Las Vegas Wedding Planner

Desert Engagement Session with Chelsea Nicole Photography

Angelica McDonnell — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 19:09:52 +0000

Kim and Tim are getting married this weekend! We have been planning with them for over a year now and we can’t wait to see it all come to life! Kim and Tim met at work as they are both executives for IBM. IBM has an in house gym and it was there that Tim first set eyes on Kim. Tim was instantly intrigued, but Kim did make him work for it! After building their dream home together, they decided that Las Vegas was the perfect place for them to get married. They did not want anything traditional or expected. I can’t wait to share their wedding day with you and all of the fun surprises we have in store for the guests. For now, enjoy their gorgeous engagement photos shot in the Las Vegas desert by Chelsea Nicole Photography

Yes, these are real horses that roam freely in the area!

With Love,

Las Vegas Wedding Planner Green Orchid Events 2017 Review

Angelica McDonnell — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 00:55:19 +0000

I have said it before and I will continue to say it as the years go by. I am so LUCKY to have such incredible, loving, creative, and kind clients! The fact that they choose me will be something I am forever grateful for. Our 2017 was an absolute beautiful one and we can’t wait to see what 2018 brings us!

In 2017 we started our year off with planning the wedding of World Series Champion and MVP of the National Leaague for the Chicago Cubs, Kris Bryant and his beautiful wife Jessica Bryant. We then achieved another “bucket list” moment when their wedding was featured in print in Martha Stewart wedding magazine! Seriously? Just.Pinch. Me. What made it all so special, their hearts of gold.

The year continued to be equally amazing as we got to play with new designs, color palettes, and experience our favorite thing….love. I mean that is truly my job description. I get to celebrate love…daily. We had challegenes come up that we had never experienced before and as I look back I am thankful for those times as they only help me grow into a stronger and more refined wedding planner.

2017, you were really good to us! We welcome 2018 in and hope it is even better. Thank you just isn’t enough, but it is all I got for now.

http://thevegasweddingplanner.com/wp-content/uploads/My-Movie.mp4

With Love,

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

Angelica McDonnell — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 22:36:20 +0000

This AMAZING wedding was featured on the Overwhelmed Bride but I had to share such a special day as well. The beautiful bride, Jen and I met when we were in elementary school. It was love at first sight as we shared the same bus stop together. From then on we were inseparable. We went through braces and breakups together, learning how to do style our hair and eyebrows, marriages and babies, concerts and vacations, etc. I could go on and on about how much her friendship means to me, but I know you are here for the stunning photos right?!

Jen and Jim knew they wanted an intimate destination wedding with only their parents. Being the strong willed and somewhat dominate group of friends we are, we smuggled our way into the day and the intimate wedding because the perfect mix of closest friends and family. The destination became San Francisco a day before the 4th of July. It was PERFECT!!

Although a small wedding it had a BIG heart. Enjoy scrolling through their photos and reading how much meaningful moments happened throughout the day!

Jen and Jim exchanged wedding gifts the morning of their wedding. By the look on Jim’s face any guesses what he received?!

Beautiful little details

Jen and Jim decided to not have a bridal party, but still made their friends feel important. Jen did a first look with her girlfriends, mom, and mother in law. Cue my ugly cry!

First look outside the grounds of San Francisco City Hall

And a first look with her first love, her father who we knowingly love as Papa B.

Who better to speak about your love than a best friend. Our bestie, Jen Sayer became Reverend Sayer executing the most beautiful ceremony script I have ever heard.

To pay tribute to both sets of parents for their long and successful marriages, both presents presented their son/daughter in law with their wedding ring.

During the ceremony three friends stood up to each read individual song lyrics that correspond with their friendship with the bride and groom. NSYNC, Kayne West, and Bon Jovi!

After the ceremony Jen and Jim slayed all over the city hall while their guests boarded a cable car to enjoy drinks and snacks.

The cable car took us to multiple stops and ending at the iconic Golden Gate Bridge!

Jen and Jim, thank you for the most incredible wedding experience, for your friendship, and for bringing Green Orchid Events along for the ride!

