bellz & whistlez web site

If you haven't gotten a chance to take a look at our site, please do! www.bellzandwhistlez.com.We have (4) case studies with photos so you can see more samples! Enjoy~



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our planning :: 9 :: booking the vendors

Booking the vendors is, indeed, one of the most critical parts of planning. After we finished selecting our vendors and placing deposits to secure our date, it seemed as though the wedding planning was all done -- we knew it wasn't, but it sure felt like a huge accomplishment and great sense of relief. I treated our wedding planning the same way I've treated other clients' weddings -- with a ton of effort, so finding the right vendors was equally challenging. I had to ensure we were getting vendors who not only did quality work, but were within our budget & understood our vision. NOTE: In my opinion, vendors ought to mesh with the couple personality-wise and understand the vision of the event, style-wise. I've noticed that many vendors have their own style.
It took us a total of 2 weeks to book all of our vendors. I know, truly atypical. Trust me, we probably wouldn't have been able to do this if I didn't work from my own studio and had prior experience. I give you ladies and gents so many high fives for being able to do this while working in the office and not having gone through the process. Our secret: Abram and I shared the responsibility and took care of specific vendor bookings on our own (but we had to agree on them, of course.) Because we were on the same page about our vision (through lots of communication), it ran smoothly.

NOTE: It's always awesome to get referrals from friends; this is the most popular way to find a vendor. But if you haven't gotten any, consider the venue's preferred vendors. Preferred vendors are usually experienced, service with excellence, and have a relationship with the staff -- there are great reasons why they made it on the list. We found our photographer via the preferred vendor list of 7-Degrees and we couldn't have been more happier. Nicole Caldwell, our photographer, knows how to get around the venue, what the angles are to get the perfect shots, and how to work with the low lighting. NOTE: Some photographers are more comfortable with certain types of lighting, though some are excellent with all types. She is also familiar with the staff which eased us and happens to work right next door! Nicole also took our very fab engagement pictures.

Just some NOTES:

1. Figure your budget. I've helped plan corporate events which are similar to weddings; they both use a specific kind of breakdown with vendors. If a small company wants to spend $40k on, say, the décor, it would make sense that they spend a relative amount on their other vendors. It might disappoint guests to be served a bland dinner and look up to see a $2,000 centerpiece on the table. Couples usually weigh their options and sometimes spend a little more here and less there -- smart. If there's one vendor (not including a venue that is providing the food) you want to allocate more $ to, I'd, hands down, say the photographer.
   
2. Set a deadline to book all vendors. Most vendors are reserved 6-12 months prior to the big day. The earlier you start, the better, esp for summer weddings.
   
3. Do research and ask around for referrals or look at the preferred vendor list through your venue. Get friends' testimonials, pluses and minuses. Spend your time with vendors who are within your budget, not with those who fall way outside of the range. Time is money.
4. Focus one at a time. Pick a vendor, do research, and work on that booking until its complete. (But make sure you know your deadlines.) You'll save so much time and energy. Too, it keeps you organized with placing deposits.
5. Go out and look when you're financially prepared. Vendors usually require a deposit (asap) to book your date.
   
6. Schedule an appointment to see sample work and meet the person who will work your event. E.g. if it's a wedding photographer, look at an album of one entire wedding, not just the best photos of all the weddings they've done & see if your personalities click!
   
7. Ask the right q's. Sample q's: (1) Am I being double booked? (Some vendors will fit 2-3 weddings in one day.) Figure if you are ok with that. (2) Will you be working my event? If not, who will and can I meet him/her/them? (So you're not in for any surprises.)
8. Be decisive. I know, it's tough, but the more decisive you are, the easier it becomes. A bride and groom who changes their mind all the time bumps into more issues -- it'd be a good thing to consider hiring a professional.
   
9. Manage yourself. This will probably be the biggest and most challenging event you'll ever plan so it's important you center yourself from time to time. Staying organized and optimistic will prevent you from having a really negative planning experience. Seek professional assistance if you need extra support.
10. Pay on time. You depend on them for certain services; they depend on you to pay deposits and balances as indicated on the contract. Final payments are typically made 1-2 weeks prior to the event.
    

