Fireworks, Confetti & Streamer: Launch New Website & Blog

The team at SB! Events are celebrating!!!! We have been working very hard over the past 6 months to create a fresh new look.  We feel our new brand represents the chic sophistication of our design style that embodies a timeless qualities.  We are so thrilled to finally share with you our new website (www.soireebliss.com).  We hope you'll take a few minutes to browse and enjoy the site as much as we do.  

Along with a new website, we have a new blog.  To keep up with the latest news in wedding trends, Houston vendors and real weddings, please visit (http://www.soireebliss.com/blog/)

Many thanks to all of our wonderful clients who have allowed us to be a part of one of their most special days.  We are thankful to work with such talented event professionals in Houston and throughout Texas.  Without either, SB! Events would not be where we are today.  We look forward to celebrating another 5 years. 

Warmest Wedding Wishes,

Why I Love My Job: Client Review

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!!!----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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

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

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

PART III: Selecting the Best Wedding Planner for You

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?

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!

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!

[SB!] Love: Wedding Planner's Rewards

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

Enchanted Forest Wedding

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