Wedding Planning Archives | Inspiration by Gina

Love is Love – An LGBT Wedding in the Woods

February 15, 2018 by import Leave a Comment

An LGBT Wedding at UC Davis Arboretum

We have had the opportunity to plan and design a number of LGBT weddings over the last couples years. Last October, Inspirations by Gina was contacted by Angela who was looking for someone to create florals and decor for her wedding to Cassie. Yay! We were so excited because our philosophy is that Love is Love and we do not discriminate against anyone who finds love. Angela met with us and we immediately clicked on the design and what she was envisioning for her wedding day. The UC Davis Arboretum is such a serene and special place that we wanted to capture the organic elements in our design for Angela and Cassie.

We decided that we would use lots of greenery such as sword ferns along with a single echeveria succulent, seeded eucalyptus to represent the woods in Angela’s bouquet. The pop of colors of cream roses and purple burgundy florals tied into the design of Angela’s gown and her desire to bring in the color burgundy for the wedding.

Credit: Oh Snap Photography

We continued with the design of the woods throughout the reception decor and the centerpieces for the guest tables were wooden boxes filled with florals, pots and succulents. We decorated the simple wedding cake with cream roses to compliment the rest of the design throughout the reception.

Angela was overcome with so much emotion when we presented her with her bouquet! Also, when Angela and Cassie arrived at the D Street Steakhouse, they were both blown away when they saw not only the florals but the reception decor. This is why we do what we do because we love it when our clients are happy with what we create for their special day.

For more info on Angela and Cassie’s wedding day, check out their wedding on Equally Wed:

Here’s a toast to both Angela and Cassie: Cheers and we wish you much love and happiness!

Vendor Credits

Photography: Oh Snap! Photography
Ceremony Venue: UC Davis Arboretum
Reception Venue: D Street Steakhouse
Cassie’s Florals: Bloom and Vine
Officiant: Tan Wedding & Events
Angela’s Bouquet and Reception Decor: Inspirations by Gina
Entertainment: Steve Millington
Dress: Haute House Couture
Vest & Tie: Elegant Designs Bridal
Suit & Shoes: Express

We are on the San Francisco City Hall Approved Wedding Planner List!

July 13, 2017 by import Leave a Comment

Inspirations by Gina – A San Francisco City Hall Approved Wedding Planner!

We have the belief that if you work hard and live your life with honesty and be true to yourself that good things will come to you. Over the past nine years we have shed a lot of sweat, had sleepless nights, worked long hours and sacrificed a lot to make Inspirations by Gina what it is today. We pushed ourselves to the limit and strived to exceed at wedding planning, wedding coordination and design. We have worked hard and busted our butts and we can honestly say that all that hard work has FINALLY paying off! We are very humbled and excited to announce that Inspirations by Gina has been approved by the San Francisco City Hall Events Office as a San Francisco City Hall Approved Wedding Planner!

The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is a very detail and rigorous process to go through at the San Francisco City Hall Events Office. The application required applicants to list their experience in their particular field and to show that they had great understanding the Rules and Regulations of San Francisco City Hall and how they apply to weddings and events. There was rigorous vetting by the San Francisco City Hall Events office of all vendors who went through the RFP process and not everyone was approved. We are super happy and humble we are listed along with some outstanding vendors that we have worked with in the past and do not take this great honor lightly.

In order to have your wedding ceremony and reception at San Francisco City Hall, you must hire from the approved vendors list and there are NO exceptions. So, if you are planning a wedding for just of the two of you, planning an intimate or large wedding at San Francisco City Hall, we would love to have the opportunity to speak with you about your vision and how we can help it come true. Not only can we plan and coordinate your wedding day, but we also offer wedding design and décor and floral design for your special day.

Photo Credit: Michael Creasy Photos

Guide to Renting a Tent for Your Wedding

November 28, 2016 by import Leave a Comment

Living here in California we often joke about how the weather is and we don’t know from one day to the next if it is going to be rainy, sunny or windy.

While many couples dream of having a wedding outside with a scenic backdrop in the California foothills or in the wine country area of Sonoma, sometimes your wedding venue will require you to have a backup plan in the event of inclement weather.

