soiréebliss!

The BEST Wedding Video Ever: "Dirty Bit" by Black Eye Peas

2011-09-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

When visiting one of my favorite florist's (Petals by Design) blog, I had the opportunity to watch what has to be one of the ABSOLUTE BEST wedding videos. (Link to video) I've watched it 3 times now and continually laugh just as much as the first time. If you love Black Eye Peas, you will love it too.....

What a fabulous way to start a Monday. Enjoy!

Samantha Darr

Reception Design Elements: Chivari Chairs Finish Off a Tablescape

2011-08-16T14:18:00.001-07:00

If you're like most, you absolutely LOVE chivari chairs. They are 100% more appealing than your standard ballroom chair and add that perfect last touch to your reception table design. For those who are interested in a more contemporary design, chivaris are available in black, silver, clear (ice) and white. How can you go wrong?

While most venues provide chairs, they are less than exciting. You may opt to cover them or even make due with them. They just lack the same "POP" a chivari chair adds to the overall event.

If you are one of those Bride's who are lusting for chivari chairs, I have good news for you. For a limited time, A Finer Event in Houston is offering them at $6.40/chair (order must be placed and paid in full in the month of August. Must be used for an event on or before Dec 31st). They have 7 different colors. Book your appointment today to have your dream chairs.

Blissfully Inspired!

Samantha Darr

formspring.me

2011-08-06T09:27:00.001-07:00

Anything related to wedding planning or philanthropic events http://formspring.me/Soireebliss1

Client Review: Congratulations Mike & JoAnne

2011-07-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

This has been such a good week!! There's nothing better than receiving such wonderful reviews from my clients. This particular one truly brought tears to know I had made such a positive impact on a couple's life. I look forward to sharing their wedding pictures soon.

Blissfully Inspired!

Samantha Darr

Why I Love My Job: Client Review

2011-07-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

As an event planner, the most enjoyable projects are those when clients hire me to plan/assist them in planning their wedding day. Even after years of planning events, I still wake up each morning of a wedding feeling the giddy/nervous excitement with butterflies. Wedding day is the Super Bowl of wedding planning. I always feel the buzz of excitement as the details start to come together during the set-up. It's truly what I was born to do and truly love seeing couples happy at the end of the day.

Recently, I had the absolutely pleasure of working with Lindie and Roman to create the perfect combination of their heritages; Irish Catholic and Jewish Russian. While it sounds challenging, we were able to find the perfect balance for Roman and Lindie. My heart burst with happiness to know just how much they loved working with SB! Here's what they had to say: (to read all of our client reviews, please visit WeddingWire.com)

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I was required by my venue to hire a wedding coordinator for the night, as they did not offer that service.... after researching all the top reviewed wedding coordinators in Houston i put them all in to a spreadsheet for me to compare pricing with the services they offered. Samantha with SoireeBliss Events was immediately at the top of my list with all she offered in her packages along with the pricing. After talking to her on the phone I knew she was the one. When i went in for our first consultation meeting, me and my husband were immediately put at ease. Samantha was exactly what we were looking for: well known/respected in the Houston wedding community, warm/caring yet very professional, and affordable. She immediately asked us our story and how he proposed, which made us feel special, like she really cared. We decided to go with her "Day of Management" package which only required her really to be there the day of to make sure everything ran smoothly, so i figured we wouldn't hear from her very much until closer to the wedding. I was very pleasantly wrong. Samantha was there every step of the way for any question i had, which sometimes i am sure was overbearing with my type A personality. She always made me feel as if it was no problem at all and quickly responded to any questions i had. Even when i had some issues getting in contact or timely responses with some of my other vendors, Samantha would immediately contact them and have a response for me usually within the same day, as all the vendors respect her. Samantha made our timeline for the evening, and it was literally down to the minute.... HER TIMELINE ALONE IS ONE OF THE MANY REASONS YOU SHOULD HIRE HER. Samantha definitely went above and beyond with helping with the setup, as we had a lot of DIY and extras to add around the reception room. I am so happy that the venue required a wedding coordinator, as i can't imagine going through that day without her. Everything went pretty flawlessly, all thanks to her. There were a few hiccups, but she never told me anything about them, i only heard later, which i am very greatful for as well because i was able to enjoy my day stress free. I would recommend Samantha to EVERY bride.. if you don't think you need a wedding coordinator and can do it all yourself, rethink that decision. :) If you are looking for someone affordable, very professional and efficient, that will make your day stress free for you to focus on YOUR day, instead of trying to make sure your timeline is followed, then Samantha and the SoireeBliss! team is who you need!!!
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I can not wait to share the pictures from their wedding at the Petroleum Club Houston. In the mean time, here are a few of their engagement pictures (Photography: Joshua Tyi Photography)

Blissfully Inspired!

Samantha Darr, Owner

The Sweetest Engagement Story: Starbucks Preposal

2011-07-27T04:48:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I have a deep love for coffee and Starbucks. As I was zipping through some of my favorite industry blogs, I came to a post on Green Wedding Shoes that I just had to post. I have to say that in the past 3.5 years of wedding planning, there have not been two guys who have proposed the same way. Each engagement reflects the personality of the couple. For this romantic guy, he truly takes the cake on originality.

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Blog Post: Green Wedding ShoesDate: June 23rd

A Starbucks Proposal Story
Thursday, June, 23, 2011

Photo Credit: Mikaela

I love a good proposal story, who doesn’t?! Today, I’m sharing two super creative proposals. The first is the proposal of Mikaela and Shane. Their first date was at a Starbucks, so Shane decided to build a Starbucks in the woods – seriously! Wait until you see it! Shane told Mikaela (who is a photographer) that they were going on a photo field trip to this great place he discovered, well he led her to a clearing in the woods and had Mikaela close her eyes. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw this…

From Mikaela, “The moment I was allowed to open my eyes is a moment that will be burned into my memory forever. It was the most peculiar feeling to see something so unexpected, so creatively carried out, something that took weeks and hours to plan, for me. For this moment. For us. Surreal.

Starbucks in the woods. Our Starbucks, our first date in those two comfy chairs, with our same two drinks – a passion tea lemonade and a green tea lemonade, and that fruit bar Shane had as well. A homemade candle in a Starbucks sample cup flickered, the prettiest bouquet of pink peonies, and music playing in the background. We sat, me in stunned silence and broken sentences. Knowing what would most likely come next, but not daring to think it, at the same time. Derrick ran by in the corner of my eye, leaving behind a video camera, while I caught someone taking photos in the bushes! Another video camera on a table! Crap, why didn’t I wear my contacts tonight, why the glasses? And off they came :) Then Shane pulled out a ring box and said those words and it happened.

‘Ever since our first date I knew you were the one… I fall more and more in love with you each day… Mikaela Ruth, will you marry me?’

He says there was a pause before I said yes! Of course! And then I dropped to the ground to be close to him and to hug him and he slipped the ring on to my finger.”

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If you are in the midst of working on the "Big" proposal for your soon-to-be fiance, having an hour consultation with a wedding planner to advise you on how to bring the concepts and thoughts together would reduce the stress. If you need assistance in executing the plan, this would be a simple task for any professional planner. For me, this is one of the absolute most thrilling opportunities. I'm such a romantic at heart!!!

Happy Planning,

Samantha Darr

Client Review: Congratulations Kristi & Brad

2011-04-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

When a couple hires me to assist them with their wedding; whether it be full planning or as simple as event day management, it never fails to make me feel truly honored to be entrusted with something so precious. Without sounding too overly romantic or dramatic, a couple's wedding day is a memory they will cherish, re-tell, reminisce over and dream about for many years to come during anniversaries, with grandchildren and even in their old age when one has passes. Ensuring that a couple's wedding day is perfect for them is truly a fulfilling career. Yes, as you may have quickly learned, I am a romantic at heart!

One of my most favorite couple's; Kristi & Brad, recently left us a review on WeddingWire which brought me to tears. The words were so moving knowing that I made such an impact on their wedding and for many years to come. Congratulations Kristi & Brad!!!

Here's what they had to say: "There will never be enough words to express how awesome Samantha Darr and her team of Soireebliss are. From the moment I met Samantha, I felt extremely comfortable talking to her - like she was a great friend I had known for many years. Of course this was our first meeting but her warmth and enthusiasm for planning events came across and put me at ease right away. The first question she asked my (now) husband and I was - "would you mind telling me how you got engaged?" I instantly thought, wow...she really wants to get to know us and know the background on how we fell in love. It was an instant feeling of "bliss" from that point forward. As much as I wanted to hire Samantha for the entire event, I didn't think Brad and I would be able to afford it BUT Samantha worked effortlessly with our budget which we are still extremely thankful for. There is no way we could have had our dream wedding without her experience, suggestions, and expertise. Throughout the planning processing, I had unlimited access by phone and email to Samantha. I'm sure at times I went overboard (I have a type A personality) but she never made me feel like I was a bother. She always took time to call, email, or make appointments to make sure my ideas for the BIG day were being put into place how we envisioned. The wedding day was one of the easiest days of my life. I know some of you may think I am overexaggerating but if you ask anyone in my wedding party what my mood was like that day, they will all tell you I was extremely relaxed (without alcohol) and more than ecstatic. I'll even go as far as to show pictures of our getting ready process so you can see how much fun and laughter we had that day! :) You can't go wrong hiring Samantha for your wedding day (or any event). She is meticulous with every aspect of the planning and executing process. I sincerely and whole-hearted recommend Soireebliss to anyone wanting an unforgettable experience. Samantha, Brad and I will forever be grateful to you for creating such a warm, inviting, fun, and loving atmosphere for us and our guests. We can never thank you enough!!

xoxoxox - Mr. & Mrs. Brad Martin"

Event Ingredients:
Venue: North Gate Country Club
Ceremony & Reception Music: Space City DJ
Deserts: Cakes by Gina
Photography: Jesus Gonzalez Photography
Flowers by Scott
Linens & Ceiling Draping: Elegant Beginnings
Custom Stationary: Soireebliss! Events

Samantha Darr
Lead Event Director

Client Review: Congratulations Rian & Gavin!

2011-04-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

At every event, I always have guests approach me at a wedding or event which I am managing to thank me for doing such a wonderful job. Often times they say it has been the best one they have attended or the smoothest or most successful. At that one moment, my heart sours and I forget that maybe I am running on pure RedBull as I had no time for lunch or dinner or that my feet have been aching for the past 2 hours. For them, they danced the night away, met their fundraising goal or are the parents of the bride who enjoyed the day stress-free.

Don't get me wrong, compliments such as this is wonderful. I love the feedbacl. But, in the end, what truly matters most to me is that the client is happy. They are why I love what I do and why I work so hard. Please let me share with you a review from one of our most recent clients:

"Samantha Darr, owner of Soireebliss! Events was amazing! I truly mean it when I say that I could not have pulled the wedding off so flawlessly without her. The timeline she put together for me was perfect, and it made the wedding flow effortlessly. I can not even begin to tell you how many comments I received from guests that said it was one of the best weddings they had ever been to, and I completely attribute this to how perfectly Samantha kept the pace and the momentum of the wedding going. And more importantly, she took care of all the details before the ceremony and setting up for the reception, and executed them exactly how I wanted so I didn't have to worry about a thing except getting dressed. I would recommend her to any bride who wants to have an amazing wedding!"

Do I Need Event Day Coordination?

2011-04-21T05:35:00.000-07:00

My answer to this questions is always, 100% of the time Absolutely, YES! Doesn't matter if you are hosting a fundraising gala, corporate event or wedding, you need to have one person who can be behind the scenes solely dedicated to running the logistics, set-up, trouble-shooting problems, directing vendors and volunteers and answering last minute questions. Have you heard the phrase "too many cooks in the kitchen"? Without an Event Day Coordinator, you will be assured problems, conflict and stress if you leave to many people in charge to handle the execution whether it be friends, family and volunteers.

"Day Of Wedding" or "Month Of Wedding" coordinators can be hired for your wedding day at any time during the planning process and will generally begin working with you as early as 90 days to the week of your wedding or event. At this point the coordinator (or Event Director as I like to call myself) will assist you in pulling together a customized itinerary, confirm vendor commitments, discuss set-up details, and cross check outstanding balances, last minute decisions, and services that you have already contracted for. The coordinator will be working with the information you give her by providing copies of the vendor contracts, banquet event order, and any information collected during the planning process to formulate a master plan for the entire wedding day, so that you can rest assured that the details are in place and the event is being managed by a professional. Because these services are not as extensive as a planning package that covers all the planning from beginning to end, "Month Of" and "Day Of" is very helpful way to get peace of mind on your wedding day. Brides hire "Month Of" and "Day Of" coordinators for many reasons; 1. They enjoy planning and wanted to do it on their own, but knew she couldn't execute on the day of wedding, 2. Their budget wouldn't allow for a more extensive planning package, 3. They are having their ceremony & reception in the same location and their venue required them to hire one, 4. Solely for the peace of mind to know that the time and money investment would not go wrong in any way.

Secondly, you may be wondering what is the difference between the catering manager at the hotel and a personal wedding coordinator? Wedding coordinators offer a different range of services than those whose sole interest is on the venue. Specifically a coordinator is working for you, not the hotel or location, and he/she is there to see that your wishes and requests are carried out as well as to assist in planning that is not related to the hotel or location.

Catering hall manager / assistant works only during the time of the reception and does NOT coordinate with all your vendors or make sure that your ceremony and reception itinerary is acted out the right way. Catering hall manager's tasks task is to make sure the halls duties are performed but for the rest of your wedding days itinerary - they do not have any obligations.

Ask the staff at your wedding location what they will and won't do to determine your additional needs. "Month Of" and "Day Of" coordinators will work interface with all vendors at your wedding/event to ease the planning process and provide you peace of mind. It's truly their responsibility to run quality control checks to ensure that the exact flowers are delivered and set-up exactly as you've requested, oversee that the bridal party names are being pronounced correctly during introductions, move the ceremony decor to the reception and most importantly run the behind the scenes logistics throughout the event to ensure the evening is flawless without missing a beat. By hiring a professional, they will handle all the emergencies as they arise leaving you to kick back and enjoy the day with your friends, family and guests.

For me, this is one of my favorite aspects of events; event day execution and logistics. I thrive on the energy and thrill of seeing the details come together.

Samantha Darr
Lead Event Director

Photo Credits:

Studio563

Serendipity Photography

How Best to Host Guest Speakers

2011-04-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

We spend so much time and energy securing wonderful event speakers, but our job's just beginning once the event speakers are booked. If you have the bandwidth, I recommend assigning someone on your team to be a fully dedicated speaker host. If you don’t have this person, consider hiring someone very responsible to serve this role.

The speaker host will be the one waiting for the sedans to arrive, taking the call from the limo company when the client has been picked up from the airport, greeting the speakers upon arrival with a gracious smile, showing guests to the greenroom or their hotel room, providing agendas and basically assisting your special guest with any requests.

What to give your fabulous speaker host:

- A list of all speakers and their speaking times/rehearsal times on one sheet
- Arrival/departure times with flight numbers and confirmation codes
- Speaker cell phone numbers and assistant's numbers
- Your cell phone numbers
- Copies of the agenda and maps of the hotel
- An introduction to the hotel management

The speaker host can check your guests into the hotel rooms ahead of time and therefore hand a key to the speaker upon arrival and avoid sending the speaker to the hotel desk (who wouldn't like skipping this step?). Your speaker host can also check the hotel rooms before your VIPs arrive - you wouldn’t believe the things we’ve found in the suites reserved for our keynotes.

Your speaker host will ensure the transportation company is enroute to pick up your guest at the end of the event, confirm their flight is ontime and show them to the car with a bottle of water. Your speakers will remember your hospitality, and feel very taken care of. That will certainly ensure they will be more than excited to participate in your next event if called upon.

Event Planners Are A Vital Tool for Corporate Events

2011-04-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

As an event planner, I am approached to plan and/or manage many different events at any stage of the planning. For me, I love executing the details to see all the individual components come together. Of course, being involved in the entire planning process saves my clients time, stress and many times money as I guide them in selecting the best vendors or most cost effective choices.

For corporate events, often times, the business owner doesn't quite know whether they need to hire a planner or not. But like most executives, CEOs or business owners, it's important to hire someone who specializes in such a field to ensure success. It's important and vital to the success of their event and objective for the event to hire someone who knows and specializes in events. Just the same with weddings, Brides need someone who can be there on event day to execute and oversee the details.

The selection of an event coordinator is a smart move. Even through you remain involved in the event planning process loop, you will be free to tend to business as usual.

To be successful, you should assign one individual responsibility for directing the coordination of your events. While the client can be free to focus on establishing value-added content, an event planner (the meeting logistics expert) will focus on the details! In many instances, I act in a synergistic-team manner with the client dividing the work among the client's staff/volunteers, assigning tasks with target due-dates; however, and as the event planner, I am the one in charge, running the show and keeping an eye on the entire operation.

