Photo credit:  Jason Q Tran Photography

Photo credit:  Jason Q Tran Photography

Photo credit:  Jason Q Tran Photography

Photo credit:  Jason Q Tran Photography

Photo credit:  Jason Q Tran Photography

Our wedding day was beautiful and more than I could ever imagine!  I loved my venue, DOC, photographers, hair stylist and florist!  There weren't really any snafus that I know of.  If there were, my DOC did a fantastic job handling it and not telling me.  We had zero no shows which I'm told is very unusual.  During the ring exchange I gave my husband my right hand and he put the ring on and had to take it off when I realized it was the wrong hand! 

We were behind schedule because my make up artist was 45 minutes late. Because of that, we didn't have as much time to take portraits.  

The week before the wedding was extremely busy with my bridal shower, fixing my gown and buying the GM suits (yes the GM didn't buy their suits until the day before the wedding).  Planning from out of state became a challenge and I didn't have the luxury of doing multiple trials or meeting vendors on a whim.  

I hired a Jordana Hazel of Hazelnut Photography to shoot the rehearsal dinner as well.  She captured such great candids.  If you have the extra money to do this, I'd strongly recommend it. 

I was stressed out about the budget and costs adding up so quickly earlier in the planning.  But I never looked at the budget the last two weeks before the wedding.  I gave up on counting pennies and just let it go.  I think that would be my best advice to the brides.  Do all you can with budgeting in the beginning and then right before the wedding if add'l costs incur, just let it go.  It's ok.  I'd suggest setting up a $200-300 petty cash fund to cover misc expenses that arise the final week because it will happen.  You'll love your wedding in the end!!

Good luck!  Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions on my vendors.  I'm still writing reviews on all my vendors.

Here is a list of my very own dream team!  Each vendor made the day that much more special and I'm grateful for their services!

Venue - Ayres Hotel Manhattan Beach:  Matisse Catering   REVIEW POSTED

Day of coordinator - Paola from Just Chic Events            REVIEW POSTED

Florist - Kristin Brancaleone from The Treasured Petal      REVIEW POSTED

Photographers: 

Lead - Jason Q Tran            REVIEW POSTED

Second Photographer - Jonilyn Photography           REVIEW PENDING FINAL WORK

Third Photographer & Photobooth - Natalie Williams     REVIEW POSTED

Videographer - Terry Hanson LA Wedding & Event   REVIEW PENDING FINAL WORK

Rehearsal dinner photographer - Hazelnut Photography  REVIEW POSTED

DJ - Tom Chandler from Cal Sounds   REVIEW POSTED

Lighting - Atmosphere Entertainment   REVIEW POSTED

Specialty vine linens for sweetheart & cake tables - Cloth Connection

Organza overlay linens & crushed satin underlays - Antonia from AC Chair Covers   REVIEW POSTED

Organza chair covers - Maryann from LA Chair Covers


Officiant - FI's parent's family friend who's also a law professor

Bakery - Torrance Bakery: White cake with fresh strawberries and red velvet      REVIEW POSTED

(Amber and Clear Swarovski Crystal Cake charms custom made my DOC Paola of Just Chic Events)

Natural wood folding chair Rentals - Event Professionals   REVIEW POSTED

Engagement pics - Trista Lerit          REVIEW POSTED

Trista shot our e-pics as soon as we got engaged last May. She was booked on our wedding date but I really admire and love her work.

Hair - Huyen Tran        REVIEW POSTED

I loved Huyen (Gwen) and would strongly recommend her!

Alterations - Oliva from A Stitch in Time  REVIEW POSTED

Knee length BM dresses by Maggy London - Ebay

Groom's attire - Hugo Boss from Nordstrom

Groomsman suits - Banana Republic

Bracelet - Etsy seller Dana Saylor      REVIEW POSTED

Chandelier Earrings - White Aisle

Chic personalized wedding gown hanger cover - Etsy seller Holly Sew

The picture is a bit dark but the fabric had an beautiful pattern and the bottom eyelash trim with beading was too adorable!  I need to take a better picture.

Ring Orb - Everyday Artifact

Shoes - Chinese Laundry from Zappos

Custom floral hair pieces for myself and my flower girl - Etsy seller Myra of Twigs and Honey

Custom veil - Candi Merle Crowning Glory    REVIEW POSTED

I bought the dress of my dreams! I'm selling it but need to clean it so if you're interested...msg me!

It's the Monique Lhuillier Camelot gown size 4. An absolute yummy dream!

Measurements are:

Bust 32D or 34C
Waist 26" or 26.25"
Hips 36"
Length - I don't know hollow to hem measurement but I'm 5'1.5" and I wore 4" heels.

My alterations & 10 point ribbon french bustle were done by Olivia of "A Stitch In Time."  LOVED HER!  Contact info above.