We have done a lot of outdoor weddings and know that heat, wind, cold and rain are not our best friends and we always like to have a back-up plan like tenting.

Way before you sign on the dotted line for your dream wedding venue, you should factor in the cost of a tent if you are planning on getting married outdoors. If you are not careful, an unexpected cost of tenting can blow the budget of your dream wedding venue over the top.

We are sure you are wondering how much do tents cost and where do you start? Well, tents are broken down into two different types of tents: pole tents and frame tents. Pole tents go on the grass since the stakes have to be in the grass and there is a center pole inside that helps hold the tent up.

You have more flexibility with a frame tent because it can go on multiple surfaces whether it is grass, asphalt, concrete, a courtyard or dirt. There are not any poles inside the tent to hold it up and because of this you will have more room inside the tent.

Photo Credit: Celebrations Party Rentals

When planning to rent a tent, you must consider what will work best for your venue. Talk to your wedding planner, party rental specialist or venue manager regarding what might be needed to suit your event needs. Tent frames work best in narrow spaces, whereas pole tents work well in spaces that are much larger.

Don’t know how much tent you will need? A good place to start is to ask your wedding planner or venue manager to give you the dimensions of the area in question. They will most likely have that information or if you are planning on having the tent at a venue that repeatedly uses a party rental company for tents, it might be helpful to talk to the rental company regarding dimensions and costs.

Another part of your tenting needs is to decide whether you want flooring, side walls, draping, lighting, heaters or fans/AC. Let’s not forget that if the venue does not offer a kitchen for prep work or a full-service kitchen, the caterer might need a smaller tent to work out of. Some caterers bring their own tents and others don’t.

What is the bottom line for tenting? This following will give you a general idea of tent rental costs. Pricing may vary between rentals companies and the area that your venue is:

Basic tent: Anywhere from $500 – $10,000

Flooring: This can be from $300-$2,000. Think of tent flooring like you are purchasing new flooring for your home. The more expensive flooring like bamboo is going to cost more per square foot versus traditional oak or laminate flooring.

Generator: Runs $250-$2,000

Generator: $500-$1,250

Side walls: These are charged by linear square foot, which costs could around $300 and above and is based on the size of the tent. The bigger the tent, the more side wall costs will increase.

Tent heaters: $95 and up

Delivery fee: Varies

Once you start adding up the costs of a tent rental and if it is not within your budget to have one, you might consider looking at another venue. All the pricing that we have listed above are averages. Each venue is different and therefore pricing will be different based on your needs. If you have questions, ask a wedding professional to help you out.

Are you going to use a tent on your wedding day?

How to Hire the Right Wedding Professional

November 14, 2016 by import Leave a Comment

We are back from the annual Association of Bridal Consultants conference which was held in Dallas this year and we are so inspired by all the things that we learned! So many topics and so little time to catch up on all of it. It made us think about when couples are looking to hire wedding professionals for their big day, how on earth do they choose the right one? There are so many on the internet, where does one start and what questions does one ask?

You want to make sure that you hire the right person and the process can be quite stressful. How do you find the right person for you? Who do you trust? Where do you go for advice?

It is not like you plan a wedding each and every day. Remember to breath, be patient and trust your instincts. It is about chemistry.

When hiring a wedding professional, you should look at the following:

Do Your Homework – Make sure you do a little bit of background homework before talking on the phone or meeting with a wedding professional. Make sure you have all your ideas collected in one spot, whether it is a binder or a Pinterest page.
Go through the internet, attend wedding shows or talk to friends or family that have recently been married. Look into what wedding professionals are charging for your area. Sometimes when a wedding professional is charging an amount that is too good to be true, it might not be true. You get what you pay for. Write down what you like and what you don’t like.
Always meet with the person you are thinking about hiring – We all have busy lives and there are times when it is isn’t convenient to meet with a wedding professional. It’s great to talk to someone on the phone or email, but an in person meeting, Skype or Google Hangout is the best way to interview a potential wedding professional. This gives you the chance to fully experience who they are as professionals.
Ask a lot of questions! Just don’t ask what the price is. There is more to your wedding than the price. Give the wedding professional the chance to explain what they charge and why they charge what they charge. There is no such thing as a stupid question. Get clear and concise answers to your questions. If you don’t understand something, speak up!
Make sure there is a contract – there have been many times in which we have seen wedding professionals NOT have a contract. Do you really want to work with someone who doesn’t take their business seriously? If a wedding professional has a problem you asking questions, you need to find someone else. You want someone to be professional, patient and understanding.
Listen to what the wedding professional says and does – Look at body language. Are they confident and comfortable? Or they too cocky? Do they appear nervous or their eyes dart around? If your gut tells you something is amiss, thank the wedding professional and move on. There are too many out there for you to settle with one you won’t be happy with.
It’s great to get questions off the internet to ask the wedding professional, but don’t let those questions be the deciding factor. Those questions are a benchmark to help you but don’t let them be the end all be all. The person you hiring you have to actually like and you develop a relationship over time.
Don’t price shop too much – We all love a great deal, but are you going to hire someone because they are a whole lot cheaper? Cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean better. Just because one professional might charge more than another professional doesn’t mean one is better than the other.

