DANCE AND BE MARRIED

I recently watched one of my favorite shows Four Weddings on TLC. If you aren’t familiar with the show, the premise is four brides that are planning their own wedding compete against each other. They all attend each other’s weddings and score them at the end. The winner wins the honeymoon of their dreams. I love watching it because of course it is about weddings. However, I also like watching it because I like getting the different perspectives on how different brides view weddings. On this one episode in particular that comes to mind, the bride with the lowest score was the only bride that didn’t a dedicated music source at her wedding. She didn’t have a dance floor and only sparingly had background music. In the end it cost her a romantic honeymoon in the islands.

GOTTA DANCE

One thing it reiterated for me is that music is a must for weddings. I would have to say I am bias because I am a music lover. So, if you plan your wedding with Perfection Squared, you are definitely going to have a wide choice of music options. I couldn’t imagine not using music as another way to express my love on my special day. Of course if you are just having a small intimate wedding with not much of a reception you may not need a dedicated source of music. Ultimately, in the end it is about your tastes, likes, dislikes and more important it is your choice. Yet, also remember that most guests love the part where they get to get out on the dance floor and have a ball. That is the time when you get to see your little 3-year-old niece bust out her new moves or have your grandmother prove to everyone that she still has it going on.  There are some of your guests that have come from far away just to see you start your life with the person you love, so don't they deserve a little fun.  Additionally, there may be people falling in love at that very moment at your wedding.  Ironically, your music selections could be the soundtrack to their new romance.  Mostly, after months of planning, a whole day of being on a schedule and an hour of sitting for photos, you finally get to let your hair down maybe even literally.

I'M WITH THE DJ

A question I get asked constantly is, “what music is appropriate for my wedding”. A lot of brides wonder if they should have a string quartet, guitarist, singer or piano player at their wedding. Then they wonder if they should have a band or DJ at the reception. The whole day is your day but your wedding is your moment. In that moment, I say you should choose what best express your vows, your love and your moment. My advice comes in when we are planning the reception. While the reception is also part of your big day, it is also to celebrate with your guests that took time to come out to celebrate your day. You want to share this time with them and so you want to take into account what they like as well. If you have a lively, love to dance kind of crowd that won’t be overwhelmed by the music of a DJ then go for it. Most experienced wedding DJs will add character, be interactive and create a very fun experience for your guests. If the demographic is right, I don’t think you can go wrong with a DJ. However, there are a lot of great bands out there as well that can provide a fabulous experience. In the end, just remember your guests and I am sure you will make the right decision.

THE FIRST TIME

Your first dance is the dance that will put the official mark of your new status as husband and wife. That means you will be choosing this song together. You may already have a song that marks a special time for you both when you were dating but if not, take time to analyze the lyrics because you want to make sure they are speaking directly to your relationship. You may also want to consider the length of the song. When you work with a DJ or band, they can adjust it so that your guests don’t feel as though the song is being extended for too long. Of course it is your wedding and if you want to play a song in its entirety, your guests will just have to understand.


I know there are so many things to think about when planning a wedding. You have to think about food and which guests are vegetarians, you have to choose the right dress, the right wedding salon to buy your dress and now music. Honestly, that is why you would hire us. We would make all of these decisions so much easier to make. With our endless resources, passion for fashion and love for what we do, you can’t go wrong with Perfection Squared.

EVENT PLANNING MYSTERIES REVEALED

Are you looking to hire an event planner or maybe even become one? I love it when I meet someone for the first time and one of there first questions is, "what do  event planners do".  When it comes to event planning, we have been called Party Planners, Meeting Planners or Event Planners. What you do in this business may have a lot to do with your title but I want have always wanted to do is throw fabulous party. Since that is what I do, I don’t mind being called a party planner. Of course I also plan fabulous events so take your pick. I love talking about what I do and that is because I love what I do.  So, I thought I would start off my Monday blog by providing a little more information on who we are and what we do.

First Things First

First if you want to become a planner, you have to decide if you want to work for someone else or if you want to work for yourself. If you work for yourself, you definitely want to understand the business side of event planning as well as the dynamic of creating fabulous events. You can be exceptional at what you do but if you do not know how to market yourself or how to get clients, where will your business come from? If having your own business is something you need to learn more about, I would suggest starting out working for someone. It is a great way to learn the business without the pressure of finding new business. If you want to hire a planner, you have to weigh the pros and cons to hiring an event planner that has their own company or works for an event planning firm. Of course I would always advise that you choose a planner like myself. Perfection Squared is my passion and it is what I do 24 hours a day (no I never sleep). So, when you hire me to plan your event you are hiring someone that will eat, sleep and breathe your event. I like that concept and I believe you will too.

