Monday, May 5, 2014

Jennifer & Mike 4-26-14

There are so many things I love about doing weddings but I think what rates right around the top is when a very dear friend comes to me to plan her wedding.  Jennifer is much younger than me but we became instant friends thanks to hanging out with her Aunt Linnie (aka my precious friend Malinda).  I have loved this sweet girl for years so when she got engaged to Mike, I could hardly contain my excitement.  We literally hooped and hollered for joy!   
Mike and Jennifer got engaged at Christmas so around the first of January we started the planning process.  When we first met we sat at Malinda's kitchen table in close proximity to the site where Jennifer was envisioning the wedding, Malinda's back yard.  Well this just isn't any backyard, this one is a beauty.  This backyard sits on the shores of Lake Lanier in a cove with a gentle slope to the water.  And there's a tree.  Oh is there a tree.  Jennifer saw herself becoming a bride in that spot.  So let me tell you, right then and there we started praying for beautiful weather.  And God is so good.  He gave us the most beautiful day I think I have ever seen. 
Jennifer took my breath away when she walked out in her gown.  She is a stunner anyway but that day ... wow, she was glowing.  I loved that this girl loves color.  So many times we don't see a lot of color in weddings, which is fine.  But when you see some bridesmaids in bright pink with colorful statement jewelry, well it just so pretty.  Jennifer's grandmother lives next door to Malinda and has several gigantic snowball bushes.  And as God would give it, those big blooms came out just in time to be picked for the bouquets and table arrangements. 
I am so thankful to be a part of this wonderful day in the life of my friend. 


The reception was on Jennifer's grandparent's lawn.   The most perfect spot for dinner and dancing! 


A wedding day sure is busy and you don't always get the photos you would like to get.  I so wish I had gotten a photo with the flowers on the tables.  It was a beautiful site to behold.  
Congratulations Jennifer and Mike! 

Friday, April 11, 2014

Lori & Andrew 4-5-14

Last Saturday was a perfect day for a wedding!  This special day for Lori and Andrew was held at the Chattahoochee Country Club.  With the ceremony on the lawn; cocktail hour in the patio pavilion and the reception in the ballroom, it was wonderful from beginning to end! 

Here are a few photos - enjoy the beauty!








Friday, February 14, 2014

Bridal Expo 2014

We had the best time at Gainesville's Bridal Expo 2014!  Here are a few photos from our Booth as well as our Be Inspired Tables. Many thanks to those who contributed to our Be Inspired tables:  Mary Stanford Florals;  Tiger Lily Invitations; Cover Ups Linens and M&R Rentals (gold chiavari chairs).  We appreciate them so much!

Our Wonderful Events Booth!





We had to include this pillow as it was a thank you gift from one of our very special brides and her mom.  We just love it! 


 Be Inspired Tables:

"Autumn Sunset" featured a color palette of Robin's Egg Blue and Deep Red. We added a few little extra touches on this table:  red pumps, a red tie and of course, a red velvet cake!  Such a gorgeous combination!




We titled this table Southern Elegance.  So many of our brides love the simplicity of ivory and gold for their color palette.  Stunning white hydrangas; a beautiful gold and ivory specialty linen; gold chiavari chairs; and vintage ivory dishes.  







Over the years, we've had the opportunity to assist many brides getting married at the wineries in our North Georgia Mountains.  This Be Inspired Tables featured a color palette suited for such weddings: deep eggplant purple and bright green. 



Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Why Hire a Wedding Planner?


Why Hire a Wedding Planner?!

Congratulations!  You have been dreaming of this day for years!  The dress, the ring, the flowers, the food . . . and of course, the groom!  And now the time has arrived.  Planning a wedding involves lots of elements and requires a lot of detail management.  Much like the making of a movie, the wedding has to be produced, scripted, edited and directed.  And you get to be the star!!  The star, however, cannot produce, edit, direct and run interference for all of the details on the wedding day.  As the one who can do these things, your wedding planner is your most valuable asset! 

Reason 1:  We’re your “go to” girls!  Your wedding planner brings the best of the best to the table.  While you are in the wedding zone for a year or so, your planner never leaves it.  We are familiar with venues and vendors.  We are constantly exposed to and researching the newest wedding trends and ideas in the industry, as well as being well versed in wedding etiquette and traditions.

 Reason 2:  Tie it up with a bow!  Need someone to pull all of your ideas together and make it into something fabulous that is uniquely yours?  Someone who will incorporate your vision into flowers, décor, and more?  Let us help with that!  There are so many options available to brides today that it can make your head spin.  We won’t push our ideas on you.  We are here to advise and assist you so that your wants and desires become your reality! 

Reason 3:  Don’t break the bank! Think you don’t have the extra money to hire a planner?  Well, that may not be true.  I don’t know how many times we’ve heard “Wonderful Events was the best money we spent on this wedding.”  Hiring a planner saves you time, stress and money.  We not only provide you a much needed service, but we can sometimes save you money by negotiating contracts with vendors and keep you on track with your wedding budget.    