As the event planner, my attention to the details will be a direct link to the success of the event. When planning an event, I suggest the following strategic steps:

1. Determine the best date and time to meet (verify potential dates, times, and schedules; and then communicate with vendors, presenters, attendees and special guests)

2. Select and schedule the best location to meet (consider your budget plus options for on-site, off-site, conference center, private dining room, etc.)

3. Contact and confirm all contracts (including venue, speakers, presenters, entertainment, sponsors, etc.; and communicate frequently with all regarding their role in the upcoming event)

4. Plan and map out the program schedule (including general sessions, meeting rooms, break times, break-out sessions, refreshments, meals, the press room, and other special needs)

5. Coordinate and oversee the selection of a theme, the design, production and distribution printed items (i.e., invitations, agendas, brochures, special materials, and related mailings)

6. Arrange to have essential meeting supplies available on site (i.e., handouts, evaluation forms, flip charts, markers, sticky notes, etc.) 7. Identify each presenter's equipment needs and establish: Who? Needs What? Where? Then, verify technical infrastructure, accommodations, and arrange for on-site support

8. Verify room lay-out requirements; arrange for support to complete set-up & tear-down

9. Anticipate needs! Arrange for adequate host support available throughout the event.

10. Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! (with vendors, presenters, attendees and guests).

Samantha Darr
Lead Event Director

SB! gets published on StyleMePretty!!

2011-04-19T06:34:00.000-07:00

If you're reading my blog, you are probably also familiar with the StyleMePretty blog. It's truly one of the most hottest, MOST stylish and trend setting wedding blogs there is. I have been a long time reader and admirer of StyleMePretty.

So, if you can imagine you excitement when I found that they chose "Xochy & Todd's Vibrant Houston Wedding" for one of their featured weddings this past Friday. Xochy and Todd were such a dynamic and fun couple to work with. Their wedding was a true reflection of themselves and their love for each other.

With an intimate destination ceremony, 3 destination photo shoots and a large extravagant celebration at the Houstonian Hotel, this couple pulled out all the stops for their big day. With multiple forms of entertainment for their guests; a DJ who spun on live turn tables, 10 piece band and a casino room, everyone who attended was speechless and amazed. The bride wore a breath-taking gown that converted to a fun party dress with a whole set of new accessories. Everyone danced the night away on a gorgeous, personalized white dance floor customized with the couple's monogram. It truly was a wedding unlike any other.

Having such wonderful companies to work with ensured that the execution of the event went perfectly. Thank you to all the professionals who helped make the wedding amazing!

Event Composition:
Joe Cogliandro
31 Films
LG Entertainers - (Jason Garcia)
DoppleGanger Band
DarrylCo - (Tom/Designer)
Cakes by Gina
Blush & Glow Hair & Makeup
S.W. Casino Productions

Link to the full article: Congratulations Xochy & Todd

Warmest Regards,

Samantha Darr
Lead Event Director
Soireebliss! Events

New Twist on Your Engagement Session

2011-02-26T10:08:00.000-08:00

One of the most common activities for couples after getting engaged is to shoot an engagement session. For some couples, they want to have this shoot very soon after they are engaged. Others wait until 2-3 months prior to the wedding. The engagement session allows you and the photographer the opportunity to get better acquainted. The more comfortable you are around your photographer, the more relaxed you will be and your pictures will look better. (Photo Credit: Christine Tremoulet)

With most things related to weddings, there is an exciting evolution; trend per say that is moving away from the tradition ways of which our Mothers did them. As a planner, I am starting to see more and more couples who want to make their wedding truly unique to reflect their style and personality. Even if that style means something completely outside the box such as a camping destination weekend wedding or a picnic wedding in the middle of the day. For me, I absolute love this as it allows me to reach a higher level of creativity.

If you are one of these couples, you may love something new that is replacing (in some cases it's an additional session) the engagement session - Couples Boudoir Session. Of course, you have to feel completely comfortable with your photographer. A couple's boudoir session can be romantic, sultry, sexy and very intimate for you and your fiance. The pictures from the boudoir session can truly reflect a very artistic creative and become pieces of artwork. (Photo Credit: Jamie's Photography)

(Photo Credit: Photography by Talitha A. Tarro)

(Photo Credit: Kyle Hepp Photography)

Judd Waddell Trunk Show: Mia Bridal Couture

2011-02-14T05:34:00.000-08:00

Mark you calendars ladies, one of the best designers in the wedding world is going to be at Mia Bridal Couture. Mia Bridal Couture is one of the best bridal boutiques in Houston. So you will be assured to receive the most personally fulfilling experience when picking out the dress of your dreams. Emily and her staff are highly trained to assist you in selecting the dress best fit for your style and shape. Emily works directly with the designers to know every detail of the structure of the gowns.

Judd Waddell is best known for his classic designs that are flattering, with many organza and lace silhouettes. If you happen to be a bit larger in the chest region, his strapless gowns are designed for fuller coverage.

Inspired to Plan,

Samantha Darr

Bride's Houston Magazine Article Part II: Venue Guide

2011-02-12T01:17:00.000-08:00

With the most recent post being such a big hit, I have decided to do a blog post series of all the magazine articles I have done since launching in 2008. Today's post is the very first article I collaborated on Kim Forrest (Bride's Magazine Editor).

Looking back on this article, I chuckle a bit. When I was asked by Kim to provide my expert opinion on venues, Soireebliss! Events had only been officially opened for 4 months. With being a new business owner, I was absolutely ecstatic with such a great opportunity. I quickly went to work researching and touring venues to determine my top 3 venues that would fit the criteria provided by Kim. It was such a great networking opportunity.

For the article; "Top Sites for Every Guest List", I chose the following venues:

1. Artista - Unique restaurant with a great food
2. Hotel ZaZa - In my opinion, Dallas and Houston's locations are absolutely FABULOUS
3. Briscoe Manor - Perfect for the couple who wants to entertain a large guest list and show some Texas hospitality

Read the full Bride's Houston Fall/Winter 2008 article: (Link)

Stay tuned as there's many more articles packed full of helpful information.

Blissfully Inspired,

Samantha Darr

Let Me Introduce the Soiréebliss! Events Team

2011-02-11T07:41:00.000-08:00

With any business comes growth! I am very lucky and quite fortunate to have withstood the trials of a new business, a new market, a few life changes and a bad economy. A day doesn't go by that I don't miss counting my blessings. A big part is acredited to the wonderful team of talented women who have joined my team. We share common work ethic, goals passion for events and whom equally strive to provide our clients the best possible experience on their big day. And honestly, they're just so fun to be with as well.

Over the past few months, I've been working on redeveloping Soiréebliss!'s brand to reflect the chic whimsical style which it's developed over the past three years. With that, I thought it best to share with other who makes the magic happen. Many, many, many thanks to Steve Lee Photography for spending a few hours with us on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Here are some of our favorites:

The Team in front of our new studio space. This is a long time dream in the making.

The superstars that make the magic happen: Traci Riley, Brenda Cooper and Sarah St. Lawrence. Many thanks to them as they so generously give up their weekends to assist when needed. Without their loyal dedication and commitment, events just wouldn't happen. I can not put into words just how blessed I feel to have them apart of my life and company. We were sad that 3 of of members were unable to be apart of the shoot; Diana Liepold, Kristi Gomez and Julie Clark.

And of course, me, proud owner of SB! Events

Many thanks to my significant other, Todd Rankin. Without him, the office just wouldn't run quite as well as it does. He's our IT Guru and Master Toolsman who can MacGyver anything. Litterly! Without his loving support through the many long hours, missed weekend activities and unwavering belief in me, none of this would be possible.

Big Hugs All-Around,

Samantha Darr

Black & White Wedding: Bring Chic Back

2011-02-10T06:43:00.000-08:00

One of my most favorite color combinations is black and white. Its chic, simplistic elegance can speak volumes in the style department. One of my favorite designers, Carolina Herrera incorporates black in many of her wedding gowns. Z Gallerie being one of my most favorite furniture stores has an endless array of items to incorporate into your wedding decor. Walking through their doors is like a kid in a candy store for me. I'm absolutely exhilarated as I begin to visualize 2-3 different event themes.

When choosing a black and white theme or color palette, it's important to remember that it's not a prom. It should not be matchy-matchy. We are past the age of Granimals. (Although, I will agree, Granimals is a great tool for young children.) Focus on texture, small details and play up the way which the black and white is incorporated together. Not every element in the design scheme has to include black and white together. Bringing in a touch of color gives your design a more metropolitan look. As most know, I am very partial to green or yellow. If you're like me and love green, try to avoid the apple green. Go for a deeper green such as kelly green or grass green. The apple green has a little more yellow and is past the trend phase of 2008 & 2009.

For a more unique look, bring in some non-typical items to your centerpieces. As mentioned before, Z Gallerie has some fabulous decor pieces. I say use them around the main item of your centerpiece. Not everything in the centerpiece has to be a candle or vase with flowers. It's important to present a visually interesting design to "WOW" your guests.

And most importantly, remember the details. Drink stirrers are new trend that adds a fun twist on the signature drink. There are some great designers on Etsy.com who can easily provide custom items. You may even consider a drink stirrer with fun romantic phrases to fit your theme. If you are having an Old Hollywood theme, list romantic couples from the movies. Or make them truly unique and personal by sharing funny tid-bits about each other.

And most importantly, be bold and incorporate the black into your attire. In today's fashion world, anything is possible and is perfectly acceptable. Have fun with it and make your look truly your own. You may even consider staying traditional for the ceremony and switching out your headpiece, shoes and jewelry for the reception. Adding a belt or brooches to your dress can make the biggest difference as well.

Blissfully Inspired!

Samantha Darr

Houston Bride's Magazine: Best Venue's for A Budget

2011-02-09T15:11:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite pastimes during a cold and gloomy day is to grab a vanilla latte and some of the most recent interior design and wedding magazines at a bookstore. As I was making my way through the magazine section at Barnes & Noble, flipping through Bride's Houston magazine. My heart jumped when I read my name in an article. I was instantly walking on cloud 9 when I realized I had been published. It feels like months ago since I worked with Kim Forest (editor at the magazine) at Bride's Magazine on the article. I'm quite flattered and humbled by her continued interest in the endless amount of tips and expert knowledge I can share. And as all my clients to testify, the endles rolling reel of ideas never stops.

The article discusses the best venues in Houston that give you the biggest bang for your buck. As many know, in this economy, that is a pretty high priority for a lot of couples. With so many options in Houston, it truly was challenging narrowing the list down to 3. My hope is that with sharing a bit of my expert knowledge, it will help a few couples to de-stress and find the venue of their dreams.

1. Ashelynn Manor
2. Tuscany Villa
3. The Gallery

To read the full article click here.

Blissfully Inspired,

Samantha Darr

How'd We Get Our Name?

2011-02-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

Since launching in January of 2008, we've received wide range of responses to our company name. Many have asked how we chose it. Other's have proven quite humorous by the different ways it's pronounced. And of course, some just absolutely love the originality. It's a name that sticks with you.

For me, when thinking about a company name, I wanted something original and different that was a reflection of my "think-outside-the box" design style. I tried endless combination of words that can be associated with party planning, details of decor and numbers. It finally dawned on me that having my own business was a dream come true at which point was truly the happiest I had been in my career. Hence the word "bliss".

Now everybody knows, your name should reflect what you do. So I sought the help of the Google translator tool to test every word associated with parties. From there, Soiréebliss! Events was born.

However, you may still be left wondering why the exclamation mark. For me Soiréebliss! has emotion and makes me think of and an expression. So, this is what I leave you with;

Soiréebliss! (swore ā bliss). adj. 1. The state of pure and memorable happiness experienced during a grand celebration. 2. An expressive emotion felt during a period of high emotional joy surrounded by perfection.

Always Inspired to Plan!

Samantha Darr

Thank You to Our Clients: Bride's Choice Awards 2011

2011-01-26T19:58:00.000-08:00

Soiréebliss! Events has had the pleasure of celebrating our three year anniversary on January 8th. This is truly a great blessing as I know how hard running a service oriented business can be. With anything good comes hard work, dedication and endless nights of work. I've loved every moment of it.

Of course, this could never have been possible without my clients. It's because of their trust in me that has allowed Soiréebliss! Events to be a part of over 80 weddings and numerous philanthropic events.

As a testament to our hard work, we have been awarded the Bride's Choice Awards for 2011.

Press Release:
WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce {Enter Your Business Name} has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for {Enter Your Service Category}!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Soiréebliss! Events stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Soiréebliss! Events for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Soiréebliss! Events is among the very best Soiréebliss! Events within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at our Storefront.

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit http://www.weddingwire.com/.

Blissfully Inspired to Plan

Samantha Darr

Unique Wedding Details: How To Enhance Your Tables

2011-01-21T10:12:00.001-08:00

As a bride, you may be looking for the newest, most unique ideas to make your wedding different and memorable. One of the best ways to do this would the design of the individual place setting and/or table scapes at the reception. You will have at least 45 minutes to and hour of their attention during dinner. This is where you will be assured that your guests will have time to see each and every detail.

One decor detail I particularly love paying special attention to is each individual place setting. This is a decor detail which is commonly overlooked at an event. There is an endless list of options on how to show your style. You can add a little pop of color with a ribbon belly band around the napkin or flower on the charger plate next to the menu. Even folding the napkin in unique ways can make a statement. If your budget allows, renting special glasses and plates can take your event from fabulous to luxurious.

One of my recent favorites is a monogram tag by Luxecuts. Its absolutely stunning and very modern. It's a 4"X4" square that will make a statement of your style in a big way. This design can also be made in acrylic for those who desire and more chic design.

Blisfully Inspired to Plan!

Samantha Darr

Planning to "POP" the Question....Need A Little Magic?

2011-01-07T08:01:00.001-08:00

This is one of my favorite times of the year. Not only is it going to be Spring soon, but many guys choose this time to "POP" the question and ask the one they love to marry them. For some, this brings shear fear to ask those four little words' "Will You Marry Me". For others, the words are easy, it's pulling off the logistics of how to make just that right moment perfect.

Being a wedding planner, I am truly a romantic at heart. There's nothing more magical to me than hearing all the wonderful ways couples get engaged. It makes me my heart flutter watching the Bride and Groom reminisce as they're telling me their story. The pure joy in their eyes and glow that exists between them is truly magic.

As you can imagine with being a planner, I have heard of numerous ways an engagement has been staged. Being a romantic-at-heart AND female, I can think of a zillion scenarios that would be amazing to get engaged. This is truly one of the most memorable days in a girl's life. Some have dreamt about it since they were little girls. This may sound like a lot of pressure for a guy, but, as long as your heart is involved, everything will be perfect.

When considering all the numerous ways to propose, keep in mind her personality and what would surprise her most. Maybe a romantic dinner at home with candlelight and flowers or a picnic at the beach with wine and cheese to watch the sunset is just as memorable with timed fireworks just as it gets dark. Would she love to be picked up by a limo just as she’s leaving for work to whisk her off to a surprise day at the spa being totally pamper, with a new evening gown waiting for her to spend the evening dancing the night away in your arms at a 5 star hotel. For most women, we simply love when you're a little creative and surprise them.

If you happen to be someone who needs a little help in the creative department or assistance executing your idea, look to someone like me. Who better to help than a planner?! I can provide you a full list of quality vendors; florists, restaurants, jewelers, transportations companies, bakers and everything imaginable. One of my specialties is logistic management. I can make the tightest schedule feel flawlessly comfortable and the impossible possible. Quite honestly, there is nearly nothing more rewarding than to see wonderful couples get engaged. It’s what starts the wedding planning process.

I recently had the pleasure of planning the engagement for a wonderful couple. The day of the engagement I was giddy knowing that a sweet girl was getting ready to have one of the most amazing days of her life. We staged it so that the bride thought she was going ice skating at Discovery Green with friends. We picked the most romantic spot there under some trees on a park bench for the Groom to ask her. We arranged for a waiter to hand deliver hot cocoa. However, to the Bride's surprise, one of the cups would have the ring inside. Minus the cocoa of course! The Groom opened the cup as he was down on one knee. The bride burst into tears of joy and giddy squeals. With a photographer strategically placed shooting pictures, they will have memories of the day to reflect and share with grandchild. After wards, the couple was whisked away to a private romantic dinner at Spence's downtown. I am not sure who was more excite; me or the Bride. It was truly magic right before my eyes. So, if you’re considering an engagement, don’t hesitate to ask for a little help. With our professional planning experience and creativity, we will create the most amazing experience for you to share with your future Bride.

