07/08: Our Team Is Growing!!!
I am BURSTING...no, OOZING....no, OVER THE MOON with excitement for this big announcement! So Chic is growing!!! We've had a wonderful team of ladies as the business has gotten up and going these past two years and, it's growing so fast, it's time to expand! That's where Elizabeth comes in.
You've gotta meet Elizabeth - the newest addition to the So Chic team. I am so excited to have her as a part of the team. Our brides will love her, our vendors will love her, and I KNOW that I'll love her!
Elizabeth is now an Associate Planner with So Chic Events. She'll work with clients when we're double booked and she'll also have clients of her own. She has an incredibly strong background in event planning and has experience in floral design so she's got an amazing eye for style!
I asked her to do a little Q&A to share on the blog until I get her officially added to the website. So, keep reading to get to know her!
Oh, and little does she know that I snagged a picture from Facebook so you could put a face with a name. I just think this picture is adorable and so appropriate to share a picture of her from her own wedding day!
When did you get married and what was your wedding like?
My husband, Nate, and I were married June 28, 2008 at the Kickapoo Creek Winery. What was supposed to be a small intimate affair turned in to a 200+ guest extravaganza. (That is what happens sometimes when parents get a hold of the guest list.) Even though the guest list had more than doubled, Nate and I still wanted our wedding to feel intimate and special. Almost every aspect of our day we designed and created ourselves, from the invitations, to the favors and programs, to the ceremony itself. Our wedding was all about the details. In my opinion it is the details that make an event so special and memorable to both you and your guests. We were married outside by the grapevines in mid-evening. The ceremony was very much about our relationship and the future we were creating together. One of my favorite memories from the ceremony was my brother singing One Hand One Heart. It was beautiful and so very appropriate. The reception was a great party, just the way my mom wanted it! ƒº We ate great food, drank, and danced the night away! I have so many great pictures of friends and family out on the dance floor; Thriller comes to mind right away! Of course there were a few hiccups along the way¡Kit poured down rain in the middle of our pictures and there were gusts of wind during our ceremony that I thought for sure were going to knock decorations over. But, in the end, the day was absolutely perfect because I married the love of my life.
Why'd you get into wedding/event planning?
For the past six years I have been planning events within the public sector. My attention to details, organizational skills, ability to prioritize, and think on the fly all make event planning a great fit for me. I have chosen to concentrate on wedding planning as of recent for a few key reasons. First, in the public sector, I don¡¦t get to form a relationship with the client, get to know their wants and needs and help make those a reality. Also, I miss being creative. That is what I loved most about planning my own wedding, all the personal touches and small details that made it truly one of a kind. Lastly, weddings are so romantic. I love all of the hope and promise that weddings bring. The same can¡¦t always be said for the events I plan within the public sector. For these reasons and many more, I look forward to working closely with my clients, getting to know them on a personal level, and helping them to create their perfect wedding day.
Favorite thing about weddings?
There are so many things I love about weddings that I can¡¦t name just one. I¡¦ll give you my top three.
1. I love to see the father of the bride walk his daughter down the aisle. He always looks so proud, humbled, saddened, and overjoyed all at the same time. It is such a lovely moment.
2. I love, at the reception, the dance when all the married couples come out on the floor and are dismissed by the number of years they have been together. The end of the song when the couple that has been married the longest is dancing along side the newlyweds holds so much promise.
3. Flowers are another favorite part of weddings. I love flowers! I love the scents, colors, textures, shapes, and varieties; everything. I love to see what the bride has chosen and how it all comes together.
Tell us about your floral experience:
Flowers are not only one of my favorite things about weddings, but they are one of my favorite things, ever!!! Like I said, I love flowers! About a year ago I finished my Master¡¦s and really didn¡¦t know what to do with myself. After been in school for most of my life, I was a bit lost. I had free time; what is that, and what should I do with it. I figured why not go back to school!?! I enrolled in the basic floral design distance learning program through the Floral Design Institute. I hoped to learn basic care and handling, but it has turned into so much more. I am now familiar and confident with mechanics, elements, and principles of design. The Floral Design Institute also offers a specialized wedding design course which I hope to complete within the near future.
Flowers can play such a crucial role in establishing the style and feel of an event. I look forward to using my knowledge and skills to help each individual bride find her unique flower style.
Favorite crayon in a Crayola box and why?
What a corky question. I would have to say my favorite crayon in the Crayola box is rainforest green. Green is not even my favorite color. I just love the name.
If you could be any breakfast food, what would it be and why?
I think I would be a banana, just because I would get to see a lot of the world before I made it to the table for breakfast.
Remember CDs? What was your very first one?
Do I remember CDs¡Kplease! I remember cassettes, even records for crying out loud! My all time favorite CD was probably one of the first ones sold! Whitney Houston¡¦s - Whitney. My brother and I wore that down to nothing dancing around the living room as kids. ¡§I Wanna Dance with Somebody¡¨ - great memories.
Educational Background:
I graduated from Limestone Community High School in 2000. (Ten years ago, yikes!) I then went on to Western Illinois University were I majored in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration. After graduation, I eventually got my first real job working in the Elections Department for the Peoria County Clerk¡¦s Office. (My father would define a real job as one that offers benefits!) In 2005 I started a master¡¦s program through the University of Illinois ¡V Springfield concentrating in Public Administration. For the past four years I have held the title of Assistant Executive Director for the Peoria Board of Election Commissioners. My educational background and work experience are concentrated within the public sector. Nevertheless, I have been planning large events, elections, for the past six years. My attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to think on the fly will lead to a very smooth transition into the wonderful world of weddings.
