Northern California Wedding Planner | Planning ahead

Just the other day, a good vendor friend of ours mentioned that she had no idea that planners handled so many of the details - to which we thought maybe we should share a bit more about the behind the scenes work that goes into a wedding. If we only share what fits into a small Instagram caption, how can clients and vendors alike learn about what planners do? So here is trip down the planning lane.

Photo by TreCreative

First, we will preface by saying that every wedding is very very different from the next and no two events are the same because of the variables from location, season, budget, vendor team, style, guest count etc. Second, no matter which “package” a couple books - our role is to help you plan ahead for each phase of planning and to help present solutions along the way.

Photo by Gretchen Granka

From a full planning & design stand point we jump into planning details with a master planning session where we will get into many details from style inspirations, likes/dislikes, must-haves, preferences on food & beverage to the textures and palette that you envision and go into vendor recommendations so that we can curate a vendor team who will work seamlessly together on your event. Throughout the project we are going to walk you through the various phases and transitions of your event so everything from rehearsal, getting ready, set-up, decor, food & beverage service elements, reception formalities, open dancing, send off down to the strike (breakdown) of the event. The draft master timeline is our living document of your wedding so it will start with the foundation of sunset and hours of photography coverage then we work our way backwards to determine when you and your wedding party will need to be camera ready.

Photo by Sarah Tamagni Photography

Planning comes in waves, so while some of our check-in calls may be spent on decor or invitations we may have a whole meeting on site logistics like restrooms rentals, power, heating/cooling, parking, lighting, garbage, neighborhood sound ordinances etc. Those logistics are so important when hosting events in a private space that doesn’t already have the built-in infrastructure that a typical venue would include. As we near your event, you will have less on your planning plate so you can instead focus on how you will spend time with your friends and family while they are here for your big day! We use a checklist so that our couples can see where they are in their planning process at any time.

Aside from your timeline, we put a lot of focus into your layout because this will be where all of the vendors working on your event will be able to ensure they have what they need factored into your space. If we know that for your live band they need 4 dedicated outlets or a minimum of 15 ft clearance for their stage set-up we can build around those details.

Your day is about the personal details, so our team will work with you on your ceremony processional order, song selections, vows, reception formalities, dances, toasts and more so that your whole day flows in fluidly and organically. The timeline should be created with not only your preferences but timing that works for your whole team so that everyone is set up for success and they can do their absolute best for you. Meaning we get feedback on the timeline as we build it but we are also able to improvise on the day-of as needed. If you are still bustling your dress - we have an announcement ready for the DJ to remind guests to refill their drink at the bar before they take their seat and we give the caterer a heads up not to pull lids yet; it’s all about communication!

Photo by Matthew Lim Photography

Well friends that was a snapshot of the behind the scenes world of wedding planning but we could go on forever about all of our favorite planning milestones. In 2020 much of our work was focused on finding alternative dates or locations for couples, researching best practices for modifications and adjusting plans to the micro-wedding scale and we were glad that we were able to ease some of the stress for our couples. With 2021 being right around the corner we have a lot of excitement to bring in the new year and to get back to planning pretty gatherings again!

~ Happy Planning~
The 530 Bride

Northern California Wedding Planner | Finding Gratitude in Growth

It’s Thanksgiving week and we have a heck of a lot to be thankful for, in and out of wedding land. Over the course of the 2019 wedding season our team assisted 28 incredible couples down the aisle and worked with amazing wedding creatives on every detail across the board. We learn and grow with every single wedding and event that we are a part of so we know that we get to carry that wisdom and value into 2020!

The 530 Bride has grown so much from the very first inspiration blog posted in 2011, fast forward to today where our team of planners get to collaborate together on events all over Northern California! We continually work on furthering our education and knowledge in this industry, as well as striving to create a wonderful place to work.

Photo by Diane Nicole Photography

We want to also share that after many years of watching from afar - we have finally ventured into becoming a vendor in Real Weddings Magazine. This is significant for us because we can see the amazing collective of professional wedding creatives and also the tremendous passion that Real Weddings Magazine has for the local region. Shout out to Co-Owner of Real Weddings Magazine, Wendy Sipple - this gal has so much contagious energy and creativity you just can’t help but jump on board.. You can catch us in the new issue being released this week, as well as on www.RealWeddingsMag.com over in the Planning Guide and White List vendor resource for couples.