Blissfully Inspired,

Samantha Darr

(Photo Credit: Jesus Gonzalez Photography)

If the Dress Fits...Shopping for the Perfect Style

2011-01-05T08:43:00.000-08:00

So we all wanna look fabulous on our wedding day, right ladies? Whether you want to transform into a diva like Beyonce or keep it timeless like Audrey Hepburn, this is your crash course on finding the perfect gown that best fits your hot, sizzling figure.

STEP 1: Determine what shape you are. For me, this is always a little humbling. While I wish I were 5'6", I'm really only 5' tall and beautifully puffy ballgowns just aren't as flattering.

STEP 2: Once you have determined your shape, start considering the design elements or style/theme you will want to fit your wedding. Many times, your location will also determine the style of dress. For example, if you're getting married in a tropical location with possible sand, you will want to stay away from dupioni silk or heavy ballgowns.

Straight-across Strapless: This style is simply straight across, no dips or curves.
Great for: Well-endowed brides because it minimizes the girls.

Tip-If you're top heavy, I would skip out on wearing a necklace and opt for more dramatic earrings. Wearing a big necklace will draw attention to your bustle. Another thing that will draw attention will be a lot of embellishments. I know every bride wants a little bling on their dress, try to steer clear of too much bling on the upper portion of your dress. Remember less is more!

Sweetheart Strapless: Unlike the Straight-across strapless, the sweetheart has a slight dip.

Great for: Smaller busted brides because it gives your chest some oomph and lengthens your torso, but pretty much anyone can pull this look off.

Mermaid: This style hugs your curves but then flares out right at the knee.

Great For: Petite women.

Tip- I wouldn't wear this type of dress for an outdoor wedding during the summer unless you want your dress sticking to you like gum on a shoe.

Trumpet: This is similar to the mermaid but instead of starting to flare out by the knee, the trumpet starts flaring at mid-thigh.

Great For: Top-heavy brides. The trumpet skirt balances your figure out nicely.

Ball Gown: One of the most traditional wedding dresses. It has a fitted corset and a full skirt. Petite brides beware! Since the ball gown is so big, the skirt will drown you and make you look tiny. You don't want the dress to wear you, you want to wear the dress!

Great For: Hour-glass or pear-shaped brides because it camouflages your lower half.

A-line: It starts off narrow at the top and then expands outward, like the shape of the letter "A".

Great For: Any bride! The A-line dress is the most flattering style on any body type.

Knee Length: Like its name implies, this dress stops at the knees. With brides making a wardrobe change into short dresses for the reception being such a big trend, knee length dresses are great for keeping up with trend.

Great For: Tall or short brides, this length helps showcase your sexy legs but without showing too much. With this dress, you can really make it all about the shoes. You always want to have one item be a focal point and with this dress, it will be the perfect opportunity to show off some incredible heels.

Knowing which design will flatter your figure best, will ensure you look red-carpet ready for your biggest day.

STEP 3: Start shopping! Most bridal boutiques operate on an appointment only basis. On average, each appointment will take an average of 2 hours. For a production shopping experience, remember the following:

1. Wear Spanx or an undergarment resembling what you will wear on the wedding day. Taking your own strapless bra to ensure comfort and a proper fit.

2. Take a pair of shoes which resemble the heel height you want for your wedding day.

3. If you hope to wear your hair up on your wedding day you should take a pony tail holder with you to simulate an up-do. This will be helpful when sampling veils to go with your dress.

4. Always remember to walk around the boutique in the dress along with sitting.

5. Last but not least remember to consider what the back of the dress looks like. On the day of the wedding, guests will look at your back 50% of the time.

Super Star Intern,

Kristi Gomez

Wedding Trends for 2011 - What's Hot

2011-01-03T16:05:00.000-08:00

1. Sophisticated Elegance ReturnsIt's back to basics with elegant, sophisticated style in 2011. Wedding decor will be simple and understated, with modern design elements trumping DIY touches. Scripted calligraphy, custom monograms, and classic wedding cakes embody this trend. Brides will wear pearls, and grooms will ditch the Converse in favor of more tasteful wedding day kicks.

2. Outdoor Venues- Where It’s AtCouples tying the knot in 2011 will gravitate toward outdoor ceremony and reception venues. The raw, minimal backdrop of an outdoor setting leaves room for personalization and customization, a major perk for creative, hands-on nearlyweds. Lakeside venues, vineyard locations and spaces situated alongside sprawling mountains will dominate, and they’ll be spruced up with personalized touches that represent the bride and groom. You'll find some serious outdoor weddings inspiration in our real weddings blog category!

3. Grey is the New Black, Crazy for Navy
Gloomy no more, grey is the neutral IT color for 2011 weddings. Organic and natural, shades of charcoal, dove, stone, oyster and shell will be incorporated liberally into wedding color palettes and paired with vibrant hues to make the colors pop! And while grey remains the talk of the town for 2011, navy blue (and other deep blues) are definitely on-trend for the coming year. Wonder if Prince Will's royal wedding has anything to do with the crazy for navy trend... what do you think??

4. Mad for Metallics & Bold Color Palettes
Whether it’s two bright hues with a metallic accent, or several metallic shades used together, brights and metallics will be popular choices for wedding color palettes in 2011. Gilded gold, shimmery silver, and sparkling champagne will used alone or with accents of yellow, purple or teal. And since metallics make such a bold statement on their own, couples will scale back over-the-top decor in favor of a more restrained style aesthetic.

5. Big Ball Gowns are Back
Dramatic ball gown wedding dresses floated down 2011 bridal catwalks in droves. Wedding dress designers draped, ruched, and layered clouds of tulle, power netting, and chiffon to fashion wedding dresses with limitless volume. The outcome? Fairytale-inspired bridal style and whimsical wedding dresses for 2011 I Dos.

6. Grooms Take a Walk on the Stylish Side
Grooms are taking a stand in the name of fashion. Their tux choices will no longer be dictated by some “rent 5, get 1 free” deal. Instead, they’ll chose formal looks that represent their unique style. Bow ties will replace classic long neck ties, and embroidered dress shirts, engraved cufflinks, stylish lapel pins and the color of the season- grey- will grace the white aisles.

7. Wedding Invitations Go Green
The green weddings movement continues full speed ahead in 2011. From totally paperless wedding invitations and save-the-dates, to stationery printed on 100% recycled paper, invitations have truly gone green. Couples can find all they need with sites like WeddingPreParty (enabling online RSVP and party planning) and Nearlyweds.com (offering coordinating stationery and wedding websites).

8. Luxurious Textures-- from the Dress to the Tablescape
Luxe textured fabrics will bring a sumptuous, opulent vibe to 2011 weddings. Wedding dresses will feature 3D applique, layered light fabrics (tulle, lace, chiffon), romantic ruffles, oversized florals, and illusion fabric with eye-catching beading. Textured linens will be layered to dress up reception tables, chair covers may be embroidered or beaded, and branchy centerpieces and floral arrangements will captivate wedding guests.

9. Ethnic Influences, Cultural Wedding Details
At long last, brides and grooms are embracing and showcasing their unique cultural traditions and ethnicity. Whether it’s a religious wedding ceremony ritual, traditional wedding day garb, cultural cuisine infused throughout the reception dinner, or wedding decor with bold, ethnic prints, you can’t help but embrace the unique cultures and ethnicities of couples in 2011.

10. Revved-Up Wedding Receptions
Who wants the best day of their lives to end? Not couples and guests in 2011, that’s for sure! Couples will plan a post-reception after party lasting into the wee hours of the night with drinks, entertainment, dancing, and snacks so that wedding guests can party all night long!

PART III: Selecting the Best Wedding Planner for You

2010-12-31T07:00:00.000-08:00

Finding the best wedding planner is like finding that perfect black dress that doesn't need alterations. It must be the perfect fit, feel completely comfortable, and fit your exact style.

The top four characteristics are vital to when evaluating wedding planners.

1. Expertise: This can be gained through formal education combined with internships, work experience, continued training and experience. An expert will know the ins/out of the industry with confidence and knowledge to truly manage your event will a higher level of responsibility.

2. Professionalism: How do they present themselves? Do they have well designed collateral materials starting with their website, business card and presentation packets? Do they lead you through a well organized interview during the consultation? Do they present themselves in a way which reflects a high level of manners and care for what they do? Do they respond to your emails in a timely manner and/or arrive at your meetings on time? All this will be a true sign of what you can expect.

3. Personality Fit: While you may not need your wedding planner to be your best friend, you do need her/him to be someone whom you feel comfortable discussing your hopes and dreams for your wedding. You will share many hours together as the two of you plan your wedding.

4. Artistic Talent: This is absolutely necessary for your event to reflect your style in a cohesive way. Your wedding planner has to have the talent and skills to pull your ideas together. He/she will be the one who can visualize the details and make it a reality. Their level of design talent can simply be evaluated by reviewing their work from previous weddings and client references. This in many cases can be displayed through their website, blog, and Facebook.

You will not be happy if one of these four vital pieces are missing. Your wedding planner must have the expertise to handle your wedding; otherwise you will be one of his/her train wrecks. Ask for references, if he/she does not provide you with any than this most certainly is a red flag indicating that they are brand new to the industry. You are risking the possibility of being one of their guinea pigs. Ask to see examples of their previous weddings which they designed. Anyone can say they're an expert, but does their work reflect it?!

They must be professional in the way they deal with you, your family, guests, and fellow vendors. A lack in professionalism can likely cause very unbeneficial situations. Or worse, additional stress on the wedding day. One of the best ways to determine this is through their prompt communication, how detailed is their contract, what tools will they use in planning your wedding and consider their marketing materials which they provided during your consultation. Do they write a blog? This is an ideal way to gain insight into your planner's personality, level of experience, expertise and style.

Last but not least, there must be a personality connection. As a bride communicating to her wedding planner you must feel like they hear and understand your needs, style and personality. If you feel like you are being rushed or pushed then you most likely will feel this way throughout the entire planning process. This does not mean that you're wedding planner has to become your best friend, however, you should feel comfortable to openly discuss anything related to your wedding and know they "get" you.

With these three blog posts you should be able to go out and find the right planner for you to guide you through these exhilarating times. One word of caution; wedding planners offering deals, promotions, sales, etc. are frequently the same wedding planners having a hard time keeping their business afloat. What price do you put on the success and beauty of your wedding? This is not the time or the place to be bargain shopping. Find a planner who is good at what they do, has a good work ethic, and loves every bit of their job and you will be set. Remember, cost is temporary, regret is forever.

I wish you the absolute best on your search for the best wedding planner for you!

(Photo Credit: Morgan Lynn Photography, Stacey E Photography & Pink Posh)

PART II: DIY Bride to Platinum Bride; where do you stand?

2010-12-13T09:38:00.000-08:00

A wedding planner is indispensable and will save you $big time$. Now you must decide on how much help you will need in the upcoming months. Below is a break down of many bride personas. (Photo Credit: Morgan Lynn Photography)

Bride #1: DIY Bride to the max!

Loves designing
Enjoys taking time to put together personal unique details
Is extremely organized
Does not struggle making decisions

If your personality is like Bride #1, you are an easy breezy bride in need of a small package just to ensure the day goes flawlessly; event day management (day of coordination) will most likely be the best fit for you. (Photo Credit: Pink Posh Photography)

Bride #2: Busy Busy Bride!

Loves designing
Has a high pressure job or travels a lot
Does not struggle in making decisions
Has a good idea of what she wants

Most brides today are under this category. They have full time jobs and their weddings require so much attention. Bride #2 is in need of a medium package; someone to come in midway through the planning process to relieve her once things just barely begin to become overwhelming. (Photo Credit: Morgan Lynn Photography)

Bride #3: Pamper me please!

Is having problems visualizing exactly what she wants
Has little spare time
Is not the most organized of sorts
Struggles making definitive decisions

If your personality is like Bride #3, you are in need of a large package, we can be your best friend through the process making you feel safe and in good hands. Full planning will be the best fit for you. With careful planning and long discussions a wedding planner will be able to find just the thing to make your eyes sparkle. (Photo Credit: Pink Posh Photography)

Now that you have established your needs it is time to go out and meet with some fabulous wedding planners! Part III will explain how to find the perfect planner for you.

Till next time!

PART I: Want a Fabulous Wedding? It’s not rocket science, it’s a wedding planner!

2010-12-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

I may as well point out the obvious; I am writing a blog post about the value of wedding planners and look-dee-doo, coincidentally, I am a wedding planner. If you would like to disregard this post as biased and uninformative feel free to return to your google home page, if not I promise to be comedic and entertaining along the way. I have written this to be an entertaining three-part series to help brides understand what wedding planners are all about, what you need to know, and how to pick one.

Do you need a wedding planner? Do I need a wedding planner? Every female in this world needs a wedding planner because as much of a super woman as I know you are, you still can’t be in two places at once. Even with wedding planners, no matter how unbeatable their expertise is, they have either hired a wedding planner for their wedding or plan to in the future. You simply cannot oversee setup and be walking down the isle at your ceremony at the same time. Therefore, the question isn’t if you need a wedding planner, instead you should be deciding how involved you need them to be.

A good wedding planner pays for themselves. An experienced one will have venders that they prefer working with because of their dependability, quality and work ethic. Because of these relationships the wedding planner will be able to negotiate much better rates than you would have otherwise. If you consider your time to be money as we do, you will save tremendous amounts of money on working with someone who knows which venders are the best and which aren’t. They will also know all the secret tricks and efficiencies to get the best job done.
There you have it; a wedding planner is a MUST and at the end of the day they are basically free. If you feel like a planner may be worth your while stay tuned for part II to discover what kind of bride you are and how much help you will need along the way!

Till next time!

The "How To" Guide on Engagement Rings

2010-12-02T13:26:00.000-08:00

Engagement rings deserve their own “How To” book with all their fancy lingo and complexities. If you are a future bride trying to hint to your significant other or a future fiancé trying to feel his way around in the dark this blog post should provide a healthy amount of guidance.

The four C‘s of diamonds:
1. Cut
2. Color
3. Clarity
4. Carat

CUT:
The cut of the diamond refers to the facets that are sculpted into the raw stone resulting in a nice polished shape. If these facets are not placed with precision the diamond will lack that incredible sparkle which diamonds are famous for and lets face it, all girls are in love with sparkle.

The cuts to know:

CARAT:
Now that you have decided the shape the next step would be to pick the weight. Carat refers to the total weight of the diamond. It is important to know that the weight of the carat is not directly correlated with price. The bigger the carat does not mean the bigger the price tag. Size isn't everything in the diamond world. Price is more strongly correlated with flaws within the diamond. So most of us have to decide what is more important, size or flawlessness.

CLARITY:
Clarity measures the imperfections mentioned earlier. Diamonds are graded on clarity by an 11 step scale ranging from flawless to imperfect. Most jewelers in this world have never seen a flawless diamond so set your expectations accordingly. Don't worry too much about the flaws, since most flaws are impossible to see with the naked eye, you can consider them tiny secrets giving the diamond character unique to any other diamond in the world.

COLOR:
The last C is color; you must decide whether you prefer a colorless diamond or a fancy diamond. Colorless diamonds are graded from D to Z, D being completely colorless. Similar to the clarity of a diamond, the more colorless a diamond is the more rare and expensive it will be.

Fancy diamonds are rare as well. These type of diamonds are for the unconventional ladies who love to reinvent. They are naturally colored pink, yellow or blue. The more saturated the color of the diamond is the more expensive the stone. Fellas, you may want to check with your lady before going this route while these gems are gorgeous, it is either loved or hated.

Sneaky tips:

1. Need to find out her ring size? Snag an existing ring and take it to the jeweler (make sure it is a ring she actually wears).

2. Can't figure out what she likes? You can bet money that she has described to her best friends and family EXACTLY what she wants. Put your Sherlock Holmes hat on and do some investigating.

There you have it, the four C's of diamonds! Now get your pocket book ready!

Always Learning, Always Fabulous,

Planning An Engagement Party: Tips to Make it A Success

2010-12-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

With the Christmas and New Year's Even right around the corner, many newly engaged couples will be getting engaged. A wonderful way to share the news with friends and family is to have an Engagement Party. In most cases the party is hosted by a family member or close friends.

I wanted to share with you some planning tips for the party to go off perfectly:

1. Once you're engaged, share the news with your parents. They will be just as excited and will want to welcome their new son/daughter into the family.

2. Select an ideal date and venue for the announcement

An important part of the engagement party planning is choosing the date for your engagement party, it can be simple but tricky. You may want to hold it at least eight to ten months prior to your wedding. There will be much to do before the wedding and holding it to close to the wedding will be too stressful.

There are so many choice venues for your party! It may be a simple and intimate affair at home, a special corner at your favorite restaurant or a private room at your favorite restaurant or a barbecue at the seaside. This is the opportunity for you to have fun without the stress of planning something as grand as your wedding. Keep in mind, the engagement party does not have to similar in style of design to the wedding.

