Tag Archives: Creative Collaboration

Creative Partner Jenny Hitesman

Jenny Hitesman, Beets Hospitality {Creative Partner Spotlight}

We’re back with another Creative Partner Spotlight! Event managers can make or break your big day, and we’re lucky to know some of the best in the industry. So today, we’re chatting with Jenny Hitesman, the event manager for Beets Hospitality Group who oversees all the happenings at Palm Event Center & Casa Real. 

Without further ado, we’ll let Jenny take it from here!

event manager for Beets Hospitality Group

Tell us a bit about your professional background. What brought you to the event industry?

There are many people who say they were raised in the hospitality industry, but not many can say that they grew up working for one company. I live and breathe weddings and events, and I love getting to run them for the place I love! I knew I loved the weekend job that I worked through High School & College, but little did I know that it would turn into a life-long career. I met my husband here; I’ve made great friends through the years and love what I do.

What do you love about your job?

The interactions with both clients and peers bring me overwhelming amounts of joy. I almost feel just as excited for each client’s big day as they are, sometimes more. I’ve harbored some great friendships with both peers and past clients through my time in the industry. I can honestly say there hasn’t been a person in this industry I haven’t had a positive experience.

If you could share one wedding planning tip with an engaged couple, what would you tell them?

Just have fun. Don’t sweat the small stuff. While, yes, every detail matters, don’t forget the “why.” Don’t forget the sole purpose for all the stresses that come with the wedding planning process. Ultimately, you are preparing to celebrate your love.

Event managers are there with you from beginning to end, and Jenny is exceptional at bringing clients’ dreams to life. Want to get in touch with Beets? You can start here! 

Lauren Feddersen Photography

Lauren Feddersen of Lauren Feddersen Photography {Creative Partner Spotlight}

For today’s Creative Partner Spotlight, allow us to present Lauren Feddersen of Lauren Feddersen Photography and we are so excited to share her enthusiasm with you! Lauren’s passion for the wedding industry is infectious. 

Lauren Feddersen Photography

Tell us a bit about your professional background. What brought you to the event industry?

I had always had a passion for the arts and I was always that friend who had a little point-and-shoot camera ready to capture anything. The summer after I graduated high school, I took anniversary photos of my parents and posted them on Facebook. I found out how powerful word of mouth is and the rest is history! I shot my first wedding in college – I was hooked and I knew I wanted to continue this exciting journey of photography!

What do you love about your job?

I take pride in the relationships I am able to build with my clients and I truly hope we can make our relationship something special! What excites me the most about what I do is the connections that I get to make with my clients and their families. Not only do I get to be present for these monumental occasions, but I also have the rare opportunity to commemorate those snippets of life in a way that will last a lifetime! To me, seeing that smile on a client’s face during the shoot or knowing that they are head over heels for their pictures afterward is what makes it all worth it!

If you could share one wedding planning tip with an engaged couple, what would you tell them?

Find vendors that you connect with! Your wedding day is going to go by in a flash and having vendors that you’re comfortable with can make a world of difference!

Lauren is always a pleasure to work with, and we are confident you will find the same experience with her! Be sure to check her out on Instagram at @_lfedphoto and give her a follow!

Creative Partner Jinger Lenoard-Norton

Jinger Leonard-Norton, The Flower House {Creative Partner Spotlight}

In this edition of the Creative Partner Spotlight, we’re thrilled to present The Flower House! We love interviewing local vendors and our friends at The Flower House are no different. 

So without further ado, allow us to introduce you to the owner, Jinger Leonard-Norton! 

Creative Partner Jinger Lenoard-Norton

Tell us a bit about your professional background. What brought you to the event industry?

Growing up I LOVED weddings, everything about them, and was planning on becoming a wedding planner. With the pressure of outside influences, I went into the corporate world for 15 years and hated everything about it. I did a lot of soul searching and turned toward my original passion. I took a chance and created Romantic Moments a wedding planning service. My company worked with The Flower House with a bride and began a relationship with the owner. Within a few months and lots of cocktails, I became the owner of The Flower House in October 2005. I knew nothing about flowers but what I loved was weddings and the designs became my true passion.

