California Weddings

Christmas Wedding at the Mission Inn

2011-12-29T12:16:00.000-08:00

With Christmas 2011 out of the way, it's time to start planning your 2012 California Christmas wedding! And, what better place than the AAA 4-Diamond-rated Mission Inn in Riverside. Any time of the year is a great time for a wedding at the historic Mission Inn, but December is when the Mission Inn puts out its Christmas lights, turning the Inn into a magical, breathtaking place for a wedding.

The Mission Inn has a long history of helping couples with their "I do's." In fact, Richard Nixon and his wife Pat had their wedding at the Mission Inn. And, Ronald and Nancy Reagan honeymooned at the romantic Inn. What makes the Inn such a popular spot for weddings is their St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, with grand mahogany doors and Tiffany stained-glass windows. The pic below shows the exterior of the chapel.

But, it's during their "Festival of Lights," from late November through early January, where the Inn puts on its best face. With over 3.6 million Christmas lights on display, you and your love can be transported into a fairytale world, complete with lighted horse-drawn carriages.

In addition to the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, which can accommodate up to 152 guests, couples can have their ceremonies in the Oriental Courtyard, which can accommodate up to 170 guests or the smaller St. Cecilia Chapel, which can accommodate up to 15 guests. In addition, there are seven banquet rooms available for receptions.

You and your guests may also enjoy Kelly’s Spa at The Mission Inn and 54˚ at Duane’s®. Kelly's Spa features 11 private spa treatment suites, with specially designed treatments for couples, bridal parties and Mother's-to-Be. 54˚ at Duane’s® is one of the Inn's fine bars, where you can sample some outstanding wines paired with items from their sushi and tapas menu. On my recent stay there I found 54˚ to have that great combination of casual atmosphere, but with some great wines to choose from. I went for the Sequoia Grove cabernet and was not disappointed. Nor was I disappointed with the service and accommodations at the Mission Inn, which were definitely top-notch.

For more information on the Mission Inn's wedding packages, go to missioninn.com.

Fallbrook Wedding Venue with Private Lake

2011-07-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

Care to make your grand wedding entrance by boat on a private lake? Or, perhaps you'd like a horse-drawn carriage instead? All that is possible just one hour north of San Diego at Los Willows, a luxurious private garden estate located in Fallbrook. Los Willows was designed for weddings, and with their luxury B&B, for honeymoons as well. This 44-acre estate hosts one wedding at a time, so your event will be totally private. And, your wedding package includes the basics: use of the private estate for 6 1/2 hours; professional wedding planner; wedding rehearsal, etc. But it's the wonderful amenities and available options that set Los Willows apart:

On site professional, modern salon for the bride and bridesmaids
Bridal lounge and groom's retreat
Picturesque gardens and manicured lawns overlooking a pristine private lake
Wedding boat grand entrance available across their private lake
Or a horse and carriage grand entrance
Just-married champagne boat cruise on the lake for the newly married couple
Reception at their climate-controlled pavilion with 6' Swarovski crystal chandelier
Luxury B&B available for overnight stays
Vintage Rolls Royce available for departure to your awaiting car

Los Willows is an ideal venue for larger weddings up to 250 people, but, they also specialize in smaller, more intimate weddings as well. When it's just the two of you and a small group of family and friends, Los Willows provides many different intimate settings, such as a shady oak tree next to the creek or a lakeside gazebo.

For more information on this fabulous venue, you may want to visit their website at loswillows.com.

Here's a YouTube video shot at Los Willows to give you an idea of what to expect:

Intimate Wedding Venue in South Pasadena

2011-04-21T17:36:00.000-07:00

It's not easy to find small wedding venues in the Pasadena area, but, here's the perfect one for those of you wanting a small, intimate wedding, but in an elegant venue.

Located at 201 Orange Grove Avenue in an area known as the historic "Millionaire's Row," The Bissell House Bed & Breakfast is a three-story Victorian mansion built in 1887. The mansion has had several owners during it's history, including the daughter of Melville Bissell, the guy who made the popular Bissell line of vacuum cleaners. She used to entertain in the house, inviting many prominent people of her day, including Albert Einstein. But, you don't have to be a genius to have a wedding in today's Bissell House, you just have to be in love!

The Bissell House specializes in intimate, outdoor weddings, accommodating up to 40-50 people. And, it's located near many popular Pasadena area attractions: Old Town Pasadena, Rose Bowl, Norton Simon Museum, and Burke Williams Spa. Out of town guests can stay at the Bissell House, or at one of the nearby hotels, such as the Westin Pasadena. Go to bissellhouse.com for more info. Below you'll find a YouTube video of The Bissell House to give you an idea of what you might expect:

Lompoc Wedding Venue - La Purisima Mission

2010-10-28T15:58:00.000-07:00

Looking for a lovely wedding venue in the wine country of Lompoc, Buellton or Santa Ynez? Then consider having your wedding at La Purisima Mission State Historic Park in Lompoc, California. Lompoc is home to Vandenberg Air Force Base, and Lompoc and the surrounding area is home to some of the finest wineries in Santa Barbara Country (including my favorites - Fiddlehead, Palmina, Melville, Hitching Post and La Fond.)

La Purisima Mission State Historic Park is rustic (no electricity or chairs for guests), but the gardens and fountain are a lovely and serene spot for a wedding of 100 people or less. Do keep in mind that the park is public, so people are allowed to wander by. You will need to fill out an application form and pay a $250 fee. Their contact information is 805-733-3713.

I visited the park recently and snapped a couple popular spots for wedding ceremonies:

Wedding Venue Between Los Angeles and Orange County

2010-10-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

His family lives in Orange County. Yours lives in Los Angeles. So, where do you have the wedding? Well, midway, of course. And, where might midway be? At the Rio Hondo Events Center at the Rio Hondo Golf Club!

Located in Downey, the Rio Hondo Events Center is a beautifully romantic venue with a golf course lake and waterfall backdrop for your outdoor ceremony, and a choice of event rooms which are perfect for smaller weddings of under 100 guests, on up to larger weddings of 300 guests. And, they offer a wide range of options for your reception, including several different buffet choices such as a barbecue buffet and a "Taste of Italy" buffet.

Contact Info:

Rio Hondo Eventers Center at the Rio Hondo Golf Club
Office: 562-806-5020 Fax: 562-806-5040
10627 Old River School Road Downey, Ca www.riohec.com

Below is a YouTube video so you can get an idea of the event space for weddings:

Napa Valley Garden Wedding Venue

2010-05-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

I'm always on the lookout for a fabulous Napa Valley wedding venue, so was thrilled when I came across this video highlighting some Napa Valley lodging choices. The video features the Vintage Estate, with their Villagio Inn & Spa and The Vintage Inn, located in Yountville, which is just 9 Miles North of the City of Napa and 45 Miles North of San Francisco.

The Villagio Inn & Spa is meant to bring the essence of Tuscany to the Napa Valley, while the Vintage Inn, in the words of Sunset Magazine, is "an inn that's more like a French Chateau." For couples wanting a garden setting in Napa Valley for their wedding, the Vintage Estate offers The Pavilion with gardens, a flowing watercourse and magnolia trees. There are also two adjoining gardens, one featuring a bridal path and wedding arbor. You can get more info about the Vintage Estate by going to vintageestate.com.

Anyway, take a look at the following video to get an idea of what you might expect from Napa Valley.

Descanso Gardens Wedding

2010-04-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

For those considering a Southern California wedding wanting a garden setting, look no further than Descanso Gardens, located in La Canada Flintridge, which is just north of Glendale and 20 minutes north of downtown LA.

Descanso Gardens is a 160-acre botanical museum with walking trails, ponds, and various different garden areas, such as the Rose Garden, California Natives and Lilac Garden. They offer indoor as well as outdoor facilities.

For outdoor weddings and receptions, you can choose numerous wedding and reception sites, including The Rose Garden Pavilion, located in the Rose Garden, which boasts more than 4,000 rose bushes. The Rose Garden Pavilion can accommodate up to 180 people. Also located in the Rose Garden is the Rose Garden Gazebo, with a capacity of 200 people. Other sites include the Japanese Garden, Feather Falls and the Magnolia Lawn.

Indoor facilities include the Boddy House, which can accommodate up to 60 people.

Catering for events at Descanso Gardens is provided by Patina Catering, which is the world-class catering service headed by Nick Valenti and master Chef Joachim Splichal. Having just visited Descanso Gardens and eaten at their cafe, which provides food by Patina, I can tell you the food is pretty good.

For more information on having your wedding at Descanso Gardens, go to their website at descansogardens.org.

Below is a photo of the Rose Garden Gazebo I shot during a recent visit.

as well as a path through one of the gardens:

Sonoma County Wine Country Wedding Venue

2010-01-18T13:56:00.000-08:00

California wine country is such a popular place for weddings that I'm always on on the hunt for fabulous weddings venues to share with my readers. So, I'm really glad I discovered the Inn at Occidental, located in Occidental, Sonoma County, just northwest of Sebastopol, and east of Bodega Bay.

Situated in the hills of the redwood forest, this little slice of Sonoma County is the perfect spot for a romantic wedding. There's plenty to do for you and your guests, from hiking in the nearby Armstrong Woods State Reserve to visiting the area wineries and sampling some outstanding wine. The Inn itself has been awarded 4 diamonds by AAA.

You can choose to have your ceremony at the Inn, or at one of the local churches, then have your reception at the Inn in one of their two reception sites: their dining room which accommodates up to 48 guests, or their outdoor courtyard, which can accommodate up to 104 people. The courtyard is surrounded by an English-cottage garden and bubbling fountain. Should you wish to have your wedding or reception in the garden, you do have to rent the entire inn, which includes 16 rooms and cottage, plus the use of the dining room and all its amenities, the patio, living room, and veranda.

I've included a YouTube video of the Inn at Occidental to give you an idea of what a wedding there might be like.

For more information you can go to their website at innatoccidental.com

Hot Air Balloon Weddings in California

2010-01-06T11:46:00.000-08:00

Where are some of the top spots for a hot air balloon wedding in California? Certainly the wine country regions of Napa, Sonoma and Temecula would have to top the list, as does the Gold Country in Northern California. Here are several hot air balloon companies in California which offer wedding services while aloft in a balloon:

Napa and Sonoma County

Napa and Sonoma counties are probably the most recognized wine regions in California, and the views from a hot air balloon are awesome. A couple hot air balloon companies of note which provide weddings aboard their balloons include:

Napa Valley Balloons, Inc.
Yountville, California 94599
1-800-253-2224
Email: info@napavalleyballoons.com

Napa Valley Balloons, Inc. flies out of Yountville, located in the Napa Valley. In fact, the meeting spot is the Domaine Chandon winery, a lovely place to sample sparkling wine. Napa Valley Balloons has been flying over the Napa Valley for 28 years and has been featured on the Today Show, Oprah and the Travel Channel.

Wine Country Balloons
1-800-759-5638
Email: hotline@balloontours com

Wine Country Balloons flies over the beautiful Sonoma County and Napa County wine country, where you'll be treated to views of the Pacific Coast, San Francisco's Skyline, the Redwood Forests and the Russian River. Their chief pilot is a minister who can perform hot air balloon ceremonies while you drift gently above the beautiful country below. Or, if you prefer, he can perform the ceremony on the ground before the launch.

Temecula, California

California Dreamin'
1-800-373-3359 or 951-699-0601
Email: info@californiadreamin.com

Temecula is Southern California's other wine country. Located approximately 80 to 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles, Temecula is a great spot for a wine country wedding. California Dreamin' can coordinate weddings in their hot air balloons, using either your own minister, or one of their qualified ministers.

Gold Country, California

Sky Drifters
Coloma, California
1-888-FLY-0484
info@skydrifters.com

If you've never been to Gold Country, you're missing some beautiful scenery. Sky Drifters is located in Coloma, just 45 minutes east of Sacramento between Placerville and Auburn on Historic Highway 49. They launch the balloon from the banks of the American River near Sutter's Mill, giving you spectacular views of the American River Valley, flying over water and tall trees. Their pilots are legally qualified to perform weddings.

Wedding Venue in Pacific Palisades

2009-12-07T12:25:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note about a venue in Pacific Palisades which boasts some of the finest views of the Santa Monica Bay you'll find. The Bel-Air Bay Club on Pacific Coast Highway was built in the late 20s as a place for the "leisure class" to go hang out.

The grounds sit on 14 acres, which includes a 1/4 mile of beachfront and picturesque bluffs overlooking the ocean. The Club consists of a Lower Clubhouse and an Upper Clubhouse, which provides guests with an unobstructed view of Santa Monica Bay and Catalina Island. And that, of course, makes for some pretty spectacular wedding photos:

If you'd like to schedule an appointment to view the property, you can contact them at: mfischer@belairbayclub.com

Location and Contact Info:

Bel-Air Bay Club
16801 Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Palisades, Ca.
90272310
230-4705
http://www.belairbayclub.com/

A Word About Rehearsal Dinners

2009-11-11T11:25:00.000-08:00

And, now, a word about the rehearsal dinner. A rehearsal dinner isn't mandatory. But it is an excellent way to bring together some of the wedding party and thank everyone for helping out. It also represents an opportunity to bring the parents of the bride and groom, and possibly the best man and maid of honor, together. In some cases, it will be the first time these wedding party members have even met.

No specific practices are set in stone, but there are some common elements.

In theory, anyone who has a part in the ceremony may be invited. But again there are no rules set in stone here. Some couples choose to open it up to include close friends. Others want to restrict the rehearsal dinner to a much more intimate setting that includes only parents and the bride and groom.
Printed invitations are still a good idea, though some of that activity has shifted online. This makes it easy to track who is coming and who isn't and saves on printing and mailing costs. Be sure to invite guests well in advance in either case.
It isn't mandatory to eat at the most expensive restaurant in town. But if you plan to have a rehearsal dinner at all, something a little nicer than the usual is appropriate. Be sure to make reservations at least a week in advance.

Do you need to have your rehearsal dinner at a restaurant? Absolutely not. There's nothing that says you can't have a more relaxed, informal rehearsal dinner at someone's home. An at-home rehearsal dinner gives you an opportunity to organize some fun games where everyone can get to know the couple better, such as a game of charades where you act out scenes from the bride or groom's life.

Win a Winery Wedding in California!

2009-10-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

Having a wedding at a winery in California tops the lists of many a couple. So, what could be better than having your wedding at a California winery? Winning it!

Deer Ridge Vineyards and TR3S Special Events Catering are giving you the opportunity to win a wedding package valued at $10,000 at the Deer Ridge Vineyards in Livermore, California. This package includes:

Vineyard-view ceremony site
Use of event center and reception facilities
Complete 4-Star Menu Package
Deer Ridge wines
Dining tables
Chairs and linens
Flatware and glassware
Flowers

The drawing will take place Dec. 19, at 3 pm at Deer Ridge Vineyards. You don't have to be present to win, but you do have to enter, which you can do by going to www.DeerRidgeVineyards.com/win-a-wedding.html.

Deer Ridge Vineyards is located on a portion of the Old Wetmore Ranch, which is the historic home of some of the oldest vineyards in California history. For weddings, they offer an outdoor patio, with an indoor dining room which can accommodate up to 128 guests. They also offer their Barrel Room for small, intimate ceremonies and receptions. The vineyards is also the recipient of the 2009 Bride's Choice Award from Wedding Wire.

Good luck!

Surf and Sand Wedding - Laguna Beach

2009-10-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

I've written before about having your wedding at Surf and Sand Resort in Laguna Beach. I came across this article about the best spots for wedding photography at Surf and Sand, and thought I'd reprint it here, just in case there are those of you planning a wedding at Surf and Sand, or are looking for a place with good photo opportunities.

Photography Analysis of Laguna Beach Wedding Location - Surf and Sand Resort
By Vanessa Honda

There are a number of great locations to get stunning wedding portraits in Laguna Beach, CA. One such location is at the Surf and Sand Resort.

This location is located directly on the beach. The main ceremony location is by the swimming pool overlooking the beach. A glass wall forms the perimeter with the beach in the background. The beach is in front of the resort and is not closed off to patrons and the public during events. So, while this setup provides a wonderful ocean backdrop for the wedding ceremony, it also allows beach lovers to be a distracting part of the background for your wedding pictures.

You can resolve this issue by making sure to, or asking your photographer to make sure all pictures are taken at an angle that will keep the background persons out. If it is impossible to adjust the proper angle, ask your photographer to agree to edit those people out of the pictures.

One favorite ceremony shot for photographers and brides alike is to take a picture from above the wedding party with the beach in the background and the couple in the dead center of the picture. The picture edited with a rounding macro which will create a shot that gives the impression that the entire world is focused in on the couple during the ceremony.

The resort does have a variety of different genre of backgrounds from which you can get excellent pictures. There is, of course, the beach; however, there is also a garden with rustic trees that overhang the tiled pathway. The area contains classic wooden benches which can used to create a European country feel.

The interior of the resort is painted with bright colors. These bright colors are excellent for taking pictures bright flowers and bride maid dresses. Don't have all the pictures of details taken outdoors for this location. The bright walls and excellent natural lighting are perfect settings for flowers, cakes, dresses, and other event details.

While this location may not be for those wanting a modern angular look, it is a good option for those wanting photography which has a classy, classic beach feel.

Vanessa is a Laguna Beach Wedding Photographer who owns a business that specializes Laguna Beach Photography.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_Honda
http://EzineArticles.com/?Photography-Analysis-of-Laguna-Beach-Wedding-Location---Surf-and-Sand-Resort&id=2068324

Napa Valley Wedding in Calistoga

2009-10-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

Want a Napa Valley wedding that's outside the bustle of Napa? Try Calistoga, a small town northwest of Napa, famous for it's natural hot springs, fabulous spas, and area attractions such as the Old Faithful Geyser of California, and The Petrified Forest of California, which is a forest of 3 million year old petrified redwood trees.

One spot definitely worth considering in the Calistoga area is Calistoga Ranch, located on 157 acres in a private canyon just outside the town of Calistoga. The Ranch features a stream and private lake, a private vineyard, 140 acres great for hiking, and The Bathhouse, where you can pamper yourself with spa treatments and a soak in the healing mineral waters.

They offer several interesting locations for your ceremony and reception, including The Wine Cave, and Lakeview Patio, which provides spectacular views of Lake Lommel.

They offer larger weddings as well as smaller elopement ceremonies for up to 10 guests.

Elopement packages begin at $3,395 for Monday through Thursday events and include:

Private Ceremony Location
Minister & Photographer
Hair & Makeup for the Bride
Bridal Bouquet, Boutonniere, Rose Petals
Sparkling Wine Toast and Passed hors d'oeuvres
Two-tiered Wedding Cake
On-site professional coordinator

Currently they are running a Wedding and Reception Special for weddings with a minimum of 20 guests. The special price is $225 per person for weddings on any Sunday through Thursday through December 31, 2009. This special wedding reception includes a 4-course, plated wedding reception dinner, complete with wine pairing from their Chef for each course.

