Yesterday, we had the privilege of participating in Behind Every Bride's first ever "Toast, Taste, and Tour" event! It was held at three of Peoria's most unique venues - Packard Plaza, Cornerstone Building, and Hotel Pere Marquette. It was a traveling bridal show of sorts - not the typical trade show atmosphere that most bridal shows have. This was intimate, unique, and wonderful from every angle.
A special congratulations to Jill Mutka who won a $100 gift card to So Chic Events. We're looking forward to the opportunity of working with Jill!
We promise that we won't neglect the blog like we have the past few weeks!
Is anyone else so excited that the days are getting warmer and sunnier? Spring is almost here...which means wedding season is quickly approaching. Thank goodness - I'm missing wedding days!
A special congratulations to Jill Mutka who won a $100 gift card to So Chic Events. We're looking forward to the opportunity of working with Jill!
We promise that we won't neglect the blog like we have the past few weeks!
Is anyone else so excited that the days are getting warmer and sunnier? Spring is almost here...which means wedding season is quickly approaching. Thank goodness - I'm missing wedding days!
I can't believe it's already been 2 weeks since the American Cancer Society's Annual Night of Hope Disco Ball. I've been meaning to blog about it but, somehow, I blinked and 2 weeks have passed!
As I blogged about a few months ago - I had the amazing privilege to serve as co-chair for this year's gala (and will continue on until 2011 as well). Last year, I chaired the Logistics Committee and this year I got to step it up and oversee everything. To say that it was an honor would be an understatement. For the past 12 months, I had at least 5 meetings a month focused on making this event as much of a success as humanly possible. I even "donated by birthday" to the cause and raised $500 to underwrite the cost of the disco ball! Thanks to those of you who donated to support me!
As much as I love doing weddings - it's always nice to return to my "roots" which are in nonprofit development/event planning/fundraising. Long before I was doing weddings, I was working on galas, telethons, capital campaigns and all sorts of other fundraising activities. I take every opportunity I can to give back to the community and use my event planning skills for good! (I sound like a SuperHero when I say it like that!)
Some of my favorite vendors came together to make this event happen - I Do Events, Sound & Light Creations, Create a Scene, Michele's Floral Events, Nellie Photography, and Par-A-Dice. Huge, extra special thank you to Nellie who came and captured the event and donated an incredibly popular silent auction package! I can't wait to share her pictures with you!
We brought in over $100,000 that night - reaching our goal - which is an extra special accomplishment in this economy. Thanks to everyone who was a part of the event...stay tuned for next year's event - the theme is Roaring 20's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Until I have Nellie's talent to share - you'll have to settle for my point-n-shoot which of course doesn't do it justice! The room was GROOVY!!!!!!
My husband and I! Wish we would have captured my awesome white go go boots and hot pink tights!
My friend Kristine and I!
As I blogged about a few months ago - I had the amazing privilege to serve as co-chair for this year's gala (and will continue on until 2011 as well). Last year, I chaired the Logistics Committee and this year I got to step it up and oversee everything. To say that it was an honor would be an understatement. For the past 12 months, I had at least 5 meetings a month focused on making this event as much of a success as humanly possible. I even "donated by birthday" to the cause and raised $500 to underwrite the cost of the disco ball! Thanks to those of you who donated to support me!
As much as I love doing weddings - it's always nice to return to my "roots" which are in nonprofit development/event planning/fundraising. Long before I was doing weddings, I was working on galas, telethons, capital campaigns and all sorts of other fundraising activities. I take every opportunity I can to give back to the community and use my event planning skills for good! (I sound like a SuperHero when I say it like that!)
Some of my favorite vendors came together to make this event happen - I Do Events, Sound & Light Creations, Create a Scene, Michele's Floral Events, Nellie Photography, and Par-A-Dice. Huge, extra special thank you to Nellie who came and captured the event and donated an incredibly popular silent auction package! I can't wait to share her pictures with you!
We brought in over $100,000 that night - reaching our goal - which is an extra special accomplishment in this economy. Thanks to everyone who was a part of the event...stay tuned for next year's event - the theme is Roaring 20's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Until I have Nellie's talent to share - you'll have to settle for my point-n-shoot which of course doesn't do it justice! The room was GROOVY!!!!!!
My husband and I! Wish we would have captured my awesome white go go boots and hot pink tights!
