Beth Helmstetter Events in Southern Weddings Magazine

If you check out the "Destination Weddings Guide" starting on page 110 of the latest issue of Southern Weddings Magazine you'll see a few tips from me on both my favorite destination wedding venues and welcome gifts. The images of the welcome gifts were the result of a super fun photo shoot with Steve Steinhardt, Laura Hooper and myself. I'll be sure to share some behind the scenes details of the photoshoot once the publication hits bookstores. In the meantime, please, please, please pick up a copy of this magazine. It is overflowing with inspiration!

Real Life Bride: Week 1

I'm so excited about today! One of my newest clients has agreed to share her planning experience on a weekly basis for the whole world to read. Her name is Alyssa Hooper and she is the sister of the uber talented Laura Hooper . I'm honored to be working with her and even more excited to show all of you the behind the scenes of the planning from the engagement to the "I Do's". While I'm not sure if she knows what she's gotten herself into quite yet, Alyssa has agreed to share her honest emotions, inspirations and even frustrations during the next year. Okay, I'm signing off but first meet Alyssa (with her handsome fiance, Ryan) and read about her first week as an engaged woman...


This week can be summed up in one word: surreal. It doesn't feel like I am a person getting married...yet, here I am planning my wedding! Now I am one of those girls who has definitely given my (at the time not yet existent) wedding lots of thought (and by "thought" I mean date, venue, wedding planner, stylist and photographer selected), so by all means I am ahead of the game. But still, I somehow feel slightly overwhelmed by the whole idea of figuring this thing out. Luckily I am fortunate enough to have an amazing wedding planner! Talking with my coordinator about the things that my fiance and I like and want for the wedding was definitely the highlight of the week (that being because we don't live near our families/friends - seeing them for the first time will be the best!).

Being "away from home" (less than 3 hours - ha!), I think, has also contributed to the feeling of "is this really happening?". I don't think anything will compare to seeing the smile on my mom's face when I walk in and she hugs her engaged daughter for the first time...it may even excuse her comment that "her hair must be done by her regular guy so she'll be back at the hotel around noon-ish"...ON my wedding day!

Next step, getting the list from my fiance's mom so we can book the venue without fear of overcrowding!

Planning status:
Wedding coordinator - booked
Venue - on courtesy hold
Bride's stylist - booked
Photographer - first meeting scheduled (to hopefully book!)

I'm not an overly religious person, but I have always believed in the simplicity of Sundays. There is just something sacred about a day when most people are allowed to rest whether it be to practice your beliefs or to simply take care of yourself. It's the day when you will typically find me hiking with my dogs or hitting the farmer's market, unless, of course, I have a wedding, which in turn means I'll be using Monday as my "Sunday." This being said, I don't really have anything profound to say about love, weddings or entertaining on a lazy Sunday, so I'm going to let others do it for me.

Ever since you walked right in, the circle's been complete,
I've said goodbye to haunted rooms and faces in the street,
To the courtyard of the jester which is hidden from the sun,
I love you more than ever and I haven't yet begun.
~Bob Dylan

Good Food + Yummy Drinks = Successful Parties

My second passion aside from weddings & parties is cooking. I don't get to do it enough, but my daily blog roster for personal satisfaction includes sites like 101 cookbooks, Eat Drink Chic & Canille et Vanille. My love for cooking goes beyond just the mixing ingredients. It's the art of the presentation that really gets me. While sometimes it feels like I'm stepping on toes, when planning a wedding, I do just love to get in there with the caterer and chat presentation from time to time as I think, if done right, the food presentation can be the finishing touch to really bring a vision to reality. Now, I don't claim to be a chef or anywhere close to it, but I do think there is a lot of inspiration to be found for your wedding or any party in the art of food.

This week I spent a few days in Hawaii and was reminded of all the Hawaiian culture has to offer. Many of these items below have been served at my events in the Islands. If going local is too casual for you on the wedding day, I highly recommend giving your guests the opportunity to experience some of these culinary comforts at the rehearsal dinner or Mahalo brunch. Aloha!











From top to bottom: Fish Tacos best when made with fresh Mahi Mahi, Coconut Shrimp with mango marmalade, Ahi Poke, Old School Macaroni Salad, Pineapple Fried Rice from 101 Cookbooks, Sweet Potatoes with Macadamia Nuts from 101 Cookbooks, Mochi, Coconut and Lemon Cream Balls from Cannelle et Vanille, Tropical Sorbets from Canelle et Vanille, and wash it down with a yummy but dangerous Lychee Martini.

