rock n' willow events

Colorful Same-Sex Summer Wedding in Long Beach

Tawny and Angelina Esquivel’s Colorful Same-Sex Summer Wedding at Recreation Park Golf Course 18 - Long Beach, California

May 21, 2016

same sex wedding in Long Beach

Tawny and Angelina’s wedding literally was the Best Day Ever! We tell just about every client all the positive steps in the right direction these two ladies took to ensure they would have a seamless day. From awesome vendors to understanding the need for punctuality, including fun but also touching moments, and for exuding so much love, these are the reasons they were able to pull off a memorable wedding.

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Tawny and Angelina decided to get ready for their big day in two separate areas which led to such a sweet first look moment. Tawny got ready surrounded by her wedding party while Angelina had not only her wedding party but her mom and sister too.

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A guest appearance by Chewbacca

A guest appearance by Chewbacca


Tawny and Angelina planned a first look ahead of time and were set to arrive at the venue with enough time to celebrate this special moment. To our surprise they arrived even earlier than expected which allowed even more time for pre wedding pictures. We can not stop gushing over how stinking cute their first look was!

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Their wedding party shared the same spunk and humor the brides did which made for hilarious wedding party photos. The bright summer colors paired with those cool yellow parasols were perfect additions for the pictures.

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With the extra time Tawny and Angelina accrued by arriving early they were able to take more candid pictures as they walked from one area of the venue to the other. Heck yeah!

not your average wedding photos
not your average wedding photo
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not your average wedding photo shot
lesbian wedding
lesbian weddings

For the ceremony the couple created a multipurpose program that served as informational and interactive. One side listed the names of the wedding party while the flip side had a cross word puzzle! And to top it off it also served as a shield from the sun for guests. Tawny and Angelina, along with members of their wedding party, created a custom paper pinwheel ceremony arch to attach to the gazebo at Recreation Park Golf Course 18. They had a sand unity ceremony and passionate first kiss!

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Cocktail hour consisted of an alternative guest sign in. Instead of having the typical book for guests to fill out Tawny and Angelina built a bench themselves, had guests sign their names and leave messages, then glazed it and have it to enjoy all year long at their house. Instead of favors guests got to enjoy a caricature artist, Joseph Yakovetic, capture their animated self portraits.

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Tawny and Angelina wowed their guests with a grand ballroom, upgraded floor length linen, and chivari chairs. In keeping with their circular theme they had paper lanterns for centerpieces and as well as various circle decor throughout the room.

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This duo had an exhilarating grand entrance into an epic choreographed first dance!

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Cheers to the couple on a wonderful performance!

Cheers to the couple on a wonderful performance!


After all that fun it was time for some seriousness. Father-Daughter dances are always such an emotional moment. We love to see which songs were chosen and like to bet on how many seconds in will the dads make it before crying. But Angelina and her father Anthony win the award for most tears shed during a Father-Daughter dance! Angelina selected Luther Vandross’ song “Dance with my Father Again” since Anthony was wheelchair bound. He was determined to stand up and actually dance with his daughter, which with the help of his wife and other daughter, he made possible.

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father daughter dance with emotion

Did we mention this was one of our favorite weddings? Tawny and Angelina had the most thought out timeline that even had sunset photos scheduled in! While guests enjoyed dinner the couple got to sneak away for some awesome shots out on the private patio.

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We all know that cake cutting has become a staple at weddings but not for all of our clients. Some opt out for dessert bars instead or even pie. These ladies went with Italian ice cream from Rita’s Italian Ice. Instead of their first slice of cake as a married couple they enjoyed their first bite of ice cream.

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What a perfect way to end a perfect wedding. Choosing a sparkler exit was perfect for these two ladies who just radiate any space!

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best lesbian wedding in Long Beach

The Esquivels have been married for almost three years, have bought a home, and we are so excited to announce this: they are set to be parents in October of 2019!! We have planned and coordinated close to 90 weddings now and their wedding ranks Top 5, it may even be in the top position! Attention to detail is key but so is listening to the advice your coordinator or planner suggests. We wish Tawny and Angelina nothing but continued happiness and success in the future.


