is going to be a gown change or you just want to change to a more party style look than wedding style with your hair and or makeup.
Frank Salas has got a new venture in addition to his photography, a photobooth which is hooked up to all social media etc, as he was not booked for photography on this night he was very kind and came and operated the booth which had an awesome backdrop that our bride was really into, hedging with a neon sign, and we had a beautiful sitting area which we ended up moving to the side because it was taking up room and too many people wanted to have group shots infront of the cool backdrop, but never fear, it was used by folks to sit in while waiting for their turn!! Waste not I say.
You can check Hoo Films out, google them, they did a great video overview of this day/event which turned out great.
Thanks to the fab folks at Park Hyatt Aviara, they rolled with the weird situations we had due to careers getting in the way of wedding planning (lol) and went over and above in absolutely every aspect of this event. Looking very forward to my next one there.
Till next time
Lisa
http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com
lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com
714 305 7112
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Add a comment April 22, 2017
Tags: carving ice, chiavari chair rentals/steven, Design Visage, design visage hair and makeup, design visage wedding hair and makeup, frank salas photobooth, Frank Salas Photography, hoo films, hoo films video, kim white candy stations, Park Hyatt Aviara weddings, peter dj vive entertainment, Peter Papadopolous dj, peter vive entertainment dj, square root designs, square root florist, subito strings, the katinas, the sugar philosopher kim white, the sugar philosophers, tmmpro, tmmpro dancefloors, videographer hoo films, wedding dj peter papadopolous
Island Hotel fabulous ceremony & reception – Newport Beach
For nearly a year I had the pleasure of helping Danielle and her mom (her stepmom really but you would not know it, what a wonderful relationship they have and even dad made mention of it during his toast) and Dad pull together what I had no doubt was going to be a beautiful and fun celebration.
I had done wedding ceremonies at Island Hotel at their old ceremony area which is no longer there, but not done any at their only outdoor area for ceremonies the Cabana Patio, so this was my first and it turned out beautifully.
The cake picture does not do it any justice, but that cake was beautiful, the pastry chef at Island Hotel really puts his heart into every cake, love him.
From the beginning the colors were black and white and we went all the way, black linens/napkins (from Luxe Linens), chairs and dancefloor and with the off white draping we added around the room (by TMMPRO who also did the lighting, we stuck with amber to allow the candle light from the tables to stand out more) the florals were able to stand out. Beautiful job with the ceremony floral, draping and chandeliers by Flowers by Cina and in the ballroom too, lots of glass and candles, it was fabulous.
The pics above and below are a mix of mine and Jacqueline Kay Photography, love working with them. Thanks to Design Visage for keeping everyone on time, unlike a couple of weddings I did after this one who did not use them and put everything behind so brides ended up with very little of the photography they may have gone in hoping to get. We had Naples Strings for the ceremony and they moved to cocktails, so easy to work with, and to the team at Island with Deanna at the helm, we are lucky enough right now to be there once a month, and love being there, the banquet captains are fab and the hotel has such a great feel and because they don’t have a lot of ballroom space its like being at an exclusive/one wedding a day only venue/hotel, but not paying for it.
Wayne Foster Band did the mceeing and music, I LOED their grand piano that they brought in and put on the stage which is a feat in itself, not many bands do that, but let me add that it was covered in crystals, beautiful.
Then my new fave vendor from 2016, The Sugar Philosophers, Kim does a beautiful job, very elegant displays, our bride wanted this one colorful and it was. This table was the placecard table earlier, I love reusing that table.
Till next time
Lisa
http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com
lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com
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714 305 7112
Add a comment April 14, 2017
Tags: Design Visage, design visage wedding hair and makeup, flowers by cina, flowers by cina wedding florist, island hotel newport beach wedding, island hotel wedding, jacqueline kay photography, lisa simpson wedding, lisa simpson wedding celebrations, lisa simpson wedding co-ordinator, lisa simpson wedding planner, lisa simpson wedding planning, lisa simpson weddings, luxe linens, naples chamber ensemble, Naples chamber ensembles, naples chamber music, naples strings, naples strings for weddings, newport beach wedding, newport beach wedding planner, Newport coast wedding, OC wedding, Oc wedding co-ordinator, OC wedding planner, orange county ca wedding planner, Orange County wedding, Orange county wedding planner, orange county wedding planners, tmmpro, tmmpro dancefloors, wayne foster band, wayne foster wedding band, wedding, wedding band, Wedding co-ordinator, wedding planner, wedding planner oc ca, wedding planner orange county, wedding planner s ca, weddings
Older couple elegant wedding celebration
This wedding was wonderful. An older couple who had found each other and wanted to celebrate with their family and friends, and this was one celebration where you could feel the love and genuine want for them to be happy/enjoy life together. It was a January wedding and the ceremony was planned for indoors from the beginning, so there was never a worry about the wedding or it being too dark/cold outside.
Thanks to Karla at Elegant by Design for really listening and making the bride so happy, she was not really wanting many florals, so the perfect mix was created giving a very elegant/romantic feel, along with the full room draping we did and the round glossy/seamless dancefloor which was more full than I normally see, now whether that is because this group loves to dance, or the fact that my fave band, Full Spectrum with Adam Jackson, was playing, hmmmm not sure but could have been both!! Thanks to the team at Island Hotel for being so wonderful to work with, this year we look like we are going to be there once a month. xoxoxox
Till next time
Lisa
http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com
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714 305 7112
lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com
Add a comment April 8, 2017
Tags: elegant by design florist, florist elegant by design, full spectrum band, full spectrum wedding band, island hotel newport beach wedding, island hotel wedding, karla at elegant by design, la band full spectrum, lisa simpson wedding, lisa simpson wedding celebrations, lisa simpson wedding co-ordinator, lisa simpson wedding coordinator, lisa simpson wedding coordintor, lisa simpson wedding planner, lisa simpson wedding planning, lisa simpson weddings, newport beach wedding, newport beach wedding planner, Newport coast wedding, OC wedding, Oc wedding co-ordinator, OC wedding planner, orange county ca wedding planner, Orange county wedding planner, orange county wedding planners, wedding, wedding band full spectrum, Wedding co-ordinator, wedding planner, weddings
