Mint Julep Social Events & Wedding Planners

Napa Zapa

2009-10-20T23:42:00.000-07:00

A year of joyful planning resulted in the absolutely beautiful wedding of Christie and Bryan (who are now dear friends), not to mention nights of dinner at Christie's parents' house while going over wedding details (we were not complaining!). While the adorable details of this Napa wedding (cocktail hour pop quizzes, Candyland themed wedding cake) are evident in the photos below, the true heart clincher is the story of this amazing couple. We could not do them justice by telling you about it here, so please visit Christie's blog to read about their journey and definitely come to their fundraiser on Friday November 20th at The Wilshire Ebell Theater! Stunning photography by Anna Kuperberg.

Night and You and Blue Hawaii

2009-10-05T13:27:00.000-07:00

So, our Sexy in the City couple, Leslee and Beny, decided to elope...sort of. A trend that happens much more than you think: Destination ceremonies, domestic receptions. Our bride and groom opted for an intimate getaway to tie the knot on the Kohala Coast off of the Big Island of Hawaii with just 17 family members. Simple and elegant, the reception allowed them to absorb every bit of magic they could with their nearest and dearest. Stay tuned for photos of their LA reception which was quite the affair! Thanks Skye Blu for the exquisite shots.

Magic Recipe

2009-09-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

Everyone who is anyone knows that SLS is the new hip property in town and one where fun is ready to be had. MJSE was super excited to plan a wedding there for Chelsey and Tony whose design reflected the bride's experience working at Chanel (think chic!). We encouraged the use of black pearls and a beautiful charcoal, white, and soft pink color scheme with shots of magenta here and there. Chiffon-clad bridesmaids noshed on gourmet PB&J sandwiches pre-ceremony and our uber-glam bride was stunning in a mermaid-cut gown. White and magenta phalaenopsis orchids were elegantly positioned on guest tables, cupcake tower and candy bar complimenting the to-die-for menu, mood lighting, and amazing band - all the ingredients for a tasty party! Thanks to JLG Photo for the beautiful photography.

Independently Choosing to be Dependent

2009-07-14T23:43:00.000-07:00

If ever there was a couple that deserved the adjective "cute," it is this one! So in love :::sigh::: It was somehow quite appropriate that this happy couple chose the 4th of July as their wedding date. MJSE was with lovely bride Lily from the very beginning when we designed a fresh, preppy-chic color concept of soft yellows with accents of grey all the way to her final dress fitting (Valentino, need we say more?). Love, love, LOVED the live recessional song, Badfinger's "No Matter What" and the pre-ceremony Hallelujah a la Jeff Buckley (performed by WCM's Voodoo Lounge act). All this couple really wanted to do was dance. And we made sure there was a whole lot of that going on! More photos of this two-day extravaganza to come, but dig these lovelies from Abby Ross for the time being.

Goody Goody Gumdrops!

2009-07-14T23:42:00.002-07:00

The perfect way to celebrate a wedding in sunny West Hollywood? With angel wings and ostrich feathers, of course! Annie and Kenny are the cutest couple ever and their whimsical sensibilities fit perfectly with ours over at MJSE. The bride's requirements: Pink, Feathers, and Wings. Done deal! The wedding was held at the sleek London Hotel in WeHo and they wed in the Hampton Courtyard amid vibrant hedges, lemon trees and giant chess pieces. The reception featured "floating" angel wings, the most GORGEOUS candy bar we have ever helped assemble, and Sprinkles cupcakes. For their design concept, we encouraged a grown-up toy chest theme with toy cars designating table assignments and playful feather table decor. Sweet Monday Photography was there to capture the sugary goodness!

