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He’s the green-thumbed vineyard manager for a Carmel Valley winery; she’s the globe-trotting ingredients manager for a ginger company in Marina. Put them together and you get drunken spice, farm gourmet, an artisan elixir of wit and laughter.
He flew to Barcelona with a 1920s vintage diamond smoldering in his pocket. The perfect moment revealed itself under a full moon, in front of famed architect Antoni Gaudí’s surreal Casa Batlló. She reminded him to take a knee. He reminded her to say yes.
Matt Shea and Katie Blandin plan to wed in Carmel Valley this August, but there’s still so much to do. Blandin is working with a local clothing designer to create a dress sketched by her grandmother in the 1930s. Shea is lining up the wine selection while Blandin pulls together a spread of local foods crafted by her friends: Big Sur cheese, Carmel Valley produce, Prunedale-cured charcuterie.
It takes patience and creativity to plan a wedding that reflects their unique story. We hope this guide brings fresh ideas, useful tips and just the right vendors to tell yours.
Because once the blooming bouquets are in place and the topper is on that decadent cake, it’s time to let go of all the work that led you here. You’re gorgeous. Your soon-to-be-spouse is glowing. Your nearest and dearest are gathered to celebrate your life together. This is your moment. Let it flow.
Founder & CEO Bradley Zeve
Publisher Erik Cushman
Editor Mary Duan
Project Editor Kera Abraham
Art Director/Production Manager Karen Loutzenheiser
Contributing Writers Kera Abraham, Mark C. Anderson, Adam Joseph, Sara Rubin, Walter Ryce, David Schmalz, Alexandra Videmsky
Photographers Buena Lane Photography, Nic Coury, Laura Hernandez Photography, Manuel Ortega Photography, Rachel Zee Photography
Graphic Designers Levi DeKeyrel, Rose Freidin, Kevin Jewell
Advertising Keith Bruecker, Tracy Burke, Chelsea Davey, Arno Featherstone, Diane Glim, George Kassal, Carrie Kuhl, Alexis Maceira
Advertising Assistant Keely Richter
Cover Photo Rachel Zee Photography
The Best of Monterey Bay® is published by Milestone Communications, Inc., a California corporation. The entire contents are copyright 2015. No portion may be reproduced. 831-394-5656. www.mcweekly.com.
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~ TRENDING ~ |
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~ FADED ~ |
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Artisanal guest favors |
Made-in-China guest favors |
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Quirky cake toppers |
Fussy fondant |
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String pennants |
Balloons |
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Outdoor ceremonies |
Indoor ceremonies |
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French-netting veils |
Long tulle veils |
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Heirloom diamonds |
Classic bling rings |
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~ TRENDING ~ |
~ ~ |
~ FADED ~ |
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Succulent bouquets |
White rose bouquets |
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Crafty boutonnières |
Rose boutonnières |
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Oxford shoes |
Patent-leather loafers |
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Food trucks |
Traditional dinner service |
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Photo booths |
Staged portraits of guests |
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- Alexandra Videmsky
Sherry Coletti of Prunedale was never into makeup, so it’s ironic she is now selling it online. The company she reps is called Younique, a home-based cosmetics business similar to Mary Kay.
Coletti’s hairdresser recommended she try Younique’s Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lash Mascara. The set comes with two tubes: one with natural tea fibers, and one with gel that adheres them.
It was eye-opening, literally. “When I tried it I said, ‘Oh my god, I want to give this to every woman I know!’” Colletti recalls.
She now wears the mascara daily and finds time in addition to a full-time job to promote it at bridal shows. Her favorite part is seeing women who thought they couldn’t have long, full lashes.
One woman told Coletti she’d ripped out most of her lashes from using stick-on falsies. “You should’ve seen the smile on her face when she tried [Moonstruck],” Coletti says.
I do a side-by-side comparison of 3D lashes against my recently purchased mascara, Nyx XXL Lush Lashes. My first impression is hardly overwhelming. Yes, the lashes covered with Moonstruck look marginally longer, but that’s about it.
It’s not until the second coat that Younique’s “wow” factor really kicks in. My lashes are long and voluminous. They boldly fan out from the lid like the rays of a firework. But they still look natural, not too thick like stick-on lashes. The Nyx formula makes for a sparse and clumpy comparison.
The 3D lashes also last throughout the day and don’t smear after a shower. The one downside: The fibers tickle my eyes a little, not enough to be irritating but enough to notice.
Coletti says these lashes are great for weddings. “Your eyes look bigger. Brides will have more self-esteem, and if they cry, it won’t run down their cheeks.” The formula can be worn with contacts.
Besides lashes, brides can find the finishing touches for their wedding look at local salons.
Shellac gel manicures are a good choice for brides because they are durable, lasting around four weeks as opposed to one week for a regular manicure. Oya Salon in Monterey creates miniature works of nail art by pressing real, dried flowers, glitter or diamonds into the gel while it sets. Perhaps the flowers can even complement the bouquet.
Brides can achieve glowing skin without stepping into the sun at Chioma Salon. They offer a bronze biologic solution, made with beet and sugarcane extract. The beet extract enhances the skin’s natural pigmentation and can be applied in darker or lighter solutions. It lasts seven to 10 days. This lends a natural glow without harsh chemicals or UV exposure.
As Coletti says, the boost of confidence that comes with looking just right is priceless.
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When a young couple approaches Kirkor Kocek about a diamond wedding or engagement ring, he becomes a teacher.
“I give them an education,” says Kocek, who’s crafted jewelry at his Carmel shop, Kocek Jeweler, since 1973. “I don’t try to make a sale.”
He starts with the client’s budget, he says, because there’s only a small profit margin in diamonds. Three key things to consider when picking out a stone: size, clarity and color.
It’s a sentiment echoed by other jewelers. “Clarity is the least important,” says Ramin Movahedi, managing partner at Carmel’s Pejmani of Belgium (whichWeekly readers voted best jewelry store in Monterey County in 2014). “Our eyes have the ability to detect the slightest differences in hue and size, but not clarity.”
Other factors to keep in mind: “Cut, polish and symmetry also impact the pricing,” Movahedi says. “And some colors are so rare, you’d be looking at something very expensive.”
For every 10 million diamonds, he adds, only one is a “fancy” color like blue, yellow, brown or pink. “The closer you are to the deepest colors, the better,” he says.
Gasper Spadaro, who opened Gasper’s Jewelers in Monterey back in 1972, says demand for colored diamonds rose after Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Lopez a $1.2 million pink diamond engagement ring in 2002. Lately, he says, the pendulum is swinging back to classic: “We’ve seen the trend go from colors back to white.”
One trend seems to be sticking: All three jewelers say it’s become increasingly rare for a man or woman to walk into a store alone to buy a ring for their partner. More often, couples are ring-shopping together.
When a client does come in alone, they get to play detective. “I [ask] to see a picture of his or her fiancee,” Kocek says. “That tells me the look of their design style and their lifestyle.”
Regardless of the budget, a ring’s style can be the hardest decision – and one that will have lasting consequences.
“We’ll show them all the designs we have in stock,” Spadaro says. “My favorite question is, ‘If you’re going to get married in an hour, which one would you want to wear the rest of your life?’
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Got your venue? Check. Rings? Yep. Dress, photographer, cake, DJ? It’s all in place. What about a videographer? Ah.
Peri Basseri, owner of Bigtime Video Services in Monterey, is also a board member of the Monterey Bay Wedding and Event Professionals, a tri-county trade organization that’s done focus groups on brides.
“We ask what their biggest regret is,” she says, “and two out of three said, ‘that we didn’t get a wedding video.’”
Greg and Dixie Hyde, a husband-and-wife team, run Best Shot Video in Salinas. “I believe you can really capture the feelings, the details: a tilt of the head, someone taking a deep breath,” Greg says. “When couples watch their wedding videos, they cry, because it brings up so much emotion.”
This former wedding videographer talked to three current ones about how to get the most out of your wedding video.
My mama told me, you better shop around.
Technology has equalized the playing field, Basseri says. The difference is filmmaking skill. “[Videographers] are becoming comparable to photographers in terms of equipment,” she says. “We’re using the same DSLRs [high-end cameras that shoot both still and video], but with a microphone on top.”
Videographers should have a sample reel. Watch them. “I’m not always the right filmmaker for the job; look at the work first,” says Steven Garza of Higher City Films in Salinas.
Hyde says to check Yelp for reviews. Basseri suggests WeddingWire.com or the venue. A reputable videographer, she says, will cost about $1,500 to $5,000.
Watch out for Stanley Kubrick syndrome.
Some videographers may delude themselves into thinking your wedding is actually a film set, and that you and your loved ones are actors and extras who must hit their marks or do retakes. You want a videographer to have pride in their work, but humility too.
“We try to be unobtrusive,” Greg Hyde says. “My wife and I wear all black to [not] be seen. We go to the rehearsals and we get [to the ceremony] an hour early so we’re not moving around when people are arriving.”
“The essence of cinema is editing.”
Not to get highfalutin, but that’s a quote from Francis Ford Coppola, and it can be applied to your wedding video. Raw footage should be edited down to make it more dramatic. A good videographer must also be a good editor in order to come out with the best finished project. “That’s where everything comes together,” Garza says.
Cameras don’t shoot weddings. People do.
Garza suggests couples ask themselves: “Is this a person I want to spend all day with?” Especially on a possibly high-pressure day like a wedding, you will want to be compatible with those around you. He says a videographer should get to know the couple, and the wedding party if possible, to better be attuned to whom to shoot and when. That will translate into a better finished product.
Make sure there are AT least two shooters.
“It looks more like a movie that way,” Hyde says. Plus, if one shooter’s footage gets blocked or the battery fails, continuity can be rescued with the second camera. And there’s no harm in setting up a third camera on a tripod shooting wide-angle.
When it comes to video, pay attention to audio.
The videographers I spoke with were unanimous on this point.
“Audio is half of what we’re recording,” Basseri says.
“Great sound can make the video look better,” adds Hyde, who is also a recording musician.
Garza says, “If you don’t have good sound, you’re missing part of the story.”
Can’t afford a professional videographer? DIY.
Couples tell Basseri they are grateful they had their wedding filmed because “the whole day was a blur.”
But if the cost is prohibitive, she adds, in any wedding party there are bound to be aspiring filmmakers. Find that person (or, to be safe, people), get them a tripod and decent wireless or lavalier microphones, and deputize them to shoot the wedding.
Or, Hyde suggests, add videography to your gift registry. It may be one of the most enduring gifts of the day.
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- Joel Ede and Kera Abraham
1. Bacon.
It’s the manliest of meats, and many women can’t resist it either. For mastery of such swine, look no further than Tony Baker, chef at Monterey’s Montrio Bistro and celebrated maker of Baker’s Bacon. His mouthwatering pork is applewood-smoked, dry-cured and sourced from sustainably raised hogs – for the very best of bros.
• Find Baker’s Bacon at The Wharf Marketplace, 290 Figueroa St., Monterey, (831) 649-1116, www.thewharfmarketplace.com
• Star Market, 1275 S. Main St., Salinas, (831) 422-3961, www.starmkt.com
• Brunos Market, 6th and Junipero, Carmel, (831) 624-3821, www.brunosmarket.com
• Corral De Tierra Market, 2 Corral de Tierra Road, off Highway 68, (831) 676-3806, www.corralmarket.com
2. A Bottle of Local Shine.
Not all spirits are created equal, and nothing fills the flask quite as nicely as a bottle of small-batch Fog’s End Rye or California Moonshine. Gonzales-based distiller Craig Pakish uses old-school methods to create a flavorful and carefully produced whiskey you can be proud to distribute to your comrades.
• For a full list of where to find Fog’s End spirits, visit www.fogsenddistillery.com or call (831) 809-5941.
3. A Cool Kitchen Gadget.
From whiskey stones that keep a drink cool without watering it down to the best kitchen knives and BBQ tools around, Stone Creek Kitchen is chock-full of gifts for the culinary pro in your wedding party. They also carry a great selection of wine and specialty beers for all the dudes who don’t know a colander from a cookie sheet.
• Stone Creek Kitchen, 465 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Monterey. (831) 393-1902, www.stonecreekkitchen.com.
4. A Real Shaving Kit.
Harken back to the days when men took pride not only in the work they did, but in the tools they used. A quality straight-edge is the epitome of class, and this gift will probably get used more than that Mr. Beer home-brew kit you were thinking about.
• Hellam’s Tobacco Shop, 423 Alvarado St., Monterey. (831) 373-2816, www.oldmonterey.org/biz/hellams – tobacco-shop.