What do you love about your job?

I love helping brides articulate what their wedding will look like to reflect their personality. When the lightbulb goes off and then they can finally see what they have been struggling with. I also love a challenge and force myself to always look for new ways of creating a look. I also love working with my daughter Michaela. Having her to bounce ideas off of and having her support is what I call a beautiful blessing.

If you could share one wedding planning tip with an engaged couple, what would you tell them?

Trust your gut and stop overthinking things. I see my brides drive themselves crazy trying to make decisions. If you go with your gut feelings, get out of your head, and trust your vendor things will be fantastic and a true reflection of you. Also, change your linens!!!

Everyone needs a vendor who cares about them as much as Jinger cares about all of The Flower House’s clients. If you’re planning a wedding or simply love blooms, be sure to follow them at @theflowerhouse_ca!

Hopefully, you’re lucky enough to bump into Jinger, but if not, we hope you carry the words of wisdom with you as you plan your big day! 

 

Marlene Fahrenkrog | Beets Hospitality Group

Marlene Fahrenkrog, Beets Hospitality {Creative Partner Spotlight}

We’re bringing back our Creative Partner Spotlight series and showing some love to our fellow industry professionals! First up, we’re shining a well-deserved light on Marlene Fahrenkrog, the Executive Director of Sales for Beets Hospitality Group.

Beets Hospitality is the exclusive event management and catering company for two of our favorite venues, Palm Event Center in the Vineyard and Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery.

Without further ado, here is a bit about Marlene!

Marlene Fahrenkrog | Beets Hospitality Group

Tell us a bit about your professional background. What brought you to the event industry?

Worked in the hotel industry for 26 years and wanted to learn something new!

What do you love about your job?

I love the team at Beets the most – we call ourselves Beets Peeps. 🙂 I also love our clients and the amazing events that come together with all of their creativity shining through!

If you could share one wedding planning tip with an engaged couple, what would you tell them?

Be true to yourselves in all decisions you make during the planning process. This is your big day and everything should be focused on the two of you and what makes you happy!

Marlene is a delight to work with and we appreciate her commitment to fulfilling clients’ event visions. Cheers to you, Marlene!

Meet Crystal Lequang of Amazae Events

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Crystal Lequang from Amazae Events.

Located on the main strip in quaint downtown Willow Glen, San Jose, CA, Amazáe Events is a boutique event production company. With over a decade of industry experience and accolades, they succeed in offering so much more than event production services for weddings, corporate, destination and social events of all sizes.

We asked Crystal to tell us about what inspired her to pursue a career in weddings and how she got started in the industry.

I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and grew up in the Bay Area. I graduated from Santa Clara University with a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems. When I realized my love for planning events and passion for design, I took my business savvy and management skills to create Amazae Special Events in 2005.

Crystal also shared what her favorite part about being in weddings is.

Seeing clients smile because we’ve turned their vision to reality is the best part of my job! I am thrilled when clients can’t stop talking about the event we created together.

Crystal is also sharing the one piece of advice she likes to give couples planning their wedding.

My advice would be to remember that this is a once in a lifetime moment and event, so don’t skimp on important areas. That being said, I also advise couples to balance their wants and needs without going into major debt. Splurge when you can, prioritize when you need to!

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Karl Eckel from Delford West Flowers

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Karl Eckel from Delford West Flowers

We are a floral company specializing in weddings and events. We offer all aspects of floral needs and some rental items pertaining to floral arrangements.

We asked Karl to tell us about what inspired him to pursue a career in weddings and how he got started in the industry.

I always wanted to own my own business and was introduced to the floral business at the age of 16. After a year of employment in the field, I decided to go to college for a degree in Floriculture. Two years after graduation, I started a retail floral business. That was 31 years ago.

Karl also shared what his favorite part about being in weddings is.

I like to work with clients and help them fulfill their floral needs for the most, or one of the most memorable days in their lives.

Karl is also sharing the one piece of advice he likes to give couples planning their wedding.

Enjoy the experience together and make the choices that you would like to have, and not worry about pleasing others.

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Rhiannon Eddy of The Purple Orchid!