For more information you can call them at 707-254-2800, or email them at jberanek@calistogaranch.com

Their website address is calistogaranch.com

Honeymoon in the Sequoias

2009-08-24T18:05:00.000-07:00

Just found out about his special honeymoon package at the Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia National Park, just 78 miles east of Fresno, California. It's from $264 per couple and includes:

one night's accommodation

dinner for two

bottle of champagne with souvenir glasses

local chocolate truffles

The package is available September 7 to October 31, 2009.

The lodge is relatively new, having been built in 1999 as an upscale mountain resort. It features 102 rooms decorated in Mission-style furnishings, with full-service restaurant. Honeymooners in the Sequoias will be treated to giant sequoia trees, spectacular mountain peaks and romantic, star-filled night skies.

For more information about a honeymoon in the Sequoias, you can go to www.visitsequoia.com and click on Specials and Packages.

Can you Find a Honeymoon on eBay?

2009-08-12T10:02:00.000-07:00

Well, yes, you can find almost anything on eBay, including vacation packages to some very popular honeymoon spots. Some start with a minimum bid and some are "Buy it Now."

Do be sure when considering bidding on a vacation package that you do your research. Make sure the package you're considering is really a bargain. Check the website of the resort and see which has a lower price, the eBay auction or a package you purchase through the resort or other travel sites. Also, be sure to only consider auctions from reputable people. Check their feedback and read the comments. Also, make sure their verified through Square Trade; the verification should be posted on their auction.

Currently on eBay are the following auctions:

5 nights at the Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa in Tahiti for 10/16/09 to 10/21/09 with a Buy it Now price of $2,819.00
7-day trip for 2 to Sandals Ocho Rios in Jamaica for a Buy it Now price of $2,850.00. This trip must be taken between now and December 20, 2009
8-day vacation to Moon Palace in Cancun anytime from August 23 to December 23, 2009 for a Buy it Now price of $2,137.00
5-nights in a deluxe room at the Sandals Grande Ocho Rios in Jamaica anytime between August 15, 2009 and December 20, 2009 for a Buy it Now price of $1,298.50
6-nights at the Sandals Regency St. Lucia for the dates of November 15, 2009 through November 21, 2009 for a Buy it Now price of $1,932.14

If you want to check eBay auctions for packages, just go to the Travel category and go to the "vacation packages" subcategory. Good luck!

Wedding Transportation - Wedding Carriages and Vintage Cars

2009-07-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

Most people would rather not drive to their wedding themselves, so instead they rent limousines to get them around for the day. If you do want to rent a limo, you may want to consider having only a pickup/drop off service rather than having the driver wait through the entire event. This can end up saving you quite a bit of money.

What options do you have when choosing your weddingtransportation? Actually, more than you might imagine:

If you have a small wedding party or if price is a
concern, a chauffeured Town Car is
typically less expensive than a chauffeured limousine.

If you want to stick to the old standards, a
stretch limousine is always appropriate.
But, if you need more room you can get the larger SUV
models that are designed as extra-long Hummers or
Expeditions.

If you want something extra formal or classy you can
rent a Rolls Royce.

If you want something less formal but still flashy, you
may want to rent an expensive sports car or a
vintage car. A Mustang, Cadillac
or Lamborghini would create quite an
entrance.

For a real fairytale wedding, nothing does it quite
like a romantic horse drawn carriage for
two. this option can be very expensive. Before
handing over your money, thought, we recommend seeing the
carriage for yourself in advance to make sure it lives up
to your expectations.

Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you ask the following questions:

Is the deposit refundable if we need to cancel for any
reason?

Is gratuity included in the price?

Will there be any food and a bottle of champagne?

Also be sure to work out the exact times the drivers should show up and make sure they have detailed directions to all locations. And, make sure you have your transportation show up well in advance. Plan to leave a little early to avoid any possible delays. While it is expected and traditional for the bride to arrive a little tardy, you don't want to spend hours sitting in a traffic jam on your special day.

Wedding Reception Seating Arrangements

2009-06-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note about the seating arrangements for your wedding reception. If you're angsting about who to seat where, you're not alone. This aspect of wedding planning can be a bit stressful, as people often associate their importance to you depending on where they're seated at your reception. The closer to you the more important they feel. The further away, the more they may have some hurt feelings.

Then there's also the issue of who your guests are seated next to. You certainly don't need the stress when planning all the other aspects of your wedding, but it is something that needs to be taken into account.

The traditional method of having a bridal party seated at a table at one end of the room and everybody else in rows facing them does not have to be adhered to and often there are alternatives where more people can feel like they are as important as everybody else at the reception.

Consider having the bridal party seated at a table in the middle of the reception with all your friends and family seated all round. This is one alternative that you might decide to use but the layout is entirely up to you in a manner that you find most suitable.

Rather than trying to mix up both sides of the family it might be better to keep the seating arrangements where people who are familiar with one another can be at the same tables. Once again this is just a suggestion as you might find that based on the personalities of the families and friends they might enjoy sitting with one another and get to know each other better.

Make everyone feel important and be sure to circulate whenever possible to greet and thank everybody who has attended your wedding. Often with bigger weddings it is very easy to miss talking to someone, so that is one area that you will need to pay special attention.

Win a Free Wedding in Mendocino!

2009-06-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

Just stumbled across this contest where you can win a free wedding at the MacCallum House Inn in Mendocino in November, 2010.

How to Enter

Go to http://dreamwedding.maccallumhouse.com/sign-up/ and fill out the information, including a photo of you and your fiance'. You will provide answers to 6 bridal questions and then visitors to the MacCallum House website will vote on which couple they want to receive the free wedding. So, alert all your friends to go vote for you!

What do you Win?

Winners will receive a prize package totally $25,000, which includes:

Wedding Coordinator
Engagement Photograph
Invitations
Oceanside Ceremony
Limousine Services
Honeymoon Suite
Custom menu for up to 50 people
Exclusive rental of MacCallum House Restaurant for an evening
Cake
Flowers
Photography
DJ
Makeup and Hair
3 Anniversary Stays at the MacCallum House

Who can Enter?

U.S. residents at least 18-years old. Only one (1) entry per couple.

When does the Contest End?

All voting will end on March 31, 2010, so get on the stick and get yourselves on the site!

For those of you not familiar with the MacCallum House Inn, it's a fabulous bed and breakfast in the village of Mendocino. Awards have included:

Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2007
4 Kisses Award - Best Places to Kiss, 6th Edition
Top Ten Romantic Inns for 2009 - iloveinns.com

Marina del Rey Wedding Packages and Locations

2009-05-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here are a few wedding packages and locations in Marina del Rey you may want to consider for your wedding.

FantaSea Yachts and Yacht Club
4215 Admiralty Way
Marina del Rey, CA
310-827-2220

There's nothing more romantic than getting married on a yacht! And FantaSea Yachts specializes in romantic yacht weddings for up to 400 guests. They have 3 yachts to choose from:

Dandeana, minimum of 75 guests at $80 per person ($110 per person on Saturday evenings and holidays
Regent Sea, minimum of 100 guests at $90 per person ($120 per person on Saturday evenings and holidays
FantaSea One, minimum of 150 guests, $100 per person ($130 per person on Saturday evenings and holidays

All packages include (but not limited to):

4-hour yacht cruise around Marina del Rey
Three butler-style passed hors d'oeuvres
Catered buffet with 2 entree selections and two salads

Here's a photo of one of the ships, the Dandeana, at Sunset. Just beautiful.

Shanghai Red’s
13813 Fiji Way
Marina del Rey, CA
(310) 823-4522
doc02@srcmail.com

Shanghai Red’s is a restaurant at the far west end of Marina del Rey’s South Bay boardwalk, featuring California cuisine specializing in steaks and fresh seafood. They also have banquet facilities which can accommodate groups of 35 to 300 guests. Ceremony sites include Southbay Patio, boasting a fabulous view of the marina del Rey harbor, or the more intimate Marina Patio or cozy, garden patio.

Burton W. Chace Park
13650 Mindanao Way
Marina del Rey, CA

The grounds of Burton W. Chace Park is a great (an inexpensive) way to have a fabulous wedding overlooking beautiful Marina del Rey. There are several locations in the park to choose from: North Pergola, South Pergola or the Bridge. These locations are available for rent Monday through Saturday, 8:45am to 4:45pm.

What's better than the great location and beautiful view? The price. The rental fee is only $40.00 for park grounds for the duration of the event. Insurance, however, is required, so do figure that into your budget. You can get insurance by contacting Municipality Insurance at 1-800-420-0555. The policy must have a $2 million aggregate. To rent the location, you can call Park Staff at 310-305-9595.

Along with renting the outdoor areas, chairs and tables can be rented. Chairs rent for $.25 each (50 maximum), and tables for $5.00 (2 maximum). You will, of course, have to provide your own officiant.

There are some permits that may be required. You can get more info by going to http://beaches.co.la.ca.us/BandH/Marina/ChacePkoutdoors.htm

Arroyo Grande Wine Country Wedding

2009-05-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

I visited Arroyo Grande recently and found an absolutely charming venue for your wedding and/or reception.

For those of you not familiar with Arroyo Grande, it's located in Central California wine country, inland from Pismo Beach, and just 185 miles north of Los Angeles and 247 miles south of San Francisco. It's filled with beautiful, rolling hills dotted with oaks and vineyards, and plenty of wineries to keep all your wine-loving guests quite satisfied.

The location I stumbled upon is the Victorian Pitkin Conrow Estate, a lovely Victorian mansion which can accommodate 300 for a ceremony, and 250 for a ceremony with reception.

The ceremony packages range from $1500 to $2500 and include:

3 hours of site use
1 hour rehearsal time on the Friday before the event
Seating is provided for 200 (additional chairs can be rented)
Two changing rooms in the historic bunkhouses
Parking for 300

The fee for receptions are $15 per person with a $1500 minimum on Sundays and a $2500 minimum on Saturdays. Chairs for up to 200 are provided (additional chairs can be rented), as well as gift, sign-in, cake and buffet tables. You provide the officiant, as well as the DJ and bartender if desired.

Contact Info:

Victorian Pitkin Conrow Estate
789 Valley Road
Arroyo Grande, CA
805-481-4570
email: info@victorianwedding.net

Discount Wedding Accessories

2009-05-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

While you're searching for a fabulous place to have your California wedding, you might want to know what's On Sale at The Knot Wedding Shop. I've provided a link for you that will take you to the discount wedding accessories page, where you'll find savings on:

Personalized napkins
Personalized matchbooks
Glass coaster favors
Seed favors
Seed favor bookmarks
Adirondack chair place card holders (great for beach weddings, $13.95 per set of 12)
Personalized HERSHEY'S® Kisses
Palm tree place card holder
Sailboat place card holders
Disposable cameras
"Just Married" flip flops

And that link is:

On Sale at The Knot Wedding Shop

Wedding in the Desert - Borrego Springs

2009-04-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

While researching wildflower viewing in Southern California, I came across Borrego Springs, a resort area which would serve as a perfect place for a desert wedding. Home to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs is only 2 hours from San Diego and 3 hours from Los Angeles.

If you've never been to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park you're really missing out. It's the largest desert state park in the contiguous United States, boasting 750,000 acres, 2 wilderness areas and 110 miles of riding and hiking trails.

The town of Borrego Springs is also home to many artists and their galleries, much like Santa Fe, as well as several golf courses and a few nearby Native American casinos. Borrego Springs is also a fabulous place to view the night sky. In fact, the region has been nominated as a Dark Sky Community by the International Dark Sky Association due to the absence of light pollution.

Borrego Springs Venues for your Desert Wedding:

Borrego Ranch Resort & Spa
3845 Yaqui Pass Rd.
Borrego Springs, CA
800-824-1884

Borrego Ranch Resort & Spa offers several sites on their property for weddings and events: The De Anza Ballroom for large gatherings; the Tennis Pavilion for events under the star-filled skies; and the Rose Garden Patio which features a gazebo and fireplace which accommodates groups of 10 to 160.

The Palms Hotel
2220 Hoberg Rd
Borrego Springs, CA
760-767-7788

If you love desert hiking, you'll love the Palms Hotel, which offers guests access to the Palm Canyon hiking trail from the backdoor of their property. You can rent the entire property for your wedding, or have your wedding in their Rose Room, which can accommodate the two of you, plus 16 other guests.

Borrego Valley Inn
405 Palm Canyon Drive
Borrego Springs, CA
800-333-5810

Situated on 10 acres bordering the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the Borrego Valley Inn boasts naturally-landscaped grounds, featuring the untouched Colorado Desert flora and fauna. They offer their grounds for small, outdoor weddings. Call them for more details.

Below is also a YouTube video featuring the Borrego Valley Inn, to give you an idea of their property.

Mansion Wedding in Lake Tahoe

2009-04-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

What could be better than getting married in Lake Tahoe? Getting married in a mansion in Lake Tahoe. The place? The Thunderbird Lodge, located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, in Incline Village, added to the National Register of Historic Places in November, 2000.

Okay, yes, it's not technically California, but, it's Lake Tahoe. Close enough. And, it's a mansion. a 6-acre waterfront estate, to be exact.

Built in 1936 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in November, 2000, the Thunderbird Lodge offers couples and guests alike a truly unique wedding venue:

3 story waterfall
Over 3,000 square feet of interior space
Lakeside lawn
2 patios
Gazebo with awesome lake view
Private sandy lagoon connected by stone pathways
Lighthouse Room with floor-to-ceiling windows which sits right on the water's edge
1500 square foot conference room with views of the water and the Lodge's lakeside lawn

Contact info:

The Thunderbird Lodge
5000 Highway 28
Incline Village, NV 89451
askus@thunderbirdlodge.org

Below you'll find a map of the area.

View Larger Map

Unique Orange County Wedding Locations

2009-03-03T16:16:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note about a few unique wedding location venues in Orange County.

Red Horse Barn
Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center
18381 Goldenwest St.
Huntington Beach, CA.
jennifer@horseplayrentals.com

If you're an equestrian, you'll love having your wedding at the Red Horse Barn, located next to an exclusive 10-horse stable. Their outdoor lawn area can accommodate more than 300 guests for both a ceremony and reception, and includes a large bridal suite and groom's room.

For more info you can contact their Event Coordinator, Jennifer Kawai, at jennifer@horseplayrentals.com , or call 714-848-6565.

The Historic Cottage at San Clemente State Beach
San Clemente

San Clemente State Beach is located halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, and offers an historic cottage with a patio and catering kitchen for your wedding. Accommodating up to 150 guests, the Historic Cottage at San Clemente State Beach is a lovely location, and fairly reasonable to rent year round:

$2300.00 weekends
$250.00 per hour on the weekdays (4 hour minimum)

Other fees include:

Monitor: $79.00/hr
Alcohol permit: $150.00

Insurance is required. Permits accepted on a first-come, first serve basis one year in advance. To reserve the cottage you can contact the California State Parks at 949-366-8589.

Tivoli Too!
777 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA
weddings@tivoli-too.com

Tivoli Too! is a European-style courtyard set against the backdrop of the hills of Laguna Beach. Ceremonies take place in front of their cascading waterfall, where you are surrounded by lush greenery and flowers.

Rental fees for Tivoli Too! start at $2,500 for a Saturday/Sunday morning brunch wedding for up to 50 guests, on up to $11,000 for a Saturday evening wedding for up to 100 guests. (Additional guests are extra, depending on day and time) Their wedding coordinators and event planners are available seven days a week, so email them at weddings@tivoli-too.com to get started.

Heritage Museum of Orange County
3101 West Harvard Street
Santa Ana, CA

Museums are also fun and unique places for weddings or other events, and the Heritage Museum of Orange County is no exception. Located in Santa Ana, the Museum offers the perfect spot for your garden wedding, featuring rose gardens, jasmine-laden trellises and citrus blossoms. There are several spots at the Museum you can choose for your ceremony, including the gazebo, rose garden or fountain plaza in front of the Kellog House. The folks at the Museum seem pretty relaxed, even stating on their website that you can set up whatever you like on the grounds: tents, dance floors, "even a bounce house for the kids." That's pretty laid back.

For more information you can call them at 714-540-0404 x223 or email them at weddings@centennialmuseum.org.

Garden Weddings in the Los Angeles Area

2009-02-11T10:56:00.000-08:00

Gardens are always a popular venue for weddings. I wrote a post a few months ago about an LA garden wedding location, and am adding a few other venues for those of you searching for garden wedding venues in the Los Angeles Area:

Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens
120 South Los Angeles Street
Los Angeles, CA
213-253-9200

The Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens in downtown Los Angeles has a unique garden venue for you -- a "Garden in the Sky," located on an outdoor patio on the third floor of the Hotel. The Garden in the Sky is a miniature, half-acre version of an historic 400 year-old, ten-acre garden in Tokyo, complete with lush landscape and flowing streams, with the backdrop of the Los Angeles downtown skyline. This garden venue can accommodate up to 200 guests.

For those couples booking an event with over 100 guests, you will receive:

Overnight suite accommodations for the bride and groom
Room service
champagne breakfast for the bride and groom
Menu tasting for two

Los Angeles County Arboretum; Botanic Garden
301 North Baldwin Avenue
Arcadia, CA
arboretum.org

The Los Angeles county Arboretum & Botanic Garden is available for rentals to wedding parties in the months of April through October. Popular wedding sites within the Garden include the Bauer Lawn with surrounding fountains, Queen Anne Cottage lawns, Rose Garden, Waterfall/Meadowbrook, and the Sunset Demonstration Garden. Note that all ceremonies and receptions begin after 5:00 p.m. Fees range from $500 for under 50 guests, up to $2,500 for 25 to 300 guests.

Exposition Park Rose Garden
701 State Drive
Los Angeles, CA

The Rose Garden has been in existence since 1928 and is operated by the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks. Closed to the public from January through mid-March, the Rose Garden is a popular garden wedding spot between April and November. The earliest start time for your wedding at the Rose Garden is 9AM; the latest start time is at 2PM. Rentals are for a 2-hour period. The fees are:

1 to 50 people: $250.00
51 to 200 people: $350.00
Additional hour: $50.00

The fees are rental fees only, and do not include other additional fees for folding chairs, banquet table, clean up, etc. For permit information you can email them at EPICC.specialevents@lacity.org.

James Irvine Japanese Garden
244 South San Pedro St, Suite 505
Los Angeles, CA

Also known as the "Garden of the Clear Stream," the James Irvine Japanese Garden, located in downtown LA, features a 170 ft. stream flowing from a waterfall. It was built in the tradition of Japanese Gardens and received the National Landscape Award from the American Association of Nurserymen in 1981. The Garden is available for weddings between the hours of 5PM and 9PM on Fridays; and Saturdays and Sundays between 10AM and 2PM and 5PM and 9PM.