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sweet winter wedding REFLECTION {12.27.08}

Taking a break from "our planning" posts. Here is a reflection blog from Cyril, our Event Coordinator, on the sweet winter wedding that we coordinated on 12.27.08 at the La Jolla Hyatt Glass Pavilion...and some pictures provided by Cheryl, the bride, thanks to her family and friends and the b&w team. Benny and Cheryl are the perfect match; let me add, they dated for 10 years before tying the knot! Congratulations!!! (We will post professional pics as soon as we get them so you can see how it all came together; these pictures are only a small snippet of the entire event.)

b&w setting up before guests arrive; draping to frame the entrance by FloralWorks

The whimsical, winter wedding cake

Tall centerpiece w/butterfly, silver twigs, orchids, gems and boa; Sweets Station

Cyril here writing my first official blog of 2009!

My main goal as the coordinator of b&w is for the bride and groom to be a guest at their own wedding. I have always heard of other couples who didn’t hire a professional coordinator, expressing how much they wished they did. Because of this, couples were too busy working their own wedding--juggling time, vendors, and guests--sadly, they did not get to enjoy themselves! An important event like this, where a lot of time, planning, and preparation is involved, it is a MUST that the bride and groom get to relax, relish, and cherish every moment of their special day.

I cannot express how essential it is to hire a wedding coordinator, even if it is for the day-of…and Benny and Cheryl did just that! Not only did they plan and design this beautiful winter work of art, but they truly were guests at their wedding. They were relieved from the stresses of timing and coordinating with vendors because b&w stepped in and executed the itinerary successfully.

It was absolutely amazing how the couple was able to spend quality time with each other, appreciate their dinner, and mingle with friends and family throughout the entire evening, without having to feel rushed! Nonetheless, the program still ran smoothly and was on time- to the very minute!

- Cyril (event coordinator for bellz & whistlez)

other side of the room; white dance floor with custom gobo

amazing sweethearts table décor

Winter ornament give away with custom printing

Photo of groom and a friend clowning around in the photo booth (lol)

Table arrangement: crushed white linen with silver chair covers
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our planning :: 8 :: the dress!

Choosing the dress -- one of the most exciting parts of planning! After seeing tons of gorgeous strapless dresses in mags, which were an '06 hit, a few things stuck out. I actually grew a liking for lace and sashes from seeing such beauties, but I didn't see one off-the-shoulder dress, and that's what I wanted. From researching, I found that an a-line dress best suited my figure. For info on styles, necklines and shapes of gowns, check out: ArcaMax. My goal: youthful, feminine and modern. I also kept in mind the style of our wedding and wanted a dress that matched the occasion. Anyhow, I went out to search on my own (not typical, but being out away from home, it was difficult getting my mom and BMs out at the same time, and time was ticking). NOTE: Some dresses (usually designer ones) can take up to 8 months to receive. Keep in mind you will need an additional 1-2 months for alterations, so try to shop early!

Trying to find a reputable gown salon can be easy -- just ask the right q's. NOTE: When it comes to a gown salon, ask about variety, price range, customer service and quality of work (whether they have on-site experienced seamstresses whose only job is to alter bridal gowns). I asked around and was referred to Mon Amie Bridal Salon in Costa Mesa; I didn't know it would turn out to be my first and last stop. What I love about this salon is that they have a great selection and quantity of gowns and the price range extends from under $1,000 to $10k+. I liked the thought of that because 1) I'd have better chance of finding styles by competitive designers that fit within my price range and 2) I could look at the expensive ones, try them on, and just imagine...lol. I think I had an easy time compared to others. With the help of an awesome personal consultant, I tried on a total of 7 dresses and loved the 3rd -- a strapless, semi A-line dress, with a sash..and lace! I made my decision and scheduled another trip to purchase the dress. NOTE: I didn't buy right away. I knew that was the one I wanted, but I sat on the idea of the style of dress, price, and talked Abram about my planned purchase w/o giving him details on the look. I wanted to make sure I was 100% sure! I also looked up the dress at competitors' sites and shops.