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Rhiannon Eddy of the Purple Orchid Wine Country Resort & Spa.

The Purple Orchid Wine Country Resort and Spa is a boutique property located in Livermore. We offering lodging accommodations, day spa services and a destination for weddings and events.

We asked Rhiannon to tell us about what inspired her to pursue a career in weddings and how she got started in the industry.

I have been in the wedding industry since I was sixteen years old. Always having a love of fashion, I originally wanted to be a bridal fashion designer and went on to studio design and marketing in college. After spending six years working for an international bridal gown designer and retailer I learned all about designing, manufacturing and selling in this unique industry. From there that led me to pursing another passion- photography. Working with my husband we built a successful studio with one hundred plus weddings a year. The photography studio grew into a photography and cinema studio specializing in “real life.” After getting married we decided to pursue our next goal- owning a wedding venue.

Rhiannon also shared what her favorite part about being in weddings is.

My favorite part about being involved in a wedding is that each event can showcase the clients uniqueness and what makes them special as individuals and a couple. Also I enjoy the energy that a wedding has as friends and families come together to celebrate a couple. Even after 500 weddings under my belt, a wedding day still makes me excited to go out and help the clients have the best experience possible.

Rhiannon is also sharing the one piece of advice she likes to give couples planning their wedding.

My one piece of advice for a couple planning their wedding is to make the event what you envision. Don’t settle because someones says you have to do this or that because it is a tradition. The most memorable events are those that incorporate favorite things of the bride and groom. Also another key point we always stress, when selecting vendors choose people that are most like you. You will be working with some of your key vendors for many months and you need to “click” with each other.

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Robbie Schlosser of the Magnolia Jazz Band!

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Robbie Schlosser of the Magnolia Jazz Band. 

The Magnolia Jazz band helps people celebrate. Nearly every day, they bring upbeat, elegant music to weddings and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Ranging from a strolling trio to a swinging six-man dance combo, they entertain their clients with the popular standards, jazz classics, and Latin favorites.

We asked Robbie to tell us a little bit about what inspired him to pursue a career in weddings and how he got started in the industry.

Since the 3rd grade, music has always been my main hobby. Back in 1975 I decided to make my living entertaining people with my music, and quickly found myself marketing to event planners, especially in the wedding industry.

Robbie also shared what his favorite part about being in weddings is.

At weddings people are celebrating one of the happiest days of their lives, and I LOVE how our music helps make their dreams come true.

What would Robbie be doing if he had a week off?

I’d do two things. First, I’d spend lots of time visiting friends nearby. And second, I’d stay home to read all the books and magazines I used to love but no longer have time to enjoy.

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Halina Brown of A Touch of Grace

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Halina Brown of A Touch of Grace.

Today, we’re thrilled to introduce Halina Brown, a wedding planner with A Touch of Grace, a full service wedding and events coordination & design firm, based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

We asked Halina about her favorite part about being involved in a wedding:
There are so many reasons I love being involved in weddings. A wedding is often the most important day of someones life. Being chosen to help bring that persons dream to life is such an honor. I’d have to say the best part however, is seeing the Bride and Groom’s faces when they see the reception for the first time on wedding day. That moment to me is priceless.

She also shared a major ‘uh-oh’ moment and how it was recovered quickly:
Every wedding has its fair share of challenges. That’s why having a planner who can think quick to resolve problems, is essential. A few weeks ago, the ceremony was in the middle of a beautiful vineyard. About 45 minutes before guests started arriving, I get a phone call from the DJ that there was no power, so he had no way to play music. When I got that call, I was standing right in front of the bride and groom. The last thing I wanted was for the bride and groom to panic, so I calmly excused myself for a moment, and went to call one of my assistants. I sent her to Staples right away to get a portable speaker. She made it back with the speaker, about 5 minutes before the first guests arrived. From there, the ceremony went off without a hitch, and the bride and groom never even knew what had happened.

Halina’s best advice for couples:
Hire a Wedding Planner. I’m not just saying that because I am one; it really does help to have professional guide you through the process. One more piece of advice; enjoy the process. Don’t lose sight of what really matters; the love between you and your fiance.

