ASHLEIGH + JORDANWedding Color Palette: Sunset colors; blush, greenery and rustic orange palettes. Tell us about your wedding venue and why you chose to get married there: Our wedding venue was held at Los Willows Wedding Estate, where there was a romantic willow tree ceremony area where you could hear nothing but water trickling down the man made stream that flowed underneath the bridge you had to cross over. We were looking for a venue that made you feel like you were in a romantic wonderland- it was also a huge plus that the ceremony and reception site were in the same location. We had a lot of family and friends that traveled from far to us get married, so we didn’t want them to have to drive or Uber around. What was your favorite wedding purchase? Jordan says purchasing the hand painted jean jacket he got me, I would have to say the cufflinks I got for Jordan. What was your best wedding day memory? Jordan’s- seeing me at the top of the stairs just being walking down the aisle, it calmed his nerves down. Ashleigh's- seeing Jordan rip his pants from dancing to the garter dance! What was your something old, new, borrowed, blue? Old, blue, borrowed: my late grandmother’s blue beaded rosary that was draped around my bouquet. Something new: my gorgeous wedding shoes that I really wanted and Jordan ended up gifting them to me as a surprise at my bridal shower! Did you create any details yourself? Yes! Guest gifts, dj playlists, cornhole game rules sign, donut board, picture board. How did you incorporate your personalities into the wedding? We both love food, games, music/dancing and crafted drinks! So we wanted to be sure everyone else indulged and had a great time! What was your wedding song? Florence and the Machine- Stand by Me. (Feel free to google and listen while you're looking through their photos) Special shout out to all the amazing vendors who did an amazing job!!!
Event Coordinator | Jennifer Armenta Wedding Venue |Los Willows https://www.loswillows.com/ Florals | Sweet Stems http://www.sweetstemsflorist.com/ Catering | Los Willows https://www.loswillows.com/ Bakery | Cute Cakes https://www.cutecakes.com/ Wedding Dress | Casa Blanca, Bridal Showcase https://www.bridalshowcasebridalsalon.com/ Seamstress | Bridal Showcase Wedding Shoes | Badgley Mischka https://www.badgleymischka.com/ Bride's Hair | Vow studio 101 http://vowstudio101.com/ Bride's Hair & Makeup | Makeup by Kamielea https://www.makeupbykamielea.com/. Groom Apparel | Men’s Warehouse https://www.menswearhouse.com/ Bridesmaids Dresses | Show Me Your Mumu https://showmeyourmumu.com/ Musician/ Dj | Pro Sounds by Alex http://www.prosounddjsinc.com Custom Bridal Jacket | Debbie https://www.debbieamosa.com/ Timeless, organic, light & airy wedding photography. Located in Southern California. Serving Orange County, Los Angeles, Temecula, and the Inland Empire
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MICHELLE + RODDYWedding Color Palette : Gold, white, light pink and small hints of green Tell us about your wedding venue and why you chose to get married there. We both fell in the love with the Ebell at first sight - the artdeco architecture, high ceilings, various rooms with different styles, arched hallways, and inviting patio, etc. We also loved how we could incorporate both an inside space with an outdoor space in our wedding. Once Roddy saw the space he said I really can picture myself marrying you here and walking down those stairs and I said I can too!! What was your favorite wedding purchase? This is so difficult - Michelle: I loved my veil - it was a long cathedral style veil with a blusher attached (which was unveiled by Roddy as I approached him at the Chuppah) and the long veil had swarovski crystals all over and it really made my ceremony much more special and elegant. I also loved my Bagdley Mischka Wedges and of course my DRESS, when I look at photos now I really fall more and more in love with the whole look! Roddy: His engraved wedding band and the Ketubah What was your best wedding day memory? VERY tough as well - there were so many! - Michelle: I loved our sweet first look as it was the first time we saw each other and spoke since the night prior at our rehearsal dinner (and even if if was just hours of not seeing or speaking to each other that is a lot for us); I loved the Ketubah signing as it made our marriage official, I loved the amazing and upbeat Horah; I loved our first dance; I loved how everyone was OVERLY thrilled for us and came to celebrate our love; I loved seeing our families dance together and sharing the Jewish customs with all our friends and family; I loved our hand-written vows that were read out loud to each other and how they had some similarity even though we kept them private -Roddy: Reading Michelle's letter before the wedding; The first look - Roddy said he loves surprises and it was the best surprise he ever had; Seeing Michelle walk down the stairs and down the aisle with her parents and unveiling Michelle as well as