Blog
Renting an Estate for an event. Our company has access to over 4,000 private estates and mansions in Southern California. Here are 10 tips to keep your event from falling flat or going up in flames – 1. Don’t skimp on the audio, so your guests can hear your vows, toasts, and the entertainment. 2. If […]
Renting a Private Estate for a Wedding or Special Event – Several times a week, we receive inquiries from clients asking for a “day-of” planner for a private estate wedding. The best way to imagine this type of event is to think of it as bringing a restaurant to someone’s home. In addition to the […]
Private Mansions for Weddings Finding the right venue can be very challenging, but there are steps that you can take that will help make the search less stressful. 1. First and foremost, establish your budget, then start checking out different venues and/or estates that will accommodate your budget. 2. Decide on what time of year […]
Planning a Wedding Tips We receive calls every day from potential clients needing help with the planning of their weddings. Some clients don’t have the time to plan, while others are doing this for the first time. We appreciate our clients and our ultimate goal is to assist them reach their goals. We understand that […]
10 Wedding Planning Tips – I moved to L.A. in my 20’s to work for Time Warner Cable. A few years later, I landed a job at Sony Picture Entertainment’s GSN. My very first job assignment was taping boxes for our traveling sales team. I had no idea where this job would lead, but I […]
Day of Wedding Coordinator – Several times a week, we receive inquiries from new brides asking about day-of-wedding coordination. Since this is a very popular service, I thought it would be a great idea to address it. The name of this package was created by wedding publications and blogs a few years ago. They helped […]
Top reasons to hire an event planner – Recently, a client shared with me that she was advised by her friends not to hire an event planner for her daughter’s wedding. Here are 10 reasons to consider a planner for your next event. 1. We can identify problems before the event day. An experienced planner […]
10 Tips for the Newly Engaged After planning weddings for over 11 years, I have discovered a large percentage of proposals happen around the holidays. I can relate, since my husband popped the question 10 years ago this month. XO, Gianna Our Company offers a variety of different services, so we may accommodate all of our clients. […]
Top Ten Holiday Event Planning Tips. I thought it would be fun to highlight our favorite holiday party planning tips in this week’s blog. The holidays can be magical when you surround yourself with loved ones and what better way to enjoy them, but with great food and drink. My husband and I love to […]
Top Ten Wedding Planning Tips I have been gathering my top planning tips over the last 10 years. Here are my top 10 picks with hopes that they will save you time and stress. Happy planning! 1. Set your budget and make sure that it matches your guest count. Once you establish both numbers, […]
Steps for Successful Event Planning Planning an event has its challenges and it can be stressful. Since events are live, challenges can happen. Challenges may include bad weather, traffic jams, or an event professional who is late or does not deliver on what he or she promises. Here are some very important steps to help […]
Tips for Planning an Estate Wedding – Many of our couples want to plan a successful wedding that is both unique and private. Since we have access to over 4,000 private estates and mansions in the greater Los Angeles area, we are able to offer a variety of options. We allow our clients to use […]
New Rules of Wedding Planning and How to Bend Them – We have all heard of stories about family friction or uncomfortable situations that come up while planning a wedding or special event. Q. Trying to plan a wedding on a firm budget and everyone has given you their guest list and now the guest […]
Tips For Successful Event Planning – Here are this week’s tips to help you find a balance for planning the perfect wedding and/or event day and help keep you stress free. Every time we produce an event, we run through the details until we are confident that everything has been covered. Once on site, we […]
10 Event Planning Mistakes – 1. Ask five people whom you trust to proof your save the dates and invites before you give the okay to print. After doing this for over 15 years, you would be surprised at the simplest things that get missed. 2. When shopping for shoes, go in the late in the […]
Event and Wedding Planning Tips – Before you lock down your wedding or special event location, determine what you want to do with the space. The beginning steps we recommend are as follows: 1. Determine your budget and style. 2. Setup a Pinterest account, so you can guide your event professionals. 3. Establish your guest […]
Wedding Planning Checklist Planning an event has a lot of moving parts, so we thought it would be helpful to provide a highlight of important items and when to execute them. If you need assistance, please give us a call at 310-994-7789. Please note, this list is not an entire planning guide. XO, Gianna six […]
