Hi, I'm Jennifer Johnson, OC's finest wedding planner! If you are reading this you probably have a fascinating interest in weddings like muah! I love everything about them...the bride & groom, the floral decor, the venues, the dancing, and mostly the pure happiness and joy that weddings bring! I still get goosebumps during ceremonies and I've been known to tear up on occasion. This is my absolute passion and I love every second of every brow-sweating, pulse-inducing, hurdle-jumping, feet-aching, eye-catching moment. I've been thrown alot of curveballs, but hey, I played softball for 14 years...I can handle anything! My husband calls me The Octa-Planner....need I say more? The satisfaction of seeing the day unfold and the love that consumes the air is why I love this profession!
So THIS is where I have been everyone! Loving every moment of Mommyhood!
I’ll be back to the world of weddings and ALL THINGS LOVE in a few short months! Until then, enjoy a peek of my beautiful baby girl! We are elated and overwhelmed with love for this little angel!
Wishing you all lots of joy and happiness while you plan the beginning of your “Happily Ever After!”
Newborn Photo Portraits by: Erin Tukua Photography
Hello everyone! First I want to apologize for my long absence! It’s been a crazy but exciting summer! If you are wondering where I’ve been…..Well, I am having a baby! Our baby girl is due in January and in anticipation of her arrival I have temporarily closed OC’s Finest Weddings until next fall.
Thank you EVERYONE for all your support! I have channeled my creative energy into creating a fabulous nursery for my little one. Boy is this fun and I’ve gone absolutely GAGA for nursery decor! Etsy.com is my new love! I DO miss weddings immensely and there is nothing like the adrenaline I get for the love and joy of planning!!
SO DO NOT FRET!! I WILL BE BACK!!
Stay tuned for a wild year next year and best wishes to all you Newlyweds and Engaged Couples!
Here’s my adorable little fur-daughter sharing the news!
Happy Planning!!
XOXO!!
Jennifer Johnson
OC’s Finest Wedding Planner!
About 5 weeks ago, a long lost good friend from Highschool found me on facebook and called out for event planning help for her schools 50th Anniversary Gala. My friend Jo is a magnificent kinder teacher and while she can do many many things at once (like raising 2 wonderful boys AND write a book) she was drowning fast with not much time to pull it all together. Enter me. She needed everything…….starting with a tent. I was so honored she thought of me and I had an absolute blast reconnecting with her and working on creating an event that her school could be proud of. Eldorado Emerson Private School had it’s 50th Anniversary this year and they wanted to celebrate by inviting past and present alumni to a fun party! I called on all my favorite vendors in the industry and with only 5 weeks to pull it all together they jumped in and impressed as usual.
As you know, my fabuluos assistant Brianna has a hidden talent for taking detail shots for me. Go here & here to see more! I couldn’t wait to post and I HAD to show a few teasers! Thanks B! You get better and better my dear!
The fun centerpieces were created by Christine at The Spiraled Stem Floral Design. Christine was so wonderful working with me on what we called “the moving target”. Because we only had 5 weeks, the guestlist changed drastically day to day which was to be expected. Hitting that number was hard on rentals and tent size and 5 days before the big day, we didn’t know if we’d need 15 or 25 centerpieces. We settled in at 18 and nailed the guest count right on the head. Intuition people!!
I brought in Diane from Signature Party Rentals to help us with the tent and rentals. She was marvelous as usual! Lighting and Generator was provided by Joe Paxton of Atmosphere Entertainment. We turned the blank canvas of the white tent into a vibrant oasis of blue with projections of stars on the ceiling! I love having creative freedom! I went for gold and more gold, with accents of blue.
I don’t think the uplights on the sides of the tent were on yet when this picture was taken and there was so much more blue than shown below.
What would a Gala Reception be without yummy food? This was the fun part! Jeremy Smith with TGIS Catering put together a delish menu for us…….and 2 days after he got married. That’s commitment to your craft! We decided to do stations so guests could float around, chat, and reminisce with old classmates. The cupcake display brought the kid out of everyone. From mint chip…….. to red velvet……….to peanut butter chocolate, it was a sugar shack of bliss. Even though kids were not invited into the tent, they snuck through the back and nabbed these tasty treats. My favorite moment by far was the stealth 8 year old who tip-toed in and out of the tent like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. 
Too cute! There were plenty to go around and everyone was in heaven with these babies!
