Busy Month Ahead!!

I know, I know... I really have fallen behind with my blogging...BUT I'M BACK-- and from now on, I have set a goal to blog AT LEAST once a week.

The reason I have been MIA is because I have been super busy getting ready for these next 6 weddings!!

I have been all over the place meeting with these brides... Huntsville, Seagrove Beach, Gadsden, Guntersville... (I really like to travel..)

The next 2 weekends I will be back at The Carraway-Davie House for Lisa and Kari's weddings. Of course they will both be beautiful because of the awesome location, and we are expecting great weather!

Lisa will be wearing a gown from The White Room and Marsha Perry will be shooting her ceremony and reception. I'm looking forward to this event because I have a personal tie to the couple....the groom's mother works at my eye doctor, Dr. Brown, and I have known her for about 10 years (yes, I'm blind and have been wearing contacts for like 15 years!). So all my buddies from Dr. Brown's office, including him, will be there!

Kari will also be wearing a FABULOUS dress from The White Room as well--I went with her to pick it out!! Looking forward to the 'cherry blossom' theme and all the PINK! Her ceremony is going to be poolside...I know the pictures will be amazing-- by Amber Ford.

Starting off October with a bang, we will be at Aldridge Gardens for Brooke's wedding. Kathy G will be there with food and flowers and Feel The Beat will keep us entertained, of course! It will be my first event there, since I went to my besties' weddings there (Elaine and Meg).

(Ceremony Here) (reception here)

Six days later I will be in Seagrove beach for my first beach-side wedding! Laura and Marcus are truly having the ultimate "Intimate Destination Wedding". Just the two immediate families will be there for a special service performed by the Bride's father. I am creating an arbor with sheer fabric and flowers for the backdrop and using lanterns to line the aisle.

Something similar to this. I'm really excited! Then the Sunday after they get back from there "honeymoon" at the beach, we are having a Reception at The Lodge at Lake Guntersville. It is going to be beach-themed with lanterns, candles with seashells used as the centerpieces.

(the Lodge)

In BETWEEN the beach and Lake Guntersville, we will be in Huntsville for Jessica's wedding!(engagement pictures here). This reception is going to be GORGEOUS atop Monte Sano Mountain over looking the valley.

(the front view of the Lodge)

(one of the rooms inside...Don't you just love the rustic feel of the exposed beams and stone walls!?)

Hopefully the leaves will be starting to turn and it will truly feel like a "rustic, but elegant" PARTY! Thanks so much to my best friend, Geri Martha, who is a bridesmaid, for hooking us up with this awesome event. I can't wait to work with Bubba's catering, In Bloom, and T2 Photography. There are so many awesome details going into this big event. Be on the lookout for great photos afterwards!

THEN we have another Birmingham wedding in November, and another Huntsville wedding in December that I'm super excited about. My friend Lauren, is marrying Drew, and they are having a huge, fun, fancy, PARTY!! Purple and Platinum is the theme...its going to be awesome, just wait!!!

So on Monday, October 11, 2010 I will be either sleeping, sleeping, or sleeping some more.... =)

Perfect Engagment Photos

Jessica + Zach--- October 9, 2010-- Huntsville, AL

I can't wait for this wedding and reception at Monte Sano Mountain Lodge in Huntsville!! Its going to be absolutely gorgeous. Thank you to T2 Photography for sharing their images. Looking forward to it guys!

Wedding Recaps....

So, you all know its been a while since I've blogged... business has been really good lately!! Not only is it the middle of wedding season, I have been blessed to have booked 3 more clients for 2010 weddings! That is keeping me busy...not to mention, we are beginning plans for 2011 weddings as well.

This week, I'm getting ready for a 60th Birthday Party on Saturday. I can't wait! It's going to be a blast.

Here are recaps of the past few weddings....

Angeleque + Hunter 5.1.10

Angeleque and Hunter had a beautiful wedding on May 1, 2010 at the Carraway-Davie House. Catering and Floral provided by Carraway-Davie House- Photography by Arden Photography-Videography by Paul Bryant of Kinora Films- Hair and Makeup provided by Birmingham Glam-Cake by Olexa's- Entertainment by Jeremy Schrader and The Quintessentials- Rolls Royce by Vintage Auto- and of course, Wedding Coordinating by Swanky Socials!

You can check out the whole album on My Website, under the Angeleque + Hunter gallery!

Sara + Lance 5.22.10

This is a before picture....i'll post a video soon of the AFTER! It was gorgeous. Shane at the Carraway-Davie House did a fabulous job with the decor.

Catering and Floral by Carraway-Davie House- Photography by Auburn Heritage Photography- Videography by Gary Rush of Rush Videos- Entertainment provided by JAMM Entertainment- Wedding Coordinating by Swanky Socials!

Michelle + Barrett 6.19.10

What a sweet, sweet day we had last Saturday at the Historic Rucker Place. Michelle and Barrett were so happy that the rain didn't interrupt their plans for an outside reception in the garden at the Rucker Place. Everything was PERFECT. Thank you so much to Gail and Jeanene, at Rucker Place, for helping me out!

