Chico Wedding Planner | Patrick Ranch Museum - Cate & Chris

It was our first drone fly-over at a wedding...

Cate & Chris were absolutely surrounded by love on their wedding day.  We are sure that friends and family have been waiting for this day to come for many years!  He's a firefighter and she works with children and they couldn't be more smitten over each other along with their adorable young daughter.  Patrick Ranch Museum was the perfect place for them to celebrate their love story.  

Cate and Chris were so relaxed throughout their planning process, they didn't sweat the small stuff and really were hands on through it all.  As we got closer to their wedding date Chris stepped up his Groom Game' and took on the checklist like a champ!  From the delicious bbq menu catered by Sheri McKenzie, and the pie desserts from The Sweet Cottage guests didn't leave hungry. 

We have been loving all of the photos from Julia Lukash Photography, here are a few of our favorites..! 

Image via Julia Lukash Photography

Image via Julia Lukash Photography

Image via Julia Lukash Photography

Image via Julia Lukash Photography 

Image via Julia Lukash Photography 

Image via Julia Lukash Photography

We were so excited when we heard that Julia's photo of Cate and her beautiful daughter was featured in Upgraded Living Magazine! 

Image via Julia Lukash Photography featured on Upgraded Living Magazine, Mothers Day Photo 

I know, Cate was stunning right? We are truly happy to be a part of Cate and Chris's wedding day.  Their families and friends were amazing, and so welcoming.  

For more photos please check out Julia Lukash on Facebook. She is uber talented and highly recommended for weddings, portraits and more!

For more information on Patrick Ranch Museum, please contact us and we can help you plan your fabulous event!

~Happy Planning~ 

30 Day Dash | The 530 Bride

It's not too late to hire a Day-of Coordinator for your wedding!

Photo credit: Sarah Tamagni Photography

"Day of Coordination is my cup of tea..you should be taking selfies with your bridesmaids, not fielding phone calls! " - Veronica 

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It is never easy for me to hear people tell me their experiences as a guest at an unorganized wedding, from dinner running behind or the marriage license left behind.. it can happen.  Having a coordinator to help you put together an organized timeline, confirm your vendors, create a packing list of what items to bring on your wedding day (like the marriage license) can help you avoid these little bloopers.  

Even for the couples who have their items packed, and their timeline written out it still shouldn't feel like you are the job site foreman on your wedding day.  You need to hand over the clip board and go drink a cocktail with your friends and family! No seriously.

Day-of Coordination is my cup of tea. It involves reviewing the details already planned by the couple, confirming vendor agreements, fine-tuning the timeline and being the point person for all of your friends, family and vendors on your wedding day so that you can take those selfies with your bridesmaids instead of fielding all of the phone calls.  

If you are in the 30 day dash leading up to your wedding day or know someone who needs a wedding planner intervention please contact me today to get started. 

We have packages to fit any budget and we are always happy to create a custom package for you. Please hop over to our services or FAQ's page to learn more.   

~ Happy Planning! ~

The Modern Wedding Registry | The 530 Bride

Technology has changed the way couples register and receive wedding gifts, making it easier than ever to compile a list of items from multiple stores.  We tend to think there is no replacing the good ol' scanner at Bed Bath and Beyond, Macy's or other home stores! Either way, there is a registry option for just about everything you can think of, so read on to check out some of the most popular options:

Compilation Registries

MyRegistry.com (Formerly Registry 360)
Sync the store registries you already have & add gifts from any store in the world. You can also select charitable donations or set up a cash gift option to contribute to your honeymoon or other wedding expenses *Paypal transaction fees apply.  
Visit website

Giftser.com
a lifetime gift registry you can set up once and use forever to give and get the gifts that matter most. For holidays, birthdays, weddings, graduation, new babies, new homes or just because, Giftster is the place to share gift ideas with family and friends online or on the go.
Visit website

Honeymoon Registries

A great option for couples who already have their toaster, towels and serving bowls.  Guests can contribute towards room upgrades, additional bottles of champagne, spa services or fun activities such as horseback riding or tours etc.  Make sure to look into any transaction fees or service charges.

