Engagement- Shaina + Courtney

Shaina and Courtney have the sweetest love story. They are perfect examples of true love of Christ. They will be getting married on April 2, 2011 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. I am honored to work with Shaina, as I have known her since she was born practically! She has a definite vintage style and that theme will be very prominent throughout the wedding celebration. Wesley and Emma Teague of w&e photographie took these awesome photos of the precious couple. We are looking forward to their wedding day!

The Month for Bridal Shows

While I have been busy designing and putting together my booth for the PWG Bridal Market, I decided it would be a good topic for a blog post! I am really looking forward to this year's Bridal Market, and to meet new brides-to-be.February is definitely the month for bridal shows here in Birmingham. Here's the lineup planned for the following locations:

Feb 10- The Summit Club (Smaller show, but especially for you if you are considering that as your venue), 5-7 pm, tickets complimentary

Feb 13- Elegant Weddings at The Wynfrey Hotel (Larger show, and a good selection of vendors), 1-4 pm, $15 at door

Feb 20- The Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Market at Embassy Suites, hwy 150 (Large show, great selection of vendors--me, included-- and some special events going on), 1-4 pm, $15 at the door

Feb 20- Pelham Civic Complex ( Going to be a full day of talking weddings!), 12-5 pm, $5 for brides

So, there are many to choose from- or you can go to them all!

Like I said, I will be at the PWG Bridal Market, "A Runway Event", with many other awesome vendors. They will be featuring a continuous runway of gown and cocktail dresses throughout the entire event. How cool!

Why go to a bridal show, you ask? Well here are the main reasons:

- You will personally meet the vendor, and talk to them without having to set up that first appointment! Then afterwards, you have a better idea of who you would actually like to meet with .

-There will be tons of FOOD! You can taste all you want from the caterers that are there to see if the food meets your culinary expectations. Oh, and there is also CAKE!

-You will be able to see wedding gowns LIVE and IN PERSON, instead of on the rack or in a magazine. You may just see the gown of your dreams walking by on a live model!

-You also get to meet other brides and talk to them about their experiences and maybe what they know about certain vendors.

- You can get lots of great ideas from all the booths. Everyone will do their best to have on display some new, trendy ideas, or fun things to have at your wedding. Take notes!

I hope this helps for you brides-to-be and that I see you at the Bridal Market, February 20 at the Embassy Suites on hwy 150 in Hoover!

part of my booth last year...

The Fifty Nifty!

A friend photographer- Paper Antler- is doing something amazing: They have devoted 2012 to photographing 50 weddings in 50 states in 50 weeks- and donating $50,000 ($1,000 from each wedding) to a charity called "She Dances". It really is such a neat idea!!

They are going to be in Alabama on January 14, 2012 and have contacted me to put the word out there to see if there is anyone planning on getting married that day that would like to be a part of this awesome adventure.

I am offering a special deal as well and a donation to the cause if the bride uses me for the project!
Also, if you are interested in booking Paper Antler as your wedding photographer in 2011 (they did this beautiful southern wedding with me), let me know!!

Check out this video and read all about the project here.

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011!

Me with Mr. and Mrs. Zach Bingham

Swanky Socials had an absolutely fabulous 2010. As our first full year in business we were a part of over 20 weddings! It was such a blessing to see the fruits of labor. That is my favorite part...the actual wedding/event taking place and seeing all your hard work come together into a successful party!

Thanks so much to EVERYONE who made that happen....I doubt I can name everyone, but here's a try!

Floral:In Bloom Floral Design (Huntsville), Andy Hopper (KG Designs), R Shane Burroughs Design Works, Three Things Floral, LSL Event Design, Joy Patterson

Photography: ARDEN Photography, Unplugged, Marsha Perry, Amber Ford, T2 Photography, Liss Sterling, Artography, Auburn Heritage Photo

Catering: Coretti, Kathy G, Bubba's Silver Spoon, Narvell's Catering

Venue: Rucker Place, Carraway-Davie House, Aldridge Gardens, Riverchase Country Club, Pine Tree Country Club, Roundhouse Depot, Monte Sano Lodge, Lake Guntersville Lodge

Video: Main Street, Caroll Productions, Rush Videos, Paul Bryant

Lighting: Design Productions

Entertainment: Music Garden, Cahaba River Strings

Cakes: Olexa's, Sweet Magnolia, Magnificent Cakes, Couture Cakes, Highland Bakery

Makeup/Hair: Tour de Glam, Jessica Lazarus, 'N Vogue

Dresses: The White Room, The Something Blue Shoppe, Bella Couture, Ivory and White, Diane's

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

And thank you to the wonderful Brides and Grooms who's special day I was able to be a part of. YOU are why I do what I do, and I hope that your day/event was nothing but perfect!

I'm looking forward to 2011 being an even better year!

The Bride and her Beauties

Brides, do you know how important it is to have a makeup artist and stylist do your makeup and hair for your wedding day?! First of all, us girls always love an excuse to be pampered...and why not on your special day?? Second, your photos will turn out 100 times better-- I promise! Makeup artists know how to apply makeup especially for photographing and stylists know how to make your hair stay picture perfect all day long! You will be thankful, I promise.

If you follow the blog, you have already seen some images from Kari and Aaron's beautiful September wedding, but I wanted to share a few more from Amber Ford Photography. They truly capture the beauty and love surrounding everyone involved that day.

Also, BIG "Thank You" to Birmingham Glam for beautify-ing these lovely ladies!!

Lauren + Drew....Engagement

I am so excited about our upcoming December wedding! I have only been planning with Lauren since May (I LOVE short engagements), but we have been working hard and their Huntsville wedding is going to be absolutely GORGEOUS!!! I can't wait to work with InBloom, again, and Narvelle's Catering, Liss Sterling Photography, and Andy Tolar with Design Productions. Their reception is going to be held at the Roundhouse and we are turning it into something fabulous!

Here are a few of their engagement session with Liss Sterling:

1 month away!!!!

MY Parties!

I'm excited because I'm finally getting to have MY OWN parties at my new house!! My mom and I have been working on my draperies and such and I had to set a deadline so that we would actually get them done...haha. So, today's the day! YAY! It feels good.

Tomorrow night I'm hosting a little get together for a Willow House party, given by Brittany Allen. If you didn't read my previous post on Willow House, check it out below... Can't wait for all my friends to see the improvements we've made since moving in. I will post pictures to facebook later so check them out!

Then next week, I get to host Supper Club (consists of my best high school friends and their husbands and babies, about 16 of us usually)! I will be cooking the main dish....I'm thinking turkey and dressing to get in the holiday spirit....but we'll see. Then every one else brings the sides, etc.

Obviously, I'm the party person, so getting everything perfect for these two occasions is work in itself! But its what I love to do, so its fun to me =)

Now, gotta get cooking!