Photobooth rental for a wedding

I rented a 4-pose photo booth that printed out two identical strips from Plan-It Interactive. This was a big splurge, and it was so worth it! The photo booth strips started out pretty tame, but as the evening wore on (and the alcohol from the open bar kicked in) the strips got better and the guestbook entries got funnier.



The company was great about answering my emails and coordinating delivery - they were very professional. Two people delivered the photo booth, set it up, and then maintained it all evening. And they helped all the drunkies work the photo booth machine - a very important task toward the end of the evening.



I liked the 4-pose, 2-strip prints because it meant that I got to keep a photo strip, and guests got to keep the other half. The lady that was tending the booth was really good about insisting that at least half went into our book. I'm not sure if I ever properly thanked her (she was so nice), so thanks, nice lady!

-Kay Banks

Wedding DJ review - Anaheim DJ

My husband and I booked Don, the Anaheim DJ immediately after meeting him. He was so relaxed, and he promised that our wedding day was OUR day, not his. I have been to weddings where the DJ seemed to think that he was the center of the attention - not Don. He was really great and he was ready for anything.


Don - taken by Jessica Verma

At our initial meeting, I told him that I didn’t see a lot of people dancing, and I didn’t anticipate anything crazy happening at our reception. I had no idea our loved ones were a bunch of crazy lushes, but they are! When he felt that people wanted to start dancing, he had the right song. When a limbo line formed (WTH?), he had a pole and the right song. The music was always appropriate for what was going on, and he followed all of our requests.


My quiet, sane family and friends

The Anaheim DJ website is also very cool because you can search through his music collection and create your must-play list and timeline. It was so easy! People still tell us how much fun they had at our wedding reception, and I know that Don had a lot to do with it – thanks!

-KB

Jessica Verma Wedding Photography

When you put so much effort into the planning, you have to get a good photographer. I went with Jessica Verma photography and I was so happy with her work!


Photo stolen from her site - this is not me.

We did an engagement session a few months before the Big Day and I'm glad we did because it helped us loosen up in front of the camera. We also got some nice shots that we put up at our reception (along with our parents’ wedding pictures!)


Also not me, though I love that dress

Before our wedding day, I emailed her a list of group shots that I wanted, so on the actual day of our wedding, she was sure to get those pictures with our important family members, and then she just did her thing.


This might be me. You'll never know.

I didn’t have a Maid of Honor or Bridesmaids (I love my family and friends – I didn’t want to torture them), but Jessica was my honorary Maid of Honor. She helped my husband put on his boutonniere, and she had everything I needed (and forgot) in her magic bag – safety pins, stain removing wipes, band-aids, etc.

When we got our pictures back (quickly!), I was so happy to see pictures of our family and friends doing all kinds of crazy stuff. She caught moments that I didn't know happened, and, of course, she made me look great! Like, better than I look in real life!


Definitely not me, but a beautiful picture.

Jessica Verma Photography is based in Pasadena, CA, but I know she travels for wedding as well as doing weddings in Southern California. She does wedding photography, general portraits, glamour photography, and kids photography too. Judging from her site, she does a LOT of Disneyland Wedding Photography. Can I come? :)

-Kay

Save the Date Magnets - Flash Moments

I ordered my Save the Date Magnets from Flash Moments. They helped me with a custom design for my magnets. I had a lot of international and out-of-town guests, so it was important for me to get them out early (of course, I lagged, and didn't get them out early, but it would have been important).



Save the Date magnets, magnet holder cards, and envelopes

I worked with someone via email - we discussed my ideas, and many emails later the design was done! It did cost more to do custom, but I was so pleased with them. I also bought their magnet holder cards to give the magnets a little extra oomph in the envelope. Some people still have our save the dates up on the fridge...four years after sending them!


My favorite - Halloween Save the Date magnets

I don’t think that Save the Date magnets or cards are right for every wedding. If all your guests are locals, you probably don’t need to send Save the Date magnets or cards. But generally I think Save the Dates are more fun than wedding invitations. Just don't add your gift registry - show some restraint!


Stripey magnetic save the dates!

How many times can I say magnets in one paragraph? MAGNETS!

-Kay Banks

Palos Verdes Bridal

Buying my wedding dress started out as a disaster. I wasn't ever the kind of girl who wanted a white wedding dress, but for some reason I went along with the tradition. I tried on a few dresses at Palos Verdes Bridal shop, decided on the dress that I liked, and then, like any good bargain hunter, went to find it cheaper online.


More reviews of Palos Verdes Bridal

Well, I found out the hard way that you should never buy a wedding dress if the price seems too good to be true - I never heard back from the company. Two months before my wedding, I finally got the company on the phone and he admitted that they were having financial problems, and he'd never ordered my dress. He said he would "try" to get me my money back.


This is the dress that I fought to get. I wish I could have made it look this good on me too! Ha!

So I went crawling back to Palos Verdes Bridal. I told them the whole story and instead of "I told you so" they quickly started figuring out the best way to get me a dress in time for my wedding. Phew! And the story has a happy ending because I got the dress that I wanted, and I got my money back from the company (Thanks to American Express. No thanks to the shady online company). Palos Verdes Bridal doesn’t seem to have a website, so here is their contact info:

Palos Verdes Bridal
30 Peninsula Center
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
(310) 265-9770

They are far, far away from anything, all tucked away up on that hill, but the people were not snobby AT ALL, and prices were good. I went to several other gown shops in LA and OC and felt like I was being judged. Palos Verdes Bridal is very low-key and highly recommended.

-Kay Banks

Wedding Vendor Reviews

I'm going to do something different and post some wedding vendor reviews over the next few Saturdays. I had a lot of good (and bad) experiences with planning my wedding, and since this is my blog and I can do whatever I want, I'm going to share those experiences with you.