Venues of the Southland~The Reef Restaurant

The Reef Restaurant in Long Beach

I recently coordinated a wedding here. I was presently surprised by the food and service. Some of the featured pictures are mine, some are The Reef's. The photo above is of the Long Beach skyline from the Sunset deck on the day of the wedding. They are located right next to the Queen Mary so you get the Long Beach skyline. Fabulous!

Here is a photo of the set-up on the sunset deck and my couple getting marriedThis is the Harborview Ballroom. Their largest. Above is the set-up for another wedding, below is the set-up from my couple's wedding. My cute couple dancing their first dance.

Their price is fairly reasonable for a water view/waterfront venue. They have valet parking on the weekends and the food was great. All in all you do get a lot of bang for your buck here. Plus, I am a little partial since I live so close!

A Day in the Life of A Wedding Planner

This is the third and last part of our series A Day in the Life of a Wedding Planner. Last week we left off with the ceremony ending. You can catch up with wedding planner 1 and wedding planner 2. Today we are going to go through the reception. Their Cake

11:35

• Once the bridal party is on their way to the park right next door for photos I start working on other things. I have the umbrella's moved from the ceremony area to the reception area. It turned out to be a very, hot day even though we were by the ocean. I gather the rose petals from the aisle for their get-away toss later on. I have the banquet captain call up the florist. {Their studio is in the hotel.} To take down the arch flowers and aisle flowers to decorate the sweetheart table, candy table and the DJ. I look around and everything is moving along.

11:55

• I go down to where the bridal party is and check on them. They are moving along nicely. They have two photographers and an assistant helping them with their shots. At that time we look up in the sky and there is a sky writer making double hearts. So appropriate! I go back to the reception take some more photos. {I don't always have time to take them}.

12:15

• The DJ starts playing and the trio is done for the day. I thank them and we had a mutually love fest. The cocktail reception is going great. I go back down to where the photos are being taken and let them know that time is running out. I get down on my knees, bustle the gown and do some spot stain removal. The Bride and groom are Doing their romantics while this is going on. The bride has also noticed that they didn't serve her coconut shrimp. They gave her tempura instead. Not happy!

12:30

• The bridal party makes the trek back up to the reception. They line up for their entrance. They all get introduced, now it is time for the Mr. & Mrs. They are introduced and go right into their first dance. I go over and talk to the Banquet manager about the shrimp and ask that The bride & groom get a plate of coconut shrimp on their table for when they are done with their dance. I also ask if the buffet will be ready and open when they are done dancing. Yes, all of the food is almost out.

12:45

• The groom's father sang a song for the guests, then the bride's grandfather said grace. The buffet opens up and the bride and groom wanted to walk through it so of course they are the first to go. I then release the tables starting with the parents. The bridal party decided to jump ahead. Oh well. The banquet captain~love her~asked me when we will be ready for lunch. I told her as soon as all the guests go through the line.

12:55

• Let the vendor;s know that it is time to eat. The DJ wants to eat at his station. They usually do. I let the two photographers and the assistant it was time. The one photographer went in the buffet line. I had to quickly grab her and let her know we are being served in the staging area from the ceremony. The four of sit down to lunch. Fabulous. We had steak and chicken. You never know what they are going to serve you. Sometimes it is just sandwiches. We rest and chat for a few.

1:15

• On the way out of the restroom I am stopped by a couple who would like to book me. Yay, they did! I run out to the site because I think I am gone too long. I guess the girls were waiting for me to come back. I thought they were already out. Oh well. I talk to the Banquet Manager to have them start pouring the cider for the toast. She thought they were not getting anything for the toast. I had her check. Yes, they were and the cider was poured. Once everyone had some the toasts started with the Best Man, the the nervous Maid of Honor. I also asked the Parents of the Bride and Groom if they would like to talk. The Groom's parents didn't want to, but the Bride's parents did. A few other people gave toasts.

1:30

• Now it was time for the Father/Daughter dance. The Groom and his Mother followed them. They then went into cutting the cake. The cake was served and everybody was dancing, except it was an awfully hot day, so the chocolates that the venue served with the cake melted. So sad!

2:15

• The garter toss and the bouquet toss was a hoot. Everybody was having a blast.

2:30

• Noticed that the staff took everything off the tables. Not good. They didn't have a bar. So I asked if they could set up a little water station since everybody was dancing and sweating!