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And, finally, the last of our four covers for The Planning Guide-2020—we head to the country for this beauty! From the “Country Charm” feature in the Winter/Spring 2020 issue of Real Weddings Magazine! On Andrea: Gown from a&bé bridal shop; Jewelry from Macy's; Hair and Makeup by Lisa Harter Hair and Makeup Artist; Bouquet by Strelitzia Flower Company Photography by Ashley Baumgartner Photography and Calligraphy // on location at Lone Wulff Ranch Additional professionals who participated in in this styled shoot: The 530 Bride; Above & Beyond Cakes; Off the Vine Catering; Rising Simplicity; Belle Aventure Mobile Bar Co.; Always Elegant Bridal & Tuxedo; DSW; Hair Comes the Bride; Stella & Dot; Swoonable; Celebrations! Party Rentals & Tents; Tan Weddings & Events; JB Wedding Photography—stay tuned to see the photos from the "Country Charm" layout! .
. . . . #realweddings #realweddingsmag #realweddingsmagazine #realweddingssac #sacramentoweddings #northerncaliforniaweddings #realbride #beournextcovermodel #ido #weddinginspirations #findyourweddingdreamteam #sacramento #tahoe #tahoeweddings #realbridemodel #weloveweddings @ashbaumgartner @lonewulffranch @530bride @strelitziaflowerco @aboveandbeyondcakeseg @off_the_vine_catering @risingsimplicity @belleaventureevents @lisaharter_hmua @aandbe_sacramento @aebridal @dsw @macys @haircomesthebride @stelladot @swoonable @cprandtents_sacramento @cprandtents @tanweddingsandevents @jbweddingphotography_

A post shared by Real Weddings Magazine (@realweddingsmag) on Nov 25, 2019 at 5:13pm PST

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the newest Real Weddings Magazine when it hits the stands, and stay tuned here on our blog for our 2019 re-cap post for all of the wedding highlights that we can possibly squeeze into one post!

{Top photos by Gretchen Granka Photography, Alyssa Keys Photography, Morgan Chantelle, White Daisy Photography, AVH Photography, Ashley Teasley Photography, Pretty Geeky Photography and Shannon Rosan Photography }

Northern California Wedding Planner | Now Offering Specialty Rentals

These days with Pinterest and Instagram giving us so many visual directions couple’s can have a hard time pin-pointing their design ideas and then sourcing them. As planners we will always want to encourage our couples to choose focal points and then build the design around those elements so that you can maximize your budget. If the bar is important to the couple, let’s build a focal point around the bar and incorporate details that we can integrate throughout the design to keep things cohesive.

If you have followed us on Instagram you can see we love a good sweetheart table design so when we saw this beautiful navy velvet settee we had to add it to our growing inventory of specialty items!

Photo by Ashley Teasley Photography

We’ll also be adding two new bars for both rental and bar service options so that couples have choices in colors and style to match their design aesthetic. Pictured below is the debut of our white Moxie Bar!

Stay tuned for a full menu of rental items, but in the meantime feel free to shoot us a message on our contact us page to inquire about rental items or bar service for your upcoming event!
~ Happy Planning! ~
The 530 Bride Team

Northern California Wedding Planner | Choosing Your Creative Team

We don’t always talk about the business side of weddings much on the blog, but when we do - it’s mostly going to be directed towards the importance of professionals working together as a team. Why? Because this is the secret sauce for a wedding that feels so smooth, effortless and fun. When a creative team of photographers, videographers, florists, bakers, caterers, DJ’s, designers, venue owners, shuttle drivers… well you get the picture.. when we all work together .. couples will have a much better experience.

Couples will benefit greatly when they have a collective team who communicates and collaborates on the details in order to set everyone up for success. A smooth timeline = more time for portraits. More time for portraits without jeopardizing the timeline = ceremony starts on time and caterer’s appetizers are in place without sitting out too long, the florals look great, the music is cue’d and the reception details are on point for dinner. It’s all connected.