5. A Nifty Sporting Kit.
Get creative and personalize a tackle box of your buddies’ favorite lures, baits and miscellaneous fishing accoutrements. How about a day pack with some super-useful hiking necessities? Step away from the personalized pocket knives and get your burly best man something he’ll find useful.
• Outdoor World, 1130 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. (831) 373-3615, www.theoutdoorworld.com
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It wasn’t the first time I officiated a wedding. But it was the first time I’d shown up to finalize the ceremony details with the bride and groom, only to discover they hadn’t even started their vows.
The wedding was a couple of hours away, tops.
Turns out, despite the ring bearer burning his hand on a curling iron and the ceremony being delayed more than an hour, and one toast-maker getting the microphone snatched away, the getting-hitched part went off without a hitch – even splendidly – mainly because the vows were so moving.
Here are the simple guidelines used to make it happen. Basic ceremony templates are also easy to find online.
1. Involve a ritual.
Officiants everywhere: Take time in the proceedings to welcome everyone, a minute tell a short but heartfelt story, and don’t forget the actual exchange of rings after the vows. Also, having the marrying spouses combine two symbols of themselves, like candles, water or wine. At the aforementioned wedding, it was sand from where he proposed, poured together with sand from where they married. The simple ritual helps structure and ground the ceremony.
2. Be specific.
The vows, like any compelling piece of information, should have details. Don’t just say you love your partner’s compassion; say you love the way she invests so much time at the after-school clinic and makes warm soup for the neighborhood bum. It makes for much more meaningful content.
3. Look ahead.
This is a most sacred promise. Explore all the sweet moments you want to enjoy in your lifetime together, especially the small but vital things. “I will make you breakfast in bed – and not burn the toast. I will pick up the dog doo. I will be there to pick you up too.”
4. Embrace structure.
It helps to start the first set of vows with a consistent opening (“I love you because… ”), and the second set too (“I will… ”). Bride and groom can alternate vow for vow, making them easier to follow and more poetically symmetrical.
5. Compare notes.
Some couples prefer to keep their vows semi-secret from one another until the ceremony. But it’s a unique brand of awkwardness when the groom’s vows go 10 minutes longer than his better half’s, or the bride’s are notably deeper. Couples can avoid this – even without revealing all of what will be said – by swapping rough drafts of what they plan on saying.
6. Build the drama of the kiss.
Officiants: Take all the time and poetic license you can to facilitate the final I do’s, set up the kiss and pronounce the couple husband and wife (or husband and husband, or wife and wife). The moment more than merits it. Then get the party started.
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Local nuptial stats that you may not know…
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Carmel-by-the-Sea’s rank among Travel & Leisure’s “Best Cities for Romance in the World,” 2014
72 degrees
Average September/October temperature in Carmel
93
Weddings reserved at Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove, one of the county’s most popular public wedding locations, in 2014
3,114
Marriage licenses issued by the Monterey County Recorder’s Office in 2014
333
The most marriage licenses issued in one month (July) by Monterey County last year
65
Marriages at Monterey County correctional facilities in 2014
$2.5 million
Settlement payout by Facebook billionaire Sean Parker, who did not obtain the proper permits for his Big Sur wedding in 2013
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Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s glamorous 1981 wedding cost an estimated $70 million in today’s dollars. Kim Kardashian’s short-lived marriage to Kris Humphries cost about $10 million.
But non-celebrity brides and grooms experience sticker shock, too, even for simple celebrations. As wedding costs rise, so does the DIY movement.
In 2008, writer Dana LaRue launched a blog to give and get affordable, creative tips for her wedding. “The Broke-Ass Bride inspires and empowers you savvy, unique readers to make the most of what you have by using creative, outside-the-box ideas rooted in practical advice, to save your money and your sanity,” she writes at www.brokeassbride.com.
Some of the site’s ideas involve elaborate and specific directions, like how to paint cheap glass to look like vintage bronze. But it includes a lot of easier DIY tips, too.
A few key bits of advice from DIY brides of the Monterey Peninsula: Enlist your friends to help make it happen the way you envision, be selective about what’s really important, and manage your expectations.
Whether the motivator is to save money, indulge your inner artist or infuse your wedding with personal touches, here are a few manageable DIY ideas.
Throw a potluck.
You can assign out certain items – salads, casseroles, breads – to accompany a few main dishes from the caterer. If each guest brings one thing, it’s not too much to ask of anyone. As far as alcohol goes, you can serve homebrew, and ask an artistic friend to design labels customized to your wedding day.
Bake dessert.
Homemade desserts make a welcome appearance at some of the most finely planned weddings. It’s a way for your aunt to share her famous chocolate cake, or your best friend to bask in the glory of his cherry pie. One couple invited family members to bake cookies. Ten signed up to whip out five dozen each, creating a table of 600 cookies. Wedding guests mixed and matched them into favor bags stamped with a cute bird of the bride’s own design.
Vowing down.
Work with a friend to officiate your wedding. Choose the readings and messages to represent what the day is really about for you and your partner. Even if you don’t create an original ceremony, you can still write your own deeply personal wedding vows (see story, p. 32).
Smell the flowers.
Assemble bouquets from the farmers market and use small jars to keep them fresh. Succulents are easy to grow in your own backyard and make for interesting centerpieces, boutonnieres or party favors. Plus, you get points for being drought-conscious.
Go eco-friendly.
It’s not easy to make a big party a green affair, with guests flying in from all over. But you can help mitigate the impact with just a little bit of planning and labor. Set up bins to collect food waste for composting. Instead of printing out programs for the ceremony, write the relevant information on a chalkboard at the entrance. Buy carbon credits to make up for the greenhouse gas emissions from your wedding: A great local option is The Offset Project (www.theoffsetproject.org).
Get thrifty.
Instead of spending big on a new dress, wear your mom’s or grandmother’s vintage wedding gown altered to fit beautifully. Add a custom bit of bling, like a sash or a fancy hair accessory, to make it yours. Or search out a promising used dress for a reasonable price – after all, they’ve only been worn once.
Pick a park.
There are dozens of affordable, accessible and stunning locations for outdoor weddings at public parks all over Monterey County. Of course you can’t control the weather, but if you set a date for the fall, the summer gloom is likely to be over and winter rains should be a few months off. You can get affordable permits to use many public spaces, and most let you set up however you like.
Dishing it out.
Table settings can be done with thrift-store silverware and china. One Carmel Valley couple made gorgeous table settings – and a conversation starter for guests – by collecting dinnerware from estate sales and secondhand shops, with no two plates the same. Transform vintage fabric into tablecloths and napkins. Serve drinks in mason jars, and make your own spa water with cucumber or lemon slices in large jugs.
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- Alexandra Videmsky
A second marriage is still a new marriage, Brian Borgia of Weddings in Monterey says. The ceremony should reflect that.
“You don’t want to go back and re-create your first wedding,” he says. “It’s nice to make a clean break and do something different.”
Different can come in many flavors. For some couples, that means breaking from tradition and doing something more daring and personalized. The couple can write their own vows. The bride can wear a gown that’s not white. The wedding can happen in a non-denominational setting. In fact, one of Speirs’ clients plans to wear a purple bridal dress – at her Civil-War-themed wedding on the Fourth of July.
Other second-time spouses-to-be bring simpler wish lists, like friends, family, a church and a chocolate cake. Whether the vision is modest or elaborate, “It’s less fantasy and a lot more reality,” says Patty Speirs, who runs Salinas-based Every Last Detail Wedding and Event Coordination. “The things [the bride and groom] choose will be more specific. They are not out to impress anybody else.”
Speirs says there are a few taboos to avoid at a second wedding, like a bride wearing the same dress as her first. “That’s bad luck!” she says. Only very precious family heirlooms get her reluctant pass to be worn again.
Experience is a great advantage for couples having second-time weddings. They can enter the process as seasoned planners with clearer goals. They can be less distracted by fluff and formality. The key, Speirs says, is for a couple to communicate clearly, focus their vision and block out any unhelpful opinions from friends and family members.
However, prices have almost undoubtedly increased since the first “I do’s,” leaving many second-timers with sticker shock. That’s especially true when couples have larger expenses, like mortgages and kids’ educations, than they did during their first nuptials.
Opting for a smaller ceremony helps alleviate the financial burden. Borgia suggests shortening the guest list to the couple’s closest friends and family members. There’s no need, he says, to invite distant relatives or mom and dad’s friends. He says the typical second wedding has a guest list roughly half as long as a first, perhaps 50-75 people instead of 100-150.
Children from the previous marriage should be included as much as possible, he adds: as ring bearers, flower girls or even walking their parent down the aisle. A nice gesture is a ceremonial gift of jewelry to younger kids, mirroring the couple’s exchange of rings.
Be it more relaxed, more distinctive or simply less stressful, the second wedding is a chance to improve on the first.
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We tend to think about weddings visually: the colors, the fabrics, the scenery. But sound is an equally important element of your big day.
Wedding DJ packages generally start around $1,000, so choose yours carefully, and book early.
I asked two local wedding DJs – Justin Horrell (DJ Tunabunny) and my own groom, Hanif Panni (DJ Hanif Wondir) – to share advice for couples planning what’s likely to be the biggest party of their lives. Here are some of their key tips.
Good DJs do more than mix music. They take care of all your wedding’s audio needs, including sound, wiring and speakers. They should be able to provide lavaliere microphones for the couple and officiant during the ceremony, and a mic on a stand for the toasts.
Your DJ can also serve as party emcee, making announcements about when it’s time to be seated for dinner, move to the dance floor or wrap it up.
“A DJ is a shepherd of sorts,” Tunabunny says, “making announcements to keep people in tune with what’s going on and keep the energy up.”
Of course, the bread-and-butter of wedding DJing is the music. During the initial consultation, tell your DJ what kind of music you and your most important guests – bridesmaids, groomsmen and parents – like to hear.
While you’re at it, mention the genres you’re not into. “Then you know what kind of liberties you can take with the music,” Tunabunny says.
Your DJ should ask for a short list of must-play tracks for certain critical moments, like the bride’s appearance on the aisle, the couple’s first dance and the father-daughter dance.
DJ Hanif Wondir’s Top Wedding Requests
- “All About that Bass” – Meghan Trainor
“Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars - “Celebration” – Kool & The Gang
- “Blurred Lines” – Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell Williams
- “Don’t Stop Believin” – Journey
- “Cupid Shuffle” – Cupid
- “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
- “Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson
- “Baby Got Back” – Sir Mix-A-Lot
- “Thrift Shop” – Macklemore
Trust your DJ to honor your instructions, then give them the freedom to do that DJ thang you hired them for.
Your DJ should mix tracks in a way that feels fluid and plays off the crowd’s energy, choosing songs to keep booties shaking and sometimes taking requests.
For Wondir, that means mixing popular crowd-pleasers with compatible selections from his own music library.
“I sculpt my playlist to every individual wedding,” he says. “Even if it’s a song I personally don’t love, the day of the wedding is not about me. Mostly it’s about the bride. As long as she’s happy, that’s the main thing.”
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After 17 years of playing Mexican-style weddings across Central California, Javier Vargas of Watsonville-based Mariachi California knows what it takes to turn a wedding party into a memorable bash. Recently his eight-piece outfit (three violins, two trumpets, bass guitarron, vihuela and classical guitar) performed for seven hours at a wedding. The kicker: They didn’t repeat a single song.
Your wedding band will literally set the tone of the entire day, so be sure to pick yours carefully.
If the band busts out a wildly inappropriate song for a wedding, like Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” or Guns N’ Roses’ “I Used to Love Her (But I Had to Kill Her),” it’s likely your grandma will remember that over the father-of-the-bride’s tearjerker of a toast.
You can take a few easy steps to avoid a wedding-band blunder. First, do your homework by looking up client reviews of wedding bands and DJs at www.gigmasters.com or www.weddingwire.com.
Another valuable tool: your ears. Before hiring a band, make sure you hear it play – if not live, at least on YouTube. It’s the only way to see if the music, style and vibe are good fits for your big day.
Many Monterey County weddings feature Mexican genres, such as Tex-Mex-style música norteña or mariachi, played by a live band.
Vargas, originally from the birthplace of mariachi, Tuxpan, Jalisco, says traditional staples like “Cielito Lindo,” “El Son de la Negra” and “Jesusita En Chihuahua” are actually part of his DNA. He’s a direct ancestor of the father of mariachi, Silvestre Vargas. “I’m proud to be related to these musicians,” he says.