Be My Baby

2009-07-14T23:02:00.000-07:00

No, we are not referring to our 3rd grade talent show performance (although that was something to be seen - polka dots, The Ronettes, and giant heart ballooons). We are referring to the ultra spiffy co-ed baby shower we just coordinated at Viceroy Santa Monica. We played up the baby factor by using a nursery rhyme book as a guestbook for the little one and baby photos of the parents with their stats (height, weight, bday, etc.) on cocktail tables. Since the mother-to-be is expecting a boy (!), the color scheme was designed to reflect that (and conveniently match the Viceroy) with turquoise and lime green as the definitive palette. A baby food taste test station was set up for the curious and competitive and blue and green rattle cookies were given to all of the guests as parting gifts. While no gifts were opened or embarrassing shenanigans performed, a good time was had by all. Whimsical photography by Mike Fischer.

The Sunday Wedding

2009-06-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

So. Much. Fun. Mint Julep Social Events had the pleasure of hosting the most fabulous party along with Michael Antonia of The Flashdance. The weekend bash was held at The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs and was a major event! Brent Wang of Eggs LA brought his crew down; Mercedes and Andrea of Digital Princess Productions splashed around; Sarah and Janell of Lucky Penny Designs sashayed under the misters with snowcones in hand; photo goddess Sarah Yates captured the memories via camera; and of course, MJSE was there to represent with sunhats and pool toys. The Ace is a haven for the city-weary kids of LA with pet friendly quarters, rad mid-century California aesthetics, a pool that doesn't close, and really GREAT priced food (seriously, where else can you get egg whites, hash browns, and fried tomatoes for $5? Yes, Michelle ate that poolside). Check out the eye candy below and clear your calendar for our next shindig.

Classy Lassie

2009-05-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

MJSE is absolutely tickled pink to be featured in this week's Us Weekly magazine. Our coordinating skills are celebrated in the four page feature which gives all of the delicious details on the wedding of Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag. MJSE owner, Michelle Lynn Buckley, was interviewed at length, giving readers a sense of the couple's wedding scene (bowls of lemon drops and engraved cake knife and server from Heidi's mom). Now if only Hedda Hopper was still around, we could really dish the dirt.

Spencer Pratt & Heidi Montag's Wedding

2009-04-07T23:25:00.000-07:00

The ladies at Mint Julep Social Events are very pleased with their little event this weekend. For obvious reasons, ceremony details are still hush hush; but I can certainly tell you that their sultry, hip reception at Social Hollywood was amazing. From the stunning florals by Eggs, Los Angeles, to the beautifully delicious cake by Sweet Gems, capped by the hip audible bliss provided by Michael Antonia of The Flashdance, Speidi made made sure this was the wedding of the season. MJSE is honored to have worked with Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag as their wedding coordinator for the most special day in both their sweet little lives. Mind blowing photography by Feather Love Photography.

The Bride's Cafe - Julia and Jordan

2009-03-27T21:25:00.000-07:00

The go-to site for all things bridal, The Bride's Cafe, posted a wonderful feature of MJSE couple, Julia and Jordan. Click here to view tons of photos of their gorgeous wedding. Julia's Vera Wang gown has proven to be quite a conversation topic! Of course, Dennis Viera did an amazing job with the photography of this eclectic wedding. Love it!

Sexy in the City

2009-03-18T19:59:00.001-07:00

Leslee and Beny represent a new trend in weddings. No, not a trend in taking engagement photos Downtown (although we LOVE that they did that!), but the trend towards small ceremonies and larger receptions on totally separate days. This MJSE couple is tying the knot in Hawaii with an intimate group of close family and friends in July and then throwing an all out bash at hip new venue in town, The London, in August. Stay tuned for more fun details about their impeding nuptials! Skye Blu brought the sexy, as always!

Hostesses, Not the Suzy Q Variety

2009-03-17T17:59:00.000-07:00

Mint Julep Social Events is brimming with excitement as two of our Hostesses make their web debut (despite being with the company for quite awhile). We want you to get to know them! Dean Fisher and Mary Suzuki are MJSE's featured Hostesses and we have just updated our site so you can catch a glimpse of their marvelous Hostess abilities. Please check out their bios below and revel in the beauty of their photos taken by Michael and Anna Costa.