For more information email them at events@jaccc.org or call them at 213-628-2725.

Get Married in a Napa Valley Wine Cave or Barrel Room

2009-01-30T12:29:00.000-08:00

Napa Valley equals great wine. So, what better place to have a wedding in the wine country of the Napa Valley than in the Wine Cave of The Meritage Resort in Napa, or the Barrel Room of the Culinary Institute of America's Greystone campus in nearby St. Helena?

The Meritage Resort
875 Bordeaux Lane
Napa, CA
707 251-1900

Located in the southern part of the Napa Valley, The Meritage Resort boasts the world's only spa in a wine cave, as well as the region's only private wedding chapel, Our Lady of the Grapes. Their Estate Cave also houses their Entertainment Cave, which serves as a unique venue for your wedding reception, accommodating up to 130 guests. If you have a larger wedding party, or wish your wedding to take place outdoors, you can always use their Vineyard Terrace, which overlooks their 8-acre private vineyard.

As the name implies, the Estate Cave is located underground, built with stone, tile and woodwork.

The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone
2555 Main Street
St. Helena, CA

What's even better than wine? Food and wine! And, what better place to experience the wonderful pairing of food and wine than at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena. But, the food and wine's not the only thing Greystone has going for it when it comes to your wedding. The Greystone campus is also a great location to hold your hold your wedding, with awesome vineyard views and two unique ceremony venues - The Herb Terrace, with vineyard views, or the Historic Barrel Room, with walls of stone lined with 2,000-gallon wooden casks. The Herb Terrace holds 350 seated, while the Barrel Room holds 200 seated.

For information regarding weddings at the CIA at Greystone, you can email e_wagsta@culinary.edu

What else does the Napa Valley have going for it besides great wine? Granted, for some, that's enough. But, the Napa Valley also offers hot air ballooning, hiking, biking and shopping, as well as the hot springs and mud baths in Calistoga, which is at the northern end of Napa Valley.

Arroyo Grande Wine Country Wedding Special

2009-01-23T11:17:00.000-08:00

Here's another wine country location near Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco -- Arroyo Grande. If you've never been to Arroyo Grande, you should really plan a getaway to explore the historic downtown village, filled with buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s, as well as the surrounding vineyards and wineries, which produce top-notch Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Syrahs.

One venue you might want to check out for your wedding is:

Abella Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast
210 Oak Street
Arroyo Grande, California
email: info@abellagardeninn.com

Located just a 1/2 mile from the Historic Village of Arroyo Grande, the Abella Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast has affordable wedding ceremony packages to suit many different sizes of wedding parties, from packages for 2 - 4 guests on up to packages for 75 guests. They offer "You Do Everything" packages as well as "We do Everything" packages (minus an officiant and lodging), and "Wedding Packages" which include a minister, license and 2-night's lodging at their romantic bed & breakfast.

Their "We Do Everything" package starts at $350 for 2 - 4 guests, on up to $1,300 for 51 - 75 guests. Their Wedding Package which includes the ceremony, minister and 2-night's lodging starts at $1,281 for 2 - 4 guests. They also offer various reception packages as well.

If you are having a wedding elsewhere, you can also check out their Honeymoon Package which includes 2-nights in a spa and fireplace suite, as well as other romantic touches, for $698 plus tax.

While in Arroyo Grande do check out some of the great wineries in the area. My favorites for this area are:

Laetitia Winery

Talley Vineyards

Saucelito Canyon Vineyards

Laetitia Winery puts out some excellent Chardonnay, as well as a very tasty sparkling wine, which would be perfect as a toasting sparkler for your wedding.

For more information on having your wedding at the Abella Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast, you can email them at info@abellagardeninn.com

Ranch Wedding in California, Anybody?

2009-01-15T14:32:00.000-08:00

Howdy Pardner! I thought you and your fiancé would be interested in a few choice ranch wedding venues in California.

Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch
Quincy, California

Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch has been in operation since 1962, and is located in Quincy, north of Sacramento, fairly close to Lassen National Forest. That's right. Not much out there. Except really beautiful country and a great place for horseback riding. Which makes it a perfect place for a ranch destination wedding!

Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch specializes in destination weddings, has accommodations for approximately 80 people, and offers loads of fun activities, such as trail rides, wagon rides, line dancing and volleyball. You can get more info by emailing them at ride@greenhornranch.com

Taber Ranch
Capay Valley

Taber Ranch is located in Capay Valley, east of Sacramento. They offer ceremonies at their country altar on the lawn overlooking the vineyard and pond, or on their wedding plateau overlooking Capay Valley. And, of course, there's a barn for a barn dance. You can get more info about their wedding services by emailing kim@taberranch.com

Highland Guest Ranch
Philo, California

That's right, in Philo, located east of Ukia, southeast of Mendocino, 2.5 hours from the Bay Area; about 4 hours from Sacramento. Highland Guest Ranch can host your small, intimate wedding, as well as a larger destination wedding with over 100 guests. For those of you having larger weddings, you will be required to book the entire ranch for a minimum of 16 adults for a two-night minimum. And, yes, there is a barn for a barn dance.

There's plenty to do for guests of Highland Guest Ranch, including horseback riding, hiking or biking. They also offer yoga and tennis. The location is also ideal for those of you into wine, as it is located within the Anderson Valley appellation, which includes such fabulous wines as Roederer Estate and Husch Vineyards. Roederer Estate, for those who don't know, produces some really fine, inexpensive sparkling wines.

For more information about Highland Guest Ranch for your California ranch wedding, you can email them at stay@highlandranch.com

Wedding Venue in Eureka, California

2009-01-12T11:19:00.000-08:00

If you're interested in a Northern California coastal wedding, you may want to put the town of Eureka on your list, along with the Carter House Inns & Restaurant.

The Carter House Inns & Restaurant is actually four different Victorian-styled lodgings, the Carter House, Hotel Carter (a 4 Diamond AAA property), Carter Cottage and Bell Cottage. The Carter House was built in the 1980s, using plans for the original Carter House built in 1885 in San Francisco, and destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire.

Aside from the romantic accommodations of The Carter House Inns, there's also their Restaurant 301, which has received the Wine Spectator's Grand Award for the last 10 years, and which Frommer's says is one of the best restaurants in Northern California. All this makes for one great place to have your wedding.

If you plan on staying for your honeymoon, or have guests staying, you'll be pleased to know that all lodging includes:

full breakfast
wine and hors d'oeuvres each evening
tea and cookies by the fire each night

If you've never ventured that far north in California, then you're really in for a treat. Eureka is blessed with its location on the Humboldt Bay, close to California's giant Redwood forests and state parks, including being 45 miles from Humboldt Redwood State Park, with its Avenue of the Giants. Aside from just enjoying the beautiful scenery nearby, you and your guests can enjoy hiking, biking, boating, kayaking, birding, or scenic drives through the redwoods.

Two festivals of note which occur annually in Eureka include the Blues by the Bay in September and the Redwood Coast Jazz Festival in March.

The Carter House Inns & Restaurant will work with you to plan your dream wedding. So, if you're interested, you might want to visit their site at CarterHouse.com, or email them for info at reserve@carterhouse.com

Bridal Show in Westlake Village near Los Angeles

2009-01-09T12:39:00.000-08:00

Here's a fabulous bridal show for all you Southern California brides-to-be.

When: Sunday, January 11, 2009, from 11AM to 4PM

Where: Hyatt Westlake, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village

Why Should I Go?: Billed as the "Bridal Premiere," the show features the usual vendors of bakeries, caterers, florists, photographers, etc, as well as a fashion show featuring bridal attire from David's Bridal, The Men's Wearhouse, and Friar Tuck's Tux Shop. But, this event also features fabulous prizes.

Be sure to arrive early, because the first 100 brides-to-be to arrive will be entered in a drawing for a Hyatt Weekend Package. But, even if you're not one of the first 100 to arrive, all attending brides-to-be will have the opportunity to win a Mia Solano bridal gown. The winner will have her choice from a variety of gowns.

The Hyatt Weekend and the bridal gown will be drawn following the second fashion show. You must be present to win.

For more information, call 805-376-3515 or 877-994-4321 or visit BridalPremiere.com.

Where to Have Your California Winter Wedding

2009-01-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

Looking for some suggestions for your January, February or March wedding in California? Lucky for you California is a versitile state, with many different types of winter wedding settings available. Here are just a few, many which I've written about on this blog:

Ocean Weddings

Well, there's an entire coastline to choose from, all the way from the northern coastline of Eureka, with Humboldt Bay on one side and redwood forests on the other, to San Diego in Southern California. Here are 3 beach locations in between you might want to consider:

Pacific Grove: Pacific Grove is sits just next door to the city of Monterey in the Monterey Peninsula. For couples looking for a romantic spot for your wedding, take a look at Pacific Grove. It's home to Lover's Point, which has been called "One of the top 10 most romantic places in America" by Sunset Magazine. With the beautiful lawn and cypress trees overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it's easy to see why this is such a sought-after spot for couples to tie the knot.

Avila Beach: Avila Beach is located near San Luis Obispo, just a 40-mile drive away from Hearst Castle. It's also close to the fabulous wine country of Paso Robles and Edna Valley. If you're into golf, there are 3 championship golf courses nearby. The Avila Lighthouse Suites, a 54-suite resort, offers intimate wedding packages, as well as packages for larger weddings up to 120 guests.

Pismo Beach: South of Avila Beach on the 101 sits Pismo Beach. I visited Pismo Beach a couple months ago and really like the location. Sure, there are pricey resorts in Pismo Beach, but you can also find some very affordable wedding venues. I wrote about one recently - Best Western Shelter Cove Lodge - which is located on the northern end of Pismo Beach, away from the center of town and all the tourist activity. It's also a part of Pismo Beach where you get cliffs and a more craggy ocean view - which makes for some pretty spectacular wedding photos. The Best Western Shelter Cove Lodge offers a couple locations on their property for weddings, both with awesome ocean views: The Wedding Garden for seating up to 80 guests; and the Panoramic Gazebo with standing room for up to 25 guests.

Winery Weddings

The scenery and weather are not the only things which attract people to California. A couple wine regions I'll suggest to you are:

Sonoma County: Situated jsut west of Napa Valley sits Sonoma County with its outstanding wineries and beautiful country. One winery you may consider for your wedding is the Buena Vista Winery, which is California's oldest premium winery. It's located just 5 minutes from Sonoma's Plaza Square, and is a California Historic Landmark. You can choose to hold your ceremony in their rustic stone Press House, built in 1862, or outdoors in their secluded, wooded area.

Paso Robles: Paso Robles is known for outstanding wines, particularly their Zinfandels and Syrahs. Located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Paso Robles is also a wonderful place for a winery wedding. A few winery wedding venues of note include: Robert Hall Winery, Zenaida Cellars and Meridian Vineyards.

Snowy Winter Weddings

Yes, California boasts wonderful weather and great beaches. But, California is also home to some wonderful mountain resort areas which make for great winter weddings:

Lake Tahoe: Of course, Lake Tahoe is perfect any time of the year, but if the two of your are skiers, you have to check out the Heavenly Ski Wedding Package, which includes a wedding in a secluded spot overlooking Lake Tahoe, after which you ski down the mountain as a newly-married couple. You can call 877-889-6379 for more information.

Big Bear Lake: Big Bear is where Southern Californians go for a quick ski trip, as it's within driving distance of Los Angeles and San Diego. One unique place you may want to consider for your Big Bear wedding is the StarGAzers Inn, which is also an observatory, offering celestial-themed weddings. They are opened year round.

California Winery Wedding - Paso Robles

2008-12-29T11:57:00.000-08:00

While researching different venues for New Years Eve events in wine country, I came across a winery that I know would be perfect for your California Winery Wedding: Robert Hall Winery in Paso Robles, which is conveniently situated midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The Robert Hall Winery is located on a hilltop overlooking vineyards of Syrah and Cabernet grapes, and offers several different venues on their property for private events, including ceremonies and receptions. A few outstanding places to consider for your wedding would include:
The Wine Caverns

If you're going to have your wedding at a winery, why not have it amidst the wine barrels in the Robert Hall Winery wine caverns, a 19,000 square feet structure with chandeliers and hand-painted walls? The wine caverns can accommodate 200 people with banquet-style seating. And, just for those of you freaked out by earthquakes, the wine caverns were built to withstand an 8.5 earthquake.

The Meritage Room

The Meritage Room can accommodate 150 guests for a reception, and features a hand-crafted chandelier and Mahogany doors which open up to reflecting pools.

The Garden Terrace

Perfect for an outdoor wedding, and located under a majestic oak tree, the Garden Terrace can accommodate 150 seated for a reception, and 200 for a ceremony. Have your wedding at sunset and you'll be rewarded with an awesome view of the sun setting on the beautiful vineyards.

For more information on having your California winery wedding at the Robert Hall Winery, you can contact their Events Manager, Reggie Pike, at 805-239-1616, ext. 24. Or, you can always email them at events@roberthallwinery.com

Christmas Time Wedding at the Christmas House - Southern California

2008-12-09T10:52:00.000-08:00

What better place to plan a Christmas-time wedding than at the Christmas House Bed & Breakfast Inn located in Rancho Cucamonga?

The Christmas House was built in 1904, and has played host to weddings and receptions from the start, offering two lovely Victorian settings: the Parlor for weddings up to 50 people; and the Garden for weddings up to 150 people.

Parlor Weddings:

If you want a smaller, more intimate wedding, go for the Parlor, where you can make your grand entrance from the carved wood staircase, while your ceremony takes place in front of the parlor fireplace. For ceremonies and receptions up to 30 people, you have a couple of low-priced packages to choose from: a ceremony and buffet reception for $4300; or a ceremony with a cake and champagne reception for $2700.

Garden Weddings:

The garden of the Christmas House can accommodate weddings and receptions with up to 150 guests, and feature English gardens with a Carriage House, gazebo and lawn area and a quaint tree swing which makes for fun wedding photos. Of course, there's space in the courtyard for dancing.

There are a couple of Garden Wedding packages to choose from, with a ceremony and reception featuring a variety of menus starting at $9600 for up to 50 guests, or $11,100 for 100 guests. This package includes the meal, wedding cake and DJ service.

If you want something more informal, you might want the Cocktail Party Reception, which uses a combination of the gardens as well as the parlor. Prices for this package start at $7600 for 50 guests on up to $8600 for 100 guests. This package includes ceremony and reception, buffet meal and wedding cake, as well as the services of a DJ.

There are also other packages available for those who wish to utilize the 6 guest rooms at the inn, which are furnished in period antiques.

For more info, you can go to the Christmas House website at ChristmasHouseInn.com. You can also call them at 909-980-6450 or through email at contact@christmashouseinn.com

Small Wedding Locations - Northern California

2008-12-05T22:53:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note about a couple small wedding packages for those wishing a ceremony in Northern California:

Glenelly Inn
5131 Warm Springs Road
Glen Ellen, CA
707-996-6720
glenelly@glenelly.com

The Glenelly Inn is offering a couple small wedding packages to help you tie the knot:

Marriage/Elopement Ceremony

This ceremony includes the two of you plus up to 8 guests and includes sparkling wine, wedding cake, and an officiant who will help you customize your vows. The ceremony is performed under inthe rose garden, their 300-year-old oak, or inside their common room. The cost is a very reasonable $450, plus the cost of your lodging for you and/or your guests.

Intimate Ceremony

If you're looking for a special ceremony for just the two of you, check out their Intimate Ceremony, which includes the wedding officiant, a bottle of sparkling wine, small wedding cake and a 2-night midweek stay with breakfast delivered to your door each morning. The cost for this package is $800.

Hans Fahden Winery in Calistoga
4855 Petrified Forest Rd
Calistoga, CA

Since this is the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition, I thought I'd share a great location for a winery wedding. The Hans Fahden Winery is located 5 minutes from downtown Calistoga. For those of you not familiar with Calistoga, it's famous for its spas and mud baths, which makes it a great place to honeymoon as well. What's also special about the Hans Fahden Winery is the special wedding sites they offer, including their volcanic ash cave for intimate weddings.

You can call the winery directly at 707-942-6760 for information regarding your wedding or elopement ceremony; or you can also go through a wedding planning company such as Enchanting Elopements, who has put together an elopement package at the Hans Fahden Winery. Their number is 800-655-3677.

Decadence Package - Avalon Hotel, Catalina Island

2008-11-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

Have you picked a honeymoon spot yet? Let me recommend the Avalon Hotel on Catalina Island and their "Decadence Package." It's not a honeymoon special, per se, but it is a romantic package that makes a great honeymoon. And the Hotel is top notch, winner of the "Best for Romance - United States,TripAdvisor 2008 Travelers' Choice awards."

The "Decadence Package" goes for $795 plus tax per couple, and includes the following:

transportation aboard Catalina Express's high-speed fleet
one night in a balcony room
gourmet chocolates
rose petals
Champagne
a couple's 50-minute massage

Catalina Island is, of course, the "Island of Romance," and plays host to weddings and honeymoons all year round. Catalina Express, the provider of boat service for this package, offers trips to Avalon from San Pedro, Dana Point and two ports in Long Beach, downtown and at the Queen Mary.

The honeymooning couple will have a plenty to do on the island, from snorkeling to scuba diving to birding to golfing to renting bikes and exploring the island. I definitely recommend a tour on a glass-bottom boat.

For reservations to the Avalon Hotel, call (310) 510-7070 or you can email them at: kate@theavalonhotel.com

Pismo Beach Wedding - Great Views - Inexpensive

2008-11-10T13:57:00.000-08:00

I visited Pismo Beach a couple weekends ago and found a really great wedding venue for a pretty reasonable price.

The Best Western Shelter Cove Lodge is located on the northern end of Pismo Beach, away from the center of town and all the tourist activity. It's also a part of Pismo Beach where you get cliffs and a more craggy ocean view - which makes for some pretty spectacular wedding photos.

Shelter Cove Lodge has two venues they rent for weddings, both with awesome views:

The Wedding Garden offers a wedding ceremonial arch, as well as seating for up to 80 guests. You can rent this venue for a two-hour wedding ceremony for $700.

The Panoramic Gazebo offers stunning ocean views, as well as standing room for up to 25 guests. you can rent this venue for a one-hour ceremony for $250. (You will have to arrange for your officiant)

You can get more particulars by emailing them at weddings@bwsheltercove.com.

Pismo Beach is really a lovely location for a wedding, not only because of the ocean views, but also because it's super close to several different wine country areas: San Luis Obispo; Arroyo Grande and, a little further drive north, Paso Robles. Be sure if you have your wedding there to pick up some bubbly from Laetitia Winery, just south on the 101 from Pismo Beach. And, definitely have dinner at Rosa's, which is just a couple miles south of the hotel.

