Spring Wedding Inspiration

Spring may be “wedding season,” but that doesn’t mean your wedding can’t be unique. Spring weddings are absolutely beautiful. Think soft pastels, blooming buds outside and breezy weather that hits the spot after being stuck inside for winter. Spring is great for outdoor weddings, a variety of flowers are in season and the outdoors will offer natural inspiration for your wedding.

The Season
Spring is understandably one of the most popular seasons to get married in. The weather is not too hot and not too cold, there’s an array of delightful flowers in bloom and fantastic yummy seasonal food to include in your menu. What Spring does also bring is changeable weather. It is important for you to be prepared. Arrange that both the head bridesmaid and the best man have any weather eventuality covered to get you to the wedding looking fresh and dry. It is also important to keep your guests in the know about the weather leading up to the ‘big day’. Keep an eye on the forecast and contact your guests with information as soon as you have it.

The Cake
Well if there’s any season to indulge then Spring is it! For many Spring is the time of Easter celebration after a long Lent fast, so a spring wedding cake must be a real treat on the senses. The overall look could match your colour scheme or you could just choose bright spring coloured icing. Alternatively, choose a beautifully patterned white fondant and make it come alive with cascading fresh flowers; delicious in every sense of the word. When it comes to taste you might want a very naughty-but-nice chocolate sponge filled with fresh strawberry puree filling. Otherwise choose a lighter lemon cake with blackberry infused cream filling.

The Food
There’s so much fantastic fresh food to include on your wedding menu so be inspired by your tastes and come up with a mouthwatering combination. Why not serve perfectly seasoned lamb with garden vegetables and opt for a traditional yet sophisticated take on jelly and ice cream. You’ll want to keep everyone refreshed and what better way than to offer a selection of cocktails. Why not start the celebrations with traditional champagne with fresh strawberries or light gin punch garnished with mint. Later in the evening you could offer a choice of cocktails that compliment your food.

Flowers
Spring is awash with colorful flowers. Take your pick from Daffodils, Hyacinths, Lilacs, Narcissi, Peonies, Stargazer Lillies, Sweet peas, and Tulips. If you’re looking for imaginative table arrangement ask your florist about including your favorite springtime fruits for an interesting twist to your day.

The Dress
Champagne color dresses are popular for Spring weddings as well as vintage dresses from a bygone era.Why not see what your mother or grandmother has saved in her wardrobe. When putting together your look consider a bolero or chiffon stole in case the weather turns cold. Add Spring color to your look by choosing bright bridesmaid dresses.

Hilton Universal is the perfect location for all your Spring wedding dreams. Our friendly and experienced Catering staff will walk you through every step of your big day. Let us help you make your dream wedding a reality and contact us today!

Winter Wonderland Weddings

Let the glistening of snow and the magic of the season inspire your dream wedding. Winter weddings are elegant with deep hues of jewel toned colors.   So walk into your very own winter wonderland with these winter wedding inspired ideas.

The Colors

Once upon a time, the wonderland palette was pretty simple with white and ice blue. These days,  sophisticated brides chose classic jewel tones like, burgundy, royal blue, hunter green and royal purple.  The appeal of these rich colors against the background of crisp white just can’t be overstated. Just be sure to stay true to the wonderland feel with lots of sparkle.

The Dress

These is a vast choice of winter bridal gowns to make your winter wedding magical. Embrace the dramatic, be simple or go as over the top as you wish – from fur to silver sparkles, the sky is the limit.

The Flowers

The season’s all-withe bouquet is smashing here (adding some sparkle with bouquet picks). Popular blooms such crisp white tulips, orchids, and hydrangeas are beautiful choices for your bouquet. Jewel tones bouquets like burgundy and maroon are also breathtaking and elegant. Whether you like all white or dramatic color, winter weddings give you a blank canvas to work with.

Don’t forget the tables. Try something super simple like poinsettias to fill your wedding with color. Dipping your favorite flowers in glitter helps to add the glitz to your centerpiece. Candles arranged on a simple jewels colored plate with metallic ball ornaments can add a festive flair. Lighted Christmas trees can fill the room with Holiday spirit. The ideas are as endless as your imagination.