Dean Fisher was raised in Lexington, Kentucky, a town steeped in mint juleps and Southern charm. Born into a family-owned catering business, amid the chatter and laughter of social soirees, event planning has always been second nature with Dean. Polished at the Hall's School of Cotillion and Etiquette, and studied at The School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Dean eventually moved into interior design (working with greats like design "it girl" Kelly Wearstler), creating stunning event environments and shaping experiences for her clients. Incorporating her roots in entertaining with her keen sense of aesthetic, Dean exudes a unique aire of poise, skill, and authenticity rarely seen in the event industry today.

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Mary Yuriko Suzuki, a second-generation Japanese American (nisei), earned an Interior Design degree from FIDM and is a Natori in Azuma Kotobuki Kai. She has developed a sophisticated appreciation for color, texture, and pattern which she incorporates into her understanding of space, lighting, and mood. Mary admits to having a bias for all things Mid-Century Modern, Art Decco, and Japanese. If pressed, she will site Charles and Henry Greene, Charles and Ray Eames, and her father, Masayasu Suzuki as influences.Combining a well-studied appreciation and knowledge of heritage, Mary brings a synergystic fusion of culture and design to the wedding industry, offering a modern reflection of classical themes to any occasion.

Just the Six of Us

2009-02-22T09:56:00.000-08:00

One of MJSE's cutest couples ever just had a romantic private ceremony on the beach in Malibu. Both sets of parents were present for the wonderful moment and the windy but clear weather allowed for an empty beach and beautiful photos (got to love February in California!). The beautiful bride and groom held this intimate ceremony so the bride could "be barefoot in the sand" since their summer reception will be quite the Black Tie affair. (And for those of you who are wondering - No, you cannot be shoeless and in Black Tie!) Needless to say, we are counting the days until this beautiful couple marries in fabulous fashion! Thanks to Apertura for the gorgeous photos.

Destination I Do - Spring 2009

2009-02-15T18:23:00.000-08:00

The next time you're cruising the "Women's Interests" section of local newsstand (we're pretty sure it's time to give weddings its own section already), be sure to pick up a copy of the Spring issue of Destination I Do and see our latest spread. Our lovely bride, Teresa Strasser (of TV Water Cooler and the Adam Carolla Show) has had her wedding featured again. From the Venetian in Las Vegas back to the Library in Downtown Los Angeles, her wedding, while spectacularly hip, was anything but typical. And, as this is the third time this wedding has been published, Mint Julep Social Events feels it's time to congratulate themselves, Fiore Designs, Michael & Anna Costa, Fusion Linens, and Digital Princess Productions for putting together a wildly successful event.

Los Angeles Love Story - [DPP Video]

2009-02-08T11:26:00.000-08:00

We could not let Aimee and Mike's wedding at The Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills pass by without showing off a lovely video rendering of the fabulous event. So, the snazzy girls at Digital Princess, on hand for all the docudrama, put together a short edit for us! We really like the Love Story DPP put together, interviewing the bride and groom separately as well as family members to get everyone's side of the story. On a side note, is it me, or does the groom look like an old-fashioned movie star?

Lucky in Love

2009-02-01T17:22:00.000-08:00

Broken mirrors? Black cats? Open umbrellas??!! It must be Friday the 13th! At Mint Julep Social Events, we can make a party out of even the most dreaded of days. So, it was with great fervor and abandon that we threw our fabulous "Lucky in Love" Valentine's Eve party. We introduced only the most romantic elements in the bad luck bag. Red and pink Chinese umbrellas dangled playfully from the ceiling of our downtown loft, while broken mirrors were used by the Hostesses as serving trays for our frothy Champagne Sherbet punch. Being the bakers we are, all of the MJSE Hostesses baked something sweet for our dessert buffet (we're talking serious baking like macaroons, lace cookies, and mini lemon custard drops). Gorgoeus floral arrangements were provided by Elegant by Design and Sweet Pea, all captured by EMP Studios. Our artist bestie, Jophenstein, set up shop and held a live painting demo in one of the dimly lit nooks of the party while partygoers danced to AMAZING tunes spun by Turqouise Wisdom. Guests departed with a cute MJSE Makeout Mix , encouraging them to take the lovey dovey all the way home.

