PORTFOLIO
Inspiration + Events
Soultones + Bel-Air Bay Club
Soultones recently traveled to one of Malibu's most breathtaking venues, Bel-Air Bay Club, to party the night away at a beautiful, intimate wedding. The scene was set, and Soultones delivered with a nonstop set full of the bride and groom's favorite songs and hits that kept the dance floor packed.
The best part of any performance is watching guests and audiences of all ages join together to dance, singalong and have the time of their lives!
For more information on how to book Soultones for you next wedding or special event, visit Downbeat LA's booking page here.
Pixster Photo Booth
You can never go wrong with having a photo booth at your party. Guests absolutely love the opportunity to capture the night with loved ones and do something crazy. We happen to love Pixster, a photo booth company servicing San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange County.
Having recently been at a wedding with Pixster, we couldn't help but notice how sleek the open-air setup was and how crazy the guests went for the props, ease of use and service, not to mention the photo quality is amazing!
It's no wonder they've earned so many accolades on both a local and national level. Not only do they offer the photo booth, but they also provide video messaging, sharable GIFs, party favors, scrapbooks and slide shows as extensions of their services.
For more information on Pixster, visit them at their website: www.pixsterphotobooth.com
And for more vendors we love, visit our Vendor Spotlight blog here.
AMFM + Alexandria Ballrooms
AMFM recently performed at a wedding located in the historic ballrooms of Downtown Los Angeles, Alexandria Ballrooms. Whether it was on stage, or out on the dance floor with the guests, AMFM kept the party going all night.
Events by M & M
Over the years, Downbeat LA has worked with a number of event planners in California and across the country. Our friend Meg West, Owner, Planner and Designer of Events by M & M, has designed some beautiful weddings that we've had the pleasure of performing!.
Her team offers a wide range of services and planning packages for wedding and special event clients, and we've experienced firsthand their exceptional service, professionalism and design taste.
"It's important to me that each event captures the essence of our clients, giving them freedom of time to live passionately for themselves and still have an awesome party!" - Meg West
For more information on their event planning services and to view their portfolio, visit their website: www.eventsbymandm.com
A-List + Pelican Hill Resort
Newport Beach's Pelican Hill Resort is the epitome of luxury. The A-List brought the house down at a recent wedding, making it a night to remember for the bride and groom and all of their guests!
Bringing in a horn section elevated the entire music set, and there was never a dull or empty moment on the dance floor!
For more information on how to book A-List for a wedding or special event, click here.
Top 5 Wine Country Wedding Venues
The Wine Country of Northern California boasts some of the most breathtaking wedding venues we've been fortunate enough to perform at. Even the ones we have yet to visit in Sonoma and Napa Valley are wildly praised by our clients and event planners, so we decided to round up our Top 5 Venues of Napa and Sonoma Valley:
1. Calistoga Ranch, Napa Valley: Gold Standard is set to visit this private Upper Napa Valley canyon ranch resort in the coming months. With luxury lodge accommodations, award-winning spa and fitness facilities, an on-site vineyard and acres of scenic hiking trails, what more could you ask for?
2. Olympia's Valley Estate, Sonoma Valley: This family owned and operated farmsted and seasonal event venue is known for it's uniqueness. Receptions are held in the redwood barn, surrounded by gardens, lake views, apple orchards, rustic cottages and a Victorian house popularly used as bridal suites.
3. Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley: This is the venue to book if you want sweeping, panoramic views of Napa Valley vineyards. For parties up to 120 guests, this venues promises intimacy and first class service, not to mention a stunning sunset ceremony site.
4. V. Sattui Winery, Napa Valley: With a Tuscan-style courtyard perfect for ceremonies, V. Sattui is one of the only actual wineries in Napa Valley that hosts romantic and customized weddings onsite between the months of April and October.
5. Meadowood Resort, Napa Valley: For weddings on a grander scale that still offer intimacy and romance, Meadowood is where you want to be. Promising timeless weddings all year round, it's the perfect destination wedding location, as the ceremony and reception can be customized to fit you and your guests' needs.
For more Downbeat LA wedding tips, visit our Wedding Tips Blog.
Adamson House
If you're driving along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, you can't miss the Adamson House: A Spanish Colonial Revival-style home which is a National Historic Site, California Historical Landmark, and California State Park all rolled into one.
From April to October, this gorgeous oceanfront property hosts weddings and special events across its many outdoor courtyards and lawn spaces.
Downbeat LA bands have been performing at this historic property for years and have always been impressed with how the space transforms for every wedding and event that takes place there. The views are stunning and the ambience is perfection, what more could you ask for?
Adamson House is truly one of our favorite Malibu venues. For more information, visit adamsonhouse.org.