Relax, Don’t Stress

Next, the key to being an exceptional event planner is to remember, “Don’t stress for any reason”. One thing I have learned is that there are some things you can’t control. However, if you have a level head it will always turn out better than it would have if you stressed out. There is a solution to everything and don’t be fooled, your clients don’t just come to you because they want you to plan their event. They will come to you because you have the expertise, patience and know how to produce a flawless event. As your reputation grows for having the innate ability to handle your events with flair and composure, you will become your own business card. Keep in mind that patience and strong presence create an impression. Did someone say patience equals Perfection?

Don’t Miss A Thing

My next suggestion would be “Think of Everything”. Is that possible? I am not sure but I always try. Not only do I sit down with my team and have a brainstorming session, throughout planning, I take time to think of ways I can make it better. I try to think of everything possible from planning dos and don’ts to those things that add an extra touch. This is your business. I own countless magazines and books on design, space planning, organization, as well as anything I can get my hands on that will make me a better planner. I stay educated on the venues and details about various locations. I continuously educated myself on my profession and the professions that impact what I do. If you are constantly thinking about what you do, it makes it that much easier to think of everything when you need to.

Know Your Foods

 Yes, there are some events that are foodless but in my personal opinion every great event has a great menu. One of the things I do when I sit down with a new client to help them pick a menu is ensure that I have a good sense of the demographic that will be in attendance at their event. True, you want your client to be happy but one of the keys to a successful event is making sure the guests are happy as well. That means making sure there is exciting entertainment, great ambience, a pleasant aesthetic and yes, fabulous food. Not only do I spend a lot of time reading about food and wine, I spend time preparing meals so that I can be more familiar with what goes into the preparation. I try to make sure that I understand the texture, flavors, aromas and more. Before I can suggest something to a client, I want to make sure I can give them all the information I can. I do this by taking every aspect of this business serious and that includes the food.

Love What You Do

I can give you a lot more advice and information on what it is we do.  However, I think the key thing and the perfect place to end my blog for today is to love what you do.  Someone recently asked me, "you love what you do don't you?"  When my reply was yes, they replied "it shows".  Whatever you do you have to do it to the best of your ability and that is so much easier when you genuinely love what you do.  This is my job but it isn't just my job.  Event planning is my life and I can honestly say, I love what I do.

MAKEUP IS FOR REAL!

When I first started working in the event planning industry, I didn't really knoweverything that it would take to be successful in the relationship.  There were certain things I was good at and certain things I was passionate about.  Those were the things that were going to make me a fabulous event planner.  As time goes by you learn that this business is exactly that....a business.  You have to learn how to run a successful business and in that you have to build successful business relationship

Being a person that is sincere and serious about my craft, I always enjoy meeting others in the industry that feel the same way about what they do.  One of those people is Audrey Ortega.  She is a Makeup artist in the LA area and her company is called beauty by Audrey.  I have worked with her a few times and I believe her look is very unique.  Having begun her career working in plastic surgery consultation, she is very familiar with various skin types and educated on so much more than just make up!  She has a fantastic ability to be professional yet make makeup fun.  It is her passion and she can tell.  So when Audrey's decided to do a commercial to promote Beauty by Audrey, I jumped at the opportunity to be the organizer of her recent commercial.  In doing so, I had the opportunity to work with director Ronisa Wilkins Shoate.  Ronisa's latest documentary was recently accepted into the LA Femme Film Festival  (http://www.lafemme.org/) and the opportunity to expand my portfolio by working on a commercial.  Mostly, it was a great opportunity for me to see Audrey's work first hand in a relaxed environment.  When you work with a makeup artist on weddings or even red carpet events, there isn't much opportunity to see them in the midst of a project.  Generally, you only get to see the end result.  In working on this commercial with Audrey, I was able to see her work from beginning to end.

Perfection Squared has taught me a lot. One thing I have learned is that not every individual works for every client.  That is why I am lucky to have the opportunity to work with lots of different artist, vendors and other professionals.  This exposure also gives me the opportunity to refer these various professionals to clients seeking someone with their background.  For now, I think Audrey Ortega is one to watch.

So, if you are Southern California bride, Model or someone looking for a makeup artist that is not only fun but professional, you should definitely check out her portfolio. 

Check out her commercial at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNYxEpbsPak