From Allison Howell of The Innovation Companies
This week I was privileged to get a sneak peek of the brand new Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach. This boutique hotel is a gem right off the sand of Surf City. Stacey Hofflich, the property’s fabulous Senior Catering Manager, was kind enough to take me on a tour of the space even though they are still under construction. Here’s a run down of the facts:

•Location: 500 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach
Close to Main Street, shopping, dining, and the sand
•The Numbers: 157 guest rooms (39 are suites!), 2 board rooms, 3000 square foot ballroom, 1800 square feet of pre-function space
•Capacity: 200 seated in their swank ballroom with a dance floor, 230 without
•Food: Cuisine that pulls inspiration from all 22 countries of the Mediterranean
•Decor: Cool ocean tones. Many rooms and spaces have striking ocean views

This property is a must-see venue for brides and professionals alike. It has a modern feel incorporating luxury materials (lots of warm wood on the floors, walls, and ceilings). An open central courtyard and not-your-typical-ballroom make this venue a unique space for local and destination brides. Contact Stacey Hofflich for more info and set up a tour. You don’t want to miss it.

Stacey’s contact info:
shofflich@jdvhotels.com
949.373.2963

Also, keep your eyes peeled for info about the ABC-OC August Coordinator meeting at Shorebreak.

Photo courtesy of Shorebreak Hotel

The Aisle is a great communication tool that allows ABC-OC to connect with its members and people searching for qualified wedding professionals. Its purpose is share news and info about events, promote our members, and create anticipation for our events. We also use it to provide our members a place to showcase their latest work and find out about trends, news, and strategies for growing and improving their businesses.
The Aisle is made up of several categories of posts. Any ABC-OC member may submit an article or photo in the following categories:
Traditional Twists
3-4 paragraph posts about twists on wedding traditions (past submissions include bouquet toss alternatives, bridal processional ideas, etc.)
Tip of the Week
Short 3-4 Sentence posts about anything you have wisdom about. We’ve had advice about running your business, working with brides, getting room shots, checking your email, etc.
Snapshots
We feature images of our member’s most recent work every two weeks. Members may submit one photo per week (must included a caption and credit (including website) to any photographer or professional involved in the image).
Trends
3-4 paragraph posts about wedding trends (timelines, favors, stationery, and seasonal trends have been featured in the past)
Industry News
News about events, trends, or changes going on in the Wedding and Events industry
Member News
Posts congratulating our members on awards, publications, or accolades they’ve received. Members may submit news about themselves or other members.
Real Reels
A new category featuring video clips from our members’ recent weddings. Videos must be no longer than 7 minutes. Members can submit video by sending the html code.
Spotlight
A category that will tell a short story about a member based on an interview.
Inspiration Boards
Members can submit inspiration boards that include several photos surrounding a theme. Members may use
www.bridalcanvas.com or create their own collage. All photos should include create to photographers and professionals involved. We’d love to feature ABC-OC members’ work here but collages are not restricted to only members.
(see Kelly O’Shiro Events & Snippet and Ink for examples of what we’re looking for)

Policies:
•The ABC-OC blog will seek to promote its members fairly. All members will have the opportunity to submit articles for consideration in the following categories: Business Tips, Snapshots, Real Reels, and Trends. They will also be able to submit Industry and Member News items for ABC-OC to post at their discretion.
•ABC-OC will reserve the right to edit items before posting them on the blog.
•ABC-OC will reserve the right to edit or remove comments posted on the blog.
•ABC-OC will promote all participating vendors from upcoming or past meetings.
•Submissions for The Aisle should be sent to blog@abc-oc.net. Photos (with credit) are encouraged with all posts. Submissions should also include the website of the author.

From Rev. Clint Hufft
Everything in the wedding ceremony should reflect the personalities of the bride and groom.

The Unity Candle traditionally tells a simple story: two lives joined as one. However, some couples will add symbolism to the ritual.

The individual candles might represent two families coming together through the couple. Or, include the friends that introduced the couple and supported them through the courtship.