When it comes to weddings with classic American soundtracks, there aren’t many locals who can claim to have performed at more than Steve Ezzo. He’s been playing guitar and singing in wedding bands since 1972 in Detroit.
Ezzo describes his first band as a “weird” polka-rock hybrid. Following stints in a Disneyland show and as the touring guitarist for Three Dog Night and Tom Jones, Ezzo found his way back to the wedding circuit.
Steve Ezzo & The Monterey Bay All-Stars have done between 30 and 45 weddings per year since 2000, when Ezzo launched his business in Monterey. (His 43 reviews on www.weddingwire.com are all five-stars.)
Depending on budget and venue size, the band features anywhere from five to nine talented singers and musicians, most of whom have been working with Ezzo for a decade.
Consistently putting on stellar shows, he says, is the easy part.
“Eighty percent of the job is the prep work leading up to the wedding,” he explains. “It’s a really long process from the initial phone call. It’s not uncommon to exchange 50-100 emails with a client before the wedding.”
The Michigan native says the most valuable lesson he’s learned: You’re only one part of a large team.
“The music is an important part,” Ezzo says, “but the real stars of the show are the bride and the groom, the family and friends.”
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All phone numbers are in the 831 area code unless otherwise specified.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND VENUES
201 Main
201 Main St, Salinas
(831) 800-7573, www.201complex.com
Bay Park Hotel
1425 Munras Ave, Monterey
(831) 649-1020, www.bayparkhotel.com
Bayonet and Black Horse
1 McClure Way, Seaside
(831) 899-7271, www.bayonetblackhorse.com
California State Parks and Beaches
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23428
Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds
(888) 635-5310, www.visitasilomar.com/weddings.aspx
Andrew Molera State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
(831) 667-0507
Garrapata State Park, Monterey State Beach and Carmel River State Beach
(831) 624-9423
Monterey State Historic Park, including Custom House Plaza and Memory Garden
(831) 649-7118
Cambria Pines Lodge
2905 Burton Dr, Cambria
(805) 924-3353, www.cambriapineslodge.com
Carmel Beach
West of Scenic Rd, Carmel
(831) 620-2020, www.ci.carmel.ca.us
Carmel Valley Ranch
1 Old Ranch Rd, Carmel
(831) 626-2545, www.carmelvalleyranch.com
Casa Munras Hotel
700 Munras Ave, Monterey
(831) 375-2411, www.hotelcasamunras.com
Casa Serrano Adobe and Gardens
412 Pacific St, Monterey
(831) 372-2608, www.mchsmuseum.com/casaserrano.html
Chateau Julien Wine Estate
8940 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley
(831) 624-2600, www.chateaujulien.com
Corral de Tierra Country Club
81 Corral de Tierra Rd, Corral de Tierra
(831) 484-1112 x 238, www.corraldetierracc.com
Gardener Ranch
114 W. Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley
(831) 298-7360, www.gardenerranch.com
Hilton Garden Inn Monterey
1000 Aguajito Rd, Monterey
(831) 333-2404, www.monterey.hgi.com
Hotel 1110
1110 Del Monte Ave, Monterey
(831) 655-0515, www.hotel1110.com
Hyatt Carmel Highlands
120 Highlands Dr, Carmel
(831) 622-5461, www.hyattcarmelhighlands.com
Hyatt Regency Monterey
1 Old Golf Course Rd, Monterey
(831) 657-6540, www.hyattregencymonterey.com
InterContinental The Clement Monterey
750 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 375-4500, www.ictheclementmonterey.com
La Playa Hotel
Camino Real and 8th, Carmel
(800) 582-8900, www.laplayahotel.com
Madonna Inn
100 Madonna Rd, San Luis Obispo
(805) 543-3000, www.madonnainn.com
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 648-4928, www.montereybayaquarium.com
Monterey Beach Resort
2600 Sand Dunes Dr, Monterey
(831) 655-7650, www.montereybeachresort.com
Monterey Beach Party
281 Webster St, Monterey
(831) 648-7240, www.montereybeachparty.com
Monterey County Fair & Event Center
2004 Fairground Rd, Monterey
(831) 372-5863, www.montereycountyfair.com
Monterey Hostel
778 Hawthorne St, Monterey
(831) 649-0375, www.montereyhostel.org
Monterey Marriott
350 Calle Principal, Monterey
(831) 649-4234, www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mryca-monterey-marriott
Monterey Museum of Art
720 Via Mirada, Monterey, (831) 372-3689, www.montereyart.org/site-rental
Monterey Plaza Hotel
400 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 645-4033, www.montereyplazahotel.com
Monterey Stone Chapel
2999 Salinas Hwy. Suite 3, Monterey
(831) 375-8574, www.montereyweddings.com
Museum of Monterey/ Casa Serrano
5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey
(831) 372-2608, www.museumofmonterey.org
National Steinbeck Center
1 Main St, Salinas
(831) 775-4735, www.steinbeck.org
Old Whaling Station/Jr. League of Monterey County
391 Decatur St, Monterey
(831) 375-5356, www.jlmontereycounty.org
Oldemeyer Center
986 Hilby Ave, Seaside
(831) 899-6800, www.ci.seaside.ca.us/index.aspx?page=164
Pacific Grove Recreation Department
Various locations
(831) 648-3100, www.ci.pg.ca.us
Pasadera Country Club
100 Pasadera Dr, Monterey
(831) 647-2400, www.pasadera.com
Pebble Beach Resorts
Various locations, Pebble Beach
(831) 625-8502, www.pebblebeach.com
Portola Hotel
2 Portola Plaza, Monterey
(831) 649-4511 x 7870, www.portolahotel.com
Quail Lodge & Golf Club
8205 Valley Greens Dr, Carmel
(831) 620-8969, www.quaillodge.com/weddings.cfm
Restaurant 1833
500 Hartnell St, Monterey
(831) 643-1833, www.restaurant1833.com
Scheid Vineyards
1972 Hobson Ave, Greenfield
(831) 455-9990, www.scheidvineyards.com
Shoreline Conference Center
249 10th St, Marina
(831) 883-5718, www.shorelineworks.org
Steinbeck Institute for Arts and Culture
(formerly Sherwood Hall)
940 N. Main St, Salinas
(831) 775-4735, www.steinbeck.org
Sunset Center
San Carlos and 9th, Carmel
(831) 620-2040, www.sunsetcenter.org
Tickle Pink Inn
155 Highland Dr, Carmel
(831) 624-1244, www.ticklepinkinn.com
The Press Club
1123 Fremont Blvd, Seaside
(831) 901-3900, www.thepressclub.buzz
Ventana Inn and Spa
48123 Hwy 1, Big Sur
(831) 667-4202, www.ventanainn.com
Water City Skate
2800 2nd Ave, Marina
(831) 384-0144, www.watercityskate.com
APPAREL AND ALTERATIONS
Andrew’s Formal
1224 Northridge Mall, Salinas
(831) 443-1770, www.andrewsformal.com
Bellas Bridal
1170 Northridge Mall, Salinas
(831) 443-0222, www.mybellasbridals.com
Bliss Boutique
266 Main St, Salinas
(831) 757-4055, www.facebook.com/blissboutique
Bride’n Formal By the Bay
209 Pearl St, Monterey
(831) 333-0255
Butterfly Boutique
1104 Broadway Ave Suite A, Seaside
(831) 324-4105, www.butterflyboutique11.com
Carried Away Boutique
606 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove
(831) 656-9063, www.carriedawayboutique.com
Collezione Fortuna
Su Vecino Courtyard, Lincoln
between 5th and 6th
(831) 626-1287, www.collezionefortuna.com
Epiphany Boutique
Mission between 5th and 6th, Carmel
(831) 626-7700, epiphany-boutique.com
Ericka Engleman
208 Wildwood Way, Salinas
(831) 624-3442, www.erickaengelman.com
Girl Boy Girl
Mission and 7th, Carmel
(831) 626-3368, www.facebook.com/girlboygirlinc
Hedi’s Shoes
Corner of Ocean and Mission, Carmel
(831) 624-5580, www.hedi.com
Intima European Lingerie
San Carlos between Ocean and 6th, Carmel
(831) 625-0599, www.intimacarmel.com
Karma Fashion Lounge
415 Alvarado St, Monterey
(831) 333-1350, www.facebook.com/
karmafashionlounge
Khaki’s
The Carmel Plaza, Junipero and Ocean, Carmel
(831) 625-8106, www.khakisofcarmel.com
Lizzie G and Me
254 Main St, Salinas
(831) 373-3100, www.lizziegandme.com
Lloyd’s Shoes
Ocean and Dolores, Carmel
(831) 625-1382, www.lloydsshoes.com
LunaBlu Trading Co
176 Bonifacio Pl, Monterey
(831) 641-0616, www.facebook.com/pages/Lunablu/111040178920364
Men’s Wearhouse
390 Del Monte Center, Monterey
(831) 655-1511, www.menswearhouse.com
Nest
229 Grand Ave #B, Pacific Grove
(831) 333-9184, www.nestinpg.com
Pamplemousse
Ocean between Mission and San Carlos, Carmel
(831) 624-1259, www.pamplemousseboutique.com
Pari’s Boutique & Alteration
510 Lighthouse Ave Suite 4, Pacific Grove
(831) 375-0500, www.facebook.com/Paris-Boutique
Park Avenue Styles
266 Reservation Rd Suite L, Marina
(831) 324-4257, www.parkavenuestyles.com
Robert Talbott
Ocean at Dolores, Carmel
(831) 624-6604, www.roberttalbott.com
SHE
110 Crossroads Blvd, Carmel
(831) 626-4686, www.thecrossroadscarmel.com/shopping-services/she
Silvia’s Alterations
901 Cass St, Monterey
(831) 375-0153, www.facebook.com/SilviasAlterations
Yess!Style
522 Filbert Way, Salinas
(831) 998-1067,
www.styleseat.com/yessicagrandelli
BEAUTY AND HEALTH
506 Salon
506 Polk St, Monterey
(831) 372-0506, www.facebook.com/salon506
Aquablue Spa
229 Main St, Salinas
(831) 422-2500, www.aquabluespa.com
Beautiful Skin Spa
2000 Garden Rd, Monterey
(831) 236-9911, www.beautifulskinspa.com
Blush
579 Calle Principal, Monterey
(831) 901-3924
Body By Laser
1010 Cass Street, Suite D, Monterey
(831) 612-4629, www.bodybylasercentralcoast.com
California Skin Institute
9781 Blue Larkspur Lane Suite 100, Monterey
(831) 333-9008, www.californiaskininstitute.com
Carmel Laser
3602 The Barnyard, Carmel
(831) 626-6228, www.facebook.com/pages/Carmel-Laser-Aesthetics-Spa/169940556404212
Cos Bar of Carmel
Carmel Plaza, Ocean and Mission, Carmel
(831) 626-6249, www.carmelplaza.com/stores/cos-bar
Cynthia’s Hair Affair
170 17th St Suite A,Pacific Grove
(831) 245-5692,
www.cynthiashairaffairbeautysalon.com
Dr. James Penna, DDS
337 El Dorado Suite A-2, Monterey
(831) 649-4711, www.jamescpennadds.com
Dr. Keller
950 Cass Street, Monterey
(831) 373-1100, www.montereyadvancedmedicine.com
Euphoria Salon and Spa
499 Pacific St, Monterey
(831) 717-4375, www.euphorialoungeandspa.com
Glamour Glow Tanning
1016 N. Davis Rd, Salinas, (831) 975-5027
339 Maple St #B, Salinas, (831) 595-4569
1924 Fremont Blvd, Seaside, (831) 899-2030
GLOW
2320 Del Monte Suite A, Monterey
(831) 642-9051, www.glowmonterey.com
Laser Hair Removal by Lisa Carter
21 Upper Ragsdale Dr Suite 100, Monterey
(831) 648-8020
Makeup by Michaela
(831) 324-3241, www.makeupbymny.com
Mantra Salon
Mission between 7th and Ocean, Carmel
(831) 626-1223, www.mantrasalon.com
March Hare Salon
Corner of 5th and Mission, Carmel
(831) 624-3024, www.marchharesalon.com
Marilyn Monroe Spa
