50 Fabulous Babes on the Barbary Coast

When Linda Hylen issues an invitation to the 50 Most Fabulous Babes in the Wedding Industry in the San Francisco Bay Area, you better heed the call! And I'm so glad I did. To be considered one of the movers and shakers by THE wellspring of all knowledge in the wedding industry...well, that really made my day. We had an outrageously fabulous time at the Julia Morgan Ballroom. 

My favorite playmates came out to play:

Alicia Slater, Global Gourmet - diverse cuisine; can work with (almost) any budget

Anna Williams, McCall Catering - the most popular choice of scrumptious morsels for brides

Barbara Lewis, University Club - best kept secret for city views and incredible prices

Brooke Greene, Nestldown - enchanted, secluded wooded place for a wedding; magical

Dianne Devin, Kohl Mansion - gracious mansion in Burlingame

Karen Baba, Plan Decor - fresh, fun, creative, warm-hearted

Kathleen Deery, Kathleen Deery Designs - fantastic, over-the-top floral designs

Kathleen Kirkpatrick, Montalvo Arts Center - the most beautiful mansion in the Bay Area

Michelle Walker, Michelle Walker Photography - makes everyone feel comfortable in front of the lens; one of the nicest photographers in the Bay Area

Natasha Merritt, Paula Le Duc - finest cuisine and service in the Bay Area

Stacie Tamaki, The Flirty Guide - must-have resource guide for every bride in the Bay Area

Viola Sutanto, Chewing the Cud (invitations, not catering) - creative designs, incredible lady

And we were "served" by 13 gentlemen who are colleagues in the wedding industry. Of course Tom (a caterer) had an advantage over the others

Dennis Menendez, Dennis M Photography

Jim Avila, Jim Avila Image and Style Consultant

John Woods, Enhanced Lighting

Kevin Chin, Kevin Chin Photography

Michael Daigian, Michael Daigian Design (floral designer)

Ron Grandia, A Different Kind of DJ

Tom Henderson, Thomas John Events (caterer)

Linda Hylen is one of the most gracious people in the wedding industry and incredibly generous. She assembled us to celebrate three outstanding achievements.

Johanna Kaestner, Founder of By Recommendation Only is retiring after 20 years. She elevated the standard for products, services, ethics and integrity in the wedding industry and deserves a lot of praise and thanks. We have been a proud member of bRo for 5 years.

Joyce Scardina Becker founded the Wedding Industry Professionals Association (WIPA) last year in order to raise the standards of the wedding industry nationwide.

It was my pleasure and privilege to present the third tribute to good friends Jubilee Lau of Jubilee Lau Events and Jean Marks of Jean Marks Weddings. These ladies were the founders of The Wedding University  held on February 8 at the Four Seasons in Palo Alto, which was an outrageous success. It benefitted brides who all said they learned something new and their time had been well-spent. It benefitted everyone in the wedding industry.

As we went our separate ways, we were all given our "correct color" boas by Jim Avila. turquoise seems to be my color!

What a great luncheon!