2:45

• The Mother of the Bride wanted to decorate the bridal suite, so I went to the front desk to get the key. I gave her some of the petals from the aisle and off we went with one of the photographers.

3:15

• I sent the Bride to her room to freshen up since she and her Groom were taking their photos on the beach after the wedding and who wants melted make-up for that! {her Aunt did hair and make-up}. While she was gone the groom was taking some fun photos with his friends that were not in the wedding.

3:45

• I went off in search of the Bride. I actually missed her and they were playing the last song we I got back. I let the photographers assistant that it was time for her to get her car. As she was pulling up on of the parking attendants gave her grief, but the General Manager asked if me if he could block traffic for them. So sweet! I gave the Maid of Honor and a Bridesmaid the rose petals to hand out to all of the guests. I held back the Bride and Groom and lined up the guests in two lines towards the get-away car. As soon as everybody had petals I had the Bride & Groom run towards the car. I looked great! They jumped in and off they went with the photographers.

4:00

• The party is over the guests are leaving and now is the fun part, packing up everything. All their stuff is going into their hotel room but only the Bride's Mother and I know where their room is. I ask the Maid of Honor and The best Man to bring me their bags so I can put them in the room along with all of the wedding stuff. Here mom just asks that I keep everything 'pretty', of course. So all of their stuff get put away. The DJ breaks down his stuff and the banquet staff breaks down all the table and chairs.

4:30

• I wait for a bell cart to put all of the stuff into their room, gifts and all! I leave her bouquet and his bout on the bed and her veil on their couch. Her mom did a great job! The staff has already delivered their champagne. I leave the key on the desk and leave the room. My Day is Over!

Enjoy,

Beverage Monday

!Monday Night Football~

Tonight is the Chargers {yes, they are my fav team} opening game against the Raiders. So let's celebrate them and football today with football inspired cocktails! GO CHARGERS!

Touchdown

1 oz Absolut® Mandrin vodka

6 oz Red Bull® energy drink

Fill a shot glass with Absolut Mandrin. Seperately, fill a highball glass a little less then 1/2 way with Red Bull. Drop the shot class of Absolut Mandarin into the glass of Red Bull and slam it.

Charger

1 1/2 oz dark rum

1/2 oz cherry brandy

1/2 oz lemon juice

1/2 tsp superfine sugar

In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine all of the ingredients. Shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass.

Oakland Raider

1.5 oz Patron® silver tequila

2 oz Bacardi® black rum

cola
Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add all ingredients.

Cheers,

Photo courtesy of Sportslogos.net
Drinks Courtesy of Drinksmixer.com

Beverage Monday

"Lemonade" Cocktails

For those of you that know me I would never drink one of these. I do not consume anything with lemon or lime. But other people do enjoy it and since it is Labor Day why not feature not for children lemonades.

Electric Lemonade

1 1/2 oz. Vodka

1/2 oz. Blue Curacao

2 oz. Sweet and Sour Mix

7-Up or Sprite

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend for 15-20 seconds until smooth. Pour over a highball glass filled with ice and garnish with a lemon slice and maraschino cherry.

Lynchburg Lemonade

1 oz.Jack Daniels

1/2 oz.Triple Sec

1 oz. Sweet & Sour
Lemon-lime soda

Fill a Collins glass with ice. Add ingrdients and top off with the soda.

Absolut Lemonade recipe

1 oz Absolut® Citron vodka

1 oz amaretto almond liqueur

2 oz sweet and sour mix

Lemon-lime soda
Fill a Collins Glass eith ice. Add ingrdients and top off with the soda.

Cheers,

Photo Creative Commons License

A Day in the Life of a Wedding Planner

Last week was part one of the series. It covered 6:30 am to 10 am. Click on Wedding Planner to see it. This week will take us through the ceremony.

~The Happy Couple~

10:05

• Set up the ceremony area. Pour the sand into the the vases, They had a vase of sand for the officiant, too. They officiant is still with the Trio discussing their cues. The guest book attendants want to know if the guests can sign anywhere in the book. They did a cute photo book and of course where ever they want. The banquet captain is helping me by putting the finishing touches on the candy bar.