If you do your homework, you will find the right person to do the job. It takes time, thought and patience just like finding the correct mate!

Five Tips for Designing a Vintage Tuscany Themed Wedding

October 24, 2016 by import Leave a Comment

Have you ever dreamed of having a Tuscan themed wedding in the Tuscany countryside but don’t have the resources to travel all the way to Italy? Well, you don’t have to travel half way around the world to make your dream wedding a reality. Here in California there are so many great wineries complete with rolling hills and sunset views that you can have your wedding at and the great thing is you do not need a passport!

The following are six tips to help you get started in creating a Tuscan vintage themed wedding:

For us here at Inspirations by Gina when we think of the word vintage it makes us think of soft lace, beautiful details and rustic abandonment. Also, we envision Tuscany with rolling hills, wine barrels, Italian cypresses and sunflowers. When creating your Tuscan vintage theme, make sure that you mix earthy rough elements with softer fabrics and vintage pieces so that your wedding doesn’t look like a bad garage sale.
Pick venue a that has an Old World vibe to it; it can be a winery, a hotel that is near a vineyard or even a private estate.
Don’t overdo it with florals. Remember to have balance and that your venue’s landscape will probably speak for itself in terms of beauty so why over compensate?
When you are figuring out how to decorate for your wedding, you don’t need a whole lot to get the look you want. Every detail doesn’t have to match exactly; it’s called mismatch perfection! You want to pair your décor with the surroundings. Try pairing your tables with flowy fabrics and mix them with materials such as rustic wood, metal and/or brick to have contrast and texture. Too much of a good thing makes everything look overdone and harsh.
Pick a range of colors and don’t feel like you have to choose a maximum of three colors. Look at what the venue offers both interior and exterior, you will be surprised by what inspires you. Don’t be afraid to experiment. You will know what is right when you see it.

Photo Credit: Cameron Ingalls Photography

winery wedding tuscan wedding lavender themed wedding

Photo Credit: Cameron Ingalls Photography

winery wedding lavender themed wedding herbs and lavender

Photo Credit: Cameron Ingalls Photography

Rentals by Botanica Events and All About Events, Venue Villa San Juliette Winery, Floral Design by Noonan’s Wine Country Designs, Photo by Cameron Ingalls Photography

Most Effective Ways to Repurpose Mason Jars

August 29, 2016 by import Leave a Comment

We are sure have seen a lot of mason jars at weddings over the past couple of years and wonder what on earth do people do with the mason jars after an event? The latest trend is to repurpose mason jars into such items as lighting or salad containers.

Whether you love or hate mason jars, they are here to stay! Here is some inspiration to get you started on repurposing your mason jars.

Bohemian Inspired Outdoor Lighting

Photo Credit: LITDecor on Etsy

Salad in a Jar

Photo Credit: The Kitchn

Mason Jar Herb Garden

Photo Credit: Free People Blog

Wagon Wheel Chandelier

Photo Credit: HGTV

What No One Tells You About Flowers

August 9, 2016 by import Leave a Comment

In part five of our series “When a Wedding Planner Gets Engaged”, I want to talk about what no one tells you about flowers. A lot of couples I work with love flowers, but really don’t know what goes into the cost of flowers and find out that they are pretty expensive! This can potentially blow your budget wide open!