I snapped this shot of the two different wedding venues. The wedding garden with the arch is on the left, and you can see the gazebo on your right.

Wedding Chapel in Palos Verdes, California

2008-11-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

Looking for a beautiful wedding location in Palos Verdes? Consider the Wayfarers Chapel, a church without a membership, welcoming people of all faiths.

The Chapel itself was designed by Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright, and sits on 3.5 acres of gardens, offering a stunning ocean view. Visitors are treated to a forest garden, rose garden, extensive lawns and an outdoor amphitheater.

The contribution for the Chapel and wedding service is $1,800 Monday through Thursday, and $2,300 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays. This contribution includes the use of the Chapel for two hours, the Chapel Minister, wedding staff, recorded music, and candles on the altar. You may also choose to hire The Chapel Musicians at an added expense.

Weddings are performed at the Chapel in 2 hour blocks Monday through Saturday on even hours from 10AM to 8PM, and from 2PM on Sunday. The Chapel seats a maximum of 100 guests. There are no receptions allowed, although they will give recommendations of places in the general vicinity of the Chapel for your reception.

The minister who will perform your service is ordained by the Swedenborgian Church. If you desire, and at your expense, your Minister, Priest or Rabbi can also participate in the service.

A reservation can be made in person or by calling 310-377-1650. For more info go to WayfarersChapel.org.

Location:

Wayfarers Chapel
5755 Palos Verdes Drive South
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

I'm Disappointed in You, California

2008-11-07T10:21:00.001-08:00

Well, California, you really screwed up by passing Prop 8, which bans Gay Marriage in California. Marriage between consenting adults should be celebrated! As Whoopie Goldberg said today on The View: If you don't like gay marriage - don't marry a gay person!

Just because someone is gay and married does nothing to lessen your marriage. It doesn't impact mine! If it impacts yours, then your marriage is already in trouble.

I know there are passionate people on both sides of the debate. There was the same passion decades ago in many parts of America when interracial couples were not allowed to marry. Then, as now, children were used as the rallying cry. "Think about the children" they pleaded. I wonder how those people would feel now to see the child of an interracial couple as our next President Elect. If the people had been allowed to vote on it back then they would have overwhelmingly voted not to allow interracial marriages, thus preventing the "tragedy" of a Barack Obama being born.

Of course, that's why people should not vote on matters of civil rights. That's why courts have always had to step in to protect minority rights from being trampled by the majority. The majority doesn't like to share! Never has. And, as our past history of civil rights struggles has shown, the majority has often been wrong.

Haunted Wedding Venues in California

2008-10-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of Halloween, here is a list of some notoriously haunted venues in the state of California. Not only are they haunted, but they all offer wedding services! Even if you have your wedding elsewhere, they all are great places to honeymoon as well.

Here's a few you might want to consider:

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
7000 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
Reservations: 800-950-7667

A favorite of Marilyn Monroe, who lived here from time to time (Cabana 246). There are those who swear they can see her image in the mirror in the lobby. FYI, the mirror used to be her personal mirror. Great place for a wedding or haunted honeymoon.

The Queen Mary
Long Beach, CA
sales@queenmary.com

Long-known as a haunted ship - now a tourist attraction and hotel. Beautiful, art deco furnishings for those who want something more than just a haunted place to stay. Available for weddings small and large.

1859 Historic National Hotel
18183 Main Street
Jamestown, CA
(209) 984-3446

A hotel built for the gold-rush town of Jamestown. While there say "hello" to the resident ghost, Flo, who, they say, usually stays upstairs in the hotel, favoring the rooms in the front of the building. Some say she's been seen floating through the walls. Hauntingly wonderful for weddings or honeymoons.

Hotel Del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave.
Coronado, CA
800-HOTELDEL

The Hotel Del Coronado has been named the "number-one wedding destination in America" by the Travel Channel, visited by such historical and entertainment figures as Babe Ruth, Madonna and ten U.S. Presidents. Oh, yeah, and it's supposedly haunted as well. Meet Kate Morgan, the resident ghost of the Hotel Del Coronado. She checked into the resort on November 25, 1892 and, as they say, "never checked out." Many have reported experiencing ghostly happenings.

MacCallum House Inn
45020 Albion Street
Mendocino, CA
800-609-0492

For your haunted wedding and reception, consider the MacCallum House, which offers extensive wedding services, in addition to an elopement package starting at $825. Who knows, you might get to meet the spirit of Donald MacCallum, who some say, still lives in Room 4, which used to be his childhood bedroom.

Queen Anne Hotel
1590 Sutter Street at Octavia
San Francisco, CA
800-227-3970

Before becoming a hotel, the Queen Anne was "once Miss Mary Lake’s School for Girls." Many people have reported ghostly chills and experiences while staying the night here. Have your wedding or reception with up to 150 people. Who knows how many ghosts may show up.

Groveland Hotel
18767 Main Street
Groveland, CA
209-962-4000

Located in the Yosemites, The Groveland Hotel was built in 1849 and claims a resident ghost, an old gold miner named Lyle. While living, Lyle lived in Room 15 for many years before crossing over in 1927. Okay, maybe he didn't "cross over." Maybe he's still there as a ghost. Some say he plays tricks on the staff and guests in or near Room 15. They can accommodate weddings of up to 150 guests in their Garden Courtyard.

Buy a Used Wedding Gown - Give to Charity

2008-10-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

Brides Against Breast Cancer's Charity Wedding Gown Sale is Coming to Los Angeles. What a great way to buy a used wedding dress and fight breast cancer at the same time! The Brides Against Breast Cancer holds these sales of new and used gowns all over the country, and now it's Los Angeles' turn!

At this sale you will find hundreds of name brand and designer wedding gowns from $99 to $799, valued up to $8,000. These gowns have been donated by manufacturers, retailers, designers and individuals. In addition, exclusive designer and couture gowns valued up to $20,000 are also available at a 25% to 75% savings. (While you can find great used wedding gowns, more than half the wedding dresses presented during each event are new designer gowns).

When:

Pre-Sale ($20 Admission): October 27, Noon - 4PM

General Sales (Free Admission):

Monday, October 27, 5PM to 9PM
Tuesday, October 28, Noon to 9PM
Wednesday, October 29, 10AM to 5PM

Where:

Hyatt Regency Century Plaza
2025 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA

For more information about the sale, you can go to Brides Against Breast Cancer and click on the "Click For Event Info" button.

Northern California Elopement Packages in Mendocino

2008-10-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

Everyone's trying to save money now, even on their weddings. One great way to do that is by eloping! Here are a couple elopement packages in Mendocino County in Northern California which are set in lovely surroundings and priced reasonably!

Little River Inn
Little River, CA
1-888-INN-LOVE (1-888-466-5683)
info@littleriverinn.com

The Little River Inn is located on the rugged Mendocino Coast, 2 miles south of the village of Mendocino. All of their rooms have views of the Pacific Ocean, or you can choose to stay in a private, cliffside cottage with a fireplace and hot tub. This area of Mendocino County is so laid-back and relaxing that you might forget all the wonderful things there are to do in the area: ride the Skunk Train, visit a local gallery, sample wine at a local winery, play golf...

And, of course, have a beautiful elopement ceremony! Little River Inn offers the "Romantic Elopement Package" for those who want simplicity without sacrificing a beautiful wedding ceremony. You can exchange your vows on their private deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean, on their beach, or in their garden. This package starts at $1,550 per couple (Sunday through Thursday) and $1,750 per couple (Friday & Saturday) and includes:

Champagne toast, service & memory glasses
An hour with their favorite local photographer for a personal, one-on-two shoot
A small cake and cake service
Your choice of a bouquet and boutonniere OR a large arrangement for your room
A three-course dinner for two
Officiant
Breakfast in bed for two
A consultation with their Wedding Coordinator

This package rate does not include room charge or tax. This rate is also subject to change based on season booked. If interested, they ask that you contact Melissa at 707-962-2256 for a personal consultation. You can also go to their website at LittleRiverInn.com.

The Inn at Schoolhouse Creek
7051 North Highway One
Little River, CA
(800) 731-5525
Innkeeper@schoolhousecreek.com

Also located in Little River, The Inn at Schoolhouse Creek is the oldest resort on the Mendocino stretch of the North Coast. Close to all the great things the Mendocino coast has to offer: Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens; town of Mendocino; Anderson Valley wineries; whale watching expeditions; horseback riding on the beach or through the redwoods.

The Inn offers both formal and casual weddings located on their 8 acres of Cypress groves, lush meadows and lovely flower gardens. While you can host a wedding their for up to 150 wedding guests, you can also have an outdoor elopement ceremony in the upper meadow, at one of their private cottages or cliffside cottages. They require a 2-night minimum stay, as well as a fee of $1,000, which includes:

Coordinator fees
Minister fees
Small bridal bouquet
Small cake
Champagne

Budget Wedding Venue Near Santa Cruz

2008-10-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

Couples wanting a budget destination wedding venue in the Santa Cruz area might want to consider the Best Western Scotts Valley Inn, located just 6 miles from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. They have a special wedding package which includes:

Complimentary room for the bride and groom for every 8 rooms booked
Summer Rates of $129 for 1 King Bed or $139 for 2 Queen Beds
Winter Rates of $109 for 1 King Bed or $119 for 2 Queen Beds
Complimentary Wedding Space
Daily Extended Complimentary Breakfast

All you need is your wedding officiant and you're set!

Aside from offering budget accommodations and complimentary wedding space, the Best Western Scotts Valley Inn is close to so many wonderful things for you and your guests to see and do:

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - steps from Santa Cruz beach, the Boardwalk includes two National Historic Landmarks - the 1911 Looff Carousel and 1924 Giant Dipper, a giant wood-framed roller coaster.

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary - where you can spend the day kayaking, hiking, whale watching, fishing, sailing, surfing, and scuba diving.

Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad - just minutes from Scotts Valley, travel by steam train up a narrow-gauge track through the Big Trees to Bear Mountain or by beach train down the scenic San Lorenzo River to the beaches of Santa Cruz.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - home of the giant Redwood Grove. Hike, bike, go horseback riding. Discover trees that are 1,400 to 1,800 years old.

Valley Gardens Golf Course - executive, nine-hole course, located in Scotts Valley.

Contact info for Best Western Scotts Valley Inn :

Best Western Scotts Valley Inn
6020 Scott's Valley Drive
Scott's Valley, CA 95066
Phone: 831-438-6666 Fax: 831-439-8752
Email: 05443@bestwestern.com

Affordable Wedding Veils

2008-10-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

With the economy slumping lately (okay, it's in the toilet), saving money on your wedding is something many of you are striving for. Every little bit helps, so I found a couple affordable bridal veils you may want to check out, if you're in the market for a bridal veil.

Allure Wedding Veil

$59.00

This look is classic with a finger-tip length cascading in a graceful fall. The classic cut means there are two layers to this veil, the top tier measures 30" with a 40" long bottom tier. Veil measures 72" wide. Price as shown is $73.00 in ivory with a .25" satin ribbon edge and no decoration.

Tiffany Wedding Veil

$59.00

This single tier wedding veil in your choice of seven subtle colors gives you minimal fullness on top, but plenty of playful swing at your elbow. Embellish with your choice of edge and a pretty decoration for a look that's uniquely you. Each veil measures 108" wide, 27" long and arrives with a comb attached. Price as shown is $69.99 in diamond white with a .25" ribbon edge and no decoration.

Botanical Garden Wedding in Berkeley

2008-10-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

Looking for a garden wedding in the Bay Area? Give some thought to the University of California Botanical Garden in Berkeley, which contains over 12,000 different kinds of plants from all over the world.

Established in 1890, the Garden offers several different sites for your wedding, with hourly rental rates starting at $50 an hour for the Oak Knoll location, on up to $275 an hour on Saturdays for the Conference Center and the Stephen J. Mather Redwood Grove and Amphitheatre, which can accommodate up to 130 people. Other sites of interest include The Garden of Old Roses for intimate weddings up to 30 people.

In addition to the two-hour minimum site rental fee, there are also a few required fees, such as a cleaning and damage deposit, security staff and rental monitor.

The Garden is located at 200 Centennial Drive #5045 in Berkeley. You can check availability or make reservations by contacting:

Margie Richardson,
Rental Coordinator,
510-642-3352
Fax: 510-642-5045

You can also take a virtual tour by going to: http://tour.circlepix.com/tour.htm?id=251985&refurl=

Avila Beach Wedding Location

2008-09-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

For those seeking out the best beach locations in California to wed, let me recommend Avila Beach, near San Luis Obispo. More specifically, the Avila Lighthouse Suites, a fabulous oceanfront hotel.

Avila Lighthouse Suites offers 54 two-room beach suites, all with private patios or balconies. And, more importantly, they have ceremony and reception packages for either intimate weddings, or larger weddings up to 120 guests.

Avila Lighthouse is situated right in the heart of the Central Coast and all the wonderful attractions it offers:

Hearst Castle: only a 40-mile drive away

Three champtionship golf courses, located from 5 to 40 miles away: Avila Beach Golf Resort; Blacklake Golf Course and Cypress Ridge golf Course

The Wine Country of the Central Coast - Edna Valley; Paso Robles .

To request wedding information from Avila Lighthouse Suites, you can contact them at weddings@avilalighthousesuites.com or call 805-627-1900 and ask for their Event Coordinator.

How beautiful is Avila Beach?

Your Wedding Reception Dance - Shake it up a bit

2008-09-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

Dancing is an essential part of most wedding receptions. We look forward to the couple's "first dance" and the bride's special dance with her father. It's also a moment that some of your wedding guests might dread, particularly those who are shy or who are insecure with their dancing abilities. You then end up with a ballroom full of people sitting in their seats, waiting for other brave couples to start dancing first so they can blend in.

Why not liven things up a big and have dance teacher for your wedding reception? As a kind of pre-dance activity, the teacher will quickly walk people through their paces on the dance floor, perhaps teaching a bit of the waltz or, for something completely different, a little bit of the tango, before the music officially begins and dancing commences.

Having a dance teacher do a bit of teaching not only livens up the reception right from the start, but it gets people out on the dance floor who might otherwise be too self-conscious normally to get out there and let it all hang out. And practically speaking, it will likely make the wedding guests feel more confident in their skills before the "official" dancing begins.

Bridal Fairs for Los Angeles in October

2008-09-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

If you're getting married within the next year, you don't want to miss this:

"Expo Bridal Presents The Fall Annual Bridal Show Atop The Hill At Universal"

When:

October 19th, 2008 from 11Am to 4PM

Where:

Universal Hilton
555 Universal Hollywood Drive
Universal City, CA

Why Attend:

Because you'll be treated to the Gown Fashion Show where you can check out the newest Gown fashions for 2009. Also, you can shop and compare DJs, photographers, caterers, and other wedding service providers.

And, you can be entered in a bridal giveaway worth approximately $8,500 in wedding services.

For more information call 877-537-7444

But, wait, there's another one to tell you about!

That's right. On the same day in at the Fairplex in Pomona, there's another bridal fair you might want to check out. It's called the "Here Come The Brides, The Elegant Bridal Experience"

When:

October 19, 2008 from 11AM to 4PM

Where:

Fine Arts Building - Fairplex in Pomona
1101 West McKinley Avenue, Gate 1
Pomona CA

Why Attend:

Again, you'll be able to meet and compare wedding professionals serving the Inland Empire & High Desert. You'll be able to find vendors for wedding cakes, wedding favors, DJs, etc. And, there will be a bridal fashion show with all the latest bridal fashions.

How Much:

$9 at the door; $7 with pre-registration. You can go to HereComeTheBrides.net for more information and to pre-register.

Mill Valley Wedding Venue on Mt. Tam

2008-09-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

For those of you looking for a fabulous wedding venue in the Bay Area, have you considered Mill Valley? Mill Valley is located about 4 miles north of San Francisco, just over the Golden Gate Bridge, and on the eastern slopes of Mount Tamalpais.

In addition to being an "artsy" community, Mill Valley, especially as you travel up the slopes of Mt. Tam, has some of the most beautiful scenery in the Bay Area.

One such place with an out-of-this-world view is Mountain Home Inn, located at 810 Panoramic Hwy.

The Mountain Home Inn, only a 25-minute drive from the Golden Gate Bridge, is set on the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais, 1,000 feet above Mill Valley, nestled amongst Pines and Redwoods, with spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay. Its location not only gives you wonderful views, but also an opportunity to experience the hiking and biking trails of Mt. Tam. There's nothing like a honeymoon walk through a redwood forest.

You can rent the entire Inn for your wedding and reception (can accommodate up to 70 for plated service, or up to 100 for cocktail service), or rent their Bay View Room for smaller, more intimate gatherings.

The Inn offers 10 guest-rooms and a full service restaurant, beer and wine bar.

As an added bonus, Mill Valley is also close to the Napa and Sonoma wine country areas, which makes for a nice day trip during your honeymoon stay.

For more information you can call them at 415-381-9000 or email them at innkeeper@mtnhomeinn.com.

For some more on Mill Valley:

Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Temecula

2008-08-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

I came across this video of a hot-air balloon ride over Temecula, California.

I've written about Temecula Weddings before, but, for those of you unfamiliar with Temecula, it's Southern California's premier wine country destination, which makes it a great location for those couples from Los Angeles and San Diego wanting a winery wedding venue which is close to their home. (And, yes, there's always Ventura and Santa Barbara, and Santa Ynez, also fabulous wine regions in close proximity to Los Angeles).

This video highlights a hot air balloon flight over the Temecula Valley by SunRise Balloons (1-800-548-9912). The video gives you a great overhead view of Temecula. Who knows, maybe you'll want to celebrate your wedding with a hot-air balloon ride over Temecula!

SunRise Balloons offers private balloon flight which accommodate up to eight average sized adults. Every two people have their own compartment with a champagne picnic served aloft, approximately 100 professional photographs and a video clip of the launch! You can go to their site at SunriseBalloons.com or call them at 1-800-548-9912 for more information.

San Ysidro Ranch Wedding - Santa Barbara

2008-08-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

Want to get married in the same spot Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier exchanged their vows? How about honeymoon in the same cottage used by John and Jackie Kennedy for their honeymoon?

Then you want to consider San Ysidro Ranch in the Montecito foothills, just south of Santa Barbara.

Situated on over 500 acres, San Ysidro overlooks the Channel Islands and offers superb views of the Pacific Ocean. It also boasts 41 individually decorated private cottages and suites, many with fireplaces, hot tubs on private outdoor patios, and antique furnishings.

For a real honeymoon treat, choose the Kennedy Cottage, which was used by John and Jackie Kennedy for their honeymoon in 1953. The Kennedy Cottage comes with twin master suites, each with a king bed, fireplace and private bath. But, the real plus (other than honeymooning in the same room as Jack and Jackie) is the ocean-view deck with hot tub and outdoor rain shower. Of course, if you're on a tight budget you may want to skip the Kennedy Cottage, which rents for $2995 per night. A ranch room begins at $650 per night, while a Junior Suite begins at $895 per night.