You've gotta meet Elizabeth - the newest addition to the So Chic team. I am so excited to have her as a part of the team. Our brides will love her, our vendors will love her, and I KNOW that I'll love her!
Elizabeth is now an Associate Planner with So Chic Events. She'll work with clients when we're double booked and she'll also have clients of her own. She has an incredibly strong background in event planning and has experience in floral design so she's got an amazing eye for style!
I asked her to do a little Q&A to share on the blog until I get her officially added to the website. So, keep reading to get to know her!
Oh, and little does she know that I snagged a picture from Facebook so you could put a face with a name. I just think this picture is adorable and so appropriate to share a picture of her from her own wedding day!
When did you get married and what was your wedding like?
My husband, Nate, and I were married June 28, 2008 at the Kickapoo Creek Winery. What was supposed to be a small intimate affair turned in to a 200+ guest extravaganza. (That is what happens sometimes when parents get a hold of the guest list.) Even though the guest list had more than doubled, Nate and I still wanted our wedding to feel intimate and special. Almost every aspect of our day we designed and created ourselves, from the invitations, to the favors and programs, to the ceremony itself. Our wedding was all about the details. In my opinion it is the details that make an event so special and memorable to both you and your guests. We were married outside by the grapevines in mid-evening. The ceremony was very much about our relationship and the future we were creating together. One of my favorite memories from the ceremony was my brother singing One Hand One Heart. It was beautiful and so very appropriate. The reception was a great party, just the way my mom wanted it! ƒº We ate great food, drank, and danced the night away! I have so many great pictures of friends and family out on the dance floor; Thriller comes to mind right away! Of course there were a few hiccups along the way¡Kit poured down rain in the middle of our pictures and there were gusts of wind during our ceremony that I thought for sure were going to knock decorations over. But, in the end, the day was absolutely perfect because I married the love of my life.
Why'd you get into wedding/event planning?
For the past six years I have been planning events within the public sector. My attention to details, organizational skills, ability to prioritize, and think on the fly all make event planning a great fit for me. I have chosen to concentrate on wedding planning as of recent for a few key reasons. First, in the public sector, I don¡¦t get to form a relationship with the client, get to know their wants and needs and help make those a reality. Also, I miss being creative. That is what I loved most about planning my own wedding, all the personal touches and small details that made it truly one of a kind. Lastly, weddings are so romantic. I love all of the hope and promise that weddings bring. The same can¡¦t always be said for the events I plan within the public sector. For these reasons and many more, I look forward to working closely with my clients, getting to know them on a personal level, and helping them to create their perfect wedding day.
Favorite thing about weddings?
There are so many things I love about weddings that I can¡¦t name just one. I¡¦ll give you my top three.
1. I love to see the father of the bride walk his daughter down the aisle. He always looks so proud, humbled, saddened, and overjoyed all at the same time. It is such a lovely moment.
2. I love, at the reception, the dance when all the married couples come out on the floor and are dismissed by the number of years they have been together. The end of the song when the couple that has been married the longest is dancing along side the newlyweds holds so much promise.
3. Flowers are another favorite part of weddings. I love flowers! I love the scents, colors, textures, shapes, and varieties; everything. I love to see what the bride has chosen and how it all comes together.
Tell us about your floral experience:
Flowers are not only one of my favorite things about weddings, but they are one of my favorite things, ever!!! Like I said, I love flowers! About a year ago I finished my Master¡¦s and really didn¡¦t know what to do with myself. After been in school for most of my life, I was a bit lost. I had free time; what is that, and what should I do with it. I figured why not go back to school!?! I enrolled in the basic floral design distance learning program through the Floral Design Institute. I hoped to learn basic care and handling, but it has turned into so much more. I am now familiar and confident with mechanics, elements, and principles of design. The Floral Design Institute also offers a specialized wedding design course which I hope to complete within the near future.
Flowers can play such a crucial role in establishing the style and feel of an event. I look forward to using my knowledge and skills to help each individual bride find her unique flower style.
Favorite crayon in a Crayola box and why?
What a corky question. I would have to say my favorite crayon in the Crayola box is rainforest green. Green is not even my favorite color. I just love the name.
If you could be any breakfast food, what would it be and why?
I think I would be a banana, just because I would get to see a lot of the world before I made it to the table for breakfast.
Remember CDs? What was your very first one?
Do I remember CDs¡Kplease! I remember cassettes, even records for crying out loud! My all time favorite CD was probably one of the first ones sold! Whitney Houston¡¦s - Whitney. My brother and I wore that down to nothing dancing around the living room as kids. ¡§I Wanna Dance with Somebody¡¨ - great memories.
Educational Background:
I graduated from Limestone Community High School in 2000. (Ten years ago, yikes!) I then went on to Western Illinois University were I majored in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration. After graduation, I eventually got my first real job working in the Elections Department for the Peoria County Clerk¡¦s Office. (My father would define a real job as one that offers benefits!) In 2005 I started a master¡¦s program through the University of Illinois ¡V Springfield concentrating in Public Administration. For the past four years I have held the title of Assistant Executive Director for the Peoria Board of Election Commissioners. My educational background and work experience are concentrated within the public sector. Nevertheless, I have been planning large events, elections, for the past six years. My attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to think on the fly will lead to a very smooth transition into the wonderful world of weddings.
