Venue: Brandview Ballroom Photography: Eliz Photography Videography: Mher Video Photobooth: OnThreee Catering: Anoush Catering Florist: Petals LA Dessert Station: My Cuppy Cake Pops Dessert Station: Sweets By Ana DJ: DJ Hovo Fragrance Bar: Starring Fragrances Date: June 2014 Much like a wedding dress is custom tailored to perfectly fit a bride, a bridal shower should also be customized to suit a bride’s taste. When Suzie started to plan a shower for her sister Rosie, she wanted to make sure the celebration was a beautiful and fun reflection of Rosie, and her love of fashion. Along with the help of their sister Seta, Suzie decided to go with a fashion-themed soiree at Brandview Ballroom with 150 of their closest friends and family. Suzie and Seta were having lunch at the Glendale Americana one day and decided to stop by Brandview to “try it on for size.” Suzie says that within the first few minutes, she knew they wanted to book Rosie’s shower there. After enjoying a lunch provided by Anoush Catering, guests were treated to a dessert bar courtesy of Sweets by Ana and My Cuppy Cake Pops. Among bedazzled cake pops and high heel accouterment were chocolate covered Oreos, chocolate drizzled fortune cookies and cupcakes decorated with dresses. Suzie says her favorite part about working with Ana was the attention to detail and Ana’s dedication to high-end ingredients. She also noted, with a smile, that Narine from My Cuppy Cake Pops would send photo updates of the desserts, and everything ended up picture perfect! Suzie knows that the perfect scent complements the perfect outfit, and she wanted to do something unique for Rosie. Suzie called upon Starring Fragrances for a perfume bar where guests could create, bottle, and take home a custom scent. Suzie contacted Starring Fragrances a year in advance to ensure that the amazing perfumes would be an aromatic success. Just like a fashion show, the shower was accessorized with style. The soft, beautiful flower arrangements, provided by Petals LA, matched the dessert color palette. Floral displays were dressed up with mini mannequins. And the sweetest accessory? A “wishing tree” where guests could hang messages with warm sentiments across its branches, written on fashion tags! In between nibbling on desserts and creating fragrances, guests grooved to the tunes of DJ Hovo, who Suzie says has spun at her family events for the past 3 years, and really “knows how to get the crowd on their feet!” When they needed a dance break, guests meandered to the photo booth, threw on some novelty sunglasses, an oversized hat, and struck a pose. From our team at LA Banquets, congratulations to Rosie on her upcoming nuptials!
Dinner, drinks, dancing, a silent auction, and a chance to wear your finest. What’s not to love about attending a gala? But when the proceeds benefit thousands of women across the nation and support a foundation as wonderful as that of Alpha Phi, the event takes on a whole new meaning. Since its inception in 2004, the CSUN Red Dress Ball has been raising funds to support women’s cardiac care. Once a year, members of the sorority along with mothers, fathers, sisters, aunts, alumni and friends gather to garner awareness about a subject that hits close to home for many attendees. The red dress was utilized as a symbol of Alpha Phi’s commitment to heart health over the past several decades. In 1956, Alpha Phi established their Foundation, and was one of the first women’s fraternities to do so. The Founders intended for the organization to act as a trust for grants specifically pertaining to scholarships and cardiac aid. During that time, rheumatic fever (which causes serious heart damage) was rampant among school children and often claimed their lives. Alphi Phi chose cardiac aid as way to help these kids, but also allow the organization to contribute to additional programs. Over the next several decades, developments in modern medicine reduced the amount of fatalities from rheumatic fever, as heart disease became the most prominent killer of women in the U.S. Alpha Phi is proud to band together as a united group of women to fight this battle. Today, the Foundation’s mission remains the same, to “advance women's lives through the power of philanthropy.” In 2010, the Foundation ran a ten million dollar leadership campaign, the largest in National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) history. The organization receives nearly one million dollars annually from collegiate chapters that host galas, heart walks and campus-wide talent shows. This year, we were honored to host the Red Dress Ball at Brandview Ballroom. Thanks to Alphi Phi coordinators Gabrielle Velasquez (their VP of Marketing) and Jessica Martin the (Director of Social Media), the event was meticulously organized and flowed smoothly. Guests dined on family-style Mediterranean fare provided by Anoush Catering, amidst a multitude of beautiful dresses in varying shades of ruby, scarlet, rose, cherry, and burgundy. Fundraising efforts were an overwhelming success as the event raised $12,000 – the largest amount to date! All of us at LA Banquets and Anoush Catering were honored to donate 15% of bar proceeds to the Foundation. During the gala, we held a Facebook contest for attendees to upload photos of themselves in their red dress. The photos with the most votes would determine the winners, so ladies were encouraged to share and seek help from their friends. The first place winner received an iPad mini and second place won a $200 voucher towards Anoush Catering. 1st place winner Katrina Brkic (pictured with CEO Vrej Sarkissian below) says her favorite part of the contest (besides scoring an iPad!) was being able to spread awareness about the Foundation even further than those who were in attendance at the gala. Congratulations to her and 2nd place winner Meghan West! We’d like to personally thank everyone involved in the Red Dress Ball and applaud Alpha Phi for a sensational event!