Dream Team:

Coordinator: Rock n’ Willow Events \\ Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18 \\ Photography: Sergey Green \\ Videography: EAV Weddings \\ DJ: DJ Award \\ Ice Cream: Rita’s Italian ice \\ Caricature: Joseph Yakovetic \\ Rentals: Striking Elegance \\ Linen: Dream Decor \\ Dresses: Strut Bridal

Punk Rock & Baseball Influenced Wedding

Holiday + Ruben’s Punk Rock & Baseball Influenced Spring Wedding in Long Beach at Recreation Park Golf Course 18

March 12, 2016

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Holiday (yes, that really is her name!) and Ruben came to us about six months prior to their wedding with mostly everything planned. They just had their finishing touches left on their to-do list. As we sat down and had our initial consultation with them, we realized they were happy to be almost at the finished line with the planning but we could sense something was missing. You know that spark you are supposed to get in your eyes when you talk about your wedding? Yeah, that was missing!

We asked, well what made you two fall in love? What interests did you both have that led to dating? When the wedding is all done and you go back to normal weekends, what do you plan on doing? And that is when it hit them! They were planning a wedding keeping in mind what they thought their families and friends wanted and not what they wanted.


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Holiday and Ruben thought about it and they mentioned they love going to punk rock shows and baseball games and it was all uphill from there! Our creative juices started flowing and we got to thinking what do we love when we go to punk shows. Handmade made flyers, custom pins, cool artwork. The same thought process went into pulling ideas from baseball games. A fly ball, catchers mitt, jerseys, rally towels.

The couple decided to make flyer type invitations, custom pins as favors, and instead of table numbers they put the names of their favorite albums to show off their punk influences. To highlight the baseball aspect they got an Angels jersey with their last name on the back for guests to sign and Ruben got some really cool cuff links. Now they were all ready to get the show on the road!


Holiday got to get ready in the upstairs bridal suite at Recreation Park Golf Course 18, and let me tell you, it is fit for a queen!

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Ruben didn’t do too bad himself and cleaned up very well. A really touching moment was when Holiday wrote her groom-to-be a heart felt letter and Ruben teared up while reading it! Awww!

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As it became time for the ceremony to begin all the vendors and guests arriving could not help but realize what a beautiful Spring day it was. The colors Holiday and Ruben chose really complimented the season too.

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You can see Silvia and my hand poking out from behind the bush! Silvia is laying out the veil and I am trying to crack a smile out of the Bride.

You can see Silvia and my hand poking out from behind the bush! Silvia is laying out the veil and I am trying to crack a smile out of the Bride.

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It is easy to see why a lot of Angelinos choose Spring as the season for their wedding. The couple had their portrait session done with a gorgeous sunset in the background.

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Their wedding party was pretty hilarious! What started off as a nice posed photo session quickly turned into a high energy, off the ground (literally) experience!

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For Cocktail Hour the couple had simple vases with photos from their childhood and from various moments in their relationship over the years.

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cocktail hour
cocktail hour

Ruben got to take over the seating chart project and executed it beyond belief! He took inspiration from our first conversation when we mentioned to them to find ways to bring out their interests through their wedding. Instead of plain table numbers, he named each table after his favorite rock albums saving his favorite for the Sweetheart Table of course. Paying homage to their hometown of Long Beach, Ruben had the Queen Mary in the back of the chart. He even had a great idea to have the actual table numbers be mini records! How cool!

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table numbers

As the reception was under way Holiday and Ruben started off with their grand entrance and moved into their first dance and a couple of toasts.

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toast

After dinner Holiday participated in the Father-Daughter dance while Ruben had the opportunity to dance with his Mother.

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father daughter dance
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mother son dance
mother son dance
They paid tribute to a family member who had passed

They paid tribute to a family member who had passed


Holiday’s bouquet toss proved to be super exciting!

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Before heading on the dance floor they cut and served their first slice of cake as a married couple.

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Holiday’s Mother had the extreme honor of putting together the candy table and it was definitely a hit with a the guests!

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candy table
candy table
sweet table

The couple welcomed guests on to the dance floor with the traditional Money Dance in which some of the guests totally had a blast participating in.

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money dance
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money dance

happily ever after

Three years later Holiday + Ruben have moved in to their own place, adopted a dog named Otto, and Ruben has started his own brewing company Burning Bridge Brewing! We are always so proud of each and every accomplishment our couples accumulate and we know the future is bright for these two right here! Congrats Mr and Mrs Leon and Happy Anniversary!!


