Cheers To You!

We moved!

2010-01-25T19:28:00.000-08:00

Our blog moved to www.cheerstoyouevents,com/blog We look forward to seeing you there!

Cheers To You!

Marla Lackey | Cheers To You Events

www.cheerstoyouevents.com | marla@cheerstoyouevents.com

call us at 949.481.KISS (5477) | meet us in Laguna Niguel, California

Memberships and Certifications | ABC - Here Comes The Guide - IWCA

www.cheerstoyouevents.com/blog

www.twitter.com/marlalackey

See Our Wedding on TLC's A Wedding Story
Selected as one of the Top 5 OC Wedding Planners, by Fox 11
Published in Orange Coast, Here Comes The Guide, LA Style Unveiled, OC Metro, Celebrations, & more...

Cheers To Trend Media

2009-06-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

Do you know Jeremy and Chandra from Trend Media? If not, you should! Not only are they fabulous videographers, but Jeremy is an I.T. genius (and I need LOTS of help), their videos are incredible, and they are a really nice couple too. :)

Check out their videos at trendmedia.tv

(888) 80-TREND (949) 534-1337 info@trendmedia.tv

Cheers To Prom

2009-06-07T16:18:00.001-07:00

Caren L, the owner of Design Visage and Jen K from Jen K Floral are good friends of mine so when my daughter was asked to go to the prom, Caren offered to do my daughter's hair and make up and Jen brought the flowers. I promised my daughter that I would not show the 'before' pics :) but here are a couple after shots. They are both amazing wedding vendors, and they do a beautiful job for prom too.

Many thanks to Jen K & Design Visage, Cheers To both of You!

Cheers To Donuts

2009-06-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

It is National Donut Day. who knew? Then again, I haven't had a donut in 25 years, other than the 1 time I tried a Krispy Kreme:). My very first job was at a Donut store, and I've had enough to last me a life time...

Enjoy a free one at these locations.

Cheers To Cheryl and Josh!

2009-06-04T11:44:00.001-07:00

Cheers To Cheryl and Josh!

I love it when the sun comes out just for my bride & groom, and that's exactly what happened for Cheryl and Josh. They brought their family and closest friends from Washington DC and Maryland to Southern California for a beautiful St. Regis wedding. What a perfect celebration they had, the sun was shining, the bride was radiant, and the groom was as sweet as can be. Everyone knows how I love the Botanical Garden at St. Regis and I was lucky enough to work with Dawn from Jim Kennedy photographers and the amazing Nisie from Enchanted Floral. I happily ran into a couple of my favorite videographers, Chandra and Jeremy Miner, and of course working with the fab St. Regis duo Kelly and Christina is always a pleasure. Here is a sample of the wedding photos, for more, see Dawn's blog. Cheers To You Cheryl & Josh, and I'm so glad the cake top made it across the nation. in one piece :)

Cheers To Jobynas Bridal

2009-05-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

Did someone say trunk show?

Jobyna’s Bridal is a full service, specialty bridal salon featuring exquisite bridal gowns, sophisticated formalwear, classic tuxedos, and unique accessories. As a full-service salon we offer several bridal packages and promotions to help you and your bridal party every step of the way. Jobyna’s Bridal brings together the traditional styles of yesterday, the modern styles of today, and the progressive styles of tomorrow to create treasured memories. Jobyna’s Bridal: Celebrating love and marriage for over thirty years… Call today for an appointment: (818)248-0026 Jobyna's Bridal-Voted by The Knot as "best bridal salon" in the South. Click here for upcoming events: http://www.jobynasbridal.com/events.html

3325 N. Verdugo Rd. Glendale, CA 91208
Tel:	(818) 248-0026
Fax:	(818) 248-0244
E-mail:	info@Jobynasbridal.com
Hours of Operation:	M-F 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun 10 a.m.-5 p.m. By Appointment Only.

Cheers To Christian Lacroix

2009-05-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

Christian Lacroix Files for Bankruptcy -- Get Your Gowns Quick!

Cheers To Video!

2009-05-29T07:51:00.001-07:00

Everyone knows I'm a fan of wedding videos, this one takes the cake!

Cheers To Wedding Day

2009-05-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

From the Orange County Register http://www.ocregister.com/articles/wedding-couples-budget-2397555-orange-casting

Getting hitched? New show wants to help, and film you

'Wedding Day' is seeking O.C. engaged couples in need.

By RICHARD CHANG

The Orange County Register

Attention lovebirds: Are you planning to get married this summer or fall, but need to scale back on your dream wedding because of these tough economic times?

You may be in luck. "Wedding Day," a new prime-time reality TV series premiering June 16 on TNT, is seeking to cast inspirational Orange County couples for its upcoming season.

Teachers, real-life heroes, survivors, volunteers, social workers and charity workers are encouraged to apply. Also, couples who have had to downgrade or delay their wedding plans because of job loss, injury, illness or deployment are especially sought.

The show – produced by heavy hitters Mark Burnett Productions ("Survivor," "The Apprentice") and DreamWorks Television – is also accepting nominations. If you know of a couple who are too busy helping others out to pay attention to their own needs, consider nominating them.

Applicants should send a brief paragraph about their situation, or another couple's situation, the current wedding budget, a recent photo of the couple in jpeg format, plus contact information to WeddingDay@markburnettprod.com. Applications must be sent by May 15.

According to casting director Charisse Simonian, the show is specifically seeking Orange County couples, since it has already shot a number of Los Angeles-based episodes.

"We don't want to over-utilize our L.A. vendors," she said. "We're looking for really deserving couples in Orange County. We want to make really good dreams come true."

Ideally, the wedding should be planned between July and November. The casting director added that applicants should not already have a $60,000-plus wedding budget.

"We're looking for somebody that is on a budget, or had to cut back drastically due to unforeseen circumstances such as deployment or job loss."

Couples may be asked to make a casting video with friends and family. They should also be prepared to have their wedding recorded and shown on national television.

To view a promo of "Wedding Day," go to www.tnt.tv/dramavision/?oid=47477

Contact the writer: 714-796-6026 or rchang@ocregister.com

Cheers To Christie and Nate

2009-04-20T11:08:00.001-07:00

Cheers To Christie and Nate!

What a lovely day for a lovely couple! Christie and Nate had such great ideas, starting with their wedding venue: Casa Romantica (a personal favorite wedding venue of mine). All the way down to the last detail, Christie and Nate did an incredible job planning from New York. Their colors were lime green and brown, and they put it together beautifully. They hired the talented Chenin Boutwell who not only takes incredible images, but posts them in lightening speed time. I was able to work with Pete Goslow again, who is an awesome guitarist, and an overall team player. Speaking of teams, thanks to the great team at 24 Carrots, and especially to Dustin Miller. We had a lot of fun designing this wedding with the happy couple. Here's hoping your wedding day is the first of many, many wonderful celebrations together!

Cheers To You!

Cheers To "Cheers To You!"

2009-04-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

'09 Best Wedding Planner

There were 31,047 insider voters in the 2009 My Fox LA Hot list contest.

Cheers To You Events placed in the Top 5 in the Best Wedding Planner category.

Cheers To Youth!

2009-04-03T17:11:00.001-07:00

A little girl went to a wedding. After the ceremony she asked her mother why the bride changed her mind. "What do you mean?" responded her mother. "Well, she went down the aisle with one man, and came back with another."

Cheers To Jaclyns Bridal

2009-03-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

(part 9 of 9 ... the finale, finally :)

Mindy Chung, the owner of Jaclyn's Bridal, and I have known each other for years. We worked together for TLC's A Wedding Story and did some filming in her bridal salon. We became fast friends and small world that it is, my husband did the fire inspection for her salon, so in return, I took her for an inspection of his firehouse. Good times! :) Mindy is super busy designing and creating, so she isn't at her bridal salon as often as in years past, but her staff is helpful and they certainly know their stuff. Jaclyn's Bridal offers: BRIDAL GOWNS BRIDESMAIDS MOTHERS & FORMAL WEAR QUINCEANERA & PAGEANT DRESSES ACCESSORIES FLOWER GIRLS & JR. BRIDESMAIDS SHOES SLIPS, BRAS & LINGERIE ALTERATIONS CLEANING & PRESERVATION Talk about full service wedding and special event planning!

To recap, here is a list of the wedding salons, venues, services, etc. that were so wonderful to share their wedding knowledge, expertise and services with us. Many thanks and very many Cheers To You!

