We’ve Moved!

Hello wonderful readers!

We have moved our blog. We still have the same posts and information, but it’s now hosted on our domain.

Go to: www.blog.southerneventplanners.com to keep reading! We also redesigned the blog as well.

So update your Feed Readers! The new blog feed is http://feeds.feedburner.com/SouthernEventPlanners. The new feed link is also over in the sidebar as well.

Go check out the new location and leave us comments and feedback!

Happy Planning!

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog of Southern Event Planners!

We are a company of many faces:

• wedding planning
• party planning
• corporate event planning
• retail store
• online store
• rental company
• floral design
• and much more!

Elizabeth and Trent – A Truly Beautiful Spring Garden Wedding

There isn’t much more you can say about Elizabeth and Trent’s May wedding other than PERFECT.  Although there was a bit of rain that came thru right before the ceremony the skies cleared up and made for a great setting for a morning May wedding. We had the pleasure to handle the planning, the flowers and the decor. Elizabeth picked great colors, a great dress, and great locations.

On to the pictures courtesy of Ramblin Rose Photography, hope you enjoy and happy planning!

Angela Dacus, Memphis Wedding Planner                                                                                                                                               Southern Event Planners

Web-site Unveiling!

We have been working hard to improve our Unique Event Rentals web-site. We’re ecstatic to announce: It’s finished and online!!!

Visit www.uniqueeventrentals.com to check out (most of) our inventory, along with information and ideas for your event.

Since we couldn’t do a ribbon cutting or bottle breaking ceremony, a blog post will have to do.

Take a look and let us know what you think!

A little spring bling!

Lauren and her Mom came to us about 2 months ago and they were looking for a little something different. She had everything done but the decor and flowers. Her colors and location were inspiration enough for us. Below is what we came up with for her spring wedding. We are so glad Lauren and her family decided to share her special day with us.

 

Enjoy and Happy Planning,

Angela

You’re Married, Now What????

After months of pouring through magazines and visiting every bridal store in a 300 mile radius (or more) you finally found the dress.

Your wedding day finally arrived: you had your hair and makeup professionally done,  pretended you were a supermodel in those great “non-posed” photos, got married, did your first dance all in the dress.

So here you are after the wedding, weeks, months, maybe years later and you still have the dress. Some of you may still put it on and dance around the house when hubby isn’t home (ahhhhh “the memories of the way we were”), while others had it cleaned and preserved when they returned from the honeymoon. Then there are those of you that have it in a bag in the hall closet with the two extra bread makers you got as a wedding present that you have been meaning to return… 

Well ladies, I have the perfect solution. Those of you who are going green will love this. Donate the dress for a good cause.

There is a great organization called the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. The foundation helps grant wishes to women and men with Metastatic Stage 4 terminal breast cancer. When you donate your wedding gown to Brides Against Breast Cancer, they resell the gown and the proceeds go to granting the wish of a breast cancer patient.

Can you think of anything that could serve a better purpose? You get a tax deduction, you recycled fashion, and helped another bride have a fabulous dress for a reasonable price – not to mention you are saving the overworked silkworms, all the while making  a wish come true for a special person.

Amy and Chris’ Spring Brunch Wedding

I know I haven’t been posting much this month, but hey what can I say, if you didn’t already know…IT IS WEDDING SEASON. What a way to swing into the season than with a spring brunch wedding. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of spending my Saturday morning with a great couple, Amy and Chris. Although the morning started off overcast and rainy, the sun quickly came out and kissed the day for them. Annabella with Asian Bees Photography took some amazing pictures and made the most of the misty morning.

Amy and Chris wanted a beautiful, laid back, intimate, yet elegant brunch reception. Without a wedding party, Amy was open to colors and flowers. She pretty much let me take the lead in suggesting room layout and decor. Their one big huge thing that was hands down from the start mega important…FOOD. After interviewing just 3 caterers I knew we had a winner when during the tasting Amy told me it was “lights out good”. That is exactly what I needed to hear. With that we reserved Wade and Company and worked with them to create a menu that provided the guests with many choices to fill their bellies.

Almost as important as the food was the fashion. Amy had impeccable taste and it showed not just in her dress but particularly with her sassy bronze Jimmy Choo’s to her custom made bronze leather and pearl wrap bracelet and smoky quartz earrings.  She also choose the fabric for the suit and tie Chris had made. Hands down one of the most dashing dressed couples ever.

Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed the wedding.

Special Offer – Lounge Furniture Discount!

Looking for something to add that “WOW” factor to your next event? Let Southern Event Planners help supply you with that little something extra. For a limited time only, we’re offering 30% off of the rental of our fabulous lounge furniture!

