Whoa, it's been a while!

Sheesh....where does the time go...really??
It is November! 2010 is almost here! October gave me 4 weddings & 5 new brides for next year. I am thrilled! Thank you!

I definitely need to post fall weddings on here. I will surely work on that.

Downtown!

Gotta Love it!





The wedding magazine, The Knot Southern California, recently asked me to give them some info regarding LA's fashion district. They wanted to know how people who are in the middle of planning their wedding could benefit from shopping downtown. I thought I'd share with you wonderful blog readers what I shared with them.

Los Angeles has the second largest fashion district in the U.S. It is home to an enormous amount of designers, fabric warehouses, pattern makers, drafters, cutters, sewers, notions, & trims. It is understandable one would be intimidated to shop, let alone visit Los Angeles’ fashion district. It would be so much easier to resort to a safer, more generic & expensive craft store near home.

There are a couple of benefits to shopping downtown:

1. Nostalgia, you may not, but I get a sense of wow, I am in the heart of it all.

2. Prices, competition is stiff from door to door. Plus, the prices are unbeatable to chain stores in town. Here is where the chain stores obtain their merchandise & jack up the prices to pay for their lighting, employees, marketing, etc…

3. Variety- It would take weeks to explore every nook & cranny. Your selection is limitless; it’s a little unsettling for me to think that because I like to see all my options before making a purchase, lol.

4. It really is a small community. During my second visit, most store owners & employees remembered my face. That is astonishing; I’m not a huge spender either. Now I bring my daughter with me & they all know her. Fabric, notions, what not, this industry is these peoples’ lives. They are not a kid forced to be at their after school job. At first, a few may be a little brash because they want a big sale. Just open up & ask a question & 99% of the workers will be incredibly helpful, resourceful, insightful & even send you to a competitor to help you find what you are in search for.

Tips:

Parking: I never pay for parking. Yes, there are a zillion lots & sometimes you’re lucky to find a meter (if you have the change) or a friendly homeless person who will trigger the meter for you with his paper clip. The best place to park is on the east side of San Julian St. There are no meters & no limit on the number of hours to park there! It is a great location because it’s at the bottom of the district (East) of 9th st. so you can walk up & then down & you are back at your car. Its’ centrally located between 9^th and 10^th & just a block south of the flower mart, too.

Negotiate!: Don’t ever settle on the first price a merchant quotes you. Tell him what you want to pay (within reason). If he says no, walk out. 9 times out of 10 he/she will follow you & agree on your price. They most likely want your business more than you want that item.

Restrooms: It never fails, I park my car, begin my trek (usually with my child in tow) & I realize I must find a restroom. Let’s be real, the bathrooms at these shops are old & scary. Here is what to do- Go to the California Mart. It is impossible to miss. The mart is takes up a block from 9^th to Olympic & Los Angeles St. to Main St. Besides having the cleanest & uncrowded public restrooms, it is just a fabulous place to visit. It would be a waste to stop by the fashion district & not check out the California Mart. You can also make it a rest area & pick up cash from the ATM, coffee, or lunch while there. Just roam the floors; you get real insight as to what goes on in the real fashion world. This is the same for the Cooper building on Los Angeles St. but now I’m getting side tracked.

Bring a list: This sounds juvenile but I’m telling you, it is so easy to get side tracked. There is so much to look at. New ideas constantly pop into your mind. “I know I can find a use for this!” will play repeat in your head.

Over view:

When referring to shopping in the district, most people mention Michael Levine’s. These people are not really in the know. Michael Levine is, by far, the most popular store. I mean, it has everything but it’s also the most expensive place. It is basically a Joanne’s times 10. I visit there as a last resort.

The fashion District is a rectangle: 9^th & Olympic make up the long sides & Main & San Julian being the short sides. Besides, 9^th & Olympic, the only cross streets you need, for material & notion shopping, are Wall & Maple. All the other streets are either for apparel shopping, furniture fabric, or people in the fashion design & production industry. Actually, the district is more of a square. Be sure to visit the cross streets North, past 9^th for trims & to make your way to the flower mart.

For wedding purposes, Olympic Blvd. is where you will find all your flower girl & ring bearer needs. These shops carry adorable dresses & suits along with the essentials like pillows, flower baskets, parasols. You name it. One store particularly stands out, La Bella by Carmen Creation. The styles featured here Victorian inspired. The apparel & accessories are just darling, very one of a kind. Also along 10^th, you can find amazing deals on bird cages, cake sets, stands, champagne flutes, & other misc. items.

Trims, trims, ....& more trims!!9^th Street carries the bulk of the apparel fabric. You will see many signs for $1 fabric. These places are great for material you don’t mind being on the “cheaper” side, perhaps, tulle or poly chiffon for major draping of your tent or chairs & decorating your favors. You will easily find nice tulle (for veils even) for $1 or less, per yard, at 120” wide. It is effortless to snag poly-gabardine for table linens or sashes at $1.50/yd., in any color.