3. Have an alternative or contingency plan for outdoor events

If you are planning for an outdoor engagement party, do check on the weather. Choose the outdoor barbecue or picnic area where you can gather your small party at the eleventh hour to a sheltered bar or restaurant and continue your party. Another option would be to rent a tent to cover the outdoor area. The decision to rent the tent will need to be made 5-7 days in advance due to most rental company policies.

4. Planning for the engagement party food

There are many components which go into creating your engagement party. One of the most important parts of an engagement party is the food. Take time to make a list of the items you will serve and always consider a caterer as you will not want to be in the kitchen cooking it yourself.

Another option to consider is a pot-luck. However, it will be ideal to coordinate the items your guests will be bringing. It would be less favorable to have 4 of the same dish and no meat item. You may consider including this information on the invitation.

5. Photography and videographer

Although this is not the wedding day, pictures do tell a thousand words and they do last a long time. Depending on your budget, you can choose to get your friends and relatives to take pictures and capture your special moments on video camera or get a professional to do both photography and video for both events (your engagement and wedding). This may also be fun to display the pictures or video at the wedding.

6. What to wear to an engagement party

You don't want to wear something elaborate or similar to your wedding. Consider colors, smart casuals for beach and outdoor and evening gowns for a glamour night out. It all depends on the theme of your engagement party really. Some prefer the free and easy for all, no fuss just, focus on the happy couple.

7. Asking your bridal party

What better opportunity to take a moment to recognize those who are most important to you. You could also find a fun way to ask them with a unique gift or card or give a toast to each of them.

8. The Invitation

When choosing the style and design, remember to correspond with the style of party. This is the chance to have fun and be creative without the pressure of trying to match your wedding stationary.

Holiday Party: Signature Drink - Christmas Martini

2010-11-27T08:16:00.000-08:00

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love to play Christmas tunes every chance I get. And who can say no to the many yummy cookies and seasonal treats? I feel giddy at heart like a kid again at the very sight of Christmas lights or a tree. But most of all, I love spending time with friends and family celebrating the season during the holiday parties.

If you are hosting a holiday party or getting married, a fun detail to include would be a signature drink. One of my favorites is the Christmas Martini.

Recipe:

1 oz Dry Gin
1 1/2 oz Peppermint Schnapps
1/2 oz Water
1 Stick Peppermint Candy

Strain gin and peppermint schnapps into martini glass. Add peppermint stick.

Happy Holiday to you and yours!

Samantha Darr

Real Wedding Part II: Stephanie + Ben - The Reception

2010-11-25T14:26:00.000-08:00

Ben & Stephanie had such an amazing wedding full of classic details and captivating moments. When choosing which pictures to share, I found myself struggling as each and every one was amazing. Morgan Lynn Photography is very talented in capturing the moments that matter with so much life and vividness to her pictures.

After the full Catholic mass wedding ceremony, the couple and their bridal party boarded the trolley with much festiveness to shoot more post ceremony pictures. The couple choose to return to Hotel Derek for its contemporary decor and modern settings. This also allowed them to include their precious 4-legged family member.

For couples who may have a little time lapse between the ceremony and reception, this is an ideal opportunity. During this time, a couple is most relaxed, happy and solely focused on each other. This sometimes can replace a "day after" session.

As the couple finished pictures, the guests enjoyed the cocktail hour at The Courtyard on St. James as the DJ spun jazz tunes in the background. In my experience, I find that many brides choose to have seating arrangements for their guests. Many do not think about the display to which it will be communicated to the guests. I love that Stephanie chose to make the table assignments a design focal point in the cocktail hour space. To maintain an affordable option, we utilized the alter arrangements and restyled them into one main arrangement for the table.

Stephanie and Ben share a love for wine. As a unique touch, we used wine bottles as their table numbers. To remember the evening, the guests were encouraged to write messages on the bottles with a silver pen. Ben & Stephanie will enjoy the memories for years to come each time they open one of the bottles from their wedding.

The guests were treated to a 4 course sit-down dinner at the Courtyard on St. James. One of the highlights of the meal was the champagne intermezzo. This is served prior to the main course to cleanse the palette to fully enjoy the flavors of the next course. When it came to toasts, the Best Man and Maid of Honor opted to pre-record the most entertaining excerpt to play as part of their toast. Truly one of the most entertaining I've seen thus far.

Congratulations to Ben & Stephanie! May the next 50 years be just as memorable and enjoyable as their wedding day.

Preparing for Wedding Day Part III: The Timeline

2010-11-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

When approaching the wedding day, most brides begin to feel anxious about the little details and concerned with how everything will come together. This is where hiring an Event Day Manager (EDM) is truly one of the most important investments in a wedding. Some planners refer to this service as "Day of Coordination". However, for me, I start working with my clients 45 days prior to the wedding so I can be fully briefed and knowledgeable on all aspects of the wedding. Truly, there is a difference in simply coordinating the bride's plans vs. managing the logistics, set-up details and executing the event. The cost for a highly skilled, professional and experienced Event Day Manager (EDM) is between $1,000 - 2,000.

When considering an EDM, it's important to ask for references. Don't hesitate to ask them to describe the level of service provided to each client so that you can better understand their experience. Most importantly, if their pricing seems to good to be true, it probably is. Most professional event planners know their worth and their cost of operations and will not give away their services dirt cheap. I've seen it too many times. A bride will hire the cheapest planner only to regret the decision later as the "said planner" had no experience and made a mess of their wedding day.

Another service option to consider, have a professional event planner create a personalized timeline for you. This will require at least a two hour conversation to discuss the details of your day. This meeting should be scheduled 21 days prior to the wedding.

If you're budget does not allow for an EDM, there are many things you can prepare in advance to ensure your day runs smoothly. One of the most important tools will be your timeline. I have included some helpful tips in writing your timeline:

1. Write your timeline in chronological order of the day with the day starting as early as when you wake up and shower. Don't forget your bridesmaids, groom, and groomsmen. They need guidance on when to arrive and the location. Don't assume that it is understood. A newsletter can be prepared ahead of time for your bridal party. (Example).

2. Include an address for each location which you instruct bridal party members and vendors report to. This will certainly help eliminate the chance of anyone getting lost or going to the wrong location. If you know you have bridal party members prone to getting lost, help em out! Provide a map!

3. Provide your vendors a contact number for the day of the wedding. This needs to be a person who can be reached no matter the time or what is taking place. It would be best if it were an aunt, cousin or close friend whom will be in bridal pictures and helping you dress. This will allow any last minute questions to be resolved with the highest level of efficiency.

4. Make your timeline as detailed as possible including set-up details (ex: where should the guest book be placed, how the napkin should be folded or how to place the table number in relation to the centerpiece), behind the scenes logistics (ex: time which the bartender will begin pouring champagne for the toast), transportation pick-up times and even a hair/makeup schedule for the bridesmaids.

5. Be realistic when timing your events for the day. Remember that even in a perfect world nothing happens in 5 minute increments. Talk to your pastor/officiant to get the exact estimated length of the ceremony as this will determine when your cocktail hour will start. Remember to include drive time to and from locations. And for most brides, you tend to walk a little slower in a wedding dress. This will need to be accounted for as well. At the reception, remember the following:

The time it takes for you to arrive and bustle your dress

Your guests will need adequate time to be seated

It roughly takes 3-4 minutes to introduce your bridal party

Toasts on average are only 1.5 - 2.5 minutes long. For those more passionate, a max of 3 minutes

If you have a photojournalist photographer, it will only take 4-6 minutes to cut the cake, 6-9 if there is a grooms cake

Post ceremony pictures should never take more than 30 minutes or else your bridal party and immediate family starts to get overly restless and less attentive causing the pictures to take longer

For hair and makeup - discuss this in detail with your stylist to accurately plan the timeline of service for the bridesmaids
To move through a 3 course meal, the wait staff on average should only take 45-50 minutes if they are adequately staffed. If you are having a soup, intermezzo or appetizer course, add on 15-20 minutes for each item.

6. For the purpose of logistics and set-up, call all your vendors 7-10 days prior to the wedding to confirm load-in and set-up details. This is information which will need to be included on the timeline for the reception venue. AND, most importantly, it will give you peace of mind. Make sure to have the vendors arrive in sequential order, linens first, flowers, lighting, cake and entertainment. It would certainly put a kink in the process to have the flowers arrive before the linens. Or worse, have the cake arrive before the lighting. It would be disastrous to have the lighting crew bump the cake table when running cords or lights. Remember to communicate to the florist when you will begin shooting pictures before the ceremony. The flowers will need to arrive 30 minutes prior to the photo start time to allow someone an opportunity to pin and distribute the personal flowers. Remember to confirm the exact count of flowers. (Photo credit: Serendipity Photography)

7. Include in your timeline drawings of your personal decor or unique detail items and how you would like them set-up. You've put so much thought and preparation into your wedding. This will be the last step in knowing it will come together exactly as you've envisioned.

8. To better assist your vendors, include in the timeline your "Must Take Photo" list for the photographer, specific shots the videographer should capture and the song list for the ceremony and reception.

9. Share your timeline with all those directly responsible for executing the details of your day. It will be important to email one to the venue coordinator, musicians/entertainment/DJ, church coordinator, photographer, videographer, florist and personal friends who are helping. Your vendors should receive the timeline at 5-7 days in advance.

10. And lastly, this item isn't directly related to the timeline, but very helpful. When organizing your personal decor items for set-up, pack your ceremony items in a separate box from the items for your reception. Remember to remove all price tags prior to packing them. Put Post-It note tags on all items stating exactly what the item is or intended for. Secondly, put a packing list on the outside of the box indicating what is inside the box. Lastly, inside the box, place a master checklist of the contents inside the box along with a description of the set-up. Second copies of the set-up would be helpful.

Included is an example of a timeline to get you started.

Blissfully Inspired,

Samantha Darr

Engagement Proposals: The How To on the Will You?

2010-11-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

Alright guys, it's go time. You've met "The ONE" and now you're ready to pop the question. You've probably been racking your brain on deciding just how to surprise and the moment perfect. That's why I'm here to guide you along the way and give you a few pointers so you can come out looking like the savviest, most romantic man of her dreams.

There are a few things that are definite musts:

{Make It a Surprise} With more and more women coming along with their significant other to go ring shopping, the element of surprise might be non-existent. BUT, you can still make it happen guys! You know she's seen the ring and will be waiting on the edge of her seat. Whatever you do, don't buy the ring with her present. This is a financial transaction and truly a gift for her. When deciding just how to surprise her, there is an endless list of ways. For example, call her boss to arrange for her to have a day off. Book plane tickets to a romantic local. Ask a girlfriend to pack her overnight bag of essentials and send a limo to pick her up. All this is truly something she's not expecting. You could be waiting for her at the airport when the limo drops her off. This would make any girl absolutely gooshing with happiness.

{Stay Away From Cliches}There are a few ways to propose that are so cliche, it makes every woman cringe. Like putting the ring in a glass of champagne, having the waiter bring the ring out with the desert, proposing on Valentine's Day, etc. I know it's tempting, but resist the temptation.

{Ask Her Dad AND Mom for Their Blessing}It may sound a little traditional, but asking her Dad for his blessing will not only make your future fiance beaming with pride, but will make her Father feel like you truly respect him. To get even more brownie points with everyone, you should include her Mother as well. What better way to start your new life with their family?

{Cater to Her Personality} If your girlfriend is more on the private and quiet side, you definitely don't wanna propose with a lot of people around, like on a big screen at a baseball game (I'll talk about that in a minute guys)

{Listen to Her Hints} Women have a way of letting you know what she wants. Let's face it, we drop hints. Listen to them, this is your cheat sheet to making the proposal PERFECT. If she makes comments on a friend's proposal like "I can't believe he did it a beach, how beautiful and romantic." She obviously likes something like that but do not copy it. Her proposal should NOT be exactly the same as her friend. Get creative and think of a way to ask her that fits your personality and incorporates some experiences that you have shared together as a couple.

{Get Down on One Knee} I know this may sounds like common sense, but you'll be so engulfed in the moment that you'll probably keep standing while asking her to marry you. We've been thinking of that special moment since we were little girls so don't forget to get down on that knee!

{No Sporting Events} Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but women do not want to be proposed to at a baseball game, a football game, or any other kind of sporting event. Women like romance and pretty things and sporting events just don't have either.

{Hire An Expert} Yes, it's truly possible. If you're still feeling overwhelmed and a touch clueless, call an event planner to make all the details and plans for the evening. They can guide you in selecting just what will make your future fiance beam.

Real Wedding Part I: Stephanie + Ben

2010-11-18T07:58:00.000-08:00

Over the past 10 months, my team and I have had the opportunity to plan, organize and manage some of the most incredible weddings. For me, one of the most fun parts of my role is to see all the details come together to create this magical evening. And yes, some may cringe at the word "magical" for being a bit too cheesey. However, for a Bride, there's nothing more amazing than seeing the details of their wedding right before their eyes while being surrounded by all of their loving family and friends.

To wrap up the year, I plan to share with you many of those weddings. One of the first I wanted to post was an incredibly fun couple from Dallas. Not only were they a fun couple to work with, but they two were athletes like myself and most of all....one of the most romantic couples. Stephanie and Ben were complete smiles all throughout the process. On the day of the wedding, she absolutely glowed with happiness.

For their wedding, Stephanie and Ben chose a more classic, romantic look. Their colors were shades of white complimented by a more summery shade of steel blue. (Which has been a hot color for 2010 and will carry over to the winter 2010/early spring 2011. It's a good neutral tone.) This was a perfect compliment to reception venue's existing decor. Their invitations and complimenting stationary items were a couture letterpress design by Crane. While they chose some very richly designed components to their wedding, they chose to compliment in other ways with simple, equally elegant items. Their pew markers were clusters of baby's breather wrapped in a ivory satin ribbon. Normally, baby's breath would cause one to cringe at memories of the 80's prom coursage. However, in the past 12 months, baby's breath is being used in a more modern vintage way. For her dress, she wore a couture gown with her mother's veil.

Morgan Lynn captured the day with so many amazing pictures, I have had such a hard time selecting just a few to show you. I have decided to break it up into two post. Tomorrow, I will show you the details from the reception.

Wedding Day Recipe:

Church: St. Micheal Catholic Church
Reception: Courtyard on St. James
Photographer: Morgan Lynn Photography
Cake: Cakes by Gina
Flowers: Events in Bloom
Ceremony Music: Divisi Strings
Reception Entertainment: JM Productions
Linens: Elegant Beginnings
Hair/Makeup: The Perfect Face
Transportation: The Original Trolley Company
Host Hotel: Hotel Derek

Blissfully Inspired,

Samantha Darr

Introduction of our NEW Texas Event Blog "Celebrate In Style"

2010-11-04T11:04:00.001-07:00

After a few months of planning, I'm so thrilled to finally be able to share with you exciting new venture. With planning events all over Texas, we thought it would be so helpful to others to share our expertise and information which we've gained over the past 10 years.

Let me introduce our new blog: "Celebrate In Style". We will event professionals, venue locations, event ideas and new tools to assist you in all that is event related in Texas. We hope you enjoy reading the new blog.

Blissfully Inspired,

Samantha Darr

Owner & Lead Planner

Elegant Beginning's 10 Year Anniversary

2010-11-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

As a small business owner, there are certain milestones throughout the life of your business which is worth celebrating. The first would be your 1st year anniversary. At this stage you're happy, nervouse, and excited to have gotten the business started and be heading in a direction. Possibly, still wondering if you made the right decision and if you're doing things right. Then comes your 3rd year anniversary. I have coined this as "the toddler" stage of your business. At this point, you've developed made a few mistakes, developed processes and am truly at the "crawling" stage; things are coming together. Your 5th year is the anniversary which you're running like a well oiled machine; making things happen and looking for ways to expand. However, nothing is more exciting than your 10th year anniversary. For me, I still have 7 more years to get there and would truly be a blessed.

I am genuinely excited for one of my favorite vendors whom is a friend as well to be celebrating her 10 year anniversary. I have always admired her business savvy ideas and looked to her as a role model. Elegant Beginnings has become a leader in the events industry in Houston.

Please join us as we wish Jill Vidal and the entire Elegant Beginning crew a happy birthday and wish them another successful to years.

Blissfully Inspired,

Samantha Darr
Owner/Lead Planner

[SB!] Love: Wedding Planner's Rewards

2010-10-29T10:24:00.000-07:00

When most people hear what I do, they always "ohhh" & "auhhh" and goosh about how much fun it must be to be a wedding planner. And truly, there are many times when it is incredibly fun and an absolute joy. What better kind of job could there be than creating some of the most heartfelt, memorable memories in a couple's life?! For me, it's sincerely an honor to have a couple entrust to me such a day.

