CALIFORNIA WEDDING DAY – BEST OF 2019: LOS ANGELES
CIELO FARMS BEST OUTDOOR VENUE 2017, 2018 & 2019
Roll out the red carpet for this year’s stars of the wedding industry!
Planning a wedding has never been easier with this fabulous list of creatives that will make your dreams a reality. Find your perfect match from this guide to the top vendors from Los Angeles. We also have winners in San Diego, Orange County, Ventura/Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, and our Editor’s Picks.
BRIDAL ACCESSORIES
Margaret Rowe Couture
margaretrowe.com
Rowe has turned a lifelong love of estate jewelry into inspiration for a collection of vintage-inspired accessories and jewelry.
FINALISTS: BHLDN, Erica Elizabeth Designs, Kendra Scott
HAIR & MAKEUP
Make-Up Therapy
makeuptherapy.com
Owner Tara Dowburd and her team specialize in dramatic red lips, smoky eyes and romantic updos, but their number-one priority is making their clients feel and look their best.
FINALISTS: BreLuxe Beauty, Chiali Meng Artistry, Page Beauty
CUSTOM WEDDING GOWN DESIGNER
A Bride by Samantha
abridebysamantha.com
Samantha Popa creates elegant designs that incorporate the latest couture trends while capturing the bride’s personality.
FINALISTS: Rminé, Trish Peng, Vene Ai Studio
WEDDING DRESS SHOP
JLM Couture
jlmcouture.com
Boasting the best in bridal couture, this flagship boutique is home to designers Hayley Paige, Lazaro, Allison Webb, Jim Hjelm and Alvina Valenta.
FINALISTS: Kinsley James Couture Bridal, Lovella Bridal, Panache Bridal
GROOM’S ATTIRE
Friar Tux Shop
friartux.com
With more than 28 stores across Southern California, this family-owned business makes finding a groom’s look a breeze with its fashionable inventory and ease of ordering paired with plenty of variety.
FINALISTS: The Black Tux, Grooms Grotto, Men’s Wearhouse
WEDDING CAKES & DESSERTS
The Butter End Cakery
thebutterend.com
Kimberly Bailey finds inspiration in fashion, architecture and her clients to create unique cakes that are as pretty as they are delicious.
FINALISTS: Colin O’Dea Cakes, Fantasy Frostings, The Sugar Philosophers
INVITATION DESIGNER
Jasmin Michelle Designs
jasminmichelledesigns.com
A career in advertising and design led owner Jasmin Sabau to design her own wedding invitations and shortly thereafter, she launched her luxury stationery business. Through it she can revel in her love for beautiful papers, calligraphy, typography and creativity.
FINALISTS: Copper Willow Paper Studio, Cut It Lab, Prim & Pixie
CALLIGRAPHY
Calligraphy Katrina
calligraphykatrina.com
Owner Katrina Centeno-Nguyen’s particular flourish includes custom 19 fonts that she uses to “dot i’s and cross t’s,” together with her ability to personalize any invitation, surface or signage.
FINALISTS: Anne Robin Calligraphy, Kelly Patrice, Seniman Calligraphy
OFFICIANT
JP Reynolds
jprweddings.com
JP Reynolds brings a personal dedication to seeking out what matters most to his clients in order to create unique ceremonies.
Finalists: Reverend Clint Hufft, Great Officiants
DJ/EMCEE
Krieger
djkrieger.com
David Krieger’s longstanding professional manner and background in radio and television give him the tools to rock the dance floor like few others can.
FINALISTS: Dart Collective, Supermoon DJs, Vox DJs
RECEPTION BAND
West Coast Music
westcoastmusic.com
This company is renowned for the quality, creativity and liveliness its performers bring to the party, along with their talent for interacting with the crowd.
FINALISTS: LIV Entertainment, MJ Entertainment LA, The Replicas Music & Productions
LIGHTING & AUDIOVISUAL
Pacific Event Services
pacificeventservices.com
Owner Marc Weinstock and his team have been seamlessly executing state-of-the-art production and technical design, staging and lighting for 10 years.
FINALISTS: Amber Event Production, Images by Lighting, LightenUp Inc.