Cheers To Maggianos

2009-03-29T09:35:00.000-07:00

(part 8 of 9)

The limo brought us from Erin Cole to Maggianos for lunch. The manager, Victor Bidarian, went out of his way to make sure our group of wedding planners was well taken care of. I've been to Maggianos many times, with both small and large groups, and the service (and food) is always top notch, this was no exception. There are several banquet rooms that you can have your rehearsal dinner (or small wedding) in. Contact Gina Geisbauer, the banquet sales manager, she is as helpful and sweet as can be and both Gina and Victor treat you like family. The 'tag line' on their business card is: "Our passion is making people feel special" and they certainly accomplished that. They treated us as if we were guests in their homes. The food was as good as their hospitality. Make sure to try the calamari, eggplant parmigiana, Maggianos chopped salad and any (or every) dessert on the menu.

Cheers To Erin Cole

2009-03-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

(part 7 of 9)

Erin Cole is a leading manufacture in the bridal industry and has been dressing brides all over the US for over 15 years. She designs bridal jewelry and accessories: one part vintage, one part chic, Erin’s pieces are timeless, yet filled with modern style. This couture boutique salon reflects the style Erin Cole is famous for. Bridal gowns start at $2500 and can quickly reach $10,000, each one has its own WOW Factor and the bridal veils and accessories are just as amazing. Tara Toth was kind enough to educate us about their shop, she knows her stuff! (She also has the most amazing diamond ring I may have ever seen, and having coordinated weddings for over a dozen years, I've seen quite a few.) Visit Erin Cole online or call to make an appointment. The salon, like Tara and like Erin Cole, is classy through and through.

Cheers To Where's the Party

2009-03-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

(part 6 of 9)

From The White Dress, we went to Where's the Party and were graciously welcomed by Candy Hirte, the owner and Stacey Mora, one of her amazing and knowledgeable consultants. Candy is friends with the family of one of my all time favorite brides, Christina (check out Christina & Dave's Ritz Carlton wedding here: ...and just a couple photos from their ocean front wedding below:and I can see why the two families are friends: Nice people attract nice people!

Walking into Where's The Party, I felt like a kid in a candy store. There was so much to look at, I had a hard time concentrating on all the savings and opportunities they were telling us about (like the $100.00 gift certificate that any Cheers To You client can use towards their invitation purchase) . I could have spent the rest of the afternoon at the store, perusing, shopping, looking at all of the delightful items, talk about party supplies & decor for every season and every reason. There is so much fun and new stuff, it makes you (ok, me) want to throw a party every day of the week!

Oh, they have the largest selection of invitations I've ever seen too :) Wall to wall, top to bottom, if you want it, Where's The Party will have it or create it for you. Service with a smile!

Cheers To The White Dress

2009-03-29T08:20:00.000-07:00

(part 5 of 9)

From Flower Fusion / Mon Amie, we were driven to The White Dress in Corona del Mar. Ok, now we are talking. This is my kind of store. The ladies there were so helpful and sweet and gave us the nicest tour. I can only imagine that they treat my brides the same way, they were genuine and fun and just down to earth. I love that when a bride purchases her dress, they pop open a bottle of bubbly (Cheers To You!) and the bride writes a wish on the cork and drops in into one of the many cork vases they have throughout the store.

The White Dress bridal salon has Sue Wong dresses that are under $1000 and they are the only bridal boutique in O.C. that offers the Priscilla Boston line. If you go there, make an appointment with Colleen Whitson, she is one of the nicest bridal stylist in town!

They are also having a trunk show coming up, visit their website for details at www.thewhitedress.com

Cheers To Flower Fusion

2009-03-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

(part 4 of 9)

The owner of Jason Kenneth and I did lots of weddings over the years, including a wedding that I coordinated which appeared on TLC's A Wedding Show (see TLC video here and photos here), and here are a couple of my favorites from the day:When my friend Hadley moved to Las Vegas and sold his shop to Jan Wilder, I began working with her, it was such a smooth transition as Jan is a true professional. She changed the name to Flower Fusion, and redecorated the store, it's definitely worth dropping in and saying hello. Check out one of the weddings Jan and I designed together when she first moved here: Lauren and Josh at the Hyatt and here are a few of my favorite floral pictures from one of my favorite couples, Lauren and Josh's wedding at the Hyatt Regency, Hungtington Beach Jan is an amazing wedding florist, her boutique salon is warm and welcoming, just like she is! Check her out at www.flowerfusion.net

The White Dress is next, stay tuned...

Cheers To Mon Amie

2009-03-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

(part 3 of 9)

We arrived by limo at our first destination, Mon Amie, but apparently they forgot they had an appointment to show the 9 of us their salon before the store opened, so there were some blank stares going on the first few minutes. The store manager decided to give us a tour of the store, and wow, Mon Amie is HUGE. I have driven past the bridal salon 1000 times and even popped in there years ago (but then they started charging for visits so I didn't go back). They no longer charge for visits, but they do ask that you only go two times and then make your decision. That being said, there is plenty to choose from, the selection is amazing. I know many brides have found their dream dresses at Mon Amie, and the consultants are very knowledgeable. Dresses start at around $2500 and go up from there. The back area of the store has the sale section with dresses under $1000. Their next trunk show is this weekend, Platinum Trunk Show on March 27th - 29th, 2009

Their March madness sale includes a free Ralph Lauren tuxedo (to keep, not just to rent) with the purchase of a wedding gown. Check out their trunk show and visit their website for details www.monamie.com

Next post ... my friends at Flower Fusion (formerly Jason Kenneth Designs)

Cheers To Sky's the Limit

2009-03-28T08:41:00.000-07:00

(part 2 of 9)

Sky's the Limi Limousine Service (www.skysthelimitlimo.com) picked us up for our bridal salon tour. We had so much fun, how can you go wrong with 9 of the top wedding planners in Orange County, champagne, and early morning pastries, and a limo! Sky's The Limit has a great selection of cars including:

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Limo

Lincoln Town Car

Custom Stretch Limousine

Custom Excursion

Excursion Super Stretch Limousine

and the white Chrysler 300c Stretch Limo which is the car we were chauffeured around town in:

The driver laid out the red carpet for the 9 of us and our day began...

See next post for our experience at Mon Amie

Cheers To Bridal Tours

2009-03-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

Cheers To Bridal Tours (a nine part series)

(part 1 of 9)

Earlier this week a group of OC wedding coordinators got together for a day filled with wedding gowns, invitations, and more. We were escorted by limo throughout Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, yes, life can be rough. We had a private tour of four of of OC's most talked about wedding dress salons: Mon Amie, The White Dress, Erin Cole, and Jaclyn's Bridal.

We started off meeting by South Coast Plaza and Erin Dye of Upstage Cakes met us there. Erin is a new wedding cake baker in town,..new in town, but she has been in the business for years. Her prices start at $6 a slice and all cake prices include delivery.

She has an expansive array of flavors, amazing designs for both wedding and other occasion cakes, and from the few minutes we spent chatting, I'm guessing she is delightful to work with.

Check out her work at www.upstagecakes.blogspot.com She brought us mini cakes in about 18 different flavors and styles, and don't think that we didn't eat (and enjoy) every bite! Here are a couple photos of her work, with my favorite, the RED cake:See next post for information about the limo company that graciously drove us around town.

Cheers To LA Style

2009-03-27T07:07:00.001-07:00

From the March 27, 2009 issue of LA STYLE UNVEILED

Today's wedding was submitted by Meghan Aileen Photography. Cyndie and Mark had a true California style wedding, complete with sparkling blue water and green palm trees. Their wedding was held at the luxurious Surf and Sand Hotel in Laguna Beach and their wedding coordinator, Marla of Cheers to You Events tells us the day was "a celebration of the love, affection, and friendship between the beautiful couple and their wonderful families. There wasn't a dry eye in the room during the toasts, dances, or when the groom serenaded the bride. Classic and genuine, from start to finish."

When asked what made this couple such fun to photograph, Meghan Aileen said they were "so considerate towards each other, and such a wonderful example of love." Cyndie and Mark had a classic car for their wedding ... we love how the color of the ocean matches the car exactly! Now, that's dedication to the very last detail :) It takes an entire team of fabulous wedding experts to pull off a wedding like this. If you love what you're seeing, their wedding day team consisted of: wedding coordinator Marla Lackey of Cheers to You Events, wedding cake by It's All About The Cake, DJ James Loram of Last Dance Entertainment, flowers by Karen Paliska, lighting by Invisible Touch, videography by Ashley Productions, transportation by Laguna Trolley, and gorgeous wedding photography by Meghan Aileen.

