Real Las Vegas Wedding: Elena and Nick

Green Orchid Events' Wedding Day Coordinator Angelica writes a guest blog post about her recent coordination experience with Elena and Nick who were married on June 12th. The beginning of 1 Corinthians 13:4 describes Elena and Nick perfectly, "Love is Patient, Love is kind". Elena and Nick's love for each other was seen throughout their whole wedding process. They both worked extremely hard in order in to have their beautiful wedding. The ceremony was held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church and the reception was at the Siena Golf Club Bistro.

Pink and silver adorned the amazing bistro while Elena's dresses glistened amongst all of their friends and family. Elena and Nick started off the night with a choreographed first dance to Lauren Hill's version of "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You". Not only was their dance romantic and comical, but Elena did it with a hurt knee!

Digs Photography and Lighten Films were there to capture every moment and element of the wedding.  Once the night came to an end, the newlyweds were sent off to their limo with a grand sparkler exit. We wish Elena and Nick the best of luck as they start their new life together in Oregon. Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Petsas!

Thank you to our lovely vendors:

Wedding Coordinator: Angelica McDonnell of Green Orchid Events Wedding Ceremony: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church Wedding Reception: Siena Golf Club Bistro Lighting and Lounge Furniture: Andrea Trubiro of LTeventions Photography: Digs Videography: Lighten Films DJ: Knight Sounds Floral: Lisa Grissom Wedding Cake: Leopold's Bakery Transportation: Las Vegas VIP Limousines

Featured on Wedding Chicks!

Rob & Michelle's wedding has been featured on Wedding Chicks! Be on the lookout for more photos on The Vegas Wedding Planner in the next week!

Photo by Denise Hoogland

Photo Spotlight

Over the last year, I've gotten to know Suzi Lighten of TSL Photography.  I really love her work and wanted to highlight a beautiful sunset photo of a bride and groom today. To learn more about Suzi, check out her interview for The Vegas Wedding Planner here.

Bedazzle My Bon Bons

I saw these glitter covered bon bons at this year's Catersource/Event Solutions tradeshow.   The chocolates aren't the best I've ever tasted but I love the idea of them.  I can't imagine a bride eating this but it could be pretty fun at a bat mitzvah or girl's birthday party!  What do you think?

Real Las Vegas Wedding: Lisa and Keenan

Congratulations to Lisa and Keenan who were married on April 25, 2009 at Reflection Bay Lake Las Vegas.  Lisa first called me with the idea of having a truly destination wedding for only a few guests.  She wanted Red Rock Canyon for the ceremony site and then a simple lunch in a restaurant immediately following. But, plans changed.

During the planning process, the guest count had increased and we decided on Reflection Bay for both the ceremony and reception.  They loved the ceremony site on the lawn and in front of the water.  The lunch reception was in the Rotunda Room after the short and sweet ceremony.

Wedding Planner: Green Orchid Events Venue: Reflection Bay, Lake Las Vegas Photography: Randi Anzevino of Reflective Souls Photography Videography: Memory Lane Video Bridal Party Bouquets: Enchanted Florist Officiant: Reverend Phil York DJ: Ed Labrador of On Point Productions Wedding Cake: Tiers of Joy Makeup: Lori White Hair: Loews Salon

Reflection Bay Lake Las Vegas - Lisa & Keenan - Highlight Video from Memory Lane Video on Vimeo.

Vendor Spotlight: Paisley Quill

Name: Molly Myers Location: Detroit, MI

Company Name: Paisley Quill

Number of Years in Business: 4

Website: www.paisleyquill.com

Blog: www.paisleyquill.blogspot.com

How did you get started in stationery? I was working as a graphic designer for a sports marketing firm for the past 4 years and was getting burned out on the subject matter. As a designer, I was going to be the only one doing my wedding invitations. I enjoyed it so much I wanted to do it for other people. I partnered with my good friend Megan Bildstein, and interior designer and we have been at it ever since.

What did you do prior to this? Graphic Designer

If you didn't create stationery for a living what would you be doing instead? Working as a Designer for a big magazine in New York City

What are some of your hobbies? Gardening, travel, cooking, spending time with my new baby boy and husband

What is your inspiration? Music, the City of Detroit, Peter Max

Name an exotic location you’d like to visit soon. Rome

Why do your clients choose you over some of your competitors? Unique designs, and understand of our clients likes and dislikes, competitive pricing.

What is the best piece of advice you can offer a bride and groom on their wedding day. Take a moment for the two of you. The day goes by so quickly! Make sure you step back and take it all in.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day!  Let's toast to our country's freedom!

Photo courtesy of www.barnonedrinks.com

Check out this video of three Las Vegas Wedding Photographers in action!