walking down with my parents; the support we had and how it felt like one big family What was your something old, new, borrowed, blue? We did not do this on purpose but I did have something new: shoes, veil, dress, hair pendant, our wedding bands; something borrowed: my mom's gold bracelet and my late grandfather, Isaac's talit to go on top of the Chuppah Did you create any details yourself? -The planner was written, created and designed by Roddy and myself but family friends helped print it and the M&R logo was created by a friend -We bought the "Tears of Joy" tissue boxes which we had to fold and add tissue paper inside, then add the strings so they could hang by the ceremony chairs -Bride's mom (Susy) created the full Mexican Wedding table (bought all the jars, scoopers, candy, treats, bags to fill them and wrote signs for each item so guests would know what is was) How did you incorporate your personalities into the wedding? -Roddy chose Zelda as his processional song - which shows his fun personality -The Mexican Candy Table was created by the bride's mom (Susy) and is a tradition at our family Wedding's (which mainly take place in Mexico City) but we wanted to bring this element to our wedding as well -Our first dance: we both love to dance and wanted to have fun with it so taking private classes became something we really looked forward to (Emma was also a great teacher and made dancing even more fun!) What was your wedding song? Love Someone by Lukas Graham (Feel free to google and listen while you're looking through their photos) Special shout out to all the amazing vendors who did an amazing job!!!
Prep Location | The Palihoue West Hollywood Event Coordinator | Melissa Lovell from XOXO Weddings Wedding Venue | The Ebell of Los Angeles Florals | Loris Flowers Catering | The Ebell of Los Angeles Bakery | Bella Donna Catering and Special Events (Cake and dessert bar) Wedding Dress | Sophia Tolli dress purchased from Lili Bridal Seamstress | Rhonda from Bridal Alterations by MD Bridal Wedding Shoes | Badgley Mischka Abigail Peep Toe Wedge Bride's Hair & Makeup | Hair by: KBGlam (Lauren Cory) and Makeup by: Robyn Fisher Makeup Groom Apparel | The Black Tux Bridesmaids Dresses | Adrianna Papell Sequined Blouson gown Musician/ Dj | Golden Bell Music (Live Band Hybrid) Videography | ADVTR Collective Photo Booth | Paper Moon Vintage First Dance Choreography | Dance with Emma Escort Card Calligraphy | Lovebirds Calligraphy Timeless, organic, light & airy wedding photography. Located in Southern California. Serving Orange County, Los Angeles, Temecula, and the Inland Empire SHASITY + CHRISWedding Color Palette Nudes, Whites, hints of soft pinks Tell us about your wedding venue and why you chose to get married there. We originally wanted a destination wedding somewhere tropical. After allot of thought Chris opted out of this idea and wanted me to have a wedding of my dreams. We toured a few venues and found Grand Tradition it was perfect felt like we were in Hawaii and we instantly knew this was it for us. What was your favorite wedding purchase? My donut wall :) What was your best wedding day memory? Omg so many- my fur babies walking down the aisle, Seeing my husband reaction when we did the 1st look to our venue What was your something old, new, borrowed, blue? Something old a coin on the bottom of my shoe/ something new my garter/ something blue silly but it was the handkerchief Did you create any details yourself? Yes the donut wall was something I created myself How did you incorporate your personalities into the wedding? The modern was all my husband the romance and softness was me What was your wedding song? Turning Page (Feel free to google and listen while you're looking through their photos) Prep Location | Pechanga resort and casino Event Coordinator | Michelle Sheppard Wedding Venue | The Grand Tradition Estate Florals | Susan's Florist Catering | Same as Venue Bakery | Baked Dessert Bar Wedding Dress | Mariposa Boutique Wedding Shoes | Badgley Mischka Bride's Hair & Makeup | Aline Hernandez and Candice Renae Groom Apparel | The Black Tux Bridesmaids Dresses | Davids Bridal Musician/ Dj | DJ Rukus Videography | Black Shutter Media Photo Booth | Stay Golden Timeless, organic, light & airy wedding photography. Located in Southern California. Serving Orange County, Los Angeles, Temecula, and the Inland Empire