Cheers To OC Wedding Pros

2009-03-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

Cheers To THE OC WEDDING PROS! After I heard Joe Brocadaro's name keep coming up I had to find him and find out about him. Thanks Facebook, for making the introduction so easy! Joe is not just a fabulous photographer, but the founder of The OC Wedding Pros, a website for a "Unique Group of Wedding Professionals". Joe was kind enough to add me to his group, and I am thrilled to be part of it! If you are looking for wedding photography at a reasonable price, check out Joe's work at: Broccardo Photography and of course take a look at OC Wedding Pros.

Cheers To You!

2009-03-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

It's almost time... the results for the Best of the OC 2009 Wedding Planner are coming soon .... in the meantime, here are a sampling of the incredibly kind comments I received on the Fox website: You can see all 99 reviews here :

Posted by: tmteachtv, 3/19/2009

Awesome awesome awesome service and smiles, always attention to detail. Great personality.

Posted by: scordts, 3/18/2009

They did an awesome job at my wedding, everything went perfectly. Also Marla helped my wife put together the wedding of her dreams.

Posted by: siggy123, 3/18/2009

Marla throws a grand party.

Posted by: SteveAverill, 3/18/2009

Marla is the best! She is someone you can trust to do what she says she will and that is worth its weight in gold. Tasteful, elegant, fun! How can you go wrong?! Steve Averill

Posted by: Bananasesigns, 3/18/2009

Marla is the ultimate professional. She listens and understands EXACTLY what you want and she gets is for you!

Posted by: sunking9, 3/18/2009

Marla and Cheers To You ROCKS!!! Our wedding couldn't have run smoother or been more perfect!!!

Posted by: Jasonuwp, 3/18/2009

Outstanding company with a great sense of personal touch and detail.

Posted by: laaph, 3/18/2009

I have assisted Marla with many of her weddings, and she is very thorough. Marla's attention to detail is impeccable! She thinks of everything, and the end product is nothing short of spectacular. It is always a pleasure and joy to work with her, she is nothing less than amazing!

Posted by: lindylou1142, 3/18/2009

Marla's AMAZING

Posted by: kickstart420, 3/18/2009

I love the way Marla handles herself in the most stress full times!!

Posted by: dadofthreee, 3/18/2009

Marla is the BOMB

Posted by: acleventplanning, 3/18/2009

This is a wonderful, innovative company!

Posted by: bokaemerle, 3/18/2009

Every detail was planned perfectly, VERY nice and easy to work with...

Posted by: danatennis, 3/18/2009

they are simply the BEST....

Posted by: shaneproductions, 3/18/2009

Marla is the best planner in Orange County! She loves her job and it shows with her exquisite intricacy in every event!

Posted by: CakesandKisses, 3/18/2009

Absolutely fantastic service and elegant taste. Orange County has never had a better vendor.

Posted by: John876, 3/18/2009

Great Owner, Very Professional!!

Posted by: barbaralynn2001, 3/18/2009

Marla from "Cheers To You" was awesome! She is not only professional, she is a very nice person. It was truly a pleasure to have her be a part of our very special day with Alan and Jodi.

Posted by: SHACKWORTH, 3/18/2009

Marla from Cheers to you helped us plan the wedding of our dreams! It was better than we ever imagined! We could not have done it without her! Plus she is a super sweet lady!

Posted by: lamartinf, 3/18/2009

Marla is a professional. She works extremely well with clients to fully realize their vision of the most important day in their lives.

Posted by: tmedina1, 3/18/2009

I used Cheers To You! for my wedding. Marla is the most patient and wonderful wedding coordinator. Every email that I sent her was responded back within a few minutes (There were over 500 emails sent throughout the planning process). She made the entire wedding planning process easy and organized. I have had several friends get married and each used wedding coordinators. They all agree with me, that she was the best of all of the coordinators.

Posted by: kkaemerle, 3/18/2009

Marla is right on!!! She's incredibly organized and extremely creative. A wonderful personality, very funny and fun (:

Posted by: PegPat, 3/17/2009

Marla does such a great job, she makes it look easy. I know it's not so I give her lots of credit for that.

Posted by: hardestbutton, 3/17/2009

Marla has a wonderfull personality, and a great sense of humor, two very important factors every planner should have!

Posted by: TraciRomano, 3/17/2009

Marla is an extremely talented visionary in her field. Her company ,Cheers To You, " is world renowned!

Posted by: bcpmike, 3/17/2009

Because Marla rocks. That's all you need to know.

Posted by: csagehorn, 3/16/2009

Marla was incredible! When my husband and I met with Marla, we gave her a general idea what we wanted our wedding to feel like and the colors we liked and told her to run with it. I wasn't one of those brides that wanted to be involved in the details and I trusted Marla's instincts. She did everything from A-Z and did an incredible job. We couldn't have asked for anything better. Everything exceeded our expectations. We still talk about it today, nearly 3 years later and still hear from our friends what an amazing event it was.

Posted by: snowchick711, 3/16/2009

Marla is not only loved by her couples who select her but all of us in the industry. Her attention to detail and organization is amazing, but the fact she does so with a smile makes everyone involved worry-free about their day. She is stellar!

Posted by: starlet7931, 3/16/2009

Marla is so wonderful to work with. She is detailed, organized and takes pride in her work. I have worked with Marla on many weddings and events and everything always turns out flawless.

Posted by: ebitari, 3/16/2009

Marla, was my wedding planner two years ago. She had awesome vendors and did a fabulous job coordinating the day of the wedding - everyone loved her. Her script of the wedding day was also very helpful. I could tell Marla was a great fit immediately I spoke to her on the phone. I had called some other wedding planners who were not a good fit - but once I found Marla I knew she would be an excellent wedding planner and help me execute my dream wedding and she did :-)

Posted by: haydensmommy, 3/16/2009

Marla did the most amazing job with our wedding! I would recommend her to anyone!

Posted by: jonathangood, 3/16/2009

Because she rocks!

Posted by: whitneycometa, 3/16/2009

she is the best, and i love her.

Posted by: cherylstaab, 3/16/2009

Marla is so attentive to every detail. She really gives you peace of mind as your big day approaches!

Posted by: moburris, 3/16/2009

Working in the industry with Marla - she is always so professional - yet fun! She does wonderful events and always makes you feel like a friend! Keep up the great work!

Posted by: mericleman, 3/16/2009

The owner is amazing!

Posted by: mag00949, 3/16/2009

High quality wedding planning, excellent vendors, Marla is very talented!

Posted by: DiamondBridal, 3/16/2009

Vote for Cheers To You!

Cheers To Bleu!

2009-03-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

The wonderful and talented Alison Cotton just sent me the album layout from one of our Hyatt Regency weddings. If you haven't met Alison, she is possibly the nicest person on the planet, and her husband, superstar Bleu Cotton, who we all know and love, is so much fun to work with. What an incredible wedding Jaymi and Trevor had, just look at how perfectly the Bleu Cotton team captured their beautiful day:

Cheers To You!

