What’s in My Bag: 10+ Items Every Event Planner Needs!

Hey Ya’ll,

With years of event planning under my belt, I’ve learned that things can go wrong at the drop of a hat and so you just have to be prepared so that you’re ready to deal with the chaos at every turn. To help myself and my staff be more prepared, I’ve developed an “event planner survival kit” AKA my little bag of tricks, which I like to keep handy just in case things go awry.

In case you’re curious, here are some of the items you’ll find in my bag:

iphone (cell phone) and charger
sewing kit
zip ties (cable ties)
safety pins
lighter
aspirin
breath-mints
first-aid kit
Swiss army knife
notebook + pens
tape measurer
sunscreen
super glue
clear nail polish
bobby pins/ hair rubber band
duct tape

As you can see, a lot of these items are things you can find around the house. So if you or a friend are planning your own wedding, you might want to put together one of these survival kits yourself! You can never be too prepared, that’s my motto!
-Brian

Show Some Personality with Signature Drinks at Your Wedding!

Hey Ya’ll,

Today’s tip is one of the easiest ways to show your personality as a couple on your wedding day: Signature drinks!

Image via Southernliving.com

There is a specialty cocktail recipe that works with just about any color scheme you can dream up with for wedding, so try to use these colors both in the drink and in the garnishes.

Image via TheItGirlProject.com

Images via MarthaStewartWeddings.com

Doing so will add another pop of your signature colors not only to the drink station, but also as people move around the venue with their cocktail in hand.

Images via Hindsightbride.com

Get creative with your garnishes! Fruit works great, but you can also make drink stirrers with ribbons or pom poms on top, or even purchase cute straws with a stripe or polka dots!

Images via StyleMePretty.com / Etsy.com / WeddingsbyColor.com

Images via Cocktailsdetails.com

Try to think outside of the box in terms of what you can use as a drink stirrer!

Image via Etsy.com

Last but not least, take some time to create a recipe card that will let your guests know that you have created a signature drink for the day (maybe even his & hers!).

You can print your signature drink announcement out and frame it or simply write it on a mini-chalkboard, but let your guests know what’s in it if they’re pre-made or how to make the drink if it’s DIY. Cheers!
-Brian

Personalize Your Wedding with Monograms + Logos

Image via ProjectWedding.com

Hey Ya’ll,

Today, I’ve got another tip for you as featured by Wedding Bells magazine. It’s one of my most favorite ways to top a cake or add a little flair to a dance floor, and a great way to infuse your personality into your wedding day: Monograms!

Image via MarthaStewartWeddings.com

Consider incorporating monograms or logos throughout your celebration for an extra personal touch.

The logo above represented the couple attending the University of Texas. The lights feature the university’s longhorn mascot in one of the school colors – burnt orange.

Image via BetsyWhite.com

The best part of creating your very own wedding logo is that it can be used in so many different ways, from your wedding invitations, to your place settings, cocktail napkins, your wedding favors, on your cake, your gift table, it can even be projected on a wall in lights or on your dance floor.

In my opinion, the more personalized you can make your space, the more fun it will be planning and seeing everything come together on your wedding day!
-Brian

How to Personalize Your Wedding with Lighting

Hey Ya’ll,

Happy hump day! I hope you all had a fabulous Labor Day weekend. Let me know what you were up to over the holiday in the comment section below. Today’s tip, as featured by Wedding Bells magazine, is all about personalizing your wedding through lighting.

Image via theeverygirl.com

Lighting changes everything. The type of lighting you choose is a huge factor in setting the mood for both your ceremony and your reception. Be creative with the lighting above your guests…

Image via 4bostondj.com

Image via weddingwebcorner.com

Image via wedding-secret.com

Image via Reasonstobreathe.tumblr

…as well as on the tables and walls…

Image via lovellabridal.com

Image via indigofoto.com

Image via heartloveweddings.com

…and even the floor below!

Image via Bauman Photography – http://www.baumanphotographers.com

Image via marthastewart.com

image via Bellethemagazine.com

If you’re going for a romantic, vintage-feel, candles are a beautiful choice. They light up the space in such a natural way, and so the more candles to illuminate the room, the better!

Image via Thecinderellaproject.blogspot.com

Image via Bellethemagazine.com

If you want to take a modern approach, LED lighting that can change color throughout the evening is a great choice.

