Pelican Hill Resort, Intimate Indian Wedding

Yi yi yi. March last year as we started to pull at the final touches to this couples wedding, they said to me, are we going to be ok on our date? I said to them, oh this stay at home we are going into in 4 days will be done in 2-3 weeks and you will be fine. Little did we know eh, a year later nearly in March and I am getting those questions now for 2021 brides that already moved 1-2 times!!

So as we know it wasn’t ok, this couple moved their date two times in 2020, and then their hotel closed on them (still not open) and all monies were refunded. We are just going to the courthouse the groom said to me. I said, take a couple of days and think it over, it is your wedding day and whatever is done will be that memory, you have vendors that are paid we can look at other options. It won’t be your large Indian traditional celebration, but we can make it special/memorable. Well kudos to us/them for taking that time and for the Universe looking after them, we got to do their very intimate ceremony with the traditional mandap/Priest at one of the most beautiful prestigious wedding venues in the OC. Beautiful. And as the groom said to me at the end as they were leaving, this may just have turned out better and more meaningful/special than the original plan. Yes Nikhil yes, i believe it totally did.

Thanks to Kismit Designs for the floral/decor.

Goodnight till next time

Lisa

http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com

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714 305 7112

lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com

Add a comment February 16, 2021
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Sandals & Beaches Resorts/Caribbean

       

If the previous posts have not been enough, maybe seeing a mix of the variety of offerings for weddings, honeymoons, vacations at the Resorts through to the food/entertainment/setups, wonderful oceans/pools at all, maybe seeing a bunch of pics together will help.  Love to get you there.  I have been a Certified Sandals Specialist for 15 years, have been to all the resorts multi times, it’s the same fee to book with me as to book direct with Sandals, but you get my ‘personal’ service, for honeymoons/vacations, and if wanting to do a Destination Wedding i can help with all the planning AND be there to keep things smooth/stress free for you at the Resort for just the cost of my accommodation for 5 nights.  Let’s do it, right now everyone needs a safe getaway and warmth, and for some of you you just want to get married, and you can, whether just the two of you (free wedding with a minimum 3 night stay) or a small or large group going with you to celebrate ( you can do your wedding at Beaches/family resorts if some of the guests or you have children attending, then honeymoon at a Sandals or if all adults and some are staying at other resorts you can pay for them to attend your wedding at Sandals).  Antigua, Bahamas/Nassau+Exuma, Barbadoa, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, Turks & Caicos/Beaches family or couples resorts, and coming soon, the beautiful islands of St Vincent & the Grenadines, and Curacao, all of which i have also been to (not Sandals/Beaches obviously, lol).

Till next time

Lisa

714 305 7112

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Add a comment February 15, 2021
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Hyatt HB Social distanced weddings

Well as we started to have couples wanting to have their weddings and adjusting them according to the mandates that may or may not have been happening or been clear, each hotel created perimeters/changed them as we went along and still are. What you see above if how Hyatt HB did things. No more than 6 (it’s now 4) at a table unless from the same household, stickers on dancefloor to encourage socially distanced dancing (no dancing except protocol dances right now) and after this wedding the cakes had to be no more than 2 tier to fit under an acrylic box that was made to keep the cake safe, because it was real cake. For the ceremony the chairs are spaced out in couples or singles and for most of the smaller weddings, 20 or less, each seat actually had a name on it so everyone knew where they were to be.

This wedding was for Rick and Evelyn, a fun couple who rolled with the punches for their July wedding, the last punch being me breaking my leg a week prior and being unable to get around in time for their wedding. I missed being there with them as they had mariachis for cocktail time (which i love hearing), but again, Nicole and Brittany made it happen and all went as planned and everyone was happy, and a great celebration was had.

Thanks to the vendor team on board for this one: Kevin Reeder/florist, Jeffrey Holmes/officiant, Duane Peck/photographer, Katella Bakery (I missed seeing my lovely cake delivety man) and of course to our team at the Hyatt Hb, can’t do anything without you and thanks for keeping everyone safe!!!!

Till next time

Lisa

http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com

lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com

714 305 7112

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Add a comment February 13, 2021
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Don’t worry, be happy

And here at Rick’s Place/very famous, just a boat or taxi ride from Sandals Negril, you can do that!!