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Jenny Whitney of Beets Hospitality Group!

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Jenny Whitney of Beets Hospitality Group.

We’re thrilled to introduce Jenny Whitney, an event coordinator at Beets Hospitality Group, which happens to run two of our beloved venues – Palm Event Center and Casa Real. They create unforgettable events in both the bridal and corporate segments, and they are always striving to innovate in the constantly changing event world that we live in.

We asked Jenny about her favorite part about being involved in a wedding:
I love being so closely involved with the couple on the most important day of their lives. I get to fluff up the bride’s train before she walks down the aisle. I’m the last person she sees as I open the doors for her to walk down the aisle, and I get to witness their expressions and emotions as they walk back through the ceremony doors as a married couple. I love witnessing all of the love and happiness in the room through the duration of any wedding, and seeing the couple’s pure joy throughout the night. Lastly, I love saying goodnight at the end of a successful wedding and hearing how much they appreciated all we did for them.

I love this ever-changing industry we are in. We consistently challenge each other to deliver the best of the extravagant, the trendy, and the classic events that fit each of our couples. I feel at home in this industry, and I love coming to work everyday doing the work that I love 🙂

She also shared a major ‘uh-oh’ moment and how it was recovered quickly:
The worst thing that has ever happened involved a bride who hadn’t tried on her dress within the week of the wedding. After being zipped into her dress, the zipper completely broke, leaving her dress almost completely backless. Luckily I have some sewing experience, so I was able to sew her into the dress. I had to continually fix stitches throughout the event, but she was so thankful that I was able to keep her dress on her! This was probably one of the most stressful situations for me. 

Jenny shared some advice for engaged couples as well:
Trust in your vendors. Also, trust in preferred vendor lists. The preferred vendors are preferred for a reason. Reputable venues will have done their research on these vendors for you. They will likely have worked at your venue often, and will know what designs, color schemes, and other logistics work best for each space. Also book them early. Start with the vendors that will be there through your whole wedding day. Your photographers, your videographers and your DJs are unable to double book themselves, so once they are taken, they are taken! Don’t procrastinate! Same goes for your wedding venue. If you fall in love with a popular venue that has limited availability, try and make your decision quickly, as those limited dates may not stay open for long.

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Sarah Hagerty of Hagerty Photography!

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Sarah Hagerty of Hagerty Photography.

Sarah Hagerty is the owner and lead photographer of Hagerty Photography, a company that specializes in capturing great stories. Hagerty Photography captures timeless, modern & elegant wedding photography. On the most ordinary of days, a fab photographer can snap an image that will blow you away. It’s all about the lighting, focus, and picture-perfect timing. But this is no ordinary day. This is a one-of-a-kind, in-the-spotlight, knock-their-socks-off-when-you-stroll-down-the-aisle kind of day and that calls for more than just a fab photographer.

We asked Sarah about her favorite part about being involved in a wedding:
My favorite part about being involved in a wedding is knowing that I hold a big piece of a memory that will last forever. Just as we look at old photo prints from our parents and parents, parents, etc etc. our clients receive pictures to enjoy forever.

What’s truly amazing about my job is that I continue to be inspired every day. At any given moment, you might find me with a couple saying, “All right, we’re done for the day.” Then something will catch my eye – contrasting colors or a one-of-a-kind backdrop – and we’re on to the next shot. When I find a great composition with emotional lighting, I get so excited. My clients can attest to the fact that I’m practically giddy when the subject, the setting, and the lighting come together perfectly. How many people can say that they feel giddy about their job? Now that’s inspiring.

Sarah’s best advice for couples:
Have fun! Let the process be a blast. Two pieces of advice –

1) Lighting – the more, the merrier. Pin lighting rocks my world! It allows your guests to see you and all of the gorgeous details AND your pictures look extra spectacular.

2) I would absolutely recommend meeting with a wedding planner. If hiring a planner from start to finish isn’t in your budget, then have a wedding planner there for the day of the wedding only. Your ceremony, reception, and all of the special moments in between will not only look amazing, but they’ll seem to flow together effortlessly. Leave the details of the day in the hands of a professional and enjoy a stress-free, gorgeous wedding that you’ll love to look back on for the rest of your life.

