OCBrides Teams up With Christmas 365 for a Holiday event for a good Cause!

OCBrides teamed up with Christmas 365 to have a joint Holiday function and help out families in need.  At the home of Kim Kimpel in Corona, there were 40 theme-decorated Christmas trees.  Some had product that was donated for the cause.

The house was open on weekends for over a month. On December 12th we joined the cause and featured Christmas tunes from Dijital Engagement.  Great food, wonderful music, fabulous people, and all for a fantastic cause.

 There was a huge room filled with toys and items for 12 adopted families in need! 

 Thank you all who attended and made this a joyous occasion.  And a very special Thank You to Holly Dolly Photography for joining the cause on 2 occasions to take such fabulous photos!!

Classic Party Rentals Goes GREEN

Thanks to Mary Lallande, I was invited to the ISIS meeting this month at Classic Party Rentals.  The topic of the evening was "Going Green in the Wedding Industry".  I couldn't pass this up as I LOVE an organic party!

Classic Party Rentals is implementing their "SAVE" program.  Sustainable Applications for a Viable Environment initiative.  They are committed to leading the industry in environmental awareness and sustainable business practices.   Their rentable tables are made from sustainably harvested wood, the linens and carpets are made from sustainable natural fibers and the company is implementing energy saving practices within it's 34 locations.  They are in the process of developing best-in-industry “green events” for their clients.

Pumpkin Soup

Primal Alchemy Catering provided the fabulous organic food.  They served a type of Pumpkin (that I cannot pronounce) soup made from pumpkin grown from their own garden!  It was served in a shot glass and topped with a yummy maple flavored whip cream!  They had a wide array of cheeses, some that I had never had before. Primal Alchemy deals with local organic farmers whenever possible.  The Gluten Free Desserts were provided by Simply Sweet Bakery.  The salted caramels were the most popular. It was so wonderful to have good Gluten Free options!

Cheeses from Primal Alchemy

Gluten Free Chocolate!!

Holly Thach of Classic Party Rentals was the speaker for the evening. She told us how Classic is very committed to becoming a GREEN company and is taking baby steps to get there.  Her presentation included a few interesting facts including that it takes less energy to wash 14,000 glasses than it does to make one plastic cup that gets thrown away after one use!  Can you believe that?


Learn how you can work with Classic Party Rentals and make a substantial impact on our precious environment by visiting their SAVE program  page.

Thank you Mary for the invitation and for your awesome photos!!

An Evening with Four Quick Clicks

Last week I had the great opportunity tow work with David of Four Quick Clicks Photobooth rentals.  It was a fun evening.  Their photobooths were designed by the company owner, John Fitzpatrick.  They were built from the gorund up for comfort and versatility.  Quick Click booths are 48” wide, the widest and most comfortable photo booths in existence. They provide a full-width upholstered bench for your comfort, as well as
to allow more people to be in your photos.

Their photos look awesome because they use 10 Megapixel cameras and 600 dpi printers to produce rich, vibrant photos that capture excellent detail and color fidelity. They even add an invisible lamination layer that provides resistance to fading, finger-prints, water, ozone and dust.

The event was a Christmas party for Nutrilite at the Phoenix Club.  In addition to the photobooth there was a carnival complete with rides, fortune teller, entertainment, food, ink tattoo's, and much much more.  The guests just loved the photobooth experience with the large selection of props to choose from.  Some came back again and again!

They also have a standalone station that guests can create their own awesome photos with a wide selection of frames and fun things to add to the photos.

It was a great joy learning another area of the bridal industry!  Thank you Four Quick Clicks for this opportunity.  You can learn more about them at www.fourquickclicks.com

OCBrides mixer -- Save the Date -- Bring Your Brides for Great Raffles

January's mixer is going to be a bit different than usual and is sure to be lots of fun for vendors and brides alike!  It will be January 19th at the beautiful Anaheim White House Restaurant, in of course Anaheim. The owner, Bruno Serato would like the vendors to invite brides to this mixer.  The vendors get a raffle ticket for each bride they bring, and they have the chance to win dinner for two.  And even better .... the brides each get a raffle ticket and the chance to win a rehearsal dinner for 20 people!  How can your brides pass up this fantastic offer from Bruno?

West Wing in it's Glory

In case you haven't been to the restaurant, here is some history ...  the Anaheim White House is a landmark jewel that was once nestled quietly among an enormous orange grove in the early 20th century and is still Anaheim's most famous hidden treasure.

This beautiful historical landmark was skillfully
crafted by a gentleman named Dosithe Gervais in 1909. Over the years, the property was sold a couple of times to families who made it their home.   In 1978 Mrs. Anthony Bouch, an energetic woman in her 70's, purchased the home and aspired to open an antique store. After making $100,000 in renovations, however, her health failed and she was unable to fulfill her dream. Jim and Barbara Stovall purchased the home in 1981. They planned to build condominiums in its place, even hiring an architect to help with the design. But on the eve of the scheduled demolition, Barbara told her husband that she couldn't bear the thought of the home being destroyed. New plans were then drawn up, almost immediately, for the restoration of the home as "Thee White House Restaurant," which opened on New Year’s Eve of 1981.