You can provide each guest with an unlit candle when they arrive at the ceremony. After the couple lights the unity candle, they can ask the guests to move to the front of the church (or wherever the ceremony is being held) and light their candles with the lighted unity candle. This can take a bit of time and might be best with a smaller guest list. But it is a meaningful way to not only get your guests involved in the ceremony itself, but also symbolize the union of family and friends with the marriage.

Or, you could have a lit candle on a small table in the back of the guests and give small candles to each guest as they are seated. When it’s time to light the Unity Candle during the wedding ceremony, ask the guest in the back to light their candle and pass the flame from guest to guest up to the individual candles for the bride and groom.

The couple could bring the unity candle to the reception. Light the candle again and provide each guest with a small votive candle (the candle holder will be on the tables at individual table settings). As guests come into the reception area or hall, they can light their votive and take it to their table to place into the votive holder. This small votive candle can double as a wedding favor, particularly if you decorate or enhance a plain votive candleholder in some way to coordinate with your wedding.

You could make it part of the reception. I tell every couple that they don’t have to cram everything into the ceremony. They have all day to express their feelings.

To do this, you can use the votive candle option suggested above, or you can simply incorporate the unity candle lighting into the reception activities themselves. For example, you might choose a quiet moment in the reception to have a lighting of the unity candle. It might be during a short prayer prior to the serving of the meal, or right before the cake is cut. In this case, the unity candle can then be used as decoration on the cake table. As the bride and groom cut the cake and pieces are served to guests, the candle can also serve as a reminder of the couple’s new bond and that the bond is shared with all the guests as well.

Each bride and groom have an opportunity on their wedding day to create memories they will treasure for the rest of their lives.

Check out these Alternative Wedding Catering ideas from Chow.com. From taco trucks to barbeque, they have great ideas on how to add personality and fun to any celebration. Their registry tips and advice on how to get the most bang for your buck from your wedding caterer can come in handy for couples looking for interesting options for their big day.

Thanks to all who participated in our January 2009 meeting.

Host:
Best of the Best
714-415-3333

Caterer:
Bedazzled Catering
714-321-6744

Showroom Florist:
Reher’s Florist
949-837-6502

Dinner Lounge Florist:
White Sakuras
800-732-6886

Showroom Entertainment:
Harpist, Linda Hembreiker through Essence Entertainment
714-979-8933
www.essenceentertainment.com

Lounge Entertainment:
Invisible Touch
949-450-9950

Name Tags:
Callifrafitti
949-551-1470

Linen & Black Chiavaris in Showroom & Tent:
Fusion Linens
949-232-3483

Photographer:
JNP Studios
949-632-7873

Orange County Brides Help Make Wishes Come True
Proceeds to Benefit Victims of Terminal Breast Cancer

Anaheim, CA – February 27 & 28, 2009

The Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation™, a non-profit organization dedicated to granting last wishes for women and men suffering from metastatic stage IV breast cancer, has thousands of wedding gowns for sale during its “Brides Against Breast Cancer” Nationwide Tour of Gowns. The Tour of Gowns comes to Anaheim, CA, on February 27 & 28, with gorgeous wedding gowns for brides ranging between sizes 2 to 44.
This grand and beautiful collection includes well-known designers and couture gowns. A selection of tiaras, veils, crinolines and other accessories to complete the bridal ensemble are also available.

Affordable
Consumers are concerned about the economy, their jobs, and getting a great value for their money. Brides who want to save money and help others can do both by buying their wedding gown at the “Brides Against Breast Cancer” Nationwide Tour of Gowns. With gowns marked at 40% to 75% below traditional salon prices, shopping this sale is a “must” for the budget-conscious bride who is looking for savings without sacrificing style. By purchasing their wedding gown at the “Brides Against Breast Cancer” Nationwide Tour of Gowns, brides will help Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation to fulfill their mission to offer life-saving breast cancer education while granting wishes to individuals who are losing their battle against breast cancer. Brides will find gowns valued at up to $3,500 for only $99 to $799, and a selection of designer and couture gowns valued at up to $8,000 are priced at $2,499 and below.