Use this type of lighting to create fun and different vibes as you change from speeches to food to dancing.

For a rustic wedding or any reception that takes place outdoors, consider twinkling lights or glowing lanterns hung from the rafters or surrounding trees.

Image via landscapelighting.net

Image via 100layercake.com

Image via aperfectcelebration.com

Image via greenweddingshoes.com

Image via allyouneedislove.blogspot.com

For a green option, you can even use solar powered lighting or upcycle old mason jars on your wedding day!

Image via lamplust.com

Image via wdtportfoliofrancis.blogspot.com

These are just a few of the simple ways that you can light up your wedding ceremony and reception in a way that its uniquely YOU!
-Brian

Similar Posts:

DIY Patio Lighting Perfect for Savoring Summer Nights!

Yin and the Yang: Design No. 7 from My Hotel Del Coronado Photo Shoot

How to Plan a Green Wedding!

Today’s Friday Favorites Winner!

http://brianworley.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/eco11_edited-1.jpg?w=584

Hey Ya’ll,

I’m so jealous of today’s winner, as they’ll soon be receiving one of the most gorgeous Eco-friendly living centerpieces that I’ve ever seen!

So… without further ado, our winner is: Melissa Kay Allen!

Congrats, Melissa, aka The Ebell of Los Angeles! I know that your Wisteria Lane arrangement will make bringing the unique look and texture of succulents into your home a total breeze! Send an email to brianworley007@gmail.com, and I’ll hook you up with all of the details on how to claim your living centerpiece! I hope you’ll check back in with me when you receive it and share a photo with all of us! (Who doesn’t love drooling over perfectly potted plants?!?)

If you haven’t already, everyone please ‘LIKE’ the them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WisteriaLaneFlowerShop, and if you live in the area and are ever in need of stunning centerpieces, bouquets, or any type of floral arrangements, don’t hesitate to give Sherene Hulugalle a call–you won’t be disappointed and you’ll be helping the planet thrive!

Again, a big thank you to Wisteria Lane Floral Design Studio of Beverly Hills for being our ‘Friday Favorite’ this week! Check back next Friday for more giveaways from my favorite places and people all over Los Angeles!
-Brian

Friday Favorites: The Butter End Cakery Giveaway!

Hey Ya’ll,

Good news! The weekend is finally here and today, I’m featuring a super sweet giveaway from The Butter End Cakery!


Artists and Epicures come together at The Butter End Cakery, where the finest cake just happens to be the canvas for incredibly unique works of art.

Millennium Falcon Cake

Born after owner Kimberly Bailey’s battle with cancer, The Butter End Cakery has become a place of joy, creativity and inspiration.

Using only local cage-free eggs, organic milk, hormone-free butter and rolled chocolate instead of fondant, makes The Butter End Cakery stand out in the cake shop crowd.

Ganesh Cake Photo Credit: Brian Leahy


The Butter End Cakery
is highly sought after by celebrities, five star hotels and anyone wanting to make their special occasion one to remember. And while they don’t have a bakery case with ready-made desserts, their lofty bright shop in Santa Monica, CA is open to the public with an expo kitchen where it’s fun to watch the team hard at work. You might even get lucky and score a free cake sample while you’re there! ; )

So… I bet you’re wondering how these gorgeous cakes really taste? Well, thanks to reality TV the art of cake making and decorating has become very popular! And while many of the new cake companies either make delicious tasting cake or beautifully decorated cake, The Butter End Cakery does both in a style that’s all their own. They also happen to keep a quote-wall in the kitchen of fun customer comments, including one bride who said, “That’s so good I think I just peed a little!” Which, if you ask me, is one of the best endorsements I’ve ever heard.

GIVEAWAY ALERT:
If you live in the Los Angeles area and would like to win an 8″ hand painted cake (feeds 10) from The Butter End Cakery, simply do the following:

1. FOLLOW them on FACEBOOK (https://www.facebook.com/TheButterEndCakery) and/or TWITTER (https://twitter.com/thebutterend).

2. LEAVE A COMMENT on this blog post, telling us what you’d like your cake to look like and what special event or person you’d like to win the cake for!