My friend Kristine and I!
02/16: Shelby Studios
Well, to piggy back off of my blog the other day...I had a wonderful coffee meeting (minus the coffee) this past Friday with Cindy Schultz from Shelby Studios. She contacted me about a month ago and this was our first opportunity to sit down and get to know each other. I loved hearing how she got started in photography and how she runs her business and works with clients. I also loved that she found my enthusiasm endearing and not overwhelming as I started talking about So Chic and Behind Every Bride! :) One of the other things I love is that Cindy named her business after her daughter, Shelby. I just think that's so sweet!
I'm definitely looking forward to working with Cindy in the future - and now I'm an avid follower of her blog...especially those baby pictures! So stinkin' cute!
Enjoy seeing Cindy's work and learning about her business - I know I did!
Happy Wednesday!
I'm definitely looking forward to working with Cindy in the future - and now I'm an avid follower of her blog...especially those baby pictures! So stinkin' cute!
Enjoy seeing Cindy's work and learning about her business - I know I did!
Happy Wednesday!
02/14: Making It Personal
I was at an Association of Bridal Consultants workshop a few weeks back and, at our table, we were talking about our website bios/profiles. One of the other planners kept talking about how hers is super personal. So, I went back and re-read my bio on my site…and realized it’s more on the professional side. Unfortunately, that’s just how my brain defaults – to my business life, not my personal life. Just ask my husband, my family, or my friends….I tend to always have business on the brain. While I tend to think that is just fine…I thought I’d take her advice and share some completely random, but personal things that you wouldn’t know about me from my website or any bio you would read about me.
1. I love hashbrown casserole Or “apple strudel” which is what my Great Grandma called it for some reason. Basically, if it’s a potato and it has cheese – I love it. My favorite hashbrown casserole is from Busy Corner in Goodfield Corner. A close runner up is Cracker Barrel.
2. I love, love, love coffee meetings – even though I actually hate coffee. One of my favorite parts of my businesses is that there’s always someone I could meet with to talk about business with, network, kick ideas around with, or just get to know better. Because of my schedule, I usually set my “dates” a few weeks in advance and you’d better believe that I look forward to them until they get here.
3. I love having fresh flowers on my kitchen table. I don’t really care what kind or color – just as long as they’re alive. They make me happy.
4. I’m a list queen. It’s the only way for me to stay organized. The thrill of highlighting an item when I’ve completed it gives me an adrenaline rush. I’ve never considered it a problem until I found myself making a list the other day that said, “1 glass of milk, 1 glass of juice, 6 glasses of water, 1 workout, 2 vitamins, etc.” I realized I’m most disciplined when I have a list and since I’ve gone back to my old ways of putting my health/physical fitness dead last in my life, I decided to make a list to hold myself accountable.
5. I have multiple “fashion” personalities, though I hesitate to declare myself as having style at all. I love “bohemian chic” but I’m also a sucker for a classic Jackie-O look. I also sometimes toy with the “soccer mom” and the “80 year old college professor” look – both looks my husband hates. My husband says I have a “schizophrenic style.”
6. I admit it. I’m a blog stalker. I follow blogs like it’s my job. But really, if you think about it, keeping up with the trends and other vendors actually IS kind of my job….so it’s not so creepy. And, if you ask some of my really good vendor friends, they’ll tell you I get very angry when they neglect their blog…or don’t have one at all!
7. Hmm…and last random thing. I want to have 7 because that was my softball number for 10 years so it’s only fitting I use that number. I guess that’s a random thought. My other random thing I used to do and I miss….theatre! I did speech, theatre, and choir all through high school and I miss it every day. Not sure if it’s my dramatic side, the discipline, or the ability to take on different characters…but I miss that creative outlet!
Alright, well no one can say I didn’t share some personal things. Random, but personal. Okay, I’m done now. I will now go back to the whole “all work, no play” Sara that most people are used to.
And now I will cross this blog off my list.
1. I love hashbrown casserole Or “apple strudel” which is what my Great Grandma called it for some reason. Basically, if it’s a potato and it has cheese – I love it. My favorite hashbrown casserole is from Busy Corner in Goodfield Corner. A close runner up is Cracker Barrel.
2. I love, love, love coffee meetings – even though I actually hate coffee. One of my favorite parts of my businesses is that there’s always someone I could meet with to talk about business with, network, kick ideas around with, or just get to know better. Because of my schedule, I usually set my “dates” a few weeks in advance and you’d better believe that I look forward to them until they get here.
