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If I had to pick a favorite place in SoCal to work at, it would be Calamigos Equestrian Center in Burbank. Over the past several years, I have gotten to know almost everyone who works there, and they always treat me like family. But the one person whom I always look forward to working with is their main room captain turned coordinator, Steve. So when Steve called me earlier this year and told me his niece would be getting married, I promised him I would take great care of her. I met Ryan and her mom at a restaurant in Anaheim Hills. We hit it off over lunch and started talking about the details of the wedding in September. Since Ryan’s family hails from New York, I knew this wedding would take on a very East Coast vibe: high energy, dancing before the meal, etc. We worked together with Steve, who would be pulling double duty that day, as both coordinator and family member, to ensure that every detail was perfect.

 

When I arrived to Calamigos on Friday, Steve was putting the finishing touches on the most amazingly decorated room I have ever seen in quite some time. Ryan and her entourage arrived shortly afterwards, and in no time, they were lining up to walk down the aisle. After a short, but beautiful ceremony, the guests enjoyed their cocktails and were shortly invited into the ballroom to start the party. Of course, there was dancing and energy before the meal began. Ryan’s sister, Lindsey, brought down the house with her toast with a parody of “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air rap,” which she and I secretly put together ahead of time. The speeches and formalities were heartfelt, and the meal was delicious (as always). However, the main event was the dancing. Everyone from California to New York got out and got down. We even have some video footage of Steve getting in on the dance floor action, and at one point, someone donned a gorilla costume and came out and danced with the bride. Ryan and Kyle partied with their friends until it was finally time to say goodnight. (Or at least until they showed up to the after-party!)

 

When putting together a fantastic wedding, choosing the right vendors not only makes your lives easier but also raises the bar beyond what you might have thought possible. Ryan and Kyle picked out some amazing vendors, and we all worked together to make this wedding absolutely perfect. I often have brides and grooms ask me how they can minimize the stress their wedding planning will bring them, and I always say, “hire the right vendors and you will have nothing to worry about.” So with that in mind…

 

Dave’s recommended vendors for this wedding are:

• Calamigos Equestrian Center – calamigosequestrian.com. Make sure you ask for Steve Rosenbaum as your coordinator!
• Leah Maria Photography – leahmariephotography.com. I worked with Jill Taloa and Megan Kuethen on this wedding and they were fantastic!
• Photobooth by DJ Tempoe Entertainment – djtempoe.com
• Shane Productions Videography – shaneproductions.com
• Unique Floral Designs – uniquefloraldesigns.com