If you’re planning an event during April 19, 2009 and July 31, 2009, keep reading!

 

Our lounge furniture pieces are 3′X3′ and can be arranged to fit any space. They are available in natural or black.

 

Pricing Options and Quantities:

 

4 Corner Pieces

     Regular Price: $80 each

     Discount Price: $56 each!

 

14 Chair Pieces

     Regular Price: $65 each

     Discount Price: $45.50 each!

 

10 Ottoman Pieces

     Regular Price: $50 each

     Discount Price: $35 each!

 

Other Rental Items Available to Accessorize:

 

5 Acrylic 20″ Square Cubes

     Price: $50 each

 

5 Ivory 5′X7′ Shag Rugs

     Price: $50 each

 

1 Black Leather 8′X12′ Shag Rug

     Price: $100

 

1 Apple Green 6′X9′ Fur Rug

     Price: $125

 

The Fine Print:

In order to receive the 30% discount on the lounge furniture, your event and rental of the furniture must be between April 19, 2009 and July 31, 2009. This offer is subject to availability. Furniture pieces are reserved on a first come, first served basis. A non-refundable 25% deposit will ensure your rental. Once a deposit is made, an order cannot be decreased or canceled; however, it may be increased if quantities are available. Offer not available for furniture rentals already booked. Offer does not include delivery and setup fees.

Call us at (901) 757-9339 to reserve your furniture from Unique Event Rentals or stop by our office located in Chickasaw Oaks Village, 3092 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111. See you soon!

What’s Up With That – Ring Finger?!

We all know that when your boyfriend gets down on one knee and ultimately becomes your fiance, he places a ring on your finger to symbolize this commitment. But which finger does the ring go on? Why, the ring finger, of course!

Any ring that implies a marriage or a commitment to marry should be worn on the left hand ring finger (you know, the one next to your pinky). You start with your engagement ring, then, when you are married, you can modify the engagement ring and it can become your wedding ring, or you can purchase another ring and wear it on top of the engagement ring. This implies the idea “the more diamonds (or stone of choice), the better!”

Now that you know what the ring finger is, it’s important to know how it originated. It’s very simple, and it started it Egypt. It was believed that a vital blood vessel ran from your heart to the ring finger on your left hand. Wearing a ring on your left hand symbolized true love. This particular vein was given the romantic name vena amore which translates to “vein of love.”

However, modern science has proven that there is no “vein of love” but it’s still a fun little tidbit.

So now you know what’s up with the ring finger!
Stacy

She is moving on up – Ramblin Rose Photography

You may have already heard Ramblin Rose Photography is opening a new studio. An open house is planned for March 31, from 6 – 9 p.m., open to the public. The studio is located at 7505 Appling Center Drive, Suite 112 Bartlett, TN. Kim Miller, the owner, was interviewed in the Bartlett Express recently about the new studio. Click here to read the entire article.

We are so excited to see one of our fellow wedding vendors expanding their business. I have always had a strong working relationship with Kim and feel especially close to her since we both started out the same way and seen our businesses blossom and shine. We have done lots and lots of weddings together over the years and lo0k forward to many more to come.

Best of luck Kim, Southern Event Planners loves you girl!!!!

The Perfect Bridesmaids Gifts – New Arrivals

Last week, we got in a new shipment of wedding party gifts.  It feels like Christmas every time we see that man in brown with boxes and boxes.

These wine glasses are perfect for your Bridesmaids for only $25.

The one thing that most moms hate at a wedding reception is seeing the bride and bridesmaids with beer bottles in their hands, especially if it is captured in a picture. These cute koozies solve that problem for only $9.50 each. You can’t put a price on mom’s happiness, can you?!

You can see all these and much more at our retail location at Chickasaw Oaks Village, 3092 Poplar Ave Ste 18. Memphis, TN 38111. You can also call to purchase by phone 901.757.9339.

Bride Envy

We want to thank the Brides, Mom and Groom for attending our seminar, Secrets to a Successful Wedding, this weekend.

The brides that attended received these tricked out name tags, courtesy of Kelly, our in house craftster.

 Here is Sarah, one of our brides,  sporting her fancy tricked out tag. After the event Sarah said ” I really learned alot and you provided me with insider information and tips that I could not find in my research online or in the magazines”.

All the brides that attended received a swag bag that included right at $2000 of gifts and coupons. We are so thankful to all our vendors that participated. You guys are what makes you tops in the Memphis Wedding Industry.

 The contents of the bags included:

From the Peabody Hotel - 10% off of your event if booked by 03/15/09; 3 free months gym membership at the Peabody Athletic Club with a purchase a one year membership; a free drink at the Corner Bar; a complimentary dessert at Capriccio Grill or Chez Philippe; and a night stay for $139.