Photo of the original dress.


So, you're probably wondering why I bought a strapless dress if I was looking for an off-the-shoulder neckline? Answer: I turned it into my vision and added off-the-shoulder straps using the same alençon lacing from my dress and a sweethearts cut, obviously consulting with the on-site seamstress. I could wear them off the shoulders and on the shoulders! ;) Yes, there was a premium to be paid, but I wanted to personalize my dress. It'd be one-of-a-kind and would definitely add to the emotional value. But keep in mind, customizing a dress comes with a price because alterations can be costly. NOTE: Don't forget to calculate alteration costs into the purchase price of your dress. Simply taking up the length can cost $250 from a reputable salon. I spent almost $770 extra for alterations alone. I also purchased a custom sash (they didn't have my exact gold) -- more $...

Photo of my dress wearing the sleeves in two ways -- on and off.


* Veil -- Originally, I opted out of wearing a veil, but when I met with my hair stylist, I was so glad she convinced me -- it totally completed my look as a bride! Because I had spent a little more than I budgeted for my dress, I skipped the $750 veil that was suggested and bought one for $15! LOL. Hey, I highly doubt anyone would've figured that out. Plus, I only wore it during our short 22 min ceremony. ;) . . .(click for full post)

our planning :: 7 :: selecting the bridal party

Though some already know right off the top of their head who they will choose as attendants to their wedding, I think this was a pretty tough one for me and Abe -- it was such a personal and delicate decision. Abram and I spent a lot of time selecting those who would stand next to us to witness our matrimony. Each attendant not only had special meaning to us individually, but watched Abe and I grow together. It was challenging, but we we were able to narrow it down about 8-9 months before our big day. We chose to have 6 ladies/6 gents: (1) MaOH, (1) MOH, (3) BMs, (1) jr. BM / (2) best men, (3) GMs, and (1) jr. GM. NOTE: In my opinion, you can select/change your bridal party any time during your engagement. Ideally, the earlier the better in the event you plan to call on your attendants' help with the wedding, and the ordering of dresses and tuxedos runs a lot smoother.

Photo of my attendants with Abram (I don't know what this was all about. lol)


Creative Tip: Send a care package with goodies along with a hand written note to each of your attendants to let them know they were chosen and why. Sweet!

Acronyms & definitions (Source: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary):

• (MaOH) matron of honor: a bride's principal married wedding attendant
• (MOH) maid of honor: 1 : an unmarried lady usually of noble birth whose duty it is to attend a queen or a princess 2 : a bride's principal unmarried wedding attendant
• (BM) bridesmaid: a woman who is an attendant of a bride
• best man: the principal groomsman at a wedding
• (GM)groomsman: a male friend who attends a bridegroom at his wedding

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our planning :: 6 :: who's hosting?

The biggest question and probably one of the most sensitive questions is, "Who's hosting?" NOTE: I've read many etiquette books just to get insight, & most of the books say it boils down to who's putting up the most mula (this is typically the person(s) listed first on the invitation). But there are "ifs" and "buts" to this, 'cause a parent who offers his house as a venue can save $15,000 in renting a ballroom. Tradition says it's the bride's family who hosts, but that tradition has been slowly going away. I think it's because in current times, couples are financially capable to help with costs and the groom's family wants to be involved. For the more modern couple, if your ideal planning consists of both sets of parents' $ help, including some of their suggestions, yet you would like greater control of the decision making, you can consider a breakdown like so:

It seems fair, in my opinion. If this is not feasible, and requires more help from your families, then you might want to put on your patience hat and plan to be flexible with working with them or whoever is helping out with a bulk of the costs. If you get 100% help from your parents and they allow you to do whatever you want -- you're one lucky couple and be very appreciative! ;) NOTE: The more people involved in the planning, the greater risk for lengthier and more challenging decision making.