By admin
December 3, 2013
Many couples think that destiny plays a part in meeting their soulmate. For Cristale and Azad, fate most certainly brought them together. The two initially met at Azad’s jewelry store (perfectly appropriate!) but they went about their separate ways. It wasn’t until they bumped into each other during a college class that they reconnected. Soon thereafter, they started dating, and the rest, they say, is history. For Cristale, the most exciting part of the planning process was watching the details meld together and “come to life!” She teamed up with Petals LA for the floral arrangements and incorporated whites, purples, and pinks to flow with the pewters of the wedding theme. The bridal party held bouquets with deep purple calla lilies, a gorgeous contrast against the white roses, white calla lilies, and stephanotis in Cristale’s bouquet. Much like a bride and groom being meant for one another, a bride and her dress can be destined to come together. Cristale had planned on a custom-made “dream dress,” but during a shopping excursion, there was a change in plans. She noticed a stunning dress on a mannequin and knew it was The One. Cristale immediately tried on the dress and says, “I didn’t want to separated from their floor sample!” When it came time to pick the music, Cristale decided to embrace a unique tradition and chose BlueZurna, a band that specializes in Armenian wedding folk music (with instruments like clarinet, duduk, and zurna). The upbeat music played as Azad and his family arrived at Cristale’s house to bring her to the ceremony, and also during the couple’s big entrance at Brandview Ballroom. The fun folk tunes made guests get out of their seats and shimmy out to the dance floor. After the festivities, Cristale and Azad packed their suitcases and honeymooned in Oahu. As Cristale says, “It was the most relaxing, much-needed vacation after all of our wedding planning!” Congratulations to Cristale and Azad from everyone at LA Banquets!
By admin
November 18, 2013
(Photography by Solana and Miguel Torres at soulmateweddingphotography.com) On October 13th, Rocio and Jose Angel said “I do” to a new life together at a beautiful ceremony in Glendale. Surrounded by family and friends, the bride and groom exchanged vows and held their reception at Brandview Ballroom. The couple met in 2005, when neither were actively seeking a relationship. But as Rocio explains, “We quickly realized that we shared the same values, and that we had more fun together than apart. What began as a casual, dating relationship turned into true love. We are truly blessed to say that we are marrying each other's best friend!” Rocio envisioned a traditional wedding with modern elements that would reflect her and Jose Angel’s vibrant 8-year relationship. White and purple roses filled the crystal-adorned vases. Table numbers were designed in the shape of menus. And Rocio decorated the bottom of her shoes with rhinestones to spell out “I do” that guests could see when she kneeled during the ceremony. Family is very important to Rocio and Jose Angel, so they wanted to honor the memory of Jose’s late uncle, a former Captain at the Compton Fire Department, in a unique way. They were picked up after the ceremony in a fire truck and rode to the reception with blazing lights and sirens! In an edible homage to the Captain, the couple chose Julien Flambe (which is lit on fire prior to being served) as a main course. And guests enjoyed a signature drink called the “Firefighter-tini,” a martini that’s set ablaze before consumption. During the reception, guests dined on family-style entrees and desserts provided by Anoush Catering. It was a presentation style that neither Rocio nor Jose Angel’s families had encountered at a wedding before. Rocio says she was excited about introducing them to something new and liked the sharing concept associated with this style of service. Rocio’s favorite part of the planning process was spending quality time with her family. Her motivation throughout the stressful times was knowing that she and Jose Angel would celebrate their love with the people who matter most. And now the couple is thrilled to start their new life together after honeymooning in St. Lucia. Congratulations from everyone at LA Banquets to Rocio and Jose Angel!