3. I love having fresh flowers on my kitchen table. I don’t really care what kind or color – just as long as they’re alive. They make me happy.
4. I’m a list queen. It’s the only way for me to stay organized. The thrill of highlighting an item when I’ve completed it gives me an adrenaline rush. I’ve never considered it a problem until I found myself making a list the other day that said, “1 glass of milk, 1 glass of juice, 6 glasses of water, 1 workout, 2 vitamins, etc.” I realized I’m most disciplined when I have a list and since I’ve gone back to my old ways of putting my health/physical fitness dead last in my life, I decided to make a list to hold myself accountable.
5. I have multiple “fashion” personalities, though I hesitate to declare myself as having style at all. I love “bohemian chic” but I’m also a sucker for a classic Jackie-O look. I also sometimes toy with the “soccer mom” and the “80 year old college professor” look – both looks my husband hates. My husband says I have a “schizophrenic style.”
6. I admit it. I’m a blog stalker. I follow blogs like it’s my job. But really, if you think about it, keeping up with the trends and other vendors actually IS kind of my job….so it’s not so creepy. And, if you ask some of my really good vendor friends, they’ll tell you I get very angry when they neglect their blog…or don’t have one at all!
7. Hmm…and last random thing. I want to have 7 because that was my softball number for 10 years so it’s only fitting I use that number. I guess that’s a random thought. My other random thing I used to do and I miss….theatre! I did speech, theatre, and choir all through high school and I miss it every day. Not sure if it’s my dramatic side, the discipline, or the ability to take on different characters…but I miss that creative outlet!
Alright, well no one can say I didn’t share some personal things. Random, but personal. Okay, I’m done now. I will now go back to the whole “all work, no play” Sara that most people are used to.
And now I will cross this blog off my list.
In honor of Valentine's Day and to celebrate all of the wonderful things that have been happening in the past few weeks (Bride's Magazine, Super Proposal, Wedding Wire, The Knot feature, etc) - So Chic is offering a planning package special! We've never offered a special like this so now is your chance to book our fabulous services!!! Our business is changing and growing and we want you to be a part of it!
From now until March 15th - anyone who books with us will receive 10% off of your planning package! That could save up to $250 - depending on which of our packages you book!
If you're not so sure you can/want to commit to an actual package - we're also offering a "stay on track" package with 3 one-hour consultations for $100! This allows us to meet throughout the planning process for us to help you stay on track, on budget, and ensure that you still have our expertise and vendor referrals helping you along the way!
Also, as always, our clients with planning packages automatically receive 20% off our invitations, accessories, and gifts.
So there you have it, those are our specials in honor of Valentine's Day. It's only fitting that we celebrate LOVE...considering we're in the love business!
((To any of our vendor partners who are reading this - please feel free to pass this special along to your clients! You know we always love working with you!!))
From now until March 15th - anyone who books with us will receive 10% off of your planning package! That could save up to $250 - depending on which of our packages you book!
If you're not so sure you can/want to commit to an actual package - we're also offering a "stay on track" package with 3 one-hour consultations for $100! This allows us to meet throughout the planning process for us to help you stay on track, on budget, and ensure that you still have our expertise and vendor referrals helping you along the way!
Also, as always, our clients with planning packages automatically receive 20% off our invitations, accessories, and gifts.
So there you have it, those are our specials in honor of Valentine's Day. It's only fitting that we celebrate LOVE...considering we're in the love business!
((To any of our vendor partners who are reading this - please feel free to pass this special along to your clients! You know we always love working with you!!))
I've been meaning to post this for awhile now but, somehow, I keep forgetting! Luckily, thanks to a reminder I received last week from the fabulous Deb Kates Photography - it finally jogged my memory that I needed to blog about it!
The Knot featured Mike and Susan - our July 31st couple - as one of "The Real Weddings" that The Knot is known for! They did a great little photo gallery showcasing the amazing details of the nautical-inspired wedding that took place down in Chatham.
Be sure to click here to see the feature actually on The Knot - but also check our Gallery page as it was just updated and includes more pictures from Mike & Susan's special day...as well as many of our other couples from the past few months.