1.  R-Mine Couture Wedding Gown - $500 obo (originally $2200) plus shipping

I am a two dress bride (head hanging in shame). I bought this R-Mine Bridal Couture original custom dress from Studio City. But I changed my mind and bought the Monique Lhuillier instead because it's been my dream dress.

It is made of Ivory silk satin and has  never been worn. However it was a sample and I was in the midst of alterations on the hem. It will fit a size 2-4.

2.  Jcrew Goddess Dress size 4P - SOLD!!

This is a brand new wedding gown in Ivory Silk Tricotine.  It drapes beautifull and comes with a matching optional sash that ties at the waist.  The dress was never worn because I never had time to change.  I was having so much fun in my wedding gown!  I bought some alencon lace and safety pinned it to cover the chest area and it looks super cute.  You can take it out or have a seamstress sew it in.

2.  Jim Hjelm Bridesmaid gown size 12 - $75 obo retails $220 plus shipping

Brand new with tags attached, never worn, or altered.

My two sisters couldn't agree on a style/color. They have different body types and are 12 years apart.

If anyone is interested in buying this dress, I'd love to take it off my sister's hands. Size 12, style 5701. Color as shown in Taupe.

Retails $220 and cheapest I found online was $150.

3.  Stuart Weitzman "Exciting"  $70 obo Retail $299 plus shipping

White Satin size 6 with original box

I bought these shoes and never wore them on my weddig day.  It is 4" tall with a platform and wrap around straps.  They are brand new never worn with the original box.

4.  J Crew shoes size 6 $30 plus shipping

Another pair of shoes that I bought a while ago and never wore because they were too short.  Make me an offer.  They are brand new never worn.  I don't have the original box.

I suck at arts and crafts.  But somehow I got through all my DIY projects with the help of my hubby, brother and his wonderful girlfriend!  We stayed with them the week before our wedding.  Every night, we were all up until 1AM assembling something.  They were such good troopers and all in all they had fun (they better have)!  I'd always get excited and squeal "Isn't this fun?" and then I'd hear groans from my husband and brother...hahahah! 

We had a non-traditional ceremony with non-traditional music consisting of the Beatles, John Lennon and Elvis. 

My husband is a 3rd year law student and our officiant was a law school professor and also a good family friend.  Instead of a reading, we chose a Massachusettes Supreme Court Justice ruling on the definition of marriage.  It was related to a landmark gay marriage case.  We felt that definition was relatable to all marriages regardless if it was same sex or not.

We also decided to do the "Handfasting Ritual" which is an ancient Celtic ceremony that inspires the expression "Tying the Knot." 

For my birthday two months before our wedding my husband gave me a second wedding band to wear on the other side of my engagement ring.  So for our ring exchange when it came to my turn, he put on all three rings on saying this ring is for the past (wedding band), this ring is for the present (engagement ring), and this ring is for the future (my 2nd band/birthday gift).

Here were our song selections:

Seating of the Parents

“You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You” - Dean Martin

 Wedding Party Processional

“In My Life” - The Beatles

 Bride’s Processional

“Woman” - John Lennon

 Recessional

“It’s Now or Never” - Elvis

Parents & Wedding party intro

"You're My Best Friend" - Queen

Our grand entrance

"Crazy Thing Called Love" - Queen

First dance

"Can't Help Falling In Love" - Live in Las Vegas Pearl Jam remake of Elvis Classic

Family Dance (any family member and wedding party invited to dance with us in lieu of father/daugher and mother/son)

"Sea of Love" - Honeydrippers

Cake cutting

"Underneath it all" - No Doubt

Bouquet Toss

"Like A Virgin" - Madonna

Last Dance

"Copacobana" - Barry Manilow (our guests loved it!)

My Bridal shower was six days before the wedding because I coudln't fly down to Los Angeles any earlier.  It was such a beautiful day in Redondo Beach.  My two sisters hosted the party and there were so many little details we worked on.

I fell in love with the Damask pattern so we incorporated it in the shower.  A very thoughtful and generous bride let me borrow her damask linen and white vases.  I bought damask chargers & bowls from TJ Maxx/Home Goods.  The green votives were on clearance from Michaels.  Flowers were from Trader Joes & Costco.  Tables, white wood folding chairs and linens were from Del Rey Rentals.  My neice had a heart shaped place setting instead of the charger and plate.

We used the cookie favors from Diddy Riese in Westwood as the place setting.  We stamp embossed the name tags.

The catered food was so tasty!  Bowl of fresh berries, Chicken Pasta with Tomato Cream, Organic Mixed Greens with Champagne dressing, Baked Creme Brulee French Toast and mini sandwiches catered by Lisa's Bon Appetit in Redondo Beach.  Brownies were also by Diddy Riese.  White Cake with Fresh Strawberries was from Bea's Bakery in Tarzana.  Just looking at this food makes my mouth water!!