For the ceremony, the couple wanted to get married in the exact location where they met. We had the towel attendants that introduced Sonia and Alfredo to drive the bride in to the ceremony on their golf cart. We built a canopy on the sand in the bride’s favorite colors, hot pink and orange. A rose petal aisle and colorful dresses added color to the ocean background.

Sonia’s best friend Chaya could not be excluded from the festivities. She served as the ring bearer for the day.

We turned Sonia’s godmother’s mansion on Pine tree drive into a Moroccan paradise. The tennis court was covered in maroon astroturf and then covered in a gorgeous tent by Prestige Tents. Each table was accented with a beautiful moroccan lantern surrounded by roses, orchids, and the bride’s favorite, peonies.

This couple was very insistent about one thing, their guests needed to have fun! After traveling as far as India for this wedding, they wanted to make sure this wedding felt like a great party. We started by turning the backyard into a cool lounge. The furniture was covered in custom fabric prints and colors. We strategically placed the groupings so that the guests could enjoy the waterfront view. Add to that an amazing DJ, lights, and karaoke, and we had everyone dancing all night.

To ensure the guests continued dancing until the wee hours of the morning, we had Footzy Rolls as favors for the ladies. These great ballet flats come rolled in a small pouch that fits snuggly in a clutch. Custom gold ones made all the ladies feel like moroccan princesses.

In order to represent both the bride and groom, we had two types of favors. We had “confetti” or Italian sugar covered almonds shipped in from Italy. We also had Peruvian huayruro necklaces that symbolize good luck.

It was an amazing party for an amazing couple. Our team misses Sonia, Alfredo, and their amazing family very much. You are so very blessed to have eachother. We wish you many years of happiness!!

Thank you to Loly and Chris Acuña from Lolypix and Chris Acuña Photography for the great photos. They really portray how beautiful and colorful the day was!

Two years ago we had the worst Bridezilla we could have imagined. Initially it started out all right, like it always does. She seemed a little demanding and OCD but nothing we couldn’t handle. However soon she was demanding weekly phone conferences to discuss her wedding (mind you it was still about 10 months away), was having us negotiate down vendors that were above her budget, and was speaking down to our staff. And as her demand list grew, we were slowly being drained. The thing is, this one bride affected our team and hence affected our other brides. We promptly decided to let Bridezilla go.

We absolutely love what we do, that is why we are in this business. And that joy is important to us. It is what gets our creative juices flowing, it is what drives us to go all around town to find the perfect detail for a wedding, and it is what wakes us up in the early morning hours to begin a setup. So we can not have anything that takes away our joy. We decided that Joan Love Events is a “No Bridezilla Zone”. We now pre-screen all potential clients and only take on those that we feel are compatible with our drama free business. We want to make sure that we are in the position to give our best and that we produce amazing events for our deserving clients.

Are you a planner,vendor, bridesmaid, or groom (so sorry) that has encountered the Bridezilla? Tell us your story.

We started with a ceremony at the famed Spanish Monastery. Their prayer well is a very popular place for ceremonies which books up months to years in advance. One of the challenges of this venue is that, chances are, your guests have been to another ceremony at this same spot, so you want to make sure you do something different enough to wow them. Another challenge is that….it’s old! Uneven and cracked floors do not a good stage make, but with a little creativity and lots of candles, we turned this old courtyard into the most romantic garden you have ever seen.

Every year GDA brings together all the major editors for the most important newspapers in South America. Our welcome cocktail party is the highlight of these editors’ week. So imagine if after a twelve hour flight they arrive to find that there is a limited bar, or even worse, no cocktails!!!

With the down economy, many of our corporate clients are challenging us to coordinate their annual events with a smaller budget. And of course they expect the event to be as good if not better than the previous year’s. GDA came to us with that exact challenge. Their event needed to be worthy of very important attendees. So our first step was finding a venue that was budget friendly yet still classy. Add to that a good DJ, well placed lighting, some great hors d’oeuvres, and a very well stocked bar , and the result was a group of very happy editors.

Choosing my colors was easy. My favorite color is blue, and I think hot pink looks best for small weddings, so I combined the two and voila. I chose lamps as centerpieces because I like the height that they give the space and I knew my guests hadn’t seen anything like it. I also found these great LOVE signs. I painted them silver and had them placed on the table next to many sizes of vases with floating candles. To finish things of, my favorite florist Pistils and Petals, used blue sea glass and pink orchids to fill up the table. There is nothing I dislike more than an empty table.

For the ceremony I knew the one thing I had to have was an interesting aisle runner. I love the idea of using a fabric with a fun print on it instead of the boring white runner. This instantly gives the space a focal point and looks so pretty in pictures. I think it looks way better than the outdated vases, flowers, or tulle that are used to mark the aisle.

I love Martha Stewart weddings. I get so many ideas from there which I then put my own twist on. I like the idea of using a box filled with candy and toys as the place card for kids. It looks very cute on the table and it keeps the child entertained during the dinner.

For the place cards, I used grosgrain ribbon in pink, blue, and silver. Each color represented a different meal choice. That way the servers were able to serve the correct meal to each guest.

