Bringing the Roaring 20's to 2016

Jessica + Jonathan Chester and their Roaring 20’s Themed Wedding at Recreation Park Golf Course 18 in Long Beach, California

September 16, 2016

Jessica and her Mother hired us on for our Day of Coordination package where we join the planning one month prior to handle the final details as well as coordinating the rehearsal and the entire wedding day. We were thoroughly surprised when we discovered our Bride-To-Be had a college degree in design and had just about every inch of her dream wedding planned out perfectly. She even designed and hand made all her signage for her big day!

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Getting Ready

Jessica chose to style herself and her bridesmaids in typical outfits, hairstyles, and accessories you would have found at a wedding taking place in the 1920’s.

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The Guys

Jonathan and his bridesmaids looked dapper with their traditional tuxedos.

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First Look

The soon to be wedded couple took some time before their ceremony to have a first look and it was magical! They took advantage of their vintage lounge set up and used them for additional props for their photos.

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Ceremony

Jessica and Jonathan had a very simple and touching ceremony with the most beautiful sunset behind them.

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Wedding Party

Their wedding party might have been dressed up but that did not take away from how fun they were!

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Couples Portraits

Because of Jessica’s organization she made time in her schedule to include a good chunk of time for couples portraits. If you are thinking about sunset photos, do it!

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Reception

This gorgeous ballroom was dressed up with touches of Art Deco decor and infused with hand made elements by the bride and her Mother.

The couple had a choreographed first dance

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Mr and Mrs Chester

Being a part of The Chester’s special day and tons of memorable highlights was an amazing experience. We love detailed oriented weddings so much, especially ones with a good theme that is executed well. Since their big day Jessica and Jonathan have moved to Colorado and adopted a puppy. We wish them the best!

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Vendors:

Coordination: Rock n’ Willow Events / Photography: Emily Beth Photo / Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18 / DJ: Behind the DJ / Videography: Prismatik Films / Florals: Margaret Rose Floral Design / Linen: Dream Decor / Rentals: Bring the Charm / Cake: Torrance Bakery 

Punk Rock & Baseball Influenced Wedding

Holiday + Ruben’s Punk Rock & Baseball Influenced Spring Wedding in Long Beach at Recreation Park Golf Course 18

March 12, 2016

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Holiday (yes, that really is her name!) and Ruben came to us about six months prior to their wedding with mostly everything planned. They just had their finishing touches left on their to-do list. As we sat down and had our initial consultation with them, we realized they were happy to be almost at the finished line with the planning but we could sense something was missing. You know that spark you are supposed to get in your eyes when you talk about your wedding? Yeah, that was missing!

We asked, well what made you two fall in love? What interests did you both have that led to dating? When the wedding is all done and you go back to normal weekends, what do you plan on doing? And that is when it hit them! They were planning a wedding keeping in mind what they thought their families and friends wanted and not what they wanted.

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Holiday and Ruben thought about it and they mentioned they love going to punk rock shows and baseball games and it was all uphill from there! Our creative juices started flowing and we got to thinking what do we love when we go to punk shows. Handmade made flyers, custom pins, cool artwork. The same thought process went into pulling ideas from baseball games. A fly ball, catchers mitt, jerseys, rally towels.

The couple decided to make flyer type invitations, custom pins as favors, and instead of table numbers they put the names of their favorite albums to show off their punk influences. To highlight the baseball aspect they got an Angels jersey with their last name on the back for guests to sign and Ruben got some really cool cuff links. Now they were all ready to get the show on the road!

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Holiday got to get ready in the upstairs bridal suite at Recreation Park Golf Course 18, and let me tell you, it is fit for a queen!

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Ruben didn’t do too bad himself and cleaned up very well. A really touching moment was when Holiday wrote her groom-to-be a heart felt letter and Ruben teared up while reading it! Awww!

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As it became time for the ceremony to begin all the vendors and guests arriving could not help but realize what a beautiful Spring day it was. The colors Holiday and Ruben chose really complimented the season too.

You can see Silvia and my hand poking out from behind the bush! Silvia is laying out the veil and I am trying to crack a smile out of the Bride.