With Love,

Meet the team!

Photography: J.Anne Photography
Floral: The Floral Loft
Coordination: Juliet Douglas with Green Orchid Events
Hair and Makeup: Vani Leon Beauty
Wedding Dress: Brilliant Bridal
Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Tux: Ted Baker
Hotel: Clift Hotel

Bridal Capes

Angelica McDonnell — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 18:28:14 +0000

I have a love/hate relationship with the word trend. If it is a trend that means everyone is doing it right?! But there are certain trends I fall in love with and must do at a wedding one day. Yes, I do have a wedding bucket list of designs and ideas that I am waiting for to present to the right client! This is where the bridal cape comes in. I am loving this whimsical look on a bride! There are a good amount of brides opting not to wear a veil so I love that the bridal cape still gives them that length and wow factor in the back still. Have capes replaced veils? Maybe on the runway but not quite yet at real weddings. I prefer the sheer capes as they don’t weigh down the bride or feel and look heavy. I also love that it allows the bride to have two different looks but not have to buy two different dresses. Wear the cape for the ceremony to drape down your aisle as you are walking and remove before the grand entrance at your reception! Are you thinking of wearing a bridal cape? If so here is some great inspiration below!

Photo 1: Designer: Mira Zwillinger Photo Credit: Wedding Inspirasi

Photo 2: Designer: BHLDN Photo Credit: Aisle Perfect

Photo: 3 Designer and Photo Credit: Pronovias

Photo 4: Designer: Bramanta Wijaya Sposa Photo Credit: Is Amare

A Winter Engagement Session in Las Vegas

Angelica McDonnell — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 22:36:24 +0000

While attending the same university in Arizona, Molly and Paul met at a local bar. To say there was an instant connection would be an understatement! These two have had quite the year with exciting events including building a brand new home, Paul getting called up to the major leagues to play baseball for the New York Mets, and now a wedding. We are so excited for their December wedding! It is sure to be a homerun. Cheesy pun intended!

Engagement photos by: KMH Photography

With Love,

A Fall Wedding at Red Rock Country Club

Angelica McDonnell — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 19:44:41 +0000

I stepped into the wedding planning process with Courtney and Robby way late into the game, but it was love at first sight when I met Courtney! They chose Red Rock Country Club and a great team of wedding professionals to assist in executing their big day! With Robby and Courtney both being in the nightclub industry, we knew this would be a party! Their guests dined on a dual entrée of lobster and filet while Courtney’s love for all things hip hop blared in the background during open dancing. Oh what a pretty night!

Wedding Coordinator: Green Orchid Events
Photography: Norina Kaye Photography
Venue: Red Rock Country Club
Wedding Dress: Couture Bride
Brides Shoes: Giuseppe Zanott
Tux: Stitched LV
Floral: Layers of Lovely
Wedding Cake: Las Vegas Custom Cakes

Valentine’s Day Wedding Inspiration

Angelica McDonnell — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 01:47:56 +0000

I am so lucky that my job title is pretty much summed up as “celebrating love”. Being a wedding planner LOVE is what keeps us in business. During the planning process we will dwell on questions such as “what type of food do you love, what type of floral do you love, what colors do you love?”. See, it all boils down to love! Enjoy your day whether that be with your friends, family, significant other, fur babies, or simply yourself and some Netflix!

Valentine’s Day Wedding Inspiration Las Vegas Wedding Planner Green Orchid Events

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Photo Credit from Left to Right:
1. Pink and Gold Macarons: Josephine and Jaime Weddings
2. LOVE Letters: Jove Meyer Events
3. Floral Centerpiece: Annabella Charles
4. Wedding Invitation Suite: Paper Bow London
5. Arrow Wedding Cake: Heather Saunders Photography
6. Heart Wreath: Pinterest.com
7. Jimmy Choo Burgundy High Heels: Jimmy Choo

Pantone Color Of The Year 2017 Is…. Greenery

Angelica McDonnell — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 08:11:53 +0000

I have to be honest, when I first saw the color that Pantone had announced for their 2017 color of the year I had a “WTF” moment. After the two beautiful calm colors from last year, I was surprised to see such a bold green come at us.