I truly couldn’t have done it without ALL these amazing vendors along with the trust and support of the school’s staff! There are so many more pics to share and I will save that for Jim Kennedy Photographer’s images. We had a step and repeat photo wall, Projection Gobo, Conga line, and a silent auction that was anything but silent. Good times!
I have been meaning to post the pro pics from one of my most favorite modern weddings ever! I had posted Min & Ed’s wedding at the Norris Pavillion in Rancho Palos Verdes and it was a jaw dropper. Norris Pavillion is a fabulous venue with a blank canvas that enticed our creativity! The baby’s breathe centerpieces created by Flower Allie Weddings are still talked about………even over a year later.
Pro Pics were sent my way by the bride and I couldn’t be more excited to share the goodies with you! John and Joseph Photography are true artists. They are based out of Seattle Washington and raw emotion oozes out of each of their images. I am so giddy to show you their work!!
Enjoy!
Meet my gorgeous Bride & Groom (now newlyweds of course!)
Min & Ed, I hope married life is every bit as wonderful as you two are! Hugs & Cheers!
What a fabulastic day!! Everything about this wedding was spectacular and I am still glowing with how insanely seamless every moment was! As you may have noticed from my post below, Fantaye and Damien are a strikingly gorgeous couple with an aura of goodness surrounding them. I loved every moment we spent together making their wedding dreams come true and I will miss them dearly!
I had the pleasure of working with Christina at the Anaheim Sheraton who was just the coolest chick ever! It’s important to work with a venue that cares about your overall vision for a ceremony and reception that reflects your style and taste and if you haven’t seen the inside of this hotel since the renovation, I suggest you run over there and check it out. It’s interior is so chic and modern and the photo ops are endless. Love it! Everyone I worked with on the wedding day was oober accomidating and I LOVED how the Sheraton crew treated both the guests and the vendors. True professionals! Because Fantaye’s family was mostly Vegan, the chef created a special yummy plate that made everyone smile! (Their food rocks people!)
Anyway onto the details and pictures that are oozing with emotion and perfection. Thank you Mike & Gina with Pix of Life for sharing these dynomite images. Another set of rockstar professionals that I loved working with!!
Enjoy!!
I love this timeless shot of Fantaye.
The handsome groom.
Flower Allie Weddings - Allison and crew always bring the magic…..
Fantaye and Damien’s friends and family tore up the dancefloor ALL NIGHT. I seriously have never been to a wedding where the dance floor was packed until the final hours. No breaks……pure dancing. Christian with Afterburn Production dropped everything from requested Ethiopian Tunes to Classic R&B and it was just what the doctor ordered……
Fantaye and Damien, thank you so much for letting me be apart of your big day. Your love it stellar and I was so thrilled that I could witness a union as beautiful and pure as yours. Every moment was inspiring! Cheers to many years of true-blue happiness, beautiful babies & backyard renovations! hehe :) (((HUGS)))
From the moment I met this couple, I fell in love with their serene and peaceful smiles and all around calm presence. You know when you meet people and by just looking into their eyes you can tell they are approachable? That is the graciousness that is Fantaye and Damien. Every meeting was blissful and easy because they were just THAT cool. Always easy and fun conversation and truly a beautiful couple inside and out. I had a blast helping them pull together their April wedding at the Anaheim Sheraton.
Their wedding was this past Saturday April 18th and YES I am that riduclous blog reader that refreshes pages waiting for that instant gratification from my favorite photographers. I get absolutely giddy from head to toe to share the details and gorgeous elements of their wedding………and because I know Rome wasn’t built in a day, I am going to patiently wait to see those gorgeous images from my friends Gina and Mike at Pix of Life.
Here is a taste of the fabulousness that is Fantaye and Damien courtesy of Pix of Life. I had to chose a select few to post and I was overwhelmed with how AMAZING each and every picture is from their engagement shoot. LOVE THEM!
Stay tuned from some fabulous eye candy to come!
Spring time is here! Not only am I cleaning out the closets but I have been going through my photos shared by some fabulous and generous photographers throughout the months. Just thought I’d share a beautiful wedding from last summer that I hadn’t blogged yet! The fun began at a parkside ceremony at Heritage Park in Dana Point. This park is such a gorgeous space for wedding ceremonies. The lawn stays bright green nearly all year long and the best part is………the view of the Harbor!
The reception followed on a Yacht chartered by Hornblower. It was a VERY hot day that day but Megan and Now glowed! Enjoy a few pics courtesy of Renee Broughton Photography.