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It is easy to see why a lot of Angelinos choose Spring as the season for their wedding. The couple had their portrait session done with a gorgeous sunset in the background.

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Their wedding party was pretty hilarious! What started off as a nice posed photo session quickly turned into a high energy, off the ground (literally) experience!

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For Cocktail Hour the couple had simple vases with photos from their childhood and from various moments in their relationship over the years.

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Ruben got to take over the seating chart project and executed it beyond belief! He took inspiration from our first conversation when we mentioned to them to find ways to bring out their interests through their wedding. Instead of plain table numbers, he named each table after his favorite rock albums saving his favorite for the Sweetheart Table of course. Paying homage to their hometown of Long Beach, Ruben had the Queen Mary in the back of the chart. He even had a great idea to have the actual table numbers be mini records! How cool!

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As the reception was under way Holiday and Ruben started off with their grand entrance and moved into their first dance and a couple of toasts.

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After dinner Holiday participated in the Father-Daughter dance while Ruben had the opportunity to dance with his Mother.

They paid tribute to a family member who had passed

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Holiday’s bouquet toss proved to be super exciting!

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Before heading on the dance floor they cut and served their first slice of cake as a married couple.

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Holiday’s Mother had the extreme honor of putting together the candy table and it was definitely a hit with a the guests!

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The couple welcomed guests on to the dance floor with the traditional Money Dance in which some of the guests totally had a blast participating in.

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Three years later Holiday + Ruben have moved in to their own place, adopted a dog named Otto, and Ruben has started his own brewing company Burning Bridge Brewing! We are always so proud of each and every accomplishment our couples accumulate and we know the future is bright for these two right here! Congrats Mr and Mrs Leon and Happy Anniversary!!

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The dream team

Coordinator: Rock n’ Willow Events // Photography: LA Digital Photo // Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18 // DJ: DJ Tempoe // Flowers: Christina’s Flowers // Cake: Rossmoor Bakery

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Quirky Shenanigans Wedding - Featured on Offbeat Bride

Anna + Kliment’s Quirky Shenanigans Wedding at Recreation Park Golf Course 18 in Long Beach August 30, 2015

Featured on Offbeat Bride

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Anna was referred to us by Katie Lowder, the former venue director at Recreation Park Golf Course 18 in Long Beach, California. She decided to reach out to us a barely a month prior to her big day!! She had a clear vision for her wedding and had already titled it “quirky shenanigans”. All she needed was for someone to come in and clean up her vision. She wanted to combine all of her childhood interests mixed with her eccentric personality and eye for fashion to pull off one of the most epic weddings we have been a part of to date!

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Anna, a former beauty queen, was set to marry Kliment and wanted to incorporate his Bulgarian traditions on top of all her ideas she already had in place. That is where we stepped in. Balancing all the ideas and executing them seamlessly. We organized her thoughts of a fairytale ceremony, quirky reception and a nod to Bulgaria all around. A prime example of this is when Anna ordered table numbers off Etsy in Bulgarian and “cheers” laser cut signs.

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Anna got ready on the newly remodeled bridal suite at the venue. The lights and mirrors worked wonders and enhanced her natural beauty!

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Downstairs Kliment got ready and relaxed on the patio as we prepared for the start of the wedding.

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Then as an array of Beatles songs started to play, one of the most magical ceremonies was underway. When the words “ Here comes the sun” were sang Kliment looked up and saw Anna walking towards him as if it was an angel .

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Their wedding ceremony was truly magical and the first time I cried during the vows! Anna said something that has stuck with me over the years. She said “You get me. You get all of me.” They are truly soulmates!!

But first, let me take a selfie!

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Instead of having one item being thrown at the couple as they walked back up the aisle, Anna prepared an assortment of fun things to blow, throw, shake, and wave.

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Anna and Kliment were such a humorous couple that we knew their couples portraits would be hilarious!

As you can see, they were a hoot!

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There was no detail left out, even when it came to the cocktail hour. There was a gold globe for the guests to sign, gumboil machines, a quote from The Princess Bride, and a pinwheel seating chart.