San Ysidro's event venues can accommodate from 10 to 50 guests.

You can email them for wedding information at sanysidro@rosewoodhotels.com

They're located at 900 San Ysidro Lane, Santa Barbara.

For a Resort Wedding, Consider Newport Beach or Palm Springs

2008-08-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

I came across this press release from April, 2008, that states that two California cities made it on the "Top 10 Resort Towns" list put out by AOLTravel. And those two cities are: Newport Beach and Palm Springs; which makes them obvious choices for your California destination wedding.

How does a city meet the criteria for inclusion on the top ten list? For starters, there has to be easy access from major and regional airports, which is really important if you're having a destination wedding with out-of-town guests. And, each resort town "offers the upscale luxury you demand, the accessibility you need, and the ability to see and be seen while you're there."

I get the "be seen" part of the quote, but not really sure what "the ability to see" is all about. See as in see celebrities? Or see as in see a beautiful place?

Oh, well, anyway, back to Newport Beach and Palm Springs.

Yes, both are places where you can find upscale luxury. What resorts in both towns would you want to consider for your destination wedding?

Newport Beach

The Balboa Bay Club
1221 West Coast Hwy
Newport Beach

Balboa Inn
105 Main St.
Newport Beach

Island Hotel
690 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach

Palm Springs

Parker Palm Springs
4200 East Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs

Riviera Resort & Spa
1600 N. Indian Canyon Dr.
Palm Springs

The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn
412 West Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs

Just FYI, I have a couple posts on the site which include Newport Beach and Palm Springs wedding locations. One is

Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway in Palm Springs and the other one is Newport Beach Weddings on Land or at Sea

Winery Wedding in Temecula

2008-07-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note here about another Temecula Valley winery venue for a wedding.

Wilson Creek Winery and Vineyard
35960 Rancho California Road
Temecula, CA

Temecula, which is easily accessible to both San Diego and Los Angeles, is a fabulous choice for those of you seeking a California winery wedding experience. For one, it's close for those of you who have guests from Southern California. And, it's just a real beautiful, romantic location, with numerous wineries available for weddings.

Here's a Google Map, for those of you unfamiliar with where Temecula is located:

View Larger Map

Anyway, Wilson Creek Winery and Vineyard is perfect for any size ceremony, boasting two outdoor wedding gazebos (perfect for more intimate ceremonies), an indoor barrel room for up to 75 guests, a wine cask room for up to 40 guests, an outdoor garden for up to 500 guests, and, my favorite, "Merlot Mesa," which is located among their 70 acres of vines, and can accommodate up to 75 guests. In addition, they have a 4,000 sq. ft. ballroom.

You can check out their pricing at WilsonCreekWinery.com, or contact them by email at info@wilsoncreekwinery.com.

Garden Wedding Location in Long Beach

2008-07-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

Hey, do you see yourself getting married in a beautiful garden, with a pond, and maybe a footbridge to make your grand entrance? Then here's a quick note about a garden venue you might consider if looking to get married in Southern California:

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
California State University Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Boulevard,
Long Beach, CA

The Japanese Garden at Cal State Long Beach has hosted many an event, including weddings. There are several wedding packages to choose from, including:

Winter Garden Wedding & Commitment Ceremonies

This package is available February, March, October, November & First three weeks in December for a site-rental fee of $1895.00 ($1995 for 2009).

This includes a 2-year garden membership, a 2-hour timeslot, 1-hour consultation, 1-hour rehearsal, chairs and umbrellas and a sound system.

Saturday Morning Wedding & Light Reception Package

If you're willing to have a morning ceremony and reception from 9AM to 12PM the rental fee is $2800 ($3000 in 2009).

For all other dates and times, the rental fee for a ceremony only is $2300 ($2400 in 2009).

You can email them for more info at: jgcoordinators@csulb.edu

Gay Wedding Packages in Lake Tahoe

2008-07-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to one of our readers, Larry, who made a comment in my post on Fabulous Gay Wedding Venues in California, with a recommendation for a couple ministers in Lake Tahoe who welcome gay and lesbian couples (as well as straight couples). They are:

Tahoe Mountain Unions
Day & Evenings (866) 944-5444 · Local (530) 577-6030
Rev. Joshua Denniston
E-Mail: minister@tahoemountainunions.com

The Oneness of Love - Lake Tahoe
(800) 544-6193
P.O. Box 550591
Tahoe Paradise, CA 96155
*E-Mail: reverend@onenessoflove.com

Both of these companies have wedding packages you might be interested in (and yes, the packages are for both same-sex and heterosexual weddings):

Tahoe Mountain Unions

Tahoe Mountain Unions has a wedding package for $800 on Monday through Thursdays and $900 on weekends and holidays which include:

>> Photography including 80 digital images
>> 2-hour limousine ride in a Lincoln Town Car
>> Ordained wedding officiant
>> Hand-tied flowers or boutonnières
>> Music on CD
>> Champagne

You have your choice of many wonderful outdoor locations, including Emerald Bay, ski resorts or along the shoreline of Lake Tahoe. For more info you can go to TahoeMountainUnions.com

The Oneness of Love - Lake Tahoe

The Oneness of Love provides weddings packages in all the wonderful outdoor locations in and around Lake Tahoe, including some you may not have thought of, such as weddings on skis, in hot air balloons, snowmobiles, and sleigh rides. Their packages include an elopement package for $275 which includes a wedding license, minister, wedding certificate and roll of 24 35 mm exposures (cd of your photos for $25 extra). They also offer a "Gold Wedding Package" for $450 and a "Diamond Wedding Package" for $800 on Monday through Thursday and $900 on weekends.

The Diamond Wedding Package includes the following:

>> Ordained wedding officiant
>> 2-hour limousine ride in a Lincoln Town Car
>> Hand-tied flowers or boutonnières
>> Music on CD
>> Champagne
>> Photography including 80 digital images

For more info you can go to OnenessOfLove.com

Garden Wedding in the LA Area

2008-06-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

Looking for a garden wedding venue in the Los Angeles area? Consider Occasions, El Segundo, a 1920's reception room and garden, which boasts a garden surrounded by trees, a waterfall and stream which flows into a koi pond, and an iron gazebo that screams "I do." Just FYI, if you hold your wedding at night, the gazebo is lit up with lights that give it a very fairy-tale feel.

If you choose to also have your reception at Occasions, El Segundo, you will also be treated to European Trained Chefs, a customized menu, and a hardwood dance floor. The reception room seats up to 150 guests. You will provide the alcohol, but there is no corkage fee.

They hold two weddings per day, the first scheduled from 11AM to 4PM, and the second from 6PM to 11PM. They are closed on Mondays.

They are located at 139 Richmond Street in El Segundo; and can be reached at occasionsla@aol.com, or by calling 866-322-wedd. You can also go to their website at OccasionsLA.com.

Weddings at the Japanese Garden - Lake Balboa

2008-06-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

Looking for a beautiful oasis in Southern California to tie the knot? Think Van Nuys.

Van Nuys?

That's right, Van Nuys, more specifically the Japanese Garden at Lake Balboa, which is in Van Nuys. Of course, while you're there you just feel you're in a paradise all your own.

The Japanese Garden at Lake Balboa is a 6.5 acre authentic Japanese garden which you can rent out for your wedding or other events. Your guests are free to stroll the gardens, which offer lakes, streams, reflection pools, waterfall, tea house and bridges.

Your guests will also appreciate the fact that the Japanese Garden is so accessible, close to two major freeways and lots of free parking.

The price:

Wedding with no food or drink: $750 for 3 hours.

You can email them at bse@san.lacity.org to inquire about other arrangements, such as having a lunch.

For those wishing to have their wedding photos taken there, the cost is $200 Monday through Thursday for 2 hours.

Photo by kkinjo - http://www.flickr.com/people/kinjosan/

Congrats to Del and Phyllis and Shame on you Protesters

2008-06-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

Congratulations are in order to Del Martin, 87 and Phyllis Lyon, 83, who became the first gay couple to get married in San Francisco, at 5:01PM yesterday.

These two women have been together for over 50 years, and became the first gay couple married in 2004 in San Francisco during the brief period of time same-sex weddings were allowed in that city. That was, of course, before the courts ruled the marriages (over 4,000 of them were performed) invalid. The California Supreme court has since ruled that same-sex weddings are now legal, although a ballot measure in November could make them invalid once again.

Okay, so what really burns me is the fact that there were protesters outside City Hall in San Francisco holding nasty signs aimed at these two 80+ women. Would you really want some numb nut taunting your grandmother as she was leaving an event that was special to her? Would you really want some idiot yelling at your grandmother, telling her she was sinning? For God's sake, people, what did these two women ever do to you?

I want all you couples out there who are planning weddings to imagine having your wedding with people yelling at you as you were leaving the ceremony, holding signs derisive of your love, taunting your guests. You'd be really pissed, wouldn't you? It's not right to spoil someone's special day, no matter if they're 83 or 23, gay or straight.

Come on, folks, it was a wedding. And you weren't invited. But, you showed up anyway to shower people with your hate, like it was rice or confetti.

If you feel your marriage is that threatened by the wedding of two women who've been together over 50 years, then work on your own marriage. Strengthen it, instead of tearing someone else's down.

Wild Wedding Toppers - the Movie

2008-06-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, dumb title. But, again, I found this video on YouTube and just thought I'd like to share it. It's pretty clever, though you don't want them at your wedding, because I really think they'd steal the show.

Just FYI, I do have a page of wedding toppers you can buy (from various vendors) at my Squidoo page at http://www.squidoo.com/wedding_cake_toppers

None of them move around the cake like this couple, but, maybe that's a good thing. You wouldn't want your cake toppers making off with your wallet and car.

Waterfall Wedding Cake - I don't know about this one

2008-06-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, so while I was surfing around on the web I came across this video of a waterfall wedding cake. Sounds interesting, doesn't it? But, the idea of pairing water and cake just is odd to me. There may be some of you who think it's cool, but it reminds me of one of those "Got Milk" commercials. It's the one where someone ran out of milk for chocolate milk and instead used water and stirred the chocolate syrup into water. It just was... not right. What do you think? Would you like a waterfall wedding cake? Here's the video:

Where Can I Find Bridal Flip-Flops?

2008-06-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

If you're getting married in California, there's a good chance you might be one of the many couples choosing a beach wedding, or a beach-themed wedding. And, there's a chance you might be wondering, "where can I find bridal flip-flops?"

Well, depending on how casual you're wedding's going to be, you can find your bridal flip-flops anywhere - Nordstrom, Target, even Payless.

But, if you want a pair of some of the finest flip-flops in the world to adorn your bridal feet, you will want to go with the Slim Swarovski Crystal Havaianas Flip Flops. Have you not heard of Havaianas Flip-Flops? They're from Brazil and gaining quite a following, having been included in years past Academy Awards celebrity gift bags. Of course, some of those pairs are priced upwards to $1,000 because they're diamond-studded. Yours will be cheaper. Much cheaper.

Why are Havaianas so popular? It's the rubber! The secret-recipe rubber they use to make them is buttery soft.

You can check them by out by clicking on Shop Limited Edition Sandals at Havaianas

Weddings at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills

2008-06-10T16:29:00.001-07:00

I attended a wine tasting benefit at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills over the weekend and discovered what a great place it is for events - including weddings!

For those of you not familiar with the Greystone Mansion, here's a little history: The mansion was built in 1928 for Ned Doheny and his family; Doheny a rich oil man during that time. The mansion consisted of 55 rooms in 46,054 square feet of living space. After being sold a couple of times in the 1950s, the mansion and surrounding property was sold in 1965 to the city of Beverly Hills and is now used as a park, with the grounds often rented out to weddings and filmings. In fact, many interior scenes for "There Will Be Blood" were shot at the mansion. Other movies filmed on location at the Greystone Mansion include "Rush Hour," "Ghostbusters," "The Big Lebowski," and "Indecent Proposal."

The Greystone Mansion is a beautiful location for weddings, offering many different outdoor ceremony sites including: the formal gardens, which feature a grassy lawn and cascading fountain; the Terrace, which features a view of the city and reflection pond; and the former pool area, of which I snapped the photo below:

Rental fees for weddings and other events at the Mansion begin at $292.90 per hour for residents and $371.00 per hour for non-residents, with a 2-hour minimum, with up to 100 guests. The fee increases with increased number of guests. You can find more info at:

Greystone Mansion.

Great Places for Wedding Photos in LA Area

2008-06-08T12:07:00.000-07:00

Just a little thought here on some great spots for wedding photos in the Los Angeles area:

1. Pasadena City Hall

One of my favorites, and favorite with many locals, is the Pasadena City Hall. You may need a permit, so do check. I ran across this blog about a photo shoot at Pasadena City Hall and the photos were stunning. Take a look here:

Pasadena City Hall wedding photos

2. Korean Friendship Bell

Located in San Pedro, the Korean Friendship Bell is a popular spot for weddings, as well as wedding photographs. See more at my post: http://californiaweddings.blogspot.com/search/label/San%20Pedro%20wedding

3. Griffith Park Observatory

Many interesting spots to take great wedding photos, with great views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign.

4. Eaton Canyon Natural Area Park

Located in Northeast Pasadena, Eaton Canyon Natural Area Park is a wonderful and cost-effective place for events, as well as a spectacular place for wedding photographs. You may need a permit, so do check.

5. Descanso Gardens

Located in La Canada/Flintride, the Descanso Gardens provides many different beautiful spots for wedding photographs, including the Main Lawn, Feather Falls and Japanese Garden. Those not having their weddings at Descanso Gardens can still have their wedding photos taken there, but will have to pay a fee of $250 for 1-10 people for two hours. The price goes up with a larger number of people.

6. Whittier Narrows

Whittier Narrows is a 400-acre sanctuary of riparian woodland featuring four lakes, which makes for some very nice wedding photos. You will need a permit for wedding photos.

Cool Beach Wedding Favors I Just Had to Share

2008-06-04T14:17:00.001-07:00

You'll notice I added a little video of beach wedding favors to my left sidebar. I couldn't resist! Those palm tree favor boxes are truly adorable, and will make a great, fun addition to any beach wedding or beach-themed wedding.

Okay, so what do you put inside of them? Well, anything you want that will fit inside. You could put M&Ms (yes, with your wedding date printed on them), Jelly Belly candies, etc. The company has other beach wedding favors as well: seahorse cookies; flip-flop keychain; shell coasters; beach bucket place card holders; and on and on.

Here's a link to the "My Wedding Favors" site so you can take a look around. Truthfully, if you're at the beach in the sun you might want to stay away from any chocolate favors. But, if your wedding is inside or on a cooler day, they have plenty of chocolate favors to choose from as well. Anyway, the link is just below:

Planning a beach wedding? Find just what you're looking for! Shop My Wedding Favors for great selection and value pricing.

And, if you're interested, here's a code for 5% off:

Enter coupon code SAVE5 to receive 5% off of your order.

You know, the palm tree box wedding favor would go great with this palm tree wedding cake topper (click on the palm tree and you'll go to the merchant site for more info):

Fabulous Places for Gay Weddings in California

2008-06-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

By now you all probably know that same-sex weddings may begin in California as early as June 17, 2008. (Update on 6/18/08: yes, indeed they have!)

Congratulations all you couples considering or who have already tied the legal knot.

There are, of course, a couple things you should know before taking that step.

1) Voters of California may overturn the California Supreme Court's decision, making your marriages invalid AGAIN.

2) If you got married in Canada, you cannot get married again in California. BUMMER.

Having gotten that out of the way, there's one other thing you now have to consider. WHERE TO GET MARRIED! That's where this blog comes in. There's a ton of places in California to get married, and I've profiled many of those places the past couple of years. Feel free to consider all these wonderful places, and consider some of the following, which are actively marketing their services to same-sex couples. Many have offered commitment ceremonies and are also able to offer legal wedding services.

San Francisco

San Francisco was the first city in California to offer legal, same-sex weddings before the California State Supreme Court declared them invalid in 2004. It only makes sense to spend your wedding dollars in the city that started it all! And, what better place than in the building that hosted all those 2004 gay weddings: San Francisco City Hall.

San Francisco City Hall is where you can go for a license, as well as a wedding ceremony. And, what a splendid place it is! With a wide, winding staircase (great for photos) and intimate nooks and crannies (also great for photos) San Francisco City Hall is a very elegant and cost effective place for a wedding ceremony. It'll cost you $89 for the license and $67 for a ceremony. Ceremonies are available Monday through Friday at 10AM, 10:30AM, and from 12:00 noon through 3PM every half hour. There is also an additional 11AM and 11:30AM ceremony on Thursdays and Fridays only. You can get more info at www.sfgov.org/countyclerk . If you've got more bucks to spend and you have up to 200 guests, you can also rent the City Hall Rotunda on Saturdays before 3PM with a special wedding package for $4,000. For more info on this package you can go to http://www.sfgov.org/site/cityhallevents_index.asp?id=26609

Other venues of note include the Palace of Fine Arts, which is located at the edge of Presidio Park. The Palace of Fine Arts was built in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific Expo, and is perfect for larger-scale weddings, providing a classic Roman rotunda, and a lake complete with swans. You might also want to consider the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, a very popular place for weddings, as well as some spots in Golden Gate Park: Queen Wilhelmina's Garden, Fuchsia Garden, and the Chinese Pavilion. You can find out more about renting these sites at http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/recpark/Permits_and_Reservations/wedding_sites.pdf

Lake Tahoe:

The Lakefront Wedding Chapel in Lake Tahoe has been hosting commitment ceremonies for awhile, and now they're pleased to offer same-sex weddings when the licenses become available by the state. They say this is the only wedding chapel in Lake Tahoe that's right on the water. Their packages start at $375 for a Sunday through Friday wedding up to 6 guests, on up to a $3,000 package for a Saturday wedding for 1-10 guests, with $20 per additional guest. You can find more info at: http://www.commitmentceremonies.net/.

San Diego County:

If you're in the northern San Diego county area you might want to check out Pala Mesa Resort for your wedding ceremony and/or reception. Pala Mesa is close to the wine region of Temecula, with spectacular mountain views and rated one of the Top Ten Courses in San Diego County by Golf Digest and Zagat. It also has many different wedding packages available, including small, intimate ceremony packages starting at $500 on up to Saturday evening ceremonies at $3,000, with receptions from $80 to $110 per person. You can contact them at 800-722-4700.

You can also choose to have your ceremony at one of San Diego County or LA County beaches and parks and hire a wedding officiant to perform the ceremony. Our recommendation is Minister Deb, who performs wedding ceremonies in the San Diego and Southern California region. According to her website "Minister Deb has performed over 150 gay weddings and commitment ceremonies in San Diego and Southern California. She is the only wedding officiant in the nation catering exclusively to the gay and lesbian community." Her wedding packages start at $175, more for premium packages. You can reach Minister Deb at deb@ministerdeb.com

Remember, if you wish to have your wedding at a public beach or park you may need a permit, so do check with your local government offices.

