WINNER of 2012 Bride's Choice Award

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Wedding with 100 guest for $5,000.00 in Miami, Florida- is it possible?

So you think that having a wedding in Miami Beach, Florida is going to cost you an astronomical figure...Factor in the cost of flying in, getting a hotel, finding all the right vendors, the perfect dress, the right place... it is going to cost an arm and leg right?? Well, at least your finance's arm and leg.




Well having thrown and assisted in hundreds of events and weddings in Miami Beach, parts of South Florida, and New York City, I have come across some very genius ways that couples have found and have used, to save money and I am not talking about a couple of dollars; I am talking about a couple of hundred dollars. So what did they do? What did they have to give up? Well, really, nothing. No really! Nothing!


First, and I know you have heard this a million times, but develop a budget. Many couples have told, "Monica, budgets are for people who have money" and I always say, well then have your gala wedding, when you have saved for it. But if you have some money saved, someone helping you pay for the wedding and/or your income tax return, then, set a budget.


There are a few wedding websites that offer a budget calculator for free and help you break down what percentage of the money should go where. My favorite is on Wedding Wire.com, oh did I mention that it was free. Cha-ching, I just saved you some money.


Once you have selected a budget calculator, you will now need to factor in all the things you must have, i.e...wedding dress, invitations, stamps, tuxedo/suit, flight, ride, hotel, rings, reception, flowers, food, drinks, music, photographer, videographer, marriage certificate & of course, The Wedding Planner.
Now this is the tinges you must have- so delete and add what is missing.

Can this all be done for $5,000.00? Well we are off to a great start.

Read as I go through this journey and see if I, the wedding planner of Infinity Weddings & Events, can pull this off for my couple from New York City. I have until August 2011. Plenty of time...I hope...

Wish me luck...

Monica Wetherington-Lugo
Infinity Weddings & Events
786-427-5360
www.itsallaboutm-eweddings.com
infinityweddingsevents@yahoo.com
@MiamiBeachWed view full profile →

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Saturday, June 11, 2011

Facebook pictures

So, here are some pictures I have I Facebook.
You can check out our work there. We hope you enjoy them.
AND don't forget to LIKE us.

Click on the link or on the title Facebook pictures
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150290031801788.387200.100993546787&l=e254f18cec

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Platinum Weddings

So the end of the year and still had one more wedding to complete.
This was not just any ordinary wedding, this was another one of my Platinum weddings. Full of exquiste attention to details and full of fun.
I so truly love my brides and grooms, whose focus is each other and to celebrate their love with all the magic and wonderment of love; true love, that is it- and I am so glad that it still exists.

Bride and Mother
Elizabeth went into complete fashionista mode when it came to planning her dream wedding; as this wedding has been in the works for 10 years! She tasked with Infinity Weddings & Events with  all her details and I mean she had details! I had to lasso in all her ideas and plot it out in an organized fashion. With the help of her fabulous mother and her brother; this very modern bride, was going to have a very Baroque Modern themed wedding.

I mean every detail was infused with her and Jonathan's taste. Putting all the details, finding the right pieces, the right vendors and price to make it all come together, took a year in planning and decision making. The final results? A breathtaking, wonderous event, filled with a ton of love and a heaping of fun!

This platinum wedding required some masters in their field:
Vendors who help pull this platinum wedding together are:
* Wedding Planning Company- Infinity Weddings & Events, LLC.
*Videographer- Artistic Films Production,
* DJ- Liquid DJs
* Photographer- Maloman
* Officiant- Frank Nunez
*Venue- W Hotel-South Beach
* Gown- Chic Parisienne
* Tux- Hugo Boss
* Shoes- Her's- Swaroski crystal encrusted Christian Luobutoin
               His- Prada

Officiant at the rehearsal- Mr. Frank Nunez

Gown by Marquessa - Chic Parisienne in Coral Gables, Florida

Modern Baroque


Monday, June 6, 2011

Bling on the Beach

So this wedding was held in front of the Loews Hotels in South Beach.  And who would not want to have their wedding on the beach. The elements lends itself to the magical moment.
My bride was a very modern bride, but also very private. She worried that there would be too many people on the beach, but I promised her that her wedding would not start until she was ready.

 She enjoyed style and has a great flair. Her gown was by the goddess of wedding gowns- Vera Wang!
The groom wore a Hugo Boss suit and although he felt the beach heat, he was a pinnacle of style and looked great!
Her guest count was only immediate family for a grand total of 8.

When she first mentioned that she wanted the arbor with black and beige, I wanted to fall back in my seat.
Her fabulous brother and I looked at each other and recommended a tinge of color and suggested yellow.

They were coming down from Ohio and were having the reception in Emeril Lagassi restaurant in the Loews Hotels of Miami Beach.

The design is bamboo folding chairs, with satin sashes knotted sideways to keep with the modern theme. Of course, I had to throw in the bling and added circle rhinestone brooches to the sash.