1 Old Golf Course Rd, Monterey
(831) 657-6734, www.marilynmonroespas.com
Michelle Curtice Esthetics
445 Cortes St, Monterey
(831) 915-2122, www.facebook.com/michellecurticeesthetics
Monterey Aesthetics Center
100 Wilson Rd #110, Monterey
(831) 646-5297, www.montereydoctor.com
Oya Salon
201 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey
(831) 656-0570, www.oyasalon.com
Perfectly Pressed Juice Bar & Eatery
961 West Alisal St, Salinas, (831) 998-8770
1123 Fremont Blvd, Seaside (831) 901-3900
Sages Salon
125 Ocean View Blvd. Ste #205, Pacific Grove
(831) 241-6193, www.sagessalon.com
Spa on the Plaza
201 Alvarado St, Monterey
(831) 647-9000, www.spaontheplaza.com
Vanity Salon & Blow Dry Bar
481 Tyler St, Monterey
(831) 324-0092, www.vanitysalon.com
CATERERS / REHEARSAL AND RECEPTION DINNERS
Abalonetti Bar & Grill
57 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey
(831) 373-1851, www.abalonettimonterey.com
Alejo Catering
(831) 710-1009, www.alejocatering.com
Aqua Terra Culinary
529 Central Ave, Pacific Grove
(831) 657-9790, www.aquaterraculinary.com
Balesteri’s
10520 York Rd, Monterey
(831) 373-3701 x 3, www.balesteris.com
Bayonet and Black Horse
1 McClure Way, Seaside
(831) 393-3006 x 204,
Cafe Fina
47 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey
(831) 372-5200, www.cafefina.com
Cannery Row Brewing Company
95 Prescott Ave, Monterey
(831) 643-2722,
www.canneryrowbrewingcompany.com
Cantinetta Luca
Dolores between Ocean and 7th, Carmel
(831) 625-6500, www.cantinettaluca.com
Casa Sorrento Pizzeria
393 Salinas St, Salinas
(831) 757-2720, www.casasorrento.com
Celebration by the Sea
614 Airport Blvd, Salinas
(831) 769-9202, www.celebration-by-the-sea.com
Chart House
444 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 372-3362, www.chart-house.com
Contemporary Catering
18195 Berta Canyon Rd, Prunedale
(831) 663-3191, www.contemporarycatering.net
Edgar’s at Quail Lodge & Golf Club
8000 Valley Greens Dr, Carmel
(831) 620-8910, www.quaillodge.com/dining/carmel-ca-dining
Fandango
223 17th St, Pacific Grove
(831) 333-9798, www.fandangorestaurant.com
Hacienda Mexican Grill
1449 N. Davis Rd, Salinas
(831) 424-6400,
www.haciendamexicangrillsalinas.com
Haute Enchilada
7902 Moss Landing Rd, Moss Landing
(831) 633-5843, www.hauteenchilada.com
Il Fornaio
Ocean Ave. & Monte Verde St
(at The Pine Inn), Carmel-by-the-Sea
(831) 622-5100, www.ilfornaio.com
La Villa Banquetes
Seaside, (831) 383-0261
Main Street Bakery & Catering
711 South Main St, Salinas
(831) 771-2253,
www.mainstreetbakeryandcatering.com
Michael’s Catering
445 Reservation Rd Suite U, Marina
(831) 884-2400, www.michaels-catering.com
Montrio Bistro
414 Calle Principal, Monterey
(831) 648-8880, www.montrio.com
Point Pinos Grill
79 Asilomar Blvd, Pacific Grove
(831) 648-5774, www.pointpinosgrill.com
Rio Grill
101 Crossroads Blvd, Carmel
(831) 917-0332, www.riogrill.com
Sardine Factory
701 Wave St, Monterey
(831) 373-6625, www.sardinefactory.com
Sarita’s The Original
21 Soledad Dr, Monterey
(831) 350-0555, www.saritastogo.com
Sea Stars Big Sur Catering & Event Design
(831) 915-8477, www.seastarsbigsur.com
Shake It Up Bartending
(831) 204-0285, www.ShakeItUpBartender.com
Tarpy’s Roadhouse
2999 Salinas Hwy, Monterey
(831) 655-2999, www.tarpys.com
The Steinbeck House
132 Central Ave, Salinas
(831) 424-2735, www.steinbeckhouse.com
Wild Thyme Deli & Cafe
445 Reservation Rd, Marina
(831) 884-2414, www.wildthymedeli.com
CONFECTIONERS
Angelina’s Bakery
1725 Fremont Blvd, Seaside
(831) 394-8808, www.angelinasbakerys.com
Layers Sensational Cakes
9 Soledad Dr, Monterey
(831) 655-1544, www.layerscake.com
Luz the Cake Lady
Main Street Bakery & Catering
711 South Main St, Salinas
(831) 771-2253, www.luzthecakelady.com
Mrs. Delish’s Cupcake Boutique
1098 Del Monte Ave, Monterey
(831) 612-1884, www.mrsdelishs.com
Nothing Bundt Cakes
102 Crossroads Blvd, Carmel
(831) 293-8773, www.nothingbundtcakes.com
Paris Bakery
1234 Broadway Ave, Seaside, (831) 394-7798
271 Bonifacio Pl, Monterey, (831) 646-1620
Parker-Lusseau Pastries & Cafe
731 Munras Ave, Monterey, (831) 643-0300
539 Hartnell St, Monterey, (831) 641-9188
40 Ragsdale Dr Suite 100, Monterey,
(831) 655-3030
www.parker-lusseaupastries.com
Sweet Elena’s Bakery
465 Olympia Ave, Sand City
(831) 393-2063
CHURCHES AND OFFICIANTS
A By-The-Sea Wedding
(831) 375-8574, www.montereyweddings.com
Carmel Mission
3080 Rio Road, Carmel
(831) 624-1271, www.carmelmission.org
Cherished Events & Celebrations
(831) 229-7160, www.cherishedeventsandcelebrations.com
Church in the Forest
3152 Forest Lake Rd, Pebble Beach
(831) 624-1374, www.churchintheforest.org
Christian Church of Pacific Grove
442 Central Avenue, Pacific Grove
(831) 372-0363
Monterey Ceremonies By Zia
(831) 601-5315, www.ceremoniesinmonterey.com/monterey-wedding.html
Pacific Coast Church
522 Central Ave, Pacific Grove
(831) 372-1942, www.pacificcoastchurchpg.org
ENTERTAINMENT / DJS
Camilo Y Amalia
(520) 271-8017, www.camiloyamalia.com
Choice Music
1130 Fremont Blvd Suite 183, Seaside
(831) 236-5211, www.choicemusicmonterey.com
Hanif Wondir Productions and Design
(831) 320-8745, www.hanifwondir.com
The DJ Booth
345 Monterey St, Salinas
(831) 753-6980, www.djboothonline.com
FLOWERS/DECOR
Exhibit Floral Studio
11 W. Acacia St, Salinas
(831) 422-7421, www.exhibitfloral.com
Kate Healey Big Sur Flowers
(831) 667-2649, www.bigsurflowers.com
Pacific Grove Floral
217 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove
(831) 375-9809, www.pacificgroveflorist.com
Swenson & Silacci Flowers
110 John St, Salinas, (831) 424-2725
432 Alvarado St, Monterey, (831) 375-2725
Twigs Floral Design
(831) 915-8715, www.twigsfloraldesign.com
GIFTS
AnnieGlass
(888)761-0050, www.annieglass.com
Nor Cal Smoke Shop
765 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey
(831) 645-9021, www.thenorcalsmokeshop.com
Marina Patina
125 Ocean View Blvd Suite 208, Pacific Grove
(831) 747-7409, www.facebook.com/MarinaPatinaCA
JEWELRY
Gasper’s Jewelers
447 Alvarado St., Monterey
(831) 375-5332, www.gaspersjewelers.com
Jewel Boutique
3631 The Barnyard, Carmel
(831) 625-1016, www.thebarnyard.com/store/jewel-boutique/
Mr. Z’s Fine Jewelry
125 Ocean Blvd. #129 (American Tin Cannery), Monterey
(831) 646-1922, www.facebook.com/pages/Z-Fine-Jewelry/305546359465031
Pejmani of Belgium
225A Carmel Plaza, Ocean and Mission
(831) 300-0900, www.pejmani.com
Peninsula Gem and Jewelry
2245 N. Fremont St., Monterey
(831) 375-3027, www.peninsulagemandjewelry.com
Steinbeck jewelers
711 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 649-0993
Sun Studios
208 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove
(831) 373-7989, www.sunstudiosjewelry.com
Tamara G Designs
711 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 649-0993, www.tamaragdesign.com
The Bench Jeweler
188 Webster St., Monterey
(831) 372-5186
Weber Goldsmith Gallery
107 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel
(831) 626-7600, www.webergoldsmithgallery.com
PARTY RENTALS
A to Z Party Rentals
1110 Abbott St, Salinas, (831) 424-4770
1173 Echo Ave., Seaside, (831) 394-6751
Chic Event Rentals
485 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey
(831) 375-1055, www.chiceventrentals.com
Elegant Affair
321 N. Main St, Salinas
(831) 663-5699, www.elegantaffairca.com
Hodges Rent All, Inc.
456 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey
(831) 373-7368, www.hodgesrentall.com
OES Luxury restrooms
(831) 588-7374, www.luxurymobilerestrooms.com
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
831 Images
(831) 233-9593, www.831images.com
Anchor Cinema-Mitchell Zotovich
(408) 781-6626, www.anchorcinema.com
Big Time Video
546 Hartnell St Suite E, Monterey
(831) 655-0409, www.bigtimevid.com
Buena Lane Photography-Eileen Marie
(415) 418-9866, www.buenalaneweddings.com
Carlos Garcia Wedding Photography & Videography
375 Main St, Watsonville
(831) 724-8156, www.carlosgarciaphoto.com
Christine Diaz
430 Salinas St, Salinas
(831) 998-4767, www.christinediazphoto.com
D and Mii Photography
(831) 815-3379, www.diandmiiphotography.com
Doc Wenzel’s Old Time Portraits
700 Cannery Row M, Monterey
(831) 655-3556, www.docwenzels.com
Documentary Photography by Nic Coury
(831) 402-1770, www.photographnic.com
Evynn LeValley
P.O. Box 4214, Carmel
(831) 917-3450, www.evynnlevalley.com
Laura Hernandez Photography
(831) 578-1197,
www.laurahernandezphotography.com
Manuel Ortega Photography
191 Lighthouse Ave A4, Monterey
(831) 682-7170, www.manuelortegaphoto.com
Marlena Montaney
Michelle Magdalena Photography
(831) 402-8593, www.michellemagdalena.com
New View Photography
(831) 334-8115, www.newviewphoto.net
Paul Desmond Productions
(831) 320-8074, www.pauldesmondpro.com
Pocketful Of Plans
(831) 917-5708, www.pocketfulofplans.com
Randy Tunnell Photography
(831) 649-3101, www.randytunnell.com
Rachel Zee Photography
(831) 521-8258, www.rachelzeephotography.com
Scott MacDonald Photography
(831) 596-7056, www.scottmacdonaldweddings.com
SUPPORT SERVICES
A Sparkling Event-Mandi Nack
(831) 596-1212, www.asparklingevent.com
A STARR Events
(831) 975-5417, www.astarrevents.com
Andrews Printing and Stationery
600 E. Franklin St. Suite K, Monterey
(831) 394-5019, www.printingmontereyca.com
BC Design Studio
(831) 424-2955 www.bcdesignstudio.com
Brandl Tucker Graphic Design
(831) 915-3003
Colette Cuccia
(831) 626-0643, www.colettecuccia.com
La Bella Weddings & Events
(831) 298-0714, www.labellawed.com
Monterey Bay Wedding and Event Professionals
Silkscreen Express
1550 Hillsdale St, Seaside
(831) 899-3681, www.silkscreenxp.com
Taylor Made
(831) 204-9112, www.tmadeweddingsandevents.com
The Offset Project
(831) 277-0167, www.theoffsetproject.org
Tickle Me Pink
1294 North Main St, Salinas
(831) 998-7778, www.facebook.com/pages/Tickle-Me-Pink-Lingerie-Novelties/134507686564183
VIP Babysitting Solutions
(831) 800-838-2787, www.vipbabysitting.com
WedSafe
(831) 877-723-3933, www.aisinsurance.com/california-wedding-insurance
TRANSPORTATION
Anthony’s Limo Service
(831) 624-4256, www.anthonyslimoservice.com
Arrow Luxury Transportation
(831) 646-3175, www.arrowluxurylimo.com
Main Event Transportation
2220 Del Monte Ave, Monterey
(831) 646-5466, www.maineventtransportation.com
Your Maitre d’ Limousine
(831) 624-1717, www.yourmaitred.com
More like this...
