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“ This is the time when we tie everything up with a big , pretty bow ,” says Lindsy Swarts , owner and principal planner of Coastal Coordinates in Laguna Beach . She ’ s been working for some of her clients for over a year to design their dream celebration ; other couples enlist her just a couple of months prior to ensure all their own plans are properly executed .
“ There is nothing more special than your wedding day ,” says Swarts , who married her background in hospitality and a lifelong obsession with weddings to form her business in 2015 . “[ Planning ] is such an intimate process . … Each event is unique and so special . … I can ’ t get enough of it .”
Swarts takes on full-service planning — from venues to vendors , florals to fare — for many client couples who want their wedding to be special , but whose busy school or career schedules preclude them from managing the myriad details themselves . “ With full-service planning , we handle every detail for you ,” she says . “ It ’ s truly a whiteglove service .”
With coastal weddings , Swarts has seen trends ebb and flow . When choosing which fads to follow , she relies on a survey of the client . “ Are you a classic couple ? Bohemian ? Modern ? Romantic ?” she shares as examples . “ Do you want toes in the sand or a view of the
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canyon ? Are you a music fanatic or is food your priority ?” These and other details help her team nail every nuance .
An emerging trend across the spectrum is treating guests to three different experiences throughout the wedding : ceremony , cocktail hour and the reception with dinner and dancing , each taking place in unique parts of the venue and with personalized details that tie together for a cohesive overall event . For couples inviting out-of-town guests , a robust welcome party , preceding an intimate rehearsal dinner , is also popular . In Laguna , smaller weddings ( 200 guests or fewer ) are also “ en vogue ,” as
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SET THE MOOD From bluff-tops overlooking the waves to shady spaces beneath the sycamores , Laguna offers a short list of venues to exchange vows in style . Those seeking a true coastal experience can find it at Montage Laguna Beach , where the oceanfront lawn perches above the pounding waves to boast an idyllic setting — for a ceremony , cocktail party or reception — and where the resort ’ s master chefs can create a bespoke menu from fresh , organic ingredients . ( Indoors , an expansive ballroom features a warmer ambiance for cool , evening affairs ).
Farther north , Surf & Sand Resort offers “ vows with a view ” on its 15FiftyFive
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LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE 35 |