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Inspiration + Events
Fall in Love - Autumn Wedding Inspiration
Summer is coming to an end and this Friday marks the first day of fall - cue the cool, crisp weather, warm layered clothing, rich foliage, and so much more! When we think of seasonal weddings between September and mid-December, we think of earthy color schemes, pumpkin and apple motifs, rich fall florals and fabrics, warm spices in cocktails and food recipes and rustic decor.
To get you in the mood for the season, here's some inspiration for all of your autumn wedding needs:
For more industry insights and wedding tips, head to Downbeat LA's blog here.
The Resort at Pelican Hill
Last night, AMFM traveled to Newport Beach to perform at the gorgeous five-star luxury venue, The Resort at Pelican Hill. All of the bands at Downbeat LA have had the opportunity to visit and perform at weddings and special events that are exclusively held on the Mar Vista property, which are always stunning.
From the outdoor space that's perfect for ceremonies and cocktail hours, to the grand ballroom area where dinners and receptions take place, the scenery and the entire staff are simply the best and we love being a part of the team when we visit!
"With gorgeous views from nearly every vantage point and a location that is conveniently not too far from home, Pelican Hill is the ideal locale to enjoy the best of everything Southern California has to offer. Unwind at the Coliseum Pool, stroll along the shoreline at our neighboring beaches, or tee off for a round of world-class golf as you soak up the radiant OC sunshine."
For more information on The Resort at Pelican Hill, visit their website at www.pelicanhill.com
A-List + Camp Alonim
The A-List had the honor of being a part of a gorgeous wedding at Simi Valley's Camp Alonim. The venue was packed with beautiful people who all came together for the celebration, and the band with their full horn section kept the dance floor packed all night.
Wedding Day Music: You Have More Resources Than You Think!
There are so many things to consider when planning a wedding, but one of the most important things to be excited for - and not stressed about - is the music and entertainment for the celebration! Whether you're a music lover or not, deciding on all of the music for your big day can seem overwhelming, but you have access to more resources than you realize!
For ceremonies, cocktail hours, dinners and dancing, Downbeat LA recommends tapping into the following resources to create a memorable and meaningful playlist for your wedding:
1. Wedding Band/DJ
If you're hiring musicians to perform, they can help you create the ultimate song list from their experience and repertoire. Don't be afraid to ask them for advice when it comes to the different parts of the wedding day timeline and what music would work best, they're the professionals after all!
2. Wedding Guests
We've seen couples include a line for guests to fill out their favorite song or music genres when sending back RSVPs in the invitations! This is a great way to find out what your friends and family want to hear and incorporate it throughout the day and evening.
3. What Songs Are Meaningful To You?
If there are songs that are especially meaningful to you as a couple, make sure they make it into the set list! Save it for a first dance, or make sure it gets playing at some point during the party to create a special moment when you hear it.
4. Spotify
We all listen to music across various apps and programs, which all have amazing playlists built in for every occasion and mood. Do some research on Spotify to see what wedding day music might be popular and let your wedding band or DJ know!
For more tips and industry insights, visit Downbeat LA's blog here.
Vavé Studios
Downbeat LA had the pleasure of working with today's spotlight vendor at a recent wedding in Malibu. South Pasadena-based flower and event designers Vavé Studios adorned the outdoor Adamson House venue with stunning pieces scattered throughout the tables that included wooden branch elements and colors to match the bride and groom's theme perfectly.
We loved getting to see Vavé's work firsthand, have a look for yourself:
For more information on Vavé Studios, visit their website at www.partywithvave.com
Soultones + Calamigos Ranch
Downbeat LA is no stranger to the gorgeous Malibu venue, Calamigos Ranch. Dance band Soultones recently performed at a wedding in The Oak Room, with a ceremony site located in front of a sweeping waterfall and the indoor reception featuring glass walls and vaulted ceilings with twinkle lights and billowing fabric (gorgeous!).
Soultones provided the music for the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception! The band featured a full horn section and a DJ to keep the party going between sets. Dance battles and sing-alongs ensued as the night progressed, and the bride and groom even took the stage!
Calligraphy Katrina
AMFM has the honor of performing at the recent wedding of Carrie and Jim Rollings in Santa Barbara. The setting was gorgeous and the evening was a blast, but a major detail that stood out in a beautiful way was the calligraphy on all of the personalized signage by Calligraphy Katrina. From the programs and table cards to the menus and event signs, the hand-written calligraphy had a huge impact on the couples' overall theme and decor throughout the wedding, all thanks to this Los Angeles-based calligrapher.