RENTALS (Tabletop and Furniture)
Premiere Party Rents
premierepartyrents.com
Premiere Party has 30 years of experience and a vast inventory containing everything you’ll ever need, from fire pits and tree arbors to gray velvet lounge chairs and beautiful tables. Whether pairs pine for French country platters, oblong silver chafers, lilac linens with lace overlays or gold-rimmed glassware, their tabletop collection has everything you need to set your event’s tables.
FINALISTS (tabletop): La Tavola Fine Linen, Luxe Linen, Theoni Collection
FINALISTS (furniture and accessories): Bright Event Rentals, Found Rentals, Papillon Rentals
CATERING
Très LA Catering
tresla.com L
With unmatched attention to detail, customized menus and a highly trained staff, the Team at Tres LA produce extraordinary events and make each couple feel like their only client.
FINALISTS: Contemporary Catering, Good Gracious! Events, Made by Meg Catering
NEW VENUE
City Market Social House
citymarketsocialhouse.com
This sleek warehouse-inspired spot in downtown LA has 14,500 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor soiree space, and features vaulted bow-truss ceilings, roll-up garage doors and polished concrete floors.
FINALISTS: The Mayfair Hotel, Rolling Hills Country Club, Valentine
RESORT FOR A WEDDING
Terranea Resort
terranea.com
This 102-acre Rancho Palos Verdes property boasts Pacific Ocean views, cliff-top event spaces, fine dining, Mediterranean-style architecture, a decadent spa, scenic paths and beach access, making it a destination within a destination.
FINALISTS: Hotel Bel-Air, InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, The London West Hollywood
INDOOR VENUE
Vibiana
vibiana.com
This venue is set apart by its lofty ceilings, luxurious white marble, an elegant outdoor garden and impeccable food served by chef and owner Neal Fraser.
FINALISTS: Carondelet House, Ebell Long Beach, La Venta Inn
OUTDOOR VENUE
Cielo Farms
woodstockmalibu.com
This picturesque venue is set among olive orchards, vineyards and Malibu’s mountains, and is anchored by a rustic Tuscan-style farmhouse.
FINALISTS: Bel-Air Bay Club, Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards, Triunfo Creek Vineyards
VIDEOGRAPHER
Elysium Productions
elysiumproductions.com
Elysium combines behind-the-scenes footage, scenic shots, private moments, reception revelry and engaging music to create moving film that captures the day.
FINALISTS: Blue Kite Cinema, Fisheye Studio, Hoo Films
PHOTOGRAPHER
Laurie Bailey Photography
lauriebailey.com
Bailey documents all the joy, love, merriment, fashion, food and family in color and black and white, allowing couples to cherish the details of their day long after the last dance.
FINALISTS: John & Joseph Photography, Maya Myers Photography, Next Exit Photography
FLORIST
Lilla Bello
lillabello.com
The Lilla Bello team, led by founder Toby Kassoy, puts petal to the metal to find the freshest blooms, match personalities to plants, and create unforgettable and often colorful table arrangements, arches, chuppahs, bouquets, aisle decorations, crowns and hanging displays.
FINALISTS: FlorUnique, Lotus and Lily Floral Design, Rebelle Fleurs
WEDDING PLANNER
Kristeen LaBrot Events
kristeenlabrotevents.com
Calm, poised and effortlessly creative, Kristeen LaBrot captures a couple’s personality and reflects it through design, from elegant to quirky and everything in between.
FINALISTS: Marisa Nicole Events, Natalie Sofer Weddings And Events, Orange Blossom Special Events
EVENT DESIGNER
Nicole Alexandra Designs
nicolealexandradesigns.com
From managing budgets and flushing out themes to coordinating a unique getaway car or designing a diet-busting dessert buffet, Nicole Alexandra does what it takes to ensure that couples feel as though they have achieved their fantasy fete.
FINALISTS: Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle and Design, Master Plans Events & Design, So Happi Together
BEST OF THE BEST
Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle and Design
eddiezaratsian.com
From romantic, cascading floor-to-ceiling florals to modern statement pieces that will delight design buffs, Zaratsian and his team create fanciful and creative installations that transform a space into another world.
FINALISTS: Kristin Banta Events, Très LA Catering, Vibiana
By: Lara M. Burnap and Carrie Bell