Dazzle 'Em Event Design

Happy Parents, Happy Bride, Happy Wedding Planner!

2011-03-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

Katie,

Thank you for all you did. We were so pleased with our destination wedding experience. From the initial information you provided in such a professional manner when Claire was searching for a wedding event planner to your unruffled flexibility in making last minute changes during the wedding evening, you have been FABULOUS! Claire's wedding would not have so special and so perfect if we had not had you the whole way.

As parents, as you know, when your children are involved in meaningful events, all you want is for your child to feel that the event happens in the way they want it to be. For Claire, that is exactly how she felt her wedding was. She left us a note in our hotel room before she left on her honeymoon. Her note said, "Thank you, Mom and Dad, for everything. I loved every minute and I wouldn't have changed a thing."

I guess that really says it all. Del and I feel we had the time of our lives as well. We couldn't have dreamed of anything more fun and more detail oriented that could go off so perfectly. And for a dad who had to sport the bill, Del said we owe the great time all to you. He was amazed at the ease at which you handled everything and how carefully you executed the events. The end of the evening was hard for him; I think dads have a difficult time letting go of their "little girls" even when they are all grown up. But, we have the most most wonderful memories of a a great weekend. We went to dinner last night with one of the couples who came to the wedding, and that is all they could talk about. They loved it, too.

We would be honored to be a referral for you any time. We can not say enough positive things. I wish we had another daughter, so we could do it all again.

Sincerely, Candy (Bride's Mother)

Transport Info: Getting from the Cabo airport to your hotel

2011-02-28T12:17:00.000-08:00

I just received an email from one of my March brides where her brother was asking her, "How do I get from the airport to the hotel?" Like the smart bride she is, she forwarded the question to me, and I responded to him. I thought my response could help ALL Cabo brides and their guests with this excellent question. Please feel free to forward to YOUR guests.

From the Cabo airport, there are several ways to get to your hotel. But the first rule is, unless you truly are interested in a timeshare opportunity and/or presentation, KEEP WALKING. Walk through the indoor portion of the airport after you pass through customs and continue outdoors. All people in between customs and outside are time share sales reps.

Outside, there are 2 options: taxis (cost approx $40-75 for a trip into San Jose del Cabo or all the way into Cabo) or a bus (big blue bus outside the airport). These are shuttle buses that for approx $15/pp will drop you at your hotel. But please do remember that these buses will stop at several other hotels as well as they make their way into Cabo. With all transport, make sure you confirm the price before you get in the transport.

If you are interested in a timeshare, once you sign up, the timeshare sales rep will usually give you a ticket for a free ride on the big blue bus (or occasionally, a van shuttle).

Private transport can also be set up ahead of time. You can email directly Enrique Mora at Los Cabos Travel (reservations@dmcloscabostravel.com) to reserve a Marquis, van or other transport.

Safe travels! Katie

La Panga Rehearsal Dinner- A Night To Remember

2010-08-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

BRIDE & GROOM: Molly & Trey
REHEARSAL DINNER DATE: May 21, 2010
REHEARSAL DINNER LOCATION: La Panga Restaurant, Cabo San Lucas
GUEST COUNT: 36 guests

AN AUTHENTIC MEXICAN DINNER EXPERIENCE:
Molly & Trey wanted an authentic yet private area for their Mexican themed Rehearsal Dinner. La Panga is the perfect choice. The 2nd floor balcony was private for their group, while downstairs the restaurant was able to seat their usual guests.
REHEARSAL DINNER COORDINATION:
OK, that's me, directing the event, as usual. Yes, coordination for your Rehearsal Dinner is included in my Wedding Coordination fees. And La Panga is one of my top recommendations. The location is perfect for a "night on the town" (at Squid Roe or Mandala or Cabo Wabo) after your dinner.

ENTERTAINMENT:

Don't forget to add musical entertainment to your Rehearsal Dinner. (You would never have a wedding without music; the same applies to your Rehearsal Dinner.)

BEVERAGES: A good mojito is hard to find...and this was a great one. Notice the cute Mexican themed placecards...

A beautiful environment...

Beautiful toasts...(from Molly's sister-in-law)...

A beautiful (and fun) evening!

Photography courtesy of Robert Baudier: www.robertbaudier.com

A Breathtaking Bride at Casa del Mar

2010-08-18T15:05:00.000-07:00

BRIDE & GROOM: Molly & Trey
WEDDING DATE: May 22, 2009
WEDDING LOCATION: Casa del Mar resort, Cabo San Lucas.
GUEST COUNT: 36 guests

"Katie...you should feel free to toot your own horn. You made the wedding what it was. We couldn't have done it without you."

-Molly (Bride)

THE CEREMONY:

The walkway at Casa del Mar is so long & beautiful, affording all wedding guests a great view of the beautiful bride as she walks down the aisle (below, Molly is escorted by her dad). Molly decorated her ceremony chairs with beautiful orange sashes & orange starfish. With the orange petals & the vases filled with orange lilies decorating the aisleway, this ceremony was gorgeous!