Also, in case you missed our blog post with great news last week - So Chic was featured in Bride's Magazine! We're still so excited! :)
The Knot featured Mike and Susan - our July 31st couple - as one of "The Real Weddings" that The Knot is known for! They did a great little photo gallery showcasing the amazing details of the nautical-inspired wedding that took place down in Chatham.
Be sure to click here to see the feature actually on The Knot - but also check our Gallery page as it was just updated and includes more pictures from Mike & Susan's special day...as well as many of our other couples from the past few months.
Also, in case you missed our blog post with great news last week - So Chic was featured in Bride's Magazine! We're still so excited! :)
02/03: Bride's Magazine
Could I possibly be more excited to share this blog? Nope, not possible. I am excited, elated, over-the-moon, overwhelmed, and all of those other happy emotions! SO CHIC IS IN BRIDE'S MAGAZINE! That's right - the mother-ship of bridal...the magazine I've drooled over for the past ten years and do cartwheells in my driveway when I receive my monthly edition....and I am in it!!!
I was interviewed a few months ago regardings trends in midwest weddings...and they used my content as a part of their feature! How amazing is that?!? I was excited just to have been interviewed but I'm even more excited that they printed what I shared!
So, when you get your March edition (or when it hits newstands in a few days) - flip to page 363 and read all about the trends in the midwest. Then look at "Sources" and you'll see our name and information. Okay, so it's just 2 little lines with my name and website - but it's a HUUUUGE deal to make it in Bride's. I've wanted to take my business to this level - and it's starting to happen. I can't say more than that because I don't want to give away any future surprises....but we're moving up, baby!!
I was interviewed a few months ago regardings trends in midwest weddings...and they used my content as a part of their feature! How amazing is that?!? I was excited just to have been interviewed but I'm even more excited that they printed what I shared!
So, when you get your March edition (or when it hits newstands in a few days) - flip to page 363 and read all about the trends in the midwest. Then look at "Sources" and you'll see our name and information. Okay, so it's just 2 little lines with my name and website - but it's a HUUUUGE deal to make it in Bride's. I've wanted to take my business to this level - and it's starting to happen. I can't say more than that because I don't want to give away any future surprises....but we're moving up, baby!!
We're so excited to announce that we've become a dealer/vendor for Exclusively Weddings! They have the cutest accessories, gifts, and even some invitations and save-the-dates! I'm in LOVE with some of their bridal party gifts!
Feel free to visit their website at http://www.exclusivelyweddings.com/ to check out their fabulous products! If you want to see one of their catalogs, you can make an appointment and we'll go through it with you - and we'll also show you our other lines of Carlson Craft and McPherson's invitations and accessories. We've got traditional invites - pockets - sep n' sends and all sorts of other fabulous stuff.
For our invitations/accessories - we offer 10% off to anyone and everyone...and 20% off to any of our clients who book planning packages. Trust us - that adds up to a nice little savings! You need all this stuff anyways - might as well save money on it if you can!
Let us know if you want to schedule a consultation to take a look through the books. We're working to grow our invitation/accessories division this year and we'd love to have you as a client!
Also, stay tuned for information about a special we're running through the month of February. Details to come later this week!
Feel free to visit their website at http://www.exclusivelyweddings.com/ to check out their fabulous products! If you want to see one of their catalogs, you can make an appointment and we'll go through it with you - and we'll also show you our other lines of Carlson Craft and McPherson's invitations and accessories. We've got traditional invites - pockets - sep n' sends and all sorts of other fabulous stuff.
For our invitations/accessories - we offer 10% off to anyone and everyone...and 20% off to any of our clients who book planning packages. Trust us - that adds up to a nice little savings! You need all this stuff anyways - might as well save money on it if you can!
Let us know if you want to schedule a consultation to take a look through the books. We're working to grow our invitation/accessories division this year and we'd love to have you as a client!
Also, stay tuned for information about a special we're running through the month of February. Details to come later this week!
Okay, so I've been feeling a little "blah" lately. I think it's a combination of the cold weather (which has resulted in me falling on the ice twice!), the dreary old days with no sunshine and the fact that I have a break in weddings for a little while due to the off season (and you don't understand - my brain, body, and spirit CRAVE weddings so when I have to go an extended amount of time without one - it dampens my spirits). So, needless to say - being down and out has made me a bit of a complainer lately. I don't mean to be - it just sort of happens.
