So Cal Event Planners

In case you haven’t seen Part 1 of this gorgeous couple’s events, click here! 

Afra and Saad deserve the best, and that’s exactly what they got. The lovely couple wanted a classy and humble wedding, centered around family and love. They simply wanted to provide a serene and enjoyable space for their guests to celebrate.

Their glamorous wedding was no small feat. It was full of enchantment and elegance. They even had an indoor water fountain with luscious roses. The night was full of laughter and love. Below is just a preview of their wedding. Don’t forget to go the gallery for more incredible photos of other weddings planned and coordinated by So Cal Event Planners!

The bride’s favorite part of her wedding was towards the end of the night. In the words of the bride herself:

“As we were leaving the hotel, my family created a walkway of bubbles – it was so fantastic to have Saad carry me through that. Outside, as we approached the car, our families began to cry. So to bring some comic relief, Shumaila quickly handed me and my husband our quirky sunglasses that said “Bride” and “Groom,” the driver blasted FloRida’s “It’s Goi’n Down For Real” on the radio, and my husband and I turned around waving good-bye. It was such a silly surprise that everyone was laughing as we drove way. It was a great way to end the night, with laughter.”

Hotel Irvine was blessed to hold Afra and Saad’s mehndi reception. Vibrant colors on a gorgeous sunny California day stood as a good omen for the happy vibes that were destined to happen. A huge audience of guests and a lovely walkway of flower petals led up to the stage for the Mr. and Mrs. Check out the photos below for sneak peeks at their charming event, and to read about how the couple met.

Afra was MC’ing the mosque’s fundraiser a little over a year ago. Saad had seen her for the first time and was immediately mesmerized. About a month later, coincidentally, Afra and her family were accidentally invited to the “family only” dinner party at one of Saad’s relative’s homes. Afra and Saad were introduced. He realized she was the same girl of his dreams, so they arranged to meet up and get to know each other. The rest is history.

Before the wedding Afra was very worried about what needed to be done logistically. Planning was definitely fun, but she first she had to come up with a checklist which proved very stressful with no guidance!

Afra was introduced to Shumaila through family friends. Immediately, she noticed Shumaila’s friendly personality and determination to plan this wedding perfectly.

Afra explained her expectations for the wedding. With Shumaila’s help and assistance, her instructions were executed excellently. She trusted Shumaila and her team and was confident the details would be taken care of properly.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Afra and Saad’s wedding!

Date: November 27, 2015

It was our pleasure to work with this couple. Hiba contacted SCEP towards the middle of their planning process and we helped put a framework around their event with vendor management, timeline and script. Her calm demeanor made planning process a snap. Hiba looked beautiful in a custom-made Pakistani designer outfit with makeup by talented Nida Gazi from BeautybyNG. Hiba & Asif wanted an elegant, romantic event and they got just that with the help of 2CreateDesigns! A one-of-a-kind couple, they shined on their special day. Check out their pictures below!

Our flawless bride.

Brotherly advice.

‘I got this’

‘Uh oh, I don’t got this’

The main man.

It’s official!

Dessert time!

But first…

Romantic and elegant.

A very happy bridal party!

And into the night they go…

Photo credit: Samson Productions.

Vendor Love:
Event Coordination l So Cal Event Planners
Décor l 2 Create Designs
Make-up l Beauty By NG
Photography l Samson Productions
DJ l Dhamaka

SO you’re engaged. Check. You have a ring. Check. You selected your venue and the date. Check. What comes next? Well it’s time to sit down and make a list— I would find a cozy corner near a window and bring along a hot cup of tea. If you are working with a So Cal Event Planner, she would most likely go through this list with you but you should do your homework regardless. List some of your own must-have wedding features, in order of importance. For many brides, the primary component is a wedding photographer. Regardless of budget, photos and video are permanent. They capture the emotions of an entire day and make it an everlasting experience. However, every photographer differs from the next just as every wedding has its own character. Here’s how to find the perfect photographer for your wedding. Click to continue reading and for pictures from different photographers and their styles!  (more…)

Venue: Doubletree by Hilton Anaheim
Date: August 16 2015

We had the pleasure of meeting Bushra and Anas at another client’s wedding. Bushra mentioned how her own event was coming up quickly and she was “looking for a friend with experience and creative insight to help with [her] wedding”. We quickly became friends with Bushra’s easygoing personality and Anas’ charming demeanor and gained their trust as clients. We met with Bushra and reviewed décor ideas and timelines.

Essentially, we organized two separate wedding events— one for the men and one for the women, a common occurrence in many Arab weddings. Each banquet hall needed our full attention, décor, two separate DJs, two photographers, (and dance floors of course). Imagine how much planning goes into one event – now imagine two simultaneous events!

