A California Winery Wedding at Ponte in Temecula

Ponte Winery is one of those classy California Wine Wedding destinations where they really do get it right every time!

Working with other wedding professionals who are as dedicated as we are to giving brides and grooms the wedding of a lifetime is always a joy to me.

Let's face it, folks, experience counts.

The band and I did a really sweet, romantic wedding at Ponte Vineyards last Sunday. It's a lovely venue, a winery and restaurant in the heart of Temecula. From the minute we arrived to set up -- on a bandstand that was exactly what we'd asked for in our advance specifications -- until the last dance had been danced and we packed up our instruments and sound system and headed back to Orange County and Los Angeles, every gracious move the winery's staff made was geared toward taking the best possible care of the bride and groom, their families and guests - and their vendors.

And, of course, it was a GREAT wedding.

I am particularly pleased because I had been in on the planning of this wedding from the beginning, including the selection of the venue, which really did turn out to be perfect.

The flower arrangements, lovingly handmade by...

Vintge, Retro Old Hollywood Glam: A Malibu Wedding

Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles. A romantic, old-fashioned wedding. Fabulous!

The setting: A private estate at Trancas Beach, north of Malibu, Zuma Beach and Point Dume. WAY out there, on that rugged part of the California Coast that's as gorgeous as it gets.

The event: An absolutely spectacular, old-fashioned, formal wedding! Vintage, retro Old Hollywood, Old Malibu glamour to the max! Pure perfection.

The wedding coordinator: Avesta Carrera of Malibu Events - the consummate, elegant party planner.

The music: US, of course! One of my small but mighty Los Angeles wedding bands extraordinaire, The Judy Chamberlain Quintet - playing the music of Rogers and Hart, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and George Gershwin.

It's all swing to us and, as Frank Sinatra once said, "the best music ever written."

We began with a 90 minute "seating music" concert in the courtyard of the estate, playing the bride's choices of unusual, intense and intricate symphonic music. No Pachelbel or Lohengrin for this lady! Big fun, and the selections truly delighted and surprised the guests. My dance band musicians are all classically trained.

The continuity of a smooth transition from one style of music to another is a beautiful thing. It's one of our...

An Asian Wedding - Special Moments

We do a lot of Asian weddings, and sometimes the families and guests are shy about dancing in public. Here is a letter I especially treasure from a recent Asian bride who was afraid her father would not dance:

Hey Judy,

The whole band was great. They were so talented! Sam and I loved the band because we could tell that they love what they do. As you know it makes a difference when one puts a soul into music makes that much differnce. That is the difference between the band that you provided vs other bands out there. Not only did they put their best effort into singing but they put their souls into singing. We as musicians, Sam and I loved it.

Sam kept saying how beautiful the wedding turned out to be thanks to the band. He didn't like the quartet that we had hired thru someone else for the ceremony very much because they were there to get their hours clocked in and out. On the other hand, your band gave us so much, even after the wedding was over and the guests had left because Sam and I wanted to have a dance to ourselves. Sam...

A McCharles House Wedding: Vintage Nostalgia

I've known Audrey and Vivian, who are mother and daughter, for 23 years. They encouraged and applauded my career as a restaurant critic, Op Ed, features and society columnist for The Orange Coast Daily Pilot, The L.A. Times and The Daily Breeze, sent handmade wreaths to my house at holiday time and calmed my nerves with homemade chocolate cake when I was learning how not to look like an idiot on-camera for the "Savoire Fare" restaurant segments The Orange County News Channel recruited me to write, produce and appear in for the better part of the 1990's.

I have always been one of their biggest fans, and welcomed opportunities to feature them often in my signature "Best of Orange County" lists. Many a lovely afternoon was spent at McCharles House in the company of colleagues and friends at book-signing events and soirees. ...and our family dined often...

Judy Chamberlain Quartet at Spazio, Saturday July 26

The Judy Chamberlain Quartet performs at Spazio Jazz Supper Club in Sherman Oaks Saturday July 26. Join us at the delightful Spazio, consistently voted one of the top 100 jazz clubs in America. The food is wonderful! Chef Eli has just introduced a new menu. His cuisine is always chock full of fresh ingredients: lobster, seasonal vegetables, fruits, nuts - all the things I adore. Alan Broadbent, Anthony Wilson, Jeff Hamilton and Mose Allison are among the many legendary artists who have entertained here. If you're making a reservation, ask to be seated near the band!

Saturday, July 26

The Judy Chamberlain Quartet

Featuring the inimitable drummer Gerry Gibbs (son of famed vibraphonist Terry Gibbs)

Spazio Jazz Supper Club

14755 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, Ca 91403

818 728-8400...