First Ritz-Carlton Laguna micro/covid wedding

Well mid June it was time to get back in the saddle. Couples wanted to get married and were willing to drop guests/do everything outside, whatever it took. So this wedding was for all of us the first hotel wedding we would did not thinking there would be many. It was all about the masks and social distancing, something we found hard to do in the beginning but now so easy, sad to say!

Thanks to Joe Latter for the photos, Elegant by Design for the beautiful tropical florals, Wendy/harpist for the ceremony/cocktail music and Peter/Vive Ent for the dinner music, Design Visage for beautifying the ladies, and to White Flite for the dove release that we managed to keep a secret from the bride, yayyyy, and Alan Katz for officiating and providing/issuing the marriage license-that became a thing a lot of my couples had him do this crazy season as getting appointments when the registrar/recorder office was open was impossible, and of course to the ladies and gentlemen at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna, it was soooo good to be back after three months of being away especially when we should have been hot and heavy with weddings by this time. Little did we know the things we would be doing from here on out in 2020 to ensure guests, vendors, staff were all safe. Note the food behind screens that were handed to the guests by a gloved server!! And little did we realise that where dining under the stars that used to be maybe once a year would become the norm!!

Till next time

Lisa

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Add a comment December 19, 2020

Ritz Laguna Destination wedding-Plaza

Aaaaaaah my sweet sweet Molly and Yuan.  So loved helping them with their wedding, and this is another story about how we all end up with who we should be working with and when it doesn’t work out there is a reason (i always find the reason out after and thank the Universe above for sure, lol).  It was a sat or sunday and I was in the office waiting for a couple to come in and detail their wedding/day which would normally take about 3 hours.  About 20 mins after their time they were not there so I called and the groom said he had been working and got caught up and they would not be able to get down from LA that day so we setup a phone detail for during the week.  Now folks, it was a weekend in the 2019 wedding season (which was crazy busy) and I didn’t have many of those off, so i had got out of bed early, showered etc, and was now thinking, whaaaat!! lol  Then my phone rang and this lovely lady started asking me about my services and then asked could she come and see me, I was just about to leave the office to go home, so I asked how long do you think before you could be here (not sure where they were coming from) she said, 15 mins, i said, let’s do this.  They came in, we chatted, they signed me on the spot and we did our budget/task meeting right then and there, so i was in the office for about the time i would have been with the detail meeting, and all worked out perfectly.  yayyyyy  Molly loved what she saw from past weddings I had done in the Plaza Room at the Ritz Laguna (where we do the most weddings each year and have been that way for the past 19 years, our #1 venue and we have stayed on the vendor list that whole time which I think says a lot about us and it’s an honor that I don’t relax about, but it was not in their budget which made her sad, so that is when relationships help a lot and your being flexible.  We ended up making it work by their wedding being on a sunday in November and daytime, we started at noon, done by 5pm, perfecto and Molly’s dream wedding happened and I know it was because she told me many times on the day and in a beautiful email I got from her afterwards.

 

So we pulled a fab vendor team together, EBD Floral-awesome job as always, Luxe Linens for linens/napkins, TMMPRO for the draping/benches/dancefloor+decal/chiavaris, Peter/Vive Entertainment for all the music, and Will/Resonance Vision (some of these pics are his and some mine, normally the darker ones, lol) who they found and wanted because he spoke the same language as the parents who spoke no English and they wanted them to be comfortable, he was lovely to work with.

Thanks to my partners at the Ritz Laguna, as always we are the team that make the dream a reality, thank you, thank you, thank you xoxxo

Till next time

Lisa

xoxox

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Add a comment April 22, 2020

Ritz-Carlton Laguna Terrace Salon wdg

Ohhhh Lea and Craig, loved them, so fun.  Craig is English and not the stuffy kind of English (being 1/4 English I know my English, lol) and he was funny and kept us very amused through the whole planning process.  This was a couple that had a great time at their wedding.  Above is their sweetheart table, using my fave B&G sofa and i love a sweetheart table with orchids dropping off it.  And… as all the hotels and my brides know, tea sandwiches come before everyone gets dressed.  They are smaller so as the makeup is done the ladies are still able to have food of substance to tide them over until they get to eat big again at dinner (or cocktails if they are lucky) and if a little champagne has been consumed during getting ready it helps keep everyone awake, lol.  The Ritz-Carlton Laguna does the job perfectly for my brides/ladies.

We did the ketubah signing in the Private Dining Room, then Rabbi Ian led the ceremony with the ocean backdrop, perfection!!

