Press

Design Divas | Fuse Magazine

Design Divas by Jolene Rae Harrington May, 2011

MOVE OVER, MILAN…Back off, Big Apple…when it comes to dressing a bride for her spotlight moment, the San Francisco Bay Area takes a fashion front seat. San Franciscans have always marched to a different drum, and for that all-important walk down the aisle a Bay Area bride needn’t leave town to demonstrate her originality and style savvy. Custom couture and the pampering of internationally recognized fashionistas are just a BART or MUNI ride away.  …Read more.

Design Divas in Fuse Fashion Magazine {Adobe PDF, 377KB}

Finding the Perfect Venue | Couture Celebrations

Finding the Perfect Venue March 28, 2011

What we love about Here Comes the Guide is how hard it is to get in the book. We know that any of the properties listed in Here Comes The Guide have been screened and have jumped through rigorous hoops to get their property listed in the book. Each property has lots of pictures and most have virtual tours on the website.  …Read more.

Couture Celebrations - Finding The Perfect Venue {Adobe PDF, 229KB}

Finding the Perfect Venue | Grey Likes Weddings

Finding the Perfect Venue March 10, 2011

I know when we started researching for my sister’s weddings, we spent tons of time combing through Here Comes the Guide. Nowadays, it’s also really helpful to use wedding blogs. But what else did you guys turn to for scouting out the …Read more.

Don’t Let a Wedding Scam Ruin Your Big Day | FoxBusiness.com

Don’t Let a Wedding Scam Ruin Your Big Day | FoxBusiness.com February 10, 2011

Your wedding day is supposed to be one of the happiest days in your life, and it doesn’t come cheap. But like most industries, the wedding industry contains unethical vendors and scams that can ruin the big day.…Read more.

Don’t Let a Wedding Scam Ruin Your Big Day | FoxBusiness.com {Adobe PDF, 328KB}

I Do: Wine Country Wedding Guide: Napa Valley

A wedding in wine country promises everything you’ve always wanted: Romantic photo ops among the vines, world-class food and wine, and access to some of the best hospitality perks you’ll find anywhere (reception in a wine cave, anyone?). But as every time-pressed bride-to-be also knows, sorting through the thousands of potential wine country wedding locations, packages and service providers is a task that’s likely to dampen even the most sturdy bridal spirits. Fortunately, we appealed to one of Northern California’s foremost experts on wedding planning, Jan Brenner of Here Comes The Guide to share her insights on some of the best-kept secrets in wine country weddings. So read on for the inside scoop on the topic - because we wouldn’t have anything dampen your anticipation of such a singularly special day!

I Do: Wine Country Wedding Guide: Napa Valley {Adobe PDF, 143KB}

Marin Brides Marry in Style

Marin Brides Marry in Style, January 2010

It’s not just about you,” Sonia Franco said when told that her only daughter, Clara, was planning on a low-key wedding. Clara and Adam had known each other since elementary school in Petaluma, and after being reunited post-college, where Adam hired Clara to work with him on the set of an indie horror film, they never wanted to be apart again. Saving for their future together, they assumed a big shindig wasn’t in the cards. Wrong. “I come from a big Latin family, and I’m the eldest granddaughter,” Clara notes. Flipping through Here Comes the Guide, imagining their friends and family in various picturesque settings, they were easily persuaded to change their minds.

Marin Brides Marry In Style {Adobe PDF, 143KB}

Wedding DNA

Wedding DNA, October 2009

If you live in Cali (yes, I know…nobody calls it “Cali”...just wanted to see if you were paying attention!), you really must check this latest resource I scouted out, Here Comes The Guide.

Wedding DNA {Adobe PDF, 143KB}

Pink Cloud Events

Pink Cloud Events August 2009

Pink Cloud Events says “Here Comes the Guide is a fantastic resource for finding the perfect wedding location, and that’s why we asked them to be a partner with Soi-Meme, our eco-bridal show.”

Weddings Galore: Word On The Web

Divine Caroline June 2009

Divine Caroline Link Love chose our article 9 Steps to Beautiful Wedding Day Hair as as part of their weekly round-up of great articles they find from around the Web.

Beware the attack of groomzilla.

San Francisco Chronicle May 31, 2009

“Overall, I’d say that the groom’s involvement is a very good thing,” says Jan Brenner, editor-in-chief of the Bay Area-based Here Comes the Guide print and online wedding resource. “There are women who don’t want their spouse involved because they don’t want to relinquish control. Others would love to have that partnership extend into the wedding planning. I know I would.”

Beware the attack of groomzilla {Adobe PDF, 346KB}

Men getting in on the engagment ring thing.