He’s the green-thumbed vineyard manager for a Carmel Valley winery; she’s the globe-trotting ingredients manager for a ginger company in Marina. Put them together and you get drunken spice, farm gourmet, an artisan elixir of wit and laughter.
He flew to Barcelona with a 1920s vintage diamond smoldering in his pocket. The perfect moment revealed itself under a full moon, in front of famed architect Antoni Gaudí’s surreal Casa Batlló. She reminded him to take a knee. He reminded her to say yes.
Matt Shea and Katie Blandin plan to wed in Carmel Valley this August, but there’s still so much to do. Blandin is working with a local clothing designer to create a dress sketched by her grandmother in the 1930s. Shea is lining up the wine selection while Blandin pulls together a spread of local foods crafted by her friends: Big Sur cheese, Carmel Valley produce, Prunedale-cured charcuterie.
It takes patience and creativity to plan a wedding that reflects their unique story. We hope this guide brings fresh ideas, useful tips and just the right vendors to tell yours.
Because once the blooming bouquets are in place and the topper is on that decadent cake, it’s time to let go of all the work that led you here. You’re gorgeous. Your soon-to-be-spouse is glowing. Your nearest and dearest are gathered to celebrate your life together. This is your moment. Let it flow.
Founder & CEO Bradley Zeve
Publisher Erik Cushman
Editor Mary Duan
Project Editor Kera Abraham
Art Director/Production Manager Karen Loutzenheiser
Contributing Writers Kera Abraham, Mark C. Anderson, Adam Joseph, Sara Rubin, Walter Ryce, David Schmalz, Alexandra Videmsky
Photographers Buena Lane Photography, Nic Coury, Laura Hernandez Photography, Manuel Ortega Photography, Rachel Zee Photography
Graphic Designers Levi DeKeyrel, Rose Freidin, Kevin Jewell
Advertising Keith Bruecker, Tracy Burke, Chelsea Davey, Arno Featherstone, Diane Glim, George Kassal, Carrie Kuhl, Alexis Maceira
Advertising Assistant Keely Richter
Cover Photo Rachel Zee Photography
The Best of Monterey Bay® is published by Milestone Communications, Inc., a California corporation. The entire contents are copyright 2015. No portion may be reproduced. 831-394-5656. www.mcweekly.com.
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Artisanal guest favors |
Made-in-China guest favors |
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Quirky cake toppers |
Fussy fondant |
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String pennants |
Balloons |
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Outdoor ceremonies |
Indoor ceremonies |
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French-netting veils |
Long tulle veils |
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Heirloom diamonds |
Classic bling rings |
|
~ TRENDING ~ |
~ ~ |
~ FADED ~ |
|
Succulent bouquets |
White rose bouquets |
|
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Crafty boutonnières |
Rose boutonnières |
|
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Oxford shoes |
Patent-leather loafers |
|
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Food trucks |
Traditional dinner service |
|
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Photo booths |
Staged portraits of guests |
- Alexandra Videmsky
Sherry Coletti of Prunedale was never into makeup, so it’s ironic she is now selling it online. The company she reps is called Younique, a home-based cosmetics business similar to Mary Kay.
Coletti’s hairdresser recommended she try Younique’s Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lash Mascara. The set comes with two tubes: one with natural tea fibers, and one with gel that adheres them.
It was eye-opening, literally. “When I tried it I said, ‘Oh my god, I want to give this to every woman I know!’” Colletti recalls.
She now wears the mascara daily and finds time in addition to a full-time job to promote it at bridal shows. Her favorite part is seeing women who thought they couldn’t have long, full lashes.
One woman told Coletti she’d ripped out most of her lashes from using stick-on falsies. “You should’ve seen the smile on her face when she tried [Moonstruck],” Coletti says.
I do a side-by-side comparison of 3D lashes against my recently purchased mascara, Nyx XXL Lush Lashes. My first impression is hardly overwhelming. Yes, the lashes covered with Moonstruck look marginally longer, but that’s about it.
It’s not until the second coat that Younique’s “wow” factor really kicks in. My lashes are long and voluminous. They boldly fan out from the lid like the rays of a firework. But they still look natural, not too thick like stick-on lashes. The Nyx formula makes for a sparse and clumpy comparison.
The 3D lashes also last throughout the day and don’t smear after a shower. The one downside: The fibers tickle my eyes a little, not enough to be irritating but enough to notice.
Coletti says these lashes are great for weddings. “Your eyes look bigger. Brides will have more self-esteem, and if they cry, it won’t run down their cheeks.” The formula can be worn with contacts.
Besides lashes, brides can find the finishing touches for their wedding look at local salons.
Shellac gel manicures are a good choice for brides because they are durable, lasting around four weeks as opposed to one week for a regular manicure. Oya Salon in Monterey creates miniature works of nail art by pressing real, dried flowers, glitter or diamonds into the gel while it sets. Perhaps the flowers can even complement the bouquet.
Brides can achieve glowing skin without stepping into the sun at Chioma Salon. They offer a bronze biologic solution, made with beet and sugarcane extract. The beet extract enhances the skin’s natural pigmentation and can be applied in darker or lighter solutions. It lasts seven to 10 days. This lends a natural glow without harsh chemicals or UV exposure.
As Coletti says, the boost of confidence that comes with looking just right is priceless.
When a young couple approaches Kirkor Kocek about a diamond wedding or engagement ring, he becomes a teacher.
“I give them an education,” says Kocek, who’s crafted jewelry at his Carmel shop, Kocek Jeweler, since 1973. “I don’t try to make a sale.”
He starts with the client’s budget, he says, because there’s only a small profit margin in diamonds. Three key things to consider when picking out a stone: size, clarity and color.
It’s a sentiment echoed by other jewelers. “Clarity is the least important,” says Ramin Movahedi, managing partner at Carmel’s Pejmani of Belgium (whichWeekly readers voted best jewelry store in Monterey County in 2014). “Our eyes have the ability to detect the slightest differences in hue and size, but not clarity.”
Other factors to keep in mind: “Cut, polish and symmetry also impact the pricing,” Movahedi says. “And some colors are so rare, you’d be looking at something very expensive.”
For every 10 million diamonds, he adds, only one is a “fancy” color like blue, yellow, brown or pink. “The closer you are to the deepest colors, the better,” he says.
Gasper Spadaro, who opened Gasper’s Jewelers in Monterey back in 1972, says demand for colored diamonds rose after Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Lopez a $1.2 million pink diamond engagement ring in 2002. Lately, he says, the pendulum is swinging back to classic: “We’ve seen the trend go from colors back to white.”
One trend seems to be sticking: All three jewelers say it’s become increasingly rare for a man or woman to walk into a store alone to buy a ring for their partner. More often, couples are ring-shopping together.
When a client does come in alone, they get to play detective. “I [ask] to see a picture of his or her fiancee,” Kocek says. “That tells me the look of their design style and their lifestyle.”
Regardless of the budget, a ring’s style can be the hardest decision – and one that will have lasting consequences.
“We’ll show them all the designs we have in stock,” Spadaro says. “My favorite question is, ‘If you’re going to get married in an hour, which one would you want to wear the rest of your life?’
Got your venue? Check. Rings? Yep. Dress, photographer, cake, DJ? It’s all in place. What about a videographer? Ah.
Peri Basseri, owner of Bigtime Video Services in Monterey, is also a board member of the Monterey Bay Wedding and Event Professionals, a tri-county trade organization that’s done focus groups on brides.
“We ask what their biggest regret is,” she says, “and two out of three said, ‘that we didn’t get a wedding video.’”
Greg and Dixie Hyde, a husband-and-wife team, run Best Shot Video in Salinas. “I believe you can really capture the feelings, the details: a tilt of the head, someone taking a deep breath,” Greg says. “When couples watch their wedding videos, they cry, because it brings up so much emotion.”
This former wedding videographer talked to three current ones about how to get the most out of your wedding video.
My mama told me, you better shop around.
Technology has equalized the playing field, Basseri says. The difference is filmmaking skill. “[Videographers] are becoming comparable to photographers in terms of equipment,” she says. “We’re using the same DSLRs [high-end cameras that shoot both still and video], but with a microphone on top.”
Videographers should have a sample reel. Watch them. “I’m not always the right filmmaker for the job; look at the work first,” says Steven Garza of Higher City Films in Salinas.
Hyde says to check Yelp for reviews. Basseri suggests WeddingWire.com or the venue. A reputable videographer, she says, will cost about $1,500 to $5,000.
Watch out for Stanley Kubrick syndrome.
Some videographers may delude themselves into thinking your wedding is actually a film set, and that you and your loved ones are actors and extras who must hit their marks or do retakes. You want a videographer to have pride in their work, but humility too.
“We try to be unobtrusive,” Greg Hyde says. “My wife and I wear all black to [not] be seen. We go to the rehearsals and we get [to the ceremony] an hour early so we’re not moving around when people are arriving.”
“The essence of cinema is editing.”
Not to get highfalutin, but that’s a quote from Francis Ford Coppola, and it can be applied to your wedding video. Raw footage should be edited down to make it more dramatic. A good videographer must also be a good editor in order to come out with the best finished project. “That’s where everything comes together,” Garza says.
Cameras don’t shoot weddings. People do.
Garza suggests couples ask themselves: “Is this a person I want to spend all day with?” Especially on a possibly high-pressure day like a wedding, you will want to be compatible with those around you. He says a videographer should get to know the couple, and the wedding party if possible, to better be attuned to whom to shoot and when. That will translate into a better finished product.
Make sure there are AT least two shooters.
“It looks more like a movie that way,” Hyde says. Plus, if one shooter’s footage gets blocked or the battery fails, continuity can be rescued with the second camera. And there’s no harm in setting up a third camera on a tripod shooting wide-angle.
When it comes to video, pay attention to audio.
The videographers I spoke with were unanimous on this point.
“Audio is half of what we’re recording,” Basseri says.
“Great sound can make the video look better,” adds Hyde, who is also a recording musician.
Garza says, “If you don’t have good sound, you’re missing part of the story.”
Can’t afford a professional videographer? DIY.
Couples tell Basseri they are grateful they had their wedding filmed because “the whole day was a blur.”
But if the cost is prohibitive, she adds, in any wedding party there are bound to be aspiring filmmakers. Find that person (or, to be safe, people), get them a tripod and decent wireless or lavalier microphones, and deputize them to shoot the wedding.
Or, Hyde suggests, add videography to your gift registry. It may be one of the most enduring gifts of the day.
- Joel Ede and Kera Abraham
1. Bacon.
It’s the manliest of meats, and many women can’t resist it either. For mastery of such swine, look no further than Tony Baker, chef at Monterey’s Montrio Bistro and celebrated maker of Baker’s Bacon. His mouthwatering pork is applewood-smoked, dry-cured and sourced from sustainably raised hogs – for the very best of bros.
• Find Baker’s Bacon at The Wharf Marketplace, 290 Figueroa St., Monterey, (831) 649-1116, www.thewharfmarketplace.com
• Star Market, 1275 S. Main St., Salinas, (831) 422-3961, www.starmkt.com
• Brunos Market, 6th and Junipero, Carmel, (831) 624-3821, www.brunosmarket.com
• Corral De Tierra Market, 2 Corral de Tierra Road, off Highway 68, (831) 676-3806, www.corralmarket.com
2. A Bottle of Local Shine.
Not all spirits are created equal, and nothing fills the flask quite as nicely as a bottle of small-batch Fog’s End Rye or California Moonshine. Gonzales-based distiller Craig Pakish uses old-school methods to create a flavorful and carefully produced whiskey you can be proud to distribute to your comrades.
• For a full list of where to find Fog’s End spirits, visit www.fogsenddistillery.com or call (831) 809-5941.
3. A Cool Kitchen Gadget.
From whiskey stones that keep a drink cool without watering it down to the best kitchen knives and BBQ tools around, Stone Creek Kitchen is chock-full of gifts for the culinary pro in your wedding party. They also carry a great selection of wine and specialty beers for all the dudes who don’t know a colander from a cookie sheet.
• Stone Creek Kitchen, 465 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Monterey. (831) 393-1902, www.stonecreekkitchen.com.
4. A Real Shaving Kit.
Harken back to the days when men took pride not only in the work they did, but in the tools they used. A quality straight-edge is the epitome of class, and this gift will probably get used more than that Mr. Beer home-brew kit you were thinking about.
• Hellam’s Tobacco Shop, 423 Alvarado St., Monterey. (831) 373-2816, www.oldmonterey.org/biz/hellams – tobacco-shop.