We did a mix of high & low florals, all by Flowers By Cina, thanks again for a fabulous job, Dancefloor+custom decal/B&G sofa/Chiavaris by TMMPRO, cere/cocktail music by Naples Strings, dinner/dancing music+mceeing+lighting by Invisible Touch with Juan and Deon, Design Visage did the hair+makeup and on time as always xoxox

We did the In N Out Run and the parade which I love to lead and make the servers do it with me, not sure if they like it as much as me, lol, which our couples love and the Ritz did a station to go with it with the groom’s fave fried items.  Terrace Salon Balcony is a popular place at every wedding, men migrate out there to chat during the noise/dancing and ladies head out in-between, sometimes the event ends and i realise there is a big group sitting out there chatting not ready to leave!!

thanks as always to our Ritz Carlton family, we love being there with you all xoxox

Till next time

Lisa

xoxox

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Add a comment April 21, 2020

Ritz Laguna Outdoor wedding

I LOVED helping MacKenzie pull her wedding together from start to finish, I was so involved in every detail I even brought the cushions we put on the benches on the balcony, was hoping they would not want to take them as it was a destination wedding for all, but I have such good taste it seems, they wanted them and took them home with them, lol.

From the getgo Mackenzie wanted dinner outside, soooo

we did the ceremony on Monarch Bay Sunset Lawn, the dining tables were set on the Monarch Bay Sunset Terrace but stacked by the cliff, so plenty of walking room for the guests and our bridal party to walk on, guests left the ceremony and went to Plaza Balcony for cocktails, we spread the dining tables out/cere florals were put on the dining tables, dinner was done on the terrace which was really beautiful and the sunset behind her dad and the toasters was amazing, a wedding scene that guests will not forget quickly.  Then into Plaza room which was setup for dancing and we had the cake there.  Now the one thing Mackenzie and her mom weren’t sure on for most of the planning time, then said, ok Lisa add it, was the draping.  When they both walked in and saw the room pre dinner they both looked and me and said, you were right Lisa you were right.

Dancefloor/draping/lighting in Plaza and around the dining area/benches all by TMMPRO, Hair/makeup by Design Visage never a late bride for me, Flowers by Cina for the florals, Jewel Cole Photography thanks for the pics, the lighter ones are hers and the darker are my iPhone ones of course/not sure why everyone else gets great pics on their iphones!!  and to Peter/Vive Entertainment for all the music/all areas and mceeing, awesome job as always my friend, and to our partners at the Ritz where teamwork makes the dream work, and together we sure do xoxox

Oh and it didn’t end with the wedding, I sent them to Sandals Negril for their honeymoon where they had a fabulous time xoxox

Till next time

Lisa

xoxox

catch me on insta   @lisasimpsonweddings

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714 305 7112

 

Add a comment April 21, 2020

Ritz Carlton Laguna Destination Wedding

Had a great experience planning with Sterling and Jonathan from afar (as are 80% of my couples).  They were very busy so very efficient when it came to making decisions and getting tasks done, yayyy, love that.  We had the ceremony on the Monarch Bay Sunset Lawn, cocktails on the Plaza Balcony and then dinner/dance inside the Plaza Room.

Thanks to Cat/Adi of Next Exit Photography you have got photos here of the Plaza Room from every angle and a few for the ceremony site, tx guys for being friendors for so many years and being great to work with on the day xoxo  We pulled together a great vendor team, Rabbi Ian co-officiated with the Pastor from Sterling’s church who flew over for the wedding, Design Visage did hair/makeup, cere/cocktail music by Naples Strings, dinner/dance/mceeing by Jeff/Moondance Mobile Music, and to EBD Floral, wow, i was taken aback by the beauty of the florals and colors.  Jonathan is from South Africa and Sterling wanted to incorporate the South African national/native flower and Karla did it beautifully, love love.  And to TMMPRO who helps me transform the Plaza Room with draping/dancefloor+decal and lighting, and we had them provide chiavaris for the cere (Sterling was not into using hotel chairs at all) and had Chiavari Chair Rentals provide the infinity chairs for the Plaza Room.  Everything was bellisimo!!

 

And of course to our friends/team members at the Ritz Laguna, always a pleasure making dreams celebrations come to reality for our couples, xoxox

Till next time

Lisa

xoxox

catch me on insta   @lisasimpsonweddings

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714 305 7112

Add a comment April 21, 2020

Ritz Laguna Terrace Salon wedding

It’s funny how each year there are the ‘hot’ spaces for weddings, well for 2019 at Ritz Laguna it was combining the Monarch bay Sunset Lawn with cocktails next door on the Monarch Bay Sunset Terrace, all oceanfront/view, then up to the Terrace Salon where the ballroom is unique in shape and wall coverings and has a very cool large balcony with wicker furniture and fire pits that guests love, in face most weddings end and there is a group sitting out there not ready to leave!!

So this wedding was the same space, our bride was very excited about everything and her fabulous groom was always happy to see her happy.  From the beginning Katy had said her wedding was going to be pink, and our groom was aok with that, so pink it was.