Wanderer
We don’t believe in traditional. We believe that you should be able to ask for anything and everything on your Wanderable registry. So, go ahead. Ask for those hiking tours in Iceland. Ask for those camel rides in Egypt. We just ask that you dare to ask.
Visit website 

Honeyfund  
Honeyfund's popular honeymoon registry is a simple way for wedding couples to register for what they really want — a fantastic honeymoon!
Visit website

For more information on creating a wedding registry, check out these articles:

The Biggest Registry Myths Busted! via The Knot.com

5 Registry Items To Splurge on via Theknot.com

Advice & Etiquette via Emily Post

Sponsored Links

5 Reasons You Should Create A Wedding Website | The 530 Bride

Why Create A Wedding Website? Here are 5 Reasons!

1. Share Your Love Story
Where did you two meet? How did he pop the question? Give a little of your backstory to guests who may be meeting you or your fiancé for the first time. This is especially helpful for couples who have had a shorter engagement or whose families haven't met yet. 

2.  A Central Place for Your Guests 
 Feel like you are getting 21 questions from your friends and family? Use a wedding website to provide information such as your wedding date, time and location.  This is the appropriate place to list registry information rather than within your invitation.  Going on a honeymoon? List your honeymoon plans if you have registered for a honeymoon registry so that guests can contribute to your trip.

3.  Out of Town/Destination Accommodations 
If the majority of your guests are not local to where your wedding will take place, it is helpful to provide some information about the town including accommodation & lodging resources.  Have a few favorite restaurants or other fun spots to visit in case guests have some extra time to explore.  

4.  Your Vendors Can Get To Know You Better
Your vendors may find your website helpful to learn a little more about you, and also to connect with any additional details that may help them provide better service.  Vendors who might want to get you a thank you gift can even find something on your registry or contribute to your Honeyfund! 

5.  It's Fun..and Free!
Creating a wedding website will give you another outlet for getting into the wedding excitement and also having a sense of control so that you have shared the information that you feel your guests need to know.  Your groom may not have his hand in as much of the planning, so giving him the link to share will allow him to communicate the details without having to ask you!  You can share as much or as little as you'd like and even have fun designing the style and theme that fits your personalities.  

Ready to get started?

You can start by checking out a few of the free wedding websites below: 
www.MyWedding.com
www.TheKnot.com
www.WeddingWire.com

Happy Planning!

Destination Wedding Locations | The 530 Bride

When you think "destination wedding" what comes to mind?

Image Source

As much as we all would love to dig our toes into the sand on a beach somewhere, an island getaway isn't exactly do-able for everyone.  A $500 plane ticket or a passport required to travel could be a deal breaker..just saying.  But for all of us who live in the beautiful Northern California area, we have a lot more to choose from than we may think.  

So here are a few little gems right here in the "530" area that offer great amenities for destination weddings: 

Harmony Ridge Lodge, Nevada City  - up to 150 people for outdoor seasonal events, 9 guest suites can sleep up to 20 people.

Harmony Ridge Lodge has become well-known for weekend wedding packages, where families and friends take over the lodge and  grounds for three days of celebration and activities.

The lodge also hosts week-long destination weddings. This precious time allows you to visit with friends and family ahead of time in a relaxed, beautiful location while putting the final touches on your special day — and gives you the rare opportunity afterwards for reflecting on the occasion and resting before going home

Green Horn Ranch - Quincy, CA - Up to 400 Guests, 10 Lodge Rooms and 16 Cabins

Running of the horses after you say I' Do? Hello, this is truly a western paradise for people who love horseback riding, fishing, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, fresh mountain air, blue skies, spectacular views, starry nights and unconditional relaxation!  Image via http://www.gabrielradublog.com)

Chalet View Lodge - Maybe, CA 50 Guest Rooms and Cabins 

Chalet View Lodge features 50 guest rooms and cabins on 3,000 square feet of available space to customize for an unforgettable wedding.  Complete with The Spa, The Grille Bar and Restaurant, and Eureka Peak Brewing Co all on site for your convenience.  
(p.s we think this one is way more affordable than it looks so check it out!)

Twenty Mile House - Cromberg CA 

There is no one else around except you, your guests and our friendly staff to ensure your wedding day is everything you imagined.  The elegant and historic 1854 Twenty Mile House, surrounded by stunning gardens, spectacular forest, meandering creeks and a flowing river provides the perfect backdrop for a romantic and unforgettable wedding day.