PUG stands for "Pictage Users Group" and we've got a local chapter!  The Las Vegas Pug group is open to all professional photographers and anyone interested can find out more information on the Las Vegas PUG Page: vegaspug.wordpress.com Check out the below video from the most recent meeting of these talented young Las Vegas wedding photographers (Chelsea Nicole, Adam Trujillo, Suzi Lighten) in action!

I had so much fun watching this video that I had to ask my friends if I could share this with you!

What the Pug!!! from Terrence Lighten on Vimeo.

Terrence Lighten of Lighten Films

Congratulations Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett

On Saturday, June 27, 2009, Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett tied the knot at the Playboy Mansion! The "Girls Next Door" was always my guilty pleasure so I just had to post this cute video of their wedding ceremony.

Wedding Planner: Cobalt Events

Check out her interview here.

Cigar Giveaway: Boss Box

Green Orchid Events, in conjunction with Coastal Cigars, is giving away a Boss Box to one lucky groom!  The Boss Box is a wooden box containing 4 cigars, a cigar cutter, and a mini-bottle.  The cigars are the in-house blend known as “Carlos Villa”.  The cigars (Carlos Villa) are a Dominican filler with a Connecticut shade wrapper.  To enter, simply comment on this blog post and explain why your husband to be is the most deserving of this special gift.  Winners will be announced on July 20th.

More about The Boss Box:

The ‘Boss Box’ is a great gift for any well deserving husband-to-be.  You can have the name of the Groom placed on the face of the box!  The “Boss Box” is a cigar gift box that includes two separate compartments.  One compartment is designed to hold four cigars, matches and a cigar cutter. The other compartment is designed to hold your choice of a mini bottle, poker chips or Nike golf balls. The front label on the box can be specialized to show a picture, quote or design of any kind.

Coastal Cigars is the premier cigar rolling company in the country based out of Charleston, SC.  If you are having a wedding, throwing a corporate party, or organizing a special get together, please contact Jimmy@CoastalCigars.com for more information on our services.  Coastal Cigars is able to provide you with unique event ideas and customized cigar gifts.  For more information on how they can make your next event truly unique go to their website at www.coastalcigars.com

Happy Planning!

Wedding Professionals Sake Tasting

Join fellow wedding professionals as we taste and learn about sake.

Founder & President of The North American Sake Institute, Tiffany Dawn Soto, will be conducting a sake tasting for wedding professionals.

Wedding Professionals Sake Tasting

Thursday, July 23, 2009

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

RM Seafood at Mandalay Bay

$40.00 per person

Stationed hors d'oeuvres with sake pairings

Displays of ways sake can be used for favors and toasts

Raffles to win $100 + bottles of Super Premium Sake

Given the ever increasing rise in requests for sushi bars at special events and weddings, it seems only natural that the demand for super premium sakes is also gaining in popularity. For this event, we are proud to present a guest educator known for her remarkable ability to identify a sake for every palate.

Space is limited so register early!

Vendor Spotlight: Jason Roberts of Digs

Name: Jason Roberts

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Company Name: Digs a studio of photography and cinema

Number of Years in Business: 3 Website: www.digsstudio.com

Blog: www.digsstudioblog.com

How did you get started in Cinema? I was in film school and working for a photography studio part time updating their computers and cleaning up files for them.  When they found out that I was a film student and they needed a second video guy I was offered the opportunity.  I loved the run and gun shooting of doing a wedding, I knew I just wanted to shoot more!

If I wasn’t doing Cinema? I would be in LA raising money for movies I want to make but no one would want to see.

My Hobbies? I’m a movie geek, so really anything that involves film whether it’s seeing, shooting, or editing!

What is the best wedding experience you’ve ever had? Really any wedding where people are just cutting loose and having fun, my best stuff comes from couples that just want to have a good time, I think you can really see those emotions in my films.

Name an exotic location you would like to visit? My girlfriend and I are planning a trip to Hong Kong next summer to see her family.  I know that I’m really excited about that prospect.  We will be taking a tour of China; she would like to go to the Cheng Du province mainly to see the panda reserves!

Why do your clients choose you over some of your competitors? Clients choose us for cinema because they want something different from their wedding movies.  No two couple are the same so we make sure to handcraft their movies and to really showcase their personalities.  If you were to see some of our highlights you can easily see how they each have there own voice.    I actually posted a whole lot more on this subject on our blog!  Check it out http://digsstudioblog.com/2009/06/breaking-off-from-the-pack/

What is the best piece of advice you could give a bride and groom on their wedding day? Have fun!  Don’t sweat the small stuff (That’s Juliet’s job) enjoy the day because it’s a once in a lifetime event.  Don’t worry about the cameras!  We’re not paparazzi we will make you look awesome (that is our job!).