Together we created a stunning wedding tailored to Bushra’s every need. Her Arab background and modern American twist gave way to a wedding filled with great people, an amazing program and an exciting night of fun and laughter. Check out sneak peeks of Bushra and Anas’ remarkable wedding!

Bride’s bouquet ~

And a matching cake ~

Momma centerpieces ~

Baby centerpieces ~

A more ‘manly’ color scheme for the men’s side ~

A party for the women ~

And a party for the men ~

We would like to welcome a couple things. First, the New Year! This year –2016— is a brand new year filled with new weddings, new trends, new ideas and new goals for us which brings us to our next point: our new intern! Heading into the new year, we knew we needed to add a new member to the team to support our growing company. Working with past bride, Bushra, was the beginning of a beautiful relationship unbeknown to either party that we would be working together again in the future. Check out the post below of our new social media content creator and intern!

~Three months into wedding planning, I realized I had more anxiety than the TLC brides always showed. The vision I had of planning my wedding gave me a headache and every time I sat down at my computer somehow I would wander over to YouTube and find a way to distract myself from the countdown to my wedding day. My cousin, who had planned her own wedding a year prior, was reprimanding me for being so ‘lazy’. Truth is, laziness had nothing to do with it. I slowly hated the whole process more and more. I fantasized and pinned many other beautiful weddings I thought I could never have while avoided planning my own wedding altogether. (more…)

What is Wedding Photography?

For most couples, this could be the odd question to raise and most would answer that wedding photography is all the same. Someone walks around with a camera and quietly captures the special moments of the day. That’s partially correct. The art of wedding photography has drastically improved within the past twenty years. Nowadays, a couple chooses a photographer that will match their personal style.

In the past, wedding photographers were technicians behind a tripod and a curtain. Mysterious and rare, the camera was something that only a few would attempt to operate it. Back then, couples would hire wedding photographers to provide a physical memory of their wedding day– basically to have a record of the event.

Now, due to the extremely high quality cameras that are widely available, the majority of wedding guests can capture and store their own photos on their own devices. There are even certain apps and websites that allow your guests to be the photographers! They allow every guest (who wants to be photographed) a chance to capture their own perspective of the wedding. Then you store, organize, and keep all the pictures from the night!

Here’s a simple guide to finding the right style of professional wedding photography that suites your style:

First, you’ll want to head to google or yelp and search for photographers that fit your budget. Remember, photos are the only thing you will keep after the night is over so think of it as an investment. For more on this, read our other blog post about photography. 

Next, think about your wedding and write down 3 words that describes your wedding’s style. Many experienced photographers will have galleries of past weddings they’ve worked on. If these pictures are similar to the wedding photos of your dreams, contact the photographer.

Some photographers like to capture action shots full of activity. Others prefer to take traditional wedding photos where the couples are simply standing and sitting with their guests. And there are photographers who like taking artistic, vintage photos. Choose a photographer that complements your wedding.

While you browse other wedding photos, use the galleries as inspiration and jot down a list of poses and photos you want to replicate. Photographers need a shot list to make sure they capture everything that is important to you. Include all the people and family members you want to include in your photos. If you need help creating this list, don’t worry! Your So Cal Event Planner is always here to help.

It may be confusing to choose a wedding photographer, a budget, the number of photos you will receive and how many prints you get so do your research. Keep in mind that these photographers are professional and their job is to make you look like a superstar on your wedding.

As experts in the industry, we have suggestions on amazing photographers we have worked with in the past. Not only is their work fantastic, but they are great people too. If you don’t know where to start, just contact us! We are always happy to help.

“One good pair of shoes can change your life”
-Cinderella

Every woman should feel like Cinderella on her wedding day. Afterall, that’s the day she and her prince charming begin their “happily ever after.”

This adorable DIY project, helps bring out the princess in you!! Grab your adorable pair of wedding heels and bedazzle them with “I Do”, you and your beau’s initials, your wedding date-anything to give it a personal touch! Missing your something blue?? Blue rhinestones are perfect!

 

Want to make your bridesmaids feel special too? Add a personalized heartfelt message on the bottom of their shoes!

Love the idea, but strapped (shoe pun intended) for time? Order a Mindy Weiss self adhesive shoe applique starting at just $6.00!

Remember to have your photographer snatch a picture of your hard work before the wedding begins!! Send us your DIY bedazzled pictures to be featured on our blog! Till next time,

xoxo

Super cute guide to weddings around the world! INTERNATIONAL LOVE <3