We couldn't list them all so for location specific venues check out the following links: 

Lake Tahoe Area Wedding Venues and Chapels

Plumas County Weddings and Honeymoons  (including Quincy, Lake Almanor/Chester Areas)

Weddings in Placer County (The Valley, Gold Country and High Sierra's) 

~ Happy Planning! ~

Post Bridal Show Frenzy | The 530 Bride

Those mini cupcakes at the bridal show were awesome (and guilt free!)

Okay so we know there is more serious business to discuss after the bridal show, but the food and treats are so deliciously informative.. how else would you know about some of the new cake flavors?

Thanks for stopping by to say hello at our booth, wish we took more pictures but hey we were busy talking weddings! Thank you to WeDo Designs, Molly Ryan Floral and Echo Designs for making our booth our favorite one we have done so far. 

It is probably safe to say that your hands were full holding your bag of wedding goodies and exhibitor information and that you went home wondering if you were more overwhelmed than you were before.  Maybe, but on the flip side you get to see the area's premier wedding professionals all in one place and offering some really great packages, raffles and giveaways.  

Our giveaway at the show was complementary planning and design sessions, customized for your wedding plans.  This is a great way to review the information you received at the show, narrow down some of the selections, talk budget & timeline and of course decor!. Our Day of Coordination package has been a great choice for couples looking to finish up some of the remaining details for their upcoming wedding a few months away, and our Full Service coordination package is perfect for the newly engaged couples planning to wed in 2016 and beyond.  Visit our services page to learn more. 

We had a blast meeting so many fun couples and getting to hear little tidbits of details such as color schemes and backyard weddings, double-weddings, and a young couple planning to elope.  We love it all!  

~ Happy Planning! ~ 

The 530 Bride Welcomes Molly Ryan Floral

Romantic, Lush & Whimsical...yep that's Molly Ryan Floral!

While Molly Ryan has already been busy with weddings, styled shoots, and some pretty fabulous celebrations we wanted to offer her a warm welcome to the Chico area and look forward to working together in the future. She has over ten years of experience working alongside the best floral designers in the industry, acquiring valuable training in classic, modern, and European floral design. She is also trained in Sogetsu Ikebana.   

Photography by TreCreative Featured on OnTheGoBride ~ Styled Shoot featuring Molly Ryan Floral, The Idea Emporium

Recently featured in Style Me Pretty & On The Go Bride her work has also appeared at numerous prestigious venues including the United States Supreme Court, The State Department, The Carnegie Melon Auditorium, The Kennedy Center, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Institute of Peace, the Italian Ambassador's residence, the Google Campus Silicon Valley, many foreign embassies, and five-star hotels and resorts across the nation.  

Molly Ryan Floral will surely bring your vision to life for any event from an intimate dinner to a large wedding or celebration.  Make sure to stop by her website or Facebook page to say hello and to check out her image gallery!

Website: Molly Ryan Floral 
Facebook.com/MollyRyanFloral

Happy Planning!

Mmm Monday | family style reception menu ideas

Serving up your reception dinner family style..

Image via Huffington Post 

A family style reception meal can be a great option for couples who want to a very warm atmosphere that will encourage their guests to get to know each other as much as possible.  Because guests will be passing the bowls or trays, it lends for an easy ice breaker and conversation starter.  

Image Source 

A menu card at each place setting will let your guests know what food will be served, and is another fun way to put your personal touch on your decor.  Add some candles if your venue allows open flame, or otherwise consider centerpieces that will work well with the added serving dishes.  Overall you will likely have less table decor due to having to allow for enough room for the food to be placed on the tables.  

What to serve 

Image source

While there are no rules on what can be served family style and what can't, you should consider what dishes are easier to pass around and easy to serve.  If you want to keep your budget in check, look into what vegetables and items are in season when planning your menu.  Lastly, because the food will be placed at the tables you can use the colors (bright salad greens, red sauces or bright vegetables etc) to add to the overall color palette.  