Yes, it is very rewarding to have my own business, enjoy the benefits and sense of satisfaction as the company grows. But what most people don't realize is that it can be tremendously stressful, requires grueling hours and at times personal sacrifice. We find ourselves working evenings, weekends, but also some holidays. Because of this, I am super thankful for a loving and understanding family who support my passion that allows me to pursue my dream.

One of the the moments for me which puts me on cloud 9 is knowing that I made a couple's day all that they hoped for and MORE. One of those moments was today when I received a "thank you" note from last weekend's couple:

"Hi Samantha, We got back from the honeymoon last night and wanted to let you know that the wedding was absolutely fabulous!!!! Everything was so beautiful and we had a great time. Thanks again SO MUCH!!"

Blissfully Inspired

Samantha Darr
Owner/Lead Planner

Make-up Tips: Smokey VS. Natual

2010-10-27T12:09:00.000-07:00

Hey ladies, my name is Kristi and I am the new intern for Soiréebliss! Events. I'm super excited to write my very first blog and share the inside scoop when it comes to bridal make-up.

Having been an artist for M.A.C Cosmetics for a little over 5 years, I definitely know what brides go through when deciphering between wedding day looks. One of the most popular questions I get asked is should I do a smokey eye or or go with more natural colors? The most important thing to know about a smokey eye is that it's just a technique. You can do a smokey eye with browns, blues, purples, anything your little heart desires. Think about it this way; it just means a darker shade of whatever color you're wanting to use.

If you wear a smokey eye everyday...it's for a reason; you like how your eyes are defined with a darker color, it makes you feel sexier and more confident. The bottom line is, YOU have to love how you look in your wedding pictures. If you go with lighter more natural colors when you're used to darker colors, you will feel like you don't have any make-up on and you won't be happy with how you look. Those pictures will last forever so you really have to go with your gut and do what makes you happy. Also, most weddings last through the late evening, so your make-up should be on the darker side to fit the time of day.

Now remember ladies, you do have options when it comes to a smokey eye! There can be a dark color on the whole eyelid or the eyelid can have a light color and then a dark color in the crease. Either way, a darker color really needs to be used to define and show up in pictures. Another thing to think about is mixing up your textures. If you use a shimmer or a frost on the lid, you want to use a matte in the crease. You can still use a shimmer in the crease, but you want to break up your textures. Plus, matte colors in the crease will create depth, shimmers/frosts won't.

Bottom line: You can listen to bridal magazines, your friends, your mom. But at the end of the day, wear what makes you feel sexy. You should feel as if you are a goddess, because it's YOUR wedding day. Enjoy it!

Kristi Gomez
Superstar Wedding Intern

Make-up in pictures done by Lisa Pelayo: http://lisapelayo.com/
Photography done by Laurie Perez: http://laurieperez.com/

Wedding Dress FLIP!

2010-10-25T14:28:00.001-07:00

Are you worried about the difficulty of wearing your gorgeous wedding dress during all the dancing at the reception? Do not fear because at soiréebliss! Events there is an answer for everything! There is a fabulous trend in the wedding world to have a dress flip after the ceremony. All the best wedding dress designers such as Monique Lhuillier, Ines Di Santo, and Rivini had fabulous short gowns all over the runway in the New York Bridal Fashion Week this year. These dresses are short, sassy, and absolutely perfect to allow the bride more comfort and let’s be honest, what girl doesn’t want another wedding outfit?

Wedding dress boutiques offer wedding dresses of all lengths and sizes. Find one you love then go get a splash of color to make sure you stand out amongst your guests. Try incorporating your wedding colors by adding an adorable sash and bright colored shoes. But don’t stop there! Get some incredibly jewelry that will make you sparkle from head to toe.

This dress change will be an eye catching surprise to your guests and you will be so much happier dancing in this dress as opposed to your 500 lb dupioni silk gown you walked down the isle in. Bottom line: it is your day, make a fabulous spectacle of yourself.

Always Learning, Always Fabulous,

Vanessa Sinatora
Associate Planner

Holiday Party Idea: Entertainment That's Show Stopping

2010-10-24T06:32:00.000-07:00

With the holidays quickly approaching, you may find yourself in the beginning to think about this year's holiday party. One of the most important parts of the evening ........besides the food and drinks will be entertainment. If you are seeking something different that will make your party truly memorable, consider a dinner mystery. You can host the event at the location of your choice with the option of having 10 of your guests are playing interactive roles whiles your other guests try and solve the mystery. One of our favorite companies is Celebrity Mystery Theater. The have a full cast of celebrity impersonators that makes for an even more entertaining evening.

For more holiday ideas and planning services, contact as dates are quickly filling up. Let us plan the spectacular party for you.

Blissfully Inspired,

Samantha Darr

Owner/Lead Planner

{Helpful Tips} Reselling Wedding Items

2010-10-22T17:48:00.001-07:00

Were you a DIY'er for your wedding left wondering what you're going to do with 35 lanterns or 300 chargers? Or maybe you're contemplating a splurge for your wedding and wondering how to off-set the cost. Seriously, consider reselling it after the wedding. Not only will it make your new hubby happy to have the "wedding room" cleared out, but will also reload the pocket book. If you have a couture item that was really over your budget, start advertising the sale of the item before the wedding takes place. This way, you can feel better and enjoy the splurge on the wedding day.

Some very valuable sources for selling wedding items:

1. Bride Share - all items are welcome and there's even a message board to chat with other brides. Total bonus!!

2. PreownedWeddingdre sses.com - this site is absolutely addicting. I love checking it out periodically to see all the gorgeous dresses. You will find anything from custom gowns to couture dresses by Carolina Herrera. AND at a fraction of the original cost.

3. Who can beat theKnot when it comes to wedding resources. The have a message board geared toward every subject. Consider posting your "for sale" items on your local board and also future wedding date boards.

4. In some areas of the country, Craigslist is a great resource. I have been lucky enough to sell and purchase a few pieces of furniture on there myself. Just be super cautious of scammers wanting to send you a check. Always have another person present if someone is coming to your home to look at the items your selling.

5. And last, but not least, the tried and true Ebay. You may consider taking your items to a company who lists and sells the items for you. May save you a lot of time and the best part is that they take the photos and manage the listing for you.

6. If you're ever in Chicago, you surely have to make a stop at White Chicago. It's truly a premier couture resale wedding dress boutique. AND for those not in Chicago hold onto your seats because they recently launched an online site as well. www.whiteXchange.com

We would love to hear from fellow readers which sites were most successful for you.

Blissfully Inspired,

Samantha Darr

Owner/Lead Planner

Preparing for Wedding Day Part II: 30 Day Countdown

2010-10-21T05:31:00.000-07:00

As you approach the last 30-45 days prior to the wedding, you're surely feeling excited, anticipating the actual day. You've may be running through all the magical moments you and your Groom will share together. Or you may even be feeling exhausted by the stress experienced throughout the planning process and just ready for the wedding to be finished so you can enjoy being married.

In any of the 3 scenarios, the details you address in the last remaining days leading up to the wedding can be the most critical. During this time will be when you finalize the finer points and smallest of details. Anything from how the napkin will be folded, where will the bridal party stand during introductions, who will transport the guest book to the reception, timing the set-up of the reception vendors in logistical order so that everything runs smoothly. All of the details can make or break a Bride's wedding day experience.

To assist you, here are is a checklist of items to complete:

1. Schedule a meeting with your reception venue to do a walk-thru meeting. During this meeting you will finalize the room layout, the time the reception space will be available for set-up, review menu items and pricing. On average, final numbers are due 3-7 days prior along with payment.

2. Schedule a time to meet with your florist to finalize all final count, colors. Utilize the floor plan to designate the location of the tall centerpieces. Provide the florist the load-in details and times. You will need to finalize the time/location which the personal flowers will need delivered.

3. Finalize contract details, final payment, set-up times, and discuss the floor plan layout/set-up details with the remaining vendors; DJ, linens, rental items, ice designer, cake, church and entertainment. Do not leave a single detail to chance. Make sure to ask each vendor for their event day staff names and a cell phone to contact them on the wedding day if an emergency were to occur.

4. Create a make-up/hair schedule for your bridal party. Allow 1 hour for your hair and 1 hour for your make-up. Allow 30-45 minutes for each bridesmaid for hair and the same amount of time for make-up. As a helpful tip, never make your last as it could cause you to run late and always put your most picky bridesmaid last. Distribute the schedule to your party 2 weeks out.

5. Make a list of all your personal decor items. Designate next to each item the person whom will be responsible for setting it up. You will then pack your items into a box for each person. Label each item clearly, include set-up instructions, drawing of the items and a floor plan. This will eliminate any confusion. Make sure your items are packed and distributed no later then Wednesday or Thursday prior to the wedding. (Photo credit: Sarah Green Photography)

6. Confirm with your bridal party that their dresses are altered and pressed. This will need to be done no less than 2 weeks prior to the wedding. Confirm that the groomsmen have ordered and paid for their tuxes. With groomsmen, we know our fellows well and how no nonsense they are. Remind them to try on the tux at the store to confirm all items fit and are the correct size. If they wait until Saturday morning, it could be too late.

7. AND, most importantly, don't forget your dress. Your dress should have been received and fitted already if you had bridal portraits. If you opted to not take bridal portraits, you will want your fittings to start no less than 40 days out. At your last fitting, bring two bridesmaids with you to ensure they understand how to bustle the train. Schedule your dress to be pressed and packed for transportation the Thursday prior to the wedding. It would be ideal to designate a family friend or bridal party member to pick it up on Friday prior to the wedding. Ultimately, it would be the ultimate luxury to hire a personal dresser to pick up your dress the day of the wedding, deliver the dress to you and assist you in putting it on. Saks 5th Avenue and companies such as Misti Style provide this service.

8. The last remaining and most vital tools for a successful wedding still remains; "The Timeline". This topic is truly so big and incredibly important, it deserves it's very own post. Stay tuned for Part III as I cover the tips and strategy for writing a flawless timeline.

Blissfully Inspired,

Samantha Darr
Owner/Lead Planner

Enchanted Forest Wedding

2010-10-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

There is something mesmerizing about the innate beauty of nature. If you are a bride who is energized by every breath of fresh air and loves the warm feel of sunshine reflecting softly off your skin, I have an idea for you. Have your wedding in a beautiful clearing in the midst of an enchanting forest with trees lightly scattered about. This lush scenery provides you with vibrant greens and yellows with fresh inspiration at every angle. The sunlight hugging each tree will give you lighting you could never dream of having in the tight constraints of a typical venue.
The ceremony would be centered in front of the glowing sunset with guests seated on simple white chairs. Create an isle with lose ribbons, rose petals, or even leaving the ground alone when the beautiful autumn leaves have carpeted your surroundings. After the ceremony, when the sun has set your celebration can commence. Have beautiful lighting by traditional or paper lanterns and floral arrangements hanging from the trees. Why not make a small chandelier of orchids floating above the sweetheart table like the one to the left designed by Le Vie en Rose. Take my acorn escort card idea for the fall to guide your guests to their seats. If it is spring or summer and there are no acorns available, use a succulent as an alternative. The chavari chairs should be covered in an extremely sheer white chair cover (like the picture on the right) to soften the over all look. On the tables a natural colored linen can hug the table while bright colors are used elsewhere. Use vibrant colors on the napkins, ribbons, table numbers and floral arrangements. Rich greens, ambers, and browns will always create a more organic feel. If you want something more chic go for a bright accent color like red, amethyst, or teal. The ideas for a forest themed wedding are endless!

Make your wedding as organic and real as the relationship you share with the person you marry. Enjoy the first day of a new journey.

Picture by Morgan Lynn

Always Inspired,

Vanessa Sinatora
Associate Planner

{Wedding Dresses} A "Red Carpet" Design You'll Love

2010-10-20T04:30:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you love the newest trends in wedding dresses. Designers are using more texture, ruffles, layering and luxurious fabrics to create couture gowns. Heavy beading is just as gorgeous, but the concept of "less is more" sweeping fashion week for Spring 2011. One particular gown I recently feel in love with was by a designer Sherry Hill. Her romantic "red carpet" number would be perfect for the bride who desired a more manageable train or possibly an evening gown. If you're truly daring, try it in pink.

When considering accessories, this dress would truly "pop" with a few vintage pieces. I would suggest to keep the selections simple to avoid a "busy" look to the complete ensemble. Haute Bride has some perfect pieces that any bride would just swoon over!

Blissfully Inspired,

Samantha Darr

Owner/Lead Planner

Escort Cards: Getting Creative

2010-10-15T12:57:00.001-07:00

Every bride wants their wedding to have unique personal touches that reflects their style and vision. One easy way to do this is by giving your escort card some flare. There are many ways to personalize your escort cards so that they can fit your style, budget, and theme.

If you are going for a glam wedding, one fabulous way to display escort cards is in ring boxes. To display these escort cards you would open the box then attach the name and table number to the inside. These cute boxes can be ordered online and are very affordable. They come in crystal clear, white or black velvet. To make the boxes pop, rest them on a bed of rose petals or lay them on a bright colored linen.
(Picture proveded by Occassion to Celebrate)

If you are having a fun, laid back summer wedding get a long rectangular plant pot, fill it with sand and then place large round suckers standing in the sand. Attach the escort card in the center of the circle and it will look incredibly creative.

If your wedding is in the fall, pine cones are always an excellent escort card holder. Cut off the end so it is nice and flat, display them on a table and insert the escort cards.
(Picture provided by weddingbee.com)

Do you love music? Why not combine your escort cards with favors for your guests. Make a CD of songs that are important to you and your hubby then print off CD Labels with an engagement picture as the background. Either attach the escort card onto the CD or incorporate it into your CD label. Don’t want to bother with the labels? No problem, many companies will custom make them with every detailed touch you want. An easy way to display this would be in long sheets of CD holders that can be hung onto the wall.

There is something special about a wedding during the holidays. If your wedding is in December and you love a little holiday spirit, print off your escort cards on normal rectangular paper. About one third above the bottom edge of the escort card glue a stick of cinnamon on the back.
This will make the card stand on its own, add a wonderful aroma and fit your theme.

If you love the organic look but still want a bit of glitz, you can have the florist make you a large willow like branched tree or you can buy one yourself at the store. Attach beautiful flowers sparingly throughout the branches. To give your escort cards some sparkle, attach some beading onto the bottom for a really couture look and hook them onto the tree branches.
(Picture provided by weddingbycolor.com)

More great ideas to come for fabulous brides with unique styles!

Always Learning, Always Fabulous,

Vanessa Sinatora
Associate Planner

Preparing for Wedding Day Part I: Plan, Plan, Plan

2010-10-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

As a event planner who's been doing this for awhile, I've seen every type of client. You have the "Type A" who is 2 months ahead of schedule, the "easy rider" who goes with the flow and is super happy with whatever happens, and the endearing "late bloomer" who just can't seem to stay on schedule.

The fun part of my job is working with all types of personalities to bring together the details to ensure the event day is perfectly flawless, logistically smooth and incredibly memorable. Sounds easy...right?

Typically, when hired for Event Day Management, I spend roughly 25 hours planning and preparing for the event. It's important to cross all "T's" and ensure all "I's" are dotted by reviewing the contracts, walking the venue, and confirming details with the vendors. BUT, most importantly, the most vital tool for the wedding day is the timeline. Without a well thought out timeline, the day could feel rushed, hectic and down right stressful the Bride and Groom. As an event planner, we are what I like to call the "insurance policy" for the event. And who doesn't feel more comfortable with a little extra insurance?
Over the next week, I am absolutely excited to share with you some tips, tricks and examples to help make your event the success you've dreamt it to be. And truly, it's my goal to help inspire, and assist each couple and know that their day was memorable.

Blissfully Inspired,

Samantha Darr
Owner/Lead Planner

Event Idea: Green Transportation Option for Your Event

2010-10-14T04:11:00.000-07:00

If you're planning a Green event in Houston and stuck on what to choose for transportation, I have the perfect solution for you.....Rev Eco Shuttle.

REV Eco-Shuttle started in April of 2008 with the simple goal of creating a better way for people to get around town. Today REV has travelled over 35,000 miles and transported more than 70,000 people. All without the use of a single drop of gasoline or the release of any emissions. REV is committed to making an impact on our community while leaving as small a footprint as possible.

In 2010 REV became the first all-electric jitney service in the city of Houston and quite possibly the country. Today you can find REV Eco-Shuttles in Downtown, Midtown and Washington Avenue.

Blissfully Yours,

Samantha Darr
Owner/Planning Super Hero : )

DIY Project: The Art of Embellishment

2010-10-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

One of the fun aspects of my job is to enlist the creative side of my personality. Which you may think, happens quite often, but truly dreaming up a creative idea, busting out the paper cutter and scrapbook adhesive and actually crafting the idea into reality is genuinely fun for me. It's like recess!!