2009-03-16T15:46:00.000-07:00

Cheers To You Events was nominated by MY FOX LA in the BEST WEDDING PLANNER in OC category. We would love YOUR vote! http://myfoxla.cityvoter.com/cheers-to-you/biz/62459 Full Service Wedding Planning. Marla's weddings have been featured on TLC's A Wedding Story, Dr. Phil, and more. Marla was selected as having one of the Top 25 Jobs in Orange County, Summer 2007 ABC-OC Steering Committee Certified by the Guide, IWCA, ABC... Visit http://myfoxla.cityvoter.com/cheers-to-you/biz/62459 for more information * Cheers To You! 27762 Forbes Road Suite 16 Laguna Niguel CA 92677 Hours: Mon-Friday 8am-6pm | Sat by Appt only

Cheers To Grand Del Mar

2009-03-05T14:20:00.000-08:00

The Grand Del Mar ... WOW....not quite sure where to start. The 'Wedding Experience' was so amazing that I've been speechless for a week. Those who know me know that never happens!! First, I need to give credit where credit is due. Cheers the people that made it possible, Thank You is not even close to being enough, but it's a start.... The Wedding Experience Produced by The Grand Del Mar

Paige Levy (858) 314.202

www.thegranddelmar.com

Table Scape & Floral Designed by: Kathy Wright & Co. Kathy Wright (619) 299.2520 www.kathywrightandco.com

Save the Dates, Invitations, & all printed materials by:

Invitation Factory Carol Smith (858) 456.7801

www.invitationfactory.com

Guest Seating by: Chameleon Chairs

Rhonda Couchigian (562) 338.5101

www.chameleonchair.com

Entertainment by: Wayne Foster Entertainment

Bonnie Foster (760) 603.8000 ext 18

www.waynefoster.com

Cocktail Reception Music by:

Brian Stodart (909) 844.2377

www.brianstodart.com

Wedding Gowns by: M Bridal Salon

Michelle Martin (858) 551.1718 www.mbridesalon.com Florals at Gazebo and Addison by Jennifer Cole Jennifer Cole (760 )815 8719 www.jennifercolefloral.com

Linen by: Wildflower Linens

Desiree Patterson (714) 522.2777

www.wildflowerlinens.com

Charger Plates: Classic Party Rentals

(858) 496.9700

www.classicpartyrentals.com

After Party Decor, Furniture, Canopies and Bar by: Rrivre Works Rrivre Davies (323) 985.4229

www.rrivreworks.com

After Party Convections by: Epicurean Umbrella

Jennyfer Rodgers (323) 350.0953

www.epicureanumbrella.com

After Party Donuts by: Party Donuts

Mike Hogan (858) 565.8600

www.partydonuts.com

After Party DJ: Tim Altbaum Productions

Tim Altbaum (619) 277.2408

www.taproductions.com

Photography by: Boyd Harris Photography

Boyd Harris ( 858) 551.7004

www.boydharris.com

Lighting by: Presentation Services

Abraham Bronzwaig (858)314.2096

www.psav.com and now, a sample of the amazing 3 day experience that I was honored to be part of. The first day started by pulling up to valet, where I was greeted, checked in, and shown to my golf course view room. Waiting for me was the itinerary, a gift bag with hotel's signature bath soaps, lotions, and candle, and a Grand Del Mar robe, customized with my name. oThe first night consisted of a meet and greet, followed by a tour of the outdoor ceremony areas, and then the indoor 'chapel', where we were greeted by gospel singers, and then offered sangrias as we watched an incredible fashion show with dresses designed by M Bridal. and then it was cocktail hour, which was over the top with some of the best food I've ever had (and I've had a lot), both tray passed and stationery stations, and a solo guitarist/singer, that I had to do a double take to see if it was Jon Mayer. After we were able to mingle and savor the appetizers, we were invited inside the ballroom for a five course wine pairing dinner. Check out this decor! The food was as beatiful as the table tops, and we had a sommelier on hand to teach us about each of the wines we were sampling. Just when we thought we were going to pop, we were invited to an after party complete with a DJ, candy bar, donut fry station. My San Diego wedding coordinator friends :) The next morning we met for brunch, and were greeted by a server offering our choice of bloody marys or mimosas (or both) ... and we had a full brunch with an omelet station, waffle station, bagel bar, smoothie bar, and more! After brunch, a few of us opted to go to Torry Pines beach for a nature hike, the sun came out just for us, and I'm pretty sure The Grand Del Mar was in charge of that too, as they didn't miss a beat. After the walk, it was spa and massage time, talk about being pampered. Around 5:30 we were asked to meet in one of the amazing ballrooms. When we arrived, we were told to split into groups for a Top Chef Challenge. I love to cook, so I was elected head chef, and I think my team put together the best scallop dish in the room, but we had some great competition, and a lot of fun and a lot of laughs, and we each received our own Grand Del Mar apron.After the team building, we were driven to Addison, Southern California's only 5 Diamond Restaurant. Again we were treated to a 5 course wine pairing dinner. The sommelier was there and he autographed a bottle of HIS bottle of wine and presented it to me at dinner. When I returned to my room, there was a second dessert waiting for me, and a bottle of sparkling water, etched with my name on the bottle. Beautiful!When I finally left (and believe me, it was hard to leave), there was a basket of muffins in my car, a bottle of water, and a dvd with the highlights of the past three days waiting for me. See my website to view the video from Taylor Films. A very very special thanks to Paige Levy at the Grand Del Mar for putting this together, and to the amazing team of vendors that she selected to make this experience unforgettable! Cheers (and many, many thanks!) to all of you!

Cheers To Shorebreak

2009-03-05T13:56:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday I had a sneak peek of the brand new Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach. This boutique hotel is a gem right off the sand of Surf City. Stacey Hofflich, the property’s Senior Catering Manager, contacted me to show me this new property. Stacey has years of experience in the industry and took me on a hard hat tour, so much fun to experience the hotel from the (almost) ground up. Shorebreak will be open and running in a couple months, so everything is fresh and new, and they are ready to book weddings and events now for the upcoming months. The hotel is new, fresh, and unlike any other. The views from the rooms, well, you need to see it to believe it. If you don't need a wedding venue, at least stop in for dinner or a drink, the restaurant is steps from the ocean. Quick facts about Shorebreak Hotel:

•Location: 500 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach Close to Main Street, shopping, dining, and the sand •The Numbers: 157 guest rooms (39 are suites!), 2 board rooms, 3000 square foot ballroom, 1800 square feet of pre-function space •Capacity: 200 seated in their swank ballroom with a dance floor, 230 without •Food: Cuisine that pulls inspiration from all 22 countries of the Mediterranean •Decor: Cool ocean tones. Many rooms and spaces have striking ocean views

Stacey’s contact info: shofflich@jdvhotels.com 949.373.2963

Cheers To Charity

2009-02-25T11:37:00.001-08:00

Cheers To Social Media

2009-02-12T14:11:00.000-08:00

...and many thanks to Steve Averill ~ Blogger at OCbizblog. Founder of Waxpoetix - Words that Spark Conversation. I know Steve from OC Metro, the magazine publishers selected me as having one of the top 25 dream jobs (which I do). I dropped Steve a line on Facebook and he gave me a very nice shoutout on Twitter. and this from Facebook Thanks Steve, your vote of confidence means the world to me and I look forward to lots more networking opportunites with you! If you want to be a friend on Facebook, click HERE If you want to follow me on Twitter, click HERE If you want to follow Steve on Twitter, click HERE

Cheers To Mom & Dad

2009-02-07T10:48:00.001-08:00

Cheers to my wonderful parents, on their 50th wedding anniversary!

We had a wonderful family celebration at Antonellos Ristorante celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary. Lake Forest Limousines picked up my brother, his girlfriend, my husband, daughter and me, and we drove to my parents house and surprised them. I think they figured out that the limo was coming, but the didn't know that all of us would be there, waiting for them, with chilled bubbly and appetizers. We had an hour drive together before the party started, which was so much fun and such a treat for my parents (and for us too). Grace Chuyn, from Sweet Gems made these amazing cookies: I made the water bottle labels and the table decor: Antonellos provided top notch service and incredible food. If you haven't eaten there, try it. It's a fabulous restaurant for rehearsal dinners, birthdays, and of course, anniversaries.

Cheers To You, Mom and Dad!!

Happy 50th!

Cheers To Pelican Hill

2009-02-07T10:33:00.000-08:00

The February ABC-OC meeting was held at Pelican Hill this month. What a treat for the wedding coordinators, and how fun it was to see some of my favorite people from the Ritz Carlton, St. Regis, and Surf & Sand, who now are working at the amazing Pelican Hill. We were treated to an lovely lunch and had a private tour of the venue and it's surrounding areas. Enjoy these photos of our afternoon, compliments of Lauren Hillary. click here: Pelican Hill

Cheers To being a BIG

2009-01-22T16:07:00.001-08:00

I'm heading out to a BIG event at Oakley tonight. It's for the BIG brothers and sisters of Orange County. If you are interested in learning more about the program, visit www.bigbrooc.org, or shoot me an email and I'll tell you about the amazing year I have had with Mia.

Cheers To Coupons!

2009-01-17T14:49:00.000-08:00

We hear you, and we get it ... the economy is in turmoil and wedding planning needs some creative budget strategies. We want you to have a beautiful celebration, so just mention the coupon below (if you didn't receive one in the mail) before your first wedding consultation and we will gladly discount the package of your choice. We hope this little bit helps you as you continue planning your special event. For more information on the different services Cheers To You Events offers, please visit our website "package" page.

