Stephanie & Neil Nixon Library Incredible Wedding

Better late than never!  Wanted to share one of our very cool weddings from last summer.  Stephanie and Neil were SO much fun, and gorgeous, too!  I loved working with them, and their dream team of vendors.
A lounge designed with vintage furniture from the hottest new vendor Found Vintage Rentals  in Orange County, a sweets buffet fit for the President, plus a dress change during the reception so that the bride could boogie down  – this wedding is full of style and the Swell Details were captured by Jim Kennedy Photographers.




A Vintage Lounge created by Found Rentals and bright florals by Jenny B

 


Sweets Buffet thanks to Sweet and Saucy Shop




A Dress Change so Stephanie could boogie with Jordan Music Entertainment



Stephanie, who grew up in Orange County California, met Neil, originally from New Zealand, when they attended UC Santa Barbara. Their goal while planning their wedding with me was to create a warm environment for both families. It was important to have a hassle free weekend for the over 50 out of town guests.

The couple wanted a beautiful location that incorporated their Catholic traditions – they chose Holy Family Cathedral in Orange, CA for their ceremony and The Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, CA for their reception. 

Artisan Chocolates in Orange County.... A Swell Idea... Oh Yeah

Hey Fellow Chocolate Lovers!
 You need to know Luisa.  She's one of a kind , and if you are lucky enough to have event favors from Luisa the Chocolatier, Yum-o. Delish. The O word.  (Oops.  That's not politically correct, but I had to toss it in.) The kind of chocolate your guests will savor, not toss out . I have this saying about event favors... the favor should be either edible or usable. Luisa's chocolates are BOTH. Enough of my digressions.
Let's chat about Luisa.  She's old school.  Only works by referral.  Doesn't know what a blog is.  That's one of the reasons I love her.  But, really.... her chocolate is enough to love her.

From my trusted colleague, Luisa..."Everything we make is made by hand. We don't have machines (I wish I had).  The shape items: crocodiles, hearts, ballerina slippers, pacifiers, baby carriages, wedding cakes, etc.
Everything is done by hand, by order. After we mold each item we clean it, brush it, paint it if requested and trim by hand either in cellophane or in a box. All this hand work is qualified as artisanal."
On this photo you will see some "hand dipped truffles" and some "hand molded" truffles. The top layer are hand dipped.

Very few chocolatiers hand dip truffles these days. We are one of the last houses that does this job on the West Coast.  Most of the chocolate stores buy little chocolate "balls" and they fill them with truffle. We don't do that. We pipe our centers by hand and then we hand dip them. These are our finest product.
I make my ganache using real cream and butter as I learned in school in France and as I did at the pastry and chocolate store I apprenticed. I don't make shortcuts. We don't buy pre-made truffle mix from any company.
My flavorings are real: we use real fruit purees for the fruit truffles,real ground nuts for the nutty , etc. etc.
I don't advertise. Do a good job and the people will do the marketing for you.
I work mainly by referral. It has work well for me for 15 years." 
~Luisa the Chocolaier

If truffles aren't your thing, call her!  She'll make you whatever you want.

If you'd like more information about Luisa, visit her at http://www.luisachocolatiere.com/  ... or, better yet, call me.  We'll go visit Luisa together.

Natalie Vishny on Get Married this Weekend!

For those of you who love Get Married (WE TV daily TV Show), take a look at me this Saturday morning, 1/23/10, at 9:30 AM.  For those of you who haven't ever heard of Get Married TV Show, check it out.  It's the most realistic of all wedding shows...No.  It's not Platinum Weddings (great inpirations!) or Bridezillas (thank goodness!) .  It's a realistic show that give great advice on realistic wedding topics.  I was interviewed months ago, and I'm thinking...hmmm... what will I look like on TV?  The show airs Saturday, 1/23/10 at 9:30 AM.  If you can't catch it then, then visit http://www.getmarried.com/  to see the show any time.

Until then,

Best of the Best from Swellegant Events 2009

Blog or live??? I wish I had more time to share details of the incredible events that I have coordinated.  Blogging takes a backseat to family, work, and continued learning in my business. So, to my current and future clients, I apologize.  I'm not the blogging queen.   Right now, as I'm staring at the ocean (Yep.  It's true.  Event Planners get vacations, too.  :) I'm looking through some amazing shots from 2009.  Enjoy!  Call me in 2010 for all of your Event needs... I have only 10 weekends that aren't booked with events or family fun, and I'd love to help you create the party of your dreams.

 From flip flops to heels, Swellegant is there every step of the way...

Designing tables....

Providing the latest and greatest in fun entertainment

Working with the best caterers

With couples from engagements to babies...

Continually creating unique event after event!

 

Continually creating unique event after event!

Even enough time to assist with events for National Charity League... see my beautiful daughter, Hanna!

I loved submitting two entries to the First Annual Trendsetter Awards with the Association of Bridal Consultants... and although I didn't win this time, next year, it was so much fun!

Until we meet,

So... where has Natalie been lately?

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA ILLINOIS! On the heels of my busy June wedding season in Southern Cal, I took off to the corn fields to a wedding of a former favorite student of mine. Planes, trains, and automobiles to get to my old college town (Go ILLINI!) of Champaign, IL. Going back to my roots to remember my teaching days right of college. Thanks for the warm welcome, LaBrecques. The reception at the top of the U of I stadium was unbelievable. Eye candy, baby!

A few tips for my wedding couples at the beginning of your planning processes:

• Think outside the box! Reception Sites don't have to be in hotel ballrooms... even in Southern Calfornia. We can transform any location to create your dream day. When you're at a cool location, so much less decor has to be brought in.
• Brides and grooms.. http://www.wedquarters.com/ is a great place to start when making a website. Visit http://staceyandtc.wedquarters.com/ to see a detailed website that was made by the bride herself.