5. A Nifty Sporting Kit.
Get creative and personalize a tackle box of your buddies’ favorite lures, baits and miscellaneous fishing accoutrements. How about a day pack with some super-useful hiking necessities? Step away from the personalized pocket knives and get your burly best man something he’ll find useful.
• Outdoor World, 1130 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. (831) 373-3615, www.theoutdoorworld.com
It wasn’t the first time I officiated a wedding. But it was the first time I’d shown up to finalize the ceremony details with the bride and groom, only to discover they hadn’t even started their vows.
The wedding was a couple of hours away, tops.
Turns out, despite the ring bearer burning his hand on a curling iron and the ceremony being delayed more than an hour, and one toast-maker getting the microphone snatched away, the getting-hitched part went off without a hitch – even splendidly – mainly because the vows were so moving.
Here are the simple guidelines used to make it happen. Basic ceremony templates are also easy to find online.
1. Involve a ritual.
Officiants everywhere: Take time in the proceedings to welcome everyone, a minute tell a short but heartfelt story, and don’t forget the actual exchange of rings after the vows. Also, having the marrying spouses combine two symbols of themselves, like candles, water or wine. At the aforementioned wedding, it was sand from where he proposed, poured together with sand from where they married. The simple ritual helps structure and ground the ceremony.
2. Be specific.
The vows, like any compelling piece of information, should have details. Don’t just say you love your partner’s compassion; say you love the way she invests so much time at the after-school clinic and makes warm soup for the neighborhood bum. It makes for much more meaningful content.
3. Look ahead.
This is a most sacred promise. Explore all the sweet moments you want to enjoy in your lifetime together, especially the small but vital things. “I will make you breakfast in bed – and not burn the toast. I will pick up the dog doo. I will be there to pick you up too.”
4. Embrace structure.
It helps to start the first set of vows with a consistent opening (“I love you because… ”), and the second set too (“I will… ”). Bride and groom can alternate vow for vow, making them easier to follow and more poetically symmetrical.
5. Compare notes.
Some couples prefer to keep their vows semi-secret from one another until the ceremony. But it’s a unique brand of awkwardness when the groom’s vows go 10 minutes longer than his better half’s, or the bride’s are notably deeper. Couples can avoid this – even without revealing all of what will be said – by swapping rough drafts of what they plan on saying.
6. Build the drama of the kiss.
Officiants: Take all the time and poetic license you can to facilitate the final I do’s, set up the kiss and pronounce the couple husband and wife (or husband and husband, or wife and wife). The moment more than merits it. Then get the party started.
Local nuptial stats that you may not know…
3
Carmel-by-the-Sea’s rank among Travel & Leisure’s “Best Cities for Romance in the World,” 2014
72 degrees
Average September/October temperature in Carmel
93
Weddings reserved at Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove, one of the county’s most popular public wedding locations, in 2014
3,114
Marriage licenses issued by the Monterey County Recorder’s Office in 2014
333
The most marriage licenses issued in one month (July) by Monterey County last year
65
Marriages at Monterey County correctional facilities in 2014
$2.5 million
Settlement payout by Facebook billionaire Sean Parker, who did not obtain the proper permits for his Big Sur wedding in 2013
Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s glamorous 1981 wedding cost an estimated $70 million in today’s dollars. Kim Kardashian’s short-lived marriage to Kris Humphries cost about $10 million.
But non-celebrity brides and grooms experience sticker shock, too, even for simple celebrations. As wedding costs rise, so does the DIY movement.
In 2008, writer Dana LaRue launched a blog to give and get affordable, creative tips for her wedding. “The Broke-Ass Bride inspires and empowers you savvy, unique readers to make the most of what you have by using creative, outside-the-box ideas rooted in practical advice, to save your money and your sanity,” she writes at www.brokeassbride.com.
Some of the site’s ideas involve elaborate and specific directions, like how to paint cheap glass to look like vintage bronze. But it includes a lot of easier DIY tips, too.
A few key bits of advice from DIY brides of the Monterey Peninsula: Enlist your friends to help make it happen the way you envision, be selective about what’s really important, and manage your expectations.
Whether the motivator is to save money, indulge your inner artist or infuse your wedding with personal touches, here are a few manageable DIY ideas.
Throw a potluck.
You can assign out certain items – salads, casseroles, breads – to accompany a few main dishes from the caterer. If each guest brings one thing, it’s not too much to ask of anyone. As far as alcohol goes, you can serve homebrew, and ask an artistic friend to design labels customized to your wedding day.
Bake dessert.
Homemade desserts make a welcome appearance at some of the most finely planned weddings. It’s a way for your aunt to share her famous chocolate cake, or your best friend to bask in the glory of his cherry pie. One couple invited family members to bake cookies. Ten signed up to whip out five dozen each, creating a table of 600 cookies. Wedding guests mixed and matched them into favor bags stamped with a cute bird of the bride’s own design.
Vowing down.
Work with a friend to officiate your wedding. Choose the readings and messages to represent what the day is really about for you and your partner. Even if you don’t create an original ceremony, you can still write your own deeply personal wedding vows (see story, p. 32).
Smell the flowers.
Assemble bouquets from the farmers market and use small jars to keep them fresh. Succulents are easy to grow in your own backyard and make for interesting centerpieces, boutonnieres or party favors. Plus, you get points for being drought-conscious.
Go eco-friendly.
It’s not easy to make a big party a green affair, with guests flying in from all over. But you can help mitigate the impact with just a little bit of planning and labor. Set up bins to collect food waste for composting. Instead of printing out programs for the ceremony, write the relevant information on a chalkboard at the entrance. Buy carbon credits to make up for the greenhouse gas emissions from your wedding: A great local option is The Offset Project (www.theoffsetproject.org).
Get thrifty.
Instead of spending big on a new dress, wear your mom’s or grandmother’s vintage wedding gown altered to fit beautifully. Add a custom bit of bling, like a sash or a fancy hair accessory, to make it yours. Or search out a promising used dress for a reasonable price – after all, they’ve only been worn once.
Pick a park.
There are dozens of affordable, accessible and stunning locations for outdoor weddings at public parks all over Monterey County. Of course you can’t control the weather, but if you set a date for the fall, the summer gloom is likely to be over and winter rains should be a few months off. You can get affordable permits to use many public spaces, and most let you set up however you like.
Dishing it out.
Table settings can be done with thrift-store silverware and china. One Carmel Valley couple made gorgeous table settings – and a conversation starter for guests – by collecting dinnerware from estate sales and secondhand shops, with no two plates the same. Transform vintage fabric into tablecloths and napkins. Serve drinks in mason jars, and make your own spa water with cucumber or lemon slices in large jugs.
- Alexandra Videmsky
A second marriage is still a new marriage, Brian Borgia of Weddings in Monterey says. The ceremony should reflect that.
“You don’t want to go back and re-create your first wedding,” he says. “It’s nice to make a clean break and do something different.”
Different can come in many flavors. For some couples, that means breaking from tradition and doing something more daring and personalized. The couple can write their own vows. The bride can wear a gown that’s not white. The wedding can happen in a non-denominational setting. In fact, one of Speirs’ clients plans to wear a purple bridal dress – at her Civil-War-themed wedding on the Fourth of July.
Other second-time spouses-to-be bring simpler wish lists, like friends, family, a church and a chocolate cake. Whether the vision is modest or elaborate, “It’s less fantasy and a lot more reality,” says Patty Speirs, who runs Salinas-based Every Last Detail Wedding and Event Coordination. “The things [the bride and groom] choose will be more specific. They are not out to impress anybody else.”
Speirs says there are a few taboos to avoid at a second wedding, like a bride wearing the same dress as her first. “That’s bad luck!” she says. Only very precious family heirlooms get her reluctant pass to be worn again.
Experience is a great advantage for couples having second-time weddings. They can enter the process as seasoned planners with clearer goals. They can be less distracted by fluff and formality. The key, Speirs says, is for a couple to communicate clearly, focus their vision and block out any unhelpful opinions from friends and family members.
However, prices have almost undoubtedly increased since the first “I do’s,” leaving many second-timers with sticker shock. That’s especially true when couples have larger expenses, like mortgages and kids’ educations, than they did during their first nuptials.
Opting for a smaller ceremony helps alleviate the financial burden. Borgia suggests shortening the guest list to the couple’s closest friends and family members. There’s no need, he says, to invite distant relatives or mom and dad’s friends. He says the typical second wedding has a guest list roughly half as long as a first, perhaps 50-75 people instead of 100-150.
Children from the previous marriage should be included as much as possible, he adds: as ring bearers, flower girls or even walking their parent down the aisle. A nice gesture is a ceremonial gift of jewelry to younger kids, mirroring the couple’s exchange of rings.
Be it more relaxed, more distinctive or simply less stressful, the second wedding is a chance to improve on the first.
We tend to think about weddings visually: the colors, the fabrics, the scenery. But sound is an equally important element of your big day.
Wedding DJ packages generally start around $1,000, so choose yours carefully, and book early.
I asked two local wedding DJs – Justin Horrell (DJ Tunabunny) and my own groom, Hanif Panni (DJ Hanif Wondir) – to share advice for couples planning what’s likely to be the biggest party of their lives. Here are some of their key tips.
Good DJs do more than mix music. They take care of all your wedding’s audio needs, including sound, wiring and speakers. They should be able to provide lavaliere microphones for the couple and officiant during the ceremony, and a mic on a stand for the toasts.
Your DJ can also serve as party emcee, making announcements about when it’s time to be seated for dinner, move to the dance floor or wrap it up.
“A DJ is a shepherd of sorts,” Tunabunny says, “making announcements to keep people in tune with what’s going on and keep the energy up.”
Of course, the bread-and-butter of wedding DJing is the music. During the initial consultation, tell your DJ what kind of music you and your most important guests – bridesmaids, groomsmen and parents – like to hear.
While you’re at it, mention the genres you’re not into. “Then you know what kind of liberties you can take with the music,” Tunabunny says.
Your DJ should ask for a short list of must-play tracks for certain critical moments, like the bride’s appearance on the aisle, the couple’s first dance and the father-daughter dance.
DJ Hanif Wondir’s Top Wedding Requests
- “All About that Bass” – Meghan Trainor
“Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars - “Celebration” – Kool & The Gang
- “Blurred Lines” – Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell Williams
- “Don’t Stop Believin” – Journey
- “Cupid Shuffle” – Cupid
- “Happy” – Pharrell Williams
- “Billie Jean” – Michael Jackson
- “Baby Got Back” – Sir Mix-A-Lot
- “Thrift Shop” – Macklemore
Trust your DJ to honor your instructions, then give them the freedom to do that DJ thang you hired them for.
Your DJ should mix tracks in a way that feels fluid and plays off the crowd’s energy, choosing songs to keep booties shaking and sometimes taking requests.
For Wondir, that means mixing popular crowd-pleasers with compatible selections from his own music library.
“I sculpt my playlist to every individual wedding,” he says. “Even if it’s a song I personally don’t love, the day of the wedding is not about me. Mostly it’s about the bride. As long as she’s happy, that’s the main thing.”
After 17 years of playing Mexican-style weddings across Central California, Javier Vargas of Watsonville-based Mariachi California knows what it takes to turn a wedding party into a memorable bash. Recently his eight-piece outfit (three violins, two trumpets, bass guitarron, vihuela and classical guitar) performed for seven hours at a wedding. The kicker: They didn’t repeat a single song.
Your wedding band will literally set the tone of the entire day, so be sure to pick yours carefully.
If the band busts out a wildly inappropriate song for a wedding, like Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” or Guns N’ Roses’ “I Used to Love Her (But I Had to Kill Her),” it’s likely your grandma will remember that over the father-of-the-bride’s tearjerker of a toast.
You can take a few easy steps to avoid a wedding-band blunder. First, do your homework by looking up client reviews of wedding bands and DJs at www.gigmasters.com or www.weddingwire.com.
Another valuable tool: your ears. Before hiring a band, make sure you hear it play – if not live, at least on YouTube. It’s the only way to see if the music, style and vibe are good fits for your big day.
Many Monterey County weddings feature Mexican genres, such as Tex-Mex-style música norteña or mariachi, played by a live band.
Vargas, originally from the birthplace of mariachi, Tuxpan, Jalisco, says traditional staples like “Cielito Lindo,” “El Son de la Negra” and “Jesusita En Chihuahua” are actually part of his DNA. He’s a direct ancestor of the father of mariachi, Silvestre Vargas. “I’m proud to be related to these musicians,” he says.
When it comes to weddings with classic American soundtracks, there aren’t many locals who can claim to have performed at more than Steve Ezzo. He’s been playing guitar and singing in wedding bands since 1972 in Detroit.