If you ask us, a family style reception menu sounds pretty fun (and yummy)

~ Happy Planning~

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Related Articles 
Three Reasons to Consider a Family Style Reception Menu via Huffington Post 

For the complete run down of reception meal styles check out Brides.com article which includes comparisons and pros and cons for each one.  Read the full article here. 

Gearing up for the Chico Winter Bridal Show | 2015 Wedding Season

Congratulations on your engagement, whether he popped the question over the holidays or if you have been planning this wedding over time, make sure you have marked your calendar for the Chico Bridal Show on January 11th.  

Not only is attending a bridal show a fun way to kick off your journey down the aisle but it also gives you a one stop option to connect with the area's top wedding professionals and venues.  Grab friends or family members to come along with you to the show, you'll need some help tasting those samples after all.  

Pre-Register for the Bridal Show here on our site to save $1 on your ticket, and receive your personalized contact labels to help save you time when providing your information to vendors as well as entering into drawings & raffles. 

We are pretty excited because a brand new wedding publication will be distributed at the door, giving you handy information about the show,  as well as articles on the latest wedding trends and inspirations.  

Check out some of our related articles on ways to make the most of attending the show: 

How to Make The Most of Bridal Shows.. Read Here
What's Missing From Your Planning Process ...Read Here

TBT | Bella Swan Got Hitched

The most talked about vampire wedding ever!

Okay so this might be the first vampire wedding we have ever talked about, but on this throwback thursday we are looking back at the Twilight Saga wedding and how it has influenced the wedding world!  From the vintage style ring, to that lace gown team Jacob fans cried as these two walked down the aisle!

The Ring 

The Dress

Image Source 

Since the rumor of the wedding in the Breaking Dawn movie surfaced, the internet went crazy over what the dress would look like.  It is safe to say this dressed sparked the revival of the lace, vintage movement and that is fine with us!  There have been countless replicas of the gown, not to mention extensive media coverage and press covering Bella Swan's look.  

“It took designer Carolina Herrera, and four seamstresses, over six months to make and was custom-made specifically for Stewart to wear in her on-screen wedding to her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen. Made using crepe satin and French Chantilly lace, the dress features 152 buttons on the back and 17 on each sleeve.”

— Vogue

The Details

Image Courtesy of BridalGuide

In Bridal Guide's interview with Tammy Polatsek, the creative genius behind this fantastic wedding she says that the wedding scene took 4 weeks to create and would have cost around $300,000.  Where did Polatsek get her inspiration for the scene? She says “Since the wedding took place in a forest, we wanted to mimic the life that a forest can give you,” she said. “We drew inspiration from the surrounding trees, stones, ferns, and everything else that grows in a forest.” 

The cascading wisteria was hung by a group of 20 people, and due to the weather some of the flowers had to be replaced hourly! Yikes! Polatsek said, "The centerpieces used delphiniums, viburnums, white lilacs, ranunculus, and sweet pea, plus stones, ferns, and moss. “We didn’t want the typical rose/hydrangea combination." - Bridalguide.com 

Team Edward or Team Jacob?

We'll never tell, but either team you were on it just goes to show you how even a fictional wedding can shape the fashions & trends all over the world!

 ~ Happy Planning ~ 

Lounge A Go-Go | Featured Vendor on The 530 Bride

Vintage Event Rental, Butte County 

Here at The 530 Bride, cookie cutter weddings are just not our gig.  So when I was introduced to the folks with Lounge A Go-Go, I had to learn more! Lounge A Go-Go is a vintage trailer available to rent for your wedding or special event.  "Lounge a-go-go provides a unique, enjoyable mobile solution for your get-together needs." Yea they had me at the vintage trailer, the rest of the amenities are just a bonus! 
 

Image courtesy of loungeagogo.com 

Amenities Include:

• Comfortable seating for 12 inside, plus awning covered area
• Air Conditioning/Heating
• Fridge
• Wine cooler
• Bose mini sound system

Image courtesy of M Heart Photography

 If vintage is your middle name, or you just want to have an awesome place to hang this is a pretty cool option.  Here are some possible uses:
- Spot for the guys to get ready & hang while you and the ladies are doing hair and makeup ( if he stays in here he won't be able to peek at you in your dress before the ceremony!)
- Rehearsal dinner bbq/lounge area which is great for the couples who don't have a venue that allows them to have the rehearsal there or those who don't plan on going to a restaurant after the ceremony rehearsal.  
- Bridal lounge
- Photo op for wedding party
- Bachelor party hang out
 & the list goes on!
 