JACQUELINE + DAVIDWedding Color Palette: Midnight Navy, Antique Gold, Champagne and Candlelight :) Our theme was Game Of Thrones meets Celestial…or as we eventually described it, a Midsummer Night Forest… Tell us about your wedding venue and why you chose to get married there: We were married at the Shade Hotel Redondo Beach - STUNNING! Our ceremony was on the roof and our reception was on the Horizon Level. This is truly a dream venue, only made better by the two incredible in-house planners, Julia and Collette, who went out of their way to make the entire weekend fantastic! If you are lucky enough to get married here, they will go out of their way to make you feel like the only bride on earth! The venue also happens to have the most stunning views of the water and the sunset! David grew up in the area, and this location in particular holds much personal sentimental value to us. We were blessed that they were willing to work with us and our budget. It allowed our guests from near and far to make the weekend into a vacation! What was your favorite wedding purchase? This is a tie between our yummy cake (OMG!) and my unbelievably stunning Eddy K gown, which my bridesmaid Laura actually picked out! What was your best wedding day memory? Choosing one is so hard because it was truly the most magical weekend of our lives, filled with event after event thrown by our closest friends and family! To have so many of our loved ones in the same place was overwhelming in the best possible way! We were married on my birthday and although David and I didn’t get to see each other until very late in the day, I got to spend the day celebrating & getting “beautiful” with the most incredible group of best friends and family on the planet. From my moms Susie and Ronni, to my nieces Grace and Elle, my sisters Cathy, Jody, Angela, Peri and Mary Beth and my sisters by choice: Alex, Anastasia, Katie, Kelsey, and Laura: I felt thoroughly loved! Getting my makeup done by celeb makeup artist Agostina Lombardo, who I finally get to call “Aunt Tina” was the icing on the cake! Our first look was a shared "best memory" for both of us - the moment I tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around, all my nerves melted away. And my father was secretly hiding on the roof watching, which made the moment even more special! A VERY close honorable was our amazing food! Everything was incredible: crab cakes and lamb chop appetizers, burrata salad, short ribs and sea bass were all stand out great! But our wedding cake was next level incredible! Vanilla cake with alternating layers of peanut butter and Nutella buttercream with crunchy pearls! And she designed it to look like the night sky…seriously STUNNING! What was your something old, new, borrowed, blue? Old: A pair of gold and diamond leaf earrings that belonged to my grandmother Pearl, as well as my rings, which were family heirlooms.. New: My Eddy K Cinderella Gown & my crystal studded Veil, which was handmaid by Reene at In Stitches - The BEST tailor in history… Borrowed and Blue: A handkerchief my Maid of Honor/sister Jody gave me to use that belonged to my father…which I promptly LOST during photos after the reception :) Did you create any details yourself? Yes, we personally designed and printed the menus, & my wonderful Matron of Honor/Sister Cathy designed the Yarlmulkes, and Programs. The bathroom baskets, poems and welcome bags themselves were also personalized by my sisters, who created a wedding logo for us. They had it printed on mini sunscreens and on the reusable bags given to each guest, which they filled with many wonderful “beach” themed treats! How did you incorporate your personalities into the wedding? Nothing is more important to us than our family and friends! We wanted our love and gratitude for them to be an integral part of the events, as they’ve each been instrumental to our journey - both as individuals and as a couple. In addition to the friends and family that served as bridesmaids and groomsmen, our nephews were our ushers, our cousin Duke was our ring bearer, and our niece Elle was our flower girl. We were married by our uncle, Rabbi Michael Menitoff & our Ketubah (Jewish prenuptial agreement) was witnessed by our siblings Peri Siegel and Matthew & Angela Golden. Our marriage license was witnessed by our aunt Tina Lombardo and our close family friend Ivan Romanoff, two incredibly meaningful people to us. At our first look, I gave David a pair of socks that had been personalized with photos of our cats, Lady & Rambo. We chose music for both the ceremony & reception that was very personal to us - a mix of songs from This Is Us, Game Of Thrones and Schitt's Creek, amongst others. We also selected two of our closest friends, Anastasia and Nick to do personalized readings during the ceremony. This was another highlight of our big day - I still get teary thinking about how meaningful and heartfelt they were. NAILED IT! And of course, we wrote out own vows!! What was your wedding song? We had two... Our first dance was to Etta James' At Last (the first song we ever danced to!) Our last dance was to the Noah Reid version of Simply The Best from Schitt’s Creek - a stunning cover of the Tina Turner classic. (Feel free to listen to their songs while you're looking through their photos) THE CREATIVE TEAM