Abram and I don't come from wealthy families, so upon agreeing to have a big wedding, we decided we were going to put up all of the costs. (I will add that through the process, family members voluntarily extended their help and generosity.) I know this isn't a common hosting scenario, but this was pretty much our only option to have a big wedding. (I know other couples who have done this.) Stressful, but we knew we would have control over the planning without having to hear fuss about our decisions -- esp our non-traditional ones... we just had to work hard to save, save, save. It was worth it 'cause we didn't run into any issues with any one.

Article: "Wedding Etiquette for the Modern Bride and Groom" by Deah Paulson . . .(click for full post)

our planning :: 5 :: the church

Ahh..the church. This is another important factor in planning, should you have a religious ceremony. Ok, so Abe and I booked our venue, yet we didn't check with the church first (but we didn't plan on booking a venue that fast neither) -- easy way to get set back. We're originally from San Diego, but moved to Corona, and were having our reception in Laguna Beach. Hmm. This was definitely considered a destination wedding, because most of our guests would be coming from San Diego, some of whom were to stay in our provided accommodations.

We knew we had booked our venue first, so to try and go to the church next, we had better be prepared. To prepare, we consulted with churches in Orange County, but every single Catholic church was reserved on 7.7.07, even our church in Corona -- we were battling with the most popular wedding date of the year! We were 11 months out and some couples booked the date 2 yrs in advance! It was grueling trying to find a church near our venue that still had the date avail. So, we made the decision to approach our deacon, who is the sweetest deacon alive -- Deacon Marlon at our favorite church, St. Mary Magdelene in Corona. After much deliberation, it was decided that we would have a non-denominational officiant conduct the ceremony at 7-Degrees and then have a convalidation (ceremony recognized by the church after having been legally/civilly married) ceremony at the church. This wasn't part of our plans as I'm more for the sacred church ceremony, but again, because we kept ourselves flexible to changes, the idea grew on us, and as long as our church was ok, we were ok.

We still went through the church process of taking wedding-prep classes and attended the Engaged Encounter in Redlands. I've heard mixed reviews about the EE, but we would highly recommend the Redlands EE -- lots of laughs and lots of tears. It was such and eye-opening experience and really gives you insight as to whether you're really ready! There were couples of all kinds of religions who attended the EE.
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our planning :: 4 :: picking a venue

NOTE: Plan on having a religious ceremony? It's a good suggestion that you approach your house of worship first to discuss your preferred dates and their open dates, and then search for a venue. Abram and I did it reverse -- to us, there was good reason. To our church, the question arose.

Abram and I, after much discussion on the type of wedding we wanted, started to research venues (all out of curiousity). We liked the idea of having our reception at a different kind of location; our first idea was to rent out an estate and have a backyard wedding. Early in our engagement, we found 7-Degrees through a simple search and saw that they were having a wedding event in two days. We went, seriously, just to take a look at the place, and fell in love -- we knew it was the perfect place! (*This was the 1st and only venue we toured.)
Because it was called "7-Degrees," we thought it'd be ironic to find out if they had July 7th, 2007 (7.7.07) available. We inquired and they said 5 people had shown interest, but no one put a deposit. We took a look at their packages, figured it was just a little bit above our budget, but manageable and jumped on the availability. If we waited even a day or two, the date would've been gone -- though we would've been ok with it and gone with our Sept date, 7.7.07 seemed a lot cooler. Our vision of our wedding came together just by previewing the architecture, space, and ambiance.

So, instead of the Sept date we initially thought of, our wedding was to take place 2 months earlier. Kind of strange, but the date and name of place determined our overall theme -- "7.7.07 @ [seven-degrees]."

inside the main gallery (blank canvas)

view from the zen garden looking down at the rooftop (ceremony location)
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our planning :: 3 :: picking a date

This is one of the more important things in planning. Why? Picking the date can present several challenges, like weather, school vacations, busier work schedules, and holidays. NOTE: Depending on the formality of your wedding and size, allow a good 9-12 months to plan. I'll talk about weather, since that one small issue can determine the type of wedding you are going to have. Spring and summer seasons have always been the more popular times of the year to have a wedding, but fall and winter weddings are becoming favorable. In San Diego, for example, the sun sets close to 8PM during summer, making a wedding event seem longer. A winter wedding has colder weather, keeping most guests inside the venue, to keep cozy. We're blessed here in California 'cause we have great year-round weather, making it somewhat easier for us to select a date. But for others, they've got to factor in things like stormy weather, snow, humidity, etc.

