Q&A: Swaicha + Ankit

My amazing bride Swaicha (whose wedding will be featured here soon!) recently took time to answer my post-wedding questionnaire, which not only helps me with bettering my wedding planning skills, but may also offer some insight to future brides (and grooms) everywhere!
So here's what she and her husband Ankit had to say!

[Photo courtesy of Stephanie Collins, friend of the couple]

What was the best part of your wedding day?
I loved our ceremony! It was beautifully decorated, it ran very efficiently and people seemed to really enjoy it.

What was unexpected that you loved?
We were ahead of schedule! Never in the history of Indian weddings has one ended 35 minutes ahead of schedule! I also really loved the weather. It was perfect Barat and picture-taking weather!

How do you feel after the wedding?
I’m really happy! I’m married to the greatest man on the planet and, as far as I’m concerned, my wedding was a huge hit and an absolute blast! I felt completely stress-free the day of the wedding, which was my goal and my entire reason for hiring you!

What is your #1 tip for future brides and grooms?
Hire Krista! Well, actually if this is a tip for your brides and grooms, then they’ve already made the best decision of their lives and hired you... So I guess my tip would be to completely trust that you will execute their vision exactly as they wanted it so they can/should completely relax on their wedding day and just party and have a great time!

What part of my service was most important to you?
EVERYTHING! Haha, I appreciated the fact that you dealt with all the vendors. It gets really overwhelming as it gets closer to the day and I was so busy dealing with minute detail things it was really great to not have to deal with contacting vendors and making sure they knew where they had to be when.

What part of my service was least important to you?
Nothing I can really think of. Honestly, there were so many things that you were doing that I had no idea about. I think the most important thing to me is that stuff was getting done and I wasn’t the one that had to do it!

How would you rate my quality of service?
A++++ and I’m a teacher so that has to mean something! You are wonderful. You are super organized and completely with it in a way that is not stressful or overwhelming at all. You are so sweet and as the bride, I felt so much more relaxed knowing that you were taking care of my wedding. Honestly, after meeting you, it never concerned me at all that you’d never done an Indian wedding before. You were organized, completely willing to learn, and so respectful of all our customs and traditions. I knew you’d be great!

Would you recommend me to another bride and groom?
Absolutely YES! Every person I know! And P.S. I’m pretty sure you’ve become the official family wedding coordinator!

Anything else you’d like to add?
I honestly don’t know how anyone plans a wedding without Krista Malinin of KGM Weddings. The moment I met her, I felt so much more relaxed about my big day. I was an Indian bride with a 400+ guest list, a 3-hour ceremony, four extended family photos each with 40+ people, a complete hair, makeup, and outfit change before reception, and a buffet dinner for 47 tables - I needed a wedding coordinator! Krista had never done an Indian ceremony before mine and I now know that mine will not be her last! She was so organized, willing to learn, and so respectful of all our customs and traditions. She 100% executed our vision, kept our families happy, and made sure that my husband and I had the most amazing day of our lives. I would hate for another bride to miss out on that opportunity by not hiring her. She was the best decision I made for my wedding!

Wedding: Sylvana + Brian

Meet Sylvana & Brian.

Brian and Sylvana are an awesome couple. He is a German-American web designer and multimedia developer from Southern California. She is a Chinese-Canadian lawyer from Toronto. They love food, they love music, and they love each other! In late 2011, these crazy kids tied the knot in a small ceremony in Toronto, followed by a big Chinese reception. 

For the Southern Californian family and friends, Brian and Sylvana invaded Smog Shoppe in Culver City and tapped me to make the magic happen.

Neither of them had ever even been to Smog Shoppe, but from seeing photos on the web, they both knew it suited their style well.  Urban and modern, yet vintage and weathered, Smog set the tone for the casual, cool gathering they envisioned.

The succulent centerpiece arrangements planted in hand-stained, wooden cigar containers and reclaimed, vintage vessels echoed the organic, vertical garden, which covers the Smog Shoppe courtyard walls from floor to rooftop in sage green succulent plants.

