k best of weddings 2011
los angeles
wedding venues Porter Valley Country Club
20
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We were blown away by the level of service. Arrangements were perfect, food was fantastic, beautiful landscape, best venue for the best price. PorterValley.com Bacara Resort & Spa † Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center Cafe Pinot † Calamigos At The La Equestrian Center Casa del Mar Castle Green † Chantrelles Fine Catering at the Padua Hills Theatre The Cheesecake Factory Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden California State Elings Park
We asked recent newlyweds to review the professionals who made their wedding dreams into reality. The result? Our annual list of the top-rated Southern California wedding vendors. Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows † Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort † Figueroa Hotel † Firestone Vineyard - Los Olivos † Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village † Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara † Four Seasons Santa Barbara † Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens † The Langham Huntington, Pasadena † The London West Hollywood † Malibu West Beach Club Marvimon † Moorpark Country Club The Odyssey Restaurant Ports O’ Call Restaurant & Banquets Reef Restaurant Saddlerock Ranch † Santa Anita Church Santa Barbara Zoo Skirball Cultural Center †
Smog Shoppe † Spanish Hills Country Club † Terranea Hotel † Trump National Golf Course † Vibiana † Viceroy Santa Monica † Wedgewood Wedding & Banquet Center at Buenaventura Golf Course Westlake Village Inn
wedding planners No Worries Event Planning I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding coordinator and would recommend Dee to any bride! My day wouldn’t have been the same without her! NoWorriesEventPlanning.com
Wish wonder dream More amazing than I could have imagined. I wholeheartedly recommend Wish Wonder Dream and would give more than five stars if it were possible. WishWonderDream.com Alegria by Design Alexandra Kolendrianos † All You Need is Love Events Ariel Yve Design † Bash, Please † Beth Helmstetter † Delicate Details Demaray Events Duet Weddings † Jes Gordon † Kelly Oshiro Events † La Fleur Weddings & Events † Lisa Kahn Events Mindy Weiss † Percy Sales † Sacks Productions † Savoir Flair Wedding Coordinating Westlake Village Inn
bachelor(ette) parties HOLLYWOOD MEN
bands Elegant Music The Gerry Rothschild Band J & M Entertainment Nefesh Music Strings by Reiko † That Vibe
djs Dash Entertainment The Flashdance † Goodbeat Productions Hey Mister Dj Santa Barbara DJs Sounds Like Fun a Subsidiary of AAA DJ Service VIP DJ ENTERTAINMENT West Coast Music Services
ceremony musicians Angelica Strings Elegant Music Fifth Avenue Orchestras & Entertainment, Inc. Ladies Choice String Quartet Marco Tulio West Coast Music Services
rings & jewelry Icing On The Ring Readers Jewelers Robbins Brothers - The Engagement Ring Store Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers †
fashion
caterers
Cruz’s Bridal & Tux The Ivory Suite Jenny Lee Bridal & Formal Jobyna’s Bridal & Tuxedo Lili Bridals † Marylinn’s Couture Bridal of Santa Barbara Monique Lhuillier Pebbles Bridal Saks Fifth Avenue † The White Dress † Wilshire Bridal † Yelena Bridal
silver service events
health & beauty
Affordable Preservation Company
tuxes & men’s attire friar tux shop My husband and his groomsmen all rented tuxedos and they looked so handsome! The tuxes were a great price and the staff was very helpful. FriarTux.com Men’s Wearhouse
wedding cakes & desserts A Sweet Design Bread Basket Cake Co. Cake Divas Cakery Bakery Cakes by Carol Christine Dahl Pastries Decadence by Dawn Erica O’Brien † Jill’s Cake Creations Kayla’s Kakes † La Creme Bakery Montecito Confections † Patticakes Porto’s Bakery Rosebud Cakes Rossmoor Pastries Wedding Cake Studio Skiff’s Cakes Sugar & Spice Cake Shoppe Superfine Bakery Sweet and Saucy Shop Valley Bakery Vanilla Bake Shop
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gown cleaning & preservation
Candice Food Couture Command Performance Catering Country Catering Company Events by Pierre LaFond † New York Food Company † Stonefire Grill Truly Yours Gourmet Foods † Westlake Village Inn