The Favors

When marrying amid sparkling icicles and gleaming snow-covered hills, choose winter wedding favors that warm the heart. Delight your guests senses with snowflake-embellished gel candles or delectable chocolates to soothing cocoa and cappuccino mixes. These winter theme wedding favors are the perfect way to welcome your guests to your winter wonderland wedding!

The Cake

Sprinkled Snowflake inspired designed cakes is an elegant way to go. Get a splash of color by adding fresh flowers as an accent to chosen style of cake. Add sugar plum dreams to your day with a candy table or cookie corner. Cupcakes are a popular trend with many brides and grooms now as well. Taste the seasons sugary magic no matter which idea you choose.

Seasonal Treats

Warm your guest with a hot chocolate bar filled with peppermint and whipped cream toppings. Want something a little stronger? Try seasonal cocktail like Hot Toddy’s or Candy Can Cocktails.

Hilton Universal is the perfect location for all your winter wonderland dreams. Our friendly and experienced Catering staff will walk you through every step of your big day. Let us help you make your dream wedding a reality and contact us today!

Wedding Complete with Korean Dancers, Chinese Lion Dancers and a Korean Paepaek Ceremony

Wedding are such a joyous occasion, and the staff at the Hilton Universal City always appreciate being part of the celebration. Thank you to Fab You Bliss for this wonderful blog post.

And now for part two of Joanne + Daniel’s Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City Hotel wedding photographed byChelsea Elizabeth Photography.  If you missed part one, click here to see it.  Look how happy Joanne and David look in this black and white image of them walking back up the isle…so lovely!  And we just love the colorful ballroom of blacks, whites and reds mixed in with the Korean and Chinese costumes.  What a fun wedding!

Photographer:  Chelsea Elizabeth Photography

Event Planner:  Elite Socal Events

Reception Venue:  Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City Hotel

Submission via Two Bright Lights

Have a Fab You Bliss Friday and weekend!

xoxo

Delany

PACIFIC STANDARD TIME: ART IN L.A.

October 1st marked the opening day of Pacific Standard Time, bringing more than sixty cultural institutions together throughout Southern California to tell the story of the rise of the Los Angeles art scene and how it became a new force in the art world. This collaboration is the largest undertaking by cultural institutions and will continue through April 2012 and initiated by The Getty Foundation with over $10 million in grants.

During the six-month long celebration of post art art, there will be over 60 shows at museums, art galleries and performance spaces will display the best of California cultural. With the heart of the celebration at the exhibit in The Getty Center, Pacific Standard Time will explore everything from California Mid-Century modern design at LACMA, to LA’s African American visual artists at the Hammer Musuem, to a survey of LA’s pop music scene at the GRAMMY Museum. This event will have something for every art lover.

We are excited to be part of this amazing event. As a participating hotel in this event we are offering our Pacific Standard Time rate to all art enthusiastic. Guests who book the packages will receive an exclusive museum pass that will grant free, VIP admission for two to 18 leading Los Angeles museums participating in Pacific Standard Time, more than a $250 value. (Visitors must show their Hilton Universal hotel key card and the VIP museum pass to gain access.) For more information and to book your stay visit: http://bit.ly/PSTPackage

For a list of all the participating museums and exhibits visit http://www.pacificstandardtime.org/events.

Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk

On the second Thursday of every month, Downtown Los Angeles culture comes to life. For all those visiting Los Angeles, you can go where the locals go,  LA’S Downtown Art Walk. Begining at noon till 9pm Los Angeles art takes center stage. This is culture at it’s finest with art filled galleries, eccentric people, and various musical street performers.

The art spans an array of tastes, like the city that supports it. Stroll through hip LA gallories like The Hive Gallery & Studios, featuring a nightly DJ and art that pushes the boundaries. The Los Angeles Center for Digital Art will challenge your imagination with digital wizardry-turned-art. Bert Green’s gallery often features contemporary artists who refrain from portraying their subjects with in-your-face attitude. These are just a few of the art galleries you will stroll through on your Visit.

The DASH is meant to shuttle patrons through the 30+ gallories on the Art Walk and is art on wheels. It runs from 6pm to 10 pm. This revamped shuttle will showcase performances by Lucas Gonze from 7pm-7:30pm, and the lyrical rants about L.A. by Mike The Poet at 8pm and 8:30pm. Luca Spanio (Queen Acoustic) rambles with the music of Freddie Mercury & Company from 9pm to 9:30pm.