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In keeping with the Bulgarian traditions Kliment’s Mother was a part of the bread ritual. She broke off a piece of bread that has salt on it and gives it to the Bride and Groom to symbolize when life is “salty” and does the same with a piece of bread that has sugar on it symbolize the “sweetness” in life. It is also a metaphor for when there are going to be good and bad times the couple will face in their marriage.

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Then the Bride proceeds in one of the best traditions we have ever seen at a wedding, the water pot! This water pot represents two things: 1) wishing “smooth sailing” for the couple in their marriage and 2) the sex of their first born!!

The red flower represents if their future child will be a girl and the white flower represents if it will be a boy

Everyone was pleased to find out that Baby Gounev would hopefully one day be a BOY!

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Before continuing with the reception celebrations we have to share more of Anna’s creative and fun decor! Tons of signage, a princess card box, a gold wishing tree, sunflower seed favors, and glow sticks. Who doesn’t love to light up the night!

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The couple took dance classes and choreographed their first dance

Of course Kliment had to have with their first dance!

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A little dress change for Anna and then it was on to cake cutting!

Cake by Rossmoor Pastries

Cake cutter and server by Kate Spade

The couple tried to reenact this pose to look like their bobble heads

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Anna surprised Kliment with a tres leches grooms cake but the surprise was on her when the cake accidentally said “Congrats MRS Gounev” instead of MR!!

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Bouquet toss winner

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Garter toss winner

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After all the festivities were over it was time to dance!

Traditional Bulgarian folklore dance called the Horo

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Guests got to take a break from dancing and enjoy a tasty treat from Urban Espresso

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Not a single guest was sitting down at the end of the night, partly because of the amazing DJ Trego and partly because Anna and Kliment had such a great group of family and friends!

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It has been 3 and 1/2 years since the Gounev wedding and we are so happy to report that Anna and Kliment welcomed a baby boy Hemingway Hunnicutt in 2017. Looks like their prediction on this day when Anna kicked the water pot and out flew the white carnation came true after all!

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The Dream Team:

Coordination: Rock n’ Willow Events // Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18 // Photographer: Taylored Photo Memories // DJ: DJ Trego, Vox DJ’s // Cake: Rossmoor Pastries // Cake cutter & server: Kate Spade // Florist: Good Flower Shop // Linen: Dream Decor & Hobby Lobby // Coffee: Urban Espresso // Wedding Dress: Marchesa // All signs and decor: Etsy

Featured on Offbeat Bride —> www.offbeatbride.com

Venues we are DYING to work at in 2019

Our list of venues we can not get enough of and are just dying to work at in 2019!

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Being Southern California natives there are just so many awesome, cool, historic, fun, gorgeous venues to choose from. We have narrowed down our list for our top picks that we hope to work at next year. Brides and Grooms getting married in 2019 LISTEN UP! If you happen to book one of these listed venues and hire us on as your planner/coordinator you will receive 20% off your total package!!

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Photo taken from www.homeaway.com of The Houdini Estate - Yes, you can rent this for a nights stay!!

Our Number One most sought after venue in 2019 is The Houdini Estate! It makes the list not because of its growing popularity but for the amount of tedious work the planner who works here has to endure. If we worked at the estate it would challenge all that we know and have learned over the years and executing a wedding here would be such an accomplishment for us!

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We have grouped our favorite venues by separate areas in Southern California to keep this list looking so fresh and so clean clean :) First up, our hometown! Can you believe we have not yet worked at these venues listed below?! To show how much we love our community we are offering 25% off for our local couples if booked between January - March 2019 for a 2019 event.