New Clients Only

Look who's talkin

2009-01-03T13:11:00.001-08:00

Check out this great website: http://www.whostalkin.com/

Time for a career change?

2009-01-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

Nope, not me...I'm diving into year # 12 for weddings, I'm not going anywhere... but if you are considering law school like a few people I know, check out this class: www.scoreitup.com Okay, so I'm biased, my brother is the teacher. :)

Happy New Year!

2009-01-03T10:24:00.000-08:00

Cheers To New Years!

Wishing all of you a wonderful 2009. Please meet the newest member of the Lackey home: She's a kitty after my own heart ... she loves Facebook! Come be a friend on Facebook : www.facebook.com/marlalackey

Merry Martini!

2008-12-25T11:55:00.000-08:00

Holiday Cheers To You! Marla's Mint Martini Ice 1 ounce vanilla vodka or creme de cacao 1 ounce vodka 2 ounces crème de menthe 1/4 cup heavy cream 1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add the vodkas, crème de menthe, cream and shake well. 2. Strain the cocktail into chilled martini glasses and garnish with a candy cane.

Holiday Cheers To You!

2008-12-18T22:26:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T08:40:00.000-08:00

Two of the many reasons that I am very thankfulHappy Thanksgiving!

Cheers To Lori and Spencer!

2008-11-12T15:01:00.001-08:00

Cheers To Lori and Spencer!

I liked Lori from the minute she called, we had so much in common despite living on opposite coasts: Lori is a writer for the Washington Post, I own a pencil. Lori writes articles about kids. I have a kid. Lori was about to become a newlywed, I've been married 2o years. Lori lives in D.C., I live in O.C. ...Ok, so we don't have as much in common as I would like to think, but I loved wedding planning with her and Spencer ~ what a fun couple. I know they will have many years of happiness and joy, and hopefully a few visits to California too. Here are a couple shots from their day, compliments of Bob Ortiz.

Yes, I move tables

My assistant Kim and me

Wedding Coordinator Cheers To You! / Marla Lackey www.cheerstoyouevents.com

Bakery (when one cake is not enough :-) Tom Girl Bakery and Pasadena Bakery

Venue Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach

DJ/Emcee Vive, Inc Peter Papadopolous

Florist Nisie’s Enchanted

Hair and Make Up Design Visage

Photographer Bob Ortiz

Video Paul with the Wahington Post

Cheers To . . . my dog

2008-11-10T09:38:00.001-08:00

Happy 10th Birthday Blaze!

Cheers To Cheryl and Don

2008-11-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

Cheers To Cheryl and Don!

When Cheryl called me and asked me about wedding coordination for her October 25 wedding, I told her I wasn't available, as that was/is my birthday. Well, we got to talking, and she was SO sweet, and SO genuine, and SO darling that I decided birthday-smirthday, I'm working! Together we put together an intimate wedding and joining of family celebration for her and Don and their 3 sons. The ceremony was on the beach, small, beautiful, and a lovely representation of this family. They had the perfect weather that I promised them (after xx years, I know it never rains on October 25th) and they are now happily married and somehow I am another year older. (photos to be uploaded) Cheers To You! and thank you for YOUR thank you note, Cheryl: Dear Marla, Thank you for making our wedding day exactly what we wished for. Rev Russell was great (everyone loved her). The beach was beautiful, the restaurant tons of fun, with delicious food & great service, and my wedding dress, gorgeous (Terry worked miracles!) Your advice and help was priceless. I loved working with you (thank you for your patience with me too!). It was a perfect day thanks to you and your services. I hope you had a wonderful birthday celebration and here's to many more! Warm Regards, Cheryl & Don

Cheers To Asayo and James

2008-11-07T14:41:00.000-08:00

Cheers To Asayo and James!

What a delightful couple Asayo and James are. I had the honor of planning their wedding with them, but I was already booked on their wedding day (see post about Carrie and Randy) so I asked the chic Kelly Aguilar of Social Butterfly Events to coordinate the day. She did a flawless job, and had the opportunity to work with some fun vendors. Here are some photos from the day, compliments of Michael Kitada. Lighting and music by Black Tie Events Flowers by Commerce Flowers Cake by Rossmoor Pastries Cheers To You!

Cheers To Jaymi and Trevor

2008-11-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

Cheers To Jaymi and Trevor!

Winding down the year,just a few more weddings in 2008 ... this weekend was my last 2008 Hyatt HB wedding. What a great team, and what a beautiful wedding! Enjoy a sneak peek of the room, compliments of the amazing and always entertaining Bleu and Alison Cotton. Venue: Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Photographer: Bleu & Alison Cotton Videographer: Zavin with Bleu Cotton Florist: Shawni Hartman Linens & Rental Furniture: Fusion Linens Foto Booth: FotoCabina DJ, Gobo, Lighting: Invisible Touch Events Planning & Coordination: Marla with amazing assistants: Viviana, Kelly, & Kim

Cheers To Chante and Shain

2008-10-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

Cheers To Chante and Shain!

Wedding Coordinator Cheers To You! / Marla Lackey www.cheerstoyouevents.com Bakery Great Dane Bakery Ceremony Musician Sharif DJ/Emcee Mike Carcano Florist Jenny B Photographer Jim Kennedy Rental Company Classic Party Rental Venue Hyatt HB Another incredible wedding at the Hyatt. I was able to work with my good friend Jim Kennedy. Jim and I worked a lot together years ago when we were first starting in the wedding industry and only have the opportunity to work together occasionally now, so it always a treat. Jim blogged all of the above photos (which I stole, with his permission) and he wrote this: This was a fun wedding to be a part of. It was a very small weekday wedding at The Hyatt Huntington Beach. Which I always love to shot at. It was also great to work with some of my favorite vendors. Marla Lackey of Cheers To You Events keeping the day on track. Marla is probably one of the first coordinators I worked with years ago. It’s always great to see her Jim, I feel the same way!! It was great to work with you, let's do it again very soon! All of the other vendors were great too. Mike Carcano is tons of fun, the guitarist Sharif was out of this world, and Great Dane provided the cake, my favorite ... Red Velvet!

Cheers To Tonia and Sergio

2008-09-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

Cheers To Tonia and Sergio

What a beautiful couple they are, and what an amazing wedding. I admit I'm a UCLA fan (that's for you, Dad) but it was a lot of fun having the always entertaining USC Marching Band show up. I worked with some of my favorite vendors and some new ones too, everyone provided great service and I know Tonia and Sergio had an event to remember!

Cheers To Laura and Joe

2008-08-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

Cheers To Laura and Joe!

When I first met with Laura and Joe, they told me their main wedding color would be RED. I knew right then I had to work with them. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love RED. My off-site office, my dining room , and even my website is RED. They had a beautiful wedding at the wonderful Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. (Yes I do work at other locations, I just happen to call the Hyatt home. :)

I love love love Laura's dress!

and I <3 RED details

Flowers from Fantasy Floral and Linens from Fusion Linens

RED M&Ms, my favorite

Yes, I wore RED for the occasion

Congratulations Laura and Joe! Thanks for having me be part of your celebration!

Cheers To You!

Cheers To Amber and Billy

2008-08-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

Cheers To Amber and Billy!

My picture of their engagement picture What a beautiful day for a wonderful couple. The sun was out, the bride was beautiful, it was a perfect wedding day! Thanks to a great group of vendors, it was a picture perfect wedding. Here are some of my quick shots from the day: The groom and his sweet parents and fantastic brothers. What a great family! Amber, her sister (best Maid of Honor ever!) and their father Quick shot of Billy and his best men How cute are they? Church: St. Catherine's of Sienna Reception: Orange County Sailing and Events Center Grand Entrance with Maid of Honor (Amber's sister) and Best Man (Billy's brother), who dressed up for the entrance

Flowers by Jenny B

Catering and Staffing by Jay's Catering

Cake by Rossmoor Pastries

DJ and Lighting by Black Tie Events

Love the outdoor dance floor

First Dance

Congratulations to a wonderful couple. I hope the rest of your lives are as special as the two of you are! Cheers To Amber and Billy!

