The Emergency Kit

Every Wedding Coordinator I know is armed with her version of the crucial Emergency Kit. The kit itself ranges from fishing tackle boxes, to tool boxes, to suitcases, to rolling organizers. Most of the time, if you need it, we got it! Pantyhose run? No problem! Stain on a dress! No biggie! Boutonnière falling apart? Let me at it! Forgot deodorant? Here ya go! That's what we're here for! Wedding Woman to the Rescue!

My Kit is a rolling scrap book organizer with stacked and labeled bins of categorized items: Men's Toiletries, Ladies Toiletries, First Aid, Wedding Supplies, etc.

I have an alphabetized list of the 100ish items in my kit that ranges from Aspirin to Q-tips. I find that the most used items have been my iron/steamer, universal cell phone charger kit, extension cords, and safety & corsage pins.

If you do not have a wedding coordinator and you are having your wedding at a hotel, you can usually get help if you need an item in an emergency. However, if you are having an "off site" wedding (in a park, home, garden, etc), someone needs to compile items that you are more than likely going to need.

Deenie and Lyle's Nashville Nuptials

Deenie is a holistic health care practitioner in Los Angeles and when she and her parole officer boyfriend Lyle decided to get married, they knew they wanted an intimate family centered weekend away from the hustle and bustle of L.A. On a previous trip, they had fallen in love with their friend Carol's 130 acre estate in the rolling hills outside of Franklin, TN, so they decided to have the wedding there.

Deenie and I traveled out to Tennessee a few months before the wedding and practically booked the 4 day event in one weekend. Deenie's speedy decision making assisted with that efficient planning. A woman after my own heart! "Make your choices and don't look back", I say!

40 of their closest friends and family made it out for the weekend wedding. The men spent Thursday playing paint ball in the woods while the ladies swam and lounged by the pool. A BBQ that evening inspired an impromptu sing along as there were a handful of musicians in the mix. Friday included a tour bus trip to Nashville's Grand Ol' Opry that ended with a traditional cornbread and fried chicken dinner at the historic jail house restaurant in Franklin. Thankfully, the intense August heat eased up a bit for the wedding day, and a touching and beautiful ceremony was held in a grove of trees. A brunch on Sunday concluded the fantastic weekend. Congratulations, Deenie and Lyle! Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!

An Old Friend Returns

I just found out that my favorite magazine in the world is being brought back from the dead! It was out of print for almost 5 years and nothing has ever replaced it. I had to write a letter to the editor I was so tickled. If you are a fan of Martha Stewart or similar magazines, do yourself a favor and subscribe!
Dear Victoria,

Welcome back! You have no idea how much I have missed you! I just want to tell you where I am now and what an influence you have been in my life.

When I turned 13, my Grandmother asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I told her that I wanted a subscription to Victoria Magazine. Odd request for a 13 year old girl, but then again, I grew up on a diet of Anne of Greene Gables and Pride and Prejudice. Every month when you arrived I would take a 2 hour bubble bath and pore over each page, article, and picture. Grandma remembered to renew my subscription every February for the next 7 years.

Constantly inspired, I crafted, sewed, embroidered, designed costumes, arranged flowers, hosted tea parties, and redecorated my room in true 'Victoria style'. My mom gave me free reign and even let me decorate a large portion of the house. My friends humored my nerdiness!

Although I loved everything in each issue, I especially loved the stories of women entrepreneurs who had fabulous careers running flower or antique shops or designing clothes. I always knew that someday I would own my own business.

Now that I am in my late 20's, I am working on building my own company. I am a wedding and event coordinator and designer in Los Angeles and in the spring of 2008 I am officially launching "Amber Events". My portfolio is steadily growing, and soon I will be one of those fabulous women entrepreneurs that I admired so much.

My brides enjoy my dramatic and sometimes over the top ideas and designs, and I truly believe that my creations are a result of our 7 year relationship. I'm so glad you are back-- I'm looking forward to our monthly 'dates'!

Yours Very Truly,
Amber Gustafson

An Illuminated Celebration

Dina and Roy got married at one of my favorite Los Angeles venues, the historic Ebell Club of Los Angeles on August 5, 2007. Although the venue can comfortably host two large events at the same time, Dina and Roy opted to "buy" out the entire venue in order to bring in their own Kosher caterer. As a result, the entire historic building was theirs to turn into their dream wedding!

Dina chose a very modern and glowing Chuppah & lit pedestals and the mix of modern with the 'Old World' feel of the ballroom where the ceremony was held was spectacular! The 215 guests were entertained by an Aerialist in the courtyard during cocktail hour and by Belly Dancers who performed during the reception. Congratulations, Dina and Roy! Thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!

Click here to view the official wedding video/photo montage by the fantastic Wind Productions!

Photos by Evelyn Studios