South Bay

• Smoky Hollow Studios, El Segundo

• South Bay Customs, El Segundo

• Redondo Beach Historic Library, Redondo Beach

• The Catalina Room, Redondo Beach

• The L’Cheriyve Studios, Gardena

• Southcoast Botanical Gardens, Palos Verdes

• Catalina View Garden, Palos Verdes

• Crafted at the Port, San Pedro

• Brouweij West, San Pedro

Photo taken from www.gipephotography.com of Smoky Hollow Studios

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Long Beach

• Howl

• The Loft on Pine

• Ebell of Long Beach

• Queen Mary

• Rancho Los Cerritos

• MOLAA

• Long Beach Museum of Art

• Aquarium of the Pacific

• Earl James Japanese Garden

Photo by www.spostophotography.com of Howl

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Orange County

• The Hacienda, Santa Ana

• Heritage Museum OC, Santa Ana

• The Estate on Second, Santa Ana

• The 1912, Santa Ana

• Hangar 21 North, Fullerton

• Hangar 21 South, Fullerton

• The Muckenhaler Mansion (Cultural Center), Fullerton

• The Summit House, Fullerton

• White House Banquet & Event Center, Anaheim

• The Vintage Rose, Anaheim

• The Colony House, Anaheim

• Oak Canyon Nature Center, Anaheim

• Casa de Lago, Orange

• The French Estate, Orange

• The Jones Victorian Estate, Orange

• Rancho Las Loms, Silverado

• The Wilcox Manor, Tustin

• The Franciscan Gardens, San Juan Capistrano

• The Newland Barn, Huntington Beach

Timothy Bibb Photography from www.wedding-spot.com of The Hacienda

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San Diego

• Britt Scripps Manor

• Brick

• The Thursday Club

• Luce Loft

• Moniker Warehouse

• The Lafayette Hotel

• Twin Oaks House

• El Cortez (Don Room)

Photo taken from www.sdbj.com of the Britt Scripps Manor

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Greater Los Angeles Area

• Villa del Sol d’Oro, Sierra Madre

• Hummingbird Nest Ranch, Santa Susanna

• Kimberly Crest House & Gardens, Redlands

• Edwards Mansion, Redlands

• Enchanted Forrest Weddings, Fallbrook

• The Lodge at Malibu Lake, Malibu

• Adamson House, Malibu

• Newhall Mansion, Piru

• Inn of the Seventh Ray, Topanga Canyon

Photo taken off www.yelp.com of Villa del Sol d’Oro

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Los Angeles

• The First Congressional Church of Los Angeles

• Heritage Square Museum

• LA River Center & Gardens

• Ebell of Los Angeles

• Oviatt Penthouse

• Alexandria Ballroom

• Carondelet House

• Vibiana

• The Maxwell House

• Noor

• Wilshire Loft

• The Holding Co

• HNYPT

• 440 Seaton

• Seventh Place

• The Unique Space

• The Fig House

• The York Manor

• Ruby Street

• Cassita Hollywood

• SmogShoppe

• Valentine

• Milliwick

• Grass Room

Photo taken from www.fccla.org of The First Congregational Church of Los Angeles

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Central Coast and Northern California, we are not opposed to traveling to you! We had our hearts set on booking a wedding at the Madonna Inn next year but we actually just booked a wedding there for February 2019!! Wooo hooo!! After our recent trip we are now obsessed ( literally OBSESSED ) with Hearst Castle! Any takers??

Photo taken from www.visitcalifornia.com of the Historic, World Famous, Hearst Castle

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Well there you have it, lets throw some good luck into the air and manifest some destiny up so we can hopefully book a wedding or event at one of these California gems! We are looking forward to an epic 2019 wedding season all thanks to you awesome clients and potential clients who trust us with your special day.

Angela + Silvia, Rock n’ Willow Events

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All photos are not owned or taken by Rock n’ Willow Events and are not Copyrighted to our knowledge. If so, please inform us and they will be removed immediately. - A+S

Beach Themed Same Sex Wedding

Mayra + Angelica's romantic beach themed same sex wedding in the South Bay - with Ceremony at Los Verdes Golf Course in Palos Verdes California and Reception at Carson Civic Center in Carson, California. 10.25.2014

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Mayra and Angelica got engaged on their 9th anniversary as a couple and knew right away they were going to set their wedding date for their 10th anniversary. What a better gift to receive than a shiny ring! After much planning and budgeting they decided to have a split location wedding with the ceremony and reception in two different locations. They opted for the Los Verdes Golf Course site in Palos Verdes, California for their ceremony and the Carson Civic Center in their hometown of Carson, California for the reception.

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The beautiful ocean view from Los Verdes Golf course complimented the touches of their beach theme and tiffany blue color scheme very well. along with a bright, sunny October day the ceremony went off without a glitch!

