Coffee Break

Southern California’s Most Romantic Places for Summer Lovin’

Looking for a romantic place to pop the question, celebrate your engagement or simply enjoy quality time with your better half, your main squeeze, you know, the one you can’t live without? Then do check our list of the most amorous hot spots in Southern California. (Hey, we’re trying to help you two create a night or day to remember! Fireworks, sparks, butterflies, dreamy eyes, hugs & kisses, tears of joy. Get the picture?)

Beautiful Skyline of Downtown Los Angeles

Exposition Park
has an amazing 7.5-acre rose garden with nearly 16,000 rose bushes. Propose to her with 11 red roses and one rose of her favorite color. There is always one in every bunch that stands out. What a way to tell her she is the one!

The Japanese Garden
is a small enclave in the San Fernando Valley. This authentic 6.5-acre Japanese garden provides natural beauty in a peaceful atmosphere. You are sure to find the perfect place to pop the question here, but just in case you need somewhere to start, check out the bridge!

A Zen Experience At The Japanese Gardens

Other romantic gardens in Los Angeles can be found at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge, the Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino, and the Los Angeles Arboretum in Arcadia.

Can’t make it to Italy?
Check out the garden at the romantic Il Cielo Restaurant in Beverly Hills. Call ahead and ask to eat outside on the Terrace under the stars. This is by far one of the most romantic places to propose.

Mulholland Drive
Any of the “lookout” points on Mulholland Drive are perfect spots to pop the question as you both gaze out over the city. If this is the spot of choice for this special moment, be sure to ask about our lighted box – perfect for a night proposal.

View From The Hills of Mulholland Drive

Beaches of Los Angeles
You can’t go wrong at any of the picturesque beaches of Los Angeles. A special dinner, followed by a walk on the beach pier, provides the perfect opportunity to propose or just celebrate your love.

Ferris Wheel
For a truly memorable proposal, check out the famous Ferris Wheel on the Santa Monica Pier.

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

Other Los Angeles areas

Gondola Ride in Naples–Long Beach
The Standard Hotel–rooftop bar
The Grove (shops, restaurants, movie theater)
Larchmont Village (shops & restaurants)
Castaway restaurant–Burbank
Hotel Bel Air
Crustacean restaurant–Beverly Hills
Yamashiro restaurant–Hollywood
Moonshadows Malibu
Point Dume–Malibu

Orange County Can Be A Great Place for Romantics Too! Enjoy a date night or create the perfect marriage proposal at a beautiful resort or on the beach, or how about the happiest place on earth??

Magical Proposal at Disneyland

Spectacular hotels in Orange County that offer first-class proposals include Surf and Sand Resort, Montage Laguna Beach, Ritz Carlton, Balboa Bay Club Newport Beach and the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach.

View from Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel

Dana Point Beaches
Along the coast of Orange County are some spectacular beaches that feel private and secluded. Get away from the city life and spend the special day walking along the coast, hearing the sound of waves and feeling the sand under your feet. As the sun sets, be ready to seal the deal with a passionate kiss as if no one is watching.

Gondola Rides In Newport Beach
Take a journey that is reminiscent of the canals in Venice, Italy. Newport Beach has gondola rides that are private and romantic overlooking the beautiful bay. Imagine the sparkle of the diamond engagement ring under the twilight as you propose and celebrate the occasion intimately with a champagne toast.

Romantic Gondola Cruises of Newport Beach

We’ll discuss San Diego and the Inland Empire in another post! Any suggestions for places that must make the list??

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Why Did I Get Married?

I saw Steve Harvey’s #1 box office movie Think Like A Man this weekend and now I have dating and relationship stuff on the brain! I thought the movie was great. Really funny and entertaining, plus my former clients Taraji P. Henson and Sherri Shepherd are both in it so I had to support the ladies. Although I didn’t really need a book to tell me how men think (some of those tips are basic–haha!), it’s always refreshing to be reminded. After seeing the movie I started pondering, “Why do I really want to get married??”….because I do.

Hence today’s Coffee Break with Tracey & Shulie. Why exactly do people get married? Is it really all about LOVE….or no? Let us know what you think.

Tracey Lyles and Shulie Lo of Robbins Brothers Discuss Why People Get Married.

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Glamour Magazine Blogger Kim Fusaro Talks Dating, Rings and Weddings

Kim Fusaro, blogger for Glamour magazine’s Save the Date took a few moments to indulge in girl talk with me. We covered it all (including sex)! She’s so much fun with great advice for brides-to-be. Take notes ladies, and gentlemen too.