Cheers To Kim and Dan

2008-07-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

Happy One Year Anniversary Kim and Dan! I was not blogging a year ago, so I didn't have a chance to show off Victor Sizemore's photos of one of my favorite couples. Kim was such a great bride, that I actually nicknamed her "Fave". And Dan's a firefighter, so we all bonded right away. What a beautiful wedding day they had, just one year ago today! Here are some of the photos from VCS Photo, and a same day edit video from Elysium:

CLICK TO PLAY VIDEO I loved every minute of the planning and coordinating and am enjoying the friendship that we now have. Happy Anniversary, wishing you many many more years of love and happiness.

Cheers To You Mr. and Mrs. Dantana

Chasin' Dreams

2008-07-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

My friend Kim's son (Chase) is fighting for his life, he is a three time cancer patient and last night needed blood platelets and there weren't enough. I just donated and I hope you will too. For Chase's story, read Kim's blog at www. chasecq. com Blood Donor Info: To become a blood donor for Chase and the Kids at CHOC, you can call CHOC Blood and Donor Services or email them at donatebloodforkids@choc.org to make an appointment. It is SO easy and you get a cookie when you're done :) CHOC BLOOD AND DONOR SERVICES: (714) 532-8339 Blood and Donor Services Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 7:00 pm The last apheresis appointment is at 5:00 p.m. The last whole blood donation is at 5:30 p.m. Blood and Donor Services Located: 505 S. Main St., Suite 185, Orange, Ca. , 92868 (across the street from CHOC - Corner of Main and La Veta) Click here for the LA Times story about Chase See these Photos! Bone Marrow importance Thanks for your time, and feel free to spread the word. Cheers To You!! <3 Marla

Coordinators Night Out

2008-07-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

So many people ask, "How can you be friends with other wedding coordinators? Aren't you all competition?" Well, yes, we are, but that doesn't stop us from being friends, or even sharing ideas, referrals, and for three of us in this tight group ~ office space! We have a fantastic small networking group of professional wedding planners that meet, chat, and are not afraid to ask for, or offer assistance to others. Most of us have been in the business ten years plus, and either have been, or currently are on the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) planning and steering committee. Yes, we are competition, we are on the same vendor lists, we interview for the same brides, but above it all, and most importantly we are friends. Here are a few faces you may recognize. They are the best wedding planners in Orange County, and some of my personal best friends. Thank you Gini for hosting this months dinner at your house. We <3 you and your warm spirit! Gini's got talent too! She made this centerpiece: We chatted, laughed, and ended the night with a very fun (and slightly) competitive gift exchange.

Cheers To You, Coordinators & Compadres!

Cheers To Galyn and Joe!

2008-07-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

I just picked up the recent copy of OC-BRIDE and one of my favorite couples was featured in the magazine! Congrats Galyn and Joe, what a wonderful wedding you had, I was honored to be your wedding planner and to be part of your celebration! See their featured wedding here: Magazine Photos See some wedding photos from the amazing Lauren Hillary here: Westin SCP Photos

Cheers To Anthony and Erika

2008-07-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

Cheers To Anthony and Erika!

What a wonderful afternoon at the Hyatt! Erika and Anthony are so sweet and lovely and I wanted their day to be as special as they are. Guests flew in from around the world for their celebration, it was a perfect day! The terrific team of wedding vendors consisted of the following professionals: Cheryl at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Photographers Ray and Erwin from Apertura Photo Chairs and Linens from Fusion Linens Flowers from Lavender Hill DJ and Emcee Richard from Mach Party Studio Horse and Carriage provided by Enchanted Carriages Cake by Tom Girl Bakery Photos from Apertura Photo blog Check out my favorite, the wine glass (of course)! Cheers To You! Thanks everyone, as always, Val and I had a wonderful time working with you!

Cheers To Wendy and Titus

2008-06-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

Cheers To Wendy and TitusThe biggest wedding day of the year: 6 - 7 - 08 and I was lucky enough to coordinate a wedding at my favorite venue, the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach with a wonderful couple, Wendy and Titus, and their baby Odie (see photo below).

Click here for a sneak peek of photos from the amazing Victor Sizemore, photographer extraordinare.

Small world that it is, coincidentally I assisted at the wedding of Wendy's sister, Mindy, who was married at the Montage several few years ago. How fun to see Mindy, her husband, and to meet their darling little son.

What a pleasure to work with this amazing team: Neda at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Photographer Victor Sizemore from VCS Photo Videographer Sheri from Ashley Video Productions Danielle and Angel provided the Linens from Fusion Linens DJ and Lighting Jim Izzo from Honored Occasions Photobooth from Foto Cabina Dance floor and Lounge Furniture from Signature Party Rentals Cake from Rockwell Ceremony & Cocktail hour music by Angelica Strings and of course my amazing coordinators Kim and Viviana Here are a few of my pics from the wedding. Here are just a few of the great photos from VCS: and finally here is Odie. Have you ever seen a cuter ring bearer?

Love, Philly Style

2008-06-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

As a wedding planner, I quite often get called for interviews for wedding magazines and news articles. Last month I was contacted by Celebrations out of Philly for an article about color coordination and trends. Click here to read the article below.

Happy Memorial Day!

2008-05-25T12:08:00.001-07:00

Wishing you a happy and safe weekend.

Nominated!

2008-05-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

Thank you MY FOX LA for nominating Cheers To You Events for the Best of the OC HOTLIST 2008 in the Wedding Planner category

http://myfoxla.cityvoter.com/cheers-to-you/biz/62459

Cheers To You, Amber and Thomas

2008-05-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

I instantly fell in love with Amber and her mom, Holly. They were two of the nicest and hippest (is that a word? it should be) people I've met in awhile. It wasn't until after our meeting that I realized my sweet clients were non other than Holly Sharp, famous designer from Corona del Mar, and her daughter, one of the designers of Lucy Love, which just happens to be my daughter's favorite designer. I couldn't be more thrilled to be coordinating this wedding and working with the wonderful mother daughter team of Lucy Love. The wedding was at St. Catherine's of Sienna in Laguna Beach and the reception was held at the Hotel Laguna. Here are a couple photos from the day: Amber and her dad, just about to walk down the aisle at St. Catherine's I've planned and coordinated weddings for over a decade now (!!!) and this was my first time at Hotel Laguna. Amber and Holly and I completely redesigned the room. We brought in a white dance floor, lounge furniture for two different decks, chivari chairs, specialty linens, as well as custom lighting, and fabric to drape the walls with. Her colors were a pallet of corals and reds, each bridesmaid had a custom bridesmaid dress in a different color. Each bouquet had a room that matched the bridesmaid's dress: Amber and Holly added so many personal touches to the room, including family portraits, Chinese lanterns, and a guest 'blanket' to sign, but my favorite personal touch was that Holly and Amber designed Amber's wedding dress. Take a look at how gorgeous the bride is: The groom looked great too, and was just as nice as his beautiful bride. The flowers were amazing, full of color and life, just like the bride! A Hawaiian blessing before dinner: Redoing the Catalina Room: My favorite, Red Velvet Cake. I knew I liked this couple! The staff at Hotel Laguna was wonderful. The catering directors and banquet captains were on hand and incredibly helpful from start to finish. This hotel really is a hidden gem, check out the view: Check my website soon for pictures (the professional ones) to come from Tyler Boye. Church: www.stcathlagunabeach.org Cocktail hour musicians: www.erniehalter.com Cake: www.letthemeatcake.net Hotel Laguna: www.hotellaguna.com Florist: www.englishgardenflorals.net Lounge Furniture: www.loungeappeal.com More lounge furniture, white dance floor: www.signatureparty.com Chairs, Linens: www.fusionlinens.com Room Lighting www.invisibletouchdjs.com Disc Jockey: www.voxdjs.com Hawaiian blessing: www.kaikeaentertainment.com Video: www.bonvivantcinema.com Photographer www.tylerboye.com

Happy Cinco de Mayo

2008-05-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo from my house to yours !