Both the bride and the groom work in the entertainment industry with musicians and bands. They incorporated the "rock concert" vibe into their reception in very cool ways... the Save-the-Date cards and invitations mimicked a vintage concert poster, the place cards were backstage passes, guests were asked to sign a large version of their concert poster in lieu of a traditional guestbook, and the reception tables were named for bands the couple enjoys! Throughout the entire evening, rock concerts (old and new) were showcased on the movie screen above the dancefloor.

Now since this was the Los Angeles reception, there was no ceremony.  There was no cake cutting, no bouquet toss, no formal affairs. The happy couple wanted only a few things: good food, good booze, great music, and a fabulous night to celebrate their love with their nearest and dearest.

Friends of the couple, John Rzeznik and Andy Stochansky played several acoustic songs during cocktail hour and before dinner was served.

After guests dined on a gorgeous buffet of cilantro tequila grilled chicken, grilled flank steak with mustard caper sauce, and potato, eggplant, & zucchini lasagna, they popped in and out of the photobooth to strike a pose.  (My lovely assistant Kate and I took just a moment off from working hard and overseeing the event to take this classy photo. We are very serious ladies.)

Desserts! A wide assortment of sweets delighted all! And the dessert buffet looked like a work of art!  No one could resist the red velvet cake, yummy mini-cupcakes, brownies, lemon bars, chocolate turtle torte, whoopie pies, cheesecake bites, french macaroons, coffee cake, chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, and apple cobbler. As an extra-special surprise, guests were treated to a late-night snack of gourmet mini-hamburgers.
It was certainly a cool reception for a cool couple.  I am so very happy for them and wish them many years of wedded bliss!
Congratulations Sylvana and Brian... CHEERS!

{ VENDOR CREDITS }

Wedding Coordination: Krista Malinin for KGM Weddings

(a special thanks to my assistant, Kate!)

Venue: Smog Shoppe (Culver City, CA)

Catering & Cake: Auntie Em's

Rentals: Town & Country Event Rentals

Florals: The Silver Succulent

Photography: DSG Photo

Photobooth: Photobox LA
Invitation Image Design: Slenderfungus

Bride's Hair: Lindsey Pennington at Salon D5

Bride's Make-Up: Aoife O'Dalaigh at Salon D5

Valet & Parking Services: Jeffrey Valet

On-Site Management & Security: TACT

Hotel Accommodations: Hotel Erwin (Venice, CA)

To read the Q&A with Sylvana and Brian, click here.

Q&A: Sylvana + Brian

My adorable bride Sylvana (whose wedding you can read about HERE) recently took time to answer my post-wedding questionnaire, which not only helps me with bettering my wedding planning skills, but may also offer some insight to future brides (and grooms) everywhere!
 So here's what she and her husband Brian had to say!

What was the best part of your wedding day? 

Celebrating with our families and friends and eating the delicious food. 

What was unexpected that you loved? 

The way Auntie Em’s displayed our buffet and dessert tables. It was above and beyond what we envisioned. 

How did you feel after the wedding? 

Happy and relieved! 

What is your #1 tip for future brides and grooms? 

DELEGATE!! And hire Krista! 

What (if anything) would you change?

We wish we would have started the event earlier. It was dark by the time people showed up - we didn't account for the daylight!

Is there anything you wish you had spent more time or money on?

More lighting in the courtyard, more heaters, and more time at the venue.

Is there anything you wish you had spent less time or money on?

Venue costs. We were surprised by the venue and venue-related costs.

What part of my service was the most important to you? 

Everything you did day-of was amazing. There would have been no “day-of” without you. 

How would you rate the quality of my service? 

Excellent! 

Would you recommend me to another bride and groom? 

Of course!! 

Anything else you’d like to add? 

Krista is organized, attentive, and runs a tight ship – everything you want in a planner. She kept us on budget, reminded us of deadlines, and gave us thoughtful insight. We had a problem with a vendor and Krista made sure it was resolved to our satisfaction, even though the resolution came weeks after the wedding.