Thank you for sharing, Sarah!

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Adele Nader of Makeup by Adele!

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Adele Nader of Makeup by Adele.

Today, we’re thrilled to share a bit about Adele, a self-taught makeup artist extraordinaire. What started as an interest as a child turned into a passion as she began working in the cosmetics department of Nordstrom. One thing led to another and, before long, Adele took her love of makeup and her expert talents to the next level and started her own business.

Adele shares what she loves most about being a part of weddings:
I love how much my brides trust me for my expertise on making them look and feel their best on the biggest day of their life! From meeting for the trial and many emails about details, we develop a special relationship. I love how excited they are to see me on the morning of the big day. Many brides have told me how much they appreciate my calm energy. Even when a bride is a little nervous, just sitting in my chair makes them feel a bit more at ease. I just love the whole process and the look on my brides face when she looks at herself in the mirror after her makeup is done. Getting thank you notes from my brides after the wedding always make me so happy and reminds me why I love doing what I do!

She also gave a bit of advice for couples planning their wedding:
Hire a professional planner and trust them! There’s so many aspects that go in to a successful wedding, so be sure to use professionals you trust and you’ve seen/heard their work. The “family friend” thing can be tricky, it’s usually best to use someone who’s not not related or emotionally attached.

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Jaime Zile of J’aime Bridal!

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Jaime Zile of J’aime Bridal!

We’re thrilled to share a bit about J’aime Bridal’s very own Jaime Zile with you today! J’aime Bridal is a full-service bridal salon with a wide selection of bridal gowns, bridesmaids’ dresses, flower girl dresses, veils, and hairpieces. They also offer onsite alterations, as well as post-wedding cleaning and preservation services for brides to keep their lovely dresses!

Drawn to the wedding industry after her own experience as a bride, Jaime decided to open her own bridal shop up over ten years ago when she realized that the other shops around were either high-end or low-end – but nothing in the middle.

Over the years, she and her team have been extremely successful. For Jaime, her favorite part is seeing all the styles evolve every year and looking at the pictures after the wedding to see how gorgeous their brides look.

Jaime shared with us a story about how they fixed a potential wedding disaster for one of their brides:
One Sunday I received a call from a bride getting married at Wente in Livermore. We knew the bride because she had gotten all her bridesmaids dresses from us, but had gotten her bridal gown from a store in Walnut Creek that has since closed. The store she bought the dress from had 2 brides getting married that weekend in the same dress, but 2 different sizes. The dress she received on her wedding day was 2 sizes too small!

She was 2 hours from walking down the aisle and the dress would not zip! I call my seamstress at home and she gets in her car with her sewing machine and basket to see what can be done. I head to Wente with 4 possible bridal gown choices.

One of the back panels from a dress I brought matched the color of her gown perfectly. We rip out the back panel and start sewing it into her dress as she is wearing it! We get her down the aisle only 10 minutes late!

She also shares some advice for couples who are in the midst of planning their wedding:
Depending on when you are getting married and when you got engaged — my biggest advice is to do as much planning and booking of vendors in the Fall. Most bridal salons are dead in the Fall and it’s the perfect time to come in and have the entire store to yourself! We’ve also just gotten in all the new styles for the season and have a great selection for our brides. Our busiest months are January (after all the holiday engagements) to May.

We have a lot of brides coming in now to shop and do not feel rushed because their wedding is so far out. Then they are overwhelmed with the amount of people in the store in January and February and are discouraged when they can’t get an appointment as easily.

Do any planning you have left in the Fall before the newly engaged brides beat you to it!

 

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Eli Pitta of Eli Photographer!

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Eli Pitta of Eli Photographer.

Today, we’re thrilled to introduce Eli Pitta, a photographer based in Pleasanton! Eli specializes in special event and wedding photography, as well as product photography. He fell in love with the events industry because he’s passionate about spending his days with happy people. It all started when he was asked to photograph a friend’s wedding 27 years ago and, as they say, the rest is history.

He shares that his favorite part about shooting weddings is capturing the moments that clients aren’t aware of – it truly is the candid shots that make it worthwhile! In his spare time, Eli loves to go mountain biking and, if he took a week of from work, you can bet you’d find him doing so in Colorado!