Travel Leaders provided us with $150 towards a honeymoon.

Tennessee Limo gave a 10% off discount on transportation, roughly a $50.

American Tuxedo provided coupons with savings up to $375.

Seize the Clay – offered 10% off any Bridal Party event of 10 or more painters plus a 20% coupon off a gift item.

Lisa Ann Byrd with Mary Kay loaded us up with some great samples from Mary Kay’s skin care line.

Wedding Cake cookies from Brown Baquette

Lemon Tree Paper gave the cutest set of notecards.

The Stoval Collection provided a coupon for 10% off invitations.

Southern Shows donated free tickets for the bride and guests for the Southern Women’s Show this weekend.

Southern Bride and Premier Bride of Memphis gave tons of magazines and books.

Arthur’s Wine and Liquors was generous with their selections of white and red wines.

We got a great hookup from Sephoria with samples of perfumes, lotions, face creams, etc.

Last but not least our gift shop, A Few of My Favorite Things, contributed hand made natural soaps, Mindy Weiss bridal gifts, Sniff Tissues, and cute Jelly Belly’s that coordinated with our cute polka dotted recyclable bags.

Just for Lunch provided us with a light lunch and the space to host our event. It was great fun and everybody asked some very informative questions.

Since we decided to keep the group small it allowed everyone an opportunity to receive one of the big prizes. Congratulations ladies!!!! A big thanks to all those vendors that participated also.

We really enjoyed putting this together and giving the brides an opportunity to learn some insider tips that they can apply to their own weddings. With the seminar being such a success we are already deciding when to hold the next one. Anyone who is interested in attending just shoot me an email and we will include you on our invitation list.

Happy Planning,

Angela

Creative Solutions……for tape???

Recently I came across this amazing product.

and my mind went in overload for all the uses for events.

I am thinking to use it on these cool white frosted cylinders and create a luminary, use it for menu cards, table numbers, escort cards, invitations …anything and everything paper.

Then I could wrap cardboard boxes in the color of the event and using this tape as a border or belly band wrap then using the boxes as a riser for platter on a buffet. I even want to take this and stick it on votives….ohhhh and what about those cheapo plastic cups we have to sometimes use. How fabulous would that be to have  personalized cups that work into the theme of the wedding and decor without blowing the bank.

I mean I want to stick this on everything, anything and everything glass, and how cool would it be to have this on a white or black dancefloor. Imagine each 3×3 square of the dance floor have this lace tape as the border.

Can you tell my mind is going a mile a minute???? So I would love to hear your ideas on how you would use this product for your event.

I can’t wait to try it out on a dancefloor – that is the coolest. Now I just have to find the client to use this for.

Free Help with Wedding Planning

This weekend is our seminar Secrets to a Successfull Wedding and we have just a couple of spaces left. With all the great prizes from local wedding vendors we want 100% attendance.

We are giving away a free pass for the seminar to the first bride that can answer the following question.

How long was Princess Diana’s train and who was the dress designer?

Please include your email so we can respond back to you and get your ticket to you.

Angela

What’s Up With That?! – Garter Toss

We’re starting a new series on our blog: What’s Up With That?!

In this series, we’re going to explore some wedding traditions and events that make you go “well, what’s up with that?!”

Our first entry is going to be about the famous garter toss. 

Supposedly, the removal of the garter began around the 14th century and it was very popular in France.  Back then, it was considered good luck to get  a piece of the bride’s dress. Some guests would go as far as ripping a piece of fabric from the dress. You could say that the bride was treated a little bit differently than she is now.

After years of having their beautiful wedding gowns ripped apart, brides found an alternative: throwing personal articles of clothing, like the garter! The bride would throw her garter to keep the drunken men away. Unfortunately, some of the men tried to remove the garter beforehand during the reception, so the groom stepped up to save his bride and he tossed the garter.

There is also another version of how the garter toss came about.  During the medieval period, wedding guests would accompany the newly married couple back to their bedchamber. They would pick up discarded stockings and try to hit the bride and groom in the nose with the socks. The person who hit them in the nose first would be the next to marry. Needless to say, this “stocking throwing” tradition was discontinued. We sure are glad!!

So now you know, what is up with that garter toss.

Stacy

Adorable Cupcake Wrappers

We were searching online and we came across one of the cutest ideas ever from Estilo Weddings:

Cupcake Wrappers.

Not just any cupcake wrappers…take a look:

These would be adorable for bridal showers and wedding receptions. They also have several different colors and designs.

How cute are these?! We thought so too.