Los Angeles Area:

One of my favorite wedding spots is the Queen Mary in Long Beach. I checked their website and they have offered commitment ceremonies in the past, so they should probably be a great place for your wedding as well. They have many different wedding packages to choose from, including chapel ceremonies as well as ceremonies on the Verandah Deck and Deck Gazebo. You can get more info by going to queenmary.com.

Calamigos Ranch in the mountains of Malibu is yet another Southern California venue that has hosted gay commitment ceremonies in the past. Reward them by hosting your wedding there! You'll be treated to lush greenery, waterfalls and lakes on this 130-acre Malibu retreat. They offer both indoor and outdoor ceremony sites, accommodating from 75 to 500 guests. They can be reached at info@calamigos.com

A gay wedding officiant in the Los Angeles area you might want to consider is Rev. Ogannes John Agayan, a minister out of Granada Hills. His number is (818) 772-4552.

Orange County (Yes, Orange County!)

THIS JUST ADDED: Just read on gaytravel.about.com that the Wyndham Orange County in Costa Mesa "is offering a '50% discount to the next 50 same-sex couples to book weddings at the hotel.' (The ceremonies must take place by Dec. 31, 2008.)" Their phone number is 714-751-5100 or or 877-999-3223.

These are just a few places to get you started. Please browse through this blog and check out other locations as well. Also, I have a Squidoo page on Gay Weddings that I am going to continually add new content. I have some information on where to get your license and other venues not mentioned on this post. You can go there by clicking on Gay Weddings.

Oh, by the way: I just added a page on wedding cake toppers, where I list some that would work out well for same-sex weddings: http://www.squidoo.com/wedding_cake_toppers Just scroll down a little for the page contents and you'll see a link to "same-sex wedding cake toppers."

There's also some monogram toppers, and a wedding photo frame topper that would also work really well.

Bridal Show at the Queen Mary, Long Beach

2008-05-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

Hey, here's a two-fer for you. You get to attend a bridal show, and check out one of the coolest venues for a destination wedding in Southern California. Of course, I'm talking about The Queen Mary.

I've written about weddings on the Queen Mary on this blog before:

Queen Mary Weddings

In that post I mentioned that the month of October is fun because that's the month of Halloween and The Queen Mary's "Halloween Terrorfest." Just in case you didn't know, the Queen Mary is supposedly haunted, so who knows who'll show up at your wedding when you marry aboard this fabulous ship. As long as none of them raises an objection as to why you shouldn't be joined in matrimony, you'll be okay.

Anyway, in August there will be a bridal show aboard the Queen Mary.

Here are the particulars:

When: August 17, 2008, from 11:00am to 4:00pm

Where: The Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach

How Much at the door: $5

How much in advance: $1 off with coupon

In addition to vendor booths, you'll be treated to fashion shows, free hors d'oeuvres and door prizes.

Plus, it gives you a chance to check out The Queen Mary. If you love history, cruise ships and the art deco period, you'll love this ship.

Want a Reason to Elope?

2008-04-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the average cost for a wedding in the U.S. is approaching $30,000? And that the average honeymoon costs over $4,500? That's making an elopement ceremony sound better and better, now doesn't it?

Granted, the thought of eloping is hard for many couples to even touch. What about family members who might feel slighted or angry that there's no big wedding to attend? Of course, maybe a big wedding is something that you've dreamed of your whole life and eloping would become a big letdown.

But, for second weddings, or weddings of older individuals, these weddings are often more conducive to a destination wedding or eloping. Maybe family is so spread out that it's too hard to decide where to hold a wedding that will please everyone. Eloping, then, care spare some feelings.

Where are good places to elope? We have quite a number of great venues in California, many of which I've spoken about in this blog. Here are eloping posts you might find interesting, which include elopement ceremonies:

http://californiaweddings.blogspot.com/2008/03/newport-beach-weddings-on-land-or-at.html

http://californiaweddings.blogspot.com/2008/03/long-beach-wedding.html

http://californiaweddings.blogspot.com/2008/02/lake-tahoe-weddings.html

http://californiaweddings.blogspot.com/2008/02/northern-california-coast-wedding.html

And, of course, you can also visit my website and learn more about eloping

Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway in Palm Springs

2008-04-23T10:23:00.000-07:00

Sure you can go to Vegas and be married by some Elvis impersonator. And, that's nice. But, why not go for something a little more authentic. Get married where Elvis and Priscilla Presley had their honeymoon! Get married at the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway in Palm Springs!

The Hideaway is a private estate situated at the base of the beautiful San Jacinto mountains, once leased by Elvis Presley. And, it comes with a story. It seems Elvis and Priscilla were meant to be married around the pool at the estate, but their plans were thwarted by a gossip columnist, which brought hordes of media surrounding the estate. So, they slipped away and were married in Las Vegas, but came back to the estate for their honeymoon.

Now the estate is open for guided tours, as well as hosting events, such as your wedding and/or honeymoon!

Even if Elvis and Priscilla hadn't had their honeymoon at the estate, it would still be an absolutely fabulous place for a wedding. There's a diamond-shaped pool, with an area of stonework perfect for a wedding gazebo. The estate can accommodate about 180 guests around the pool.

You will also have use of the home itself if you desire an indoor wedding. And, for those of you wishing to stay for your honeymoon, you will be blessed with an awesome view of the Santa Rosa Mountains from the circular master bedroom suite, which includes a Jacuzzi.

Other amenities include a tennis court. Limousine services, a butler, cook and/or maid are available upon request.

Now, if you really want to have "The King's" honeymoon, take note. When they arrived back to the estate from getting married in Vegas, Elvis carried Priscilla over the threshold and up the stairs of the Honeymoon Hideaway singing "The Hawaiian Wedding Song". Better tell the prospective groom to start practicing.

They also provide tours of the estate Monday through Friday at 1PM for $25 per person. There are also annual events held throughout the year, including the upcoming Honeymoon Weekend May 2 through May 4th, with tours and concerts.

For more info about the Honeymoon Weekend, or having your wedding at the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway, you can go to their website at ElvisHoneymoon.com or call 760-322-1192.

Win a Honeymoon to St. Croix!

2008-04-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

Who wants to win a honeymoon on beautiful St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands?

Well, who wouldn't?

I found a sweepstakes I think you all will love. The winner receives:

..::4 Nights - 5 Days in a Luxurious Oceanfront Suite at the Carambola Beach Resort on St. Croix
..::Airfare Voucher for two ( valued at $1,500 )

..::Breakfast and lunch each day of your stay

..::Two on-site and two off-site dinners

..::One hour professional digital photography (you know, so you can make your friends jealous)

..::And, a whole bunch of other things (beach towels, champagne flutes, stuff like that)

Who can enter?

Anyone 18 or older, and who are legal residents of the U.S. Employees of the sponsor, Bonnier Corp., are excluded.

When does the sweepstakes end?

You must enter by June 23, 2008

How do I enter for this fabulous honeymoon vacation?

Okay, the official rules say you go to DestinationWeddingsMag.com and enter. However, that url just looks like one of those meaningless parked pages with nothing on it. So, I would go to their submission page at:

www.greatresortweddings.com/registertowin.html and enter there.

Wedding Venues in Downtown Los Angeles

2008-04-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

Looking for some ideas for a wedding in downtown Los Angeles? Here are a few venues you might want to check out:

Dodger Stadium
1000 Elysian Park Ave
323-224-1469

Have your wedding at the Dugout Club at Dodger Stadium, close to downtown L.A. Seating for 350 inside, 2000 outside.

Los Angeles Athletic Club
451 West 7th Street
213-625-2211 ext. 3301
Go to clubweddings.com

Heritage Square Museum
3800 Homer Street
323-225-2700
heritagesquare.org

A living history museum with historic homes, beautiful grounds and flower gardens; makes for lovely wedding portraits.

Cicada Restaurant
617 S. Olive St.
213-488-9488
go to cicadarestaurant.com

Wonderful Italian restaurant which hosts wedding ceremonies as well as receptions.

Hilton Checkers
535 South Grand Avenue
213-624-0000
hiltoncheckers.com

A historic Los Angeles hotel that dates back to the 1920s. Fully restored to its orginal beauty, the Hotel Checkers is the only four-diamond boutique hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. Have a rooftop wedding; available for up to 175 people, or sit down dinner up to 100. Great view of the L.A. skyline.

Bridesmaid Gift Bags - Not Just for the Bridesmaid

2008-03-31T12:10:00.001-07:00

You've heard of bridesmaids gift bags? What about the Bride’s Friendship Bag? A Bride’s Friendship Bag is great spin-off on the way a bride can show appreciation to her wedding party members - maid of honor, bridesmaids and close friends - showing appreciation and thanks for the person participating in your special day.

Many of those who receive the gifts tend to keep them as a keepsake to remind them of your special day, something to look back on and think of the wonderful memories your day brought to you and your guests.

What Goes in the Friendship Bags?

You can put anything you want in your Bride’s Friendship Bag. It can be as extravagant or as small as you wish. Maybe you want to put cosmetics or something small like chocolates and a card. A bottle of red wine with your chocolates would also be good (red wine goes great with dark chocolates by the way). Or, maybe you'd like to put in a pound of coffee with some biscotti.

Whether it's a bridesmaid gift bag or a friendship bag for bridesmaids and other friends, there's nothing that says you have to give a gift to those in your wedding party. (Although, let's face it, many may be expecting at least something). But, if you do decide to give gifts, the bags are a unique way to deliver the traditional wedding favors.

Newport Beach Weddings - on land or at sea

2008-03-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

If you've been searching for a great location for your Newport Beach wedding, guess what? You're search is over. I have a few that you're going to love so much that you will end your search today!

Well, okay, maybe I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, but, I do think I have some ideas you'll like

Newport Beach Boat Weddings

Yes, I know I've written about boat weddings in California before. But, Newport Beach is loaded with yacht companies just aching for your wedding business. They usually offer "one-stop" shopping, meaning they'll coordinate everything. You just make a few decisions on what you want, show up, say "I do," eat some, toast some and dance some, and voila, you've had a great wedding on the water outside of Newport Beach that everyone will be talking about.

There are numerous charter companies, we're going to offer you three of them.

Pacific Avalon Yacht Charters

They offer three yachts, The Royal Princess (149 max. capacity), The Ambassador (150 max. capacity) and The Majestic (400 max. capacity). They provide everything you need, and will work with your suggestions, or, if you want some ideas, they will provide those as well. Call them at (949) 673-8545 for a complimentary consultation.

Legend Charters

Get married by the ship's Captain on a sunset cruise. For more information on what they offer, email them at info@legendcharters.com

The Electric Riverboat Angela Louise
located at The Fun Zone on Balboa Peninsula
700 Edgewater Ave.
Newport Beach
949-633-5997

While the other two wedding cruises are on yachts, this one's on a riverboat. How cool is that? They offer a one-hour wedding ceremony cruise for 30-70 passengers Sunday through Friday for $999, plus $100 docking fee. Includes the wedding ceremony performed by the Riverboat Captain, and a champagne toast for the bride and groom.

Weddings on the Beach

Okay, so you don't want to go out on a boat. You want to have a beach wedding. Here's a full-service company which performs beach weddings in Newport Beach - WedToday. They offer several different elopement packages, which include:

California marriage license
Personalized Ceremony
Rose petals on the sand
5 digital wedding photos
Marriage License Certificate of Vital Record

Costs:

Full service beach wedding on-the-sand for up to 40 guests: $895
Up to 30 guests: $595
Intimate Beach Elopement package for bride and groom only: $495
Officiant only: $350

Go to californiacoastweddings.com for more information.

You can have your ceremony on public beaches (check for permits), or you can always rent a beach house or cottage and have your ceremony there. You can check beach vacation rentals by going to vacationrentals.com or vrbo.com.

Newport Beach Resort Wedding

Balboa Inn The Resort
105 Main Street, Newport Beach
Toll Free: 877.BALBOA9

Enjoy the Newport Beach view in style at the Balboa Inn The Resort, which boasts ocean-view rooms and balconies, in-room Jacuzzi tubs, Italian marble floors and bathrooms, and a private ocean-view sundeck and Jacuzzi pool.

The Balboa Inn offers two options for your wedding; the Siena Room, which accommodates 175 guests, or the Siena Grand Terrace, which gives you a panoramic ocean view.

San Francisco Wedding Expo for April

2008-03-19T14:26:00.000-07:00

Having a wedding in San Francisco? Then you'll definitely want to make it to the Great Bridal Expo at the Concourse Exhibition Center in San Francisco on April 13, 2008. You'll not only get to visit many different wedding vendors, but you'll also be treated to a bridal fashion show, honeymoon show, as well as have the opportunity to win thousands of dollars in prizes.

The tickets are only $7 in advance, $9 at the door. Advance tickets can be bought at the Expo's website, greatbridalexpo.com. You can also email them for information at info@greatbridalexpo.com.

The Concourse Exhibition Center is located at 620 Seventh St.

Doors for the Great Bridal Expo of San Francisco open at 12:00 noon.

Long Beach Wedding

2008-03-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

Today we're looking at weddings in Long Beach, California. There are certainly many different venues you can choose in Long Beach, as well as a public beach or park. Below are some standouts:

Hyatt Regency Long Beach
200 S Pine Avenue

What's cool about the Hyatt Regency Long Beach is their private lagoon, where you (the bride) can arrive in a gondola. Nice effect. I love gondolas.

The Hyatt Regency Long Beach hosts intimate weddings as well as larger weddings up to 1,000 guests, with the Pacific Ocean as your backdrop. If you're having a reception, they offer several ballrooms to choose from. They also claim their Beacon Ballroom as the only waterfront ballroom in Long Beach, with a view of the Queen Mary, Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island.

The Ebell Club
290 Cerritos Ave. at Third Street
info@ebellclublb.com

The Ebell Club evokes a sleek, classy time. Built in 1924 as a private women's club, the club was renovated in 2003. They specialize in combined ceremonies and receptions. Not that most people know what this means, but, they say the Ebell Club is an example of Churrigueresque-style architecture. It features an indoor courtyard with a surrounding balcony. Nothing says grand entrance like a balcony! Well, okay, maybe a gondola (did I already mention I love gondolas?). For receptions, The Ebell Club can accommodate 150 guests for a plated sit-down dinner service and 190 for buffet service.

Museum of Latin American Art
628 Alamitos Ave
frontdesk@molaa.org

There's just something about having an event at a museum! I attended a birthday party once at an aquarium (similar concept) and it was absolutely fabulous. The guests were able to view exhibits after hours and celebrate a birthday at the same time. Anyway, the Museum of Latin American Art has two locations for weddings you'll love: the Balboa Studio, with a seated capacity of 350; and the Sculpture Garden, an outdoor theater with greenery, flowing water and a 30' projection screen, with a seating capacity of 375.

Looking for a Quick Long Beach Wedding?

Not really into planning a big wedding? Want a cheap, quick wedding so you can start your honeymoon right away? Then you might want to look into FNS Services, a very non-assuming tax services building at 2527 Pacific Avenue. That's right, they provide income tax services, notary public, fingerprinting, accounting and bookkeeping, real estate loans, immigration services, divorce and child support services, and yes, weddings! They have an on-site wedding chapel, as well as perform wedding services at your own location, like a public beach or park (with proper permits, of course). Here's a link to a picture of their wedding chapel: fnsservices.com Go for a public outdoor venue.

FNS Services can provide you with a marriage license, services of a non-denominational minister, and photos of your wedding. No appointment is needed, and they accommodate "same day and rush" weddings. Call them at 562-424-2020.

Wedding Officiants

In addition to FNS Services, there are many officiants in Long Beach who will go to your preferred location. Below are just a few non-denominational officants:

Affordable Wedding Minister
Matthew Linzmeier
(949) 939-4239 tel

Matthew is a recently ordained minister through Universal Life Church, and will officiate your wedding for a flat fee of $100. Matthew's also a barista at Starbucks, for all you Starbucks afficianados. Oh, and he's worked 3 years doing stand-up comedy.

A Ceremony for You
Judy Burke
(562) 799-1984 tel

Judy is a licensed non-denominational minister who can issue marriage licenses, and performs wedding ceremonies as well as vow renewals. Her prices start at $150 depending on your location.

A Ceremony of the Heart
Mary Jean Valente
maryjean@minister.com

Mary Jean has over 10 years experience performing weddings, vow renewals and Domestic Partner and Commitment Ceremonies. She is also a Second Degree Reiki Practitioner.

Diamond Carat Weight - Just a Little FYI

2008-03-07T11:55:00.000-08:00

We're going to deviate a little here from California wedding locations and give a little info on diamond carat weight. If you've been shopping around for wedding rings, your mind is probably overflowing with things like "clarity," "cut," "color" and "carat." But, just what is diamond carat weight?

Diamond carat is a term used to describe how much the diamond weighs. A single diamond carat is equal to the weight of 200 milligrams, or .2 grams.

Diamonds are described two different ways in regards to the diamond carat. An abbreviation of “ct” is used to describe the weight of a single diamond stone while an abbreviation of “ct TW” is used when describing the total weight of an entire piece of jewelry- when it has more than one stone in place.

It's important to recognize that two stones may have the exact same carats, yet they are completely different in size and appearance. This is due to the actual density of the stone. The more dense a stone is, the more weight it has, and sometimes a smaller stone will actually weigh more than a larger stone because of density.

When selecting your diamond ring, you can choose between a single, solitaire style setting (a single diamond on the ring) and a setting that has multiple, smaller stones to make up the ring. The value of a solitaire one diamond carat will actually be more than if you buy a ring that has two diamonds that add up to one carat or greater. Larger sized diamonds are more rarely found when mining diamonds, making them more valuable and expensive than purchasing the same amount of diamond carats in smaller stones.

So how do you determine what size diamond to buy? Do you want a diamond carat of 1, or 2, or do you want a ring with multiple, smaller stones? The answer to this will depend greatly on your budget, as well as the person who will be wearing the ring.

A diamond will look larger on a slender finger, so keep that in mind when buying the ring. The actual diamond carat measurement is probably not as much of a concern as the appearance, shape, and setting of the ring. Particularly because a 1 carat diamond ring will not look half the size of a 2 diamond carat ring, it's far more important to select a ring that is pleasing to look at than it is to buy one with the most carats you can afford.

Wedding Hairstyles Tip of the Day

2008-03-03T13:05:00.000-08:00

Whether you're going for a simple elopement or a grand wedding, you do want the wedding photos to be something you want to show off. And that does demand a certain attention to some details, like your hair.

If you're wearing a wedding dress, you’ll want to find just the right look for the type of gown that you’re wearing. You want a design that is going to complement your wedding dress without taking away from the whole overall look or appearing too overbearing.