Are you sitting on the edge of your seats wondering what great project I may have to share? So here's a few helpful ideas to give your event an extra spark without the busting the budget.

1. Think about those gorgeous wedding day shoes with the amazing bling you're just dieing to have, but not quite so excited about splurging the $150-200 for them. As a creative alternative, buy a basic pair of silk evening shoes and attach your own bling. For the beautiful Nine West shoes shown, they were steal at under $60. The brooches were attached to a pair of clearance shoes at DSW for under $20. I simply cut the brooches off and hot glued them to the evening shoes. Solution that cost well under $100.

2. For a nice accent to those gorgeous shoes, how about an evening bag to match? If you're like me, you love a couture hand bag from Devi Kroell, but may would love a more affordable option. For this, I would suggest shopping the clearance area or make a stop at Sam Moon (online, Dallas and The Woodlands store options). We were lucky to have found a perfectly matching green hand bag. However, weren't as excited by it's simple style. With a little help from our Bedazzler gun and sparkling crystals from Michael's, our purse was just as fabulous as the shoes. All for under $40.

3.Your invitation will be the first glimpse your guest have as to what to expect at your event. If you're like me, it seems nothing less than a custom masterpiece will do! With custom invitation prices ranging from $7-35/set, this can become a costly investment depending on your guest count. A few options to give your invitation some customization would be to purchase catalog invitation from a trusted stationer and attached it to a pocketfold. Papers and More has a wide range of color options and sizes. If you're local to Houston, try Texas Art Supply where they give a bulk discount. The best type of adhesive to use would be Tombow's pink cartridge scrapbook glue found at most Michael's or scrapbook stores.

For a chic option use your bedazzle gun to add a pop of crystal between your names or strategically placed in the design or monogram on the invitation. For a dainty look, you may opt to add a ribbon or bow to your invitation for a little accent. Ebay is an amazing resource for bulk ribbon well under $20.

To present a very creative, option would be to place your 5X7 invitation in a box fastened with double satin ribbon, artistically wrapped in tissue paper. It's almost like a personalized gift to each guest. Think of their excitement when they receive your invitation?!

(Boxed invitation by Lela Luxury Wedding Invitations)

Blissfully Yours,

Samantha Darr
Owner/Lead Planner

Fall Party Details: Pumpkin Signature Drink

2010-10-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

As an event planner, I've seen signature drinks becoming more and more common with more zing and pizazz. From colored sugar lining the rim of the glass, couture designed wine charms, edible flowers, monogrammed drink stirs and special designed displays to create a whole vocal point at an event.

With the Fall quickly approaching, I always look forward to all the yummy deserts made with pumpkin. So, why not enhance your event with a signature drink after dinner to compliment your desert.

Pumpkin Martini Ingredients:

1/2 oz Drambuie Sylk Cream Liqueur
2 oz Absolut Vanilla vodka
1/2 oz pumpkin liqueur
1 tsp whipped cream
Cinnamon stick for garnish

Pour the Drambuie Sylk Liqueur and vodka into a shaker filled with ice and shake well. Add the pumpkin liqueur and shake. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Top with teaspoon of whipped cream. Garnish with cinnamon stick.

Blissfully Your's,

Samantha Darr
Owner/Lead Planner

Get Inspired

2010-10-12T14:43:00.000-07:00

As an event planner there are times when I become inspired by a painting or a cutely decorated garden to design something new and exquisite. Today I was inspired by a venue in Downtown Houston.

With ceilings stretching up to the sky and richly textured columns The Corinthian
made my eyes widen and sparkle with ideas. I immediately envisioned a couture fashion show highlighting New York’s finest designers. The back drop of the venue had two gorgeous staircases that landed on a marble stage that could easily extend out into a glamorously chic long celebrity runway. With ceilings studded with jewel encased chandeliers and infinitely beautiful qualities it could easily seat 600 of Houston’s finest fashionistas.

With a designer’s eye, like my own, I would drape the ceiling with gorgeous sheer fabric reaching from wall to wall. Colored accent lighting would reflect against the columns to accentuate the architecture. To boost the central focus of the show where the models enter the runway there would be a backdrop framed by angelic fabrics and soft glowing lights. On either side of the runway entrance we would have large hanging crystals. Underneath these crystals will be lighting that will shift from
one heavenly color to another upon each introduction of a new designer. This light will run through the crystals creating a magical reflection uncharacteristic to any fashion show. The runway would be lined by angelic feathers shaped into flowers with Swarovski Crystal centers. Crystals would dangle down from the second floor to match the crystal candelabras placed throughout the venue. With the fabulous soiréebliss! Team we would easily transform this classical venue into the chicest of chic runway show.

Always Inspired,

Vanessa Sinatora
Associate Planner

Tips for a Bridal Shoot

2010-10-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

Growing up in the Midwest, weddings were a little different. Culturally, some of the most common trends of today were virtually unheard of in the northern region of the United States. The Groom didn't have a chance to express his hobbies with a separate groom's cake. A charmingly adorable nephew only had the option of being a ring bearer vs. a bell ringer during the ceremony processional. And most importantly, the only time the Bride had the chance to test all components of her wedding day ensemble was during the last dress fitting. Thankfully, the bridal portrait shoot is commonly requested and found as a necessity even to allow the bride a dress rehearsal while having a ton of fun with a few friends and photography. Why only wear the dress for one day when you can wear it for two?!

When preparing for your bridal shoot, here are some tips to ensure your day is a success:

1. Have helpers whether they are members of your bridal party, personal friends or family members. This will give them a chance to see how the dress is to be properly zipped, buttoned and/or bustled.

2. Have a set of cloth white gloves on hand to be worn by those helping to move the train around during the shoot. It helps to protect the dress from sweat and oils. With being in Texas, this is a special consideration considering the heat.

3. Speaking of heat, be prepared for all that goes along with the heat. Spanx is truly the most comfortable item underneath to wear. Bring plenty of bottled water with a straw to stay hydrated to keep a glamorous smile. And oil blot paper. Shiseido truly makes the best with the most successful results.

4. Whether you're shooting inside or out, you will want to protect the skirt of your dress. A cream, ivory or white flat sheet (whichever best matches the color of your dress). Having something underneath your dress' train or for you to sit on will allow you the peace of mind to enjoy the shoot and get some fabulously creative shots.

5. Bring two pairs of shoes. One for comfort which you are OK with walking in the grass and one for the fun shoe pics. No need to scuff up your wedding day shoes!

6. Don't forget to order your bouquet. Not only is this a dress rehearsal for your ensemble, but it's a great opportunity to see how the bouquet will look and feel with your dress. Along with the type of flowers you've selected. Typically, a florist will make a slightly smaller version of the one you will have on wedding day.

7. Schedule your shoot 1.5-2 months prior to your wedding day. This will allow plenty of time to receive the dress from the designer, have it custom tailored to fit you and allow plenty of time to purchase your accessories. Also remember, it's important to have all of your shoes and undergarments purchased prior to beginning your alterations.

Blissfully Yours,

Samantha Darr
Owner/Lead Planner

(Photo Credit: Fort Mill Photography)

{Venue Location} Engagement Shoots

2010-10-04T18:08:00.000-07:00

When preparing for an engagement shoot, it's important to talk with with your photographer to ensure you select a time of day to have proper lighting. High noon is never a great time for outdoor pictures due to shadows and glare. Most importantly, select a venue with the right style/feel for the pictures you want.

Due to a last minute need to reschedule a bridal shoot for today, our team quickly went into action to find an alternative location. Especially a location as architecturally interesting, romantic and glamorous as the Crystal Ballroom. As you can imagine, yes, many locations were already booked. We were thrilled by Morgan Lynn Photography's recommendation; Fiori Spa. With Morgna's experience at the venue, the pictures are going to more than the bride could have hoped for. The Bride was ecstatically happy with how lucky we are to have such a beautiful alternative venue. We are swooning over the serene environment that looks as though you stepped into the Italian countryside.

Part III: Suggestions & Fashion

2010-10-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

A wedding is a tremendous investment. It is important to ensure that everything goes the way you have always dreamt. The dress is such an important piece of that dream. Make sure that when you shop for your wedding dress that you go somewhere that will treat you right and help find the perfect dress.

For our Dallas brides I would highly recommend working with:
- Marianne from Stardust Celebrations
- Sharon from Lulu’s Bridal
- Warren Barron

- Stanley Koershack

- Priscilla of Boston
- For beautiful custom gowns: Nha Khanh

For our Houston brides:
- Mia Bridal Couture
- Princess Bridal
- Brickhouse Bridal

- Winnie Couture
- Belle Mariee River Oaks

At all of the places mentioned above you will have excellent service, selection and expertise.

New Fashion Trends in The Bridal World:

There are some exciting fashion trends in the bridal industry you may want to test out. The feminine softness is the latest theme amongst wedding dresses. We are seeing that less is more.

That being said accessories have become a vital instrument in creating your overall ensemble. Items such as exquisitely beaded belts, broaches, or beaded head bands are easily accessible at any boutique. On occasions you can have decorative flowers or bows attached onto the dress in the places of your choice. If you go with less you can add sweet touches that will make this dress a perfect fit to your personal style.

Today is all about accessorizing!

Always Learning, Always Fabulous,

Vanessa Sinatora
Associate Planner

Part II: Creating the Perfect Moment

2010-09-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

Day 2 our bride steps out of her home with a fresh pair of heels and new expectations. She gathers her crew and begins her dress shopping:

Imagine entering a gorgeous wedding gown boutique met by a fabulous white staircase. Upstairs you become surrounded by various different sections of exquisite gowns separated by top designers. A sales associate approaches you and assists with picking out various dresses of your choice making suggestions along the way based on your body type and skin coloring. Your hands run across all the different fabrics enjoying the textures, layers, and beading. This sales consultant will bring you and your family into a private dressing room where she will help you try on all the gowns of your liking. Based on your response she will bring you more dresses that will compliment your figure so much you could just cry. At the end of the day you will find a dress. This dress will likely make you do a little dance in front of the mirror, your mom will begin to cry, and sure enough the tears become contagious and the whole room, including you, will have smiling wet cheeks. The perfect dress has been found and a moment has been created.

Experiences are everything in life. Make sure this experience is so perfect that words can not express the joy and excitement you feel. Meet me for Part III for a few wise suggestions and a glimpse into the newest wedding dress fashion trends.

Always Learning, Always Fabulous,

Vanessa Sinatora
Associate Planner

Part I: The Wedding Dress Saga

2010-09-24T07:32:00.000-07:00

When shopping for a wedding dress it is vastly important to know where to go and who to meet with. As minor a task this may seem you would be surprised how much a wedding planner can do to make sure you have an excellent shopping experience. Without the advice of a wedding planner you may find yourself in the following situation:

Imagine entering a cutely decorated store glancing around, excited to try on your first wedding dress. You reach for a beautiful pearl gown to get a closer look and feel the fabric against your skin, WAIT, a sales consultant stops you with a drill sergeant like demeanor. “Please use these hand wipes and clean your hands thoroughly before touching any gowns” she says. So you clean your hands feeling like a four year old who just got scolded by her mother. When you try to enter the actual salon where the dresses are being kept there is a small stop sign requesting that all customers wait to be escorted into the room. You have brought your sisters, best friend and mother to help pick dresses to try on. The sales consultant says “I am sorry, only one person can help you pick out dresses.” Every where you walk and everything you touch is being patroled by the sales associate standing in the corner of the room. Here you are ready to spend $1,000-$20,000 and this is your shopping experience? Well, as a wedding planner I would not let my bride experience this. Shopping for a dress should be an exciting experience and a bride should enjoy every moment that leads up to her big day.

After an experience like this you could imagine what a disappointment day 1 of wedding dress shopping was. After a long discussion with her wedding planner she will be out on day 2 with new direction and many new expectations. Tune in for part 2: Creating the Perfect Moment!

Yours Truly,

Vanessa Sinatora
Associate Planner

Cutural Weddings: Crazy yet Fabulous

2010-09-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

My first cultural wedding! I love culture! Coming from a family with an Italian father and Mexican mother gave me a lot of culture to start off with but nothing compared to the insane amount of tradition that was involved in this extravagant wedding. When I am working on an event I usually remain focused on what needs to be done to ensure everything is running on schedule. Although this was the case, I found that there were points in time that the traditions being handled by the family left me standing in awe. I cannot repeat enough how much I love culture. It was an honor to partake in all these ceremonies and learning about the different traditions that they hold so closely to their heart.

The ceremony began at 4:30 pm at the Chapelwood United Methodist Church. Before the ceremony there were seven bouquets to hand out to the bridesmaids, seven boutonnière’s to pin on the grooms men, the ushers needed instruction, and finally I had to get all 14 of them in order to walk down the isle. Yes, the made of honor and best man made it down the isle with the rings safely tucked away. Soon after, the most beautiful bride I have yet to work with floats down the isle bringing tears to many loved ones eyes.

Picture time! With the help of a few family members we must have had 200 plus pictures snapped. Nancy Aidee, the photographer impressively managed a bridal party of 30 plus people maintaining a sweet smile. Now to get everyone on the limo bus, all 16 of them…Where is the bride?
Finally we rallied the women onto the bus where they commenced the celebration opening bottles of champagne accompanied by lots of laughter. 15 minutes later I thanked EJ for the fabulous ride by Royal Carriages and we enter the beautiful Omni Hotel. Here Samantha greets me with two other soireebliss! members and hands me a list of infinity things I must accomplish before the introduction of the bridal party.

One thing I did not account for in this cultural wedding is that the band did not speak one word of English…Hmmm. Another problem we run into with other cultures is that time really is not very important. Luckily we had a wonderful DJ named Will from Def Jam Blaster who was so incredibly flexible and wonderful to work with because if the band was still outside during their break, he would just keep jamming. Thank you Will.

Everything is running on schedule! The food at the Omni was absolutely exquisite. The décor in the banquet was breathtaking and the guests were all on the dance floor having the time of their lives. The bride and groom did a lovely toast and we cut the beautiful cake made by Who Made the Cake.

The stress is over, the event was lovely and most importantly we made the bride and groom, as well as all their loved ones truly happy! They celebrated till 2am the new beginning of the merging of two very lovely families. Congratulations to Mewael and Elise!

Yours Truly,

Vanessa Sinatora
Associate Planner

Your venue allows you to bring in your own alcohol, BUT not how much?

2010-07-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

You can imagine, having the opportunity to provide your own alcohol can be a huge cost saving. For the state of Texas, you will still need to hire a TABC certified bartender which will cost $100-150 per bartender for a 4 hour event.

For alcohol in general, rule of thumb is to consider the following:

Each guests will consume 2 drinks their first hour and 1 drink each consecutive hour after that. Of course, you will have guests drink more, less or none at all. The numbers provide averages.

If you have a large number of guests whom are heavy drinkers, increase the total number 25%

So, for 150 guests for a 4 hour reception = 750 drinks

On average, the bar consists of 50% beer, 25% wine and 25% liquar. These percentages can be adjusted based on your specific group of friends and family

Beer would equal 375 cans = 16 cases
187 glasses of wine
187 glasses of cocktails

It's always best to consider buying beer in cans vs. bottles as it is safer and more "green". You may consider recycling the cans.

- A bottle of wine will yield 6-7 glasses which would require 31-32 bottle

When purchasing alcohol, the breakdown is as follows:

- A 750 ml. Bottle will yield about 16 cocktails.
- A liter bottle will yield 22 drinks.
- A 1.5 liter bottle will yield 39 drinks.

Wedding Feature: Stephanie & Benjamin's Summer Wedding

2010-06-23T04:50:00.000-07:00

With each couple that I work with in helping to plan their wedding, I can't help but to feel the buzz of excitement the week of the wedding. Having been a Bride myself, I know what the couple is feeling and it simply gives me butterflies as I know they are about to embark on one of the happiest and most memorable days of their lives. With being 3 days away from Stephanie & Ben's wedding, who needs coffee when you have the wedding buzz?!

For me, Stephanie and Benjamin has been a truly adorable couple to work with. When they look at each other, you can see just how much they adore each other and are in love. Their summer wedding is filled with detail, detail, detail from custom hand towels to gourmet styled meals and an array of eclectic songs to ensure that every guests dances the night away. They are having a wedding surrounded by family and friends with a collection of truly talented wedding professionals to bring it all together. Of course, with yours truly, they will be assured that the event will run flawlessly. As many have teased me in past, my events usually do run down to the minute in exact precision. 8:39 for the first dance....really!

Event Ingredients:

Church: St. Michael Catholic Church
Venue: The Courtyard at St. James

Photographer: Morgan Lynn Photography (engagement pics shot in New Orleans)
Florist: Events in Bloom

Cake: Cakes by Gina

C. Music: Divisi Strings

Hair/makeup: Your Beautiful Face

Linens: Elegant Beginnings

DJ: JM Productions

Transportation: The Original Trolley Company

Host Hotel: Hotel Derek

TLC is casting for "Four Weddings" in Dallas/Ft. Worth.....could this be you?