The dream team

Coordinator: Rock n’ Willow Events // Photography: LA Digital Photo // Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18 // DJ: DJ Tempoe // Flowers: Christina’s Flowers // Cake: Rossmoor Bakery


Quirky Shenanigans Wedding - Featured on Offbeat Bride

Anna + Kliment’s Quirky Shenanigans Wedding at Recreation Park Golf Course 18 in Long Beach August 30, 2015

Featured on Offbeat Bride

fairytaleweddingbytaylormadephotography

Anna was referred to us by Katie Lowder, the former venue director at Recreation Park Golf Course 18 in Long Beach, California. She decided to reach out to us a barely a month prior to her big day!! She had a clear vision for her wedding and had already titled it “quirky shenanigans”. All she needed was for someone to come in and clean up her vision. She wanted to combine all of her childhood interests mixed with her eccentric personality and eye for fashion to pull off one of the most epic weddings we have been a part of to date!

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uniqueweddinginvitation

Anna, a former beauty queen, was set to marry Kliment and wanted to incorporate his Bulgarian traditions on top of all her ideas she already had in place. That is where we stepped in. Balancing all the ideas and executing them seamlessly. We organized her thoughts of a fairytale ceremony, quirky reception and a nod to Bulgaria all around. A prime example of this is when Anna ordered table numbers off Etsy in Bulgarian and “cheers” laser cut signs.

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Anna got ready on the newly remodeled bridal suite at the venue. The lights and mirrors worked wonders and enhanced her natural beauty!

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Downstairs Kliment got ready and relaxed on the patio as we prepared for the start of the wedding.

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Then as an array of Beatles songs started to play, one of the most magical ceremonies was underway. When the words “ Here comes the sun” were sang Kliment looked up and saw Anna walking towards him as if it was an angel .

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Their wedding ceremony was truly magical and the first time I cried during the vows! Anna said something that has stuck with me over the years. She said “You get me. You get all of me.” They are truly soulmates!!

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But first, let me take a selfie!

But first, let me take a selfie!

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Instead of having one item being thrown at the couple as they walked back up the aisle, Anna prepared an assortment of fun things to blow, throw, shake, and wave.

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Anna and Kliment were such a humorous couple that we knew their couples portraits would be hilarious!

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couplesportraits

As you can see, they were a hoot!

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There was no detail left out, even when it came to the cocktail hour. There was a gold globe for the guests to sign, gumboil machines, a quote from The Princess Bride, and a pinwheel seating chart.

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In keeping with the Bulgarian traditions Kliment’s Mother was a part of the bread ritual. She broke off a piece of bread that has salt on it and gives it to the Bride and Groom to symbolize when life is “salty” and does the same with a piece of bread that has sugar on it symbolize the “sweetness” in life. It is also a metaphor for when there are going to be good and bad times the couple will face in their marriage.

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Then the Bride proceeds in one of the best traditions we have ever seen at a wedding, the water pot! This water pot represents two things: 1) wishing “smooth sailing” for the couple in their marriage and 2) the sex of their first born!!

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The red flower represents if their future child will be a girl and the white flower represents if it will be a boy

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Everyone was pleased to find out that Baby Gounev would hopefully one day be a BOY!


Before continuing with the reception celebrations we have to share more of Anna’s creative and fun decor! Tons of signage, a princess card box, a gold wishing tree, sunflower seed favors, and glow sticks. Who doesn’t love to light up the night!

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The couple took dance classes and choreographed their first dance

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Of course Kliment had to have with their first dance!


A little dress change for Anna and then it was on to cake cutting!

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Cake cutter and server by Kate Spade

Cake cutter and server by Kate Spade

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The couple tried to reenact this pose to look like their bobble heads


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cake cutting
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Anna surprised Kliment with a tres leches grooms cake but the surprise was on her when the cake accidentally said “Congrats MRS Gounev” instead of MR!!


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Bouquet toss winner


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Garter toss winner


After all the festivities were over it was time to dance!

Traditional Bulgarian folklore dance called the Horo

Traditional Bulgarian folklore dance called the Horo

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Guests got to take a break from dancing and enjoy a tasty treat from Urban Espresso


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Not a single guest was sitting down at the end of the night, partly because of the amazing DJ Trego and partly because Anna and Kliment had such a great group of family and friends!


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It has been 3 and 1/2 years since the Gounev wedding and we are so happy to report that Anna and Kliment welcomed a baby boy Hemingway Hunnicutt in 2017. Looks like their prediction on this day when Anna kicked the water pot and out flew the white carnation came true after all!