While planning my own wedding, it was clear that I really wanted to have nice centerpieces and an awesome bouquet because I LOVE flowers and they are so much part of what I do as a planner/designer. Even though I am in the industry, I was still amazed at how much flowers could cost even with flowers are in season.

Photo Credit: Dee and Kris Photography

We all love flowers but no one really likes to talk about how much they cost. I am sure you got sticker shock when you met with the florist and then they gave you a breakdown of how much it will cost to make the wedding look beautiful. The following breakdown is based on averages. The actual costs can fluctuate depending on where you live, what time of year and what type of flowers you are having.

CEREMONY

$300 – One Bride’s Bouquet
$20 – Groom’s Boutonniere
$750 – Bridesmaid bouquets (six at $125 each)
$25 – Fresh flowers for bridesmaid hairstyles
$80 – Groomsmen boutonnieres (four at $20 each)
$40 – Father and grandfather boutonnieres (two at $20 each)
$90 – Mother and grandmother corsages (two at $45 each)
$50 – Ring bearer’s basket
$40 – Flower girl’s basket of petals
$300 – Ceremony arrangements (two displays at the altar)

COCKTAIL HOUR

$275 – Escort-card table arrangements

RECEPTION

$1,500 – Dinner table arrangements (ten at $150 each)

$220 – Floating candle arrangements (fifty-five at $4 each)

DESIGN

$600 – Floral design fee

THE GRAND TOTAL: $4,265

(excludes setup, breakdown fees and taxes)

As you can see the grand total is over $4,000! Why are flowers so much? Flowers are tied to the market rate. It is very similar to when you go to a restaurant and see lobster on the menu and it says “Market Rate”. Flowers are based on petroleum prices; so when petroleum goes up, so does the price of flowers because farm tractors, farm equipment, greenhouses and the transportation and delivery of the flowers to market all involve petroleum. Florists are not trying to gouge you with the design fee. The design fee is a fee in which you pay for the florist’s expertise and experience. It’s not a good idea to try and “haggle” or “negotiate” this fee because the person who is designing your flowers brings a great deal of experience to the plate in order for your wedding to look beautiful. As I said, this is an average cost. Prices differ based on many variables.

The last thing I would like to cover is that make sure that you are clear on what type of design you would like. If you are wanting a rustic theme, let your florist know. Have open communication and if there is something that you don’t like or not sure about, ask! The florist is there to help you and wants to do everything humanly possible to make you happy with their work. There is no such thing as a stupid question!!!

Green Weddings

October 29, 2014 by import Leave a Comment

It might be the fall in many parts of the country, but here in Northern California, we are having our usual Indian summer and the garden is still producing a bumper crop. Do you know that 90% of wedding favors are thrown out after the wedding? Why not be “green” and have favors for your guests that they can reuse? We love the idea of using herbs or succulents as favors. It adds a touch of greenery to the guest tables, make a great conversation piece and guests can take them home and plant them.

Place Cards on Grass

Courtesy of Hot Ref Blog

Centerpieces and Table Numbers

Courtesy of Pinterest

Herbs in a Pot as Favors

Courtesy of Brides.com

Succulents aren’t just for the backyard

November 30, 2012 by import Leave a Comment

The weather is stormy outside and we love staying indoors this time of year and looking at cute DIY ideas for our clients. Why not give your guests plantable succulents! Succulents are easy plants to grow because they are drought resistant and can withstand colder climates better than some other plants. We like these easy DIY succulent wedding favors which can double as place cards too. The succulents were placed in tea cups that can be gathered from thrift stores, flea markets, garage and estate sales. The more you mismatch them, the better!

Courtesy of www.sandiegoabc.com

Here is another example of what you can do with succulents. They are great for decorating and the possibilites are endless. Check out these succulents in cigar boxes. What is there not to love about these?

Courtesy of Grey Likes Weddings

A New Spin on The Old Boutonniere

October 23, 2012 by import Leave a Comment

Looking for unusual and unique boutonnieres for your groom and his groomsmen? Want to think out the box and give your groom and his groomsmen a chance to really reflect who they are as individuals? Check out this boutonniere from SF Bay Area floral designer Erin Rosenow.

Courtesy of Erin Rosenow

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