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Inspiration + Events
Spring 2018 Wedding Inspiration
Downbeat LA shared the Top Wedding Trends for 2018 earlier this year, but with springtime in full bloom it's out with the cold (yes, cold) and in with the new when it comes to colors, details and trends.
1. When it comes to color palettes and themes, watercolor tones, pastels and lighter neutrals are typically found in March, April and May wedding day details. Be sure to incorporate these colors in the invitation suites, bridal wear fabrics, day-of signage and more!
2. According to Glamour, bridal fashion trends to look out for this spring 2018 season include black accents, belts, deep v-necklines, extreme sleeves, off-the-shoulder bodices and side cutouts. Traditional wedding dress silhouettes and styles will never go out of fashion, but seasonal trends are fun to incorporate in the big day!
3. Greenery was listed as a top 2018 wedding trend, so including tropical greens and leafy arrangements in spring wedding floral designs is in. Think plant-lined aisles, floral arches, ceiling treatments, lush centerpieces, garden vignettes and more, the options are endless.
4. Trusted vendors never go out of style. For California weddings, no matter what time of year, find out some of our favorite vendors on our blog. If you're looking for entertainment for your big day, a live band can make it a celebration to remember! Listen, watch and learn more about what Downbeat LA bands can offer.
Congratulations to all the couples getting married this spring! Need more inspiration for your big day? Take a break from planning to swoon over these gorgeous images below:
Soultones + Marriott, San Jose
Soultones traveled to San Jose for a private corporate event over the weekend! The band helped this Northern California-based company celebrate their year's successes by playing modern dance favorites and classics, and the floor stayed packed with guests all night.
Take your next to the next level and impress guests with the best in live entertainment. CLICK HERE for your free quote, and visit the Soultones artist page to listen and watch more.
Honeycomb Affair - Floral Designer
Most wedding vendors specialize in one area of expertise, but we love meeting teams who can do it all! At a recent wedding in Santa Monica, we worked with the Los Angeles-based luxury botanical floral design team Honeycomb Affair, who provided all of the gorgeous floral displays adorning The Beach Club ceremony and reception areas as well as the planning services.
Started by Christy Villasenor, Honeycomb Affair has been in business for more than six years and has supported events throughout the Southern California region and beyond. Christy's arrangements add a "fresh twist on classic wedding flowers, and embrace the narrative of every couple's love story."
Read her philosophy below:
"We believe in creating custom pieces that reflect the unique personality and style of each individual we work with, while encompassing the overall event day vision. Our work is inspired by natural elements with a love for luxury garden details. We aim to find the most special blooms and foliage that showcase color, texture, movement and depth for each arrangement. From bouquets, to dessert tables and installations, no event is too small or too large for our services. We look forward to to having the opportunity to design and create for your special day!" - Honeycomb Affair
For more information about Honeycomb Affair, visit their website at www.honeycombaffair.com
The A-List + Spencer's, Palm Springs
The A-List traveled to Palm Springs to perform at a beautiful wedding ceremony and reception hosted at the elegant Spencer's Restaurant. The band brought their full 10-piece ensemble, including a full horn section, to take the dance party to the next level. See more from this celebration below:
Looking for live entertainment for your next special event? CLICK HERE to receive your free quote and learn more about The A-List and other Downbeat LA bands.
Santa Barbara Wedding Venue Favorites
Santa Barbara offers some of the most beautiful resorts and properties along the coast of Southern California. Downbeat LA bands have traveled to the region to perform for numerous luxury weddings and private events and have fallen in love with a handful of venues for their views, customer service, overall experience and more!
Find our our top five favorite Santa Barbara venues we recommend for weddings and events:
SAN YISIDRO RANCH
AMFM + The Beach Club, Santa Monica
Santa Monica's Beach Club sets the perfect scene for coastal weddings. AMFM kept guests dancing all night at a recent wedding in this gorgeous venue and it certainly was a celebration to remember!
Secure the best in live entertainment for your wedding or special event, CLICK HERE for your free quote from Downbeat LA!
Playlist: 90's Pop/Hip-Hop Favorites
Everyone loves a throwback! Downbeat’'s newest featured playlist on Spotify has all of your favorite pop and hip-hop hits from the 90's. Listen on your Spotify app, or check it out below:
90'S POP/HIP-HOP FAVORITES
Waterfalls - TLC
Doo Wop (That Thing) - Ms. Lauryn Hill
I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys
Listen to hear more songs!
Vendor Spotlight: A. Blake Photography
Finding the right wedding and event photographer is no easy task, but it is arguably one of the most important vendors to lock in in order to make the big day perfect. Soultones recently performed at a gorgeous Heritage Estates wedding and had the pleasure of working with Ashley and her the dream photography team, A. Blake Photography.