Most stores will special order any color you need if you are ordering a significant amount. My favorite fabric shops for higher end goods are Tex Carmel & Fabrics & Fabrics. At Carmel, the owner is the nicest man around. They offer luxurious silk taffeta's, organza's, shantung, & dupioni. The owner of Fabrics & Fabrics has a cold initial demeanor but eventually comes around & will share his witty sense of humor & friendly charm. You can find the best deals on amazing silk chiffon's, cotton voile's, & silk linings. Along with the most attractive fabrics, these two possess the nicest staff.

As for trims & notions, most of those merchants are located on Wall St. & Maple St. There are a few exceptions. Top Trims is located on 9^th, as is, Kashcool, inc. These places are worth mentioning because they are easy to browse in, nice & spacious. Top Trims has a nice variety of angel wings for flower girls. They also have a decent selection of rhinestones & offer lots of peacock feathers! My favorite place to go to for trims is Levy’s! Mary & Nick are always willing to lend a helping hand & offer referrals. If you visit their store without an exact idea of what you are looking for, Mary is amazing at suggesting creative ideas for your event or craft. Levy’s has an excellent selection of rhinestones for your bouquets, garlands for trees, floral arrangements, cakes & lace for Mantilla veils. Their selection of appliqués out shines the rest. Plus, you just can’t beat the service & prices.

Three doors down from Levy’s, is L.A. Linen Lacey’s Fabrics. This is the place to go to for table linens, chair covers, sashes, overlays, table runners, table skirts & napkins! Any style you imagine & any color you crave, they have it & with a very nice price tag. Lacey’s has embroidered or beaded organza, crepe back or shiny satins, pin tucked or pin cushioned taffeta's, the list goes on! It’s a great “go-to” place. I love their slogan, “yes, everything is possible. The impossible just takes a bit longer and cost more to make”.

I believe this is a good start for the Los Angeles area “DIY” brides journey to the fashion district.

List of Merchants mentioned:

Fabrics & Fabrics – 403 E. 9^th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (213)-488-0681

Kashcool, inc. – 416-418 E. 9^th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (213)489-3010

L.A. Linen Lacey’s Fabrics – 903 S. Wall St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 (213)624-1099

La Bella by Carmen Creation – 321 ½ E. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015 (213)841-6162

Levy’s Trimming Co. – 903 S. Wall St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 (213)489-7669

Tex Carmel – 432 E. 9^th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (213)629-5255

BTW, this article will be in the upcoming Spring/Summer 2010 issue. I'm not sure what (if any) info they will use of mine, but I'm excited because I think one of the weddings I coordinated will be featured!

Terranea Resort, OH MY!

WOW.....that is really what pops into my mind when I reflect on the wedding I recently helped with at the STUNNING Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes.
Hopefully, I will obtain pictures of the actual wedding to share because the bride & groom were the spitting image of perfection, themselves.
Anyhow, I am writing this particular post to inform you on the breathtaking resort right here, in our neck of the woods.
The first time I encountered Terranea was for the routine walk-through prior to the main event (the wedding). It was not yet open to the public so it was a real treat to explore the grounds with my clients & Leslie, Terranea's event manager. The drive to Terranea, alone, was awe inspiring & leisurely. However, once inside it's magical captivity, I couldn't help but feel I was in a far, far away paradise land, thousands of miles from LA.


www.terranea.com
The ceremony location is on a grassy cliff atop the Pacific. It was blessed by a Buddha for goodness sakes. That's an alright start for a marriage, I suppose. The bungalows & suites are modern & rich. Everything is brand new, which is part of the charm. The spa is a place you can retreat to all day long. You will do a double take when you see the pool at the salon & all the amenities!
At the wedding, I couldn't help but mention to Leslie, "working here is like being on vacation". It sounds strange, I know, given that we are a few short miles from the city.
The bottom line is. If you are in search of a wedding (ceremony & reception) venue & you like the idea of a destination wedding but want to remain local, you may want to pay a visit to Terranea Resort. Even though, the resort has been open just a couple months, the staff appears & acts like it has been around for years.
I guess I should mention a couple details pertaining to wedding-related interests. They offer a few linen options that happen to be gorgeous. The food is fabulous. There are plenty of staff to escort guests & keep nosy hotel guests away. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot them at me. :)

More Summer Lovin!

Bodee & Patrick were a fun, loving, stylish, charming & absolutely sweet (I could go on) couple to work for. I would like to share a clip from their dashing wedding at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, or 'DCP', for the tragically hip.
This video clip was made possible by Dirk Gates, from Studio West Video. He is a real professional & as you can tell from the video, a real gem in videography-land! You can see multiple samples of his work from this link. Enjoy!
http://studiowestvideo.typepad.com/studio_west_video_blog/

Annie & Clifford

Ahh...Malibu!

Mr. and Mrs. Hilo were one of my favorite couples of the Summer of '09. Ok, so all couples I work for are my favorite BUT there is a certain bonding that takes place when you meet the bride for one of the most important meetings in your pajamas....in public!