The Dream Team:

Coordination: Rock n’ Willow Events // Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18 // Photographer: Taylored Photo Memories // DJ: DJ Trego, Vox DJ’s // Cake: Rossmoor Pastries // Cake cutter & server: Kate Spade // Florist: Good Flower Shop // Linen: Dream Decor & Hobby Lobby // Coffee: Urban Espresso // Wedding Dress: Marchesa // All signs and decor: Etsy

Featured on Offbeat Bride —> www.offbeatbride.com

Vintage D.I.Y. Wedding in Southern California

Annie + Israel Navarro's Vintage D.I.Y. Wedding at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and El Dorado Park Golf Course 08.15.2015


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Before the blush pink and succulent trend started to be number one on Pinterest there was Annie and Israel Navarro and their futuristic wedding ideas! Their wedding took place on the hottest day of the summer during a heat wave at St Margaret Mary Alacoque Church in Lomita, Ca with the reception at El Dorado Park Golf Course in Long Beach, Ca.


Annie opted out of getting ready at the venue or hotel. Instead she got ready in the comfort of her home surrounded by her Mother and Sisters. That made the process much more small and intimate.

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Once Annie was ready she was off to the church!

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Annie and Israel stayed true to their religious routes and had a gorgeous Catholic church ceremony in the heart of the South Bay! 

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At St Margaret Mary's there was a perfect stone backdrop to snap a few pictures on the way to the reception venue. 

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While the ceremony was underway we were at the reception venue across town. As the guests traveled from Lomita to Long Beach we were setting up all the D.I.Y. aspects Annie and her family created. Israel's Mom hand made each and every chair bow, and did we mention there was about 240 guests? Wow! 

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Annie was ahead of her time with her wedding vision. Dressing the tables in blush linen from Stephanie’s Linens was not the only future trend she was setting. She also inluded succulents as favors and a ton of vintage decor.

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Guests were welcomed into the cocktail hour with a live performance by the Downbeat LA group AMFM and accompanied by DJ Rage for the reception.  Then it was time for their epic grand entrance into the first dance.

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Dinner was catered by the on site restaureant at the venue but their gorgeous wedding cake was provided by Great Dane Bakery. Annie surprised her new husband with a groom's cake from Sophie's Sweet Shop with his favorite football team, USC. The couple had a recent dog pass away which they paid tribute to on their cake with a dog figurine by Sophie's Sweet Shop too. 

Dog figurine by Sophie's Sweet Shop

Dog figurine by Sophie's Sweet Shop

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After cake and dinner was digested it was time to start the festivities! The couple started with dancing with parents then the bouquet toss and a very unique garter toss. The bride did not feel comfortable with the traditional garter toss so they warpped the garter around a football and the groom tossed it to his eligible bachelors. It turned out to be a really fun idea we still recommend to all our couples! 

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The cultural money dance typically starts off the dancing portion in the Hispanic community. With over 200 Latinos ready to party they were eager to give the Couple money with wishes for their prosperity. 

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Adding more D.I.Y. elements, Annie used props form her bridal shower and made her own Photo Booth area.

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We love how their photographer Erica Adams snuck the couple away from the reception to capture some sunset photos.

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It’s been three years since Annie and Israel’s special day and they have since welcomed the birth of their daughter Jayla. The Navarro wedding will always hold a special place in our heart not only because of all the firsts we experienced, but because of the warmth both sides of the family expressed towards us. Annie even assisted Rock n’ Willow Events for a short time prior to her pregnancy! We miss you dearly and wish you and Israel nothing but the best!!


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Vendor Team: // Coordination: Rock n’ Willow Events // Venue: Ceremony- St Margaret Mary Alacoque Catholic Church + Reception: El Dorado Park Golf Course // Photographer: Erica Adams Photography // Videographer: Wedding Video Pro // DJ: DJ Rage // Band: Downbeat LA // Linen: Stephanie’s Linen // Furniture: Striking Elegance // Cake: Great Dane Baking Co // Groom’s Cake: Sophie’s Sweet Shop // Flowers: Lily’s Flowers DTLA

Sleek & Sophisticated Golf Course Wedding

Nancy and Jorge Chavarria's Sleek & Sophisticated Wedding at Recreation Park Golf Course 18 in Long Beach, California 05.24.2015


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Nancy and Jorge's wedding was our first full on glam wedding and it was definitely magical! Nancy was one of the first weddings at the venue that got to use the newly remodelled bridal suite which made for excellent getting ready pictures.