I had long wanted to go as i had seen Rick’s place on travel shows, and the music/bands, people jumping off cliffs just seemed like a good time, and it was!! So for all my travellers to Negril, we make sure they get there.

Pre and post your trip to Rick’s place though, you get to enjoy the calm/serenity and beauty of Sandals Negril.  A lovely resort that doesn’t feel large, sits on the best beach in Jamaica, in Negril, great food and views!!

I was there just after these swim up rooms had opened and this was where i spent my time

Unless i was at the other end of the resort enjoying a gorgeous sunset dinner.

Let’s get you here for your honeymoon, vacation, or how about a destination wedding.

Same price with me as going direct with Sandals, no fee for my service!!  I have been a Certified Sandals Specialist for 15 years and have been to the resorts multi times, so you are in great hands with me!!

Till next time

Lisa

http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com

lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com

insta    lisasimpsonweddings

714 305 7112

Add a comment January 25, 2021
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From Hawaii to OC due to Covid

This wedding makes me happy and sad at the same time. Happy because they are the cutest couple ever, and the second wedding I have done for the groom’s family who, small world, was marrying a sweet bride that happens to work at a hotel i work at all the time, and she had heard of me, but it was the groom’s mom who reached out and said, time for the next wedding, but fate brought us all together anyway. love it, Sad reason #1, there is only 2 children in the family and i did both their weddings, so now have to wait for friends and relatives, but i love that family!!
These 2 pics are from an iphone not the photographer because i could not see these exact looks i wanted in her pics so i got them from one of our assistants.

Sad reason #2: We were supposed to be doing the wedding at the Ritz-Carlton Maui, we had all gone over and scoped the space/all outdoors with ocean backdrop, they had done a tasting, and we were all really looking forward to it, plus i could add another Ritz-Carlton in the world to my resume!!

But as things work out, even though we really held off as long as we could, wedding was July 20, and as long as Hawaii was not going to make everyone quarantine as of June 1, we were still all going, well last week of May the Governor of Hawaii extended the quarantine until end of July/August, and as I am typing this in 2021 I can report he kept it in place until Oct 15 where if travelling after that and providing a negative covid test from their providers you did not have to quarantine, so we did the right thing by 1st week of June realising we needed to find a venue here in S CA. First plan was something with a Hawaiian vibe, so we found one in San Diego, liked it, but they had a lot of what seemed to be excessive rules due to covid, again, now we are in 2021 and look back, their rules were smart!! So not working for us, mom found a hotel venue in the OC that i was never really feeling was right for this wedding and after she had signed the contract the hotel came back with new rules that were definately not working for the couple, so we ended up at the hotel i had suggested from the getgo because i knew we could make it exciting/different and could kind of make not doing it in Hawaii aok. The Waterfront Beach Resort in Huntington Beach. Yes. We did the ceremony with the ocean/palm tree backdrop, did cocktails with that same view, and dinner/same view with a lovely water feature backdrop to our royal table. Then to suprise everyone, after dinner, the B&G lead the guests up the elevators to the rooftop bar/lounge area where we had dancing/socialising with 180 degree awesome views of the Pacific from Long Beach to Laguna. What were guests saying?? Are you kidding me?? amazzzzzing. Wow. Awesome.

Sad reason #3, the day before i broke my leg and was still in hospital when this wedding was happening!!! I was so mad at covid, because we would have been in Maui already and i would not have been doing what i was doing in my backyard!! In the ambulance from my house to the hospital, i called Nicole and said, i think you need to be prepared to get a call from me to come help tomorrow as i may not be very mobile, so got her set. Unfortunately the surgeon laughed when he gave me option of surgery that night or tomorrow and i said, well tonight please as i have a wedding to do tomorrow. Oh no he said, you won’t be doing a wedding tomorrow. So again, call to Nicole, you are full on tomorrow/no me. I was never worried as she totally knows what she is doing/to do/works from my timelines all the time and was working with Brittany, so i knew all would be fine between the two of them. And thank goodness, when i had to call the mom and tell her, she also knew that i would not send anyone who would screw things up, so they were all good to go/relaxed and enjoyed the wedding celebration as if i was there, i don’t think they even missed me, lol