Our clients know just how passionate we are about the importance of hiring a DJ for example because we practically shout it from the rooftops, we could never tell someone that a DJ isn’t needed and that instead they should use an ipod or playlist. A professional DJ who understands the communication involved with being an emcee and will keep guests informed of what’s happening next, read the crowd for the music selection and help keep the vibe consistent throughout the event.

Wedding planning has so much more than just the “day-of” in play - it’s putting together the logistics of a site plan and layout, it’s understanding the intricate family dynamics to ensure the wording on the invitation is perfect, managing the budget & expectations throughout the planning process to ensure that the final design will meet and exceed the client’s vision.

It’s those pesky calculations on just how many pounds of ice we need and planning on extra dessert forks for the late night snack that was added on, each of those details are connected and are often behind the scenes out of the peripheral view of the majority of vendors and guests.

Those details are what a lot of planners thrive on, heck you could say we are just wired a little different - but ultimately that is our craft. Much like a photographer has this insane talent for catching the light and seeing what others don’t see in order to create magic.

Well our magic is in the details & the quiet satisfaction of sending a couple down the aisle after 18 months of planning and knowing they are setting foot into a fun-filled celebration surrounded by their loved ones without a care in the world!

How can couples choose professionals who will not only be a great fit for their wedding? We recommend discussing your preferences during your consultation and letting potential companies know that you are looking for someone who can collaborate with all of the wedding vendors for their event. You can always ask for referrals, recommendations and read reviews or chat with potential wedding planners about their experience with being a team player.

Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Friday Introduction!

Hello there and welcome to our blog! If you are new here, I hope you will check out some of our recent posts & tips and recent weddings. I’m back from a short vacation to Hawaii, and since we just so happen to have some awesome new photos by the fabulous Diane Nicole Photography, it seemed fitting to throw in a quick introduction post!

If we haven’t met yet, my name is Veronica and I have been blessed to watch this business grow over the last 8 years. It is such a blessing to be able to serve our couples, and to consistently improve upon our craft with education and experience with every event along the way.

A little about me

• I’d take a cold brew coffee over a glass of wine any day

• Got married on 10/10/10 to my husband Daniel

• Mommy to two girls under 5 (yes it can be just as chaotic as it sounds)

• Currently teaching myself sketch rendering and hope to eventually learn 3D rendering

• Obsessed with anything related to real estate, and HGTV fixer upper shows

• Have serious puppy envy, but settling with fish pets for now!

• Fall is my absolute favorite time of year, so I will always have a soft spot for fall weddings

I can’t wait to post some more photos from our shoot and introduce our whole team of ladies here at The 530 Bride! In the meantime, you can hop over to our about us page to learn more!

Northern California Wedding Planner | On Vacay

We’re sneaking a couple little vacation days in before we pick back up into our busier season! Emails and messages will be returned promptly on Tuesday!

Northern California Wedding Planner | The Role of A Wedding Planner

The role of a planner in the wedding industry is a unique one because it differs from the majority of the other vendors/creative partners that couples will book for their event. You see, we are looking at a 365 degree view of the event and advocating for our clients interest from the moment they contract our services. While the majority of the wedding industry works to educate clients on the myth of the “day of coordinator” the term is still used often and can be very misleading because it just isn’t possible to coordinate an event without all of the details needed in advance.

Before we get to that, let’s chat more about what a planner does (in no particular order)

• Meets/consults with the couple’s vision/must-haves and estimated budget

• Reviews services that have already been booked if any and makes recommendations on additional services fitting the couples desired style, preferences & budget

• Reaches out to additional wedding professionals to confirm availability, rate information and assists with scheduling consultations, obtains quotes & arranges a consultation if needed

• Updates budget with estimates, payments, remaining balances and tracks payments due

• Consults on design process, sources rentals & creates overall layout of items & decor

• Creates draft timeline based on client preferences, length of photo coverage, number of hours in venue and approximate sunset then sends to photo/video team, caterer, DJ and supporting vendors for review