A RESORT'S ARCHITECTURE:

One of the great things about having a destination wedding at a gorgeous resort is that the architecture lends itself to such beautiful wedding photos. Casa del Mar is well-known for having really beautiful gardens and fabulous Old Mexican buildings. These are NOT photos you can get in the USA.

RECEPTION DECOR:
Sometimes something as simple as colored glassware and cute photos from the bride & groom's elementary school days are all you need to set a classy and cute table. Molly's colors were turquoise and orange, so the turquoise glassware was perfect. (This is an affordable and easy rental item that you can rent in Cabo.) We also decorated the tables with orange starfish & white shells...lovely!

CASA DEL MAR BEACH CLUB:

This beach club (private, right on the beach, with a pool) is such an ideal location for a reception. It is often difficult to find a truly private location at a resort...but not here. And the palapa is true Cabo! We lined the long walkway to the beach club with luminaries. When these are all lit up at night, it is a fantastic exit for both the bride & groom and all of the guests when the festivities are over.

Photos courtesy of Robert Baudier at http://www.robertbaudier.com/. Beautiful!

Everything she wanted - at El Dorado

2010-06-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

BRIDE & GROOM: Susan & Duke

WEDDING DATE: May 30, 2009
WEDDING LOCATION: Private Villa, El Dorado Beach & Golf Club

GUEST COUNT: 30 guests

Susan & Duke are a very special couple and wanted to get married at their home in Cabo. I stepped in to help design their event & it truly turned into a dream come true. Their villa is gorgeous and was the perfect setting. We brought in some rentals to change the decor a bit as this helps your home to accomodate more guests than you might normally entertain at home.

Susan's bouquet (and all of her gorgeous flowers) were supplied by my dear friends, Francince & Donna, at Cabo Flowers. It included imported ivory cala lilies, green hydrangea, jade and ivory roses, white lysianthus and Belles of Ireland for the greenery. As peonies are very difficult to get in Cabo, these flowers together produce a "peony" look that Susan loved.

A grass wedding overlooking the beach is sometimes the perfect alternative to an actual beach ceremony (a feet in the sand wedding, as I call it). Susan & Duke held their ceremony on their side yard, with a view of the Sea of Cortez. An amazing vista! And the white petals looked stunning on the very green grass. (Hint: For a beach wedding, white petals disappear. Use bright colored petals on sand whenever possible. But on grass..wow, the white just pops.)

A classic Cabo wedding shot! Just Married. (Bring these flip-flops with you from the US.)

Doesn't this look like the most romantic spot, straight from a magazine? After viewing the villa while the bride & groom were in the States, Cabo Flowers, Lazy Gourmet Catering & I wanted to transform Susan & Duke's pool area into a dreamy romantic area for their guests (and for them.) This is an example of how a poolside chaise was "magically" changed into a special wedding nook. We draped the structure of the chaise with the flowing curtains, added the flowers, cylinder candles, candleabras, and pillows. Voila! A very beautiful spot. (Rentals provided by Cabo Flowers and Lazy Gourmet.)

We set one long table and also included a Kids Table. As guests ate during sunset, the flowers lit up and the candles glowed. I can not speak highly enough of the quality of food & service that is provided by Lazy Gourmet Catering. No need to ever go anywhere else! The meal they provided for Susan & Duke was unforgettable!

The cake was another beautiful creation from the very talented Deena at Sweet Dreams. What everyone loves about her cakes is that they are not only a joy to look at but they are DELICIOUS as well. (Can you tell that I love my vendors? I have worked hard to assemble the BEST team of vendors in Cabo. I work with only the most high quality, professional vendors, and I think it shows in the beauty of the final product...your wedding!)

A perfect ending to a glorious night...fireworks! My secret to amazing fireworks? Pay for 3 minutes of fireworks condensed into 2 minutes. Never a dull moment...and 3 minutes of fireworks is too long anyways.

Thanks to the fabulous photographer, Phyllis Lane, for these amazing shots. Thanks also to Beth Dalton for her assistance on this wedding as well. Both these ladies are the greatest.

I wish Susan & Duke many, many happy days & nights together!

A Beautiful Blend: An Indian/Mexican wedding

2010-06-14T11:38:00.000-07:00

BRIDE & GROOM: Brenda & Girish
WEDDING DATE: Oct. 10, 2009
WEDDING LOCATION: Sheraton Hacienda del Mar
GUEST COUNT: 188 guests

I first met this couple over a year and a half ago. After a postponement due to the swine flu outbreak, Brenda & Girish were finally able to spend the week-end celebrating their special day with friends & family from all over the globe. (Guests came from India, the Mexican mainland, Europe and the US.) And they celebrated it in style...in fact, this wedding was featured in a November feature in In Touch magazine in an article appropriately titled, "I Want To Have A Wedding Like A Celebrity."
Brenda & Girish were truly living out their wedding dreams with all of the fun & romance of their Cabo wedding week-end. Aren't these the cutest flower girls ever?

To access over a 100 photos (taken by the wonderful Cabo photographer, Manuel Burgoin, http://www.weddingsinloscabos.com/), please access these 2 websites & browse the slideshows.

http://www.weddingsinloscabos.com/photos/2009/brenda_girish_details/

http://www.weddingsinloscabos.com/photos/2009/brenda_girish/

Also, here is a run-down of Brenda & Girish's events...hopefully this will provide other brides with some great information on how to plan a spectacular event.

Thursday - Sangheet:

Brenda & Girish started their wedding celebrations off with a fun & beautiful Indian Sangheet. As part of the 3-night Indian wedding celebration, this is the night to really have fun, to party, to eat & drink, to celebrate with performances and dancing. Most of the guests came in traditional Indian dress, and the decor was bright and fabulous. They utilized their theme colors of orange & fuchsia but also brought in modern brown to emphasize that this was more of a lounge party than a wedding celebration. Lounge furniture and lighted tables surrounded the dance floor, and the couple had their own love seat where they sat to watch their friends and family as they performed dances for them in a Bollywood fashion. The couple used lots of amber uplighting and a spotlight over the dance floor to set the mood for this lavish party. What a way to welcome their guests!

Friday - Rehearsal Dinner:

Because Brenda is Mexican-American (and because the wedding was in Cabo!) the couple decided that their next event would have a Mexican theme. They invited all of their guests on Friday night for a casual but fun Mexican fiesta buffet. The bar was set up under the palapa, Mexican serapes decorated the tables & the buffet, and a Mexican Trio serenaded guests as they ate & drank under the globe lighting. Guests could come & go as they pleased and Girish & Brenda actually had a chance to really chat & visit with their guests. The Fiesta ended at 9:30pm but that was not the end of the celebrations for the evening. The couple and 125 of their "younger" guests than boarded buses and headed for the Baja Cantina on the Beach. There they had what is called a "Youngster Party" directly on the sand, feet from the surf, with DJ music, late night cocktails & hor d'ouevres.

Saturday - Wedding Ceremony & Reception:

After 2 nights of fantastic parties, it was time for the actual wedding celebration. The ceremony was at the gorgeous DeCortez Beach, where guests walked on coco mats to the private ceremony location, looking out at crashing waves, as the sun set behind them. The bridesmaids, junior bridesmaids & flowers girls were so pretty in their very colorful Indian sundresses, perfect for a Cabo wedding. The bride was gorgeous in an ivory gown which she had specially enhanced with Indian accents. The Mandap (a version of the chuppah) was decorated in the theme colors of orange, fuchsia & yellow. A Classical Trio played traditional Mexican music for the ceremony.

Guests adjourned to the DeCortez terrace for drinks, while the couple and their bridal party of 23 continued to take photos on the beach and in the midst of some of the beautiful Sheraton gardens & architecture.

The reception was held in the Sheraton Ballroom, which had been transformed into a wonderland with the help of expert draping & lighting from PSAV on the Sheraton property. Tables were draped in camel/gold linens with orange crush runners, accented with gold chargers, orange napkins, and table arrangements that included three vases of lilies, roses, and mums, all tied with gold ribbon. With a fabulous DJ and 2 witty MCs, the guests were enthralled with toasts, a funny DVD production (from some of Girish's groomsmen who are in film school) and lastly with dancing & wonderful food & desserts that lasted until 2 in the morning.

Congratulations to this lovely couple...best wishes always!

El Dorado Elegance - Paulina & Mike

2010-06-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

BRIDE & GROOM: Paulina & Mike
WEDDING DATE: Sat, April 17, 2010
LOCATION: Rehearsal Dinner: Private Villa, Wedding & Reception: El Dorado Beach & Golf Club
NUMBER OF GUESTS: 68

Back Story:

I met Paulina's mom, Rocio, in the midst of coordinating an earlier El Dorado wedding (see previous blog for Heather & Alan's wedding.) She saw how beautiful Heather & Alan's wedding was and said, "I know my daughter, Paulina, wants her wedding to be here too." From that moment on, Rocio & I hit it off, and her daughter, Paulina, the bride, was just as beautiful and gracious as her mother. We had a great year together planning Paulina & Mike's wedding. (I also did Rocio's wedding on El Dorado's yacht, El Discovery, soon after we met...but that is another story...and another blog...)

The Ceremony Decor:

Paulina had a great sense of color and knew she wanted to include a chandelier in her ceremony decor. I drove this chandelier down the Baja from California, and it is now a rental item available for other brides as well. It was truly a gorgeous addition to Paulina's chuppah!

The Flowers:

All of Paulina's flowers (for all 3 of her Cabo events: a Welcome dinner, a Rehearsal Dinner & the actual wedding) were supplied by Cabo Flowers & Cakes. I work with the owners, Francine & Donna, often and their flowers were once again...amazing! The Matron of Honor did the flower's ribbon wrapping herself...as a special gift to the bride. She used the lace from Paulina's dress & it was gorgeous.