In any case, Abe and I liked September. I've gone to many weddings around Labor Day, and I've always experienced great weather and good turnout. Families are usually home from summer vacations, and celebrating a marriage is a fun way to end the summer season. We didn't set ourselves on an exact date, and I'll tell you why in the next post. Again, we liked September. . . .(click for full post)

our planning :: 2 :: engagement party

Though it's optional, the engagement party is thrown 1-2 months after the official engagement and is really an opportunity for close family and friends to celebrate the occasion. It's also a great time for both families to meet if they haven't done so already. NOTE: Tradition says either parent(s) can host the party, but in recent times, I've seen close relatives, friends and even the couple host their own party.

For our casual engagement party, held 3 months after our engagement, Abram's mom graciously hosted the event at our house. Abe and I wanted to keep it really simple and quaint, and weren't particular about having all the bellz & whistlez. We invited about 80 guest (all of whom were going to be invited to the wedding, of course!), rented some nice white chairs and tables, and decorated with really inexpensive décor. My sisters hosted the games and gave away some small prizes.

NOTE: Bringing a gift to an engagement party is optional. If you like to bring gifts, a small gift, like a bottle of wine, should suffice. Really, your company is most important at the announcement party.

Here is a picture of Patrick, one of our groomsmen, and all the yummy Filipino food! On a side note, Abram (the comedian hubby of mine) had the task of ordering one of the cakes and we got a mango mousse cake that said, "Congratulations, Jackson!" (he's our little dachshund)


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our planning :: 1 :: the engagement

I'll make this super short. To back track, we met in high school, had several classes together, carpooled, and were even going to be college roomies at UC Irvine, but ended up going our separate college ways. There was no chemistry back then. (lol) We lost touch and time passed, but in 2003, we magically reconnected in Orange County and to our surprise, began dating. Abram and I were together for about 3 years before he proposed. The proposal date was July 16, 2006. It was one of the most memorable days of my life. I never thought I was going to marry the guy who sat right behind me in class!

Here's Abram, Cyril and I in high school in the 90's. (haha..check out my boy cut hair...)

In regards to the ring, I really wanted a simple band -- to be precise, it was this Cartier Love wedding band in platinum.

But after all the window shopping, I slowly transitioned over to wanting a ring with a stone. And Abram picked the most gorgeous ring for me. ;) NOTE: Educate yourself on the 4 c's (Carat, Color, Clarity and Cut). www.GIA4cs.GIA.edu The ring is an investment, monetarily and emotionally -- so make sure you (the person buying it) know what you're paying for. Example: A very good-cut diamond gives off more scintillation (sparkle), which also gives the illusion that the diamond is bigger than it really is. Plus, it'll always shine, even if it hasn't been cleaned for years.

IMPORTANT STEPS: We made the announcement to immediate family by phone, insured the ring, and then began planning an engagement announcement party. . . .(click for full post)

upcoming for 2009: our planning experience

So, I've been giving a lot of thought to what I'd like to write about, and though I have many topics I'd like to cover, I thought as a newlywed, why not share some of the planning/design challenges that most couples experience, or at least the ones my husband and I faced. I'll share what it was like for us, who hosted, what our priorities were, where did we sacrifice, picking a venue, etc. To be honest, I know I'm a planner, but our experience was so fun, we both agreed we'd do it all over again. I'll do this within the next few weeks, but I won't forget to post some more b&w work! ;) Hope some of this insight will help you in preparing for your big day, whether you're doing it all on your own or with the help of some one else.

Photo taken at the Dalisay-Romo Wedding: 08.13.2005
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happy new year!

