FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Joanna Sum 323.230.3422

jsoiree@gmail.com

www.jsoiree-­‐events.com

Joanna Sum from J.Soiree Certified as a Local Gay Weddings Expert

South Pasadena, CA, March 6, 2013 – Joanna Sum from J.Soiree completed the gay wedding certification course taught by the 14 Stories Gay Wedding Institute. Joanna Sum is the area’s new local gay wedding expert.

The Gay Wedding Institute certification course focuses on the nuances and details relevant to the
gay wedding ceremonies and weddings. The course covers language, terminology, laws and policies, gay wedding trends and traditions, wardrobe, invitations, marketing and much more.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to marry same sex couples in California and wanted this certification to show my support and preparation,” said Joanna.

“Joanna showed true commitment to understanding the ways wedding professionals need to be sensitive to the unique needs of same-­‐sex couples. She took the time to complete homework to ready her business to truly be equipped to meet this emerging market,” said Bernadette Smith, founder and President of the Gay Wedding Institute.

About Joanna Sum

Joanna Sum started J.Soiree in 2009 and has over 9 years of coordinating experience from film productions and conferences to weddings and special events. Her superb organizational skills, professionalism, and passion in design make her not only a great planner but someone you can trust to go above and beyond your expectations. www.jsoiree-­‐events.com

About the Gay Wedding Institute

The 14 Stories Gay Wedding Institute is the nation’s first same-­‐sex wedding research institute and think tank. The GWI was founded in 2009 by 14 Stories founder Bernadette Smith, who leads workshops for wedding professionals around the U.S. and Canada on the nuances of same-­‐sex weddings. Bernadette is the author of the book Gay Wedding Confidential and developed the world’s first app for gay wedding planning. Her expertise has been sought after by the Today Show, the BBC, New York Times, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, NPR and much more.

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Doreen and Paul met at UCLA and dated for several years before going their separate ways. Seventeen years later they were reunited and have been together ever since!

San Gabriel Mission

Shepard of the Hills United Methodist Church

Best parents of the bride photo EVER!

Doreen’s wedding colors were various hues of blue with accents of purple

Love that cherry blossom tree in the background!

More photos to come!

First Looks: San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, CA.

Ceremony: Shepard of the Hills UMC, Monterey Park, CA.

Reception: Quiet Cannon, Montebello, CA.

Flowers: Parties and Petals

Photographer: Rob Greer Photography

Makeup/Hair: Misa Makeup

1. Kids room or Kids table.

Photo Source: spokanebrideblog.typepad.com

Sometimes kids don’t want to sit with the adults listening to toasts and sitting through conversations at the round tables. What better way to make it a fun night for them than to get a separate room with kid-friendly food, a movie, video games, and boardgames, and some hula hoops? I highly recommend hiring a babysitter or assigning someone you trust to be there with the kids throughout the night, but this way parents get a moment with other adults and the kids can enjoy playing with other kids.

If a separate kids room is not an option for you, then consider having a separate kids table of activities. Once kids are done with dinner, they can head over to the kids table for some wedding-themed crafts. These can be anything from making a photo frame, a bracelet kit, or even decorating cookies or cupcakes with toppings can be a fun dessert to enjoy afterward. The great thing about having a kids room or table is that it’s there if the kids need it. but there’s also no obligation to use it it they’re having a fine time staying with the adults.

2. Goody bags.

Photo Credit: bridalmusings.com

One of my brides was so thoughtful, she bought a special goody bag for each of the children attending her wedding and placed it on their seat with their name on it. It made them feel special and kept them busy for the night. Goody bags can also include coloring books and activities, legos, and other small toys. This works if parents would prefer that their children stay with them throughout the night.

3. Activities.

Photo Credit: acitywedding.com

Offering things that both kids and adults can do (ideally together) is great for families attending weddings. I love having a caricature artist at weddings. It also makes for a lovely souvenir for your guests to keep. Remember that on average, it takes a caricature artist 3-5 minutes to draw a face, so be mindful of how many hours you should hire someone for your wedding if you think everyone will want a caricature drawing.

Photo booths have been around for a handful of years, but I still don’t tire of wearing all those props and posing away! I’ve seen kids spend an entire night running in and out of a photo booth with every single person they know! Photos printed afterward also make great wedding favors for all of your guests.