Officiant | Rabbi Michael Menitoff Prep Location | The Shade Hotel Redondo Beach Event Coordinator | Nicole Gianola, Gianola Events Venue Coordinators | Julia Diane Whitley and Collette Charlesworth, The Shade Hotel Redondo Beach Wedding Venue | Ceremony: Shade Hotel Redondo Beach Sky Level Reception: Shade Hotel Redondo Beach Horizon Level Florals | Winnie VanHeerden, FlorUnique Catering | The Shade Hotel Redondo Beach Bakery | Maryn Silverberg, Piece Of Cake Wedding Dress | Eddy K CT154 gown in Champagne/Silver purchased at Glamour Closet in Los Angeles Seamstress | Reene at In Stitches Wedding Shoes | Badgley Mischka ‘Dara’ Peep-Toe Wedges Bride's Hair & Makeup | Bride Hair: Mai Lockwood Bride Makeup: Agostina Lombardo Bridesmaid Hair: Mai Lockwood Bridesmaid Makeup: Michelle Wiggins Programs, Yarmulkes, Welcome Bags | Catherine Kauffman, Stolz Mead Global Groom Apparel | Men’s Warehouse, Torrance Wedding Jewelry | Victoria’s Jewelry, Los Angeles Bridesmaids Dresses | Dessy via Bella Bridemaids Los Angeles Musician/ Dj | DJ Bumbaclot Photography | Janelle Marina, Janelle Marina Photography Videography | Sadi Alford, Whimsie Photography Timeless, organic, light & airy wedding photography. Located in Southern California. Serving Orange County, Los Angeles, Temecula, and the Inland Empire It took me loosing my father to realize how out of whack my priorities were! Prior to him passing I was so caught up in the rat race of life and growing my business that I was struggling to be present for the people who mattered the most, my family. Sure my body was physically there for school pick ups, practices, dinner time, etc., but my mind was sadly someplace else. I was constantly wondering how I could connect with more clients, network, and build my social media following that I was half-assing everything else around me. It was mentally draining, I was short tempered, and felt disconnected with my children. "...was this the only road to success -having to put my family on the back burner to get ahead?" I know it sounds dramatic, but that's how awful it felt. On the outside it looked like we had it all together, but on the inside I was battling major mom guilt. I was not being the wife or mother they deserved, and my family was getting whatever scraps of energy I had left -which wasn't much! "Didn't they understand I was doing this all for them!?!" Unfortunately they didn't see it that way. They only saw the mom who was putting everyone's needs before theirs. It breaks my heart just thinking about it! These little humans didn't care about the extra objects we were able to afford with me working or the fun vacations we got to go on -they just wanted me to be present when I was with them. Kids are pretty simple creatures, it's adults that overcomplicate things. I'm totally guilty of this! We want so badly to give them the childhood we never had, but is that really what's best for them? This season of childhood is so brief and we only get one chance to raise them right. I had to learn to set boundaries, stop spreading myself so thin for others, and prioritize so I can be present for the ones that matter the most -the ones that will be standing around my deathbed. Geez... sorry if that got real deep real fast, but that's what I recently experienced when we gathered around my Dad's bedside. He didn't care about anything else, all he wanted was his children and my mom to be with him. So here it is guys... the holy grail... the systems that helped me take charge of my life and get a grip on motherhood over the last few months! Get your notebooks out, pin this page, however you want to save it because this is literally months worth of information crammed into one blog post! I plan to break this up into bite size pieces, but this is for you "goal getters" that want to get ahead! I would recommend taking action on one section at a time so you don't feel overwhelmed. Remember this is to save your sanity, not cause more stress :) If you're ready to lighten your load then allow me to introduce you to Jordan Page (blogger/youtuber), Allie Casazza (blogger/podcaster), and Charlene Johnson (all of the above). There's no way I could explain it any better than these ladies who created them, so I tried to make your life a bit easier by gathering and organizing the videos and podcasts that worked for me. For the record I get absolutely nothing for sharing this, only the pure satisfaction of knowing I did everything in my power to help a sista out :) That's it! "It's worth spending the time to create more time in your life!" |
I'M JANELLE MARINA
Wife, Mama Shark, + Photographer. Most days, you'll find me in mismatched socks and a top knot, working behind my computer with a smile on my face, listening to Zac Brown Band and R&B --or, dancing in the kitchen with my 3 littles and hunka husband, seeing who could come up with the coolest dance moves. I'm a wedding photographer, West Elm lover, aspiring advocate for our buddies with special needs, and a Certified Dreamer since 1986. We live in a cozy city in Southern California and are always up for a good adventure. I enjoy telling stories with my camera, grubbing on spicy food, and solving the latest Dateline case.
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December 2019
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