As you can see from the pics above, all turned out lovely. We obviously had to get a new florist and karla/EBD floral stepped in and got the vision immediately, we brought the tropical/Hawaii feel to Huntington Beach, a new dj/DJ Griff a multi friend referral, but were lucky as the photographer was coming to Hawaii so she just didn’t have to fly so far, Andrea David, and the pics above/not iphone ones, are hers. Design Visage beautified the ladies and kept them on time as always. A friend officiated/she was going to do it in Hawaii also. A tropical duo for pe cere/cocktails and during dinner to again feel the hawaiian vibe, Naples String trio for ceremony, and a big thanks to the team at Waterfront Beach Resort, Vanessa jumped right in as she always does when i reach out and made it happen/work for me, love you lady xoxoxox

Till next time

Lisa

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http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com

714 305 7112

lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com

Add a comment January 23, 2021
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Barbados wedding

Well now, if you are feeling down because your local wedding plans, or maybe even destination to a different area/country got dashed in 2020 and you have no idea when they can be resurrected in 2021, we can do your wedding at the Sandals (couples) or Beaches (family/groups) Resorts in the Caribbean, whether its just the two of you or a small or large group, the options are many and your dreams can come true, maybe even be better

Today i am showing pictures from the newest Sandals in Barbados (there are 2 and they are right next to each other so you can stay at one but play at two, eat/drink/use amenities at both, which is awesome and this newest property there is amazing!!  Above is a picture looking down from the rooftop pool to the main pool/beach area infront of Royal Barbados, then a glass of my champagne at the beachfront restaurant looking out to the front of the main pool which has a glass front, see it!!!

Depending on your level of accommodation you may not have to share the included airport transfers with others in the shuttle, but come in style, yes that is a Rolls Royce!!  The next picture is the pool infront of the ground floor rooms right there, where you wake up, walk onto your patio and right into the pool, they are knows as ‘swimup’ pool rooms, and the last pic, is a bowling alley, yes there is one to enjoy if you want!!

This was the massage hut i had a very relaxing massage in.  A wedding table design we enjoyed, and me in the rooftop pool looking out past the resort to the ocean/bay.

This was me at a carnival party i attended and my butler came to check in on me (was he worried i had too much champagne and needed escorting back to my room, i don’t know, lol), the beach area the connects the two resorts and another view of the main pool at Royal Barbados with that glass front.

 

At the back of the main pool at Royal Barbados looking towards the beach, and the Sky bar up on the rooftop area where there is a pool, sun deck and the French Restaurant, one of my fave areas at the Barbados Resorts

 

Rooftop pool area, view from the balcony seating at the french restaurant up on the rooftop pool area, and me by the lazy river area at Sandals Barbados where it winds around infront of a bunch of lucky swim up rooms.

Let me get you here!!

Till next time

Lisa

http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com

714 305 7112

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lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com

Add a comment January 22, 2021
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First micro wedding 2020 Hyatt HB

Well, the above wedding seems so long ago now, but it was our first step into what became known as ‘micro weddings’ thanks to covid, where couples had their weddings booked/paid for and if they wanted to keep their date/location had to adjust to what the new rules were at their hotel or county or state, and that my friends was a daily changing thing we have learnt to work with and probably even worse now, when we thought that 2021 would mean we would be free and clear, but not the case.

So with this wedding at the Hyatt Huntington Beach, guest count went down to immediate family only because of guests fear of coming/attending and the couple only wanting attendees they knew who/where they had been which would hopefully mean everyone would be safe. Ceremony chairs were spread way out and based on knowing how many singles versus others were spaced that way and their names were on their chairs. In the dining room it was max 4 per table/as you can see split so there was a good 6′ between couples/singles etc. The dancefloor was used only for first dance/parent dances, no guest dancing or socialising. After cake cutting and eating after dinner, chatting at tables, no mixing or socialising, it was over.

I can remember when the guests had left, Frank Salas/photographer (his pics above) and Peter/Vive Ent-dj and I all looked at each other and didn’t know how we felt but i think each hoped this was a short term thing and we could get back to ‘normal’ wedding celebrations very soon (we are all part of the All you need is love micro wedding package at the hotel, and Elegant by Design is the florist included, as well as Jeffrey Holmes/officiant). I will tell you i heard from the bride after and she was thrilled with everything, loved how it all worked out and felt it was better with the smaller group, so that was wonderful. Covid has definately made us prioritise/change ways of doing things and as the ‘season’ goes on you will see how i think most of the celebrations turned out way better than the original plan.