While Jorge used the old bridal suite that was turned into the groom room and the patio area for detailed shots


While Nancy and Jorge were getting ready, we were busy setting up their decor. We love how the couple showcased their wedding colors but did not do it in an overpowering kind of way. They definetly kept with their Sleek & Sophisticated theme!

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When it came time for the ceremony to start Recreation Park Golf Course's private gazebo and garden served as the perfect backdrop on a gorgeous Spring day.

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As they day moved along, their photographer from DJ Bros was able to capture some great as well as funny group pictures.

The couple with their Officiant, Allan Katz from Great Officiants

The couple with their Officiant, Allan Katz from Great Officiants

This golfer was kind enough to let the couple have a funny moment!

This golfer was kind enough to let the couple have a funny moment!


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As the reception started the DJ portion of DJ Bros carried the night away from the Grand Entrance, to First Dance and Cake Cutting not leaving out the garter and bouquet toss!

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Catering is on site at Recreation Park Golf Course 18

Catering is on site at Recreation Park Golf Course 18


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Jorge and Nancy with their coordinators Angela and Silvia from Rock n' Willow Events

Jorge and Nancy with their coordinators Angela and Silvia from Rock n' Willow Events

Since their wedding day the couple has added a brother to their daughter and we wish this growing family the best! 


Coordination: Rock n' Willow Events || Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18 || Photography & DJ: DJ Bros || Officiant: Great Officiants || Rentals: Striking Elegance || Linen: Dream Decor || Florals: Christina's Flowers || Cake: Great Dane Bakery

 

FEATURED on Bespoke Bride!

Hip hip, Hooray! Our Punk Rock inspired styled shoot tittled "Love is not Dead" was featured on Bespoke Bride!!

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What an honor it is to have been featured by Bespoke Bride, a blog from the UK that started in 2011 as a personal way to journal quirky and creative wedding photography, decor, and DIY's. The colorful duo behind the blog focus on creating a blog that will inspire couples to design a wedding that is creative, crafty, and full of character. Our styled shoot definetly screams color and tons of character!!

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Jade Elora from Jade Elora Photography and Angela Mortez from Rock n' Willow Events (tee-hee, that's ME!) came up with the idea of a bright, colorful, punk rock inspired styled shoot concept that was quickly dubbed "Love is not Dead" - a play on the slogan "Punk is not Dead". Along with Alexis Farris from Alexis Designs Things we came up with fictional character names for our Bride and Groom. Kim and Thurston were a real life married couple from the 1984 punk band Sonic Youth! Alexis totally ROCKED the stationary department and Jade flatlay slayed!!


We started off the shoot with a couple of intimate shots of our Bride and Make-up artist, oh AND hair stylist Autumn Skibinski and her real life boyfriend and model Aaron Garrett. 

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And then moved outside to The York Manor's outside ceremony or cocktail hour option and of course their iconic red doors!


We started adding florals from Nadia Guzman at The Flower Shop and showcasing our mock table with tons of goodies from DaviD at La Pinata Party Rentals. Jade and her crafty husband made the custom table number "one" that matched Alexis designs and typograhy so well! All together with that killer table runner made by our assistant (shout out to Pearl Bash!) we think our visions really came to life!

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Vincent and Iveth from LA Speakeasy made sure everyone at the shoot were properly hydrated with their yummy and so so fresh cocktails. They make their own mixers and are so innovative with their ingridiants. Plus, these two are so warm and approachable and will leave your guests with a great laSting impression!

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Nicole from Nicole Bakes Cakes added the sweetest cake that contributed to the overall theme perfectly. Our couple loved pretending it was their actual wedding day with this grafiti inspired design.

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Jade had some left over temporary tattooes that she ended up not using at her wedding so we decided to throw those into the shoot by having a DIytattoo station! Our Groom got to place one on his new Bride and it was such a fun moment!

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Let's not forget to mention the generous venue that allowed us to host our styled shoot. The York Manor is a gem located in Highland Park (Los Angeles, California). Its white walls, large natural light windows, awesome stage are all wonderful qualities of this venue but we were particuraly excited for their new speakeasy underneath the venue. It is perfect to host an after party there!