It’s been said here before and will continue to be said. The Downtown Art Walk is new a staple of life in Los Angeles. Don’t miss out on this truly amazing event.

Download your Art Walk Map by clicking here.

Sightsee from a Different Angel

When vacationing in Southern California, sightseeing is a must. Los Angeles has an abundance of culture and history. Maybe try seeing Los Angeles from a different angle or shall we say from a different altitude. Helicopter sightseeing tours are exiting and exhilarating. Whether it be during the day, where you can see forever or at night with thousands of beautiful lights that fill the sky. This is a tour like no other.

The arial views of Los Angeles and its surrounding areas are truely amazing site. This is a tour you will never forget!

Princess for a Day

La Quinceañera, the sweet 15 party that symbolizes the beginning of womanhood in Latin communities around the world, is a dream of many young Latinas and their families.

The preparations for this coming out party are elaborate – from the traditions, dancing and food to the tiaras, dresses and favors. Traditions are observed during this celebration. Girls dress in ball gown and boys in tuxedos. Traditionally your closets friends will form your court on this occasion and are singled out with a corsage or bouquet. Guest will receive small tokens as keepsakes form this event so favors are needed. Changing of the Doll and the Father / Daughter Dance are among the highlights. Don’t forget the food and cake.

The Church

The first thing that you need for the Quinceanera ceremony itself is a church. While many people celebrate Quinceaneras with only the reception itself, you need to think ahead if you wish to include the customary religious ritual.

Reception Location

While the church might be important to parents, the location of the reception is much more important to any 15-year-old girl. A reception can be held at a wide range of places from your own house to a four-star hotel. The Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City Hotel offers Quincenera Packages featuring special menus. For more information, contact Estella Segura, Catering Manager by email: esegura@hiltonuniversal.com or call 818.509.2068.  She can help make your day star-studded.

The Dress

When choosing the right dress, make sure you can walk and breathe in it. You will be wearing it for many hours. Make sure you feel like a Princess in the dress, after all it is your special day.While the tradition may have been white or pink, modern styles include a whole rainbow of hues, so choose one that matches your complexion or one in your favorite color.

The Cake

From tradition white cakes with flowers to crazy designs with multi colors. Show off your personality when you pick out your cake.

Quinceaneras Magazine Expo 2011 Los Angeles

With such a big event to plan, come and see some of the best venues, caters, bakers, planners, dress makers, make-up,entertainment companies, limos and many more from the Southern California area; acquire some great ideas in fashion trends, cosmetic application, and what is new for your Quinceanera, teen party, or any large celebration; those same great people needed to enhance your wedding celebration will be here too.
Special prices and promotions only for the show.

Win one of “FIVE” Quinceanera gowns we will raffle!

You will not want to miss this show.
Find the perfect dress,
The trendy theme,
Taste the gourmet food,
Taste the best cakes,
Meet face to face with many vendors and select your favorite.
Invite friends and enjoy your Quinceanera & Novias planning.
Get your Quinceanera Magazine May 2011
Meet “Miss Covergirl May 2011”
Fashion show…and more
Only at Quinceaneras Magazine Expo 2011.

Blue Energy Kick Off Party

Everyone enjoys a good party and we are no exception. Our employees enjoyed the kick off of Hilton Hotel’s Blue Energy Committees. We enjoyed blue drinks, a blue buffet spread in a beautifully decorated blue ballroom. 

   
  

 

 What Is Blue Energy?

Blue Energy is our passion to live our values, deliver our Promise and celebrate our stories. It’s an expression of the unique spirit we show to our Guests, our communities, and each other as Hilton Team Members.

Blue Energy fuels our culture, and enables us to deliver service with positive spirit, strength and passion. It’s based on our Hilton Values (Hospitality, Integrity, Leadership, Teamwork, Ownership, Now), and Blue Energy is implemented everyday through our teams’ Engagement, Accountability and Recognition.

 
Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City hotel establish a Blue Energy Committee including team members from each department. The committee’s premier responsibility  is to maintain a service culture that will support the hotel team’s ability to live our values, deliver our Promise and celebrate our stories.  Each of these four committees, Guest Satisfaction, Team Members Community and Sustainability were represented at the kickoff party. They all designed and worked their own booth explaining to anyone that came by what their role would be in the Blue Energy Campaign. We are all very excited about this program and look forward to seeing it prosper..