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The couple chose not to see eachother prior to their ceremony which made for such an exciting first look. they actually return back to their ceremony site each year on their anniversary and recreate this photo below --->

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Look at all the cuteness!

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One of our favorite parts of the ceremony was when the photographers asked all the guests to form a giant heart, it turned out perfect!!

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As the guests traveled to the reception location we rushed over to help Choura Events get ready for cocktail hour.

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Mayra and Angelica spent a lot of time paying attention to detail and putting together their decor elements and it showed. Just look at all!

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They were welcomed in to the reception as the new MRS + MRS and definetly got the party started with the help of their DJ Vince West. 

After dinner it was off to do the traditional wedding things: First dance, Bouquet toss, Garter toss, and Cake cutting!

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Just look at this yumminess from Torrance Bakery! Oh and we surprised the couple with a custom memory bottle made by yours truly!! :)

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This wedding was a long and winding road to get to. Mayra + Angelica had to face many battles over their ten years together. those hurdles made their wedding day that much more special. They are coming up on their four year anniversary and have since welcomed a new pup to their family, Roxie Rose!

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Mayra + Angelica Sabatin with Angela and Silvia from Rock n’ Willow Events

Vendor Team- Coordination: Rock n' Willow Events Photographer: Sachiko Studio Ceremony: Los Verdes Golf Course Reception: Carson Civic Center Catering: Choura Events Flowers + Linen: Avalon Flowers DJ: DJ Vince West Cake: Torrance Bakery Videography: Joey Dones

Lemons and Lace Wedding in Paramount

Sami and Alex's Lemons and Lace Wedding at Progress Park West in Paramount, California 06.14.2014

Let's take a trip down memory lane shall we? With this being our second blog post we have a lot of catching up to do! We thought why not start from the beginning and highlight some of weddings along the way -

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If you did not already know, Rock n' Willow Events started in May 2013 as Different Events. Our first year was full of promoting our butts off!! We were planning and coordinating quinceaneras, baby showers and children birthday parties left and right just trying to get our name out there. Before we knew it we booked our first weddings!! So here is where we begin our journey back in time to where it all started, to where we started!

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Our first weddings were partial day of coordination for Brittney + Ben Huang and Jose + Tasha Cortez. We did not know what we were getting ourselves into and did not even offer full day of coordination or planning yet. Brittney and Ben had the catering staff from Sea Empress to help and Jose and Tasha had an intimate wedding at the Albertons Chapel so we definetly had training wheels on in the beginning. But that all changed when we booked our first back to back full planning clients. Thanks for trusting us and putting your whole wedding in our newbee hands by the way!

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Samantha + Alex Mendez were married at Progress Park West in Paramount, California as a nod to Samantha's Grandfather who was previously Mayor of Paramount. They came to us with a date and venue and we helped secure the rest of their wedding details. This included making our own lemonade stand inspired dessert table. We came up with a Lemon & Lace theme based off their vision for their big day. Centerpieces were filled with limes and the dessert table had lemon flavored treats. This was definetly our big welcome to the wedding world when we were faced with our first wedding emergencies. Beverages that were nowhere to be found leading to the caterer scrambling to purchase last minute drinks and one the bridesmaids fainting during the group photo session, the slideshow wouldn't play, oh and a guest spilled red wine on the carpet, whoa!

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We could have quit right then and there and walked away from event planning but no! We went back home that night and let it all sink in and remembered that feeling when the couple thanked us in front of all their guests, or when the guests praised us for a job well done. My best friend was a guest (yea, no pressure at all right) and she was amazed at our ability to coordinate the wedding so smoothly that she did not even notice all the hiccups that occured that day!

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Well there you have it, our first wedding and the trials and tribulations we endured and learned from. Always remember where you started and humble yourself, learn from mistakes, and continue to grow! There are highs and lows to any event and we are so grateful for the learning experiences we were given. The couple has since welcomed the birth of their first son, Zander, in January 2017.

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Cake by King’s Hawaiian Bakery in Torrance, California

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Planning + Coordination: Rock n' Willow Events / Photography: B. Rodriguez Photography / Cake: King's Hawaiian Bakery / Flowers: Romero's Orchids

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