Los Angeles Trade Tech's Annual Dinner Fundraiser!

Simply Mumtaz Events, Inc. had the pleasure of producing the Los Angeles Trade Tech College Foundation's Annual Dinner event. It was a great experience we were able to help the Foundation raise funds for the school. We were able to use one of the two special event tents they have on campus for the affair. A few of our major challenges for the event were that we literally had no power to source as well creating a high caliber event with a restricted budget. The inspiration for the event design and decor was the Pegasus. HACER, an alumnus from LATTC turned fine artists sculpted the amazing piece which was installed on the campus - "Education gives you Wings" was the essence of the inspiring the piece. We incorporated elements and the story of HACER into various aspects of the complete event from the Tribute Journal to the lighting...

As guests arrived they drove past the Pegasus and then were welcomed by Valet and a wash of the abstract color patterns until they arrived on the red carpet. The photos below detail the event set-up. We had a silent auction and reception in the first portion of the tent... then the second half was set up with our very clean table tops with only accents of the red /orange of the Pegasus. The lighting on the ceiling changed throughout the evening, moved and grew from barely there to WOW! A special touch accent was the origami cranes - our alumnus HACER was inspired by the delicate art of origami and his metal work looks / gives you the impression of origami in metal... The menu cards detailed the why each guest was given a special origami crane.

Above are the one-of-a kind abstract award pieces that were given to the honorees. HACER was kind enough to create these amazing works as wings to the Pegasus for each honoree. Then, as guests departed they were greeted good-bye by the event logo as a gobo.

We literally pulled this event together in 2 weeks! It was a fantastic whirlwind and couldn't have done it without the help of our strategic vendor team members... You all were so gracious under the timelines. A special thanks go out to our client! Thank you for the opportunity and we look forward to many more... Photos Courtesy of Dmitry Morozov / Photography by Alexander and Nick Carranza.

Simply Mumtaz produces Half-Day Symposium - Downtown 2020: Continuing the Renaissance

Simply Mumtaz was very excited to present the Downtown 2020: Continuing the Downtown Renaissance this October at the Downtown Los Angeles Marriott Hotel. It featured three amazing sessions from Land Use, Transportation, Real Estate and forecasting future developments by Downtown's Movers & Shakers.
In the session below the Titans of LA discussed the vision of Downtown LA in 2020... Tom Gilmore, Gilmore Associates; Eli Broad, The Broad Foundations; Tim Leiweke, AEG; Nelson Rising, MPG Office Trust; Jim Thomas, Thomas Properties Group.

We also had over 25 table top exhibitors showcasing their wares... The vendor below is J Lounge Restaurant - awesome place if you haven't been!

As always - thanks to the team for producing a great event. Photos taken by Gary Leonard.

Simply Mumtaz produces - Surfacing the Solutions 2010 Water Luncheon

Simply Mumtaz Events, Inc. has the pleasure of working with Coro Southern California and presenting their Surfacing the Solutions Water Luncheon... The event addressed California's environmental and engineering challenges facing the Delta.

In the picture above was our keynotes, panelists and Coro President & COO plus our Event Chair. Phil Isenberg, Chair of the Delta Strwardship Council; Craig Wilson, Sacramento Delta Watermaster; Rich Atwater, Southern California Water Committee; Charles Wilson, Southern California Edison & SoCal Water Committee; Robb Whitaker, Water Replenishment District; Phil Anthony, Orange County Water District; The Honorable Grace Napolitano, 38th Congressional District; Gloria Gray, Chair West Basin Water District; Don Pierro, Coro; John Greenwood, Coro and Ken Willis, Chino Basin Watermaster Board and Event Chair. Plus, Ric Romero, our Master of Ceremonies from ABC7.

Jennifer got a great shot with Ric Romero from ABC7 and The Honorable Grace Napilotano form the 38th Congressional District...

We look forward to producing this event again next year. It was great working with the folks at Coro and we had a great Simply Mumtaz team putting it together. Special thanks go out to Flor Cruz from the Marriott - appreciate all of the great team work. Photos taken by Dmity - Photography by Alexander.

Simply Mumtaz Welcomes Guest Blogger Gerry Rothschild

We are very excited to present our next guest blogger - Gerry Rothschild from Gerry Rothschild Band. He will be presenting a unique look into the world of a musician and entertainer. For our planners out there - this is a really good insight on how to work with your live entertainers. Enjoy!

Hello, my name is Gerry Rothschild, singer and musician for The Gerry Rothschild Band. When it comes to recommending music to clients and event planners there are two main choices: live or recorded. I recommend the former, and here's why:

The Joys of Live Music
Think about the last time you went to a concert. You were excited. You had heard the music thousands of times, but this was different. This was a live performance, and because you were there, you were a part of it. That's how clients feel with a live band. For the guest of honor, or the bride and groom, their event is even more special because of the live performance, and it was designed and presented especially for them.