What is a Day of Wedding Coordinator? Our office receives five to seven calls a week for a day-of wedding coordinator. The term, “day-of” itself is a very misleading description and here is why: A coordinator who is not involved with any of the planning, but only shows up on the “day of the wedding” […]
Tips for Planning a Party. I love summer! Hard to believe that July is already here. If you are planning a get together with friends and family on or around the Fourth of July, here are some fun ideas to get you ready for the celebration – 1. Heat the pool a few days ahead […]
Wedding Etiquette for Guests – told with love. xo Wedding Etiquette for Guests 1. As a guest, please avoid wearing white to the rehearsal and wedding. White is reserved for the bride! I have to be frank, I have only seen a guest wear white on two occasions and it was not a popular […]
Wedding Traditions – Important Facts to Know Growing up in my parent’s floral business and running an event planning business has taught me a lot about wedding traditions. Here are some thoughts to consider – what to keep, what to loose and everything in-between. Getting engaged – when you think about it, the whole process […]
10 Planning Mistakes Every Bride Should Know 10 Planning Mistakes Every Bride Should Know – recently, a few of us got together and swapped stories. I thought it would be fun to list the top planning mistakes in this week’s blog. I hope they save you time and money in the long run. Happy planning. […]
Tips for Hiring an Event Photographer – The photographer is one of the most important event professionals that you will hire. Before you hire the photographer, here are a few steps that you may wish to consider: 1. First set your date and secure your venue, then start your research. 2. Determine your photography budget. 3. […]
Why should You Hire an Event Planner – You might be asking yourself, do I really need to hire an event planner? Obviously, this subject is rather dear to my heart, since it is what I do for a living. xo Listed below are a few questions that we ask potential clients to see if […]
5 Wedding Planning Tips to Avoid Mistakes – A wedding can be romantic and beautiful, but first you have to plan the details and the devil is in the details. We have all heard stories about family or in-laws or friends having their feelings hurt during the planning process and sometimes this makes things uncomfortable […]
Los Angeles Wedding Venues – I don’t normally use my blog to promote any causes, but the recent tragedy in Boston is one that I can’t ignore. Here is the link to the fund that the Mayor and Governor of Boston setup, so far it has raised $26,399,470 to help those affected by the […]
Important Wedding Planning Tips From time to time, we hear about wedding or special event mishaps and I thought it would be a great idea to compile my top 10 tips in this week’s blog. 1. Check out your professional service providers before you sign an agreement with them. We recommend checking them out on […]
Tips for Renting a Private Estate or Mansion in the Greater Los Angeles area. Recently, we added some wonderful new estate rentals to the estate section of our web site. We have access to over 4,000 properties for weddings and special events. Our selection ranges from chic to rustic to glamorous. What makes our private estates special is […]
Hiring Event Professionals
Hiring Event Professionals Hiring Event Professionals that know what they are doing at a private estate or mansion. Renting out mansions and estates gives me the advantage of seeing how different service professionals work from all aspects of the event business. I have a great of respect for caterers and how they can make an […]
Hiring wedding photographers – This week’s blog covers our estate pick of the week and an interview with one of our favorite wedding photographers, Henry Chen. We believe that every client needs to be able to express their heritage, values and beliefs. Your wedding needs to be a reflection of you and your fiance. […]
Step by Step Wedding Planning Guide
Step by Step Wedding Planning Guide Having a budget in place, whether it is $50,000 or $150,000 is important. We decided this week to create a step by step wedding planning guide. Establishing a realistic budget will help determine how much you can spend on each line item such as the venue, attire, band and/or […]
Valentine’s Day Event Planning Tips Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. If you have not made a dinner reservation for Valentine’s Day, or would prefer not to go out to a restaurant for dinner, then try checking out this link to TV Food Recipes for Valentine’s Day . xo Frankly, going out for dinner on a popular […]
Getting Your Wedding Published If you want to have your wedding published in a magazine or web site, talk with your event planner and or designer first and see what they recommend based on your style and budget. There is never any guarantee to getting a wedding published, but there are a few tips that can […]
Wedding Mistakes to Avoid Every once in awhile things happen at “live” wedding and events that make me think that there might be a hidden camera and someone will jump out from behind a bush and say “gotcha”. Unfortunately, that has not been the case and it is just real life playing out in front […]