Very few changes were made in the refurbishment project. The restoration was copied from original existing pieces, whenever possible. The interior of the home was restored with most rooms retaining their original size and shape. The brick fireplace in the library (now the main dining room) and many of the windows are original. Every effort has been made to retain the appearance of the home as it was in 1909.

Finally, in 1987, Italian immigrant Bruno Serato took over the ownership of the restaurant, which now features Northern Italian cuisine. His award-winning excellence and signature entrees befit the establishment, now Anaheim White House Restaurant, and his philosophy is simple: to treat each and every one of his patrons as a distinguished guests in his home. Simple as it may be, Anaheim's once "hidden treasure" is now recognized worldwide, and is now a "home" to many.

Numerous celebrities such as Danny De Vito, Andrea Bocelli and even former president Jimmy Carter have graced the home's threshold. Likewise, Anaheim White House has also graced catering events for many, including Madonna, and has even traveled as far as Bora Bora, to delight dinner guests with our magnificent fare.

Not only has it been a home to so many distinguished guests, but it is also a home to several awards of excellence. Anaheim White House garnered the DiRoNA award, a very prestigious award given to only a select few in all of North America; and also the highly coveted Golden Sceptre award, the highest honor award given by the Southern California Restaurant Writers Association. Their latest achieved is the Five Star Diamond Award awarded by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, Which boasts Donald Trump on the Board of Trustees. News of this cuisine extraordinaire has been the subject of numerous reviews in international publications in Italy and Japan.

From Anaheim to Bora Bora, from Jimmy Carter to Madonna, Bruno's simple philosophy along with the culinary talents under his direction has not only added to the success of this beautiful landmark, but it has made Anaheim White House a true legend on the international culinary map!

The completely new West Wing addition next to the Anaheim White House Restaurant offers No room fees with their lunch or dinner packages!  The new 1800 sq feet West Wing Banquet Hall is great for weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal shower, you name it!  See the West Wing photo above.

Come check it out!  We hope to see you and your brides at January's mixer!

Information taken from www.anaheimwhitehouse.com "About Us" page.  Please visit the website for more information on this remarkable restaurant.

Wish Upon a Wedding

Thanks to Alan Katz of So Cal Officiants Fun Wed, I got to attend the grand Blissful Wishes ball at the Ebell in LA on November 4th.  The theme was Vintage Hollywood.  It was so wonderful to see everyone dressed up at the event. 

Wish Upon a Wedding is the world's first nonprofit wish granting organization that provides weddings and vow renewals for couples facing terminal illness or other serious life-altering circumstances, regardless of sexual orientation.

Everyone can make a difference and help this fantastic new non-profit organization by making Wedding Wishes come true, while raising crucial funding needed to sustain this new charity.  The event included a silent option with items from So Cal companies as well as the flowers on the dining tables.

Miss Quinceaneras Magazine Cover Girl Pageant

Last weekend I had the honor of being a judge for the Miss Quinceanera Magazine Covergirl Pageant.  What a treat that was for me.  15 girls around the age of 15 competed for 3 spots to be the covergirl for the 2011 magazine.  The event was held at Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel in Buena Park.

The event was carried out in three stages:  Casual Dress, Cocktail Dress, Evening Gown, and Finalists.  We were to judge them on Beauty, Presence, Confidence, Speech and Etiquette.

In the Casual stage the girls introduced themselves mentioning where they are from.  All were dressed in the official "Miss Cover Girl" t-shirt with black pants and high heels and carried a surprise accessory. 

In the second stage the girls appeared in co
cocktail dresses and explained why they wanted to be the quinceaneras magazine cover girl.

Just before intermission the current Miss Quinceaneras Magazine Cover Girl, Miss Priscilla  Lopez, sang a couple of songs.  What a beautiful and fantastic voice this young girl has!

In the third stage the girls appeared in their evening gowns and walked the runway.

There were also two extra prizes for Miss Photogenic, selected by the event photographer, and Miss Congeniality, selected by the contestants!

Eight candidates with the highest scores were selected to remain for the finalist round.  They answered questions that were asked randomly.  The questions were pre-selected and handed to the master of ceremonies who asked the questions of the contestants.

Congratulations to the three beautiful winners.  We all felt that they all were winners though!  I was truly honored to have been asked to be a judge in this wonderful contest.  Thank you Norma Capatanachi for giving me this great opportunity!

Planning Meeting for BenefitALL Charity Event in December

Greetings!

On Friday evening, October 8th, 2010 from 6 pm to 9 pm, we have invited some of the finest event coordinators and planners throughout Southern California to begin planning benefitall.   Ask your friends to join us, if they are also  interested in producing the largest single day of giving without barriers, ever held.  

Please refrain from circulating event details until you have attended the planning event and understand the ground-rules for this amazing event.   Avoiding confusion or mis-information is paramount to its success in the allocated time with the allocated resources.  Thank you for understanding. 