Reason 4:  Frazzled is not fabulous!  You’ve probably watched enough of those reality television shows to know that stress levels and tensions run high during the wedding and the days leading up to it.  We are your stress relievers.  One mother, whose second child was getting married, told us that she had learned her lesson the first time.  Without a planner then, she was stressed about the details and actually missed a very important moment with her daughter.  Please don’t let that happen.  Let us carry the weight of the vast amount of details that accompany one of the biggest days in the life of your family.    Believe it or not, it’s actually what we love to do!

Reason 5:  Love will keep us together!  Please don’t ask your friends and relatives to work on your wedding day!  While you may have the best girlfriends, aunts, sisters and mother ever, it really isn’t fair to ask them to do all the work on your special day!  They’ve probably already gone above and beyond by attending showers and luncheons, tying bows on favors, stuffing invitations, and the list could go on.  Just let them enjoy the wedding bliss and dance at the reception without a checklist of things to do. 

Reason 6:  Does anybody really know what time it is?  Let us create that timeline for you.  One bride said “Who wants to think about these boring things?  I just want to get married!”  Actually, you might not get married if the minister does not show up on time.  Timelines for your wedding are critical because everyone needs to know when to arrive and where to be.  Otherwise, things could become extremely disorganized, may not run smoothly and might even begin running behind.  You really don’t want to still be taking photographs when your guests begin arriving because you had to wait on that late groomsman.    Creating a schedule is extremely important to creating a seamless day. 

Reason 7:  It’s an Emergency!  We don’t go anywhere without our Wedding Day Emergency Kit!  We really hate to tell you this, but something may not go as planned on your wedding day.  A groomsman might forget his socks; a bridesmaid might need a bobby pin; someone might have a headache; the florist might not light the candles.   Those things just happen.  We’ve seen it . . . and we are prepared!! We’ve even super-glued a bridesmaid’s dress right before she walked down the aisle that was torn by her heel during pictures.   We have a full-to-the-brim bag of everything imaginable.  You’ll be glad we brought it along! 

Reason 8:  Meet in the Middle!  We are your middlemen (women)!  Instead of every vendor and wedding party member coming to you or your mother with their questions, concerns and suggestions, they can come to us and we will handle those for you.  Before your wedding, we sit down and go over  all of the intricate details involved for that day.  We are informed and engaged in all aspects of the wedding weekend.    For example:  We recently arrived at a reception venue only to learn from the caterer that that the champagne for the Bride and Groom’s toast had not made it with the delivery.  What to do?  We took care of it.  We ran out, bought a chilled bottle and no one ever knew.  What if that bride hadn’t hired us?  There would have been no champagne toast for that special couple.

Reason 9:  Taking care of business!  Your venue will likely have an event manager.  Their job is to oversee the wedding details related to their venue.  And they do a great job.  But keep in mind that 90% of the details of your wedding do not involve the venue.   The event manager is responsible for their site and cannot be held accountable for the details of your wedding.  We’re here to confirm everything arrives on time and is completed to your satisfaction.

Reason 10:  Mini-Me!  Think of us that way.   We are an extension of you.  When you decide to hire a wedding planner, confirm that they offer a complimentary consultation.  And use it!  Sit down and talk with them to make sure that they are a good fit as far as personality and expectations.  That way, when your wedding day arrives you will have chosen the perfect planner for your wonderful event!

Call us today!  We would love to serve you!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Brides Against Breast Cancer

You're Invited To

A Party With A Purpose

Sunday, August 22, 2010 from 1:00pm ’til 5:00pm
at Chattahoochee Country Club
3000 Club Drive • Gainesville, GA 30506

a Bridal Show to Benefit
Brides Against Breast Cancer and Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation

There will be a Wedding Cake Challenge judged by members of ISES (like seen on Food Network)

Live Entertainment

Culinary Extravaganza provided by master chefs and catering professionals

A Silent Auction to benefit BABC and MM to include couture gowns, jewelry, photography packages, honeymoon packages, wedding cake certificates, spa packages and golf packages for the grooms.

SSE along with several wedding professionals will be giving away an entire wedding and honeymoon package to a bride that is currently or has suffered from breast cancer. You may nominate a bride by sending an email to Sales@SoireesSouthernEvents.com

$15 per person

Please contact Sherri Christensen at 770-654-9789 or email Sales@SoireesSouthernEvents.com for more information or ticket purchases.

You may also purchase tickets at these vendor locations:

Christi’s Bridal and Formal Wear in Dawsonville, GA or
Wonderful Events and Celebrations on the Square, Downtown Gainesville, GA

Event Sponsored by:
Soirees Southern Events
Brides Against Breast Cancer
Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation
Wonderful Events and Celebrations
Chattahoochee Country Club
Carter Elite Studio
Christi’s Bridal & Formal Wear