I have three pets at home which I love very much. However, there was no way I was bringing them to my wedding. Even though we sometimes do this per our client’s request. I never recommend having a pet as part of the wedding party since they have a mind of their own and they never listen to the wedding planner! So, I came up with this idea. I took pictures of my dogs and my lovebird playing with, sitting on, eating, and tearing up the table numbers. I then placed the pictures on the tables. Everyone loved seeing their crazy personalities in the pictures!

I love painted wedding cakes. It is a great way to give a modern twist to a classic wedding element without going over the top. I had my absolute favorite cake artist, Rosie from Elegant Temptations, paint some branches on a simple, white, three tiered cake. She also added strands of Swarovski crystals to the bottom edges. I love how she finished the strands with these little tassels. Such a cute detail. BTW, the cake was amazingly delicious. Red velvet marble and Godiva chocolate! Yum!

And then it was time to party! We chose the beautiful rooftop lounge at the Gansevoort hotel. We personalized the cabanas with throw pillows that were personalized, “LOVE”. Vases were placed on the tables and bar that were then used to hold the bouquets. Finally, one of my favorite DJs on the beach, Aliyo, rocked it out as our friends arrived to dance and drink the night away with us. It was a great time for our guests and an unforgettable night for us.

Thank You to Magda Hernandez for these fabulous photos!!

Lamps make great centerpieces. They are tall, beautiful, and come in different styles. But best of all, they make a big statement with minimal to no help from flowers. And that is a big help to the budget. Also, after the wedding day is over, you can use them to decorate your new place. And if you have some extra ones, give them to the moms or other guests as thank yous.

Source: Williams and Sonoma

Source: The Knot

Cushions are a great way to add color to the ceremony, the cocktail hour or the reception. You can also personalize them by adding a monogram or silhouettes. After, the event, pop them on your couch as a great memento.

Source: Joan Love Event Firm

Source: Frontgate

Urns can also serve a dual purpose. At the Ceremony site, they can hold flowers or mark the way for your guests. They can then be put around your garden at home. Tip: use faux stone urns instead of real ones. They are much lighter so you don’t have to hire extra help to move them.

Source: Fleurs de France

Tiki torches and Lanterns help add light and sparkle to your event. At your new home, the tiki torches will come in handy again at your first barbecue as husband and wife. The lanterns can be placed indoors on a bookshelf, or outdoors hanging from your favorite tree. Tip: If your budget allows you to splurge a little, try using bright colored ceramic fire pots instead.

Source: Home Infatuation

In order to accommodate all guests, rectangular tables were placed inside and outside of the venue. By keeping them aligned throughout, and opening all the side doors, it eliminated any feeling of separation. Neutral colors and fibers were used for the table cloths to complement the coral walls of the venue.

The couple chose two different styles of music for their event. At the ceremony a sitar player welcomed the crowd and played for the processional and the recessional. At the cocktail hour, an Indian band played a great set of indian sounds mixed with electronica. And finally for the reception, an amazing reggae band got the entire crowd moving until it was time to go.

Thank you to Adrienne Langford for these beautiful pictures.

In December 2008, Joan Love Event Firm was contacted by Mark Burnett Productions to produce a dream wedding for a deserving South Florida couple. We jumped at the opportunity to give back to our community and work with some of our favorite vendors. After only two short weeks, we pulled a dream team of vendors together and created a one million dollar, seaside paradise for Trine and Ryan, a couple that has endured the trials of liver transplantation. It was a pleasure to meet them and their family, and to be able to contribute some happiness to their life. Here are a couple pictures of our transformations and designs. All photos were taken by one of our fave photographers, Mr. Tony Gajate.

Before and After of Ceremony Tent. We added seagrass and plants for privacy, and a butterfly gate in the Bride’s favorite colors. The tent was then draped to add softness.

Guest seating. After grabbing their flip flops, the guests were surprised and thrilled when they saw the beautiful seating arrangement. We wanted to create a comfortable, living room feeling on the sand. Different colored couches and chairs from Bubble Miami where alternated among the rows. Some side tables were added to hold the Ceremony programs. Finally, cushions in different patterns helped tie all the elements together.

Photo Walk. We had beautiful photos of the couple and their family framed. We mounted them on lighted planters to create a photowalk. Guests walked through and enjoyed seeing the pictures on their way into the Reception tent.

Before and After of Reception Tent. It took a lot of elements to fill up this 3,000 square foot tent! We used different tables, a giant sand sculpture, and different activity stations to keep the guests entertained. But, most importantly, the great intelligent lighting system installed by Everlast Productions made the tent an ever changing spectacle.

Sand Sculpture. Why have a dripping ice sculpture when there is so much sand to spare? This beautiful, 8 ft. tall sand castle, was the focal point of the Reception.  It was sculpted for us by Mark from Team Sandtastic.

This blog is a little bit of the events we do, a little bit of the ideas we find, and a little bit about our crazy experiences as event planners in Miami Beach. I hope readers enjoy our blog and are inspired by it.