Best dating advice for single ladies searching for a man to put a ring on it?

Ladies Try on Engagement Rings at Robbins Brothers Glendale

Get out there! You never know where you’re going to meet someone, but unless you’re into Chinese-food delivery men or meter-readers, you’re probably not going to meet someone while you’re sitting on your couch. That said, online dating is a total DO. (My oldest friend met her wonderful husband on Match!) But you should still leave the house every now and then.

Tell us about the most unique marriage proposal you’ve ever heard of?
My own! (Sorry, I’m probably biased.) My husband and I met on Halloween in 2003, had one bad date, then I basically begged him to come to my Halloween party in 2005. (My best friend was dating a friend of his, and she said we had to give it another shot—she was right!) He came to the party and proposed on Halloween in 2007—in a moose suit! Here’s my proposal story. Aside from my own, this one makes me weak in the knees. I also love this one, which is so simple but so sweet.

What are your favorite engagement ring styles?
I was really into vintage-y, antique engagement rings for a while, and while I still love those, I’m gravitating toward simple, classic styles lately. I was just chatting with a friend about how perfect a round solitaire can be. I’m also really into East-West (or horizontal or side-set) stones right now, which very few designers do, but I just adore it!

Which celebrity couple do you predict will get engaged next? (Please don’t say Kim and Kanye)
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds! I know it’s a long shot, but that will make it even more dramatic when I’m right. :)

Celibacy until marriage. Yay or Nay?
It wasn’t something I was interested in. (I didn’t get married until I was 31!) But if it’s something that’s important to the bride or groom (or both of them) I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. That said, I wrote this post about a couple that waited and it was tough for them once they started having sex. I mean, think about how awkward and not-so-great sex can be in the beginning (especially the VERY beginning) but now you’ve put it off and built it up to be this huge thing that’s supposed to be AMAZING and AWESOME—and it’s probably not going to be for a while.

When it comes to planning the perfect wedding, what 3 important tips do you offer the bride-to-be?

1) The second you get engaged, people are going to start asking “When’s the wedding?” “Have you registered yet?” “Should I save the date??!” (People are so rude!) I think this ruins the “being engaged” part for a lot of couples, who feel pressured to dive into wedding planning. I tell newly engaged couples this: Pick a point in the future, say, next season, and tell anyone who asks, “We’re just going to enjoy being engaged for now. We’re not going to start planning anything until the fall.”

2) There’s no way you’re going to make everyone happy, so focus on doing what makes you and your groom happy. Practice saying, “We’re planning a wedding that reflects us and the things we love. If you don’t have anything nice to say, I’d rather not hear your opinions.” Surround yourself with people who DON’T stress you out!

3) Pick a color palette early. It will make everything else SO much easier. (Instead of choosing from 60 bajillion wedding invitations, you can focus on the ones that are just, say light blue and gold, or whatever your colors are!) And once your wedding rolls around, having a cohesive color palette will make the day look more pulled together.

Top places to travel on a Honeymoon?

We went to Italy, which I adored. If I had the time and money for a second honeymoon, I think I’d park myself (and my husband!) on a beach for two weeks. Maybe Fiji!

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Newlywed Sherri Shepherd Is A Dancing Star

The View co-host Sherri Shepherd flashes princess cut engagement ring on the set.

I’m so excited to watch tonight’s Dancing with the Stars premiere! Some of my favorite celebrities, including dear friend and newlywed Sherri Shepherd, will show off fancy footwork in hopes of winning that coveted Crystal Ball trophy.

Sherri, a dancing princess indeed who currently rocks a stunning princess cut engagement ring from new hubby Lamar ‘Sal’ Sally has all my votes (phone, texts, etc)! But I’ll be cheering on the other contestants as well–good luck Jack Wagner, Gladys Knight, Maria Menounos and Jaleel White (we attended UCLA together).

Tracey Lyles & Sherri Shepherd at Niecy Nash's wedding in 2011.

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Battle of the Engagement Rings! Coast Diamond and Verragio

Shulie and I update our Robbins Brothers Wish List periodically, and today is the showdown of the NEXT ring we’ll add to that coveted go-to guide for our future hubbys (wink wink). We’ve even asked Facebook fans to weigh in with their fashion savvy votes.

Which ring will come out on top? Tracey’s regal round halo from Coast Diamond or Shulie’s pretty princess halo from Verragio? Decisions, decisions. Vote now and see what others like.

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