Tips for Making Your Guest List Brides and grooms run into challenges when deciding on their guest list. There are a few challenges that can play a part into who makes it onto the guest list -such as: – the size of the venue, -the budget -whom the couple needs to invite due to family, […]
10 Steps for Finding Wedding Photographers Once you find a wedding photographer’s work that you really love, then determine your priorities. 1. Do you feel comfortable around the photographer? This is super important since you will be spending a lot of time with that person on your wedding day. 2. Do you want engagement photos? […]
Wedding Planning Tips – My goal for this week’s blog is to help our readers and clients keep their budgets on track with wedding planning tips. XO, Gianna 1. Cocktail Hour: Please keep the cocktail hour to one hour. Please remember it takes 10-15 minutes to move your guests from the cocktail hour to the […]
Choosing the right wedding venue – Would you like to have your reception in a barn or by the ocean or in a meadow, or maybe at a ranch? How late do you want your reception to go until with music? Are there any sound restrictions? What costs are associated with the venue and which […]
Beverly Hills Private Estate Wedding Our clients wanted a private estate in Beverly Hills for their wedding. This private estate has the most amazing views of Los Angeles that stretch-out to the ocean. Our client’s wedding was for 200 persons and she needed a property that would be able to handle their guest count, plus have […]
Hiring Day of Wedding Coordinator Day of Wedding Coordinator is a mis-understood concept. The role of a wedding or event coordinator can be one of a life saver. For couples that don’t have a huge budget for a full-service coordinator, there are event planning packages available that can be customized to fit their planning needs and their budget. What is […]
Tips for Saving Money When Hosting a Party Before you start planning a party, have a budget set in place. Remember that rentals and entertainment can cause your budget to stray. Some of the best parties thrown are for no special reason, just celebrating life and friendship. I always tell my clients, planning a party […]
Wedding Planning Tips I thought it was time to blog my top wedding planning tips with important tips that we have learned after planning weddings for over 12 years. 1. Proofing your wedding invitations – we ask all of our clients to choose five of their closest friends and family to proof their invites. […]
Stunning wedding at Cicada Los Angeles There were a lot of details added to the design such as the napkin rings, gold chargers, black silcara table linens and napkins, gold votive holders to give it a romantic supper club feel. The dance floor was in black and white and the ivory pipe and drape really made everything come […]
Five Mistakes to Avoid While Planning Your Wedding Planning a wedding can be a stressful time, but today’s couple can take steps to help avoid costly and time consuming mistakes. Here is our top five list. If you have any questions, please call our office at 310-994-7789. xo, Gianna About Gianna and Company Gianna and […]
Wedding Saddlerock Ranch Malibu Wedding Saddlerock Ranch Malibu – Emily and Aaron were married on May 14, 2011 at Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu. The property is beautiful with beautiful mountain views. You are close to Los Angeles but feel like you are miles away. About Gianna and Company Gianna and Company provides a highly diverse range of expertise in special event […]
Charity Event at House of Blues Last Sunday, our company produced a charity show at the House of Blues for GAP, which stands for Grandparents as Parents. The talent lineup was great – Deana Martin, daughter of Dean Martin, performed several of her father’s hits and McKenzie Westmore was our emcee, plus former Los Angeles […]
Castle Green Wedding Pasadena Castle Green Wedding Pasadena is a great location for a wedding ceremony and reception. This venue has incredible Los Angeles celebrity history and the architecture is very beautiful. Guest counts can reach up to 200 persons. The pricing for this estate is very fair and they are connected to a multitude of […]
How Much Does an Estate Wedding Cost There are two options when renting an estate. Some homeowners prefer to rent their homes with outside only access while others allow inside and outside access. The degree of inside access depends on the individual estate. Hours vary for setup, however most wedding and event professionals will want to […]
Five Top Wedding Faux Pas Five Top Wedding Faux Pas that we have seen play-out a more than a few weddings over the years. I thought it would be a good idea to list it on this week’s blog. About Gianna and Company Gianna and Company provides a highly diverse range of expertise in special event and wedding […]
Why Hire An Event or Wedding Planner One of the questions that we hear frequently from potential clients is, “why is it important to hire an event or wedding planner?” Here are my top reasons for hiring an event or wedding planner and the list keeps growing and growing. 1. Do You Want to Work on Your […]