Power Hours
Making Memories will host special morning hours of operation to offer brides a “sneak peak” and first pick of the thousands of gowns available for her one special day. “Power Hours” are on Friday, February 27, 2009, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm – admission is $20, advanced registration is required, and space is limited.

Visit: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/275961408 for Power Hours registration.

Location
Anaheim Marriott Suites Hotel
12015 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA

Hours
Power Hours: Friday, February 27, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Gown Sale: Friday, February 27, 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Saturday, February 28, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Registration
Power Hour: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/275961408
Brides: http://www.makingmemories.org
Volunteers: http://www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org

Payment
Cash and credit cards are welcome. General admission is FREE.

Foundation Known Nationwide; Honored by Oprah and Others
The Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation™ and its endeavors have received national coverage from Oprah, MSNBC, Redbook, Martha Stewart Weddings, Newsweek, Woman’s Day, Shape magazines and more.

Despite significant advances in research, breast cancer remains the number one cancer killer of women
between the ages of 15 and 54 and leaves thousands of small children without mothers and young husbands to raise families alone. Breast cancer touches most everyone, whether personally or through a friend or family member. Currently, there are 2.8 million women diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States with numbers increasing rapidly.

Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation is a recognized non-profit organization under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information, please visit our website at www.makingmemories.org or call 503.491.8091.

Thanks to all our great professionals who shared their services. Your contributions made it a wonderful evening.

Showcasing Vendors:
Venue: The Grove of Anaheim
Linens, Chairs, Lounge Furniture: Fusion Linen
Dinner & Dessert Centerpieces: Carving Ice
Cocktail Centerpieces: Reher’s Florist
DJ: Honored Occasions
Magician & Fortune Teller: Essence Entertainment
Candy Station: Candee by Sandee
Photo Keepsakes: Suite M – Photography
Photography: Joel Austell Photography
Photo Montage: Ashley Video
Cocktail Music: Gary Gould
Holiday Charity: The Pampered Bride

We’re starting a new feature on The Aisle: Real Reels to showcase some of our great wedding videographers. We’ll feature several videographers throughout the year. Check out our first clip from Pacific Pictures. It is a Bollywood-style movie they created for a couple to show at their reception. What a unique element to personalize their event and make it so fun! Enjoy!

Neil + Jigna’s Bollywood Concept “Tum Hi Ho (You Are The One)” from Pacific Pictures on Vimeo.

There will be a Trunk Show for Montage, Daymore and Mon Cherie at the new salon of The Dresser in Fullerton.

Besides the showing of beautiful gowns there will be a hair stylist, make-up artist and personal shopper and stylist, Michelle Bouslog.

The Collection is Fall ’08 with special promotion offers of 10 to 20%.

December 4th from 6:00 – 9:00

at The Dresser
112 W. Commonwealth
Fullerton, California 92832
714 / 870 / 7101

Come have a sip of cider and a tasty treat from Colette’s Catering and let me help you find that perfect dress for the holidays and special occasion.

The Spiraled Stem Floral Design is hosting a workshop to help coordinators navigate the trickiest of wedding flower emergencies so your bride may never know there was a problem in the first place and you can save the day!

When: Thursday, December 4, 2008, 7:00-9:00pm

Where: The Spiraled Stem Floral Design
3930 E Miraloma Avenue, Suite H
Anaheim, CA 92806

RSVP: christine@thespiraledstem.com or 714-632-6885
by Monday, December 1, 2008

Please include a few anecdotes of wedding flower emergencies you have faced so we can be sure to cover them!

$25 Materials Fee – You will leave with a bouquet to enjoy at home and a Wedding Flower Emergency Kit

Workshop is limited to the first 25 attendees – Reserve your spot today!

Looking forward to a flower emergency-free 2009!

Come early at 5:30pm to learn about SendOutCards, an easy and affordable way to create custom cards, send gifts, and offer a value-added service to your brides while creating a new revenue stream for your business.

Visit www.sendoutcards.com/thespiraledstem and create a gift account to experience sending out cards the fast and easy way. After this workshop, you will be ready to send your own custom cards to friends, family and clients – just in time for the holidays!

Light refreshments and beverages will be served.

Photo courtesy of Michael Norwood Photography