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Artistry by Briana - Makeup & Hair Bliss Makeup Artistry Fairytale Hair and Makeup † Kelly Zhang Makeup | Hair Studio Monique Powers Airbrush Makeup Artist/ Eyebrow Specialist Susie Chhuor Makeup | Hair Studio
From start to finish they were great. More than just caterers, they made it all come together. The food was great, and we couldn’t have been happier. BestCateringLosAngeles.com
florists Acton Country Flowers Blue Magnolia Floral & Event Design † Creative Floral Designs † Grass Roots Wedding & Florist Jackie Combs Floral Design Lily Pad Floral Design Massey’s House of Flowers † McCann Florist My Wedding Blooms † Rhonda Burton Designs Tic-tock Couture Florals † Van Nuys Flowers The Village Gardener †
party rentals & service staff event professionals They met all my expectations of what a wedding planning service should be. They are easy to work with and they helped make my day stress free and fun! EP-EventProfessionals.com A-1 Party Rentals Classic Party Rentals Raj Tents †
lighting & decor Ideal Lighting and Sound, LLC Images by Lighting †
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Editor’s picks
k best of weddings 2011
photographers
invitations
Joey Ikemoto Photography
social savvy invitation studio
22
K
Everyone was great to work with. Our photos came out amazing! They were way better than I expected. There were a lot of artsy shots and candid shots. JoeyIkemotoPhotography.com † Baron Spafford Photography Bella † Cameron Ingalls † Chelsea Elizabeth Photography David Michael Photography Donald Norris Photography Duke Photography † Elizabeth Messina † Enchanted Portraiture Erin Hearts Court † Film Foto Fusion Harvard Photography Jennifer Rau Photography † Jose Villa † Kacie Jean Photography Kiss the Bride Weddings † Krista Mason Photography Megan Sorel † Michael Segal Photography † Next Exit Photography † NMG Photography Sarah Yates Photography † Stephanie Williams † Taipei-L.A.
videographers Bliss Video Productions † Castle Video & Photography Charles Lauren Films Digital Depot Joel Serrato Films † Make My Day Videography Riley Towne Productions Walter Pawluk Wedding Videography Well Spun Weddings † You’re The Star Video Productions
Our wedding invitations came out so classy and beautiful! They were done on time and exactly how we wanted them. We received so many compliments. SocialSavvyInvites.com The Invitation Spot † Laura Hooper’s Calligraphy Wedding Paper Divas
favors Jessica Foster Confections † The Knot Wedding Shop
officiants & premarital counseling Rev. Eric Schwartz SoCalOfficiant--Fun and Romantic Weddings
rehearsal dinners & bridal showers Trattoria Mollie †
transportation & valet Classic Limos Classy Chassis Rentals Exquisite Transportation Zeus Limousines
unique ideas Poetry Photo Booths
orange county
wedding venues Ponte family estate winery Our guests were so impressed with Ponte’s beauty as well as their hospitality. The Ponte staff helped to make our day perfect. PonteWinery.com Adventures At Sea A Hornblower Company Cannons Seafood Grill Electra Cruises † Etiwanda Gardens † Falkner Winery Four Seasons Santa Barbara † Franciscan Gardens and Courtyard Harborside Restaurant and Grand Ballroom in the Balboa Pavilion Heritage Museum of Orange County Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Marriott Newport Beach † Parker Palm Springs † Rancho Las Lomas † seven-degrees † Strawberry Farms Golf Club The Turnip Rose at Grand Newport Plaza The Turnip Rose Elite Catering The Waterfront Beach Resort, “A Hilton Hotel”
wedding planners A Good Affair Wedding and Event Production At Your Door Events Details Details † Intertwined Jesi Haack Weddings † Kelly Oshiro Events † La Fleur Weddings & Events † Lisa Moon Events Oh, How Charming! † XOXO Bride †
ceremony musicians A Touch of Ivory Entertainment Angelica Strings El Real Chamber Players Golden Scroll Soloists J. Sterling Productions
dance lessons Orange County Wedding Dance
djs Invisible Touch Events † Entertainment Express Extreme DJ Service KB DJ’s Entertainment Station Identification Entertainment Vive Entertainment
bands
health & beauty
caterers
invitations
J. Sterling Productions
Fancy Faces Affordable Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist Flawless faces inc. FUSE Hair & Beauty Hair Comes the Bride Makeup by Berit † Something Blue Stylists Tiffany Monday exquisite beauty for the exquisite bride!