Wedding: Jillian + Patrick

Meet Jillian & Patrick.

This fun-loving couple was married on April 2nd, 2011 at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Now, to honor full disclosure, I should explain how this wedding was a quadruple-honor for me: 1) The bride has been one of my best friends for 20 years. 2) Not only was she one of my bridesmaids, but I was deeply honored to be one of hers as well. 3) I was so proud to be Jillian's coordinator and help her create her dream wedding... as little girls dream to do. 4) I was able to witness one of the most crazy-in-love couples I know promise their lives to one another. How sweet it is!

Jill is super cool, smart, funny, and gorgeous (obviously). Patrick, to put it simply, is one of the greatest guys I've ever met. And more importantly, he and Jill are just perfect for one another. PERFECT.

Their wedding was young and fresh, yet had a delicate sophistication to it. Jillian chose a beautiful color combination for their big day: minty, ice blue and vibrant, rich orange. I love it! The bride carried a bouquet of orange tiger lilies, unique roses, and tulips. Her bridesmaids carried tulips, eskimo roses, lisianthus, and ranunculus, all in ivory tones, with a bright orange ribbon wrap.

The wrap around the bride's bouquet was not a simple ribbon. It was the headpiece her mother wore at her own wedding. And that wasn't the only "something old" the bride had - her engagement ring was originally the groom's grandmother's ring. The sapphire pinky ring wasn't just her "something blue," but it too is a heirloom of the groom's family. Originally a pendant and later turned into a ring, many brides in the family have worn it on their own wedding days.

During the ceremony, a friend of the couple read a poem originally written by the bride's father for the bride's mother. There were laughs, there were tears, and after the officiant announced the couple as husband and wife, the bride danced and strutted down the aisle.

Before the reception kicked off in the ballroom, guests were treated to a cocktail hour on the balcony with delicious tray-passed hor d'ourves and fabulous drinks. The string quartet played contemporary tunes and the pink sunset lit the sky, setting the mood to uber-romantic. It was breathtaking!Inside the ballroom, the fireplace glowed and guests were welcomed by the fragrance of fresh flowers and the sugary aroma of Sprinkles cupcakes. The decadent treats, along with a full candy buffet, were waiting for guests to dive into after their three-course meal.

Old family wedding photos and the bride's parents' original cake topper were displayed in the reception area. In lieu of a tradition guest book, the couple chose to have guests write messages on a photo mat to hang in their new home.

Now let me tell you one more thing about this couple, their friends, and their family... they like to DANCE! The dancefloor was packed all night, showcasing some of the most unique moves and entertaining performances. You could feel the joy radiating in the room!

To call these folks my clients was an honor, but to be able to call them my friends... well, that just makes me lucky. I love them dearly. Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs!!

{ VENDOR CREDITS }

Wedding Coordination: Krista Malinin for KGM Weddings

Venue: Troon North Golf Club (Scottsdale, AZ)

Photographer: Diana Elizabeth Photography

Flowers: Flowers by Jodi

Band: Affinity

Quartet: Sweetwater Strings

Cupcakes: Sprinkles

Hair: Kortni Harting & Debra Kiernan

Make-Up: Heather Wilson & Debbie Verver

Paper Products: Paper Source

Wedding Gown: Demetrios

Bridesmaids: J. Crew & Caparros

Groomsmen: Geoffrey Beene & The Tie Bar

Officiant: Ted Baird

Shuttle Transportation: Arizona Corporate Coach

Hotel Accommodations: Intercontinental Montelucia Resort and Spa & Hilton Garden Inn Old Town

Honeymoon: Kauai, Hawaii

Extra Special Thanks to the Moms: Annie & Ruth!!

(Between the bride, the moms, and myself, we spanned four states!)

To read the Q&A with Jillian and Patrick, click here.