If you have short hair you’ll want to add a volumizer to give you lift. Short hair looks great adorned with small accessories but once again remember not to make your hair the focus of your wedding look.

If you have longer hair there are more things that you can do such as keeping it loose and flowing or pinning it up with a few flowers that match the flowers that you’re going to be carrying.

No matter what style of hair that you choose make sure that you ask for a price ahead of time so that you know how much of your budget you need to set aside to have the perfect hairstyle.

Big Bear Lake California Weddings

2008-02-25T15:22:00.000-08:00

Big Bear Lake is a prime destination wedding spot in Southern California due to its proximity to Los Angeles and San Diego, as well as its great weather in the summer, and snow activities in the winter.

Oh, yeah, and there's the lake, which offers a beautiful backdrop for all those wedding photos you're going to want to show off to family and friends.

Where to Get Married in Big Bear

A few wedding venues you might want to consider in Big Bear and the surrounding Big Bear Lake area include:

StarGazers Inn

Star Gazers Inn is no ordinary inn, it's also an Observatory, where you can observe the night sky in all her brilliance, and enjoy presentations by NASA and other scientists. It's also fast becoming a destination for people looking to elope or have an intimate wedding under the stars. StarGazers Inn specializes in celestial-themed wedding, elopement, and vow renewal packages. When it comes time for the honeymoon, each of StarGazers guest rooms features a queen featherbed with down bedding, gas fireplace, TV, and a deep-soak candlelit spa tub for two. StarGazers Inn is open year round. Email them for more info at: info@stargazersinn.com.

Marina Resort

The Marina Resort is located right on the water, with all rooms having lake views. You can have the Marina Resort arrange all details of your wedding, or, if you like, just book the venue and make all other plans and arrangements yourselves. All couples who get married at Marina Resort get one night's stay for no additional charge. Call them at 800-601-8722 for more details.

The Knickerbocker Mansion

The Knickerbocker Mansion is a secluded 2.5 acre mountain property located just three blocks from the village of Big Bear and four blocks to Big Bear Lake. I stayed at Knickerbocker Mansion many years ago (before the current owners took over) and really enjoyed the Mansion and its location. From what I've read the current owners have renovated beautifully and offer a great setting for a wedding.

They offer summer outdoor weddings for up to 150 people and indoor winter weddings for up to 40 people. You can get more info by emailing them at knickmail@knickerbockermansion.com.

The Inn at Fawnskin

The Inn at Fawnskin is another inn located directly on Big Bear Lake, with a garden gazebo just perfect for your elopement or more formal wedding. The Inn boasts a panoramic view of Big Bear Lake, as well as the forests surrounding Big Bear. You can get more information by emailing them at info@fawnskininn.com.

Gold Mountain Manor

You can plan an intimate ceremony or larger destination wedding, with accommodations for up to 50 guests (complete with gourmet breakfast) at Gold Mountain Manor, a 1928 historic log cabin mansion bed and breakfast, which has been featured in the books, "Best Places to Kiss" and "The Fifty Most Romantic Places in Southern California." Outside weddings can accommodate up to 75 people, while indoor weddings can accommodate up to 40 people. For more information, email them at info@goldmountainmanor.com

Lake Tahoe Weddings

2008-02-13T15:05:00.000-08:00

Alpine lakes, waterfalls, trees... Lake Tahoe is truly a gem in Northern California (and Nevada). And a great place to elope or hold a destination wedding for friends and family.

Eloping in Lake Tahoe

If you wish to elope in a simple ceremony, you might want to call 888-wed-tahoe for the Lakefront Wedding Chapel Specials walk-in special rate of $499, which includes a wedding at one their elegant chapel locations, including an outdoor terrace; a professional video coverage of the ceremony on DVD or VHS (although they do reserve the right to substitute 12 photos for the video or DVD), a complimentary bottle of champagne and minister's fee. This package is for 6 people or less.

Another Lake Tahoe eloping package is the Emerald Bay Wedding Package. You and your future spouse can exchange vows at Emerald Bay, a private cliff edge location just 30 minutes from the Casino/hotel area. The fee is $475 and includes up to 15 guests and 36 professionally photographed photos of your wedding. Call 800-336-3585 for more information.

Weddings on a Ski Slope

The Heavenly Gondola is an 8-passenger car at the Heavenly ski Resort which takes you up a vertical 2.4 miles in over 12 minutes. One company will arrange for you to be married at the top of the Gondola, among the pines, or on the Observation Deck with a spectacular view of Lake Tahoe as your backdrop. The price isn't that bad: $599 saturday and sunday (plus $24 each for Gondola tickets for the bride, groom, minister, photographer and each guest); or $499 Monday through Friday (plus Gondola tickets).

Go for the Heavenly Ski Wedding package if you both are skiiers. Your ceremony will take place at this secluded spot overlooking Lake Tahoe, then you ski down the mountain as husband and wife. Prices: Saturday and Sunday: $750; Monday through Friday: $650. You will also have to pay for lift tickets for the bride, groom, minister and photographer. Limo service and flower package also extra. You can call 877-889-6379 for more information.

Lake Tahoe Casino Chapel Wedding

Though located across the state line into Nevada, you might want to check out Caesar's Hotel and Casino in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. They have an elegant wedding chapel and can handle elopements of just the two of you, to grander destination weddings of up to 150 people. Their indoor chapel features a Corinthian columns and ivory pews. They also offer an outdoor chapel with groomed gardens and a Roman fountain. Call 800-833-4422 for more information.

Lake Tahoe Hot Air Balloon Wedding

Want a little adventure with your Lake Tahoe wedding? How about getting married in a hot air balloon? Adventure Weddings has wedding packages that include all types of activities, including cycling, snowboarding, dog sledding and rock climbing. Call 530-544-6119 and ask for their Adventure Wedding Coordinator.

Lake Tahoe Yacht Wedding

How does a wedding ceremony or reception on a yacht just by yourselves, or with your closest friends and relatives sound? Woodwind Cruises offers several different yacht options to make your wedding day perfect, from yachts with a maximum of 16 passengers to a yacht with a maximum of 60 passengers, with rates beginning at $1135 for a 2-hour weekend day cruise. They also offer sunset cruises. If it was me, I'd go for the romantic sunset cruise.

You can let their wedding coordinator handle all the details for you, and can choose to be married by the Captain or a minister. You will have to have a Nevada or California marriage license. For an extra charge, you can also choose a catered reception, professional photography, as well as a video tape of the event. For more information, you can go to sailwoodwind.com/infoform.htm

FYI, I just created a page on Squidoo on eloping if you'd like to take a look: Eloping

Grass Valley Weddings

2008-02-08T11:39:00.000-08:00

Grass Valley is one of those places everyone in California should visit, and a great location for a wedding. Approximately two and a half hours north-east of San Francisco, Grass Valley is located in the Sierra Foothills, at the northern end of "Gold Country."

Of all the Gold Country locations in California, I like Grass Valley the best. I just felt it was the prettiest location, and the downtown is really quaint, with just the right amount of "touristy" shops, without feeling overly touristy. Some of the Gold Country towns feel way too touristy. (I also like Sonoma, at the southern end of "Gold country" for that same reason, although Sonoma can feel a little wild at night - what's with all the screaming from cars and trucks?) There's also alot to do in the area surrounding Grass Valley, like hiking, rafting, golfing, as well as the Gold Country attraction of mine tours and gold panning (yes, you can still get some gold up there).

Grass Valley, California Wedding Locations:

Alta Sierra Country Club
11897 Tammy Way, Grass Valley, CA
(530) 273-2041

If you like golf, then having a wedding at the Alta Sierra Country Club will feel like getting married in Heaven. You can get married outside on the golf course with the mountains as your backdrop. Fall, by the way would provide a spectacular burst of autumn colors. The golf course is open to members and non-members for weddings.

Alta Sierra Biblical Gardens
16343 Auburn Road, Grass Valley, CA
(530) 272-1363

The Alta Sierra Biblical Gardens is a retreat in the Sierra Nevada foothills, complete with a forest filled with fern, camellia, rhododendron, azalea, and dogwood, as well as creeks and a 90-foot waterfall. Run by a non-denominational organization, the Gardens include an outdoor chapel available for up to 150 people.

St. Joseph's Cultural Center
410 South Church St.
Downtown Grass Valley
(530) 272-4725

St. Joseph's Cultural Center is the site of St. Joseph's Hall, a wood building completed in 1894, used for weddings, receptions, concerts, and many other private events; as well as the Rose Garden, which has many intimate areas for smaller weddings, as well as a grand staircase for larger weddings. You can call for more information at the above number, or go to their website at www.saintjosephsculturalcenter.org.

Wedding Officiants in Grass Valley:

Sierra Wedding Ceremonies
Shawn Flynn
P.O. Box 2594
Grass Valley, CA 95945
(530) 470-0569

and

Weddings by Reverend Phillip Lanzarotta
311 Chamberlain Ave.
Auburn, CA 95604
(530) 889-0735

Go to our website for more Northern California Weddings

Northern California Coast Wedding Location

2008-02-07T13:11:00.000-08:00

Found a fabulous place on the Northern California coast for those of you looking for an intimate, beautiful location to elope just the two of you or have a larger wedding for up to 200 people.

The Sea Ranch Lodge is located on a bluff 29 miles north of Jenner, which is approximately, 3 1/2 hours drive north of San Francisco.

Your ceremony can take place in many spots surrounding the Lodge, including the a bluff overlooking a beautiful cove; Bihler’s Point with the ocean surrounding you on three sides; the Sea Ranch Chapel or a courtyard filled with flowers and old-growth trees. Their wedding packages include a wedding coordinator, officiant, photographer, and dinner in their dining room. You will, of course, want to stay in their bridal suite, which has an ocean view (as do all but one of the regular guestrooms), a fireplace, and private courtyard with your own private hot tub.

You will also be surrounded not only by the beautiful scenery, but also a vast array of activities: nearby Sonoma wineries for wine tastings, kayaking, hiking, whale watching (December through April) and three golf courses.

The Lodge itself has won numerous awards and mention by several prestigious publications. Here is just a sampling:

Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004
In-Style Magazine - Wedding Edition, June 2004
Chicago Times "Best Lodging"
AAA - 3 Diamond Rating
Zagat Survey Rated Restaurant - Very good to Excellent 2004
Sunset Magazine - Feature in Wedding Edition 2004
Bon Apetit "Ultimate destination" 1998
Sonoma Business "Best romantic getaway" 1998
Best places to Kiss "Most romantic spot" 1997
San Diego Union "Best spot for a honeymoon" 1996

You can get more information about the Sea Ranch Lodge by emailing them at inquiry@searanchlodge.com

If you want an idea of the beauty of the area, we have included this short YouTube video. Enjoy.

Las Minute Travel Deal to California

2008-01-25T09:50:00.000-08:00

This is for all of you outside of California thinking of getting married in California. What are you waiting for? Do it! And, to help out in your travel plans, I'm passing on a link for Great Deals on Last Minute Packages to California good for different California locations. This is for travel and lodging, not the wedding. But, if what you're planning is a ceremony at City Hall in San Francisco, an absolutely fabulous place, by the way, then this last-minute package can save you money on airfare and lodging.

San Francisco hotels included in this package deal include:

Westin St. Francis
Mark Hopkins
Marriot at Fisherman's Wharf
Hotel Rex

Of course, you may have to pay a little extra for hotels like the Mark Hopkins or Hotel Rex.

Other wedding destination cities included in this special deal:

Sacramento
Los Angeles
San Diego
Santa Barbara
Oakland
Wine Country (okay, that's not a city)
Palm Springs

This offer does expire Feb. 29, 2008 (that includes Valentine's Day, for all of you considering eloping on Valentine's Day). Anyway, go check it out and see if the offers appeal to you. That link again is Great Deals on Last Minute Packages to California

Cheap and Easy Los Angeles County Wedding

2008-01-24T11:39:00.000-08:00

Here's a super cheap, super easy wedding package for you if you live within Los Angeles County. The service is called Marriage To Go and they come to you, marriage license and all. That's right, if you have your ceremony in LA county they will come to you, issue you your wedding license, then marry you on the spot, as long as that spot is in LA County. They'll go outside LA County if you already have your license. So, whether it's your house, your hotel, theme park ride, jumping from a plane, etc., they'll come to you.

The charge for this service starts at $400 for weekdays, $450 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday for bride and groom only, on up to $500 for weekdays, $550 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday for 20 guests or more in attendance. They do charge for travel time and mileage surcharges if you're located more than 10 miles from their westside location in Mar Vista, as well as charges for special requests, such as skydiving. (If it was me marrying you in mid-air I'd charge a lot. But you'll have to find out from them how much extra that would be).

Or, you can go to their "Secret Garden" location in Mar Vista, where you can have an elopement ceremony for $400, which includes marriage licensing, standard civil (non-religious) ceremony, officiation, and a cup of tea.

If you already have your marriage license, they also provide civil ceremony officiation starting at $300 during the week for bride and groom only. For more information go to marriagetogo.com

Cheap Designer Wedding Dresses

2008-01-22T15:57:00.000-08:00

Want to find an inexpensive wedding gown and give to charity at the same time? Then make it out to Anaheim on Feb. 15th and 16th for the Brides Against Cancer Charity Bridal gown Sale, where you will find designer and other brand name wedding dresses at least 50% off, some going for as low as $89. Sizes range from 4-24. The admission is free, with 100% of the proceeds from sales going to the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. It's certainly a worth cause, and prices are low, so if you're getting married and need a gown, this is the event for you.

Again, that's Friday and Saturday, February 15th and 16th, 2008, from 10AM to 6PM on Friday and 11AM to 5PM on Sunday at:

Anaheim Marriott Suites Hotel
12015 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA

For more info you can email Fran at mminfo@makingmemories.org

CA Bridal Fairs for January and February

2008-01-22T15:40:00.000-08:00

There are a few Bridal Fairs coming up throughout California in January and February to tell you about:

Berkeley Bridal Fair

Sunday, January 27, 2008
Claremont Resort
41 Tunnel Road
Berkeley, CA

You'll find everything you're looking for in the Bay Area with this large Bridal Fair, which features over 550 wedding vendors. Find bridal gowns, florists, photographers and caterers who will help make your wedding perfect. Show times are 11AM to 4PM.

Ontario Bridal Fair

Saturday, February 2, 2008
Ontario Convention Center
2000 Convention Center Way
Ontario, CA

You'll find over 100 vendors to help with your wedding plans, including bakeries, gowns and tuxes, DJs, photographers and more. Time is 10AM to 4PM.

Pomona Bridal Fair

Sunday, February 17, 2008
Pomona Fairplex, Fine Arts Building, Gate 1
1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA

Come ready to sample food and cakes, as well as vendors featuring wedding fashions, accessories, photography and more. You'll also be treated to live entertainment and seminars offering wedding advice and ideas. Time is 11AM to 4PM.

Los Angeles Bridal Show

Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
Crystal & Tiffany Ballrooms
506 S. Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA

They're billing this bridal fair as "The Festival of Brides: The Upscale Bridal Show," so if you want something out of the ordinary, you'll want to attend. You'll be treated to a live showcasing of orchestras, bands and DJs, as well as food and cake tasting, and vendors offering wedding services such as invitations, flowers, limousines, jewelry, photography and wedding attire. Although billed as "upscale," tickets are only $10 at the door and $5 for online pre-registration (which can be done at festivalofbrides.com.)

Honeymoon Cruise Deal

2008-01-16T15:13:00.000-08:00

How many of you want to go on a cruise for your honeymoon? How many of you would like $250 in onboard cruise credits? Here's an opportunity for you, but it does expire on February 28, 2008. Cruises make wonderful honeymoons. They're an interesting mixture of elegance as well as adventure, depending on your shore excursions.

Anyway, here's the link for you:

Free Onboard Cruise Credit up to $250 when you book your cruise with your MasterCard

Wedding Reception Tips

2008-01-11T13:00:00.000-08:00

Unless you're having a small destination wedding, or eloping, you probably are tearing your hair out planning your wedding reception. On our sister site about Wedding Planning, we have added some new pages which deal specifically with planning your wedding reception.

And, as you probably already know, one of the most talked about aspects of any wedding reception is the menu. People love to eat and if they are invited to a wedding reception, one of the things they will usually be most excited about is the food. What's a bride to do? Go to our site and read about wedding reception food, that's what!

Okay, while we're on the topic of food at your wedding reception; another concern of yours is how to pick the best wedding caterer. Don't worry! Go and read about choosing a wedding catering service at our other site. We have the questions you should ask, as well as tips on choosing a certified personal chef instead of a regular caterer.

Wedding Caterers in Southern California

2008-01-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

Planning a future wedding in Southern California and need a caterer? Maybe you'd like to know of some award-winning caterers for your wedding throughout Southern California. We've searched and found some award winners which can help in your wedding plans:

Southern California - Best Caterers

Cannoli Kings
7316 Varna Ave
North Hollywood, CA
310-770-6753

was voted #1 Best Caterer in 2007 by CitySearch.com readers

Crustacean Euro Vietnamese Cuisine
9646 Little Santa Monica Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA
310-205-8990

voted #2 Best Caterer in 2007 by CitySearch.com readers

Joan's on Third Catering
8350 W Third St.
Los Angeles, CA
323) 655-2285

voted Best Caterer in 2007 by CitySearch.com editorial

Pat & Oscar's
Numerous Locations in San Diego

was Voted 'Best Catering' by readers of the San Diego Union-Tribune

Green Acres Catering
2918 Los Angeles Avenue
Simi Valley, CA 93065
805-522-7038

has been consecutively voted Best Catering by the readers of The Daily News.

Elopement Package in Napa Valley

2008-01-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

Eloping to Napa Valley? If you don't already have your plans solidified, let me suggest an elopement package at a 125-year-old mansion in Napa Valley.

Churchill Manor in Napa Valley is a bed and breakfast built in 1889, and within easy walking distance to downtown Napa. They offer beautiful gardens, croquet on the south lawn, a grand piano in the music room, as well as tandem bikes to their guests for rides into Napa. And, they offer wedding packages as well as elopement packages.

Churchill Manor offers two elopement packages. The packages cover the bride and groom and 4 guests, although for an additional $25 per person, you can have up to 18 guests.

Elopement Package #1:

It's called the Simply Elegant Package and starts at $1,250. It includes

• Wedding Coordination

• Two-night stay for the bride and groom

• A ceremony location -- you can choose the grand parlors, on the
rotunda of the verandas, or in the gardens

• Officiant

• Wedding Bouquet and Boutonnière

• Wedding cake

• Champagne Toast with Napa Valley sparkling wine

Elopement Package #2:

It's called the Ultimate Intimate Package and starts at $3,500. It's the same as the above package except bride and groom receive a three-night stay, as well as the following additions:

• Professional Wedding Photography

• In-room massage for two

• A $250.00 Gift Certificate toward a gourmet dining experience at one of Napa's top restaurants

• Six-hour wine country limousine tour, including wine tastings and
gourmet picnic lunch

• Two logo Churchill Manor robes, two logo champagne flutes, Napa Valley
bubbly (750ml), and Napa Valley chocolate truffles

While in Napa you will want to take advantage of all that the vineyards and wineries have to offer, including tastings, as well as the view, which is best seen overhead in a hot-air balloon. There are also numerous golf courses in the area if one or both of you are into golf.

