Utterly Engaged's "Snap. Crackle. Pop! It's a New Year Party"

On January 19th I attended the Utterly Engaged event at the Avia Hotel in Long Beach, "Snap. Crackle. Pop! It's a New Year Party." Utterly Engaged is a online magazine which focuses on fabulous weddings with a fabulously low budget. The main focus of the event was their design challenge. They invited wedding professionals to enter the contest and design a unique wedding tablescape that conveys the theme "Snap. Crackle. Pop" within a $150 budget! They were awesome!

There were 9 teams that entered the contest. Of those 9, there were two winners. One winner was chosen by an elite panel of judges:

Carissa Jones of JL Designs
Jasmine Star of Jasmine Star Photography
Jen Campbell of Green Wedding Shoes
Jennifer Sbranti of Hostess with the Mostess
Leila Khalil of Be Inspired PR
Summer Watkins of Grey Likes Weddings
Lucia Pador and Henry Vallee of Utterly Engaged

The second winner was the "People's Fave Award." This award was given to the team that received the most votes that evening by the people attending the event. Now on to the tables!

The winning table selected by the judges was ...
Table 4, "Love with a Pop of Pink"
Nancy of So Happi Together
Jane of Olive Hue Paper Goods
Cindy of Floral Elements



The People's Fave Award went to ...
Table 5, "Brooke Keegan Weddings & Events"
Brooke Keegan and Virginia Kirwan of Brooke Keegan Weddings and Events
Karla and Will Flores of Elegant by Design


I attended the event with my fabulous assistant, Tish. We both voted for the same table, which got one of the editors choice awards. We loved the fun colors and the nerdy science theme.
Table 9, "The Anatomy of a Sparkler"
Mai Hoang Ito of Bunch Studio
Laurie Mura of I Believe it's Cake
Olivia Wu of Zoie Events


The second editors choice award went to ...
Table 1, "Sparkilicious"
Desiree Patterson of Good Gracious!
Joanna Park of Floral Sense
Linda Ly of Grand Soirees
Lindsey Sinatra of A Wish And A Whisk Cakes
Therese Hernando of Whimsical Designs


Table 2 "Posh Pastel Pop Art"
Vanessa Van Wieren of Alchemy Fine Events
Tam Ashworth of Isari Flowers
Mary Lallande of Jay's Catering


Table 3 "Primary Petals and Tusssk"
Samantha Santana of Primary Petals
Jehoaddan Kulakoff of Tusssk
James Lively, Holly Santana and Mary Lively


Table 6 "Modern Rustic Winter"
Paula of Bliss Artistic Floral Design
Adrienne Coerper and Diane Klumb of Custom Programs
Paula Vasin of Bliss Blossoms


Table 7 "Creative Spice" (Loved the glam apples by Kreative Kandi Apples
Tatiana El-Khori and Anisa El-Khori of Creative Force Floral
Danelle Hairston and Karina Orzco of Sugar & Spice Event Design


Table 8 "Pop Wedding"
Meghan Shrinderle and Katie Webb of Intertwined Events
Amy Schoenbaum of Bride and Bloom Florals
Erica O'Brien of Erica O'Brien Cakes
Jordan Peister of Mintwich Design
Henry Chen of Henry Chen Photography


In addition to the design tables there was also a fun photo booth by Photocube. Tish and I of course took advantage of this and got a fun photo souvenir!


Next to the bar, an entire wall was covered with envelopes.

Everyone could jot down a little note to their future selves and stick it in an envelope on the wall. In 2012 Utterly Engaged will mail the postcards out to everyone! This was a cute idea and a perfect activity while you waited in the long bar line.

If you'd like to see more (and prettier) photos of the event check out Issue 14 of Utterly Engaged.