By admin
October 31, 2013
On the last weekend of August, Stella and Michael said “I do” in the presence of hundreds of family and friends. The pair combined their Armenian and Greek heritages for a cross-cultural picture-perfect ceremony and reception that elegantly highlighted food, family, fun and tradition. Stella confides that the best part of the wedding was not planning it. She left the grand task in the capable hands of Kristine from Chic Sparkles. And for good reason. Though nestled in New York, Stella and Michael chose to wed in Stella’s hometown, Los Angeles. Looking to avoid the hurdles of planning a cross-country wedding, the pair’s first order of business was booking a wedding planner. Kristine transformed Stella and Michael’s vision of a traditional, yet modern wedding into reality. She helped the couple plan and execute every last detail, from welcome baskets at the guests’ hotel to picking their venue, LA Banquets’ Brandview Ballroom. The wedding was planned around creating various areas for the guests to congregate. Out on the Patio (one of the first events at our brand new Patio at Brandview!), guests enjoyed hookah in an intimate setting under billowy drapes. Inside, guests mingled at the open bar, picked up treats at the dessert station, and bites to nibble on at the seafood station all while being serenaded by a solo harpist. For Stella, the highlight of the wedding was the cake cutting. While she and Michael prepared to slice into their gorgeous six-tier cake by Art’s Bakery (designed by their wedding planner), Michael’s friends prepped champagne bottles by giving them a vigorous shake. As the couple sliced into the cake, the champagne bottles were popped, spraying everyone and everything with a bit of bubbly. “It was like nothing I have seen before! Not the traditional off-to-the-corner cake cutting!” And the wedding itself was full of many things some of the guests had never seen before. Many of the out-of-town guests had never experienced an Armenian wedding and loved the all-night family-style food service provided by Anoush Catering. In another nod to Armenian culture, traditional Armenian dancers walked the couple into the banquet hall at the beginning of the reception. Our deepest congratulations from everyone at LA Banquets to Michael and Stella! Photographer: Armen Poghosyan, Wedding Planner: Kristine Piloyan, Chic Sparkles, Flowers: Avant Garden, Cake: Art’s Bakery, Venue: LA Banquets Brandview Ballroom, Catering: Anoush Catering
By admin
October 10, 2013
by Vrej Sarkissian, CEO of LA Banquets What’s your definition of a large wedding? 100 guests? 200? How about 300 or 400? The most spacious of our LA Banquets venues easily accommodate 500 guests, and weddings that size are a weekly occurrence. When your guest list swells in size, it doesn’t mean you have to let go of the intimate wedding you always envisioned. Over the hundreds of weddings I’ve seen at our venues, here’s what I’ve learned about making large weddings feel intimate and fun. 1. Facetime: Meet and greet with your guests I can’t stress how important it is for the bride and groom to personally greet and talk to all of the guests. This is true for weddings of any size, but particularly so of large celebrations. Stop at each table during dinner or after the cake cutting and thank everyone for coming. Ask your photographer to come around to each table with you and take pictures with your guests. You might need to cut down on dancing time, but your family and friends will remember and appreciate your gesture. 2. Family Style Dining You can’t have a wedding without food, and for a large wedding don’t even think about a buffet. With a guest list in the hundreds, buffet lines will become unmanageably long leaving you with cranky, hungry guests. A timed and plated dinner service is also difficult to orchestrate for large weddings and can break up the natural rhythm of the event. One of the best ways to make a wedding feel more intimate is to serve dinner family style. With family style dining, you recreate the atmosphere of dinners at home with everyone sitting around the table, passing food and conversation around. Each table will feel like its own intimate dinner party. 3. A Separate Lounge With the music thumping on the dance floor, your guests may tire of yelling to each other across the table to have a conversation. But you don’t want to turn the music too far down either. A separated lounge area with comfortable seating will provide your guests (and you!) a place to get away from the main action for a bit. Guests can mingle in a quieter setting, catch up with far-flung relatives and relax for a few moments. If weather permits, consider an outdoor lounge area as well. 4. Photo Fun with Photo Booths Some of your friends and family may be shy about dancing, but they don’t need to miss out on all the fun. Photo booths are a great way for your guests to interact with each other and entertain themselves. And you’ll get likely a lovely scrapbook of all the silly photos. For large weddings, focus on creating a fun, inviting atmosphere and the intimacy will follow. Take time to meet with your guests and personally thank them for attending. Large weddings are all the more reason to celebrate! flickr credit: http://goo.gl/XuWJ0E http://goo.gl/W07Vsy http://goo.gl/kVcV8D http://goo.gl/11SIvU
