You say Fresno - I say Fres-Yes!

It's been a while since I've spent time in very central California, and I'm happy to see that some parts are still very alive and kicking with a vibrant and diverse nightlife! Enough of that...on to dinner...

Weddings are an Art

Let me revise that - Great weddings are an art. Many of you may have been to many weddings and are still saying "what are you talking about, an art?". I understand. You see, until you've been to a wedding that contains at least one element of artistic form - be it by the planner, coordinator, band, caterer, or the couple themselves - it might be hard to imagine what I'm talking about.

big chunk

Peanut butter cookies with a big chunk of chocolate in the middle on top. Mmm. Have you had these? If you like the above ingredients, they're good. And the highlight of this west Marin wedding.

Nuff said.

Ignorance is NOT bliss

So, you've found the perfect location for your wedding and reception, complete with wedding planner and estate coordinator. STOP! The wrong people in charge can ruin your day. Take extra care to interview your planner and/or person who is in charge of the grounds where you will be hosting your most special day. Get a feel for these people and know that they have YOUR best interests at heart, not theirs. It's their job to 'sell' you on the property, but once you commit (deposit and contract) you are stuck with these people, and quite often it is their job that comes first (taking care of themselves and their property) rather than the quality of your special day.

Crisp and Clean in Tahoe

Now is a beautiful time to go to Lake Tahoe! It is gorgeous; the air is refreshing, the water is crisp, and the scenery is beautiful.

I've been to many fabulous weddings at the lake, and this was no exception, other than a few in a good way. The weather was perfect. This particular one was at a family estate, but most of the time people simply rent out the property, so you too can have a fabulous Lake Tahoe wedding.

Monterey? Again?

If you read my last post, you'll notice I was just here. Yes, Monterey and Carmel are almost sister cities, only minutes apart although Carmel I would call more of a 'retirement' community in general, and Monterey is pretty rockin' with nightlife and all.

Carmel on your sundae.

Do you not love carmel on your sundae? Boy that is my fav. Same goes for Carmel (by the sea, that is) on a Sunday. A world famous sea side town next to it's sister city, Carmel Valley, where our next wedding to attend was.

Grilled Cheese!

Holy cow, where have I been? Well, working unfortunately. So, back to (this) work....

Who get's married on the Fourth Of July? Apparently a TON of people. Who knew? So there we were, attending a wedding on the Fourth. As you can imagine after all the usual stuff, slightly after dinner as evening approached, outside through the wall of glass that surrounded the room at the top of this downtown hotel.....FIREWORKS. Beautiful. I mean, think about it. Who gets fireworks at their wedding? Okay, I've seen it before, but it's pretty rare especially at this level.

Wine Auctions & Weddings

Another note on having your special day at the family compound (be it a ranch, vineyard, or your aunts suburban home). What can happen when you decide to have your wedding at the family residence? Many things of course, including your immediate next door neighbor having an equally large event (in this case, a wine auction) complete with a competing band! Tip number one this week: Apply for any necessary permits with your local government, and notify any and all neighbors of the date of your event. This will smooth things over with any grumps, and give anyone planning an event a chance to reconsider the date.

Going Irish!

What's this about Irish? Well, apparently this group had some in them as we were at the Irish (Cultural?) Center. So what does that mean? For the sake of this blog, nothing really. The fact of the matter is that when you go to a lot of weddings you occasionally take things for granted. Other times things just become a blur. Add to that waiting too long (a week ago today) to recall the events of said wedding and things really become a blur.

Oh, Calistoga

Oh how I love Calistoga. It's a beautiful area, cute little town, and fresh as a daisy. I especially love all the hills and valleys, how the homes are tucked here and there, at least where I have spent most of my time there.

Having a wedding and reception at the family compound can be a precious experience, not to mention a memory you can walk through over and over again throughout your lifetime. It can also be a nightmare. Carefully weigh all the facts, account for each detail as mini events, consider the flow of each and every minute. You should consider consulting a professional for this rather than guessing.

To be or not to be?....BE AWESOME!

Let's face it. Some weddings are great, some are...well....not. Yes I've been to both many times as I'm sure most have.

This past weekend I saw bits of both, at a couple different weddings, which happens all the time. I have to say, while I used to be of the opinion that this was a sham, I've realized what an important role the wedding planner is. No, you don't have to spend a fortune on one, you can simply designate someone you trust...

Napa in the Sky with diamonds

Wow. This weekends weddings were in Napa. This is something not everyone can do. I'm not sure, but I'm told there are restrictions as to 'who' can get married in the Napa valley vineyards. Anyway, this one was at a family residence, roughly in the center of the Napa valley on a hill surrounded by vineyards. Nice views are cool.

Glen Ellen

This past weekend I attended a wedding reception with my favorite type of entertainment set up: A live band, with a DJ filler (recorded music before, inbetween, and after band). A band is always 500% better than just a DJ or MC for engaging the party, keeping everyone entertained, and making sure the right things happen at the right time. And if need be, you have the DJ or MC for back up for those things and more. If you can only afford one, I say go with the live band. They usually have someone, or are willing to arrange someone, who can do any MC'ing neccessary.

Here we go...

I've debated the many ways to begin this post, and have decided to start from scratch; to begin with current findings, from today on, and occationally fill in with past 'oldies but goodies'. My entries will usually be brief, but I will be happy to 'go into detail' when asked.

Happy reading, I hope you find something usefull:-)