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Highland Park did not disappoint with its eclecticness. Check out these fun graffiti walls around the neighborhood!


On behalf of myself and my team of awesome vendors that turned up and rocked out, we would like to thank Jess and Emily from Bespoke Bride again for the amazing oportunity to featured on your blog! 

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Check out the blog post here at Bespoke Bride!


Planning & Coordination: Rock n' Willow Events || Photography: Jade Elora Photography || Venue: The York Manor || Rentals: La Pinata Party Rentals || Stationary: Alexis Designs Things || Florals: The Flower Shop || Cake: Nicole Bakes Cakes || Cocktails: LA Speakeasy || Hair/Make-up/Bride: Autumn Skibinski || Groom: Aaron Garrett

 

Beach Themed Same Sex Wedding

Mayra + Angelica's romantic beach themed same sex wedding in the South Bay - with Ceremony at Los Verdes Golf Course in Palos Verdes California and Reception at Carson Civic Center in Carson, California. 10.25.2014

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Mayra and Angelica got engaged on their 9th anniversary as a couple and knew right away they were going to set their wedding date for their 10th anniversary. What a better gift to receive than a shiny ring! After much planning and budgeting they decided to have a split location wedding with the ceremony and reception in two different locations. They opted for the Los Verdes Golf Course site in Palos Verdes, California for their ceremony and the Carson Civic Center in their hometown of Carson, California for the reception.

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The beautiful ocean view from Los Verdes Golf course complimented the touches of their beach theme and tiffany blue color scheme very well. along with a bright, sunny October day the ceremony went off without a glitch!

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The couple chose not to see eachother prior to their ceremony which made for such an exciting first look. they actually return back to their ceremony site each year on their anniversary and recreate this photo below --->

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Look at all the cuteness!

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One of our favorite parts of the ceremony was when the photographers asked all the guests to form a giant heart, it turned out perfect!!

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As the guests traveled to the reception location we rushed over to help Choura Events get ready for cocktail hour.

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Mayra and Angelica spent a lot of time paying attention to detail and putting together their decor elements and it showed. Just look at all!

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They were welcomed in to the reception as the new MRS + MRS and definetly got the party started with the help of their DJ Vince West

After dinner it was off to do the traditional wedding things: First dance, Bouquet toss, Garter toss, and Cake cutting!

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Just look at this yumminess from Torrance Bakery! Oh and we surprised the couple with a custom memory bottle made by yours truly!! :)

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This wedding was a long and winding road to get to. Mayra + Angelica had to face many battles over their ten years together. those hurdles made their wedding day that much more special. They are coming up on their four year anniversary and have since welcomed a new pup to their family, Roxie Rose!

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Mayra + Angelica Sabatin with Angela and Silvia from Rock n’ Willow Events

Mayra + Angelica Sabatin with Angela and Silvia from Rock n’ Willow Events

Vendor Team- Coordination: Rock n' Willow Events Photographer: Sachiko Studio Ceremony: Los Verdes Golf Course Reception: Carson Civic Center Catering: Choura Events Flowers + Linen: Avalon Flowers DJ: DJ Vince West Cake: Torrance Bakery Videography: Joey Dones

Vintage Summer Garden Wedding in the Middle of Long Beach

Briana and Riley's Vintage Summer Wedding in the Middle of Long Beach at Recreation Park Golf Course 18, 07.11.2014

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Briana and Riley Peck came to us as a refferal (don't you just love when that happens!) and we had about eight months to put the entire wedding together. They were in search of a garden wedding venue local to them in the South Bay. After touring several properties we found a gem of a venue located in Long Beach called Recreation Park Golf Course 18.


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This venue provided their ceremony space, cocktail hour, and reception ballroom while also including on site catering and bartending. That is not all! Most golf courses may include tables, banquet or garden chairs, and house linen. What a steal!!



When Briana and Riley came to us and described how they envisioned their wedding day they expressed how they wanted the perfect garden wedding but with hints of their English and Irish culture and of course incorporating aspects of their nerdiness! They had an English Knot ordered via Etsy straight from England, a sixpence inside the bride's shoe, Harry Potter cufflinks, and a Dr. Who garter belt.



Briana's brother-in-law made a custom wood sign in shadow box entirely from scratch, even going to a nearby glass manufacturer to get the glass part cut and fit to shape. These can be seen all over Pinterest these days and even in some craft stores but back in 2014 this was ahead of its time!