Exploring Katrina's different fonts gives you an idea of just how talented she is, especially when one of her services includes creating a personalized font for your wedding day! See for yourself how beautiful handwritten calligraphy can really be:
"As a calligrapher, I will make your projects divinely without question. As a businesswoman, I will acknowledge your opinions and questions with the best of intentions, patience and without judgment. I will try my best to give light to your vision and will scour for solutions. I am frank but honest and will make sure to help with every decision to save your woes with some tricks of the trade without compromise to quality and elegance. I will also make sure to run beyond and more so you don't have to. I will hold your hand to keep you calm so you don't panic, and will deliver. I believe that everyone should have a chance to receive and enjoy the grandeur and elegance of the handwritten name by making it accessible with quality without sacrificing a weeks’ worth meal. As Katrina, I will be your friend and confidant, because I am more than just your calligrapher.” - Katrina
For more information on Calligraphy Katrina, visit her website at www.calligraphykatrina.com
For more Downbeat LA wedding industry insights, click here.
AMFM + Two Rodeo Drive
AMFM teamed up with Two Rodeo Drive this summer in their Live Band Friday concert series! Shops stay open late - until 8pm - for everyone to enjoy as they walk up and down Rodeo Drive after dinner while listening to live music from local bands and artists.
In an effort to improve the local nightlife culture and energize the business community, Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bossed developed the B.O.L.D. (Business Open Later Days) initiative, which included plans for live entertainment, events, shopping and more to kick off this summer and lead into the holiday season.
AMFM looks forward to more performances with Two Rodeo Drive and the city of Beverly Hills in support of the B.O.L.D. initiative!
For more information on how to book AMFM for your special event, click here.
Wedding Day Snapchat Geofilters - How To Make Your Own!
You've probably attended a wedding or event where you capture a moment on Snapchat and find that as you swipe, there is a custom geofilter you can use! This fun social media tech trend is popping up everywhere and it's surprisingly easier than you may think to create your own!
Our friends at The Knot are the absolute best when it comes to creating personalized wedding websites and providing tools to help you throughout the planning process, including getting all of your social media channels on track. The site just announced the launch of their Snapchat Filter Feature, which allows couples to create personalized geofilters for all of the special events leading up to the big day, including the engagement, bridal shower, bachelor/bachelorette party and more!
With a wide variety of templates and graphics, you can customize your own geofilter and maintain a cohesive theme by using your names, wedding hashtags, date and location and even fun emojis in the design. Downbeat LA loves this tool and we encourage our brides and grooms to explore their tech savviness and use it!
Get started on your personalized geofilter by clicking here.
For more wedding industry tips and insights, visit the Downbeat LA blog here.
Dmitry Shumanev Production
Weddings along the coast in Malibu are always breathtaking, but it takes a talented visual team to capture all of the beauty throughout the day. Our band Gold Standard recently performed at the historic Adamson House venue and worked alongside the talented videographer team that is Dmitry Shumanev Production.
While this Los Angeles-based production studio provides services in both photography and videography, we had the opportunity to see their video skills in action during the gorgeous wedding of Grace and Eric! Just check out this teaser they put together:
"We are masters of light manipulation and photojournalistic style photography, with a fashion sensibility that creates clean, crisp and colorful images to capture every meaningful moment of each event. We use the best available digital photo, 4K video and audio technology, capturing each tear that runs down a face, every joyful dance move with a loved one, and the tone in every speech and well-wish." - Dmitry Shumanev Production
We look forward to the next time we get to work with this awesome team of creative individuals! For more information, head to their website: shumanev.com
For more wedding industry insights and tips from Downbeat LA, head to our blog here!
Wedding Day Reminder: Don't Forget To Party!
If there's one thing Downbeat LA prides itself on, it's knowing how to get the party started and how to keep it going strong! Weddings involve a great deal of planning and hard work, but when the day comes it's important to enjoy it to the fullest, and as musicians and entertainers, it's our job to make sure everyone in the crowd is having the time of their lives.
Here is some inspiration to serve as a reminder that no matter what, when the big day comes, don't forget to have fun and party!
Read more from Downbeat LA's blog here.