I've recently been bombarded with some great questions from lots of brides, so while they keep rolling in, I'm going to take the time to answer one or two a week. This being said, if any of you have any questions you think other brides might have too, send them my way and I'll give you my perspective. The questions can stay anonymous if you like :)

If you want your bridal party to have professionally styled hair and make-up, are you supposed to pay for their appointments?
If you are going to require your bridal party to get their hair and makeup done for the wedding day then I think you should offer to pay for the expense. Some of my clients allow their wedding party to decide for themselves whether or not they want to get their hair and makeup done. If it is an option for the girls, then you can say something along the lines of "I have a stylist coming if you would like to use her. She charges x for hair and x for makeup. If you would prefer to do your own, that's great too!" This gives the ladies the option without insinuating that you are covering the expense. However, again, if you are demanding they get their hair and makeup done, budget some extra dollars for this expense.

Jacqueline & Fred get hitched on Maui!

I'm on my way to Maui today for this weekend's wedding at the Olowalu Plantation and thought I would share some images from one of my favorite weddings at that particular venue. This weekend's wedding will be quite different with a little bit of Texas meets the Islands, but equally beautiful. In the meantime, please enjoy some images from Jackie & Fred's big day...

First, the amazing destination invitation suite from Ink Box Design...they were even delivered in mini suitcases with vintage Hawaii travel stickers. So cute!







The benches are my new favorite form of ceremony seating. Afterwards we turned them into lounges which were a hot spot all night long!





Fred is a fireman in Santa Barbara, so what did that little Jackie do???

She surprised him with by picking him up from the hotel in a vintage firetruck. This was one of the best surprises I have ever been part of and it took a bit of legwork. We had to have the firetruck shipped over by boat from the island of Oahu, but it was well worth it!



I wish I could pretend like these are a new thing for me, but I still love them. Every destination wedding in Hawaii should great guests with Pineapple Soda from Wailua SodaWorks. I just love the hula girl on the label!


For dinner, Jackie and Fred would settle for nothing less than true Hawaiian cuisine. They served upscale plate lunch items like coconut shrimp, macadamia nut Mahi Mahi and Macaroni Salad with lobster.



Each guest's place card had their name translated into Hawaiian.

The yummiest macarons from Paulette Macarons in Beverly Hills. We went with Wedding Almond and Chocolate. They are to die for!


A mini luau started off the celebration with hula dancers and a fire and knife finale. Then....


The bride and groom opened the dance floor with the Dirty Dancing dance in full costume! It was so fabulous!!



One last favorite thing from this wedding...the favors...Jackie and Fred hand wrote each and every guest a personal note thanking them for traveling so far for their wedding. Take note, brides, this is the type of favor guests appreciate. So long personalized M&Ms and engraved silver plated coasters. It doesn't have to be as time consuming as a personal thank you note, but if you are going to do favors, MAKE IT PERSONAL!!!


Just a little teaser from the morning after photo shoot...

The Guest List

There is no right or wrong way to determine the number of guests to have at your wedding. Of course budget is always going to be a factor but beyond that, the guest list should be composed of your closest family and friends. For some people that includes hundreds of people and for other couples 20 guests is just about right. Only you will know, but no matter what really consider the importance of each guest. For your day to remain a true celebration rather than a grand performance where you are the blushing bride and he is the perfect groom, consider eliminating guests from your list where you are unable to be yourself. This may include coworkers, friends of parents and distant acquaintances. Truth be told, while you are agonizing about whether or not to include them on your list, they may actually prefer not to be invited as well. A wedding is a celebration where people should be able to let loose and enjoy those around them. Keep that in mind when finalizing the list.

Once you have finalized your list, take inventory. Consider age groups, likes, dislikes and other details about your guests. Do you have a large amount of vegans on your guest list? If so, think about what that means for your dinner menu. Are many of the guests above 50? If so, consider them when selecting some of the song choices for the evening. While you will hear me say over and over to make your decisions based on what you truly love, it's equally important that you take into consideration that you are hosting a party. For this reason, get to know your guest list and consider the guests when making major decisions in the wedding plans.