After reading a quote from Pantone Institute’s vice president, Laurie Pressman on USA Today, it made a bit more sense.
“The vibrant green with yellow undertones is an answer, of sorts, to bruising 2016, signaling a yearning to rejuvenate, and to reconnect to both nature and something larger than oneself, said Laurie Pressman, the institute’s vice president.
“It’s a realization for many people,” she said in an interview Wednesday. “This country is politically divided, and we see that around the world. It’s not just us. There’s a real division in terms of globalization and this desire to pull back from globalization. It’s Brexit. It’s what we just saw in Italy.”

This past year our brides truly embraced the greenery. A lot of them left the glitz and glam behind and went for a more natural Southern California garden vibe with lush greenery, natural colored linens, and not a speck of bling. Here are some of our favorite moments of greenery from the year. We can’t wait to see what our 2017 weddings will bring, the grass will definitely be greener on this side!

Photo Credit: Hello Gaby J

Photo Credit: J.Anne Photography

Photo Credit: Norina Kaye Photography

Photo Credit: Trejo Vanegas

I Am One

Angelica McDonnell — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 08:12:42 +0000

It hit me. I received a notice to renew my business license and just like that, I happily survived my first year of owning Green Orchid Events. Although weddings and events were not new to me (going on year 9 of being a wedding planner), being a business owner was. Many words come to mind when I think of this year: thankful, blessed, lucky, etc. It makes me emotional thinking of all the couples who invited into their lives to celebrate a huge milestone with them, their wedding day. No matter how much time passes, I am forever grateful and humbled that they picked me to be their wedding planner. YOU….yes you have made me a better person, a stronger planner, and probably gave me a wrinkle from smiling so hard.

As I reflect on this past year and what is to come in the future I wanted to remind myself and maybe new wedding planners who are just starting out some important tips! I still have a lot to learn and I am not where I want to be…yet.

Be Kind: You never know who is watching or listening. Never get so overwhelmed or stressed on a wedding day that you forget to smile, forget to say please or thank you, or forget that it takes a team. We all have bad days or have a moment where we might be less than pleasant with someone. “I am sorry” goes a long way.
Photo Credit: Youkeun Oh Photography

Leave your ego at the door: It isn’t your show and it isn’t your wedding day! I always say it takes a village to raise a child and plan a wedding. Don’t stand around with a clipboard staring at people…you are not J.Lo and if you are not busy, help a wedding professional that is!
Photo Credit: J. Anne Photography

Avoid the “B” word….Busy: I so so so get it. There are plenty of times that we feel like we are drowning, can’t catch our breath, and dream of a day off. But don’t get so busy that your forget to spend time with friends and family, forget to find time to grab coffee or lunch with a new wedding professional, or forget to answer an email. Also, don’t get so busy that you lose yourself in the process.
Photo Credit: Alt F Photography

Find your tribe: You will do a lot of weddings and make a lot of mistakes before you find your tribe. Your tribe are the wedding professionals that you know will show up and show out. They make you look good, really good! You know they will be on time, give a 150% to your clients, and are as passionate about the wedding as you are. This also applies to your couples. Stick to the couples that fit your brand and beliefs! You pick your couple as much as they pick you!
Photo Credit: Alt F Photography

Community over competition: You need your fellow wedding planners. I am lucky to call some of the top Las Vegas wedding planners, my friends. I refer a ton of weddings out to them as they do with me. I have called on them when I need an extra hand at a wedding or when I needed something for a client that I couldn’t find on my own. Trust me, you will need them!
Photo Credit: M Place Productions

I am excited for 2017 as I am entering the new year more confident, more experienced, and so ready to plan the hell out of your wedding!

xoxoxo

Courtney and Robby: Engagement Session for their fall wedding

Angelica McDonnell — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 19:12:23 +0000

This week Courtney and Robby will become husband and wife so we had to share their engagement session with Norina Kaye! We are so excited for their wedding at Red Rock Country Club with their closest friends and family!