Miami Herald May 23, 2009

...When Lisa Edd‘s boyfriend proposed to her in 2001 with an opal ring, she happily accepted—then took him shopping for an engagement ring of his own. The couple settled on a simple silver band, which he wore during the long-distance engagement while Edd was at graduate school…Read more.

Maria Surfs The Web: Here Comes The Guide

MyFoxLA.com May 2009

“This is Here Comes the Guide and they offer a fantastic listing of wedding locations for all of California. They break them down by area, and many of them have a 360-degree virtual tour. That gives you an idea of where you might like to have the ceremony or the cocktail hour. Here Comes The Guide is also a great resource for all things wedding related…”

Location, location, location!

Basic guidelines are critical when choosing a wedding site, says Jolene Rae Harrington, director of creative content at Berkeley-based Here Comes The Guide. “Don’t just dive in without preparation! Identify the geographic region, the guest list size, and look at the overall budget to see how much you can afford for location rental and catering. Think about what type of event matches your wedding style. For example, are you nature-lovers? On rare occasions, a bride and groom might approach a place that doesn’t traditionally do events—one of my colleagues got married at she and her husband’s favorite pizza parlor, for example.”One popular trend is the destination weekend—an inn or resort—where guests can later enjoy several days of mini-events. Historic landmarks, yachts, museums and galleries are also “elegantly novel” locations for the special day. Vineyards are still popular, though wine regions beyond Napa and Sonoma—Lodi, Soledad and Temecula—are picking up steam. More unusual settings have been the slopes of Mammoth Mountain Resort; the redwood groves in Berkeley’s UC Botanical Gardens; even the San Francisco Zoo or Oakland’s Chabot Space and Science Center, which Harrington calls a pretty “out of this world” place to wed.“The possibilities are only limited by your imagination and budget,” she says. “[But] unless you are working with an experienced wedding coordinator, you’ll need to do some research if you are choosing an unconventional location. Insurance, alcohol restrictions, décor policies and other considerations come into play. However, many non-hotel locations routinely rent out their locations [and] most have professional banquet staff who have covered many of these bases for you.”

Location, location, location! Solano Magazine {Adobe PDF, 143KB}

Wedding Industry Slims Down in 2009

Long Beach Business Journal February 2009

“...It’s a bride’s market,” she [Jolene Rae Harrington] says. “Smart shopping is going to save you money in the long run. On our Web site, we have a series called Questions to Ask, focused on each particular aspect of your event, where we’ve broken down what you look for in a contract, ways to save yourself money and make sure you’re getting what you pay for. And now more than ever in this economy, it pays to do your homework.”

*Wedding Industry Slims Down in 2009* {Adobe PDF, 260KB}

King of Hearts

LACar.com February 2009

_“More goodies are on hand from Clara Kasavina Collection, EJ Diamonds, RYN Footwear, Green Apple, It Works!, Secret Spa, Aglow Candles, The Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa and The Golden Door, and Premium Natural Spring Water. Plus attending celebs are treated to gifts from Cadillac Fragrance For Men, True Religion Fragrance for Women, Olivier Napa Valley, Zevia Soda, Here Comes The Guide, Sedona Rouge by Body Bliss, Indira Jewelry, Lane Bryant, Bestow Boutique, Juan Juan, and from ‘bee to you,’ Honey Pacifica gourmet honey to satisfy any romantic.”

King of Hearts {Adobe PDF, 260KB}

Old, Borrowed, New, Green?

The Monthly February 2008

Jolene Rae Harrington, Director of Creative Content at the wedding resource book Here Comes the Guide, observes that green weddings come about in two ways. Some couples are “deep green,” already thinking about eco-friendly choices when they begin to plan. Others stumble across the concept and make a few green choices that will have an overall effect on the party. “It’s important for all of these couples to understand that even a few small choices can have a major impact on the wedding industry,” Harrington says. “Vendors and locations are responsive to customer demand. It’s a ripple effect.”

Old, New, Borrowed, Green? {Adobe PDF, 260KB}

Couples Are Finding Ways To Cut Costs

Los Angeles Times August 27, 2008

“There’s no question that the recession has affected the wedding industry,” said Jolene Rae Harrington, director of creative content at Here Comes The Guide, a wedding planning resource. “Brides still want to realize their wedding dream—they just need to be more creative in how they achieve it.” Read more.

Tying The Knot On A Shoestring Budget {Adobe PDF, 260KB}

Destination Divas Find Top California Spas

Destination I Do magazine, by Carolyn Gerin and Jolene Rae Harrington. 2008.

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