Comedic Enchantment

2009-01-25T10:01:00.000-08:00

MJSE has been super excited about, actor and comedian, Bryan Callen's wedding ever since his beautiful bride came to us last year for our expert planning advice. The wedding decor took a somewhat gothic, darkly romantic look with deep reds and plums. The ceremony featured wrought iron chandeliers hung from an oak tree and fall leaves were scattered about while the bride walked down the aisle to Cat Power. After an enjoyable cocktail hour, guests were ushered into a room awash in violet with tablescapes housing mossy floral beds with candles nestled inside. The newlyweds made their debut by performing a scintillating salsa routine, forcing the crowd to their feet. Since almost all of the groomsmen are comics, the toasts were, needless to say, absolutely side-splitting! The piece de resistance was when the MC called all guests onto the dance floor for a group photo, only to be completely surprised by an explosion of confetti set off by the MJSE staff. A swirl of merriment and dance ensued until dawn. Fabulous photos by Eric Cotter for Jim Kennedy!

Pacific Rim Weddings

2009-01-18T14:34:00.000-08:00

Our lovely bride Dani has become such a bridal star. The newest issue of Pacific Rim Weddings displays seven pages of gorgeous eye candy from Dani and Mark's wedding at the Skirball Cultural Center. The article is titled "Hollywood Romance" and features a great interview with the ever-so-chic couple. Oh, and MJSE principal, Michelle Buckley, gets a little love in there as well! Stephanie Williams you are the name on everyone's lips right now!

Summer Marries

2009-01-11T14:51:00.000-08:00

For many couples, there is definite favoritism when it comes to aspects of their wedding. Some pour all efforts and decor into their ceremony and hope the open bar will take care of the reception. Others skimp on the nuptials and spend all planning hours on their reception. While MJSE's fun-loving OC couple, Summer & Nick, strongly emphasized their desire to dance the night away, they did not speed through half-hearted "I Do's", but held a beautiful ceremony which set the tone for the celebration to come. A jovial palette of pink, chocolate brown, and gold fit into Summer's "simple and classic" design with tight posy bouquets of baby pink flowers for bridesmaids; low, be-ribboned centerpieces with pink roses perkily peeking from their vessels; a Martha Stewart inspired cake with beautiful cream fondant wrapped with smart satin ribbon in gold. The rich look of the church perfectly complemented the "done" design of the reception with the Surf and Sand's views adding a wonderful backdrop to the cocktail hour. Of course, dancing ensued! Photography by Skye Blu.

Southern Weddings, Southerrific!

2009-01-04T18:22:00.000-08:00

We are thrilled to see the premiere issue of Southern Weddings Magazine, not only because it has oodles of cuteness inside, but our very own modtastic wedding is shown in one of the articles! Stephanie Williams did a remarkable job on the photos and of course the fabulous fashion modeled by the bridal party doesn't hurt either. What a marvelous way to start the new year!