2010-06-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

Yup, that's right! "Four Weddings" is now able to include September weddings on Season Two!

We were very excited because we know a lot of you have brides getting married in September who were interested in being a part of the show. But don't forget, we still want to meet your brides getting married in June, July & August as well. This season is turning out to be better than ever and the vacation prizes are out of this world. Below is a reminder about how the show works and send us your brides quick! WE want to give everyone a chance to be a part of this incredibly fun show:)

"Four Weddings" is a new hit show on TLC, but it's NOT like a "Bridezillas" type of show or anything that is snarky or negative...it is the exact opposite. We're doing a show that actually wants to see their wedding day turn out as perfect as they've planned it. TLC is giving these brides the opportunity to feature their wedding on the show and a chance to WIN an all expense paid, 5-star vacation that they can use for their Honeymoon or 1st anniversary trip or whatever they want! It's also fun because they get the opportunity to exchange ideas and vent their frustrations with other brides and attend each others weddings.

They're looking to feature ALL types of weddings. It can be your first, second, third or thirteenth wedding. No wedding is too small or too big! Any and all ages welcome.

Here is a link to the show's page for clips and more info and I've attached our one-sheet for you to forward to your brides. We look forward to hearing from you!!

If you'd like to be considered for the show, please email or call the Casting Department immediately at: TLCBrides@gmail.com or 212-505-7775.

Support the Pink Door Organization and embellish your wardrobe - June 12th

2010-06-09T08:23:00.000-07:00

One of my admired colleagues in the fashion industry, Misti Pace-Krahl, owner of Misti Style has teamed up with Pink Door to create an amazing event filled with glam and luxury showcasing truly unique items from the most couture designers. This is a perfect way for any group of gal pals to enjoy on a Saturday afternoon. With a portion of the ticket sales benefiting Pink Door what better excuse do you need when choosing the hottest and most unique accessories to "pop" your summer wardrobe?!

So, come get your "Sparkle" on June 12th from 9am-6pm. And support an amazing cause!!

Purchase tickets here: www.MISTISTYLE.com/events

Wedding Program: Thank you to your guests...

2010-03-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

Very commonly, a Bride & Groom take the opportunity to thank their guests for joining them by having a note on their program. It is most commonly listed on the last page or back of the program. Another good place would be the very inside cover or backside of the cover page.

If you are like me and cringe at the thought of expressing yourself through creative writing, you may look for outside sources of inspiration such as a poem. I found a one recently that truly expresses the meaning and importance of the day.

"Marriage is not a culmination, it is a beginning.
The beginning of a life that will grow and change in

ways more wonderful than we can imagine.
Many years from now, when we look back upon our life,
love and this day, we will remember that flowers, music
and food were not what made this day so special.
It will be our memories of sharing the beginning of our life
as husband and wife with you, our friends and family.
Having you here with us today has made our
wedding truly wonderful."

Being a Wedding Planner ..........

2010-03-05T06:16:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, I don't make it a habit to brag or show boat myself or creative talents. With so many gifted and talented event professionals, I feel it would be quite unprofessional and foolish. Having been a business owner for less than 5 years, I feel I am still developing and growing my talent and business skills.

BUT today, my email box greeted me with a notice from WeddingWire letting me know I had a new review. This is always a great interest to me and my team. The reviews truly let us know how we're doing, where we can improve and if our clients are happy.

Photo credit: Clint Shuttlesworth

The newest review came from one of my biggest clients (Ava & Matthew) that I've had ever in soiréebliss! Events history. She and her groom were truly a delight to work with. The importance of her review was that the week of her wedding, so many things went wrong for me personally; lost power for 3.5 hours in my office during the busiest production days, car problems which threatened time efficiency, miscounts on paper for stationary items, and computer problems when working on seating charts and event documents. I felt like gremlins were teasing my last inch of patience that week.

So, after reading Ava's review, I was truly touched by the rave review and praise for all the hard work, long hours and sleepless nights. YES!! It completely made my heart grow with utter happiness to know we made a difference in making a couple's wedding day truly memorable. It's moments like this that validates my decision to have started soiréebliss! events 2.5 years ago, why I work the long hours, the personal sacrifice of personal time and how I approach every wedding in such a personal manner with heart-felt care and concern. Today is a day I am truly proud.

And, it goes without saying that soiréebliss! Events is not just me, I'm thrilled to have an amazing team. My deepest appreciate and thanks to them; Helen, Sarah, Traci, Cassandra, Janna and our newest member Jennie. Without them, I wouldn't be able to make an event happen.

Let me share with you what Ava had to say:

Three wordse helped us fulfill our wedding vision by listening to our desires and ideas and used her creativity to enhance our wedding.

Professional - She was always polite, timely, and had a great network of vendors that also delivered superb services.

Worry Free - She was always on top of every detail and kept everything running smoothly so planning the wedding was a truly enjoyable experience.

During the wedding week, Samantha and soireebliss! were with us every step of the way from final walkthroughs, to rehearsal and dinner, to the wedding and finally the reception. Every detail was covered, all ran 100% smoothly and the event was a total success.

As a recent bride I highly recommend you hire a wedding planner; and that wedding planner should be Samantha. She and her team work so hard that she is worth every bit of her fee. After saying "I DO" to my fiance, hiring Samantha was one of the smartest things I've done.

Thanks again Sam for everything.

Photo Credit: Shawn Fashion Photography

It's Official....the new award badge is here

2010-02-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

With each little award or recognition, I get so very excited. Each award is truly precious and humbling to me. Not only is it a testament to amount of care, passion and hard work we put towards each event, but it's a recognition that are we are impacting the lives of those we work with. It also serves as a little motivator on days when things feel challenging or as though everything is going wrong. It reminds us of the joy and great rewards of being an event planner.

So, even though it's a simple little badge, I share it with great pride and with great humility thank my clients who chose to hire soireebliss! Events for one of their biggest and most memorable days in your lives.

Sincerely,

Samantha, Helen, Sarah, Traci, Cassandra & Ashley

Happy Anniversary soiréebliss! Events!

2010-01-27T04:31:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it?! soiréebliss! Events is celebrating their 2nd anniversary. Looking back over the past two years, I can say that I am fabulously thrilled to be here. When I initially launched soiréebliss! Events, it was a long time dream. It's been a lot of hard work, made a few mistakes and sent 46 Brides down the aisle. Statistically speaking, we beat the odds. Experts say 70% of small businesses fail in the first year and 60% fail in the second year. With all this said, I'm most proud of the many blessings and friendships I have developed along the way.

So, with much excitement, one of those blessing I would like to share with you today. For the second year in a row, soireebliss! Events has been awards the 2010 Bride's Choice Award.

Houston, TX – January 19, 2010 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced soiréebliss! Events has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Wedding Planner!

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

soiréebliss! Events is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that soiréebliss! Events is among the very best Wedding Planner within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards.

With a new year, comes new things. Over the next few weeks, I would like to share with a recap of some of the fabulous weddings from 2009. soiréebliss! Events will be getting a whole new look and possibly a great new office. I'm excited to share with you the exciting things as move forward in a successful 3rd year.

Photo credit: Studio563

Looking For A Unique Groom's Gift???

2009-07-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

As I was buzzing through my daily emails, I came across a great gift idea. This particular item caught my attention as it hit on one of my favorite memories from when I lived in Indiana. Nothing was better than a hot dog and beer, sitting in the seats behind home plate on a sunny afternoon at a Wrigley game. As a female, I thought that so many Groom's would share this memory as well.

So, if you have a baseball-loving Groom, this may be a perfect Groom's gift:

Offered by Red Envelope. These aren't just cuff links—they're a piece of baseball history. Crafted of salvaged seats from America's most famous and beloved stadiums, these cuff links are one of a kind. Coated in the original paint of the stadium seat colors, each cuff link boasts a deep patina collected from decades of home openers, double-headers and grand-slam ovations. includes hand-numbered and hand-signed certificate of authenticity

The best quality about these unique cuff links that make them truly special are their variation in color as they are truly from the salvaged stadium seats. Each cuff link is hallmarked with the name of the stadium engraved on back. The cuff links are being made from some of the most memorable stadiums around the country: Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Dodger Stadium or Shea Stadium.

This would truly be a gift treasured for years to come!

Why I love my job......My clients!

2009-07-27T05:50:00.000-07:00

As a wedding planner, one has to wear many hats, counselor, problem solver, negotiator, cheerleader, financial planner and time keeper. Sometimes those hats are worn all at once in some of the most in opportune times. All this is done is a calm, graceful manner, appearing as though everything is perfect, right on schedule and nothing is wrong and the event is going exactly as you planned. Even though you may be off schedule by 5-10 minutes. For someone like myself, I pride myself on my skill and ability to run my events down to the minute.

But, we push on for the ultimate goal of fulfilling our clients dreams to create one of their most memorable days in their lives. We set our own needs aside on wedding day, forget that our feet hurt, dieing of heat and possibly starving from our last meal having been several hours possibly before set-up began. Some may call us crazy. Others look at wedding planners as having the glamorous spotlight and others are surprised to hear you can make a living being a planner.

Ultimately, it's the rush of happiness I get at the end of an event when the couple leave glowing with joy. Knowing that I have helped to create an evening in their life which will be a lasting memory they will look back on with happiness. It completely washes away any fatigue, hunger or frustration I may have been feeling. This is a perfect example of why I love my job!!!

"Samantha! EVERYTHING was perfect! What an incredible day yesterday! Thank you so much for everything. All of our guests kept saying over and over how beautiful it was, how much fun they had, and how good the food was! I totally meant to say thank you and give you a big hug last night before we ran off with the parade, but I was so caught up in everything! So.... THANK YOU! *big hug*"

Megan & Greg Owen, Wed: 7/25/09

Chic Affair at the St. Regis - Part II

2009-07-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

As promised, I wanted to show you more from Abby & Ben's St. Regis Affair. Honestly, it's been very hard to pick and choose which pictures to post as Abby & Ben's wedding was so amazing. Every detail was so unique and personal to them as a couple. From several members of the wedding party singing songs during the ceremony and reception, family pictures adorning the cocktail hour space and cake table, incorporating the Bride's Mother's lace to create the "Something Blue" garter and ring bearer's pillow to the guests being entertained with Showtunes during the cocktail hour. As part of the Groomsmen's gifts, they were given a bowtie and cuff links to wear for the wedding which each were different to match their personalities. The entire ensemble of wedding stationary was a beautiful letterpress design from the New York designer Hello Lucky!. The guested were served an incredibly delicious four course meal, entertained with a 10 piece live band and enjoyed many memorable moments. For me, one of the most fun moments was watching the Bride & Groom part-take in the Hora. To see their excitement and joy made the day perfect!

The event was comprised by some of the best vendors:

Ceremony/Reception Venue: St. Regis Hotel Houston
Photographer: Studio563
Florist: Plants & Petals
Cake: Who Made the Cake
Ceremony & Cocktail Music: Divisi Strings
Reception Music: Commercial Art Band
Wedding Stationary: Hello Lucky
Hair & Makeup: Jordan Temple Makeup

More pictures to follow.............

Chic Affair at the St. Regis

2009-07-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

After 8 months of planning, many long distance phone calls between New York and Houston, Abbey and Ben's memorable wedding came together in the Grand Ballroom at the St. Regis with 150 of their closest friends and family.

Their wedding was truly unique with many couture details and personal touches. With so many truly fabulous pictures to choose from, here are a few sneak peaks:

(Photo Credit: Studio563)

Fun Reception Ideas....Series #1

2009-07-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

In my experience, the best approach to any reception is to ensure the guests are fully engaged throughout the entire evening. To accomplish this, when planning any reception, I like to focus on something entertaining to happen every 30 minutes. This will ensure the guests have a little time to eat and mingle, but are being engaged. I like to mix the evening up a bit such as, have the Father of the Bride open the reception by introducing his daughter and new son-in-law and have them start their first dance. In between courses, have the guests get up and dance a few songs, bring in a special performer or have the Maid of Honor and Best Man give a toast. The last thing any Bride wants is for her guests to walk away from the reception remembering how boring it was or worst, for the guests to leave early.

Over the next few days, I will share with you some options for keeping your reception engaging, memorable and moving.

Idea #1

One of my favorite venues in Houston is the Houston Aquarium. This is a venue that is alive with sensory experiences as it is a joyous place for kids and adults alike. From the colorful fish to carnival rides and amazing views of downtown Houston. One of the most fun and unique ideas about hosting a wedding reception at the Aquarium for a couple’s guests would be the carnival rides they could take part in. As a favor to the guest, the Bride and Groom could place ride tickets inside of each of the guest’s seating card. This would allow them something fun and spontaneous to do during the cocktail hour and possibly when dancing started.

At this particular venue, the ballroom has floor to ceiling windows and a wrap-around balcony which overlooks the carnival rides. To enhance the guests' experience, it would be ideal to have the photographer bring a third shooter to take pictures of the guests as they are enjoying the rides. Once the guests are back upstairs in the ballroom, the photographer can upload the pictures to a slide show for guests to view throughout the evening.

During dinner, the Bride and Groom may want to find a way to entertain their "younger" guests by hiring a clown to make balloon animals. This could be a station set up in the corner of the room or even in the foyer (this can be useful as children have a tendency to get restless during meals).

As a last detail, the couple may serve fresh cotton candy as a mid-reception sweet or have decorative bags available for guests to take home with them.

The amount of details that can be Incorporated is endless based on the couple's taste.

(Photo Credit: Clint Shuttlesworth)

"Best Of Project Wedding 2008"

2009-06-22T16:27:00.000-07:00

The soireebliss! staff is so thrilled to announce that we were recently awarded "Best Of Project Wedding 2008". This award is received solely based on client feedback. Receiving this award is truly a great compliment and testament to all of my team's hard work, dedication to a high level of quality service and passion for events.

Thank you to all those who have supported us, worked with us, cheered us on and chosen us to plan their weddings. Without our clients our success would not be possible.

With great sincerity and thankfulness to my past clients, it has been a great honor and privilege!

Wedding Highlights: Laura & Iman's Wedding 3/28/09

2009-04-17T04:25:00.000-07:00

Laura and Iman exchanged their vows 49 stories above downtown Houston in the Petroleum Club, amongst 250 of their closest friends and family. To continue the celebration, guests enjoyed cocktails, 5 course meal and dancing with music provided by the Klockworks band. Not a detail was missed with Laura's tiffany blue and white themed wedding. Each centerpiece was custom designed on-site with hundreds of crystals adoring every stem. With Laura's deep love for our 4-legged friends, she provided a monetary gift to the SPCA in honor of each guest. Such a meaningful favor!

What a memorable wedding!

Event Ingredients:

Petroleum Club

Klockworks Band

Darryl Murchison

Michael Carr Photography

Facade Make-up

Avalon Music

Wine, Camera.....ACTION!

2009-04-14T05:09:00.000-07:00

Over the past several weeks, the soireebliss! staff has been hard at work with all of our Spring Brides. As a result, my blogging has suffered.

No more I say!!!! : )

So, in honor of my renewed commitment to my blog to rid it of it's loneliness, I thought it best to start off with some wonderful pictures from one of my favorite photographers; Clint Shuttlesworth.

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to hang with him and his assistant Clair at an engagement shoot. They are shooting one of my couple's destination weddings in June in Cancun. Clint scouted out some incredible backdrops to shoot Paige and Dillon's engagements in Downtown Houston. We started the afternoon off with a little wine at The Coffee Groundz (which I have to say is an incredible fun, eclectic place to hang on a sunny Sunday afternoon. You should try it) and kicked back with some laughs. After all these months of planning, it was great to finally meet Dillon.

Without further suspense, here's a sampling of Clint's fabulous pics......

2009 Bride’s Choice Award by WeddingWire

2009-02-05T06:16:00.000-08:00

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that soiréebliss! has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means soiréebliss! is one of the very best Wedding Consultant.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

“We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

soiréebliss! would like to thank our past clients for speaking on our behalf and helping us win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!

DIY Project: Airline Ticket Invitation/Save The Date

2009-01-17T13:34:00.000-08:00

Being a lover of all things paper, I'm so drawn to very bold colors, unexpected textures, letterpress printing or taking a standard item and formating in a unique shape.

While scouting new ideas that are cost effective, I found the most amazing invitation that I had to share. This is especially helpful for Brides who are interested in amazing details without amazingly big prices.