To find out more information about the elopement package at Churchhill Manor, call them at 800-799-7733.

Lake Tahoe Boat Wedding

2007-12-29T11:56:00.000-08:00

There's nothing more romantic as a boat wedding. Oh, wait, yes there is. A boat wedding on beautiful Lake Tahoe, California.

How does a wedding ceremony or reception on a yacht just by yourselves, or with your closest friends and relatives sound?

The company is Woodwind Cruises and they offer several different yacht options to make your wedding day perfect, from yachts with a maximum of 16 passengers to a yacht with a maximum of 60 passengers, with rates beginning at $1135 for a 2-hour weekend day cruise. They also offer sunset cruises. If it was me, I'd go for the romantic sunset cruise.

You can let their wedding coordinator handle all the details for you, and can choose to be married by the Captain or a minister. You will have to have a Nevada or California marriage license. For an extra charge, you can also choose a catered reception, professional photography, as well as a video tape of the event.

The yachts are designed for comfort, with glass-bottom viewing windows, sound system and full-service bar, which serves beer, white wine, champagne and soft drinks.

For more information, you can email them at http://www.sailwoodwind.com/infoform.htm

Here's a YouTube video of Lake Tahoe to give you an idea of what Lake Tahoe has to offer. The video is not associated with Woodwind Cruises.

Weddings in Pacific Grove California

2007-12-17T11:00:00.000-08:00

Lover's Point in Pacific Grove has been called one of the "One of the top 10 most romantic places in America" by Sunset Magazine, and is the perfect place for an elopement ceremony or larger wedding. With such an expansive view of the Pacific Ocean, it's easy to see why this is such a sought-after spot for couples to tie the knot.

Not familiar with Pacific Grove? It's a beautiful little town in the Monterey Peninsula, sometimes overshadowed by nearby Monterey and Carmel.

When I visit the Monterey area I always stay in Pacific Grove because it's less crowded and less commercial than Monterey, but close enough to go visit Monterey and the surrounding areas and do the touristy things like drive the 17-Mile Drive or visit Pebble Beach. Also, it's home to my all-time favorite restaurant, Fifi's, 1188 Forest Ave.

You will need a permit to hold your wedding in Lover's Point, which you can get by calling the Pacific Grove Recreation Department at (831) 648-5730.

There are other romantic spots in Pacific Grove for your wedding as well, such as Jewell Park, close to Lover's Point, where you can have your ceremony in the Gazebo. Jewell Park also requires a permit, which you can get by calling the above number. There is a fee for permits to either Pacific Grove or Lover's Point.

If you're looking for a free spot on the beach in Pacific Grove, you might want to choose Asilomar State Beach, where you will also find a gazebo perfect for your wedding. As I recall it can get a little windy.

As for wedding packages, Centrella Bed & Breakfast Inn will put together a wedding package for you with a ceremony in their garden or at Lover's Point. For more informaiton call them at 800-653-5495 or email them at Reserve@CentrellaInn.com

Though I don't have specific knowlege of wedding officiants or wedding planners in the area, I have found a couple names you might want to contact:

Wedding Coordinator:

A Bayside Wedding: email at abaysidewedding@aol.com

Officiant:

Weddings in Paradise, Reverend Mery Ann Meagher at m_meagher@sbcglobal.net

Photo of Lover's Point by David Goehring, http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/ under a Creative Commons License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Wedding Venues in Oakland CA

2007-12-08T10:38:00.000-08:00

Looking for a wedding venue in the San Francisco Bay Area? Why not consider Oakland, which has many wonderful public park areas from which to choose?

Lakeside Park Garden Center
Inside Lakeside Park (Lake Merritt)
666 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland

Amenities include an industrial kitchen with a commercial coffeemaker, Japanese Garden and Koi Pond, an upright piano and herb and flower gardens.

Lake Merritt Sailboat House
Inside Lakeside Park (Lake Merritt)
568 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland

Amenities include floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as a balcony offering spectacular views of Lake Merritt. You also get a kitchen with commercial coffeemaker.

Morcom Rose Garden
Located near Grand Avenue
700 Jean Street, Oakland

Do you like roses? That's what you'll get with this venue, also referred to as the Morcom Amphitheater of Roses. Now, any venue calling itself an amphitheater of roses is going to be beautiful and fragrant. And, it is, with over 6,000 plants and 300 varieties of roses throughout the eith-acre rose garden. The rose bushes bloom May through September, and the garden is available for weddings from Mother's Day through October31.

Great photo opps abound in this place, with all the roses, as well as a 10-tier waterfall on the western hillside. No wonder this place is a favorite spot for weddings in Oakland.

For rental rates of all the above facilities, including some in the Parks and Recreation Department I didn't include can be found here: Rental Rates

Are there venues in Oakland other than in the public parks? Of course, wonderful spots.

Historic Sweets Ballroom
1933 Broadway, Oakland
for info email Steve@HistoricSweetsBallroom.com

A 900 person, ballroom-style, 12,000 square foot venue, which can accommodate 450 people for a sit-down reception style dinner.

Waterfront Plaza Hotel
Ten Washington St.
Info@WaterfrontPlaza.com

With great views of the San Francisco Bay, the Waterfront Plaza Hotel offers couples full wedding services, with a pooside ceremony for $650, a water-view banquet room for $500, lunch or dinner, dance floor, and complimentary overnight stay for the bride and groom with a minimum of 75 guests.

Castle Weddings in California

2007-11-29T10:12:00.000-08:00

Looking for a fairy-tale wedding? Don't be shy, of course you are. Of course, one woman's fairy-tale wedding might be different from another woman's fairy-tale wedding, but, for many women a fairy-tale wedding has to involve a castle. And a horse-drawn carriage would be nice, too.

But, let's face it, most castles are located in Europe, and the costs of a European wedding add up quickly. So, what's a gal to do who wants a castle wedding in California? We have a few suggestions for you.

The Enchanted Forest

The Enchanted Forest is a private estate located about fifty miles from San Diego, between San Diego and Los Angeles, and comes complete with Guinevere's Castle and Merlin's Tower, not to mention swans, ponds and a secret garden. (And, no, it's not the above photo) Not only are you able to get married in a castle, but you're in a great spot in southern California to enjoy some things which are quintessential California: the wineries of nearby Temecula, beaches which are relatively close by, and hot air ballooning over some of the prettiest scenery in Southern California.

Getting married in The Enchanted Forest is a fairy tale wedding with great photo ops as well, with a bridge, lake and waterfalls. And, if you like grand entrances (this is a fairy-tale wedding after all), you can choose a wedding package which allows you to make your entrance by a horse-drawn carriage.

The owners of the estate only allow several marriages on the castle grounds each season, so if this appeals to you, contact them as soon as possible. You can get more info by emailing them at info@enchantedforestweddings.com or call 760-451-8683. I believe they allow weddings May through October, but they can give you more detailed info.

Other California Castles to Consider for Weddings:

Sleeping Beauty's Castle - Disneyland

I'm going to be perfectly honest. Getting married at an icon of childhood doesn't appeal to me. But, it certainly does appeal to a lot of women, as getting married at Disneyland is quite a popular wedding destination. And, yes, you can arrive in a horse-drawn carriage - Cinderella's Coach. If the idea of getting married at Sleeping Beauty's Castle lights your fire (see above photo), then go for it. But, do it early as the Castle is reserved months ahead. (Photo by Jessie Barber, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessiebarber/815241825/ , under a Creative Commons License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en )

Castle Green - Pasadena

Is it really a castle? Well, maybe not, but it's called "Castle Green" and that's good enough for me. And, it too is popular for a wedding venue, as well as a setting for numerous film projects shooting in the Pasadena area. It was built in 1898 (old by California standards) to serve as the annex for the famous Hotel Green, and is a seven-story structure built in the Moorish Colonial and Spanish style. It's also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. If you choose this venue you will enjoy Victorian interiors, a ballroom to accomodate 425 people standing or dancing, 220 if seated, as well as a venue close to Old Town Pasadena, which is a perfect base for out-of-town guests. If you want something smaller and cozier, you can also choose their Sunroom for you and a few guests. For more info you can email them at events@castlegreen.com.

"The Castle" at Ledson Winery - Sonoma County

Did you think I'd forget about Northern California? Here's another venue which isn't really a castle, but is built in the French Normandy style, and known in the area (and the world they say) as "The Castle." The 16,000 square foot building, just an hours drive from San Francisco, houses the Ledson Winery and, if you are a wine club member, available for private events such as weddings. Don't worry, if you become a wine club member you aren't signing up to drink crappy wine you ordinarily wouldn't buy. Ledson wines are fabulous! You'll be doing yourself a favor by trying this wine. Once you try it you will have it again and again. For more info on joining the wine club and reserving your space in "The Castle," go to ledson.com.

As you will see if you read the comment that accompanies this post, Ledson Winery no longer hosts weddings. I emailed the events person at Ledson (through their contact email on their website) to check on this, but my email came back as "udeliverable." Thank you to the commenter for bringing this to my attention.

Hearst Castle - San Simeon, CA

Almost forgot Hearst Castle. I have a separate page on weddings at Hearst Castle, along with a YouTube video at http://californiaweddings.blogspot.com/2007/08/hearst-castle-wedding.html, but here's some basic information. Yes, you can have weddings at Hearst Castle. but it will it'll cost you $7,500 to reserve the Castle for 1 to 50 people for up to 3 hours, $15,000 for parties larger than 50 people or for weddings lasting longer than 3 hours.

Korean Friendship Bell - San Pedro CA

2007-11-26T10:58:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of the Korean Friendship Bell, a location in San Pedro, California, where many couples hold their wedding ceremonies. See info below.

Cheap Los Angeles Area Wedding

2007-11-26T10:47:00.000-08:00

Visited San Pedro over the weekend and found some inexpensive places to hold your wedding in the Los Angeles area. San Pedro is located about 20 miles south of Los Angeles, and has some spectacular oceanside locations where you can tie the knot with million-dollar views and still keep within your budget. As an added plus, San Pedro is also home to the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center, where many major cruise ships embark on cruises to Baja and other points of interest. Great for your honeymoon!

What are some spectacular places you can get married on the cheap?

Averill Park

Great park with streams, ponds and waterfalls. There's also a gazebo and bridge perfect for ceremonies. There is a small fee, so contact them at 310-548-7671 for more information.

Pt. Fermin Park

37 landscaped acres, along with rugged bluffs, provides incredible vies of the Pacific Ocean toward Santa Catalina Island. The photo above shows the view which could be the backdrop for your wedding photos.

Korean Friendship Bell

In close proximity to Pt. Fermin Park, the bell and pavilion was donated to the people of Los Angeles in 1976 by the people of the Republic of Korea. The Bell honors veterans of the Korean War, and is also popular with wedding parties for the dramatic views.

The Destination Wedding Experts provide wedding and elopement packages at Averill Park and The Korean Friendship Bell starting at $375, which includes the Minister, marriage license, one certified copy and music at the location. Or, you can choose the Deluxe Package for $775, which includes flowers for the bride and groom, 20-photo wedding album, cake, cake topper, and cider in champagne glasses (alcohol is prohibited at the Korean Friendship Bell and Averill Park. You can call them at 310-325-3930 for more info, or visit their website at instantlywed.com. They also provide a special "wedding before cruise" package which will marry you and deliver you to your cruise ship in time for embarkation.

Cheap Wedding Invitations

2007-11-15T10:13:00.000-08:00

Whichever place you choose in California to have your wedding, you'll probably be interested in saving money on your wedding invitations. Sometimes it's the little things that add up in planning a wedding, and wedding invitations are no exception. But, you can save yourself a chunk of change by doing your wedding invitations yourself on your computer using Wedding invitation templates. There are many places online to find cheap or even free wedding invitation templates. Here are a few places you might consider:

http://www.southworth.com/page.php?id=128

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT101447801033.aspx

http://www.paperalchemy.com/free-templates.htm

Another alternative is to purchase an invitation template software program. One product specifically designed for wedding invitations is PrintingPress Wedding Software for wedding and shower invitations, which works with any stationery and includes fonts and graphics, and allows you to use predesigned templates or design your own template, using clipart or your own photos. This software even includes tracking, which allows you to keep track of RSVPs and gifts you receive. You can purchase this software at Amazon for $29.99. Or, you can go to mountaincow.com, which is the software company. They also put out a line of general invitation software, which you might want for any other future invitations.

If you're not put off by sending your invitations by email, you can also go to evite.com and send invitations by email. They say they're free, though I've never used them before, so don't know if there's a catch. But, you might want to give them a try if you're into sending invitations by email.

Meaning of Wedding Traditions

2007-11-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder where some of the common wedding traditions came from?

For example, why is there a "Best Man?" Someone to help plan the bachelor party? Not quite. You see, in days long ago (yeah, before you were born) it was common for the groom to kidnap his potential bride and force her to marry him. We don't do that anymore. Now we have "The Bachelor." Anyway, way back in the kidnapping days, the groom would take along the best man he could find to help him capture his bride. The groomsmen were also at the ready to help capture her and prevent her family from rescuing her.

Kidnapping the bride also led to the tradition of the honeymoon. The groom would take his new bride into hiding to prevent her family from taking her back. Presumably, by the time her family tracked her down she would already be pregnant with the groom's child.

Thank God for the ancient Greeks who brought love into the marriage equation. It was they who began the tradition of the wedding ring, as they believed the "vein of love" led directly from the third finger to the heart. So, they used wedding bands to symbolize love.

What about carrying the bride over the threshold? Back in the day it was believed that if the bride stumbled or tripped while going into the new house they would all be cursed with bad luck. So, to be on the safe side, the groom would carry her into the new house. Woe to the groom with a bad back.

Finally, what about "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in your shoe" on her wedding day.

Something old symbolizes the connection the bride has with her family and with her past. Usually the bride wears a piece of jewelry that belonged to her mother or grandmother.

Something new symbolizes the wish for good luck and prosperity in the couples' future together.

The something borrowed should be an item worn by a happy bride at her wedding. The hope is that some of the luck and happiness will rub off on the new bride.

Something blue comes from biblical times when the color blue was a symbol of loyalty and faithfulness.

Placing a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe was a sign of wealth. It is also a symbol of the hope that the young couple will experience financial wealth. Today many brides substitute a penny in place of the sixpence.

Wedding in Temecula

2007-11-07T12:04:00.000-08:00

Yeah, yeah, another wedding video. But, if you're interested in a wedding in the Temecula wine country, you might be interested in this video of a wedding at Lake Oak Meadows in Temecula. If you like a grand entrance, you might like the horse and carriage which brings the bride to her groom. If you like what you see you might visit their site at lakeoakmeadows.com.

Temecula is south of Los Angeles and, though not as well known as some of the other wine regions, is quite lovely.

Yosemite Wedding

2007-10-29T13:59:00.000-07:00

Saw this little video on YouTube. Yes, it's an ad, but you might find it interesting if you're looking for wedding venues in the vicinity of Yosemite and Central California. It's the Sierra Meadows Country Club, located near Oakhurst, just miles from Yosemite National Park and Bass Lake, featuring a year-round, 18-hole golf course.

They have indoor and outdoor locations to choose from for up to 200 guests, and, as a special treat, you and your wedding party can play golf at a special rate of $30 per round, including your cart, anytime before or on the day of your wedding. So, you can go golfing right after the "I Dos" or, even have a golfing bachelor party.

Anyway, have a look at the video and see if this venue would appeal to you.

Weddings in Malibu

2007-10-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

Our thoughts and prayers go with the families affected by the Malibu fire, which started yesterday, October 21, 2007.

Today fires are raging all around Southern California, which serves as a reminder to all of you considering future weddings in Malibu that during fire season Malibu is particularly vulnerable to wildfires. When planning your Malibu wedding, it's good to remember that Santa Anna winds can be particular deadly in October, and that some of the most destructive wildfires have occurred in October. You might want to take that into consideration when planning your future Malibu wedding. Info on weddings in Malibu and other parts of Southern California can be found at http://www.locationweddings.net/Southern_California_Wedding.html

Again, we extend our prayers to the Malibu families, as well as the families affected by all the other wildfires across Southern California.

Elope to Los Angeles

2007-10-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles receives 5 stars from Mobile Travel Guide, and was named by them as "Best Hotel for Romantic Getaway in Los Angeles"? It was, which is one reason why you should consider eloping to Los Angeles and having your honeymoon at the Hotel Bel Air. Another reason is that it was ranked #11 out of "Top 100 Hotels in Continental U.S. and Canada" by Travel + Leisure in 2006.

If you want to keep your "weddingmoon" from breaking the bank, you can have a simple elopement ceremony with just the two of you at one of many different Los Angeles locations, including several beach locations, and still enjoy a luxurious honeymoon at the Bel Air.

There are many different officates around LA you can contact who know different ceremony venues to suggest, such as "The Offiant Guy" who says he's an "elopement specialist" who performs elopement ceremonies anywhere, even at a Starbucks! Hey, why not have a less-expensive ceremony and save for a romantic honeymoon at the Bel Air? (You can reach "The Officiant Guy" at (310) 493-3663 or email him at OffcntGuy@aol.com).

If you want to really save money on a ceremony (so you can spend it on the honeymoon), you can always get married at one of the many government offices and Courthouses offering civil ceremonies, including the offices of the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk in Beverly Hills at 9355 Burton Way. They offer ceremonies on Thurday, by appointment - call (310) 288-1261. The best part is the fee for the civil ceremony is only $25. That means more money on the fun part - the honeymoon!

The Bel Air has a Celebration Package which includes:

* Accommodations in a Grand Deluxe Guestroom with fireplace and garden patio.
* Bottle of chilled Champagne
* Continental Breakfast for two

Cost:

Grand Deluxe: $575 (Sun-Thu), $600 (Fri/Sat)
Garden Suite: $975 (Sun-Thu), $1,025 (Fri/Sat)

They also have a Fall Special going on as well, which includes:

* Continental Breakfast
* Welcome bottle of wine

Cost:

Premium King: $375 (Sun-Thu), $425 (Fri-Sat)
Deluxe King: $475 (Sun-Thu), $525 (Fri-Sat)
Deluxe one-bedroom suite: $795 (Sun-Thu), $875 (Fri-Sat)

This special is valid from September 3rd to December 21st, 2007.

Want more wedding ideas in California? Go to Weddings in California.