Engagement Party: To Have or Not To Have?
Getting engaged is most definitely a cause for celebration! After sharing the wonderful news with your closest family and friends, you might begin to wonder whether or not you should host an engagement party. While it is not expected or even required to have one, it is definitely a great way to get your loved ones together to celebrate this milestone.
Whether you envision a casual get together at your favorite restaurant or bar, or an elaborate party that requires RSVPs, there are three things we recommend considering before planning to host an engagement party: Budget, timing and guest list.
1. BUDGET
If you're doing the hosting, make sure you set a realistic budget with the understanding that there will be a great deal of costs associated with the wedding itself. Don't overspend. If someone offers to throw you a celebratory get together or you find yourself walking into a surprise party, that's the perfect solution!
2. TIMING
Engagement parties usually occur within 1-2 months of being engaged. If you've already locked in your wedding venue and started working on sending your save-the-date's, don't confuse friends and family by giving them too many celebrations to RSVP to leading up to the big day.
3. GUEST LIST
Consider who you'd want to be there to celebrate your engagement. This will also have a lot to do with budget considerations. Remember, you'll be having showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, rehearsals, dinners and more. You don't need to invite everyone to everything, however it is important to note that whoever you invite to your engagement party should also be on the guest list for the wedding.
For more wedding tips by Downbeat LA, click here.
Churro Borough
A detail not to be missed at weddings and special events is the dessert! For brides and grooms who choose to forego the traditional cake presentation, California-based dessert vendor Churro Borough has the perfect alternative: churro ice cream sandwiches!
The A-List performed at a Malibu wedding where this vendor supplied these delicious treats for guests after dinner and it was a massive hit!
For more information on booking Churro Borough to cater your wedding or event, visit their website at www.churroborough.com.
Gold Standard + Eden Gardens
Luxury weddings are what Gold Standard does best! Whether it's in our home state of California, or across the country, we make sure our bride and grooms' entertainment needs are not only met, but exceeded.
Gold Standard had the pleasure of performing at Moorpark's beautiful Eden Gardens for a beautiful wedding ceremony and reception. You can see for yourself just how gorgeous this setting is:
Between the ceremony that took place overlooking the pond with acoustic performers, the cocktail hour beneath the canopy of trees and the dinner and dance party that followed with a full band that kept the dance floor packed, it was a night full of love. The DJ even ended the night with a silent disco, as requested by the bride and groom!
For more information on how to book Gold Standard for your next wedding or event, click here.
Wedding Resource Rundown
When it comes to wedding planning and inspiration, there are so many amazing resources available right at our fingertips! Luckily, we've compiled our top three go-to blogs and books into one place:
WEDDING BLOGS
For the "style-obsessed" bride: Style Me Pretty
For all wedding ideas: Woman Getting Married
For finding the best vendors: The Knot / Carats & Cake
WEDDING BOOKS
For planning and organization: The Wedding Planner & Organizer, by Mindy Weiss
For style inspiration: Style Me Pretty Weddings: Inspiration and Ideas for an Unforgettable Celebration
For more ideas and inspiration: Martha Stewart Weddings: Ideas and Inspiration
Planning for a wedding is an exciting time, remember to have fun and try not to get overwhelmed! For more tips, visit our Wedding Tips Blog.
Casa Del Mar
Santa Monica, California boasts some pretty incredible oceanfront locations and scenery, but one venue that always takes our breath away is Casa Del Mar. Not only is this a luxury hotel that provides the perfect getaway, but it is a glamorous wedding venue and event space that never ceases to amaze guests.
We've had the pleasure of performing at Casa Del Mar weddings and events and always love coming back to this stunning location, which features "a ballroom with two-story high ceilings, a staircase that allows you to make a grand entrance, and the Pacific Ocean keeping watch."
Our clients love this space as much as we do, but how can you not? For more information on how to book this gorgeous venue, go to www.hotelcasadelmar.com.
Soultones + Spotify
Soultones joined forces with Spotify for a student-wide event at the UCLA campus in Los Angeles. Staged outside on the concrete campus steps, they delivered an infectious performance that turned everyone's head and gained an impressive amount of attention for the digital music streaming service company.
Soultones knows how to draw a crowd, and more importantly, keep a crowd. From going out and interacting with the crowd, to singers dancing and asking for participation during songs, it's the perfect formula for a memorable event.
For booking inquiries and to learn more about how Downbeat LA can make your next event unforgettable, click here.
You're engaged! What happens next?