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Liz Tsutsumi-Hypnar of Enchantment Floral!

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Liz Tsutsumi-Hypnar of Enchantment Floral.

This cheerful gal is Liz, the owner and lead designer at Enchantment Floral, a floral design company based here in Livermore. We love working with her and can’t wait to share a bit about her and her company!

Despite the fact that she happened upon floral design, Liz has become one of the best and most passionate event pros we know. She attributes her love for flowers to the ability to help couples and families put together a design that they love – color, shape, texture, vase options, and linens.

Liz shares what she’d do with a weeklong vacation:
My family and I are big Disney fans. We have annual passes and go down just about any time I have a weekend off from weddings. If I had a full week off…I would love to go somewhere warm and quiet where I could lay on the beach and read a book. And drink some wine 😉

She also provides a bit of advice for couples planning their wedding:
Know what you want, but be flexible. It is great to work with someone who has a vision but also trusts in your judgement and guidance. There are also things that are out of everyone’s control, so rolling with the punches is sometime necessary.

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Nadine Goduci of Wente Vineyards!

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Nadine Goduci of Wente Vineyards.

Today, we’re introducing you to Nadine Goduci, the Event Sales Manager at Wente Vineyards. Since 1883, five generations of the Wente family have handcrafted wines that express the very best of the family’s vineyards and winemaking expertise. In addition to wine tasting, blending, and distribution, Wente also hosts special events, summer concerts and is home to a Greg Norman-designed golf course.

For Nadine, hospitality and party planning have always been in her blood. The moment she saw the smiles and happiness that were created by a successful event, she knew she was in the right industry. For her, it’s the special moments that mean the most: the walk down the aisle, the toasts, and the first dance.

She shares a story about the biggest crisis she’s faced as an event planner and how she overcame it:
HA! Hurricane Matthew came on Sunday, 10/16 for us this year and it rained about 4″ and we had to MOVE a wedding of 140 people to another venue 2 hours prior to the wedding. We nailed it with the love and support of our entire front of house and back of house team.

Nadine shares a bit of advice for engaged couples planning their wedding:
One piece of advice on the most important day of your life would be, determine what matters most when your mind is being rational and trust the professionals to do what they do best. It could be the venue, the food, photos — everyone has their “thing”. Let’s see what it is and work details around that. I would also recommend being decisive, the worst is when couples cannot decide for fear of making the wrong decision. Trust the professionals, we do this for a living and care about each and every experience.

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Kara Andrews of Casa Real!

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Kara Andrews of Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery.

We are thrilled to introduce Kara Andrews, the office manager over at Casa Real, a gorgeous event venue in Livermore!

After graduating from UC-Santa Barbara, Kara wasn’t sure what she wanted to pursue, but after some time exploring the hospitality industry (and getting engaged!), she found the opportunity to work on the opening of Casa Real and the rest is history.

As the office manager, Kara works with couples from start to finish, which typically takes about a year. Her favorite part of a wedding, of course, is the Big Day! “On the day of their event, it is magical to see our copious notes come to life.”

Kara shared a particular wedding mishap with us, as well as how she and her team came through with a solution: 

“During a ceremony, a family member passed out in the front row as the doors opened for the bride’s entrance. The officiant caught the event coordinator’s attention as all guests turned to see the bride. Our staff assisted the family member to a side door and called for medical assistance. The ambulance arrived at the front of the property and no one in the ceremony location was aware of this occurrence.”

She also shared a bit of advice for couples planning their wedding:

“It is so easy to get stressed over the little details of event planning. As my husband reminded me the week of our wedding, ‘There are so many hours in a day. If it is important enough, it will get done. Otherwise, let it go.’ Couples need to remember guests are attending the wedding to simply witness their union. That is what is important on their wedding day.”

When she’s not busy coordinating weddings for happy couples, Kara can usually be found spending her time with her husband and 2-year-old son. “I would spend my time with them whether it’s in our living room or a far away place.”

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Kirsten Mendoza

Meet Kirsten Mendoza of Elliston Vineyards!