Best Day Ever Floral Design
Florals are an important part of every wedding, and today's vendor spotlight goes out to one of Downbeat LA's favorite floral designers to work with: Best Day Ever Floral Design
Best Day Ever is a boutique floral design studio based out of Los Angeles, and their creations are simply stunning! With a style that's a "complementary mix of wild playful blooms that also carry a sense of ethereal beauty and magic," you truly get a true sense of the team's passion in every arrangement they bring to life.
Check out some of their amazing work below:
For more information about Best Day Ever, visit their website at www.bestdayeverfloraldesign.com.
Libraries, Museums & More! Unconventional Wedding Inspiration
Los Angeles is home to many different and unique wedding and event spaces for those looking to take a more unconventional approach to the big day. In fact, any city will have historic locations, popular attractions, museums, libraries and public spaces that can accommodate weddings if you can find one that suits you.
We rounded up some specific spots around Los Angeles County that would make for an unconventional and memorable wedding:
Imagine having your wedding ceremony in the African Mammal Hall or North American Mammal Hall, then taking guests to the impressive Grand Hall or Rotunda to continue the celebration in true "Night at The Museum"-style.
Archways of books, labyrinths of shelves and hidden passageways make up this iconic bookstore in Downtown Los Angeles, perfect for the book-loving couple who are looking for a unique and intimate gathering for their big day.
3. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
This 207-acre estate has endless possibilities when it comes to weddings. If the idea of being surrounded by art, history and literature on your big day excites you (and you don't mid a site fee between $50,000-$150,000), then this is the place for you!
Did you know you can host your wedding in the Samuel Oschin Pavilion, which is home to the space shuttle Endeavor? You and guests can dance the night away under the last orbiter built by NASA. Space junkies, you're welcome.
For more wedding tips and industry insights, visit the Downbeat LA blog here.
The Bosco
Downbeat LA's band Soultones recently helped celebrate the wedding of Clark and Lara Tesora in Garden Grove, CA. Between dance sets at the reception, we had the opportunity to experience the impressive animated GIF booth setup, The Bosco. Our singers and band members had so much fun with this creative team - as did all of the wedding guests - so we decided to find out more about the company!
This "luxury and high tech social media photo booth" is based in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and is known for creating custom, creative photography installations and experiences for clients. They have an impressive portfolio of previous work, and exploring their website's case studies alone gives you an inside look at the company's grand scale collaborations with global brands and products. Here are some of our favorites:
To see how these GIFs and experiences are created, take a look at the innovative Bosco Multicam:
To find out more about this awesome company, visit their website: www.thebosco.com
Wedding Reception Must-Have Music Moments
Downbeat has years of experience providing its wedding clients with unforgettable celebrations filled with great music and entertainment. While we strive to create custom playlists and unique selections of songs special to each and every couple we work with, there are five must-have music moments that every wedding needs:
GRAND ENTRANCE: Keep it upbeat to get everyone ready and excited for the celebration!
FIRST DANCE: Find something romantic and meaningful to you as a couple.
DINNER MUSIC: Guests will want to enjoy great meals and conversation, keep it soft and light.
DANCE MUSIC: Make sure your band or DJ can keep the party going with upbeat favorites.
LAST SONG: Whether it's a slow sing-along or a party hit, make it unforgettable!
For entertainment booking inquiries and music consultation for your next event, click here.
Soultones + Genband
Downbeat LA recently had the exciting opportunity to team with Genband, the global leader in real time communications software solutions. The company's most recent global customer and partner summit, Perspectives17, was held in Los Angeles for the first time and to make it better than ever, they had Soultones perform for attendees across the five-day event.
"We opened up our general session with a special welcome message by the Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, while an r&b, rock and roll and soulful vibe thanks to the remarkable Soultones band entertained the audience and kept them energized throughout the day." - Bita Milanian, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing, GENBAND
"There is something magical about "the moment" when over 600 people, who traveled from countries around the world, experience ideas and each other in real time."- Bita Milanian, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing, GENBAND
For more information on the band Soultones, visit their artist page here.
For booking inquiries regarding your next special event, visit Downbeat LA's booking page here.
Top 5 California Garden Wedding Venues
There's something so romantic about a wedding celebration secluded in the unforgettable setting of a natural landscape and garden surrounded by your closest family and friends. If a secret garden-feel is what you envision for your big day, we've rounded up our top picks for private California wedding venues that offer a ceremony and reception site surrounded by gorgeous gardens and floral bed-filled grounds.