24 carrots Catering and Events
BG Design studio
fashion Deborah’s Bridal The second we entered Deborah’s, my mother, sister and I had an amazing experience. They made us comfortable immediately and had great selections. DeborahsBridal.com † Bellasposa One Stop Wedding Center Belle Mariee Bridal The Dresser Ferndales Bridal & Formalwear Group USA -- Ontario Jaclyn’s Bridals Jinny’s Bridal La Soie Bridal Mariposa Boutique Mary Me Bridal Mon Amie Bridal Salon † Saks Fifth Avenue South Coast Plaza Uniquely Elegant Attire The Wedding Day The Wedding Land
rings & jewelry Robbins Brothers The Engagement Ring Store
tuxes & men’s attire friar tux shop My husband and his groomsmen all rented tuxedos and they looked so handsome! The tuxes were a great price and the staff was very helpful. FriarTux.com Men’s Wearhouse
They handled the food, bar, linens, everything—and did it perfectly. They went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for our wedding. 24Carrots.com
Summit Event Catering Summit is one of the best caterers in Orange County. The quality and service for the price is just phenomenal. Would highly recommend their services! SummitEvents.com
Colette’s Catering & Events Colette’s Catering recieves an A+. They surpassed our expectations. Perfect from the moment we arrived and we received so many compliments on the food. ColettesEvents.com Above All Catering Jay’s Catering Seafood World Catering
wedding cakes & desserts Amazing Cakes Beverly’s Best Bakery Heidelberg Pastry Shop It’s All About the Cake Jodee’s Bakery Let Them Eat Cake The Pastry Swan Bakery Simply Layered Cake Design Some Crust Bakery Sweet Art Cakes Tasteful Cakes, Inc. Tomgirl Baking Company
rehearsal dinners & bridal showers Jardin de Laurent
BG Designs did a fabulous job on all the accessories for my wedding. Everything from our invitations to our name cards was gorgeous! BGDesignStudio.com † Wedding Paper Divas Where’s The Party?
favors Jessica Foster Confections † Oriental Trading Co. The Knot Wedding Shop
florists A Pocket Full Of Petals Art with Nature Design Carol’s Secret Garden Chandra Abel Designs Designs by Tricia emporaflora Flower Allie Growers Direct Flowers Inviting Occasion Inc. † Kim Chi Flowers
party rentals & service staff All smiles photo booths My friend had them at her wedding and I loved it! I’m definitely going to have one at my wedding and hope my guests have just as much fun as I did! AllSmilesPhotoBooths.com Found Vintage Rentals Fusion Linens Signature Party Rentals
bachelor(ette) parties Disney’s California Adventure Park
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Editor’s picks
k best of weddings 2011
photographers
videographers
christopher wren photography
AfterGlow Worldwide Entertainment LTD DJ Brothers Godfather Films † Perfect 10 Productions Prince Productions Pristine Videos † Robles Video Productions WeddingPro Video
24
K
Absolutely fantastic photography experience. He was completely open to our preferences. Chris is both talented and professional. ChristopherWrenPhoto.com Amelia Lyon Photography † Apertura † April Smith & Co. Photography Boutwell Studio † Cloud 9 Photography D2 Photography † Jasmine Star Photography † Jim Kennedy Photographers JL Photographers Jodi B. Photography Mark Brooke Photographers Marlon Taylor Photography Megan Sorel † Memories by Michael Photography Trista Lerit † Troy Grover Photographers Victor Sizemore † Yantz Photography
travel & honeymoon Costco Travel
officiants & premarital counseling Agnostic Weddings Rev. Todd Rodarmel SoCalOfficiant--Fun and Romantic Weddings You May Kiss The Bride
transportation & valet A Touch of Class Classic Manner Vintage Transportation Lake Forest Limousines Mission Viejo Limos OC Cruiser
unique ideas Photo Booth Pro
san diego
wedding venues Bali Hai Restaurant Bernardo Winery The Crossings At Carlsbad Darlington House Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa Hilton San Diego/Del Mar Karl Strauss Brewing Company La Valencia Hotel Los Willows Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Orfila Vineyards & Winery Pala Mesa Resort The Prado At Balboa Park Rancho Bernardo Inn San Diego Children’s Museum † The Ultimate Skybox At Diamond View Tower
