Guest Blogger: Nathaniel Neubauer, owner of Contemporary Catering
Nathaniel’s mom says it best: “When Nathaniel was turning three, I asked him what he wanted for his third birthday. He said, ‘Quiche.’” Ever since, Nathaniel’s love for food has never been far from reach. With his presence, Contemporary Catering quickly became a major contender in the Los Angeles catering industry. From overseeing production to designing a nine-course tasting menu with five-star service, Nathaniel’s dedication to his clients and his company is unparalleled.

Crafting a cocktail that matches your wedding color palette — and tastes incredible — is easier than you might think! We start with fresh herbs and fruit before asking the bride for her inspiration boards and wedding colors. After narrowing down a list of the bride and groom’s favorite spirits, we begin the creation process.

At Contemporary Catering, mixing and matching colors and flavors is one of our specialties. We have found a way to match virtually any color and flavor that anyone could dream up! 

Finding your perfect drink definitely takes a little mixing and matching, but don’t be afraid to experiment. The only way to come up with a memorable cocktail that your guests won’t forget is to be creative (the sampling part doesn’t hurt, either!).

Here, we've come up with five great drinks that are sure to tickle your taste buds:

When groom-to-be Joe began shopping for Emily's engagement ring, he knew that a run-of-the-mill diamond ring just wouldn't cut it. The couple, who met while working together in a tattoo shop, bonded over their "nerdiness," and Joe set out on a quest to find someone to create a R2-D2-themed engagement ring to match his "fanatical Star Wars enthusiasm."

He soon discovered Paul Michael Designs through CustomMade, an online marketplace that connects shoppers with artisans who can turn their dreams into reality. 

After months of planning, sketching, and designing, the incredible final product arrived a day before Halloween. Joe decided to propose the following day at work, while they'd be decked out in their Peanuts-themed Halloween costumes — Joe as Charlie Brown and Emily as Lucy.

"I know it would have been better in Star Wars gear," said Joe. "[But] Charlie Brown proposing to Lucy is still kind of a fun thing, too." We agree! Watch their proposal:

Jennifer Doncsecz, an expert on planning destination weddings, has been President and Owner of VIP Vacations Inc. since 1992 and has over 25 years of travel agent experience. She regularly appears as a travel expert on Fox Philadelphia's "Good Day" and on PBS Tempo, and she has also appeared on The Travel Channel, CNN, and RCN. Jennifer is a passionate advocate for using a travel agent and has been a speaker at many national travel conventions, including The New York Times Travel Show, and Travel Weekly's conferences. 

Photo Credit: Meg Courtney Photography 

Ever hear the expression, "There are two kinds of luggage....carry-on and lost"? Unfortunately, putting your wedding dress in your checked suitcase and hoping for the best is like playing Russian Roulette. The smarter option is to carry it on with you in a garment bag (either use the one it came in or purchase a heavy-duty bag).

Once you get on the plane, gently fold your garment bag in half and place it in the overhead bin. Some people may tell you to hang it in the first class closet, but that's rarely done. Besides, the closet is only four feet high, so you'd have to stuff it in.