Beaulieu Garden (Rutherford, CA): "Imagine the exchange of vows in the sunken garden or dinner delightfully served under a sycamore arbor dappled with lights. As night falls, your guests can dance beneath the stars next to a sparkling pool bordered by manicured lawns and grape vines stretching up into the rolling hills beyond."
Eden Gardens (Moorpark, CA): "Situated in the hills between Thousand Oaks and Moorpark, the Eden Gardens has over four acres of gardens and a glassy pond at its center.With carefully maintained palms, colorful birds of paradise, and countless rose bushes, you are genuinely removed from everything else in a little Eden to call your own."
Bear Flag Farm (Winters, CA): "Just a short drive away from Napa, Bear Flag Farm is a blissfully romantic venue that captures the artisan spirit of California. This private estate boasts acres of vineyards, orchards and lavender fields carefully positioned to optimize privacy from the outside world and an intimate environment from which to celebrate. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, this peaceful estate promotes a feeling of relaxation and tranquility."
Greystone Mansion (Los Angeles, CA): "Grand or modest, Hollywood glamour or California casual, at Beverly Hills’ Greystone Mansion & Gardens: The Doheny Estate, your wedding ceremony and reception will be unforgettable. Imagine being surrounded by the beauty of a garden setting as you tie the knot among your family and friends. The mansion courtyard, framed by the walls of the mansion with a lit fountain in the center, suggests an air of European timelessness."
Descanso Gardens (La Cañada Flintridge, CA): "Located in the quaint town of La Cañada Flintridge in California, this venue provides several landscapes to backdrop a gorgeous wedding. Occupying over 150 acres, this botanical garden also includes a Rose Garden, Oak Forest, Japanese Garden, and several lawn areas both expansive and intimate. Whether among the serene bed of the oak forest or the gazebo surrounded by five acres of rosebushes, the natural splendor of Descanso Gardens never seems to end."
For more wedding tips and industry insights, visit the Downbeat LA blog here.
Soultones + Vibiana
Downtown Los Angeles' Vibiana is always a favorite venue of ours to perform. The jaw-dropping ballroom never fails to set the perfect scene at the weddings and events hosted there. Soultones recently performed at a gorgeous wedding on the property and guests loved the energy that the 10-piece ensemble brought to the party!
The room lends itself perfectly to the band's singers and horn players who love to go out into the crowd during each set!
Wedding Planners, Vendors and Couples: Navigating the Process Together
A recent article featured on the Martha Stewart Weddings blog addressed the question of how hands-off couples should be with their wedding planners. Author Alyssa Brown outlined the following key things to remember:
- Your wedding package should be customized.
- Your wedding planner should keep you organized and on track.
- There are always going to be things your wedding planner cannot do for you.
- You should feel comfortable with the amount of and quality of work your wedding planner's doing.
Not only are these important to remember for planners, but they can apply to wedding vendors as well. Whether it's the planner who communicates with the team of service vendors, or you are in direct communication as the bride and groom, it's important to establish mutual trust and respect, be very clear about what your vision is, and be vocal about how involved you'd like to be from the beginning.
If you're aligned with a team you trust, there's no need to constantly check in with your planner or your contacts. Brown states:
"Wedding planners hate being micro-managed just as much as the next service provider, but don't be afraid to say something if you're not getting your needs met. The relationship you have with your wedding planner works best if you're able to communicate and honestly so that all tasks on both your lists are taken care of in a timely and professional manner. Trusting your planner's guidance, organizational tools, creative ability, and general advice are crucial to the enjoyment of working together and planning a beautiful, fun, and relaxing wedding."
As long as you remember it's a team effort, and there are responsibilities that everyone owns - including the bride and groom - then the process is much easier to navigate together.
For more wedding-related tips and advice, head to Downbeat LA's Wedding Tips Blog here.
AMFM + Limoneira Ranch
Ventura County's Santa Paula is home to the lovely Limoneira Ranch, a rustic and charming wedding and special events venue. AMFM had the pleasure of performing at a wedding here on a gorgeous day with both the ceremony and reception set outside surrounded by the beautiful landscape of the Heritage Valley.
The band kept guests on their feet all night, whether it was surrounding the bride and groom during their first dance and the parent dances or during the upbeat dance sets that went until the very end of the celebration.
The lead singers kept everyone excited by singing and dancing along to the couple's favorite songs, jumping out into the crowd to encourage guests to sing along, and even breaking out a surprise horn section during the set.
- 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