The notice is late, but our time is short and the need to get started is clear.  Thank you for trying to clear your calendar for us.  

Register Now for October 8th, Planning Kickoff!

I have had the pleasure to work with many of those invited and expected to attend.  Some I have not.   Either way, we will quickly 'sort through' the major areas of responsibility and begin to define and design the requirements and appropriate assignments.    Please, bring your laptops or notebooks and be prepared to actively listen and participate.  

What is benefitall?
On December 18th, 2010:  A day and place where all share their gifts with each other; seeing real, active charity at work.   All have needs, all have gifts; somewhere in this mass of giving people the answer to one's needs will be found. 

Every day: Charity, and active Giving:   a community of donations of all kinds to organizations of choice through purchase and participation in everyday and spectacular events. 
Prelminary web   click here.

Register Now for October 8th, Planning Kickoff!


Who is 'giving' this day? Everyone.   Examples:
Thousands of vendors participating in providing 10 Angel weddings; non-profit support for the event; Schools and educators providing scholarships; donors providing tents, trucks, volunteers and more....food, Angel Stadium...And on and on.  

What is the cost?  You must bring a gift...

What can be given?   What you have that others may need:  Smiles, hugs, subject area expertise, handshake, story telling, teddy bears, guidance, products and more.  All are equally respected, needed  and valid to make the day a success. 

What if I have no gift to give? 
Call or visit us; we'll help you find your gift.  Everyone has one. 

Register Now for October 8th, Planning Kickoff!

Who is involved: 

1. 100 + charities & non-profits 
2. 100+ small/ large businesses; many on site with answers to your everyday questions; or solutions to your problems. 
3. 100's of school, community and similar organizations 
4. 100's event artists, (event planners, caterers, bakers, florists, photographers, videographers, special 'effects' providers, musicians, artists, invitations, clothing, etc.)  
5. Hundreds of sponsors, large corporations, businesses from around the country, who share the vision of unity and charity.  
6. 10's of Collection Trucks for items such as food, clothing, furniture, sports, Christmas, music/arts, yard and other topics.   
7. 10's of tents for hands-on assistance or answers to problems with your car, house, finances, legal, computer or other family or business  issues. 
8. 10 selected Angel Brides who will receive their dream weddings. Southern California residents, businesses and providers;    

Register Now for October 8th, Planning Kickoff!
 
What are the requirements:  Registration is required; for services and businesses, verification will be required. 

What is in it for you?   Who are you?  The benefits are endless, beginning with just plain feeling good, seeing face to face people who can use, benefit from and appreciate your efforts, in a safe, honest, open and 'even' setting.  Then, figure in the exposure already beginning from the OC Register to NBC4 and beyond.... it will be huge. And, some of you will help make it huge!   That is YOUR gift to others!  

Advertising/PR has already started; NBC4; OCRegister and more on the docet!  We even have the OCCounty Clerk offering to officiate the evening weddings. 

Who is needed?  What kind of people are really needed at this first planning meeting?

• Social Media, marketing and PR  (with single point of authorityl over releases for 'message' and security, compliance and insurance reasons)  
• Financial, legal and related, especially focused to non-profits,  to ensure all in/out flow between and across the organizations and companies is consistent and accurately reflected, reported, and no unintentional violations of charters, etc occur. 
• Event Artists:  bakers, caterers, florists, etc etc etc.    Each non-profit (or category of non-profit) will have its own tent with assigned 'event artists' to perform setup and comply with all event guidelines; tents, signage, floral, music, if any, etc.   Some will find their creations also used for the evening multiple-wedding event.  
• Organizers, Organizers, Organizers....for outreach, for onsite efforts, etc...   a million things to be 'pulled together' due to the diverse audience and time allocation. 
• FOLKS....to do online, data-entry, phone, handouts, visits, creating, etc.    to help define and document to help others later... 
• Representatives to coordinate High School glee clubs, marching bands, ROTC, key clubs and similar; young folks whose families would like another way/day to share their pride and dreams while helping others.   Representatives to coordinate Girl & Boy Scouts & Clubs; YM/YWCAs and more; who would like to be exposed to a larger, safe community where they can learn, earn credits and further build a foundation for a better life.  
• Outreach coordinators for crafters, tutors and mentors for youngsters.   

 
The list is endless as the day will be diverse.  Gifts will be large, small and everywhere in between.  Please help us create and share this wonderful day with our Southern California family.
 
Register Now for October 8th, Planning Kickoff! Share and tell others.  
We need you all...


Register Now for October 8th, Planning Kickoff BenefitAll

Thank you for your attention and response.  I look forward to seeing you Friday!

Where:

Jason's Restaurant & WIne Cellar
416 W. 4th Street
Downtown Santa Ana Historic & Arts District
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Parking in rear; in Parking structure  or in front:
Private Events:
Enter through front or rear entrance.

Sincerely,

Sharon Girulat
SG & Associates for BenefitAll

949.485.5098