The picture above was Katy seeing the doves they would release at the end of the ceremony on its way to her ceremony and she was chatting with it, thanking it.  There was also a 60 dove release after they each released their doves.  Guests loved it.

Great vendor team on board, Luxe Linens for the perfect pink linens/napkins, Flowers by Cina for the beautiful florals, Jim Kennedy & Amber-photo (none of these photos are from them, all are mine), Luxury Lifestyle Studio/video, Wendy/Orange County Harpist for the ceremony/cocktail music, Peter/Vive Entertainment for the dinner/dancing music & excellent mceeing as always, Design Visage for hair/makeup, TMMPRO for the dancefloor+decal & lighting-just the right pink, and of course to the ladies and gentlemen at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna for always helping us make wedding dreams come true xoxo

Till next time

Lisa

xoxox

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714 305 7112

Add a comment April 21, 2020

Ritz Laguna Intimate wedding

A lovely intimate wedding at the Ritz Carlton Laguna that Kim orchestrated on the day.  I was in New Zealand at my nephews wedding.  I had helped Phil pull the wedding together from start to finish, they had an intimate group and no dancing was needed so using the Private Dining Room there was perfect for the dinner after the wedding.

Thanks to Frank Salas for the pics and EBD Floral for doing a beautiful job as always, and of course to the ladies & gentlemen at our fave hotel, for always helping us create seamless events. xoxox

Till next time

Lisa

xoxox

catch me on insta   @lisasimpsonweddings

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lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com

714 305 7112

 

Add a comment April 20, 2020

Ritz Laguna wedding celebration

Aaaah, what can i say about Lonnie and Tony.  A love story.  Second time for each of them, in their 50s, not looking or didn’t think they would, but they found love again.  Lonnie was just lovely and Tony was a romantic, he and i planned a surprise during the wedding where he and his guys sang and danced for her, it was fabulouso!!

We incorporated elements to make it as romantic and warm, as Lonnie wanted it to be, Doves that they released at the end of the ceremony, an ivory dancefloor rather than stark white, cushions on the benches on the balcony that went with her color scheme and gold accents to keep things warm too.

Another great vendor team, the Photographer Drew Dailey Images and dj Armando/DJ Shout were known to the couple and both did a great job, then my normal crew, EBD Floral, TMMPRO for the benches/dancefloor/lighting, Video by Shane Productions, String trio for cere/cocktails by Naples Strings/Elaine and doves via our lovely Pamla/White Flite, and as always, the wonderful ladies and gentlemen of the Ritz-Carlton Laguna xoxxo

till next time

Lisa

catch me on insta   @lisasimpsonweddings

http://www.lisasimpsonweddings.com

lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com

714 305 7112

 

Add a comment April 19, 2020

Ritz Carlton Terrace Salon wedding

This lovely destination wedding for Carol and Tim was orchestrated on the day by Allison, who we have known for years and is new to our team as a Day of Co-Ordinator.

Thanks to Frank Salas for the photos.  Square Root did the florals, TMMPRO did the lighting/dancefloor and chivaris for cere & dining room.  They were an intimate group of 70 in this room that can do up to 150 at a squeeze, so plenty of room to spread out and have their band in there too.

And as always, thanks to our friends at Ritz-Carlton for teamwork makes the dream work. xoxox

Till next time

Lisa

xoxxoo

catch me on insta   @lisasimpsonweddings

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714 305 7112

Add a comment April 19, 2020

Ritz Laguna Plaza Room wedding

I had planned things with Yana and Leo for their end of year wedding at the Ritz-Carlton, this was their CA wedding and in being flexible and doing a thursday the week before xmas with their intimate group of 50, meant they could have it at a 5 star hotel with views and service to die for, because they had to watch their budget due to their wedding in Russia which was going to be huge a few weeks later (Yana is a bit of  a celebrity in Russia).

I was in Cabo looking at some of the best venues there for future weddings on their wedding date but Nicole was orchestrating/overseeing on the day with Darla’s assistance and they had a great vendor team, all of who know how Lisa likes things so I didn’t need to worry at all that it would not be a success, and of course it was, B&G were very happy.

Thanks to Joel Austell for the pics above, Shane Productions/video, EBD Floral as always for making things work out as our brides anticipate from the beginning, Rabbi Ian for as always doing a great Jewish ceremony and the Trotts who issued the CA marriage license at the hotel (they have done this for quite a few of our couples over the years and it’s starting to be more and more popular), Peter/Vive Entertainment for handling all the music and mceeing and keeping things on track with Nicole, and to everyone at the Ritz who again, helped us make a couple’s wedding dreams come true, thank you xoxo

Till next time

Lisa

xoxxo

catch me on insta   @lisasimpsonweddings

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lisa@lisasimpsonweddings.com

714 305 7112

 

Add a comment April 14, 2020