It was a warm day for the ceremony (although the weather was truly beautiful) so we planned Agua Frescas to be given to all the guests as they got seated for the ceremony.The Reception:

After the beautiful beach ceremony, we transported the guests up to El Dorado's Mercado. Paulina wanted to create an old world (and very romantic) Mexican hacienda feel for the reception. With the gorgeous rentals from Lazy Gourmet, we achieved her dream.

Special extras that made the night:

Paulina & Mike wanted to be sure that their guests were treated like royalty all night long and so they planned many extra-special events and surprises throughout the night. Some of these included: sparklers for all the guests, which we lit as the acoustic guitarist (Daryl is the best!) played their favorite song as they entered the dinner area, fireworks that exploded in the night sky as the couple shared their first dance, mariachis that showed up playing "La Pastel" ("The Cake") as the bride & groom cut their cake, ice shot glasses, a late night taco cart & more.

The cake, provided by Deena at Sweet Dreams Cabo, tasted as good as it looked. We provided slices of the cake as part of a delicious dessert buffet along with flaming Mexican coffees.

Photo credit: Beautiful photos by Anna Kuperberg, photographer from San Francisco. www.kuperberg.com

Best wishes, Paulina & Mike...happiness forever!

Coronado Wedding: Jessica & Joe

2009-05-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

“Thank you for everything. You were wonderful and we could not have done this without you. I will definitely be writing a letter and anything else you need from me…

Never will I throw a wedding without you!”

-Jennifer, Mother of the Bride

(who has 2 other daughters close in age to Jessica)

BRIDE & GROOM: Jessica & Joe
WEDDING DATE: April 25, 2009
LOCATION:
Ceremony at Sacred Heart Church, Coronado.
Reception at the Island Club on the Coronado Naval Base
GUEST COUNT: 300

PRE-CEREMONY: This was one of those beautiful hometown weddings, that just sparkled with happiness, fun & lots of love. Jessica's home is just blocks from the church where she & Joe married, so she had a great time walking to the church with her large group of bridesmaids & flowergirls.

(Beautiful flowers courtesy of Diane's Flowers Please)

CEREMONY: The ceremony was a full Catholic Mass and the church was filled with 300 of the couple's friends & family. After the ceremony, bagpipes played as they were escorted down the aisle, now as Mr. & Mrs.

PHOTO SHOOT: After the ceremony and gorgeous family photos in the Park, Jessica, Joe & the bridal party of 24 got into a private bus with homemade Mojitos and traveled around Coronado, from one fabulous photo op to another.

Jacob Willis from Bauman Photography did a great job capturing the warm spirit of this group, and was a good sport, going along in the shuttle bus to capture every moment.

RECEPTION: The Island Club on the Naval Base was the perfect location for this fun-loving crowd of 300! And Jessica & Joe & their bridal party knew just how to start it off...with a rendition of the Footloose dance, where the girls all wore their Converse tennis shoes and the guys stripped down to fake tuxedo T-shirts, with their nicknames on the back. They rocked the house...and showed some real talent as well.

Of course, they included many traditional elements as well as Joe & Jessica shared their first dance together.

Check out the cutest cake ever, showcasing both Jessica & Joe as cake toppers.

(Cake provided by European Cake Gallery)

Celebrating at Sunset Da Mona Lisa

2009-03-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

"Thank you so much for all that you did for Jess and me. We had such an amazing time and could not have wished for a better wedding. Thank you!! We are really looking forward to getting the photos and video."

-Morley, the groom

BRIDE & GROOM: Jessica & Morley

WEDDING DATE: March 13, 2009

LOCATION: Ceremony & dinner at Sunset Da Mona Lisa, Reception/Dancing upstairs at the DG Lounge, Cabo San Lucas

GUEST COUNT: 24

Just because your guest count may be small, it does not mean you need to sacrifice the dreams you have always had for a fabulous, elegant and romantic wedding. Jessica & Morley had both the intimate ceremony overlooking the famous Arch that they had always dreamed of...and a party location where all of their guests could enjoy themselves all night, dancing and drinking special signature drinks created just for them by the couple in the urban, funky, ultra-hip DG Lounge. This was a very unique and effective way to utilize this location for this size of a wedding.

(Making it legal with a Cabo Judge after the spiritual ceremony.)

WEDDING HIGHLIGHTS:

CELEBRATION & VACATION: Jessica & Morley truly showed their appreciation to their guests, making them feel like the celebrities who often come to Cabo. They rented 2 amazing villas in Pedregal where they and their guests could stay (and also provided massages & salon treatments for those who wanted it). They provided a festive Mexican rehearsal dinner, the incredible wedding & reception, and a sunset cruise for all of their guests for the day after the wedding. It was literally a vacation AND a celebration for all involved.

DJ: I ran into several of Jessica & Morley's guests the day after the wedding as they were shopping in downtown Cabo. They stopped me on the street, told me how much they loved the wedding and especially how awesome the DJ was for the late night party. Perfect music can make a perfect night. Good job, Augustin (my DJ that night!)