The program was made on yellow linen paper with black satin ribbon and rhinestones on a rattan fan. Although the beach breeze was amazing and the fans were great for blocking the sun from our eyes.

The arbor is all natural bamboo, with black and beige linen material and the back with 40 strands of chandelier crystals.

We were able to tie in all the elements together and affect the five senses.

Venue- Miami Beach- beach side of the Loews Hotel
Photographer- Tatiana Cohen
Videographer- Jackie Villacencio


Saturday, June 4, 2011

Oh the Tasting for a Platinum Bride!

On of the best parts of the pre wedding preparations is the tasting. The tasting of your food, wine and of course the cake!
Natalie and Tiago are my fabulous Infinity couple getting married on May 28, 2011. They flew down from NYC to have the last bit of their wedding details taken care of this week and what a week it has been.

They have accomplished so much, especially with the assistances of Natalie's fabulous and beautiful mother Diliana. They have shopped for the perfect invitation, suit, flower girl's dress and everything in between and now they were excited about the tasting! I mean who wouldn't be.

The tasting was to be held at the very beautiful Coral Gables Country Club. Where they remodeled and made everything brand new. Ladies, let me tell you that the chandeliers alone are, in this wedding planner's opinion, FAB-U-lous.
The place exudes elegance, romance, formality with a twist of hip and chic infused with the South Florida of old. "As one of Coral Gable's few traditional ballrooms, the Coral Gables Country Club is the perfect location for groups of one hundred to one thousand people. Originally constructed in 1924, this complex gracefully blends the traditional Mediterranean style of the exterior with elegant classical interior finishes. The facility boasts a magnificent grand ballroom and three satellite banquet rooms. With coral stone waterfalls, stunning crystal chandeliers, spectacular black marble foyers, rich Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors, ornate Italian marble columns and cornice molding, you will enjoy the luxurious sense of understated elegance."


So in the morning Natalie and Tiago, ate very light and by the time the tasting was to start they were ready to eat. And eat they did!

The assorted rolls and the presentation were just as lovely as any centerpiece could be, the antipasto and dual pasta tray was enough to say "enough"! But we must go on- the dual entree was coming. What to choose?
There was a choice of Medallion of Veal with mushroom and baked bonelss bresat of chicken with lemon herb crust in the wonderful white wine sauce? Or do they select Grilled NY striplion steak with a bourbon glaze and the Baked bonelss bresat of chicken with lemon herb crust in the wonderful white wine sauce?
BUT wait we still have more- Family style served seafood platter with grilled shrimp, calamari, mussels, halibut with lemon and olive oil emulsion, served with baby greens.

They serve the first two courses in a french style service and there is still yet more to come- the dessert!
The tiramisu served in a chocolate cup with kahlua anglaise and compote berries, just sounds delicious, but wait until you taste it!

And that red wine - Nero D'avolo- de-licous! Whatever the entree, I know that it will be more than satisfying to their guests and something to talk about for some time!

Now my fabulous brides, don't get me wrong, as you know I am experienced in food and fine cuisine. I also understand what true service is about, but the reason I gush about this place is because the staff is wonderful, helpful and most importantly professional. The service was to be expected- I expect excellence for my Infinity couples and the Coral Gables Country Club did not fail!


An intimate wedding at the Spanish Monastery

This is a story of a love that was held back.
Jaime and Lilli were to get married two weeks before the actual wedding happened.
All the guests arrived from all parts of the United States; everyone had their outfit, flowers were done, food was ready and then tragedy struck.
Jaime's mother was in a horrible accident and was in critical condition.
The good news, is that as of today, she is doing very well! Thank God!

Their wedding happened two weeks later and it became a very intimate wedding with just the bride, groom and myself.

The Spanish Monastery was an absolutely beautiful place to have such an intimate wedding. They have these nooks and crannies that cause for excellent pictures...AND when you have a love like these two, well the pictures speak for themselves.

The pictures were taken by your truly with Lilli's camera- a simple canon sure shot.. Not too bad.
Not as great as Tatiana Cohen, Maloman, or Harings, but ok.
















Considering their very small budget, I think it turned out well for them. And in the end... is that not what it is all about.

Must have for your wedding day

So I have to keep up to date with the latest style and fashion- especially in the wedding industry. But I also have to keep up with beauty and comfort.
Basically what will keep you feeling beautiful and still keep money for other wedding details needed to make your wedding fabulous.

Here are some suggestions from the stylist guru goddess- Rachel Zoe. From Zoe Report.
You can click on each link and purchase directly from the website.

1. Hollywood Fashion Tape Double-Stick Strips-
2. Miss Oops Rescue Sponges
3. NuBra Adhesive Bra
4. Commando Classic Thong
5. Foot Petals Killer Kushionz
On the hair and make-up front:
6. L'Oreal Elnett Satin Hair Spray
7. Goody Spin Pins
8. Dior Spring Look Lip Color
9. Kate Somerville Tanning Towelettes
10. Go Smile Touch Ups