fashion The White Flower Bridal Boutique It was a great experience and not the stressful one I feared. TWF’s use of Skype involved my family in my remarkable dress buying experience too! TheWhiteFlower.com † Aria Bridal, Formal & Tuxedo Bliss Bride † Bridals by Susanti Brides by Demetrios chez bride moderne M Bride Nicole Miller PreVue Formal & Bridal Tour of Elegance
tuxes & men’s attire friar tux shop
wedding planners The Best wedding for you Extremely pleasant to work with and very competent at what she does. The day of the wedding she was calm and in control and the day was seamless. TheBestWeddingForYou.com Amorology † Bliss Events Emily Smiley Fine Weddings & Soire First Comes Love Weddings San Diego Weddings by Gina Valley & Co. †
health & beauty Melissa Rae & Co., Airbrush Makeup and Tanning
My husband and his groomsmen all rented tuxedos and they looked so handsome! The tuxes were a great price and the staff was very helpful. FriarTux.com
rings & jewelry Robbins Brothers The Engagement Ring Store
ceremony musicians Caprice Strings Dan Libertino Music Joyful Spirits Music
bands dirty bird I love the Dirty Bird Band! They really get a crowd going. High energy and super fun to dance to—you will love them too! DirtyBirdBand.com The Heroes Band Kicks Entertainment
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Editor’s picks
djs
photographers
elite british dj
I Against I Photography
Mick did a fantastic job as DJ! Not only is he extremely knowledgeable and professional, but he’s also easygoing and has a great sense of humor as well. EliteBritishDJ.net Beck’s Entertainment And DJ Services Brannan Entertainment Can-Do Productions Disc Go Round DJ & Video DJ Guy Mike Farmer Entertainment Mobile Music Plus Nelson Entertainment Mobile DJs Pro Motion Entertainment Sound Prodigy Sunset Mobile Music
bachelor(ette) parties Lips, Inc.
caterers Continental Catering Culinary Concepts Peartrees Catering Inc. Personal Touch Dining Ranch Events
wedding cakes & desserts Briarmist Cakes Elegance On Display For the Love of Cake The French Gourmet Grove Pastry Shop and Custom Cakery Hans and Harry Sweet Cheeks Baking Co. Twiggs Bakery
invitations ForeverFiances Simply Posh † Wedding Paper Divas
Frank is a true professional and has an amazing eye for the greatest shots! His fantastic photography will allow us to relive our special day forever! IAIPhotography.com
Jessica Fraser Photography We absolutely loved our photographer! She went above and beyond to make sure we got exactly what we wanted and was affordable and personal. JessicaFraserPhotography.com
tim otto photography His work is remarkable. The qualities of his images are outstanding plus he captures moments to include great candid shots and some traditional portraits. TimOtto.com Amore Wedding Photography Bauman Photographers Carrie McCluskey Photography Creative Photography By Stephanie En Pointe Photography Flutter Glass Photography Lunaphoto † Resolusean, Inc. theorie Unveiled Wedding Photography
videographers Taylor films Jason Taylor was amazing to work with and made us feel so special on our big day. TaylorFilms.com Blue Pearl Productions David Cannon Videography Little Productions Love is Cinema † NR3 Video Productions
party rentals & service staff
florists Allen’s Flowers & Plants Black Lotus Design Diane’s Flowers Please Elegant Touch Floral Designs Franco’s Flowers Haydee’s Creative Flowers And Weddings Jennifer Cole Florals Lotus Flowers by Thomas Mary’s Creative Florals Modern Bouquet My Splendid Sentiments Nantucket Florals Nobutama Wedding Studio Point Loma Village Florist San Diego Wholesale Flowers & Bouquets Simply Adina Floral Design Tessilk Flowers Trendee Flowers
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A Perfect Table Concepts Event Design
officiants & premarital counseling A Beautiful Wedding by Rev. Renate Anne Aline Rozok, Beach Weddings San Diego Officiant Ceremonies By Bethel Patricia Coleman A Wedding Celebration
transportation & valet Aventine Transportation Simply Elegant Vintage Vehicle Limousine Service Top Cat Limo Top Dog Limo Bus Town Limousine
Find all your vendors at TheKnot.com/socal