larry livingston reception

It was a perfect evening for an outdoor reception to celebrate Larry Livingston's 25 years at the USC Thornton School of Music. I'll admit, rain is my worst enemy as an event planner, and the downpour the previous weekend had me praying for clear skies.  Thankfully, there was nothing to worry about as the ninety-degree day cooled off to a comfortable temperature for everyone.

The beautiful cafe lights strung from the Moreton Fig tree created a classy ambiance for the reception.  Simple floating rose centerpieces and votives added an elegant touch.  Moreton Fig restaurant served a delicious assortment of tray-passed appetizers -- my personal favorite was the wild mushroom arrancini with a roasted tomato fondue. The staff were so helpful in setting up, so they made my job easier! Part of putting on a successful event is having an awesome team (it's far from a one-woman show).

The event concluded with a few remarks from Larry Livingston and of course the evening wouldn't be complete without cake (a massive strawberry shortcake cake from Porto's Bakery).  Special thanks to my boyfriend for graciously helping me carry that (extremely heavy and large) cake safely from my car to the highest shelf in Moreton Fig's refrigerator.

I'm going to be honest -- I wish the event lasted a little longer (despite working a 13.5 hour day -- yes, I'm serious). It seemed like the event ended just as quickly as it began, guests only enjoying a reception I started planning a month and a half ago, and setting up on the day-of at 1 p.m.  It'd be easy for me to feel like all my efforts were wasted, or not fully appreciated, but I have to remind myself that my job is not just about the results or what I've accomplished, but also about the journey, and the things I learned in the process. It's easy to become so focused on the outcome and the goal that I miss the little blessings along the way. I love the opportunity to work with new vendors and develop new relationships, as well as the chance to serve a different group of people.

Yes, it's a little insane that the length of the event was just a fraction of time it took to actually make the event happen, but it was just a reminder that although to the guests the outcome is all that matters, to me there's so much more to my job that I can find joy and purpose in.

Below are some detail shots of the event! Thanks for looking!

jacqueline + jake

Hello, readers. I apologize for my extremely long absence from this blog, but I'm back and will be posting more weddings and events in the coming months!  First up is a beautiful wedding photographed by my friend, Lauren Hom of Hom Photography.  Jacqueline is a fellow Trojan alum so I'm excited to share this with you! 

Lauren and her brother began doing photography together less than a year ago -- since last spring. However, it is a passion that has run through the family. They have one of their grandfather's old cameras and pictures he took during WWII. He was intrigued by it his whole life, even in his last days! Her dad actually pursued photography in his college studies, and so they both grew up learning the basics because of it. Thankfully, their dad kept a lot of his stuff, which they are able to use even today -- so cool!

It's amazing how much emotion you can capture in each picture, and Lauren and Bryan definitely showcased how great they are at what they do with each and every picture from this wedding.  My favorite is the joy that you feel as Jacqueline and Jake and recessing down the aisle.  Such a great picture! Be sure to check out their website here!