That’s it! Follow @TheButterEnd on Twitter or Facebook, then leave a comment below and you could win a piece of edible art from this sweet California cake shop! Good luck!
-Brian

***ELIGIBILITY/TERMS AND CONDITIONS: The cake order must be placed 2 weeks in advance and picked up at The Butter End Cakery shop located in Santa Monica, CA during business hours Monday – Friday. Contest ends at midnight on Thursday 8/9/12.***

Wildflower Linen Giveaway Winner Announcement!

Hey Ya’ll,

I’m glad so many of you took the opportunity to enter our Wildflower Linen giveaway this week! Unfortunately, we can only have one winner. :( So, without further ado, our lucky reader is: Kelly Huddy!

Kelly, we love that you discovered Wildflower Linen after researching the linens used for Edward and Bella’s wedding. We hope that you’ll send photos of the runner being used at your own fairytale wedding! In the meantime, please send an email to BrianWorley007@gmail.com, with your full name and mailing address, so that we can send you your Twilight-inspired table runner compliments of Wildflower Linen!

Image Credit: Gene Higa – http://www.genehiga.com

Hotel Del Shoot featuring Wildflower Linen

Hotel Del Shoot featuring Wildflower Linen

La Costa Resort and Spa Shoot featuring Wildflower Linen

Hotel Del Shoot featuring Wildflower Linen

I bet some of you didn’t realize that by using rented linens and chair covers from companies like Wildflower Linen, you’re doing your part to help reduce waste on your wedding day. Actually, there are plenty of more fun ways that you can reduce, reuse and recycle on your big day…

Check back in with me on Monday morning, for all of my best tips on how to plan a green wedding!
-Brian

In Vegas for Engage! 12

Hey ya’ll,

Just wanted to check in with you all and let you know that I’m in Vegas for Engage! 12. I’m having such a great time so far, who wouldn’t love getting all this fun swag?

Yesterday, I participated in a hosted lunch where the guests drew cards with different speaker’s picture on them and asked questions about our businesses in order to get to know each other better. Here’s mine:

This morning I’m speaking in front of everyone at the event. So thank you, for your thoughtful suggestions on what to include in my presentation I’ve decided to speak about my process for designing Hollywood type events and my inspiration for designing weddings. Keep your fingers crossed that it goes smoothly!

For real-time photos of the event (you can probably spot me in a few!), click HERE.

I’ll be in Vegas until Friday. Let me know in the comment section below if you have any suggestions for things to do while I’m here!
-Brian

Exciting News!

Hey Ya’ll,

I have been nominated for Event Designer of the Year and my business partner, Jaime Geffen has been nominated for Event Producer of the Year!

You can vote for both of us at http://www.bizbash.com/los-angeles/votes/. Simply click on the link, then scroll down to each of our categories and look to the left-hand side of your screen to select our names and submit your vote! Voters may make one vote in each category every 24 hours. Voting closes Sunday, June 10th at 11:59 PM PST.

The winners will be announced on June 13th at the BizBASH Ideafest! Thank you for your votes everybody, your support means a lot to me.
-Brian

Friday Favorites: Blue Topaz and Truffle!

blue topaz and truffle

Hey Ya’ll,

For today’s Friday Fav, I chose a lovely palette of blue topaz and truffle!

Images via justwenderful.blogspot.com

Simply add some light pink for spring, white for a summer feel, a deep merlot for the fall, or silver for winter, and you can throw a wedding using these two basic colors all year round!

Images via dilshil.com

Both colors are neutral, earthy, and crisp while maintaining a rich elegant combination.

Images via thoughtfullysimple.com

Images via hotpinkbrides.com

They can also be accented with a splash of bright colors like yellow or orange for a bold contrast to the calming hues of brown and blue.

This combo works perfectly for a beach wedding because it compliments the natural surroundings.
-Brian

Featured Favs (from collage):
Wildflower Linens
BCBG Max Azria ankle strap sandals

Leather jewelry

Bounkit blue earrings

Topaz earrings

Blue hat

Yves Saint Laurent blue eyeshadow

Bradington Truffle Chair

No Bake Chewy Truffle Cookies

Inlaid Monaco Pillar Candle – Hobby Lobby

Taupe and Light Blue Striped Tie

Blue Wedding Flowers

Light Blue Flowers Candle Holders by juliedyecraft on Etsy

Large Opulence Pyramid