Catering by Historic Rucker Place- Floral by LSL Event Design- Design and Decor by Swanky Socials- Photography by Jonathan Hoffner Photography- Cakes by Highland Bakery (Atlanta,GA)- Entertainment by Moondance- Lighting by Design Productions- Wedding Coordinating by Swanky Socials!

More pictures to come soon!!! Or check out my album on Facebook.

From Dallas to Birmingham....

On May 1st, I will have the pleasure of working with an adorable couple who actually both live in Dallas, TX, but will be having their wedding here in beautiful Birimingham!

Angeleque is originally from Dallas and went to the University of Texas and then onto law school at SMU. Hunter is from Section, AL, attended Auburn University and then met Angeleque and moved to Texas for law school as well. The rest is history and they will be tying the knot on May 1 at the Carraway Davie House!

Angeleque and I have been planning meticulously since January and I am so excited for this weekend to be here. Arden Photography will be shooting the event and we'll have a DELICIOUS cake from Olexa's. Paul Bryant with Kinora Films will be our Videographer. We've got buses rented to cart the wedding party around, and Birmingham Glam will be beautify-ing all the girls on the big day! I can't wait for all the fun details to come together!

Here are a few of their engagement photos done by a friend in Dallas:

So excited for Angeleque and Hunter! Thanks to Brooke Haynes McCollum for referring me =)

Wedding Season is here!

The first wedding of the year, for me anyway, has come and gone and it was a HUGE success!

Marisa Bradford and Edward Inge were married Saturday at the Carraway Davie House and I was lucky to be their wedding director!

It was a beautiful event. Thanks to the Carraway Davie House, Marsha Perry Photography, Coretti Catering, and Stuart McNair band for a great party!

More pictures to come...

Big Weekend!

This past weekend was a Big one! Perfect Wedding Guide hosted a Bridal show on Sunday, so there were several events leading up to that.

Saturday, I made the final preparations for the show, and launched a brand-new website (WWW.SWANKYSOCIALS.COM)! There were several reasons I decided to re-design a new site, but the main reason is to show a more professional side of my business. I am in it for the long haul and have learned a lot and grown a lot as a wedding professional, and I wanted my website to show that. Thanks so much to Lance Ingram, with Ingram Image, for my awesome full Flash site!! If anyone is in the need for a website for their business, please inquire with Lance. He is so great to work with and gets things done at lightning speeds.

Saturday night, Leighton, Sarah Neale, and I went to a cool event, The White Wedding-- Heidi Elnora's spring 2010 fashion show. It was at Old Car Heaven, a great venue, and we enjoyed fun music and visiting with fellow wedding vendors. Diane Olexa was the hit with her new "cupcake" t-shirts and AMAZING cake bites (I can't ever get enough!). Oh yeah, and Melissa Ryecroft was there....but we didn't see her! She apparently left early and was in VIP the whole time.

Sunday, we had to be up bright and early for the PWG Bridal Market! This was my first booth to do as a business owner so I had been preparing for a while. It turned out great. Here are a few pictures:

This was right after set-up so it wasn't complete, but you get the picture....

The beautiful arrangement is done by none other than HOTHOUSE!

Oh, and my beautiful friends, Margaret, Geri-Martha, and Elaine modeling for Bella Couture!

All in all, the weekend was a total success. I loved meeting all the future brides AND vendors at the show and look forward to working with some of them! Thanks to Brittany Allen and Leighton Harbuck for everything you did to help!!!!

Engagement Parties!

I love the idea of Engagement parties (well of course, I love parties...)! Why not start the engagement off with a bang?? Everyone is so happy about the upcoming wedding celebration, so its a great way to get the families and friends together to get the party going!

One of my Brides sent me pictures from her Engagement party, which was held at The Wine Loft...a great place for a party like this. They had a "wine" theme-- and of course, the bride to be wore white!

They also had a great idea....they had all their guests sign a plate, instead of a guest book! What a great thing to have for future entertaining in their home!

Engagement parties can vary, but my opinion is that they should be more of a cocktail party and hors d'oeuvres menu. A large place to hold a good amount of people is probably best, since you will be combining both families and all your friends. Usually engagement parties are held at the beginning of your engagement, but depending on the length, they can be held closer to time when other parties and showers begin to kick-off the celebration!

Just remember these few rules of etiquette:

1. Only invite people that you will for SURE be inviting to the wedding, but you don't have to include everyone. Usually an engagement party will be a more intimate affair, with just families from both sides and close friends.

2. Usually gifts are not required. Save the gift-giving for themed showers or bridal teas. (If someone does bring a gift- make sure you say thank you, and then put them somewhere where other guests cannot see, so that they don't feel pressured to have a gift as well.)

3. Make sure you, the bride and groom, acknowledge every guest at the party. They are there to honor you and you should definitely thank them for coming.