MOJITOS: Mango, strawberry & lime. What else needs to be said!

DELICIOUS WEDDING CAKE: Not only gorgeous, but also very tasty!

(The edging on the cake matched the edging on their wedding invitation. So beautiful!)

Photos supplied by Manuel Burgoin.

True Love on the SDML Terraces

2009-03-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

BRIDE & GROOM: Jill & Adam
WEDDING DATE: February 27, 2009
LOCATION: Sunset Da Mona Lisa restaurant, Cabo San Lucas
GUEST COUNT: 54

I first met Jill & Adam a year ago when they came to Cabo to do a site tour. They were unsure of where to have their wedding, and we viewed 5 or 6 potential locations. It was a tough decision but something about Sunset Da Mona Lisa spoke to them and they knew that, with a buy-out there, they could have the gorgeous sunset ceremony they were dreaming of AND a rocking party afterwards. They wanted their guests to have fun! And that is exactly what happened the last week-end in February 2009 as they celebrated their beautiful wedding in Cabo. Take a look at their photos and see why they had THIS to say about their wedding day:

"Katie, We cannot thank you enough for everything that you did to make our wedding day absolutely perfect! We couldn't have asked for anything more and it was truly the best day of our lives! Everyone was raving about how everything turned out and said it was the best wedding they've ever been to...and you can't beat that location:) Thanks again...it was truly amazing."

WEDDING HIGHLIGHTS:

MEXICAN COFFEES: Jill & Adam added some great extras to their wedding, such as the Flaming Mexican Coffee, with Kahlua & Tequila. Not only do these coffees taste delicious, but they are a show in themselves, as the waiters drip fire as they pour the coffee. Their guests loved this!

USING THE RESTAURANT'S COLORS: Jill decided early on that she loved the colors of the Sunset Da Mona Lisa restaurant just as they were, and so she chose those colors as her wedding colors (khaki, brown, terracota and she added in green). She was then able to use the restaurant's own linens, overlays, chargers, napkins & chairs, rather than having to bring in rental items. She chose a very organic look for the table centerpieces that matched perfectly as well. Not only was the look fabulous, but this saved her money that they could then use for other things...like Mexican Coffees.

VIEW YOUR WEDDING AS A LIFE EXPERIENCE: Jill & Adam were legally married at the local Cabo judge's chamber and had a great time with their witnesses and Judge Carlos. They got a rare glimpse of Cabo life away from the tourism (accompanied by me, their local guide). Dressed in their Cubs sports attire, they celebrated their civil union right up the stairs from a local taco stand.

Photos supplied by Gilda Badillo.

Sunset Da Mona Lisa in Cabo- The best view of the arch

2009-03-10T14:22:00.001-07:00

One of the things I love about being a wedding coordinator is helping confused couples find the PERFECT location for their PERFECT wedding. Every couple is different and every couple has a different budget, but we all know when we have fallen in love with a location! It feels like, "Wow, this is THE place."

For the next month or so, I am going to highlight some breathtaking wedding locations where I have done quite a few fabulous weddings. These are locations where I know your wedding will be a huge success, where your guests will literally be in awe when they enter for your special night. I truly only recommend those locations where my past experience proves that your event will be flawless, stress-free...and dazzling!

SUNSET DA MONA LISA RESTAURANT:

(This is the real sunset - this is not edited!)

TERRACES: These terraces (there are 2, one small/medium, one larger) are the most gorgeous location for a wedding ceremony, especially for the bride who does not want her feet (literally) in the sand. The view of the arch is unobstructed and when the sun sets, sitting on these terraces, you will truly feel like you are in heaven.

(Smaller terrace)

(Larger terrace)

Usually, the ceremony & the cocktail hour takes place out on the terraces. Then, there are 2 dinner location options:

THE PALAPA (for a buy-out) or THE SALON (another location where you can have your dinner & dancing, without buying out the entire restaurant.)

(The Palapa area)

(The usual location for the head table under the palapa)

(Exterior view of the Salon)

(Inside the Salon area)

BEACH PHOTOS: While the beach is not easily reached, it is accessible with a bit of driving on a short dirt road in the photographer's car. (Hey, it's Cabo!) Then, the bride & groom can take those famous Cabo beach couple's photos (and it's worth extra effort.)

Photos courtesy of Manuel Burgoin and Gilda Badillo.

Wedding showcased - The Knot magazine

2009-03-04T12:04:00.000-08:00

I have had weddings featured on the Knot website, on Oxygen channel's Platinum Weddings and in several other bridal magazines, but this is a first for me...to have a wedding featured in the Destination Wedding portion of Knot magazine. I'm thrilled and a huge thanks to photographer, Leigh Miller, who submitted it. She also was sweet enough to send me a copy of the article so I could share it on my blog. This was truly a LOVELY wedding, at Casa del Mar in Cabo San Lucas. Magazine available now at your local bookstore!