Guests, too, greatly appreciate the ambiance of live music. It allows them to feel free and safe to dance, listen, or even sit in with the band, which is becoming increasingly popular. This, of course, has to be arranged before the event. If there is someone in the clients family or on the company staff who is a singer or musician, and the client wants this person to perform, with the help of a pre-party rehearsal, a good band can accommodate any guest artist

Bands also allow guests to use new lyrics for popular tunes. In this scenario, friends of the bride and groom or corporate staff members, develop and sing "new" lyrics to old songs to "roast" the guest of honor.

Musicians can also deal with the unexpected. We were playing a wedding recently, when all of a sudden, the bride's grandfather, strolls up, grabs the mic, and starts to sing "Sunrise, Sunset." The band found his key, provided accompaniment, and created a sweet and unforgettable moment.

Communication with the Event Coordinator

When I am contacted by an event coordinator, I am usually asked about cost and availability first. I provide a price list of costs for bands of various sizes. I then ask for a meeting with the client so I can understand how they envision the wedding or party. It's great when the event coordinator can attend this meeting, but if that's not possible, I make it a point to keep the planner in the loop. I want to know how the client sees his/her event and the music they want to accompany it. I can help the client choose the right size band to play the music they want to hear.

A relationship with the event coordinator is crucial and a two way street. Regarding special songs, a couple's first dance as husband and wife, or a memorable tune to celebrate a landmark anniversary, I will make sure I report back to the event coordinator what songs are chosen and when they are wanted to be performed. Whether its the party time line, games I will lead, performers I will accompany, or announcements and introductions I will make, getting information out in a timely manner will make the event go more smoothly. Of course things don't always go according to plan, as a schedule of events can change in a heartbeat. Clear instruction from the coordinator can help these changes happen seamlessly.

The Event

The tables are set. The linens are draped perfectly. The flowers are gorgeous and the guests begin to arrive. I cue the band and its at that moment the event begins. You can feel it. Live music is the engine moving the event forward.

For a list of amazing award winning artists I have been blessed to work with and Emmy winning shows I have won awards for and composed for, please visit our website. The Gerry Rothschild Band. Thank you.

Simply Mumtaz Spring 2010 - Video!

Check out Simply Mumtaz Events' Spring 2010 Video!

SME donates Wedding Coordination for Breast Cancer Survivor

On August, 28, 2010, Simply Mumtaz Events was proud to partner with The Spiraled Stem for the wedding of Binh Phan, the winner of The Say ‘I Do’ With a Big ‘Do Contest. This contest was for women who lost their hair to breast cancer treatment. The winning prize was a wedding day package worth over $16,000! Her wedding was held on August 28, 2010 at the San Pedro Doubletree Hotel. The Spiraled Stem Floral Design provided VeriFlora Certified Sustainably Grown Flowers valued at over $2,000. They were absolutely stunning! Breast cancer survivor Binh Phan of Garden Grove, had no family history of breast cancer and was unexpectedly diagnosed in 2008 at the tender age of 21. She was facing rounds of harsh treatments that would surely result in hair loss and other unpleasant side effects. Boyfriend, Dean Blanton not only stood by her, he asked her to be his wife and spend their lives together, through sickness and in health. “Winning this contest means the world to me,” says Binh. I want my husband to see me on our wedding day as the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on, and for the world to see that I have fought, overcome, and am a survivor that won’t be defeated.” Beautiful Linens donated by Wildflower Linens, valued at $1500.


Eco-friendly seeded paper menu cards and place cards; guests were able to plant the entire menu card after the event and grow native wildflowers in pots or their garden, they are 100% compostable and provided by Petalos di Pauli, valued at $700.


Photo Booth provided by J & M Entertainment & Event Production, valued at $2,000, the hit of the reception! The beautiful Bride and her Mom taking a photo that they will never forget!

Ceremony music provided by Me & AJ, valued at $500.

Spectacular photography provided by Luminaire Images, valued at $2,500. Molly and Matt did a phenomenal job! They had a slide show ready of photos from the day's events for guests to watch as they were going back and forth from the bar, photo booth and dinner.

The following are a list of vendors who contributed their time and business to the wedding, complimentary to Binh and Dean!

A personalized bra fitting and wedding day lingerie set by The Sculpted Silhouette, including the bra pocket, valued at $100; Foot Petals Runaway Bride Gift Set, valued at $45; Chivari Chair Rentals, valued at $1,200.

Thank you again to all of the vendors for helping create this special day for a couple who were very deserving!

Congratulations to the happy Bride & Groom!

Simply Mumtaz President - Joella Hopkins recognized as a Featured Member of the National Latina Business Women Association's Los Angeles Chapter

Great news! Simply Mumtaz' president, Joella Hopkins, CSEP, CMP, is a featured member of the National Latina Business Women Association's Los Angeles Chapter. Please check out their homepage and see her highlight! Also, on FaceBook!