This premier San Luis Obispo wedding photographer captured nothing but magic, from the intimate ceremony to the nonstop dance party at the reception, and her portfolio is full of beautiful wedding, engagement and lifestyle shoots we love!
Check out Ashley's work below and see why we chose to spotlight this talented vendor:
To learn more about A. Blake Photography, visit their website at www.ablakephotography.com.
Playlist: Disco Favorites
Music from the disco era is always a hit at parties! Songs that became popular in the 1970's would fill the dance floor thanks to their funk and soul influences, synthesizer-driven melodies and heavy, rhythmic beats.
Find all of the hits on Downbeat's "Disco Favorites" playlist on Spotify, and listen below:
DISCO FAVORITES
Best of My Love - The Emotions
Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
Listen to hear more!
Brands We Love - Downbeat LA Corporate Highlights
Downbeat LA bands have been lucky to work with some incredible brands and companies on a global scale for a variety of events, including retreats, conferences, awards galas and private parties. Covering both domestic and international corporate clients, there's no event our bands can't take to the next level!
Here are some recent brands whose events quickly turned into our bands' favorite parties:
FOX ANIMATION (TruBlu)
CHOWNOW (AMFM)
SPOTIFY (Soultones)
HOWARD HUGHES (Gold Standard)
Looking for entertainment for your next special event? CLICK HERE for your free quote!
Top Palm Springs Wedding Venues
Palm Springs is perfect for couples looking for a quintessential desert wedding. The area known for its warm weather and summer vibes! Everything from Coachella's festival grounds to the swanky Ace Hotel can be found in this California desert oasis, making it perfect for any party!
For brides and grooms looking for a destination wedding in Palm Springs, here are the area's top venues and event spaces to consider:
Avalon Palm Springs
Designed by Kelly Wearstler, this Hollywood Regency style boutique hotel is one of the top wedding venues in Palm Springs. Located within walking distance to all downtown has to offer, Avalon has multiple event lawns that you can utilize over the course of an entire weekend, with events in all different areas of the property. Poolside? Check. Palm tree canopy? Check. Fruit tree gardens? Check. (from VenueReport.com)
ARRIVE
Between the futuristic architecture, chic room décor, and the most gorgeous pool in Palm Springs, this 32-room boutique hotel will most definitely have guests feeling like they’ve arrived in style. ARRIVE has both indoor and outdoor options for weddings and you’ll definitely want to do a buyout so you can have this amazing venue all to yourselves. (from VenueReport.com)
Spencer's Restaurant
We've played many events at Spencer's and we must say, there's a lot to Within easy walking distance of fabled Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs lies a gateway to an unspoiled wilderness: San Jacinto Mountain, whose waterfalls and treelined canyons are held sacred by the Cahuilla tribe. Ensconced at the base of this imposing natural monument is Spencer’s Restaurant, a local hotspot with an award-winning wine list, picturesque grounds and a hip private event space, the Bougainvilla Room. The buildings are a tasteful interpretation of ’50s modernism, and picture windows, patios and outdoor event lawns make the most of the scenic desert terrain. Spencer’s shares its historic facilities with the venerable Palm Springs Tennis Club, which has been an exclusive gathering place for celebrities since its launch in the late 1940s. The Bougainvillea Room was the site of many a star-studded soirée during Hollywood’s Golden Age. (Make sure to tell your guests that they’re sipping martinis where Sinatra once partied!)
Spencer’s has recently renovated the spacious Bougainvillea Room so that contemporary hipsters, including your own entourage of glitterati, have a fresh place to party. Located on the Tennis Club’s second floor, the room is wrapped with two walls of picture windows. One side overlooks the treetops, a turquoise swimming pool, and the town just beyond. Its windows are lined with planters filled with bromeliads, ferns and other tropical foliage. The other wall of double-tall windows frames a spectacular mountainside waterfall that cascades down weathered, rocky outcroppings—a pleasant habitat for sundry birds, desert flowers, and butterflies—before flowing inside to the room’s own rock pool. When decked with luminarias, the waterfall becomes the breathtaking centerpiece of your celebration.
If all this proximity to nature has you yearning for more, then step outside to the adjacent grassy bluffs. Two expansive, terraced lawns surrounded by colorful gardens let you drink in a sweeping panorama of Palm Springs: behind you, the dramatic face of the mountain burnished by the rays of the setting sun; before you, the evening lights of the city, just beginning to sparkle. What a magnificent spot for saying “I do”!
Korakia
Korakia is the kind of mediterranean venue you’d expect to find in a small town in Greece, but here it sits in the middle of colorful, playful Palm Springs. This is the kind of wedding venue where time seems to stand still while vows are exchanged. Best for a crew of 130 or less, book this spot if you’re looking for pure desert romance. (from VenueReport.com)
Mr Lyons
Mr. Lyons is a luxe steakhouse in the heart of Downtown Palm Springs. Known for its upscale, retro-style atmosphere, the venue can accommodate parties up to 140 for hosts who want to impress guests with the restaurants American cuisine with a modern twist.
