Divine Events - A Blog from Ida Gardner

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Claire + Andy - Bel Air Bay Club, Pacific Palisades

Thank you to our Vendors:

Flowers by Laurel – Floral Design
Designer Specialty Linens - Linens and Napkins
Asgier Fotographica - Photography
Ida Gardner Events – Event Planning
Bel Air Bay Club - Location

Thursday, May 03, 2012

Wedding Songs: 50 Classic First Dance Songs

Timeless. Classic. Reflecting several generations of brides and grooms, these oft-chosen first dance songs may feature wedding imagery or the heartfelt lyrics one associates with marriage and love. Here are 50 first dance song ideas that are still going strong.

1. "At Last" (Etta James)
2. "As Time Goes By" (from Casablanca)
3. "Come Rain or Come Shine" (Ray Charles)
4. "Because You Loved Me" (Celine Dion)

5. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (Elton John)

6. "Can't Help Falling In Love" (Elvis Presley)
7. "Chances Are" (Johnny Mathis)
8. "Close To You" (The Carpenters)
9. "Could I Have This Dance?" (Anne Murray)
10. "Dream A Little Dream" (Mamas & the Papas)

1. "Embraceable You" (Nat King Cole)

12. "Endless Love" (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie)
13. "Fascination" (Jane Morgan)
14. "Fever" (Peggy Lee)
15. "Forever and Ever, Amen" (Randy Travis)
16. "Forever" (Kenny Loggins)
17. "From This Moment" (Shania Twain & Brian White)
18. "Grow Old With Me" (Mary Chapin Carpenter)
19. "Here And Now" (Luther Vandross)
20. "I Finally Found Someone" (Barbra Streisand & Bryan Adams)
21. "I Only Have Eyes For You" (The Flamingos)
22. "I Will" (The Beatles)
23. "If I Loved You" (from Carousel)
24. "In My Life" (The Beatles)
25. "It Had To Be You" (Harry Connick, Jr.)
26. "Lady In Red" (Chris DeBurgh)
27. "Love Theme To Romeo & Juliet" (from Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet)
28. "Marry Me" (Neil Diamond & Buffy Lawson)
29. "One Moment In Time" (Whitney Houston)
30. "Our Love Is Here To Stay" (Billie Holiday)
31. "So This Is Love" (James Ingram)
32. "Some Enchanted Evening" (from South Pacific)
33. "Something" (The Beatles)
34. "Somewhere" (from West Side Story)
35. "The Best Is Yet To Come" (Frank Sinatra)
36. "The Rose" (Bette Midler)
37. "Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You" (Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson)
38. "True" (Spandau Ballet)
39. "Unforgettable" (Nat King Cole)
40. "Up Where We Belong" (Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warrens)
41. "Wedding Song (There Is Love)" (Captain & Tennille)
42. "Wedding Song (There is Love)" (Petula Clark)
43. "We've Got Tonight" (Bob Seger)
44. "We've Only Just Begun" (The Carpenters)
45. "When I Fall In Love" (Nat King Cole)
46. "Will You Marry Me?" (Vonda Shepard)
47. "Woman" (John Lennon)
48. "Wonderful World" (Louis Armstrong)
49. "You Are So Beautiful" (Joe Cocker)
50. "Your Song" (Elton John)

SOURCE
New York City professional DJ Nicole Batchelor, who has spun for celebrity clients such as Steven Spielberg and Alec Baldwin, helped us compile this list. To book her, contact nbatchelor@nyc.rr.com.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Pre-Ceremony Summer Drinks

Summer refresher for your guests pre-ceremony... lavender lemonade via Loverly editor Santa Barbara Chic: http://lvr.me/x8ZG9U

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Tips from the Ultimate Wedding Planner - Los Angeles - Ida Gardner

After the engagement, the next stop is usually the wedding planner who will be instrumental in helping with all the logistics leading up to the big day. Our Ultimate Wedding Experience planner is Ida Gardner, Owner & Designer of Ida Gardner Events — the go-to wedding planner in Southern California. Ida describes her style as being like the little black dress…understated, elegant and always appropriate. Her mission is to plan a wedding that reflects the couple. “Each couple has a unique story to tell and memories to cherish. I ask about their hobbies and passions, and make that part of the celebration” says Ida. “At the evening’s end, I want guests to thank the couple, not me, for a beautiful party. Then I know I have done it right.”

Even if you choose not have the expertise of a wedding planner by your side on your wedding day, you can still have a successful and fun celebration following Ida’s top three tips:

1) The most important thing I tell my clients is to pull a sampling of food, gown, flower and favor ideas that you love from magazines, books and websites and create your own trend.

2) Definitely have a timeline and communicate all the details with your DJ or MC. Have a final meeting 3 weeks before the event with all your vendors and go through the timeline.

3) Regarding the overall wedding, don’t forget the main reason why you are doing this. Look at the big picture, and take some time to remember that after the wedding, your marriage begins. Plan with confidence and enjoy it.

Some of the top wedding trends for 2011 include bright colors. Ida is seeing a lot of fuchsia and purple. Wedding dress designs will focus on femininity, delicate pastel colors and asymmetrically draped gowns. Food wise, lots of brides are asking for hors d’oeuvres that mix small bites with miniature drinks, also a lot of her clients are offering a late snack. Grilled cheese wedges served with tiny mugs of tomato soup is one of her favorites.

The one trend that Ida loves, is seeing the grooms being much more involved in the wedding planning process, which helps ensure that the big day is a reflection of both people involved in the wedding.