And though I know most people think of magicians as cheesy and downright tacky, I can testify (as a former guest of the Magic Castle!) that some of these magicians are amazing and will definitely be the talk of the night! Strolling magicians are especially great because it’s not a show that your guests have to sit through but rather they will wander around cocktail hour or at each table and show a magic trick or two as they walk about. The kids will love it, but I bet the adults will love it even more!

5. Kids can dance too!

Photo Credit: craftyminx.com

You’d be surprised how many kids just want to get down and boogie! Ask your DJ to play some songs that younger kids might enjoy dancing to (I have no idea would this would be…Justin Bieber?), or have your DJ be ready with some fun games that kids can also participate in. I always think it’s great when the DJ names “Best Dancer of the Night” to the child who’s been on the dance floor the entire time!

 Awards are based on receiving numerous 5-star ratings from brides and vendors throughout the year. Thank you to all of our wonderful clients and vendors who continue to refer us out.

We look forward to an amazing 2013 year!

]]> http://www.jsoiree-events.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1543 0 http://www.jsoiree-events.com/blog/?p=1481 http://www.jsoiree-events.com/blog/?p=1481#comments Tue, 29 May 2012 04:33:07 +0000 J.Soiree http://www.jsoiree-events.com/blog/?p=1481
David and I had such a crazy day trying to get all of our wedding stuff done that on the way to our engagement shoot with Next Exit Photography, we realized we forgot the clothes we planned on wearing! As I rushed through makeup and he attempted to drive from the westside back to Pasadena through traffic, we finally gave up and decided to with what we had on – David wearing a brown striped polo shirt, and I was able to borrow a sundress from my makeup artist (Thanks Misa from Misa Makeup! The dress and my makeup look great!).

Adi, our photographer, was wonderful and calming and was able to get us to relax and smile for the camera! We ended up having a blast and you would never know how stressed out we were just minutes before we started shooting!

Here’s just a few samples of what Adi was able to capture at Holmby Park. If he can make this magic with that kind of day, we can’t wait to see how beautiful everything is going to look on our wedding day! Thanks again to Adi and Cat from Next Exit Photography for their patience, flexibility, and Talent!

J.Soiree and Parties and Petals worked together to design for the 2011 Bizbash LA Tabletop Competition with the theme “MidSummer Night’s Fantasy.” We were awards with “Most Original” design and our tabletop photo was featured in the Bizbash fall 2011 magazine!

My first wedding in San Diego, and I LOVED it!! The weather, the locations, the beach atmosphere, the Spanish villas…it was a beautiful place to get married!

Though originally from San Diego, Esther and Jason currently live in Virginia and decided to get married in their hometown amongst family and close friends.

When Jason first put on his uniform, I saw all of those badges and jokingly asked if the left side of his uniform weighed him down more than the right side – WOW! He is very highly ranked in the Military and you could tell how well-respected he was with this friends and colleagues.

The ceremony took place on the military base with a Sword Arch afterward. Did you know that it’s tradition to have the last Marine gently tap the booty of the bride as she passes the final sword arch?? It was cute, but I had no idea it was part of the tradition, or at least so I’ve been told!

Then we headed over to a Spanish-style restaurant venue overlooking the lake for the reception. Esther wore her Korean dress for the Grand Entrance and included subtle nods to her Korean culture, including the Korean wedding ducks on her sweetheart table. Esther also did a ton of DIY projects for her wedding, including her aisle runner (wow!), the wedding favors, the ceremony programs, and even the table number holders that wrapped around wine bottles. She even surprised her new husband with a groom’s cake of his favorite – Harley Davidson!

Thanks to Leif Brandt Photography for his amazing work. So easy-going, he was able to find little gems of locations spots throughout the day to create the backdrop for the couple’s romantic photos.

Though originally from San Diego, Esther and Jason currently live in Virginia yet decided to get married in their hometown amongst family and close friends. The ceremony took place in a small chapel on the military base with dinner and dancing in a Spanish-style reception hall down the road. There were nods to Jason’s military background as well as Esther’s Korean culture. She also did a ton of impressive DIY projects, including the aisle runner, ceremony programs, and table numbers. San Diego painted a beautiful backdrop for this gorgeous and fun wedding.

Photography: Leif Brandt Photography

J.Soiree just received the Brides Choice Awards 2012 from Wedding Wire!

Thanks for all the love and support to our clients and vendors through your wonderful reviews! We hope to continue providing you with our best service and exceeding your expectations!