WOW

2008-04-20T20:37:00.000-07:00

WOW! One word, three letters, that sums up this wedding. You know it's an incredible wedding when not only the guests, but the vendors are in awe over the events that are taking place throughout the day. The venue was St. Regis, in Monarch Point. Everyones jaws started dropping when Amanda put down this aisle runner at the Grand Lawn: and these flowers in the Monarch ballroom: and then there was the cake, created by none other than Linda Goldsheft from The Cake Studio: the beautiful ceremony (Grand Lawn at St. Regis Hotel, Monarch Beach) was followed by the reception in the Monarch Ballroom where we created a special seating area created just for Kevin and Suzy. Guests enjoyed a five course meal, enhanced with custom monogrammed sorbet dishes made out of ice: we brought in beautiful platinum linens & chairs, a custom gazebo, a white dance floor, had custom gobo created and enhanced the reception with Invisible Touch's over the top lighting. It was so much fun having TWO DJs! but I think that the best part was the zefa: or maybe it was the belly dancers: From start to finish, what a beautiful day at the St. Regis Resort and Spa! Kevin, Suzy, and I planned this wedding for 13 months . We had a lot of laughs and quite a few phone calls and emails, and a lot of decisions to make. At rehearsal, Kevin turned over control (and his watch) to me and let my assistants and I make sure that everything was PERFECT. They thoroughly enjoyed their day, their guests, and their wedding. Typically my brides and grooms thank me at the end of their wedding, this time, I thanked them for allowing me to be their wedding planner and for giving me and our wonderful vendors this amazing opportunity. Once again, Wow!

Congratulations Kevin and Suzy!

Venue St. Regis Resort and Spa www.stregismb.com Photographer Tony Flores www.tonyflores.com (check our website for the professional photos, coming soon) Cake Linda Goldsheft www.thecakestudio.com Lighting Robert Arthur www.invisibletouchdj.com Videographer Dan Douglas www.plugvideo.com Florist Amanda Heer www.fantasyfloraldesigns.com American DJ Peter Papadopolous www.viveinc.com Arabic DJ/Band Mohommad DJ Dandana Belly Dancers/Zefa Tony Shanti www.tonyshanti.com Linens/Chiviaris Angel Monaco www.fusionlinens.cm Dance Floor Kathy Taylor www.signatureparty.com Custom Sorbet Ice Dishes Michaelyn Padilla www.carvingice.com Gazebo Rental www.floralfanfare.com Hair & Make Up www.designvisage.com Dress Designer St Pucci

Destination Cancun

2008-03-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

YAY! It's wedding season once again. I was fortunate to kick off the year with a wedding in Cancun. Jen from photojenic took the photos, check them out. Elaine was her second shooter, and the three us had so much fun (were we supposed to be working?) that I wound up skipping my flight home and staying an extra couple days just to enjoy Cancun and Playa del Carmen with them. Someday we may share how we did Cancun on.65 cents a day, but that's another story ... Here is just a sample of this incredible wedding and what incredible shots from Jen!

Cheers To You, Amy and Dawson!Congratulations! Just a couple non-wedding pics ... the 3 of us at Carlos & Charlies: and here is how our downtime was spent (I took this from our balcony) :

Educational Summit

2008-03-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

Talk about lagging ... I haven't posted in so long that I almost forgot how. It's Winter, so a lot of wedding planner go into hibernation while we wait for Spring to arrive along with our weddings. Well, spring has sprung, and it's wedding season once again. Moving slightly backwards, here are some photos from the February seminar that was Susan MacDonald's brainchild. Susan created it, she lived, breathed, ate, and slept with it on her mind, and along with our ABC-OC board, the Educational Summitat the Irvine Hyatt was an incredible success. Way to go Susan! From the flowers to the linens, to the lighting, it was the best seminar (not saying that because I worked on it) I've ever attended. Everyone who attended the Hyatt seminar, left there giving rave reviews. Five amazing speakers, 3 outstanding meals, beautiful decor, and one happy Susan! She even booked a magician to end the night with some laughs. Yes, I was selected to be his assistant. I did okay, but the bird was much funnier. Thank you vendors! Planner: Susan MacDonald www.sumacproductions.com Venue: Hyatt Irvine www.irvine.hyatt.com Florist: Marcia Johnson www.marcialjohnson.com Cocktail Linens: Wildflower Linens www.wildflowerlinens.com Dinner Linens: Fusion Linens www.fusionlinens.com Lighting/DJ: Invisible Touch www.invisibletouchdj.com

Happy Valentines Day!

2008-02-14T09:06:00.001-08:00

H A P P Y * V A L E N T I N E ' S * D A Y !

Valentines Day Martini

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces (good!) vodka

1/2 ounce cinnamon schnapps

1/4 ounce goldschlager

1 oz sparkling water

Directions

Dip rim of chilled martini glass in cinnamon and sugar.

Combine the vodka, cinnamon schnapps, & goldschlager in a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes.

Shake well, strain into chilled Martini glass, and pour a little sparkling water on top

Garnish with a cinnamon stick and red hots

cheers to You !

A Hyatt Wedding

2008-01-13T17:36:00.000-08:00

Not only was this another great wedding at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, but the bride's last name was Hyatt. That made for interesting conversations. :-)We got lucky with the weather, the fog was super thick in the morning but by 11:30, ceremony time, it had burned off and the rest of the afternoon was picture perfect. The ceremony was at the Lighthouse Lawn, and the reception was on the fountain courtyard at the Hyatt Regency, Huntington Beach. The bride was gorgeous, as was her sister, Jayme. They were two of the nicest people I have met, just like their parents. Love the Hyatts!Scott, the groom with the best sense of humor ever, has a son, John who's toast brought everyone to tears. He also has a daughter, Emma, who was the cutest flower girl I've seen in a looong time. Emma loved the camera and she loved the cake from TomGirl Baking Company. She had permission before the cake cutting to be the first one to try cake. The flowers were beautiful and Karla from Elegant by Design did a beautiful job. She was, as always, on time and incredibly sweet to work with.Lauren Hillary and I started 'doing' weddings together back in 1997. She was then, and still is, one of my favorite photographers to work with. Her work and her personality are top notch!Fusion Linens supplied the runners and napkins, and Ashley from the Hyatt (Hyatt hotel, not family) did a great job putting together this wedding in just a few short weeks.We had a small band, Jumpin' Joz, and they were kind enough to let Emma sit in and jam with them. (she was actually really good!)

Congratulations everyone, I can't wait to plan Jayme's wedding, and Emma's too!click here to see Lauren Hillary's photos

Happy New Year!

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

Cheers to 2008!

I started the year off like many of you, sick and in bed for two weeks. I'm on the mend and can finally post about the incredible New Years Eve wedding I had the privilege to plan and coordinate at(my favorite hotel)the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. Tricia and Armando were a blast to work with this past year. I have over 900 emails from Tricia this year... yep, 900. She was so detailed, and in such a fun way. Who else has a custom gobo that reads T & A ? or a limo bus with a stripper pole?It was hard to give up spending New Years Eve with my husband & our friends, but I was with the next best group, my wedding family. I had the company of the wonderful Marc from Ashley Video, and my good friend Jen from photoJENic. Robert and Dan from Invisible Touch did the lighting and gobos throughout the Monarch ballroom and Amanda from Fantasy Floral provided the over the top bling and floral fantasy, complete with a manzanita tree for the placecards. Angel from Fusion Linens provided all the linens, including the faux fur that I had him specially make and Gretel from Classic Party Rental took care of all my rentals including a light up bar & tables and the rest of the Designer 8 lounge furniture. The always cheerful and energetic Peter from Vive, Inc. was the dj & emcee, and true to form, he kept the dance floor packed until the wee hours of the morning. Great Dane provided the wedding cake, topped with the Bride & Groom lladro. Yay, it didn't fall! The wonderful Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach team of Neda and Sarah along with their catering staff provided top notch service, and always with a smile. The Hyatt staff is always a pleasure to work with. Neda and Sarah surprised me and upgraded my room to an ocean view suite. We worked so late into the night that a bunch of us stayed at the hotel and went to brunch the next morning (ok, afternoon). Did I mention I love the Hyatt? :-) Did I mention there was a photo booth? Did I mention there was a candy station? How about the confetti drop?(Thanks John & Jack from ConfettiFX) These pics aren't the professional ones, those will come later, but I wanted to show you a sample of the wedding.

Enjoy, and Happy New Year!

Holiday Cheers To You!

2007-12-20T15:38:00.001-08:00

~ Holiday Cheers from my family to yours ~

Cheers To You, Jeanne & Miguel

2007-12-16T10:54:00.000-08:00

There is a reason we live in Southern California, if nothing else, the weather! Saturdays wedding weather was nothing less than stellar. Jeanne and Miguel were so much fun to work with and their wedding resembled them in every way~ romantic, sweet, and full of love. They were married at an incredibly charming church in Laguna Beach that seemed like it was built just for them. St Francis By-The-Sea was built in 1933 with rubble salvaged from the Long Beach earthquake. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest Catholic church in the world, and only seats 42.