10:23

• I noticed looking at my phone so I knew it was exactly that time. Went to change. I usually come in 'set-up' clothes & no make-up and then change into my nice wedding clothes and put my make-up on. As I am getting my clothes out of the Bellman's closet. {Since it was outside there was no place for me to store my clothes anywhere else.} I just miss the bride getting back from photos, but I was able to chat with the photographer for a moment.

10:35

• After I am dressed, my hair is done and my make-up put on. You need to be quick! I go look out the set-up and make sure everything is going smoothly. I check in with the DJ. He teases me since I haven't changed into my pumps, yet. I am still in my flip flops easier to walk around in right now!

10:45

• I go make the long trek to go get the Bride. The Banquet Captain is getting the guys. I get to her room which is up some stairs, down a hallway and down a elevator and then down another hallway. I get to the room and tell them it is time! We gather everybody up and make the long journey back. Everybody won't fit into the elevator so the bride, her dad and the photographer get in with me. We leave the bridesmaids to take the next one.

10:55

• I get our little party into the staging room and leave the bride, her dad and the photographer in there. I am off to search for mom. Find her, send her into the room. Look for the grandparents and the groom's parents since they will be in the processional. They are were they are supposed to be. The Banquet Captain meets up with the bridesmaids {whew, we missed the groom} and they along with the groomsmen come up to the staging room. The groom goes off to the side to make his entrance with the Officiant. I went back into the staging room and let everybody know it is time. I walk back out to where I will be sending the bridal party down the aisle. I let the guests know it was now time to take their seats. Have the officiant meet the groom at the designated area.

11:05

• Send the Groom' parents and the Bride's mom and Grandfather down the aisle. The Groom & Officiant come out from the side. Once they are seated I do I huge hand wave to get the trio's attention that is now time to play Canon in D. They finally see me, turn their pages and start playing. I send the bridal party down the aisle. Smile everybody, have fun and hold your bouquets at your belly button. As the best man is in the line up I ask, "You have the rings?" Of course he did. The flower girl DOES NOT want to go down so her mom picks her up and carries her down the aisle. I wave my hands again. It's the brides turn. Her music is starting. Tell her to breath, smile and how beautiful she looks. She goes down the aisle with her dad to become a wife. I fix her train as she turns. Whew! The ceremony is out of my hands now.

11:10

• I take a few shots of the reception and ceremony. Move the guest book and gifts to the other side of the ceremony area. I watch the ceremony for a sec, then I go back to put my pumps on.

11:20

• They're not with the rest of my stuff. Did I leave them in the car? I grab my set-up clothes and run out to my car. As I am almost there I realize no, I left them in the ladies restroom where I changed. I run there, find them and put them on.

11:30

• As I go back the wedding is over and everybody is back in the staging area. A tray of appetizers is passed around to the bridal party and we get everybody back outside to take photos.

Enjoy,

Beverage Monday

Today's Beverage Monday is about Fire. Or the brave men & women that are working hard throughout Southern California today, because when it gets hot here we catch on fire.

My son at his pre-school field trip to the fire station.

Fireman
2 1/2 oz vodka

4 oz cranberry juice

2 oz peach nectar

Everything must be ice cold. Pour vodka into glass, add cranberry juice and peach juice, in that order. No ice, no shaking or stirring. If you did it right, you'll understand the name.

Fire Engine
1 part Jagermeister®

4 parts red soda

Pour it in a highball glass with ice. Should be served cold.

Fire Fighter

1 shot Bacardi® 151 rum

1 shot Fire Water cinnamon liqueur

Mix 1 shot of Bacardi 151 and 1 shot of Fire Water together in a glass over ice. Strain into shot glasses and serve.

Cheers,

recipes courtesy of Drinksmixer.com

Chivas

Natural Goat Milk Skin Care, soaps, facial cream & bath salts. All made from hand milked goats. They also make a vegan lip balm. The farm is located in Southern California, just a little south of Santa Barbara. The name of the company means goat in Spanish. They also use herbs from their garden in the products.

I heard about them when Lauren, the co-founder, came to an ABC meeting in Orange County earlier this month. We received a bar of soap as our favor. Which is in the photo below. The reason she was there was to promote favors for weddings or showers. They can custom blend scents and make a custom label for the items. They will also stamp them. Our bar was lily of the valley with a tree stamp. They do need at 60 days to make these since they are hand made, but for a unique favor or welcome basket gift, that will be used, this is a great item.

Enjoy,