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Kirsten Mendoza from Elliston Vineyards!

Kirsten Mendoza

Courtesy of Kirsten Mendoza

After getting her start in the food and beverage industry, Kirsten Mendoza found herself calculating how to make events more efficient. It was during an internship at a local winery and event center that she fell in love with the wedding industry and she never looked back. She is now an event coordinator at Elliston Vineyards, a beautiful, historic estate nestled in the hills of Sunol that hosts weddings, special events, and corporate events.

For Kirsten, it’s all about the raw emotion that comes from sending a bride down the aisle. She loves being the one who eases them into the process and gets them ready for the biggest day of their life. She also loves being able to see two families coming together as one – the toasts are the best time to get to know everyone’s personalities!

Kirsten shares some of her top advice for engaged couples with us…

“Budget, budget, budget!!! Couples will pay for the venue, food, and, beverages but then forget about all the little things. The favors, all the rentals, presents for your bridal party, etc. There is just so much that adds up that you really need to take into account how much you’re going to spend. You don’t want to start a marriage already in debt.

Also please don’t hire your friends as your vendors! There is a reason there are professional photographers and DJ’s. We understand everyone wants to cut costs, however this is not the best way. Time and time again we see someone hire their friend to DJ. Granted this person may have DJ’d before; however, this person may not be knowledgeable on timing, reading a crowd, or being a personable emcee.”

As for Kirsten’s hobbies – she loves to travel and explore new cultures. She hopes that Santorini, Greece is the next stamp in her passport. In addition to the appealing white architecture, she’s quite the foodie and craves some authentic Greek cuisine!

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Tyler Giovanetti from Beets Hospitality Group!

This is a part of our Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area. Today, we’re introducing you to Tyler Giovanetti from the Beets Hospitality Group!

Courtesy of Tyler Giovanetti

Courtesy of Tyler Giovanetti

As Property Manager of the two venues owned and operated by Beets Hospitality Group—Casa Real and Palm Event Center—Tyler has certainly seen his fair share of the wedding scene. It was his extreme attention to detail that drew him to the events industry and he’s proud to have such a strong Property Maintenance Team that values hospitality as they ensure every detail is just perfect for each wedding couple. Between ensuring the HVAC systems are working properly to designing and maintaining the exquisite landscape of the venues, much of the work is behind-the-scenes but are certainly vital to a successful wedding.

“I am very proud that I get to lead a team of problem solvers, and we are able to find solutions to problems behind the scenes without the client or their guests ever even knowing there was an issue.”

When he’s not on the grounds of either of the gorgeous venues he manages, you can sure bet that he’ll still be enjoying the outdoors elsewhere. Whether it’s backpacking or dirt biking, Tyler enjoys spending his time off on adventures and finding peace in nature.

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Meet Sandy Tijero of Bridges Golf Club!

We’re excited to start a new Creative Collaboration series, where we introduce you to our creative partners from all around the Bay Area! Today, we’re introducing you to Sandy Tijero from The Bridges Golf Club.

Sandy Tijero

Courtesy of Sandy Tijero

Sandy is Director of Catering at The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon, where they host wedding, anniversaries, and corporate events, in addition to regular golf tournaments for up to 300 people. Starting out as a Golf Club restaurant manager, Sandy was promoted to the events department and quickly succumbed to wedding fever as do many of us in the events industry. For Sandy, it’s the idea that she’s planning one of the most important days in peoples’ lives that fuels her passion. During her time off, she loves traveling to Germany to visit her family.

Sandy’s quick wit is an extremely valuable asset in her job, as she shares an almost-disaster and how she saved the day:

We had a large, beautiful planter box in front of our ceremony site. The morning of the wedding, our Superintendent decided he was going to redo the planter box, and ripped out all the flowers. He was planning to put new flowers in the following week, but we had a wedding that day. So I ran down to Navalets, purchased whatever I could and planted all the flowers myself that day. It looked beautiful.

There you have it! Sandy reminds brides not to expect everything to be perfect. “Minor things may happen, but don’t let that ruin your day. You are marrying the love of your life. Let that be the most important thing that day.” Truer words have never been said!

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.