The reception was at the Surf & Sand Resort. Planning weddings with Shannon, the catering manager at Surf and Sand is always a pleasure. What a great person she is, she made sure that everything was perfect for the wedding even though it was HER birthday and she could have been out celebrating.

Jen K did the flowers and everyone talked about them all night. They were over the top beautiful, and Jen K is absolutely wonderful to work with. Yes, It's All About the Cake! Can you say German chocolate with coconut, vanilla with bavarian cream, fresh rasperries, and slices of white chocolate cake? Every piece had all of those, YUM! Invisible Touch DJs provided the lighting and music, and as always, they were on time, prepared, and full of contagious energy. I've been working with them for over 10 years, and they are consistently on top of their game. Fusion Linens once again outdid themselves by delivering and setting up the chiviari chairs and linens before even I stepped foot onto the Surf and Sand property, which was 4 hours prior to guest arrival. Talk about service! I was lucky enough to spend the afternoon with my dream team ~ the amazing Marc & Mike from Ashley Video, and Jen from photojenic who is not only my friend and personal family photographer, but one of the most sincere and dedicated photographers I know. Check out these photos, just a sample of her talent. Working with this dream team truly make my job not really seem like work at all. Enjoy a few more pics...

Update on my assistant Val

2007-12-13T09:18:00.000-08:00

Lots of you have been asking how my assistant and good friend Val is doing. I am happy to report that she is on her way to Las Vegas as I type this. She sent this email this morning:

I am finally checking in to say “hello” and to let you know I have not checked out! Since my last email I am now officially bald! It is very quick to get ready now, and I have a new appreciation for men with little or no hair. It’s cold! My wish for Christmas is that I would have a nice tan on my head, however, that may not happen until spring……..oh well. I’m jealous of Howie Mandell.

I have completed 2 chemo sessions, next week I will be on #3 of the 4 “every three week” sessions. After the fourth session, I will get 1 month off and no chemo. Then I will go into the “once a week” sessions for a total of 12 weeks with a different concoction. It has gone by pretty fast. I now know what days I will be feeling sort of tired and “hung over” and that has helped to prepare me for the days ahead.

I have some wonderful girlfriends who have been so sweet to bring my family dinner on my yucky days. This has been a blessing and the kids have had much fun anticipating the “mystery dinner” arrival on those nights. It has been great to see my dear friends as well.

Last month, we had a great Thanksgiving Day at my sister’s house. The following day I shaved my head, Brittany style. I used Cams razor, and had time to only do half, and then I put a hat on, ran the kids somewhere and finished at night. It was a family event, pretty funny. The kids thought I looked the same with no hair, compared to my short “Lindsey buzz.” I was glad to hear that as the shock of baldness did not really affect them, or me! It wasn’t that bad. Just WHITE! Good news, my head is round and I’m not a cone head. I am sending a picture as proof.

I went and bought a wig about a month ago and just had it trimmed up this Monday. My sister Diney and I went to the mall to do some things. I decided to wear the wig instead of the hat I wore in. A, It must look real though, because some vendor in the mall wanted to try his curling iron on it. Diney and I laughed as he would have burned a big chunk out of my synthetic hair.

I did consider pulling the wig off when the pushy vendor guy wanted me to try some lotion for my “dry hands and feet.” I was going to pull the wig off and ask him what he could do for my head……ha………

I am so thankful that I feel good; my blood cell counts were in the normal range today, and that I will be able to go on my trip to Vegas. I was not sure 3 months ago if I would be able to go. God is good. We return on Monday, and then on Wednesday I will have my 3^rd chemo treatment.

Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive to me these past few months. You have helped me to make this experience not so bad! I hope that for anyone who may be diagnosed with breast cancer, you will know that the word seems worse than the condition. Chemo looks worse (no hair) than it really is. If your spirits stay up, and you go with the flow, it’s not so bad. God has blessed me with good health (other than the cancer), good friends, the best family, and lots of laughter.

Our blessings are sent to all of you and your sweet families.

With much love,

Val

PS: Bald is beautiful!

Val, there will always be a position for you at Cheers To You. Bald or not, come back to us soon. We miss you!

So Long, Farewell, ....

2007-12-12T19:25:00.000-08:00

Last night was the year end ABC-OC meeting. We had 235 attendees and what a night it was. The food and service at the Hyatt Irvine were perfect, the ab-so-fab Bernie, from aptly named Ab So Fab did a top notch job of decorating, and Vanity Fair kept us dancing until the very end of the night. I was in charge of the Spark of Love Toy Drive what a success that was! Thanks to our members, we collected a truck load of gifts, literally, a truck load. Cheers to the Santa Ana Fire Dept who came and loaded up their fire truck. They will take the gifts to the warehouse where the will be donated to under-served children throughout Orange County. It was a bittersweet night for me as it was my final meeting as the Orange County Membership Director for ABC. It was time for me to say goodbye to the committee, and of course I will still see them, but it won't be the same. For me, last night wasn't just an end of the year party, it was the end of an era event.

Three Cheers for the Three Waiters

2007-12-12T19:06:00.000-08:00

All I can say is WOW! If you haven't had a chance to see The Three Waiters, you are missing out! Every year I plan a corporate party for the top managers of an aerospace company. The owner is so wonderful that he allows me complete creativity. He trusted me to put on this event without knowing anything about the entertainment, the venue, or what I had in mind for decor. How great is he?! Thanks to the unbelievable, indescribable, out of this world talent of The Three Waiters, the incredible food and impeccable service at one of my favorite Culinary Adventures restaurants, the owner and his lovely wife were not disappointed. Here's a photo of (lucky) me with the performers:Beautiful holiday florals were designed by my dear friend Shawni, owner of Shawn Eden Designs and the linens were provided by another great friend and all around good guy Angel Monaco of Fusion Linens. One of the comments I heard throughout the night was, "Marla, you've outdone yourself, there is no way you can top this next year!" They may be right, but I do love a challenge...

Farewell Dinner

2007-12-05T20:37:00.000-08:00

Being on the Steering Committee (SC) for the Association of Bridal Consultants for the past several years has been an honor and an experience. It was a great run, and I am fortunate to have worked side by side with the best of the best. In addition to maintaining the database, helping redesign the ABC-OC website, and assisting in planning our monthly ABC meetings, I increased membership from 100 members to over 250. After three years I felt it was time to pass the torch to another wedding planner. As of January 1st, she will take over my position as Membership Director for the ABC-Orange County. Last night was our 2007 SC farewell dinner, we had a great evening, starting off with pomegranate champagne & appetizers, followed by an incredible dinner prepared by 24 Carrots Catering, lots of laughs, and an overall beautiful evening. Special thanks to the darling Lauren Hillary for taking this photo of us. Cheers to this incredible committee of wedding coordinators for their dedication, creativity, support, and their friendship.

Holiday Cheers To You!

I'm a big sister!

2007-12-05T19:56:00.000-08:00

The call came today, it's official, I'm a big sister! No, my wonderful 70 year old parents did not have a baby ... I just received the call from the Big Brother/Big Sister program that I am now a sister! I am so excited I can hardly stand it! This is going to be so amazing, I can't wait to meet her. My daughter is thrilled too. We are so happy to be able to offer our time and to share our lives with her and hopefully add some joy and some new experiences to her life. What a great way to start the 2008. New hopes, new dreams, and ... a new sister!

Did you say 24 Karats?

2007-11-30T14:08:00.000-08:00

What a great afternoon! The lovely ladies at Gioventu Spa just treated me to an incredible facial. Being a wedding planner is wonderful, but I have to admit, it was fun to be pampered, it was like being a bride! I am telling all my wonderful brides and grooms about my new favorite spa. Check out their website, and go for the 24 Karat Gold Facial. *WOW*!

Back from San Francisco

2007-11-28T18:23:00.000-08:00

What a fun trip I just went on! I went with another wedding planner and two of my assistant coordinators to San Francisco. We checked out a couple wedding reception venues, shopped a little (okay, a lot), and ate a little (okay, a lot) and no trip to SF is complete without having a Nutty Irishman... the coffee drink.