Hope you two are enjoying married life! Miss you!
As promised, the final post from the gorgeous wedding of Adriene & Liam! I love details and what bride and groom doesn’t love to see them in their gallery of photos after the wedding? After all, you probably spent months, days, and endless hours on perfecting those personal touches and fab details. Thanks to Christine Marie Photography we were able to get some shots that will tickle your creative senses! Adriene was a do it yourself bride and had the help of Stacia of Serendipity Design Co. to create her monogram and some of her stationary. A good monogram is a fabulous starting point to set the feel for your big day. Did I mention that I LOVE details? From the programs, invites, placecards, and table numbers to the favors, wishbowls, & cookie bars, you cannot go wrong with putting your personality into each detail. Your guests will love it and when you float through your wedding day on that love cloud, you want to be hugged with details that reflect who you are as a couple.
Hope you enjoy the details much as I did!
These modern Escort Cards sat on a bed of wheatgrass. The wire twig sticks were hand coiled to hold the card tightly. What you cannot see in this picture is the base that the grass was set in. Adriene’s father custom made a large wooden box with tiles glued to the sides. It was absolutely gorgeous! You can see the tiles in the picture below.
This wishbowl doubled as the guestbook. Guests left words of advice for the couple. The blank cards were set inside custom tile boxes made by Adriene’s Father. Love it.
This photowall was set out in the cocktail area and showcased photos from Adriene & Laims childhood and progressed into photos of the couple together. Simply touching.
The invitation
These table numbers popped right off the table but did not overpower the gorgeous centerpieces. The border style was just the right touch for this outdoor reception.
Everyone loves to know what they’re eating and these menu cards had great texture. I found this elegant black velvet ribbon for Adriene and it that added a soft touch to each placesetting.
The yummy Cookie Bar! Adriene and Liam’s family made ALL the cookies from family receipes and they were a huge hit! Another great personal touch that leaves everyone feeling warm and fuzzy! During the reception the fireplace behind this table was a-glow and it REALLY felt like you were at home.
Guests went home with a cute little favor tin that they could fill themselves with their favorite family cookies!
Pop Quiz: How long do you think it took to acheive this tin creation ? My assistant Kelly was a good sport and made this tiered tin tower! I also had her standing next to it nearly most of the evening so it didn’t take a spill on someone’s way to the bar!
More on the gorgeous wedding of Adriene & Liam.
As usual, Allison of Flower Allie Weddings hits it out of the park with Adriene’s vision. It was ALL about White & Ivory with a taste of Black. The Vendela Roses, Lisianthus, Renuculas, Hydrangea, and Calla lilies were a symphony of softness and along with the touches of black berries, it all came together to give it that modern flair. It took a few practice centerpiece trials to come up with the perfect layered arrangement for their tables and the finished designs were crisp, clean modern and fun! Enjoy!
Photos Courtesy of Christine of Christine Marie Photography
You can never have enough candles!
My next post (Part 3) will highlight the gorgeous stationary and details…..including a COOKIE BAR! Stay Tuned!
I am always kickin it on CLOUD NINE when I get an email in my inbox with insanely stunning pictures from one of my favorite weddings! Christine Marie of Christine Marie Photography sent these over and I am GUSHING over every single photo! Thanks Christine! You were such a blast to work with and I cannot wait to do it again! Honestly, I couldn’t JUST share a few so I have decided to post in parts so I don’t overload your senses! There are so amazing details! Until then, I want to introduce an adorable couple that stole my heart for many months of planning bliss!
Adriene & Liam were an absolute DREAM to work with. From the moment we met, we simply clicked! During our very first introduction, we spent over 2 hours talking about some great ideas to transform the already fabulous LA River Center Garden into a modern and contemporary, spanish-inspired reception! Adriene’s ideas were so fun and fresh and really added a personal touch to their big day. I was in LOVE with how organized and creative she was from the get go! Details on that later……
On a side note, can I just say that I LOVE the name Liam….seriously, that is going on my baby name list for when I have babies someday.
Here are some shots of them Getting Prepped and Ready for the “I DO’s”.
Adriene was absolutely GLOWING! 
While Liam was studying……
A True Beauty
The lush bouquet by Flower Allie Weddings
They decided to see each other before the ceremony! Love these first see moments!
While they were smooching, these boys were having a great time!
“ I Do”
More on these two lovebirds’ wedding day to follow………….
