Luminaire Images Blog • by Molly Ann

So the other night I was thinking about my successes (for once, instead of my shortcomings) as a professional. I was thinking back on one truly triumphant moment and how I had felt like a World Cup player who’s just scored a goal: There is a bubble of excitement, a burst of energy, a moment when you leap for joy, realize you’ve just scored, you’ve just won. If you’ve been watching any of the games, you know what I’m talking about, even if you’ve never played—it’s the moment when the scoring player tears at his shirt in relief, there’s a swollen roar from the crowd, and the people in his corner to cheer with him, and dogpile on top of him in triumph.

I’m sure there are volumes of literature out there discussing how soccer is a metaphor for life…you have to set goals in order to score, in order to score you have to take a lot of shots on the goal, and you will miss far more than you make.  I’ve missed a lot of goals, but the ones that I made are so soooo sweet.  And the BIG ones that I made…well, all I can say is that they make the missed shots completely worth it!

Christine and Jess are musicians with the Air Force band, so any official government function you ever see on television with a band or orchestra/quartet performing, look for them!  They live in D.C. but decided to get married on the sunny California coast during an deliciously warm Memorial Day weekend.

Christine’s hair was styled by Sayde Jammal from Toni & Guy, and her makeup was by one of my favorite artists, Jessica Edwards!

Image by Matt

Christine and Jess opted to see each other before the ceremony at their ‘home base’ for the day: The Shorebreak Hotel.

LOVE all the color and light at this hotel!

Christine’s dress is a silk piece from JCrew and her shoes are Aldo “Bradeen”s in gray.

Cutest flower girl ever.

The couple were wed at Christine’s church from her childhood, Korean First Presbyterian Church in Westminster, CA

I don’t know what’s going on, but this kid’s face has mischief written all over it.

Christine and Jess had a brass band for ceremony accompaniment.  Image by Matt.

There was lots of bowing in accordance with Korean tradition

Directly following the ceremony there was a traditional Korean ceremony. (R) Image by Matt

I think Christine’s mother might be a teensy, tiny bit excited about this wedding?

LOVE this image by Matt!

Image by Matt

Following the wedding there was an after-party at one of my favorite restaurants, Twenty-Five Degrees.

Party all night, ya’ll!

Sneak peek of Christine & Jess’s Memorial Day weekend wedding!  More to come.

Tuesday with the Pros is an ongoing blog series featuring experts in the wedding and event industry. Today’s authority is Brad Levine, event producer and owner of B. Levine Productions.

LI: What is the difference between an event producer and an event planner?
Brad: I believe many of the tasks are actually the same, however I think the title “producer” is more often assigned to someone who is in charge of a lot of the production aspects of an event and less of the design.  For example, most event planners are seen as figureheads who oversee the management of timelines and local independent suppliers and designers, like photographers, stationary, flowers, etc.  A producer is more involved in the logistics of the overall production, so flowers, linens, entertainment etc is brought in under the production company instead of independently hired by the client, and there is a better handle on audio, video, and other production levels so the event comes together more “as one” instead of piecing it together bit by bit.

LI: How would you describe your business?
Brad: B. Levine Productions is production design and logistics for corporate, entertainment, and social events.

LI: What sets your company apart from other production businesses in the industry?
Brad: I like to take a “boutique company” approach and stay on the smaller side of things so I can keep the focus on my clients and their details instead of taking on huge jobs and ignoring other, more intimate jobs.  I work within my limits and take special care not to drop the ball on anything.

LI: How did you get your start as an event producer?
Brad: I got my start in restaurants, working my way up from bussing tables to restaurant management to special event catering management in New York City. In fact, at one point I was offered a job as a catering manager at the Ritz Carlton in Battery Park City.  Unfortunately, the job was offered to me on 9/10/01, and by the following day—obviously—the job no longer existed for the time being.  So I went back to school and worked in banquet halls until a professor of mine introduced me to event design and I moved out to Los Angeles with his company.  After about six years with An Original Occasion, I launched my own production company and here I am today!

LI: What are some of your favorite things about what you do?
Brad: I truly enjoy the service industry.  Even back when I was waiting tables, I always had a blast.  I also really love the production element—the technical aspects, the pressure, the unity when you bring everyone together…all of it, an event to me can be like a living thing!

For more about Brad and B. Levine Productions, check out:
The B. Levine Productions official site