Planning for your wedding can be a chore - or a great excuse to do fun things you should have done anyway. Go on creative new dates with your beloved? Check! Ensure that your wedding videos are preserved so that your baby can see them? Check! Meet new people who can become lifelong friends? Check! Now that's smart wedding planning.

Insider's Tip!
Plan a Fun Wedding-location Investigation
Make like Nancy Drew and do your own wedding-location investigation. Smart couples can combine "quality time" and "venue searching" by taking advantage of a potential "This is it!"-spot's social events. You'll see the venue all dolled up, you'll have a chance to experience their level of service and the quality of food first hand and - perhaps most importantly - you'll have a good time together.

Take a gander at the gorgeous TPC Valencia during their upcoming Champagne Tasting on Wednesday | April 24 from 6pm to 8pm. For only $21 per person, you'll enjoy selections from Gloria Ferrer along with tray-passed appetizers. Reservations are recommended.
288-1995, extension 104


Meet the Wedding & Event Pros
Charmaine's Bouquet Canyon Florist
A love of flowers and family has kept Charmaine Wojciechowski diligently designing wedding and event floral masterpieces since she was 13 years old. "My mother owned a flower shop; I worked with and for her for over 14 years," she reflects. "When I moved to the SCV, I began working with a local florist. With no warning, he asked me to buy his shop. I said yes, and, within a day, I became a business owner! I love working with brides and finding special ways to personalize their flowers and save them money," says Charmaine. Two tips: "It's very popular to incorporate keepsakes - lockets, handkerchiefs, broaches, photos - into the bride's bouquet. Another smart idea - work with a florist who will stay on-site for your event so that they use centerpieces for ceremony decor, then move them during the cocktail hour so they can pull money-saving double-duty at the reception."
297-3100 www.bouquetcanyonflorist.com

Tricia Dahlgren Events
Some of us search our whole lives and never find our passion. Tricia Dahlgren, owner of Tricia Dahlgren Events and a professional wedding and event planner, has been lucky on that front. "I knew exactly what I wanted to do since I was 18 years old. I became connected to an event coordinator in my area and never looked back! I worked hard to learn the business and develop relationships. Now, my favorite part of my job is the relationship I get to build with all my clients! By the time their event is over, they are more friends than they are clients. I like building that bond so they know they can trust me with every detail of their special day, so that they can remember it fondly always and forever!," says Tricia, who offers full-service and day-of-service wedding and event coordination.
818-419-0336 www.triciadahlgrenevents.com
Charmaine's Bouquet Canyon Florist and Tricia Dahlgren Events are proud members of
Santa Clarita Wedding & Event Professionals. www.scvweddingsandevents.com

Celebrate a Lifetime of Love
Diamond bands that represent the infinite nature of your relationship. Available from Manya Jewelers. 255-6668