Congratulations, you're engaged! Whether it was a complete surprise or you were in on the proposal, it's truly an exciting time for couples to enjoy together. Before diving into wedding planning, here are 3 important things to do right after you say "yes" (after taking ring selfies, of course!):
1. Share the news with loved ones.
Before posting those ring selfies on social media, remember to call your closest family and friends. Picking up the phone goes a long way, and no one should have to find out about a family member getting engaged via mass email or Facebook post. Once you've shared the news privately, then you can craft the perfect status update and let the notifications come rolling in!
2. Get your ring sized and insured.
ENGAGEMENT RING PICTURES
Maybe your fiancé nailed it and the ring fits perfectly. Chances are it will need adjustments, and since you'll be showing it off quite a bit you want to make sure the fit is right and it's covered. This is a very important step to remember that often gets overlooked. Try taking it back to where your fiancé purchased it, then sneak a quick peek at wedding bands to get an idea of what you'd like down the road.
3. Celebrate! Celebrate! Celebrate!
Before hiring a wedding planner and picking a date, don't forget to relax, celebrate and have fun just being engaged! Go out for drinks, plan get-togethers, travel to see family and most importantly set aside time for just the two of you. Once planning gets under way it's difficult to find the time to just be together without having a million ideas and to-do's running through your head. Take your time, and enjoy the entire ride!
Flipbooth
"Flipbooth takes the idea of a traditional photo booth and flips it on its head!" We've seen this California-based, attention-grabbing set up in action at a private event in San Diego and guests absolutely loved it!
While Flipbooth does offer classic photo booth services and GIF animations, we were really impressed when we saw their Flipbooks! Guests can record a 6-second video that prints instantly into a physical Flipbook keepsake, not to mention they can share the digital version instantly to their social media channels.
Photo booths are always the perfect addition to any wedding or private event, but Flipbooth's Flipbooks take it to the next level! For more information, visit www.flipboothla.com.
Soultones + AltaMed
Whether it's an intimate affair or a grand-scale event, our dance bands know how to make an impact! That's exactly what Soultones did when they were asked to perform at LA's Shrine Auditorium for AltaMed.
Not only did the band bring the energy with a hand-picked set list of dance songs, the bilingual singers effortlessly switched back and forth between Spanish and English Top 40 hits, turning the dance floor into a club for guests.
For more information on how to book Soultones and other Downbeat bands for your next corporate event or private affair, head to our "Book Now" page!
Vendor Spotlight - MK Sadler Photography
Today's vendor spotlight highlights the gorgeous work of California-based portrait, travel, editorial and wedding photographer Meghan Kay Sadler, known professionally as MK Sadler Photography.
We've been longtime fans and supporters of Meghan's work for a while knowing that we've also had the privilege of having her husband play with us at multiple weddings!
Her portfolio and Instagram accounts speak for themselves, not to mention her impressive following and having just been named one of the best wedding photographers in the U.S. by Harper's Bazaar. Check out some of her work for yourself:
For more information and to see more of Meghan's work, head to mksadler.com & mksadlerwed.com, and be sure to follower her on her Instagram accounts, @mksadler & @mksadlerwed.
AMFM + Whirlpool USA
We love traveling to meet our clients needs, especially when it's to places like beautiful Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Our highly sought after dance band, AMFM, brought the party to Mexico for a lineup of events for Whirlpool USA.
With events held at various venues, including the beautiful Esperanza hotel and Villa Vista Ballena, AMFM delivered multiple performances to help bring the company together in celebration.
Who can resist a gorgeous beach setting as a backdrop for a performance? Whirlpool USA knows how to throw a party, and AMFM is always there to bring it to the next level.
Unique, Outside-The-Box Venue Ideas
Wedding venues set the tone for the big day and should reflect the bride and groom's personalities and styles. For something truly unique and memorable, try wandering off the beaten path to find something that suits you as a couple.
Depending on what type of couple you consider yourselves to be, here are some outside-the-box venue ideas that could work for you:
FOR ADVENTUROUS COUPLES:
Say "I Do" in a hot air balloon OR host an intimate wedding in a cave!
FOR HOPELESS ROMANTIC COUPLES:
Invite guests to a castle OR consider a candle-lit wine cellar reception!
FOR ART/HISTORY BUFF COUPLES:
Lock down a date at a national museum OR rent out an acclaimed art gallery!
We promise that your wedding will be beautiful and unforgettable no matter what you choose!
- AMFM 46
- Booths 6
- Corporate 51
- DJ Live 12
- Destination 13
- Dolce 5
- Downbeat LA 5
- Featured Wedding 42
- Floral Design 9
- Gold Standard 50
- Midnight Hour 1
- Music Recommendations 35
- Photography 10
- Planners 24
- Preferred Venues 46
- Soultones 58
- Sweets 4
- The A-List 17
- TruBlu 7
- Vendor Spotlight 57
- Videography 10
- Wedding Tips 65