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Looking back, Briana and Riley had one of my most favorite first dance 'til this day. They selected "How Long Will I Love You" by Ellie Goulding. 


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Since this warm sunny day the couple has welcomed the birth of their son, Atticus, who just celebrated his second birthday! Fun fact, the grooms Uncle was actor Gregory Peck from the motion picture To Kill A Mockingbird. Briana and Riley selected their sons name as a way to pay homage to the character he played in the movie, Atticus Finch.


Planning + Coordination: Rock n' Willow Events, Venue: Recreation Park Golf Course 18, Photography: Wedding 64, Flowers: Romero's Orchids, Cake: Torrance Bakery, Dress: David's Bridal

Lemons and Lace Wedding in Paramount

Sami and Alex's Lemons and Lace Wedding at Progress Park West in Paramount, California 06.14.2014

Let's take a trip down memory lane shall we? With this being our second blog post we have a lot of catching up to do! We thought why not start from the beginning and highlight some of weddings along the way -


If you did not already know, Rock n' Willow Events started in May 2013 as Different Events. Our first year was full of promoting our butts off!! We were planning and coordinating quinceaneras, baby showers and children birthday parties left and right just trying to get our name out there. Before we knew it we booked our first weddings!! So here is where we begin our journey back in time to where it all started, to where we started!

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Our first weddings were partial day of coordination for Brittney + Ben Huang and Jose + Tasha Cortez. We did not know what we were getting ourselves into and did not even offer full day of coordination or planning yet. Brittney and Ben had the catering staff from Sea Empress to help and Jose and Tasha had an intimate wedding at the Albertons Chapel so we definetly had training wheels on in the beginning. But that all changed when we booked our first back to back full planning clients. Thanks for trusting us and putting your whole wedding in our newbee hands by the way!


Samantha + Alex Mendez were married at Progress Park West in Paramount, California as a nod to Samantha's Grandfather who was previously Mayor of Paramount. They came to us with a date and venue and we helped secure the rest of their wedding details. This included making our own lemonade stand inspired dessert table. We came up with a Lemon & Lace theme based off their vision for their big day. Centerpieces were filled with limes and the dessert table had lemon flavored treats. This was definetly our big welcome to the wedding world when we were faced with our first wedding emergencies. Beverages that were nowhere to be found leading to the caterer scrambling to purchase last minute drinks and one the bridesmaids fainting during the group photo session, the slideshow wouldn't play, oh and a guest spilled red wine on the carpet, whoa!

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We could have quit right then and there and walked away from event planning but no! We went back home that night and let it all sink in and remembered that feeling when the couple thanked us in front of all their guests, or when the guests praised us for a job well done. My best friend was a guest (yea, no pressure at all right) and she was amazed at our ability to coordinate the wedding so smoothly that she did not even notice all the hiccups that occured that day!


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Well there you have it, our first wedding and the trials and tribulations we endured and learned from. Always remember where you started and humble yourself, learn from mistakes, and continue to grow! There are highs and lows to any event and we are so grateful for the learning experiences we were given. The couple has since welcomed the birth of their first son, Zander, in January 2017.


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Cake by King’s Hawaiian Bakery in Torrance, California

Cake by King’s Hawaiian Bakery in Torrance, California


Planning + Coordination: Rock n' Willow Events / Photography: B. Rodriguez Photography / Cake: King's Hawaiian Bakery / Flowers: Romero's Orchids


Welcome to Rock n' Willow Events!

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Photos by Rachel Madrigal Photography

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to our brand spankin new website! It has definetly been a labor of love trying to to put together a complete new rebrand this past year but we did it!  Notice the name change? That's right, we were formally known as Different Events for the past four years but as a way to highlight our true essence we are now Rock n' Willow Events - complete with a new logo, web design, and color concept.

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"Rock"

Angela is the "Rock" since it shows her love for Rock n' Roll and all things dark and wicked! 

A huge shout out to Nicole Orona from Nicole Danielle Design who underwent the challenge of trying to understand our vision and constant revisions but we are so pleased with the outcome!

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"Willow"

Silvia is the "Willow" because it represents her love of nature and whimsical elements

This is also our first ever blog post, say whaaatttt!!! I know, I know, how could we not have come around to blogging sooner?! Any recommendations for us? (be kind puhleease!)

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We hope you enjoy our new look and stay tuned for what we have up our sleeves!