Kentucky Lovin'

2008-12-29T08:44:00.000-08:00

Our Kentucky bride, Karen, finally tied the knot with her beau, Alex, at the beautiful Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. This was by far, one of the most "wish I was a guest" events we've done! Minimalist, yet feminine, orange florals surrounded the ceremony site as guests sipped on their pre-ceremony cocktails, brass quartet gleefully playing in the background. After the "I do's...", a full Dixieland band took over and added to the excitement during cocktail hour while guests looked for their adorable escort cards tied with grey suede ribbon - so chic! Every wedding planner loves a good favor, so you can imagine how thrilled we were when we had two favors to place out for each guest! Horse shoes, most of which were from Churchill Downs (Hello? Kentucky Derby!), and mini bottles of Maker's Mark Bourbon Whiskey sat pleasantly at each setting. In lieu of a cake cutting, we had a Pie Cutting - ten different freshly baked, oozing-over-the-dish pies. Love it! Stunning photography by Michael + Anna Costa.

School Spirit

2008-12-16T08:24:00.000-08:00

The groom is a teacher and the bride was in law school; doesn't a subtle school motif feel more than appropriate? We think so! We helped this bride and groom craft their wedding from scratch and are so proud of the results! Since class starts bright and early, we went for a morning brunch wedding (so cute, so vintage). School bus yellow and robin's egg blue were the perfect colors for this academically inclined duo and were found everywhere from the daffodils to the bridesmaids dresses. The traditional church ceremony was followed by a decadent brunch with cupcakes galore (very "school!"). Each guest was given a pop quiz about the couple with the required #2 pencil. Escort cards were pinned to Golden Delicious apples and tables were named after the bride and groom's favorite school reads. Each guest table featured a different class picture of either the bride or groom and teaching the group a bit about the environment, butter colored reusable grocery bags were given as favors. We love the smell of new notebooks in the morning! Photos by Studio EMP.

Nicole & Ben - [DPP Video]

2008-12-08T10:09:00.000-08:00

The gals at Digital Princess Productions captured the magic that was Nicole & Ben's wedding in the beautiful video below. The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel acted as the perfect set to this movie of the wedding kind. Notice the gorgeous ballroom dancers and sharp British Army uniforms! The AMAZING decor awed all present and the food and drink were abundant. Multiple dessert stations + Cinderella ice luge + professional dancers = one of our favorite MJSE weddings of the summer.

Timeless Modernity

2008-12-01T18:04:00.000-08:00

This outdoors-loving couple, Christen and Benj, wanted to make sure that their wedding stood the test of time, but also echoed their own personalities. What did Mint Julep Social Events do? Use green, of course! Creating a totally chic look, we encouraged a white and green color palette with hints of brown in the mix. Wood elements were seen in the invitations and table numbers, while moss and bark were carefully incorporated into the floral arrangements and chocolate brown lounge furniture surrounded the dancefloor. The green Cymbidium orchid was the modern calling card in the wedding and popped up on napkin treatments and cake decor. Chandeliers hanging from the ceremony site trees balanced out the "outdoors in" look that we brought to the reception. Very nice! Wonderful photography by Skye Blu Photography.

Texas is for Lovers

2008-11-21T14:27:00.000-08:00

Our Texan beauty married her director beau and a wonderful time was had by all. LOVED this wedding! Sentimental and vintage touches were everywhere. The bride wore her grandmother's earbobs, carried her purse from the early 20th century, and placed her cameo on her bouquet. The ceremony was in a bright and sunny garden, while the reception was in a rustic and charming barn. Our favorite comfort foods (pigs in a blanket, mac 'n cheese, ) were served to guests as they entered the barn and Patsy Cline tunes set the mood. Chicken wire hosted escort cards mixed with cute engagement photos and straw bales were lovingly covered with quilts that belonged to the bride's grandmother (our heart aches at how adorable it was). LA hipster guests played horse shoe and drank cherry lemonade while awaiting the arrival of the bride & groom. A tempting BBQ buffet kept the guests full and happy, but a few boisterous polkas and enthused line dances really started the party. We set out galvanized pails and filled them with the couple's favorite candies complete with ribbon adorned brown bags for guests to store their candy stash as the evening came to an end. The majority of guests were still present to bid the happy couple a proper aideu and cheer them on as they rode off in an old fashioned trolley. Photography by Greg Neil.