An Enchanted El Dorado wedding - Photos

2009-03-03T06:30:00.000-08:00

I raved about this wedding in an earlier blog, just after I returned from coordinating Heather & Alan's wedding. Now, I have received the photos, and I am so excited to share them! (It takes about 3 weeks to receive the photos from the photographer, Manuel Burgoin, and they look incredible.)

Meet Heather, the bride...she is truly model material and she had a special glow about her that day.And here is Alan, her true love:

Together, they are a magical match made in heaven. (I know, cliche, but true!)

Heather did her pre-ceremony photography at her father's home in Cabo

The bridesmaids & bride processed down a very long rock staircase that was spectacular, lending itself to these gorgeous pictures.

Heather & Alan's ceremony was officiated by Heather's step-dad, which is a great way to have a very intimate, funny & special ceremony. Who else knows you both better, and can truly share what your love is about, than someone in your family?

The reception was held at the Mercado area at El Dorado. Guests were transported by my awesome transport guys (who moved 140 guests for 3 days to and from a multitude of locations for events this week-end!) from the ceremony area and were greeted with a Mexican Trio and incredible hors d'ouvres. This is the time when the bride & groom get to take those beautiful "Cabo" wedding beach photos.

The reception decor at this wedding was gorgeous...Romantic Old World Mexican!

For entertainment, Heather & Alan had an acoustic guitarist play during dinner, a live band, Cabo Max play from 9-12, and then a DJ play from 12 midnight to 2:30am.

Heather's choice of an elegant sea shell wedding cake was a perfect choice. (Cake supplied by the very talented Deena at Sweet Dreams.)

(I love the details here...the little pearl inside the clam shell on top of the cake!)

The night would not have been complete without the amazing fireworks!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS BEAUTIFUL COUPLE!

2008 Recap: Part 2

2009-02-07T13:03:00.000-08:00

In Part 1, published in January, I showcased 8 of my beautiful 2008 weddings...

Now I'd like to share with you a few more that I truly loved! And please check back periodically on my blog as I continue to share the unique and special 2009 weddings I am producing as well.

But...back to 2008...

BRIDE & GROOM: Rachel & Bryan

WEDDING DATE: June 21, 2008

LOCATION: Sheraton Hacienda del Mar - Palapa Fiesta

GUEST COUNT: 36

“Thanks, Katie!! I appreciate all the work you have done for the wedding, the actual wedding day, and the check up and congrats after the wedding. I couldn't have asked for a more organized and better wedding planner. You are so nice to work with and I hope to see continued success in your career.”

-Rachel

BRIDE & GROOM: Mindy & Jeff

WEDDING LOCATION: Sheraton Hacienda del Mar- Ceremony at DeCortez Beach, Reception on DeCortez Terrace

GUEST COUNT: Sat, July 19, 2008

“Thank you so much for all that you did in preparation of our wedding last weekend. Everything was beyond my expectations and beyond my wildest dreams! We had a blast and so did all of our guests and that was what was most important to me. I have you to thank for everything!!!”

-Mindy

BRIDE & GROOM: Tara & Chris
WEDDING DATE: Nov. 10, 2009
LOCATION: Casa del Mar - Beach ceremony, reception at the Casa del Mar Beach Club
GUEST COUNT: 82
ADDITIONAL EVENTS: Rehearsal Dinner at Pancho's Restaurant

"Thank you so much for everything, we can't imagine changing a thing. The wedding was absolutely wonderful and we had the best time. We have watched the video 3 times already! Our time in Cabo was amazing and we will treasure the memories forever. Thank you so much for everything you did for us, everyone has raved about both parties, Welcome Dinner and the Wedding. We are very proud to have used you as our coordinator and would highly recommend you to anyone else planning a wedding in Los Cabos. Muchas Gracias!!"

-Tara

BRIDE & GROOM: Bianca & Eric

WEDDING DATE: June 22, 2008

LOCATION: Dreams Resort

GUEST COUNT: 52

ADDITIONAL EVENTS: Rehearsal dinner at Pancho's Restaurant

“Thank you so much for all that you did to make our day PERFECT!! …We were truly impressed with you . The rehearsal dinner at Panchos was wonderful too…All of the vendors you recommended were wonderful and far better than I ever expected I would get in Cabo. Initially I thought that by having the wedding in Mexico I might have to lower some of the expectations that I had, however that was not the case at all! The flowers were beautiful, Velinda did my hair and make-up perfect, the cigar roller was a HUGE hit, I could go on and on… Please feel free to pass along my name as a reference if you should need to and if anyone I know is getting married in Cabo I will definitely recommend you and WIP!!”

To view a slideshow of Bianca & Eric's photos from their wedding, please click on this link.

Bianca & Eric's Special Day - A Slideshow

BRIDE & GROOM:
WEDDING DATE:
LOCATION:
GUEST COUNT:
ADDITIONAL EVENTS:

Sheraton Sweeties: Nicole & Scott

2009-02-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

"Thanks so much!