Wishing you and yours a prosperous 2009…

{ From your friends at b&w. } . . .(click for full post)

bellz&whistlez + seven-degrees

NEWS: I just got word that bellz&whistlez has been added to [seven-degrees]' preferred vendor list! This is BIG news! We are super excited, 'cause if you haven't familiarized yourself with this venue, it has to be one of the best premier art and event venues in Orange County. Tucked in the hills of Laguna Beach, the award-winning architecture makes the perfect setting for a modern wedding. They have state-of-the-art lighting, sound and media capabilities -- try (3) large video screens that drop from the ceilings, (8) plasma tv screens, and many hanging video fixtures -- NO one will miss your montage! If it looks familiar from previous blogs, yes, this is where Abe and I held our wedding. Their staff and designers are amazing, diligent, and oh so talented -- truly inspirational. If you just want to do something a little different, this is the place to have your wedding reception. Open cocktail hour with some lounge/house music, and you'll definitely invite your guests to a swank ambiance complete with a party feel. Some of you may have seen this venue on MTV's Laguna Beach show where they filmed the episode, "Fight the Landslide Fundraiser."




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sweet winter wedding {12.27.08}

Day-Of Coordination: It was to no surprise that the winter wedding we coordinated this past Saturday would turn out to be a wonderfully designed celebration. Cyril will post a reflection blog soon, but I just wanted to share that we were honored to have been part of Benny and Cheryl's sweet winter wedding. I found a few minutes to snap some photos (btw, I'm no pro; I can't wait to see Trailbrook's photos!). Take a look at their cake display -- i love the branches covered with hanging flowers, gems and votives! And I'm still swooning over the tall, orchid-sprayed, table centerpieces which were covered with strings of crystals, butterflies, a white boa and pretty votive holders -- great job FloralWorks!







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happy holidays!

We will be back on Monday, Dec 29! Have a safe and blessed holiday season and thanks for visiting us!



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www.bellzandwhistlez.com

Our website is now up! Come check us out at www.bellzandwhistlez.com! . . .(click for full post)

red velvet invitations

I've been designing custom stationery since 2001, and that includes weddings, baby showers, bridal showers, retirement parties, etc. At the time, I didn't realize I was shaping a career path. I am thankful I'm still doing this because I've always enjoyed creating art. Here is one of my older projects. It's actually a revisit to the original invitation, which I did in 2004. The shapes on the patterned tri-fold jacket are velvet! I love the texture. I mimicked the shapes and incorporated them into the main card and inserts. And the idea of the photo as a layer came from the couple -- I'm a fan of clients sharing their input.





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winter theme • creative board •

It's winter and although I tend to get cold easily, it doesn't stop me from thinking about winter weddings! We're coordinating a wedding at the end of the month and in the process of getting to know the couple, it makes sense why they chose to have a winter wedding -- they <3 the snow! I can't wait to see the winter-esque details that the couple have been planning all year long! In the meantime, I put together a winter themed creative board using ice blue, wine and silver. I don't think I've seen it in person, maybe that's why I put them together...:)



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FREE bellz&whistlez holiday gift tags

'Tis the season and I wanted to give a little something away -- for FREE! They're modern and femme, and were designed with some good ol' TLC. Below are to two of the five holiday tags (*not to scale). Just download the file, print on cardstock, and cut along the dotted lines! ;)

Click HERE to download your FREE holiday gift tags! (*link no longer active as of 12-29-08)

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tradition, vintage, and red+black {08.04.07}

I was asked by a great friend, Maricel, to design, what would become a tradition of the Nguyen family, their family crest. It truly was an honor to take on such a delicate task. Maricel and Dr. Joe filled me in with their vision and mentioned it would be carried throughout their wedding details, so it was appropriate that it matched everything about them and also, their dream wedding reception! Maricel did a fabulous job designing their red+black, wine-themed wedding -- they are wine connoisseurs who fittingly held their ceremony and reception at a bed and breakfast deep in the hills of Temecula, CA. It was a hot day, but the outdoor ambiance, details, colors, and décor captured the essence of a vintage-inspired wedding.







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