Materials (per set)
2 80lb cover stock 8.5×111 open-end envelope 4.125×91 28lb or lighter cover/cardstock (for template1 pocket) or1 60lb cover/cardstock (for template2 pocket), adhesive

Tools
cutter, ruler, scissors, perforator, scoring blade, computer, printer, round-corner puncher (optional)

Template
Three passes can be printed on one 8.5″x11″ 80lb coverstock. Each pass is approximately 3.25″ x 8″. The left part is about 0.70″ and the right part is about 2″. The template file has four pages. First page is the introduction. The second page has only the outline of the whole pass. You can add any content you want. Third page has some contents that I had such as those you see in the picture below. Fourth page is for the back of the passes that contain the text “NOT A VALID TRAVEL VOUCHER.” This can be changed.

Place your cursor on the first page, below the introduction. Add your image by clicking INSERT from the top menu then PICTURE. You can either insert a clipart or an image file. Select your image by clicking on it. Right click on the image then click FORMAT PICTURE. Click the LAYOUT tab and select BEHIND TEXT under Wrapping Style. Click OK. Now you can drag your image to anywhere you want it. Notice that your image appears behind your texts.
To add text on the first template (2nd page), use the Drawing toolbar. Click INSERT > TOOLBARS and make sure Drawing is checked. The Drawing toolbar usually appears at the bottom of the window. Click the TEXT BOX button. Draw your text box on the template. Right click on the text box, click FORMAT TEXT BOX. Click the COLORS AND LINES tab and select NO FILL under Fill and NO LINE under Line. Click OK. Now you can type in your text on the text box.

Click to download template: Word Document

Directions:
Before cutting the individual passes, perforate the passes separating the three parts using a perforator. If you’re willing to spend more, I suggest using a perforator with a base.For perforators without a base, use a ruler to connect the red crop marksand run your perforator. Run the perforator 2 or 3 times WITHOUT lifting.Practice doing this to perfect your perforating technique before doing them onyour final passes.

Cut on gray solid lines. You may cut the passes with cutter or X-acto knife for the straight lines; round-corner cutter or scissors for the four corners; scissors for the part between the small left part and the middle.

Next step is making the pocket. I have two available pocket templates. The first template is a little harder to make than the second one.

Making the pocket
Template 1
Click template link above to download

Directions:
Print the first page. Turn the paper, the top must go in the printer first. Print the second page. Cut on solid lines using scissors or cutter. The slit must be cut with a cutter. Score on dashed lines then fold towards you. Unfold then apply adhesive on the bottom flap. Fold to glue all parts together.

Template 2
Click template link above to download

Directions:

Print the first page. Turn the paper, the top must go in the printer first. Print the second page. Cut on solid lines using scissors or cutter. The slit must be cut with a cutter. Score on dashed lines then fold towards you. Apply adhesive on Area A to adhere the bottom part to the middle part of the pocket.

After making your pocket, all you have to do is put your passes in the pocket, put them in the envelope and you’re all set!

(source: Aylee - Bits About Me)

soireebliss! took TheKnot's January Budget Challange!

2009-01-13T20:41:00.000-08:00

A Wedding in Houston, Texas for $10K (and not a dime more!)
Posted Monday, January 12, 2009 5:35 PM

Samantha from soiréebliss! events & weddings based out of Houston, Texas put together our $10K wedding of the week feature. Here's the plan...
A $10K Wedding in Houston, Texas

Blog Link: TheKnot Wedding Style

It was a fun opportunity to work with the Anja with theKnot.

Most Amazing Engagement Session.....The Wedding!

2009-01-08T05:54:00.001-08:00

In honor of the Most Amazing Engagement Session Post, I have to share the couple's wedding pictures. Tanja Lippert Photography captured the day in such an artistic way.

This wedding is truly one of the most original, creatively unique weddings I've ever seen. This couple has taken eco-chic to another level.

The Most Amazing Engagement Session Ever!

2009-01-06T20:45:00.000-08:00

Tanja Lippert of Tanja Lippert Photography is an incredibly talented photographer in California. She recently posted on her blog an engagement sessions. Hands down, it's one of the most incredibly, rockin shoots ever. Each picture is truly a piece of art.

Warning: some pictures include nudity

Here's a peak of one of the many my favorites......

Sneak Peek: soireebliss! hits newstands nationwide

2009-01-02T20:09:00.001-08:00

I'm so thrilled and excited to share soireebliss!'s recent PR good fortune and success.

Two or three months ago one of the writers at Bride's Magazine asked for some of my planning advice/insight for brides considering an afternoon reception. While this is incredibly flattering since I am still fairly new in the industry, I happily shared my thoughts on such an occasion.

While this happens to by my second opportunity working with this same writer on an article, I assumed my information was for an article for the Houston magazine as was the first. Much to my surprise, this article is hitting 16 of their markets: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Houston, Maryland, Michigan, NJ, New York, Northern California, Philadelphia, Southern California, South Jersey and Washington, DC.

So, take a look at the first sneak peak I recd of the article with the first cover.......

Battle of the Betrothed......

2008-12-30T19:22:00.000-08:00

As I was zipping through my favorite blog updates, one in particular caught my attention. Posted on "The Healthy Bride" blog was the most interesting contest. The urban adventure race portion sounded incredibly fun.

Good luck to all those who enter!!

You are cordially invited to enter the first annual Battle of the Betrothed.

Eight engaged couples will be chosen to compete in a series of fun events, ranging from cake decorating to an urban adventure race. You could win amazing prizes for your wedding, including a personal training package, a wedding dress, photography, flowers—and even a dream honeymoon.

So grab your beloved and get ready to do battle.

For details on preparing your entry, call (206) 755-9683 or just send us an email.

New Trend in Weddings ...Going Short!

2008-12-29T09:05:00.000-08:00

For 2009, we are starting to see on the runways the hem length of wedding dresses are going short. There's a style that will appeal to most brides ranging from the lacy 50's with the full skirts, a slinky sexy slip dress to a more modern haute couture gown. The Bride looking for a unique style, the bubble hem will be just what you're looking for.

Ideally, the shorter wedding gowns have obvious appeal besides making a style statement. They will be easier to move around in allowing you to comfortably dance the night away. Brides opting for a destination wedding on the beach, the shorter wedding dress will be perfect for the warmer climates and the walk down a beach aisle. The benefits are endless!

Here are some of our favorites.....

Tis the Season of Blessings!

2008-12-24T06:23:00.000-08:00

I have always been in love with everything Christmas. I'm one of those people who will listen to the Christmas music station starting Thanksgiving Day and be sad when they stop playing Christmas music Dec. 26th. I could drive around for hours in "auuh" looking at all of the Christmas decorations on homes. I don't even need to mention my love for the endless array of yummies that are only made at Christmas. Something about the Christmas season brings extra joy to your heart and giddiness to your step.

While Christmas shopping yesterday, I realized that what really makes Christmas so enjoyable is to see the outward show of charity by others during the holiday; Toys for Tots, Gift Wrapping for Komen Foundation, Santas volunteers collecting for the Salvation Army. Even with the economy in such woes, it's such a blessing to see that Americans still have the heart to help others. Even the smallest gesture of taking a second to wish the tired, over-worked cashier a "Merry Christmas" was as nice as it brought a smile to their face.

The heart of the season is truly what we find in our blessing and share with others. I feel so fortunate and blessed that my family is happy and healthy. That God has given me the ability to have two functioning legs to run marathons, the creative talent to plan weddings and the wealth of friends and family to love. My Christmas wish is for everyone to share in the same blessings this holiday season and throughout the New Year.

How to create a fabulous candy buffet...

2008-12-10T04:53:00.000-08:00

Before you begin designing your candy buffet, an important aspect to remember is that the candy by itself is inexpensive, creating the buffet does add up to a significant added expense to be included in the planning of your wedding budget.

One of the item I stress to Brides is to buy enough candy!! It is suggested that candy buffets work best when they are planned through the eye and not the numbers. Some articles suggest buying a certain number of ounces per guest, but the more successful candy buffets seem to be those that are planned by the size of the table and the containers that will be on the table. To create a tantalizing buffet, I suggest to buy 5 to 10 types of candy that you want to display and purchase 15-20 pounds of each of these candies. This may seem like an over abundance of candy, but a large table overflowing with candy has a presence at your wedding and does not look like something you threw together at the last minute. You will also need enough to have the buffet refilled. This will ensure all the guests have an opportunity to enjoy your selections.

What kind of candy should you buy? Well it depends on the theme of your buffet. Do you want an all white buffet, or do you prefer that the candy buffet matches the color scheme of your wedding, or are you having a theme wedding? For example if you are having a beach theme wedding, you can serve candies from the boardwalk: saltwater taffy, caramel apples, fudge, peanut brittle. Another option is to have a retro candy buffet displaying such items as candy bracelets and necklaces on the elastic cords or the little waxed bottles filled by sugar water.

After you've decided on the types of candy that you want to display you will need to decide how you are going to display the candy. Interesting containers will change your candy buffet from ordinary to extraordinary. Use containers in different shapes and different heights. Clear containers are the best to show off your candy displays. Also use containers that are wide enough for a candy scoop to fit inside. A suggestion to make the whole look pop is to use displays to raise some of the containers, giving your buffet height. An old catering trick is to take a catering rack or a milk crate and turn it upside down on the table, and cover with a cloth. Glass blocks or square glass vases turned up-side-down are also creative alternatives for a more modern look. When designing the set-up of the buffet, remember that not all guests are the same height. You will need to ensure that the jars/containers are easily accessible even when raised up. A finishing touch would be some flowers, candles or framed phrases matching your theme on the table with your candy.

One last item to consider, you need to think about how your guests will take the candy away from the buffet. Some brides have suggested using small cellophane bags, or classic white bags, or even take out containers matching the color theme of the wedding. Nashville Wraps is a great source for ordering these items in bulk. Whatever type of container you use, make it fun and personalize with small labels through My Wedding Label.

Planning a destination wedding and feeling overwhelmed?

2008-10-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

Recently, when working with a client to help her decide whether or not a destination wedding would best fit her vision without sacraficing the priorities for the wedding. I began exploring ways to maximize her budget, minimize the added stress and ensure her wedding would be unique and incredibly memorable. Here's a helpful article I felt may be helpful for anyone else seeking a unique destination.

Be Creative: A destination wedding really opens up some possibilities. If you still want to have a fairytale wedding, then go for it. But if you're open to other options, great. Simply by having a destination wedding, you're not doing the conventional. You've already altered people's expectations, so you might be less likely to feel bound to a wedding template. And if your setting is particularly nice, you may be able to simplify other aspects of your wedding. For example, we got married in a beautiful historic inn, which needed no additional decoration or flowers. We saw some weddings in Jamaica where the natural flowers and outdoor setting were so beautiful, just having a bride and groom and officiant looked perfect. Whether you choose to simplify or not, do feel free to rethink some of the typical wedding traditions.

Send a Save-the-Date Letter: If you are having guests, consider a "Save the Date" letter. Invitations to traditional weddings are supposed to be sent 4-6 weeks before the event. But more lead time is helpful. Your guests might also want to ask for vacation time to better enjoy the special place you've chosen! In some areas, accommodations fill up way in advance. For all these reasons, you should consider getting in touch with your guests early. A friendly little form letter with pertinent info (place and date) will do nicely. If you've begun to set up accommodations, include that too, along with any other travel info. Otherwise, promise to get back to them later with that information. Would you like to see an example? Here's our Save the Date letter.

Let Some Things Go: Ideally, this destination wedding should be a vacation for you, too. Don't get so caught up in little details that you can't enjoy the weekend in a special place. Figure out what's important to you, and label the rest of it "small stuff" that you won't sweat. That will free you up to sight-see, relax, play, and join in what your guests are doing!

Do As Much As You Can Before You Go: If you can, get wedding details finished up while you are still at home. For example, I decided to have silk flowers made at home and shipped to the wedding site. It was one less thing to worry about that weekend--and I already knew they were exactly as I wanted them. I also planned my wedding hairstyle before I went, so I would not have to rely on an unknown stylist when I got there. Of course, you might choose different things to "do ahead" -- do what works for you!

Plan Your Packing: Get advice from your dressmaker or retailer on how a dress should be packed for travel. Make sure you have the right-sized suitcase or box ahead of time. If you're flying, plan to carry it on if you can, along with any other wedding apparel you'd find hard to replace on short notice! We found that packing for the wedding AND the honeymoon added up to a lot of luggage. If you can, farm out some of your important things to guests and family who are traveling down there. If you are shipping anything, leave extra time. I shipped my flowers down ahead of time, and they took over TEN days. I got some grey hairs wondering why they weren't there yet. They made it for the wedding, but it was close.

Don't Over plan for Your Guests: You've probably gone to a lot of trouble to choose a nice place to get married. Let your guests enjoy it! Don't plan so many get-togethers, family dinners, rehearsal dinners, and so on that your family and friends have no free time. We did plan a few things on different nights, to guarantee that we'd spend quality time with different groups of our guests, but no one (save us) had something wedding-related planned EVERY night. We had one family dinner on one night, a parents' dinner the next night, followed by a night out with friends only. We skipped a rehearsal dinner. I know that it has become a nice tradition for people to plan huge wedding-related activities and social gatherings all weekend, and I think that's super when you have a bunch of people in your hometown who otherwise wouldn't have much to do. But in your case, your location can do a lot of the entertaining for you--and you should let it!

What about the people who won't be there?: When you have a destination wedding, you're probably going to leave a lot of people out. That might be by design, or just an unfortunate circumstance of getting married far away. There are ways to include them. One option is to have a reception at some point after the wedding. You can plan something very much like a traditional wedding reception (formal invitations, cake cutting, dancing, even wedding attire) or something more like a party. We had two, one an open house in my hometown, the other a more formal catered party at my husband's parents' home. We invited the local people who would have been invited to the wedding had we held it in those towns. We brought our wedding photos to both, and I'd carefully prepared them in a scrapbook with good labels and captions.

Consider using announcements: You don't see too many announcements mailed these days, because most people use their invitation to "announce" their marriage. But they are a great way to let important people know you've been married! Announcements are very similar in appearance to invitations--just the wording (and the timing) are different. You send these after the wedding takes place. The format generally lists the location your wedding took place, so rest assured that recipients will understand why they weren't invited.

What about showers?: And gifts from others who are not invited?As modern wedding traditions have evolved, we have tied wedding gifts to wedding invitations. For example, etiquette holds that those who are invited to a shower should also be invited to the wedding. If you have a limited guest list, that can make showers (and other times you receive wedding gifts) feel awkward. However, please realize that many people give gifts simply because they are happy for you and that is their traditional way to celebrate the marriage of someone they care about. We received many gifts from people after we sent out the announcements (even though this wasn't expected). And I--the one with the tiny wedding--had TWO showers! One was given by co-workers, the other by the nice ladies in my mother-in-law's church. It was what they sincerely wished to do, and the fact that they weren't a part of the wedding didn't seem to matter a bit. On the other hand, when a girlfriend wanted to hold a shower for me with plans to invite other mutual friends, I nixed it because it felt different. Play it by ear, but understand that there is a time to receive gifts graciously.

(Source:http://www-personal.umich.edu/~kzaruba/dest.html)

Tag! You're it......

2008-10-08T06:28:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged by a wonderfully talented planner, Meredith with Elegant Engagements. This is a fun way to get to know your friends and colleagues. Here's a little about me:

Four things I did today:
1. Tent or no tent.....ordering rental items for a partial outdoor wedding for this weekend. Where are the rain Gods when you need to consult with them?!
2. Ran 5 miles followed by a yummy Starbucks Latte.
3. Knocked out a few administrative/bookkeeping tasks from my "to-do" list.
4. Took out the trash.....

Four things on my to-do list:
1. Finalize room blocks for a destination wedding coming up next year.
2. Type up my company description for Grace Ormand 2009 Platinum Listing.
3. Attend a walk-thru & tasting for a November Bride at Maggianos. YUMMM! I love their food.
4. Send in my race entry for my very first full marathon EVER.

Four of my guiltiest pleasures:
1. Desert.....anything desert.
2. Sleeping in past 6:00AM. Doesn't happen too often, but sometimes I let myself do it.
3. Facials, manicure, pedicures, massages....anything to pamper myself. Every once in awhile I will pick at least one service to treat myself.
4. Taking a day off. Right now, those are few and far between. But when I get the opportunity, it's heaven.

Four random facts about me:
1. Even though I'm a neat freak, I have trouble keeping up with my dry cleaning. I wait and wait to take it in. By then, I have 25-30 pieces.
2. My husband and I met on Match.com.
3. I don't like to sleep. If I could figure out a way to skip it and keep going without killing myself, I would.
4. In middle school I was the school mascot one year - a 4' tall scotty dog. The costume was 10 sizes too big. Can you picture it??!! LOL!!!

Now I have to tag four other people…
1. Candice with Jubilee Events, LLC
2. Juliet with Green Orchid Events
3. Lindsay with Studio563
4. Melanie with Last Petal