I cannot even begin to tell you how much we enjoyed Saturday - it was PERFECT! Thank you again for your amazing-ness!!!"

-Nicole (bride)

BRIDE & GROOM: Nicole & Scott

WEDDING DATE: January 3, 2009

LOCATION: Beach Ceremony at the Sheraton's Tortuga Beach & Reception at the Sheraton's Palapa Fiesta
GUEST COUNT: 35 guests

Nicole & Scott have been sweethearts since high school and their love for each other really showed in their special ceremony and fun reception. Nicole wanted to keep everything beachy & bright, and her choice of navy & yellow really showed that. The sunflowers were a hit! And they are a hardy & affordable flower, even in Cabo. The couple and most of the guests were from Texas, and Texans are truly a friendly and happy group of people.

Photos by Gilda Badillo

VENDOR HIGHLIGHTS:

Sheraton's Bonfire: Nicole & Scott continued their party after dinner by inviting all of their guests back down to the Tortuga Beach for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a post-wedding bonfire. With an IPOD playing some great party music as the guests lounged on the sand and in beach lounge chairs, the flames kept everyone warm and happy. The Sheraton does a great job of setting this up "on the sly" so that your guests are truly surprised when you invite them down to the beach to continue celebrating.

http://www.sheratonloscabos.com/

Sparklers: Imagine standing on the beach, as your guests form a "tunnel of sparklers." That's what Nicole & Scott did, and then they exited through this tunnel and left for their honeymoon stay at Las Ventanas. These wedding sparklers are not the old sparklers you remember as a kid on the 4th of July. These are custom built sparklers (made by our fireworks guys) that are extra-long and last for about 5 minutes, providing a mini-fireworks display. When you're done with them, you put them out in the sand. A great inexpensive way to add MEMORIES to your wedding day.

'08 Recap: 22 Amazing Weddings (Pt 1)

2009-01-22T11:07:00.000-08:00

22 weddings! I can't believe I had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful brides, grooms, and families last year...truly a historic year for me as I produced some of the loveliest weddings of my career. I loved having the opportunity to plan with and share in these couples' most intimate and romantic moments as they exchanged their wedding vows. Please take a "walk" through 2008 with me (this is Part 1)...as we look at some of the photos and reminisce about these fairy-tale beach weddings...where my brides were all princesses, my grooms were all knights in shining armor (or flip-flops!), and the couples continue to live happily ever after.

Note: These are not in chronological order. Enjoy!

* * * * *

BRIDE and GROOM: Melody & Ross

WEDDING DATE: April 26, 2008

LOCATION: Villa Amanda - private villa, Cabo

GUEST COUNT: 70

“Thank you again so much for the most beautiful evening and for working so hard. I couldn't have gotten through the day without your help… It will forever be the most memorable and wonderful evening in my life!!”
Melody (Bride)

(Photos by Daniel Jireh)

* * * * *

BRIDE and GROOM: Rachel & Mike

WEDDING DATE: April 12, 2008

LOCATION: Fiesta Americana Imperial Suite, Cabo

GUEST COUNT: 110

ADDITIONAL EVENTS:

-Bridesmaid luncheon at Pancho's Restaurant

-Rehearsal Dinner at Cabo del Sol Golf Clubhouse

MORE PHOTOS AT: http://www.michaelandrachel.com/

“Thank you for making my vision come true…Mike and I, my parents and our guests were absolutely blown away by the night. Everything was exactly as I imagined. Seriously, everything was perfect and beautiful. Thank you to you, your assistants, the Flower Cart and all of the vendors that helped make the evening truly magical. Please thank Velinda, again, for making me beautiful and send a special thanks to the DJ for playing awesome songs from my playlist and NOT playing HOT, HOT, HOT or YMCA. :) The fantastic white dance floor was packed all night."
-Rachel (Bride)

(Photos by Gilda Badillo)

* * * * *

BRIDE and GROOM: Traci & Brock

WEDDING DATE: Oct. 5, 2008

LOCATION: Casa del Mar

GUEST COUNT: 74

"Thank you so very much for handling my son's (and now, daughter-in-law’s) wedding…everything was so beautiful & surreal for me & I speak for the others!! I've never seen Brock & Traci as radiant & beautiful as I did during their vows to one another…Again, I thank you so much for all you did to make this all go so very smoothly for Traci & Brock."
-Kathy (Mother of the groom)

(Photos by Manuel Burgoin)

* * * * *

BRIDE and GROOM: Melissa & Jeff

WEDDING DATE: Feb. 19, 2008

LOCATION: Sunset Da Mona Lisa restaurant

GUEST COUNT: 18

ADDITIONAL EVENTS:-Rehearsal dinner at Pancho's Restaurant.