So what better way to start this wonderful new program than with a party!

MS. EXOTI-LADY WORLD PAGEANT 2011

 

MARIA AMOR, Founder and CEO of Exotifit for Humanity, also known as a master creator of spectacular and artistic events, is here once again to deliver another brilliant spectacle, a new epoch of pageant focusing on prime women of today. This event will also celebrate Maria Amor’s birthday. The Ms. Exoti-Lady World Pageant 2011 is a personal and social development opportunity for women at least 35 years of age and of all nationalities. This formal gala and party will take place at the  Hilton Universal  in Universal City, CA and will raise funds for a good cause. This event is for the benefit of Exotifit for Humanity, which promotes health, fitness, wellness, beauty and arts to underprivileged women, children as well as the disabled.

Taking place on Friday, May 20, 2011, this is an event you will not want to miss! 1,000 guests are expected to be in attendance, and the event will be televised by Time Warner Cable hosted by actress –Anne Judson-Yager and Vayaconmigo host- Joey Valdez. Justin Chase Haulbrook will serenade the beautiful candidates with an exclusive performance while Maria Amor’s talented and sexy Exoti-Angels and Exoti-Goddesses are also going to wow the audience with multi-cultural dance numbers! Red carpet is at 6pm and the show starts at 8pm. There will be more hot performances at the after party, as well as a DJ Earl spinning the latest hits.

Here is the wonderful lineup of beautiful talent that will be taking part in the most unique pageant in California history!   

Discover the Arts in LA

Through April 30, art aficionados, theater lovers and culture seekers can enjoy exclusive deals at more than 30 acclaimed venues throughout Los Angeles.

The Discover the Arts, sponsored by LA.Inc, promotion offers deals such as two-for-one general admission, discounts of up to 50% off regular prices and complimentary gifts and admissions. Allow us to highlight a few venues.

Natural History Museum

The Museum is partnering with Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) to share data and learn more about L.A. butterflies. Help us find and photograph the butterflies of Los Angeles.    

Why Butterflies?

Unlike some of the other Citizen Science projects here at the Museum, the L.A. Butterfly Survey (LABS) isn’t looking for lost butterflies. They already know the species we are likely to find in L.A., all 236 of them. What we need to find out is which butterflies we’re likely to find when we plant the new Pollinator Garden in the Museum’s upcoming outdoor exhibit, the North Campus. When you submit images of L.A. butterflies, they’ll map the species closest to the Museum and determine which one’s might show up when we start planting butterfly attracting plants.

Aquarium of the Pacific

The Aquarium of the Pacific’s new BP Sea Otter Habitat transports visitors to California’s Central Coast, the native environment of our sea otters.

Walk along a rocky coastline among barnacle-encrusted pilings, and enjoy ocean and inland vistas. Peer underwater and discover the busy world of sea otters as they swim and interact amongst kelp and fish.
Discover their above water home with realistic rockwork, murals, and lighting. Meet Maggie, our young, energetic, and curious new sea otter. Engage in friendly competition in a new interactive game to learn about sea otters. And browse exhibit graphics to dive deeper into their habitat, eating habits, and conservation issues.

GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE

The GRAMMY Museum occupies four floors of exhibit space at the heart of L.A. LIVE. This one-of-a-kind entertainment campus provides Los Angeles’ residents, commuters, guests and tourists with a world-class sports and entertainment destination.

The Museum itself uses a dynamic combination of exhibits, public events, and educational programming to explore, celebrate, and experience: the enduring legacies of all forms of recorded music; the creative process of music-making; the art and technology of the recording process; and the history of the GRAMMY Awards, the premier recognition of recorded music accomplishment.

The Museum’s 30,000 square feet of cutting edge experiences, films, and exhibits offer an exciting, multimedia, and interactive celebration of the power of music. This one-of-a-kind visitor experience is engaging, educational, celebratory, and inspirational.

You begin your journey in the first floor lobby, where you are greeted by an array of exciting design elements and audio/visual programming that prepare you for the experience to come. From here, you take an elevator to the fourth floor, where the gallery experience begins.

This is only the begining of all the great museums, art, and culture you can visit and explore during Discover the Arts sponsored by LA Inc.