Los Angeles - October 29, 2004

Fully Engaged in L.A.

The Wedding Guide: Part One

Getting married is a little bit like blasting off into outer space.

A journey beyond the limits of anything you’ve known before. Crossing into uncharted territory. Braving new worlds.

And the preparations can be pretty harrowing. But if there’s one way to keep your feet on the ground and your head from spinning into orbit, it’s to plan ahead and be aware of your time line. So here it is: DailyCandy’s countdown to your big day.

T Minus 12 Months

The Informal Thank-You: Good news travels fast. Before you know it, the calls and gifts start pouring in. Order informal thank-you cards, monogrammed with the happy couple’s (that’s you, FYI) first names. For a no-fuss approach, design your own letterpress flat cards at paper-source.com.

The Planner: The folks at Park Plaza Events are soup-to-nuts, providing everything from flowers to kosher catering to lighting to location (they’re based at the beautiful Park Plaza Hotel). Oh, and they’ll treat you with every bit as much deference and attention as they did the cast of Friends at their wrap party last year (213-384-5281). For something on a smaller scale, the name of Oh How Charming! sort of says it all: event planners with an amazing aesthetic (310-927-1696).

The Registry: Okay, the no-brainers — Weddingchannel.com and theknot.com — are stocked with everything from china to the priciest fork. But for something more boutique-y, the high-design wares at Fitzsu may appeal, as will the fact that the store is named after owners Fitz and Su, a happily married couple themselves (Two locations: 7970 Melrose Avenue, between Fairfax Avenue and Crescent Heights Boulevard, L.A.; 323-655-1908; 65 West Green Street, at Delacey Street, Pasadena; 626-564-1908). And check out Distinctive Honeymoons, where you can set up a honeymoon fund. And most important, if you’d rather give something back (other than a toaster), justgive.org allows you to pledge to the charity of your choice on behalf of your wedding.

T Minus 10 Months

The Photographer: Having shot everything from editorial for Glamour to movie posters for Lion’s Gate, Steven Lam realized the need for a great wedding photographer when he and his wife-to-be started looking around for someone who could match their clean aesthetic and modern sensibility. His style is a mix of candid and fun and beautifully composed shots, and he’s happy to travel to destination weddings, as well. (Duh. Who wouldn’t?) (323-350-0808)

The Videographer: An alum of USC’s CinemaTV school, Margaret Elkjer of Happy Day Video has a keen eye for detail, an extensive range of styles (from photojournalism to Old Hollywood), and mad editing skills, as well as a staff of fellow film-school grads. She shoots on both video and Super 8 and works with you to make sure your package suits you (213-369-0693).

T Minus 9 Months

The Entertainment: Pop digs Sinatra, Aunt Martha loves swing, and your betrothed prefers rap. The answer? A DJ with the broadest possible range. The DJ Pros won’t balk at a wacky mix: They’re happy to throw a bit of techno in with that big-band set, if you so desire (888-868-6417). For the ceremony, vocalist Heather Waters will take time out of her busy rounds on the club circuit (she plays with alums of Rickie Lee Jones, Josh Groban, and others) to perform for you two (213-675-3686).

T Minus 8 Months

The Caterer: Spiderman premiere? DNC fund-raiser? The Grammys? Nothing compared to your wedding. But, luckily, Along Came Mary got some practice at the aforementioned events, so they’ll be in, oh, decent shape to service yours (5265 West Pico Boulevard, between Dunsmuir and Cochran Avenues, L.A.; 323-931-9082). For something off the beaten path, East Side fave Picholine serves up French classics and other delicious fare (3360 West First Street, between Virgil Avenue and Beverly Boulevard, L.A.; 213-252-8722).

T Minus 7 Months

The Decor: The new Lilla Bello studio in Santa Monica is dedicated to “couture” floral designs, but is incredibly friendly and willing to work within a budget. So don’t be scared off by the fancy-sounding terminology (310-337-1130). For a more comprehensive decor, Silver Birches has designed events for Calvin, Ralph, and Versace, so expect something stylish (626-796-1431).

Overwhelmed? Don’t be. (You haven’t got time for that.) Take a deep breath. Meditate. Medicate. Because this is only the beginning. We’ll tell you all about the final steps next week.