For more information, contact Lounge A-Go-Go
Robert and Carolyn Engstrom
(530) 342-1053
www.loungeagogo.com
gogo@loungeagogo.com

~ Happy Planning! ~

Mmm Monday | Comfort Food Entrees & Appetizers

Guests won't be leaving hungry!

Planning your wedding involves deciding on a menu that will please the masses.  While the traditional wedding menus are always a sure thing, we are thinking about some of the options "outside the box."  We have rounded up some interesting entree options that will be sure to not only keep your guests talking, but they will be sure to enjoy your cocktail hour and look forward to dinner.  From Mac'n Cheese cups, wontons & guacamole dips they all hit the spot! Ask your caterer what type of entrees and appetizers they offer, you might just be surprised at how many options they have.

Two Bite Mac and Cheese cups - fifteenspatulas.com

Crispy Wonton Mozzarella Sticks - via Neighborfoodblog.com

Beer Braised Chicken Sliders - Thebeeroness.com

Italian Pizza - via StyleMePretty.com 

Mexican Food Truck - Via Wedding Bee

Baked Potato/Spud Bar via Pinterest 

Single Serving French Fries - via Pinterest

Feeling hungry yet? Hope these ideas give you some inspiration for your wedding menu!
~Happy Planning~

Inspiration Tuesday | Bohemian Wedding Decor on The 530 Bride

Bohemian Wedding Inspiration 

A bohemian themed wedding can include details like floral wreaths with a lot of greenery, woods and neutral earth tones also work nicely.  A bright use of color along with lighting that gives a whimsical look can set the mood.  We love the mismatched, repurposed items that add a uniqueness and personal touch.  Brides often choose loose braids, or flowing waves for their hair and may even choose to incorporate floral headpieces as well.  Yep we heart bohemian!

Forest Wreath Wedding Invitations via Minted Affiliate Link *

Image via Pinterest

Image via Pinterest

What says bohemian to you? Share your pinterest board in the comments below! 

Happy Planning!

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**The 530 Bride has an affiliate relationship with Minted.com.  If you decide to make a purchase through our link,  Minted will pay a commission for it. This doesn’t cost you anything additional. These commissions help to keep the rest of our blog content free, so thank you!”**

Image via Style Me Pretty 

Image via Carter and Cook Event Company

Image via Pinterest

Image via Buzzfeed

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TBT | Our First Bridal Show

Feeling thankful on this "Throw Back" Thursday!

As our team grows, we are reminiscing of the memories from our first blog post, first bridal show and first wedding that got us hooked on this passion for all things wedding.  Sometimes you have to look at where you have been to really know where it is that you want to go.  Feeling thankful for being lucky enough to be a part of our client's special day, and to be able to form such great relationships with fellow wedding professionals.  Here is to many more years, and to the next chapter!  Check out the About Us page to meet our new coordinator Samantha!

2011 Bridal Show in Chico

Our Favorite Favors!

Weddings are a perfect opportunity for couples to let their personality shine by using personal touches and unique elements in their wedding style and decor.  From the stationery and decor, to the food, entertainment and especially the wedding favors. Our favorites have always been favors that have a touch of the home-grown feeling.  Here are a few ideas of favors you can find locally:

succulentfavors

Check your local farmers market or nursery for mini succulent plants, redwood seedlings or flower seeds

allfiredup

Handmade/Paint it Yourself Pottery from All Fired Up in Redding, CA

Local-honey-favors

Look for local honey at your farmers market, or contact local beekeepers to get honey straight from the source.  Jars of honey or honey sticks are always a crowd-pleaser!

the530bride-sublime-cake-design

Candy shops and bakeries can provide unique edible favors that can be custom to your theme.  Cookies, cupcakes and candy buffets are a fun treat for your guests.  You can go for traditional flavors or something more unique like bacon flavored donuts or cupcakes! Image courtesy of Sublime Cake Design, Redding

Of course these are just a few ideas to get you started, the options are endless and your community has a lot to offer so it is a great place to look first.  
~Happy Planning~