(Photos by Gilda Badillo)

* * * * *

BRIDE and GROOM: Erin & Trevor
WEDDING DATE: July 5, 2008

LOCATION: Sheraton Hacienda del Mar - Palapa Fiesta

GUEST COUNT: 76

Check out this link and see a great video showcasing this adorable couple. It's also a chance to check out the creative and talented Angel Zapien, videographer.

http://angelzapien.com/?page_id=6

“Hi Katie, Thank you so much for EVERYTHING you did for us!! It truly was all we could have hoped for and more!! I can't wait to see the photos that Manuel took :)… I would absolutely love to be a reference for you!! I loved everything you did for us… We miss Cabo sooo much! We are so sad to be home:( “
-Erin (Bride)

* * * * *

BRIDE and GROOM: Christi & Mohammed

WEDDING DATE: June 1, 2008

LOCATION: Dreams Resort, Beach ceremony & Ocean Terrace reception

GUEST COUNT: 35

ADDITIONAL EVENTS:-Rehearsal dinner at Pancho's Restaurant

“Many, many thanks for orchestrating a most perfect wedding for us. Everyone said it was so much fun and how well everything came together. We watched the video last night and laughed and cried at the beauty of the entire event...we could not have done it without you!...You've been a huge part of my life for the last 6 months and I'm going to miss you like crazy.”
-Christi (Bride)

* * * * *

BRIDE and GROOM: Melissa & Matt

WEDDING DATE: June 7, 2008

LOCATION: Fiesta Americana, Beach ceremony, Whales Terrace Reception

GUEST COUNT: 73

“You did a fantastic job. Thank you for making it such a memorable experience for everyone…We can't wait to see the pictures. If we ever hear of anyone planning to marry in Cabo, we'll send them your way!”
-Melissa & Matt (Bride & Groom)

* * * * *

BRIDE and GROOM: Jennifer & Robert

WEDDING DATE: June 6, 2008

LOCATION: Sheraton Hacienda del Mar, Chapel ceremony, DeCortez Terrace Reception

GUEST COUNT: 37

ADDITIONAL EVENTS:-Rehearsal Dinner at Pancho's Restaurant

El Dorado Elegance: Heather & Alan

2009-01-22T08:49:00.000-08:00

Heather & Alan (Bride & Groom)

“Hi Katie, thanks again for all of the work you put in to make our wedding perfect. The event went so smoothly and our friends described it as both magical and effortless (which we all know it wasn't!!) Really though, we had the time of our lives and we couldn't have done it without you.” -Heather

“We'd also like to serve as a reference should you ever need us. The compliments we're receiving and our absolutely thrilled parents (not to mention the happiest weekend of our lives) are at your disposal. Also, please thank your assistants -- they did a great job as well.”

– Alan

BRIDE & GROOM: Heather & Alan
WEDDING DATE: January 18, 2009
LOCATION: Beach Ceremony & Reception at the Mercado. El Dorado Golf & Beach Club, Cabo San Lucas.
GUEST COUNT: 118 guests
ADDITIONAL EVENTS:
-Rehearsal Dinner at Morgan's Encore, San Jose del Cabo.
-Welcome Dinner at Sunset Da Mona Lisa Restaurant, Cabo.

I had the pleasure of planning and coordinating a truly unique and especially memorable wedding for this wonderful couple, Heather & Alan, who traveled from Manhattan to Cabo for their special day. They celebrated their amazing wedding this past week-end at a truly beautiful, romantic, and exclusive location...the El Dorado Beach and Golf Club in Cabo San Lucas (yes, there were Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel sightings throughout the set up of the wedding).
It was such a fun wedding, with everything from the most amazing fireworks I have ever seen (5 minutes worth shot up into the sky in 3 minutes, to provide a truly spectacular show!) to a live band with the huge lights and a great playlist, a guitarist who serenaded the group from a balcony, and not only the most fabulous dinner served but a delicious salsa and guacamole bar with the hors d'ouevres and a late night taco bar serving fresh grilled carne (beef), chicken and shrimp. Guests were dazzled with fabulous food and entertainment from 4 in the afternoon until 2:30am in the morning. (Their entertainment over the week-end also included a Mariachi band, a Mexican Trio, a Classical Trio, and a late-night DJ.) For the decor, see the upcoming photos for a glimpse at the gorgeous flowers provided by The Flower Cart (http://www.tfccabo.com)and/ the unique linens and rental decor items from Del Cabo Event Design(http://www.delcaboeventdesign.com/) that provided the perfect atmosphere for romance.

WEDDING PICTURES COMING SOON (provided by Manuel Burgoin, http://www.weddingsinloscabos.com/)

VENDOR HIGHLIGHTS:

Transportation: This wedding required tons of transportation (a huge thanks to Los Cabos Travel) as we moved over 120 guests from many different locations over a period of 3 days. My transportation vendor ROCKED and there was not one mishap or lost guest. When I hire a transport company, it is very important that they be FLEXIBLE. We had guests that needed to go to locations not on the official list, and my transport company was happy to help...even at 2:30 in the morning.

Rental Chuppah: This rental item is so gorgeous! Worth every penny! Remember, while the actual wedding ceremony goes quickly, the photos last a lifetime. Sometimes one big ticket item like this can truly change the look and feel of your whole wedding.