Till next time

Lisa

xoxoxox

http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com

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714 305 7112

Add a comment January 20, 2021
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Caribbean Golf Club wedding

Did you know that there is a Golf/Country Club option for your wedding celebration in Jamaica in the Ochi Rios area?  And what makes it even better is, if you have a group going, and couples/adults only are staying at the Sandals and the family/groups are staying at the Beaches, Resorts, in the area, this is great middle ground to have your wedding celebration if you are not wanting it on the beach/ocean view, wanting to give everyone a variety in what they see/do in Jamaica.

Let me take you there and help you have a wonderful wedding celebration for you and your friends/family, large or small group.

Till next time

Lisa

http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com

insta  lisasimpsonweddings

714 305 7112

lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com

Add a comment January 18, 2021
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Elopement Monarch Beach Resort (now Waldorf Astoria)

……..and then elopements became a thing in 2020. Can’t blame the couples, for some changing dates 2-4 times, dealing with guests who were overwhelming them with questions they could not answer, stress, stress, stress, so instead, have just the two of you, make it special, and really, isn’t that what it should be!!

There were more of us than them, lol, Wendy/Harpist, Frank Salas Photographer, Kevin/Luxury Lifestyle Studio for the video, Jeffrey Alan Holmes/Officiating, Bouquet/bout by Elegant by Design, me, and Eileen and the F&B Director from the hotel, as in June when these weddings were happening there was no such thing as banquet staff scheduled.

They had a lovely ceremony, i helped the bride finish dressing after Design Visage finished her hair and makeup, then drove her down to the ceremony in my car. After a lovely ceremony at Botanical Lawn, Frank took them for a walk through the hotel grounds/staircases getting great pics, and they ended up at a sunset view table at Bourbon Steak House for a delicious dinner, then off to their suite where they had a lovely few nights. Sounds just perfect, right!!! After the wedding the groom had me go back and use a compass to get the exact spot they were standing at so he could have them inscribed on a bracelet he was going to gift her!! Let’s all say awwwwwwww

Till next time

Lisa

http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com

714 305 7112

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lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com

Add a comment January 16, 2021
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Turks and Caicos wedding/vacay/honeymoon

This is what the water looks like in Turks and Caicos and this is at the beach at the Beaches Resort (Sandals group but for families)!!  A huge resort, so much to do/experience here that you never need to leave the resort.

This was the view from our one bedroom suite on our last trip, it was at one end of the resort and very quiet/relaxing, we would pop down to the closest pool for a swim/get a drink from the swim up bar (even though lots of alcohol in our room, lol) and get food from the food stalls/restaurant right in that area, then back to our balcony/room to enjoy until we would leave to go to dinner elsewhere on property.

My fave restaurant for breakfast and with views like this, do you blame me!!

Whether you are a couple alone, with a group, a family needing multi beds in a hotel room style accommodation, or even a multi family group needing multi bedrooms/own plunge pool/living room, yard etc (as the above picture shows – these are at the opposite end of the resort from where i stayed on this trip) this resort has it for you.  Quiet areas/no kids, busy areas, kids water park and Mac N Cheese food truck, so much for everyone, oh and the Sesame Street Characters if that does it for your kids.  A resort for all.

So many restaurant options.  When you are a couple on your own you normally get a table for two, the fun part of the restaurant above is that you have to sit with others so you get a bit of interaction with others for a change, lol

If a pool cabana is your thing, then whether a couple alone, or a family cabana as shown above, your butler can make it happen and keep you going with food/beverage all day, you just relax, get in the pool/get out of the pool, relax – that’s your job!!

Lot’s of lovely places to read a book and see that beautiful ocean from.

So, if you would like a destination wedding to the Caribbean but there are guests younger than 16, so Sandals Resorts won’t work, then the Beaches Resorts (part of the Sandals family), this one in Turks & Caicos, and 2 in Jamaica, would be perfect for you.  The range of accommodations at the resorts are huge, so people can pick their style/budget to stay 3 nights or more to attend the wedding and vacay also, how perfect is that.  If it’s just the two of you and you prefer a larger resort with lots going on, then we can do your destination wedding/elopment or honeymoon or vacation too!  Let me get you here

Till next time

Lisa

http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com

lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com

insta  lisasimpsonweddings

714 305 7112

Add a comment January 10, 2021
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