Annie & Clifford were married at Malibu West Beach Club. Annie did an amazing job with her DIY floral arrangements & booking a fantastic location & superstar vendors. She wore a Monique Lhuillier lace gown that accentuated her beautiful features. Clifford was the sweetest & shocked his bride with a surprise performance on his guitar. The ocean breeze was the perfect backdrop for a night of dancing, eating, & love.

Another thing, I would like to mention, Aileen Secord was Annie & Clifford's second shooter. She is incredible! There are professionals, who have been in the industry for many years, asking her for tricks of the trade! Check out her site, I highly recommend her for your wedding photographer. http://aileensecord.com/

Maria & Jeff

I had the absolute pleasure of DOCing Maria & Jeff's classic, chic wedding at the Skirball Cultural Center, this past July.
Maria & Jeff are a prime example of why I love my job so much. As you view the pictures, taken by Steve Reisch Photography (www.stevereisch.com), you can clearly see how loving & genuine these two are.
Thank you, Maria & Jeff!
BTW, how gorgeous is her dress?!

L.A.'s fab Flower District

Florists (besides catering & alcohol) are often times the biggest budget breakers. These days, so many of my clients are of the "Do It Yourself mentality". When it comes to floral arrangements, i.e. centerpieces, bouquets, ceremony aisle arrangements, misc. table decor, purchasing & designing your own arrangement can be a tremendous money saver & even a little bit fun!

Los Angeles is home to a fabulous flower district. This is where the majority of local florists obtain their stock. Of course, we are very fortunate to boast some of the world’s most creative & talented floral & event designers. However, there is something empowering when you create an element for your wedding yourself, no matter how small or grand your little touch may be. Plus, it’s an added benefit to save some major cash! The flower district is comprised of five streets: Maple, Wall, & San Julian are the north & south bound streets bordered by 7^th St. & 8^th St. The Southern California Flower Market is a gigantic indoor floral extravaganza home to about 40 tenants. This market has entrances on Wall St. & San Julian St. When I hear “Flower Mart”, I automatically think flowers. There is so much more to this district than the typical rose. The district boasts all accessories related to any kind of floral arrangement, vases, gem stones, aisle runners, trees, just to name a few items. These supplies are offered at or below wholesale prices & the selection will beat any store in town. Rather than rows to opt from, you have streets of goods to explore.

Tips:

~Arrive early! The market closes between 12-12:30pm. The rest of the district shuts down shortly after.

~Bring one of your vendors. You will receive wholesale prices if someone in your party owns a business in the wedding industry.

~Visit merchants as they are packing up for the day to score some free flowers! Sellers will often times give you a bouquet or two because they are going to die anyway.

~As with any big floral purchase anywhere, keep in mind the flowers you see on your most recent excursion may not be in bloom on your wedding date.

From my experience, there are a few vendors that stand out & are an excellent resource to people new to the flower district.

Floral Supply Syndicate (located at 745 San Julian St., Los Angeles 90014 (213)624-3982) is a one stop shop for all necessary elements & details for your floral arrangements & DIY projects, minus the flowers. Even though, manzanita trees are super easy to find at amazing prices, F.S.S. has the best prices. Large branches are $16 & the trees are $24-$36! Okay, these can be hundreds of dollars at retail stores & online. Floral Supply Syndicate has aisles & aisles of ribbon, in all the shapes, textures, & colors you can ever need. You can also obtain any frame or Styrofoam needed for your extravagant arrangements. They also carry an array of garlands, rocks, gem stones, aisle runners, tulle, vases, & bulk tea lights at prices that will sure to shock you.

Daisy’s Garden (located at 532 E. 8^th St., Los Angeles, CA 90014 (213)627-8807) has the most beautiful centerpiece arrangements. This is a great place to visit for inspiration & unlike all the other shops, you can talk Daniella into taking a picture or two. If you are new to the area, this is the perfect shop to browse through. Daniella is the nicest person you can come across. Daisy’s can deliver & set up the arrangements for your wedding or simply provide you with the necessary tools & flowers to do it yourself. This is a win/win situation, the best service, the best costs, & the most innovative creations.

Golden Memories, Floral Design by Sandra is a Mecca of Manzanita madness! Every size, color, & shape of these trees is available for about $65-$70. You can even rent them for $35! This is a Godsend since most people don’t really know what to do with them after their wedding day. Of course, you can find branches here as well. The real strikes of gold are the manzanita cake stands available to rent. These creations are gorgeous!

Saint Germain Florist carries the most beautiful roses. They are located inside the Southern California Flower Market At a recent wedding, in Malibu, the bride purchased all of the roses for her wedding from Saint Germain’s. A total of 700 roses for $600! She was so happy & proud of the job she & her best friend did on the 26 centerpieces, bridal bouquet, 5 BM bouquets, 4 corsages, 4 bouts, & a bunch of flowers for the cake.

The top two pictures are centerpieces from Daisy's Garden. The bottom two were taken inside the Flower Market.