• Assists with wedding website, invitation wording and general stationery etiquette

• Attends vendor appointments, tastings, fittings and site visits as needed

• Updates guest count totals with rentals, caterer, florist and venue

• Submits final approved timeline and layout two weeks with any pertinent vendor details

• Reviews packing list, final payment details and prepares for ceremony rehearsal

• Oversee set-up of event & ensure that the details run according to the timeline

• Assist wedding party & family with pre-ceremony preparation

• Confirm all details are in place and assist with guest seating for ceremony, line up wedding party according to processional plan

• Transition decor from ceremony to reception as needed during cocktail hour

• Ensure photography timeline is running smoothly according to shots list

• Check in with catering details for dinner service

• Assist with all reception formalities

• Post reception - organize personal decor, execute breakdown according to strike plan

Much of our work is on behalf of our clients, advocating for their interests when it comes to quotes for services and overall design details to ensure their day is everything that they imagined it would be. This role is incredibly rewarding because of how closely we get to know our couples and how fun it is to experience this day with them! What we can’t do is replace the work of wedding pro’s so we need to emphasize that we are not florists, lighting/sound technicians. DJ’s, caterers or rental companies and it is important to stay on the same page about where our focus will be..and that is laser focused on the logistics that make your day super smooth!

Of course our preference is to be a part of the planning process as early as possible so that we can be there for these decisions and details rather than be on the later end and need to step in to resolve some of the missing links or remaining questions that might end up being stressful or more costly with a time crunch.

Thanks for reading a long on this post and we hope that no matter who you choose to support you on your wedding day, you have an amazing experience!

~ Happy Planning!

Northern California Wedding Planner | Lone Oak Longhorn Ranch Styled Shoot ~ Sneak Peeks

It feels good to stretch your wings from time to time! In the wedding industry, we collaborate together in order to produce “styled” shoots or inspirational designs in order to stretch our wings creatively. This process involves networking with new wedding pros and artists, suppliers, models etc that have a similar desire to create something magical. Styled shoots can take many forms and can focus on the location itself, a new design trend or even a photo editing style.

In this case, the opportunity came about when Claire Nicole Photography reached out to us to invite us to participate in a styled shoot to promote the gorgeous new venue Lone Oak Longhorn Ranch in Marysville. This property is beyond words inside and out, and we can’t wait to share! We have a few sneak peeks for ya while we wait for the rest of the goodies from Claire!

Thank you to the whole team who contributed to this beautiful day! Be sure to follow these fine folks on Instagram!

Venue @loneoaklonghorns

Photographer @clairenicolephotography

Planning & Design @530bride

Styling @maydendesigns.byashley

Florals: @north_bloom

Rentals: @simplecountryweddings

Stone Candles: @stoneandflamedecor

Stationery: @minted natural elegance suite

Cake: @lovelylayerscakery

Models: @katie_tuck_ and @michael_wardd

Hair & Make-up: @blushed_brides

Gown: @lasoiebridal

Jewelry: @christynatsumi

Northern California Wedding Planner | Change of Scenery

The first few months of 2019 have been a great time to get caught up on year-end tasks and to keep making improvements to our overall service here at The 530 Bride. Our office space in Chico has served us well, and it was a fabulous place to meet with vendors and our growing team.

Delphine will be finishing out the 2019 wedding season before phasing out of weddings and focusing solely on The 530 & Co. where she helps small business owners improve their online presence with social media and website design.

So as of April 1st we will both be working from our home offices, and we will continue to be able to meet clients at site visits, vendor offices, coffee shops and remote/skype meetings with our clients who live outside our local area.

With a change of scenery comes design decisions and that means many hours looking at inspiration and deciding what items work best in our new spaces. Here at my home studio I will be trying to keep everything very minimalistic and toddler free! Can’t wait to share the before and afters of the final studio’s!

Where do you draw your inspiration from? Pinterest or maybe a favorite home designer like Joanna Gaines? I definitely know that home design wasn’t my calling so I will stick to weddings!
Happy Planning!
Veronica