Ezzo describes his first band as a “weird” polka-rock hybrid. Following stints in a Disneyland show and as the touring guitarist for Three Dog Night and Tom Jones, Ezzo found his way back to the wedding circuit.
Steve Ezzo & The Monterey Bay All-Stars have done between 30 and 45 weddings per year since 2000, when Ezzo launched his business in Monterey. (His 43 reviews on www.weddingwire.com are all five-stars.)
Depending on budget and venue size, the band features anywhere from five to nine talented singers and musicians, most of whom have been working with Ezzo for a decade.
Consistently putting on stellar shows, he says, is the easy part.
“Eighty percent of the job is the prep work leading up to the wedding,” he explains. “It’s a really long process from the initial phone call. It’s not uncommon to exchange 50-100 emails with a client before the wedding.”
The Michigan native says the most valuable lesson he’s learned: You’re only one part of a large team.
“The music is an important part,” Ezzo says, “but the real stars of the show are the bride and the groom, the family and friends.”
All phone numbers are in the 831 area code unless otherwise specified.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND VENUES
201 Main
201 Main St, Salinas
(831) 800-7573, www.201complex.com
Bay Park Hotel
1425 Munras Ave, Monterey
(831) 649-1020, www.bayparkhotel.com
Bayonet and Black Horse
1 McClure Way, Seaside
(831) 899-7271, www.bayonetblackhorse.com
California State Parks and Beaches
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23428
Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds
(888) 635-5310, www.visitasilomar.com/weddings.aspx
Andrew Molera State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
(831) 667-0507
Garrapata State Park, Monterey State Beach and Carmel River State Beach
(831) 624-9423
Monterey State Historic Park, including Custom House Plaza and Memory Garden
(831) 649-7118
Cambria Pines Lodge
2905 Burton Dr, Cambria
(805) 924-3353, www.cambriapineslodge.com
Carmel Beach
West of Scenic Rd, Carmel
(831) 620-2020, www.ci.carmel.ca.us
Carmel Valley Ranch
1 Old Ranch Rd, Carmel
(831) 626-2545, www.carmelvalleyranch.com
Casa Munras Hotel
700 Munras Ave, Monterey
(831) 375-2411, www.hotelcasamunras.com
Casa Serrano Adobe and Gardens
412 Pacific St, Monterey
(831) 372-2608, www.mchsmuseum.com/casaserrano.html
Chateau Julien Wine Estate
8940 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley
(831) 624-2600, www.chateaujulien.com
Corral de Tierra Country Club
81 Corral de Tierra Rd, Corral de Tierra
(831) 484-1112 x 238, www.corraldetierracc.com
Gardener Ranch
114 W. Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley
(831) 298-7360, www.gardenerranch.com
Hilton Garden Inn Monterey
1000 Aguajito Rd, Monterey
(831) 333-2404, www.monterey.hgi.com
Hotel 1110
1110 Del Monte Ave, Monterey
(831) 655-0515, www.hotel1110.com
Hyatt Carmel Highlands
120 Highlands Dr, Carmel
(831) 622-5461, www.hyattcarmelhighlands.com
Hyatt Regency Monterey
1 Old Golf Course Rd, Monterey
(831) 657-6540, www.hyattregencymonterey.com
InterContinental The Clement Monterey
750 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 375-4500, www.ictheclementmonterey.com
La Playa Hotel
Camino Real and 8th, Carmel
(800) 582-8900, www.laplayahotel.com
Madonna Inn
100 Madonna Rd, San Luis Obispo
(805) 543-3000, www.madonnainn.com
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 648-4928, www.montereybayaquarium.com
Monterey Beach Resort
2600 Sand Dunes Dr, Monterey
(831) 655-7650, www.montereybeachresort.com
Monterey Beach Party
281 Webster St, Monterey
(831) 648-7240, www.montereybeachparty.com
Monterey County Fair & Event Center
2004 Fairground Rd, Monterey
(831) 372-5863, www.montereycountyfair.com
Monterey Hostel
778 Hawthorne St, Monterey
(831) 649-0375, www.montereyhostel.org
Monterey Marriott
350 Calle Principal, Monterey
(831) 649-4234, www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mryca-monterey-marriott
Monterey Museum of Art
720 Via Mirada, Monterey, (831) 372-3689, www.montereyart.org/site-rental
Monterey Plaza Hotel
400 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 645-4033, www.montereyplazahotel.com
Monterey Stone Chapel
2999 Salinas Hwy. Suite 3, Monterey
(831) 375-8574, www.montereyweddings.com
Museum of Monterey/ Casa Serrano
5 Custom House Plaza, Monterey
(831) 372-2608, www.museumofmonterey.org
National Steinbeck Center
1 Main St, Salinas
(831) 775-4735, www.steinbeck.org
Old Whaling Station/Jr. League of Monterey County
391 Decatur St, Monterey
(831) 375-5356, www.jlmontereycounty.org
Oldemeyer Center
986 Hilby Ave, Seaside
(831) 899-6800, www.ci.seaside.ca.us/index.aspx?page=164
Pacific Grove Recreation Department
Various locations
(831) 648-3100, www.ci.pg.ca.us
Pasadera Country Club
100 Pasadera Dr, Monterey
(831) 647-2400, www.pasadera.com
Pebble Beach Resorts
Various locations, Pebble Beach
(831) 625-8502, www.pebblebeach.com
Portola Hotel
2 Portola Plaza, Monterey
(831) 649-4511 x 7870, www.portolahotel.com
Quail Lodge & Golf Club
8205 Valley Greens Dr, Carmel
(831) 620-8969, www.quaillodge.com/weddings.cfm
Restaurant 1833
500 Hartnell St, Monterey
(831) 643-1833, www.restaurant1833.com
Scheid Vineyards
1972 Hobson Ave, Greenfield
(831) 455-9990, www.scheidvineyards.com
Shoreline Conference Center
249 10th St, Marina
(831) 883-5718, www.shorelineworks.org
Steinbeck Institute for Arts and Culture
(formerly Sherwood Hall)
940 N. Main St, Salinas
(831) 775-4735, www.steinbeck.org
Sunset Center
San Carlos and 9th, Carmel
(831) 620-2040, www.sunsetcenter.org
Tickle Pink Inn
155 Highland Dr, Carmel
(831) 624-1244, www.ticklepinkinn.com
The Press Club
1123 Fremont Blvd, Seaside
(831) 901-3900, www.thepressclub.buzz
Ventana Inn and Spa
48123 Hwy 1, Big Sur
(831) 667-4202, www.ventanainn.com
Water City Skate
2800 2nd Ave, Marina
(831) 384-0144, www.watercityskate.com
APPAREL AND ALTERATIONS
Andrew’s Formal
1224 Northridge Mall, Salinas
(831) 443-1770, www.andrewsformal.com
Bellas Bridal
1170 Northridge Mall, Salinas
(831) 443-0222, www.mybellasbridals.com
Bliss Boutique
266 Main St, Salinas
(831) 757-4055, www.facebook.com/blissboutique
Bride’n Formal By the Bay
209 Pearl St, Monterey
(831) 333-0255
Butterfly Boutique
1104 Broadway Ave Suite A, Seaside
(831) 324-4105, www.butterflyboutique11.com
Carried Away Boutique
606 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove
(831) 656-9063, www.carriedawayboutique.com
Collezione Fortuna
Su Vecino Courtyard, Lincoln
between 5th and 6th
(831) 626-1287, www.collezionefortuna.com
Epiphany Boutique
Mission between 5th and 6th, Carmel
(831) 626-7700, epiphany-boutique.com
Ericka Engleman
208 Wildwood Way, Salinas
(831) 624-3442, www.erickaengelman.com
Girl Boy Girl
Mission and 7th, Carmel
(831) 626-3368, www.facebook.com/girlboygirlinc
Hedi’s Shoes
Corner of Ocean and Mission, Carmel
(831) 624-5580, www.hedi.com
Intima European Lingerie
San Carlos between Ocean and 6th, Carmel
(831) 625-0599, www.intimacarmel.com
Karma Fashion Lounge
415 Alvarado St, Monterey
(831) 333-1350, www.facebook.com/
karmafashionlounge
Khaki’s
The Carmel Plaza, Junipero and Ocean, Carmel
(831) 625-8106, www.khakisofcarmel.com
Lizzie G and Me
254 Main St, Salinas
(831) 373-3100, www.lizziegandme.com
Lloyd’s Shoes
Ocean and Dolores, Carmel
(831) 625-1382, www.lloydsshoes.com
LunaBlu Trading Co
176 Bonifacio Pl, Monterey
(831) 641-0616, www.facebook.com/pages/Lunablu/111040178920364
Men’s Wearhouse
390 Del Monte Center, Monterey
(831) 655-1511, www.menswearhouse.com
Nest
229 Grand Ave #B, Pacific Grove
(831) 333-9184, www.nestinpg.com
Pamplemousse
Ocean between Mission and San Carlos, Carmel
(831) 624-1259, www.pamplemousseboutique.com
Pari’s Boutique & Alteration
510 Lighthouse Ave Suite 4, Pacific Grove
(831) 375-0500, www.facebook.com/Paris-Boutique
Park Avenue Styles
266 Reservation Rd Suite L, Marina
(831) 324-4257, www.parkavenuestyles.com
Robert Talbott
Ocean at Dolores, Carmel
(831) 624-6604, www.roberttalbott.com
SHE
110 Crossroads Blvd, Carmel
(831) 626-4686, www.thecrossroadscarmel.com/shopping-services/she
Silvia’s Alterations
901 Cass St, Monterey
(831) 375-0153, www.facebook.com/SilviasAlterations
Yess!Style
522 Filbert Way, Salinas
(831) 998-1067,
www.styleseat.com/yessicagrandelli
BEAUTY AND HEALTH
506 Salon
506 Polk St, Monterey
(831) 372-0506, www.facebook.com/salon506
Aquablue Spa
229 Main St, Salinas
(831) 422-2500, www.aquabluespa.com
Beautiful Skin Spa
2000 Garden Rd, Monterey
(831) 236-9911, www.beautifulskinspa.com
Blush
579 Calle Principal, Monterey
(831) 901-3924
Body By Laser
1010 Cass Street, Suite D, Monterey
(831) 612-4629, www.bodybylasercentralcoast.com
California Skin Institute
9781 Blue Larkspur Lane Suite 100, Monterey
(831) 333-9008, www.californiaskininstitute.com
Carmel Laser
3602 The Barnyard, Carmel
(831) 626-6228, www.facebook.com/pages/Carmel-Laser-Aesthetics-Spa/169940556404212
Cos Bar of Carmel
Carmel Plaza, Ocean and Mission, Carmel
(831) 626-6249, www.carmelplaza.com/stores/cos-bar
Cynthia’s Hair Affair
170 17th St Suite A,Pacific Grove
(831) 245-5692,
www.cynthiashairaffairbeautysalon.com
Dr. James Penna, DDS
337 El Dorado Suite A-2, Monterey
(831) 649-4711, www.jamescpennadds.com
Dr. Keller
950 Cass Street, Monterey
(831) 373-1100, www.montereyadvancedmedicine.com
Euphoria Salon and Spa
499 Pacific St, Monterey
(831) 717-4375, www.euphorialoungeandspa.com
Glamour Glow Tanning
1016 N. Davis Rd, Salinas, (831) 975-5027
339 Maple St #B, Salinas, (831) 595-4569
1924 Fremont Blvd, Seaside, (831) 899-2030
GLOW
2320 Del Monte Suite A, Monterey
(831) 642-9051, www.glowmonterey.com
Laser Hair Removal by Lisa Carter
21 Upper Ragsdale Dr Suite 100, Monterey
(831) 648-8020
Makeup by Michaela
(831) 324-3241, www.makeupbymny.com
Mantra Salon
Mission between 7th and Ocean, Carmel
(831) 626-1223, www.mantrasalon.com
March Hare Salon
Corner of 5th and Mission, Carmel
(831) 624-3024, www.marchharesalon.com
Marilyn Monroe Spa
1 Old Golf Course Rd, Monterey
(831) 657-6734, www.marilynmonroespas.com
Michelle Curtice Esthetics
445 Cortes St, Monterey
(831) 915-2122, www.facebook.com/michellecurticeesthetics
Monterey Aesthetics Center
100 Wilson Rd #110, Monterey
(831) 646-5297, www.montereydoctor.com
Oya Salon
201 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey
(831) 656-0570, www.oyasalon.com
Perfectly Pressed Juice Bar & Eatery
961 West Alisal St, Salinas, (831) 998-8770
1123 Fremont Blvd, Seaside (831) 901-3900
Sages Salon
125 Ocean View Blvd. Ste #205, Pacific Grove
(831) 241-6193, www.sagessalon.com
Spa on the Plaza
201 Alvarado St, Monterey
(831) 647-9000, www.spaontheplaza.com
Vanity Salon & Blow Dry Bar
481 Tyler St, Monterey
(831) 324-0092, www.vanitysalon.com
CATERERS / REHEARSAL AND RECEPTION DINNERS
Abalonetti Bar & Grill
57 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey
(831) 373-1851, www.abalonettimonterey.com
Alejo Catering
(831) 710-1009, www.alejocatering.com
Aqua Terra Culinary
529 Central Ave, Pacific Grove
(831) 657-9790, www.aquaterraculinary.com
Balesteri’s
10520 York Rd, Monterey
(831) 373-3701 x 3, www.balesteris.com
Bayonet and Black Horse
1 McClure Way, Seaside
(831) 393-3006 x 204,
Cafe Fina
47 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey
(831) 372-5200, www.cafefina.com
Cannery Row Brewing Company
95 Prescott Ave, Monterey
(831) 643-2722,
www.canneryrowbrewingcompany.com
Cantinetta Luca
Dolores between Ocean and 7th, Carmel
(831) 625-6500, www.cantinettaluca.com
Casa Sorrento Pizzeria
393 Salinas St, Salinas
(831) 757-2720, www.casasorrento.com
Celebration by the Sea
614 Airport Blvd, Salinas
(831) 769-9202, www.celebration-by-the-sea.com
Chart House
444 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 372-3362, www.chart-house.com
Contemporary Catering
18195 Berta Canyon Rd, Prunedale
(831) 663-3191, www.contemporarycatering.net
Edgar’s at Quail Lodge & Golf Club
8000 Valley Greens Dr, Carmel
(831) 620-8910, www.quaillodge.com/dining/carmel-ca-dining
Fandango
223 17th St, Pacific Grove
(831) 333-9798, www.fandangorestaurant.com
Hacienda Mexican Grill
1449 N. Davis Rd, Salinas
(831) 424-6400,
www.haciendamexicangrillsalinas.com
Haute Enchilada
7902 Moss Landing Rd, Moss Landing
(831) 633-5843, www.hauteenchilada.com
Il Fornaio
Ocean Ave. & Monte Verde St
(at The Pine Inn), Carmel-by-the-Sea
(831) 622-5100, www.ilfornaio.com
La Villa Banquetes
Seaside, (831) 383-0261
Main Street Bakery & Catering
711 South Main St, Salinas
(831) 771-2253,
www.mainstreetbakeryandcatering.com
Michael’s Catering
445 Reservation Rd Suite U, Marina
(831) 884-2400, www.michaels-catering.com
Montrio Bistro
414 Calle Principal, Monterey
(831) 648-8880, www.montrio.com
Point Pinos Grill
79 Asilomar Blvd, Pacific Grove
(831) 648-5774, www.pointpinosgrill.com
Rio Grill
101 Crossroads Blvd, Carmel
(831) 917-0332, www.riogrill.com
Sardine Factory
701 Wave St, Monterey
(831) 373-6625, www.sardinefactory.com
Sarita’s The Original
21 Soledad Dr, Monterey
(831) 350-0555, www.saritastogo.com
Sea Stars Big Sur Catering & Event Design
(831) 915-8477, www.seastarsbigsur.com
Shake It Up Bartending
(831) 204-0285, www.ShakeItUpBartender.com
Tarpy’s Roadhouse
2999 Salinas Hwy, Monterey
(831) 655-2999, www.tarpys.com
The Steinbeck House
132 Central Ave, Salinas
(831) 424-2735, www.steinbeckhouse.com
Wild Thyme Deli & Cafe
445 Reservation Rd, Marina
(831) 884-2414, www.wildthymedeli.com
CONFECTIONERS
Angelina’s Bakery
1725 Fremont Blvd, Seaside
(831) 394-8808, www.angelinasbakerys.com
Layers Sensational Cakes
9 Soledad Dr, Monterey
(831) 655-1544, www.layerscake.com
Luz the Cake Lady
Main Street Bakery & Catering
711 South Main St, Salinas
(831) 771-2253, www.luzthecakelady.com
Mrs. Delish’s Cupcake Boutique
1098 Del Monte Ave, Monterey
(831) 612-1884, www.mrsdelishs.com
Nothing Bundt Cakes
102 Crossroads Blvd, Carmel
(831) 293-8773, www.nothingbundtcakes.com
Paris Bakery
1234 Broadway Ave, Seaside, (831) 394-7798
271 Bonifacio Pl, Monterey, (831) 646-1620
Parker-Lusseau Pastries & Cafe
731 Munras Ave, Monterey, (831) 643-0300
539 Hartnell St, Monterey, (831) 641-9188
40 Ragsdale Dr Suite 100, Monterey,
(831) 655-3030
www.parker-lusseaupastries.com
Sweet Elena’s Bakery
465 Olympia Ave, Sand City
(831) 393-2063
CHURCHES AND OFFICIANTS
A By-The-Sea Wedding
(831) 375-8574, www.montereyweddings.com
Carmel Mission
3080 Rio Road, Carmel
(831) 624-1271, www.carmelmission.org
Cherished Events & Celebrations
(831) 229-7160, www.cherishedeventsandcelebrations.com
Church in the Forest
3152 Forest Lake Rd, Pebble Beach
(831) 624-1374, www.churchintheforest.org
Christian Church of Pacific Grove
442 Central Avenue, Pacific Grove
(831) 372-0363
Monterey Ceremonies By Zia
(831) 601-5315, www.ceremoniesinmonterey.com/monterey-wedding.html
Pacific Coast Church
522 Central Ave, Pacific Grove
(831) 372-1942, www.pacificcoastchurchpg.org
ENTERTAINMENT / DJS
Camilo Y Amalia
(520) 271-8017, www.camiloyamalia.com
Choice Music
1130 Fremont Blvd Suite 183, Seaside
(831) 236-5211, www.choicemusicmonterey.com
Hanif Wondir Productions and Design
(831) 320-8745, www.hanifwondir.com
The DJ Booth
345 Monterey St, Salinas
(831) 753-6980, www.djboothonline.com
FLOWERS/DECOR
Exhibit Floral Studio
11 W. Acacia St, Salinas
(831) 422-7421, www.exhibitfloral.com
Kate Healey Big Sur Flowers
(831) 667-2649, www.bigsurflowers.com
Pacific Grove Floral
217 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove
(831) 375-9809, www.pacificgroveflorist.com
Swenson & Silacci Flowers
110 John St, Salinas, (831) 424-2725
432 Alvarado St, Monterey, (831) 375-2725
Twigs Floral Design
(831) 915-8715, www.twigsfloraldesign.com
GIFTS
AnnieGlass
(888)761-0050, www.annieglass.com
Nor Cal Smoke Shop
765 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey
(831) 645-9021, www.thenorcalsmokeshop.com
Marina Patina
125 Ocean View Blvd Suite 208, Pacific Grove
(831) 747-7409, www.facebook.com/MarinaPatinaCA
JEWELRY
Gasper’s Jewelers
447 Alvarado St., Monterey
(831) 375-5332, www.gaspersjewelers.com
Jewel Boutique
3631 The Barnyard, Carmel
(831) 625-1016, www.thebarnyard.com/store/jewel-boutique/
Mr. Z’s Fine Jewelry
125 Ocean Blvd. #129 (American Tin Cannery), Monterey
(831) 646-1922, www.facebook.com/pages/Z-Fine-Jewelry/305546359465031
Pejmani of Belgium
225A Carmel Plaza, Ocean and Mission
(831) 300-0900, www.pejmani.com
Peninsula Gem and Jewelry
2245 N. Fremont St., Monterey
(831) 375-3027, www.peninsulagemandjewelry.com
Steinbeck jewelers
711 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 649-0993
Sun Studios
208 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove
(831) 373-7989, www.sunstudiosjewelry.com
Tamara G Designs
711 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 649-0993, www.tamaragdesign.com
The Bench Jeweler
188 Webster St., Monterey
(831) 372-5186
Weber Goldsmith Gallery
107 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel
(831) 626-7600, www.webergoldsmithgallery.com
PARTY RENTALS
A to Z Party Rentals
1110 Abbott St, Salinas, (831) 424-4770
1173 Echo Ave., Seaside, (831) 394-6751
Chic Event Rentals
485 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey
(831) 375-1055, www.chiceventrentals.com
Elegant Affair
321 N. Main St, Salinas
(831) 663-5699, www.elegantaffairca.com
Hodges Rent All, Inc.
456 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey
(831) 373-7368, www.hodgesrentall.com
OES Luxury restrooms
(831) 588-7374, www.luxurymobilerestrooms.com
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
831 Images
(831) 233-9593, www.831images.com
Anchor Cinema-Mitchell Zotovich
(408) 781-6626, www.anchorcinema.com
Big Time Video
546 Hartnell St Suite E, Monterey
(831) 655-0409, www.bigtimevid.com
Buena Lane Photography-Eileen Marie
(415) 418-9866, www.buenalaneweddings.com
Carlos Garcia Wedding Photography & Videography
375 Main St, Watsonville
(831) 724-8156, www.carlosgarciaphoto.com
Christine Diaz
430 Salinas St, Salinas
(831) 998-4767, www.christinediazphoto.com
D and Mii Photography
(831) 815-3379, www.diandmiiphotography.com
Doc Wenzel’s Old Time Portraits
700 Cannery Row M, Monterey
(831) 655-3556, www.docwenzels.com
Documentary Photography by Nic Coury
(831) 402-1770, www.photographnic.com
Evynn LeValley
P.O. Box 4214, Carmel
(831) 917-3450, www.evynnlevalley.com
Laura Hernandez Photography
(831) 578-1197,
www.laurahernandezphotography.com
Manuel Ortega Photography
191 Lighthouse Ave A4, Monterey
(831) 682-7170, www.manuelortegaphoto.com
Marlena Montaney
Michelle Magdalena Photography
(831) 402-8593, www.michellemagdalena.com
New View Photography
(831) 334-8115, www.newviewphoto.net
Paul Desmond Productions
(831) 320-8074, www.pauldesmondpro.com
Pocketful Of Plans
(831) 917-5708, www.pocketfulofplans.com
Randy Tunnell Photography
(831) 649-3101, www.randytunnell.com
Rachel Zee Photography
(831) 521-8258, www.rachelzeephotography.com
Scott MacDonald Photography
(831) 596-7056, www.scottmacdonaldweddings.com
SUPPORT SERVICES
A Sparkling Event-Mandi Nack
(831) 596-1212, www.asparklingevent.com
A STARR Events
(831) 975-5417, www.astarrevents.com
Andrews Printing and Stationery
600 E. Franklin St. Suite K, Monterey
(831) 394-5019, www.printingmontereyca.com
BC Design Studio
(831) 424-2955 www.bcdesignstudio.com
Brandl Tucker Graphic Design
(831) 915-3003
Colette Cuccia
(831) 626-0643, www.colettecuccia.com
La Bella Weddings & Events
(831) 298-0714, www.labellawed.com
Monterey Bay Wedding and Event Professionals
Silkscreen Express
1550 Hillsdale St, Seaside
(831) 899-3681, www.silkscreenxp.com
Taylor Made
(831) 204-9112, www.tmadeweddingsandevents.com
The Offset Project
(831) 277-0167, www.theoffsetproject.org
Tickle Me Pink
1294 North Main St, Salinas
(831) 998-7778, www.facebook.com/pages/Tickle-Me-Pink-Lingerie-Novelties/134507686564183
VIP Babysitting Solutions
(831) 800-838-2787, www.vipbabysitting.com
WedSafe
(831) 877-723-3933, www.aisinsurance.com/california-wedding-insurance
TRANSPORTATION
Anthony’s Limo Service
(831) 624-4256, www.anthonyslimoservice.com
Arrow Luxury Transportation
(831) 646-3175, www.arrowluxurylimo.com
Main Event Transportation
2220 Del Monte Ave, Monterey
(831) 646-5466, www.maineventtransportation.com
Your Maitre d’ Limousine
(831) 624-1717, www.yourmaitred.com
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(1) comment
This time they choose the best place where they captured their wedding photos. The way in which they select a path from where they can complete wedding photography in kenya captions. In this kind of place we can easily change views from those views we become happy.
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