Gold Standard + Galway Downs
It was a perfect weekend in Temecula with Gold Standard providing the entertainment for a wedding at Galway Downs. The couple celebrated the ceremony under blue skies and a canopy of trees, and had guests move into the main house to continue the party!
If you're looking for live entertainment for your dream wedding or next special event, CLICK HERE to receive your free quote. To see and hear more from dance band Gold Standard, visit their artist page here.
Playlist: Top Big Band Songs
"Top Big Band Songs" playlist on Spotify.
TOP BIG BAND SONGS:
L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole
You Make Me Feel So Young - Michael Bublé
Ain't That A Kick In The Head - Dean Martin
Listen to hear more!
The Hidden Garden - Florist
Floral design is definitely an art form we can appreciate, and we have had the pleasure of working with some amazing florists on weddings and events throughout Los Angeles. Today’s vendor spotlight is for The Hidden Garden, the luxury in-house florist for iconic venues including The Beverly Hills Hotel, Hotel Bel Air, Montage Beverly Hills, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and more.
Downbeat LA recently worked with The Hidden Garden team for a wedding at The Beverly Hills Hotel, planned by our friends at A Good Affair. Take a look at some of their incredible arrangements below:
Find out more about The Hidden Garden by visiting their website: www.hiddengardenflowers.com.
Playlist: Jazz Classics
Jazz music is perfect for setting an relaxed and romantic tone. Whether it's for a wedding cocktail hour, or a dinner set list, we put together some favorites in our newest "Jazz Classics" playlist on Spotify:
JAZZ CLASSICS:
So What - Miles Davis
Cantaloupe Island - Herbie Hancock
Summertime - Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald
Listen to hear more!
Soultones + Heritage Estates
It was a night of celebration with Soultones at Heritage Estates! The dance band took the stage to perform at this beautiful, rustic Southern California wedding reception after providing music for the ceremony and cocktail hour as well. Guests enjoyed both the indoor and outdoor spaces this venue had to offer, and Soultones kept the crowd dancing through the night:
Interested in booking live entertainment for your next special event or dream wedding? CLICK HERE for a free quote! See and hear more from dance band Soultones by visiting their artist page here.
Top Temecula Wedding Venues
Temecula is a gorgeous part of Southern California known for its surrounding wine country and hillside vineyards. Not only is it a perfect place to fall in love, but the area's wineries and luxury resorts can be the perfect place to say "I Do!"
For couples looking for a winery wedding, here are Temecula's top venues to consider:
1. GALWAY DOWNS
2. PONTE WINERY
5. VILLA DE AMORE
AMFM + NAEYC (Los Angeles Convention Center)
AMFM performed at the Los Angeles Convention Center for NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children).
If you're looking for live entertainment for your next special event or dream wedding, CLICK HERE to receive your free quote. To see and hear more from dance band AMFM, visit their artist page here.
Playlist: Top Reggae Hits
Reggae is one of our favorite genres of music to listen to and perform! Our latest featured playlist on Spotify is "Top Reggae Hits", and it’s the perfect collection of songs to listen and relax to:
TOP REGGAE HITS:
One Day - Matisyahu
Three Little Birds - Bob Marley & The Wailers
I Can See Clearly Now - Jimmy Cliff
One Love - Bob Marley & The Wailers
Red Red Wine - UB40
Welcome To Jamrock - Damian Marley
Sunshine - Matisyahu
Pressure Drop - Toots & The Maytals
Beautiful - Damian Marley, Bobby Brown
Many Rivers To Cross - Jimmy Cliff
Waiting In Vain - Bob Marley & The Wailers
I Shot The Sheriff - The Wailers
Could You Be Loved - Bob Marley & The Wailers
Israelites - Desmond Dekker
Get Up, Stand Up - The Wailers
The Harder They Come - Jimmy Cliff
Jamming - Bob Marley & The Wailers
Kingston Town - UB40
Buffalo Soldier - Bob Marley & The Wailers
Baby, I Love Your Way - Big Mountain, Tom Lord-Alge
No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley & The Wailers
Pesta Pantai - Tony Q Rastafara
Stylish Details Events - Wedding Planner
Our friends at Stylish Details Wedding and Event Design know how to produce incredible events! This Southern California-based company serves brides and grooms across Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs and more destination locations!
AMFM had the pleasure of performing at a wedding this dream team designed at Greystone Manor and the details were not to be missed:
Learn more about Stylish Details by visiting their website www.stylishdetailsevents.com.
- 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