Q&A: Jillian + Patrick

My dear friend and former client/bride Jillian (whose wedding you can read about HERE) recently took time to answer my post-wedding questionnaire, which not only helps me with bettering my wedding planning skills, but may also offer some insight to future brides (and grooms) everywhere! So here's what she and her husband Patrick had to say!

Q: What was the best part of your wedding day?

A: Reading our “promises” to each other during our ceremony. It was important to us to make personal touches to our ceremony in addition to reciting traditional vows. By far our favorite part of the entire day. Second best: letting loose on the dance floor, of course.

Q: What was unexpected that you loved?

A: Seeing so many important people in our lives mingling, dancing and having a blast together throughout the weekend. It was so fun seeing people so close to us – who had never met each other – celebrate together as if they had known each other for decades. And, completely unrelated, there was a rattlesnake that shocked everyone during the photo session, causing a few colorful pictures.

Q: What (if anything) would you change?

A: We spent a ton of time trying to come up with an answer for this section and came up dry. We wouldn’t have changed a thing. ☺

Q: Is there anything you wish you had spent more time or money on?

A: We might have considered adding a videographer to capture the moments we weren’t able to see, e.g. the bridal party processional, the grand entrance, the sunset at cocktail hour, etc. Our photographer did an amazing job of capturing the special moments, but seeing it live on video would have been an awesome keepsake.

Q: Is there anything you wish you had spent less time or money on?

A: We’re really happy with how much we spent. We feel like we cut on things that weren’t absolutely necessary – menus, favors, etc – so we could provide our guests with transportation, great food and a rockin’ band.

Q: How did you feel after the wedding?

A: Giddy. Relieved. Thankful.

Q: What is your #1 tip for future brides and grooms?

A: Consider a “first look.” We struggled with whether to see each other before the ceremony – on one hand, we wanted to spend time with our guests immediately after the ceremony during the cocktail hour, but on the other hand we didn’t want to take away from our special moment by taking pictures ahead of time. Krista and our photographer, Diana, convinced us that we wouldn’t lose a thing by seeing each other before the ceremony – in fact, it could be a very intimate moment, and it was. Our photographer coordinated a secluded, beautiful place for us to see each other alone for the first time. It was an incredible, intimate moment AND we were able to capture a lot of the photos ahead of time, allowing us extra time to spend with our guests immediately after the ceremony.

Q: What part of my service was the most important to you?

A: Uh, tough question. You were such an important part of our wedding that it’s hard to identify just one or two things. The first thing that comes to mind is vendor coordination. We researched and hired our vendors, but that was the easy part. As our month-of coordinator, you stepped in at the most stressful time and made it all come together. You created the most detailed timeline I’ve ever seen (seriously – EVER seen) and made sure everyone from the band, make-up artist, photographer— even FAMILY— knew exactly where to be and when. No one had to ask “where should I be” or “who is taking home the gifts” or the million other questions that pop up in the final hours of planning because you covered every detail. I also want to point out that you rescued me (Jill) from a mini-crisis just two weeks before our wedding day. The hair stylist I had hired from a random Google search needed to be replaced (long story) – no easy task given the extreme short notice AND the fact that I live in Chicago and don’t know any of the stylists where we were getting married in Scottsdale. While I was at work, Krista hit the phones and identified several options for me, finally nailing down an amazing stylist at the last minute.

Q: How would you rate the quality of my service?

A: An 11 on a scale from 1 - 10. Krista is a consummate professional. She has the ability to instruct people and get things done while at the same time being completely fun and hilarious to work with. And, even though she is one of my lifelong best friends, she told me from day one she’d be treating me as a client when it came to the details. She kept me on track with worksheets that documented each vendor and piece of the wedding, and asked questions that I didn’t even know to think of.

Q: Would you recommend me to another bride or groom?

A: Yes, and I’d be happy to talk to anyone who is considering working with you about the million reasons they need to bring Krista Malinin into the mix.

[Editor's Note: Gosh, I love these two! Thanks Jillian and Patrick for your kind words and your true, honest friendship!!]