Eliciting Exquisite Events
BY BARBARA DALY
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It takes an extravagant imagination and calm nerves to plan a wedding for a bride living in Sweden, a groom living in Chicago, parents of the groom in Lodi and 600 invited guests flying in from all over the globe.
But this is just another day in the life of Stockton event planner Bridget Kresky, who has been planning elaborate celebrations since 1981.
“If you really listen to people, you can learn a lot about them and what their true desires are. Then, together we create a vision for the event,” says Bridget. For Jennifer Touma and Dr. David Sorour, that meant the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco for the wedding ceremony, the Fairmont Hotel’s Crystal Room for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by the Gold Room for a formal dinner and dancing.
Jennifer wanted a “Grace Kelly” wedding, and Bridget was the ideal person to elicit that ambiance. Having grown up in Los Angeles with parents in the movie industry, she knew just where to turn for ideas that would help create Jennifer’s dream wedding.
“Bridget seemed to have been sent from heaven above,” says Jennifer. “She knew exactly what I wanted and how to get it. She’d always say, ‘Don’t worry about anything, I’m going to take care of it.’”
The exquisite elegance that would be Jennifer and David’s timeless wedding included Stockton’s celebrated florist, Dennis Specht, owner of Cazale’s Flower Shop. “I like working with Dennis, and appreciate the quality of his work,” says Bridget, who prefers to use San Joaquin County vendors whenever possible. Paper Plum was tapped for the invitations; Maxine’s Bridal Shop for the flower girls’ dresses, and Erin Capps of Woodbridge provided the calligraphy.
“Bridget was able to incorporate everything I wanted and then some, creating a day more wonderful than I could have even imagined,” exclaims Jennifer.
Throughout the years Bridget has not only planned gorgeous weddings like Jennifer’s, but also adds her flair to fundraisers, anniversary parties, baby showers, and other such celebrations. She has experienced strong and weak economic times, and thrives on the creativity that every event presents.
Bridget’s attention to detail, organizational skills and calm demeanor have attributed to her success in this high-pressure field. Her motto is to never leave anything to chance, and will check every detail herself.
“She was a counselor, a shoulder to cry on, a mother. She was everything to me during the wedding planning, and now I have a friend for life,” says Jennifer.
With the cathedral bells ringing, Jennifer and David slipped into a Rolls-Royce convertible and embarked on their lives together as a married couple in Lodi. Bridget, satisfied with another successful event, returned to her Stockton home to prepare for her next elegantly creative endeavor.
The Wedding
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
The Reception
Cocktail reception: The Fairmont, Crystal Room
Dinner and dancing: The Fairmont, Gold Room
Wedding coordinator
Bridget Kretsky, Stockton
Flowers
Dennis Specht, Cazale’s Flower Shop, Stockton
Favors
Judy Goldstrand, Chocolate a la
Cart, Stockton
Invitations
Paper Plum, Stockton
Calligraphy
Erin Capps, Woodbridge
Dancing lessons
Ballroom Bootcamp, Stockton
But this is just another day in the life of Stockton event planner Bridget Kresky, who has been planning elaborate celebrations since 1981.
“If you really listen to people, you can learn a lot about them and what their true desires are. Then, together we create a vision for the event,” says Bridget. For Jennifer Touma and Dr. David Sorour, that meant the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco for the wedding ceremony, the Fairmont Hotel’s Crystal Room for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by the Gold Room for a formal dinner and dancing.
Jennifer wanted a “Grace Kelly” wedding, and Bridget was the ideal person to elicit that ambiance. Having grown up in Los Angeles with parents in the movie industry, she knew just where to turn for ideas that would help create Jennifer’s dream wedding.
“Bridget seemed to have been sent from heaven above,” says Jennifer. “She knew exactly what I wanted and how to get it. She’d always say, ‘Don’t worry about anything, I’m going to take care of it.’”
The exquisite elegance that would be Jennifer and David’s timeless wedding included Stockton’s celebrated florist, Dennis Specht, owner of Cazale’s Flower Shop. “I like working with Dennis, and appreciate the quality of his work,” says Bridget, who prefers to use San Joaquin County vendors whenever possible. Paper Plum was tapped for the invitations; Maxine’s Bridal Shop for the flower girls’ dresses, and Erin Capps of Woodbridge provided the calligraphy.
“Bridget was able to incorporate everything I wanted and then some, creating a day more wonderful than I could have even imagined,” exclaims Jennifer.
Throughout the years Bridget has not only planned gorgeous weddings like Jennifer’s, but also adds her flair to fundraisers, anniversary parties, baby showers, and other such celebrations. She has experienced strong and weak economic times, and thrives on the creativity that every event presents.
Bridget’s attention to detail, organizational skills and calm demeanor have attributed to her success in this high-pressure field. Her motto is to never leave anything to chance, and will check every detail herself.
“She was a counselor, a shoulder to cry on, a mother. She was everything to me during the wedding planning, and now I have a friend for life,” says Jennifer.
With the cathedral bells ringing, Jennifer and David slipped into a Rolls-Royce convertible and embarked on their lives together as a married couple in Lodi. Bridget, satisfied with another successful event, returned to her Stockton home to prepare for her next elegantly creative endeavor.
The Wedding
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
The Reception
Cocktail reception: The Fairmont, Crystal Room
Dinner and dancing: The Fairmont, Gold Room
Wedding coordinator
Bridget Kretsky, Stockton
Flowers
Dennis Specht, Cazale’s Flower Shop, Stockton
Favors
Judy Goldstrand, Chocolate a la
Cart, Stockton
Invitations
Paper Plum, Stockton
Calligraphy
Erin Capps, Woodbridge
Dancing lessons
Ballroom Bootcamp, Stockton