So, I've decided rather than being a Debbie Downer - I would channel my "grumpiness" into helpful blogs. No, no - you aren't going to get a blog of me complaining....a blog of me getting on my soapbox about random issues. I got on this soapbox last night while having dinner with a friend so that's what sparked the idea. And I've had this conversation with a million brides lately so I thought I'd share.
I've decided the first one shall be "free invitations" offers from bridal stores or tuxedo shops. Don't get me wrong - it's a nice offer....in theory. Not in practice.
These stores offer free invites as a way to make you think you're getting an extra deal or an added incentive to get your dress or tuxedo in that place. Rest assured - it's not an incentive. I worked in a bridal store for a few years so I KNOW, without a doubt, it's not a good deal. They offer "free invitations" so you go in, get excited, and start looking through the books. Only to find that the vast majority of the invites are straight from the 80s. They're either super simple (i.e. white or ecru cardstock with text on it) or they're a "special" design (i.e. the headless bride and groom, Precious moments, Cinderella, or the always charming and overdone double-heart design). So, not only are your choices limited and often times, super lame - but they're not actually free.
Here's the deal - there's a 50% mark-up in those books. You may be getting free invitations...but you have to pay for your RSVP card, your reception card, your return address on the envelope, colored ink, so on and so forth. By the time you're done buying all of those things to accompany your "free" invitations...you've spent what the bridal store/tuxedo shop is actually spending.
On top of them not being free - the people that work in the stores receive little to no training on ordering invitations so it's not all that rare that a) they don't know what they're talking about or b) you receive you invitations with a mistake on them. Who needs that headache or irritation?
So, that's the deal - they're not free. If you take the money you spend on those "free invitations" - you could put them towards much prettier DIY invitations or order actual invitations from a company or dealer and save yourself the headache.
Disclaimer: This blog wasn't meant to offend any bridal stores or tuxedo shops. It's also not meant to offend anyone who loves the 80s designs or the headless bride and groom. It is simply to serve as an honest opinion from someone who knows the industry, knows the offer, and knows that it's not worth it.
So, I've decided rather than being a Debbie Downer - I would channel my "grumpiness" into helpful blogs. No, no - you aren't going to get a blog of me complaining....a blog of me getting on my soapbox about random issues. I got on this soapbox last night while having dinner with a friend so that's what sparked the idea. And I've had this conversation with a million brides lately so I thought I'd share.
I've decided the first one shall be "free invitations" offers from bridal stores or tuxedo shops. Don't get me wrong - it's a nice offer....in theory. Not in practice.
These stores offer free invites as a way to make you think you're getting an extra deal or an added incentive to get your dress or tuxedo in that place. Rest assured - it's not an incentive. I worked in a bridal store for a few years so I KNOW, without a doubt, it's not a good deal. They offer "free invitations" so you go in, get excited, and start looking through the books. Only to find that the vast majority of the invites are straight from the 80s. They're either super simple (i.e. white or ecru cardstock with text on it) or they're a "special" design (i.e. the headless bride and groom, Precious moments, Cinderella, or the always charming and overdone double-heart design). So, not only are your choices limited and often times, super lame - but they're not actually free.
Here's the deal - there's a 50% mark-up in those books. You may be getting free invitations...but you have to pay for your RSVP card, your reception card, your return address on the envelope, colored ink, so on and so forth. By the time you're done buying all of those things to accompany your "free" invitations...you've spent what the bridal store/tuxedo shop is actually spending.
On top of them not being free - the people that work in the stores receive little to no training on ordering invitations so it's not all that rare that a) they don't know what they're talking about or b) you receive you invitations with a mistake on them. Who needs that headache or irritation?
So, that's the deal - they're not free. If you take the money you spend on those "free invitations" - you could put them towards much prettier DIY invitations or order actual invitations from a company or dealer and save yourself the headache.
Disclaimer: This blog wasn't meant to offend any bridal stores or tuxedo shops. It's also not meant to offend anyone who loves the 80s designs or the headless bride and groom. It is simply to serve as an honest opinion from someone who knows the industry, knows the offer, and knows that it's not worth it.
Peoria, Illinois – January 22, 2010 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced So Chic Events has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for wedding planning/consulting.
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.
So Chic 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 So Chic Events is among the very best wedding planners 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.
For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/so-chic-events-peoria/f1dcf6b6430a4eec.html.