Anything else interesting you would like to share? I would just like to give a shout out to the rest of my Cinema team!  Sean and Adam are without a doubt the most talented Cinematographers that I have ever worked with.  They are always bursting with new ideas that keep up the creativity level of what we do. They produce the kind of work that constantly raises the bar for how we approach each and every wedding that we shoot.

Donya+Robert from Digs Studio- Jason Roberts on Vimeo.

Grooms and Groomsmen: A Different Way to tie a tie

Because I like things even and not lopsided, I'm a fan of the Double Windsor style tie.  However, I know that we are in a different generation that our parents'.  It's amazing how many men do not know how to tie a tie as I've noticed while coordinating weddings. Today, Lifehacker did a blog post about "Dress Up Your Ties with the 'Merovingian Knot".  He explains that the knot was featured in the Matrix movie however it is actually called the Ediety Knot.

I would love to see one of my grooms and his groomsmen try this style tie.  Check out the video below:

Add some bling to your wedding decor!

Like many women, I am a huge fan of crystals, diamonds, and sparkly anything.  So, it's no surprise that when I visited Z Gallerie a few months ago and saw the "bling" line of napkin rings, picture frames, candle holders, cake knife, I immediately fell in love. This week, I received an email from Andrea over at LTeventions, a floral and decor company here in Las Vegas introducing me to their new rental items.  They are now offering bling napkin rings, vases, and votive holders in assorted sizes!  I am so thrilled to be able to introduce these new items to my bling loving brides!

Donya and Robert are finally married!

Donya called me in February of this year to book my wedding planning services for her June 6th wedding.  She and Robert had a touching story.  This was their 3rd planned wedding and the previous two were canceled due to family tragedies.  Despite all of that, Donya was always upbeat, positive, and cheery and I know she's been surrounded by great support and love her entire life.  So they decided to plan the third wedding rather quickly! Besides the venue and the floral designer, they didn't have anything else booked when they called me.  So with less than four months until their big day, we got right to work! Donya and Robert are two very kind and sweet human beings. I loved working with Donya and met Robert briefly while they were out here for their engagement session. Donya kept me challenged with all of her requests and ideas and I thoroughly enjoy working with her!

The ceremony was a "production show" and a wedding ceremony combined and timing was crucial: the ladies arrived to the ceremony site on a yacht, the bridal party had to be sent down the aisle, the ribbon dancers and band and strings and gospel choir all had to be cued at different times throughout the ceremony and from all different directions, the gondola exit following the ceremony had to arrive on time to whisk the newlyweds away for twenty minutes...and Sam Day the wedding painter and Digs Studio were there to capture all of the special moments!

The ladies arrived to the ceremony in style on the Lady of the Lake yacht.

Their theme of "In the Water, On the Land, On the Mountain, In the Sky" was carried throughout their wedding ceremony and reception.

Mountain Top Gospel Choir

Our beautiful bride Donya

Donya and Robert

Sparkler Grand Exit:

Finally, check out this lovely lovely video by Digs Studio.

Donya+Robert from Digs Studio- Jason Roberts on Vimeo.

Wedding Planner: Green Orchid Events Venue: Reflection Bay, Lake Las Vegas Photography/Cinematography: Digs Studio Floral Designer: Naakiti Floral Design Yacht: Lady of the Lake, Lake Las Vegas Marina Gondola: Gondola Adventures Officiant: Bride's uncle - Jerry James Ceremony Music: Duo Mystique, Mountain Top Choir and Band provided by Carla Marrero of Marketing Revolution DJ: Good Vibrations DJs Ribbon Dancers: Karin Lawson of KAML Enterprises, LLC Wedding Painter: Sam Day Wedding Cake: Tiers of Joy Chocolate Fountain: Eternally Chocolate Ice Sculpture: Ice Occasions Makeup: Makeup in the 702 Transportation: National Transportation Service

Donya and Robert are heading out on a lovely honeymoon in August to Rio de Janeiro!

Wine Wipes by Borracha

During my Napa Valley trip this past week, I came across a product that is a must have in every bride's wedding day emergency kit.  Wine Wipes by Borracha is an invention by a Pinot drinker who was tired of running to the ladies' room all night to wipe off the red film on her teeth and mouth. Brides getting married in 2009 are in luck!  Take advantage of their bridal promotion.  Wine Wipes are offered in a variety of colors to match your wedding.  Brides can email Wine Wipes at info@winewipes.com to receive a FREE compact with their order.

Purchase a 3 pack for $18.00.  Each compact comes with 20 wipes and a mirror.

Congratulations Donya and Robert!

Donya and Robert were married on Saturday, June 6th at Reflection Bay Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas.  Here's a preview of their wedding day. More photos and a fantastic video to come in the next few days. Thank you to the team at Digs!